"The new Crownlands, combining the former Crownlands, the Stormlands, and Dragonstone, will connect to Myr, Tyrosh, and the Lands of the Just through the Stepstones.
"Add to that the crushed Iron Islands, control of Oldtown, the Westerlands' gold mines, and future control of Lannisport. War may be cruel, but the fruits of victory are sweeter than ever." Gendry gazed at the distant mountains, considering the new blueprint for Royal Authority he had drawn up.
After this round of warfare, the royal house would control the three largest of Westeros's five great ports, along with House Lannister's rich gold mines.
With Magic Dragons, advancing into the mountains of the Vale and the frozen plains of the North was no longer a problem without any apparent solution.
"Here it comes." Hearing who would own the gold mines, Duke Eddard and the others kept their expressions unchanged, but many thoughts stirred within them. This was the largest slice of the prize, yet no one dared object.
After all, without the Magic Dragons and Dragon Knights, their force of just over ten thousand could wear themselves out beneath the walls without ever touching the gold.
"First Oldtown, now Golden Tooth Mountain's gold mines. Next will be Lannisport and Casterly Rock." Roose Bolton quietly pricked up his ears. Royal Authority—Royal Authority stronger than ever before.
With overwhelming force, the Storm Dragon King had already crushed his opponents and nailed them to the losers' pillar of shame. His division of the spoils might be domineering, but that was the victor's authority.
With Royal Authority so strong, could House Bolton gain some benefits? How should they approach their relationship with the royal house?
After turning it over in his mind, Roose thought of his bastard, Ramsay. Whatever else he was, he was a destabilizing factor.
"House Tully