Having discovered the ability to tap into complex concepts through written words, I had spent the last week running through the small stockpile of Blood Candles I had made while experimenting with Magic Circles I could build by combining Numerology of Geometric Shapes with High Valyrian Glyphs.

One of those experiments was a Lesser Divination Ritual that was able to deconstruct the Magical Affinity of a person, using Dany, Wat, and me to test a framework consisting of eighty-one total concepts, each represented by a glyph or symbol.

I got the idea from Chakra Nature Papers from Naruto, the ability to tell apart a person's affinity using a magical paper sounded like an interesting concept and I now had access to specific concepts to try it out. Instead of simple elements, however, I made it to be a bit more comprehensive and used eighty-one High Valyrian Glyphs.

Numbers were weird, and nine, in my opinion, was the weirdest of all numbers. Three of Threes, nine retained the stability of the three, adding a layer of complexity to the process to reach what could best be called a super-stability.

Glyphs I added to the nine ends of the star caused the enchantment to reach a stable form almost immediately, a balance that it retained unless some external force changes something. That made the simple Magic Circle a perfect method for me to get information as anything that disturbed the balance caused a reaction that I could physically observe... forming the basis for an analysis spell of sorts.

The result was the Scroll of transformed Weirwood. While Transfiguration was a bit more tricky than I would have liked, changing the shape of wood was one of the easier tricks, stretching out the Weirwood into a papyrus-like form took no effort, allowing me a surface to write the Magic Circle on. Using my wand to etch the glyphs and shapes I wanted onto the Weirwood Papyrus, I ended up with an Analysis Scroll. Eighty-one different glyphs, representing individual concepts that I could come up with, some taken from Game Stats and others from my observations, forming a nine-sided star with another set of nine-sided stars at each end of the main star. In the middle a simple enchantment of "Fire for blood, blood for fire" with a smaller circle in the center. As it stood, the enchantment was at balance, but a single drop of blood at the center circle would cause the glyphs with matching concepts to flare out, giving me a loose description of the Magical Affinity of a person.

The resulting backlash caused the related runes that got stronger from the added blood to flare out in the form of heat and light. That blackened the runes that shared similar concepts to the blood added, allowing me to analyze and deconstruct the affinity of a soul through Blood Magic. The only issue I had with the entire setup was that the Scroll was a bitch to make and was only useful for a single person... not to mention using about an amount of Weirwood that required me to feed an entire pig to the small tree I had managed to cultivate.

Dany, unsurprisingly, had an affinity that converged around `foresight`, `revival`, and `dragon`, among other lesser ones, a perfect combination for someone who would somehow divine a ritual to hatch dragons from petrified stone using only the most basic understanding of Equivalent Exchange. My main issue was the fact that she was a seer... or rather a Dreamer since her foresight was far more potent than the other two concepts. While I was glad that she could see into the future, I knew that such a talent could potentially mess up a person, which meant that she was not wearing an amulet until I could teach her to control her powers or at least her mind enough for her to get a handle of her visions. I did not want her dreams of the future to influence her mind and cause her more harm than good like the magic had with Daeron the Drunken... who drank himself to the grave to avoid the visions he kept having.

I, on the other hand, got something unique that confirmed the deep suspicion I had about myself, specifically my unnatural ability to understand magic and survive any bad result. My Magical Affinity was heavily biased to `magic`, `foresight`, and `survival` in that order, with other lesser affinities that were less applicable. That meant that I had a primary affinity to divination that pertained to magic and survival, the later affinity was probably because of the paranoia I shared with the original Viserys. Magic, I was sure was something unique to myself compared to Original Viserys, while foresight was simply an ability to feel the many threads of fate according to most beliefs, though I preferred to consider it as a subtle effect of retro-active precognition with me being sensitive to the events that would happen to my future selves, echoing back through time.

The insight into affinities pretty much confirmed that my divination best worked in the combination of survival and magic. That made me good at a few things, dueling, with both weapon and magic, since I could tell where a hit would come from but it made me great at specifically experimenting with spells and general magic and surviving the consequences since I could tell when something would go wrong and stop it or dodge it if it came to that... explaining how I managed to survive from exploding myself until now.

