Morning sunlight bathed King's Landing, the largest city in Westeros. Nestled between the Blackwater Rush and the sea, the capital buzzed with renewed life despite the scars left behind by war.
The harbor was still a scene of devastation.
Burned warships lay half-submerged in the river, while shattered docks floated among the wreckage. Laborers and soldiers worked tirelessly to clear the Blackwater, salvaging timber and debris from the ruined fleet.
In addition to their wages, the workers were allowed to keep usable pieces of wood for themselves.
The carved ship prows and decorative figureheads, however, were collected as trophies for the Veterans' Hall of King's Landing.
---
High atop the city walls, the newly reorganized Gold Cloaks stood watch.
Beyond the King's Gate, a vast sea of golden banners stretched across the horizon.
Unlike the old City Watch, this new force consisted mainly of loyal soldiers from the Crownlands and the Claw Peninsula, reinforced by many of the Northern Winter Wolves who had chosen to remain in the south.
Their discipline and bearing were completely different from their predecessors.
Golden silk banners fluttered proudly beneath the morning sun.
Knights clad in black armor and golden cloaks stood in perfect formation, resembling a vast herd of proud stags.
Their long spears rose skyward like a forest of steel.
Above them, a white falcon circled through the blue sky, its piercing cries echoing across the army.
Then...
The deep blast of war horns sounded.
Woooooo...
War drums followed, beating like thunder.
The falcon folded its wings and descended gracefully, landing upon the armored arm of Gendry.
He gently stroked its feathers.
"Be careful."
The falcon, newly renamed Glory, tilted its head affectionately.
As high as glory...
As high as power.
The bird had once belonged to King Robert, later gifted to Jon Arryn, and now served Gendry.
It was an exceptionally intelligent hunting falcon, worth a small fortune.
Still...
Gendry couldn't help worrying.
If Balerion, the Black Dragon, happened to notice it...
The dragon might roast the poor bird with a single breath.
Among all creatures in the world, dragons, direwolves, and krakens possessed bloodlines that surpassed ordinary beasts.
---
As the army advanced, the soldiers began singing together.
«"We are the King's Guard,
Leading every charge...
We are the King's Guard,
Forever victorious...
Let fury burn brighter than wildfire...
We are the Storm's soldiers,
Marching upon Casterly Rock...
Slay old Tywin...
Then cleanse the Ironborn..."»
Standing beside Gendry, Ser Garlan Tyrell listened quietly.
His emotions were complicated.
Strength...
Was strength.
Victory...
Was victory.
Gendry had led these soldiers through one triumph after another.
Naturally, their morale was unmatched.
They dared to attack.
They dared to sacrifice.
And they believed they would always win.
Garlan silently asked himself,
What does the Reach lack?
The answer came almost immediately.
Victory.
Experience.
A spirit forged through countless battles.
Like Aegon the Conqueror.
Like Robert Baratheon.
Like the legendary Leo Longthorn.
Like the unstoppable storm itself.
The Reach possessed countless soldiers.
It could field more knights than almost any other kingdom.
Yet...
Beyond its elite core...
Most of its levies were farmers and merchants.
The moment a battle turned unfavorable...
Many would flee.
Could they truly withstand a storm?
Gendry's style of warfare was relentless in attack...
And cunning as a fox.
Garlan couldn't help smiling bitterly.
"Before the sun... even the brightest stars remain only stars."
---
The massive oak-and-iron King's Gate slowly creaked open.
Rumble...
The Gold Cloaks entered the city in perfect order.
The City Watch stationed at the gate immediately stepped aside, gripping their spears and staves while carefully watching every street and alley.
The people of King's Landing barely reacted anymore.
Over the past several weeks, armies had marched out before dawn and returned during the day almost continuously.
Repairs had become part of everyday life.
---
The moment he entered the city...
Gendry noticed the familiar smell.
A faint but constant odor still lingered throughout King's Landing.
The higher districts were somewhat better.
The hills caught the sea breeze from the Blackwater and the bay.
Especially around the Red Keep, the air remained noticeably cleaner.
Behind Gendry, the mounted knights rode silently.
Gone was the laughter and singing from outside the walls.
Inside the capital...
The Gold Cloaks moved like one perfectly disciplined body.
Like a single drawn sword.
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Garlan finally asked,
"Your Highness..."
"How did you train them?"
"Every one of these King's Guard soldiers looks capable of defeating ten ordinary men."
Gendry answered simply.
"Elite units."
"I select the strongest soldiers from every army..."
"Then train them together."
The Wolf Pack.
The Free Legion.
The Second Sons.
The elite King's Guard.
The Unsullied from Astapor.
And now...
The newly incorporated Storm Legion.
Every legion operated under the same principle.
Only the strongest survived selection.
---
"For the moment..."
"King's Landing itself is little more than a military camp."
Gendry looked around the city as he spoke.
South of the Blackwater lay his own encampment.
