Chapter 8: Saffron and Lace

The smoke rose lazily into the air. It was not a funeral pyre in the traditional sense. No body was on the bier. Instead, it was like a bonfire. Almost a celebration. There was much to celebrate. And much to morn, for the life of one of the greatest minds in Westeros had moved on into the embrace of the Seven.

Jon watched the smoke, reminded of another pyre he had been witness to in the place where it was always cold. Beside him stood his queen, lover, and co-ruler Daenerys. The two were somber for they had lost one dear to them.

Beside the bier men wearing the livery of House Tyrell were placing a shroud wrapped bundle into a shallow grave. With them were men wearing blue and purple, the colors of House Redwyne. When they had placed the body into the grave the men proceeded to cover it with a high mound of turf. The attendants would eventually plant roses over the bower, it being the burial custom of House Tyrell that their bodies should feed the plants that gave them their sigil.

This would be the last such burial Westeros would ever see. With the passing of Lady Olenna Tyrell, House Tyrell was now extinct. All her other relatives and children had long proceeded her and none now living bore the name Tyrell. At least none who had any claim upon the castle of Highgarden.

To Jon and Dany it was a tragedy of a different sort. Lords and Ladies from all over the land had come to pay Lady Olenna their last respects. Or at least pretend to. Neither monarch had any delusions as to why they were really here. It hadn't been necessary for the two to attend at all, but they were both leery of having so many High Born together in one place.

To those who knew the High Born of Westeros there was no need to wonder why. Highgarden remained one of the richest and greatest castles in all the world. With no clear heir to claim it the vultures were circling.

The men currently burying Olenna would cease to be in Tyrell service once their task was done. What would become of them Jon didn't know. Though he imagined they would find service with one of the visiting High Born eventually.

When the ceremony was done Jon and Dany made their way out of the gardens which gave Highgarden its name and entered the keep. They passed their dragons reposing on the flowered lawns of the inner keep. Jon's Redflame was already starting to rival Drogon in size. Gold swirls decorated his underside and wings. The Small Folk had already taken to calling him the 'Red Death' even though he had never killed anybody. Beside him lay Obsidian. The she-dragon was not nearly as large. She was less black than Drogon had been. Green speckled her horns and tail. Dany was impatiently waiting for her to produce her first clutch of eggs, but that had yet to happen. The two were invariably together whenever they got the chance.

The two entered the main hall to find a dozen Lords waiting for them. Most prominent among them were the Redwynes, Olenna's birth family. Horas was the present Lord of the House, his father having died fighting Euron Greyjoy. Horas wasn't known for being the smartest lord around, but he was generally regarded as honest. His twin brother Hobber was with him.

With barely a shred of politeness he launched into it. "Your grace, who have you declared as the heir to Highgarden?"

Dany answered, "His grace has hardly made a decision yet."

"It is past time. With respect your grace, his grace has had several days to think it over."'

"Your haste is unseemly, Lord Redwyne," Jon admonished him. "Others also have an interest in Highgarden."

One of them, Titus Peake, was sitting right next to him. "The Redwynes have no more claim to Highgarden than any other."

"So says the traitor."

"What did you call me?!"

The two jumped to their feet, though the old man was hardly a match for the young one. Leonette Fossoway sat opposite them. "The Redwynes fought alongside the Lannisters just as the Peakes did. And the Fossoways. None here can claim innocence regarding the usurper."

"Gentlemen…" Jon's voice was stern as he sat himself at the head of the table. Dany sat to his right. "Lady Fossoway is correct. None has a claim upon Highgarden greater than any other."

Horas protested, "Lady Olenna was of my family." He pushed away the maester who was trying to get his attention. "It is only right that as the last Lady of Highgarden her estate should go to her family."

"The Tyrells were her family." The maester, Norwell by name, who had been trying to get Horas to look at him, came over and handed Jon a scroll. He read it and handed it to Dany. "Lady Olenna made her feelings clear." Dany handed the scroll back to the Norwell. "Read it."

Norwell looked uncomfortable speaking before so many Lords. "I, Lady Olenna Tyrell of…"

"Skip that part."

He gave Jon a look before continuing. "In consideration of the stance of the maseters…" Norwell glanced dubiously at the assembled. "And their continued refusal to allow access to their teachings by those of the female sex; I hereby bequeath the castle Highgarden and all the lands attached there to, to be used…" He stopped, staring at the parchment in disbelief. When he looked up at Jon the king indicated her should continue. "To be used to establish a place of learning for girls…"

He wasn't able to finish for the collected Lords burst out screaming. "Outrageous!" cried Lord Beesbury.

"This cannot be allowed!" yelled Theodore Tyrell, one of the few left who could legitimately claim to have Tyrell blood in his veins. He was only a distant cousin to Mace and thus had only the slimmest claim to Highgarden. "I am the last living Tyrell. Highgarden belongs to me!"

