Chapter 14: The Old Ones
The dragons flew, the black and the white. They had never flown so far before without stopping. Beneath them was nothing but empty ocean. Dragons can swim, but it is not their preferred method of travel. Nor could they rest. Dragons are not ducks. So it is understandable that the two beasts would be frightfully hungry by the time they saw the large island ahead.
Kokimo resented having to watch the goats. Nothing ever happened to them. One might wander off for a time. But they always came back.
Monkeys, stinky brown ones, slinked out of the jungle and began to harass the goats. Kokimo hated the monkeys, jabbering noisy things. His mother always told him to leave the pests alone. Carribi wouldn't like it.
The annoying creatures pulled on the goats' hair and horns. They pushed them over and generally made a nuisance of themselves. Kokimo didn't understand why the god Carribi would care about such noisome things. They did nothing good and were always a bother. Besides, they stole the family's food.
He picked up a rock and hurled it at them. He didn't hit any, for they scuttled away. He muttered a curse.
He therefore wasn't surprised when the god Carribi wrought his vengeance. The big black demon came from the south, over the water. It roared its fury as it belched flame upon the goats. And the monkeys. And the jungle beyond. Kokimo begged forgiveness as he snatched up a kid and ran for home, tears streaming down his face.
Arya stood at the prow of Summer. This was the furthest any of them had ever been from land since the voyage started. Even in the Frozen Sea they knew the land lay buried under the ice not more than a few miles away. Oddly, Arya had felt uncomfortable so far from shore. She hadn't felt this way in her travels to and from Braavos. Yet she felt disoriented, as if her connection to the earth had been broken. Some of that might be attributable to the fact Snowflake was so far away. The dragon had always been within a day's flight before.
Her Queensguards were crowded behind her. "Be seeing land soon enough," said the Hound. "That bastard Marwyn says we should be near Leng."
"Don't know how he'd know," griped Lyanna. "He should leave sailing to sailors."
At first they thought to growing darkness in the sky ahead meant a storm. But as they crept closer they could see it was a tower of smoke.
"Oh no!" Brienne muttered with despair in her voice.
Her feelings echoed Arya's. "I should have known."
"Don't know how you could."
"I know dragons. We can expect a warm welcome." And she didn't mean a friendly one.
The reception was indeed warm, but surprisingly not violent. As the fleet neared the burning shore a smaller fleet of junks approached them. None was terribly formidable. They were crewed by men of extraordinary height. Each one could challenge Brienne. Arya knew these were couriers even before the envoy called out to them.
"He commands we follow and keep our weapons stowed," Marwyn translated. The envoy had spoken in Yitish so Arya hadn't really needed the translation.
Asha shot back, "You tell that filthy sod we don't give our weapons to anybody."
Arya gave her a sharp look, but Asha glared back challengingly. "Just do what he says. We're not here to fight."
Asha demanded, "You tell them that?" pointing at the smoke. Arya didn't answer.
The herald was speaking again. "He insists we follow him."
"Then we will."
The fleet sailed behind the small ship quietly. Nothing happened to alarm them and that made them all the more suspicious. That the natives had known they were coming none doubted, for the he strangers seemed to be quite familiar with their ships' capabilities.
The herald refused to come aboard despite holding his ship close to the portside. As the journey to Turrani took most of a day, they held a shouted conversation with him to pass the time.
"He says his name Jameka. He has been the Voice of Her August Greatness since his father's time. He says the great beasts came close on a hand of days ago." Arya didn't need Marwyn's translation to know that the words Jameka used were not so polite when referring to the dragons. "They attacked the goat herds south of here. Most likely for food. The Empress sent word not to go near the monsters, but the village folk are a stubborn bunch. They fear their gods more than dragons."
"Which gods?" she cut him off.
He hesitated. "I am unfamiliar with the deities of Leng. I know the northern people worship those of Yi Ti as they are descended from that stock."
"Ask him."
It was clear Marwyn didn't want to, for talk of gods bored him. Still, he relayed the question. The answer when it came confused him. "He says the Monkey God… Carribi… commanded it."
"Never heard of that one before."
"Nor I. I had heard that some in Yi Ti worship monkeys."
"So did some further east. Never mind that. What else does he say?"
There was more back and forth. "He says many folk were killed by the monsters."
"Serves them right," muttered Maud. Brienne hushed her.
"The Empress was forced to send her soldiers to separate the villagers from them. They have succeeded in preventing any more deaths, but many villages have been burned. The beasts have flown off into the jungle."
"I can see where this is going," the Hound spat.
So could Arya. "Does he explain how he knew we were coming?"
The sour look on Marwyn's face answered her question. "He says the Empress knows all."
Arya spoke with a quiet seriousness. "Could she have a glass candle?"
Marwyn looked down at the envoy, then back at her. "It's possible," he whispered. "The people of Leng are known to practice magic. As far as their proficiency?" He shrugged.
After what happened in Asshai none of them were encouraged by this comment.
Turrani proved to be a moderately sized city. "He says this is the location of her Great Majesty's summer palace. She spends her winters in Leng Ma."
"That's a Yitish city, isn't it?"
"Built by the first Yitish settlers who came here."
"Is this the largest city on Leng?"
"Nay. That is Leng Yi. Jameka says it is larger than Leng Ma and Turrani combined."
Leng's capital had high stone walls as might be expected. The jungle grew far closer to them than Arya thought safe. No doubt they were mostly for show anyway.
"Has Leng been attacked often?"
"He says often enough, but not for over a generation. A fleet of pirates tried to sack the city. The people are very loyal to their Empress though. They worship her like a god."
"These eastern people seem to do a lot of that."
"It's in their nature. All the nations on this side of the world are inspired by Yi Ti. And Yi Ti has always treated their monarchs as gods."
Turrani's harbor was too small for the entire fleet, so only Summer actually docked. Much to the resentment of their crews, the rest had to anchor outside the harbor mouth. The natives weren't very happy to have the visitors there either.
Soldiers dressed in red marched down to the docks to meet them. The uniforms were distinctive, yet Arya could see hints of Yi Ti. Assuming the Yellow Emperor styled his uniforms the same. Jameka stood at their head waiting.
"Keep your weapons sheathed."
Arya led the way. There were no quays. The Westerosi had to climb down the gangplank directly onto the dock.
