The Gates of Rook's Rest.
Aegon sat upon his horse, looking down at him from a height.
His expression was neither one of pure anger nor triumph; it was more a look of "What can any of you possibly do to me?"
"Your Grace," Will said, trying to keep his voice steady and calm as he advised, "this batch of grain was specifically set aside by the Prince to be sent to the North. The North has not rebelled yet, but if we cut off their food, it may be the very thing that pushes them toward the Blacks."
"The North hasn't rebelled?" Aegon sneered.
"Lord Stark's vassals are arguing every day in Winterfell about marching south, you call that not rebelling?"
Will was taken aback. "Your Grace, from whom did you hear this?"
"I have my own sources."
Aegon didn't elaborate, keeping his eyes fixed on him.
"Lord Will, let me ask you: if the North truly rebels, will sending this grain fill their bellies so they can fight us, or will it make them feel grateful?"
Will fell into silence.
Aegon II continued loudly, "Are the lives of those Northern rebels the only lives that matter? Are the lives of the loyal commoners of my city, King's Landing, worth nothing?"
Hearing the King's declaration, the crowd behind him erupted into a thunderous, mountain-shaking cheer.
"His Majesty is wise!"
"His Majesty is right!"
"We are your truly loyal subjects!"
Will looked back at the roaring crowd and shook his head. He knew that today, this could not be stopped.
In the crowd, an old man was being jostled about but was still desperately pushing forward.
"Move, move, let me see His Majesty..."
A young man nearby steadied him. "Old man, take it slow."
The old man looked up, his clouded eyes full of tears.
"King Aegon... he truly has the spirit of the late King..."
The young man was silent for a moment before whispering, "The late King was a good man, but he was never as generous as His Majesty."
The old man nodded. "His Majesty is the one truly in charge now..."
The young man nodded back and said no more. Not far away, a woman holding a child stood on her tiptoes to see.
"His Majesty is so handsome, like someone from a painting..."
Her child was wailing on her back, but she didn't even stop to soothe him, her eyes fixed on the handsome King atop the white horse.
"Mother, hungry..." the child cried.
"Don't cry, don't cry," the woman patted his back.
"When His Majesty gets the grain back, Mama will make bread for you."
At the gates, Carter finally descended from the wall. He walked to Aegon and bowed slightly.
"Your Grace."
Aegon stared at him from his horse, his gaze wary.
"Mmh."
Carter looked up and spoke cautiously.
"Your Grace... this grain, as per the Prince's orders, is prepared for transport to the North for their winter survival."
A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd.
"The Prince again!"
"The Prince won't let the King decide!"
"What 'Prince's orders'?"
"You're just a watchdog!"
Carter's face stiffened, but he didn't look at them; his eyes remained on the King, Aegon II.
Aegon's horse shifted uneasily. In the sky, Sunfyre seemed to sense his rider's emotions and let out a low growl. Aegon reined in the horse and looked at Carter.
"Your name is Carter, is it not?"
"It is."
"Is it my brother Aemond who raised you?"
Carter lowered his head. "It is."
"Then let me ask you," Aegon's voice slowed down, "am I the King?"
Carter answered immediately. "You are."
"Then if I want this grain that belongs to the Kingdom, will you block me?"
Carter looked up into Aegon's eyes. Currently, with Prince Aemond away and Lord Hand Tyland gone, the person with the most power in King's Landing was the man before him. Carter lowered his stance and spoke.
"Your Grace, if you want this grain of the Kingdom, I will not block you."
Aegon raised an eyebrow.
Carter continued, "You enter alone, and I shall accompany you."
"Accompany me?"
"Yes," Carter nodded.
"I will accompany you to Rook's Rest, accompany you as you open the granaries, and accompany you as you release the grain. However much you want, I will give you."
Carter had already made up his mind: once Aegon entered alone, he would seize and bind the King.
Then he would immediately send word to Prince Aemond to return and handle the situation. As long as the Prince was back, the King wouldn't dare be so reckless.
Aegon hesitated for a moment, then laughed.
"You accompany me? Does the King require your accompaniment?"
Carter replied with quiet dignity, "It is a good thing that Your Grace cares for the people. But inside Rook's Rest, everyone is the Prince's man. If I do not accompany you, should someone be blind enough to offend you..."
"Your Grace, you are the True Dragon and care nothing for such things, but as your subjects, we must think for you."
Aegon II stared at him for several seconds; his intuition told him this boy was likely up to no good.
Aegon said sternly:
"Carter, this grain belongs to the Kingdom. It is not the Prince's. Do you understand? Furthermore, I will not give a single grain to those rebels in the North."
Carter nodded. "Understood."
"I will open the granaries and sell the food at a fair price to the commoners of King's Landing."
Carter nodded again. "Understood."
