Chapter II: The Blackwood Bastard
"Forgive me, my lord, but death in three." Samwell said gently. Brynden frowned.
"You lie," he said. "My dragon and both of my elephants are near your king while you have nothing but rabble and two spearmen."
"Very well, my lord. Shall I prove my claims?" Samwell said. Brynden nodded. And then was left aghast when one of Samwell's rabblemen went past the dragon and killed his king. Brynden stared at the cyvasse board. Defeated by a common watchman in a game of wits.
"Your lordship played quite well." Samwell offered.
"Spare me your sympathy, Samwell. Pity is a poor salve for wounded pride." Brynden said, holding down his anger. "Just tell me where did I err?"
"When you made a mad dash for my king on your dragon and elephants. It was easy to tie up your army in pointless skirmishes. Letting you kill my dragon was an acceptable sacrifice since it made you forget your unguarded king." Samwell explained and Brynden listened. What he said made sense.
"You owe me another game, Samwell." Brynden declared.
"I am at your disposal, my lord." Samwell nodded. They were interrupted by Gwenys opening the door.
"Brynden! We are expected in the King's solar." she said.
"My lady, you could have sent a servant." Samwell said, standing up quickly and bowing.
"My brother is a difficult boy to find. No servant would have expected him to be playing cyvasse with the soldiery." Gwenys said. Samwell had the good sense to hold his tongue. Brynden wondered if he should have spoken in the man's defense but decided against it. Gwenys would be angry and might order the man to be punished only to forget it later. It was better to just stay silent.
A black cat stared at the two siblings before skulking away. There were more cats inside the Red Keep than all the Seven Kingdoms, thought Brynden. He envied their freedom and lack of care, two luxuries Brynden never had. He hadn't wanted to come to King's Landing but his mother had pleaded and he had relented. All because the King had wanted to see his bastard half-siblings. One of the patrolling city watchmen stared at Brynden and Brynden stared back at him. The watchman has the good sense to look away. But the damage was done. It's my birthmark, Brynden thought. If he had been wearing a cloak, he would have pulled the hood on to conceal it. Lacking options, he just walked quickly.
"Now tell me, dear sister," Brynden asked. "Why were you actually near the city watch barracks?"
"I told you, we are-" Gwenys began but Brynden gave a short, false laugh.
"Please do not play me for a fool, sister. The King has one already and I am afraid I do not know as many japes or tricks as he does. Just tell me the name of the man you went to visit." he said, startling Gwenys.
"How did you know?" she asked, turning around to face him. It was a lucky guess, Brynden thought with a smile but he did not say it. Why else would Gwenys be here? Handsome men and comely boys were her weakness. Brynden had once spied on his mother, lamenting that Gwenys was more her father's daughter than any of her children.
"Would you mind telling me the name of my new good brother-to-be?" Brynden asked.
"You are horrible, brother dear." Gwenys said.
"Is he a watchman or is he a stableboy?" Brynden pressed.
"He is a Knight of the City Watch." Gwenys said, trying to make him sound important.
"You mean a knight in the city watch." Brynden said.
"What?"
"He is a knight in the city watch, not of the city watch. The city watch did not make him a knight. That is why he is a knight in the city watch." Brynden insisted.
"He is a knight that serves in the city watch therefore he is a Knight of the City Watch." Gwenys said.
"No-" Brynden began but they reached the stairs that led to the halls. Their mother's septa was standing at the foot. Brynden felt Gwenys shrink and he grinned.
"So," Septa Helena said. "Our lady decided to play Florian when the king made time for your mother and you."
"I went to get Brynden!" Gwenys said.
"Wouldn't my dear sister be Jonquil?" Brynden asked. The septa and his sister stared at him as if he was mad. "Florian was a knight while Jonquil was the maiden. That means Gwenys would be Jonquil in this analogy."
"My lord, you are giving this more thought than it requires. Come, we mustn't keep the king waiting," Helena said. She gave Gwenys a pointed stare. "I will deal with you once the royal visit is done."
They found their mother and their older sister Mya standing in their rooms. Mya gave Brynden a hard look. His mother looked relieved.
"There you are. I was worried!" she said, her smile brightening the room. He felt Septa Helena poke him in the ribs.
"I am sorry, mother." Brynden and Gwenys said.
"All is well. Let's not keep his grace waiting." Their mother said. The five of them left their rooms and strode through the halls of the Red Keep. Servants stepped aside, giving them a wide berth. Brynden tried to ignore the stares. They presented themselves before the doors of the solar which was being guarded by Ser Donnel of Duskendale who gave a wordless nod and opened the doors for them. The five of them stepped inside, Brynden bowing while the rest curtsying.
"Please, Lady Blackwood, please. I beg you to be at ease. Come and sit with me" King Daeron of House Targaryen, second of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Prince of Dragonstone, said with a smile. Behind his chair stood Ser Gwayne Corbray, who glowered at Brynden as if he had killed him. The five of them straightened and then took their seats.
"A king's work is never done, as you can see." Daeron said apologetically, indicating at the small hill of documents on the table. The Hand of the King, Lord Ambrose Butterwell, began to clear away the documents along with another servant. "There is a new manner of problem to deal with everyday. But enough about my royal miseries. You look splendid, Lady Blackwood. I have sent for the Queen. She and I have sorely missed your company."
"Your grace is most kind." Brynden's mother said.
"Again, with the formalities." Daeron said, waving his hand dismissively. "Please, I asked you to be at ease. Must I order everyone to be at ease?" The King looked at Brynden and Brynden felt his stare. "What do you think, dear brother?"