Jameka guided them down the main avenue which ran straight to its main square. Here was located the Empress' palace right in the middle of the city, with other official buildings surrounding the square. The palace was a rather modest building. Certainly the smallest palace any of them had ever seen. It only had one floor, though the roof was built far higher than was normal. Two wings extended off a central hall. There was only a waist high wall surrounding it and it had no gates.
There were statues of elephants, tigers, and monkeys aplenty. Arya noticed that along the copula there were carvings of naked women dancing.
As Jameka walked through the opening toward the palace doors Arya and her guards stopped to examine the wall. It wasn't much of a barrier, nor intended to be one if Arya guessed right. The wall was painted a light blue. Little figures danced all around its length much like those carved onto the palace. The wall was barely a hand length's thick. It had a sharp 'fin' along its top.
A sharp voice yelled at them. Jameka was standing at the door. An angry man stood next to him dressed in foreign armor. "I don't think they want us to see the sights," Marwyn said.
"Who's his friend?"
"The name's Kurasow. He's the commander of the Empress' guard."
She walked up to Jameka. "Lead on," she told him in Yitish.
With much grumbling, the tall, thin man went to the doors. These opened before he reached them. The crowd followed after. Arya found herself walking beside the guard commander Kurasow. Her Queensguard marched double file behind her with the soldiers to either side.
Entering the palace was like entering the old Sept of Baelor. The ceiling towered over the Westerosi and even the Lengi could not touch it even on tiptoe. Red wooden pillars ran down its length. The central hall was a single great room. Its space easily dwarfed the great hall of the Red Keep despite the building being smaller. The room formed a cross shape with the cavernous chamber continuing onto either side.
Surprisingly, the throne, or what Arya identified as a throne, sat in between the two arms, not at the end of the hall. It was a very high backed chair. The woman sitting in it was the tallest Arya had ever seen, topping Brienne by a full head. Yet she was stick thin at the same time. Standing around and behind her were a great many people. Courtiers, Arya thought.
To either side of the Empress were two men as different as men could be. One was full as tall as the Empress herself. Thin too with deep black hair and a goatee. The other was short and fat. This one was of Yi Ti, without doubt, though he also wore a goatee.
Jameka introduced them. "Her Great Magnificence, Her Holy Eminence, Seer of Dreams, Speaker of the Word, Possessor of the Holy Touch, Bermüda, Empress of Leng. Her Comely Emperor-Consort, Ruler of Her August Majesty's Heroic Army, Warrior Exemplary, Bahama, First Emperor-Consort of Leng. Her… Comely Emperor-Consort, Admiral of Her Mighty Fleets at Sea, Sailor Most Splendid, Tu Pac, Second Emperor-Consort of Leng."
Arya did not miss the hesitation. She found it hard not to laugh. "Thank you for your greeting. I am-"
"We know who you are. You are not welcome here!"
He was suddenly cut off by the Empress, who herself spoke directly to Arya. The herald was forced to translate her words into Yitish, much to his own discomfort.
"My… apologies for my servant's… rudeness. I bid you welcome Great Queen from Across the Sea. Your coming is not unforeseen."
"So I have gathered."
The herald couldn't contain himself. "Do not speak to her Mightiness in that way!"
This earned him another rebuke from the Empress. Which is good because Sandor's sword hand was getting itchy. Funny thing Arya noticed, the woman never once looked at her herald. Her eyes remained fixed on Arya.
After a long pause the Empress continued. "I am aware of what you did in Asshai. And in Carcosa. I do not condemn it, nor do I approve. No doubt you had your reasons."
"I never do anything without reason." Arya could tell that the Empress speaking to her as an equal was very much against the feelings of her courtiers. Her consorts especially. This woman knows I tolerate no disrespect. "I do not have to justify my actions. Know only that I act for the good of Westeros."
"The name of your kingdom? That is good, for does not a ruler rule for her subjects as much as herself? I am not here to bandy words. Does acting for the good of wes-ter-oss mean burning my villages and killing my people?"
Only now did Arya sense how angry the Empress was. This woman is dangerous. She schools herself better than anyone I've ever met. "It is not my intention to bring harm to either you or your people."
For the first time Bermüda's tone became sharp. "Yet you brought those beasts which burn everything around them."
Arya's voice rose to match hers. "They will defend themselves if attacked! I cannot order them not to! They are not pets. They are not dogs to be whipped."
Bermüda's tone was once more a monotone. "That is good. One should not beat an animal as a slave."
"They will eat you if you try. One does not command a dragon."
The word dragon was one the Lengi recognized. The sudden onset of muttering told the Westerosi that the natives hadn't known what they were dealing with.
The Empress though was not so easily frightened. "I know what you are and what you can do. I do not pretend to know what has brought you here from your kingdom. But you have brought these rampaging beasts with you and they are killing my people."
"Your people attacked them?" It was less a question than a statement.
There was some hesitation. "The beasts attacked our goat herds. Our people are very protective of our goats for they depend upon them for survival."
"I don't doubt that. The dragons were likely hungry. They had to fly here from Asshai."
"Why did you come here from Asshai?"
"Are you suggesting we should have gone elsewhere?"
"We would have preferred it."
"The purpose of my fleet is to study the world. We came to make contact with you."
"What makes you think we want your contact?"
This question surprised Arya. To her it was just common sense for people to learn about one another. "What better way is there make friends?"
"We are not your friends. Your presence has only brought death to this island."
The crowd behind her was making threatening noises. Arya's Queensguards fingered their weapons.
Marwyn, who didn't have a convenient coat of mail on his body, leaned over to whisper in Arya's ear. "I think we should apologize."
Normally Arya would have punched him in the face. But she knew they were the ones in the wrong here. She pushed him away. "Your grace, I do regret what has happened. It was never our intent to cause harm to anyone. Nevertheless, we are prepared to defend ourselves."
The guards looked like they wanted to strike, yet they held back. Arya guessed the Empress had warned them of the dangers their guests posed.
"We do not want any more tragedies if we can avoid it. We will do what we can to restrain the dragons."
"That is not good enough. A price must be paid for the lives that have been lost."
This is what Arya had been afraid of. "What price?" She had no intention of being extorted.
