When The Throne Bleeds

11. Unexpected Trouble

Remi was strolling through Qural's quaint gardens with the man himself beside him. Two guards were following them, keeping a respectful distance. Remi glanced at the him, Qural Palanko was a cunning and a wise man, but he was also a kind one, he treated everyone with respect and that's what really drew Remi to him. Freedom, he thought, this man was freedom.

"You will get to travel the world, boy but you need to be ready to face it." Qural said, looking ahead calmly.

Remi turned to him, a questioning look on his face. "And by that, you mean...?"

"The people in the world seek to kill for power, they would smell you and know that you are nothing but a helpless creature in the jungle. And then they would hunt you for pleasure, for power and you would end up alone and forgotten at some corner of the world, never to be heard from again. We are adventurers, Remi, we know how to survive. You are a bard." Qural said, his expression sober.

"I'm a very good bard. I thought you wanted someone to sing for you and not an addition to your bunch of explorers." Remi said, creasing his eyebrows.

"And here I thought you wanted to travel the world. My mistake. You may go home now, boy. You can come sing for me the next time I come to Braavos." Qural, said turning to leave.

Remi jumped in front of him.

"Fine. I'll do it." He said, raising his hands in defeat.

Qural kept his expression straight, but his eyes were glinting in satisfaction.

"Good. My men will teach you. I'm staying here for a few days anyway, it should be enough for you to pick up a thing or two, I've heard you're a quick learner."

Remi smirked at the compliment.

"What will they teach me?"

"To stay out of trouble."

They had reached the main hall by then. It was almost sunset, and torches were being lit in the mansion. The white statues near the walls glimmered eerily as the light from the torches shone on them.

"Farewell, son." Qural said, clasping Remi's shoulders.

"M'lord." Remi bowed down. "Uh...I forgot my mandolin in the garden, may I?" Remi trailed off.

"Of course." Qural said courteously, motioning one of his guards to follow Remi.

Remi looked at the guard with faint apprehension.

"You're one of us now, boy. You deserve to be protected." Qural smiled genially.

Remi had never been treated with more respect, this was truly his place. He could not have asked for a better merchant to serve. He picked up his mandolin, marvelling at his good luck when there was a huge scream from the hall.

The guard that had come with Remi to the gardens sprinted towards the noise, drawing his sword. Remi followed him, adrenaline rising high in his veins.

The hall had specks of blood all over the floor, the man that had been guarding Qural had just had his head plunged in by a dagger.

The assassin had painted his entire body a pale, ghostly white. The splattered blood looked very distinct against his white form. It took Remi less than a second to realise that the assassin had been hiding in plain sight near the walls as a statue, watching all of them, waiting for the right moment.

Qural Palanko was against the grand staircase, gasping and staring at the bloody figure of his dead bodyguard.

The second guard leaped at the assassin unhesitatingly as he tried to advance on Qural. It was clear that the assassin was wounded from his previous fight, but that wasn't enough to stop him, he fought roughly with the guard. It was clear that no one person would come out of that fight alive.