What is dead may never die (Chapter 79) (Patreon)

Annoying people

Theon POV

Everything was going quite well so far. I found who has been asking to open the fighting pits. He was some Ghiscari noble, tall with gentle hands that never held a weapon or a tool. At least he wasn’t fatty with hundreds of chins—a slender man with pale eyes and amber skin. I didn’t like him the moment I saw him.

Hizdahr zo Loraq was a spokesman for the rest of the Great Masters. He would come to every court meeting and tell his demands to Dany. He was intelligent, and once we agreed to open the fighting pits, he put all the merit in convincing Dany on himself, gaining even more power among the Great Masters. But we needed them to think that Dany could listen to reasonable requests.

Of course, it helped that the Great Masters would pay for everything while we would take all the revenue. The fighting pits would be open on the first day of the new year. It would be a celebration of the new rule and new era. And the most hilarious thing was that the Great Master would pay for it. Of course, they had no other choice, but it still made me smile when they bent their back for us.

“You awake?” I asked Dany as I felt her move into the bed.

“I am,” She answered lazily.

I nodded and left her chambers. I had much work today too. Honestly, I would rather see Dany sleeping the whole night than review the paperwork even for a second. It was soul-sucking work that should burn in hell. Even with Quentyn’s help, there was too much work and too few people to trust to do it.

Getting into my chambers, I dressed in finer clothes and prepared to leave for the court meeting. I had to prepare myself to listen to idiots for a few hours before I checked on my men. I should get some training done, too, while I am at it. I had to keep my guard up as there was no knowing when an assassin would come for my head.

My Greycloaks followed me like my shadows, but they stayed at a distance in the Great Pyramid, not wanting to disturb me. I kept to myself, too, as I didn’t want others to think I influenced Dany too much. And Oberyn seemed to notice that I had gotten to Dany closer than he expected. I should soon tell him that he lost. Well, all it will come in time, now I have to attend the court meeting.

…

Hizdahr was getting annoying. I could tell he was a very cunning man with a way with words that people would listen to. He reminded me of the Littlefinger, and I don’t remember much about that bastard, just that he tried to kill me, and I killed him. I started to think I should kill this bastard too. He was gaining more popularity with each court meeting. And it didn’t only extend to the Great Masters.

“So, we all are in agreement. The fighting pits shall be reopening in three days,” Dany words put me out of my thoughts.

I seemed to miss most of the court meeting while seething in my hatred for people like Hizdahr. Well, it was still a better waste of time than listening to a bunch of people who didn’t care about anything but themselves discussed some nonsense that didn’t matter. I didn’t want to spend much longer in there.

After the meeting ended, Dany held a small council meeting. From one to another, it was annoying to no end. Still, I had to attend as I was one of the most powerful people in Dany’s court, only second to Dany. And I was the richest one too. I wondered when I would have time to spend all the gold we had. I felt like a hoarder with all my gold coins and other valuables.

…

Security was very important and tedious to me. Somehow, I landed a job securing the fighting pits for its opening. It would be fine, but I immediately regretted it immensely after seeing what I had to do. I had the men to put at every corner and secure the streets, but I had to schedule Dany’s time too. And then I needed to check on every guest that would come into the event too.

It would look bad if some of the Great Masters were assassinated while I was in charge of their safety. It would be nice if they all died, but I had to keep them safe. Life couldn’t suck more. I should pay more attention in the meetings, for something like this could never happen again. But I was tired of this shit. I should be out there making people tremble at the mention of me.

“What of your reinforcements, Theon?” Dany suddenly asked, again taking me out of my thoughts. “When will they arrive.”

“In due time,” I replied. “It is hard to predict the weather. They could be a month away or three months away. But my sister Asha should have gotten my letter by now that I need three hundred ships to come here.”

“Good. Then we can plan our next action for Westeros,” Dany replied. “What do we know of the situation in Westeros?”

“The Lannisters and the Baratheons are still fighting each other, but Stannis has an advantage,” Oberyn answered. “Stannis has the Stormlands, the Vale, and the Riverlands behind his back.”

“Robb Stark won’t interfere much unless Riverrun is in danger,” I added. “He holds his family dear, and while he won’t participate in unnecessary battles if his uncle is in danger, he would move his army south.”

“How many men do all of them have?” Dany asked.

“The Reach, the Westerlands, and the Crownlands all together should be able to muster a hundred thousand,” Barristan answered. “The Vale, The Riverlands, and the Stormlands together should command about eighty thousand.”

“But it doesn’t mean they command that many men all at once,” I added. “Castles and the lands still need to be protected. I anticipate that Stannis will have no more than forty thousand men with him anymore. It would be hard to handle logistics and the command chain. I am trying to say that if we were to attack, we should go for a surprise. Taking down one forty thousand men army would be a big blow to anyone, putting us on the negotiation table.”

