Chapter 11: 10 To Know myself
Joff's rapier ended in the floor again, clattering loudly as the young man himself rubbed his knuckles and bit off an exasperated retort. The Captain just looked at him patiently, sporting his damnable knowing smirk, and Joff once again took up the sword.
"… I'm not plodding!" Joff said, seemingly trying to convince himself more than Nakaro. Nakaro himself just shook his head with a couple of quiet "tsk". "You still move like a knight, you must be like the waves instead, in and out before they can react, crashing with irresistible force on the place of your choosing." He said, suddenly lunging at Joff with unexpected strength in spite of his small size, and thus the lesson continued. The last part was not so common in regular waterdancing, but Nakaro was teaching the more difficult form of it, he called it the "Rising Tide" technique. It was geared to be used against armored opponents as well as light combatants. It centered itself on precise blows that put the whole force of the body behind it, retracting before the enemy could react. Nakaro had helpfully demonstrated with a strung up armor full of Lyseni melons. Armor could not provide protection in areas they didn't cover anyway, and light opponents would die just as well... his display had had been terrifying, Joffrey could well imagine blood instead of melon juice splashed all over the armor, the floor and the sword.
Problem is, it was freaking impossible to learn.
Do not plod, move like the waves. Joff thought to himself as he suddenly whirled with his wooden rapier towards Nakaro. Now with a bit of martial acumen under his belt, Joffrey could understand why so many Westerosi Knights thought water dancing was rubbish. The rapier was a terrible weapon in conventional fighting, and to get really lethal with it against armored opponents one needed a lot of training, which made it impractical. Besides, whirling about in typical braavosi style was a little tiring if you used full plate at the same time…
Anyway…
He had a lot time.
Nakaro moved to the side, minutely. Joff's rapier passes within a hair's breadth of Nakaro's ribs before his own rapier thunked him below the armpit. Nakaro didn't really waste a single bit of sweat. All his movements were economical and did just what was needed for the job. For the amateur it just looked reckless, now, having been in several fights since his first life, Joff supposed it gave him a huge advantage in longer battles. Stamina was king in those encounters… at least that's what the hound had told him a few lives back. That economy of movement was something that interested Joff beyond the specific water dancing style, it was something he felt would improve his overall martial prowess… and help a lot if he got into a scrub relatively soon after starting another life… his physical reserves were horrible for the first couple of months after Awakening.
"Getting distracted again, Joff?" said Nakaro teasingly as he picked up Joff's wooden sword from the ground. Joff snapped out of it and moved to take it back for another bout, but Nakaro shook his head. "We've made good progress for today… besides, you're getting into your thoughtful mood again" he said.
Joff nodded as Nakaro gathered the swords and walked out of the secluded garden they had been practicing on. He shook his head as he walked out too, thinking. The captain really had a way of knowing what was going through his mind, it was a little unnerving. Thankfully, the warm Braavosi public baths soon soothed his muscles and his mind, and after a while Joff found himself back in the Wandering Seahorse, the tavern that had become the de facto meeting place of the sailors of the Eastern Winds.
Baleo, Voqo, Tregarro and many other greeted him, it seemed they had gotten into an early start.
"Joff! We thought the cap'n finally decided to save himself some trouble and threw you into the channel!" said Maerrys as he got an empty cup and served him a brown liquid of dubious origin. "Nah, he knows I'm too stubborn for that, my big head would float up to the docks and the Arsenal's stewards would give him a fine!" Said Joff. They all laughed at that as Joff came to their big table, and everyone moved a bit to make space for him. Joff basked in the warm camaraderie as he sat and took a swill of the brown ale and let out a content sight.
"Gods, I needed that" he said. It sometimes surprised him how basic his leisurely needs had become. These days a couple of ales and an evening relaxing and listening to outrageous stories was more satisfying than a thousand feasts in the Red Keep.
"Say, Joff. The Captain's also been showing you the nautical charts, no?" Said the silver haired Aeolo, peering at Joff. "Yeah, he must have gotten tired of writing all the course corrections down himself, as if I hadn't enough with the water dancing and that damned sextant" Joff grouched good naturally. The Captain had been unloading a bunch of duties to him, the lazy bastard. He couldn't blame him though. As King, Joff had followed the fine tradition of his supposed father to the letter. Hand the work to those below you on the food chain!
Aeolo and Baleo shared a knowing look after Joff's complaint. Joff was going to ask what they were plotting but a meaty hand slammed into his shoulder and another one pressed a full tankard in front of him before he could ask.