This statement caused its own outrage. "You are but a knight," Hobber pointed out. "A landless knight." He said this with some relish.

"Only because our claim to Highgarden has not been recognized!"

Lady Fossoway was no less outraged, though considerably more composed. "You are not the only living Tyrell. Leo, Medwick, your sister Olene, all still live and have as much claim as you. That is not even mentioning all the more distant cousins…"

"None of which matter…"

"All of this does not matter," Dany interrupted. "Perhaps you should allow the maester to finish."

Norwell nodded. "And hereby designate the crown as the executor of my estate."

A hush fell over the room. None of them needed to be told that the crown was also the one to pass judgement on the legality of Olenna's will.

"Now that we all know where we stand," Jon began, "I think it necessary to make certain things clear." Dany had a smile on her face. The impression everyone else had was that the royals had known what was in Olenna's will before the maester read it. "I have already reviewed all the claims to Highgarden before I arrived. I find that none of you has a better claim than any other."

Titus tried to interrupt, but Jon held up his hand.

"For the best interest of the realm I have decided to enforce Lady Olenna's will."

"You can't!" Horas cried.

Saying this to the king, even now, made everyone look askance at him. "Do you have grounds for appeal?" Dany asked him.

It didn't need to be said that Jon was the one he would appeal to. It didn't help that he couldn't think of any. He wanted to say that the ruling was contrary to custom or Jaehaerys's law code. But Daenerys had already thrown them out. The law was hers now.

Lady Fossoway felt compelled to add her own comment, though she was smart enough to know that pointing out her own sex would only annoy the royals. "Noble as Lady Olenna's desires are, we must think of the greater good."

"I have," Jon cut her off. "It is well recognized that men have an obligation to the care and upkeep of their female relatives. But what of those girls who lack such protection? You are all familiar with the present difficulties we are having regarding orphans."

None of them needed to be reminded. The cost of defeating the Others would last for another generation or more.

"Boys have the option of apprenticing themselves to tradesmen. Or volunteering for service with a household. But what of the girls? Must they all be whores? Or bedmaids? Now of all times we must take consideration for the children who lack families. Making Highgarden into a place of learning is very much to my favor. We can also use its grounds to help house orphan girls, for there are far too many as is. You agree?"

None of them dared to disagree. Not to his face.

The two left the hold despite an invitation to stay. Neither felt interested in playing guest. They spotted Davos as he was entering the main gate.

"Time for you to play king. I'm going back to Dragonstone."

Jon sounded sulky. "Why me?"

"You're the king. He wants to see you anyway."

"Why not stay and find out what he wants?"

"No. I'm sure it involves you having to be decisive."

Jon couldn't argue with that. Davos wouldn't have gone to the effort of travelling so far so fast if it wasn't important. "You're sure?"

She was resigned. "Yes. I have enough to deal with." She could never get him to believe there was a problem with Annis. She knew him well enough to know there was nothing between them. Granted, she was attractive enough. It was just that Annis was nobody to him. A septa. Nothing more.

Jon watched her walked toward her dragon feeling no less resentful. There were times when he wished he wasn't king. And they seemed to be getting more numerous.

Davos reached him looking every bit like someone who had ridden hard for days. "You look like shit."

Davos didn't bother to contradict. "Horses are not my preferred means of transport." He held up a letter.

"What is it?" Jon was slow taking it.

"Word from our Pentoshi friends on the doings of Justin Massey. Thought you'd want to see it."

Jon barely looked. "I have something more important I need you for."

Jon led Davos to the hold kitchens. One of the serving women was busy peeling potatoes. Jon addressed her, "Doing well Gladis?"

"Yes, y'r grace. I'm um feeling well this morn."

"Gladis, I want you to tell Lord Davos what you told me."

"Yes ser." She looked uncomfortable. "I'ms not one fer gossip, you know. But I's seen it wit me own eyes."

"What?" Davos asked. He was used to speaking to poor folk.

Gladis looked back and forth conspiratorially before continuing. "I's saw that thar lord of grapes…"

"Lord Redwyne?"

"Aye, him. I saws him enter the room of that there maester feller."

"Highgarden's maester?"

Gladis shook her head. "No ser. That brown robed one with the fancy collar. The bald one."

Davos look at Jon. There could only be one person who matched that description, Mathias Dombas, the High Judiciar for the Reach.

"I saws him go into his room. Then I sees them both come out shaking hands. I herd that maester gentleman say he's take care of it. That was befer his grace and her grace arrived. Then the grape lord goes to the maester without the chain and says 'why haven't you taken care of it?' The maester man say he will."

"Did these two gentlemen… give each other anything?"

"Not that I saw ser, but I's heard from Batty, that's Bathilde, the miller's daugh'er. She say she saw the maester feller with a new fat purse in his room. He ne'er had it before."

"Thank you Gladis. I may have to speak to you again."

The two men left. Jon asked him, "What do you think?"

