Chapter 20: Siege of Runestone

Chapter Text

Runestone

Jory Manderly

As he prepared himself for infiltrating Runestone, Jory made sure he was not wearing anything that may reveal his true allegiance if he did end up getting caught, deciding on simple chain mail armour , with steel gauntlets and a thin black cloak with a hood.

"You can still back out…if that is what you wish, I would not want you to do something you feel uncomfortable doing."

He turned his head, noticing Aerion with the corner of his eye.

"Why would I do that?" Jory responded, though he had considered in long length, thinking that he may have been too quick to offer himself as an infiltrator.

He was experienced in sneaking around often, though he hadn't snuck his way into a castle before.

"I did not say you would.." Aerion added, clasping his hands in front of him, he had this elegant look to him that was certainly different to his normal attitude.

Jory thought he had learned all he could of the prince on their journey from Kings' Landing, though he was beginning to realise, he may not have learned anything.

"It would seem no one else wants to put themselves up as a volunteer." Aerion mentioned "So it would seem you are the Lone Wolf of this task, I am sure the Wolves of Winterfell would be proud." he said, with a smirk.

"Right, well then…no time like the present." Jory smiled, albeit with little excitement in journeying into a castle filled with hostiles.

"You have until we leave the camp to make your decision whether you are still in, knowing now what you know."

"We? You can not journey with me, Aerion, I think one would spot you instantly, your hair is a dead giveaway with these sorts of things." Jory questioned.

"I will not be sneaking into the castle, someone must show you where this secret passage lies, and only Willam and I know of its existence, as far as I am aware." Aerion grinned.

"Well why is it Willam is not journeying with me?" Jory asked "Surely you must remain here to come up with the siege plans."

"He is better at this sort of thing than I am…" Aerion responded "Planning…Patience, I much prefer to kill." he chuckled "I jest, ofcourse…he is healing from his wounds, I do not want to pressure him."

Jory had doubts that the prince was jesting, from mere observation he could tell he took simple enjoyment in killing and causing pain.

"Meet me near the large tree on the hill when you are prepared to depart. We do not have time on our side." he pointed out a lonesome tree that sat on a small hilltop.

Once Jory was prepared, he travelled through the camp towards the meeting point, walking past men that were preparing themselves for the siege ahead, practising swordplay, and building up the siege equipment, a battering ram and ladders to scale the walls.

He found Aerion leaning against the tree, biting down on a juicy red apple, a loud crunch following with each bite.

"I'm Ready." Jory said.

He held his head high, however Aerion was silent, wearing a hooded cloak of his own, his face was in shadows, and he passed over the apple to Jory.

The prince gestured that he follow him with a slight tilt of his head to the left, then proceeded to walk in that direction.

He had been quieter than usual, he knew the prince had times where he did not speak a single word, but he wondered what the reason was this time around for such silence.

"So, what is the plan once I have made my way into the castle?" he questioned, wanting to get a run-down of the plan.

After a few moments of more silence, the prince would finally respond.

"Rodrik is your main priority." Aerion said "If you can manage to open the gates, then that is great, but do not make it a priority if it means you are likely to be killed."

"And where will he be located?" Jory questioned.

"If Gunthor was speaking the truth, then he should be in his quarters, which are located within the family wing, next to my own." Aerion continued "Though do check the dungeons, just in case."

"How long do I have? When will you be launching this siege?" Jory asked "It is best if I do not get caught in the mess."

"The siege should be taking place in a few hours, the builders have informed us that the battering ram is almost complete." Aerion responded "It would be a lot easier if I used Gaelithox, though I understand that we want the least amount of damage to the castle walls."

They reached a small steep path that led down onto the beach "Watch your step." Aerion told him, and Jory looked down at the long drop from them.

Each of them reached the bottom, and Aerion grabbed out two small axes from the back of his belt, hidden under his cloak and passed one onto Jory.

"The passage was dug out a few centuries ago, after one of my ancestors lost this castle, in case another siege was to ever take place." Aerion smiled at him "Me and Willam would use it to sneak out and head into the local villages, it has been a long while though."

