How strange, though, that the author never mentions the Pacifier’s first name, the alias she goes by, or even what she looks like… Must have slipped her mind.
I start to think that we are going to see dark dany in some episodes but then she will realize in what she is turning to. What her ambition is doing to her and to the realm and will have a change of heart in the very end. Maybe she will go to kingslanding with the intention of burning it but then in the last minute decide to just defeat cersei and burn the iron throne and break the wheel with jon's help. I won't like it but I believe is what the shows is trying to do
Dear nonny,
actually many book readers who are somewhat convinced that Da€nerys took a turn to the dark in Mereen, believe that she will have a redemption and be a saviour. Before season 6 I believed the same. Many even saw her going on the Wight hunt as this redemption.
I don't think so. @rose-of-red-lake has alerted me and others to the fact that the burning of the Tarlys might have been a plan of GRRM all along (Sam's fear for his family points in that direction) and it is bound to have repercussions. And the wildfire in King's Landing will blow up. It was mentioned too often. And then there is the 'Tumbleton' in the Fire and Blood book which is destroyed in the first Dance of Dragons.
So, I doubt there is a redemption for Da€nerys. And I don't think that this is what the show is trying to do. In hindsight all her triumphant scenes will be finally disclosed as what they are. As scenes that show her hubris and her Icarus arc. She is going to fall.
Threat number one: Redivi Duxile
Strength, heightened senses, and worst of all, the ability to cast someone out of their body in under a second. His nigh instantaneous suspension is nearly impossible to combat.
Nearly.
Countermeasure: Distraction. Kenshe’s wheelhouse. Duxile’s had a long time to perfect his powers, but they still take some effort on his part. His focus is the key. You just need to act fast.
Compared to him, the others are easier. There’s room for mistakes. Room to breathe, to think, to misstep and redirect.
Threat number two: Remora Ofidis
A highly skilled combatant, practically unstoppable in hand-to-hand. He’s known for his bloodthirsty rages, and few can escape him when he’s on a rampage.
But he won’t be on a rampage, will he?
Countermeasure: The simple fact that he won’t kill without permission. There’s only so much he can do when made to hold back.
He’s the least of your concerns.
Threat number three: Zerkev Pravus.
A brilliant tactician with a perfect record, lauded as one of the greatest military minds the fleet has ever seen. Quick on the battlefield and even quicker to think.
Everything you aim to be, but better.
Countermeasure? Easy.
Your father would never hurt you.
That’s the thing with you, isn’t it? You’ll never take on a challenge that poses any real threat to you. Every risk you take is calculated. Everything you do is self-serving. Every move you make is something that will help you.
And yet, the entire time you were ruminating on how to work Sonny into your escape plan, you never once entertained the idea of asking her to use her powers.
It wasn’t too difficult to factor her in anyways. She’s another piece to keep track of, sure, but she really didn’t change much in the end. You still plan on leaving quietly, before the moons rise. You still have it all worked out.
Best case scenario, you’ll have her and Kenshe out before any of the senior citizens have risen.
Worst case… Well, facing all three of them at once, you guess. But that seems unlikely.
It’s a simple mission in theory: Get the girls to their pick-up without being spotted, return just in time to gloat. You’re anticipating anger. Lots of anger. Decreased funds from your dad, most definitely. Might get banned from some events for a while, too. The closest one can get to grounding their adult child, shy of whatever the hell Redivi had going on with his missing kid.
You heard about it from Veylin. Asked her why she bothered putting herself on the map for a handful of strangers, why she threw away sweeps of hiding just to get three dudes out of Thorezille.
“Can I tell you a secret?” She had asked, hands folded in her lap. “I think… More than anything, I did it for me.”
You guess you can relate.
The sun is setting when you creep downstairs to test the doors. First the front, then the back. Two exit routes, both unobstructed and free of obstacles. No alarms, no motion sensors.
Slowly, you unlock the back door and turn the knob, opening it all the way to see if it creaks. Nope. Smooth as a whistle. Still, you don’t know just how good Duxile’s hearing is, and the handle clicks when it moves. Best to leave things unlatched, just in case.
