To him, the lights of King's Landing looked like ghostly flames flickering before a grave.
"My lord."
Davos Seaworth's voice sounded behind Stannis, filled with unease.
Stannis did not turn around.
He kept watching the city.
"A rabble, and they dare stand in my way."
His voice was quiet, yet colder than a winter wind.
"They are civilians, my lord."
Davos's voice trembled slightly.
"They've merely been stirred up by that old charlatan! We cannot..."
"Civilians?"
Stannis finally turned and looked at Davos.
"Let me ask you something, Davos."
"When a man takes up a weapon and stands before my army, is he still a civilian?"
The question left Davos speechless.
He wanted to say that all they carried were hoes and kitchen knives.
But he knew Stannis would not listen.
"They are rebels."
Stannis spoke each word distinctly.
"And there is only one fate for rebels."
He walked to the map in the center of the command tent and pressed his finger hard against King's Landing.
"I gave them a chance."
"Three days."
"If, after three days, this city's gates still have not opened for me, their rightful king..."
His gaze shifted to Davos, and the look in his eyes made the Onion Knight feel as though his blood were freezing.
"I will permit my soldiers to use fire."
"I will make those foolish believers see for themselves how helpless the false gods they worship are before the sacred flames!"
Davos felt his head ring.
Use fire?
That was divine magic!
Use divine magic against a crowd of unarmed civilians?
That would be nothing but a one-sided slaughter!
"My lord! No! Absolutely not!"
Davos stepped forward in agitation.
"We came to liberate King's Landing! Not destroy it!"
"If we do this, how are we any different from bandits who