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How did you go from reciting Valyrian poetry
to sawing off men's feet?
When l was 1 2,
my mother and father went to a wedding.
Weddings in Volantis last for days, you know.
And they left me with my little brother.
The second afternoon they were gone was the hottest day in the three-year summer.
We couldn't bear to be inside, so we ran down to the Rhoyne.
Every child in Volantis was in the Rhoyne that day.
The rich, the poor, we were all there.
Naked, screaming, racing to the little islands.
Drummers were playing for coppers on the east bank.
l was treading water,
talking to a friend,
when l realized l hadn't seen my brother.
l called his name.
Then l started screaming his name.
And then l saw him
floating face down.
My heart juststopped.
l was
l dragged him from the water.
My friend helped me, l think.
l don't even remember.
He was so little.
Then we pulled him onto the riverbank.
And l screamed at him and l shook him.
And he was dead.
Just dead.
A man ran over.
He had a fish tattoo on his face.
ln Volantis, the slaves have tattoos.
So you know what they are without having to talk to them.
And this man worked on a fishing boat.
And he pushed me out of the way.
You have to understand, for a slave to push a highborn girl,
that's death for the man, a terrible death.
But he pushed me out of the way,
and he started pressing on my brother's chest
again and again and again,
until my brother spat out
half of the Rhoyne and cried out.
And the man cradled his head and told him to be calm.
l decided two things that day.
l would not waste my years planning dances and masquerades with the other noble ladies.
And when l came of age,
l would never live in a slave city again.
(SlGHS)
l'm sorry, Your Grace.
You told me of your problems and l've blathered on.
l don't want to marry the Frey girl.
l don't want you to marry her.
But you needed that bridge.
l hope it's a very beautiful bridge.