Chapter II: Daario – Meanwhile in Meereen
There was a knock on the door of his solar, and Daario Naharis welcomed the distraction with a relieved sigh. Any reason to put down pen and paper was a good reason in his book. He was a warrior, not a scribe.
“Yes?” he asked. The door opened to reveal one of the many servants that worked in the great pyramid – all former slaves.
“News from the west, Lord Naharis.”
These words alone made his heart beat faster, as did the fading memories of his queen. Had she finally succeeded? Would he see her again? Or had she found another man to warm her bed?
“Yes, what is it?”
Instead of an answer or another blasted scroll, the servant opened the door wider to reveal a grubby sailor whose hands nervously gripped his cap. Neither servant nor sailor said a word, and so Daario leaned back in his chair and looked at them expectantly. Finally, the sailor broke.
“I work on the Harpy’s Tail, Lord, and the captain sent me to tell you the news we heard in Volantis.” He kept fingering his cap. Not good news, then. That much was obvious.
“The queen is dead,” he finally blurted out. Daario closed his eyes for a moment. Fiery, tempestuous Daenerys. No longer would she inspire madness and loyalty in those around her. He’d never meet another woman would came close to her. He should have been at her side.
“How?”
“Murdered by one of the westerners,” the sailor spat, before literally spitting on the floor in distaste. “Filthy barbarians!”
“Her dragons?”
The sailor shrugged. Further interrogation didn’t provide Daario with much clearer information. Half of the rumors heard in Volantis had been nonsense about a battle against an unspeakable evil in the north and the queen massacring the people she wished to rule. Still, one fact was clear as day. When the servant had shown the sailor out and rewarded him for his service, Daario called him back.
“Fetch me the commanders and the council!” he ordered. “This will be all over Slaver’s Bay in days, if it isn’t already. We have a war to prepare for!”
And as much as he wanted to mourn his love, Daario was looking forward to it.
Fin