Margaery and Loras stand before Cersei in the throne room, who is guarded by Ser Boros, Ser Meryn, and Ser Osmund and attended by Pycelle, Aurane, Qyburn, Ser Harys, and Lord Orton. Margaery is reporting on the attack on the Shield Islands and demanding action. Reports put the ironman nuumbers at one thousand ships, but even at half that number the only fleet that could match them is the Redwyne fleet. Ser Harys inquires after the new dromonds, but only half are fitted out and none are fully crewed. Cersei wonders what has emboldened the ironmen, as they have not raided the reach since Dagon Greyjoy ruled them, and Qyburn says it is because of Euron. Lord Humfrey Hewett and Lord Moribald Chester are dead, Lord Guthor Grimm is a prisoner, and Lord Osbert Serry has fled to Highgarden. Cersei thinks that Euron might have made an alliance with Stannis. Pycelle thinks this is ridiculous, but the other councillors are quick to agree with her. Cersei decides that the Reach should deal with this problem, and Margaery agrees. Willas has sent word to Lord Leyton warning him to prepare his defenses, and Garlan is gathering men. The main Tyrell strength is with Lord Mace at Storm's End, however, and the siege must be lifted at once. Cersei refuses to do this and tells Margaery that Highgarden must manage with what they have. Loras says they can do nothing without warships, and asks for the Redwyne fleet. This force of two hundred warships and a thousand carracks, cogs, galleys, and whalers is currently divided between ferrying men to Dragonstone and besieging Storm's End from the sea, and Cersei refuses to release them before Dragonstone is taken. Cersei declares the audience at an end, but Ser Loras comes forward and asks to take command of the siege of Dragonstone, promising to deliver the castle in a fortnight. Cersei grants him leave to do so, and gives him the use of the new dromond Sweet Cersei to ferry him to the island.

Cersei leaves the throne room with Pycelle and Qyburn. Pycelle is not happy with her decision, but she is so pleased that she has to laugh aloud. She decides that Pycelle has outlived his usefullness, as he never does anything but raise objections and cautions to her every move. He even protested the rearming of the Faith until she finally shut him up. After Pycelle takes his leave, Qyburn says that Cersei will need another knight for the Kingsguard should Loras fall. Cersei asks if he has anyone in mind, and he says there is one that would protect her from her enemies, keep her secrets, and be able to stand against any man.¹ Qyburn goes on to ask about the armor he requested, and Cersei says she has placed the order, but the armorer says no man could fight in such a weight of plate. Cersei returns to her room, where Lady Taena sleeps in her bed. Cersei has never liked sleeping alone and has made Taena a companion of late. As she looks at Taena lying there, she wonders what it might be like to kiss another woman. She thinks of Robert and how he abused her. He would drink too much wine and have rough sex with her while he was drunk that would leave her in pain. The only night she was ever aroused by him was their wedding night. Later, he would pretend not to remember what happened. Once in the first year of their marriage, Cersei told him how he had hurt her. He looked ashamed, blamed it on the wine, and reached for his ale. Cersei responded by smashing her horn of ale into his face hard enough to chip a tooth. Afterwards, Robert always claimed he chipped it in a melee.

A knock interrupts her reverie. It is a guardsman reporting that Lady Falyse has requested an audience. Cersei wants to refuse her, but the guarsman says she is in an awful state, so Cersei dresses and goes to see her. Falyse is bruised and sobbing when Cersei arrives. Ser Balman is dead. He challenged Bronn to single combat, figuring he could unhorse the sellsword and finish him while he was stunned. Bronn impaled Balman's horse instead, and his legs were crushed in the fall. When Falyse ran to him, Bronn hit her. He makes Balman confess and then puts his dagger in Balman's eye. He tells Falyse to leave if she does not want the same, and the garrison sided with him. She did not even have time to gather up her clothes, which Bronn said were forfeited to Lollys. Bronn is the lord of Stokeworth now. Cersei asks if Balman named her, and Falyse confirms that he did. Falyse is worried for Lady Tanda, who may be dead already. Cersei gets her drunk and then sends Dorcas to bring Qyburn and Jocelyn to bring food and wine. When Qyburn arrives, Cersei asks if he still needs women for his experiments, which he does, as the puppeteers are used up. Cersei gives him Falyse, and Qyburn takes her away to the black cells. Taena is asleep when she returns. She decides to play with the other woman's breasts, which awakens Taena, who seems to like the attention. She twists Taena's nipples until they hurt, but when Taena protests, Cersei blames the wine. Taena is aroused, and Cersei pleasures her, but gets no joy out of it herself. When Taena tries to return the favor, Cersei rolls out of bed and decides to pretend it never happened.