"I have signed their book. The old way, in blood. I am now a Second Son." -Tyrion Lannister on Joining the Second Sons
The Sun was high in the sky when Conan arrived back at the Outcast Inn. He was in a foul mood after learning that not only would he not be hired by the Sealord's Guard, but that he had made a powerful enemy in the City of Braavos with the very same duel that proved his worth as a Warrior to these strange new people. He would have to either Join a Company soon or move lodgings in order to avoid assassins in the night, for everything he had learned from the idle gossip of sailors and merchants he had picked up on the way back proved that this Caggo Marvolio was the type of man to kill by proxy with a dagger in the night. He was already planning his next move when Daario Naharis arrived with a cheshire smile on his face, gold tooth prominently displayed in a catlike grin.
"Why so Glum? Did your meeting with the First Sword not go well?" Asked Daario. "Nay, according to the First Sword the man I killed was nephew to a rich merchant and it would be politically ill-advised to hire me. You however, look as if you had just lain with the Goddes Ishtar herself. I take it the Second Sons were more willing?" Asked Conan. "Fortunately the duel that closes one door opens another." Grinned Daario, "And opened it very wide indeed. It seems that Tybero Istarion, paymaster of the Second Sons made a small fortune wagering on the outcome of your duel with Marvolio. When I told him that I would be bringing the Newly Accomplished Conan the Outlander to his company he offered us twice the going rate for veterans, plus plunder. If we live long enough, we stand to make a great deal of money from this." Daario grinned. To that Conan gave a smile and said, "Good news indeed. Shall we head on over to the Inn of the Green Eel and accept the Paymaster's most generous offer?" Daario laughed and said, "Perhaps a drink first? To celebrate our good fortune." calling over the barmaid the two ordered a pair of ales and raised their tankards high. "To the Second Sons, Long may they pay us!" Grinned Conan, and with that they drank, draining their tankards in one long pull before setting off to the Inn of the Green Eel.
Walking out into the Noonday Sun, Conan and Daario walked along the Canals to the other Side of the Ragman's Harbor, passing by several stands selling cockles and mussels fresh from the canals, or Eels from the Lagoon. At one point the passed by a Brothel called the Cattery, where several courtesans stood in the windows calling down enticements to passers by to come in for a bit of sport. Daario altered his course as they passed, veering towards the Cattery, but Conan merely laughed and grabbed his erstwhile companion around the shoulder saying, "Business first, we can always come back after we are gainfully employed." Daario looked put out for a moment only to immediately snap back to form, "True, I for one cannot wait to spend the Paymasters gold in such a fine establishment." He said with a cocksure grin.
At last they arrived at their destination. The Inn of the Green Eel was a large building made of green brick and wood painted Green, a crudely drawn eel adorning the sign above the door. As the Pair Entered, they noticed a number of armored men sitting at tables, some in boiled leather like what Daario Wore, some in Mail, others in Plate, all sellswords drinking away their pay. Conan grinned, it seems mercenary life here was not unlike that back home. Daario led the way to a table at the back of the common room, where a Plump, Balding man sat amidst ledgers and accounts, Ink staining his fingers. The man was busily scratching down a series of numbers in one inkspotted ledger before Daario coughed, drawing his attention. The man looked up from his accounts and grinned, saying in a mild tone, "Daario Naharis, back again? And you, I would recognize you anywhere, Conan of Cimmeria. You made me quite a large pile of coin last night. I take it you both have come to accept my offer?" Asked the Man.
"We have indeed." Said Conan grinning ferally. "Right, well, as I told your associate I am willing to pay twice the going rate for veterans plus plunder. Anyone who could kill such an accomplished water dancer without suffering a scratch deserves that much at least. I would offer more, but we are currently a bit strained for jobs. Frankly the Commander's Reputation is so terrible we have only been getting caravan and guard jobs lately. I swear if that Huge Khalasar wasn't in Pentos we would have already had to head east to Slaver's Bay. Fortunately Braavos hired every company in the City once Khal Drogo crossed into Pentoshi Territory. I think the Sealord might be afraid that the Pentoshi are trying to Get Drogo on their side for an attack against Braavos. Whatever the actual cause may be it was a stroke of luck we were even hired. Commander Mero tends to scare his employers as much as the enemy sometimes." Replied the Man, before digging around in his pile of ledgers to produce a thick, leather-bound Tome, weathered with Age. Opening the volume to a page but halfway finished, he then produced a bottle of red ink and a quill.
"In the Old Days, we would have recruits sign in blood, but blood makes for poor ink. So we use this red dye for symbolism. Sign your name and the date and make sure to leave room blank. It is our tradition to fill in your battle record with the company as your time with us progresses." Daario signed up first, signing his name with a flourish. Conan took the quill second and was more deliberate, his writing sharp and angular. The ledger was handed over to the Paymaster for inspection whose brow furrowed at Conan's Script. "What kind of calender is that? Year of the Wolf, Motnh of the Bear? Where did you come up wit this stuff?" He asked. "It is the Calender in use in my Homeland. . .far from here." Replied Conan Solemnly. "Right, never mind. Welcome to the Second Sons. I would tell you to go look through the company steel for equipment, but it seems you've got your own. Our Armorer is Hammer if you have anything that needs fixing, he'll look after it. You can find him out back by the stables in the portable smithy. You two will be barracked together, in Grodan's Old Room, he won't need it anymore since he got killed by a Bravo while drunk last week. Check the Duty Roster in the Morning for your assignments." Replied the Paymaster.
And with that, Conan and Daario were officially members of the Second Sons. . .
