Marcos stood in front of a giant map of the region, with markers representing known forces, movable in all directions.
I had slept three hours in the last two days.
His office was full of people: Garrett, Mero, Daenerys , Elia, Mira, Lysor , and several captains of the Second Sons.
And everyone was looking at him, waiting for him to say something great and inspiring.
"We're screwed," Marcos said.
It wasn't exactly what they expected to hear.
"Chief..." Garrett began.
"No, listen. Let's be realistic." Marcos pointed to the map. "We have 150 civilians in Astoria, 100 in Nohoros , 300 in Valdesh . That's 550 people total. Of those, maybe 200 can fight if we train them all desperately. We have 100 professional Second Sons."
—Against two thousand Pentos soldiers . —Mero finished—. The math isn't in our favor.
"Exactly. But..." Marcos smiled. "Numbers aren't everything. Rome conquered most of the known world despite being constantly outnumbered. How? Strategy, discipline, infrastructure, and taking advantage of the terrain."
—And do we have those things? —Mira asked.
"We have something better: we have magic, impossible defenses, and enemies who don't know what they're dealing with." Marcos began pointing to locations on the map. "The Magistrates are going to think this is a simple siege. They surround Astoria, wait until we run out of food, and then we negotiate surrender. Classic strategy."
—And it won't work because...?
"Because I can create infinite food. Because our defenses are literally magic. And because I'm not going to let them reach Astoria in the first place." Marcos drew a line on the map. "We're going to fight on our terms, on our ground, by our rules."
" Explain ," Garrett demanded.
" Okay , plan." Marcos switched into history teacher mode. "First: total fortification. Not just Astoria. Nohoros and Valdesh too . I'm going to build walls, towers, and defensive systems in all three places. That will disperse their forces if they try to attack multiple targets."
" Can you build so much in such a short time?" Daenerys asked .
"I can build an entire city in a week if necessary. Three fortified towns are feasible," Marcos continued. "Second: evacuation prepared. All civilians who can't fight have escape routes. Tunnels, back roads, shelters in nearby forests. If things get bad, people escape."
"That's admitting defeat," objected one of the mercenary captains.
"No. It's smart planning. Saving lives is the priority. We can reclaim territory. Dead people don't come back." Marcos looked at him firmly. "Is there a problem with that?"
The captain shook his head.
"Third: psychological warfare." Marcos smiled. "The Magistrates are used to ordinary enemies. Soldiers, mercenaries, bandits. They're not prepared for real magic. We're going to use it. A show of force. Make them doubt. Make them afraid."
" Like what kind of demonstrations?" Mero asked with interest.
"You'll see. It'll be theater. Terrifying theater." Marcos turned to Mira. "I need you to prepare propaganda. Rumors we're going to spread in Pentos . That Astoria has armies of golems . That the leader can summon storms. That whoever attacks never returns. It doesn't matter if it's true. What matters is that they believe it."
"That's... manipulation." Mira frowned.
"That's strategy. War isn't just about swords. It's also about minds," Marcos pointed out. "If we can make half their forces desert before we even arrive, we've already won."
—And fourth: alliances. —Marcos looked at Garrett—. I need you to send messages to Khal Drogo.
—WHAT ?— Several people shouted simultaneously.
"I fought him. He respects me. I told him that if he needed help, he could ask for it." Marcos shrugged. "I'm not saying he should come with forty thousand horsemen. But maybe with one hundred, two hundred, just as a show of force. The Dothraki hate Pentos anyway."
"That's... really crazy." Garrett rubbed his face. "But could it work?"
"There's only one way to find out." Marcos looked at everyone. "Any other ideas?"
Daenerys timidly raised her hand.
—Can I suggest something?
-Always.
" Viserys . My brother." Daenerys swallowed. "He's in Pentos . With Illyrio . If only I could... speak to him. Perhaps convince him that this is a mistake. That Illyrio is using him."
The silence was heavy.
"Dany," Marcos said gently, "your brother sold you out. He threatened you. He treated you like merchandise. Do you really think he's going to listen?"
"I don't know." Tears welled in her eyes. "But he's my brother. The only family I have. I have to try."
Marcos felt his heart clench.
"If you want to try, I support you. But you're not going alone. And you're not going to Pentos . If he wants to talk, he comes here, to neutral ground. With an escort. With witnesses." She looked at everyone. "Does anyone object?"
