Runestone: Joanna's Chambers 599

[The Smith]

When the King arrived he made straight away for his sister's chambers.

[Marie]

The maid showed Daemon into Joanna's soilar. Taking a break from the children, she sat staring out the window and did not look around when her brother entered. She believed Jon dead now but had no proof and that, she found. was the worst thing of all. Usually groomed to perfectly, she looked odd with her hair falling unbrushed around her face and back and she wore only a robe instead of her usual exquisite dresses.

[The Smith]

Daemon walked over to his sister, and embraced her. "I came as soon as I heard Joanna." He kissed the top of her head. "In this I am your servant."

[Marie]

She pulled away and looked miserably at him.

"Thank you, Daemon. Jon is presumed dead though I have no body to mourn. Will you send your men out find him so I can grieve properly? Or, if we are lucky, he will not be dead, but it's unlikely."

[The Smith]

Daemon nodded, "I flew alone on Valyra, but as soon as my soldiers arrive I will send them out." He placed a hand on her arm, "How are the girls?"

[Marie]

"Bearing up," she said with pride. "Eleyna is a brave little soul and so is Cassna - she seems to have got less selfish recetly. There is something amiss with Silvana, thought."

Anxiety crept into her tone.

"She speaks oddly. I think something has happened to her mind because she was hit by a rock."

[The Smith]

Daemon winced, and then growled, "Who did this to my blood?" He frowned, and added, "I will send for all the best Maesters. We will heal her Jo. Believe me."

[Marie]

"Thank you. I wish I knew who did this. I only remember men in mail coming at us. I never saw any sigils. Then afgter that we were attacked by a clansman."

Her face hardened.

"i want our attackers found and put to death and I want the clans destroyed."

[The Smith]

"In mail?" Daemon asked, "What kind of mail?" He sat beside her, and held her hand in both of his.

[Marie]

"It was plate," Joanna said. "I had forgotten. Plain steel, that's all I know. Plain helms too. No banners. There were no ways to identify them at all. I don't know how we will learn who sent them."

[The Smith]

"Plate is not the armor of the clansmen. How many were there?" Daemon's face was hard, and he squeezed her hand.

[Marie]

"A score or perhaps five and twenty, but it could have been more."

Joanna sighed.

"It happened so fast I didn't even attempt to count them. Jon shouted at me to fly so I did. Aalina and I got the girls away but Lucas turned to guard our back and they cut him down. I saw him fall, but I never saw what happened to Jon."

A sob escaped her lips.

"It was the worst time in my whole life."

[The Smith]

Daemon wrapped his arms around her in a brotherly embrace, "Jo... I am so sorry. It sounds so awful. What can I do for you? Ask anything."

[Marie]

"Find the men who did it. Kill them. And...keep me safe. My life may still be in danger. I have the men of Runestone to protect me but I will feel safer if I know you are protecting me too."

[The Smith]

Daemon nodded, and spoke softly, "I will not leave. My and Valyra will keep you safe. and who ever did this... will burn."