8 I should have been worried

I should have been worried

Theon POV

The final day of the Hand's tourney was here. It was an archery competition. I knew that many people would compete in it. Many are interested in a lucrative prize of ten thousand gold coins, from princes like Jalabhar Xho to small folk who know only a little bit of bow.

If I remember correctly, it was some guy from Dornish Marches who won, he had a weird name, so I don't remember it. Still, I was confident in my skills and had no problem. I was concerned when not many failed until fifty paces.

I shouldn't have worried because half of the competition got out when we shot from fifty paces. For me, it was an easy shot. I just needed to calculate the distance, which was said before shooting, and take an angle to hold my bow. Then release the arrow and let it puncture the target.

"Sorry, Jalabhar, but it is my gold to take," I spoke to the exiled prince.

"You have to win over me first," He replied.

"Which isn't hard considering I won every time we held a competition," I responded with a smile.

"Ha, we will see, young lord," Jalabhar told me and left to shoot at the seventy-paces range.

Well, even if I joke, it isn't that easy. One mistake, one poorly calculated wind flow, and you are out. With the increase in distance, the probability of hitting the target decreases. But for my body, it was natural to hold a bow. Many times I struggled with a sword, but never with a bow.

At a hundred paces, there were only four people left. Jalabhar Xho, ser Balon Swann, Anguy, the man with a weird name who won in the books, and me. I concentrated harder than ever on this shot. Waiting for the wind to settle, I angled my bow a few times to ensure I didn't make a mistake. My arrow flew true, hitting the target.

The only other guy who did the same as me was Anguy. He looked determined to win this, but to me, the winnings were my freedom, so I couldn't let him have it. A hundred and twenty paces were a distance that even Anguy couldn't overcome. On the other hand, I didn't have any problem with it.

"You have a great skill," I told Anguy.

"Thank you, my lord," He replied. "But it isn't as great as yours."

"Still, great skill is a great skill," I told him. "How about you come to work under me? I have gold to pay, so you don't have to worry about it."

"My lord, it would be an honor, but I don't..." Anguy began.

"Lord Stark will ask you to join him, but he won't pay you as well as I do," I interrupted. "It would be disrespectful to refuse him. You wouldn't want to do it. After all, he is the Hand of the King. You won't find a better offer, and don't think anyone would want to take you after you insulted the Hand by refusing him."

"It would be an honor, my lord," Anguy agrees.

"Don't worry. I will take care of you," I swing my arm around Anguy's shoulder and tell him. "Have you ever been to Chataya's? Wouldn't you want to go to the Summer Islands? You heard the stories about it, haven't you?"

Anguy was a petite guy with freckles and red hair but had excellent skills. Someone like him would serve well for me. And it would be nice to have him be my servant, who has no unique background.

…

The chest with ten thousand gold dragons was in front of me. I split it into bags and pouches, each with a hundred coins and a bag with a thousand. I took two of the pouches before leaving the Tower of the Hand. The destination is the harbor. It was already an early evening.

A tavern in the harbor filled with sailors wasn't hard to find. Just follow vulgar songs, and you find yourself surrounded by sailors. Entering one of the taverns, I found someone who looked like a captain, with fine leather clothes and a fancy hat.

"I need a ship," I spoke to the man after sitting beside him.

"And?" The man didn't even look at me and asked.

"And I need to get somewhere," I told him and threw a pouch full of gold.

"And where would you like to go, my lord?" The man's tone instantly changed as he checked the contents of it. "I, captain Hadvir, can bring you anywhere."

"I will keep that in mind," I told him. "I might bring some more men with me, and I want to go to Summer Islands. There is plenty of gold to you if you agree."

"This captain would be pleased. When do you need the ship to be prepared?" He asked me.

"From tomorrow to whenever I come," I answered.

"Well, that is not specific," He spoke with uncertainty. "My men are busy, and if they are not leaving soon, it would be hard to live in this city."

"I can help with it," I told him and threw another pouch of gold. "There are more where that comes from, as I said before, so just stay and enjoy the splendor of King's Landing a bit. I will find you when I need to go."

"Well, my boys can use some rest. We had long journeys on the seas that just drained our will. We will rest while waiting for you, my lord," He responded with a smile.

I left after that. Soon Lord Stark will argue with the King about Daenerys and prepare to leave. In that time, I will slip away. If I did it now, I would be hunted down, so I will wait till the King and Lord Stark don't concern themselves with me. But first, I have to visit the brothel and enjoy the night. I need to sell the image of a young man celebrating his winnings.

