John smiled as he went through the gate without another word. Just as he had been told there was a forge and a man there working. He wasn't alone however, there was a young woman with him. The woman was quite the beauty and seemed lean yet fit. As John approached she turned to face him, her hand going to a knife on her hip. It wasn't until she saw that John wasn't going to his own weapon that she relaxed. John smiled at her with amusement "Greetings, my dear. I am John, you are?"
The girl spoke as she rested her hands on the pommels of her daggers "I'm Shyx Sand. What are you, a Stormlander doing here?"
This caused him to frown "I'm a Snowstorm. So, I'm a northerner, and I was invited here by Prince Oberyn. I'd say you're a whisperer from your appearance. You should be nicer to others."
The girl scoffed as she rolled her eyes "Yeah, sure I'll get right on that."
This caused John to smirk as he held up a scroll that had a wax seal baring the Spider seal upon it "Well, if you don't I'll just have to tell the spider about how you failed him."
As he held up the scroll Shyx's hand went to a pouch at her side while another went to her left dagger. She then gripped the dagger at her side growling as she stepped forward "Give that back! It doesn't belong to you!"
John stayed calm however, as he looked the scroll over "Look here Shyx, I will let you have it back, but let me talk to the smith here then I shall be happy to talk to you." He smiled in a friendly manner "I hope to do business with you and your employer. I will even let you stay here with me while I speak with him." This didn't cause the whisperer to relax, but she fell silent. With that he looked to the smith with a smile "I need some items from you." He pulled his chain off himself and placed it on a table in front of the smith "I need a short sword made of my steel that is not Valyrian. I need throwing daggers made of all the iron, copper, and accented with the yellow gold. I will let you have the lead for whatever you want and the prince will help cover my expenses."
The smith looked at the chain and then spoke "The sword is easily done; I can make three daggers with what you have. What did you want with the rest of the metal?"
He looked at the chain a moment thinking "I want the red gold, silver, and Valyrian steel back. That is what I want. If any links are missing I will know, and I will not be happy." He said as he turned and left the forger. He looked to Shyx with a smile "Now lead us to a quiet place where we can talk privately."
Shyx did just that, she led him away to a small and mostly secluded part of the garden. She turned and looked to John "We can talk here with freedom."
John smiled widely at her as he held up the scroll that Shyx wanted from him "Now then here is your scroll. I know that seal on it. I would like to be in his employ. I am close to Prince Oberyn, I am a very talented man. I can be valuable if the Spider cares to give me the chance."
Shyx nodded her head lightly as she took the scroll as she nodded her head in agreement. As soon as she tucked it away she spoke "Very well then, I shall be happy to relay your message to the Spider. Do not try me like this again however."
This only caused John to laugh as he waved her off "Whatever. I'm not interested in any sad threats you make." With that he turned to leave without much other thoughts. He left heading straight to Oberyn's chambers and spent the night with him and his lady.
It was much the same for days after this and for such a long time. He learned much about not only fighting but Dorne as well from the princes and their children.
Then that fateful day came and he left for Essos they left for a secret meeting between house Martell and the last male Targaryen. It was a sad meeting and John wanted no part of it.
When it was over he spoke to Oberyn "You know that he will never sit on the Iron Throne?"
Oberyn nodded his head as he ran his hands through his hair "I agree with you, but it is his sister that I am pinning my hopes on. Still, my brother rules and I am his snake in the grass as such he gives me my orders and I shall follow them out."
John simply shrugged his shoulders lightly "Well, I can only promise this. I will be loyal to my friends as much as I can be, even giving my life if such a thing is required. My own motto is Loyalty above all."
The Red Viper looked at him with very interested eyes "Ah, that is simple yet, such a thing will certainly get you killed. Loyalty like that is truly deadly."
This brought another shrug from the Northerner "All that is irrelevant to me and my life. I shall just kill anyone who gets in my way." As the two walked the streets of Braavos they came upon a certain temple with a door of black and white. This caused John to stop and stare at it. He felt something drawing him to the door it was such a strong feeling that he took a step towards the door.
It was the Red Viper who grabbed his shoulder "That place is best left alone, it is the so-called Temple of Black and White. It requires its initiates to give up all that they are."
Without another word of notice John handed Oberyn his knife and sword "Put these somewhere safe. Mark, it for me, but don't tell me where just put them where I am sure to look for it. Also, go ahead and return to Westeros without me. There are some things that I need to do in Essos."