32 The Burning Of Braavos

~~~(POV: Raenon Targaryen)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 15 Years)~~~

~~~(Location: Flying Along The Sweetwater River, Nearing Braavos, Essos)~~~

~~~(Date: 299 AC)~~~

Rhaenys and I have been flying for a few days. We took a break yesterday, and now we're almost to Braavos. It's a place that I knew I'd come to eventually. After meeting Dany and learning about who I am and where I come from.

It's peaceful up here...

My head is calm and even. Time steadily passes, and I'm reminded about why I've come all this way. The giant statue at one of the entrances to Braavos is visible. They call it the Titan of Braavos. A warning to all enemies coming.

For as long as Braavos has existed, it's been a prosperous city. They were a colony of runaway slaves from Old Valyria. They hid for centuries. Building and becoming stronger. The Iron Bank is a testament to that. Along with The Faceless Men making their home here.

"Grrruuuu..."

The grumble comes from my massive dragon. We're flying slowly, and the city is coming into view. The strategic approach is to burn the Scorpion Ballistas before they even know we're here.

Sensing my will, Rhaenys flies high above the city. We're flying higher than we've ever flown before. The target of this first strike is The Sealord of Braavos. More specifically, his Manse. You could call it a castle from way up here.

It's the only place in Baavos with Scorpion Ballistas. In the months Dany and I were traveling with Oberyn and Ellaria, we were taught about all the Free Cities. Their weaknesses and strengths. Braavos is susceptible to an aerial attack.

We're at the height I want to be, and The Sealord of Braavos is below us. In the perfect position for a diving strafe of Black Dragon Fire.

"Ropagon se zirȳdaor ry zālaza, Rhaenys..."

I tell Rhaenys to fall and burn them all. The words come out of my mouth as a whisper... But in my heart, it's a scream. That scream is transferred to Rhaenys as she dips her head, and we gain speed. She opens her mouth as the Manse belonging to The Sealord of Braavos closes in.

"SCCRRRRRRRAAAAA!!!!!"

My massive dragon lets out a soul-crushing roar before pulling her head up hard and blowing Black Dragon Fire on The Sealord of Braavos's Manse. Continuing to do so through the middle of the city.

We level out over the water, and as we turn. I can see the fire burning the Manse and a colossal path through the middle of the city. I can hear the screams of innocence from here.

My eyes land on the home of The Faceless Men, and my wrath builds. An ever-consuming fire takes over my soul. I want to see Braavos burn. The home to the enemies that would try and harm my sister and daughter.

"Zirȳdaor ry zālaza!!!"

I tell my she-dragon to burn them all. Burn all of Braavos.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

We elevate into the sky and gain momentum. Rhaenys starts her dive again, and the impact from the dive and her Black Dragon Fire completely annihilates The Faceless Men. They are no more.

Rhaenys continues burning a path through the city. Making a misshapen X formation in the city itself.

When this is all over, there will be nothing left I can do to stop people from claiming I'm like my father. But sometimes, you need a little madness to get things done. To do things that others wouldn't, what's necessary.

Rhaenys elevates higher into the sky. Only to start diving down again and unleashing another breath through the city. At this point, Most of Braavos is on fire. Black Dragon Fire is eating through everything.

"ȳdra daor keligon ēva ry hen Braavos iksos jeson!!"

After my order to Rhaenys not to stop until all of Braavos is dust. I find myself haunted. I will not stop, but I'm conscious of what I'm doing.

The Iron Bank of Braavos is almost enveloped in Black Dragon Fire. Rhaenys senses my will, and she unleashes a great breath of fire right through The Iron Bank. It's melting, and everyone in there is screaming.

The Lannisters have just lost their greatest supporters. After two final strafes of Black Dragon Fire, all of Braavos is burning. I don't hear as many screams anymore.

I look toward The Titan of Braavos and see a few stray ships trying to get away. Going under the great metal statues legs. Rhaenys changes direction, and we're on our way to them. Leaving survivors to tell the story would make a good legend.

I'm not here to create a legend.

"Zālagon zirȳ, Rhaenys."

This time, it comes out as a simple command. My order is for Rhaenys to burn them. In a final attack on this ancient Free City. Rhaenys destroys the ships. They're dwarfed in size compared to my dragon. I watch as a few men and women are able to jump ship before the hits.

Swimming ashore. I'm able to make out a Captain walking onto the shore under the Titan's right leg. Rhaenys feels my will to land, and she turns around. Slowing down and landing on the beach too.

There is a small group. A few men, a few women, and a child with his mother.

Rhaenys stomps her way over and is about to bathe them in Black Dragon Fire.

"Umbagon, Rhaenys, nyke jaelagon naejot ȳzaldrīzes rūsīr zirȳ."

Instead of allowing that to happen. I tell Rhaenys to wait because I want to speak with them. She hesitates and almost doesn't obey. But sensing my desire to speak with them. She stops.

She lowers her head, and I make my way off my she-dragon.

I take a few steps forward and stand across from the small group. Rhaenys is casting a shadow on them and me. It's early morning. The sun hasn't been up for more than an hour at this point.

"What's your name, Captain?"

They all flinch as the first word leaves my mouth. The man I'm speaking to is in his late 50s and has seen much of life. He's intimidated, to be sure, but he's masking it better than I expect him to after a display like that.

The mother is crouched on the ground and holding her child. Crying her eyes out. Speaking Braavosi. Which is another variant of low Valyrian. Dany and I speak High Valyrian.

"Why..."

Instead of the Captain speaking. One of the younger and wilder men speaks. I can see the pain and hurt. The loss on his face.

"WHY BURN AN ENTIRE CITY!!? ARE YOU MAD!!?"

For some reason, the younger man lights a fire in the Captain. And everyone is shocked as the Captain is the one that yells.

There are a lot of ways I could handle this. But I'm not here to make peace or allies. Braavos is gone, and the support it gave to The Lannisters is gone with it.

"I don't owe you an explanation, Captain. Now, what is your name."

He's still not answered my question yet, and I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't let them live. I was going to. To allow just a few to tell the story. I burned the fleeing ships in case any Faceless Men got away with them.

Since that's been handled, I could let these people live.

"I'm Captain Varmael Issotik... We already know who you are, Targaryen..."

So he finally decides to tell me his name. Rhaenys inches closer from behind me, and she lowers her head to be level with my body. Letting out a vicious growl in the process as she stares at the people across from me.

"If you tell me what I want to know, all of you will live. Do we have a deal?"

Before the Captain can speak, the mother with her son stands up from the ground.

"Deal!"

No one disagrees with her. I commend her for the speedy reply.

"The Bank of Braavos and The Faceless Men... I take it that I've killed them all, or at least all of the people in The Iron Bank?"

I know it's impossible to have killed every Faceless Man in the world in that single attack. I want to know that most of my enemies in Braavos are actually dead.

"Yes... The Faceless Men had no contracts out... You killed them all... As well as The Iron Bank... It's nothing but a pile of molten metal and stone now..."

It's the Captain that answers my question. This worked out way better than I thought it would. The Faceless Men are dead. Their entire order and all their operatives are dead.

"How do you know this, Captain Varmael Issotik? I doubt The Faceless Men would share such valuable information with a common Captain such as yourself."

I need to make sure that this information is legit. If it's not, then I'll have to assume some Faceless Men survived, and they'll want revenge.

"My brother... He was one of the leaders in the cult of assassins... He told me everything that went on... They were to start hunting you tomorrow... But seems you handled it before they could start..."

This is fantastic news. Everything that I've done today has gone better than I'd hoped it would. The threat against my family is gone. My sister and daughter are safe now.