Chapter 18: The Greatest City that Never Was
Asha stood quietly. She had no feelings for the woman on the bier. Maud had not been congenial toward her, nor she toward Maud. Yet they had respected each other. They were both warrior born. And both had served faithfully the nation to which they belonged.
Asha watched as the smoke rose into the sky. This barren island was not the place for a revered member of the Queensguard. Nor was this the proper burial practice of the Brackens. But there were no other Brackens in the fleet and none of them knew what the proper services were. It wasn't like the Tullys, yet it wasn't the standard practice for the Faith either.
Asha dismissed it. It wasn't her problem. Brienne had sworn to return Maud's ashes and she would have to face the family.
The Ironborn princess looked upon those gathered, the other Queensguards, Marwyn and his apprentice, and her Ironborn. She didn't know what they were feeling. The other Queensguards were stoic, as was proper. The Ironborn were just silent.
What annoyed Asha was the one who wasn't here. Arya hadn't been seen nor heard since the day she took her foreign whore and flew off to who knows where. Asha had blockaded the city, confiscating every ship's cargo that dared to enter. But she had known Arya didn't want a fight.
So they had sat outside the harbor waiting. Since it wasn't possible to return Maud to her home intact they decided to go ahead with burning her body. Brienne had favored boiling the flesh off and returning her bones. That was the usual practice for soldiers who died away from their families. But Lyanna had said that the Brackens would prefer that she be honored the Targaryen way, as befits her standing as a Queensguard, and the Hound agreed with her. That was why they all stood watching as Maud's body was consumed by flames.
As the fires died down everyone save Marwyn and his shadow Jake wandered off. The island wasn't particularly pleasant and they all wanted to get back to the fleet. The maesters would ensure the ashes were collected.
Asha wasn't surprised to find the Hound and Brienne trailing her. Crackjaw joined the three of them as they stood on the shore, water licking their boots.
"Any orders?" he asked.
"Same as before. We wait. Unless those bloodless bastards decide to talk we aren't going anywhere."
"We can't stay here forever." This was a strange complaint coming from Brienne. They all knew she would never abandon Arya.
The Hound showed his annoyance. "We are not searching the city for her." He had told her this countless times already.
"We're just going to wait?"
"That's right. We wait."
Crackjaw aimed his next comment at Asha. "You know our supplies won't last forever."
"You want to sack the city? Why am I asking? Of course you do."
"Even without the dragons we can take them."
"Can we?" the Hound asked. "How many men do you still have? A thousand? Not even that."
"They're weak!"
"Don't be too sure," Asha interjected. "Slave soldiers they may be, but they have plenty of them. Enough that even the Dothraki wouldn't attack them."
"That's because they have those walls. We're inside them."
"Yes," Sandor answered. "And the need to protect our ships weakens us even more. You think me and the Queensguard can defeat their army all on our own." That last was aimed at Brienne as much as the Ironborn.
"We have enough provisions to last us awhile," Asha told her lieutenant. "And Arya will be back long before then."
"How can you be certain?" Brienne asked.
"Where else would she go?"
That was a question they had all been asking.
The answer when it came was rather unexpected. The day after Summer rejoined the fleet the people of Qarth awoke to find bodies hanging from their trees. They were the bodies of Sorrowful Men and they looked as if they had been dropped from a great height. Most also bore the signs of violence. The din of horror and outrage was heard clear across the harbor.
Before noon the city was rife with rumors. Of the sound of leathern wings in the night. Of a dark shadow that killed men in broad daylight. Of people vanishing never to be seen again.
Even crazier rumors claimed that people had seen fire light up the sky off in the Red Waste. Of lizards who walked like men stalking people in the darkness. Of dragons the size of men flying into homes to carry off maidens and children.
Keeping the rest of the fleet outside the harbor, Asha ordered Summer docked at the quay. A crowd quickly gathered. This soon turned into a mob. The Ironborn rushed to the gunwales armed to the teeth.
Fortunately it didn't come to violence. Slave soldiers soon cordoned off the quay, keeping the mob beyond arrow distance.
Arro Mandrakos appeared followed by a squad of soldiers. "You can stop right there," Crackjaw called down to him when he reached the gangplank.
"I am here to speak to your queen," Arro called back.
Asha moved into sight. "She isn't here. I speak for her."
Arro didn't bother to hide his disdain. "Who are you?"
"Princess Asha Greyjoy and I command this fleet." Her men raised their crossbows.
Arro manner become rather more accommodating. "I meant no disrespect." He held up his hands. "I simply wish to communicate a message to your queen."
"Give it to me. I'll see that she receives it."
Arro was in a quandary. He had obviously been told to give his message to Arya personally, yet he had no desire to remain any longer than he had to.
The quandary was solved by the sudden arrival of Arya on her dragon. She flew low and fast, which made even the Ironborn duck. Snowflake landed and swam over to Summer as she was want to do, looking even more like a giant scaled swan than usual. Asha swore that the dragon was preening.
Snowflake stopped next to the quay. The slave-soldiers ran for their lives, but once again Arro proved himself made of sterner metal. He stared up into the dragon's face, almost daring it to do its worst. Asha had to admire the man, though she didn't think much of his brains.
"What brings you here?" Arya asked from the back of her dragon.
"Why have you murdered so many men?"
"Murdered? They tried to murder me. They did murder my Queensguard. They had to be punished."
"You have no evidence they murdered anyone. You should have brought it before the Thirteen."
"You insult me."
"Are you going to burn me?" He was defiant.
"I might. You don't seem to understand your position here."
"I obey the laws of Qarth. I stand on my rights here. Where is your right?"
