Faceless Man Kungul Porter

Faceless Man Kungul Porter

The voyage at sea was long and tedious, but the Valaerys family fleet was large enough, and they had happened to catch favorable winds, so it sailed swiftly.

Yet this only left Lonzell feeling deeply powerless.

Rey's little dragon, Shadowmare, was growing rapidly. In barely two months, it had already grown as large as a calf, with an astonishing appetite. Besides the beef and mutton supplied by the ships specially raising cattle and sheep, Shadowmare also stole meat from the sea monsters and whales hunted by Vomysor and Silverwing.

Of course, "stealing" was not quite right. For some unknown reason, Vomysor and Silverwing were very close to Shadowmare. Silverwing would even share the large fish it caught with the hungry little dragon.

Visari, who had arrived with the second wave of ships, believed that Silverwing might have regarded Shadowmare as its own child, though there was no evidence to support that theory.

Valar had gone to the leading vanguard ships to train with the others. Only Lonzell and several close retainers remained aboard the flagship. Golden-eyed Hofa—oh, no, he should now be called Hofa Lawkeeper—was polishing his lance. Sebastian quietly read a book, while Lynn Valtaken practiced his swordsmanship on deck.

The spoils Lonzell had taken from the ruins of Valyria had already been inventoried, and after rendezvousing with the second fleet, they were divided extensively within the family.

The family sword, Silver Blood, naturally returned to Lonzell and now hung quietly on the wall of the luxurious captain's cabin. Emperor Aurion's Valyrian steel scale armor, Dragonrider, was also displayed there. After leaving the ruins, Lonzell had cleansed every weapon and suit of armor with Blood Magic, restoring them to their appearance from centuries ago. Every dragon-scale-shaped plate on the armor called Dragonrider was carved with intricate runes. The pauldrons were shaped like dragon heads, while dragon wings stretched toward the sky from either side of its spiked helmet, eventually converging upon the relief of a giant dragon protruding from the helmet's brow.

Beside the armor rested Emperor Aurion's lance, Ash Snake. This lance, intended for use atop a dragon's back, had a strange design. Lonzell had tried using it while riding Vomysor, but he could never handle it properly. Perhaps it worked better on horseback than dragonback.

Black-Skirt Widow was passed down to Valar, along with a Valyrian steel lance named Heartsbane and a suit of Valyrian steel plate-and-mail armor called Silver Shield, its helmet crowned by a soaring dragon.

Rey received the Valyrian steel rapier Blood Tears, as well as the Valyrian steel brigandine armor Starry Sky.

Lynn Valtaken gained the longsword Griffin's Heart, engraved with a griffin, along with a suit of mirror-smooth black plate armor called Black Mirror.

Sebastian Calamityflame received the flame-shaped sword. Delighted, he named it Calamityflame to display his family name.

Hofa also received his spoils: a Valyrian steel lance called Lawkeeper. Ago happily accepted his arakh, Moonchanter. Amor, who had silently guarded Lonzell all this time, received the restored moon-bladed poleaxe, Guillotine. Amos Fezer accepted a Valyrian steel two-handed greatsword, Steelflame, acquired after taming a dragon, while Aslan Longdell received the ruby-adorned longsword Lion King.

Lonzell stored away the remaining spoils.

There were also four longswords, one rapier, one bastard sword, two two-handed greatswords, and two suits of armor.

Lonzell put down the book in his hand and quietly watched the man enter the captain's cabin.

"My lord, I've come to replace your wine." The man skillfully set a fresh bottle of wine on the table.

"There's no need to conceal your identity before me, servant of the Many-Faced God." Lonzell immediately saw the dense shadows around the man, as though countless faces within them were silently watching the outside world.

"My apologies. My skill is still lacking, and I have made a fool of myself before you." The man's face twisted for a moment before finally settling into the unremarkable features of an ordinary young man.

"You're quite sincere." Lonzell looked at the Faceless Man across from him in surprise. He had actually dispelled his disguise magic.

"It seems you haven't come to assassinate me. Have a drink." Lonzell gestured for the young man to make himself at home. Without ceremony, the young man picked up the glass decanter, poured himself a cup of fine wine, and drained it in one gulp. "As expected of the silver wine renowned across the continent. It is truly rich and fragrant."

"Tell me why you came," Lonzell said.

"A revelation from the Many-Faced God," the young man said. "Someone is needed to serve until death."

"Why?"

"There is no reason. The god spoke, so someone acts."

"Oh?"

"The god has severed his connection with someone," the Faceless Man said. "I also drank the wine mixed with your blood."

"The Many-Faced God is truly generous."

"The god is merely paying his reward," the Faceless Man said. "The name someone uses while walking the mortal world is Kungul Porter. I will offer you my loyalty and my death."

Lonzell nodded.

"There is also news from the west." Kungul raised his head. "Envoys from the Iron Throne have arrived in Pentos. They wish to meet with you directly."

"They've finally come."

Lonzell said to himself.

Second update check-in. It hurts so much.