Artos 'The Demon Wolf' Chapter 79

Glaro Sythan was drinking with with his associates when he was inford by his servants that Lady Valen has reached the Bravos.

'Seraphine had returned.' He thought in anger

That alone would have been enough to frustrate his mood, but what followed made him more dangerous than angry.

He had already been deep into drink when the report reached him, and the room around him had begun to blur at the edges. The others in the room — allies, hangers-on, and the sort of n who liked to be seen near power — did their best to keep him laughing.

"Co, lord Glaro," one of them said with an oily smile, raising his cup. "If the Valens are stumbling, and we are giving it the fire. Isn't it a good ti Seraphine returned. The sha itself is here. More evidence to support. More reputation to break."

That earned a rough laugh from the table.

Glaro his mouth twisting.

Another man leaned in, pleased to be useful. "The Valens are already split by scandal, pressure, and fear. If Seraphine is back, the city will talk again. We need to make them talk more. We need to do sothing, to make it more burn and let it turn into a fire that would eventually burn the Valens down"

"Good," Glaro said.

He sat back in his chair, flushed with drink and pride, while the n around him continued to flatter and feed the fire in him. They spoke as if the fall of the Valens was already a matter of timing rather than possibility.

Glaro let them talk.

He was drunk enough to enjoy the attention. These n were not rely companions for the evening. They were the shape of the Sythan rise — the ones who helped make the plan feel inevitable. They laughed when he laughed, nodded when he nodded, and spoke of collapse as if it were an elegant piece of business rather than a knife fight in broad daylight.

Then in that conversation they made a plan to make reputation of Seraphine and Valen to fell in mud. To pin the final nail in the coffins of Valens . To make public believe that ti of Valens was done.

One of them, seated nearest, lifted his cup again. "To the Sythans," he said. "And to the fall of old pride of The Valens ."

The others joined in.

Glaro raised his own cup, though his eyes were elsewhere. "To The Sythans," he said pleases.

Across the city, Artos or , Hal — was approaching Lord Valen's house with a very different expression.

His face was calm, his pace asured, and his mind already working through what needed to be said. Afterall There were consequences to what had happened. He knew that better than most rembering of the Rebellion.

That was part of the reason he was here now. if he ant to protect what could still be protected, then he could not arrive as a wandering blade with no aim. He had to arrive as a man with a purpose to Lord Valen or his may be Father in Law.

A servant admitted him after a brief wait. Lord Valen received him in a chamber that looked as though it had not enjoyed peace in so ti.

Lord Valen did not rise imdiately.

He studied Artos in silence,

At last Lord Valen said, "You have co here, pretty gutsy after what happened. Couldn't expected less from Hal, The Captain of the Northern Brutes" he was not too happy about how this situation happened clearly one could see from his tone.

Artos gave a small incline of his head. "I am but.."

Valen intervened

Lord Valen's gaze sharpened a little. "You have co to with bad timing if you are here to talk about Seraphine and you."

"Not really Lord Valen, in my opinion This is the perfect ti to show my worth." Artos said.

That got the faintest flicker from the lord, though it did not beco a smile.

Artos stepped forward one pace, then stopped. "I know the consequences of what has happened. I know what my presence, and her absence, and the city's talk have done. I am not here to pretend any of it did not happen."

Valen watched him carefully.

"I am here," Artos continued, "because if your house is to endure what cos next, it needs n who can be counted on. Not n who speak pretty. Not n who vanish when the pressure cos. n who can protect what matters. Luckily for you — We are quite famous in that regard."

Valen said nothing.

Artos t his eyes directly. "I can be that man."

The room remained still.

Then, carefully, Valen asked, "And why should I believe that? A rcenary Commander can help in politics of Bravos. Yes, you can protect my rchant and fleets but any rcenaries could do that."

Artos did not flinch.

"Aye, rcenaries do that, but why weren't they are doing it when attacks are happening because your enemies have gathered and outbids you. Your reputation is at allti low. Which In turn makes rchant trust in you low." he said. "So I am here saying that I am useful because i am saying my n don't work for gold"

That answer landed well. Not because it was charming, but because it was honest.

Valen leaned back slightly, considering him.

Artos went on, quieter now. "Your rchants need protection. Your houses, your stores, your routes — all of it is being watched by n who think the Valens are already halfway fallen. They are wrong. But they will only stay wrong if we move before they do."

At that, Valen's expression hardened into sothing more alert.

Lord Valen amused" So you are saying your rcenaries won't work for gold. . Isn't that joke of the century."

"Aye."

Lord Valen if he was amused before he is laughing right now.

But Artos remain serious as if he is not joking at all.

Valen studied him for a long mont.

"If there is sothing missing, tell Captain Hal. If there sothing I don't understand about your rcenaries and why don't they care about gold ."

This ti Artos laughed Loudly" Oh, they definitely care about the gold . " He said confusing Lord Valen.

" But they care about and my orders more " Artos said

Lord Valen laughed "This is stupid, Most dead rcenary Commander thought his n cared more about him than gold. They all died by betrayal you know."

Artos smiled and grinned " That's the point and difference. They aren't rcenaries. They are soldiers loyal to thier Commander."

Confusing Lord Valen once more.

Artos smiled " Let reintroduce myself Lord Valen ."

When these talks are happening Outside,

Glaro Sythan was drinking with n who believed themselves above fear.

Glaro wanted Seraphine shad and his associates and enemies of Lord Valen made the plan but

Artos intended to stand in the middle of the every consequences and event not move.

Trust when I say this is a build up to a big thing. Ask the Patreon mbers they seen a glimpse of it. Just wait till Chapter 82. Truly excited for the thing to co. Basically made Essos arc for this thing. Wish luck so I can really give you what I want and what you would love in my opinion. Ready yourself for next week. Thank you brothers for keeping up with the story even when it is in the lows with the bad writing and grammatical errors , to be honest very less updates, with not my 100%(sorry for that)

We are gonna rise back

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