"We cannot bring back the dead. Nor will gold buy back their lives. There is one task you can do for us that might reward you with the gratitude of our people, if not their forgiveness. There are those who have plagued our people for countless generations."
These words had the effect of causing the spectators to babble loudly. Bermüda's consorts whispered in her ears, or tried to as the noise kept increasing. Bermüda waved her arm and the sound stopped with a suddenness that made the Westerosi gasp.
Marwyn whispered into Arya's ear. "She speaking of the Old Ones."
Arya had read everything she could regarding Essos before they'd left Westeros. There was almost nothing about the 'Old Ones' in anything the maesters had.
The sudden quiet made Marwyn's voice boom in the cavernous room. None of the natives could understand his words for he had spoken in Westerosi.
Arya advanced on the throne. Guards moved immediately to cut her off. Bermüda barked a command and the guards retreated. Standing at the foot of the throne Arya could see that the Empress was even taller than she had thought.
"These Old Ones, who are they?"
The muttering started again. It stopped as soon as the Empress spoke. "What do you know of the Old Ones?" Bermüda spoke Yitish herself, this time not bothering with the herald.
"Nothing. We have heard of them only through the tales told by Yi Ti about this place."
Bermüda nodded her head as if this were confirmed something she already knew. "We do not speak of them. But they inhabit our oldest legends. It is said they lived here before the first man and woman came to Leng. Have you heard of the Nameless Ones?"
"The ones who are supposed to have built Asshai?"
Bermüda nodded her head again. "It is said that the Old Ones made war upon them until the Nameless used mighty magics to drive them underground. When our people came to Leng the Old Ones attacked them. For generations our people fought them, but we spread too fast for them. It was my ancestor, the Empress Montigo, who managed to reach them. She found they could talk and act like men. But they demanded much to give us peace. They demanded blood."
"I read they forced your people to kill all the visitors on the island."
"Yes."
"Didn't you make them stop?"
"Our ancestors did, yes. Jar Har, the Sixth Sea-Green Emperor of Yi Ti, closed all the entrances to their underground homes. We had no further contact with them then."
"Then what's the problem? If they were trapped…"
"Recently people have been disappearing. Mostly peasants. We don't know when it started. Years ago."
"Has anyone observed one of these abductions?"
"No. They take place at night. We have sent many to investigate, but they never find anything."
"How do you know the Old Ones are responsible?"
"Who else could it be?"
"Slavers?"
This was an idea that obviously hadn't occurred to them. The Yitish consort, Tu Pac, barked loudly in Lengi.
Bermüda cut him off. "We would know if any strangers were raiding our coasts. Our fleets are ably led and diligent in their duty."
"No disrespect intended." There was a tense pause. "How do you suggest we proceed?"
"The Old Ones were known to have come from caves located in the ruins in the middle of the jungle. They may have opened them up again."
"I cannot promise anything."
Without waiting for permission, she turned on her heel and marched out of the hall, her Queensguards behind her. The guards made no effort to stop them.
Brienne didn't say anything until they had reached the ship. "You don't really intend to do this?"
Arya looked at her as if she had transformed into some animal. "This is our fault."
"We didn't try to give reparations to all the people your dragon stole from before Asshai."
Much to Brienne's surprise Arya slapped her across the face. "How dare you!" It was the angriest they had seen her in a long time.
Amazingly, it was Marwyn who intervened. "Arya…"
"Archmaester, do not forget yourself!"
"My apologies…, your grace. We don't need to do this. We can sail away. Let's leave this place."
Arya could see that her people agreed with him. "I will not run with my tail between my legs!"
Brienne was outraged. "We're not cowards!"
Arya didn't want to hear it. "If you all aren't willing to stand with your queen I will do it myself."
Her Queensguards exploded. They were yelling at her, but none was willing to try and grab her. Except the Hound. He didn't yell or scream. He simply shifted to stand in her way and refused to move.
"Get out of my way!" He didn't budge.
With a great whoosh! the dragons flew by, their passage causing mass panic. Even the Westerosi looked all around, half expecting dragonfire to engulf them. Sandor looked back at Arya only to find her glaring at him. He stepped aside.
While the Cannibal continued circling the city, Snowflake landed herself on the dock near Summer. Asha and her Ironborn wondered if they would have to get their weapons as the beast's tail threatened to smash the forespar. Arya climb aboard Snowflake's back and the white dragon launched herself.
So enraptured with the performance was Marwyn that he didn't notice Jameka until the man was right behind him. "It seems she has more control over her dragons than she admitted," he said in Yitish.
"Dragons obey commands they wish to obey." Marwyn didn't like how easily the Lengi snuck up on him.
The Hound and the Queensguards had eyes only for Arya. "Damn her!" Sandor snapped.
The dragons beat their wings, driving them forward. Once beyond the coastal region the island turned into jungle beneath them. This was not Ulos. Arya saw no trace of human habitation. If anyone did live in the interior they were well hidden.
Leng was a large island, so it took some time for them to find the ruins Bermüda spoke of. At first Arya thought she was looking at low hills. As they got closer she saw that they were buildings. Toppled and in pieces. When they stood tall they must have been of tremendous height, possibly even rivaling the Hightower. Now they were nothing but ruin.
Arya was perplexed. Their design was as nothing she had ever seen before. She had a difficult time trying to reconstruct them in her head. Intact she guessed they would have more resembled mud castles like a child would make. There were no sharp edges, yet they were not circular either. She couldn't imagine the kind of people who would build such things.
Snowflake alighted on the highest point left among the structures. Arya looked around, but saw nothing. The sun was nearing the horizon, so she decided to remain and watch.
It was surprisingly hot at night. The humidity canceled out any decrease in the temperature caused by the setting of the sun. The humidity wasn't the only annoyance. Not even in Ulthos had Arya been plagued by so many bugs. What she didn't see was what she was there for.
Sandor stood in Summer's hold. Asha, Marwyn, Jake, and the Queensguard were there as well. The heat was just as prevalent here, so the women had shed their armor.
Marwyn was trying to explain the situation. "No one knows what the Old Ones are."
"Yet that woman was insistent that they are responsible." Brienne didn't like the Lengi.
"It's natural. The Old Ones play a big role in their mythology."
"But how is the queen supposed to deal with a myth?"