"You're staring at her. I follow the Law of the Dragon. Hers supersedes yours."
"You Westerosi are supposed to value fairness and right. Or am I mistaken."
This line of attack might have worked on Arya once. But Arro did not grasp the depth of betrayal she felt. Even at this distance Asha could see that Arya was giving him the Stare.
"Fairness and right only apply in places where people value them. You value nothing here. Qarth is a dead city. You fill it with trophies and slaves, but you're as bloodless as any corpse. You ignore your own laws when it suits you. Where is the sanctity of guests I have heard so much about? Does not your city show hospitality to all those who enter? That is what I was told. Where is the hospitality that was shown to my Queensguard who was so foully murdered?"
"We had nothing to do with that."
If he actually thinks she will believe that he is more deluded than I thought, passed through Asha's mind.
"Are you now to insult my intelligence?" Arya demanded.
"It is possible someone within our city might have employed them," Arro allowed. "But you cannot condemn our entire city for that. Your grace has many enemies and it could be someone from elsewhere. From Volantis perhaps."
"And how is anyone from Volantis supposed to know I am here? My ships are the fastest in the world and there are no ravens flying outside of Westeros." Arro had no answer to that. "I am not condemning your entire city. Look behind you. It still stands. Whether it continues to do so is up to you."
Asha could only shake her head in wonder. This was a side of Arya she had never seen before.
Arro may have been stubborn, but he was not stupid. He put on his most ingratiating smile. "Of course. No hard feelings I hope. I actually came to invite you back to my home."
The naturalness of the way he said this made Asha realize it was the truth. What are they up to? To her surprise Arya accepted.
"Certainly I will. It will give me the chance to speak with Balz Zak again."
Not surprisingly, Brienne objected. "Is that wise, your grace?"
Surely Brienne knew better than to challenge Arya when she was in this mood. "Ser Brienne…" Asha blinked. It was the only time she had ever heard Arya use Brienne's title. "I do not need you questioning my decisions."
Brienne was just as nonplussed as Asha for she was stricken dumb. So it was Sandor Clegane who asked the following question. "You want the Queensguard with you?"
It was a strange question to ask. Asha felt it was less a question than a suggestion. If so, Arya didn't take it. "No. I want you all here. You are to assist Princess Asha in defending the ships."
Asha wasn't the only one to notice the title. Arya was hinting all right.
Brienne gained her tongue again. "But what about…" Sandor abruptly cut her off.
During this entire exchange Arya's eyes had never left Arro. Asha too knew how to communicate subtlety. She gave Crackjaw a glance and he nodded ever so slightly. Asha did not need to check on his deployments. She knew he would arrange things as she wanted.
If Arro had been expecting Arya to walk back with him he was sorely mistaken. To the surprise of all of them, Snowflake paddled over to the dock and climbed up out of the water. Most of the mob had fled by them, as had the soldiers. Despite the lack of space the huge dragon made her way over to where Arro was standing. Arya remained firmly seated on her back.
"After you," she said.
Seeing he had no choice, Arro did his best to walk unconcernedly back toward his manse. He tried to ignore the giant best that stalked directly behind him, but this proved difficult as the dragon kept tapping his shoulder with her chin. The streets were not designed with the passage of giant dragons in mind. Snowflake managed to reach the manse without causing too much damage.
A reception committee was waiting for them. To Arya's surprise Labia was the one leading it. Many great men of the city were behind her, but they all made themselves scarce as the dragon approached. As predicted, Labia's first meeting with a dragon wasn't as wonderful as the girl had imagined. She was literally shaking with terror as the monster, far larger than her imagination had made it, walked up to her. Even her chin quivered.
Snowflake cocked her head this way and that, studying the girl. Arya kicked her in the side and sent a mental admonishment not to even think about it. Snowflake snorted in annoyance.
"Labia, my dear, so nice to see you. For what do I have to thank for your visit?" Arro was trying hard, but it was obvious that Labia could only see the dragon. He waved his hand in front of her face, but her eyes remained fixed. He moved to interpose himself into her vision. It did no good.
Seeing as nothing would be accomplished with Snowflake around, Arya dismounted. She sent the dragon away, much to Snowflake's displeasure. The dragon's opinion matched Brienne's. Arya was not as curt with her beast as with her Queensguard, but she was firm nonetheless. The wind from her wings was almost enough to knock the humans off their feet.
Once Snowflake was out of sight Labia was able to compose herself. "That was… magnificent." The girl wasn't nearly as practiced in dissembling as her father.
"She makes an impression," Arya agreed.
Now freed from the threat of the fire breathing dragon Arro dropped his stoicism. He chose to unleash it on the unwelcome girl. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, all pretense forgotten.
He wasn't the only one who found himself. "My father sent me." Labia was far too young to have learned to control her emotions. Her words dripped with condescension.
Arya could now see clearly into the soul of this girl and what she saw disgusted her.
"I was supposed to handle this!" Arro had just as clearly forgotten his part. Not to mention the fact Arya was standing not six feet away from him. "I said I would make the bitch leave."
Labia hissed. "Silence fool!"
Arro would not be deterred. "Your father has ruined everything. We could have had them in our hands"
She slapped him hard. Only the customs of his people restrained him. She stepped around him to address Arya directly. His role in this drama was done.
She pasted a false smile on her face. "Please forgive my elder. He says the strangest things. Old age no doubt." Arro stewed in impotent fury.
Arya's Stare bored holes into the girl. "Quite."
Labia slowly began to realize that perhaps the more dangerous of their visitors hadn't left. She was trembling again, though she didn't lose her tongue. "My father asks that you stay with us."
