Aftermath

"One hundred and twenty dead. Twice as many wounded," Harry Strickland informed us in the command tent.

Despite those being better numbers than originally expected, I still grimaced at my legion's casualties. I took a swig from my waterskin and sat straighter in my seat, ignoring the pain that rippled through my body. Although Haldon had offered me milk of the poppy, I had refused. I was beginning to regret it. "That the figures? How many are still able to fight?"

Harry glanced at Haldon who shrugged.

"It's hard to say," the Halfmaester answered. "The barber-surgeons and physicians have been stretched thin. Thankfully there are volunteers from Duskendale and more than a few local lords have sent us their maesters. That's been a great help but not enough. We're forced to prioritise the most essential cases."

"Not to forget the local septry," Dany added. "Septa Willow has provided her halls and supplies, and her septas have been lifting the spirits of the injured."

"Just so," Harry bobbed his head, staring down at his pile of papers. "But despite all the help, we can ill afford to waste resources on those who're going to die."

"That can't mean we can't help them," the queen cried, appalled. "They fought for us. Many of them will die for us. We need to help them no matter what. Even if it's just to ensure their passing from this life is easier."

If their deaths are anything like mine, they might find themselves isekai'd. Poor sods. In the corner of my vision, I caught Franklyn Flowers whispering something to Ser Marq Mandrake that sent the knight shaking with barely concealed laughter. "Is something funny?" I asked him. "Please tell. If it's worthy enough to laugh at during such a meeting, surely it's good enough to be shared with the rest of us."

"Just saying how your pet maegi might not be the most reassuring presence considering she's also your personal torturer."

"Interrogator," I said with an edge. They were correct though. Her interrogating and healing abilities had steadily been improving ever since we landed upon Westeros' shores. They only got better now Qyburn was working alongside her. "She might not be the most reassuring presence, I admit, but she's unrivalled to all but Haldon here in the art of medicine."

"My prince does me much credit," the Halfmaester drawled.

"We're doing all in our power to treat the injured," Jon Connington told Daenerys, ignoring me. "We only have so many healers and too many incapacitated. We cannot afford to treat all our men and thanks to the wildfire, urgent treatment is earmarked towards the nobility."

The nobles we fought against. "They are the enemy, ser. Our own men should come first."

"Tell that to the lords you'll someday be ruling over," Griff remarked, his pale-blue eyes turning to me with barely disguised rage. 'Why should you concern yourself with smallfolk when your supporters will be the highborn?' his expression seemed to say. "They will be treated as fits their station. They will bend the knee and will boast our manpower with their own forces in which to take King's Landing."

I angrily ran a hand through my curls. "The smallfolk form the bulk of our host, my lord. They form our legionaries. They died fighting to put Her Grace on the throne and will no doubt suffer for the rest of their lives because of their injuries. They will be taken care of. End of story."

"Smallfolk die. Every day. It's what they do. They farm, they breed, they die. No more. No less."

I stared at Connington and it took all my willpower to not yell at the man. Sadly, I knew that was how the standard Westerosi lord viewed it. The smallfolk were something to be used and thrown away once no longer useful. "They live, they breathe, and they fight just as well as those born in a castle or have sers before their name. If anything, they fight all the harder. They know the costs greater than any lord."

"Are you done speaking?" Blackheart asked me impassively.

I scowled at both and was about to open my mouth when Harry changed the subject, "I do believe this is the end of the figures, Your Grace. After this battle and according to my estimates, our numbers should be two-and-twenty thousand after three thousand casualties. It might worsen but I'm hopeful."

"That is good," Dany smiled with relief.

"And mine has once again suffered the highest," I turned to Myles. "I need more men, captain-general. The Fifth has been especially devastated during this conflict. They have fought more battles and taken the brunt of the fighting."

"There is a reason for that, Prince Aegon," Connington scowled.

He never called me 'Prince Aegon' unless he was mad. After my little scene with Tywin, he was furious. I found it hypocritical. Connington would have slain Tywin if given half the chance (though not as eagerly as he'd kill Robert). He was mad for the same reason Blackheart was. Despite them both taking it in stride and congratulating me before the army and comparing the death of Tywin to that of Ser Criston Cole, they were quick to drag me into a tent. Once Daenerys realised what happened, all three took turns to tear me a new one. I was surprised they didn't coordinate beforehand because there was not so much as an interruption between them calling me a fool, reckless and politically illiterate. The last one was particularly scathing. That I should have refused and captured Tywin instead, put him on trial for his crimes or just hand him to House Martell for justice done to Elia and her children.

