The Greedy Frog
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Hey, I Ruin Stories! Chapter 45
🕑 Added 2024-06-21 13:52:52 +0000 UTCChapter 45: The Return
[Days After Seize of Qarth — Slaver’s Bay, Essos]
{Daenerys Targaryen}
"Swallows are not very common here," Ser Jorah commented, curious about the little sparrow swirling above our heads.
"Calm, Drogon." The little one kept growing bigger, and with that, his appetite grew. He was even ready to pounce on the little bird and make a snack of it.
But it was amusing to see the little bird so drawn to us.
Or maybe it was not just drawn to us—but to me.
"It's not a bad omen; it's just a sparrow."
The Dothraki men were right; it was a sparrow, not a vulture. The Dothraki believed in superstitions, as did every human in some form or another.
"It has something stuck to its feet."
Staring through the hollow lens-fitted equipment, one of the Dothraki drew his conclusion.
"Paper, a message of sorts."
The sparrow appeared a little intimidated, afraid of all the men. Sparrows were not naturally messengers but free birds. For someone to turn one into a messenger was a feat, yet they could not rid it of its fear.
So I did what the person hadn't.
"Is that a safe choice, Khaleesi?" Jorah asked, but it was only a sparrow.
"It is a messenger, Jorah. We don't harm messengers." I extended my hand, keeping it still for moments, assuring the little bird that it was all right. That it could descend and no harm would come to it.
It analyzed the situation, circling to see if there were lies or deceit, but after minutes of flying, it found none and thus slowly started to descend.
It was a lovely little bird, small, fast, and with shiny feathers.
It grabbed onto my finger with its feet, pointing to the little parchment stuck to them.
"A note, Khaleesi?"
"Precisely a note, Jorah." I took off the parchment from its feet, making sure no harm came to the little bird.
It was a small note, with even tinier writing.
"What does it say, my lady?"
Jorah's curiosity was understandable, as was mine. The handwriting was neat and worked on but certainly written with ample time. The parchment was pressed on heavily while writing the note.
It was written by someone who had not been writing for long. Despite the neat handwriting, the tiny mishaps were not invisible.
And it made me smile, happy to receive the note.
"Who is it from?" Even the Dothraki were curious.
"Someone we can call a friend," I answered, "and he brings useful news."
News that was unexpected but certainly not unwelcome.
`Starks and the Tullys, furious at the crown, ready to risk their lives for vengeance. Court them before they end their lines.`
Even with him gone for days now, he was still looking out for us.
"Ser Jorah," I looked at the man who had been with me since the start of this journey. "Prepare the boats and the ships, prepare for the journey."
He was amazed. "Isn't this a bit earlier than planned, Khaleesi?"
His words made me smile. "Yes, but this friend of ours just made some urgent claims. People we have to court before it's too late."
An army we have to grow.
"Then we shall prepare to leave, my lady."
And he didn't complain, as he too finally understood who the letter came from.
Darius Safar, the Sorcerer from the untraveled lands.
…
…
[Same Hour — Miles Away, King’s Landing]
{Tyrion Lannister}
The sea was violent; a storm was approaching. And with that storm was coming a man, an enemy of the crown but once a family member.
Of course, he was family to only one man; to the rest, he was more of a nuisance. A capable nuisance, but still a nuisance.
“He has the Red Priestess with him,” Varys’s sharp voice rang behind me. “He has a decent-sized army, and if he breaches the city walls, while we might win, we will not go unscathed. And Tyrion,” he stared at my back while I still focused on the waves, “the late King’s younger brother on these lands is the last thing we want.”
I knew what he meant.
“Stannis should not step foot in King’s Landing, Varys.” I made not a request but a claim.
Joffrey had the biggest claim to the throne, the rightful one. But it wasn't that Stannis had no claim either. If he uprooted Joffrey and Tommen, he would have the highest claim to the throne. Renly had a claim too, but he was the youngest of the three brothers and could only take the throne after Stannis.
Stannis had always been stern, difficult to talk to, and pretty unpopular. But he was capable—not as a ruler but as a warrior.
And if he and Renly were to clash, he would always come out on top.
Not the most likable, but certainly the most capable.
“I know you will succeed, Tyrion.” Varys played the good guy, even though his flattery didn't fool me. “This kingdom needs people like you, ones that can protect and save the helpless.”
He tried, he certainly tried to flatter me, to make me do his bidding.
