After helping Viserys bandage his wounds, Daenerys could no longer stand his verbal abuse and rode her White Dragon Horse back to Drogo’s side.
When she returned, Drogo was listening to Hago speak.
“The large bag has been sewn; it’s big enough to hold over a hundred sheep.” Drogo stepped forward, tugged at the fabric, and then squatted down to examine the stitching.
The stitching was tight and sturdy.
“Mhm,” he nodded.
Koso arrived as well, with several men behind him carrying a large basket.
It was waist-high and large enough for three or four people to stand inside.
“The basket is ready too,” Koso said.
Drogo walked over, patted his shoulder, and then circled the basket.
The vines were woven evenly, the corners were neatly finished, and it didn’t budge when he pressed down on it.
A smile finally appeared on his face, as if he had already forgotten the recent unpleasantness.
Only then did he turn his head to look at Daenerys.
She was on her horse, her face looking troubled and her eyes red.
Drogo called the six Bloodriders he had selected over these past few days to his side.
He commanded, “I need a large iron furnace, twelve hemp ropes, and five craftsmen.” The benefits of the Thousand-man system became apparent at this moment.
The Bloodriders turned and left to find their respective ten Centurions, passing the Khal’s words down exactly as they were spoken.
The Centurions then found their respective Decurions.
The Decurions turned back to count their resources—who had an idle iron furnace?
Who had stored hemp ropes?
Which slave had worked as a craftsman before?
Drogo walked over to Daenerys.
She was still sitting on her horse, her eyes red.
He didn’t ask what was wrong, but simply reached up and brushed away a small speck of dust from her cheek.
In just a short while, the men returned.
Two craftsmen carried over an iron furnace about the size of a bathtub, which was usually used to support a large pot for boiling horse meat.
Three craftsmen followed behind, carrying bundles of hemp rope.
Drogo walked over and picked up the furnace to test its weight.
It was light, even lighter than he had expected.
“This is the one.” Drogo turned around and began to direct them.
“Place the furnace in the center,” he said.
Several men carried the iron furnace to the center of the clearing and set it down.
“Give me the ropes.” He took the ropes, placed the entire bundle on the ground, and squatted down.
He first untied the ropes, pulled out twelve of them, and laid them out side by side.
He picked up the first one and felt its weight in his hand.
“A few of you, come and stretch out the bag.” Four craftsmen stepped forward, grabbed the corners of the fabric bag, and stretched the opening into a wide circle.
There were twelve evenly spaced, sewn rope holes around the edge of the opening, reinforced with copper rings.
Drogo stood up with the rope and walked to the edge of the bag.
He threaded one end of the rope through a hole, looped it back, tied a dead knot, and gave it a tug; it didn’t budge.
He carried the rope down to the iron furnace.
There were six loops welded onto the body of the furnace, three on each side.
He threaded the rope through the first loop on the left, looped it around, and then threaded it back through the first loop on the right, creating a cross over the furnace.
Then he continued to lower the rope.
At the very bottom was the wicker basket.
The rim of the basket was woven sturdily, with a rope hole left on each of the four sides.
Drogo threaded the rope through the hole directly opposite the rim, looped it back, and tightened it.
A single rope, from top to bottom, strung the bag, the furnace, and the basket together.
Daenerys stood nearby, watching him work.
One moment he was squatting to tie ropes, the next he was standing to gesture, and then he would step back a few paces to squint and observe.
Those ropes seemed to come alive in his hands, twisting and turning until they had connected the furnace and the basket.
As she watched, the redness in her eyes slowly faded.
Drogo stood up, clapped his hands, and looked at the people around him.
“Do you all understand?” Several men nodded.
“Keep going.”