Chapter 26 - Words Of Snakes

(Mc Pov)

My step halted, hearing the words spoken by my brother, my foot backstepping as I run my hands along the table, my head turning to him with calm eyes while my mind thought on what it was he needed me for now.

"Very well, your grace. What is it you have need of me for.." I spoke while taking my seat, my mind far removed from the situation, but I still would listen all the same.

"It is about your marriage to my daughter, prince Maliketh, his grace has seen fit to postpone its announcement to the masses, until a day had been officially established for the proceedings." Otto said in place of my brother, whose face was strange, like a mix between apologetic and angry.

"What need was it for me to come here, for this matter? so you wish to not let the smallfolk know of my marriage? I did not think I would be away, and while the wedding won't be done in a day, why does it seem like your words mean it won't happen for a while to come?" I questioned, confused at why this was brought up, and even more so when I had just come home, even if postponed, a month at most would surely be enough time.

"You see Maliketh, there is a matter in which I think you know.." Viserys said, tilting his head to not Otto but Corlys.

"The Triarchy. with their hold over the stepstones, have risen taxes many times, to the point of blatant robbery. The crabfeeder and his men are no better then the pirates they dealt with, sooner or later it will come to a head." I listened to lord Corlys speak, his words carefully placed as I knew him, it seems he spoke to my brother before me.

"I know as much Lord Corlys, as I have told you before, yet it seems you needed to wait on my brothers approval, and as the birth of his son is near, and with the tournament being held, would it not take months to amass your forces? I still do not see why the marriage would be affected by something like this, especially when I've cleared many of the carbfeeders in safe passage of your men?" I had already known Corlys may have used what I said to gain favor with the king, but it was not as if we would move today, or in the coming months.

"You know what you've said, Maliketh, and while your words to Corlys about pledging your force, and dragon to him could be seen as taking power from the crown." Otto said, his eyes smiling as if he had won something, yet my eyes remained calm, looking at Corlys who turned his eyes away.

"You, your force, and your dragon are apart of the crown, as such in lu of your talks with lord Corlys being taken seriously, you will devote this time to help lord Corlys deal with the matters in the stepstones." Otto continued, his words slow and full of cunt like arrogance, making me laugh.

"Is that your angle Lord Corlys, using the weight of what I said as leverage to get the thorn from your side, well I can't say I didn't expect it." I said, calming my laughter that made Otto stop talking.

"I merely want what's best for the crown, those trading routes must be cleared of the carbfeeders so the merchants can continue to move at peace within the narrow sea." Corlys said, his hand straight as he tapped the table, pointing out why he had told everything to the king.

"You mean for yourself, Lord Corlys, do not faint the crowns importance. Everyone knows your house will suffer the most, if the matter is not dealt with soon." I spoke, it did not matter, my words are merely just words.

"Prince Maliketh, since you've been here, you've made a disturbance with Fortassax in the city, willfully laid with my daughter, spoke treason, and wished to weaken the throne. Not to mention you coveted the strongs home, Harrenhal. I think dealing with this matter, to overlook your many transgressions against his grace, would be better suited with your experiences." Otto continued, cutting off what Corlys was going to say as I turned to my brother.

"A campaign that would take months? sending me away so soon brother.." I said, smiling at him as he slammed his hand on the table.

"Will you take this seriously Maliketh! I have turned a blind eye to everything you've done, even turned a blind eye antics against Alicent, and gave you a way out, and yet still you act as if you've done nothing!" Viserys yelled, it seems he was growing tired but not for the snakes that filled his court.

"Your grace, calm yourself, Maliketh will do so, or the punishment of his crimes will be exercised completely within your own words." Otto said, his words calming as he looked at me. "Prince Maliketh will do this for you, as he has always done." He continued but at this point I no longer cared for the game.

"Alright, enough.. I have grown tired of the games of snakes, and overly exaggerated lords.." I said, lifting my hand up, raising two fingers and motioning in a come here manner, while steps came from behind me.

