House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

Chapter 178: Chapter 177 – The King’s Landing Tournament (V)

It generally took quite a while for a tournament to happen, which was often because of participants arriving from all the kingdoms. However, since most of the nobles and knights were already in King’s Landing because of the Great Council, the tournament could begin within a few hours.

Because of that, by the afternoon, the stands were full, and the entire Tourney Grounds were packed with people. The nobles, as always, were in the stands, and the commoners, well, were on the ground, watching everything with anticipation.

The air felt more relaxed than in the previous days, showing that the tension from the Great Council and the events of the Tears of Blood were gradually fading.

In the sky above the Tourney Grounds, dragons flew around one another. There were four dragons. Bahamut, Dreamfyre, Vermithor, and Silverwing. As for Caraxes and Vhagar, the former was no longer in King’s Landing, while the latter had no rider to fly her.

If Daemon had already left the continent, he would probably only return months or decades later. He knew better than anyone that he was only still alive because of Jaehaerys and Alysanne’s restraint, but once they died, there would be nothing to stop Maekar and Gael.

In the royal stands, Maekar could be seen wearing black clothes beside Gael, who also wore a black dress to match her husband. The king and queen were also present, both wearing crowns and rings.

“Uncle, are you going to take part in the tournament?” Little, adorable Rhaenyra asked in a tone full of anticipation. Although her uncle was somewhat frightening, like in the battle against her other uncle, she also felt a deep admiration for him.

“Your great-grandfather forbade me because I’m too strong.” Maekar, who liked children, spoke with a smile as he picked the little girl up into his lap. He looked at Rhaenyra and spoke in a tone full of loneliness. “It’s lonely being at the top with no rivals.”

Jaehaerys rolled his eyes at his grandson’s arrogant words but didn’t argue back. In Ryam’s own words, if he himself were young again with his current experience, he might try to defeat Maekar. Those words, coming from the greatest knight of his time, were simply unbelievable.

“If the prince wishes, I can fight him.” Ellard, standing beside other lords of the Great Houses, spoke in a tone slightly excited at the idea of fighting Maekar.

“I don’t want to leave your good lady wife a widow, my dear lord.” Maekar stroked Rhaenyra’s hair and replied in a teasing but friendly tone, like banter between friends.

“If you manage to kill me, you can put my head next to the dragon skulls.” Ellard wasn’t frightened and spoke in a very casual tone.

Currently, House Targaryen has three dragon skulls. Quicksilver, killed by Balerion; Meraxes, killed in Dorne; and Balerion himself, killed by time.

“It would be an honor.” Maekar replied in an amused tone, making Ellard roar with laughter as he gulped down a large amount of wine.

“Is she bothering you, Maekar?” Viserys, beside his wife Aemma asked in a gentle, smiling tone.

“She’s lighter than a feather; she needs to eat more.” Maekar looked at Viserys and said playfully.

“They won’t let me eat much lemon cake,” Rhaenyra said in a tone full of disappointment at not being able to eat much cake this week.

Rhaenyra’s words made everyone in the royal box laugh. The atmosphere was light and cheerful. Completely different from what one would expect after such an important event. Of course, Viserys being so friendly with Maekar was the main reason for that.

Gael looked at Maekar playing with Rhaenyra and showed a smile. If nothing had happened to Baelor, Maekar would probably be holding his own child in the coming months. Discreetly touching her belly, she promised herself she would give Maekar many sons and daughters.

As for the news of her pregnancy, she hadn’t announced it. Given what happened last time, she didn’t dare announce it for fear that someone might dare do something to her baby again. Even though she had blood and fire magic, she was still extremely cautious.

At the same time, Gael and Maekar had ordered the Children of Blood to search for anyone with any involvement in magic. Even if it was just rumors, they were to be arrested, and if they resisted, killed on the spot.

It was a drastic measure, but Maekar and Gael felt safer after giving that order.

“It’s starting,” Rhaenyra said, making Maekar look toward the tournament field with a calm gaze. Despite it being held in his honor, he wasn’t that interested in the combats. After all, at that very moment, the City Watch was about to storm the Sept and bring the High Septon down to the dungeons of the Red Keep.

