A/N: Hope you all are doing well and are keeping safe. So much is happening still, but we can all get it through this together :)
Jon sat on the side next to Benjen, observing the trials as they commenced.
It was fairly easy for the provosts to arrest Ikken Feng and the magistrate, since neither of them did not expect discovery of their crimes to happen so quickly. Like the magistrate, General Feng was in charge of a backwater post and had a poor reputation as an officer, so he did not put up a good resistance.
Since both of them committed crimes against the army and as General Feng was a military officer, the Provost-General would act as judge. When Jon asked why Lord Joon couldn't be the judge, one of the officers told him that even though he had a lot of power as the Northwest Governor and Captain-General, there were limits to what he could do, as men who became too powerful and too much authority were the bane of the empire's early existence. If only Westeros learned that lesson…
To everyone's surprise, Prince Sumeng also attended the trial. As a member of the ruling family, he had to power to overrule any decision a magistrate might make, but strangely, he chose to observe. Him sitting next to Jon opposite of Benjen caused murmurs amongst the officers and any other curious observers.
"What are you doing here, Prince Sumeng?" Jon was honestly confused.
"Have to see what will be done with the men who endangered me. Unlike the first time, I shall see how this will proceed. But… if it goes in a way that I don't like, I'll step in and overrule the court."
Although Joon rescinded his order for Jon's arrest, the Lord of Kushiro didn't actually pardon him since he and Chanhee were still seen as responsible for the Goi cavalrymen's deaths. However, Sumeng declared that Jon and Chanhee were not responsible for their deaths given the arrest of the magistrate and General Feng and thus had them acquitted using his own seal. If only Chanhee was alive to see that…
"I must thank you for what you've done, Prince Sumeng."
"It's the least that I can do, Prince Daeron."
"And as you know, Chanhee died as she helped rescued you. What provisions will you make for her kin?" Jon wanted to know.
"Right," Sumeng didn't seem too pleased to associate himself further with steppes people, which irritated Jon. "I will see to it that her kin are compensated for their loss and that they receive privileges from the empire. After all, the Chogo gained much goodwill from what their daughter did."
Jon wanted to slap him there. Is that what you really think? Is that really on your mind? He knew that Sumeng was haughty and treated those he viewed as beneath him like shit, but this was Chanhee he was talking about and he was beyond revolted at how insensitive he was being. If you really think that compensation and privileges will be enough, then you're not just foolish. You're a cold bastard. But he dared not make his thoughts known, not after what Sumeng did for him however much of a shit he was being. In addition, it wouldn't have mattered, as much as Jon found it hard to accept.
"This trial will now come to order," the Provost-General announced. "Major-General Ikken Feng, you stand accused of the crimes of insubordination and attempted mutiny. How do you plead?"
General Feng scoffed. "This court's a sham. Arranged at the behest of white devils by a man whose family enjoyed the privileges of the empire for generations. I will find no justice here."
"How do you plead, General Feng?"
"I will say no more on this matter," Feng kept up his defiance.
"So, as you offered no clear plea on the charges against you, I shall assume that you plead guilty." Feng remained silent. "All right, then. You have been guilty of insubordination and attempted mutiny, as well as willfully endangering the Crown Prince with your actions, crimes that you would have been guilty of anyway with the confession of one of the creatures that you had utilized in this matter. You are hereby sentenced to death and shall be filled with arrows until dead. Afterwards, you will be removed from the officer books and be demoted to a common footman."
The officers and observers all nodded their agreement, as did Benjen, Lord Joon, and Sumeng, Jon just kept staring at Feng, looking forward to seeing him die as the Provost-General described.
"Xun Hayashi, Magistrate of Tiqui. You are hereby charged with the crimes of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, and willfully endangering the Crown Prince. How do you plead?" the Provost-General moved on as General Feng was taken away.
Unsurprisingly, the magistrate was crying and shaking uncontrollably, with the twitching in his face adding to the sheer pathetic display. The observers and a few of the officers jeered at the fat official, his previous misconduct against the people having caused much discontent that all came back with a vengeance.