"You go against orders. You went south when we ordered you to treat with the lords of Crackclaw Point. In this battle, you went into the marsh when you should have stayed put. If you didn't do any of those things, you would still have most of your forces. There is no one to blame but yourself."

"You might have a point, my lord. But there are a couple of things you forget and I'll forgive you for that. If I followed my orders like an obedient little soldier, we wouldn't have Arya nor Tommen. You should also have known the Lannisters sent an army north. One to divide our main host from our allies. I did what I needed to do for this campaign, and it cost me. It cost me dearly." I had lost many good men – Dalabhar most amongst them – and I did not intend to forget them.

"That we can both agree." Myles' lips formed a thin line. An unhappy line. "Unfortunately for you and the Fifth, we lack the manpower to transfer men into your legion. We have all taken losses. Some less than others, true, but we've all been bloodied by Tywin Lannister."

"What about using native Westerosi to fill your numbers?" Haldon asked me. "If we can't detach units from the other legions, surely you can open the ranks up to the locals?"

"With that I need gold," I confessed. It wasn't a bad idea. I needed the manpower and using local recruits would help dispel the myth that the Golden Company was only an army of foreigners. It would also help create a force loyal to me and me alone. It would take some time to train them and that wasn't something we could afford when we needed to move quickly. We can do it once we take King's Landing. We'll have the capital, a solid base in which to train and a city full of potential recruits. Yes, that'll be good. "But I'm sure I'll find a way to pay for that."

"I'll find some coin, Your Grace," Harry Strickland informed me. "Your will be done."

"But going back to Lord Tywin," Gorys Edoryen grinned, playing with one of his blood-red curls. His smile, combined with his cadaverously thin face, made him look like a hungry predator. It was an aspect strengthened by his impressive collection of animal skins draped across his shoulders. "The man deserved and was destined with death, tis true, but he was more useful alive. It would have been more humiliating to strip and parade his lordship through the streets. As much as the men loved watching the proud lion slip in the mud, he would have given us a mountain of gold for his ransom."

"There are other reasons we should have kept him alive as well," Haldon muttered. "No one will be saddened with the old lion's death, but many will be upset they didn't do the deed themselves. House Martell especially."

It took considerable willpower to not roll my eyes. This wasn't going to be forgotten for a while. I just knew it. What Haldon said was true, though. Doran Martell would give us much if we presented him with an alive Tywin. But instead, he was going to receive the man's head. Robb meanwhile would be gifted Tywin's sword. The rest of Tywin's equipment was to be sold or melted down for its raw materials.

"At least Aegon has solved a future problem," Maar titered. "House Stark and House Martell won't come to blows with who's sentencing him. Seeing as the Lord of Casterly Rock is dead, who will be its lord now?"

"Lady," I corrected. "Cersei Lannister is now Lady Paramount of the Westerlands and Casterly Rock. At least that's according to the laws of the Seven Kingdoms. Tyrion's dead so . . ."

"What is it you told me, husband? That we have to do what's best for the realm?" Daenerys asked me with sickening sweetness. "That we need to put our personal desires aside for our duties? That seems like something you're eager to say but not something you're eager to do. Now is it? What caused you to kill Tywin Lannister when it'd be wiser to put him in chains?"

"You wouldn't understand." The words left my mouth before I realised I said them. Oh, shit. I could have said that to a few people but not Daenerys. Not to Daenerys who had her family killed by Tywin's pet dogs. The man who ordered the Mountain and Lorch to infiltrate the Red Keep. Both of whom killed her niece and nephew in gruesome ways.

As the realisation dawned, my cheeks heated up and when I was about to apologise, Dany rose her hand to silence me. Her face changed from that of Dany to that of Queen Daenerys. The words that left her lips were flat and as sharp and cold as ice. "Are you telling me I don't understand? Understand what, Aegon Blackfyre? That I don't understand what he has done to me, my kin and my house? That I don't know what fate should befall him? I do know. I know more than you even if you don't want to believe it. Did you think you would avenge my kin yourself? To kill him and stride in all smiling and expect me to simply smile and praise you?"

"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Daenerys."