Said instincts had also screamed at me that breaking the mind of the Black Pearl was a bad idea... because, at the end of the day, that was all I could do if they tried anything with the ritual... as I would have to free-form the spell and the backlash would break the mind of the girl I have been growing more fond of.

The truth was, I had every reason to break both their minds, the mother and daughter, and keep them to sate my lusts even if I never really had that specific fetish. Their attempt at binding me to their wills had left me with a simmering rage that even now made me clench my teeth in annoyance. Just the fact that they had tried to pull something off like what they wanted was enough justification for me to go through with the process and turn it on them... except for one single detail... my instincts.

Only after meditating and going over the memories of the day could I isolate that instinct, the same one that allowed me to know when to shield myself from an exploding cauldron... the same one that I had only recently confirmed to being guided by divining a fortune were I could survive. In functionality, I was sort of reminded of the Force, how it would guide Jedi and Sith, giving them feelings and I had a bad feeling about this.

Said instincts had stayed my hand, at least long enough for my conscious mind to catch up and ask `What would Tywin do?`. I knew that he would do exactly what I wanted to do if he was in my place and had my abilities. Breaking the minds of a couple of `whores` as he would call them.

I had a few policies in this life... chief among them was `Don't do what Tywin would do!!!`, and it was up there with all the partially remembered items from the Evil Overlord Index. Sure, Tywin had this brutal efficiency to his actions, one that many would find admirable in a Lord. That being said, he was a petty man who did not take insults lightly and had no loyalty to anyone but his ego... so anything he would do was ill-thought-out and questionable in the long run. You did not kill off multiple families for the single reason that your enemies would do the same to yours at the first opportunity.

The pause made me think through the events, trying to find the hidden reason that someone like the Black Pearl would have at wanting control over me, at least beyond the hunger for power that someone who already had control over the Sealord would have. There was something that I was not seeing and it ate away at me.

I had used the truth to guide the Legilimency, using Belle's panic at being discovered to peel away the layers of their plot, but the Black Pearl did not seem like a person who would try something so stupid like that... at least not without having a backup to ensure success.

It made sense... too much sense, an ambitious Courtesan and her daughter, a powerful sorcerer who showed every sign that he would continue to grow richer and more powerful. The only problem was my innate paranoia and my obsessive need to master the Mind Arts, allowing me to catch on to their little plot.

Given how my instincts screamed at me that breaking their minds was a very terrible idea, and since I was sure they did not expect me to catch on to it before the ritual took place... I dislike subtlety.

So, here I was, flipping the board to get answers to the questions that annoyed me directly from the source, since subtlety was taking too long and I did not play by the rules of others. It had been a week since I plucked the plot from Bellegere's mind, but the benefit I got from Glyphs made me much more confident now than I was before.

"Evening," I said, sitting by the couch, a rune of `Privacy` burned onto the surface of the expensive Goldenheart Table by my side, a small Blood Candle burning on top of the rune, releasing smoke to enforce the conceptual Ward I had woven over the entire room.

The first servant who had noticed me sitting there had yelped in panic, running off to call her mistress.

"Your grace, I did not expect to see you here," responded Bellonara Otherys, the Black Pearl. Her hair was wet, from the bath that I knew she would be having at that moment, which is why I chose this specific time to have our chat. She was wearing a sheer robe, droplets of water still sticking to her skin and making the robe more transparent... leaving nothing to the imagination.

"Yes, the two Bravos by the door did give me that impression, promise of a night with the Black Pearl will make any man suicidal, it would seem," I snarked back, enjoying the view and the slight discomfort she was having at how I managed to get in despite her precautions. I could feel her dread at this very conversation, having left to stew in her paranoia. "Don't bother calling out, I have ensured that we can have this private chat," I said, my fingers passing over the Blood Candle that was anchoring the enchantment around the room.

Said two men were currently incapable of discerning up from down, as the Confundus Charm I placed on them was... a bit more than I had initially assumed. Combined with the Privacy Ward, they would not be able to walk straight let alone disturb us. Using Runes with my own already existing spells gave... quite potent results. "I think we should talk... please, have a seat," I said, pointing at the other couch.

