Once everyone was on the ships, sailing towards Braavos, Daenerys shouted from Drogon's back, that she would fly ahead and wait for them near the Drothraki Sea, as she is Khaleesi and Queen there. After the dragon flew out of sight, the others discussed what would happen to them. The surviving soldiers would of course become Daenerys's personal guard. Tyrion would remain her hand. But what would Arya, Gendry and the rest of them do? It was Taron who suggested that they could return to the Street Guild and live out life there, or that they could take their guild members and follow Daenerys.
As usual, it took a while before they made it across the Narrow Sea, so that those on the ship had plenty of time to decide what they wanted for their future. On arriving in a port from Braavos, Tyrion, the surviving soldiers and White Harbor's people, began to make their journey towards the Dothraki Sea. The rest of them went to reunite with Sarra and friends. Taron immediately returned to his former roll and blasted a whistle into the sky as they went to their base camp. On arrival Sarra threw herself at Taron, crying and laughing. His guild of original members, embraced them all and then welcomed the three teenagers and Gendry. For once Aulix didn't take off, when the members crowded close. Instead he waited until everyone had gathered at their home base.
He then explained briefly what had happened in Westeros and what options for the future people could have. "So those of you who want to go meet up with the Mother of Dragons and the true Queen, in two days we leave at the break of dawn."
The place erupted with voices, asking each other what to do. Taron, Arya and Aulix had a basic idea of who would accept the new adventure and travel to the Dothraki Sea. Aulix, Taron, and Gendry went to a tavern to drink, leaving Byt, Tam and Arya to answer all the questions.
"What will you do Byt?"
She looked at Tam and then at the three junior alchemists, before replying. "I will go. I want to start a new Alchemist Guild and serve Queen Daenerys."
Tam agreed and sighed, "we're going to need some wagons and strong horses, to move all your things. I foresee a lot of work ahead for me."
Byt kissed his cheek. "The juniors will help and so will any of my students that choose to come along. Also anything I don't take, Taron can sell."
Arya asked, "did Taron or Aulix say what they planned on doing?"
"No, we just figured they'd go on this trip too."
"Right. Let's go join them in the Tavern, I need some cider. Tomorrow we can start packing."
Tam laughed, "you ain't got much to pack princess."
She threw a punch at him, which was easily blocked and returned. They laughed and continued sparring all the way. Sarra and Byt rolled their eyes. They found the three men they sought and sat down to join them. It was Sarra who brought their minds back to seriousness.
"We should have a burial ceremony, our style, for Benn. And maybe you can also do that for your brother Jon."
"Sarra's right. And honouring the fallen dragons would be good too."
"Tomorrow night, we will do that. Tonight let's just relax and drink!" Taron grinned and raised his mug skyward.
The others joined in on the toast, which Aulix also added a cheeky joke to. They laughed and drank, forgetting the past and future for just that night. In the end only Kit and Aulix remained conscious, the rest slept where they sat, mugs firmly clasped in their hands.
"Since when can you out drink Taron?" Aulix chuckled as he paid the bar keep to let the others sleep.
Kit smirked, "I've always been able to do that, but chose not to."
Aulix slapped him on the back, "good man… So what have you decided?"
The smile fell off Kit's lips. "I made a blood oath to Benn, just before he left. I promised him to see more than just Braavos, if he didn't make it back…. I never… I never thought he'd die."
Aulix hugged Kit to him. "War, it's stupid, but will always happen because of greed."
Kit returned the hug just for a moment, before stepping back. "I'm glad that the rest of you made it back…. Should we really let them just sleep it off here?"
"Do you want to try and lift them?"
They both looked back at their friends, then laughed and left together. Kit sighed, "I guess they'll get back when they sober up a little."
"Trust me, once Gendry wakes, he'll carry all of them back, probably on a cart."
"Like they do with the dead?"
"Sure… but when Arya and Taron fart, you will know they ain't dead!" Aulix laughed.
Kit chuckled. "You're a mean man sometimes."
Aulix grinned and then locked his eyes with Kit, who looked away quickly. They went to Kit's bed, but just to sleep, because Aulix knew that Kit was like Gendry; a ladies man only. He watch Kit sleep, the boy he had once known, had turned into a fine man. At last sleep beckoned and Aulix rolled onto his side, closing his eyes.
It was too early, even though it was not, when the partiers all woke up. Aulix confirmed with Kit, that the drunks in the bar, had not spent the entire time sleeping there. Kit saw Gendry and had to ask, "did you haul all their asses back here?"
