Chapter 17: Jade Gates
Maud made her way into the billet where the Queensguards rested. She threw down her possessions onto the floor beneath where her hammock was. She cared nothing for the noise, indifferent that the others were sleeping. The only one who reacted was Brienne, though she only raised her head.
Brienne watched as Maud sat sullenly on her hammock. The young woman looked haunted, her thoughts a torment.
The past few months had been chaotic, but not in the usual sense. If anything, the voyage had never been so peaceful. It was Arya and her crazy notions that none of them could get a grip on.
Instead of heading straight toward the Straits of Qarth as they all expected, the Queen had commanded them to sail south. She had been convinced that there might be clues to the First Long Night at the islands of Marahai. If so they had vanished long ago. Marwyn confirmed that the islands were the top of a giant volcano, most of its bulk being sunk into the sea. He could not tell them more than that. There were still smoking vents scattered all over it. Made them rather nervous. The tales of the people who lived there now only dated back a few thousand years. The modern people had originally come from some land north of Yi Ti. The original inhabitants, if there had ever been any, were long since gone.
After that they headed to Great Moraq. Here at least they found a friendly welcome. Though Moraq was divided into dozens of princedoms, fiefdoms, clannish tribes, and sea towns, none showed any interest in involving the visitors in their squabbles. Most were happy just to have a chance to do some trading with the newcomers, visitors being rare outside the Yitish. The entire crew was shocked at all the wildlife. Most they knew only from stories. Tigers especially. None except Marwyn had actually seen a living tiger before. Not even Yūko.
Although these visits were greatly beneficial to Marwyn's journals they did not answer any of Arya's questions.
Travelling north, they went back on their course for the only time during their journey. Returning to Yin, avoiding the Isle of Whips, they found the city in turmoil. The coup by Ti Do had unleashed anarchy. He may call himself the First Maroon Emperor. He proved to be not up to the task. The fleet decided not to bother trying to land and continued their voyage.
So they followed the coast to Ashabad. Here they ended up being hauled up for nearly a moon's turn. Not by violence. Over the course of their travels the ships had taken quite a beating. More than a few had developed leaks and barnacles were a plague on all of them. Despite Arya's objections, Asha was adamant.
Thus the fleet had a near moon of time on their hands. The Ironborn took shifts working on the ships. Asha wouldn't allow the natives near them. During their time off they explored the town and its many delights.
They had all heard stories of the women of Harkoon, but nothing had prepared them for the reality. For one thing, there was some dispute as to whether Ashabad was really part of the Patrimony. The population was among the most diverse of any they had yet seen in Essos. In many ways it was more akin to Yi Ti than to any of the tales they'd heard.
But the weird warrior women with the rubies in their cheeks were real enough. Some of these women proved adventurous. Their culture demanding them to only mate with the Great Fathers was not universally followed. Others however were more rigid in their beliefs. Two of the Ironborn suffered bloody deaths when they refused to take no for an answer. Fortunately, Arya was understanding. She accepted the Great Father's excuses when Asha was ready to unleash her men on the city.
Arya didn't like the warrior women. She found them unwashed, unpleasant, and ugly. She couldn't imagine why anyone would want relations with them. Obella quipped that she could understand why ninety-nine out of a hundred of their men would be willing to be gelded.
Here too the fleet went largely unmolested. The fact the local garrison wasn't strong enough to overcome one ship, never mind all of them was probably the biggest reason for the Great Fathers wanting to keep the peace. The dragons, which had spent most of the last two moons rampaging through the sheep and goat herds of Yi Ti, probably also had an effect. Ashabad was nominally part of the Golden Empire and none of the Fathers wanted trouble.
None of this was what bothered Maud. In all the time they went from Yin to Marahai, to Great Moraq, back to Yin, and on to Ashabad Arya had spent a great deal of time with her paramours. Arya had always preferred her lovemaking in groups and with two lovers she could indulge herself at will.
At first Maud was enthusiastic about it. She had never considered herself a one-woman woman. But that was before she finally was able to get into her Queen's bed. And her fascination with the sexy foreigner diminished the more Arya's expanded. Maud found she didn't like sharing her Queen with someone else.
When she brought her concerns to Arya the Queen showed complete disinterest. Arya had made clear, more than once, that she wasn't anyone's property. And no one save the two to whom she was married had any right to make demands on her. That was why Maud made her way back to her billet.
It would be inaccurate to say that Arya had been hostile. Nevertheless, Maud had sensed something in her attitude. Something that suggested she had a grievance. Maud couldn't think what, though a memory tugged at her brain. One involving the first time the two made love together.
Brienne gave no hint what she thought. She watched as Maud lay down, then lowered her own head.
