Chapter 6. The City of Braavos
The city of Braavos lies at the northwestern-most end of the Essos continent, roughly due east of the Vale of Aryn. It is the only one of the Nine Free Cities which was not a former colony of the Valaryian Freehold. The city was founded by galley slaves after they staged a mutiny and killed their Valyrian overseers. Directed by the Moonsingers, they sailed as far north as they could in the Narrow Sea in search of a refuge. They established the Secret City of Braavos and kept its location secret for over four centuries, accepting other refugees and escaped slaves in the process. Because of the nature of its founding, Braavos does not keep slaves, does not like to do business with those who keep slaves, and frequently uses its military and economic power to encourage other states to give up slavery. After the Doom of Valaryian four hundred years ago Braavos revealed itself to the world, and as the other Free Cities were left in chaos for decades after the Doom, Braavos rose to become the most powerful of the Free Cities. Due to its unique origin, Braavos is sometimes referred to as the Bastard Son of Valyria.
Because the Valyrians took slaves from across the vast reaches of the continent of Essos, its slave population was very diverse. The city is also known for giving refuge to runaway slaves and is also nicknamed the city of freedom-the city of freeman-and the city of broken chains. Because of its diversity Braavos has no one major religion-People are free to practice whatever religion they wish as their is a temple for every known religion in the world including the newest one-The lord of lights. These temples are located on the Isle of the gods.
The city has a strong military force, consisting of the largest fleet of ships on the Narrow Sea and the resources necessary to hire large armies of mercenaries and freeriders very quickly. The city also has a powerful banking institution, the Iron Bank, which holds the debts of many other governments (including the Iron Throne of Westeros), furthering Braavosi influence and power. Currently, the Iron Bank of Braavos is bigger than the banks of all the other Free Cities put together, and plays a major role in financial transactions across both Essos and Westeros.
Arya stood by the rail looking over the side as the Titan statue of Braavos greeted the Sea Horse as it approached Chequy Bay for inspection. Gendry paid the inspectors extra coin for Arya's Dire Wolf Nymeria. When the inspection was done the ship was directed to Ragman's Harbor to berth. The trio spent the night at an inn called the Mermaids Cove. The next morning they took a fairy into the main city of Braavos. It was bustling with activity as people scurried about from one place to another transacting business. The sigil of the Sealord's palace could be seen in the distance and the even more opulent and larger palace of the Iron Bank could be seen towards the center of the city. Almost every street had a shop of some kind on it or place to eat or trade.
"Excuse me-but how much do you want for the Dire Wolf?" A scruffy man asked walking up to Arya.
"She's not for sale!" She replied as the wolf growled.
"Everything's for sale-How about 5,000 gold crowns?"
Gendry gasped as the Hound raised an eyebrow, "No sale!"
The man turned his attention to Gendry, "How about you sir? You seem more reasonable than your companions here."
"The lady said no!" Gendry replied with the same amount of force as Arya.
"10,000 crowns!"
That is when Sandor's hand dropped to his broad sword, "Leave now!"
The man raised his hands, "No need to get violent!"
"We are running out of coin." Gendry said.
"Your a black smith-Lets find a job for you." Sandor said.
"And what will you do?" Gendry asked.
"Hire out my sword or fight in the arena-there is a sword tournament going on right now."
There were sword matches being held at the city arena-but to enter cost 100 gold talents. There were matches to the death and non-lethal matches. Sandor entered the non-lethal match which was free. Arya entered as well, but they both learned that their skills with the sword were nothing compared to the swordsmen of Braavos. Sandor won three matches before he lost and Arya won only one match. Between them they had won 80 gold talents.
They bought a small shack near the wall and Gendry got work in a forge while Sandor got work as a guard at the grainhouse. Arya got work as a maid in a tavern. They worked for the next 5 months saving their coin before Arya went looking for the Faceless men. It was in the 6th month of her time in Braavos that she entered a shop that sold magical items.
She showed the coin to the man and said, "Volaris Morghulis!" Gendry and Sandor were with her.
The men took the coin and examined it before responding, "That which you seek is near-Go up this street and after 5 blocks you will come to a fountain. Turn left walk five more blocks and you will come to an alley-It is very narrow-There is a shop at the end of the alley show the shop keeper the coin you showed me-He will tell you what you wish to know."
The shop was where th eman said it would be. An elderly fat woman sat at the counter reading the scroll. When the trio entered she looked up and then returned her eyes to her scroll. "Sorry we are closed."
Arya sneered because there wasn't much in the shop to sell. She took out her coin and slammed it on the counter, "Volaris Morghulis!"
When the woman set the scroll down they all gasped because now sitting in front of them was a beautiful young slinder red head. "You must be Arya! Jacqen speaks of you with great passion."
"Who are you?" Arya asked.
She smiled, "I will tell you my name only after you have become one of us." She looked at her companions, "If the two of you do not have coins you may go no further."
"I am not leaving her alone!" Sandor said.
Arya looked at him, "I will be fine-await me in the city and take care of Nymeria for me." The wolf whimpered, but Arya was able to comfort her. She kissed Gendry for an hour then she hugged Sandor and they left. "I am ready!" She said to the woman.
"Do you swear on your life before the god of death that you will not reveal our secrets to any other for as long as you live?"
Arya took a deep breath, "I so swear!" She handed Arya a ceremonial dagger and made her run the blad across her hand.
"Place your bloody hand in the door notch."
When she did the wall parted to reveal a stairway that went down into the ground. "When you reach the bottom a guide will take you the rest of the way."
