Dragonstone, Map Room.
"Earl of Crab Claw Peninsula, Greene Kleber, salutes you."
Several people stood below the raised platform in the hall. Duke Stannis sat on the high seat, and Greene felt various scrutinizing gazes.
Duke Stannis's eyes were obscured by the shadow of his thick brows. His steady and indifferent voice echoed in the empty hall: "Earl Green, do you remember what I said here last time? (Chapter 98)"
Greene straightened his back and looked at Duke Stannis, who was high above: "I remember, you said you would clear my doubts."
Duke Stannis's lips were tightly sealed, and his jaw moved silently.
After a pause, he spoke: "Are your doubts cleared now?"
Greene shook his head slightly: "Duke Stannis, please forgive my slowness."
As Greene's words fell, a strange woman immediately let out a cold snort. The woman was thin, with a sharp face, protruding ears, and a sharp nose.
Her eyes were light, her mouth was grim, and her voice was sharp as a whip: "What a cunning Earl of Whispers! Who doesn't know that the boy sitting on the Iron Throne is Cersei's bastard? How dare you lie under the Lord of Light's gaze? Should I say you're truly the favorite of that harlot Cersei?"
Greene was indifferent to the harsh reprimand. He turned his head to look at the Onion Knight standing beside him.
He whispered: "Ser Davos, who is this lady?"
Davos raised his eyebrows, revealing a helpless expression. He glanced at Duke Stannis on the high seat and then whispered to Greene: "Earl Green, you're making things very difficult for me."
Greene raised an eyebrow, looking at Davos without speaking.
Davos sighed softly. He first bowed towards Duke Stannis and then said: "This is Duke Stannis's wife, Lady Selyse."
Davos's brief introduction was met with a displeased snort.
A middle-aged man stepped forward and announced: "Earl of Whispers, standing before you is Duke Stannis Baratheon's wife, Lady of Dragonstone, descendant of Garth the Greenhand, Lady Selyse of House Florent."
Garth, known as Garth the Greenhand or Garth the Green, was a legendary king of the First Men, also considered the ancestor of many Riverlands families. His eldest son, Garth Gardener, founded the House Gardener and became the first King of the Riverlands.
House Florent is one of the powerful and ancient noble families in the Riverlands, whose lineage can be traced back to one of the three sons of Garth's daughter, Floris. They claim their bloodline is closer to the House Gardener than their liege, House Tyrell.
House Florent firmly believes that their claim to Highgarden is more prior and legitimate than other families, and therefore, House Florent often questions House Tyrell's rule over the Riverlands.
...…
Davos shrugged. Greene turned towards the platform, his gaze sweeping over a red figure, and he placed a hand on his chest, saying: "Greetings, Lady Selyse. Greene Kleber sends his regards."
Lady Selyse sneered and said: "Answer my question, Earl of Whispers."
Greene calmly glanced at Lady Selyse, his voice calm and steady: "According to the laws of the Seven Kingdoms, without a formal trial, I reserve my opinion on all accused persons."
Lady Selyse's tone was sharp: "A mere half-savage family has also learned…"
"Selyse, quiet," Duke Stannis's voice interrupted Lady Selyse's words.
Lady Selyse shrieked: "Your Majesty, you shouldn't interrupt me. By law, the nobles of the Crab Claw Peninsula are my vassals."
"Your Majesty?"
Stannis repeated the word, his tone filled with resentment.
He continued: "What an ironic title… What kind of king am I? Dragonstone, and a few rocks in the Narrow Sea, is this my kingdom?!"
Lady Selyse quickly said: "Your Majesty, by the will of the Lord of Light, you are the sole king of the Iron Throne."
Stannis was not as fanatical about the Lord of Light as his wife. He frowned and said: "You get this straight, I want an army, not blessings."
Lady Selyse was about to speak but was interrupted by Greene's voice.
He leisurely said: "Lady Selyse, please forgive my presumption, but I must correct you. Loyalty to the Queen is a tradition of the Crab Claw Peninsula, not a legal right."
After speaking, Greene felt everyone's gaze gather on him again.
