Growing Interest

The midday sun beat down mercilessly on the sparring courtyard of the Red Keep. Jace stood in the centre, his wooden sword clutched tightly in his small hands. Edryck Dayne circled him leisurely. A smirk played on Edryck's lips as he watched the young boy struggle to maintain his stance.

"Keep your feet planted, Jace," Edryck advised with a mocking tone. "Unless you plan to fly away from me."

Jace gritted his teeth, adjusting his position. He knew Edryck's taunts were meant to unsettle him, to break his concentration, but he was determined not to let them succeed. He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Edryck's. Helaena and Daella watched from the shaded edge of the courtyard, worry etched on their faces. Daella, bit her lip as she saw Edryck's sword come down hard against Jace's. "He's so small compared to Ser Dayne," Daella whispered, clutching Helaena's arm. "Do you think he'll be alright?"

"He's strong," Helaena replied, though her voice wavered. "He'll find a way."

The initial exchanges were brutal for Jace. Each swing of Edryck's sword seemed to come faster and harder than the last. Jace blocked and dodged as best as he could, but his arms were starting to ache from the effort. Edryck, by contrast, moved with the ease of a man who had been fighting all his life. His strikes were precise, his movements fluid, and yet much to Jaces frustration he wasn't even close to trying his best.

"You're too slow, boy!" Edryck called out, tapping Jace's sword aside with a flick of his wrist. "If you don't move quicker, you'll be dead before you've drawn your first breath."Jace stumbled back, trying to catch his breath. His mind raced, trying to find a way to break through Edryck's defences. As the bout continued, Jace began to notice patterns in Edryck's attacks. He saw the way Edryck's eyes shifted before a strike, the subtle movements of his shoulders. Jace started to anticipate where the blows would come from. Edryck smirked as he noticed how Jace was starting to see the openings he was leaving in his defences. 'This kid...'

"Not bad," Edryck remarked as Jace managed to block a particularly weak strike. "But you'll need more than just a lucky block to best me."

Jace didn't reply, his mind focused on a strategy. He knew he couldn't overpower Edryck; the man was too strong, too experienced. But maybe, he could outsmart him. Though he doubted that could happen either.

The next time Edryck advanced, Jace deliberately left an opening on his left side —Edryck had been chastising him about leaving it unguarded. Edryck took the bait, swinging his sword towards the gap. At the last second, Jace ducked and rolled to the side, swinging his wooden sword upwards as he came up.

The tip of his blade brushed against Edryck's shoulder.

Edryck stepped back, surprise flashing across his face before it was replaced by a broad grin. "Well done," he said, a hint of genuine praise in his voice. "It seems you have a brain beneath all that hair."

Helaena and Daella gasped, their worry momentarily replaced by pride.

"Did you see that?" Daella exclaimed, her eyes wide. "He touched him!"

"Yes," Helaena agreed, her face breaking into a smile.

But Edryck was not done yet. He stepped forward again, his movements faster, his strikes harder. "One lucky hit doesn't mean you've won," he warned, his voice losing its earlier mirth. "You need consistency, skill, and endurance." The fight intensified. Jace's body screamed in protest with every block, every parry. He could feel the sting of Edryck's strikes, but he also felt the thrill of the fight. He tried new tactics, some of which failed miserably, drawing more laughter and taunts from Edryck. But each failure was a lesson learned, a step towards improving his technique.

The courtyard echoed with the sound of wood clashing against wood. Edryck's face was a mask of stoicism, he didn't want to give a hint to Jace that he was doing well. However in all honesty it was astounding how well the boy was doing, he'd never seen someone with such intuitive talent. 'To think he brushed my shoulder...' Edryck thought to himself with a shake of his head.

Helaena and Daella held their breath, their eyes never leaving the two combatants. Neither one of them liked seeing Jace get hurt, especially Daella who had gone through the terror of nearly losing Jace multiple times in Valyria.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jace saw another opening. This time, he didn't hesitate. He feinted to the right, then swung his sword in a wide arc to the left, aiming for Edryck's unguarded side.

Edryck saw it all happen and while he could've blocked he chose not to, Jace had done well and he deserved to have a win. Jace was a rare talent and Edryck found a flame being lit within himself at the thought of turning him into a swordsman that surpassed even himself. Edryck stepped back, lowering his sword. "Enough," he said, his voice carrying a note of approval. "You've done well, Jace."