"Why?"
So much threat was put into this one simple word. Labia discovered that she couldn't think of a reason. Arro was in no mood to assist. Arya's unblinking Stare indicated she wasn't getting out of answering it.
To her credit, Labia proved she could think on her feet. After a few seconds wracking her brain she finally said, "Be… cause there are things father wishes to discuss with you."
"What?"
"I think it best if you spoke with him."
Arya smiled. She was willing to play along, if only to assuage her curiosity. "Lead the way."
Arya never saw Arro again, though he saw her. It was under circumstances neither of them had predicted.
Labia found herself having to escort the foreign queen alone. All her companions had deserted her. She felt very exposed. When she arrived at her father's manse he was equally surprised to see just two of them. Arya noticed that his wife was conspicuous by her absence.
"Labia," Balz Zak began. "Why would you bring our illustrious guest all by yourself?" Despite his attempt to make it sound like a complement, it was clear he was disturbed by the situation.
Labia's eyes begged him not to push the point. "They were called elsewhere." She spoke fast to prevent him from an embarrassing query. "Father, there are so many important things to discuss and I didn't want them taking up too much of your time."
Balz Zak was lost. "Discuss?" The circumstances were not as he had planned. Having not seen the dragon walking through the city he couldn't understand why the queen was not under restraint. Seeing the dead look on Arya's face made him start to wonder.
Labia was quick to take charge. "Father, don't you remember. You wanted to discuss the trade arraignments. With Westeros." She poked him, not as surreptitiously as she imagined.
Balz Zak hadn't reached his current position by being stupid. Or slow. "Ah yes, of course. Such talk is boring, I know. But you did enquire about it during your last visit."
Arya had to admit, she did mention something of the kind. "Nevertheless, it is something that needs… clarification."
"Yes, certainly. Please come inside and I will have refreshments."
This was not the first time Balz Zak had played host to an unwelcome guest, though on previous occasions he'd invited the guest himself.
By evening a messenger arrived with a note for Asha. Written in Arya's unmistakable hand, it informed them that talks were going well, if over long. It assured them that she was fine and safe. And that they were to remain alert. She passed on an invitation to the fleet that they were once again welcome in the city. Though in a somewhat backhanded way, she also suggested that the Queensguard should remain with Asha.
Asha read it over and over. "What is she playing at?"
Marwyn felt the need to express his opinion. "She wants to see what they're up to."
"I know that!" Asha spit back. "Why? That is what I am asking. She knows they plan to strike. Why don't we strike first?"
"She's giving them a chance to step back," Brienne said. "She doesn't want war."
"I know she doesn't. But if she knows…"
"She doesn't know. Or at least she isn't certain."
"Better to kill your enemies before they can hurt you."
This was a sentiment shared by all of them. Brienne however felt the need to defend her Queen. "You know Ayra doesn't like killing."
"Don't know why," Crackjaw said. "She's better at it than anyone."
"Don't you think that might be the reason?"
"That doesn't make sense."
Marwyn interjected again before an argument could break out. "It doesn't matter. Arya wants to give the Qartheen every chance to make peace. It might be foolish, but think of the consequences. Westeros, the world, needs as much trade as it can get. Destroying Qarth would only aggravate the situation."
Asha was having none of it. "The safety of this fleet is my only priority."
"Which is why you are not the Queen." Asha almost punched him. "You are Princess of the Iron Isles, as the Queen has reminded you. You can afford to think small. She must consider the safety of all of Westeros."
"And how does not killing your enemies protect the safety of Westeros?"
Marwyn sighed in a most patronizing way. "Oh Asha, you will never outgrow your Ironborn roots. You can't kill every problem. Qarth is but one city, but it is an important one. The trade of countless thousands depends upon it. You should know. Your people have raided their ships often enough. If we fight Qarth we will be fighting far more than just them. As many peoples in the world depend upon them as depend upon Westeros."
"You mean we won't just be fighting them," Brienne said.
"We aren't now. Do not forget, Qarth is but one of the nations that made war upon our Queens."
The Hound said, "And Arya beat them."
"Once. But how many more times does she have to do this? You know your history. How often have the Daughters of Valyria made war upon one another? Have they ever stopped?"
"The Queen has dragons!" Lyanna felt compelled to point out.
"So did the Targaryens," Marwyn reminded her. "Need I remind you of how often the Targaryen kings avoided going to war with them? War is more than just men or ships. Or dragons. Westeros is still recovering from the Long Night. Do you really think we can fight another war with half of Essos?'
Ironborn and Queensguard alike were people of action. But they could see the wisdom of Marwyn's words.
"We could," Obella muttered. "But there'd only be another one after that. And then another."
"Exactly. Let the Queen do her best. If she fails we can always destroy their city afterwards."
Lyanna wasn't willing to give in. "It's the Queen we're worried about."
Balz Zak had little to add to what they had previously discussed. He did try to pretend that he had talked with the Thirteen about it, but Arya wasn't fooled. He did drone on and on. Arya had no patience for this. Daenerys was the one who usually handled such matters. Still, she sat through it as best she could without yawning.
It was when Balz Zak mentioned aiding Westeros in opening up Volantis that she finally pricked up her ears. "Did I hear you correctly?" She used her most innocent voice.
"Indeed." He could see he finally had her attention.
"And you would do this… why?" She managed to keep the scorn out of her voice, though with difficulty.
"Despite what you think, we do want peace. War is too expensive. We want to put any conflict behind us."
Skilled though he was at deceitfulness, she saw through him. Even so, she didn't want to start anything herself. Perversely, Arya felt a need for there to be no doubt as to who was to blame.