Davos shook her head. "Master Dombas appears to be supplementing his income."

"That's what I want you to look into. I've decided to honor Olenna's will."

"Bet that cheered them up."

"They are going to try to undo my ruling anyway. So your being here will pose no problem. I'm telling them that I am giving you the responsibility to ensure her will is carried out. That should allow you to investigate Dombas at the same time."

"A lot of work. I'm going to need some help."

"I trust your judgement. Pick whoever you need. Once you have an answer, send for me."

"And what of the letter I gave you?"

Jon pulled it out and looked at it again. He scowled. "Has Jaqen seen this?"

"He hasn't been back on Dragonstone for a fortnight."

"I'll have to tell him myself."

The next morning Jon was flying northeast toward Dragonstone. He guessed that Dany wasn't in any hurry to get back and he was right. As he flew over the flat plains of the Reach he spotted Obsidian. The she-dragon was sleeping in tall grass. Dany was lying close by. Nobody else was in sight.

Daenerys was enjoying herself richly. It had been a long time since she could simply relax all by herself. Obsidian lifted her head and growled. Dany looked up to see Redflame moving in to land. Jon hoped off his dragon nimbly. Dany didn't hesitate. She was on her feet and running before Redflame had even touched the ground.

Jon opened his arms and Dany leaped into them. Her legs clamped around his waist, just as her arms tightened around his neck. Her lips locked on his and the two kissed long and hard. For Dany the blood still ran hot, for she was still far short of thirty. Though she had no desire to be Alysanne, she hadn't tired of childbirth yet.

Hours later Jon rolled onto his side and looked at his wife. "Davos will get to the bottom of whatever Redwyne is up to."

"Good." She didn't even open her eyes. "Let him be king."

Jon laughed. "I wished I could. He'd be a good one."

"I wouldn't go that far. A decent one perhaps. What did he want?"

Jon pulled the letter from his clothing and laid it on her chest. Dany read it and sat up. Her somnolent mood was gone. "Impossible. Didn't you say Shireen Baratheon was dead?"

"She is dead. I wouldn't be alive if Melisandre hadn't sacrificed her. I doubt anyone in Pentos would know what Shireen looked like."

"She had greyscale."

"So have many. It probably wouldn't have been too difficult to find one with scars close enough to hers. Still, I intend Jaqen to go there himself."

"Hasn't he already?"

"He's still out of the city. Let's hope he returns with better news."

Davos was no Faceless Man, but he had quite a winning way. He proved himself a natural detective. Though it took many days, Davos was able to winkle the truth out of the people at Highgarden, even as he simultaneously had to resist constant pressure from the High Born to convince Jon to rescind his decision.

Jon flew back to preside over the High Justiciar's trial. And he did not come alone.

The old man, chains on his wrists, protested vigorously. His voice was high and squeaky. "Your grace, I have never accepted any coin for my judgements."

Davos dropped the purse that was found inside Dombas' room onto the table before Jon. "How do you explain this?"

Dombas knew the law, but he wasn't the most imaginative. "Ah… uh…"

They waited several moments for him to come up with something before Jon grew tired of it. "Enough of this." He had already heard from all of Davos' witnesses. "Master Dombas, I selected you myself because you had assured me that you could honestly make rulings on the law. I am very disappointed to find you false."

"Your grace…" The old man was trying very hard to put on a show of grief and indignation. It wasn't very convincing. "I have always been your leal man."

"You were supposed to be an unbiased judge of the law. I sentence you to ten years hard labor." The old man almost swallowed his tongue. "First, you will confirm the identity of the one who gave you this bribe."

"Who gave…?" Dombas managed to look conflicted.

Jon's patience was running out. "I already know his identity. You will answer or I will know you to be even more false than you already are."

Dombas didn't answer, but his eyes went to Hobber Redwyne. Hobber jumped to his feet. "How dare you! Grimy old man, I gave you nothing!"

Davos confronted him. "You deny you gave this purse to Master Dombas?"

"Of course I deny it! I am no criminal! I would never corrupt the law!"

Jon's voice was calm as usual. "You're right. We know it wasn't you. Lord Horas Redwyne, you are under arrest for the bribery of the High Judiciar Mathias Dombas."

Horas leapt to his feet. He struggled to speak, but nothing came out. His shock was matched by the audience, especially the other Lords and Ladies in attendance. Horas looked to his brother, perhaps expecting Hobber to defend him. But Hobber stared back in horror. Nor would Horas receive any help from the guards. Daenerys had forbade the creation of any armies in Westeros besides the royal one. The people, high and low alike, now all swore allegiance directly to the crown and to Westeros. The High Born could no longer 'call the banners'. The troops who manned Highgarden today wore the white three-headed Targaryen dragon upon a grey field; the Stark colors deliberately reversed to honor Jon's 'bastardy'.

The guards pulled Horas into the center of the room next to Dombas. "Do you have anything to say in your own defense?"

