Chapter 22: Three Eyed Blood Raven
The old lady guided Jon inside the mansion, with Slyvia and Jelerion following close behind. Jon had to admit that the bald Good Master, at least, had good aesthetics. The decorations in the mansion were lavish and denoted the wealth the man had accumulated in his lifetime. He really had lived as a ruler of the city. All of it belonged to Jon now.
"What is your name?" Jon asked the old lady.
"Etinanui, My Lord," replied the old lady.
"Since when have you been a slave here?" Jon questioned further.
She replied, almost in nostalgia, "From my birth, My Lord. My parents were also slaves. They used to work for the grandfather and father of the Good Master you killed."
"You worked as a translator for your Good Master?" Jon asked, although he knew the answer.
The old lady showed a small smile at this.
"Yes, My Lord. Learning new languages is something I like. I can speak quite a few languages," she responded.
Jon nodded in understanding.
After a few more moments of walking, they arrived in front of a gate. Etinanui stopped at the gate while the other three walked inside.
Inside the room, at the centre, was a large bathing tub filled with water. Without hesitation, Jon pulled a strap holding his upper robes and then removed his black tunic.
The well-defined muscles on Jon's upper body glistened under the flames of the torches. Slyvia and Jelerion blushed witnessing the scene and made a quick run from the room.
Jon chuckled seeing their reactions, then removed his remaining clothes and took a dive in the big tub. He spent some time soaking himself in the cold water and calming his mind.
He had been on adrenaline for the entire day, and now he could finally relax. He had taken the hegemonic first step of his plans. And it had been a resounding success. But he also knew that this was merely a start. He still needed to achieve a lot more.
After his bath, Jon came out of the tub, and with a thought, a pair of clothes was brought out from the storage bracelet.
After getting dressed, Jon walked up to the window, and with a slight push from his hand, the window creaked open.
Since the mansion was located high on the pyramid, almost the entire city, shrouded in darkness, was visible to Jon. The darkness was sparsely broken by a few lingering flame torches giving off light around the city. The city had completely changed in a single day. Not physically, but its soul had been transformed.
Jon felt like a ruler looking at his kingdom.
Jon was lost in gazing at the city when his eyes were drawn toward a small bird perched on a nearby tree. Jon's eyes squinted as his turned more focused towards the raven.
Upon careful observation, Jon was able to make out the bird. It was a raven. And the raven too was staring in his direction.
Of all the thousands of birds and animals Jon had controlled until now, he had controlled quite a few ravens. But he had always felt uncomfortable doing so. It was not a discomfort which felt because of skin changing but because of a certain someone.
From all he had understood in his previous life through various theories, he believed that all ravens might be under the control of the Three-Eyed Raven or the Blood Raven.
Some theories went as far as to say that all that happened in Westeros and Essos was orchestrated by the Blood Raven. That the Blood Raven did not die, but shifted himself into Bran's body and fulfilled his goal of ruling the Iron Throne.
Jon was not sure of anything. Even so, he decided to remain cautious with the actions of the Blood-Eye Raven.
For all he knew, he was not sure if the Three-Eyed Raven was a good person or a bad person. He also did not know how much the Three-Eyed Raven knew about him. Did the Three-Eyed Raven know about his origin or about his powers?
He also kept wondering if the Three-Eyed Raven was responsible for his father's letters not reaching Ned Stark. This was the biggest mystery in his mind.
The Three-Eyed Raven was a mystery which Jon could not solve even with all his knowledge.
The raven, with a loud caw-caw, took off from the branch, and Jon sighed. He turned and walked out of the room to attend the feast.
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.
.
Jon woke up early the next day on a large bed. The feast the previous night was nothing like a typical feast. Jon was the only person who had felt comfortable.
Although the majority of the slaves who had been freed felt happy, they were still not used to their new status and behaved awkwardly. Jon let them be. He knew that behavioural changes would happen gradually and could not be forced. He had remained at the feast for a short time and had retired to his room.
Any other person would have been heavily worried for their security after what Jon had done, but not Jon. Dozens of birds and small animals, mostly venomous snakes, guarded his room during the night. They hid themselves below the bed, on the windows, and on tree branches outside the windows. Similar protection was also given to Slyvia, though she was completely unaware of it.
Getting dressed, Jon walked outside his room, where two Unsullied stood in rapt attention guarding the room.
Both men bowed and greeted in unison, "Good morning, My Lord."
Jon acknowledged the greeting with a nod and walked toward the main hall of the mansion.
Though Jon had conquered, the majority of his work was still incomplete. To maintain his control permanently over the city, Jon needed to develop a sound administrative structure for the city. He also needed to develop the city economically. Only then could he begin his grand plan for his empire.
Even Daenerys had conquered the cities of Slaver's Bay, but she could never maintain hold of any of them for a long time. And that was because she only conquered the city and then left everyone to their own devices.
Jon was going to develop a properly structured society with a population who did not have to starve for food. A society where laws were respected and even common folk were motivated enough to work and contribute for the king.
After a short walk, Jon reached the main hall of the mansion.
At the centre of the hall was a large rectangular table where an Essosi style breakfast awaited Jon.
Slyvia, Jelerion, and Etinanui were already waiting for him. The three ladies greeted him, and Jon acknowledged the greeting and took his seat for breakfast.
A lot of work had to be done after the breakfast.
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