Chapter 30: Oswell

Oswell was scrubbing the deck of the Silence, whilst doing his best to overhear what the Prince and Greyjoy were discussing. It seemed that Greyjoy was trying to figure out whether the Prince was who he claimed to be. Oswell just hoped the Prince was as good as his father had been at dissembling. If he wasn't, then they were finished.

Oswell glanced at his hands. They were red, from all the scrubbing that he had done. He didn't mind doing it, it kept him alert and aware, but at the same time, he was getting on in years. His back was beginning to ache and his hands were getting sore. He'd need to practice with his sword when he was done here. Just in case.

He bit back a snort at that thought. Just in case. He'd been thinking that to himself for the last fifteen years. Just in case. He didn't even know what Just in Case meant anymore. This was the in case, and he couldn't do anything. Not without endangering the Prince, and that was something he'd never do.

Oswell blinked when he heard clapping. He tried to turn around, but before he could, men from the crew were grabbing him. He didn't struggle, he knew what would happen if he did struggle. He allowed them to drag him to where the Prince and Greyjoy were. He allowed them to throw him down. He looked at Greyjoy then and heard the words.

"Now tell me who you really are."

Oswell's heart hammered, the Prince hadn't succeeded then.

"Or what?" The Prince replied. That was good, he was keeping his composure.

Greyjoy pulled a knife out from somewhere and Oswell felt it press against his throat. "I'll kill your dog." Greyjoy said.

Oswell looked at the Prince and the Prince looked back at him. Oswell wanted to tell the Prince to hold firm, to not give in. He didn't think Greyjoy would actually kill him. The man was mad, but not that mad.

The silence stretched on for a very long time. A very long time. The Prince stared at Greyjoy and Greyjoy stared back, the dagger remained pressed at Oswell's throat. He kept a level breath, not trying to excite himself or worry the Prince. He knew what he needed to do. He just needed the Prince to lead Greyjoy to the right place.

Greyjoy blinked first. "You know what, forget it." The man pulled the dagger away from Oswell's throat. "Killing the dog won't get any answer from you."

Oswell tensed, he knew what was coming.

"But perhaps this will." Greyjoy said, handing the dagger over to one of his mutes, he launched himself at Oswell.

Oswell blinked and then gasped as blow upon blow came on him. First to his chest, then to his stomach, then to his face. He didn't respond, he couldn't respond, not if he wanted to protect the Prince. So, he took the blows.

Greyjoy kicked him with his boot when Oswell fell, causing Oswell to grunt. "Hold him up." Greyjoy commanded. The mutes held Oswell up. Greyjoy turned to face the Prince. "Now, tell me, who are you?"

The Prince remained silent.

Greyjoy punched Oswell in the face.

"Tell me who you are." Greyjoy demanded.

Thankfully, the Prince held his silence.

Greyjoy punched Oswell in the stomach.

The Prince remained silent.

Greyjoy was clearly getting irritated for he started to hit Oswell even harder. Once to the face, once to the stomach, again to the face, again to the stomach, a third time to face that drew blood. Oswell held back the gasps that were threatening to escape from his mouth.

Greyjoy ordered his mutes to let Oswell go, and then punched him once more. This punch knocked Oswell to the ground. He lay there, panting, bleeding and sore.

"Tell me who you are." Greyjoy demanded.

Before the Prince could reply, Oswell forced himself up. Panting he said. "Stop questioning the Lord, and fight me, you coward."

Greyjoy whirled around to face him. "What?"

"You want to know who we are, fight me, and you will find out." Oswell said. The Prince opened his mouth to protest, but shut it when Oswell looked at him.

Greyjoy laughed. "A challenge? I do like a challenge. Very well, let us fight."

Oswell forced himself to his feet, and was handed a sword by one of the mutes. Greyjoy emerged with a sword as well.

"If I kill you, your lord will tell me who he is, if you kill me, you go free." Greyjoy said.

"Fine." Oswell replied.

Greyjoy advanced on him then. He swung wildly. Oswell ducked and dodged, weaving into the gaps between the man's swings. He managed to find an opening and struck. Greyjoy got cut and grunted in response.

Oswell stepped back as Greyjoy came advancing at him. Oswell blocked his first swing, pushed it to one side, then blocked his second swing, before stepping inside and smacking Greyjoy on the face.

Greyjoy laughed. "Stop teasing me, dog."

"Fine." Oswell said, there was no point holding back now.

He advanced forward and knocked Greyjoy's sword aside, he slashed the man's face, then slashed his neck. He stepped back as Greyjoy tried to counter. Greyjoy grunted. Oswell advanced forward, knocked the man's sword out of his hand and then finished him off.

A quick one-two, his sword went into Greyjoy's eye, then went down and into his neck. Greyjoy stared at him, bleeding and gaping. "Well…." The man gurgled before he fell to the ground.

Oswell leaned over him and pulled his sword out.

"Anyone else?" He asked, as the mutes all stared at him.

When nobody said anything, he walked over Greyjoy's body to where the Prince was standing. He knelt and placed his bloodied sword at the Prince's feet. "The Silence is yours, Your Highness."