Chapter Sixty Seven: Up To Date

A year ago, the world had been at peace. The world of the living, at any rate. This is around the time when news of the Others' return spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Would that they were our only problem.

While the Army of the Dead was by far the most ominous threat to the people of Westeros, at least back then it had been their sole noteworthy problem. Over the course of the past year, however, a string of new troubles had appeared for them. Ironically, the one that first came to mind had not even occurred on Westerosi soil.

Alyver gazed down at his arm. He slowly rolled up his sleeve to expose his scar. It ran all the way from his shoulder to well past his elbow. It had hurt and bled greatly when the wound was first inflicted. Nonetheless, he counted himself fortunate that he could see his whole arm instead of a stump. Moreover, he felt fortunate that he could see it with both his eyes.

Alyver had been absent for most of the Pentoshi Bloodbath, but when Jon Connington came for his cousin Duncan and Princess Lyanna Stark, he had joined into the fray. That had been his first true taste of battle.

Alyver had managed to kill one of the Golden Company serjeants singlehandedly, but another had overpowered him. By the end of that scuffle, Alyver had been left with most of his left arm cut open and a huge gash just above his right eye. Those injuries had not been fatal, but they had been serious. They could have been much worse, though.

For a time, it had seemed as though Alyver would lost his forearm, his eye, or both. It was only due to the diligence and competence of Haldon Halfmaester that he had not lost either. One Golden Company man nearly crippled me; another prevented that from happening. Another bit of irony.

Alyver spent a minute flexing his left arm. While it still stung a bit when he rolled his shoulder back, the range of his motion was not impeded. Likewise, other than another scar above his right eye, his vision was as pristine as ever. He would probably carry these scars for the rest of his life, but he was content with that. Scars did not bother him. I have something to show for my time on this continent.

Apart from that, his injuries were far from the worst ones inflicted on his company. At least mine have healed. A number of his friends and allies had suffered injuries that were either temporarily or permanently debilitating in some way. And some had suffered injuries that would probably never heal at all.

Father's squire, Prince Jon Targaryen, had emerged unscathed from the Pentoshi Bloodbath, yet he had suffered perhaps the worst injury of them all. His fiancée and unborn daughter were murdered. Alyver was there when it happened; he was the only one who could confirm that Jon Connington himself had done the deed. Even now, the memory of Connington plunging his sword into her abdomen kept repeating in Alyver's head.

Alyver had already been neutralized by then, so there was nothing he could have done to stop Connington. That was what Mother, Uncle Tyrion, Aunt Ellyn, and Jon Targaryen insisted, anyway. Alyver himself was not so certain. He still believed he could have done something to save Ygritte and her babe. I suppose we'll never know.

In any case, Alyver was determined not to fail his cousin or Jon's mother a second time. I couldn't protect them during the Bloodbath, but if I can, I'll help rescue them from their abductors.

Although he was still a child by most accounts, Alyver was not going to let his youth be a detriment to his ability. He felt he had as much of a right as anyone else in Mother's company to be involved in this fiasco. I already am involved, he realized. I was involved from the moment we set sail from Moat Cailin.

Thinking about the moat saddened him. Almost everyone he knew was there, including Vallory, Larys, and Father. If not for the Pentoshi Bloodbath, he, Torrhen, and Mother would already be back there by now. Once Rickard got back from King's Landing, their family would be whole again. It needs to be whole again. Cleganes are strong, but we're strongest when we're all together.

Alyver had been in Essos for close to eight months. For the most part, he had enjoyed that time. It had been quite an adventure for him. Now, he was ready for the adventure to end. He had been ready since the day of the Pentoshi Bloodbath. Even before the Bloodbath took place, he had been prepared to leave the Free Cities. Then Jon Connington and his band of turncloaks ruined everything. Yet one more reason to call for Connington's head.

Gods willing, it would not be too long before they actually had Connington's head. The Tickler had used his capacity as an interrogator and torturer to track the exiled lord to Braavos. For all Mother and the others knew, Connington and his party had not even reached the Free City yet. But soon enough, they would.

Once we find them… may the gods have mercy on Jon Connington. Jon Targaryen certainly would not have any. Although part of Alyver would have liked to be there when Jon got his revenge, he was inclined to believe he would ultimately come to regret that scenario if it were to transpire. Even so, he could not help but be a little curious as to how the prince would end his late father's former best friend.

Alyver turned his gaze from his arm to the two mythical creatures in the room. He mumbled "Perhaps he'll feed Connington to you two. Alive."

Other than a brief puff of smoke from their nostrils, the dragons did nothing to respond to that remark. Likely, the only word they understood was 'feed.'

When Alyver first saw the Targaryens emerge from the pyre with three newly-hatched dragons, he had been amazed. He still was, but not as much as before. Although dragons were fierce, intimidating, and powerful beings, young ones were at least somewhat manageable. So long as they were routinely fed and no one did anything to aggravate them, they were actually quite docile.

All the same, Alyver was careful with how he behaved around the dragons. He knew they could be provoked very easily. One single wrong gesture could mean the forfeit of one's life. Despite that, Alyver was not afraid. Ever since his near-death experience during the Pentoshi Bloodbath, nothing seemed to scare him anymore. Even the knowledge that the Others would soon descend upon the Seven Kingdoms did not perturb him.

He was not entirely certain why that was. Maybe it was because the dragons would play a part in repelling the Night's King and his undead horde. According to Father, that is. I just hope they grow up fast. Right now, they're barely large enough to burn a few dozen wights. They've a long way to go before they can face an entire army.

In the meantime, Alyver's company had more immediate difficulties than the size of these mythical creatures. Mother had sent most of her closest allies back to Moat Cailin with the Red Woman. Right now, she was in a meeting with the few who had remained with her.

Alyver had not been invited to that meeting. Because I'm 'too young,' most like. Not that he was complaining. He was used to being excluded from his parents' business. Aside from that, he was confident that his mother, aunt, and uncle would later tell him everything that had been discussed at the meeting which he actually needed to know. Recently, that had been their process as far as Alyver was concerned. While he was not part of Mother's inner circle, he was still kept in the know on most crucial matters.

At any rate, the meeting would be concluded soon enough. Once it was over, that was when they would really get to work. If Connington's already here, we must make haste to find him. If he's not… we need to prepare for his arrival. It could be imminent.

Right now, it was the middle of the afternoon. The fleet had been in Braavos since before daybreak, specifically near the Drowned Town. However, only a few of their vessels were docked, and the majority of the passengers and crew still had yet to disembark.

Alyver had spent most of the day with Draegar and Ygrenyon. They had accompanied Princess Daenerys and Prince Jon to Braavos. Having gone to Dorne with Aegon, Eliaxes was the only one of the dragons not aboard the Zenith at this time.

Draegar and Ygrenyon clearly missed their sibling, but they did not appear worried that they would never see her again. Or him. Alyver was not certain how to refer to the dragons individually. Some historians said they were sexless, while others said they could be both sexes at once. I wonder how they mate. After attempting to visualize that in his head, Alyver decided he would just as soon not find out.

Although Draegar had been named after men and Ygrenyon had been named after women, the former seemed more feminine whilst the latter seemed more masculine. That was what Alyver had deduced by observing their behavior, at any rate. With dragons, it's hard to tell what is seen as masculine or feminine. He had not spent enough time with Eliaxes to make a firm ruling on gender, but if he were to guess, Aegon's dragon was probably a female, as well.

The dragons had been given lodgings on board the Zenith. They currently shared the captain's cabin with Jon, Daenerys, Irri, and Ghost. Mother had relinquished those accommodations for them.

Jon's old cabin might have been large enough for the six of them. But after what happened to Ygritte in there, he was unwilling to go anywhere near that room. Alyver could not blame him. He too had gone out of his way to avoid it.

Still, some may have thought it strange for a young man and his direwolf to share a chamber with a young woman and her handmaid. However, Jon and Daenerys did not seem to mind. They were family, after all. Irri was the only one who had been somewhat averse at first, and that was solely because the idea of sleeping with Ghost did not appeal to her. Luckily, the Dothraki girl and the direwolf had quickly warmed up to each other.