You ease it just about closed, stopping right before the mechanisms can connect, and tiptoe back upstairs to get the girls.
Sonny’s face lights up when you rouse her from her slumber, eyes wide and shiny as she processes your presence. Not the usual reaction people have to seeing you, but you’re not complaining. She knows what this means. Knows there’s only one reason you’d be hanging over her, shaking her by the shoulder in the earliest hours of the night.
You help her out of bed and wake Veylin while Sonny gets ready to leave.
There’s not a single sound uttered between you as your party of three gathers at the top of the stairs. You only get one shot at this. You can’t risk screwing it up.
They both know what to expect. Veylin knows what you need her to do if one of the wardens shows up. You know she can handle Remora.
You hope she can handle Redivi.
With sword in hand, you lead the girls downstairs, where light steps and sealed lips take you all the way to the living room, your exit in sight. So far so good. It won’t be hard to evade Ofidis’ peacekeepers once you’re out of here. You nod at them both and approach the door.
A heavy dread settles in your gut as you draw near.
It’s closed.
You snap your head back around to scan the room, fist tightening around the hilt of your blade. Nothing else appears out of place. Could it have closed on its own? Some doors are designed to do that.
No use stressing. It will only make you sloppy.
“Kenshe,” you whisper, speaking as you turn to look at Veylin, “can you feel if anyone else is–”
When your eyes land on hers, there is nothing behind them. With a start, you whirl to look at Sonny, now standing with the same vacant expression at your side. You snap in front of her face, wave a hand past Kenshe’s. They’re completely catatonic.
Oh shit.
Your adrenaline spikes. He’s here. Hiding somewhere. Watching you.
And you didn’t even make it out the door.
With a deep breath, you straighten your posture and relax your shoulders, letting the panic roll off your back like water. Nibbling mindlessly at the side of your pinkie nail, you sweep the room again, calm as can be.
That seems enough to end his game of hide and seek.
“Mallum.” You snap your gaze towards Redivi as he reveals himself in the darkness of the living room, tone almost pitying as he allows his skin to come alight. “I shouldn’t be surprised.”
You eye him warily, palm still curled tightly around the handle of your sword. You knew this was a possibility. That he might act faster than Veylin, might get the jump on you. What you couldn’t have predicted was being here to witness it. He could have cast you away just as easily as the other two.
So why didn’t he?
“Didn’t realize you’d be up,” you manage, voice low.
He doesn’t try to move any closer, eyes flitting to your weapon once before returning to your face. “I’d like to have a word with you.”
Oh.
You see it now.
You’re still one of them.
“Okay,” you say tersely. “We’re having words.”
"Mallum,” he says again, softly. “I understand you are upset. Will you talk to me about this? I want to help."
“Help?”
He glances at Veylin and Sonny, briefly, before his focus is back on you. You and your sword. He’s remaining cautious. “These actions did not come out of nowhere. I cannot help but feel that I hold some amount of the blame.”
Now that’s interesting.
Your face softens, more perplexed than hostile. You let your fins relax and loosen your grip ever so slightly, waiting for him to go on.
“You felt unappreciated.”
“I did.”
“Understandably so. We did not treat you with respect.”
So that’s the angle. He thinks he’s better off if you like him. He’s trying to talk it out with you, to show you the respect you so desperately craved.
When you don’t respond, he continues. “We have not been fair to you, Mallum.”
You know that one. Names don’t need to fall from Sonny’s mouth to invite trust in another. You’ve used this trick yourself. How many times will he say yours, you wonder.
“I’m sorry.”
You blink, breath stalling for a moment as the words leave his lips. You’re in the middle of betraying him, and he apologizes to you?
You slump your shoulders slightly, all your bravado withering away. That was all you wanted to hear. That was it. How hard would it have been?
You search his face for a moment, brows knitting together and fins folding in. His gaze is sympathetic, his posture relaxed. You drift closer to him, rapier all but falling from your fingers. You’re sure you look almost on the verge of tears.
