Yunkai, 300 AC

Dutch

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…Azor Ahai labored for thirty days and thirty nights to forge a hero's sword, but the blade broke when tempered in the water. He then labored fifty days and fifty nights, this time tempering it in a lion's heart, but it broke again. In his third and last attempt, he worked for a hundred days and hundred nights, and prepared for the greatest sacrifice. Once he fashioned his strongest blade, he called for his wife Nissa Nissa, and asked her to bare her breast. He drove the sword into her heart, and her soul combined with the blade, creating Lightbringer, the sword to vanquish the darkness…

The text translated by a scribe talked of a great hero who lived thousands of years ago. The way he was described was very Christ-like, the man who was born to save the world. He was known by many names, the major ones being Hyrkoon, Yin Tar, Neferion, Eldric, but most prominently, the Azor Ahai. Those Red Priests and their god talked of that person every chance they got. Curiously, there was no mention of a 'Long Night', though the period of darkness as described in the texts was similar. Could they be the same events? It had been two days, but Brandon didn't contact him again. Dutch knew that God had something to do with his appearance, but could not figure out what He was trying to tell him. What was that king talking about?

What he did know, was that it was time for him to act, as something terrible was about to come.

Entering the council hall, he saw that the members were gathered in a corner, examining a body covered in black cloth. The rebel group was still operating from the shadows. Removing the covering from the man's face, Dutch was shocked as he recognised the man who lay there, even with his eyes gouged out and tongue removed.

"I know this man. He's Mossador, Missandei's brother." he said. The girl was with the queen's retinue, completely in the dark. "Where did it happen?"

"His brothers found him outside a brothel." Edar told him.

Another day, another man dead. Enough is enough. It was time to do something.

"Friends, it seems that I have been indecisive for too long." Dutch said as the scribes translated. "These so-called Sons of the Harpy continue to mock us with impunity, and destroy everything we have worked so hard to build. It cannot be allowed to stand. Therefore, in light of the recent murders, I will personally lead the attack on them."

The time for diplomacy and using the carrot was over. That boy had revealed something to him, something important for which they needed to be prepared for, and they could not focus on that task if they were constantly fighting no-good slavers for control of a single city. No, it simply wouldn't do. It was time to mete out punishment. It was time for the old Dutch van der Linde to return and take charge once more. "Gather the soldiers here within the hour."

Inside the pyramid, people were assembled, mostly the Unsullied that stayed behind and the freed slaves who took up jobs around the city. Dutch entered the scene and began talking, with an interpreter close by.

"By now, you all must have heard of the events in the city. Our citizens are being killed every day, many of which you might know personally, by a group known as Sons of the Harpy. This is part of a conspiracy to undermine us by the former masters, and it must not be allowed to go on. It's our city, and it's our duty to defend it from enemies. This is why I have decided to create a special team to combat this threat. You all have certain abilities that make you suitable. Anyone interested may come forward, and it goes without saying, that more responsibilities carry more rewards."

There was talk among those assembled, and eventually nearly all of them came forward. Sartar, formerly known as Foul Mongrel before Daenerys put him in charge of Yunkai, took their names.

"I thank you all for your eagerness. What I want is for you to venture into the city and get to work collecting information. For that, you'll need to blend in with the common people. That means, get rid of your armor and uniforms, and wear something less suspicious. No large weapons either, instead carry knives. I want at least ten men in every major part of Yunkai. You can bribe individuals or recruit other people using the coin we'll provide you. But make no mistake, if we get wind that you have misused funds or conspired with our enemies, the punishment will be swift. Any questions?" No one replied. "Good. Now please make your way towards Commander Sartar and he'll give you what you need."