Black Pearl sauntered close to me after a moment of silence, choosing to take a seat on my lap instead of the other couch in the room. I had to give her credit for the seduction attempt... my body was reacting even if I kept my mind from being distracted.

Black Pearl was another beast entirely compared to her daughter... and I was wary of her. She was an experienced Courtesan capable of manipulating men to her whims, ambitious and cunning enough to have magically wrapped the Sealord around her finger... and also stupid enough to have tried doing something similar to me. That combination was a dangerous one and I needed a more gentle touch.

"Belle has been singing your praises, young man... one might say she is in love," breathed out Bellonara Otherys, pushing all her charm and sex appeal... along with her rather impressive breasts to my face. Her shamelessness and choice to make intimate physical contact made me tense, making me gulp. I watched her hands, resting on her lap, presenting no threat to me.

At the thought of her daughter, her mind pointed me at a wooden wall that had an intricate design, behind which I saw a familiar pair of eyes. The mind I felt was familiar to me, as it would seem that Bellegere had noticed that I was here and wanted to watch how her mother fared.

"She is young, she will get better," I deflected, my hand resting on her back, increasing the physical contact to better get a read on her. It would ensure that I could also paralyze her at a moment's notice if she tried to stab me with something.

Clamping down on my libido, I focused on her eyes instead. Romantics were not wrong... eyes were truly the windows to the soul and surface-level reading was the most efficient form of Legilimency, simply because it was near impossible to resist when there was eye contact involved.

While the mother was ambitious and pushed her daughter in my direction, Belle was innocent as I was able to glimpse from her mind. It was a point in Bellonara's character that she was more worried about her daughter than any punishment I might decide to mete out today.

For Bellegere, I could spare, as even if she had found the idea of controlling my power enticing, she was reluctant and I had given her a much better alternative as she had enjoyed me taking control more than the other way around. Not to mention that turning me into her slave was something that made her uncomfortable as a Braavosi... idealism of youth was a beautiful thing. Combined with the fact that I could give her earth-shattering orgasms and she was unbalanced in this game her mother was more experienced at. Then again, it might have been the fact that I had shown a glimpse of my power and had shown a willingness to be reasonable and not abuse it, a rare combination for men in this world that unbalanced even Bellonara before me.

Unlike her daughter, however, where I had total control, Bellonara's closeness put me on edge, because she was willing to do it. She had willingly provided me a better leverage to look into her mind... an ability of mine that her daughter had already shared with her. Bellonara knew that I could look into her mind, and wanted me to take a look... either a sign of trust or she was more capable than she let on. Was it a sign of... submission? manipulation? I was not sure what her end game was by being as open as possible other than as a way to make sure I did not lash out.

"Indeed, mayhaps you would prefer someone older... more mature..." purred the beauty before me, trying to distract me with her body... though I was more annoyed at the attempt than anything else.

"You tried to enslave me, why should I trust anything you say?" I asked, causing her to gasp in mock horror.

"The first law of Braavos is not one even the Black Pearl would trifle with, your grace, such accusations... I merely worked to gain your favor... a man of your status and power draws woman in," she said, trying to play it off, getting a growl from me in response to her attempts to be light-hearted. Her act annoyed me because I considered this more serious than she did.

Deciding to show her a glimpse of what she truly wanted, I pressed onto her mind instead, wrapping my presence around hers... pressing just enough for her to freeze in fear.

Everyone had certain instincts when it came to skinchanging, even the lowest of animals. Lack of experience and not being used to the connections formed between souls made it near impossible for someone to slip out unless they had reason to, but said instincts also ensured that your soul tried to keep out other souls from your body by default. The memories I got from the animals I broke... it was like claustrophobia, as though someone was hovering over you while you could not move. That was what she was feeling right now... my anger made manifest.