Jory couldn't understand why he needed the axe, though that was soon revealed as they reached the passage, overgrown with vines and the prince smirked back at him "A very long while…" before hacking away at the vines, Jory joined in shortly after.

"And where does this lead to?" Jory asked, continuing to hack away "Within the castle I mean, it would do me well to know where I will end up."

"Should lead you to the old family wing, back when my great grandfather ruled over this castle." Aerion grinned "It is said to be haunted by the ghosts of his dead children."

There was a break of silence between the two, before the prince began to chuckle.

"I jest, ofcourse…" he shook Jory as he gripped tight onto his shoulder. "It is just a story to frighten children, it serves as guest apartments now, A nice place to put the King if he ever wished to visit, or Lady Jeyne."

"Right…" Jory chuckled nervously.

"I wish you luck." Aerion said, as the last of the vines were hacked away enough for him to fit through "May the gods, both old and new, protect you while you are in there."

Jory gave the prince one final farewell nod before venturing into the passage, it had a strong moulding stench that Jory could not explain, though it was no doubt due to the hundreds of years that it went without maintenance.

"Shit…"

He regretted that he did not bring a torch with him on this journey, with each step he had taken was further away from the entrance, slowly darkening his surroundings, he trailed his hands along each of the walls, it was so dark that he may as well have had his eyes closed.

The journey through the passage was a long one, though he had no sense of time, he felt he had been going on for miles and what seemed like an hour, it was not long until he walked directly into a ladder.

"Son of a whore…" he muttered, with a strong bite in his voice.

He lifted himself up the ladder, beginning to climb to the top.

Jory couldn't help but question why he put himself forward, there was no reason for him to risk his life for men of the Vale, what had they done for him? But he felt an overwhelming feeling to prove his worth back in the camp, and that perhaps it will grant him favour with his own father should he come back a hero.

Being the fourth child of a Lord brought you hardly any recognition, his father showered his two eldest brothers in the finest riches and dined to their every achievement, while he and Rickard were left disappointed with each time they risked their lives.

When he was but twelve name days old, he travelled to the lands of House Glover, and went on to assist them in fighting back the Wildlings and sending them scurrying back over the wall, though never once received a single speck of recognition upon his return.

So, in agreement with his brother and the approval from their father, they journeyed down to Kings Landing when calls for the spares came from the King's insane brother, Prince Daemon, to join the City Watch, to help lessen the spread of crime in a city filled with lowlifes, though he never expected to be serving the man's son.

He shook his head from those memories, reaching the top of the ladder, and slowly opening the hatch, beginning to hear muffled voices from outside the chambers in which the hatch was located.

The room appeared to be very fancy in design, and large, possibly serving as the old bedchambers of the Lord of Runestone, he stepped over towards an old desk, though soon knelt down and hid behind it as the door opened.

"I'm tellin' ya, that Kitchen wench will be mine." a man spoke "If Micah stops hangin' around her too much, I should shove ma' sword through his neck."

Jory heard the sound of a sword being shook against chainmail.

"Will you shut up?" an annoyed voice said "We got three rooms left to clear."

"But Micah.."

"He has probably had his way with her already, I think I saw her crying." the annoyed one said, and a horn could be heard sounding from the courtyard "Come on, we'll have to clear em' later, Roach wants everyone on the battlements, and if you mention Micah's name one more time…"

"Roach this, Roach that.." the first man mimicked "Who's he thinking he is by telling us what to do, huh? We ain't with his company, I should tell Lord Royce exactly what I think."

"And get your head chopped off in the process?" The second man laughed, and a clear shutting of the door was heard, and their voices once again were muffled, until he couldn't hear them at all.

Jory lifted his head up from behind the desk, then pulled himself up, taking a deep breath as he escaped being caught.

"Close call." he muttered.

He made his way from the room and slowly down the hall, taking the steps down to the main corridor that led to the Great Hall, but went a further level down towards the Dungeons, taking Aerion's advice on looking there first.

A few of the mercenaries past him as he walked down, though he made sure not to show his face in case he was recognised, making his way through the iron gates at the end of the stairwell, and with each step, he would peer into the locked cells, now home to capture guards and servants.

