"Unicorn?" Dany and Jon exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
Even Barristan, who had just pushed open the doors of the King's Tower, turned around in astonishment and asked, "Maester Aemon, are you sure there are still unicorns beyond the Wall? I didn't see any among Mance Rayder's army."
"No, Little White didn't go beyond the Wall. I warned them not to hunt there," Dany shook her head.
She walked over to the beast's corpse and studied it carefully. Ninety-nine percent of its fur was charred, but a few tufts of long silver hair remained just above its hooves. Most striking, however, was the black, spiral-horned shaft that Little White had tossed aside — one point two meters long, as thick as a cup, with deep spiral grooves like a drill bit.
"I've never seen a unicorn in the North," Jon said.
Maester Aemon thought for a moment, then said, "East of Eastwatch, across Seal Bay, lies a great island called Skagos. It's said that unicorns live there."
"Skagos?" Jon mused. "I heard it's inhabited by wildlings who refuse to be civilized, though technically, they are sworn bannermen to House Stark."
Carrying the unicorn's horn in her hand, Dany stepped into the tower, took off her cloak, and hung it on the wall. As she roasted the scraps of flesh and blood clinging to the horn over the fireplace, she said, "Jon, let me be clear first — seeing House Stark broken and ruined actually makes me quite happy."
"Don't get upset. I have my reasons. Who wouldn't be pleased to see an enemy suffer? Anyone who says otherwise must be crazy. And surely, you haven't forgotten the Rebellion sixteen years ago?"
Jon's facial muscles twitched, and he pressed his lips tightly together. "Your Grace, who are you planning to take revenge on? Only my two sisters and I are left."
"I met your aunt in the Riverlands," Dany said with a grin.
"Aunt? What aunt?" Jon asked, confused.
"Lady Catelyn. Catelyn Tully," Barristan explained.
"Impossible!" Jon shouted.
"Lady Catelyn died at the Red Wedding. That's been confirmed," Maester Aemon said, frowning.
Staring into the roaring flames of the fireplace, Barristan said grimly, "She did die. But a Red Priest from Myr brought her back to life. Even though she'd been dead for three days and her corpse was already infested with maggots, Lord Beric managed to revive her."
"Lord Beric was himself resurrected multiple times by Thoros of Myr and became a follower of R'hllor, the Lord of Light."
"But reviving the dead comes at a terrible cost. Once sweet and kind, Lady Catelyn has become like a different person, and the meaning of guest right has been completely twisted."
The old knight then recounted in detail the events at the Crossroads Inn.
"This..." Maester Aemon rubbed his face and murmured, "The dead can be resurrected again and again, and guest right has turned into a death sentence for guests. What is this world coming to?"
"Even White Walkers have appeared, old man. Try not to take it too hard," Dany comforted him.
Glancing at Jon, who was frowning in deep thought, she continued, "Do you understand now? I didn't even kill Catelyn, so naturally, I won't harm the children of the man who wronged my father."
"You won't avenge your father and brother?" Jon asked, disbelieving.
"There are enemies I won't spare, of course," Dany said calmly. "But my revenge will be righteous and justified. Before contesting the Iron Throne, I will convene a Great Council to judge all the major events of the past twenty years — including my father's execution of your uncle and grandfather, and Rhaegar's abduction of your aunt.
Even the Red Wedding — I will seek justice for your brother Robb. I will not let the Freys or the Boltons escape punishment."
"Why?" Jon asked, his face bewildered.
"Because," Dany's lips curled into a confident, proud smile, her fair face glowing with self-assurance, "a filthy Westeros isn't worthy of being conquered by me."
Jon's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't comprehend how such a... he didn't even know if 'arrogant' was the right word, for arrogance was a flaw — yet he sincerely wished that all kings could be this kind of "arrogant."
Barristan nodded with satisfaction. This is the wise ruler I've been searching for, he thought.
Old Maester Aemon narrowed his blue eyes, his lips trembling, and said, "Dany, if you can truly keep your word, you will be greater than our ancestor Aegon."
Dany rolled her eyes. "I left Aegon far behind a long time ago. Aegon was merely the conqueror of Westeros. I am not just a conqueror — I am the breaker of chains, Mother of Dragons, the source of magic, heir to the legacy of the Great Mage."
"Not to mention, by inheriting the legacy of the Valyrian Great Mage, every Targaryen dragonlord in history would have to bow before me, just as they once knelt to the Great Mage."
"The Great Mage's legacy?" Aemon frowned, thinking.
"Old man, have you heard of the Fourteen Flames families?"
"Yes," Aemon nodded. "The Fourteen Flames were fourteen massive volcanoes, each ruled by a top Valyrian family."
"And do you know of Aenar and 'Dreamer' Daenys?"
"Of course. They were the first ancestors of House Targaryen on Dragonstone."
"Then do you know what status Aenar Targaryen held in Valyria? Hmm, you can think of it in terms of Westeros's noble hierarchy."
"Well," the old man hesitated, "the families of the Fourteen Flames would be like the seven great houses. Our ancestors' status in Valyria was relatively low — about the level of knights. House Velaryon and House Celtigar were also among the lesser houses."
