Black Balaq

Balaq

Alias	Black Balaq
Allegiance	Golden Company
Culture	Summer Islander
Book(s)	A Dance with Dragons (appears)

Black Balaq is a sellsword in service to the Golden Company, in command of the company's archers.

Appearance

Balaq is a white-haired Summer Islander with skin as dark as soot. He wears his worldly wealth upon his person, including a feathered cloak of green and orange which is magnificent to behold. He wears a lord’s ransom in golden arm rings. ^[1]

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Black Balaq is present during Jon Connington's rendezvous with the Golden Company three miles south of Volon Therys. Like the rest of the company, Balaq swears his allegiance to Aegon Targaryen before they invade Westeros.^{[citation needed]}

For the long voyage to Westeros Jon insists that Harry Strickland break Balaq's command into ten companies of a hundred men and place each company upon a different ship. Six of the ships stay together well enough to deliver their passengers to the shores of Cape Wrath, which leaves the company with six hundred bows until the lagging ships turn up. For the taking of Griffin's Roost two hundred bows are sufficient.^{[citation needed]}

During the victors' feast in the castle's great hall, Jon presides from the Griffin's seat while Black Balaq shares the high table with Homeless Harry Strickland, Franklyn Flowers, and the three young Conningtons they had taken captive. Balaq is one of nine men present during the company's war council.^[2]

References