-Chapter 166-
-POV Daenerys Targaryen-
From atop my dragon, I could see the peaceful city of Astapor asleep, unaware that the predator stalking its arrival was near. Due to Drogon's dark color and the moon being covered by clouds, no one could see us, Drogon and I, flying high above the city.
'Do I really have to do this?'
This was the question I asked myself just before burying all my thoughts deep within and striking Drogon's flank for him to descend.
We initiated the attack, destroying all the city's defenses and gates to reclaim the city I had once saved from the claws of the Bontés of Astapor, from that butcher named Cleos.
'Dogs who take pleasure in seeing others suffer, who mistreat all these poor people for coins,' I thought, feeling something burn with indignation inside me.
Once we reached firing range, I shouted with all the rage I felt from the betrayal of those supposed to be loyal to me: "DRACARYS!"
As the flames spewed from Drogon's mouth, all that remained were ashes and screams.
I hardened my heart upon hearing the screams I caused, and we flew over the wall separating the city from the rest of the world, burning everything between me and my throne.
---
-POV Edmure Tully-
"What an abomination," I said from atop my horse, watching the queen's dragon destroy all the city's defenses in less than a quarter-hour, unstoppable.
My astonishment at this horrific sight was interrupted by my uncle who punched the back of my head as he did when I was a child and said with a severe, warning look:
"Keep your mouth shut in the future. Remember that the reintegration of our house will depend solely on Queen Daenerys. Without her, we'll be forced to live our lives in shame, earning gold like common, lowly mercenaries."
I frowned because, although I was no longer the Warden of the Trident, I remained the head of our house. But faced with my uncle's cold, stern gaze, I could do nothing but cast my eyes downward.
"Do you understand me?" my uncle Brynden asked.
I nodded and said, "I made a mistake, but do not think I will ever forget the shame and decay that wretched bastard plunged our house into. I am no longer a child you can scold as you please. I am the current Lord of House Tully."
"Let's just hope you're not the last," said my uncle, sighing.
I was about to respond, but I fell silent upon seeing the queen's guard approaching, led by Tyrion Lannister.
"Prepare yourselves," said the latter.
I nodded despite the disgust I felt for this Lannister because every time I remembered him, it was when he was the Hand of Ned Stark's bastard.
'He greatly contributed to the humiliation of our house, he and his entire family of opportunists. Without them, Robert would have had no trouble remaining king. It's the fault of these damn blonde leeches.'
"We know what we have to do, gnome," I said, spitting out the last word.
Tyrion laughed without saying a word and left, accompanied by the seven guards of the queen: Yohn Royce, Andar Royce, Patrek Mallister, Hendry Bracken, Harry Rivers, and Oberyn's two bastards, Obara and Nymeria Sand.
'How did I fall so low, serving a queen who cares more about foreign customs than the customs of her own nation,' I thought, seeing the two bastards accompanying the gnome.
I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes to regain my calm.
Once I regained my composure and adjusted my mood, I turned to my men.
Upon arriving in Braavos, my uncle and I had immediately used the last funds of House Tully hidden at the Iron Bank to set up a company of mercenaries composed of hedge knights and Westerosi mercenaries to whom I had promised glory and titles upon our return to Westeros.
I shouted to my 800 cavalrymen in a tone very different from the one I used with my uncle and said:
"Soldiers, prepare to enter the city. Kill anyone bearing arms and spare the innocents. Pillaging is prohibited. Any soldier found guilty of pillaging will answer to me personally, your commander. UNDERSTOOD?"
---
-POV Tyrion Lannister-
"What a fool," said Obara, disdainful of the 'legitimate' lord of Riverrun.
"He's a child, and even all the time he spent on the Wall couldn't make him more mature. He's still just as stupid."
"To think our uncle wanted him to marry Arianne," said Obara in the same disdainful tone.
"That would have been better than the one she's having children with today."
"Anything would have been better than him, even Walder Frey."
I didn't intervene in their discussions, but I frowned at the mention of Aegon because I knew I would end up backed into a corner like Ser Jorah Mormont.
I now had double, no, triple… no, actually quadruple allegiance to Daenerys, Illyrio Mopatis, Benerro, and Aegon.
And I betrayed each of them by providing information and sincere advice to one. Even though Illyrio Mopatis didn't worry me much since he had been retiring after the death of his son Aegon Blackfyre and had entrusted all his resources to our queen, the dual allegiance I had to Benerro and Aegon kept me up at night.
One threatened me with the illusory life of Tysha while the other just threatened me outright.
I know that if he ever finds out in any way that I'm under Benerro's orders, I'll die in the night from a Faceless Man's dagger, and I couldn't even try to do the same because I'm pretty sure the Faceless Man would lose in a confrontation with that monster.
I had been Hand of the King long enough to know how real these powers were, as well as their ever-growing strength, just like his dragon, which, according to rumors, was twice the size of Daenerys's dragon at present.
'In an open war, she'll never have a chance to kill or even defeat that fucking monster. Maybe Benerro could help her defeat him by restraining him with his own magic, but I doubt it. I don't have enough knowledge in the matter, and above all, I don't know all of Benerro's abilities.'
