The Redfish (Edmure SI) chapter 110

The Redfish

Edmure POV

Seeing Daenerys parade a dozen Great Masters before the court made many tense. After the attack at yesterday’s trial, Daenerys quickly launched a counterattack. Half of the pyramids in Meereen were raided in one day and night. No matter how much the Great Masters complained and tried to refuse to comply with Daenerys actions, their words fell too short.

The whole city was on Daenerys’ side. The Unsullied had to stop the citizens from breaking into the pyramids and enacting their form of justice. The Great Masters lost all the city's support after the attack, leaving thirty-four people killed and trice the number injured. The people wanted justice, and Daenerys provided it for them.

It was over now. All those who were connected to the Sons of the Harpy in one way or another will be dealt with now. No one will defend them. No one will try anything anymore as Daenerys will pass her judgment on them. After this, no one could defy Daenerys's authority, at least within the city.

“The Great Masters who conspired with the Sons of the Harpy have brought nothing but death and suffering to the people of Meereen. They hide behind their titles and wealth, but their actions reveal the true darkness within their hearts. They thought they could undermine the peace and justice we seek to bring to this city, but they were wrong.”

Daenerys voice was filled with fiery resolve. Everyone who listened to her couldn’t deny her will to bring stability and order to the city she sought to rule. It also carried a warning to any who might consider opposing her vision. Her words reflected her commitment to justice and her determination to protect the innocent.

“I vow to hunt down every last member of the Sons of the Harpy and all those who supported them. No one is above the law, not even the Great Masters. Justice will be served, and Meereen will thrive under the rule of law, not in the shadows of fear and conspiracy.”

Bringing these men who have perpetuated a reign of terror in the darkness of the shadows to the light was the end for them. It didn’t matter if Daenerys used underhanded methods to get evidence of their crimes. The people of Meereen only cared for the Great Master to be justly punished. Now, she had the support of all the common people of Meereen and defeated the Sons of the Harpy.

That is why I am concerned now. What will be her following action? Will she keep her word to me and help Astapor? She might even aim higher and take Astapor for herself. After all, there wasn’t anything nor anyone who could stop her dragons. That would work fine with me. If I brought Shireen back to Westeros, I can safely secure the Stormland's loyalty.

As the court ended, Daenerys called for the small council. I joined her as I was tired of this city of this continent. I wanted Daenerys to keep her word so I could return home. But it wouldn’t be that easy. I had to get her to negotiate with Jaehaerys and agree to a peace treaty. Otherwise, I will have to think of a way to kill her and her dragons.

I thought manipulating her wouldn’t be too challenging as I only saw a little girl who didn’t know what she was doing. But now that she experienced a significant victory, I feared she might become cocky. She already didn’t trust me and might be more inclined to refuse to listen to me in the future. I had to do something to change that.

“Congratulations, your Grace,” Tyrion was the first to speak as we entered the small council room. “With this, even if someone wanted, they wouldn’t be able to fight against you. You destroyed the core members of the Great Masters involved with the Sons of the Harpy.”

“But not everyone,” Daenerys replied.

“Temple of the Graces and Loraq family won’t be able to amass any power anymore,” Asha said. “They don’t have any allies within the city.”

“Within the city, no,” I added. “But there are still many outside the city who could support them.”

“Yunkai and Volantis,” Daenerys agreed. “And there are remains of the Golden Company. Those leeches would take any opportunity to harm me and mine.”

“Yunkai wants to take Astapor first before turning their forces at us,” The Tattered Prince said. “I would advise to wait until they move onto Astapor before we strike them.”

“Fuck waiting,” Daario cursed. “I am tired of waiting, your Grace. I say we attack them now and face the wrath of the Mother of the Dragons.”

“I agree.”

“Lord Tully?” Daenerys turned to me in surprise. “I thought you would take the next actions more cautiously.”

“When our enemy and their plans are unclear, it is best to move cautiously,” I replied. “But there is a reason I am called the Redfish, and it isn’t for my carefulness.”

“And what would be your plan, Redfish?” Daenerys didn’t seem too impressed by my words. “Do you need my dragons to burn a path for you?”

“Your Grace,” I sighed. “I could kill you right now, right here.”

“I would watch your words, or I carve your other eye,” The tip of Daario’s sword was close to my eye.

“I could kill you too, Daario,” I replied, not even blinking. “Ser Barristan, would you tell them why you have knighted me at the age of fifteen? And why am I called the Redfish?”

“What do you want to say, Lord Tully?” Ser Barristan had his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“I am sorry I had to hide my true identity, your Grace. But even you should acknowledge that it was the only way for me to survive. And have I not proven myself already?”

“Get to the point, Lord Tully.”

Instead of answering, I grasped Daario's sword, clenching it hard so he couldn’t move it. Then, I grabbed my chair with another hand before throwing it at Daario. The chair broke at Daario’s head, knocking him back. In a quick motion, I drew my Valyrian sword, cutting Grey Worm’s wooden spear in half, and rolled over the table to dodge Ser Barristan’s sword and reach Daenerys.

