The public trial in Volantis was held in the square before the Temple of the Red God.
Viserys sat on a hastily erected dais, his silver hair gleaming in the sunlight.
Duke Arthur Dayne stood to his left, clad in Valyrian steel armor. To his right stood Benerro, the high priest of the Temple of the Red God, his dark red robes stirring gently in the breeze.
Blackflame and King Ghidorah stood behind the dais like two enormous statues.
The proceedings were brief but solemn. The remaining nobles in the city, the wealthy merchants involved in the plot, and the officers with blood on their hands were brought onto the dais one by one.
Viserys announced the charges himself, each supported by conclusive evidence or the testimony of numerous survivors.
When Malaquo Maegyr, the last Archon of Volantis, was brought forward and forced to kneel on the dais, none of his former arrogance remained. His face was bloodless and blank, and his Tokar robes were stained with filth from the square.
"Malaquo Maegyr," Viserys said calmly. "You stand accused of waging an unjust war and ruling as a tyrant, forcibly conscripting civilians into your army. What do you have to say?"
Malaquo raised his head, his lips trembling. He looked less brave than the Tiger Party soldiers who had died on the battlefield. "I... I was only carrying out the council's decision."
"Were you not an Archon? You had a part in that decision too," Viserys interrupted. "You need only answer my question."
More than ten thousand people of Volantis had gathered in the square. Some had been slaves, others free citizens and merchants. Now they all watched the trial above in silence. There were no cheers or protests, only a numb hush.
Malaquo looked around at faces that had