Chapter 21

Solomon. Braavos.

The Black and White House had many different rooms, but only two were spacious.

The first room was a half-empty hall. It was lit by small windows in the ceiling of the building and candles generously placed around the perimeter. In its center was a small pool of water, odorless and colorless. Around it were statues or symbols of the local gods.

I recognized the Drowned God, the Weeping Mistress, the Lion of Night, the Black Goat, and the symbols of the Old Gods and R'Glor in the form of a Weirwood and a burning heart, respectively.

The second room, where I was now with the "human", was under the building and was a really huge space with rows of columns stretching straight up to the ceiling and lit only by candles.

Columns with human faces on them.

 I wandered between the columns and scrutinized the faces of people unknown to me, while the "man" silently followed me, as if to portray a servant.

The faces of men, women, old men and children alternated with each other, forming an eerie but mesmerizing picture.

"Valar morghulis" is a phrase used by the faceless ones of the Black and White House. A phrase that translates to, "All men are mortal." Death doesn't discriminate between people based on wealth or deeds. It simply comes and takes someone with it when their time comes. Inevitable and patient. And that's what the Black and White House believes.

My hand slowly touched one of the columns, and the next moment I felt a cold and indifferent breath. It was as if Death itself stood before me, apathetically watching and patiently waiting.

In response, I only smiled softly and stroked the statue affectionately. And then something happened that really surprised me.

The eyes of the thousand faces fixed in the stone opened and turned toward me. There was no threat, no anger, no joy or approval in them, just intrigue. They studied me while my hand made contact with the stone and the "man" knelt down.

- You do not fear death. Why? - Because this is your fourth cycle, or because you know it's your fourth cycle? Or because you know what lies beyond the boundary of life?

- Why should I fear the one who will meet me at the end, no matter what I do? As strange as it may sound, only two will accept a person no matter what they are - Mother and Death. - Taking off my hood, I replied.

- "Death's embrace is like a mother's embrace." Is that your answer, soul?

- A mother's love is boundless, as is Death's patience.

There was silence in the hall for a few moments. The flames of the candles swayed in the faint breeze that came from nowhere. A second later, they all suddenly went out, covering my vision in pitch blackness.

The feeling of stone in my hand slowly disappeared, replaced by something as cold as ice and as shapeless as fog or clouds. I stared into the void in front of me.

There was nothing up ahead that my eyes could see, but I knew it wasn't true. Out of the pitch darkness, I was being watched. Peering and sizing me up. Until I felt another hand lay on my arm, resembling the texture of thick smoke.

- You are... worthy...

A distant voice sounded out of the darkness, like a whisper or a lullaby, and then I felt the smoky hand dissolve into mine. Following this, the candles flickered again, bringing light back into the room. The eyes and mouths of the faces were tightly shut, as if nothing had happened a few minutes ago, and my hand was still on the column, bringing back the feeling of the cold stone of which it had been made.

I looked at my hand with interest.

That feeling and that phrase were very... familiar. So much so that it was as if something like this had happened only yesterday.

After a little thought, the realization came to me as to why this feeling had come to me.

One God.

Almost the same thing happened to the original Solomon when the One God recognized him. The Many-Faced God also appeared before me, asked a question, and then uttered the same phrase as that God, " You are worthy".

This is... strange... Strange and interesting.....

As his hand dissolved into mine, I felt... something. It was as if my soul... was... transformed. I don't know how or how much, but I don't feel discomfort or anything like that.

- The man congratulates the Magician," a man's voice asked from behind me as I sank into thought, "The Many-Faced God has granted him great power.

- "Great power?" I'm not really sure what it can do, frankly. - I said and removed my hand from the column.

- 'In the future, the Magician will understand,' the 'man' replied, smiling slightly, 'Will the Magician follow the man? There is a room where speaking will be more comfortable for him.

- Good, - I nodded, to which he led me from behind this room - You may address me by my name, if it makes you feel more comfortable.

- The man has heard Solomon and will do as he says.

And on those words he led me out of the hall and upstairs.

-0-

Jon Snow. Wolfswood.

We stopped at a brook, where the water that had thawed from the mountains was running. To our left we could see the mountains, beyond which, according to the map, were Summit, Stone Hill, and Iron Hill. Down the creek, to our right, was the road leading to the Queenscrown and then to the Wall. And the creek itself flowed into Long Lake quite far from our position.

I walked over to the water and filled my half-empty flask, and then wanted to look around.

There was practically no one near the creek. Only a couple of deer were quietly quenching their thirst a couple hundred meters away. And that kind of environment was kind of... comforting to me.

Mara took out a small piece of dried meat from her belt pouch and, sitting down by a tree, began to chew it. The ghost, smelling the food, slowly approached her and stared at the meat in her hand, obviously asking for it for herself. At this scene, I rolled my eyes and wondered when it had gotten so cocky.

- You hungry too, wolf boy? - Mara asked, giving him a snide look, to which Ghost began to paw at her free hand - Oh? The idiot doesn't feed you at all? What kind of 'idiot' is he, right?

- Woof. - Ghost said confidently, which made my eyebrow twitch.

- Hey! Who ate almost a quarter of my food, you ungrateful lump of fur?! - I said indignantly. Ghost gave me a dismissive look and took the meat Mara held out to him.

- Heh," the free woman grinned, "Don't take it personally, you idiot. It's nobody's fault you're an 'idiot', is it?

She refers to me that way on purpose, doesn't she?

- Jon Snow, not "idiot," wildling. Are all the women of your people bitches like you? - I stood up and walked toward her, then sat down by the tree next to her.

