Dragonstone.
Standing at the exit of Blackwater Bay, it was originally the refuge where Targaryen escaped from Valyria, and later became the starting point of the Conqueror Dynasty.
After House Targaryen conquered Seven Kingdoms, it was designated as the traditional fiefdom of the crown prince and was given the title of "Prince Dragonstone".
However, after War of the Usurper, this place was given to his second brother Stannis by the victor Robert King Baila Theon.
From Robert's point of view, this may be reward and placement, but in Stannis·Baila Theon's heart, this is a kind of humiliation.
He regarded his brother's move as a deliberate disparagement, completely ignoring his own contribution to Storm's End.
At this moment, in Stone Drum Tower, the core of the castle, Stannis·Baila Theon is sitting behind the huge stone table.
He wore a simple dark gray coat with House Baratheon and Crowned Stag embroidered on it, but the stag was surrounded by flames.
The former Duke Dragonstone had an angular face, rigid and stern, with a permanently furrowed brow and thin lips pursed under his deep-set eye sockets.
Ever since I can remember, the smile seems to have disappeared from this face.
At this time, his eyes were fixed on the Westeros map with extremely detailed carvings on the stone table.
His fingers crossed the vast area north of Ningze, where the Direwolf coat of arms originally marked "King in the North" Robb·Stark has now been roughly scratched out.
But there was no joy in his eyes, instead showing a trace of solemnity and anxiety.
Stannis stood next to a woman.
It was late autumn, and the sea breeze poured in through the open windows, bringing with it a biting chill.
However, the woman seemed not to feel the cold at all.
She only wore a thin crimson robe, the fabric was soft and close-fitting, outlining her graceful curves, and she stood barefoot on the cold ground.
Her long copper-red hair spread over her shoulders like a burning waterfall. Her skin was so fair that it was almost transparent. A necklace with rubies hung around her neck. Under the light of the fire, blood seemed to be flowing inside the gems.
Facing such a stunning beauty, Stannis had no intention of looking at her at all.
His eyes were still fixed on the map, the narrow sea area between Dragonstone and King's Landing.
"There is no reliable information about the Braavos grain ship."
"The people sent out reported that the patrols along the coast of Crownlands have been much stricter recently."
Stannis's voice was as hard as his face, his teeth were grinding, and the lines of his mandible were sharper. "The food we have stored is only enough to last less than two months."
As he spoke, he placed his fingers heavily on Dragonstone, as if he wanted to press it into the stone table.
Listening to Stannis's complaints, Melisandre moved lightly, making almost no sound with his bare feet on the stone surface. He came to him, stretched out his slender and pale hands, and gently touched Stannis's tight cheeks.
"I see it, my king."
She whispered as softly as ever, her red eyes dancing like flames. "I saw the shadow of sails, a fleet of ships passing through the mist, carrying golden grains and all the supplies you need."
Melisandre's voice seemed to be filled with magic. With a little force on her fingertips, she gently turned Stannis's face towards her, forcing him to look directly into her red pupils.
"But you, Your Majesty, must look further than these earthly grains and swords."
"When the long summer ends and darkness and cold fall, the world needs its savior, the prince that was promised, Azor Ahai, destined to be reborn since the day the stars wept blood!"
"My king once revealed to me that it lies in your soul and blood!"
As she spoke, she picked up a model engraved with the Direwolf badge from the corner of the table and broke it in half with a little force of her fingers.
"The false king Robb·Stark is dead. Soon, the other two trespassers will also be destined to face failure and death."
"Their rule is built on the quicksand of lies and desire and is doomed to collapse."
"And you, Stannis·Baila Theon, the Iron Throne belongs to you according to the law. You were born to be the king, not because of the scheming of mortals to inherit, but to bear the supreme mission of purifying the darkness of the world!"
"Dragonstone is not a prison, it is a sanctuary where you refine your divinity and wait for the trumpet to sound!"
Listening to Melisandre's narration, Stannis's deep blue ink-like eyes stared at the huge torch in front of them that would never be extinguished in accordance with Melisandre's request since they arrived at Dragonstone.
The flames burned ragingly in the stone basin, making a crackling sound. The light stretched and distorted the shadows of all objects in the room, casting them on the walls and the stone table carved with maps, as if countless ghosts in the shadows were dancing silently.
In fact, he always retained a trace of doubt in his heart about Melisandre's claims about prophecy, rebirth, and destined kings.
But it is undeniable that this woman... possesses real magical power.
He slightly broke away from Melisandre's hand, but his movements were not rough, and his voice was still stiff and cold. "I hope you saw the flame correctly, madam."