"Good. We have no desire to burn you to the ground." Balz Zak twitched. "If you can convince Volantis to give up their foolish hostility it will certainly build friendship between our peoples. And having the friendship of the Dragon is always good to have."
Balz Zak kept the mask on. "Let me show you to your room. You shall remain as my guest for as long as you like."
When he said 'me' he naturally meant a servant. The room was large and luxurious, but Arya was under no illusions. It was meant to be her prison, though if Balz Zak really believed he could hold her he was a bigger fool than she'd imagined.
As she prepared for bed, finally starting to remove the armor she had worn all day, she turned to find Labia. "What are you doing here?"
"My apologies. I don't want you to get the wrong impression."
"About what?"
"About what that fool Arro said." Arya was impressed. The girl was far more composed than she had expected. "We did not intend for you to believe we meant you any harm."
The girl was learning how to lie quite well.
"We truly do wish you to think of yourself as our guest."
Wow! I wonder if her father taught her this. "I am willing to be a guest. For a short time anyway. Once I am certain that your city has no more hostile intentions towards my country I will go."
Labia managed to restrain herself from any false joviality. She was surprisingly well trained, Arya admitted. "You will not find that difficult. I actually came to ask if you desired company."
For a moment Arya thought the girl was referring to herself. "I am assuming you do not mean some sort of licentious coupling."
"Certainly not!" Labia put on a rather convincing performance of outrage. "Though from what I've heard it is not beyond you."
Well played. If Labia thought her foray would upset Arya she was to be disappointed. Arya gave a very calculated smile. "You're too young for me."
Her own strike hit far closer to home. She saw fury blaze in Labia's eyes for just a heartbeat. But the girl was able to regain control of herself before she said something dangerous. Pasting a false smile on her face, Labia said, "I actually meant something more intellectual. A game of shogi? Song? Poetry? We have some fine mummers here. My father has commissioned for a troop of them to be available."
"That would be lovely."
Asha and the others were on tenterhooks all day. The docks were deserted and they could see no sign of life in the city. As night fell things began to come alive again. Evidently convinced there would be no dragon attacks, the people of Qarth returned to their daily business.
It was near mid of night when Yūko reappeared. None of them was particularly happy to see her. "Where in the hells is the Queen?" Asha demanded.
Yūko, still dressed in her shozoku, took no notice of their attitude. "She sent me with this message. She believes they still intend her harm, but she wishes to wait."
"Why?" Brienne demanded. "Why are we still here? We should leave if they want to start a fight. Or at the very least we must strike first."
"She did not explain her thinking to me. I can only tell you what she said."
The Hound, who knew Arya better than any of them, groaned in disgust. "It's one of her clever plans again."
Brienne didn't follow. "What do you mean?"
"She wants them to attack first. She's setting herself up as bait."
"That's insane. How can we protect her if we're stuck out on the ship?"
Yūko said, "She insists you defend the fleet. She has no fear for herself."
"She wouldn't, but we do." She turned to Sandor. "We should march down to this palace and take her back."
"She said you would say that. That is why she told me to tell you this is a royal order."
"What?!" Brienne was outraged.
"It is a command from your Queen. She will not tolerate disobedience."
Brienne was all set to strike the impudent foreigner, but Sandor restrained her. "This is an order. And you know she won't let it go." Brienne relaxed. "We just have to trust that she knows what she's doing."
Asha wasn't shy about expressing her opinion. "You already know what I think."
Marwyn, as always, had to intervene. "Which is why she didn't leave it up to you."
"What the hells do you know, old man? You read minds?"
"No, but I can guess her thoughts. She is giving them a chance. She knows war will not help Westeros. She wants them to prove they are really willing to make peace."
"She already knows the answer." At least Asha assumed that it matched hers.
"But there is always a chance."
Marwyn was not wrong. Arya did indeed want to give the Qartheen every chance. But she was no fool. After a few days of being a guest she sent another message to Asha. Yūko had kept herself hidden the whole time and little save rumor hinted at her existence. Nothing had happened, so Arya wanted to test the waters. She instructed Asha to allow a few of her Ironborn to wander the city. Much as she disliked it, Asha complied.
About a dozen of her men were allowed to shop the markets. None expected a friendly reception, so it surprised them that the people of the city seemed perfectly agreeable. It is perhaps because of this that they were caught off guard.
'Dick' Longshaft and Ronnie Bean were wandering the bazaar next to the harbor. Dick spotted a vendor selling hot sausages and ambled over.
"I wouldn't touch that with a bilge hook," Ronnie told him distastefully. He never trusted foreign foods.
Dick ignored him and signed to the vendor for a sausage. The man reached for a skewer with one hand, then slammed a hot frying pan down on Dick's head with the other. Within seconds the crowd had descended on Dick, knives in their hands.
Ronnie felt a sharp pain in his back to find a skinny man, more a child really, with a bloody knife in his hand. Ronnie gave the man his fist, then raced toward the ship. People bunched close around him and he felt several more stabs.
Asha saw the commotion on Summer's deck and knew there was trouble. Within seconds her crew had been called to arms. She watched as Ronnie managed to fight his way to the quay. "They got Dick!" he yelled before he was once more swarmed under.
"FIRE!"
Crossbows twanged and dozens of people fell. Uncaring who they shot, the Ironborn poured quarrels into the mob. Those within bowshot fled.
"To me!"
Asha led a score of her men down the gangplank and into the city. Her objective was to find Dick. They didn't get halfway there before they found themselves confronted by an even bigger mob, this one armed with every weapon imaginable. Undeterred, the Princess of the Iron Islands led her men straight into them.
