Miru
The sun shone down upon her as she sat beside her canvas and swilled her brush across the pallet.
Blue, red, green, yellow, white, and black. Those were the paint colours which she'd been given, but that was not nearly enough. Septa Jyzene had shown her how to make new shades of each colour by mixing them with each other. She could use white and black to create lighter and darker shades of the other colours. She could make orange by mixing red and yellow together, and purple by mixing red and blue. Various browns appeared when she mixed green with red, yellow and red with black, or even blue with orange. She wished she could spend every day painting works of art.
Miru was sitting beside the window, trying her best to paint the outside view. Primarily, the Tower of the Hand loomed up before her in all its glory. One side of it was lit up by the rising sun, making its pale red bricks seem orange. Miru tried her best to replicate the colour, even as she strove to paint the other half of the tower in a darker pink as it appeared to her eyes.
"Very good," Septa Jyzene exclaimed. "Excellent use of shadow, Miru!"
Miru smiled up at the septa. Septa Jyzene appeared to be as young as Princess Kiera, though she exuded kindness instead of snobbishness. Beneath her hood, she wore her chestnut-coloured hair in a very short cut, like that of most men Miru had seen. Like all septas, she was always garbed in white robes, with a broad woven belt around her waist that bore the seven colours of the Faith.
What enthralled Miru about Septa Jyzene was not simply her knowledge, or her humble and pious manner. There was something about her voice which always drew her full attention. There was a curious raspiness to it, whether she spoke loudly or quietly. Miru sometimes felt shivers go down her neck when Septa Jyzene spoke. It was a strange feeling, but very soothing. Sometimes, Miru would ask more questions of the septa just to hear her response.
"How much longer do I have to sit here?"
Miru turned to her right. Barba was older, and more advanced in her lessons, so she was permitted the chance to paint a living subject. Sadog had been persuaded to sit before her in a chair whilst he read books. To his credit, he seemed to be keeping still, apart from turning the pages with one finger.
"Until I'm finished," Barba replied. "Now keep still and keep quiet."
Sadog rolled his eyes and resumed his place in the book.
Miru thought it a fine challenge to paint someone, but Septa Jyzene had urged her that she should try to paint objects first. "You would not ride a horse before you rode a pony," she'd gently reminded her. "Nor would you run before you could walk."
Miru might have resented it, but she could not feel that way towards Septa Jyzene for long. Now she was engrossed in her attempt to paint the Tower of the Hand, as it proved far more of a challenge than she would have guessed.
Despite Septa Jyzene's encouragement, she wondered if it was a good attempt. Much as she loved to paint, she was beginning to judge her ability in a way that she'd never done before. It was far different when she saw how advanced Barba was, or how Septa Jyzene could paint when she wished to demonstrate her own skill.
She was attempting to paint the battlements when a man burst into the room. He was armed with a spear and sword, and he bore the black mail and Targaryen livery of the Red Keep's guards.
The sight of such a man still filled Miru with dread. The suddenness of his arrival caused her to cry out in fear and spring back from her canvas. Her brush flew out of her hand, but not before leaving an orange streak across what was otherwise a blue sky with clouds.
Barba sprang up and ran toward Miru, enveloping her in her arms as she always did when Miru was afraid. Strangely, she did not seem as surprised by what was going on, nor was Sadog. The boy glanced warily up at the soldier, and he seemed to move his stump into clearer view, as if to deter a dishonourable attack.
Septa Jyzene quickly stepped forward. "Ser, what is the meaning of this?" It was a question rather than a challenge, spoken humbly and courteously.
"I'm no ser," the man replied. He spoke calmly, but through gritted teeth, as though he begrudged the politeness which a septa was owed. "I have orders to search this room."
"Of course. Search away." Septa Jyzene was unflappable as she stood in front of the others. Miru shuddered with relief, clinging to Barba as she tried to master her emotions.
With his spear in hand, the guard closely examined the room. His unfriendly eyes swept over everything, including the children. Miru wondered what he was looking for, but she did not watch him except out of the corner of her eye.
Another hand touched her head. "Have no fear, child," Septa Jyzene urged. "There is no reason to be afraid."
Miru believed her, and she felt ashamed that she still recoiled so strongly from armed men. Still, the septa's voice was soothing, as was Barba's embrace.
"Right," the man declared, "as you were." With that, he marched out of the room as abruptly as he'd entered.
"Very well." Septa Jyzene picked up the paint brush which Miru had dropped. "Let us continue where we left off, children."
Slowly, silently, Barba and Sadog obeyed the septa's order. Miru accepted the brush, and looked with dismay upon the orange streak across her painting.