At this moment, a rush of footsteps broke the silence in the hall.
A knight in mail walked in quickly and knelt down on one knee. "Your Majesty, we have an urgent military report."
"Say."
"Just now, a cargo ship flying the black hand flag docked. The person claiming to be the envoy sent by Tywin·Lannister asked to meet with His Majesty."
"Lannister's messenger?"
As soon as these words came out, Stannis's eyes instantly became extremely sharp.
Just a few days ago, his Hand of the King Allister Florent, that slippery guy from Brightwater Keep, actually publicly proposed at the meeting that he should give up his legal claims to Iron Throne and negotiate peace with Tywin·Lannister!
The condition is to retain the titles of Duke Storm's End and Lord Dragonstone, and marry his daughter Celine to the "Prince Tommen" who is not of the Theon blood of Baila at all!
What a shame!
This is simply a complete betrayal of his lifelong insistence on law and justice!
Allister, who made this suggestion, was ordered to be imprisoned in the Dragonstone dungeon on the spot.
But only a few days later, the messenger from Lannister arrived?
Such a coincidence?
Without any consideration, Stannis ordered almost without hesitation, "Kill!"
"Cut off his head, put it in a box, and return it to Tywin·Lannister."
"Tell him that Stannis·Baila Theon only knows one way to deal with Usurper, and that is war."
His orders are clear and cold, leaving no room for doubt.
This is not only a warning to Lannister, but also a tough statement to the possible wavering elements within itself, reminding them that there is absolutely no possibility of peace talks between the two sides.
Melisandre stood aside, the mysterious smile on his face did not change at all, and he did not express any opinions on Stannis's order.
However, the knight, who had never questioned the execution of Stannis's orders, rarely hesitated for a moment.
He raised his head and mustered up the courage to report to his king, "But... that person came with Sir Davos... No, it should be said... this... I can't say for sure."
"You'd better meet him first, Your Majesty."
Hearing this, Stannis's brows furrowed even deeper, and he suddenly felt very angry.
After the Blackwater Rush battle, Davos Seaworth was imprisoned by him. Only a few days after he was released, he actually got together with the envoy of Lannister?
Just when Stannis was a little undecided, Melisandre on the side ordered the knight very naturally, "Let him come in."
"Also, bring Alister Florent with you."
After receiving her order, the knight saluted and walked out of the hall without saying a word.
Seeing this, Stannis looked at her with dissatisfaction.
Since this woman's arrival, this behavior of giving orders on her behalf has happened several times, and it has even gotten worse.
What made him even more dissatisfied was that his soldiers seemed to be obeying Melisandre's orders more and more.
"What exactly do you want to do?"
He stood up, stared directly at Melisandre, and asked, "Davos Seaworth is a traitor to the enemy."
"The evidence is that he brought a lackey of Lannister to my island and allowed him to stand in front of me."
"Cut off his head together with that reckless guy's head and send it back to King's Landing to Tywin. This is my order and the only answer to the traitors and lobbyists."
As he said that, Stannis paused, with questioning and warning in his eyes. "Also, what does it mean to bring Allister Florent here?"
"Do you think you can change my orders at will and decide who should appear in my hall?"
Facing Stannis's anger, the mysterious smile on Melisandre's face did not change at all. He just tilted his head slightly, and his long red hair fell down his shoulders.
"Beheading, my king." She spoke, her voice still extremely pleasant. "For a traitor, it is an end that is too merciful and too quick."
"At the same time, I can also offer the ultimate sacrifice to my lord R'hllor, and serve as a warning to those soldiers who are still swaying in the shadows and taking chances."
"Why waste such a precious opportunity?"
Hearing the word "burn to death", Stannis frowned even deeper.
Ever since this woman came to Dragonstone with her prophecy, every once in a while, one or two people would be sent to the pyre and turned into charred remains.
What makes him even more uneasy is that even his wife Selyse·Florent, who devoutly believes in Seven, has become one of the most fanatical followers of Melisandre, saying "Lord of Light's will" all the time.
And now, this woman has even begun to directly interfere with his orders!
Stannis took a deep breath. He walked around the stone table and walked to Melisandre. The two were very close.
He was much taller than her, and the shadow he cast almost completely enveloped her.
"Listen clearly, woman." Stannis's voice was extremely low, but full of warning. "Next time, before I give a clear order, don't speak, let alone make decisions for me."
"I allow you to serve your gods and give you advice, but I am the king, the enforcer of the law, the judge of life and death, do you understand?"
He didn't roar, but he used it to draw a line and declare that his authority would not be violated.
