Aemy and Maekar

Maekar's stance relaxed, and he walked over to the table to pour himself a small glass. "What would you speak of then, sister?" he asked, with a smile.

"No lesser lordling has the right to speak so to the blood of the King," Maekar replied, moving his hand slightly away from hers. "Our great-grandfather likely would have cut his tongue out, if he were in a poor mood when he heard of it."

"That is not why I say so," he said, his voice dropping sadly for some reason. He stepped closer to her again, and his hands dropped to his sides, and he said something so quietly Aemy could not make out the words. He looked up, and met her eyes, before repeating his words.

"You should not have betrayed our father, Aemy," he said in a steady tone. With that, his right hand ripped his sword from its sheath, and he moved to slash her throat with one deep cut, as painlessly as possible.

[Noteworthy: Long Blades]

Perhaps Maekar had been shocked that his first blow had not brought Aemy low or perhaps he slipped on her blood as he made a second swing, whatever the case Aemy ran from the tent clutching at her bleeding neck still alive and breathing. While the battle-hardened soldier would have likely caught his heavy-set sister in moments under normal circumstances, she was unencumbered by armor while he was not.

She ran as fast as her doughy legs would take her, Maekar in his read armor trudging along after her with sword raised. The two likely made a queer sight that evening. Aemy came upon the horse stables to her immediate right, though could see the dragon pens another 200 yards away.

Way, hey and up she rises
Way, hey and up she rises
Way, hey and up she rises
Early in the morning

Trajan finished his favorite song, gingerly stepping around Aemy to allow Maekar to finish the job and prevent Daenerys from interceding on the target's behalf if she intended to. He re-holstered the small crossbow on his belt and placed his hand lightly upon the silver skull pommel of his own bravo blade, as if daring Daenerys to interfere.

Aegon had been in his tent, poring over maps and charts and thinking about the campaign ahead. The chase outside had been eerily silent, save for Trajan's low dirge, until Aemy's scream split the air. When the dragon's roar followed, Aegon was already out of the tent, axe in hand. He motioned to Elseyris, who stood guard outside his tent, to follow, then set out at a run towards the sounds.

Aegon saw Maekar's armored back and red sword first. A traitor, Aegon thought, or a saboteur. What other cause could Maekar have to shed blood in the camp? Then he saw Aemy.  His sister had never been what most men would consider beautiful, but in life she had always had a grace and strength to her movements which belied her weight.  Death had robbed her of that.  She was sprawled across the hard dirt in an evening dress.  The detail struck Aegon as absurd.  His warrior sister, dead in the middle of an army camp in an evening dress.

For a moment Aegon's expression was a mask of pure shock and sorrow.  But after that moment it was replaced with rage.  "Bastard," Aegon snarled.  He advanced on Maekar deliberately, axe already in hand, unslinging his shield from his back as he went.  "Throw down your blade and surrender yourself to the King's judgment, or be cut down where you stand."  There was absolutely no doubt from Aegon's stance and tone that he would attack first and ask questions later if Maekar did not immediately comply.

Had Maekar offered those words alone, Aegon's rage was great enough that there certainly would have been more blood spilled that night, inquisition be damned. But Aegon would not cut down a man who offered him a letter instead of a sword. Elsey stood at his back, and he saw Daenerys Velaryon with her sword out as well. It was only then that Aegon saw Trajan's dark shadow. The sight of his least favorite brother angered him further, but the sight of the two inquisitors together convinced Aegon that there might be more to this story than an inexplicable murder.

Aegon threw down his shield and grabbed the letter from Maekar's hand without any words, still holding his axe in his right hand.

Maekar spoke quietly to his brother, lowering his voice in an attempt to see that his words were heard by the Prince alone, at least for now. "It was treason, Aegon. She conspired to murder the King, and you as well. I do but what his grace commands." His voice cracked slightly at the end; for a moment his mask slipped, and the Prince could see a tortured expression on behind the Inquisitor's eyes, before he shook his head slightly and the inscrutable mask returned.

Maekar nodded, and followed his brother, with a glance at Trajan indicating that the other Inquisitor should see to Aemy's dragon.

Daenya had been dosing off in her tent not far away, and the low sounds of the chase had not reached her.

But when she heard Trajan's song she sat bolt upright, knowing exactly what it meant. She quickly slipped into a white nightgown and left her tent, making her way over to the small group of people, concern on her face.

That concern turned into a tragic cry when she saw Aemy's body on the ground. She ran to her, kneeling by her side. "What... what happened!?" She asked, looking at both Elseyris and Daenerys.

She looked to Elseyris, then to a retreating Maekar... then over to Trajan.

Her eyes wandered back down to her sister.

"But why..."