Hearing this, Stannis said with disgust: "Are you trained ravens, squawking at me in turns?"
He turned: "Enough, all of you may leave."
Melisandre helped Queen Selyse up, and they left together; Ser Axell, before leaving, glared at Davos.
After the others had left, Davos approached the map table and cleared his throat.
Stannis looked up from the map, gazed at Onion Knight for a moment, and said: "You should leave too."
Davos glanced at Stannis, cleared his throat, and said: "My King, I want to talk to you about Edric Storm..."
Stannis waved his hand impatiently, saying: "Smuggler, spare me, I don't want to hear about this bastard anymore."
Davos opened his mouth and said: "King Stannis, his name is Edric Storm."
Stannis's face darkened: "I know his name, and I know he is a bastard of noble birth. Are you satisfied, my Lord Hand?"
Davos insisted on continuing his counsel: "If only you had met him..."
Stannis's voice was filled with revulsion: "I have met him, he is very much like Robert... My brother liked to sow his seed everywhere and then ignore the offspring. He is just one of them."
His wrinkled hand swept over the map: "How many boys and girls are there in the Seven Kingdoms? And how many men and women? Melisandre tells me that darkness will swallow all men and women, and an unending long night will descend. Even if her prophecy is a lie, as King, can I ignore this prophecy of hers?"
His teeth gnashed: "Her prophecy... a hero born from boiling seas, dragons hatched from stone... all the signs and omens she speaks of point to me. We cannot choose our destiny, but I must fulfill my duty. Great or small, everyone must fulfill their duty; I am responsible for this kingdom."
He snorted mockingly: "She swore she saw me raise Lightbringer in the sacred fire, resisting the terrible darkness. Davos, but I assure you, on the Blackwater River, this dazzling sword helped me no more than an ordinary steel sword."
His gaze fixed on the location of King's Landing on the map table: "However... a single dragon is enough to turn the tide of battle. Aegon once stood here, just as I am now, looking down at this table. If he had no dragons, could he still have become 'the Conqueror'?"
Davos still tried to persuade the King to abandon his dangerous idea: "My King, everything has a price, I must remind you..."
"Enough, I know the price."
The firelight flickered, and Stannis's shadow enveloped King's Landing on the map table: "If the false kings truly die... what is the life of a bastard compared to the future of the entire kingdom?"
...
...
The stir caused by Little Devil's solo kill of Red Viper had not yet subsided when another piece of news that shocked the Seven Kingdoms reached King's Landing.
Ser Amory Lorch, stationed at Harrenhal, was ordered by Duke Tywin to lead over 500 Lannister sworn knights and over 1200 hired free riders to pursue North Cavalry harassing the eastern region of Harrenhal (Chapter 340).
As a result, they were severely damaged by a surprise attack from the North Cavalry during the night they were resting near the Kings Road.
Ser Amory urgently dispatched a cavalry for help, one man with three horses, and the news reached Harrenhal the next day. Over 1000 Lannister cavalry stationed in the city immediately rode out to support, but were ambushed by several thousand North Cavalry during their march.
That night, the Brave Companions, who had marched with Robb Stark, took Harrenhal amidst the chaos.
After this battle, the Lannister cavalry in the Riverlands were almost completely annihilated, and the Lannister-appointed governor of Harrenhal, Ser Amory, died in battle.
Rumor had it that Vargo Hoat, the leader of the Brave Companions, was appointed governor of Harrenhal by King Robb, and he then led most of the cavalry to march east again and "disappeared."
From then on, the swift North Cavalry hung over King's Landing like a sword ready to fall at any moment.
...
The sunlight cast over King's Landing was warm and dazzling.
Lord Mace shook his head and sighed: "To allow a little direwolf to cause trouble in the Riverlands again, Duke Tywin... He's old."
Inside the training yard, Joffrey's crossbow bolts hit the target every time, and Margaery and her retinue of handmaidens cheered for the King's valor.
Garlan withdrew his gaze, a slight smile on his face: "If I were Duke Tywin, I would immediately ask you for advice on how to catch a wolf. Unfortunately, he is not me."
Lord Mace stroked his beard proudly.
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