157 AC, Braavos
The First Sword of Braavos
Lotho Antaryon observed from one of the balconies overlooking the Main Hall in the Sealord's Palace as His Excellency, Dormeo Prestayn, overlooked the proceedings with a disinterested eye. Lotho was seeing to his men placed around the hall when the herald stepped in to announce a new petitioner.
"Presenting the honourable commander of the Free Company of the Stormbreakers, the Scourge of the Dothraki, the Defender of Yunkai, Ser Oscar Tully and his royal squire, the Prince Aegon Targaryen of Westeros."
Through the open doors, the pair walked in, flanked by a couple of Lotho's own men and followed by three more of the Westeros knights, all of their party having donned the heavy armour characteristic of the Westerosi sans their helms and with their hands on the pommels of the swords hanging from their hips, so unlike the Braavosi arms that Loth was seized by a sudden urge to swing one around himself.
Lotho wasn't worried about anything they might try in the Hall, for it would spell their own death and would not work in their favour either way. The Sealord sat upon his carved chair on a raised dais just below a massive stained window depicting the slaves feeling from Valyria and just far enough away from any of the petitioners that Lotho's men would have ample time to shoot them full of crossbow bolts before they even reached within an arm's length of the Sealord. If he were being entirely honest, Lotho wouldn't have cared if the damned Prestayn died right now if not for the question of his own competency arising at him letting the Sealord die as the First Sword stood by.
The Tully knight bowed deeply before the Sealord, prompting his squire and the other knights to do the same and then spoke about their campaign in the coastline near the Lorathi Bay and the Hills of Norvos. They had achieved a great victory over the Lorathi, who had tried to encroach upon the mainland with a great force that they had seemingly conjured out of thin air. The Tully knight then ceded ground to one of his own knights who started waxing poetic about the perils of fighting the Lorathi and their losses and so on and on but Lotho wasn't paying attention to any of that.
He looked to Aegon, who had somehow gained a deep scar running down his right cheek from just below his eye and Lotho suddenly wanted to know how he had gotten that scar, deep as it was. Then, Aegon's purple eyes met his own and Aegon smirked, which sent a jolt through Lotho's stomach and he smiled back at Aegon, before turning away, his heart racing. Lotho tried to focus on what was being said and caught the end of a long speech by one of Tully's knights after which the Sealord stood up to address the hall, obviously pleased.
"In honour of this great victory which our friends have brought for us and in celebration of the protection of the Braavosi territorial integrity, the entirety of Braavos shall be in celebration tomorrow. And during the night, we shall hold a banquet for our friends here and all the magisters and the keyholders while the commoners shall feast and make merry for bread and wine shall be made available to them," the Sealord declared and the hall erupted in applause.
The knights and squire bowed once more and made their way out of the Hall and Lotho left his post to follow. By the time he caught up to them, the knights were just outside the Sealord's Palace and the three had left while the Tully was talking to Aegon. Just as Lotho reached them, the Tully knight started to depart and raised his hand in greeting to Lotho, who did the same. Aegon, his back to Lotho, turned around just as he approached and grinned widely.
"Lotho! It has been a while. How has the Sealord been treating you?" Aegon asked.
"Ah, you know how the Prestayns are. All full of themselves and this one is no different. Yet, he is the Sealord, and I am the First Sword, so serve him I shall," Lotho replied.
"Doesn't your father want to end this feud with the Prestayns? He supported the Sealord's bid for election a few years ago, if I remember correctly," Aegon asked.
"Well, yes, my father does want for there to be peace between our families. We are the oldest and foremost of all the Braavosi magisters and keyholders, but I will never forgive nor forget. Dormeo killed my cousin in a duel when the both of them were younger and still bravos walking the streets and riding the canals. My father wished to forgive and so my uncle chose to forget, but I am not so easily bought. I remember my cousin well, young though I may have been at the time of his death. That he made me the First Sword was naught but a payment for my father's help in his election. Nothing more, nothing less. But, let us talk of more pleasant things, Aegon. I trust you are free for the day?" Lotho said.
"Oh, yes. Ser Oscar wants us to stay here in Braavos for a week still. If there is any news of any further contracts, either here in Braavos or further beyond in Northern Essos. But forget about all that, did you hear? My uncle's ship is in port!" Aegon exclaimed.
"What, the King of Westeros is here in Braavos? Surely you jape," Lotho tried to hide his disbelief. How could the King of Westeros come to Braavos without him, the First Sword, catching wind of it? He must truly have become incompetent then.
