Chapter 4: Swordplay

Subsequently,

Two carriages without any house sigils, escorted by soldiers, made their way through King's Landing. Instead of passing through the grand Iron Gate, they chose a more discreet route, leaving the city through the Dragon Gate.

The convoy embarked on the Rosby Road, heading toward Duskendale, where Ser William had decided to sail to Dragonstone. Meanwhile, a ship also departed from King's Landing's port to serve as a decoy.

The middle-aged master-at-arms had his reasons. He was well aware that even within the Red Keep, spies from various factions had infiltrated every corner.

Any news discussed among the King's council in the morning could find its way to the dingiest Flea Bottom tavern by afternoon. It would be a miracle if the news of the Queen and the Prince's relocation could be kept under wraps.

After careful consideration, Ser William devised a deceptive plan. Sailing straight from King's Landing to Dragonstone would undoubtedly be the best route, even with the recent increase in storms at sea. Alternatively, traveling by land to Duskendale and then sailing to Dragonstone was also an option.

However, Westeros was now fragmented and full of rebellion. Once they left King's Landing, there was no guarantee of safety. He knew that choosing the land route was not without risks.

"By the Seven."

The master-at-arms from the Red Keep rubbed his brow with his rough fingers, a gesture thought to touch the soul and convey sincerity in prayer to the gods.

"May everything go smoothly."

...

Time flew quickly.

A day later,

After half a day's travel and a night's rest, the party passed through Rosby, continuing down the Kingsroad toward the port of Duskendale.

The port was part of the loyal Leek family's territory, with the steadfast Earl of River run defending Duskendale, an unimportant harbor, for His Majesty. Although the middle-aged master-at-arms wasn't entirely confident in the Earl's loyalty, he considered those who had yet to betray the King amidst the current wave of rebellion as loyal enough.

Today's weather was gloomy.

The carriage curtains were drawn slightly, allowing only a dim light to enter. A drizzle pattered on the carriage roof, turning the roads muddy and difficult to traverse. The carriage swayed from side to side.

Viserys looked out the carriage window at the obscured scenery, with trees along the road shrouded in a hazy veil of rain. The cool breeze that hit his face made his heart feel heavy and stifled.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"Ser William."

The silver-haired boy shifted his gaze from the scenery outside to the man sitting across from him, while Rhaenys sat obediently next to him, holding a cat.

At this moment, the clever young girl understood that this was no pleasure trip. Her grandmother would never risk traveling in such weather.

In the same carriage, Ser William Darry sat across from Viserys, staring out the window in silence. Now fully armored, with a sword and a short spear at his waist, he contemplated whether or not he should share some troubling news with the young prince.

The ship that had departed King's Landing with them had been attacked by an unidentified group of pirates before even leaving Blackwater Bay. It had likely met with disaster.

When the messenger from King's Landing arrived earlier that morning with the news, Ser William felt a chill down his spine.

Although he had long known that the Red Keep was full of holes and breezes, he did not expect the rebel army to uncover his plans so quickly. To his knowledge, the allied forces of the North, the Vale, the Riverlands, and the Stormlands didn't have a strong naval presence, with only a few seaworthy vessels. Otherwise, the blockade at Windfall Castle by the Greenstone Fleet would have been lifted by now.

Fortunately, he had been cautious and chose not to take the route everyone deemed safe via water. Instead, he hid the queen and prince in a sealed, inconspicuous carriage, and they discreetly left King's Landing.

By now, the enemy must have known that Queen Rhaella and Viserys had not taken the water route.

"Your Highness need not worry; the soldiers are ready for battle," Sir William said gravely, sitting in the carriage with one hand on his sword hilt.

"Still, we should move faster," Viserys nodded, not knowing the dire news at sea or what Sir William was thinking. He was already quite satisfied sitting in the carriage, lined with soft fur, compared to the soldiers outside.

"I understand."

...

Soon, it was dusk again.

After a day's journey, coupled with the day's dismal weather—a constant drizzle that turned the road into a muddy mess—everyone was exhausted.

Just as things seemed to be at their worst, the axle of Queen Rhaella's carriage suddenly broke, perhaps because it had struck a stone. The horse let out a pained neigh, nearly collapsing, but Sir William and a few soldiers quickly grabbed it, removing its bridle and allowing it to rest.

Queen Rhaella and her two handmaidens clumsily crawled out of the carriage. Fortunately, the rain had momentarily ceased.

However, the incident forced the party to halt temporarily. Sir William had previously ordered everyone to hasten their journey, shortening rest periods. Both soldiers and horses were physically drained.

With a temporary reprieve ordered, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Viserys hopped down from the carriage, offering the intact one to his disheveled mother, and decided to stretch his legs.

Although the carriage was more comfortable than what others had, he was still worn out from the day. The roads in this era weren't smooth, and the carriage lacked effective shock absorption.

He saw Sir William, leaning on his sword hilt, standing before the abandoned carriage. The silver-haired boy hesitated briefly before approaching him.

"Sir William," Viserys said politely, "May I ask you to teach me swordsmanship?"

The silent William Darry, caught off guard by the prince's request, was momentarily stunned.

"Why do you have such a thought, Your Highness?"

The middle-aged master-at-arms couldn't help but recall events from over a decade ago, when a young boy obsessed with books and the harp suddenly approached him, demanding a sword and armor, declaring he must become a warrior.

He did indeed become one of the most skilled knights in Westeros—Viserys' elder brother, Rhaegar Targaryen.

"I am seven years old, old enough to begin a knight's training," the silver-haired boy said, looking up but not directly answering the question.

"And I will need it in the future, won't I?"