Arya was having disquieting thoughts as well. She sat on the side of the bed, feeling no interest for her companion. Yūko, dressed for her name-day, snuggled up to her. She kissed Arya's shoulder repeatedly, moving from the nape of her neck to her arm. But Arya gave no sign of noticing.
Troubled by this lack of response, Yūko asked, "Is my Queen upset?"
Arya didn't even look at her. "No. Just… depressed."
"Why?"
Arya took a long time answering. "Every day I think about my son."
"It is only natural."
"As you say. But I am ashamed to realize that I haven't been so concerned for my daughter."
"She is older."
"Not that much older."
"Will she not be a maiden soon? That is what the pale woman said." Yūko had never truly warmed to Maud, or indeed any of the other Queensguards. And she was terrified of Brienne.
This failed to allay Arya. "We've been travelling more than a year, yet I have only thought about her a handful of times."
Yūko embraced her and laid her head on Arya's shoulder. "You will be home soon. Isn't that what the woman of iron said? Maybe a year. Maybe less."
"It can't happen fast enough. I thought I would enjoy travelling more, but all I ever think about is home."
Whatever she was feeling that night was gone by the next morning. Possibly the return of the dragons had something to do with it. This was just as well because they were headed into the Jade Gates. None of them knew what sort of reception they would receive, but it probably wasn't going to be amiable. Qarth ruled the Gates and they already knew how they were thought of in Qarth.
For the first time they were venturing into territory that was familiar.
Arya stood at the prow, scratching under Snowflake's chin. The she-dragon had once again had a growth spurt. The Cannibal sat idly in the ocean nearby. He dunked his head under the water from time to time.
The others stood a respectful distance behind her. Only Asha was willing to stand near Arya. "Tomorrow we will be going into the teeth of their resistance."
This assessment wasn't based on any actual intelligence. Rather, it was a reasonable assumption. Asha had no illusions about their ability to go undetected.
"Then we will sink them," Arya responded indifferently. She continued her ministrations of her dragon. "I will take the Cannibal and fly ahead. We will greet whatever party they have sent for us."
This did not make Asha happy. "There won't be any left for us when we get there."
The Ironborn were itching for a fight. The voyage had been far too quiet for their liking and most of the ships' crews hadn't had much chance to show off their skills.
"I would think you would be happy not to risk your ships."
"What point is there to having ships like these if we can't use them?"
Brienne's concern was in a different direction. "I thought you wanted to avoid fighting?"
Arya stopped and turned around. Her face fell. "You know I hate killing."
"You've said so before."
"And yet, no matter where I go I have to be a monster."
Brienne was shocked to hear this. "Why did you say that?" Arya only looked sad. "You are no monster. We all know, better than most, how hard you work for peace. Think of Asshai. You could have burned the entire stinking shithole to the ground, yet you did not."
"Do you honestly believe the Qartheen are going to let us pass?"
None of them had to answer that question. Sandor said, "If they want a fight we'll give them one. You can sit this one out if you want. Gods know we don't need you."
This was true and none doubted it. But they also knew, no matter how lopsided any fight was likely to be, there was always the chance something might go wrong.
"No." Arya was solemn. Very unlike herself. "Jon would never ask others to risk themselves without being willing to do the same. I can be no different. Whether it pleases the Ironborn or not, I will keep as many of them alive to return home as I can."
None of them doubted this either.
As the sun rose the next day, Arya stood on a high promontory at the very top of Great Moraq. She stared down upon the Jade Gates, the passage between the Summer Sea and the Jade Sea. She could see the distant shore of the Red Waste to the north. The barren island of Qal was to her right.
The people of Qal had seen them coming, naturally. Thanks to the prevailing wind they'd had enough time to send messengers back to Qarth. Because of this the entire Qartheen fleet lay below her, filling the Strait.
The crews of that fleet had not yet spotted her. If they had they would probably be trying to escape just now. Arya toyed with the thought of waiting until the sun rose fully, thus giving her enemies a chance to see what was coming for them.
But she hadn't become the Valonqar by taking unnecessary risks. And she knew her history well enough. Below her several hundred ships waited. None was a match for even the smallest of her own. But the Straits were narrow and their greatest advantage, speed, was nullified by the on-facing wind. Arya wasn't about to give the Qartheen any opportunities.
She reached out to touch the dragon heads that were to either side of her. She built the image in her mind of what she desired. That was all it took for the Cannibal to leap into the sky. Snowflake waited only long enough for Arya to mount before joining him.
The roar of the great dragon echoed across the water. Asha stood on the prow of Summer, not at all happy. She hadn't even bothered to call her men to arms.
