The stars adorning the night sky shimmered with an alluring glow, as if they were countless mysterious eyes, peering into everything on the earth.
Melisandre continued, "Onion Knight, this is a war between two true gods, not seven, not one, not a hundred, not a thousand, but only two!"
The corners of her lips curved slightly: "Do you think I traveled half the world just to put a King on an empty throne?"
She shook her head slightly: "You are wrong. The war began at the dawn of the world, and everyone must choose a side before the judgment comes."
She extended her right hand: "On one side is the true Lord Rhllor, the Lord of Light, the Heart of Holy Flame, the god of shadows and fire."
She extended her left hand: "On the other side is the ancient alien god that mortals cannot speak of, the god of darkness, the Soul of Profound Ice, the god of night and terror."
It was as if flames danced in her eyes: "Our choice is not Baratheon or Lannister, Greyjoy or Stark. Our choice is life and death, light and darkness."
With that, Melisandre slowly rose, her steps moving towards Ser Davos.
Ser Davos also stood up. The Red Priestess stood before him and said, "Tell me, Davos Seaworth, tell me honestly, does your heart burn with the light of Rhllor? Or has it become dark and cold, overgrown with worms?"
As Melisandre spoke, she extended her hand, placing three slender, fair fingers on Ser Davos's chest, as if to feel his thoughts through leather and flesh.
Ser Davos suppressed the fear in his heart and slowly said, "My lady, I do not trust you."
After a moment of silence, Melisandre sighed and said, "Honest good knight, you did not lie to me, you did not disappoint me."
She continued, "Even embers in the dust can rekindle into raging flames… You look at Stannis and see only a mortal, a King… You are all wrong. He is the chosen one of the Lord of Light, the Son of Holy Flame, the warrior of light."
She looked up at the night sky: "The ancient books of Asshai prophesy that after a long summer, when the stars bleed, Azor Ahai will be reborn in the land of smoke and salt and awaken dragons from stone. Now the bleeding star has appeared, Dragonstone is the land of smoke and salt, and Stannis Baratheon is indeed Azor Ahai reborn!"
She spread her arms: "I witnessed him in the holy fire leading thousands of troops to resist the terrifying darkness!"
There was no wind, yet Melisandre's red hair and red robe suddenly fluttered.
At this moment, Davos felt as if he was standing before a raging fire. He couldn't help but take a step back, while Melisandre took a step forward.
The Red Priestess's eyes glowed like pale red burning candles, as if looking into his soul.
She suddenly said, "You want to kill me?"
Ser Davos's Adam's apple bobbed, and he said, "I just want to know who betrayed me?"
Melisandre chuckled. She reached out and caressed the Onion Knight's cheek, saying, "Dear Davos, no one betrayed you. I saw your heart in the holy fire."
As the Red Priestess's burning fingers brushed his face, Ser Davos couldn't help but shiver, his back instantly covered in cold sweat.
After a pause, Melisandre asked with interest, "Why do you want to kill me?"
Ser Davos gazed at the person before him and said, "King Stannis is my 'god'."
Melisandre murmured, "The flame within you is so hot…"
She sighed: "Remembering that the Lord of Light is the source of all good, I forgive you this once, lucky Ser."
Melisandre smiled, then spun her blood-red skirt and turned to leave.
...
It was a while before Ser Davos "calmed" his wildly beating heart. He felt that the Red Priestess was too dangerous.
Ser Davos picked up his wineskin and took a gulp of wine. He had an ominous premonition.
Perhaps… Davos put down the wineskin and gazed at the bonfire before him.
His eyes were unmoving… Look… Keep looking… Fire… Still fire…
Although he persisted for a long time, he still ended up in tears. He only saw fire, no omens.
This was the truth.
"Father…" Davos Seaworth's voice interrupted Ser Davos's thoughts.
He turned his head to look. It was his fifth son.
Davos frowned and said, "Davos, why are you here?"
Davos was King Stannis's squire, which was the glory of their family. His son should always be by King Stannis's side.
