Authors note:Next chapter a wild Daenerys appears for the first time!
Tyrion Lannister.
The gulf of grief.
I was getting tired of the smell of the sea. These past few months had been a complete clusterfuck for me, and I had to thank Robb for all my grievances. Snorting at that, I could not deny that there was a feeling of wonder thinking about my next journey, away from Father sneers, Cersei's cutting words, or the expectations of my family name.
While people normally saw me as someone lesser, I knew that I was famous for my intelligence and wit. But even when people knew about that, they ignored it. The stigma my form had on my life was substantial. The only reason to follow Robb on this crazy journey was that there were only a few people who appreciated me in Westeros.
Thinking of Aunt Genna and my brother brought a pang to my heart; betraying them was no easy choice, but I knew they would understand, or at least I hoped so. With my new position, I would have the opportunity to vouch for them when I went back to Westeros as the Hand of the next dynasty. I knew that this was a test from Robb to see if I had what it took to keep my job when he and Daenerys married. And I would not fail, I vowed.
Robb scared me; there was something about him that made my hair stick up. He knew things he had no right to know. Just the letter alone he gave me before my departure was enough for me to vow to never go against him. I did not know if the things written in the parchment were true, but I would follow them to the letter. I did not know how he knew about the future, but following someone who knew what was going to happen was just common sense.
In my opinion, if someone were to lose with all that knowledge, that man would be a fool of epic proportions, and from what I knew, Robb Stark was no fool.
The things in that parchment made my throat close with fright the first time I read them, but right now I just felt giddy. As I said, this was a test, and I would be a fool to ignore all the warnings.
In it, it was written the story of my future queen, what she had done since she was exiled with her brother, from all the hurt and conflicts she had to survive before reaching Astapor to buy the Unsullied, and what she would do to obtain them. Her plans to attack Yunkai and Meereen, and the things that would happen when she left those places in search of the throne.
I would not let that happen; Astapor would be firmly under her rule, and I would do my best to guide her to become the best queen she could. It was a no-brainer, and even a whore could do so with all this information. I would go beyond their expectations and gain my place in the future of Westeros.
Snorting at the image that came to my mind when I thought about the future, I shook my head; as much as I would love to see Cersei groveling at my feet asking for pardons for her many, many sins, I knew it was something improbable. I did not doubt that my sister had made even more enemies in the short time I'd been gone from the capital.
She had the ability to do so easily, and her character did not help at all. She always thought she was the smartest person in the room, thinking of everyone else but Jaime and their children as lesser. Since she was young, she had been apoplectic that she was born a woman, and she faulted everyone for something no one could change, and in her mad pursuit of power, she would never let it go now that she had it.
I knew, from the bottom of my heart, that King's Landing was suffering in the regency of my sister, and the fact that her mad son was sitting on the Iron Throne made me shudder. Joffrey was as mad as the Mad King, something that should have been impossible.
I was not present when he offered the dead fetus inside the cat he killed to Robert Baratheon, and I did not wish my worst enemies to suffer something like that, but if that was how Joffrey was when he was younger, I prayed that the other children were safe, at least until Robb took the capital.
At least I could be sure he wouldn't harm them; from what I could see, Robb was someone who would do what was needed at any moment, but Tommen and Myrcella were no danger for his plans; they didn't even have the blood to sit on the throne. No… I would ask for the favor for them to be allowed to grow up under our eyes, and when the moment came, they would go back to Casterly Rock, their only home. In my opinion, that was the only place where they would not suffer for the sins of their parents, and even then, the risk existed.
While I was on this ship, there was no way for me to receive news about Westeros, but Robb had been kind enough to write about what he knew. My foolish father thought attacking the Riverlands would help him set the Lannisters in power, and while I knew that his plan would have bought them at least time, Robb would not let it stand. There was no way that he would leave the Riverlands to burn while he could do something.
According to his message, he had warned the Blackfish in the Bloody Gate about these plans, and the man was one of the most capable generals Westeros had ever seen. I was sure that he would be able to stop my father before he could entrench himself in the Riverlands, and that would allow Robb to start his crusade in the name of saving his family. Truly, Robb Stark's mind scared me. He had played all of Westeros, and he would get the adoration of the kingdoms with how gallant and honorable he was.
I sighed. It was something that I had been doing more these past few moons. Westeros would have so many changes before I returned, and I hoped that the people I cared about would be all right. I had to wonder if Robb knew about them before I snorted; I'm sure he did.
