Chương 32: Ch.32
(Talrit POV)
Over the next year, Oberyn and I traveled over the continent of Essos. We stopped and saw the cities of Norvos, Qohor, Volantis, Mantarys, and then reached Astapor. We even stopped at the ruins of Chroyane on the way to Astapor where some 'stone men' reside. Though instead of entering the ruins we just looked at it from a distance before moving on.
During this time Oberyn and I have gotten close. He is the first human that I have come to respect enough to consider a true friend. Once we reached Astapor I was planning on bringing him to my clan and showing him who I really am. He also learned much about magic and its uses. He is not the greatest magic user I have ever taught, but he is capable enough to continue to learn by himself now. At best he is better than an apprentice mage, but not yet as good as an adept mage.
When we entered the place called 'Slaver's Bay' which had many cities, like the one we just entered called Astapor. This whole area of Essos, disgusted me as it was filled with human slavery, and even some creatures from my old world were here. One of the types being Gnolls, apparently the Gnolls roam out in the wastes and frequently fight with the Dothraki. The Gnolls that we saw were slaves and would frequently lash out against their handlers. So they used them mostly for the fighting pits they had here.
From what I naturally know about Gnolls, they are mostly feral, hyena-like humanoids that attack without warning, slaughtering their victims and devouring their flesh. Gnolls are tall but hunched over, with the average member of the race standing on average between 7′0″‒7′6″ (2.1‒2.3 m) when standing straight. Though gnolls were relatively lean for their height, weighing usually between 280‒320 lb (127‒145 kg).
Even with their height and size, gnolls were very quick and nimble compared with many other races such as humans. Gnoll skin was greenish-gray, and their furry hide had a light or dark brown hue, sometimes marked with spots or stripes. Many gnolls also had a dirty yellow to reddish-gray crest-like mane that stood on end when they were angry.
"What the hell are those fucking… beasts?!" Oberyn says to me as we entered the city and saw the gnoll in chains being transported to the fighting pit.
"They are called 'Gnolls', a vicious race of beast folk. That kill and eat anything that is not their own kind, even at times eating their own kind," I say to Oberyn who stares at the heavily chained group of gnolls.
"Maybe I should enter the fighting pits… I would love to fight one of them," Oberyn says with battle lust in his eyes. I just shake my head at him.
"I would be careful, they may look on the weaker side from their skinny appearance. But they are much more powerful and dexterous than they appear," I say to Oberyn who shrugs and goes to find the fighting pits.
As we arrive we see there is a current fight going on in the pits. Inside we see a small group of Gnolls fighting a desert troll. Trolls of all kinds are hardy creatures that are very hard to kill as they heal very quickly. Though most are susceptible to fire as it prevents their healing from taking effect immediately. However, desert trolls do not have that issue with fire, for them water is their enemy.
This desert troll was much larger than the gnolls, standing around 10ft (3m) and it was a hulking mass of muscle. The crowd cheered as the troll was slowly but surely winning the fight. As the gnolls could overpower it, but not in an enclosed space or with only the numbers they had currently. The troll had the victory after smashing the last gnoll against the ground and cracking its skull like a melon.
"That beast is even more insane! Maybe the fighting pits would be fun to join!" Oberyn says to me with his battle lust spiking.
"That would be foolish. These creatures are stronger than you think and would lead to your death if you are not careful. Plus it appears these fighting pits are more massacre pits. As the beings fighting inside it are guaranteed to die since they are giving the troll a heavy advantage," I say to Oberyn trying to dissuade him from joining the pits and dying so early.
"Troll? So that is called a troll… interesting. But I understand, I will not join the fighting pits… at least not yet, first I need to learn more about these creatures they have inside. Unless you are willing to tell me about them?" Oberyn says to me while giving me a side smile.
"I will tell you about them, but I still do not think you should join the fights," I say as I begin explaining to Oberyn what I know about trolls and Gnolls.
We spend the next few hours drinking and eating as the troll has fought with different creatures from my old world that have apparently shown up here. Things like giant scorpions and Thri-kreens which are an insect humanoid race with four arms and two legs.
'Where the hell are my old-world creatures coming from? Did they all come over recently, did they show up some time ago?' I think to myself seeing these creatures from my old world. I then tell Oberyn about the creatures we see as he thinks they are from this area.
After we finish in the fighting pits, we then go to one of the nicer inns inside the city. Where we book rooms and pay for a few weeks in advance. I go to walk around the city and see if there are any books available inside the city. While Oberyn goes to the most popular whore establishment in the city.
