Stannis's messenger bowed and withdrew. Loras watched him leave, then turned to Renly. "Your Grace, are you really going?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Renly said with a smile. "I want to hear what my stubborn brother has to say."
Twenty leagues south of Storm's End stood a small harbor town.
Renly Baratheon reined in his warhorse and looked at the rather shabby tavern ahead. Dozens of soldiers stood outside its doors, their orange cloaks embroidered with the same crowned stag he wore. They were Stannis's men.
He curled his lip and said to Loras beside him, "My dear brother really is cautious. He asked to meet me, yet still brought so many guards."
Loras wore ornate rose armor and a golden cloak, glittering from head to toe in the sunlight. He smiled. "Perhaps he's afraid you'll take the opportunity to kill him."
"I won't kill him." Renly dismounted and straightened his clothes. "Not today, at least."
Inside the tavern, the two brothers stood face-to-face.
The tavern had been cleared out, leaving only a table and a few chairs. When Renly entered with Loras and several guards, he discovered that Stannis had only two men waiting inside with him.
One was Stannis's most trusted Onion Knight, Davos Seaworth. The other was a tall man with pink cheeks and a broad smile. Judging by his appearance, he was likely Ser Justin Massey of House Massey in the Crownlands.
Stannis was much thinner than Renly remembered, and his expression was even grimmer. It seemed the past few days had not treated him well.
Renly stepped forward and sat down, greeting him with a cheerful smile. "It's been a while, brother. You don't look well."
He wore a blue velvet coat that day, a golden cloak embroidered with a crowned stag, and a jeweled longsword