Game of Thrones, Ice and Fire, I hatched the Black Death.

Chapter 14 Conflict of Interest

Will looked at Charon's seemingly sincere yet occasionally flickering eyes, then at the exhausted Daenerys and the quite depleted Shadowflame, and at the boar on the ground that was enough to replenish their energy.

He hesitated.

Ultimately, the urgent need for food, water, and a short rest overcame the faint unease in their hearts.

He nodded.

"We'll only rest for one night. We'll leave tomorrow."

Caron nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with gratitude.

Karon's cabin is nestled in a secluded mountain valley. It is built of logs and stones and looks quite old, but it is still sturdy.

The room was simply furnished, but there was clean drinking water, some smoked meat, rye bread, and dried herbs.

Caron was extremely hospitable, and despite his leg injury, he busied himself starting a fire and cooking a pot of thick meat soup. He also brought out a small jar of his treasured mead.

After that, Caron went out for a while.

During dinner, Caron kept asking Will and his companions about their origins, his words full of probing.

Will only vaguely said that they were wanderers from the north, fleeing the war.

Kalon didn't delve into the matter further, instead steer the conversation more towards Shadowflame, showing great interest in everything about the little dragon and even attempting to get closer to observe it, only to be driven back by Shadowflame's warning growl.

Shadowflame showed obvious rejection and distrust towards Kalon, always keeping his distance from him, and his vigilance in his dark gold vertical pupils never relaxed.

It prefers to stay with Vail or be petted and fed by Daenerys.

After nightfall, Charon gave his bed to Daenerys, and he and Will slept on the floor by the fire pit.

Shadowflame lay beside Will and closed its eyes, but Will could sense that the little dragon was not truly asleep; its senses remained locked on Karon.

Perhaps it was the fatigue from days of travel, or perhaps it was the warmth of the house and the drowsiness after a good meal, but Will himself felt a little drowsy.

But he forced himself to remain sane.

In the dead of night, all was quiet except for the occasional crackling of charcoal in the hearth.

Will suddenly felt Shadowflame's body tense up instantly, and a very low, warning tremor came from his throat.

He suddenly opened his eyes and, by the dim light of the dying fire, saw that Caron, who should have been asleep, was quietly and slowly moving toward the door, his movements so light that he didn't seem like someone with a serious leg injury at all.

Caron's hand had already touched the latch.

Will's heart sank.

Without any hesitation or even a sound, he simply touched Shadowflame gently.

Shadow Flame shot out like a black lightning bolt!

It didn't pounce on Kalon, but charged straight at the wooden door!

The small body burst forth with astonishing power, slamming into the door with a loud "bang," not only preventing Charon from opening the door, but also waking Daenerys from her light sleep with the loud noise.

Kalon was terrified and turned to lunge at the hunting bow and quiver placed against the wall.

But Will was faster than him.

The instant Shadowflame crashed into the door, Will sprang to his feet and grabbed a woodcutter's axe that had originally belonged to Kalon, which was leaning against the wall.

Without the slightest hesitation, just as Kalon's hand was about to touch the bowstring, the heavy axe blade whistled through the air and cleaved down fiercely!

"puff!"

The dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh and bones shattering.

Before Kalon could even let out a complete scream, he collapsed to the ground, twitched twice, and fell silent.

Fresh blood gushed out, quickly soaking the rough ground.

Daenerys sat up, saw this scene, and covered her mouth in horror, her purple eyes wide open.

Will, panting heavily, gripped the still-dripping axe and stared at Caron's corpse.

This was the first time he had killed someone with his own hands.

There was no nausea or fear as I had imagined, only a cold, lingering chill and lingering fear.

Caron was definitely up to no good.

He was going to deliver the message and inform his clan.

For what? For Shadowflame?

For a possible bounty?

Or is it simply to eliminate the uncertain threat posed by these "outsiders"?

Shadowflame walked to Karon's corpse, sniffed it, then snorted in disgust, retreated to Will's feet, looked up at him, his dark gold vertical pupils devoid of any extra emotion, only a calm "trouble is over" attitude.

"Quick!" Will threw down the axe, his voice hoarse with tension. "Pack your things! Get out of here right now!"

Daenerys forced herself to calm down; she knew this was not the time to be afraid.

She quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed their small bundle, and haphazardly stuffed in any food she could carry from the room.

Will then took Caron's hunting bow and quiver, a fairly sharp hunting knife, and a leather water pouch.

He didn't look at Caron's body again.

They rushed out of the cabin; the moonlight outside was cold and the forest was silent.

Will discerned the direction—he couldn't return the way he came; Karon's kin were likely coming from that direction.

He chose another, steeper, and seemingly more difficult mountain path.

"Shadowflame, lead the way! Find the most hidden and difficult path!" Will whispered.

Shadow Flame seemed to understand his meaning, spread its wings, and flew low to lead the way. Its dark golden vertical pupils, like two ghostly flames in the moonlight, constantly scanned the surrounding environment, choosing a path that was difficult for humans to follow.

Will pulled Daenerys along, following closely behind, and recklessly plunged into the depths of the forest.

Daenerys gritted her teeth, trying her best to keep up with Will's speed, and remained silent even when her skin was occasionally scratched by thorns.

They dared not linger, dared not look back, but desperately tried to escape upwards and into deeper waters.

The hut behind them, the wild boar carcass, and Karona's gradually cooling body were all quickly swallowed up by the dark forest.

As dawn broke, they climbed a steep rock ridge, below which lay a deep valley shrouded in mist. Looking back, the path they had come from was long since disappeared into the rolling mountains and dense forests, with no sign of any pursuers in sight.

Will finally allowed himself to stop, leaning against the cold rock, breathing heavily.

Daenerys was also exhausted and almost collapsed. She leaned against him, her face pale.

Shadowflame landed on the edge of the rocky ridge, folded its wings, and warily watched the valley below and the path behind it, like a black sentinel statue.

The morning light pierced through the clouds, illuminating their disheveled yet escaped figures.

Will looked at the still-shaken Daenerys, then at the loyal Shadowflame, and the ripples in his heart caused by killing were quickly suppressed by a stronger will to survive.

This world has no warmth, only cruel rules of survival.

Caron's lesson taught him that anyone could become an enemy because of self-interest.

Trust is a luxury; power is the only guarantee.

Until then, escape and vigilance will be the main themes of life.

He reached out and gently shook Daenerys's cold, trembling hand.

"I'm fine now," he said, his voice still hoarse but carrying a reassuring strength. "I'll rest for a bit, then keep going."

Daenerys looked up, her purple eyes still holding fear, but even more so, they held a deep dependence on and trust in him.

She nodded vigorously and gripped his hand tightly in return.