章 4: Black Goat

Pentos

"We threw barrels of oil down in the dark pit and a torch for none would venture down its dark depts to investigate , and so we burned it .And as the light of fire illuminated its crevice, we saw it , glimpses it may be ; but we saw them. Creatures of flesh, creatures neither man nor animal , demons in likeness to the one that had attacked us . And as the fire raged and burned they screamed, horrific screams not of man but guttural and vile . So for ten days the fire burned and for 2 days the screams continued to be heard until all went silent. "

"At one point the archbishop had seemed to have lost his wits on thinking straight after all the vile profanities he had witnessed within the dark temple. He even went as far as stating we should burn the entire city down and everyone who resided and who ever we encountered in it. Though through it all I think it wouldn't have disagreed with him thinking about it now, that place is wrong."

The lord Major was given a lot somber if not auspicious glances by many of those that sat present.

"Everything about it is wrong . How could those people have live amongst and worship such evil? How could such a evil city get so many adventurous visitors ? My lord, my king . The stench of evil will never leave that temple, perhaps not even the city no matter how many times the priests bless it with oil and incense."

"Heresy!" The Cardinal accused getting agreeing nods .

"Nothing is stronger than that of the powers of God. Baron Driscol "Baldwin Buts in trying to shield the man from the fury of the religious clergy .

"And I find your lack of faith Disturbing. I may not understand the horrors you and your men had faced upon that city or that vile place of worship , but Qohor is a valuable asset that cannot be torn down and left asunder because of fear , of what once was. The creatures are dead! Were they immune to the blades of the warriors that fought it ? No! Were they immune to fire? No! Fear none but the lord God himself"Baldwin denoted as he stared at the middle aged man , he wore no mask today so everyone saw his face cured of all illness .

"Its priest are dead, its worshippers hanged and burned , and its nobility purged away leaving but a few. And the temple is being torn down to its very foundations as we speak . The value of that city precedes all else outside of Pentos at this moment. That city is the gate way to the east but also the gate way to the west following the roads ." Baldwin declared making sure the Baron got the point well and clear.

" A reminder to all here"

"Qohor is one of the richest city perhaps even so more than those in the south bar pentos, and based upon the tax manifests and financial ledgers acquired Qohor generates approximately 500 tonnes of Gold per year through trading alone . And there are many other miscellaneous fields that have brought in profits which numbered 280 tonnes of Gold . And i have not touched on silver and copper my lords. The point being; is that Qohor is the richest exotic city on this side of the continent and a many of its wealth is generated from that forest alone . " Viscount Forlorn informed the room.

Many went astonished at his words while others remained straight faced and silent , for not even through the holy lands of Israel had such wealth flowed in such short amount of time .

'A damn year!!'Many pondered , at least the christian court , the magisters now advisors weren't really surprised. Qohor wasn't just called one of the great free cities for naught its influence and political hierarchy stretched far and wide but not far enough to save it from a siege one would think.

Many could understand pentos generating such wealth as it was a coastal city , but Qohor? How can a city so far inland and from a coast be in league with Pentos financially.

It seemed outrageous but the facts proved otherwise.

Due to its location, Qohor functions as the gateway to the Dothraki sea and the lands beyond. Trading caravans bound for or returning from Vaes Dothrak provision themselves in Qohor before heading towards the Dothraki sea.

In turn, overland merchant caravans from Yi Ti head west over the Bone Mountains to Vaes Dothrak, where they trade with merchants from the Free Cities. The overland trade routes are long and can be dangerous, but they are preferred by merchants who wish to avoid the exorbitant taxes that Qarth imposes on the shipping lanes that pass through its straits to the south.

Trade has helped make Qohor one of the most richest of the Free Cities, although the city was richer before the Kingdom of Sarnor was destroyed.

The Forest of Qohor is the principal source of wealth of the city. Timber is shipped down the Qhoyne to Dagger Lake, Selhorys, Valysar, Volon Therys, and Volantis.Many other valuables can be found in the Forest of Qohor.

Qohorik tapestries are comparable in to those made by the Myrish, though cheaper. Exquisite wooden carvings are sold in the city's markets as well.

