Pentos 294 AC.
Tyrion.
He found he liked the city far more than Oberyn or even Ellaria did, both of them having regaled him with stories of the other cities in Essos. He knew his uncle Kevan had been back and forth to Braavos and he had spoken to him numerous times on the city, but all Kevan had basically said was that it was nothing compared to Lannisport. He wondered now, was this to dissuade him from traveling just as his father had always done, or was it simply that Essos was not to Kevan's taste.
Whatever the truth of it was, for Tyrion the excitement of travel, the thoughts of seeing a new place had always been something he had wished for, even if it was something he had never expected to be able to do. So he had found the city fascinating, the culture fascinating, the tales of the magister's, of the princes, of the maid of the sea and the maid of the fields, all of it interesting him greatly.
After reading the journal and finding out the names, he sent the men who Oberyn had hired to find out the gossip, to seek out Loamara, but the man remained lost to him for now. Instead, it was tales of Daenerys Targaryen, tales of Viserys Targaryen which reached his ears. Tales of how a magister was offering large sums to find them, of how men were coming from miles around to seek them out.
" How many men has he sent out?" he asked the girl and she shook her head.
" I do not know, only that he sent many."
After telling Oberyn and Ellaria what he'd found, they went to arrange a meeting with this magister, a shared interest perhaps leading to more information, but he made them wait for some time before he agreed to meet them. Tyrion knew it best he was not there, though if the man was as rich and powerful as they claimed, then no doubt he would be known of, by him, soon enough. Oberyn and Ellaria had only just left when the girl approached him, she was young, pretty, and though she had a serious face, he couldn't help but think of how she'd look like smiling.
"My mistress wishes to see you." she said and he looked at her warily.
"Your mistress?".
"I serve the temple, High Priestess Harlos asked me to come speak to you."
"She wishes to see me why?"
"She says she knows the man you look for, Tyrion Lannister. She knows and wishes to help the Prince Who Was Promised."
Arranging his guards, he took a palanquin to the Temple, horses it seemed were not welcome in the main streets of the city and it was far too great a distance to walk for him. It took them an hour to make it to the Great Temple and as he stepped down from the Palanquin he was surprised to see just how large it was. While not as big as the Sept of Baelor, it was by comparison with the buildings around it enormous. He could see the smoke rising from large sections of the temple, the fires always burning no doubt.
Tyrion hadn't spoken much to Melisandre or the guards who were with her, but he had to Oberyn who disliked their proximity to Jon and the potential influence they may wield. It was an uncle's fear he felt, as he knew Jon far better than Oberyn did and knew that it wasn't a red god the boy prayed to. Entering the temple he marveled at the interior, the expense, the sheer effort to build something like this was something he appreciated.
"Welcome Lord Tyrion, the high priestess will be with you directly, would you care for some wine?" a red priest said as a girl stepped forward carrying a tray.
"I thank you?"
"Lapeax." the man said and he nodded taking the wine and sipping.
What it was he didn't know, it wasn't Westorsi that was for certain and he found he enjoyed it so much that he welcomed the second glass. He was just finishing it off when the woman arrived and for the briefest moment, he was back in his chambers looking at Arianne. The high priestess may have been a little taller than the princess of Dorne, but for that, she'd be her twin he thought as she smiled and beckoned him to follow her.
The room they entered was covered in flames, the walls had torches lighting, around the room stood many bowls which were alight and in the middle of the floor, a large bowl rested, it's flames rising high. The high priestess said nothing to him, just motioned him forward, smiling as she did so.
"Look into the flames Tyrion, see that which you came to find." Harlos said and he moved forward.
He saw the man helping out the sick, handing out food at a street corner, he looked on as the man walked back to a small house and he saw as he passed the tavern they were staying in. The images changed, a small girl silver-haired running with a large dog, while behind her horses chased after her, a wall of ice and a bronze dragon flying over it, flames coming from its mouth.
He saw a rider on it's back though he was too high to make out, then the dragon landed in front of him. Looking on he watched as he stepped down off the dragon, wearing armor and dressed in black and red, he smiled as he beckoned himself forward.
" It's time to be a dragon." he heard a voice say.
The room was dark then, all the flames going out as one, Tyrion looked around in the darkness, he could hear things move or he thought he could, and he jumped when the hand took his.
"Come with me my lord, for the night is dark and full of terrors." he heard Harlos's voice as she led him from the room.
The light hit him then as they walked outside, almost blinding him after the darkness they had been in. He looked to the High Priestess, seeing her smile sympathetically at him and he wondered had she seen it too, had she seen the vision he had? He needed to know, needed to be sure, so once he was far enough away from the room he turned to her.
"What did you see?" he asked and she looked at him confusedly.
"Me my lord? The vision was for you, did you not see?"
He looked to her again, trying to see if there was a lie in what she had said, but if there was then she was a far better mummer than he.
"I saw the man I was looking for, he is here, helping the sick and needy."
"Then you must go to this man for our prince has need of him."
"I saw other things, strange things, impossible things."
