Fire And Blood

The Wolf Pack Part 2

Daenerys IX

It was about time they did this, but she was a bit nervous still. They had been in Qohor for a little longer than a fortnight when Commander Pahryl had sent word with a messenger that he wished to speak with them again. They wanted to leave today, but Minela had not left her chambers once since they had begun their stay in Tychor's manse. Feraya was getting worried and, after her niece had shared her own concerns, Daenerys had decided that it was time to talk with the former slave. So now Aegon, Rhaenys and she were standing in front of Minela's chambers. She took the lead, as she usually did, and opened the door, stepping inside. Minela was easily spotted, curled up in her bed and facing the wall.

"Minela? We wish to have a word with you."

"Hm."

This answer was not helpful in any way, but they took it as a 'fine'. Aegon led them to Feraya's bed, which appeared very unused, and sat down, Rhaenys and she joining her nephew on either side of him. She sat as close to him as she could, her arm touching his. The body contact was a source of comfort and calm, a reassurance.

"Feraya is worried about you," Rhaenys began, "and we are as well."

Minela turned around to face them, a dead expression on her face. Whether it was defeat or resignation or, mayhap, something else entirely she could not say.

"Why are you friends with a magister? Why do you accept his gifts? I trusted you."

Daenerys felt her heart break into little pieces. She got up from the bed and sat on Minela's bed, placing a hand on the young woman's arm.

"You can still trust us, Minela. I promise. We all do."

"We accept these gifts because they are useful to us," Aegon explained, his voice soft, barely above a whisper. "We do not like the magisters, nobles or merchant princes of this city. They are all terrible people. We have seen how they treat their slaves."

Minela didn't answer and just kept staring at a spot on the other bed.

Now Rhaenys got up from the bed and knelt in front of Minela. She took her hands in hers and smiled, a soft and gentle smile. A kind smile that should have put Minela at ease, but the former slave barely even reacted, if at all.

Rhaenys leaned in close to her, her face inches from the woman's. "We want to destroy slavery, Minela, and we need a lot of coin to do that," she told her with a whisper. "We will sell most of the gifts."

Minela sat up, staring at them with wide eyes. It was the most emotion she had given them today. "Do you promise? Do you promise?"

Rhaenys smiled. There was fire in her eyes. "We promise, Minela." She pulled her into an embrace and Minela relaxed into it almost immediately. Daenerys had to grin at Rhaenys's brief surprise.

"You cannot tell anyone about it, however," Aegon said, a hint of a warning in his voice. "We only told you because we worry about you. We want you to be healthy and happy and for that, you need to trust us. Do you trust us?"

Minela pulled away from the hug and shrugged shyly, retreating towards the wall and making herself small again. "I'm scared. What if you sell me?"

"We hate slavery," Daenerys whispered with vehemence. "My brother wanted to sell me to a Dothraki Khal for an army. He said – h-he said –" She shivered and could not repeat what he had told her that day. Remembering him that way hurt more than killing him. If I look back I am lost.