Interestingly, Ghost got along famously with Draegar and Ygrenyon. The white wolf had lost his mother Lyarra during the Pentoshi Bloodbath. For a while, that loss had rendered him as downtrodden as his master. He desperately needed something to lift his spirits, and he had done so by finding companionship with the dragons.

Alyver had come to enjoy spending time with Draegar and Ygrenyon, as well. He had no friends who were his own age on board the Zenith. Daenerys was the person closest to him in age, and she was six and ten. Other than his brother Torrhen, he was the youngest human in this division of the fleet. Of course, even Torrhen was older than Ghost and the dragons, but he was far too young to mingle or interact with them. Alyver, however, could appreciate their company.

He had watched Draegar and Ygrenyon grow and evolve over the first month of their life. They had gotten larger each day. When they were born, they were already about the same size as Alyver. In just a few days, they were as big as Ghost. Now they were even bigger than Mother. They're still not quite as big as Father, though.

Their wings had gotten stronger, as well. Within a week after they hatched, they could hover in the air. At the end of their first fortnight, they could glide alongside the Zenith. By now, they could fly over open water and even catch fish. How fortunate they can feed themselves.

As the legends claimed, dragons were carnivorous by nature. It seemed as though they were always hungry. We only have so much meat in our stores. If we ran out of beef, pork, chicken, and horse, they may give human a chance. Thankfully, there was no shortage of fish in the Narrow Sea. As long as they were over water, Draegar and Ygrenyon had a virtually inexhaustible food supply.

I wonder when we'll let them out. The dragons' existence was hardly a secret. The people of Pentos were aware of them. By now, word of their return had likely spread throughout the rest of the Free Cities. Nonetheless, Jon and Daenerys were keeping them hidden for the present. The Braavosi might be more willing to cooperate if we bring them out, though.

Alyver might not have known much about dragons firsthand, but he did know that they were not fond of enclosed spaces. Like him, they much preferred the outdoors. It was said that dragons would always continue to grow so long as they were fed and had ample space to expand. They've hardly any space at all in here. And even if they do still grow, it would soon be impossible for them to fit through the door.

He just hoped they would be big enough to make a difference with the Long Night finally occurred. He also hoped the Targaryens would get them to aid in the war against the Army of the Dead. After all, it was said no one could really control a dragon. With the possible exception of wargs. Alas, I don't know any wargs who are that powerful.

Alyver sighed. A year ago, the Night's King had been his only worry. Now, there were so many other issues plaguing the world. Dragons, murders, massacres, betrayals… it was all a little overwhelming. Life used to be so simple.

Still, young as he was, Alyver knew there was no use brooding over all this. No matter how much disarray the world was in, it would never repair itself. Nature always had its own agenda. In times like these, only men can set it to right.

Men and women, to be precise. Only a certain kind of men and women could really make a difference. His parents were that kind of people.

Alas, since Father was still obligated to remain in the Seven Kingdoms, there was little he could do to help the situation in Braavos. As such, it was up to Mother to save Princess Lyanna and Duncan, apprehend Jon Connington, and take Prince Jon and Princess Daenerys back to the Seven Kingdoms.

Alyver never doubted or questioned his mother's ability. Even so… he worried for her. She was often overworked. Most of the time, voluntarily. Even when she succumbed to heat exhaustion in the Dothraki Sea, she had refused to allow herself a rest. Regardless of the circumstances she faced, she would always push herself forward.

Nevertheless, Alyver knew that even the greatest leaders and warriors needed a respite every now and then. Mother had not had one since the start of the year. Eight turns of the moon ago. At a glance, she appeared fine and healthy. Still, Alyver believed that if she continued on like she had, it would not be long before she collapsed again; this time from stress.

He hoped she would at least take it easy today. Any other day, he would not mind if she worked as hard as ever, but today was special. Alyver had been keeping tracking of the days that elapsed since they left Moat Cailin, and he knew for a fact that today was Lady Dacey Clegane's nameday.

Alyver had seen his own nameday when they were still in Vaes Dothrak. Mother, Aunt Ellyn, Uncle Tyrion, Aunt Alysane, and a number of Legionnaires had celebrated it with him. It would have been a quiet party, but the Dothraki had taken a liking to Alyver and his mother, and they were not known for doing things quietly.

Through no fault of his own, his nameday celebration ended up being livelier than the typical grand feast in the Seven Kingdoms. I can't say I dreaded that party. It was probably the most fun I've had since we left Westeros. His favorite part was when some random Dothraki girl had attempted to give Alyver his first kiss, and she had been dissuaded after Mother backhanded her.

Alyver was aware that Elia Martell had given Rickard his first kiss. Once the Dothraki girl went away, she had playfully offered to give him his. While he knew she was simply jesting, he had declined as politely as possible. Princess Elia was certainly a beautiful woman, but she was much older than either of his parents. Oddly enough, she had given both of them at least one kiss, as well. She'll definitely be missed.

That was Alyver's tenth nameday. Rickard would have his thirteenth in a few weeks. Today would be their mother's thirtieth. Alyver knew they had a mission to complete, but he still wanted to celebrate it with her somehow. While they did not have time or resources to organize any festivities, he figured the least he could do was get her a gift. As luck would have it, Braavos was the richest of the Nine Free Cities. I'm bound to find something she'd like here.

Although Alyver came from a very wealthy family, most of their affluence belonged to Father and Mother. Alyver did not like the idea of buying his mother a present with her own money. Fortunately, he had a bit of coin that he had been saving up for personal use. Theon Greyjoy had suggested that he use it to buy his first whore when he came of age. As 'tempting' as that sounds, my coin would be better spent on someone else. He would probably be a man wed sometime in the future, but currently, his mother was the most important woman in his life.

Alyver looked over at Draegar and Ygrenyon. I wonder what their mother was she like? How long ago did she live? Even Magister Illyrio Mopatis had been unable to determine when the eggs were laid. With that in mind, any she-dragon could have produced them. Jon and Dany had a theory that they may have been the last eggs laid by Meraxes or Vhagar in Essos. Either way, their father could only have been Balerion if that was the case. It was possible they were laid mere days before Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives flew to Westeros.

Now Eliaxes, Draegar, and Ygrenyon are doing the very same thing as their ancestors. The chief differences were that these dragons would not be large enough to ride for a while, and they would not be invading the Seven Kingdoms this time. Instead, they would be fending off invaders.

Right then, the door to the captain's cabin opened. Alyver glimpsed over his shoulder just in time to see Prince Jon and Princess Daenerys stepped inside. Ghost and Irri entered right after them. The handmaid was carrying two buckets of fish. They smelt fresh-caught. Alyver noticed the ones on top were still wriggling a bit. Very fresh-caught. Still, the dragons preferred their food dead. Actually, that was not true; they preferred it cooked. If something burning was still alive, they would eat it. That might explain why Vargo Hoat, Rolly Duckfield, and Illyrio Mopatis left no remains behind at the pyre.

Daenerys smiled at the second son of the Mountain and stated "Good afternoon, Alyver."

"Hello, Jon, Dany," he rejoined cordially. They had insisted that he not address them as "Your Grace." He folded his arms and asked, "Is the meeting over?"

"Yes," Jon affirmed, "Your lady mother and everyone else are gathered on the bridge. As soon as we're done here, we'll be joining them."

"Does that mean…?" Alyver assumed hopefully.

Jon nodded his head and pronounced "We're finally going ashore."

"Good," Alyver commented drily, "I've grown weary of this stuffy ship."

"So have I," Jon said plainly, "After all, what's the point of being docked in a harbor if we're just going to remain on board anyway?"

My thoughts exactly. "Where do you suppose we'll be going?"

"Well, the Legion has a house in the city," Jon thought aloud, "We may head there first. But before we get too settled, Lady Dacey wants to scout around the city. If Connington and his group are already here, she means to find out."

"Even if they're not, there is much we can do to prepare for their arrival," Daenerys contended.

"Perhaps we can set up an ambush of our own," Alyver wryly proposed.

At that, both the Targaryens smirked. Indeed, an ambush would be quite fitting. Father would call it 'poetic justice.'

