Braavos 294 AC.
Robb.
The strange dreams had continued for most of the trip, not every night but almost, in some he was walking around the city, chasing after Wynafred. While in others he was in the woods, hunting, stalking prey, moving through the undergrowth. Robb put it down to this being his first time sailing, his first time leaving the North, he put it down to missing White Harbor and Wynafred, both of which he found to be true.
Arriving at the city he stared in awe as they sailed under the titan, the sheer size of the massive statue more than he could comprehend. How had they had built such a thing he wondered, he actually fell over a moment later so surprised was he when he saw a man's face come out from a hole in the thing.
"Har, I felt the same way lad, certain I was imagining it." Ser Wendel said as Robb got back to his feet.
"There are men in there?" he asked looking up and unable to see where the man had come from."
"Aye lad, should anyone attack it'd be more than head's you'd see coming from those holes." Ser Wendel said and pointed out the gaps to Robb "Up there, archers, oil, rocks, you name it, all ready to rain down on anyone stupid enough to attack the free city."
Robb smiled, the idea of a ship coming in to attack this city and finding out the statue wasn't just a statue, he could picture the stunned look on their faces when they realized the truth. Pretty soon they came into the docks itself, Ser Wendell pointed out the different ships, strange vessels from Ibben and Yi Ti, Carracks from Dorne and some more Pinnacle ships from the West, these ones bearing the Lannister colors.
"What's that?" Robb said pointing to a longship.
"Iron Born." Ser Wendel said spitting on the deck.
"Why do you hate the Iron Born Ser?" he asked curiously.
"For years lad they've preyed on the North, my family has suffered their attacks, I've lost kin to them, lost men I've known for years, speak to the Mormont's and the Karstarks and they'll tell you the same, never trust a reaver Robb, never." Ser Wendel said as he turned to talk to some of their guards.
Robb looked closer to the ship, seeing men walking around it not one of them smiling, they looked dirty, mean, he shuddered, thinking of Theon. Was his friend like these people? Was it these reavers he looked up to? He remembered some of the stories Theon would tell, tales he made seem exciting, glorious even. Looking at the man now pissing off the edge of the longship he seemed anything but.
When the men were ready, Ser Wendel ordered them to escort them through the city. Robb staring at every new sight he saw, from strangely dressed men and women to mummers performing in the street, from strange-looking birds and animals, to embarrassingly for him as he blushed so, women showing far more of their bodies than he was used to.
They reached a large building and Robb was stunned to see both the Lion of Casterly Rock and the Merman of White Harbor were both equally represented on the door. Above the building banners flew in the air, some he recognized as northern houses, some he assumed were from the west.
"Be respectful in here lad, Lord Kevan is a stickler for protocol." Ser Wendel said and Robb nodded as they entered.
The room they walked into was a simple hall with a door and a large table, a man sitting there with two guards, other men sitting at benches around it. Ser Wendel laughed and japed with one of them a grey-haired man, while another went through large doors at the back. Eventually, they were brought through them also and Robb was stunned at what he saw, the building was open to a small dock, boats sailed by filled with crates, with wood and furs, men were moving up and down the dock filling ships and emptying others.
"Impressive is it not?" Ser Wendel said and Robb nodded in agreement.
They were brought to a large solar, outside two guards stood wearing Lannister red, inside a man sat at a desk in front of another large door and he rose to his feet and greeted Ser Wendel warmly.
"You've returned Wendel."
"Aye, that I have Jadel, Lord Kevan inside?"
"He is Ser, and who is this?" the man said looking to Robb.
"Lord Robb Stark my father's squire, Robb this is Jadel, our man in Braavos." Wendel said and the man laughed before shaking his hand.
"Well met Lord Robb, your first time in Braavos?"
"Aye my lord."
"No Lord here, Lord Robb, you can call me Jadel." the man smiled at him.
"Robb, Jadel." he said and the man nodded before knocking and entering the room, a few minutes later they were inside and the man sitting at the desk could only be a Lannister Robb thought, his blond hair was greying some and his green eyes marking him as such.
"Ser Wendel." the man said rising to his feet, a smirk on his face.
"Lord Kevan." Wendel said and shook his hand "May I present Lord Robb Stark, he's squiring for my father." and Robb moved forward nervously.
"My lord." he said with a bow.
"Lord Robb." Kevan said seriously seemingly looking him over, he did so for quite some time and Robb felt himself growing very nervous.
"Hmm." Lord Kevan said and Robb looked worriedly to Ser Wendel who looked disappointed at him for something.
"Hmmm." Ser Wendel said a moment later.
Robb felt his heart racing, What had he done? What had gone wrong? He felt his palms begin to sweat, his eyes darting around the room, when suddenly both men broke out in fits of laughter. He looked from one to the other, unsure what was going on, before Lord Kevan looked to him reaching over and mussing his hair.
"Far too serious young man, you'll never fit in around here like that, come take a seat, you both must be hungry after your journey, we'll eat luncheon here." Kevan said and Robb breathed a sigh of relief, before looking to Wendel who was sniggering.
"I don't understand Ser?" he said.
"Your brother told us we had to play a jape on you, said you'd appreciate it lad." Wendel said and Robb chuckled.
