Bright sunlight poured into the courtyard of Dragonstone, falling over the three small dragons curled up asleep, over Gendry's black hair, blue eyes, and martial face, and over the Maiden's silver-gold hair.
Daenerys Targaryen was chatting at the side with her bodyguards, the bear-girl Dacey Mormont and Brienne of Tarth. Compared with court ladies, Daenerys preferred independent women like them.
"If my cousin had married a girl from The North, he would never have ended up in such an awkward position. Bear Island is not Oldtown, after all. House Hightower has a long history, vast wealth, and pride to match," Dacey said bitterly. "Bear Island has plenty of wild bears and timber, but no jewelers, dressmakers, harpists, or fine cooks. Compared with the green lands and prosperous Oldtown, it is too cold, too damp, too remote, and too poor.
"There are no masquerade balls, no mummers' shows, and no lavish feasts. Years can pass before a singer comes to perform, and there isn't even a goldsmith on the island."
Daenerys looked at Dacey gently with her violet eyes. "Poor thing."
Brienne of Tarth had little interest in such matters. Men who had tried to approach her had either been beaten away by her or had cursed her instead. Renly, whom she had loved in her youth, had gone to The Wall, and now she seemed almost born to be loveless.
"What happened afterward?" Daenerys asked curiously. Ser Jorah had always been loyal and reliable as one of Gendry's trusted men, but he rarely spoke of those fallen days.
A flicker of pain crossed Dacey's face. Then she said softly, "He gave up too much to keep that Hightower woman. He earned money through tournaments and sold timber, but in the end he sank deep into debt, until he even sold poachers to the Tyrosh. When Lord Eddard came after him, Jorah fled with that woman. Then, Across the Narrow Sea, the Hightower woman abandoned him."
In truth, Great Bear Jorah Mormont was like a man from a remote village who had married Lynesse, the daughter of a great house, only for the marriage to become a complete mess afterward. As the old saying went, love without material means was like loose sand. The North was poor, with few pleasures or luxuries. Even House Stark could hardly be said to enjoy a high standard of living.
Gendry sat in a tall wicker chair, listening to the young women talk. He was too tall, and ordinary chairs felt cramped to him. As for Jorah's matter, his aunt Lady Mormont and his cousin Dacey had made their pleas, and Jorah understood them. Even so, he still wanted to achieve something outside before returning. That Hightower woman was in Lys, and their meeting was not far off.
Gendry once again read the letter Lord Stannis Baratheon had sent from King's Landing.
"Your Grace, all is well in King's Landing under the orderly governance of myself and my colleagues. Lord Mace, Lord Yohn, Lord Selwyn, and Lord Randyll are working day and night, devoting tireless effort to Your Grace's coronation and to every matter in King's Landing, great and small."
No wonder Stannis had spoken well of them. For straightforward work, Mace and the others were more than capable. So long as Mace did not take charge of military affairs.
First was the restoration of King's Landing: clearing the Blackwater Rush, salvaging pieces of wrecked ships, and cleaning up the ruined Dragonpit and the city gates. With some men responsible for the river and gates, while Randyll oversaw the Dragonpit, the work was moving quickly. At the very least, they had ensured that the Dragonpit met the semi-open requirements for the coronation grounds.
Gendry's coronation would not be held in the Red Keep, but at the sacred King's Landing Veterans' Home standing atop the ruins of the Dragonpit. The High Septon had already made preparations, and word had been sent to the great lords from north to south, from The Wall to Arbor. Ravens had also been sent to the Iron Islands and the Westerlands. Foreign guests would come to witness the ceremony as well, so public order was the highest priority. The Twin Cities under his effective rule would also present a grand gift.
Next was the matter of food. The Riverlands had long since been smashed to pieces by war. The Crownlands were somewhat better off, but they had a larger population. The Stormlands had little farmland and more forests, and when people went hungry, they could only gnaw on bark. The North was the worst of all, with only this autumn's harvest to rely on. House Stark had an old tradition of urging lords to reserve half their grain for winter, but not every lord was willing to comply. People starving to death was inevitable. The Vale had some stored grain, but in the end, most people would still have to beg The Reach for food.
