CHAPTER 5 — PIRATES AND PORT AT EVENFALL HALL
The Narrow Sea stretched endlessly before them, a rolling expanse of gray‑blue water that glittered beneath the morning sun. The Black Lions' fleet cut through the waves like a migrating army because that's exactly what they were. Three ships bought years ago, three more taken from the Purple Rhinos, and the massive beast‑carrier known as The Black Emporium, the pride of their convoy.
Vaelorion stood on the deck of the Emporium, wearing his usual Greek‑style robe, Blackfyre hanging comfortably at his side. The sea breeze tugged at his white hair as he leaned against the railing, watching the horizon.
Diana joined him, her boots thudding lightly on the wooden planks.
"We're a day out from Evenfall Hall," she said.
"Davos says the winds are in our favor."
Vaelorion nodded.
"Good. I'd rather not linger near King's Landing. I've heard it stinks worse than a lion's den in summer."
Diana smirked.
"And full of vipers."
"A nest of them," he agreed.
"Robert Baratheon… well, I don't think poorly of him. But I don't think highly either. Davos's stories make him sound like a man who drinks more than he rules."
"So half the lords in Essos."
"Exactly."
They shared a quiet laugh before another voice approached soft, melodic, and unmistakably Valyrian.
HELENA, THE ALCHEMIST
Helena walked toward them with a basket of herbs on her hip. She was striking silver‑gold hair, pale violet eyes, and a calm grace that made people instinctively trust her. Once a slave, now one of the most respected members of the Black Lions.
Vaelorion had given her the name Helena years ago, after a healer from his past‑life memories.
"Vaelorion," she said warmly, "I heard we'll be making port at Evenfall Hall. I wanted to ask if I could set up a small stall. Sell some of the medical herbs and pills we've stocked."
Vaelorion smiled.
"Helena, it's good to see you. And yes you can sell your herbs. But you're taking four guards with you."
She blinked.
"Four?"
"I'm not losing you to some pompous Westerosi lord who thinks Valyrian beauty is his birthright."
Helena laughed softly.
"You worry too much."
"I worry exactly the right amount," he said, tapping Blackfyre's hilt.
"And I have the sword to prove it."
THE PIRATE SIGHTING
They stepped onto the main deck just as the lookout shouted from above.
"Sails! Five ships approaching from the east!"
The crew scrambled. Scorpions were uncovered. Archers took positions. The elephants on the lower deck rumbled nervously.
Vaelorion's eyes narrowed.
"Pirates."
Diana squinted at the distant shapes.
"Not Ironborn."
"No," Vaelorion agreed.
"But close enough. Basilisk Isles, by the look of them."
Helena frowned.
"Should we run?"
Vaelorion grinned like a man who'd just been handed a gift.
"Run? Helena, please. You know me better than that."
Diana groaned.
"Gods, he's excited."
"It's been days since I've hit something," he said cheerfully.
"This is practically a blessing."
THE BATTLE AT SEA
The pirate ships closed in fast lean, sharp‑prowed vessels with black sails and bone‑carved figureheads. They circled like sharks, confident in their numbers.
They shouldn't have been.
The first pirate ship came too close to the Emporium's port side.
Vaelorion didn't wait.
He vaulted over the railing, landing on the pirate deck with a crash that shook the planks. Blackfyre flashed, cutting through the first man before he even screamed.
The lion leapt after him, roaring as it tore into the nearest pirate.
Diana and the Lionesses boarded next, their blades carving through the chaos with deadly precision.
The pirates fought hard desperate men always did but they weren't prepared for elephants. One of the Emporium's bulls slammed its tusks into the railing, splintering wood and sending pirates flying into the sea.
Within minutes, the first ship was taken.
The second and third tried to flee.
The Black Lions didn't let them.
By the end of the battle, two pirate ships burned, one sank, and two limped away with half their crews missing.
The Black Lions lost a few good men—but far fewer than expected.
Vaelorion wiped blood from his cheek and sheathed Blackfyre.
"Well," he said, "that was refreshing."
Diana rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you stay."
"Someone has to keep you alive."
APPROACHING EVENFALL HALL
Two days later, the sea turned calm and the winds gentle. The cliffs of Tarth rose in the distance—blue stone shining like sapphires in the sun.
Evenfall Hall waited beyond them.
A new land.
A new beginning.
A new destiny.
Vaelorion stood at the bow, Helena and Diana beside him, the Black Lions bustling behind them.
"Westeros," he murmured.
"Let's see what you have for us."
And the fleet sailed toward the island of Tarth toward the first chapter of their new life.