Late 112 AC – Braavos, Essos
Sallen Baerros POV
The crashing waves came to a slow as the looming titan beckoned before them, a titan that was awash with mist and misery at its feet, looking like an indomitable god amongst men, amongst all other gods, the Titan who loomed over the world.
It was a wondrous sight, Sallen mused, one that the Braavosi saw each time they gazed at their north from their homes, their harbours, the image of safety, the image of their patron, their north star, the one who guided their way.
Sword raised above a helmeted head, clad in bronze armour.
Proudly defiant, fiery in spirit.
A hero god, a hero image.
A bastion to emulate.
And yet…
The image was as much a lie as the titan was.
Its roots, its feet, were black granite, firm and solid, true, yet its very centre, its chest, its heart, was as hollow as Braavos was in its promises and its meaning.
The sole truly Free City, they call themselves, yet, not even in their campaigns against Pentos did they rouse this defiance this Titan stood for, had made been to stand for.
They've had several instances, the most recent in 86 AC during the Braavosi-Pentoshi war, to force change onto Pentos but they always stopped short at doing so. The 86 AC war was a total defeat for Pentos yet Braavos had not pressed further, too content to receive war reparations in coin and deals than they were beginning, forcing, the process of change into Essos.
They were pragmatic like that.
Like they'd been in the centuries since the Doom, even when Volantis was reduced to a shadow of its former self for the past century whilst Braavos alone had grown mighty in wealth, influence and, most importantly, militarily.
As they passed between the legs of the titan, three generations worth of labour, a growing smirk make its way on his face. Braavos prided itself on its history…on how it was founded. A city built by slaves. A city that had its wealthier patrons look after their lesser well off brothers and sisters.
'Yes you have much to be proud of but now…now it was time for you to pay tribute. Time for you to pay your due. One way or another.' He thought to himself.
For too long had Braavos kept a 'There is nothing we can do…we're only one city out of a dozen. We're outnumbered and alone' attitude whilst at the same time, they ensured through the world of coin and debt, and thus through power and influence, that they had no single rival capable of up-ending the carefully chaotically laid cevasse board that was Essos.
Only a few times did they depart from this strategy when the game had pushed them into corners, where assassination was not a ready solution, like their wars with Pentosh and the war with Volantis, and now, he thought as their fleet of ten sailed towards Chequy port, now they would be pushed into another corner, one of his making.
As his ship and the other nine ships were made to dock at the Chequy port, the ships soon being subjected to inspection, he glanced around at the busy port before him, a port that bore sails and sigils from lands all over the Known World.
It was a curious thing, the way Braavos managed to centre themselves as the hub of commerce despite its faraway location from the rest of Essos.
They were not known for its metalwork, they were not known for their laces or carpets or dyes or any other such luxury goods, only recently having grown to establish a bastion of industry in the form of glasswork, yet for centuries, it was comparable to Volantis in terms of how much commerce passed through its ports.
And it was solely because of its industrious people who traded far and wide, which, in turn, brought sailors and merchants to this city, many of whom belonged to lands north of the Stepstones, which in turn, of course, also made it easier to fuel the industriousness of the Braavosi people.
Ships, they say, in Braavos, are as plentiful as lover's pox is in Volantis, and more plenty is the means to which to obtain the coin for the ships.
As much as a tribute to how easy it is to make one's own fortune in Braavos as it is to the financial might of the Iron Bank which rules, in more ways than one, all of the financial institutions that dwell in this city.
And through the Iron Bank, he thought as he watched the customs officers board his ship…did the wealthiest and most powerful families rule Braavos.
Some time later, one of the customs officers, the three others having gone below deck to check their wares, stood in front of him with a small book in one hand and a quill in another. "Order of business?" the custom officer asked in a bored tone, his eyes equally as bored.
"I am an envoy on Prince Aegon Targaryen's behalf." Sallen said as he reached into his pocket, the corners of his mouth ticking upward at the startled look, and he brought out letters bearing the Prince's three dragon-headed maroon and blue seal.
Though the Prince had changed the flags of their sails – though theirs was nondescript to avoid any undue attention – this was still his personal seal.
The first letter was for the eyes of the representative of the Sealord, the other, directly addressed to the Sealord, as was normal custom.
"I see." The custom's officer said before he turned and shouted at one of the officers at the piers to come up and not long after, the custom's officer, after having read the standard letter, sent the runner on his way towards the Sealord's Palace.
Presumably.
"Will you be staying on deck?" the custom's officer asked and Sallen shook his head.
"Most of the crew will remain on deck. I and a small contingent will stay at an estate in Crescent Moon district. It is on the street across from the Sonny-wise alehouse." They were five hundred strong but only eighty, twenty of them guards, would come with him.
The custom's officer nodded "The Sealord is a busy man. I doubt he'll be able to see you right away." Sallen smiled politely at that as the custom's officer paused for a moment before he spoke further. "One of my officers will remain with you as you make port at the Purple Harbor to take your location should it be needed."
Sallen nodded his confirmation and soon enough, they were making way towards Ragman's Harbour, the place where all foreign ships were allowed to dock.
He never liked this harbour. It was poor and filthy, and it was part of the reason why they had the Prince buy an larger estate where they could rest if they were staying for any time longer than a few days.
In any case, he thought as he began to walk into the city proper, happy as he was to leave behind the smell and dirt of Ragman's harbour, his eyes casting onto the serpent boats that passed by him in the canals, Braavos was a strange city.
No doubt it was one of the better cities to be in, if you were commoner, but affluence and wealth spoke as loudly here as they did elsewhere.