Dutch was hesitant to use children as spies, so he hoped that his new team could put that proposal out of discussion. That night, he sat down for dinner with the Dornish women. Prince Oberyn, along with his paramour Ellaria and his daughter Obara had left for Meereen on their newly built ships, intending to surprise the city, while Tyene and Nymeria Sand stayed behind. They liked to eat food laced with hot spices, which was a bit too much for a man like him, so he stuck to lightly salted stew and steak. Nymeria had expressed interest in learning how to use a gun, while Tyene wanted to be a part of his new team. Dutch supposed they could be included in his plans, under the right circumstances.

"There is one thing on my mind. The Unsullied soldier was found outside a brothel. From what his brothers told me, no one ever saw a fight. No one was even supposed to patrol near that place. So how did he end up there?" he said.

Nymeria snorted. "Surely an Unsullied would not visit a brothel. It is not possible."

"Yes, yes. Impossible indeed, but that's not an answer. The point remains that he was near a brothel, and yet no one saw anything until the body turned up."

Tyene seemed to understand. "You mean that the brothel keepers are in league with the attackers?"

"That is a possibility. Though I don't know why. They were not masters, and neither did we do anything to their business."

"It seems that I have found some use for myself here." Tyene said. "If I cannot recruit children as my lord father suggested, then maybe I can help in other ways."

"What is it?"

"I will enter the brothel district and get to the truth of the matter."

Dutch was horrified. "That's out of the question. That is no place for a young lady like you, and your father will be furious."

"Father knows better, and I have my sister to protect me."

"Still, I cannot allow you to put yourself in danger. Many things can go wrong, if you are indeed correct."

"Just imagine what it could do to our cause." Tyene said. "The sooner we get information, the sooner we can deal with the attackers." The girl wouldn't budge, just like her father. Dutch didn't give her an answer upfront, instead putting it under consideration.

Night came, and he returned to his quarters. It had been a long day, and in the midst of all he had been doing, he almost forgot about the boy. He drifted into sleep.

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The Neck, 300 AC

Jaime

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The two of them hid inside a burrow. Bronn smelled bad, with the guts of the men covering his body, while Jaime had lost his golden hand in the encounter. Their men were either dead or deserted their posts. What in gods' name was happening in this place?

"See anything?" Jaime asked his companion.

"The coast is clear, for now." Bronn replied. "Better get going if we wanna get out alive."

They came out of hiding and walked slowly, their boots sinking in the swamp, which slowed their pace. Soon, they came across a makeshift road made of wooden planks, which the crannogmen must have fashioned to aid their travels. Hours had passed since that incident with those men. Jaime was not sure how to describe it, for he had not seen anything like it. Once the bandits rose from the dead, many more came out to attack them. Had it not been for the swamps that slowed their pace as well, no one would have escaped. While the knights that accompanied them on foot were all caught by the attackers, Jaime and Bronn managed to narrowly make their escape, not stopping or looking back until they reached that burrow, where they stayed put.

"You know, following your brother might have been the stupidest thing I ever done." Bronn said. "Here we are wandering in the Neck with a bloodthirsty horde on our ass."

"What were they?" Jaime said. "Men do not just come back to life." His companion had no answer. They were both tired and out of their wits, and who would not be? As they went a few miles further, they saw some dry patches of land which came as a relief. They sat down and rested, while always on guard for lizard lions. They had come very close to one some time ago, and were not keen on repeating that mistake. They started a fire using what few dry twigs they could find. It had rained yesterday, and could also rain that night. They had no food, nor a roll to sleep on.

Sitting beside the fire, none of them talked that much. It was unusual for someone like Bronn, a man who could never shut up. Somehow they had to spend the night safely, as the night had come. Closing his eyes, Jaime slowly drifted into sleep.

"Wake up!" Bronn whispered. The day was setting in, and he heard more sounds. Opening his eyes, he looked ahead towards something he did not want to see. Another one of those dead men, trapped between a swamp, screeching.

"When did he get here?" Jaime asked.

"Must have snuck up in the night. Bet he did not expect this, the cunt."

