Above the Red Keep, the lion-and-stag banner of King Joffrey Baratheon still snapped in the wind, the roaring lion of Lannister standing opposite the crowned stag of Baratheon.
The Hand of the King, Tyrion Lannister, and the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks, Jacelyn Bywater, stood atop the gatehouse, watching the Gold Cloaks in the square skillfully move the paint canisters into place, attach the hoses, and open the nozzles.
They worked in good order, and green fuel began to spray out.
The Gold Cloaks had to ensure the attack would be effective. The paint canisters had to be loaded properly, and when the green paint was fired, not a drop could be allowed to spill.
"They look the part now, my lord," the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks said to Tyrion. Lord Jacelyn was tall, with deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, and a broad jaw that made his face look rather like a pumpkin. His brown hair was streaked with gray. Lord Jacelyn's right hand had been severed at the wrist and replaced with an iron prosthetic, earning him the nickname Ironhand.
"Looking the part is not enough. They need mastery. You and I both know how dangerous wildfire is."
"As you command, my lord," Ser Jacelyn said with a nod.
"We both know our weaknesses. Our warships and infantry are thin. Right now, our greatest assets are wildfire and the walls of King's Landing," Tyrion said gravely. Most of the Royal Fleet was at Dragonstone. As for King's Landing's land forces, the hastily assembled Gold Cloaks were no fearless field army.
As for the forces of his father, Great Lord Tywin, Tyrion did not think they could be counted on either. Tywin's army was currently stationed at Harrenhal, but their supplies were growing worse by the day. In Tyrion's view, rather than having Tywin's men come to King's Landing and worsen the food crisis, the better choice would be to cut their losses completely, abandon Harrenhal, and return to the Westerlands.
"I understand, my lord," Ser Jacelyn assured him. "War is a game for the brave. Even if we are weak, we must fight to the death and never retreat. The moment we show fear, the army will collapse."
"With the war reaching this point, Joff will have to take the field as well," Tyrion said to Ser Jacelyn.
"My lord, that is necessary. If it comes to that moment, the king must go forward too," Ser Jacelyn replied. "When the horns are blaring and the banners are flying, the soldiers will fight bravely. If they see the king himself on the battlefield, their morale will surely rise. Men fight for a king they can see, for visible courage, not for some young lord hiding in the palace."
Tyrion shrugged. "Yes. After all, Joff has plenty of examples before him. A king who dares not go to war is a coward."
Robert, Rhaegar, and even the princes and kings from earlier ages had all taken the field themselves. Westeros was a land steeped in war.
Going to war also means death, Tyrion thought heavily. If Joff goes to battle, I must keep another option in hand. Tommen must be sent somewhere else. Even if the Storm or Stannis breaks King's Landing, we can still crown another king.
Tyrion had considered a few places for Tommen, but now Harrenhal seemed the safer choice.
"My lord, you need not worry too much about the king. With capable men like the Hound and Meryn by his side, he will be much safer."
"Ah, I hardly know what to say about those men now. Ever since the Hound's brother died, I feel as though he has lost all pleasure in life. As for the other White Knights, hmph. Still, they are at least capable fighters." Tyrion found it hard to judge the remaining white cloaks. Jaime had returned to the Westerlands, while the old knight Barristan had followed the Storm.
Tyrion looked down at the Gold Cloaks below. They were beginning their wildfire drills in an orderly fashion. So long as it was not close combat, these soldiers did have some courage. He could only hope they would perform well in a real war, though that was not very realistic. The defense network he envisioned for King's Landing was a layered one. To the south of King's Landing lay the Blackwater Rush, so any attack on the city would have to advance by both land and water.
Tyrion's defensive preparations were solid. His first step had been to expand his forces. He had doubled the number of Gold Cloaks and hired seven or eight hundred sellswords. Ser Jacelyn commanded the Gold Cloaks, while Bronn, Timett, and the others led the sellswords and wildlings. The Red Guard of the court in King's Landing now obeyed him as well.
