28:Jon

Jon

The Shavepate awaited them in the hall of pink marble that served as the council room, a dozen of his brazen beasts standing guard along the walls. Most of them were freedmen and wore brass masks formed in the shape of fanciful beats to protect their identity.

The Shavepate's beetle-browed face, his small eyes, his oily yellow skin and his big dark nose were ugly to behold, but Jon was still relieved when found him alive.

When they had arrived at Meereen the city had been besieged by two more Ghiscari legions. They had been in the process of erecting their siege weapons when their Unsullied and sellswords had attacked their camp located across the muddy river that curled its way through Meereen.

The Ghiscari had fought bravely, defending their camp till the last men, but when the city gates had opened and the Shavepate had the rest of Dany's Unsullied forces take formation before Meereen's colorful walls the will of the Ghiscari legions had been broken and their lines had started to fall apart.

Within a matter of hours they had captured the camp and the siege machines. The Mother's Men had wanted to tear them apart, but Ser Barristan had stopped them, making them understand that these machines could still be of use to them in the future.

At dawn, the last fighting had ended and Dany had led her Unsullied back behind the safety of Meereen's city walls.

The freedmen had cheered for her, but most of the inhabitants of the city had holed themselves up, probably fearing that the freedmen might attack them now that they were drunk on two victories.

Jon couldn't fault them for their caution, for he had seen with his own eyes what anger could do to people. Astapor had been his first learning experience and his second the rotting heads currently lining the plaza beneath the Great Pyramid.

The Shavepate's work, he knew at once. Young and old men were among them, but their rich clothing told him that they belonged to the noble class of Meereen. The sight hadn't fazed Jon nor had it shocked him, but Dany's pale face had told him that she was not at all happy with her servant's work.

The Shavepate must have had his reasons, Jon had assured her, but he knew that there would be a discussion to be had.

The tension only grew when Dany noticed the absence of Reznak, the perfumed bootlicker that had always been squirming around her and had unsuccessfully tried to convince her to wed a nobleman of this city.

He and the Green Grace had always been suspicious to Jon, which is why he had been pleased when Dany had finally stopped listening to their advice.

"Your Worship," the Shavepate greeted her.

"Skahaz no Skahaz," Dany greeted him rather briskly and sat down on the wooden bank she used as her throne. She was still garbed in a red tunic and black pants, her hair tightly braided atop of her head and the usual bells fastened on her braid. "Where is the rest of my council? Where is Reznak?"

"Reznak turned out to be a traitor," the Shavepate replied without hesitation. "That is why he isn't here, your Worship. I am not surprised that you didn't recognize his head. By now the crows must have picked up his eyes. I wasn't aware that you liked him so much. I personally never liked his smell."

Dany's violet eyes burned with rage, but she kept her composure.

"I told you to keep order, not to butcher half of the nobility," she explained and gritted her teeth. "Tell me, how did Reznak prove himself a traitor? Is there evidence beyond a confession brought forth through torture?"

"There is, your Worship," the Shavepate confirmed, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Two innocent mouths confirmed is treachery. He has been serving the Sons of the Harpy as do nearly all noble families of this city, among them the Green Grace and our dear friend Hizdahr."

None of this was a surprise. Not even to Dany or at least that is what Jon deduced from her detached demeanor.

"And who are these two innocent mouths you are talking about?" Dany asked, her voice filled with foreboding. "One of the child hostages?"

"Indeed," the Shavepate confirmed and bared his teeth. "The Green Grace's kin gave me the truth. Sadly, one of them didn't survive."

Jon didn't know if he should feel impressed or disgusted. The Shavepate was no common man. He was a butcher and even that was too kind of a term for him.

And even so, he had served Dany more loyally than any other person in this city. Without him they might have never found out the truth about the Harpy. Killing him for doing his work would be downright silly.

"You tortured her kin?" Dany asked, her voice taking a dangerous tone. "I never told you to do anything like that…," Dany trailed off and brushed her hand over her face.