"My lord," a voice could be heard outside of my room with a soft but firm knock on the door.
Groaning, I got up from the bed. I never liked using the sea as transport, and these moons had not changed my opinion at all.
"What is it, Pete?" I asked somewhat groggily. "Are we finally there yet?"
Sometimes I wondered if the sailors and knights present got bored with my whinings, but they surprised me with the respect and help they provided me. They did not see me as a lesser man thanks to my disabilities, and with the job that Robb gave me, they followed my orders as long as they were just and honorable.
It was easy to see that while some of them doubted what we were doing, they would follow me to the ends of the earth as long as Robb said so. It was a wonder how he made people so loyal to him.
Pete snorted before nodding, "Aye, we will finally be free of your whining."
This was another thing that I loved about the Northerners; if somehow they liked you, you would know it, as they did not hide their feelings like the rest of Westeros. It was honestly refreshing how they treated me. A pinch of respect for my position while they waited for me to prove myself, to another one of friendship just because Robb sent me here.
"How long until we dock, then?" I asked with a giddy smile, happy that I would finally touch normal firm soil instead of the turbulent waters.
"If there are no more complications, it will probably take five hours for us to reach Astapor, my lord Tyrion." Another booming voice could be heard from outside the room.
Wendel Manderly was in charge of the expedition, and he had been of so much help during our voyage. When he spoke, people listened. There was just something about him that commanded respect, not only his size, and for the Seven that I wondered how much this man ate.
He was big, with a large walrus mustache and a bald head, and while not as fat as his father and older brother, he was massive.
"Are we in danger of any pirates?" I groaned. "We just fought against them not so long ago."
It was true; a sole galley with unknown banners was something of a delicacy for the pirates in our surroundings, and during these moons of travel, we had been in danger multiple times. I even had to help, something that I was sure affected how they treated me. While it was true that I would never be a knight of renowned caliber, I could use my best trait to help: my mind.
Thinking of different strategies to defend the galley was something that I learned to enjoy after doing it for so long, and in part, I was thankful to have this opportunity. It was a trial by fire, but as my father said, people learned faster that way.
Ser Wendel grunted, "It's your lucky day, Lord Tyrion. So close to Astapor, there are multiple galleys filled to the brim with Unsullied protecting the seas. I'm afraid your wisdom shan't be needed anymore."
Sighing in satisfaction, I joked, "Oh, that's a shame. I was beginning to enjoy them trying."
"Hah!" Ser Wendel's boisterous laughter could be heard even in the city, I was sure. "Aye, your help will be sorely missed."
"Now what?" I asked lightly. "Will you truly stay with me while your family fights?"
Ser Wendel nodded. "It was what Lord Stark commanded; his will shall be done. I hope we will be able to learn what has happened in these past moons. I know for a fact that much can change in such a short amount of time."
Nodding at him, we started walking to the deck of the ship.
"Will the ship stay, or will some of you return to Westeros?" I asked, seeing if I could start planning our next steps.
"No," Ser Wendel shook his head. "The sailors will return posthaste. The North, while strong, will need any help that can be provided. Only the men sworn to House Manderly will stay here, my lord."
"Understandable, Ser Wendel. How many men will stay?"
"Sixty men, my lord. Ten knights with five men under each of them," he replied. "It is the method Lord Robb gave us; we fight as units, just as the Unsullied."
Good. That was good. I was thankful for the support since we were so far from our homes that there was no way to get support in time, and I will not deny that I had a friendship with Ser Wendel and the rest. They had been of help and would continue to be so in the future. I had some moons before the queen arrived at Astapor, and I needed to make sure to advance my plans to show my worth to her.
Thanks to my family name, I knew that earning her trust would be hard, but with all the knowledge Robb provided, I could make it work.
I had sixty men at my disposal, along with four thousand gold coins from multiple cities. The biggest part of that sum of gold would be used to buy a large mansion for us to live in on the outskirts of the city; that way, I could work in peace without many people knowing what I was doing. I needed all the advantages I could get for my plan to work.
With the mansion and the provisions for the next couple of moons bought, the rest of the gold would be used to buy a contingent of Unsullied, which would be freed from slavery and wait for the queen to arrive so that we could free their brothers in arms.
Smirking in excitement, I smelled the air of the sea. The salty smell was potent, and it made me scrunch my face in disgust, much to the amusement of my companions.
