Major plot points will be made this chapter. This chapter was voted on by my patrons. If you wish to have a say in what I am currently working on, read ahead, and support me, I have a pat reon where they get the chapters in advance. Thank you all for reading.
Hadrian walked in front of the group as they headed to the Redkeep. 'I knew something would happen.' He thought as he walked towards the doors of keep.
He didn't stop as he continued his walk towards the locked down doors. He saw the Stark guard rush ahead of the group to inform the guards as he continued his walk. Hadrian saw Willas still using his cane as to not give anyone the knowledge of his recovery. 'Smart man.' Hadrian thought as he walked into the Redkeep. He made his way to the Hand of the King's rooms. He saw Ser Jory outside the room as he heard crying. "Ser Jory," Hadrian said, not revealing himself, causing the man to jump. "I am next to you. Do not make a sound. I am going inside."
"By the gods, Hadrian." Jory whispered. "You scared several years off of me."
"Just open the door like you are looking in." Hadrian commanded. "I will sneak in."
"Be quick. I heard that people are looking for you." Jory whispered as he opened the door.
Hadrian walked in as the door quickly closed behind him. At the desk Lord Stark looked murderous as he looked up. "Hello uncle." Hadrian stated as he removed his spell.
"Hadrian... by the gods. What are you doing here?" Ned sighed with relief.
"I heard something happened." Hadrian explained as he walked up to the desk. "The Tyrells and Prince Oberyn are on their way here."
"It's bad." Ned said as he put his head in his hands. "We are creeping closer and closer to war..."
"What did they do?" Hadrian asked as he heard the crying from Sansa's room.
"It was bad Hadrian..." Ned started as he looked at his nephew. "My daughter was almost tortured and almost had her virtue taken along with the daughter of the Tyrells."
"Father..." Sansa peered out of her room towards her father's office. "YOU! IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"Sansa, who..." Margaery questions as she sees Hadrian in the room.
"Be at ease." Hadrian said as he casted the privacy spells to keep the sound from being brought out of the room.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Sansa yelled as she cried harder as she ran toward him pounding on his chest. "IF YOU DIDN'T INTERFERE NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!"
"Oh, and pray tell how you came to that conclusion?" Hadrian asked as he felt her slowly despairing.
"He... he wouldn't have done that to me if you didn't exist." Sansa cried.
"Lord Stark, what happened?!" Willas asked as he came into the room seeing his sister in tears.
"Willas..." Margaery cried as she ran towards her brother.
"There, there. Let's all sit down." Willas said, comforting his sister.
"Lord Stark, you have some explaining to do." Olenna said as she walked in a couple of moments later seeing her granddaughter in a nightgown.
"Prince Joffrey..." Margaery started before cracking.
"Hush child." Olenna said as she came over to hold her.
"So, what did he do?" Willas asked as Daemon and Oberyn had arrived shortly after.
"This is hard." Ned sighed out as he looked at the group in front of him. "It happened while they had no guards with them. Joffrey found them and attacked them."
"He didn't mean to hurt us." Sansa tried to argue. "If Hadrian had not interfered he wouldn't have done it."
"Sansa, he was going to kill us!" Margaery angrily called out.
"I see," Hadrian had already put the pieces together. "Because he could not get to me, he went after my family."
"Is this true?!" Willas roared as he became angry.
"Yes..." Ned said as he looked at his daughter. "He had the guards rip off their clothes and was about to whip them."
"He didn't mean to." Sansa pleaded as she saw the men become angry.
"Sansa was it?" Willas asked, getting a nod as he walked over to the girl. "My lady, I am sorry that you had to go through that. He attacked you. He chose to attack you because you were his target."
"No... it is because of Hadrian..." Sansa started before she looked at the said man.
"He targeted you because he knew you would not fight him." Willas said as he looked at the girl's eyes. "He could not target your sister as she was with your father. So he saw defenseless young ladies and attacked them."
"He wouldn't..." Sansa started with tears in her eyes.
"He would. He would have you whipped then raped." Willas had already put together what had happened. "If that wasn't the case he would have left my sister out of it. Instead he did it to both of you."
"He needed to inflate his ego." Hadrian started as he looked to his uncle. "He wanted to show he was strong. Just like when he was going to attack your sister."
"Noooooo..." Sansa cried out as her last defense broke before the logic they placed before him.
"Shhhh" Willas said as he grabbed the crying lady into his arms as he watched her father pace as he gripped Ice. "You are ok, safe here."
Ned watched as the Tyrell heir held his daughter. He hated that he could not be the one who comforted his daughter but she had blamed him as much as Hadrian. "So, what are the next steps?" Oberyn asked as Ned looked at his daughter.
"We can not kill the bastard, unfortunately." Hadrian stated as the attention turned to him. "The best option is getting everyone out of the city."
