Chapter 53: The Sealord
'Another common misconception, likely the result of attempts to add greater legitimacy to the Church of the Seven in Braavos in the wake of the later treaties between Westeros and Braavos, is the claim that the Ruby Order not only conducted a diplomatic mission to Braavos, but forged an alliance between the two polities. No such treaty was recorded in the archives of either country, and the theory that the documents might have been lost during the following century is easily disproven by the fact that the surviving treaties do not refer to any earlier agreement at all, even though it was the custom at the time to use such references in new treaties. In fact, the sources that claim that the Ruby Order visited Braavos at all are rather dubious to begin with and can in at least two cases be tracked back to a courtesan claiming to be wearing clothes in the style of the Four Maidens - a presumption anyone familiar with the matter will easily dismiss, as I have already covered the fact that the Ruby Order did not dress in any scandalous manner.'
- A Treatise On The Ruby Order, by Maester Kennet Bracken
*****
Sealord's Palace, Purple Harbor, Braavos, 299 AC
Ferrego Antaryon would be lying if he claimed he had not sought the office of Sealord of Braavos above all. Nor could he truthfully claim that he didn't enjoy his position. And yet, there were days he wondered if he wouldn't have been happier if he had settled for less. Such as today.
He narrowed his eyes at Quarro. "Are you certain about this, my friend? Have the Four Maidens come to Braavos?" He still doubted that they were as powerful as the tales made them out to be - shattering rocks with their heads, crushing stone between their fingers, walking through fire and on water? - but too many sensible, trusted people, and a number of less sensible ones, had confirmed that they were indeed formidable in battle, perhaps unstoppable unless you had dragons on your side. But their physical prowess was a secondary concern; they were not merely the most influential faction at the court in King's Landing but also worshipped as messengers from the gods by the church there. They represented as much, or more power, than the current prince of the realm.
Quarro nodded. "I have verified it personally. You can question the captain of the ship that carried them to the city."
"So, that's why you brought that pirate to my palace." Ferrego snorted without much humour. "Once more, you have anticipated my wishes without me needing to voice them."
Quarro inclined his head, acknowledging the compliment - and, Ferrego hoped, the implied warning that he needed to be careful when he acted in his stead. A proactive First Sword of Braavos was a good thing, but only as long as they understood their remit covered the protection of the Sealord, not his policies. "Former pirate, at worst."
Ferrego scoffed at that. Saan might claim to be an honest merchant, but the man was an opportunist. If the opportunity to gain a fortune presented itself, he would not consider morals but only the risk and the reward offered by a return to his first profession. At least the man had a certain sense of honour, albeit one fuelled by his pride, not his morals, and knew that if he were branded a pirate by Braavos, it would shorten his profits and possibly his life as well.
"Besides, I was merely speeding up your meeting. He would have met with you during your next soirée on your pleasure barge anyway," Quarro went on with a slight frown.
Ferrego ignored it. It was an old disagreement. Quarro thought it would be safer to hold such gatherings in the palace, where guards were standing at every door and could keep an attacker at bay, rather than a pleasure barge that could be rammed and boarded. Ferrego didn't think anyone wishing him ill would bother with such a blatant attack instead of bribing one of his own guards or servants to kill him. Not that he thought anyone would bother spending much coin merely to speed up his demise when rumours about his failing health were already circulating. The people of Braavos were not wont to waste money on something that they could have for free with a bit of patience.
But he still had a few years left, and he would do his best for Braavos and himself. He wouldn't be remembered as a failure. Which meant he had to carefully consider how to handle this unexpected and undesired development. "Have you heard anything about the reasons for their visit to the City?"
"They're not here for the Iron Bank."
Ferrego sighed again. So much for the hope that they had come to deal with the finances of the kingdom they all but openly ruled. "So, their business is with the House of Black and White, then." As he had feared.
"Yes. According to Saan, they said so openly and publicly," Quarro replied with a grim expression.
Ferrego closed his eyes for a moment. They had called out the House of Black and White like that? As if this were a feud between bravos? "And Forel claimed that they were humble and restrained!"
Quarro coughed. "Syrio said they were humble for the power they wielded." He grinned without humour. "But every man, and certainly, every woman, has a limit to what their temper can stomach. I should know."
Ferrego narrowed his eyes at his friend. "Do not compare them to the courtesans you meet. I doubt that they would consider it a compliment."
"They're not from Westeros; that much has been confirmed many times over."
"That doesn't mean they share our customs; few other cities do," Ferrego reminded him.
"They apparently dress even more daringly than any courtesan - at least in public." Quarro flashed a grin.
"And they are seen as Holy
Maidens by their Church," Ferrego retorted. "Do you think they won't defend their reputation, whether it's a pretence or not?"
Quarro slowly shook his head. "You're right. They couldn't afford to endanger their support from the church. What a shame!" He perked up. "Although if our own women would look at their fashion as examples to emulate?"
Ferrego shook his head again. Quarro was a bravo first and foremost. "The tales about their fashion have surely grown in the telling." Sailors always embellished news.
"Ah, but a man can dream, can't he?"
Ferrego narrowed his eyes again. "Not when we have work to do. Send in Saan. I need to know as much as possible about the Maidens."
His friend bowed with a flourish. "At once, Sealord!"
