To Vaes Dothrak.

~~~(Location:The Dothraki sea,Essos)~~~

~~~(Date:25AC)~~~

The vast plains of the Dothraki Sea stretched as far as the eye could see. Countless blades of grass swayed in the breeze beneath a cloudless blue sky. It was here that two khals would meet to determine supremacy.

Khal Aerys surveyed his massive khalasar from atop his new steed. Over 26,657 warriors now rode with him, earning him the title of one of the most feared khals in all of Essos. By his side were his bloodriders - Haggo, Qoyo, Aggo, and Cohollo- who have repeatedly proven their loyalty and strength.

On the eastern horizon, another khalasar approached. Led by the Khal Moro, some 13,854 warriors followed his call. Moro was no stranger to battle, having outwitted and outfought several rivals to expand his horde. Riding at his sides were his five bloodriders.

As the two khalasars neared one another, the air grew tense with anticipation. The Dothraki warriors brandished their arakhs and screamed challenges, eager to prove their might in the coming fight. Aerys reached for the hilt of his arakh, eyes lingering on the approaching enemy.

As the two mighty khalasars came within sight of each other, the bloodriders rode forward to meet in the open plain between. As was Dothraki's custom, the bloodriders would decide the challenge between their khals through ritual combat.

Haggo, Qoyo, Aggo, and Cohollo took their positions opposite Khal Moro's five fiercest warriors. All had freely given their lives in service of their khals and now faced a trial of steel that would determine the fate of two great khalasars.

Aerys and Moro watched intently from atop a grassy knoll as their champions readied themselves. A hush fell over the assembled Dothraki as Moro's eldest bloodrider stepped forth and removed his arakh from its leather scabbard with a rasp. He pointed the curved blade skyward and declared the terms of engagement in their harsh tongue.

Only one bloodrider from each khal needs to survive to claim victory. All other weapons and armor were to be discarded - this would be a contest of pure skill, strength, and will. Those who fell were deemed unworthy to ride as blood. At a nod from Aerys' bloodriders, the terms were agreed.

Steel sang as blades were bared, the combatants beginning to slowly circle one another. Tension hung thick in the air. With only pride and their khals' supremacy to fight for, the bloodriders gazed intently for any sign of weakness.

The bloodriders had already drawn steel and were pacing like hungry lions. On the hill, Aerys' eyes fell upon the other khal for the first time.

Moro met his stare with defiance in his gaze. Neither backed down from the challenge that crackled between them.

As the bloodriders faced off, Aerys rode toward Moro atop the hill. He grasped his arakh's hilt and called out in the Dothraki tongue.

"I am Aerys of the Great Grass Sea. You lead many fine riders, Moro. Your name has spread."

Moro eyed him keenly. "As has yours, pale stranger. It seems the great stallion has deemed our tribe's rivals today."

Aerys nodded. "It would seem so. But there need not be ill blood between us beyond this field."

"We each fight only for our people. All else is grass beneath horses' hooves."

"Just so." Aerys surveyed Moro's warriors briefly. "Your men are true and strong. As are mine own."

Moro nodded with pride at his bloodriders. "They have served me well through many seasons."

Aerys twisted in his saddle, eying his battle-hardened guards. "And mine have proven their fierceness time and again."

He turned back to Moro thoughtfully. "Their lives should not be cast aside so lightly in a quarrel between khals. There is another way."

Moro raised an eyebrow. "What do you propose, Khal Aerys?"

Gripping his arakh, Aerys met Moro's stare directly. "Let our bloodriders stand down. You and I will decide the fate of our tribesman alone, through a duel under the open sky. Khal to khal, as our people have not seen in many generations."

A rare smile broke across Moro's stern features. But it faded as quickly as it came. He looked long at Aerys, considering.

Finally, Moro spoke. "You offer a challenge for the ages, pale stranger. But I am not so foolish as to risk all upon one swing of steel. Your feats are legendary - no khalasar escapes your maw intact."

