To Tam and Byt's surprise, but the delight of everyone else, Aulix showed up later that night. He invited everyone there to go to the Braavos street guild, after the False Queen was dethroned. As expected they declined, all except the blind elder.
"Do you have time to talk with me, alone?"
Aulix agreed, but first gave Byt another list of ingredients. "I'll be making one more potion. In the mean time, I can talk with you sir."
The blind elder took Aulix to his house, a few of Jett's guys ensured they had privacy.
"I know that the endless winter comes. We've heard whisperings that the King from beyond the wall comes for our lives."
"How far do you think he'll conquer?" Aulix asked.
"Probably all of Westeros except the Red Mountains and everything south of there. It's climate is too hot."
"Yes, that's what I think too."
"M'Lord, I will take those that survive from our group to Braavos. Our allegiance is to you." The elder bowed.
Aulix sighed, "I am not who you think I am."
"Perhaps, but you have a connection to the old magic, like no one has had since the Children of the Forest." The elder said knowingly.
"Maybe. But it is not I who will stop the Night King and his army."
"You keep the balance; it's why you have the alchemist knowledge from ancient times." The elder insisted.
"In some ways we all do. Our choices and actions will change the outcome of the future, as it always does."
The blind elder smiled. "You will meet the boy with yellow eyes. That is how I know."
Interested Aulix asked, "is he a master of greensight?"
"He can see, without the dreams."
"Perhaps a descendant from the Children of the Forest. Anyway, meeting him is not for me to decide."
The elder leaned forward in the chair where he sat. "What is the potion you will make, used for?"
"That is something I won't tell you."
"But the ingredients you listed, they contradict each other. There is no balance!"
Aulix smiled, "exactly…. I must go, thank you for your time."
Still bewildered, the blind elder replied, "you honour me. It is I who thank you."
After leaving the old man, Aulix returned to the basement where Byt had the ingredients he'd requested. "Everyone must stay out of this house, even you Byt."
The others asked why, but she did not and just obeyed his request. Byt knew not to question Aulix when he wanted to create by himself. It was something forbidden, whether it served the God of Life or Death, only Aulix knew. How he'd gained the knowledge to make something like that, would always be a mystery.
A few hours later, he came out of the basement. "Do you have everything I asked for?"
"Yes… I also made some small amounts of wildfire."
He nodded. "I will send message via crow, when to set in motion the final phase of your mission. I need Tam for now, but he will be there to help you escape the city."
Byt put a hand on Aulix's arm, but before she could put voice to her concern, he turned and kissed her. Then he smiled and added, "you've always exceeded my expectations."
With a sharp whistle, he leapt onto a pile of rubble and then disappeared behind it. Byt hugged herself. Aulix had praised her in the past, but never like that. She heard an answering whistle and knew that Tam would find him soon. With a body shake, Byt put her mind back on to her mission. They now would set things up, for the last part of the False Queen's take down.
Tam met up with Aulix. "Everything on track?"
"Yes. I need you to kill the ex-maester Qyburn. Whatever tool you use to do the killing, must be dipped in this slime. Do not get it on yourself, it's more powerful than anything Byt has ever used. Remember he is now Cersei's Hand. I need to destroy everything he has in his room of experiments and so forth. He has discovered information that no Godless man should have."
"Once Qyburn is dead, do I retrieve the tool?" Tam asked, carefully putting the jar of slime into his pouch.
"No, the slime will turn it to dust." Aulix knew what Tam was about to ask and added, "blood activates this property."
"Damn, that's some powerful stuff."
"Exactly… you will carry out the assassination whenever you get the chance, but it must be done before Arya gets to the castle. Taron and I will be focused on taking out the Mountain and all those protecting Cersei."
"It will be done tonight," Tam stated with finality.
Aulix nodded. "I'll help you get into the castle and locate Qyburn, they you're on your own."
In Flea Bottom, Arya and Taron had found Danwe and Dirna. Both jumped at the chance to help take down the False Queen. With Taron's guidance, a plan was formulated and Arya confirmed when and where the revolt against the crown should take place. They were meticulous with every step, so that all contingencies were covered in case there were problems. In the end their two helpers pledged their lives to ensure this revolt would empty the Castle of all guards and soldiers.
