Chapter 52: Every Place Is Different
Mermaid Port, East Docks.
Lord Stannis disembarked from his ship, escorted by his soldiers and accompanied by Davos Seaworth, known as the "Onion Knight."
Lord Stannis walked along the docks for a while, then proceeded on foot to the inner city of Mermaid Port without mounting a horse.
Stannis, who had been silent for the entire journey, stopped, his sharp gaze sweeping his surroundings. "Davos, tell me, what do you see?"
The Davos he spoke of was a plain-looking, slender man with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a thick, greying beard.
Ser Davos Seaworth, the "Onion Knight," served Lord Stannis, the Master of Ships, as commander of his fleet in the Narrow Sea. Deeply trusted by Stannis, Davos also acted as his advisor.
Davos was once a smuggler. During Robert's Rebellion, he sailed a small ship laden with onions and salted fish through the Redwyne fleet's blockade, bringing supplies to Stannis, who was holding Storm's End.
Thanks to these provisions, Storm's End held until a relief force arrived. For this great service, Stannis knighted Davos and granted him fertile lands on Cape Wrath.
After knighting Davos, Stannis said, "A good deed does not wash out the bad, nor a bad deed the good. Each should have its own reward."
As punishment for Davos's past smuggling, the unyielding Stannis had the top joint of the four fingers on Davos's left hand removed, sparing only his thumb.
Davos kept the severed finger bones in a pouch he wore around his neck, believing them to be a lucky charm that protected his family.
Afterward, Davos chose "Seaworth" as the name for his new house.
...
Ser Davos followed Lord Stannis's gaze, looking around. He replied respectfully, "Lord Stannis, what I have seen on our way here is order."
Lord Stannis, his face stern, gave an almost imperceptible nod. "Elaborate."
Davos began, "At first, I only saw that the residents here were well-behaved. But having followed you this far, I now feel as if they are all obeying a series of detailed commands."
Lord Stannis's nod was slightly more pronounced. "Davos, is there anything else?"
Davos blinked, hesitated a moment, and said uncertainly, "It's... cleaner here?"
A gleam appeared in Lord Stannis's sharp eyes. "Davos, these are not commands. The people are silently adhering to strict laws. This is how a kingdom should be."
As Stannis spoke again, a group of men led by Steward Herschel hurried toward them.
Slightly out of breath, Steward Herschel first caught his breath before bowing to Lord Stannis. "My esteemed lord, I am Herschel, steward of The Whispers and supervisor of Mermaid Port. I offer you respects on behalf of House Crabbe."
When Lord Stannis conducted inspections, he disliked giving prior notice. His eyes demanded to see the unvarnished truth.
Herschel, who had been supervising the "second phase" of development at Mermaid Port, had rushed over as soon as he heard Lord Stannis had arrived.
...
Lord Stannis's brow tightened. "Where is your lord?"
Lord Stannis had only recently heard of a new port called Mermaid Port, located north of the straits by Dragonstone.
Two days ago, cunning pirates had again broken through the royal fleet's patrol, slipped into Blackwater Bay, and damaged two merchant ships. Lord Stannis had been furious upon hearing the news.
Burning with rage, Lord Stannis had left Dragonstone under the guise of inspecting the fleet. During the inspection, he had executed several captains from the royal fleet responsible for patrolling the area, right there at sea.
On his return journey after the inspection, Lord Stannis, the Master of Ships, remembered the new port named Mermaid Port.
Fleets and ports are inextricably linked. Every Master of Ships pays attention to every port, especially those in Blackwater Bay, which serves as a shield for King's Landing.
Coincidentally, the *Black Betha*, the ship carrying Lord Stannis, was not far from Mermaid Port. At his command, its course was changed toward the port.
...
Under Lord Stannis's sharp, questioning gaze, Steward Herschel's heart pounded so hard he nearly forgot to breathe.
Steward Herschel ignored the sweat beading on his forehead. "Our lord, Baron Glynn Crabbe, was appointed an officer by Her Grace the Queen. He is currently in the Red Keep."
Stannis's brow furrowed even tighter. *Lannister again!*
*Are the Lannisters so appealing?* he thought. *Anything they can offer, I can offer as well. Why is it that every talented man I take notice of has already pledged himself to the Lannisters!*
Davos moved closer to Lord Stannis and said in a low voice, "Lord Stannis, for over a decade, the nobles of Crackclaw Point have been oppressed by the Hand, Jon Arryn, and the lords of the Vale.
"I have heard that this young baron, Glynn, is a gifted military commander. He defeated an allied army of twenty thousand mountain clansmen with only a few hundred men, reclaiming vast tracts of fertile land that were lost more than ten years ago.
"Even I can see that Baron Glynn is an ambitious man. I believe he pledged himself to the queen out of necessity—to use her power against the Vale lords."
Lord Stannis looked at Davos. "I recall Robert judging and punishing the lords of Crackclaw Point after the rebellion. What is this about the Hand and the Vale lords acting against them since?"
Davos shook his head; that, he truly did not know. The great lords lacked Lord Stannis's great and upright character. Perhaps only the Others knew what such men plotted day after day.
Davos was Lord Stannis's most loyal supporter.
...
Lord Stannis waved Steward Herschel away and started walking back toward the docks. He said to Davos, "A kingdom cannot be ruled by dark conspiracies. The Hand is putting the cart before the horse. Do you still think I should continue to assist him in forging a political alliance?"
Davos chose his words carefully before replying, "Perhaps the Hand has his own unavoidable difficulties?"
Lord Stannis snorted. "Let us hope so."
Along the way, Davos saw a group of children, around ten years of age, standing in a neat little formation under the guidance of a spirited old man.
Because of the distance, Davos could only see the old man holding a bow and speaking, while the faint sound of the children's laughter drifted over intermittently.
Just then, Lord Stannis spoke. "Could my Dragonstone be like this?"
Davos replied, "Lord Stannis, every place is different. It would be very difficult."
(end of chapter)