"Not guilty," he managed to say, earning more taunting from the observers. One of the guards pounded his spear hard.
"Order!" the Provost-General commanded. "I guess I have to thank you for answering a plea, as we might have a chance to examine the evidence. Captain, bring them forth."
The next hour was spent going over the magistrate's books, hearing testimonies to those who criticized his character, and the most damning of all, the confession from the Goi man who carried out the ambush.
"That is a lie, a last attempt by a man trying to save his own skin," the magistrate weakly offered.
"A man who you paid to kill Daeron Targaryen, a payment that you foolishly recorded in your records," the provost's captain shot back. "More importantly, the confession was written by a man who had nothing left to lose, so he made the right decision in revealing the truth to us."
"Do you wish to know a bigger crime, soldier? The fact that a white devil dared to interfere in one of my court proceedings and humiliated an imperial official in public," the magistrate pointed to Jon, who felt unmoved.
"Do not bring in past occurrences that are not relevant to the current charges," admonished the Provost-General.
"You shouldn't have written your payments in your books. What is worse, you risked the Crown Prince's life just so that you can achieve your own petty revenge. Along with the confession, there is no doubt of your guilt, which I trust the court to have established, and therefore, the magistrate abused his authority and is guilty."
The Provost-General nodded in thought. "Xun Hayashi, for crimes of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, and willfully endangering the Crown Prince, I find you guilty. You are hereby sentenced to death, by beheading."
The observers cheered, satisfied that the official who ill-treated them was getting the comeuppance he deserved, while the officers were relieved that the trial was over. Lord Joon and Prince Sumeng were visibly pleased, as the ones who caused them trouble would be dealt with. Benjen saw satisfaction in the deaths of those who had endangered his nephew, while Jon smiled at those who were responsible for Chanhee's death.
Jon, Benjen, Lord Joon, and Prince Sumeng were among those that came out to the archery range, where Feng had his armor and swords ceremoniously removed from his person and dressed in simple white robes. He was then tied to a post, with twenty archers facing him.
The provost's captain pulled out a scroll which detailed the sentence one last time. "Ikken Feng, the Provost-General of the Northwest Army has found you guilty of insubordination and attempted mutiny. If you have any last words, you may speak them now."
"All of you can go to the deepest hells, for I shall be waiting for you there," Feng still kept his insolence even near death.
The captain turned his head to the archers. "Detail ready! Nock!" They pulled back on their bows as they took aim. "Loose!"
Twenty arrows found their mark, all of them in Feng's torso. Blood spilled from his mouth as his head hung forward, a sign that he was dead.
The magistrate was placed on a block in the middle square of Trader Town, where a crowd formed to see the hated official die. Like in the court, he was bawling and couldn't control his fear, but he had pissed himself as they dragged him to where he would meet his end.
But before the headsman was about to do the deed, Jon decided to show the magistrate what he had told him the first time they had met.
"Lord Joon, please allow me to carry out this execution," Jon said to him.
"Why do you wish to burden yourself with such trivial matters?"
"'The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword,'" Jon remembered Ned's words.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but that's not how things work here. There are rules and there are protocols to follow. We're not in Westeros, Daeron."
"General, please allow him to do this," Benjen joined in. "As his uncle and as a descendant of the First Men, I wholeheartedly support his decision. It might also help his healing if he ended the life of the man who took the life of the one he had loved. Life can be cruel in denying us the satisfaction from the things that have wronged us, so please, don't let him feel that way."
Joon exhaled before talking to the headsman. After getting paid his usual fee of ten silver taels from Joon's pouch, the headsman gestured for Jon to come.
"Which blade do you want?" Benjen held out Longclaw and Dark Sister.
Wanting to emulate what Ned Stark did, Jon chose the bigger blade. With Longclaw unsheathed, the crowd silenced as the white devil stepped forward with Valyrian steel to where the magistrate was.
