WILOW-Ch.307: House of Black and White – II
House of Black and White, Braavos
POV of Domeric Bolton
Domeric had already agreed to be Lady Death's champion. Therefore, he couldn't dedicate himself to other beings or become their champion.
But Lady Terra had given him her blessing anyway. So, if they so desired, these other powerful beings who called themselves gods could also grant him some of their powers, or at least allow Domeric to learn them.
But it seemed not everyone was as generous as Lady Terra.
"Being a Faceless man requires many different kinds of skills. Making different kinds of poisons and potions is one of those skills. Teach me what you can. I'm willing to pay for it. Who knows, if you're good, then you might even manage to convert me into a devotee." Domeric said.
The man smiled back at him and shook his head, "Our temple does not lack for money. And our teachings cannot be bought."
He opened his mouth to argue, but then thought better of it. He did not want to piss off the world's greatest Assassin institution.
"How much do people pay for a commission here?" he asked instead.
"It varies." The man replied, "A prince of a nation has a different price than a small merchant. Does the wizard have a name for the Many-Faced God?"
"I see." He said, "How much would I have to pay if I wanted you to kill Lord Tywin Lannister?"
"1,300,000 Braavosi gold coins." The man replied, and he almost gaped at the price.
With the mountain of gold coins in his castle and underground base, he could easily pay that amount. But… for anyone else, it was a large amount of wealth.
No wonder the House of White and Black didn't lack any gold. "What about King Robert Baratheon?"
"1,950,000 Braavosi gold coins." The man replied.
"Wow… But isn't it easier to kill the King than Lord Tywin Lannister?" he asked.
Because it might look like the King was well protected thanks to the Kingsguard, but thanks to all his whoring, binging, drinking, and hunting, he was pretty easy to kill.
"A man does not set a price." The man replied, and Domeric frowned, wondering who set the price if not him.
The Many-Faced God himself? Was the gold demanded not seen as a fee, but as an offering to the Many-Faced God?
"Who sets the price then?" he asked. Maybe he was wrong, and people higher up in the Faceless Men hierarchy were setting the price.
Although Domeric was pretty sure that the Many-Faced God himself was the one setting the price, he would still prefer a confirmatory answer.
And whether the Faceless Men kept all the gold they received as payment, or whether they sacrificed some or all of it to their god in some way.
The man smiled but did not answer, and Domeric chose not to prod in that direction anymore.
"What about me. What's the price for my name?"
"The man cannot accept names for the wizard and his loved ones."
"Oh?"
Domeric thought that the Many-Faced God had probably instructed his followers not to touch him and his loved ones.
Domeric didn't think the Many-Faced God was afraid of him or protecting him.
The Many-Faced God likely feared Lady Death's wrath if anything happened to Domeric. Or he might have believed Domeric would be helpful when Long Night came and wanted him to remain untouched until then.
Domeric didn't know if the other Young Gods had the same stance. Or if they would turn against him if Domeric somehow crossed their red lines.
If Domeric tried to wipe out the Faith from Westeros, would Seven still attack him, regardless of Lady Death's wrath?
Or would some Young Gods, considering the potential benefits he would provide during the Long Night, share their knowledge of magic with him?
'It was at least worth a try,' Domeric thought.
"What if you could accept my name? What would the price be then? Domeric asked.
"100,000,000."
He did gape this time.
"That's… a lot." He said, "Can anyone in the world even afford so much gold?" Aside from him, that is.
The man didn't answer.
"Why is the price in my head so much? Not that I'm complaining. But still."
"A man does not set the price." The man replied once again, and he realized that he won't be getting any more answers out of him any time soon.
But he could understand.
He had created many different kinds of wards around his room, his castle, and his cities. And if any magical being tried to go through those wards, he would know.
So, killing him was not going to be easy. And even if they did succeed in killing him, his death would make the Long Night so much worse. And they could also incur the wrath of Lady Death.
They both stayed silent for a long moment before he asked, "How old are you?"
The man smiled indulgently at him and replied, "82 namedays."
The man did not look 40 years old.
He was probably wearing a Face then, just as he had suspected.
"Suppose I do want to learn how to become a faceless man. What would I have to do?" he asked.
"Give up everything you own." The man replied, and he nodded. He had expected something like this.
"I know you might not want gold. But what about an alliance?" he asked, "An alliance with someone as powerful as me might come in handy for you."
The man rejected his offer, and so he offered some knowledge of his own potions, but he was rejected once again.
He kept talking with the man for another hour, but in the end, he had left the House of Black and White empty-handed.
He might go to the Red Priests next.
Though he was pretty sure that they would ask him to follow the Red God that they call the Lord of Light.
But then again, considering their greed, he might be able to buy their magical knowledge with a lot of gold.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.308: Noble High Dragons
Ch.309: Letter from Bloodraven
Ch.310: Very Important Envoy