The Asshai's Bloodmage

Volume 3 - Asshai 

 We arrived at the rocky island at 11:00 p.m. Calling it rocky is a pretty accurate description since all there is on the island is a mountain of misshapen stone the height of a 10-story building. At the top of the island you can see some birds flying around. A path has been dug directly into the rocks and at the beginning of this path I see two small sailboats with only one mast. Not far away there are two men sitting inside a cave dug into the rock of the island in an unnatural way; they are around a campfire and wearing masks. In the boat that is approaching the island there are only me, Aisha, Omar and Sir Arthur. Two of Henry's men row the small boat until we get closer. It is night and we do not know how deep the surroundings of the rocky island are, so we decide to go there in the boat carrying a bag of letters from all the crew members. The two men have been on alert since they saw the lights of the two ships and we signaled that we wanted to get closer. Before we get close, one of them shouts:

"If you are here to send letters, do not enter the cave. Letters cost 1 gold to anywhere in Essos, 2 gold coins to Westeros, and 15 silver to any known territory in the Jade Sea or Summer Sea."

I raise my voice and answer:

"Good evening, gentlemen. We are the owners of the sailboat Sigh of Valyria and Giant Horn, and we want to know if there are any letters for the people on board. I also have some supplies in my bag that I am willing to exchange to compensate for the letters we are going to send." I then show the magic bag to the men. "Lastly, I would like to know if there are any survivors from the fishing island south of here. I went there because this woman was a native of that island. I point to Aisha."

"You with the magic bag can go up with me to send and receive the letters, and deliver the supplies, but the others must remain here."

I smile under my mask. I knew the two men wouldn't want to climb the 10-story mountain with several boxes of supplies. I make the climb without any problems and don't get out of breath even after climbing the path carved from left to right in the rock. When I get to the top, I stop at another cave where the man tells me to leave the supplies. I take out several boxes and cloth bags. He looks at their contents and takes the one with the letters and checks the approximate price. These are quick-ship letters. The cheapest method would be to send them by ship and wait a year or more for a reply, and sometimes not even receive a reply due to accidents at sea.

I take the opportunity to deliver some additional letters and report the 3 shipwrecks we found. I even leave the captain's log that we recovered from the first ship. This is a courtesy between sailors to give their families peace of mind. After that, he takes the letters and tells me to wait. He comes back with a bag with about 10 letters and says that some are already in Asshai in a certain place and that we should look for them there. After that, he hands me a paper with information about the incident on Aisha's island. He accompanies me and we go down the rocky path again. As soon as I find the others, I let Aisha read the news first.

"There was only one group of fishermen who survived. They had left the island, but after the tragedy they abandoned it. It was said that they went to Asshai. According to reports, a group of pirates has been operating in this region and they are the main suspects. Two islands were attacked and this caused a lot of problems since these two were the largest in the region. After that, all the smaller islands were evacuated or fled to the last largest island, afraid of being next."

"I will ask for an investigation of these pirates when we arrive in Asshai tomorrow. Don't worry. We will avenge your friends and fellow countrymen." I say in a firm tone, comforting Aisha.

After the rocky island, we spent another day at sea. After dinner, most of the passengers were on deck, waiting to see the famous city of shadows soon. Many crew members had received news that their families had arrived safely on Pentos. But there was still no news from Omar's family, my father, and Liza and Aisha's mother. Perhaps those letters arrived first and are in the city. While we all looked expectantly, expecting to see Asshai at any moment, in Esmer's cabin the old steward who had left his grandson alone on the island, knocked on a huge glass bubble inside Esmer's VIP cabin.

"My lord, we will arrive in Asshai by the Shadows at any moment."

Suddenly the glass bubble opens like an apple split in half and inside reveals a sitting Esmer in the lotus position. He opens his eyes, checking the surroundings before his gaze stops at the butler. How long has it been since we left New Ghis? There was only fear and respect in the butler's eyes. His master entered this circular glass and remained motionless for almost 6 months without eating or drinking. For the butler, only a God could perform such inhuman feats.

"My lord, we left New Ghis almost 6 months ago. We were attacked a few times by pirates, but everything went well. We only lost a few people in the second attack. I wrote down everything that happened in this book, details about the passengers, details about your daughter and your student, and information I collected in the cities where we stopped."

Esmer takes the book and asks where the butler's grandson is, and the man explains that children are not allowed in Asshai, and that he left him in a place that is not very safe.

"It wasn't necessary to do that, as soon as we get to Asshai hire a boat to pick him up and make him wear this until he's old enough." Esmer then takes out a bracelet made of bronze with several runes and strange symbols.

"But remember to hide the child and always keep him inside the tower where I'll be staying for the first few days."

The man didn't ask any questions and accepts everything as an order to be followed. Soon Esmer leaves the cabin and goes to the deck where he sees everyone already wearing masks and hoods covering their bodies and soon he sees something familiar approaching his eyes.

"We're finally here!"

Rafael began to look at a distant green light approaching, the strangest thing was that the city was far away, but the sea water had changed color becoming a mixture of jade green with phosphorescent illuminating the ship as if a moon were at the bottom of the sea. No less than 20 minutes later we can see everything clearly.

I'm finally here, I take a deep breath and look at the huge city made of black stones that seem to absorb the light. The river runs through the city, its phosphorescent green color is frightening and contrasts with the always dark city. It is now night, but even during the day the city is dark as if it were always night, the name city of shadows lives up to its appearance.

I look at my companions on the ship and they breathe heavily in complete silence as they observe the mysterious, but beautiful dark city; beneath their masks there is certainly fear, apprehension, joy and curiosity... I understand their feelings, this is a mystical city and little is known about its dangers and mysteries.

I look at the city once more and hold my two fists closed,

Asshai by the Shadows...

No matter the difficulties, this will be my new home and where I hope to learn everything about magic and unravel all the mysteries of this world of Ice and Fire!

Current year: 101 B.C.

***

Special thanks to the Patreons:

Magic Apprentice: Parsa, Pato Senalima, Axel Bour, Gabriele Sulpizio, Vinnie, Jan, frimorigo, Scott Robertson and Takatchi!