The Daughter of the Dusk watched as the Black Pearl navigated through the crowd, returning to their spot. It was unclear whom she had been chatting with just moments before.
"Your savior has arrived," the Daughter of the Dusk said to Viserys.
"I paid the fee. A true dragon never forgets." Viserys sipped his slightly tart lemon water. He didn't care for the spiced wine; it lacked purity.
Seeing the Black Pearl approach, the Daughter of the Dusk fell silent.
"Prestayn came to find you?" Bellegere, the Black Pearl, asked.
"Yes. That young master wants to host a banquet for me. He spoke very prettily," Viserys replied.
Although Viserys hadn't seen Prestayn's full face clearly, the man didn't appear to be particularly old.
"Prestayn," the Black Pearl murmured the family name. "Did you refuse?"
"I said I could attend the meal, but I refused anything more," Viserys answered.
"Then your trouble has arrived," the Black Pearl sighed. "I didn't expect Prestayn to be so shameless about his appetite, though it also proves your value is high enough. A first-rate singer, an artist."
Like the Pentoshi and the Lysene, the Braavosi loved songs and ballads, and they were always generous to talented singers.
These city-states also seemed to have a great appreciation for art; ancient statues of the Seven were said to fetch high prices in Pentos.
"Thanks to you," Viserys said. "You made me famous."
People fear fame as pigs fear getting fat, as the saying goes. This arena of fame and fortune was also a battlefield.
Before, the Lady Blade and the Nightingale were just minor ripples, but when the Black Pearl, the First Courtesan, sang the Silver Traveler's work, it was a massive honor and promotional boost.
After the masquerade and the courtesans' performances, there was an atmosphere of "Who in the world doesn't know you?"
The Black Pearl had elevated Viserys's fame, but that inevitably meant he would now walk amidst the storm.
"Is there any way to diffuse this trouble?" Viserys asked.
"Simple. Sign an agreement with me. I'll be your boss," the Black Pearl said. "My words still carry some weight in Braavos."
"Forget that. Choose another path for me, will you?" Viserys shook his head.
He was planning to skip town eventually; he didn't want to get too deeply involved with any faction.
Besides, the Prestayn family looked like ruthless capitalists. Could they offer more than the Black Pearl? Doubtful.
"I'll introduce you to a captain. This captain might be able to solve your problem," the Black Pearl thought for a moment. "Although he doesn't know you, he knows your songs. Sailors love 'Five Hundred Miles'."
"A captain?"
"That's right. The leader of the crabbers, the head of the Rum Association," the Black Pearl nodded.
The crabbers of the icy seas were the most united and wildest group of fishermen, possessing considerable deterrence in Braavos.
"Why is the fishermen's guild called the Rum Association?"
"Because of that pitch-black rum. Only sailors love it," the Black Pearl explained.
Black rum was thick as tar, the drink of choice for seamen, allowing them to drink themselves into a stupor with their fellows when their ships docked.
To band together, merchants organized themselves into guilds. The guild for crab boat captains was the Rum Association.
Similarly, Qarth had three major guilds like the Spicers.
"You really go all out," the Daughter of the Dusk commented, her tone slightly sour.
Viserys suddenly wondered if the Daughter of the Dusk was naturally cold, or if she perhaps harbored some... unique feelings for the Black Pearl.
"I'm just afraid of losing my investment," the Black Pearl stretched lazily. "Right, mysterious knight?"
"I hope so too. But what if the Prestayn family doesn't back down?" Viserys asked. "Then I can only move forward."
Perhaps it could be resolved through mediation, but there was also the possibility of drawn swords.
"The Prestayn family isn't easy to provoke, and the Titan's Bastard is a vicious killer mercenary," the Daughter of the Dusk looked at Viserys in surprise, seemingly admiring his courage.
Viserys appeared to be just an artist; she hadn't expected him to have such grit and bravery.
"What do you intend to do?" the Black Pearl looked at Viserys.
"I am an apprentice Water Dancer. Perhaps I must follow the way of the Water Dance. I've heard the rules: if a Water Dancer retreats from a challenge, he will retreat again and again. The enemy will demand his cloak, then his boots, and before long, the weakling will be left naked," Viserys said, his voice chilling.
Violence wasn't the optimal answer, but violence was always a backup answer.
Viserys hadn't expected his first major conflict to be with Braavosi troublemakers rather than Westerosi assassins.
Whatever the case, once he stepped into the arena of power, he was destined to deal with deception and strife.
"I hope it doesn't come to that," the Black Pearl looked at Viserys. A warrior cannot separate himself from blood and fire. There was no persuading him otherwise.
"A Water Dancer?" the Daughter of the Dusk looked at Viserys. "Violet eyes... are you also the Violet Swordsman?"
Seeing Viserys's silver hair and violet eyes, it was easy to connect the "Silver Traveler" with the "Violet Swordsman."
"Shh," Viserys put a finger to his lips. He did have quite a few aliases.
If someone was determined, they could connect the dots.
"To success," Viserys raised his cup.
"It will succeed," the Black Pearl said with some confidence.
---
In a small room on the third floor of the Sealord's Palace.
Sealord Ferrego Antaryon had suffered from an illness since childhood, so he disliked noise and preferred quiet solitude.
Although he appeared healthy on the surface, only those close to him knew he had his weak moments.
"Yoro Prestayn of House Prestayn went to see Viserys Targaryen," First Sword Qarro reported.
"Yoro is the heir to House Prestayn. He's certainly eager. He wants to recruit the Silver Traveler to enhance the Mermaid Queen's brilliance and boost his family's face," Ferrego said softly.
Braavos had its own power struggles. Many families rose and fell, and only the top three families remained stable.
Those outside the top three had to pay a higher price to stand out.
"He might not care about Viserys's identity; he just simply wants to pull the Silver Traveler to his side."
"That boy only has a cooperative relationship with the Black Pearl. Would he be so easily driven by Prestayn?" Ferrego said dismissively.
"Should we give Prestayn a warning? They are indeed too bold," Qarro suggested. "And Viserys is someone you are watching."
"No need," Ferrego waved his hand. "The art of power lies in balance. I will balance things at the appropriate time."
"A wise answer, my Sealord. But what if Viserys is too weak and Prestayn deals a heavy hand?"
"If that happens, it proves he isn't suitable for the game of power. anyone who rises to the top must have a beast inside their heart. The kings of Westeros are so, and so am I..."
The First Sword nodded, only half-understanding.
"This Viserys really is a storm. In such a short time, he's already made a huge name for himself. I am curious to see how he handles this," Ferrego mused.