The Sept of the Stars had been reduced to rubble, but fortunately, the square still remained.
Gendry and Daenerys sat on folding campaign chairs above the crowd.
"Long live King Gendry!"
"Long live King Gendry!"
"Long live Storm the Dragonlord!"
"Long live Storm the Dragonlord!"
"For the King!" "For the King!"
The soldiers' fervent cries rang across the square, rising wave after wave.
They had gathered in Oldtown today to drink their victory wine.
The Kraken and the High Tower were both defeated.
War was cruel, but victory filled men with pride.
Only victory could win the hearts of knights and soldiers.
Led by Ser "Barristan the Bold" Selmy, five white-cloaked Kingsguard formed two rows to guard the king.
Yet even the white knights' cloaks were stained with blood, giving the scene a grim, killing air.
Below the King's Staircase stood a long pinewood table for the ministers, with a long string of silk banners hanging from it.
The Red Viper, Oberyn Martell; Morosh, Commander of the Twin Cities Fleet; "Bronze" Yohn Royce; Bryce Caron; Randyll Tarly; Paxter Redwyne; Garlan Tyrell; Jack Crabb; Maester Qyburn; and the others were all seated around the long table.
Though Fletcher Dick, the archer commander in charge of arrow-making, and Jason Melisent, the longship commander, had fallen in battle, it was still a great victory overall.
Lothor Brune, Anguy the Archer, Harrold Hatton, and the others led their elite troops into formation across the square. The Black Guard raised great golden banners, flowing like a river of gold and black.
Grey Worm's Unsullied stood with spears in hand, like a cold and ruthless forest.
Now that the army was in Oldtown, they could deal with the three acts of treason committed by House Hightower, House Greyjoy, and the Citadel.
There was, in truth, also the matter of the Great Sept of the Stars, but the Great Sept had already been thoroughly ravaged by Crow's Eye, then battered by storm, waves, and Kraken.
Almost all of the devout old septas and septons were dead, so the problem had become much smaller.
In a sense, the dirty work Crow's Eye had done had actually helped Gendry, because Crow's Eye had also been chasing absolute power.
"The Seat of Seastone," Asha said in shock, then looked deeply confused. "The Iron Islands cannot be without the Seat of Seastone. They cannot be without a High Lord. The Greyjoy throne was granted to us by Your Grace Aegon the Conqueror, and it was chosen by the Ironborn together."
Bending the knee to Gendry was no burden to Asha, but losing the crown would be a disgrace to House Greyjoy.
Asha's body trembled. Because they had lost the war, House Greyjoy was about to lose the throne it had held for three hundred years.
"Daughter of the Kraken," Gendry said, looking at Asha. "One king gave you that high seat, and another king can take it away. What is wrong with that? I hear your people never bend the knee. This should suit the captains' wishes."
Asha raised her head and looked up at Robert Baratheon's son. He had black hair and blue eyes, tall and striking, like a towering fortress.
Asha remembered the war from years ago. Robert's son was even more frightening than he had been, sharper than anyone beneath the sky.
Back then, Robert had broken into Pyke, swinging the warhammer in his hand as he strode over broken stone and corpses, killing his way inside.
Eddard Stark had been at his side. Asha and Theon had watched it all from far away in the Sea Tower, and even now, she still dreamed of those blazing torches and heard the thunderous crash of the battlements collapsing.
"Your Grace, this would..." Asha still wanted to argue, but when she saw the look in her uncle Rodrik's eyes, she no longer dared to continue.
"Let me think back on how the Kraken's throne came to be. House Drumm joined with House Greyjoy, House Hoare, House Orkwood, and Andal pirates, sellswords, and chieftains to overthrow the hereditary House Greyiron. Then House Targaryen destroyed House Hoare, the line of the Blackheart King."
Gendry looked at Asha. The Kraken might be ancient, but when it came to a hereditary royal throne, they were far from it.