The hatch opened and Crackjaw came down. "Moon's up. Natives have got guards on the docks."
Asha stood. "Double the lookouts. Nobody gets aboard. What about the rest of the fleet?"
"Still holding position. Half at anchor, half not. No sign of any response."
"Nothing is going to happen," Sandor said.
Asha didn't say anything for a moment. "We're not taking chances." She and Crackjaw left.
Sandor shook his head and sat down. Brienne pored him a drink. "Do you think she'll find anything?"
He had a sour look on his face. "Oh, she'll find something. She always does."
Lyanna snorted. "Just not what we're looking for."
They gave her a laugh.
As the sun peaked over the horizon Arya finally got back. The guards who had stood patiently and quietly on the docks scattered as Snowflake landed. Arya hopped off her back and climbed up the gangplank. Her Queensguards were waiting.
The Hound didn't wait. Before she set foot on the deck he said, "Where have you been?"
They all looked at him. "You could be more polite," Brienne spat. He ignored her.
Arya wasn't in the mood. "I'm eating breakfast first."
"Then what?"
"Then I'm getting some sleep."
They sat in the ship's hold with Arya in her place at the head of the table. Asha, Marwyn, Jake and the Queensguards were there as they had been about to eat when Arya arrived. The cabin boy, who they'd nicknamed Steel Pans, wasn't a boy for he stood nearly as tall as Clegane. He served her as was proper. Her companions had to fill their own plates. First Asha, then the Hound, then Brienne, and so on. Jake, who sat to Marwyn's right was last.
This morning the ship's cook, who had the endearing name of Tongue-less Tom, had prepared a meal of smoked fish, roasted potatoes, milled oats, brown bread and water cress. Hot tea was there to wash it down. Steel Pans sawed off some rashers of bacon onto Arya's plate before moving on to Asha's.
They had consumed about half the food before the Hound ventured to return to his question. "So… You going to tell me?"
Arya glared at him before answering. "I found these ruins the Lengi talked about."
"And?"
Marwyn couldn't hold back. "What were they like? Can you describe them?"
Brienne almost yelled at him. "One thing at a time Archmaester."
At that moment Arya was feeling rather stupid. "I didn't see anything."
There was silence for a very long time. "You mean you spent the entire night staring at a bunch of rocks?" Sandor could hardly contain his indignation.
Arya sounded embarrassed. "More or less."
There was another long silence.
It was Jake who finally broke it. "Well, that's not surprising." They all looked at him. Arya noticed he was considerably less reticent than he used to be. "What I mean is… you were with your dragon. Surely, the Old Ones or whatever they are would have seen it."
This was such an obviously intelligent observation that none of them could think of anything to say. Marwyn clapped the boy on the shoulder, his face breaking into a smile. "I told you your brain would work if you let it." Jake allowed himself a sheepish smile in return.
Joella winked at him, which made him turn red.
Arya just stared. The Hound muttered, "You plan on just sitting there?"
Asha chimed in. "You're going to have to rethink your strategy. The boy's right. As long as you have the dragons with you those things, whatever they are, won't show themselves."
Arya was thinking hard. She refilled her cup before continuing. "After I get some sleep I'm going to see the Empress again."
"You think she was holding out on us?" This was obviously what Marwyn thought.
"Perhaps. Possibly she can tell me where these disappearances have been taking place."
"Why didn't she tell you that before?"
"Maybe I'll ask her."
It wasn't until late afternoon that Arya marched up to the palace. This time she came alone, her Queensguards being ordered to remain on board Summer, much to their own displeasure. The doors opened at Arya's approach. Clearly her visit was not unexpected.
On entering she found that the mob which had witnessed her previous visit was not there. Instead it was just the Empress, her consorts, and her herald.
The two women nodded to each other before beginning. "I found your ruins," Arya started.
"You saw nothing." It was a statement. "Neither have any of the soldiers I sent. They have searched through all the ruins on the island and have failed to discover anything."
"Which once again brings up whether it could be something else."
"Such as?"
Arya took a deep breath trying to think of something. "It is always possible some new gang of slavers or pirates have moved into the region. Your island has been attacked in the past."
Tu Pac burst out in anger. "None can approach Leng! My fleet…!"
"Silence!" Bermüda's voice echoed throughout the hall. "If strangers approach Leng I would know of it." Arya didn't ask how. "Whatever is attacking my people exists here… On Leng."
Arya certainly couldn't argue with that. "Does your island have any other dangerous monsters?"
"We have tigers and apes. We are well familiar with these animals. Over the ages many have fallen victim to them, but we would recognize such if they were responsible."
"And you know of no other means of entering the caverns within the island?"
This caused Bermüda to pause. She spoke briefly to her herald. "Of the people who have vanished, most have been along the coast. Our consort admiral has his ships patrolling the shore. They have seen nothing."
"Are there any caves along your shore?"
The herald answered before Bermüda could. "There are several. They're mostly along the south coast."
There was a long silence as everyone stared at the herald. He looked suitably embarrassed.
Bermüda finally said, "Jameka is correct. There are caverns along the south of our island. They are the remains of fire mountains which once dominated Leng."
"Like the Fourteen Fires of Valyria. In the World Book it is mentioned that there are buildings underground here."
"Yes. They are akin to those in the jungle. We believe they were built there. We know not why."
"Then searching these caves might lead us to the Old Ones. We shall set out immediately."
She returned to Summer and gave orders to set out. Asha was less than pleased. "Have the natives at least given us some supplies for this?"
Arya ignored the question. "We'll be sailing at night."
"Do you even have a chart?"
Arya didn't answer that question either. "Cast off."
As she walked back to her cabin Asha gave her a poisonous look. For once Sandor actually sympathized with the Ironborn princess. "She always gets like this."
"Does she really feel that we have to pay these people back?"
"I think she gets attracted to mysteries. Let's get this over with."
The fleet sailed as the sun dipped below the horizon. Fortunately, there were no reefs to worry about. It was even more fortunate that the moon was near full and the sky was cloudless. Once their eyes adjusted they could see almost as well as day.
"What are we looking for?" Marwyn asked.
"All the tunnels emptying into the ruins appear to still be blocked. We surmised that the creatures were exiting from caves on the south shore."
"Any idea what these caves look like?"
"The Empress said they came from volcanoes."