The provost's captain read out the charges before asking if he had any last words. "Please! Don't kill me! I'll give you anything! Please spare me!"
His pleas only made Jon angrier. "You wish to live, but you were willing to kill others? You gutless fuck!" he shouted.
The magistrate cried once more, but not before begging one more time. "Please! I want to live! I don't want to die!"
Fingers gripping tighter around Longclaw's hilt, Jon raised the blade and brought it down to the magistrate's neck, making quick work of the flesh and bone and his head quickly falling to the ground.
Lord Joon was not surprised at how Jon wanted to do it himself, while Sumeng was struck at how committed and hands-on his princely acquaintance continued to be.
"People of Trader Town," Lord Joon addressed them. "Today, you have justice properly carried out. By the grace of the gods have they allowed it to happen, and for our Crown Prince to return safely. Let this day be remembered for a long time!"
Lord Joon bowed his head to Prince Sumeng, with the others in the square doing the same, including the other officers.
"Tennoheika, banzai!" Joon threw his fists up as he yelled the nihongo hail for the emperor and the family.
"Banzai!" they cheered.
"Banzai!"
"Banzai!"
"BANZAI!" The last time was louder.
"BANZAI!"
Jon and Benjen observed, while Sumeng basked in their praises.
I wonder how his father is going to react when people remember that he lost one hundred thousand men, Jon thought.
Sam ate in the dining room along with Jon, Benjen, Lord Joon, his wife and children, and the Crown Prince seated at the head of the low table, with a few members of the imperial guard just outside the room and more in Kushiro's courtyard and on the walls. He had never contemplated seeing those who belonged to any sovereign family, be it the Baratheons or the Targaryens. But in the span of almost a year, he had met both the last male scion of House Targaryen and now the Crown Prince of the Golden Empire of Yi-Ti. Ever since Jon, or Daeron, came into my life, so many things that I have never thought would happen had happened.
While Jon and Benjen were with the army in the steppes for the past few weeks, Seong Kitara started to delegate more responsibilities to Sam besides collecting taxes. Part of the duties of Lord Joon's office was to ensure that local administration continued to run even in the midst of crises. As Seong was already occupied with the duties associated with Kushiro, he had Sam go out to the various farming communities that answered directly to the Kitara family and see whether there were any issues that would be causes for concern. The son of Randyll Tarly was unsure of his ability to interact with those people on Lord Joon's behalf, as he was a white devil and had no knowledge of the local workings, but after hearing what Seong said before Meleys flew out of Kushiro, he complied.
On his first day, Sam went to the village of Asanyo and found himself addressing the village chief, who answered to the captain of a company of former soldiers who were recalled to active duty to the army when the Crown Prince was captured. Both of them were surprised that a white devil was acting on Lord Joon's behalf, but they relented when he showed them the seal of the Kitara family. After being offered tea, he talked with both the village chief and the company captain about the affairs of Asanyo, which sat on the road to Tiqui. Even though they were far from any immediate danger from the Jogos Nhai, there were still fears from the village since the presence of the former soldiers means that the regular army could not give them the protection they needed from any other dangers, indicating how serious the situation was.
"I assure you that Lord Kitara is doing everything within his power to resolve the current situation and that the former soldiers can all expect to go back to their homes soon," Sam spoke in guanhua.
"How do you know that? Do you have any information regarding the current campaign of the army?" the company captain asked.
"The last I have heard, they were making steady progress northwards towards where the Crown Prince was captured and one hundred thousand troops under his command were wiped out," Sam answered.
"So, they haven't found the Crown Prince and so far, we have to keep the soldiers in our village," the chief sounded exasperated.
Sam almost forgot that the villagers valued normality above many things, and the presence of troops in their home, no matter how small of a number they were, represented a disruption in that. It was not that different back in Westeros, as armed men raging through towns and villages were always an unwelcome sight, even if it was ostensibly for their protection. "Do you trust Lord Joon to reach a speedy conclusion to the campaign?"