Jace lowered his own sword, panting heavily. He didn't feel much pride at Edrycks words, he knew how much the older man was holding back, if he wasn't then nothing he could come up with would've broken past his guard. In fact, Jace would've been slaughtered in the first two seconds of the fight if Edryck had taken him seriously.  

Helaena and Daella rushed forward, their faces alight with excitement. "You did it, Jace!" Helaena cried, hugging him tightly. "You were amazing," Daella added, her eyes shining with admiration.

Edryck approached them, his demeanour softer now. "You've got potential, boy," he said, clapping Jace on the shoulder. "But remember, this is just the beginning. You need to practice, to refine your skills. Intelligence will only get you so far; you need to match it with hard work."

Jace nodded as he panted heavily he barely had enough strength to hold the wooden sword. He wasn't finished yet, he needed to keep going, he had been neglecting his training for the past two weeks in favour of making his Valyrian Bloodwine. "Let's... start... on technique," he breathed out.

Daella and Helaena both frowned at Jace. "Should you not take a break Jace? You've been working all morning and it's well past noon," Helaena said with worry on her face.

"Yes Jace, why don't you come inside and have lunch with us," Daella added.

Jace smiled at the two girls but shook his head. "I'm fine don't worry, I won't be much longer now, why don't you two go ahead I won't be far behind."

Neither girl looked happy at the idea but they agreed, Helaena stepped forward and hugged him with Daella following after and wrapping her arms around him tightly. She then turned her head and placed a kiss on his cheek "I will come and drag you inside if you don't eat soon," she warned. Jace found a small smile forming on his face; Daella had changed a lot from the shy and meek girl he'd met in Volantis. While she was often quiet around those she didn't know, she would get very angry at any bad words said about him. He did find it a bit strange how protective she was of him, especially after all he'd done.

"Don't worry I'll join you soon," he said reassuring her. The two girls then walked away with their handmaidens back into the shade of the castle interior and Jace turned back to Edryck who had taken a seat in the shadow of the wall. "They are right you know, it's important to know when to take a break."

"I don't need a break, I need to get better," Jace replied.

Edryck snickered before holding his cup out and having a servant refill it. He gulped down the water until his cup remained empty and then stood back up. "Very well, get in your stance I'll show you a few things," he replied.

Edryck approached the middle of the courtyard and twirled his wooden sword "For the sake of simplicity and to help you remember, I'll name the techniques that I'm about to show you. This one is called the Dancing Serpent." He moved into a low stance, his body coiled like a spring.

"Watch carefully," he instructed. "This move is all about fluidity and deception." With a sudden burst of motion, Edryck lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air in a sinuous, almost serpentine motion. He twisted his wrist mid-strike, causing the blade to change direction abruptly.

"The key here," Edryck explained, "Is like I said, deception. Most men you encounter will be rigid and to the book when it comes to swordplay, this move could very well end the fight before it even begins if it's fast enough and at the very least set them on the back foot giving you the advantage." He repeated the move several times, each time emphasizing the importance of the wrist twist and the fluidity of the motion.

"Now you try," Edryck said, stepping back to give Jace space.

Jace took a deep breath and mimicked Edryck's stance. He lunged forward, attempting to replicate the serpentine motion. His first attempt was clumsy, the sword wobbling uncertainly in his hand.

"Not bad for a first try," Edryck said, though his tone suggested there was much to improve. "Your movements need to be smoother. Think of the snake, how it glides without effort. You must aim for that kind of grace." Jace tried again, this time focusing on keeping his movements fluid. He felt an improvement this time, but his movements were still stiff and clumsy.

"Better," Edryck commented. "Remember, it's not just about the twist. It's about the entire motion being one continuous flow." They practised the Dancing Serpent for a while, Jace gradually improving with each attempt. Edryck's corrections were sharp and precise, pushing Jace to refine his technique.  Once Edryck was satisfied with Jace's progress he decided they should move on.

"This one I call the 'Falcon's Dive'," Edryck said, adopting a high guard stance. "It's a quick, downward strike, I once cut a man from shoulder to the waist using this technique." Edryck couldn't help but feel the amusement at teaching a young boy this technique. Edryck demonstrated, raising his sword high above his head before bringing it down in a swift, powerful arc. He pivoted on his front foot as he struck, adding force to the blow.

Jace watched intently, then stepped forward to try it himself. He raised his sword high, then brought it down in a quick, decisive motion. His first attempt was too slow, the sword wobbling as it descended.

"Speed, Jace," Edryck urged. "The falcon doesn't hesitate when it dives for its prey."

