By selling the pack mule, they bought passage back down the river, for them and their two horses. They stayed with the horses in the hold.

"That was almost too easy," Arya sighed, once they finally landed in Saltpans port.

"Another name off your list and two bonus names," Aulix observed. "That leaves The Mountain, the Red Witch Melisandre and the Brother's Without Banners."

"We've got all the time in the world for the rest of them. First I find my friend. Are you still coming south with me or heading north?"

"It's been interesting so far, so why not."

"Since all the towns and villages south of here are controlled by the Iron Throne, we ride into dangerous territory."

Aulix cracked his knuckles, "just the way I like it."

She laughed, "and Taron said I had blood lust. I could argue so do you."

He rode closer to her horse, "lust huh?"

Arya rolled her eyes. "I want to have a hot meal, before we ride south. Let's stay a night in Saltpans, if they rebuilt the town after I left. The day I came into this town, most of the place was burned or plundered."

"I'm game. Give the horses a rest too."

They road into the port town and stopped at the local stable/smithy. No one was around, so they found two empty stalls and dumped some hay in, after removing the riding gear and saddles. Going outside, they walked down the street. Finding a barrel up against a wall, Aulix sat down.

"I'll look around, to get the layout of the town," he tapped his head.

She stood by his side and waited. The place had been rebuilt, just perhaps not to it's former glory. An eagle wobbled it's wings in the air and then flew higher. There wasn't much to see. A brothel which also looked to be the Inn and a bar. A few stands that were for trading or buying things. The port was small, with a castle in size to match, but that dominated the town. As he returned, the scene unfolded below him. Arya was being harassed by six men, one of which got past her and punched Aulix in the head, before he could return to defend himself. It knocked him unconscious, so he was stuck in the bird. He could only help her, by attacking with claw and beak.

Arya was standing over Aulix's body on the ground, to protect him from harm, so fighting space was limited. She also was just defending, since no name of the attackers was spoken and hence she couldn't kill. Suddenly two men were plucked off her, shaken and had their heads knocked together. They fell unconscious.

"It's you guys again! Didn't I teach you a lesson last time? Stoke I warned you…."

"Thanks! Now you die," Arya said to the man named Stoke, stabbing him in the eye and then through the chest.

She had no time to look up at the man who was lending assistance. But glanced over, when another attacker screamed and the sound of breaking bone was added. The man had used his hands and crushed the attacker's skull.

"What's this guy's name?" Arya shouted, as she avoided being impaled by a sword.

"Darry… it's a good day for him to die too," came the reply.

"Valerie Morghulis!" She said and dispatched her victim to hell.

"Kika! Help the downed man, bring smelling salts!"

"I'm coming Gendry, hold on!"

Arya's back was to them, she'd been looking up at the eagle now perched on the rim of a neighbouring roof. Slowly she turned around. "Gendry? As in Gendry who lost his bull helm to a dead kid?"

He stood still, staring at the woman warrior in front of him and asked his own question, "Ari?"

She turned around fully and was slightly surprised when he picked her up in a bear hug. "I can't breath."

Kika scolded him. "Put her down and carry her friend to the Inn."

"I can't believe it's you…. who was the fat boy who travelled with us?" Gendry asked.

"Hot Pie. I gave him half my ration of food and passed out…. I'm not that nice anymore." Arya smiled.

"Neither am I. We've got a lot of catching up to do," he added. In her ear he whispered, "m' lady."

That made her laugh, but it also gave her a sensual shiver down her spine. "First I have to wake him up, or Aulix will be stuck in that bird for hours. He hates when that happens and tends to shit everywhere in protest."

It was Gentry's turn to laugh. "Sounds like you've made some interesting friends over the years."

The smelling salts worked and Aulix was able to return to his body. He sat up, rubbing the lump on his head. His eyes roamed over Kika's body appreciatively, making her blush. To Gendry he offered his hand. "Thanks for the rescue. If Ari would kill without needing to know the man's name, we wouldn't have been in this position."

Gendry laughed, "still have a kill list after all these years…. A few names shorter by now?"

"Walker Frey is off the list now too," Aulix enlightened them with the details.

"I'd think Hot Pie would have been proud of my baking abilities," Arya grinned.

"Those ingredients would have made him cry."

Aulix could tell that Kika, Gendry's friend, knew nothing about what they were talking about. Whereas he knew Arya's full story. He linked his arm into Kika's, before she could get jealous. "Let's go get some ale, on me, while those two talk about the past."

"I'd love to, but I need to get back to work…. unless you pay for a private massage with your bath," Kika winked.

"We'll meet up and have a few drinks together, after we both have a bath…. Is the forge yours?" Arya asked. Gendry nodded and she added, "we owe you coin for our horses board."

"Buy me dinner and it's a deal."

"Aulix do we have enough for two rooms?" Arya asked.

"While you were talking, I already booked the rooms and a bath for you too. Now excuse me… see you in a few Kika." Aulix smirked, gave a nod to Gendry and went to find his room.

"There are so many questions I want to ask, but it can wait. I'll wash up and meet you in the bar. They have better food than the Inn." Gendry explained, before making his exit.

While Arya soaked in the tub, scrubbing herself clean, she thought about finally finding Gendry. Had they not stopped in Saltpans, she'd have possibly never found him. She was exited to learn what had happened to him after the Red Witch took him, but that's not what had her blood heated. Even without seeing him shirtless, he was all man. He was the same height as before, but now the forge had made him muscular and super strong. Arya caught herself fantasizing about kissing him and then letting her hands roam. A knock at her door, interrupted those hungry thoughts.

"You about done?" Aulix called through the door.

"It's unlocked, just come in. I'm just finishing…. Did you bring the pa…." She began to ask and stopped when he handed her a bag she didn't recognize. "What's this? I don't think it's mine."

"Look inside… Even though this town is a shit hole, you should still be like a gift being opened for the first time, when you make love to Gendry tonight."

Arya accepted the bag, "I never said we'd be together tonight."

All he had to do was raise one eyebrow at her knowingly. Aulix watched her eyes, when she saw the bed-dress inside.

"When did you…?" She asked in a whisper.

"Gulltown."

"But you couldn't have know we'd find Gendry at all… unless Taron?"

"No he couldn't foresee that."

Arya looked him in the eye, realizing the gown had nothing to do with Gendry. "I shouldn't take this."

He grinned, "yes you should."

"Are you leaving?" Arya realized she held her breath, not wanting to hear his answer.

"Not yet. What I'm looking for is south too."

She wanted to hug and kiss him, but didn't want to tease. Instead she offered, "I promise to do one thing for you in the future."

Aulix laughed, "you realize you might be making a deal with the devil right?"

"I'd rather deal with the devil I sort of know, then the devil I don't."