Chapter 195: The Dragon‑Riding Queen

She put on her battle armor, that was her attire when she marched on Yilin; at that time, she rode on the little silver horse and, in this outfit, defeated the slave master waiting for her in Yilin and conquered Yilin.

This outfit bears witness to what she considers her greatest achievement, and she has always been proud of it.

This outfit will also bear witness to my riding Zhuogeng, conquering every force and territory within sight—or bear witness to a farce that will seem absurd to posterity.

She does not want posterity, when they come to understand her, to describe her ending as absurd.

Danilis entrusted her aftermath to her Queen's Hand and placed everything in the city under his care; she believes that, no matter what the outcome, Yilin will break free from its original course and lead the surrounding cities toward rebirth.

She does not fear death—becoming a star and moon in the heavens to forever accompany her beloved, this could not be better…

If she truly must die tragically, Ser Saeermi can, following his own wishes, serve that prince who can ride dragons!

I don't care! He rides the dragon I hatched; the dragon is an extension of my life, and I am still functioning. If the gods say I stop here, I accept it willingly!

The huge harpy statue that once stood atop the Great Pyramid has been torn down by her and turned into coins; now only the bald platform remains, and scattered in the cracks beneath it are some bone fragments, those are the remnants left by Zhuogeng.

There would have been more remnants, but she could not stand having bits of bone and chunks of charred flesh constantly rolling down from higher places, so she ordered the servants to frequently clean the platform, which is why this area stays relatively clean.

Zhuogeng is not here.

She bent down, stroking the smooth platform. The originally rough base had become smooth because of Zhuogeng's presence.

Many places on the surface still bear deep scratches; she believes they were made by the giant dragon's claws, and however, those deep indentations represent great power. She hooks her foot, boot against the traces, feeling the grain of the coarse stone.

The wind howled at the top of the pyramid; she stood on the platform, unconsciously spreading her arms, turning, looking all around—is this what the harpy saw?

To the northeast of Yilin lie continuous mountains; Zhuogeng often flies back from that direction, bringing back game such as wild oxen and giant deer, occasionally even elephants—this is the information reported to her by the servants while they were clearing the bones.

It has grown so fast that it can now feed on elephants.

If it can bring back an elephant, it can also carry me aloft, and I can rely on it to fight!

The wind howled.

She closed her eyes, wanting to sense the giant dragon's position, but besides the wind's sound, there was nothing.

"Zhuogeng!" she shouted, losing patience.

"Zhuogeng!"

The sun slowly rose from the sea surface; the warm sunlight shone on her body, stretching her shadow long toward the west, and she felt hot and restless.

"Zhuogeng!"

She felt a bit disheartened; wasn't she sensing that the giant dragon would return?

"Ong…"

She turned and followed the direction. A black shadow flickered on the mountainside; when she tried to confirm it again, it had already cast a longer black shadow outside Yilin's city.

Dark clouds covered the sky, a gust of wild wind blew, and she bent over, supporting herself with one hand on the fissure of the claw marks in the ground.

The giant dragon roared at the sky, announcing its return.

She had originally intended to wait here, watch it return, and let it see her waiting, but she did not expect that, when they met, she would appear in this wretched state.

She should have thought of that earlier.

Zhuogeng finished its hiss, turned, and directed its head toward her.

She felt no malice.

A wave of heat surged toward her. That was the heat emanating from the black dragon's body.

Following its gaze, the scales covering the black dragon's neck flared toward her, like a rooster displaying its vigor.

It is showing off to me.

She immediately understood that if she now feared and submitted to it, she would never again be able to ride it and have it fight for her.

She forced herself to stare at the giant dragon.

Its eyes were like black magma, smoldering red pupils radiating intense heat and menace.

It was extremely beautiful, she thought, like a deep gemstone.

She gazed into the jewel, entranced by its beauty; in the opened huge pupil, she also saw herself.

In its mind, what does she look like? As large as it was when young, or as small as now? Or as an insignificant person? Certainly not!

It bared its teeth, opened its huge mouth, and continued to display its power and threat to her.

