The Splendid Times of Braavos

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"Only if my prince joins me," the Nightingale said, pouring for him and summoning the maid to bring more wine to the table. "I hate drinking alone."

[The Stranger]

Aellion laughed, "I am drinking stupid silly bird." He gestured to his wine filled cup.

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"What about your sweet brother and sister, Your Grace?" the Nightingale cooed, offering him a platter of grapes. "I should like to sing for them too."

[The Stranger]

Aellion's smile stopped. "Why? I'm more royalty than you are like to be able to handle anyway." He said, sniffing the air in mild irritation.

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"That is true," the Nightingale said soothingly, her eyes warm with admiration. "You are magnificent, Your Grace. I was merely eager to pay my respects to your noble kin. After all, by showing my respect to them, I am showing my respect to you. It is a measure of my love for you that I would greet your brother and sister."

[The Stranger]

Aellion snorted, "Well, I'd rather you show your love and respect to Lord Head than those two tiresome fools." He pointed at the decaying head.

"Give Lord Head a kiss, as a sign of your respect for me."

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"Which pleasure," the Nightingale said smoothly. She leaned across Aellion, close enough for him to smell her perfume, and delicately kissed the rotting, decaying, maggot-infested head on a bare patch of leathery skin.

[The Stranger]

"Ewww she really did it!" Aellion squealed in delight, before pouring the woman another glass of wine.

"Now Songbird, you are a Courtesan that is correct?"

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"I am," the Nightingale purred, lifting her glass to him before drinking from it.

[The Stranger]

"Now explain to us... non-Braavosi, the difference between a Courtesan, and a whore." Aellion asked, putting his hand on his chin, with rapt attention.

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"A whore can be bought for one night," the Nightingale explained. "But no amount of gold can buy a courtesan for just one night. We do not sell our bodies like that. We are companions, cultured and learned. We can sing and write poetry and dance and entertain. And in the arts of love, our talents are unmatched and not for just any man with coin."

[The Stranger]

"So the only difference between you and a whore, is after I've fucked you, I'm stuck with you afterwards? That doesn't sound like much of a bargain at all." Aellion laughed uproariously, and his sycophants dutifully laughed as well.

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The Nightingale merely smiled politely.

[The Stranger]

"Not a peep from our little song bird? That won't do at all. Sing us another song Nightingale." Aellion said, as dinner was brought to the table.

[Deleted]

The Nightingale's voice washed over them, breathtaking in its melody and loveliness, but the song she sang was a merry, bawdy tune about seven drunken oarsmen.