Olenna looked at the man. "Can you get us away?"
"My ship is in the port. It will be difficult as there will be questions." Hadrian explained. "But it is possible."
"I want you to take Arya and Sansa out of here." Ned stated as he looked at his nephew. "I need to stay here to try to minimize the damage."
"Ah, the loyal Eddard Stark." Oberyn started scoffing at the man. "Tell me, do you really think you can change what is about to happen?"
"No, but that doesn't mean I can not try." Ned replied, looking out towards the city. "Robert will listen to me."
"And when he doesn't?" Willas asked.
"I will leave and go back home." Ned explained as he foresees himself being back in Winterfell in a fortnight.
"Do not stick too long here." Hadrian stated as he turned to leave. "Your mentor dug too deep and paid the price."
"What did he mean by that?" Willas asked as Daemon and Hadrian departed.
"I do not know. Jon Arryn's notes that I have been going over the last couple of days. None of it makes any sense." Ned replied as he pulled the file out. "The brown hair is strong..."
"Do you think that maybe he was referring to the children of the king?" Olenna questioned as she got up to leave. "Afterall, all of his bastards have dark hair with his eyes."
"How would she know that?" Ned questioned as he watched the Tyrells leave.
Oberyn shrugged as he walked out towards the night.
Later that night
Hadrian sat in the captain's quarters as he waited for his remaining passengers to arrive. Daemon and Oberyn had arrived shortly after him as he sat on the desk with the captain preparing their course. Jory had brought Sansa and Arya a short while after. Apparently Ned and Robert had gotten into a fight shortly after they departed. Jory was sitting with Arya and Sansa in the lady quarter acting as their guard. The girls seemed to get along more after Sansa's experience she seemed more keen on learning to defend herself. "Hadrian..." Sansa had started as he was going over notes for the voyage.
"How can I help you Sansa?" Hadrian asked as he did not look up as she called out to him.
"Can you teach me how to use a knife?" She questioned looking nervous at her cousin.
"Why do you wish to learn how to use one?" He asked looking up.
"So, I can defend myself..." she muttered, staring into her cousin's eyes.
Hadrian looked at her for a second before he sighed. He put his hand into his bag pulling out a ten inch blade and holster. "This is a knife. This is not a toy." Hadrian said as he pulled it out. "This is not meant to cut your food or your yarn. This is meant to kill. It is dangerous."
Hadrian walked over and held it out to her. "Find a place to keep it hidden. If you are wearing a long dress, put it on your thigh." Hadrian showed his own hidden dagger on his shin in his boot. "A hidden blade is a dangerous blade."
Sansa looked at the blade. Her hand shaking, she took the blade in her hand. "We will start where and how to stab to take someone down tomorrow." Hadrian said as he looked at her. "Remember it is not a toy. IF you have a chance. Always go for the kill."
He pointed at parts of his body that would cause him to die immediately. "Always aim for the neck if you can. Then the thigh, right here." He explained. "These are immediate kills. Only magic can save them and it needs to be done in five minutes or they are gone."
Sansa stared at Hadrian with fear. "You're a killer." Sansa stated as she looked at him.
"Yes, so is your father, your king, and probably every male you know and will ever know." Hadrian said while laughing. "Where do you think your meat comes from? It is taken off animals. You want to be virtuous then born no males and eat plants for the rest of your life."
Sansa looked at him in shock. 'I hadn't thought of that..." Sansa thought as she remembered her mother always saying to do her duty and marry a knightly person.
"I see you have much to think about. I suggest you go below deck to your room. Once we have the remaining people we will set sail." Hadrian explained as he sat back down towards his desk.
Sansa walked out confused as she did not see Willas walking towards the quarters. "You did not have to explain it to her that way." Willas said as he walked into the open door.
"Please, do not play the game of words with me." Hadrian said as he did not look up. "I am not in the mood."
"Right, I heard there were a couple of dead guards found on the other side of the city." Willas said as he saw Hadrian tense. "Good work. Pulling the enemy away from your actual location."
"Simple magic really." Hadrian sighed. "What do you want?"
"Me, personally I wish to shove off." Willas said as he smelled the air. "This city is rancid. I much rather us be out to see."
"Unfortunately, we need to wait for the city inspection before we can." Hadrian stated as he pulled out the report from Avalon he had been reading.
"Right, where will we be dropped off?" Willas asked, nervous they were going to be captives.
"We will be stopping at Dorne. I need to speak with Prince Doran about trade routes. Then we will be going our separate ways." Hadrian stated as he did not look up.
"And, the whores and blacksmith?" Willas asked as he saw a couple of wanderers come up onto the boat that seemed a mixed group.
"Investment for Avalon." Hadrian explained as he had Daemon see who had come on board.
"You can potentially bring disease into your city?" Willas was confused.
