The Red Keep, the Throne Room.
Aegon sat upright upon the fearsome Iron Throne.
The hall was already filled with people.
Jon Connington, Leswell Peake, Luke, and the other core commanders stood on either side alongside the leading ministers of the Small Council.
Margaery Tyrell stood a little farther back as Highgarden's envoy plenipotentiary.
Aegon still wore simple black everyday clothes, but seated upon this throne, forged by Aegon the Conqueror from a thousand swords surrendered by defeated foes, he radiated a cold, imposing presence.
"How goes the consolidation of the Crownlands?"
His voice carried clearly through the cavernous hall, his gaze falling directly on Jon Connington at the head of the ranks.
Jon stepped forward and bowed. "Your Highness, the Ashen Company and the Golden Company have nearly finished their suppression campaigns. No force in the Crownlands now dares openly resist us.
"The Crownlands Garrison System is being implemented. The takeover of military authority at each castle, personnel counts, and the transfer of defenses are all proceeding in order. However... full implementation will still take time."
He paused before continuing. "As for the many towns and villages we have reclaimed, as well as the lordly castles currently standing empty, I have a proposal..."
"We could select reliable men from the auxiliary troops we brought from the three cities across the Narrow Sea, along with the craftsmen and laborers who followed, and station them at key strongholds to establish initial control and defenses."
"Once the framework of the garrison system is secure, we can gradually replace them with fully trained garrison troops. This would prevent unrest caused by empty castles, or opportunists seizing them, while freeing up our main fighting forces."
As Aegon listened, his fingers tapped lightly against a length of sword blade on the throne's armrest, producing faint