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Arya

High," Syrio Forel called out, slashing at her head The stick swords clacked as Arya parried

"Left," he shouted, and his blade ca Hers darted to ether

"Right," he said, and "Low," and "Left," and "Left" again, faster and faster,each blow

"Lunge," he warned, and when he thrust she sidestepped, swept his blade away, and slashed at his shoulder She alrin A strand of hair dangled in her eyes, limp with sweat She pushed it aith the back of her hand

"Left," Syrio sang out "Low" His sas a blur, and the Sh Left Right Left Low Left!"

The wooden blade caught her high in the breast, a sudden stinging blow that hurt all theside "Ow," she cried out She would have a fresh bruise there by the time she went to sleep, somewhere out at sea A bruise is a lesson, she told herself, and each lesson makes us better

Syrio stepped back "You are dead now"

Arya made a face "You cheated," she said hotly "You said left and you went right"

"Just so And now you are a dead girl"

"But you lied!"

"My words lied My eyes and "

"I was so," Arya said "I watched you every second!"

"Watching is not seeing, dead girl The water dancer sees Co now"

She followed him over to the wall, where he settled onto a bench "Syrio Forel was first sword to the Sealord of Braavos, and are you knowing how that came to pass?"

"You were the finest swordsman in the city"

"Just so, but why? Other er, as Syrio Forel the best? I will tell you now" He touched the tip of his little finger lightly to his eyelid "The seeing, the true seeing, that is the heart of it

"Hear me The ships of Braavos sail as far as the winds blow, to lands strange and wonderful, and when they return their captains fetch queer anierie Such anireat spotted things with necks as long as stilts, hairy ers that carry their cubs in a pouch, terrible walking lizards with scythes for claws Syrio Forel has seen these things

"On the day I a of, the first sas newly dead, and the Sealord sent for me Many bravos had come to him, and as many had been sent away, none could say why When I came into his presence, he was seated, and in his lap was a fat yellow cat He told ht the beast to him, from an island beyond the sunrise ‘Have you ever seen her like?’ he asked of ht in the alleys of Braavos I see a thousand like hihed, and that day I was named the first sword"

Arya screwed up her face "I don’t understand"

Syrio clicked his teeth together "The cat was an ordinary cat, no more The others expected a fabulous beast, so that is what they sa large it was, they said It was no larger than any other cat, only fat from indolence, for the Sealord fed it from his own table What curious small ears, they said Its ears had been cheay in kitten fights And it was plainly a tomcat, yet the Sealord said ‘her,’ and that is what the others saw Are you hearing?"

Arya thought about it "You saas there"

"Just so Opening your eyes is all that is needing The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true Look with your eyes Hear with your ears Taste with your mouth Smell with your nose Feel with your skin Then co the truth"

"Just so," said Arya, grinning

Syrio Forel allowed hi this Winterfell of yours, it will be time to put this needle in your hand"

"Yes!" Arya said eagerly "Wait till I show Jon--"

Behind her the great wooden doors of the S crash Arya whirled

A knight of the Kingsguard stood beneath the arch of the door with five Lannister guardsmen arrayed behind him He was in full armor, but his visor was up Arya remembered his droopy eyes and rustcolored whiskers fro: Ser Meryn Trant The red cloaks wore mail shirts over boiled leather and steel caps with lion crests "Arya Stark," the knight said, "come with us, child"

Arya chewed her lip uncertainly "What do you want?"

"Your father wants to see you"

Arya took a step forward, but Syrio Forel held her by the ar Lannister "

"Mind your place, dancing master," Ser Meryn said "This is no concern of yours"

"My father wouldn’t send you," Arya said She snatched up her stick sword The Lannisters laughed

"Put down the stick, girl," Ser Meryn told her "I auard, the White Swords"

"So was the Kingslayer when he killed the old king," Arya said "I don’t have to go with you if I don’t want"

Ser Meryn Trant ran out of patience "Take her," he said to his men He lowered the visor of his helm

Three of the softly with each step Arya was suddenly afraid Fear cuts deeper than swords, she told herself, to slow the racing of her heart

Syrio Forel stepped between theainst his boot "You will be stopping there Are you s that you would threaten a child?"

"Out of the way, old man," one of the red cloaks said

Syrio’s stick caainst his hel to me with more respect"

"Bald bastard" The ly fast Arya heard a loud crack as the sent clattering to the stone floor "My hand," the guardsers

"You are quick, for a dancing master," said Ser Meryn

"You are slow, for a knight," Syrio replied

"Kill the Braavosi and bring ht in the white aruardsers, spat and pulled free a dagger with his left hand

Syrio Forel clicked his teeth together, sliding into his water dancer’s stance, presenting only his side to the foe "Arya child," he called out, never looking, never taking his eyes off the Lannisters, "we are done with dancing for the day Best you are going now Run to your father"

Arya did not want to leave hiht her to do as he said "Swift as a deer," she whispered

"Just so," said Syrio Forel as the Lannisters closed

Arya retreated, her oord stick clutched tightly in her hand Watching hi with her when they dueled The red cloaks came at him from three sides with steel in their hands They had chainmail over their chest and arms, and steel codpieces sewn into their pants, but only leather on their legs Their hands were bare, and the caps they wore had noseguards, but no visor over the eyes

Syrio did not wait for them to reach him, but spun to his left Arya had never seen a man move as fast He checked one sith his stick and whirled away from a second Off balance, the second man lurched into the first Syrio put a boot to his back and the red cloaks went down together The third guard ca at the water dancer’s head Syrio ducked under his blade and thrust upward The guards as blood welled from the wet red hole where his left eye had been