Chapter 19 (b)

They must have reached Yunkai by now, Daenerys thought.

It had been just over a week since Caspian and the small company he commanded had left and she had been on edge for the last few days waiting to hear news from him.

She knew this was a delicate operation and her Hand would need to be careful to ensure that he wasn't caught, so sending messages would be difficult…but still, she did not like being in the dark when it came to anything.

If they had gone by her plan, she would have simply taken her armies and her dragons and stormed Yunkai without a moment's delay.

But Caspian had explained that impatience could be their undoing. Taking a city required time and preparation both of which they had now that she was in command of Astapor.

A part of her wished that she had been able to go with them to Yunkai but that would have been foolish. She needed to remain in command of the city and the seven thousand nine hundred and eighty Unsullied that remained there.

She had questioned Caspian decision to only bring twenty Unsullied with him but he had said that it was a mission of stealth and not storm.

All in all, this whole plan made her nervous.

Everything that had happened since Drogo died had been her choice and by her command. Drogon had helped her slay some of the Undying in Qarth allowing them to escape and take the plunder of Xaro Daxos with them. But since Caspian had come along, the ruling had shifted to a joint possession between the two of them.

Whenever she had an idea, she would add to it or else suggest a better one. This mission to Yunkai was proof of that.

Daenerys trusted Caspian, how could she not after all? He had saved her from a warlock and helped her take Astapor. But there were times when he startled her with his intuition.

There was no doubt that he was good at advising her…almost too good.

Dany remembered her brother always ranting and raving to her before he had died about how Lannisters were traitorous dogs and that Tywin Lannister had betrayed their father in his hour of need.

And now while she did not doubt that that was in fact true, she somehow had a feeling that Caspian wasn't like his grandfather.

But maybe that was because he was the first person she had met that was her own age and she had things in common within a long time. Maids like Missandei and Dorea didn't necessarily count. In a way, Caspian was her equal and she found talking to him refreshing. He provided a challenge for her to solve and the problems that did come at them, they came up with a plan to combat them.

It was rather nice having someone else to discuss one's problems with. Caspian had grown up in King's Landing in the royal court after all and as much as she might have despised his uncle and grandfather, they did have minds for war and strategy. She could see that it was where Caspian had gotten some of his.

Granted not all plans were foolproof but so far this one seemed to be working.

She was looking forward to the time when she could remove the word seemed when it came to their plans.

But there was time for that.

It was also refreshing to know that he knew how to fight and defend himself along with being able to advise her.

She only had been able to catch a glimpse of him during the taking of Astapor when he had helped the Unsullied dispatch with the masters but he certainly knows his way around a fight.

The blade he carried…StormBreaker he called it, was one of the most fearsome pieces she had ever seen. Its jagged edges appeared to be able to saw a man's head from his neck. It was surely a weapon of carnage.

That is a blade that will serve him well, she thought as she stood on the balcony of her chambers in Astapor looking up at the stars. The room looked out towards the sea and let in the breeze from the ocean which took away the heat during the day and provided some comfort at night.

Out in the bay area, she thought she was able to see Drogon flying about in search of something to eat. She smiled at the thought.

It won't be long before they are fully grown.

Thinking of the dragons caused her to remember those beasts belonging to Prince Caspian and how three of them were still in the caves. She had promised him she would look after them but they were a little skittish of her and kept to themselves.

The red one…Veneys…she was a feisty little thing and wasn't afraid of anything.

Dany had even seen her nip at Drogon while the six of them were in the cave. Drogon merely regarded her as a minor annoyance but it surprised the queen when all six of the dragons would eat the kill that the larger ones brought back. In the meantime, Edrion, and Zergyx the white and purple dragons seemed to have an affinity for Rhaegal who appeared to mother them somewhat.

The one that Caspian had taken with him, Naelarion, or the blue queen as her ancestor had been called, seemed to be the closest to him and the fastest-growing as she had hatched first.

When Dany had been close to her on the ship not long ago, she had seemed to be the calmest of the four dragons as well.

She still marveled at the fact that between the two of them, they had seven dragons.

If I believed in the gods I would say that this is a blessing, Dany thought to herself. Seven gods…seven dragons, which does seem to be one large coincidence after all.

It means nothing, a small voice in her head said that sounded suspiciously like Caspian. We make our own luck in this world and that is all.

Dany sighed and ran a hand through her long pale curls. I certainly wish that things weren't going so slowly. There is enough to do without becoming bored or fatigued, but there are times when I truly feel as if I am not doing enough.

