The air along the south bank of the Blackwater Rush was thick with the smell of smoke and blood. After being stripped of anything valuable, the bodies of the fallen foreign soldiers from across the Narrow Sea were buried together in large mass graves.
As the defeated side, they received no mercy.
Inside the main command tent were Gendry, Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Selwyn Tarth, and several of Gendry's trusted companions, including Ser Lothor Brune, Anguy, Ser Guyard Morrigen of the Stormlands, and a number of other retainers.
Outside, Stormlands knights stood guard alongside Unsullied soldiers from Volantis who had been captured during the battle against Marajo.
Near the entrance stood Gendry's spare suit of armor.
The black full-plate armor resembled a silent guardian. Carved into the breastplate were a crowned stag and a roaring dragon fashioned from black and crimson crystal. The horned helmet bore magnificent antlers that blended seamlessly with the dragon's design, giving it an imposing appearance.
"Your Grace... your spare armor?" Ser Lothor asked curiously.
Gendry smiled.
"That armor is yours."
"Armor alone cannot adequately reward your achievements during the Battle of the Blackwater."
Naturally, land and titles would follow in due time.
Lothor bowed gratefully, though he looked somewhat embarrassed. The armor was clearly made for someone much larger than himself.
"As the rightful king enters King's Landing, justice and the rule of law must prevail," Ser Barristan declared.
"Cersei and Jaime Lannister committed the crime of producing illegitimate heirs to the throne."
"They also conspired to murder the king, Jon Arryn, and Lord Eddard Stark."
"Those crimes demand a fair trial."
"And that is only the beginning."
"I witnessed King Aerys' decline with my own eyes, and Varys played no small part in it. That eunuch deserves no forgiveness."
"And Grand Maester Pycelle has always been nothing more than a loyal servant of House Lannister."
Gendry stared thoughtfully into the brazier's flames.
The Valyrian steel greatsword Tiger's Roar rested beside him, almost seeming to thirst for the blood yet to be spilled.
"The late King Robert was known for his generosity," Gendry said quietly.
"But power is like a wild beast. If left unchecked, it devours its master."
"Lord Eddard and Lord Stannis once believed Jaime Lannister should have been stripped of everything and sent to the Wall."
"Instead, Robert followed Jon Arryn's advice, married Cersei Lannister, and welcomed House Lannister into power."
"Whether that decision was right or wrong no longer matters."
Barristan nodded solemnly.
"King Robert never truly possessed complete authority."
"The war had only just ended."
"The Stormlands and Crownlands remained divided among competing interests."
"His power slipped through his fingers."
Gendry met the old knight's gaze.
"But I am not Robert."
"My authority will not be divided."
Silence filled the tent.
After a moment, Gendry spoke again.
"Roose Bolton is already restoring order inside King's Landing."
"But the real work begins once we arrive."
"The important question now is how we organize the realm."
Barristan nodded.
"The Kingsguard has been devastated."
"It must be rebuilt."
"The Small Council is practically empty."
"Fortunately, we have many capable lords among the Reach, the Vale, the Crownlands, and the Stormlands."
He began listing names.
"House Royce."
"House Grafton."
"House Arryn."
"House Redfort."
"There is no shortage of capable men."
"As for the Reach..."
"Lord Mathis Rowan is honest, respected, and prudent."
"Lord Randyll Tarly is harsh but unmatched as a commander."
"Mace Tyrell..."
Barristan paused.
"...possesses noble blood and endless ambition, but little talent."
"The same could be said for Houses Redwyne and Florent."
Gendry smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
"But Mace is easier to control."
"And what we truly need from the Reach is grain."
"Not for one harvest..."
"But for the next five or even ten years."
Lord Selwyn nodded thoughtfully.
"Randyll Tarly may be ruthless..."
"But he governs well."
"He protects his lands."
"And his discipline has made House Tarly one of the strongest marcher houses against Dorne."
Barristan agreed.
"Cruelty is preferable to weakness."
"As for the Stormlords..."
He chuckled softly.
"Most possess courage."
"Very few possess patience."
"It will be difficult to find experienced administrators among them."
Gendry considered everything carefully.
"Lord Stannis will serve as Hand of the King."
"Lord Selwyn is also well suited for high office."
"His negotiations with Highgarden proved his ability."
Turning another page of his notes, Gendry continued.
"As for the Kingsguard..."
"If Ser Balon Swann survived..."
"He deserves consideration."
"So does Robar Royce."
"If he is willing."
At that moment, the tent flap opened.
"My lord."
Jon Snow, Harold Hardyng, and Robar Royce entered together.
Behind them stood several unfamiliar visitors.
One was the commander of the Astapori Unsullied.
The others were lesser nobles from Meereen.
The Unsullied commander immediately knelt.
"My Lord Liberator."
