Onion Knight

It had now been a nearly a week since arriving at King's Landing and so far Jason's investigation was at a standstill. Everything hinged on Catelyn and the assassin's dagger in her possession. Since once again Tyrion and Ned were seemingly busy during the late morning, the Surgebinder decided it was time deeper tour into the Flea Bottom slums. He had checked the outskirts of the district yet felt it was time to see the rough side of the capital. Of course, he made sure to be carrying his steel sword for this little trip.

The route to Flea Bottom was along a long road that stretched between the Grand Sept square and to the Iron Gate to the far north. As he went further along the eastern side of the Dragon Pit hill, the more worn and packed the buildings became. What stood out though was the smell. He used to the dirty scents of the city and indeed even the Red Keep had some foul air drift its way. Yet within Flea Bottom is was an assault on his very honed senses.

"Ugh…place be a paradise …" He gagged as he'd stroll through the packed street, slipping through the travelling crowds of lowly peasants. A few gazes did look to him, people snickering at how he seemed a bit stunned by the foul smells, although he was quickly getting used to it all. There were so many things happening all at once, making it hard for even him to keep track although he made sure to have one hand close to his coin purse as the trio of kids got a bit too close at times and even gave a testing tug at the pouch.

"Yet…classic slum life." He muttered as the kids hurried by again, no doubt to make another attempt at snagging his gold. This time though he had one hand reach out stopping the three who nearly tumbled into each other. "Should cut that out."

One of the kids gave a small innocent grin. "Do what sire? We're just playing?" The other two nodded in agreement, giving their cute smiles back.

The Surgebinder shrugged as he'd reach into the pouch, pulling out a gold dragon which the trio stared at wide-eyed. He bet this was their first look such a coin in their very young lives. "I'm looking for the biggest market here. Guide me there and answer my questions and I'll make it two."

"The Leather Mill! The Leather Mill!" The three quickly chanted out, jumping eagerly about. "They sell all the leathers used in the city. Even the higher merchants come there to buy!" One kid remarked. "Sell best Bowl of Brown too! Hey…how much do you think we can buy with a gold dragon?" Already the three were chattering, nearly forgetting about Jason.

"Kids…focus." He muttered, holding the coin up. "Can you show me the way then?"

The three nodded and hurried around him, nudging and tugging the Surgebinder along the alleys until he followed along. "Bet we could buy a couple of goats with one coin!" One kid giggled. "Nah, not if da wastes it on the ale!" Another argued while the third focused on Jason, seeming now to notice his cat eyes. "How you get your eyes? My sis always says she wanted those." The boy suddenly got a teasing poke to the side by the girl. "Did not! Besides he got wolf eyes if you ask me."

The two arguings were amusing yet he'd speak up. "More like demon eyes. Trust me… you are better without them."

"Aw…be nice to have." The girl whined before her brother spoke up. "So what questions you got sire? I mean…we know a lot about Flea Bottom."

Jason thought for a moment. "Any famous types around? Well-liked and reputable people."

"Ah! The Onion Knight!" One boy quickly answered. "He's a rich man! One of them uuhhh…sailor men? He has a big boat and trades here all the time."

"Onion Knight? A very odd title for a merchant."

"Well, he got it for sneaking food during the war. Not sure where or for who…but they made him a knight!" The boy explained.

A short while walking and the group soon entered the largest square the massive slum had to offer. Stands were set all around where people were selling meats, vegetables, tools and leather. Jason strolled around while the kids hurried about, greeting people and checking out items, no doubt debating on what they'd buy. When he thought about it, he realized that they wouldn't have an easy way of getting change for one gold dragon, much less two.

"Should have brought smaller coins." He muttered before one of the kids tugged at his arm.

"There he is! The knight!" The boy pointed out.

At one of the larger stands, there was a man dressed in fine dark and brown leather clothes, fitting garb for a higher ranked sailor, perhaps a captain. The man seemed to be gentlemen with balding yet well-kept grey hair and a trimmed full beard. Whenever the man raised his left gloved hand, Jason noticed how the fingers of it softened as the first knuckles.

"I need twenty crates of hardening leather within the month, good sir. It's a lot, but you know I'll be paying the full price for it all." The man said, his tone of voice quite formal and well-spoken.