For all of their hate and wariness towards Kings, the Braavosi wealthiest families tightly controlled the city in ways that resembled their sister cities.
The Sealord himself – a position that directed military and foreign policy of Braavos – was almost never someone who did not hail from a prominent family and when it comes to the policies of the city and the public in general, the Keyholders of Braavos – who once again are only those of from the prominent families – were the ones who could vote on such matters.
It did not matter if you were a landowner or if you were wealthy.
As long as you were not from these select three or four dozen families, families that to be truthful did rise and fall as fortunes and fortune did, the chances of political success were exceedingly low if one was anyone else.
Power, after all, no matter your origins, was not to be shared with others more than was needed, no matter if you were against slavery or not.
Of course…
It did not mean that the people of Braavos had no power…that was far from the truth. The Braavosi were fierce in their own way…and they were far more visibly against slavery than these families. And that would be key.
They arrived at the estate in the Crescent District, a small manor-like home not unalike that of the estates in Kings Landing or elsewhere, and their party of eighty quickly settled in after they were greeted by the servants and the master-scribes.
"How long do you think it will take for the Sealord and the Keyholders to grant us a meeting?" Arvin, his subordinate, asked curiously as they, and the rest of the men, dined amongst themselves though he and Arvin sat a little further away from the rest.
"It depends on if they wish to play games." Sallen said amused to his young protégé before he took a spoonful of soup in his mouth.
"And I suppose it depends on how curious they are about Prince Aegon's offer?" Arvin asked slyly and Sallen gave the young man an amused look which answered his question.
The men that had come with him knew of the importance of the mission…and how important it was to gain Braavos as an ally. The men Sallen had requested a meeting with, were exactly the kinds of people that needed to say yes to the offers.
The Keyholders of Braavos he requested to meet with alongside the Sealord, were also the most influential Keyholders of the Iron Bank.
Politics and coin were swapped with the same hand, in this city.
And fortunately for the success of their scheme working, these heads of families were also those who greatly profited from the glassmaking deal that Prince Aegon negotiated with the Keyholders and the then Sealord Aenarris.
There was not a wealthy estate or manor or palace, that did not have Braavosi glass in their halls and rooms. Even in Westeros, such splendour was sought after, especially with the way that much of the Red Keep was said to be gleaming with crystal clear glass, including the Red Keep sept which had its painted glass replaced with almost translucent coloured glass, something that he would expect to be replicated in the sept in Oldtown and in the other cities of Westeros.
That, coupled with Prince Aegon's success in general and of course the discovery of lands beyond the known world, all but guaranteed that Prince Aegon's offers would be seriously heard and once he was in the room…
He simply had to draw them in, entice them…sell a future to them.
Four days passed before they were told the request has been accepted, longer than he thought, and, he guessed, the more interested and curious they might be in the 'mutually beneficial' deal.
It didn't matter. It suited them just fine to be truthful.
"You know what to do." Sallen said to the men as he eyed them. They had made their presence known to many establishments, that they were men of Elamaerys, the Prince's men. The other men that stayed behind would do the same at the ports.
"Yes, captain."
He nodded at them as they left, and he watched them go with an intense look on his face. They would be the push he might need to get them to agree to this.
He walked up marble steps to the formidable looking bank. There were few buildings like this in the world, he mused to himself. Imposing. Daunting.
Almost regal in a way.
'I should make sure the Trader's Guild in Elamaerys would be modelled after the Iron Bank.' He mused to himself, a hint of promise interlaced in his musings.
Once he was in the Iron Bank, the token that had been delivered to him was handed over to the guard, and soon enough, he and his escorts were walked into the heart of the Bank.
"Stay here." Sallen said to Arvin and the other men as they arrived at huge hall, an arched hall with a ceiling so high one could fit the masts of ships with room to spare to the limits, that led to, presumably, the famed council room.
There was points of conversation that he did not necessarily want his subordinates to hear at this moment in time. Once he'd gotten the agreement, they'd be invited back in to assist on the finer details.
The ironwood looking doors creaked open in front of him and he was invited in by one of the guards, or officers, he wasn't sure, and, as he walked into the room, his steps clacking and clanking on the marble flooring, and he was greeted with the sight of seven faces behind a long gleaming dark wood table that was shaped in a 'T' symbol, with all of them right beside one another and a lone, single, chair at the end of the 'T' like table.
'I like this…I should have such a table' he thought to himself rather impressed. It gave an air of superiority and severity that he quite liked.
Sallen arrived at the end of the table, his gaze lingering on the faces in front of him, a gaze broken when he heard a face on his left.
"Presenting Sallen Baerros, Envoy of Prince Aegon Targaryen" was announced by a short and thin man who stood at the sides.
The man then went on to name the faces that were present.
From the left: Keyholders Nakio Antaryon, Jaqarro Prestayns, Garros Otharys, the Sealord Tregario Phassolis, Keyholders Joriphos Pranelis, Sireah Torone and Neyessoquo Reyaans.
All of the Heads of families he requested were present. Good.
"Esteemed Keyholders." Sallen said as he inclined his head slightly before his eyes went towards the man in the middle, the man who bore the sea-blue shield pin on his right side of the chest, the symbol of the Sealord. "Sealord Tregario Phassolis."
He took a seat moments later and Sallen smiled at the servant girl as he took the offered glass of red wine from her, his glance following her for a half a moment before he turned back at the sharks before him.