"You're sorry? I don't care for you killing Tywin Lannister. The monster deserved it. He deserved every knife that pierced his body. I wish it was me who was the one to twist the blade inside him. Me the one who chained him down and set him alight with the dragons as the Targaryens of old would have done. That's what I wanted to happen. That's what should have happened. But as queen, I knew that can't be. You yourself stated Tywin would be better captured. That he should be sent to the Martells or Starks or Tyrells for all I care. You said that I should be just and fair and do all this stuff. Yet you do this. You break the very instructions you gave me." She laughed. A bitter and humourless laugh. "What else have you been doing? What standards have you been holding me to but not yourself?"

You are being stupid. "I might have said a few things. Maybe gave you some advice on what we should do but we all know that plans never survive contact with the enemy."

"I disagree," Harry argued. "You had full control over the situation. We could have captured him. Why didn't you stop him, Myles? You were right there."

"He is my prince."

"And a lesser officer. His rank is beneath your own."

"Aegon is the last Blackfyre and married to the queen we swore to serve, Strickland." Blackheart ran a hand down his face. "He is both simultaneously a rank above and beneath me. Outside the chain of command." His voice couldn't sound more pained if he tried. "And you know the politics better than I do."

Thinking about it, that seriously seemed to be a problem that allowed me to punch above my weight since the beginning. On paper, I was a lower rank than Myles. But because I was a Blackfyre who married the queen we were installing on the Iron Throne, and my father had much in the way of influence and money, I held enough influence for Blackheart to be subservient if I pushed hard enough. There was a sizable faction wanting me to be king of Westeros so surely they'd help me if I decide to remove Blackheart and put someone more loyal to me in charge. All that put Toyne in a difficult position. I didn't know how Blackheart died in canon but a part of me was thinking that mayhaps Illyrio played a part in his death. It wouldn't have surprised me.

"And how's that going to be sorted?" Dany asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I need to think on the matter. If necessary, I might very well strip Aegon of his command position. Mayhaps I put him into command too soon. In many ways, you're still a boy."

"That might be too extreme," Strickland was quick to add as I glared at the captain-general. My knuckles squeezed tight around the edge of the table. The last thing I needed to do was stand up and make a scene. It would only provide evidence to conclude I was a petulant child.

"It might be," Blackheart agreed after a moment, returning my stare with one of his own. "What Aegon had done was wrong, and he will be punished accordingly. End of discussion. We have wasted enough time talking of late Tywin Lannister."

"I must disagree, captain-general," Flowers smiled thinly. "None of us have remarked upon too-noble-to-shit Lord Tywin shitting himself. The men were disappointed Lord Tywin did not in fact shit gold."

Not even here am I free of that joke. Seriously George? You were waiting for the whole series to use that line and used it across Feast and Dance like it was going out of style. Even here I'm subjected to it. "But can you seriously blame him when there're people piling atop him like starving dogs?" At least it was a death the bards would sing about. As a comedy, not a tragedy. The smallfolk held no punches. I just hoped I wouldn't be on their shit list.

"He didn't deserve the mercy of an easy nor quick death," Daenerys said softly, a small smile gracing her features. As much as she was annoyed with me, she wasn't unhappy with what happened to Tywin himself. She would forgive me. I just knew it.

Even Griff almost threatened to smile. "We watched his legs jerk as mere commoners leapt upon him without wasting a moment, prying the gilded armour off his body whilst he was still breathing. The Seven knew of Lord Tywin's crimes and no doubt he's suffering even now."

"What word of 'we have wasted enough time talking of late Tywin Lannister' didn't you lot understand?" Myles asked with a sigh. "We have more pressing issues to discuss."

"We do," Harry agreed with a wide toothy grin. He wasn't a smiling man was Homeless Harry Strickland (unless he was around his prized elephants), but he was certainly happy now. "A shame about no longer speaking about Lord Tywin because I would have liked to thank his lordship for rewarding us for our victory. We forced the Lannister army into a full retreat and captured many great lords who've sworn us their swords. We also captured their camp and loot train. The Lannisters kept themselves well furnished with chests of gold, food worthy of royalty and all other things a gaggle of high lords would ever want and need. I have taken the liberty of appropriating it for Her Grace and the Golden Company's coffers. It will do well to relieve the burden of paying the men and bring in much-needed supplies."

"I do want the money shared out amongst the men," I decided. "The men deserve to be rewarded for their actions here today. Many died and many have been crippled, but everyone was heroic and fitting for an heir of Bittersteel. He would be proud if he wasn't a skull. For this, I will be giving up my share of the plunder. As to apologise for my actions and because the men deserve it. It will instead go to the widows and children of those deceased, and the cripples who cannot fight anymore."