"It seems I owe Jon some payback Ser." he said with a grin.
"That's the spirit, come let's eat, I'm famished." Wendell said taking his seat.
He found himself struggling at times to keep up with talk between Kevan and Wendel, trading with lands he'd only just begun to read about, Qohor, Mantarys, openings in Volantis and the slave cities. Slaves, did he hear that right? He'd need to speak more on that with Ser Wendel, surely they weren't involved with slaves. By the time they left and went to the manse belonging to House Manderly it was dark, and Robb was fascinated as the city came to a different kind of life.
Over the next few days, he went to meetings, saw a trade deal being negotiated and wrote some notes, which Ser Wendel said were good suggestions. They ate with the Sealord and Robb met a man who called himself the first sword of Braavos, Syrio Forel, and Robb was excited when Ser Wendel organized a lesson with the man.
"You'll learn more in one hour from that man Robb, than in a moon of training with Ser Marlon." Ser Wendell said and Robb looked forward to the next day's lesson.
He woke up early, broke his fast and almost spent the entirety of the morning practicing while waiting on Syrio Forel to show up, when he did he was immediately taken to a room indoors to spar, something he found strange.
"Why would we fight indoors Ser?" he said and the man looked at him like he was losing his mind.
"Ser, Ser, I am not one of your knights in their steel dresses, I am the first sword of Braavos, Syrio Forel, now what is my name boy."
"Syrio Forel."
"And yours?"
"Robb Stark." he said and the man smiled a little.
"Well Robb Stark, Syrio Forel will explain, indoors, outdoors it is all the same, fighting comes when it comes, this I know." he then threw him a sword made of wood.
"Wood?" he said.
"When you can manage that, you can have steel, not before, now shall we dance." the man's grin surprising him.
For the next two hours, Syrio demolished, him, every move he made was countered with ease, every blow he hit parried, he had thought he'd improved under Ser Marlon. But fighting Syrio felt like fighting Jon all over again and he was getting more and more annoyed as he continually lost.
"Dead." Syrio said his blade at his neck.
"Dead." at his chest this time.
"Really dead." he said his blade at his head.
In some ways he felt glad they were using wooden swords, had they been using steel, he'd have no doubt the pains he'd feel on the morrow would hurt even more.
"I'm tired." he said finally having enough.
"Good, tired is when the fighting happens."
"I don't want to do this anymore."
"Will you say that when the god of death comes knocking Robb Stark, tell death you are tired and don't want to do this anymore? No, there is only one thing we say to death." Syrio said picking up the sword and looking him in the eye "Not today."
Pentos 294 AC.
Dany.
They had spent almost a week watching the fat magister's house when she finally saw him, they wheeled him out in some contraption and she felt her breath still. Her brother was alive, she almost instinctively jumped from the hill they sat on, almost ran to him. But she saw Sandor smile when before he got the chance to, she stopped herself, instead she looked closer seeing the fat Magister bow to her brother.
"It seems cunts live too." Sandor said and despite herself she laughed.
"What's going on with them do you think?"
"Fucked if I know, you were the one who spent time with your cunt of a brother, what usually happened when you stayed with one of these rich fuckers?" Sandor said throwing the apple he'd been eating away.
"They would parade us, make it seem like we were important, their friends, but it was to entertain them, then when Viserys would get entitled they'd throw us out."
"Cunts." Sandor said.
"Like that fat cunt there." she said pointing at Illyrio and Sandor laughed.
"Aye, like him?".
They watched as Viserys berated some servants, no not servants, she had found out they were slaves, though none were called such. She saw Sandor jump up when some riders arrive, looking at them carefully she didn't recognize them but Sandor did and smirked.
"Who are they?"
"They're one of the groups that were looking for us, the one that attacked when we met, see the two at the end, that's the leader I think." she looked carefully at them.
While she like Sandor didn't care they had gotten away, seeing her brother in the chair, seeing they had been the ones to put him there, something inside her demanded revenge, justice.
"I want them dead." she said and Sandor looked at her and nodded.
"As you command princess."
"I want to help." she said and he just nodded again.
Leaving the hill they made their war back to their own small house, they had decided to rent somewhere rather than stay in the tavern, as she was keen to find out just exactly why this fat man seemed so interested in her. Now seeing Viserys there she was even more eager, her feelings on her brother were already changing in her head, Sandor was right, Viserys was a cunt, she knew that now, but he was her brother still.
So she'd free him from whatever the magister's plans were, then send him on his way, she was glad he was alive, but she knew what he was like, and it seemed even being hurt hadn't changed him. Once they arrived back she sighed, it was her turn to cook and while she enjoyed it, found it fun to do actually, she wasn't in the humor for it. Still, she persevered, the meat cooked just right, the vegetables she didn't really care for, but surprisingly Sandor insisted she ate them.
"What's this?"
"Dinner." she said sitting down and beginning to eat it quickly.
"This is meat."
"Yeah isn't it tasty." she said as she licked her fingers, the meat juices sliding down her hand.
Sandor grumbled before he too began eating, she smirked, enjoying seeing him grouse as he emptied his plate. He smiled though as he drank his wine, he'd given her a taste of it once and she found she didn't like it at all, instead preferring water or some of the berry juice that was so popular here. Once done he told her to nap as they'd have a busy night later, so she lay down, her dagger under her pillow, her sword laying on the small table.
