Daenerys and Jorah camped by the River Moss. Dany watched as Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal plucked fish out of the river with their claws and roasted them with their own fire. She was proud that her babies had figured out how to feed themselves.
The dragons flew off into the forest for some exercise. Dany wasn't too worried; she knew they wouldn't go far.
"What are we going to do now?" Jorah asked. "We're even worse off than before. Now it's just the two of us. If Verdauga's children come after us, we're fucked."
"Let 'em try," said Dany. "My dragons beat them once and they can do it again."
"That's another thing. You're putting far too much faith in those dragons. You can't rely on them to get you out of every single tricky situation you find yourself in."
"They always have up to now," she said.
"I'm just saying, it's not a good idea to get overconfident. Your father was overconfident, and look what happened to him."
"What could possibly happen to me?" Dany asked. Just then, as if in answer to her question, there was a deafening screech from the trees to the south.
A monstrous water rat, as big as a horse, came crashing into the clearing. Its eyes were staring, sightless white marbles veined with blood red streaks. The snout was ribbed and scarred like a wet black patch of leather. What little fur there was on his head was plastered flat. Water ran off it as the mouth opened wide. This was the Gloomer. Verdauga Greeneyes had captured him and brought him to Kotir long ago. Now Tsarmina had sent the Gloomer to track Dany down and kill her.
Dany trembled as the Gloomer advanced on her. His sightless eyes fixed upon her as if they could actually see her. The mouth worked hungrily open and shut, purple blubbery lips drawn back to reveal curving greeny yellow fangs spread this way and that, the very oddness of them adding to their revolting appearance.
She called for her dragons. She could hear them roaring back in response, but they sounded a long way off. She doubted they could reach her in time.
Jorah picked up his sword, his voice shaking noticeably. "Here, Khaleesi, get behind me." He prodded the rat monster with his sword point. Gloomer lashed out with his claws, but Jorah dodged the blow and he and Dany stepped to the side. "Just keep moving," he told her. "Don't stop, whatever you do."
Dany was impressed; the plan was simple but effective. Gloomer kept driving them along the riverbank, but they were always able to avoid his claws and teeth.
Until in a sudden rush he charged with an awesome turn of speed! He knocked Jorah aside and fell upon Dany, pinning her to the ground. She could feel his claws tearing the front of her dress as his teeth snapped inches from her face.
Then another human came out of nowhere. He jumped on Gloomer's back and severed the rat's head with a sword. The head rolled on the ground.
Dany's rescuer pulled Gloomer's headless carcass off her. He was an old man, but he looked strong. "Thank you for saving me," said Dany. She stood up. "Who are you?"
He bowed before her. "My name is Ser Barristan Selmy. I know who you are, Daenerys Targaryen. I've been looking for you. I was a member of the Kingsguard under your father Aerys. After he was killed, I kept doing my old job under the new king, Robert."
"The usurper!" Dany clenched her fists. "Did he send you to kill me?"
"No, he's dead. I've come to help you."
"Robert is dead?" Dany could hardly believe it.
"Yes, a pig killed him. Now his son Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, but there's a bunch of other people who also want to be king, and they're all fighting each other."
"So, what are you doing here?" Dany asked.
"I might be serving in King's Landing still if Joffrey had not cast me aside, it shames me to admit. But when he took the cloak that the White Bull had draped about my shoulders, it was as though he'd ripped a caul off my eyes. That was when I knew I must find my true queen. Please, forgive me for siding with your enemies, and make me part of your Queensguard."
"You're in luck," said Dany. "My Queensguard's only got one other member right now. There's plenty of room for you."
Ser Barristan looked pleased, but Jorah looked worried for some reason. The dragons flew in and landed by Dany's feet. They had arrived too late to save her from the Gloomer. Dany realized Jorah had been right. She couldn't let her dragons do all her fighting for her. She needed to learn to fight on her own. Maybe Ser Barristan could help her with that…