"Than R'hllor has a use for you in what is to come, speak to Melisandre, my lord, speak and learn." she said and before he could answer her or ask more questions she was gone.
Taking the palanquin back to the tavern, he found himself in need of a drink, by the time Oberyn and Ellaria had arrived back he was well onto his way to being very drunk. He was glad they didn't ask him what was wrong, glad of a lot of things with the prince and his paramour. He had expected judgment, scorn and upset, as it was clear Oberyn knew of Arianne and he, but instead he found none, just like now.
As he slept late that night, the dreams he had were much different than they had been, instead of the girl, of her dark skin, of her perfect body and how he had felt being with her. Instead of dreams, stupid, impossible dreams of a future that could not be. It was dragon's he dreamt of, dragons flying in the sky, one white, one black, one bronze, all three with riders on their back.
Pentos 294 AC.
Ellaria.
The ride to the manse was long and she like Oberyn were surprised when they got there, Illyrio was supposedly one of, if not the richest of all the magisters in Pentos and yet the manse was disappointing. It was less, much less than she had expected, far less than some they'd passed to get here, and were it not for the unsullied guards she'd have thought it abandoned.
This feeling only increased once they went inside, it looked as if no one lived here, or at least no one had for a long time. She felt her nerves on edge, saw that Oberyn was coiled ready to strike and knowing he felt the same both calmed and worried her. Though the spread in front of the man and the man himself when they were brought in front of him, did at least fit the image of a wealthy magister.
She had seen fat men before, but Illyrio was one of the fattest she had ever seen and watching him pick from dish after dish, robbed her of any desire to eat. She did accept the wine though and took her seat when Oberyn did, the magister giving her a look she was well used too. She reached her hand out to calm Oberyn down, unsullied or not, guards or not, he'd not let a man look at her like that.
"My prince, my lady, it is a pleasure to welcome you to my home." Illyrio said and Oberyn smiled as did she.
"I thank you magister for this opportunity to speak to you, though I had hoped it would be sooner?" Oberyn said and Illyrio looked at him and spoke placatingly.
"My apologies my prince, my business took me elsewhere and I was unable to accede to your request sooner, I hope you forgive me, for I meant it as no slight."
"There is nothing to forgive Magister, you know why I've come?"
"I take it you have heard of my interest in the Targaryen children?" Illyrio said.
"I have Magister, Dorne too is interested or would be interested in finding and protecting the children."
"Would they indeed, and yet you never have attempted such?".
"Politics in Westeros is complicated Magister, my brother and I, we have no love for the Stag who sits the throne, but should we move against him, should we be known to be contemplating such a thing, then Dorne would suffer even more than it already has because of Robert Baratheon." Oberyn said the disgust when he said the king's name clear even to the magister.
"And should Dorne know where the children are, should they be able to speak to them?"
"Then plans could be made for the future Magister." Oberyn said with a smile and the magister matched it.
She looked on then as the man stared at Oberyn as he sized him up almost as if he was going to tell him something, only at the last moment he seemed to decide against it.
"I have spent a great deal of coin trying to find them, trying to bring them under my protection my prince, alas thus far it's been a wasted effort, but I shall continue to do so, continue to try and find them. Perhaps if I do you and I could speak again, speak of the future." Illyrio said a small smile on his face.
"Of course magister should the time come, Dorne will look to the future."
They spoke then of different things, the magister was a cheesemonger and wished to discuss trade with Oberyn, something which she knew that while he could, was not something he enjoyed doing. But Oberyn made a deal, kept the dialogue open and for a little expense this magister may or may not become an ally in the future. After bidding him their farewells, they made their way back to the tavern, Oberyn silent all the way.
Finding Tyrion as drunk as they did was a surprise, not that the man didn't drink or that he didn't get drunk, but more that he would do so without them. Seeing the look on his face, both she and Oberyn kept the conversation light, only speaking seriously once he had retired for the evening.
"Did you believe that mummery?" Oberyn asked as they lay in bed later that night.
"No, that was not the magister's home, which begs the question of why he wished to meet us there?"
"Had he not had the unsullied with him then I'd have thought it for safety, but no the man is hiding something, something he wishes us not to see."
"What?"
"The Targaryens perhaps, maybe he has already found them." Oberyn said and she looked at him trying to see if he was serious.
"You believe so?"
"I do not know my love, but I cannot think why else he would hide his home from us, why else he would not allow us to see him truly. You know these men, you've seen them, they flaunt their wealth, they don't hide it."
"What do you make of his suggestion of working in the future, a true offer or a way to throw us off?" she asked and he smiled.
"Both."
He moved on top of her then and all talk of the fat magister was finished with for the night at least. Feeling his hands move down her body, his lips on hers, she found thankfully the image of the fat man looking at her was gone also.
Waking the next morning she felt satisfied and surprisingly well-rested, he lay beside her still asleep and she chuckled at the fact that for once she had woken first. She got up and washed, dressed, and headed down to break her fast allowing him to rest for a while longer. While she wasn't surprised to see Obara and Daemon there, she was shocked to see Tyrion.
