Bloodriders

The Bloodriders are the three sworn warriors who form the innermost circle around a Dothraki khal, bound to him by a vow that transcends ordinary loyalty. They are not merely guards but brothers, shadows, and the khal's fiercest friends, sharing a single life with him. The ancient traditions of the horselords demand that when the khal dies, his bloodriders die with him, to ride at his side in the night lands. If the khal is killed by an enemy, they live only long enough to avenge him, then follow him joyfully into the grave. In some khalasars, the bloodriders share the khal's wine, his tent, and even his wives, though never his horses—a man's mount is his own. The bond is sealed on the day the khal is born, and the bloodrider's life is bound to his from that moment forward.

Oath and Duties

The bloodriders' primary duty is to protect the khal with their lives. They are his constant companions, riding beside him in battle and standing guard over him in peace. When Khal Drogo is wounded after slaying Khal Ogo, his bloodriders—Cohollo, Haggo, and Qotho—are immediately at his side, and they remain with him in the temple as Mirri Maz Duur tends to his wounds. Their loyalty is absolute and unquestioning. When Daenerys commands them to bring the godswife, Qotho initially refuses, but he ultimately obeys because the khal's command is paramount. The bloodriders also serve as the khal's executioners and enforcers. When Viserys Targaryen draws a sword in Vaes Dothrak, it is Qotho, Haggo, and Cohollo who seize him, shatter his wrist, and disarm him, preparing him for the khal's judgment. They are the instruments of the khal's will, carrying out his orders without hesitation or mercy.

Relationship with the Khal

The bond between a khal and his bloodriders is one of profound intimacy and shared destiny. Khal Drogo calls them "blood of my blood," a phrase that signifies their unity. They are present at every significant moment of his life, from his birth to his death. When Drogo falls from his horse and lies dying, his bloodriders are consumed by grief and rage. Qotho, Haggo, and Cohollo turn on Mirri Maz Duur, blaming her for the khal's condition, and they threaten Daenerys herself when she tries to protect the maegi. Their loyalty to Drogo is so absolute that it overrides any allegiance to his khaleesi. Qotho declares that Daenerys is nothing once the khal dies, and Cohollo spits in her face, a shocking act of defiance that underscores the bloodriders' singular devotion to their khal. This devotion extends beyond death; the tradition that bloodriders die with their khal is a sacred duty, and they are expected to follow him into the afterlife to continue their service.

Role in the Khalasar

Within the khalasar, the bloodriders hold a position of immense prestige and power. They are second only to the khal himself, and their authority is unquestioned. They lead warriors in battle, enforce the khal's decrees, and serve as his most trusted advisors. When Khal Drogo decides to lead his khalasar west to conquer the Seven Kingdoms, his bloodriders are the first to hear his vow and are expected to carry it out. They also participate in the khal's rituals, such as the presentation of bride gifts at Daenerys's wedding, where they offer the traditional three weapons: a whip, an arakh, and a dragonbone bow. Their presence at such ceremonies underscores their integral role in the khal's life and the life of the khalasar. The bloodriders are the embodiment of the khal's power, and their strength and ferocity reflect his own.

Death and Aftermath

When Khal Drogo dies, the fate of his bloodriders is sealed. Qotho, Haggo, and Cohollo are killed in the chaos that follows the khal's fall and the birth of Daenerys's stillborn, monstrous son. Qotho dies fighting Ser Jorah Mormont, Haggo is slain by Rakharo, and Cohollo is killed by an arrow from Aggo. Their deaths fulfill the ancient tradition: they die with their khal, unable to survive him. The khalasar itself dissolves, as the Dothraki follow only the strong, and without Drogo, his bloodriders, and his heir, the horde scatters into a dozen new khalasars. The bloodriders' deaths mark the end of an era, and their loyalty, even unto death, stands as a testament to the ferocious bond that defines their order.