Game of Thrones: The Red Dragon Lord

At Luca's invitation, the two entered the pub and planned to have a drink. Gavin also intended to learn about the situation outside to make plans.

After a few simple greetings and pleasantries, Gavin got straight to the point.

"Luca," he said, "what do you know about the current situation in Essos? I need to decide which city-state to head to."

Luca scratched his head, looking thoughtful. "I can't say I know much about Essos lately," he admitted. "Since you patched me up, I've stayed here at the port to recover. Haven't ventured out much."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "But I can tell you this much: the Narrow Sea's a death trap right now. You'd be better off avoiding it altogether."

Gavin frowned. "Why do you say that? What's going on?"

Luca sighed and began explaining. "The Narrow Sea is crawling with danger these days. The Thorn family, those pirate lords, got their teeth kicked in by some new upstart—the so-called 'Black Shark,' Earl. They've pulled back to Lys, licking their wounds."

He took a sip from his mug before continuing. "But Earl's not done. He's hell-bent on wiping out the Thorn remnants on the Stepstone Islands. The chaos has turned the area into a no-man's-land. Merchant ships that used to just pay tolls to sail safely are now being attacked outright. No one feels safe. Trade routes around the Stepstones are a mess."

Luca's voice grew more serious. "And it's not just that. Earl's butting heads with the Dornish too. They're fighting over control of the western Stepstone Islands. Any ship passing through is fair game—sunk if you're unlucky. The fighting's fierce and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon."

Gavin's expression darkened as he processed the information.

"So, you're saying it's not safe to head straight to Essos from here?"

Luca nodded gravely. "Exactly. Hardly any ships are willing to make the trip right now, and those that do are taking insane risks. If you really need to go, the best route would be from King's Landing. From there, you can catch a ship to Pentos. It's safer—relatively speaking, anyway. The royal fleet patrols those waters, so the routes are more stable."

Gavin fell silent, weighing his options. Traveling to King's Landing would add nearly two months to his journey. Normally, it would only take that long to sail directly from Old Town to Tyrosh. Taking the longer route seemed wasteful in time and resources, but the risks of the Narrow Sea couldn't be ignored.

After a moment, he turned back to Luca. "Even with the danger, there must still be some ships willing to sail from here. Can you help me find one?"

He reached into his pocket and placed several gold coins on the table. The coins clinked as they landed, catching Luca's attention.

Luca's eyes gleamed with greed as he pocketed the gold. "Of course, Sir Gavin. Desperadoes are always ready to risk it for the right price. Give me some time, and I'll find you a ship."

Gavin grabbed a pen and paper from the bar, quickly jotting down his hotel's address. Handing it to Luca, he said, "Let me know as soon as you hear anything. If I'm not at the hotel, leave a message with the staff. There'll be more gold for you when the job's done."

Luca grinned. "Don't worry, Sir Gavin. I'll have good news for you soon."

The next morning, Luca returned, his face brimming with excitement.

"I found a ship!" he exclaimed. "It's a merchant vessel headed for Lys. They're departing in five days. What do you think? If you're interested, I can introduce you to the owner."

Gavin considered the timeline. Five days would be enough to gather his supplies and finalize his preparations.

"No need for introductions," he said. "Negotiate for two passengers and an independent cabin. I'll pay extra for the accommodations."

Luca nodded eagerly and rushed off to finalize the arrangements.

Five days later, Gavin and the Blood Dragon Guard boarded the merchant ship Golden Fleece. They were dressed lightly, wearing ornate leather armor etched with fine patterns that shimmered in the sunlight. Each of them carried a sword, with Gavin's hilt adorned with gemstones and his scabbard carved with intricate designs. Gavin also brought a bow bag containing five sturdy bows in case of emergencies.

As the ship prepared to set sail, Gavin took one last look at Old Town. The golden morning sunlight bathed its ancient buildings and bustling streets, while rolling hills stretched into the horizon, merging with the blue sky. The sea breeze carried the scent of salt, and the gentle waves lapped against the ship's hull.

The merchant ship began to move, and Gavin turned to face the sea breeze, walking toward the cabin. At the entrance, he encountered a man who introduced himself as the ship's owner.

"Sir Gavin, what an honor to have you aboard," the man said with a polished smile. "I'm Frank Brown, the owner of the Golden Fleece."

Frank was a middle-aged man dressed in a finely embroidered robe, with emerald buttons glinting in the sunlight. A large gemstone ring on his hand hinted at his wealth.

Gavin raised an eyebrow. "You know me?"

Frank chuckled. "Of course! I had the pleasure of watching your performance at Highgarden. News of your victory spread quickly. Knowing you're aboard puts my mind at ease. With a knight of your skill, this journey feels much safer. I wonder, would you honor me with your presence at lunch later?"

Gavin smiled politely. "It would be my pleasure. Please allow me to settle my belongings first. I'll join you at noon."

Frank nodded graciously. "Of course, Sir Gavin. I'll await you in the captain's cabin."