She sighed again and raised the goblet of wine she was carrying to her lips and took a long sip. The nights were when it was the most difficult to relax. She couldn't help but think of all the things that might go wrong, both here and in Yunkai.

Dany did her best to keep on the stoic controlled face of a queen throughout her days but when she retired to her room and spent the nights alone, it was then that the self-doubt about what she was doing and the insecurity came upon her.

Perhaps that was why receiving advice from Caspian was somewhat comforting. It made her realize that she wasn't as alone as she felt from time to time.

It also made her glad that she had followed her gut and made him her Hand, bringing someone who was traditionally her enemy to her side had been an efficient idea as it gave her more of a connection to Westeros and tapped into his knowledge.

But it also served as a reminder that she was going to need people despite their background and family when it was politically necessary.

Daenerys sighed and turned away from the window towards her bed. It is high time that I get some rest. I have a feeling that the coming days will be filled with more trouble than the ones that have gone before.

Ω

As it turned out, Orius's house was in the more well-to-do section of Yunkai.

The more he walked through the darkening city, the more Caspian was able to compare it to King's Landing. There was a section for the wealthy and a section for the poor and the place in which he had sent the letter to the queen was the section in which the poor had resided.

After about nearly twenty minutes of walking, the three companions turned a corner and came upon a block of the street in which there were not as many houses crowded against the road. The air was not so foul in this area of the city either and Caspian could smell the scent of tropical fruits from the trees in the yards that dotted areas around the houses.

Unbidden his stomach began to growl and he glanced around quickly, hoping that no one had noticed.

Orius' house was about three stories tall and made of white stone unlike the other houses in the streets they had come from which were brown. The rock itself was smooth and had windows cut into it with no shutters or curtains to let in the full breeze from the outside.

The roof was made of a peculiar sort of sun toasted clay plate that must have absorbed an enormous amount of light in the day. Their candles lit in several of the windows flickering because of the wind.

There was a small yard that led up to the front door and the path to it was made of odd-shaped different colored cobblestones. There was a small garden beneath the front window which housed many an exotic plant and the scent of them wafted towards Caspian with a spicy-sweet smell.

All in all, the house spoke of wealth and prosperity…enough to give Caspian pause.

"What manner of work do you perform in this city that allows for this obvious wealth Orius?" he asked.

The man didn't even pause as he walked toward his own door. "I am a healer, your grace. You will find that the Wise Masters pay good coin to remain healthy and there are many secrets to be learned from them."

Caspian eyed the house warily.

On the one hand, there was always the chance that if he walked into that place there would be no coming out. But he also knew that if he were to return to Ser Barristan and the Unsullied they would be back to where they had started when they had arrived.

Taking the city with the help of another would be far easier than trying to take it alone. And it was a reminder that Caspian was not his grandfather and taking a city with twenty men was a near-impossible feat.

"What should we do my lord?" Orin asked quietly at his side. He had been suspiciously quiet since Orius had come upon them. Caspian had recently noticed that he had had a strange look on their face when they saw the man and for a moment he wondered why.

"We have no choice but to trust him, Orin," he said and started for the door of the house. "Come on then."

Orius stepped up the two stairs to the door and rapped twice upon the wood. There was a moment's pause before the sound of wood sliding back could be heard from behind it and the door opened.

"My Lord Orius came the sound of a young voice not much older than Caspian. "You have returned at last."

The door opened and Caspian was faced with an attractive young woman who looked about his age. She was dressed in a bronze gown with a golden band wrapped around her arm and had long dark curls. The dress was by no means fancy and in fact, it was rather obvious that she was a servant. She was not the prettiest woman Caspian had ever seen but she did have a glow about her that reached her eyes. It was obvious that she was treated well and did not suffer like the rest of the slaves in the city did.

She caught sight of Caspian and gasped slightly. "Who is this, my lord?"

Orius didn't appear fazed by the question. "Prepare the upper room, Lydia, we are going to be having a guest for a while. And while you are at it, inform the rest of the servants to clear the lower rooms. Our royal guest from Westeros has some companions with him."

Caspian blinked and said nothing but the moment they were inside the house and the door was shut behind them, he turned to his host. "You have been watching us haven't you?"

"Almost from the moment you set foot inside the city, your grace," Orius said calmly. "Your efforts to be conspicuous need work."

"I have never needed to travel in secret before," Caspian muttered in way of explanation.

"Hmm, it shows," Orius replied and the prince bristled.

He opened his mouth with some biting words of his own when his surroundings caught his eye and he stopped.