Crackjaw walked over to her. "You want to send some ships to sack that town we passed?"
They had decided to use the southern channel. The village, it didn't deserve the epithet of city, was a miserable conglomeration of huts and wooden halls. It was doubtful anything of real value was there.
"Might as well." More to keep her men busy than anything else. Arya would likely be pissed over the unnecessary killing. Asha felt her men needed something to blow off steam. "Tell them not to kill too many people. I don't want any arguments. And no salt wives. I don't care how pretty they are."
He gave her a smirk before leaving.
Brienne came up to her next. "Is that really necessary?"
"Just letting them work off their frustration."
Brienne was less than convinced. She looked ahead with Asha and watched as black, billowing smoke rose from the water up ahead.
"Think there will be any left for us?"
"Do you think so?" Asha sounded frustrated. Having a dragon was great when fighting battles. Having two was even better. But the Ironborn were birthed for battle. They might no longer pay the Iron Price, but that didn't mean they no longer felt the urge.
They could see the distant shapes in the sky as they dove, breathing flame. Snowflake's was pale white and seemed almost harmless. Until you saw what it connected with. The Cannibal's was black as night, just as he was. Nothing remained of his targets. Anything touched by his breath turned to ash in an instant. Even ships that were only nearby exploded. Steam rose as the flames touched water.
The fleet approached the western end of Qal. There was another town here. Barely more than a fishing village, it was surrounded by a stockade. Asha went back to tell Crackjaw to send men to destroy this one as well.
Sandor watched her go. "You want to go with them?"
"What for?" Brienne kept her eyes on the white shape arching through the sky.
As the sun passed Zenith the fleet sailed through a sea of debris. Hundreds of ships had vanished leaving only burnt wood and ash behind. Not a single ship had escaped. The Cannibal had seen to that.
Brienne watched as her queen flew off toward the city. It was only now coming into view on the horizon, though the clouds of steam obscured it for the most part.
Lyanna now joined them. "She planning to take on the city by herself?"
Sandor said, "I wouldn't put it past her. We need to get this ship moving."
Asha spoke behind him. "We're going as fast as we can. If we were in longships we'd be barely moving. Most carracks wouldn't be able to make any headway at all, even with oars. Be glad we are able to sail in this direction. Most ships entering the Jade Sea have to travel around south of Great Moraq if they want to head back."
"We should have too when we were down that way. You should have mentioned it."
"I did." She sounded very annoyed.
Marwyn had sneaked into the crowd while they were talking. "She didn't want to travel too close to Sothoryos. She told me."
Brienne looked back at him. "Are we really that close?"
"Not now. The Cinnamon Straits are filled with pirates and slavers. She thought it would delay us more."
Crackjaw felt he had to put his own coin in. "It did give us the opportunity to repair the ships." Asha glared him into silence.
The fleet neared the harbor as dusk approached. The crews readied to fight, those that were present. Roughly half the ships had been sent to dispose of the towns on Qal.
If they were hoping for a fight they were disappointed. Before entering the harbor Arya flew in, Snowflake landing in the water. The dragon happily paddled up to Summer. Arya clambered up onto her muzzle, the she-dragon having provided the perch for her convenience. Snowflake then deposited her on the deck.
"Enjoy yourself?" Sandor's tone wasn't accusatory, but it sounded that way to most of them.
Arya showed disinterest. "You won't be getting a fight. At least not yet. I met an envoy from the Pureborn outside the city. They pledge safe conduct for us."
Lyanna said, "You would have unleashed the Cannibal on them if they hadn't."
Asha demanded, "How can you be sure they won't try to murder us?"
"I'm not. I am sure that Cannibal is more than happy to feast on their city just as he feasted on their ships."
The Qartheen, being proud of their fleet, had never bothered to build any defenses for their harbor. So the fleet sailed in without hindrance. As was their custom, the flagship tied off first with the others waiting until the signal was raised that all was safe.
As the gangplank was lowered, Arya found a man waiting for her to disembark. He was short and fat and had a squad of slave-soldiers at his back. At first she thought he was a eunuch, but his pasty face, almost white, marked him as Pureborn.
"Greetings Great Queen," he said as she approached. His Common was accented, but understandable. "I am Arro Mandrakos, spokesman for the Thirteen. I welcome you to the greatest city that ever was."
His false charm did not fool her in the slightest. "Strange welcome. Do you normally have your entire fleet waiting to welcome people?" She gave him The Stare.
He showed remarkable courage, though she sensed that his sweating wasn't due to the heat. "The Jade Gates belong to us. If you had sent us a message…"
"You knew we were coming. We made no effort to hide."