"Do my eyes deceive me, am I still asleep." she said smiling as she took a seat beside him.
"No you must be awake, for why would I be in your dreams, my lady." Tyrion said a small smile on his face.
"You are well Tyrion?" she asked concernedly and the smile he gave her was fuller.
"I am, thank you Ellaria."
They broke their fast together, Tyrion seeming to come more alive with her sitting there, both Obara and Daemon didn't know what to make of him she knew that, and couldn't fault them for it. They were more used to discussing fighting and sparring, had it been Jon with them, then no doubt she'd have found all three locked in a discussion on arms.
Tyrion's weapon was his mind though and it was, to Ellaria at least, just as powerful as any sword, something Oberyn she knew agreed on even if his daughter and former squire did not.
"How did it go with the Magister?" Tyrion asked and she shook her head, before telling him what both her and Oberyn's suspicions were.
"You think him playing a mummer?"
"I do, I also wonder what it is he is hiding from us."
"Perhaps Loamara knows more of this Illyrio." Tyrion said as he drank warmed milk and ate the last of his burned black bacon.
"You found him?" she said a smile on her face.
"I know where he is, we can go see him today."
She was happy at the news, Illyrio wasn't what they came here for, even though now they'd not leave until they found out what it was the Magister was doing, he wasn't their priority, Loamara was.
Andalos 294 AC.
The Hound.
He had found over time that he liked traveling in Essos somewhat, he hated the cities, despite the comforts they afforded. But here in the open, he found he liked the warm nights, the clean air, the only thing he disliked was the water, trying to find water was always a problem.
He lost track of the number of water holes he'd dug, he made sure to carry extra every time they filled up their pouches, and as he looked at the princess and saw how dirty she was he smirked, washing was the least of their priorities. Still, when he saw the stream in the distance, when he heard the rushing of it, he saw Dany's face light up and couldn't help but smile.
"I told you we'd find some this way." she said smugly as they rode towards the water.
"So what, do you want to be fucking knighted for being right?"
"Can a girl be knighted, I could be a knight." she said smirking at him.
"You'd be better than most of the fuckers." he said and she sat up a little higher on her horse.
"Ser Dany the knight of dragons." she said and he shook his head.
"Ser Dany the knight who smells." he said and she glowered at him though when he turned away, she moved her head down to smell herself and made a disgusted face.
"I need a wash." she said then determinedly and kicked her horse into a run.
'For fuck sake' he thought as he did the same, racing after her he actually arrived at the stream before she did, so he checked around to make sure they were safe and walked over picked up a rock and threw it into the water. When he saw it was clear, he waited until she arrived and pointed to the small bend where a bush would block her from his view.
"I'll go there, you sing little dragon."
"I'm not fucking singing." she said and he looked at her.
"You sing, so I know you're well." he said and she nodded.
They filled up their water pouches, led the horses to the edge of the stream so they could drink their fill, and after making sure she carried her dagger with her, he went to wash. Looking down at the sheer amount of dirt that came off him, he was glad they'd found it, as he washed he heard her and found that while she may have been Rhaegar's sister, she didn't inherit his talent.
The dragon prince was known for his harp playing, for his voice, his sister would be known for other things. He chuckled as she sang louder and louder, enjoying herself now as she sang The Dornishman's wife, it was the only song he knew, so it was the one he taught her. Once he was finished washing, he waited a few more moments while she sung and then headed back to find her finished.
"Your turn to wash the clothes." She said and he shook his head.
"I washed them last time."
"I gave you the last piece of chicken remember." she said sticking her tongue out at him.
"Fucking chicken." he grumbled as he took her dirty clothes and his own and washed them.
They rode for almost a week before they came to a village, it was small, but it would do, finding a small inn they got a room and ordered some food, both of them ravenous. He watched as she put the eggs in the fire that night, as she sat there speaking to them, her words soft, it had worried him at first, scared him to hear her speaking to the eggs.
But when she had him take one in his hands and he had felt it's cold surface, when she had then held it and asked him to touch it he felt the warmth, the movement inside had shocked him but he had felt somewhat relieved. She said the eggs were alive, that they wanted to be born, that she could hear it, hear the black egg in her head, hear it speak to her, and for now he was willing to go along with it.
"Will we leave today?" she asked as he woke up.
"Aye, they say Norvos is only a week away, we could go there get supplies and move on from there." he said before noticing her hand "What the fuck happened to your hand?" he said jumping from the bed and almost ripping the bandage off it.
"I, I… the dragons, they needed it."
"Needed it, needed what?"
"My blood, I gave them my blood."
He looked at the cut and was glad to see it wasn't too deep and that she had cut it straight at least, dipping her hand in the water bowl he washed it and taking a piece of the sheet he rewrapped her hand. She smiled at him as he did so, and though he wanted to ask her more, though he wanted to tell her what she was doing was harmful, he found he could not.