"We were surprised to hear of an request to meet with us on the behalf of Prince Aegon." Sireah Torone, a buxom dark-haired woman who looked to be past her better years yet remained good morsels of her past beauty, began.
"We would have thought that it would be the last time we'd hear of Prince Aegon after this fascinating news about lands in the West." Neyessoquo Reyaans remarked in a way that enticed explanation.
"Elamaerys, I believe, is the name of these lands, dear Neyessoquo." Sealord Phassolis said with a smile to Reyaans. "But yes…" Sealord Phassolosis trailed off as he turned to meet Sallen's gaze. "I would have thought so too, unless, of course, it is not as wonderful as it is rumoured to be."
"You are well informed." Sallen said with a smile though privately, he wondered if he should be concerned that they even knew the name of Elamaerys. There were only a few places in the Known World that knew of that name…
Lotus Port, Omboru and mayhaps a few more Summer Islander Princes and Princesses, Claw Isle, and likely, now, the Red Keep.
Given the proximity of Westeros, he was more sure than not that their information came from Claw Isle…or the Red Keep…or worse, elsewhere in Westeros. It wouldn't surprise him though.
The last time he spoke with Seleyse, on Claw Isle, he got the impression that she was not impressed how…leaking the Red Keep was. He was not privy to that side of things, but he did get the impression that Seleyse knew far more than she ought to and if she, a multi-brothel owning 'madame', knew that much, well…
"But there are no concerns about Elamaerys. Most of our people have relocated there and it will soon be a place that will marvel all that lay their eyes upon them." Sallen said with a pleased smile "I'm looking forward settling down there, in time, of course." Sallen made a show to look around at the ceiling and walls. "Hmm. I may have been inspired what I wish my home to be like in the past few moments."
He kept his tongue about how 'wonderful' Elamaerys was. There was no need to expand on the new lands. Vagueness and mystery would serve Elamaerys well, that he agreed wholeheartedly with Prince Aegon.
'Mystery would make goods made in Elamaerys all the more luxurious after all.'
"I would caution you on that." Nakio Antaryon said and Sallen turned to meet his gaze and he saw showings of amusement on his aged face. "As marvellous as such a large and immaculate space is, it is terrible during winter times. Our ancestors unfortunately did not think to install a hearth in many of these rooms."
"I'm grateful for the sound advice." Sallen said with equal amount of amusement on his face before he grew serious, his eyes trailing across the expression of the assembled powerful men…and woman. "If you are curious about Elamaerys, I am sure that I can share a few things about the new lands once we have completed our…discussions." He said with heavy emphasis on discussions.
"Of course." Jaqarro Prestayn, a younger brown-haired man, said with a glint of curiosity in his eyes "The…discussions. To be truthful, we are surprised that you, given your…importance to your Prince, would be the one to set foot here for these discussions – details of which were left unexplained in the letters" Prestayn said with a pointed note in his voice and Sallen only smiled placidly at that.
The letter requesting to meet to hold 'discussions about offers that would be of interest' was purposely vague to ensure they were as interested and off-kilter as possible.
Prestayn continued "so close to many who would not pass up the chance to collect your head."
That was true…there were some in this city that may know of the old bounty on his head. It was why he had a rather large escort of skilled men.
"Ah." Sallen said with a soft chuckle as he leaned back in his chair, his right leg rising before he crossed it over his left. "I do tend to stick to more Eastern ports." He said with an amused smile adorned on his face.
"Though I assure you, it is not for fear of some pittance of a bounty."
"Not many would call thirty thousand gold coins a pittance." Neyessoquo Reyaans said with a shadow of a smile on his face.
Sallen made a show of surprised offense on his face.
"That little? I warrant at least five times that amount." He said as his face twisted in a wry half-grin before he lost as soon as it appeared and he continued after a shrug. "My avoidance of the ports of northern Essos is purely accidental, I assure you. My talents were needed in Yi-Ti and beyond in the Far East." before he smiled at them as he laid the glass of wine to rest in his lap.
It wasn't surprising that his old friends and family back in Norvos were not letting the grievance go though he was surprised that they increased the bounty on his head. He wondered when they did that…
"As interesting as my troubles in my ancestral city are" Sallen said in a leading tone as he met the eyes of those in front of him. He wasn't concerned that they teased at that particular old scar.
It would be beneath these Braavosi to orchestrate his demise…even if he was to potentially upset them with his daggers.
"Yes. Your request to meet with all of us specifically about a…undescribed offer from your Prince." Sealord Phassolis said as he clasped his hands in front of him.
"An unusual request."
"Yes, I imagine so. You have my gratitude for accepting the request, esteemed Keyholders. Sealord." Sallen said with an inclined head as he eyed the people in front of him.
"No gratitude needed." Joriphos Pranelis, an elderly thin grey-haired balding man, said smilingly, before the man eyed Sallen with a particular look that he did not like. "Such an interesting request bearing the seal of our acquaintance requires such prompt acceptance."
'It took you four days for you to arrange this meeting…'
"Acquaintance?" Sallen asked curiously as he trailed the rim of the wine glass with his finger "I had not known that my Prince was a…notable acquaintance of yours." Sallen then forced his eyes slightly wider. "Ah…yes…of course. The glass industry." Sallen looked across the faces of the people in the room.
"The glass industry must be doing well if Prince Aegon warrants the enviable status of acquaintance." Sallen smiled thinly.
"Unimpressed with the phrasing?" Garros Otharys, a middled-aged rotund man, asked curiously with a gentle placid smile and Sallen drank of his red wine when Otharys continued. "One could perhaps call Prince Aegon our partner in the glass industry but I believe such usage of words are not to be used lightly."
