"If you had helped Eddard Stark..." Ser Davos said cautiously, wondering if these words were appropriate for someone of his humble birth to speak.
It should have been the Old Maester speaking, but the Old Maester was dead. Ser Davos had seen with his own eyes the Old Maester bring poison to the Red Priestess, only to die himself.
Lady Melisandre, the Red Priestess from Asshai, listened to them speak in silence. The Red Priestess was red from head to toe, wearing a long, silken gown that shone like a bright flame, with long sleeves and slits in the bodice revealing a deeper blood-red shift underneath. Around her throat was a tight collar of red gold, tighter than any maester's chain, set with a large red ruby.
"Why should I have helped Eddard Stark? He means nothing to me. Hmph, Robert loved him very much, I know that. He often said they were 'like brothers,' a phrase I've heard countless times. His brother was Eddard, not me. I held Storms End for him, watching my loyal men starve one by one, while Tyrell and Redwyne feasted outside the walls. Yet he thanked Stark for rescuing us while I ate rats. I besieged Dragonstone for him, and he complained that I didn't capture Viserys and the infant. I toiled for him in King's Landing for over a decade, helping Jon Arryn govern the Seven Kingdoms so he could eat, drink, and whore in peace. Did he ever consider me for Hand of the King? No! Instead, he traveled a thousand miles to find Stark... Did Robert ever thank me? No! He thanked Stark. Even in death, he gave the honor of regency to Eddard, and what about me?"
"..." Ser Davos saw Stannis Baratheon in his rage, but couldn't speak. Those past events had pierced Stannis Baratheon through and through.
After all, Stannis was unyielding and proud. Once he made up his mind, there was no turning back. More troublesome was that Stannis also had the common flaw of younger sons: he was overly sensitive and arrogant, and he held grudges.
"Your Grace..." Ser Davos cleared his throat. While ordinary people understood Stannis's sense of justice, being too rigid could lead to breaking. Ser Davos suddenly felt Stannis's stubbornness and self-righteousness, viewing the world with the mindset of a resentful woman, unwilling to listen to advice. But such an attitude was not suitable for the political arena. Eddard Stark was probably the only one in King's Landing who could speak for Stannis and defend his claim to the throne, but Stannis neither trusted Eddard nor was moved by him, refusing to reveal any truth and never replying to letters. And so now, he faced an even worse outcome; Eddard's son was not as rigid as his father.
"But your work must continue. Robert's will is Robert's will, and my discovery is my discovery. I also want you to go and tell the Lords and knights about my discovery, the story of the Lannisters. On the oars, you have never disappointed me."
"Yes." Ser Davos nodded. Stannis seemed to be waiting, observing. Ser Davos couldn't tell if he had seen the light of the throne or was still considering that royal will. In any case, the throne certainly required caution; a crown was easy to put on, but difficult to take off.
"Ser Davos, the Old Maester once suggested I send Shireen to The Eyrie to be betrothed to a Child of House Arryn. What do you think?"
Ser Davos was somewhat bewildered; this was not something he could answer. Renly had also made such a suggestion.
"The Arryn Child is sickly, and as for the Child fostered at Storms End, he defiled our sacred marriage. We have no boy because the old gods and new gods cursed us for what Robert did on our wedding bed that night. As the legitimate heir to the Seven Kingdoms, must I now grovel before widows, bastards, and usurpers?" Just then, a woman's voice suddenly cut in, asking sharply.
Ser Davos immediately turned and gestured, indicating Stannis's wife.
Selyse Florent was almost as tall as her husband, thin and not particularly attractive. Her face was narrow, her ears prominent and bat-like, her nose sharply defined, and her upper lip had a noticeable growth of hair. She plucked it daily and often complained, but it kept growing back. Her eyes were light-colored, her mouth grim, and her voice sharp as a whip.
"Woman, understand this: I never grovel," Stannis said with a frown.
Ser Davos also found an excuse to leave, leaving Stannis to the two women. Listening further would only be endless complaints, and besides, Stannis would not have wanted him to stay and listen.
Lady Selyse spoke in a severe tone, "By the will of the red god in heaven, you are the only true lord of the Seven Kingdoms. House Arryn, House Stark, your brother Renly, and all of Robert's bastards should pledge fealty to you. Why do you refuse to ascend the throne? If you were to bend the knee, or beg these people for assistance, or even bargain for it, would that not be a loss of dignity?"
Stannis looked at his wife. There was little affection between them, but seeing his wife now utterly captivated by the Red Priestess's teachings, he couldn't help but feel resentment. She had abandoned the old gods and new gods of the Seven Kingdoms, turning instead to a god they called the lord of light.
"Keep your god's will to yourself," Duke Stannis said. He was not as fanatical about the new religion as his wife. "I have other plans."
"What plans?" Selyse said discontentedly. "You're not afraid, are you?" Selyse desperately hoped Stannis would ascend the throne and then promote the red god's religion.
"I don't need to tell you. You leave first; Lady Melisandre and I will discuss the god's will." Stannis sent his wife out. Stannis was never good with women, not even his own wife. The Red Priestess was an exception, as she was more of a sorceress, a special kind of soldier.
During his time as a high official in King's Landing, Stannis had left Selyse and their daughter on Dragonstone. His letters home were few, his visits even fewer, and he fulfilled his marital duties once or twice a year, finding no joy in it. He had sincerely hoped for a son but had never been granted one.
"Yes." Lady Selyse walked out, leaving Stannis with a tall back.
"You wish to speak with me, Your Grace?" the Red Priestess asked Stannis. Her voice was low, with the pleasing accent unique to the Jade Sea region.
Outwardly, the Red Priestess was many times more attractive than Stannis's plain wife, and she possessed the allure of magic. The Red Priestess's hair was a rare, burnished dark copper, gleaming in the torchlight. Even her eyes were red... yet her skin was fair and smooth, flawless as fresh cream; her figure was graceful and slender, taller than most knights, with full breasts, a slim waist, and a heart-shaped face. Once a man's gaze fell upon her, it was difficult to look away, but Stannis, alas, had little interest in beauty.
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