Aenys took the bait.
The next morning, he gathered a dozen men—soldiers eager for action, bored with the routine of the Twins. Most were second or third sons, men with little hope of inheritance but a deep thirst for violence.
Perfect.
I stayed behind, watching from the walls as they rode out at dawn, their cloaks whipping in the cold wind. Aenys hadn't hesitated. That was a good sign.
But now came the real test.
Would he succeed?
And more importantly—what would Bracken do once they realized Freys had bloodied their men?
Waiting for the Storm
I spent the day as usual, playing my role as the bastard son who had no true responsibilities. I drank with the lower Freys, gambled a little, pretended not to care about anything beyond filling my belly.
But beneath that, my mind was moving.
Lothar had spies everywhere. If Aenys failed, he'd hear of it before the bodies were even cold. And if he succeeded?
Then I'd have proof.
Proof that Aenys could be useful. Proof that Bracken could be provoked.
And proof that I could shape the chaos to come.
The Return
By nightfall, Aenys returned.
Bloodied, grinning, but very much alive.
He rode into the courtyard with his men, their horses splattered with mud and red. The outpost had been taken. The Bracken armsmen dead.
I stepped forward as he dismounted. "Well?"
Aenys wiped his blade clean and sheathed it. "Easier than I thought," he said. "They weren't expecting a fight."
I smirked. "Good. That means they'll be twice as angry when they realize what happened."
He chuckled. "That's the point, isn't it?"
It was.
This wasn't just about raiding an outpost. It was about forcing Bracken to react.
And when they did, I would know exactly where to strike next.
The Ripples Begin
The next morning, the first signs of Bracken's fury arrived.
A messenger—one of Lothar's men—entered the hall, handing my half-brother a sealed letter. I watched from a distance as Lothar read it, his face betraying nothing.
Then, slowly, he looked up—his gaze sweeping the hall until it landed on me.
Shit.
I gave him my best, most casual smile.
He studied me for a long moment, then gestured for me to follow.
I sighed.
It seemed my little game had finally drawn the wrong kind of attention.
And now, I had to convince Lothar Frey that I wasn't his enemy.Yet.
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