In the 299th year after the Conquest, the tourney was being held in King's Landing.
Gendry had added a new event, making this tourney different from others. There were now four contests: the joust, foot combat, the team melee, and archery.
The people were not entirely unfamiliar with foot combat. Trial by combat usually took that form, with two sides fighting to the death. But this was the first time it had been included in a tourney, making it feel fresh and exciting.
"The winners of the joust and foot combat will receive ten thousand gold dragons, and the runners-up five thousand gold dragons. The winner of the team melee will receive five thousand gold dragons, and the winner of the archery contest two thousand five hundred gold dragons. Those who place will also receive a royal weapon."
News of the tourney's prizes spread through every street and alley of King's Landing.
Gendry had brought the overly high cash rewards back to normal, cutting Robert's astronomical prizes down to a quarter. Even so, the amount was still generous, just no longer absurdly extravagant.
Great Lord Eddard had originally suggested cutting them further, but Great Lord Mace and the others advised him to stop there. If the rewards fell any lower, they might wound the knights' pride.
"Our King is actually quite generous. I hear the knights' rewards were reduced because he had to repay old debts and spend money buying grain."
"King Gendry is a kindhearted man."
The common people had little objection to the smaller rewards. In any case, they were only there to enjoy the spectacle.
Instead, King's Landing spread the story that King Gendry had reluctantly reduced the prizes to secure grain for the people, which gave them another reason to praise the King's love for his subjects.
As for the prize money itself, the knights would earn it in King's Landing and spend it in King's Landing. Very little would ever leave this dazzling city. Brothels, gambling dens, fine weapons, and horses, each one was a beast that swallowed gold.
Earlier that year, Joffrey had also held a tourney, but it had been overshadowed by the realm's division. That tourney had been little more than a child's game, too small in scale and cut short halfway through, so it had been almost forgotten.
The clatter of hooves rang through King's Landing again and again.
"I've come to win the tourney!"
From time to time, young knights on fine horses galloped through the streets of King's Landing, shouting with great confidence.
"With King Gendry here, the best you can win is second place."
The people of King's Landing could not help mocking these young men who did not know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth.
This formal tourney, however, was grand beyond precedent. First, it celebrated the coronation and marriage of the new King Gendry I. Countless knights wanted to show themselves before the lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms, before common maidens, and above all before the King and Queen. On top of that, Dragons had appeared, and many people wanted to see them.
Second, the white knights of the Kingsguard had many vacancies. Many knights harbored ambition and wished to serve alongside the honorable Ser Barristan.
There was also a rumor of unknown origin that, with autumn deepening and winter to come, the King would not hold another tourney of this scale in winter. No one knew how many years it would be before the next great tourney.
All these things combined made this tourney extraordinarily lively. The knights did not want to miss a chance to win fame, the crowds came to watch the excitement, and the merchants came to earn a little fortune.
"In the name of King Gendry I, blessed by the old and new gods, armed fighting, robbery, theft, arson, and the humiliation or rape of women are forbidden during the tourney!"
Lothor Brune led the Gold Cloaks in lines through the streets and alleys of King's Landing, shouting the order and maintaining the peace.
The King's Landing Guard wore black armor, black boots, and black gauntlets. They were known for their gold cloaks, thick woolen cloaks dyed gold.
The newly formed guard included many men from Crackclaw Point, the Stormlands, and the North's Winter Wolves, making it far stronger than the old city militia.
Most of the useless Gold Cloaks from before were either dead or had fled. Those deserters who wanted their old jobs back had mostly been sent to haul bricks along the Blackwater Rush and at the Dragonpit. This was already a mild punishment. If Tywin had handled them himself, their knees would have been cut out, and they would have been left to beg in the streets.
"Thanks to our good King's tourney, King's Landing is livelier than ever. For every knight who comes, there are two free riders, three craftsmen, six soldiers, a dozen merchants, and two dozen whores," Bronn said with a grin as he followed behind Lothor.
"Bronn," Lothor said to Bronn, who had changed into a new set of gear among the crowd. Bronn wore a black breastplate decorated with four golden discs, marking him as an officer among the Gold Cloaks. "There is a great deal to do. You are responsible for keeping order in Flea Bottom."
"As you command, my lord." Bronn nodded. "A difficult task, but as the King's loyal servant, it is only right."
Lothor nodded. After Bronn knelt and surrendered before the King, no one had made things too hard for him. Still, a mercenary was used after being lowered in rank, and he had been made a junior officer among the Gold Cloaks.
"I hear you are about to marry?" Lothor asked. "Lollys Stokeworth, Lady Tanda Stokeworth's second daughter."
The girl was widely known to be fat and simple-minded. Thirty-three years old, with no inheritance, but noble by birth. Lady Tanda had once wanted to marry her daughter to Tyrion and had pestered the Imp day after day.
The poor girl had also been raped by a group of men during the King's Landing riot and become pregnant. After that, there was truly no husband to be found.
"You cannot put it that way, Lord Lothor. I can only say good things are close at hand. Thanks to King Gendry. If I have a child, I will name him Robert," Bronn said, glowing with pride.
Lollys and Bronn being together was an exception among exceptions. The Lady had considered some of the Storm's attendants too, but those rising new nobles, Anguy and Lothor among them, were beyond her reach.
With no one willing to take Lollys, Lady Tanda finally thought of Bronn, a Gold Cloak officer of low birth and mercenary stock.
"I think Tyrion's name would suit better," Lothor said calmly.
"You jest, my lord," Bronn replied, the smile still on his face. "I am a mercenary, not a saint. The Lannister castle is collapsing, and I am fortunate enough to follow the new King."
"Will the King join the tourney as well?" Bronn asked curiously. "There are four events this time."
"The King may join three of them, except for the team melee," Lothor said.
The team melee was the closest event to true battle, and naturally the most dangerous.
"If the King joins, I do not see anyone else taking the championship," Bronn answered with certainty.
...
Outside the city walls, along the riverbank, more than a hundred tents had already been raised. Thousands of commoners had come to watch this grand tourney.
Sansa Stark sat among the noblewomen and young ladies, unable to keep from sighing at how much had changed.
Of the seven Kingsguard, only two remained now: the old but still formidable Ser Barristan Selmy, and the newly risen Ser Balon Swann. As for the others, some were dead and some had fled. Even the most terrifying of them all, Gregor "the Mountain," had died in the chaos of war. His younger brother, the Hound, had now become a guard of the royal kennels.
"The King has appeared."
Some sharp-eyed noblewoman pointed out the King's position.
"Long live the King!"
Gendry had changed into a suit of black scale armor. His golden cloak burned like the sun, and a black sword hung at his side. The King removed the forked helm he wore, and the crowd could not help bursting into cheers.
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