He sat at the table surrounded by the others. The food was good and plenty and the wine was excellent. The women around them were as could be expected in Braavos, beautiful, intelligent, and gifted. The mood amongst the Faceless Men who had gathered here tonight was good and spirited. Everybody enjoyed themselves and relaxed as far as a Faceless Man could ever relax. Over and over Jaqen found his mind drifting back to earlier today. Why could he not enjoy the good food and the two women who obviously offered their services to him? Every time he relaxed and joined in on the relaxed atmosphere, he saw the lovely girl in his mind. She was no longer a little girl; she had grown to become beautiful. He blinked and saw the frozen look she had had, when she heard, he was coming here tonight. He lifted his hand absent minded and touched his face, where he had felt her breath. He looked at his hands, and again he felt the sensation, he had felt, when she had taken his hands in hers. This was not good. It was something other than wanting a woman to take to bed. Visiting courtesans was accepted amongst the Faceless Men, it was considered natural. There were both female and male courtesans present tonight, both for the male and for the few female Faceless Men that had come. They had even taken a few apprentices along. Young men, who were almost ready, and were tested to see, if they would drink too much and forget to always have their senses tuned in on their surroundings. One of them clearly was not ready to become a Faceless Man. He had an arm around a courtesan and had been drinking heavily. He was too loud and too simple in his behaviour. The Faceless Men exchanged looks. He would have a hard awakening tomorrow; probably blinded.
Jaqen turned his attention to the courtesan on his right; she had a pleasant voice and was beautiful and seductive. He let his hand slide up her arm while he smiled at her, but suddenly the young apprentice called out for his attention.
"I hear you danced with that girl today, Arya the Cat… or whatever. She is a feisty one. Savage in her fighting. I wouldn't mind a little dance with her myself though" he smiled knowingly to Jaqen.
Jaqen felt something dark surge up inside of him, and had to use every bit of self-control he had in him, not to show his rage. He reminded himself, that he was not to hurt the apprentices.
Before he could answer, another of the young men chimed in.
"She is a fine one. Quite a temper. I hear she shows her claws, when someone tries to get their way with her. However I must wonder, if it might not be worth the fight"
The two young men grinned stupidly at each other, before the first continued:
"You just know she is going to be wild and savage in bed as well as.."
Jaqen stood up, a little too abruptly. He gave the young men a cold, restrained smile:
"The girl is a most accomplished assassin, and a man would warn the two boys to talk about their fellow apprentice with more respect. You clearly have a lot to learn yet". He wanted to hurt them, but quickly bowed to the women at his sides:
"If you will excuse a man, he has had rather a lot of wine and must leave you for a short time". Before walking outside he caught the eye of The Friendly Man, who nodded and looked at him both knowingly and with something, which looked unmistakably like concern.
Once outside he disappeared from the gathering. No one noticed him, as he made his way back to the House of Black and White. The others would be busy with their courtesans. He shook his head and tried to clear his mind. He would normally enjoy such an evening, but tonight his head was filled with pictures of the lovely girl. His lovely girl. He wanted to see her, hold her… He took a deep breath and reminded himself, that he was no one, he didn't form bonds with others. The lovely girl didn't mean more to him than any other apprentice - except for the two young men, who for all he cared could meet a long and painful death. He forced out a little grin. Perhaps he had had a little too much wine; he had travelled far and would regain his control as soon as he got some rest.
Arya was pacing up and down her sleeping cell. She had not been able to fall asleep. She had taken Needle out and angrily fenced an invisible component. She was angry and disappointed. No, she corrected her own thoughts, she was nothing. She didn't care what Jaqen did. He had just returned, and was obviously in a hurry to lie with courtesans! Well, what did she care? He could have his courtesans. She felt the stinging of disappointment in her eyes again and started fencing the air. With every stab she saw pictures of him kissing another of the beautiful courtesans, she had seen in Braavos. She saw him undress them, touch them, and she fought the air more angrily than ever. She had waited patiently… well sort of patiently, for his return. He had fought with her, and then left her again. She knew she was irrational. He hadn't really left, he had just gone out for the night, but somewhere inside of her the old feeling stirred. The memory of her as a little girl asking him to please not leave, after he had given her the coin. But he had left. When she had not known what to do or where to go, she had come to find him, relying on him, on his help, and he had been there. But he always left. She knew, this was his duty, to leave for assignments, and although she had missed him a lot for this last long assignment, she understood their shared duty to the guild. But no way was it his damn duty to hurry down to the courtesans! She threw Needle angrily through the room. The tip of it somehow cut her other hand on its way through the air, and she sat down on the floor crying, holding her hand as the blood dripped down. It didn't even hurt much, she shouldn't be crying. Why hadn't Jaqen kissed her earlier today? She was sure he almost had. Why did she even want him to? She sobbed quietly, and suddenly she heard a quick knock on the door.