The stone floor of the Great Hall jerked violently under Alaric's boots. Dust rained down from the high vaulted ceiling, and the heavy iron swords of the throne rattled together with a harsh clatter.
Alaric looked past Cersei toward the massive arched windows. The bright afternoon sky was vanishing. Thick, unnatural black clouds mixed with sickly green smoke rolled up from the lower city, swallowing the light and completely blocking the sun.
A blue screen flashed in front of his eyes. Bright red text covered the box.
[ALERT: Great Magical Disturbance detected.]
[Environmental Hazard: Sunlight blocked. Solar Forge passive deactivated.]
He blinked, and the blue screen vanished. Instantly, the draft in the hall felt sharp and freezing against his face. The steady, comforting heat that always ran through his blood just stopped. For the first time in months, the heavy steel of his armor actually felt cold against his skin.
He stared hard at Cersei. The sickly green light from the window reflected on her red dress. He gritted his teeth as the pieces clicked together.
Wildfire??
The heavy doors at the back of the hall banged open. Sansa, Margaery, and Roslin stumbled inside just as another heavy tremor shook the floor. The three wolves—Nyx, Livy, and Rivy—paced nervously beside them, their ears pinned flat against their heads.
"Alaric!" Sansa called out, grabbing the doorframe to keep her balance. "What is happening? The ground—"
Alaric didn't hesitate. "Knights!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the deep rumbling noise. "Get them out of the city right now."
Margaery's eyes widened. "What?"
"There is no time to argue," Alaric ordered, pointing at his guards. "Get them out. Find a safe place to hide outside the walls. Do not stop for anyone."
The Blood Knights moved instantly. They grabbed the women by their arms, ignoring their protests, and pulled them back out into the courtyard. The wolves darted out right behind them.
The heavy doors shut, leaving Alaric alone with Cersei.
Another violent shake hit the room. A deep, unnatural cracking sound echoed from the stones directly beneath the Iron Throne.
Alaric walked up behind Cersei. He reached out and grabbed the back of her neck with his heavy leather glove. His grip was tight and firm, forcing her to stay still. He pulled her slightly backward so he could look directly into her eyes.
"What did you do?" he asked, his voice dead and flat.
Cersei didn't fight him. She didn't even flinch. Instead, a slow, calm smile spread across her face. She turned her head slightly to look back out the window, watching the dark smoke choke King's Landing.
"If I cannot have it," Cersei whispered, her eyes shining in the sickly light, "then it burns."
Alaric didn't waste time arguing with a madwoman. He let go of her neck and shoved her hard to the side.
A man in a plain brown tunic stepped seamlessly out of the shadows near a large stone pillar. It was one of Alaric's Blood Scouts. The man caught Cersei by the arm, smoothly twisting it behind her back. Cersei gasped in sudden pain, her calm smile finally breaking.
"Get her out of the Keep," Alaric ordered the Scout. "Bind her hands. Do not let her out of your sight, and make sure she doesn't find a way to kill herself."
The Scout gave a short nod. He dragged the struggling Queen toward a side exit, ignoring her angry curses.
With Cersei gone, Alaric closed his eyes for a fraction of a second. He pushed his mind outward, reaching through the psychic link of his System. He bypassed the noise of his army outside and locked onto a very specific, cold presence hidden deep within the lower city. It was the Scout assigned to the safehouse.
Report, Alaric commanded through the link.
We are holding position in the cellar, My Lord, the Scout's voice echoed in his head. Lord Stark is contained. The younger girl and the septa are with him.
Get them out of King's Landing immediately. Take them straight to the Tyrell camp outside the walls. Use force if Ned Stark tries to fight you.
It will be done, My Lord. The connection instantly severed.
A massive, deafening crack ripped through the Great Hall.
Alaric opened his eyes. A jagged fissure had just split the heavy stone floor, running from the base of the Iron Throne all the way to the center of the room. Bright, unnatural green light spilled up from the deep crack. The air instantly smelled like burning acid and ancient rot.
Alaric slowly drew his broadsword. The heavy steel scraped loudly against the leather scabbard.
He turned his back to the massive windows and looked to his side. Six of his Blood Knights were still standing in the hall.
Alaric looked down at the dark, jagged steel of his sword, the Red Eclipse. The sickly green light from the floor reflected off the metal. He looked up at the high, vaulted ceiling, then out past the massive arched windows. The sky was completely choked with dark smoke.
He opened his interface. He didn't hesitate. He selected the new unit at the bottom of the list and pressed confirm.
[6,000 MP deducted.]
[Summoning Sky-Scourge Sentinel...]
High above the Red Keep, the thick clouds suddenly ripped open. A massive shadow plummeted from the sky like a falling star. It was a tall gargoyle made of weathered gray stone, gripping a gigantic, crude axe in both hands.
The stone titan crashed directly through the roof of the Great Hall. The impact was deafening. Huge chunks of the ceiling caved in, crushing the stone pillars and sending clouds of dust everywhere. But the gargoyle's violent drop had punched a massive hole right through the unnatural smoke above.
A single, wide beam of bright afternoon sunlight broke through the dark clouds. It shined directly down through the ruined roof, bathing Alaric in light.
Instantly, the freezing draft vanished.
[ALERT: Sunlight restored. Solar Forge passive reactivated.]