With the third song being played, the Ten Day Festival had entered its final climax. There were still seven or eight songs performed at the festival, but three of these were written by Viserys. The last song, "Braavos' Lover," was played almost as many times as the others combined. Viserys had composed this song using the melody of "Scarborough Fair" and rewriting the lyrics. It was more intense than his previous song for Falia.
In the Sealord's Palace, Ferrego squinted and enjoyed the melody. He knew that with the spread of this song, Braavos would become more well-known.
"Play it again," he ordered. He had lost count of how many times he had it "shuffle-played." That morning, the musicians played all the songs for him as usual, and Ferrego immediately felt the song's charm, asking to hear it repeatedly.
"You know, if Viserys had been born a few years earlier—if he had been born at the same time as Rhaegar—would the Targaryens have lost the Iron Throne?" Ferrego asked Qarro, his chief swordsman and personal bodyguard.
"He's got the skills and the talent, but I don't know how good he is at leading men," Qarro replied.
At the age of 15 or 16, Viserys had not only composed three songs that would be sung for centuries but had also won the championship of the seventh ring. It was said that he had fought very easily so far and might even win two championships. This had never happened in the history of the Ten Day Festival.
Suddenly, Ferrego's eyes became fierce. "He's indeed a very talented boy, but even so, it is not enough to win the support of House Zalyne. What kind of promise did he make?"
"Investigate further!"
"Yes," Qarro replied.
...
On the other side, in the Garden of a Hundred Birds, Tormo, already frustrated, had driven away the musicians he had invited. "You're useless! So many of you, and you can't even beat a brat?" he fumed.
The result of the competition was clear, and his patience was exhausted. In truth, Tormo had bent the rules in his favor. He had put in significant effort to get the theme in advance, using considerable manpower and enlisting the most famous musicians in the entire Free Cities. They had the theme three or four days before Viserys, yet their work had only declined in quality.
Suppressing his boiling anger, Tormo couldn't help but wonder if the gods had abandoned his house. He didn't understand why his house had more healthy children than the Zalyne and Antaryon houses; he just took it as a divine gift. House Zalyne had been prepared to "bend the knee," but then Viserys came along.
"Tell the swordsmen that if they can't defeat Viserys, they can all leave Braavos!"
"Yes, father!"
"~Are you going to Braavos?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For once she was a true love of mine~"
Unlike the Sealord's suspicions and Fregar's anger, Roth and his wife were pleasantly surprised. Methys became increasingly interested in the "genetics" of Viserys and his sister. However, her husband Roth said, "I'm afraid it won't work. Viserys seems to be preparing to join the Sellswords."
"Why..."
Methys wanted to say that he was living a comfortable and respectable life here; why would he join the Sellswords? But then she thought of what Viserys had to bear. It was a deep hatred that had destroyed his country and his family. No one would be likely to choose to stop.
"There have been multiple large mercenary groups inviting him to join recently. It seems he's using this competition to elevate his status within the mercenary ranks as much as possible," Roth explained.
Methys nodded, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but soon another idea came to mind. "What about his sister? Is Viserys going to take her with him when he joins the Sellswords? I've never heard of such a thing."
Roth looked at his wife and saw her face suddenly light up. "Maybe we can ask him to leave his sister with us?"
Roth patted his wife's back affectionately and said with a wry smile, "Wouldn't that seem like taking a hostage? Even if we know it's not, how could we convince him?"
Methys realized the flaw in her plan and made a face like a little girl. Roth then said seriously, "It's clear that Viserys will win the poetry competition, but it's dangerous for him to insist on winning the swordsmanship competition."
Methys frowned, recognizing the truth in his words. The final round of the competition would have four bouts, giving Tormo plenty of opportunities to attack.
"If he really wants to win the Valyrian steel sword, I think I can lend him Wavecutter. That might reassure him enough to leave his sister with us," Roth suggested.
Methys was taken aback. "You're going to lend him our ancestral sword, Wavecutter?!"
Sensing something significant, she threw herself into Roth's arms. Despite the age difference when they married, her love for him was no less intense. Roth had decided to lend Viserys the ancestral sword after recently visiting the High Priest of the Temple of the Moonsingers to have Viserys' fate predicted. The high priest said he could not see Viserys's fate and expressed a desire to meet him. This convinced Roth of Viserys's extraordinary nature. He decided to take a gamble and give Viserys something as an "investment."
'Armor is too common. A Valyrian steel sword will make a real impression,' Roth concluded.
...
"I don't know who leaked Viserys's address."
The next day, as he was about to head to the main arena, a crowd had gathered at the door. The name "The Beggar King" had long been forgotten. Now, he was known by his latest song title, "Braavos' Lover." A prince of a fallen kingdom with superb swordsmanship, proficient in music, and blessed with good looks, he perfectly embodied the word "Underdog" to the people and tourists of Braavos.
"Viserys's carriage! It's his carriage coming out!" someone shouted, and the crowd surged forward.
Pretty Meris had arrived early with the intention of involving Viserys, but the scene before her caught her by surprise. The crowd was so dense that it was hard to squeeze through. Even with her 1.8-meter frame, she struggled to get in.
Jorah had also come early, but not only had he failed to see Viserys, his money bag had been stolen. He felt very unlucky!
Just as Viserys in the carriage was wondering how to get out, a blue-clad guard suddenly appeared from behind the crowd. "Back off! Back off!" The guards began to disperse the crowd, but it took considerable effort to clear the surging mass.
Among the enthusiastic onlookers, not far from Viserys's carriage, two pairs of eyes were peering. In a carriage that was not particularly conspicuous, Illyrio sat with a man who had dyed blue hair. He looked no more than forty years old, with neatly trimmed cheeks, though closer inspection revealed his hair roots were a grayish red.
Speaking in the common tongue, he conversed with Illyrio. He was Rhaegar's close friend, Jon Connington, now serving in the Golden Company under the alias "Griff."
In fact, in terms of moral integrity alone, this Jon can be called the Guan Yu of the Game of Thrones version. Both face the same problem. In the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' Guan Yu let Cao Cao escape at Huarong Pass. And in Game of Thrones, Jon Connington let Robert escape, who was hiding in a prostitute's bed during the Battle of the Bells.
He could have burned down Stoney Sept, but because he did not want to kill innocents, Robert managed to escape.
"Are you saying that someone is secretly supporting Viserys?" asked Jon Connington.
"That's just my guess. I don't have any evidence yet," replied Illyrio.
Jon Connington looked at Viserys's carriage with worry in his eyes. If someone was truly supporting him, then they should be supporting Rhaegar's son, Aegon, the true heir to the Iron Throne. How could this Viserys take advantage of it?
"What do you plan to do, my lord?" asked Jon Connington.
"We spoke to him before. He said he would join the sellswords after the celebration. Perhaps we can let him join the Golden Company, and you can keep an eye on him."
"What about Aegon?"
Some time ago, Jon Connington was ready to leave the Golden Company to take care of Aegon. But after hearing more about Viserys from Illyrio, he had put the plan on hold.
"I'll try to send someone else," Illyrio said helplessly.
"Okay, I'll tell Viserys to join the Golden Company," Jon Connington said, and the two of them rode off to the finals.