"It's risky," Garrett said. " Viserys might try to kidnap her."
"That's why the escort. And that's why I'll be there." Marcos looked at Daenerys . "Are you sure about this?"
—No. But I need to try. For my conscience.
" Okay . So we send a message. Negotiation offer. Viserys comes, talks to Daenerys , comes back. Simple." Marcos made a mental note. "Meanwhile, we continue with war preparations. Because I bet this isn't going to work."
The next five days were absolute frenzy.
Marcos worked sixteen hours a day building defenses.
In Astoria: A fourth wall (there were now four concentric layers), additional towers every fifty meters, automatic catapult systems using Redstone , and what Marcos called "the special gift": magical traps hidden around the perimeter that could immobilize dozens of people simultaneously.
In Nohoros : Double walls three meters high, watchtowers, a drawbridge over the river that crossed the village, and underground warehouses for shelter.
In Valdesh : Walls reinforcing the temple ( Eamon insisted on protecting "the spiritual heart"), towers connected to the magic alarm system, and a secondary fort in case the temple fell.
Daenerys trained four hours a day with Garrett and the Second Sons. It wasn't just basic defense anymore. It was real combat. Sword, spear, bow. She wasn't an expert yet, but she was no longer useless.
Elia was preparing field hospitals in the three settlements, with healing potions in massive quantities.
Mira coordinated logistics: food, water, emergency supplies.
Lysor organized the farmers as a rapid response force: not soldiers, but capable of defending their homes if necessary.
And Mero trained everyone as if their lives depended on it.
Because it depended on me.
Day 6:
A response arrived from Pentos .
Illyrio 's letter weeks before. He looked nervous.
—I bring a reply from... from Prince Viserys Targaryen .
Marcos opened the parchment and read aloud to everyone in the council chamber:
"To whom it may concern:
I am Viserys Targaryen , Third of My Name, Rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms.
My sister, Daenerys , was kidnapped by a foreign warlock. I demand her immediate return.
I will not negotiate with kidnappers. I will not speak with criminals. The only acceptable communication is total surrender.
When the armies of Pentos destroy their pathetic settlement, I will personally oversee their execution.
Don't wake the dragon.
— Viserys III Targaryen
Marcos left the letter on the table.
—Well, that was productive.
Daenerys had tears rolling down her cheeks.
—He... he didn't even consider speaking. Not even...
—Dany... —Marcos approached.
"No." She wiped away her tears aggressively. "I don't need comfort. I need to accept reality. My brother isn't the person I wanted him to be. He probably never was." Her voice hardened. "If he comes with that army, if he tries to attack us... he's not my brother. He's an enemy."
" You don't have to make that decision now." Marcos placed a hand on his shoulder. "And if he's there when we fight, we can capture him instead of killing him. There are options."
" Why are you always so good to me?" Daenerys looked at him with a vulnerable expression.
"Because you deserve kindness. Especially when the world treats you like crap." Marcos smiled at her. "Now, come here . I need to show you something."
He took her outside, where he had built something new.
It was a tower. But not a normal defensive tower.
It was a central tower, taller than all the others, with a platform at the top that offered a 360-degree view of the entire valley.
"This is the Command Tower," Marcos explained as they climbed the stairs. "From here we can see the entire battlefield, coordinate defenses, and communicate with the other towers using signals."
They reached the top.
The view was breathtaking. They could see all of Astoria, the roads to Nohoros and Valdesh , the surrounding hills—everything.
"When they come," Marcos said, "we'll be able to see them from miles away. We'll know exactly how many of them there are, how they move, and where they're weak. And we'll use that information to destroy them."
"You sound very confident." Daenerys leaned against the railing. "Are you scared?"
"Screwed up," Marcos admitted. "But fear is useful. It keeps you alert. It makes you plan better." He gazed at the horizon. "What scares me isn't losing. With my power, I can win almost any fight. What scares me is the cost. How many people are going to die. How many families are going to lose parents, siblings, children."
—You can't save everyone.
"I know. But I'm going to try to save as many as I can." Marcos turned to her. "And that includes you. If things get really bad, if it looks like we're going to lose, you leave. You use the escape tunnels. You take the civilians with you. You survive."
—And you?
