Seeds of doubt

Edmure POV

Silence fell when the self-proclaimed Aegon left the dungeons of the Great Pyramid. I looked at Daenerys, and she looked back at me. There was nervousness in her eyes, but most of it was rage. At what or at whom, it was hard to say. Was it at herself for her powerlessness or at those around her testing her limits?

"Now I can see why you were indisposed in helping Queen Shireen," I said. "The golden company is with him, isn't it?"

"At least ten thousand," Ser Barristan Selmy replied.

"Hehe," Tyrion giggled. "Silver hair and purple eyes, he does look like a Targaryen, yet somehow I am more inclined to believe Jon Snow to be one than him."

"Jon Snow?" Daenerys asked.

"You know, the lord of the Seven Kingdoms, the third of his name, Jaehaerys Targaryen," Tyrion elaborated.

"Do you know him?" Barristan asked.

"I met him a few times," Tyrion replied. "Eager to impress and prove himself, yet at the same time dour and somber. Questioning his existence and purpose, you know the type."

"Enough with you japes, Lannister," Daenerys wasn't willing to listen. "I don't need to hear about some bastard who claims to be a king."

"He doesn't need to claim to be a king," Tyrion replied. "Many others gladly claim him their king, willingly serving him."

"I said enough," Daenerys was at her limit, and I thought Tyrion was trying to get killed. "I have enough to deal with one pretender; I don't want to hear about another. So, give me a reason not to kill you, Tyrion of House Lannister."

"I can deal with the one pretender closer to you," Tyrion replied, and Daenerys looked at him to continue. "I know how to deal with pretentious dicks that think the world belongs to them, and everyone has to do as they say."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Why shouldn't you?" Tyrion asked instead of answering. "I have no power. I am a dwarf, not a great warrior, or have any knowledge about poison. I can't do anything to harm you."

"And how would you deal with Aegon?" Ser Barristan was curious too.

"If he wants to talk to you, your Grace, you can make him talk to me," Tyrion replied. "I will tell him what he wants to hear and promise him to give anything within my power to him."

"Power you do not hold," Daenerys quickly got what Tyrion was trying to say.

"I am no proud lord or heroic knight, I am a dwarf, and I want to live," Tyrion replied. "Give me a chance to live, and I make that pretender not to bother you ever again. He even won't realize it."

"Your Grace," I gather everyone's attention. "Yunkai will not wait for you to deal with your enemies. At this very moment, the rest of the Free Cities are gathering forces and attacking Astapor. It will not hold forever; when it falls, they will turn their force to Meereen."

"I do not fear them," Daenerys replied. "I have dragons."

"Dragons I have not seen," I responded. "Your grace, I don't know where you keep them or why you refuse to use them, but if you were willing to use them against your enemies, you would have done it. If I know that, so does everyone else."

"What do you want me to do, ser Oscar," Daenerys eyes were sharp. "Do you want to trust him?"

"I want you to do something and not wait until your problems magically disappear," I replied. "I might not know much to advise you how to rule, but I know what the Wise Masters of Yunkai will do to Astapor. Masters don't care about people; they care about themselves, and now a little girl defeated them. They will use all their forces to crush her, even if it means they must burn the whole city, and they will do the same to you. We can't sit and do nothing, your Grace. And as much as you may dislike Shireen Baratheon or me, you know that our fates are linked."

"I will think about it," Daenerys turned and left with Barristan and Jorah.

I watched her leave and turned to Tyrion, who had a sly smile, knowing he would not be killed. I nodded to him and left too. I had to meet with Asha secretly and ask her for the information she got from her uncle. Then I needed to start planning how to kill Euron and dispose of Aegon.

…

Asha Greyjoy's chambers were close to mine, on the same floor as Daenerys chambers. It took patience to wait for a chance to sneak up before a patrol could notice me. It was good that Asha stayed close to my chamber, so it didn't take long to sneak in. The bad thing was that we both lived on the same floor as Daenerys.

The floor had dozens of guards walking from one side to another. While we didn't have guards by our doors, and only Daenerys had, it still took some luck and timing to sneak past the guards. Asha had waited for my visit, and when I entered, she was playing with her dagger while sitting on the bed.

"How improper, sneaking into proper lady's chambers late at night," Asha sniggered.

"I see no proper lady," I replied, sitting on the table next to her bed.

"How crude. Where have your manners gone?"

"When your uncle decided to ambush me, kill my men and friends, then kidnap and torture me for his amusement," I answered.

"Oh, I am so sorry that my father's and uncle's murdered had to endure such an injustice."

"You know as well as I do that your father got what he bargained for," I replied. "And when an axe is swung at you, you swing your sword at them back. So, stop acting like a little princess that had to endure some enormous injustice against her family."

"Euron offered me to join him. He promised to reclaim his seat as the King of Iron Islands," Asha said. "Tell me why I should not accept such an offer."

"Maybe because he wants to reclaim what isn't and never was his," I replied. "What else did he say?"

"Observant, aren't you?" Asha sighed. "He wanted me and my ships to return to serve him. He didn't even try to wince his words."

