The Kettleblack brothers made their way through the crowd, up the steps, and stood before Cersei Lannister. ♟✎ 👻♪
Osney Kettleblack beamed, " Your Queen Regent, our fire ships have set out, and the entire Blackwater Rush is engulfed in Wildfire. A hundred ships are ablaze, perhaps more."
Queen Regent Cersei nodded slightly and asked, "Where is my son?"
Osney Kettleblack replied respectfully, "The King is at the Mud Gate with the Hand of the King and the Kingsguard. He is talking with the soldiers on the fortress and teaching them how to use a crossbow. Everyone is praising him as a brave king."
He paused, then added, "Everything I said is true, I assure you, Your Queen Regent."
Queen Regent Cersei gave a soft snort and said, "My son will be a living king."
Then, her emerald eyes flickered slightly, and she asked her captain of the guard, "And you?"
Osfryd Kettleblack's face darkened. He replied, " Your Queen Regent, the red-robed lads have caught a groom and two maids who stole three of the King's horses and are trying to escape through the side gate."
"Put their heads on spears and hang them outside the stable as a warning to others."
"Yes, sir."
After the Kettleblack and Black brothers left, Queen Regent Cersei looked at her daughter and said, "These are the first traitors, but not the last. Myrcella, at times like these, if you show mercy, traitors will spring up like Mushroom after rain. Remember, the only way to maintain loyalty is to ensure they fear you more than their enemies."
"I will remember." Princess Myrcella nodded obediently, Queen Regent Cersei stroked her cheek with satisfaction.
After a while, Osfryd Kettleblack hurried forward again and said, " Your Queen Regent, a large crowd has gathered outside the west gate, mostly merchants and artisans, who are requesting refuge in the castle."
Queen Regent Cersei said coldly, "Tell them to go home. If they refuse, have the soldiers shoot a few with crossbows. They are not to attack, and under no circumstances are the gates to be opened."
After the guard captain left, a flash of anger appeared in her beautiful eyes. "I really wish I could take a sword and go to the battlefield!"
Queen Regent Cersei drank quite a bit; the blush on her face was as radiant as the sunset and as delicate as a rose.
With a slightly dreamy look in her beautiful eyes, she murmured, "I have reached the pinnacle of women in the Seven Kingdoms, yet I have seen my most longed-for dream in a Wildling, and it is happening right before my eyes."
She downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, paused, and then smiled, saying, "I wield the two finest swords of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Mom..." Princess Myrcella's clear voice was filled with concern.
With a slight movement of her emerald eyes, Queen Regent Cersei reached out and embraced her daughter, saying, " Myrcella, before the sword, a noble woman is no different from an ordinary woman. Remember your mother's words, never let your sword leave your side; at least keep one by your side."
Queen Regent Cersei stopped the waiter who was about to pour her wine, turned the glass upside down, and said, "Enough, I need to stay sober."
When Stannis's flagship, the Fury, passed below the Red Keep, Tyrion signaled to the Gold Cloaks to whip the cattle and drive them into action.
The iron chains were extremely heavy, so the huge winch turned very slowly, making a creaking and groaning sound.
Just as Tyrion had rehearsed in his mind a thousand times, Stannis ' entire fleet entered the Blackwater Rush as the gleaming metal pierced the water's surface.
The giant chain began to emerge link by link, dripping water, some of which was covered in glistening mud... until it was completely taut, leaving Stannis's fleet, which had sailed into the Blackwater Rush, with no way to retreat.
Tyrion Lannister crouched motionless atop the battlements like a gargoyle, surveying the battlefield.
The air was filled with smoke, arrows, and screams. The Wildfire's "kiss" turned Stannis's massive fleet into a funeral pyre, and his soldiers became living torches.
Tyrion's eyes trembled. The rebel captains downstream on the Blackwater Rush, regardless of their birth, watched helplessly as rafts and wrecked ships laden with the green fruit he had prepared hurtled towards them. The long, white oars on the ships thrashed wildly like centipede legs, desperately trying to steer, but to no avail; these centipedes had nowhere to escape.
With a thunderous roar, a jet of emerald-colored water suddenly rose from the river, reaching a height of thirty or forty feet. Flames danced on the water's surface, crackling and hissing, drowning out all the screams.
The low-lying clouds were tinged with the color of the river, and varying shades of green covered the sky.
