10 Escalope

When I decided not to antagonize my father and follow behind him. A maid came to pick me up but I refused and chose to walk on my own. Now that my body is improved I don't want to be seen as a sickly weak child. As we moved into the solar, where his study was while walking in silence. When we reached his study he gestured to me inside.

Altair: will this be quick or should I take a seat?

Jon: sit down. ( gesturing to the seat in front of his desk. As Altair walks and sits on his chair)

Jon: Do you know why I called you?

Altair: Obviously to discuss what happened in Great Hall.

Jon: So do you know you're wrong my son?

Altair: I have committed no sin and done no wrong yet.

Jon: So ruthlessly gouging the eyes of a servant of our house is not wrong?

Altair: I did no wrong father, he transgressed upon my dignity by touching me without my permission. I tolerated him when I couldn't speak properly but now that he knows I can speak he should ask for my permission.

Jon: you also ignored my words when I was scolding you.

Altair: Why should I listen to rebuke for crimes I have never committed?

Jon (exasperated): what about you transgressing upon my dignity as father and as Lord paramount of Vale?

Altair: I never violated your dignity, it was you who slighted me first by letting servants ignore my order. My order was not out of my rights or is it that the heir to Eriye does not have the right to ask for food? if you can overrule me by ordering servants not to bring more food then I can also spit at your honour.

Jon: Your words are very sharp my boy. I don't remember teaching you to speak in such a manner.

Altair: Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it. I wield them as efficiently as the knight does the sword.

Jon: your actions and words sully the honour of our house. You do not care about the honour of your father and our house. Don't you know the saying of our house - 'As High As Honor'

Altair looks at Jon in the eye while his smile changes to a serious expression. Jon gulps his saliva looking into his cold sky-blue eyes shining with a wise gleam

Altair: What is honour? A word. What is in that word honour? what is that honour? air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it? he that died so honourably? Doth he feel it? no. Doth he hear it? no.

A.N: This line is modified from Shakespeare's Henry IV. Altair here tells Jon Arryn that honour is merely a word, nothing but the thin breath that one exhales in saying the word.

Furthermore, honour doesn't "live with the living" because honour is gained through death. He says only the dead have honour, and it does them no good, for they cannot feel or hear it.

Altair: I say that honour is useless when one is Sick or wounded. it cannot cure the sick nor set broken bones. It cannot mend broken hearts or take away the grief of mother's passing. It cannot replace the warmth of a mother's love it has no skill.

Altair: as for the house saying, I firmly believe in it but maybe you have not grasped the essence of it. But I am not a teacher, I am just a year-old babe

He smirked at the last part. Jon was stunned at Altair's witty rebuttals.

Jon: You can leave and go back to your chambers.

Altair: I want to start learning how to read and write before I start learning other subjects. The books in our collections are not enough so when you get time please borrow or purchase more books and learning materials from the Citadel. I especially want to read about all the plants and animals.

Jon: I'll provide you with all your reasonable requests. I'll also provide you with the best learning environment. Provided you keep yourself in control and see to it that incidents like today don't happen.

Altair: I'll try

After finishing my requests I got up from my seat, turned around and walked to the door. As I reached for the door I heard him say

Jon: I don't understand how can heir of house Arryn acts so dishonourably. You are too smart for your own good boy. It is not wise to make enemies out of those who are responsible for your health and well-being my son.

I open the door and while leaving the study I say to him

Altair: my only dishonour is in failure to kill that man. As you said I am smart and so I shall correct my mistakes.

I slam the door behind me and leave his solar going back to my chambers.

At this time words of what happened in the Great Hall was already being spread by rumours and gossip like wildfire. People started many nicknames from me among them one being - THE FEROCIOUS FALCON. This name which started as castle rumours would be one of the names stuck to my legend for thousands of years.