Chapter 65

To be fair, Arya Stark, like her brother Bran, was an energetic and endearing child. Unlike her sister Sansa, who knew how to dress up and present herself, Arya often left the impression of being “plain.” Yet, through the eyes of a modern man like Aegor, her facial structure and bone structure revealed her potential as a budding beauty.

Clearly, others agreed with his assessment. If he remembered correctly, someone in the original story had remarked that Arya resembled her aunt, Lyanna, and shared the same “wolf’s blood.”
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Aegor couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

"Wolf’s blood," they said, with its lofty descriptions of a fierce yearning for freedom, intoxicating and dangerous romance, and an unyielding wildness. It’s the kind of poetic nonsense only a fantasy author like George R.R. Martin could come up with to glorify recklessness and impulsiveness.

After all, what had Lyanna Stark done to earn her legendary status? Betrothed to Robert Baratheon, she had eloped with Rhaegar Targaryen—a married man with children.

Sure, both Lyanna and Rhaegar were trapped in political marriages arranged by their families, and perhaps they truly fell in love at the Harrenhal tourney. From a modern perspective, Aegor might even have to support their pursuit of love for the sake of political correctness.

But running away without leaving a word? That was just sheer stupidity. Even Aegor, at six years old, knew to tell his parents where he was going before heading out to play. How could a girl in her teens not grasp such a basic concept? When disaster struck, who else was to blame?
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Lyanna’s impulsive actions led to far more than a scandal. A Stark daughter eloping with a Targaryen prince could have been resolved with some damage control: the broken betrothal between the Starks and Baratheons, a tarnished reputation for Rhaegar, and perhaps a hefty price to appease all parties. But instead, her carelessness sparked a catastrophic chain reaction.

Believing Lyanna had been abducted, her father and brother went to King’s Landing to demand her return, only to be executed by the Mad King. This prompted Jon Arryn to raise his banners in rebellion rather than surrender Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon to the crown. Thus began Robert’s Rebellion.

In the end, the two star-crossed lovers paid the ultimate price. Rhaegar died in battle, bringing his dynasty to ruin, while Lyanna succumbed to childbirth after causing the deaths of her father and brother. Their so-called love story left only a statue and a trail of devastation—eerily similar to how Robb Stark’s broken marriage pact led to the Red Wedding.

This was the world of Ice and Fire. Recklessness often meant death.
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Of course, the Stark children were a far cry from Cersei’s spoiled and cruel Joffrey. While the Stark kids were just as headstrong and pampered, they had redeeming traits like kindness, loyalty, and a sense of justice. If this weren’t an age of chaos, Aegor might have enjoyed befriending the northern brood. But now, he needed wealthy allies and intelligent partners. The Starks, with their knack for sabotaging their own cause, were far from ideal.

Arya, in particular, was only ten. This young “wolf pup” was too immature to be of much use. Unless Aegor was a predator of children—a repulsive thought—what interest could he possibly have in her?
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Aegor’s initial plan was simple: stay far away from the Starks. Their tendency to drag down everyone around them was a risk he couldn’t afford. Sure, his mediocre swordsmanship was enough to teach Arya the basics, but taking over the role of her Braavosi mentor, Syrio Forel, might also mean inheriting his tragic fate. That wasn’t a gamble he was willing to take.

But as Aegor considered it further, he realized Arya’s Stark name carried considerable weight. His letter of recommendation from Eddard Stark was already persuasive enough for most people. Yet if clients visiting the Night’s Watch office regularly saw a Stark child present, wouldn’t that bolster their confidence in the bonds even more?

Additionally, while he hadn’t yet devised the perfect way to drive a wedge between Littlefinger and Eddard Stark, gaining the favor of one of the Stark children would undoubtedly make any such plan easier to execute.
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“Hmm...” After a brief internal debate, Aegor feigned reluctance, stroking his chin thoughtfully before sighing. “It’s not impossible. But there are conditions. If I’m going to teach you swordsmanship, then I’ll be your master, and you’ll have to listen to everything I say.”

“Fine! Master, I’ll do whatever you say!” Arya replied enthusiastically.

“Good.” Aegor smirked slightly, already thinking several steps ahead. He had always wanted to figure out a way to approach Jaqen H’ghar, the enigmatic Faceless Man. If he remembered correctly, Arya and Jaqen had crossed paths in the original storyline. Perhaps he could use this connection to his advantage.

Sometimes, kindred spirits found each other naturally. Just as he and Tyrion had formed an alliance through shared wit and circumstance, perhaps there was an innate bond between Arya and Jaqen. While the idea seemed absurd at first, Aegor decided to take a chance.

“All right, my first rule is this: stop dressing like a boy when you come to me. Learn from your sister and dress properly, like a girl. Then we’ll begin your lessons.”

“What? Why?” Arya frowned.

“What’s special about a girl who dresses like a boy and acts like one? If you want to stand out, be a skilled swordswoman and a proper lady—a rose with thorns. That’s the real challenge, isn’t it?”

Aegor’s reasoning was half-baked at best. He simply didn’t want to waste his precious downtime teaching swordsmanship to a tomboy. But if Arya looked more like a girl, it might at least be a pleasant distraction.

“Hmm... That actually sounds interesting,” Arya muttered, intrigued by the idea of being a “thorned rose.” After a moment of thought, she nodded. “Fine. I’ll start tomorrow.”

“Whenever you’re ready. I’ll be here for the foreseeable future,” Aegor replied with a shrug. “Second rule: before you come here, let your father or one of his guards know and have someone escort you. Even though the Red Keep isn’t far, it’s not safe for a child to wander around alone.”

“I’m not a child anymore!” Arya protested indignantly.

“If you say so,” Aegor said with a smirk. “But if you want me to teach you, don’t cause me unnecessary trouble.”