The docks were no longer exporting grain. Instead, they had to import grain quietly. The "grain-adviser lords" across the realm were also beginning to play their roles. These great lords controlled the ports and grain-producing regions, and they were the foundation for surviving famine. They also had to set an example, cooperate with the Iron Throne's grain-allocation demands across the realm, and conserve consumption. But movements involving huge granaries could hardly stay unnoticed, so to avoid market turmoil, they had to proceed cautiously.
Last came the problem of suppressing the Maimed and bandits, after the overall situation in the Seven Kingdoms had largely settled. Each region had begun dealing with the Maimed and bandits, especially the Riverlands and Crownlands, where the ravages of war had been most severe.
Roose Bolton and Jack Crabb each led five hundred cavalrymen to clear the Maimed and bandits from the Crownlands and The Kingsroad. There were even more Maimed in the Riverlands, but with the Brotherhood Without Banners and the Riverlands lords returning home one after another, they too were being hunted down in force. The unruly thugs and hoodlums of King's Landing had been dragged into "training classes" by Randyll Tarly, and the results of this education had been excellent. He had truly mingled with the thugs. Lords across the realm were now following King's Landing's example, cracking down on both the Maimed and hoodlums.
Gendry picked up his pen and wrote a reply to Stannis.
"Thank you and the other ministers for your proper governance of King's Landing. Before winter arrives, the matters that require attention are food, construction, and war.
"I also hope you will pay attention to any extremist religious elements and false prophets. They may be sent to the 'Knight Training Class' or otherwise handled appropriately.
"Aegon gave the people King's Landing. Maegor gave them the Red Keep, though Maegor's contribution was greater, and the Dragonpit. Jaehaerys gave them The Kingsroad and aqueducts. Baelor gave them the Great Sept of Baelor. King Daeron left behind Summerhall. My father, the late King Robert, brought many tournaments, the Long Summer, and laughter, while I am determined to complete the sacred King's Landing Veterans' Home.
"The banner and sigil shall be based on my golden Quartered Arms, for I have added new honors to House Baratheon: Dragonlord, Liberator of the World, and Commander of the Wolf Pack Company, as well as rulership over the two Daughters and the Disputed Lands. As for the new family name, it shall take Breaker as its suffix, and may also be shortened to Gendry T.B. Breaker. The surnames of the other Baratheon branches shall remain unchanged."
The signature at the bottom of the letter had already become Gendry Targaryen Baratheon Breaker.
Gendry thought for a while, but did not mention in the letter his decision to merge the Stormlands, Dragonstone, and the Crownlands into one. The lesson of Renly's rebellion was still fresh in his mind, and this matter was urgent. Still, it would be more appropriate to discuss it in person, especially with Harrenhal's disposition involved as well.
With each stroke of Gendry's pen, a new house was being born. From now on, there would be the Breaker family of King's Landing and the other Baratheon families, the difference between the royal line and the other branches. Mya and Edric were both Baratheons, while the King's descendants would add two more surnames.
The King's Landing Veterans' Home was only the first step. Gendry had also considered a City of Books and a Great Theater, but those would have to wait until he had crushed his enemies: Oldtown, the Iron Islands, the Lannisters, and above all the evil Crow's Eye and the Others in the North.
"Is the coronation about to begin?" Ser Barristan asked.
The other squires also looked full of anticipation. Compared with King's Landing, Dragonstone really was somewhat dull, with only dragons and traces of volcanoes to look at.
"Yes." Gendry lifted the reply in his hand. "A coronation is an honor, but it is also a threat. I chose the Veterans' Home in the Dragonpit as the location."
Ser Barristan glanced aside at Lothor, Robar, and Anguy. "We have enough men, but we cannot be careless." Ser Barristan had attended many coronations, and the procedures were always much the same.
Gendry nodded. "I'm afraid those who hate me will lose sleep over this."
