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〃Yes； Your Grace。〃
〃You serve me now。 is it true they feel no pain？〃
〃The wine of courage kills such feelings。 By the time they slay their sucklings； they have been drinking it for years。〃
〃And they are obedient？〃
〃Obedience is all they know。 If you told them not to breathe； they would find that easier than not to obey。〃
Dany nodded。 〃And when I am done with them？〃
〃Your Grace？〃
〃When I have won my war and claimed the throne that was my father's； my knights will sheathe their swords and return to their keeps； to their wives and children and mothers 。 。 。 to their lives。 But these eunuchs have no lives。 What am I to do with eight thousand eunuchs when there are no more battles to be fought？〃
〃The Unsullied make flne guards and excellent watchmen； Your Grace；〃 said Missandei。 〃And it is never hard to find a buyer for such fine well…blooded troops。〃
〃Men are not bought and sold in Westeros； they tell me。〃
〃With all respect； Your Grace； Unsullied are not men。〃
〃If I did resell them； how would I know they could not be used against me？〃 Dany asked pointedly。 〃Would they do that？ Fight against me； even do me harm？〃
〃If their master manded。 They do not question； Your Grace。 All the questions have been culled from them。 They obey。〃 She looked troubled。 〃When you are 。 。 。 when you are done with them 。 。 。 Your Grace might mand them to fall upon their swords。〃
〃And even that； they would do？〃
〃Yes。〃 Missandei's voice had grown soft。 〃Your Grace。〃
Dany squeezed her hand。 〃You would sooner I did not ask it of them； though。 Why is that？ Why do you care？〃
〃This one does not 。 。 。 I 。 。 。 Your Grace 。 。 。
〃Tell me。〃
The girl lowered her eyes。 〃Three of them were my brothers once； Your Grace。〃
Then I hope your brothers are as brave and clever as you。 Dany leaned back into her pillow； and let the litter bear her onward； back to Balerion one last time to set her world in order。 And back to Drogon。 Her mouth set grimly。
It was a long； dark； windy night that followed。 Dany fed her dragons as she always did； but found she had no appetite herself。 She cried awhile； alone in her cabin； then dried her tears long enough for yet another argument with Groleo。 〃Magister Illyrio is not here；〃 she finally had to tell him； 〃and if he was； he could not sway me either。 I need the Unsullied more than I need these ships； and I will hear no more about it。〃
The anger burned the grief and fear from her； for a few hours at the least。 Afterward she called her bloodriders to her cabin； with Ser Jorah。 They were the only ones she truly trusted。
She meant to sleep afterward； to be well rested for the morrow； but an hour of restless tossing in the stuffy confines of the cabin soon convinced her that was hopeless。 Outside her door she found Aggo fitting anew string to his bow by the light of a swinging oil lamp。 Rakharo sat crosslegged on the deck beside him； sharpening his arakh with a whetstone。 Dany told them both to keep on with what they were doing； and went up on deck for a taste of the cool night air。 The crew left her alone as they went about their business； but Ser Jorah soon joined her by the rail。 He is never far； Dany thought。 He knows my moods too well。
〃Khaleesi。 You ought to be asleep。 Tomorrow will be hot and hard； I promise you。 You'll need your strength。〃
〃Do you remember Eroeh？〃 she asked him。
〃The Lhazareen girl？〃
〃They were raping her； but I stopped them and took her under my protection。 Only when my sun…and…stars was dead Mago took her back； used her again； and killed her。 Aggo said it was her fate。〃
〃I remember；〃 Ser Jorah said。
〃I was alone for a long time； Jorah。 All alone but for my brother。 I was such a small scared thing。 Viserys should have protected me； but instead he hurt me and scared me worse。 He shouldn't have done that。 He wasn't just my brother； he was my king。 Why do the gods make kings and queens； if not to protect the ones who can't protect themselves？〃
〃Some kings make themselves。 Robert did。〃
〃He was no true king；〃 Dany said scornfully。 〃He did no justice。 justice 。 。 。 that's what kings are for。〃
Ser Jorah had no answer。 He only smiled； and touched her hair； so lightly。 it was enough。
That night she dreamt that she was Rhaegar； riding to the Trident。 But she was mounted on a dragon； not a horse。 When she saw the Usurper's rebel host across the river they were armored all in ice； but she bathed them in dragonfire and they melted away like dew and turned the Trident into a torrent。 Some small part of her knew that she was dreaming； but another part exulted。 This is how it was meant to be。 The other was a nightmare； and I have only now awakened。
She woke suddenly in the darkness of her cabin； still flush with triumph。 Balerion seemed to wake with her； and she heard the faint creak of wood； water lapping against the hull； a footfall on the deck above her head。 And something else。
Someone was in the cabin with her。
〃Irri？ Jhiqui？ Where are you？〃 Her handmaids did not respond。 It was too black to see； but she could hear them breathing。 〃Jorah； is that you？〃
〃They sleep；〃 a woman said。 〃They all sleep。〃 The voice was very close。 〃Even dragons must sleep。〃
She is standing over me。 〃Who's there？〃 Dany peered into the darkness。 She thought she could see a shadow； the faintest outline of a shape。 〃What do you want of me？〃
〃Remember。 To go north； you must journey south。 To reach the west； you must go east。 To go forward you must go back； and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow。〃
〃Quaithe？〃 Dany sprung from the bed and threw open the door。 Pale yellow lantern light flooded the cabin； and Irri and Jhiqui sat up sleepily。 〃Khaleesi？〃 murmured Jhiqui； rubbing her eyes。 Viserion woke and opened his jaws； and a puff of flame brightened even the darkest corners。 There was no sign of a woman in a red lacquer mask。 〃Khaleesi； are you unwell？〃 asked Jhiqui。
〃A dream。〃 Dany shook her head。 〃I dreamed a dream； no more。 Go back to sleep。 All of us； go back to sleep。〃 Yet try as she might； sleep would not e again。
If I look back I am lost； Dany told herself the next morning as she entered Astapor through the harbor gates。 She dared not remind herself how small and insignificant her following truly was； or she would lose all courage。 Today she rode her silver； clad in horsehair pants and painted leather vest； a bronze medallion belt about her waist and two more crossed between her breasts。 Irri and Jhiqui had braided her hair and hung it with a tiny silver bell whose chime sang of the Undying of Qarth； burned in their Palace of Dust。
The red brick streets of Astapor were almost crowded this morning。 Slaves and servants lined the ways； while the slavers and their women donned their tokars to look down from their stepped pyramids。 They are not so different from Qartheen after all； she thought。 They want a glimpse of dragons to tell their children of； and their children's children。 It made her wonder how many of them would ever have children。
Aggo went before her with his great Dothraki bow。 Strong Belwas walked to the right of her mare； the girl Missandei to her left。 Ser Jorah Mormont was behind in mail and surcoat； g