Ride up to the Red Keep

Since you are in the capital, you may as well visit the Red Keep. There is no guarantee you would be able to get inside, but you could at least try.

You proceed to ride up to the Red Keep. On your way there, you notice that the streets are surprisingly bare. You encounter maybe a score of people. You wonder why that is. It cannot be due to a curfew; it is barely afternoon. It could not be because the city was evacuated; otherwise, the guards would not still be posted on the walls. It could not be because King Aerys ordered the streets cleared; if that was the case, EVERYONE would be inside. No one would dare to disobey an order of the Mad King's, after all.

You decide not to trouble yourself with the lack of activity in the city. You simply continue onward towards the Red Keep.

When you get to the top of Aegon's High Hill, you hear what sounds like shouting. It sounds faint and far-off, almost as though it is coming from outside the city. You peer over your shoulder towards the source of the commotion, and you see thousands of men in the distance.

You turn Aerion around and squint your eyes to get a better look. Soon, you realize those men are part of an army, and not just any army. Even from this distance, you recognize the crimson banners of House Lannister. They are marching this way!

At first, you think they will lay siege to King's Landing. Then it occurs to you; Aerys might not know that the Lannisters have sided with the rebels. He may think they are coming to reinforce him. If so, a siege won't be necessary. They'll be able to enter the city without difficulty. Once that happens... it would be open season on the city's inhabitants.

You feel as though you could not have picked a worse time to enter King's Landing. Although you have been neutral in the fighting so far, you know the Lannister soldiers would not care about that. You are not about to take up arms against them, and by the time you reached one of the gates, they would likely be pouring in from all sides. Your only option is to take shelter.

But where will you go?