"Come on." he said waking her up and while it was dark outside she felt she'd not slept at all.
"A few more moments."
"Get up you lazy sod." he said kicking the bed waking her up fully.
She went to say it, it was on the tip of her tongue, she even began to open her mouth.
"Don't even think it Dragongirl." Sandor said and she went to grab her sword, but he pointed to the bow instead.
Taking it and the dagger, they then made their way through the city, the tavern he brought her to they'd visited before, but given how quickly he brought here there he must have come looking for them already.
"They're inside, you set up over there, when they see me they'll come running."
"Why don't I go in, it's me they're looking for." she said and he smiled, reaching out to mess with her hair.
"They'll not recognize you with that." he said, her hair though slightly longer now was still dyed black, though she had done the edges of it in red, she was a dragon after all.
"Right, be careful Sandor." she said and he nodded as she took her bow and set up.
It didn't take long, he stumbled up the street pretending to be drunk, behind him four of them came, looking to her as he passed she stood up and began to fire as he spun around. The first arrow killed the man instantly, her second she deliberately aimed for the man's leg, Sandor was already killing the third man when the fourth moved behind him, she lined up her shot, hitting the man in the throat as Sandor turned to face him.
"He was mine." Sandor growled.
"You're too slow, I win." she said with a chuckle as they walked towards the man she'd injured earlier.
"Who are you?" he said obviously not recognizing her.
"My friends call me Dany, you can't." she said and Sandor laughed as he dragged the man to his feet.
"Careful you don't want to anger this little dragon." Sandor said as the realization dawned on the man's face.
"Princess, princess, all I was trying to do was help. I brought your brother to Illyrio, he wants to help you." the man said his voice cracking.
"Why?" she asked.
"I don't know, he just does." the man said and she shook her head.
"No, why?" she said and he looked at her in confusion.
"Princess?"
"Why if all you wanted was to help, did your men hurt my brother?"
"It was an accident, we didn't mean to, you killed the one who did, they paid for it." the man said looking to Sandor who just stood there bored.
"Not all of them." the knife moved quickly in her hands, the blade going up through the man's chin, when she pulled it out he fell to the ground.
"Why the fuck did you let him talk so much, kill him and be done, that was the plan." Sandor said as they walked away.
"Plans change."
"For fuck's sake." he said as he laughed.
They woke the next morning, breaking their fast on eggs and bacon, it had been Sandor's turn to cook and so she just packed her things while he did so. Once they were finished they grabbed everything they owned and left the small house. Walking through the city, she caught Sandor staring at a large ship, she had never seen anything like it before, a part of her wanted to go over and take a closer look, but they had things to do.
Arriving at the manse, she saw the slave soldiers standing there with their spears, she looked to Sandor who spoke to the man and then they waited. A few minutes later they were brought inside, one of the men went to take their arms but she shook her head and so instead more guards came to escort them in. Eventually, the man waddled into the room, his belly shaking as he moved, he looked at her in confusion but seemingly recognized Sandor.
"Magister Mopatis?" she asked as if she didn't already know.
"I am, and you are?"
"Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, princess of Westeros, I believe you've been looking for me and my friend." she said and the fat man smiled.
Essos The Shy Maid 294 AC.
Jon Connington.
Knowing that Viserys was presently recovering in Ilyrio's manse was creating a large headache for him, on one hand he was his prince's brother, his king's uncle, on the other, he was a threat. Illyrio had told him that Viserys informed him of being crowned by his mother, this along with the thoughts in the boy's head that he was the last dragon would prove difficult, especially once he found out about Aegon.
With Aegon demanding to meet his uncle too, Jon was in a quandary, Illyrio had his own plans for Viserys and while Jon may not agree with them, they did at least create opportunities. When Illyrio had told him he had been furious, the idea, the sheer disgust he felt at the idea, but the more he thought on it the more he began to realize that perhaps it'd be for the best.
" What do you mean she crowned him?"
" His mother crowned him when Rhaegar fell, he also said some nonsense about Aerys removing Rhaegar from the line of succession, that he was the true dragon." Illyrio said while eating a large piece of meat.
" Did he?" Jon asked.
" What?" the fat man answered his attention having been diverted when the new dishes arrived.
" Did Aerys remove Rhaegar?" Jon asked, if his line was struck then Aegon's place in it became even more problematic.
" He shouted it from the Throne every so often, shouted it among the many things he would shout, Varys would tell me." Illyrio said and Jon was surprised both by the apparent sadness in the man's voice mentioning Varys, and more so that he stopped eating for a moment, though it was only a moment.
" Did he write it, did he send the letters?" Jon asked frustrated.
" No, he did not, so like many of the things the mad king said, they're just words in the wind Griff."
Jon breathed a sigh of relief, before wondering what they would do with Viserys, how they would handle him.
" What is your plan Illyrio?"
" Griff I have many plans." Illyrio laughed before reaching out and grabbing the newly brought roast duckling and biting into it.
" Illyrio, Viserys what is your plan with Viserys." he said his temper fraying.
