AN: Hizdahr – a character who's never gotten a POV chapter in any ASOIAF fanfic I've read. Time to fix that.
As the first rays of dawn filled the room, Hizdahr zo Loraq opened his eyes.
The previous morning, I was a prisoner. I wake today as a king once more…
He turned his head to the left to see nothing on that side of the bed save empty sheets. It seemed his wife had already risen.
Hizdahr rose and slipped on a robe to cover his nude body. He walked to the open door leading out onto the terrace, then stepped out into the sunlight.
Daenerys, also dressed in a robe, was at the edge of the terrace looking out on Meereen. With her silver hair gleaming in the morning sun and billowing in the wind, she looked like one of the beauties from the legends.
However, Hizdahr wasn't swept away by that beauty. He hadn't even before their marriage.
"Daenerys," Hizdahr said. "I must confess, I feared I would not wake this morning in your bed. I feared you might have your knight drag me out and imprison me for a second time."
"Then I must confess, I feared you might slit my throat in the night," Daenerys said without turning around. "So it seems both of our fears proved groundless."
Hizdahr walked to the edge and looked out at the landscape as well.
I have known Meereen for over two decades… she never ceases to impress me with her splendour.
Though the change in leadership has brought new sights to Meereen…
Hizdahr looked up to see the two dragons wheeling about in the blue sky.
"Daenerys, I feel I must point this out: for many Meereenese, dragons are a thing of terror."
The Targaryen girl whirled around and fixed Hizdahr with a piercing gaze. She looked furious enough to toss aside the plan and divorce Hizdahr on the spot, regardless of the political consequences.
And a part of Hizdahr almost wanted her to do that. He had no romantic desire for her, and the benefits from being married to her felt less and less worthwhile with each passing day.
"…You are not wrong to say that," Daenerys murmured. "Then perhaps I will ask them to spend less of their time flying above Meereen."
That was a mild surprise to Hizdahr. Not a complete surprise, for she'd once locked up two of the dragons for reasons of safety. However, he didn't expect her to do such a thing after the dragons had been transformed.
Daenerys raised one arm and waved it from side to side. The dragons soon began descending, then landed on the terrace.
This morning, both dragons were dressed in well-tailored clothing. Rhaegal wore a silver blouse decorated with dark green embroidery, darker than her own scales. Viserion wore a shirt and short leggings that were both jet-black, clashing with the pale colours of her hair, skin and scales.
Not clothing fit for royalty… but then, the royal tailors I am familiar with have never had to create clothing for inhuman beasts.
Hizdahr felt existential terror as the two creatures looked upon him, like an antelope cornered by lions. But as king of this city, he had a reputation to uphold, so he forced himself to appear calm.
"Good morning, you two," Daenerys said cheerfully. "Now, would you like to join us as we break our fast?"
The dragons eagerly followed Daenerys inside. Viserion shot a disdainful gaze at Hizdahr as she walked past.
So I am not up to her standards? Well, I care not for her barbaric standards to begin with.
They ate together, with Hizdahr maintaining his calm expression despite the savage eating manner of the dragons, which made no use of utensils, only their mouths and wings. Then servants came in to dress him and Daenerys in their clothes for the day.
During the dressing, Viserion looked at Hizdahr's body and snorted. "Not a good mate. Not a good fighter."
Hizdahr continued maintaining his calm expression.
"Viserion, that is not polite," Daenerys warned. "Being a king doesn't require being a good fighter."
"Indeed," Hizdahr added. "The people of Astapor learned that to their sorrow."
Daenerys glared at Hizdahr for that, but she said nothing.
"But I am curious, where is the third?" Hizdahr asked. "Drogon?"
"I sent her away, along with …Ser Jorah," Daenerys replied. "I'd heard of a Dothraki khalasar being invited by the Yunkish to help attack Meereen. The Yunkish and most of their allies have fled, but these Dothraki have yet to even reach Meereen, so they may not have heard yet."