Melisandre looked up at him, and the smile on his face finally faded a little, but it was not fear.
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
She said softly, then took a half step back, and did not argue about the method of disposal. However, the previous instruction about bringing Allister Florent had obviously been conveyed through the knight.
Hearing this, Stannis stopped looking at her, turned around and sat down behind the stone table, clenching his hands into fists and placing them on the cold table, trying to use willpower to suppress the turmoil in his heart.
He felt like he was standing between two cliffs, one side was the law, tradition, and the justice he firmly believed in.
On the other side is the strange power, burning prophecy and increasingly fanatical atmosphere brought by this woman.
But he was walking on a steel cable between these two cliffs.
Not long after, footsteps sounded again, approaching from far away.
The door was pushed open, and the knight from before entered first and stepped aside.
Then, a figure walked into the hall shrouded in the swaying light of the eternal fire.
Stannis raised his eyes and looked.
I saw that the person who came was of medium height, neither particularly tall nor thin. He was wearing a simple dark-colored trousers--
Robe, not armor.
He walked calmly, his back was straight, and he had a very decent smile on his face.
At first glance, this is just an ordinary young nobleman from Crownlands or Riverlands who is well-educated and proficient in etiquette.
But...
Stannis's brows instantly tightened, his eyes fixed on the left chest of that person.
There was a pattern embroidered there that he had never seen in any family tree or heraldic book.
A dark palm with five fingers spread out, as if it was about to grab something.
There is no border, no auxiliary pattern, just a lonely black hand.
Corleone stopped about ten steps away from the stone table. The smile on his face did not change, he put his right hand on his chest, leaned forward slightly, and performed a standard noble meeting ceremony that could be used as a textbook.
"It is a great honor to set foot on Dragonstone and see you here, my lord."
"Your title is wrong, boy!"
However, before he finished speaking, the knight who led him in had already taken a step forward and shouted sternly, "Standing in front of you are the only legal heirs of Iron Throne, Andals, Rhoynar and First Men The king of E, the ruler of Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, the reincarnation of the legendary hero Azor Ahai, Stannis Barra Theon the first majesty!"
Oh~~~
Corleone maintained a slightly bowed posture. After hearing this long list of titles, he couldn't help but secretly complain in his heart.
This title is quite long.
Do all the guys who log in to Dragonstone like to use such a long list of titles? Isn't it tiring to read them?
But obviously, Stannis behind the stone table seemed extremely at ease with this introduction.
It was as if each of these titles was born to be attached to him.
Those stern eyes looked at Corleone coldly, and ordered in a firm tone, "Kneel down, Lannister's lobbyist."
"Swear allegiance to your king and admit your past crimes of allegiance to Usurper and his accomplices. In this case, I may consider not sentencing you to death."
Thank you very much.
When Corleone heard the opponent's merciless intimidation from the very beginning, defining himself as a criminal awaiting trial, and "mercifully" saying that he would not be sentenced to death, Corleone felt a burst of curse in his heart.
I'm not that stupid guy like Davos Seaworth, who went to great lengths to save you, and had to let you cut off three of your fingers first in exchange for a chance to be loyal to you.
Crazy!
However, the decent smile on Corleone's face did not change at all, and he just said slowly, "I'm sorry, sir."
He deliberately repeated the previous title, ignoring the knight's correction and Stannis's order, and even said with a hint of regret in his tone, "It's not that I don't want to call you Your Majesty."
"It's really because now in this land, kings seem to be dying one after another. With all due respect, I don't think insisting on calling yourself king is a sign."
The voice fell.
Stone Drum Tower The hall fell into silence.
Only the seemingly never-extinguishing flame burned in the basin, making a crackling sound that was particularly harsh.
The guards stood frozen on the spot with their eyes wide open, almost unable to believe their ears.
The knight who led Corleone in turned red, and put his hand on the hilt of his sword, but did not dare to pull it out because he did not have an order.
Damn... if I had known better, I shouldn't have brought this guy in!
But who would have thought that this envoy sent by Lannister would be so bold and come to Dragonstone alone, could it be to provoke their king?
If you want to die, don't take me with you!
After the stone table, Stannis·Baila Theon's face turned gloomy.
This lackey of Lannister actually dared to use such a vicious and ominous metaphor, linking "king" with "death", and openly said it in front of him!
This is no longer offensive, this is blasphemy, a curse and ridicule to him!
Unforgivable!
He did not go to see Melisandre, nor did he ask for anyone's opinion. He directly issued the simplest and most direct verdict. "Burn him to death."