"I agree." Sallen interjected as he settled the glass in his lap. "Partners, partnership, are heavy words." He said before he chuckled lightly. "It means something. Like marriages, mayhaps, which one can even call a partnership of a kind."
"One could also use the heavy word as a substitute for alliance." There was a gleam in Otharys' eyes when he said that.
"Mayhaps not alliance though certainly it would not be opposed." Sallen said with a similar smile. "It is the hope of Prince Aegon that by the end of this meeting, there will be an understanding along those lines."
"Is Myr the target of this…alliance? Is that why you're here, Sallen Baerros?" Sealord Phassolis questioned. "To ask for our aid in your coming war with Myr? With the Triarchy?"
"It would be disappointing if that were the case." Sireah Torone enthused as she eyed him intently "We've already entangled ourselves in such an affair with a Targaryen and it left us quite disappointed. We're not eager to entangle ourselves with another again."
"I'm surprised you consider the War for the Stepstones a disappointment, Lady Torone" Sallen said with a raised eyebrow. "After all, it did its purpose for you, did it not? Myrrish sea-trading was disrupted long enough for merchant ships to fill in the gaps, and subsequent usurpation of the share, in the global trade of glass."
That comment certainly earn him some looks. "I'm surprised you know that much." Sealord Phassolis commented, his eyes scrutinising Sallen heavily.
Thank the heavens for the glass candles. The master-scribe Payten that was stationed in Braavos, after every quarter of the year, left for Kings Landing to meet with Seleyse, under great deal of secrecy, who in turn would inform Prince Aegon of the status of his account in the Iron Bank.
Through that, and through quite substantial amount of guesswork with how targeted the Braavosi were being, did they come to the conclusion that the motives of the Braavosi was entirely to subsume the glassmaking industry.
Prince Daemon's war was nothing more than a means to their goals.
"Prince Aegon pays attention to many things, including to his income from his share of the glassmaking industry. He has a talent for numbers and details." Sallen said in explanation.
As a significant owner of the whole glassmaking industry, of which there were now dozens of small scale producers, near enough all being owned by the families in this very room – the former Sealord Aenerris' shares were bought to service the debt owed by the family, thanks to its incompetent, and now dead, successor – Prince Aegon was privy to the profits made by these companies.
Though he wouldn't be surprised if the Braavosi expected that given the…distance between Prince Aegon and Braavos, the news of such profitmaking was rather…hard to come by. Prince Aegon certainly was not privy to such information elsewhere, not even in Lys where an affiliated bank to the Iron Bank – in reality it was wholly owned by the Iron Bank – was how Prince Aegon conducted his affairs with Braavos, nearly all of his business being transferring coin from his account to the slavers in purchase of the Lysene portions of their population over the years.
Sallen met the eyes of Lady Torone.
"And no, I am not here to seek a military alliance against Myr…or the Triarchy. No…" Sallen said with a small smile growing, shifting away from the topic of how well informed they were. "I'm here to offer you a deal that will see you all wealthy and venerated beyond measure."
"Bold claims." Lady Torone responded though Sallen did not miss some of the Keyholder's shift in their bodies. "And what is this deal that would, as you say, 'see us wealthy and venerated beyond measure?'"
Sallen smiled and he drank the rest of his red wine in one fell swoop before he placed the empty glass on the table, his legs uncrossing, his expression shifting to one of serious countenance, his eyes trailing across the interested faces at the other side of the table. "As we speak, my Prince is waging war against the Slaver's Bay cities. By now, moons after I'd set sail, I expect Astapor and Yunkai have fallen to the Prince. Possibly Meereen now too. If not, it will happen in less than a moon."
This…he could see, caught them off guard though only a few showed it clearly.
"That is…unexpected." Sealord Phassolis remarked carefully after he'd shared glances with a few of the Keyholders.
Sallen wondered how much of those looks bore other meanings beyond surprise. From what he could see, some of the faces had been rather…displeased. He could not quite tell if it was because it was affecting the landscape of Essos or if it was because quiet interests some of these families had in Slaver's Bay.
Neither he or Prince Aegon were sure if they had interests there or not.
Perhaps he'd glean on it depending on where the questions went towards. Of course…it wasn't quite to satisfy their curiosities but rather how much more they'd have to offer to avoid…sourness from creeping into the negotiations.
Sourness that could actually see him dead.
He knew that they wouldn't admit it openly, if they did have quiet interests in Slaver's Bay, for any Braavosi having particular dealings in the slave trade, even if it was tangential, would find themselves, at best, ostracised and at worst…
"I imagine so." Sallen said with a thin smile, his mind refocusing as he met the gaze of the Sealord a he continued. "Prince Aegon was meticulously careful about the secondary target of those who also have earned his – and our people's – ire." Sallen said as his face shifted into a more hard-faced look.
"Your Prince has succeeded." Otharys said in grim note as he glanced at the Sealord. Sallen wondered if the grimness in his tone was because of surprise. The likes of Braavos, the Iron Bank, did not allow themselves to go unawares about the affairs of Essos west of the Bone Mountains…or Westeros for that matter. "Myr hired half a dozen sellsword companies in wait of the attack…your attack."
"Amusing, is it not?" Sallen said with a wry thin smile, observing them closely.
It probably wasn't.
They were likely not used to not receive any word about such a large happening, even if it was distant and not really within their sphere of influence.
"Myr is a distant thought presently…as you can expect with this war." Sallen finished and he could tell that they were filing away that comment for later.