"I see… but I do not think Dothraki would be any threat to Meereen," Hizdahr said. "Even if we did not have… inhumanly strong defenders, we have tall walls, and no horse can climb a wall."
"True, but I would rather they not pillage our citizens that live in the outlying villages, without the protection of walls," Daenerys said. "Oh, Missandei."
The Naathi ex-slave had appeared. Daenerys addressed the two dragons, telling them to spend the morning learning from Missandei.
I could try suggesting Meereenese tutors for the dragons, to teach them Ghiscari values, Hizdahr thought. But even aside from the low chance of Daenerys accepting, it would be… difficult to find many Meereenese who'd willingly spend time with the dragons, having to correct their mistakes when necessary.
And still on the topic of dragons, why was the wildest and most violent one sent out? What was the reasoning behind it? Was it because the task only involves violence?
Hizdahr hadn't seen much of Daenerys' interactions with the dragons. While he and Daenerys had slept together last night to keep up appearances, the dragons had slept out on the terrace, preferring the open air.
Before coming to bed, she went out to talk to them for a good long while… What was that about?
Once they were done here, they walked out of the royal apartments. Barristan and four Unsullied joined at this point. They went down stairs to the audience hall of the Great Pyramid.
Already present here was a man who did not belong in Meereen. Nor was he a proper man, for that matter.
"Greetings, Your Graces," Tyrion Lannister said with a bow.
Hizdahr suppressed his distate. This form of address was common in the Sunset Kingdoms, but here in Meereen, it suggested the addressee was a Grace, a priestess.
"Lannister," Daenerys said curtly. "Have you anything useful for us?"
"Yes, I've already begun gathering information," Tyrion said. "The first thing you ought to know is that the new Royal Sorceress is resting in her, well, new manse. She will come out in the afternoon to set up her magical protections on the city, but aside from that, she will not be doing anything else."
"She has more than earned that rest," Hizdahr said sincerely.
Starting from yesterday, Hizdahr had been speaking with other Meereenese again. Some were now claiming that Wilmarina Noscrim was actually an incarnation of the Harpy, based on her being female and having wings. They claimed she had descended from the sky to save Meereen from its numerous woes.
Some are now whispering I should attempt to win her heart, or that of one of her daughters. Some plan to attempt that themselves. But I am not so foolish as that.
There were multiple stories of Wilmarina's combat prowess. Even the least outlandish ones said she could cut apart men with a flick of a wrist and overpower dragons. And Hizdahr had seen the dragons, post-transformation, accidentally leave scratches in stone.
No matter the benefits to seducing one of the monsters… I value my health and life too much for that.
"Her daughters, on the other hand, have different plans," Tyrion continued. "Elise, the younger of the twins, plans to, and these are her exact words, 'clear the Great Pyramid of all its vermin. Ugh, just how can humans here live in such conditions?'"
Hizdahr felt a deep and profound disgust at hearing the dwarf mimicking the words of a beautiful woman.
"We have rat catchers already," Daenerys said. "I appreciate her generosity, but her magic might be more useful for other purposes, ones difficult or impossible for humans to achieve."
"I thought so as well, but that's not the end of it," Tyrion said. "According to my agent, she said less than a minute of effort on her part is enough to clear this pyramid of every single rat, mouse, cockroach, fly or other vermin. Most of the effort would be done by men here instead, and even that would not take very long. And apparently this is only an experiment, and should the experiment succeed, she says she could clear the entire city of vermin in the same manner… tonight, or in a few nights at most."
Hizdahr and Daenerys shared amazed glances. For once, they were of the same mind about something.
Some myths say that vermin are punishment from the gods, for humanity's hubris, and that is why we can never be truly rid of them. I know not if those myths are true. But what is beyond question is that vermin spoil food supplies, ruin clothing and spread disease. I still remember that lesson from my old tutor. If she can succeed at this…
"I would suggest increasing her reward, but that's already been done," Hizdahr said, rubbing his chin in thought. "Then, perhaps…"
Yesterday, he'd noticed Elise stealing glances at some of the more comely men in the court. That was something he could exploit.