" He will die, Jon, the only question is when." Illyrio said drinking some wine.
He felt it deep inside, this was wrong, Wasn't it? Wasn't his job to protect Rhaegar's kin? Isn't that what he should do here? But the voice he listened to most was the one which said Viserys was at threat, he was too much like his father, that it was Daenerys they needed anyway. Aegon would understand Jon felt, in fact, if used right it could inspire him.
" How?"
" I've not decided yet, he lives until we find his sister, after that I'll find a way that benefits us the most."
" And young Griff?" he asked and Illyrio smiled.
" Will never know the truth of things."
So as he shook the thoughts from his head, as he watched Duck and Aegon spar on deck, as Septa Lemore read her books and Haldon read his own, he mentally prepared to deny Aegon the right to see his uncle. The story was simple, it was too dangerous, the usurper's men were too close, the risk to his life, his uncle's life too great. He smiled as Aegon got a hit in on Duck, seeing the small grin on his face was like an arrow straight to his heart.
My prince,
My silver prince.
"Did you see Griff, did you see." Aegon said smiling more as he moved to him and the image was gone, the smile was different forcing him to shake his head.
"I saw, you keep getting better, soon you'll be taking victories is that not right Duck?"
"It is, he improves every time we fight, it'll only be a matter of time now." Duck said placing the swords back where they belong.
"Come, we must speak." he said to Aegon and led him down to their cabin.
"Is it about my uncle, can we go visit, will it be soon Griff?" the boy said excitedly, eager no doubt to meet his kin.
"It is, come Aegon." Jon said and a few moments later they were in their cabin, Aegon sitting facing him while he poured himself another glass of wine.
"We cannot go Aegon, we cannot, I know you wish to meet your uncle, I do too, but for now we cannot."
"He is my uncle. He and my aunt are the only family I have left Jon." Aegon said and Jon felt his heartbreak, was he not family, was the boy not a son to him?.
"You will always have family Aegon, but for now your safety must take precedence over your wishes."
"I am the king Jon, I order you to take me to my uncle, I want to go now."
"No." Jon said and Aegon glared at him.
"You can't tell me no, I'm the king." Aegon said and Jon shook his head.
"That is true and when you reach your majority no one can tell you no, but we are not there yet Aegon, you may be king, but I act as your regent. It is the law of the land you will one day rule, you must understand that." he said and watched as Aegon deflated.
"I do, I know, I just, I wished to see my family Jon." Aegon said as the tears began to fall.
He held him in his arms feeling the boy sob against his shoulders, it broke his heart to deny him and should Daenerys have been there with her brother, he didn't think he'd have been able to. But she was the true prize, the true dragon, with her and Aegon together, with them joined, the loyalists would rally to their cause. A good king and queen, that's what the realm would need, and he had no doubts in at least one of those being true.
When the boy had calmed some, Jon smiled as Aegon wiped his eyes, embarrassed he had cried in front of him, he looked at Aegon who attempted a smile and saw him there once again.
His silver prince.
His life.
They sat down to dinner that night, Aegon and Duck laughing and joking, Lemore speaking to Haldon while they ate and laughed, Jon found himself drawn more and more to the wine. He drank far more than he should, but he thought he should be drunk, thought he should be happy, though tonight he found it hard to be either. The voice in his head started out as a whisper, but soon it rose and so he walked from the room, before almost stumbling on his hands and knees to the deck.
You were never my friend.
You were never my friend.
My blood Jon, they are my blood .
He shook his head as he threw up, he was, he was always his friend, his closest friend, his confidante, his truest and most Leal man, he would put his son on the throne, no matter what it took. That would prove it, that would show him, that would quieten the voices in his head, would it not?.
My silver prince.
My life.
My love.
Pentos 294 AC
Illyrio.
When the guard came in and told him who was at his gate he could barely believe it, a lie, it must be, there was no way it would be this easy, no way she'd just come to him. After the amount of coin he'd spent to find her, the number of men her dog had cut down, that they would both just arrive at his gate, both just walk into his home, no it couldn't be that easy.
But it turned out it could, though the girl in front of him was far different than he expected, her hair was just below her neck, black with red-tinged edges, the colors of her house. She wore a sword, carried a dagger, her clothing more suited to a boy than a girl, were it not for her eyes and the man with her he'd have sent her away, laughed at her mummery.
The Hound though was every bit as imposing as he had heard, almost seven feet tall, his burned face marking him clearly, his eyes were everywhere. Illyrio had over thirty unsullied as his guards, yet as he looked at the man, he knew that while it would be enough, he was still not safe. So he would need to be clever, to judge when and where to dispose of this man, when and where it would be the best time, for it was clear it wasn't now.
"Princess, it is good to see you, please, you and your companion should sit, you wish for food, for drink, I shall have it brought to you immediately." he said rising to his feet and moving to the door as they sat down.
"Master?" one of the Lyseni girls said as he walked from the room.
"Food, drink for my guests, now, move girl." he said and she scurried off to do his bidding.
He walked looking for his steward and finding him working in his solar, calling the man to him he ordered him to ensure Viserys didn't leave his room, he was to be guarded until he told him otherwise. Once he was gone he called for Red Ant, the captain of his guards, when the unsullied arrived he told him to make sure all the guards were on duty and then headed back to the room.
