HOTD: Dragon Lord (CH 11) (Patreon)

A/N: This story is rated M for mature content not suitable for children.

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Chapter 11: Fire, Iron, and Gold

Essos - Pentos

The large private dining hall provided to Naruto and his companions was extravagant, fitting for the wealthiest city in the Free Cities. Tapestries of silk and gold thread covered the walls, depicting scenes of Pentoshi prosperity: merchants arriving from the Summer Isles, vast fleets sailing toward Westeros, and slaves being presented to opulent buyers. Despite the luxury, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation, like a silent vault waiting for the lock to be sprung.

Naruto sat at the head of a massive, polished teak table. Rhaenyra was finally seated properly beside him, having managed to recover enough from her earlier pain to sit, though she leaned heavily against his arm. Alicent sat opposite, composed but vigilant. Mysaria, outwardly the most relaxed, sat closest to the door, a habit from her past that provided her a small sense of control.

Across from them sat the Magisters: Illyrio Mopatis, whose fat seemed to sweat wealth; Xaro Xhoan Daxos, whose eyes never left the women’s jewelry and Alicent’s hair; and Pyat Pree, who sat motionless, his gaze like a knife seeking a weak spot in Naruto’s composure. Prince Reggio Haratis hovered near the Magisters, occasionally attempting to inject himself into the conversation with superficial compliments, only to be dismissed by his masters.

The lavish meal—spiced peacock, honey-roasted boar, and exotic fruits—sat untouched by the Targaryen party, following Naruto’s warning. The Magisters, however, ate with gusto.

"A pity, Lord Dragon Rider," Illyrio began, wiping grease from his beard with a linen napkin. "Such fine Penstoshi wine, yet you do not partake. Do you distrust our hospitality?"

"I am a man of simple tastes, Magister," Naruto replied, his voice calm, yet carrying a resonance that demanded attention. "My palate is accustomed to the finer, more honest wines of the Arbor. Your local fare, while visually appealing, might offend it."

Xaro laughed—a dry, brittle sound. "Honest wine, he says! You speak like a merchant who has never had to sweeten a deal, Lord. Yet, if you are not here to trade, and not here on pleasure—for a true nobleman would not flee his lands with such haste—then you must be here for sanctuary."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, allowing the silence to stretch. Xaro, pleased with his perceived insight, pressed his luck.

"Word travels, even across the Narrow Sea. The King, your brother, banished you. The Princess Rhaenyra, your heir, has fled her duties. You have come to us, where the authority of the Iron Throne holds no sway. Tell us, what terms do you seek for our protection?"

"Protection?" Rhaenyra scoffed, finally speaking, the word dripping with disdain. "My protection is currently circling your city, waiting for a command to turn it to ash. I believe the situation is the reverse. We are the protection for you."

Pyat Pree finally moved, slightly tilting his head. His voice was a rasp, low and chilling. "Five dragons. That is a truly magnificent offering. The gift of blood, Lord Dragon Rider. But gifts come with expectations. What is it that you desire that we, the Magisters of Pentos, can give you that your family's throne could not?"

Naruto leaned back, stretching his arm behind Rhaenyra. He looked at each man, focusing last on Pyat Pree, whose eyes held not greed for gold, but hunger for power.

"I desire knowledge. I desire freedom. And I desire a vast amount of gold," Naruto stated, his terms calculated to appeal to both their avarice and their arrogance. "You see me as a fugitive. I see myself as a sovereign. Pentos stands at the gateway of Essos. I wish to travel to Valyria, to seek the secrets that were lost in the Doom, to find the source of the old power. That requires resources."

Illyrio Mopatis smiled, the expression pushing his multiple chins up. "A grand ambition! To conquer a ruin. And the gold? What is the price for this knowledge?"

"The price is simple," Naruto said, placing his palms flat on the table. "You will finance our journey. All of it. Passage, supplies, provisions, and a standing, generous allowance. In return, I offer you two things: First, the promise that Pentos will be the sole trading partner with any new discoveries I make in Valyria. Second, the sanctuary you mentioned."

"Sanctuary?" Xaro questioned, suspicious. "For whom?"

