King and King 11

Thirsty, Gryn walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink. He raised the cup and took a large gulp, instantly draining nearly half its contents.

When he returned to the bedside with the cup in hand, his gaze fell upon Daenerys, who had already drifted into sleep.

She lay there quietly, her breathing soft and steady. Her long lashes cast faint shadows over her cheeks. Like a delicate flower asleep, she appeared exceptionally fragile.

Yet when he recalled the "battle" they had shared, he could not help marveling once more at the wonder of the Blood of the Dragon.

With great effort, Gryn finally dragged his gaze away from Daenerys's beautifully curved bare back. He pulled over a blanket and gently covered her with it.

Then he turned and sat down at the desk nearby.

After casually tidying the somewhat cluttered desktop, Gryn picked up the letters he had not had time to finish reading that afternoon. Leaning sideways against the armrest, he began to read.

Dick Crabb reported in his letter that the process of "taking in" the Lannister gold mines had gone very smoothly. The letter also mentioned that many lords of the Westerlands had expressed a strong desire to seek an audience with the Lord Regent.

Gryn picked up a quill and wrote a reply to Dick. After setting it aside, he picked up another letter.

This one was personally written by his cousin—Lyanna Crabb. In it, she informed Gryn that she would gladly accept his invitation and would bring her daughter to visit King's Landing at the beginning of next month.

After finishing it, Gryn lightly tapped his fingers against the desk and fell into brief thought. A moment later, he pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment and carefully began writing his reply.