Stannis Baratheon: "..."
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "I told Jon Arryn about my suspicions. 😾🐺 ൠ✌"
Renly Baratheon asked suspiciously, " Stannis, since you have this suspicion, why don't you just tell Robert?"
Stannis's jaw twitched a few times as he said, "I believe Robert would be more inclined to listen to Jon Arryn than to his own brother, because he respects his Hand of the King of the King... I also don't want Robert to misunderstand that my aim is to place myself first in the line of succession to the Iron Throne."
King Renly spread his hands and said, "So... my brother, it's a real shame. The Duke has passed away, and we have no evidence. Who will believe you?"
He added, "Even if you can produce evidence, so what? In the end, nothing changes. Stannis, the fact is that my army far outnumbers 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, now that I'm here, do you think I'd be afraid of your threats?"
King Renly first shook his head with a smile, " Stannis, I'm not threatening you."
Then, his tone changed, and he said seriously, "If I wanted to threaten you, I would say it openly and honestly."
King Renly's blue eyes swept over Stannis's tense face as he spoke, "To be honest... Stannis, I've never liked you, but you are, after all, my blood brother, and I have no intention of hurting you."
He pointed to the majestic castle in the distance and continued, "If you want Storm's End, take it... Consider it a gift between brothers. Just as Robert gave it to me, I now give it to you, my Stannis."
Renly's seemingly generous words only fueled King Stannis's rage. "It's not your place to bestow it; by the law, Storm's End's End belongs to me!"
King Renly sighed, turning slightly to look at the stern-faced Randyll House Tarly, and said helplessly, "My Earl, what am I to do with this old man? He has so heartlessly rejected my kindness... As my own flesh and blood, he won't even attend my wedding..."
King Stannis's voice was laced with sarcasm. " Renly, I'm not blind. You and I both know perfectly well that your wedding was nothing but a pathetic farce... Do you think I don't know that you and your stupid henchmen plotted to turn that girl into yet another of Robert's whores?!"
"I once wanted that girl to be Robert's new Queen..."
King Renly shrugged and continued, "But what does it matter? In the end, the boar took Robert, and I took Margaery Tyrell."
His face was beaming with joy. " Little Rose was a virgin when she married me, you should be happy for me, my brother."
King Stannis scoffed, his gaze towards his brother filled with disgust. "My brother, I think she'd rather have Robert's fate than share a bed with you."
King Renly's smile froze for a moment upon hearing Stannis's sarcasm, "What a pity... I thought she would give me a healthy baby boy this year."
His smile widened, and he continued, " Stannis, how many sons do you have? If I remember correctly... I don't think you have any."
King Renly sighed again, "I actually understand you. If my wife were as ugly as yours, I'd be lucky to have a daughter at all."
As if suddenly remembering something, he added, " Stannis, I recently heard that your daughter isn't your child? She's actually Axell Florent (Chapter 186)..."
King Stannis interrupted angrily, "Enough! I will never allow anyone to insult me to my face, not a single person! Do you understand?!"
He roared, "I absolutely will not allow it!"
With a whoosh, King Stannis drew his sword, the blade flashing with an eerie light, sometimes red, sometimes yellow, and sometimes turning into a blazing white light.
With a whoosh, Randyll Earl drew the Valyrian steel sword of House Tarly — Heartsbane.
He warned, " Stannis, put down your sword!"
King Stannis pointed his gleaming sword at his brother and said, "I do not wish to taint the blade of the Lightbringer with the blood of my own flesh and blood. For the sake of our shared mother who nurtured us, tonight I will give you one last chance to reflect on your mistakes!"
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. " Renly, pledge allegiance to me before dawn, and I will bestow upon you the title of Duke of Storm's End, retain your prominent position in the Small Council, and even before my son is born, I will still designate you as my heir... If you do not comply, don't blame me for disciplining you according to the laws of the kingdom!"
King Renly was slightly taken aback at first, then laughed heartily and said, " Stannis, your glowing sword is truly beautiful, I envy you... However, I wonder if its radiance is affecting your eyesight?"
As he spoke, he pointed towards Stannis's army camp and said, "My brother, see those flags? Do you really think a few woolen poles are enough for you to declare yourself king?"
He suppressed his smile, "The lords, large and small, of the Stormlands all support my claim to kingship, as do the lords, large and small, of the Reach... including your wife's family! The knights of the entire 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 wielding swords and spears."
His voice was laced with contempt. "You say you'll punish me according to the kingdom's laws? On what grounds, on your prayers? Or on your ragtag bunch of a few thousand soldiers? I guarantee that as soon as the war starts, at least half of them will run to my side."
His gaze held a hint of suspicion. "I've heard you have fewer than four hundred cavalry. Don't you know that your leather-armored Free Riders are utterly vulnerable to the charge of heavy armor and lances?"
Finally, King Renly said coldly, " Stannis, I don't care how battle-hardened or invincible you think you are, but... the facts are right before your eyes. The moment my vanguard charges, your rabble will be utterly wiped out!"
King Stannis said sharply, "We'll see, my brother."
He sheathed his sword and said, "We'll see what happens at dawn."
King Renly shrugged and said, "May your New Gods bless you, my old brother."
Stannis gave a cold snort, his expression full of contempt. He pulled on the reins, turned his horse around, and rode away in a cloud of dust.
"Remember your sins, Renly Baratheon."
