Chapter 95: Open!

Ny Sar was the city-state of Warrior Queen Nymeria, destroyed by the dragons of the Valyrian Empire during the Rhoynar migration.

Located at the confluence of the Rhoyne River and the Noyne River, Ny Sar was an important city where merchant ships from both Qohor and Pantos, as well as ships from Norvos, one of the Nine Free Cities, would gather to resupply. However, after being destroyed by the Valyrian dragons, the city was never rebuilt. For thousands of years, it had remained in ruins, with nearby residents too afraid to even build wooden houses there. It wasn't until the fall of the Valyrian Empire that merchants began to slowly return, but the city still lacked any unified leadership.

The terrain was favorable, but the ruins were left in a state where large houses couldn't be built due to the melted rocks from the dragonfire. The local people didn't have the technology to clean up the destruction. Now, houses in the Ny Sar ruins were constructed beside the remaining walls of the ruined buildings. Inland riverboats were much smaller than seafaring vessels, and while the port of Ny Sar wasn't as large as a typical seaport, it could still accommodate a great many ships.

The captain had gone to buy supplies, and Wright and his two companions were free to explore.

"We should go see the Queen's palace!" Nymeria pulled Wright and Tyene along.

"Why are you so excited? It's not even your palace," Tyene said, walking backwards with her hand held by Nymeria. Wright's hand was gently placed on her back to prevent her from stumbling.

"You're from Dorne too, aren't you? Don't you want to see it?" Nymeria pulled them both forward, eager to show them.

Wright struggled to keep the balance between the two women, feeling uncomfortable as they walked.

"You don't have to rush so much," he said.

"It's almost dark, and we won't be able to see the palace's colors," Nymeria hurried them. "Come on, quickly!"

The three of them reached the ruins of the Queen's palace, tugging and pulling along the way. Wright looked at the ruined structure, the only word he could think of to describe it was: "Pink Queen!" The palace had been built with pink and green marble, materials that were hard to find now. Looking out over the ruins, the landscape was filled with shades of green and pink.

They wandered through the palace ruins, but the paths were difficult to walk, with many areas collapsed, some covered in large puddles, and moss growing over the ground. The style of the palace's architecture resembled ancient Mayan buildings, with each wall engraved with Rhoynar characters and depictions of the gods they worshipped. Nymeria's hand brushed against the wall as she traced the carvings of hunting, war, weddings, and funerals. Tyene pretended not to care, but she was carefully observing as well. Meanwhile, Wright used his magical senses, hoping to find some trace of ancient magic, but unfortunately, he found nothing.

The palace's top had long since melted and collapsed. The tall walls appeared to connect directly with the sky. They reached a square-like area, overgrown with weeds and large trees that had rooted themselves into the ruins. In the center of the square, several collapsed statues lay scattered. The statues were so ancient that most were eroded beyond recognition, but one statue stood out. It was of a woman wearing armor and holding a spear.

"This must be the statue of Nymeria," Wright said.

Tyene leaned in, "If you sai so!"

Wright shrugged. "I suppose." There was no name engraved on the statue, so whoever said it was her made it so.

Nymeria pulled out a three-section spear from her back and assembled it, then performed the standard Dorne warrior's salute to the statue.

"Let's go, it's time to eat."

"Why the rush?" Tyene was once again pulled along by Nymeria.

"You two were walking too slowly," Wright said. "Since we're here at Ny Sar, let me take you to try the local cuisine."

Nymeria raised an eyebrow. "It's your first time here too, how do you know what food they have?"

Wright smiled. "It is my first time, but our captain, Yedari, is very familiar with the place. He recommended a restaurant to me, and they only serve one dish, the specialty of Ny Sar."

Tyene was skeptical. "You're not tricking us, are you?"

Wright chuckled. "The captain has been there a few times, so it should be fine. Let's go, or it'll be sold out."

The three of them wandered through the maze-like ruins of the city for almost an hour before finally finding the restaurant. Outside, it was lively, with many tables and stools set up in the open air. People dressed in various regional attire gathered there to eat. The smell of food and wine reached them from a distance, and there were nearly a hundred diners.

As they saw the food on the tables, Wright and the women were intrigued. The dish served here was a giant turtle, steamed whole, and placed directly on the table. Diners would then take their weapons and hack away at the shell, removing the meat and dipping it into the restaurant's special sauce to eat.

Most people here sat in groups of ten or so at a table, and the turtles they served were enormous. Since there were only three of them, Wright didn't like the idea of sharing a table with strangers. He asked the restaurant owner if they had smaller turtles. The owner replied that they didn't, and all the turtles were as large as millstones. He then pointed to the dimly lit area across the street.

"If you can't finish, you can give it to the poor over there."

Wright looked in the direction the owner pointed. Indeed, there were many ragged, filthy people gathered in the shadows.

"Alright!" Wright said. "Bring the food!" Without hesitation, he ordered a slightly smaller turtle from the kitchen.

Nymeria and Tyene sat at the table. While the Dark Sisters were sharp, they were too many for cutting up a turtle. Wright used Nymeria's spear to break apart the shell, though the spearhead was designed more for piercing than hacking. Wright had never eaten such a large turtle before and couldn't figure out where to start. Looking at the other diners, some used axes, others long swords. They managed to open the shells well, and their efforts earned applause from their tablemates.

Wright handed the spearhead back to Nymeria and gripped both sides of the turtle's shell with his hands.

"Watch me!" he declared, lifting the giant turtle. The people around them all turned their heads, intrigued by Wright's attempt to pry open the shell with his bare hands. It wasn't the first time someone had tried this, but it usually ended in failure and a penalty of alcohol.

With a loud shout, Wright exclaimed, "Open!" and pulled with all his strength. There was a sharp "crack!" as the turtle's shell was split in two. However, the turtle's insides had already been hollowed out, filled with spices, berries, and vegetables, then steamed. The meat juices and the overcooked vegetables formed a thick soup inside. While the outer shell had cooled, the interior was still boiling hot.

As Wright forcefully cracked the shell open, the thick soup and mushy vegetables spilled everywhere, splattering onto the clothes, wine cups, and even hair of the nearby diners. Those unlucky enough had the soup splattered all over their faces.

"Aah!" one screamed, scalded by the soup.

"Kill this bastard!" shouted an angry mercenary.

"Why is this wine hot?" slurred a drunken man.

"Pay for my clothes!" a ragged person cried, trying to extort money.

The chaos in the restaurant erupted, and Wright quickly realized that his grand demonstration had created a bigger mess than anticipated.

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