The next episode came before the Christmas holidays. The network declared this would be the last episode of the year before new ones arrived in January. More surprisingly, they teased that there would be a movie, based on the The Traveler, in May. Details were nonexistent and the network was deaf to requests.
The internet blew up over the announcement. Many speculated about what might be entailed in the movie. Others immediately protested the notion of The Traveler being milked for more money. Everyone was already familiar with the exorbitant advertising fees the television show drew. Yet time and indifference brought the same amount of viewers to the next episode.
The episode opens sharply with clinking and scraping noises. The picture is only of a vague beige shape. Slowly the camera pans back to reveal a fine porcelain plate with a meat of some time, potatoes and onions. The food was generously smothered with red/brown gravy. There was white linen, hand woven of course, lining the table beneath the plate. Goblets were scattered across the table. The viewers wondered for a moment if they are on the right channel.
Jack helps them out by glancing around the table. Seated to his left is Prince Doran, who looks lost in thought and barely touches his food. Across the table is Tyrion Lannister, drinking more than eating. Jack looks down at his hands, the gloves pinned back to his sleeves. He takes a large portion and chews vigorously. Jack glances to his right quickly and back to his plate. He looked so quickly the viewers are not sure what they saw.
"Is it too hot for you?" a voice from out of view asks. "Many northerners cannot handle our heat."
Jack looks over at a very beautiful woman to his right. She is leaning toward him, staring with large dark eyes. Her blouse is cut so low it appears to be a miracle of design to prevent full exposure. Jack looks down to reveal to the viewers that she has taken his right hand in her own.
"No," Jack pulls his hand back gingerly and clears his throat. "I mean, no, it's not too hot."
"Oh, wonderful. Then you should enjoy many things Dorne has to offer," she finishes and slides her rejected hand down Jack's forearm. "You are so different from the other northerners."
"But he's not a northerner, Princess," Tyrion says from the side of his goblet. "Not from Westeros, by all accounts."
"Oh, but the black...," the woman trailed off looking at Jack with playful intrigue.
"Apparently it is just a color from his lands. Where is that again?" Tyrion asks with a slight smile toward Jack.
"You have never heard of it," Jack replies.
"No? Are you certain? I have heard of many places. I read quite a bit," Tyrion finishes with a smirk.
"It is a country you have not heard of, I promise," Jack says irritably. "But while we are asking questions, how did you end up here Tyrion? Last time I saw you it was from a cell and you were on trial for murdering the king."
Tyrion downs the last of his goblet and snaps a servant over to refill. "There was much argument over your battle with Ser Gregor. The debate was whether or not it could be considered judged by the gods. After all you, were found having just murdered my father and Grand Maester Pycelle. Yet The Spider declared to the small council that you had been seen heading south. That gave Oberyn the argument that you had one the battle. The Mountain was quite dead, having been fished out of Blackwater Bay. So there was a debate. My sister was furious, my brother did nothing and Prince Oberyn argued my innocence. I still rot in my cell and only heard it all from Oberyn later. The real delay in the trial came from The Faith, odd as it were. You made some friends there Jack, that's for certain. Some have called you The Father himself, passing judgement on us all." Tyrion took another long drink and almost tipped his goblet over setting it down. "Anyway, Oberyn did not wait for a verdict from the gods or otherwise. He snuck me out and part of his guard brought me here."
"I did not kill..," Jack starts.
"Yes yes," Princess Arianne waves away irritably. "You men are so modest. Lord Tyrion did not kill his nephew and you did not kill his father. Do not tell me you did not kill The Mountain." The Traveller supplied lettering to identify her as Princess Arianne Martell.
"No, I killed that pile of shit. Sorry," Jack says as he looks down and unclenches his hand that has twisted his iron fork. The profanity was bleeped out, depending on which viewing the audience had opted into.
"So strong," the Princess coos. "And you have traveled so far and seen so much." Her finger traces absent mindedly down her neck and caresses a shoulder before forgetfully sliding ever downward.
"I can't help but remember, Princess, how equally fond you were of ser Arys. Right up to the day, Jack here showed up," Tyrion says while staring into his mug.
"He was pleasant for a while, mostly just to torture. Knights and their silly vows," she laughs gamely.