Irri then placed the two buckets of fish before Draegar and Ygrenyon. Time for their second lunch, Alyver thought. Although the fish were raw at present, they would be charred soon enough. The dragons could use their own fire to heat their food. Oftentimes, they tended to overcook their meat, but the odor was not unpleasant. Next time we roast a boar, we should have them light the spit.

"They can handle it from here," Daenerys remarked, "We should leave before they get to feasting."

"Aren't you worried that they'll scorch the cabin?" said Alyver.

"They haven't so far," Jon pointed out, "Besides, there's nothing in here that's especially flammable."

Alyver glared at Jon incredulously. "I'll remind you that this ship is made of wood."

"Yes, ironwood," Jon professed, "That type of wood doesn't burn easily."

"True," Alyver murmured in agreement, "Alright, but if this room is reduced to cinders by the time we get back…"

"We'll remember that you warned us," Daenerys uttered humorously. I'll hold you to that.

Alyver then exited the cabin alongside Jon, Daenerys, Irri, and Ghost. Four Unsullied stood vigil outside the entrance. The dragons were always kept under very close watch, especially whenever the Targaryens were away. They were not going to risk what happened aboard the Zenith during the Pentoshi Bloodbath to transpire again. Only a select few were allowed to visit the dragons without Jon or Dany's prior authorization. Luckily, I am among that few.

Once the door to the captain's cabin was shut, a flash of light appeared from the bottom crack, and the temperature in the vicinity felt slightly hotter. Evidently, the dragons were wasting no time to cook their fish.

"Aren't you going to feed Ghost?" Alyver queried, gesturing to the direwolf.

"I already did," Jon informed him, "I've decided it's best if he didn't eat at the same time or in the same place as Ygrenyon and Draegar. All three of them are very stingy with their food."

"Indeed," Daenerys commented, "That aside, while they may get along well with him, I would hate to risk one or both of them mistaking him for food."

"Or the other way around," Jon mumbled. That made Alyver chuckle. Direwolves may have sharper claws and fangs than any other predator, but I doubt even those could piece dragon scales.

"So, shall we head up to the bridge?" Alyver proposed.

"Yes, let's," said Daenerys. No more words were exchanged then.

The second son of Gregor Clegane, the Targaryen prince, the Targaryen princess, the Dothraki handmaid, and the albino direwolf made their way up to the top deck together. When they arrived on the bridge, they encountered a large group. Mother was at the head of the group. Alyver noticed she was holding Torrhen in her arms. She must not be expecting a confrontation. Otherwise, she would not bring him along.

Uncle Tyrion, Aunt Ellyn, Ser Lothor Brune, and the Tickler were there, too. They were the only other people left in the company whom Mother counted as a trusted ally. Apart from her, Ser Lothor was the only other member of the secret council who was present. He had accompanied them to Braavos because he was better-acquainted with the Free Cities than any other member, including Mother and Father.

Everyone else currently on the bridge was Essosi. Those included the mercenary Beshka, the eunuch Strong Belwas, the ex-maester Qyburn, Daenerys's kos Aggo, Jhaqo, and Rhakaro, the translator Missandei, and a score of Unsullied officers led by Grey Worm. I cannot decide if it is a good or bad omen that most of our allies belong to this land whilst we of the Seven Kingdoms do not.

Alyver walked over to Mother. She smiled at him as he approached, and he smiled back. She used one of her hands to hold onto Torrhen, and she gently placed the other on Alyver's shoulder. He bade her "Good day, Mother."

She nodded in acknowledgment of that statement. "Happy nameday" was what he truly wished to say to her. He was fairly certain she had forgotten. She's been so busy lately, I would not be surprised. Even so, if that was the case, he could make it work to his advantage. My gift will be even more of a surprise when I give it to her.

Of course, he would need to actually find a suitable gift for her and buy it first. He would also have to do that when she was not around. Alyver placed his right hand on the pocket in his cloak. That was where he contained his coin purse. He expected it to be a little lighter by the end of the day. The expression of delight on Mother's face when he presented his gift to her would be totally worth it.

Once Alyver and the Targaryens were assembled with everyone else, Ser Lothor Brune clapped his hands together and said inquisitively "Where to first, Dacey? The house?"

"No, we'll visit the house later," Mother proclaimed, "For now, we should go about the city. We should keep an eye out for Connington and his men. Even if they aren't yet here, perhaps the locals have heard some word of them."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Ser Lothor remarked approvingly, "As I recall, the best places to look for information in this city are the Sealord's Palace, the Iron Bank, and the Ragman's Harbor."

"Alright," Mother acknowledged, "Then here is how we will proceed. We will divide into three groups, and each group will investigate one of those areas."

We seem to make a habit of breaking up into three groups, Alyver noted. He said nothing against his mother's plan, though.

Mother continued with "Lothor, you will lead the group that goes to the Sealord's Palace. Maester Qyburn, the Tickler, and six of the Unsullied will accompany you. Ellyn, Tyrion, I'd like you two to take charge of the group that goes to the Iron Bank. Strong Belwas, Beshka, and another six Unsullied will follow you. Lastly, I will head to the Ragman's Harbor. Everyone who is left will come with me."

That would be myself, Jon, Dany, Ghost, Irri, Aggo, Jhaqo, Rakharo, Missandei, and the last eight Unsullied. Oh, and Torrhen.

Everyone on board the Zenith came down from the mighty vessel. They walked as a whole towards the Gate, but once they reached the Drowned Town, they parted ways. A third of them went northeast towards the Sealord's Palace, another third went due east towards the Iron Bank, and the last third went southeast towards the Ragman's Harbor. Alyver was in the last group.

Braavos was now the third Free City he had been to. Someday, I'll visit the other six, as well. He certainly had the drive and means to do so. He was a second son of a wealthy, highborn family, and while second sons did not stand to gain much, they were spared the obligations and responsibilities of first sons. Rick will inherit the moat and the title of lord, but I'll have freedom to do as I please. Long as it doesn't displease Mother, Father, or Rick.

Alyver had always been an adventurous one. That may have been why his mother included him on this quest to Essos. Perhaps she wanted to expose him to more of the world. Or maybe she just wanted to have more than one of her children nearby on her journey. I'm just happy she chose to bring me.

On the whole, the experiences of the last year had been quite enthralling and rewarding. Up until they returned to Pentos. The Bloodbath had dealt a devastating blow to all parties involved. Then again, without that episode, we wouldn't have acquired the dragons.

As Alyver and his companions made their way to the Ragman's Harbor, he gazed around at his surroundings. Already, he was more impressed than he had ever been in Pentos or Norvos, and he only set foot in Braavos about five minutes ago. That's a good sign. We may be here a while.

They smelt the Ragman's Harbor before they saw it. It was a rather filthy, noisy, and meager place. But unlike the better-maintained Purple Harbor, it was open to vessels of all origins. As such, it made for a much broader and more reliable center of information. Furthermore, most of the best markets were located in, around, or near the Ragman's Harbor. Alyver placed his hand against the pocket where his money bag was concealed. Just what I was hoping for.

"What's the plan, Mother?" Alyver inquired.

"We should start by talking to the vendors," Lady Dacey Clegane proposed, "Since they interact with all manner of people every day, some of them are bound to know something. Even if they do not prove helpful, their customers might."

"Not all these merchants speak the Common Tongue, my lady," Princess Daenerys disclosed.

"True," Mother remarked, "Luckily for us, we have Missandei."

The young translator flushed at the mention of her name and the implication behind it. She was fluent in many languages, but she did not like to boast of it. In fact, she was surprisingly modest. As well as a little insecure. At least she has confidence in her ability.

They spent most of the next two hours going around the wharves and stopping at all the various stalls and booths. Most of the vendors knew enough of the Common Tongue to have a short conversation in it. Missandei managed to help Mother to communicate with the ones who did not.

None of the vendors provided anything particularly useful, but many of them were at least courteous and accommodating. Not all, though. Several of them became irate when they realized Mother and her party had no intention of making any purchases. A few impatiently demanded that she leave and stop holding up their lines. They think rather highly of themselves; I don't see any lines.