They gathered their supplies that day and rode off, and each night they were on the road she'd cut her hand and allow her blood drip on the eggs, then each morning he'd check her wound, bandage her up and on they went. The day before they reached Norvos he woke up to see her smiling as she looked at the eggs, he got ready to fix her hand again but found it was not needed.
"What happened?"
"I don't need to anymore." she said and he was more glad of that fact, than curious as to why.
They reached Norvos early the next day and he looked warily around, there was no way the magister could have gotten news of what they did to the city before they arrived, but there could still be those he'd sent out to find them previously lurking around. He was glad to find there was not it seemed, they soon found a tavern and ordered a room. Tomorrow they would buy their supplies, and be off on their travels yet again. As they ate that night a woman slowly approached the table, he didn't even hear her walk she moved so quietly.
"My princess may I speak to you." he looked up warily, his hand on his sword, as the red priestess stood at the table looking at Dany.
"Who the fuck are you? He asked.
"My name is Ralsar, I serve the temple here. May I sit? I mean neither of you harm, but should I be lying then I'm sure you can deal with me easily." the woman said and he looked to Dany who nodded.
"My princess, I bring you greetings from Darius our high priest, we have been long awaiting your arrival." she said smiling and Sandor looked at her more closely now.
She was a pretty girl, no more then eight and ten he guessed, her black hair was as dark as coal and her eyes a vivid blue, she seemed at ease in this place and he noticed how people looked at her. Whether it was fear or respect he couldn't quite tell but he knew that not a person in this place would help him against her should the need arise.
"How did you know I was coming?" Dany asked her skepticism clear.
"We saw it in the flames, that and what it is you carry." the woman said and feeling Dany tense up, he reached for his knife "Fear not princess, I come here by R'hllor's will, we can help you birth your children, help you wake the dragons from stone, they no longer need your blood is this true?".
He looked on as Dany gasped before steadying herself, as she nodded without speaking confirming what the woman was saying.
"Then it is almost time, I shall return on the morrow, if you wish to come with me, if you wish answers, I will take you to Darius, if not, then I wish you good fortune princess and hope R'hllor blesses your journey."
Later that night he woke up to find her sitting by the fire yet again, he knew of these red priests, of their obsession with fire and it concerned him greatly, he feared she would lead where he couldn't follow. But she was his princess, his charge, her will was more important than his own, her safety, her future was all that mattered. He had turned his back on coin for her, turned his back on Westeros, whatever she asked he would do, for her, for his princess, for his sister.
Casterly Rock 294 AC.
Genna.
The Rock was a different place these last few days, Gerion was spending his time with Joy more often than not, not that he ever didn't spend time with the girl when he was here. But since the news, since finding out about Joanna, about Tyrion, he almost never let the girl from his sight, almost suffocated her, so much so that this morning she had taken her away from her lessons and with her to Lannisport.
They sat quietly in the carriage, as quietly as she had been for most of the time since she found out the truth. Knowing how Jaime felt, how Gerion, How Tyron would, it made her own grief, her own anger, her own sadness pale, though it was there still. Her mind had gone to different places, jumped to different conclusions, but the one it came back to was that they had killed her because she bore a dragon.
It made her angry at the dragons, at Aerys for what he had done and at Jon for what he had told them and also for what he was. For him simply being a part of that family, simply sharing the same blood as Aerys, the same blood as her nephew.
"Auntie sad." Joy said beside her and she found herself glad for Joy's games this morning.
"I'll be better soon." she said a forced smile on her face.
"Like Jon?" Joy said and she looked at her.
"Jon?"
"Jon is sad too auntie." Joy said and she nodded, she knew he was, but she wasn't ready to offer him comfort yet, not when she had none to offer to herself.
They stopped off at Kevan's and she spoke to Dorna about the fostering, she had been lax in her duties the last few days, she, Jaime, Gerion all of them and they needed to at least go through the motions of doing them. After lunch with Dorna and Joy, where Joy spent most of it quietly looking at them, and her in particular, they rode back to the Rock and she felt the trepidation build.
"You need to speak to Jon Aunt." Joy said sitting up straight.
"What?"
"Jon, he's sad, you're sad, Jaime, Papa, all of you, you need to speak."
"Joy, it's nothing, it'll…"
"No aunt." Joy said looking at her.
"It's not that easy, you're a little girl, you don't understand, it's not that easy." she said shaking her head, holding the tears at bay.
"Speak to him aunt, or I'll not speak to you."
She watched then as the girl did exactly as she said she would, for the rest of the ride, any attempt to speak to her was met with silence, Joy barely looked at her and when they reached the Rock she was out of the carriage before she could even move. As she changed in her rooms Gerion came to her asking if she and Joy had an argument, had she chastised her and told her she was wrong on something.
"She won't speak to me Genna, she said I was to speak to you." Gerion said and she couldn't help but chuckle "Genna?".
"Out of the mouth of babes Gerion, out of the mouth of babes." she said getting up and walking from the room leaving her brother looking confusedly at her.
