Bab 11: The kings eye
"Come morning, she'd woken red eyed and dry and could not have shed another tear if her life had hung on it". (G.R.R.M quote)
They had stayed up many nights listening to the elder wives' stories; fearing and praying for what's to come. Her brother lingered nearby but it seems he did not sleep much. Everyone feared for the children lives for they cannot survive in Asshai. Being a child of zero and six herself she shared their fears and hesitance.
"The captain shouted above deck informing them that they would reach the ports by sundown". She then rose from her share of the floorboard to go to her brother, her eye still stinging from time to time. He barely looked at her know it seems the vertical claw mark on her eye reminds him of their mothers' loss. It pained her at his resistance for she desperately wanted to comfort him.
"Brother", she called softly as their mother would have when she wanted to tell them something important. He heard her approaching footsteps but did not look at her, he only remained headfast, head forward, towards the seas. She sighed trying to find the courage to speak. "I know that you are worried and so am I". "I wish to be here for you brother. You may not have met our father, but he loved you all the same. We are orphans and it pains me so. Mother has left me to take care of you and I will try the best way I know how. The last time mother and I spoke it was about my worries. So, I ask brother, "what is troubling you to make you so distant?".
No sound was made between them only the sound of crashing waves. Her ears still ring when a screeching sound is made from the sky. Her head pounds when it happens, and her eye feels as though it was bleeding again. "Sister", I miss her. "The day we found you in the field with mother I thought I lost you both. I know how much father's flask meant to you, so I went in search of it". Her brother gave her the flask, hand stretched out and pleading. She chooses to hug her brother instead of taking the flask. His pet fire-wrym removed itself from his shoulders as it slithers down towards the flask. There hug was interrupted as the ship wracked to the side. Her brother almost fell over, she clasped him tighter as he cried. "I'm here, brother". She repeated. "I'm here".
"Will we die also?", he asked her. "I don't know brother but with this flask I'm sure we will survive". It's true that in the past the blood in the flask has helped them. Those that were sick hardly ever looked so bed ridden after drinking the blood. They all say with each sip their blood sings, so she openly hopes it will remain the same in the shadow lands. "We will survive. We have always survived", she told him as his pet hissed softly. "Remember we are... she was interrupted again as the bell rung. Breakfast is being served. She released her brother as she wiped his tears, and she kissed his forehead gently. They parted slightly as they headed to the mess deck/ lounge.
Where the others sat quietly all still feeling their dilemma at the forefronts of their minds. They sat near the last remaining survivors of ghis. There are stories still untold. The boy who hurdled up his mother's skirts showed no fear towards them but if asked to do something he would always bow as though they were the lords. It has taken many reminders for that little habit to cease. "We are no lords just simple sheepherders; they would tell him". True enough she told herself but in the back of her mind she wanted more. The mother of the boy felt at peace during the day but when sleeps take her, she's reminded of them.
As for the prophet he tells them that they will survive. His dreams are more potent than most, they dream of the dangers and future events nothing of the actual wars they will be fighting. Sometimes it seems the prophet is hiding something that he has seen but the thing about dreams is not all of them give you what you desire. They mean many things, yet it did not warn them of the wyverns but of a future that seems bleak and uncertain as the day draws near. As for the younger girl she seemed to have it the worse than the others. The women of the village believe she has been touched. She shy's away anytime a man comes near. She hardly speaks and chooses to stay close to the elder women. Vhaera has not given them her condolences for she knows it won't change the past.
Before she didn't even know they existed until they came upon the ship. Then again, the silence remained as they chewed and swallowed in shallow breathes clinging to their family members every time the ship moved too dangerously. As for the velayrons they felt at home in the sea, they adapted much quicker than them. The stories from the crewmates made their blood sing. It was decided then that once the ship took to port, they would remain to sail across the summer sea. Their dreams demanded it, and their blood would sing every time they breathed the salty air.
It was decided, they would return after four years to take them back to what remains of their home. By then the mating season would come again and this time they would be ready.
Vhaera believed she was going to have to trade her brothers pet for information. He trusted her and understood that the firewrym was their ticket for survival. Whoever buys into their lie, will die, and that type of power is what they'll learn to use... for they have learned nothing is free and if you wish to be saved you must do it yourself.
In a blink of an eye, it was sundown already and her brother had finally fallen asleep peacefully on her lap. She stroked his head softly as she hummed. The light from the sun dimmed the closer they reached the port, dark clouds and stones sucked the daylight out of everything. Even the lit torches grew dimmer if not fed the oil. She let her brother sleep, the air around them was thick and heavy. It made her blood sing as she inhaled the fumes.
She finally understood the power they had desired for what captivated her was the people of Asshai, with no rules set in place she and her people must be careful of these terrible people who lurk these gates. The water soon turned black, the fish looked unhealthy and unreal that it reminded her of the unsullied and their masters. It consumed her the busy streets and gold that lingered around them. Ships far greater than them made the world seem bigger.
Languages they never heard before caught her attention left and right. And soon she got an idea. What if they made another language one that no one can understand but them. So, she stops humming and simply asked the captain, "what are they saying?"
"I don't know", he answered, and she smiled once they found a spot to land. The negotiations began and her people departed waving the velaryons goodbye. Leaving them behind the black ash river, she held her brother close as he slept on her shoulder. They were fresh meat and it showed for no longer than two minutes did they're wondering ceased when a stranger came towards them.
He is a handsome man with broad shoulders and soft curly mops on his head. His clothes were neath and tidy. And his smile had the same likeliness of the deceased merchants, so she acted innocent and naive.
"My name is Tar", she told the stranger. He responded by saying, "And my name is Cattle".
"My people are in need of your assistance if you'd be so kind". The man known as Cattle crouched down to her eye level as they stroke a deal.
He nodded, as he led them to inn deeper in town. The buildings were narrow and too big for her liking. It lacked the open space a field could give you, something she didn't even know she had missed for it never crossed her mind when she worked in the fields. There wasn't anyone inside or outside for that matter. It seemed too easy like a lamb waiting for slaughter. They sat down and listened to his constant prattling. Cattle told them he was a blood mage it slipped from his lips so easily liked he was meant to tell them almost like his pure hatred for the fire mages it seemed.
Her people stood behind her as they felt the uneasy presence as if someone was watching them. She laughed it off only to get rid of the edgy feeling, her brother still slept calmingly on her shoulder as she complimented his home.
"I will teach you our ways", he said.
"Are you sure?", I asked.
"I'm told that a student can kill their masters", I said it with fear and my people shuddered exactly at the right time proving my point.
He was convinced and I was going to use him well enough just like they used us. His smile proved to her all the more the reason that what she was doing was right.
Pretending to be docile and weak always gets the attention of those in power.
For not all who crawl on all fours need a savior just pure cold-hearted vengeance.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone