Disclaimer: I do not own anything from A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones. Everything here belongs to George R.R Martin.
Chapter XXXXI - Second Sons
Ser Jorah arrived in the morning bringing news on Yunkai's supposed powerful friends. A large company of Sellswords. I asked him how large, and he showed me. Telling Daenerys to watch the camp, I took a small party consisting of Jorah, Barristan, Grey Worm, and other Unsullied soldiers, while Missandei, Irri and Rakharo stayed in the tents. We dressed as citizens while wearing hoods. We made our way to the walls of Yunkai, seeing the sellsword company. Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan has taught us the easiest way to count the amount of tents there are.
I was relieved to see that they are not the Golden Company, instead, the company of Sellswords, focuses more on horses as they ride about. Seeing their banners have a broken sword on a field of red and yellow.
"Men who fight for gold have neither honor nor loyalty," Ser Barristan quietly said. "They cannot be trusted."
"There is no honor in war." I reminded Ser Barristan.
"They can be trusted to kill you if they're well paid," Jorah added, leaning against the wall with one arm. "The Yunkish are paying them well."
"You know these men?" I asked. Recall that Ser Jorah used to serve several mercenary companies, including the Golden Company to provide for Lyneese spending. Hopefully, he knows who these men are and their capabilities.
"Only by the broken swords on their banners," Jorah answered. "They're called the Second Sons. A company led by a Braavosi named Mero, "The Titan's Bastard."
I scoffed, looking at him. "Is he more of a titan or a bastard?"
"He's a dangerous man, Your Grace. They all are," Jorah warned.
"How?" I asked curiously, I've never heard of the Second Sons before.
"The Second Sons are mercenary companies, usually second sons or younger sons of Lords join them, with no inheritance. Unlike other sellsword companies, the Second Sons are very loyal to the person who gives them money." Ser Jorah told me.
"I suppose they do have some honor." I smirked. "There are two thousand right?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Barristan answered. "Armored and mounted."
"Enough to make a difference?" I asked. Ser Barristan nodded. I have eight thousand Unsullied trained in the shortsword, shield, and three spears along with Dothraki warriors and two knights. The only issue is that they have horses. I know a skilled warrior can make a significant difference in battle. I considered asking Grey Worm about it but reconsidered since it would be offensive. In the end, we will win, but many lives will be a loss. I am going to see if it is possible to recruit the Second Sons, and gain two thousand horses, if I can't, then I have no choice but to fight them.
"We still outnumber them," I said trying to assure myself.
"I'm sure the sellswords prefer to fight for the winning side." Jorah gave an impressive smile as he nodded, "I imagine you're right."
"I'd like to talk to the Titan's Bastard about winning," I said.
"He may not agree to meet," Barristan inquired.
"He will," I said. "I'll offer him some gold that the Yunkais have given us."
oOoOo
It would be around noon when Ser Barristan returned with three members representing the Second Sons. One of the three stood out, as the center was a Braavosi, being tall and muscular, with a scar down his right cheek. He must be Mero. On his left stood a Ghiscari man who had a broad face with long dark hair. On the other side was in his late twenties, lean and built with tan skin and long brown hair. He appeared opposite from the others in his company.
I sat in the center of the couch with Daenerys on my left. The dragons we put away, not to give our guest the upper hand on expectation. Inside the tent was also Jorah, Rakharo, Irri, Missandei, and Grey Worm. Kovarro and Aggo remained at the entrance of the tent as security.
"Your Grace, allow me to present the captains of the Second Sons –," Ser Barristan introduced. "Mero of Braavos, Prendahl na Ghezn, and…uh…"
"Daario Naharis," the youngest introduced. Naharis, that's a Tyroshi name, I thought. Getting a better look at Daario's face seeing a Western Essos citizen. The long hair and exposure to the sun made him appear he was from the East.
Mero stepped forward with a smirk, "You are the Dragon King?"
"I am," I confirmed. "And you're the Titan's Bastard."
Mero scoffed and turned to my sister, "I swear I fucked you once in a pleasure house in Lys."
The Lyseni holds resemblance to the Valyrians. From the statuesque features, pale skin, silver-gold hair, and purple eyes. As long-ago Lys used to be considered a paradise by Valyrian dragonlords. A place many Valyrians went to for relaxation…before the Doom of Valyria. Possibly hundreds of Valyrians who were there escaped the destruction and populated with the Lyseni. However, House Targaryen is the last dragonlords. Still, the compliment was not appreciated. Yet I kept my composure despite my hands clenched around my dagger as did Daenerys. Even if Mero saw Daenerys in Lys, doubt he fucked her since we were guarded by the Host Family. It was Ser Jorah who stepped forward giving a warning look. Even if I wanted to fight Mero, I doubt I could win, I'm good but not that good.