Taking the lift she found herself outside the vault door, speaking to Walder he opened it and let her in, and she was surprised by what she saw inside. They had done an incredible job down here, while not as bright and airy as the higher levels, they were still far lighter than they had been. The corridors were clean, the rooms brightly lit and she passed by heading towards Jon's room, finding Jors standing outside.
"Is he inside?" she asked and the knight nodded before knocking on the door.
It wasn't Jon who answered but Sarella and when she walked in she found Jon and Loras speaking to each other while Rhaenix and Lygaron chirped along, the bronze dragon stopping first to look to her.
"Lady Genna." Jon said when he saw her, quickly rising to his feet.
"Jon can we speak, alone." she asked and Jon looked around the room before looking back to her.
"The beach my lady?" he said and she nodded.
They walked through the vaults and out onto the beach, finding Cregan and the two wolves, his mother and Ser Arthur standing there, all of them laughing as the wolves rolled around on the sand nipping playfully at each other. Dusk had grown, but compared to Ghost was still merely a pup, and yet the white wolf took great care to allow the black one to win their little battle.
"There's a small space up here, I sometimes go to it when I want to be alone." Jon said and she smiled and nodded at him as he looked to Ser Arthur and shook his head.
The space he brought her to was amazing, she could see why he liked it here, it was covered so you couldn't be seen, but when you sat down you could see everything. The Rock, the opening to the vaults, the beach, the sea, all of it clear to you, all of it in front of you, she closed her eyes imagining what this place would look like at sunset.
"Joy got annoyed with me today Jon, very annoyed, it seems I've not taken into account someone else's sadness." she said softly reaching out to take his hand in her own "I'm sorry for that Jon, truly."
"There is nothing to be sorry for my lady." he said a small smile on his face.
"There is Jon, I got so wrapped up in my own feelings, I never thought of yours, you shouldn't have to bear this alone, you're a boy Jon, a wise and smart one, but a boy all the same."
"I wasn't alone, I had Rhaenix and Lygaron, Loras and Joy, I had Cregan and Ashara, Arthur, Walder, Jors, I had my friends, my family, I wasn't alone Genna."
"We're your family too Jon, we left you alone, in our haste, in our desperation for what it meant to us, we forget what it means to you, we forget that. You are family too Jon, I promise I'll not forget that again."
"I'm sorry Genna, I'm so sorry." he said and she held him close, her arm around his shoulder as he sobbed against her side.
"It's alright my love, let it out, let it all out." she said pulling him in tighter to her as he continued to cry.
When he was done, she watched as he wiped his eyes, as he gave her a soft smile and she leaned forward, kissing his forehead.
"I wish I didn't know, that I didn't have to tell him, to tell you all." Jon said his voice soft.
"I know Jon, but secrets have a way of being found out, a way of being known, better we know and are ready to be there for him when he comes back than be how we were with you, we are a family Jon, we'll get through this as a family."
"Family." he said and she kissed his forehead again.
"Now come on, people will be worried we've run away together, you being such a handsome lad and all." she said glad to see him laugh along with her.
She held his hand as they walked back, wanting to keep contact, wanting him to know how much he meant to her, to them. After leaving him in his rooms she took the lift up and walked straight to her nephew's room, knocking at the door she didn't even give Dacey the chance to deny her entry before she was in and standing at their bed.
Jaime lay there, half-dressed as he lay on his side and her heart went out to him, truly, but it needed to stop, they needed to move on and needed to do so now.
"Genna." Dacey said her voice raised but whether it was because she too knew it needed to be done, or the look on Genna's face she said no more.
"It's time to get up Jaime, this can't go on any longer, we're failing him and we'll fail Tyrion too if we don't deal with this."
"I can't." he said his voice sounding so much like the little boy he had once been.
"Jon is hurting Jaime, we've let him walk around hurt because we've been too busy dealing with how we feel, how we feel doesn't matter."
"How can you say that?" he said sitting up in the bed, his voice angry and loud.
"We can deal with it in time Jaime, we can allow time to be our guide on this, but he's a boy, a boy we've failed, Me, Gerion, You." she said and at that she saw his head drop.
"I."
"You will spar with him on the morrow, talk to him." she said turning to walk away.
"I don't know if I can." she heard his voice say as she reached the door of his bedroom.
"You can and you will, fix this Jaime and then prepare for Tyrion's return, he's going to need us, all of us, his family, our family, and Jon is as much a part of it as he is." she said leaving the room.
She spoke to Gerion that night and he agreed, he told her he had tried but couldn't find the words, so she told him none were needed, just talk to the boy. At dinner that night he did just that, as did she, Joy sat there smiling for most of the night, she even caught her looking at her a couple of times, once she swore the girl nodded in approval.
She woke early the next morning, Emmon's snoring being particularly annoying, heading from her rooms she heard the sound of the blades crashing, heard the voices speak. She walked to the window and looked down to see Jon and Jaime spar, smiling she turned to go break her fast, her family was hurt, but they would persevere, they would be there for him when he needed them, for both of them.
Kings Landing 294 AC.
Littlefinger.