“How many can Dorne and the Iron Islands muster?”

“Twenty thousand men from Dorne, your grace,” Oberyn answered.

“Eighteen thousand,” I said.

“Will it be enough?” Dany asked.

“With your dragons, numbers don’t matter much,” I answered. “If we take down a few vital places for the Lannister and the Baratheons, their lords will flock to you and pledge their services.”

“The question is where should we land first,” Jorah said. “If we land in Dorne, we would be safe, but the Stormlands and the Reach will block the passage for our campaign.”

“Theon, what do you think?” Dany turned to me.

“It is hard to say now,” I answered. “It would be better to see what the situation has turned to after we arrive to plan further.”

“What of the North?” Dany asked. “Will they oppose me?”

“Most likely,” I replied. “Many still remember your father’s action, and being isolated might be to their liking.”

“Even knowing I have dragons?”

“They know well about dragons as anyone else. But you know little of the North,” I replied.

“What is supposed to mean?” Dany asked.

“It’s simple. Aside from White Harbor, there aren’t any major cities in the North,” I answered. “Castles and villages are spread out through all the wastelands. “And as of now, you are the only dragon rider, and winter is coming.”

“Winter is coming?”

“Yes, once winter is settled in the North, no army can traverse the wastelands,” I explained. “And it would be even difficult for you and your dragons. How long can you fly before freezing to death? How much will you see through the blizzards? And when everything is covered in white snow, will you be able to notice castles and the villages from above?”

“What Theon is saying is true,” Jorah agreed. “The Northerners are hard people. They won’t accept anything easily.”

“We shall see,” Dany didn’t seem discouraged. “I announce the end of the meeting. We see each other later.”

I felt sorry for Dany, but it was better to break her delusion that it would be as easy to take Westeros as it was with the free cities. And we still didn’t know much about the current situation in Westeros. By now, Lannister could have won over Stannis, or they could have died out already. I had to wait for the ships from the Iron Islands to arrive to learn, and even then, the information would be outdated.

…

I didn’t think I would find a man more detestable as Hizdahr, but there I was two days before the grand opening of Fighting Pits, finding myself with one named Xaro. His full name was ridiculous. Who called themselves Xaro Xhoan Daxos. In my humble opinion, there are too many x’ that one should have.

“Thirteen ships, your grace,” The merchant prince from Qarth said as he pointed at the ships in the harbor. “I, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, gift them to you so you can continue your conquest of Westeros.”

“You kidding, right?” I asked. “I have never seen a poorer excuse for a ship. They are pathetic. I would bet they would sink at the slightest of the storms. They are worth nothing. You should pay us to take them, as we would be disregarding your trash.”

“That’s highly insulting, friend,” Xaro replied. “They are fine ships that had many voyages.”

“Too many,” I added.

“Theon, that is not how you should address our esteemed guest. That came such a long way to see people celebrating my rule,” Dany said.

“Meereen might be celebrating, but for how long?” Xaro asked. “The other free cities can’t accept your disturbance in the slave market and won’t sit quietly.”

“Even Qarth?” Dany asked.

“I have spoken to the Pureblood in your defense, but it wasn’t long since you took the Slaver’s bay, and we can already feel the consequences of it,” Xaro spoke. “It won’t take long before the other cities will look at you with displeasure and malice, your grace.”

“Dragon’s Bay,” Dany replied.

“What?” Xaro asked.

“It is Dragon’s Bay,” She said. “Tell the Pureblood and everyone else that if they try to harm me or mine, I will show them why it is called Dragon’s Bay now and not Slaver’s Bay.”

“You will regret your words, your grace,” Xaro stated. “There are many ways to harm you without you noticing it.”

“You will regret your threats soon,” I stepped up and looked down at him.

“That enough, Theon,” Dany said. “He is a guest. No harm shall come to him. But once he leaves, many things might happen. It would be best to be careful of storms on your way back, Xaro. I hear your ships might not be able to handle them.”

I swear there are way too many people like Xaro in these lands. Merchants didn’t understand warfare and still dared to threaten us. Maybe before I return to Westeros, I should give them a visit. I wonder what the other free cities look like before and after they are burned to nothing. I bet the ashes’ color will be the same as the color of their gold.

Still, I wasn’t foolish enough not to take Xaro’s threat seriously. Qarth possessed the Sorrowful Men. I don’t think they will find it dishonorable to send assassins on us. And there were other ways they could try to isolate Meereen from trading. It was clear that Meereen provided most slaves for the market, and losing such a market hurt the other cities enough for them to try something foolish.