The Red Comet mingled the dreadful colors of blood, flame, and sunset, while pale gray steam rose ceaselessly from the geothermal vents of Dragonmont behind the Castle of Dragonstone. This was a rare volcanic landscape, and dragons had once roamed the vast skies above it.
Stannis's domain was a lone island in the ocean, nothing more. After the dragons vanished, Dragonstone had returned to its barren, desolate state.
"The gargoyles have never changed. Only Dragonstone's masters have changed, again and again." Davos "Shortfingers" Seaworth looked at the black gargoyles perched atop the high walls of the ancient Valyrian castle. Some were hellhounds, some Winged Serpents, and some sphinxes. There were over a thousand of these gargoyles, exuding the aura and stench of ancient Valyrian sorcery. Dragonstone had originally been the westernmost outpost of the Valyrian Freehold.
Davos had served Duke Stannis on Dragonstone for a long time and had grown accustomed to these hideous statues. He walked straight through an alley, only to hear a jingling sound.
"Lady Shireen." The sound told Davos that it was Stannis's only daughter, Shireen, and her fool, Patchface. A pitiable little girl and her comical fool.
"It's me, old knight. Are you going to see my father?" Lady Shireen was as shy as ever. The child had innocent blue eyes, but unfortunately, the gods had not granted her beauty to match. She was unlike those handsome children of her generation, Gendry, Edric Storm, and the rest. Stannis could hardly be called handsome to begin with, and his wife was no great beauty either.
Davos's thoughts drifted for a moment. Perhaps the gods had been too cruel to Stannis. There was little affection between him and his wife, and his only child was a sickly, lonely girl.
Shireen had not only her father's prominent square