"Lord Hand," said Yohn Royce, usually taciturn, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I frowned in his direction to see what he wanted since he usually conserved his words like his most precious treasure.
He gestured for me to look to my right, and I saw the discontented look of Oberyn's two daughters.
"What is it?" I asked impatiently because I knew they didn't like me due to my father, whom I had killed with my own hands.
"I asked you a question. I wanted to know what's been troubling you so much. Lately, you've been elsewhere often. Maybe you miss the days when you were Aegon's court jester. You're probably a little nostalgic for all those happy memories, aren't you?" asked Nymeria Sand.
I smiled and then said: "Far from me the idea of serving him again."
Obara added: "Liar. Every time we talk about him, I can see you drift off and drown in your own thoughts, unless, of course, you're more worried about the future, a future where he decides to hunt you down."
Even though I didn't react outwardly to these accusations, my heart leapt when she found what was troubling me and I said:
"Aegon will learn everything that happened today and know that we have rallied many knights, lords, and exiled men to our cause. He won't take it kindly and will understand that we are going to attack him. He might even see it as a provocation while we still haven't finalized the alliance between Euron Greyjoy and the Queen."
"As long as no one opens their mouth, he won't understand our queen's purpose," said Obara, subtly trying to make me understand she doubted my loyalty.
I smiled without responding to her accusations, though inwardly shaken by her successive declarations that could influence the rest of the Queen's Royal Guard, which was more symbolically a title given to Westerosi men and women, bringing nothing but their swords and advice to the Queen.
I said after a few seconds: "Don't take him for a fool. This man is very intelligent. He has a great understanding of his enemies, as if he studies them before fighting them. That's how he can predict his opponents' next moves. He knows we all seek revenge and the restoration of what each of us has lost, and that for that, we all use each other."
"To hear the way you talk about him, it almost sounds like you admire him," said Nymeria.
I nodded and then said: "For a man of my stature, seeing a bastard rise in such a short time to such a high level above his primary condition, I find that admirable. Whatever he has done or hasn't done, he is an example of intelligence, determination, and excellence. Now, it's up to us to bring him down and end his reign, his life, his lineage, and his legend."
No one said anything, but the skeptical looks I felt from the other members of the Queen's Royal Guard faded, and I mentally let out a small sigh of relief, seeing that I was no longer as suspect in everyone's eyes.
'Now to convince Benerro and Aegon that I am their most loyal servant without betraying the interests of either one.'
---
-POV MC-
"Astapor has fallen," I said, looking at everyone gathered at this imperial council meeting.
I frowned and then said: "Two weeks, that's how long it takes now for a message from Dragon Bay, as my dear aunt renamed it, to reach us."
"It's the best we can do with the blockades and witch hunts led by High Priest Benerro and Illyrio Mopatis's agents," said a counselor.
"We have practically lost the entire intelligence network of Dragon Bay to that pig who breeds Blackfyres. This is unacceptable," I said, looking at Garth, who occupied Connor's place since the latter was taking care of his little family.
He lowered his head, taking the criticism without flinching, but that didn't appease me. I continued, saying:
"Do you realize the dramatic consequences this will have once our partners learn the news? If they haven't already learned it before us, we will begin to be perceived as weak and vulnerable on this side of the Narrow Sea. Even with all our military power, we cannot curb my aunt's mad conquests."
"And why not just kill her?" asked Kevan.
"The master of coin makes a fair point. Instead of spending so many resources, we could simply snuff out the chick before it becomes a greater threat to you. You could even tame her dragon or one of your children once they grow up."
"That is, if the assassin manages to reach her. Do I need to remind you that she is constantly protected by Unsullied, trained in the hardest way and versed in real combat, as well as by her dragon?" said Viscount Monford Velaryon.
"She is not like Her Majesty. She won't be able to defend herself against a Faceless Man without her dragon, and the latter can't accompany her when she needs to relieve herself," said Viscount Adrian Celtigar.
"But do you hear yourselves? You're discussing the possibility of assassinating the emperor's aunt and the Prince Viserys's sister, both present on the…"
My uncle didn't finish his sentence, but the embarrassment was visible on the faces of the participants in this slip-up. I turned my head to see Viserys squinting at Adrian Celtigar, and then I said, easing the situation:
"The reason I keep Daenerys alive is very simple: she's simply a Targaryen. But the reason I let her continue to gather her troops and spread terror in her slave kingdom is simply because it benefits us. She frightens all the slavers, whether of Ghiscari or Valyrian descent, and by 'protecting' them, we ensure to strengthen the transcendent position of the empire."
Willas Tyrell nodded and spoke for the first time:
"Seen from this angle, it's true that we still need her to play the role of the villain, but we should continue to be cautious. We shouldn't give her so much leeway because she could very well become a formidable opponent if things continue to deteriorate."
I nodded in agreement with him because she had taken me by surprise several times, and I needed to end it once and for all.
"You can all leave. I need to think about this. We will resume in two days," I said.
'I need to think carefully about my next moves. We need to show that we are the strongest and that, no matter her power, Daenerys poses no threat to me or any of our allies,' I thought.