Prince Doran, almost forgotten about until now leans forward and gestures toward Jack's plate. A servant rushes over to bring a new fork. "All that need concern us is that Jack and Tyrion are our honored guests. They have both aided House Martell in getting the justice it deserved." He spoke barely above a whisper, but the table quieted and it was understood that games and inquiries would have to wait.
"My friend," he directs toward Jack,"all you need to do now is enjoy our hospitality."
"Nothing else?" Tyrion asks. He is slumped in his chair, eyes shut.
"There is much to discuss, of course the wight you have shown us, but we do not deceive our friends in Dorne," The Prince finishes.
"Well then, Jack, it sounds like I have plenty of time to figure you out," Tyrion says. A moment later and he is gently snoring. The first commercials begin.
The lead commercial is vaction related. A cruise line tempts with exotic sunny destinations. The chosen images of buildings and people seem quite familiar to the viewers. The tagline for the cruise is 'Worlds away from home'.
The Traveller returns with a montage of Tyrion peppering Jack with questions: Jack sitting alone to a modest breakfast. "I mean to go to Bravos soon. Hopefully in time for the Uncloaking. Now, how many days does the celebration last?"; Jack washing and cleaning different parts of his suit and equipment. "Areo Hotah is from Norvos. Do you suppose they all look like him there?"; Jack cracking a staff out of the hands of another man with his own staff. His opponent, a Dornish guard, smiles and throws up his hands in defeat. Jack walks over to a pitcher of water and pours a glass. Tyrion is sitting nearby. "You seem quite skilled at beating a man. Perhaps something learned in New Ghis or Qarth?" To each question Jack would simply reply "No," or "Never heard of it." At the suggestion of slavery, he more adamantly denied the charge.
Cut again to Jack clumsily excusing himself away from Princess Arianne. He is backing out of a door and into a dusky night. The location is the open courtyard where Jack was first reunited with Tyrion. Looking upward, Jack, and the viewers see the sky begin to fill with stars that are not diluted by artificial light. Not surprisingly, there is Tyrion once again sitting at a large fountain. He has two bottles. "Walk with me, please," He pleads to Jack. Wordlessly Jack goes along and the two begin to pass through the many gates that carry them outside of the city.
They walk a little further until they reach an overlook of the sea. Tyrion plops down and immediately begins to rub his legs. Jack sits down and takes an offered bottle. He coughs a little after a draw from the bottle. "Even the wine?"
"Yes," Tyrion smiles, "They do like their spices here." He raises his own bottle and takes a drink. He is still smiling at Jack and lets out a long 'ahhhh'. "So one question you must answer, how is she?"
Jack hesitates, and then sputters, "The Princess?"
"Of course the Princess. You have my word, I will not speak..," Tyrion starts.
"No, no, no," Jack insists. "Nothing has happened between us."
"Why not?" Tyrion asks perplexed. "I have at least confirmed you prefer women. You have been ogling like a stable boy seeing his first wet nurse."
Jack clears his throat. "Well, one thing I do not mind telling you, is that I am married. Happily."
Tyrion laughs, "And your wife, is she in your pocket somewhere?"
"First, I don't want to be unfaithful to my wife, and second she would know if I did," Jack replies. He takes another drink successfully.
"Don't tell me you believe that nonsense women say, 'we have ways of knowing'", Tyrion chuckles.
"Trust me, she would know as if seeing everything I do," Jack insists.
Tyrion shakes his head and seems to let the subject go. He rubs at the scar on his face. "Would your wife have seen you kill my father?" He asks while staring into the sky.
"Tyrion I will not shy away from saying who I have killed or not, and I swear I did not kill your father," Jack says.
"Pity, I will not be able to reward you for the deed now," Tyrion says nonchalantly.
"It was Varys, the Spider, I know it. The man was obsessed with knowing about me or getting rid of me. It was a pretty drastic way to get rid of me," Jack says. He tosses a stone down the hill.
"I can understand wanting to solve the riddle of you, my friend. Not enough to murder anyone, mind you. And if it was Varys, he had other reasons to kill my father," Tyrion finishes. Looking at him the audience can see the expressions rapidly change on Tyrion's face as he works out a great puzzle. Eventually he shakes it off. "He no doubt has his eyes and ears reporting to him we are both in Dorne."
"So?" Jack asks.
"So, it's only a matter of time before my sister or Varys has someone come cut our throats in the night," Tyrion says.
