"Genos, this is none of your business," Tytos warned sharply, eyes flicking to the Bracken soldiers behind him—over a thousand strong, armed and grim-faced. The Blackwood lord's tone held an edge, but not desperation. After all, they still held the upper hand. Not even the Brackens would dare start a war in front of the Tullys.
Across the field of soldiers, Genos gave a short, amused laugh. He nodded politely to Edmure Tully, standing with the Riverlands host, and then turned to face the assembled men and smallfolk of Crowtree City. "Arthur is my nephew. This is a family matter. I'll see to it myself."
Tytos narrowed his eyes, still calculating. As the Lord of Blackwood Vale, he had formalized an agreement with Arthur and had it confirmed by the Riverlands liege lord himself. "So, your reach now extends from Stone Hedge all the way across the Red Fork into my lands? I've spoken with Lord Edmure, and the Riverlands recognizes my arrangement with Arthur. Are you prepared to challenge that openly?"
Genos, past fifty with a worn face and hair thinning at the crown, gave an oddly cheerful smile—too cheerful, almost childlike. Arthur recognized the look: it was the kind of grin one wore right before doing something troublesome.
"You Blackwoods have grown bold," Genos said, voice cutting, "Daring to speak of fighting with me in front of Lord Edmure? That's a direct challenge to the authority of your liege lord."
Edmure blinked, his head aching. This entire affair was supposed to have been resolved. Now Genos was throwing oil onto a fire that should have gone out. The situation was unstable, and he had to consider whether the men of Crowtree City could even return home safely if tempers flared.
The heart of the problem was still Brynden. As long as the heir of Crowtree City remained a hostage, Stone Hedge's position was untenable. Their forces were too far from home, and unlike Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal, they didn't have the supply lines or coin to maintain a long campaign here. Edmure turned to Arthur, who he judged to be the least unreasonable figure among them.
"Ser Arthur," Edmure said, carefully choosing a respectful tone, "You've demonstrated your concern for justice. You agreed earlier to my proposal. As a man of honor, I trust you will uphold your word."
Arthur weighed the situation. With Brynden still under his control, he had leverage—and leverage meant negotiation. He opened his mouth to refuse, then noticed Genos giving him a slow, deliberate wink. The message was clear: play along.
This made things trickier. Stone Hedge was Arthur's greatest backer, and defying Genos would be unwise. After glancing between Edmure, Genos, and Brynden, Arthur finally spoke.
"I will honor my promise and release Brynden," he said, "but I expect three thousand golden dragons in return."
Edmure sighed in relief. "You are a man of integrity, Ser Arthur."
Tytos, while uncertain about the Brackens' game, welcomed the result. His son's life was the priority. The Blackwoods had brought nearly two thousand golden dragons for emergencies. Surely the Tullys had coin as well; the sum could be raised. He quietly sent word to Edmure, proposing a temporary loan.
Soon, two large cowhide bags were dropped in front of Arthur. Janos Bracken assigned two men to help count the gold. It was a small fortune—yet far cheaper than a war.
"Well done, lad," Genos said as he clapped Arthur on the shoulder, his voice loud enough for others to hear. "You handled yourself with courage. I heard you slew one of their commanders while defending the common folk. Your parents and our Bracken ancestors would be proud. You've proven yourself a capable second lord."
"Three subjects," Arthur corrected.
Though the three thousand golden dragons were now in hand, Arthur had not forgotten his obligation to Hendry: Stone Hedge had lost nearly four hundred men in the fighting, and compensation had been promised. But paying a hundred dragons per soldier? That was impossible.
Still, with Genos in a good mood, Arthur decided to raise the issue. "Your Excellency, Hendry said each fallen soldier must be compensated with a hundred dragons. Isn't that excessive?"
"Call me uncle," Genos said warmly. "And don't trouble yourself over Hendry's words. I command Stone Hedge."
Arthur brightened. "Then, how should I repay you for the losses?"
Genos stroked his beard, clearly enjoying the negotiations. "Let's say… one golden dragon per fallen man."
Arthur let out a long breath of relief. But before he could thank him, Genos added another unexpected gift.
"And given your valor and the damage you've inflicted on the Blackwoods, you deserve a reward. You'll receive one golden dragon for every man of theirs slain by your hand or command."
