THE SAVAGE PRINCE, rhaenyra targaryen || hotd

11. ...or a son

...OR A SON
CHAPTER ELEVEN

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈

Maegor takes his legitimate sons to the courtyard to train their sparing skills against each other.
The other royal lads are being trained by Ser Criston Cole, much to Maegor's disgust.

Gaemon is still training against a strawman dummy. The elder twins have already taken the next step and are training their feet movement against each other.
Aegon, Aemond, Jacaerys and Lucerys too, train against strawman dummies.

Maegor councils Maekar to fix his footing, be lighter on the feet and Gaemon to better the grip on his wooden sword.
From afar, he sees Aegon being distracted by maids who pass by, which bothers him. Ser Criston asks for Aegon's attention and orders he and Aemond bout against himself. The lads struggle to even touch Criston.

Maegor, seeing the lack of attention Criston gives Rhaenyra's children, approaches them.
"Weapons up, boys. Give your enemies no quarter." Maegor tells them. Turning to Criston.

"It seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention, Criston." Maegor says.
"You question my method of instruction, my Prince?" Criston asks.
"As a matter of fact, I do. And I suggest your method applies to all your pupils. Or do I need to come and do the work myself?" Maegor asks.

"Very well. Jacaerys, you will spar with Prince Aegon." Criston says, grabbing Jacaerys by the chest piece of the boy's armor. Jacaerys smacked his wooden sword against Criston's wrist, making him drop his hold immediately.

"That's Prince Jacaerys to you." Maegor says.
"Prince Jacaerys will spar with Prince Aegon. Eldest son against eldest son." Criston corrects himself.
"Remember what I have taught you." Maegor tells the boy, he nods at him.

"Blades up. Engage." Criston orders. Aegon charges at Jacaerys, screaming. Jacaerys blocks the attack, turning and using his smaller body and agility to his favor.
"Come here." Aegon grunts, swinging his sword. Jacaerys dodges the attack, Aegon's rage only increasing as his nephew bested him with every opportunity he had. Aegon almost falls into a strawman dummy, he shoves ut into Maegerys.

"Foul play!" Maegor shouts.
"I'll deal with it." Criston says, reuniting with Aegon. Maegor does the same, grabbing Jacaerys by the shoulder.
"Use your agility, he's unfocused, use that, too. He's a body filled with rage, that's bad for him." Maegor says, Jacaerys nods.

Aegon charges furiously at his nephew, who quickly defends himself. But he gets caught with the dummy and falls to his back onto the ground.
"Don't let him get up! Stay on the attack!" Criston orders as Aegon beats Jacaerys without need.

"Enough!" Maegor shouts, grabbing Aegon's sword that was in the air and pushing him away. Aegon yells.
"You dare put hands on me?" Aegon shouts.
"Aegon!" Viserys yells from above the stairs to the courtyard.

"You forget yourself. That is the Prince." Criston says.
"You forget yourself. I, too, am a Prince. Aegon's elder cousin. You are no one Criston." Maegor says.

"Your interest in the princelings training is quite unusual, my Prince. Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a brother, in rare cases a nephew... or a son." Criston taunts, revealing he whispers about Maegor's relations to Rhaenyra's children.

Maegor turns back and punches Criston several times on his face, knocking him to the ground. Maegor keeps punching him until two Kingsguard members and other two Targaryen household guards hold him back. Maegor laughs.

"Where's your battle instincts, Crispin? I thought you were ready for all types of battle with any opponent, fair match or not. I took you down twice now. What's it gonna take for you to knock me down even once? Keep talking about things you don't know and maybe you'll meet your fate sooner than you might wish." Maegor says, brushing off the men holding him back and chuckling as he walks to his sons.