Chapter 35 The Widow by the Water

Volantis, midsummer, the climate is hot and humid.

At this time, three nobles wearing black hooded silk robes and covering their faces were walking quickly in the fishmongers' square on the west bank of the Rhoyne River.

Their dress could not help but attract attention, but there was obviously a reason for them to do so.

The air in the square was filled with a strong smell of fish, flowers, feces, and decay.

But here is the best tavern and largest inn in Volantis, the Merchant's House.

It is a huge four-story building, overlooking the surrounding warehouses and taverns. Many transactions are negotiated in the Merchant's House. This is the first choice for shippers, captains, and merchants all over the world.

There is a partition table in front of the inn, and four men dressed as mercenary sergeants are greeting every man or boy passing by to join their team.

The three nobles ignored the enthusiasm of these mercenaries and walked into the courtyard of the Merchant's House one after another, and continued along the wide sandstone slab road in the courtyard.

Purple-green moss grows between the cracks of the stone slabs, and with the intricately patterned flower racks, grape racks and pavilions surrounded by vines, it looks like a maze.

The door locks of the merchant's house are known for their sturdiness, and it is said that its security is comparable to that of a prison.

The three nobles pushed the door and walked into the hall, and the noise of dozens of different languages ​​​​mixed together came to their faces.

The space in the hall seemed spacious but crowded and cramped, and the overall appearance was much larger than the halls of most castles and towns.

But the light was dim, and there were private niches and hidden alcoves all over the surrounding walls.

Sailors, merchants, captains, money changers, shippers and slave traders from all over the world gathered under the blackened beams and cracked ceilings, lying and deceiving each other.

The three nobles did not continue to stand at the door, which would attract other people's attention. After a quick look, they walked straight to the corner of the hall.

Only when you get closer can you find an old woman sitting behind the table. Due to the shadow, others can hardly see her, but sitting here, she can see everything happening at the door of the hotel.

The old woman's weather-beaten face is covered with deep wrinkles, and a more conspicuous scar crawls across her cheek, covering the slave mark dug out when she was freed. The sparse white hair and pink scalp make it clear that the passage of time has already bent her spine.

But despite this, her eyes are black and bright, full of thoughts about the wisdom of the years, and her hunched body sits alertly, as if she is indomitable to fate.

The three nobles wanted to approach the old woman, but were intercepted by the many guards around her.

The leading noble slowly took off part of his hood, revealing half of his old and toothless smiling face.

"Children, take the old friend upstairs."

In the shadow of the flickering candlelight, the old woman's slightly sunken eye sockets revealed a faint sadness in her deep eyes.

She did not ask for help. She supported herself on the table with her weak hands, which were as dry and wrinkled as tree bark. She slowly stood up and walked upstairs to the hotel under the protection of the guards.

Everyone in the hall would politely make room for her. Familiar and prestigious friends would respectfully call her "the widow by the water", and her guards were respectfully called the widow's sons.

Although everyone would call her "Vagaro's bitch" in private, no one dared to call her that in person or when they met the widow's sons.

Vagaro was a name, who was elected as the archon of Volantis seven times and was also a businessman from an old noble family.

He owned docks and warehouses, and operated a variety of businesses such as cargo transit, currency exchange, ship insurance, and slave trade.

The "Waterside Widow" was once a bed slave. She was trained in Yunkai, learning the seven moaning techniques and sixteen love positions, receiving dance training, and eventually became an expert in the art of eroticism.

At this time, a Volantis archon named Vagaro bought her.

Later, Vagaro fell in love with the "Waterside Widow", liberated her, gave her freedom, and finally married her.

This caused a sensation in the Volantis noble circle and was regarded as the biggest scandal.

After Vagaro died, he left all the business to his wife, but the "Waterside Widow" could no longer live in the Black Wall as a free man.

She took over her husband's business, sold the mansion, and moved to the Merchant's House on the west bank of the Rhoyne River to expand the business.

The business grew bigger and bigger, and now even has a dock and a waterway.

The guards surrounded the three nobles and took them into the luxurious suite on the second floor of the Merchant's House.

This long-term reserved suite is the permanent residence of the "Waterside Widow", and the table in the hall downstairs is her regular table.

The room has two windows, one facing the long bridge and the black wall across the river, which is the old times in her memories, and the other facing the fishmongers' square. Standing in front of the window, you can see everything downstairs.

"Megya."

"Waterside Widow" slowly leaned on the chair in the corner, and a smile gradually bloomed on her weather-beaten face. A pair of sad eyes revealed a calm and peaceful feeling of meeting an old friend.

As she spoke with vicissitudes of life, the three nobles slowly took off their hoods.

The old man in the lead smiled very vividly, and his bright eyes were as sharp as a tiger's eyes.

This person is the current governor of the Tiger Party of Volantis, Malachor Megya. Although he is old and toothless, he still lives up to the name of a tiger.

"You, me, and your husband Vagaro, we have known each other for nearly 30 years. You can just call me Malachor."

The consul was very agile and picked a chair at random to sit on. His voice was also sonorous and powerful.

"Malachor, the west bank of the Rhoyne is not a place where a noble consul would come. Of course, in return for your kindness in protecting my husband's business and property, I promised that I would be willing to help you complete anything in return."

Upon hearing the direct statement from the "Waterside Widow", the Archon cast a selective gaze without any scruples, and then said:

"I need your help to contact a reputable mercenary group."

For hundreds of years, the Free Cities have hired large numbers of mercenaries to fight in their wars, so Essos has many historic mercenary regiments that only serve the highest paying employer.

Inevitably, most of them are lawless gangsters who are only proficient in robbing homes and houses, but there are also some mercenary groups that are quite self-disciplined and have good reputations.

The "Waterside Widow" ignored the Archon's sudden fierce gaze, smiled softly, and said without thinking:

"You want me to help hire the Golden Company."

Mercenaries have always had a reputation for being capricious, but the most honorable thing about the Golden Company is that they never break a contract. Their motto is "Words are like gold."

Moreover, the Golden Company is also regarded as the most powerful of the major mercenary groups in Essos.

Hearing the name of the Golden Company, Malachor waved his fist, but his words remained strong:

"Not only the Golden Group, I also need to hire other reputable mercenary groups in the disputed Stepped Stone Islands."

The Disputed Land is an area southwest of Essos, and the Stepstone Islands are located in the narrow sea to the west of the Disputed Land.

Among them, the disputed area is vast and fertile, and it was once extremely prosperous. The Stone Step Islands were the chokepoint for maritime trade between the east and west continents.

The three Free Trade Cities, Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh, have been at war for the sovereignty of these two areas, so most of the mercenary groups in Essos are hired to fight here.

Seeing his old friend frowning after hearing this, the consul quickly continued to add:

"However, please don't worry, this will not affect your business. I have no crazy idea of ​​serving as a lifelong consul."

The old woman sighed helplessly, but her frown did not relax, and she asked unhurriedly:

"Within the black wall, do the other two Elephant Party governors know about this?"

"They have agreed to authorize the hiring of mercenary groups." Malachor said with a resolute expression, "The Dothraki are heading south and approaching Volantis. War is imminent."

But the "Waterside Widow" remained unmoved, just staring closely at the face of the Tiger Party executive.

She knew far more information than her old friend had imagined.