"Water.." one cried out.

"Help us…" another said.

His sole aim was to see if Rodrik was being held there also, but out of all the faces, he was not among them."

"Ey." a voice from behind called out "What you doing down 'ere? Boss wants us on the ramparts for the attack."

Jory turned around, slipping his hand behind his back and taking a tight grip onto his knife, forcing a smile at the man.

"I thought I dropped some coins down here." Jory took small steps towards the man "Have you seen anything? I will happily split it."

"I ain't seen you before…" the man said as Jory's face was revealed from the man's torch "What's ya' name?"

"Ahh there it is." Jory replied, pointing by his feet, and the man looked down to the ground, allowing Jory to quietly remove his dagger and shove it into the man's neck "Why did you have to come down here…"

Jory took hold of the man's body, he was heavy and more than what he was used to carry, but he pulled the man by his legs towards an empty cell at the far end of the dungeons, clapping his hands together once done.

He searched the body for any clues that might assist him in the search, but to no avail, setting his eyes upon the prisoners as they looked to him "I'll be back, I promise." he said, gesturing for them to be quiet, holding his finger up to his lips.

Outskirts of Runestone

Aerion Targaryen

"M'lord, I have just received word from the builders." Ser Richard entered the tent where Aerion, Willam, and Lord Redfort could be found. "The battering ram has been completed, the men await your command."

"This is good, Jory should have infiltrated the castle by now, it is with hope he manages to secure Rodrik before the siege begins." Aerion nodded "You are dismissed, Ser, be sure the men are prepared."

"I do not mean to be a sceptic, Aerion." Willam mentioned, causing Aerion to turn to his brother "Are we sure this plan will work? The gates are made up of Iron, too thick for a battering ram to dent."

"We will need to try, Willam, had you gone with my original plan, we wouldn't be having this conversation, Gaelithox is more than enough to tear those walls down." Aerion urged.

"Aye, it would be." Lord Redfort agreed "And we wouldn't lose as many men."

"Rodrik is in that castle, our loyal men and servants are in there, what if they are caught in it? What if you lose control of that thing?" Willam questioned "We should have eight men go through the passage, and open the gate, sending a single man was foolish."

"I've ensured the builders have a pointed steel cap added to the tip, so that it will break through, it may take a while, but we will eventually have that gate destroyed." Aerion added, taking a sip from his wine.

"Lord Redfort." Aerion looked to the older man "Prepare your men to march, I want your archers focusing on the ramparts as the battering ram is moved into position."

"It will be done, my prince." Lord Redfort replied, rising from his chair and removing himself from the war tent.

"I want you with me, Willam." Aerion looked towards him "You may be injured but you are still better than any other man on the field."

"And have you worried about me?" Willam smirked "No..no, I will only slow you down." he admitted.

"Then what will you be doing while I risk my life?" he said jokingly.

"I'll be staying here with the healers, drinking ale until I can no longer feel the pain." he chuckled. "We have men in critical condition, I will ensure they are protected, and our flank is secure."

"Very well, though I will continue to worry for you." Aerion replied, placing his hand upon Willam's shoulder "I was not there for you at Stonefort, I refuse for that to happen again, you mean too much to me." he smiled, in a moment of weakness.

"And you mean much more to me, brother." he clasped Aerion's wrist "Though if this does happen to be the end, I am taking that sword of yours..." they each chuckled, Willam soon placing a hand back on his chest.

They shared the moment of silence, before embracing each other.

"See you on the other side." Willam said, patting his back, then drawing himself backwards "And don't be foolish, our enemy may yet have something up their sleeve to turn the tide." he warned the prince.

"Gunthor has Gerold by his side…that weasel couldn't assist in coming up with a competent battleplan." Aerion responded "But I will be mindful nonetheless, for you."

With one final look, Aerion left Willam behind in the tent, travelling through the camp to meet up with the army.

It had been the emptiest since they first arrived at Runestone, all the men had been commanded into their positions outside the Castle, preparing to move up with the battering ram, with only injured soldiers remaining behind with the healers.