"There is no reason why I shouldn't," the chief said. "The governor has done much good for the people of this province and there has been much peace within these lands. He is a man of his word."
"Then, you should trust my words, because I am acting on his behalf. Lord Joon will accomplish the mission from the Prime Minister and there will be normality returning quickly. And besides, you are very far removed from the main areas of action, so you have little to nothing to worry about," Sam answered.
"I hope that is true, for the amount of time we spend here is time lost on the fields," the company captain explained. "I might have passed the examinations, but I have to work the fields also because my family is comparatively poorer stock than most of those who could afford to send their sons to study. I have to return to my farms and to my harvests, or my family will struggle."
"Remind me again, captain. How long have you served?" Sam forgot.
"Seven years commanding infantrymen," the captain answered. "But I had to go leave active duty when my family fell on hard times. Now, I am the same rank that I was over fifteen years ago and for officers, there is no such thing as leaving your commission, as the empire seeks to retain those who passed the examinations in case of times such as these."
Sam nodded in understanding. "I see your reasons more clearly. And as I said before, all of you can expect to return to where you were before all of this very soon. All of us here have at least some understanding of Lord Joon's capabilities, so we should place our trust in them."
The village chief and the company captain sighed before bobbing their heads in agreement.
And that was the routine that Sam assumed when he moved from one village to the next. All shared similar concerns, but all trusted Lord Joon enough to place their trust in him. Maybe this is part of the reason why Lord Joon has so much control here. Once he gives his word, he keeps it no matter what, even if he has to resort to more… questionable tactics to do so.
After Sam was returning to Kushiro upon the completion of a trip to another village, Seong told him that Lord Joon was returning, with the Crown Prince, Jon, and Benjen. He was surprised, since he never expected to meet an important person like Prince Sumeng, but his surprise turned to happiness when he heard that he would see Jon and Benjen again. They made it, he mused.
But he saw that Seong didn't mention Chanhee. "Lord Seong, what about Chanhee, the Chogo woman? Is she coming also?" He might not have had the type of relationship that Jon had with her, but he did like her company.
Seong's eyes darkened. "I think you better come with me. What I should say to you is not meant for any ears."
"Of course," but Sam grew increasingly concerned. Once they reached a private space in Kushiro's main keep, Seong had him sit down. "What's going on?"
Seong swallowed. "Chanhee's dead."
That hit Sam like ice-cold water. "Dead? What do you mean she's dead?"
"It's a long story, from what I was told."
"I'm right here."
Seong told Sam about what he heard, from Chanhee and Jon rescuing the Crown Prince from the Jogos Nhai renegades, being picked up by Sela the Hyrkoon, Lord Joon arranging an exchange for their lives, and their ambush by a group of treacherous imperial cavalrymen directed by the magistrate in Tiqui and Major-General Ikken Feng, garrison commander of Trader Town. Meleys and Ghost helped fend off the ambushers while Benjen and his troops mopped up the rest, but Chanhee was shot with an iron ball and she bled out in Jon's arms.
Sam shut his eyes, shaking his head while sighing. Poor Jon. He couldn't imagine what kind of pain he must've felt at losing someone he had grown very close with. "And?"
"Both General Feng and the magistrate were arrested and executed for their crimes, as they did endanger the Crown Prince through their shortsightedness. They also told me that Jon cut off the magistrate's head himself."
Of course he would do that. "That's just Jon sticking to the ways of the First Men, in which the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword."
"Well, not exactly. To others, he might be seen as someone acting vengefully, not that that anyone would blame him," Seong shrugged.
"True," Sam admitted.
"Anyways, expect the Crown Prince and my father to arrive within a week. I need your help making the necessary preparations, such as getting enough food prepared for the feasts and making sure that there are enough rooms for the Crown Prince and whoever is attending to him," Seong told Sam.
"Understood," Sam concurred.
