AAAAAAAAANNNNNNNDDDDDD WE'RE BACK!

High Valyrian will be italicized

Dothraki will be bolded

Inner thoughts will be in between apostrophes

The contrast between the Golden Keep's outer defenses and its inner defenses was staggering. On the outside, the keep appeared to be an impenetrable fortress. On the inside however, it appeared to be anything but. The front courtyard seemed to be reserved as a training area for those who wish to join the Golden Company. So besides the trainees and the officers training them, there were no other guards or lookouts on duty. The front gate they had entered through was guarded by two men who appeared to be bored and half asleep. The gate itself was kept closed by a wooden bar that would probably break after two or three hits from a battering ram. As they walked through the halls, Zacrys noticed that there were few guards here as well. He noticed a single two-man team patrolling the halls. Truthfully, he had expected the Golden Keep to be more...secure. He could only hope that the Golden Company was better at warring than they were at guarding. The guard, Dorvis had stopped in front of an ornate wooden door. And of course, the door was lined with gold. 'WOW! They are REALLY leaning into the whole gold thing' Zacrys thought. Dorvis grabbed a door knocker with a skull shaped handle and banged it on the door three times. The door opened revealing another guard who looked at the three suspiciously. Dorvis the guard handed the note Zacrys gave him over to the other guard. He took the note and read it. The guard looked at us and slammed the door. Zacrys could hear talking inside but couldn't make out what they were saying. The door opened again revealing the same guard who said "The Captain will see you now. ONLY you. Your guard will have to wait outside."

Looking at Ser Arthur, Zacrys shrugged then turned to the guard and nodded his understanding. The guard opened the door all the way and let him through, then closed the door and locked it once he had entered. Zacrys looked at the guard at started thumbing his sword. "There is no need to be worried. The locked door is merely for security purposes." Zacrys turned to the source of the voice. Sitting at a large desk was a man in the same armor as the guards, but more decorative. Ser Harry Strickland, as he calls himself, is a portly man with mild grey eyes and blonde hair that is in a comb over. All in all, he doesn't look very impressive, or useful to be honest; but he is in charge of the most powerful sellsword company in Essos and if Zacrys is ever to take the Iron Throne, he is going to need Strickland's help. "Of course. Naturally." Zacrys said. he stopped thumbing his sword, though his hand twitched at the Hidden Blade on his wrist. "I must say, you seemed to have come a rather long way for this meeting." Captain Strickland said whilst pouring himself a cup of wine. "I did" Zacrys said simply. He did not wish to give Strickland anything until he was sure of just what kind of person he really was. " Well, I must warn you, the services of the Golden Company do not come cheap. I hope you are prepared to pay our price." Zacrys chuckled at that. "Oh, I am more than ready to pay your price" Strickland smiled at that "BUT...I'm not going to." "Well it that case, our business here is concluded. My guards will escort you out." As he was standing up and about to call for the guards to enter, Zacrys pulled out a dagger which extended into a sword and stopped right at the Captain's throat. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." The Captain sat back down slowly with a look of fear in his eyes. Zacrys sat down, sword still at Strickland's throat. "Like the dagger? I had it specially made by a blacksmith from Qohor. Valyrian steel and as you can see, able to extend from a dagger into a full sword. Particularly useful for Braavosi water-dancing" Zacrys poured himself a cup of wine and took a big gulp "Mmmmm, Arbor gold, delicious." he took another gulp, when he noticed Captain Strickland's face. A strange looking combination of rage, hatred, and pure pants-shitting fear. "You can't do this" Strickland whispered. Zacrys looked at him "Oh, actually, I can" he set the cup down "And I will. You see Captain, despite the sword at your throat, I was truthful about my purpose here" Zacrys said. "I am here to enlist the services of the Golden Company, so that I may take what is rightfully mine." Strickland looked him confusedly "What? What do want to take?" He asked fearfully.

Zacrys smirked at him, came up close and said "The Iron Throne."

he stepped back and the look of fear and anger was replaced with one of disbelief. He chuckled at the boy who stood in front of him, who in turn pressed the sword to his neck, drawing a tiny bit of blood and prompting the Captain to stay silent. "What in the name of all the gods makes you think you can take the Iron Throne?" he asked "Who do think you are?" At this, Zacrys took off his hood and showed his full face. Harry Strickland took in the boy's features and his eyes widened in horror as he realized who is standing before him. "Does this" Zacrys gestured to his face "Answer your question? Captain?" he said rhetorically. "You're a ttttTargaryen?" Strickland asked with a stutter. "Indeed I am" Zacrys answered "I am the trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, and the RIGHTFUL HEIR...to the Iron Throne of Westeros." Strickland gulped. If he wasn't scared before, he certainly was now. He remembered the many times when the Golden Company fought against the Targaryen kings while serving House Blackfyre. And he remembered that every time they did, they lost. BADLY. The last time they did was during what historians called 'the War of the Ninepenny Kings', where Maeyls the Monstrous, last of the Blackfyre pretenders, attempted to take the Iron Throne; only to be slayed by Ser Barristan Selmy on Bloodstone. "For almost a century, the Golden Company has served House Blackfyre. For almost a century, you have supported bastards in taking a throne that did not belong to them. However, the Blackfyres had the blood of the dragon. Targaryen blood. MY blood." Strickland looked at cautiously "What's your point?" he asked. Zacrys pressed the sword on his neck "MY POINT" he spat "is that in the end, your allegiance is not to those who carry the name Blackfyre...but to those who have dragon's blood coursing through their veins. Like me" Zacrys finished with a smirk. "So here is the offer I make you, Captain Harry Strickland. Join my side and pledge your eternal fealty to me. Not as sellswords working for coin, but as the army of House Targaryen, and you will be rewarded for your loyalty and can finally go HOME." Zacrys removed the sword from his throat "So, will you bend the knee, or will you not?"

AAAAAAANNNNNNNDDDDD THAT'S A WRAP!

Until next time

Valar Morghulis