The Red Comet stretched across the heavens like a wound that would not stop bleeding. The return of the Dragons was still unknown to the world, but the smell of war had already spread across Westeros.
Envoys and ravens came and went like stars in the sky, constantly carrying the will of their various masters.
Across the Narrow Sea, the Disputed Lands seemed calm and quiet. The smoke of war brought by Khal Drogo had ended with the Khal's death, and his Dothraki Screamers had become new vassals.
At the Wolf's Den, Gendry stood before the tapestry map of the Known World hanging on the wall of the map room, mostly depicting Westeros and Essos. With war flaring up everywhere, the situation had become even more chaotic because of his arrival. Balerion flew through the map room, circling again and again.
"What is the situation in Lys and Volantis?" Gendry asked the Handsome Man.
"No movement for now. Volantis has not yet changed its Triarchs. The Tigers want to advance, but the Elephants are not yielding yet," the Handsome Man replied. "However, because of your victory, slave uprisings in Volantis and Lys have increased sharply. And with Lys's lands in the Disputed Lands now in our hands, they will eventually consider sending troops."
"Tywin will not sit around waiting for us to launch a massive westward campaign. His fleet is far inferior to ours, but his wealth is immense. He will definitely send envoys to persuade Lys and Volantis." Gendry gave his orders. "Tell our Stepstones fleet to strengthen its watch and cut off those envoys. Besides the sea route, there is also the land route through Pentos. Tell Magister Ordello to stay sharp." Gendry had never trusted Illyrio.
"Yes."
"But fighting on two fronts is a troublesome matter," Qyburn said, looking at the positions of Lys and Volantis. "Volantis may have declined, but it is still one of the most powerful of the Free Cities, with a huge fleet and a large standing army. Lys is weak on land, but its fleet is still respectable. And my intelligence shows that Volantis is sending envoys to Slaver's Bay to deal with the crisis brought by the rise of the two cities."
"We can only use speed against slowness," Gendry said after a moment's thought. "The standstill in Lys and Volantis is our window of opportunity. We need a foothold in Westeros."
"Then the Stormlands, Dragonstone, and Crackclaw Point would be the best choices. With those places in hand, King's Landing can be blockaded at any time." Qyburn glanced at the map. "But Prince, once you enter the game, the civil war within House Baratheon will have to begin first."
"Yes. Once we move our forces, Westeros will become very lively," Gendry said. As for what Renly and Stannis would do next, that would be their own choice.
"With us included, there will be six factions entering the field," said the Handsome Man.
"The Lannisters in King's Landing and Casterly Rock, the Starks in the North and the Tullys in the Riverlands, Renly in the Stormlands, Stannis on Dragonstone, Lord Balon of the Iron Islands, and then us," Anguy said. Though he was not especially well educated, he still knew these famous Great Lords well enough.
Gendry pointed toward the Reach on the map. "The Vale and Dorne are probably staying out of it for now. Only the Reach, House Tyrell, is still waiting to see what price it can fetch."
"If the Old Knight displays the late king's will and your proclamation on Arbor Island, the Roses will surely hear of it soon enough," Anguy said after thinking it over. "The Queen of Thorns of House Tyrell comes from House Redwyne. Our warships and soldiers ought to help the Roses calm down a little."
"House Tyrell will never choose Stannis or Joffrey, so they will lean toward you and Renly," Qyburn said. "Back then, Mace led the siege of Storm's End for a very long time, so his hatred for Stannis runs deep. As for King Joffrey, in King's Landing that reeks of lions, I fear there would be no place for the Roses to stand."
"Let them weigh their options. Let our banners in Westeros start moving," Gendry said. "I am in no hurry to attack Dragonstone or the Stormlands. I will first tear open a gap at Crackclaw Point and in the Riverlands."
Dragonstone and the Stormlands were simply too special. If Gendry was not mistaken, the course of events should still lead to Stannis clashing with Renly first.
"As you command, Prince," the Handsome Man said.
"Judging from the shape of the war, House Lannister is the one pressing hard right now." Gendry looked at the map on the wall. "Tywin and the Kingslayer have split their forces. If they move out from the Golden Tooth, one road leads to Riverrun and the other to Harrenhal."
