Traitor / Larys Strong / Otto Hightower (3)

7Magnanimous

"Atticus, what are you still doing up?" Aelsa questioned. 

"Aegon invited me for a drink." 

"A drink." She repeated. 

"Be cool about it mum." Atticus begged. "I'm 13."

"Yes..." Aelsa agreed slowly. "I have some business with Aemond, I will fetch you when I'm done." 

"Thanks mum." Atticus agreed running into the throne room. 

"There he is! My future commander right?" Aegon declared "This kid whipped my ass when we were younger, I'm not too man to admit it." Atticus smiled taking a seat on the steps beside Aegon's friends. "Atticus Strong."

"Your mum is hot." Leon added. 

"Gross." Atticus countered. 

"I see why Aegon chose her as hand." Martyn added. 

"Double gross." Atticus laughed out. 

"We've wasted precious days in this war of quills and ravens. Words are wind." Aemond remarked. "You should be leading the van, and I should be flying cover on Vhagar." He decided turning to Criston. "No castle would dare to raise Rhaenyra's banner against us. We would bring the whole of the Crownlands to heel in weeks."

"Well, mayhaps we could petition the king, privately, to send us out." Criston agreed. He moved the coins along the map to indicate houses. "Rosby and Stokeworth, small castles right in the shadow of King's Landing. They would not want us for enemies."

"We could add their levies to our own. Our host growing as we advance." Aemond added switching the pieces.

"Uh, it is a canny scheme."

" I need to be a symbol for the smallfolk, as well as the nobility." Aegon was saying from the throne.

" Wait." Cheese whispered.

" You could always be "Aegon the Strong"."

"My nephew's already taken that one." Aegon corrected looking to Atticus. "Right?" 

"I'm team Aegon." Atticus assured. 

"I like that." Aegon decided. 

" Well, which would Your Grace prefer?" Leon questioned.

" It's the king." Cheese whispered from the balcony.

"To be loved or feared?" Leon questioned.

"I need to be both." Aegon admitted. "My mother and grandsire mind me like some helpless duckling."

"And your hand?" 

Aelsa listened at the door from Aemond's room. 

"But moot. My brother is hostage to my grandsire and mother, and they tell him that a war of dragons can yet be avoided." Aemond scoffed. "Aelsa at least understands that dragons can help us win but doesnt want to resort to that. "

"Mass murder." Aelsa agreed coming in. Criston rose up quickly. 

"Aelsa understands." Aemond added looking to her. 

"What do I understand Aemond?" Aelsa pondered taking a seat. "Otto fears to upset the order of things. And Alicent is simply... angry." Aemond answered.

" Angry?" Aelsa pondered. 

" She blames me for starting this war after she plotted with my father's council to usurp his throne." Aemond answered. 

"Well yes, double standard." Aelsa agreed. "But it wasnt her plotting." 

"No?" Aemond scoffed. "Her Grace" speaks with two tongues." Aemond corrected.