Maya
There wasn't any proper reason to sneak through the underbrush and as such, Maya and Gregar followed Sophey down a small trail, so narrow that she wasn't even certain it was regularly used by humans. She had always considered herself a quiet person, but compared to Gregar and Sophey, she felt like a clumsy child. The two moved across the trail without any sound, at a speed she could barely keep up without running. Where she stepped onto sticks and leaves, breaking them in the process, they somehow managed to remain completely quiet in their movement.
Out here, there was something about Sophey that was almost unnerving. The woman spoke not a word, barely made a sound at all, yet somehow, her glances and gestures were more than enough to express how she felt. Maya still wasn't sure if her companion was unable to speak, or simply chose not to, but her silence gave her something strange.
In this moment, the woman stopped without warning, raising a hand, as Maya nearly stumbled into her. She glanced over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow, almost in a mocking way, before a thin smile flashed across her beautiful face. Then, she knelt down, softly moving over the ground. Maya narrowed her eyes, as she recognized what Sophey tried to show her.
“Boot prints”, Gregar growled in a low tone. “At least three people. How long?” Sophey touched one of the bootprints, picking up a little bit of mud glancing at it, before shaking her head. “Can't be long then”, Maya deduced, to which Sophey nodded. She pointed down the path, before placing a finger on her lips. The gesture was clear and as such, they continued with care.
The rain hadn't stopped and it made it easier for them to remain concealed beneath the trees. At the same time though, it'd make it harder to spot those who had left the trail. And worst of it all, the constant rain got on her nerves, badly so. It's not that she was a stranger to this wet chill that held the Riverlands in its grasp, but slowly, it'd wear anyone down.
“Bloody hell”, a male voice called out in front of them. Sophey crouched down, raising a clenched fist and silently ordering them to stop. Though Maya couldn't see who had spoken, the voice came from somewhere in front of them. “Not so loud”, a second man hissed, though his words were carried just as far. “We don't know who else is out here”
The first man chuckled. “What, you're afraid of shadows now?”, he asked. “You think the Sons like being out here on a day like that? Nah, we're safe out here” His chuckle turned into a pained sigh. “If only I could make us a fire... but nah, damn rain. Not a single peace of dry wood out here”
The second man joined in on his sigh. “You know, it's probably dry back at the camp”, he replied. “Or less wet. Warmer too. Why the hell is it always us who gets the scout duty?” A noise followed, as if someone kicked against something, accompanied by a muffled sound of pain. “Fucking backpack”, the first man howled. “You're right, you know. Why the hell is it always us? And for what? The pay is lousy and the higher ups are even worse”
“Tell me all about it”, the second man agreed. “I used to be stationed at Harrenhal. Couple decent folk there, aye, but there's also the king and his brood. The more time I spent around them, the more I saw what Lodos meant when he spoke of their cursed lineage” This caused the first to laugh. “Lodos!”, he exclaimed. “Man, I met my fair share of so-called saviours and prophets, but he's more crazy than all of them combined”
The second man did not join in with his laughter. “Is he truly crazy?”, he asked. “Because I'm not so sure about that anymore. Think about it. Raiding the Greenlanders, aye, that is one thing. It's in our blood, it's how we survive. But what Harren is doing, what his sons are doing... that ain't right”
A brief silence followed, before the first man spoke up. By now, Maya was close enough to see them. The first was a heavyset, balding man, whose face was disfigured by a knotty scar, which had taken away part of his upper lip, leaving him with a permanent sneer. The second one was thin, with a thick, braided beard and an iron earring. “What do you mean?”, the first man asked, with genuine curiosity in his voice.