"No. No. Do you think the city would be so drab if the King were to come? Wouldn't you have heard by now if the King were to visit Braavos? It isn't him who is here in Braavos, it's Roggerio Rogare, my mother's brother. He's here with the Mermaid's Daughter," Aegon said, excitedly as he started to walk away from the Sealord's palace and along the canals lining the streets. Lotho followed him.
"A Rogare, huh? I have to admit, I did not think I would hear that name again. Not after that nasty business with the collapse of their bank and their own downfall. Is he still well off? I assume he's taken to being a merchant, then?" Loth questioned as they passed by a brothel, a few whores lingering around it, trying to entice customers.
"Oh, no, no. He isn't a merchant. Well, he does trade in wine and spice whenever he docks in any port but the Mermaid's Daughter is known for other things. It's a floating Lysene pleasure house if you catch my meaning. I first met him and his ship just after the Dothraki business at Volantis. Then, he was at Yunkai just after their war with the Mereenese. He always had a talent for arriving just after the fighting has ended and making the men merrier," Aegon said with a grin.
"So, in essence, this Mermaid's Daughter is a huge whorehouse?" Lotho asked.
"Well, I wouldn't be so crude. Think of it as an overly large pleasure barge that sails around the world bringing comfort to the soldiers and sailors and other men who are lonely at ports," Aegon said, grinning.
"Indeed. Well, enough about that. There has been something I've been meaning to ask you. What happened to your face? The scar I mean. Was it the Dothraki?" Lotho asked bluntly.
"You should watch how you speak Lotho. You were very insulting, asking me what was wrong with my face," Aegon said seriously, frowning.
"I… that is… I had not meant...," Lotho tried to excuse his behaviour when he noticed Aegon trying to control his laughter and Lotho punched him on his shoulder before speaking, "This is the last time I'll care about what you have to say." Lotho turned his nose up at Aegon.
"Ah, I jape, I jape. 'Twas a jest, truly. Come, we are at Ragman's Harbour. The ship should be docked here somewhere," Aegon said, laughing and dragged Lotho with him. Lotho allowed himself to be dragged along and got a good look at the ship docked ahead.
The Mermaid's Daughter was a great ship, larger than most of the ships Lotho had seen in all of his years in Braavos. She had a single huge mast with a purple sail rolled up and a figure of a naked mermaid on her prow. As they got closer, the enormity of the ship pressed itself upon Lotho and he figured it could at least fit at least two hundred soldiers if they forewent provisions, but perhaps much fewer whores. Aegon and Lotho reached the ship, which had two men guarding the gangplank and Aegon slipped them few coins before making their way onto the deck.
There on the deck stood a tall man, with classical Valyrian features, silvery-gold hair, violet eyes and a beauty that clung to him the same way it clung to Aegon. He turned to them at their approach and smiled. Lotho suddenly realized that it was the same smile Aegon wore. They walked over to the man and he greeted them before hugging Aegon.
"What's with the face? Did a woman try to scratch out your eye?" the Rogare asked, his grin not leaving his face.
"No. Why is everyone asking about it? It was an accident during a joust. We were jousting in Lys honour of uh, Endros at the celebration of my betrothed's flowering," Aegon said and the Rogare's face darkened and lost it's grin, though whether it was at the mention of the injury or at the mention of Lys, Lotho did not know.
"It is Yndros, Aegon. Ydros of the Twilight, not Endros. And why you keep up with the damned Westerosi games in Essos, I never know. You could marry your girl and stay here in Essos. You already have a name for yourself and the Company. They call you the Sellsword Prince, you know. Listen to me. Don't go back to Westeros. I know how much of a pit of adders the whole place is. You have been given a chance and you need to make the best of it," the Rogare said.
Aegon smiled as if he'd already had this conversation many times before and said, "You know I cannot abandon my family, uncle. And my father is yet to give his assent for my marriage. I cannot just stay here in Essos, fighting one battle after another, just for gold, without believing the cause for which I am fighting. I want to be known as more than just a Sellsword Prince or the Homeless Targaryen or whatever else I am being called."
The Rogare sighed then spoke," I see that I won't be able to change your mind on this topic then. Very well, let us forget all that unpleasantness. Go on then, the girls are down below. You as well, young Braavosi. Friends of Aegon are friends of mine."
Lotho shook his head. "I don't think I'll be able to find my tastes met here. I am very specific about my preferences," Lotho said carefully. The Lyseni were known for their ability to cater to a wide variety of tastes, after all. He hoped this Rogare was the same.
"Ah, yes. Come with me. I'm sure we can find something to your tastes," the Rogare said, with a knowing smile on his face. He put his arm around Lotho's shoulders and steered him towards the other end of the deck and led him down another set of stairs opposite to where Aegon had gone and Lotho found that the Mermaid's Daughter did indeed cater to his tastes.