A week later, he, alongside Seong, Lady Myung, and Komo and Karasa, alongside the household of Kushiro, stood in the courtyard awaiting the arrival of the Crown Prince. Lady Myung and the Kitara daughters all dressed in their brightest robes yet, while Seong wore his cleanest garments and tied his swords to his waist. The Kushiro guard, all lead by Hoon Ti, were dressed in their armor and had their weapons tidied up so as to present a good image for those employed by the Kitara family. So much importance on appearances, just like in Westeros.
A rider strode through the opened Kushiro's opened gates and dismounted just before Sam and the immediate Kitara family. Dismounting his horse, he looked around the castle, as if searching for any immediate threats to the Crown Prince or whoever was approaching. Ridiculous.
Seeming to be satisfied, the rider pulled out a whistle and blew on it. As if on cue, more riders entered the courtyard, followed by who appeared to be officers. All were armed with daos, lances, bows, and the "shortarm" versions of the tanegashima. They also wore golden jackets over hardened leather armor with steel studs and conical helmets resembling those worn by the farmers. "Who are they?" Sam asked Seong.
"They're part of the imperial guard," Seong answered. "Special troops whose sole purpose is to protect the emperor and his family. They're handpicked from the best soldiers the empire has to offer, but it's an honorary institution as much as it is an active one."
"What do you mean?"
"Men who are granted the right to wear the golden jackets are given a high place of honor at court, which usually is limited to those who achieved great merit for the emperor. My own father also has the right to wear the golden jacket, but he chooses not to wear it because he doesn't want to be reminded of the last time he was in the capital," Seong explained.
"Something bad happened to him?"
"Let us just say that… had my father remain there, his survival would've been much harder to maintain among the snakes there," Seong replied cryptically.
"Understood," Sam didn't need to hear more.
After the imperial guard stood at attention, a rider on a clean white horse and wearing golden garments with a phoenix embroidered on his back and wearing a golden band over his hair bun rode into the courtyard. Upon seeing him, the household of Kushiro, Seong, Lady Myung, and the Kitara daughters bowed very low and reverently. This must be Prince Sumeng, Sam thought followed suit.
Finally, Lord Joon rode through the gates of his home, followed by Benjen, Jon, and Quartermaster Shin. All dismounted while one of the guards saw to Prince Sumeng's horse. The Crown Prince strode up to where Sam and the Kitara family stood. "You Seong Kitara?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Seong answered formally.
"And you must be Samwell Tarly, friend of Daeron Targaryen?"
He knows? "Yes… Your Highness."
Sumeng bid them and the household to stand back up. "Any friend of Prince Daeron is a friend of mine. He saved my life."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Sam answered.
"Lady Myung," Sumeng turned to the lady of Kushiro. "I won't burden you and your house unnecessarily. I shall use your home for a few days before we proceed back to the capital."
"Of course, Your Highness," Lady Myung responded.
"Show me to the accommodations, then," Sumeng pointed to the main keep before Lady Myung and the Kitara daughters lead the prince and a few of his guards on.
Sam and Seong turned to Lord Joon, Benjen, and Jon. While the Lord of Kushiro embraced his son, Sam looked at his friend and his Stark uncle. Both were very sullen, especially Jon, the reason being known to him.
"Are you all right?" Sam asked the both of them.
"We're both okay," Benjen answered. "Though the last few weeks have been trying for all of us."
"I understand," Sam offered. "If there is anything that I can do to help you, please let me know."
"Appreciate that, Sam," Benjen said.
He wanted to talk to Jon more about Chanhee, but realized that it would be unwise, especially in the open. "Let's get you two back to our rooms. And we should rest. I imagine tonight to be very trying for us all."
As Sam was brought back to the supper with the Crown Prince, he observed how the heir to the Golden Empire conducted himself at the table. As expected, the way that he handled his hashi and his spoon all spoke of how… dignified he was supposed to be. From taking small bits of rice and seared chicken and pork at a time, to chewing slowly, to holding his teacup in a certain way, and sitting up very straight, in a pose that would have become very uncomfortable after a while.
