Chapter 4
“Let me see if I understand this correctly,” Harren turned to Alekk, “You killed Petyr Baelish, in his own brothel and took one of his whores with you because she saw what happened?”
“He was hurting her,” Alekk shot back with a glare. “She told him to stop and all he did was ignore her and call her Cat. I'm a knight, I'm supposed to help people who need otherwise what's the point?”
Harren's eyes narrowed at the name given. He knew the girls name was Marei and she was with Ros right now. Outside of some bruising she was alright just pissed off beyond belief. She was a tough girl that one.
“I didn't say you shouldn't but damn it Alekk, you could have been more discreet. At least you had the thought to send his body to Harrenhal.” Here he turned to Jon. “Now explain to me why you took one of King Robert's bastards and why you killed Queen Cersei's?”
“Gendry killed the Hound,” Jon began. “Clegane killed his mentor and Gendry hit him in the back of the head with his ball peen hammer which cracked his skull. I killed Joffrey with an arrow to the throat because he was about to fight Gendry. I sent the bodies to Harrenhal's dungeons with the one of the Portkeys you gave me. Then I came here.”
"If you shot Joffrey, why were you covered in blood?”
“I didn't shoot him. I stabbed him – repeatedly. It was the only way to be quiet at the time so no one would interfere.”
That was a lie if ever he heard one, the bow and arrows were charmed to be silent unless the user wanted them to be heard. Harren narrowed his eyes at Jon who, for his part, stared at him with a blank face.
“Don't let it happen again,” Harren told him coldly. He would let this momentary lapse in restraint go but if Jon did it once more....then Dragon or not, future king or not, Harren would discipline him.
Severely.
Jon just nodded his head.
“Go, both of you, I have work to do.” As they left, Harren closed his eyes and appeared in the dungeons of his home when he opened his eyes again. There he saw three bodies, two of which caused the most problems. Or would be if it were linked back to him and his friends. Time to sort that out.
He flicked his hand, a circlet soared into his hand and all three bodies turned into dolls. He snapped his finger and they started to burn. He eyed the circlet, a golden stag lined with black. He would give this to the king when he saw him soon enough.
A missive appeared out of the air and he snatched it up. He smiled a rather chilling smile as he read it.
“Oh this is going to be fun.”
Edric watched as the dwarf nervously looked around and no volunteered for him when the lady of the Vale asked for any.
“I suppose we can assume that no one-”
“I'll fight for the dwarf,” His friend Bronn stepped forward meeting the surprised gaze of the Tully sisters. Thank the Gods, that woman likes the sound of her own voice, Edric thought with a small eye roll. He stepped forward a little and his other companion followed.
“And who are you?” Lady Lysa demanded.
“Ser Bronn of the Long Way,” Bronn then gestured to him. “I come with The Sword of the Morning on orders from Lord Eddard Stark to retrieve Tyrion Lannister at all cost.”
“Why would my husband speak with any of you?” Catelyn Stark said coldly. Gods she sounded as frigid as the North was said to be. Its a good thing she doesn't know the truth about me, otherwise she might just throw me through that blasted door. Edric thought with a slight grimace. When Catelyn Tully found out that he was actually her husbands eldest son, and not Jon, there would be hell to pay.
“Lord Harren Whent gave us the orders, but they are still your husbands words,” Bronn shrugged at her. “And apart from picking up this stray,” He pointed to the man they had brought along the way. “we followed those orders to the letter. And Lord Tyrion will be leaving with us when this is over.”
“Confident are you?”
“I have no intention of failing,” Bronn turned to Ser Vardis. “Have any next of kin that can bury you?”
The Vale Knight just closed his helm in response and took his position.
“Have it your way,” Bronn shrugged again and drew his sword, “This stuff better work” He whispered to him, tapping the material he had been given.
“It will,” Edric said firmly. What the actual material was made of, he knew not. What he did know, was that the material could stop any weapon from harming the wearer – including Valyrian steel and even Dawn itself.
When he had tested it, his blade actually bent to accommodate the power behind his strike. A surprising fact but one that only made Edric all the more appreciative of the material. When Harren had fixed his sword, and even offered to dip it in the same liquid that gave strength to the same material that he wore, he jumped at the chance.
Bronn hadn't done so yet, he was a bit iffy on the whole thing, but after today, Edric knew that his friend would ask for both of his weapons to be strengthened.
