Cherazza 7

286AC

The festival of the harpy in Yunkai had begun with great bonfires lit atop and around the pyramids of the city, dancers performed nude in the streets or draped only with jewelry that still bore their forms to the open air. All across the city of Yunkai, there was a sort of heady feeling, from the music and incense which filled the air. People filled the streets in great throngs, master, freeman, and slave alike, though even in the festival the distinction between them was clear.

In the evening, her father went off to the great feasts at the pyramid of the masters, the seat of Yunkai's government, along with a great throng of his best slaves and free-retainers. Viserys was amongst them each afternoon.

She had decided not to accompany her father this year, feigning illness. Her father had not decided to press, perhaps understanding the guilt which sat upon her breasts.

So, she lay there, staring at the high ceiling of her chamber, draped in luxury and banners. Her fingernails dug into the flesh of her palms. She could not move, nor would she move, and she thought of what the boy must be suffering, having already suffered so much.

In the morning, whatever Master or noble had claimed Viserys the night before would return him, and she wrote each of their names in her heart, for she felt her blood boil at the thought. Only one was from Yunkai proper. The woman captain Maloza Zo Zheenga, who trained much of the city's army as her family always had. What she had offered her father she did not know, but Cherazza knew in her heart that she would see the woman's house fall if she ever held the power to see that happen.

The ones from other cities were more difficult. A Qartheen warlock, a Nobleman from Meereen, A Warlord from new Ghis, and a Sothoryosi Priestess who had given her father a boat full of half-man slaves, nearly restoring his prestige through that act alone.

Tonight was the final night of the festival, and while she tried to feel joy for her father's renewed fortunes, she could not stomach the method. Any other slave she could let go, even see them beheaded in front of her without a flick of sympathy, but not Viserys, not the one she loved.

She sighed to herself, letting her tears flow down into her pillows, though she would need to wash them away herself before her father returned with his caravan.

Then again, perhaps she should simply wait here until morning. Her father would surely not begrudge her that much.

It was hours later, long after her father's return, that he came to see her. Carefully, he took a seat at the corner of the room, gesturing the slaves to leave, which they did with haste.

"Why are you here?" She said, tears flowing from her eyes. She knew her words were foolish but did not care. "Shouldn't you be off rebelling in your newfound wealth?"

"It is your wealth too daughter, and in quantities enough to secure your position, as well as my own, throughout the time to come. No, I am not here to apologize for what has been done to the Dragon-Boy. I am here to ask you to understand." Her father's eyes glinted sadly in the dark as they met hers. "What is being done now, is, at its core, for your good. I know it hurts, believe me, I do, but in this world, all that exists are lambs and wolves, and we have been teetering on the blade to becoming lambs for almost a year, drawing ever closer to being torn apart. Do you think I would ever allow you to fall into the situation the boy is in now? I would sooner die."

The lack of apology in his tone hurt her deeply, and she flung a pillow towards him, which he easily slapped aside. "What do you know?" She shrieked, tears now freely falling from her eyes. "He's-He's" she sobbed loosely, falling back down onto her bed as her father rose to his feet.

"What do I know? Daughter, did you think your mother did not suffer the same as the Dragon Boy? I loved her as a bed slave for years before I was able to purchase her and free her. It was the drive to do so that led me to become a Wise Master. Do not think that I do not know the fire which eats at your belly. Do not think that I do not know what it is to suffer as your love falls into the hands of others. No! That is why I do all this so that I will not need to feel it again!" Her father straightened his Tokar as he walked towards the door. "Viserys will be yours from the moment he arrives in the morning. I will have him rebranded. Do with him as you will."

Cherazza felt fresh tears flow from her eyes as her father departed, leaving behind only the empty air where he had a moment before stood towering over her. She should have known better to question him, she had known the story of her mother, and to presume so much of her father when she knew better than any other just how much he had struggled, how hard he had worked in the past for both of their sakes.

She pushed her head into her pillow and cried.

It seemed to be all she was good for, at least to those she cared about.