"You told me to keep order," the Shavepate defended himself, his dark gaze meeting Jon's. Ser Barristan loomed right next to him, his blue gaze sad and distant. He seemed displeased by the Shavepate's actions.

Jon felt suddenly like a freak, a terrible fear taking hold of him. Why do I not care? Am I turning into a monster? Has Astapor numbed my heart?

"Were the men you beheaded all Harpies?" Jon asked instead, trying to forget this disturbing realization.

"Not all of them," the Shavepate explained, a hopeful expression taking hold of his ugly face. "Some were just supporters. Even so, the Harpy is still alive and there are many more of her sons residing in this city, which is why the Green Grace and Hizdahr yet live. As you can see, your Worship, my actions were reasonable and served to fulfil your order. Surely, that means I can keep my head?"

Dany had listened in silence, her violet eyes filled with suppressed anger.

Seeing this, Jon decided to intervene. "He is not wrong, Daenerys. And if it is true what he says then we finally have the information we have been seeking for."

Dany gave him a speechless look, but soon regained her composure.

"Very well," Dany said with obvious displeasure. "What did the Green Grace's kin say? And who of the two children perished to gather this information?"

"The girl yet lives," the Shavepate replied without emotion. This time, Jon felt a hint of disgust. The Shavepate spoke about the boy as if he had crushed a mere beetle. "The boy told me that the Green Grace has been intentionally trying to gain your trust and pressure you into marriage with our friend Hizdahr. They then planned to murder you. Raznak was also aware of this plot. I killed him to keep my findings secret."

"Of course," Dany added and bit her lip. "Reznak was most enthusiastic to see me wed. Tell me, who do you think is the Harpy? The Green Grace or Hizdahr?"

"Does it really matter?" the Shavepate asked and chuckled in amusement. "You are going to kill them, are you not?"

"Hizdahr is only one man, but the Green Grace is a religious figure," Dany explained. "Killing her might cause an uproar. Even those not supporting the Sons of the Harpy might join their side if I kill her. It would end in a horrible butchery. I don't want to risk it."

"It will happen anyway," Jon countered. "The freedmen are our only allies in this city, Daenerys. It is only a matter of time until the other inhabitants will rise up against you."

"So what do you want me to do?" Dany asked in distress. "Butcher the entire city?"

"No," Jon returned flabbergasted. He had been surprised by her sudden outburst, though he had noticed how tense she had been since they had left Yunkai. "Of course not. I just think you should start thinking of the future. You told me that you want to leave Meereen to re-take the Iron Throne, but you can't do that as long as the Sons of the Harpy continue to exist."

"I have to agree, your Grace," Ser Barristan added. "And this piece of information should serve us well despite the disgusting way it has been obtained."

"It will," the Shavepate assured her. "Would you care to hear my suggestions, your Worship?"

"Tell me," Dany confirmed, though the expression on her face told him otherwise. She wants to cut off his head.

"Hizdahr will soon seek you out," the Shavepate explained and smiled again. "And I think you should offer to sponsor his pit fighters."

Dany's face darkened.

"Sponsor his pit fighters? Why would I do that?"

"To give him a false feeling of security," the Shavepate explained. "And is only natural that you would want to celebrate your grand victory, but in truth it will be a trap…to lure the Sons of the Harpy from their hiding."

"It is not a bad idea," Jon added hesitatingly and searched Dany's gaze. "The nobles will be angered by your victory. Some of them might be desperate enough to attempt something…," he trailed off when Dany's violet eyes met his.

"And then we will kill them all in one swoop," she summed up the plan. "Is that what you are trying to say?"

Jon remained silent and the Shavepate nodded his head approvingly.

"It is a dangerous plan," Ser Barristan protested. "We shouldn't endanger your life in such a manner, your Grace."

Dany bit her lips and contemplated Ser Barristan's words further. She looked torn and Jon felt the urge to comfort her, but this was not their bed chamber, but court.

Thus, he waited until Dany had made her decision.

"I shall call for Hizdahr on the morrow."