Chapter 112: Day of Judgment? Day of the Spoils
As Samantha Tarly led the remaining girls of House Hightower away from the Hightower, the resistance in Oldtown came to an end. The main branch of House Hightower, which had ruled Whispering Sound from the Hightower for nearly ten thousand years, was almost entirely wiped out. Only distant branches, reduced to commoners and petty nobles and thus lacking the right to join the army, escaped the calamity.
"Your Highness, please take a look. This is the list of rebel houses we have compiled." Lord Thaddeus Rowan walked into the camp outside the city carrying a list of Green supporters. Three dragons rested in the open field, while Prince Draezell, Valarr, and Prince Jacaerys sat in a circle formed by Vermithor's tail. Also seated with them were the two Alans, Lord Vansen Caron, Lady Jeyne Fossoway, Lord Roland Costayne, and Garmund Hightower, who sat cautiously to one side. He had been granted Grey Terror Keep, a stone castle on Grey Terror Isle, for his timely surrender and for aiding in the execution of important members of House Hightower, preserving the last remnant of the family.
Vermithor opened one eye and glanced at Lord Thaddeus before lifting his tail to let him pass. Lord Thaddeus swallowed nervously at the sight of the massive beast before slowly entering the small circle.
"House Hightower led the rebellion, and their punishment has largely been decided. It only remains to be seen whether the Queen orders Ser Hobert to take the black or face execution," Vansen Caron said. "Your Highness, regarding the Hightower lands, their vassals—House Mullendore, House Cuy, House Bulwer, and House Blackbar of Bandallon—all participated in the rebellion. House Peake as well. Their family controls three castles: Starpike, Whitegrove, and Dunstonbury. Although Unwin Peake was a core member of the rebellion, he also played a major role in opening Oldtown's gates."
"They will accept the Realm's punishment," Prince Draezell said calmly. "If they dare resist, I will ride Vermithor and teach them the price of treason. All four houses will be stripped of their lands and titles. As for House Peake, all three of their castles and associated lands will be confiscated. Unwin Peake's surrender saved his life." Prince Draezell looked toward Prince Jacaerys. "The adult males of the four rebel houses, along with Unwin Peake, will take the black and serve upon the Wall. Cregan Stark will welcome them. As for Unwin's children, does he have heirs?"
"He has a son, Titus Peake. And a daughter," Garmund Hightower said timidly. "I saw Titus in the camp."
"Oh, now I remember." Alan Tarly slapped his thigh. "He's my captive. A very brave young man." Ever since Alan inherited Heartsbane, he seemed to have forgotten that he himself was not yet nineteen and still little more than a boy.
"I will reserve a parcel of land for him," Prince Draezell sighed, "but he cannot inherit his father's rank or title. From this day onward, House Peake will exist only as a landed knightly house."
"A very fair punishment," Lady Jeyne nodded. "Prince Draezell, according to your request, half of House Hightower's lands will be granted to you as war compensation, while the remaining half will be distributed among houses loyal to the Queen."
Prince Draezell drew a line across the map. "Lord Alan Beesbury will swear fealty to me. House Cuy's Sunhouse, House Mullendore's Uplands, and their associated territories will be assigned to my family. Lord Roland Costayne and his new lands will swear fealty to your son, Lady Jeyne. Bandallon will pass to Lord Rowan, and part of House Blackbar's lands will be granted to Lord Florent. Oldtown itself will also undergo proper division."
"Oldtown will be returned to the Crownlands," Prince Jacaerys said, continuing Draezell's arrangements. "The royal family has decided to relocate the Faith to King's Landing. The High Septon will temporarily reside within the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing. Once the treasury recovers, my mother will build a grand sept named in her honor, even greater than the Starry Sept."
Prince Jacaerys pointed toward the Citadel on the map. "The Citadel will also be divided. The Conclave shall relocate to King's Landing. I intend to grant them the lands currently held by the Alchemists' Guild. Under royal supervision, the Conclave will oversee the forging and issuing of maester's chains. Oldtown will retain only limited teaching facilities. History studies will move to King's Landing, while ravenry, metallurgy, medicine, and higher mysteries will be transferred to Silver Crown City. Lord Draezell has generously granted the Citadel extensive lands there for new classrooms and a vast library."
"Won't this anger the Citadel?" Lady Jeyne asked worriedly.
"If they are displeased, they can complain to the dragons," Prince Draezell chuckled. "They have always overestimated themselves. Knowledge is power indeed, but beneath dragonfire, all men are equal."