As I find the market in the city, I walk looking from stall to stall at all the wares. Most were food and things merchants were trying to push as exotic wares or trinks. I couldn't help but feel as if someone or something was watching me. Though after doing a quick scan with my magic I found no one with hostility directed toward me. Though I could sense hostility in the area, just not directed at me specifically.
As I walked, past the latest stall my instincts scream at me to dodge. I turned and sidestepped just as a dagger was plunged into my chest a few inches from my heart. I could tell the dagger was poisoned too, but I am naturally immune to all poison. The attacker was a slave-looking woman with ragged clothes. Her face was completely neutral and then I could sense the magic used to disguise the real person beneath the fake face.
"That was close, you almost got this city destroyed," I say while snapping my hand out and grabbing the woman by the throat before she could react.
"Not much of a talker?" I say seeing the woman keep a calm face as I squeezed down on the neck choking her. The crowd stumbled back noticing the commotion and the dagger in my chest.
Using my magic, I created an illusion to confuse the crowd, before casting invisibility on both me and the woman. Once invisible, I teleported us outside the city to a remote location. There I dropped the invisibility and for a split second, the woman's face showed surprise at what I just did in less than a few seconds. Her face quickly returned to a neutral look that shows no fear of anything.
"I will ask you nicely once, then I will invade your mind for the answers. Who are you? Why try to kill me? If someone hired you, who was it?" I say to the woman as she looks at me with the same stare. After a few seconds of waiting for an answer, I can see she is not willing to answer me.
"Then the hard way it is," I say with a sigh and cast detect thought, but push myself into her mind to find out what I can.
The woman almost resisted my attempt, which surprised me as most normal humans wouldn't even know if I invaded their minds, even if I warned them beforehand. Her mind was tempered and had a magical field to help protect it, from a ritual it seems. Then as I delved into her mind, scrapping all the memories clean, leaving the woman a vegetable, though I intended to kill her anyway.
I snapped her neck killing her instantly, as I organized her memories. After a few seconds, I learned that she was just a normal girl who was living on the streets of Braavos. Before a man in white robes asked if she wanted a new life serving a god. Then I saw her learn from this man about the ways they served this god, who is the god of death.
This group calls themselves the 'Faceless Men' which destroy all old connections and become 'no one'. They serve this god by being assassins who take contracts and then skin the person's face off in a ritual. This ritual serves their god and gives them another face they can use to disguise themselves. This group operates out of the, 'the House of Black and White' in Braavos.
A part of me wanted to fly back there and force them to show me who is targeting me. But at the same time, I do not care enough, as I do not intend to stay in the human lands much longer. If they come again while I remain in this city, I will go back and destroy their order.
After burning the body, I teleported back to my room in the inn. Where I read the few books I found on our journey throughout Essos so far. As the next few weeks came, Oberyn confronted me about his wanting to join a mercenary group to learn more about fighting and exploring the world.
"I know you will not join me but, this is something I considered after seeing the fighting pits yesterday. I want to see everything this land has to offer, fighting and fucking my way through it. Just know you will always be my brother and Dorn is always open to you," Oberyn says to me giving me a brotherly hug which I reciprocate.
"I can say the same Oberyn. You are one of the few people I come to enjoy being around. You are a true friend and should you ever need me just contact me with this ring. Think my name and then say what it is you want to say," I say to him handing him a ring I prepared some time ago for him as I also intended to leave soon.
"I was going to show you where my home is, but it seems we can save that for another time," I say and Oberyn smiles hearing me.
"Then next time we can go to your home. What are you going to do now?" Oberyn says to me and I think for a bit.
"I will explore the wastes and see what there is to see out there. I hear it is a dangerous place filled with all sorts of creatures. I want to see for myself," I say to him and he nods his head in understanding.
"I wish you luck then brother," Oberyn says to me giving me a handshake one last time before we part ways.
As Oberyn leaves to join the group he found called the 'Second Sons' I teleported out of the city. I kept teleporting until I was a hundred miles or so from the city, then I shifted to my true form.
'Feels good to be back to normal. Time to explore in my real form,' I think while stretching my wings and tail, before I jump up and fly in the sky heading to the 'Red Wastes' where the Gnoll reside apparently.
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AN: After some consideration and how I plan on writing this story, I decided that Daenerys Targaryen is going to be the female lead. Yes, I know that is 'cliche' and 'overused' but this is how I want the story to go. I figured I give you all the warning as some will stop reading after finding out this is my choice. Which I respect that choice, I mean I write because I enjoy it and no one is paying me to, so read or don't read either way I will be writing.
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