Renly Baratheon stood by the window of the tallest tower in Storm's End.
Outside, the Narrow Sea was gray and churning with white foam, much like his thoughts at that moment.
In the courtyard below the tower, several squires were trying to soothe a restless stallion. The beast's neighs were torn into fragments by the howling sea wind, adding to the agitation.
Yesterday, he had received a raven from King's Landing that had shocked him beyond measure.
Cersei's three children were not his royal brother's offspring, but bastards born of Cersei and the Kingslayer. Moreover, his dear royal brother had, in one-
fell swoop, legitimized all his bastards. Renly was considering his next move.
Just then.
The maester of Storm's End hurried down the corridor, his sallow face tinged with pallor, several rolls of parchment clutched tightly in his hands.
"My lord, another raven from King's Landing-King's Landing..."
Renly spun around and snatched the letter sealed with royal wax, his movement almost violent.
He quickly scanned the words in the letter, and astonishment even greater than yesterday's flashed in his eyes.
Eddard Stark had murdered the king?
Tywin had arrived in time to save the royal family?
The corner of Renly's mouth twitched. His face darkened instantly, and anger surged in his chest.
Lies!
These were lies so clumsy they were sickening!
He could almost smell the lion's stench between the words.
Renly quickly forced himself to calm down. A complicated expression crossed his face, then gave way to a trace of delight.
His brother was dead! The Iron Throne was vacant!
The throne of the Seven Kingdoms was finally within reach!
An image of himself seated on the Iron Throne, issuing commands, flashed through his mind, deepening his delight.
Yet when he remembered that damned proclamation of legitimization he