"Miru?" Septa Jyzene knelt beside her. "Is something amiss?"
"It's ruined!" Miru blinked rapidly to hold back her tears.
"Is it?" Septa Jyzene was looking at it thoughtfully. "Mayhaps you can make something of this? What do you think this could be?"
Miru was puzzled, but she tried to obey the septa's suggestion. She stared at the long orange streak and tried to imagine what that might become.
Septa Jyzene gave her a moment, then spoke up again. "If I might suggest something?"
Instinctively, Miru nodded her head.
"When I was still studying in the Starry Sept, there was a marvelous sight in the sky. All in the city of Oldtown paused to see this wonder for themselves. It was a comet, shooting across the sky."
Barba, who had also paused to listen, chose that moment to interject. "What is a comet?"
"A falling star," Sadog replied smugly. "Maester Quincy taught us that a year ago, if you'd been paying attention."
"Go jump in the shit-pit," Barba snapped.
"Barba!" Septa Jyzene straightened up and fixed the girl with a dangerous glint in her bright eyes. Miru shuddered; the septa was very slow to wroth, but crude behaviour was a sure way to provoke her.
"Sorry, Septa," Barba declared hastily.
"What about the comet, Septa Jyzene?" Miru wouldn't normally have interjected, much less stand in the way of a disciplining, but she was very curious to hear more about this extraordinary event.
Septa Jyzene turned back to Miru, and after a moment's hesitation, seemed to decide that Barba had been contrite enough. She approached Miru again. "As I was saying, I saw the comet for myself as it travelled across the sky. It glowed with a red tint, and a streak of red followed in its wake. We could see the trail across the sky for hours!"
Miru marvelled as she tried to imagine what that must have looked like, until she noticed Jyzene looking at her canvas. Quickly, she dabbed a splotch of red paint with her brush and slowly painted over the orange. "Like this?"
"Very good, Miru," Septa Jyzene affirmed with a smile. "See how you can make something good out of something bad?"
Miru was proud and relieved, even as she resumed the rest of her painting. She was quickly growing to love the look of the red comet across her blue sky. And yet, her contentment was marred by the memory of that guard. She was no longer afraid, but she was confused by what the fuss had been about in the first place.
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"There's thievery going on in the castle."
Miru stared at Sadog. "How do you know?"
They were making their way to Maester Quincy's room to begin their second bout of lessons for the day. Barba had stained her clothes with paint, so she had gone to change.
"I heard about it two days ago," Sadog replied. "Someone's been stealing things from around the castle."
"Like what?"
Sadog shrugged. "Not sure, but the guards are furious, I know that. Looks bad for them, so it does."
Miru did not doubt it, recalling the grim expression. "May the gods guide them in their search."
Sadog gave her a strange look. "You don't think that this thief might have a reason to steal?"
Miru matched his incredulity with her own. "You are not supposed to steal! It breaks the king's peace and the gods' laws!" She would never forget those words; Mama had said them often enough.
Sadog opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again without another word. Miru would ordinarily have been daunted by the disappointment on his countenance, but not this time; she knew what the gods decreed, even if Sadog didn't.
Two guards interrupted their lessons with Maester Quincy, just as they'd done in the morning. Nothing was amiss, but Miru was once again cowed by their irate disposition.
When Maester Quincy dismissed them, they had an hour of leisure before supper. As usual, Sadog went to the library. Miru and Barba went their own way, as they often did, exploring the castle.
Along the way, they passed a number of cats that lived in the Red Keep, serving the castle as rat-catchers. One of these had a coat of mottled grey and white.
Miru ran towards her; she had seen this cat many times since she'd come to the Red Keep, and she'd given her a name. "Moon," she cooed as she approached the animal.
To her delight, Moon turned at the sound of her name and closed the distance between her and Miru. She purred as Miru's hands ran up and down her belly.
"Last time I tried to give a cat a belly rub, I got scratched," Barba observed dryly.
"Moon likes it," Miru reassured her. "Try again."
Barba sighed and knelt beside Miru. Slowly, she extended a hand and gingerly ran it across Moon's belly. The cat continued to purr contentedly.
As it so often had before, Miru's eye was drawn to the ring on Barba's finger. It consisted of a gold band with a blue-green stone that Barba called malachite. Miru had always admired it, and she'd even occasionally tried wearing it on her own finger when Barba took it off to bathe.
Miru planted a soft kiss on Moon's head as the cat stretched her body across the stone floor. Even when she stood up and followed Barba down the corridor, Moon walked alongside her.
