chapter 108 part 1
**Chapter 108: Targaryen 3**
A satisfied expression appeared on Viserys Targaryen's face. "That's my good sister," he said.
"In a few days, I want you to visit someone. He is the Lord of The Whispers, named Glyn Crabbe."
"Lord of The Whispers?" Confusion showed on Daenerys Targaryen's small face.
"Brother, is he from Westeros?"
Viserys's smile deepened. "Dany, you guessed correctly. You must gain Lord Crabbe's loyalty on my behalf. You must achieve this, understand?"
After speaking, Viserys lightly patted Daenerys's tear-stained face.
Daenerys's eyes widened. "But... Brother, how can I do that?"
Make a Lord of Westeros swear fealty to her? Daenerys had never imagined such a thing, even in her dreams.
How could she possibly achieve it?!
Seeing Daenerys hesitate, Viserys's smile gradually faded, and he knitted his brows.
Viserys's voice turned cold. "Dany, are you planning to defy me? Do you wish to awaken the dragon's wrath?"
Daenerys shivered and quickly shook her head. "No, I don't! Brother, I... I'm just worried I won't be able to do it and will disappoint you."
Viserys's long fingers slowly slid over Daenerys's small shoulder.
His actions seemed gentle, yet they filled Daenerys with terror, making her body tremble uncontrollably.
Viserys smiled and said, "My dear sister, why would you want to disappoint me?"
Viserys's smile made Daenerys's hair stand on end.
Daenerys dared not move. She knew that any unnecessary movement at this moment would ignite Viserys's fury.
Daenerys quickly denied it. "No, Brother, I'm thinking of a way! I would never dare to disappoint you!"
Viserys's fingers squeezed her shoulder. "My good sister, then tell me, have you thought of a way?"
Daenerys was actually very confused. Why wouldn't her brother go himself? But she dared not ask aloud.
Daenerys could only nod. She didn't dare say she hadn't thought of a way yet.
Fortunately, Viserys did not press her on what method she would use. He had once told Daenerys that a king need only focus on results... this was a king's magnanimity.
Only then did Viserys release his fingers. He scrutinized the slender Daenerys from head to toe. "Though he has some soldiers, he is merely a half-wildling lord. I permit you to use your body, but remember your place. Targaryens never mingle with inferiors."
Barbarians... half-wildlings... Daenerys felt despair in her heart. Viserys had clearly said they were descendants of true dragons, with the blood of dragons flowing through their veins. But why was he making her face this? Was she not a Targaryen?
Viserys's words were contradictory, but Daenerys dared not refute him, nor was she capable of it. She could only submit to her brother's arrangements.
What Daenerys feared most was being abandoned by her brother. As long as she could stay by Viserys's side, she might still have a glimmer of hope, waiting for the brother she once knew to return.
Daenerys had always believed she would marry Viserys when she came of age.
Viserys had told her countless times that since Aegon the Conqueror took his sister as his wife, for hundreds of years, members of the Targaryen royal family had always wed brother to sister.
The blood flowing through the Targaryens' veins was the blood of kings, the golden blood of the ancient Valyrian people, the proud blood of true dragons... Only in this way could House Targaryen ensure the purity of its lineage.
True dragons would never mate with common beasts, and the people of House Targaryen would naturally never mix their blood with that of lesser men.
Yet now, barbarians... half-wildlings... Daenerys felt that her title as Princess of Dragonstone was nothing but a joke.
Daenerys lowered her small face, murmuring miserably through her tears, "Brother, I will be sure to remember."
Viserys's stiff, wooden face carried a hint of disgust. "Don't always wear such a long face. Lift your head and straighten your back. By the gods, you're already flat enough."
...
...
Dragonstone, the Painted Table Chamber.
Stannis Baratheon stared at the braziers, grinding his teeth with an audible rasp.
Davos Seaworth, standing beside him, glanced at Stannis and said respectfully, "Lord Stannis, there are more people interested in the position of Hand of the King than we imagined."
Stannis, his face taut, snorted coldly. "Renly and Mace are both useless. If a fool were to sit in the Hand's seat, he would ruin the realm."
Davos placed a hand on his chest. "Lord Stannis, I suggest you quickly recommend yourself to Lord Jon Arryn as a candidate for Hand of the King."
Stannis's brows furrowed into a knot. He had been waiting for the results of Jon Arryn's investigation.
There was something amiss with the royal bloodline. If the investigation's findings matched his suspicions, Stannis would become the first in line to the Iron Throne.
Because of his unique position, for the sake of impartiality, he could not be the one to bring this matter to light. He could only entrust the investigation to others.
If it were Stannis who exposed the truth of the royal lineage, fools would think he was slandering them to inherit the Iron Throne. Even those involved would have an excuse to refute him, and the evidence he uncovered would be questioned.
Lord Jon Arryn still retained a measure of fairness, and as Hand of the King, the issue of the queen's children's parentage was his undeniable responsibility.
Now, the problem of the royal lineage and the succession of the Hand of the King had suddenly intertwined, making the situation complicated.
...
The hall fell silent. After a long moment, Stannis gave a slight nod.
Seeing Stannis's solemn expression, Davos spoke up. "Lord Stannis, many nobles from the Crownlands support you directly, as do some from the Stormlands."
Stannis's eyes shifted slightly, glancing at Davos, who was awkwardly trying to comfort him. "What is the attitude of the Stormlands nobles?"
Davos inclined his head. "At least a third of them will support you directly."
Stannis said coldly, "They still prefer Renly's fine wine to my pure water."
Davos explained, "The rest are not all supporting Lord Renly. Many have chosen to... wait and see."
Stannis's eyes narrowed slightly. "My loyal Davos, I am not surprised by such things. Cunning men always prefer to wait and see, but they are only fit for scraps and leftovers."
Davos agreed, "Lord Stannis, it is as it should be. The brave enjoy the finest delicacies."
Stannis nodded slightly. "Davos, go to the Red Keep in my stead. Meet with Jon and inform him that I wish to recommend myself as the new Hand of the King."
Davos nodded in assent, then hesitated. "Lord Stannis, should I perhaps pay respects to King Robert while I'm there?"
Stannis snorted. "There's no need. My elder brother is not a fool. He knows very well that besides me, no one can allow him to continue indulging in wine and women."
...
...
Pentos was one of the nine Free Cities, located in the western part of Essos, bordering the Narrow Sea. It was the Free City closest to King's Landing.
Under a bright, sunny sky, five ships (two plus three), flying the banner of a golden marigold on a marsh-green field, slowly docked at a pier in Pentos.
Glyn stepped off the ship and looked around. He felt as if he had traveled from a backward civilization to an advanced one.