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[KING'S LANDING, THRONE ROOM]
[TYWIN enters the vast throne room. KING JOFFREY BARATHEON sits on the Iron Throne.]
"I wonder how he deals with father, and how father would deal with him" Tyrion leaned forward with interest.
"You wanted to speak to me?"
"Yes. I'd like a report on the meetings of my small council."
"You're welcome to attend the meetings of your small council, Your Grace. Any or all of them."
"He's... tame" Shireen commented with a frown. What she had seen of the man so far, she expected him to deal with Joffrey harshly.
"Joffrey is still King, so the matter needs to be handled delicately" Stannis explained. But knowing the man, he would pounce when he found Joffrey's weakness.
"You've been holding the council meetings in the Tower of the Hand instead of the small council chamber. May I ask why?"
"The Tower of the Hand is where I work. To walk from there to here would take time, time I could otherwise spend productively."
"So if I wanted to attend a council meeting, I would now have to climb all the stairs in the Tower of the Hand?"
[TYWIN approaches and stands over JOFFREY.]
"We could arrange to have you carried."
Stannis hid a smirk. There it was, the lion's fang. He may not have respect for Tywin Lannister as a man, but he will respect the man's crisis management skills. One does not serve the Mad King and walk out unscathed. A lot of burnt Hands would attest to that.
"Tell me about the Targaryen girl in the east and her dragons. Is it true?"
"Apparently so."
"Don't you think we ought to do something about it?"
"When I was Hand of the King under your father's predecessor, the skulls of all the Targaryen dragons were kept in this room. The skull of the last of them was right here. It was the size of an apple."
"And the biggest was the size of a carriage."
"Yes, and the creature to whom it belonged died 300 years ago. Curiosities on the far side of the world are no threat to us."
"Your Father does not seem to believe these dragons exist" noted Oberyn.
"Father is a practical man. Not until the problem is in his face and ready to shoot him in the ass, he will not believe in its existence. Much like how Jaime and Cersei's incest has not fazed him. He denies its existence" Tyrion explained.
"But how do we know these dragons are just curiosities and not the beasts that brought the whole world to heel?"
"Because we have been told as much by the many experts who serve the realm by counselling the king on matters about which he knows nothing."
"But I haven't been counselled."
"You are being counselled at this very moment."
"I should be consulted about such things."
"From now on, I will see to it that you are appropriately consulted on important matters whenever necessary. Your Grace."
"Meaning, you will only know things of little importance while the rest of us try to clean the mess you began when you headed Ned Stark" Jaime muttered. "Father does not trust him."
"No man with a brain would" Tyrion added.
[ESSOS, OUTSIDE YUNKAI]
[DAENERYS TARGARYEN, SER JORAH MORMONT, SER BARRISTAN SELMY, and GREY WORM walk across the rocky and arid landscape. An impressive city lies in the distance among the mountains.]
"The Yunkish train bed slaves, not soldiers. We can defeat them."
"Yunkai? An odd place to go" Varys noted with a frown. "Westeros is on the other side."
"Perhaps she's looking for more men for her army. And more ships" Rhaegar suggested, though it was more hope than anything. That would be the ideal situation. She would need more than just eight thousand Unsullied, most of which were yet untrained.
"On the field, with ease. But they won't meet us on the field. They have provisions, patience, and strong walls. If they're wise, they'll hide behind those walls and chip away at us, man by man."
"She has three dragons. Young as they might be, they can fly high and swoop down to kill" Gendry pointed out.
"Dragons are magnificent magical creatures, my boy, but they are not infallible," Varys said to him gently. "Meraxes was shot out of the sky by House Uller of Helholt during the conquest."
Gendry grumbled at that information.
"That's not something just anyone knows, so it makes sense that Gendry wouldn't know it" Rhaegar spoke.
"Anyone with a book would know," Varys said with a smile. "But seeing as Gendry wouldn't know how to read... you are correct."
Varys smiled and looked away.
But Rhaegar had not.
"We don't need Yunkai, Khaleesi. Taking this city will not bring you any closer to Westeros or the Iron Throne."
"How many slaves are there in Yunkai?"
"Two hundred thousand if not more."
"Then we have Two hundred thousand reasons to take the city."