The punishment for the rebel lords of the Westerlands had likewise been decided before the final offensive. Prince Draezell's proposed terms demanded House Lannister pay a fine of one million golden dragons to atone for the lions' rebellion at the beginning of the war. Seventy percent of the gold mined from the mines of Casterly Rock, the Golden Tooth, Castamere, Tarbeck Hall, and the Westerlings' domains would be paid to the crown for ten years. Taxes upon Lannisport would increase, and all rebel lords of the Westerlands would pass their titles to their heirs before taking the black and serving upon the Wall.
The western lords gratefully accepted these conditions. Prince Draezell had not even demanded hostages or reduced their domains, which to them was extraordinary mercy.
At this moment.
King's Landing. The common people, already suffocating beneath heavy taxes, suffered another devastating blow.
"Holy man, save my child! Save my child!" A woman clutching the body of her already-cold little girl collapsed beside the Shepherd. The Shepherd extended a hand wrapped in filthy bandages and touched the child's face and blue lips.
"Another lamb of the Seven has been taken by the demon," the Shepherd sighed. "Child, it is the Shivers. The demon from the past has returned."
"T-the Shivers!" The woman panicked so badly she dropped the child onto the ground. The sickly crowd gathered nearby instantly scattered. How could the people of King's Landing forget the Shivers? That epidemic had once killed nearly half the city. The Shepherd stood amid the crowd and raised his broken staff with his remaining arm.
"Brothers and sisters! Do not forget—it was the incestuous abomination upon the Iron Throne who once burned the faithful of the Seven with his dragon, bringing that great calamity upon us! Now the calamity has returned! The demon was never cast into hell—the demon sits the Iron Throne even now! Brothers and sisters, that wanton woman upon the throne is likewise born of incest, despised by the gods, and so disaster has returned! Lately I have seen too many of our brothers and sisters freezing to death, starving to death. Bread fills the markets, yet we cannot afford it. Now the plague has returned, proof of the gods' wrath against our attempt to replace them with demons!"
The Shepherd suddenly tore open his ragged robes, revealing a seven-pointed star tattooed across his chest. "Brothers and sisters, do you wish to eat bread and drink ale? Do you wish to survive the great plague? Then come! The Seven guide us, the Seven love us. If we repent and abandon our wicked ways, the Seven will bless us!"
He knelt devoutly among the crowd and cried out, "The Seven above!"
The people of Flea Bottom raised their hands one after another, infected by the Shepherd's fervor.
"The Seven above! The Seven above!"
Red Keep, Tower of the Hand.
"Cold… cold…"
Maester Gerardys stopped Queen Rhaenyra, who anxiously watched Lady Marilda trembling and coughing uncontrollably within the chamber. She was already the seventh member of the Red Keep to display similar symptoms.
"Have you determined the illness?" Queen Rhaenyra asked nervously.
Maester Gerardys sighed and shut the door. "The Shivers, Your Grace. The disease advances with terrifying speed. In the early stages, victims feel an unbearable cold radiating from within and tremble uncontrollably. It worsens until their teeth chatter and their limbs convulse. As the Stranger approaches, the afflicted cough blood without end, and at last their lips turn a dreadful shade of blue."
The maester stopped Rhaenyra from approaching. "During the last great outbreak, Princess Daenerys—the daughter of King Jaehaerys—fell victim to the disease. Her death proved that even your bloodline offers no protection against the Shivers. Princess Baela and Prince Joffrey are especially vulnerable. The disease is almost always fatal to children and the elderly."
"What am I to do?" Rhaenyra panicked the moment she heard her children mentioned.
"Your Grace, I know of a place." A woman's voice drifted from the stairwell. Mysaria, the White Worm, emerged from the shadows. Now serving the Queen as Mistress of Whisperers after helping open King's Landing to the Blacks, she bowed lightly. "There is an estate outside King's Landing upon a high coastal hill. It was purchased by Lord Tigaro Dagareon, one of Prince Draezell's men, during his time in the capital. It is secluded and can isolate itself from the crowds of the city."
"Good, good." Panic was written plainly upon Rhaenyra's face. "I'll leave at once with the children."
"Your Grace, what of the city's defenses against the plague?" Maester Gerardys asked. Archmaester Orwyle, who should have assisted him, had been imprisoned by the Queen, leaving Gerardys alone to manage the epidemic. "Besides the Shivers, three servants within the Red Keep have contracted dragonpox. Fortunately, dragonpox spreads poorly because of its high mortality rate."
At the mention of plague prevention, Queen Rhaenyra froze. "Good maester, I leave the matter to you."
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