The meeting with the man from Pentos was an unexpected delight, the man represented a cheesemonger, a wealthy magister who wished to expand, but more importantly a potential source of coin. When he had asked the man's name though the man had been hesitant, saying his employer would prefer for their relationship to be more secure before revealing himself.
Petyr found he had no problem with that, more eager to get to work on the extra coin this man would bring it, that and the hint the man had given about the magister's true intent.
" My employer is a private man Lord Baelish, a wealthy man, he's become disillusioned by those bankers in Braavos, and seeks a different way to use his coin, perhaps becoming a banker himself."
" Your employer thinks himself wealthy enough to compete with the Iron Bank?"
" My employer sees opportunities the Iron Bank does not, it is how he made his wealth after all, or did you think cheese alone brought him his riches."
Yes, this could be the start of something well needed, something well needed for both the realm and for himself. He had gathered some wealth himself while here, enough to buy influence and potential favors down the line, but it was only the beginning, with more coin he could really spread his wings and then the mockingbird would fly high, fly high indeed.
"My lord, Lord Arryn wishes to speak to you." the guard said and he nodded, speaking of flying high he thought to himself a small smirk on his face as he walked to the Tower of the Hand.
With the Tully's gone Jon Arryn had calmed some, Petyr had laughed at the pathetic way he had tried to steer Cat away from the match with the prince. A few well-placed words from him and a drunken conversation filling Edmure's head with more was all it took to undo that concern and raise another. He was so close he could feel it, so close he could almost taste her and he closed his eyes for the briefest moment 'Cat, my sweet Cat, my love.'.
"Lord Hand."
"Sit Petyr, please." Jon said and he was glad to see the man at least not panicking.
"I received a raven from Renly, it seems the meeting went well, though Olenna may be a problem."
"She won't be my lord, Mace is so desperate for this match, so desperate to be tied to the crown, when he finds out about the king's wishes he'll go behind the withered rose's back."
He saw the grimace on Jon's face at the mention of Cat's daughter and the prince, the old fool couldn't seem to grasp the concept of a tactical retreat, he found it hard to believe this man had led an army once. The king had made it clear the match was going to happen, all you could do now was spin the wheel and try something different.
"I would prefer them tied more directly." Jon said and he moved to interject but Jon stopped him "Still, as you say it can be used for our favor, though how you convinced Renly to go for this is still beyond me."
"You wouldn't want me to give up all my secrets now would you, my lord." he said and Jon Arryn laughed fully.
"No, no, though had I not such dire need of you as master of coin, I'd have named you master of whisperers." Jon laughed again and he joined him, the old fool should have named him, Rosby was perhaps the worse master they'd ever had "Speaking of coin Petyr."
"I may have a solution, both temporary and long term."
He told him then of the Magister and his proposition, his initial taxes and the coin he'd give them now would take them out of a hole, but if they could get access to more then he could bankroll them for years.
"This is excellent news Petyr, excellent, if we can do this and with Renly, yes excellent work my friend."
He walked back to his room, finding his man there, gathering his guards he walked to the brothel wondering what whispers had come that were so important the man had come to him, rather than wait as usual.
"My lord, news from the Riverlands." he said handing him the note.
The Blackfish and the silver trout are close no more, angry words spoken and the Blackfish returned to exile.
He smiled at that, before being brought a drink which he accepted, the young lad who carried it had been promoted from whore to servant simply based on what he had done with Renly. Looking back down at the note, he almost felt the urge to jump to his feet and cheer, so happy was he in his planning.
He had learned early on, through his own experience, that a man's lips were more easily opened during or after sex than at any other time. He was more likely to express his wants, his needs, his desire or his fears, while laying with a woman or a man than he would after being given all the drink of an inn. He had confessed his own love to her after sex, he had declared his own heart's desires as she lay in his arms, as her red hair covered his chest.
So it had proved to be true with so many others, with Renly and his desire for younger boys, boys on the verge of manhood, boys who were pretty and slim. With Vyman and his desire for young girls, with his longing soon overtaking his purse, yes Petyr had found that lips moved far more freely when desire and lust were on the table. So he had done his utmost to hear what those lips would say, to listen to them speak and to take advantage of the tales they told.
"Where is the magister's man?" he asked the young lad who told him he was with Sara and Lana.
Walking to the hole in the wall he looked into the room smiling as the man rolled around on the bed with the two girls.
"I shall speak to Illyrio, you two ladies should not be working in a place such as this, come with Jarlas, I shall treat you well, my master's coin spends far better than any other." the man said and Petyr smiled, secrets, whispers, desires, all of them taking him a step closer to his dream, a step closer to her.
Pentos 294 AC.
Oberyn.
He sparred against Daemon and then Obara feeling his muscles loosen up, after breaking his fast he was now ready for the day to begin, ready to speak to this former Maester they had come so far to see. So along with Tyrion and some guards and leaving Ellaria with Daemon, Obara and some others, they made their way to a small nondescript house.
