Aegon sat astride his horse, looking down at him from above. His expression was neither angry nor pleased.
It was more like a look that said, what can you possibly do to me?
"Your Grace," Will said, doing his best to keep his voice steady as he tried to reason with him,
"This grain shipment was already designated by the prince to be sent to the North."
"The North has not yet rebelled. If we cut off their supplies now, we may push them straight into the Blacks' arms."
"Not rebelled?" Aegon let out a cold laugh.
"The bannermen of House Stark shout every day in Winterfell about marching south, and you call that not rebellion?"
Will froze for a moment, then asked, puzzled, "Your Grace, who told you that?"
"I have my own sources," Aegon said, refusing to elaborate as he stared him down.
"Lord Will, let me ask you something."
"If the North truly rebels—"
"If we send them this grain, will it feed them so they can fight us, or will it make them grateful?"
Will fell silent.
Aegon then raised his voice and declared, "Do the lives of those northern rebels count as lives?"
"And the lives of the smallfolk of King's Landing—my loyal subjects—do they not count as lives?"
At the king's words, the crowd behind him erupted into thunderous cheers.
"His Grace is wise!"
"His Grace speaks the truth!"
"We are the ones loyal to our king!"
Will glanced back at the roaring crowd and could not help but shake his head.
There would be no stopping this today.
In the crowd, an old man was being jostled back and forth, yet he still struggled to push forward.
"Make way, make way, let me see His Grace…"
A young man beside him steadied him. "Easy there, old man."
The old man lifted his head, his cloudy eyes filled with tears.
"King Aegon… he truly has the bearing of the late king…"
The young man hesitated, then said quietly, "The late king was a good man… but he was never this generous."
The old man nodded.
"Now this is a king who governs…"
The young man gave a small nod and said nothing more.
Not far away, a woman holding a child stood on tiptoe, trying to see ahead, murmuring to herself, "His Grace is so handsome… just like in the paintings…"
The child on her back began to wail, but she paid it no mind, her eyes fixed on the handsome king on the white horse.
"Mother… I'm hungry…" the child cried.
"Hush, hush," the woman patted his back. "Once His Grace gets the grain back, I'll bake you some bread."
At the city gate, Carter finally came down from the wall.
He walked up to Aegon and gave a slight bow.
"Your Grace."
Aegon looked down at him from horseback, a trace of caution in his gaze.
"Mm."
Carter raised his head and spoke carefully, "Your Grace…"
"This shipment of grain, as per the prince's orders, was meant to be transported to the North for winter relief."
A wave of jeers rose from the crowd.
"Again with the prince!"
"The prince won't even let the king decide?"
"What 'orders from the prince'?"
"You're nothing but a watchdog!"
Carter's face stiffened, but he ignored them, keeping his eyes on King Aegon.
Aegon's horse shifted uneasily beneath him.
Above them, the dragon Sunfyre seemed to sense its rider's mood, letting out a low, rumbling growl.
Aegon tightened the reins and looked at Carter.
"Your name is Carter, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"You're one of my brother Aemond's men, aren't you?"
Carter lowered his head. "Yes."
"Then answer me this," Aegon said, his voice slowing.
"Am I the king?"
Carter answered at once, "Yes."
"Then if I want this grain—grain that belongs to the realm—will you stop me?"
Carter raised his head and met Aegon's eyes.
With Prince Aemond absent, the Hand absent, in King's Landing at this moment, the man with the greatest authority was the one before him.
Carter lowered his posture slightly and said, "Your Grace,"
"If you want this grain of the realm, I will not stop you."
Aegon's brow lifted.
Carter continued, "You will go in alone. I will accompany you."
"Accompany me?"
"Yes." Carter nodded.
"I will go with you to Dragon's Roost. I will accompany you as you open the granaries. I will stand by as you distribute the grain."
"You take as much as you wish. I will provide it."
Carter had already made up his mind—once Aegon entered alone, he would seize him.
Then he would send word to Prince Aemond at once and have him return to deal with the matter.
As long as the prince came back, His Grace would not dare act so recklessly.
Aegon paused for a moment, then laughed.
"You'll accompany me?"
"Do I need you to accompany me?"
Carter replied calmly, neither servile nor arrogant, "Your Grace cares for the people. That is a good thing."
"But Dragon's Roost is filled with the prince's men."
"If I do not accompany you, and some fool fails to recognize you and offends you…"
"Your Grace is a true dragon—you may not care—but we who serve you must think of such things."
Aegon stared at him for a few seconds. His instincts told him—
this boy was up to something.
"Carter," Aegon said sternly, "This grain belongs to the realm."
"It does not belong to the prince. Do you understand?"
Carter nodded. "Understood."
"I will open the granaries and sell the grain at a fair price to the smallfolk of King's Landing."
Carter nodded again. "Understood."
"And you still want to accompany me?"
Carter raised his head and looked at Aegon.