"Maybe one day, when you visit Avalon you will understand." Hadrian explained as he got up. "Now, that you are here. We need to ship out."
"What about the inspection?" Willas questioned as he saw Hadrian walk across the deck.
"Already taken care of." Willas heard him say as he started to touch pieces of the ship at random.
"Captain Sparrow, set sail!" Hadrian said to the man at the helm.
"Aye aye, Shadow Lord!" The man responded.
"Where did you find that man?" Willas asked as he saw the man expertly drift the ship off the shore out into open sea.
"Would you believe me if I told you I rescued him from slavery." Hadrian said as he looked at the scruffy man.
"He seems like he was born to be at sea." Willas said as he saw him lock the ship into position and started calling out orders.
"Well, he was a smuggler that sailed from the shadowlands to Westeros. So, I am not surprised." Hadrian said as he remembered the day he attacked the slavers ship and found the man locked in chains.
"Do not give my secrets away." Captain Sparrow said as he walked onto the deck.
The man was of a strong build with a plain white shirt and black pants. Over his shoulders was a black trench coat with silver lining. He had a shaved head with a dark black beard with silver hairs mixed in. He was the type of man who took no nonsense. It was the reason why he was in charge of the trader flag ship. "If you are ready, we have our night crew ready to take over." Sparrow said as he walked up to Hadrian.
"Let's head out. We need to put as much distance between us and King's Landing." Hadrian replied as he looked at the city for what he hoped would be the last time.
Next day
Cersei threw her cup across the room. "Explain to me again. How is it you managed to lose not only that abomination, but the Stark and Tyrell whore!" Cersei yelled as the city guard gave his report.
"Your... grace..." The guard stuttered as Cersei looked murderous.
"Tell me how you managed to lose the Tyrells, the Stark daughters, the Martell Prince, and the person I wished you killed." Cersei demanded.
"Your grace," The guard started as he visibly gulped. "We tracked the man to the Eastern district, where he had walked into a bar filled with people. We surrounded the establishment when a fire had broken out as a couple of drunk commoners started a fire in the bar causing panic. We had been so consumed by the people pushing us that we were unable to locate him."
Cersei looked at the man with anger in her eyes. 'Every plan is ruined. Every single one is now up in smoke.' Cersei thought as she paced around her room. Her first born son is on house arrest. The man she wanted dead slipped through her fingers. The Tyrells who could have been used as leverage now have gone missing. Finally the Martells knew of her family's revenge plot against all Targaryens. If Jaime had not calmed her down, she would have had half the city guard killed.
"Who else disappeared last night?!" Cersei frustratedly yelled. "My lady..." The guard fearfully handed her the list of missing people brought to their attention this morning.
She grabbed the list from his hands. 'This better be inconsequential or this man the city guard shall be in chains.' Cersei thought as she read each name.
'The whores missing are of little concern.' She thought as she read Ros a spy for Varys. A gay prostitute by the name of Olyvar. Several of her husband's favorites including Armeca, Marei, Glenna, and Kayla. 'Lord Baelish is going to be upset.' She thought as she saw his top end women and men had all disappeared.
Finally several blacksmith apprentices throughout the city. She skimmed the rest of the names until she found the last blacksmith apprentice name. 'That bastard has fled the city!' She thought growing angrier. "Get me Lord Varys and Lord Baelish, NOW!" She yelled as the guard stood there. "Did I stutter? You have five seconds to go do what I asked or else I will have your head!"
The guard ran out the door and was gone before she had hit two. Outside the door was Jaime. "What happened?" He asked as he saw the smashed glass and things thrown scattered across the room.
"One of his bastards has escaped." Cersei explained as she looked at her brother. "When that man leaves on his next hunt..." Cersei said, looking at her lover.
"Cersei, this is getting out of hand." Jaime tried to calm her down. "We have received word from our father. It doesn't look good."
"We just need some leverage..." Cersei muttered as she looked at who remained in the capital. "It is such a good thing that Lord Eddard and Ser Loras decided to stay in the capital."
"Cersei. Be reasonable." Jaime tried to calm her down.
"The man should be on his yearly hunt soon." Cersei stated as she calculated the number of days she had. "Get in contact with my father. We need to have everything in place before we reveal our hand."
King's Council Room
Ned sat as the hand of the king, listening to the lords bicker. "And I lost half of my staffing. The remaining are being overwhelmed as we do not have enough to cover." Petyr stated as the master of coins brought his ledger up. "We are currently ten million dragons in debt with the Iron Bank. With the loss of the taxes from my establishments we will have to request aid from other kingdoms to cover our debt."
"Wait, the crown is two million dragons in debt?!" Ned exclaimed in shock. "How is the crown in debt?"
"That is the debt to the Iron bank. We currently owe twenty million to the Lannisters, one million to the Stormland lords." Baelish explained.