As he wanted. If they didn't ask him any further on this today, they would still remember this comment…just as they would remember how vindictive Prince Aegon could be when slighted.
"…Ire?" Antaryon only asked after there was several long moments of silence.
"The slaver Saan was paid by Myr to attack our ships, yes, but it was to the Slaver cities, who we have proof of knowing about the planned attacks prior hand, that our people were sold to." Sallen explained with a hard look.
He'd read the letters from Saan and the grim fates that awaited his merchants and the sailors. He'd rarely been as angry as he had been then.
"Our commiserations." Prestayns offered and there was no emotion or sincerity in his voice as he said so. Not that he expected any.
Sallen inclined his head in acceptance. He continued, the smile on his face not quite sinister but far from friendly and warm. "my Prince has taken offense to that and has since decided that Slaver's Bay is due for a change."
"…Change?" Antaryon asked though from the look on his face, he already knew what the answer would be.
"What better way to revenge at those who enslaved our people because it amused them by destroying what these people cherish the most?"
"You speak of conquest under the guise of ending slavery and the Masters." Lady Torone stated, her voice flat but there was sharpness in her eyes when she'd spoken. Disapproval…? Possibly. Probably.
The others likely shared the same sense of disapproval. He'd have to dissuade them from thinking along those lines even if it rankled at him that they could be so…difficult. Especially if there was more involved in their disapproval.
Sallen shook his head. "No conquest under guise but liberation in deed." Sallen said with a smile as he opened up his body somewhat. "Prince Aegon has no desire to rule over the people of Slaver's Bay when they have long been denied choices of their own." Sallen leaned forward slightly, the smile on his face growing as he trailed his eyes across the faces of the Keyholders and the Sealord.
"Plus…it would be rather hard to rule over these lands with hostile neighbours when one is half a world away." Sallen said with a thin smile, deliberately pushing the conversation towards a direction that forced these people to think of the problems that would be encountered when it came to managing Slaver's Bay.
"No…these cities will entirely be Free Cities. Like Braavos." Sallen said firmly.
"And the previous rulers of these…cities? What is to become of them…in this circumstance?" Joriphos Pranelis questioned though from the look of his face, he already accurately guessed at the answer.
Sallen paused for a moment as he took in the intent faces that peered at him and he blandly smiled, a kind of smile that one would give as if to humour someone.
"Like Old Valyria met its end in the Doom, the end times of the last vestiges of the Ghiscari way of life has come."
"Last vestiges?" Antaryon pushed and it was a question laden with meaning.
"There cannot be liberation if the last vestiges remain in place." Sallen said with a thin smile, grimness in his voice and a heaviness about his body language.
They understood what was left unsaid but still he continued.
"You yourself have found that out from the Free Cities since the Doom have you not? Still now, a century since their heavy defeat, Volantis still harbours beliefs that it is Old Valyria's heir." Sallen said with a shake of the head before he eyed them all pointedly. "No…change does not come without force. This time, it simply won't be the blood of formerly chained peoples spilled."
Some of the Keyholders exchanged looks as a long silence fell.
"And what" Sealord Phassolis began, breaking the silence as he eyed Sallen astutely "do you, does your Prince, expect from Braavos?" the Sealord leaned in. "If what you claim is true, that Astapor, Yunkai and possibly Meereen have already fallen to Prince Aegon, what possible need could you have of Braavos?"
"Support." Antaryon said simply, the rotund man drawing attention to himself and Sallen saw his countenance change from how he'd been before. "You want Braavos' support in ensuring their…liberation." Antaryon expression twisted into a gentle smile, not one of mocking or condescension but one that was almost strangely playful but it was far from sincere.
"Just so." Sallen confirmed with an incline of the head and he watched as the Heads of the families exchanged looks amongst themselves and with the Sealord.
"And how" Garros Otharys began, breaking the silence, "would you foresee us supporting your Prince in his conquests? Coin? Ships? Our army?" Otharys asked with narrowing eyes.
Sallen only smiled at the accusation in the man's questioning.
"We have no need of coin for the Good, the Wise and the Great Masters hadit in spades." Sallen said with a hint of malicious satisfaction creeping into his voice, something that did not go unnoticed. "We have no need for ships for we have plenty of our own and, by the time the liberation has ended, enough of the newly freed shipwrights, even if it is generous to call them so given their subpar education and experience, will be able to pick up on the Corinthian art of shipbuilding in the years to come." Sallen said as his eyes swept across the faces of the men – and lady – present.
"Nor do we have a need of your army for ours will balloon to consist of tens of thousands – should there be a need for it." Sallen smiled thinly "After all, the taste of freedom is rather a taste that one can easily grow to want to die for." His thin smile twisted slightly into a smirk "a feat that is rather easily accomplished given that Prince Aegon is an exceptional orator."
"…We see." Lady Torone said after a moment's pause, her eyes never veering away from Sallen's. "Then, excuse me for being blunt" Lady Torone said in an admittedly somewhat disarming smile. "What do you need Braavos for?" She swept her hand across in a beautified motion "You want not our coin, or our ships, or our volunteer army. What is it that your Prince wants?"
"Prince Aegon wants your expertise." Sallen said bluntly as he sat back in his chair, letting a few moments pass as he met the eyes of every single person opposite him.
"Or rather, the Prince wants all the expertise Braavos has to offer to aid these former slave cities. Your builders, your scholars, your tax officers, your captains, and much will be needed to increase the possibility of these cities surviving into the next generation." Sallen said, slightly impassioned as he spoke, his eyes working hard to read as much as he could of these people.
