Khal Zhano, Son of Vazzo

A khalasar is a nomadic horde of Dothraki led by a chief called a khal. The heir to a khalasar is the khal's son, the khalakka.

Khalasars come in various sizes; the more powerful and feared the khal, the larger his khalasar. Before the age of twenty-three Khal Drogo led an enormous khalasar of twenty thousand strong.

Khalasars are broken into groups, called khas, which are each led by one of the khal's captains, called kos. When a khal dies or becomes too weak to lead, a new khal may take control of the khalasar or the khas may break away and form new khalasars led by their former kos.

The Dothraki will not follow a child khalakka. Instead, the kos will fight among themselves to take the place of the fallen khal and the khalakka will be killed so that he does not grow up to become a rival.

Zhano was hoping that this division will serve the same purpose as it did during the transfer of Khals. At the very least, he expected a few Kos to fight. But everyone wants to be a Khal. Give the option, Zhano believes these Kos will take their Khas and leave.

Following the tracks left by the hunting party, it only took a day to find the Khalasar of Khal Gorro. Zhano cantered into the camp with Oberon perched on his shoulder. The massive eagle obeying a man was unseen. The Dothraki looked on curiously at this young boy leading three strong men and two beautiful women that looked equally as deadly.

Their attention then shifted to the three carts of food, weapons, clothing, hides, and gold. They then looked at the train of horses with no riders. Such a sight was odd. They all asked similar questions. 'Who is he?' 'Where did he come from?' 'Why is here?'

"Look! That's Moro's horse!" a girl shouted and pointed.

Zhano continued on and ignored the chatter. He soon made it to the center of the camp where Khal Gorro was sitting with three naked beauties, along with his four Kos. The Khalasar itself was was a mere two thousand. In the current Dothraki Sea, those numbers put Khol Gorro at the bottom of the totem pole. This explained why he was near the ruins where Khalasar was few and far between.

Zhano dismounted his horse and greeted the Khal respectfully. The Dothraki sea was common land and connected all Dothraki. Khalasars and Khal were sacred structures and a modicum of respect was due.

Khal Gorro spies the single bell in Zhano's hair but then sees the many in the hair of his bloodriders. He didn't know what to make of it.

"Khal Gorro, I'm here for compensation!" Zhano declared.

The Kos laughed.

"For?" Khal Gorrro asked.

"The bloodriders on my land who tried to hunt my bird on your orders." Zhano pointed at Oberon.

Gorro's eyes narrowed. He recognized the birds. But the three Bloodriders left with twenty-five men. Maybe some of Zhano's people died in the fight, Gorro thought.

"So you killed them? The blood of my blood?! And You ask me for compensation?!" Gorro raised his voice.

"You're damn right… And if you refuse, I challenge you for your Khalasar. When I kill you and claim it, that will be compensation enough." Zhano growled.

Gorro laughed. "I have four Kos that will say otherwise. Each of them can kill you 100 times over. Do you deserve to challenge a Khal, boy?!"

This was the cunning of a Khal. Zhano recognized it immediately. Gorro wanted him to face the Kos or die trying. Even if he did make it through them, Gorro would make light work of the tired Zhano.

"I have Kos of my own. Care for a wager. Four of mines against four of yours."

The kos fell over laughing but the woman of the Khalasar was now in the palm of Zhano's hand. He had never asked his mother about being a Ko, but since Gorro want to play games, Zhano decided to play as well.

Zhano trusted the abilities of himself and his people. The problem wasn't the single combat. The problem was the remaining Khalasar. So, while Gorro was maneuvering to kill Zhano and take everything he had brought with him while avoiding battle himself. Zhano was maneuvering diffuse the two thousand strong Khalasar.

"I only see three Kos." said Gorro mockingly, "Three Kos and two more whores for my men to play with."

"Haha, Zhali is the Khalessi of Khal Vazzo. She has more right and strength to be a Ko than any of yours." Zhano proclaimed and the crowd clamored.

Zhali had gone missing from the Dosh Khaleen a year ago and hadn't been heard. She also disappeared with her son. Many rumors were going around but to see them challenging a Khal was so early was unexpected, considering the world knew Zhano should only be fourteen.