The atrium of Orius didn't scream of tremendous wealth but it was obvious the man had amassed enough money to live a comfortable wife. Oddly enough it didn't reflect in his choice of clothes.

The color scheme of the atrium was all one of browns and gold and the tiles that covered the floor were a pale beige color.

Just ahead of Caspian was a stone staircase made of the same brownstones that occupied the roof which led to the second floor of the house.

On the left side of the atrium, there appeared to be a solar as the door to it was open and Caspian saw a desk that was lined with parchment and strange instruments. The walls were occupied by shelves that were at least seven feet and covered with books. The solar was quite large and Caspian was reminded for a moment of the solar at Storm's End.

He blinked the memory away and refocused on the sights and smells around him.

There was a window on the far side of the solar which looked out into a small yard beyond and in which Caspian could see a large garden filled with all manner of flowers and trees and shrubs with nutritional and medicinal uses. The combination of their spicy-sweet scents was enough to make Caspian feel ravenous with hunger.

On the right side of the atrium was a room that was obviously meant for quiet sitting and reading as couches lined the walls and there were small tables where one could put a place of food or a glass of wine.

It was done in the same color scheme as the rest of the house and the curtains danced at the window in the night's breeze. There was a candle flickering on the window sill which cast its incense all about the room.

Further down the hall, Caspian could hear the sound of dishes clinking together and figured that that must have been where the kitchen was located.

In front of them, there was a large fountain made of some bronze medal that was pooling in its base. The trickling of the water was quite pleasant to the ears and generated a feeling of peace throughout the room.

Caspian glanced up and could see that the top of the house was open to let the breezes in and he could see the night stars far above his head.

It was quite lovely all in all.

"Being a healer must pay well in this city," he said.

Orius chuckled and strolled toward the solar. "If you have the coin to pay for it, your grace."

"So it would seem."

Orius didn't answer that however and merely clapped his hands.

From the direction of the solar, there came the sound of footsteps, and an older man perhaps four and twenty appeared and bowed to Orius.

"Harlyn, prepare food for our guest," Orius commanded. "I am sure they are hungry as they have come a long way."

As if on cue, Orin's stomach growled loudly and he pressed a hand to it, his cheeks going crimson in embarrassment. Caspian just managed to cover a laugh beneath a cough so as not to humiliate the lad further.

The man nodded and hurried away and Orius made for the study. "If you would follow me, your grace."

"Not so fast," the prince said, getting his faculties about him again. "What if my company. I refuse to leave the good men I have brought with me behind in the darkness of this city. Some may be servants but they have served me well in these weeks of travel."

"Indeed," Orius replied. "I have already sent a servant to bring them here."

Caspian just hoped that the servant would do a good job of pacifying Ser Barristan who was certain to be displeased at the news that he had been delayed at the home of an unknown man in the city.

He just hoped that they believed the servant. The last thing that was needed was to make a scene.

"Very well," he said with a tired sigh. "I suppose we should see about that dinner then. I am about to drop from exhaustion."

Orius appeared amused. "That sounds like an excellent idea your grace."

Ω

About half an hour later, both Caspian and Orin were sitting at a small table in the solar of Orius by the window which looked out into the back garden with bowls of steaming stew and bread placed in front of them. Orin appeared to be enjoying his rather excellent supper immensely as every few seconds he would smack his lips together and take a large bite of the bread which caused Caspian to smile despite the tense situation they were in.

Orius seemed to be content to simply sit behind the desk in his solar and pour over a rather large manuscript.

Caspian kept an eye on him as he ate and he didn't dare touch the wine that had been poured for him. He had considered smelling it to assess for particular scents that indicated poison but then decided that that would be far too obvious and had gone with the action of pretending that it wasn't there.

His eyes may have been on his host, but his ears were peeled for the door, waiting to hear back on when Ser Barristan, Missandei, and the rest of the Unsullied would be arriving.

He didn't like not knowing whether or not the people who served him were well and coming back.

For a moment his mind flashed back to the betrayal from Lannister soldiers as Storm's End months earlier and how Ser Cortney Penrose had suffered and died at the hands of lions because of simply doing his duty.

His fist tightened around the spoon he was holding for a moment before he forced himself to relax.

"I assume you are going to tell me in the timeliest manner possible what way it is that you can help me," he said finally looking up at his host.

Orin stopped eating and darted his eyes between the two men until Caspian waved a hand at him, indicating that he should continue.

Orius pushed the book to the side and raised an eyebrow at the prince. "I can see that you did inherit your impatience from your father your grace. Very well, I will commence with my plans."

