Pentos….
Jon looked at Bronn and smiled. The man was a cheater plain and simple. When he fought, honor was the last thing on his mind. Jon ducked a furious swipe by Bronn but, in his haste to dodge, he took his eye off his opponent which, when sparring with Bronn, was a deadly mistake.
Jon looked up after ducking the blunted blade and was rewarded with sand in his eyes.
"UUh!" Jon said while trying to fight blinded.
Bronn looked at his friend and smiled. He liked the boy attitude but, he still had a lot to learn. Bronn sneaked up on his right and delivered a punch with his right hand. Jon's head whipped to his right causing him to stagger.
Bronn put the tip of his blunted sword to the boy's neck.
"Yield." Bronn says.
"I yield." Jon responds.
A servant quickly walked up to both with a glasses of water in her hand. Bronn took the water and drank it fully while Jon used his water to rinse his eyes.
"You fight with no honor Bronn." Jon said.
"Aye. Fighting with honor will get you killed." Bronn said.
Jon nodded his head.
"Aye, a fact that I'm quickly learning." Jon said.
Bronn laughed at his young compatriot. He knew that Jon was a noble. The way he spoke, acted, and fought screamed Westorsi nobility.
Bronn had called him out on it when he first arrived a year and a half ago but, he was quick to point out that he was a sand. He would inherit no lands and he subsisted on his father and uncles kindness. Bronn all but called that reasoning bullshit. He'd seen many bastards and most didn't grow up in a palace calling its rulers, family. Bastards were generally not acknowledged in Westeros and the ones that were, were only kept on if there was no heir. Bronn had seen enough bastards to know that labelling his young friend one was not entirely accurate.
Bronn looked at his friend and said, "Same time tomorrow?"
Jon gave Bronn a nod. "Aye, same time tomorrow."
Bronn was about to walk away when he stopped.
"I'm going to town. Why don't you come with me?" Bronn said.
Jon smiled. "I would but, I can't. I have letters for my father and sisters to send. I have to hurry to the docks before the ships leave for Sunspear."
"Blah, write them some other time. There is this whore in the brothel whose cunny is so tight and wet that it's like sticking your sword into a Bravosi sword masters sheathe."
Jon laughed at Bronn's comment.
"Maybe next time." Jon said.
"Suit yourself Jon. More whores for me." Bronn said while turning around and walking towards the Manses gate.
Before Bronn could make his exit, the voice of Mero made its way around the courtyard.
"Hold on you two. Suit up and get full provisions. We're riding to Qohor." Mero said.
Bronn asked the question both Jon and him were thinking.
"What's in Qohor?" Bronn said.
Mero looked at Bronn with a sneer. He hated being questioned. He much preferred it when soldiers just followed orders. God what he would do for some unsullied.
"A Dothraki horde is making its way there. Just like before, we're going to Qohor to put up a good fight, the better we do, the better the Qohor bargaining position will be when they talk ransom. Anymore questions?" Mero said.
"Nah, that about does it." Bronn said with his own brand of sarcasm.
Mero turns around and starts heading for the barracks. Soon two thousand second sons would ride into battle and Jon couldn't wait.
Jon had been in Essos for over a year now and in that time he'd only seen battle thrice. It was a situation much like this one. Put up a good fight so that nobles would pay less ransom. It didn't last as long as he'd hope but, what little battle there was invigorated him. During the battle he lived on the edge between life and death. It was in this medium that he thrived. Noises became silent and all he could hear was his heartbeat as he moved on from one Dothraki to another. Bronn didn't know what to call it but, he said he experienced it to at times. Whatever it was, Jon knew he thrived on it.
Bronn broke him out of his reverie.
"Better run to those ships before we go. Gods know when we'll be near a port again. "Bronn said.
Jon looked at the setting sun and quickly made his way to the stables.
"Thanks." Jon said in passing.
Bronn gives his friend a nod before making his way to the barracks for his gear.
"Maybe I have time to go to the Brother? He never said when we'd leave." Bronn says to himself.