"Your Grace, without the prince's orders, if you take this grain, you are taking my life."
Aegon grew impatient, his violet eyes narrowing.
"What did you say?"
Carter met his gaze without flinching, speaking each word clearly.
"Your Grace, listen to me—you are taking my head."
Aegon's face darkened.
"Move aside."
Carter did not move.
"Move aside!" Aegon's voice turned sharp.
Carter still stood before the horse, arms spread.
"Your Grace, hear me out—"
"I won't hear it!" Aegon yanked the reins, and the white horse reared up, nearly striking Carter. "What are you supposed to be?"
"A dog raised by Aemond, and you dare block my way?"
Carter's face turned ugly as he tried to grab the reins of the king's white horse.
"Your Grace—"
"Presumptuous!"
The horse's hooves nearly came down on him. Carter had no choice but to take a step back, yet he still stood in the middle of the road.
The crowd erupted in jeers.
"What is this thing!"
"He dares block His Grace!"
"Beat him to death!"
The militiamen brought by Frey began to stir, but the soldiers behind Carter also closed in. The two sides faced each other, tension drawn tight as a bowstring.
At that moment, a deafening roar came from above.
Sunfyre swooped down, its massive wings sending the crowd staggering.
People screamed and rushed backward, trying to keep their distance from the dragon.
Sunfyre landed not far behind Aegon, its golden scales gleaming under the sun, fire already flickering faintly in its throat.
Carter took a step back as well, but he still did not fully clear the way.
Aegon sat on horseback, the dragon looming behind him, baring its fangs and claws. He looked at Carter and laughed in anger.
"Move aside. Today, I am taking this grain."
"Not even the Seven themselves can stop me. I said so."
Carter's expression turned extremely grim.
He slowly stepped back.
At last, he shifted aside and gave way.
Aegon urged his horse forward a few steps, then suddenly pulled the reins and turned back to look at him, a trace of disdain in his eyes.
"Carter,"
"Go back and tell my brother Aemond—I took this grain."
"If he has any objections, let him come to me."
With that, he kicked his horse and rode forward.
The militiamen followed close behind.
Sunfyre let out a low growl, spread its wings, and took to the sky.
The crowd burst into cheers, surging forward after the king.
Carter stood where he was, his face ashen.
Will walked over and said in a low voice, "Why didn't you stop him?"
Carter gave a bitter smile. "Stop him?"
"I already did everything I could…"
Will fell silent.
Carter turned and walked back. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
"Where's Krytt?"
"On the wall."
Carter glanced up. Krytt was standing there, looking down at him from afar.
Carter took a deep breath and slowly climbed up the wall.
On the wall, Krytt handed him a waterskin.
Carter took it, drank deeply, then leaned against the battlements, watching the mass of people pouring in below.
"What now?" Krytt asked.
Carter said nothing.
"If the prince finds out…"
"I know," Carter cut him off.
Krytt watched him, waiting for him to continue.
Carter stayed silent for a long time. Watching Aegon on horseback, he suddenly said, "What if I just shoot him?"
Krytt froze.
Carter pointed downward. "From here, I could put an arrow into His Grace."
Krytt stared at him in disbelief.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"I know." Carter let out a bitter laugh. "That's why I didn't."
Krytt stared at him for a few seconds, then lowered his voice.
"Tell me the truth—did you actually want to shoot?"
Carter did not answer.
Krytt fell silent for a moment.
"Carter," he said quietly,
"He is the king."
Carter turned to look him in the eye.
"The king? What kind of king is he?"
Krytt choked on his words.
Carter continued, "At this point, what are we even for? Why did the prince raise us?"
Krytt let out a sigh, unable to respond.
Carter suddenly laughed, a harsh, ugly sound.
"Krytt, tell me—if the prince were here, what would he do?"
Krytt thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The prince would not let His Grace leave the city."
"No shit," Carter cursed. "But the prince isn't here."
The two fell silent.
Below them, the crowd continued to surge forward. The cheers drifted up faintly—"Long live the king,"
"His Grace is wise."
Krytt suddenly said, "So you're just going to let it go?"
Carter turned to look at him.
Krytt lowered his voice. "That grain—His Highness planned to use it to win over the North."
"Now that His Grace has taken it, what happens to the North?"
Carter fell silent for a moment before answering, "I don't know."
Krytt asked, "What about the grain the prince bought in advance?"
Carter replied steadily, "That grain—I already stored it away."
"Besides, we did everything we could. The prince won't blame us."
Krytt nodded helplessly. There was nothing they could do. No one had expected Aegon—who was usually kept in check by Aemond—to act so recklessly at a moment like this.
Now, Prince Aemond had troops stationed at Antlers, and the Hand Tyland had gone to the Westerlands to urge his brother, Lord Jason Lannister, to send his forces.
If Prince Aemond learned of Aegon's reckless actions, he would surely be furious…
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