Dany watched Shella Whent leave in a carriage. She didn't know where her husband had sent her, but she was grateful not to have to see her again. She had never hated anyone. Not even Joffrey Martell, who had tried to seduce her. She had felt disgust and resentment toward the lords at King's Landing. But hatred? Never.
But Lady Shella. She couldn't say. She couldn't forget the horror she felt at the curse, watching the men die. And Lady Whent, enjoying it. She could have forgiven her for not admitting to knowing about the curse. But enjoying the suffering, death, and fear of innocent people was something she could never forget.
She didn't wish her death or a tragic fate. But Dany wouldn't raise a glass in her honor when she found out she had joined the Whent's fate.
"So you're going to Essos?" she asked Brandon. The serious man was good company. He wasn't vulgar or foolish. He always behaved well. If she were queen, she would have given him the white cloak without a second thought.
"Yes, princess. The king ordered me to get more Unsullied," and Dany frowned. She didn't like slavery. Nor did she like her husband participating in it. But she could see how the Unsullied's lives had improved at Silverstone. As had those of the five hundred slaves who had come with them.
They were better off in her castle than in Essos.
"I wish you luck, Brandon." She didn't call him Ser, because he wasn't a knight, nor Lord, because he was a bastard. He didn't have a title, and Daenerys felt he should have one. She would think of something. "I'm curious, how much does an Unsullied cost?" she asked him.
"About thirty gold dragons, give or take," Brandon replied. The prince gave him two hundred and fifty thousand dragons. He should be able to get about eight thousand Unsullied. "Lord Manderly will help us bring them to Westeros," he added at the end.
"I didn't know Lord Manderly had business dealings with my husband," she remarked. "I only remember that he gave us a ship at our wedding," said the princess.
"They exchanged plans a long time ago. Jaehaerys improved his ships in exchange for Lord Manderly giving him ships." It was years ago, but Manderly kept his word. "The ship he gave them at their wedding was the first of 25. After that, the prince will have to pay for new ships, although my grandfather will always give him a lower price than the real one," he slipped up at the end. Dany watched him clench his jaw.
"Thank you for sharing that with me, Brandon," she gave him a small smile, trying not to make him feel judged by her.
He didn't speak again. He would leave tomorrow. He would have to go to Astapor and back. The outward journey would take about four moons, as would the return journey. That meant she wouldn't see her guard again for eight or nine moons. Dany hoped he would return safely. She promised to find him a good wife.
Dany then went to her classes with Qyburn. The old maester no longer seemed disappointed in teaching her. At least she managed to change his opinion of her. At first, she thought he didn't like her because she was a woman, but it was because he had to teach her many things, and he was a man with little time.
The way she and Serena learned from him was simple: he let her read things outside of class and then asked her to explain them to him in class. If she explained well, he would add information about things that weren't in the books. If she explained poorly, he would correct her. Dany didn't like to make mistakes, even though he wasn't exactly rude or harsh when correcting her. Being corrected meant that she hadn't learned enough, and her studies would be delayed.
Serena didn't pay as much attention as she did, but she was a good student. She took her studies more as a distraction than as something she wanted, although she often talked about one of her sisters, claiming that she would like the class.
Then Sam arrived. The boy was intelligent. Dany felt surpassed by him as soon as he arrived. But she soon realized that he was not so different from her. He liked to read, but his father did not allow him to do so too much. His father wanted to make him a warrior.
It was not difficult for Dany to find what they had in common. Neither of them was allowed to study anything in depth, except for history and houses.
Even so, Daenerys felt she needed more women to live with. At that time, she only had Ros. And she seemed to spend most of her time busy running Jaehaerys's businesses.
Serena was there too, but she was more distant and reserved, finding it difficult to trust others. Dany had made an effort to become her friend, but found it very difficult to do so.
She considered inviting ladies-in-waiting, but she wasn't sure where she would accommodate them. ArgentStone wasn't ready yet.
Visenya and Lyanna were there, but they weren't his age. Visenya was too young and Lyanna too old.
"Forgive me, Brandon. If my question offends you," she looked at him and nodded. "Do you think any of your..." she paused. "Of Lord Manderly's granddaughters could be a lady-in-waiting here?" she asked. She heard that the eldest, Wynafryd, was around 19 onomastics. While the youngest, Wylla, was the same age as the princess.
"The relationship between my grandfather and the prince is good," he finally said, mentioning his resemblance to the Lord of White Harbor. "It wouldn't be out of the question for Wylla to join. For now, Wynafryd is the heir, so it's unlikely she'll leave White Harbor." Dany nodded. She would ask her husband to arrange it.
She thought of other possible ladies-in-waiting. She remembered Desmera Redwyne; they weren't exactly friends, but they had exchanged courtesies. There were also the daughters of Karyl Vance, Emphyria Vance, and Rhialta Vance. Rhialta was the older of the two, a year younger than Dany, and Rhialta was two years younger. Both had an older sister named Liane.
Dany considered those four. One from the north, one from the domain, and two from the riverlands. She wasn't afraid they would refuse; the rumors of the dragons would bring them to her castle, perhaps with the idea of getting a bastard of Jaehaerys and the chance to steal a dragon. Dany trusted her husband. She hoped none of the girls would be stupid enough to try.
For a moment, he considered Sansa Stark. But if there was anyone who would refuse despite the dragons, it was Lord Stark. She thought about finding other companions for Visenya. There was Lyanna Mormont in the north, and there was also Bethany Blackwood. Both of them worshipped the old gods.
She would have to discuss it with Lyanna, although she didn't think she would refuse.
"Do you know if Jae is busy right now?" she asked her protector.
"He's always busy. I'm sure he can make time for you," said the man, and Dany nodded with a smile.
Dany watched her husband distill a new drink he called whiskey. It tasted awful, but he said the flavor would improve with time. He was also making another drink called mead. Unlike the first, Dany had heard of this one, although it was mostly northerners who consumed it.
As expected, Jaehaerys agreed. As long as the houses decided to send the girls, he would be okay with it. He asked for a moon to build a new mansion for the girls. He had to have a place to accommodate them, along with any guards and maids who might accompany them. One moon, with hundreds of men working, would be enough.
Dany felt happier for the rest of the day. She even helped him with the mead. Then she listened to him talk about fermentation. She had only just begun to learn about microorganisms, so it was a little challenging to keep up with him. Fortunately, he was patient. He answered her questions graciously and without hurting her feelings.
After helping her husband and learning a little more, The princess went to see the dragons. Her black dragon greeted her, looking down at her from above. She did not bow her head; her dragon was the most rebellious of the three, and she could not be weak in front of him.
Jae's silver dragon greeted her by flapping her wings. She was the most docile and beautiful. The copper dragon was not in sight, probably hiding; he was a coward.
The dragons did not have names yet. Dany thought of many for her dragon: Nightdancer, Nightsinger, Nightfury, Nightfyre. Jaehaerys suggested "Nether," and then laughed tenderly, like a child. It was like a joke that only he understood.
Dany looked at the place where the dragons were, the GodsWood. It wasn't ideal, but the dragons knew they shouldn't use fire there; they were obedient. The intelligence in their eyes made her think that humans inhabited their bodies.
Now the princess had to think about building a lair for her children. She felt tired but also useful. It was satisfying to be busy.