"The great wolf, fish, eagle, and stag alliance that Trout was part of was a wonderful idea, but now it is nothing but loose sand. The Crownlands are under Lannister control, and Lysa Arryn has shown no intention of sending aid through the Bloody Gate to support her mother's family. At present only House Tully is barely holding on, waiting for House Stark to send its forces south," the Handsome Man analyzed.
"Those two women of House Tully." Even Anguy could not help snorting. "Two stupid women."
"If the northerners march south, it will probably take a great deal of time. And House Stark's situation is very unusual right now. Lord Eddard is imprisoned in King's Landing, and Lady Catelyn seems to be under soft confinement in the Eyrie. At the moment, their heir Lord Robb is in Winterfell gathering men and steadying the bannermen," the Handsome Man said.
Although the Wolf Pack had long since left the North, they still understood the situation there well. The North was vast and sparsely populated, and with its cold climate and the constant concern about missing the farming season, mobilization there was always slower than in the South.
"Do not worry about Robb Stark's pace. Jon Snow will bring him my regards," Gendry said. Northerners had always been fierce and rough. It would not be easy for Robb to persuade them, and their mobilization was far too slow.
"Prince Oberyn has already arrived at Crackclaw Point. Perhaps he has already begun hunting," Qyburn said.
"Then I wish him the prey he wants in the Riverlands," Gendry said, looking at the map of Crackclaw Point. "Littlefinger wants the Vale to stay cold, but I intend to set the Vale in motion."
…
The Westerlands, below Golden Tooth.
Ever since the news of the king's death arrived, Tywin had ordered the Kingslaying to move at once.
"Woooooo."
A bleak horn sounded, then the gates of Golden Tooth flew open.
"Charge. Show the Trout what we can do," the Kingslaying shouted as he rode out from Golden Tooth.
Flying highest at the front of the Westerlands host was the lion banner of House Lannister, followed by the banners of many Westerlands lords. House Banefort's banner showed a black hooded man on a grey field bordered with flames. House Brax's banner bore a purple unicorn on a silver field. House Crakehall of Crakehall's banner showed a black and white boar on a brown field. House Greenfield of Greenfield Castle flew a plain green field encircled by two white rings.
"Kill!"
The Kingslaying wore glittering golden armor, a golden lion helm, and carried a gilded sword, roaring like a blazing lion.
"It's over."
Lord Vance and Lord Piper had not prepared their defenses at all. When they saw the Westerlands army crashing toward them like a flood, those Lannister soldiers in red cloaks and lion helms, both men immediately knew disaster had come.
Edmure had made the wrong choice, and the Riverlands could only suffer the price of defeat. The Riverlands had sent only Lord Vance and Lord Piper. They had no way to stand against the full strength the Westerlands had committed, and they were positioned below a mountain pass. The situation could hardly have been worse.
The Lannister cavalry smashed across the battlefield like iron hammers, again and again, all the more deadly because they were charging downhill. The trout banner of Riverrun, the quartered banner of House Vance, and the naked maiden banner of Pinkmaiden Castle all fell into the mud. Their standard bearers were either dead or fleeing.
The forces of Lord Vance and Lord Piper were smashed into total rout. Lord Vance tried to flee the field as well, but the sigil on his cloak was far too conspicuous. Quartered. A black dragon on a white field, and on a black field, a pair of golden eyes within a golden ring.
A Westerlands horseman's morningstar came crashing down and struck Lord Vance's battered, twisted helm head on. His life vanished in an instant.
"Lord Edmure," Lord Vance cried out helplessly, and then the Stranger claimed him.
Lord Clement Piper saw the bloody scene and quickly tore off his cloak and threw it to the ground. That fine cloak, a pink maiden dancing with a white silk ribbon on a blue field, was now trampled into the mud beneath rumbling hooves.
Lord Clement Piper was short and fat, bow legged, with a thick mess of red hair, but he moved with remarkable speed. Lord Piper drove his horse into a wild sprint and narrowly escaped a bloody death.
The Kingslaying swung his longsword and shouted arrogantly, "Take Riverrun. Kill the Trout."
"Take Riverrun, kill the trout!"
The frenzied soldiers of the Westerlands waved their weapons and followed the Kingslaying in pursuit of the shattered remnants of the Riverlands host.