"And you still wish to accompany me?"
Carter looked up at Aegon. "Your Grace, if you take this grain without the Prince's command, it is my life you are taking."
Aegon II lost his patience, his violet eyes narrowing.
"What did you say?"
Carter looked him in the eye without flinching.
"Your Grace, listen to me. You are asking for my head."
Aegon's face darkened. "Move aside."
Carter did not move.
"Move!" Aegon's voice turned sharply severe.
Carter remained in front of the horse, arms spread.
"Your Grace, listen to me..."
"I will not listen!" Aegon pulled the reins, and the white horse reared up, nearly striking Carter with its hooves.
"What do you think you are? A dog raised by Aemond dares to block me?"
Carter's face was grim as he tried to grab the reins of the white horse.
"Your Grace..."
"Insolence!"
Aegon's horse almost trampled Carter, forcing him to step back, though he still stood in the center of the path.
The crowd erupted in boos.
"What is this thing?"
"Daring to block the King!"
"Beat him to death!"
The levies brought by Frey began to stir restlessly, but the soldiers behind Carter also closed in.
The two groups were at each other's throats.
At that moment, a deafening roar came from overhead. Sunfyre dove down, his massive wings buffeting the crowd and sending them tumbling.
The people shrieked and scrambled back to give the dragon space.
Sunfyre landed on the open ground not far behind Aegon, his golden scales glittering in the sun, the fire already visible in his throat.
Carter stepped back again, but he still hadn't fully cleared the way.
Aegon, on his horse with the dragon snarling behind him, looked at Carter and laughed in sheer frustration.
"Move aside. I am taking this grain today. Not even the Seven can stop me, I have said it!"
Carter's expression was as grim as it could be. He slowly took a step back. Finally, he turned aside and cleared the path.
Aegon trotted forward a few paces, then reined in his horse, looked back at him with disdain, and said:
"Carter, go back and tell my brother Aemond that I took this grain. If he has any complaints, let him come find me."
With that, he spurred his horse and galloped forward. The levies followed closely behind. Sunfyre let out a low roar, spread his wings, and took to the air.
The crowd erupted into cheers and surged forward after the King.
Carter stood where he was, his face ashen.
Will walked over and whispered, "Why did you stop blocking him?"
Carter gave a bitter laugh. "Block him? I did my best..."
Will fell silent. Carter turned to walk back, but after two steps, he stopped.
"Where is Kermit?"
"On the wall."
Carter looked up. Kermit was standing there, watching him from a distance.
Carter took a deep breath and slowly climbed the wall. There, Kermit handed him a waterskin.
Carter took a long drink, then leaned against a battlement, watching the black mass of people entering below.
"What do we do?" Kermit asked.
Carter didn't answer.
"If the Prince finds out..."
"I know," Carter interrupted.
Kermit watched him, waiting for him to continue. Carter stared at Aegon on his horse for a long time, then suddenly said, "What if I gave him a taste of it?"
Kermit was stunned. Carter pointed down at the gate.
"From this position, I could hit His Majesty with one arrow."
Kermit said in disbelief, "Have you gone mad?"
"I know," Carter said with a bitter smile.
"That's why I didn't shoot."
Kermit stared at him for several seconds, then lowered his voice.
"Tell me, did you truly want to shoot?"
Carter gave no answer. Kermit was silent for a while.
"Carter," he whispered, "he is the King."
Carter turned to look him in the eye.
"The King? What kind of King is he?"
Kermit was speechless. Carter continued, "As things stand now, what use are we to the Prince?"
Kermit sighed. Carter suddenly laughed, a harsh, ugly sound.
"Kermit, tell me, if the Prince were here, what would he do?"
Kermit thought and whispered, "The Prince wouldn't have let His Majesty leave the city."
"Nonsense," Carter cursed.
"But the Prince isn't here."
They both fell into silence. The crowd below continued to surge forward, and the faint sounds of cheering reached them, cries of "Long live the King" and "His Majesty is wise."
Kermit suddenly asked, "Are you just going to let it go like this?"
Carter turned. Kermit whispered, "This grain was what the Prince intended to use to win over the North. Now that the King has taken it, what happens to the North?"
Carter was silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know."
Kermit asked, "What about the grain the Prince bought in advance?"
Carter said steadily, "That grain is already stored safely elsewhere. Besides, we did our best; the Prince will not blame us."
Kermit nodded helplessly. They had no choice; no one had expected Aegon II, who was usually suppressed by Aemond, to act so recklessly at this moment.
Currently, Prince Aemond was stationed at Antlers, and Lord Hand Tyland was in the Westerlands urging his brother, Lord Jason Lannister, to deploy troops.
If Prince Aemond found out about Aegon II's recklessness, he would surely be furious...
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