After Daenerys visited the tombstone of Aegon Targaryen, Wright took her and Missandei on Odahviing to Tyrosh. Other personnel and supplies followed the Volantis troops on their return journey, traveling by ship back to Tyrosh.
The people of Meereen were terrified by the Volantis army's departure. The Volantene had yet to establish themselves in the disputed lands, and even their greed couldn't consume Meereen—they had no intention of managing it.
Wright acted as a mediator. After a plague, the people of Meereen had lost lives but retained their wealth. The Great Masters could hire some of Volantis's forces to continue garrisoning the city, and both sides were pleased with the arrangement.
The Windblown also returned to Tyrosh, and the conquest of Pentos would be a later matter. In the meantime, Wright had them take on another mercenary task: assisting Tyrosh's new recruits, while also recruiting scattered exiles in the disputed lands to expand their mercenary force.
Daenerys and Missandei, on Odahviing, dressed in thick clothing and gloves, gripped the horns tightly, scanning the surroundings.
Missandei's head turned this way and that, marveling at everything, but Wright couldn't understand what was so special about the sea of white clouds below.
Daenerys, on the other hand, was reflecting. Her first time flying on a dragon was as a captive, standing atop an enemy dragon's head. The feeling of looking down from the sky was exhilarating, as if she could control all the land in her view. But she knew this was her first and last flight.
Daenerys opened her mouth to shout, but the wind was too strong, and her voice barely carried. Wright heard it but chose not to respond, waving to signal that he couldn't hear her.
After a few days of rest and flying, Wright finally returned to Tyrosh. The people of the city were cheering and waving as they looked to the sky.
The terror of Meereen's battle had already spread across the land. People from the Stepstones feared that Wright might fall due to the plague. With Dorne in turmoil, the return of the Lord of Tyrosh gave everyone a sense of security.
This was just a brief stop; Wright still had to escort Daenerys, the hot potato, to King's Landing.
The dragon began descending toward the inner city square. Nymeria and Tyene, accompanied by a group of women, were already waiting at the castle gates. A number of Tyroshi nobles and soldiers stood nearby.
Before the dragon even landed, Wright jumped off Odahviing's head and gracefully kneeled on one knee, supporting himself with one hand, opening his arms to embrace the two women—only to be stopped by Nymeria.
"Don't come any closer! What's that smell on you?" Nymeria blocked her stomach with one hand and extended the other to keep Wright at a distance.
"Huh?" Wright quickly sniffed himself, wondering if the smell from Daenerys had transferred to him. How could Nymeria's nose be so sensitive?
Tyene stepped a couple of paces toward Wright, sniffed, then quickly recoiled, her face full of disdain. "Sulfur with the smell of shit. What have you been doing?"
Wright, looking helpless, explained: "What have I been doing? A dragon was swallowed by Odahviing and i couldn't absorb the dragon soul. I had to keep digging for his droppings in the outskirts!"
Having asked Odahviing, he himself didn't know when it would come out. Wright could only estimate that he had a few hundred meters of intestines, and he had been waiting by the hole for a month without absorbing the dragon soul—probably already digested. Wright had given up.
For this period, Odahviing had been catching fish on his own, and the fecal smell was rather pungent. Despite washing many times, it still lingered. Wright, having gotten used to it, didn't mind, and Daenerys wasn't put off by it either due to sentimental reasons. But others could hardly bear it.
Wright had to come up with an excuse: "Dragon dung can be used in medicine. It has excellent healing effects for the plague. Odahviing doesn't let anyone else near it, so I had to transport it."
Those around Wright, who had been with him long enough, were already thinking of ways to profit. Wright, being a great mage, said it could cure disease, and that was enough. Islands close to Skull Island, like those held by Garlan Tyrell and Allard Seaworth, were already coming up with names for the dragon dung medicine and preparing drafts for Wright's approval.
Boom~~~ Odahviing had landed.
Noticing the discomfort of those around him holding their breath, Wright took a few steps back. "Alright, I won't touch you! I still need to send someone to King's Landing. The round trip will take about ten days."
"Is that platinum-haired woman Daenerys? Who is that little girl?" Nymeria pointed at the two descending from Drogon's back. Anyone Wright brought with him on the dragon couldn't be overlooked.
Wright smiled. "That little girl is ten years old. She'll be my secretary from now on!"
"We didn't have a castle before, so we never hired a secretary. Now you've brought back a ten-year-old girl?" Nymeria wondered if Wright had brought in someone with connections.
Wright spoke seriously to the officials around him. "Don't let her age fool you. She's fluent in four languages and is now learning a fifth!"
"Oh! She's that clever? You can leave her at the castle while you're gone to King's Landing. Quaithe, take the girl and get her some clothes," Nymeria said, looking after the people and making sure things were in order, though still not entirely trusting. She tasked the magic-wielding Quaithe with this.