"I want trade to return to Qohor as quickly as possible, speed up the clean up and repairs immediately. I want trade to return to the city as quickly as possible for weeks none have dared approached Qohor because of the war."

"Count Vandos" Baldwin called out to the man in the line of advisors that sat to the other side of the room.

"Yes my King !" The elderly man answered with ease , now standing up as he looked on ready to serve his monarch.

"I will name you Governor of Qohor. I shall also appoint Pentoshi magisters Vilum, and Rezzin as provincial aides in helping to rule those lands along with your own clergy , to ensure the city is back to where it was financially of course ."

"I am honored my king !"The man bowed

"Lord Major Driscol you have served well in capturing Qohor and done a great service and every one here can attest that. I commend you and the soldiers which served under your command , but i'll have you stay here . The times are changing and I understand you are distraught after the happenings of that city so but there are wider mysteries within this world , evils worse than that what you've faced. And as such weakness , superstition and fear cannot be sowed now . You were brave to continue with your duty and I grant you the rank of General , but no longer will military charge of the city be in your hands ."

" I thank you my lord! " the man spoke up .

Perhaps it was relief , even happiness . But one could see it in Driscol eyes that he was content beyond measure that he was moved away from that cursed city.

Driscol's successor on the other hand was Lord Major Raynald de Chatillion ( no this is not movie Raynald) , now among the circle of Lord Majors chosen by the king in the re-administration of his court and all military forces .

Raynald was the only Christian leader who fought against Saladin in the 1180s.The contemporaneous Ernoul mentioned two raids that Raynald made against caravans travelling between Egypt and Syria, breaking the truce.

Modern historians debate whether Raynald's desire for booty inspired these military actions,or were deliberate maneuvers to prevent Saladin from annexing new territories.Saladin tried to seize Aleppo after As-Salih Ismail al-Malik, the Zengid emir of the town, died on 18 November 1181.

Raynald stormed into Saladin's territory, reaching as far as Tabuk on the route between Damascus and Mecca in late 1181.Saladin's nephew, Farrukh Shah, invaded Oultrejourdain instead of attacking Aleppo to compel Raynald to return from the Arabian desert.

Before long, Raynald seized a caravan and imprisoned its members.On Saladin's protest, Baldwin IV ordered Raynald to free them, but Raynald did not obey him.His defiance annoyed the king, enabling Raymond III of Tripoli's partisans to reconcile him with the monarch.Raymond's return to the royal court put an end to Raynald's paramount position.He accepted the new situation and cooperated with the king and Raymond during the fights against Saladin in summer 1182.

And even now within this new world Raymond of Tripoli still opposed Raynald to an extent on certain matters . One was being promoted to the rank of Lord Major and taking charge of over 4000 battle hardened men .

But Raynald was the right man to defend Qohor's frontier especially if there were Dothraki raids . His bravery , brutality and cunning against enemies was not to be understated , the man feared little if none bar the king "since recently" and death itself.

"Count Vandos as Governor had all jurisdiction to order him around , as he had stated within the Re administration that provisional Governors were in charge of everything within their realm . Military forces was also under their jurisdiction , besides the king who had the right to move the military where ever he pleased.

But many would question Baldwin's choice of choosing Raynald as Lord Major but their were no mistakes made by the monarch . Raynald new his place and he made sure he did.Now all sights were set on Norvos .

Norvos lay between Qohor and Pentos and time would tell when the conquest of another free city would be taken.

Seeing themselves surrounded on both sides , east and west . Perhaps the land lock city would capitulate before it came to war and surrender to Pentos as news of what happened to Qohor as mummers and witnesses spread tales of its fall far and wide, many had wondered when these new invaders would cease with their conquest over the few weeks or if their conquest would ever cease.

But Baldwin new better than to leave such a city which lay between him and his eastern state , it left him vulnerable .

But for now he would cooperate with the middle city , though it was unwise as Norvos would reinforce themselves even further more. Maybe even buy sell swords to protect or perhaps harass his realms . Norvosi envoys came to Pentos subtly warn of any action against its city will not go well and divulge that trading was preferable than conflict.