"Looks like we'll have to start eating some dragon—ahem—dragon essence ourselves, and mix a little of it into our food," Jorah said thoughtfully, his eyes wandering.
"You're going to eat it too?" Daenerys stared at him in disbelief.
"Your Grace, haven't you figured it out yet?" Whitebeard lowered his gaze. "That dragon... ahem... dragon essence can help people resist the Dragon Horn. It may have other effects as well."
"I'm afraid..." Daenerys looked around at the eager faces of everyone present, all licking their lips in anticipation. "I'm afraid there won't be enough of that dragon... ahem... essence to go around."
"Then feed the dragons more food," Jorah suggested. "And don't let them relieve themselves wherever they want anymore."
"Fine."
Daenerys had no desire to continue discussing dragon droppings. No matter what happened, she absolutely refused to eat any herself.
She opened the half-man-high mahogany chest before her. Inside, resting neatly upon soft silk, was a suit of black full-body armor trimmed with gold.
The armor was black as smoke. The edges of its scales shimmered with reddish-gold. Its surface was decorated with spirals, runes, and mysterious symbols.
She remembered it immediately. Euron had been wearing this armor before. Later, to gain her trust, he had left both the armor and his sword aboard the Silence.
Picking up the helmet—which was about the size of a watermelon—she tried it on.
Way too big.
Like someone with an M-sized body trying to wear a 4XL outfit.
Still, it was remarkably light because it was so thin.
Valyrian steel possessed the qualities of being nearly indestructible and resistant to deformation. It didn't need the thickness of ordinary iron armor to provide protection.
After all, Valyrian steel was still steel—just steel forged with magical techniques. The thinner it was, the lighter it became.
Unfortunately, it had clearly been made for a large man. She couldn't wear it.
Putting down the helmet, Daenerys swept her gaze across her bloodriders, Jorah, Whitebeard, and the others.
Some seemed to have guessed what she was thinking.
When Daenerys looked their way, Jorah immediately straightened his back and puffed out his chest.
Whitebeard set aside the cane he always leaned on and struck a pose that seemed to declare, "I'm still strong enough for battle."
Even the obese eunuch Belwas sucked in his belly as hard as he could, trying to transform himself from a laughing Buddha into an action hero.
Only a few Dothraki looked confused.
"So," Daenerys asked, "who wants this armor?"
"I don't!" Aggo shouted immediately. "A brave Dothraki warrior never hides inside iron armor!"
He sounded as though giving him Valyrian steel armor would be an insult.
"Dothraki don't wear armor. Everyone knows that," Jhogo agreed.
"Yeah, everyone knows that," Rakharo and Qotho chimed in together.
For perhaps the first time in his life, Jorah Mormont deeply appreciated the straightforward honesty of the Dothraki—and especially their phrase, "everyone knows that."
With the bloodriders out of the competition, who could challenge him for the armor?
As expected, Daenerys nodded toward him.
"Very well, Ser. It's yours."
"Wait, Your Grace."
Whitebeard stepped forward and blocked the delighted knight.
"I do not deny Ser Jorah's courage, but his loyalty is... questionable."
Jorah's expression darkened instantly. His hand dropped to the hilt of his sword.
"Old man, I've warned you before. Watch your tongue."
"Am I wrong?" Whitebeard shot back fearlessly.
His sharp eyes fixed on Jorah.
"Can you honestly say you have never betrayed Her Grace? Swear it upon your father's honor and the honor of House Mormont!"
"He is my Queensguard. He has saved my life many times. I trust him."
Daenerys stepped forward and gently pushed the old man aside.
She bent down, picked up the helmet, and handed it to Jorah.
"If I can't trust someone who has repeatedly saved my life, then who can I trust?"
"Your Grace!"
Jorah's eyes turned red.
"I swear it. By my father's honor and the honor of House Mormont, I will protect you with my life."
His hands trembled as he accepted the black helmet.
"Your Grace!"
Whitebeard stamped his foot as though he wanted to say more, but ultimately held his tongue.
No matter what had happened before, from this moment onward Jorah Mormont would be utterly devoted to Daenerys.
The old man had unintentionally given her tremendous help.
Daenerys secretly smiled.
The armor could only go to Jorah.
There were three bloodriders and Qotho, the dragon guard. There simply wasn't enough armor to distribute among them fairly. Giving it to one while denying the others would only create resentment.
As for Whitebeard...
Daenerys had already guessed his identity.
Barristan Selmy.
Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
The legendary knight known as "Barristan the Bold."
In the television series, she had known of him, but he had relatively little screen time and died an unremarkable death, so she barely remembered him.
After arriving in this world, however, she had come to understand what the name Barristan Selmy truly meant.
To put it simply:
He was Westeros's version of Guan Yu.
Of course, unlike Guan Yu, Barristan's loyalty was not to a single individual. His devotion was to the royal institution itself. And rather than placing brotherhood above all else, he placed honor above all else.
Replace "king" with "Liu Bei," and replace "honor" with "brotherhood," and you essentially had Guan Yu.
He even possessed Guan Yu's martial prowess and strategic ability.
During the War of the Ninepenny Kings, Barristan had charged alone into the ranks of the Golden Company and slain the last Blackfyre pretender in single combat, effectively ending the Blackfyre rebellions.
He was one of the most celebrated knights in Westerosi history.
Every knight in the Seven Kingdoms regarded him as a role model because he represented the final survivor of the age of great knights.
Especially in the current age—when knighthood had become thoroughly corrupted—Barristan's reputation carried extraordinary weight.
If he were to kneel and swear himself to Daenerys, his value and loyalty would surpass even Jorah's.
Unfortunately...
This great "Westerosi Guan Yu" had effectively become a servant of three dynasties.
As a Kingsguard knight, Barristan had served Daenerys's grandfather and father, then Robert Baratheon for fourteen years, and finally even Joffrey for a brief time.
Three kings.
Three houses.
A true "three-surname servant."
And in the end, Joffrey had dismissed him from the Kingsguard—the first knight in history to be expelled from that lifelong order.
Despite his current misfortune and his need to seek out Daenerys, Barristan still possessed immense pride.
He refused to serve someone he believed unworthy of kingship.
That was why he concealed his identity.
He was evaluating Daenerys.
So far, he had not revealed himself, which meant she had not yet fully passed his test.
Still, since he was not yet truly her man, Daenerys had no intention of giving him such a valuable suit of Valyrian steel armor.
The eunuch Belwas ranked even lower in her trust.
The next day, shortly after lunch, Daenerys was lying on her bed studying the Valyrian glyphs carved into the great horn when a sailor reported that Euron Greyjoy had finally awakened.
She ordered chairs set out on the stern deck.
Twenty Dothraki warriors stood in two rows like guards in a courtroom.
Only a plaque reading "Justice" was missing.
Clad in his new black armor, Jorah escorted Euron forward.
Euron looked miserable.
Much of his hair had been burned away.
His luxurious black robe, embroidered with gold, was scorched and tattered.
Dark-red scabs covered his face, arms, and chest, and some cracked open and bled as he spoke.
"Heh. Quite the haul," Euron said with a grin, eyeing Jorah's imposing armor.
"You even found my armor.
"I was thinking about ransoming myself, but it seems you've already taken all my treasure.
"Then again, perhaps you always intended to rob anyone foolish enough to return from Valyria.
"I merely gave you a convenient excuse.
"Now you can keep your darker intentions hidden away."
-----------------------
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