Daenerys is shaken awake in the middle of the night by her handmaids. Skahaz, Reznak, and Grey Worm require her presence in the throne room. tThe Sons of the Harpy have struck again. Black Fist and Cetherys were slain by cross-bow bolts in Mazdhan’s Maze; Mossador and Duran were crushed by falling stones beneath the river wall; Eladon Goldenhair and Loyal Spear were poisoned at a wineshop; three freed men were murdered in their homes, a money lender, a cobbler, and the harpist Rylona Rhee. Mossador was Missandei’s brother. Before Daenerys had freed them, the two siblings had been taken from their home on Narth by raiders from the Basilisk Isles and sold into slavery in Astapor. Daenerys commands Grey Worm to pull back the Unsullied from the city; henceforth, Meereen will be guarded by a new watch, made up in equal parts of shavepates and freedmen. Moreover, she commands that two children from each of the old slaving families are to serve her at court as pages and cupbearers.
Daenerys returns to her bedchamber to comfort Missandei. When Missandei falls asleep, Daenerys sneaks out onto the terrace. She bathes in the pool and little fish nibble at her arms and legs. Under the persimmon tree – clad in a hooded robe, her face concealed behind a wooden mask – Quaithe appears. She delivers a prophecy: “The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun’s son and the mummer’s dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal.” Missandei enters the terrace and Quaithe disappears.
The next day Daenerys holds court and listens to the day’s business. The stonemasons and bricklayers are angry; former slaves are stealing work from them and calling themselves journeymen and masters, titles that belong to craftsmen of the guilds. Daenerys commands that henceforth only guild members shall be permitted to name themselves journeymen or masters, provided the guilds open their rolls to any freedman. Hizdahr arrives to petition Daenerys to reopen the fighting pits. He is accompanied by seven former slaves, champions of the fighting pits. The fighting slaves had led the uprising that won the city for Daenerys. Each man implores Daenerys to reopen the pits. Daenerys promises to reflect on their counsel.
Returning to her bedchambes, Daenerys asks Ser Barristan to tell her a tale, to describe how he escaped from the Usurper. Barristan recounts how Joffrey had dismissed him from the Kingsguard, in order to allow Sandor Clegane to join the order. Barristan had thrown his sword and cloak at Joffrey’s feet and had stormed out of the throne room. To redeem himself, Barristan resolved to seek out the true king and serve him. When he reached the stables the gold cloaks had tried to seize him, but he managed to escape the city. Disguised as a peasant, he reentered the city the next morning. Outside the Great Sept he witnessed in horror Joffrey order Lord Stark’s execution. When Daenerys names Stark a traitor, Barristan tries to explain that Stark was a good man who had tried to dissuade Robert from asassinating her and her brother. Daenerys is unconvinced. Lannister or Stark, all the dogs are guilty. The name Hazzea pops into Daenerys thoughts, and she instructs Barristan to take her to the pit.
Underneath the pyramid, inside a deep pit, Rhaegal and Viserion are restrained in chains. Hazzea was the name of the four-year-old girl that Drogon had killed. After learning of her death, Daenerys had ordered her men to imprison the three dragons under the pyramid. Drogon had evaded capture and flown north across the Skahazadhan toward the Dothraki sea. He has not returned since. I am the blood of the dragon, Daenerys thinks to herself, if they are monsters, so am I.
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