-Chapter 168-
-POV Alicent Hightower-
"He's a true savage," I whispered, watching the way the colossus wielding a hamr took down his opponents one after the other with disconcerting ease.
"A brainless savage will never beco a knight," my brother said softly, his tone filled with disdain.
The comnt didn't go unnoticed, as Prince Aemon laughed and said:
"That remains to be seen."
I didn't contradict or even respond to the Prince's remark, because I no longer wanted to attract his attention.
'Better to act like Viserys and endure for now. Once the storm has passed and Rhaenyra makes a mistake, I'll be able to strike back,' I thought.
There was a deep anger inside , begging to be released, to scream just one thing… vengeance.
'But if I let my emotions dictate my actions, I'll end up the sa place as Father. I must not forget what he told before he died. I have to make peace with the Prince at all costs,' I thought.
'But that will have to wait until I've co to terms with Father's death,' I told myself, sensing that I wasn't yet ready to set aside the recent events in order to seek an alliance with Prince Aemon to defeat Rhaenyra's claims.
I imdiately refocused on the battles below, which were nearing their end, as just over a dozen fighters remained in the arena, and the first round of lees was about to conclude.
---
-POV Aegon Targaryen-
"You're nervous," Cregan asked, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
I rolled my eyes and said, glancing around at all the n:
"Aren't you?"
Cregan lowered his eyes slightly and said,
"We'll go to war one day or another, so I try to see this as... so kind of training for what's to co."
I looked down when Cregan ntioned war, because to anyone who might overhear, we could have been talking about a possible war against the Triarchy or Dorne.
But only the two of us knew who we truly intended to fight.
'Or at least who I intend to fight,' I thought, having realized over the past year that, no matter what, I couldn't bridge the gap between my mother and my half-sister.
'If I can't ease these conflicts, then I'll win every battle that stands in my way,' I thought, determined to do whatever it takes so that my family never again has to live in fear the way we do now.
'All of it under the nose of our so-called great king,' I thought, glancing up at the royal box, my jaw clenched.
I smiled and said:
"So will have tougher battles than others."
Cregan shook his head and stood up:
"So will have dragons to save their ass."
I burst out laughing, and without another word, I put on my helt, watching the gates open to let us into the lee of adults, all fighting to catch the attention of the king and the new Hand — without knowing...
'That we will be the brightest stars of the day,' I thought as I lowered my visor.
---
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
"Father, Aegon just entered the arena," said Viserys, gently tugging at my arm.
I smiled, seeing that he hadn't been scared by the blood. I must admit I was a bit relieved, because I knew such things could leave marks on a young child's mind, but...
'I can't protect him, not in a world like this,' I thought, running a hand through his hair.
'Luckily, I taught him how to feed his dragon. That seems to have prepared him well.'
Although I raised all my children the sa way, I only brought Viserys with today, for two reasons.
First, I planned to na Aerys my heir, and I didn't want my eldest to feel cast aside with ti.
Second, I believed that Aerys and the twin girls were still too young, no matter how much preparation I had given them.
"Do you think he can win?" I asked my young boy.
He put on a serious face — one far beyond his age — and after a few seconds of thought, gently shook his head.
I must admit, his answer surprised slightly, because I knew that, in Viserys's mind, Aegon held about the sa place that I held in Aegon's.
'And at that age, we always want to see our "idols" win.'
"Why?" I asked my son, who said nothing and instead looked away, a little worried, in a specific direction.
Following his gaze, I saw the hamr-wielding giant who had made a big impression since the start of the tournant.
I smiled and turned my head to signal to Ulf, who was standing a bit further away.
"Ulf."
Ulf quickly turned his head toward , slightly surprised to be called, then quickly ca over.
"If my mory serves, you were with that man when I knighted you, weren't you?" I asked my new banner knight.
He nodded, and I asked him:
"Do you know him well?"
He seed to think for a mont, but quickly refocused on our conversation and said:
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Very well, then bring him to the royal box. I'd like to speak with him," I said, recalling the incredible stats I had seen about him:
• [Na: Hugh Waters]
• [Age: 28]
• {Attributes}
[Constitution: 133]
[Strength: 247]
[Endurance: 105]
[Dexterity: 82]
[Agility: 67]
[Speed: 62]
[Intelligence: 63]
[Willpower: 99]
[Charisma: 52]
[Perception: 63]
[Wisdom: 65]
'Over 200 in Strength... besides , I've never seen anyone with such stats. It's incredible. And if he's truly who I think he is, then I may very well have found the future riders of Silverwing and Vermithor.'
---
-POV Ulf the White-
I quickly left the stands, hurrying toward the quarters where the qualified fighters were resting before the final round of the squires' lee.
One thing drove the whole way: I needed to knock so sense into that idiot Hugh.
'He's been acting strange lately, and I've got a bad feeling he's going to ss everything up — and drag down with him.'
I didn't know why he'd joined the tournant, but at the rate he was killing and seriously injuring the other contestants, if he didn't find a solid sponsor by the end of the tourney, his corpse would be rotting in a gutter sowhere in King's Landing.
Once I arrived where the others were resting, I imdiately spotted Hugh, who had isolated himself and looked like he was brooding for so unknown reason.
'He always looks angry,' I thought, still unsure of the reason behind that anger — though I suspected it had sothing to do with Kat's absence.
'Maybe she left him,' I mused before burying my questions and calling out:
"Hugh."
He looked up, then lowered his head again, as if he hadn't seen .
That irritated , because I was here to deliver good news.
But I kept my cool and said:
"Hugh, co with ."
"Go away."
I frowned and said:
"I don't know what your problem is with , Hugh, but I'll say this — because I still consider you my friend — you'd better get your ass moving before Prince Aemon sends his knights to drag you there himself."
This ti, I caught his attention.
And though he didn't look thrilled, he stood without argunt and followed .
'Let's hope he can keep his mouth shut in front of the Prince,' I thought, because the Prince wouldn't tolerate a single insult in the royal box, where all the realm's great lords were seated.
'Not to ntion mbers of the royal family.'
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