- 279 AC -
(Maris POV)
I was never anything special in my life. My mother was a whore here in Gulltown. I never met my father, but I'm not certain my mother would remember who he is anyway. The other women at the brothel tried to 'raise' me collectively and help my mother with her load, but very early on, I had to fend for myself. It was expected of me that I follow in everyone's footsteps and become a whore as well. Our head lady started to look to it, that I looked the part when I was but eight-name days old. She didn't seem to like it back then, but none of my tears moved her, at least not enough to stop doing what she was doing. She had been ordered to do it by the owner of the brothel. I found out later on that the Broken Fists owned our brothel. It was one of their many easy ventures and ways to extort money.
After finding out about the different gangs in our city, I spent some time getting to know as much as possible. Something had pushed me into that life, so I was going to be smart about it. But I was scared; my whole life, I have been scared, and no one was there to help me. Eventually, I uncovered the rough power structure in Gulltown. At the top sat Lord Marq Grafton. He had control over everything that went on in Gulltown and was backed by the men at the arms of House Grafton. The city could be flooded with guards and soldiers if he wanted to. Then there were the guards and the city watch, who had some autonomous authority to act on their masters 'behalf'. That was a way of saying that they could blackmail or take advantage of others as long as it wasn't too outrageous. And finally, we had the criminal groups, the 'gangs' who owned the dirtier parts of Gulltown, which was roughly half, if not a bit more. And they are trying to take more and more.
There is a lot of crime in Gulltown. Marq Grafton may have control officially, and he still does, but his men aren't as loyal to him because they love him. He gives them what they want: women, ale and gold. However, the gangs have started to understand that they could achieve the same thing if they are the ones providing the guards with what they want. And it is easy, too. The guards increasingly arrive 'too late' and can't capture the perpetrators who start a fight or destroy a stand. Killings happen in broad daylight, but no one says anything because the guards are bribed by one of the three gangs.
On one of my outings, I saw a member of the Vipers kill someone by chance. I don't know what led me to do this, but I followed the man. It was very hard to keep up with him, and now I know that he was merely leading me along. I followed him into a dark alley and realised it was too late because I was still a child. He waited for me and then ambushed me. He held a knife to my throat and asked me for my last words. I told him everything. All of it, like I am doing right now. I was so scared that I started crying and pissed myself. I asked him whether he could kill a member of the Broken Fists, the one who threatened and beat the lady who led our brothel. I gave him two coppers for it, all of my money. He took the coppers but then said that he would have to ask his boss first. So he threw me over his shoulder and moved through the city at night. I don't remember where we went, but I do remember waking up with a slap to the face.
Men and women surrounded me, and I didn't recognise them, so I thought the worst. Naturally, it is my reality and the reality of the world I live in to give the only thing I can: pleasure. But I wasn't abused that night. The head of the Vipers was far more interested in knowing about the dealings of the Broken Fists and their habits concerning the brothel. I told them everything I had observed and asked them whether they could save my mommy and the other ladies.
How foolish I was.
I was brought back, and they had me swear that I wouldn't tell anyone about what I saw and heard and that they would take care of everything. For a sennight, I waited for them to come and save me and my mother. And then, at night, I was woken up by screams of pain and shouting. It was pandemonium. The brothel was on fire; the girls were being slaughtered as collateral damage of the fighting between the Vipers and Broken Fists. I found my mother impaled on one of the men she had been sleeping with. I broke down and wanted to die ... sadly, I didn't.
The price for my mother's life and many of the other girls was two coppers. Never had someone sold his family for less, I assume.
The Vipers took me in. I had nowhere else to go after all, and it wouldn't have mattered even if I did. I was hoping to die, and maybe it was that wish that made the Vipers not kill me. The Vipers were a special breed of people; all of them were, in one way or another, insane and enjoyed inflicting pain. The slow and painful death of their victims was considered an art form. The truly 'skilled' ones were allowed to cut their victims' names into their skin. It was considered a great honour. When the shock of losing my mother passed, and I was once again faced with the reality I was in, I realised that I was now off worse than before. At least not better. I might not have to spread my legs and take in all the baggage of disgusting pigs, but I had to become one of those disgusting pigs.
I was taught how to fight by the one Viper who had taken me in and the only one who would ever show me some form of kindness and respect. He would beat me during training, but I was privileged because no one ever got training. I later discovered that he protected me from the shadows and kept others away. My weakness was my failure to change my mind and become as ruthless as they wanted. I tried, I honestly did, but it wasn't working. Ending a life reminded me of my mother and the girls, and then I would freeze up and stop functioning. Countless times during the years, I was warned that I had to make them money or I would be useless. I wasn't ever punished much because of my protector. But then it happened: the one Viper who might have been the kindest to me my entire life was killed. He was murdered by his own gang as revenge for allowing me to remain and not provide.
