Meereen: Day 4
"We must talk about what happened to your father, Lord Tyrion. I hope it's not a badly-timed moment for that," said Daenerys with a tone of apology.
He still was trying to quiet down the desire that flooded through his veins and it took him several seconds to process which moment she referred to. Of course she did not refer to having interrupted him a glorious morning of sex. It was that she respected his mourning for his father, though if he told her how he was celebrating that mourning... A smile nearly spread over his face, but he succeded in keeping a serious countenance. Focus, for the seven hells. You're not a teenager.
"Don't worry, Your Grace. I haven't much to mourn him, if I am totally sincere. He didn't love me. Any son of any normal father would be devastated for his loss, but it's not my case. He wasn't what is considered a normal father. The truth is that I can't feel anything, save resentment and a sensation of satisfied revenge. Do you think I'm awful for that?"
"I know how your father was, as I know how was mine. I suppose that everyone gets what sows," conceded her.
They kept a silence of understanding.
"Let's go to the heart of the matter. I know you don't believe he has died a natural death," admitted her.
He studied her with attention.
"In the Red Keep it's difficult to find a natural death lately. I tend toward other alternative."
"Who do you think is the author?," asked her. She did not give the impression to be feigning. She knew well how to conceal her feelings, but feigning something who oneself did not feel was very different to cover up, and Tyrion was quite capable of distinguishing when someone was faking. He had passed his youth among whores trained for that. "I have my suspicions, Lord Tyrion. Perhaps we'll coincide."
"It's very likely. I have a candidate for whom I bet, more than any other."
"Me too."
Tyrion decided to be bold.
"Tell me a thing, Your Grace. Who you suspect most is the same who has been reporting you about Ned Stark, my father's death and surely about other matters as well?," blurted him, straightforward.
Astonishment crossed over the beautiful face for an instant.
"You know," affirmed her.
"I know. I guessed last night, awake in my bedroom. I have come to know Varys all that enigmatic man can be known, what it's not much. I think of him as very capable of killing my father to reach his purposes."
"He is with no doubt a strange man," reflected her. "But I'm convinced he's a valuable ally." She looked at him and he noticed that she was trying to find the words to explain herself. "Lord Tyrion, if my oath is worth anything to your eyes, I can swear that I've had nothing to do with your father's death. If Lord Varys schemed it, he did it without my knowledge." Her look was clean and honest. "I know I can't trust him, but I need him. He is in possession of too much information and knows everything of everyone. It's better to keep him around and as an ally, than as an enemy."
"I know, Your Grace. I agree with you." The confirmation of the conclusions he had reached the previous night in his sleepless hours lifted a weight off him. "Varys indeed can be greatly useful. He's preparing the ground for you in Westeros. He wants you on the Iron Throne. At this point you must know that all his loyalty is for the kingdom, not really for you or anyone specific who sits on the throne. To which he devotes his life is to achieve a strong realm with many years of prosperity. His means often are not very lawful, of course, but in spite of all Varys possesses a rare kind of dignity. I neither trust him too much. Who would? But, as strange as it sounds, in certain things I would trust him my life. He was honest with me in King's Landing, at least so honest as he can be, and we developed a sort of friendship of convenience." He kept quiet for some seconds. "He may serve you with great devotion if you're the queen he wants for Westeros. And you are."
She stared at him, trying to keep her solemn composure. He smiled for himself. But suddenly he remembered something and saddened.
"I feel pity for my nephew Tommen. He's a good boy, too much nice and innocent, and I'm afraid that the throne will destroy him. I hope Varys don't harm him. I love the boy, he's no more than a kid and I don't wish him any damage. The truth is that just now I have no idea of what can be the Spider's next step." He reflected with a hand on his forehead. "Tommen isn't really an obstacle for him, because he isn't who is in charge. Varys knows too well that the poor boy is a wimp. I trust in that for Varys not killing him. Who could be at higher risk at this moments would be my sister. She's who truly wears the crown, though she doesn't wear it very well. And it's going to be funny to hear the story of how she and Margaery Tyrell rip out each other's eyes." He grinned, teasing. "Excuse my words, but my sister is a bitch with scarce scruples whose only oustanding feature is her maternal instinct, even though she hasn't been a good mother either. Loving oneself's children and leading them along the right track not always go hand in hand."
"I guarantee you, Lord Tyrion, that I won't build my reign upon an innocent child's murder. I have not the least intention to kill your nephew, and Lord Varys is aware of that. He won't touch him. I've dropped clearly the hint that it mustn't happen anything to the boy, what implies that Varys must care for him against the possible enemies," said Daenerys firmly.
Relief and gratitude expressed clearly on Tyrion's face.
"Thank you, Your Grace. Every day I am more and more glad of having come here."
They shut up, giving themselves time to recover their composure.
"Lord Tyrion, I would wish that, besides being one of my royal counselors, you're my general supervisor. In King's Landing you were a competent Master of Coin, saving very much gold for the Crown. Here you'll supervise the builders' work, keep a constant contact with Kerro for the freedfolk's matters and you'll keep records and inventories of the products our craftspeople manufacture, as well as a prediction of what must be acquired to cover basic needs. And of course, you'll keep the accounts. Thus, every time captain Gilean effects a journey, he'll have the exact list of products he must sell as well as buy, and we'll save time and money in the organization of commercial trips. Do you agree? I believe it's a good way to take advantage of your abilities."
His face lit with a wide smile.
"You couldn't have honoured me with anything more appropriate to my abilities, Your Grace," thanked him, with a bow.
"You may start this same moment. I'll assign you two Unsullied to be your permanent escort in all the transactions you have to carry out outside the pyramid. As long as you need an interpreter, count on Missandei or one of the orphans. And don't doubt consulting and asking me for whatever you need for your work. By the way, Missandei will give you a supply of paper and ink that I'm saving for tasks like that you are going to undertake. Go and have a good day."
"The same for you, Your Grace." Tyrion bent and left.