The Black Pearl of Braavos froze like a deer before the open maws of a dragon. "Feel that... that is my soul, in your body... just as you wanted," I said, growling, feeling her mind, like a panicked bird trying to get out of her cage. "I have broken enough minds to know that such things are not to be messed with. A single loss of control and your mind would be crushed. That is what you wanted for yourself and your daughter... a ritual to build a connection, a door. Doors open both ways... and unlike others, I am intimately familiar with that door," I stated, causing the woman on my lap to gulp in fear, fear that I was amplifying with a bit of compulsion, forcing her to feel it all, causing her to shake, "You, my dear, are dabbling with things that you do not even understand, and my mercy is limited."

This was what Thistle had felt when Varamyr tried to take her skin. It was what made a person bite off their own tongue, and claw out their own eyes to break the connection. A bit more pressure and Bellonara would react the same way... if I lacked the control that I had built over the last three years.

I released the spiritual pressure, relaxing the cage I build enough after that small rant. It took Bellonara a moment to gather herself. Her chest rose and fell in deep breaths, as I watched her visibly calm down after a moment, her control was impeccable.

Her mind was a great source of insight into her true feelings. She was... good at that... remaining calm while managing an angry man, the memories of instances where her chosen partner would get violent only for her to use her skills to ensure nothing bad happened... nothing permanent at least. Even then, she had some of them killed for going too far. A part of me felt pity for this woman who had to live through such things... but this world was a cruel one, and her actions needed to have consequences, no matter how much I pitied her.

Her mood changed in a moment, more relaxed once she realized that I was done, and I would not do more. She sighed, giving me a smile that was... happy... no, was that relief?

What was I missing here?

"I thought you were the ambitious type of man, your grace, a second son, deprived of his rights, angry and looking for power... such a man would have lashed out, just now, such a man would take what they wanted without care for others. I am glad I was wrong and I beg your forgiveness and mercy," she said, going to her knees on the floor in front of me, bowing her head in submission.

The confusing part was that she was genuine in her words, showing it in the best way she knew got every man before me raring to go. I had to accept that having such a beautiful woman on her knees before me in so little clothing was getting to me.

"And what type of man am I then?" I asked curiously, looking back up and into her eyes. Occlumency had its uses even if my instincts wanted me to bend this woman over the table I had recently defaced out of pettiness.

"A monster, held behind a cage of morality and nobility... I had thought you were hungry for power and held a desire to reclaim your crown, you certainly act that way from all the rumors," she said, pausing before taking a breath, preparing herself for something. I felt her steel her resolve, "When they came to me, with a task to test the one who would choose to save a little girl and fight another monster, I was curious," whispered the Black Pearl, making me freeze, "the House of Black and White wanted to see if you would be the right kind of monster however, or one that they can work with."

A chill ran down my spine, making me shiver. She was not lying, that much I knew. I did not look up, instead focusing on that specific trail of memories within her mind. She had enough mental discipline to pick up on what I was doing and she was helping me, speeding it up by thinking of the correct memories. It was not Occlumency in the strictest term but it was... impressive nonetheless.

"The Faceless Men... of course, it is them... what did they want?" I asked wanting to hear her words.

"They wanted to see what you would do. Would you notice the truth behind this plot and react with violence? Would you let it happen either way and bind yourself to our will? Or would you lash out and break the mind of my only daughter?... They... they told me that it would be near impossible for you to not notice, that there would be a price to pay... yet you did neither of those, I thank you for your mercy, your grace, I am in your debt," once more bowing to me. Her gratitude was genuine, she could not fake those feelings in such a realistic way.

As for the Faceless Men, the Black Pearl was just another test for me, a bait for me to see if I would be tempted to be cruel... to take over the mind of a person in a moment of distress. Maybe it was a warning, maybe it was a lesson to make me feel the horror of someone losing their will. Given their hate against Valyrian Sorcerers, I had a feeling that falling for the bait would see me dead sooner than I wanted.

I could see them using this as a way to decide whether or not they needed to kill me before I grew too powerful, `before I could figure out how to detect them` my thoughts rose.

"Why risk yourself... or your daughter for something like that?" I asked, wondering how they convinced someone to do such a monumentally stupid thing, "Slavery of that form is a fate worse than death."

