It was widely rumored that when Stannis Baratheon, bearing the flaming heart banner, broke through King's Landing, he would burn alive all infidels who worshipped the Seven Gods, offering their souls to the god he believed in—the Lord of Light, Rhllor.
Therefore, when news of Stannis's fleet arriving reached the city, King's Landing was filled with the terrified yet devout chants of its people, praying for the protection of the gods above.
They prayed for the divine wrath of the gods above to descend, turning Stannis, who had betrayed mortals on earth, to ashes.
The sounds of singing, horses neighing, the clang of steel, and the creaking of the great bronze city gates mixed together, as King's Landing played out a strange and terrifying music.
Outside the Red Keep's Throne Room, Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard helped King Joffrey mount his bay horse.
In the morning sunlight, Joffrey's gilded chainmail and crimson enameled plate armor reflected golden and red light, appearing splendid and brilliant.
He said impatiently from his horse, "Where is my Hound? Why hasn't he returned yet!"
With the war already underway, Joffrey was worried that if he arrived too late… that ugly Dwarf would claim Stannis's head first.
Ser Meryn's eyes were lowered, his silver plate armor gleaming in the morning light.
He spoke, "King, the Queen Regent has ordered that she will not allow you near the battlefield."
Hearing his advice, Joffrey immediately retorted angrily, "Ser Meryn Trant, I am the King, and I will go wherever I please! If you dare mention my mother again, I will rip out your tongue."
The Kingsguard silently retreated, and Joffrey lifted his chin, letting out a proud snort.
Soon after, he saw Sandor Clegane, with a young girl in one arm: "My Hound, come here, quickly! Hurry!"
The Hound strode over, roughly throwing the girl at Joffrey's feet, and said, "Here is the delicate flower you asked for, King."
The brown-haired girl on the ground was trembling, and Joffrey eagerly drew his sword. Its blade was forged from fine steel, glowing blue, double-edged, with a leather-wrapped hilt and a golden lion's head at the pommel. Its name was 'lions tooth'.
He extended the sword towards the brown-haired girl: "Kiss it, bless my sword."
With a gasp, the girl immediately burst into tears, pleading, "King, I beg for your forgiveness, please let me go…"
Joffrey was furious: "Kiss it, kiss my sword!"
"Delicate flower, obey the King, or it will pierce your mouth," the Hound's grating voice sounded.
"Hurry, bless my sword." Joffrey's lions tooth was almost touching the brown-haired girl's lips.
The brown-haired girl dazedly touched the metal in front of her with her lips. Only then did Joffrey sheath his sword, saying with disgust, "My Hound, you found a fool."
The Hound shrugged, saying, "This delicate flower was the slowest runner."
Joffrey was first stunned, then chuckled, granting in a good mood: "Don't let her leave. When I return, I want her to kiss my lions tooth again, to let her taste my uncle's blood."
The girl was led away by the Gold Cloaks, and the Hound spoke, "King, you should find a woman who loves you to kiss it."
Joffrey proudly affirmed, "I am the King, how could she not love me."
"You will be endlessly busy," the Hound leaped onto his warhorse.
"Today is the day of destiny. I will personally deal with my traitorous uncle. Depart!" Joffrey kicked his spurs, urging his horse forward.
Sandor Clegane, Ser Meryn Trant, and Ser Osmon Kettleblack followed closely, with over twenty Lannister red cloaks behind them.
When Joffrey arrived near the Dung Gate, shouts of battle, clashes of weapons, and the neighing of warhorses echoed from the other side of the city wall.
Stopping his horse, Joffrey's face was somewhat pale, and the hand gripping the reins trembled slightly.
At this moment, the Hound's voice came through: "King, those are the Sellswords I found."
Hearing his voice, Joffrey secretly swallowed, looking in the direction the Hound pointed.
After a pause, Joffrey lifted his chin, saying disdainfully, "Hound, are you planning to take these beggars to war? Will they even have the courage to draw their swords against Stannis?"
The Hound replied, "I warned them that if their weapons aren't stained with blood, even if they die, I'll go through their * *."
Joffrey cackled for a while, then suddenly said, "Where is my Dwarf uncle? Why haven't I seen him? Is he hiding?"
The Hound's eyes flickered, saying, "He's hiding on the city wall, commanding us."
Joffrey tugged the reins, turning his horse around, and said, "I'm going to pull him out. He is my Hand of the King; I can't let my traitorous uncle laugh at me."
Before leaving, he instructed, "My Hound, I'm going to check on my cowardly Dwarf uncle. You will bring me Stannis's head later."
"As you wish, King."
Outside Maegors Holdfast, Osfryd Kettleblack, the Queen Regent's new guard captain, spoke, "Are you Jeffrey of Crackclaw Point?"
Ser Osfryd was very tall, with black hair and an aquiline nose. He habitually frowned, his face serious.
The Cate Black family was a The Crownlands noble house, their family sigil a black ewer within a shield-shaped border on a red field. Osfryd Kettleblack was the second of the three Cate Black brothers; his elder brother was the current Kingsguard, Ser Osmund, and his younger brother was Osney, who served with Ser Osfryd in Empress Cersei's guard.
The three Cate Black brothers were originally used by Tyrion to spy on his Queen Regent sister, but after Ser Osmund was appointed to the Kingsguard by Empress Cersei, the three brothers directly pledged their loyalty to her.
It was rumored that the three Cate Black brothers were very popular in Maegors Holdfast; they always smiled, had witty remarks at hand, got along well with knights, squires, servants, and stable boys alike, and were most favored by the maids.
Jeffrey, captain of King's Landing's Survey Corps, saluted and said, "I am Jeffrey. The Queen Regent has commanded me to attend."
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