"Your grace…" Horas was gasping. His agitation was palpable. "I am innocent."

The doors to the room suddenly burst open. The shock of the event was matched by fear as a giant white wolf pranced into the room. The guards held their weapons uncertainly as Lord Davos held up a hand to stop them. The huge beast walked up and sat himself next to Horas. Lord Redwyne turned his head to find himself staring into the blood-red eyes of Ghost.

"I must warn you, Ghost can smell your fear. And your honesty. For each lie you speak he will tear off a finger." As if reinforcing the point Ghost growled deep in his throat. "Do you have anything else to say?"

"Ahh… ahh… ahh…, your grace, I… confess that I went to Master Dombas to plead my case. That is proper. I am allowed…"

"Within the proper venue. You are not allowed to put forth your case without allowing others to make theirs."

"I was not trying to stop the others. I was only trying to put forth my own. Lady Olenna was of my family. I am her closest living relative."

"Which is of no account."

"I… I did not know she wrote a will."

"Because you did not ask her."

Horas was feeling more confident on this ground. "That is beside the point. The needs of her family take precedence over her personal wishes. That is the law."

"Yet you still chose to buy a judgement. Do you deny it?" Horas lost his confidence, but he also did not answer. "Must we call for the witnesses again? Do you wish them to identify you here, in front of all the folk of Highgarden?"

Horas glanced around the room, seeing a sea of faces whose expressions matched that of his brother. "No." He took a deep breath before continuing. "No, your grace. I meant no harm. My eagerness for my great aunt's patrimony led me to do a foolish thing."

Dombas muttered to him. "It's too late for that lad. His mind is set."

And so it was. "Lord Horas, I do believe you thought you were doing no harm. You were acting as the High Born have long acted. As they have for long centuries in Westeros. But we live in a different time now. I want none to doubt my commitment to ending all corruption in this kingdom. There can be no tolerance for those who seek to circumvent the law using either their power or money. It disappoints me that one who has long been famed for his honesty has proven himself false. It is my wife's law that 'the rule for one is the rule for all'. The High Born are not exempt from this. I hereby condemn you to ten years hard labor."

The room filled with babbling, but no voices were raised in defense of Horas. The Lord himself was pulled from the room still trying to think of some excuse that would save him from punishment. The old man was more acquiescent.

"Let it be known, this is how all corruption shall be dealt with by the crown. No one may buy justice and any judiciar who dares sell it will find themselves victim of it."

Afterward, Davos walked with Jon and Ghost through the gardens. Neither man petted the direwolf for Ghost did not like to be touched. "It was well done, though I fear I'll now have a tide's worth of complaints to deal with."

"Deal with it. I have no doubt you will. It won't be a surprise. There has always been too much latitude given to the High Born. I did not think it would shrink away just because my wife says so."

"You wish me to make more permanent arraignments?"

"I want you to create a force whose sole purpose is to investigate crimes in Westeros. We cannot and will not depend on the High Born to enforce the law impartially. That is why I appointed the judiciars in the first place."

"It will take time."

"How long did it take Septon Barth to rewrite the laws of Westeros? None of us thought our reforms would be easy. My only fear is that this will make ruling the High Born that much more difficult."

"I don't think you'll have much trouble. Not with both a dragon and a direwolf." Davos laughed.

"What?"

"I was just thinking… The heraldry of my new association should be a white direwolf."

Jon laughed, but Davos swore that Ghost looked embarrassed.

In the weeks following their leaving Washo Arya remained stubbornly in her cabin. Maud was their only contact. She did everything for her mistress and it showed. Many thought Maud was neglecting herself too much in her desperation.

She wasn't alone in her concern. Arya's reaction to whatever she had encountered in Carcosa scared all of them stiff. This was Arya, the Fearless. What could possibly cause her to lose herself?

"I've seen it before," the Hound told them. "The old men who have been in a hundred battles. It could happen after your first or fiftieth. It gets to you. You've seen too much. Your brain can't take it. There's nothing we can do. We have to wait till she comes out of it on her own."

"What if she doesn't come out of it?" asked Yimi.

"Then she doesn't."

They were nearing what they believed to be the eastern end of the Saffron Straits when Maud came on deck. She looked terrible, like she hadn't slept in days. Her hair hung in tangles and dark smudges were under her eyes.

Brienne pulled up her face to look. "You look like shit."

Maud pulled herself free. "I can't sleep. She wakes every night screaming."

"We know. We can hear."

"I don't know what to do." Maud was almost in tears. "I don't know how to help her."

"Just keep doing what you are doing."

"She barely eats. She doesn't bathe unless I make her. All she does is drink."

"She is what she is," the Hound said.

Right then Arya came up on deck. Nobody was more surprised than Maud. She wasn't quite her old self. She wasn't in her armor, nor did she have Dark Sister. She was dressed in simple homespun which no one could remember seeing her wear before.