I could tell my servants to find the comeliest and most skilled male bedslaves in Meereen, then send them to her. Perhaps one or more of her family would appreciate the reward as well.
These bedslaves would not know of their true employer, of course, to avoid being traced back to me. But they could still discover useful information. Many let slip secrets to those who share their beds…
"…would be an odd reward, but my Unsullied told me that she'd requested samples of mould and decaying material," Daenerys said. "I could send men further afield, even beyond Meereen's walls, to gather more samples?"
"That might just work," Tyrion agreed. "When I spoke to her sister earlier, she said that Elise is something like a Westerosi maester, but specialised in this particular subject."
"Then we should send those men out now," Hizdahr said.
They chose one of the Unsullied in the room and told him to gather at least twenty others to scour the countryside of Meereen.
Would this reward be better appreciated than the bedslaves? It's difficult to be sure with these monsters and their strange ways.
"Moving on, and as I said before, more than one daughter is ready to serve," Tyrion said. "There's already more than a hundred requests for Amelia, the elder of the twins. I suspect many hope to become even a fraction as beautiful as she is."
That would also be an opportunity for Hizdahr. He had a sister and a female cousin of similar age to Amelia, who could be sent to her for this cosmetic service. His relatives could then try to befriend the monster.
"They are welcome to try," Daenerys said. She looked at Hizdahr. "Provided, of course, that they repay her with what she requested yesterday."
Hizdahr groaned internally. His wife would never forget the time he laid with a bedslave in her absence.
"Now, moving onto a new topic," Tyrion said. "The first groups of Dothraki have begun returning to the city."
The Dothraki had taken up residence in Meereen along with Daenerys. Most had recently gone out in search of her, when she'd flown off on Drogon.
Truth be told, I wish they'd simply died out in those wastes. The horselords do not belong in this proud city of Meereen.
"Almost thirty had arrived when I'd heard this information," Tyrion said. "More are expected to return in the coming days."
"I look forward to their return," Daenerys said. "Though I fear some of them will be quite surprised. I only had the chance to speak with a few groups when I was in the Dothraki Sea. The rest have yet to see my daughters' new forms, nor have they seen Wilmarina."
"Indeed, those were things that shocked me when I beheld them," Tyrion said. "And I thought I'd seen everything there is in this world…"
They continued conversing for a few more minutes. Then a bald man in a tokar hurried into the audience hall.
"My king and queen, I am deeply sorry for this delay!" Reznak gasped. Then his eyes fell on Tyrion.
"Tyrion Lannister has simply been informing us of recent developments," Daenerys said in a smooth tone. "Reznak, rest assured that we do not blame you for the delay."
"You must have no end of work to deal with," Hizdahr added. "Your service is ever appreciated."
Reznak shot a baleful look at Tyrion, who simply grinned back. Then he turned back and began his own explanation of affairs in Meereen. This lasted for a good ten minutes.
The burden of leadership is heavy as always… as my tutor would put it, it's not simply about "reclining while slaves feed you with grapes". Even those of noble blood must work if they are to stay in power, instead of losing their fortunes or being slain in rebellions. The Harpy does not look kindly on the slothful.
On another note, I should avoid underestimating this dwarf. He has been in this city a scant few days, and only received his position yesterday, yet he is already forming the network needed to be a player in politics. How did he accomplish that? Was it just the subtle endorsement that the Royal Sorceress gave him yesterday?
Hizdahr thought for a while before recalling another thing.
Even before that… Amelia went down and met the other dwarf, the female, then Tyrion when he arrived. An event unusual enough for the servants in the pyramid to gossip about it. Perhaps Tyrion exploited this to make it seem like he had the monsters' favour, helping him recruit agents to begin his network.
