About an hour later, two Gold Cloaks arrived at the front entrance of the blacksmith's shop, sweating profusely and gasping for breath.
"Hey, boy, have you seen a Northman about your height with blood on him?"
One of the Gold Cloaks caught his breath for a few moments, then asked bluntly.
"I've been in the shop the whole time. I haven't seen anyone with blood on them, my lord."
Gendry replied respectfully, his face expressionless.
"Hmm."
The Gold Cloak who had asked the question nodded at his answer, then turned to his companion.
"Should we search the place?"
"Search it for what? I heard he even wounded the Mountain. If we don't find him, fine. But if we do, can the two of us take him? Asking questions is enough.
"Besides, it's been this long. If he hadn't run off and was hiding here waiting for you to catch him, he'd have to be an idiot.
"If I were trying to escape, I'd have headed down Iron Street right away, toward Mud Gate or Fishmonger's Square. There are more people there, and they're all mixed together. It'd be easier to slip out of King's Landing in the confusion.
"And the Lannister soldiers just sent word that they found the criminal's bloodstained armor near Mud Gate. Around Iron Street, we just need to ask our usual questions and go through the motions."
The other Gold Cloak, who had been resting against the shop's entrance, heard his companion's question and immediately offered his shrewd analysis in a low voice.
"Come on. Let's ask at the blacksmith's shop next door."
"Damn, our luck's terrible. We always get stuck with the hard jobs."
"Yeah!"
Gendry watched the two Gold Cloaks head to the neighboring blacksmith's shop, then continued his apprentice's work with an expressionless