Renegade// Criston Cole / Davina Targaryen

28. Brain Damage

''Soften your knees. Feet light.'' Criston remarked as the young princes were training together in the courtyard. Aemond of course was beating everyones asses.

''Keep your feet light and your hands heavy.'' Harwin instructed.

"Did you see him?"

"Of course i did." Davina confirmed smiling down at the courtyard as Aemond and Luke spared. "He's a cute little bastard. You like Luke maybe make an effort-"

"Daeron left because of Jace. Becuase he was tormenting him. And now she has another like she didn't learn."

"Of course she didn't learn have you seen harwin?" Davina agreed.

''Don't stand too upright, my Prince. You'll get knocked down.'' Criston warned and Aegon let out a grunt of distaste. ''Aegon.'' Criston began but his focus shifted when he saw Davina. She waved down at him.

''I've won my first bout, Ser Criston. My opponent sues for mercy.'' Aegon said pompously and Criston turned back to Aegon.

"And I won my first bout as well." Aemond agreed, "Yet I seem to have no problems beating your ass aegon." His confidence revived.

"Whack!" Davina shouted back slapping her hands together.

"Never going to let me live that down." Criston murmured.

"Never." Davina agreed with the sweetest of smiles.

''Well, you'll have a new opponent then, My Lord of the Straw. Let's see if you can touch me. You and your cousin.'' Criston offered and Aegon and Aemond stepped forward, sparring swords lunging at criston but he was skilled warrior. The princes were yelling and grunting as they lunged and failed to knock criston down.

''You're gonna have to do better than that.'' Criston said smugly.

"Show off." Davina called down. "Come on Aemy kick his butt!"

''Ah. Weapons up, boys.'' Harwin remarked coming up to Rhaenrya's children, ''Give your enemies no quarter.'' Harwin glanced over at Criston and Aegon and Aemond, Rhaenyra's children seemed left out of the training most days. Aemond included luke but he wasnt as advanced as aemond was.

"Never know who or when the enemy will strike." Harwin added. "You must always be ready."

"I'm not the enemy." Aemond declared. "I'm helping!"

"That you are." Harwin agreed. ''It seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention... Ser Criston.'' Harwin remarked and Criston turned to him stiffly.

''You question my method of instruction, ser?'' Criston asked calmly.

''Oh, I merely suggest that method be applied to all your pupils'' Harwin suggested nodding to Jace and Luke.

''Very well. Jacaerys... come here.'' Criston agreed ''You spar with Aegon.'' Aegon chuckled seeing his younger cousin step forward nervously. ''Eldest son against eldest son.''

"Technically im the eldest too." Aemond remarked.

''It's hardly a fair match.'' Harwin remarked. "You and me Criston." Harwin offered as he ruffled Jace's hair as he passed. "Although I think that is hardly fair... for you."

''I know you've never seen true battle, ser, but when steel is drawn, a fair match isn't something anyone should expect.'' Criston remarked smugly. ''Blades up. Engage.'' The boys attacked, Aegon being elder and larger got Jace down easily but Jace had fire and he jumped back up. Running back Aegon knocked the straw dummy over onto Jace.

''Foul play.'' Harwin grit his teeth at the smug look on Aegon's face as he took Jace down.

"They are practicing." Davina reminded him. "Push each other down and get back up." Harwin huffed out a breath but Aegon kept going.

''I'll deal with him.'' Criston moved to Aegon as harwin moved to Jace ''Plant your feet. You have a height advantage. Use it.'' Criston whispered. ''Advance on him...'' Aegon nodded and continued forward quietly before shouting

''You!'' Aegon shouted lunging down on Jace.

"This is such a cock show. You know they want to pummel each other but they cant therefore they get out their anger using the children," alicent remarked

"I know its barbaric." Davina confirmed. "Yet i cant look away."

''Close with him. Press him backward!'' Criston encouraged as Jace tried to get up, tried to scurry away.

"Don't let him corner you." Harwin demanded.

''Close with him! Stay on the attack! Use your feet!'' Criston went on, Harwin glanced back at him nervously as he shifted from foot to foot. Aegon grunted out as he kept swinging.

"Criston." Davina warned.

"Ser Criston." Harwin sneered.

''Don't let him get up.'' Criston shouted ''Stay on the attack!''

''Enough!'' Harwin shouted pulling Aegon back from Jace.

''You dare put hands on me?'' Aegon shouted in outrage.

''Aegon!'' Viserys called down, that was not very prince like behavior his outburst.

"You are better than that." Davina agreed.

''You forget yourself, Strong.'' Criston said calmly. ''That is the Prince.''

''This is what you teach, Cole?'' Harwin countered.  ''Cruelty... to the weaker opponent?'' Harwin got down picking up the sparing swords.

''Your interest in the princeling's training is quite unusual, Commander." Criston remarked. Criston looked to Davina. Her face was unreadable as Luke ran up to alicent nervously.

"Grandma?"

"You are okay sweetie." Alicent assured holding onto him

"Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a cousin... or a brother... or a son.'' Criston mused and harwin charged at him. Davina held her breath.

''Get back!'' the kingsguard yelled pulling the princes away as the men dueled.

'' Say it again! Say it again!'' Harwin demanded, Criston lay bloody on the ground but a smirk on his face.

''Thought as much.'' Criston muttered.

"Seven hells." Davina muttered. "Everyone inside!" Davina demanded. "Someone mop criston up. Hes bleeding all over the courtyard." She knelt before him. He blinked back at her. "You idiot. I thought.."

"Im okay." Criston rasped

"Clearly not. You have brain damage thinking that was a good idea."