"It took me a few trips, but yeah I did. 'Can't believe Aulix just left us there."
Kit laughed, "it's not the first time these days, that a few of us have slept on the benches in that tavern. The barkeep there knows us well and is a good friend too… as long as we pay our tabs!"
Aulix came to them, carrying some sweetbread and fruit. "Kit, Gendry, have some breakfast and follow me."
They accepted the food and fell instep with him. "What's up?"
"We're going to get some horses, to ride and to pull wagons, another thing we'll need a lot of."
"You don't need us to pick out good ones; horse or cart, nor to barter." Kit laughed and then added, "so what use are we?"
"I'm not in the mood to harness the collective minds of those beasts, so you'll be helping me bring them along."
Gendry agreed, "you did too much of that mind thing in Westeros. Arya will be pissed at me, if I let you try it."
Kit's eyes went from the muscular man beside him, to Aulix and back. They had a friendship that only fighting side by side could create. "Since she knows both of your names, it's wise not to anger her."
Arya dropped down off a roof, "I'm not that big of a bitch Kit! Ugh… why did I get into the ale, last night?"
"You drank ale too?" Gendry asked and shook his head.
"Did you barf?" Asked Kit.
"No, but maybe I should've…. Anyway Byt said she needs two wagons, both with two horse teams. The horses must very surefooted."
"Drink this," Aulix handed her a small vial of dark liquid.
She didn't ask what it was and downed it all, like a shot. "Gross, it taste like an old whore."
"M'lady shouldn't talk like that." Gendry chided gently.
"M'lord can shut up."
"Lord and Lady?" Kit asked.
"Yeah, he's a bastard son of Robert Baratheon and I'm Arya Stark, sister to the now dead King of the North."
"Stark… as in Ned Stark's kid?"
Gendry and Arya stopped an stared at Kit. But Aulix smiled, "yeah she's that man's brat."
"My mom was from northern Westeros," Kit explained. "A long time ago, she sold me as a slave. I can't remember how I got to Braavos and don't care. As far as I'm concerned my life started when Taron took me in."
Together they went to buy horses first. Next they looked at wagons. Nymeria came to watch over the horses that wouldn't be needed for the wagons, so the horse seller couldn't switch them out afterwards. Arya took two wagons to Byt, leaving the guys to handle the rest. All day she helped the junior alchemists, Tam and Byt, packing potions, poisons, herbs, powders and things into those wagons.
Mera asked, "is that Basilisk alive?"
"No, I use it to teach about what it's blood can do. And don't touch that blue vial, it's got Manticore venom in it."
The girl yanked her hand back quickly. "Isn't that the deadliest poison ever?"
Arya grinned, "Aulix and Byt can make worse."
Rian held up some dried root. "This is Nightshade… it stops a heart, but it's berries are more toxic."
Byt praised him, "someone taught you well."
"That elder you met in King's Landing, use to let me read his journals."
Mera punched his arm, "you never shared with us, selfish jerk."
Aenys stopped their bickering. "When we reach where ever Byt decides to set up the new Alchemist guild, I'm sure we'll learn even more than anyone from the old guild. And if Aulix sticks around, who knows what he'll share with us."
Eventually Arya left them, to see whom else was packing up their things. Almost half of the street gang was preparing to travel. Sarra had decided to go too and got help from Taron to pick who would lead the people remaining behind. Other than Byt, most had very little that they wanted to take with them. Although there weren't many wagons, their caravan would still draw attention. They would all ride armed, because of what Byt had in her wagons. Tomorrow they would start their journey to the grasslands of Essos. One wagon had food and water, because the trip they would embark on, was a long one. Tam had estimated that from Braavos to Qohor it was around 1200 miles and another 300 miles from there to the Dothraki sea. Aulix had agreed and added that by the time they got to Qohor, Daenerys would probably be at Vapes Dorthraki.
"Even though it's going to take a long time to get to where Daenerys is, we've got plenty of interesting characters to keep us entertained," Gendry said to Kit and Tam.
The three of them looked at Arya, Aulix and Taron. Tam nodded, "those three cause enough trouble. But sometimes I feel like I'm an outsider, because they have this bond that the rest of us can never get."
Aulix stopped what he was doing and turned towards them. Kit looked away. "It's true what you say, yet I think they let Aulix look deep into their souls. I can barely handle him looking at me a few minutes."
Gendry sighed, "neither can I, but I'm glad he's a friend and not an enemy."