Stannis Baratheon: "..."
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "I told Jon Arryn about my suspicions."
Renly Baratheon asked, puzzled, "Stannis, since you had these suspicions, why didn't you tell Robert directly?"
Stannis's jaw worked a few times, and he said, "Robert would be more inclined to listen to Jon Arryn's opinion than to me, his own brother, because he respects his Hand… And I didn't want Robert to mistakenly think my goal was to put myself first in the line of succession to the Iron Throne."
King Renly spread his hands and said, "So… My brother, it's a pity, the Old Duke is already dead, and we have no evidence at all. Who would believe your words?"
He added, "Even if you could produce evidence, what then? In the end, nothing would change. Stannis, the fact now is that my army is much larger than yours."
He slightly raised his chin and continued, "As your blood relative, I hope you will seriously consider my suggestion, My Brother!"
King Stannis gritted his teeth and said, "Renly, since I'm already here, do you think I'm afraid of your threats?"
King Renly first smiled and shook his head, "Stannis, I'm not threatening you."
Then, his tone shifted, and he said seriously, "If I wanted to threaten you, I would say it openly and honestly."
King Renly's blue eyes scrutinized the tense face of Stannis, and he said, "Honestly… Stannis, I've never liked you, but you are my blood kin, and I don't want to harm you at all."
He pointed to the magnificent castle in the distance and continued, "If you want Storm's End, take it… Consider it a gift between blood kin. Just as Robert granted it to me, I now grant it to you, My Brother Stannis."
Renly's seemingly generous words only enraged King Stannis further: "It's not for you to grant; by right, Storm's End already belongs to me!"
King Renly sighed, turned slightly, and looked at the serious-faced Randyll Tarly, saying with a helpless tone, "My Lord, what should I do with this brother of mine? He ruthlessly rejected my good intentions… As my blood kin, he even refuses to attend my wedding…"
King Stannis's voice held mockery: "Renly, I'm not blind; you and I both know your wedding is just a shoddy farce… Did you think I didn't know you and your stupid subordinates planned to turn that girl into another of Robert's whores?!"
"I once wanted that girl to become Robert's new Queen…"
King Renly shrugged and continued, "But what does it matter? The boar took Robert, and I took Margaery Tyrell."
His face was full of joyful smiles: "Little Rose was a virgin when she married me; you should be happy for me, My Brother."
King Stannis snorted coldly, his gaze filled with disgust as he looked at his brother: "My Brother, I think she'd rather choose Robert's fate now than share a bed with you."
Upon hearing Stannis's taunt, King Renly's smile stiffened for a moment: "What a pity… I, however, think she'll give me a chubby boy this year."
His smile became even more joyful, and he continued, "Stannis, how many sons do you have? If I recall correctly… it seems you have none."
King Renly sighed again: "I actually understand you quite well. If my wife were as ugly as yours, having a daughter would already be pretty good."
As if he suddenly remembered something, he added, "Stannis, I recently heard that your daughter isn't yours? She's actually Aser Florent (Chapter 186)…"
King Stannis interrupted angrily: "Enough! I will never allow anyone to insult me to my face, no one! Do you hear me?!"
He roared, "I will not allow it!"
With a clang, King Stannis suddenly drew his sword. The blade of the longsword in his hand shone with an eerie light, sometimes red, sometimes yellow, and then turning into a blazing white glow.
Clang! Lord Randyll drew the Tarly family's Valyria steel sword—heartsbane.
He warned, "Stannis, put down your sword!"
The shining sword in King Stannis's hand pointed at his brother, and he said, "I also don't wish to defile Lightbringer's blade with the blood of my kin. For the sake of the mother who bore us both, tonight I will give you one last chance to reflect on your mistakes!"
His eyes gleamed with cold light: "Renly, declare your fealty to me before dawn, and I will name you Lord of Storm's End and keep your seat as a senior member of the Small Council. Even before my son is born, I will still designate you as my heir… If you do not comply, do not blame me for dealing with you according to the laws of the realm!"
King Renly was slightly stunned at first, then burst into laughter, saying, "Stannis, your glowing sword is truly beautiful, I envy you greatly… However, I wonder if its light has affected your vision?"
Saying this, he pointed in the direction of Stannis's army camp and said, "My Brother, do you see those banners? Do you truly believe that a few poles wrapped in cloth can make you claim to be King?"
He wiped the smile from his face: "The lords and ladies of the Stormlands all support my claim to the throne, and the lords and ladies of the Riverlands… including your wife's family, they all support my claim to the throne! Knights from all over the South have come with me, and this is only a small part of my army… My infantry is still behind, a full hundred thousand soldiers with swords and spears."
His voice held contempt: "You say you will deal with me according to the laws of the realm? By what right? By your prayers? Or by your ragtag few thousand soldiers? I guarantee that as soon as the fighting starts, at least half of them will run to my side."
His gaze was somewhat suspicious: "I heard you have less than four hundred cavalry. Don't you know that your free riders in leather armor are no match for the charge of heavy cavalry with lances?"
Finally, King Renly said coldly, "Stannis, I don't care how battle-hardened or invincible you think you are, but… the truth is before your eyes; as soon as my vanguard charges, your rabble will all be finished!"
King Stannis said with sharp eyes, "We shall see, My Brother."
He sheathed his sword and added, "At dawn, we shall see."
King Renly shrugged and said, "May your new gods bless you, My Brother."
Stannis gave a cold snort, his expression full of disdain. He tugged on the reins, turned his horse, and rode off into the dust.