- Oh, they're even worse. You're very lucky to have met me. The others would rather cut off your dick than talk to you, much less lead you anywhere.

- I'm grateful to the gods that I met you," my voice was dripping with sarcasm, and Mara just smirked, "Anyway, I'd like to hear about the free people. All I've been told is that you're just savages who can only kill and pillage.

- Why such interest? - she asked in surprise.

- This is my second encounter with the free people. The first time they wanted to gut me, as well as the second.

- No surprise," Mara shrugged, "So how did you get out? We don't go alone if we're going out beyond the Wall. I doubt you could even hold a sword properly at that point.

- I had help. Magically. - I replied, and a nostalgic smile spread across my face.

- Magical? - she raised an eyebrow - Now I'm interested in you. I'll make you a deal, since you're so sure I'm not your hostage. You tell me your story and I'll tell you about my people, okay?

Hmm. That's a pretty good way to break the ice, huh? It's not like I'm losing anything, and the information about the free people will come in handy. After all, I'm going to be behind the Wall for a relatively long time.

- Okay," I nodded and made myself comfortable, "Something happened a few years ago, and I found myself alone in the woods with only a dagger. I had to hide in a cave, wrap myself in my cloak and wait for my death. Then I really felt hopeless and just accepted my fate.

I moistened my throat with water, pausing for a moment and then continued. At the same time, Mara was gently running her hand over the fur of the Ghost that lay at her feet.

- At one moment, three wildlings came into the cave. Of course they wanted to gut me. Then I decided if I was going to die, I'd take them with me. Or at least I'd try. I pulled out my knife and pointed it at them, gathering the will in my fist that I could.

- Yeah, yeah, you're brave and all, but where's the magic moment? That's what I was asking about.

- I'm getting to it. Have patience, woman," I rolled my eyes and continued, "And just as they were about to move on me, a silhouette appeared in the cave passage and spoke. The wildlings turned toward him and began to threaten him. They were never able to carry out their threats as one by one they burst into glowing flames, leaving behind handfuls of ash. It was simply as if the gods themselves had decided to burn them to the ground. And the power-

- Stop," the wildling interrupted me. And when I looked at her, I noticed the serious expression on her face and the unblinking eyes fixed on me. She even stopped stroking Ghost, causing him to raise his head in incomprehension. Then Mara straightened up and came close to me, so that I could feel her breath on my face - Did you just light up? What did the one who came after the freedmen look like? Eye color, skin color, hair, anything.

- Whoa-whoa, easy! - I waved my hands at her sudden actions - What's the matter!

- How. Looked like. Human? - She asked sternly - Golden eyes and hair white as snow to the ground?

- Eh? How do you know? - I widened my eyes in surprise.

- We have to go. - She said and grabbed my hand and pulled me with her.

- Hey, what's the matter?! - I was perplexed, but Mara paid no attention to it. She was just pulling me somewhere, abruptly ending the halt.

Don't I deserve an explanation, uh, damn it! Well, at least she definitely doesn't want to kill me... I guess... I guess....

-0-

Daenerys Targaryen. Pentos.

When I went outside accompanied by my teacher, Shiro and Fina, the first thing that caught my eye was a small group of Dothraki sitting on horses.

And one that stood out among them was one who was slightly ahead of the rest. He had the longest braid of them all, two blue-colored tattoos that looked like claw scratches, and little makeup around his eyes. Strong arms, bare chest and nice looking muscles. He rode his horse from side to side and watched me as soon as I left the villa doors.

So this is the "Khal," huh? The one I was supposed to marry.

- Daenerys of House Targaryen," I introduced myself as I approached him, "And what is your name, Honorable Khal?

He was greatly surprised to hear me speak his language. Now he looked at me closely and got off his horse, which surprised me.

- Khal Drogo," he answered, "Where is the man I spoke to, Daenerys of House Targaryen?

He wasn't as scary as I'd imagined. Calm and collected.

- He couldn't attend. - I told the truth about Illyrio.

Khal Drogo looked me in the eye. And after a few seconds, he turned and headed back to his horse, at which I rounded my eyes.

He's... just going to leave? He didn't even tell me if he liked me, or if he was willing to take me as his wife. Should I do something? What should I say?

- He's already gone, princess. - Suddenly, a man's voice sounded near my ear, making me jump on the spot in surprise.

- Sh-Shiro! Don't scare me like that! - I exclaimed, realizing who it was.

- You looked so pensive," he continued, "Did you like him?

When I heard his question, I thought about it.

Well, it was the first time we'd met, and he didn't seem like the wild man my brother had described him as. There was no obvious lecherous stare or disrespect for me-just interest. I think I managed to charm him not only with my looks, but also with my ability to speak Dothraki. Khal clearly wasn't expecting that.

In any case, the meeting went... nothing. All we did was introduce ourselves to each other and that was it. I didn't even get to hear what the Khal himself thought about marriage. And when I wanted to explain it, the teacher beat me to it.

- Don't be silly, Shiro. It's just that her perceptions didn't match reality," she answered for me, "Anyway, he definitely liked you, girl.

- Are you sure, teacher? - I voiced my thoughts uncertainly.

- If he wasn't, even you would have realized it," she snorted, "And I'll double our lessons. Your facial expression was very easy to read. You're not ready yet.

Double?! I've already been studying in sweat, without proper sleep! And what do you mean, "Your facial expression was very easy to read"?! I did what you taught me!

- But-" I wanted to object, as I was startled by the teacher's threatening and cold stare, to which I could only nod defeatedly-"Okay.

And then I thought that my torment was over... It seems that now I won't have time to sleep, considering the teacher's tone.

I want to go to bed...

-0-

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