The faces of Daenerys and her Dothraki hardened at his words; their anger was palpable.
Did he truly believe her life was so easily taken? You may be a warlock, but you are only one. We are many. Do you truly believe you will leave here alive?
Still thought Daenerys disliked the Draco arrogance, but she couldn't afford to lose Jorah. He was her most loyal protector and trusted advisor, a man who knew the Seven Kingdoms better than anyone and whose counsel was vital to her conquest.
Signaling her Dothraki to control their rage, she faced the warlock with a cold stare. "I suppose I should be lucky you haven't killed me already," she said, the words dripping with sarcasm.
Ignoring her retort, Draco responded smoothly, "That is for you to decide." He glanced at Jorah, who was glaring at him like a rabid dog on a tight leash. With a casual flick of his wrist, Draco released the energy tendrils, letting Jorah drop to the ground.
His eyes returned to Daenerys. "You are their leader. And as their leader, it's you who reaps the benefits of their success, but it's also you who pays for their mistakes. Given that this is our first meeting, and my mood happens to be good, I will overlook this incident. Don't assume there will be a second time."
"Keep him to yourself," he added, his gaze flicking to the unconscious warlock. "I'll be back for him soon." Turning his attention to the frozen creature, he cast a spell. "Wingardium Leviosa." The creature floated gracefully toward him. In his other hand, there's a small wooden box, into which he placed the creature and a piece of ice, snapping the lid shut.
He considered checking on the warlock, but was wary of any remaining tricks. It was safer to be cautious and have Daenerys's people keep watch over him. Besides, with his own need to return to Hogwarts, he could ensure they wouldn't let the warlock escape.
His gaze settled back on Daenerys and Jorah, who now stood protectively at her side. He could have killed the knight for his foolish attack, but there was no need to escalate a situation that could be easily managed. There was no purpose in Jorah's death; it was better to keep him alive, at least for now. After all, he still needed Daenerys to remain on his side.
He wasn't an arrogant young master from a webnovel, driven by impulse to spill blood over a perceived slight. He understood that there was a time for everything, and that time was not now.
Turning back, he moved toward the alley. The Dothraki blocking his path looked to Daenerys, who nodded, and they parted as Draco passed.
The tense atmosphere didn't concern him. He didn't believe he was in the wrong, nor did he care if Daenerys and her subordinates considered his actions right or wrong. Everyone was entitled to their own perspective, their own actions, and their own consequences. There was no need to dwell on abstract concepts of good or evil.
Daenerys watched Draco vanish down the alley, a knot of confusion and suspicion tightening in her gut. She had no time to ponder his strange pronouncements, however. She had more immediate concerns.
Turning to her Dothraki, she gave a sharp command. "See to the unconscious one. Keep a close watch on him." She had questions for the warlock—important questions about who had sent him to kill her. He would provide the answers.
Her attention then shifted to the other cloaked figure, who was stirring as the magical spell's effects finally wore off. She gave a firm nod to the Dothraki holding him, and they immediately released their grasp.
The man slowly pushed back his hood, revealing the weary but resolute face of an old man with pale eyes. He stood tall, despite his age, and met her gaze directly.
"Your Grace," he began, his voice a low and serious rumble. "I am Ser Barristan Selmy."
Ser Barristan recounted his reasons for leaving the Kingsguard and coming here, a tale that Daenerys listened to with a mix of awe and suspicion. Though his legendary reputation was well-known, she remained cautious; a man of his standing could be a valuable ally, or a dangerous spy. Yet, he had saved her life, and so she decided to give him a chance.
As they made their way toward the ships, Daenerys turned to Jorah, her voice low. "What are your thoughts on that warlock?"
Jorah took a serious tone, his brow furrowed in thought. "I've never heard of him, Khaleesi. But he is clearly a warlock, and a very powerful one. I once thought magic was a thing of myths and songs, but it seems that like the dragons, it is all too real. Still," he paused, his gaze growing distant. "The most concerning thing of all is his hair."
Jorah felt a chilling certainty wash over him. The hair—that was the reason for his sudden impulse. Though a subtle difference existed, the silvery-white hair was a clear mark of the Targaryen bloodline. A new claimant to the throne had appeared, and Jorah immediately feared that the warlock had come to lessen the competition.
Turning to Ser Barristan, a man who had fought in the Blackfyre Rebellion and knew its history firsthand, he asked, "Is it possible he is a Blackfyre?"
The old knight fell into a deep thought, his eyes distant as he considered the long-dead rebellion. After a moment, he gave a slow, deliberate nod. "It is possible. Many of the loyalists escaped to Essos after the final battle. This land was a common refuge for them."
Daenerys finally spoke, cutting through their discussion. "It doesn't matter."
She had been as stunned as Jorah was by Draco's hair, but she had quickly pushed the thought aside. If she could survive, it was only a matter of time before another with her bloodline emerged from the shadows. As for the subtle distinctions between Targaryen and Blackfyre—a legitimized bastard branch—she had little patience for the history. Her life with Viserys had been a constant struggle, a flight from one squalid room to the next, with no time for dusty history books.
She looked from one man to the other, her violet eyes burning with a fierce, unwavering light. "I don't care about his background," she declared, her voice firm. "I am going to take the Iron Throne, and no one will stop me."
***********
Template suggestions