Jon counted himself lucky that he had the foresight to learn the Braavosi language prior to his arrival to the Free City of Braavos. He had found that the only people who spoke the Common Tongue were the sailors and some selective merchants. Otherwise, most people have no knowledge of the Common Tongue despite the fact that Andalos share close borders with Braavos. In the grand scheme of things, the language barrier was not much of a problem seeing as he knew to moderately speak the language. The real problem came in the form of menial tasks like collecting water, cooking and a multitude of other small tasks. In Winterfell, he didn't have to worry about those things as there were servants but here that was not the case. He could actually hire servants but the potential spies that could infiltrate into his home kept him from acquiring a few.
Yesterday Captain Devon had helped them settle in and establish contact with the Iron Bank. Seeing as converting five thousand gold dragons into Iron Squares would be impractical in the long run Jon deposited 4000 gold dragons into his account. This along with the promissory note raised his bank balance to 9000 gold dragons. The thousand gold dragons in his hand were converted to Iron Squares amounting to 10,000 with 10 Iron Squares as tax. Even that was a lot of money so he deposited the 9000 into a separate account and collected promissory notes for each thousand apiece. The balance of 990 Iron Squares was kept in his hand and split the amount between Asher, Dacey and himself with hundred pieces each. The balance of 690 Iron Squares was stored at the manor in a safe. Both Asher and Dacey had their own funds but Jon had insisted that they hold on to it for the time being and it took a full hour to convince the both of them.
When the business with the Iron Bank came to a close Captain Devon had escorted their company around the place introducing them to several establishments. Nester had stayed behind at the manor to guard their belongings while the other three was with Jon and the Captain. Looking around the place Jon confirmed that Braavos was a version of Venice in all way. Perhaps it would be a safe bet to say that Braavos was an extreme version of Venice. The city had many names and one of them is Braavos of the Hundred Isles. That name made more sense now that he knew that there were literally a hundred islands that constituted the entirety of Braavos. The most common transport in the city is a rowboat which is used to transport goods and men between the different islands. Some of them had bridges but not all of the islands were connected like that. Nonetheless, Jon did enjoy Braavos and what he enjoyed the most was all the theatres that were run across the islands. A lot of theatres depicting the wars in Westeros as well as Essos attracted a lot of audiences and the play earned a lot of coins especially those with Braavosi war against the Triarchy as well as Pentos.
By the time the sub was setting in the horizon they had returned back to the manor and turned in for the night. Come early morning they had really felt the need for a cook at the very least as they were once again forced to rely on an inn for breakfast. Jon had vowed to buy some vegetables as well as pork in the evening and try his hand at cooking. While his skills as a cook were non-existent he was still not going to suffer a potential spy. Thankfully he didn't have to worry about lunch as Captain Devon had invited all of them to a Luncheon in his house.
Standing in front of the ancestral home of House Ormys he had to appreciate that the family was well off in wealth. The manor was completely made of white painted stones with three towers positioned in a triangular pattern. Jon had discreetly asked around and learned that the Ormys family had settled in Braavos around the time of Dance of Dragons. The first settlers were unsurprisingly smiths that crafted weapons for the Braavosi armada. It was after the war with the Triarchy was over that house Ormys began to branch out into Jewellery and silk trade. One branch of the family had moved to Myr and they were famed silk traders. The Braavosi branch of the Ormys family dealt with Jewellery trade which was highly competitive. This part of the family history he learned from Captain Devon's good-father Malenno Ormys himself.
After a modest lunch of reindeer steak and salted tuna fish with bread Jon, Asher and Dacey were led to a separate room with just Malenno and Devon. As they made themselves comfortable Malenno picked up the conversation.
