Castle Black.
Inside the room, cries that were impossible to distinguish as pain or pleasure seemed to still echo.
Gendry stared blankly upward, lying motionless on the bed.
Stannis stood there like a stone statue, his deep-set eyes fixed on the witch who had completed her evil magic.
Melisandre slowly lifted her eyelids, her fiery red eyes hazy as they lightly glanced toward Stannis.
Her breathing was slightly ragged, her full, ample breasts heaving enticingly, yet radiating lethal danger.
Stannis's thin lips moved. "Did it succeed?"
Melisandre parted her red lips, her voice carrying the accent of the Jade Sea, weary and hoarse. "The Duke of Winterfell has ended his journey..."
Stannis narrowed his eyes. She smiled softly. "Since arriving at the Wall of the End, my power has clearly grown stronger. Naturally, my 'Shadow Assassin' can easily deal with your enemies."
As Melisandre rose, another pained roar suddenly rang out. "No, Uncle Ned, it wasn't me! Gods, save him!"
Gendry's limbs twitched a few times before he fell unconscious.
"The little blacksmith provided 'king's blood.' He could personally sense the Shadow Assassin's actions. With his own hands, he drove the sword into Eddard Stark's chest."
Stannis pressed his lips tightly together. About a year ago, he had slit Renly's throat in a dream.
The fist behind his back clenched tighter. Renly—his brother—had betrayed him.
Renly had even dared to mock, provoke, and threaten him to his face. He should have cut out Renly's tongue, but that would not have been fatal.
So he had ordered Melisandre to use the Shadow Assassin to slit Renly's throat.
And Eddard Stark...
The Wights driven by the White Walkers were no longer hiding their tracks. It heralded the coming war between darkness and light.
He, Stannis Baratheon, was the king. It was only