The mob may have been large and filled with hate, but they were still just common folk. The Ironborn were trained killers and much better armed to boot. The reavers left at least fifty bleeding their lives away in the streets, with perhaps double that number injured before the locals had had enough. The Ironborn found the remains of Dick. Not that there was much left. The mob had chopped him to pieces and carried off quite a few. Including the one for which he was best known.
They gathered up what they could and made their way back to Summer. But before they got halfway there they found themselves once more surrounded. This time the mob was much better armed and organized. One threw an ax at Crackjaw. Evidently they had never heard of the 'finger game', at which Crackjaw was an expert. He easily caught the flung missile and promptly threw it back. The ax bifurcated his attacker's skull.
The Ironborn closed in around their princess, covering her with their shields. Their enemies did everything they could to break through the shield wall, even climbing on top of them. Those that did didn't live long. Unable to swing her ax, Asha was forced to use her dagger. More than a few assailants dropped to the street with perforated guts.
Despite the horde around them, the Ironborn pushed their way down the street. Once they had managed to reach the harbor entrance quarrels from Summer forced the mob to disperse. Amazingly, although nearly all the Ironborn, including Asha, had suffered wounds, none was fatal.
Getting back to the ship proved to be only the beginning of the confrontation. They barely set foot on the quay when the mob attacked. And not just men. Women, children of all ages, even slaves, all rushed the ship with whatever makeshift weapons they could lay hands on. The sight of it left Asha speechless.
The Ironborn hadn't earned their reputation by being squeamish. Man or woman, old or young, the reavers shot them down without compuction.
Brienne and Sandor joined Asha near the bowsprit. "Have they gone mad?"
Asha, bleeding from a cut cheek, didn't care. "They die. That's all that matters."
"Can't we move away? Unless they can swim…"
"There is no wind and the tide is out. The ship won't move without them."
"There's more coming." The Hound was right. They could see greater numbers gathering just beyond bowshot. "Let's go!"
Slamming on his helmet, the Hound leapt over the side and drew Heartsbane. The Queensguard was quick to follow. When the mob renewed their assault they found eight nearly impervious warriors blocking their way. The quay prevented the mob from overwhelming them, while the Ironborn poured quarrels into them. The Hound, holding Heartsbane two-handed, was in front as always. Brienne and Lyanna stood to either side with sword and shield to dispose of any who got past him. Obella and Alys moved to relieve them when they tired. The Hound needed no such help. His stamina put them all to shame. Joella and Yimi fired away into the crowd. They didn't even need to aim, so packed were their targets. They used up their quivers quickly, save the Valyrian tipped arrows, which they never used on anything less than serious enemies. Enough of the mob possessed bows to keep them well supplied with ammunition.
The battle lasted so long that even the Hound began to fade when Snowflake, Arya on her back, rushed by. The appearance of the dragon was all it took. Leaving scores dead and dying, the mob scattered to the winds.
Arya let her dragon feast on the dead as she made her way through the corpses to Summer. "Sorry if I took too long."
"It was just getting interesting," was the Hound's reply. The Queensguards weren't so upbeat.
Brienne was more concerned with Arya's health. "What happened?"
Arya looked surprised by the question. "Nothing happened. They tried to delay me with excuses. I had to call Snowflake to get them to move out of the way. Any explanation for this brouhaha?"
Asha called down from the ship. "They killed two of my men."
"Maybe so, but that doesn't explain why a mob attacked you."
"I'm not leaving anyone behind to be mauled by these animals."
Brienne felt the need to stand up for the Ironborn princess. "They did attack first. This was a trap."
"No doubt. But why strike now? They certainly have no advantage."
Asha thought that over. "I think one of them got too enthusiastic. They acted too soon."
The conversation was to be interrupted. Dragons have excellent vision, far better than most people give them credit for. Snowflake was no exception. She spotted the rocks flying in her direction long before any human became aware of them. Apparently, soldiers on the walls of Qarth got up the nerve to test the range of their catapults on the presently stationary dragon. Fortunately for them, Snowflake hadn't actually seen where the rocks originated from.
Spotting a bolder flying in her direction, she launched herself long before it landed. This is did, with commendable accuracy, very close to where she had been standing. Several more followed. None was remotely large enough to have harmed her seriously, but she wasn't inclined to find out.
Seeing the wisdom of not pushing their luck, the artificers on the walls decided to halt their firing with the dragon in the air. Not knowing where the rocks had come from, Snowflake angrily circled looking for a target. Thus, she failed to respond when Arya called her back.
The humans only knew they were still under attack was when the rocks hit the ground. Arya and her guards rushed to get to the end of the quay.
The attack came straight away. This one was different though. It was not a mob, but well trained slave soldiers. They moved in formation, forming a shield wall to block the bolts the Ironborn sent at them. The men moved with machine-like precision. The quay was too skinny for more than four to stand side-by-side. Arya took the lead this time, Obella and Alys guarding her flanks.
This skirmish was shorter, but more intense than the last. The soldiers could not break through the Queen's defense. Their very numbers hindered them. Arya aimed for their legs deliberately, causing many to topple into the water or otherwise falling under their feet.
Before long the mob returned. The soldiers made no effort to stop them. Within minutes they had withdrawn entirely, leaving it to the enraged Qartheen. Arya continued avoiding inflicting lethal wounds when possible. Sandor and Brienne were wondering if she'd turned soft.
Their inability to get past her flashing blades eventually discouraged them. The mob stopped attacking. But they did not withdraw. Instead, they stood at the end of the quay, trying to figure out how to get past her. As the crowd stood there staring the Ironborn stopped shooting and the battle stopped, if only briefly.
