Rich Man / Tyland Lannister / Aislynn Hightower

48. Threats

"I swear it, I swear it Aislynn!" Alicent remarked. Aislynn blinked back at her.

"I'm still asleep." Aislynn countered.

"Viserys named Aegon is heir!" Tyland gaped back at her.

"He did?"

"His dying breath." Alicent agreed.

"I will gather the council." Tyland agreed.

"I will go back to bed." Aislynn countered.

''The King is dead.'' Otto told them all. Alicent sat at the kings seat silently. Tears in her eyes her hands clasped on the table.  ''We grieve for Viserys the Peaceful... our sovereign... our friend. But he has left us a gift.'' Otto went on calmly. ''With his last breath, he impressed upon the Queen his final wish: that his son, Aegon... should succeed him as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms." There was a small sigh of relief as the council was eager to get this started for Aegons rule.

''Then we may proceed now with the full assurance of his blessing on our long-laid plans." Tyland agreed. 

''Yes. There is much to be done, as we've previously discussed." Otto agreed. Alicent stared at them in disbelief.

''Now, there are two among the captains of the City Watch that remain loyal to Daemon.'' Tyland added. 

"Let us replace them... Lord Lannister." Otto encouraged

''The Treasury is well in hand. The gold will be divided for safekeeping." Tyland assured. Alicent stared confused and speechlessly

''Let ravens be sent to our allies, Riverrun and Highgarden." Otto went on.

" Am I to understand that members of the small council have been planning secretly to install my son without me?" Alicent finally spoke up

''My Queen, there was no need to sully you with darkling schemes." Tyland assured.

"Tyland," Alicent countered her shoulders slumped. 

''I will not have this.'' Beesbury declared standing up in outrage. ''To hear that you are plotting to replace the King's chosen heir with an imposter!''

''His firstborn son is hardly an imposter." Tyland reminded him

''Hundreds of lords and landed knights swore fealty to the Princess." Beesbury countered defensively.

''That was some 20 years ago. Most of them now dead." Tyland corrected.

''You heard the Lord Hand. Plot or no, the King changed his mind." Jasper Wylde told them.

''I am six-and-seventy years old. I have known Viserys longer than any who sit at this table." Beesbury reminded them. ''And I will not believe that he said this on his deathbed, alone, with only the, the boy's mother as a witness. This is seizure! It is theft! It is treason! At the least, it is..." Beesbury went on.

''Mind your tongue, Lyman.'' Otto warned

''The King was well last night... by all accounts. Which of you here can swear that he died of his own accord?" Beesbury glared around the table.

''Which of us are you accusing of regicide, Lord Beesbury?''

''Whether it was one of you, or all of you, I care not." Beesbury yelled. ''I will have no part...'' he moved to leave but Criston slammed him back down.

''Sit down!' Criston demanded and Beesubury screamed out before his head was slammed into the stone. His blood oozing on the table as he slumped lifeless before them.

'' Ser Criston.'' Alicent warned.

''Throw down your sword and remove your cloak, Ser Criston.'' The commander demanded pointing his blade at Criston's armored chest. Criston pulled his blade free but didn't put it down. He held it out pointing his own blade at the commander. ''I am your Lord Commander, Ser Criston. Cast down your sword.''