“I mean, we did that all the time, aye”, the second replied. “Taking thralls and salt wives on our raids. But we always picked only those who let themselves be captures, who weren't strong enough to fight back, or fast enough to run away, or those who surrendered instead of dying in a fight” He shook his head. “It is our way, the proper way. But Harren and his brood, they take a whole kingdom as their thralls. It ain't a fair fight. Sure, Hardhand conquered it fair and square, but what has Harren ever done to deserve his grandfather's legacy? Built some huge castle, but that doesn't make him worthy, it just proves that he has to compensate for something”
The first man laughed loudly, not afraid of anyone listening to their conversation. “And surely you'd love to tell him that, right?”, he asked, to which the second shook his head. “Eh, I'm not crazy”, he claimed. “Would I be some lord or captain, maybe I'd speak up. But we're just grunts in his army, what choice do we have but to folloq?” He sighed. “Doesn't mean that Lodos isn't right. I say we need to leave these lands and go back to the Old Way, or the Drowned God will punish us all”
“Doubt the Drowned God cares much for you and me”, the first man mumbled grimly. “He might punish Harren Hoare, if Lodos is right, the utter madman. One thing is for sure though, we'll get caught in the crossfire” He shook his head. “My brother-in-law earns twice as much as we do just by catching fish back at Orkmont. Ain't an easy life for him, but it's not better for us either, eh?”
The second man nodded. “And my cousins sailed with Durren Stallhart!”, he proclaimed. “They earned fine weaponry, good armour and each got themselves a salt wife” He clenched his fists. “And we're freezing our asses off here in the rain, for nothing more than a pittance, in the name of some spoiled royal arse and against an enemy who doesn't even exist”
They both sighed, glancing at the wet pile of sticks that should be their campfire. It was clear, both were unable to even just do that. And yet, they were Ironborn scouts. Their presence alone proved Taenora's concerns right. For all Maya knew, they were barely better than common highwaymen. The three of them had to get back, to plan on what to do.
It was in this moment, as she turned to Gregar, that she stepped onto a wooden branch. It cracked beneath her feet, loud enough for the two Ironborn to hear them. Both jumped up, drawing double-edged axes from their belts, even if they couldn't quite agree on the direction the noise came from. While the first man looked into their direction, the second did the opposite. “Who is there?”, he barked.
In this moment, something unexpected happened. Maya heard Gregar's gasp and as she spun around, she saw a figure, clad in a grey hooded cloak, pointing an arrow right at her companion. Sophey drew the long dagger she carried on her waist, pointing it at another man, who had snuck closer while Maya had been too busy listening to the conversation.
Two others rose from the underbrush, bows at hand. “Drop your weapons!”, one of them, a handsome, young man with dark hair and the shadow of a beard, barked, but the Ironborn made no attempt to follow the order. Neither was either of the two brave enough to charge at the four armed men. “You over there, you too”, the man repeated his order. Now as they were standing, the Ironborn realized that they were surrounded, not just by Maya and her companions, but also by this new threat.
The second Ironborn, apparently the smarter of the two, narrowed his eyes. “You over there, pretty girl!”, he yelled. “Don't trust these bastards, they are the Sons of the Trident. Insane outlaws who know no mercy! You let yourself get captured by them and they are going to hang you without a trial!” He pointed his axe at the leader of the four men. “We're not the ones who have weapons pointed at you, so we're not your enemy”, he claimed, before he managed a desperate grin. “Help us and we can help you. We're with Captain Hollard's unit, she's a good and fair leader and she'll be grateful if you help us”
The rebel raised an eyebrow. “You're not with the Ironborn?”, he asked and Maya gulped, before she shook her head. “We're just...”, she mumbled, before she cut herself off. “We don't want any trouble” The man gave her a nod. “Then help us against these two and prove it”, he stated. “Or at least stay out of our way while we deal with the Ironborn scum. Then we can sort this out. If you got nothing to do with those monsters, then you and I, we're no enemies” He gave her a smile that was, admittedly, quite charming. “If you need a name, I'm Jared”, he introduced himself. “And if you don't mess this up for us, then the Sons of the Trident will be grateful”
Both men looked at her, eager for her decision. It was clear, the Sons of the Trident had the Ironborn outnumbered, four to two. However, with two of their own having to keep Gregar and Sophey in check, neither of which seemed to have any sympathy for them, the odds were much more even than they seemed at first. Perhaps she could indeed support one of them, turning the tide on the Sons of the Trident, or sealing the Ironborn's fate. She couldn't say that she particularly liked either of these groups, the tyrant's soldiers, or the rebel scouts who had weapons pointed at her companions. But was it a wise idea to stay out of this one? Perhaps this could be a chance to get the help they needed to leave this land.
