Chapter 23: Oswell

The door to the cabin shut behind them, and Oswell took a seat at the table. He glanced around, there were a few things here that told him about the man who's cabin it was. A book, containing tales of Valyria, a letter from his wife, and a letter from who Oswell supposed was his daughter. Then there handwritten instructions in Lord Wyman's hand telling the man where the ship was to go.

All was in order. That was good. Oswell disliked things that weren't in order. He always had. His brother Walter had called it a failing, but he had always seen it as a benefit. It allowed him to stay alert and aware when others were complacent. And right now, his instincts were telling him that remaining in this cabin was the best thing they could do.

Of course, the Prince, being a young man didn't see it that way.

"Why are we hiding here?" The Prince demanded. "We should be out there helping them."

"The Captain was quite clear that he felt it would be better if we were in the cabin, and this is where we shall stay." Oswell said firmly.

The Prince looked at him and asked. "Why? You are a knight of the Kingsguard, why are you content to stay here?"

Oswell bit back a sigh. The Prince was a young man, and Oswell remembered what it was like to be young. He would've asked the same question had he been in the Prince's position. "Because my duty is to protect you."

The Prince looked back at him and asked. "Even if it means those people out there die?"

"Yes." Ser Oswell said.

"Does that not go against your oath as a knight? To protect the innocent?" The Prince asked.

"My oath to protect you goes beyond the other oaths I swore as a Knight." Ser Oswell said, remembering how he had felt the first day he'd realised that.

The Prince was clearly taken aback by what Oswell had said, for his eyes widened. "And what if I were to command you to help?" The Prince asked then.

"Then I would do as you commanded, but I would strongly advise against it, Your Highness." Oswell said.

"Why?" Jon asked.

"The Captain and his crew have clearly dealt with Euron Greyjoy before, they will not appreciate us coming in and complicating matters further." Oswell said simply.

The Prince frowned clearly unhappy with what Oswell had told him, but unable to decide what to do. Eventually, the Prince sat down on the captain's bed and frowned. "I do not like this."

"I know, Your Highness." Oswell replied. "But my duty is to keep you safe. Nothing will stop me from fulfilling that duty."

The Prince sighed. "Why is Euron Greyjoy here anyway? Why isn't he on the Iron Islands?"

"He was exiled, Your Highness." Oswell replied. He remembered hearing about it from Lord Benjen and thinking that that was something long overdue.

"Why?" The Prince asked.

Oswell hesitated. He knew the Prince was more aware of the world than his cousins were, but he was still a child, and he did not think it appropriate to share such a thing as what Euron Greyjoy had done, with the Prince. Therefore, he took a breath and said. "He was inappropriate to a woman of repute."

"And so, he's taken to becoming a slaver?" The Prince asked horrified.

"Yes, he's Ironborn." Oswell said. And Ironborn were not good people, everyone knew that.

The Prince snorted at that, and a silence descended between them. They couldn't hear what was happening out on deck, thankfully, but Oswell's instinct was still telling him that something was going to happen. As such, he kept one hand on his sword, the same sword he'd been given by his father when he'd been knighted. It had served him well.

The ship shook then, and there was a yell from outside. Oswell looked at the door, but didn't get up.

"What was that?" The Prince asked.

Oswell took a breath. He had to keep calm to ensure the Prince remained calm. "Euron Greyjoy has likely stopped and seen the ship."

The Prince nodded, and Oswell could tell that he wanted to get up and help, but thankfully, he remained seated. Oswell kept an eye on the door, whilst one hand remained on his sword handle. He knew that if anything went wrong, he was the Prince's line of defence, he could take maybe three or four men at once in this cramped cabin, enough time for the Prince to escape and get onto one of the small vessels that were on the ship.

A scream made Oswell blink and stand up. He stared at the door, both hands on his sword handle then.

"Should we go and look?" The Prince asked.

"No, we stay here." Oswell said, if they went out there and there was a massacre going on, the Prince would die. At least here, he had a chance of securing safe exit for the Prince.

A series of screams broke through his thought process then, one after the other, blood curdling screams that made him want to close his ears with his hands. Instead he remained rooted to where he was, his sword half drawn.

The Prince got off the bed and came to stand at his side.

"Stand behind me, no matter what happens. And if I tell you to go, go." Oswell said.

"Ser Oswell?!" The Prince exclaimed.

"Do as I tell you, Your Highness, your safety is paramount." Oswell barked.

The screams had stopped and there were footsteps approaching the cabin.

Oswell tensed, preparing for a fight.

The door was flung open, and a man dressed in black as night armour, with an eye patch on one eye stood before them.

"Well…well…what do we have here?" Euron Greyjoy asked, smiling like a cat that had just found some cream.