Fire And Blood

The Spark

Jon VI

The bells were chiming but, even after a couple of days of stay, Jon still could not distinguish between the different times and meanings. He had learned that the Norvoshi followed a group of religious initiates and that those initiates had a rather strong grip on citizen's lives. The bells would decide when the Norvoshi would sleep, rise, work and even when they were permitted to lay with each other.

It was a queer way of life. A lot of things were queer in Essos, even the soldiers. The ones Mellario had brought with her, Jon was sure, were slaves as well. They had been branded across the chest with an axe shape, similar to the longaxes they were carrying.

The good thing was that their dragons had achieved what their words had not: Mellario would help them with a horse and a cart. It was almost ridiculous how three hatchling dragons could change someone's decision like that, but it had happened. Mellario had seen them and had gone from 'no' to 'of course' in mere moments. She had gone from ridiculing their claim and belittling them to Your Graces the moment Daenerys showed her children. If such was the power of only three hatchlings, what immense power would the three of them be wielding once their hatchlings had grown?

It was difficult to even try to comprehend.

Now, they were about to have another discussion with Prince Oberyn and Ser Jorah about their next steps, since Ser Jorah had gotten new information on the Wolf Pack and their location. As they were waiting for them, Rhaenys used the time to show Feraya how she liked her nails trimmed while Daenerys just leaned into his side with her eyes closed. Ever since they had talked about morality and executions, she had been a bit more clingy – not that he minded. Her fear of becoming like her father was very real, he could tell. But they were there for her, Rhaenys and he, and would stand by her, no matter what. He would not forget when things had looked ready to break apart, that she had been the one to keep them together.

"'Tis well done, Feraya. Good work," Rhaenys said while eyeing her nails critically.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Feraya said with a smile and rosy cheeks. She then turned to Dany. "Would you like me to do your nails as well, Your Grace?"

"I would, Feraya." Daenerys held out a hand to the young girl, who immediately took it and went to work, concentrating on her task.

A moment later the door to their room opened and Ser Jorah and Prince Oberyn entered.

They immediately took their chairs and sat down across from them.

"Your Graces," Ser Jorah began, "rumour has it the Wolf Pack is under contract in Qohor. I am waiting for confirmation, but if it is true, we will have to leave in a week's time at the latest and travel to Qohor."

"Surprises me, to be honest," Oberyn mused. "Qohor is rich enough to afford bigger and better companies."

"They got sacked by the Golden Company once for not honouring their contract. I doubt they would want to work with them again – or the Company for Qohor. Their reputation is not the greatest among the more famed companies."

Jon scratched his chin. "What do we know of Qohor?"

"It is a place of dark magic and sacrifices," Dany answered. "I lived there for a while with Viserys. I did not like it there."

"Well...that sounds delightful." Rhaenys chuckled uncomfortably.

"We cannot exactly judge them," Daenerys said. "After all, I hatched dragons from eggs turned stone. I used three sacrifices and the eggs' magic...I am sure that was what protected me from fire."