They were remarkably hard to read when they wanted to be, and in this instance, they were certainly trying. Still, he got the sense that they were understanding of what he meant with wealth and veneration…given their own networks in the very sectors that he named.
He continued when none made any effort to speak, though he spoke with calculation and calm forbearance.
"For have no doubt, no matter how much you doubt the intent of Prince Aegon to leave and let these people rule themselves, in a few years at the most, our people will depart from their shores, leaving them vulnerable to enemies who will see them as existential threats given their own…outnumbered status." He said as he swept his gaze across.
Volantis…five to one. Qarth was similar too. New Ghis was not as severe but they too are outnumbered by their slave population.
They would not even have to act directly – they could simply hire sellswords and corsairs to plague these cities, likely seeking to conquer them and place onto them the 'rightful order'.
Or worse case, they'd get the Dothraki involved too.
Could the newly freed cities survive that? On their own? Unlikely.
And as much as Prince Aegon and their people would have no reason to think themselves responsible for these people, after already doing so much for them where no one else has done before – even if it wasn't altruistic, it was still better than they've ever experienced – Prince Aegon wanted to ensure they survived.
It would go a lot easier and smoother if Braavos would be the ones who helped provide the expertise that would be sorely needed whilst their army and the Unsullied provided the martial training.
"We will do what we can to prepare them but a few years are but a blink of an eye and though we empathise with the people of Slaver's Bay, we do not, unfortunately, have the people left to spare to aid them into fully functioning Free Cities…not when Elamaerys has its own needs."
"A gap that you wish Braavos to fill." Sealord Phassolis said as he began to slowly tap at the desk, his eyes piercing into Sallen, calculatingly, assessing.
"A gap that would be in Braavos' best interest to fill." Sallen said with a gleam in his eyes. He continued. "All of you present today have significant interests amongst these sectors. Even family members who are members of the Guilds that are needed there." Sallen stated the obvious as he eyed them.
"Oh…?" Lady Torone made out with a rather musical note to her voice and he couldn't help but think it was as dangerous as it was attractive.
There were rumours that Lady Torone, decades prior to her marriage to her late husband, had been a courtesan of some skill. How much of that was true, their people had not been able to adequately find out about the Head of House Torone.
"And how…would these needs be paid for?" Lady Torone questioned before she tilted her head, her mouth twisting as she spoke further.
"The half of the wealth seized from the…previous rulers shall remain in the custody of these cities." Sallen explained and he could see their interest rising. The Masters were by far some of the wealthiest families in the Known World.
There was scarcely anything more profitable than the slave trade and with the lack of a need to establish an army to protect themselves, a folly that would see them erased, along with their ports being frequently visited as a consequence of this slave trade, bringing all kinds of interest and goods to their shores, the cities in Slaver's Bay were very, very wealthy.
Only some of the Free Cities outcompeted them in wealth and none in the Free Cities, bar the Old Blood in Volantis, had families equal to them in wealth.
"Not only that" Sallen continued as he leaned in a little. "There are industries and mines that are now left…unattended, ready to be sold off to the right…bidder." Sallen said enticingly "For a pittance" he emphasised before he continued "of the price with only commitments of fair employment and fair wages to the locals."
There…
At least that comment should make some of them who are displeased of their lost businesses or shares in Slaver's Bay pause and think. If they were shrewd, which he had no reason but think they were, they'd realise that they would lose nothing but gain so much more with the change in Slaver's Bay…beyond simple morality reasons.
"You offer much." Sealord Phassolis said after a few moments of silence, his gaze never wavering from Sallen.
"We ask much." Sallen said in return as he leaned back in his chair. "Make no mistake, these cities will need significant support to ensure they are strong enough to survive against their enemies." Sallen pursed his lips slightly as he looked upon the Keyholders and the Sealord before he continued.
"Most of the slaves are uneducated with a significant portion of them having been bred into slavery. They will be weak and worst of all, they were easily…influenced. By fear or by a manipulative actor or group of actors amongst them. The Unsullied or the former slave soldiers will not be able to provide the stability these cities will need." Sallen paused for a moment before he spoke again.
"It is why we bought and freed slaves, some six hundred or so, from these cities and trained them on matters of administration and governance." Sallen said calmly, pausing for a moment as he let them digest that before he continued. "Beyond that, when it comes to leadership in business and industry and culture, you, the Braavosi, can help quickly institute many of these things that would otherwise take generations to naturally form." Sallen's mouth twisted slightly.
"Unfortunately for these former slaves, they do not have the luxury of a foggy lagoon to hide their existence until they were strong and wily enough to survive Old Valyria."
There was another long few moments of silence after that, and he saw a few of the Keyholders discuss amongst themselves, something that began to involve all of them, including the Sealord, and it was near enough a quarter of an hour, or at least it felt like it, before any of them spoke again.
"As interesting as all of this…is" Sealord Phassolis began, his face expressionless as he continued to speak. "the fact remains that all of this is pointless should your…faith in your Prince's success in Slaver's Bay prove to be…ill-placed."
"Dragons are mighty weapons…but they are not enough…as we have discovered in the Stepstones." Prestayn added with a heavy look.
"Of course." Sallen said acknowledging the point. "But then, there was not an ten-thousand and more soldiers to be absorbed into Prince Daemon's forces in the Stepstones."
"The Unsullied." Lady Torone said in answer.
Sallen nodded. "The arrogance of the Good Masters is their downfall."