"A name was given," said Black Pearl in a cold monotone that imitated the Faceless Men, "the Black Pearl is known to the House of Black and White, but her daughter is not... I was offered a choice."

"And you chose to manipulate your daughter into the maw of the dragon?" I asked, knowing what she was thinking. Someone had named Bellegere, for reasons I did not know. "A bit stupid, given she would die either way."

"I had offered myself in her stead but I was refused, and as you said, she would have died either way," said Bellonara, showing a determination that was... wow. If I had not been hard from the way she sat on my lap, I would have been hard from that admission alone. "I would have to take the only chance that you would be merciful, that the boy I saw heal a man was not going to harm her... even if he could. I... I am willing to make up for it, if that is what you wish, your grace."

"What do they want from me?" I asked, looking at the Courtesan before me. In her mind, there was a relief, gratitude, happiness... and resignation at her fate, acceptance that I would torture or kill her. I realized that this was more than some ambitious courtesan... this was a mother looking to protect her child from harm.

"I do not know what they want... I was only told what to do, to tempt you and see if you would react in violence, see if I could influence you as well, either way, they would have control over you," Bellonara shrugged, causing her robe to slip, revealing more of her skin.

"And your influence over the Sealord... it seems odd, given what you are doing might be considered slavery of another form?" I asked wanting to know more about the hidden secrets she had, gaining more leverage if I could. "They tolerate such a thing?"

"All men must serve. An exchange between the two is not of their concern. It was even one of those favors that keep my name from being given to them... poor Ferrego was more enthused about cooperating with them after we spent a few nights together," responded Bellonara, making me understand that this woman was not only dangerous and resourceful and above all else, willing to work with me. "I am willing to do anything if it means keeping my Bellegere safe... I just ask that any punishment your grace would decide on would be limited to myself."

"I am not the law here," I countered "any punishment I demand would not be binding."

"Yet none could stop you if you truly wished it," countered Bellonara, "you are here after all."

"And if I am willing to be merciful, to you and your daughter?" I asked, my eyes raking over her body. Bellonara bats her eyelashes, giving me a knowing smile before crawling slowly towards me. "What are you willing to give in return?"

Stopping before my open legs, she looked up and said "Anything... you... desire... and I would be very appreciative... your grace". Her hands moved up my leg before grabbing my cock through my pants, she squeezed it with a smirk on her face. "Hmm... that daughter of mine certainly was not exaggerating, especially if you are as... enduring as she told me you were." she purred, slowly opening the lacing and freeing the boner that I got from all the wiggling she had done in my lap.

Her hands were good, and she had been teasing me long enough that I could not do anything but enjoy the handjob. She did not push for more, not when I did not make any motion to go further, enjoying the best handjob I got in both my lives.

A few minutes was all I could last before I heard Bellonara whisper "Now, why don't you be a good boy and cover my face with your seed?" noticing that I was close, just as I groaned as I came, just as she wanted.

"What do you say, your grace?" asked the Black Pearl, her face and breasts covered with my seed... alas, I was not really in the mood to do more.

"Tempting... very tempting." I nodded, agreeing that I wanted this, mostly for myself. "I agree that Belle should not be punished, but you... how can I ever be sure that I can trust you... your attempt should have consequences after all... a punishment equal to the attempted crime."

I had already made up my mind about what I had to do... even if I had asked for advice. Ser Willem had been furious when I told him of their plot, suggesting that we kill them both, though he backed up when I compared it to something Aerys would do. Ser Richard had been less enthused about the violence, though not at the idea that at least the Black Pearl had to be punished in some way. It was Nessa who overheard the argument that suggested that I pay back in kind... at least for Black Pearl, as even she agreed that such an act should not be simply dismissed.

"And how would you punish me, your grace?" asked Bellonara, wiggling her chest in front of me.

"By ensuring your enthusiasm... in our cooperation," I repeated, as I took out my wand. "Immobulus." I muttered, tracing the mirror image of the glyph of `movement` in the air, inverting the concept, and hitting the woman in front of me with a blue spellfire that ensured she would be unable to move.

