Chapter 85 — Favor and Jealousy
In Meereen, inside a hall of the Great Pyramid that housed the academy, Daenerys was studying the history of Westeros when a sudden surge of murderous intent from Drogon's thoughts startled her.
She lowered her book and turned.
Drogon was staring furiously at an empty corner of the hall, hissing low in his throat.
A chill crept over Daenerys. Missandei, who had been compiling texts, and Shireen, who was sorting books nearby, also noticed Drogon's abnormal behavior and looked over.
Only when Bran's faint phantom standing by the wall vanished did Drogon withdraw his gaze.
He hadn't expected Bran to inherit the greenseer power so quickly — and to use it to look directly at him. Fortunately, he'd noticed in time. Letting Bran glimpse his secrets would be… dangerous.
The incident reminded him of his first days on Dragonstone. Back then, he had also sensed being watched — but far more faintly. He'd thought it a hallucination.
Clearly, it hadn't been.
That watcher couldn't have been Bran.
Was it the old greenseer — the Three-Eyed Raven?
Drogon glanced at Daenerys and the two girls. None of them had sensed anything. If he alone could see Bran, perhaps the Light of Divinity within him was the reason.
The difference between mortal and divine, Drogon mused. Otherwise someone could strip you bare with their sight and you'd never know.
Greenseers being able to view past and future did make him wary — but not afraid. Bran needed Drogon as a "point of reference." Without that link, he would see nothing.
Drogon had already warned him: look again, and he would come in person.
Bran might have prophetic sight, but Drogon knew things too — and knew Bran very well.
"Drogon, what happened just now?" Shireen walked over and gently stroked his back, concern in her voice.
The intimacy of the gesture made Daenerys' expression stiffen almost imperceptibly. She also approached, smiling as she asked, "Drogon, what did you see?"
From that smile, Drogon once again sensed a familiar trace of killing intent.
He hurriedly took off and landed on Daenerys' shoulder, baring his teeth in what passed for a grin.
That's better.
Daenerys felt satisfied at once.
Drogon knew female jealousy well — he'd experienced enough of it in a past life. He had no intention of letting the Dragon Queen form unpleasant ideas about Shireen.
Shireen's hand fell onto empty air when Drogon flew away. She couldn't hide her disappointment.
Back on Dragonstone, being with Drogon had been simpler… happier.
She had known Daenerys possessed three dragons. She'd thought that meant being close to Drogon wouldn't matter.
Apparently… she'd been wrong.
Only after arriving in Meereen did Shireen realize just how close Drogon and Daenerys truly were — far closer than his bond with the other two dragons. They were almost never apart.
She understood then that things could never be like Dragonstone again, where as long as Drogon had nothing to do, they could spend the whole day together.
Now it was obvious.
Queen Daenerys did not want to share Drogon.
Noticing Shireen's disappointment, Daenerys suddenly felt embarrassed. She had actually grown jealous of a little girl. Well… Shireen wasn't that little anymore, Daenerys told herself, and neither was she.
From Tyrion, she had learned why Shireen had come to Meereen. She hadn't imagined Stannis could become so fanatical in pursuit of the Iron Throne that he would not even spare his own daughter.
Daenerys could understand the pain of being cast aside by one's family. She had once been sold to Khal Drogo by her brother Viserys. Though she and Drogo later grew close, no one could know the fear and helplessness she'd felt that first night.
"Shireen, how's the sorting going? Found any books you like?" Daenerys asked gently, glancing at the new volumes collected from the Great Masters.
As she spoke, she lifted Drogon from her shoulder and set him down atop the books beside Shireen.
Am I a toy now? Drogon lamented inwardly. But since Daenerys clearly meant to ease Shireen's feelings, he cooperatively nudged the girl's hand.
Shireen, still a little downcast, brightened when she saw no falseness in Daenerys' eyes. Feeling Drogon's warmth beneath her fingers, she stroked his back and answered:
"These books are all very good. There are a few Your Grace might enjoy."
She loved being with Drogon, but she also knew how dearly Daenerys cherished her dragon. She would never try to take what belonged to another. Being able to spend time with him now and then was already enough.
Besides… Daenerys didn't seem to know Drogon could write.
That little secret belonged only to her and drogon — and the thought brought her quiet delight.
Hearing there were books for her, Daenerys stepped closer to look.
"I picked these out for Your Grace," Shireen said, moving a stack toward her. "You can read them after finishing A History of the Riverlands."
Daenerys hadn't expected Shireen to prepare reading for her in advance. Guilt pricked her more sharply for her earlier jealousy.
"Have you decided which subject you'll teach?" she asked.
Shireen had not only joined the academy — at Tyrion's recommendation, she had also become its youngest instructor.
"I… I'd like to teach history," she said softly. She knew the history of Westeros well — and Targaryen history even better.
"That's wonderful," Daenerys said warmly. "Then I can learn Westerosi history from you."
As head of the academy, Daenerys felt real pressure. Tyrion was teaching her governance, but she also had to study Westerosi history, geography, and the great houses — their sigils, their words.
She had heard Targaryen history from Viserys countless times, but beyond that, her knowledge was thin.
Hearing the queen would be her student made Shireen blush. She wondered if she truly knew enough — and resolved to study harder.
History would be divided into three fields:
Westerosi history, the histories of the great houses, and Targaryen history.
Shireen would teach the first and the third.
She also hoped to verify parts of Targaryen history with Daenerys herself, to see whether the accounts she knew were accurate.
Missandei had long noticed Shireen's fondness for Drogon — and Daenerys' subtle reluctance about their closeness. Seeing the tension gone, she quietly returned to her work.