"So, the crown is at least twenty-three million in debt." Ned exclaimed in shock looking at the other lords as they ignored his stare. "How did you all let this happen?"
"The king asks for gold. It is the Master of Coins job to find the gold." Baelish replied as he knew that most of the gold went into his pockets.
"It is this council's job to run the Seven Kingdom effectively. Not run it into the ground." Ned stated as he looked at Baelish. "Cut all coin the crown is using for excess expenditures. I want the coin cut off for the prostitutes. Cut the coin for the high end wines. We will be restructuring all the coin prices. You are on thin ice."
"Of course." Baelish said calmly, but inside he was seething. This on top of the cut from the loss of those traitors had seriously hurt his backend. After teaching both Ros and Olyvar how to run his businesses. He had sunk the last month into them. He even spent money on the new business building he was going to allow them to take over. They were supposed to be his successors in this city once he left. Now, his plans were ruined.
"My lord... I have received word that the expenses for the Hand of the King tourney had already been paid for." Grand Maester Pycelle stated as much as a tired old man could. "It... would be a good thing to have the people... have some form of entertainment after that grueling affair your nephew caused..."
"Speaking of your nephew." Renly started looking at Ned. "It seems after he killed the Mountain, he just upped and disappeared. Lord Varys, do you know anything about all of this?"
"Unfortunately, my little birds did not tell me much." Lord Varys stated as he looked out at the others. "It seems he vanished into smoke. Which if the rumors going around is that he is the infamous Shadow Lord of Avalon."
"That is ridiculous. He was nothing but a sellsword at best." Baelish scoffed.
"A sellsword who proclaimed his mother was the undisputed champion of the Arena of Braavos." Varys retorted as he had known the woman in her prime. "The woman was known for being able to fight fifteen men at once and come out without a scratch."
"Perhaps, Lord Stark could give us some insight?" Pycelle probed.
"The lad is indeed my nephew. I do not know much about him other than what is known about him as the first time I or his father had met him was the day he arrived at Winterfell." Ned replied keeping details to the minimum.
"So, you are saying that you had no contact with him at all?" Sir Barristan asked as he held respect for the man.
"Yes, he did not contact us. I did however try to keep contact with his mother. She never responded to any of my messages." Ned stated as he knew the truth was already out. "She had married Benjen before the rebellion. Due to him not wishing for a power struggle in the North, Benjen took the black thus leaving us with no true communication with the family."
"I had heard that she perished in a house fire. Several years back." Varys stated. "He survived and apparently has been looking for clues to why his mother died."
"So, he came to Westeros for answers. Then he upped and vanished." Baelish looked at them. "He must have come here for something."
"My lords, the city guards state that he was seen entering a bar then disappeared." Renly replied that as the master of Law he had access to the reports of the guards."My little birds have not reported where he went. Though I do have word that Prince Oberyn, Willas, Olenna, and Margaery Tyrell have boarded a ship leaving last night." Varys stated as he knew the conversation would come around. "It is unknown what and who's ship it was that they departed on... Only that they departed on the same ship."
"I have heard that your own daughters have departed the capital as well, Lord Stark. Might I question why?" Baelish grinned as he put the pressure on the lord.
"I am sure you have all heard by now, but last night there was an incident with the Crowned Prince and my daughter as well as the daughter of House Tyrell." Ned sighed looking out past the men. "I made the decision to have them depart back to Winterfell as the betrothal was officially called off after the incident."
"Indeed we have received word this morning from both House Tyrell as well as House Martell. They wish for reparations for the assault of their family members." Pycelle stated as he pulled out the notes. "Prince Doran is very specific on having justice for his sister and children be executed."
"Add to the huge pile of shit on top of it all." Ned heard Renly mutter under his breath."We will see what can be done to prevent the Reach from demanding too much." Ned replied as he knew his family would be bartered. "As for now, we should focus on attempting to calm Dorne."
"An angered snake tends to lash out." Baelish replied as he looked at the table. "We should try not to get bitten."
"Be that as it may, we should start attempts to talk." Ned retorted back. "Any word..."
It was then that the door slammed open. They all turned to see, Robert walking towards them. "What in the Seven Hells are you all looking at?" Robert slurred out as in his right hand was his old war hammer and in his left was an entire small cask of wine.
"Your grace, I had heard you were not feeling well." Sir Barristan stated as he looked at the man who was king of the realm. "We were just surprised to see you up and about."
"Enough of this..." Robert commanded as he sat in his chair. "Now what is the news of the Targaryens?"
"Robert, I do not think that they are our concern." Ned tried to pacify his friend. "We are close to civil war right now. We should focus on trying to avoid conflicts and getting ready for winter."
"You... Starks and the winter..." Robert said as he slightly swayed. "We will deal with a rebellious kingdom as with the Ironborns last time."
