Morning came without warmth, Aerys followed Roque's advice. Titos had left on an expedition. The castle felt different in his absence—looser, louder, careless. Aerys moved through it alone, silent as ever, descending into the lower corridors,The dungeon Stone closed in around him The air was damp, stale. Every step echoed too far.
He was looking for Vixus,Not to fight;To divide.
To fracture Titos's command from within; a calculated risk.
Nothing more.
He carried a slate under his arm—maps, routes, knowledge Leverage. Footsteps; Aerys stopped. A shadow filled the corridor ahead Titos,Broad. Immovable. Blocking the path entirely.
"You look busy Prince," Titos said, voice thick with amusement. "Where are you going?"
Aerys didn't answer immediately,Behind him—Presence.
He felt it before he saw it.
Vixos ; Paull and Two others.
The corridor tightened ,No exit Aerys's stomach twisted once. A mistake , he had miscalculated.
Still—He raised the slate slightly.
"I was going to compare our reconnaissance maps with the one in the hall ," he said.
Calm and Measured ,a lie.
Titos smiled Slow and Mocking.
"For House celerion?" he asked. "How noble."
Aerys met his gaze.
"We're on the same side."
A pause.
Then laughter Loud and Empty.
Titos turned slightly.
"vixos," he said, "since we're all in the same boat… shouldn't we share everything?"
Vixos stepped forward. His eyes were dead Cold.
Aerys look at him
Léa, He was the one.
"Good idea," Vixos said. "Maps. Food. Anything useful."
He stepped closer.Too close.
Titos snatched the slate from Aerys's hands. Effortless. Aerys didn't resist .
"Careful," Aerys said quietly. "There are false enemy positions marked to the east. Possible camps in the Greatwood. Patrol if you want—but don't get caught unprepared."
Titos didn't reply,He leaned closer; Inhaled Once Twice Then again.
Aerys froze.
"Why," Titos murmured near his ear, "do you smell like wood smoke?"
Silence.Then—A shift Subtle. dangerous.
"You stink of lies," Titos continued. "Of deceit."
Paull laughed.
"Like a bitch in heat." Vixos's lip curled."Disgusting," he said. "A parasite."
The circle closed. Tighter.
"You preach discipline," Vixus went on, voice low, venomous, "because you think you're better than us But while you watch from the shadows… we starve."
Aerys said Nothing Four of them Titos alone was enough The others— Too close Too fast Too strong.
"You're filth," Vixos said. "A lowly bastard son , a worm eating us from the inside."
Aerys shrugged slightly a controlled motion Masking the tension building beneath his skin.
"That can be fixed," he said.
A pause , Vixos tilted his head.
"Oh?"
Aerys met Titos's eyes.
"Bring your people back," he said. "Stop the raids. Before another House finds you like this."
Silence.
"Tomorrow morning," Aerys continued, "you'll have fire. Maybe food."
Another pause.
Vixos laughed Short Sharp.
"You want to command us?"
Titos smirked.
"He thinks he deserves to be Primus , he even probably think he can figt for the throne ."
Vixos stepped in Their faces nearly touching.
His breath smelled of rot.
"I've broken boys like you," he whispered. "Thousands of them."
Aerys exhaled slowly.
"Oh?"
"Snapped them like twigs," Vixus continued. "Took their pride. Took their girls. Left them crying in front of their fathers."
Aerys sighed, exaggerated, deliberate.
"Vixos," he said softly. "There are no boys like me."
A heartbeat, a glance Just enough To make sure Titos was watching Then—Aerys moved no warning no buildup. His fist drove forward.
Straight,Precise into Vixus's throat. The impact cracked through the corridor like stone breaking. Vixos's body folded ,air gone,Control gone.
Aerys stepped in, elbow knee,Fist.Each strike clean and efficient brutal. Vixos lifted from the ground Then collapsed, convulsing eyes Rolling The world slowed.
Aerys stared.
His own movement echoed back at him—Strange,Heavy,If Vixos had been braced—If his muscles had been tense The first strike would have killed him. Aerys's stomach turned cold the force his force It terrified him hell he didn't even use essence.
Behind him—no one moved, Titos Paull, Frozen and surprised That was enough. Aerys slipped past them fast , Silent, Gone.
Down the corridor , into the shadows. He didn't stop, Didn't look back, Only when distance swallowed the echoes did he slow.
Breathing hard ,Hands shaking he stared at them.
His hands, The same hands that had held the knife,That had guided Léa.
"I didn't kill him," Aerys whispered.
Not relief, Not pride. Behind him, the castle breathed, but something had shifted Not in Titos, Not in the others in him.Discipline had held, until it didn't and then broke—