As they walked, Miru glanced at Barba. "
Miru might have said something else, but Barba suddenly grabbed her and motioned for her to be quiet.
She soon found out why. The echoes of voices drifted towards them, as well as the sound of metal-shod feet upon the stonework. At first, Miru thought that they were guardsmen, but then one voice rang out, causing the others to go silent. The words were too distant for her to glean, but she recognised who was speaking. Prince Aerion…
"Come on," Barba urged, pulling at Miru's sleeve. Miru started to run after her, but then stopped and tried to pick up Moon. She had not forgotten Barba and Cayn's account of Aerion and the cat.
Moon had already continued to wander off, however, closer to the sound of guards. Barba hissed at Miru, but she would not be dissuaded, not even when the voices drew so close that she could hear their conversation.
"... Uncle Brynden has better things to do than to root out some rat stealing trinkets."
One of the other voices spoke up. "Is it true then, Your Grace?"
"Aye," Aerion replied. "Blackfyre spies are in the castle, so he says. He suspects that Bittersteel is preparing another invasion."
She finally managed to pick up Moon, but she could not run away. She slipped into the shadows and crouched down. Barba was out of sight, for Aerion and his lackeys marched into view. Miru trembled with fear, trying to keep still as she'd done on that terrible night in Crakehall.
"Let him come," a third voice declared. "We defeated him once, we'll do it again!"
"Of course we will," Aerion snapped. "And this time, I'll finish the job that Uncle Brynden failed to do!"
"Aye, Your Grace, that you will," one of the squires declared. The others seconded the sentiments, even as Miru silently prayed to the gods. Mother, keep me safe. Father, keep me safe, Warrior, keep me safe…
Her prayers were answered. The young men strode off without so much as a glance in her direction. Still, she did not move until their footsteps and voices faded away completely.
Barba reemerged and ran up to Miru. "Come on."
She obeyed meekly, still clinging to Moon as tightly as she could. Barba said nothing about the cat, but simply held onto Miru with one hand.
As for Miru, she said no word, but her mind raced faster than any cat in the Red Keep could run. She thanked the gods for her salvation, she struggled to expel those terrible memories of Crakehall from her mind, but then she found a distraction as she listened to Miru's purrs and recalled the pompous prince who'd passed her by. A seed was planted in her mind, and it slowly grew as she prepared herself for supper.
With Lord Titus and Princess Jena both out of the capital, it fell to Queen Myriah to watch over them. The aging woman doted upon Miru, Barba, and Sadog. Her husband, the king, did not share in her affection for them, but nor was he unkind about allowing them seats at his table. If anything, he seemed amused by his wife treating them as if they were her grandchildren.
Queen Myriah was fond of telling them stories of Dorne, and of the legends which she had learned about when she was their age. Normally, Miru would have enjoyed listening to these stories as much as Barba and Sadog, but she was still pondering her idea.
When the queen paused from her storytelling to eat, she tugged on Sadog's sleeve. "I think I know who the thief is."
"You do?" Sadog frowned. "Who is it?"
"I think it might be Prince Aerion," Miru whispered.
Sadog's face seemed to turn paler in the glow of torchlight. "Are you mad?"
"Wait," Miru urged. "He is a bully, and he would love to steal things if it means others might get in trouble. That is what he calls fun, is it not?"
Sadog seemed to consider it, but then hastily shook his head. "No more of that. If you accuse a prince, you will suffer for it."
"It was just an idea," Miru protested as softly as she could.
"Forget it, then," Sadog warned. "You think Aerion hates you now? How will he feel if you call him a thief?"
That much was true, Miru had to admit. She abandoned the notion and tried to enjoy her food. She also made sure to feed Moon the scraps from her plate, much to the cat's enjoyment.
"Miru," the queen called. "I believe it is time that you go to bed."
"Yes, Your Grace." Miru got up and curtsied as well as she could before Septa Jyzene led her out of the Great Hall.
"When is Princess Jena returning?" Miru asked Septa Jyzene, partly to know the answer and partly to hear her speak.
"There was a raven from Dragonstone," the septa replied. "The princess will be returning in two days, along with Prince Valarr and Princess Kiera."
Miru did not care for either of the latter two, but Jena was a kind woman. "What about Lord Titus?"
"I'm afraid there is no news, child," Septa Jyzene lamented. "Be sure to pray for him tonight, before you go to bed."
She needed no such bidding to do that; as the setting sun cast a golden light across the evening sky, Miru knelt before the small shrine which she'd set up in her chambers. The Seven were small figurines of clay, gaily painted except for the Stranger, who was garbed in dark grey robes with no face beneath his hood.