The officers eyed me curiously and Dany smiled prettily. "I agree with my husband. The men fought most valiantly against the Lannisters and I must congratulate you all for your own actions as well. I know I'm permitted a share of the spoils but I'm going to follow Aegon's example."

"A true example of piety and charity that's befitting a queen," Harry quickly agreed, much to the annoyance of the members of the Black faction. "Westeros will know of your virtue."

I rolled my eyes at those words. Despite respecting Harry more than most thanks to his logistical expertise, he was a complete lickspittle more oft than not. I was running into more and more, and no doubt the largest concentration would be within the royal court itself. I will have fun draining that swamp. It was fortunate Daenerys didn't succumb to flattery as Viserys had done. She simply smiled and thanked him for the kind words. "What of the boy king? Got any word of him?"

Blackheart grimaced. "He managed to flee. It was a tough decision, but I ordered the First to surround and capture Lord Tywin over sending a force to subdue Joffrey. He was a much more dangerous threat than a twelve-year-old boy. If I had to remove one and not the other, I had to remove the most dangerous threat."

"We could have ended the war here and now, ser," I told him with a smile that mirrored the one Daenerys had sent my way.

"Lord Tywin would have fought to the end," he said.

The very reason he didn't surrender. His Lannister pride wouldn't let him become a prisoner. "Good thing he won't be fighting anymore."

"Aegon does have a point," Dany agreed somewhat grudgingly. "I would have wanted Joffrey to force Cersei Lannister and King's Landing to surrender. But you are correct about Tywin. He is a most dangerous threat and though he would have been better captured, he's better dead than allowed to flee. What is to be done with his body, may I ask?"

It was Jon who spoke up, "We have decided to send his head to Prince Doran Martell as a gift alongside Amory Lorch. It will put you both in a favourable light. Hopefully, it'll bring him to the negotiating table whereupon he'll join our side and move against Stannis in the Stormlands. Reports are that he's already called his banners. Fifteen thousand Dornish spears are stationed in the Boneway and a similar number in the Prince's Pass. He's in the perfect position to sweep into the marches."

Giving them both Tywin's head and Rhaenys' murderer? Maybe a bit much so soon but it wouldn't hurt. We still needed Clegane and I wondered how we were going to capture that mountain of muscle and sadism. It'll be hard. I could say that much, and it might be easier to short the Mountain by a head.

"We have sent ravens to Prince Doran," Homeless Harry informed us. "The prince hasn't sent a reply but nor do we expect him to. He is a quiet and calculating man so he's not like to respond openly until he knows of our intentions. That's why we're sending an envoy to Dorne. Upon being gifted Tywin's head, he'll no doubt be persuaded to join our side. Not when we're this close to taking King's Landing."

"That is good. We need at least one kingdom – or principality in this case – to join our queen. But what of those who bent the knee to us after the battle? How many have joined our banner and which ones have decided to remain stubborn?"

Haldon grinned half-heartedly. "Though their loyalty is still in question, more than enough have bent the knee to make up for our losses. As can be expected, the majority are Reachmen and Stormlanders that were absorbed into Tywin's army, and we also have a decent number of Westermen as well. Roughly, I'd put our numbers to . . . to around thirty thousand men. Currently."

That caught me by surprise. I had seen their forces clustered outside but those numbers were something else. "We can't trust the Westermen though. We still need to strike King's Landing and they might stab us in the back. I also distrust those who bent the knee. Those lords have switched sides four times. I know much is said about the fickleness of sellswords, but those lords are even more fickle than the Second Sons. Should we suffer defeat, the chances of these lords fighting against us once more will be beyond doubt. Who are these stalwart men?"

"I have a list here," Haldon passed me the parchment. "House Fossoway of Cider Hall, House Fossoway of New Barrel much to Flower's dismay. Our dear Franklyn wants to fight them all the way to their castles and kill as many as possible. Is that true?"

"I wouldn't deny it."

"But it seems the Fossoways have got more sense than that. Meadows, Mullendore, Varner and Willum for the Reach, as well as a collection of their knights who serve this and that house who have officially proclaimed neutrality. All the Reachmen have joined our side which is understandable considering the Reach never supported the Lannisters in the first place and then there's the fact we do have friends within the Reach which has always contained the most fervent supporters of House Blackfyre."

