Chapter 4: Aegon

Aegon saw Harry's feet move and he knew by instinct where the other man was going to swing his sword before he did it. Consequently, Aegon shifted slightly to the right at the last moment and brought his sword up to block the blow. Wood clacked against wood. Aegon then used his strength to move to the left and push Harry's sword down.

Harry grunted and then raised his sword up, Aegon anticipated and moved to the left, out of the way of the swing. He then swung at Harry's head, the other man blocked the swing, but Aegon had the momentum now and moved forward, using his strength to force Harry back. He could hear Harry's breathing and his own, they'd been going at this for hours now. But their instructor hadn't asked them to stop.

He wouldn't ask them to stop until one of them had won. And the only way that they could win was for one of them to 'kill' the other. Aegon was determined that he would win. As such he pulled his sword back, causing Harry to stagger forward, he then moved inside and pressed his sword against Harry's throat.

"You're dead." Aegon said, grinning.

Harry grimaced. "That I am, Your Grace."

"Right, pull apart," Came the sharp bark of their instructor.

They followed his command, Aegon placing his sword on the ground as did Harry. They both turned to face their instructor as he came before them. The man was approaching his mid-forties, but was still tall, handsome, and well built.

"Well done both of you." The instructor said.

"Thank you, Ser." They both said.

"Now, what do you think you did well and what do you think you need to improve on?" Their instructor asked. "Let's start with you, Harry."

Aegon looked at his friend, Harry, otherwise known as Harry Rivers, and listened as his friend said. "I was good on the front foot. Holding firm whilst His Grace attacked initially, and I think that's what kept me alive this long. However, I got tired and got sloppy, allowing His Grace to come in like that."

Aegon thought Harry was being far too hard on himself, he'd fought long and hard and they'd both worked up a sweat. Aegon could feel the sweat drops starting to fall down his face now.

Their instructor turned to him. "And you, Your Grace?"

Aegon exhaled. "I think I was very good in probing Harry's defences. I kept searching and eventually I found what I was looking for which allowed me to win. However, I think as Harry mentioned going so quickly in the beginning was not good. It left me exposed." He winced as he said that, a bruise was forming on his right, he'd need Haldon to see to that.

"Very good, Your Grace, and you as well, Harry." Their instructor said. "I think you've both got the gist of it. You've been going at one another for a few days now, so it's natural that you'll pick up on one another's strengths and weaknesses as you fight. However, during an actual battle, you won't have that luxury so you're going to need to adapt quickly. In the heat of the moment."

Their instructor paused for a moment before continuing. "Tomorrow, Your Grace will spar against Waymar, and you, Harry, will fight Lucas."

"Yes, Ser." They both replied.

Their instructor smiled. "Good, now, go, freshen up and get ready for your lessons."

Harry bowed to the instructor whilst Aegon inclined his head, they then rushed off to the coolness of the palace.

"You got a good blow in, Harry." Aegon said as they walked through the hallways, servants bowing as they did so.

Harry frowned. "I'm sorry about that, Your Grace. I didn't mean to hit so hard."

Aegon laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "Think nothing of it. It's good to experience blows like that. It keeps me alive."

"Lord Connington won't be happy though." Harry said.

They got to the doors that led to Aegon's apartments. The guards on the door bowed their heads to him and then turned to open the doors.

As they entered, Aegon took a deep breath before turning to Harry and saying. "You leave Griff to me." He liked and admired Jon Connington, the closest thing to a father he'd ever known, but sometimes he could be a bit over bearing.

Harry bowed and then hurried to his own chamber-it was where Aegon's companions stayed when they were here-Aegon himself walked to his own room, the door was open, and the guard bowed as he entered.

He looked around-a habit he had picked up when he'd been younger-and once he was satisfied that there was nobody in the room that shouldn't be, he moved to the chest that had his clothes, opened it and picked out a shirt-light red-and trousers. He laid them on the bed then moved to the basin, where a cold jug of water waited. He took off his shirt and then grabbed the jug, kept his head over the basin and then emptied the entire contents of the jug on his head. He exhaled with satisfaction as the water hit his head.

