The Unsullied stiffened the instant their master dismounted, spears thudding against the ground in unison. Grey stepped forward first, dropping to one knee.
"Master, we have done as you commanded."
Maekar's sharp gaze swept over the gathered men, then down to Grey.
"And the sailors who carried you here?"
"They are sinking along with their ship, Master,"
Grey replied without hesitation.
A faint nod is all Grey received.
"Good. Loose ends do not suit me."
He lifted a gloved hand and pointed eastward, toward where the faint outline of the city lay beyond the treeline.
"King's Landing is but a short march that way. You will not enter as soldiers—you will enter as lone travelers. Foreigners are no rare sight in the capital; you will draw no suspicion."
Grey bowed his head low.
"It shall be done."
"Each of you will carry a portion of the coin."
Maekar continued, his voice firm but low.
"Piece by piece, you will smuggle it into the city. No haste, no pattern."
The Unsullied gave no reply save for a silent nod, their stillness a mark of their obedience. Maekar studied them for a moment longer, then turned, resting his palm against Morghul's scaled hide.
Maekar sits down on a fallen tree trunk, Grey dutifully standing before him. From his cloak, Maekar takes out a detailed map of King's Landing and spreads it open. He points at a certain part, saying,
"This is Flea Bottom, a mostly lawless area of the city. There, the city guards—known by their gold cloaks—are rarely present. It is a dog-eat-dog world, a perfect hiding place. While the place is crowded with smallfolk, many run-down houses stand empty. You will use those as your base for now, until I get you situated."
Grey nods and says, "I understand, Master."
Maekar nods in return and says,
"In a week, I will leave the city along with most of the royal family. In that time, get situated in the city, and do not attract attention. I will also provide you with your weapons, as you cannot enter the city armed. Once you enter, I will contact you again."
Maekar then stands, leaving the map for Grey to keep, and climbs onto Morghul. With a powerful beat of wings, the dragon rises into the sky, carrying his rider back toward the city.
A week passes in absolute stillness as the royal family prepares to travel to Driftmark. In that time, Maekar visited the Unsullied twice, slipping out in the dead of night through hidden tunnels he had discovered within the Red Keep.
It had taken the Unsullied five days to fully enter the city, one by one. Maekar was taking no chances. They had taken over a few dilapidated houses in Flea Bottom, their new base. Because of their language barrier, Maekar had forbidden them from speaking or interacting with anyone. Their only task was to walk through the slums to get a feel for the place—or rather, the smell of it.
The royal ship was prepared, and King Viserys, along with Alicent, Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena, would be aboard. Maekar, however, had insisted on riding his dragon to Driftmark. The king, seeing no harm in it, had allowed him.
Rhaenyra had likewise insisted on her own ship. Viserys had tried to keep her close, to have her travel with him, but as always, he yielded to her wishes, and she did as she pleased.
Now Maekar stood with Alicent and his siblings at the docks as they prepared to board. The salt wind tugged at their cloaks, the harbor alive with the creak of wood and the call of sailors.
Alicent sighed and looked at her son.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us aboard the ship?"
Maekar shook his head.
"I can already tell from here that my stomach and ships don't agree."
Alicent nodded reluctantly.
"Then, after we sail, you must quickly follow us, son, lest we appear rude if you are late."
"Don't worry," Maekar answered, his tone even.
"I will leave shortly after you, Mother."
Soon Alicent and her children boarded the ship. Maekar stood at the dock, watching as the sails caught the wind and the vessel drifted from the port. When it vanished beyond the harbor walls, he turned sharply and made his way back toward the Red Keep.
Mounting his horse, he set off with the two guards Ser Criston had assigned for his safety. Hooves rang against the cobbles as they rode, the city still stirring with morning trade.
Along the road, a carriage appeared, drawn by two horses and flanked by ten guards. It was heading for the port he had just left behind. As the carriage drew near, Maekar slowed, his gaze drawn to the small window that slid open.
Inside sat Rhaenyra, her children pressed close beside her. Her eyes found his—and in that fleeting heartbeat, a storm of emotions crossed them: worry, hatred, and something unspoken and complicated.
Maekar's hollow purple eyes met hers in return but gave nothing back. No heat, no answer—only stillness. Then the moment was gone, swallowed by the clamor of wheels and hooves as the carriage rolled past, fading into the distance.
Maekar tightened his reins, a thought pressing against his mind.'What will happen at Driftmark will shatter any hope of reconciliation between our families.'
Maekar reached the Red Keep and made his way to his room, thinking,
'It only takes a few hours on dragonback but about two days by ship—I will leave tomorrow then.'
He washed and ate a quiet meal, noting the emptiness of the castle despite the throng of guards and servants.
Night fell over King's Landing. Maekar, cloaked in black, sat in a near-derelict house. Around him were almost twenty Unsullied, crowding the small room; their presence filled the air with heat, which did not seem to trouble Maekar.
"Now that you are all situated," he said,
"It's time you actually carry some form of protection." After a short pause he continued,
"The Red Keep was built with many hidden tunnels. Nobody knows the complete layout—not even the royal family that built it. I know some tunnels, and one leads to an armory of the Red Keep. There you will find short swords and boiled-leather armor."
Maekar looked at two Unsullied standing near him.
"You two will come with me. I will show you the way, and you will smuggle what you need so you can arm yourselves."
All the Unsullied nodded in unison. Maekar rose, leaving the map behind, and slipped out with the two Unsullied sticking to the shadows. He led them into a tunnel so narrow that only one man could walk abreast; there was no space at the sides. Maekar went first, the two following in absolute silence. After ten minutes of steady walking, they came upon the end of the passage.
Maekar pushed at what looked like a solid rock wall; as if a mechanism had been triggered, it slid aside, leaving room for a single man to pass. He stepped through with the two Unsullied close behind and found himself in the Red Keep armory —onehe had discovered while searching the passages at night. The tunnel intersected another that led to a chamber near his rooms; that was how he had found it.
"Take what you need," Maekar said quietly.
"Over the next few days, bring the gear out bit by bit until you are all well armed. Remember—discretion is paramount."
The Unsullied took what they could carry without drawing attention and, with a bow, left the armory. Maekar entered a minute later after them and closed the tunnel door behind him.
He made his way halfway down the passage until a right-hand opening appeared. Taking that path, he walked for a short distance until reaching another end. Sliding the hidden entrance aside, he stepped through to find himself in what appeared to be a barren guest room, devoid of any personal belongings.
Maekar removed his cloak, revealing the black-and-red royal attire befitting his station. He opened the chamber door and, as if nothing had occurred, walked down the hall to his own room —only two doors away.