How badly did you just want to be seen? To have your frustrations acknowledged? Look how kind he is. You’ve aligned yourself with the enemy, and still he extends a hand. Gracious indeed.
You ghost just a step closer, grimacing like you’re holding back a sob. He eyes you warily, still cautious, but he already knows he’s done it. He’s won you over, given you exactly what you needed to come crawling back onto their team. Just a little validation. That’s all it took. He’s too warm, too kind, too open to refuse.
You make to set the weapon down.
And then you lunge.
He makes a noise as you thrust the blade between his ribs, something between a cough and a cry, pained and wet. His hand closes around your wrist before you can draw back, nails digging into your flesh as something wild and furious flashes across his face.
“You are one manipulative fuck, aren’t you?”
He bares his fangs at you, and you catch a glimpse of something truly monstrous beneath the cracks in his veneer.
When he sees the fear in your eyes, his snarl twists into a grin.
It’s gone in a second, replaced by a gasp and a grimace as he releases your wrist to clutch at his head. You yank your sword out and he presses a hand to the wound, face contorted in pain.
His head.
You risk a glance over your shoulder to see Veylin with her eyes screwed shut and her palms pressing into her skull, shaking with the effort she’s employing. It’s working! You were right!
You dare to peek at your wrist and immediately toss your gaze away, stomach churning at the sight of your own blood. At least that stupid fear can be useful for once. Kenshe needs all the emotion she can get if she wants to keep Redivi too overwhelmed to work his illusions.
There are footsteps thundering down the stairs. So much for not facing all three of them at once. Should have knocked on wood.
Shockingly, Zerkev gets to you first, assessing the situation in all but a second. He glances at your injured wrist, then locks eyes with you, the gears turning in his head. Oh fuck.
He’s already coming at you, reaching for your arm. You know exactly what he’s planning to do. Get your blood in front of you, and you’ll be down for the count. You both know it.
Remora is close behind him, skidding to a halt just beside Redivi and looking around with bewildered rage. His growl is almost deafening when he sees the green blood dripping from your sword, and his entrance pulls your attention just long enough for Zerkev to get a hand around your forearm.
He grits his teeth, trying to wrestle it into your line of sight. No, come on! This has to work. You need this plan to work.
“You really don't want to do that Zerkev! You have to check on Redivi first!” Sonny’s voice rings out behind you, forceful and desperate.
Like flipping a switch, he loosens his grip, giving you just the opening you need to get the fuck out of dodge. You toss Veylin over your shoulder, the cerulean still pumping the room’s emotions straight into Redivi’s skull, and throw the door open, barreling outside and tugging Sonny after you by the arm.
Remora is on you guys faster than you thought possible, grabbing Sonny’s wrist to pull her out of the way of you. She makes a noise when he does, drawing his attention for the briefest of moments. His gaze meets hers, and you’re almost certain you see him loosen his grip.
“Hey, Redtooth! Eye on me, pal. You wanna know how easily the sword went in?”
The fury that overtakes his features is almost bestial. You have no doubt he’s angling to sink those jagged teeth directly into your throat, and you’re not planning to stick around and let him. With his focus back on you, you take off running, hoping Sonny has enough sense to follow.
Behind you, a massive thud and a shout. “Remora, don’t!” Zerkev, doing exactly what you’d hoped he would.
Saving your life.
Well. Not exactly the clean escape you were hoping for, but it works. Redivi bleeding out on the carpet, Zerkev and Remora too occupied with their conflicting goals to work together.
The consequences for this might be a bit more severe than a canceled credit card. Hopefully the car has room for one more.
They put your car somewhere when you arrived. A safety precaution, allegedly, though you doubt the goal was to protect anything other than the Gracious Provider’s complete control over the lives of his residents.
Unfortunately for him, you’re more than happy to exchange one vehicle for the freedom of three innocents. Styx is on his way with your ride.
Three innocents.
Just three.
What are you doing?
You expected that Gracious would not let you leave without a fight. It was only a matter of time before he noticed the boys’ absence, and escaping on foot put you at a serious disadvantage.
What you did not expect was for the patron’s army to be comprised entirely of one singular, smiling man.
