Chapter 39 The Pursuer

The confluence of the Rhoyne River and the Valanna River.

Ever since the First Turtle War, when the water wizards of Rhoyna summoned floods to cleanse the colonies of the Valyrian Empire, this place has been covered by wetlands and swamps.

Dense vines have been soaked and piled in the swamp for years, and fungi like curtains hang down between the branches.

The gray-green mud, with bubbles popping out from time to time, exudes the smell of rotting branches and leaves, and at the same time, there is a crisis that will swallow up fate.

Although many exotic flowers, snakes and insects can be seen here, there is no trace of life.

There are also embankment paths in the swamps covered with mud and shallow water. At this time, a team of Dothraki people are walking here with difficulty. They are vigilantly keeping a distance and exploring solid or shallow muddy routes.

The person walking in the front of the team is Norhat. He has a calm face and has always maintained a calm attitude, holding a thick tree branch as a probe.

Try to walk along the mounds with trees, be careful to avoid the black flat land without any grass, and pay attention to the green water moss that looks like a carpet on the surface, which are the most dangerous traps in the swamp.

The group walked and stopped, fortunately, no accidents happened. Other Dothraki also saw the skills of the young man Nohat, and their attitude towards him gradually changed to respect and obedience.

"A road was found here, and there are a lot of horse hoof prints and footprints on the road, which are traces of human movement."

Before the reminder was finished, the Dothraki stopped moving forward instantly, drew their weapons and were alert, and their eyes were fixed on the dark bushes around them.

Before everyone set off, Bass Porter had specifically described it.

The Rhoyne River was plagued by robbers. These river pirates often hid in abandoned cities and ambushed passing ships.

At this time, the water and sky were steaming, and a large amount of fog was steaming in the entire swamp, covering the ruins of the city of Sa Meier in the distance.

Nohat did not respond to this reminder, and his eyes looked through the fog for traces of sunlight.

He looked at the looming ruins of the city in the distance, and couldn't help but wonder in his heart. Bandits are most common on the river north of Dagger Lake, but rarely appear in the lower reaches of the Rhoen River.

Nohat didn't feel anxious. As the best of the tribe's patrol cavalry, he had long been accustomed to all kinds of unexpected accidents.

Silently signaled others to be alert, carefully bypassed the black swamp, and walked to the road covered with silt and moss.

But the fresh traces in his eyes told him that now, the ruins of Sa Meier are very likely to have been occupied by outsiders.

Nohat calmed down, observed the traces left on the road, and quickly calculated the number of enemies. He must clean up the ruins before the tribe arrives.

But a series of giant-like footprints in front of his eyes completely interrupted his plan.

Suddenly, in the silent ruins where shadows lingered not far away, a clear sound of horse hooves came from far to near.

With the crisp sound of bells "ding-dong, ding-dong", the mist rolled, like fine yarn passing through the corrupt vines, and gradually emerged the figure of a giant riding a horse.

The bells were tied to the giant's braids one by one, and the sound rang loudly with his movements, announcing his arrival to the world and making all enemies timid and afraid.

When they saw the heroic face of the visitor, all the Dothraki put down their guard, put away their weapons, and bowed their heads to salute.

The breeze suddenly rose, and the mist swept in like a vast wave.

At this moment, at the source of the Valanna River in the distance, the river roared and roared, like a wild horse running away.

A small group of unfamiliar cavalry appeared first, they hesitated for a moment, and then scattered and ran away.

All this was seen by the scout cavalry who stayed at the source of the Valanna River.

But the two sides did not launch a pursuit battle. This was also the last tacit understanding and peace between the strong wind and the heavy rain.

The sun set, dusk was approaching, and the curtain of night slowly spread.

The gushing blood-red afterglow dyed the corner of the sky red, and in the silence between heaven and earth, it burst out with wanton and flamboyant red.

The air trembled slightly, the river water rippled a little, and the more intense earth shaking followed.

Accompanied by the huge roar of the horses, the Dothraki cavalry in the wild were connected into one, like a surging black wave, sweeping over the sky, as if to break through all obstacles in front, unstoppable.

The war horses tumbled with their hooves, their long manes flying, and the neighing sound, the rolling sound waves cut through the sky, and the sound stopped the clouds.

Khal Drogo rode a fat and strong warhorse and led the blood guards to rush out of the wilderness first.

His long black braids hung down to his waist, his beard bound by a silver ring trembled slightly, and the numerous gold, silver, and copper bells on the ends of his hair kept clanging.

The fiery red glow of the sunset passed over the sky, sprinkled on his bronze face, and stretched his long figure.

Stopping his horse, Drogo's fierce pupils burst out with a sharp light like a hunting beast. With a voice that resonated in his chest and sounded like iron and stone, he ordered the blood guards who followed him:

"Qotho, go and call Bono and Jaco to come together."

Unlike the fierce anger that often appeared in the eyes of other Dothraki, the eyes of the blood guard Qotho were filled with coldness. He was not tall, but looked extremely flexible.

In fact, Qotho did like to hurt people, and his tribesmen all thought he was the cruelest one among the blood guards.

But as Khal's blood guard, his loyalty was unquestionable. He bowed to Khal Drogo and then galloped away on his horse.

The Drogo tribe also follows the management tradition of the Dothraki nomads, with several Khas acting together.

Bonoko and Jakoko both have private tribes, which are Kaa's lieutenants and the commanders and managers of their respective kars.

A moment later, Bono and Jako, led by the bloodrider Koso, quickly rushed to Drogo in the setting sun.

But traveling with them was the eunuch sent by Doshkarin.

Facing the more powerful Kou in the tribe, Drogo said in a very tough tone:

"The scouting riders told me that the prophesied Kaa abandoned his carriage and went south, trying to escape from my pursuit. Then let him run, and I will chase after him. Bono, Jaco , you select ten thousand more of my warriors, and capture their women and children to be slaves. As for me, Khal Drogo, I will lead my warriors south, and I will kill the legendary Khal, Bring his head back to Vaes Dorask and pay homage to the Mother Mountain. I will be the most powerful Khal on the Dothraki sea and do something that no other Khal has ever done in ancient and modern times. I, Bar Drogo son of Erb swears an oath here, facing the Holy Mother Mountain, with the stars in the sky as witnesses.”

As soon as the words fell, the eunuch sent by Doshkarin immediately stepped forward and urgently stopped him:

"Khal Drogo, all the traces left behind are the deception of the prophesied Khal. Your scouting riders fell deeply into it, and the Flame Steed told me that he has led the tribe north."

Hearing the eunuch's cry, the Blood Alliance guard rushed forward, angrily pulled out his scimitar and wanted to kill him:

"Evil eunuch, you told Kaa to march southwest immediately, but now you are talking nonsense."

Drogo stretched out his hand to stop the bloodrider's move. He had already found the traces of his prey and decided not to listen to the eunuch's words anymore.

Dothraki Khals need to obey the wisdom and authority of the Doshkarim, but a true Khal must trust the warriors of the tribe.