Chapter 79: Jealousy, Pride and Strength
Glaro Sythan was drinking with with his associates when he was informed by his servants that Lady Valen has reached the Bravos.
'Seraphine had returned.' He thought in anger
That alone would have been enough to frustrate his mood, but what followed made him more dangerous than angry.
He had already been deep into drink when the report reached him, and the room around him had begun to blur at the edges. The others in the room — allies, hangers-on, and the sort of men who liked to be seen near power — did their best to keep him laughing.
"Come, lord Glaro," one of them said with an oily smile, raising his cup. "If the Valens are stumbling, and we are giving it the fire. Isn't it a good time Seraphine returned. The shame itself is here. More evidence to support. More reputation to break."
That earned a rough laugh from the table.
Glaro his mouth twisting.
Another man leaned in, pleased to be useful. "The Valens are already split by scandal, pressure, and fear. If Seraphine is back, the city will talk again. We need to make them talk more. We need to do something, to make it more burn and let it turn into a fire that would eventually burn the Valens down"
"Good," Glaro said.
He sat back in his chair, flushed with drink and pride, while the men around him continued to flatter and feed the fire in him. They spoke as if the fall of the Valens was already a matter of timing rather than possibility.
Glaro let them talk.
He was drunk enough to enjoy the attention. These men were not merely companions for the evening. They were the shape of the Sythan rise — the ones who helped make the plan feel inevitable. They laughed when he laughed, nodded when he nodded, and spoke of collapse as if it were an elegant piece of business rather than a knife fight in broad daylight.
Then in that conversation they made a plan to make reputation of Seraphine and Valen to fell in mud. To pin the final nail in the coffins of Valens . To make public believe that time of Valens was done.
One of them, seated nearest, lifted his cup again. "To the Sythans," he said. "And to the fall of old pride of The Valens ."
The others joined in.
Glaro raised his own cup, though his eyes were elsewhere. "To The Sythans," he said pleases.
Across the city, Artos or , Hal — was approaching Lord Valen's house with a very different expression.
His face was calm, his pace measured, and his mind already working through what needed to be said. Afterall There were consequences to what had happened. He knew that better than most remembering of the Rebellion.
That was part of the reason he was here now. if he meant to protect what could still be protected, then he could not arrive as a wandering blade with no aim. He had to arrive as a man with a purpose to Lord Valen or his may be Father in Law.
A servant admitted him after a brief wait. Lord Valen received him in a chamber that looked as though it had not enjoyed peace in some time.
Lord Valen did not rise immediately.
He studied Artos in silence,
At last Lord Valen said, "You have come here, pretty gutsy after what happened. Couldn't expected less from Hal, The Captain of the Northern Brutes" he was not too happy about how this situation happened clearly one could see from his tone.
Artos gave a small incline of his head. "I am but.."
Valen intervened
Lord Valen's gaze sharpened a little. "You have come to me with bad timing if you are here to talk about Seraphine and you."
"Not really Lord Valen, in my opinion This is the perfect time to show my worth." Artos said.
That got the faintest flicker from the lord, though it did not become a smile.
Artos stepped forward one pace, then stopped. "I know the consequences of what has happened. I know what my presence, and her absence, and the city's talk have done. I am not here to pretend any of it did not happen."
Valen watched him carefully.
"I am here," Artos continued, "because if your house is to endure what comes next, it needs men who can be counted on. Not men who speak pretty. Not men who vanish when the pressure comes. Men who can protect what matters. Luckily for you — We are quite famous in that regard."
Valen said nothing.
Artos met his eyes directly. "I can be that man."
The room remained still.
Then, carefully, Valen asked, "And why should I believe that? A Mercenary Commander can help in politics of Bravos. Yes, you can protect my merchant and fleets but any Mercenaries could do that."
Artos did not flinch.
"Aye, Mercenaries do that, but why weren't they are doing it when attacks are happening because your enemies have gathered and outbids you. Your reputation is at alltime low. Which In turn makes Merchant trust in you low." he said. "So I am here saying that I am useful because i am saying my men don't work for gold"
That answer landed well. Not because it was charming, but because it was honest.
Valen leaned back slightly, considering him.
Artos went on, quieter now. "Your merchants need protection. Your houses, your stores, your routes — all of it is being watched by men who think the Valens are already halfway fallen. They are wrong. But they will only stay wrong if we move before they do."
At that, Valen's expression hardened into something more alert.
Lord Valen amused" So you are saying your Mercenaries won't work for gold. . Isn't that joke of the century."
"Aye."
Lord Valen if he was amused before he is laughing right now.
But Artos remain serious as if he is not joking at all.
Valen studied him for a long moment.
"If there is something missing, tell me Captain Hal. If there something I don't understand about your Mercenaries and why don't they care about gold ."
This time Artos laughed Loudly" Oh, they definitely care about the gold . " He said confusing Lord Valen.
" But they care about me and my orders more " Artos said
Lord Valen laughed "This is stupid, Most dead Mercenary Commander thought his men cared more about him than gold. They all died by betrayal you know."
Artos smiled and grinned " That's the point and difference. They aren't Mercenaries. They are soldiers loyal to thier Commander."
Confusing Lord Valen once more.
Artos smiled " Let me reintroduce myself Lord Valen ."
When these talks are happening Outside,
Glaro Sythan was drinking with men who believed themselves above fear.
Glaro wanted Seraphine shamed and his associates and enemies of Lord Valen made the plan but
Artos intended to stand in the middle of the every consequences and event not move.
Trust me when I say this is a build up to a big thing. Ask the Patreon members they seen a glimpse of it. Just wait till Chapter 82. Truly excited for the thing to come. Basically made Essos arc for this thing. Wish me luck so I can really give you what I want and what you would love in my opinion. Ready yourself for next week. Thank you brothers for keeping up with the story even when it is in the lows with the bad writing and grammatical errors , to be honest very less updates, with not my 100%(sorry for that)
We are gonna rise back
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