At the end of the second hour, they had exchanged words with more than half of the vendors. They had little to show for it. Other than an occasional bit of gossip or a rumor, they had barely learned anything new about the pit fighters, the Brave Companions, or the Golden Company. Worse yet, they had heard nothing about Jon Connington.

I thought word got around in Braavos. Apparently, that process took longer than Alyver thought.

Ultimately, Mother gave an exasperated sigh and mumbled "This is getting us nowhere."

"Well, at least now we can be fairly certain that Connington is not here yet," Daenerys commented.

"That may be," Jon admitted, "But I was hoping we might at least get an idea of when his party will arrive."

"Perhaps we should try some other place," Mother contended.

"Or perhaps we're simply not consulting the right people," Missandei conjectured.

Mother was perplexed. "How do you mean?"

The Naathi girl elaborated with "Think on this, my lady. In Astapor, the marketplace was only occupied by slaves, masters, and traders during the day. At night, only the guards remained outdoors, and the Great Masters always alternated those on guard duty between day and night. The Free Cities likely follow a similar routine."

Mother thought on that point for a minute, and then she realized what the translator was implying. She thought aloud "If so, those who come here by day and those who come here by night only see, hear, and know so much."

"Precisely," Missandei confirmed, smiling, "The vendors and merchants are only around when it's light out, the guards rotate frequently, and the captains and their crews are unpredictable at best. There is only so much each of them can learn by being here for part of the day. What we need is someone who can be found here at all hours."

"Like who?" Mother said inquiringly. Yes, who would be in this smelly place all day?

Daenerys was the first to offer a suggestion. "What about the beggars?"

"The beggars?" Jon repeated, as though he was astonished.

"They're outside all the time, and they encounter people from every walk of life," Daenerys pointed out, "Take it from me; Viserys and I lived on the streets from time-to-time while we were on the run. We overheard many an interesting conversation. On a couple occasions, some of the knowledge we gained eventually got us back indoors. Once, it even led us to Magister Illyrio's manse."

Mother stood scratching her temple for a few seconds, and then she murmured "That idea may have some merit, Dany. After all, we've plenty of coin, and beggars need no other incentive to talk."

"Then what say we put it to the test?" Daenerys proposed.

"Very well," said Mother. She looked around at everyone else and told them "Keep your eyes open for people in tattered clothing, slumped against walls, and who look as though they've been abused or underfed. Also, see if they are carrying bowls, dishes, plates, or anything else that could be used to collect money."

Everyone made a note of those criteria, and then they went to searching for beggars. I don't expect we'll be searching for too long.

Sure enough, they spotted one in under a minute. What looked like one, at any rate. A young girl was seated outside the Black Bargeman. Her clothing was little more than rags, and she appeared as though she had not bathed in over a fortnight. Her face and hands were covered in dirt. A wooden staff and a copper bowl lay at her feet. Most all… her eyes were completely white. She's blind.

Alyver pointed the girl out to the others. Mother tentatively shook her head and observed "If we went to her, we would probably just waste more time."

"You may be right, my lady," Jon concurred, "After all, how much could a little blind girl know?"

More than you, as Ygritte would say. Alyver was not so insensitive that he would give voice to that thought. Still, Ygritte did have a tendency to remind Jon that his knowledge of the world was severely lacking. Even if he does know nothing, he's lasted this long.

Just then, a tall man with a thin sword fastened to his belt passed by. Alyver recognized him as a bravo, one of the master swordsmen of the Free City. He watched as the fencer approached the blind girl, knelt before her, and stated "How much would you like for a night in a bed?"

"Depends on the bed," the girl proclaimed.

"That would be my bed," the bravo uttered suggestively.

Alyver cringed in disgust. She's a little young for that.

"I am not performing a service here," the girl spat heatedly.

"Well, maybe you should," the bravo countered, leaning a little closer, "Begging will only get you so much. No one ever prospered without working for a living."

"Do I look as though I wish to prosper?" the girl sharply rejoined, "Either put a coin in the tray or leave me alone."

"I don't think I'll do either," the swordsman cockily remarked. He then lifted his hands, as though he meant to grab the blind beggar.

Alyver reached for his own sword. This may not concern me, but it'll be a cold day in the Seven Hells before I stand by and do nothing while a defenseless girl is assaulted.

However, before Alyver could get involved, the blind girl reacted first. In the blink of an eye, she took up her staff and thrust it upward. She roughly struck the bravo upside his chin. He recoiled in shock and pain, and he stumbled backward.

Before he could recover, the blind girl was on her feet. She griped her staff in both hands, and she rammed it into the bravo's stomach. As he collapsed onto his knees, she swung her staff through the air and slammed it against his head.

Now the bravo was on his back. When he tried to get up, the girl placed one foot on his chest and gestured for him to stay still. He prudently chose to heed her warning. She stood over him for a moment, and then she removed her foot from the bravo's torso.

After that, she turned her attention from his upper body to his lower body. She raised her staff high over her head and brought it down. She stopped the blow just inches above his groin. He shuddered, but he did not dare make any other move.

The blind girl held her staff in place, and then she snapped "Now move along. Or I'll deny you the pleasure you seek for good."

Alyver resisted the desire to cover his groin. No man wants to get hit there.

At any rate, the bravo pulled himself off the ground and hastily exited the Ragman's Harbor. Even after he left, the girl remained on her feet, clutching her staff firmly in both hands.

Alyver smirked, turned to his mother, and said "If she knows how to do that, Mother…"

Lady Dacey Clegane scoffed and declared "She might be worth approaching after all."

"Then let's talk to her!" Alyver proposed, preparing to walk over to the blind girl.

"Not so fast, Al," Mother interjected, "If we all approach her at once, we may startle or overwhelm her."

"That's a good point," Alyver admitted, "So, what would you suggest we do?"

Mother contemplated their options, and then she pronounced "You and I will go talk to her first, Al. Everyone else, wait here for now."

No one had any issue with those orders. Especially not Alyver. He was rather looking forward to speaking with this blind girl who had the apparent making of a warrior.

The lady of Moat Cailin and her secondborn son cautiously walked over to the blind girl. By now, she had lowered her staff, but she was still on her feet and fully alert.

When Alyver and his mother were just out of range of her staff's reach, they halted. Mother called out softly "Excuse us."

The blind girl promptly turned in the direction of the voice. She pointed her staff in a threatening manner, and she sneered tensely.

"No need for that, my dear," Mother calmly asserted, "We have no quarrel with you."

"Then what do you want?" the blind girl demanded, keeping her staff and guard up.

"Only to have a word with you," Mother answered.

The blind girl seemed slightly bewildered. She raised an eyebrow and asked "Why?"

"My son and I are seeking information," Lady Dacey Clegane disclosed, "Certain information, that is. You might be able to help us."

The blind girl chuckled. "What led you to think that?"

"Well, you could not have done what you just did without knowing some special things," Alyver contended. "I mean, that was absolutely incredible."

"I know," the girl stated flatly, "Bravos may be deadly with a blade, but unarmed is a different matter."

"Who taught you to fight like that?" Mother stated curiously.

"Several people," the blind girl replied, "My father, my mother, our master-at-arms, my mentor…"

Alyver was close enough to the girl that he could examine her in profile. She spoke with a somewhat exotic accent, but it did not sound Essosi. On that note, her skin was a shade of tan.

"Your family has a master-at-arms?" Mother commented. As the young beggar nodded, the Bear Islander said enquiringly "Are you from Westeros?"

"That's right," the girl confirmed, "I assume you are, as well?"

"Yes," Alyver revealed, "We're from the North."

"I have family in the North," the girl pronounced.

"You mean in the Legion without Banners?" Alyver assumed.

The girl hesitated a moment before she answered with "Yes."

I wonder why she paused? Mother did not seem interested in that detail. Instead, she remarked "Where do you hail from? You look a bit Dornish."

"Well, my mother is from Dorne," the blind girl murmured, "But my father is not. That's where I live."

I don't think she's going to say where. I guess she's unwilling to give away that much. Not that Alyver could blame her. Only fools put their trust in people they just met. Blind beggars did not last long if they handed over personal information to just anyone.