The conversation revealed interesting details about the House of Black and White... ones that I could pick up on at least. They would only react in violence if I hodored someone important, but they did not care what had been done to the Sealord. Steeling my resolve, I pressed the tip of my wand to my finger, making a shallow cut using the dragonglass tip and extracting a drop of my blood. Said blood started smoking from the magic involved before the smoke started forming a circle around the tip of my wand.

Unlike my more melodramatic understanding in the past, Shadowbinding would be done without loss of soul. The blood only created a link between the shadow-smoke and the caster that they could use, not dissimilar to the bond I shared with my more closer familiars, the ones with whom I had spent time, the ones I could skinchange without a wand.

I trailed my wand down the valley of her breasts, watching the way her skin gained goosebumps. Using the Spellfire to clean her up by burning away my cum on her face and tits, I willed the smoke to mix with the blood-smoke around my wand. The tip stopped just below the navel, resting on the dark skin that was surprisingly taught even though Bellonara already had a child. I filed that little detail away for possible effects of magic.

The smoke sank into her skin, forming a very particular shape I had come up with over the week, fueled by my anger at Black Pearl and to see how I would do the loyalty binding that I read about in the book Summer Islands. It was a more refined version of the original, using a Magical Circle that contained a far more defined enchantment than I could place with my intent and willpower alone.

Two concentric circles formed from shadow-smoke, beneath her skin, where they would remain as a tattoo, bound to me through the single drop of blood I shed. The blood connection also gave me a direct Legilimency line, even from a distance, similar to the bond I shared with my familiars but that was almost... secondary to the true purpose of the spell.

The inner circle held a simple triangle inside, a glyph for each edge of the triangle. While pulling a single concept from a written shape was easy, it had the issue of not being accurate enough for the desired effect. Combining multiple glyphs with meanings that build upon each other would create a resonance, and focus the enchantment by refining it through each added word. Of course, that approach required a pathway for the soul to cycle through, a Magic Circle similar to the way I had used the frame of our house to place the Ward. Combined with a bit of numerology, using the stability granted by the triangle shape and I had the High Valyrian Glyphs for `fidelity`, `loyalty`, and `obedience` written across the three edges, allowing the soul-stuff that is bound to move through the triangle and refined by the meaning of each glyph.

Next was the glyph of `pleasure`, written in the center of the triangle, the same one I used on the pleasure spell I cast upon Bellegere, though a more permanent one. That would be the carrot, allowing her to feel pleasure every time she took an action or even thought of me in a good way. In that form, this was an insidious bit of enchanting, one that may lead to a self-sustaining Pavlovian Conditioning loop that was a bit of payback for thinking she could in any shape or form hold power over me.

I was not a fool, even if turning her into a mind-broken doll was not something I was willing to do. It did not mean that I could not find a proper punishment that fit the crime. Bellonara would retain her free will, and my spell would ensure that she was properly motivated to work on my behalf and if that free will slowly shift her mind to a more agreeable form... I was just doing the exact thing she did.

The last part was a separate enchantment in principle. In between the outer and inner circle, I added seven glyphs related to the concepts of hiding, including `hidden`, `unseen`, and even an inverted `perception`, making it so that the magic circle could not be noticed by anyone... and the effect would not be one that even Bellonara herself could notice.

The outer glyphs were the truly genius part, as they hid the tattoo from the world. It was good enough that even Wat and his stupid ability to no-sell mental illusions could not retain the knowledge of the magic circle once he looked away from it. It would also make Bellonara forget about the tattoo's existence as well as ensure that she would be unable to share its existence with anyone, a truly insidious effect that made me uncomfortable to use on anyone who did not deserve it... even if it would make everything safer for me.

The smoke bound the free Tantric Energy from my release, using the unbound soul-stuff to create a self-sustaining enchantment, waiting for the final component.

The result was... I was trying to find a more refined description than a womb tattoo, but that seemed to be evading me. In the long term, I was curious if it would shape her mind, though I could always remove it if it became a necessity.

I leaned in after inspecting my work of art, the stealth rune scheme not working for me from the blood connection. I returned my wand to its sheathe, now further enchanted with a similar stealth scheme to prevent anyone but me from noticing it.