He thought further as he travelled through the camp on the men that he once called family, a man he had looked up to turning out to be nothing more than rats and thieves, trying to take what was his by right, they were just jealous of the power he wielded.

Aerion looked back over to Gaelithox as he made his way to the frontline, turning and thinking for a moment, he had little faith that the battering ram would work, and had hoped it wouldn't, so that he may show his enemies the full power he now had in his grasp.

Runestone had a reputation for being one of the most impregnable castles in the entire realm, perhaps even more so than Storm's End, if they were to defeat the enemy that lies within, they need Gaelithox and the clouded flames of a dragon.

Runestone

Jory Manderly

Jory's instincts were at their peak as he made his way through the keep, passing many of those who had been ordered to remain within instead of up on the battlements, he spotted some men that had previously guard under Aerion, and obviously bent the knee to Gunthor to spare their own lives.

He made his way towards the family apartments where Rodrik was rumoured to have been held, travelling up the stairwell.

As he reached the top, the apartments were guarded by two men, each wearing the household armour of House Royce, with their coat-of-arms displayed in the centre of their chest, with a bronze cape draped over their shoulders.

They were each chatting amongst each other when Jory walked over to them, crossing his arms to reveal a sense of authority as they both looked his way.

"Lord Gunthor has requested I speak with the prisoner, to ensure we have gathered all intelligence he may know of the enemy force." he told them, hiding his northern accent behind one of a fake southerner, trying to sound like the noble lords he had spoken with.

"We have been ordered by Lord 'Royce'." they corrected him "To not let anyone through." they said, looking back and forth between each other and Jory, before going back to mumbling amongst one another.

Jory once again reaches behind his back, beneath his cloak to grip hold of his dagger, believing he could take them both out quickly.

"I really can't take no for an answer, lads…it would be a shame to return to Lord Royce and have him journey his way up here just to confirm what I have said, but if I must.." he released his grip and turned to walk away before being stopped.

"Well, I mean…we can let you in, a simple mishap is all, you are free to speak with the prisoner." the guard to his left spoke "He is being held in the first bedchambers to the right." they informed him, unlocking the door and allowing him to enter.

"That is great news, I thank you for your cooperation." Jory said as he extended his hands outwards, smiling, before walking through the door, a great big smirk remained on his face.

He walked through the hallway with three doors on either side, and straight ahead of him stood a statue of one of the Bronze Kings of Old with a sword held high in his right hand, with a large window behind.

Jory looked to the walls where tapestries depicting sexual acts on the wall were found, which he found bizarre, reminding him of what he found on the walls of The Red Keep.

As the guards had informed him, he entered the first door on the right, immediately being met with a makeshift dagger made from wood at his throat, and at the corner of his eye stood Rodrik, alive and almost well.

"Calm, Rodrik, I have been sent by our prince." Jory urged, raising his hands above his head, and removing the hood that covered his face, his mere presence brought slight relief to Rodrik's eyes, who laid his weapon down.

"Thank the seven." Rodrik smiled.

"I have come to rescue you from the castle, before the siege begins." Jory told.

Rodrik looked heavily bruised as Jory took a better look at him, his left eye was closed, and he had dried blood on the corner of his mouth.

"I do not want anyone risking their lives for me." Rodrik said with concern "Do not tell me that Aerion also walks the castle."

"No, as far as I am aware, he will be leading the siege, Gerold and Gunthor will pay for what they have done to you, this much is what Aerion swears." he threw the older warrior the dagger from his belt "You will want this, it will more useful than that piece of wood."

Jory removed the cloak he had been wearing, and also threw this in his direction "You will be recognised easily..wear that."

Rodrik threw on the cloak, and they made their way back into the corridor.

"Well…as I suspected, the hatchling has sent his pet Merman to free Rodrik." Jory's head jolted towards the voice, rolling his eyes when he notices that it is infact Gerold, along with the two guards from earlier "I must say it is very noble for you to offer up your life for the prince, but you have failed.." 

"And if it is not Ser Gerold, The Bronze Snake." Jory sniggered at the title he had given the man "You have betrayed your own house, Ser, I always thought the Vale prided themselves on being honourable and diligent, perhaps the stories I have heard in White Harbor…are not true." Jory replied.