He had no sooner said this than there was a harsh rapping on the door and Caspian shot to his feet.

He gently pushed Orin back down who had done the same thing and strode out of the room with Orius following.

The healer opened the door and smiled at whoever was outside. Because of the man's tall form, he could not see.

"Well done Harlyn," he said. "You have brought them. Did you run into any trouble?"

"It is not so simple a thing my lord to hide a group of twenty Unsullied in the city," came the servants' response. "But I managed well enough."

Orius finally stepped aside, allowing Caspian to look out and the former prince breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the familiar faces of Missandei and Ser Barristan in the light of the torches.

Missandei looked nervous, the Unsullied looked stoic as always and Barristan himself looked irritated and put out. Some of that when away when he caught sight of Caspian however.

"What is the meaning of this?" the old knight demanded. "On what grounds have you to keep Prince Caspian in this home?"

The question was directed at Orius who he had identified as the man in charge right away.

"I have not coerced the prince into doing anything ser," Orius said to the knight calmly. "He is perfectly well, in fact, he came with me of his own accord. You may ask him yourself."

He stepped aside so that Caspian could come out onto the step and address the aging knight himself.

"I'm afraid in this instance he is right Ser Barristan," Caspian said with a sigh and the knight's eyes widened. "I allowed Orius to bring me to his home of my own accord. I was under the impression that he would be able to help us with our…goals here in Yunkai."

The knight's eyes widened and he whirled on the healer. "Explain yourself."

Orius chuckled, completely unfazed by the man's harsh tone. "I would be more than happy to, but before doing that I think it would be best if all of you came inside. What I have to say I would rather not be heard by those passing by in the street."

Ser Barristan regarded him warily for a moment before he gave a short nod and gesture for the Unsullied who had situated their wagons of spices in the yard to come in as well.

All in all, it was a rather crowded party that made its way into Orius' house. Orin cried with delight upon seeing Missandei and threw himself into his arms. He was embraced with equal fervor before the servant turned to the prince himself.

"We feared something dreadful had happened when you were so long in returning my lord," she said. "Ser Barristan was about to go in search of you when a servant appeared from the shadows and informed us that you were at the home of one Orius Aurelius. Ser Barristan had never heard the name before but I knew it so I knew that you were safe."

"You know this man?" Caspian asked sharply as they walked into the solar while the Unsullied remained guard outside.

She sighed and lowered her eyes and her tone even more. "Before I was sold to Kraznys, my master was a wealthy man in Yunkai and Master Orius was a healer who often came to treat him for a myriad of diseases that he suffered from. It seems all the indulgent living of being a Wise Master was catching up to him and Master Orius asked me if when he died I wished to be free of him. I said yes and so when the man passed before another Master took his place, Orius snuck me out of the city in a caravan of merchants who were headed for the coast and Westeros beyond. He thought with the translating abilities I might be employed as a servant to some high lord there. Unfortunately, the caravan was attacked and I was captured again and sold to Kraznys. I often wonder what would have happened had I succeeded in escaping and what sort of life I might have had had I made it to Westeros."

We may have met far earlier than this, Caspian thought to himself absently.

"So he is trustworthy?" the prince asked.

Missandei nodded. "He was one of the few healers and men who came to see the former master that was kind to me. I didn't have a bad life as a scribe but because I am a woman, it was not an enviable one either. If Master Orius says that he wishes to help you, then trust him my lord for he will find a way to do so."

Caspian sighed. "Very well then. I suppose I have no choice but to do so."

The moment the four of them were seated in Orius' solar, Barristan Missandei Orin and Caspian with the Unsullied standing guard at the door, the healer began.

"Firstly," he said smiling at Missandei, "it is lovely to see you again my dear. I can see you are in better company."

She gave him a small smile. "I am thank you."

"What the devil is all of this about?" Ser Barristan interjected looking warily at Orius. "What is the meaning of bringing Prince Caspian to this home in the dead of night outside of our company?"

Before Orius could speak, Caspian chose that moment to interject. "Much as I dislike his methods of confrontation Ser Barristan I learned this night that Master Orius is a connection of Lord Varys in Westeros and he conveyed this to me when I had concluded sending my message."

"Does this mean Westeros is privy to the information that you are alive your grace?" Ser Barristan asked, casting a wary eye at Orius who was watching the discourse calmly.

