Endure

Prologue

The sun scorched stones burned Darius's calloused hands as he manoeuvred through the narrow streets of Bravos.

His home, turned hell.

His profession was grisly. 'Barbaric' was his father's preferred term. He knew what he was. A monster, a murderer, a man without honour to name but a few. In truth Darius was a killer, an assassin for hire. He did not possess the nerve to fiend remorse or guilt. He did what he had to... in order to survive. He was a butcher.. why should he pretend otherwise?

People in this god forsaken city were always quick to avoid him. He was after all in liege with the blood soaked sadists that ruled Essos.
His Lya, however. She was different. She didn't care about his act for deceit and death. She loved him regardless.

Lyanna conjured feelings he thought he had buried a long time ago. Her unconditional love made him want to be better. To change. How could he? How could he turn his back on the only thing that kept his purse full? And his belly full? How could he turn is back on the only thing he's ever known? He was prepared to try. For her. For his Lya.

Darius had noted the countless men, women and children that had been examining his movements upon the dawn. It was unusual for people to look at him in such a strange way. In the eyes.

A little peasant boy, no older than 10 beckoned him to follow. Darius was in no mood to chase a child through the sweat stained streets. He had to admit.. he was in need of a new payment. He was running low on his coin. Darius chased after the boy, shoving passed the people of Bravos with a low apology.

Darius presumed whatever lay ahead was official business. He did not wish to be hunted for forgetting to hide his face. Darius slipped a cloth over his mouth and nose. As he walked through the boisterous crowd he tied the fabric tightly. He looked over his shoulder twice to ensure he wasn't being followed.

He regarded his surroundings carefully before following the boy's shadow into an abandoned home on the outskirts of the city.

"Darius Vitilli?" The peasant boy called. Darius removed the fabric covering his mouth slightly in order to show his face. Darius swallowed once as he gave the boy a firm nod. The boy thrusted a small piece of parchment into his hands.

"What is this?" Darius asked incredulously as his eyes narrowed slightly at the roll of paper.

"Orders from the General." The boy answered as he slowly made his way towards the door. Darius simply steeped into his path and pointed the scroll at him.

"Why doesn't he get some of his sell-swords to do it?" Darius asked bitterly.

"The General said that it's the work of an assassin and the employer asked for you specifically." The boy explained before sidestepping Darius and farting through the door before Darius could quiz him further. Darius gingery unraveled the twine that secured the parchment. The name etched in that parchment.. the name he respected.
It shook him to his core.

Seaworth

Darius quickly ripped the paper to shreds. This was a cruel thing to ask. Darius's temper rose at an alarming rate. He failed to even his breaths and instead began to angrily punch the sandstone wall. Not him, anyone but him. Darius couldn't do that to her, he wouldn't! Not if the evil, conniving b*tch tortured him herself. He wouldn't do it.

She'll wonder why you didn't finish the deed..

No way in hell was he doing it! If The employer wanted it done do bad she could come to Essos and do it herself.

She'll find Lya.

Darius cursed himself, the general, his employer and the whole god dammed world. Seaworth was a good man, a good man that didn't deserve to be slaughtered in the great game. He deserved to live. He deserved to watch as Lyanna rose to power and greatness.

But he had to choose.
The man he admired most in the world.
Or the love of his life.

Darius pulled the fabric back over his mouth as tears pooled in his eyes.
Monster.
Murderer.
Friend killer.

That's all he'd ever be.

With a final sigh of sorrow he turned towards the direction of the docks. Seaworth has salt in his blood. The sea lived inside him. That's where Darius would find him.
By the sea, protecting Lyanna.