Saan, as expected, was smiling widely when he entered Ferrego's office. His bow was, as usual, slightly too low. No merchant in the city would have done the same even when currying favours, and most foreigners knew better after a few years here. Saan either didn't - or wanted Ferrego to underestimate him.
"Captain Saan." He nodded at his guest.
"Sealord!" Another wide smile. "I am so happy to see you again, and so soon - I expected to attend your next seaborn gala."
"I don't see a reason why you wouldn't," Ferrego replied. "This is merely a courtesy call to clear up a few rumours I happened to hear."
"You wish to learn the truth about the Four Maidens." Saan's smile took on a satisfied twist.
"I wish to learn what you know about them," Ferrego corrected him. He doubted that Saan, even though he was, for all his boasts, a smart and cunning man, would have found out what so many others had fruitlessly chased.
"Ah!" Saan nodded. "I have seen them at their most ferocious and their most relaxed, and I have taken their measure indeed." He folded his hands, and his wide smile showed white teeth.
Ferrego's smile matched it. No one beat a Braavosi at haggling. "You will, of course, be rewarded generously for sharing the results of your diligence." And punished, should he lie to Ferrego.
"Ah, but we are friends, yes? And friends help each other, do they not?" Saan leaned forward slightly, cocking his head to the side.
"Yes, they do." So, Saan wanted a favour. That could be arranged. As long as it wasn't anything outrageous - though if the pirate dared to overreach, he would be shown his place. "That is how friendship works. Do you need help?"
"Ah, no, perish the thought! My business is doing well, my ships are fine - things couldn't be better. But who can know the future?"
Ferrego nodded with a smile. A favour owed was a small price to pay. Especially for a man who might not live to see it paid. "So, what did you find out about the Four Maidens?"
"That they are as kind as they are dangerous, and that whatever tales you have heard about them are not exaggerated." Saan kept smiling, but he looked a little… not humbled, never that with that man. But maybe… serious.
"So they can walk on water and through wildfire?" Quarro spoke up with barely hidden doubt.
"Yes." Saan nodded emphatically. "I have seen them do the former, and I do not doubt the reports of the latter. Not any more."
That was worse than Ferrego had feared. And yet, Braavos had faced worse. The city had been founded by slaves fleeing Valyria and stood proud when the Freehold's dragon armies ruled the air. This was no reason to assume the worst, at least.
"They have also dealt with three attempts so far on their lives by Faceless Men. And they wish to ensure there will be no fourth."
"Three attempts? And all of them are still alive?" Once more, Quarro voiced what Ferrego would have asked himself.
"Yes. Not a hair was out of place, as far as I could tell." Saan sighed in a manner more fitting for the stage than a meeting such as this. "But I fear that the House of Black and White has succeeded in what the most foolish nobles of Westeros failed at - it has raised their anger."
"And you brought them here despite that?" Ferrego asked. "Daring, I would say."
Saan spread his hands. "However this affair should be concluded, I don't expect that I will have to worry overly much about the Faceless Men after this."
What did he mean by that? That either the Faceless Men would kill the four, or they would reduce the House of Black and White to rubble and ashes, with the followers of the Many-Faced God ground to dust, and he wouldn't matter to either any more? Or… He had called them kind. "You think they might reach a peaceful resolution?"
"If the Faceless Men are as wise as they claim."
Now that wasn't good news either. Ferrego had kept his distance from the temple - he was not yet ready for their gift of a painless death - but everyone knew what happened in the temple. Not many, not many indeed, knew anything about the people there, though. Something Ferrego, in hindsight, should have rectified.
He slowly nodded. "And what else can you tell me about them? What about their leader?"
"Lady Ruby Rose," Saan replied. "The silver-eyed, red-haired beauty. She is kind above all and would even shed tears for an enemy she killed. But she has a spine made from Valyrian steel. She will not bow or bend. And she is stronger than any man you've met; she wields a scythe as heavy as herself as if it were a silk fan, and she can move faster than the eye can follow, leaving fading rose petals in her wake."
That sounded like a slight contradiction. Not the strength; Lady Ruby had cut a disgraced Kingsguard - the son of the richest person in Westeros, perhaps Essos as well - in half with a single blow. But kind? As the leader of such a powerful group? She must be a very good actress if she managed to fool Saan. Unless… No. Saan would know better than to try to pass an obvious lie to Ferrego.
"Then there is Lady Weiss Schnee. Of Valyrian descent; her hair is white as the freshest snow, and her beauty and bearing are the hallmark of a Valyrian pureblood. Cold as ice as well; a girl that will cut you with both tongue and blade at the slightest provocation, and skilled in courtly intrigue. She can conjure glyphs, magical symbols, at will, forming walls out of thin air - or solid ground. If she wills it, her entire group can race across the sea as if they were running on land."
Ferrego nodded. That was also disturbing, though mostly because of the danger she represented for a ship; Valyrian nobility was a known quantity, and as Sealord, he had dealt with many scheming noblewomen.
"Next, Lady Blake. The hidden dagger. Dark as her long hair, ever bound in a bow. Despite being as beautiful as all of them - I had sailors almost falling to their death when catching a glimpse of them unexpectedly - she can fade from your view like a shadow at night. She wields a sword from Yi Ti with a scabbard that doubles as a cleaver, and she can form an army of her own, conjuring shadows bearing her semblance to confuse those of her enemies who see her coming in the first place."