"Now that we are all fed and watered we can speak business. Devon informs me that you have a source of emerald gems. I would like to buy it if you can deliver the needed quantity in a timely manner." Malenno proposed
"If you don't mind me asking what happened to your previous source? I was under the impression that Qohor and Norvos were famous exporters of precious gems..." Jon asked and he let the question hang for some time waiting for an answer he already suspected from the whispered conversations that he picked up from around the city in one single day
"There is a political situation that has jeopardised trade relations between our immediate neighbours at the moment." said Malenno reluctantly but was careful not to delve into the details. Jon only knew that the recent hostilities with Qohor and Norvos came about because of the current Sealord and some of his policies. Bloodraven had informed him that Braavos was drifting somewhat closer to Myr, Lys and Tyrosh. What that policy was he had no idea but he was thankful as it has made his job easier.
"I can deliver what you ask provided the payment is satisfactory." said Jon as he took a small sip from the glass of wine handed to him by a servant
"How much do you have?"
"How much do you want?"
"20 carats worth gems to be delivered within this month. If you do I will pay you 1500 gold dragons per carat. What do you say?" Malenno proposed
"Make it 2000 and I will deliver what you need within seven days. I will also throw in a promise not to cut a deal with your rivals. I will only sell to those who are not in competition with you. Do we have a deal?"
"Can you deliver the gems within seven days for an entire year and come into a binding contract via the Iron Bank with the terms that you listed? If you do I am willing to raise the price to 2300 gold dragons per carat!" Malenno proposed and Jon managed to not react at the offer right away. That was more than what he had hoped for which made him realise that he might have misjudged the market price. Instead of raising the price, he decided to agree on the price of 2300 gold dragons. After all, his goal has always been to cultivate a network of connections from this trade rather than extracting maximum momentary gain. He had other plans for that particular phase of his plan and that required some extensive connections in the Iron Bank.
"We have a deal master Ormys." Jon shook hands with Malenno
"If we are to be business partners then I insist you call me Malenno." the Jewel merchant smiled
"Then please call me Jon." Jon matched his smile
Jon was about to take his leave but his eyes found a stance sight right outside the window of the room. He moved closer to the window to have a better look and sure enough, his eyes widened as he recognized what it was. He turned to Malenno who was looking on curiously at what had taken Jon's interest.
"What is this tree?" Jon asked as he pointed at a very familiar looking tree which was sporting red and green coloured fruits with a very distinctive smell
"We call it the Red fruit tree. While the fruit is not edible it does have a good fragrance that is very pleasant." said Malenno mistaking Jon's interest for the curiosity of finding a new tree in a foreign land
"Does it grow in abundance?" Jon asked curiously
"There is a whole lot of them in the eastern mountains." Malenno shrugged indifferently
"Hmm…" Jon hummed thoughtfully as his mind raced with possibilities. Standing right in front of him was a coffee tree and all he could think about was having a cup of coffee and the possibility of selling Coffee powder provided he can get his hands on a lot of Coffee beans
Later that evening Jon was in his own garden with Dacey planting the small branches he had shaved off from the Godswood of Winterfell. Asher had gone out with Nester for a drink in the inn that they found last day.
"Are you really planning on staying here Jon? Isn't there any part of you that miss your family and home?" Dacey asked as she shovelled in the sand around the fourth sapling that they planted
"I do miss my family but I do appreciate the lack of cold." Jon pointed at the red sun that was slowly disappearing into the mountains to the west
"I am sweating in this heat and I don't think I can take this anymore. I feel as if I am going to melt." Dacey complained
"Where is the tough bear that jumped abroad the ship without a second thought eager to see the outside world. Don't tell me the she-bear is homesick." Jon lightly teased earning himself a hefty shove that made him eat dirt
Dacey made to run but Jon tripped her with his leg and began to grapple with her on the grass. While Jon was strong for his age the same could be said about Dacey as well and she proved it by pinning Jon down on the ground with Dacey on top. Both of their faces were inches apart and Jon could feel Dacey's breath on his lips. Both of them were frozen but Dacey was the first to recover by moving forward rather than pulling back and just as she was about to kiss Jon they heard a commotion from within their home. That made Jon turn his head and Dacey ended up kissing him at the corner of his lips while a heavily drunk Asher marched into the garden on wobbling legs with a similarly drunk man singing a song. Nester and Shack were trying and failing to control the two drunkards. Everyone stayed silent as they caught Jon in a compromising position with Dacey and Jon was struggling to control the embarrassment that he was feeling especially considering that Dacey was not moving away despite his best efforts.