[Support the Sons of the Trident] [Support the Ironborn] [Stay out of it]
Keat
Rose stood by his side, as they walked through the alleyways of Oldtown. Keat could tell, neither Samuel, nor Erik were thrilled about getting her involved, but this was not their decision. He was the master thief and he hired whomever he deemed useful for this heist. Rose had a map of the Hightower, which made her extremely useful and if her claim was true, then she herself had a certain experience as a thief. Plus she was very pretty to look at and Keat enjoyed a mission with eye candy more than one without. And unlike the one they were going to recruit, there was no bad blood between him and Rose.
“So, what's the story between you and this… Vivielia?”, Erik asked from behind, to which Rose raised an eyebrow, curiosity flaring up in her green eyes. She was attentive, he had to give it to her, noticing even small details about them, in the same way Keat would listen in her situation. Didn't mean he appreciated Erik bringing this detail up and as such, he gave him a brief, displeased glare.
“That is a long and complicated one”, he replied. “But to keep it short, she tried to, well, remove a certain body part the last time we met” He touched the bandaged side of his head and winced. “Would have been way more painful than what Bannister did” To his surprise, Rose flashed him a mischievous grin. “I take it you got out of there just fine?”, she asked and he felt the heat rushing up his cheeks. “I… uh… yeah”, he stuttered. “Yeah, I still got it. I got away safely”
“Too much information on that topic”, Erik spoke. “And too little on what actually happened. Why would she, well, try to resort to such drastic measures?” Rose chuckled. “Did you deserve it?”, she asked straightforwardly. “And be honest with me” From behind them, Samuel laughed. “Oh yes he did”, he replied. “And don't you dare to claim anything else”
Keat sighed, though he could not contain a brief glare towards his friend for bringing this up in front of Rose. “I… kinda slept with her sister”, he said. Rose raised an eyebrow. “Kinda?”, she asked and he shook his head. “Not just kinda”, he said. “Repeatedly. We've been together, me and Ursa. Not long, but Viv, she found out”
“You had something with her as well?”, Erik asked and Samuel laughed out loud. For a moment, his friend wheezed, unable to get out anything but laughter and Keat felt searing embarrassment rising up within him. “No, I never had anything with Viv”, he revealed. “Not that I never tried, but she wasn't interested. Truth be told, I don't know if she's interested in anyone at all. She's a selfish bitch, if you don't mind me saying”
“That's pretty rich, coming from you, my friend”, Samuel spoke. “I mean, they should probably know why the Sand sisters won't be too happy to see you” Keat bit down on his lower lip. “Maybe”, he admitted. “I mean… there was nothing between me and Viv, but while I was together with her sister Ursa, I… uh… kinda found myself in bed with their other sister”
Rose's grin widened and an expression flashed over Erik's face, part annoyance, part actual respect. “To my defence, she threw herself at me, she is a very beautiful woman and I had taken some of the strange herbs me and Viv stole from a Summer Islander merchant. I really wasn't in the right mind”
“And Glorianna just turned sixteen”, Samuel added. “At most” Quickly, Erik's expression of respect faded, while Rose's grin only widened. “Whoa… that is pretty young, fair game or not”, the guard stated and Keat sighed. “How was I supposed to know?”, he asked. “She looks very mature for her age and she never told me. And I would have gotten away with it, but Viv surprised us the next morning”
“That explains a lot”, Erik admitted. “Had you done that to my sister, I would have gutted you like a fish” He shrugged. “Sure, I don't have a sister, but it's the sentiment that counts” He narrowed his eyes. “Wait a moment”, he added. “You told Hishi you stole from her, but now you come around and tell us it's much worse than that”
Keat nodded. “That ain't something Hishi has to know, alright?”, he spoke. “I did indeed steel from Viv as I was making my escape, right after she found me and Glorianna, but to be perfectly fair, I only took what we stole together and I am reasonably certain that she was planning to screw me over either way” He shrugged. “I bet she's over that”, he claimed. “But the situation with her sisters, that is the thing she might still hold a grudge for”
Erik raised an eyebrow. “And you couldn't have told us any earlier?”, he asked. “I mean, maybe Hishi could have found an alternative” Keat shook his head. “I might be able to sort this out”, he spoke. “Viv is greedy and she loves a challenge and what can be more challenging and rewarding than breaking into the Hightower?” They stopped in front of a large building and Keat tensed up. “We're here”, he stated. “Unless they moved in the meantime. I mean, it's been over a year, they might have...”