Arthur, surprised and relieved, nodded. For the first time, he felt a genuine sense of approval toward this uncle of his. Maybe being a Bracken wasn't such a burden after all.
In the end, he only paid two to three hundred gold dragons in compensation. Compared to the ransom of three thousand, the expense was negligible. As always, the process of counting coin passed quickly, and the soldier soon returned to report that the tally of three thousand gold dragons was correct.
"Lord Arthur, it's time for you to fulfill your promise," Lord Tytos Blackwood called out across the camp with a restrained urgency.
Arthur nodded solemnly. He gestured to the soldiers to step aside, then drew the Bracken-forged dagger from his belt and carefully cut through the ropes binding Brynden and the other captives.
"You'll live to regret this," Brynden muttered coldly, glaring at Arthur with the same sharpness his uncle, Ser Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, was known for. Without another word, the heir to Raventree Hall turned and began walking back toward his kin.
Lord Tytos exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. His eldest son had returned. The Blackwoods, known for their unyielding pride and ancient bloodline tracing back to the First Men, would endure another day.
Lord Edmure Tully, meanwhile, was reassured. Genos Bracken had proven more reasonable than expected, despite his family's long-standing enmity with the Blackwoods. Edmure had thought that perhaps Genos had changed after visiting Lord Hoster Tully at Riverrun not long ago—though strangely, the Brackens had refused all audiences in Raventree during that same trip. Perhaps, Edmure thought, things were starting to turn around.
But his hope was dashed in the next instant.
Before Brynden could take ten steps, Bracken soldiers surged forward and grabbed him once more, forcing him back to the ground under armored fists.
"How dare you!" Tytos roared, his voice echoing like a storm through the ranks. "Arthur, is this treachery? You have your coin—now you scheme to keep my son?"
Arthur stepped forward, but before he could speak, Genos raised his hand and laughed—boisterous, unbothered.
"Now, now, let's not be so quick to judge!" Genos said, his voice sly. "My good nephew, Arthur Bracken, already upheld his end of the bargain. Brynden was released—freely, I might add. But now he's in my custody. No betrayal here."
He stepped forward, hands on his hips, and grinned like a fox who'd cornered the henhouse.
Edmure's brow furrowed. Genos Bracken, Lord of Stone Hedge, was not a man to cross lightly. Though only a vassal to House Tully, he held enough men and land to be a danger on his own—and the Red Fork wasn't far enough to prevent bloodshed. If he meant to escalate things, Edmure's few hundred knights wouldn't be enough to stop him.
Tytos Blackwood was silent with fury. His mouth opened, but no words came. Around them, soldiers of both houses stood frozen—none dared speak while the lords waged their quiet battle of wills.
Arthur felt the tension crawling across his skin like cold water. He didn't like the direction this was heading—but he'd already made his gain. He'd secured three thousand golden dragons, avenged the deaths of Darren's wife and their household guard, and erased his debt to Stone Hedge. It was enough. He could leave.
But curiosity kept him rooted. Genos wasn't finished. Arthur knew his uncle too well—he was about to raise the stakes.
After a pause that stretched painfully long, Tytos finally muttered through gritted teeth, "What is it that you want?"
His voice was weary, a man stretched to his limit.
"Ten thousand golden dragons," Genos replied cheerfully, almost singing the words. "Did I stutter? I told you already, that's the price now."
"Our coffers in Raventree aren't worth ten thousand! We just gave you three thousand—we have nothing more!" Tytos cried, face pale.
Genos's smile widened. "Then borrow. Ask the Freys. Ask Riverrun. Ask House Mallister in Seagard, or even Harrenhal if you're desperate. Every noble house in the Riverlands can manage ten thousand dragons if they value their heirs." His voice turned cold. "You can always earn back coin. But if your eldest son dies—well, you can't grow another one."
Lord Tytos's lips thinned as he looked toward Edmure, hoping for a reprieve from his liege lord.
Arthur, watching from the side, knew Genos was cruel, but even he found this excessive. And yet… seeing the ever-proud Tytos Blackwood brought low stirred something oddly satisfying in him. He hated to admit it—but he was smiling.
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