-Chapter 87-
-POV Harrold Shett-
I arrived on the outskirts of the Stone Crows' chiefs camp late at night, accompanied by 500 knights of the Order of the Bronze Shield.
I knew most of them, as I had been their instructor during their training to make them knights worthy of the name.
'Knights worthy enough to protect House Royce,' I thought, allowing myself a moment's reflection on the late Lord Yorbert, who had the foresight to make his grandson his heir.
'Since the passing of the late lord, House Royce has taken on an entirely new stature. Even without the Prince's dragons, it's not far from rivaling the Great Houses of the Realm.'
I raised my right hand and clenched my fist to signal the troop to slow down, which we did gradually until we were within a hundred meters of the camp.
I didn't announce myself, nor did I advance any further, simply standing there, waiting for the clan chiefs to come and meet me.
It only took a few seconds before they arrived, which made me wonder, as they came far too quickly.
'As if they already knew I was coming,' I thought, scanning for scouts positioned above but finding none.
The Stone Crow leader stepped forward and said, looking at me with slight disdain:
"So, what did your..."
"Prince, fool," said another man to the Stone Crow leader, who seemed to be searching for the right word.
'How can I blame him? He hardly seems to speak the Common Tongue, too busy talking in their barbaric language to even try to learn,' I thought, slightly disgusted at the sight of these savages.
This one looked at the man wearing an impressive number of ears around his neck and said:
"Say again that Galfr is a fool, and you'll taste my axe."
'And he speaks in the third person on top of it,' I thought, exasperated by the situation.
Seeing the Stone Crow leader, far less imposing than the seven-foot idiot leading the Black Ears, I decided to step in: "That's enough!"
They both turned to me as I advanced slightly, expertly maneuvering my horse: "The Prince has decided not to allow you to attack House Arryn and its vassals."
"See, Galfr was right!" the giant bellowed, furious.
The Black Ears' leader didn't contradict the giant this time and said:
"Our fathers taught us to distrust the lords of the Vale; they were right. We were fools to believe you, but we will have our revenge."
Seeing their offended demeanor as they turned to plan their reprisal, a deep resentment rose in me.
'They dare speak to me like this when I could end their lives here and now.'
'Not to mention what Prince Aemon could do to their entire clans.'
"I'm not finished!" I said in a strong tone that froze them in place.
I waited for them to turn back around before continuing slowly, in a firm and authoritative voice:
"Prince Aemon is aware that you are likely unhappy with the turn of events, but he has sent me to invite you to dine with him and his family."
"It's a trap! You're trying to trick Galfr to poison him because you're too cowardly to face Galfr in mortal combat," cried the giant, ranting.
'As if we needed such tactics to kill you. You fight with pitchforks and don't even wear leather armor,' I thought, casting a disdainful look at Galfr's makeshift armor patched together with various pieces.
I refrained from rolling my eyes at this foolish behavior and observed the other clan chiefs, who were thinking it over. They all eventually turned to a young man, who nodded and said:
"Very well, we accept."
'If I remember correctly, he's the leader of the Moon Brothers. He's very young to have so much influence in this alliance,' I noted.
The giant shook his head firmly and, agitated, said, "Galfr does not accept..."
"Galfr, brave as you may be, you know as well as I do that if Prince Aemon wanted to trap us, he would simply fly over on his dragon and burn us all," replied the young man, whose name I didn't know.
'Which is exactly what he threatened to do after Daman's death, and now you're all wagging your tails like the little dogs you are,' I thought, feeling a deep hatred for the mountain clans since Robert's death.
'A nephew I loved like a son, whom I practically raised,' I thought.
The giant frowned and said, "Galfr will come."
"Very well, get ready; we leave within the hour. The Prince awaits you," I said.
---
-POV Rhea Royce-
As I entered my room, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind, and I allowed myself a few moments, savoring this embrace, my eyes closed.
The feeling of having someone to share the weight I bore constantly warmed my heart, but the sensation faded as I recalled the argument I had with my son.
'It's been a long time since we argued like that,' I thought, not shocked by the argument's intensity, but rather by my son's cold attitude toward the man who had managed to fill a certain void within me.
'I don't want to be intrusive, but for Aemon's balance, you'll have to quickly define your place in this family: Are you Aemon's mother, or are you Rhea Royce?'
What hurt me the most, aside from Aemon's tone, was his look. It wasn't cold or resentful, but rather a look clouded by a thin layer of anger, hiding the pain of betrayal.
I took a deep breath before saying, "Willem, Aemon knows about us."
"Of course he knows," Willem replied, covering my neck in kisses.
I frowned and pulled away from his embrace, asking:
"What do you mean by 'Of course he knows'?"
Willem frowned, confused: "It's been three years now; how could he not know, especially with us living in his domain?"
"That was not our agreement. No one was supposed to know," I whispered furiously, fearing someone might overhear.
"And I didn't tell anyone," Willem replied, annoyed, without bothering to lower his voice.
"Speak more quietly," I said, prompting him to roll his eyes. After a few seconds, I asked him, "And your men?"
Willem shook his head firmly: "My men haven't said anything either. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some nosy servants who reported this to the bastard."
I frowned and said, "Rogar? What interest would he have in harming me?"
Willem nodded and then replied:
"By tarnishing your perfect image in your son's eyes, he becomes his closest advisor."
'That would also explain how Aemon learned so quickly that I had appointed Willem as Jeyne Arryn's guard…'