Chapter 100

In the southeast of Essos lies the ancient land of Volantis. Today, it has become an endless expanse of ruins, its coastal waters littered with shattered islands and volcanic craters bubbling with glowing lava. Further north stretches a vast expanse of salt-white wasteland. Here grows a salt-tolerant grass that makes livestock exceptionally tender, drawing nomadic herders who occasionally bring their flocks to graze near the edges. A ragged child was playing with a flock of sheep along a cliffside. There were few predators in this region, and the shepherd, glancing lazily at the pair, lay down by the cliff to doze.