"You…"
Greene calmly shrugged and added: "As far as I know, Duke Stannis has not yet claimed to be king, Lady Selyse."
"You…"
After a pause, he placed a hand on his chest towards the high seat and said: "I think the sound of the wind and waves outside made me hallucinate."
Whether intentional or not, Lord Green would pretend not to hear any talk about the king from those present.
"The Lord of Light cherishes chastity and punishes depravity," a red figure said as she gracefully walked towards Greene.
She stopped in front of Greene and said: "Earl Kleber, I am Melisandre, a priestess of R'hllor, the Lord of Light."
Melisandre was elegantly slender, full yet delicate. She wore a long, flowing silk gown as bright as a flame, with long sleeves and slits in the bodice, revealing a deeper blood-red chemise underneath.
"Good day, Melisandre… Lady?"
Greene glanced at the red gold collar around Melisandre's neck, which was set with a large red ruby. His fingers curled.
"Do not concern yourself with titles. To me, this is merely a tool for my journey in the mortal realm."
Melisandre's voice was deep, with the pleasant accent unique to the Jade Sea region. She had deep red-copper hair, a heart-shaped face, red eyes, and skin as fair and smooth as fresh cream, without blemish.
Melisandre suddenly gazed at Greene, and Greene seemed to see a fleeting flicker of fire in her eyes.
After a pause, her hand gently brushed Greene's breastplate, and she murmured: "Such pure power…"
Greene: "…" He disliked that choice of words.
Melisandre withdrew her hand, and she and Greene almost simultaneously took half a step back.
The moment the priestess's fingers touched him, Greene felt as if he had been stripped naked. He was truly worried he might not be able to resist drawing his sword, so he stepped back.
And Melisandre? A secret.
Both pretended their previous actions were an illusion. After a brief pause, Melisandre spoke softly: "Earl Green, the Lord of Light's guidance has brought you here…"
She spread her hands and chanted: "We must all make a choice, men and women, old and young, noble or common, our choice is the same. We choose light or darkness, justice or evil. We choose the true god or false gods."
After speaking, her gaze lingered on Greene for a moment before she turned and returned to the area below the platform.
Melisandre bowed slightly towards Stannis on the high seat and said: "We mortals, born alone and die alone, lost and wandering in the dark valley. Fortunate are we to gather with kin, fortunate to have the true god, who overflows us with grace."
Duke Stannis nodded slightly. He rose from his chair, walked down the steps, and stood before the map table. The map table was carved with the Seven Kingdoms from Aegon the Conqueror's era, detailing all rivers, mountains, fortresses, cities, lakes, and forests… in minute detail, gleaming with the luster of nearly three centuries of accumulated lacquer.
Duke Stannis stood before the map table in thought for a moment, then beckoned Davos and Greene to come over.
Greene and Davos exchanged glances, then stepped forward, standing one on each side of Duke Stannis.
Duke Stannis frowned and began: "My brother left me only a few men like Celtigar, Velaryon, and Bar Emmon, but none of them are capable. Besides that, Salladhor Saan, the pirate of Lys, will bring me bills for my recent debts. Morro, the Myrman, will talk about tides and autumn winds, with the aim of making me cautious. Earl Sunglass of Sharp Point will devoutly chant blessings in the name of the Seven Gods. Earl Celtigar of Crab Island will ask me to clarify which Storm's End lords have decided to join. Earl Velaryon of Driftmark will threaten me to immediately send troops. What should I tell them?"
His hand swept over Blackwater Bay on the map table, and he continued: "I have thirteen hundred soldiers on Dragonstone, and another three hundred garrisoning Storm's End. Furthermore, I have no money to hire Sellswords, no prospect of plunder or glory to attract free riders. What should I do? I want to hear both of your advice."
Davos sighed inwardly. Although Dragonstone was ancient and impregnable, it had only a few minor nobles under its banner. Their outlying island territories were rocky and barren, sparsely populated, and utterly insufficient to provide Duke Stannis with the military strength he needed.