She saw serrations like knife edges; between the black teeth lay charred bits of flesh.

You can't scare me! If you wanted to, you could have killed me long ago, without waiting until now, without even baring your teeth.

She endured the heat wave, slowly reaching out, leaning toward the dragon's long face.

Heat, like a rolling wave, came from her cheek.

"Zhuogeng!" she said in a low voice, as if stroking her own child: "I want to fly, I want your strength." Without you, I cannot go on.

She held back the pleading words.

From between the black dragon's nostrils came puffs of hot air, "puff‑puff".

It was silent.

Under her stroking, it relaxed, the scales on its neck realigning smoothly.

It folded its wings, the bony ridges touching the ground, and moved closer to her.

Good child.

She ran her hand from the dragon's jagged, protruding cheek to its thick neck, then to the bulging forelimb muscles. Under her touch, the muscles and black skin undulated; through the black scales she saw the dragon's interior seeming to glow with crimson magma, a sight she had never seen in a dragon before.

It's a ball of fire!

The wing's folded bones resembled steps; everything felt so natural that she stepped on them, pulling with both hands on a single protruding sharp spike, and climbed onto its back.

The sunken pelvis resembled a natural seat, the forward‑jutting bony ridges like natural handrails.

The dragon is a man‑made thing, she thought.

"Fly!" she shouted.

"Ong…" it roared again.

At this time, the sunlight climbed onto the walls of Mílin, and the scattered light shone over the whole city.

The giant dragon spread its wings and pushed off with its hind legs. She felt herself falling down, almost flying off the dragon's body, and then she saw the giant dragon flapping its wings. She was pressed back into her seat, and the tremendous force quickly lifted her up.

She was flying.

She couldn't help burying her face in the rugged scales.

She had succeeded. That was only natural, wasn't it?

The giant dragon swooped down from the great pyramid, gliding along the direction of the city wall, spread its wings over the rocky streets, and left a mottled black shadow.

Everyone stopped and looked up.

"Roar——" the giant dragon's angry roar shook the whole city.

She fiddled with the handrail, and the giant dragon moved according to her strength.

Wonderful.

It went around the great pyramid, exited from the other side, and swept past the small pyramid where the brothers were.

She saw the guards on the pyramid looking at her, she saw the Unsullied busy in the arena, and she saw the rotting skulls hung high and piled together, occupied by flies, forming a tower of skulls.

Ugly things, she thought.

"Fire (Dracarys)." The dragon hovered in midair above the arena and instantly spewed a long flame, turning the skulls and all the flies into fireworks.

Even sitting on Zhuó Gěng's back, she still felt the heat of the black dragon fire. Smoke and dust rose in the arena.

It was time to leave; she pulled up the handrail, the giant dragon flapped its wings and shot straight up so fast she wanted to cry out.

The lingering flame in the giant dragon's mouth swept past her cheek, the fire consumed her battle dress, a whirlwind lifted her false hair, and she seemed to leap from the flames, leaving the soldiers on the arena shouting in astonishment.

"Roar——" the giant dragon let out one final roar, spread its wings, and flew north.

She seemed to see the caring old knight and others watching her go.

Mílin grew smaller and farther in her view as she followed the black dragon across layer after layer of mountains; É'ǝr, all surrounding scenery vanished.

Ice frost brushed over her body, and she felt as if she plunged into icy mist.

She was quickly passing through a thick mass of clouds, and she realized it.

She couldn't help it; after bursting out of the white clouds, she shouted loudly in joy.

The black dragon sensed her mood, flying faster and faster, its movements becoming more fierce; she held her breath, tightened her body, clung tightly to the giant dragon's back, and greedily felt the black dragon's warmth.

Don't turn over, don't turn over!

She didn't know how long she had flown; when she felt utterly exhausted, the black dragon had already landed on a mountaintop.

Grass scraps and ash covered the ground, charred bones and foul flesh filled the ditches; in a glance outward, all she saw were jagged rocks and steep slopes.

After a long flight, the black dragon seemed tired as well, lying in its nest, eyes closed, resting.