Jack snorts and stares at the small man. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Quite, and I don't mean to stay. Prince Oberyn will not try to command us, but he does have a task for us to do. A liar and a man of his word," Tyrion chuckles. "He is asking, among other things, for me to betray my family and the Iron Throne. I am quite happy to oblige."
"Why? What does he want us to do?" Jack asks.
"The 'why', is because my family is the source of my ruin. I was facing death or The Wall for a murder I did not commit. And they all knew it, even Jaime I believe. And the 'what' is to take Prince Quentyn Martell, you have not met him yet, to marry the Targaryen Queen," Tyrion says. "The Prince, Doran, 'wondered' if you and I would want to accompany him."
Jack pauses, "I understood maybe a third of what you said."
Tyrion looks perplexed. "Price Doran wants us to accompany his son across the Narrow Sea to escort him to meet the Queen, Daenerys Targaryen, in the hopes that the two will marry. And that the queen will return with her armies to help Dorne conquer the Seven Kingdoms," Tyrion finished. He spoke as if explaining how water is wet.
"Well," Jack thought for a moment. "I know why I'm not going. How about you?"
"Of course I am going," Tyrion states. "I can be a pampered guest here until they find me and kill me. Even if they do not kill me, my life depends on the mood and fate of my host. Both can change rapidly. And why would you not accompany us?"
"I don't need to," Jack answers. "Assume you are right, that the Iron Throne, your family, will come to kill me. I can go into the wilderness and survive."
Tyrion looks confused. "And then what?"
"That's it. I just need to hunt and find water. And wait out my time," Jack replies.
Tyrion is now scratching his scar and shaking his head. "What will you become? Some sort of hermit I suppose? You will own nothing and become nothing."
Jack slightly chuckles and tosses a stone. "I don't want to own or become anything. I don't need people here. Most of the people in Westeros tried to kill me as soon as I learned their name. Besides, in a year or two I get to go home."
"What is keeping you from going home now?" Tyrion asks in earnest.
Jack does not answer immediately. He pulls out his canteen and drops a nutrient cube into. Jack shakes the container and drinks from it. He lets out a dissatisfied noise and screws the lid back on. "Simply put, I can't go back home yet."
"Is that drink carrier steel?" Tyrion points in awe.
"Aluminum, I think," Jack replies. He unzips a side pouch and tucks it in. Tyrion leans over and pulls another zipper and opens and closes it repeatedly.
"It is like the sewing of a skilled maester. Pulled open and closed at will," Tyrion says leans away from Jack again. He takes a drink and stares at the ground, seemingly thinking again. "You my friend are the perfect warrior. You are equipped for near any danger and fight like ten knights. I cannot help wonder if you cannot leave because you have not finished the task you were set to, in our lands."
"I promise you, Tyrion, if I leave here for the wild, no one will find me again. I tried my best to get you people to save yourselves from what is coming. But you were all so focused on killing each other and climbing to the top that you can't see what is right in front of you. Well, I tried. I will hide until I can go home. If the Others come first, I will sail a boat south. I will be ready with dried and salted foods and a poorly made boat," Jack chuckles. He takes a draw from his own bottle of wine and stares at the sea.
"Have you done everything you can?" Tyrion asks. He holds up his hands to head Jack off from arguing. "I know you fought murderers and rapists to bring us the truth. And it is also true that there was little point to it. But there is still much that can be done. I need a man like you to help me. Help us to reach the Targaryen girl, and then we can change things. Then we can get help to the Wall and the Night's Watch."
"I don't think so man. I have taken so many risks, when I did not need to. I know you don't believe me, but all I want to do is live until I can get home," Jack protests.
Tyrion shakes his head and takes a drink. "The greatest warrior in the Seven Kingdoms, and you're afraid to cross the Narrow Sea. Not even to see dragons."
Jack laughs quietly, as if not to disturb the night. He then turns to Tyrion and stares at the other man until he becomes uncomfortable.
"What?" Tyrion asks.
Jack chuckles. "Okay, what do you mean?"
"About what?" Tyrion asks with a genuinely puzzled face.
"Dragons," Jack says dramatically.
"Yessss," Tyrion responds, puzzled.
Silence hangs in the air. "Wait you mean dragons? Like dragon dragons? Fire breathing, flying dragons?" Jack asks excitedly.
"Yes," Tyrion says bluntly. "Daenerys Targaryen is said to have three. There are far too many stories from too many persons for it not to be true."
