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Ser Alester’s expression changed almost imperceptibly, before either man could speak again, another femenine voice emerged from the darkness saying “He met the courier three evenings after our arrival, Master Aethon!”
A hooded figure stepped forward from between the trees.
Their face remained hidden beneath a heavy cloak but she still said “He handed over two sealed reports, the second contained copies of warehouse purchases.
They spoke for nearly fifteen minutes before separating and they met again six nights later.”
Every sentence landed like another stone dropped into still water because even Alester’s heart beated rapidly with each revelation, it was too precise.
Ser Alester slowly looked toward the stranger saying “…Who are you?”
The hooded figure ignored the question entirely while Aethon finally turned to face his knight saying “Still wish to deny it?”
For long moments, Ser Alester remained silent, then he lowered his head saying “…Lord Corlys is your father.
I never believed informing him of your well-being to be a betrayal.
He worried about you, he wished only to know that you were safe.
I thought…..I thought I was serving both of you.”
“No.”
Aethon’s reply came immediately when he quickly said “You were serving him.
No servant can have 2 Masters, its basic knowledge.”
Smaug slowly rose to his full height, the movement alone caused nearby trees to sway even while the owls flew away.
The dragon began circling them at an unhurried pace, each heavy footstep vibrating through the ground beneath their feet. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
It almost looked like a predator circling it’s prey.
His golden eyes never left the knight in this case, even as Aethon said “When a man enters my service, his loyalty belongs to me.
If my father wished to know something…He should have asked me.
He did not because he doesn’t trust me, instead he asked you.”
Ser Alester’s shoulders slowly slumped as he shook his head saying, “I never intended harm, I know that I also did not intend to be perceived as a traitor, Ive only served your father, not an enemy!
Or it that what he is to you?
Then—”
“Intentions do not erase choices, save it, my ears are deaf to you now.”
The knight closed his eyes, hearing this, a small saddened expression could be seen but still after several moments, he slowly unsheathed his sword.
The blade gleamed beneath the moonlight and without hesitation, he dropped to one knee.
Holding the weapon horizontally across both palms, he bowed his head saying “I have failed my oath to you, my life belongs to my lord.
If judgment demands my death…..then I ask only that it be swift.”
Aethon looked down at him for some silent seconds.
Then he reached forward as Ser Alester felt the sword leave his hands, so this made him close his eyes, expecting a clean strike, after all Aethon was well trained since 8 years of age, so with 7 years of training, he was very skilled, and his training was not of favouritism, they were actually brutal on him.
This was Aethons request, he didnt want them to hold back when training him.
So it could be said he was a skilled warrior, but far from the best.
Being the best would require battle experience and wisdom, Aethon has never participated in a single battle as of yet, and he turned down the only chance he would get by rejecting the campaign in the stepstones.
Anyway he braced for a clean cut patenitly, deep down he didn’t expect Aethon to do it, after all he has never killed someone before, so he has a good feeling he wont do it, thats why he gladly placed himself in this position to prove his loyality.
To him Aethon was very kind to his servants, he never really scolded them but demand they do better instead of apologizing, so he did not expect what happened next.
Aethon’s footsteps moved away from him which was already concerning, but he brushed it of as Aethon keeping his distance because he doesnt trust him.
Confusion flickered across the knight’s face.
Before he could look up, Smaug inhaled and then a torrent of blazing fire erupted from the dragon’s jaws.
VOOOOOSH
The flames consumed Ser Alester in an instant.
His scream tore through the coastline, raw and agonizing, before gradually weakening beneath the overwhelming roar of dragonfire.
It could be said he would still be screaming right now, it’s just that his throat and esophigus was roasted preventing any sound from escaping his mouth, one would think he was finally dead, but actually he was still alive, just couldnt articulate anything, it was also clear when he rolled over trying to exstinguesh the flames.
The smell of burning leather, steel, and flesh filled the air.
The only time one could say he was dead was when his rolling acitions grew slower into a halt.
Smaug lowered his head toward the blackened remains and with surprising ease, he grasped the charred body between his jaws flicking it up into the air then letting it fall inside it’s mouth.
The dragon lifted his head again, smoke curling lazily from his nostrils as it ignored Aethons dissapointed look, it knew Aethon didnt want him to be eaten, after all the least he could for Ser Alester was give him a burial, but Smaug only shrugged saying, “Your too soft young Lord.
He was not worth the consideration.”
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