“Like my brother, Varys?” This made him freeze. “Or like the man you sent to save my brother?”
“We sent the sorcerer for that, Tyrion.” He regained his composure. “And he is a capable one. We believe he will succeed.”
We.
It was not just him; it was a combined play. He had people with him, many that even the crown knew nothing of.
But who were they?
Littlefinger?
He was only with Varys for his own needs.
So who else?
The sorcerer was the obvious one, but sorcerers are the least trustworthy of all.
And a sorcerer as capable as this one? Certainly the scariest.
“Oh, that he has, Varys.” I shook my head, peeking through the small lens-fitted tube, a far-eye, as the maesters call them. “He certainly has succeeded.”
A simple yet genius invention, allowing one to see faraway objects through the precisely cut lens.
And the faraway object in my view? It was the one that almost everyone had been waiting for.
“You mean…” Varys’s eyes widened.
I finally looked his way. “Inform the queen,” I said. “My brother has returned.”
Varys was surprised; it was difficult even for him to maintain his composure. To not slip, he gave a small bow before rushing to inform one of his men — Not, the Queen but his men.
“I shall inform the queen right this instant.”
And then he vanished, certainly not hiding the smile he carried.
After all, the sorcerer's success meant his success.
“But I do wonder…”
“Just what kind of a monster you are, sorcerer?”
One that will ruin our enemies, or one that will ruin us.
…
…
[West Port, King’s Landing]
“You know,” Jaime Lannister, the Queen’s brother and the prisoner I saved, had been silent for the entire two-and-a-half-week journey. “What you promised them might not be easy.”
We had traveled through the lands of Riverrun and took a detour through the sea, making sure we were not followed. Maybe that was why it took longer than expected to reach our destination.
“It will be, but I hope the Queen is willing to respect my methods. After all, I saved her brother with the only possible method.”
He looked away and breathed deeply. “Oh, I wish I had the same confidence.”
“You talk as if the Queen not only does not value me but also does not value your life.”
This made him glance at me, but instead of getting angry, he chuckled.
“You are an interesting man, powerful too. So, I know you will be safe. But the promise you made on magic will be a risky wager for you.” He certainly had a good point, but I wasn't very worried.
“Time will tell, and that is when I shall worry.” I gave him a confident smile. “For now, we should both relax, especially you.”
“Maybe.” He stared ahead. “Now that we are here.”
Ahead of us was the port, where a crowd had already gathered. It was not a civilian crowd but an army crowd.
“I see some familiar faces.” I saw Varys waiting at the edge, surrounded by his men —men that he called for our arrival.
Petyr nowhere to be seen, but many of his followers were standing beside Varys and an unknown dwarf.
Varys and Petyr had similar goals, but that didn't mean they were friends or allies. They were simply using each other, as everyone in this kingdom was. It was a well-knit web of ploys that could turn messy with just one person making a simple mistake.
Anyone could be trapped in that web, even those who built it.
But that's also why this place is so entertaining. Not a single soul can be trusted, not even your own family.
How lovely.
“Love him or hate him, he is the only one standing there without a scheme of his own.” Jaime showed a rare caring expression, which was especially amusing when he had stayed emotionless for quite a while. “My brother.”
I knew Jaime had a brother, an ugly one according to the stories around the city. Even Varys spoke a little about him but did not go into depth.
I had a rough guess who it was, but I still asked.
“Which one is your brother?”
This immediately made him chuckle. “It’s the little imp, the ugly one, but possibly the least ugly in that crowd when you look past his face.”
Risky move, but I still poked around a bit.
“He looks… quite different.”
“A normal man would be executed for what you said. Love him or hate him, he is still the brother of the Queen.” Jaime sighed. “Even Cersei mocks him, but others mocking him is a direct insult to the Queen’s family too.”
“It wasn't me insulting him, simply my curious mind wondering.”
“Of course,” Jaime nodded. “Sorcerers are always curious, and it's not like you are very scared of insulting others. And I know that you have the power to back up your tongue.”
He was referring to the little display back at Riverrun.
“Simply curious,” I repeated, and he nodded.
“Of course.”
After a few moments, our boat was hooked onto the port, finally giving us enough footing to land.
“I expected no less from you, Ser Darius.”
At Varys’s referral to me, Jaime raised an eyebrow, certainly amused at hearing me being called Ser.
But truth be told, there was no specific way to address a sorcerer.