"Drink" Said Voqo, grinning.
"Yeah!" Said Maerrys, his smile showing a multitude of golden teeth. "Its time for your Ale dancing lesson now!"
"Gods, that is the lamest joke I've ever--" Joff was interrupted as Vogo's giagiantic hand slammed the cup into his mouth. Things quickly degenerated after that…
-.PD.-
There was one detail about that night that stuck Joffrey's mind however.
They had been making their way out of the tavern, the serving wench glaring amusedly behind them as they stumbled and struggled to hold each other up, when Joff heard someone bragging in the common tongue.
"Its true! My friend from the Drift's Pride heard it straight from one of the soldiers! Lord Stannis turned himself into a black ghost and pierced the old lion's heart like a spear through an orange!"
Joff stopped, his heart hammering right out of his chest. What was the chance of such a detailed rumor repeating itself?!
Sure, he had said "black ghost" instead of "shadow demon", but…
The sailor cursed as his tankard crashed against another table when he reached to grab it. The other table's regulars all got up shouting and soon a brawl was in place. "We should go Joff!" said Baleo urgently as the tavern owner got a huge club from under the bar.
Joff nodded dumbly as they exited. Stupid sailors and their inane rumors… he shook his groggy and tipsy head, suddenly realizing he had insulted himself. Stupid sailors… indeed! He started laughing out loud, and everyone else was so drunk they started laughing too.
Soon he banished the shadowy images from his mind.
-.PD.-
The next couple of months passed in a flash for Joff. But the frequent water dancing training was not the only thing he did in that time. The Captain had ordered him to apprentice with each of the different crewmembers to learn their skills in case he needed to take their posts in case of an emergency. When Joff explained the Captain's reasoning to the men they just shook their heads with knowing smirks, but refused to elaborate on what the joke was.
They didn't care really. Despite the frequent partying and lounging they were getting a bit anxious, yearning a return to the sea. That was why when the Captain said The Eastern Winds had finally completed her delayed maintenance in the Braavosi docks everyone had cheered with joy. Joff was glad too… their ship was back in service again.
He had started to develop a legitimate curiosity about the world that surrounded him. At first he had escaped from King's Landing to the first place that he had associated with "having a good time". Recalling F-.Robert's frequent rants about "grabbing his warhammer and fucking off to Lys", the choice had been immediate.
Now though… He found the call of the sea strangely alluring. What had started as mere wonder back in Lys had had its appetite wetted in the Narrow Sea as the Eastern Winds made its runs through cities such as Pentos, Myr and Tyrosh. If cities that were relatively close to Westeros could be so different and exotic…
What awaited further east?
He guessed Eddard had never expected him to take his advice so literally, but just how much was there to experience further east?
As the Eastern Winds crashed against the waves and Joff distractedly removed salt from his face, Nakaro barked a quick command.
"Joff, take the tiller" he said as he made his way down, to his cabin probably. "Aye Captain" said Joff absentmindedly, taking the tiller as he kept staring at the horizon.
-.PD.-
The months kept stretching as Joff kept learning new things about sailing and the seas in general. Joff surprised himself discovering things about himself that he would have never even guessed about on his first life. He had discovered a newfound thirst for knowledge that eerily reminded him of uncle Tyrion… Only it was not about things learnt in books. No, books had always been a dry slog for him.
But learning things… experiencing them directly, was eliciting a sense of well being he was becoming addicted to. He found himself listening attentively and watching as the sailors kept teaching him the necessary skills to survive on a ship. How to survive and detect the coming of storms. How to guide a ship when there was no sight of land and only the stars high above Planetos guided the way.
Joff guessed this came in part because he was finally out into the world by himself, learning things not by force but by choice. There was no more obnoxious Grand Maester needling him incessantly about his letters or about House lore, it was just him, his sword, the crew and the ship, and his time was his to do as he pleased. That alone seemed to boost his learning skills a lot.
He could get used to that.
-.PD.-
They had been below decks and playing dice when he had finally managed to extract the inside joke the crew had been on apparently since Braavos.
"Hah! Double sixes! Pay up you wretches!" gloated Joffrey as Baleo, Tregarro and Maelys all grouched as they tossed him an eclectic mix of copper stars and Iron quarter-marks. "Did the Captain teach you how to spoil the dice too Joff?" asked Maelys as peered intently at the dice. "It wouldn't surprise me honestly, with all the stuff he's been cramming into my brain non stop" said Joffrey.
