Faced with these representatives from the Free Cities, Viserys gave none of them an answer. Instead, he held a grand banquet and invited them all.
The banquet was held in the castle's newly expanded hall, with freshly woven banners bearing House Targaryen's Three-Headed Fire Dragon hanging on the walls.
Around fifty guests had been invited. Besides the representatives from the Free Cities, there were several merchants who had been among the first to pledge themselves to the empire, along with a few of its most senior officials.
Duke Arthur had come all the way from Free Bay to attend and was now speaking quietly with Duke William. Earl Jon and Earl Alliser stood by the hall's entrance, their gazes periodically sweeping over the representatives from the Free Cities, as though trying to see through the schemes behind every face.
The city representatives had also divided into clearly distinct groups.
The representatives of Braavos, Norvos, and the other "engagement advocates" gathered together. Having arrived several days earlier, they had already become fairly familiar with one another. Their clothing was relatively plain, mostly dark robes. They spoke in low voices, occasionally glancing toward the entrance as they awaited the arrival of the evening's central figure.
The representatives of Volantis, Tyrosh, and the other "hardliners" were far more ostentatious. Hasman Vaharis, the son of General Vaharis and the representative of Volantis's Tiger Party, wore a purple tokar edged in gold, with a golden tiger's-head badge on his chest symbolizing his family's honor.
He was laughing and talking with Gregor Bevors, a wool merchant from Tyrosh, loudly enough for half the hall to hear.
"My father always said that every power needs allies." Hasman swirled his cup, making the golden wine from Lys ripple inside it. "Rebuild Valyria with nothing but a few dragons?