To Wright, Meereen always felt like a dry, arid place. He never expected to find vast, lush orchards in the mountainous areas just outside the city.
This might be a farming method left over from the Valyrian Empire's rule. Similarly dry, Dorne only had a few farming areas along riverbanks, and the development of dryland farming had barely taken off there.
Wright was dressed in a white toga, a white cloth cap wrapped around his head, and carrying a long, large bundle on his back. Alongside him were more than a dozen other gladiators, as well Loraq's soldiers, Daenerys's husband's family.
The gladiators chatted and laughed on the road. Among them were seven free men, including Wright, and nine slaves. The free gladiators had high appearance fees, while the slave gladiators' owners had paid for their participation, allowing them to enjoy a few comfortable days.
Death was a small problem for gladiators. In this environment, the mortality rate for gladiators was about the same as it was for joining a small mercenary band or becoming a bandit.
"Iron Mask, what do you think of the Dothraki we're facing this time?" a gladiator with a shield and spear asked.
A dark-skinned gladiator chimed in, "I killed a Dothraki in the arena before. Their curved sabers aren't easy to handle with a longsword. I swapped for a mace and smashed the Dothraki's skull, haha."
They all seemed optimistic. Wright joined in, "These might include bloodriders or a Khal, so you all should be cautious."
"This might be a bit troublesome," several gladiators began to think about how to deal with them.
Wright and the others went around a few small hills, entering a large vineyard. Ahead on the muddy road, a few riders were coming towards them.
"Take the gladiators to the training ground first and let them eat," one of the knights ordered the soldiers in charge.
"Understood, Lord Theon," the soldier responded.
Theon? Wright, still wearing his black iron mask, looked at the rider. He wore a dark green cloak, with a hood to protect against the sand, and the most obvious feature—his Valyrian steel sword, Nightfall—hung from his horse. Without his name, Wright wouldn't have recognized him. Now, noticing the faint octopus emblem visible through his cloak, he realized who it was.
"Iron Mask, Water Buffalo, White Skull—have these three gladiators arrived?" Theon asked again.
"They've already arrived."
"I am Iron Mask," Wright lowered his voice and replied.
"Hahaha, look at my shoulder armor!" A gladiator with only a left shoulder plate stepped forward. His shoulder plate was shaped like a horned bull's head.
"White Skull, that's me," said the gladiator who had spoken with Wright earlier, showing Theon the skull emblem painted on his shield.
"You three, come with me," Theon said and rode towards the main buildings of the vineyard. Wright and the others hurried to catch up.
The entire valley, including the stream running through it and the land beyond the hills, belonged to this vineyard. The main building of the estate was a large, three-story white stone fortress. Next to it were four similar-sized buildings, where the free workers, slaves, and soldiers lived. Below ground was a large storage room for food, and most importantly, a wine cellar for storing vast amounts of wine. A large courtyard in the center, surrounded by a wall, made the whole complex resemble a small military stronghold.
Following Theon, they entered the estate without issue and were led to the rooms where the soldiers stayed. Wright activated his magic sense but found no magical responses—Daenerys hadn't arrived yet.
"This is the accommodation I arranged for you three, better than where the others stay," Theon said.
Water Buffalo remarked, "It's definitely better. Thank you, Lord Theon."
The room had three beds and a large window, much better than the rooms where other soldiers had to sleep with eight people.
At this point, Theon closed the door and spoke to them, "For this arena battle between Meereen and the Dothraki, I am in charge of Meereen's side. You three are the strongest gladiators in Meereen, and I have high hopes for you."
"As long as you pay us enough, I'll kill an elephant for you!" White Skull laughed, showing his white teeth.
Before Theon could get to the point, he turned to Wright, "Iron Mask, what do you actually look like? Can you take off your mask?"
"I was burned by fire when I was a child. Anyone who sees my true face, whether it's a mighty warrior or one of those strange warlocks, will have nightmares," Wright explained, borrowing the tale of the Hound's scars for himself.
"Besides, a mysterious gladiator who never shows his face stirs all kinds of speculation, and that means higher appearance fees!"
"I should have thought of that," Water Buffalo said, taking off his shoulder armor and holding it up to his face. "It fits well enough to make a bull-head mask!"
Theon smiled after hearing their responses, "If you like money, this will be easy. I have a task for all three of you."
"Please, my lord," they all replied.
Theon stopped and, after listening for a moment outside the door to ensure there was no noise, whispered to the three of them, "Your fights will proceed as usual. You'll decide when to perform and when to kill. But as soon as I give the signal, during your fights, you must kill your opponent immediately without entering the judgment stage. The signal is this gesture of mine."
Theon tilted his head, resting his chin on his right hand. This gesture, often made when someone is bored, wasn't too deliberate.
"Who are we killing? What if we don't end up fighting them?" Wright asked.
"You don't need to worry about that. I will arrange it," Theon replied, pulling out three fabric bags from under his bed and handing them to each of them. Wright opened his bag to find it filled with gold coins—at least fifty of them.