The three of them shared a knowing look as Joffrey huffed.
"Alright, that's it, you are going to spill the beans right now damnit. The joke must be incredibly good if it's lasted all this way since Braavos" said Joffrey, his tone brooking no nonsense.
All three sailors looked like surprised rabbits, and a flurry of knowing looks and exasperated sights followed quickly between them until both Tregarro and Maelys stared intently at Baleo, which only huffed.
"Fine!" he said, repressing a smile. "Well Joff, the thing is, the Captain is training you to take his place eventually" he finally spilled.
Joffrey's mouth was agape as Maerys triumphantly stole the dice from his hands. "My turn" he said as he shook them.
Joffrey finally reacted when he bellowed out a gaffaw, followed by a quick laugh. "Yeah right, good one!" he said shaking his head. Baleo however was quite serious and didn't even flicker his sight back to the dice when Maerys threw them. "Joff, its really kind of obvious. He's not only teaching you things every sailor should know in an emergency" he said the last part in an obvious ironical tone. "He's teaching you how to navigate and use charts, how to command a crew and even his own style of fighting."
Joffrey shook his head slowly "But… me?! I can think of at least 2 dozen people more capable of commanding this ship other than me! Even Voqo would do it better that I could ever dream of it!" he paused suddenly. "No offense Voqo" he added to the sleeping giant swinging on his equally big hammock a few meters back. A content grunt came from his direction as he resettled and kept on sleeping.
"You don't have the skills yet, that's true. Still, you have good judgment and a capacity to hear others and actually learn. That's really not a common talent, but that's just what I see. I've been sailing with the Captain for years and I know for a fact he's a good judge of character. He picked me after all" he said, amused. "If he thinks you'll make a fine captain, I'll believe him".
"That's true, all the other "cabin boys" never lasted more than a week" Said Maerys as he covertly stretched his hands and covered the dice he had just thrown. Tregarro nodded as he slapped Maerys hands, eying the 4 and the 2. "Pay up Maerys!" He said as he looked back at Joffrey. "Its common knowledge he's been searching for someone trustworthy so he can pass on the reigns for a while now. Someone who's actually had an education beyond dice cheating" he said, directing the last part at Maerys, who had the decency to look away as he scratched his neck.
Joffrey couldn't believe what he was hearing. "This is absurd! Me?! Judgement?! I wouldn't trust myself to run a rowboat, much less a Fast Runner! " he said disbelievingly.
Baleo just shrugged as Maerys took the dice again. "You should speak to him about it tomorrow. He'll tell you his reasoning I'm sure" he said tossing the dice again. "I don't understand why you're so freaked out by the whole thing" he said.
"You bet I will" said Joffrey, still in disbelieve. "YES!" shouted Maerys as the dice landed on the table, a one.
Joffrey just shook his head.
"Where did the other one go?" asked Maerys, searching below the table.
-.PD.-
Joffrey tossed and turned in his sleep, only succeeding in tying himself up in knots within his hammock. He had run away from responsibility, only to crash head first into it. He struggled to disentangle himself from the hammock with little success as he kept thinking. Still, a ship was quite an order of magnitude below a Kingdom.
Surely he wasn't that inept?
The thought bounced for a while on his head before…
Yes, yes he was.
To have people depend on him for their lives again…
Nope.
With a small shriek of rage he finally disentangled himself only to land on the hard wood below. He yelped and cursed as he massaged the small bump that was slowly forming on his head.
That's it. I'm talking to Nakarro now and I don't care if he's asleep or not.
He promptly strode out the room, dodging the swaying, sleeping forms of his fellow seamen. Once in the small hallway he made his way up to the Captain's room. Only it was already open.
That's strange. Joffrey thought in his sleep addled state. He entered the room, and promptly stopped cold. Inside was the Captain alright, he was still on his hummock, unmoving as the blood seeped out of him from his throat. Standing beside him was a back cloaked shape, his hand clutching a bloody axe.
Joff stood there, frozen as the figure turned around and titled its head in genuine surprise. "My my, look what we have here… my red pets will love to get a handle on you boy." Said the figure, dripping with contempt.