The mention of volcanoes gave them the shivers. They all remembered Hardhome. Maud asked, "How do we know it's safe?"
"We don't."
The fleet slowly cruised along the coast throughout that night, the next day, and the following night without finding anything. They saw plenty of villages, beaches, cliffs, and boats. But no caves.
Arya stood at the railing watching the coast go by as the sun rose above the horizon. The Hound joined her. "How long do you plan on doing this?"
"As long as it takes."
"Why?"
She ignored the question. Instead she asked, "Sandor, have you ever heard of anything you wanted to know more about? Anything that peeked your interest?"
"How to make a woman love me."
He said it so blandly that Arya wanted to laugh. She resisted the impulse. "I can understand that."
"That's something you never have to worry about."
This reminded Arya rather uncomfortably of her relationship with Daenerys. "I beg to differ. I'm still trying to make a woman love me."
She did not elaborate and he did not ask.
They found what they were looking for before midday. As the shore moved past them it turned into a series of low cliffs. The jungle tumbled over the edge, vines trailing down the steep face toward the water.
Several irregular caves appeared. Most were low in the water, too deep to enter. A much larger one, large enough for a skiff, came toward them.
Asha ordered the anchors dropped. The Queensguards all gathered around Arya. For the longest time nobody said anything. Only when Marwyn and Jake joined them did anyone break the silence.
"Is this it?" Jake asked.
"Maybe," Joella answered.
Arya pushed her way through the crowd and walked to the other gunwale. Asha joined her there. The two stared out at the empty ocean.
"I feel vulnerable here," Arya admitted.
"There's no shelter to speak of."
"Perfect place for an ambush."
"I was thinking of something else. The Jade Sea is notorious for its storms."
"We won't stay too long." Arya walked back to the other side of the ship.
Marwyn made his way to her side as she stood there. "What do you plan to do?"
"I want to be sure. I'm going to fly over to the cliff. You all stay here. If those things are really hiding inside that cave maybe they'll come out when it gets dark. I should be able to conceal myself in the jungle."
The Hound felt the need to point out, "We may not be able to get to you in time."
"Snowflake will be with me. The jungle should be thick enough even for her."
With that the dragon dove into the ocean not far off. The ripples from her splash rocked the ships in a way that made everyone cling to anything fixed.
"She's getting too damn big," Asha muttered. It was long past the time when the Ironborn found her antics amusing.
Snowflake popped up with a shark in her mouth. A big one. She expertly flipped it into the air, blackened it with her breath, and then gulped it down. Asha swore the damn beast was smiling.
The dragon swam up to the side of the ship. Arya grabbed hold of one golden horn on the side of Snowflake's head. She was lifted up and deposited onto the dragon's back. After getting some distance away, Snowflake launched herself, spraying water all over those below.
"Damn that beast!" Asha cursed. Sandor found himself in complete agreement.
Snowflake landed well inside the jungle, a good distance from the Cliffside. Arya found the foliage not so thick once she was actually in it. She had no trouble seeing all the way to the coast and the ships beyond. She admonished her dragon to remain in place as she moved closer to the cave.
Arya found it difficult to see the cave from above and had to learn out pretty far. She shifted until she was directly over it, then moved back into the trees. It was some hours before dusk so she settled herself and took a nap.
She woke with a start. It was full dark. Apart from the constant insects, there was nothing happening. Yet something woke her.
The darkness awoke senses that had been dormant for some time. She felt more than heard movement. Though the moon was near full the overgrowth blocked most of it.
She remained unmoving. A shadow, a darker darkness in the night, moved through the trees toward her. Arya hands moved slowly to her hilts. The dark shape moved close. Very close. She could feel its breath. It moved with commendable stealth.
When she felt it nearly touching her she lashed out, drawing and striking with both blades. There was a horrible scream and the nameless thing leapt away. It tore through the brush, rushing to get back to the cave. Arya chased after it, hoping to capture it or at least retrieve the body. Behind her there was crashing and bellowing as Snowflake roused herself.
Arya caught up just as the thing threw itself off the cliff. To her shock it flew through the air. It had spread it arms and legs, unfolding membranes between them like those on a flying squirrel.
Arya looked down and spotted more of the creatures crawling up the side of the cliff toward her. She struck down with Dark Sister at each one that got near. She killed two before the others took flight. Seeing them in the moonlight they looked like giant man-sized bats with human-like faces. Their skin was pale white and they had immense claws and teeth.
Looking across the water to the ships she saw several of the creatures gliding toward them. "Beware!" But her voice couldn't possibly reach them. Snowflake had reached her by this time and breathed a gout of flame along the cliff face. Anything on it would be cinders Arya knew so she said, "Fly! Get to Summer! Stop those things."
Snowflake took off immediately. Only after she'd left did Arya notice that more of the creatures had scaled the cliff to either side.
On Summer the lookout noticed the ruckus happing in the jungle. He called down to the watchmen, "Something's happen'en ashore!"
A man ran for Asha. She returned swiftly with the Queensguards and Crackjaw. "What's happening?"
"The dragon's fight'en somethun."
The Hound noticed Arya standing on the cliff top. "Is that Arya?"
Brienne moved up next to him and looked where he looked. "Is she waving her arms? Is she fighting something?"
Lyanna heard a scratching noise and looked down. She stared straight into the eyes of a horrible creature hanging just below the gunwale. "Look out!" She whipped Long Claw from its scabbard.
The bat-men leapt upward, screaming as they came. The Westerosi backed away from the railing, allowing the creatures to land unopposed. The monsters jumped toward them, arms outstretched, long curved claws extended.
If they were expecting their prey to fall easily they were very much mistaken. Taken by surprise as they were the Westerosi were nothing if not warriors. Valyrian steel met flesh and rendered it in two. Asha did not have her ax, but she wasn't going to allow that to stop her. She drew her dagger and attacked the invaders. They moved fast. The one before her leapt backward out of reach. It jumped onto the gunwale as if to take flight. An arrow from Joella bisected its eye.
Asha ran to the stern, Crackjaw beside her. The two looked out at the rest of the fleet to discover that all the other ships were also being boarded. "There's an army of these things!"