An assassin from the shores of Yi Ti? Trained there, at least? That would explain how the Faceless Men had been caught; Ferrego knew of none in Essos or Westeros who might best the servants of the Many-Faced God, but the tales of far Yi Ti hinted at even more terrible secrets. And he knew how to deal with assassins. He nodded, noticing how Quarro was frowning; his friend knew how to deal with such threats as well.
"And finally, Lady Yang Xiao-Long. Another Valyrian - the purple eyes and the golden hair give it away despite her name. Elder sister to Lady Ruby, though from a lesser wife as far as I could tell. She can smash rocks with her head without marring her skin or harming her hair, and she fights with golden gauntlets that will stop even Valyrian blades - or so they say; that claim I have not been able to verify. Lively and lusty, yet with a deadly temper. Beware of waking that particular dragon; she crushed the balls and pelvis of a knight who got too close, dooming him to an agonising death."
Ferrego clenched his teeth together at that particular threat. He looked at Quarro, who nodded in acknowledgement. Good. It wouldn't do to lose some of his guards because they accosted a woman with such a temper. On the other hand, it might turn out that a few particularly bothersome bravos might meet an untimely end if things went right.
"Lady Yang fights with gauntlets?" Quarro asked.
"Like a brawler, yet more refined; some claim that is how people brawl in distant Yi Ti, yet I have never seen such a fight or fighter myself, and I would not claim as fact what I have not personally seen," Saan said,
"Not in front of me, at least," Ferrego said with a thin grin.
Saan chuckled heartily at that, as expected; the man was a flatterer and sycophant at heart.
But he had been useful, and he had earned his future favour. Provided his information did not turn out to be false, of course. Ferrego would soon find out. As long as he could manage to meet with the Four Maidens before they met with the Faceless Men one way or the other.
*****
Purple Harbor, Braavos, 299 AC
Braavos was so cool! First, a fortress shaped like a giant man guarding the port - and you had to sail beneath it to enter! - and now it turns out that the entire city was built on the water! Sure, Ruby Rose had known that already, but knowing wasn't the same as actually seeing it! Especially if you didn't have any pictures to look at.
But the city had more canals than streets. Sure, all the islands were connected by small bridges, but those were boring. The streets, of course - the alleys looked like those in King's Landing. But the canals! You could go everywhere in a little boat! Like the one that they had hired for this trip from the Outer Harbour, where the foreign ships docked, to the Purple Harbour, where the local ships docked.
She smiled as she looked around, watching a man carry a basket over one of those cute little high-arching bridges that spanned the canals. "This is so cool!"
"It is a novel experience, indeed."
Ruby snorted. That was Weiss-speak for 'it's cool, but I don't want to admit it'. "Imagine growing up in such a city!"
"Didn't you grow up on a small island?" Weiss asked.
"We did," Ruby replied, looking at the bridge ahead of them. "But our home's inland, in the woods, and all the buildings on Patch are on the island, not on the water!"
"Technically, at least half the houses here are on islands as well," Yang cut in.
Ruby frowned at her sister. "You know what I mean. Imagine living in a house where you could jump from your room directly into the water!"
"This water?" Yang raised her hand and pointed at…
Ruby grimaced. Ew. There was a dead animal floating in the canal that they were crossing. And it wasn't a fish; she could see fur. And Jon had to put a hand on Ghost's head since the wolf seemed to eye the animal as well. "Well, not that canal. One a bit closer to the sea. And cleaner."
"I wouldn't want to take a swim in the harbour, either," Yang said. "Give me Patch beaches any day!"
Blake nodded.
"But the nightlife here!" Yang went on grinning widely. "Now that's bound to be cool!"
Weiss sniffed. "People getting drunk and duelling over a fountain is your idea of cool?"
"Braavos is said to be a patron of the arts," Blake cut in. "With many plays, concerts and balls happening every day."
"Oh!" Ruby whistled. "We need to go watch a play!" It wasn't a TV show or movie, but it should be interesting. Though not as interesting as visiting the Titan. "After we checked out if they give tours to the Titan, of course!" Sure, they might not, but you didn't know that until you asked!
"As long as you don't break into it if access is restricted," Weiss muttered.
"Yeah," Yang agreed. "Leave that to our resident ninja!"
Blake, as expected, rolled her eyes and scoffed. "I am no ninja."
"You're the closest we have to a ninja." Yang grinned at her partner. "But seriously, we need to spend some time exploring the city since we're here."
"I think we should settle our business first," Weiss disagreed. "Before we have to deal with more assassins here."
"Wanna bet they already know we're here?" Yang asked with a cocky grin.
The assassins probably did, Ruby knew. And she would prefer to head straight to the temple. On the other hand, if the assassins made them wait, it would be better if they already had a room ready. After all, they were here to talk and make a deal; they couldn't just smash people around until no one was left just because the assassins didn't want to talk to them right away. Even though Yang called that 'plan B'. "But if they already know that we've arrived…"
"I think we can safely, and actually should, assume that they do," Blake cut in.
"...then they also should already know that we're here to talk," Ruby finished. They had not kept that a secret on the Valyrian, and sailors were supposed to talk and gossip a lot. She looked at the man guiding their boat with a long pole. "What do you think, Mr Marco?"
"I think I should not be involved in matters that concern the House of Black and White, my lady."
Ah, right. Ruby blushed a little. "Well, just forget what you heard then. Or, no, just tell everyone what you heard! If everyone knows what you know, the Faceless Men won't come after you."