"Dragons?" Jack asks again. The show goes to commercial.
The second set of commercials seem to fall late in the episode. The commercials seem to mostly focus on alcohol. Several talk of their heritage and fired oak barrels. Many people ignore them, instead firing off messages to friends and social media about Tyrion's revelation. The opinions seem split on amazement at the idea of seeing actual dragons and the belief that Tyrion is lying. #nevertrustalannister is competing against #tyrioniscool.
The show returns and Jack is back at the docks of Planky Town. He is striding confidently through the throngs of people that quickly part for him. Waddling next to him is Tyrion, frowning up at Jack in obvious frustration at their pace. Jack pauses to let his companion catch his breath and stretch his legs. Looking backwards, the viewers note that Jack is being escorted by Areo Hotah and the prince's guard. There are also several knights, a maester (about half the audience correctly identifies) and several other men in fine clothing.
"Now we just need a boat. And no one is sailing to Meereen, where we need to go. Our queen is under siege apparently," Tyrion explains.
"Your queen," Jack grumbled under his breath.
Tyrion shook his head and continued to walk. The two quickly reached the open hall at the end of the docks. Jack pointed and the two men cut through the sparse crowd. Sitting at the end of the table was the captain of the ship that had pulled Jack out of the sea. He is animatedly arguing with a servant gesturing with both hands into his bowl.
The captain takes sudden notice of Jack. His face turns into a smile and gestures for Jack to join him at his table. "Two more bowls of this swill," He orders the servant.
"I am not hungry," Tyrion protests.
"And I was not ordering for you. They are both for him," he gestures to Jack. "Tell me my friend, are you ready to join me at sea again."
"I am," Jack answers, "not how you think though. This is Tyrion Lannister, he will explain."
Smiling, Tyrion pauses for a moment and then launches in. "My friend here, assures us, that you are a highly motivated person. That for the right price we can buy both your service and discretion. We need a ship, a captain and crew to take us to Essos."
"Where in Essos?" The captain asks, leaning and quieting his voice.
"We need to get to Meereen," Jack states.
The captain scoffs and then leans back and chuckles. "What route do you recommend then? Do we go the quickest way through the Smoking Sea or south of The Doom?"
Jack slowly shrugs, "Quickest?"
The captain laughs uproariously this time. Tyrion looks at Jack in exasperation. He shakes his head and begins to try to regain the captain's attention. He reaches into a pouch on his body and lowers his hand to the table. Slowly pulling his hand back up, Tyrion reveals a stack of coins. If the audience had wondered, prior, to the value of coins they witnessed, there was no wondering now. It did get the captain to at least stop laughing and to pay attention.
"Pretty, but I am not going to Meereen" The captain states flatly.
"No, no fool would try to sail to Meereen," Tyrion agrees. He emphasizes the word 'fool' and gives Jack a meaningful look. "Yunkai would be much more reasonable...," Tyrion begins.
"Yunkai?" The captain asks astonished. "That is the heart of Slaver's Bay. I will not lead my ship to that place. Or my crew," He adds as an afterthought.
Tyrion drops another stack of coins on the tables. "Astapor"
"Still in Slaver's Bay," The captain says with a grim smile. He is eyeing the coys however.
"At the mouth of the bay," Tyrion protests.
This goes on for a while. An argument about locations, peoples and histories that the audience, nor Jack they suspect, know anything about. The two men finally settle on a city named Volantis. Tyrion and the captain shake on it and Tyrion takes back a handful of coins. The captain sputters, but Tyrion simply reminds him that they are headed to Volantis, not Meereen.
The show jumps again to show supplies being loaded on the ship as the captain shouts orders and insults. Tyrion is sitting at a table with Jack drinking from a cup as Jack eats a plate of meats and cheeses. "I have to admit, I am a little surprised I was able to persuade you to come along," Tyrion says.
"Well it makes sense. Who knows if I would have been gone before the Others overrun this land. Have they ever made it to Essys before?" Jack asks.
"Essos, and I do not believe so," Tyrion replies.
"Well in Essos I will not have to worry about them then. Just need to avoid the usual murderous people and keep my head low. And if I see dragons, and grab a scale or two, great. If I don't, then no big deal. Same plan, go to ground and ride out my time," Jack finishes.
"Yes," Tyrion starts, "That sounds exactly as events will unfold."
Cut to the credits.