Daenerys Targaryen's fingers caressed the teacup as she pondered, then said, "Ser, how many more people do we need?"
Jorah Mormont respectfully replied, "Princess Daenerys, we need at least thirty or forty more."
Knowing the approximate number of people needed, the silver-haired princess was decisive: "Ser Jorah, I permit you to directly hire fifty people. Please, when selecting personnel, filter out those who might be malicious. This city needs stability most of all."
Ser Jorah placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head: "As you command, Your Royal Highness."
Daenerys nodded gently with a warm expression. She was about to ask about the tourney when Dick walked in hurriedly.
Dick first saluted the silver-haired princess, then glanced at Ser Jorah, his eyes habitually darting around.
Daenerys looked at Dick, whose demeanor was very much like a thief, and her lips curved slightly as she asked, "Clever Dick, where is my brother?"
Dick glanced at the tall and sturdy Jorah again, seemingly hesitant to speak.
Daenerys smiled and shook her head, saying, "Dick, everyone here is someone I trust. It's alright."
Ser Jorah nodded slightly, stood to the side, and looked directly at Dick with his dark eyes.
Dick spoke, "Your Royal Highness, King Viserys is currently meeting with several Sellsword leaders."
Daenerys's eyebrows arched slightly: "Sellswords?"
Daenerys was very surprised. Why would her King brother be willing to personally meet "lowly" Sellswords? This action was both sudden and strange.
Dick cautiously replied, "Your Royal Highness, His Majesty plans to hire some Sellswords as his personal guards."
Daenerys's violet eyes flickered. She exchanged a glance with Ser Jorah, then turned to Dick and said, "Dick, the loyalty of Sellswords needs to be bought with gold dragons. Does my brother have enough gold dragons?"
The Usurper in King's Landing had always offered a hefty bounty for their heads, and Sellswords never cared about honor. Didn't Viserys know this was very dangerous?
Dick leaned closer and whispered, "Your Royal Highness, His Majesty ordered me to find out where your three dragon eggs are placed."
Ser Jorah scornfully said, "He asked me about that a few days ago too."
Daenerys said with some disbelief, "What does brother want to do? Could it be…"
Ser Jorah said coldly, "I think our His Majesty wants to steal your eggs."
Dick looked at the stunned silver-haired princess, nodded heavily, confirming that Ser Jorah's guess was correct.
Daenerys was too shocked to speak. After a pause, she finally said, "They're just a few stones. Why would brother want them?"
Ser Jorah explained, "Princess Daenerys, rubies, diamonds, and fire opals are also just stones, but fossilized dragon eggs are far rarer than them. With three dragon eggs, Viserys… His Majesty would have enough to hire many Sellswords."
Daenerys had never really considered the value of the dragon eggs. She remembered the scene when she received the gift. Who was that person? Why would he give her such a valuable gift?
Viserys was the true heir to the Iron Throne… Daenerys's small face could hardly hide her sadness: "He is my brother. Viserys could have just asked me directly. Why choose this method? I am his own sister…"
Ser Jorah saw Daenerys's distress, and his heart ached, but for the princess's safety, some things still needed to be said.
"Princess Daenerys, forgive my frankness, but if you give the eggs to King Viserys now, he will be enraged, because he will see your generosity as charity towards him."
Daenerys's good mood was gone. She said tiredly, "Even so, it's better than taking the dragon eggs behind my back."
Ser Jorah scoffed, "Perhaps he does it this way to deceive himself."
Her brother's distrust always pricked Daenerys's sensitive heart. She had warned herself not to easily shed tears in front of others, but at this moment, her eyes couldn't help but feel hot.
After a long while, Daenerys regained her composure. She had once again overcome herself. She told herself that she was a true Dragon, and she would never cry weakly.
Daenerys slowly said, "Dick, find a suitable opportunity to tell our King Viserys…"
She paused, then continued, "You heard those Sellswords discussing how much our heads are worth to the Usurper."
Dick, for once, showed a solemn expression. He nodded in assent.
