Shattered Pure Iron

The Son of the Prostitute knew that some mysterious, powerful force had appeared within him.

A blessing from the gods? Magic? Sorcery?

Over the past four days, he had gradually learned to control this power. He began to feel that the Stranger might come to take him away a little later.

Today, or decades from now.

He looked at the man beside him. This was the only person he had been in contact with these past few days.

He had given the man a name known only to himself—"Silver Stag." No matter what, that precious Silver Stag had given him several days of food, warmth, and peace.

Silver Stag brought him to Central Plaza beside the Alchemists' Guild.

"Lord Stannis will inspect the Royal Fleet at the harbor. He will come from the north. Mud Road and Fishermen's Square lie between here and the harbor. That will be your chance."

"Don't worry. I'll be watching you."

After giving his instructions, Silver Stag vanished into the crowd.

He stood blankly at the edge of the plaza.

Faces passed by one after another—men, women, children, old people. Where was Stannis?

He searched for a long while before finally spotting a face growing larger and clearer.

A harsh face that haunted his dreams every night.

He gripped the knife hidden in his sleeve.

He quietly moved closer.

Stannis strode forward with a stern expression, as if heading into battle.

He was deeply dissatisfied with Robert's decision.

After Lord Jon, I should have been Robert's Hand of the King!

I have served tirelessly in this post for so many years, yet he only favors Eddard!

Then again, how could a king obsessed with feasts, pleasures, and women possibly value a second brother who shunned women, remained grim all day, and never smiled?

Stannis knew this, but he could not understand it.

Renly, who did nothing but crack jokes and waste time at tournaments, had received Storm's End, passed down through their family, along with his elder brother's affection.

All Stannis had received were Robert's mockery and a few rocks in the Narrow Sea.

What is Dragonstone worth?!

I am the rightful heir to the Iron Throne!

Unfortunately, he was the only one who acknowledged that fact. His sole ally, Hand of the King Jon, had also been murdered.

After that, the king had almost immediately decided to head north to Winterfell, without giving any thought to his second brother. Naturally, Stannis was in no good mood.

He had decided to leave King's Landing, that hateful and dangerous place where darkness bred unchecked.

"Davos, are the preparations complete?"

He asked the Onion Knight beside him, but his tone was stiff, as though he were conducting an interrogation.

Davos Seaworth had long grown accustomed to his lord's temperament and answered calmly. "We can set sail tomorrow. Every ship is ready. Aren't you going to inspect them?"

Stannis did not merely intend to leave himself. He also planned to take more than half the fleet at the harbor back to Dragonstone.

After all, he was still the court's Master of Ships.

"Good. Tell Dragonstone to prepare to receive us in advance."

Stannis continued laying out his plans.

He knew the Lannisters would not let the matter rest. Robert was likely no longer safe, and Stannis needed to make preparations early.

Dragonstone had King's Landing by the throat, and the fleet...

The Son of the Prostitute drew close to his enemy. He pulled half a knife from his sleeve.

His enemy was speaking to someone. It had been a fine opportunity, but soldiers surrounded him on all sides. He needed to wait for the right moment.

"Davos, how are conditions on Blackwater Bay? Are supplies sufficient? How are the soldiers reacting to the voyage?"

Davos patiently answered each question, though he was secretly puzzled.

From what he knew of his lord, Stannis would not normally concern himself with such matters. His subordinates would naturally handle them. Why was he asking about them today?

Stannis stepped onto Mud Road.

Though it was called Mud Road because it lay near the riverbank, the stone-paved road still allowed great numbers of pedestrians to pass steadily.

As always, it was crowded today.

Using the crowd as cover, the knife slowly drew closer to its target from below waist level.

The guarding soldiers remained vigilant.

The Duke of Dragonstone arrived at the even more crowded Fishermen's Square.

Fishermen, small vendors, laborers and common folk who had just crossed the river into the city, pitiful beggars scattered everywhere, cheap prostitutes...

At last, a soldier was struck full-on by a drunkard and was busy freeing himself from the man's entanglement.

The knife saw an opening!

In that instant, Davos caught an unusual flash of light, and his heart sank.

The knife plunged into the lord's body!

Only then did Davos manage to cry out. "An assassin! Protect the lord!!"

The soldiers came to their senses and drew their swords.

But the assassin had struck true and already vanished into the crowd.

"My lord! How are you?"

Davos anxiously supported Stannis. His sturdy breastplate and chainmail had both been pierced, and a bleeding knife wound had split open across his chest!

Stannis had caught sight of the assassin's face.

He kept thinking about it. Very young, somewhat familiar. Who could it have been?

Agonizing pain invaded his mind. Stannis said nothing, but cold sweat streamed down his forehead. The soldiers faced a grave threat and hurriedly escorted their lord back home by the same route.

