The Courtyard of Beacon Tower
Every able-bodied man in Beacon Tower had been rounded up in the courtyard and disarmed.
Over a dozen Starfall guards surrounded them with leveled spears, while archers stood watch from the battlements and towers above.
Now that the dust had settled and the adrenaline was fading, Arthur felt a wave of exhaustion and nausea wash over him.
He glanced at the captives under guard, steadying his breathing to appear calm and imposing.
Ser Bard rode in from the other side of the castle with his men. "My Lord Commander, I present to you the Lord of Beacon Tower, Ser Adric."
With that, Ser Bard shoved a bound man forward like a sack of grain, sending him stumbling to Arthur's feet.
"It seems two legs couldn't outrun four." Arthur was washing the grime and blood from his armor with water from the courtyard well.
"Abandoning your smallfolk to flee? Ser Adric, how did you come to such a cowardly yet ambitious decision?"
"If I were you, I would have at least stolen a horse from the stables first."
"You are that Arthur Snow?" Adric struggled to sit up from the ground, recognizing him.
"Why have you attacked my castle without cause? How dare you..."
Before he could finish, Vic kicked him from behind, sending him sprawling, then delivered several more kicks for good measure.
Arthur waited for him to struggle to his feet again. "Mind your situation, Ser.
"Now, I ask, and you answer. It would be best if you said nothing else, unless you wish for another beating."
Arthur asked, "Regarding the summons from your liege lord, Lord Edric Dayne of Starfall—why did you refuse the call? Why did you delay?"
Adric coughed up a mouthful of blood. "What summons? I know nothing of this."
Ser Barton emerged from the main keep. "Arthur, we found no sign of the messenger from Starfall. The dungeons are empty."
Arthur turned back to Adric. "Where is the rider sent to deliver the letter?"
Adric shook his head. "No rider came to Beacon Tower. Only you."
Arthur: "Lady Alerie of Broken Arm passed by and sent men to ask you about the muster. Do you deny this as well?"
Adric: "She is a whore. Her words are not to be trusted. Besides, we have a feud."
Arthur: "Starfall ruled that you return the lands seized from Lady Alerie and pay compensation. Have you done this?"
Adric: "I was about to pay her for her losses and return the disputed land."
Arthur: "Swear by the gods you keep that every word you just said is true."
Adric put on a solemn face. "I swear by the Seven, every word I have spoken is the truth."
Arthur looked away from him and turned to the captive crowd. "Maester! Bring me the Maester of Beacon Tower."
Soon, a middle-aged man in grey robes, wearing a chain of various metals around his neck, was brought forward. "My Lord, how may I serve?"
Arthur: "Did you receive a raven from Starfall? Did you inform the master of this castle of its contents?"
The Maester glanced at Adric, seeing the threatening look in his lord's eyes, and hesitated. "My Lord, this... this..."
"A Maester swears to serve the lord of the castle. I occupy this castle now." Arthur was relentless.
"Tell me everything I wish to know. And swear by your chain that every word is true."
The Maester sighed. "As you wish, My Lord. I did indeed receive a raven, and also..."
"He lies!" Adric roared, interrupting him.
Smack!
Arthur slapped Adric across the face with his gauntleted hand. "Ser, mind your situation. I do not wish to repeat myself a third time."
Slapped to the ground, Adric spat out several bloody teeth, his eyes filled with fear and resentment.
Arthur: "Maester, please continue."
Maester: "I read the letter summoning the bannermen to Ser Adric. He burned the letter. However, I have a copy intended for the Citadel's records."
Arthur: "Did a rider from Starfall come here?"
Maester: "He did. In the end, My Lord... in the end, Ser Adric ordered Neil, Mason, and Walters to dispose of him."
Arthur glanced at Ser Bard beside him. The knight understood immediately and strode into the crowd of captives.
Soon, two men were dragged out by Ser Bard and the guards.
Ser Bard reported, "The one called Neil is already dead. Cut in two from shoulder to hip."
Arthur nodded to Ser Bard, then looked at the two men kneeling before him. "Is the rider dead or alive? Where is he?"
Mason and Walters, faces pale as ash, kowtowed repeatedly, snot and tears streaming down their faces. "My Lord, mercy! We... we only followed our master's orders."
Arthur: "Answer truthfully, and I will consider letting you take the black and go to the Wall as men of the Night's Watch."
The two exchanged a glance. Mason stammered, trembling, "We... we killed him on his way back... took his leather armor and sword. The body was thrown..."
The hot-tempered Ser Bard barked, "Thrown where?"
Mason braced himself. "Into the woods. The master ordered us to do it."
Ser Bard cursed loudly. "Animals!"
Even the usually composed Ser Barton couldn't hold back, glaring at Adric.
"Ser Adric, your actions shame every knight who ever lived. Do you remember the vows you swore before the Seven when you were anointed?"
The people in the courtyard looked at their lord with shock and disgust.
Adric, mouth full of blood, mumbled, "Lies! All lies! It is a frame-up!"
Arthur had no wish to hear more of Adric's falsehoods. He waved his hand. "Sers, take these two away and guard them well. Have them find the messenger's armor and sword."
As the guards dragged him away, Mason struggled and shouted, "My Lord, mercy! You promised we could take the black!"
Arthur: "I grant you permission to take the black and go to the Wall after all hostilities have ended."
Arthur walked to a stone table in the courtyard and stood upon it, addressing the crowd.
"You have seen why we are here. The former Lord of Beacon Tower, Ser Adric, refused the summons of his liege lord and murdered a messenger of Starfall."
Arthur raised his voice.
"I, Arthur Snow, in the name of Lord Edric Dayne, Lord of Starfall and Warden of the Torrentine, hereby announce: Ser Adric and his house are stripped of all titles and lands, and he is sentenced to death!"
Two tall guards forced Adric down onto the stone bench in front of Arthur. Kneeling, Adric struggled and roared, "You are a bastard! You have no right to judge me!"
Arthur drew his sword, Zhan Lu, and looked into Adric's eyes. "Ser, do you have any final words?"
If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot do it, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.
Adric panicked. "I am an anointed knight! I demand a trial by combat!"
Arthur shook his head. "You lied to your gods just now. You have forfeited the right to trial by combat."
Adric: "I demand to take the black! I can swear an oath!"
Arthur said no more. He nodded to the guards.
The guards held his shoulders and forced his head down onto the stone bench.
One guard muttered, "The Seven Hells are where you belong."
Blood smeared across his forehead, Adric's face was twisted in terror. "My Lord... please... mercy..."
Before Adric could finish, Arthur swung the sword. The blade sliced through his neck cleanly, severing the head.
It was his first execution. Watching the head fall and the blood spray, Arthur felt his heart hammering against his ribs. The moment the sharp steel cut through skin and severed the spine, he felt a rush of blood to his own head, his mind going blank for a second.
Only after several deep breaths did he recover.
Ignoring the screams of the women and children in the courtyard, Arthur tossed Zhan Lu to his squire Wick and ordered him to find the Silent Sisters to collect Adric's body for transport back to Starfall.
Then he summoned the Maester. Taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, he said, "Until a new Lord of Beacon Tower arrives, I appoint you as Castellan. Muster the levies and answer Starfall's summons."
The Maester looked at Arthur with fear, stammering, "Th... this... I... but I..."
Arthur hid his uncontrollably trembling hand behind his back.
"I will leave two knights and ten guards to help you manage Beacon Tower and assist in mustering the troops."
"Give me the list of Adric's household retainers. I will take them back to Starfall."
The Maester let out a long breath, not noticing Arthur's shaking hands. He bowed. "Thank you, My Lord. You are truly a just and wise man."