Everyone rushed to her. Maud reached out to touch her as if afraid she'd break. "Your grace…?"

"It's okay. I'm better now."

"Glad to see you," Brienne said.

"I was getting bored lying in bed all day."

Maud was in tears. "Your grace…"

Arya wiped the tears off her face. "It's all right Maud. You have done me good service and I thank you." She knew how Maud thought of her, but she did not share those feelings. Grateful as she was, for she was certain she would not have recovered without her, she no longer needed Maud. Not in that way. But she didn't have the heart to tell her.

Arya looked down at her gut. "Gained some weight."

"You have."

The others expected Arya to lose her temper, but she wasn't in any mood for it. "I need to get back in shape. Care to spar with me?"

"Whenever you're ready."

"Where are we?"

Marwyn broke in, "As best as I can calculate, we are nearing the Saffron Straits."

"Only now?"

"After leaving Washo we had to sail almost due east."

He led her back down into the hold to show her his charts. It had been a remarkable journey, if uneventful. They had encountered a hundred little princedoms, if not more. None had tried to interfere with them in any way.

"They all seemed to have heard about Carcosa, though I don't know how. Am I right in assuming you had something to do with it?"

Arya didn't answer him.

"You really must tell me what happened."

"No I don't." Her tone left no room for argument. At least some of the old Arya was coming back.

"It is remarkable. There really was little to distinguish these kingdoms from one another. They all spoke similar dialects and their cultures appeared the same. The only way we could tell them apart was their hats."

Arya burst out laughing. "Hats?"

"Indeed."

Jake took one out of a chest and handed it to her. She laughed even louder. The thing look more like a house. How it could sit on anyone's head was beyond her.

Marwyn had to smile too. "When I finally get a chance to write the book on our journey I am going to have to devote an entire chapter to hats."

None of them said it, but her laughter was like music to them. She tried to put on the hat, but it didn't fit.

"How far are we from Asshai?"

"Where we are now? Approximately five hundred leagues as the dragon flies."

She was incredulous. "Five hundred leagues? I was twice as close when I was at Carcosa."

"No doubt, but the Great Bay proved far larger on its southern side than we anticipated."

Arya did some quick calculations. "The Saffron Straits must be as long as the Narrow Sea."

"Just about."

"What's south of us?"

"We don't know yet. We will find out shortly."

They were not as close as Marwyn had thought. It was another week before they finally caught sight of the Straits. Arya got in a good deal of exorcise and was once again in fighting trim. This was also in spite of eating like a horse.

The fleet sailed around a bank and there it was. Since sailing east the coast had been gradually building into cliffs again. Thus, they rounded the coast and there before their eyes was the most extraordinary sight any of them had ever seen. Unlike the Great Bay, the opening of the Straits wasn't very wide. A mere ten leagues or so. Dividing it into a multitude of channels were islands like mountain tops. The islands sprung from the water like giant ant mounds whose sides rose shear and rough. Some rose above even the highest mast heads of the fleet. None had a beach and Arya doubted any human soul ever set foot on them. There were dozens. Birds by the thousands nested on their tops.

The channels were very shallow. The water was so clear it was possible to see all the way to the bottom. And they were filled with life. Such life. Fish of kinds that none even among the Ironborn had seen. Dolphins and sharks. Sea birds dived into the water freely. And giant eels, thin as an oar but longer than pikes. Huge snails as large as wagon wheels. The beauty was such that all the fleet stood in rapture at the sight.

The ships had too much draft to travel through them. They had to keep going until they reached the southernmost side before finding one deep enough.

Once there they found themselves in the midst of another fleet of fishing boats. The origin of the boats was also visible; another princedom. This was not a stockade like Yo Sha's. A small town had been built on the corner where the northern and eastern coasts of Ulthos met. A wooden tower stood on the top of a small hill in the middle of it.

Asha halted the fleet while they were still far from the shore. "Want us to go ashore?"

"Let's wait. I don't think it will be necessary."

She had seen some pandemonium near the docks. The largest boat was rowed out to them. They knew immediately they were its destination for it made a beeline straight to them. They lowered the ship's ladder when it came alongside. A small man dressed all in brown climbed aboard. His clothing was nothing like any they had ever seen before, appearing far heavier than the heat would make comfortable. On his chest was a sigil like heraldry, a brown triangle inside a yellow circle.

The man spoke to them in an alien tongue. Marwyn answered using Yitish. The man responded, but Arya could tell his accent was terrible. So Marwyn tried Asshai'i. What a difference distance made. The man broke out in smiles and gleefully answered in the same language. The man was so happy he clapped Marwyn on the shoulder.

