VIRTUE [vaeryia]

[attr="class","textie"]Some years ago.

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The commander of the Golden Company stood upon a cliff that overlooked the coastline. The mercenaries had set up camp, but unlike a regular formation of drunkards and brawlers, they were a military unit with discipline. To the last man. To the last moment.[break][break]

The camp was protected by the cliffs from the sea, the approach via land made difficult by rugged terrain; sharp stones and sandy hills made for a steep climb, while the company's cross bow regiment could take their time aiming. The Golden Company wasn't currently employed, but one could never be sure in the Disputed Lands. The patch of dirt had been the war ground for the cities of Lys, Myr and Tyrosh for a couple hundreds of years. The pale sand belied the fact that it had drunken ungodly amounts of blood. The company had fought here often. But lately, their stride had been halted.

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Tyrosh was traditionally a safe haven for the Blackfyre army, well-connected to the city by the history of exile. But when Aenys Blackfyre had returned to Westeros, making peace with the Targaryens, the the city of Tyrosh had felt betrayed. While they hadn't been exactly stolen from, they had certainly expected a larger investment return for siding with Blackfyre over Targaryen. But the times were unkind to everyone.

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The break with Tyrosh had created an ironic situation for the Golden Company. Having turned on their last employer, the city of Qohor, after they had refused to pay for services rendered, they had created an example. They had certainly redeemed the debt that was owed during the plundering of the city. But that had also made other cities more reluctant to deal with the sons of Bittersteel.[[break][break]

Maekar didn't like to break procedure, but in trying times, one didn't have the luxury. Sometimes virtues meant more than being alive. If it didn't, they would just be another mercenary company. And they weren't. They were knights in exile. "Send her in," he muttered, worn down from the siege and the sacking that had followed. His men were supposed to spend their gold. Not sit on it.

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