Compared to that fact, this tournament was nothing important, but it served as a smokescreen for the conspiracy to begin. So, Maekar had to attend the tournament that had been created in his honor.

He wanted to personally arrest the High Septon and throw him in the dungeons, but unfortunately it was impossible to be in two places at once.

“Ser Ulysses of House Swann!!!”

“On the other side, Ser Roderick of House Uller!!!”

While the two knights mounted their horses, at the Sept within King’s Landing, things weren’t so calm.

–

Because of the Peace Treaty between the Faith of the Seven and House Targaryen, septs had no armed guards, at most some knives for cooking and cutting meat, but nothing beyond that. Faced with the City Watch, which was equipped with armor and swords, the septons and septas were completely helpless.

When the City Watch stormed the Sept, they quickly subdued everyone, and those who resisted had their throats slit on the spot. As for not killing religious figures, given the precedent of the fourteen septons already killed, the city guards knew these septons were no longer untouchable.

“My dear Septons, where is the High Septon?” Wearing black armor with black gloves and a golden cloak, Lord Roderick Blackwood asked in a calm, cold tone.

Since Maekar wanted him to be Master of Laws, Roderick had taken on the role of Captain of the Watch until Maekar became king and made him Master of Laws.

“This is the house of the gods; how dare you bring weapons into this sacred place!?” An older septon brandished his voice furiously upon seeing nearly fifty city guards.

Roderick didn’t answer with words; he grabbed a trembling septon not far off and plunged his dagger into the old septon’s neck. Pulling out the dagger and tossing the body aside, Roderick looked at the septon who had dared to stand up and question him with a cold look. “I just killed a septon in the house of God. What are you going to do about it, my dear septon?”

The septon trembled before the eyes of the Lord of Raventree Hall.

“You’ll burn in the seven hells,” the septon said, but in a tone far less threatening and more submissive.

“Your High Septon has dozens of mistresses and a dozen bastard children. He’s the one who’ll burn in the Seven Hells.” Roderick said with a laugh full of sarcasm.

“Now, where is the fat pig?” Roderick asked again. They had already checked the entire Sept and hadn’t found the High Septon. Since the Sept had been surrounded by spies, there was no way the High Septon could have escaped, so the only remaining possibility was that the man was still on the premises but in a secret room.

Seeing the man’s silence, Roderick smiled coldly. “I like men who have courage. I hope you’ll enjoy it when I scald your body and then peel your skin off bit by bit, piece of skin for piece of skin, piece of flesh for piece of flesh.”

The septon shuddered at Roderick’s words. Despite his courage, courage meant nothing in the face of well-crafted torture.

The septon closed his eyes and whispered in a tone full of anger and resentment. “He’s in the main chamber, behind the wardrobe.”

“Good boy.” Roderick gestured with his hand and advanced with a dozen guards.

When Roderick entered the chamber, he looked at the large wardrobe and smiled coldly. Without needing his orders, the guards quickly moved the wardrobe, revealing a room that wasn’t very large but was big enough to hold ten people.

However, looking at the naked fat man, surrounded by two equally naked septas, Roderick smiled even more coldy.

“Your Holiness, there’s a special chamber prepared for you by Maegor the Cruel,” Roderick said in a tone full of coldness.

“I Am!!!” Just as the High Septon was about to shout, his mouth was gagged and his wrists bound with thick chains. A white cloak covered his entire fat figure, preventing anyone from seeing the High Septon’s appearance.

“Come on, lads, we have to deliver a pig to the Red Keep.” Roderick said with a laugh; the guards around him laughed too and pushed the High Septon out of the room. As for the two naked septas on the premises, they were simply arrested.

About an hour later, the entire sept was in complete silence; there was no one left in the building; only bloodstains proved that something had happened there.

——–

Note: Today, Malenia met the real Terro, Steve from Minecraft. The only reason I didn’t kill her with an orbital TNT cannon is because I’m too stupid to do something that complicated.

Read my other books:

House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos

Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.

Game Of Thrones: The King’s Court Wizard