"The day of my death may have come. Ser Ilyn may be sharpening his sword''. Davos had never seen a face as disturbing as that of Ser Ilyn Payne. But he was effective at his job. From what he had been told, he rarely needed a second blow to sever a head.
"I will not beg for mercy," he had decided. He would go to his death like a knight, and only ask for his head to be cut off, he did not want to become another member of the army of the dead. It was then that he remembered that the queen had three huge dragons. ''Well, if they turned him to ashes he wouldn't come back to life later either.''
He was still turning his head when he heard the jingle of iron keys in the ring. Instantly the door to his room opened, but no jailer entered. It was a tall, thin man, his face furrowed with wrinkles, who held a dark gray cloak with a silver clasp over his shoulder.
- Ser Davos Seaworth," he said, "Follow me, please.
Davos eyed the newcomer warily. The favor was disconcerting to him. No one treated someone who was about to be condemned to death with such courtesy. Finally he nodded and wandered down the hall. He felt everyone's eyes on him as he crossed the courtyard: the guards on the wall, the stable hands in the stables, the kitchen helpers, the washerwomen, the maids... Then he realized that the one they were looking at was the King in the North, who was walking right behind him accompanied by the princess of the free people.
The queen received them in the throne room. They were escorted there when they crossed the imposing bronze doors and also when they walked along the long carpet. He spotted the Kingslayer in the gallery, tall, blond, with dazzling green eyes and a smile that cut like a knife.
The other Lannister brother stood before them. Tyrion was the youngest of Lord Tywin's sons and by far the ugliest.
And seated on the throne, Queen Daenerys Targaryen.
- You are in the presence of Daenerys of the Storm of House Targaryen, first of her name, queen of the Andals, the Rohynar and the First Men... -
The same dark-haired girl from the day before began to recite the de rigueur titles. As soon as she had finished, the queen bowed forward.
- I hope you have rested well, my lords - she said - Has it helped you to reflect on my proposal? -
She asked whether we would rather kneel or die.
- I'm afraid not, your highness - Jon said - We don't kneel - I'm sorry -
- How sorry - She did not seem surprised - I trust you have not forgotten the punishment due the rebels -
- I have not forgotten it, your majesty - Jon stepped forward - If that is what you think is just, punish me, but I beg you to spare the lives of my companions, they were only following orders -
''The King in the North'' - Davos said to himself - ''The King that the North deserves'' -
Val shook his head and stood between Jon and the queen
- If he dies, I will die with him - she shouted.
Daenerys did not flinch. She rose slowly from the throne and walked to stand a few meters from the couple.
- You have crossed Westeros from one end to the other to ask for my help.
- That's right, your highness -
- Someone told me last night that only a few years ago no one would believe that the dragons had returned - she said.
- You mean...? - Jon began.
- I cannot leave the capital now - the queen interrupted him - But I am willing to help you if there is a way -
"Maybe your highness wasn't as terrible as I thought.
- I... I thank you, your highness - Jon had also become speechless - And yes, there is something that could help us -
- I'm all ears - Daenerys replied
- We need dragonglass to forge weapons.
- Dragonglass? -
- An ore we can extract from Dragonstone - Jon explained - It is capable of destroying the wraiths. Fire, dragonglass and Valyrian steel. This is the only way we can defeat them.
A strange expression was drawn a moment on the face of Daenerys. "Doubt" Davos understood.
- I will allow you to extract the vidriagon and I will provide you with the manpower to do it - he said.
- Thank you, your majesty -
- But do not be confused - he warned - You know that I am still queen of the Seven Kingdoms and I have not changed my mind about which kingdoms belong to that throne.
- Neither have I - Jon finished.
The queen turned around and climbed the marble staircase to sit back on the throne.
- You may leave now, Jon Snow," she said as she leaned her back against the backrest, "I will provide you with a boat so you don't have to swim.
- So you believe what I told you about the army of the dead? - he asked.
That question seemed unnecessary to Davos and, judging by his gesture, to Daenerys as well.
- You'd better get to work - she said, - You don't want to get caught in the cold -