Captives and Lys

Viserys did not answer him immediately. He first walked to the rail and let the sea breeze dispel the heaviness in his heart.

"Salladhor Saan," he said, his voice quiet but commanding, "your life, and the lives of your remaining crew, belong to me now."

Salladhor's heart sank.

"But I won't take your life for now," Viserys continued, changing tack. "I need you to do something else."

Salladhor froze, eyeing him suspiciously.

"I want you to keep being a pirate and raiding merchant ships, especially those sailing between the Free Cities under Baratheon or Lannister banners, or serving their interests," Viserys said slowly. "I want half of whatever you seize. But don't give it to me yet. Hold it for me and use it to build new ships. Keep it quiet and spread the work among reliable shipyards. The ships must be sturdy and fast, fit to carry troops and fight. You'll keep them for me until I need them."

Saan's mind raced. The terms sounded very good. Not only would he keep his life, but he could also continue his old trade, with only a mysterious new "partner" and a long-term task added to the bargain.

There were risks, of course, but it was far better than being thrown into the sea to feed the fish right now. Besides, the man's targets were clearly the rulers of Westeros. That might be an opportunity for him, too.

"My lord, how can I trust you, and how am I to hand things over to you?" Saan asked cautiously.

"You don't need to trust me. You only need to know that you cannot afford the price of defying me."

Viserys spoke calmly. "As for handing things over, I'll send someone to contact you when the time comes. Remember, Salladhor Saan, what I value is your ability and your connections on these waters. Do this well, and there may be something in it for you in the future. Fail me..." He did not finish, but his meaning could not have been clearer.

Saan swallowed, then pounded the deck as though he had finally made up his mind. "Done, my lord. I, Salladhor Saan, will serve you from now on. Nothing would please me more than robbing those Lannister and Baratheon bastards."

Viserys nodded his approval, said no more, and returned to his cabin. Ser Arthur assigned men to clear up the aftermath of the battle, gathering some arrows and usable supplies left behind by the pirates. The two ships adjusted their sails and left those bloodied, fog-shrouded waters.

The ships changed course and headed southwest toward Lys, the city famed for its perfumes, slaves, and banking, where they would make a brief stop to replenish their supplies.

Salladhor Saan stood at the bow, watching the two great ships slowly vanish into the thick fog. He rubbed his unkempt beard, his expression conflicted. He did not know whether he had stumbled into extraordinary luck or even greater trouble, but one thing was clear: that young nobleman with the sword was not someone he could easily fool.

"You all heard him!" he roared, turning to his men. "Keep your eyes peeled from now on. Lannister and Baratheon ships are our easy pickings! Set aside the best half of whatever we take and store it away. I've got a big venture in mind!"

Having survived the disaster and learned that they could still keep plundering, the pirates burst into howls, seemingly forgetting the crushing defeat they had just suffered.

The rest of the voyage was much quieter. Perhaps word of the pirates' defeat had spread, or perhaps it was because they deliberately avoided the busy trade routes, but they encountered no more large-scale attacks. Only once did they glimpse distant sails that appeared to belong to longships from the Iron Islands. The other ships seemed to be watching them as well, but ultimately did not approach.

The ships reached Lys without incident. Cream-colored and pale pink buildings stretched along the gently sloping shore, gleaming in the sunlight. A cloying floral scent drifted from somewhere, mingling with the salty, fishy smell of the docks to create a distinctive, faintly suffocating "scent of Lys." The dock district bustled with noise and activity, though it seemed less orderly than Braavos.

Viserys's ships berthed at a quieter dock, with Ser Alliser responsible for resupplying and gathering news. Viserys put on a simple disguise, then went ashore with Ser Arthur to experience the city's customs and daily life.

In the unloading area, labeled casks of wine were being carried with great care. In the slave pens nearby, newly arrived "goods" were being washed, inspected, and sorted, ready to be sent to market or delivered straight to the city's countless brothels and gladiator training grounds. Men and women in thin silk strolled through the streets, vendors hawked curiosities from around the world, and ornate litters occasionally passed through the crowds surrounded by guards.

In the end, they decided to eat lunch at a tavern that looked reasonably clean. They took a table toward the back and ordered two simple servings of fish and rice stew, along with wine. As Viserys ate in silence, he watched his surroundings out of the corner of his eye.

A few sailors were fondling women in a corner, while men who looked like merchants negotiated in low voices. At another table sat a coarse-mannered group in leather armor. From their scattered conversation, he caught words such as "King Balon," "the Old Way," and "the Arbor." Judging by their clothes and accents, they were the Ironborn he had seen at sea earlier. The sharp-eyed young female captain among them seemed to be called Asha.

Viserys had little interest in them. Their intermittent conversation merely told him that Westeros was outwardly peaceful for now, though the Iron Islands seemed to have other plans. Perhaps in another two years, Balon Greyjoy would rebel and proclaim himself king.

After lunch, Viserys and Ser Arthur also asked around for information about Valyria, but such information proved just as difficult to obtain here.

Occasionally, a tavern keeper or map seller would claim with an air of mystery to possess a "treasured sea chart" and demand an exorbitant price, but its contents were pure fabrication and of no use to them. Viserys lost any desire to keep wandering. He and Arthur returned to the ship to wait for the news Ser Alliser and his men had gathered.

Ser Alliser did not return to the ship until evening.

"Your Grace, the merchants here care more about the purity of gold coins and when the next shipment of spices will arrive," Ser Arthur reported. "As for the Smoking Sea and Valyria, they either refuse to discuss them, considering them ill omens, or simply make up stories. News from Westeros is rather fragmented.

"Robert the Usurper has incurred still more debts, and the tourneys and feasts in King's Landing have never stopped. House Lannister's power continues to reach new heights. Rumors from Dorne say that Prince Doran rarely leaves his residence, while his brother, Prince Oberyn, has no fixed whereabouts. There is no definite news from elsewhere."

Viserys nodded.

Once resupplied, the ships lingered no longer. They slipped quietly out of the harbor of Lys and returned to the vast Summer Sea. This time, they set a firm course for Volantis.