Also, they all waited for the Crown Prince to eat first and did not eat faster or slower than he did. From what Sam learned, to finish earlier or later than a member of the sovereign family was considered very rude and a breach in etiquette. And I thought Horn Hill and the Reach was so restrictive.
"Lord Joon," Prince Sumeng spoke.
"Yes, Your Highness," Joon put his hashi down.
"I believe it's time that you return to the capital. It's been years since you've graced the court with your presence, and you should receive a just reward for how you handled this whole affair."
Joon cleared his throat. "I'm honored, Your Highness. However, I have duties to attend to in this province and my prolonged absence from Kushiro have already caused enough of stresses on my family already."
"I hear that your son managed well while you were in the field, my lord. If you wish for your family and your home to be in good hands, your son should begin to assume the responsibilities that he had for the long-term. In addition, it's not wise for the governor of one of our most important provinces to be long absent from court despite the circumstances of your last appearance, if you understand my meaning," Sumeng put in plain words.
Like Joon, Sam caught the Crown Prince's words. Given the empire's bloody history with unruly lords and how much pain that previous dynasties and emperors had to go through to ensure that no lordly house would rise up against the throne again, lords appearing at court seemed understandable. But why now?
"With respect, why do you wish for me to appear in court, after over ten years?" Joon asked.
"Someone has to report to the court the occurrences in this province, and it's been far too long since a family from the northern parts of the empire has appeared in court. If we are to maintain a united empire, everyone must be represented," answered Sumeng.
"What about the army, Your Highness? Someone has to continue the command."
"Do not worry, my lord. You will remain in command of the Northwest Army, but your quartermaster and adjutant can assume responsibilities in your absence."
Joon saw that there was no convincing the prince otherwise, and any further doubting would send the wrong message, which he couldn't allow to happen. "I'll make the necessary arrangements, Your Highness."
Prince Sumeng nodded in satisfaction before turning to Sam. "So, I was able to hear many things about you, Samwell of House Tarly."
"You have, Your Highness?" Sam was caught off guard.
"Who your family is, what you've done for the Kitara family, and so on," the prince continued eating. "For a white devil like yourself, being able to communicate in our tongues, and dealing with important matters of a province, that's quite impressive."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Which is why I am inviting you to come to the capital with myself, Prince Daeron, Captain Stark, and Lord Joon. Perseverance can go a long way in court, so you'll do fine there."
Sam let out a chuckle, moved by his praise. "You honor me very much, Your Highness. And wherever my friend Prince Daeron goes, I will happily go."
"Excellent. I will see to it that you are given a position that will be most compatible with your abilities. People should not be hidden from the public view," Prince Sumeng stared at Lord Joon, but he shrugged it off by returning the stare.
Sam, meanwhile, knew what Sumeng was indicating. "Apologies, Your Highness, but I'm sure that Lord Joon had his reasons. After all, how many people will be concerned with the presence of three white devils in this empire, especially with a white direwolf and a live dragon with them? There were many unknowns and given the character of Lord Joon, he must've taken the cautious but wise route in keeping our existence hidden."
Lord Joon gave a small smile to Sam, appreciating the son of House Tarly defending him.
"How interesting… you haven't known Lord Joon for long and yet, you are willing to stand up for his actions," Sumeng noted. "Makes me more curious as to what exactly went on around here. Then again, court is always full of interesting stories and life would not be interesting without them, wouldn't you agree?"
Sam pursed his lips, not wanting to think about the things that made his life different than others. "I guess you're right, Your Highness."
"Course I am," Sumeng smiled as he drank his tea. Setting his hashi down, he stood up, while the rest of the family and guards followed suit. "I'm afraid I must retire for the night. I trust that I have the lord's quarters, Lord Joon?"
"All yours, Your Highness," Joon affirmed.
"Make the preparations you need. We will leave for the capital by the end of the week."