He studied Aerys carefully. The tales of the Pale Stranger conquests were legend - no enemy survived intact. And yet Moro's five riders had never failed him.

Aerys arched a brow, waiting. Moro continued carefully.

"With five bloodriders at my side, my chances shine brighter. Why choose single combat and throw away such an advantage? It seems you aim to devour my men swiftly, as is your way.

If he accepted single combat, victory would bring glory for ages. But a loss would mean the end of his people. Against such a renowned foe, could he risk all on one swing?

No, for all his strength Aerys possessed guile as well. This challenge seemed aimed to devour his forces swiftly. Moro was no fool to be baited so easily.

His bloodriders remained his surest advantage. With them, his chances shone much brighter than facing the Pale Khal alone. He would refuse the duel, placing faith in the proven warriors at his side.

At last, Moro shook his head. To Aerys he simply replied, "My riders will stand for me. Let the fate of our tribes be decided this day between them."

The stage was set. Moro had made his prudent choice to preserve his people, whatever the skies held for this meeting of mighty khals.

"Though your word sits fair, I must refuse single combat. My riders will stand for me. So let the fates be cast - may the stronger khalasar triumph this day."

Moro met his gaze squarely. "It is said you did not travel to Vaes Dothrak after your crowning, to present yourself before the crones of the Dosh Khaleen. By our laws, any man who would be Khal must first seek their blessing at the mother of mountains. And you did not."

A murmur rose from Moro's assembled warriors at this proclamation. Aerys remained silent, considering Moro's shrewd challenge to his legitimacy.

After a long moment, Aerys finally spoke. "You speak truly, Moro, but not of the whole truth."

Moro eyed him skeptically. "Explain yourself then, Pale Stranger."

Aerys met his gaze steadily. "It is no secret I was a new khal facing many enemies. But I was already on my way to Vaes Dothrak, to receive the crones' blessing as is our law, when your accusation finds me."

"On your way?" Moro repeated with a derisive snort. He eyed Aerys skeptically. "And how long does this journey of yours take? By my count, it's been two years , since you first took up the khal's braid."

Aerys met his gaze calmly. "The grass sea is vast, and-"

"Vast enough for such a wander, yet you manage to conquer tribes and thrive all across these same plains?" Moro cut him off. "Some journey you've embarked on, pale stranger."

His thick tone dripped with sarcasm. Around them, Moro's bloodriders muttered and shook their heads, sharing their that's obvious disbelief in Aerys' story.

Moro turned and raised his voice so all could hear. "Come now, bloodriders of Aerys who is 'on the way'!" he called out mockingly.

As Moro launched his caustic inquiry, Aerys' bloodriders could only exchange uncomfortable glances.

To answer was to expose their khal, yet silence condemned him all the same. Years of loyalty proved hollow in the face of this cunning khal's interrogation.

Haggo grinding his teeth at Moro's jabs. But to defend Aerys was to call his sacred duty into doubt, and that road led only to ruin.

Cohollo and Aggo stared holes into the dirt, finding no words to repair the tears in their Khal's story. Qoyo stared stoically ahead, but inside seethed at this khal clever ability to expose dishonor through artful questions.

How they had suffered these long moons in silent counsel, urging Aerys to honor the Mother of Mountains! Only to see all their efforts unravel before the grass had browned.

Now they could do nothing but comfort themselves in the surety of their steel, and the faith that victory on this field would end this despoiling of their khal's glory once and for all. But until then, like whipped dogs, they could only suffer Moro's mockery in brooding silence.

Moro eyed Aerys' shifting bloodriders with a keen, calculating stare. Not one came to their khal's defense in the face of such probing questions.

"Your story has more holes than a castrated goat, pale stranger. But let our blood prove us both to the Great Stallion, as is our way. So be it - may the stronger khalasar triumph on this day."

Aerys gave a nod of acceptance to Moro's prudent decision. The stage was set for the battle to come.