Chapter 7

- Winterfell - Sometime Later -

"No sign of Jon?" asked Ned with Ser Rodrik shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Lord Stark. I personally selected the men to find him. But no luck on our end. The fact we didn't find a body means he's alive, but just not anywhere noticeable in the North. Maybe he is on a ship somewhere or traveling further South. Do you want to ask the King for help?" replied Ser Rodrik with Ned shaking his head.

"No! Jon is my responsibility. I won't involve Robert or the Crown for one person. Tell the men when on patrols to look for Jon. If they find him regardless of his condition they are to bring him back to Winterfell," ordered Ned with Ser Rodrik nodding and left the solar.

"So long as there is no body, we can say he is not dead Lord Stark," remarked Maester Luwin with Ned agreeing.

"Aye, that is true. Still, I wish this had not happened in the first place," commented Ned Stark with Maester Luwin nodding.

"Have faith Lord Stark. Have faith and trust the boy will return to us in time. If he is half the Stark you believe him to be my Lord, then Jon will return to the North," said Maester Luwin before leaving the room.

"Forgive me Lyanna. Please forgive me," whispered Ned while closing his eyes tightly and trying to hold back his tears.

- Essos - Free City of Pentos -

The ship arrived in Pentos. The Force telling Aegon this is where he should go and stay for the time being. The place was vast with wealth that rivaled even Tywin Lannister and his gold mines. So Aegon got off the ship, ignoring the people staring at him and his form despite how it drew people's attention when he ironically was trying to avoid it to some degree. As long as he didn't give people his real name, no one would know he was Aegon Targaryen or a Targaryen in general.

"I am looking for Magister Illyrio Mopatis," said Aegon to the nearest merchant.

"What business do you have him?" asked the man, who felt intimidated by the sight of Aegon getting in his face with the mask giving nothing away.

"That is none of your concern. His home. Now!" commanded Aegon before the man gave the Prince his much needed instruction.

With his destination in hand, Aegon walked toward the Magister's home until he came across the large open house designed to let the air in the area to flow smoothly to prevent the heat from becoming unbearable. The design of homes here were different from those in the North back in Westeros. Though it didn't surprise Aegon in the least given what he had obtained about Essos from the men on the ship after reading their minds and taking the information from their heads while they slept. Many of the men on the ship he was on were all well experienced sailors and sold cargo from Westeros to Essos and Braavos for many years.

"Who are you?" demanded one of two guards after they blocked Aegon's path.

"I am here to see Magister Illyrio Mopatis," said Aegon with the guard snarling and spit on the ground at the Prince's feet.

"And why would the honorable Magister possibly care about some masked fool like yourself requesting to see him?" asked the guard with Aegon being silent for a moment.

Before using the Force to smash both guards into the wall behind them and knocked both guards unconscious. Mumbling idiots under his breath, Aegon walked over their bodies and entered the courtyard of the Magister. The said man, a rather portly fellow at that, came up to him looking flustered and slightly angry at having his time interrupted by this masked man.

"Who are you? How dare you come into my home uninvited!" exclaimed Illyrio Mopatis with the man getting right in Aegon's masked face.

"My name is Dooku. Dooku of House Tyranus. My apologize Magister. I tried to seeking an audience with you, but your guards outside were being quite disrespectful. I felt that a more...direct approach was required in order to get your attention," replied Aegon with Illyrio Mopatis huffing and puffing due to this portly state making it somewhat difficult to breathe properly in his fluster state.

"Well you have it for the moment Lord Dooku. Now why are you here in my home and uninvited?" demanded Illyrio Mopatis while never hearing of a House Tyranus before today.

"I heard from a reliable source you are seeking out the Targaryen royal family. I thought I would help you in that matter by offering my assistance as a bodyguard and protecting them from harm," said Aegon with Illyrio Mopatis looking surprised, but also cautious at the same time.

"And this reliable source being...?" asked Illyrio Mopatis since he knew of only one such person with an interest in the exiled Targaryens at this point who didn't want them dead in Westeros.

"Why Lord Varys of course. Who else would point me in your direction?" asked Aegon while plucking the Spider's name from the man's mind with ease.

"Of course. My apologize. There are many who seek the end the legacy of the dragons and one cannot be too careful these days," said Illyrio Mopatis with Aegon nodding.

"Naturally. Though the ones seeking to end the Targaryens will soon find it is not so easy and their vengeance will be swift when the time is right," said Aegon with Illyrio Mopatis nodding in agreement.

"Agreed. I have heard through one of my contacts that the Prince and Princess are here in Pentos. Though where in the city is unknown to me. My most trusted men are going out into the city to bring them here to my home where they can be safe from the uncivilized brutes in the streets of Pentos," said Illyrio Mopatis with Aegon nodding.

"And I shall be here to greet and help protect them from harm," said Aegon knowing the best way to do that would be to steal a small fraction of the fat man's wealth to buy a sword and other supplies.

He couldn't rely on the Force all the time. Strong willed minds were resistant to the Mind Trick and Aegon would rather not come across people without a backup plan in case he had to actually pay with money. Aegon also knew a sword of good quality was required these days and a man without one was a walking target.

The Prince didn't need one on him right now.

"Considering you bested two of my guards already without moving, I believe you will be a solid defense for both of them," said Illyrio Mopatis while motioning Aegon to follow him deeper into his home.

"What is the condition of the two Targaryens at the moment? Are they healthy?" asked Aegon curiously since he figured the Magister would know.

"As healthy as can be from what I last heard. Minor hunger issues. Food being scraps and in poor supply from what I heard. The Prince has been begging for help and selling what royal wears such as jewelry he can for large sums of coin in order to get food for himself and his sister. Sadly, not everyone gives him a good price on them. Either that or the coin is not spent wisely at time," replied Illyrio Mopatis with a sigh.

"Perhaps a proper tutor in the ways of wealth would help the Prince and Princess so they can handle such things for when they regain the Iron Throne," commented Aegon while Illyrio Mopatis nodded in agreement.

"I will mention it to the Prince since handling money and making key decisions on how it is spent is crucial to a King," replied Illyrio Mopatis while Aegon used the Force to help reinforce the idea and that the man thought about it to further make the man feel like he was important to the cause.

"Could I be shown my quarters? The trip here was taxing and I am in need of rest," said Aegon with Illyrio Mopatis nodding and clapped his hands before a servant came over.

"Show my friend here to one of the guest rooms immediately," said Illyrio Mopatis with the servant bowing and motioned for Aegon to follow.

He was in the front door. Now he had to play the waiting game and see how badly the situation with his Uncle and Aunt being on the run.