Afterwards, they opened the royal court to the public. Supplicants began pouring in to ask the royal couple to settle their disputes, or to request services—the latter primarily of a magical nature.
I will grant Daenerys this, she is competent at dealing with the people's concerns, Hizdahr thought as he sat a throne. For a woman of sixteen, she can quickly decide on a fair judgement in each case. There is rarely a point where I must intervene.
The court eventually adjourned at noon. Hizdahr would have gone to his midday meal, but then something else came up.
A group of Unsullied walked in. One held a small pot in his hands, others held rolled-up mats. All had cudgels on their belts.
"Lady Elise has prepared the bait," said the Unsullied with the pot. "She says it will work by luring the vermin out of their hiding places, so they may easily be slain. Where should we begin using it?"
"Try it here," Daenerys suggested. "Then we can all witness it in action."
"Then I must ask, are there any pet dogs, pet cats, or other desirable animals nearby?"
There were none of these present, so the Unsullied set down the pot and others lay out mats around it. Then the lid of the pot was removed.
A few seconds later, Hizdahr smelled a truly delectable scent, like melted cheese but a hundred times more appealing. His mouth began to water.
And then the chittering began.
Dozens of dark shapes rushed out from the walls. Some scurried along the floor, others flew through the air. They hurried towards the pot with single-minded focus.
The Unsullied who'd brought the pot, as well as several others who'd come with him, began laying about with cudgels. They smashed and flattened the swarm of rodents and cockroaches on the mats, as well as the flies which gathered at the top of the pot. With each hit was a sickening squelch.
When it was all done, there were multicoloured smears on the pot and surrounding mats, with no more signs of movement. And Hizdahr's mouth was no longer watering.
"…There were more than expected," the first Unsullied said. "We did not expect to create such a mess. We will accept any punishment."
"No, this… this was at my request," Daenerys said with wide eyes. "We now know that it works… quite well…"
Hizdahr approached the pot. He saw that the top was covered in a mesh of some sort, to prevent any vermin from getting inside. And inside was a rectangular off-white mass.
"According to Lady Elise, the smell of this bait is magically enhanced to appeal strongly to animals," the Unsullied said. "She said it is a common magic, learned by everyone as it is useful for everyday life."
Hizdahr walked away from the pot, slowly in order to not seem cowardly.
Something like this would have so many uses… even I was affected. I could see it being used for assassination, creating poisoned food that the target could not help but eat. And it's intended for "everyday life"? Is it seen as nothing more than a way to lure out vermin from their hiding places?
"There were far more vermin than any of us expected…" Daenerys said. "Except, it seems, Lady Elise. You have permission to repeat this in the rest of the Great Pyramid. Just… give ample warning of what will happen."
The Unsullied gathered up the equipment and left to terrify the people in another part of the pyramid.
After that, Hizdahr had lunch with his wife. Neither ate much.
…I never thought there were so many rats and roaches in the Great Pyramid… Did any of them crawl over this food? There should be no risk of disease, if I only stick to the cooked foods. Still, the thought makes me queasy.
Sometimes, during quiet moments, Hizdahr thought he could hear the rats scurrying between the walls, their claws scraping against stone. He imagined them emerging at night to gnaw on the flesh of the sleeping, including himself.
"I suppose this is good news," Daenerys said. "If all the vermin in the city can be cleared this way, there should be reduced losses of food to their predations, and reduced disease."
"Indeed," Hizdahr said. "We can hardly rely on the Royal Sorceress to heal everything, after all."
About a quarter of the supplicants this morning had tried to beg the royals to make Wilmarina heal various maladies of theirs. That was just the public ones. Eight different Great Masters had petitioned Hizdahr privately yesterday, trying to get him to influence the monster.
As if I have such influence over her! As much as I respect them, some can be utter fools at times…
Towards the end of lunch, an Unsullied came running up to announce that the Great Pyramid was now free of vermin.
"That is even faster than expected!" Hizdahr said. "Then shall we proceed to clear the city?"