"What about the Stormlands?" Daenerys asked, unsurely. "According to my histories, many Stormlanders also sided with the Blackfyres. At least during the First Blackfyre Rebellion. Many disliked the Dornish and used that as a reason to fight for the black dragon. How many Stormlords have bent the knee?"

"All of them. The houses Bolling, Buckler and Swann. Those who went with Ronnet Connington have sworn to Lord Jon who is once more the head of the house as proclaimed by the dozen Connington men still alive. There's House Hasty with Ser Bonnifer the Good and his Holy Hundred though we should call them the Holy Sixty now. Lord Alesender Staedmon the Pennylover of Broad Arch and finally Lord Arstan Selmy who swore service to Daenerys after a brief discussion with Ser Barristan. For the Lannister sworn lords, there's Swyft and Turnberry and Yarwyck, Plumm, Prester, Sarsfield and Myatt, Kenning and Foote and Falwell and Crakehall. Problem is that they're not the full houses. A portion did manage to flee with Joffrey and Ser Kevan Lannister."

I flashed a smile at my wife. "It seems quite a few Westerlords have joined us. But what can we expect in King's Landing?" I knew the city was still battered from Stannis' assault. Tyrion was dead and it seemed the only competent character there was Kevan, but he'd have a hard time after the city was put under the gentle care of Cersei Lannister. I doubted she was taking my capture of her youngest well and never mind her worrying about Joffrey's survival. She would likely be taking to drinks like during Feast. More so when she receives news of her father.

"I sent riders after the survivors," Myles Blackheart stated. "Though I doubt they'll reach Joffrey at this point, we might be able to capture ourselves a few more lords. The Lannisters are not in a good position and, should we play our hand right, might be able to get King's Landing to open its gate without shedding blood."

"I would like that," Daenerys smiled sadly, "but I have my doubts whether that will happen. The Lannisters are not like to surrender. They have not even proposed to treat for Tommen."

"Cersei will fight to the death like a lioness," I told everyone. King's Landing was formidable, and it was lucky for us that Stannis had managed to storm multiple gates and I doubted such destruction would be repaired in time for our arrival. I didn't know how strong the garrison was but given a decent number of Lannisters managed to withdraw, it would be defended by a reasonable force augmented by gold cloaks. The city watch wasn't made up of proper soldiers, and most would drop their spears as soon as the battle turned against them. If they don't turn their spears on the Lannisters that is.

"Nothing we have seen can deduce she is feeble," Connington admitted, "but she is a woman and one that has lost most of her strength." He ignored Daenerys' sharp stare and continued, "should we invest King's Landing by both land and sea, we should force a surrender."

"Or we could break into King's Landing through force. I saw the walls from where I abducted Arya. I do not know what damage Stannis inflicted, but I know King's Landing is formidable. Any move is not to be taken lightly. The war has devastated much of the city even before the siege with the Roseroad closed and the population being forced to its knees. I suggest before investing the walls we stockpile food. The last thing we need is to take the city only to be kicked out again by howling mobs."

"King's Landing's harbour is vast and well-positioned to funnel in supplies. It's much larger than Duskendale and nearer than Maidenpool," Homeless Harry informed us. "Should it be damaged in the fighting, it being repaired should be among our top priorities. I'll send a message to our allies in Essos to begin sending more foodstuffs across the Narrow Sea. We'll also need more escorts to protect the cogs from pirates. Instead of paying them out of our purse, we should allow the merchants to sell their inventories directly to those people so—"

"People would be forced to sell what little they have to afford that!" Daenerys cried, appealed. "The merchants would exploit the smallfolk who are starving and have little. They won't be able to afford that and if—"

"If we fail to stabilise the situation we're going to have a massive headache," I grimaced. "Should things get bad enough, they might be willing to sell themselves and their families into slavery. King's Landing has no lack of inhabitants and should the authorities be willing to turn a blind eye – and we know they will – they'll do it. We need to do something and prepare beforehand. Ensure there's grain available and provide it to the needy. Our pockets will take a hit, but they say you can't put a price on love."

"That's only a short-term solution," Blackheart shook his head. "We need a longer-term solution to the food crisis. King's Landing has half a million inhabitants but there's likely to be more mouths to feed thanks to all the fighting outside the walls. The pot is boiling and anything we do might cause it to spill. What I suggest, Your Grace, is that the Golden Company enforce tighter laws during this period of upheaval. No public meetings and stronger decrees against things such as speculation and increased prices in the markets. It is immoral to profit from such a crisis."