"Your grace, I think we can send words out of the reach of marriages. Reparations could be made and ties to the realm could bind them to us." Baelish stated as he slowly saw the writing on the wall.
"We will discuss it later. Now, what is going on with the dragon spawns?" Robert had basically ignored it all as his brain was focused on one thing.
"Last heard from Jorah Mormont was that the Beggar King is leading a khalasar towards Avalon." Varys explained as he pulled a scroll out. "It seems he was not happy with the Lord of Avalon and is on his way for revenge. Though from the sounds of it all is that the man is marching to his death as the khalasar is going to fracture before it gets to the valley of death as the Dothraki call it. The rate the group is talking about according to Jorah is that he will be killed off long before he reaches our lands."
"Good, have Jorah ensure that none of his potential spawn survive." Robert grinned madly. "Now about his whore of a sister."
"Despite our best efforts, your grace. We have not seen or heard a thing about the girl. All we know is that she was taken as a bride price for her brother to have the khalasar." Varys again pulled another scroll out. "It seems that the girl was offered to what the Dothraki refer to as the god of death incarnate."
"So, you are saying she could be anywhere?!" Robert roared. "The whore could have dragon spawns at any moment and you have nothing!"
Robert slammed his hammer into the table, cracking the hard wood as the mighty hammer descended upon it. "Send out any and all spies you all have. Find her!"
Braavos
A young woman walked with a purpose towards the Iron Bank as she held in her hand a summons. Here, the city of Braavos, Braavos of the Hundred Isles, Secret City, or bastard daughter of Valyria, among the many names people have named the city. The city of hope, the city of adventure, the city of death, and the city of life. Many put all their hopes and dreams into this place. Some wished to make money and earn support from the Iron Bank. Some wished to bed the famous courtesans in the world. Some like her father, used money to bring power to himself. Yukio sighed. It was a cruel life she had to live as her mother despised her for ever existing. Yukio continued to walk towards the Iron Bank trying her hardest not to think about her mother. Daughter of the Nightingale, her constant shame of her night she had lost. Yukio clenched her hands just thinking about it. She never had a good life but she could never say she had a rough life, just cruel. I guess that is what happens when your mother drops you on her follower's family doorstep right after she has given birth to you. "Nightingale's shame." She heard someone whisper about her again as she passed another brothel. "Wonder if she is as good as her mother?"
'Disgusting,' Yukio thought as she continued to hold her head high. 'If only I did not have a famous mother. I guess it could be worse.' As she looked at her reflection in the windows as she walked by. She was never truly vain as her mother was. The Nightingale demanded respect and adoration for her beauty. Yukio just did not want to deal with the people. She would never say she wasn't attractive. Being her daughter did have its benefits. Her toned willowy legs allowed her to walk gracefully as if she was floating in her silk dress. The tone-ness did not end at her legs however as it continued to her slightly flared out hips giving her muscular and toned butt a jealous inducing curve. Her stomach was flat as her muscles did not show underneath but had the strength that showed the amount of exercise and training she had gone through. It flowed up to her slightly larger breast as she normally put women of the same age as her to shame. If they were grapefruit, she had small melons. Not that anyone had ever seen what was underneath her dress as she had normally worn simple clothes, tight leather armor, and an Avalon specialty by the name of a hoodie. It was her favorite piece of clothing as it allowed her to hide her head and upper body completely with her silver mask she always wore. Most people did not ever see her thin but toned arms that normally held a hidden blade that she had used to eliminate her mother's enemies. It was her only gift she had ever gotten from her mother and she was expected to use it.
Yukio sighed again as she saw her own reflection in the window. Gone was her mask and hoodie. Instead she saw her sharp and angular face, with high cheekbones. Her eyes were almond shaped with vibrant yellow irises that made her features seem harder. She had a button nose and slightly pointed ears that held off being completely pointed by her father's features. They were hidden behind her hair, a pixie cut with a pink streak in it. She had done it in defiance of both of her parents. The color and style was permanent too as she had a sorceress do it six years ago. It was to show that they did not have permanent control over her life.
Yukio looked at the summon letter again. 'Of course now my father wants something to do with me.' She thought as she approached the Iron Bank. It was the one place that she wished to avoid as much as possible as she was constantly reminded of how much she had hurt her father. Each step she took up to the doors was always agonizingly slow and annoying. She saw the people pointing at her with their sneers. 'Oh, what I wouldn't give to have my blades right now.' She thought as she mentally practiced tossing one of her daggers into the whispering man and woman's heart.
Yukio continued her walk as her mind went to her training. She was taught at a young age that she had to be better than the best. 'As the daughter of our beloved Nightingale, we expect you to defend her honor, end her opposition, and do so without a trace.' Her instructor had told her multiple times. 'Perfection is your only choice. Anything else is unacceptable.' It had been drilled into her until she bled. Until she was too tired to move. Until she cursed her very mother's name.
