Calancy approached Nymeria and placed a hand on her muzzle leaning in to whisper in her ear. She turned to look at Arya and said. "She good now." She opened the cage door, somehow, locked as it was and stepped to the dock leading Nymeria. The group stood in shock and all stepped back. "Can you speak to her, does she understand you?" "Tell her I had to chase her away, they would have killed her." Arya was nearly whimpering when she asked. Calancy spoke low to the wolf who looked towards Arya. "She hears." Calancy murmured. "Tell her i had dreams of her." Arya sobbed. Calancy look confused and said "Dreams?" Arya pantomimed sleeping and stuff going in her head. The girl nodded and whispered to the wolf again. Nymeria sat on the worn wharf boards and raised a paw to Arya. Arya sobbed and ran to her hugging the wolfs neck. Tears streamed down her face. The others stood dumbfounded watching this exchange, except Bran who once again stated "She can't go free Arya!" "I'll do your blasted mission Bran." Arya whimpered drying her eyes. A familiar snarl crossed her face. "I swore off sailing, you know this." "But I'll be damned if I let you kill my wolf now that I have her back!"
A train of wagons pulled up short, not willing to go anywhere near that wolf. Bran nodded at them and turned his chair to face Arya. "There's enough supply's in these to last a crew of 45 for 7 months." "Wood and iron for repairs and sundry other items." "Spare sails, spare rigging, there is even a spare mast." Brienne stepped forward saying "Arya I swore to protect you before and if you'll have us these 6 other knights and two archers will defend you with our lives." "If you allow, we will walk the girl and wolf down the dock some, so that these wagons can unload." Arya looked at her. "We maybe sailing off the edge of the world you know?" "And you're still willing?" As Brienne nodded a guffaw came from a young man still near Bran. "We live on a globe you know, there is no edge to the world." Bran laughed and said "This is Thomas, your navigator, map maker and inventor." "He will chronicle your voyage as well." "And Gendry here you know, he will be your blacksmith." "He has a further gift to present to you."
Gendry took a step towards Arya and then stopped. Brienne laughed and herded Calancy and the wolf forward down the dock towards the incoming ship. The other men at arms followed several steps behind, hands on sword hilts. The wagons moved forward and began unloading, crates, boxes and whole sides of beef. Barrel after barrel of who knows what stacked all across the wharf. A gantry system with winches was used to lift the goods on board the Sovereign.
Gendry shuffled forward and unfurled a large piece of bronze shaped like a long dragon he had been carrying. "Thomas and I...well mostly Thomas...made this after a pattern he designed." He held up a heavy ball the size of a plum. "This goes in here, the mouth of the dragon." Thomas coughed and began to describe "The device operates on a confined explosion which expels the shot out of the barrel at rapid speeds." "A thunder box if you will.... Arya raised her hand and narrowed her eyes at Thomas "Are you always like this?" "Like what" he trailed off. As Arya studied the bronze weapon Bran continued on with introductions. "You've met Captain Dirk, this gentleman is Captain Springer." "You will find aboard the current pilot Captain Portsmith." Arya glanced up at the younger Springer, a stalwart of a man fully 6 foot tall. His darkly bearded visage perfectly describing health and vigor. "Three captains? How is that supposed to work?" Arya wondered aloud. Captain Dirk interjected. "Lass a 4 masted ship requires 2 in charge on deck at all times, one for the wheel and one for mastering the sails." "3 of us insures an acceptable rotation of rest and command." Bran chuckled and said. "Arya you know little of sailing such a large ship." "These three will handle that part and be advisors to your ownership command." "You can form yourself an advisory council to inform your decisions about the mission, but you alone will decide." "Your crew will also have 2 doctors, two cooks and two ship carpenters." "The Sovereign's draft is 28 foot and she can carry upwards of 2 tons of cargo, but she isn't meant for shallow waters. There is a 20 foot sloop lashed on deck for shallow water work." "We really tried to think of everything Arya, we spared no expense." "This mission is that important." Arya looked at him intently. "Why Bran?" "What aren't you telling me?" Bran looked somber. "There's trouble coming Arya and from the west. I mean for you to flesh out what we will be facing, with intelligence of whom and what exactly the enemy is." "Return to us dear sister, intact and with a deeper understanding of whats coming."