The Unsullied shook his head. "Lady Elise also said this: the bait won't be as effective if used outside and in the light of day. She advised that we wait until dusk before outside deployment."
"We'll need to plan carefully before outside deployment," Daenerys said. "Tell the people that by nightfall, they must tie up all of their pet and livestock animals. If any are untied and become drawn to the bait, we will not be liable for their losses."
The Unsullied left to carry out this order.
Shortly afterwards, Hizdahr and Daenerys finished their lunch and went separate ways. Hizdahr left to visit his personal pyramid and his family, while Daenerys went up to be with her "daughters". Even if there was much work to do, both royals also needed time away from their duties.
Hizdahr climbed down over a thousand steps to reach the Great Pyramid's base. It was good exercise for keeping his body slim and fit, and it gave him time to think.
I have not seen Skahaz today. Has the man gone off to sulk in the Pyramid of Kandaq? But I doubt he would give up his ambitions easily.
Skahaz mo Kandaq was of a family much inferior to status in Hizdahr's, but he had partly overcome that by openly rejecting Meereen's traditions and siding with the conqueror Daenerys. Hizdahr could understand a man doing whatever it took to rise in power. What he could not accept was Skahaz' willingness to crush all the other Great Masters who stood in his path.
I should thank the gods that Daenerys is willing to see reason. If she'd ever followed his advice and begun using violence against we Great Masters… well, blood would stain every part of Meereen, though I wouldn't be there to see it, probably being one of the first killed.
Hizdahr glanced at the four Unsullied accompanying him. Their loyalty was with Daenerys instead of him, and they protected him only at her pleasure.
I should find guards of my own, but who? I had pit fighters before, yet even a legend like Khrazz was killed by Barristan, a much older man. No, I won't make that mistake again. Men who fight to entertain are different from those who fight to kill.
There are sellswords I could hire—the Stormcrows are now leaderless after Daario's death, and the lack of any real threats now means they also have little purpose. I have gold enough to hire all five hundred.
But they are still merely sellswords. They might betray me to someone who can pay them more—Daenerys and now Wilmarina could do so, not that the latter would even need them. Sellswords also value their own lives above anything else, so they'll flee if the situation is unfavourable.
Hmm. Many individuals from all over the world, some of them not from the known world at all, have gathered in Meereen lately. I should remain patient and watch for opportunities. I may eventually find what I seek.
On reaching ground level, Hizdahr travelled the rest of the way home in a litter borne by four burly men. These four, along with all his family's servants, had had their wages doubled yesterday, just to be safe.
Hizdahr reached the Pyramid of Loraq, a magnificent edifice of purple and indigo bricks, and left his litter. The Unsullied stopped following him at this point. Conversely, there was a welcoming party here.
"Hizdahr!" said a heavyset woman with red-black hair starting to go grey. She pulled him into an embrace that was as bone-crushing as he always remembered. "It has been too long! I feared… I feared…"
Hizdahr returned the embrace warmly. "I am safe and well, Mother."
After a few seconds, Hizdahr was released. Only then did the other two embrace him, having previously held back to avoid having their bones nearly crushed.
"Until yesterday, we feared those barbarians had killed you," said Emeraz, a sister older than him by three years. She was slender and nearly as tall as Hizdahr.
"How did you become king again?" asked Ferraza, a sister younger than him by eight years, and whose chubbiness showed she took after their mother. "You must tell us!"
"I shall, I shall, but inside, please."
Hizdahr entered the pyramid along with his mother and sisters. His father was not present due to having died five years ago, due to an affliction of the liver.
I wonder… if Wilmarina had been here five years ago, could she have saved Father's life? Then he would still walk this earth, and I would not be head of my house before even reaching thirty years… but it does no good to think of what cannot be. I bear the burden of headship now, and I must do all that I can for my house.
