While Asmodeus gathered an army to attack the Casterly Rock and Daenerys pondered whether her decision to pardon Jaime was right, the problems in the royal harbor were much more pressing. Cersei stood before a table on which lay a head with the inscription "you're next!"
"Your Majesty, this is..."
"I know whose head this is. Are there any news about the fleet?"
Qyburn hesitated for a moment.
"Why are you silent?"
"Your Majesty, we only have sailors' rumors from the island, nothing more. For some reason, none of our spies have sent any information."
"How is that possible? Not one of those we bought?"
Qyburn merely shook his head.
"Then tell me what your little birds have said?"
"Some of them overheard sailors' conversations from that evening at sea. They say that Euron's fleet was attacked by strange people who flew on brooms and..."
"What?"
"Four dragons..."
"Four dragons!?"
"So people say."
"Did the fishermen see where the rest of Greyjoy's ships went?"
"The little birds say that the entire fleet of Euron Greyjoy has been sunk... There is not a single surviving ship; sailors, in their conversations, said that even those pulled out of the water are hard to call alive."
"What do you mean?"
"People have gone mad, screaming and crying at the slightest loud noise."
The room fell silent. Cersei contemplated possible further steps, while Qyburn pondered what the little birds had told him about people flying on brooms.
"Knock."
"Enter!"
A messenger from the Iron Bank entered the council chamber - Tycho Nestoris.
"Lord Nestoris, I have already stated that once my brother returns from Highgarden, the Iron Bank will receive all its money back."
"I doubt that's possible. I've come to inform you that the Iron Bank is ending any financial support for the Iron Throne."
"What!? Why!?"
"Here, please." Tycho Nestoris handed Cersei a note.
"The Lannister army has been completely defeated at Highgarden, Jaime Lannister and 30 soldiers are taken prisoner, the rest are dead. A dragon appeared on the battlefield."
Cersei read the message with a mix of horror and anger on her face.
"Where and when did you receive this message!?"
"Just now. Not only does the Iron Throne have its little birds, but we have many debtors all over the world..."
"This report cannot be true. The Lannister army could not have lost to the meager soldiers of Highgarden!"
"No, Your Majesty, unfortunately for you, this is the truth, and according to my information, not a single soldier from Highgarden fought against the Lannisters."
"What!?"
"There is only a report of two thousand strange knights in crimson armor."
"Are those the same ones who attacked Euron!?"
"Oh, so they attacked Euron Greyjoy too? Then I have another reason to ask you how you intend to repay your debt?"
At that moment, Cersei realized her mistake. She had kept information about Greyjoy's fleet from Tycho Nestoris... It helped that from Greyjoy's army, no one remained alive or sane.
"Your Majesty, how do you plan to pay off your debts?"
"..." Cersei caught herself thinking for the first time that she didn't know what to say...
She couldn't refuse the Iron Bank, or they would cease any support to the Iron Throne...
"We..."
At that moment, a thought flashed through Cersei's mind.
"Braavos prohibits slavery on its territories, but the Iron Bank doesn't shy away from investing in the slave trade, correct?"
"Yes. But there are no slaves in Westeros."
"And there won't be, as the Iron Bank's ships will take them."
"Are you suggesting that we pay off the Iron Bank with slaves?"
"Yes."
"Where will you get them?"
"Do slave owners care about the faith of their slaves?"
"I've never heard of a slave being allowed to pray in a temple, so I suppose not."
"Good, then how many slaves will be needed to pay off our debts?"
"It depends on the quality, but no less than 15,000."
"Within two months, I will provide you with 270 slaves each."
Tycho Nestoris pondered for a moment, then agreed.
"Very well. I will write to the Iron Bank to send the ships. Your Majesty, I hope I don't need to remind you of the consequences if you fail to repay the debt."
"No, I know."
"Good. Then I bid you farewell for today."
As Tycho Nestoris left the room, Cersei turned to Qyburn and said,
"Instruct all the soldiers responsible for clearing out the fanatics to stop killing. Let them capture these people and take them to the dungeons."
"Very well, Your Majesty."
Qyburn left the room and headed to the barracks.
______________________________________________
While Cersei dealt with the issues with the Iron Bank and pondered how to turn events in her favor, the Dragonstone welcomed guests.
On the shore stood Tyrion, Missandei, and Varys, who was interested in Jon Snow, whom he and Tyrion already understood could be a potential husband for the queen.
Tyrion watched as Lyudka approached the shore and finally came close enough to run aground.
"The bastard from Winterfell."
"The dwarf from Casterly Rock."
People around looked at Tyrion and Jon's strange greeting but said nothing.
Tyrion and Jon both smiled at each other and shook hands.
"The last time we saw each other was on the Wall."