"This is your down payment. After this, for every person you kill, you'll earn one hundred gold coins as a reward," Theon said with a smile.
"No problem, my lord," White Skull responded.
"Agreed," they all affirmed.
Wright carefully observed Theon. He was already twenty-one, with slightly curly black hair and an unremarkable face. Recent years had matured his character, and the old carefree expression had disappeared, replaced by a more serious demeanor.
"Agreed! We'll follow your hand signal," they confirmed.
Gladiators were no strangers to the idea of killing opponents at the request of their wealthy patrons. There were always power struggles behind the scenes, and eliminating a gladiator with potential during a fight was an effective and legitimate way to reduce competition.
Theon handed each of them a wooden token. "This is a temporary pass for the estate. You can access the training grounds and the military camp, but you cannot go anywhere else. Follow me, we'll go eat first."
After lunch and a short rest, Wright and the other gladiators went to the training grounds, where they began their usual drills, weapons in hand. Many soldiers had gathered to watch.
The fighting styles of the gladiators differed from those of the soldiers. Soldiers fought to kill, aiming for lethal strikes, while many of the gladiators deliberately avoided vital areas, incorporating more visually impressive moves in their techniques. Bloody fights where the combatants stayed alive were more thrilling for the audience, and it also helped avoid killing familiar gladiators.
Wright left his Bloodskal Blade in the room, holding a large, popular mace as he practiced.
Weapons weren't at risk of being stolen—Wright's magic senses would immediately pick up any movement in the estate. Right now, there were two magical signatures: one was his own, and the other was the Bloodskal Blade. If the second one moved, he'd rush in to strike.
Wright swung the meteor hammer, spinning it three times before slamming it into the ground. It was a spectacular weapon but not very effective in actual combat. He walked to the sidelines, preparing to switch to a two-handed axe.
While practicing, Wright listened to the conversations around him. Earlier, he had thought that Theon had matured considerably, but now, after hearing the talks, he reconsidered.
Daenerys had two dragons, a husband, and three dogs. Initially, Wright thought "three dogs" was a derogatory term for Daenerys's loyal subordinates, but after hearing the conversation, he realized they were referring to three dogs in heat surrounding Daenerys!
The Yellow Dog: Daario Naharis, the leader of the Stormcrows. It was rumored that he and Daenerys had slept together before she came to Meereen. Even though Daenerys had married another man, Daario remained by her side, always ready to serve when her husband wasn't around.
The Black Dog: Theon Greyjoy. He was infatuated with Daenerys's beauty. Wright was certain Theon wanted him and the other two gladiators to kill the competition.
The Little Dog: Quentyn Martell. He came to Daenerys seeking an alliance. Based on Wright's gathered intelligence, Doran Martell had initially planned to marry his daughter, Arianne, Aegon, but Arianne had conceived Robb Stark's child, and proposing marriage would have been an insult. So, Quentyn was sent to seek an alliance with Daenerys instead. When he arrived, Daenerys had already married, but he shamelessly stayed.
These three couldn't even be called dogs. All three wanted Daenerys's husband's position, constantly scheming to eliminate the current King of Meereen, Hizdahr. But Hizdahr held too much power in Meereen, so they didn't dare act openly. Instead, they slandered each other and kept a wary eye on each other. Daenerys skillfully manipulated the four men, like holding four ropes tied to their necks, maintaining a delicate balance, ensuring the men were completely devoted to her.
As dinner time approached, Daenerys's group had arrived at the estate. Her husband and the Dothraki were with her, but it would take another day before they would arrive.
Wright slung his axe over his shoulder, watching as a group of knights and wagons entered the estate. Where would she keep the two dragons?
Daenerys herself had wanted her dragons to be with her, but the iron cages for the dragons were designed for horses to pull, and the terrain of the vineyard, located in the mountains, was far from suitable for the journey. They were still slowly making their way through the Dothraki plains.
The carriage door was opened from the inside by two maidservants, and Daenerys stood at the threshold.
Wright studied her closely, noting how much more mature she looked compared to when he had seen her in Braavos a few years ago. Her platinum blonde hair was stirred by the breeze, and her white sheer blouse, adorned only with some red floral patterns, left little to the imagination. Through the fabric, he could see her smooth, fair skin. Theon quickly ran over to her.
"Your Grace, Daenerys!" Someone was faster than Theon, though—a black-haired boy, no older than his teens, arrived at the carriage before him.
"Your Grace, Daenerys!" Theon also ran over.
"Ser Theon, Prince Quentyn, it's good to see you both," Daenerys greeted them with a sweet smile.
Theon and Quentyn exchanged a look, their mutual disdain evident in their eyes.
Quentyn thought Theon was a crude pirate without any family background, a mercenary thug. If it weren't for the lack of talent around Daenerys, there was no way Theon would be here.