Arro almost exploded, but managed to control himself. He forced a smile. "A misunderstanding. It will not happen again." Arya didn't bother to mention that Qarth no longer had the ability to do it again. "Let me show you to my home. You will be my guest."
She acceded to this. He led her and her guards through the city. There was one main thoroughfare down the center which led straight to the wealthy center of the city.
There was much to commend Qarth, giving it at least some excuse for calling itself the greatest city ever. The streets were the cleanest she had ever seen. All were lined with trees and gardens. It made for a pleasing aspect. Though the presence of slaves everywhere detracted from it.
Qarth was not quite as large as she had been led to believe. Larger than Kings Landing had been it certainly was. But Yin was larger and if Marwyn was correct so was Volantis.
The wide avenue made travel easy. They reached Arro's manse after only a few hours. Arya couldn't help but notice that, impressive though it was, it wasn't the largest.
They were met at the door by Arro's wife Hynem, a homely woman of his own age. Both were older than Arya's parents. The native fashions were not the least bit flattering to her figure.
The lady affected a supercilious tone. "Dragon Queen, you are most welcome in our home."
"It is nice to be welcomed."
They stood awkwardly for a moment before Arro clapped his hands. Slaves rushed to attend them. But as Arya's people hadn't brought anything with them save their weapons, and they refused to hand those over, there was little for the servants to do.
Arro led them into a large room filled with cushioned couches. Arro and his wife each reposed on one. Arya sat herself on another facing the two. Her Queensguards remained standing behind her.
Arro tried to be composed, but he continued to sweat beyond what was justified by the cool room. "What brings the Queen of Dragons to the Greatest City that Ever Was?"
"I'm surprised you haven't heard. I set off from Dragonstone near two years ago. I have sailed around the world, across the Frozen Sea, and along the eastern shore of Essos."
"How extraordinary." His astonishment was genuine.
"I myself have heard much of Qarth." She didn't mention her feelings regarding the city's opinion of itself. "My sister told me of her adventures here. She was particularly enraged by the Warlocks. It is said nothing has been heard of them since she left."
Arro tried to sound blissful, but she could tell he was enraged. "And well done it was too. Always jabbering prophecies and doing conjuring tricks. Those dust eaters were always trouble."
Hynem languidly ate grapes from the bowl. "My cat's droppings could speak prophecies better."
Arya smiled. "How does the Thirteen rule this city? Even the Free Cities require princes to enforce their laws."
"Each of the Thirteen serve a time as the chief executor. The council elects one of their own to fill the position."
"I had heard the merchants are the true rulers here."
"A slander. The spice merchants try from time to time to displace the Thirteen. It is a hopeless effort."
"Ah… the Spicers." The Guild of Spicers had been a thorn in their side even before the Long Night. "Who leads them?"
Arro squirmed. He looked to his wife, but she kept her eyes fixed firmly on the floor. Finally, he admitted, "Balz Zak. He has fifty ships in his employ. Many say he has an understanding with the pirates of the Cinnamon Straights."
"Am I correct that it was he who ordered your fleet to try to block my travel?" Arro writhed even more, yet he dared not contest her. "Why is he not here? He is the one who sent you."
Arro glanced fearfully to his wife, but she was determined not to meet his eye. Her own fear was palpable. He finally ventured, "I could send him a note with your request…"
Arya took a lemon from the bowl. "No." She proceeded to ignore the both of them.
Dany slept restlessly. It wasn't due to Jon being away. Well, maybe not entirely because Jon was away. She couldn't explain why she was so restless. It was just a feeling. It had been seeping into her for days. It wasn't the state of the kingdom. By all accounts the people were content. Rebuilding went on apace. No new hints of rebellion had been heard in moons.
Yet she could not shake it. A sense of foreboding leeched into her thoughts. She was terrified of leaving the children or Dragonstone.
She came awake quite suddenly. There was a shape, dark and menacing, standing over her bed. Dany's hand moved toward the dagger that was always kept on the bedside table.
The figure opened a shutter on the lamp it was carrying. It was only enough to illuminate the bed. In the light Dany could see it was Reggia.
The old woman spoke very quietly, but with urgency. "You must come quickly, your grace. The young ones depend on it."
Catelyn slept about as well as Dany. This was unusual, for she was a heavy sleeper. Something, maybe a noise, woke her. She opened her eyes to see a dark, hooded shape inside her room. It was dressed in the habit of a septa and had a long knife in its hand.
Cat rolled out of the bed just in time, the knife plunging deep into the mattress. "DROGO!" she screamed as she fled the room.
Rhaegar, if anything, slept even more soundly than his sister. So her screams only partially awakened him. He sat bleery-eyed, wondering what had disturbed him, when Cat burst into his room.