"For Pentos itself," Naruto clarified, his eyes glinting. "Should any foreign power—be it the Iron Throne, the Ghiscari, or even the Shadow Lands—ever threaten your city, five dragons and I will answer the call. You pay for my travels now, and you buy an unmatched insurance policy for your future."

The Magisters exchanged quick, meaningful glances. This was unexpected. They wanted to seize his assets, yet he offered to turn his assets into their shield.

Pyat Pree broke the silence, his voice barely audible. "And the cost of this insurance should we... misunderstand its terms? Should we try to keep your gifts for ourselves?"

Naruto’s smile vanished. "The cost of misunderstanding my terms, Magister Pree, is that five dragons will not merely burn Pentos to ash. They will burn it slowly, deliberately, and completely. And after the fire, the Cannibal will feast, and nothing will remain for anyone."

He rose abruptly, pulling Rhaenyra to her feet. The abrupt movement caused the Magisters to recoil slightly.

"I have made my offer. I will retire to the chambers you provided. My terms are non-negotiable. Deliver your answer, along with the first shipment of gold, before the sun reaches its zenith tomorrow. Should you fail to do so, I will assume your answer is hostility, and my dragons will take the liberty of collecting their own payment."

Without another word, Naruto steered his women out of the dining hall, leaving behind the Magisters, whose expressions ranged from furious greed (Xaro) to calculating fear (Illyrio), and something ancient and dangerous (Pyat Pree).

Fast Forward

Back in their luxurious chambers, the sound barrier Naruto had erected remained active. The air was thick with tension.

"That was incredibly brazen, Father," Alicent whispered, her hand trembling slightly as she smoothed the fabric of her skirt. "To threaten the Magisters in their own home."

"Brazen, perhaps, but effective," Mysaria commented, crossing her arms. "He played their greed against their fear. They fear the Dragon. They fear losing their gold more."

Rhaenyra, leaning against the door to listen for movement outside, scoffed. "And the warlock? He didn't seem fearful at all."

"He wasn't," Naruto confirmed, pacing the room. "Pyat Pree is the viper in this nest. He isn't interested in gold or trade routes; he is interested in the source of our power. He wants to know how a Targaryen with three dragons could materialize out of thin air."

Suddenly, the door rattled violently. Naruto’s eyes narrowed. The guards outside hadn't been this aggressive before.

WHOOOSH

A strange, thick blue smoke began seeping in from beneath the door and through the elaborate carvings on the walls. The air immediately grew heavy, carrying a sweet, cloying scent that caused Rhaenyra and Alicent to cough.

"Magic," Naruto growled, recognizing the foul energy. "Do not breathe it! It's an illusionary spell."

He threw out his hand, and a wall of transparent, shimmering energy appeared around the group, sealing off the incoming smoke. However, the smoke was persistent, licking against the shield like a liquid flame.

"Pyat Pree is not waiting for their money, he is acting now," Mysaria exclaimed, her face pale with fear.

Naruto frowned. Pyat Pree wasn't trying to breach the physical barrier; he was attacking their minds. Pyat Pree must have sensed that a frontal assault with mundane guards would be useless. He was using magic to incapacitate the source of the true power—the dragon riders.

"We need to get out of here," Naruto stated, looking toward the window. Their room was on the fifth floor.

"How? The floor is lined with guards, and we can’t fly out the window," Alicent panicked, looking at the stone walls below.

"The dragons," Rhaenyra breathed, placing her hand on the stone wall. "They won't be able to sense us through this smog. They can't find us!"

Naruto cursed under his breath. The smoke wasn't just physical; it was magical, obscuring their presence from their bonded beasts. He had to breach the illusion himself.

"Mysaria, your network. Do you know of any subtle weaknesses in this city's defenses? Any unguarded exits?"

Naruto was aware that Mysaria had ties to Essos, and someone like her would likely have a strategy for escaping to this place if circumstances in Westeros took a turn for the worse. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume she would be familiar with Pentos.

Mysaria’s eyes darted around the ceiling. "There is a secret passage in the cellars of the palace. It’s used by the Magisters to access the slave markets discreetly. It leads to the sewer lines outside the main walls."