Nevertheless, he asked her "What is your name?"

"A girl has no name," she retorted immediately.

Alyver was stunned by the firmness with which she made that declaration. She must be harboring a secret.

Mother decided to humor the girl. She smiled and muttered "Alright, if you'd rather we did not share names, we won't."

"Good," the girl commented approvingly. She finally eased down here, but she did not loosen her grip on her staff. As she leaned against it, she remarked "I did not expect to encounter any more Westerosi while I was here."

"Neither did we," Mother claimed. Until Connington and the rogue Golden Company serjeants get here, she means. "Until recently, we did not even plan on coming here."

"So, why did you?" the blind girl queried.

"We're looking for someone," Mother apprised her.

"A friend?" said the blind girl.

"No, an enemy," Lady Dacey Clegane professed, "A month ago, our company was attacked. The attackers took something from us. We aim to get it back from them."

"And you followed them here?" the blind girl presumed.

"We tracked their movements to Braavos, yes," the lady of Moat Cailin illuminated, "By all accounts, however, we've arrived ahead of them."

"That would put you at an advantage," the girl perceived, grinning a bit.

"It would," Alyver supposed, "Except we've no way of knowing when our foe will get here. That's why we're consulting the locals."

The blind girl raised another eyebrow. "You think I'd know something about that?"

"You might," Mother debated. She reached into her cloak and extracted her own purse. She shook it lightly to make the gold coins within jingle, and she declared "We'd pay handsomely for a lead."

"Keep it," the girl advised her, "I don't need your money. I come from a rich family."

She did not sound as though she even attempting to lie or exaggerate. She sounded quite sincere. Alyver looked her over and observed "Your appearance suggests otherwise."

The girl giggled at that. "I know, but I'll let you in on a secret. I'm not really a beggar."

Now Alyver was downright baffled. So was Mother. She inquired "Then why are you out here?"

"To learn a valuable lesson," the girl professed, "You see, this guise is merely a farce. My mentor insists that I can acquire far more information like this than I would as a noble."

If so, it looks as though Missandei was right about beggars.

"So, none of what we see is real?" Mother assumed in interest.

"This is," the girl claimed, pointing to her eyes, "I actually am blind. But only for the present. Soon enough, my mentor will restore my sight."

"'Restore?'" said Alyver, "You mean he took it away?"

"Yes," the girl verified, "But you needn't pity me; that's part of the lesson. He says I shouldn't rely as much on what I can see as I should on what I can observe. Those are two very different things."

"I can respect the importance of such a lesson," Alyver remarked, "Even so, you should not take your vision for granted. When we were attacked, I almost lost one of my own eyes. It was only by sheer luck that I didn't. If I had, I would never have gotten my sight back."

Now it was the girl's turn to be astounded. She enquired "Just how were you attacked, anyway?"

Alyver left it to Mother to answer this question. She muttered "You may have heard of a grave misfortune which took place in Pentos last month."

"You mean the Pentoshi Bloodbath?" the blind girl presumed.

Mother nodded, even though the girl could not see that gesture. "We were there."

Well, I wasn't for most of it. I suppose I should be glad for that, though. At any rate, they seemed to have the girl's full attention. She seemed genuinely willing to cooperate with them now.

"Maybe I can help you," she thought aloud, "The Pentoshi Bloodbath has been the subject of many a conversation for the last couple weeks. From what I've heard, the Brave Companions, the Golden Company, and the pit fighters of Meereen were involved in that battle."

"Yes, they were on the opposing side," Alyver apprised her.

"Indeed," the blind girl acknowledged, "No one seems to agree on the outcome of the battle, though. Tell me; who actually won it?"

"We did," Mother declared, "But our losses were greater, and most of our enemies who survived managed to escape."

"So, now you're out for vengeance?" the girl assumed.

"That is one of our motives," Mother expounded, "But more importantly, we must recover what our adversary took from us."

"Yes, you mentioned that once before," the girl recounted, "I don't suppose you'll tell me what they took from you?"

"I cannot say," Mother insisted, "Nevertheless, it is imperative that we get it back."

Get them back, Alyver wanted to say. They were out to rescue people, not objects. Of course, the blind girl did not need to know that.

"How do you even know they are headed to Braavos?" the blind girl inquired.

"We managed to capture three of the foe alive," Mother revealed, "We 'convinced' them to discuss the future whereabouts of their comrades with us, and they directed us here."

"Fair enough," the girl commented, "But why would their final destination be here of all places?"

"Because this city is not their final destination," Alyver illuminated.

The blind girl was intrigued. "It's not?"

"No, but it is where they'll find the means to take them to their final destination," Mother explicated, "According to our prisoners, our enemies have an informant in the Seven Kingdoms. We know not who, but this individual has been supplying them with intelligence over the last several months. Apparently, Braavos is where they correspond with one another."

"Correspond in what way?" the girl inquired.

"Through use of ravens," Alyver responded.

At that, the blind false beggar stiffened. The eyelids of her pale irises expanded in what appeared to be shock. She whispered hauntingly "What?"

"They're using ravens," Mother reiterated, not failing to miss the girl's odd reaction, "Is something the matter?"

The blind girl did not reply right away. After a long pause, she tilted her head up towards Mother's and disclosed "You should know that… I've seen those ravens."

For a moment, Mother froze in her stance. Then she brightened up, as though she had finally obtained some much-needed good news. She stated merrily "You have?"

The blind girl gave a curt nod. Alyver then asked the question on his mother's mind: "Where?"

"The first time we saw them was almost two months ago, near the House of Black and White," the girl recalled. 'We?' While he would have liked some clarity, he did not interrupt her. Instead, he allowed her to continue with "However, that was not where they landed. Nowhere near it, in fact. Out of both curiosity and concern, we decided to look into the matter. Thus, I tasked my bodyguard to watch out for more ravens and to pursue whenever she spotted one. She's managed to track them all the way to the eastern edge of the Purple Harbor, just outside the Sealord's Palace."

"Did she find anything?" Mother queried hopefully.

"Just that the ravens always disappear into a small, windowless hovel," the blind girl expounded, "Alas, there isn't much to say about the hovel itself. We did some investigating of our own, and we came up with nothing. It's privately owned, and the entrance is boarded up. The ravens only get in or out through a very small hole in the roof."

"Yet you've never seen the door to the hovel open?" Alyver presumed.

"Well, for the last fortnight, I haven't seen anything," the girl pointed out. Alyver stifled the desire to chuckle. "But with regards to the hovel, neither has my bodyguard. I've had her check up on it every day for the past week. So far, each day has yielded the same poor results. She has never once seen the door open, and neither has anyone who lives or works in the areas around the hovel. The only things that have ever been seen going in or out of it are those ravens."

"Curious," Mother uttered, rubbing her chin. After standing in silence for a time, she looked down at the false beggar and stated "You said this hovel is just outside the Sealord's Palace, correct?"

"Yes, on the west side," the blind girl affirmed, "It's quite easy to spot; it's the only rundown building amongst all those elegant inns, taverns, and brothels. My bodyguard should be watching over it as we speak. If you like, my lady, I could take you there."

"While I am grateful for the offer, that won't be necessary," Mother proclaimed. "I should be able to find it on my own."

Alyver gazed up at her in bewilderment. "What do you mean, Mother?"

Rather than answer, she beckoned him "Please wait here a moment."

"Alright," Alyver avowed. He watched as his mother went back over to Jon, Daenerys, and the rest of their group, leaving him alone with their new blind ally. Who would have thought it'd take a person who couldn't see to give us the guidance we sought?

As the Lady of Moat Cailin conversed with their companions, Alyver stood in relative silence. Ultimately, the blind girl turned towards him and commented "Your mother's a lovely woman."

"Yes, she is," Alyver concurred, "Today's her nameday, you know."

"Really?" the blind girl said in interest.

"Yes, but she's been so busy lately that I'm certain she's forgotten," Alyver pronounced, "As much as I wish she'd just spend the day relaxing and celebrating, she is unwilling to do anything of the sort until our work here is done. Nonetheless, I still want to get her a present. Maybe that'll provide some small amount of relief from all the pressure she's been under."