"Drogo!" she screamed again. "Wake up!"
She grabbed him and started shaking. "Stop!" he complained. "What…?"
He didn't get to finish. The shadow in the septa's robes flung open the door. His sleepiness vanished in a trice. He snatched the wooden practice sword that he always kept near his bedside and hopped from the bed. He tried desperately to remember his lessons, but all his training was just a jumble in his mind.
Truth be told, it was a comical sight. A boy of barely ten dressed only in his nightclothes, holding up a wooden sword as if it were a mummer's prop. His sister, similarly dressed, clinging to his back. He wished fervently that she would back up, for she was hindering him dreadfully, but he didn't dare say so.
The shadowed figure advanced on them, not the least bit intimidated. This was a mistake. Rhaegar was his father's son in the truest sense. The woman struck down at him, but he moved as if by instinct. His riposte blocked her blow, her arm slamming with bruising force into the sword. Then faster than even he knew how he sent the tip straight into her groin. Without pausing a breath he smashed his sword into her jaw, cracking her jawbone.
She retreated, spitting teeth and blood. A voice hissed from the habit. "Abominations!"
Rhaegar was shocked. "Septa Annis?"
Through the open door came Septa Reggia carrying a lantern. The light, though dim, blinded the three. As Rhaegar blinked tears from his eyes he saw his mother rush in after her. In her hands was Blackfyre.
Dany often said that she remembered nothing from the brief time her mind was joined with Arya's. Now she proved herself a liar. On clearing her sword from its scabbard, she swung it around herself, loosening her wrists and regaining familiarity with its weight.
Annis pointed at the Queen. "Defiler! Sinner! Mother of Monsters! Spawn of Abominations! The Seven take you!"
She jammed the knife into her own belly. While the others stared in shock, she proceeded to do it three more times, aiming the blade upward so as to reach her heart. She was dead before she hit the floor.
Jon returned posthaste once he had the news. He arrived in time to see his son be knighted by Ser Harry Folsom. Thus, Rhaegar became the youngest knight ever in Westerosi history.
Catelyn became very clingy after that. It was near impossible to get her away from him. She tried to follow him everywhere, even in the privy. Dany had to assign one of her Queensguards to stay with the girl full time. It would be moons before she got over her experience.
When she saw her father she leaped on him, crying hysterically. He had to spend several minutes quieting her. Dany, who still had Blackfyre strapped to her back, was near her wits end. Jon used the afternoon reassuring his wife and calming his daughter.
Jon took a moment to assign Ser Miles Cooper, the youngest of his Kingsguards, the sad task of returning Joan Darkstone to her family. The Queesnguard, as best as any of them could guess, must have assumed a septa was no threat. She had allowed the mad woman to get close enough to slash her throat.
It was near dusk before Jon finally had the time to meet with Reggia. In difference to her aid she was not in a cell, but had been allowed to remain in her room. Ubart Maples stood guard at her door.
She sat on her bed reading as he entered. It was the Seven Pointed Star, the only book she ever read. He stood there silently for some time. She made a point of not acknowledging him.
Long after the silence had become unbearable she finally said, "Won't you sit down your grace?"
"I would if there was anything to sit on." As was proper for a septa, her room was Spartan. She graciously shifted to the end of the bed, allowing him the foot. "You know what I want?"
"I told them already." Folsom and the Queen had questioned her at length. "I saw the mad woman get off the boat…"
"A fortnight ago." She wouldn't look at him. "You had plenty of time to tell the guards. Or the Queen. Why did you wait?"
Jon knew she was intentionally trying to goad him by refusing to answer. With his notoriously quick temper he might do something rash. He was determined to keep control of himself. He was also determined not to play her game.
Gusting a sigh he decided to lay his hand on the table. "It's useless you lying to me. I already know you knew she was coming. I also know that Septon Barleycorn hid her in his sept. It will go easier for you if you answer my questions."
"His grace does not believe in torture." As if he needed reminding.
"How involved is the High Septon?" She gave the same response she gave to Daenerys – silence. "Who allowed Annis to leave the Quiet Isle? You might as well answer. I'm going to discover the answers anyway."
"Then you do not need me to answer."
"No, I don't suppose I do." This response surprised her. He stood to leave. "Answer me this first. Why did you warn my wife?"
At first he thought she wouldn't answer this either. It's as if she had to make up her own mind. "I wanted to know the judgement of the Mother Above."
If she thought this answer would mystify him she was sorely mistaken. Without another word he left.
Arya spent the next several days in Arro's house as a not entirely welcome guest. As Dany had once told her, the Qartheen were eager to curry favor with someone who had dragons at her beck and call. A great many gifts were delivered to the manse.