The Imp Hand of the King slowly rose; their beauty was eerie, terrifying, just like the Dragonfire in the book.
Tyrion wondered... whether Aegon the Conqueror felt the same way when he soared through the air during the Battle of Ours Is the Fury.
In the afternoon, Osney Kettleblack rushed in and knelt before Queen Regent Cersei, saying somewhat frantically, " Your Queen Regent, Stannis's army is storming Mud Gate, and they've even brought a battering ram to King's Gate. The Lord Hand is selecting men for the assault team."
He added, "Someone told me that... he discovered that the Lord Hand is secretly preparing to personally lead the troops into battle."
A hint of disdain flashed in Queen Regent Cersei's eyes as she asked, "Where is my son?"
Osney Kettleblack glanced at the Queen Mother's burgundy skirt and replied, "The King is at the Mud Gate; my brother is protecting him."
"Wasn't the Mud Gate attacked by Stannis?"
Queen Regent Cersei's voice was filled with anger. "Tell Ser Osmund Kettleblack that this is too dangerous, and have him escort Joffrey back to the Red Keep immediately."
Osmund Kettleblack stammered, "But... His Lord Hand ordered... the King to remain..."
Queen Regent Cersei interrupted, "I am the Regent Queen Mother; only my words count."
She narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "Either do as I say, or lead a strike team into action. Your brother will go with you."
"Yes... yes, Your Queen Regent."
Queen Regent Cersei leaned back in her chair. Though she hadn't shown it on her face, she knew in her heart that Stannis would soon arrive... because unless the battle was desperate, the Dwarf wouldn't be sent into battle.
A certain madness gleamed in her eyes; the Lioness and her cubs would never be captives of Stag.
Thousands of soldiers were consumed by Wildfire, but Stannis, as hard as steel, remained unshaken, as did his army.
The Blackwater Rush's flow was unpredictable, and the Wildfire did not spread evenly as Tyrion had hoped.
Although the main river channel was turned into a sea of fire, many ships that fled to the south bank of the Blackwater Rush escaped unharmed. Several ships that had already landed under the city walls, whether they landed successfully or ran aground, had the same result: Stannis's soldiers were brought to the bank in front of the Mud Gate.
On the south bank of the upper reaches of the Blackwater Rush, Stannis already had thirty or forty warships, enough to transport the entire army across the river.
Tyrion had no illusions about his army. Ser Jacelyn Bywater, Commander of the Gold Cloaks (Chapter 231), had warned him that his soldiers would collapse and desert at the first sign of trouble. Therefore, the only way to win was to ensure that he had the upper hand from start to finish.
Tyrion rubbed his face. The Imp's "magic" was over; now it was up to him to fight.
He climbed down the battlements and ordered his squire, " Pod, put the Lannister Giants's armor on me."
Having said that, he looked at his captain of the guard and added, " Bronn, are you interested... in coming with me to take down Stannis's bastard? We can discuss the price first."
Bronn asked in surprise, "My lord, are you going to the battlefield?"
Tyrion shrugged and said, " Stannis's army is coming soon. The dwarf Hand of the King the Dwarf is King's Landing's last bastion of courage."
Bronn received an affirmative answer from Tyrion, and he grinned. "I'll stay with you. Mercenaries are sometimes used by their employers without pay."
Tyrion reached out and patted Bronn's thigh, paused, then grinned, "Just name your terms. I'm a little worried you'll betray us; I'm not at ease."
Bronn's smile turned lewd, "After the war, I'd like to stay at the Shataya's Brothel for a month, sir."
Tyrion let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and said, "Now I can finally rest easy. The Seven are my witnesses."
Just as Podrick helped Tyrion put on his chainmail, Joffrey walked over, surrounded by the Kingsguard.
He lifted his visor and said, "I'm leaving this place to you. My mother wants me to go back to the Red Keep to protect her."
Tyrion looked up at Joffrey, his eyes telling him that his nephew, the king, was struggling to conceal his inner terror.
Tyrion grinned. "My dear sister suddenly has a well-behaved son."
Joffrey's face contorted, and he said, his cheeks flushed, "If you fail to hold the walls, I'll cut off your head!"
Stannis will be a bit faster than you.
After saying this, Tyrion gestured, and his guards quickly surrounded him.
