Beast Slayer Online: Initialization
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 166: Fire Along the Northern Coast
Everyone in King’s Landing knew the state of its roads. After those several hard rolls through the filth, Jaime’s expensive leather clothes were ruined beyond saving.
But every man present had seen war.
On a battlefield, men fought knee-deep through blood, spilled guts, and the steaming filth leaking from split-open horses and dying soldiers alike. Even while retching at the stench, they still swung their blades.
Once a man had seen enough battle, disgust stopped reaching his stomach.
“Kingslayer,” Barristan said through clenched teeth, his voice thick with disappointment. “You are a disgrace to the White Sword Tower.”
The White Sword Tower stood within the Red Keep itself, home of the Kingsguard, a symbol of knightly honor throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
And Jaime Lannister had bedded the wife of the king he swore to protect. Worse, he had committed incest.
To Barristan Selmy, the revelation made the whole world feel rotten.
Once their leader was captured, the Lannister soldiers quickly lost heart and were disarmed.
Lannor and Eddard had expected Robert to lash out at Jaime personally, to vent his fury then and there.
Instead, the King barely looked at him before ordering him dragged away.
With the most dangerous, capable, and politically important Lannister in King’s Landing now in chains, Robert needed only to return to the Red Keep and issue commands. Cersei and the royal children were swiftly placed under house arrest.
Right up until she was confined, Cersei still had no idea what had actually happened.
She screamed curses about the King throwing the realm into chaos for the sake of his friend, trampling House Lannister’s dignity beneath his boots.
She still thought all of this was about Tyrion’s abduction.
As guards dragged the golden-haired queen away to confinement high within the tower, Lannor watched without the slightest ripple in his eyes.
In political struggles, those without wisdom, perspective, or information often never even understood how they had lost.
Cersei might have been queen, yet at this moment, any random attendant in the Red Keep understood the truth better than she did.
Only after the Lannisters inside the city had all been secured did Eddard and Lannor find Robert seated upon the Iron Throne.
The King looked tired.
And strangely exhilarated.
“I always have this dream, brother.”
Robert Baratheon’s voice drifted across the vast throne room like a drunken confession.
Seated atop the grim throne forged from a thousand melted swords, he looked less like a ruler than a weary giant finally speaking honestly.
“I dream of giving up the throne. Taking a horse and a warhammer across the sea to the Free Cities. Becoming some sellsword king. Fighting wars, bedding women, drinking wine, hearing songs. That sounds like living.”
“But every time I thought of Joffrey inheriting the throne, with Cersei and the Lannisters swarming around him, I buried the thought again.”
“That little monster once cut open a pregnant cat while it was still alive, just to see what kittens looked like before they were born.”
Robert laughed bitterly to himself.
“To be honest, learning he isn’t mine almost feels like a relief. At least...” He shook his head and snorted. “At least he wasn’t the gods punishing me for starting a war.”
The throne room remained silent.
Eddard had never been good at comforting people.
And Lannor had no place doing so.
“Well. Enough of that.”
Robert rose from the Iron Throne and rolled his shoulders. The movement made the bandages around his waist pull tight beneath his clothes.
“War’s coming. Before it started, I feared it. But now...” A grin slowly spread beneath his beard. “Now I’m almost looking forward to it. So tell me, Eddard. What’s the Small Council’s decision?”
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