"Perfect," Naruto said. He clenched his fist. The shimmering barrier around them snapped, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The blue smoke rushed in, but Naruto was prepared. He channeled his chakra, creating a tight, protective veil of spiritual energy around his body and the women’s.

"Stick close to me. Do not let go," he ordered.

Suddenly, the world twisted. The opulent room melted away, replaced by a scene of utter terror. Rhaenyra screamed, pointing at the end of the room.

"Uncle! The Iron Throne! What has happened to it?"

Before them stood a grotesque vision: the Iron Throne, not built of swords, but of twisting, decaying flesh and bone. Blood oozed from its hilt-ends. And on it, King Viserys sat, not merely ill, but a monstrous, rotting corpse, yet somehow alive, weeping blood.

"It is an illusion, Rhaenyra! Focus!" Naruto commanded, his voice sharp enough to cut through the terror.

Alicent looked up at Naruto, tears streaming down her face, but she wasn't crying over the King. "He told me he would be kind! He promised!"

Naruto saw what Alicent was seeing: a hallucination of Otto Hightower standing over a kneeling, weeping Alicent, holding a knife.

"The bastard always lies!" Naruto yelled. He grabbed both Rhaenyra and Alicent tightly, channeling raw, unfiltered will into their minds, forcefully tearing them from the grip of the illusion.

Their vision snapped back to the smoke-filled room. Rhaenyra was panting, her eyes wide with lingering horror. Alicent was shuddering violently, clinging to his arm.

"Now, the warlock pays," Naruto declared, his voice cold with rage. He was not just dealing with greedy merchants; he was dealing with an assault on the fragile minds of his women.

With a single, thunderous kick, Naruto shattered the thick wooden door. He emerged, the women trailing him, into the hallway, which was instantly filled with startled guards.

"Find the stairwell! Move!"

Naruto didn't draw a weapon. He didn't need one. He moved with a speed the Westerosi and Essosi had never witnessed, his fists becoming blurring forces of nature. Every guard he struck was hit with concentrated energy, slamming into the walls with concussive force, their armor crumpling like paper, rendering them instantly unconscious, or worse. The fight was less a battle and more a sudden, chaotic explosion of violence.

Within seconds, the hallway was clear. They descended five floors into the palace’s cellar, following Mysaria’s directions through the wine stores and food larders, until they found a heavy, iron-ringed door hidden behind massive wine casks.

"This is it," Mysaria confirmed, panting.

Naruto didn't bother with the lock. A focused blast of chakra from his palm blew the hinges off the door, revealing a dark, foul-smelling tunnel leading downward.

"The sewers," Rhaenyra murmured, disgusted but resolute.

"It beats the Warlock's prison," Naruto stated. "Go! I’ll seal the entrance."

The three women quickly scrambled into the muck. Naruto channeled a massive surge of earth energy into the tunnel entrance. With a grinding, seismic roar, the wine casks, the door frame, and half the cellar roof collapsed, burying the passage under tons of rock and wood. No one would be following them that way.

Pentos -Sewer

The sewer tunnels were wide enough for a man to stand in, but the waist-deep flow was polluted and utterly disgusting. They moved swiftly, Mysaria proving surprisingly adept at navigating the subterranean labyrinth.

"Magister Pree will know we escaped!" Alicent cried, wiping filth from her face.

"He knows," Naruto confirmed. "But he doesn't know where we are going."

As they neared the outer walls, Mysaria stopped abruptly. "Ahead. A gate. We are beneath the slave docks."

Before they could reach the exit, the tunnel shimmered again. This time, the illusion was less subtle: the walls dissolved, replaced by a swirling vortex of blue light, and Pyat Pree materialized before them, floating above the muck.

"The Dragon Riders," Pree’s voice echoed, amplified by magic. "The source of the blood that burns the world. I knew you would not accept the Magisters' gold. Your arrogance is your weakness, and your fear for these women is your undoing."

"You want my power, Warlock? Then come take it," Naruto challenged, pushing the women behind him.

Pyat Pree smiled, an unnatural, wide stretching of his purple lips. "I want your essence. And theirs. You will be my servants in the House of the Undying. The world will fear my name."

