(Ezio POV)
"The Sealord of Braavos? Are you certain, Eddard?" I ask.
"Aye, I found it out after doing some digging myself. It seems that Marq Grafton made sure to get rid of Claudia as fast as possible, so as not to have his scheme come to light and sold her to Essos. Over slavers, she was bound for Slaver's Bay, but Braavosi ships intercepted the ship and freed the girls. Since slavery is illegal here in Braavos, the girls were left to their own devices. Whether it was luck or not, Claudia somehow became the concubine of the Sealord."
I hear Eddard's words, but I have trouble understanding them. She is here, she is in Braavos, and she is alive... I try to hold myself back and not rush things. I see the look on Eddard's face. He knows.
"Not yet, Ezio. Everything is almost finished, and we will first need to gather intelligence, which I will do personally. You are skilled, but not yet as experienced as you could be. Be patient for a short while longer," Eddard says.
I nod my head, but I know that I won't be able to.
.
The moon over Braavos was a very thin crescent, a sliver of silver as I made my way out of the window and jumped on the roof. Slight fog clung low to the alleys, close to the harbour, veiling my footsteps and swallowing the sound I still made. Eddard was right; I am not yet as skilled as I will be in the future, but I still need to do this. Lanterns flickered along the canals, their reflections to be seen in the black water. A bell rings, reminding me of the late hour.
I used my training and moved like a shadow unmoored, slipping across the rooftops, the folds of my dark cloak hiding my features. Behind me, the different towers of the large city faded into the dark of the night. I had left a note for Corvus, though I knew he would most likely find out nonetheless. I tried to leave as furtively as possible, but he may have heard me either way.
Corvus had told me to hold off on going. But Claudia might be inside that mansion. I couldn't wait. Not any longer.
The Sealord's estate loomed like a fortress against the other mansions of Braavos's wealthy and powerful; massive, worn stone, with green and torch-lit balconies overlooking the city like watchful eyes. Braavos was a city of masks, illusions and power plays. It was a place where nothing was as bad as it seemed in Westeros at first glance, but if one knew where to look, it wasn't better. Now, I am done playing games.
I reached the outer hall of the estate and started to climb the garden wall with quiet ease, my fingertips finding grooves in the old stone. At the top, I perched like an upside-down bat, studying the inner grounds and looking for activity. Two Unsullied guards patrolled the courtyard below in random arcs. Their spears and shields flashed at their hips. Unsullied were fierce soldiers and would pose a problem if I fought them head-on. But that wasn't my reason for being here.
I dropped silently behind a hedge, rolling into the shadows. I was never more thankful for the harsh training Corvus puts me through. Not many men could hope to make this fall unscathed. After observing for a second, I followed the patrol's rhythm, timed it, and when one guard passed too close to the frame near the kitchen windows--
I lashed out quickly and precisely. My knuckles hit a weak spot on his neck: a quick strike, and my hand over his mouth, to keep him from making any noise. I couldn't risk anything at the moment. The body slumped into the hedge.
The second guard was luckier. I moved past him and let him be entirely, scaling the side of the mansion using the window grates and old stonework. No one saw me as I entered through an open balcony on the second floor. I was inside.
The hallway was silent. Expensive, handmade floors, sea-glass decorations on the wall, everything spoke of power and wealth. Faint music echoed from somewhere, maybe a feast of some kind. That was useful to me, as it provided the distraction I needed.
I moved from room to room, avoiding the light, studying every inch, looking for Claudia. I felt my heartbeat and heard it in my ears.
I checked several rooms. A library lined with Braavosi scrolls, crimson-bound tomes, and strange blades mounted above the fireplace. A music room with a half-finished harp, still warm where fingers had touched it. My eyes moved over everything, using the deductive reasoning that Corvus taught all the Raven Guard. The dining hall was cleared recently. The smell of wine still lingered in silver goblets—a lazy house guard half-dozed by the side entrance.
Seeing him, I didn't kill him, but slipped past.
A trio of guards approached, and I ducked into a servant corridor, double-backed, and waited. As they passed, I emerged behind the last one. Two swift, clean strikes, followed by one that collapsed without a sound, the other barely groaned before I dragged him into a linen closet. I was just too slow, and the third turned around.
Steel met steel as he swung his sword towards me. I was faster. I parried, slipped behind him, and kicked his knees, breaking the man's stance before knocking him out cold.
However, there was a problem... the clash had most likely been heard.
I hurried now, my senses on high alert and my blood blasting in my ears. The corridor grew even more prosperous, tapestries embroidered with sea serpents and brazen-faced mermaids. Gold and silver were visible everywhere—a double door of black oak at the end.
I pressed my ear against it and heard voices. I froze and opened the door slowly and silently. Inside, the chamber was bathed in candlelight. The door to the balcony was open, allowing a slight breeze to enter the room and cool the air slightly. Pillows and silks lay all around. My gaze moved over everything and then... There she was.
Claudia.
She sat by the window in light Braavosi clothing that did not belong to her. Her face turned as the door creaked open, emotionless and cold, then softened with disbelief as her eyes met mine.
"E--Ezio?"
I stepped inside.
"Claudia..." I said, my voice breaking.
But there was no time. A dozen boots thundered down the hall. I have been discovered. I turned as the door burst open, giving way for armed guards. Thirteen men, all armed and ready for combat. Six of them were Unsullied, making the total more than I could handle. It didn't matter. I will not allow them to take her from me again.
.
.
