DARYO

The hard truth finally dawned on him. It would be years before he would be able to thread the streets of his beloved Braavos. "Every man must face his destiny" Daryo thought to himself. The order had assigned him the duty of foreign agent as a pre-requisite for admittance into the higher circles of order. Although fear was a long defeated enemy as part of his training as swordmaster, nothing had prepared him for parting with his family and friends, perhaps for life. He could still hear his master words: "fear cuts deeper than words". For the first time in years, Daryo felt the cold steel of fear cutting through his guts.

The salty breeze of Gulltown reminded Daryo of Braavos while he took his time to decide which way to go. He had but an obligation to the order in this new assignment: to keep the closest chapter of the order aware of his whereabouts, and wait for further instructions. Then in a strike of luck, or fate, he had no longer to decide: a caravan of traders was hiring guards to escort it to a place named Silver Cross.

The order of the weeping lady, had its origin lost in time. Its founder, Itryus Carzel had vowed to avenge crimes against the innocent the day he witnessed a baby be slaughtered in front of his weeping mother by order of a powerful shipmaster as punishment for unpaid debts. Although Itryus could not save the baby, he made sure the shipmaster had a painful death not long after. No one knew who killed the shipmaster, over his body was found a parchment with the old valyrian words: "Inuya nablaris" meaning "No more innocent blood". As similar executions began to happen in Braavos, rumors began to emerge, but the responsible for such executions was never found.

By the time of his grandfather, the order had grown considerably, and extended into other realms. It was still a secret society known only by its members and few men outside it. Stories about its feats could nevertheless, be heard everywhere.

"We shall have no need for extra swords on our way back, you are dismissed." said the security chief of the caravan. "You may want to try your luck at Moonwatch keep, they may want to hire some sellswords. I heard there's been some tensions with the neighboring house, the Burlingtons". It was late afternoon when Daryo Forell reached the gates of the Moonwatch keep. A sentinel shouted from the top of the wall: "Who are you and what do you want?" "I am Daryo Forell, swordmaster of Braavos and I am looking for a job". The sentinel disappeared behind the wall and after what seemed to be along time for his tired legs, the porticulis opened and he was allowed inside the keep.

An older man addressed him as he entered the main yard "Wait here, Ser Rolland Sylver will see you".