Pree thrust his hands forward, and multiple copies of the warlock appeared, shimmering into existence beside him—two, then four, then eight.

"Which one is the real one?" Rhaenyra yelled, terrified but drawing her small dagger.

"It doesn't matter," Naruto said, his eyes blazing with golden energy. He focused his power, not on striking the Warlock, but on dismantling the magical energy of the illusion itself.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

With a sudden poof, twenty copies of Naruto appeared, crowding the sewer tunnel, each armed with focused, raw spiritual energy. The sight of so many identical figures momentarily stunned even the Warlock's copies.

"Go! Get through the gate!" Naruto commanded the women. "Don't look back!"

The three women, galvanized by the sudden, overwhelming counter-magic, scrambled toward the grate.

The Warlock, realizing his control was being challenged, attacked. The copies of Pyat Pree shot bolts of pure blue energy at the army of Narutos. The clones met the attack head-on, their own golden chakra bolts intercepting the blue magic. The sewer tunnel exploded in a blinding display of light and concussive force.

Naruto, the original, ignored the battle. He focused his mind, pinpointing the single, distinct, living energy signature among the Warlock copies—Pyat Pree himself.

There.

He burst through the fighting, ignoring the magical blasts and the dying screams of his clones. He didn't use a jutsu; he used pure, focused speed and force. He connected with the real Pyat Pree—a crushing, surgical strike directly to the Warlock's solar plexus.

The effect was instantaneous and absolute.

Pyat Pree collapsed with a silent gasp, his pale skin going gray. All the other illusory copies vanished instantly. The blue lights faded, the sound of the raging battle vanished, and the sewer was silent save for the dripping muck.

Naruto stood over the unmoving body of the Warlock. The man’s ambition had been greater than his power. He knelt, took Pree’s magical staff, and snapped it over his knee.

He then turned toward the gate. His women were outside.

Naruto walk out through the gate, emerging onto the dark, deserted docks outside the city walls. Mysaria had sealed the heavy iron gate behind them, jamming it with a piece of driftwood.

Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Mysaria were standing huddled together, breathing the fresh (though sea-scented) air.

"The magic prevented them from sensing me," Naruto confirmed. He raised his hand, channeling his most aggressive, demanding chakra signal outward. "Cannibal! Balerion! Tessarion! Syrax! Silverwing! Come!"

The air immediately changed. A distant, massive roar answered him—the sound of Balerion—and then the chorus of the four others. They were coming.

The moment the first shadow of a dragon fell over the docks, a frantic sound began emanating from the walls of Pentos: alarm bells ringing wildly.

"They know we escaped," Alicent realized.

"And they know their Warlock failed," Mysaria added, watching the huge, terrifying shadow of the Cannibal darken the moonlit water.

Naruto smiled—a chilling, predatory expression. He pulled the Warlock’s broken staff from his belt and threw it high onto the city wall.

"They offered me gold for protection, and they offered me a fight for my freedom," Naruto said, his voice carrying over the rising wind from the dragons' approach. "They will pay for both."

As the five dragons landed, causing the docks to shudder and the water to splash violently, Naruto mounted Tessarion. He didn't need to communicate his orders with words. The dragons felt the cold fury in his bond.

Naruto pointed at the section of the city that housed the Magisters’ estates—the grand, gold-domed palaces.

"Burn them. Take the payment."

Five dragons, including Rhaenyra's Syrax and Alicent's Silverwing, took to the air, no longer subservient steeds but avenging gods. The subsequent few hours were not a siege, but a demonstration. The dragons didn't burn the entire city; they surgically targeted the lavish homes and merchant vaults of Illyrio Mopatis and Xaro Xhoan Daxos. The wealth they couldn't carry—the gold, the spices, the silks—was reduced to ash. The message was clear: You do not cross a Dragon.

By dawn, the Magisters' estates were smoldering ruins, and the five dragons descended, not empty-handed. They carried sacks of gold, chests of jewelry, and scrolls of priceless documents—the first installment of the "insurance policy," violently collected.

Naruto now had the resources and the message he needed. The Magisters of Pentos had been neutered, and the Free Cities would soon hear the tale of the Dragon Lord who collected his own payment in fire and blood.