After a good deal of back and forth, this is the information they managed to gleam from him: His name was Idowanago. He was the mayor or commandant of this village. He owed his allegiance to the Empire of the Elephant. The Empire was the largest kingdom along the eastern coast of Ulthos, ruling for one hundred leagues both south and west of them. The Empire was ruled by priest-kings whose leader was the High Priest-Emperor Thulsa Doom. He ruled with an iron hand, not that the mayor said so explicitly. Their god, the Elephant King, demanded yearly sacrifices of blood. Virgin girls were forced to marry the god, which meant they really became the concubines of the priest-kings. Any babies they gave birth to were sacrificed to the god and their flesh eaten by the priests. Even the mayor found this distasteful to speak of and it was mostly by Marwyn's surmise that they came to this conclusion.

Further south was not any better. Beyond the Empire was its great rival, the Kingdom of Set. This Kingdom dwelt entirely in a swamp and its people worshipped snakes. The mayor knew nothing of it beyond the fact that its people were cannibals, that their queen was said to change shape into a man or a snake, and claimed to be the wife of Set. Marwyn noted that both the Emperor and the Queen were said to be over one thousand years old.

"An ancient rivalry."

"Does he say so?"

"He certainly implies it, though he denies knowing. I get the impression that these two kingdoms were intentionally created to act out this confrontation."

"Then we can leave them to it."

"You don't wish to investigate?" he asked even though her meaning was clear.

Arya was in no mood for arguments. "We are not here to get involved in other people's wars. Particularly as neither of these kingdoms sound particularly salubrious."

Marwyn looked to the others for support, but all of them were of Arya's mind. They always are, he reminded himself with disgust.

Idowanago told them that, though a vassal of the Empire, his people weren't much bothered so long as they paid their tribute. His people did much trade for many ships sailed through the Straits and it was almost impossible, due to the shallows, for them to avoid his village. His people had a large stockpile of spices and fine linens they were willing to trade. Though the fleet had brought trade goods with them, it wasn't very much. Arya had also insisted on them bringing along the steel and weapons they had taken from the enemies they had encountered. So after some hard bargaining, they were able to obtain several chests of linens and a few casks of spices.

The linen was indeed fine. Better than any they had seen before. Joella and Yimi both had some skill with the needle. More than Arya ever had. The two collaborated in turning some of the linen into fine new bedclothes for their queen. Small clothes too. Arya was examining a pair they had just finished. In style it was more what one would expect to find in Pentos or Braavos than Westeros. Seeing them Brienne raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Asha was not so reticent. "Planning on giving the king a gift when you get home?" she asked with a grin.

Arya answered in mock outrage. "Of course!"

The women all laughed.

The spent a few days here. Not for any particular reason. Just because everyone wanted to feel ground under their feet. Ulthos was said to be nothing but jungle and nobody was sure if there was anywhere safe to land. They were able to obtain quite a bit of fresh fruit, including plums of unusual size. They also noticed that there were far more soldiers than such a small village would normally support. This lent credence to the mayor's claim of the strategic value of the village. Also unlike the mayor, most of the people here dressed more comfortably for the climate. Arya imagined they would be quite at home in Dorne.

Not wishing to overstay their welcome, and feeling dreadfully homesick, Arya insisted they weigh anchor. A mere three days after arriving at the place the mayor called Janga they headed west toward the sunset.

The boost in moral could hardly be exaggerated. It had taken them a year to get this far and would likely take at least that long before they reached home. Yet to all of them it felt as if they were on their homeward journey at last.

Such feelings were extremely premature. And they were in far greater danger than they realized.

Less than a day's travel from Janga they found themselves sailing under the overhanging branches of the tallest trees any of them had ever seen. Arya guessed their height at near half the height of the Wall when it still stood. Though none of the towering giants was as big as the great Heartree of the Weirwoods, their enormous size gave her uncomfortable flashbacks. She still remembered with perfect clarity the bone white trunk larger than the Red Keep and its nauseating 'fruit'.

When Brienne touched her she almost jumped. "Are you all right?"

Arya took a deep breath. Her memories, so vivid of two separate places, yet both alike in their utter evil. They were blending themselves together in her mind. She closed her eyes, her hands over her mouth, and tried to force back the images that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Your grace?" It was Maud.

Arya could see everyone staring at her. She found herself shaking. She wanted so desperately to drown herself in ale, to make the images go away. She forced herself to remain were she was. She would not allow herself to be consumed by the horror again.

She was saved in a most unexpected way.

"Ware!" cried the lookout, pointing.

All concerns left them as they looked toward the jungle. It was almost too late, for the borders were almost to the ships even as they turned to face them. From out of the trees, swinging on long vines or ropes which hung from the overhanging branches came Brindled men. They could be nothing else. They wore very little and their skin showed the mottled pattern of black and white for which they were known. Their faces were more pig than man, with jutting teeth. Though dressed in skins they carried weapons made of steel. They had taken the fleet completely unawares and the first were on the ships before the Westerosi could react.