"That's very sweet of you," the blind girl observed, smiling kindly.

Alyver flushed at the praise. "Yes… I suppose it is. Anyway, since you've been here a while, I assume you would know of some good places to get gifts for women?"

"As it happens, I do," the blind girl disclosed, "Most of them are right here in the Ragman's Harbor. I'd be happy to show you them a bit later."

"Thank you," Alyver said appreciatively.

"It's no trouble at all," she assured him, smiling. He smiled back at her, even though it was somewhat pointless to do so. I hope I'll be here long enough for her mentor to return her sight.

A couple minutes later, Alyver saw his mother hand Torrhen over to Daenerys. After that, she soon exited the harbor with Missandei, Grey Worm, and three other Unsullied.

Everyone else in their party – meaning Jon Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, Torrhen Clegane, Irri, Ghost, Daenerys's kos, and the other four Unsullied – stayed behind.

Jon and Daenerys went over to where Alyver and the blind girl were standing. When they were within earshot, he asked them "What's going on?"

"Your lady mother said something about a hovel," Jon drily pronounced, "She's going to look into it."

"So, why aren't we going with her?" the Clegane son enquired.

"She wants us to stay here and continue to gather information," Daenerys enlightened him. Ah, so that's why she entrusted us with Torrhen.

"Do we really have to?" Alyver disputed. He gestured to the blind fake beggar and stated "This girl has already given us more knowledge than everyone else we've so far encountered put together."

"Well, I'm glad to be of service," she slyly remarked, smirking.

"Be that as it may," Jon interceded, "It would not hurt to be thorough in our search."

He has a point. Alyver shrugged and stated "Well, if you two wish to go back to asking around for leads, I won't stop you. As for me, I'm going to stay here and keep our new friend company."

"Suit yourself, Al," Jon bade him, "If you need us for anything, just call out our names."

"Right," was all the Clegane boy said in response.

The Targaryen prince and princess proceeded to make their way around the Ragman's Harbor once more. Two of the remaining four Unsullied stayed near Alyver in case he needed protection. Everyone else in the group went where Jon and Dany went. They visited any booths or stalls they had not yet been to, and they revisited a few of the more receptive vendors whom they had already spoken with.

While they did that, Alyver resumed his conversation with the blind girl.

"Your name is Al?" she noted.

"Part of it," he clarified. He then folded his arms and cockily added in "Until you change your mind about having no name, I won't tell you the rest."

"I think that's fair," she muttered, giggling a little. After a moderate pause, he proposed "Would you like to see those shops I mentioned earlier?"

"Shops?" he repeated in confusion. Then he remembered. "Oh, you mean the ones that sell goods that appeal to women?"

"Yes, those shops," the blind girl verified.

Now probably would be the best time to get Mother her present. After all, Mother herself was not around, and everyone who might have spoilt the surprise was preoccupied at this time. As such, Alyver solemnly declared "Alright, let's shop."

The blind girl nodded in acknowledgment. She then reached down, picked up her copper bowl, and stood back up with it in hand. She had already amassed a couple handfuls of coins. She poured the contents of the bowl into one of the pockets of her torn tunic. After that, she tucked the bowl under her arm and held her staff in both hands once more.

She turned to Alyver and said inquiringly "Now, before we start browsing, I'd like to know what type of woman your mother is. Is she a dresses woman? A jewelry woman? A flowers woman? A sweets woman?"

Alyver tried his hardest not to laugh. As if she would be partial to any of those material things. In any case, he revealed "Actually, she's more of a swords and maces woman."

Initially, the blind girl appeared astonished. Then she murmured "Oh, right; you're from the North. Believe it or not, my mother's the same type of woman, though she favors the spear."

That would explain the staff, Alyver supposed.

The blind girl led Alyver over to a cluster of stands that mainly dealt in armaments. While he could not deny that they had an impressive assortment of knives, daggers, swords, shields, axes, and a variety of other weapons, there was nothing which Alyver felt would be good enough for his mother.

Dacey Clegane was by no means particular when it came to her belongings, but Alyver wanted her present to be very meaningful. She already has a longsword of Valyrian steel. Getting her a lesser blade would be shallow and empty.

Ultimately, Alyver found nothing in the armaments stands that he deemed adequate for his mother. Therefore, he decided to move on. The blind girl next brought him over to the stands that dealt in armor and cloaks next.

At first, he thought about getting his mother a new shirt of chainmail. The one she currently wore had gotten dented in the Pentoshi Bloodbath. Still, it had saved her life. She might not still be here if not for that shirt. When that thought crossed his mind, Alyver chose to bypass the chainmail on display.

Mother was not in need of a new cloak, so he did not even consider those. All the same, Alyver came across something very peculiar when he got to the cloaks. On the surface of the stand, in the very center, there was a large, gilded brooch which bore the likeness of a bear. It was not a crudely designed bear, either. It looked as though it had been intricately and exhaustively carved to resemble the real animal exactly. He grinned when he saw that. Perfect.

The brooch cost Alyver three golden dragons. Even with such fine craftsmanship, some might have called that a little too expensive. Be that as it may, it was much less than he was expecting to spend. Furthermore, price did not really matter to him in the long run. All that truly mattered was whether this brooch would please Mother. I'm confident it will.

After Alyver made his purchase, he and the blind girl started to walk back over to the Black Bargeman. On the way there, he noticed two people were standing where they had been standing less than twenty minutes earlier.

"It appears your spot's been taken," Alyver told the blind girl.

She stopped walking and queried "By who?"

"A man and a woman," he notified her, "She seems to be in her middle years. He does not seem quite there yet. She looks highborn; he does not. At a glance, I can tell they're both of the Seven Kingdoms."

The blind girl leaned closer to him and said inquiringly "What are they doing?"

"Nothing, really," Alyver observed, "But I think they're looking for something. Or perhaps someone."

A grin crept across the blind girl's countenance. "They are."

"Who?" he asked.

"Just come with me," she advised him.

Alyver walked alongside the blind girl as they returned to the Black Bargeman. She walked in a smooth, straight line, yet she did not use her staff to check her path for obstacles. She seemed to manage just fine with her other senses. For someone who cannot see, she gets around rather well.

Alyver noted that the woman looked somewhat uneasy. However, when he and the blind girl reached her, her unease seemed to go away. Breathing a sigh of relief, the woman muttered "You shouldn't be wandering off in your condition, sweetling."

"I've been doing that for much of the past couple weeks," the blind girl pointed out, "But if I worried you, I am truly sorry, Grandmother."

That caught Alyver's interest. This is her grandmother?

"It's alright; you did not," the woman reassured her, "However, next time we decide to meet someplace in the city, please be there at the time we agree upon."

"I'll try," the girl proclaimed, "But it is difficult to keep track of time when I cannot see the Sun."

"That may be, but it is not so hard to stand still," the man uttered cockily.

The blind girl chuckled. "That's a good argument, ser."

Alyver stood off to the side as this strange blind false beggar interacted with her grandmother and her… who was this man? It could not have been the girl's bodyguard; her bodyguard was female. Could this be the master-at-arms she mentioned earlier? He wore a sword at his side, and his callused hands suggested it had seen plenty of use.

The girl's grandmother turned her attention towards Alyver. She said curiously "Who is this?"

"A boy I just befriended today," the girl answered simply, "He's visiting the city with his mother."

I suppose we can go with that story for now. Alyver dipped his head respectfully, and the adults returned the gesture.

"I see," the woman acknowledged.

The man smiled and remarked "Nice to see you've made a new friend, Lady Ty-"

"Ser!" the girl hastily interrupted. The man was alarmed by her sudden outburst, but he closed his mouth. The blind girl then repeated her sentence from earlier: "A girl has no name."

"Very well," he stated cheekily, "Thank you for the reminder."

"Do you hate your name or something?" Alyver said jokily. He smirked and added in "Ty?"

The girl rolled her lifeless eyes and pronounced "No, I'm actually quite fond of it."

"Anonymity is just another part of her training," the woman disclosed. Ah, that makes sense.

"It's best to just humor her," the man, "She's very serious about her training."

