Gohor's influence over Ogo's khalasar was comprehensive in every aspect.
In just three months, they had already grown fond of wearing clothes.
At first, it might have been just a pair of fine boots. Then came the need for a proper belt to match.
With a belt came the desire for a comfortable linen shirt.
The Dothraki loved tattoos, and those linen shirts could be printed with all kinds of exaggerated patterns.
Giant wings, massive swords, curved blades—everything could be added.
Viserys never forced them to change their customs, but the human appreciation for beauty was universal.
Once these Dothraki began wearing clothes, Viserys sent physicians to treat their ailments.
Toothaches, constipation, hemorrhoids, and even impotence.
The last one was difficult to cure completely, but for men who had long suffered in silence, even slight improvement was enough.
Those willing to convert to the Faith of the Seven or the Mother Rhoyne received priority treatment.
Not only the common riders, even Ogo himself had nearly shed the image of a barbaric warlord.
He stood before a mirror, adjusting his robe again and again.
The mirror reflected every detail of his body and face with perfect clarity.
The beard along his jaw and neck, his unruly brows, even stray nose hairs were visible.
Ever since Viserys acquired glassmaking techniques from Volantis, mirrors had become common.
Such clarity made Ogo deeply aware of Gohor's power.
Since he had become Viserys' vassal, he could no longer go bare-chested as before.
He had begun to dress like the nobles of the Free Cities, wearing long robes. Almost instantly, he fell in love with the feeling.
Silk robes fluttered in the wind, making him feel both majestic and imposing.
The mirror also awakened a new habit in him—vanity.
Wherever he went, he insisted on bringing his prized mirror along.
While he was still admiring himself, the man Viserys had assigned to him entered the tent.
"Khal Ogo, His Majesty's three thousand Dragonriders have arrived."
This man, Coren, was nominally a scholar from the Claw Isle, but in truth, he was placed there to monitor Ogo.
"Oh, Maester Coren, you're here. Who is leading them?"
"It is Mathos, son of Davos."
"I will go greet him personally."
Ogo stepped out of his tent and went to meet the arriving force.
In front of Coren, he always maintained a humble and obedient attitude.
He understood clearly that in his lifetime, there would be no chance of overturning his situation.
Viserys was too young. Time alone would see Ogo to his grave.
And the king's subordinates were formidable. The four Kingsguard knights alone were already difficult to deal with.
The graduates of the military academy were all exceptional, the finest among hundreds or even thousands.
Yet all of them willingly served Viserys.
Not to mention the endless strategies and methods Viserys employed—Ogo could not handle even one of them.
For now, the most important thing was to eliminate Khal Drogo.
If Drogo were gone, Ogo could dominate the Dothraki Sea and lay the foundation for a future resurgence.
From afar, he saw the three thousand Dragonriders outside the camp.
Their banner was distinctive.
The upper half bore a diving dragon, while the lower half displayed a purple longbow.
At the top of the pole hung a string of black tassels.
Those tassels symbolized their overwhelming victory over the Dothraki.
"Ser Mathos!" Ogo greeted enthusiastically, his excitement almost like seeing a son returned from the dead.
In order to integrate into Viserys' system, he had thoroughly studied everyone around the king.
He knew the importance of the Davos Seaworth family.
"Ogo Khal."
Matthos dismounted and gave a proper military salute.
Viserys had granted Ogo the rank of Highlord, so Mathos was required to show respect.
Ogo stepped forward warmly, grasping his arm.
"Has His Majesty's army already departed?"
"Yes. His Majesty has led two main forces out of Gohor. We are to act as the vanguard for the armies that follow."
"When I pledged loyalty, I swore to die where His Majesty's sword points. Allow me to lead from the front."
"The king's order is for me to command the vanguard. That is a royal command. None of us can disobey it."
"...Of course. His Majesty's command is supreme. We must all obey."
Ogo's earlier words had only been for show.
He knew very well that if he encountered Drogo, he would gain no advantage.
Viserys' plan was simple.
The Dothraki forces under Ogo must successfully reach Vaes Dothrak as the advance guard.
They could not be broken early.
Only then could the morale of the following armies remain intact.
If they could be the first to enter Vaes Dothrak, it would deal a devastating blow to the enemy's spirit.
Viserys understood that although the coalition army numbered in the hundreds of thousands, it lacked unified command.
Under such circumstances, tolerance for losses and failure was extremely low.
The Dragonriders had now expanded to twelve thousand.
Viserys brought with him eight thousand Dragonriders, three thousand light cavalry, five thousand heavy infantry, and five thousand longbowmen.
If he wished, he could expand the Dragonriders to thirty thousand.
But that would not be cost-effective.
He wanted to use this campaign to assess the strength and resources of the other city-states. He could not afford excessive losses on his own side.
At this moment, reports from various allied forces had already reached Viserys' central army.
Braavos would move with Loras by sea, sailing south from the Shivering Sea.
Viserys did not expect them to actually engage the Dothraki.
Braavos lay in the far northwest and was barely affected by them..As long as they could distract Drogo, it would be enough.
Based on geography, Viserys divided the coalition into three routes.
The upper route consisted of Qohor and Norvos, advancing together from deep within the Dothraki Sea.
The middle route included Gohor, Pentos, and Ogo's forces, numbering fifty to sixty thousand.
The lower route was formed by the armies of the Three Daughters and Volantis, also totaling over sixty thousand.
Of course, Viserys did not fully trust the forces of the Three Daughters or Volantis.
On his right flank stood the Golden Company.
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