As they returned to his room, Taron could tell Arya was impatient to get at Cersei. He needed her to focus. "Can you connect to Nymeria, this far away?"
"I'll try, why?"
"Most of the pack should patrol near Iron Gate, a few near River Gate."
"Okay, I'll have to go completely."
"The door is locked, I'll guard you."
Arya's body slumped as her mind reached out to her wolf. Taron's instructions were relayed and then she returned. Groaning she rubbed her head. "That hurt… how far can Aulix go?"
Taron smiled and ignored the question. "You did well. Here drink some water and chew this leaf."
After swallowing the leaf, Arya fell asleep, body cradled in Taron's arms. She would sleep a few hours and he'd watch over her until Arya woke. His mind thought about Aulix and Tam, knowing what would soon take place.
Much later that night, Aulix and Tam watched the castle from afar. Using the dirt at their feet, Aulix mapped out the inside of the Red Keep and educated Tam on the guards, as well as the servants. It was a few hours before sunrise, when they finally penetrated the castle. Tam followed Aulix at first, but when they arrived at the ex-maester's experiment room and found the man not there, they split up.
Tam headed for Qyburn's bedroom in the Tower of the Hand and saw the man in question, sleeping. Always cautious, Tam had confirmed the man's face earlier that afternoon and made sure it now matched what he knew, before completing the kill. It had been much too easy, but he had yet to escape unnoticed. Sure enough he saw his two exits blocked; one by a guard and another by two servant lovers. Tam headed upwards again. There was a secret passage that lead from the bedchamber of the Tower of the Hand to the outside. Once outside he could climb down to a different level or send a rope across to another tower. Up gave him options, others couldn't use.
Aulix finally found what he'd been looking for. The instruments used by the ex-maester and all the parchments where he'd recorded his experiments and findings. The instruments were broken first, then using a powder (he'd had Byt make earlier) to increase the temperature of the fire, threw them in. The tools melted in the flame, that had variations of blue. He read the parchments and then tossed them into the fire too. He was deciding whether or not to set the whole room on fire, when the alarm was sounded and shouts of intruder could be heard. No one had discovered him, so it must be due to Tam. Aulix found a secret passage that took him deep underground, then behind a crack in the foundation, he squeezed into it. Completely hidden and protected, he then sent his mind out to the crow.
There was a strong wind coming off Blackwater Bay and he caught an updraft that took him higher than the castle peaks. Not surprisingly he saw Tam balancing carefully on some stonework, while dodging spears and arrows from the guards. Splitting his mind into the largest multiple connect he'd ever done, Aulix sent a flock of sea eagles to assist Tam. Sea Eagles where great big birds and were skilled at maneuvering in the winds of coastal mountains. They wouldn't be able to carry Tam far, but once he reached the rock face, no one would catch him. The birds would also attack anyone who might try to pursue too. Since his arms were already outstretched for balance, it was easy for Aulix in the minds of the birds to take hold of him. When the birds did so, Tam realized that they were in the control of Aulix and so didn't fight them, but prepared to be dropped on the cliff face.
"Drop me now, I can get away from here no problem!" Tam shouted up at the birds.
The largest sea eagle screamed and then the flock dispersed. Only two were needed to prevent anyone continuing to go after Tam. Once Aulix was sure everyone was safe, he returned to his own mind and promptly passed out. He'd sent his crow to Arya, but lost consciousness before confirming she got his message. As luck would have it, she did notice the bird.
"Isn't that the crow that follows Aulix?" Arya asked Taron.
Taron looked up from eating a sausage from the nearby stand. "I think you're right."
Arya's eyes went white, but returned quickly. "I think we need to find him. He's over extended himself and is too weak to get out of enemy territory. I'll need your help to find him, since the guards are on high alert."
They got their weapons ready, not happy that it was already lighter outside. It was overcast, so that gave them some cover, but not enough. Using a disguise of servants that dealt with chamber pot sewage, they penetrated the castle and went downwards. Everyone steered clear of them, due to smell and what was assumed they carried. Blocks turned to rock and that's when Taron advised they were in the mountain, below the castle.
"He's down here somewhere. Not in the taverns, but a small passage way, where we go on hands and knees. Then he's in a crack or something." Arya tried to describe what the crow had shown her.
"At least we know that entry into the castle can be done easily enough. So once we go after the last names on your list, it should be quick."
