Night fell. Kanna was already asleep with the babies when Lucoa, Tohru, and Jorah returned from the party, laughing obnoxiously loud.
"Oh, shhh, Kanna is sleeping," Tohru said.
"Well, ladies, I suppose I leave you here," said Jorah. "Goodnight."
"Oh, no, come in," said Kanna. "I want to hear about the party."
"Tohru kicked Jorah's ass!" Lucoa announced. It was painfully obvious they were all drunk.
"Oh, come now, Lucoa, it wasn't so bad," said Tohru. "Jorah did quite well for a pathetic mortal."
The girls cackled, and Jorah blushed. Kanna motioned Jorah over to the bed, and he sat politely on the edge. "It went about as well as expected," said Jorah. "The funny thing is, the Qarthan lot all bet on me, so they all lost a bit of money."
"That is funny," Kanna agreed, resting her hand on his shoulder.
"I can still hear the Thirteen groaning in lust for Lucoa," said Jorah. "How many propositions did you receive, dear?"
"I think it would be easier to count those who didn't ask me to be their wife or mistress," said Lucoa. "Xaro didn't. Is Dany still with him?" Jorah scoffed at Xaro's name. "Jorah doesn't like Xaro," Lucoa giggled.
"He has ulterior motives," said Jorah. "All powerful men have ulterior motives."
"Thank goodness for Ser Jorah, the pure," said Lucoa. "Shouldn't one of us be with her? What if he tries any funny business?"
Jorah drew his sword, and the girls laughed. Then, Jorah laid back on the bed and sighed. "Girls, may I confess something to you?"
"Oh, yes," said Tohru. They leaned in, ready for the juicy gossip.
"I know I could never meet her political needs as a husband," said Jorah. "Yet, I have entertained this strange fancy that I am fit for her. Dany, I mean. Every day, I fall more and more in love with her."
Tohru and Kanna locked eyes, Tohru's in shock, and Kanna's in pain. Lucoa, oblivious, exclaimed, "AWWWWW! Oh, Jorah! You must tell her!"
"What, are you crazy, Lucoa?!" Tohru cried. "Dany is only fourteen!"
"What?!" Lucoa squealed. "I didn't know that! I mean, she looked young, but she's a freaking queen, isn't she?"
"And she will need an older husband, when she finally takes the throne. And I have seen some vile marriages done in the name of politics. I don't want that for Dany," said Jorah.
"None of us do, but...," said Tohru.
"Sorry, Tohru, I know you feel strongly about this, but I still think it's sweet," said Lucoa. "He's right. We need to make sure, whoever it is who marries her again, it's the best possible person. If not Ser Jorah, then definitely, someone like him. But I think you'd make an excellent king, Jorah. What do you think, Kanna?"
"I think," Kanna stumbled. "I think...Lucoa is right. Jorah, if I were Dany, I would definitely take you as my king."
"Really?" Jorah asked.
"Of course," said Kanna. "Who else?"
"Perverts," Tohru said.
Dany burst into the room, looking distressed. "Oh. My. Gods. You guys. I need help." All heads turned to Dany. She sat down on the edge of the bed with Jorah, Kanna, and her dragons. "Xaro proposed to me," she said.
"NO!" shouted everyone at once.
Dany's eyes widened. "Oh, so you don't think I should?"
"NOOOOO!" they cried again.
"Oh, ew, Dany, seriously? You'd consider it?" Tohru asked.
"Well, we do need the money, and Xaro has money," said Dany.
"Stop," said Jorah. "Dany, this is not a good match. You don't want to marry the first man who comes along and throws money at you."
"Yeah, you're not a whore, Dany," said Lucoa. "You can do so much better."
"Whoever you marry is going to become King of Westeros. Your King will play a large role in how you will be accepted by your people. Xaro may be powerful here in Qarth, but on the world stage, he is honestly nothing special, and does you no favor in gaining the respect of Westeros."
"Perhaps you should wait, and marry Westerosi," Lucoa offered.
"That would be my recommendation, yes," said Jorah.
"Now, who do we know who is Westerosi?" Lucoa mused aloud. Tohru kicked her.
"Hm," said Dany. "Jorah, you are right, as always. I am so lucky to have you at my counsel. When we get to Westeros, I will be counting on you to help me choose a suitable husband there."
"Yeah," said Jorah. "Well...I really should be going to bed now. Goodnight, ladies."
The next day, Xaro took Dany, Jorah, Tohru, and Lucoa out to negotiate with Qarthan nobles for some ships, to no avail. Since Dany had no money, and would give them no dragons, and Lucoa refused all suitors, they wouldn't give her so much as a rowboat.
"Well, Daenerys, all of this could be amended if you but marry me," said Xaro.
"I told you, Xaro, I mean to marry a Westerosi when I return home," she said.
"But you will not get home without ships," said Xaro. "Plus, the time is right to invade Westeros. I received word this morning that King Robert Baratheon is dead."
Dany turned to Jorah. "What do we do?"
"There are other cities we can appeal to," asked Jorah. "We need only go further north or south along the coast."
"Hold on," said Xaro. "I shall hold a special counsel with the Thirteen. I will make sure you get what you need. I can be very persuasive."
"What's your game, Xaro?" Jorah asked.
"Game? I have no game, Ser Knight. I merely want to help," said Xaro.
"Nobody merely wants to help," Jorah said.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," said Xaro. Their conversation was cut short by people running and screaming in terror away from the residential district. Xaro stopped one. "What's happening?"