One of them landed directly behind the two. It grappled Asha, pining her arm at her side. Its claws scrabbled at the hardened leather that protected her back. But it was its teeth that threatened to chew off her face. She desperately used her free hand to keep it away. Crackjaw planted his ax in its back.
How the fight would have ended none of them could say, for at that very moment Snowflake roared past, her fiery breath burning many out of the sky. A loud screech came from somewhere in the darkness and the entire army took wing. The Westerosi watched as the creatures vanished into the caves.
Asha suddenly felt dizzy. She noticed her back was wet. The next she knew she was falling toward the deck. Crackjaw and Long Dick grabbed her.
"Captain!" Dick cried.
"Get the maester!" Brienne yelled.
There was no need for Marwyn was already there. "Jake, go help the others." Asha was not the only one sporting wounds. With Crackjaw's help he got the armor off Asha. Her back had been sliced to ribbons. "They don't look too deep."
"Then why is she fainting?" Crackjaw showed more emotion than any of them could remember.
The Queensguards had gathered around them. "The claws of those creatures might be envenomed." Marwyn bent low to sniff. "Yes. I can sent something. Not potent, but if we don't bandage her up quickly she might bleed to death. I've seen the like before." He took out his needle and thread before putting them away again. "The wounds aren't deep enough to need stitching. Wash out her wounds with wine. Make sure you wrap her up good. And see that she drinks plenty of good clean water."
A good many men had suffered wounds. There had been far more of the creatures than any of them had expected. An army indeed.
Arya returned at dawn. Crackjaw was there to meet her. "We suffered several dozen killed or injured. They attacked every ship in the fleet."
"Were any damaged?"
"No. They weren't interested in the ships themselves. Just the men. Several men are missing. We have heard stories of them being carried off. We don't know if they're true or not. We couldn't tell in the dark."
The Hound and Brienne were there with them. "These creatures moved real quiet."
"I know. They tried to take me as well."
Brienne had an uncomfortable thought. "It suggests they planned all this."
"Of course. The Empress said they could talk like men. That means they can think like them as well. What bothers me is that the Lengi never mentioned any sort of mass attack like this."
"That's what I was thinking," the Hound said.
They went down into the hold. Marwyn and Jake were still operating on the wounded, some of whom looked at death's door.
"Not surprising," was Marwyn's comment. "As best as the histories tell us, the Old Ones never tried to exterminate the Lengi. Only the strangers who lived on the island."
"The Empress said the Old Ones attacked her people."
"Oh, long ago I have no doubt. But it's likely that they became inured to their presence after a while."
"Why?"
The question made him stop. The silence dragged on interminably, broken only by the coughs and groans of the wounded men.
Marwyn standing as if frozen, finally cleared his throat. "Do you know how when a farmer finds a wild animal in his fields he drives it off?"
"To protect his own animals."
"Yes. Allowing a strange animal near his own could potentially risk disease or other things amongst his own livestock."
The implication of this was not lost on any of them. Brienne for one didn't like what he was implying. "With respect Archmaester, you don't know that."
"Do you have another explanation?" Arya asked her.
Brienne didn't.
"They wish us to leave. I have no intention of it. I had only intended to block off their exit to the surface. They have made it personal. They have killed our people and abducted several more. This I will not allow."
She had spoken quietly. Yet they could sense the anger in her voice. There was no argument.
Crackjaw watched as the Queen and her Queensguards climbed into a longboat. Asha was trapped in her bed, delirious. Steel Pans stayed with her to ensure she didn't harm herself. Marwyn hesitated to follow. "Archmaester?" Jake asked him.
Marwyn gave the boy a smile before taking his bag and climbed down. The sailors pushed away from Summer and rowed them toward the cave.
None of them knew what to expect. They had brought torches with them, so light wasn't a problem. The interior was featureless rock. Nothing to show that anything lived here. The water was deep, easily enough for the longboat. Nevertheless, the walls of the cave became more restrictive and it got increasingly difficult to use the oars.
The whiff of rotten eggs met their nostrils. Marwyn knew what this meant. So did Arya. Her Faceless training had given her knowledge of poisons to match any maester. Yet they continued. Arya knew if the creatures could live in here men could too.
The tunnel tightened to the point where they seriously wondered if they could continue. Examining the walls Marwyn noticed what looked like marks from picks. Being unable to use the oars they reached out and pushed themselves along with their hands.
Suddenly the walls fell away and they found themselves inside a huge cavern. Before them lay a sandy beach to their right. The underground river continued into a further tunnel ahead. The Ironborn landed against the shore, the river having shallowed to the point of being unnavigable.
Arya was first off the boat, torch in hand. She raised it high and revealed an amazing sight.
It was a city. There was nothing else they could call it. The buildings had been carved into the very walls of the cavern itself. Huge pillars, stalagmites and stalactites which had grown together, had been hollowed out to form more.
The others added to the light with their own torches and additional details were made visible. Strange monsters or animals had been carved into the rock. Things that resembled nothing any of them had ever seen or heard of. The windows were far too large for any human dwelling. So were the doors. All were open for there was neither wood nor glass.
The stench was appalling. A combination of bad eggs and rotten meat.
Arya looked down on the cavern floor. This was remarkably smooth with no trace of dust. It was also quite cold.
She moved further into the city with her people following.
Unknown to her, in the sky above Leng, two dragons circled in extreme agitation. Looking at them one might almost concluded that they had some foreknowledge of events. Regardless, the black dived toward the center of the ruins and began to dig. Great clods of dirt and stone flew through the air.
It was near the back end of the cave that Arya spotted them. As they had traveled through the city they had spotted many other cave openings. Most too small for even a dwarf to crawl through. The sight caused their imaginations to run riot. The bones did not help.
Arya ran to them as soon as they came in view. She could hardly have missed them. She had heard tell that the giants of Westeros stood twice as tall as a man. Those of the Bone Mountains were supposedly twice as tall as that. If so, these bones must have belonged to a creature nearer the latter than the former.
The bones were scattered, disarticulated. Even so, they could recognize them. The humorous was so thick around that Arya could not wrap her arms around it.
"What manner of creature did this belong to?" she asked. "It looks like nothing I've ever seen before."
"Are you sure?" Marwyn asked her.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't they resemble the creatures you fought last night?"
They did. The arms were longer than the legs. The legs looked bowlegged as best they could tell given they were no longer together. The skull especially.
