"It was her!"
"She killed Renly!"
"Seize the traitor! Avenge Renly!"
That roar was like a spark falling into boiling oil, instantly igniting every guard's fury!
"Kill her!"
"Avenge Renly!"
"That traitor! How dare she!"
Dozens of gold-armored guards advanced on Brienne step by step, their eyes bloodshot and their swords raised.
Their murderous fury threatened to tear the entire tent apart!
Brienne still stood where she was, her plain face blank with shock and confusion.
She looked down at the sword in her hand.
Renly Baratheon's blood still stained its blade.
It had splashed onto her sword when she rushed forward to protect him.
But now it had become evidence of a crime she could never disprove.
She had killed Renly?
How could that be!
He was Renly, the man she had sworn to serve and protect with her life!
"No... it wasn't me..."
Brienne tried to explain, but she found she could not even form a complete sentence.
The disbelief in Renly's eyes just before he fell still haunted her mind.
It felt as though a great chunk of her heart had been hollowed out.
It hurt.
It hurt so badly she could barely breathe.
"Still trying to deny it!"
The captain of the guards roared and charged first, his sword whistling through the air as he slashed down at Brienne's head!
He put all his strength into that stroke, determined to kill the "traitor" on the spot!
Clang!
Metal struck metal with a sharp ring.
Another sword swept out, precisely blocking the fatal blow.
It was Loras!
Tears covered his usually handsome, dashing face, so often touched with arrogance.
He cradled Renly's body with one arm while gripping his sword tightly in the other hand.
"All of you, stop!"
Loras screamed hysterically at the guards, who had