Arya touched none of them. She insisted they all be taken to a side room for storage and that no one was to handle them. Then she sent for Marwyn.
"Is he your steward?" Arro asked.
"Only with matters like this."
Marwyn carefully examined the gifts; jewels, broaches, silks and brocades, statuettes in marble and bronze, fine cups of gold and silver. Just like Arya, Marwyn touched none of it, keeping his hands firmly behind his back.
Finally, the archmaester took a silken tokar and used it to grab a gold statuette. The silk turned a sickly green on contact.
He showed it to Arro. "Interesting finish you use here." Arro looked as if he were sucking on a particularly sour lemon. "I'm assuming they are all like this."
"No doubt they are," Arya responded. She turned to Arro. "Where did you say this Balz Zak is?"
"Your majesty…"
"Don't waste my time."
"I can inform him…"
"If he doesn't want to see me I can always visit him… with my dragon."
She couldn't tell if he liked that idea or not. She could sense that he wouldn't be at all upset if she carried out her threat. The emotions that played over his face showed he was considering the repercussions. She counted silently to sixty as he stood there thinking it over.
Finally, he said, "Pardon me. I have things to attend to." He rushed away as fast as his gowns would let him.
Arya had all the gifts burned in the courtyard of Arro's manse. This outraged the people of Qarth, for whom the giving of gifts is a sacred act. The fact that they had all been poisoned mollified them not in the least.
Later that afternoon a slave arrived with a message. "His Honor Balz Zak invites the Great Dragon Queen to visit him in his home near the Guild of Spicers."
"Lead the way."
It wasn't much of a walk as all the palaces were grouped fairly close together. As Arya had already guessed, Balz Zak's manse was the largest in the city. Gardens surrounded it on all sides with walls ten feet high. As they entered she noticed off to one side an enclosed alcove, a giant semi-circle with arched galleries overhanging it.
"This place is bigger than the Red Keep," Brienne muttered.
"Not big enough," Sandor answered.
They were ushered into a large sitting room. Just as with Arro's manse, this one was filled with cushioned couches, only bigger. Waiting for them was a surprisingly young man who had perhaps seen about forty summers. He was of middling height and generous girth. A woman of the same age and surprisingly pretty lay upon a separate couch near him. A young maiden completed the set.
The man jumped to his feet and rushed over to Arya. He actually had the audacity to grab her hand and shake it. Arya was rarely surprised by anything, but this definitely caught her off-guard. She yanked her hand out of his grasp as her Queensguards reached for their weapons.
"My apologies," the man said. "I had heard that the shaking of hands was a common greeting among the Westerosi." Balz Zak's Common was thickly accented, but not unintelligible.
"Only among good friends." Arya knew the man was lying. She also suspected that he was exaggerating his accent. His hands had been clammy and unpleasant. She vigorously wiped her palm on her leg.
Balz Zak introduced his family. "This is my wife Clitarus." The woman didn't even bother acknowledging Arya's presence. "My daughter Labia."
The girl showed much greater interest. She smiled with stars in her eyes. It reminded Arya uncomfortably of the way Sansa looked the first time she met Cersei. She was about the same age too. Perhaps slightly older. She was pretty, with strikingly blond hair, which made Arya figure she had more than a drop of Andel blood in her.
"Welcome Dragon Queen," the girl said. Labia was downright giddy. "I have always dreamed of seeing a dragon."
"You might not like them as much when you actually meet one."
The girl giggled. "I love them. I'll always love them."
Oddly, Arya detected no deceit in the girl. This only made her more suspicious. The look on her father's face did not allay her suspicions. Balz Zak appeared surprised by his daughter's words. Yet Arya sensed dissembling.
Balz Zak noticed her looking at him and smiled. "My daughter has such strange notions."
"Not at all. I wanted a dragon myself when I was a little girl."
Balz Zak's wife finally spoke for the first time. "As do all little girls, I'm sure."
"I didn't," Brienne muttered to herself. Sandor elbowed her.
Balz Zak tried to shift the conversation. "You certainly obtained one. But I must say, you did show us disrespect. Our people consider the destruction of their gifts to be a great insult."
"Just as I consider the poison on them to be. Not to mention sending your fleet to try and sink us. Surely you didn't think it would be that easy?"
He noisily cleared his throat. "The Thirteen are known for their lack of wisdom. We in the Guild have tried to steer them away from such follies."
"Interesting. They seem to believe you were the one responsible."
Just as Arro had, Balz Zak started sweating despite the coolness of the room. "How could I? I am not of the Thirteen. I do not rule Qarth."
