"A blackened Dragonbone pendant, priced at nineteen gold coins, eight silver coins, and fourteen copper coins in Pentos currency. What do you make of it?" Illyrio summoned his butler and the maid, Annie, as they were the only two with any sense.
"Too expensive," Annie answered first. "It sounds like some kind of code."
Illyrio looked at her, but the maid lowered her eyes and fell silent. He then turned to the butler.
The butler bowed his head in thought, then finally said, "Master, I don't know."
It was obvious the price was a code, but the three of them couldn't make heads or tails of it, no matter how hard they tried. Their brainstorming didn't last long. Confirming that Viserys and his sister were indeed communicating with outside forces was more important than deciphering the riddle Viserys had thrown out.
Governor Illyrio once again confirmed that Viserys hadn't left in the past twenty days: "In these past twenty-odd days, they haven't left the courtyard, nor have they mentioned wanting to leave?" The information was off, but the fact that Viserys could be so patient was hard for Illyrio to believe. He was truly surprised that Viserys had quietly stayed in that small courtyard for over twenty days.
The butler affirmed again, "Yes."
This time, Illyrio also inquired about the outside: "What about outside? Any anomalies or surveillance?"
This courtyard area was where the dignitaries and nobles of Pentos resided. Normally, except for the streets, there was no way to peek inside, but if any big shots nearby held a banquet, it was inevitable that there would be a lot of people coming and going.
"No, things have been relatively quiet in and around the courtyard for the past twenty days," the butler replied.
Illyrio cautiously gave the order, "Send two more people outside to keep an eye on the streets. If there are any abnormalities or suspicious movements by strangers, notify me immediately."
After leaving the seaside pavilion, Dany could no longer calm her heart. She wanted to ask countless times, but she didn't. Viserys choosing this method to talk to her must have its own considerations.
She thought of the greed that flashed across the fat face of Illyrio when she first met him, the chatter and overtures from the maid Annie, and the exchanges between Viserys and Illyrio that she couldn't understand. What she couldn't shake from her mind the most was the change that had occurred in Viserys – he seemed like a different person, no longer easily angered, and full of confidence in everything.
The baseless, unwavering sense of certainty that her brother possessed even made Dany secretly ponder its source.
Now, that mysterious veil seemed to have lifted a corner for her.
Dany's heart thumped.
They continued to stroll along the cobblestone path of Illyrio's courtyard. Viserys led the way, and Dany followed silently, step by step.
As time passed, Dany suddenly felt a different kind of thought in her heart.
Once, she had been uneasy because of Viserys' increasingly perfunctory attitude after the change, but now, when he seemed to reveal his true intentions towards her, Dany became worried. She was unprepared for Viserys' expectations.
Just pretend I didn't hear it, she suddenly thought. His voice is so soft, and the sound of the waves is so loud. When he asks, I'll just say I didn't hear him.
[Wait, isn't it just asking me to remember some unusual feelings and dreams? What's there to worry about?]
She gradually realized she was overthinking things. Viserys was clearly just asking her to do a small thing, even though he acted as if it was serious, as if the situation was dire. But considering his exaggerated expressions these days, what was there to worry about with such a small thing?
[But what feelings are unusual? What dreams are unusual? I can't say. Will he hit me and scold me?]
She suddenly thought of the past again. Viserys, when angry, would have a ferocious expression, viciously digging his fingernails into her skin and saying, "You have awakened the Wrath of the Sleeping Dragon."
Some unpleasant memories surfaced, and Dany's steps, following her brother, inevitably slowed.
"What's wrong?" Dany saw Viserys turn his head, a mocking smile on his face, a strange color flickering in his purple eyes.
But seeing Viserys's face, she was inexplicably no longer afraid.
"Nothing," she replied to Viserys.
"If you're tired, go back and rest," Viserys smiled at her.
"I'm not tired," she replied.
We are family. Dany told herself.
Viserys was her only family, and she didn't want to be hit or scolded, nor did she want to be looked down upon and treated perfunctorily.
Dany thought as she saw Viserys nod at her. He didn't say anything else, just turned and continued walking.
Dany's heart gradually calmed. Suddenly, she realized something.
Viserys needs her help.
Viserys had always been wary of Illyrio and everyone in the courtyard, so he would whisper to her over the sound of the waves; that was what he truly wanted to express.
Thinking this way, Dany realized she'd always known. The slave gardener wearing a collar in the garden, the guards with swords at the main gate, the dogs in the kennels at the back door, the sweet-talking Illyrio, the always serious butler, and even the enthusiastic maid Annie were all people the siblings needed to be wary of.
Once she understood this, many of Viserys's exaggerated behaviors made sense. Dany, after figuring it out, suddenly found that all her chaotic emotions had vanished. She was surprised. Why had she only realized this now?
Dany looked up at Viserys's back, suddenly feeling that her brother's figure was a little lonely. She felt a surge of courage, took a step forward, and moved closer to him.
She wanted to fight alongside him.
Viserys, of course, had no idea what Dany was thinking. The reason he was dropping hints to her at this moment was naturally because the Dragonbone deal seemed to be coming together. He would inevitably have to interact with Dany, so he wanted to lay the groundwork and prepare her mentally.
Also, coincidentally, he had sensed something resembling a Dragon Soul within one of the Dragonbone hairpins Illyrio had given him. Viserys planned to run a small test on Dany, but he was worried that she might become uncontrollable again after coming into contact with the suspected Dragon Soul item, just like the last time. Therefore, he used affectionate hints in his words.
He had thought Dany's change in mood just now was caused by the Dragon Soul again, but she quickly returned to normal. This left Viserys somewhat disappointed.
He suspected that the amount of Dragon Soul contained in the Dragonbone hairpin might be incredibly low.
Just as the two siblings were walking silently along the garden path, each with their own thoughts, they passed a rockery and saw the owner of the courtyard sitting on a resting bench ahead.
It seemed this trip to the Seven Kingdoms had made the Governor very eager.
....
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