Ser Jorah's lips curved slightly. He bowed slightly and said, "Allow me to praise your wisdom, Princess Daenerys."
Daenerys forced a smile and waved Dick away.
After Dick left, Daenerys slowly stood up, her small and well-proportioned figure walking to the window, looking up at the sky outside.
Ser Jorah stood silently behind the silver-haired princess.
After a moment of silence, Daenerys's eyes flickered slightly, and she softly said, "He told me what the game of power is. I asked him why he told me these things. He replied that by understanding these things, I could better protect myself, or… when I encountered something terrible, at least have a different choice."
Ser Jorah gazed at the silver-haired princess's charming back and said, "He is a wise man."
Hearing this, Daenerys chuckled, "He's a fake savage."
She then murmured, "He is a strong and kind person…"
Saying this, Daenerys extended a hand towards the window. Her fair, smooth skin gleamed in the sunlight. She continued, "He can make me sleep peacefully… make me laugh carefree… in my most desperate moments… he gave me hope…"
A gentle breeze softly blew, and the silver-haired princess's soft voice seemed to float on the wind.
Greene Kleber? She loves him… Ser Jorah's eyes trembled. He unconsciously clenched his fists.
The love buried deep in his heart suddenly surged out. Ser Jorah knelt on one knee. He didn't know why he was doing this; at this moment, he couldn't think of anything else.
The Duke of Bear Island looked up at the silver-haired princess with deep affection and sincerely said, "Daenerys, please let me protect you. I will always guard you, I swear, until death."
As Ser Jorah's words fell, Daenerys's violet eyes, fixed on the sky, were still filled with longing, showing no ripple.
The silver-haired princess seemed to ignore the Duke of Bear Island's heartfelt confession. His face gradually turned ashen… disappointment, dejection, sadness, but the deepest feeling was regret, regret for his impulsiveness. Would he be banished? Ser Jorah began to feel both anxious and afraid. No matter what, he wanted to remain by Daenerys's side; he knew he could no longer leave her.
Daenerys's clear voice rang out: "You are my trusted warrior."
Daenerys turned her small face slightly, her unmoving violet eyes making Ser Jorah feel the princess's authority. She continued, "I have a lover. Please fulfill your duties, Ser Jorah Mormont."
Ser Jorah lowered his face, his lips trembling several times, and he sadly said, "As you command, my Princess."
Hearing Ser Jorah's reply, Daenerys turned and said, "Rise, Ser."
Ser Jorah looked up at the silver-haired princess. Her expression was as gentle as ever, but he felt that a thick, uncrossable wall had formed between them. His heart was filled with even more regret.
Once he stood, Daenerys's face showed a faint smile, and she said, "Ser Jorah, my trust in you will not waver. I will not forget my promise to you."
Daenerys had promised Ser Jorah that she would help him restore his lost honor and lands.
Ser Jorah respectfully said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Royal Highness."
...
Returning to her bedchamber, Daenerys's gaze shifted to the three dragon eggs lying on the dark velvet. She slowly walked towards them.
Daenerys's fingers gently brushed the black dragon egg. Her movement paused, her pupils constricted… a pulsation, she felt a pulsation!
When she carefully touched the dragon egg again, she felt nothing else; the previous pulsation seemed to be her hallucination.
Was it because she desired to possess dragons so much that she felt this? Daenerys frowned… No, it wasn't a hallucination, she did feel it.
Moon… egg… explosion… Yes, explosion! Daenerys clung tightly to the thought.
Daenerys ordered the maid outside to bring a brazier. After lighting it, she dismissed the maid. She wanted to implement her sudden idea without being watched. She guessed this might be some wisdom hidden in the bloodline of the true Dragon?
Daenerys held the black dragon egg, walked to the brazier, and placed it down, putting it among the burning coals. The black dragon scales seemed to drink the intense heat, glowing brightly, and tiny red tongues of fire licked the stone's surface. She quickly placed the other two eggs into the brazier as well, the three eggs resting together.