Theon thought, "I'm the most wanted man in Westeros, and you Dornish nobles are nothing in my eyes. If it weren't for Daenerys, I would have killed you by now."
A few slaves had already moved the ladder to the side of the carriage.
"Please, help me down," Daenerys said softly.
Theon and Quentyn immediately stood on either side of the ladder, lifting their arms to serve as handrails for Daenerys. She smiled, grabbing both their arms, and with a small jump, she stepped down.
"Be careful!"
"Watch out!"
Both men shouted at the same time, reaching out to steady her. Daenerys released their arms and walked toward the estate. "Haha, it's nothing. I'll be flying on dragons next year. What's this compared to that? Come, follow me inside. I have prepared gifts for you."
A few minutes later, Theon and Quentyn emerged, each wearing a dried flower around their necks.
Asha, the captain of Daenerys's personal guard, had also come out of the main building, speaking with Theon. She suddenly noticed Wright staring at her and Theon among the crowd, so she made an awkward, helpless face at him.
Wright gave Asha a sharp gesture, signaling her to come over.
"What's the situation with Theon?" Wright asked as he sat under a column in a room.
Asha leaned against the column, both of them facing the training grounds, as if speaking casually.
Asha sighed, "Theon is infatuated with Daenerys's beauty."
Wright, with a stalk of straw in his mouth, asked, "Didn't you tell Theon that he'll never have a chance with Daenerys?"
"I did, but with Daario Naharis from the Stormcrows ahead of him, Theon believes he has a chance to enter Daenerys's bedchamber," Asha replied.
Wright looked up at Asha. "Damn! If I ordered Theon to kill Daenerys tonight, would he kill her or me?"
Asha's heart raced; a wrong answer could cost her life, and no one nearby could save her. "My lord Wright, I will certainly follow your orders. Theon will as well!"
Wright was unconvinced. "You told Theon that I was coming here, didn't you? Tonight, I'll be waiting for him in the small garden behind the camp!"
"Yes, my lord Wright!" Asha replied expressionlessly, but her back was already drenched in sweat.
That evening, in the small garden behind the camp, Wright had set up a silent magic array. Theon arrived right on time.
Her sister had told him the iron mask belonged to Wright Baratheon, but Theon still couldn't believe it. "My lord Wright?"
"Theon Greyjoy, it's me," Wright said as he removed the mask.
Theon trembled a little, speaking hesitantly, "What is it that you need from me, my lord Wright?"
Wright turned his back to Theon. "I have an official order for you. Tonight, you will act—kill Daenerys."
"Ah!?"
Turning around, Wright raised one hand and clenched his fist in front of Theon's face. "You will kill Daenerys tonight! I will give you a piece of land in the disputed lands, bigger than the entire Iron Islands combined!"
Theon struggled to breathe.
Wright pointed at Theon's chest. "Do you remember our agreement? Your mermaid's new sigil, not the old octopus one."
Theon's legs began to tremble.
Wright continued, "I've set up magic here. No matter how loud we speak, no one outside the garden will hear a sound."
"My lord Wright! Please spare Daenerys! I beg you! She's just an ordinary little girl, she poses no threat to you. Please, spare her, my lord!" Theon dropped to his knees, clutching Wright's legs, crying and wailing.
Wright looked down at him with disdain. "I am very disappointed in you, Theon. If you carry out this task yourself, Daenerys will still be left in one piece!"
"Please, spare her! I'll take her away from Meereen, I'll take her eastward!" Theon continued pleading.
"Look at this—he's become like this. You're partly responsible!"
Wright's hand flashed with purple light, and Asha's figure appeared from the shadows in front of Theon.
"Sister?" Theon looked up at Asha, his face full of confusion.
Asha looked down at Theon on the ground and said, "My lord Wright is not interested in killing a girl!"
"Really?" Sitting on the ground, Theon released his grip on Wright's thigh, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
Wright smirked. "I want her two dragons. You just need to help me find where they are hidden, and Daenerys will be left to you."
"She..." Theon felt uncomfortable, as if Daenerys was being treated as an object, a mere trade.
Wright chuckled. "Think it over. I can help you eliminate your competitors."
Theon thought for a moment. "The Golden Company! My lord Wright, I can provide intelligence about the Golden Company!"
"Where is Aegon Targaryen?" Wright raised his voice.
Theon replied, "He was in the Dothraki holy land before. When we left, he and the Golden Company went west."
"That information is useless. The vast Dothraki Sea, where would we even start looking?" Asha interjected.
Wright turned around, his back to the two siblings. "Aegon must die! The three dragons must die! As for Daenerys, Theon, as long as you continue following my orders, I can spare her life. You two should go back and think about what you should do."
Without another word, they quietly left.
Theon had been captivated by Daenerys's beauty, and Wright had intentionally pressured him with words to test his loyalty. Now, Wright understood that his stance within house Baratheon is to kill Daenerys. In Theon and Asha's eyes, he had become the villain. It seemed that further measures would be needed.