"Sounds stupid for him to do so," I replied. "Shouldn't he have said kinder words and promised you something?"

"Oh, he did. He promised many things."

"And yet?"

"And yet it was hard to believe him," Asha replied, stabbing her dagger at the table. "He presumed me to be a little girl who believed in fairy tales."

"What exactly did he say?"

"Euron told me that he will get dragons to burn down our enemies and reclaim the throne of the Iron Kingdom. He promised that the Greyjoy name shall be feared, and nothing will stand in our way."

"Nothing specific?" I asked.

"I asked him how he would do it, but he didn't reply," Asha said. "So, I told him I will listen to him when he has a plan and not fantasies."

"Is he staying in the Great Pyramid?" I asked.

"No, he only stays here when that silver-haired brat calls him. Otherwise, he is always in his ship with his silent men."

It was good and bad that he wasn't living in the pyramid. Good thing it lessened our chances of meeting. It was a bad thing because it made it harder to get to him. While in a pyramid, he would be with Aegon and his guard. While he wasn't, he would be in his ship with his men. The only method to get to him would be to strike while he was on the way to his ship.

Either way, he had work to do. He needed to map out the Great Pyramid and the routes Euron would take, spy on Euron and Aegon, and see what they are planning. It won't be easy, even with Asha and Tyrion's help. I needed the Tattered prince and his men to cover my sides. I can't let Euron accomplish his plans, which will undoubtedly cause disaster.

…

Staying close to Daenerys wasn't as much of an honor as it was to observe us better. If I didn't know how to sneak around, Daenerys would know my every movement. Good thing I have had many dealings with spies and observed their training. Years of experience have made me very observant and silent when I want.

The Great Pyramid had thirty-three floors. Aside from its size, it wasn't a complex building, so it didn't take long to fully map it out in my head and remember all the entrances. Yet the simplicity made it easier for guards to patrol and stand guards at every corner. There were few shadows I could hide myself in.

I did manage to find a way to move unnoticed and uncontested. As Meereen was, the air was mainly humid and hot. So, it wasn't surprising that the Great Pyramid had so many windows on every floor. And it so happens that I was staying at the top of the Great Pyramid, and its walls weren't very steep. With durable and long rope, I could decent to any floor and climb back up.

"Ser Oscar," Missandei was always the one that called me. "Her Grace wishes to see you."

I liked the girl. She was beyond her years in intelligence and wisdom. I didn't talk much with her, but the little conversations I had with her between my chambers to the Queens were enjoyable. She knew many things and was very courteous. I even smiled when she tried to probe me for some answers. She was still ten years too early to get anything from me or see through my lies.

"Your Grace, I have brought him," Missandei said to Daenerys as we entered her chambers.

It has been a few times now when I entered these chambers. Ser Barristan Selmy was still standing by the doors with his hand on his sword hilt, watching vigilantly at everyone and everything. It was clear he didn't trust Tyrion or me. But I was more surprised not to see Jorah anywhere. Maybe he was resting and would replace the old knight in the night.

"Well, if it isn't the famous knight of Shireen Baratheon, ser Oscar?" Tyrion asked as he sat comfortably in front of the Dragon Queen.

"I am no knight," I replied. "To what do I own the pleasure?"

"I have decided," Daenerys spoke. "I will help Astapor defend against slavers."

"Queen Shireen will be delighted to hear it."

"But firstly, I need help," Daenerys said. "I can't help anyone with an enemy within my walls."

"Aegon?" I asked.

"Him, Euron Greyjoy, the Golden Company, among the others," Daenerys answered. "I want you to discover their true intentions and proof of his lies."

"A tall order," I responded. "I hope we will have some support."

"You will have me," said A man with blue hair and a beard with a tinge of purple still present. "Daario Naharis at your service."

"Oscar Rivers," I introduced myself, hiding my surprise that I didn't notice him. It seemed I still wasn't used to having only one eye.

"And I am Tyrion Lannister," Everyone turned to the dwarf. "I thought you might forget me, as I am small. Anyway, now that we all know each other and are friends, should we talk about how we are doing this."

"Aegon was torn to us for quite a bit," Daario said. "They don't know much of you. But they will find out how close you are to the Queen, and I don't doubt they will try to approach you for information."

"And instead, you want us to get information from them," Tyrion smiled. "It is a good plan, but it needs wine."

"Wine?" Daenerys asked.

"Men talk more loosely when they have a drink or two or three or four or…." He didn't finish for everyone to understand what he meant. "And it so happens I had not many who could outdrink me. Few think someone as small as I could hold his drink better than him."

"Wine can be provided," Daenerys replied, unsure what to say.

"Now, how about a bodyguard?" Tyrion asked. "I have few in the custody of the fair lady Asha Greyjoy. Having two men accompany me would make others think I am an important person who holds information. It could also be false information, but nobody needs to know if it is."

Tyrion was in his element, talking about how to deal with others. And so, the plan was being made to help Daenerys unravel the mystery of Aegon and his company while I made my plans. From what I knew, I only needed proof that would let the seed of doubt could blossom in Daenerys mind. Then I will use her to kill them.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to five advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852