The Conqueror had faced repeated assassination attempts because of his blood feud with Dorne, and Gendry's own hands had left mountains of corpses and seas of blood behind them. A splendid coronation with crowds and countless loose tongues really could draw all kinds of strange assassins: Volantis, fugitives from the Three Daughters, the defeated men of Slaver's Bay, perhaps even the Sorrowful Men of Qarth.
"When the time comes, the great lords and their heirs may all arrive. With so many people gathered together, it will be chaotic and easy for trouble to start. Leave the royal family's security to me. As for security in King's Landing, Lord Randyll, Ser Boggs, and Ser Lothor should be enough to handle it," Ser Barristan said.
After all, the lords attending the ceremony would certainly not come alone. Some might bring five or six hundred men, as if showing off. These grooms and squires would fight once they drank too much, and sometimes brawls and killings were common enough.
Gendry looked at the old knight. Ser Barristan was certainly the Light of the Knights, but as for those strange and unpredictable types, Gendry would still rely on himself and the red priestess to deal with them.
"I'll be meeting many guests, some warm, some cold. But as long as they are guests, they must be properly received." Gendry stroked the round pommel of Orphan-Maker at his waist. The sword at his belt still smelled of blood.
King's Landing was now a vast stage. The question was which fish would bite.
As they were talking, Ser Yasser hurried over with the travel-worn Onion Knight.
"Prince Gendry, Princess Daenerys," the Onion Knight said with a bow. "I have brought the remaining fleet back to Dragonstone."
The Onion Knight had taken a wide detour. He had done well in luring the enemy and had brought the fleet back with him. Losses at sea, however, were still heavy.
"The gods praise your courage and wisdom," Gendry said at once. Now there was also a new Master of Ships. "Did you encounter anything strange at sea?"
"No." The Onion Knight shook his head, then added, "There was one thing, I suppose. After we passed through the Stepstones, we met strong winds and heavy waves. It was truly dreadful. The ships were very hard to control, and it was highly unusual. We moved slowly by using Tarth and other coastal harbors for shelter, and only then did we avoid excessive damage to the ships."
"Bad weather at sea is common," Gendry said, allowing the Onion Knight to rise.
An aftereffect of magic, Gendry understood at once. That was why the Onion Knight had encountered storms on the return journey.
It was because the red priest Moqorro had helped Malaquo perform a blood sacrifice to change the winds. But after they passed through, the sea would instead grow stormy, and other ships would suffer for it. Unless more sacrifices were performed. More blood, more storms. A vicious cycle.
"Are you the Onion Knight?" Daenerys also looked at the plain-faced Ser Davos.
"Do you remember me, Princess?" the Onion Knight asked. Looking at the girl before him in her purple dress, so beautiful she hardly seemed human, he was overwhelmed. The silver hair and eyes, and the protection of two tall female guards, all confirmed her identity as the last true dragon.
"It was Gendry. Gendry said you are one of the finest captains and sailors," Daenerys said with a smile.
"I am truly unworthy. Your regard does me great honor." Davos felt a warmth inside. It was indeed something to be proud of. He had risen by ability, not bloodline.
Their conversation woke the sleeping dragons. The dragons shook themselves, uncurling into full length, and the air took on a faint scent of dust and fire. Dragons could sense the presence of strangers: their scent, their tone, their shape, and the fire inside their bodies.
"Flap!"
Balerion beat the air with his black wings and slowly flew in front of Gendry, looking at the Onion Knight with a hint of wariness. The white dragon slowly followed as well, trailing behind the black dragon. When dragons were happy, they did not breathe mist, nor did they roar.
Gendry stroked the black dragon's horn. The black dragon's scales were dark and deep as endless night, but his eyes, horn, and the spines along his back were blood-red, giving him a powerful and terrifying presence.
"Is this a dragon?" the Onion Knight cried in shock, looking again and again. Not one, but three. If he had not seen them with his own eyes, he would never have believed that dragons had appeared again.
"The dragon has three heads, Ser," Vhagar said as she circled around Daenerys.
"The dragon is right before your eyes, Ser." Gendry laughed and encouraged the Onion Knight to touch Balerion.
But the Onion Knight drew back his hand, not quite daring to touch him.
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