The princess was sitting there neither she nor the Hound eating, both looking around the room and he watched her for a moment, the girl's eyes were predatory, fierce, she looked like a lioness wary in her surroundings, no not a lioness, a dragon. He smiled as he entered the room, Aegon would do well with this girl as his queen, well indeed.
"Forgive me, my princess, I had things which needed my attention." he said smiling even more now as he took his seat.
"More than I magister? I find it surprising given how much effort you put into finding me." she said her eyes on his.
"Indeed it is true, I wished to find you most urgently my princess, once I heard of where you were I sent my men, why did you not come with them?" he asked without looking at the main reason who sat beside her.
"People have been trying to kill me and my brother from the moment I was born Magister, they succeeded with Viserys." she said sadly tears falling from her eyes and he couldn't help but smile inside "I will make sure they do not with me." she said wiping her eyes.
"I have no wish to see you harmed princess, far from it, it is your safety I seek to ensure." he said and she looked at him her eyes full of hope.
"It is?"
"Of course, princess, you and your brother's."
"Then you failed in that since it was your men who killed him." the Hound said angrily.
"The princess's brother is very much alive Sandor Clegane." he said smiling when the Hound seemed taken aback that he knew him.
"My brother lives, take me to him, take me to him I need to see him." the princess said and he was pleased that her voice which started out firm, tailed off into desperation.
"He rests now princess, it wouldn't do to wake him, but I can have you shown to him if you like?"
"Yes please Magister, I would like that very much." she said and he nodded to one of the Lysenii slaves to go and bring his steward to him.
The Hound looked at him suspiciously, but it was the princess he was paying attention to, hearing of her brother's survival had perked her up, gone was the fierce dragon and in its place a quiet, hopeful girl. He could use both, but it was good to see the dragon was just a front, just a façade, he couldn't have her be too much of a dragon, or else his own black one would be overshadowed.
He smiled when she ate, when the Hound did too, this he could work with, the man would have to go, there was no doubt of that, but he had time to bring the princess even closer to him before then. Maybe when she learned the truth of who Clegane was it would work to his advantage, he could perhaps have the princess send the man away of her own volition.
He had hoped his mentioning of the name would work, but the princess seemed distracted, still it meant she didn't know who the Hound was truly, which was a boon to him. After a few moments, his steward walked to the room and he, the princess and the Hound walked to Viserys's room. The prince slept, the drops he had placed in his food working their magic, without them he ranted and raved and was far too troublesome.
"Your brother princess." he said as she ran to the bed, holding his hand, crying more tears.
"Thank you Magister, thank you, I am in your debt."
"Think nothing of it princess, I am always happy to serve the rightful heirs of Westeros." he said his smile genuine now as he thought of Aegon.
Pentos 294 AC.
Oberyn.
Bringing Doran onside was far easier than he had expected, his brother was far more calculating than he, but his sister's letter had won him over immediately, it had obviously done the same for his brother. They had spent another two days in the Water Gardens, Tyrion reading through the Maester's journal, while he took his pleasure a different way.
" You will talk Caleotte, before I send you to whatever it is you people believe in you will talk."
" You think you scare me little snake, I'm part of something far bigger, far more dangerous than you slippery sliding things" the Maester said spitting.
" Do you know why I'm called the Red Viper." Oberyn said as he began coating his blades in the different poisons he had brought."
" Hah, poisons, you think in your short time at our order we allowed you to study the truth?" the Maester said cockily.
" What makes you think I learned there Maester?" he said as the man's expression changed.
The last poison he gave him was the worst, his own concoction, between the Long Goodbye and Tears if Lys he had found a way to draw the death out, to draw the pain out and he knew Caelotte would live for quite some time. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine the man's screams from here, he could almost hear them.
"You look happy my love." Ellaria said from beside him, the girl's naked body wrapped around her own.
"I am my love, very much so." he said kissing her.
He got up and walked to grab a drink, moving the boy to one side, they had arrived the week before and Tyrion had gone to spend more time pouring over the journal, while he and Ellaria had come to the brothel they knew best. The boy was from Yi Ti, the girl he knew not where, but the night had led to no rest for Oberyn and now he found his body ached, he needed a spar.
Dressing he walked outside, Daemon and Obara were speaking to each other, his guards, ready to leave whenever he was.
"Daemon escort Ellaria back when she's ready, come, Obara, I find myself longing to use my spear." he said and his daughter smiled as they left and began walking down the streets.
Pentos was not one of his favorite places, Lys, the Great Grass Sea, Norvos, Qohor, Volantis, all of them he liked better than here, Braavos was one of the greatest cities in the world in Obeyrn's eyes. But this place was dull, it was boring, and he hoped they would not need to be here too long. When they made it to the tavern, he and Obara went to their rooms, returning outside a few moments later with their spears.
"Ready father?" Obara said her face full of determination.
"Always daughter." he said as he twirled his spear.
They moved together, his influences clear, Obara had improved though her rashness was still a problem. It was good to be rash in a fight sometimes, good to think on your feet, to be explosive, but it was better to think it out beforehand, to have a plan, a counter, to be ready to adapt if necessary but to make people fight your fight when possible.