The steps clear in everyone's ears, as the guards gripped their swords, the council looking at the man covered in a red cloak with wide eyes as he leaned his head down to me, my mouth whispering something as he bowed and moved to the door.

"What is the meaning of this brother, you even have your men in the shadows of my court." Viserys yelled, while his men tried to stop mine as he grew more frustrated.

"I have always had someone to protect you from the shadows, or did you forget brother?" I said, causing Viserys to be taken back as he nodded unknowingly.

Viserys soon waved his hand, his hand on his head as he looked at me, his face strange as he spoke. "What was the meaning in that Maliketh.." he questioned.

"You will know in time brother.." I said as I leaned back, watching Ottos face change many times at my words.

Minutes seemed to move like hours in the silence of the court, each person thinking about what was going on, and more so how a man stood within the chamber without anyone knowing he was there. While each wanted to voice their opinion, they remained silent, waiting as the man finally returned. His steps clean, as he walked up to me handing me a letter that Viserys looked at with confused eyes.

"The matter with Fortassax was caused unknowingly, I received your letter a few days before my departure to the stepstones to help lord Corlys of my own accord. Where you expressed your want for me to be here for your tournament, and the announcement within a week, I merely flew here at your behest." I said, looking over the letter, my eyes not concerned about anyone else.

"As for my future wife, while a mistake, I did not take her by force, nor would she remain by my side if I did so.. Your words to mislead others does not matter to me Lord Hightower.." Again each of my words came out without care for my brother or his court alike.

"As for treason, what treason have I done, speaking clearly, if I wanted to do something to weaken the crown, I would do so, not speak of it in a matter that I could not uphold, that being said brother, did you not grant me my life from your service? Unless I've read your words wrong or you had other plans I did not know of, so offering my services to lord Corlys was merely to sweeten for his favor." I said, I knew Corlys might just turn around and tell the king, without knowing all the details, but I thought he was different from the other snakes in my brothers court.

"It seems I left out some details, lord Corlys, hoping that we could speak clearly of our wants to better this situation. I do not care for word play, nor do I care that others think themselves cunning because of my 'mad' actions, I merely did as I saw fit. Oh and lord strong, sitting on a pile of shit out of gratefulness does not change that you sit atop shit. But shit I would gladly pay Harrenhal's weight in gold for.." I couldn't understand why people in my brothers court were so narrow-minded, and tried whatever means to get what they want.

"I have never cared for your talks, your incessant words of shit to fill the ears of others, and I have never wanted your fucking throne brother.. What I want was given by you and taken away.." I finally yelled, throwing the paper to my brother who sat back in his chair.

"I will do so because you are my blood, I owe you as much, the stepstones will fall as all other things have in my service to you brother. But there will be no more after this, in a court filled with shit, hoping to crawl its way up, as if thinking it will stop being shit.." I said, standing as my brother looked on absent-mindedly, my boots echoing in the chamber as I left a few words.

"15 years, and yet you still deny my loyalty.."

(Note - Fortassax came into the city to drop Mc off nothing crazy. The matter with Alicent, Otto wished to reinforce the fact that if Mc did not do as he was told, things would look bad for him and his brother alike. but seeing as the mc spoke openly about it in front of the most powerful people in the city. Even if he did so King Viserys would have to stop the rampant crys of knights and common folk. As for Corlys, his wants were so heavy on the stepstones he did not think that Mc was not telling the whole truth, if he had or hadn't spoken things would have worked out. As for the strongs, wanting to by a castle you yourself know as shit, is something you could discuss, while asking the king about what should be done, as for treason, Viserys knows his brother well, knowing if he wants something he would take it, he was merely blinded by his heir, Otto, and the fact that the mc has been causing him a headache. And the fact everyone thinks the mc is mad, not that he would think so heavily on things. look at what he did to Daemon, as much of a fuck up Daemon is, he wished to send his biggest supporter away because of Otto and a few words, that yes we're hurtful but not the end of the world.)