Joffrey looked around and said, "What... what are you going to do?! I am the king!"
"I know you are the king, my good nephew."
Tyrion stood on tiptoe, reached out and ripped Joffrey's visor off with a "bang," saying, "Don't lift it up. You don't want to ruin that pretty face, do you? Watch out for stray arrows piercing your eyes."
He added, "Your cloak and banner must remain. Do you agree, my king?"
"I won't let you get away with this!" Joffrey glared hatefully at the smiling Tyrion before turning and striding away.
As Osmund Kettleblack prepared to follow, Tyrion grabbed his wrist, his smile fading, and said sternly, "Whatever happens, you must protect Joffrey. Ser, the Lannister always pay their debts."
Sir Osmund Kettleblack stopped in his tracks, a slight smile playing on his lips, and nodded slightly, saying, "Yes, Your Lord Hand."
Tyrion only looked away when he saw Joffrey obediently hand over his cloak and the king's banner from afar.
" Bronn, have Joffrey I's lion and deer banner hoisted to the highest place."
Tyrion had just put on his breastplate when the Commander of the Gold Cloaks climbed up his tower and came looking for him.
He calmly examined Tyrion's attire and said, " Hand of the King Tyrion, I've heard you intend to personally lead the charge?"
Tyrion was somewhat puzzled by Ser Jacelyn's attitude. He nodded and said, "If I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ser Jacelyn interrupted, "Are you sure?"
He paused, then said in a deep voice, " Lord Hand, I am not dead."
He raised the iron hand on his right arm. "I will use this to smash Stannis's head in your place."
"You can stay here and watch." With a flick of his golden cloak, Ser Jacelyn turned and left.
After a few seconds, Tyrion seemed to come to his senses, and he said in a somewhat uncertain tone, "Did Ironhand steal my job?"
Bronn chuckled and said, "My lord, it seems Ser Jacelyn doesn't think much of your cooking."
Tyrion's eyes flickered slightly as he murmured, " Gryn's gaze is piercing... I must admit... the Knights of Honor in the ballads are real..."
He paused, then suddenly said, " Bronn, hurry over there and tell Ser Jacelyn about Ser Lancel."
Renly! Renly! Renly!
A troop of cavalry, carrying a golden Crowned Stag banner, suddenly charged toward Stannis's army, which had just breached the King's Gate.
The man charging ahead on horseback... was clad in dazzling green armor, with flames gleaming on his golden antlers.
Upon seeing " Renly " riding towards them, some of Stannis's soldiers threw down their weapons and ran away, while many more knelt in surrender, shouting " Renly," offering almost no resistance.
Having easily defeated the King's Gate's enemies, Lancel Lannister, clad in his " Renly Armor," trembled with excitement.
He kicked the spurs, his longsword pointing towards the Mud Gate: "Attack!"
Stannis's army was largely a legacy left by his brother, and when the " Renly " and the Crowned Stag banner appeared, Stannis's army quickly descended into chaos.
As evening approached, the banners of roses and Lion appeared, and the Lannister - Tyrell forces, led by Earl Masto Rowan of the Reach, attacked Stannis's army.
Stannis's army gradually collapsed, and Lord Tywin Lannister personally led his cavalry to breach Stannis's camp on the north bank of the Blackwater Rush, delivering the final blow.
The tide of battle turned, and Stannis was forced to lead his remaining troops in retreat.
The next day, as the first rays of Dawn appeared in the east, the bells of the Red Keep rang out, joining the resounding tones emanating from the seven crystal towers of the Great Sept of Baelor.
Knock knock knock.
Tyrion was sleeping directly in the Mud Gate tower, was awakened by loud knocking. He opened the door with bleary eyes.
A tall, thin figure stood outside the door. He blinked, paused, and said, " Ser Adam (Chapter 221)?"
The newcomer had shoulder-length, dark bronze hair. He said expressionlessly, " Tyrion Lannister, it's time for you to depart."
Tyrion snapped to attention almost instantly, gripping the doorframe with one hand and asking warily, "Leave? What leave?"
Addam Marbrand nodded slightly, his tone icy. "This is Tywin's order. You have been appointed as the Red Keep's envoy, and he commands you to proceed to Riverrun immediately. I am your attendant."
Tyrion rubbed his face, incredulous. "For Jaime? Immediately? Father, are you kidding me?"