"Of that, I do not know," Orius then interjected. "I have not sent any ravens to Varys myself get I only learned of your existence your grace a few weeks ago when Astapor was taken. The nobles who did manage to escape the city who were not killed by her grace Queen Daenerys' dragon fire came to Yunkai came with stories of a pale-haired Targaryen and a dark-haired blue eyes young man who served her. Those who do not know who you are your grace will only know you as a sort of high-level commander in Queen

Daenerys army. It is doubtful that many will know who you are by your appearance alone. Contrary to what many might think, dark-haired blue-eyed young men, are not entirely rare in Essos."

"So you're saying that I am safe enough for now yet confidentiality is necessary for us to work our plans in this city."

"Precisely."

"That is all well and good," Ser Barristan broke in. "However I am more interested in what you know and whether or not you plan to stop us."

Surprisingly enough it was Caspian who reached out a hand and clamped it down on the knight's shoulder. "He knows everything Ser Barristan and it was nothing that I told him. Master Orius appears to be the Spider of Yunkai and upon gleaning news of the attack on Astapor and the descriptions that his spies gave to him, he was able to deduce my identity."

"And your connections to Varys allowed you to know that to the rest of Westeros, Prince Caspian has been declared dead?" Barristan asked.

"Indeed," Orius said calmly. "Nearly two moons ago I received a message from Illyrio Mopatis in Pentos that the political climate of Westeros has shifted with the death of one of the royal princes. He went so far as to mention you by name and the only way he could have deduced such a thing was if Varys told it to him."

"Very well," Barristan said.

He didn't appear happy that the news of Caspian death had become common knowledge in Essos, but at the moment there was little he could do.

"So where does this leave us Master Orius?" Missandei asked, speaking up from her seat where she had been strangely quiet. "I assume that you intend to aid us. But how?"

"You would be right my dear," Orius continued. "Governmental powers in the city have become beyond corrupt and I would like to see some change as it is necessary. But it requires subtle dance that I have been playing for years. I have simply been missing the necessary steps that I need to take."

"And we are the steps?" Caspian asked.

"In a manner of speaking," the master said. "I have lived in this city my entire life your grace. I know it inside and out, I know its secrets, I have seen Wise Masters rise and fall because they have become too greedy and too foolish. One of the many facets that are appealing about the Free Cities is that they do not reside on a hierarchy of lords and ladies. You rise and fall on your own merit here and I have seen men reach too far and fall too hard and the city has suffered. Like many other magisters, I serve my city…and some have abused it for too long."

"And you intend to see someone installed in power who will not make the same mistakes," Caspian said getting right to the point.

"Indeed," the man said.

"And how do you intend to do that with us?" the prince asked.

"Not "us" your grace," the healer said. "You."

"Me?" the only royal son of Robert Baratheon said. "How do you mean?"

"Do not deny me and say that you have not arrived in this city at the behest of Queen Daenerys to overtake it. Not only do you fit the description of the young man who took

Astapor by her side, but you are the son of Robert Baratheon who is in his own right a conqueror. When one focuses on recent events it is not hard to put the solution together."

"Wonderful, you can read facts and receive information," Caspian said in acidic tones. "But that does not explain how you plan to help me."

"You are searching for a way to weaken the city's defenses are you not?" the healer asked.

Caspian nodded.

"Well you will not find them without my help," the man said. "Since news reached the city that Astapor was overthrown and Kraznys was killed, the security on the walls has doubled. The Second Sons have taken up residence outside of the city among other things. Why do you think you were watched so closely when you arrived?"

"If that is the case then why did they not search our persons when we arrived?" Barristan demanded.

"In this case, the greed of the Wise Masters outweighs their common sense. If you had been traveling alone, they would not have hesitated to search or harm you," Orius said.

"But because your persona was that of merchants, you escaped their notice, lest you become offended and divert your wares and thus profits elsewhere."

That will prove to be their undoing.

"And in what way can you help us?" Caspian asked.

Orius smirked. "I am a healer is possession of a great number of materials that Caspian those who take them incapacitated. And there are many in power who I would wish to Caspian…immobile."

Caspian wasn't sure whether or not he should be pleased by the man's vehemence to help them do away with their enemies, or worried at his eagerness.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" he asked.

"Well that is where you come in your grace," the healer explained. "You own a large number of spices that would aid in the creation of such remedies."

"And so in exchange for helping us," Ser Barristan began. "All you want is the product that you have brought with us?"

"You underestimate the quality of spices you have brought with you," Orius replied. "Such spices are only found in Qarth and the Basilisk Isles and are extremely rare and powerful when curing illness, treating wounds, and in poisons. It would take me years to achieve such a collection on my own, perhaps decades. And here you come with a quantity of them that is worth its wagon weight in coin. Believe your grace this is no foolish business investment."