The dock was covered in corpses and blood.
This pause lasted only seconds, though it felt like hours to the Queensguards. It was broken when a young boy, who couldn't have seen more than six summers, charged her with a paring knife. Arya made no effort to block or counter him. He ran right up to her, smashing his knife against her abdomen. The blade broke against her armor's scales, but the boy kept smashing, screaming like a fury. She just stood there.
The spell was broken when a man, trying to use the distraction, charged her with a table leg. Sandor stepped forward and cut his head off. Blood sprayed everywhere, but neither the boy nor Arya took any notice. Sandor grabbed the boy by the back of his shirt and hurled him into the water. He yelled something, but Arya wasn't listening.
Alys and Obella grabbed Arya and pulled her back as Sandor, Brienne, and Lyanna took up the defense once more. The battle had returned full force.
Memories of Arya's return from Carcosa filled their minds. Obella shook Arya, yelling, "Your grace, what's wrong? Answer!" Arya still wouldn't respond.
The two struggled with the straps to her helmet before managing to pull it off. When her face was finally revealed what they saw wasn't the dead eyed look she had when she lost herself. Instead, they saw… despair. Arya looked up at them and they almost thought she was going to cry.
Alys spoke in a hushed whisper. "Your grace?"
"Why?" The word was so quiet they almost didn't over the noise of fighting.
"What do mean, your grace?"
"What did we do? Why do they want to kill us so much?"
Obella was angry. "Because they hate us! They see us as a threat."
"Why?"
"Because we threaten everything they are! We are living proof that there is no need for masters. No need for slaves!"
"So why are the slaves attacking us?"
This was a question neither Queensguard could answer.
The battle ended just as abruptly as it had begun. The mob just seemed to melt away. Likely they had finally grasped that they couldn't overwhelm the Queensguards. There were at least a hundred dead piled on the quay or its approaches. Hundreds more tried to crawl away or were moaning in pain. Women of all ages suddenly appeared and, when it became obvious the Ironborn weren't going to shoot them down, they descended on the dead and dying. Some they carried off. Others were stripped of whatever they had. Some of the women were bold enough to hurl curses at the Westerosi, but they were ignored.
Much to their surprise, Labia made her way through the women toward them. Showing lack of concern over the blood soiling the hem of her skirt, she walked right past Sandor to Arya.
The first thing she said was, "Could you please ask your dragon to stop flying over the city? She is frightening the people."
Arya's mood recovered quickly. "She is agitated at being attacked. If your people hadn't been foolish enough…"
"They were defending our city."
"Really?" Sarcasm was thick in her voice. "Maybe you should have considered the consequences of attacking us."
"I did not attack you."
Arya didn't bother expressing what she thought of that comment. "You will just have to wait for her to calm down on her own. She will eventually. If nobody attacks her she will fly off."
"I hope you are right. In any case, my father's asks that you return to his home."
The Hound was openly scornful. "Do you really think she's going to walk into your kennel?"
"We are willing to make things right."
Arya made her doubt plain. "And how are you going to make things right? Not only have your people murdered one of my Queensguard, but now they have killed two of my men without provocation."
"And your people have killed hundreds. Our people are incensed." Labia was showing her own emotions and wasn't bothering to hide them. "To them you are invaders. Every day your fleet sits outside our harbor is one more day their anger grows. We cannot be held accountable for the feelings of our people."
Arya found she could not refute that.
Events were about to overtake them. While the battle had been going on near Summer's berth, Qartheen had been planning on expanding their attack. The Dancing Horse was the smallest of the ships of the fleet, only twenty crew. They had been posted at the furthest point of the blockade line, which also happened to be closest to the tower at the eastern end of Qarth's walls. Like all the rest of the Ironborn in the fleet, the men of the Dancing Horse were distracted watching the battle. So it was that not even the lookout spotted the multiple small boats that were approaching from near the tower. They were filled with men. Not slaves, but free men of Qarth. None wore armor or had training, but all were filled with fury at this invasion of their beloved city.
The intruders managed to get all the way to the ship and up its sides. The Ironborn only became aware of them when one turned around to see them sneaking up on him. He yelled out and charged. With that the fight was on. As mentioned, the boarders had no training and few weapons. But they did have fire. Pots of burning pitch were hurled onto the deck with complete indifference to the men who were standing on it.
The Ironborn made no effort to put out the flames. Seeing it was hopeless, they leapt overboard. A few managed to cut the ship's boat loose and get it into the sea. Dropping anything that would weigh them down, the men swam for all they were worth. The few in the ship's boat were able to pull a few others aboard. More grabbed hold of the sides and were pulled along as the ones inside rowed for all they were worth. Despite this and also being good swimmers, several drowned before they could get to the next ship in line. This one, The Princess' Knife, was already making sail to get as far away from the Dancing Horse as possible.
The Qartheen, not understanding the reason for the Ironborn's retreat, threw jeers at them. They foolishly tried to extinguish the flames and even managed to put out the ones on the deck. But the fire had already spread to the hold. Within an hour it had reached the wildfire stored there.
The Dancing Horse exploded. All the other ships were able to get far enough away to avoid damage. But the fire splashed onto the tower and much of the surrounding neighborhood.
Labia was standing next to Arya on Summer's deck watching. She was silent, for Arya had known what would happen and had said nothing.
With a tone of complete indifference Arya said, "I will return with you."
Sandor rounded on her. "Have you lost your mind?" Only he could have spoken to her like that. "You know they're going to kill you as soon as they get the chance. Poison you or strangle you in your sleep."
