Chapter 21. The Masters

Part 1. Council

Volantis

The slave rebellion was spreading wide across the bay as a group of slaves in Tolos killed their Masters while they slept. The slaves hoped to stir up the others, but the rebellious murderess slaves were executed publically. Eventually the Masters of Tolos, Elyria, Ghiscar, and New Ghis gather together in Volantis to discuss the disturbances in slave trade. Over a hundred Masters gathered in the grand hall of the palace of the Triarchs.

"Let us come to order…" Triarch Kiffed says in a booming voice. The Triarchs volunteered to host the gathering because many strategists believe that Volantis is a target for either the Mother of Dragons or the Slave King Grey Worm. "We are here because of the growing threats from Daenarys Targaryen and the Slave King…"

He is interrupted by another Master, "He is no King!" He screams, "He is a slave and nothing more…"

"Yes of course…"

"We need an army to deal with both…"

"Daenarys Targaryen tricked Krazyns and stole eight thousand Unsullied…The second sons betrayed us…Her banners fly in Qarth, Atspaor, Yunkai and now Mereen…and she has three Dragons…"

"She was offered ships to sail west, but she refused…We kill her and take the Dragons…"

"Easier said than done!" A man's voice boomed.

"General Azheel!"

He is six feet tall with tan skin and long hair, his eyes are blue. His armor is black and gold and his cape billows as he walks. There are two mercenary type soldiers with him. "You all know me…I fought in the undisputed land wars…the Dothraki horde wars against Khal Drogo and Khal Nhero…Give me command of your armies and I will defeat the slave army…"

"What about the Targaryen bitch?"

"I have sent some men to Dorne to buy some wind carvers…The Dornish used them to Kill Rhaenays and her Dragon many years ago. My services have a price and it is high…I will be King of Qarth…" Reluctantly the Masters agree, but only if Azheel is able to defeat both Daenarys and Grey Worms' armies. Before taking command of the army he heads for Braavos.

Braavos

Of all the free cities Braavos is probably the only true free city as it does not practice slavery. The city was founded by slaves hence slavery is outlawed. Most freed slaves make their way to Braavos or find themselves slaves again. It is here that Azheel comes to find a legend to kill a legend. A man runs up as Azheel and his men ride through the main gate. "General! My Lord General I found him…"

He stops his horse, "Where?"

"He owns a blacksmith shop a few blocks from here…"

Red Steel Blacksmith

He wipes the sweat from his brow and takes a sip of water as eight men walk up, "I am General Azheel…we are looking for the Mongoose…"

He looks at them, "No one here by that name…"

Azheel grunts, "I once saw a slave fight in the great arena of Mereen…It was a free for all…But Master Myraad paid the other House Masters to have their fighters team up and kill the champion…Mongoose killed them all…Damnedest thing I ever saw…"

He smiles, "I am no longer known as Mongoose…My name is Ryen Bane…"

"Ryen we are in need of your services…as a fighter…"

Ryen takes a drink of water, "I no longer fight…I put those days behind me…"

"There is a slave rebellion…Led by a slave known as Grey Worm…"

"Not my problem…Now if you will excuse me I must get back to work…"

"Will one million gold Harpies change your mind?"

Ryen adds more coals to the forge. "Nope!" He ignores them as they leave. At the end of the work day Ryen returns home to his wife and three children.

"FATHER!" The youngest child screams running into his arms.

He scoops up his daughter and kisses his wife, "Welcome home!"

After dinner Carmen reads to the family before they put the children to bed. His eldest son is six, the second son is five and his daughter is four. "Is everything okay?" Carmen asks as he climbs into bed.

Ryen sighs, "A man by the name of General Azheel came to the forge…He wants me to fight for him against the Slave rebellion for one hundred thousand gold harpies…"

"You told him no."

He sighs, "My honor is not for sale…" The next morning Ryen opens his forge and fulfills four orders before lunch. When his wife is late he heads home and finds the door open. "CARMEN!"