The man who opened the door he recognized, he was older, wore no beard now, but he knew this man or had done at one time. Loamara he had seen occasionally in Dragonstone, though he had never spoken to the man, never spent any time with him. He seemed to recognize him too, though it was Tyrion he stared at, looking at his face before inviting them in.
"I wondered if one day someone would come, I did not think it would be you Prince Oberyn, I have but one request, make it clean." the former Maester said kneeling on the ground and bowing his head.
"We are not here for that Loamara, though it interests me why you would think we would be?" Tyrion said and the man breathed a sigh of relief.
"I had thought they sent you, thought they found me."
"They?" he asked.
"My former brothers."
"You think the Maester's want you dead?" he asked and Loamara nodded.
"They want me dead my prince, I do not think this, I know it."
"Why?"
"Because I refused to be a part of it, refused to do their bidding, I am not here to do harm to people, that is not why I studied for my chains, that is not the life I had chosen, I am here, to help save lives, not to take them."
"Who's lives did they wish you to take?" Tyrion said and the Maester looked at him more closely.
"Your eyes, they are mismatched." he said and Tyrion just shrugged him off.
"Who's lives Maester?"
"The children, the mother, the father, all of them, all of the dragons, they wished them gone, and they got their way in the end." he said sadly.
He told them then of being approached, of being asked to ensure no babe was born, or if possible making sure the mother fell too. When he told them of an illness Rhaegar had as a young man Oberyn gasped, remembering the news that had swept the realm. They had wished him to pass from that illness, sent him the means to do so, but he had thrown the poison out, refused to take part and so he had soon feared for his own life.
"Why didn't you tell them, why didn't you let them know?" Oberyn said angrily.
"I knew little my prince, no names, no direct contact, I would have died before I spoke, they tried which is why I ran, yes I should have spoken, but fear takes the tongue of many a brave man Prince Oberyn, and I am not a brave man."
"I wish you to come back to Westeros with me, to Casterly Rock."
"No."
"I have someone who wishes to meet you, someone you can help. Marwyn said you'd be of great help, as did the Red Priests." Tyrion said and Oberyn looked to him seeing him shake his head and tell him he'd speak later.
"There is no reason for me to go back to Westeros my lord, no reason I would." Loamara said walking away.
"A dragon needs your help Maester, a dragon prince who will be king, Rhaegar's son lives, will you abandon him like you did his father?" Oberyn said and Loamara looked at him.
"Aegon died." he said and Oberyn was surprised at the sadness in his voice.
"But Jaehaerys lives."
In the end, the Maester agreed and Oberyn found in his time here he had learned many things, many interesting things including about Illyrio Mopatis.
"I know of the cheesemonger, I heal his servants, they speak of him often."
"I met him at his manse in the east of the city." Oberyn began but Loamara stopped him.
"Illyrio lives in the west, his is the largest manse in Pentos, only Khal Drogo's come's even close."
He looked to Tyrion who seemed as intrigued as he now, but it was what the maester said next which he found even more interesting.
"I was there not but a few weeks ago helping his guest, the Targaryen prince."
"What?" he said loudly.
"Prince Viserys, he was there, is still there, he had been hurt badly, but I helped and he is recovering though it will be a long road." Loamara said.
"But I thought you said the dragons were gone?" Tyrion said.
"Viserys is no dragon, he is his father's son, just as he has always been."
Oldtown 294 AC.
Marwyn.
Being a spy was something he very much enjoyed, trying to ferret out the secrets of lesser men while not being as exciting as finding the truth about magic, was at least a welcome distraction. Almost as much as derailing those plans was, he had barely been able to contain his glee when the poison worked, that it worked so well had surprised even he.
But it achieved its goal, Theobold, Walgrave, Ebrose were all sidelined along with some others, leaving the rest including him to make the choice for the new Maester of Casterly Rock. Favors, Coin, the use of some acolytes, even the lending of a private book from his own collection, all of it combining to get his choice through. Jardene to Casterly Rock, oh how Theobold and the others would rage when they heard.
"Archmaester," an acolyte said taking his attention from his writing.
"Yes what is it?" he said a little more abruptly than he wished.
"Archmaester's Ebrose and Theobold wish to speak to you."
He slowly made his way to the conclave room, knowing that's where they'd reprimand him for overstepping his bounds, he had played this game so many times before though. He actually enjoyed these sessions, enjoyed their efforts to belittle him and his work, their threats carrying no weight as an Archmaester couldn't be decloaked.
Stepping into the room he saw six of them sitting there, Ebrose and Ryam were no friends of his, but whether they were part of the conspiracy or just useful idiots he had no idea. Perestan too disliked him, but the man was a fool and so it was to the others he looked, Theobold and his cronies, Vaellyn and Gallard. The three men were close, and it was these and Ebrose he took off the selection committee.
"You asked for me friends." he said and saw the distaste on most of the faces.
"We did Maester, Jardene I wish him to be recalled." Ebrose said.
"We cannot." he said looking at Ebrose who looked to Theobold.
"He has only just left, if we send riders we can bring him back." Ryam said angrily.