"What training is that, anyway?" Alyver enquired.

"I cannot say," the girl professed, "It's very secretive."

"That doesn't surprise me," Alyver contended, "You're posing as a beggar, you're learning to get around without your eyes, you can fight a grown swordsman with only a staff, and you aren't giving away your name… if I did not know better, I'd think you were planning to kill someone."

He meant that as a jest, but the girl, the man, and the woman did not so much as giggle. That statement actually seemed to make them uncomfortable. How queer. Why are they suddenly so restless? Their silence soon provided all the clarity he needed. Alyver mumbled tensely "Hold on. Are you…?"

"So what if I am?" the girl snapped, "For your information, I've already killed a man."

She sounded proud of that declaration, whereas her grandmother seemed horrified by its candidness and the man seemed astonished by its boldness.

Alyver was not certain how to react. In the end, he nonchalantly shrugged and disclosed "So have I."

Once more, the man and the woman were flabbergasted. The girl, however, seemed indifferent. She presumed "Pentos?"

"Correct," he confirmed.

"What does that mean?" asked the woman.

"He was in the Pentoshi Bloodbath, Grandmother," the blind girl elaborated. The woman was absolutely stunned now. Must she always be so blunt?

"You were?" the man stated, turning towards Alyver.

"Indeed, I was," the Clegane son declared. He gestured to the gash above his right eye and revealed "That's how I got this."

When she saw his wound, the woman gazed at it in shock. He muttered chivalrously "I apologize if it repulses you, my lady."

"It doesn't," the woman claimed, "It just reminded me of my second son. He once received a similar injury in battle. His was far worse than yours."

Then I'll count myself fortunate. Coincidentally, Alyver was a second son, as well.

"That didn't stop my mother from marrying him, though," the blind girl remarked. Alyver raised an eyebrow. Her mother is beginning to sound quite a lot like mine. Then again, Northwomen and Dornishwomen were said to have many attributes in common with one another. The only notable difference was the climate of their homelands.

"Are your mother or father in Braavos, too?" Alyver enquired.

"No, it's just myself, my grandmother, and some of our vassals," the blind girl disclosed.

"What about you, my dear?" the woman asked Alyver, "Are you here with anyone other than your mother?"

"Oh, yes, my lady," the Clegane boy disclosed, "We came with a whole fleet of ships. In fact, several of our companions are in this very area. Speaking of which, I believe a couple of them are coming this way right now."

Indeed, Jon and Daenerys were walking directly towards the Black Bargeman. Evidently, they had just made a complete circuit of the Ragman's Harbor. Enough time had elapsed since he last spoke to them that they could have conversed with all the vendors and merchants in the harbor for at least five minutes apiece. They're probably just checking in on me now.

When Jon and Daenerys were within spitting distance, he asked them "Did you find out anything new?"

"Nothing we didn't already know," Jon grimly disclosed, "Even so, there's no question of it now. We've definitely arrived well ahead of Connington's group."

"Well, that's some good news," Alyver commented. Add that to the matter of the hovel, and we have everything we'd need to set a trap for Jon Connington and his men.

Daenerys was still cradling Torrhen in her arms. He abruptly began to squirm a little. Thankfully, the Targaryens were able to calm him. Dany held him closer and rocked him gently whilst Jon whispered soothing words into his ear. Within seconds, Torrhen settled down.

"I'll hold him a while," Jon offered his aunt, extending his arms.

"Alright," Dany conceded, carefully giving the small boy over to her nephew.

Once Torrhen was in Jon's arms, he began to giggle softly. Jon smiled at that and cooed at the little boy. In turn, Dany chuckled in delight. They're really getting used to this, aren't they?

Jon and Daenerys Targaryen had spent much of the last month with Torrhen. Whenever Mother needed someone to look after her youngest, the two of them had always been the first to volunteer. Alyver suspected that they may have seen his little brother as a temporary substitute for what they had lost in the Bloodbath. If their own babes had lived, they would've been good parents, Alyver supposed.

"You're quite good with him," the blind girl's grandmother told Jon and Daenerys. They seemed to appreciate the compliment. After a bit of silence, the woman stated "I must say, though, you both seem quite young. How old were you when you had him?"

Alyver had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. However, when he saw the subsequent expressions on Jon and Daenerys's faces, he could not stop himself. He started chortling with no restraint.

Now the blind girl, the grandmother, and the armed man were baffled. Intrigued, the grandmother said inquiringly "Is there something that amuses you, my boy?"

When Alyver finally caught his breath, he stood up straight and revealed "My lady, he's not theirs."

"He's not?" the woman asked, more than slightly stunned.

"No, he's my younger brother," Alyver apprised her, "They're simply watching over him until my lady mother gets back."

The woman went furiously red in embarrassment. She slowly turned to the Targaryens and murmured "I am deeply sorry for the misunderstanding."

"Oh, it's quite alright, my lady," Jon assured her.

Daenerys nodded in agreement. "In any case, thank you for your earlier praise. I think I speak for both of us when say it's comforting to think that even a stranger believes we'd be good at parenting."

"Why?" the woman queried. "Are you two expecting?"

Jon and Daenerys seemed reluctant to answer that question. Alyver answered it for them with "They were. With different people."

Once more, the blind girl, her grandmother, and the armed man were bewildered.

"Allow me to explain," Jon requested, "Up until a month ago, she was married, I was engaged, and both of us had a child on the way with our respective partners."

"What happened?" the armed man queried.

"His intended, my husband, and both our unborn babes perished in the Pentoshi Bloodbath," Daenerys illuminated. She tried to mask the pain in her voice when she said that, but it was all too detectable.

The woman was absolutely horrified by that revelation. The blind girl and the armed man were similarly astounded, but they were better at containing their shock.

After a whole minute of extremely unpleasant quietness, the woman stepped forward and tenderly placed her hands on Jon and Dany's shoulders. She stated softly "I feel for you, my dears. Your pain is one I am all too familiar with. My own husband has been dead these last five years, and my own first pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage. Nevertheless, I had nearly thirty years of happiness with my lord, and I managed to give him three wonderful children. They all have children of their own now. So, I encourage you not to despair. You must be strong and support each other, because you will overcome this hardship. I cannot claim to know how, but I've every confidence you will. You are still young. You have time to start anew and find your own happiness again."

For the past turn of the moon, Jon and Daenerys had looked perpetually depressed. Even when they smiled, they gave every indication that they were devastated by their recent losses, and that their period of mourning would be indefinite. Now, for the first time since the Pentoshi Bloodbath, the two of them seemed almost joyful. Evidently, the woman's counsel had had a very positive impact on them.

All of a sudden, Daenerys stepped forward and embraced the woman, much to the latter's surprise. She whispered gratefully "Thank you, my lady."

The blind girl's grandmother grinned, patted the blond woman on the back, and proclaimed "It is the least I could do to comfort a grieving parent."

About twenty seconds later, Daenerys released the older woman and returned to Jon's side. As the prince and princess stood together with Torrhen, the woman looked them over and professed "I know I've no right to meddle in your lives or your relationships, and this may sound greatly out of line, but I must mention that you two look as though you'd make a very attractive couple."

Now Jon and Daenerys were the ones who blushed. For a couple minutes, they could not even bring themselves to look each other in the eye. Apparently, that proposal did not sit well with them. I wonder if that's because they're nephew and aunt, or for some other reason? In any case, they could not be faulted for their embarrassment. After all, the woman's observation came right out of nowhere. Why do older women feel the need to play matchmaker with the younger generations?

In spite of that, Alyver noted that Jon and Daenerys were not even bothering to protest or counter the woman. In fact, they did not look opposed to it, either. They clearly enjoyed each other's company, and not just as nephew and aunt. I wonder if…

Before he could finish that thought, Mother finally returned. Alyver spotted her when she reentered the Ragman's Harbor with Missandei, Grey Worm, and the other four Unsullied, and he went to meet her. The bear-shaped brooch was in the pocket of his doublet, but he would not give it to her just yet. He wanted to wait until they were alone again.

Mother smiled as he approached. When he reached her, he asked in interest "Did you find the hovel?"