Judging by the man's grimace, he didn't seem to believe her. Shoot! "I really mean it, tell everyone; we've got nothing to hide here."
And now he was looking at her as if she had threatened him. But he nodded. So it was probably fine. As long as he was safe.
But they were now headed straight for a small pier in front of a big building - well, in front of big stairs that led to a big building with a golden animal on a finely-crafted sign. This would be the Golden Bull, supposedly the best inn in Braavos, at least, according to Captain Saan.
"We have arrived, my ladies." Mr Marco didn't quite shoo them off the boat, but Ruby could see that he wanted to. He had the same expression as the armourer at the workshop at Signal when she had stayed too long. Just with fear instead of fondness or so.
"Thank you, good man." Weiss nodded at the man and passed a dragon to him.
And the fear was gone, replaced by a wide smile.
Ruby frowned slightly as she stepped on the pier. Had the man been honestly afraid or just trying to play for their sympathy? Whatever, he was smiling now.
The others followed her, with Yang carrying the chest containing the luggage, followed by Jon. And then Ghost jumped onto the pier, and almost sent the boat capsizing; Mr Marco almost fell into the water, too.
But almost only counted with grenades. "Sorry!" Ruby told Marco. "Ghost is still a puppy."
"He should know better, though," Jon said, frowning at the wolf. Ghost himself, though, just barked once. Obviously, he didn't think he had done anything wrong.
"Well, let's secure us a room or two," Ruby said, turning to eye the door on top of the stairs. Two guards stood there, and both were looking - or staring - at their group. Probably scared of Ghost.
But the guards didn't say anything when Ruby and her friends reached the door, and one even opened it for them without being asked to. And inside… Ruby whistled softly. The building looked impressive on the outside, all stone and pretty colours, but the entrance hall - and it was a hall - looked even better, polished stone floor you could almost use as a mirror, columns, small tables and soft seats… It looked like a hotel lobby back home.
Ruby wasn't quite sure if she was happy or sad about that, or both, while Weiss handled the… she called him 'concierge', but Ruby was pretty sure that that was only a title on Remnant.
In any case, they got a nice couple of rooms, and Weiss could haggle down the price some. She claimed she had merely managed to bring it down to slightly over where it should be, but Ruby wasn't sure how she could tell that - none of them had any experience with the prices here.
On the other hand, the people here didn't have any experience with wolves, though, at least, they dropped their demand to house Ghost in the stables after Jon had told them that Ghost would not leave his side. And why did they have stables here, anyway? Everyone used boats and not horses!
Though that could wait! Ruby let herself fall down on their new bed, staring at the ceiling. "So soft!"
"Silk sheets. As expected for this price," Weiss said.
"I'm just glad you managed to get us rooms that are connected!" Ruby said. It would have been a pain to deal with separate rooms, what with having to watch out for assassins; they would have needed to build bunk beds or something again.
"Yes. We were fortunate that this suite was currently not occupied."
Ruby frowned a little - why was her friend blushing? "Is something wrong with it?" she asked.
"Nothing. It's just… This was the only suite available with several rooms." Weiss looked even more embarrassed.
"Yes?" That was good luck, not embarrassing. "What's wrong with it?"
"It's called 'the Courtesan's Corner', and, err… apparently meant for, ah, romantic encounters neither of the parties involved would wish to have at their respective homes or on a courtesan's barge."
Ruby blinked. "We're in… what did Yang call it? A love nest?"
"Effectively, yes."
That was… Ruby eyed the silk sheets with a deeper frown, then looked around. That kind of changed a few things. Probably.
"I am sorry about this, but I valued our safety and convenience more than, well…" Weiss shrugged.
Ruby nodded, but before she could tell Weiss that this was fine, the door to the left side room opened, and Yang grinned at them.
"Did you know what you just rented, Weiss? Blake says we're in a Mistralian Love Motel!"
"I said it reminded me of them," Blake's voice sounded from behind Yang.
"It's not a love motel!" Weiss snapped.
"Well, looks like one to me! Naughty of you, Weiss!"
"What are you insinuating, Yang?"
Ruby was quite glad that a knock at the door interrupted what was starting to turn into a row.
Though she kinda got back on that when she had the invitation to the Sealord's Palace pushed into her hand. "We didn't do anything to the Sealord or some of his friends, right?"
*****
Sealord's Palace, Purple Harbor, Braavos, 299 AC
Weiss Schnee checked her dress once more as they approached the quite impressive, even compared to other buildings she was familiar with, palace of the ruler of the city, which boasted a certain elegance and sophistication that the buildings in King's Landing lacked in comparison. And since the fashion was different as well - she'd say more advanced, although that would presume that fashion in this world was developing along the same lines as back home, and that would be a foolish assumption. Nevertheless, she felt her own manner of dress fit in better with the local customs than it did in King's Landing. Both her dress and Myrtenaster resembled the local style quite a bit, although, as in Westeros, none of the locals here seemed to have developed combat skirts.
Nor were they used to women wearing blades and trousers; the looks they had drawn on the way here, especially once they had opted to walk the last leg of the trip to take in the area, clearly showed that - they were the same kind of looks Weiss remembered from King's Landing and Winterfell, before the residents had grown used to them. Apparently, Braavos's cosmopolitan reputation went only so far. They probably were also afraid of the adorable Ghost, which was why Jon had stayed in their quarters with him.