They climbed a few stairs to a lavish dining room, the best of the three dining rooms in the Pyramid of Loraq. The table here was filled with food, including—Hizdahr was delighted to see—roasted dog slathered in honey and stuffed with both prunes and peppers.
"Where are Qezza and Qadaz?" Hizdahr asked. "I'd thought they would be here as well."
Some years ago, Hizdahr had fathered two children on a serving girl—though she was no longer around, the second birth having killed her. As natural-born children, they could not inherit the Loraq name except in the event all trueborn heirs perished. Still, Hizdahr and his family cared for them.
"Oh, that pair have been quite wilful," Mother said, shaking her head. "They were told that you would be visiting this afternoon, and yet they played so energetically, they ran out of energy and began to sleep! I thought to wake them—"
"But I said it would be a shame to disturb such innocence," Emeraz said. "They are likely still sleeping now."
"Then I believe we should let them sleep, while we enjoy this feast," Hizdahr said.
Ferraza was already raising her fork. "I like that belief of yours!"
They began eating. It was fortunate that Hizdahr hadn't eaten much at lunch, since that meant he had more room available for this.
In between bites, Hizdahr shared his story.
"So they had no proof after all!" Mother said, gripping the arms of her chair tightly. "We knew it wasn't just, them deposing you! That old knight should be released from his position and beheaded for what he did!"
"More than that, this Valyrian queen should be the one deposed!" Emeraz said with a scowl. "She flew away from Meereen as her dragon killed hundreds, abandoning her throne! And her other two dragons killed more, they even destroyed the Pyramid of Hazkar!"
Emeraz hated Hizdahr's wife even more than most of Meereen's nobility, which was saying something. While her brother's recent arrest was a factor, another factor was her former marriage to Grazdan of House Pahl. Though a marriage of convenience, it had been a fairly happy one… up until her husband had been disembowelled and nailed to a wooden post, one of the one hundred and sixty-three to suffer this fate on Daenerys' orders. On top of that, Emeraz had been one of the hostages sent to the Yunkai alliance as part of a peace agreement. While the Yunkish had treated her well and returned her safely, it still grated on her to be used for the dragon queen's purposes.
"That is not at all practical," Hizdahr warned. It was his sixth or seventh time saying this. "She has too much military might on her side to be deposed. Perhaps if our new Royal Sorceress was willing to oppose her… but instead, she is supporting Daenerys' reign."
"Just what are these strange 'monsters' like?" Mother asked. "We've been sending agents to observe them and the aftermath of their activities. Just yesterday, we sent Azzak—" a loyal retainer of House Loraq, "to the court. But even with all their reports… these monsters are still an enigma."
That was a good way to put it. Hizdahr knew how to deal with humans of various kinds, even managing quite well when Meereen was invaded by a foreign army led by a Valyrian. He had neither training nor experience at dealing with other creatures.
"I've interacted with them in person, a little," Hizdahr said carefully. "They are shockingly human-like in behaviour. I would characterise Wilmarina, the mother, as being like one of our class: experienced in politics, speaking carefully and never betraying her true emotions. The other three, who she refers to as her daughters, are clearly less experienced, showing their emotions freely. Imagine… yes, imagine Ferraza as she was a few years ago."
"Hey!" Ferraza protested.
"It's true, you took far too long to learn proper behaviours," Mother said.
"Well, it was just an example," Hizdahr said, now brushing off his younger sister's withering glare. "But the monsters are not human-like in every aspect. They've asked for disproportionately low rewards for their services… thus far."
The Loraq family fell silent. They'd all heard of the stories of demons who helped their summoners at first, making them dependent on magical aid, only to demand the summoner's soul, or newborn child, or the hearts of a hundred slaves a day—it varied depending on the story.
"Thus far, their requests are within the scope of human desires," Hizdahr continued. "There is no indication of them, say, having a taste for human flesh. And on that note, one thing I know and which you likely do not is their eating preferences. I'll explain them now."