Asher was the first to crack up in laughter and began singing the 'Bear and a Maiden'. But the man in red robes became sober quickly and knelt with his sword stabbed to the ground.
"I have travelled long and hard to find you, my prince. I am Thoros of Myr and I pledge my sword to House Targaryen in the wars to come."
That proclamation from Thoros left the garden in complete silence and Jon let out a disappointed sigh at the position he found himself in.
Varys, also known by many as 'the spider' was known far and wide in the Seven Kingdoms and abroad for being near omniscient. Seeing as he had served a king as his spymaster and continues to serve another at the present time that was a compliment. He was no lord but everyone addressed him as such and that should tell you of the power this former slave from Lys has amassed in his lifetime. The question of how he managed to become so indispensable to the Baratheon dynasty was a mystery to many seeing as he was very much loyal to the Targaryens. While he was of questionable loyalty none could accuse him of incompetence. Even King Robert who hated anyone and anything related to the Targaryens tolerated and depended on Varys.
Unlike all the previous Master of Whispers that served in the Small Council, he was the only one that was plump, fat and generally the least martial of the lot. At least that's what Varys would like to project himself to others and in that he was very successful. Anyone that saw Varys would never consider him a threat as the Master of Whispers would appear physically harmless and that makes him anonymous to the warrior instincts of all Westerosi. Nothing could be farther from the truth and most people would find it the hard way. Varys was a master of disguises and he has many of those in stock to be wielded in different scenarios.
Many of the lords of Westeros claim to know Varys and his intentions. Some would consider him an opportunistic man, some would say that he is an ambitious man that plays everyone, others would say that he is a man that serves whoever sits the throne. Varys alone knew that he served a better cause and that cause involved the Black Dragons or commonly known in Westeros as Blackfyres. Ever since his old-time friend Illyrio Mopatis married a Blackfyre woman Varys had been planning a restoration scheme. At first, there was no such scheme but after witnessing the madness and destruction wrought by House Targaryen he was convinced a change was needed. This was why he tricked Jon Connington into believing that Aegon Mopatis was Aegon Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar Targaryen. In the end, what does it matter whether a dragon is black or red? A dragon is a dragon regardless of colour and Aegon was being trained to be the greatest of monarchs that would sit the Iron Throne.
Already the plans for a Blackfyre restoration was in place. He didn't have to worry about the Baratheons as they were already on a path of self-destruction. The only real threat to Aegon would be the last two Targaryen children and the Lannisters. The Targaryens are already being kept under his watch and he has been leading them subtly by the nose and Viserys Targaryen was already mad from all the abuse the world has dished out on him. The girl Daenerys while having the potential to be a future wife of Aegon was also a risk. Aegon does have to forge an alliance to take the throne and it was better for him to take a wife from one of the Great Houses. At the moment there are three houses that Varys was considering as potential allies and they are the Tyrells, Martells and Starks. The Tyrells can provide the Reach and at the same time the wealth of Highgarden. The Martells would be natural allies to seek out as they would jump at the chance to destroy house Lannister and Baratheon. Then there were the Starks who can bring both the North and Riverlands in support of Aegon. Aegon marrying from the Starks would also heal the bad blood between House Targaryen and Stark.
At the moment these are all plans and the only part that was so far going smooth was regarding the Targaryens. Already his little birds have informed him of the condition of the last Targaryens. It was only a matter of time before Illyrio stepped in and delivered the final blow that would cripple the true Targaryens. There was also some interesting chatter from the North regarding the bastard of Winterfell. Apparently, the boy has moved out to Braavos and Varys would be sure to check out the activities of the boy. Another interesting tidbit of information was that the Red Priest Thoros of Myr has left King's Landing overnight. He knew the Red Priest has boarded a ship meant for Braavos and he would be keeping his ears open for any interesting songs from Braavos.