"Remember your own sins, Lord Renly Baratheon."
After speaking, the Red Priestess gazed for a while at Renly, who was observing her with interest, then spurred her horse in the direction Stannis had departed.
King Renly spread his hand and said, "I am truly a merciful King."
Tugging on the reins and turning his horse, he looked at Lord Randyll beside him and said with a smile, "My Brother's glowing sword looks quite interesting, doesn't it?"
Lord Randyll said, "Your Majesty, that is merely a trick to scare people."
Upon hearing Lord Randyll's reply, King Renly burst into laughter.
After laughing, he murmured in a voice only he could hear, "If Loras were still here, once the battle was over, he would surely present it to me as a gift…"
...
Returning to the King's Camp, King Renly, full of vigor, loudly ordered: "Tomorrow, I require you to don your armor, take up your weapons, and mount your horses at the first ray of dawn."
"Tomorrow morning will be a morning Stannis will never forget."
...
...
Night, Stannis's King's Camp.
A map of the area around Storm's End was spread on the long table. King Stannis gazed at it motionlessly, his brows furrowed into a knot.
Melisandre, dressed in red robes, entered the tent, her footsteps light as she approached King Stannis.
Melisandre bowed slightly and said, "My King, I have foreseen the destruction of the usurper—Renly Baratheon—in the sacred fire."
King Stannis's brows gradually relaxed, and he turned his head to look at the Red Priestess.
Melisandre's red eyes seemed to burn as she chanted: "Green tents… candles… screaming women… blood…"
King Stannis's gaze sharpened. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, "What should I do?"
Melisandre revealed a captivating faint smile. Not long after… her silken robe slipped to the rug on the floor.
The firelight in the tent flickered. Melisandre's body seemed to glow with a faint white light. Her bare feet moved, and she stood before King Stannis, with the long table covered with the map behind her.
Melisandre extended a hand, her fingertips lightly grazing King Stannis's chest, and said in a soft tone, "It's simple, My King."
After speaking, she faced King Stannis and gracefully sat on the long table.
"I need to borrow the great power of Azor Ahai reborn."
Melisandre slowly parted her plump, slender thighs, saying, "What are you waiting for, My King."
King Stannis's breathing grew heavy. The Priestess's pale fingers reached for his waist.
...
Seven seconds later, a prolonged groan echoed within the tent.
...
Melisandre gently caressed Stannis's gaunt cheek and whispered, "My King, I need you to prepare a boat-rowing guide for me."
King Stannis suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable dizziness. His forehead was covered in cold sweat. He closed his eyelids and nodded slightly.
Melisandre bent down, picked up her red robe from the rug, and bowed before leaving.
...
Shortly after the Priestess left, Davos Seaworth hurried into King Stannis's tent.
When the Onion Knight saw King Stannis, his heart sank… In the time it took for dinner… his "God" seemed to have aged all at once!
Or rather… Stannis, with his eyes closed at that moment, looked like a corpse.
Davos's face was full of worry. He carefully saluted and said, "King Stannis, you called for me."
After a moment of silent waiting, King Stannis opened his eyes. His gaze was as sharp as a drawn sword, which somewhat relieved Davos.
King Stannis's emotionless voice sounded: "During the negotiations today, Renly wanted to give me a peach. He mocked me, provoked me, threatened me, and finally wanted to give me a peach… I initially thought he was going to draw his sword, so I almost drew my own. Was that his intention, to make me show fear in front of him? Or… was it another one of his boring jokes? Or… was there a deeper meaning?"
He paused, his teeth grinding: "Renly! Only Renly could make me so agitated with a piece of fruit. I will never forget that peach until the day I die."
Stannis's sharp gaze shifted to the Onion Knight: "Davos, I love My Brother dearly, but he is a usurper; he must be destroyed."
Davos felt a chill run up his neck: "King Stannis, are you… I don't quite understand what you mean…"
He didn't know why, but he suddenly thought of assassination… Davos instinctively reached for the leather pouch around his neck, touching the finger bones inside, his lucky charm.
King Stannis's cold voice sounded: "Onion Knight, you still keep them? You still remember them?"
"No," Davos shook his head, denying it.
King Stannis's gaze was scrutinizing: "Then why do you keep them? I've always wondered."
Davos respectfully replied, "King Stannis, because they remind me of who I am, where I come from, and your impartiality."
Stannis nodded slightly: "You are both a hero and a smuggler. Good deeds do not cancel out bad deeds, nor do bad deeds obscure good deeds. Every action has its own retribution and judgment; this is the impartiality of the law."
He added, "Renly is a usurper; this is an unforgivable evil. For justice, he must be destroyed."
Davos was hesitating how to speak, but King Stannis's voice sounded again, as if he had already seen the Onion Knight's thoughts.
"Davos, you don't need to understand; you just need to follow My King's orders."
Davos licked his lips, placed his hand on his chest, and said, "King Stannis, I am your loyal servant. How may I be of service?"
King Stannis said, "It's something you're familiar with. I want you to take Melisandre to where she wants to go in a small boat, but this matter must be kept absolutely secret; no one must know… Can you do it?"
...
...
In the dark night, Davos steered a black-sailed small boat across the waters of Shipbreaker Bay. His "passenger" was Melisandre, curled on a thwart, covered from head to toe in a dark red cloak.
The sound of water lapping against the hull was as usual. The Onion Knight's eyes trembled slightly… Sixteen years ago, he brought onions, he brought life… Sixteen years later, he brought the Red Priestess from Asshai, and it seemed he brought death.
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