The next night found Lotho once more in the Sealord's Palace, looking over the Ballroom as he had looked over the Main Hall the previous day. A celebration would make no difference on the execution of his duties. Rather, it made work all the more difficult for his men. His men were spread thin trying to anticipate where the Sealord might be and whom he might interact with. The Palace guards themselves were of no help beyond the obvious as they stayed only in the portions of the Palace that were open to everyone this night.
While the highborn guests were dancing down below, the Sealord was seated at a large table placed near the far end of the room. He was speaking with everyone and anyone who had a need to be addressed with four of his guards flanking him. Meanwhile, the guests who were dancing or were feasting with the Sealord at the table were all masked, making it difficult to identify who was a friend and who was a foe.
Lotho spied a flash of bright silver hair in the dancing crowd and closer inspection revealed a deep scar that ran down from under an ornate, golden half-mask that hid only the height of his cheekbones. Lotho leaned down from the balcony and the purple eyes behind the mask confirmed that it was Aegon. He was dancing with some woman who looked to be around his own age and Lotho recognized her as Dormeo's sister. She had her hand on Aegon's face, tracing his scar while Aegon held her close, his arm tight around her waist. This sight sent a lance of burning hot jealousy through Lotho's chest and he gripped bannister of the balcony tight in anger. Aegon, who must have felt Lotho's eyes upon him turned to him, grinned and winked before continuing his dance with the tramp. Lotho turned away.
When he looked back to the floor, Aegon was gone and he spied the pair just as they left the hall, the wanton whore giggling from her place in Aegon's arms. Lotho spied a wineskin, which someone must have left on the balcony. He took it and gave it a shake. It was fairly large and seemed to be mostly full. Lotho took a sip and swirled it around his mouth. It tastes pretty good, like the Dornish sweet he had once had when an ambassador of the Principality had come to visit only a year prior. Satisfied with the taste, Lotho started to down it trusting that his men would protect the Sealord without his oversight.
He had finished around three-fourths of the wineskin and the music and dancing seemed to be going on forever when he heard someone approach him from behind and turned around. It was Aegon. He looked really pale, if it was possible, but also looked excited about something. He was looking for someone and when his eyes fell on Lotho, recognition flashed through Aegon's eyes along with what looked like relief. Aegon walked towards Lotho with a sense of purpose and his heart started to beat faster.
"Lotho. There is a matter of utmost importance I must speak with you about. I would have spoken to Ser Oscar about it, but he is nowhere to be found and I feel he wouldn't understand my need," Aegon said and Lotho nodded dumbly his head spinning.
"Come with me, I wish to speak with you somewhere more privately," Aegon continued and dragged Lotho from his post and deeper into the Palace and towards the Sealord's apartments. The pair walked right up to the Sealord's apartments and some part of Lotho's mind was horrified at the lack of guards. Aegon stopped him just as they were outside the doors leading into the Sealord's personal solar.
"When I was with the Sealord's sister, she took me to his apartments here in the palace to ensure that we wouldn't be disturbed. There are no guards here and that gave me the chance to discover something. Something which would help me right a wrong and bring justice to a crime against my family," Aegon said. Lotho did not grasp what Aegon was trying to say but he nodded his head nonetheless, wanting Aegon to not stop talking.
"Before we continue further, I want to have your word. You are my friend and a very close one at that, but this is not something I would ask of anyone. In helping me in this endeavour, you will be going against the Sealord. Tell me now if you would be obligated to move against me and I will implicate you in this no further," Aegon said, this time his face serious and searching Lotho for some sort of deception.
Suddenly, it was clear to Lotho what he must do. He'd help Aegon in any way he could and ensure whatever he did would not get to the Sealord. He would do it for Aegon, even if this was the only way he could ever help him. Damn this Prestayn and his ways. He'd do whatever it was Aegon asked him of if only to spite Dormeo. Lotho pushed through the haze that had fallen over him and made up his mind. He nodded firmly.
"I'll do it, Aegon. You can depend on me. I care not for the Sealord, you know of this already. If you believe this would help you right a wrong done to your family, I would gladly help you, in any way I can," Lotho said. He grinned fiercely. Aegon looked at him, trying to discern the truth and finally, he nodded in assent, having believed in Lotho's sincerity.
"What do you know about Elyssa Farman?" Aegon asked. Lotho scratched his head, turning the question over in his mind. He had heard the name, true, but he could not place it. Elyssa Farman. Elyssa. Farman. There was something about her and the Arsenal… no, the Iron Bank.