At least, the doormen at the palace gates were too polite to stare, or had been instructed quite thoroughly on what to expect, and opened the gates when they approached, and the servant receiving them inside the palace had impeccable manners. Not quite on Klein's level, of course, but Weiss couldn't detect even a hint of disapproval or sordid interest in his expression.
"Team RWBY. We're expected," she told him with a nod.
"Indeed, my ladies. Aiden Renas, at your service." He bowed, though in a slightly different style than she had expected after observing others from Braavos - was that because he was a member of the palace staff? She would have to look into this at the earliest opportunity; it wouldn't do to make a gaffe if she could avoid it - and gestured to follow him. He had a slight accent, she also noted.
Renas led them up the wide stairs leading to the first floor - its design reminded her strongly of the Schnee Manor's entrance hall - and down a spacious hallway featuring portraits of different men. Different art styles as well, she noted. "Are those the Sealord's predecessors?" she asked.
"Indeed, my ladies."
"Oh, nice!" Ruby spoke up with a smile before she frowned. "And what do you do once you run out of wallspace to hang them?"
"That would be a question for the then-reigning Sealord, my lady."
Weiss nodded. The man was as diplomatic as Klein would have been in the same situation. Although this wasn't the time to delve into nostalgia. Or touch her rather mixed feelings about her ancestral home. She needed to be focused on the upcoming surprise meeting with the Sealord. Of course, in hindsight, this shouldn't have been a surprise. Weiss should have realised that while they were here for personal and private reasons, it wouldn't look like that to those who didn't know them.
They reached the ornate door at the end of the hallway, flanked by two guards wearing armour that looked like a slightly weird mix of Jaune's and Pyrrha's, and Renas knocked before entering.
Weiss was pleased that Ruby didn't try to automatically follow him; that would have been a breach of protocol.
Renas quickly returned, holding the door open for them. "Team Ruby!" he announced. "Lady Ruby Rose, Lady Weiss Schnee, Lady Blake Belladonna and Lady Yang Xiao Long."
The Sealord, Ferrego Antaryon, was old and looked not quite healthy, Weiss found. But he was alert and rose smoothly from behind his desk to greet them. Behind him stood a younger man, armed but not armoured. One of those bravos, judging from his flamboyant style. And, if what Weiss had learned was true, the Sealord's personal bodyguard.
"Welcome, my ladies. He nodded at his guard. "This is Quarro Volenti, First Sword of Braavos. Please, have a seat." He gestured at the two couches placed in front of his desk.
Weiss made a mental note about the man's name and title. The Sealord didn't introduce himself, though that would have been superfluous; they were in his palace. But he spoke the common tongue, as Westeros called it, not the native language of Braavos, if with an accent. That was a good sign.
Once everyone had taken their seats, split up by partners, and another servant had brought some excellent tea and fruits, better than anything Weiss had tasted in Westeros so far, the Sealord leaned back in his seat. "Thank you for responding so promptly to my invitation."
"Of course!" Ruby smiled at him. "Though we were surprised at the invitation."
"We aren't here in any official capacity," Weiss added. "We're here to deal with a personal issue."
The bodyguard's stern expression twisted into a slight grin, though the Sealord merely inclined his head. "You wish to persuade the House of Black and White to rescind the orders to kill you - by any means necessary."
"Well, not by any means; the end doesn't justify the means," Ruby corrected him. "But yeah, we're here to stop this before more people get hurt or die. That's not a problem, is it?"
The Sealord looked taken aback, Weiss noted. "Many good intentions turned out to lead to bad consequences," he said after a moment.
Ruby nodded emphatically. "Yeah. That's why you keep trying until your problem has been solved!"
"One way or the other," Yang unhelpfully added.
"Even at the risk of causing harm to innocents who are not involved in the affair?" the Sealord asked. "Feuds between powerful people far too often have such results."
"We do not wish to cause a disturbance in Braavos," Weiss said. "But we cannot let the House of Black and White keep sending assassins at us; the risk to bystanders and other innocents is too great to let them be. I am sure you'd react the same if someone were endangering your citizens with such actions." Two could twist words like this.
"I would be acting as Sealord in that case."
"We are not representing the Seven Kingdoms," Weiss replied. "So we cannot act for the realm."
"And should I banish you from the city to keep you from endangering my citizens, what would you do?"
That was more direct than Weiss had expected. Unfortunately, Ruby was as direct and spoke before Weiss could say anything. "Unless you also told the Faceless Men to stop trying to kill us, we'd probably ignore that."
"And if they obeyed," Yang added.
"We're here to stop those attacks; we are not wedded to the idea of doing so ourselves, much less through violence," Weiss explained.
"But if that's the only way, we will do it that way." Yang grinned and ignored Weiss's glance.
"The fault for any past and future escalation lies with the House of Black and White; they chose to attack us without any provocation," Weiss elaborated. "Surely such behaviour is beyond the pale in Braavos as well!"
"As much as I wish it were, it's not," the Sealord replied. "They have a lot of influence in the city thanks to their deeds. Few would defy them lest they end up dead. And everyone would rather err on the side of caution when they were not sure if a course of action could be taken as defying the temple."
"But they are divided amongst themselves," Weiss pointed out. "We have spoken with one of their members, and he told us that opinions about whether they should kill or support us are divided in the House of Black and White."
