He was no longer the Stannis who believed only in law and order.
He was the Lord of Light's emissary in the mortal world!
He was the Holy Fire King!
"Davos."
Davos Seaworth stepped out from the back of the crowd, unease written all over his face.
He looked at the king before him, at once familiar and unfamiliar, and felt his very soul tremble.
"My lord."
"What have you done with House Tyrell's envoy?"
Davos swallowed with difficulty.
"He... he is still waiting in the side hall."
"Good."
Stannis descended from the dais.
"Bring him here."
"And bring Loras Tyrell up as well."
Davos's heart clenched.
He knew Stannis was about to put the next stage of his plan into motion.
The atmosphere in the hall at Storm's End was suffocating.
An envoy wearing House Tyrell's golden rose stood restlessly in the center of the hall.
He looked at the man sitting on Lord Renly's throne, his palms slick with cold sweat.
Just then.
The sound of chains dragging across the floor rang out.
Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, was roughly hauled in by two guards.
His splendid armor was gone, and he wore only filthy prisoner's clothes.
His once-handsome face was covered in grime and wounds.
Yet his eyes remained those of a lion that refused to yield, glaring fixedly at Stannis on the throne.
"Stannis!"
Loras's voice brimmed with bitter hatred.
"You murdered your own younger brother! You devil!"
Stannis ignored his curses.
He merely turned his gaze toward the Tyrell envoy, who was nearly senseless with terror.
"You have seen him."
Stannis's voice was calm.
"This man, Loras Tyrell, murdered my brother, Renly Baratheon of the Stormlands."
"By law, he should be executed."
The Tyrell envoy trembled all over and hastily dropped to his