"I can see your thoughts, Lord Tyrion. I'm afraid that your attempt at looking remarkable was for naught," laughed Ser Wendel, with the rest of the men following his lead. It was weird; I always hated when people made fun of me, but there was something in how the Northerners acted that made it fine for me. It was a laugh between comrades, something I did not have in the Westerlands before my father banished me, and the less said about King's Landing, the better.
The only good thing that came out of my punishment was Lady Elyse. A warm smile was on my face at the memories I had with that woman. Truly, the gods act in mysterious ways. At the beginning of my punishment, I was mad against the world, faulting it for everything wrong that happened to me, but the more time I spent with her made me realize that there were good things out of my situation.
I would not call it love; at least I hoped it wasn't that since I did not know if she felt the same, and I did not want to ruin our friendship with my advances, but she did not see the imp like everyone else. She valued me, and I did the same in return. No matter what happened, or who said bad things about me, she defended me and showed me that there was good in the world.
Five hours later.
Finally, sweet, sweet land. I had missed setting foot on firm soil. It was so much better than being at sea, and I hoped that I could stay here for a while before going on another voyage.
Finally arriving at our destination safe and sound was a godsend miracle. We had been attacked numerous times during the voyage, and I had half a mind to throw myself to the ground and kiss it in thanks.
How unsightly, I laughed out loud, and the rest followed. I knew the men from House Manderly were accustomed to this, but I was not, and while they made fun of me, they understood my feelings about the situation.
Either way, there was a lot to do before we could truly rest. Donning a cowl to hide my identity, I hoped that we were far away from Westeros so that the people of Astapor would not know who I was. In Westeros, it was impossible to hide it since the only dwarf with gold was the famous imp of Casterly Rock, but hopefully, that was different here.
At least, I needed to hide who I was until Daenerys arrived. It was exhausting to have so many clothes on me in this heat, but it was needed.
Ser Wendel and the rest followed my lead, all of them using only mesh armor so as not to show the bulk under their clothes.
I tugged at my tunic, already slick with sweat in this unrelenting heat. The air in Astapor was different than in Westeros; it felt heavier and uncomfortable, but at least I hoped that it wouldn't affect the efficiency of Ser Wendel and the rest if they had to fight.
Looking around the harbor, I searched for someone of note that could help me fulfill my aim. It was hard to see the sheer quantity of slaves in here, but I vowed to help them in the future. It was hard to stop myself from interfering when I saw a particularly fat wise master hitting a lad no more than ten and one name days old, and Ser Wendel and the rest were the same. But we needed to tread carefully.
Grabbing Ser Wendel's arm harshly, I marveled how my fingers couldn't close even if I tried, but it was enough to make him pay attention to me.
"Walder," I hissed the fake name he had decided on before reaching the harbor, "not now. I promise that he will pay and the lad will receive compensation, but now it's not the time. Believe me, I want nothing more than to snap his neck, but we need to be careful."
Ser Wendel snarled and dislodged his arm from my hand, and I feared the worst, but he walked in the direction of the ship before it sailed back to the North.
"If anyone else thinks that they won't be able to control themselves, follow him. As I said, they will pay, but we need to tread carefully. We are only sixty men in the middle of nowhere with enemies surrounding us," I said harshly. "I understand that it's not ideal, and this goes against everything we have been taught, so I won't fault anyone who wants to leave."
Ten men left back to the ship, and I hoped they would calm themselves before they snapped. We were in the middle of the harbor, and my group called for attention; we couldn't win if a fight broke out.
"The rest of you, I thank you. It appears that someone of importance noticed us. Be calm; I will be the only one who speaks," I ordered seriously.
The rest nodded in silence, and I let out a sigh of relief. The North was against slavery even more than the rest of the Seven Kingdoms since they suffered more than the rest with the wildlings and Ironborn.
"Greetings, my friends from afar," greeted in High Valyrian a fat man on top of a cushion being lifted by some slaves. "I'm afraid that I don't recognize that banner. What do you seek in Astapor?"
"Indeed, we sail from afar," I greeted him back in the same language while swallowing the bile that threatened to come out of my mouth when I noticed the state of some of the slaves. Slashes glittered on their skin, and they were so skinny that I was afraid they would fall dead in a moment.
"My name is Lockart, and we are in seek of refuge," I continued. "I am tired of Pentos, and a good friend of mine told me that Astapor was a good place to settle in," I smiled at him even if he could not see it thanks to my mask.
