In the throne room of the Red Keep, the body of the late king, Viserys the First, was laid upon a high platform draped in black velvet. The royal family had ordered great quantities of ice brought in and placed around the body.
Those lords who had been notified and were already in King's Landing—or their sons—had formed a long queue, filing past to pay their respects to the late king.
But in the council chamber adjoining the throne room, the true power was gathering.
Aemond Targaryen stood at the head of the long table. Before him lay a map of the Seven Kingdoms, spread open beneath his hand. He wore black armor covered by a black surcoat embroidered with the three-headed dragon; his violet eye gleamed.
The Small Council and their trusted advisors sat on either side.
Tyland Lannister, the Hand of the King, reported first. Though the Lord of the West's younger brother was near forty, he still had the bearing of a lion.
"We have sent letters to the Citadel in Oldtown, demanding they expel Orwyle, that vile criminal." He paused, then added, "We have also demanded the Citadel admit its negligence in recommending such an immoral conspirator to serve the Crown."
Aemond nodded, tracing his finger over Oldtown on the map.
"Do you think the Citadel will bow?"
"They must bow," Lord Jasper Wylde, the Master of Laws, interjected. The bald, fat man wiped sweat from his brow. "Now that the Faith supports us, the Citadel cannot remain neutral. They cannot be implicated in a kingslaying. Expelling Orwyle from their order and condemning his actions is the Citadel's best choice. Moreover, House Hightower and the Faith will both pressure those old pedants."
Aemond nodded.
"What of the Stormlands?" Aemond asked.
The door opened.
Talya entered with a nobleman. The moment he saw Aemond, Sebastian Errol dropped to one knee. "Your Grace, Prince Aemond. We have met before."
"Sebastian, rise and speak," Aemond said, looking at him. "You led us to find Orwyle's body. What was in the letter?"
Sebastian nodded, recalling the letter's contents. He recounted from memory what he had seen, as the Master of Laws transcribed it.
After hearing it, Lord Jasper Wylde angrily declared, "These Four Kingdoms and the traitor Orwyle conspire in treason! Their lies are an affront! To slay the king! They must be severely punished!"
"The representatives of the Four Kingdoms?" Aemond took the letter and looked at Sebastian.
Sebastian immediately and eagerly corrected, "Your Grace, it is Three Kingdoms! The North, the Vale, the Riverlands!" Sebastian was displeased with Lord Wylde's statement. "The Stormlands are utterly loyal to House Targaryen!"
Lord Wylde coughed awkwardly. "Yes, yes, Lord Sebastian, I misspoke. The Three Kingdoms."
Satisfied, Sebastian continued. "Yesterday afternoon, Orwyle met us in a tavern cellar. After that, the representatives of the Three Kingdoms fled, and Orwyle returned to his chambers and died that night."
"Did you hear anything they said?" Aemond asked.
Sebastian answered carefully. "That the king had been poisoned, that they must act at once, and that Rhaenyra was the rightful heir. I felt something was wrong even then. I argued fiercely against it, but those fools from the Three Kingdoms were convinced..."
Aemond nodded approvingly. "You have shown both wisdom and loyalty to the Crown. You deserve reward. I grant you five hundred gold dragons, and I shall inform Lord Borros at Storm's End of your service."
"Your Grace!" Sebastian's eyes lit up with joy.
"Take him to receive his reward," Aemond said to Talya.
After they left, Lord Wylde handed Aemond another scroll. "Your Grace, the responses from the Crownlords... all have sworn fealty to Aegon, except the Crabclaw Peninsula."
Aemond took the letter, his violet eye narrowing.
The letter was in the hand of Lord Cassian Staunton of Rook's Rest. Its words were fierce.
I will never believe that Princess Rhaenyra would slay her own father! This is clearly a lie concocted by certain men for their own ambition—to slay a king and his father! The Crabclaw Peninsula is loyal only to Queen Emma, and to her only child, Princess Rhaenyra! Queen Alicent is a breaker of the peace, a murderess...
"This old immortal," Aemond said, looking at the letter with a cold smile.
He knew the traditions of the Crabclaw Peninsula. These lords of the peninsula had been conquered by Visenya Targaryen with dragonfire. They had sworn loyalty to Queen Visenya, and then to Aegon the Conqueror. Later, those traditions had passed to Queen Emma Arryn, and then to Rhaenyra, Queen Emma's only surviving child. When Viserys married Alicent as his queen, the lords of the Crabclaw Peninsula had not sworn to the new queen—they had remained faithful to the memory of Queen Emma and her daughter.
"What shall be done with the Stauntons who remain in King's Landing?" Lord Wylde asked cautiously. "Execution? Imprisonment?"
"No," Aemond set the letter aside. "Let them go. Let them carry this letter to Lord Cassian. He may come to King's Landing in person to apologize to the Crown—or else face the consequences."
First courtesy, then steel. All present understood the meaning.
"What of the armies of the Westerlands and the Reach?" Aemond asked the Hand.
"The Hightowers are ready," Tyland answered. "But Lord Jason Lannister of the Westerlands still needs time to gather his bannermen and armies. The Reach... House Hightower can provide twenty thousand soldiers at any moment."
"Twenty thousand?" Aemond raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Under Lord Hightower's personal command, with your younger brother Prince Daeron as second."
Aemond considered a moment. "Then let Daeron invite the Tyrell child and his regent to King's Landing as well. Highgarden's position is too ambiguous. It must be clarified."
Tyland hesitated. "If we act so forcefully, the other houses of the Reach may be displeased..."
"Displeased?" Aemond rose and walked to the window. "Lord Tyland, in the South, those who are not with us are against us. House Tyrell is the Warden of the Reach—they are sworn to the Crown. If they refuse to take any position... then let Daeron's army and the Hightowers escort the whole family to King's Landing."
The Hand was silent a moment, then nodded. "I understand. And the naval preparations?"
"Ser Erwin controls the port. The iron chains are one-third laid, and twenty hulks have been prepared."
Aemond looked out the window at Blackwater Bay glittering in the morning light.
"The only thing that can truly stop a dragon... is a dragon."
The meeting continued for another hour. By the time the assembly dispersed, the sun had fully risen.
Aemond remained alone in the council chamber. He walked to the map and pointed to the Crabclaw Peninsula.
The Crabclaw lords could field fewer than two thousand men. But he knew that sometimes the most stubborn resistance came from those who did not know when they were beaten. As the only vassal of the Crownlands to rise in rebellion, House Staunton would naturally be dealt with harshly.