That seemed to surprise the Sealord, she noted. His bodyguard as well. So, whoever had talked to him about this affair had not mentioned this - or, more likely, since her team had kept this relatively private so far, had not known this. "Truly?" he asked.
"Yes. He also insinuated that we could influence the temple's policy by defeating those who dissented with his own views," Weiss replied.
"Basically, beat some sense into their stubborn members." Yang cracked her knuckles, no doubt to stress that she meant that literally.
"But why would they do that?" the Sealord asked. "They only answer to the Many-Faced God."
"Well…" Ruby smiled in that adorably awkward way of hers when she was embarrassed. "They - those who don't want to kill us - think their god wants them to help us. Get home, that is."
The Sealord blinked.
"And that is why we hope to end this pointless conflict amiably or, at least, peacefully," Weiss added.
"And keep the collateral damage to a minimum," Blake added.
"Yeah." Yang nodded. "Their temple is far enough from other buildings, right? Just if things turn into a fight and we have to level it to make our point."
"You think you can level the House of Black and White?" the bodyguard blurted out.
The Sealord didn't chastise him for speaking up, Weiss noted.
"Any one of us could do that with one hand tied behind their back," Yang replied, baring her teeth in a feral grin. Both men seemed to be a bit sceptical of her claim, even though it was completely factual. Yang must have realised that as well since she snorted. "Do you need a demonstration? We found that once we show that we can back up our words, things tend to get much easier for everyone involved."
"A demonstration? In my palace?" The Sealord frowned quite openly now.
"Do you have anything that you don't mind being broken? The harder and bigger, the better. Or have your bodyguard hit me with his best shot," Yang replied. "He's among the better fighters in your city, right?"
The Sealord glanced at his bodyguard, who was positively bristling at Yang's dismissive tone and attitude, even if her words were, technically, respectful. "If you insist, then I am certain Quarro can accommodate you."
Weiss suppressed a sigh. This was not how she would have preferred to handle things. Openly flaunting their power as Huntresses was often seen as flouting the local ruler's power.
But, she thought as Yang stood and faced the bodyguard - the First Sword of Braavos - it often is the fastest way to get a result.
"Alright!" Yang made a small waving gesture with her fingers. "Come on!"
The bodyguard drew his weapon, but seemed to hesitate.
"Don't be afraid - I'm not going to hurt you!"
The bodyguard scowled at this but glanced at the Sealord, who nodded with a grim expression.
His guard nodded back, narrowed his eyes - and lunged. He was feinting, faking a stab at her arm but aiming for her leg, Weiss noticed midway through the attack.
Yang didn't react at all, though her grin grew a bit more toothy when the tip of his sword slid off her bare thigh. "Come on, try for my heart or head!"
Visibly surprised, the man did so - launching a series of attacks, quite fast for someone without Huntsman training or Aura. And as ineffective as you'd expect.
Yang beamed at the visibly shocked Sealord. "So, have anything hard and heavy you don't need any more? Some poison you wouldn't mind if I drink?"
Well, negotiations did continue much more smoothly afterwards - the Sealord rather quickly agreed that this was a personal matter between Team RWBY and the House of Black and White, though, to his credit, he still insisted that no bystanders should suffer any harm.
But Team RWBY wouldn't have it any other way anyway.
*****
Purple Harbor, Braavos, 299 AC
"So, since it's already evening, and the temple's probably closed, let's check out the local bars!"
Blake Belladonna snorted softly at her partner's outburst as they stepped out of the Golden Bull.
"I don't think the House of Black and White is actually closed at any time of the day," Weiss commented with a slight sniff. "Since they are offering painless suicides, the evening might be the busiest hours for them."
"Well, then it would be only polite if we don't visit them when they're busy!" Yang shot back. She spread her arms with a grin. "Besides, we should look around before we leap into action."
"Pardon? Who are you and what have you done with Yang?" Weiss joked.
"The nightlife is my element! Bars, clubs, dives!"
"I suppose you are our resident expert on carousing."
Blake snorted at the banter, though she was aware that Yang wasn't quite the party girl she appeared to be. She knew how to have a good time, but it wasn't… defining her. Not when you knew her instead of judging her by the first impression she might have given you.
Which, to be honest, had been what Blake had been doing, but only for the first night before Initiation. Afterwards, well, only a fool would not get to know their partner at Beacon, and Blake was not a fool. Not any more, at least.
"I don't think they have clubs here," Ruby spoke up as they stepped onto the small pier, where a few boats were waiting for customers. "Only taverns and, well…" She blushed a little.
"Brothels," Weiss finished for her with a scowl. "Which we are not going to visit."
"Yeah, we already did enough of that in King's Landing." Yang grinned as Ruby and Weiss groaned.
"That was different!" Ruby protested. "You were looking for bad guys and proof of crimes!"
"And you know what I meant by 'visiting'," Weiss added.
Yang chuckled.
"So!" Ruby spoke up again. "What
play are we going to watch? Because we aren't going to drink in some dive," she added with a frown at Yang. "And the plays here are supposed to be much better than in Westeros."
More sophisticated, at least, following a written script. That was what Blake had heard. She hoped that this was correct; the mummer performances in Westeros had been a bit of a disappointment; not that she expected the kind of quality entertainment she had access to in Remnant, but the shows she had seen - she hadn't really watched too many after the first - had been far too crude for her to enjoy. Characters were stereotypes, the plot completely predictable - and usually sexist as well - and the mummers were, at best, horribly exaggerating in their acting.