Sighing again, Yukio walked through the doors into the bank proper. She walked up to a teller and handed the summons without a word. The man stared at the note before nodding. "This way milady." He said as he stepped out of his chair to open the door for her.
With silence and purposeful steps they made their way into the bank's offices. Yukio saw the extravagance of the rooms as they held collections of paintings, pottery from old Valyria, tomes of the past, and so much more. 'Shame that this is the way people spend their wealth.' She thought as she heard a woman moan as she passed an office.
She continued to walk for several minutes until she ended up at the office she was dreading entering. She sighed, 'Better get this over with.' She thought as she turned the handle and pushed the door open.
Inside the room sat a man with dark brown hair, a gaunt face, and a rope of a beard that travels down his chest to his waist. This man is Tycho Nestoris, her father. "You're late." He stated as he did not even look up to see who it was. "Three hours I waited for you."
"I got lost in the sea of what normal people call life." Yukio replied. She had been late just to spite him.
"Two meetings with other high ranking business men had to be rescheduled and organized because you did not have the decency to show up on time." Tycho replied as he continued doing the calculations on his paper. "I would say do not let it happen again, but we both know it will."
"Yes, your daughter is terribly ditzy. It is a shame you did not have time to spend with me outside of this office." Yukio countered. "Perhaps then I would know how to be on time."
"Of course. I see you still haven't changed your hair." Tycho stated as he finally looked up as he finished his paperwork.
"It is permanent." Yukio stated it was as she wanted it.
"Yes, of course." Tycho bitterly replied. "You are lucky I was able to reorganize my meeting schedule as I took into account your tendencies."
"What is this all about?" Yukio started slamming the paper down. "Are you trying to control my life again? Is that it? You want me away from your precious bank and family."
"I have been given a very unique opportunity." Tycho stated as he saw her anger with his cold demeanor. "I am sure you have heard of the infamous Avalon."
Yukio nodded as the entire continent did at this point and most of Westeros. "Your point?"
"The Iron Bank wishes for me to take over their account as one of the senior members. They have proven to be very profitable and we wish for them to stay that way." Tycho explained. "I am giving you what you always demanded of me. Time to spend with me while we are away from here."
"You want to use me. Let's lay the cards on the table now. What is it you want?" Yukio asked.
"As insufferable as your mother." Tycho muttered but she heard all the same. "I want you to join me as we meet with the Lord of Avalon. To offer your unique services to him. As the daughter of the Nightingale, you can provide him with all the services that he requires."
"You want me to fuck him?" Yukio yelled as she glared at the man. She had never been with a man, not that he needed to know about that.
"Such language, if you wish to, it's on you. I regardless wish to have you there as a form of barrier to help lower his guards to make our ends more profitable." Tycho stated as he moved a paper to her. "This will be your cut after all of this is done."
"And if I refuse? I am sure my mother is not pleased with this." Yukio countered with a very weak argument and she knew it. Her mother did not care about anything but herself.
"Then, I proceed to go onwards and you lose everything." Tycho replied as he pulled out the contract. "You will lose the support of the Iron Bank, the city, and your mother and her followers."
"Mother would never agree to this." Yukio countered as it broke the one thing they had between them. Her mother never forced her to sell herself.
"You have been of age for two years now. Your mother agrees that you need to leave." Tycho stated as he pulled another letter out directly to her stating she would not be welcomed back.
"You bribed her." It was a statement not a question.
"We offered a lucrative deal that is broken the moment you decide not to follow along with this contract." He countered as it was all business. "If you choose not to accept my offer, we will respect it but have your mother pay the heavy fine for the cancellation."
"You are a sick bastard." Yukio stated as she pulled the contract up to her.
She knew she was making a deal with the devil. She just wished that she could have wiped that smug look off of his face. "We leave at first light." Tycho said as he pulled more paperwork. "I expect you to be on the boat known as Pellinore. It leaves soon after."
Yukio continued to glare at her father as he looked back down at his paperwork. "You are dismissed."
Yukio turned and slammed the door on her way out. 'How dare they?!' She angrily seethed in her own thoughts. 'They are sending me to be traded away like cattle.'
Yukio walked her way out of the bank with a purpose. She had one goal in mind, her mother. 'Surely, this is a mistake.' Her mind kept thinking as she knew exactly where the Nightingale boat would be. 'Surely she still needs me.'
She had been doing her mother's bidding for the last five years. She had killed others when no one else wished to. 'I had praised her mother's name and eliminated her enemies. Now, she wished to throw her away. No, that is not how this works.' She thought as she continued towards the market district of Braavos. 'Damn this dress.'