"Deception. Your Prince will take Astapor from within." Sealord Phassolis remarked shrewdly, and there was a hint of something in his eyes that Sallen couldn't quite tell. "And with the Unsullied of Astapor amongst his dragon and his army…yes…Yunkai's and Meereen's chances of resistance dwindle."
"Your Prince's actions, his…unsavoury breach of agreement has ramifications." Prestayns remarked as he stared at Sallen. "It will have a consequence in these discussions."
"I'm surprised you're offended on the behalf of slavers." Sallen said with a careless shrug, his eye still on Prestayns and as he saw that the man wasn't pleased with the inference "If you're insinuating that Prince Aegon will renege on contractual agreements, have no fear." Sallen smiled and it was a predatory smile.
"The Unsullied had been paid for before the rebellion was started." Sallen said as he sat up a little. This had been important to Prince Aegon. Beyond increasing the ruse's success, it was important to make it clear that no deal was reneged or was acted in bad faith.
Reputation had to be maintained.
At least in the eyes of those who you wished to pull into your corner.
"As I said…" Sallen continued, his eyes sweeping across the faces of the Keyholders and the Sealord. "the arrogance of the Good Masters is their downfall."
"Provided we accept that these series of events as you described happen as exactly as you have just described to us" Garros Otharys spoke up, pausing for a moment as he eyed his fellow Braavosi before turning his attentions towards Sallen, his gaze penetrating and calculating.
"…why?" Otharys simply said and Sallen was taken aback by the question.
Otharys smiled thinly, having caught Sallen's surprise and he gestured with his hand as he spoke. "You…your Prince, what he is doing, the extent he is willing to go…" Otharys trailed off for a heartbeat before he continued.
"Half of the cities' wealth will remain. You bought, took in, and trained former slaves from these cities for the sole purpose of ruling…administrating, these cities. Now, you come here" Otharys said as he gestured towards the other members of this pseudo council. "Offering practically all of that wealth and resources just so that we enticed enough to aid those former slave cities when your Prince could have taken that wealth, could have taken those cities into an empire."
"Yet he does not." Sallen only said and Otharys nodded astutely.
"Yet he does not, according to you." Otharys said and after seeing the frown on Sallen's face, he said, assuredly but also with some hint of amusement creeping into his expression.
"I believe you…and in your Prince's promises. What I don't know, which concerns me, is his motivations for going so far. I understand the idea of revenge, I can understand removing the Masters. I don't however understand…all of this."
Sallen paused in his response, taking a moment to formulate his answers, which were already made many moons ago during the briefing with the Prince should the questioning head into this direction, and he put on a soft smile on his face as he spoke.
"Tell me, men and lady of Braavos…" Sallen began as he leaned back in his chair.
"Are you content with the…nature of this world?" Sallen could see the surprise and intrigue at the question.
"Two centuries" Sallen continued "Two centuries have passed since the Doom, a moment in history that has rewritten the fabric of the Known World. Your greatest enemies, the Freehold, perished in fire and brimstone, in the same fashion in which they held onto much of Essos. A rather poetic and deserving ending.
And yet…" His face twisted slightly as he spoke further "so little has changed." He said with significant amount of disgust in his voice.
"Brutality and senselessness rules this continent and ruled it so for nearly as long as Old Ghis has existed. In many ways, it is even worse as the Free Cities, Slaver's Bay, and the Dothraki are all weak in constitution and pointless and are destructive in their weakness and pointlessness." Sallen said with no little amount of disgust in his voice before his expression cleared as he eyed the Braavosi in front of him.
"And the war in Slaver's Bay is the driver of this much needed change." Sallen told them, a small smile growing on his face and Sallen stood up from his seat, his hands now behind his back as he paced slightly. "Prince Aegon sees the opportunity of millions of newly freed peoples with a hatred of slavery presents."
"You speak of a continent wide movement against slavery." Neyessoquo Reyaans remarked, his voice calm but there was a hint of something in his face that Sallen couldn't quite understand as his eyes followed Sallen's movement.
"Eventually." Sallen said with an inclined head as he came to a stop.
"It will be difficult." He admitted. "As Slaver's Bay is fully liberated, the other cities will not be idle." Sallen smiled as he continued. "However, they not succeed if they try anything so long Prince Aegon is there…and they will dissuaded from trying knowing that it won't simply be defeat but it will mean their lives and the lives of their families should they lose which they will be likely to given how much they depend on hired swords and chained swords."
"So long as Prince Aegon is there." Antaryon said shrewdly.
Sallen inclined his head "Which is why Braavos' help will be needed. We will bring these freed cities room to breathe in the next few years with our presence and we will make the most use of it by training effective armies capable of withstanding. But beyond that, they still need another powerful and committed ally in the coming future. Who better than Braavos?" Sallen posed to them.
He waved his hand lazily as he continued. "Of course, we will state guarantees of war should any of the other cities attack the Liberated Cities, however, it takes many moons to arrive from Elamaerys."
"The distance is no smaller from Braavos." Pranelis commented.
"True but you are close enough." Sallen pressed. He didn't want to share that Lys could well be another member of this budding alliance.
There was also the chance that Prince Aegon had further plans beyond Slaver's Bay in Essos but he wasn't sure. If there any, Prince Aegon had not shared it with anyone. But it shouldn't matter in this meeting anyway for the benefits were greatly tipped into Braavos' favour.
He continued "And, chances are, they can be…destabilised from within their borders if we work at it." Sallen said enticingly as he extended out his arms "Something that I believe Braavos would be more than capable of assisting with." Sallen said before he sighed, his arms dropping as he looked upon their faces.
