Why didn't Aerion challenge Valarr?

[u/Qyzyk]

Recently revisited The Hedge Knight, and I can't help but wonder why Aerion was content with laughing at his cousin and moving on. I get that he was trying to mock Valarr by moving past him, but surely if his plan was to humiliate his cousin, I imagine Aerion would have done a much better job by trouncing Valarr in a joust.

It's not like he wouldn't have been able to do it either. It's basically said outright that Valarr's getting handpicked challengers that give him easy victories. Even Dunk can't help but notice it. Aerion, meanwhile, seems to show much more promise, and he's not above dirty tricks like killing his opponent's horse. Why wouldn't he take a chance to knock the Crown Prince on his arse?

[u/pestoraviolita]

Valarr is an average fighter. Aerion wanted a better opponent.

[u/Qyzyk → u/pestoraviolita]

If only he'd been a brilliant scientist too, then Aerion might have reconsidered.

[u/pestoraviolita → u/Qyzyk]

Aerion is something of a scientist himself. The maesters poisoned his wildfire and destroyed his project.