Page 17 of Scars and Burns

He’s just staring at me. Clearly waiting for me to elaborate. “I mean, here. Would you like to stay here?”

His eyes scan the room in confusion. “The kitchens?”

“No, here in the palace. I don’t know why so don’t ask but I feel like helping you. The dungeons are overflowing. They won’t notice one more. I could smuggle you in. It’s not much but it would be shelter and food. I would be your only sparring partner so no chance of dying. I’ll make sure of it. You would learn how to fight and defend yourself. And who knows? Maybe in time you will be knighted or rewarded.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I say not to ask!” I snap.

He slams his mouth shut. His confidence wavering.

Sighing, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I just…I don’t know, do you want it or not?”

“Yes, thank you. Your Grace.”

Since then he and I have spent nearly every day together. I taught him to fight. He has become quite skilled in the end. Earning himself a knighthood after proving himself on a number of raids.

We ventured into the kingdom together. Drinking, wining and dining women. Mingling with the small folk of the kingdom. Seeing them work day after day.

That’s when we formed our plan.

Shortly after I began beating every opponent I came across. Most importantly my Father. I began to develop a plan. He may be the most feared Fae in the Shadowlands and respected by the nobles. But the common people despise him.

Aemond mentioned it to me first. “You would be a far better ruler than him. Damn him and your supposed disinheritance.”

I eventually did tell him my Father disowned me as his son and heir. I didn’t tell him why or how I would ever earn that honor back. But he didn’t need to know. Nor did he ever ask.

“The people love you.”

“The people do not know me. We sit here. Drinking and eating. Pretending to be one of them but we will never be truly among them.”

He grunts, “We?”, raising a brow at me.

Rolling my eyes, “Okay, me”

He sets his drink down. “That’s exactly my point, Aeron. You relate to your people so much you can’t even see it. They can’t even see it because you don’t sit atop a cloud of perfection and nobility. They have accepted you as one of them whether they know it or not. And if given the chance they would rally behind you.”

I laugh, “You’re forgetting one small very important detail.”

“Oh, and what is that?”

“I’m feared throughout all three realms. Taking directly after my Father in death and destruction.”

“To your enemies perhaps. But to them.” He motions around the room. “You could show them that you see them. You know what it’s like to be looked down upon for no fault of your own. To claw your way through life. To work for everything you’ve become.”

I don’t say anything. This would mean appealing to their better nature. I’ve never been good at that.

Sighing, he continues, “You are ruthless. You are the best killer there is. Gruesomely killing anyone that dares face your blade. There is no denying that. But you also care and understand your people more so than you think. They will gladly cast your Father aside if given the chance.”

I finally looked at him. “So what would you have me do? Overthrow my Father and bring the other two realms to yield myself. Allowing darkness to descend again?”

“Not exactly but yeah pretty much.” He gives me a devious grin. The ladies do love that grin of his. Works every time. Not so much on me though.

I take another drink. Finishing it before saying, “The other realms wouldn’t respect me if I killed him. I haven’t proven myself yet. His death would only rally them together.” , I pause, “However, if I allowed him to continue his plans. Growing the darkness for me. Setting up the demise of the other two realms for himself. I could strike him down when he is least expecting it. When he has already demolished the other two realms. All I would have to do is kill him and ascend the throne.”

We nod at each other in agreement. Smiling.

It may have all been hypothetical then. But overtime it’s become a reality. Slowly, planting the seed of rebellion in the people’s minds.

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