I Became the Mother of Dragons

       An hour later, Dany meticulously applied a layer of "anti-inflammatory ointment" to the sutured wound, her brow furrowed in concentration. She turned to the group of Healers gathered around her and asked, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty, "Do you understand it?"

"I see it with my eyes, but my mind struggles to grasp it fully," replied an elderly black man with a wry smile. "I've memorized the steps, but my hands… they won't perform the procedure just by wishing it so."

"Yes, it's a complex art," chimed in another nearby Healer. "Even though we've watched you do it many times, we can only handle routine knife wounds for now."

Dany sighed, a mix of frustration and determination in her voice. "Alright, please assist him in wrapping the gauze," she said as she began to wash her hands. "Remember to change his dressing in the evening."

After her conquest of Meereen and her encounters with skilled physicians, Dany was surprised to discover the existence of anti-inflammatory drugs in this world. It was a salve crafted from mustard seeds, nettles, and baker's yeast.

She speculated that this concoction contained a small amount of penicillin, an unrefined form, much like the "mustard brine" and tofu mold used in ancient times.

"How is he feeling?" Barristan inquired with genuine concern as Dany pushed open the door to leave.

"Unless there's an unforeseen complication, he should pull through," she replied, her voice filled with cautious optimism.

Dany beckoned to Missandei's elder brother, Mossador, gesturing for him to accompany her. Together, they made their way to the upper palace, Dany's mind occupied with thoughts of the city's leadership.

"Where is Ser Cleon?" she asked, referring to the self-proclaimed butcher who had taken up residence in the Great Pyramid of Meereen. Dany's forces had initially conquered the pyramid, and she was determined to maintain her claim to it.

In the shadowed chambers of the pyramid, where no soul dared to occupy the room once inhabited by the Queen herself, Dany chose to follow Astapor's age-old tradition. The uppermost layer of the pyramid was her own domain, while the bottom layer transformed into a yamen for dispute resolution. The layer just above served as the seat of government, and the middle layer became a vast storeroom for essential supplies. Unsullied and city guards found their abode beneath the Queen's former quarters, ready to protect their ruler.

As the City Lord of Meereen, Cleon's duties also anchored him within this pyramid.

Upon receiving the news of the assassination of the Bolton Commander the previous night, Lord Chainbreaker, a man known for his swift and decisive actions, promptly dispatched scholars to send word to Dany. He led hundreds of soldiers in a relentless search for the assassin throughout the night, but he had not yet returned, Mossador informed Dany.

Dany nodded, appreciating Cleon's dedication. "What of Jon Snow?" she inquired. "He commands the City Guard and holds the banner of the Red Dragon. Even though I've stationed the Guards infantry in Yunkai with Tian Kaitun, he still commands four thousand cavalry and five thousand newly trained militiamen."

Dany had left five hundred Unsullied in Meereen, their primary duty being the protection of the Great Pyramid and her safety when she visited the city.

In addition to Jon's cavalry, Cleon had at his disposal five hundred cavalry and five hundred Pit Fighter infantry. However, Jon's forces ultimately belonged to Dany, tasked with preserving stability in Meereen. Cleon's thousand-foot cavalry, on the other hand, was his private army.

Being a powerful Lord, with his own fiefdom and the responsibility of guarding the frontier on behalf of the Queen, Cleon's military force was indispensable.

Of course, the Ghis prisoners of war and laborers were not included in these counts; if necessary, they could be converted into soldiers.

Mossador hesitated before speaking, his tone embarrassed. "Your Majesty, last night Ser and a few of his comrades went to a District to... seek the company of courtesans. Unfortunately, they did not bring many guards with them."

Dany sighed. "Jon and Lyra, they aren't... Well, it seems I've made a poor arrangement. I'll have to find a way to bring Lyra to Meereen."

Brus Wayn and Lyra Umber, both former infantry platoon commanders during their time with the Company of the Rose, continued to lead the infantry contingent of the Guards following their reorganization.

Jon Bolton, the cavalry commander, had joined Dany during the Meereen Raid and remained in her service thereafter, while the Red Banner infantry remained stationed in Yunkai.

"Your Majesty, Lord Chainbreaker has arrived!" Shortly after Dany returned to the upper palace, an Unsullied guard entered and delivered the news.

"Let him in," Dany commanded, prepared to face the challenges and intrigues that awaited within the walls of the pyramid.

Cleon had donned an extravagant suit of knightly armor, gleaming with gold and polished to a mirror-like finish. As sunlight streamed down from the skylight above, he appeared as if he were a man forged of pure gold.

Adorning his left and right shoulders were golden ornaments in the shape of a wild boar's head, its long fangs menacing. The armor appeared incredibly weighty, and as the Butcher strode about, his cloak clung steadfastly to his back, refusing to flutter.

Emblazoned upon the cape was a fierce giant wielding an axe, encircled by a chain broken in several places—the emblem of the Chainbreaker's noble lineage.