"My friend, you have come to the perfect place," he smiled. "My name is Mazhar zo Lorar, a wise master of Astapor, at your service." He laughed and made a half bow in his seat. "What do you require? I'm sure I can help you out, for a price, of course."
"Gold is no trouble, wise master Lorar," I nodded at him, pointing out a coffer filled to the brim with gold coins from different parts of the world. There were coins from Pentos, Braavos, Westeros, and others; with this, I hoped that we could hide our identities further.
"Oh," he laughed out loud, "I'm sure we can have a spectacular friendship, my dear Lord Lockart. Now, why don't you tell me what you require? I'm sure I can get it to you at the best price in the market. Slaves? Companionship? Tell me," he asked with a wide smile on his face.
"Nothing of the sort for now, oh wise master," I replied, shaking my head. "My companions and I wish to settle here, like I said. Is there any mansion on the market? Preferably on the inside the city."
"That would be difficult, Lord Lockart," he shook his head. "I'm afraid the only location that I can think of has been in disrepair for so many years."
"Oh? Do tell, wise maester," I asked meaningfully.
Mazhar zo Lorar made a difficult face before sighing, "It was the house of a wise master that is no longer in this world. I'm afraid he offended the wrong person, and his family was decimated in that very place. People leave it alone because they believe that place is cursed with the blood that was spilled on its floors. Even the merchants left the surroundings to the manse."
"Oh? So I could buy the properties surrounding the manse if it was needed?" I asked with interest. This would work well for my plans. If the people of Astapor left that place alone in fear, that would mean that I could act without fear of people spying on me.
The wise master laughed, "I mean, you could buy it. But I'm afraid that if you planned to set up some shop or something, you would not receive many patrons, my lord."
"That's not much of a problem for us, wise master Lorar." I shook my head. "We are no merchants, and we have enough gold for a lifetime. We just seek someplace we can die in peace." I lied, "We are weary of conflicts, wise master. We just wish to party and drink for the rest of our lives."
"I love that mindset," he laughed. "In that case, follow me, and we can talk when you see the product."
Slowly, as to not force the slaves to hurry, we walked at his side to the other side of Astapor. The heat was almost unbearable, but the fact that the slaves were working so hard for gods knows how many years made us shut our concerns off.
The stench of Slaver's Bay waters was felt, though it was a relief from the stink of the city proper. The red brick of the road that snaked out of the city led us to a sprawling estate, weathered by the years, but the magnificence was still notable.
I gazed up at it; the once proud mansion now was draped in vines, and its crimson sandstone walls bleached by the harsh sun. It was acceptable, I guess. At least it would work for us.
The master spoke true; the more we advanced through the road, the fewer people were seen, and it's been more than ten minutes since I saw a slaver. The only people that were around were some slaves and some children practicing rigorously under the sun. I guess that they were the next batch of Unsullied during the beginning of their training.
"Nothing like the mansions in Pentos, is it?" I muttered to myself, hoping that my lies were believable, my lips curving to a smile when I saw the face the master made when he heard me.
The wise master, the slaver fat fuck that I vowed to kill myself in the future, coughed awkwardly at the remark.
"No, my lord, but you can't deny that even in disrepair it holds its charm," he replied with an oily voice. "The blood of his family, unfortunately, ran dry when he offended Kraznys mo Nakloz. He is a wise master well entrenched in the city with decades of experience; he is one to not cross lightly. If you meet him, be careful. It's a good thing you can speak High Valyrian, my lord; that will help you with your relationships here in Astapor," Loras warned me, and I jolted at hearing that name. According to what Robb said in the letter, that wise master was the one who fell into Daenerys's trap.
"I will take that into consideration, wise master," I replied while nodding my head. "Not so wise the master who lost this house, eh?" My voice dripped with sarcasm, hoping that I had read Lorar well during our conversation. I had felt that he had some disdain toward the last owner of this house.
"Heh." He laughed. "I knew I was going to like you, Lord Lockart. Indeed, Thazon zo Meros was a fool of epic proportions. He was arrogant and did not know when to stop pushing his agenda. He did not make many friends while he lived."
I looked over to the mansion one more time, feeling the weight of my decision on my shoulders. It was not only my life that I was risking; I had to be responsible for the rest of the Northerners that followed me. I had a plan, many of them, to be honest, though which would take root in this foreign land remained to be seen. A foothold in Astapor before Daenerys Stormborn came was going to be invaluable.