"I don't think so." Snowflake had been attracted by the explosion and had stopped her angry circling. She landed next to Summer. "I think I'll be all right." Labia backed away as Arya stroked the head of her dragon.
Asha was not happy. Not only were they not going to torch the city, but she had been ordered to end the blockade. She simply did not understand Arya's thinking.
"She is trying to keep the peace," Marwyn repeated for the millionth time.
"How is she going to do that by having the fleet move out to sea? She's removing all the pressure on these bloodless ghouls."
"Hardly that. She still has her dragon."
"Which failed to aid us in the battle."
"Did we need it?"
"Her," Brienne interjected.
"What?"
"Snowflake is a she."
"She," he said emphatically.
Asha wondered if she were on a ship of lunatics.
"It makes sense to move the fleet. We lost one ship…"
"And eight men."
"And she doesn't want to lose any more."
Asha felt compelled to point out, "Those men drowned! The bloodless, limp dicks didn't kill any of them."
"Drowned is still dead."
"That which is dead may never die," she muttered under her breath.
"Your men were careless. If they had been paying attention…"
"I know that!"
Marwyn, who was fonder of Qarth than he cared to admit, was sanguine. "Leave this to the Queen. She knows what she's doing."
Brienne for one was not at all sure of that.
Arya used her own feet to get the Balz Zak's manse this time. He made no effort to distract her with talk. Instead he held a banquet with all the Thirteen and many notable Pureborn present. The Spicers in particular were represented. Arya sat as guest of honor. Despite the forced joviality, Arya was not fooled. She could tell they wanted as little to do with her as possible.
Still, it was surprisingly enjoyable. There was plenty of entertainment and the food was the best she'd eaten since the voyage began. She had expected at least one attempt on her life, but no such effort was made.
That night she slept very well.
Labia woke her the next morning. As Arya donned her armor the girl prattled on about nothing in particular. Arya listened to none of it. The girl first led her to a parlor where they were joined by her mother, Clitarus. The three women leisurely broke their fast with Labia unsubtly hinting that Arya would be more comfortable without her armor. Arya ignored this as well. In fact, she hardly spoke at all. Mother and daughter tried to engage the Queen in conversation, but Arya made no pretense of friendliness.
After the meal, Labia led Arya in a tour of the grounds, something Arya hadn't done in either of her previous visits. The gardens were impressive, easily encompassing a space larger than the castle on Dragonstone. To Arya's trained eye though, the trees needed pruning and the bushes were growing wild. Balz Zak's slaves weren't doing well in their duties.
Near mid of day Labia guided Arya to the very alcove she had spotted on her first visit. She felt her hackles rising.
In the middle of the alcove was a small table and chairs made of sturdy bronze. A rarity in this day. On it sat a tea set with a closed pot and a tall candle. The candle was local, but the pot was from Yi Ti. The carvings and decorations on its side were unmistakable. The two sat with Labia making a show of pouring tea into two cups. Arya ignored hers, but Labia sipped hers with relish.
"I do love Yitish tea, don't you?" Arya still wouldn't answer. Labia effected not to notice. The more important thing the girl also failed to notice was that Arya had put on her helmet.
"Did you enjoy Yi Ti?" she asked suddenly. Arya tilted her head, not quite sure what she was getting at. "You mentioned that you had travelled through there, not once, but twice."
"I did," Arya finally answered. "They had very strange ideas."
"Indeed," Labia agreed. "But the Yitish have always been that way. We see far more of them than you Westerosi." The girl was doing an impressive job of keeping her tone spritely. At this moment she seemed more a maiden of twelve than one on the cusp of marriage. Regardless of her real age, she didn't know how to read Arya's face. If she had she might have reconsidered her course of action.
With slow, innocent movements, Labia took the lit candle from its holder, lifted the lid on the small iron pot, and dipped the flame into it. Thick smoke emerged, bringing with it a musky scent of incense. The pot had holes in the sides, so when Labia replaced the lid the smoke continued to waft out.
Though her tone remained innocent, there was a wicked glint in her eye as she observed the Queen. "There are so many interesting things in Yi Ti. We study many of them. When we are able. They do try to hide their deepest secrets. But we know them all."
There was only silence from Arya. As Labia droned on, she watched as the Queen's eyelids drooped lower.
"Some of them are quite fascinating. Are you familiar with the strange customs of that land? I'm sure you must. They have such strange notions of relations between men and women. Have you heard?"
Arya's eyes closed.
"You will become familiar with them soon. My father has promised you to me. And I have such interesting ideas. Ideas you would not believe. And I intend to introduce them to you, though I suspect you won't find them as enjoyable as I will."
She leaned close, a grin splitting her face. She looked far less now like an innocent maiden and more like something from the Faith's Seven Hells.
Arya eyes opened and Labia was frozen with shock. "That's good to know," the Queen said. Labia suddenly found it hard to breath. She clutched at the hand that was squeezing her throat, but the fingers only tightened further.
Whether she would have killed the girl will never be known, for in that moment soldiers filled the alcove. Bowmen stood in the arches above, two in each, while at least twenty swordsmen lined the walls. Arya's eyes glanced at the men, but her expression, or rather lack of one, did not change. She raised her hand and shut the visor on her helmet.
She stood, releasing Labia at the same time. The girl crawled away from her on her back crying, "Kill her you fools!" She fled.
The archers fired. The men had no idea they were facing a virtually impregnable killing machine. A score of arrows struck Arya, bouncing off harmlessly. Most shattered on impact. Seeing the arrows had no effect, the men on the ground didn't know what else to do. They charged.
