When Viserys arrived in Braavos, he came by sea, an eight-year-old exiled king.
But when he left at fourteen, Viserys was already a dangerous Water Dancer and knight.
Viserys traveled by river, heading directly south along the Sweet Water Canal and other canals, deep into the continent of Essos.
Viserys Targaryen earned the titles of "The Bloodthirsty" and "Violet Swordsman," but he also became an outcast exiled by the Sealord.
"Farewell, Braavos," Viserys said, looking at the elevated aqueducts that continuously transported fresh water into Braavos.
Braavos's high-quality water came from the Sweet Water Canal; these elevated brick aqueducts were supported by bridge arches. The rich had water piped into their homes, while the poor fetched water in buckets from public fountains.
Viserys brought out a guard of about a hundred people, exiles and fishermen, mostly natives of Westeros. Aside from some Royalists remnants, they were adventurers who couldn't make ends meet.
There were also servants who were still willing to follow them.
Before leaving, Viserys spent a considerable amount of gold to arrange armor for his subordinates, seeking Tyroshi blacksmiths and scouring armor stalls in the market.
The helmets crafted by the Tyroshi looked bizarre, shaped like animals and birds.
Heavy plate armor was scarce, but the stock of chainmail and plate jerkins was relatively cheap.
Finally, this purple-haired Tyroshi blacksmith found a major patron and was willing to leave with Viserys and his group.
The Tyroshi blacksmith, who previously forged rapiers, also saw an intermittent opportunity by following Viserys.
Ser Roland and Syrio temporarily managed these retainers for Viserys.
Viserys sat on a crab-catching skiff, a small boat arranged for them by Lingo, suitable only for rivers or shallow seas.
Crossing these rivers that led to the city-state of the Reef, they could reach the lands of Andas.
The first Braavosi river originated in the hills of Andas and was entirely managed and utilized for water by Braavos.
To contend for water sources and abolish slavery, Braavos had repeatedly beaten Pentos.
After crossing this freshwater river that led directly to Braavos, it would take some time to reach the upper reaches of the Rhoyne River.
Besides the people Viserys brought, there was an uninvited guest on board, "Cunning" Gasparo, the personnel officer of the Second Sons.
"Who is the head of the Second Sons now?" Viserys asked.
"Just a doddering old man, we all call him 'The Roster' because he just clutches the Second Sons' roster and reminisces about past glories," Gasparo said dismissively.
"What about manpower?"
"Roughly six or seven hundred, but there are quite a few clowns. The Second Sons are always short on people, especially warriors," Gasparo explained.
Good swordsmen and warriors were welcome in any sellsword company.
Ser Roland and Syrio merely listened; this was a negotiation between Viserys and the Second Sons, and Viserys would make his own decision.
"I understand your strength. The Second Sons need a young and dangerous swordsman like you," Gasparo of the Second Sons continued to chatter. "The Bloodthirsty Violet Swordsman, what a magnificent name. I imagine you must need some brothers."
"The Second Sons, I am indeed the second son of my house. This is a kind of destiny for me," Viserys mused.
Joining the Second Sons now was indeed a window of opportunity; the Second Sons were currently in a transitional period.
Mero, the Titan's Bastard, who should have joined the Second Sons, had already been killed by Viserys, and Brown Ben Plumm had not yet joined the Second Sons; he was currently the bodyguard of Oznakh zo Pahl's uncle, a great nobleman of Meereen.
"However, I also understand your strength. From what I know, the Second Sons seem to have been doing rather poorly in recent years," Viserys countered, as caution was the best strategy.
Although the Second Sons did not have the renowned reputation of the Golden Company, they had a distinguished record of battles over centuries.
However, the entire Second Sons was in a downward cycle because the most numerous and strongest warriors belonged to the rising Golden Company, the Windblown Company, and the Company of the Cat.
Among them, Black Balaq and the Beggar Prince of the Windblown Company had both worked for the Second Sons. Perhaps the Second Sons had good management experience, but they couldn't retain talent.
If the Second Sons hadn't fallen into decline, they wouldn't have ended up with Mero becoming their captain in the future.
"It is precisely because things are a bit bad that we invite you to join. The Second Sons is, after all, an ancient sellsword company, and it still possesses considerable strength," Gasparo said. "From Strong Harwyn to Black Balaq, Brightflame Illyrion, the Wild Wolf, and The Red Viper. Our roster is not short of famous names, many of whom come from your Seven Kingdoms. And Brightflame, like you, comes from House Targaryen."
Gasparo was also very eager to recruit skilled individuals. Someone of Viserys's caliber was highly qualified. He had originally favored the hulking Mero, but Mero died a tragic death, practically a toy for the descendant of the dragonlords.
The main reason the Second Sons couldn't compete with larger sellsword companies was their continually falling prestige. If this continued, they might have to turn on their employers, becoming utterly infamous.
Viserys guessed the Second Sons' intentions; the Second Sons had always had various high-ranking members join them.
Moreover, Viserys felt that the Second Sons might, similar to how they recruited Tyrion, offer protection to Viserys while demanding that Viserys provide money and land to the Second Sons in the future.
This was the Second Sons' idea: first, Viserys was a powerful fighter, and the Second Sons were actively recruiting. Second, investing in Viserys was a political gamble.
After all, the Second Sons were initially founded by forty noblemen, second in line in their respective families, who were exiled and neglected. Since then, it became a refuge for landless lords, exiled knights, and adventurers.
"I do need some brothers, but I demand their loyalty to me," Viserys said.
Rather than choosing these fickle sellswords, it was better to build an army from scratch.
Besides, all sellswords were almost famously unreliable, except for the Golden Company, which relied on its reputation.
"We are always very loyal to our warriors."
"That's not what I understand. I hear sellswords only follow the victors, except for the Golden Company," Viserys said.
"You have the character of a warrior, and you are our friend. The Second Sons needs fresh blood."
"What if you dare not provoke The Usurper? Some sellswords just want to live a few more days," Viserys said, looking at Gasparo.
"We are free-spirited sellswords; sellswords are all adventurers. Investing in Viserys's great cause is far more rewarding than the treatment The Usurper offers."
"Alright, once I have the means to earn your loyalty, I will definitely contact the Second Sons."
"Even so, I think we still have room for cooperation," Gasparo, the envoy of the Second Sons, had not yet lost his last hope.
"I also hope we have a chance to cooperate, but more likely as an employer than as one of your members," Viserys said, looking at the Second Sons' envoy.
The trouble he faced near the Velvet Hills was considerable, and he might even need to hire other sellswords. However, for him to leave with the Second Sons, it was still too early.
"As long as we have that promise, then we will have room for cooperation," Gasparo promised. "The Second Sons has outposts recruiting in Pentos and Braavos; you can contact us there."
Viserys only had a temporary cooperation agreement with the Second Sons.
To gain more respect from the Second Sons, Viserys still needed to demonstrate more overwhelming power to prove his strength.
Sellswords were always like this: they respected strength.
Viserys had a hunch that once he reached the fortress, he would face more blood and fire, and he would indeed need outside help.
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