The city was a crossroads of trade and war, and though I abhorred what they did to the slaves, it held the seed of opportunity for someone like me.
"How much are you asking for this ruin, wise master?" I asked, not bothering to hide the disdain in my voice. I wanted it; it was perfect for my plans, but I would not let him know that.
My mind was running a mile a minute, calculating its worth, balancing the potential advantages and risks of placing my truth and coin in this wise master who would die by my hands in the near future. Maybe I could get my gold back, I wondered.
The wise master's face lit up with false cheer. "A mere two thousand golden honors, my lord. A price—"
I held my hand, cutting him off. That price was preposterous for the estate of the mansion. "Two thousand for a crumbling mansion on the edge of the city with no one but slaves and child soldiers in its surroundings? Do not take me for a stupid man, wise master." I let the words hang in the air, watching his face tighten. "I will give you a thousand honors, no more. I doubt you will find another buyer so eager for property so close to the slums of this city."
The wise master's eyes flashed with a glimmer of anger, but it was quickly smothered by greed. "A thousand honors… my lord, surely—"
"Take it or leave it, wise master," I said sharply. "The city is prospering, but you told me how no one approaches this location. The gold will be yours alone; something that you have no use for will sell for a thousand honors. Time is not on your side; the more you hold on to this estate, the less it will be worth. And we both know the cost of maintaining such a place." I glanced at the peeling plaster and cracked windows, letting my gaze linger just long enough to drive my point home.
Lorar clenched his jaw but forced a smile on his face. "One thousand golden honors it is, my lord."
I nodded at him. "I'm sure this is the start of a wonderful friendship, oh wise master." Grabbing his hand, I shook it. "Have the deed ready by the morrow, and please send some slaves to make sure the place is cleaned. I have no use for cobwebs and rats."
Lorar nodded with a smile. "I sure hope so, Lord Lockart. And do not worry; my slaves will have this place ready for you to move tomorrow morning. Would it interest you to sleep in my manse? I promise that I have the best slaves in Astapor."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, wise master," I shook my head. "Some of my men didn't agree with the sea. I bid you farewell, and I will bring you the gold tomorrow."
The wise master nodded with a smile. "Understandable, Lord Lockart. I will send someone to your ship tomorrow when everything is ready. Have a good night, and welcome to Astapor."
As I walked away, my mind churned. This was it, my first move in this cesspit of a city. A mansion on the outskirts of Astapor, away from prying eyes but close enough to the city trade routes and intrigues. It would serve well as a base for the future. It's a shame Robb did not send someone with experience spying on people; I had no allies in here, and I would not ally myself with these loathsome human beings even if they paid me. A spy would allow me to get leverage for the future, but it was nothing more than a dream with what I had at my disposal.
"We will talk more when we reach the ship. For now, continue being silent," I murmured to my companions.
Thirty minutes later.
"I feel oily after talking with that man for so long," I shuddered back in the common tongue, finally being away from the prying eyes of the harbor.
"I cannot wait for the arrival of Queen Daenerys," grunted Ser Wendel. "I want to gut them like pigs for their sins."
"You are not the only one, my friend," I grunted. "Slavery was abolished for a reason, but we need to keep silent until she arrives."
"What is the plan, then?" asked Marco, one of the other knights.
"Tomorrow we will start moving to the mansion when Lorar sends his men," I started in a calm voice. "When we finish the transaction, I will go search for him to buy some slaves so that they can work in the manse. Also, we will buy provisions for the sailors who will go back, and the extra gold will be used to buy Unsullied for security. Do not worry; we will free them when we can make sure no one is listening. After that, we will spend the first month learning about the city. I want to know the shakers and movers, everything available."
"I don't like this, but I understand," said Ser Wendel with a grave voice; his face was like it was made from granite. "If it wasn't for Lord Robb's orders, I would gladly give my life to gut them right now, but we will listen, as long as you deliver your promises, Lannister."
"I give you my word, Ser Wendel" I nodded seriously, "The day that Queen Daenerys arrives will be the last of the wise masters, I assure you. And if you don't believe me, believe in your lord."
He nodded seriously at me and sighed, "I wonder what has happened in Westeros since we left."
"I will test the waters tomorrow with some of the slaves. We need to know how the war is going," I replied seriously, I hated being in the dark and being capable of only reacting.
"Now all of you, go to sleep. We have a tiring day tomorrow," I ordered.
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