Sam sat in the room he, Jon, and Benjen occupied. All of them were very quiet, not having said a word since they arrived back at Kushiro. He couldn't fault them, since Chanhee was no longer with them. At the same time, he couldn't just be silent to his friend, the only he had.
"Jon, you excited about going to the capital? I'm sure that there are many things we can do over there, just like at Asabhad," Sam tried to steer his attention towards something else. He remained unresponsive. Okay, that didn't work. Maybe this will cheer him up.
"Jon, I've recently got word from Westeros. Your cousin Robb, King in the North, has triumphed against the Lannisters at Oxcross, the Red Fork, and is laying waste to the westerlands. Meanwhile, the Baratheons are killing each other, with word that Stannis and Renly about to make their moves on King's Landing. Less stags to worry about, I guess."
Jon sighed, while Benjen got interested. "So, my nephew is proving himself not a green boy after all, huh?"
"I guess so," Sam answered. "Quite something, since he's fighting the wits of the great Tywin Lannister himself. Maybe if he wins more battles, he might have a chance."
"I don't know about that, Sam. Battles may determine wars, but there are a lot of things that are involved in victory. It's those things I'm worried about, since Robb is still quite inexperienced. I just hope he knows what he's doing," Benjen assessed.
Jon smiled, apparently proud of what his cousin had achieved all on his own. But… he was still withdrawn.
Sam shifted closer to him, now seeing that his attempts to cheer up his friend were not working. "Jon, I'm not going to pretend to know how you feel, because I don't know what loss is. And I won't offer any words like 'I will miss her,' because I can sense that missing her doesn't come close to what you felt with her. But I just want you to know that you don't have to do this alone. Benjen's here, and so am I."
Jon looked at Sam, his eyes softening from the darkened look that he carried ever since he returned.
"In addition, remember why we're here. If we don't return with help, your family and my family will suffer from what will come. We need to stay focused for them, no matter how much of a bastard my father was," Sam admitted.
Benjen looked as if he would scold him, but Jon stopped him by putting his hand on his shoulder. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Thank you, Sam. But I shouldn't burden you with this. Whatever happened… has to be on my shoulders only, no one else's. You don't need any more things to worry about, as I'm sure that there will be plenty of that when we're in the capital."
"So, you are going?"
"Can't really say that I have a choice in this, Sam. At the same time, we all knew that we couldn't stay here forever, no matter how much we liked it."
"There might be others who will try to use you because of your dragon, just like with Prince Sumeng, I imagine," Sam warned.
"I know," Jon said. "But maybe… that could be something that I could use for my own advantage. Allows me to see which people I can approach and which to watch out for."
Sam bobbed his head. "Sounds acceptable."
Jon started to lay down on his sheets. "Now, get some sleep. We've got a busy few days ahead of us."
Sam also covered himself with his sheets while Benjen also went to where he slept. "Good night, Jon."
"Good night, Sam."
"Sweet dreams," Benjen said before he fell asleep.
A few days later, they went traveled from Kushiro southwards to Asabhad, the city haven't changed a bit in the last time Sam was there. But all of the officials gave their reverences to the Crown Prince while Sam continued to show himself as a proper man who knew etiquette by enjoying every dish they provided. They didn't stay in Asabhad for long, as they continued towards Yin.
Sam only heard rumors about what the capital was like, but he knew better than to trust hearsay and would let himself experience the city without the words of someone else who claimed to have been there. Whatever dangers we may face there, please protect us, he prayed to the old gods, having converted from the Seven.
A/N: Since there was much evidence against them, the trial went as expected. As for Jon, his beheading of the magistrate was more personal than with Janos Slynt, since Mr. "I have friends at court" was involved in Ned's death while the magistrate was responsible for killing someone closer to Jon's heart.
And whatever Sumeng is planning with Joon and the three Westerosi is still mysterious, though all of them have enough sense to understand that they're about to enter a more dangerous set of circumstances than before. On the bright side, no one is getting left behind.
Be prepared for some new additions and some unexpected turns when we finally arrive at the capital.