"You have a beautiful family…" Azheel says sitting at the table. When Ryen tries to attack him the guards point their spears at him. "You can't help them if you are dead…You will fight Grey Worm the leader of the slave army and kill him or your family will die…"

"I want to see them first…" Ryen is led to a ship called the Windego. He hugs his wife and children when he sees them as they are in chains and gagged. "Release them and I will fight for you…"

"I do not trust the words of slaves…"

"I am a free man!" Ryen says in defiance.

"If you wish to remain so fight for me!"

Ryen walks up to Azheel, "The word of a slave is better than that of a fat lazy noble…Heed mine General…I will fight and I will win, but if you break your word and my family is not freed or if you harm them in any way I will kill you slowly painfully…If the gods were guarding your body they would not be able to stop me…"

Part 2. The Worm and the Mongoose

City of Bhoris

The new recruits train everyday increasing their skill and prowess. Drills are held from sun up to sun down non-stop. The leaders decide to remain in Bhoris as news of an army preparing to face the freedom army is learned. During their stay Grey Worm receives word from Astapor concerning his children by Hex, Dodo, Weed, and Tick. The Mother of Dragons had freed the slaves before the children were born.

"Do you wish to see them?" Missandei asks with an edge of jealousy in her voice after reading the letter.

"The children are mine, but I love only one woman…" They make love.

Spit

Before he was known as Spit he was A'zar a member of the faceless men. But he had betrayed the faceless men and was hunted by the order. So A'zar became Spit a slave as the faceless men do not kill Royalty or slaves. Spit is on patrol watching the roads and wild country for the enemy. Kaz is with him, Kaz is a Pit Fighter who changed his name after gaining his freedom.

There is a whistle from another patrol, so Spit and Kaz meet Bane by a large rock, "They are coming…an army 180,000 strong…Mongoose is with them…"

Spit frowns, "Are you sure?"

"Saw him with my own eyes I did…"

"Go back to the city and warn the others…"

"What about you?" Kaz asks.

"I will infiltrate their ranks and learn what I can…Mongoose would not fight with them of his own free will…" Spit waits until they leave. He rides around the united free armies and kills a scout. After burying him in the sand Spit enters the camp when they stop. It takes awhile but he eventually learns why Mongoose is fighting for them.

Bhoris

Grey Worm is living in the Nevarro mansion with Mandely, her son, Missandei, and Roen. So a man by the name of Hugo comes to fetch him to the palace, Missandei accompanies him. "The Free armies of the Masters are on the way here…"

"How many?" Grey Worm asks.

"One hundred and eighty thousand strong…"

He grunts, "I thought there would be more…"

"Mongoose is with them…" Dragon Fly says.

"Mongoose?" Missandei asks.

"Former champion of Mereen and a legend in the arena…" Cat replies speaking up.

"Then he will die…" Grey Worm arrogantly says.

Two days later Azheel's forces arrive at the main gates of Bhoris. Grey Worm and his infantry are in front of the gates with the archers on the wall. Grey Worm is on a horse with Dragon Fly, Ox, Cat, and Roen on horses next to him. "Looks like they want to talk…" Dragon Fly says as Azheel and several others ride towards them.

"They want me to fight Mongoose in single combat…"

"Say no!" Dragon Fly says in concern.

Grey Worm looks at him, "You don't think I can beat him?"

"If you fall we all fall…"

"I am just one man…if I fall lead them to freedom…" They urge their horses and meet the Azheel halfway.

"My name is General Azheel…I represent the free cities and the council of Masters to whom do I address."

"I am Grey Worm…"

"Dragon Fly…"

"Ox!"

"Cat."

"Roen…"

"Filthy slaves…" Azheel's commander says.

"So if…"

"Unless you and those you represent are offering freedom for all slaves throughout Essos you can keep your lies…" Grey Worm says interrupting.

"I see…How about this then…Your best man against my best man…If my man wins you will all surrender…"

"And when I kill your man…" Grey Worm asks arrogantly. "You and your Masters will free every slave…"

"I don't have the authority to…"

"We all know you aren't going to keep your word anyway so Ox says lets get this over with…"

"As you wish…MONGOOSE!"