Jace continued to practice it, what Edryck was looking for was good form, it didn't matter much if there wasn't much speed and power considering he was so young —that could be gained later in life. Good form was needed for the technique and so Edryck watched Jace practice over and over again until he got it right. "Better," Edryck said, nodding in approval. "Now, let's see you combine the two techniques. Start with the Dancing Serpent, then transition into the Falcon's Dive."

Jace took a deep breath and stepped into the low stance of the Dancing Serpent. He lunged forward, twisting his wrist to change the direction of his strike, then pivoted smoothly into the high guard of the Falcon's Dive. With a swift motion, he brought the sword down in a powerful arc. They continued practising, Edryck offering tips and corrections as Jace worked on refining his technique. Jace continued with an emotionless expression, no matter how much his body hurt he pushed through the pain.

After a while, Jace paused, his curiosity piqued by a different matter. "Edryck," he began, hesitantly. "About the task I gave you... did you manage to place the bottles of Valyrian Bloodwine around the castle?"

Edryck's expression shifted, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Ah, the Bloodwine. Yes, I did as you asked. The castle has been in a slight uproar trying to discover where the wine came from."

Jace's eyes locked on Edryck with interest. "And one of the bottles was served to the king?"

Edryck nodded. "Indeed. The king himself tasted the wine at the last feast. The other bottles were placed strategically in the noble's quarters. It caused quite a stir."

Jace looked pleased with himself. "Good. That was the plan." Jace had been quite busy as of late so he wasn't able to hear about how well his plan of planting the bottles for the nobles and King to taste had gone. He had scarcely seen anyone the past few days.

Edryck chuckled. "You have a mind for intrigue, young Jace. The nobles were certainly perplexed. Some thought it was a gift from a distant ally, others suspected a plot."

Jace nodded. "Thank you, Edryck."

Edryck frowned, however, "You're incredibly bright Jace, but be careful, as someone who has tasted your wine, other wine providers will not be happy with your product."

Jace looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "I know, which is why I want to keep my identity hidden, keep the amount sold low and watch as the price increases."

Edryck chuckled again "Quite devious for someone only ten name days."

"Next month will be my eleventh name day," Jace stated.

"Oh? Then perhaps as a man grown you'll give me a challenge," Edryck said sarcastically.

Jace ignored him and went back to training, he trained both techniques individually and then combined them together. He even took his own initiative and tried to reverse them, by going from the Falcons Dive into the Dancing Serpent, it was difficult and it took him a few hours to even get a shaky version of it, let alone one that would work in combat. None the less he had impressed Edryck with his drive and creative ability to rework the techniques.

Edryck smirked however when he saw an angry Daella and Helaena stomping back out of the castle. Being a man approaching the later stages of his life, he knew that if a person wants to stay happy they should never anger the women in their life. 'I've Made that mistake more than once...' he thought with a chuckle. "That's enough for today, Jace," he said as he got his stuff together hoping to avoid the angry girls coming towards them.

Have made a disgruntled sound as he slid back into a neutral stance. "I can still keep going, I want to continue," he stated.

"Jace!"

Jace turned and he saw Daella and Helaena approaching him and they did not look happy. Jace turned back around to Edryck who had decided to disappear; while he was his bodyguard it didn't mean he had to be within sight of Jace. So he happily stood unseen in a doorway watching the events unfold.

Daella yanked him by the arm "It's been hours Jace! You are coming inside to eat now," she said chidingly. He tried to pull away but his body was exhausted from the pain of working his body raw. Helaena took the wooden sword from his hand without much protest to him, she gasped slightly at the blood on his hands. "We need to go to the Maester," she said to Daella.

Daella turned his other hand and saw the blood dripping from the newly formed blisters. "You are both overreacting, this is normal for a swordsman, they grow callouses on their hands it makes them better warriors," he stated.

Daella frowned "We still need to get them bandaged," she replied.

"Please Jace, we are both worried about you," Helaena said pleadingly.

Jace sighed and found he couldn't say no to either of them when they looked at him with such worry on their faces. "Alright, I'll stop for today, we can go to the Maesters and then eat," he said which had the effect of bringing a bright smile to both of them. As they got ready to leave Aegon and Aemond both sauntered into the courtyard with Ser Criston Cole at their backs. 'Good thing I stopped now,' Jace thought to himself.

Aegon had an almost murderous expression as his eyes made contact with Jace. He had still not forgiven him for embarrassing him in front of the whole courtyard as he did, in fact, he still sported a bruise on the right side of his face which was rather unseemly. "Dragon slayer, where do you think you're going!" Aegon shouted as Jace and the girls began to walk inside.

