Shattered Rubies

Chapter 8

"Aeron Bracken, worst horseman among us" a squire said and the rest of the Bracken friend group laughed, "Must be my swordsmanship."

"Can you even get that thing up?" the same squire asked, Aeron chuckled and slightly lifted his sword, "Well enough for killing Blackwoods" he chuckled and the rest of the group joined in.

"Bracken!" Davos Blackwood yelled from across the field, breaking the laughter and gaining the attention of the Brackens. Aeron stepped closer.

"Put the boundary stones back."

"We didn't move them."

"Well did they move themselves then? Just rolled their way over so Bracken cows can fill their bellies on Blackwood grass?" Davos question.

"The assize as Riverrun" Aeron tried to justify but Davos did not want to hear his bullshit, "Fuck the assize...and fuck you. This is Blackwood land."

Aeron stopped and turned to his friends then turned back to the Blackwoods, "It's Bracken land" Aeron rolled his eyes and begun walking away, "Babe killer" he mumbled

"What did you say?" Davos called out, k owing he heard some slander, Aeron turned around and walked towards Davos, "Your false queen Rhaenyra is a Kinslayer."

"Your uncle declared for Aegon did he? Well then let me tell you, Aegon Targaryen is no true king, just as you are no true knight" Davos begun approaching Aeron, "You're both crave..." he shoved Aeron, "Little..." another shove, "Cunts!"

Aeron tumbled back and his friend fell to the ground, seeing this action Aeron unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Davos. However Davos just laughed and walked closer, "You wouldn't dare."

****

Rhaenyra watched as they buried Arryk and Erryk, two brothers whom died together, a failed assassination. "He is the basest of villains, he sullies the grave of his brother"Jace remarked.

"I cannot fault him for keeping his oath" Rhaenys said, taking some sand into her hand and throwing it into the grave, "And what of those who sent him?"

Jace huffed as she walked away from his mother, Rhaenyra stayed, continued to watch as they buried the brothers. Rhaenys approached her, "Otto Hightower would never have allowed this."

"Elinor hates violence, she won't have either" Rhaenyra stated, "Young men have taken the bit in their teeth. They wish to punish to avenge. Soon they will not even remember what it was that began the war in the first place" Rhaenys spoke up, Rhaenyra shook her head, "That is easy enough they usurped my throne."

"That is one answer. Or was it when the children were beheaded? Or when Aemond killed Luke...or when Luke took Aemond's eyes? They teeter now at a point where non of it will matter" Rhaenys sighed, she knew war was coming, but could Rhaenyra stop it?

"And the desire to kill and burn takes hodm and reason is forgot. There may be another way. Alicent Hightower."

Rhaenyra slightly looked up from the grave, "When last we met Alicent said I would make a fine Queen. You've seen what has happened since then."

"She came to me in the hours after yourord father's death. She knows war is coming and that it'll be savage beyond all compare. There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin and no war so bloody as a war between dragons. I do not believe she wants it and neither does Elinor."

"They both sent raven, I do not care to read their messages. What they did-" Rhaenyra spoke but Rhaenys interrupted her, "Is not them but the men around the who seek bloodshed."