Dany nodded eagerly. "I agree. We should set maximum prices for bread and all other foodstuffs. Standardised prices and ration it out so those with more wealth can't stockpile. The last thing we need is more food riots. King's Landing has had many already and I doubt it'll survive many more."

Price controls? Are you serious? For one reason or another, such things were common throughout history and were most prevalent in feudal, socialist and fascist economies. Those high in politics had a tendency to believe if they had more authority, more control over peoples lives, they could solve whatever problems came their way. Usually willfully ignorant that they cause those very problems in the first place. As a proponent of the Austrian School, you could say I hated the top-down approach with quite the passion. Such regulations, especially during such a time, would only feed the already thriving black market, as well as fuel corruption and crime that'll need to be clamped down upon. It'll increase demand and lead to shortages where local supply can't keep up thanks to merchants having less incentive to trade in King's Landing. Why would they when profits are capped? Not to mention that should such controls ever be removed, it would only cause local prices to skyrocket and even more problems as a result. It was a well-meaning but foolish idea that would certainly lead to economic problems and at worst famines like the French Law of the General Maximum. I wasn't going to permit it. "That I will not allow," I told them, my words directed straight at Daenerys. "It is not the place of the monarchy to infringe upon the rights of merchants and producers or interfere in the way they operate. They are struggling as it is without any more burdens placed upon their shoulders."

"Aegon the Merchant," Blackheart drawled. "Seems your time in Essos has given you certain sympathies. What burdens might these be to trouble you so?"

"Quite a few. Enough for me to make a list but none of us have time for that now. What I do know is that lords do interfere and cause problems for the merchants who should be the lifeblood of our economy and taxable population." Price controls were common across the breadth of Westeros and differed by local laws. Regulations similar to the Corn Laws were riff across the land as well, restricting the trade of food to keep prices high and benefit the local lord. Just another case of economic regulations existing to benefit those in power.

"And what do you want instead?" Homeless Harry asked. "Would you permit the price of grain to spiral out of control?"

"Supply and demand," was my answer. "When demand exceeds supply, prices rise. When supply exceeds demand, prices fall. Merchants will see there's profit to be made and flock to King's Landing. That will lower the price as more grain floods the market. It will cost more in the beginning, I won't deny, but then the price will drop as merchants attempt to undercut the other. If we buy food and redistribute it to the poor, that will help those at the bottom of society, make me and Dany appear benevolent as well as help quell crime. I will tell you now that what you both want and desire to happen will only lead to further problems." When Daenerys demanded what said problems were, I explained but she didn't look that convinced. Clearly, a girl who was raised in the streets didn't have much knowledge of economic theory and it didn't help that such a political climate encouraged tighter controls as the only way to manage everything instead of leaving things alone. Such a concept seemed anathema to the Westerosi it seemed.

Harry Strickland looked more agreeable and I knew if I kept pushing, I could get him on my side. He and Haldon. I doubted the landed gentry would agree though. They would want to strengthen their own authority and giving people the liberty to make their own financial decisions wasn't something they'd like. I doubted the guilds would agree either thanks to them thriving in Westeros' current mercantile economic system. Not when they ruled over their own monopolies which gave them a great deal of influence. I couldn't push too hard for such reforms though. It was too early, and I couldn't afford to alienate potential supporters. But before that, I needed their help to write a constitution/Magna Carta. To gain support for such a thing required me to be gradual, and the new laws to be the result of much compromise to enshrine the lords with their freedoms to counterbalance the ones I demand they give up. But that would require Daenerys' support first and foremost, and the dragons to be large enough to cower even the most stubborn of high lords.

Connington shook his head. "I disagree. What you want will be disastrous. What you want is anarchy."

"In that, we agree," Blackheart said.

I shrugged. "We might disagree but fixing the Seven Kingdom's finances will be important once we take King's Landing. With luck, there might even be a treasury but I wouldn't count on it. Robert Baratheon emptied much of the gold from the royal coffers collected by King Aerys and the war hasn't helped. We need to restore King's Landing to some semblance of order and that's not to mention the extensive debts the crown owes as well. Daenerys, please don't give me that look. We need to pay said debts unless you want to cause worse problems by alienating our creditors. I can tell from your faces that you're going to love this topic. Don't worry. It'll be fun counting coppers." And we're going to have so many loans to pay. Just like them, I was dreading it.