They don’t anticipate much trouble from you. When they look at you, they see someone young. Mild, yet foolhardy. Inexperienced.
But that’s the thing.
You’re not inexperienced at all.
Harlan made sure of that.
She's just like you.
Faithful approaches with a wicked grin across his face, fins flared and tail lashing behind him. You don’t need your powers to know that he is utterly thrilled to be on your trail.
Though, there’s something else there too. Beneath the excitement. An indignant sort of rage, a righteous fury directed squarely at you.
You, who had the audacity to anger his love, the gall to take what belongs to them.
You, the only chance they have.
Time is of the essence.
You focus on the seadweller, on his malice and joy and hatred. Anything to ignore the fear coiling around your lungs. It’s a fear that isn’t yours, but it grips you all the same.
The horror manifests differently in each of the boys. Anger, heartbreak, and pure, unbridled terror. Each feeling swirls through your chest, and settles heavy in your gut, dread seeping all the way to your toes.
It isn’t yours.
But the guilt is. It twirls inside you, threatening to eat you alive. You left Soniel behind. Left her in that town, in Gracious’ clutches, all by herself. How could you? Even with the Marauder’s arrival imminent, surely there was some way to take her with you.
Desperately, you try to remind yourself that you didn’t have a choice. General Pravus is on his way here even now, and not even your fake surname could protect you from him. The man has wanted a Kenshe for decades. If he finds you here, he’ll have one.
Focus.
Marqez, Theoci, Hirsch, Remora. They are the ones here now. Four trolls surrounding you, four minds encroaching on your own. You feel them laid out before you, a blooming tapestry of emotion that ripples and waves with even the slightest shift in mood.
A tapestry woven of cords. So many little cords.
She was busy at work. There was no way to reach her in time. No way for her to leave without alerting Gracious to your movements. Of all the nights for him to be hovering around the schoolhouse… It was a perfect storm, everything lined up perfectly to bar Soniel’s escape.
Remora in front of you, the boys at your back. Focus on him. Focus ahead.
Theo wanted to stay behind. He couldn’t leave her, he said. Not again.
You explained that coming back to extract both him and Soniel would be too dangerous. For the best chance at getting all four of them to safety, you need to get these three out now.
Which means you first must get through Faithful.
As he draws closer, a soft, wheezing laugh claws its way out of his throat, eventually settling into a rough, rumbling growl that permeates your senses.
You raise your arms, shielding the boys behind you.
He raises his axe, letting out another harsh chuckle at your pointless display of bravado.
You will come back for Soniel.
But first, you must escape with these three.
You must survive the former General Redtooth.
You must keep your head.
You take a breath.
He readies the swing.
And then, with a sharp breath out…
You rip a cord from the tapestry.
And for the first time since you hatched with these powers, you render someone else completely numb.
Faithful’s smile drops, his arms soon following suit. The axe hits the ground with a thud, and his face melts into the perfect picture of serenity.
Without turning around, you back yourself into the boys, attention focused squarely on the seadweller and his feelings. You tug at his strings with an accuracy you didn’t know possible, head pounding with the effort.
Building anger. Keep it down.
Mounting frustration. Soothe that too.
Fear of failure. Can’t be helped.
He looks almost dazed, entranced by the unnatural calm you have woven into him. Your head is throbbing.
“Go…” You mutter, gripping Hirsch’s forearm for support. “Let’s go.”
The boys all but drag you, shivering with the effort of keeping Faithful’s tumultuous tide of emotions at bay.
Pull the cords. Focus. Focus. Just you and the cords.
As the distance between you and Remora grows, so too does the effort required to pacify him. You’re seeing spots. You hear words being spoken around you, but none can permeate your thoughts.
Rumbling. Faithful?
No.
An engine.
Then, a familiar voice.
With his Faithful Devotion little more than a red blotch on the horizon and Styx just within reach, you let go of the tension you’ve been holding, releasing Remora’s emotions and crumpling into the arms of your allies.
Just as you surrender to unconsciousness, you feel yourself being lifted by a pair of metal hands.