Arya moved like the wind. No holding back this time. Valyrian steel cut through leather and steel as easily as pie crust. She leapt up onto the table, only to jump down again once she had seen an opening between her opponents. And all the while her blades flashed this way and that, drawing blood with every strike.
Unseen by the archers above, they were not alone. Yūko had drawn her katana and moved like silent death behind the men in the first archway. In two heartbeats they were bleeding their lives away, their calls missed in the cacophony below. With equal swiftness she moved to the next archway. So her path led. Inevitably she was noticed. But the girl from a far distant land unknown in Qarth was near as fast as her mistress. She did not have the benefit of Dragon scale armor. But she did have stone arches to shelter behind. Her katana was not Valyrian steel either. But it was forged in the fires of Yama, which was as close to Valyrian steel as mortal men could make without magic.
Below in the courtyard death danced. This was not the Queen of Westeros. This was No One. She spun faster than any dervish. First she jumped high, then dived low. Over and over. Each time she went up or down a man fell, his blood painting the flagstones.
Soon, almost too fast to breathe, it was over. All the soldiers lay dead. With a dexterity that any tumbler would envy, Yūko leapt from the balcony, spun around a tree limb, and landed next to her mistress. Without a word, the two left to alcove.
Neither Asha nor the others had any inkling of what was happening. Their first clue was when they heard a roar as if from the greatest demon in all the hells. From out of the clouds and across the Strait came the Cannibal. The colossal beast descended on Qarth and rage was in his eyes. No arrow or scorpion bolt could pierce his thick hide. Ballista bolts or catapult stones, none did anything more than enrage the monster.
The Cannibal belched black flames and buildings across the city sprang alight. No fool even tried to put them out as the entire populace was consumed with panic. Folk ran this way and that, but there was no escape.
Having blazed a path from the harbor to the walls, the Cannibal shifted his attention to those walls. The Triple Walls of Qarth were famed across the world. One of the Nine Wonders Built by Man. The Cannibal did not care. His flame melted them like tallow. The liquid stone dribbled like wax from a candle. But this wax was hotter than any fire men in this age could make. It started blazes wherever it touched wood. Or flesh.
Out to sea, not even the Ironborn could find words to express what they were feeling. Marwyn muttered, "Seven save us!"
Alys answered, "Seven save our Queen."
Having torched the walls, the Cannibal settled on the main gatehouse. Fools flung arrows and spears at it, but the Cannibal bathed them all in his flames. With his giant tale, the massive dragon smashed all three gates open at the same time. Stone and the great metal doors were flung thousands of yards to land in the Red Waste.
The dragon took to the sky once more and, had he seen it, Marwyn would have been able to explain what had just happened. Arya had given the Qartheen an escape route. With the gate gone it was now possible for anyone to flee Qarth. And this they did. Not caring if the dragon was waiting for them, the people of the city fled, out into the desert. It was death to try and live in the Red Waste as everyone knew. But the alternative did not leave them with any choices.
Arya and Yūko entered the main courtyard of Balz Zak's manse. A few guards stupidly tried to stop them, but they made short work of them. Snowflake landed before them. The she-dragon had been circling, remaining out of the fight until her mistress should appear. The two women mounted her and she launched herself into the sky.
The Cannibal did not end his rampage on destroying the gates. He made pass after pass, turning ever more of the Greatest City that Ever Was into ash. The smoke grew so thick it turned day into night.
As real night approached, the people of Qarth gathered outside the broken gates of their city. The Cannibal had finally exhausted his rage. The people cried out in grief at all they had lost and all those who'd died, of which not even bones were left.
Snowflake landed just out of arrowshot near to where Balz Zak and his family were standing. The crowd screeched in fury and many rushed to attack them. Snowflake breathed flame and a dozen become torches. This cooled the anger of the others and they all backed away.
When the dragon made no further hostile moves Balz Zak found his courage. Shaking off the hands of his wife and daughter he advanced on the Queen.
"What is the meaning of this?! What have we done to offend you so? Why have you brought such desolation upon us?"
"You dare ask me that! You know the reason, old man! Don't try your innocent act with me! You attacked me! You tried to murder me! You killed my servants and my friend! This is the least punishment that you deserve!"
Knowing accusations would only anger her further he tried reconciliation. "Great queen, if you had only come to us peacefully…"
She laughed outright, but there was no humor in it. "Now you insult me! You made war upon me! You made war upon my sister! You have never begged forgiveness or ended your hostility. Why should I come to you as a supplicant when I know what your answer would be? You wish war with Westeros. Well, you have it!"
"We do not want war!" This was an easy thing for him to say now. "If you had given us a chance…"
"I gave you chances! I gave you several chances! You wouldn't take them!"
It was only now that Balz Zak realized they had pushed her too far.
"Look upon your precious city now!" Arya was addressing the crowd this time. "This is what happens when you challenge the dragon. Let it be a lesson to all of you. Be our enemy and you will find no mercy!"
With that Snowflake launched herself again and flew away.
It was the last time the people of Qarth would ever see a dragon. Their city would never be rebuilt. Many would die in the Red Waste as so many who had been turned away from their city had, their bones joining countless others in the sands. Others would find boats and travel to distant lands. Most would move back into the city once the fires died down, but there was little shelter left there. Many more would die from hunger and want. No one wanted to travel to Qarth anymore and without a fleet or the means to build one, the Qartheen could no longer make them.
As time passed the city would suffer a second death, this one slower and more long lasting. People would come to believe the place was cursed, as all places burned by the dragons are. The people would fade or leave. And in time only scavengers and ghosts would remain.
The Greatest City that Ever Was had ceased to be.
END CHAPTER 18