One day Obara may learn that, but not today and so instead Oberyn taught her the other lesson, the harsher one, he taught her what not learning could lead to, he taught her about pain. Humiliation didn't work on Obara, pain did, she needed to feel the results of her recklessness, feel the consequences for it, so he struck her repeatedly. Never fully bringing the stroke home, but enough for the winces to become clear, enough for her to understand.
"We are done." he said as he took her feet from under her.
"No, we can go again, father."
"Obara we are done, come sit with me." he said sending a girl to grab some drinks from them both.
"What did you learn my child?" he asked as they sipped the wine.
"Not to fight you early in the morning father." she said with a chuckle as she rubbed her arm.
"What else?" he said though he laughed with her.
"That I need to slow down, to back off, to bring my opponent to me more, then and only then should I strike." she said looking to him eagerly and he smiled a true smile.
"Then and only then." he said leaning in to kiss her forehead, he smirked when she wiped it off, her face making it look as if the affection unnerved her, but he saw the small smile when he turned away.
"You left me there?" he heard Ellaria say a few moments later as she walked towards him, his paramour pretending to be hurt.
"You looked so happy my love, besides that was hours ago, you must have found a way to keep you occupied." he said and she rolled her eyes.
"It was supposed to keep us occupied Oberyn."
They walked into the tavern to find Tyrion breaking his fast, joining him they all began to eat, while Tyrion sat quietly.
"You find out anything?" he asked and Tyrion shook his head.
"Your Maester was a dull man." Tyrion replied and he nodded.
"So no new names?"
"One or two, odd choices though," Tyrion said and he looked at him.
"In what way?"
"Small houses, Blackwoods and Brackens in the Riverlands, Waynwood in the Vale, and some names I know not."
"Which names?"
"Otar and Kates." Tyrion said and Oberyn shook his head, never hearing of the men.
"We should ask Marwyn, House Waynwood I do not know, but Blackwoods and the Brackens both share blood with the dragons do they not?"
"They do, wait, Otar, Kates, they aren't with the Velaryon's are they?" Tyrion said panicked.
"No, Monford's Maester has been there since his father's days, he's an old man now, a Celtigar bastard I believe, Edwell Hill."
"How do you just know that?" Tyrion said laughing.
"What I know things." he said laughing back "I'm not just a pretty face my friend."
"We need to speak to Monford, Raymun Darry too, I doubt either would send messages or speak to their Maesters on what they know, but still, we need to speak to them."
"We will Tyrion, so any luck on finding our friend?"
"No, but I did hear some interesting news." Tyrion said moving closer to him "Apparently one of the magisters in this city has been searching extensively for the Targaryens, offering quite a large reward to find them and bring them to him. A man named Illyrio Mopatis."
"You think we should pay the magister a visit?" Oberyn asked.
"You perhaps." Tyrion said and Ellaria who had been quietly listening turned to them both.
"Should I not go change first." she said with the sweetest smile he could imagine.
Pentos 294 AC.
The Hound.
How he kept his face steady during Dany's mummery was beyond him, how she managed it was beyond him, the tears especially were a nice touch he thought. He could see the wheels turn in the Magister's head, see how happy he was by the turn of events, even his little attempt to get Dany to turn on him was funny to watch. Still, he had his own part to play, so he waited until Dany was safely in her room, and then asked to see the Magister.
Handing up his weapons was annoying, though thankfully he had more, Dany had more and some others were hidden close by in case they were needed. Looking at the two guards who stood with him he wondered how quick they were, he knew they'd not be bothered by his size and strength, they'd do their duty. As the Magister looked at him, as the guards nodded he was unarmed he saw the man relax, saw the man smile thinking he had the advantage.
"Why have you come to see me Clegane?"
"What are your plans for the princess?" he asked showing his worry for the girl straight from the start.
"To help her and her brother take their throne back of course." the Magister said and he looked at the smile wondering how long it would take to remove each of his teeth.
"You know who I am?"
"I know a lot about you Clegane, you, your brother, oh I know exactly who you are."
"What do you intend to do about it?" he asked, his worried voice making the man smile.
"That depends, what are your plans for the princess?"
"To protect her?" he said and the magister nodded.
"Why?"
"I… I..she reminds me of someone I lost?" he said making his voice as shaky as he could.
"Who?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Who?" the Magister said and so he told him of his sister, annoyed yet again by his smiling face.
"She doesn't know who I am, I..I don't want her to." he said and try as he might he couldn't get a damn tear to fall, damn Dragongirl has me beat he thought and laughed inside.
"It's an interesting predicament you find yourself in, but I sense you wish to look after the princess and since that is my own wish I think we can work together, for now."
"For now?"
"For now, I wish to see just how trustworthy you are Clegane, should I find you lacking, then the princess will need to know just exactly who you are." Illyrio said and waited for his reaction.
He gave the man his best panicked look, watched the smile which appeared on his face and then got up and walked slowly to the door, shoulders sagging, he made himself look as beat as he could. Once outside he was given back his weapons and then escorted to his room. Laying down on the bed he smirked, the Dragongirl was far too clever for the likes of Illyrio Mopatis.