(3rd Person POV)
Ezio moved like water, just like Corvus had been teaching the Raven Guard members. Steel flashed as he unsheathed his sword. He dropped the first guard with a boot to the knee and a rising slash. Another guard lunged, slashing towards Ezio, who ducked under the blade and gutted him. He rolled forward, grabbed the first fallen guard's dagger, and hurled it through an Unsullied's throat.
Three down, ten to go.
A spear shot through the air and grazed his side; he twisted, pulled the spear towards him, and stabbed - four.
He pivoted, leapt onto the bedpost, and flung himself down, crashing into two more, one with a sickening crack - Six. Ezio was doing very well, moving through their ranks and keeping his distance, since he knew that the Unsullied would not care about how he came across. They had the advantage in numbers and were slowly taking away his manoeuvrability.
But they kept coming.
A sword glanced off his bracer—then another slashed across his back. He staggered. A boot to the gut sent him into the wall. Blood sprayed across the white sheets on the bed. He dodged and then slashed. Seven, eight, nine, ten, he killed them one after the other, but he couldn't stop all the blades. Not at his current age and training stage.
A fist landed on his cheek. They pinned him. Steel at his neck and another mailed fist his him across his jaw, causing it to crack. Ezio collapsed, breath uneven, and his vision was circling.
"Ezio!!" Claudia screamed.
"Enough!"
A voice boomed through the halls, loud and with authority. The Sealord himself walked into the room. When Ezio tried to rise, they slammed him down. Ezio, bloodied and broken-lipped, met his sister's eyes one last time before yet another fist impacted his head and knocked him out. They dragged him away deep into the dungeons of the Sealord's mansion.
.
A few hours later, Ezio awoke and found himself strapped to an interrogation table. His face and wrists were bloodied. The smell of mildew and brine was thick in the air, as was the scent of blood. The squeaking of rats was heard as they scurried behind the walls. Ezio was stripped naked. Across from him sat a tall man in crimson silk. The First Sword of Braavos.
"You infiltrate the home of Braavos' highest voice," the man said, lazily stirring a cup of steaming spiced wine. "You kill ten men. You break the Sealord's peace. And for what? A girl?"
Ezio didn't say anything. He knew what getting captured meant. Torture was something he was familiar with and had started to be trained in. The pain he would experience and the questioning weren't what bothered him most, though. What was hardest on his mind was that he failed not only his sister, whom he had finally found again, but also Corvus. His loyalty to the Shadowed Lord had grown to unimaginable heights. It wasn't as strong as it could be, however, since he didn't listen to his words and left to get his sister.
The door opened, and the Sealord walked into the dungeon. He had two Unsullied with him for his protection. After seeing what happened a few hours prior, he took precautions. The Sealord had a displeased expression on his face as he stood above Ezio.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"..."
"Why did you want to kill me?"
"..."
"Who ordered you to assassinate me?"
"..."
"One of my competitors?"
The Sealord looked into Ezio's eyes to see whether he would react to it. He looked at the First Sword and nodded. The man stood up and walked over to Ezio. He grabbed a knife, which had been heated and stabbed it into Ezio's leg. Great pain flushed through Ezio, but he refused to make a sound. He used the technique which Corvus taught him and tried to project himself into another place. He imagined himself to be back at the Eyrie, talking with Corvus.
"Your name is Ezio, isn't it?" the Sealord asked.
"..."
"How do you know my concubine?"
Hearing the Sealord's words finally elicited a reaction from Ezio. Concubine... Pure rage filled the younger brother as he imagined what his sister had to have gone through.
"Oh, so that finally got your attention? Then let me tell you something else... she was one of the best I ever had. It was such a bother to see her get pregnant... but oh well."
Ezio saw red and tried to break free from his binds. But it didn't work. His gaze flashed to the back of the dungeon for a split second, and he saw a tall figure standing there in the shadows. His eyes widened as he saw Corvus emerge slowly.
"How are you liking it?"
"Not a lot," Ezio answered.
The men in the room only then realised that another individual was in the dungeon. The Unsullied attacked right away, thrusting their spears forward. Eddard Corvus Stark slapped the spears to the side and grabbed the Unsullied by the necks, squeezing hard and breaking them in the same instant. He threw their corpses to the side, making them collide with the First Sword and splashing their bodies against the wall.
"Wha... what are you?" the Sealord stuttered and backed away.
Eddard didn't care about the Sealord and freed Ezio first. As soon as he was free, Ezio dropped to the ground, kneeling before his Lord. He hung his head in shame.
"Do you understand what you did? Everyone will have to die now. And all that because you couldn't wait," Corvus said.
"I apologise. I know I went against your orders, but--"
"You didn't go against my orders, Ezio."
"I-- Pardon?"
"I didn't order you to stay. I knew you couldn't follow that order, so I didn't do it. I myself would bathe the realm in blood if something happened to Lyanna. However, had you waited, I would have been happy to help you. I suppose you at least understood where you stood in terms of skill."
"...Thank you, Lord Corvus."
"Don't thank me yet. There is still much work to be done. Go and get your sister. Kill anyone who sees you or who stands in your way. I'll deal with this one," Eddard ordered.
"I understand."
Ezio left the dungeon, moving through his pain. Eddard finally turned to the Sealord with the coldest expression anyone is capable of. The man felt tremendous pressure and began to shake like a leaf.
"You will tell me where you hold all of your wealth, and you will tell me all of your other secrets," he told the Braavosi.
"Wh--will you kill me?"
"Yes."
"..."
"But it depends on how fast you wish to die."
Eddard grabbed a knife and walked forward.
"Now, let's hear it."
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Finally done. Next chapter will be the Tourney at Harrenhal.