Rhaegar clicked his tongue in distaste. While he agreed and applauded Daenerys for thinking about the slaves and wanting to free them, he knew it's a waste of time. Once Daenerys returned to Westeros, these slavers would rise again and reclaim their slaves. There was no use in doing this.
[ROAD TO YUNKAI]
[The Unsullied come to attention. Led by a drummer and flanked by guards, a brightly coloured palanquin carrying RADZAL MO ERAZ passes through. He surveys the Unsullied who speckle the rough landscape. The chains of the slaves who bear his load rattle as they walk.]
"And I thought I was getting lazy" Robert muttered with a snort.
"You are lazy" Renly pointed out. "That man is just extremely self-important and rich enough to afford a slave for everything" he adds seeing his brother turn to him.
"And they make it a custom to never let a slaver walk on their feet" Stannis added.
"Yeah? Well, he's still fucking lazy" Robert grunted.
Both younger Baratheon brothers rolled their eyes.
[More slaves bear ornate chests as they walk. They reach the camp where DAENERYS waits to receive them, with BARRISTAN, JORAH, and her dragons at her side. The slaves lower the palanquin. RADZAL MO ERAZ steps out and is greeted by MISSANDEI.]
"Now comes the noble Razdal mo Eraz of that ancient and honourable house, master of men and speaker to savages, to offer terms of peace."
"Speaker to savages?" Margaery questioned.
"Refers to someone who speaks the common tongue... I think. They don't hold the common tongue in as much of a high regard as they do Valyrian" Varys explained.
"You think?" Margaerys questioned.
"I am unsure, which is why I think" Varys explains with a smile.
[The dragons screech in warning as RAZDAL MO ERAZ approaches nervously.]
"Noble lord, you are in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons."
"You are the Khaleesi of a small Khalsar, Princess. Mayhaps the title is a little obnoxious?" Oberyn suggested.
"I didn't come up with it... I think" Daenerys muttered with a blush.
[A Dothraki woman presents a chair for RADZAL MO ERAZ, and he sits. MISSANDEI pours him some wine after he nods to wanting some refreshments. RADZAL MO ERAZ drinks, never taking his eyes From DAENERYS.]
"Ancient and glorious is Yunkai. Our empire was old before dragons stirred in old Valyria. Many an army has broken against our walls. You shall find no easy conquest here, Khaleesi."
[DAENERYS tosses a raw steak in the air. The three dragons launch after it, screeching as they jockey and circle in flight. RADZAL MO ERAZ recoils in trepidation.]
Oberyn smirked. A good show of power from the girl for sure.
"Good. My Unsullied need practice. I was told to blood them early."
"If blood is your desire, blood shall flow. But why? 'Tis true you have committed savageries in Astapor. But the Yunkai are a forgiving and generous people."
"Freeing slaves is Savagery" Daenerys rolled her eyes. She brought to those Masters what they deserved and was not shy about claiming it.
[He claps twice to signal his slaves. They bring forth the two chests.]
"The wise masters of Yunkai have sent a gift for the silver queen."
[The slaves place the chests before DAENERYS and open their lids. The chests are filled with gold ingots. The slaves retreat and bow deeply before her in reverence.]
Rhaegar's eyes lit up with interest. Perhaps it was not a waste. With that amount of gold, Daenerys could buy ships and even hire a Sellsword Company to assist her in her conquest.
"There is far more than this awaiting you on the deck of your ship."
And they were giving her a ship! She would be a fool to not accept this.
"You shall have as many ships as you require."
"And what do you ask in return?"
"All we ask is that you make use of these ships. Sail them back to Westeros where you belong and leave us to conduct our affairs in peace."
That was understandable. Rather it was a steal! Again Rhaegar thought that his sister would be a fool to resist. She'd have her ships and enough gold to hire more than one Sellsword Company.
"I have a gift for you as well. Your life. And the lives of your wise masters. But I also want something in return. You will release every slave in Yunkai. Every man, woman, and child shall be given as much food, clothing, and property as they can carry as payment for their years of servitude. Reject this gift, and I shall show you no mercy."
Rhaegar could only shake his head and sigh "It looks like she will only learn after going through it"