Chapter Twenty-Nine

                                    

                                          
"A b...boy?"
                          
Cyndi rubs my shoulders. "Its safest that way, Stuar has agreed to accompany you with other Merchants to Vaes Dothrak. It's a dangerous place." She points to Pentos and drags her finger across to the Vaes Dothrak. "It will take three to five days to travel from here to Pentos, and just over a week to travel from Pentos to Vaes Dothrak. The road will be dangerous, thieves, bandits, and slavers. "The merchant will have a convoy to protect them, but the road will be perilous, especially for a high born woman."
                          
I struggle to accept her words. "Daenerys Targaryen travelled from Pentos to Vaes Dothrak with no problems. Are you sure that..."
                          
Holder shakes his head. "Daenerys had her husband's entire Kalisar protecting her, thousands of slaves, hundreds of warriors. You will be travelling with a small merchant convoy and hired mercenaries." he looks me in the eyes, stern but not mean. "It would be much easy for a boy, a hired hand of a fabric merchant to get around, to stay safe."
                          
"I understand. What needs to be done?" 
                          
Holder brings out some hair sheers and a bag. "I brought sheers so that mother can cut your hair and some clothes that belonged to my son." He starts to leave the office. "I will lock the door so that no one can interrupt you."
                          
"Holder." he stops and looks at me before he leaves. "Thank you, for everything."
                          
"Of course my lady. I am pledged and honoured to serve you and the Targaryens in any way possible. Gods bless you with a safe and quick journey." he bows his head and leaves the room.
                          
Cyndi sits me down on a chair and undoes the braids in my hair that she so carefully did this morning. She grabs the sheers and gets to work. I watch as my long curly hair falls around me. I feel sad, but also strangely alive, and renewed, as if the old Nyla, Nyla Cassel, was now reborn again as Nyla Firebearer. 
                          
"I'm done." She says putting down the scissors. I reach up to feel my head and gasp. It's short, very short, the more I feel, I can tell its length on the top, but not much only about an inch or two long.
                          
Cyndi goes through the bad and picks out an outfit and a long piece of cloth.
                          
I start to undress. After I've gotten completely undressed. Cyndi takes the long piece of cloth and starts wrapping it around my chest, flattening my breasts.
                          
"Be careful with this." She tells me as she continues to wrap it around. "Wear it for too long or too tight and you can hurt yourself."
                          
I nod absently. It hurts as is. She helps me into a pair of plain leather trousers and a tan tunic. A leather vest goes on top and laced up. I strap my new scabbard and belt around my waist, and then I sit down to put on my boots.
                          
I stand up fully dressed and look at Cyndi. 
                          
She studies for a moment and smiles. "You look like a boy sure enough."
                          
I nod. "What should I be called?"
                          
She thinks some more as she packs the bag and hangs it to me. "Nyles."
                          
I smile a little. "Nyles. I like it."
                          
She shakes her head and sighs. "You sound like a lady. Try not to talk if it's possible." She fiddles with some wrinkles in the clothes and studies me more. "Your face is still so... womanish... almost forgot. She takes an eye patch out of her pocket and puts it over my eye with the scar crossing it. "That helps a bit..." she looks around the room and walks toward the unlit fireplace, probably only used in winter, and she takes a coal in hands. She walks back to me and puts some on my face, neck and hands. She wipes off any excess with a cloth.
                          
I sputter as I get coal in my mouth. "Why...?"
                          
"Have you seen any peasant boy who isnt with dirt all over him? Besides, helps hide some of your girlish features."
                          
She finally seems satisfied. "Now you look the part. We need a story... Nyles, peasant boy. Your parents died when you were young, no family. You travel with Stuar to sell fabric with him because he took you in. You can figure out the rest with Stuar, we are going to him now..."
                          
I grab her arm. "Can I just... one last thing." I sit down at the desk and find an empty piece of parchment and frantically start to write. 
                          
"Lord Stark,
I pray to both old gods and new that you are alright. I'm sorry I could not stay and fight. It is my fault Jory was killed, and I'm sorry. I have fled Kingslanding and Westeros, it is no longer safe for me here. I owe you my life, you raised me and cared for me as if I was one of your own children, thank you. Please tell Arya and Sansa that I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye in person and that it was very important that I leave. If I can impart anything to, please leave Kingslanding and go home to Winterfell. It is not safe here, and my dreams have shown terrible things happening here. Kings Robbert will not rule for much longer. Winter is Coming.
                          
Yours, Nyla Firebearer."
                          
I roll up and tie the letter and hand it to Cyndi. "Please get this to Lord Stark or one of his children after I'm gone. I'm not sure how but..."
                          
She takes the letter from me and smiles warmly. "I will think of something."
                          
I hug her tightly. "Thank you."
                          
She takes my arm and we leave the office. "If anyone asks you, my grandson, Nyles."
                          
I nod. "I can not think of the words to say thank you, Cyndi."
                          
We head back through the forges, and out the front entrance. "There is no need. I know when the Targaryen's come back, you will remember us."
                          
I squeeze her hand. "I will."