Breakbones and the Dragonrider

Chapter 35

It was the hardest thing Harwin had done in recent memory. As the scene unfolded in the courtyard, his blood raced through his veins, and all he saw was red.

"Use your feet," Criston Cole had instructed Aegon as he sparred with young Jacaerys. Aegon's foot collided with Jace's chest, sending him backwards. "Don't let him get up." Harwin's eyes shot to the king on the balcony, waiting for him to interfere, and... nothing. And without thinking, he stayed Aegon's sparring sword before it came down on his much-younger, and much-smaller son.

"You forget yourself, Strong, that is the prince," Cole had said—and what was Jacaerys? Was he not also the prince? The heir to the throne? What was the recourse when it came to unmitigated cruelty at the hands of the man charged with training him to fight?

He had thought the worst of it was over until...

"Your interest in the princeling's training is quite unusual, commander. Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a cousin, or a brother, or a son..."

And there, in the courtyard, Harwin turned to Criston Cole, and did... nothing. Gods above, he had wanted nothing more than to shut him up the way he had done those years ago in the melee. But there, with the king and his father on the balcony, Harwin swallowed his pride and anger and thought only of Rhaenyra.

"Boys..." Harwin said, looking to Jace and Luke. "Go upstairs to your mother. Your training is over for today."

Jace and Luke looked from each other, to Cole, to Harwin, unsure of whom to obey, and at length heeded the commander's orders. Together they handed Harwin their sparring swords, and they both walked off towards Rhaenyra's quarters.

The feline grin that spread across Cole's face only added insult to injury. Harwin flexed his jaw, and placed the swords back on the rack.

"What, afraid your boys are unmatched?" Cole said.

"The princes are unmatched," Harwin said, still not taking the bait. "Those boys are half Prince Aegon's size."

Cole took a few steps forward, pausing only a few feet from Harwin. "Don't worry Strong," Cole said, so that only the two of them could hear. "I'm sure they'll grow into their father's strength in no time."

Harwin shook the whole way back to Rhaenyra's quarters. How had the king not interfered, when it came to Rhaenyra's children? Viserys the Peaceful, indeed...

When he had come through the doors, he found Rhaenyra standing with the boys, her hands caressing the boys' dark curly hair in a comforting gesture. Rhaenyra's eyes cheated up towards him when she heard the door open.

"What happened, Ser Harwin? Boys, why are you back early from training?" she looked down at the boys, who sheepishly looked back to Harwin.

"Boys, will you give me and your mother a moment, please?" he asked. They both nodded, and headed to their rooms.

When Harwin heard their doors close, Harwin sunk into the couch, placing his head in his hands.

Rhaenyra stood stock still, looking down at Harwin as he nearly fell apart. He shook his head after a moment.

"I couldn't just stand by as Prince Aegon brutalized our son in the sparring ring," Harwin said.

"What did you do?" Rhaenyra asked, her heart beating faster.

Harwin looked up at Rhaenyra, and for a moment he was relieved he hadn't acted on his baser instincts. "I... put my hands on Aegon. Only to pull him away as he bore down on Jace..."

"But they were just sparring, Harwin, how else will he learn—" Rhaenyra started.

"Criston Cole ordered him to act with cruelty," Harwin said, more forcefully than he would have liked. He walked back his emotion, and continued. "And your father stood by, and did nothing to intervene. Jace will make a fine fighter, but he's still a boy almost half Aegon's size."