Soon enough, the verdict was out. Or just the assumptions on what had happened.
A rare white Leviathan had actually attacked the ship... for the Santa Ma-Rhea may be way too big.
Too big compared to the usual floaters it was used to... to the point that the Leviathan might have considered it a threat.
Much more so than the Ibbenese ships and the other whalers that it should have actually been wary of.
For a giant whale, that was a great catch for many... it could very well be agitated from all the hunting it's gone through.
And for such a deep-sea animal rumored to be at odds with Krakens... its wariness of such a bronze beast of a ship might actually be a compliment.
In any case, for some reason, the Leviathan had a sudden change of mind.
Instead of ramming once again with its superior size against the surprisingly sturdy Ma-Rhea... it actually stopped all of a sudden and moved away...
Changing its mind, for whatever reason.
At least, that's what Willam and the other overboarded men have seen with their salted eyes. What they muttered once they were safe on board.
Mayhaps it was headed unto the deeper parts of the Shivering Sea or maybe towards Lorath Bay or even further.
With the Bronze Order's orderer saying to let it be... and just treat it as a bumpy experience... for now...
Granted, this was not the only encounter that made this voyage almost stray off course...
For the other thing that almost stranded this trip to Braavos... was the fact that the Titan of Braavos almost wasn't Titan enough.
The famed bronze colossus seemed strangely unwelcoming to the bronze-themed ship... maybe because it was part granite… but it really was due to the fact that the split of its legs didn't seem that wide.
Not ready at all for something with such "chunkiness" to pass underneath it.
While the army that manned the inside of Titan seemed quite wary as well... with arrowheads poking out of its slits, ready to pincer away.
Fortunately, matters were cleared up... and the ship actually fitted through the tight fit... or else, alternative options had to be considered.
Still, aside from boat handling, this entire trip did teach them quite a lot of lessons...
Of how there's always something bigger out there.
How bigger isn't always better.
And sometimes, some stuff also may not be big enough.
----------
After going through a very lengthy and inquisitive checkpoint at Chequy port courtesy of their excited Arsenal shipwrights... and anchoring to everyone's amazement at Ragman's Harbor... the selected Bronze Order members were eventually able to do what must be done.
Offloading some stocks to those who were willing... earn some coin... and fill the emptied decks once again with certain products that Runestone could very well not have.
Such was the process of a seafaring merchant... albeit theirs was extra secure, due to the fact that they were actually knights and warriors that were fresh from battles. Not simple sailors or sellers.
As experienced by the local "bravos", who challenged sword wielders on the basis of just touching a sword during the night or when in their flaunty presence.
No rhyme or reason needed, other than to test skills with the blade.
Then again, their sword dance of water had long been deconstructed by their sword grandmaster of a leader... so, many of these bravos were promptly defeated.
Causing quite the stir.
With their famed First Sword eventually disarmed three times by the Young Bronze himself.
Earning the praise of the curious Sealord... who had just wanted to lay eyes on the grand ship docked in his city of jurisdiction... and see for himself what manner of men made their many sword fighters only know shame.
The man must not have expected his foremost guard and defender to be defeated as well.
Accordingly, after establishing trade partners in this Free City and saying his simple "hello" to the Sealord... their young Lord Royce found himself busy with peculiar things once again.
Which was the usual when it came to him.
Like visiting the House of the Red Hands… to get some notes on their healing abilities. Hoping to get some tips of their trade.
Or visiting the Iron Bank to inquire about their interest rates and loan options. Apparently, Lady Jeyne had pardoned him of his debts already... but he was looking for another way to spend other people's gold before his own.
Of course, most odd of all is him getting denied by the House of Black and White.
Then doubling down on that oddness by just approaching the most random and inconspicuous of folks... to ask them to teach him the art of disguise.
These pestered folks reacted confused, reasonably so at such a request. However... not long after... they acted quite suspicious... and was said to not be seen again.
If not for Ronan's own assurance that those people he interacted with were actually the infamous Faceless Men... then they wouldn't have known what to think.
Even at that revelation, their thoughts stalled... for those were actual magical assassins supposedly wearing the face of the dead... morphing to assume the dead's form and identity.
Actual skinchanging, more so than the skinchanging that the Bronze Order had seen with that Howler, Hugger, and those Prowlers.
Which truly was just something to add on top of the already peculiar journey that this is.