Westeros - The Riverlands

While Naruto was busy dismantling the political structure of Pentos, Prince Regent Daemon Targaryen was busy with the grittier work of war in the Riverlands. The Ironborn, emboldened by the perceived weakness of the throne, were not just raiding ships but had established a temporary, fortified base on the island of the Whispers in the Gods Eye. This base allowed them to strike deep into the Riverlands, raping, pillaging, and taking slaves.

Daemon, however, was not his brother. He did not negotiate.

He arrived on Caraxes at the head of a massive, hastily assembled host comprised primarily of Riverland lords, knights, and men-at-arms, led by the steadfast Lord Jason Lannister and the naval forces of Lord Corlys Velaryon.

Daemon landed Caraxes on the mainland shore overlooking the island stronghold, the setting sun turning the lake's surface blood red.

The War Council:

In the main tent, Daemon stood before a map, his Dark Sister resting casually on the table.

"The Ironborn are entrenched on the island," Daemon stated, his eyes cold and focused. "Their longships are pulled onto the beaches, and they have watchtowers built from Riverland timber. They expect a siege. They expect us to starve them out while they enjoy their captives."

Lord Jason Lannister, ever the traditionalist, slammed his gauntleted fist on the table. "We must gather our longships, Prince Regent, and press a direct assault on their beaches at dawn! They cannot withstand the might of the Westerlands and the Riverlands united!"

"And lose half your forces to Ironborn arrows and sharpened stakes in the water?" Daemon countered, a hint of disdain in his voice. "We are dragons, Lord Lannister, not fodder. We are not fighting for territory; we are fighting for a message. The message must be swift, brutal, and memorable."

Lord Corlys Velaryon, whose ships had suffered the most, stepped forward, his expression grim. "The Ironborn are skilled seafarers. A naval attack will cost us too much, even with our superior numbers. But an air attack alone may not be enough to break their line before they slaughter the captives."

Daemon smirked, leaning over the map. "Air attack is not the only attack, Lord Corlys. It is the opening move."

He pointed to a small, marshy section of the island opposite the main encampment. "Lord Corlys, take your swiftest, quietest longships—unarmed, save for their rowers. Fill them with pitch, oil, and the men of the Stormlands who are adept with fire arrows. You will not land on the main beach. You will land here, on the marsh side, two hours before dawn."

"A suicide mission, Prince Regent!" Jason Lannister protested. "The mud will bog them down!"

"They will not fight, Lord Lannister," Daemon snapped. "They will simply ignite the marsh grass, and retreat immediately. The resulting column of smoke and fire will confuse the Ironborn defenses."

"And the main attack?" Corlys asked, intrigued.

Daemon looked at the ceiling of the tent, as if looking through the canvas and toward the sky. "The main attack is with fire and shadow."

Fast Forward

The attack commenced precisely as planned. In the dark hours before dawn, Lord Corlys’s stealth ships approached the muddy marsh. Within minutes, the marsh was alight, sending a massive, thick column of black smoke swirling across the island. The Ironborn defense, expecting a siege or a frontal beach assault, were thrown into chaos by the fire at their rear.

As the guards scrambled to put out the marsh fire, the sound of the approaching dragon hammered down on them—a terrifying, low roar that shook the earth.

Caraxes descended like a blood-red thunderbolt.

Daemon was precise. He did not waste his dragonfire on the main battlements, which were designed to withstand arrows and rocks. He focused his initial assault entirely on the longships pulled onto the beach.

WHOOSH!

Dragonfire, roaring hot, hit the wooden longships. The ships, heavy with pitch and oil from their sea journey, did not just burn—they exploded into massive infernos, turning the entire beach into an unapproachable wall of flame. The Ironborn’s retreat route was instantly, spectacularly cut off.

The entire island was now trapped between the burning marsh smoke, the roaring dragonfire on the beach, and the surrounding mainland armies.

Seeing their ships burn and their escape cut off, the Ironborn morale shattered. They were now fighting for survival, not plunder.

Daemon then landed Caraxes on the most visible watchtower, allowing the dragon to rip the tower down with his claws, scattering the lookouts.

"The time for the message is over!" Daemon roared down at his ground commanders. "Lord Lannister! You have your opening. Take it!"