“They haven't”, Erik disagreed. “Hishi's scouts do their work properly. The sisters still live here” He gave him a wink, pointing at the open gate that led into the backyard of the large house where the three sisters lived alongside at least a dozen other vagrants. It was one of these parts of Oldtown where people lived who had nothing, or those who wanted to stay below anyone's notice. The sisters, they were the latter for certain, but Keat knew how good they were at pretending to be the former.
Slowly, he entered the back yard, walking through the gate and past several doors that led into the complex. He sighed. “Maybe they are not here?”, he asked. He had been less nervous before, when he made the decision. Vivielia and him, they hadn't parted on good terms, but she was not the sort to hold grudges for such a long time. And yet, the closer he came to meeting her and her sisters again, the more nervous he grew.
“Keat?”, a familiar voice asked and he tensed up. “Hello, Glori”, he mumbled, before turning around. Glorianna Sand was undoubtedly beautiful, even now as he knew of her youth. Dark brown skin, just a shade lighter than the black of the Summer Islanders, a shapely figure, full lips and deep, dark eyes, a fire burning within them even now. Her dark hair fell down her shoulders in soft curls and the grin on her face was similar to Rose's, mischievous and actually not all that hostile.
“Hey there”, she stated, raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?” She took a step closer, placing her hands on his shoulder and pulling him into a brief hug. “I thought you'd never return. Word has it you left Oldtown for good” She gave him a wink, before she leaned up. “Welcome back, thief”, she whispered into his ear.
“Glori, is...”, Keat said, as he took a step away from her, noticing the judging stares from Rose and Erik and Samuel's unashamed glee at the situation. “Is your sister there? Vivielia, I mean. Don't tell Ursa, please” Glorianna chuckled, before her smile faded, very briefly. “Of course, let me fetch her for you”, she stated, before she turned around. “Hey, sis! Guess who is here again!”
She yelled loudly and Keat froze in place, knowing that both of her sisters had undoubtedly heard her words. And indeed, the sister who glanced out of the door first was the one he wanted to see least of them all, because she had the biggest reason to be upset at him. Ursa Sand was one to hold a grudge and the cold frown on her beautiful face was all the proof he needed to know she was still mad at him. Her hair was tied up into a loose bun and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, as she clenched her fists.
“Well, ain't that a surprise”, she hissed. “You have five seconds to get the fuck out of here, before Viv sees you” Her words were cold, but behind them, furious anger flared up. It contrasted with Glorianna's seemingly sweet gaze. “Someone's in trouble”, the youngest sister chirped. “Maybe I should have been more quiet?” Her smile faded, just briefly. “Oops”, she hissed, before she gave him another wink and Keat knew, he deserved her contempt just as much. “Hey… Ursa...”, he mumbled, pressing his lips together and trying to avoid her cold stare. “I'm not here because I want to...”
“Well, you made the call to come here first”, Erik spoke up and slowly, he shared Samuel's glee. He gave the sisters a nod, earning himself a grin from Glorianna and a glare from Ursa. “Keat!”, a third voice spoke. Vivielia Sand was taller than her sisters, less curvy and more lean. Ursa had told him once, it came since she was the oldest. What little they had to eat, she gave almost all of it to her younger sisters. As such, while she shared their beauty, she had a more narrow face, prominent cheekbones and a sharp glare, which was made all the more piercing due to her eyes being of a lighter brown than her skin. Her hair was open and wild, a strand of it tied into a braid that was falling down to her shoulder. Most importantly, she held a curved dagger in her hand and though she didn't point it at him, the gesture was unmistakable.
