Chapter 679: Chapter 679: The Myrish Affair
"The Strangler."
"It's clearly the work of the Strangler."
After a night of turmoil in the Tyrrosi dungeons, some leads were finally unearthed.
A silver-haired elder, leaning heavily on his cane, spoke.
While the Free City of Tyrros may not have maesters as Westeros does, it boasts skilled healers. This elder was the foremost physician in Tyrros, with a deep knowledge of poisons.
He was summoned by the Lord of Tyrros to identify the exact poison that had claimed the lives of the prisoners. Upon his arrival, he instantly recognized the effects of a potent poison, the Strangler.
The Strangler's distinctiveness lies in the victim's face turning a deep purple, as if they'd been choked or suffocated to death. Hence the name.
However, the Strangler differs from other poisons in that it causes profuse bleeding from all orifices, making death by its hand particularly gruesome.
"The Strangler is expensive to produce. It's derived from a plant found only in the Jade Islands, half a world away."
"Its leaves must be aged, then soaked in lime water, sweet syrup, and rare spices from the Summer Isles. The leaves are then discarded, and ashes are added to the concoction, allowing it to crystallize."
"The process is slow and complex, requiring costly ingredients. Hence, the Strangler doesn't come cheap."
"Many in this world can produce the Strangler, including the alchemists of Lys, the Faceless Men of Braavos, and the maesters of the Citadel in Westeros."
The elderly man's voice trembled as he shared all he knew. He then bowed and retreated.
The Tyrrosi dungeons were brightly lit. Guards held torches aloft, stationed at every corner.
The recent events had the high lords of Tyrros on edge, increasing their personal security for fear of sudden assassination attempts like what Lady Asha Greyjoy had endured.
The torches flickered, casting shadows on the faces of those present. Lord Tyrros and the envoy from the Iron Throne, Asha Greyjoy, convened in the dungeon, discussing the recent events calmly.
After a night's reflection and consultation with her uncle, Asha had largely ruled out Lord Tyrros as a suspect.
It would be madness for him to harm an envoy of the Iron Throne on his own turf. Such a blatant act would surely spark war.
However, there was another possibility: Lord Tyrros could be playing a dangerous game, eliminating Asha and framing another, hoping to pit the Iron Throne against a mutual enemy.
Still, Asha accepted his invitation, but this time she was accompanied by over a hundred guards.
"Envoy Greyjoy, as you've heard,"
"These criminals died from the Strangler."
Lord Tyrros listened intently to the elderly poison expert and then, with a notable shift in his demeanor from their previous encounter, addressed Asha.
During their first meeting, Lord Tyrros had been rather brusque. But now, impressed by Asha's decisive actions and strength, he regarded her with newfound respect.
"It's clear there's a conspiracy afoot."
"Someone seeks to drive a wedge between Tyrros and His Grace, King Viserys."
Invoking the name of King Viserys, Lord Tyrros's tone grew reverential.
"I suspect Lys and Volantis are behind this."
"Lysene alchemists are well-known for their skill with poisons."
"And, given their vested interests in the disputed territories, both Lys and Tyrros desire the support of King Viserys's formidable army."
"If you, Envoy Greyjoy, were to perish in Tyrros, it would undoubtedly strain relations between us and the Iron Throne, possibly leading to war. Lys would stand to benefit."
While the evidence seemed compelling, Asha and her entourage still harbored doubts. The testimonies and Lord Tyrros's assurances painted a picture of a conspiracy, with Lys and Volantis as the probable beneficiaries.
But upon her return to the port, Asha ordered the blockade of Tyrros lifted.
At that moment, news from Myr spread like wildfire through the streets of Tyrros.
The Pirate Lord of Myr, under the guise of peace talks, had brazenly attacked and slain two rival lords in broad daylight. His pirates now controlled the newly reconstructed city of Myr.
Coincidentally, this event transpired just as Asha had ordered the blockade.
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