Asio Copin
Asio had always considered himself a staunch pragmatist and a harsh cynic. And once the initial excitement subsided, he clearly understood that the king's offer might never come to fruition—not because the king was deceiving him, no. But because of the incredible difficulties and resistance that would inevitably arise along the way.
Yes, that was entirely possible. Perhaps he would never become the great lord of Pentos. So what? For now, the king was offering him something just as tempting: a place in the Game. He was giving him what Varys had so diligently hidden from him all these years. He was giving him what Asio desired with all his heart…
Then the king explained how it would all happen, and under what conditions everything would be achievable.
First of all, it was necessary to bring all of Westeros and all its lords to submission, establish peace, and eliminate the threat of the Golden Company. It struck Asio as odd that the king mentioned this mercenary host, but it seemed Joffrey knew a great deal—and had his own sources of information.
Well, Asio fully agreed with the first point. As long as there was no peace and unity within one's own realm, it was foolish to think about conquests beyond it.
Second, it was necessary to deal with the threat of Daenerys Targaryen, who had now settled in Meereen with her dragons. This condition raised no doubts either.
But in the third point, the king spoke of an Ancient Evil awakening in the North, beyond the Wall. And with this evil, it must be brought to an end.
Asio thought it over. He did not truly believe in all this mystical bullshit. But if the king was speaking of it, then there had to be something behind it.
However, perhaps it was even for the best. When people begin to believe in fairy tales, remember legends and magic, and turn to the gods, it becomes easier for enterprising men to play upon superstition and ignorance.
He agreed. Thus, Pentos became his goal—distant, almost unattainable, yet irresistibly alluring and vitally important. It became the goal of his life.
Asio understood how long and arduous this road would be, how nearly impossible it seemed. But why not walk it? What, after all, was holding him back?
And once again, he realized that he had made the right choice. Yes, with a king like this, much could be achieved. And this was no longer the tedious game of whispers and shadows he had played under Varys the Spider.
At last, he understood Joffrey. It seemed that in recent years the then-prince had merely been acting—pretending to be a capricious, dim-witted youth. All the while, he had been quietly gathering people, weaving plans, and building his power. Now the king had decided that his time had come. And Asio congratulated himself once more on having chosen correctly.
In return, the king demanded much of him. He had to tell Orm all of Varys's secrets. Well—not all of them, of course. Asio held back the most important truths, saving them for the future.
It seemed, however, that both the king and Orm understood this perfectly well.
The day came when Varys was arrested. Asio felt uneasy—the former Master of Whisperers was far too dangerous. Even sitting in a cell, he could still twist events to his advantage.
Alarmed, Asio went to Orm and warned him that neither walls nor bars would hold Varys for long. If the eunuch decided to escape, he would find a way.
Copin also shared his assumptions about how Varys would act—and where he might go. After all, it was no accident that he had been gathering secrets so diligently in recent years.
Together with Orm, armed with crossbows, they descended into the cellars beneath the Red Keep and waited for Varys.
That night seemed endless. Asio counted the passing time by the rhythm of his own heartbeat. Nearby, within arm's reach, hidden by the darkness, Harald Orm breathed softly.
Varys did not disappoint. Asio had calculated his every move, and this only confirmed once again that his choice had been the right one—and that the eunuch had grown old.
The Spider came to his secret chamber.
There, Orm and Asio killed him.
That was all.
Only three people in the entire world knew that an unimaginably powerful man had died that night.
One story had ended. Another was only just beginning.
It took Asio two hours to bury the body and attend to all the small but necessary details. After that, he went straight to the port. A fast, sleek galley named Whisper of the Waves was already waiting for him. Its captain—a roguish, ever-smiling man named Logeo Logeon—and the entire crew were readying the ship to sail.
Logeo knew that Copin was one of Varys the Spider's men. Even now, in this dawn hour, he thought the same, and Asio did nothing to correct him.
The Whisper of the Waves set a course for Pentos. Asio was in a hurry and, like the captain, watched the storm rolling in from the south with concern.
They were fortunate. Skirting the very edge of the storm, they managed to slip through and drop anchor in Pentos. The Whisper of the Waves was the last ship to find shelter in the harbor before the storm broke. And now, for a couple of days, until it passed, no one will be able to sail from King's Landing. And in such weather, even the ravens would not dare to fly.
Asio did not believe in gods—neither old nor new. But the moment he stepped onto the pier in Pentos, an unexpected thought crossed his mind.
It seemed that the gods he did not believe in were helping him after all.
(End of Chapter)
Good day! Your support is very important.
Please donate power stones, write reviews, and leave comments. It will be a huge help!