"I know you're gold is good Davos but that's just such a massive order. My tannery will be hard-pressed to meet the demand." The merchant muttered. "Why not get the rest of it ordered from the others?"

"Because your quality is the best. I'll give you an extra week to get the order finished since I'll be moving in and out of port doing other shipments."

The merchant thought for a moment and nodded. "Very well. That sounds doable to me." The two men shook hands before Davos got quite the sizable coin pouch out to pay the upfront costs before turning about, nearly running into the Surgebinder.

"Ah excuse me!" He quickly apologized before getting a good look of the Surgebinder, noticing his white hair and golden eyes, making him stare for a moment. "I umm…are your eyes alright sir?"

"Just fine. Don't worry I get that reaction a lot." Jason casually answered back. "So I take you're the uh…Onion Knight I've heard about." By this point the kids nearby hurried to Davos, giggling as they hurried around the old man.

"Ah, I take these rascals told you about my amusing title." He'd give a playfully ruffle to one boy's hair, making the boy duck away. "Aye, that be me. The knight title is something I think casually off. Here I'm simply an old resident of Flea Bottom who simply knows to pay respects to his home."

"So you're common-born who's been knighted. Quite impressive. Only know a few who got such the honor…me being one such."

"Heh, guess we can relate on that matter." Davos chuckled before the kids hurried to Jason.

"So can we have our gold dragons now?" The girl said with a small grin.

Jason glanced to the trader who'd quickly realize the Surgebinder's little problem. "He owes you coin, doesn't he? Yes, a gold dragon is a fortune yet if you lose it…well…may as not have one, to begin with." Opening his coin pouch though he'd take out a bunch of silver coins with a moon on it. "Yet I can give you that much in silver. You buy all the things you want without a worry of losing that one coin."

The kids muttered, seeming to debate on the matter before nodding in agreement. Davos grinned before getting a smaller pouch and the sixty silver-filled into it. The kids took the pouch, looking in to see their small fortune with joyful looks on their face.

"Don't spend it all. Get your families a real meal, good tools or a healthy animal." Jason advised us he'd hand Davos the gold coins in exchange.

"Yes, White Warrior!" The kids answered back before hurrying away, no doubt to the nearest sweets stands.

Davos sighed as he glanced back at Jason. "Sort of a bad choice dealing with gold in these parts. Silvers and coppers are more reasonable."

"Blame it on the mirror merchant I dealt with." The Surgebinder muttered. "Only traded in gold dragons."

"Seven…must be quite a rich and famed man to deal in such a way."

"You have no idea." The two strolled through the market, continuing their chat. "Anyway, guess some proper introduction is needed. Jason Black, known as Surgebinder and advisor to Lord Eddard Stark."

"Davos Seaworth. Trader and knight in service to Lord Stannis Baratheon who is currently the Master of Ships. You could say I'm his right-hand man when it comes to the navy."

"I take he is having you run some major deliveries considering your order."

"Aye. Takes a lot to make a warship. We've been rebuilding ever since the Rebellion and only been expanding since King Robert has been leading. A man may prefer battle out on the field yet understands the need for a good defence at sea."

"Especially with the threat of horse raiders ready to charge over it." Jason jested.

"So you heard those rumours. I can say I'm just as doubtful. Dothraki is a vast and fear horde, yet the sea is their greatest fear above all else." Davos remarked. "So you say you serve Lord Stark? Curious…what brings you to Flea Bottom then?"

" I can't say much more than it's a personal matter for Lord Stark."

"Interesting." The man muttered as they'd stop at one of the stalls, letting Davos eye over some of the tools laid out. "I can say I know every honest merchant and craftsman in these slums along with a good deal of more…shady types from the old days."

"From the smuggling days, I take?"

"Not a favoured piece of history…yet one I'm honest about." He'd raise his left hand, showing his missing fingertips. "Stannis made sure that I paid for those crimes. I know you no doubt see it cruel, yet the man is honest and took no joy in enforcing the laws of the land."

"Back home the last king simply strung up smugglers."

"Heh then guess I count myself grateful. Shorten a few fingers and in return a rose to nobility."

"Anyway do you think you can share some of these shadow connections?"

"I could if given the time." He'd think for a moment. "They have soup kitchens all around Flea Bottom, yet a few are run by more rough types. Could set up a meet in a day or so."

Jason saw something in the crowd. He saw something familiar. The strange hair colour.