The royal power of the Iron Islands had changed hands too bloodily. Only after the destruction of the two previous lines of Kings of the Iron Islands did House Greyjoy get its turn.
"But how did you repay your kings? How many times has House Greyjoy rebelled now? Lord Randyll," Gendry said, letting Randyll speak.
"At least five times. During the Targaryen dynasty, 'Blood Kraken' Dalton raided the westerlands during The Dance of the Dragons. Great King Dagon ravaged the Sunset Sea during the Blackfyre Rebellion. Then there was Great King Quellon's betrayal.
"In the last ten years, House Greyjoy betrayed the Iron Throne during the reign of the late King Robert Baratheon, and again during Your Grace's reign," Lord Randyll Tarly said slowly.
"I..." Asha's voice stuck in her throat. She could no longer speak.
House Greyjoy had rebelled so many times that they had truly become hated by men and dogs alike.
"The other lords seem quite supportive," Gendry said, prompting Rodrik Harlaw and the other two to speak.
These three anti-Old Way factions were his spearhead in cleansing the Iron Islands. Harlaw was the most densely populated and the richest of the islands, and the most influenced by the green lands.
House Goodbrother's wealth came mainly from mines, not the sea.
As for House Drumm, though noble, they had declined to the point that they had lost the courage to uphold the Old Way.
"Your Grace is right. The Iron Islands are yours to command. The Old Way is already a thing of the past," Rodrik Harlaw said.
"I also believe we do not need a Greyjoy king. Why must the king always come from the Kraken's house? Or perhaps everyone is a king.
"If we speak of history, our House Drumm is ancient, and we opposed the war plans of Crow's Eye and Balon. It was House Greyjoy that forgot the gifts of the Dragonlord and King Robert." Dunstan Drumm had no objection either.
"What right does Pyke have to rule us all? Great Wyk is the largest island, Harlaw is the richest, and Old Wyk is the holiest. After the Blackheart King's line was swallowed by Dragonfire, we Ironborn chose Vickon Greyjoy as our leader. But remember, we chose him as High King, not king!"
"What right does House Greyjoy have to demand that chair? Our House Goodbrother has produced far more kings chosen at Kingsmoot than House Greyjoy ever has."
Asha felt the world spin around her. These three surrenderers, even including her uncle, one of her few supporters in the Iron Islands, had simply bent the knee.
"Daughter of the Kraken," Gendry said, looking at Asha. "The Seat of Seastone is my spoils of war. As for Pyke, it seems you are the only member of House Greyjoy left."
"Is Your Grace granting me the position of Head of House Greyjoy?" Asha Greyjoy asked.
"Why not? You have only one younger brother left, Theon, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead." Gendry looked at Balon's only daughter, his voice as hard as steel.
Among all the fools in the Seven Kingdoms, Balon was certainly a heavyweight.
In his youth, he rebelled and got his own father killed. In middle age, he rebelled again and got two of his sons killed, while his wife went mad.
"Your Grace is King of the Seven Kingdoms and the Twin Cities. Naturally, I will obey Your Grace's will. But I do still have a younger brother, and I cannot overstep his rights," Asha pleaded.
"Then you will serve as acting ruler for now."
"Your Grace, I am yours to deal with, but please spare my men."
"I am not bargaining with you. You only need to obey the king's command."
Asha did not dare say another word. She stood there, trembling slightly.
"I have become a prisoner, a highborn prisoner in the king's hands," Asha thought bitterly.
"Maiden Cole. Tristifer Botley." Gendry called out the names of the two Ironborn. They were Asha's right and left hands, her die-hard loyalists and admirers, caught in a twisted triangle of love.
"Your Grace, I beg you to spare them. They are my companions, and they did not take part in the wars against the North and Oldtown," Asha said, her face pale.
"Are you willing to bend the knee?"
"We are willing," the two hurriedly said as they knelt, with the storm of death wrapped around them.
Bend the knee, or die in a dragon's jaws. Both of them were sensible enough to choose.
