"Enough! Davos, I don't want to hear such disheartening words from you!" Duke Stannis, with his thick brows and blue eyes, was still wearing a tight leather vest and coarse brown wool trousers. He looked at Ser Davos, who was reporting to him from the map table.
Stannis had fled King's Landing and had no intention of returning. He believed that House Lannister had poisoned Jon Arryn, and Lady Lysa's frantic escape only strengthened his suspicion. House Lannister's influence in King's Landing was immense, and Stannis was becoming paranoid.
"I know it's as difficult as the sea pouring in to make you flexible. If not for this temperament, you wouldn't be Duke Stannis. But right now, we don't have many friends," Ser Davos advised.
Ser Davos understood Stannis's predicament better than anyone. Stannis was now isolated and helpless. Storm's End belonged to Renly, King's Landing was mostly under Lannister control, and Jon Arryn's widow was a madwoman. Apart from Across the Narrow Sea, Stannis had almost no allies.
"You're not a good envoy, Ser Davos. I sent you Across the Narrow Sea, to Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys, to find potential friends for me. But you tell me that even those pirate friends won't send troops for me in the future. The weak ones have already pledged allegiance to my Bastard nephew, and the bolder ones only dare to hide behind black ships, living off others' scraps," Stannis said angrily, his mouth like an iron blade, a mouth born to frown, scowl, and utter stern words.
"My friends did love gold before, Moros of Myr, Salladhor Saan of Lys, and those Mercenaries, but they won't die for gold, and besides, they've found a better patron!" Ser Davos sighed. "Because of the new king's appearance, it's very difficult for us to recruit friends. I mean, how about we cooperate?"
"I'd prefer it if you truly recruited a Mercenary King who only loves gold for me, but that Bastard isn't one. He has my brother's blood, and the exiled Targaryen orphan girl. He doesn't lack gold, only a crown. Bastards, once they gain power, money, and authority, will seize the opportunity to overthrow the new order, just like that traitor Daemon Blackfyre."
"You are very right, but for now, we truly have no friends. Those beautiful fleets, the Screaming Warriors, are all serving Gendry. Even if he doesn't help us, we cannot let him ally with others, otherwise, given the number of fleets, we will be blocked in Blackwater Bay and Dragonstone."
"Dragonstone, and a few rocks in the Narrow Sea, these are my subordinates. I have my good brother to thank," Stannis said self-deprecatingly. "I also have Lords among my subordinates, but they are few and far between. It seems I have no choice; I have never fought such a difficult war."
"Duke, but our most troublesome enemy right now is still House Lannister. If we could find aid... if you saw those armies, those Mercenaries, beautiful warships, fierce Wolf Pack knights, Dothraki Screamers. If there was some aid..."
"Some things cannot be compromised," Stannis said.
"We're just forming an alliance!" Davos thought for a moment.
"An alliance? With my former enemies? Come on. I imagine Viserys and the girl haven't forgotten who drove them from this wretched island."
"Actually, there's a quick solution to all these crises. Resist House Lannister in the west, and Robert's Bastard in the east," Stannis mused.
Ser Davos knew what Duke Stannis meant. If King Robert had a change of heart and appointed Stannis as hand of the king, then the current difficulties would be much smaller. Unfortunately, there was no 'if'. However, Stannis's sigh gave Davos a new idea.
"In that case, I wonder if we could contact Lord Stark?" Ser Davos suggested. "Historically, Lord Eddard has never liked House Lannister, and he is known for being just and rigid. Furthermore, Lord Eddard's wife and Lord Jon's wife are sisters, from House Tully."
"Eddard Stark?" Stannis paused. "Robert often said he and Eddard were like brothers; I see that's true. As for me, I don't feel that way. But compared to Renly and that Bastard Gendry, Eddard isn't so detestable..."
"You may leave, Ser Davos! Let me think for a while," Stannis said. The predicament Ser Davos described was the most terrifying scenario. House Lannister on land, and the Wolf Pack Fleet of Myr on the sea.
"Yes, Duke Stannis!" Ser Davos nodded. He was thinking about something: an alliance was difficult to agree to, but even if there was an alliance, there wasn't much capital or stake.
"Oh, and one more thing!" Stannis specifically reminded Ser Davos before he left. "Keep an eye on the movements of House Velaryon and Celtigar family. I don't trust them much."
These two families were formerly vassals of the Targaryen family, and Stannis now had to doubt their loyalty.
If the black and red banner of the Targaryen family reappeared, Stannis felt the situation near King's Landing would be the most topsy-turvy... The North, Winterfell, the Godswood.
Catelyn found Eddard Stark washing "Ice" and conveyed the contents of the letter to her husband.
The letter came from King's Landing; it was a letter from King Robert.
"Lord Jon is no more!" Catelyn said.
Eddard's expression grew a little solemn, which Catelyn already knew would happen. Because their bond was like father and son, when the Mad King demanded the lives of his two foster sons, Duke Jon rose in rebellion for it, living up to his house words, "High as Honor."
"The letter says he left very suddenly. Although Lord Jon was always in good health, he was quite old for his age. Lysa and the Child are also well; they have returned to The Eyrie."
"The Gods!" Eddard thought for a moment. This major event was enough to disturb his peace of mind.
"There's one more thing!" Catelyn continued. "King Robert is coming. The letter says the King wants to discuss affairs of state with you."
"We haven't seen each other in many years! Five years!" Eddard's face brightened, and the gloom on his face vanished. "Approximately how many people?"
"About a hundred knights, and their retainers. And many more Free Mercenaries, and half the court. The Queen and her children are all coming. Where the King is, there is the court."
"Good, that gives us some more time to prepare!" Eddard said. "So many people won't travel too quickly."
"The Queen's brother is also in the party!"
Eddard's face darkened. He had always disliked House Lannister. House Lannister had only cautiously joined them when victory was already certain, and Eddard had never forgiven them.
"Have you heard about that matter? About Robert Across the Narrow Sea," Catelyn asked hesitantly.
"The Mercenary King Across the Narrow Sea?" Eddard confirmed his wife's question. "How could I not know about this? Sailors arriving at White Harbor are all proclaiming the deeds of the Mercenary King, who is now the King Across the Narrow Sea. Myr, Tyrosh, the Disputed Lands, people say he is the new The Conqueror."
"He's just a bastard..." Catelyn whispered cautiously. These three words were like a cold, sharp blade, continuing to wound her.
"A king's bastard is no ordinary thing. In the old days, King Daeron fought the old king's bastard, Daemon!" Eddard recalled past events. "This Child has military might and controls the Targaryen family's siblings. He will make his appearance sooner or later."
"It seems I must face war!" Eddard sighed. "I never thought the war would be not with the wildlings Beyond the Wall, but with Robert's Bastard."
"War!" Catelyn couldn't help but tremble.
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