Two weeks later the township of Terrigal was in for a treat. The Sovereign was at least half repaired. Jack was doing contact training again. The wheat in the field was half grown. Plans had fallen into place, dignitaries had been contacted, this was going to be a fair and an auction to remember.
Brienne's large horse was hitched to the animal cage and Brienne and Caelan sat in the drivers seat. Brienne was in full armor with her sword slung at her side. Her blonde hair was close cropped and her cheeks held a healthy blush. She was a stunningly beautiful example of the barbarian east. Arya and Drena were both riding chargers in the rear. Drena was dressed as a swashbuckler and Arya had her full gear on, two needles at her side. A young Amanian man that juggled a pair of curved blades named Mangana was at the wagon's front side. They had hired him at the last minute to add a local flavor to the proceedings. He was a likable lad and an amazing acrobat as well. A couple of local horn players led the group off. They would be the fanfare. Jiemba was dressed as a young Amanian bride and she sparkled in her beauty. But Calancy was stunning in her princess dress and tiara, The two young ladies were to ride on stools in the cage and they each had large bags of flower petals, colorful paper and bright ribbons which they were to throw in the air. They were to wave at the crowd and litter the path with their confetti.
Everyone was holding their breath waiting for Nymeria to enter the cage so they could begin. She went around and sniffed every one and everything, shocking the horn players and Mangana and causing the horse to whinny and stutter. At last she circled the cage and entered it. Ned meowed loudly and jumped into the cage from the side. Nymeria sat down and howled when the cage door shut. It was so loud no one on the streets of town could miss it. It was lunch time and the streets were packed. Brienne nodded to the horn players and they blew a loud fanfare and they were off. The wagon followed slowly and the others found their pace.
As they passed the Sovereign a long line of yard workers and crewmen cheered their passing the girls practiced their petal throwing and the group rounded the turn out onto the towns streets. As they entered the main street through town the passersby were transfixed at the dire wolf, the giant horse and the strange foreigners passing by. The two girls were waving excitedly at the crowds and strewing petals, and young children would run out to grab ribbons as keepsakes, shrieking at the scary dire wolf and ducking back into the crowd. The crowd began cheering them on to the familiar fanfares being blown.
They oohed and aah-ed at Mangana's acrobatics and juggling and they marveled at the strangers. Ned thrilled the crowd jumping out of the cage and running along side and then jumping back in with the vicious dire wolf. As the parade reached the far end of the street where they would turn and head for home, 5 giant hooded and masked men pushed through the crowd onto the street. The three in back rushed Arya and Drena before they could react. One body slammed Drena's horse causing it to rear and throw her, before she hit the ground her blade was out and she cut the mans legs out from under him. The crowd screamed as one and fell back at the sight of so much blood and the attack. The idea that it was a part of the show fled their minds then. The horn players dove into the safety of the crowd. Mangana realized this was a real attack with deadly consequences and he cut the arm from the man that was charging on Calancy's side, as his dagger was drawn and pointed at her. The man screamed and fell writhing on the street. Brienne handed the reigns to Caelan, jumped down and decapitated the dark figure coming in on Jiemba's side. Her great sword cleaved his neck with out slowing down, the head rolled on the ground and the body fell spouting blood. The two remaining men rushed at Arya and she deflected one's attack with her bracer, but the front one slashed at her side and barely sliced her. He was poised to deliver a death blow but Nymeria had pawed open the door and crushed his throat with a snarl. Drena dispatched the other with a sword through the chest. They had survived the attack. Members of the towns guard ran into the street shielding the crowd and maintaining order. A town dignitary rushed into the street and knocked out the still living man. He unmasked him exposing a broad face with a large hooked nose, high cheek bones and a prominent brow ridge. He shouted, "Agents of Zon...!" The crowd dispersed and Brienne threw the bodies of the dead men onto the top of the cage and the group bolted for home. Drena asked Arya if she was all right and Arya nodded saying it was just a scratch.
As they entered the shipyard Arya slipped from her horse in a stupor. Drena shouted, "Shes been poisoned!" They gather her up and rushed her to the infirmary.