It was so damnably hot that this was the only chance he got to cool down without having a cold bath-something he had done a few times under his instructor's instruction, he did not like them-that done, he put the jug onto the table that was nearby, grabbed a towel that hung close to the basin and dried his hair and his body.

That done he picked up his discarded shirt and together with the towel in his hands he walked outside. A servant was there waiting. He handed the two to the servant who bowed once before hurrying away. He then walked back into his room, took off his shoes and his trousers and put on his new clothes.

Aegon glanced quickly into the looking glass then hurried out of the room. Harry was there waiting for him.

"Come, let us see if Septa Lemore and Samwell are back." Aegon said.

Harry nodded and they walked through the hallways to the main hallway, where sure enough Lemore-dressed in the white of a Septa- and Samwell-sweating in his shirt, his girth clearly not doing him any favours-were stood, talking to Jon Connington.

"Well?" Aegon asked as they all bowed to him.

"We found the book, Sire." Samwell said, the younger boy had come along a lot since he'd arrived a few months ago, he no longer stammered or stuttered, but he was still hesitant, as if he expected someone to hit him. What had Lord Tarly done to the boy?

"And?" Aegon asked.

Samwell pulled a small book out of his bag and handed it to Aegon. "We found it in the Great Library of Pentos. The owner wasn't going to give it to us, but Septa Lemore convinced him."

Aegon looked at Lemore and she merely smiled. He looked back at the book and read the words on the cover.

A History of House Stark from Lord Cregan Stark to Lord Rickard Stark

By Maester Walys Flowers, Maester of Winterfell

Aegon exhaled, so the book was real, and he held a copy of it. That was a relief. He handed the book back to Samwell and said. "Excellent, I want you to read it thoroughly, Samwell, and make notes. Once you're done, tell me what you've learned."

"Of course, Your Grace." Samwell replied bowing his head.

"Now go, get changed, both of you." Aegon said looking at Samwell and Lemore. Samwell bowed, Lemore curtseyed then departed.

Aegon then looked back at Harry. "Harry go and see whether the food is ready." He was hungry. Harry nodded and hurried away, leaving Aegon with Lord Connington.

Aegon took one look at Lord Connington, saw the crow's feet under his eyes and the lines on his forehead and asked. "Have you had word?"

"I have, Your Grace." Connington answered.

"And?"

"Two pieces of information, one good, one bad." Connington said.

"Start with the latter first." Aegon commanded.

"Your Grace's uncle, Prince Viserys met with the Golden Company a few weeks ago, they wined and dined him, and then rejected him. They sent him out of their camp, laughing like dogs." Connington said, the disdain he felt for his former company evident in his tone.

Aegon frowned, that was not…he wanted to say it wasn't good, but if Viserys had been rejected by the company, that meant they were still available, at least as an addition to his own Dragon's Companions.

"What happened?" Aegon asked, when Lord Connington didn't continue.

Connington sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "He swore vengeance. Indeed, it seems he's gone to the Brave Companions now. Not to invade Westeros but to attack the Company."

Aegon groaned, that was not good. "What are we going to do about it?"

"Nothing, Sire." Connington answered.

"Nothing?!" Aegon exclaimed. "I cannot allow my uncle to end up killing himself over this."

"I know, Sire, but there is another matter that needs more attention." Connington said.

"What?!" Aegon demanded. He'd need to figure out how to stop his uncle from getting himself killed.

"Jon Arryn, the Hand to the Usurper has died. Robert Baratheon has gone north to ask Eddard Stark to be his new Hand." Connington said.

"So, King's Landing is empty?" Aegon asked.

"It is, Sire." Connington said.

That presented an opportunity, perhaps. "Summon the council, we need to discuss this properly." They'd all have their thoughts, Aegon knew, especially Lemore, she always had something to say.

Connington bowed his head. "Yes, Your Grace." Aegon watched him go, his mind racing.