Courtesans are as much of a Braavosi Institution as the Iron Bank. Even though their given names have more often than not been lost to history, their titles were not. They were not, unlike what the Westerosi would think, mere Whores with more money. They were Models, and Hollywood Actresses, and yes, Escorts, all rolled up into one. A Courtesan would often have one of their female attendants, one of those they'd groom to take their place, act as a freelance that could fill in for another actress in any given play. Sometimes, if they were particularly interested, a Courtesan could herself come on stage, albeit that was more often than not when a Playwright would write a role around a specific courtesan. Men would pay enough to buy an entire ship just for one night on which one of these women would accompany him to an event... In Braavos, such a thing was not shameful, for it was a symbol that you had more than enough money to spend in such a thing. It was a mark of your success and your power.
Braavos had several such women. The Nightingale, who was reputed to be the most beautiful woman in the world -I had never met her- from what I heard, the current Nightingale was the daugther of the previous one and a Volantene Nobleman, having inherited his fair skin and silver hair. Or so it was said. She for whom Bravos would defy random passerby to duels should they fail to acknowledge her beauty. There were others as well, the Black Pearl, descendant of King Aegon IV, the Merling Queen with her attendants and her long flowing blue and turquoise dresses...
Such women are not only rich, but have managed to acquire some form of social power, for they have a right to reject the advances of any man -or woman, Braavos is... surprisingly tolerant in such matters, at least when it comes to Courtesans- they do not desire to be with, they own barges and more often than not they have also invested in many a trading venture, they are respected, and they tend to be very educated women.
One such Courtesan, was the Poetess, her barge was smaller than that of the Nightingale or the Black Pearl, her entourage was made of men and women alike -if more women than men- And she was always seen with a book in hand. I knew the current one, even though I had never seen much sense in seeking her services. It was not that I did not care about... company of the fairer sex, on the contrary, I was... well aware that I was sorely lacking such company. I just had never given such a thing as seeking out such a woman with such a purpose too much thought.
The Poetess however, was also known as a patron of the Arts. As her title could give you a clue, she would often fund -and take as lovers- Playwrights, Poets and musicians. She would also frequent the Theatres, as that was how she picked some of her lovers.
The Current one I met at the showing ofAntony and Cleopatra, her name was Ilaria, or at least that was the name she gave as hers to those that she was closer to. Everyone knew it but to be told by her directly was a privilege that still caused some to fight, she had pale skin, long red hair and delicate features. And while she showed interest in my work, we parted, and I found myself not quite able to contact her, not with more desire to see her again than what had been the case with some other women. Viserys and Daenerys demanded of my time in various ways, and my... admittedly obsessive need to continue writing also saw to that anyway.
Still, I did not expect to see her there when I next met Maelio.
"I must admit" She spoke with amusement in her voice, "That you have not changed a bit over the last few months."
I had never been... all that good with women, perhaps that was why I found it awkward to start talking to her during the couple of hours after that showing ofAntony and Cleopatra.At least until the topics turned less personal.
"Poetess," I bowed lightly, and Maelio left us alone, leaving wine and the two glasses in his office... Ah, that sneaky bastard. He'd already tried to set me up once or twice. Suffice to say that those couple of times didn't work out in the end.
"You seem amused," She noted, a small smirk on her face as I poured the chilled wine.
"You know Maelio Eranen, I must admit this is the first time he has done this to me with a Courtesan such as yourself, but it is not the first time he has done this."
Of course, now we could afford such a thing. I had never been up to date with the rates that the Courtesans charged when they were not the ones that initiated the contact, but I knew that they were very high.
The Poetess, Ilaria, was amused, and she even let out a small laugh.
"I suppose that there is a story there that I have not been told? Why, is the Bard of Braavos so shy before women despite his words and his plays, Your friend was my predecessor's lover at one point after all..." She soon teased, and I rolled my eyes. Of course someone was calling me like that. I never intended to be this world's Shakespeare! -not that I did not shamelessly rip him off, I am sure that the Bard of Avon must be finding my situation hilarious wherever he is-
Taking one of the two glasses, and sipping from it with grace that would normally be expected of a maiden of royal birth, she looked at me.
"You are aware that you shall find yourself beset by women soon enough, are you not?" She was clearly enjoying this.
I shrugged rather nonchalantly, looking at the admittedly breathtaking woman before me. "I have been... warned that more than one of the houses of this city would not be unfavorable to see me added to their ranks, yes," I commented, after all, in Braavos it did not matter if your house was as old as the city or barely gotten its fortune under you, it mattered that it could rub shoulders in wealth with the grandees of the city.
She laughed, a rather melodious laughter, before taking another small sip of her wine.
"And yet, I could take you... how do the Dornish say it, as a Paramour..." The one trait that always went from one Poetess to the next, was not physical, nor was it simply being well learned -that was common in Courtesans at that level-
The Poetess would groom one girl of her entourage, one that showed attraction towards intelligence and/or creativity. I don't consider myself to be all that intelligent, and my perceived creativity would be more accurately be calledcheating, but apparently, it was enough.
"Ah, my dear Poetess, I fear that you can find men who have me beat in what you seek." I told her before drinking from my chilled wine. "Besides, both you and I know, that even if I were to take up your offer, several families still would seek to fling their daughters at me as if they were not capable of finding themselves good husbands."
She laughed some more at that, finishing her cup of chilled wine and gently placing it back on the desk of Maelio's office.
"Why, my dear Playwright, if you insist in being so stubborn and yet so shy, you might find your own allure increased, I will have no choice left but to wait for you to come to your senses." What she said was partly in jest. The current Poetess was a bit of a joker after all. And was notorious for teasing, and for utterly demolishing a rival courtesan with her words during a party a year or so ago.
"Mayhaps I never will, my dear Poetess, only time shall tell."
Once she had bid farewell, I hurried back home. And found Viserys being chastized by Taella for some reason. All things considered, it could be worse.
Of course, itwouldget worse soon... from a certain point of view.