"Good point, but I don't like it that Aulix did this. We need him to lead us, with a mouse or something. It could take us too long to find him otherwise," Arya grumbled.
"Use what he taught you; split your mind between mouse and cat or something. He always leaves some kind of clew, we just need to think like he does." Taron encouraged Arya with whispered words.
"Right… a cat has an excellent sense of smell…. Did you bring anything from Aulix I can use to help track the scent?"
Taron nodded and gave her a sock, the smell was definitely Aulix, and Arya wasn't a cat yet. "Either you knew what to bring ahead of time or you're really weird."
He smirked and then patiently waited for her to locate a cat and bring it to where they were. Then the cat, as Arya, put her nose deep into the sock. The cat sneezed repeatedly, but put a paw on Taron, to advise their search would begin. Taron picked up Arya, carrying her as they went. The passage way that was too small for both of them, came into view, after many twists and turns. Carefully he waited for the cat to confirm where Aulix was. The time passed, much longer than Taron expected. Finally the cat came back to him, he gave it some sausage, then it ran away. Arya came back to her own mind.
"Both of us can't fit, you'll need to go in and drag him out. Not even licking his face, made him move or wake. Just go in where you saw the cat come out. Feeling your way along, on your left side there is a long crack, he's in there."
"Okay. Are you fine to keep watch?"
"Yes. That was pretty easy on me, compared to being with Nymeria."
Arya watched Taron as he disappeared, from where she'd just come via the cat. Her eyes could see hardly anything, but her hearing sense was acute. No one bother them, not that she expected anyone to be where they were anyway. Ears notified Arya, that Taron would return to her soon. He had Aulix. To her alarm, Aulix was still unconscious, but Taron was calm.
"Let's go. Help me get him on my back and to tie his arms and legs around me."
It was slow going at first, until they were in the Red Keep's lower caverns. As luck had it, they came upon the weapon that Qyburn had created for the Queen, to kill dragons with. Taron made note of it and decided to return later, to check it out. They had to be much more cautious now, as more people would be able to see them.
A guard noticed Taron and yelled for him to halt. Arya slipped into the shadows, readying her weapon.
"What's wrong with him?" The guard demanded, poking (Aulix) with the hilt of his sword.
"He's new to shit disposal. The smell made him pass out."
"Gross. Take him to the baths. Just get him out of here fast." The guard continued down the hall quickly.
"It's safe now, let's go." Taron whispered to Arya.
Their extra caution payed off and they made it safely out of the castle. It wasn't long before the three of them were in Taron and Aulix's room. Stripping off the stinky outer layers, Arya went to throw the cloths out. She returned with some fresh fruit too.
"Is he okay?"
"Hold his mouth open and pull out his tongue," Taron instructed.
She watched as he searched Aulix and then pulled out a tiny vial. A drip of clear liquid was put on the tongue.
"Okay let go, he's about to wake up ready to fight."
Sure enough, Aulix coughed and then sprang up into a crouched position. It took a moment for him to register where he was and with whom, then he sat down relaxed. "Why'd you use that stuff?"
"You were out cold, way too long. I got worried…. Is your heart still racing?" Taron asked with concern.
"It's okay. Did Tam get away from the castle safely?"
"We don't know…. I'll see if your crow does," Arya offered.
"I'll find out later, he got his job done, that I know," Aulix said.
"Did you?"
He nodded, "yeah and good thing too. I'll explain later. I need to eat, mediate and sleep. Which one of you is sticking around?"
Taron looked at Arya. "I need to go check something out, can you stay till I get back?"
"Of course, but when you come back bring some food that I can identify please."
Laughing, Taron gave a nod and left.
Arya asked Aulix, "what happened that made you pass out in enemy territory?"
"I took over a flock of Sea Eagles to help Tam's escape from the Red Keep."
"Wow, you're crazy. I'll give you a massage while you eat," she advised. Then a few minutes later added, "please don't do that again, anytime soon."
"If I need to I will." Taking pity on her he patted a knee, "you don't need to worry. And you did good finding me. Thank you."
Arya kissed his cheek and gave him a hug from behind. He leaned back into her arms for a little bit, before moving to sit by the wall and begin meditating. She sat with weapons handy, eating the fruit that was left over; ready but relaxed.