Rodrik leaned on the wall for assistance in standing.

"This is not your fight, Merman, we have no quarrel with our northern friends." Gerold told him "Let us deal with the hatching and you may return back north to White Harbor." he offered, and received a simple scoff as an answer.

"I swore an oath, Ser, you may not know what that means, but I do." Jory replied "A northerner will never betray his oath, to do so is considered beyond redeemable."

Jory unsheathed the sword from his belt, pointing it towards his new opponent.

"You will not need to worry about me killing you, I will leave Aerion to decide your fate." Jory smirked "For you are now my enemy also."

"That is a shame, Merman." Gerold shook his head, taking a few steps back "Kill them both." he ordered both guards.

Each of them lunged at the northman, of which he brushed their attacks off as his blade connects with theirs, pushing them away from him, and giving him some space, stepping back further and allowing Gerold to stab one in the neck from behind as they seemingly pass him, believing him too weak to be a threat.

"This is pathetic." Jory taunted "I have seen more skill from a Wildling whore." He kicked the remaining guard in the stomach, throwing him against the wall.

"COME ON!" he screamed, causing the guard to lung at him, and Jory ducked beneath the blade, plunging his own sword into the man's stomach, twisting it until the man fell to the ground.

"What will it be, Gerold?" Jory asked, turning his attention back to the coward "Will you face me, one on one? Or will you run off and have others fight your battles."

"I refuse to fight the both of you." Gerold said "You are northman, and believe in the old ways, do you not? Let us battle, just you and I" he demanded.

"Very well.." Jory responded, looking to Rodrik for a moment.

Without warning, Jory was the first to strike, launching his blade upwards, attempting to strike at head, though it was blocked by Gerold, though allowed Aerion to remove himself away from the door, and kicked Gerold into the wall.

Gerold ducked as Jory attempted another swing of his blade "I must say it is good to know you can use a sword, Gerold, I feared you may not be a challenge."

The rat then answered with an attack of his own, lunging at Jory's torso, though it was smacked aside with his own steel, creating some space between the two of them, and Jory prepared and got into a defensive position.

He chuckled, taughting Gerold, and causing him to strike again, of which Jory was prepared and countered by blocking his sword and punching him in the stomach with his left hand.

"You northerners really are some cocky bastards.." Gerold spat.

Jory punched him in the stomach once more, then raised his leg up and kneed him in the same spot, making him fall to his knees, and then following on with a kick to the face to ensure he did not stand back up.

"Kill me then!" he screamed, followed with a slobbering cry as he looked down at the ground.

Jory knelt down and looked at the man face-to-face.

"I told you, your life is not mine to claim." Jory chuckled "No..no, that pleasure is for the prince, and I bet he has some great things planned for you, I look forward to watching."

"No..please, you don't understand, Aerion is a vile creature…Rodrik knows what he plans to do, and once you learn what that is,  then you will see his true nature."

Jory rose back to his feet, and sighed, before smacking Gerold on the side of the head with the pommel of his sword, knocking him out cold, and with Rodrik's help, they managed to move them all into the room he had previously been held captive.

"Come on, we should make haste in leaving." Rodrik said.

"What did Gerold mean?" Jory asked in curiosity "when he said the prince was a vile creature.."

"It has concerned me somewhat in the past." Rodrik said, not revealing too much "Aerion likes to play with his prey…you will have to find out what that means in due time from him."

The Siege

Aerion Targaryen

Aerion viewed the siege from above, circling Runestone to see what was taking place, bowmen protected the battering ram as planned as it moved its way up the dirt path towards the gate, with a legion of men following behind.

He could see Lord Redfort on horseback at the head of the army, leading his troops into battle as any true Lord should, men from both sides peered up at the dragon, wondering what the next move was, some were terrified, others glad to have a powerful weapon on their side.

Not losing faith in the original plan, Aerion was waiting to see if the Battering ram did infact breach the gate before he considered using Gaelithox.