"True enough." His mix of lies and truth made it hard for her to fathom which was which. "Even so, you do have some influence over them. Is it not because of you that the Guild of Spicers refuses to allow trade with Westeros?"
"Nonsense. I have always believed in going where the gold is. You must admit, your grace…" Strangely enough his accent had disappeared. "Your kingdom suffered greatly from the demon attack several years ago. Not to mention the wars before that. Westeros is still rebuilding itself."
"So it is. But so is Yi Ti. And the Free Cities. The entire world is rebuilding from the devastation wrought by the Long Night. Yet you trade with them."
Balz Zak's mask fell for an instant and she saw a man lost in misery. It was not what she was expecting. Maybe he wasn't in control here. But the mask returned and he was jovial once more. Arya seriously began to question the assumptions she had been operating under.
After a laugh, he said, "A misunderstanding. It is true that the rest of the world has suffered. But we must be just. Your kingdom suffered more than anyone."
"That goes without saying."
"We simply did not think you had the means to purchase expensive luxuries."
She knew he was insulting her despite the obvious truth in his statement. "Perhaps not as badly off as you believe."
"We were mistaken." He showed no sign of detecting her warning, but she thought he got the message.
The two talked for some hours over boring things like trade. Nothing much came of it. He could make all the promises he wanted, but she knew he was good for none of them.
Nor did he answer the question most pressing on her mind – just whose idea was it to try and fight her? She was now certain that he hadn't been the one who wanted a confrontation. But she was certain he was the one who forced the Thirteen to send their fleet to block the Gates.
Finally, after much rambling discussion, she tired of the game. "Lord Zak…" She used the Westerosi custom even though the Qartheen never referred to themselves in that way. "Am I right in surmising that the criminal Illyrio Mopatis has been a guest of yours?"
The tension in the room rivaled the heat outside. Zak did not bother hiding his ire. "That man is no longer in this city."
"But he was here, wasn't he? When was this?"
"I cannot say."
"Don't bother lying. I have a quick temper and I have already punished cities for defying me."
She had no idea whether he had ever heard of Carcosa, but she was sure he could guess what would happen if she wanted it to.
He was silent for a long time. "Would you really punish an entire city for the acts of one man?"
"That one man tried to overthrow our King and supplant him with an incestuous whore."
"She was your rightful queen."
He was treading on thin ice and he knew it. It would be so easy for her to have him killed. However, she didn't want to do that. She was not lying when she said she did not enjoy killing and that was especially true of those she did not feel deserved it.
Even so, Arya allowed her voice to rise to make him think he was getting to her. "Robert Baratheon was a usurper! The rightful King and his rightful Queens now rule Westeros. Do you plan on trying to change that?"
He almost slipped. Almost. "Hah! How could we?" He couldn't meet her eye. "There is no one for us to ally with. We could not possibly defeat you all by ourselves."
"Yes, I know."
Arya had learned from the Faceless Men that unspoken threats were often the most effective. And it seemed they might be working on Balz Zak. He looked scared and it wasn't an act.
"If you have something to tell me you better do it now."
No matter how much he feared her though, there was another that was stronger. He rallied to put a false smile on his face. "You do say the strangest things. I do hope you will enjoy your time in our city."
She almost killed him then and there. His offhand dismissal, intended or not, nearly triggered her. But another lesson the Faceless Men had taught her was patience. Her expression was blank, soulless. Her voice was a monotone. The one her Queensguards had learned long ago was her at her most dangerous.
"You will be seeing me again."
He came close to shitting himself. Clitarus almost choked. Even his loquacious daughter, who seemed to live somewhere in the clouds, shrank back in terror.
Arya took her Queensguards and returned to her fleet.
They debated for a long time whether to leave or not. Crowded around the table in the hold, they went round and round arguing. It was clear none of them saw any point in staying. Yet Arya wasn't willing to let it go.
Qarth had never formally made peace with Westeros. Or more accurately, make peace with Daenerys. They had declared war on her when she ruled Meereen and no peace treaty was ever signed. People just kind of forgot. Rather, people chose to ignore it.
When she married Jon Westeros inherited her war. Qarth had very much supported Volantis and the slaver masters. But no Qartheen troops had fought in any of the battles after their defeat outside Meereen. When Asha led the Ironborn into the Narrow Sea the Qartheen navy retreated back to their own city. When the Iron Fleet burned their ships in their harbor that was the last engagement the Qartheen participated in.
Qarth wasn't there when Volantis finally conceded. No representative of the Thirteen was present when Vico Mendos handed Cersei over.
In the following years it was easy to forget that they were still at war. The Qartheen refused to trade with Westeros. But when the adventurous Westerosi managed to sail to Qarth, they were greeted like anyone else. It was as if they had collectively decided to pretend Westeros wasn't there.