"Exactly. And do you know the status of the Great Mage in Valyria?"
"What status?" Aemon asked, curious.
"He was like the King of the Seven Kingdoms. Inheriting his legacy is like sitting the Iron Throne itself. Now, imagine a lowly, fallen knight family usurping the Iron Throne — tell me, how does that compare to Aegon's achievements?" Dany said with a faint, confident smile.
"So exaggerated?" The old maester gaped, looking utterly incredulous.
"Not exaggerated at all. In the magical civilization of Valyria, magical power was equivalent to status and rank."
Aemon nodded, then asked, "What can the Grand Sorcerer's inheritance do?"
"What can it do..." Dany thought for a moment and sighed, "Give me twenty years, and I could probably revive the fallen Valyria in this world. But what would be the point? Valyria's path of civilization has already reached a dead end."
"That's terrifying," Jon said, first horrified, then overjoyed. Excited, he asked, "Last night I learned a meditation technique from the glass candle — does that mean I have the Grand Sorcerer's inheritance?"
Seeing the shifting, shadowy flickers in Jon's gray eyes, Dany held back a laugh and shook her head. "Jon, you're truly talented. In just one day, without even mastering the basic runes, you managed to form a meditation rune.
But you lack Targaryen blood and can't learn my sorcery.
Congratulations though — you've become a Shadowbinder."
Thud. Both Barristan and old Aemon, understanding the significance of "Shadowbinder," nearly fell off their chairs in shock.
"What's a Shadowbinder?" Jon asked in confusion.
[Latest chapter first published at 69 Book Bar!]
"A profession, much like the skinchangers, often misunderstood by others."
"Your Grace, how could you allow Jon to practice the sorcery of the Children of Shadow?!" Old Aemon stomped his cane in protest.
For some unknown reason, he had always felt an odd affection for this long-faced, black-haired youth, caring for him like a nephew. Hearing now that Dany had "lured" him onto the irreversible path of the Shadowbinders made him especially angry.
"It's only a meditation technique. Blood magic, shadowcraft, demon sacrifices — I don't practice any of that myself."
"What?" Jon was stunned.
Blood magic, shadowcraft, demon sacrifices — they sounded downright evil. What had he become?!
"Think about it yourselves — in the eyes of common Westerosi, is there any real difference between a skinchanger and a Shadowbinder?"
"There's no difference," Barristan frowned, "but being both a skinchanger and a Shadowbinder at the same time is simply too frightening."
"Ser, your logic is flawed. Killing with a machete — is that somehow less guilty than killing with two swords?
As long as Jon holds onto his conscience, even learning a few necromantic tricks won't make him a villain; if he loses his humanity, he could still commit evil with just a sword and shield.
Between Tam, Qhored, and Walder Frey, who do you think is more wicked?"
The white knight was silent for a long while before sighing, "You're right, but the views of common people..."
"Jon is a man of the Night's Watch, not a king. Do the common people's opinions really matter?"
"Uh..." The old knight had no response.
Then, in a much gentler tone, Dany turned to the bewildered, bearded Jon and said, "Don't blame me either. I only have two types of meditation techniques.
You can't learn the Grand Sorcerer's inheritance, and the incomplete Firemage meditation technique is far less powerful than the complete, potential-rich path of the Shadowbinder."
Saying this, she went into her bedroom and came back with a book and an iron plaque, handing them to Jon. "Inside this plaque is a fire spell. Shadowbinders who control flame, blood, and shadow can also learn it.
And this is Tam's Diary, notes left behind by a legendary half-god sorcerer. You can study it — but remember: 'Hold the sword in your hand, and kindness in your heart.' Strive for it. Be cautious."
Jon squeezed the cold, dark plaque and asked in shock, "Valyrian steel?"
"Oh, not bad — you have some knowledge!" Dany raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Real Valyrian magic. I learned my flame control spell from this plaque."
"Thank you!" Jon said sincerely.
He agreed with Her Majesty: power itself is neither evil nor righteous. It depends on whose hands it falls into and how carefully it is used.
Suddenly, Dany remembered something and asked, "Since you've mastered the meditation technique, have you found your direwolf?"
After a moment's hesitation, Jon nodded, "I did. Last night, I was able to freely enter and exit Ghost's body. He's near the wildling camp. Once the gates open for tomorrow's negotiations, he'll be able to return."
"By the way, I also found Mance Rayder's tent. Should we..."
"No," Dany refused. "Since I have agreed to negotiate with him, I cannot go back on my word and burn him with dragonfire in the middle of the night."
"Your Grace, back when I was young, I also dabbled in magic. Could I possibly learn the Grand Sorcerer's inheritance?" Maester Aemon suddenly asked.
"Old man, did you light the glass candle?" Dany raised an eyebrow.
"Last night, the candle was always in Jon's hands. I didn't get the chance to try."
"Alright then. I'll first teach you the 108 Basic Valyrian Rune Language. But before that, there's something you must know — the 'real world' as taught by the Citadel, and the true reason behind the dragons' extinction..."
(End of Chapter)
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