Daenerys watched motionlessly… The dragon eggs cracking in the flames, and the dragons returning to the world from within the fire—what a beautiful sight that would be.
But… only ashes remained of the coals, and heat shimmered around the dragon eggs. The scene she imagined never appeared until the very end.
Daenerys couldn't help but look sadly at the dragon eggs in the brazier… Millions of years ago they had life, now they were just beautiful stones. What exactly was she expecting?
Daenerys shook her head to herself, dispelling the ridiculous thought… How could she think fossilized dragon eggs could turn into dragons? Real dragons could fly, breathe fire, were living flesh and blood, not lifeless stones.
Daenerys gently sat on the edge of the bed. Her trusted knight had suddenly expressed his love for her, and she had rejected him… Although she showed no change in expression, she found that she no longer dared to trust Ser Jorah as she used to.
Daenerys asked herself if it was precisely because of this unease that she yearned even more to possess powerful dragons? She was very afraid of returning to her previous days of constant apprehension.
Daenerys lay down on her side on the bed, slowly extended her hand and caressed the spot beside her. Every time he appeared in her dreams, he was always there… The silver-haired princess showed a gentle smile.
The Arryn, she would definitely help him get the Arryn. She could do it! Daenerys's eyes gradually became resolute, more resolute than ever before.
...
...
Stark camp south of Neck.
News arrived that Renly Baratheon had declared himself King in the South. Robb Stark immediately called his vassals to a war council at the encampment.
Robb's blue eyes sharply swept over everyone and said, "My lords, Renly is not the legitimate King."
Gage Glover of Deepwood Motte spoke, "Lord Robb, we can't possibly pledge allegiance to Joffrey, can we? Our Duke Eddard was practically killed by them!"
Robb's voice was steady: "That means they are evil, but it doesn't mean Renly is King. Joffrey is Robert I's legitimate eldest son. According to the laws of the realm, the Iron Throne rightfully belongs to him. If he dies…"
As he spoke, a cold light flashed in his eyes: "I'm sorry, I am filled with the fire of hatred for those who harmed my father."
Almost everyone present nodded in unison. This is our liege lord of the North; the First Men always repay their debts.
He paused, then continued, "Even if he dies, he still has a younger brother, and the succession to the Iron Throne would pass to Tommen."
Roose Bolton of Dreadfort said coldly, "Stannis wouldn't lie. Tommen is also a true Lannister."
Robb agreed, "Exactly."
He continued, "But even if both of them die, it's not Renly's turn to claim the throne; he still has an elder brother above him. Just as Bran cannot become Duke of Winterfell before me, Renly cannot inherit the Iron Throne before Stannis."
Lady Daisy Mormont of Bear Island strongly agreed with Robb's words: "Stannis indeed has more right to sit on the Iron Throne than Renly."
Roose Bolton's voice was like a chilling wind: "My lords, Renly has already gained the support of Highgarden and Storms End, and I presume the Dornishmen will not stand idly by.
If the forces of Winterfell and Riverrun combine with him, five of the seven great families will be under his command. If House Arryn also commits troops, that would be six-sevenths of the power!
Six against one, my lords, in less than a year, we can stick the heads of the Whore Queen, the Bastard King, Duke Tywin, the Kingslayer, the Little Devil, and Ser Kevan all on spear points!
We only need to join King Renly to achieve such fruitful results. Why should we abandon everything and pledge allegiance to Lord Stannis? What benefits can that man give us?"
Robb ignored the others' agreement with Roose Bolton and stubbornly said, "According to the law, Stannis's claim to succession precedes Renly's."
As everyone looked at him, he continued, "The Lannisters say my father was a rebel and tried to murder him… We all know this is a shameless lie, but… if Joffrey is the legitimate King, and we raise an army against him, then we truly become traitors."
Harris of House Horwood looked at Roose Bolton's icy face and said, "Lord Robb, perhaps we can choose to wait and see, let the two kings fight to the death first. Once they are done, we can either swear fealty to the victor or raise an army against them. Everything will be our choice."
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