However much to Aegon's anger Jace ignored him and continued walking into the castle. "Ignore him, my Prince," Ser Criston advised.

"How?! He embarrassed me in front of everyone!" Aegon shouted.

"Maybe you should've practised harder brother," Aemond commented as he picked up a blunted sword.

"And why should I respect the opinion of a flightless dragon!" Aegon hissed at his brother.

Aemond found his grip tightening on the sword as he looked at his brother. His lack of a dragon had always been a sore spot for him, and Aegon's continuous comments and jokes would often make it work. "He is learning from a sellsword of a backwards land, I'll be teaching you myself, you will get better than him if you put in the effort as Aemond does," Criston commented.

"Let's start then," Aegon said distastefully.

...

Jace had gotten bandaged by the Maester and was now eating with his family. His mother had gone back to Dragonstone to see her other children and he wasn't sure when she would be returning 'If she does...' Jace thought to himself. She had always hated Kings Landing after Alicent had become queen, it turned from her home into a place where she slept with one eye open, or so she said. Jace did his best to avoid Aegons and Aemonds expressions, though the latter didn't seem very interested in him.

"Viserys... did you manage to find the origins of that mysterious wine we had a few nights back," Alicent asked as she sipped from what she now considered a rather unremarkable wine.

"I'm afraid not, I've sent people to every wine purveyor in the city and none I've tasted come close to that remarkable vintage," Viserys replied.

Daella and Helaena almost audibly sighed as the wine they spoke of was the constant talk of the castle. So much so that it began to grate their ears when they heard of it. "From what I can gather there were only six bottles in the Red Keep, how they got here was a mystery," he said with a sigh. The wine had been like pure bliss, like being soaked in fire, and that was only after the first sip. When he had finished his cup it was like he could feel all the blood in his body rushing through him, it all burned with such warmth and comfort that he nearly fell asleep at the feast.

Jace concealed his smile as he heard the King and Queen speak of his product. He decided now was the right time to make a move, he'd waited long enough. "You know when I ventured down to Kings Landing I did see a new Wine Merchant, though he was a travelling one as his stock was confined to a cart," Jace replied.

Their gazes suddenly zeroed in on Jace "A new Merchant you say, what did the bottles he sold look like?" King Viserys asked.

"Dark green, there was no stamp or engraving on them, so I'm not sure what type of wine it was," he replied.

Both Viserys and Alicent's eyes widened, Jace had perfectly described the type of bottle the mystery wine came in. At first, they were dubious of whether Jace had found it or not, but in their eyes, this had all but confirmed it. "Do you know where he is now?! Where his store is set up?!" Viserys asked leaning forward in his seat and pushing the table slightly with his stomach.

"It was just on the edge of the street of silk though he's most likely gone home for today," he replied taking the wind out of their sails.

"That is disappointing..." Viserys replied.

"We should try tomorrow," Alicent stated.

Viserys brightened up once again "Yes I think that would be a fine idea," he said before going back to his dinner.

After they had all eaten and left, Helaena and Daella walked with Jace as they all went to their rooms. "Jace, did you honestly see this merchant?" Helaena asked as her eyebrows scrunched together.

Jace scratched his face as he looked at Helaena, he knew he could trust her, but in all honestly he just didn't want to lie to her. "No, the truth is I made the wine," he whispered in a low voice.

Both Daella and Helaena looked surprised. "It was a recipe I found in Valyria, make sure not to tell anyone, I don't want people to know I'm the one to make it," he replied.

"Why are you doing it?" Daella asked.

"Gold, I need gold for my projects, and to look after the families of those who died in Valyria," he replied.

Daella saw the hard expression on his face and she gripped his hand tightly. Jace turned to her and smiled "I appreciate both of you trying hard to take care of me... thank you," he said.

"Always."

"Always."

"I have a long day tomorrow, I would like to get some rest," he said to both of them, he gave them both a hug before heading to his room where he opened the door and shut it behind him.

"Are you ready?" Jace asked Edryck who sat on his bed wearing a disguise.

"Yeah, you sure this is a good idea?" He asked.

"No going back now," Jace replied.

Jace then put on his own disguise covering his hair and face, though only his hair was important as he hadn't been in Kings Landing long enough to be recognised by the small folk.

