Stannis Baratheon's deep eyes looked at his Onion Knight: "Davos, Ser Axell wants me to continue the war. Many people think I have completely failed... Whose fault is that? Almost all the lords who swore fealty to me have abandoned me, and even my maternal grandfather, Earl Estermont, has bent the knee to Joffrey."
Elton Estermont was the Earl of Greenstone in the Stormlands. Stannis's mother, Cassana Estermont, was his daughter. Earl Estermont was captured during the Battle of King's Landing and has since surrendered to Joffrey's Iron Throne.
He continued, "The few who still retain their loyalty have lost faith, spending their days drinking and gambling, licking their wounds like defeated dogs."
Ser Axell stepped forward slightly and advised, "Failure is a sickness, victory is the cure. King, battle will re-energize them."
"Victory."
Stannis's pale, thin lips twisted.
He waved his hand and said, "We do need many victories. Ser Axell, tell your plan to my Prime Minister; I want to hear his thoughts."
Although Ser Axell was very reluctant, he still obeyed Stannis's command. He turned his body towards Davos and said, "On the Blackwater River, Lord Ardrian Celtigar of Crab Island fought under the banner of the Flaming Heart, but after being captured, he immediately defected to Joffrey and remains in King's Landing to this day. This man betrayed the true King. I plan to..."
Ser Axell's plan was simple: Stannis still had about sixteen hundred soldiers on Dragonstone, and the plan was to use Salladhor Saan's fleet to transport them to the lightly guarded Crab Island to retaliate against Lord House Celtigar's defection.
Finally, he declared, "Burn his castle, kill his people, turn Crab Island into barren ashes and bones, where only carrion crows remain. This way, everyone in the Seven Kingdoms will understand the fate of those who side with Lannister."
Stannis listened silently as Ser Axell recounted, slowly grinding his teeth back and forth.
When Ser Axell finished, he spoke, "I believe this plan can be accomplished with very little risk. Unless House Redwyne sends reinforcements from Arbor, Joffrey has no ships to support Crab Island. Although Crab Island has no strategic value, its fall will tell Duke Tywin... that I, Stannis, am not dead yet."
Stannis turned to Davos and asked, "What do you think of Ser Axell's proposal? I want to hear the truth, my Prime Minister."
The truth... Although this plan sounded good, it was actually a bandit's work. Both Ser Axell and his old friend, Salladhor Saan, were actually eyeing the wealth of Crab Island and House Celtigar (Chapter 188).
More precisely... their first target was not Crab Island, but House Clebber's Mermaid Port, but they were beaten back, so they shifted their target to House Celtigar's Crab Island.
After a moment of thought, Davos's eyes flickered, meeting Ser Axell's threatening gaze.
Davos shifted his gaze to Stannis and said, "King Stannis, I have to say... this plan is foolish, and cowardly."
"Cowardly?!"
Hearing Davos's words, Ser Axell demanded loudly, "Smuggler, how dare you call me a coward?!"
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