A little while later, a lord of the Stormlands came to report. After bowing, he said, "Your Grace, I was leading a patrol outside just now and saw House Martell's banners, a spear piercing a red sun. Someone also said he spotted the Red Viper, Oberyn, among the Dornish."
"Of course he would come."
The corner of Renly's mouth twitched. He looked at the man and said, "The Dornish have waited all these years for a chance at revenge. The Baratheons share responsibility for the blood debt owed for Elia and Aegon. So, given the chance, they wouldn't mind making Storm's End their first target."
Time continued to tick by, and the mist gradually cleared.
"Your Grace, we've spotted an army from the Reach outside the north gate." Loras returned from the north gate to report to Renly, lowering his voice a little. "Most of the banners belong to Randyll Tarly, but there are banners of our House Tyrell as well."
Renly turned to look at Loras. His face was expressionless, and his blue eyes were perfectly calm, as though he had expected everything.
"Is your father, Lord Mace, still at the north gate?" Renly watched Loras for a while, as though he wanted to commit everything about him to memory. Only then did he speak slowly, his tone grave.
"He's been there the whole time. Don't worry, Renly. As long as one of us is there, the Reach's troops will hold firm. Nothing will go wrong at the north gate."
Thinking Renly was reproaching him for abandoning his post, Loras lowered his head and said, "I only left to come and report to you."
Renly nodded without speaking.
He began inspecting the walls, both to raise morale in Storm's End and to check its defenses.
Loras walked beside him,