"With public order in King's Landing as it is, and with the climate soon to change, this has become something we must pay attention to," Randyll Tarly said.
Because of the war, many people from the Riverlands, the Crownlands, and other places had fled to King's Landing. A large floating population meant endless trouble. Even after peace returned to the Riverlands, some would still choose to stay in King's Landing.
"The Knight Education Corps..." Ser Barristan, the old knight, said. "If a knight has no honor, then he is no different from a killer. But if we bring in so many thugs and ruffians, can we truly reform them into knights?" Proper knights began as pages and squires, trained over many years.
"These people are unruly. Without force, they cannot be taught," Randyll said. "Beat them once, and they will behave. Turn them into loyal servants of the king."
Ser Barristan was stunned. This was clearly a way to absorb criminals.
Yet the lords had no objections. Beating deserters and street thugs into shape at least let them live. If they were left outside, they might simply starve or freeze to death.
"Besides this, perhaps we can discuss something lighter afterward," Lord Yohn Royce said. "Aside from the coronation, there is also the marriage of the Stag and the True Dragon, symbolizing the union of two great Bloodlines. In time, it will surely rival the Golden Wedding of old and add some joy to the Seven Kingdoms."
Gendry smiled. If that came to pass, the two ancient houses would become one.
The moment Selwyn Tarth heard this, his face turned bitter. House Tarth was already close to the extinction of its main line. His lovers had not borne him a single child, and his only legitimate child, Brienne, was tall, broad, and ugly. Even with the rich dowry of Tarth Island, it was difficult to find her a suitable match, not to mention that Brienne herself had no desire for marriage.
"There are still plenty of fine unmarried young men and women in the realm," Great Lord Mace Tyrell said. "Our Tyrells, the royal House Baratheon, House Stark, House Arryn of the Vale, House Royce..."
Stannis Baratheon nodded. His discomfort was the same as Selwyn's. "Indeed, there are quite a few." Speaking of daughters was perhaps one of his sore spots. He and his wife had only Shireen, a kind girl but not a beautiful one. Not only had she failed to inherit the fine Baratheon looks, she also suffered from greyscale.
"Fortunately, those noble ladies are not here, or this would be even livelier," Gendry thought as he watched them discuss the matter with such enthusiasm. When it came to marriage, these lords were no different from fishmongers in a market. It was only because the last True Dragon Gendry had chosen was too valuable that they had no choice but to settle for second best and begin exchanging resources among themselves.
"I will have to keep an eye on these romantic matters too," Gendry thought. He knew every great house had plenty of children who could be matched off, and these too counted as important human resources.
House Baratheon had Shireen and Edric. House Arryn had Harry the Arse and sickly little Sweetrobin. House Tully had Ser Edmure. House Stark was even more crowded. Besides Bran, there was a whole brood of children; Catelyn had truly done House Stark a great service by expanding the family line. House Tyrell had the sickly Willas, Loras, and Margaery. Loras might not necessarily be willing to marry, since a third son had little need of it. As for the Dornish, though they had plenty of children and Sand Snakes, Dornish marriage circles rarely broke out of Dorne itself.
"Robb of Lord Eddard's house is not betrothed, and I happen to have a daughter," Lord Yohn suggested. Ysilla Royce, Lord Yohn's beloved youngest daughter. Yohn had originally considered House Redfort of the Vale, but House Redfort had recently had the absurd luck of marrying Princess Mya, so that matter had been dropped. Yohn had therefore naturally turned his mind to House Stark of The North.
Eddard Stark was somewhat tempted. After all, House Royce and House Stark had intermarried before. Both were descendants of the First Men, and they had long supported each other. Moreover, winter was coming, and Eddard needed the support of great houses with harbors and access to the sea, such as House Manderly and House Royce. Still, this was a major matter, and Great Lord Eddard remained cautious.
"The children are indeed of age," Eddard Stark said. "It was originally our duty to arrange their marriages. Perhaps once we have a new queen, it would be more fitting for her to make such arrangements."
"Lord Eddard is thoughtful," Lord Yohn said with a nod. Given his status, arranging a marriage for his daughter would naturally be easy, but choosing a suitable young talent from across the Seven Kingdoms would take some effort.
"That is good," Mace said, nodding. "Aside from my second son Garlan, the others are still unmarried. If the queen can arrange fine marriages for them, that too would be an honor."
Affection and advancement were the best tools for linking the great houses together. Affection meant marriage alliances and fosterage. Advancement meant sending children to court as cupbearers, or to knights as squires. The royal family was even more so. There were many noble children in court, and the queen would also arrange marriages for the nobility.
Gendry slowly sipped the hot drink in his hand, boiled lemon water. Lemons were rare and expensive.
"Eddard truly is an honest man," Gendry thought.
Having the royal family direct noble marriages was always better than allowing the lords to link themselves together at will. The last great web of alliances among the lords had completely overturned the Targaryen dynasty. The past was like a conspiracy, beginning with the Old Wolf Rickard's ambitious move south.
A moment later, Lothor Brune entered the room, still carrying a faint smell of blood.
"Prince, my lords," Lothor said with a bow.
"Is it settled?" Gendry asked.
"The Little Birds have been completely wiped out," Lothor replied with certainty.
Gendry brushed his fingers over the hilt of Orphan-Maker. "Well done."
Joy rose in Gendry's heart, and his mind felt clear and open. He sensed another kind of breakthrough, a stirring of Bloodline power, the Blood of the Storm and the Blood of Fire.
Then a burning sensation came from his finger. It was the ring on his hand, the one from Lord Governor Malaquo. The ring was made of Valyrian steel, dark in color, with flame-like patterns and a red gemstone. Gendry wondered whether the ring also had some strange power.
Stannis nodded as well. "With the birds gone, only Varys's judgment remains."
King's Landing had been turned upside down, its balance of power rolling like waves. Petyr Littlefinger was dead, Renly had been sent to the North, Varys was not far from death, and Pycelle was writing books in atonement. The Small Council Robert had left behind was truly a mess.
...
With matters in King's Landing temporarily concluded, Gendry sat in the cabin of the ship bound for Dragonstone, wiping the ring on his finger.
"Fire."
"Flame."
Gendry felt the movement of fire, the pulse of fire. The world was filled with flame at every moment. He opened his hand, and the flames in the brazier gathered like stars, slowly drawing together, yet he felt no heat.
"It is the strengthening of the Blood of Fire. I have reached the threshold of this ability, and the ring has amplified it."
The ring seemed to possess a magic that drew close to fire. Only after Gendry's Bloodline had risen did the red gemstone on the ring begin to shine.
"There is a line of tiny words."
Gendry removed the ring and found the inscription on its inner side.
"I am the Firebinder. Only the Lord of Flames may awaken me. Blood, fire, power."
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