To the north stood the camps of the Winter Wolves and the Crackclaw soldiers.
To the west stretched the vast army of the Reach.
"That is indeed the current situation, Your Highness."
Garlan bowed respectfully.
Behind the golden stag banners marched the green-and-gold banners of House Tyrell.
Their household guards followed closely behind.
Gendry nodded.
"Soldiers shouldn't remain idle."
"If they're already here..."
"They might as well help rebuild the city."
---
At that moment, Ser Boros, Commander of the Gold Cloaks, rode toward them.
Several old veterans from the Claw Peninsula accompanied him.
Many bore missing arms or crippled legs, lasting reminders of past wars.
"Your Highness."
"Ser Lothor has captured the target we wanted from the Spider."
"He's currently surrounding the location to ensure no one escapes."
Gendry nodded with satisfaction.
King's Landing...
Especially the Red Keep...
Needed a thorough cleansing.
Varys had served there for decades.
His agents could be hiding in every corner of the castle.
"How are the repairs progressing?"
"The city gates?"
"And Flea Bottom?"
Ser Boros answered immediately.
"The gates suffered severe damage during both the Battle of the Blackwater and the riot in King's Landing."
"Repairs are proceeding as quickly as possible."
"The original gate guards have already been dealt with."
He continued,
"Fortunately..."
"Varys didn't deploy much wildfire."
"The overall damage wasn't as severe as we feared."
"The fires in Flea Bottom have also been extinguished."
Gendry nodded thoughtfully.
Once King's Landing is fully restored...
The next priority will be rebuilding the kingdom's main roads.
The army continued advancing through the city.
Golden armor gleamed beneath the morning sun.
The disciplined columns marched across newly repaired streets and broken roads alike.
The citizens watched them quietly.
They had already become familiar with the elite army known as the King's Guard—the most powerful spearhead of the Storm King.
Since the war had ended...
The people viewed the conflict differently.
The Lannisters had brought famine, chaos, and suffering.
Now...
The rightful king had returned beneath banners of gold.
Merchants and sellswords were naturally the quickest to adapt.
Wherever the army passed, voices rose from the crowd.
"Our savior!"
"Long live the Storm King!"
The boldest commoners even cheered openly.
They had already learned one important fact.
This army possessed iron discipline.
Unlike many other soldiers...
They neither looted nor harassed civilians.
---
Once the victory is complete...
The High Septon and Grand Maester will write history in my favor.
Gendry smiled inwardly.
The High Septon had become an eager supporter.
As for Grand Maester Pycelle...
The old man practically praised him every day.
Above the Red Keep...
The old lion and stag banners had long since disappeared.
Some had been torn down during the war.
Others had been cut apart and reused by laborers.
Only one banner still flew proudly.
The golden banner.
The original royal standard.
---
Gendry entered the Red Keep.
It was...
The Hour of the Stag.
Waiting for him in the courtyard were the Red Priestess, now serving as palace steward, and Sister Tyene.
The accompanying soldiers followed behind them.
Nearby...
The interrogation of Varys was finally reaching its conclusion.
---
Lothor looked coldly at the former Master of Whisperers.
"You know exactly what we want."
"And you know there's a secret tunnel beneath your chambers."
"So tell me."
"How did you summon your Little Birds?"
"I..."
Varys struggled to answer.
Both of his hands had already been smashed repeatedly with a small hammer.
Unable to endure the pain any longer...
He finally broke.
"My room..."
"My bedroom..."
"The tunnel..."
"It's beneath my bedroom..."
"Good."
Lothor nodded.
"And how do you summon them?"
Unable to speak clearly, Varys pointed toward his mouth before drawing a small bell on a sheet of parchment.
"A bell?"
Lothor asked.
"You ring it..."
"And they come?"
Varys nodded...
Then immediately shook his head.
"There's something else?"
This time...
Varys drew several pieces of candy beside the bell.
Lothor instantly understood.
The bell...
And sweets.
Both were required.
Following Varys's instructions, the soldiers searched his chambers.
Sure enough...
They discovered a hidden lever beneath the bedroom floor.
When it was pulled...
A heavy stone slab slid aside.
A narrow staircase descended into darkness.
"Put him beside the desk."
Lothor gave a quiet order.
The soldiers immediately understood.
Still wearing his worn brown robe...
His hood hiding his pale, exhausted face...
Varys was forced into an oak chair beside the desk.
His complexion had become even paler after the torture.
Crossbowmen quietly took their positions around the room.
Every loaded crossbow aimed toward the pitch-black tunnel entrance.
The hidden passage resembled the throat of some enormous beast.
No one knew what—or who—would emerge from the darkness.
As instructed by Varys...
The soldiers placed pieces of candy near the staircase.
Then...
The small bell rang.
The crossbows were raised.
The soldiers concealed themselves in the shadows around the room.
Every eye remained fixed upon the dark passage...
Waiting for the Spider's Little Birds to appear.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)