Chapter 23 - White Harbor

Black Sister, one of the two ancestral swords of house Targaryen, used by Visenya Targaryen in the conquest of Aegon.

The sword claimed, thousands of lives, and after many years of killing, the sword began to thirst for blood, at least that's what the story says.

As incredible as it is to have this sword in my possession, I have to take into account that it is the Ancestral sword of the house that rules the seven kingdoms, I am sure, that if they see me carrying it, they will demand it back, and not to attract the wrath of all Westeros, I will be forced to hand it over.

Unless I turn it into another sword, as much as I don't want to do that, I think that's the only option, the hardest thing is to find someone blacksmith who can work with Valyrian steel.

'Looks like I'll have to see Eldric sooner than expected.'

I gathered all the items from the trunk, and cleaned the place, mainly erasing the traces that there was Bloodraven's tomb.

After cleaning all the traces, I went back towards the lodgings, to wait for the sunrise.

At sunrise, we gathered our things and headed for the main courtyard.

"I will say goodbye to Lord Commander and Maester Aemon, finish putting things away, and grab some provisions, we collected more on the way, our destination is now White Harbor, I have to contact Eldric." I spoke.

When I said that we were going to White Harbor, Perseus showed a slight happiness on his face.

"Understood," said all five of the Five.

I went towards the Rookery, where I assume the maester is, after reaching the door of his room, I knocked subtly on his door.

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"Come in" spoke an old voice.

"It is I Maester, Arthur, I have come to say goodbye to you, and to thank you for all the teachings and advice you have passed on to me." I spoke.

"Oh, Arthur, you have come to say goodbye to this old man, come, accompany me to the courtyard" spoke Aemon, getting up from the chair he was sitting in.

Holding Aemon by the arms I guided him towards the courtyard.

"Maester, the books I borrowed, I haven't had a chance to read yet, but I promise you that I will return them to you intact, of course, only if you allow me to take them with me." I spoke.

"As I said before, young man, I do not have the power to decide about them, but I know that you will take great care of them, for, like me, you know that those who read, live a thousand lives before they die, and he who does not, lives only one" Aemon spoke.

"Precisely."

After reaching the courtyard, I saw that the Lord Commander was already present.

"Lord Commander Qorqyle, I was already going until you fired me". I spoke.

"I was already on my way to the courtyard." Qorqyle spoke.

"I understand, I thank you for all the hospitality you offered us, I know that feeding Sigurd is not an easy task, and I know the lack of resources you have, the north remembers, and I more so, I will not forget this helping hand you extended to me, with all my heart, my most sincere, thank you." I spoke respectfully, as I extended to the hand.

"There will always be a place for all of you in our hearths" Qorqyle spoke, shaking my hand.

"Thank you to all the brothers of the patrol, in the future I will pay you a visit again" I spoke with a smile.

"And Maester Aemon, if you could send this letter to Winterfell, I would appreciate it" I spoke.

"No problem" Aemon spoke up.

"Time to go, see you next time" I spoke, as I climbed on my hors.

Leaving Castle Black, we got on the road and rode on.

"Why did you ask Maester Aemon to send a letter to Winterfell, aren't we going to stop by there on the way to White Harbor?" Astrid asked.

"No, we will go the other way, as much as I am missing my brothers and my father a lot, I have other things to do, and staying home for a while, might make me change my goals."

"And by the way, Kevin, this is for you" I spoke, as I took out a white bow wrapped in cloth.

"A Weirwood bow, where did you get it?" Kevin asked, as he analyzed the bow.

"A little bird told me where to find it." I spoke with a smile.

"Okay, I won't insist on knowing, but why me? You are as good at the bow as I am." Kevin spoke.

"You will make more good use of it." I spoke.

"Thank you my lord" spoke Kevin, with thanks.

"What about us? Do we get nothing?" Sigurd asked.

"For now I have nothing to give you, but I promise to give you weapons just as good." I spoke.

"That's a promise in" Sigurd spoke.

"Yes it is a promise, now let's hurry, we must get to White Harbor as soon as possible." I said.

"Let's go" spoke everyone.

After a few days of travel we arrived in front of White Harbor, the city is the largest settlement north of the Bottleneck, but the smallest among the five main cities of Westeros, White Harbor is the main trading port in the north and its location at the mouth of the White Knife offers trading opportunities further north.

The Town is clean and well organized, with wide, straight cobblestone streets that make walking easy, the houses are built of whitewashed stone, with steep roofs of dark gray slate.

Riding through the cobblestone streets called Fishfoot Yard, we followed the direction we were told where the winesink, Lazy Eel, is located, which is down a flight of stairs, under a warehouse full of sheepskins.

Entering the door, if it is a door at all, one finds an inhospitable place.

The place has a vaulted ceiling stained black with soot, its floor is dirt, the air smells of smoke, rotten meat and old vomit, the cellar is large, full of nooks and shaded alcoves where a man can be alone if he so chooses, there is a fireplace, where some drunkards were passed out.

While everyone else preferred to wait outside, I went towards the counter.

"I want to talk to the owner of the establishment" I spoke.

"You are talking to him" said the man behind the counter, not even looking at me, as he was absorbed in his own thoughts.

Taking out a coin of some sort, with a Weirwood carved on it, I pushed it over the counter, as far as the man's vision could see.

"Memento mori" I spoke.

"Memento mori" the man repeated.

"How may I serve you my lord?" Spoke the Man with immense respect, as if he was looking at his progenitor.

"I need you to send this letter to Hades, in three days I will return." I spoke, as I passed the letter to the man.

"And so it shall be done my lord." The man spoke as he took the letter and put it in his robes.

"What is your name sir? To inform master Hades." Asked the man.

"Call me Wotan."