"If I recall correctly, you were pissing off the Wall... You earned a lot of scars."
"The journey was long, but we're both alive."
At the same time, Tyrion noticed Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
"Gentlemen, Dumbledore and Grindelwald, it's been a while."
"I wouldn't say so, it's only been a couple of weeks."
"Don't say that, Lord Grindelwald, you hold your liquor well. I've missed you."
"Gellert, when did you have time to drink with Tyrion?"
"After signing the agreement, they surprisingly have good wine here."
"Wine from Braavos itself. Her Majesty the Queen was given a couple of bottles of good old wine, but she doesn't like drinking, so I invited Lord Grindelwald. I wanted to invite you too, Lord Dumbledore, but Lord Grindelwald said you don't like alcohol."
"Not a problem, I do indeed prefer sweet over bitter."
Davos Seaworth, seeing that Grindelwald and Tyrion were conversing, asked, "So it's true, you two have known each other for a while?"
"Not so long. And you..."
"Davos Seaworth."
"Ah, the Onion Knight. We fought on different sides in the Battle of Blackwater."
"Unfortunately for me."
"..."
Seeing the awkward moment, Tyrion quickly decided to change the subject.
"Missandei is the Queen's closest advisor."
Missandei understood that she should help resolve the awkwardness and spoke up.
"Welcome. The Queen knows that your journey has been long and is grateful that you have arrived nonetheless. Although we do not ask you to surrender your weapons out of respect for Lords Dumbledore and Grindelwald, I ask that you try not to draw your swords."
"We come for negotiations, not for battle. I don't think we'll need them," replied Jon Snow.
"Then, please follow me."
Missandei gestured where to go, and Davos shrugged and followed her, starting to question her.
"Where are you from? I can't quite place your accent."
"I was born on the island of Naath."
"I heard it's beautiful there. Palms and butterflies, but I've never been myself."
Missandei smiled and nodded, slightly quickening her pace. For her, memories of her hometown only bring longing and sadness; she doesn't want to dwell too much on her childhood there.
At the same time, Davos returned closer to Jon.
"Much has changed here."
Jon didn't pay attention to Davos' remarks; instead, he watched the knights in crimson armor walking around the island. At first, he thought they might be the famed Unsullied, but then, seeing one of them pull out a wand similar to those of Dumbledore and Grindelwald from afar, he understood.
All these people were wizards!!!
Jon didn't know whether to rejoice or worry. He had seen at least several hundred wizards during their walk along the beach, and he doubted that all the wizards were present here since he noticed something crimson atop the hills when they were approaching—now it was clear—those were wizards.
He saw how, as Dumbledore and Grindelwald passed by the wizards, they loudly saluted, shouting, "Lord Dumbledore, Lord Grindelwald!"
Some even said, "Professor Grindelwald! I can't wait to attend your course on the practical application of dark magic again."
"Professor Dumbledore! Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to say that your Transfiguration lessons were very helpful!"
Jon understood that, on the one hand, it was very good that there were many wizards. It meant they had far more powerful allies. On the other hand, the wizards clearly supported Daenerys Targaryen, and it was uncertain what that would mean for him and Westeros.
So, he wandered in his thoughts for quite a while as he followed Davos.
This continued until they stepped onto the stone steps. Jon snapped back to reality and saw Tyrion walking ahead alone. He decided to engage with the only Lannister who was pleasant to converse with.
Approaching closer, he saw Grindelwald and Dumbledore engaged in conversation while Tyrion simply listened. When Tyrion noticed Jon approaching, he asked, "Have you decided to emerge from your thoughts?"
"How did you know I was thinking about something?"
"It shows," Tyrion said with a shrug.
"How is Sansa? I heard she's alive and well."
"That's right."
"She misses me terribly, doesn't she?"
Jon fell silent and looked strangely at Tyrion.
"Fictitious marriage. Unconfirmed."
"I didn't ask."
"Well, it was. It wasn't. Anyway... She's smarter than she lets on."
"She's started to show it."
"Fair enough. I'd like to hear how a member of the Night's Watch became King in the North?"
"Just as soon as you tell me how a Lannister became Hand to Daenerys Targaryen."
"Hah, a long and bloody story. Honestly, I was drunk for most of it."
"My vassals consider my visit foolishness. And your message a trap."
"Well, without knowing about the wizards, I would have been against it too. The iron rule - old men don't fare well in the south."
"True. But I am not a Stark."
At that moment, John was interrupted by a loud roar. One by one, three dragons playfully flew over his head.
Tyrion, seeing John fall, remarked, "I'd say you'd get used to them... but that's impossible. Right now, there are only three of them. When there were nine here... At first, I really was afraid they'd swoop down and eat me. Let's go, their mother is waiting for you."
John nodded and followed Tyrion.