Asha let out a breath of relief. At least these two had not lost their minds.
"Begin."
"I, Asha of Pyke, swear to serve King Gendry the Breaker and his heirs, to carry out all your commands, and to give my life without hesitation."
"I, Cole... will never forget, never betray."
"I, Tristifer Botley... will never forget, never betray."
Asha knelt on the wet ground with her pets, placing their weapons at their feet and facing the king.
"Until death?"
"Until death!"
"I, Rodrik Harlaw of Harlaw..."
"I, Dunstan Drumm..."
"I, Gorold Goodbrother of Hammerhorn..."
The three lords of the Iron Islands also hurriedly bent the knee and swore fealty. Living was better than dying.
Enough people from the Iron Islands had already died.
"Lady Asha, the raiders under your command, the Ironborn who took part in the war in the North, committed the war crime of slaughter," Randyll Tarly reminded her. "Bring them forward to kneel and repent before the King."
"Yes." Asha covered her eyes.
"Your Grace, are you going to kill them?"
"No. But since they like the North so much, they can go to the Wall. The war at the Wall is still going on."
Defeat. Damn defeat. But bringing those men here was still better than letting them all be killed by the dragons.
Storm was brave and fearless, but he did not slaughter indiscriminately.
Asha lowered her head. Next came the moment of dispossession, the stripping away of the Seat of Seastone.
"The late King Robert once showed generosity and forgave Balon's rebellion. But the Kraken's wild nature could not be tamed, and it rebelled again and again.
"This time, the Kraken's rampage has caused the realm great harm, so I have decided that I will no longer tolerate the treason of House Greyjoy," Gendry declared loudly. "Lord Yohn, read my decree."
"In this perilous time of constant unrest, in view of House Greyjoy's war crimes and its repeated rebellions against the Iron Throne, and in accordance with Your Grace's will, the following punishment is hereby imposed: let it be proclaimed throughout the Seven Kingdoms and the Twin Cities of the Narrow Sea that House Greyjoy's hereditary rule over the Iron Islands and the Seat of Seastone is revoked.
"As for the Ironborn chieftains who followed Balon Greyjoy and Euron Greyjoy in committing treason, except for those already dead, the remaining chieftains shall have their lands seized and their castles reduced according to the severity of their treason. They must surrender hostages to the King and pay fines."
Yohn Royce rose and read the king's edict in one breath.
All the lords wore solemn expressions, listening to the king's decree with reverence.
Dragonlord, Storm, Warrior Descended from the Heavens, and Pyromancer. With these four identities, the king's word was already beyond question.
House Greyjoy was not the first great lordly house in Westeros to have its crown smashed, and it seemed it would not be the last.
"From this day forward, all lands and taxes of the Iron Islands shall belong to the Iron Throne. The chieftains need no longer pay taxes to Pyke. Instead, the stewards of each island of the Iron Islands shall convene a council of Iron Islands chieftains to govern in its place. The royal house will dispatch customs tax officers and soldiers to supervise."
The surviving Ironborn hurriedly bent the knee. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Grace."
"Governor, Lord Rodrik Harlaw. Governor, Dunstan Drumm. Governor, Goodbrother. Asha, acting governor."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Rodrik and the others hurriedly said as they bent the knee. In any case, he, Drumm, and Goodbrother were all spearheads against the Old Way. At this point, they no longer cared about appearances.
"In that case, this is what should happen to the crowns of the Ironborn!" Gendry gave the order, then threw down two crowns. "Lord Sandor."
The Hound, Sandor Clegane, walked toward the dragons and tossed Euron's two crowns, the Driftwood Crown and the crown of black iron and shark teeth, beside the dragons' muzzles.
Surging Dragonfire of every color rolled in. The air turned scorching hot, and the Dragonfire melted the two crowns at once.
"Crownbreaker!"
"Crownbreaker!"
"Long live the Storm!"
