NOVEL NEXT Chapter 61: Marriage Partner
Finally, Helbo had the chance to see Viserys again and brief him on the competition's rules and precautions. "There are 300 contestants in this Swordsmanship Tournament. In the first round, you must defeat your opponent within a certain time limit; otherwise, both sides will be eliminated."
Viserys nodded, unfazed. He was confident in his abilities, despite lacking experience against true masters. He believed he had no match in Braavos or even the Free Cities—unless, of course, there were any mages among the competitors.
The first round was grueling. With only 16 matches held simultaneously, each involving 32 participants, more than 100 matches had to be completed over two days, eliminating nearly half the contestants. The second round, featuring a reduced number of swordsmen, would include the popular betting segment.
Early the next morning, Viserys and his entourage arrived at the seventh arena assigned to him and began to wait. The tournament wasn't held in a single location; the 300 contestants were divided among several venues, allowing more spectators to enjoy the event. The Titan of Braavos, being an arsenal, easily designated 16 arenas. The winners of these 16 arenas would advance to the final round.
Gortave, having learned the location of Viserys's match, arrived early with his swordsman to secure a seat. With everyone except the participating swordsmen wearing masks, Gortave's presence did not cause any trouble, even with her beauty. They were seated in the "VIP room," an area off-limits to local hoodlums.
The first match featured a redhead and a black-haired contestant. Their skills were mediocre, offering little entertainment. In the end, the redhead was defeated by the black-haired fighter due to exhaustion. The following matches included two brown-haired fighters and then two competitors with a significant age difference. The spectators eagerly awaited more thrilling bouts, especially the match featuring Viserys.
...
Gortave watched attentively, but she didn’t see Viserys until the last match of the afternoon.
"He didn't get a turn on the first day?" she asked.
"I think so, Ave," Kethmo replied. Ave was Gortave's nickname, a privilege she allowed Kethmo.
Kethmo had offered to compete on her behalf, but she had refused. This gesture deeply moved Kethmo; he felt like he was guarding a tree that would eventually blossom. As for the reality of the situation—good luck to him.
On the other side, Viserys realized he might have been tricked. Waiting for his match was exhausting, and it was hard to ensure no one would exploit the situation. Despite the Sealord's Palace claiming it was for the safety of the swordsmen, Viserys was reminded of his own experience with bureaucratic delays during his driving test.
Since it wasn't his turn on the first day, he returned with Dany and the others. On the way back, they encountered Jorah Mormont. Though he wore a mask, his thick neck made him easy to recognize. As they passed, he touched his beard, signaling Kyla to keep an eye on him.
When they arrived at the temporary residence provided by House Zalyne, a carriage awaited them. Illyrio had arrived, having a house nearby and access to better information than most.
The two greeted each other warmly, arms entwined as they walked inside. To avoid troubling Dany with their conversation, Viserys sent her to bed.
"I guess Lord Illyrio came here mainly to discuss business with the Moonshadow?" Viserys inquired.
"That's true, but I was truly surprised to learn that the Moonshadow was your creation," Illyrio replied with a smile. He couldn't conceal his astonishment at Viserys' accomplishments. Learning that Viserys had also written "The Sailor" left him even more stunned.
Soap and songs were not things a teenager typically created. Illyrio first suspected Viserys had an organization behind him and used Varys as a front to conceal it. However, if such an organization existed, why had it allowed the siblings to endure such hardships over the past few years? Illyrio could only conclude that he was increasingly unable to understand the young man he had initially seen as a mere pawn.
"Well, if you need it, I can help facilitate this business. I estimate that soon this product will be in the hands of the lords of Westeros," Illyrio offered.
"Since you said the Moonshadow is only one reason for your visit to Braavos, is there anything else I can assist you with?" Viserys inquired.
"Nothing urgent, but I'm curious about your future plans. I have someone in mind for a marriage alliance," Illyrio said, patting his ample stomach.
Viserys didn't hesitate to share his plan: he intended to join a mercenary group to avoid Robert's assassins and hone his warfare skills. However, Illyrio revealed he had found a potential marriage partner for Dany.
"Drogo?" Viserys repeated, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
"Yes, he's in his twenties now and has just taken over the strongest Khalasar in the Dothraki Sea from his father. He's incredibly brave and has never lost a duel," Illyrio explained.
Viserys recalled that the current Horselord could already command a formidable army. In two or three years, he might become the strongest overlord in the Dothraki Sea. It would indeed be a significant alliance for a man to marry the most beautiful girl in the world at the peak of his power. Viserys couldn't help but think of a certain king who once lifted a trident. But with Viserys in the picture, Drogo was merely a barbarian suited for herding sheep.
As Illyrio extolled the virtues of "30,000 roaring warriors" and the "Strongest Khalasar," Viserys only smiled. After glancing at the lark on the windowsill, he said, "You've gone to great lengths, but Khal Drogo does sound like a good ally."
The lark seemed uneasy, lowering its body as if sensing a nearby threat.
"But to negotiate such an alliance, I need enough bargaining chips. Just having Dany isn't sufficient. Let's revisit this in a few years, once I have an army," Viserys continued.
Anyone else might have been mocked by Illyrio for such a statement, as raising an army isn't something one picks up from a street vendor. But Viserys's confident attitude and recent accomplishments made Illyrio hesitate to judge rashly.
"No hurry. Lady Dany is still young. We can discuss this in a couple of years," Illyrio conceded.
Viserys smiled and said nothing. After Illyrio left, Viserys turned to the lark and said, "I told you, I will never use you as a bargaining chip. Now, go to sleep!"
The lark flew to Viserys' shoulder, rubbed its head against his ear, and then flew away.
The first day of the tournament coincided with the second day of the poetry contest. Sealord Ferrego was pleased to hear that someone had fought over the songs performed by the singers and musicians. He found joy in this chaos, for it was only when two houses were at odds that he could relax. Due to his anemia, he struggled to sleep at night and lacked energy during the day, often relying on the comfort of poppy milk to rest.
"Lord, the Company of the Cat has bribed their people and intend to work together against Viserys," Qarro whispered to Ferrego.
Ferrego frowned, pondering for a moment before saying, "It's been eight years. Let's see how good this Viserys really is."
