"If you mean the coronation and wedding to follow," Ser Barristan Selmy interjected, "then, apart from the Westerlands and the Iron Islands, it will be quite a grand occasion."
"Then the Dornish will be there too?" Earl Mathis asked bluntly.
"What?" Mace's attitude changed completely. The Reach had always been at odds with the Dornish. Dorne and Highgarden were hereditary enemies. For centuries, they had fought along their borders, trading raids among the mountains and the Dornish Marches without a day's peace. Besides, the Red Viper of Dorne had been involved in crippling Highgarden's heir.
"They are our guests as well, willing to become loyal servants," Ser Barristan Selmy said. "After what happened to Prince Rhaegar's children, the Dornish are happy to see the Lannisters defeated."
"That is a matter for the future," Gendry added. After all, there was a Dornish envoy in his tent right now.
"Very well." Mace nodded reluctantly.
"My lords, good news." A messenger arrived, panting.
"Ser Garlan is advancing from the western gate, Earl Roose from the northern gate, and Duke Stannis's men from the eastern gate. The Red Keep will fall before dawn tomorrow at the latest," the messenger reported respectfully.
The lords' faces brightened further. After dawn, the gates of King's Landing would open. Then came what they truly wanted: castles, villages, lands, rivers, forests, and the wardships of lesser nobles' children.
"Also, the usurper Joffrey is dead. According to Earl Roose's questioning, a mob surrounded Joffrey on his way back to the Red Keep from the Mud Gate. They did not leave his body intact," the messenger said.
The second, Gendry silently counted. First Renly, and now Joffrey.
"It seems the gods punished him. It had nothing to do with us, and it spared that poor child from being stuck on a