After she was finished, Miru got up and inspected her painting, which Septa Jyzene had set up to dry beside the window. She wondered if it was really as good as the septa had claimed; revisiting it allowed her to see faults with her brushstrokes that she'd missed the first time. The room was growing dark, so she tried to reposition the painting so that it would catch the dying light.
She was still moving the painting when her foot trod upon the loose plank. She gave a cry as she stumbled, her foot slipping downward unexpectedly. When she steadied herself, Miru looked down at the floor. She would never have normally stepped upon this plank, for it was right in the corner beside the window, just behind Barba's bed. Now, however, she moved the loose plank and looked down into the hole, for there had been a glint of something which caught her eye.
Slowly, Miru reached down and felt several metal objects. There were silver spoons, plates that were ornately decorated with the Targaryen sigil, two daggers with jeweled hilts, containers of spices that could only have come from the royal kitchens…
Realisation struck her like a blow. Her first instinct was to put the objects back and restore the loose plank. But when she held the plank in her hands, she looked back at the shrine. Guilt tore through her like fire in a dry forest. She knew full well what was expected of her, but when she imagined what sort of punishment awaited Barba… she could neither put the plank back nor alert the guards.
Instead, she sat upon the floor, wracked with indecision as she held the plank in her hands. She was still sitting there when the door opened and Barba entered the room. She did not get far before she stopped. Even without looking at her, Miru could feel a great tension filling the room.
"What are you doing?"
She was trying to sound normal, Miru could tell, but Barba was clearly alarmed.
Something in Miru snapped. A part of her had hoped the obvious truth might still be a misunderstanding, but Barba's reaction forced her to dispel any such fanciful hope. Slowly, she stood up and faced Barba.
"It's you."
She surprised even herself by how calmly she made her accusation.
Barba flinched, and looked away from Miru as she went to her bed. "What do you mean?"
"You're the thief," Miru insisted. "I know what you're hiding." She pointed to the corner between Barba's bed and the window. The gap between the planks might as well have been a gaping hole which led to the seven hells.
Barba's eyes widened, and Miru could have sworn that she paled. "Miru, I can explain."
"No!" Miru felt her skin growing hot, and tears forming in her eyes. "You already explained! You were a thief when Lord Titus found you and you're still a thief now!"
Barba's face became as flushed as Miru's felt. "Easy for you to say. You had a family that loved you before you lost them. Cayn and Sadog, Andrew and Maric, we all got thrown out of our homes or else we ran away! We had to feed ourselves, look after ourselves, and only Lord Titus cared enough to take us in! When did you ever have to do that?"
Miru was taken aback by the venom and hurt in Barba's voice. She had seen Barba's wrath before, but it was quite another thing to have it directed at herself. Not even her own righteous anger was a match for it.
Still, she was not about to yield. "They'll cut off your hands if they catch you!"
"They won't," Barba promised. "I've done this before. Besides, they won't miss anything I've taken. They'll replace it all in a week."
"But why?" Miru approached the older girl. "Why are you doing it?"
Barba sighed. "Lord Titus might not come back, Miru. What will happen to me then?"
"Princess Jena will look after us!"
Barba shook her head. "Don't be a fool. She will turn us out; Lord Titus is all we have, and if he's gone, then we can't trust anyone. I want to make sure I have some coin which they can't take away."
Miru felt a sense of despair possess her. "Are you going to run away when they find out it's you? Run away like the other girls?"
Barba said nothing for a moment which seemed to last an hour. She regarded Miru with a strange expression that Miru could not place. When she finally spoke again, it was a gentle tone.
"I won't abandon you, Miru. I never would. If I have to leave this castle, I'll take you with me. I promise."
"What about Sadog?" Miru could not stop herself from asking this.
Barba blinked in surprise. "Who says Sadog will want to come with us?"
"He will," Miru insisted. "We have to take him with us!"
The older girl sighed and nodded. "Right, then. Sadog too, if he will join us. I promise."
She meant it, Miru could tell. She sighed with relief and went back to her own bed, dropping the loose plank to the floor as she began to undress.
"Miru?"
Barba was still standing beside her bed, arms folded in front of her, with a wary expression on her face. "Are you going to tell anyone about this?"
Miru paused, then shook her head. She was careful to avoid looking at the Seven as she did so. Forgive me, Mother, forgive me, Father… Still, she could not bear the thought of betraying Barba. If the gods will condemn us both to the seven hells, at least we'll be there together.