I never even learned his name.
My protection was gone, so the others could do with me what they wanted. I was sent on an assassination mission to kill someone from a rival gang. The Barrel Rolls were the target. I couldn't do it and broke down. I was beaten black and blue until I fell unconscious. I think they only spared me because they lost too many resources through me and wanted something in return. So, I was forced to try again. But this time, someone from the Vipers accompanied me and watched as I froze up. He then grabbed my hand and made me cut the victim's throat. I started crying as the face of my mother entered my mind. I was beaten again and also cut on all of my limbs. So, it was decided that I would serve the gang differently. I had grown now and was to offer my body to them and their customers. Why not, I was pretty, after all, and that was profit. However, just before I was supposed to be made a whore for them and give all the members of the Vipers my service for free, my life changed once more.
...
I will never forget this night ... the night the Raven Lord appeared with the Raven Guard and slaughtered their way through the Vipers.
It wasn't even a fight; Lord Corvus waltzed through everyone and killed our strongest fighter before appearing in the room the leader was in. He didn't truly do something. His voice was deep and cool, like a breeze during winter. It sent chills down my spine, and when he grabbed the leader's head and smashed it through the desk, I was shaking. I don't know what it was, but he did it effortlessly... there was no hesitation, fear, or regret. His presence scared me more than anything I had experienced before. He only looked at Sling and got him to talk. The way Lord Corvus commanded his men and women to do what he wanted was that of a king and not a criminal overlord. Every one of his people was willing to die for him, and I hoped that he would overlook me.
But he didn't. I was not only NOT overlooked but directly looked at. Those eyes ... there is power in those eyes. I was never able to kill before due to the picture of my mother and what happened back then, but when he looked at me, I forgot it all. Nothing else mattered but his words. He asked me what my profession was, and I told him I was a whore. I was embarrassed for it, and Chella later revealed that it was exactly that which made Eddard choose me. He knew who I was from the first moment and chose me to lead the criminal world in Gulltown in his stead. As a help, he had Chella stay with me and train me, teaching me the way of the world I was now a part of and what to do and what not to do. I was surprised when Chella told me about the 'taboos'. I didn't expect that, but it made serving Lord Corvus that much easier. I was a person, a human now and not an object. However, Chella told me not to try and compare myself to him as he was more than a mere man. Lord Corvus was an idea and a promise in Chella's mind. The idea of freedom and justice, if you adhere to his rules and the promise of fear and destruction, should you not.
"And ideas are unkillable."
That's what Chella said. A few weeks have passed now and the Broken Fists were taken over.
"How was it?" I ask as she enters my chamber. She has started to do that more often now. We would talk here after the day was mostly over.
"Good. The Barrel Rollers, or whatever their name is, have been crushed and restructured, like the Vipers and the Broken Fists before them. You should have been there."
"I rather like my place here. It's so cold and damp outside. Darn the port."
"Try not to-"
"show such weakness. I know, you told me more than enough."
"I'm glad you learn fast."
Chella sits up and looks at me. She has that strange look on her face, which she started to have a few days ago.
"You have grown, Maris. Truly."
"Thank you. It was your guidance that made me into a capable subject for Lord Corvus."
"No, that's not the only thing I'm talking about. It's also ..."
We look into each other's eyes. She has been the only family I ever had in my life after the unknown Viper died and left me alone. Chella is direct and strict, not yielding to anyone, and I like that a lot. I don't know how it happens, but we are suddenly in each other's arms, kissing passionately. I feel her powerful muscles under her clothes and almost can't stop myself.
*knock knock knock*
"Outside you two, there are urgent matters to discuss. Lord Corvus has called a meeting."
The voice of Hidao stops us from starting to pull our clothes off one another. I breathe heavily and try to calm down and not have others know what we just did.
"I ... don't know what came over me."
"I know. I wanted to fuck you. Seems simple enough. But it seems it will have to wait for now."
"Do ... do you think they know?"
"Haha, Lord Corvus knows all. The moment he chose me to teach you, he was aware that this may happen. Come on, let's get out now."
We walk out and join the other Raven Guard members at Lord Corvus' table. He has a map of Gulltown, which he created himself on it. There are key locations and points of interest marked, and it is usually where we make our plans of what to attack and take over and what to help prosper. Seeing that everyone is present, Lord Corvus starts talking.
"The last couple of weeks have brought new information to light concerning Claudia. After we had destroyed and rebuilt the criminal groups and established our own, Ezio managed to get to the bottom of where Claudia may be. The trail leads us across the sea ... to Essos."