Would Daenerys Targaryen Hire the Faceless Men for Mercenary Services?

The esteemed rulers of Westeros often find themselves in unique predicaments where strategic alliances and mercenary services play a crucial role. This article explores whether one of the prominent figures in Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen, would ever consider hiring the Faceless Men to eliminate her political adversaries, Cersei Lannister, and her children, Stannis Baratheon.

TargetCost (in Equivalent Descendants) Cersei LannisterImmediate Extinction Calculation Required Children of CerseiSame as Above Stannis BaratheonSame as Above

Those targets would be extremely expensive, as assassins are not inexpensive! Would Daenerys be willing to pay what it would take, possibly even her dragons as payment? Remember, she already broke her deal with Drogon, a demand that left Tywin Lannister questioning the cost-effectiveness of paying the Faceless Men.

Why Would She Even Consider It?

Daenerys entered the story with practically no resources aside from her dragons. However, as she ascends to power and amasses some capital, the expense still looms large. Even if her goal were to eliminate Joffrey, the heir to the Iron Throne, the cost would be significant.

Myrcella Baratheon, Cersei's daughter, would inherit the Iron Throne if all her brothers and male Baratheon cousins and uncles die. The cost to eliminate her would be the equivalent of at least three generations of Daenerys's descendants being sold into slavery to the Faceless Men. Not only would this involve firstborn sons, but also second and third sons.

The Price of Services

The Faceless Men have a razor-sharp business sense and demand a hefty price for their services. Assassins command a premium, especially those with a nearly 100% success rate. As a destitute beggar, Daenerys could never afford such a cost. Even when she has capital as Queen of Meereen or Astapor, the Faceless Men would likely ask for either her kingdom or her dragons as payment, not just a simple sum of money.

The Cost of Trust

The Faceless Men hate slavery, yet they are also aware that Daenerys’ betrayal with Kraznys Moallah sets a dangerous precedent. They know she could use the same tactics against them. If she were to propose a dragon-for-life deal, the Faceless Men would undoubtedly send someone else to collect, likely aware it was a suicidal mission.

Moreover, any poison she attempts to use would be laced with an airborne toxin – a desperate move to solidify her victory. Such a trick could lead to her undoing, as the Faceless Men understand the risks and would prepare for similar betrayals.

Conclusion

The Faceless Men exact a substantial price for their services. Their targets of high political standing come with a similarly high price. The only way Daenerys could pay for it is by offering one of her dragons per Baratheon and/or Lannister king's death. And if she intends to eliminate anyone, she must anticipate the brutal aftermath of her own betrayal, as the Faceless Men would be prepared for any eventuality, including her own demise.

As the complex political landscape of Westeros continues to unfold, Daenerys Targaryen's decision-making will undoubtedly remain a crucial element in her quest for power. Can she trust the very forces she seeks to control?