Yang shrugged, her good mood unaffected. "Fine by me. Should be interesting at least." She turned to the waiting ferryman. "How much for a trip to the best play in the city?"
While her partner haggled with the ferryman, Blake looked around. It was dark already, even though there were more lanterns than in King's Landing, at least in this area, but that didn't bother her, of course. She didn't see any suspicious figures watching them, though that didn't mean anything with the Faceless Men. This was their home turf, and they had all the advantages here.
That was one reason Blake would have preferred to head to their temple at once: it would give them less time to prepare a trap, like the gas attack on Dragonstone. On the other hand, it wasn't as if she would let her team enter the temple without checking it out beforehand exactly for such traps and ambushes.
She wouldn't let anyone hurt her friends.
*****
"The Blue Lantern, my ladies!" their ferryman - Mr Garen - announced with a sweeping gesture at the building in the distance as he guided their boat to a stop at the small pier in front of them. "The best playhouse in the world! Or," he added with a grin, "at least, the best in Braavos!"
Blake snorted at the addendum and was the first off the boat, looking around for trouble and potential threats and spies while Weiss paid Garen and Ruby and Yang climbed out of the boat.
She didn't spot any spies, but a dozen armed men were standing around between the pier and the entrance to the playhouse, and judging by their clothes - colourful and stylish enough for a Huntsman back home - those must be the bravos Braavos was famous for; duellists always looking for a fight to impress their peers and whatever courtesan they were currently interested in. As Captain Saan had explained, any man carrying a sword was considered fair game.
That would, sexist as this world was, exclude Blake's team as opponents. But as her friends and Blake walked towards the playhouse and were illuminated by the lanterns lining the path from the pier, the bravos quickly took note of them and converged on the team like a pack of Beowolves.
One bravo called out from the left what sounded like a challenge, but since he didn't speak the Common tongue, Blake couldn't tell.
Another, on the right all but yelled something different, but similarly unintelligible.
And he was yelling at her, Blake realised. But then stopped to stare at her once he got closer, and her ears caught him muttering something - did that mean 'girl' in Valyrian? Had he mistaken her for a man? That was both amusing and insulting. Or he might be shortsighted.
"We're Team RWBY!" Ruby spoke up as the bravos drew up in a half circle, her hand on Crescent Rose. "And we're here to watch a play, not to duel anyone."
"You carry swords." One bravo spoke in the common tongue while another mumbled something about Westeros.
"And other weapons," Ruby replied, patting the folded form of her scythe while Yang slammed her gauntlets together. "But we're here to watch a play, not to fight. So, now that we've cleared that…" She beamed at them.
But as the men muttered amongst each other, Blake could tell, even without understanding the words, just the tone and attitude, that Ruby would be disappointed.
"You shouldn't carry a blade if you aren't willing to fight! Besides, dressed as you are, it's clear what you really want, so why don't you stop pretending?" one of them said with a heavy accent and a nasty sneer.
"Fear not, my ladies! Before this brute can lay a hand on you, I will defeat him!" Another bravo stepped up, placing himself between them and the first one.
"I'm going to be sick from all the testosterone in the air," Weiss mumbled.
"Hey!" Yang called out. "He challenged us! We don't need a protector!"
"Yang! Don't encourage them!" Ruby hissed.
"What? Would you rather they kill each other because they think that would impress us?"
That was a good point, actually, Blake had to admit it. While Blake had a pretty low opinion of men who thought they could impress a woman with such an attitude - and an even lower one of those like the one who had made his intentions so clear, Ruby would feel bad if anyone got killed over her.
Weiss loudly sighed as she drew her sword. "Whatever. Let's just deal with this riffraff and then go watch the play."
Yang grinned widely, brandishing Ember Celica. "So, anyone who wants to fight us, gather 'round; anyone who doesn't, step back!"
The men hesitated, surprised and confused, as far as Blake could tell.
Then Ruby drew and unfolded Crescent Rose with a flourish that left a cobblestone beneath it shattered by the scythe's spike, and the men's expression changed from surprise to shock.
But just as Blake started hoping that this was enough to scare the bravos off and avoid a fight, the sneering one raised his sword and took a step forward, saying something in their language. A moment later, the bravos started to form a half-circle around him and the group.
At least, Blake consoled herself, after the first duel, the rest of the bravos should realise how outclassed they were.
"Alright! Let's…" Yang started to say.
"Let me handle this!" Weiss interrupted her and pushed past Blake's partner. "I need to vent some of my frustration, and this creep just volunteered to help me with that!"
"Hey!" Yang protested, but she took a step aside.
Weiss nodded, then raised Myrtenaster, mirroring the bravo's stance. "En garde!"
The man chuckled, shaking his head, clearly underestimating her. He was about to say something when Weiss lunged.
A moment later, the man's sword flew through the air - Weiss had used one of Ser Barristan's disarming techniques, although she had put enough force into it that the blade landed in the canal behind them with a soft splash.
He gasped, then froze when he realised that in the same move, she had placed the tip of her blade at his throat.
"This duel is over!" Weiss declared, withdrawing her weapon. "Let's go watch the play!"
This time, the men gave way.
*****
"I didn't understand a single word, but it was fun."
"I can't believe we forgot that the play would have been written and performed in the local language, not the Common Tongue! That was a complete waste of time!"
