As soon as he finished speaking, the objects inside the tent began to levitate, floating around them in a hypnotic dance. Jewels, vases, and trinkets gently spun through the air, obeying his will.
Daenerys widened her eyes, not in fear, but in absolute awe.
Vlad smiled at her reaction and decided to show her more.
—I am the ultimate warrior, Daenerys, —he said in a deep voice— I am faster...
Before she could blink, he had already vanished from her sight, moving from one end of the tent to the other in the blink of an eye.
—Stronger...
He grabbed a spear resting near the entrance and, without effort, bent it with his bare hands.
—All thanks to magic. And with it, I will conquer this continent... and the next.
He stopped right in front of her, fire dancing between his fingers as if it were an extension of his arms.
Daenerys looked at him with shining eyes, surprised, excited, and... aroused?
Without warning, she threw herself into his arms, kissing him with intensity.
—Can you teach me? —she asked in a soft, eager voice.
He smiled against her lips, letting himself enjoy the moment.
—Of course, my dear.
After spending several hours enjoying each other's company, Daenerys couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer and began to bombard him with questions. Vlad, unhurried, answered most of them. He spoke of some of his abilities and shared part of his plans for Essos and Westeros. And when he mentioned he knew a way to bring dragons back, the princess's excitement was so intense she nearly managed to drain a vampire dry.
The journey to Vaes Dothrak was about as exciting as watching grass grow. To pass the time, Vlad taught Daenerys how to throw knives, and she told him stories about Westeros, her childhood, and dragons.
Days later, they finally arrived at standing before the massive gates of Vaes Dothrak, known as the Horse Gate. According to what he had read, it was the most imposing thing in the whole city… and honestly, he had to admit, they weren't lying.
The two colossal bronze stallions loomed over them, their hooves brushing the sky, forming an arch that looked like the entrance to a legendary world. There was something almost mystical about their presence.
—Not bad at all, —Vlad murmured as he rode beneath the arch on horseback.
—The tales don't do it justice, —added Daenerys, riding at his side, her gaze still fixed on the statues.
Beyond the majestic arch, Vaes Dothrak was nothing more than a slave market with absolutely nothing special. Mud huts clustered around smoking fire pits, half-naked children ran through piles of trash, and the air reeked of horse piss mixed with rancid spices.
—Next time, I'll believe the books a little less, —Daenerys whispered, wrinkling her nose.
—Smells just like the stories, —Vlad joked, covering his nose with a cloth.
To be honest, the jewel of Dothraki culture was little more than a slum. The only difference from a regular Dothraki camp was that here, they didn't kill each other at every opportunity. It was almost endearing that the barbarians respected the "sanctity" of the place.
Of course, their arrival didn't go unnoticed. In this timeline, Vlad commanded one of the largest khalasars of all. The problem was, his appearance didn't go unnoticed either: though he often went shirtless, his obvious hygiene and lack of a braid made sure that, a few days after his arrival, the dosh khaleen summoned him. Naturally, Vlad had plans, so he agreed to see them — not without leaving behind two bloodriders, newly turned vampires, to watch over Daenerys.
The dosh khaleen awaited him inside the temple, surrounded by a circle of braziers emitting thick, aromatic smoke. Vlad entered without flinching, walking with firm steps, braidless and without escort, but with a presence that filled the room like a tangible shadow. The old women watched him with disdain the moment he crossed the threshold.
—You are not Dothraki, —spat one of them, a hunched woman with a cutting voice— Are you a lost boy who stole a khalasar of weak men?
Another stood up, pointing at him with her bony fingers.
—You reek of foreign magic. And your skin is pale like the dead. You are an omen: misfortune will fall upon all who follow you.
—The gods will punish the false Khal. He shall be chained and sold, —added a third, met with murmurs of approval.
Vlad let them speak. He stood in the center of the temple, unblinking, with his arms crossed behind his back. He said nothing. Not a single word. The crones kept on with their insults, growing bolder, spitting on the ground. They were quite creative, actually.
Then, without changing his expression, Vlad extended both hands — just a subtle gesture, like caressing the air.
—Silence. And do not move.
The effect was immediate.
All the women froze in place, as if an invisible wave had swept through the temple. Their lips clamped shut, their bodies tensed, and their eyes widened to the limit, trapped within themselves. Only their heavy breathing and the frantic pounding of their hearts revealed they were still conscious.
Vlad walked among them calmly, a relaxed smile curving his lips.
—Relax... —he said in a soft, almost paternal voice— I won't hurt you. Not yet. I need you.
He stopped before the spokeswoman, the oldest of them all, the one who had dared point at him. With a light flick of his wrist, her eyes lost their light. She was now under his complete control.
—Tell them you've had a vision, —he ordered, his voice turning into a whisper that echoed softly in the woman's mind— Tell them the gods spoke to you, and that all the khalasars must return to the sacred city. A great prophecy is about to be revealed. Every Khal must come, with his bloodriders, his warriors, and his weapons.
The old woman nodded, stripped of will.
Vlad stepped back, and with another flick of his hand, the rest were released from their paralysis. Some dropped to their knees, gasping; others stared at him in pure terror.
—Thank you for your attention. You will not speak to anyone about what happened here. You will lock yourselves inside this temple and ask for food to be brought to you. You will give no explanations, and see no one, until all the leaders have arrived, —Vlad said, turning with elegance to leave the temple— Oh, and one last thing...
He stopped for a moment before crossing the threshold, without looking back.
—From now on, you will show respect when you address me. Enjoy your final days.
And with that, he left the temple.