She had completely lost her sense of direction, sitting on the hillside, gazing at the mountain peak and the vast plain ahead.

This was the home the black dragon had found for itself, in the Duōsīlākè Sea.

She recalled how she had left Mílin; perhaps they still remembered the direction she had taken. The old knight would arrange people to search for her traces in that direction.

All she needed to do was wait here, right? She wasn't sure, or perhaps she could ride the dragon back.

When the sun slipped behind the mountain, taking the last glow with it, she knew night had fallen.

The Duōsīlākè Sea at night was not freezing, but that had been a long, long time ago; if the timing was right, it was now the winter described by people.

Fortunately, she was not wearing the Jīsī's tokara robe. This uniform made her feel sweltering when baked by the sun during the day, but at night it was good insulation, so she at least didn't have to huddle in Zhuó Gěng's smelly big bed for warmth.

As the months turned and the stars shifted, when the night sky became completely dark, she finally finished making her temporary shelter and drifted into sleep to the steady purring of the giant dragon.

She dreamed of nothing.

When she opened her eyes again, the sun had risen anew, the black dragon spread its wings facing the sunlight, and its scales at that moment emitted a dark, lustrous sheen.

"Take me home, Zhuó Gěng." she said to the black dragon.

The black dragon climbed out of its nest, ignored her, flapped its wings and leapt away, leaving her standing where she was, watching it disappear into the distance.

What is this?

She wanted to gather wood and branches on the summit to light a bonfire to signal rescuers of her position, but she realized this was the Duōsīlākè Sea. She had only been here a day, and if anyone saw it, the first to see the bonfire would be the Duōsīlākè Sea's Kǎlāsī.

Better not to run into them.

As she hesitated whether to descend the mountain and head toward Mílin, a pig fell from the sky, followed by a mass of black flame that engulfed the wild boar. Then she saw the black dragon open its huge jaws and feast greedily.

She also felt hungry, but she did not intend to take food from Zhuó Gěng.

On Zhuó Gěng's territory she found one or two trees still bearing fruit.

Small animals could no longer settle here, and now was the fruit‑harvest season: in the thicket she found a small bag of ripe berries and two persimmons—growing on a short persimmon tree—whose taste was indescribably sweet.

Only after she had swallowed all the berries did she notice her hands were stained deep purple.

She didn't remember how she had just eaten the berries or wiped her mouth; after a night of exhaustion and her hair burnt unevenly, perhaps she was now a savage. What did she look like now?

Better not to think about it.

After the black dragon finished eating the wild boar, it looked toward Dān Nī Lì Sī.

Their eyes met; Dān Nī Lì Sī walked to its side, it lowered its folded legs in cooperation, and she stepped onto them and climbed onto the dragon's back. The warmth where her feet touched made her feel supremely happy.

"We should go look for other prey," she muttered to herself, "maybe we should also find a small stream to get some water." She washed her ridiculous hands and face.

Thus the giant dragon leapt down the mountain, glided into the foothills, and rose again from a low peak.

She discovered that the giant dragon liked flying this way.

And she quickly came to love the feeling of flying on dragonback over the endless grass sea, watching the dragon drive out the animals hidden in the grass: hares and gray wolves chased each other, gazelles and muskrats raced, and stags, horned horses, and lions scattered in flight together.

"A dragon is a dragon, never any other beast," she thought. The giant dragon glided past, continuing to disturb the animals ahead; when it had had enough fun, it leapt up.

She wanted to find water.

She followed the grassland looking for water, but saw wild horses galloping madly; the giant dragon was instantly attracted, turned course, and dove down.

It loved horses. Especially racing against them in speed.

"Ah..." it gave a signal of competition, closely pursuing.

Daenerys understood, the black dragon was controlling its speed, staying tightly behind the herd of horses.

When one horse finally fell too far behind, it spat out black flames. The horse cried out as it moved forward, but could only be devoured by the flames.

Zhuo Geng landed on the burning grass, tearing apart the charred wild horse in big bites. Daenerys carefully stepped on the grass ash still bearing sparks, picked up a piece of meat, and secretly slipped it into her mouth.

