The Water Dancer Joins

The candles in the reception hall burned brightly, yet the room carried an exotic air.

There were scented candles from the Vale here, as well as an exiled dragon king with silver hair and purple eyes.

The red three-headed dragon sigil flickered in the candlelight. The dragon king who had once ruled vast lands had now fallen so low as to live as a guest in Braavos.

The Female Swordswoman could not help sighing at the merciless changes of fate. Yet, seeing Viserys's calm and composed manner, she could not help thinking a little more highly of him.

Westeros and Essos were closely connected.

Viserys knew that two kinds of people tended to live permanently in Essos. The first were politically disgraced exiles, while the second were outlaws.

The War of the Usurper had once raged fiercely. House Targaryen's royalist supporters had either died on the battlefield or donned black and gone to the Wall. Still, a small number had indeed fled across the Narrow Sea.

People became lowly when they left their homeland. There were such people, though not many.

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Had Ser Willem not become half-blind and paralyzed, he might have had the energy to organize these restorationists.

But disaster had struck too swiftly, leaving Viserys without even a small restoration faction. He was completely alone.

They had no followers of their own in Essos, nor did they have messengers traveling across the Narrow Sea.

As for the second kind of outlaws, they were people like Big Bear, who had illegally sold poachers into slavery, or those who stole deer and dogs, offended their lords, and could no longer survive in Westeros.

There were more of those people, but every last one of them was wicked.

Viserys still preferred to recruit the first kind: loyal royalist knights.

Most of the second kind had now joined mercenary companies, such as the Golden Company, which he could not afford to recruit. Besides, those people were greedy and came from complicated backgrounds.

"Knights from Westeros?" The Female Swordswoman looked at Viserys, a gleam flashing through her almond-shaped eyes.

The Female Swordswoman found it somewhat amusing. It seemed this handsome little king still could not forget the Iron Throne he had lost.

After all, it was a vast and fertile land, ruling over millions upon millions of people.

But with the resources this king currently possessed, was returning there not nothing more than a fool's dream?

In extreme circumstances, Westeros could raise two or three hundred thousand soldiers, while this exiled king was as weak as an ant.

"Though it will be somewhat difficult, I will secretly search for them for you," the Female Swordswoman promised.

Though it sounded simple enough, Viserys's requirements were rather demanding.

They had to be experienced knights, exiles loyal to the House Targaryen royal family, and people of trustworthy character.

"Then let me thank you in advance." Viserys was very pleased.

The courtesans had intelligence networks of their own. These courtesans moved among nobles, officials, merchants, and assassins.

The more famous the courtesan, the larger her intelligence and social networks.

These women were like larger-scale brokers, acting as intermediaries and making connections for their clients.

This was not freeloading, either. One fine meal had been exchanged for a piece of intelligence.

"But finding a qualified Westerosi exile for you will not be so easy. If Your Grace trusts me, I can first arrange a Water Dancer instructor for you," the Female Swordswoman added, changing the subject.

There was such a good thing?

Viserys thought, This courtesan is quite generous.

She had offered Viserys two opportunities at once.

With all the people they received and saw off, it was no wonder so many became obsessed with these courtesans.

"I truly cannot thank you enough." Viserys expressed his gratitude.

"You truly are generous, but where is this Water Dancer you have arranged for the king?" Xisa asked.

"Far away on the horizon, yet right before your eyes." The Female Swordswoman pointed at her bearded guard, Moro.

"This gift is far too precious." Viserys hurriedly waved his hand. "How could I possibly accept it?"

Moro was the Female Swordswoman's guard. If she was willing to give even him away, then this woman possessed a gambler's madness.

"Do not misunderstand." The Female Swordswoman hurriedly waved her hand. "Before I find you a Westerosi, you may first study the Water Dancers' swordsmanship under Moro. Though it differs from the Iron Dance, Water Dancing is equally full of transformations."

"Then who will protect you?" Viserys asked.

"I have other guards. Courtesans are always like this; there are many people willing to risk their lives for us. That is where a courtesan's charm lies." The Female Swordswoman smiled brightly, brimming with confidence.

"The king also needs a guard to protect him. The Secret City is a dangerous place. Swordsmen dreaming of rising to prominence are everywhere, and they would even duel over which courtesan was the most enchanting."

That was indeed the truth. Duels took place beside the Moon Pool every day.

If Viserys dressed too flamboyantly, the swordsmen would surely provoke him.

In the Seven Kingdoms, nobles wore colorful velvet, brocade, and silk, while farmers and common folk wore undyed wool or dark-brown coarse cloth.

Braavos was the exact opposite.

Assassins strutted through the streets dressed as ostentatiously as peacocks, playing with the swords in their hands. Meanwhile, people of influence either chose dark gray, deep purple, or dark blue close to black, or simply wore black, as black as a moonless night.

"Moro, do you agree?" the Female Swordswoman asked.

Moro answered in a muffled voice, "Whatever the Female Swordswoman says, I will do. Also, if I stay here, will there still be so much delicious food?"

"Yes. King Viserys is a generous man," the Female Swordswoman said.

"You should accept him, Viserys. You truly do need a guard." Xisa approved of the arrangement as well. "If you really want to thank us, invite us to a few more meals."

In any case, he was not someone officially assigned by them. It was a matter of mutual consent, and no one could say much about it.

"That is certain," Viserys promised.

Viserys thought of Caesar's successful experience: first, use the ladies' route to gather intelligence; second, borrow money on a massive scale to build up his reputation.

These courtesans were ready-made, capable people with money and intelligence. But fooling around with them would likely get him killed very quickly.

For now, Viserys only wanted to obtain money and intelligence from them.

"The Female Swordswoman's generosity has delighted me beyond measure."

It did not matter much that this Water Dancer guard was the Female Swordswoman's man. Most of the servants in this courtyard were already someone else's spies anyway. Adding another instructor was no great concern.

Viserys was now at the end of his rope, like someone finding a wooden pole in a pond. He would grab it first and worry about the rest later.

Naturally, the Female Swordswoman did not trust Viserys that much either.

She merely felt that Viserys was already fourteen or fifteen. Practicing Water Dancing at his age would not amount to much, so she might as well consider it making a friend.

After all, whether it was Water Dancing, the Faceless Men, or even knightly training, the youngest trainees began at six or seven years old. Someone as overage as Viserys generally could not achieve much in such training.

Viserys understood the Female Swordswoman's thoughts as well, but it did not matter. After all, Viserys still had his cheat.

And so, the matter was settled.

The Female Swordswoman would search for a suitable Westerosi knight for Viserys, while Moro would train him.

"Let our friendship dance with fine wine." Xisa laughed heartily.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The wine cups clinked crisply, and the group drained them in one gulp.

Viserys's heart surged. This was the first step of his undertaking.

Though beginnings were always difficult, as long as he upheld the principles of gathering money and gathering people, he would slowly develop in the future.

For Viserys, it was a small step, beginning with expanding his social circle and attempting to build his own faction.

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