The room Lord Tarly had prepared for Lonzell was not large, but it was comfortable. Jacaerys's room was next door, and the Tarly family's household knights stood guard in the corridor through the night, lest any girls sneak in and cause trouble.
Lonzell also opened the intelligence gathered by the Tarly family. After giving it a quick read, he found little difference from the information his own family possessed, aside from considerably more detail. The heart of the conflict between the princess and the queen was still the matter of succession. King Viserys had established Princess Rhaenyra's right of inheritance by royal law and required the lords of the realm to swear to her.
In fact, when Lonzell had gone to King's Landing, he had sworn the oath as well. One passage of the oath King Viserys had made him recite was: "I acknowledge Princess Rhaenyra of Dragonstone's right to inherit the Iron Throne, and in the future, I shall offer my loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen." After he finished the oath, King Viserys publicly announced that Prince Jacaerys and Prince Lucerys would serve as attendants to his brothers.
Lonzell still remembered the expressions of everyone present after he and Valar had finished swearing. Hand Otto looked grave, Lord Jasper and Commander Criston Cole remained expressionless, Lord Lyman smiled and applauded, while Ser Tyland's face changed again and again. Queen Alicent pressed her lips together, as though she wanted to say something, but in the end she could not speak. Aegon the Elder had thrown himself onto his gifts without even raising his head, while Aemond wore the same expression throughout. Lonzell could sense the ambition and indifference buried deep within that child's heart.
To the outside world, having the two princes serve as attendants—when they were truly hostages—was