"Khal Vazzo's boy. The son of Dosh Khaleen. Zhano, breaker of horses." Gorro spoke.

Zhano nodded.

"Khal Drogo is looking for you. He gave you a gift and you threw it away like trash and ran like a coward," said Gorro.

"Drogo will have words when we see each other. But you won't be around to hear them. Four of mine, against four of yours." Zhano repeated himself.

Gorro growled, "Kovarro, kill her."

The slim man with two Arakhs stood up as he eyed Zhali.

"Mother, don't play with this dog. Show these women something to aspire to." Zhano spoke in YiTish.

Zhali dismounted her horse with her spear in hand. She took a fighting stance and readied herself. Kovarro scuffed the produced a war cry as he advanced. Zhali moved into a second stance. The spear covered the distance. Zhali spear moved and the sound of clanking metal rang through the camp.

Taking her son's words to heart, Zhali aimed specifically for the arakhs in Kovarros' hand. After six heavy exchanges, his blades shatter and Zhali skewered the man from beneath his jaws and out the top of his skull.

"Boro, you're up," said Zhano.

Boro dismounted and twirled a wind blade from hidden the hidden cache. This was the second act of submission. Though the Dothraki Sea had countless Valyrian Steel Arakhs. They were in the hands of bigger well established Khalasar or scattered in the wind. But Zhano now had enough to outfit a few hundred. And if they learned the spear, used daggers, or are archers, hundreds more could be equipped.

"Khal Gorro, watch your Kos die or face me. Either way, all you have will be mine. At least if you face me, you'll be sparing their lives." Zhano launched the third attack.

Khal Gorro smacked the table and the Khalasar looked hopeful. "Risso! Kill that son of a whore!" he roared.

Khal Gorro had failed them again. One Kha was without a Ko. Female warriors were given a glimpse of a brighter future. And another Ko was offered up.

Like the ko before him, Risso was slaughtered. Zhano sighed then dismounted his horse. His hand drift behind his back and two talons flew out killing the remaining two kos. Zhano then drew his sword.

"You tried to eat my bird. I want compensation. You people's blood, stain my fields. I want compensation. You made mother get off of her horse, I want compensation. Fight me."

Gorro pushed his women aside in anger. He then kicked the small tabled in front of him. It twisted through the air and Zhano cut it down with a single blade. The moment it fell in two peace, Gorro appeared with a fully drawn bow and smile on his.

"Not strong, but cunning. You need both." Zhano spoke as the arrow was let loose.

His free hand shot up and caught the arrow-like a striking viper. He spun on his and released the broad arrow like a dart.

Shunk!

"Guhh!" Gorro gurgled as he put his hands to his throat. But the blood wasn't leaking from his neck. Instead, it was filling his throat, streaming down his windpipe, and flooding his lounge. The six-foot-tall dropped to his knees as his vision faded. He then fell forward, pushing the arrow completely through his neck causing blood to erupt from his nape in a crimson geyser.

The Khalsar was speechless. The sound of insects in the plains was the only thing that could be heard. Then the rustling of leather resounding as the Khalasar went to their knees and put their foreheads to the earth.

"Khal Gorro is dead! All those who remain now belong to the Khalasar of Khal Zhano, son of Vazzo!" Zhano roared.

Hundreds fell like waves and tens mounted horses, fleeing into the Dothraki Sea.

"Oberon, keep an eye out."

"Aaaaaah!" The Eagle screeched then flew into the sky.

"Now we head south," said Zhano.

"What about the War Hound in the east?" Zhali asked.

"Lajo must die before he catches wind of this," Zhano replied. "Take control of the Khas and pack up the camp. We leave tonight."

Zhano then looked at the great tent in front of him. Stepping the horsehide doorway, he found a pregnant Khaleesi and her handmaids.

Thinking of his mother and himself. Zhano knew he couldn't let the woman go. Khal Gorro was a small Khal and the chance of the Khaleesi being rejected from the Dosh Khaleen is high. If she managed to bed another Khal, that could mean another enemy.

