Chapter 27

"Ha...ha....ha.. I-I didn't know you're good at swordsmanship too." Syrio was panting heavily laying his back on the floor.

Auron shrugged barely panting said, "I've warned you, not my fault."

"Hahahahahaha! It's funny. So funny I thought I'm already unmatched. The first sword of Braavos was defeated in his own expertise. It just strengthen my intention to retire as the first sword and move to Westeros."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You are already amazing achieving your current skills. But you are a fool if you think you are already at the top with your skill. Even me, it didn't even cross my mind as I know there's someone out there who was more skilled than I am. Don't be a frog at the bottom of the well."

"Sigh, thank you for the advise my friend. Even though you are young, you have a wisdom of a hermit. Besides, why do I feel like you know the weakness of Water Dancing."

"Would you believe me if I told you I already learned your Water Dancing style without catching your cats? Hehe." Auron smirked.

"Hahahah that's impossible!"

"Not my problem if you don't believe me. Anyway, how long are you going to stay there my friend?"

"I still need a few minutes to rest. Your strike stings! You did it on purpose, yes?"

"Perhaps."

A few hours later, Auron finally bid his farewell to his new found friend. Syrio asked him to stay for a few more hours but he declined because he still have some places to visit.

The sun was beginning to go down when he arrived down south of Braavos in front of House Black and White. He looked up at the majestic Roman style building. The big doors in front of him was painted black to the left and white to the right.

He was about to knock when the door suddenly opened itself. Auron hesitated for a moment before walking inside.

Auron look around and everything looked cryptic in his opinion. He pass through another door and saw big pillars thick enough to have five people go around it. The pillar was full of face of different people. They are so lifelike that Auron wasn't sure if they are real or not. Few of them even have different expressions but it's still creepy in a sense.

Auron suddenly drew his sword and pointed it southeast of his rear.

A robed man walked out from the shadows.

"A man greets the one who embraced death and brought by life."

"Geez, I almost shit myself. Can't you greet in a normal way?"

"A man has become no one long ago. A man has long forgotten a word for a long time."

"Wew, anyway. I'm just visiting this famous spot in Braavos. I must say, your crib was creepy."

"A man must have a purpose for visiting. A god has sent a man to greet the one who have embraced death. A man came bearing gifts."

"Oh thank, you. May I inquire what gift it is?"

"A god said you can take something from a man. As for what it was? A man doesn't know."

"Hmmm.. Oh I have some guess of what your god is talking about." Auron approached the faceless man and saw gold and silver ring shining above his head. He extracted both rings keeping it in his pouch determined to check it later.

"I've already received the gift, if you can please thank your god for me."

"A man has another gift to offer. Since the red god has favored you, a god has allowed a man to take three lives for you."

Auron was surprised for the additional gift. He didn't refused and said, "I already have a candidate for first one and I'll withhold the remaining."

"Very well."

"This one should be killed when the dragon princess was betrothed to a Dothraki a few years from now. His name is..." Then Auron leaned in closer to the faceless man and whispered a name.

The faceless man nodded and said, "Valar Morghulis."

Auron replied, "Valar Dohaeris."

Auron turned around and was about to walk out whe he heard the faceless man speak once again.

"And as always, it is a pleasure having you with us again, Black Dragon."

Auron stopped and looked back at him. His expression was full of bewilderment.

"Why do he suddenly sound like the receptionist of Continental Hotel?" Auron muttered.

--

When he came out of the house of black and white, it was already evening. He hurried to the pub to fulfill his agreement with old man Genon to perform at his pub during his stay in Braavos.

When he arrived at the pub, it was already full packed with customers. They spotted him and they grew excited immediately.

"Good evening goodmen and goodwives. I suppose I don't need to introduce myself but for the sake of those who are living under a rock, I am the Storyteller. Are you ready for another great night?"

"Ayee!!!!!"

"What a lively people of Braavos. Very well.. "

"The story for today is about pirates! Pirates that haunt the seas and pillage harbors and cities. But there's one great pirate who very different from the rest.. His name is Captain Jack Sparrow..."

Auron skillfully narrate the story of Pirates of the Caribbean without mentioning any firearms. He even demonstrate how Captain Jack move and talk which made the whole crowd entertained chuckling a few times. They were so immersed that they haven't noticed the night has become deep.