"Mind your tongue when you are speaking with the Khaleesi," Irri warned.
"Why? I didn't mind hers." Mero challenged as he walked towards Daenerys. "She licked my ass like she was born to do it."
As he stuck his tongue out flexing it about like some dog and laughed as Rakharo growled at the insult. Then looked at Missandei, "You, slave girl, bring wine."
"We have no slaves here," I reminded sternly.
"You'll all be slaves after the battle unless I save you," Mero disagreed.
"Oh really?" I sneered. "Ser Barristan, how many men do we have?"
"10,000." Ser Barristan answered.
"Let me tell you something, Titan's Bastard. I have 10,000 Unsullied, you have 2,000 Second Sons. We outnumber you from 5 to 1. If you fight for us or remain neutral, I will not have you gelded for the insult you had on my sister." I spat. Mero snorted, quite impressed.
"I hope the old man is better with a sword than he is with a lie," Daario said. "You have eight-thousand Unsullied."
"Ser Barristan is one of the best fighers here, he killed Maelys Blackfyre." I told him and Ser Barristan puffed his chest up proudly.
"You're very young to be a captain," Daenerys murmured at Daario. Daario smiled at Daenerys.
"He's not a captain. He's a lieutenant," Prendahl corrected.
"Even if your numbers are right, you must admit the odds don't favor your side," I said.
"The Second Sons have faced worse odds and won," Mero said.
"The Second Sons have faced worse odds and run," Jorah taunted.
"Or you could fight for me." I offered, trying not to laugh from Ser Jorah's remark.
Mero laughed, finishing his drink, gesturing to Missandei to refill his cup. "We've taken the slavers' gold. We fight for Yunkai."
"I will buy you out of your contract and pay you much more," I suggested, either way he is more useful if he was alive than dead. Missandei poured him another glass. Mero leaned forward and sniffed at Missandei privates. This caused the young Naathi to stumble back, so that Ser Jorah had to catch her, so she didn't fall off the platform. Tension engrossed the tent, as all my warriors want to kill Mero on the spot right now for what he did. Missandei was only ten, she did not deserve to be like this. Missandei quickly got off the platform to make some distance between her and Mero. Daenerys stood in front of Missandei.
"Our contract is our bond," Prendahl said. "If we break our bond, no one will hire the Second Sons again."
"Ride with us, and you'll never need another contract," I said. "You'll have gold and castles and lordships of your choosing when we take back the Seven Kingdoms. Duskendale is empty, so is Castamere and Tarbeck Hall. You can have Casterly Rock if you want gold that badly."
"You have no ships," Daario spoke out. "You have no siege weapons. You have no cavalry."
I stared hard into Daario's blue eyes, "We have ships. The wise masters are wise enough to give us ships, I don't know where, but I will go and get it. A fortnight ago, we had no army. A year ago, we had no dragons." I faced Mero, "You have two days to decide."
Mero sat up, as he slapped his hand on Daenerys thigh, "Show me your cunt. I want to see if it's worth fighting for."
I punched Mero's jaw and he fell backwards, the once prideful Titan's Bastard fell over. Ser Jorah chuckled and quickly covered it with a cough. Ser Barristan, Rakharo and I prepared to draw our weapons. Before either of us could draw their blade, a short sword was between Mero and I. The person holding it was Grey Worm with a serious, almost deadly look, that his glare would kill if that were possible.
"My King, shall I slice out his tongue and hand for you? For insulting the Princess." Grey Worm asked bitterly.
Carefully pushing the blade away I said, "These men are our guests."
I glared at Mero while Daenerys said, "You seem to be enjoying the wine. Perhaps you'd like a flagon to help you ponder."
"Only a flagon?" Mero asked. "And what are my brothers in arms drinking?"
"A barrel, then," Daenerys suggested.
"Good," Mero said, standing up. "The Titan's Bastard does not drink alone."
He finished his drink and set the silver cup down before walking off the platform facing me.
"In the Second Sons, we share everything. After the battle, maybe we'll all share you." Daario passed by, though his attention was on Daenerys.
Mero came over to Missandei, "I'll come looking for you when this is over."
As his hand smacked Missandei buttocks before leaving. Missandei was stronger this time, as she only flinched slightly than earlier. Still, my translator was uncomfortable in the situation. I scowled, watching the three men leave.
"Ser Barristan, Ser Jorah if it comes to battle and we capture him, make sure he dies first," I ordered.
"Gladly, Your Grace" Ser Barristan obliged. The fact that Mero laid hands on Daenerys, a Princess of Royal Blood, he should have his hands cut off.