…

It was a clean and extravagant brothel. It was more than I expected, especially women dressed in revealing silk robes. Their skin was soft and alluring. I could smell a lovely fragrant perfume that didn't hurt to breathe through my nose. Littlefinger was awaiting me with his smile.

"Welcome, honored guest," He greeted me.

"Yes, yes. Can we go to business already?" I asked.

"As you wish, as I promised, everything is on the house," He told me. "What kind of girl would you like?"

"Virgin," I told him. I have nothing against their profession, but I didn't trust their cleanliness, if I may say so.

"Very well," He replied and clapped his hands.

Six women came into my view. No, they weren't women, just girls. I could see fear hidden in their eyes. I felt sick for the first time in a while. I knew it was a standard in this world, but making those girls do something like this. It was disgusting to me. They were no older than fourteen, maybe fifteen. Others were even younger.

"Listen here, you sick bastard. You may enjoy little girls, and I won't kill you right now because I would die myself. But I wouldn't try my patience," I didn't hold my tongue, not even trying to do so. "Get them out of there. I will take that one."

"My apologies if I have disturbed you," He didn't look apologetic and wore a creepy smile. "Eri, come, girl, it is a good choice. She is new in here but very capable."

"I don't want to hear your voice again, you sick bastard," I replied, anger running in my blood.

"Very well, at least take this wine. It's the best you could get in King's Landing," Littlefinger told me. "Take as my apology."

I took the wine but didn't reply to him. The girl I picked was named Eri. She looked lovely and had a sweet smile. After being taken to a room on the second floor with a window, Eri didn't waste time and wrapped her arms around me. I, on the other hand, felt sick. I couldn't help but think of those girls. I remembered what Littlefinger did to Jayne Poole.

"Just go to sleep. I don't wish to do anything but drink," I told the woman.

"It is nice for you to think about those girls, but it is useless," She replied. "Just enjoy yourself, and forget about all that worries you."

"If only it could be that easy," I responded.

"It is our life. We don't need your pity," She replied angrily.

"Pity? Maybe that is what I feel, but more than pity, I feel disgusted. Disgusted at Littlefinger for running this kind of business, at me for not doing anything about it," I responded and took the wine bottle.

"Stop it," Eri took the wine from my hands. "Just went your anger at me if you must, don't drink to forget. It will only hurt more."

"You saw it happen before?" I asked, wondering.

"My father. After my mother died, he drank until he didn't feel the pain. No, until he has forgotten it, you can't just stop feeling," Eri spoke. "He drank until he didn't have any more coins than sold this shop, then me and drank even more, till he was found dead in some dark corner one day."

"Just go to sleep. I promise I won't drink." I sighed.

She reluctantly agreed. I went to the window and looked at the moon. I wanted to go home, where I didn't see this kind of thing. I would have just reported it to the police, knowing they would take care of it. I wanted to feel safe, but the moon was closest to that dream.

I don't know how much time has passed as I thought about my home. But the moon was high in the sky, and the city had quieted down. I could hear Eri sleeping on the bed as I sat by the window. Then I heard the door opening. I looked at it and saw a man.

"You shouldn't be awake," He told me and rushed at me.

It was dark inside, only moonlight shone from my back, so I didn't see his knife. I realized what was happening only when I felt a burning pain on my side. My mind cleared up instantly. I grabbed his hand and punched him. He let go of the knife inside me.

Ignoring the pain, I grabbed his collar and pushed him into the window. The class broke, and the sharp glass fragments dug into his skin. I heard a scream from Eri, which distracted me. The man used it and tried to free himself.

He wanted to push back, but I tried my best to push him through the window. The pain at my side didn't let me exert all my strength, and he freed himself.

"He said you would be asleep. Well, it doesn't matter anymore," He spoke as if I was already dead.

Should I be asleep? It only took me a moment to realize. Wine, I should have drunk the wine. It was Littlefinger, but why? I stopped myself as the rugged man neared me. I took the wine bottle and smashed it to his head.

He was momentarily stunned, and I tackled him with all my strength. Both of us went through the window. It was only the second floor, but I heard a crack once we landed. Looking at the man under me, I saw him bleeding from the head. I tried to stand up. But weakness and darkness soon engulfed me, and I rolled to the side.

The last thing I heard was the clanking of armor. I felt the blood dripping from my side. But my mind was clear, and the only thing I thought at that moment was, why? Why wasn't I worried about that creepy smile?