Chapter 9

(Magister's Home-A Few Days Later)

Few things could surprise Magister Illyrio Mopatis these days. Being a man who likes to be in control of things in Pentos was part of his occupation. It helped bring him wealth, power, and friends in high places in different parts of Essos to call on when required. But to see Jon Connington himself walking into his home beside Dooku not that long ago 0was something that made his day.

Illyrio Mopatis knew who Jon Connington was simply by reputation and was a Targaryen supporter through and through with a level of loyalty few could hope to match these days. Varys had kept him up to date on the various people throughout Essos who were loyal to House Targaryen and fought in Robert's Rebellion. Rather than bend the knee and pledge to serve the Usurper Stag, those said men had chosen to simply leave Westeros for Essos and Braavos. Some of them had not been fortunate enough to escape and thus had to go to the Wall or face the executioner's block.

Some had chosen the executioners block. They had preferred to follow their true Prince in death over living under the rule of the Usurper King.

But when Dooku had shown up with Jon Connington, it was a surprise all the same. Even more so when Dooku explained how he and Jon were going to hunt for the two Targaryen royal family members in Pentos. While they were confident in the Magister in sending competent men, there was always a chance one or two would have ill or greedy thoughts should they believe selling the two to someone else was a possibility.

Sending hired help who believed in the cause was better then sending those with greed in their hearts and minds waiting to come out.

So the Magister let them do what they wanted in searching for the Targaryens. He knew the two men were loyal to the cause and it didn't put a dent in his already extremely fat purse.

And true to form, these two men didn't disappoint him in their mission, as they had come back with both royal family members on either side of them. Viserys being smug and was walking into the large home like he owned it. Daenerys was much more cautious due to how they had lived since arriving in Essos shortly after being forced to leave the house in Braavos.

Daenerys herself had liked the house in Braavos when growing up there with the red door and lemon tree. Everything was fine at first, but then things changed when Viserys had become more demanding. Insulting even. The servants all clearly wanted to lash out at the Targaryen Prince, but held back due to the loyal knight Ser Willem. When the knight had died of illness, the servants had immediately ransacked the house within hours of when their sworn knight had died. They saw the opportunity to take what they wanted without him there to stop them. Viserys had long since gotten on their nerves during their time in Braavos and saw no reason to be loyal to the bullying Prince.

Clearly they did not fear "waking the dragon" as Viserys had warned her several times when she spoke up in what he felt was a challenge against him.

When they had to flee, Viserys tried to take care of them both. Key word being "tried", but in the end, he always let his insulting and rude manners get the best of him. Every place and every person they went to for help and shelter would take them in, promising support when called upon to help Viserys take back the Iron Throne. But her brother had no patience for future support and demanded it now, saying he was a King and would not stand for delayed help from "mongrels" and "savages" who didn't understand what was at stake.

It wasn't long before they had to leave each place with what they could take or carry to survive with the results repeating themselves time after time. Daenerys had tried to get her brother to apologize to their hosts each time he did something insulting to them, but Viserys would not hear of it.

~ "Why should the dragon apologize to lower forms of life? Those beneath him in both that of blood and status? Why should the dragon apologize to mongrels and savages? No! I will not! I will take back the Iron Throne, return here to this place, and burn it all down Dany! Fire and blood! You hear me sister?! Fire and blood!" ~

Daenerys wanted to tell him that he couldn't do it without an army. A loyal army. Much less without support and funds from powerful Houses and allies. Ser Willem had been the one to instruct her as much when Viserys refused to learn from him at time.

~ "I am a dragon. I don't need to know these things. All I have to do is say my name and all will come to support me throughout the Seven Kingdoms or die just like the Usurper will when I challenge him in battle!" ~

When the two men found them, Viserys was cautious at first, but soon recognized one of them as Jon Connington. He didn't really care for the masked man in black. Daenerys was cautious of both since she knew neither of them and while Viserys was willing to trust the one man without question, she preferred to not embrace this new development too soon.

Even more so when the Magister came to greet them both. Viserys more then Daenerys given how her brother intended to be King and reward his "loyal" supporters when the crown was on his head. Daenerys was not so sure, but her opinion and beliefs had long since been kept to herself out of risk of being slapped or beaten by her brother.

"Welcome! Welcome Prince and future King Viserys of House Targaryen and his lovely sister Princess Daenerys Targaryen. Welcome to my home. Come! I shall have several of my servants attend to your every need. Clean clothes, a warm bath, and plenty of food to fill your bellies," stated Magister Illyrio Mopatis happily while leading the two inside his home.

"The fool acts as if he rescued them personally," commented Jon angrily.

"Patience my friend. The Magister is a means to an end. Let him strut around like he did all work. His coin is all that matters. When the time comes, we simply cut him out, take his wealth, and move elsewhere to begin the next stage of the plan," said Aegon with Jon nodding.

"And Viserys?" asked Jon curiously.

"With the way he's acting and was acting after finding him? The fool will seal his own fate without us having to lift a finger," replied Aegon while seeing what could be the possible future of Viserys and it was going to be a short, yet painful one.

~ "A Crown for a King!" ~

Aegon thought it was appropriate considering Viserys went on and on to them on the way here about having a crown on his head befitting a King like himself.

The King of fools.