“Vivielia”, he greeted her with a nod, as she pushed herself past her sisters, between him and them. “You got a whole group of jesters with you”, she stated, though she gave Samuel a nod. “Samuel”, she greeted him and he returned the gesture. “Viv”, he said, as the woman turned her attention back at the thief. “Here to protect you?”, she asked. Keat shook his head. “Here to accompany me”, he replied. “I… believe it or not, it wasn't my decision to come here. Not really, at least. I'm gathering a crew for a job and I need someone to pick a few locks. You've always been the best at that”
Anger flared up in her cold, dark eyes. “That's why you have come?”, she hissed. “You pull that shit, you hurt my sister, both of my sisters!” Behind her, Ursa crossed her arms, while Glorianna chuckled. “Hey Keat”, she chirped. Vivielia pointed the dagger right at him. “And you come… because you want something from me?” A frosty chuckle came out of her throat. “Even for you, that is bold”
Now, he gave her a grin. “I'm always good for a surprise, am I not?”, he spoke, daring a slight grin and he was pretty certain, if not for the presence of Erik and Samuel, she would have attacked him right then and there. She narrowed her eyes. “You are serious”, she said tonelessly. “By the gods, you are actually serious” She shook her head. “You have always been an asshole, but I see, leaving this city hasn't changed you for the better”, she hissed. “You stole from me, you hurt both of my sisters and now you come here and you're acting just as brazen as always?”
“Fuck you, Keat”, Ursa hissed and he sighed. “I know I deserved that...”, he said, but before he could react, Vivielia lowered the dagger. In the very same moment, her knee darted upwards, hitting him right between the legs. Keat groaned in pain and all that came out of his throat was a muffled gasp as he staggered, trying desperately to remain on his feet. Glorianna giggled, while even Ursa showed grim satisfaction. Next to him, Samuel was about to draw his weapon, but a visibly amused Erik stopped him. Rose merely rolled her eyes, though he noticed she suppressed a smirk.
“That is what you deserve, you son of a bitch!”, Vivielia spat. “That and more” She shook her head. “I should have used my knife for that, then we would have been even” He sighed. “I know, I know...”, he mumbled, trying to look as guilty as possible. “I messed up, but I wouldn't have returned if not to set things straight. I'm back, because I want to repay everyone I owe or whom I wronged”
Vivielia blinked, before she glanced at the bandage that still covered his wound. “And how is that working out for you?”, she asked in a sarcastic tone, to which he gave her a forced smile. “Let's just say, our meeting hasn't been the worst I've had”, he added, to which Ursa tensed up. “Trust me, we can easily make it worse”, she growled, but her older sister raised a hand. Carefully, like a cat gazing at its prey, Viv lowered her dagger. “You want to repay us?”, she spoke and this time, he spotted a hint of genuine curiosity in her words. “I say you get one chance to convince me and if I don't like what you tell me right now, I'd suggest you better leave, unless you want me to decide how to make things even”
Keat gulped. “I got a job for you”, he said. “I need a crew to...” She cut him off, by raising her dagger once more. “I don't care about the details”, she hissed. “For all I know, you're just wasting my time right now. I want to know what's in this for me” She glanced at her sisters. “For us”
"You keep him around?", Ursa asked, her voice sounding slightly alarmed, but Vivielia shook her head. "I want to hear him out", she said. "Because I keep hoping he is somehow less of an ass than he always makes himself look like. And if I don't like what he says..." Slowly, she lowered the dagger. “One chance, Keat”, she warned him. “Don't blow this”
One chance, she said? Well, that made things not any easier. He had a whole speech prepared, telling Viv about the things that happened, how he wants to get even with the sisters and most importantly, what Hishi wants him to do, how he wants him to break into the most secure vault in all Westeros. Unspeakable dangers, unimaginable riches… those were actual arguments, but Viv was dangerously close to just kicking him out, probably literally. If he wouldn't choose his words carefully, he'd lose his chance to recruit the best lock picker in Oldtown.
But what to say? She had always been a greedy bitch, Keat was not ashamed to see her that way and he knew, she would agree. The rewards of such a heist might be tempting, unless she somehow scored big since they had parted ways. They were still living in this part of Oldtown, so probably not… then again, Viv had always been good at hiding her wealth. And she loved a challenge above everything else. She was the sort of thief to steal things for the thrill of it, which was what made him like her in the first place. Maybe the risks, the dangers involved, that would be a better way of getting her attention...
[Tell her about the rewards] [Tell her about the risks]