"Yes," she notified him, "But we can discuss that later. For now, we should focus on regrouping with the others."

"Well, I'm ready to go," Alyver muttered approvingly, "Jon and Dany are about ready to go, too. They're just talking with the blind girl and her grandmother."

"Her grandmother?" Mother repeated, intrigued.

Alyver nodded and stated "You should meet her, Mother. She's very nice."

"Alright," said the Bear Islander.

Alyver then led his mother over to where the Targaryens, the blind girl, her grandmother, and the armed man were gathered. When Mother saw the middle-aged woman, she stared at her in what could only have been disbelief. Likewise, when the older woman saw Mother, she stared back in utter amazement. Alyver thought that quaint. Do they know each other?

When they were close enough, the middle-aged woman said softly "Dacey?"

In response, Mother smiled lightly, and she greeted the other woman with "Hello, Mother."

What? Alyver gazed up at the Lady of Moat Cailin and remarked "Not to be rude, Mother, but that's not Grandmother Maege."

"Yes, I know," she stated bluntly, "I don't mean my mother, sweetling. I mean my husband's."

What?! Alyver was rendered speechless.

Mother proceeded to give a proper introduction: "Al, this is your father's mother, Lady Daliah Clegane. Mother, this is my second son, Alyver."

Alyver could physically feel his jaw drop. The blind girl and her grandmother – my grandmother, too – were similarly stunned.

Mother looked to the blind girl and commented "You must be my niece, Tyta."

Initially, the blind girl looked as though she would hold her tongue. But after fifteen seconds of awkward quietness, she solemnly nodded her head and admitted "I do go by that name, my lady."

She's my cousin?! This is absurd. Indeed, this whole situation felt implausible. Then again, Alyver had never ventured outside the North. He had never visited his father's family in the Westerlands. In fact, the only member of his father's family he had ever seen before today was his aunt Ellyn. As such, he had no way of recognizing his uncle Sandor, his aunt Obara, his cousins Tyta, Mors, and Dermot, or his grandmother Lady Daliah.

"You needn't address me that way," Mother assured Tyta, "Just call me 'Aunt Dacey.'"

Tyta gave a beaming smile and murmured "As you wish."

Lady Daliah Clegane then gestured to the small boy in Jon's arms, and she asked her gooddaughter "Is that Torrhen?"

"Yes," Mother confirmed, "The young man holding him is Gregor's squire and ward, Prince Jon Targaryen. The young woman beside him is his aunt, Princess Daenerys Targaryen."

Lady Daliah seemed more fascinated than awed to learn that she was standing in the presence of Targaryen royalty. She did not bow her head, but that was not a problem. If she did bow, Jon and Dany would probably insist that she not.

Lady Daliah Clegane then pointed out the armed man who had accompanied her to the Ragman's Harbor, and she muttered "I do not believe any of you have met the master-at-arms of Clegane's Keep. So, permit me to introduce him now. This is my loyal vassal, Ser Bronn."

"Good day," the lowborn knight said plainly.

Mother, Jon, and Daenerys each gave a nod of acknowledgement.

Alyver smiled and remarked "Uncle Tyrion and Aunt Ellyn have told me a great deal about you, Ser Bronn. They'll be thrilled to see you again when we regroup."

The former sellsword seemed perplexed. "How do you mean, lad?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention," Alyver wryly thought aloud, "They're here in Braavos with us."

That revelation caused Lady Daliah Clegane to smile very widely. She stated eagerly "My daughter and her husband are here, as well?"

"Yes, they should be at the Iron Bank right now," Mother informed her, "We're just about to rendezvous with them. You can accompany us there, if you'd like."

"Of course, I would," Lady Daliah declared. That was to be expected; Lady Daliah had not seen her daughter in over a year.

Just then, an unnerving thought crossed Alyver's mind. When she sees Uncle Tyrion and Aunt Ellyn, she'll expect to see Duncan, too. His grandmother did not know about what happened to Duncan yet. Alyver was not looking forward to that conversation. I imagine Mother is absolutely dreading it.

Nevertheless, she hastily gathered everyone in the harbor together, and they went to meet up with the other two groups.

"This is a small fucking world we live in, is it not?" Ser Bronn commented. I guess it is.

Several hours and almost as many lengthy explanations later, Alyver was on the top floor of the house his father had bought for the Legion without Banners. It turned out Grandmother Daliah and her retainers had been residing there for the last two months. Tyta's bodyguard turned out to be Brienne of Tarth, a warrior woman from the Stormlands. While Brienne slept in the house with the rest of the House Clegane retainers, Tyta had been sleeping elsewhere. She would not specify where; just that it was someplace safe and secure. Yet another secret. Alyver ultimately decided he did not care. What his cousin did in her own time was her business. Our own business is already taking up enough of our time, anyway.

Grandmother Daliah was delighted to reunite with Aunt Ellyn and Uncle Tyrion, and they were happy to see her again, too. However, as Alyver predicted, Lady Daliah did not take the news of Duncan's abduction well at all. Even the fact that Connington and his men were under strict orders not to harm her daughter's son did little to reassure her.

She won't be able to rest easy until Duncan is safely returned to us, Alyver realized. Fortunately, Aunt Ellyn, Uncle Tyrion, and Mother were very determined to get him back. Alyver had little doubt that they would get his cousin back. We'll get Greta and Princess Lyanna back, too. And Jon Connington's head with them.

That would not happen for a while, though. Until Connington and his men arrived in Braavos, all they could do was plan. We can worry about plans tomorrow. Right now, I have something more pressing to attend to.

Even with Grandmother Daliah and her retainers residing under the same roof, there were more than enough rooms for Alyver, Mother, and their closest allies to take up lodgings in the Legionnaire house, too. However, in effort to conserve space, a number of them would bunk together. For instance, Alyver would be sharing a chamber with his mother and brother.

That did not bother him in the slightest. For the last several months, the three of them had been sharing a cabin whenever they slept on board the Zenith and a tent whenever they camped. They had fallen asleep and woken up in the same place almost every day since the start of the year. Needless to say, Alyver was used to that arrangement by now.

After Mother put Torrhen to bed, she changed into her nightgown. Alyver kept his back turned to her as she undressed and redressed. He himself had already donned his sleepwear. He was sitting on his bed with his legs over the side. On his lap, he had a small parcel which he had wrapped himself.

Once Mother was in her nightgown, Alyver looked over his shoulder at her and said "Mother, could you come here a moment?"

Without hesitation, the Lady of Moat Cailin went over to her second son. When she was before his bed, he patted the spot next to him and bade her "Sit down, please."

Mother nodded and set herself down next to him. Once she was seated beside him, she turned to Alyver and asked in concern "Is everything alright, Al?"

"Oh, most definitely," he proclaimed. He then placed the parcel on her lap.

She looked down at the parcel, picked it up in both hands, and muttered in interest "What's this?"

"My way of wishing you a happy nameday," he responded straightforwardly.

Mother's eyes expanded in surprise. She murmured quietly "That was today?"

"Yes," Alyver affirmed. Then she did forget. "But even if you forgot, I didn't. So, I bought you a present when you went to investigate the hovel. Go on, open it."

Mother slowly and carefully untied the string the parcel had been bound in. Once all the string was removed, she pulled away the cloth that had been used to wrap the parcel. After that, she came across the gilded bear-shaped brooch.

For a few seconds, Mother just stared at the brooch. Then she took it up in her hands and slowly brought it closer to her face. She turned it over a few times to get a look at it from every angle.

"Do you… like it?" Alyver asked hopefully.

Mother gradually turned to face him. There was a tear in her eye. She told him in a tone laden with emotion "Alyver… I love it."

She then reached out, wrapped her arms around her second son, and pulled him into a tight yet loving hug. As the tear rolled down her cheek, she whispered "Thank you."

Alyver smiled softly, embraced his mother affectionately, and told her "You're quite welcome."

While Alyver did not doubt that his mother truly appreciated the brooch, he knew it was not the brooch itself that was making her so sentimental. It was the time, thought, effort, and care he had put into the gift. That was what made it special to her and to him. Moments like these were when Alyver was most grateful to belong to a family like House Clegane.