Feast and Braavosi Connections

After night fell, the reception hall in the Red Door Courtyard was still brightly lit.

Expensive honey-scented candles were burning, imported from House Waynwood in the Vale.

The Vale's scented candles were considered premium goods and cost more than Braavos's local whale-oil candles.

Although Westeros was a feudal realm of landed estates, it was vast and rich in resources.

Its regional specialties—The Arbor's wines, Dorne's Summer Red, the Vale's scented candles, and more—sold well throughout the Known World.

A long wooden table had been set up in the center of the reception hall, covered with a black-and-red tablecloth and adorned with bouquets of flowers.

The scented candles filled the room with fragrance. It was indeed a lavish meal.

Yet despite the grand scale of the feast, only Viserys Targaryen and Xisa Zarodin, Braavos's young and arrogant local peacekeeper, were dining.

Both were young, but they looked entirely different. Viserys had long silver-white hair and violet eyes, while the Braavosi had brown skin and brown eyes.

The early Braavosi had all been descended from escaped slaves. They had no noble blood to speak of.

Viserys wore a black silk coat embroidered with the sigil of the three-headed red dragon. Xisa, meanwhile, was still dressed in grayish-brown clothes.

The Braavosi knew that the monarchs of the Sunset Kingdom all had family sigils. Some bore flowers, some fish, some stags—and, of course, true dragons.

Viserys, on the other hand, knew few of Braavos's high-ranking figures.

He had still been a child when the agreement was signed. Besides, the old Sealord had died long ago.

Even if Viserys went to seek out the current Sealord and his officials, the gap between them was too great. It would do little good, and he had no connections there.

Once he accomplished something of value and influence, the Sealord would naturally come looking for him. Going to the Sealord's Palace now would only humiliate himself.

Xisa, the young peacekeeper, was a more suitable contact. His status was appropriate, and he had dealt with Viserys before.

From the peacekeeper's manner, Viserys guessed that he too wanted to learn about the exile's movements and use that knowledge as a stepping stone upward.

"Thank you very much for your care during this time, Lord Xisa. You helped me solve a great problem. These new servants are very loyal," Viserys said as the steward poured Xisa a cup of Arbor Gold.

"It was nothing," Xisa said with a dismissive wave.

They were both young, so their conversation was relatively easygoing.

Besides, although House Targaryen had lost its kingdom, the weight of its bloodline remained.

By coming here for dinner, the peacekeeper felt that his vanity had been greatly satisfied.

Viserys could not afford to hire a dedicated wine steward, so he had no choice but to use his butler.

A proper highborn feast should have pageboys and pretty serving girls. But his purse was empty, so everything had to be kept simple.

The household was currently staffed by old cooks and old laundresses. Their skills were good, but none could be called pleasing to the eye.

"I didn't think you were this sort of person," Xisa said in surprise. In the stories, this Viserys was a fallen king who looked down on everyone.

"The world is full of hardships. People have to grow," Viserys said lightly, then changed tack. "When I think of the Usurper still sitting upon my Iron Throne, my heart is torn apart."

Xisa's mouth twitched. So this was still the same old Viserys.

The servants first brought out crab-and-flathead-shark soup and chilled egg-and-lime soup, followed by honeyed quail, roasted trout, goose liver soaked in red wine, buttered radishes, and sea snails.

Looking at the sumptuous spread, Xisa could see that Viserys had spared no expense.

But he was also curious. If Viserys kept eating and drinking like this, wouldn't he run out of money sooner or later?

In truth, the upper classes never lacked food, but banquets were also a matter of etiquette.

At a certain level, food, clothing, shelter, and daily necessities all became highly refined. That was why nobles could always find common ground.

"I'll have the first taste."

"Please." Out of courtesy, Xisa decided to symbolically take a spoonful of soup—only for that one spoonful to hook him.

Xisa savored the soup. It was truly excellent.

The problem was that such exquisite flavor did not seem like something the old cook he had recommended could produce.