“Fight!” The young lord Robert yelled out impatiently and Ser Vardis made the opening move, swinging at Bronn's face. Bronn leaned back to avoid it and struck at the shield blocking his way, testing how strong it was. If his weapons had been strengthened, the shield would have shattered.
Bronn evaded several more strikes, tossing a tall candle holder at Ser Vardis, much to the outrage of those of the Vale. Bronn jumped off of a nearby pillar and drop kicked the other knight. Ser Vardis used the shield in his hand to take the blow but he lost his footing and fell. Bronn kicked the shield away which left him open to an attack.
Ser Vardis thrust his sword towards Bronn's stomach with a yell. His body tensed when his sword didn't go through. Bronn grinned over at him just before he knocked the blade away and plunged his sword towards the throat of the Vale Knight. The imp cheered at the action.
“Yield,” Bronn said to the man.
“Don't you dare!” Lysa Tully screamed but Edric paid her no mind. He was eyeing the crowd and gripping the sheath of his sword. They may riot if this continues, for fuck sake Bronn just end it, Edric thought as Ser Vardis batted at Bronn's sword before rolling away. Bronn kicked the knight in the rear, sending him crashing to the cold hard ground.
“Cheater!”
“Disgrace!”
“Fucking finish it already,” Edric growled under his breath, shifting his stance. The crowd had gotten rowdier and it made him feel uneasy. Bronn manged to cut Ser Vardis several times and drove the knight to his knees. There were cries for mercy and Bronn looked up at Lady Lysa. Ser Vardis fought on her behalf, she could yield for him if necessary.
Lady Lysa just glared at him, not even moving an inch. Bronn ended the fight by shoving his sword through the neck of Ser Vardis. He withdrew his blade and pushed the dead body through the open door in the floor.
“That was an appalling display,” Lysa Arryn hissed out at Bronn. “You fight with no honor.”
“This wasn't a fight for honor, it was a fight for the gods favor,” Bronn shot back. “And they smiled on the dwarf this day.”
“I could have you jailed at this very moment peasant.” She spit at him, turning towards the crowd. Edric had had enough posturing. He withdrew his sword and moved at a blinding speed slashing at several people before he made his way to Bronn who stood defensively by the Moon Door. His other friend had retrieved a bow from his cloak and nocked an arrow while holding one in the same hand he used to pull the string back.
Several yelps and exclamations of shock took place as trousers fell from the wearers waist, armor fell to the ground and weapons were destroyed. However, the nobles that stood near Lady Lysa were shocked into silence not at what Edric did though he was sure that helped contribute to it.
No they were shocked by where the arrow was being pointed – directly at Robert Arryn, heir to the Vale.
“You dare,” Lady Lysa's whispered voice carried across the room. “to aim that weapon at my son? My sweet Robin?!” She shrieked out, holding her son close.
“You're the one acting like a spoiled child m'lady,” Anguy snapped, his accent showing his common heritage with a bit of The Marches mixed in. “Bronn won fair and square – the imp goes free. Besides, if you harm any of us, Lord Stark won't be too happy now will he?”
“I'll make him fly then!” The young lord of the Eyrie shouted as his mother tried to shush him. Lady Lysa shrieked when Anguy loosed the arrow just above her head. As it vibrated into the Weirwood throne, Anguy already had the other arrow nocked and ready.
“That was your only warning, the next one gets you both if he opens his mouth again.”
Edric made plans to knight Anguy after this if they got out but he didn't say it out loud for fear of cursing their luck.
“Take him then!” Lady Lysa clamped a hand over her sons mouth even though he struggled. “Take that little demon and get out of my sight!”
Edric glanced at the dwarf who was released from his bindings. He walked towards the nobles near the stairs – which was the direction that they were not supposed to go in.
“Imp!” Edric hissed.
“In a moment young Dayne,” The blasted Lannister had raised a hand in his general direction without looking at him. The imp stopped and looked up at a man with a braided beard. “I believe you have something of mine?” He held out his hand.
The man looked at Lady Catelyn who nodded stiffly. The man retrieved a bag from his pocket and tossed it to the imp. The clinking sound of coins made Edric grit his teeth. The imp was wasting time for coin – his family owns a mountain full of gold, He thought with a snarl.
The imp gave Lady Stark a mocking bow, before walking to the half wit that released him and pressed the bag of gold into his hand.
“I remember my debts,” The imp said before walking towards the exit. “Do come along, we haven't got all day.” He called out over his shoulder.
“The fucking cheek,” Edric growled under his breath as he and his friends slowly made their way to the door.