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“Did you mean it?” asked Olivia. “About supporting Prince Amabel?”

“Yes, I did. I’m going to hold Prince Ambrose off until he arrives, and then you and I… will board a ship to Sweetfish Retreat with our lions and live the rest our lives there.” Aryan took Olivia’s face in her hands. “You would like that, wouldn’t you?” she asked, her voice husky and thick.

Olivia nodded shyly with a smile, but she didn’t say anything.

“I shall have twenty men take the lions to our ship and you too, wait for me there, I’ll come to you as soon as everything is over”

“Is that a promise?”

“Yes, I promise” Aryan pulled Olivia for a tight hug which lasted a minute. This was a time they had been afraid of, and excited at the same time.

Sweetfish Retreat was heaven for them, and it will be when they return again. The island was welcoming, the sun was warm, the ocean was clear blue and the people were kind and not mentioning the food which was extra delicious and to die for. Soon they will be on a ship to that island, and Olivia wanted nothing more than that.

.....

Bells tolled all over the city of Raven that noon, the good folks were informed of the invasion and advised to stay indoors and not get out. The knights of the city’s watch were spread throughout the streets warning people and sending them inside, the shops were closed, harbors detained and surrounded, the market squire emptied and the brothels were swept off any whores and barred.

It was chaos that whole afternoon, even for Aryan as he moved from one place to another giving out orders to her men, arranging them in order to attack. The archers were placed in hidden towers and up the city’s gates, they were to take Prince Ambrose by surprise. Aryan clearly said it she didn’t want to have words with the Usurper, “Attack as soon as you see him” she gave out the orders.

Twenty thousand knights stood still and ready to fight, while ten thousand took the position as archers and were stationed at the top of towers, balcony, trees which were leafless because of the winter and on top of tall buildings such as the Sept and the good folks houses.

When it was all done, Sir Thomas went to Aryan and informed her that. He found her on top of the main palace building, fifth story upwards with a glass of honeyed wine on her right hand looking at the sky. Aryan wore her armor clothing, yellow armory with lions ─ the colors of Old City. She had two sharp swords on her waistline, one on each side, when Aryan decides to take two swords to a fight, then her foes weren’t going to survive.

“Its done Your Grace, all of our men are properly stationed.” Sir Thomas said with his head low, Aryan wasn’t in a rush to turn back and look at him, she kept her eyes fixed at looking at the sky, dusk was upon them and soon Prince Ambrose will be at the gates of her city.

“What about my lions and my wife, are they inside the ship yet?” she asked.

“Yes, Your Grace”

Aryan turned back still holding the glass full of wine, she took a sip and stood firmly. Today, she looked more like her twin brother unlike any other days. The armor was worn by Gandalf during the Battle of Stonedance, Sir Thomas knew that because he was there the day Gandalf wore it.

“Do you remember this armory my Lord Hand?” asked Aryan.

Sir Thomas nodded carefully, “Yes, Your Grace. It was worn by your brother during the Battle of Stonedance”

“You have good memory my Lord. Do you also remember how many men I killed in Stonedance?”

This wasn’t a question Sir Thomas expected, hence he stuttered along the way. “Some of the soldiers say twenty thousand, while others say thirty… I never obtained the real number but they said you were triumphant in the battle. They gave you the name, Lady of Stonedance” he replied but he was unaware as to what was the meaning behind the question.

“Thirty thousand men in a span of two weeks, that’s the number of men I slayed in Stonedance. While my brother barely survived, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is my brother’s vengeance, which I will have it one way or the other” This time Aryan’s face grew cold, she placed the glass on top of the table and went back to look at the sky. “Artemis conspired with Lord Cregan in poisoning my brother”

“Are you certain Your Grace?”

“Cregan visited Blackmount, a month before my brother’s death discreetly. I know he had the orders from him, House Arteides and House Squire have been at war for centuries. I shall get to Cregan soon, but Artemis…”

Sir Thomas quipped in, “I wouldn’t advise you against going after Artemis, Your Grace. Not after what he did to us in Lawsend’s City, he has a dragon”

Aryan turned back “Dragons can be killed Lord Hand. There are Dragon Hunters across the Freezing Sea, they were the ones who brought doom to House Morrow, and they can be awakened again. But this war isn’t mine to fight, but Aprophil’s”

“Aprophil?” Sir Thomas had no clue as to who Aryan was referring to.

“You wouldn’t know him but he is the true heir to Sweet Waters throne. I thought he looked familiar when I saw him in Whitebridge, that was until one of my spies informed of his true nature. He is the first legitimate son of King Luca Arteides, I am a Maldonian and that’s why I know all of this. I wrote a letter to my men in Old City and I have instructed them to start a riot, pull out Arteides banners and replace them with white sigils, and they are also to spread words about Aprophi to all the good folks, in all ten cities” said Aryan.

To Sir Thomas, all of this was new and hence he had no idea how to react, or what to say. He was awestruck and unaware of what to add, all he could think about was the war which was on their gates, that’s all.

Aryan was aware of that, “I must be confusing you Thomas, let’s put that aside and focus on the war tonight. Remember, we are fighting to stay alive, what comes afterwards is none of our concern. Ambrose will die tonight and I will present his head to Amabel, but I won’t bend a knee, I’ll just disappear elsewhere to plan my vengeance”

So even when Sir Thomas thought it was over, to Aryan things were just starting. She wanted to fight and win against Ambrose, but she wasn’t planning on keeping the Silver throne. The man who wanted the throne was moldering in his grave, and ever since the day she sat on that dull chair ─ Aryan never felt as if she belonged on it.

Aryan was a warrior, a spirited nature who was destined to travel, fight and winning tournaments, see the world on biggest ships. She was never meant to just sit and rule, even she knew better and that’s why it wasn’t hard for her to give up the Silver throne.

Finally, the moment they had been preparing since noon arrived. Prince Ambrose’s men approached the gates of Raven while raising sigils of House Taelin high above the sky, from above Aryan saw them and she notified Sir Thomas. “Ring the bells and ready the men for attack” and Sir Thomas left the balcony and raced down.

Aryan wasn’t worried at all, she just kept drinking her wine as she watched closely an army closing in on her city. There was no sun, and the lands were frozen, there was ice everywhere. Darkness had arrived and all it’s terrifying things it had to share, Aryan finished her wine and dropped the glass. Then she took out her swords, one of each hand and climbed the stairs down slowly.

She looked like a heroine marching to battle, ready to lead and ready to fight. This was to be her final dance, or that’s what she wanted to think and hence she wanted to make the best out of it. One thing she had in mind, Prince Ambrose must die tonight.