Joffrey snapped out of his trance, grabbed Nakaro's rapier on the nearby table and launched himself at the hooded assassin with a scream. He's axe moved unnaturally fast as he parried all of Joffrey's attacks with ease and countered with a painful hack at his arm that made him drop his sword. "Pathetic… To think your Father slayed the best seamen in history as if they were nothing…" he shook his head. "Come, you'll make a fine addition to my collection." He said as he advanced on him. Joffrey leapt back, clutching his bleeding arm as he run out of the cabin, shouting.
"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! TO ARMS!! TO ARMS!!!" he bellowed with all his being as he raced out into the deck. Outside lay the bodies of the night watchmen, and countless black forms scuttling about, searching and looting. He could hear fighting below the decks…
He felt a thundering pain on his back as he stumbled forward, feeling the flowing blood coursing down his backside. Behind him stood Nakaro's killer, illuminated by the pale moonlight. The strange smog that clouded everywhere seemed to clear for a few seconds, and Joffrey saw beside him a big longship, sporting one big black sail adorned with a red eye in its middle. "I love it when they run, but its time to meet the rest of your future crew, little prince." He said as he sheathed his axe and advanced on him, arms intent on grabbing him. Below, the fighting had obviously stopped, as the only sound he heard now was the eerie silent shuffling of the men under the assassin's command.
Joffrey stumbled back, thoughts racing at the speed of light. Who was this… man?! Where was the rest of the crew? How had they boarded without so much as a sound?!
Finally his back hit the railing, and Joffrey muffled a grunt of pain as his back flared. "They're all dead… Nowhere left to run little prince. It's me or the Drowned God now." He said as he flashed a cruel, anticipating smile. It was the only part visible between the darkness and the cowl.
Joffrey looked back to the strangely still water, then back at the man that had so effortlessly disarmed him. "I don't know who the hells you are or what you want to do to me, but I'll take my chances with the Drowned God!" He said as he scaled the railing. The cruel smile turned into a brief "O" of surprise before snarling in anger as he tried to grab him.
Too late, thought Joffrey as he splashed into the ocean, sinking deeper and deeper.
It's been a while he thought as his lungs burned from the lack of air and the pain only deepened when the purple started to encroach again.
-.PD.-
He startled awake as his stomach heaved.
He took a few deep breaths, savoring the air like it was the sweetest nectar he had ever tasted. Funny how the simplest of things can be such a precious luxury, he thought, somewhat dazed.
Slowly, the events of the last few minutes seemed to catch up with him. "Oh gods…" he muttered as he rested his forehead on his palms. I guess I know now why it's so profitable to trade in the narrow sea… fucking pirates and madmen…
He stood up and took a cup of water some servant had left for him… last night probably, a dozen lifetimes away. He thought of Baleo and Voqo, of Nakaro and Merys, of all the colorful personalities that he had met in that life, spoken to them just a few hours ago from his perspective… and were now dead.
He threw the cup away in anger. What's the point in getting to know people if they always end up dead around me… His throat clenched when he thought about them, killed by fucking pirates.
He spent the next half hour between brooding and smiling, remembering their antics.
Except… they weren't dead, not really. They were alive again, with no memory of him, a stranger. And given the wandering patterns of fate and the weather, it was unlikely they would meet that mad man again… at least not if he didn't show up in Lys again and accelerated their departure like last time.
He gazed at the city from his window, the city that had come to symbolize the futility of his life. He still didn't want to touch the iron lump of misery and pain, in fact he still didn't want to be here in this city of plots and decadence.
Joffrey sat back on the nearby chair, for once not minding the stench of King's landing, so good it was to have air on his lungs again. Besides, after living for months on Braavos in the stench of the still canals this didn't really faze him.
What now?
For a moment he thought about going to Lys again and meeting up with the crew, but decided against it. It would be too painful for him to see them and not recognize him…
The veil of apathy and depression slowly left him as Joffrey pondered his options.
I don't have to stay here if I don't want to. Nakaro (he winced when he remembered his dead body) Gods, he's alive now, calm down. He centered himself again and kept thinking. He taught me the basics of sailing, I'm reasonably sure I can get employed on any ship here on King's Landing without relying on dumb luck like on Lys… and from there I can go anywhere. North, South, East, West… or all of them.
He slumped back on the chair of the small balcony, for once really thinking about his… curse? He didn't know what to call it. He had unlimited time to explore the whole world around him… and no matter what, he could always wake back up here, and keep going.
Slowly, a smile crept into Joffrey. So much to do, so many places to go… but there's no rush, I have all the time in the world. He thought as he closed his eyes and lounged on the morning sunlight.
Weekly Power Status
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