Hizdahr, not too long after Daenerys' conquest of Meereen, had contrived to get an agent inside the kitchens of the Great Pyramid. Knowing the eating preferences of important people was helpful in currying favour with them… or in trying to assassinate them, not that Hizdahr had ever done so. It could also reveal changes in circumstances, such as someone falling ill. Just hours after he'd been released from imprisonment, Hizdahr had received a report from his agent in the kitchens, filling him on the new arrivals.
"Wilmarina, the mother, does not eat meat, but otherwise has no apparent preferences," Hizdahr said. "Amelia, the blonde daughter, is partial to oily foods and dislikes anything with a mild taste. Elise, the blue-haired daughter, enjoys sweets and turns down any foods that are excessively chewy. Colette, the flower—and no, I have not seen what she looks like within those petals—has a liking for spicy foods."
"All quite normal preferences…" Emeraz said. "It will make it easier to try to gain their favour."
"And I have already made a plan for that. Ferraza?"
Hizdahr's younger sister dropped her bowl and sat up straight.
"Our Royal Sorceress' daughters are about your age," Hizdahr continued. "Specifically, the golden-haired one known as Amelia is twenty years of age, and she is the one now offering her magic to alter the looks of others. I have placed a request on your behalf—though unfortunately, there are many others ahead of you. When you do visit her, find out what you can from her, and make her positively inclined towards the House of Loraq. Can you do these things?"
Ferraza looked uncertain. All of the Great Masters of Meereen were raised to do their duty for their families. They would talk to others when needed, marry when needed, spy when needed. But trying to befriend an inhuman creature was another matter entirely.
"If you cannot, then I can also ask Cazalla—"
"I'll do it!" Ferraza had always been competitive with her and Hizdahr's cousin. "I won't fail you! I'll do my best as a Loraq!"
Hizdahr ruffled Ferraza's hair, causing her to hiss and slap his hand away.
"I am sure you will."
They discussed the details during the rest of the meal. Hizdahr still felt a little nervous at sending his sister for such a vital role. It still seemed like yesterday that she was chasing after him and trying to bite his legs.
But she is one of the better options in our house. Emeraz couldn't do it, she'd fly into a rage the moment Amelia mentions Daenerys in any context. And Cazalla is still unsettled from her own experience as a hostage…
After the afternoon meal, Hizdahr and the others went to check on the sleeping children. He woke them, asked them about their progress in their studies, and told them a short story about a Ghiscari hero who crossed the world to find a gift suitable for a princess, who he then married.
Still so innocent, Hizdahr thought, as Qezza and Qadaz badgered him for another story. Even after all that has happened in Meereen.
The topic of children made Hizdahr think of his wife again. He'd only laid with her a few times, and it was likely he had yet to impregnate her.
With her ambitions for Westeros, any half-Ghiscari children she has would be a nuisance… And with how circumstances have changed, I doubt she will want to try any further with me.
We agreed to remain together for the sake of stability. But as time passes, Meereen will naturally become more and more stable, reducing the need for our union. Will she eventually decide to annul the marriage and depart for Westeros?
Before that happens, I must make sure to secure the future of House Loraq.
Hizdahr bade his children continue their studies with their tutor, much to their annoyance. He then returned to his older family members to discuss plans for the future.
In late afternoon, Azzak, an elderly Ghiscari man with a fairly average appearance, returned from his observation duties. The first thing he reported was that Amelia had finished her cosmetic services for the day. Fifty-seven clients had visited her thus far, all of them bringing gifts.
House Loraq cannot afford to fall behind. My kingly duties prevented me from placing the request immediately, but Ferraza will have her time eventually. And when she does, she must bring a worthy gift with her.
The next report was of Amelia and her mother leaving their manse in an ox-drawn wagon. They were visiting the gates of Meereen to set up their protective spells.
For Meereenese of high status, the tradition when travelling is to be borne by men, not dragged by beasts… however, it would be unwise to point this out to our guests. They must have seen the tradition by now, and if they choose to do differently, then we should respect their choice.
