The Main Building of the Bloody Gate.
The hall was spacious. The torches on its stone walls had already been lit, their flames dancing across the walls.
At the head of the hall stood a high-backed stone chair draped with a red velvet blanket. Aegon sat on it, with Arya standing slightly behind him to his right and Brienne to his left.
Hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, belonging to more than one person.
Boots struck the flagstones, drawing closer.
The Ashen Company soldiers at the entrance pushed open the heavy oak doors, and Henry and Luke strode in, one behind the other.
Their steps faltered visibly when they saw Aegon on the high-backed stone chair.
Though the soldiers had already reported it, seeing His Highness actually sitting inside a fortress that should have belonged to the enemy still stunned them for a moment.
Then undisguised delight spread across their faces.
Less than half a day ago, they had been at their wits' end trying to find a way to contact His Highness. Now he was right before their eyes.
They hurried forward and dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness!"
The officers accompanying them also paid their respects, armor scraping and cloth rustling together. Then they took their places along either side of the hall, standing with their hands lowered.
Henry and Luke rose, but neither spoke immediately.
They exchanged a glance. The delight on their faces slowly faded, replaced by hesitation and worry.
The two stood in the center of the hall like children who had done something wrong, at a loss for what to do.
Aegon studied them. "Whatever it is, tell me."
Luke drew a deep breath and stepped forward. "Your Highness, the Faith has rebelled in the Reach."
"Leyton Hightower has raised an army of two