The Last Reyne

Jon

“Ha’ mercy milord! I ne’er did anythin’ to anyone!” The man in rags was kneeling and begging. “Don’ put me in them sky cells anymore.” He was weeping, Jon noticed. The sky cells break every man’s will. The freedom was theirs to take, the cell was open to let the prisoners see the beauty of the sheer drop that awaits them should they ever wish to be free. “The blue is callin’ me milord.” He wailed. “Sooner or later, am gonna try to fly with them wings not existing.” Jon Arryn looked at the small man with sympathy. “You are accused of theft.” He said, his voice noting nothing. “You stole a basket that was supposed to be brought to the Eyrie.”

“No, I didn’t do ‘em milord.” He sobbed. “T’was a woman! Am only returnin’ milord’s fine donkey to help in bringin’ goods.”

He speaks the truth, Jon thought. Knights these days… they’ll do anything to impress their lords or perhaps get revenge from whatever reason this man did to them. He nodded. “I beg your forgiveness for my men accusing you wrongly. You are free to go.”

“Oh thankee milord! Thankee!” he got up and went to kiss his feet but he stopped the poor man. “No need for that.” He smiled. “Tell me though, why would Ser Hanker accuse you of such a thing?” Jon noted the terrified look of the man. His brown eyes sweeping wildly from side to side. “No need to fear, as you see, it is only the both of us who are here.” Jon had had his own suspicions that this man was innocent, he wanted to know why Ser Hanker had his blood roiling whenever the man was seen. He licked his dry lips. “As milord wills.” He took a deep breath. “Ser Hanker wanted to take me daughter. I would have agreed if he would take her for his wife but he only wanted to use her for a night. Me daughter’s a maiden milord, and am not rich but I still have some honor left in me. Me daughter’s not a whore or a wench, she’s me own flesh an’ blood.”

Honor. Indeed, this man has more honor than Ser Hanker. Jon smiled. “What is your name?”

“Gendel milord.”

“And do you know the words of my house Gendel?”

“Aye milord. Am living in your vale. As high as honor, those were your house’s words.”

“As high as honor.” He nodded. “And you displayed more honor than Ser Hanker, a sworn knight of the Vale. Rest assured that you will find justice.” He had given the man some silver stags and a necklace for his daughter and sent him away. When he summoned Ser Hanker, the knight was enraged. “Milord, that man has stolen your property.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Yes and that man has more honor than you Ser Hanker. You would best leave the man and his daughter alone.” Jon said sharply. “You are sworn to my house are you not? Pray tell me then. What are the words of House Arryn?”

The knight turned beet red. At least he had the shame to look embarrassed. “As high as honor, sire.”

“Then you better act those words truly Ser Hanker. The knights of the Vale are meant to protect its people, not to abuse them. Should I hear of false accuses again, I will strip you from your knighthood and throw you through the Moon Door.”

The knight paled. “Never again sire. You have my words, by the old gods and the new.”

Jon dismissed him. That should teach him and all the other knights a lesson. The Moon Door was not a pretty way to die. Your body shattered on the ground a hundred miles from the Eyrie and no one to bury your body and say the prayers. Jon went to his chambers. A woman. The man had said. He had a nagging feeling that this “woman” would steal supplies from the Eyrie once more. He ought to send some spies or guards to bring her in and question her of her actions. Gods be good, he hoped this one would not be stubborn. He didn’t like throwing people through the Moon Door or hear that they jumped to their deaths while in the sky cells, but this was the justice of the Eyrie, and the sooner she complied the better. Jon paced the room. Perhaps this woman would not be worth any effort at all. If she steals once more, I’ll send some spies. He decided. He rubbed his temples and slunk on his bed.