The spot was not safe anymore. Jaime picked up Widow's Wail, and made haste. The man was still screeching, and must not have seen the two of them. Suddenly, as they went in the opposite direction, they saw three lizard lions approaching the man. His voice had drawn them in, and they made quick work of him, fighting for each piece.

There was no map to guide them, and they had lost sight of the road ever since their escape. It was known that one cannot travel the swamps without help from a crannogman. The terrain was too dangerous. Even the Greywater Watch, the seat of their lords, was said to be hard to find. It moved around the swamps, and even Aegon the conqueror himself could not take it.

"Hear that?" Jaime said as he heard something in the distance. It was the voice of a man, no, more than one men. Getting their swords ready, he and Bronn marched towards the north. They crossed a line of trees and found a party fighting another of those dead men. Reacting quickly, they crossed swords with the monstrosities, hacking and slashing them. Jaime noticed that they fell quickly when he used Widow's Wail, even though he was not the fighter he used to be, while others were having much trouble. Clearing the three monsters quickly, he got a look at the men.

"Kingslayer!" it was Brynden Tully. He quickly pointed his sword at him, while Bronn pointed his at the other man, a Riverlander knight.

"Ser Brynden." Jaime said. "There is no need for this madness. Lower your blade."

"So you and your sellsword pet can kill us? I do not think so."

"There are more treacherous things at work here. We do not need to add to that." Jaime tried to reason with the man. He did not have the protection of the Lannister army anymore, and though the Blackfish was old, he still had his two hands. "Bronn! Lower your sword."

"Are you mad, you fucker?" came the reply.

"I said do it!" he ordered and Bronn reluctantly agreed. The Blackfish looked at them with suspicion, but he was honourable enough not to attack.

"Do you know anything about these monsters?" Jaime pointed at the corpses. "What are they?"

"I encountered them on my way north. That is all I know."

"Your group? What happened to it?" he asked.

"None of your business, Kingslayer. Just call your army and get it over with!"

"There is no army." Jaime told him. "These things took us by surprise, and I suppose the same happened to you?" The look on Ser Brynden's face revealed all. He did not know what was happening, same as them. "It is best for us to travel together."

"You have a lot of nerve, Lannister!" the knight broke his silence.

Brynden silenced his companion. "And why should I do that? I have a strong memory, Lannister, and I do not forget that it was your family that killed mine. Why should I tolerate your presence?"

The tension lingered in the air for a few moments, before being broken by strange voices in the distance. The same voices of the monsters, that seemed to be getting closer.

"If not, we all die." Jaime said. The screeches were getting louder and they could now see figures in the distance. Brynden and his companion saw them too. The monsters had company. Bronn had now shifted his attention elsewhere. "What now?"

Jaime looked at Brynden, who refused to say anything, but then he did. "Ah, fuck it. Run!"

The four men took off, running ahead, away from the monsters. The land was drier, and would not help them this time. No one dared looked back. All of them were tired and fatigued, yet they had to run. They ran through the mud, the swamps and the trees, while their pursuers did not relent. That went on until they finally reached a small village near the river. Not many people were seen, except a few men and women covered with furs and leaves, on the top of the wooden walls.

"Who goes there?" the guard asked. Jaime could not answer, lest he risk their wrath.

"Open up! The monsters are coming!"

The guard seemed to look in the distance before giving the order. The four men quickly went inside. "Hurry up and get on the barge." The crannogman said. "I did not expect them to reach here this soon."

"You know what they are?" Jaime asked.

"Lord Reed has ordered everyone to abandon their towns. These things came from the north. He suspects that the kingdom has fallen."

"The North? Fallen?" Jaime could not believe it. What was this plague that turned men into this? And what about those refugees they had seen near the Twins. Will these things make their way south and spread it? Cersei, Tommen, Myrcella…

As the barge was boarded, there were voices to be heard outside the walls. Everyone rushed and took their belongings overboard. Everyone was given an oar and they quickly rowed it to the middle of the river. In the distance, the village was overrun by the horde.

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