The Age of Daenerys Targaryen

Part 66: The house with the red door

The next morning, Tyrion and Sam came back to the 'The Sealord's mug', this time accompanied by Sansa and her bodyguards.

The inn immediately fell silent when the queen entered. The innkeeper bowed deeply to Sansa. "Your Grace. What an honor for my humble house. What can I serve you with?"

"With breakfast, good man."

Sansa steered purposefully towards the table where a black-clad, black-haired man was sitting with his back to the door and sat down next to him without much fuss. "Good morning, Jon."

"Sansa." Her brother, who was actually her cousin, twisted his lips in a faint smile. "Why this little army you brought?"

"What a question. Of course, it serves my personal protection."

Jon sighed. "Are you trying to talk me out of the 'stupid things' like Sam and Tyrion did?"

"You can't just go to Daenerys", Sansa said.

"You were her prisoner for a year and Arya even longer. Although she has no reason to love you, Daenerys did no harm to either of you and ended up freeing you with no ransom."

"I didn't put a knife in her heart either", Sansa snapped. "And we were not released out of pure kindness, but out of political calculation."

"It's unpredictable how she'll react when you suddenly show up", said Tyrion. "There could be an incident that, in the worst case, could lead to a resumption of hostilities. Damn it, Jon, four million people have already died and if now..."

"Jon Snow?", came a woman's voice with a Lorathi accent that Tyrion found strangely familiar. Slowly the dwarf turned around - and froze.

A female Imperial Army officer stood in the doorway, looking around as Sansa's guards reached for their swords. It was the face under the gray steel helmet that stunned Tyrion. Shae's face.

"Here I am", Jon said, getting up before Sansa and Sam could stop him.

"Her Majesty the Empress has time for you now, Lord Snow. If you will follow me please."

"Just a moment", Jon replied, sitting down again and reaching for his beer mug.

Sansa's Northmen stared at the Imperial like a pack of wolves at a lamb, but the woman, who looked like Shae, didn't seem impressed. She just waited patiently while Jon finished his beer and bread.

"I spoke to an Imperial officer yesterday and asked for an appointment", he said.

Sam groaned. "You fucking idiot."

"You will NOT go", said Sansa.

"No? What do you want to do? Let your men knock me down?"

"In case I have no other choice", the redhead growled.

Jon finished the last sip of beer, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and stood up. "Do it then." He went to the door.

"Jon, please", Sansa said, but she didn't give her guards any orders.

Neither Sansa nor Sam noticed Tyrion staring at the Imperial woman with whom Jon was leaving the inn.

"I'm Major Pasha", the female officer introduced herself as she and Jon walked to the palace.

"Pleasant", replied the man, wondering what else he could say. He didn't want to think about the upcoming meeting with Daenerys now, otherwise he would probably lose his courage.