Yukio watched as the boat she was looking for finally docked onto the street. It was a simple supply run that she knew they did once every few days. She walked toward the boat ignoring anyone who thought to stop her. She continued, hearing the whispers about her as she went to board the ship. Sighing again she stepped onto Endless Night. 'Honestly that name is so corny.' She thought as she walked towards the room on the boat. 'At least she isn't having a client right now.'
Walking up to the room, she knocked. She had learned from experience to always knock. "Come in," A light and soothing voice called out.
"Mother..." Yukio said, holding back her anger as she walked into the room.
"Ah, Yukio my darling. Come in. You have grown again." Her mother said as she looked down at the man in between her legs. "Kaus, be a dear and leave us. I feel like this will be a difficult conversation."
The man stood up shyly staring at Yukio as her mother's juices smeared on his face. Yukio glared hard at the man causing him to rush."Oh please, do not be upset with Kaus. He is a good lover. You know how hard it is to find them these days." Her mother stated as she went about the room naked.
Yukio watched as her mother moved to vanity. She removed her mask revealing her similar features to her own. The differences were that instead of being rounded more like Yukio's, she had hard angles, more pointed ears, and sapphire blue eyes that seemed to make her look exotic and beautiful. "I do not understand why you do not just join me in the family business." Her mother said as she touched up her makeup. "You could have made so much money and found so much pleasure from it all."
Yukio shivered at the thought of being on the same bed as her mother. She would never allow that. She was not against being with a woman or a man, in fact she enjoyed both. The biggest issue was she did not know who was with her for her or for her mother. It scared her away from anyone as her mother's fanatics would do anything to please her. "Instead of keeping me here you decide to sell me off." Yukio countered trying to avoid the sex talk again.
"I am doing it for you darling." Nightingale stated as she turned to her daughter. "You wished to be away from me and my followers who would have given you anything. Now, you have your chance."
"To be a broodmare for the Lord of Avalon!" Yukio yelled as her anger began to rise.
"If that is what you think. I just wanted you to experience more in this world. You are a very talented woman, my child. You are wasting your life here. We both know you despise my line of work." Nightingale stated as she went to her wardrobe finding a satin grey dress. "Of course, I used this opportunity to get something back from your father. We both know if you were in my position you would do the same. Yukio, I want you to have a chance at a new life. You could not get that here."
"Mother..." Yukio said, blinking at the tears running down Nightingale's face.
"I will miss you." Nightingale said, walking over to pull her into a hug. "As much as it pains me to send you off, I must. Just like I had to when you were a babe."
"I will miss you too." Yukio said as she hugged her mother.
They sat there for several minutes just hugging each other and feeling each other's breathing. Eventually, it came time for the boat to depart the market and it was time for Yukio to go. "I have to leave, mother. I think this will be the last time we see each other."
"If fate has truly declared it to be. Let the winds take you, my young falcon. May you find happiness and your enemies fall to your blade." Nightingale said, kissing the top of Yukio's head.
"Goodbye." Yukio said as she turned around leaving the room and heading towards her apartment, she had packing to do.
After Yukio departed, a man and woman walked into the room. "Was this all truly necessary?" The woman asked as she saw the fake tears.
"Of course, I want her to remain loyal. Afterall, when she eventually leaves Avalon, she will know she can come back to me." Nightingale stated as she walked over to put on her mask. "Then she will have the secrets of Avalon, where I will be made its queen."
Avalon
Daenerys walked with a grin on her face. Despite what they said last night, she was extremely happy that Hadrian was on his way home. 'He will be safe and sound again.' She thought as she walked into her favorite place in the palace, the queens' garden. It was a beautiful place she had come to love as she found that Hadrian had allowed his queens, as he referred to herself and Missandei as, to decorate a section of the garden. It was a testament to his feelings for them as he had people gather the flowers and bushes and trees to create the way they wanted it to be.
As she walked in, she heard women giggling as she walked towards the gazebo in the center of the garden. There she saw Arianne, Arthura, and Veltina joking to each other. "Honestly, if it was me, I would have arches of desert roses bushes, desert lilies spaced out to make the grass seem shining white, and multiple fruit trees to allow me the pleasure of each fruit everyday." Arianne complained as she had hated to see the Targaryen Prince be treated like a goddess.
"I love this place though. It is quiet and peaceful. I am most surprised that a man was thoughtful enough to create this area for his wife. Though it does seem like it is missing things." Arthura commented as she sipped on the tea she had one of the servants make for them.
"There is a reason for that." Veltina started to say before being cut off.
"Now, I do not think they wish to hear the gossip of our city." Daenerys said as she walked up to the table. "But for your information the garden is still incomplete."
"So her highness has decided to grace us with her presence." Arianne mocked.
"Oh, so the viper wishes to challenge the dragon?" Daenerys asked openly. "What shall we offer up this time?"