“My point is that even your dragons won’t be able to protect you if I wanted to kill you,” I said as I had Daenerys throat in my hand.

“Release her, Lord Tully,” Ser Barristan’s sword was by my neck, too.

“Tell her, Ser Barristan, how I got the name of the Redfish.”

“In Greyjoy rebellion, you faced Lord Drumm. When you were weaponless in the hands of Lord Drumm, you bit his throat and ripped half of it with your teeth. Killing Lord Drumm and winning the battle.”

“Do you think I could do the same to your Queen before you stab me?”

“Yes,” Ser Barristan replied truthfully.

“So now you know, your Grace,” I let her go. “I would have done that if I wanted to kill you. Jaehaerys hasn’t sent me to kill you, nor do he or I want to kill you. So, enough of your reservations against me. I am tired, far away from my home and family. So, forgive me if I didn’t play by your rules and won’t play by them even now.”

“What do you want?” Daenerys asked as she backed away from me.

“To help you so you can help me,” I replied. “Give me a chance to kill your enemies. And after I am done with them, please come with me to King’s Landing to meet your nephew so you can agree to peace. Winter is coming, and I would rather prepare for it than the war with you, your Grace.”

“Or I can kill you now and be done with you,” Daario’s sword was against my neck, too.

“Drop your weapons,” Daenerys calmly ordered. “Lord Tully is my guest; you shall act respectfully with him.”

“Your Grace,” Even Ser Barristan didn’t want to listen to such an order. “He tried to harm you.”

“If he wanted to kill me, he would have done it,” Daenerys said. “And it is you, ser Barristan, who failed to protect me, and now you fail to listen to my orders.”

“My apologies,” Ser Barristan sheathed his sword.

“Daario, the same goes for you, too.”

“Give me a reason. I will cut your head off,” Daario whispered into my ear before sheathing his sword.

“What do you need?” Daenerys asked as her subjects backed away from me.

“Give me two thousand Unsullied, the Stormcrows, and the Windblown,” I replied.

“Fine, I will give a few thousand freedmen, too, as well as Asha’s fleet,” Daenerys agreed. “But I expect Yunkai to fall to its knees.”

“It will be done, your Grace.”

It didn’t seem that Daenerys was in the mood to listen to the words of her council as she left afterward. There was an awkward silence in the room as Ser Barristan followed out of Daenerys with Grey Worm. Daario continued to stare at me with the look that promised murder as he left, too. Tyrion continued to drink his wine, pretending he didn’t notice anything. Asha played with her knife, not giving a fuck.

…

It was risky and too reckless of an action I took against Daenerys, but I didn’t see any other way to give Daenerys my intentions. No matter what I said, she had little reason to listen to my words. I had to make her listen to me and believe me. It was hard to say, but I believe she didn’t want to fight the last family she had, but after what Aegon had done, it wasn’t unreasonable to think she wouldn’t trust us so quickly.

I didn’t wish to kill her or her dragons either. I knew what the winter would bring, but I still had no idea what we needed to do to stop them. The dragons seemed the only way to guarantee we could survive the winter. I wonder if the Night’s Watch has already discovered them, but if they did, I believe Robb could take action before it is too late.

I was more worried about the rest of the lords of the Seven Kingdoms. Some were too religious, and others cowardly to make the right decisions. I could imagine them fighting each other before they even realized the danger the winter would bring us. I could only hope that Jaehaerys and Jason would take it into their own hands and be able to move within the politics to secure the North and unite the rest of the houses.

“Where has the confidence gone from your face?” Tyrion found me as I looked through maps and planned my attack on Yunkai. “You look more worried than the Queen.”

“I am not worried about Yunkai,” I said. “Apart from the walls, the city has nothing I should be worried about.”

“That's good, but may I ask you to warn me if you will threaten the Queen next time,” Tyrion said. “Just give me time to find a way to escape her wrath. I don’t particularly like the idea of becoming her dragon’s meal.”

“At best, you would be a snack,” I replied. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything so reckless anymore.”

“Somehow, I found it hard to believe it.”

I ignored Tyrion and turned my attention to the map of Yunkai. It was pretty detailed. I could see streets and various buildings on the map. But I wasn’t too concerned about the city. I had to focus on its walls. There wasn’t any weakness to it, or at least I couldn’t find it on the map. It looked like I would have to do it the old-fashioned way.

“Prepare a letter to be sent to Astapor,” I said. “They should be more than happy to help us take Yunkai out.”

“I am sure Shireen will,” Tyrion agreed. “But I am still worried that Yunkai won’t fight alone.”

“They won’t have time to request help from Volantis or New Ghis,” I said. “And if they did, Asha’s fleet would stop them from joining with Yunkai.”

“I am talking about the remains of the Golden Company.”

I turned to Tyrion, wanting to dismiss his worry, but the more I thought about it, the more I agreed. At least a few thousand of the Golden Company should be alive. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say they regroup within the nearest city. And Yunkai would be all too happy to take the Golden Company into their ranks, even if weakened. But it might be better that way. I could take two birds with one stone.