"Daeron. I need to have a bath." Daenerys said and I nodded. Daenerys then said "And I will burn the dress."
I nodded knowing that she didn't want Mero's stains on the dress.
oOoOo
Daenerys' POV
"So how many languages can you speak?" Daenerys asked Missandei.
"I can speak nineteen, Princess," Missandei answered. In the royal tent, Daenerys was doing her evening baths. Daeron, Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah haven't taken a bath since the sack of Astapor, claiming that they have to be on guard. Rakharo too, and Irri refused to take the bath until after the Khaleesi is done.
"Nineteen?" Daenerys asked surprised as Missandei brushed her hair. Daenerys must have underestimated Missandei.
"Yes, Princess," Missandei confirmed, with a chuckle.
"How can anyone speak nineteen languages? Especially someone who is ten, that must be impossible right?" Daenerys asked.
"It only took the Princess a year to learn Dothraki reasonably well," Missandei said.
"Yes, well, it was either learn Dothraki or grunt at my husband and hope – " Daenerys chuckled then stopped realizing Missandei was really young. "Thanks to Irri, I could learn Dothraki really well. Besides, what do you mean reasonably well?"
Missandei paused, pulling back slightly, "Dothraki is difficult for the mouth to master. So guttural and harsh."
"Drogo said I spoke Dothraki like one born into it," Daenerys said in the language. "It gave him great pride."
Missandei stopped since she mispronounced pride. She said Athjahaka and not Athjahakar.
"Athjahakar," Missandei corrected.
"Athjahaka," Daenerys tried to say.
"Ath-ja-hakar," Missandei broke the word into parts.
"Athjahakar," Daenerys said, getting it right. "Well, I suppose I'm a bit out of practice."
"Princess, His Grace's and your High Valyrian is very good. The gods could not devise a more perfect tongue," Missandei complimented. "It is the only proper language for poetry,"
"I couldn't agree more," Daenerys said, as Missandei added soap. Missandei went over to the table to grab another ointment when suddenly she gasped. Daenerys' head snapped up seeing an Unsullied soldier restraining Missandei by holding a dagger to her throat and a hand over her mouth. The situation was worse since Daenerys was exposed in the bath, and Daeron left with his weapons.
"No screaming or she dies," the assassin said.
"Daario Naharis," Daenerys seethed.
"You remember me," Daario replied, as he moved around the tub until facing Daenerys. He then removed his helmet. Daenerys scowled, hoping Daeron's soldier had not been harmed.
"What do you want? What have I done to my brother?" Daenerys demanded.
Daario smiled and said "He doesn't know I'm here, I sneaked in."
Darrio pointed the blade to Missandei's throat, "And I want You."
"Let her go," Daenerys warned.
"Don't scream, lovely girl," Daario murmured to Missandei ear and let her go. Missandei rushed over to Daenerys with her hand over her neck. Daenerys sat back in her bath and glared at him. If she was clothed, she would stand up.
"You were sent here to kill us?" Daario chuckled from that; his eyes linger on her body. "So why haven't you?" Daenerys asked.
"I don't want to," Daario answered. Missandei grabbed Daenerys' robe and put it on her.
Daenerys quickly got dressed and glared at him, "What do your captains have to say about that?"
"You should ask them," Daario replied. He removed the satchel off his shoulder and dropped the contents on the ground. What it was were two severed heads of Mero of Braavos and Prendahl na Ghezn.
"Why?" Daenerys demanded.
"We had philosophical differences," Daario explained.
"Over what?" Daenerys asked.
"Your beauty," Daario answered. "It meant more to me than it did to them."
"You're a strange man," Daenerys murmured.
"I'm the simplest man you'll ever meet. I only do what I want to do." Daario replied.
"Why would my brother trust a man who murders his comrades?" Daenerys asked.
"They ordered me to murder you and your brother. I told them I preferred not to. They told me I had no choice. I told them I am Daario Naharis. I always have a choice. They drew their swords and I drew mine." Daario answered.
He also pulled out a small purse, "I did one thing for Mero. He said he would fight his way in to get his cock to you. I did him a favor."
Daario disposed of the contents in the purse revealing a bloody cock. No doubt if Mero did the assassination attempt, Daeron, Ser Jorah, Rakharo and Ser Barristan would be dead while Daenerys, Irri and Missandei would be dead and raped.
"Will you fight for us?" Daenerys asked. Daario nodded. Daenerys walked over staring into his eyes, "Swear it."
He pulled out his arakh, bending the knee presenting his weapon, "The Second Sons are yours, and so is Daario Naharis. My sword is yours; my life is yours," he looked at Daenerys, "my heart is yours."
"Your sword and life are not just mine, but my brother's." Daenerys reminded him.