Chapter 9

Morning after the trial

A knocking at the door wakes up the crown prince "enter" he calls well getting himself dressed behind a screen. "A letter for you my prince" a comely serving girl says dropping the letter on the nightstand "thank you for delivering it to me there should be a few copper stars on the dresser help yourself to them as thanks" Raymont calls well tieing up his doublet "many thanks your grace. Also your brother said he wanted to see you for luncheon later in the family solar" she said as she takes only a few copper stars knowing that the prince keeps them on hand for other servants "if you see him let him know I will be there" Ray says coming out from behind the screen and sitting at his desk to get started on the report for the city watch and the rebuilding off some of his villages he also wants to get started on making a dock for some small vessels to plug up the blackwater if necessary. "Of course your grace" the servent says bowing before turning to leave "oh and plese send in Sandor on your way out" Ray asks not looking up from his paper and quill the servent says nothing and tells Sandor the prince wants him on the way out.

"You wanted to see me my prince" Sandor says once he's enterd the solar "yes I did, I wanted to reward you for fighting for me so ask and if I can give it to you I will" Ray says finaly looking up at Sandor burned face "I want a more permanent position at your and your brothers side that is all I need from you your grace" Sandor said earnestly dropping to a knee. This shocked Raymont for the mere fact that he expected to be asked for the mountains head but it wasnt an unpleasnt shock "how would you feel about being apart of the kingsguard when I rise to the throne?" Ray asks after thinking about a postition for Sandor "are you sure you would want someone like me in that role?, im not exactly the most honourable man around." Sandor asks with a look of unease on his face he had thought he would be guard captain for Rays household or some other role not to be one of the figures in the white book " you have more honour then you would belive and more then that your loyalty cant be bought if I had to chose someone loyal to stand watch over me you would be high on the list, so what do you say would you Sandor Clegane accept the role of kingsguard one i'm the king?" Ray asked with his full attention on the hound "if you would have me your grace then i would be more then happy to accept the position to serve you until my last breathe" Sandor accepted the position with a full smile.

"Good now would you please stand guard well I finish some of these reports?" Ray asks getting back to his reports some would see this as rude but Sandor doesnt mind it's just the way his king is "of couse your grace" Sandor says taking up his place againt the wall behind Raymont. Hours pass before Raymont finishes and sets off towards the family solar to enjoy a meal before more hours of work "come along Sandor you aswell Mandon we need to go to the family solar" Ray commands walking down the corridors of the keep, some shy away from the prince and there are even those who call out greeting but the most of them grace him with a smile and bow its more and more obvious that many in the red keep support the prince over the king this includes the kingsguard,lords,guards and even servants of course their are those who only support him for personal gain but that doesnt bother Ray its easier to use them this way. once he makes it to the family solar he is greeted by twenty goldcloaks standing guard outside "who is in their right now Jasper?" the prince asks one of the goldcloaks "all of your siblings your mother uncles Tyrion Stannis and Jamie my prince" Jasper says bowing and opening the door for the prince who nods and enters.

The people gatherd inside the room turn to the new comer and smile "there you are Ray come sit we have been waiting for you to start" Tyrion says making room between himself and Jamie "sorry i got caught up in reports of increased banditry around my villages and had to organize a platoon of men to go deal with it" Ray says sitting down and filling his plate "and who are you sending nephew?" Stannis asks as he cuts into his venison "I am going to send twenty five mounted goldcloaks under the command of Willem Ramtom to deal with them he's not a man who enjoys sitting idle so he's the best choice" Ray says taking a drink of his waterd wine "ah the tall ram he made quite a name for himself killing Boros Grandison in single combat" Tyrion says in a jovial tone Ray lets out a laugh at the title "tall ram not that imaganitive is it" Ray says with mirth "oh yes and goldblood is so much better isnt it" Cercei says with a chuckle causing Ray to roll his eyes with a warm smile on his face causing laughter from his younger siblings "so anyway nephew how was your first battle" Jamie asks with a smirk on his face "it was diffrent then I thought it would be the men had fun though in the taverns and other such buildings once they returned home" Ray says causing laughs from some and looks of concern from others "the battle was won but what sealed the deal was that Joff hit them from the back with the cavalry and when Willem killed the commander" Ray says well giving Joffrey a smile Joff nods backs "it was your strategy so its you who planned it i just made it happen" Joff says with a frown "but I do wonder what Renly thought he could do against you he had four thousand men and you have ten thousand and the walls of the city he couldnt win the battle so it doesnt make sence that he would attack" Joff says in deep thought "he wants the throne" Stannis says blunt as ever "he belives that he's the best choice for the throne and some stormlanders and reachers back him in the idea of it" this is troubling news for Ray as he belives that as soon as Robert dies then Renly will try to rise to the throne.

'this will need more thought' Ray thinks digging into his meal not noticing the looks shared around the table.