"Understood." The response was simple and direct. No one could guess what expression lay behind Quaithe's mask.
She was the most mysterious person in the city of Tyrosh. Stannis had even set up a betting booth in Tyrosh, speculating about what lay beneath Quaithe's mask. Some wagered she was a beauty, others a wrinkled old woman, and there were even those who, based on her identity as a shadowbinder, bet that beneath the mask was no face at all, just swirling black shadows. The odds were high.
Quaithe was fully aware of these bets on her appearance, but she didn't mind. The salary she received from Wright as Guard was used to place bets led by Ashara Dayne on her behalf.
Wright asked, "Anything urgent I need to handle?"
Nymeria sighed. "Once you show up, many things tend to resolve themselves. The most troublesome right now is Dorne. My father and Prince Doran are still gravely wounded in Sunspear. Trystane has been captured by the Yronwood. He's sent out a number of letters, but many Dornish nobles think that those letters are false."
Wright thought for a moment. "I'm already aware of the situation. I'll bring it up in the Small Council when I reach King's Landing."
Upon hearing this, many of the Dornish nobles standing behind Nymeria visibly relaxed.
Wright took note of this but didn't ask any further questions. He suspected that this had something to do with Oberyn Martell's plans. As long as their goals aligned with his own, he had no qualms about going along with them.
"Miss Missandei, come here!" Wright called out.
Missandei, young and nimble, had already descended from the dragon's back. Upon hearing Wright's call, she ran to his side.
"I need to go to King's Landing. You'll stay here in Tyrosh. Quaithe will help you get acquainted with the place. You'll be my scribe from now on!" Wright patted the little girl's head.
"Understood!" Missandei said, eyeing Quaithe, who wore a black robe and red mask, with curiosity.
After everyone had been inconvenienced by the smell, Wright decided not to linger any longer. He had Tyene bring a few bottles of Lysene perfume and new clothes, and after changing, he sprayed himself liberally with perfume.
"If there's anything urgent, send a letter to Red Keep. I'm leaving now." Wright started to reach out to hug the two women but retracted his arms at the thought of the smell.
Nymeria and Tyene walked up to him, each reaching out to pat his face.
"Come back quickly," Nymeria said.
Tyene added, "If you still smell like that when you return, you're not allowed in bed!"
"Understood!" Wright grinned in response and turned to run toward the dragon. With a mage's hand, he grabbed the dragon's head and, with one arm around Dany, they took off into the air amidst the roaring winds of the dragon's wings.
Quaithe watched as the woman standing on the dragon's head flew off into the distance. "Aren't you worried that Wright and Daenerys might…?" she asked.
Nymeria and Tyene, hearing this, put their hands on their hips and puffed out their chests. Nymeria disdainfully replied, "With her flat chest, I wouldn't even look at her, let alone Wright."
Two days later, the dragon arrived in King's Landing.
For a long time, the construction of King's Road had been underway, and with the dragon residing in King's Landing, the people had grown accustomed to the sight of the giant creature flying above them. Some of the bolder dogs even dared to bark at it when they were out with their owners.
When this dragon appeared, the people of King's Landing saw the deep, numerous scars on its body and knew it had recently undergone a titanic battle.
The wounds had healed, but the scales hadn't fully regrown. There were long, meter-wide, dozens-of-meters-long gashes and areas with large patches missing scales, leaving the dragon's white skin exposed. Despite the damage, the dragon remained agile and full of energy, appearing like a battle-hardened warrior. Its presence alone exuded power.
The dogs in the city whimpered, and the Gold Cloaks were already positioned on the hill near the dragon's lair, waiting for the signal from Wright.
Nearby, Maester Aemon, sitting in a wooden wheelchair, had prepared himself mentally for the sight of the dragon. Even the knowledgeable maester was struck speechless by the sight.
When Wright jumped down from the dragon's head with Daenerys in tow, Maester Aemon instinctively shouted, "No!"
Renly, standing beside Maester Aemon, patted his shoulder and reassured him, "It's fine. This is how a Baratheon dragonrider dismounts."
Renly himself felt a swell of pride. His own dragon was growing and would soon be able to soar through the skies as well.
Maester Aemon had been brought to King's Landing by the Citadel for his wisdom, and he quickly earned the affection of the people, particularly the mages, who were always hungry for knowledge. He spent much of his time giving lectures on history at the Mage's School.
Wright landed smoothly after jumping down, setting Daenerys beside him. The Kingsguard came over to take her away, and a gold-red dragon, the size of a horse, ran to Wright's side, sniffing him all over with its head raised.
Wright patted its head. "Peytvahaaz, I didn't bring any jerky this time!"