The question caught Brynden off guard and he accidentally spoke honestly.
"I think Mother doesn't know what kind of king you are. Hence her reserve."
Her mother and sisters looked aghast. Septa Helena looked mortified. Ser Corbray scowled. Only Daeron looked thoughtful.
"I believe you do speak truly, Brynden. Your mother met me when I was but a prince and when people favored my half-brother, Daemon. There was no fear between us then. But now I wear a rather cumbersome crown," he tapped it slightly. "And everyone walks around as if I am Maegor the Cruel."
"I don't think you are like him." Brynden blurted and then bit his tongue. Daeron gave him a curious smile.
"How so, pray tell?"
"Maegor had Blackfyre." Brynden said. He prayed to the old gods for mercy for the words he had uttered.
"Brynden!" His mother said in a scandalized tone.
"You go too far, boy." Ser Corbray growled.
"He spoke the truth." Daeron said. Ser Corbray and his mother looked at the king incredulously. "I will not have anyone reproached for speaking the truth, no matter how bitter it is. And besides, it is a good thing I don't resemble my cruel ancestor, isn't it?"
Brynden struggled to not smile. His dear mother looked conflicted. Mya looked shocked. Septa Helena seemed willing to throttle him. Ser Corbray looked murderous. Only Gwenys smiled and even she looked uncertain.
"Just so, your grace." Brynden said. Daeron smiled and didn't object to his use of the royal style.
"Well then, Lady Blackwood. I hope you wouldn't mind me having ordered a brief respite." The king said. As if on cue, a train of servants were admitted in the solar and set down trays of food and drink. There were sweetmeats from the free cities mixed in with confectionaries from Westeros. There were glass flagons of Arbor, both gold and red, standing next to Hippocras and spiced wine. Bowls of honeyed locusts stood next to plates of cake. A brief royal respite is larger than a village feast, Brynden thought. But what made him smile was what was set in front of his mother.
"Lemoncakes." Gwenys said with a mischievous grin. His mother's eyes grew wide and Brynden couldn't blame her. The lemon cakes of King's Landing were twice as large as the ones made in Raventree. The lemons were probably shipped in straight from Dorne. Her mother hesitantly picked the cake up before nibbling it. After a moment of thought, she ate it all in a few bites. Lemoncakes were his mother's favorite.
"Have some spice wine as well, my lady." Daeron offered. A servant poured it out in a silver goblet. Brynden's mother took a small sip but Brynden knew that she was only doing it for show. Lemoncakes and spiced wine. The king had brought his mother's favorite foods and Brynden doubted it was by chance.
"How is Lord Blackwood these days?" Daeron asked.
"Father is quite well, your grace. He is as hale and hearty as he was ten years ago." Brynden's mother replied.
"I assume that he is still hawking and hunting. He breeds the best hawks in all the Seven Kingdoms." Daeron said.
"Your grace is most kind but my lord father is more preoccupied with maintaining the estate and keeping the Brackens out." she replied.
"I see," the king said. He paused and simply let the moment hang. Brynden's mother and sisters continued partaking in the food but Septa Helena had also stopped. Brynden felt that the king was about to say something important.
"Lady Blackwood, would you be willing to forgive Lady Barba Bracken?" the king asked, making Brynden's mother cough into her goblet. So that's what he wants, Brynden thought. The good king wants a good realm.
"Your grace, I don't understand?" Brynden's mother asked, once she had sufficiently recovered.
"Lady Barba and you are currently the most important women in your houses. If you and she can put aside your hurts and griefs, we could take another step towards stabilizing the realm." the king said.
"Your grace, you saw how Barba treated me in your father's court." Brynden's mother said quietly.
"And yet both of you were victims of Aegon's desires. Being placed in a hard situation makes us cruel and bitter." the king said. "I know you, Melissa Blackwood. You are a kind and forgiving woman. She was unkind to you but do you have to repay her in the same coin?"
Brynden's mother stood up suddenly. "Please forgive me, you grace, but I feel unwell." and without further ado, left the solar, with Mya and Septa Helena in her wake. Gwenys looked conflicted.
"You may leave if you wish." the king sighed and Gwenys curtsied before leaving as well.
"Your grace would have an easier time securing an interest free loan from the Iron Bank." Brynden noted, making Daeron give a small laugh.
"Quite so brother but as king, I must try." the king admitted.
"Your grace may I ask why?" Brynden asked.
"I think you must have realized this yourself. I need a realm that will put aside its petty conflicts. The crown is indebted to the Iron Bank and Tyrosh and the debt grows weightier by the day. To pay it off, I need taxes. And to wrangle taxes safely out of these lordly coffers, I need a peaceful Westeros." Daeron explained. Brynden bowed his head in respect.
"I will try to convince my mother, your grace." Brynden said and made to get up.
"No brother, let your sisters do that. A woman's heart can only be turned by entreaties from other women. And truth be told, I have asked too much from your mother, I fear. You did not remember it but there was a time when Lady Bracken almost had your mother thrown out of Aegon's court. I do not presume that time has mended the wounds." the king said.
"Very well, my lord," Brynden nodded. "What should I do?"
"I would like you to meet our brother." Daeron said and nodded. The solar's door opened once more and a man stepped in. His swarthy skin was free of blemish and his hair was as white as a Targaryen's. He was dressed in a simple dark garb with only a brooch on his lapel for adornment.
"Brynden, this is our brother, Balerion Otherys of Braavos. He has accepted to aid me in my financial troubles. I would like the two of you to be on good terms." the king said.
That might be difficult, brother dear, Brynden thought as he noticed Balerion eying his birthmark.