The outside was charred, but inside it was still bloody meat; one piece was enough.

The fire spread with the wind, soon a huge expanse of blackened ground appeared, leaving thick smoke and dust drifting farther away.

In the haze, she heard the sound of bells, then more.

The Dothraki, she thought.

"Zhuo Geng!" she called softly.

Zhuo Geng tore off the last piece of meat, swallowed it, and then, like her, looked at the cavalry appearing ahead.

The warhorses neighed, lifted their front legs, and kept retreating. Several Dothraki turned their direction at this moment, riding away on their warhorses.

"Catch up to them!" she exclaimed excitedly.

When she mounted the dragon again and caught up to these cavalry scouts, a large group of cavalry appeared before her.

She saw the person held up in the middle, almost crying out in surprise.

After Zhogo fell gravely ill, he was the second to proclaim himself Khal, leading twenty thousand out of Zhogo's khalasar.

She still remembered the girl she had rescued, Eroeh, and also remembered the oath she had sworn in the name of the gods: "Mago and Jago will beg me to show them mercy as they showed Eroeh."

Is this why you brought me here? Or is it the fate arranged by the gods?

She mounted the dragon, staring at the Dothraki and his khalasar before her; their fate was already decided, but she was unsure whether the people before her would beg her.

She did not need their begging.

"People of the Dothraki!" she sat on the dragon's back, gripping the handles tightly, "You should still remember me!" She felt as if she had returned to the arena, "I am Khaleesi of Zhogo's Khal..."

"You should return to Vaes Dothrak!" one shouted.

She saw Jago Khal and his bloodriders reveal panicked expressions, and among the crowd outside Jago Khal she spotted the leader Mago, finally making her want to laugh.

At least today she could avenge poor Eroeh, fulfilling the gods' expectations.

"In the name of the horse god, I have mounted the greatest steed it bestowed upon the world, which you have seen—I named it after the deceased Zhogo, and it has become a flying steed." She hoped her speech would be useful, "Those of you who belong to Zhogo's khalasar should belong to me," she did not know whether her proclamation would be answered, but to the Dothraki there was no need to hide, for they most revered strength.

"You are merely a woman." Khal spat angrily.

Daenerys truly wished he would turn and flee; perhaps then subduing his khalasar would be easier.

"Brave Dothraki!" she felt no need to test further, "Anyone who can kill the person before me for me, I declare, he shall become my bloodrider; you should still remember Aggo, Jhogo, and Rakharo, you shall become like them, my blood of my blood!"

This remark made Khal jump again, he shoved the bloodriders beside him toward Daenerys to attack.

Daenerys watched them gulp their throats, draw their curved blades, and charge at her.

Power lay in her hands, feeling good.

"Fire!"

As the bloodriders closed in, the dragon belched thick black flames, sending both their horses and themselves into hell.

The intense heat drove the Dothraki back again.

Jago Khal, once again grabbing a bloodrider, shoved him forward; the dragon snapped its mouth, tore him apart, and flung him into the khalasar.

When a third Dothraki died in the same manner, Jago Khal ordered arrows to be loosed.

Daenerys no longer hesitated; she flung herself onto the dragon's back, shouting loudly, black flames engulfing the Khal and all before her.

The surrounding horsemen scattered at this moment. Khal howled amidst the flames.

"Capture Mago for me!" she tried to command within the fire, unsure who would respond.

People turned their eyes to Mago; under everyone's gaze, Mago seized a horse, turned direction, and galloped away. People made way for him, watching him flee.

Soon an arrow struck his horse; he fell from the mount, then was seized by a swarm of Dothraki, bound, and brought beside the burning Khal.

Several Dothraki grabbed his braid, controlled his arms, bared his neck toward her.

She did not look at Mago. She knew, now the khalasar was hers.

"I, Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, the female Khal riding the magic dragon, will rebuild for you the khalasar once belonging to Zhogo's Khal. I want you to take this person and wait for my command outside Meereen; I will bring you together to swallow Jago Khal's khalasar, and then establish for you a glory you never imagined!"