When it arrived at the gate, four men were positioned on either side, beginning to move it in place, pulling it backwards with their strength and launching it at the iron, though it did not appear to make a dent.

Aerion spotted movement on the ramparts out of the ordinary, men carrying large steel cauldrons, disappearing into the tower just above the gate, and soon the defensive force would reveal their plans.

A black liquid was poured onto the men beneath, who were attempting to break through the gate, making them scream in agony, which could even be heard from so far up.

Then they were set alight with flame, burning them to a crisp, and the battering ram suffered heavy damage in the process, eight more men were sent to the battering ram in order to beat down the gate further, though with each additional troop sent, more of the black liquid was sent down upon them, and Aerion thought enough was enough.

Gaelithox flew down to the castle, landing directly onto the battlements, and squashing some of their bowmen in the process, his claws dug into the stone and the wall slowly began to crumble as a response.

Aerion noticed Gunthor retreating back into the keep as Gaelithox roared at the men in the courtyard below "Dracarys." was the only word that left Aerion's mouth, sending a breath of flame towards them and he watched as they burned alive.

Gaelithox soon rose from the walls and back into the skies, and then turned back around towards the castle and landed just on the outside of the right wall "Destroy it!" Aerion shouted in the Valyrian tongue so that Gaelithox could hear over the chanting from the advancing friendly army.

He then lifted his wing up into the air and sent it crushing into the wall of Runestone, allowing entry to their troops through other means than the gate, Aerion had some feeling watching as he destroyed his own castle's walls but he felt it necessary to achieve utter victory.

It was then that he made his way down from Gaelithox, and unsheathed Goldfyre from his belt, walking into the courtyard as the screams of his enemies could be heard as they burned to death from dragonflame, cutting down anyone in his path to the keep as they attempt to take their shot at him.

The prince entered the Keep, turning and looking backwards, seeing his men make their way into the courtyard, but he soon shut the great doors behind him and made his way to the great hall where Gunthor was sure to be.

Gunthor was found, slouching on the throne, with his hands on his head leaned back "I commend you, Aerion, you have achieved victory over me."

he shook his head and whispered something to himself that Aerion could not hear, though he moved further towards him, making sure to keep a tight grip on Goldfyre.

"I won't fight you, we are kin afterall, despite everything that has happened." Gerold continued.

"You can not use that excuse with me, cousin." Aerion chuckled "You betrayed me, your own blood, and in doing so, you insult my mother, who loved you dearly."

"Do you accept my surrender?" Gunthor asked.

"That all depends on what you tell me." Aerion sighed "Where is Arnold Arryn? The man that is so clearly behind this pathetic coup."

"Shortly before you attacked, I sent out a rider to inform Lord Arryn that there was no possible way I could hold this castle against a dragon." Gunthor revealed "He is most likely sailing across the Narrow Sea, he has powerful allies in Essos that wish to see Westeros in a state of war."

Gunthor rose from the throne, and slowly walked towards Aerion, holding his hands out in the air, facing defeat.

"That is what I know." Gunthor said.

"You told me the truth." Aerion replied, as the space between them closed and Aerion placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder "That is why…I will give you a quick death."

It took a moment for Gunthor to respond, in that time, Aerion shoved his dagger into the man's heart.

"My heart is broken, cousin, what you are experiencing now, is how I feel." he whispered in his ear "May the gods give you rest."

Aerion stepped back, releasing the dagger from his cousin's chest, allowing Gunthor to drop to the floor, first to his knees, and then soon after on his stomach and it was not long until he became lifeless.

He turned to Lord Redfort and some of his men bearing witness to what he had just committed "Lord Redfort, I thank you again for assisting us in taking back Runestone." he smiled, as if nothing happened.

"We have achieved victory over the enemy, my prince, may this be the start of a blooming friendship, between my house and yours." Lord Redfort announced, his eyes appeared to move from Aerion towards the dead body, and he appeared nervous.

"I want the other prisoners gathered outside the walls." Aerion smirked "I have a very special punishment for them."

"You heard the prince, move!" Lord Redfort yelled, watching as Aerion walked over his dead cousin's body and took his rightful place upon the Runed throne.