With a swift movement, Cleon removed his helmet, securing it under his armpit, and approached the Queen's seat with an air of pride. Dany, as he walked closer, could even catch a glimpse of her own reflection in the shiny plate armor on his chest.

'So shiny,' she thought, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Aren't you afraid of death?" she mused internally. Even the Queen herself wouldn't wear such striking golden armor—it would be like a colossal beacon on the battlefield, and she wondered if she'd even survive two episodes.

But Dany remained silent. She knew that, regardless of the color or material of Cleon's armor, she had no authority to dictate his choice, as long as his wealth came from lawful sources.

And Cleon did have wealth, thanks to his position and victories in Slaver's Bay. Among the high-ranking generals who served her, nearly all had grown rich after the conquest.

As the sole Lord under the Dragon Queen's banner, Cleon was particularly affluent.

After rendering a salute, Cleon announced loudly, "Your Majesty, fear not! I have apprehended the Sons of the Harpy, and they are numerous, but they shall trouble you no more!"

Dany, her hand resting on her forehead, inquired, "How many..."

Cleon responded with a snort of disdain, "Those Ghiscari bastards, none of them harbored any intentions of serving as loyal subjects. It's not wrong to apprehend a few extra." His teeth clenched with anger.

Coughing softly, Dany interjected, "Cleon, the 'legal code' clearly dictates that under my rule, people's social standing may differ, but their personal beliefs and races must be treated equally. So, let's refrain from using derogatory terms."

While complete equality in status might be an unattainable ideal, promoting equality among different races and beliefs was a principle she upheld.

Cleon replied, "Your Majesty, I won't use such terms in public," demonstrating his loyalty to both his Queen and her principles.

"Alright, tell me everything," Dany commanded.

Cleon began to divulge the sinister plot of the Sons of the Harpy. He explained that this clandestine underground society had formed within the Ghis commoners, with their primary objective being the opposition to her rule and the resurrection of the long-dead slave empire's glory.

These secret society members referred to themselves as the 'Sons of the Harpy,' and they wore masks bearing their namesake's visage. Their plan unfolded in three stages: first, they aimed to assassinate notable leaders among the peasants secretly to establish the reputation of the 'Sons of the Harpy' and expand their influence by recruiting more members.

Next, they planned to assassinate her soldiers, targeting everyone from patrolmen to low-ranking officers, thereby sowing confusion and diminishing her strength incrementally. Eventually, under the chaos they intended to create, they would unfurl the banner of the Harpy, seize Meereen, and deliver her head as a trophy.

As Cleon spoke, his face twisted into a devilish and grotesque expression, his teeth clenched with rage, leaving Dany somewhat taken aback.

"So many lives lost? Why was I not informed of this?" she inquired.

Cleon dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. "It's still in the planning stages. Before they could lay hands on any of the new commoners, they encountered a rather intoxicated Ser Jon."

Dany couldn't help but ask, "How did you gather so much information? Did they confess everything in a single morning?"

Cleon's voice dripped with disdain as he replied, "These soft bastards have hearts as vicious as devils, bones as feeble as Nasal Mucus Insects, and their methods are as feeble as a child's."

He continued, "However, Your Majesty's Qimin system and the 'Ten-Household Method' played a significant role in swiftly capturing and interrogating these rebels."

Dany had no doubts about Cleon's capabilities when it came to tracking down assassins. In the original tale, the Sons of the Harpy had caused untold devastation, leading to the deaths of numerous commoner supporters, many Unsullied, and even Barristan Selmy (though, Barristan did not die in the original series).

She had been forced to flee on a Dragon as her rule in Meereen collapsed, and her mission to liberate the slaves failed. Her departure left behind a ravaged city, countless dead commoners, and the despairing eyes and curses of countless newly enslaved individuals.

It's worth noting that in the original storyline, Daenerys did not rule Astapor and Yunkai; her dominion was solely over the city of Meereen. She couldn't help but wonder if the author had granted her and Tyrion a somewhat fortuitous intellect or if Tyrion's inaction was deliberate.

In contrast, a butcher with limited education and experience had managed to resolve the Sons of the Harpy situation in less than 12 hours, capturing all the assassins and uncovering the core members without her intervention.

Dany marveled at the brutality of China's ancient governance techniques. The methods were simple yet effective: create Qimin households, register the entire population and their familial relationships in a register, and if one person from a group of ten households broke the law, all ten suffered the consequences.

The Sons of the Harpy wore masks, but within the block where the crimes occurred, there were only dozens or hundreds of families. Could they all lie?

While the Ghis may harbor resentment against the Dragon Queen, they lack the unity, determination, courage, and fearlessness of death required to confront her directly. Without these qualities, Dany would not have won in Slaver's Bay.

In order to avoid collective punishment and withstand the Butcher's torture, someone among them confessed, leading to their capture. The remaining Sons of the Harpy belonged to the wealthier and more cowardly families.

Despite Cleon's lack of formal education and culture, he was far from incompetent. When it came to dealing with the Ghis, he was an expert.