“I had to take a little longer than expected because of certain detours, but it was still a success.” I looked at Jaime. Sure, he was malnourished, hadn't washed up in long, and looked like a man from the early stone ages—but he was alive without missing any limbs.
“The Queen has already been informed and is eagerly waiting for your presence, Ser Jaime.”
Jaime nodded. “I would like to have a bath before meeting anyone, Lord Varys.”
“Certainly.” Varys stepped back. “Then I shall help you to the castle, Ser.”
Jaime was weak, and Varys certainly had reasons to follow behind him. Being on good terms with the Queen’s brother meant being on the nicer side of the Queen.
But it was almost laughable how opportunistic men jumped from person to person depending on their needs.
Sure, Varys was showing me respect, but it wasn't wrong to say that I was the least of his priorities now.
He was going to follow Jaime and hope that I did my thing.
And I was proven right with his next words.
“Ser Darius, warm baths and food have been prepared in your chamber. You may rest and should make a visit to the Red Keep once the Queen calls for you.”
“Certainly.”
As I was about to go to my chamber, I heard the voice of the dwarf for the first time.
“Then let me accompany you, Ser Sorcerer.” He walked forward, his little feet moving just inches with each step. “That's the least I can do for you saving my gallant brother.”
Was that a dig at Jaime?
And it certainly irked Jaime too.
“Of course,” the knight laughed. “You should accompany him, Tyrion. Little things matter too.”
Unlike Jaime, Tyrion was much easier to find faults with.
“Just make sure that you do not take the whole day to reach there. Darius here is certainly tired from the long journey.”
Another jab at Tyrion’s small feet.
Certainly, the brothers cared for one another, but it wasn't the smoothest relationship, was it?
…
…
[Moments Later — Alleys of King’s Landing]
{Tyrion Lannister}
“It might be a bit offensive, but might I ask if your relationship with your brother is a little—”
“Strained?” I asked, making him nod. “Then I say, yes.”
It was in his eyes. He was not much of a scared man; he was courageous and direct.
Such men didn't last long in this world. But he was a sorcerer, and a capable one from what I had heard.
Thus, if what I had heard was not a lie, then he had reasons to be courageous.
“So, you are the younger brother?”
“I am.” I made sure not to slow him down, moving my feet as fast as I could. But he wasn't clueless; he slowed his pace, covering little distance and matching my steps.
It wasn't offensive to me. It might be to most, but I saw it as a sign of being considerate.
Especially when no other cared if an imp fell behind during their walk.
“I apologize for the questions. Just consider it an ignorant’s curiosity.”
I didn't find him ignorant, instead just a man in a new world.
He was from another continent, and it made sense that everything from the people to the culture felt different to him.
“So, what is it like to live in Ulthos and Essos?” It did spark my curiosity that this man had been to places that I have only read about.
“One is deeply rooted in the practices of living beside nature, and the other in a false concept of freedom masked behind a hierarchy based on wealth.”
Certainly an interesting take that I had not heard before.
“Can you elaborate a bit?”
He smiled. “Ulthos has sights and creatures that are more like fairytales to people of the other realms, simple lives that can feel magical. Following nature and giving back to the world, a peaceful life.”
He seemed to be reminiscing about the past. “It certainly isn't without its problems, and certainly isn't the most luxurious. But it is a much better place to explore, mysterious even to men who lived and grew up there—mysterious even to me.”
Ulthos was one land that had barely any information on it. So, it was refreshing to have a view of the world outside the books.
“As for Essos, it is a place promising false freedom. But if you have no power or wealth, you are nothing more than a slave sold to the rich.”
Slavery was illegal in Westeros, but certainly not in other parts of this world.
“And?”
He laughed at my question. “You certainly are curious about the world, just as much as I am,” he mused. “The only difference is that I am free to roam the world, yet you are not, a chain that comes with being from a family deeply rooted in the kingdom.”
He certainly saw things better than others.
“But I don't mind telling you a bit more about this world.” He showed a smile. “But I am starving and parched. So how about we share our views of the world over some meat and alcohol?”
This only made me like this sorcerer more.
“You have tricks up your sleeves, and I am liking the ones you are showing so far.”
He laughed. “Barely.”
But it wasn't a joke.
I certainly was liking what I saw and heard.
Maybe it will be a bit more entertaining in King's Landing with him around.
“How about we start with my stories of Essos? About the dragons I encountered.”
Certainly entertaining.