"Long live the Storm!"
"The Kraken who bent the knee!"
"The Kraken who lost its crown!"
The knights and soldiers cheered together.
The cheers of knights and veterans flowed like a river. From this moment on, no one dared question the king's commands.
Asha felt as if a knife were twisting in her heart. Yes, House Greyjoy had lost everything.
"Your Grace, I wish to make a petition." The High Septon of the Starry Sept appeared in the square, his face heavy with grief.
The Starry Sept had been destroyed outright, generations of glory reduced to ruin by war.
When it came to hatred for the Ironborn war, no one felt it more deeply than the High Septon.
"Speak."
"May the gods protect Your Grace. The Ironborn committed this evil act because they were driven by the kinslayer, the blasphemer Crow's Eye, Euron Greyjoy, and because they worship the wicked Drowned God, refusing to understand the will of the true gods. I ask that you authorize the Faith to send septons of the Seven once more to the Iron Islands to preach."
"Granted!" Gendry nodded. These three blows of the axe had landed squarely on the Ironborn. The defeated had no right to shout.
"Your Grace, if septons of the Seven are forced ashore, it may anger the followers of the Drowned God," Rodrik the Reader whispered.
"Oh? If the priests of the Drowned God can gather another band of rebels for me, I could not ask for more. In winter, fewer mouths mean less grain consumed, and my dragons have yet to see what the Iron Islands look like." Gendry's tone was calm. The Ironborn needed a beating. Nothing else would do.
"Yes, yes..." Rodrik quickly shut his mouth. It seemed those fools without eyes deserved their fate if they died.
None of the Ironborn present dared question the king's decision. After all, the fiercest supporters of the Old Way still had their heads stuck on longspears.
Garlan Tyrell listened in dread as King Gendry punished the Iron Islands with sweeping, iron-fisted measures.
Seen this way, House Hightower's fate was surely grim as well.
"Ser Baelor Hightower." Gendry had the members of House Hightower brought forward next.
Baelor shuffled into place. Laughing Baelor, handsome Baelor, had become gloomy and haggard after the blows he had suffered on the battlefield.
"I bring charges," Lord Valen Beesbury and Lord Tommen Costayne hurriedly rose and said.
"What charges?" Yohn asked.
"We charge House Hightower with treason, Lord Yohn," Lord Valen said. "Leyton married his daughter to Euron, and he allowed Euron to use House Hightower's stone beasts and sphinx statues in an attempt to harm our true king, Your Grace Gendry."
Ser Martin Mullendore and Ser Branston Cuy also stood and said, "The evidence is clear and irrefutable. In addition, not a single kinsman of House Hightower attended King Gendry's coronation or wedding ceremony. This shows they have long harbored treason in their hearts and looked down on Your Grace and the gods."
Baelor's mouth fell open. The whole thing left him dizzy. These men had once been Hightower vassals, but now they had all changed sides at once.
House Bulwer did not lack the will to jump forward either. Their head was simply a young girl, that was all.
It seemed the great ship of House Hightower was truly about to go down, and everyone who could jump ship was jumping.
"The lords all make good sense. I suggest the matter be investigated thoroughly." Worst of all, Randyll Tarly spoke with complete seriousness and full agreement.
"That does seem right." The lords of the Reach agreed as well.
Even Paxter said nothing more. Redwyne had nearly been destroyed because of Hightower, so he would not speak a good word for them.
Euron might have spared the High Tower, but he would not necessarily have spared Redwyne.
In truth, many lords were related to House Hightower, but House Hightower had gone too far this time. It seemed there was no saving them.
"What do you think, Ser Garlan?" Gendry asked Garlan to speak.
"House Hightower's treason during Euron's invasion is clear beyond doubt. I ask Your Grace and the noble councilors to handle this matter fairly," Garlan said, forcing himself through it.
"Does Your Grace mean to punish me, Oldtown, or the High Tower?" Baelor's face grew even paler.