React they did. Dismissing her memories entirely, Arya drew Dark Sister and Visenya's Dagger, one in each hand. A Brindled man had landed on the deck next to her. The huge brute hacked downward with a bill hook, but Arya dodged it easily. The creature took two more swings at her before she saw her opening and skewered its neck. No sooner had it dropped than another appeared before her.

The creatures had planned out their attack well. They were spaced all along the fleet and not a single ship escaped their attentions. But they weren't as well prepared as they might. Many never reached the vessels, being unable to keep hold of the vines or meeting crossbow bolts on the trip. Those that did found themselves outnumbered by opponents better armed and armored. Also, they were attacking Ironborn, who knew their ships better than they knew their wives.

The Hound found himself facing the leader of the group. He knew it had to be for the beast, a creature near as big as himself, was the only one dressed in armor, a boiled leather jerkin. It also wielded a huge, two-handed great sword. Nor was it ignorant in its use. Sandor found himself having to back away from its repeated swings. The creature was as fast as himself. Despite this, no normal steel is a match for Valyrian. Heartsbane cleaved the great thing in two and Sandor promptly did the same to the beast's head.

Once their leader fell the other invaders on Summer leapt over the side to escape. The Ironborn showed them no mercy and few managed to swim to shore. On seeing their comrades fleeing the ones on board the other ships also chose to run. Several Ironborn had been killed, though none on board Summer.

"What were those things?" Yimi demanded.

"Brindled Men." Marwyn never missed a chance to show off his knowledge. "Though I have never heard of them inhabiting Ulthos. They are creatures of Sothoryos, or so I heard."

"Could this be proof that Sothoryos and Ulthos are one and the same Archmaester?" Jake asked him. The two had stayed as far from the fighting as they could.

"It's possible lad. But we mustn't forget Brindled Men are known to be sell-swords. It had always been assumed that no kingdoms existed on Sothoryos or Ulthos. We now know that to be wrong."

The Hound had no patience for learned discussions. "We don't need your theorizing." He pointed to the one he killed. On its chest was the same heraldry as Idowanago was wearing.

Arya had The Look in her eye. "He thinks to play games with me."

Brienne asked her, "Are we going back?"

Arya stared through her. "Of course."

It proved more difficult to turn around than expected. Though the Strait was wide enough, it was filled with shallows. Trying to navigate through them proved more taxing than it was worth. In the end Asha decided to just let them drift with the current. Fortunately, this was flowing in the right direction. Even so, it wasn't until the next morning that they got back to Janga.

The village was empty when they arrived.

"Looks like they didn't want to face us," Brienne said.

"Shows they have sense," the Hound answered.

"Leave the town be," Arya commanded. "We search the tower."

This was not to the approval of the Ironborn. Or the Queensguard for that matter. "Why?" Asha demanded.

"We don't know if the people here had anything to do with it. It could just be Idowanago. Or he might be following orders given him by his Priest-Emperor. Regardless, a time will come when Westerosi return to this place. We don't want them to receive a hostile reception if we can avoid it. What's in the tower should satisfy whatever greed you have."

"I don't have any," Asha answered angrily. "I have widows and orphans to answer to."

Arya was not sympathetic. "Is that what the Ironborn say when they pillage a village or town somewhere? How many of both have you made?" There were still scars from the War of the Five Kings and Arya had a long memory. "The widows and orphans here may not mean anything to you, but they are just as real. And I have to think about the future. It may well be that travelers from the Seven Kingdoms may not set foot here again for another fifty years. But what if do? I have no desire for them to be killed out of hand for a problem they didn't start."

"They attacked us," Obella pointed out.

"Did they? Or was it this Empire of the Elephant? We don't know what the politics are here and I have no intention of waiting to find out."

Arya's word was the only one that mattered of course. No matter how much they grumbled, none of them were going to fight her.

There proved to be little to loot in any case. None of the villagers had any wealth, at least none that was in plain view. Marwyn did take note that the people here possessed some exceptionally fine porcelain, but nothing the Ironborn would consider worth the effort. Inside the tower they found more weapons, spices, linens, and trinkets. But no gold and precious little silver or bronze. Jake did find a small jade idol of an elephant that Marwyn wanted to study. But its countenance was so disturbing that the others threatened to smash it if he tried to take it with them. He made a drawing of it and left it where it was found.

As they were leaving Brienne asked Arya, "Something wrong? You look disturbed."

"Did you notice all the people watching us?"

"Yes. They were all hiding, waiting for us to leave. Don't tell me you feel guilty."

"I don't. But we are in their land and it is wrong for someone to barge into your home and tell you what to do."

"They should have considered that before they attacked us."

"Did that statue remind you of anything?"

"No."

"In the House of Black and White there were many statues. Some of gods I've never heard of. But I can't remember seeing anything like that elephant."

"Be glad. I don't think we want any worshipers of that thing anywhere near Westeros."

Their involvement with Janga wasn't over.

As they once more sailed westward a huge winged shape flew by overhead. "I've been wondering where she went off to."

"She's been exploring too. Inland."

