Martin the Warrior had reclaimed his father's sword, which Badrang had stolen from him. Now he was giving Daenerys a sword fighting lesson. "Place your paw flat upon the blade… oh, I'm sorry, you don't have paws, do you? Place your hand flat upon the blade, grip the handle tight, hold the sword flat above your head."
Thwang!
Dany countered Martin's blade as he roared out instructions. "That's how to block the downward chop. Now let go of the blade. Sweep it down and under. Two paws… excuse me, two hands on the haft, straight up and slice. Quickly, turn it and slice again at head height. Good job!"
They paused for a break. "You're certainly picking this up fast," Martin said.
Rose and Ser Barristan were watching them. "I've never seen a mouse as skilled with a blade as you, Martin!" Rose exclaimed.
"Want me to teach you too?" Martin asked.
Rose shook her head. "I'm more of a thinking mouse than a fighting mouse."
"Viserys said that our brother Rhaegar won many tournaments," Dany said. "I guess it's just in my blood."
Barristan bowed his head. "It is not meet for me to deny his grace's words, but…" He trailed off.
"But what?" Dany said. "Are you telling me he didn't win all those tournaments?"
"Prince Rhaegar's prowess was unquestioned, but he seldom entered the lists. He never loved the song of swords the way that Robert did, or Jaime Lannister."
"He won some tourneys, surely," said Dany, disappointed.
"Well, he did win the greatest tourney of them all."
"Which was that?" Dany demanded.
"The tourney Lord Whent staged at Harrenhal beside the God's Eye, in the year of the false spring. A notable event. Besides the jousting, there was a melee in the old style fought between seven teams of knights, as well as archery and axe throwing, a horse race, a tournament of singers, a mummer show, and many feasts and frolics. Lord Whent was as open handed as he was rich. The lavish purses he proclaimed drew hundreds of challengers. Even your royal father came to Harrenhal, when he had not left the Red Keep for long years. The greatest lords and mightiest champions of the seven kingdoms rode in that tourney, and the prince of Dragonstone bested them all."
"But that was the tourney when he crowned Lyanna Griffin as queen of love and beauty!" said Dany. "Princess Elia was there, his wife, and yet my brother gave the crown to the Griffin girl, and later stole her away from her betrothed. How could he do that? Did the Dornish woman treat him so ill?"
Before Barristan could answer, Felldoh and Jorah came running in. "Princess Khaleesi!" Felldoh cried.
"Khaleesi's not her name," Jorah said. "It's just a title."
"Oh. I thought that was her name because that's what you always call her."
"What's the problem, Felldoh?" Dany asked.
"There's a ship pulling in to shore!" the squirrel cried. "It's the Seascarab! That's Captain Clogg's ship!"
"And who is Captain Clogg?"
"He's another slaver," Felldoh said. "He probably wants to pressgang us into working on his pirate ship."
"Well, we can't have that, can we?" Dany said. "I'll just tell him he's not welcome here."
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Surrounded by his savage ragtag crew, Captain Clogg strode into Fortress Marshank. Dany was waiting for him, with her dragons at her feet and Jorah, Barristan, Martin and Felldoh flanking her in a semicircle.
"Who are you?" Clogg wanted to know. "Where's my old messmate Badrang?"
"He's dead," Dany said bluntly. "I am Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons! I'm in charge here now!"
For some reason, Clogg was feeling a sense of déjà vu. "Well, I thought I'd be dealing with Badrang, but I guess I can deal with you instead…."
"I know what you've come for," Dany interrupted. "Well, you won't get it! There are no more slaves here. All the creatures at Marshank have been set free now."
"I've come to take a full complement of slaves to row my ship," Clogg said, "and you can't stop me!"
"Dracarys," Dany said quietly. Drogon shot a blast of fire that just barely missed Clogg. The pirate stoat jumped into the air in surprise. "That was a warning," Dany said. "Badrang died because he messed with my dragons. You will wind up the same way if you continue this nonsense!"
Clogg threw up his paws. "You win. I'll go peaceful like, back to me ship. But keep in mind: naughty little girls that play with fire get burned!" As he turned to leave, he called to Jorah, "It was good to see you again, Mormont matey."
"What?" cried Dany. "How do you and Ser Jorah know each other?"
"Why don't you ask him?" was Clogg's parting shot.
He and his crew went back to their ship, but they didn't leave. They sat in the bay, waiting.