The… burned bones outside Meereen now are testament to the fate of those who do not. It's estimated that over two and a half thousand died.
After hearing Azzak's reports, Hizdahr gave the loyal servant a new duty: arranging, through at least one intermediary, for a batch of bedslaves to visit the monsters tonight. The bedslaves might be turned away, or they might be accepted and… consumed in some manner, but there would be no harm done to House Loraq. And if the bedslaves were accepted and returned alive, they would have gained useful information.
As the sun neared the horizon, Hizdahr knew it was time to return. He bade his family farewell and began the journey back to the Great Pyramid, now accompanied by the four Unsullied again.
I wonder… Hizdahr thought as he sat in his litter. Wilmarina has been calm and dispassionate during my only two meetings with her. But when she is alone with her family, is she just as friendly with them?
It's an absurd thought, and yet… I feel a faint sense of kinship with her. As though she, too, was born into high status, and was taught to put on a mask in public.
During his journey back, Hizdahr saw a team of Unsullied marching through the streets, luring out vermin using a magical bait. The swarm following them was far greater than that in the Great Pyramid, thousands or possibly tens of thousands strong. There were now types not present in the pyramid, such as pigeons and other birds. It looked like the end of times spoken of in legends.
Mere weapons were no longer sufficient to kill such swarms. Instead, the green dragon—Rhaegal—was following the Unsullied. She opened her mouth and bathed the swarm in yellow flames shot through with green.
I suppose this is one way to improve the dragons' reputation in Meereen…
Numerous people watched the mass extermination from windows and doorways. They still seemed a little fearful of the dragon, but once she and the Unsullied left the street, they hurried out to pick up the charred vermin on the ground.
Perhaps as fertiliser, feed for animals… or for the poorer among them, food for themselves. The meat is conveniently already cooked.
…Though some of it is closer to charcoal than to cooked meat. Perhaps that will be used as charcoal.
Out of curiosity, Hizdahr also had his litter pass by the monsters' manse. He didn't see anything notable from the outside. However, he heard some notable sounds.
Are those… pigs, goats and chickens in there? For what purpose?
Hizdahr had heard stories of animals being sacrificed to fuel magic. Yet there'd been no reports of that being done previously, not even on the first day when Wilmarina had performed a colossal amount of magic.
He'd also heard stories of sorcerers who coupled with beasts in rituals. However, he suspected those were reflections of the ones telling the stories.
Even if they are sacrificing a few animals, it would be a cheap cost for what they can accomplish with their magic. More animals than that are slaughtered for food every day in Meereen.
Just as night fell, Hizdahr reached the Great Pyramid. It was there that he immediately noticed a commotion. The pyramid's residents were discussing something in hushed whispers.
Did the fleet of Volantis arrive? Has my wife decided to leave for Westeros after all? No, that isn't it.
Among the pyramid's residents, the Brazen Beasts were the most unsettled. Many were talking about the future of their organisation. Some looked at Hizdahr from behind, whenever they thought he couldn't tell.
By the time Hizdahr reunited with his wife in the royal apartments, he'd learned the cause of all this.
"I hear that Skahaz mo Kandaq is dead? From falling down stairs in the city?"
"Yes," Daenerys said quietly. "It is a terrible accident. He was one of my most loyal followers."
Hizdahr had been trained intensely to be able to see through the masks of others. He'd also spent much time around Daenerys and learned her personal idiosyncrasies.
For these two reasons, he could tell that Daenerys did not truly regret the death of Skahaz.
"It is terrible indeed," Hizdahr said. "I won't pretend I liked him, but a man deserves a better end than that."
One part of Hizdahr was tempted to ask how this had been arranged. The rest of him refrained. It was unlikely that she'd answer him, anyway.
I thought I'd have to continue being alert for his scheming. This allows me to relax, just a little.
Perhaps there is justice in this world after all.