"The dragon eggs…," Lotho whispered. He saw Aegon's face set in determination. This was Lotho's chance. He could prove himself to Aegon and deal a huge blow to Prestayn at the same time. Once news of this gets out, and Lotho would personally ensure that it spread, Dormeo would be humiliated.
"Yes. I cannot allow for this insult to stand. The Sealord parades his stolen bounty in his personal solar like a bandit. I would not even have found out but for his sister's preferences. She wished for me to take her on her brother's desk. I wonder if it was a way for her to get one up over him," Aegon said.
Aegon pushed open the doors to the Sealord's solar. Lotho had never been in here before, despite being the First Sword. Dormeo had never called Lotho in here for any of his purposes, perhaps sensing the animosity he held. The pair entered the room and Lotho got his first look of the solar. It was sumptuously appointed and very large even by the standards of the rest of the Palace and most of it was gilded in a display of the wealth Braavos commanded. The thought of all of this wealth in Dormeo's hands, a visual reminder of the power he wielded, despite his crimes, rankled Lotho.
Just beside the door was a massive glass cabinet. Its edges were gilded and gem-encrusted with its glass being the clearest Lotho had ever seen. A gift from Myr, he was sure of it. And in the centre of the cabinet, on specially made holders were three huge, scaly eggs. The dragon eggs. The far window was open and a shaft of moonlight fell on them. Lotho marvelled at their beauty.
The one on the left was the deepest of blue, as the sea near Pentos Lotho remembered seeing when he was younger and had gone on voyages with his cousin. The rightmost egg was a mottled green, of the marshlands just beyond the city. But it was the one in the centre that was the most breath-taking. It was of the deepest black, of the colour of the doors of the House of Black and White. Lotho had been there only once, with his father, when he had gone on some business that Lotho was still not made privy to.
Aegon lit a few candles on the far wall and the light fell on the eggs. The black egg was not black, but red. A deep, dark red of the kind that pools around a man's head when he is struck from behind. Lotho had seen it but once, when his cousin lay dying on the streets of Braavos and Lotho looked on helplessly.
Aegon nudged him, jolting Lotho out of his stupor.
"We need to get these out quickly. We don't know if anyone might come here," Aegon said.
There was an urgent tone to his voice and Lotho complied. He took out his dagger and pushed it into the gap between the cabinet's doors. A flick of the dagger and the lock was undone. The mechanism was rather crude for the intricacy of the cabinet. Lotho figured the Sealord did not fear thieves this deep in his sanctum. The doors were opened and Aegon wasted no time grabbing the three eggs, struggling to hold on to all of them at the same time.
"Give one of them to me, I'll hold on to it. We still have to get out of here," Lotho said.
Aegon looked at him in suspicion and Lotho felt a pang of hurt. Did he think Lotho would betray him now? After all that had happened? Then Aegon nodded and handed the green one over. Lotho led them through the doors from whence they came. Aegon followed after he had blown out the candles he lit earlier.
Lotho led the way and turned into a passageway he knew his men used to get around the palace unseen. Aegon grabbed a torch off the walls and handed it to Lotho, who entered the passageway first. If he remembered right, this one would lead to just beyond the Palace, coming out near a secret pier where a few gondolas were kept.
Sure enough, his memory proved right and the place was, thankfully, unguarded. They got onto the gondola and Lotho steered it all the way beyond the city deeper into the land, near to where Aegon's men were camped, outside the city. The ride was in heavy silence. Aegon looked over the eggs, running his hands over them, a sense of marvel and accomplishment in his eyes. Lotho instead found his tongue tied, unable to decide what to say next.
Soon, they reached past the city limits and stopped the gondola nearest to where Aegon's camp lay. They got on land and Lotho left the egg with Aegon and bid him stay while he went to get horses. A stable lay not far from them and the owner was passed out, dead drunk. Lotho took two horses and rode one, leading the other to where Aegon was standing with the eggs. He handed over the horse to Aegon who put the eggs in a sack attached to the saddle.
"I think it would be better if I go alone, Lotho. The presence of the First Sword in the camp would cause undue questions to be asked," Aegon said. Lotho nodded unable to find anything to say yet again. Aegon reached forward and engulfed Lotho in a hug.
"You are a true friend, Lotho. I shall never forget what you have done for me here today. When I get back to Westeros, ask any boon of me and I shall fulfil it. You have my word," Aegon said, smiling.
Lotho smiled back at Aegon and nodded. Aegon then climbed his horse and rode off towards his camp while Lotho wheeled his own horse back towards the city. As he rode away from Aegon, a heavy despair seemed to fill up Lotho's heart.
A/N: Please review. Feedback keeps me going. If you have any complaints, suggestion or anything you'd like to add, let me know.