"This is an opportunity that you would be short-sighted to let pass you by. This is not simply about slavery. You are smart enough to see that. Your legacy, should you agree, will be more than simply aiding the end of slavery in the most vile slaving lands in all of the Known World.
Slaver's Bay outnumbers Braavos and its held territories by half a dozen times more people. Likely significantly more. All of these people will need everything Braavos has to offer and more.
Financial institutions, like the Iron Bank, trading guilds and companies, like those in Braavos, artisans and businessmen, you name it, they will need it.
And there will millions of these people who can contribute to the global economy.
Likely, if you so wished it, you could establish rival industries there to pressure Tyrosh, Myr, Lys and Volantis, weakening them whilst profiting greatly and increasing the wealth of the locals in that Bay, all of whom will look Braavos. This is low risk, great rewards." Sallen said passionately.
It hurt him to say it, lest of all say things these people already knew, of all the ways that this deal, this agreement, this alliance, would propel them, and in turn, Braavos, to great heights if they truly bought into this.
It will be difficult, yes, and there were many challenges, yes, but all things considered, it would be a miniscule investment of Braavos. Ten thousand people or more, mayhaps, and some amount of capital, yes, but in return, they gained near enough entire Kingdom's worth of wealth and people and resources.
Unfortunately, Elamaerys was not capable of supporting Liberty Bay. Not the way the likes of Braavos could.
He continued, his voice picking up strength and passion, and he spoke to appeal to their ego, to their pride.
"There would be no greater way to pay homage to your ancestors than agreeing to this and there would be no greater way than to cast away your ignoble title as the bastard daughter of Old Valyria and enshrine your legacy, the legacy of Braavos, as something more, as a father to a Free Essos."
He could see that his words were working on them and he waited for a long few moments as they kept on looking at one another.
Finally, one of them spoke up and of course, it was the sealord. "We will need to discuss this further. Alone." Phassolis said as he steepled his hand in front of him.
"Of course." Sallen said with an inclined head. He was disappointed with this answer but it was not unexpected. He once again inclined his head before he left.
As he exited the doors, he caught an inquisitive look from Arvin and the others and he pursed his lips in response and they understood it for what it was.
'They need a push'
Days passed as he took to stay on the ship in 'fear' of bounty-seekers, days that turned into a week and a day, time in which his men had been busy.
There was not an inn or tavern or any kind of social house that their men did not visit and spread information. Information that even in a city like Braavos, city of three hundred thousand souls, spread like wildfire.
'Prince Aegon Targaryen and his people are liberating Slaver's Bay!
The Fires of Liberty rage across Slaver's Bay!
They rage and roar for freedom, drowning out the striking Bells of shattering Chains!
End the evil Good Masters, they rage! End the terrible Wise Masters, they bellow! End the Great Masters, they roar! End all masters, they chant!
Prince Aegon has sent an envoy to Braavos, to the Sealord and the Iron Bank to negotiate a deal to help these people retain their freedoms!
Soon, you can help millions of liberated slaves and make good coin out of doing good!'
Those were but examples of the kinds of information that was being and laughs were held with the local people, often times enrapturing tales of great heroism and a duty that their people, many of whom used to be slaves, held to other chained peoples and how they hoped that Braavos would do as they used to do many a years ago and help people like them.
In nearly every instance at an inn or tavern or elsewhere, a crowd was assembled and a crowd was enraptured and riled up, and there was not at least one person who did not promise to volunteer to aid Liberty Bay 'when the call came'.
Their fomenting and enflaming of 'public opinion', as the Prince strangely called this way of pressuring the Braavosi leaders, was working like a dream.
Everyone knew, already, that Prince Aegon was greatly against slavery, so they had no doubt in believing that instead of using coin to liberate peoples, that he was now doing it with sword and dragonfire.
By now, every single person in the city knew of them and their reason why they were in Braavos, and of what was happening in Liberty Bay, and there was an excited, almost anticipating air about the city, as people talked about no longer being the only 'truly free city' in Essos.
And it mattered not a single amount, that ships were bound elsewhere in the world, with this news on the edges of their tongues, he mused as he stood, once more, in front of the Keyholders – which included several other Heads of families now – and the Sealord, looking quite displeased.
"We have decided." Sealord Phassolis said and it seems like he was not quite happy to say it. He was quite sure that being under pressure to make a choice was not well received, a risk they knew well enough. It was why he'd on board the ship instead of the estate waiting all this time after all. But, they had to be pushed to make the sensible choice, a choice that they should want to make anyway.
There was a great deal to gain from this deal, far more than Elamaerys would gain in the long run.
The Sealord paused, and paused, for a moment Sallen was worried that he would say what needed to be said.
But he had no reason to doubt.
"We agree that this is an opportunity that cannot be…ignored. We also agree that tentatively, we can open up…a series of agreements" Sallen resisted to smile and it was a great struggle "that is contingent your Prince does manage to liberate Slaver's Bay."
"Of course." Sallen said with an inclined head. "And I would not worry about Prince Aegon failing in his set task." Sallen said with a small smile "He is a man that did not fail to find a route West. He will not fail to win a meagre war with a people from a begone age." Sallen looked towards Arvin and the quill was dipped into a pot of ink.
Sallen turned back towards the Keyholders and the Sealord, his smile growing slightly "Now…shall we begin writing ourselves into legend?"
And as he said that, the varied looks of their 'partners' shining through, he thought to himself…'I should take the long route through Westeros to get back to the Prince…'