"And you would use a portion of these spices to Caspian many of these Wise Masters unable to stop us when our plans are put into effect?" Caspian asked, a plan beginning to percolate in his mind.

"Precisely."

There was a long pause in which everyone in the solar pondered the plan in his own mind. The long silence indicated that serious consideration was being given.

"Very well," Caspian said finally. "But how will you administer this potion you have to Caspian them immobile?"

Orius chuckled. "I am a healer as well as a man who is skilled in his deadly elixirs your grace. Over the years I have earned the trust of every wise master in this city. They trust me without question and so I am allowed access to their homes without any eyebrows being raised. As of recently a bout of fever has been going through the city that I have been treating so I have seen the inside of every one of their houses."

"And thus you know where the vulnerable places in them are," Caspian concluded.

"Indeed."

Caspian nodded slowly. He was becoming convinced that this would be a better way to go about taking the city. Some serious planning and redirection were necessary however and he intended to do just that.

Orius had proven that he may prove a valuable ally, but seeing as how the Daenerys wasn't there, the final decision rested with him.

So he made an executive decision.

"Very well," he said. "We will accept your help."

Orius smiled…and Caspian couldn't tell whether it was one of eagerness or one that constituted a thrill of what was to come.

"Excellent," he said in a soft voice. "Shall we begin then? For we have work to do."

Ω

Several hours later, an exhausted Caspian was shown to his room by one of Orius's servants where the moment he was inside, he collapsed on the bed with the door only half-closed behind him.

He knew he was covered in dust and sweat from the day's activities and needed a bath which was, funnily enough, sitting in the corner of the room and steaming but at the moment he didn't care and just needed a moment to get a breather.

The room itself was nice enough, the walls and floors made of stone and there was a large window directly across from the door which let in the moonlight with a bed on the left side of the room. There was a single bookshelf on the right side with several manuscripts on him.

He couldn't even bring himself to examine them as he was.

At the moment the bath and the warm water were calling to him.

He had just gotten to his feet and taken off the leather vest that he had been wearing when there was a knock on the door.

Caspian sighed before turning toward it. "Come!"

The door opened to reveal a Ser Barristan who looked similarly weary.

"Forgive me for interrupting your rest your grace," the knight said.

"Not at all Ser," Caspian said hoping he didn't sound as exasperated as he felt. "What can I do for you?"

The knight waited until he had shut the door before he spoke again. "Are you sure of what you are doing your grace? How do we know that this man, this Orius Aurelius…can be trusted?"

Caspian laughed grimly. "We don't Ser Barristan. We don't know much at this point. In fact, that is the point. Our stay in Yunkai and the presence of the Second Sons, as well as spies of Varys being aware of who I am, has indicated that there are no safe paths anymore. Every step is riskier than the last. But we're not going to accomplish anything by being cautious."

"And do you trust him?" Barristan asked incredulously.

Caspian gave his old friend a grim smile. "It would be incredibly foolish if I did Ser. I don't trust him at all. But at the moment we have something he needs and he has something we need. As long as this exchange does not end with bloodshed then I am willing to make a bargain. What I am not willing to be is double-crossed. And so if he attempts any treachery – "

At this point, Caspian gestured to StormBreaker which was leaning against the side of the steaming tub. "I have no qualms about gutting him like a fish."

This time, it was Barristan who gave him a grim smile. "Very well then your grace. I leave it up to your discretion. I simply hope we have not walked into a situation that we cannot walk out of."

He left soon after and shut the door quietly behind him, leaving Caspian to whisper into the silence: "So do I Ser Barristan…so do I."

After his bath, the prince ventured to his window, feeling refreshed so he might take in the moonlight before he retired for the evening.

I should send a raven to Queen Daenerys as soon as possible, Caspian thought. She should know about this new change of plans. In the meantime…I hope I haven't agreed to a deal with a serpent.

Ω

Meanwhile, the presence of letters was also very heavy on the mind of one spider who was sitting in his chambers across the Narrow Sea.

The only difference was that he was holding a letter in his hand that had come earlier that day from an old friend of his in Yunkai.

And in that letter, there was only one sentence that mattered.

I believe that our lost prince has been found.

No one was around at that time…but if they had, they might have heard the sound of a spider giggling for all he was worth.

"The game has changed again," he murmured to himself. "I believe things will be even more exciting than before."

Ω