Viserys and Ser Willem walked together to the Queen's chambers, stopping only briefly to give Daenerys a firm assurance that they would return to her shortly.
Viserys pushed the heavy door open and entered the room while Willem took his place as a silent sentry outside, leaning against the stone wall to wait for Skoll's arrival.
Viserys flinched as he heard the sound of a dry, racking cough the moment he stepped into the dim light of the room.
He hurried to the small table and fetched a pitcher of water and a glass, his heart hammering in his chest as he went to his mother's side.
"Drink slowly, Mother," Viserys said. He supported her head with one hand and slowly tipped the water into her mouth.
The former Queen breathed heavily and laid back against the pillows after she had finished her drink, and she looked at her son with a weary but loving smile.
"Thank you, sweet child. You look to have grown even in the short time since I last saw you," she said. She gave a slight, dry chuckle that brought a genuine smile to the boy's face.
"You will be on your feet in just a few days, Mother. Ser Willem has found a way," Viserys assured her, his voice full of a child's bright hope.
"Ser Willem? He is a good man. I hope he takes good care of you both," Rhaella muttered, and she closed her eyes for a moment as she breathed deeply.
"Yes, Mother. My only dissatisfaction is that I have nothing to reward him with," Viserys answered with a small, heavy sigh.
Rhaella smiled and reached out a weak hand to brush the silver-gold hair from his brow. "You look so old when you sigh."
Viserys chuckled and leaned down toward her so she would not have to waste her meager strength to reach him.
"You will rise yet, Mother. The dragons will fly again."
Rhaella looked at her boy as she touched his face. She had heard those words from him almost every time she woke from her long sleeps, and in the past, she knew he said them more to reassure himself than her.
But this time, she saw a certainty in his eyes that had been missing before. He truly believed it.
"I know, my son. I have you watching over me, after all," the former Queen breathed. "I already feel more strength in my limbs than I did before."
To her own surprise, she was telling the truth. Usually, she said such things only to quiet the fears of her children, but a strange vitality was beginning to seep into her bones.
"There is someone here, Mother. A man from Nightshade. He will help you because of the Conqueror's favor," Viserys said, gesturing toward the silver coin resting on her chest.
Rhaella reached out her free hand and closed her fingers around the metal. She felt the steady, pulsing heat she always felt from the coin, a warmth that seemed to anchor her soul to the world of the living.
"Rest now, Mother," Viserys said gently. He draped a heavy wool blanket over her as he saw her eyes drooping with exhaustion.
Viserys moved out of the room with a renewed resolve and stood beside Ser Willem. They did not have to wait long before a voice spoke from the air right beside them.
"Here, little one."
Viserys jolted and looked to his side to see a towering man who reminded him of the warrior Ra he had seen once.
The man was standing there with his hand extended, holding a strange object toward him.
"What is it?" Viserys asked, his voice bewildered as he stared at the colorful, glass-like ball on the end of a small wooden stick.
"It is for you," Skoll added, as if that explained everything, and the boy instinctively took the stick in his hand.
"Try it," Skoll urged, gesturing for Viserys to taste the thing.
Viserys was utterly confused but he did as he was told, tasting the smooth, colored end of the stick. "It is sweet," he muttered, and he gave the treat another taste.
"It is called a honey taffy bolt in Nightshade," Skoll said with a nod.
Just then, a massive wolf emerged from the shadows behind the man, causing Viserys to freeze. However, the boy relaxed remarkably quickly.
Part of it was the warning Ser Willem had given him, but part of it was the sheer silliness of the conversation he had just had with Skoll about the candy.
"And here is one for you as well, dear," Skoll said. Viserys looked over to see that his little sister had wandered into the hall, and Skoll was handing her the same sweet.
"Can I have it while I ride the horse?" Daenerys asked with a bright, excited smile.
Skoll looked at his wolf and tilted his head, and the great beast responded with a small, slow wag of his tail.
"It seems he agrees," Skoll said. He picked the little girl up carefully and placed her on the wolf's broad back.
Hati began to walk in slow, gentle circles in the hallway while Daenerys squealed in delight, nibbling on her candy.
Ser Willem moved his hand toward the hilt of his sword when he saw the giant pick up the Princess, but he forced himself to relax a moment later.
"Now that all this is done, Ser Skoll... I wished to thank you for the care you have given my mother," Viserys said politely, bowing his head toward the man.
"You are welcome, child," Skoll said with a casual wave of his hand.
He took several flasks from his belt and handed them to Willem, who opened one and realized they contained the same healing broth he had been administering to Rhaella.
Willem tucked the flasks into his own belt with a grateful nod.
"And here. Place this on her throat when you give her the broth or even regular food," Skoll said, handing over a small piece of parchment.
Willem inspected it and saw swirling shapes and symbols that made his head ache to look at.
"Ser, could you tell me when we will be able to make the trip to Nightshade?" Viserys asked.
Willem was surprised at how easily the boy had come to trust the stranger, but he remembered that he was the one who had told the Prince that Skoll could be trusted.
"A few more days of the broth and she will be able to walk on her own. Then we can take her to Nightshade," Skoll promised, and he crouched down a bit so he would not seem so imposing to the children.
"Thank you. Would you be willing to stay here until then?" Viserys asked. He looked at Willem, who gave a sharp nod of approval.
"I suspect it will be hard for you to explain me and my friend to the others in this house," Skoll said with a shrug, gesturing toward Hati who was still entertaining the Princess.
"I will take care of the servants," Ser Willem said. He had spent years ensuring the household was kept in line, maybe a little too much.
And he would ensure they saw nothing they were not meant to see.
"I will not mind staying, then," Skoll said with another shrug.