"He left on one of those ships the Lannister's are so proud of, he'll arrive almost as quickly as the raven, to call him back once he arrived would have us looked upon in disfavor by such a strong house." he said and Ebrose and Ryam looked to each other worriedly.
"Why are you so keen to see Jardene as Maester, Marwyn?" Vaellyn asked.
"I wished him to be gone before he got a nickname from a fool." he said and watched the man splutter and cough.
"Enough Marwyn, you overstep your bounds." Gallard said and he looked at him.
"How? Did I break any rules, did I not do what each of you have done to Maester's in your favor, have not each of you seen your favorite students rewarded?"
"That is not the point, you know who we wished to replace Creylen and you went around us Marwyn, there will be consequences for this." Theobold said and Marwyn smiled at him.
"Every action has a reaction, I know this, now if this is all, my work calls, magic, don't you just love it." he said whistling as he walked from the room.
He knew for certain now of Theobold, Vaellyn, and Gallard, the other three he doubted but couldn't be sure. But he knew who to keep away from, over the next few weeks they tried their best to mess with him, cutting his supplies, trying to limit his access to coin. He had to give the Lannister's one thing, a man would not go hungry, not when he was in their favor.
The dwarf had listened and made preparations for such a thing, the account and access to coin through the brothel was something he was glad for. When they tried to take his acolytes though he had beaten them at their own game, rules were such a great thing to an organization founded upon them. So he had used them against them and after some time he had seen things return to somewhat normal.
"Archmaester, Archmaester, I was wondering if I could be taken on as an acolyte, magic you see, it's most fascinating to me." the voice said shakily.
He turned to look at the owner of the voice, wondering if this was yet another one of Theobold's pathetic attempts to place one of his own acolytes close to him. Though if one were to pick someone to spy, then the boy in front of him would be an intriguing choice. He was fat, excessively so, his face red either from exertion or sheer embarrassment, which it was though Marwyn couldn't tell.
"What's your name boy?".
"Sam, Samwell Tarly."
Pentos 294 AC.
Illyrio.
Meeting with the prince was interesting he thought as they made their way back to his Manse. With Dornish support, with the Golden Company, if the circumstances were right, yes, interesting indeed. He would seek to build up ties with them in the future, ready to bring Aegon to their attention when the time was right, a married Aegon and Daenerys, perhaps give them Viserys to join them further, yes, this could work out quite well.
Arriving back at the manse though he could tell things had gone terribly wrong, something had happened, something he had not been prepared for. He moved from his palanquin as fast as he could, though it was not as easy as it had once been, his girth slowing him down considerably. His unsullied surrounded him protectively, while the captain of them took some men and checked the ground for threats.
"It is safe to go inside." his captain said and he and they entered quickly.
What he found when he got there left him furious, how could they allow this? How could they have been so stupid? As his steward explained he felt his breathing speed up, felt his chest expand.
"They were left in the treasure room?" he said as his steward explained where he had found the two unsullied.
He ran down the hall, or to be more precise waddled quickly, his teats almost hitting his face as he moved faster than he had in years. Looking in the room he was relieved to see his treasure still there, though this was only part of his fortune, most of what was in this room were what he held most dear. Serra's jewels were still there, though his own bag was gone, looking around he screamed in rage when he realized what she had taken.
"The guards, the guards who were on duty, strip them and bring them to me." he said and his unsullied brought them and his steward "On their knees."
He looked on as the two unsullied, the guard he'd placed on the princess's room, the two guards who patrolled here and the steward were all on their knees in front of them. Staring at them he spat on the floor in front of them and motioned to his captain.
"Cut their throats."
"Please master I have served you for twenty years." his steward said tears falling from his eyes.
"You failed me."
Walking away he heard the guards scream, the steward scream, though the unsullied stayed silent. That night he took comfort in food, took his frustration out on the girls, though he found his member refused to rise, no matter their efforts. Sending them away he ate even more before falling asleep at the table, his head resting on a suckling pig.
He woke the next morning, called the girls in to wash and perfume him, broke his fast and sent for his man in the city. When he arrived he gave him the order, the capture was no longer the priority, kill them and return his property, return the eggs to their rightful master. They had stolen Aegon's birthright, the gift he had intended to present to him on his wedding day, meaning they had crossed the line, and for that, he would give the dragons no mercy.
"The prince does he know?"
"No master."
"Good, see to it that he is dosed from now on, everyday." he said and his captain left to see it done.
He had no choice now, only one option, only one way to see his son on the throne he was born to sit on, he would spend his entire fortune if need be, every last coin. He wrote out the contract for the Golden Company, did the sums in his head on how much coin he had left. Then he got up and walked to the prince's room seeing him lying there asleep, he almost gave in to the urge to run him through where he was.
But no, he would heal the boy prince, he would see him well, he was the key, he was his final piece, coin would get him a king's favor, Viserys would earn him his trust. He looked down at the locket, opened it up and looked at her face, her beautiful face.
"As I swore so it shall be my love."