Zhano looked on with dead eyes and the Khaleesi could feel the cold winds of her death. Tears wet her cheek and her handmaids made quick choices as two fell to the earth and bowed. One picked up a knife and took guard.

This moment in time felt like a thousand years as Zhano remember the people who betrayed his father. Zhano too had to make choice. His blade arced and blood painted the inside of the tent. Screams echoed through the camp but slowly died as the Khaleesi and her handmaid realized that they were alive.

"What I hate more than potential threats are traitors," said Zhano. "If I send you to Veas Dothrak, you won't make it. Swear now to the moon and sun, that that boy will never be Khalakka. That we will not vie for power, or seek revenge. Swear and I'll take you in. You and your handmaid can serve me."

"Khaleesi…" The handmaid begged.

"She is Khaleesi no longer. Her Khal is dead and the Dosh Khaleen is not her home!" Zhano roared.

"I swear. I swear to the sun and moon, that I, Qoni, will serve Khal Zhano until my dying day. My son will be less than a man. He will never ride a horse in all his days. If not the Horse God will part the grasslands and deliver me and mine to hell." Qoni finished.

Her handmaiden the submitted.

"Be thankful for my mercy and curse you husband for being a weak coward with more brains than brawns." Zhano finished then turned away.

"Qoni is not to be touched. She is mine!" Zhano declared.

By sunrise, Qoni was on a horse next to Zhano. While the Khalasar believed that she was going to become his Khaleesi, those closest to him knew the truth.

"My Khal." Qoni spoke, "I can't ride anymore."

"You will ride. I will find your worth somehow. " Zhano replied.

Qoni clenched the reins and muscled through them.

Zhali saw this and sighed. "Son, the girl is weak. You should have made her a slave. To ride with you…"

"I know what I'm doing. She stays put. If she's meant to be she will be." Zhano looked at the struggling Qoni. "Weak wife begets a weak husband. She will make a choice and decide who she wants to be for the remainder of her life."

Qoni was beautiful. Her copper skin was intense with an alluring glimmer, her hair dark, thick, and long. Long eyelashes and beautiful aquamarine eyes. Her breasts had big and round during the pregnancy, while her arse had natural cheekiness that was brought to full grandeur with the widening of her hips.

Traveling south, Zhano was like a demon. He sacked villages and swallowed another Khalasar along the way. He was vicious and decisive. And Qoni's opinion of him had changed once he cut down a spunky Khaleesi and her three-year-old child. She felt somewhat special to still be alive. But she was sure that the trip would kill.

Once the new Khalassar was absorbed, Qoni was in for the shock of her life. But it was deeper than she could ever imagine as the entire Khalasar, most of which used to call her Khalessi, did not immediately move on Zhano's order. Instead, they awaited her reply.

"Qoni, what are you doing?" Zhano asked, " I said, ride in the cart."

Qoni looked at the cart and into the eyes of the Dothraki Horde. She had never once attempted to be strong. That wasn't the job of the Khaleesi. Even after the death of their husbands, they find shelter, fleeing from the Khalasar. But looking at Zhano, she knew this Khal wanted a woman like his mother. Strong, clear-minded, and a force of nature.

Qoni could be a servant, or she could work to become a Khaleesi again. A Khaleesi worth looking up to like Zhali.

"I'm fine, My Khal. I want to ride." Qoni replied.

Many of the Dothraki that liked Qoni were pleased. After days of traveling, they realized that Zhano's words meant that he owned Qoni and not that she was his woman. They also noticed that Qoni made no effort to change that and was slightly disappointed but it was the way of life and the Dothraki Sea.

However, now Qoni took a step in a new direction and they all wondered where this weak girl and rising Khal would end up.

" What you want and what can do are two different things. Mother, watch her. If she falls, it's her fault for being stubborn." Zhano announced. " Let's move! Death waits on no one, and theirs a few that would see us dead because we cloud the vision of their futures!"

The Khalasar released war cries and hoped Khal Zhano could take them further than their previous Khals ever did.

Meanwhile, the word was traveling across the Great Grass Sea of Khal Zhano and his trampling Khalasar that. Two Khal deads and the entire Dothraki Sea knew who was next ---Khal Lajo, his father's murderer.