Chapter 25: Bloodraven III

It was pouring down with rain outside, there was thunder sounding in the distance as well. Bloodraven felt that that was apt for what was about to happen. He knew that for a time he had been distracted by the events in the east, but the capture of the Brown Sparrow-which had incidentally ruined his plans- had awoken him to the fact that there was much that still needed to be done within Westeros. He had asked the King if he wished to attend the trial today, but the man had refused and instead was reading something. Bloodraven did not know whether the potion he had given the man had worked. The Queen showed no signs of pregnancy. Another worry for him to think about.

Brynden cleared his throat. "Bring in the prisoners." The doors opened, and the Brown Sparrow and Ser Otho Bracken, heir to Stone Hedge were forced forward, they were stopped before the foot of the throne. Brynden gazed down at them. Ser Otho was the heir to the house that had spawned his rival, and he knew he needed to play it carefully here. "Ser Otho Bracken, you are accused of breaking the King's peace, of rallying with dissidents and trying to start an uprising, against His Majesty, King Aerys' authority. What do you have to say for yourself?" He would get to the Brown Sparrow later.

The man simply looked at him and replied. "Justice."

Brynden snorted. "Justice, what justice is it that you feel the crown owes you?" The man shifted and his chains rattled.

"Not justice from the crown, but justice from you, Ser Kinslayer." Ser Otho replied, there was a hushed murmur and Ser Otho snarled. "You have taken more from my father than was necessary, you have allowed your hatred of my family to control the way in which you shape the policy of the kingdom. That was not something I could allow to stand."

There was even more whispering, and Brynden asked. "Can you point to an example of what it is you think I have done?" He could tell Ser Otho was going to respond, but before he could, the Brown Sparrow spoke.

"Peace, we do not need the airing of such grievances now. You have asked for my reasons before and I shall give them to you." The Brown Sparrow was a man with matted hair, and shoddy clothes, but he held himself like some sort of King.

"Speak." Brynden commanded, he knew what the fate of this man was already, he simply wanted a reason to be given to the court.

"Well, you are a worshipper of the old gods, you practise sorcery, and you have allowed your hatred of Aegor Rivers to cloud your judgement. You do not rule with the best interests of the Kingdom, but instead in the manner that will best allow you to handle the threat you perceive Ser Aegor to be. That has meant that the Ironborn have raided up and down the western coast, with meagre defences being provided by the Lords of the Westerlands and the Arbor, due to an ordinance that the previous King had passed, which means that any further action would require the consent of the throne." The Brown Sparrow said, he then took a breath before continuing. "You have enabled the crops to sit and die during the famine and you have ordered men to be prepared for a war that has not come. You have allowed famine and poor harvests costing thousands of lives. You have served as a poor hand."

Brynden heard the words but he did not see any truth to them, he knew the reasons why the people had died and they were not to do with his efforts. "And so you decided that gathering men, women and children together and forming into an armed band was the answer?"

"Yes." The Brown Sparrow replied. "Arming the people in times such as these is sometimes necessary to ensure their interests are truly looked after. When the throne fails to protect its citizenry, there is only two options of the people, to die quietly, or to take up arms and force the kingdom to fix itself. I decided that the second option was preferable."

Brynden had heard that term before, from his brother, King Daeron had often said that to his eldest son and heir and to Prince Maekar, and to Brynden when they were children at play. He wondered whether he had forgotten that lesson now. "By doing so, you broke the King's peace and therefore the law. As a consequence, the King has decreed that your life is forfeit." There was even more whispering.

The Brown Sparrow did not seem shaken or surprised by this instead he simply said. "I wish for it to happen now, rather than later." Then he turned to Maekar who was sat somewhere else and said. "Your time will come as well, Your Royal Highness, this one will not let you curtail his ambition." With that the whispering intensified, as a block was brought and the man was pushed down, he was executed by the executioner there and then. His head taken to be put on Traitor's Gate, his body to be burned.

As the court whispered amongst itself, Brynden turned to look at Ser Otho the man had become as white as a sheet, but his head was held high. "Is that what you intend to do to me?" The man demanded.

Brynden knew that if he had Bracken executed the man's father would rebel and half the Riverlands would join him. So, he said. "No, but under Ordinance twenty-five, you are under arrest for aiding a traitor. You shall be put into the Black Cells until such time as your father has come to answer for your crimes." Lord Bracken was an ailing man and not likely to be able to make the journey. Ser Otho's face told Brynden the man knew this. Still the man said nothing and went away quietly, once he was gone, Brynden stood up and walked out of the throne room, he needed some air.