He walked over to a painting by the fireplace and gripped a candle holder by the wall, with a turn the wall opened like a door showing a dark corridor. Helaena had shown him the existence of these secret tunnels during his dreams in Valyria, and ever since he'd returned he'd been trying to find as many entrances as possible as well as discover where they all led. He'd made some headway in the former category, but in the latter, he struggled as the tunnels were like a maze.

"Let's go," he said to Edryck.

———————————————————-

The dimly lit tavern in King's Landing was filled with the raucous sounds of drunken patrons, clinking mugs, and the occasional shout. Hugh Waters sat at a corner table, nursing his drink with a heavy hand. The mug felt small in his massive grip, and the ale within did little to numb the turmoil that churned in his mind.

Hugh was a giant of a man, standing nearly seven feet tall with a body that had been forged by a lifetime of smithing. His muscles were hardened from years of hammering iron, but tonight, they sagged under the weight of his troubles. His silver hair hung in greasy strands over his face, partially obscuring the scowl that seemed permanently etched into his features.

He lifted his mug, draining the last of his coin-bought ale, and signalled the barmaid for another. His gaze followed her as she moved, a lecherous glint in his eyes. The barmaid, a young woman with auburn hair had a weary expression, she pretended not to notice, but she could feel his eyes on her as she brought him another drink. "Here you go, ser," she said, setting the mug down quickly and stepping back. Hugh grunted in response, not bothering to thank her.

As he drank, his thoughts drifted back to the events that had brought him to this sorry state. Once, he had his own smithy on Dragonstone, a modest establishment but one that he had inherited from his father as he had no trueborn children. It had been his pride and his livelihood. But that was before the money lenders came, before they took everything from him.

He cursed under his breath, remembering how they had stripped his smithy bare, taking tools, and equipment, and leaving him with nothing. Desperation had driven him to King's Landing, where he had sought an apprenticeship with Dael the Blacksmith. Dael, a man two decades his junior, had reluctantly taken him on, perhaps out of pity or necessity.

The arrangement had been humiliating for Hugh. He, a man of his size and skill, reduced to taking orders from someone so much younger. The shame had festered inside him, fueled by his growing debts and the constant fear of being found by the moneylenders. The breaking point had come just a week ago. The money lenders had found him again, this time at Dael's forge. They had demanded payment, and when Hugh couldn't produce the money, they had taken some of Dael's tools instead. Dael, furious and scared, had confronted Hugh, shouting and berating him in front of the other apprentices. Hugh's temper, always a dangerous thing, had snapped. Without thinking, he grabbed Dael by the arm and twisted until he heard the sickening crack of bone. The memory of Dael's scream and the horrified looks of the other apprentices still haunted him.

Now, Hugh was a fugitive, drinking away the last of his coin in a tavern while waiting for the inevitable. He knew it was only a matter of time before the guards or the moneylenders found him. When they did, he would likely end up in the black cells beneath the Red Keep or floating face down in the Blackwater Rush.

He took another long drink, savouring the brief escape the alcohol provided. His thoughts turned darker, contemplating his fate. Perhaps it would be better if he didn't wait for them to find him. Maybe he could take matters into his own hands, and end things on his terms. 'Bring those cunts down with me...' he thought to himself.

As the night wore on, the tavern grew louder and rowdier. Hugh watched the barmaids move about, his gaze lingering on their forms. He knew his looks made them uncomfortable, but he didn't care. His life was a ruin, and there was little left for him to salvage. However, the tavern door soon creaked open, drawing the attention of its patrons. Hugh Waters glanced up briefly from his mug, his purple eyes narrowing as a group of five men entered. Four of them wore swords on their belts. The fifth, however, was dressed in fine clothes, his manner exuding arrogance.

Hugh recognized the finely dressed man immediately. It was Alyn, the money lender who had ruined his life. The sight of him brought a wave of bitter anger surging through Hugh, but he forced himself to remain calm, taking another long drink from his mug. The cup strained under his grip, the wood creaking ominously. Alyn's eyes scanned the room until they landed on Hugh. A slow, satisfied smile spread across his face. He sauntered across the tavern, his guards following closely behind. When he reached Hugh's table, he stopped, looking down at the hulking smith with amusement.

"Well, well, if it isn't Hugh Waters," Alyn said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Enjoying your drink, I see. Spending the last of your coin, no doubt." Hugh said nothing, his gaze fixed on the mug in his hand. He was struggling not to grab the slender man by the throat and crack his neck. Alyn chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Where's my gold, Hugh?" he asked, leaning forward. "Or have you already squandered it all?"