Stannis lay on his bed, his bare upper body covered in flowing blood.

A group of trusted retainers crowded around the bed, while a large number of guards stood inside and outside the room. The atmosphere was chilling.

He was very fortunate.

The knife had not injured Stannis's internal organs. It was only a flesh wound.

After the wound was bandaged and medicine applied, the lord appeared to be in decent condition, though his face was slightly pale and stiff.

He finally remembered.

"It was a prostitute's Bastard!"

Davos had yet to react. "My lord, what did you say?"

"That assassin was a prostitute's Bastard. I saw him in the Throne Room. Just as expected, he has no respect for the law!"

Stannis understood the reason for today's incident.

Had he not merely executed a murderer according to the laws of the kingdom? That Bastard actually bore a grudge and wanted revenge?!

Everyone should understand that law was law. It could not be swayed by personal feelings or preferences, nor should the judge himself be blamed.

Just as expected, a Bastard born of filth would inevitably grow into a violent criminal of chaos and evil!

Stannis waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave.

"It is nothing. He was merely an ignorant thug. I am fine."

Everyone relaxed somewhat and gradually departed.

Davos also felt that it made sense, but the unease in his heart was difficult to dispel.

"My lord, we should not delay. Everything is ready. Why not depart tonight? It would prevent any further danger."

"You think I would be afraid? The schedule remains unchanged. Prepare my dinner."

Davos could only obey.

In the kitchen.

Some of the servants and kitchen hands snored against crates by the fireplace, while others quietly chatted about gossip and rumors.

The head chef smacked the backs of his young assistants' heads one by one. "You lazy lot, get moving! Lord Stannis is dining!"

Dick, one of the assistant cooks, had not been slacking off, but he still got smacked.

He could not help silently cursing the old man. He thinks he can treat us like animals just because he's old and experienced. One day, I'll make you pay!

Dick's work was varied and exhausting.

Chopping and preparing ingredients, cleaning the kitchen, tending the cooking, running errands and delivering meals, waiting on those so-called seniors.

He had long wanted to quit. Now, he had been given a heaven-sent opportunity.

Dick looked around. No one was paying attention to this side, so he quietly took a paper packet from his clothes and poured the white powder into the soup.

Thinking of the shining Golden Dragon in that person's hand, the last trace of hesitation and fear in his heart vanished.

He picked up a ladle and viciously stirred the pot of thick venison soup several times.

"My lord!"

Davos nearly wanted to chop this assistant cook into pieces with his glare alone!

"Take him away!"

The two soldiers glanced at their lord, then roughly dragged the traitor out of the room. He wailed without stop, twisting and struggling like a maggot, as they took him away to meet his end.

"My lord, this was no accident. Someone truly means you harm. We must leave at once!"

Stannis did not object again. If he had drunk the soup first, it would not have been a cook lying on the floor with a livid face, but Stannis himself.

It was already close to midnight.

Stannis led a large force straight toward the harbor, and even the Gold Cloaks did not dare stop them rashly.

A pair of eyes in the darkness saw them.

Silver Stag had announced the failure of the operation during the day. Stannis had not died.

Silver Stag said he still had one night. If he could not succeed, he would never have another chance.

After that, he never saw Silver Stag again.

He wandered around Fishermen's Square. Even he did not know what he was thinking.

Now, he saw a massive procession of over a hundred people. Torches illuminated their armor and swords, casting light over their solemn, wary faces.

Mother, that day, you told me to live well. I remembered.

I'm sorry.

It seems the Stranger has destined me to avenge you!

He thought of nothing else and charged straight toward that face at the center of the firelight.

"Stay alert! Something's moving!"

Under the torchlight, the knife in the enemy's hand seemed to gleam red.

He was only a ragged youth, untrained in martial arts.

The knights and guards struck the enemy with precise blows.

No one expected the enemy to remain completely unharmed and rush swiftly to the lord's side!

The knife stabbed into Stannis's chest once more and was not pulled out again. Scorching flames poured into Stannis's heart, burning his soul.

The lord stared fixedly at the assassin's face.

He opened his mouth weakly and exhaled a wisp of black-red smoke, along with his final breath of life.

Before flames and True Steel, Stannis—the Pure Iron that never yielded, black and hard, that would break before it bent—shattered.

Davos let out a soundless cry. He could not even work his throat.

The assassin stood motionless where he was.

With all his strength, Davos swung a sword filled with killing intent.

The assassin's body collapsed limply to the ground, while his head rolled away to one side, eyes still open.

A few seconds later.

At the moment the Son of the Prostitute's eyes went completely gray, Joffrey, far away in the Riverlands, opened his eyes...