"I... don't eat... dung!" Peytvahaaz shook its head and, with a flap of its wings, flew to Odahviing's head.
"I thought only your giant dragon was special, but turns out even a small dragon can speak High Valyrian." Renly wasn't surprised, as the Targaryen family's dragons weren't a secret, but Daenerys felt a pang of sadness at the thought of her dead dragons.
"See? The Targaryens are destined to fade from history. Now, it's the Baratheons' time to rule!" Wright said, guiding Daenerys forward. He exchanged pleasantries with Barristan and several familiar Kingsguard.
Barristan checked his pocket watch. "After seeing Lord Wright's dragon appear, the king has already begun calling the ministers and nobles of King's Landing to the Red Keep. The meeting starts in two hours."
"Perfect timing. You take Daenerys back to the Red Keep. I'm going to the magic school for another bath." Wright had been bathing several times a day lately, nearly scrubbing off layers of skin. But with so many people around, he didn't want to embarrass himself, so he'd wash again.
The Kingsguard escorted Daenerys to a carriage headed for the Red Keep, while Wright waved to Renly and Maester Aemon.
From the carriage window, Daenerys observed King's Landing. It was completely different from what the Golden Company had described. There was no pervasive stench of dung, no thieves or bandits on the streets, and no begging orphans in the corners. Pedestrians were grouped in twos and threes, laughing and chatting. Even the slightly ragged-looking people were carrying bundles and working. Judging by their health and appearance, at least they were well-fed.
As they neared the Red Keep, Daenerys realized it was her prison. Listening to Wright and the others talk, she learned that in two hours, all the nobles of King's Landing would gather in the Red Keep for her trial by King Robert. Daenerys had already made up her mind: if Robert humiliates her in front of everyone, she would find a pillar and immediately end her life by crashing into it.
Wright and Maester Aemon met again, sharing some sentiments. The last time they had met, Wright was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old teenager, but now he was the powerful Lord of Tyrosh. Still, neither of them cared much about titles, and they chatted about dragons and Wright's relative, Daenerys.
Maester Aemon had clearly aged a lot, and his energy wasn't as robust as before. Soon, he retired to his room to rest. Wright finished his bath and, along with Renly, headed for the Red Keep.
"Why didn't you bring Loras?" Wright asked on the way.
Renly explained, "I had him stay at Storm's End to look after Margaery. She's pregnant and can't travel. Loras is at Storm's End to keep her company, and that helps lift her spirits."
Wright nodded. "How's Margaery doing?"
Renly looked exhausted. "What do you think? No one is allowed within a meter of her belly! Anyone who gets too close gets a stern warning. Even Loras and I can't go near her. Isn't it the same with Nymeria and Tyene?"
"It really is. When I passed through Tyrosh, they both kept their distance from me by a few meters!" Wright agreed with a similar experience.
"That's the smell of dragon dung on you! Did you fall into a dung pit? How can you smell like that?" Despite Wright dousing himself in perfume, Renly, who also raised dragons, could still detect the odor.
"It's a long story," Wright said, as they walked toward the Red Keep. He began recounting his experiences in Meereen. The letter had left out many details, like how the battles unfolded. Now Wright shared the story first-hand. Renly, a five-School mage and future dragonrider, sympathized, occasionally lighting up his hands with magical energy as he mimed along. He'd exclaim, "This way, huh?" and sometimes shout, "Damn, that's amazing!"
Arriving early, Wright and Renly found the meeting hadn't yet started, so they went to meet Robert in Maegor's Holdfast.
Previously, Wright and Robert had some tension, but with the death of Jon Arryn, Daenerys's capture, Renly mediating, and a few drinks from Robert, the three of them laughed together in the small meeting room.
Before long, the stiff-faced Stannis arrived. Now dressed in the finest silks, with colorful gemstone rings on all ten fingers, Stannis was clearly flaunting his wealth.
"Stannis! You know, I only wear ten magic rings when I'm fighting at full strength. You're even more ridiculous!" Wright, a little drunk from Robert's influence, taunted.
Stannis raised all ten fingers, the light from his gemstone rings flashing in Wright's eyes. "Renly told me these represent strength!"
"I didn't tell you to wear ten rings!" Renly retorted.
At that moment, Robert came over with a bottle of wine, pouring it for the three of them, smiling broadly. "Three good brothers!"
Wright sat on the couch, raising his glass and grinning up at Robert. Renly rubbed his forehead, while Stannis remained his usual stiff self. They had all figured out Robert's nature.
Robert burst out laughing. "Ha ha! Today is a day worth celebrating. The Baratheon family will thrive. Seeing you three settled down, I'm really relieved, and I haven't let father and mother's wishes down."
After some more grand speech, Robert leaned in closer and whispered to the three of them, "I've been a bit tight on funds lately. You guys might want to help out a little?"