Veltina and Arthura sighed as this had become a common occurrence. Whenever in each other's presence the two would argue. Word jabs here and there ended up as a betting against each other. Much to Arianne's dismay she was behind in score that only they kept. "I will win this time!" Arianne angrily growled out as she stood up. "I believe it is time to prove to you who is the superior of us women."
It had been an ongoing argument between them as Arianne had always pushed the wrong buttons as Daenerys pushed them right back. Their arguments were nothing more than trying to one up each other. "Oh, and what will be the punishment this time?" Daenerys asked as she remembered her last punishment for Arianne. "Perhaps this time we make the loser the other's handmaiden for a week."
"Excellent, now what should the challenge be?" Arianne questioned as both Arthura and Veltina looked at each other and sighed.
"Why are you doing this again?" Arthura asked as she saw her friend constantly trying to make herself feel superior to the last female Targaryen.
"Hmm," Arianne hummed as she looked out at the garden, finally spotting a man tending the garden as he pulled weeds out. "We must show our fierceness and passion. There is a man in this garden tending to the flowers. We need to get a kiss from the man."
'Odd, there are no gardeners in the palace.' Daenerys thought as she turned to see a shirtless man bent over pulling the weeds and planting a new flower in Hadrian's mother's section.
"What is the matter? Scared you will lose?" Arianne questioned as she grinned at the other woman's indecision.
Daenerys continued to stare at the man. His black hair was slightly long as it sat on his shoulders covering partially what looked like scars. 'He is so familiar.' She thought as she turned to Veltina who also had a frown on her face. 'Hadrian is the only one that is allowed to...' The thought trailed off as the realization of who the man was had dawned on her.
"You're on!" Daenerys called out as she looked at the other woman. "I will be a generous host and allow you to go first."
"Do not regret it when you lose." Arianne replied as she pulled her dress down to allow the fabric to flow perfectly. The dress had been made to put emphasis on her curves after all.
"Do you think that was wise?" Arthura asked as she watched her friend sashay her way over to the man who seemed only there to work.
"Do not worry. I have a feeling she will be regretting this bet soon." Daenerys stated as a loving smile graced her lips.
"Wait, I know that look." Veltina stated as she turned back to the man who Arianne just got up to. "Oh, you are evil. This is not even a match."
"What do you mean?" Arthura questioned as she looked over to the man who had just noticed her friend's presence.
"There is only one person allowed to plant things into that garden." Daenerys explained as she saw him finally look up. "And it happens to be the lord of this city."
Arianne walked confidently towards the man as he finished planning a exotic flower she had never seen before. The flower was a light blue with white tips. She saw the man tenderly packing the dirt around the flower. "My, that is a lovely flower. I have never seen a sky blue flower before. What is it called?"Arianne watched as the man slowly looked up. His eyes seemed to roam her body as they slowly made their way up. She watched as she began to feel herself heat up as the man's eyes roamed her body. She followed his eyes as they reached hers. 'Ok, don't mess this up.' She thought as stared into glowing violet eyes. The man in front of her hit all of her positives as he took her breath away.
"It is called the Silent Princess. It was found by the free folk after their last true queen had passed. It is said that she died in childbirth along with her daughter. The flowers were given to her burial site and all hot springs of the North as a reminder of the loss of an innocent baby and a loved queen." The man said as his eyes seemed focused on her own.
"The free folk?" Arianne asked as she could not seem to break eye contact from the man as her own body heated up under his gaze.
"What the seven kingdoms refer to as wildlings. They are far north beyond the wall." The man had said as she felt her cheeks heat up as he stood up.
"You have been beyond the wall?" Arianne asked as she broke eye contact slightly as her eyes roamed down the man's chest.
"Yes, for a short time before I moved on." He replied as he knew she was staring at him.
"I am wondering," Arianne started as she bit her lower lip just slightly to show how full her lips were as she stepped closer to him. "If you could tell me about your travels. Perhaps somewhere private, with just the two of us."
"Unfortunately, I am busy today. Perhaps another time." He said as he started to walk away.
"Wait!" Arianne yelled, not caring about the bet at all. She wanted this man. "Surely you have time for it. I am sure I could convince the lord and lady to give time off to entertain one of their guests."
"Unfortunately, it is not a matter that they could change." He stated as he looked in a state of melancholy as he slowly turned back to the garden.
"If this is about another woman, I am sure we can figure something out." Arianne called out as she did not like the look of sadness on his features.
"Unfortunately, she is already gone." The man said as he turned to the garden one last time. "Happy birthday mom..." She heard, as then she saw Daemon walk in with Missandei.
'Mother?' Arianne thought as she looked at the beautiful garden filled with exotic and vibrant flowers. 'Why would he have a memorial place in the queen's garden...' It was then it hit her who this person was. Before her was the Lord of the city. The man who killed the Mountain that Rides. The Shadow Lord of Avalon. Hadrian Stark.