After saying this, the red-robed female standard-bearer gazed at Renly with great interest for a moment, then spurred her Renly and rode off in the direction Stannis had left.
King Renly shrugged and said, "I am truly a benevolent king."
He tugged at the reins, turning his horse around, and looked at Earl Randyll beside him, smiling as he said, "That glowing sword in my brother's hand is quite interesting, isn't it?"
Randyll Earl, "Your Majesty, that's just a scare tactic."
Upon hearing Earl 'Randyll reply, King Renly burst into laughter.
After laughing, he murmured in a voice only he could hear, "If Loras were still here, he would definitely present it to me as a gift after the war..."
Back at camp, King Renly, in high spirits, loudly commanded, "Tomorrow, I require you all to don your armor, take your weapons, and mount your horses at the first light of dawn."
Tomorrow morning will be a morning Stannis will never forget.
Nighttime, Stannis's King's tent.
A map of Storm's End's End was spread out on the long table, and King Stannis stared at it without moving, his brow furrowed.
Melisandre, dressed in a red robe, entered the tent and walked lightly to King Stannis's side.
Melisandre slightly and said, "My king, I foresaw the destruction of the traitor Renly Baratheon in the Sacred Fire."
King Stannis's brow gradually relaxed, and he turned his head to look at the Red Priestess.
Melisandre's red eyes seemed to burn as she sang, "Green tents... with candles... screaming women... bleeding..."
King Stannis's gaze sharpened slightly. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, "What should I do?"
Melisandre gave a charming smile, and soon after... her silky robes fell onto the carpet on the floor.
The firelight inside the tent flickered, Melisandre's body seemed to glow with a soft white light. She moved barefoot and stood before King Stannis, with a long table covered with maps behind her.
Melisandre extended a hand, her fingertips lightly tracing King Stannis's chest, and said softly, "It's simple, my king."
Having said that, she faced King Stannis and gracefully sat down at the long table.
"I need the power of the reincarnation of Azor Ahai."
Melisandre slowly opened her full, shapely legs and said, "What are you waiting for, my king?"
King Stannis's breathing became heavy as the priestess's pale fingers reached towards his waist.
Seven seconds later, a faint groan was heard from inside the tent.
Melisandre gently stroked Stannis's withered cheek and whispered, "My king, I need you to provide me with a guide who can row a boat."
King Stannis suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable dizziness wash over him, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He closed his eyes and nodded slightly.
Melisandre bent down to pick up the red robe from the carpet, then bowed and took her leave.
Shortly after the priestess left, Davos Seaworth hurried into King Stannis's tent.
When the Onion Knight met King Stannis, his heart skipped a beat... In the time it takes to eat dinner... his "god" seemed to have aged instantly!
Or rather... at this moment, Stannis, with his eyes closed, resembled a corpse.
Davos's face was filled with worry, and he bowed cautiously, saying, " King Stannis, you called me?"
After waiting silently for a while, King Stannis opened his eyes. His gaze was as sharp as a drawn sword, which relieved Davos slightly.
King Stannis's emotionless voice rang out. "During the negotiations during the day, Renly tried to give me a peach. He mocked me, provoked me, threatened me, and finally tried to give me a peach... I thought he was going to draw his sword, so I almost drew mine. Was that his intention, to make me show fear before him? Or... was this just another one of his silly jokes? Or... was there some deeper meaning behind it all?"
He paused, his teeth grinding. " Renly! Only Renly could annoy me so much with a piece of fruit. I'll never forget that peach until the day I go to my grave."
Stannis's sharp gaze shifted to Onion Knight: " Davos, I love my brother, but he is a traitor, and he must be destroyed."
Davos felt a chill run down his spine. " King Stannis, you mean... I don't quite understand what you mean..."
For some reason, he suddenly thought of assassination... Davos instinctively reached for the leather pouch around his neck, and touched the Fingerbones inside—his lucky charm.
King Stannis's icy voice rang out. " Onion Knight, you still keep them? You still think of them?"
"No," Davos shook his head in denial.
King Stannis's gaze was scrutinizing. "Then why keep it? I've always been curious."
Davos replied respectfully, " King Stannis, for they remind me of who I am, where I come from, and of your impartiality and selflessness."
Stannis nodded slightly. "You are both a hero and a smuggler. Good deeds cannot offset evil deeds, nor can evil deeds overshadow good deeds. Every action has its due punishment; this is the justice of the law."
He added, " Renly is usurping the throne; this is an unforgivable evil, and for the sake of justice, he must be destroyed."
Davos hesitated over how to speak, but King Stannis's voice rang out again, as if he could already see what the Onion Knight was thinking.
" Davos, you don't need to understand, just follow my orders."
Davos licked his lips and patted his chest, saying, " King Stannis, I am your loyal servant. What are your needs?"
King Stannis began, "This is something you're very good at. I need you to take Melisandre to where she wants to go in a small boat, but this must be kept absolutely secret and no one can know about it... Can you do that?"
In the pitch-black night, Davos sailed a small black-sailed boat across Shipbreaker Bay. His "passenger" was Melisandre was huddled on the deck, covered from head to toe in a dark red cloak.
The sound of water lapping against the hull remained unchanged, and the Onion Knight's eyes trembled slightly... Sixteen years ago, he brought onions, he brought life... Sixteen years later, he brought the Red Priestess of Asshai, and it seemed he brought death.