Chapter 218 Say the Name

Chapter 216: Say the Name

Barristan and Arya sneaked out of the Mermaid Queen Tavern, but they were unable to leave Braavos by boat.

The ship that Varys, the chief of intelligence of the Seven Kingdoms, arranged for them was two days later, and they were too embarrassed to take that ship now.

The two first looked for a ship in Purple Harbor, and then went to the Cloth Dealer's Wharf, where there were more merchant ships.

Compared with Purple Harbor, the Cloth Dealer's Wharf is simpler and rougher, and more dirty and noisy.

Most of the people who make a living at this wharf are porters, craftsmen, small vendors, beggars and prostitutes.

The two disguised themselves as a pair of rope makers and apprentices, and went to find those captains to talk and inquire about the destination of the ships.

But they searched for a whole day and did not find a ship to White Harbor.

The reason was that a war broke out in the North. Arya's brother Robb Stark summoned the lords and vassals of the North and led his troops south.

He also united his mother's family Tully in Riverrun to fight against the Lannister army led by Duke Tywin, the guardian of the West.

When the news that Eddard Stark was beheaded by King Joffrey was sent back to the North, the reconciliation between Stark and Lannister may be officially declared broken.

The northern lords were indignant and supported Robb as the King of the North. Together with the lords of the river, they were determined to take revenge on the Iron Throne.

At this time, three people had successively become kings in Westeros, and a bloody storm was about to sweep across the Seven Kingdoms.

Therefore, no merchant ship dared to risk their lives to go to the North at this time.

Finally, in desperation, Barristan took out all the money left from selling armor and asked the captain to send them to Eastwatch.

It was close to the Great Wall and was the rear of the North. It would never be affected by the war, but the captain still refused them.

In order to strengthen the military, Stannis Baratheon sent people to recruit the Three Sisters Islands and many pirates in the Narrow Sea.

As long as they swear allegiance to Stannis, he will grant the pirates the privilege of legal plundering.

Without the protection and patrol of the navy, a merchant ship crossing the narrow sea is undoubtedly a snack for the pirates.

At this point, Barristan and Arya have no way to deal with it even if they are unwilling.

It seems that there is only one way left for the two of them. Barristan pondered for a long time before finally making up his mind.

"Let's go back and find Prince Aegon and Jon Clinton."

Although Arya is young, she also understands that there must be unspeakable difficulties for a knight who adheres to the knight's creed to leave without saying goodbye.

She shook her head vigorously and rejected Barristan's decision, and the two of them were deadlocked.

Then, Arya made a suggestion that she would stay in Braavos and wait for the war situation to become clear, and then return to Westeros to let the old knight pursue his true king.

This time, Barristan rejected Arya. How could he leave a ten-year-old girl to live alone in a strange foreign country?

If he did that, he would not have to serve the true king anymore because he had lost that qualification.

Both of them were for each other, and neither could convince the other. They could only find an inn near the rag trader's dock and temporarily live there.

In the days that followed, they worked at the dock to disguise their identities while paying attention to the latest movements of the captains.

Time passed day by day, and the shadow of war always shrouded Westeros.

There was news that the North was negotiating with King's Landing to exchange hostages, and then there was news that Stannis led his army to surround Storm's End and fought with his brother Renly.

As news came one after another, Arya's mood became more and more depressed.

Until one day, she saw an acquaintance at the rag trader's dock, a prisoner named Jaqen.

They met in Westeros. When the Night's Watch was attacked, it was Arya who released the three prisoners who were tied up, one of whom was Jaqen.

Under the cover of Varys's men, they escaped the attack. Arya also knew Jaqen's name, and then she was taken back to Barristan.

Now that she could meet Jaqen again in Braavos, Arya was full of surprise.

At the same time, she had an idea in her mind that Jaqen had just got off the ship. Maybe he came from Westeros, and maybe he could help her return to the North.

Thinking of this, Arya couldn't help but follow him.

Before she took a few steps, the crowd in front of her moved, and Jaqen's figure disappeared from her sight.

Arya was dejected, as if she had missed the last chance, and she was very disappointed.

However, this disappointment did not last long in her heart.

That night, Jaqen found her and offered her three assassination quotas in return for the three lives she saved.

As long as Arya said the name, Jaqen would take the man's life.

In an instant, her heart was moved, and the names of Joffrey, Cersei and others circled in her mind like a revolving lantern.

Just when she wanted to speak, the faces of her father, mother, and family flashed in her mind again.

And Barristan, the old knight who made a vow without purpose, but always kept his promise and guarded her by her side.

The name that was about to come out of her mouth was quietly swallowed back by Arya, and she changed her mind:

"I don't have anyone I want to kill, I just want to go home, can you help me?"

"..."

"I will."

Jaqen was silent for a moment, leaving only a short sentence and then leaving.

I don’t know whether the assassin was afraid of trouble and refused to help Arya go home, or whether he was not afraid of trouble. Almost every night after that, he would find Arya, hoping to get three names from her.

But Arya never changed her words. She had no one to assassinate, she just wanted to go home.

Until one day, Arya suddenly had an idea and said a name: "Jaqen."

After hearing this name, the assassin disappeared for several days.

When he came to the door again, his purpose was no longer to ask for the name, but to let her take back the name, and the condition was to help her return to the North.

But when Arya excitedly told Barristan the news, she was fiercely criticized and opposed by the old knight.

An assassin who was born a prisoner is not worthy of trust.

The words of those captains were not false. At this time, safety could not be guaranteed when going out to sea.

Barristan even suspected that Jaqen was planning to let Arya die at sea, so that he would not have to repay her for saving three lives.

But Arya had made up her mind. No matter how the old knight persuaded her, she decided to believe Jaqen because she wanted to go home.

She even thought of a countermeasure, imitating Barristan's leaving without saying goodbye and leaving secretly.

However, Arya, nicknamed "Troublemaker", who was naughty and had a strong independent spirit, could make the nuns angry and her parents crazy, but she couldn't sleep after she had this idea.