When the story came to the part where Jack hired a crew to pursue Captain Barbosa, Auron started to play his lute with a steady tempo. Then he started to sing.

🎶

"Fee-fi-fo-fum! Crossbones, swords and a bottle of rum.

Heave-high-ho-hum! No rest for the lily-livered pirate scum.

From the dawning of the day to the drowning of the sun, No rest for the lily-livered pirate scum!

Salt on my tongue from the spray of the sea

Drunk on the sun beatin' down on me Bound for a treasure that's never been seen, Where dead men lay their bones

Blood on my hands from the pull of the rope, No wind in our sails, so we have to row,

And it's heave, ho or to the locker you'll go, Where dead men lay their bones, Where dead men lay their bones

Shapes in the shadows wanna swallow us whole,

The roar of the Kraken tries to pull us below,

So it's heave, ho or to the locker we'll go Where dead men lay their bones!

Captain Jack throws another one back He finishes a bottle while we're breaking our backs So it's, "Aye, Cap!" until we give him the sack Where dead men lay their bones

What do we do with a drunken sailor? Don't have a longboat or a rusty razor,

Toss him in the drink and watch him sink Where dead men lay their bones!

Fee-fi-fo-fum!

Crossbones, swords and a bottle of rum!

Heave-high-ho-hum!

No rest for the lily-livered pirate scum.

From the dawning of the day to the drowning of the sun,

No rest for the lily-livered pirate scum!

Weigh, hey and up he rises!--"Join me folks! Sing with me.."

Then the crowd started to sing with him.

"Weigh, hey and up he rises (weigh, hey and up he rises)"

"Weigh, hey and up he rises (weigh, hey and up he rises)"

"Weigh, hey and up he'll stay where dead men hang their bones"

"Hoist the Jolly Roger!"

🎶

A/N: Search the song on youtube - Bones by Sail North

After the song, Auron went back to the story full of thrill and adventure. As it was concluding, he ended the story with Captain Jack Sparrow's words that he always say.

"This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"

Auron bowed and said, "The end"

The crowd burst into cheers and applause as the story concludes. They didn't hold back and gave Auron lots of coins for his performance.

"Hey lad, someone here wants to speak with you." Old Genon called out to him and winked. He had a mischievous smile on his face as he began to introduce the person who wants to speak with him.

A feminine fragrance wafted over, and the intoxicating sensation refreshed his mind.

Auron was stunned because of the beauty infront him. She's ethereal and her facial features were exquisite. Smooth contours wrapped around the captivating figure, definitely enchanting in the eyes of all men. She wore a smile so sweet and her eyes full of admiration and curiosity. She's donning a white silk dress and silver shawl. Silvery white pearl and necklace adorned her like stars shining around the moon."

"Moonshadow, this is the Storyteller. Lad, this the Moonshadow." Old Genon introduced.

"Greetings, my lady." Auron held her hand, bent down and kissed it.

"Greetings Storyteller, I heard so much things about you. You're songs and stories are very captivating."

"I'm glad you like it."

Suddenly Moonshadow grabbed his hand inserting something in it before kissing him right in front of everyone.

Auron was stunned daze as the Moonshadow giggled and she hurriedly left.

"What a lucky bastard!" Old Genon said in grimace.

Auron came to his senses and looked at the note left for him. It was an address and it indicates it was for tonight. Auron grinned and said to old Genon, "Looks like I won't be sleeping here tonight."

"Tch! Don't be smug! Look around you. You have made so many enemies in just one night."

Auron look around to find that all men was glaring at him menacingly.

"Hey guys, you can't blame me, alright? I was just born a natural charmer." Auron said not bothering to be humble.

"Get him! Don't let him leave this place or he will take our Moonshadow for himself."

"Yeah, we should restrain him with rope and watch him sleep."

Many men suddenly lunged at him but he manage jump away and evade.

He didn't hit them though cause he knows that they are just jealous and playing around.

He was able to leave the pub but before he got away, he heard old Genon laugh inside and said, "Hahahaha suits you right, you arrogant brat!"

Auron just shook his head and smiled wryly. Then he sneaked his way into the place written on the note.