With an after-thought, I pulled back on the immobilization spell, freeing Bellonara. I leaned down to be level with her face, lacing my hands through her hair and pulling her up to me. She met my lips and moaned into the kiss, the pleasure amplified by the magic.

Reaching out and twisting her nipple, I whispered "Now, be a good girl, and cum for me," echoing her words. A muffled moan was the only answer I got as Bellonara buried her face to my shoulder, falling back on the puddle she formed on the floor, still shaking from pleasure.

I pulled on the energy she released, lacing it with her soul, the familiarity making her reach out to touch the Tantric Energy, allowing me to add it to the already bound energy within the Magic Circle. With her soul bound to the Magic Circle, I pulled back my own soul, slowly removing it from the tangle of soul-stuff that made the enchantment. The binding of the enchantment to her soul completing the last bit of the circuit... so to speak.

"Anything else you wanted to tell me?" I asked once Bellonara had come down from riding her high on the floor in front of me. While I enjoyed the old-fashioned way of bringing a woman to the heights of pleasure, watching an experienced woman writhe before you in pleasure from just kissing and breast-play was... it made my ego soar. The vision before me was one of art, her hair was a mess and she gave me a hooded look as her body was covered with a sheen of sweat.

I got up to leave, giving a wink at the wooden panel, causing Bellegere's mind to go into panic mode. I had not given her much thought during the conversation beyond ensuring that she had no intention to burst in with a crossbow or something. She seemed to be pacified after I showed that I was not going to harm her mother, and I could feel the smug in her as well, having seen me make her mother shake on the ground with pleasure... mostly because she thought she lasted longer with me.

As I left the room, I heard the Black Pearl speak "I did not promise them a night with me, your grace... the guards in front of the door," flinching as the fire in the hearth flared just like the blood candle, that consumed the remaining material when my anger flared.

"I see. Keep an eye outside, I want you to watch what comes next... what happens when my mercy ends," I said, leaving the room. The two men had requested a night with her daughter as the price for killing the Wizard, even though Bellonara had offered herself first. As I now knew to be in her character, she had agreed to make sure her daughter would be relatively safe, considering me a greater threat... a fact that I was going to prove to her.

Faceless Men may believe that turning people into puppets is wrong but they cared not about those whom I got rid of in self-defense after all.

"Nebulus," I muttered as I exited the house to the inner courtyard, reaching out and pulling down the fog that covered Braavos almost every day. A flex of my will made the fog denser... thicker, almost opaque. It was said that Bloodraven could bring the mists with magic... so I had done something similar with my will alone.

While still inside the walls of the Manse, I swung my wand with a muttering of "Sectumsempra," binding the concept of cutting into the fire that looked more like a mirage, unseen by all but the most perceptive but it was there all the same. The Cutting Curse, a combination of the old spell I had worked years to perfect, the improved spellfire, and the added wand movement to impose the concept of `severing` onto the spell cut through the wall itself and the two men guarding the door on the other side... well, their heads. I made sure with one of the birds on the other side of the wall that my aim was correct.

Two thumps were heard, the proper Cutting Curse I had finally mastered killing both men in an instant. While I considered killing the Black Pearl beyond the pale for her crime(s) against me - since she had been in fact coerced -, those two Braavosi idiots had more than deserved it, in my opinion. Not for wanting to kill me, but for daring to take what was mine.

Two flashes of fire, unseen by anyone but me and Bellonara removed the flesh off of the bones of the corpses, a mutter of "Finestra" reduced the bones to dust before a flick of my wand dumped the bone dust to the canal of Braavos. All that was left were the Braavosi blades and the two skulls, which I took with me as I needed materials to experiment with. Wrapping the mists around me as I walked back to the Manor, unseen by anyone, my thoughts were focused on the Faceless Men. I would confront them soon... they have been playing games with me that I did not appreciate and I wanted answers.

AN:

Runecrafting gives Wiz so many options compared to casting with pure willpower.

Remember, it is not ASOIAF if there are plots within plots, fortunately, a cool mind and Mind Reading make them much easier to pick apart.

Next chapter is the long awaited ritual.