Chapter 56: The Art of Pranks and the Unyielding Barristan

**Mary's Perspective**

The days in Astapor had become routine for Mary, and routine, she found, led to one thing: boredom. With Arren occupied with the city council and Zhal training alongside the Unsullied, she was left to wander the halls of the pyramid, watching Daenerys govern and trying her best not to interfere.

But today, boredom had finally won out.

"Zhal," Mary said, leaning against a column as they stood in the shade near the kitchens, "we need to do something. I'm going crazy just sitting around."

Zhal, leaning on his spear after a long morning of drills, gave her a sideways glance. "Do something? Like what? I'm exhausted."

Mary crossed her arms, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "We're going to prank that grumpy old cook."

Zhal straightened, his eyes wide. "The one who nearly threw me out of the kitchen for asking for more bread?"

Mary nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. He's always so grumpy and serious. It's about time someone took him down a peg."

Zhal hesitated, glancing over his shoulder toward the kitchen entrance. "Are you sure? That guy is terrifying. He's built like a barrel, and I'm pretty sure he could take down a goat with just his glare."

Mary shrugged. "Even better. We'll come up with something clever."

Zhal sighed. He knew this was a bad idea, but Mary's enthusiasm was infectious. "Alright, fine. What's the plan?"

---

**The Prank**

Their plan was simple, but, in their eyes, foolproof.

Step one: distract the cook.

Step two: sneak into the kitchen and add a little something extra to the stew he was preparing for the Unsullied's evening meal—nothing too crazy, just some extra hot peppers they had 'borrowed' from the market.

Step three: get out before the cook noticed anything.

It was all going smoothly. Zhal had successfully distracted the cook by pretending to ask for a complicated recipe. Mary, meanwhile, had snuck into the kitchen, deftly tossing the peppers into the pot with a grin that would make even a mischievous kitten look innocent.

Just as she was about to make her escape, she turned a corner and—*thump*—ran face-first into a wall. A living wall.

She looked up, her heart sinking as she realized who she had just bumped into.

Barristan Selmy.

The old knight raised an eyebrow, his expression a perfect combination of disapproval and amusement. "What exactly do you think you're doing, Lady Mary?"

Mary blinked, her brain scrambling for an excuse. "Um, stretching my legs?"

"Stretching your legs," Barristan repeated, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Zhal, sensing disaster, quickly joined them, his face pale. "It was my idea! We just thought the stew could use some more, uh, flavor."

Barristan sighed deeply. "I've seen more than my fair share of young pranksters in my time. I doubt anything you do will surprise me at this point. But I'm afraid you'll have to answer to the queen for this one."

---

**The Queen's Amusement**

Daenerys was surprisingly calm when Barristan brought Mary and Zhal before her. In fact, there was a glint of amusement in her violet eyes as she sat on her throne, her silver hair flowing over her shoulders.

"So," Daenerys began, leaning forward slightly, "you decided to spice up my Unsullied's dinner?"

Mary shuffled her feet nervously, glancing at Zhal, who looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. "It was just a little fun," Mary muttered, avoiding Daenerys's gaze.

Daenerys raised an eyebrow. "And did you stop to consider that the Unsullied might not appreciate the joke? They've endured enough hardship."

Zhal, always the diplomat, jumped in. "It wasn't meant to offend anyone, Khaleesi. We just... thought it would be funny."

The queen sighed but smiled slightly. "Well, it's a harmless enough prank. But I can't let you off without some punishment."

Mary bit her lip, hoping that Daenerys would go easy on them. "What do we have to do?"

Daenerys smirked. "You will spend the next week helping the grumpy cook you pranked prepare meals for the entire Unsullied army. And no extra peppers unless he approves it."

Mary groaned. Zhal muttered something under his breath about learning to cook, but at least it wasn't the worst punishment they could have imagined.

---

**Revenge on Barristan**

But Mary wasn't one to let things go so easily. After their kitchen punishment was over, she turned her sights on the real culprit behind their capture: Ser Barristan Selmy. 

Zhal, of course, protested. "You're crazy! Barristan isn't just some cook. He's like a living legend!"

Mary waved off his concerns. "Exactly! Which makes it all the more fun. He'll never expect it."

And so, they plotted their revenge. The first attempt was simple—replace his practice sword with a heavy ladle during the Unsullied's morning drills. It would have been perfect, except Barristan somehow managed to dodge the switch entirely, grabbing a spare sword just before the drill began.

Zhal stared in disbelief as Barristan sparred effortlessly with the Unsullied, completely unfazed by their prank. "It's like he knew," Zhal muttered.

The second attempt was more elaborate. They filled his boots with sand right before he was due to meet with Daenerys. Surely, he would notice as soon as he put them on, and the discomfort would drive him crazy. But somehow, Barristan strolled into the meeting without so much as a grain of sand falling from his boots.

"How?" Mary whispered in awe. "Is he some kind of wizard?"

Zhal was beginning to think so.

By the third attempt, they were desperate. This time, they set up an elaborate rope trap, designed to dump a bucket of water on Barristan's head when he walked through a particular hallway. But once again, Barristan managed to avoid the trap with perfect timing, ducking out of the way at the last second.

It was as if he could see the future.

---

**Caught Again**

On their fourth and final attempt, Barristan finally caught them red-handed. They were trying to balance a sack of flour above the door to his quarters when the door suddenly swung open, revealing the knight standing there, arms crossed and an exasperated look on his face.

"Trying again, I see," Barristan said dryly.

Mary blinked, caught off guard. "How do you keep doing that? It's like you know what we're going to do before we even do it!"

Barristan chuckled, shaking his head. "I've spent my life serving in the courts of kings and queens, Lady Mary. I've seen three generations of princes try to pull pranks on me. Cuteness, I'm afraid, does not work on me."

Mary pouted, trying her best to look as innocent as possible. "Are you sure? Maybe just this once?"

Barristan smiled, but his voice was firm. "No. Now, come with me. The queen will be very interested to hear about this latest attempt."

---

**The Queen's Judgment (Again)**

Daenerys couldn't help but laugh when Barristan brought Mary and Zhal before her yet again. This time, there was no stern reprimand, only amusement dancing in her eyes as she listened to Barristan recount their failed pranks.

"You two just can't seem to stay out of trouble, can you?" Daenerys asked, smiling down at them.

Mary shrugged, a sheepish grin on her face. "We're just trying to make things a little more... exciting."

Daenerys leaned back in her throne, shaking her head. "Well, I suppose no harm was done." She paused for a moment, considering. "Your punishment this time is simple: you'll clean up after the next feast. Every plate and goblet."

Mary groaned, and Zhal sighed, but they accepted their fate. They had tried, and they had failed. Again.

As they left the queen's chambers, Mary glanced up at Zhal, a mischievous twinkle still in her eyes. "We'll get him next time."

Zhal shook his head, but there was a smile on his face. "I wouldn't count on it."

"Well, at least we tried," Mary said, laughing as they walked back to the kitchens, already plotting their next attempt.