Brienne did not ask how Arya knew this.

Snowflake did a dive straight into the water near enough to make the boats rock. "I wish she would stop doing that," Crackjaw muttered.

"Let her have her fun," Arya answered.

She ran over to the side of the ship as Snowflake surfaced. The dragon was reveling in the water. Very unlike her kin. She swam over to the ship looking just like an oversized swan. Snowflake nuzzled her rider, much to the alarm of the Queensguards who thought she might knock her down. The dragon's head was now longer than Arya herself.

It was after Snowflake had once again taken off that the trouble started, near to where they had encountered it the previous day. Arrows came flying out of the trees. Several of the Ironborn were hit, though none lethally. They answered fire and it immediately stopped.

"They wish to play, do they?"

"Is that such a good idea." Brienne knew what she was thinking. Arya's blood was up and that meant trouble.

Arya once more had The Look on her face. "They wish to provoke us. They have. Get the long ships out. We're going ashore."

Only Arya and her Queensguards actually went. The Ironborn remained to protect the fleet.

Asha had wondered what it was they were after. "Is this about our ships again?"

"I can think of nothing else."

There was no riverbank for them to step onto, so they had to jump to the shore. They had to be careful about it too for the bank dropped straight into the water several feet. Arya as always was first.

She and her Queensguards made their way into the jungle. It wasn't easy. There was no trail and the vegetation was very overgrown. Dark Sister sliced through it with ease though and they made good headway.

An arrow zipped past her head. More followed. The party all ducked. They were not wearing their helmets due to the heat.

"I can't see them," Yimi muttered.

"Save your arrows for a clear target," Brienne answered.

When Arya moved to continue Sandor grabbed her shoulder. "Me first."

With wide sings of Heartsbane he opened up a wide passage ahead of him. They never caught up to the archers, for these had melted into the jungle never to return. What they did find was far worse. Sandor hacked away a particularly large branch and came face-to-face with the largest snake any of them had ever seen.

It was as big around as a wagon wheel and black as night. Its head rivaled Snowflake's in size. The Westerosi stood frozen as the monster reared up hissing.

"Run!" Arya cried.

It was too late. The thing lashed out. The Hound dived aside barely in time. Its mouth wasn't its only weapon. Faster than he could think the thing had wound itself around him, squeezing tight. His Valyrian armor saved him from crushing, but it didn't help him breathe.

Arrows thudded into its side as Arya and her Queensguards laid to with their weapons. They opened great gashes in its flanks, but none appeared to effect it in the slightest. It struck back, launching its head at them again and again. Fortunately, none of them ended up in its mouth. They likely wouldn't have gotten out again. Nevertheless, it beat them down and knocked them around like kingpins. Obella's arm was caught by its jaws and it flung her off into the jungle.

The battle turned when Arya managed to stick Dark Sister into its bottom jaw. She thrust hard, ramming it in almost to the hilt. The snake jerked backward and she almost lost her sword. A roar from above attracted all their attention, including the snake's. Snowflake dived down on the beast. Her jaws locked on its neck. The snake attempted to coil itself around the dragon, releasing the Hound at the same time. Sandor lay gasping and clutching at his ribs. The snake's intentions were foiled by the dragon's wings and tail. Of the two the dragon was far stronger. Snowflake ripped the head off the snake resulting in a massive gush of blood that threatened to drown her rider.

Brienne had pulled Sandor away before the beast's body could fall on him. "What a monster."

"I had heard of giant snakes living in Sothoryos, but nothing like this."

Obella stumbled from the jungled. She was limping badly and had insect bites all over her face. Alys ran to her. "Are you okay?" The Hightower girl was in tears. She hooked Obella's arm over her shoulder.

Obella shook her head, unable to speak.

"Take them back to Summer. Tell Asha to wait for me."

"Where are you going?" Brienne almost forgot Sandor, whom she was cradling. "Take us with you."

"No. I won't be needing you."

"You can't go undefended," Maud said.

"I'm not." She climbed up onto Snowflake's back. "I will return soon."

Then she was up and away, the dragon vanishing from sight.

"Let's go," Sandor managed to gasp out. "I wouldn't want to be in that village now in any case."

It took no time at all for Arya to fly back to Janga. The villagers hadn't expected such an arrival. Arya saw the people fleeing in panic, running in all directions. She kept circling, deliberately allowing the people to escape. Most fled into the jungle. Those that didn't would simply have to accept their fate. Arya recognized Idowanago by his clothes. To her disgust, he was one of the first to run.

After everyone visible had disappeared into the jungle Arya made one more pass, then burned the town. She spared nothing. Not tower, hut, or hovel. She even made certain to burn the boats that were still at the dock. She left the ones out on the water alone, not wanting these people to starve.

When you wake the dragon, you invite the dragon's wrath.

She left Janga a burning waste. They heard nothing more from the Empire of the Elephant.

END CHAPTER 8