The Black Cells

Barely had Vira had this thought when the door opened. Queen Rhaella entered, Dark Sister at her side, and Ser Jon Gaunt behind. The queen was clearly distraught but her posture was filled with steely determination.

She ordered the door to be closed, then, hand on her sword, said to Vira "Tell me why. Maegor raised you up, we granted you a good marriage. Why would you do this to him?"

Rhaella stepped forward and backhanded Vira so she fell back against the wall.

"You will kneel when your queen speaks to you," she commanded. "And you will address me as Your Grace, as custom demands. Furthermore, if you wish to have even the slightest hope of leaving the black cells alive, you will mind your tongue and answer my questions with a humble heart. You may be sure I will speak to the knights of the Kingsguard when I am at liberty to do so. In the meantime, I am speaking with you, so keep a civil tongue in your head unless you prefer to see it ripped out with hot pincers."

She paused and her hand slipped down to Dark Sister again. "Now. Tell me, did you lay with my husband? Did he father your child?"

"More than I care to count," Rhaella snapped. "Her hand flashed out and it was plain she wanted to slap Vira again. "Most of them are of no consequence. Your lover is the only one worth a groat, though he has always had a rather high opinion of himself. As for other matters, well, certain acts are more suited to bastards than queens."

She started to leave then stopped at the door.

"I was once famed for my mercy, you know. I sent hundreds of men to the Wall rather than see them executed. But when my cousin Aenar rose in rebellion, I ordered his captured forces decimated by fire. That was the only time I ever enjoyed watching men die. I would much prefer not to repeat the experience. They say the kinslayer is damned in the eyes of gods and men, yet I cannot believe either one of those knights slew my husband."

She searched Vira's face for guilt or innocence, clearly very much troubled by the circumstances of their meeting.

"I trust the knights of the Kingsguard. I cannot believe either of them is false." But this time she looked at Vira with an expression that was not entirely contemptuous. "But who else does that leave?"

She looked Vira over. "I know full well that a woman can swing a sword." She tapped Dark Sister's hilt. "Your clothing is clean, but Blackfyre was bloody. And the king was naked." She paused again, then asked suddenly "Can you read and write, Vira?"

Rhaella seemed to look at Vira with a little less contempt than before. Her expression became thoughtful. "I will send for pen and paper. I expect you to write out exactly what happened in your own words. If this matter is to be investigated, it will be done properly. There will need to be a hearing, with evidence. Perhaps a trial will prove necessary. We shall see."

She paused. "I have never seen you fight, so I do not know your own capabilities, and yet there is some sense in your words." That was said reluctantly. "It is certainly odd that the king's body was so badly mutilated, I grant you."

Rhaella frowned. "Well, you are learning some humility, at least, but a dragon duel seems an unnecessary risk to place upon your child. He or she is certainly blameless. If you care little for your own life, you might at least seek to preserve the child's. I am not a child killer, Vira."

"You will wait here until I have spoken further with the Kingsguard," Rhaella answered coldly. "As for the future, that is yet to be determined."

She turned and left the cell, with Ser Jon beside her. It was locked behind her.

The youngest Knight of the Kingsguard had seen better days. As ordered, nothing had been hurt that couldn't be covered by armor, but that left an expansive area to work with and the torturers in the Black Cells were nothing if not imaginative.

Ser Symon screamed bloody murder, half-delirious as he called out to all the gods as the hot coals cooked his flesh.

"Kill me if you will." he spat, when the coals had finally cooled, leaving a line of black flesh. "But His Grace was alive when the traitorous bitch entered his chambers. Even the Warrior himself could be slain naked and unarmed in bed with a woman he trusted. No gods above or below will convince me otherwise and your assertions to the contrary shows only what an honorless cur you are, blackcloak!"

"I heard his voice clear as day. He called her in." Ser Symon insisted. "Then she butchered him like a hog with his own blade."

"It was on the floor, where she dropped it." he replied. "She screamed and I entered. Stokeworth was the first through the door."