"By the Seven, it's so big." Alys' voice was barely a whisper.
The bones lay near the largest opening into the cavern any of them had yet seen. It could easily accommodate the Cannibal. That wasn't reassuring. Beyond the opening was only darkness.
Lyanna and Maud had wandered off. "Over here!" They turned to spot the two of them near the far wall.
They all went over to see what had attracted them. The torchlight revealed the wall covered in webs. Huge webs. Some brown with age. Various creatures of unknown origin lay cocooned, some so old they were mummified. Before them were bones of much more recent vintage. There was still flesh and gristle attached.
Yimi was sick.
"Is that all of them?" Brienne asked.
Marwyn shook his head. "I can't tell. They've been torn apart."
Arya looked up at the webbing. "Could any of them be in there?"
Marwyn shook his head again. "I don't think so. None of them looks fresh."
Brienne took inventory of their rapidly diminishing torches. "We'd best get back before the light runs out."
For once Arya was in total accord. "I agree."
They had barely taken a step when the sound of skittering reached their ears. Eyes drawn upward, Arya spotted a horde of spiders - huge, though not as big as the ice spiders of the Others.
"RUN!"
They all took off for the boat. The Hound took a second to toss his torch into the webbing and it went up like wildfire. As they ran they donned their helms and unslung their shields.
Loud squeaking and chirping came from all around them. To their shock and horror hundreds, if not thousands of the bat-men came swarming out of the walls and through every crevice. They heard bowstrings even over the tumult and knew the Ironborn at the longboat were under attack.
Bat-men glided into land directly in their path. Lyanna and Maud were in front and cut down four of them before the others rushed past. More of the man-beasts were dropping all around them. Arya, who was last, spun to face them.
"Arya!" Brienne cried.
"Go on!" she yelled back.
There was no chance of that. Brienne and the Hound moved to flank her on either side. From the darkness swarmed spiders. It was apparent that these monsters were the pets of the bat-men, not their predators. Valyrian steel sliced through them with ease, but there were so many.
Bat-men had now begun to fall directly on them. Alys and Obella had moved to protect Marwyn for he had no armor. The archmaester held torches in each hand and used them to fend off the beasts. Joella and Yimi's bows sang and beast-man after beast-man fell. Despite their size, the bat-men weighed little more than a child and the Westerosi had no trouble throwing them off. After killing more than a dozen the creatures backed off, allowing their prey to once again dash for the boat.
The beasts were not so fast on the ground and the Westerosi were able to make distance on them. Up ahead they spotted the longboat. Its Ironborn defenders were launching arrow after arrow. One man, Steel-eyed Jack, was swarmed over with spiders. He fell screaming. Lyanna and Maud ran to his defense. As Lyanna held off the eight-legged abominations, Maud ripped the things off him with her hands. One landed on its back, flipped itself over, and ran right up her leg. As it tried to sting her through her helm Joella cut it off with her long knife. Poor Jack was as good as gone. Pete Donnel pulled him aboard regardless as Maud turned to face more attackers.
Arya was seriously wondering how they were going to get away from here when another sound met her ears. A far more ominous sound. A loud call like a cat from the Seven Hells echoed throughout the chamber. All the beasts, spiders included, suddenly stopped. For just a moment they wondered if this new creature was possibly an ally.
Such thoughts died quickly. From the direction of the main entrance came a monster. Of a size comparable to the bones they had found, it was the den mother of the bat-men. Its face was almost ape like and its wings were wasted, as if unused. And it was the biggest thing she had ever seen short of a dragon or a kraken.
It charged her with frightening speed. Joella and Yimi loosed two of their precious Valyrian steel arrows. Both found purchase, but neither hit a vulnerable spot.
The Mother swiped downward with a huge claw. Arya dived aside, rolling back to her feet. Whatever help her friends might have offered died aborning for the Mother's followers launched into the attack once again.
The Mother bit downward, her massive jaws as large as a dragon's. Once again Arya danced aside. This time she added a slash across the Mother's face. Aside from enraging the beast it had no other effect.
The monster roared at them, its voice deafening in the cavern. The Mother made repeated swipes with her claws, failing to connect. But Arya knew it was only a matter of time. And so it was, for the Mother, frustrated by her inability to hit this pesky foe, lashed out with her foot. This time she connected.
Arya went flying. Valyrian steel was almost indestructible, but it didn't protect against everything. Arya hit the ground and didn't move.
Shocked and horrified at the sight of their Queen senseless, her people were saved from a suicidal reaction. From behind the Mother came a louder, even more bellicose roar. The sound alone almost flattened the Westerosi and the bat-men shook as if stricken with palsy.
The Mother spun to confront her new foe. From out of the dark came the Cannibal. Too large to fly within the cavern, he charged in on his four legs. Big the Mother was, but even she was dwarfed by the Cannibal. He bore her backward and into the cavern wall. The place shook as the titans fought. The Mother's claws sank deep even through dragon scales, but they might as well have been pins for all the good they did. She failed to hit any vulnerable spots. The Cannibal's jaws clenched upon the Mother's head. Though his teeth could not break her skull, he twisted and jerked until he had wrenched her head clean off.
He dropped her head and bellowed in triumph.
The bat-men and their spiders fled before the enraged beast. Snowflake, who had followed the Cannibal into the cavern, showed them no mercy. She bathed them in fire. Those that escaped fled into every hole and crevice they could find.
The sound and fury had so stunned the Westerosi that for the longest time all they could do was stand frozen.
Arya did not see the faces of her companions. Nor hear their voices. Nor feel their hands as they lifted her up and laid her in the boat. Her blades, retrieved, were laid beside her. For her all was darkness. Not like when she had died. That was a very different darkness. A timeless darkness. One she had not even been conscious of until life had been returned to her.
No, she was very much aware of this darkness. And knew from that awareness that she was still very much alive. But how alive? She could not feel her connection with her dragon or her direwolf. It was as if she were trapped within a room with no doors. She wanted to scream, but had no voice. She wanted to gasp, but had no breath. She wondered if this was what people feared when they feared death.
She was not entirely alone. Pain. Yes, there was plenty of that. This too proved to her that she was alive.
The longboat was rowed out of the cave, the current helping to push it along. None of them knew what day it was, for it had felt like a lifetime to them. But it was only the morning of the day after they had entered.