"I'm staying. I'll cover the retreat." He said it as casually as if he were talking about the weather.
"No." Daenerys grabbed his arm. " You ca n't stand alone against an army."
"I can, and I will if necessary." Marcos looked at her seriously. "Dany, I'm the strongest here. If someone has to sacrifice themselves to save others, it's me. It makes tactical sense."
"I don't give a damn about tactical sense." Daenerys was crying again. " You ca n't die. Not after all this. Not after you gave me hope, a future, something worth living for."
" Hey , hey ." Marcos wiped away her tears. "I'm not going to die. I don't plan to die. But I need you to know there's an escape plan if necessary. Okay ?"
"It's not okay . But I understand." Daenerys hugged him tightly. "Promise me you'll try to survive. Please."
Marcos hugged her back.
—I promise to try. With everything I have.
They remained like that for a moment.
Then Daenerys stepped back, wiping her eyes.
Okay . Enough drama. What else do you need me to do?
— Do you remember the archery lessons?
—Yes, I'm horrible.
"Well, it's time to upgrade. Because you'll be in this tower when the attacks start. Coordinating. And if necessary, providing cover with arrows." Marcos smiled. "Welcome to the command, co -leader."
Despite everything, Daenerys smiled.
Day 8:
A response arrived from Khal Drogo.
It was brief.
" Maegi :
Dothraki do not fight wars of men sitting on stones.
But I remember the fight. It was a good one.
If a merchant city attacks, I'll send a hundred horsemen. Not for you. To see blood and laugh at fat magistrates .
Also, if the dragon girl is there, I want to know if she's learned to fight better.
—Drogo"
Marcos laughed.
—The Khal has a sense of humor. Who would have thought?
"So you're going to help then?" Garrett asked.
"One hundred Dothraki horsemen." Marcos nodded. "Not a full army, but enough to cause chaos. And the fear factor of having the Dothraki on our side is invaluable."
—When would they arrive?
"If they left when this letter was sent, maybe three or four days." Marcos looked at the map. "Right on time. Spies report that the Pentos army is forming. Estimate: 1,800 soldiers. Mostly mercenaries, but some city guards as well."
"Eighteen hundred against two hundred of us plus one hundred Dothraki," Mero calculated. "Six to one. I've fought with worse odds . "
" And did you win?" Daenerys asked .
"No. I lost terribly." Mero laughed. "But I survived, which is what matters."
"Very inspiring." Marcos rolled his eyes. " Okay , final round of preparations. Garrett, make sure everyone knows their positions. Mero, check the weaponry. Elia, verify that the field hospitals are ready. Mira, confirm that the supplies are distributed."
" And you?" Daenerys asked .
"I'm going to do one last thing." Marcos smiled mysteriously. "My special gift for the Magistrates ."
That night:
Marcos worked alone.
He created something he hadn't shown to anyone yet.
In the field in front of the walls of Astoria, he placed special Minecraft blocks . Not normal blocks. Command blocks.
They were invisible to anyone who didn't know how to look for them.
And they were programmed with a single function: when the enemy army entered the designated area, they would activate.
What would they do?
Marcos smiled as he finished the setup.
"They're going to have the surprise of their lives," he murmured.
When it was over, it was midnight.
He walked back to Astoria.
The walls glowed with torches. The towers were manned. The people slept, but restless, knowing what was coming.
Marcos climbed to the Command Tower.
He looked west, towards Pentos , where somewhere an army was preparing to march.
"Come then," he said to the wind. "Come and discover why defying Astoria was a mistake."
In her office, Daenerys couldn't sleep.
She stayed awake, looking out the window towards the Command Tower where she knew Marcos was.
She thought about everything that had happened. Weeks ago she had been sold into slavery. Now she was preparing for war, as co- leader of an empire, alongside a man who...
That I loved.
She finally admitted it to herself.
She was in love with Marcos Vidal.
And that terrified her because war was coming, and in war, people died.
But it also filled her with determination.
I wasn't going to let the Magistrates destroy this.
He wasn't going to let them take away what he had built.
What they had built together.
"Let them come," he whispered into the void. "We'll show them what it means to defy dragons."
And at Pentos , eighteen hundred soldiers were marching eastward.
Towards a destination that none of them expected.
Towards the first real battle of the Empire of Astoria.
Towards history.
[END OF CHAPTER 16]