Jason Lannister, witnessing the raw, terrifying spectacle of a Targaryen prince and his dragon turning an impregnable fortress into a burning graveyard in minutes, was invigorated.

"CHARGE MEN! SHOW THOSE BASTARDS NO MERCY!"

The mainland armies, led by Jason Lannister's ground troops and the Velaryon fleet's remaining, armed ships, launched the main assault.

The battle was not long. The Ironborn, trapped, surrounded, and with their only means of escape destroyed, fought fiercely but without hope. Daemon flew Caraxes over the thickest part of the fighting, using the dragon’s roar and occasional blasts of fire (careful to avoid the captives) to break the morale of the enemy captains.

The Riverlands’ revenge was complete. Every Ironborn man was cut down or captured. The stolen supplies were recovered, and the remaining captives were freed, their joyous tears mingling with the smoke and blood of the battleground.

Fast Forward

In the smoldering remains of the Ironborn base, Daemon stood, Dark Sister in hand, watching his men secure the last prisoners.

Lord Jason Lannister approached, wiping blood from his beard. He did not speak with his usual arrogance. "Prince Regent," he said, bowing low. "It was a victory unlike any I have ever witnessed. You have avenged the Riverlands and restored the honor of the Crown."

Daemon sheathed his sword. "Honor is cheaper than gold, Lord Lannister. What matters is the quiet. The Ironborn will not trouble us again for a decade. Send word to King’s Landing that the rebellion is crushed. Send the heads of their leaders to every castle in the West."

He then looked toward the Velaryon ships, now loading the recovered goods. "Lord Corlys is sailing back to Dragonstone. Inform him that the Iron Throne owes him a great debt, but one that may be paid not in coin, but in a future alliance."

Jason Lannister nodded, understanding the subtle political maneuver.

As Daemon mounted Caraxes, he looked over the scorched, bloody island. The Ironborn had sought to challenge the Crown, believing that only a sick King and a banished Prince remained. They now knew the error of their ways. The Dragon Lord may be gone, but the Rogue Prince remained, and he ruled with fire and iron.

He took to the skies, heading back to King's Landing, where he knew the Small Council would be waiting, likely eager to complain about the cost, but unable to deny the stunning success.

His mind, however, briefly drifted to Naruto. My brother may have banished Naruto, but he has certainly made my own life more interesting. The realm needed a swift shock, and I have delivered it.

Essos - Pentos

By midday, Naruto's group was ready. They stood on the docks, surrounded by chests and sacks filled with the Magisters’ gold and jewels, secured onto Tessarion’s back. Cannibal, the largest, carried the majority of the food and supplies.

Naruto looked back at the smoke rising from the city. Pyat Pree’s body remained in the tunnels, and the Magisters, now financially broken and terrified, would be forced to rebuild their city and their coffers. Pentos would be silent for a time.

"Where now, Father?" Alicent asked, adjusted her riding gear.

"East," Naruto replied, mounting Tessarion. "Valyria is our goal, but we need information first. And we need to get away from the immediate political chaos. We will fly to Qarth."

Rhaenyra, looking slightly more cheerful, took her place on Syrax. She glanced back at the ravaged city. "They certainly paid their dues, Uncle."

"They did," Naruto agreed, his eyes distant. "And we are now rich enough to become sovereigns in our own right, should the Iron Throne ever fail to welcome us back."

Mysaria mounted the front of Tessarion, settling into the comfortable position before Naruto. She was no longer just a whore; she was a survivor traveling with the wealthiest, most powerful man in Essos, who now had the power and the will to create his own kingdom.

The five dragons rose into the sky, heading east, toward the vast, uncharted lands, leaving behind the flames of their payment and heading toward the mysteries of ancient magic. The Dragon Lord was gone from Westeros, but his legend had just begun to spread across the world.

Chapter End

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A/N: In this chapter, Daemon crushes the Ironborn rebellion, proving himself a formidable and ruthless Regent, while Naruto secures the wealth he needs for his journey by violently dismantling the Magisters of Pentos. Their next destination is Qarth, the City of Spices, where new dangers await. Thank you all for the support! Until next time.