Tyrion's second step was to strengthen the defenses. He had completely burned the docks outside the Mud Gate, and all unnecessary buildings and homes had been cleared away. Now he also meant to empty the entire Blackwater Rush, sending men to requisition every merchant ship and ferry in King's Landing Harbor to prevent the enemy from using them to cross the river or assault the city. The Street of Steel was working day and night, and the iron spikes were growing longer and longer.
Beyond those conventional measures, he had his true trump cards: wildfire and his High Mountain clans. With the help of the Alchemists' Guild, wildfire production was now considerable. As for the High Mountain clans, Tyrion planned to use them as a surprise force once the battle began, sending them to harass the enemy's flanks, scouts, and supply lines.
"Whether it is Stannis's army or the Storm's army that comes, we have to endure it. My lord, you must take care of yourself as well. Defending King's Landing is no easy duty," Jacelyn said to Tyrion. As one of the chief officers responsible for the defense of King's Landing, Jacelyn greatly admired Tyrion's ability. The Kingslayer's strength lay in his sword arm, while his brother's lay in his head.
Tyrion felt somewhat reassured. The Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks chosen for him by the Spider was indeed competent. He valued honor and was exceedingly brave. If it had been that butcher's son from before, Tyrion would never have felt at ease.
"These are difficult times indeed. I originally thought it would be Stannis's or Renly's army attacking from south to north. But according to the latest reports, our rear is being attacked as well," Tyrion said.
What Tyrion feared most was a cautious campaign by the Storm, surrounding the city without attacking and starving King's Landing to death. Once the enemy threatened King's Landing from every direction, from Duskendale, Maidenpool, and the Stormlands, the city would collapse on its own from hunger and panic.
Ser Jacelyn said nothing. They no longer held the initiative in this war. No matter how well they planned, the enemy had to take the bait.
"My lord, there is news. One piece good, one piece bad." Bronn hurried up onto the battlements and handed Tyrion an envelope.
"After Stannis sailed from Dragonstone, he faced Renly near Storm's End. After Renly suffered a minor defeat in his surprise attack, the fleet of Gendry the Smith appeared behind the two uncles. The Twin Cities fleet passed through the Stepstones, circled around Tarth, and surrounded Renly and Stannis. The good news is that Renly has been stripped of his crown and sent to atone as a man of the Night's Watch. The bad news is that Stannis surrendered and was appointed Hand of the Storm by his nephew."
"What!" Tyrion's face turned livid after he finished reading the letter. That meant Gendry now had the support of four kingdoms: the Stormlands, the Vale, the North, and the Riverlands. He also commanded military power stretching from the Stepstones to Tyrosh and Myr.
War truly was absurd. Renly, who had the advantage in numbers, had launched a night raid on Stannis, only to find that Stannis had been prepared and had repelled the attack. Then Ser Caron and Ser Cortnay, the castellan of Storm's End, turned against Renly from behind, and Renly's army collapsed instead. After that came the Storm, taking both his uncles and the Stormlands.
"So we have lost the entire coastline." Tyrion read the letter again and again. "Stannis, that ugly, stubborn Stannis. How? How did he surrender so easily? And Renly, that pampered pretty boy, was nothing but an embroidered pillow. With all those men, not only did he fail to devour Stannis, but after his surprise attack failed, his own army mutinied and tied him up."
"Look at the envelope, Lord Jacelyn." Tyrion handed it over. From Gulltown and Duskendale to Dragonstone and the Stormlands, apart from Dorne and the Reach, the entire coastline was now under their enemy's control. The Storm's fleet could impose an even broader and harsher blockade.
Ser Jacelyn read it as well. "What a foolish war. Renly was truly a fool. But the Smith, the Smith moves far too quickly."
"No. I must go find my sister," Tyrion told them. This was the crucial moment.