Arya was waiting in the stable with a saddled horse when the large guardsman arrived with all his packed belongings.

"Lost your position, did you?"

"I believe it's time for me to go. It's too bad, though. I quite liked it here in Lorath. This heat reminds me of the armory."

"I'm just relieved he didn't recognize you."

"He only really got a look at me the one time, in the brewhouse, and back then my whole face was still stained with soot. I had a good bit of fun rattling the old dog's chain, but I think he's changed. He held his temper while I insulted him, but he'd have cut through me in a heartbeat to get to Sansa's side. He'll keep his temper and keep her safe."

"You did a good job of keeping her safe and helping with my plan." She said sincerely and then added in a mocking tone, "Thank you, Kellan."

"That's what us knights are for, my lady. And don't forget I am Ser Gendry of the Hollow Hill." He bowed theatrically.

"You'll always be a stupid bull-headed boy to me!" She teased. "Or maybe you're a girl. Prove you're a boy. Pull your cock out and take a piss."

"My lady has quite a mouth on her."

"Fine, skip the piss."

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" He asked it mockingly, but his eyes revealed that he was interested in the answer.

"I wouldn't know, yet."

"Don't forget what you promised you'd do for me."

"I know. A bath, a hairstyle, a dress, and dinner with you."

"And . . . ?"

"One kiss, Gendry, just one, and if it's wet and sloppy, I swear I'll knock your front teeth out!"

"Done." He put his hand out for her to shake it, and when she did, he kissed her hand. "My lady."

"Don't push it!"

"We can eat at the Inn where I'll be staying until our departure. I'll pay!" He held up the purse, rattling its contents. "You never told me where you got the money for all of this?"

"It was easier than I thought, actually. Remember when Dondarrion took the Hound's tourney winnings and gave him the promissory note from the Brotherhood for his nine thousand gold dragons?"

He nodded.

"Well, I bought the note back from the ferry boat owner for the ten dragons the Hound owed him. He was happy to be rid of it. I sold it to Lady Ravella Swann of Acorn Hall for six thousand dragons. As you know she has a history with Tom of Sevenstrings. She'll make a three thousand dragon profit on it, if she ever gets paid. In the meantime, Tom makes interest payments to her on behalf of the Brotherhood, though never in coin and only when her husband is away."

"Sounds like everyone is profiting from that arrangement. Is there any money left?"

"Plenty, but I'm not done here in Lorath until they're wedded and bedded. Luckily, I've a card or two left in my pocket."

"For instance?" He was intrigued.

"Well, I haven't yet told her about the Lady you truly serve, Lady Stoneheart." A concerned look swept over Arya's face.

Gendry moved forward and pulled her into his arms, and although she didn't embrace him back, she made no move away from him.

She changed the subject. "Tell me what happened just now on the terrace when you pressed Sansa? "

"That was easy work. She'd already convinced herself, just needed to hear herself say the words aloud. The moment I called him unworthy, she jumped to defend his worthiness, claimed him as her betrothed, and called him stately, gratifying and strapping. She also said, 'Thank the gods, he will be staying with me longer than he anticipated, and I plan to provide him with everything that he needs and desires.' Oh, I forgot, while I get settled in at the Inn, you'll need to go get him some clothes: tunics in olive green, red, and white; looser breeches in brown, gray, and dark blue; some socks and some smallclothes." He tossed the purse at her.

She tossed it back to him. "I'll pay the tailor. You might need that to live on until we can all set out for Westeros. This may still take longer than we hoped."

"It wouldn't have if you would have told her the truth: that you had already named him as her husband in your letter to Bran."

"No. I don't want her to feel the least bit forced. I want her to think of this husband as one of her own choosing, and I want her to leave Lorath willingly."

"And if she doesn't? Will you throw her in a sack, kicking and screaming? Change your face into handsome prince and ask her to marry you herself?" Gendry shook his head. "It's a dangerous gamble, Arya, and we need to make haste on this. I've been away for months, the Brotherhood needs me back. And Lady Stoneheart, . . . ."

"Is anxious for our safe return. Yes, I know that better than you. What happened when you confronted him? Does he still think he'd be happy enough as just her sword and shield?"

"Well, . . .that didn't exactly go according to our plan."

"What do you mean, Gendry?"

"Well, he was . . .busy."

"Doing what?

"Reading."

"Just reading?"

"No."

"You've lost me. Did you burst in on him like we planned?"

"Yes."

"Did you challenge him? Make him jealous?"

Gendry shook his head. He began rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, trying to think of a way to describe the situation. "Not really. I did try, but I was distracted."

"Distracted?"

"He somehow got his hands on a copy of a book. You'll never have heard of it, but it's called Love in Essos. I found it on the floor under my bed a few months back. It must have belonged to whomever occupied the room before me. Anyway, the book is very . . . interesting."

"And it distracted you?"

"No. He had it out on the desk, and he . . . . he was . . . ."

"What? Painting? Drawing? Singing verse?"

"No. He was . . . " Gendry struggled.

"Just say it, Gendry. He was wanking."

"Arya! How do you know about such things?" He was red-faced with shock.

"I've caught you at it twice already. Anyway, it's my book. I left it here when I last visited, figured you'd find it eventually and enjoy it. I don't understand all of it, though." She admitted.

"Well, you're still young." He was much more comfortable responding to her last statement than to her first.

"Oh, it's not that. I just can't understand why anyone, Qohori or not, would ever practice at staying upside down. Anyway, what page was it open to, the book I mean?"

"The Lorathi kiss." He looked at his feet as he said it.

"Man's pleasure or woman's?"

"Woman's" His voice was higher, and he cleared his throat. "Why?"

"I'd take that as a good sign." She winked. "I need to get to the bathhouse and get clean and pretty for a handsome knight. So, help me onto this horse."

"And me?"

"Hop on behind me, and tell me something interesting about the Dothraki."