Aenys Frey was intrigued, but intrigue wasn't loyalty.
I had his attention, but I needed more—I needed commitment. And to get that, I had to give him something real.
The problem? Information was my only currency, and I couldn't afford to spend it recklessly.
So I had to test him first.
The Setup
Later that evening, I found Aenys in the great hall, surrounded by a few of his men, drinking and laughing. I waited until his cup was half-empty before approaching.
"Care for a walk?" I asked.
He gave me a long look, then smirked. "Fine. Let's hear what's rattling in that bastard skull of yours."
We stepped out onto the walls of the Twins, the cold wind whipping through the stones. The river below was calm, deceptively peaceful.
I let the silence linger before I spoke.
"You want command," I said. "A warband of your own."
Aenys exhaled through his nose. "Aye."
"Then tell me," I continued, "if a war was coming to the Riverlands, would you sit and wait for scraps?"
His jaw tightened.
"I don't sit and wait," he said.
Good.
The First Gamble
I turned to him. "Bracken and Blackwood have been feuding for centuries, but something's different now. They're moving in ways they shouldn't."
Aenys frowned. "Go on."
"Bracken reached out to me," I admitted. "They're sniffing around for information on the Twins, trying to figure out where Walder Frey stands."
Aenys' eyes sharpened. "And what did you tell them?"
I smiled. "A half-truth."
He gave a short laugh. "You're playing both sides."
"For now," I admitted.
Aenys was watching me closely now, measuring my words. He wasn't stupid. He knew I wasn't giving him everything.
But the important thing was that I had given him something.
Now I had to see what he did with it.
The Real Test
I changed the subject. "You have men who would follow you, don't you?"
Aenys nodded. "A handful. Not enough to challenge the great lords, but enough to make an impact."
"That's all you need." I lowered my voice. "A test."
He raised an eyebrow.
"There's a small outpost along the river," I said. "A supply post. Just a handful of men guarding it, a few Bracken armsmen among them."
Aenys folded his arms. "And?"
I met his gaze. "If you want command, prove you can take it."
Silence.
Then, slowly, Aenys grinned. "You want me to raid a Bracken outpost?"
I shrugged. "Just a little pressure. Just enough to see what they do."
His grin widened. "You really are playing a dangerous game, bastard."
I smirked. "And now you are too."
The True Stakes
If Aenys succeeded, it would mean two things.
One: He was capable.
Two: He was invested.
And if he failed?
Well.
Then I'd know he was just another loudmouth Frey, not worth my time.
One way or another, I would get my answer.
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