" We need to get in there Sandor."
" With that many guards, it'll be tricky.
" No it won't he's looking for me, all we need to do is walk to the gate."
" Are you fucking mad?"
" About as mad as you are." she said and despite himself, he laughed.
" He'll not let me in." he said and then before she could answer "Certainly not let me stay."
" He will if he thinks he owns you." she said.
" No one fucking owns me." he said angrily.
" I know." she said and her smile at least calmed him some "What I mean is men like him, from what you told me they like to believe they own people, that people are mere tools for them."
" Aye."
" So be a tool, give him what he needs to think he owns you."
" What?"
" Half-truths, make him think you care, make him think you're worried you'll be sent away, if he knows the truth about who you are, make him think I don't"
It had worked well he felt, though there was still the inevitable problem to come with her cunt of a brother, he hoped she was ready for that, if not then he hoped she would soon be, he thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep. Waking the next morning, they broke their fast thankfully alone, the Magister then sent for him. Sitting in the room waiting for the Magister he wondered what lie he'd be fed now.
"Ah Sandor, she calls you this yes?" the Magister said and he nodded "Good, his grace the king is awake and most anxious to meet his sister, I would like you to be there."
"Of course."
"His grace is ehmm temperamental Sandor, he may seem a bit rough with his sister, a bit aggravated at times."
"Then I'll fucking gut him."
"No you won't." the Magister said his voice and expression far more serious now.
"I'll not let him harm her." he said his voice softer now.
"He is the king and will behave as all kings do, if you wish to stay you will accept this no?"
He kept silent for a few minutes, kept his head down, before turning to look at Illyrio and nodding and the grin he hated was back on the fat man's face.
He was brought back to Dany and she played her part really well, the excitement she showed when she was told she could see Viserys looked completely genuine, though he knew it to be an act. They were brought down to the room and found him sitting up in a wheeled chair, dressed in the colors of his house. He smiled when he saw her, then frowned at her and then looked angrily at him.
"Who is this scarred monster." Viserys said his voice high pitched and grating on him already.
"This is Sandor, he's protecting me." Dany said proudly and Viserys glared at her.
"Your hair, what did you do with your hair, you're a princess, not a whore." Viserys said and it took everything he had to stand back while the boy pulled her hair.
"Vis, Vis, please, you're hurting me."
"You are a Targaryen sweet sister, be one or else you'll wake the dragon."
"I will, I will, I'm sorry, please my king, I'm sorry." she said tears falling and he couldn't be certain they weren't genuine.
"Magister Illyrio will see us on our throne, sweet sister, thank him for me."
"Thank you Magister." she said and Viserys smiled as did the Magister.
Over the next few weeks, he watched as sometimes the prince was pleasant, almost brotherly to his sister, sometimes very much not. They couldn't get the materials to take the dye out of her hair, so it was allowed to grow longer and then cut, at the moment it was barely a couple of inches long, but Viserys seemed pleased the silver was showing at least.
The magister seemed more and more pleased about something or other, be it Dany's seemingly reverting to the meek girl she had once been, or his own inaction, or even the prince's fawning over him. As for Viserys well he was a cunt and should he ever be given permission, a dead one, though he knew she'd not allow it.
It was the evening of their first moon there that the delivery happened, what it was that was in the chest he had no idea, but Dany seemed eager to find out, the girl almost chasing after it when it arrived. He watched as it was locked in a room, watched as the key was handed to Illyrio and placed around his neck. It took him a few more days for Dany to send him on the errands, a few more to be allowed to do so, though even then he was only allowed out under guard.
"It's a fine evening is it not." he heard her voice in his room, turning to see her standing in the corner.
"You shouldn't be here?"
"The magister is eating yet again and my brother is drunk, here can you do this?" she said handing him the key.
"Where? How?"
"I was so upset when my brother hurt me today, when I woke the dragon" she said with a snort "So upset that the magister allowed me an embrace, or maybe it was that I'm growing up and he had another reason he wished to hold me in his arms." she said shuddering.
He did his best, made the imprints in the clay and handed it back to her, trying not to think of the Magister touching her as she embraced him again, then she was gone and he lay down. It took him another week to get the key made, another week to get the opportunity to see if it worked, once they were sure they would need to wait for the right time, and then they would leave this place and these people behind.
Pentos 294 AC.
Dany.
She wasn't sure which of the two was the most deluded, her brother with his visions of being crowned, of crowds chanting his name, of loyalists coming to him and swearing fealty. Illyrio filled their heads with tales of women sewing dragon banners, of men meeting in secret and drinking toasts to their name. Of an army just waiting for the king to return and for them to rise up in his name, and her brother lapped it all up while she sat there and smiled pleasantly.
The truth was far different, Sandor had told her, told her of her father, of the rebellion, of the way people felt, there was no secret toasts, or dragon banners, no army in waiting. All that awaited her on her return to Westeros right now was Robert Baratheon and whatever fate he'd wish upon her, given what the man had allowed happen to her niece and nephew and their mother, it was not one she looked forward too.
No for her the only one she could count on was Sandor, her loyal protector, her friend, it was them against the world and the world would find out how outmatched it was soon enough. So she played her act, bided her time, let the magister touch her when she embraced him when he was sober, touch her more when he did so while drunk. But she had taken his key and she had put it back, and he had bought her mummery as truth, as if she could ever be worried about a broken dragon.
