The City Watch barracks became a slaughterhouse in an instant.
Lynn's order to "kill without mercy" had not been a threat. It had been a command.
The elite northern guards plunged into the undisciplined flock of Gold Cloaks like ravenous wolves loosed from their cages.
"Are you trying to rebel?"
A fat, big-eared captain drew his sword and roared, his bluster masking his fear.
The only answer he received was a plain, unadorned slash from a guard.
Warm blood splashed across the terrified faces of the Gold Cloaks around him.
Resistance?
Against these northern men who had clawed their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood on both sides of the Wall?
These officers, who had risen through flattery and the abuse of commoners, could not even muster a proper defense.
Blood was more persuasive than words.
By the time more than a dozen officers lay sprawled dead across the square, the remaining Gold Cloaks had wisely thrown down their weapons and dropped to their knees.
Ned Stark stood amid the pooling blood, his hand unconsciously tightening around his sword hilt.
He loathed this bloodshed.
Yet he had to admit that it was the quickest and most effective method.
He looked at Lynn's calm profile.
The young man's practiced handling of it all was chilling.
He knew he himself lacked such decisiveness.
"Drag all the bodies away and dispose of them with lime."
"Tell every Gold Cloak to assemble in the square in fifteen minutes."
"Anyone who arrives late will be treated as a rebel."
Lynn turned to Ned.
"Lord Hand, now it is your turn to address them."
Maegor's Holdfast.
The strongest fortress in the Seven Kingdoms had become a splendid cage.
Crash!
An exquisite crystal goblet from Lys struck the floor hard and shattered.