"A monster! It attacked the home of one of the Thirteen!" the man cried.
"Fire and blood! Fire and blood!" a woman screamed.
"My children!" Dany cried. Without thinking, she started to rush back to their temporary home.
"Daenerys!" Xaro exclaimed, but Jorah stopped him, and Dany and the two Dragon Warriors ran off.
"She'll be safe," Jorah said. "Let us tend to your people."
Xaro's home looked like a ruin. There was a huge hole in the roof, and there was smoke. Kanna sat outside, covered in blood. "Dany!" she cried.
"Oh my goodness, Kanna!" Dany exclaimed, rushing to hug her. "What happened? Please tell me it wasn't-"
"They tried to take your dragons," said Kanna. "Half of the Dothraki are dead. Irri is dead."
"Woah, slow down. Who tried to take the dragons?"
"Mages," said Kanna.
"Pyat," said Dany like a curse. "Well, where are they?"
"They're safe. I saved them. Me and Shouta," said Kanna.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Dany cried with tears in her eyes. "Oh, and where is Shouta?"
"Well, that's the thing," said Kanna. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Dany repeated.
"He's missing. Him and Doreah," said Kanna.
Lucoa hissed. Tohru put a hand on Lucoa's shoulder in comfort. "He'll be alright," she said. "He's got amazing power. He can handle himself. My question is, what are we going to tell Xaro?"
"I mean, I think he deserves the truth. Oh no. This is exactly what the Thirteen didn't want!" Dany said in despair. Jorah and Xaro arrived. Xaro fell to his knees when he saw the state of his mansion. "Xaro, I am so, so sorry."
"It's...it's okay," said Xaro. "The sorcerers are a menace to this city. Come, enough is enough. If this doesn't give us the leverage to get what we want, I don't know what will!"
Dany left with Xaro. "I don't like it," said Lucoa.
"It's a trap," agreed Tohru. "He took that way too easily. Come on. We need to protect her. Jorah, Kanna..."
Jorah was wiping blood off Kanna's face and out of her hair. "Oh, you don't need me. I'll stay with Kanna. We need to get out of Qarth immediately, and move the dragons."
Tohru smiled and nodded to Kanna.
"Not without Shouta-baby," said Lucoa.
"We'll find him," said Tohru. "Dany won't leave without him or Doreah. Okay, Team Targaryen go!"
"Oooh, Team Targaryen, I like that!" Lucoa exclaimed as they rushed off.
The meeting with the Thirteen went about as well as Tohru expected.
Pyat Pree immediately admitted to trying to procure the dragons, which he now fully knew existed. But it wasn't his idea. The attempted theft of the dragons was part of a plot to aid his good friend Xaro in becoming King of Qarth.
"But," said Pyat, "we have discovered a power far greater than that of the dragons. During the attempt, the mage they call Shouta conjured up a fierce beast, a white feathered serpent that spat lightning. We have captured him, and we will harness this power against you all."
"Kanna!" Tohru whispered. "They mistook her for an illusion!"
Lucoa growled. "WHERE IS HE?!" she roared. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM?!"
Her anger shocked the counsel. Pyat attempted to remain calm. "I see," he said. "You do care about him."
"Shouta has been as a son to me," she said. "I care for him more than life itself, and anyone who dares to hurt him is in for a world of pain. You have made the greatest mistake of your life, Pyat Pree. When I am done, not a speck of dust will remain of your city."
Pyat laughed. "You think I'm afraid of you? What are you, the company courtesan?"
"I see you small-minded mortal, you judge with your eyes. I am the progenitor of the empires. I am the morning star. I am the celestial rain. I am the keeper of fate. I am the master of death. And so I ask you again, where is Shouta?" said Lucoa, her voice deepening with every word. Tohru shuddered. Quetzalcoatl was coming out, one of the most powerful dragons in all existence. It was easy to forget who Lucoa really was under her buxom exterior.
"You'll find him at the House of the Undying," said Pyat, "but you will not reach him." Pyat duplicated himself and slashed the throats of every member of the Thirteen besides himself and Xaro. Then, he moved to murder Dany, Lucoa, and Tohru. Tohru slashed him down with her arakh in one motion.
"What about him?" asked Lucoa, pointing to Xaro.
Xaro's face was pale with fear. "Meh," said Tohru. "Shouta is more important."
"Agreed," said Lucoa. "Dany, where is this House of the Undying?"
"I...I don't," Dany murmured. She looked like she would faint.
"Let's get her to Jorah," said Tohru.
They lead their Princess out of the counsel room and back towards Xaro's home. They met Jorah in an empty courtyard about halfway through the town.
"I've booked a passage to Astapor," Jorah said. "Kanna is already on her way with the dragons. We should leave immediately."
"No," Dany said, having broken from her shock. "No, we need Shouta."
"Shouta? Where is he?" Jorah asked.
"The House of the Undying," said Lucoa. "They captured him in an attempt to use him as a weapon."
"The House of the Undying? I'm afraid he is lost," said Jorah.
"No," said Lucoa. "That's unacceptable. Where is this place? I will turn it to dust."
Lucoa's passion frightened Jorah, who, besides the battle in the red waste, had only known Lucoa to be a kind but mostly passive presence in the company. "It's...I'll show you," he stammered. "But Dany, you must not enter with the Dragons."
"I am indebted to them, as I am to Shouta," said Dany. "On my honor, I must go."
Jorah sighed. "And as I am indebted to you, we all run to our doom together."