"This..." Xisa began biting into the honeyed quail, then sampled the crisp roasted trout dipped in chili sauce.

Viserys also ate and drank heartily. Fine wine was an excellent medium.

Xisa was shocked by Viserys's appetite. This exiled king could really eat and drink. And he used expensive ingredients—wouldn't he eat himself into bankruptcy sooner or later?

"Your Majesty, you truly have an excellent appetite," Xisa praised.

"It's not bad," Viserys said.

With Glutton's Gift, he really had become rather capable of eating, and he did not gain weight from it.

By the end, Xisa was certain that every dish here was exceptionally delicious. Even at the Sealord's Palace, he had never tasted food like this at any banquet he attended.

Xisa did not believe that the cook he had arranged possessed such skill. Good things did not circulate on the market.

The best cooks, blacksmiths, and painters were all fiercely sought after, serving in the Sealord's Palace or the magistrates' estates.

If that cook truly had such skill, would she need to cook for this exiled king? The wages Viserys offered were hardly especially attractive.

"These dishes are truly outstanding. I could eat and drink like a whale," Xisa remarked, then glanced around. "Has a new cook come to your household?"

"No. It's still the old cook you arranged before," Viserys said, shaking his head.

Of course they were good, Viserys thought. He had not cooked himself; he had merely guided the old cook.

The gap between first-rate, second-rate, and supreme mastery was no small one.

"May I meet that cook again?" Xisa asked.

"Of course."

The plump cook was summoned, and Xisa generously gave her a reward.

"This skill is simply extraordinary," Xisa praised.

The cook looked overwhelmed by the praise, but her eyes turned toward Viserys. "My lord peacekeeper, these dishes were not entirely made by me. The master said an honored guest was coming, so he instructed me while I cooked."

"I never expected you to possess such Talent," Xisa said in surprise.

Viserys spread his hands. "Please don't laugh. I am actually a gourmand. I have spent several years in Braavos, and while I made no progress in other skills, I did cultivate my appetite."

"Wonderful, truly wonderful. Come, let us drink!" Xisa burst into laughter.

Xisa thought of the Mushroom Poisoning Case, but the Sealord had already reached a conclusion, so there was no need to dwell on it.

Besides, even if he was a gourmand, a nobleman like Viserys, so mindful of his status, would never stoop to cooking himself.

At first, Xisa had thought Viserys was a handsome but useless man. Now he was a handsome, useless man who enjoyed good food and drink and knew how to appreciate them.

Still, that counted as a specialty.

After several cups of wine, the two began talking loudly and freely.

"The world is round, Your Majesty Viserys," Xisa said.

"Indeed it is."

"Do you know that the Usurper has already defeated those wretches from the Iron Islands? His position is as solid as a rock now. If I were you, I would enjoy life."

The Braavosi also hated the pirates of the Iron Islands.

"I would like to, but I long for my Iron Throne."

"Then I wish you success. To be honest, I have also dreamed of the Sealord's throne." Xisa blinked.

"That is a splendid dream," Viserys praised.

"Of course it is. But this is not like the Sunset Lands. The Sealord is not some harsh king who would tear out my tongue."

"May we both achieve success."

"Certainly."

"Your Majesty Viserys, I do have a presumptuous request," Xisa said. "I would like to bring a very precious friend here for dinner."

"Of course," Viserys said. "Oh, is it a relative or a superior?"

"No, it is a courtesan I am pursuing. I am trying to make her happy," Xisa said openly.

"I would also advise you to get acquainted with more courtesans. They are the center of Braavos. A king's burdens are too heavy—why not enjoy life while you can?" Xisa suggested.

"Which one is it? Black Pearl or the Mermaid Queen?" Viserys became interested as well.

"Neither. Those famous courtesans are beyond my means to invite. I am currently supporting a younger courtesan," Xisa said somewhat embarrassed.

Viserys nodded.

Courtesans moved among the Sealord, religious groups, assassins, and merchants. They were Braavos's queens of fashion.

The network he wanted was opening up before him.

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