Inviolable Bindings | Aemond & Aegon II Targaryen

Chapter 44

The horses held a steady speed until dawn rose on the horizon. As the sun grew brighter, they veered off of the main road into a secluded area before daylight would give them away. Eventually, they came up on a small stream and dismounted near it to allow the animals a chance to cool down and drink.

Robbet found his place on a long fallen log, letting out a long sigh as he pulled a piece of bread from the pack. Viserra, however, refused to sit, unable to let her guard down enough to enjoy the moment of rest.

"Are you going to tell me who you are?" She asked, her voice relaying both suspicion and curiosity.

Robbet chuckled, not ashamed of his amusement at her persistence. "I suppose I owe you some sort of explanation," he admitted. "But I do not think it would hurt to first hear just a bit of appreciation for getting you out of that castle."

Viserra pursed her lips and shot him a look. "I am thankful for your help, but how am I to know you do not have ill intentions as well?"

Robbet rolled his eyes and offered her half of the bread that he had taken out. "Come on Viserra," he sighed. "That would be quite the risk to take just to harm you after. If it eases your concerns, I have worked many years now for someone who knows most of the royal happenings in this land. Someone you trust."

Viserra did not need him to say the name out loud, knowing without a doubt that he was in some way affiliated with Larys. Though she thought it bold for him to assume she trusted the man. Truthfully, only a fool would do such a thing. "And what about my chambermaid, Cassella? Has she been in his service as well?"

"I had not met her until my arrival in King's Landing," he explained. "Truthfully I am not sure who her point of contact is and was only told I would be working with a girl fitting her description. From idle chatter, I believe she might come from somewhere close to your home."

This revelation took Viserra by surprise. "Home?" She asked.

"Yes, Volantis I believe?" He answered with a shrug.

The ambiguity of his responses annoyed her, but part of her understood the need for him to remain cautious. Even now, they were still well within reach of those who would already be on the road searching for them.

Processing it all, Viserra finally allowed herself to sit. But even with the new information, she still remained on edge. Finally, she accepted the piece of bread from Robbet, racking through some of what had been revealed to her. If Cassella was indeed from Volantis, or at least had some connection there, had she been sent by her father or someone close to her from home?

As the morning light filtered through the trees, they both ate in silence. Viserra wondered how long it would take to get to Harrenhal and if they had allies along the way to stop and rest when it would be needed most. The plan would be to travel quickly under the safety of nightfall and divert off the Kingsroad during the day.

Robbet reassured her that they would find time to rest when safe, but Viserra pressed that making the best time to Harrenhal was to be of utmost importance. Neither could deny the unease that came from knowing ravens would have already traveled to those loyal to the Blacks. Because of that, Viserra made sure to keep her hair wrapped tight and let Robbet do the talking when they came across others. Each stop was brief but needed to fill their bellies and let the horses rest.

By the morning of the sixth day journeying north, Robbet kept them traveling on the Kingsroad. Viserra, sensing that something had shifted in his plans, pulled her horse up to his to question his reasoning. But before she could voice her concern, Robbet spoke up, knowing exactly what she was going to ask about.

"We are close now," he explained. "Just up ahead, we will go west to arrive at Harrenhal by sundown."

The revelation that they were closer than she had thought sent a wave of emotion barreling in her chest. She felt tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, only just now realizing that she had suppressed so much in the last few weeks.