The Wolf Pack

The wind in Myr was gentle too. The "Telescope" docked at the harbor, and after disembarking, Gendry and Qyburn entered the new, beautiful city. Myr was a city of craftsmen, and it was exquisitely built with white marble, fountains, and glass mirrors that made it a truly beautiful place.

"Let me give you a piece of advice, boy. There are plenty of thieves in Myr. Be careful with your luggage when you leave!" Captain Dunster warned Gendry as he was about to depart, suggesting they find a good inn.

Gendry politely declined Captain Dunster's invitation but thanked him for the kindness. The captain left them with a contact address, which they could use to seek his help if needed in the future.

Walking on the soil of Myr, Gendry felt a sense of grounding. Except for the occasional intervention, the power of the Iron Throne could hardly project significantly onto the Free Cities, making this a haven for fugitives. After the Battle of the Redgrass Field, Daemon Blackfyre was slain, and "Bittersteel" Aegor Rivers and the members of House Blackfyre embarked on their path of exile, fleeing to the homeland of Daemon's wife, Tyrosh. Following the War of the Usurper, Daenerys and her brother also wandered in exile across various lands.

"Come and buy! Master's paintings!"

"The best lenses, perfect for gifts!"

"Fine carpets, for just one gold coin!"

"Paintings, delicate paintings worth more than gold, now for only five silver coins." The harbor was filled with Myrish vendors hawking their wares to travelers, many of whom were children. The Free Cities were mostly commercial hubs, where merchants were considered a more honorable profession than warriors.

Myr was considered one of the most advanced Free Cities and was renowned for its arts and learning. Gendry looked with interest at the goods on display; though they certainly weren't made by Myrish masters, they were still quite exquisite.

After storing their belongings in a clean and secure inn, Gendry and Qyburn made their way to the mercenary market, which was located to the east of the harbor.

Both Gendry and Qyburn saw plenty of mercenaries wandering the streets of Myr, many dressed in worn clothes and draped in dark brown woolen cloaks, with longswords casually sheathed. In a commercial city-state, the presence of the elderly and children wasn't particularly unusual.

"These lace and carpet merchants fight with gold, so they can't do without mercenaries!" Maester Qyburn complained. Myrish handicrafts were famous throughout the known world—carpets and lace, the finest lenses and telescopes, as well as carpets, screens, mirrors, lace, and glass panes that could be sold at prices equivalent to those of Eastern spices. Myrish paintings and miniatures were also highly valued for their vivid style.

"It's also because of the situation," Gendry added. "After all, whether it's seizing the Disputed Lands or traveling with caravans, they need it! But why don't they just build their army?"

"Hiring mercenaries with food, gifts, or gold might be more cost-effective?" Qyburn replied. After all, even the wealthiest Tywin family in Westeros despised these cowards from the Free Cities.

"Gold can't replace a sword!"

"True!"

"But Your Grace, the mercenary square is for medium and small mercenary companies. The larger mercenary companies have their exclusive bases. Here, we're doomed not to join those big mercenary companies. The big mercenary companies don't need to recruit customers in the market; instead, customers go directly to them!"

"Medium and small mercenary companies might be safer! If we don't have luck here, maybe we can look elsewhere."

The two arrived near the Day Gate and saw the mercenary square. The gate of the mercenary square was ochre red, and two listless old mercenaries guarded it, holding two spears. They were too old to face blood and fire, so they chose to guard the gate here.

But the business of the mercenary square was still booming, with some mercenaries looking for work and some clients seeking mercenary companies.

Gendry and Qyburn entered the mercenary square, which was an oval structure. It was really like a bargaining marketplace, with tents standing like mushrooms, and in the middle was a platform raised above the ground where employers could climb up and shout. Gendry saw that mercenary companies had their flags flying high, fluttering on the spears.

The mercenaries came from all walks of life. The fair and slender ones were Lysene, those with purple and red beards and hair were mostly Tyroshi, the olive-skinned ones were Myrish, and the ones most similar to Westerosi were the Pentoshi.

Olive-skinned Myrish freemen were discussing with mercenary captains, while others were honing their weapons—spears, longswords. Their weapons and armor were mostly not as good as those of the Westerosi regular army.

"Hiring two mercenaries to escort our master's child on a tour of Essos! Specific terms to be discussed!" A haughty slave steward shouted from the platform. Traveling was an expensive activity, one that only the children of nobles or wealthy merchants could afford.

"Me!" "Me!" "Me!" The mercenaries raised their hands below the platform. Escorting the children of the nobility on a tour was, relatively speaking, an easy task.

This job was quickly wrapped up, with two mercenaries taking it on.

"A big job, intercepting a spice caravan coming from the far east near Qohor, paying each mercenary three times the price of a normal mission, and the captain can also give five pretty Lysene slaves as a bonus!" Another more exciting job.

The crowd below fell silent instantly. The mission was too long and too far. Especially those damn Dothraki, who occasionally crossed the Rhoyne River, making this mission a potentially deadly one.

"Forget it!"

"For such a dangerous mission, you should hire the Golden Company or the Second Sons!" After the mercenaries realized what was being proposed, they began to curse on a large scale. Mercenaries were greedy, but they weren't stupid.

The mercenary square was in chaos, and then Gendry began to walk along the tents, looking for a mercenary company that might suit him.

"You're too young, boy, and you have no mercenary experience. And your companion, he's too old!"

"We don't recruit the elderly and children here. Although you look strong, boy, the battlefield is too dangerous for you. If you're willing to take one-third of the pay, we might consider hiring you. And the old man next to you, we're very sorry!"

"You're not old, and you have no experience. It would still cost us money to train you. You can join us, but there's a one-year probationary period with no salary."

Gendry and Qyburn were reasonably rejected by the mercenary companies before they could even showcase their specialties. Gendry didn't bother to argue. Although they were old and weak, most mercenary companies were in desperate need of blacksmith apprentices and physicians; they just didn't have the patience and sincerity.

In a remote part of the mercenary square, Gendry spotted an old tent with a flag depicting a pack of wolves in motion.

"What's this?"

"The Wolf Pack!" Qyburn said.

"It was established by the Northmen who crossed the sea back then. I didn't expect it to still exist!"