Marwyn order the Ironborn not to return to the ship, for he feared trying to haul her up the side might prove fatal. Instead he ordered them to follow the coast until they found a beach of some sort. Fortunately, barely more than a mile back along their course was the very thing he was looking for.
Much to their surprise there was a reception committee waiting for them. An army of soldiers stood at attention. Within their midst was a silken pavilion, open-sided and large. Beneath it stood the entirety of the Empress' court. The Empress herself sat upon a great gilded throne in the center of them all.
As the boat landed attendants rushed down to it. Without asking they lifted Arya up and gently laid her upon a bed of cushions placed there by maids. Stunned by everything that had happened to them, none of the Westerosi thought to object.
The attendants backed away. Much to everyone's surprise, the Empress herself climbed off her gilded throne and walked over to Arya. She gave commands in her own tongue. Servants moved quickly to provide her with what she wanted – bowls of water and clean towels and unguents with a sweet scent.
Marwyn, who seemed to be the only Westerosi to still have his wits, went over to examine her ministrations. He watched as the giant woman carefully removed Arya's helm, releasing a flow of fresh blood. Singing an alien song in a tongue Marwyn recognized as Asshai'i, she gently washed Arya's face and head. She placed a bandaged soaked in ointment under her head. Then, after anointing the Queen with more ointment, she laid her hands upon her face and sang. Though he knew the language, Marwyn did not understand the song, for it was about flowers and stars, and strange mysteries he knew nothing about.
Arya took a deep breath and moved. Her people laughed and cried for joy. Arya opened her eyes and looked up at the face of the large woman above her. It reminded her of when she was sick as a child and her mother cared for her. The illusion was brief, but memorable.
Arya sat up. Marwyn grabbed her head, much to her own chagrin. "Remarkable," he said, taking his hands away. "The crack in your skull is gone."
"Good. I didn't need it." She turned to the Empress. "I have you to thank."
Bermüda nodded gravely. She rose to her feet, Arya doing likewise. The two women walked up the beach toward the sparse jungle. Bermüda barked a command and all her people moved aside, revealing a giant tent of red silk. The Empress herself opened the flap and invited Arya inside.
Arya turned to her people, who had been following them. "Remain here." They were not inclined to argue. That didn't make them happy about it.
The interior was luxurious. Velvet covered couches next to mahogany tables. A china tea set was on the largest table. A strange birdcage like construction was set on an end table at the back. Female servants in white poured tea into two cups before being dismissed. Neither woman chose to drink any.
Once they were alone Bermüda went to the back and retrieved the birdcage thing. It wasn't an actual cage. Rather, it was a ribbed cage much like Dornish women used to hang plants in their homes. At the bottom was what Arya slowly realized was a glass candle. She did not recognize it at first for it was actually shaped like a candle, wick included.
Bermüda placed it on one of the tables near Arya, who sat on a cushioned stool. Bermüda sat across from her, placed her hands to either side of the candle, and spoke in the twisted language of Asshai.
Images began to form. Arya saw Jon and Davos speaking in the garden. Dany standing on the promontory, staring out to sea as the dragons flew above her. The next image was at night, Jon and Dany in each other's arms, sitting on the same promontory. There was an image of Cat and Rhaegar doing their lessons, while beside them checking their work was a dark skinned man Arya did not know. He looked like a Summer Islander, but wore a chain around his neck. An old woman dressed as a septa was there also. Finally, she saw Ned, a baby no longer, yet an infant still.
With a cry, she lunged at the image as if to grab it. Her hands went through the image and it vanished. Arya broke down in tears.
There was a disturbance outside. The tent flap was pulled aside and a guard poked his head in. He said something to Bermüda. "Let them come," she said in Yitish.
Arya wiped her face with her hand and the Hound appeared at the opening. "What is it?" she demanded of him.
"You all right?" he asked. The concern in his voice touched her more than she cared to admit.
"Ah, yes. Yes. I was just a little startled. I'm fine."
"Want us to stay with you?"
"No. No. Just wait by the boat."
He nodded uncertainly and left. The flap was thrown back and the two were alone once more.
Arya eyes were accusatory. "Did you show me that to torture me?"
Bermüda was surprised by the question. "No. I wanted to show you that which you most desired."
"Yes, of course."
"It is a small reward for what you have been through. You sacrificed far more than I had expected of you. More than I had any right to ask of you."
"Did you know what I would find?"
"No."
Arya already knew she could not read this woman. Her Faceless skills were no match for the Empress' self-discipline. Perhaps not even the Kindly Man could. Yet in this she felt she could trust her answer.
"Did you ever imagine such things could exist?"
Bermüda was quiet for a long time. "I have never heard any tale of such things. But then I had not believed dragons were real until you came here. There are stories that your people fought against a great evil."
"Yes, the Others. We did not believe they were real either. Until the came through the Wall."
"I have lived many years and seen many things. But I know there are many more things I have never seen."
"Nor wish to. Could the Old Ones be the creation of the Elder Gods the Yellow Emperor spoke of?"
"I do not know. I never met the Yellow Emperor. From what I have heard I had no wish to."
"I don't blame you."
"It is possible. There are many mysteries from the ancient days. Yet I suspect they are of a time far older even than that."
"You will never be rid of them, I think. I don't believe we've done more than blood them."
"Probably. Leng is an ancient land and it will take powers greater than ours to tame it." Bermüda asked what she really wanted to know. "You miss your son?"
"How can I not? I'm not there to enjoy his growing up."
"I do understand."
"You have a son?"
"Two, but they do not bring me joy as yours does. They may love me, but they do not love each other. Each wants to be the one to wear the diadem after I am gone." Arya had noticed the jeweled headband Bermüda wore. It was similar to jewelry women in the Free Cities sometimes wore. She hadn't noted its significance. She dismissed it from her mind as Bermüda continued speaking. "I have been forced to send them to opposite sides of Leng to keep them apart."
"Understandable. I would not leave them alone for long."
"No." And the two shared a smile.
Arya got to her feet. "I think I have imposed on your hospitality long enough. And no doubt you want the dragons as far away as possible. If your people would be so kind as to gift us some supplies to speed our voyage we will trouble you no longer."
END CHAPTER 14