"Inform the camp to move the injured within the walls, there are more than enough supplies to heal them."

"I have already told my men to go to the camp and move them here." Lord Redfort told him, "Now we have dealt with your enemy, we can discuss the situation in the mountain with the enemy we share, the mountain clansmen, how do we intend to solve this problem?"

"Let us finish dealing with this issue, then we can discuss what to do with the clansmen, it is clear that after the information I heard from Stonefort, they are more armed than they first appeared to be; they are carrying steel and must be dealt with." Aerion responded.

Aerion sat contemplating for what seemed like hours before Willam made his way into the hall, followed by Rodrik and Jory, both of them alive, he rose from the throne and paced towards Rodrik, embracing him as he had never done before.

"I am glad to see you alive, Rodrik." he then released the embrace and smiled to Jory "I will ensure you are rewarded with anything you desire, name it and it will be yours."

"It is good to see you too, my prince, and thank you for sending Jory along, he managed to knock out Gerold as we escaped." Rodrik laughed, though soon stopped, tugging at his stomach in pain "Ooooh...no more laughing."

"I will keep that promise of a reward for when I have need of something, right now, let us all celebrate our victory against the traitors, Runestone is yours now, and I doubt you will ever be questioned again." Jory stated.

"Easy now, there is much to do before we celebrate, punishments to give out, and perhaps even pardons." Aerion said.

"Pardons? who are we intending on releasing?" Willam asked him.

"We have two mercenary company leaders currently imprisoned, that is if this 'Roach' managed to survive the flames, I say we offer them and their men, to swear fealty to Runestone, and become the bulk of a company that will be started by us." Aerion revealed to them "Bringing us in more gold for our coffers."

"That is a great idea, and it will give us a company to call upon when we need them to help against our enemies." Jory answered, nodding his head in agreement, along with Rodrik.

"What of Gunthor?" Willam asked "I did not see him when I looked upon the prisoners."

"He is dead." Aerion revealed "I killed him, just as I will kill Gerold."

Gunthor had already been removed from the hall and was being prepared by the silent sisters for a proper burial, this much Aerion would grant him.

"Aerion…" Willam said "People will whisper things about you after this, the title of Kinslayer will forever cast a shadow over your achievements, you know this."

Let us handle the other prisoners, I have decided that they will be burned alive with dragon flame." Aerion told them all, choosing to ignore Willam's comment as he made his way out of the great hall.

They made it outside of Runestone, where the prisoners had been lined up and Gaelithox watched from a small distance away, though soon came closer as Aerion commanded him to, and he told them to move the mercenaries from the line and into the dungeons.

Gerold was knelt on both knees tied up in the middle of the line, and Aerion had a clear smirk on his face to be seen.

"Gunthor is dead." Aerion grinned "I was glad to have taken his life, for both of you did not understand that Runestone was to never belong to you." 

"Your name will be tarnished when you kill me, Lords of the realm will whisper 'Kinslayer' behind your back." Gerold says with a chuckle.

"Well I certainly hope they say it front of me, for I care not about that title anymore, in fact I will relish it, for it will remind me each and every time it is said that I killed you, and how I got great enjoyment out of it."

He pulled Gerold out from the line of prisoners, grabbing him by the collar as he moves him about like a dog on a leash.

"Everyone, listen." he said, getting the attention of the men who remained to view the execution  "This man here was my cousin, and yet he has proceeded to betray me twice, let him be a reminder that I care not whether you are my kin, I will destroy each and every one of those who stand against me."

He pressed his dagger against Gerold's throat, and before he was about to slit, he suddenly stopped.

"Oh, what am I saying, death would be easy for the likes of him." Aerion pushed him down onto his stomach "Take him to the cells, I will have my fun with him later." he commanded two of his household guards.

"GAELITHOX!" he yelled, pointing towards the remaining prisoners lined up "Dracarys!"

Gaelithox gritted his teeth as he looked to the prisoners, rising up and a the flames from his throat were enough to terrify the prisoners, before they were each engulfed in Dragonflame, each of them dying a painful death, though too quick for Aerion's enemies, they each deserved a long suffering death.