Hugh remained silent, his jaw clenched tight. Alyn's smile widened, taking his silence as a sign of weakness.

"You know," Alyn continued, "I always knew you were a brute. But breaking Dael's arm? That was a new low, even for you." Hugh's grip on the mug tightened further, his knuckles white. Alyn's taunts grew darker, his voice lowering to a threatening whisper. "Maybe I'll take your debt out of your hide, piece by piece. An ear here, a finger there. Or maybe I'll leave you floating in the Blackwater Rush. How does that sound, Hugh?"

Something snapped inside Hugh. With a roar, he surged to his feet, flipping the table into the air. The heavy wood crashed into Alyn and his guards, knocking them back. The tavern erupted into chaos as patrons scrambled to get out of the way.

Alyn stumbled to his feet, his face pale with fear. He took one look at the towering, enraged figure of Hugh and turned on his heel, fleeing the tavern like a coward. "KILL HIM!!!" He commanded his guards as he left through the doors. The guards drew their swords and approached Hugh. The first guard lunged at Hugh, sword aimed for his chest. Hugh dodged to the side, his massive hand shooting out to grab the man by the wrist. With a savage twist, he snapped the bone, eliciting a scream of pain from the guard. The sword clattered to the floor as the guard crumpled, clutching his broken wrist.

Another guard swung his blade at Hugh's head. Hugh ducked, the sword whistling over his head. He came up inside the guard's reach, his fist driving into the man's stomach with the force of a battering ram. The guard doubled over, gasping for breath, and Hugh finished him with a brutal uppercut that sent him sprawling. But the remaining two guards were more cautious. They circled Hugh, swords ready, looking for an opening. One of them feinted to the left, drawing Hugh's attention, while the other slashed at his right side. Hugh managed to block the attack with his forearm, but the blade bit deep, blood welling from the gash.

Ignoring the pain, Hugh grabbed the nearest guard by the throat, lifting him off the ground. The guard struggled, his feet kicking uselessly. With a roar, Hugh hurled him across the tavern, the man crashing into a table and lying still. The last guard hesitated, but only for a moment. He lunged at Hugh, his sword thrusting towards his belly. Hugh sidestepped, the blade grazing his side. He grabbed the guard's sword arm, twisting it violently. Bones cracked, and the guard screamed, his sword dropping from his fingers.

Hugh didn't stop. He punched the guard in the face, feeling the satisfying crunch of breaking bones. The guard went down, blood streaming from his nose. Hugh kicked him away, sending him skidding across the floor. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!" Hugh roared as the first guard had drew his dagger and stabbed him in the thigh. He brought his fist down on the guard almost flattening his face with the force of his punch.

He saw all the patrons of the tavern looking at him with fear and knew the guards would be here soon. He limped out of the tavern, blood was gushing from his wounds; he silently cursed Alyn for putting him in this state. If he didn't get help soon then he'd slowly get weaker and collapse somewhere, most likely dying soon after.

"Are you sure he's the type of person you want?"

Hugh turned as he heard a voice echo through the alleyway he'd just entered, despite his injuries he had his fists clenched and he was ready to fight. "Yeah he will do well, looks like he has nothing left to lose." Another higher pitched voice said.

"Who's there!" Hugh boomed out as he looked around though his vision was starting to go blurry.

"I'm not going to carry him..." the first voice said.

"Stop complaining, you're getting paid aren't you?" The second voice said.

"Not to carry big fuckers like him," the first responded.

Hugh growled as he tried to move forward and discover who these people were but ended up falling flat on his face. Only then did the two figures emerge from their hiding spot and look over the unconscious form of Hugh.

Jace had come down to Kings Landing at night to try and find his second bodyguard, he wanted someone lowborn, someone who could help him navigate the streets and was good with the people. He'd come across Hugh by chance, they saw a group of men walk into the tavern, considering they were armed Jace thought it might be interesting to see what would happen and he was right. Hugh would be a good addition, he had nothing if what he heard was right and could gain much by working for him. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Edryck asked with a raised brow.

Jace shrugged "We will see."

(AN: Hugh Hammer his second bodyguard, I'm sure Jace will have his work cut out for him to make him loyal (considering how he was in canon). Anyway I made some alterations to him, he's slightly taller and played with his origins a bit. Anyway things are going to continue to develop, tbh I did feel weird about adding the names for the sword moves, I'm sure it happens... but I felt like it made it easier to decipher than just describing their movements. I hope you enjoyed the chapter)

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