Traitor / Larys Strong / Otto Hightower (3)

12. Risk Your Life

" Good morrow, Your Grace. My lords. " Criston said taking a seat " Forgive my lateness."

'' Important business, no doubt." Aegon assured.

"Like crying at the loss of your station within a day of getting it." Aelsa agreed. Criston pursed his lips in answer.

"You've appointed new knights" Criston countered avoiding aelsa gaze. " to the Kingsguard, Your Grace."

" To replace those we lost." Aelsa agreed. "The last one needlessly, some might say." Aelsa added. "And remind me whos fault-"

"Ser Arryk was awarded the great duty of ending Rhaenyra's challenge." Aegon agreed. "He failed to discharge it."

"He failed because the scheme was rash." Alicent agreed.

"Perhaps, Your Grace, but we cannot all hide in our castles waiting for war to come to us." Criston looked pointedly to Alicent. 

"As now it surely will." She agreed.

"You two are too tense. Need to work something out?" Aelsa queried "because now is not the time for whatever is going through your heads."

"it already has." Ollivander spoke up. "House Bracken took it upon themselves to attack the Blackwoods, who declared for the pretender. Lord Samwell Blackwood himself is slain." He added.

" Good. First blood in our name." Awgon agreed. "I should make you my master of war not coin."

"Both sides took heavy losses, Your Grace." Tyland countered. "I-I'm not entirely certain we can declare this a victory.  The Blackwoods and the Brackens have feuded for centuries. This is nothing more than an excuse for them to indulge their ancient grudge. It's no true war."

"I agree with my cousin. Its just giving the lesser houses reason to draw blood but if they win then they win for us. Its the losong that worries me," aelsa informed them.

"Call it what you will... I call it war." Aegon corrected stabbing his dagger down.  "And so will Dragonstone." he added. "The question is, what are we going to do about it?"

"We send a raven to Lord Tully." the maester answered. "These houses are his vassals, are they not? He must control them."

"Lord Grover Tully is a flaccid, old fool" aelsa countered. "We should see who really holds power if anyone in the riverlands"

"Agres he couldn't control his cock in a cunny. Begging your pardon, Your Grace." Jasper added.

"Do you have any better suggestions, Lord Jasper?" Aegon countered.

"Your lord uncle Ormund marches from Oldtown  at the head of a great host, Your Grace. And your brother Daeron's dragon nears fighting age. Call on them to suppress the Riverlands." Jasper suggested.

" good for the future but not now." Aelsa cut in. "Daeron even flying his little fledging, wouldnt do much good without an army and they are months away."

"My lord brother Jason is raising a great army at Casterly Rock. In a matter of weeks, he will be able to harass the Blackwoods from the west." Tyland assured. 

"Should we not aim to unite these armies" Orwyle countered. "and then strike as one?"

"Ah, the great military mind of the Citadel." Tyland agreed.

" I served the realm..."

"Do remind me, which link in your chain denotes the art of war?" Tyland countered.

"We cannot be expected to win if we are constantly bickering among ourselves." Aelsa cut in and tyland silenced.

"This council must rediscover the discipline it lately had if it's to be of any use." Alicent spoke up.

"The Riverlands are the key to the war." Criston decided.

"The Riverlands are one key to the war." Aelsa corrected. "Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands. Its the largest and has survived many great travesties. It can hold and house armies."

LI will ride out with those I can muster here. Men I know, men I've trained." Criston agreed.

"You need time to raise the numbers to challenge the Rivermen." Alicent corrected.

"Speed is my ally. I will turn the Crownland houses who declared for Rhaenyra to our cause. We will add their numbers to our own and then turn west. Where I will enlist the Brackens, subdue the Riverlands, and take Harrenhal." Criston corrected. Aelsa nodded knowing there was no stopping criston. He would do what he wanted.

"Fine. But the capital will not be weakened by your leaving with our best men." Aelsa added.

"Of course not. I will assure it." Criston agreed

"And i will assure it further because you have been known to let things slip." Aelsa clarified.

"So impatient to ride with so few men. So like to be destroyed by the first stronghold you meet." Alicent demanded.  "A bold scheme indeed."

"Well, the gods favor the bold." Criston countered.

" They did not favor Ser Arryk." She challenged.

"Arryk wasnt bold. He was a fool." Aelsa corrected. "A bold man would have said no to cole."

"What say you, my king?" Criston countered looking away from the women.

"And you'll take Aemond and Vhagar?" Aegon pondered.

"Vhagar will remain here..." aelsa corrected, Aemond hesitated turning a coin over his knuckles. "to defend the city." She clarified.

"Agreed." Criston said.

"Good. To war, then." Aegon declared. "I'll come, too, with Sunfyre."

" Aegon." alicent begged.

"Your Grace." Criston agreed.

"No." Aelsa demanded.

" You'll need a dragon." Aegon corrected

"No. Under the radar. They dont." Aelsa assured.

"My plan is not to draw attention." Criston agreed.

"And-And what will you do if you encounter one or more of Rhaenyra's dragons?" Aegon countered. "She'll want to answer for Ser Arryk."

"We will be more like to encounter one if we field one of our own." Criston corrected.

"That is precisely why you must remain, brother." Aemond added. "It's a brave thought, but we cannot risk your loss." Aegons lips pursed.

"I'm as fearsome as any of them."

" yes you are, which is why we need you here to be fearsome and not out there risking your life. We don't care if Cole risks his life." Aelsa assured. Criston stared back at hee mouth gaping. " do you understand me?"

"Yes Aelsa." he sounded like a boy being put in timeout and it wasn't lost upon him that he realized who was actually in charge.