"MONGOOSE! MONGOOSE! MONGOOSE!"

Grey Worm smirks as a six foot tall man on a horse rides up. His dirty blond hair is in a ponytail. He wears a helmet with crest on it and is armed with two swords. Grey Worm dismounts his horse and hands Dragon Fly his Valyrian steel sword. "You must be Mongoose…"

"My name is Ryen…"

"You mean traitor…" Cat says speaking up.

"I fight because I must…" He looks at Dragon Fly, "It is good to see you again brother…"

"I wish I could say the same…"

As Grey Worm and Ryen squares off the Freedom army chants Grey Worm's name. "They love you…"

"You were given your freedom…Why fight for them…"

"Because I must…because I have no choice…"

"All men have a choice…"

"You are naïve…"

"No more words…It is time to die…"

The two men walk around each other and finally strike at the same time. They move like the wind swords clashing as they strike. Grey Worm ducks and swings his left. Ryen blocks and spins into Grey Worm who blocks with his left and thrusts forward with his right. Grey Worm spins around and blocks with both swords behind his back. Then he spins swinging his right and arcing his left. There is a resounding gasp from the freedom army as Grey Worm draws first blood.

"In all my years I have never seen anyone draw first blood on Mongoose…" Dragon Fly says to Cat.

Ryen wipes the blood from his shoulder with the flat of his sword and licks it. Then he spits and smiles. They continue fighting weaving steel around each other. Grey Worm elbows him in the head, but Ryen manages to slash Grey Worm across the chest and then the upper leg. They pause again and stare at each other. Grey Worm roars and attacks again, he manages to knock Ryen's left sword from his hand and slash Ryen on the side.

"ENOUGH!" Spit yells riding up on a horse with three other horses following. "RYEN! RYEN…its me Spit…I have your family…You don't have to fight for them…"

Ryen looks at Grey Worm, "Are we done…Or do you wish to finish…"

Grey Worm smiles, "I won't kill you today if you wish to fight with us against the assholes who took your family…"

Ryen smiles and together he and Grey Worm look at the Azheel and his army. "ATTACK!" Grey Worm yells rushing forward. Ryen joins him as the rest of the freedom army charges. Ryen slides on his knees beneath the front spears and cuts the legs off two men making a gap. Meanwhile Grey Worm cuts the heads off three spears and leaps off the shield of one of the men. As he flies through the air he throws right sword at Azheel who leans to the side. Archers fire arrows at Grey Worm while he is in the air, but he bats them away and lands killing a man.

"CATAPULTS!" Azheel yells but his archers and the catapults are flanked by the freedom Calvary. Soon the freedom forces join Grey Worm and Ryen in battle. Dragon Fly rides up and throws Grey Worm the Valyrian sword. He catches it out of the air and beheads a man in one blow. He stabs backwards killing the next.

"RETREAT!" Azheel commands and his army withdraws after losing 19,000 men. The Freedom army cheers as the enemy retreats. The Freedom Army takes no prisoners nor do they give aid to enemy wounded. So they walk through the field of bodies slaying wounded enemy troops. Later on many wish to celebrate, but Grey Worm puts a stop to that.

"I kinda want to see the two of you finish your fight…" Ox says.

"Ox go find some ale and drown yourself…" Dragon Fly says.

"Mon…I mean Ryen you have a beautiful family…"

"Thanks Cat…"

"So will you join us…" Roen asks.

"I think I will…"

"You have a life in Braavos…Why fight with us…"

"I want to kill that bastard Azheel…he took my wife and children…More than that I believe in your cause…"

Azheel attacked the city again this time from the land and sea. Ryen fought with the Pirates and managed to board Azheel's ship and took his right arm before he escaped. Grey Worm killed over 236 people on land. It was decided to pursue the land forces and eight days later Grey Worm returned with Azheel and handed him over to Ryen. The Freedom army celebrated for the next week, then they marched on Elyria and took the city after a two week siege.