"Aw, Weiss! We did get the gist of the plot! And it would have been rude to leave early! The actors would have felt sad!"
"I doubt that they would have noticed!"
Yang Xiao Long snorted at Ruby and Weiss's comments as they walked through the lobby - if you could call it that - of the playhouse. The play had been funny. Sort of. The two fencing scenes could have fit into any halfway decent movie back home, well, any halfway decent movie made thirty years ago or so, at least. Better than what she had seen so far, but not as good as a real action movie. But, yeah, they should have realised that they wouldn't understand the language before sitting down.
"I think they would have noticed - we did make a bit of a spectacle," Blake commented.
Yang's partner was, of course, right. They had drawn a lot of attention when they had entered the playhouse. And people were still staring at them. Not that Yang minded, as long as they weren't annoying about it. If you have it, flaunt it!
"Don't remind me!" Weiss said, glancing around. "I do hope they adjust more quickly to our presence than King's Landing did."
"Doesn't really matter," Yang said. "We'll be gone before they do." She stretched her arms over her head. "Anyway, let's hit a tavern now; I want a drink!"
"As long as no one gets drunk," Ruby said.
"With Aura?" Yang scoffed. "We'll be fine."
"I am more concerned about the normal drunks in such taverns," Weiss said. "If they think they can take liberties with us…"
"...then will throw them out. Into the canals," Yang finished for her.
"And hope they can swim?" Blake raised her eyebrows at her. "I…" She trailed off, staring at the exit in front of them.
Yang knew that look. "Trouble?"
"I'm not sure. There's a crowd outside."
Yang frowned.
"A crowd?" Ruby sounded concerned.
"An angry mob or just a crowd?" Weiss asked.
"They don't sound too aggressive," Blake replied.
"Then they shouldn't be a problem," Yang decided and stepped forward.
There was a crowd outside. Not as big as Yang had expected. But pretty sizable. And she saw several - more than several - people with swords. Bravos.
Still, that could be normal for the nightlife here - this was supposed to be the best playhouse, after all.
But when they walked out, they heard an angry yell, and a bunch of bravos stepped up to block their way. Led by a familiar face.
Yang grinned. "Hey! Got your sword out of the canal?"
"That was a blade made by Antras Dego! It cost a fortune!" the idiot spat.
"Better go diving then, before it rusts!" Yang beamed at him. Toothily.
"Yes!" Ruby nodded. "Even stainless steel will rust if submerged in water long enough. And your blade didn't look like it was made from stainless steel."
She was serious, but the guy took it for mocking, Yang could tell - he was clenching his teeth so hard, she could see his jaw muscles twitch.
But before he could say anything, Weiss joined them. "You again! What is your problem? Do you want a rematch?"
"You owe me a new sword!"
"I don't owe you anything!" Weiss retorted in her best - or worst - 'snobby Atlas voice', as Ruby called it. "You challenged us, and you should count yourself fortunate that you were merely temporarily disarmed rather than maimed or killed, as is apparently the practice here for fools who challenge their betters."
Whether it was about the guy's attitude or the mistake with the playhouse, Weiss was clearly still quite annoyed.
But so was the idiot. And it was clear that his friends were not going to hold him back from starting another doomed fight - quite the contrary.
Yang narrowed her eyes. She couldn't understand what they were saying to each other, but she knew those expressions - and she didn't like seeing them.
And she really didn't like seeing them aimed at her friends.
"It looks like I got some frustration to vent as well," she said. "Who wants to go first?"
"You got no sword!" one said.
"Don't need one," Yang replied, raising Ember Celica and smacking the gauntlets together. "Those are plenty enough to deal with some idiots wielding toothpicks."
"Toothpicks?" The guys looked confused rather than insulted.
Yang shook her head. "I'd ask if you're compensating for something, but your swords are pretty small and thin as well."
They still didn't seem to get it. Wait! One of them gasped. "What did you say?"
Yang grinned and motioned at him. "Let's dance!"
He drew his sword - a rapier - and stepped to the side, people giving way. "Even if you are a woman, this cannot be forgiven!"
"Yeah, yeah." Yang scoffed as she rolled her neck, also stepping away from her friends. "Are you gonna talk me to death, or are you going to fight? If you're afraid to fight me, just say so."
He snarled and attacked.
Compared to Weiss or Blake, he was as slow as a snail. Yang yawned as she moved out of the path of his lunge. And he wasn't particularly skilled, either - compared to, say, the Kingsguard, he looked like a novice. Compared to Ser Barristan… Yang didn't step out of the way of his next attack; she just bent her body to evade it, then deflected the follow-up strike with her gauntlets. And the next. And the one after that.
"Uh…" She looked to the others while ducking beneath a swing. "Has the duel started yet? I can't really tell."
The bravo cursed at her and closed in, wildly swinging and stabbing with his sword.
She evaded or deflected them all. Without moving her feet. When he stopped attacking and glared at her while panting, she shook her head. "No stamina either? You must be a disappointment in bed."
He screamed incoherently at her and closed in again.
She grabbed his blade with her left hand, then crushed it when he tried to pull it back.
He gasped again - and so did the crowd. Yang grinned, twisted the sword out of his hand and flicked his forehead with a finger of her free hand. "This fight is over."
"That's my line!" Weiss protested.
"I'm stealing it!" Yang replied over her shoulder, then grinned at the rest of the bravos. "So, who's next?"
*****