Arya was now convinced that, despite appearances, the Qartheen had been working for their dissolution the entire time. Exactly how she didn't know and that was what frustrated her.
Asha asked, "Why don't you just burn down the whole city then?" It was not the first time she had asked the question. She made plain she wouldn't be the least bit sorry to see Qarth in ashes.
Brienne objected. "You can't burn down an entire city based solely on suspicion." She had also said this before. Brienne's opposition was more rooted in her concerns for Arya than in any morality. That did not alter the fact that she opposed killing innocents under any circumstances.
Marwyn interjected. He had tried to be the voice of reason throughout the discussion. "It is true the Qartheen have no love for us or for Daenerys in particular. But it is also true that they have engaged in no open assault against us. As the Lady Brienne has said, we cannot act on suspicion alone. That is the act of a tyrant."
"Maybe we should be a tyrant," Asha replied.
Marwyn strode on despite the interruption. "We do not know of any act the Qartheen have made to harm Westeros. Yet the Queen is correct that to leave now would be a disservice to our country. Perhaps we should remain a few days to see what happens."
It was the point they had repeatedly returned to over the past several hours. And the others objected to it for the same reasons. Lyanna expressed them for all. "Just how long do we stay then? We can't wait here forever." Arya wasn't the only one who was homesick.
Jake had remained silent the entire time. Now he felt compelled to rise to the defense of his master. "Maybe the Queen should take a walk." He found himself the focus of every eye in the room. He shrank down in embarrassment.
Sandor said, "Go on boy. What are you saying?"
Jake was almost stuttering, having never put himself forward like this before. "Well, I mean, what I was going to say was, if the Queen should walk along the harbor for a while, if the Qartheen really are hostile, then they will show it somehow. I mean, we all know how observant the Queen is."
Sandor hated the idea. "You want to Queen to bait herself? Have you lost your mind boy?"
Marwyn felt compelled to defend his apprentice. "He is making sense. The Qartheen are unlikely to outright attack her. Not and risk the dragons. But they will display their hostility in other ways." He was warming to the idea. "They won't be able to help themselves. And the Queen will see them."
Arya finally spoke. "Good idea."
The Queensguards most definitely didn't think it was a good idea, but it was clear Arya had made her mind up.
So it was that the next day found Arya and her Queensguards wandering the markets just outside the harbor. None of the others could sense anything from the Qartheen around them, though like them, Brienne knew Arya saw more than most. Frustratingly, the Queen gave no sign of noticing anything.
Brienne, who did not know Valyrian, did not understand a word the locals said. "What are they saying?" she whispered to the Queen. Arya ignored her.
Arya wandered happily, showing no concern whatever. Any outside observer would not be able to tell if she were on alert for danger.
It was as they were returning to the fleet near sunset when danger finally found them. As they neared the harbor they saw a small boy tossing a ball in the air. He smiled at them with black and rotted teeth as they approached. He muttered something to himself, then threw the ball at them.
In the blink of an eye Arya had whipped Dark Sister from its scabbard and swung at the flying missile. But this was one occasion where her superb reflexes betrayed her. She swung too soon. She missed the ball and it hit her full on the forehead.
The ball cracked open, releasing its contents directly onto her face – a death's-head manticore. The only one of the Queensguard to react was Maud. Without hesitation she slapped the thing off Arya's head. But she wasn't wearing any gauntlets. Sandor crushed the insect under his boot before it could run away.
The boy with the rotted teeth had vanished.
Arya caught Maud as she collapsed. The Queensguard struggled to breathe, tears in her eyes. She desperately tried to say something to Arya, but no words came out. In seconds she was dead.
Grief and fury. These were the emotions felt on board the ship that night. Asha was all for unleashing the Ironborn on the city and all the Queesnguards agreed. But Arya stood silently through the gale. Her lack of reaction only infuriated them more.
"How can you stand there?!" Asha demanded. "This was an assault upon you. This was an assault upon Westeros. By the Drowned God's watery ass, she was your lover dammit! Are you going to do anything?"
Asha had spoken what they had all studiously pretended not to notice for over a year. Arya just stood there, staring down at Maud's lifeless face.
The Hound now said, "You wanted proof. Here's your proof! They attacked us. We have to respond."
She looked up them and they all fell silent. Before them wasn't Arya. It was No One.
Unnoticed, Yūko entered the room. She was dressed as she had been when she first boarded the ship. And she had all her weapons. She took position behind Arya.
Arya spoke in her dead, toneless voice. "There will be a response."
She and Yūko then left.
END CHAPTER 17