"I am Grey Worm."
"I was chosen to command the Unsullied of Astapor."
"My birth name was cursed."
"When you liberated us..."
"I chose the name Grey Worm."
Gendry nodded.
He understood the Unsullied tradition.
Many reclaimed their birth names after gaining freedom.
Others chose names inspired by heroes, gods, weapons, precious stones, or flowers.
"How many Unsullied remain in Astapor?" Gendry asked.
Grey Worm answered immediately.
"Eight to nine thousand fully trained soldiers."
"Four thousand crossed the sea for this campaign."
"There are several hundred trainees."
"The rest have yet to complete their training."
"I now command three thousand four hundred Unsullied."
"We all pledge ourselves to the Storm."
The high cost of producing Unsullied suddenly became obvious.
Their training consumed countless lives.
Astapor had possessed only around eight thousand fully trained warriors.
Now...
Nearly half belonged to Gendry.
And he had acquired them without paying a single coin.
"I believe you," Gendry said.
"You'll serve under Ser Lothor."
"Learn the ways of Westerosi warfare."
"Study command."
"Learn how to fight armored knights."
"The commander of my Free Army across the Narrow Sea—Grey Wolf—has adapted quickly."
"You should do the same."
"As you command, my lord."
Grey Worm stepped aside respectfully.
Gendry then shifted his attention toward another captive.
"Lord Hizdahr zo Loraq."
The nobleman from Meereen lowered his head.
"I am willing to offer gold several times my own weight if you allow me to leave."
"I will also surrender every gladiator and every piece of treasure we brought."
Gendry smiled calmly.
"They already belong to me."
"I have no intention of returning them."
Before Hizdahr could respond, another noble hurried forward.
"My lord!"
"I wish to speak!"
It was Skahaz mo Kandaq.
Unlike Hizdahr, he had already abandoned his former loyalties.
Gendry noticed something unusual.
"You shaved your hair."
Skahaz bowed deeply.
"It symbolizes my rejection of the old order."
"I have severed all ties with the slave masters."
"I welcome the coming of the Liberator."
His completely shaved head represented a public break with Ghiscari tradition.
Gendry smiled slightly.
"It seems I have gained a loyal subject."
"Speak."
Skahaz looked up eagerly.
"Hizdahr belongs to one of Meereen's greatest noble houses."
"His influence reaches Volantis, Lys, Qarth, Toleros, and even New Ghis."
"If you intend to conquer Meereen..."
"You cannot afford to lose such a valuable hostage."
Hizdahr's face immediately turned pale.
He glared furiously at the bald traitor.
"Very well," Gendry replied.
"Lord Skahaz..."
"You will personally watch over your fellow nobles."
"Keep them alive."
"But make sure none of them escape."
"Yes, my lord!"
One after another, the prisoners were escorted away.
For now, the nobles of Yunkai and Meereen would remain imprisoned.
There would be plenty of time to deal with them later.
The Kingsguard would be rebuilt under Barristan's supervision.
The Small Council was still taking shape.
Ser Boros of the Claw would command the Gold Cloaks alongside Ser Lothor.
As for Melisandre...
Magic worked best from the shadows.
She remained one of Gendry's greatest hidden assets.
---
As dawn broke, golden sunlight spread across King's Landing.
The banners of House Lannister were torn down.
In their place rose the crowned stag.
Every gate of the city stood open.
After Roose Bolton's brutal purge during the night, all resistance had vanished.
Gendry's army entered through the King's Gate in magnificent formation.
The deep blast of war horns echoed throughout the city.
Thousands of disciplined soldiers marched forward in perfect rhythm.
Golden banners fluttered proudly in the morning breeze.
The crowned stag of House Baratheon.
The three-headed dragon of House Targaryen.
The direwolf banner of the Wolf Pack Company.
And the standards of the Free Army.
At their head rode Gendry.
His black armor gleamed beneath a magnificent golden cloak embroidered with both stag and dragon.
Standing nearly seven feet tall beneath his antlered helmet, he resembled an unstoppable giant.
Behind him rode the great lords of the realm.
Mace Tyrell in green.
Mathis Rowan beneath the golden tree.
Yohn Royce in bronze armor.
Ser Boros of the Claw Peninsula.
And countless renowned knights.
Ten thousand cavalry led the procession.
Thirty thousand elite soldiers followed behind.
The remaining army guarded the southern bank of the Blackwater Rush alongside thousands of prisoners.
Marajo and several foreign slave masters had already been executed, their heads displayed upon spears.
The surviving nobles marched in chains.
As Gendry entered the capital, the streets erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Long live the Storm!"
"Long live the Storm!"
After the night's bloody purge, King's Landing had submitted completely to its new ruler.
The chaos of yesterday had vanished.
A new dynasty had arrived.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)