"Come, sweet sister, sit with me, let me tell you of our plans." her brother hiccupped and she smiled and nodded at the Magister who looked at her strangely.
At first, she feared he had felt her put the key back, but then as she saw him readjust his robe she felt disgusted, he had been aroused, by her, by a girl, maybe she should let Sandor gut him and be done with it.
"Tell me brother." she said with her sweetest smile and listened as he went on and on about Wolves, Lions and Stags and the revenge he'd never be able to deliver on.
The next morning she was called to the Magister's room and told they wouldn't be allowed outside for the foreseeable future, men had come, Baratheon men and their safety was paramount. But Dany could tell when a man was lying, it was easy when you knew what to look for and with some, it was simply every time their lips moved, as it was with Illyrio.
"As you say magister, I am most grateful." she said her painted-on smile just another disguise she wore each day.
"Thank you, princess, I shall see to the men myself, I may be gone a day or two." he said and she smiled, happy both that he was leaving, and for the chance it presented.
Seeing Sandor that day, she for a brief moment feared that the magister would take him with him, that she'd be left alone, they hadn't planned much for that, other than where to meet if they got separated. Thankfully though he didn't and the next day the Magister set off, some of his guards with him making their job easier.
"Your brother?"
"What of him?"
"What do you want to do with him?" Sandor asked in her room that night.
"Nothing."
"Is that wise princess?"
"Whatever he is, he is my brother still, he can stay here, we don't need to see him again, but I'll not harm him." she said and he looked at her before nodding.
She knew though, leaving him here after what she was going to do, she knew it would cause him trouble. But the more time she spent with him, the less of the brother he had once been was shown to her, he was even more petty, even more prone to screaming and shouting and even more eager to hurt her. The dragon woke everyday and she had the bruising on her arms, her legs, her sides to prove it.
No, he could rot here for all she cared, but she'd not harm him herself, nor allow Sandor to be sullied by it. She had gotten as friendly with the guards as anyone could get, learned who they were, what they were, and being shocked at what they went through, though it presented an opportunity too. But for now, all she could focus on was the room and the chest.
" What do you think is in the chest?" she asked Sandor
" I don't know, gold?"
" It's not gold, whatever it is it's far more valuable." she said smiling as the idea came to her.
She found herself drawn to it, dreaming of it, picturing it in her mind, whatever it was she wanted it, no she needed it and for some reason it needed her. The first night the dreams came was frightening to her, the voices calling to her 'Mother, Find Us, Free Us, Wake Us' all other sounds lost apart from the voices. A part of her feared it was the madness, the one which Sandor said took her father, the one she was sure was taking her brother, but it only happened at night or when she was near the room with the chest.
So she had stolen the key, bided her time and tonight she and Sandor would see their plan through and begone from this place before Illyrio returned. She didn't trust the man, didn't believe him, how he looked at her, how he had touched her, no this man was not a supporter of her family. She and Sandor tried to figure out the odds, but with him here, it was so much harder, they would return one day to deal with him and for now, just accept the opportunity they had.
"Are you still asleep Dragongirl?" she heard Sandor say and she smirked as she got up from her bed.
"No, just a mummery, come let's do this." she said grabbing her bow, her sword and dagger already tied to her hips.
The steward was asleep, the wine he'd drink when the magister was away doing its trick, servants and guards on lessened alert, though the unsullied though were as always as alert as ever. Thankfully though Illyrio worried more for his safety than theirs and so there were just the two, one outside her room and one outside her brother's, They moved swiftly through the halls, coming to the door, the two guards half-asleep outside them.
Raising her bow, Sandor shook his head, walked up to them and with a head butt to one and an elbow to the other, both men were soon down on the ground. She ran to him, took the key and began to try and open the door, for the briefest of moments it wouldn't work, until finally the key turned and they stepped into the room, Sandor dragging the guards behind her.
"Do you see this?" she said and Sandor smirked grabbing a pouch full of some precious stones.
"Aye, we could take it all and never look back, if it weren't for that bloody chest you want." Sandor said, though her attention was on the chest by then and all she heard was noise.
Moving closer she opened the chest and what she saw inside made her and then Sandor gasp, this was a far bigger treasure than anything else in this room, far bigger. The eggs were turned to stone, each of them on its own worth a fortune.
"Well, it looks like we're rich." Sandor said but once again her attention was elsewhere.
" Mother, wake us."
She reached her hand in, the black egg in the middle drawing her attention, the green and gold one too, but mainly the black, she touched it, feeling the heat, feeling the movement inside.
" Mother."
The voice was happy, content and as she closed the chest and Sandor lifted it up, they moved quickly to the outside. They moved constantly the next day, not bothering to stop, not bothering to eat, just moving as far away from Pentos as they could, north and into Andalos, anywhere but here.
When night fell they made camp, after eating her meal she found herself drawn to the chest yet again, she took the eggs out, lay down on the ground to sleep, holding them tight to her, within moments she was asleep, she dreamed of fire and blood, of the roaring of dragons, she dreamed of flying.