Greene looked up at the ceiling: "…"
What he was hearing was military secrets of Stannis's forces, wasn't it? He had not promised to serve Duke Stannis. Lord Green was speechless.
Davos glanced at the distracted Greene and mused: "Duke Stannis, your true enemies are the Lannister. They are your common enemies with Duke Renly. If you agree, I will volunteer to go to Storm's End and secure an alliance for you."
"Storm's End… Renly… By rights, the vassals of the Stormlands should be my vassals."
Duke Stannis snorted sarcastically, then continued: "Davos, I never asked for Dragonstone. I don't want this damned place at all. I took it because the Targaryen remnants were entrenched here, and Robert ordered me to clear Dragonstone. I built him a new fleet, defeated his enemies, and fulfilled my duty as a brother completely. Renly, as my brother, should treat me the same way, but look how Robert thanked me later? He appointed me Duke of Dragonstone, but gave the lands and taxes of Storm's End to my youngest brother. For three hundred years, Storm's End has been the hereditary seat of House Baratheon! By rights, when Robert ascended the Iron Throne, it should have been my turn to rule."
After a pause, Duke Stannis said coldly: "I will never compromise with Renly unless he promises to give up his claim to the throne. Davos, we both know that boy's ambition. Though he is my brother, if he dares to claim kingship, I will show no mercy… Renly!"
When Duke Stannis spat out the name Renly, it was as if it were poison on his tongue. Greene, feigning distraction, silently lit a candle for Duke Renly in his heart.
Davos did not try to persuade him. Duke Stannis's personality was unyielding; once he made up his mind, there was no room for turning back.
Davos frowned in thought for a moment and said: "Duke Stannis, I hear that Robb Stark, the heir of Winterfell, has marched south for revenge. A war is about to break out between Stark and Lannister. If we assist, you could gain the support of both Winterfell and Riverrun."
"Support a greenhorn's revenge for his father? For that Eddard Stark who died at the hands of a mob?"
Duke Stannis's angry voice echoed in the empty hall: "Why should I help Eddard Stark get revenge? Robert loved him very much. He often said they were like brothers, and I don't know how many times I've heard that, but he means nothing to me."
"Robert's brother is me, not Eddard Stark, but you would never know it from his attitude towards me; I am his blood brother. In that great war over a decade ago, I held Storm's End for him, watching loyal men starve to death one after another, while Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne feasted outside the city. Did he thank me? No! Robert thanked Stark, thanked him for leading his troops to relieve the siege when we were left with only rats and wild greens to eat."
"I, by Robert's command, built him a fleet, and in his name, took Dragonstone. Did he take my hand and say… My dear brother, well done, I don't know what I would have done without you? No! Instead, he blamed me for letting Viserys and that baby escape with Willem Darry, as if I could have stopped them."
"I diligently assisted Jon Arryn in governing the Seven Kingdoms as Master of Ships, so Robert could eat, drink, and gamble every day. After Jon died, did my brother appoint me Hand? No! He completely ignored my self-nomination and the recommendations of many nobles, instead seeking out Eddard Stark, who was far away in Winterfell, and presenting him with this honor. And what was the result? These two were played by a mere Lannister harlot… Disgraceful!"
Davos looked worriedly at Duke Stannis, whose face was taut. His voice was respectful: "Duke Stannis, I must sincerely advise you, although you have suffered various injustices in the past, the deceased are gone. If Stark can work together with you, a great man like yourself will surely be the ultimate victor, and the chaotic Seven Kingdoms will be reborn in your hands."
Davos placed a hand on his chest and bowed, finally saying: "For your Seven Kingdoms, Duke Stannis."
Duke Stannis's sharp gaze lingered on Davos, who had his face lowered, for a moment, then he said: "…I will consider it."
Stannis furrowed his brow and thought for a moment. His sharp eyes then turned to Greene, who had been silent by his side.
Melisandre slowly walked over, her hand resting on Greene's arm: "The Lord of Light will guide Lord Stannis to the pinnacle of glory. Earl Green, assisting the king is the will of the Lord of Light. Please heed R'hllor's advice."
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