Eleven-year-old Davos was much stronger than many boys his age. He approached and said, "Father, His Majesty the King has summoned you."
"Let's go."
Ser Davos immediately got up. As he walked, he said, "King Stannis actually sent you to deliver a message on his behalf… It seems you're doing quite well, my son."
Hearing his father's praise, Davos's lips couldn't help but curl upwards. He tried to suppress his disobedient lips, attempting to show his maturity.
After walking for a while, Davos suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Father, His Majesty the King's health…"
Davos's stern gaze interrupted his son's words. He said seriously, "Davos, everything about King Stannis is a secret. You cannot reveal it, even in front of your family. Do you remember?"
"I… I understand, Father."
Davos reached out and patted his son's small shoulder, saying, "Let's go. King Stannis doesn't like to wait."
...
At the entrance of the King's Camp, Ser Davos met Imry Florent, who had just come out.
Ser Imry was King Stannis's brother-in-law. Like Queen Selyse, he had the Florent family's famous protruding ears, a wide nose, prominent eyebrows, thick hair growing from his ears and nostrils, and tufts of hair sprouting from beneath his double chin.
Davos nodded slightly. Ser Imry snorted coldly and walked past him directly.
Inside the tent, Stannis Baratheon stood behind a long table. An iron brazier stood beside him, its coals glowing orange-red.
After paying his respects, seeing King Stannis's appearance, he barely managed to maintain a calm expression.
His "god's" closely trimmed beard was streaked with gray hair, his eyes were sunken blue hollows, and he had become old and gaunt.
Stannis, uncharacteristically, allowed a faint smile to cross his lips and said, "My Onion Knight, I need counsel, and you always speak the truth. So, tell me honestly, what is the punishment for treason?"
Treason? Why ask me such a question? Davos knew very well that his King knew the punishment for treason better than anyone.
Or was it… Melisandre? He thought of his secret plot to kill the Red Priestess.
After a pause, Ser Davos cautiously asked, "Treason?"
King Stannis frowned and said, "What else could it be called? Denying the rightful King, attempting to steal the Iron Throne that rightfully belongs to him. I ask you again, according to the law, what is the punishment for treason?"
King Stannis wasn't referring to his matter. Ser Davos secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He bowed slightly and replied, "The punishment is death, King Stannis."
"It has always been so."
King Stannis said coldly, "This is not a decree I issued, but it has always been so. Since the time of Aegon, since the beginning of the world, it has been so. Daemon Blackfyre, the Toyne brothers, the Vulture King… traitors always pay with their lives. Even Rhaenyra Targaryen was no exception; she was the old King's daughter and the new King's mother, yet she was executed as a traitor for attempting to usurp her brother's Iron Throne. Davos, this is law, this is not cruelty!"
Ser Davos's eyes trembled slightly. He respectfully said, "King Stannis, have you heard… something?"
King Stannis's teeth gnashed: "I heard with my own ears that they say I am a cruel King."
Davos looked up at King Stannis's tense face and said, "I think they might be… troubled by matters of faith."
"Smuggler, you are very clever. They want to force me to compromise…"
King Stannis's jaw moved a few times, then he continued, "So, I have decided to entrust the Royal Fleet to Ser Imry Florent, for him to serve as the Commander of the fleet."
Upon hearing this, Davos's eyes couldn't help but tremble. King Stannis had "taken" away his position as Commander of the fleet.
Taking a slow breath, Davos placed a hand on his chest and said, "As you command, King Stannis."
King Stannis's voice was like the cold wind of winter: "You have no doubts?"
Davos shook his head without hesitation and said, "I am very certain."
King Stannis gazed at his Onion Knight for a moment and said, "Very good."
After a pause, he began, "Many people are unwilling to abandon their old gods. What do you think?"
Davos pondered for a moment and said, "King Stannis, I must advise you, such things take time."
King Stannis nodded slightly and said, "I don't have that time… So, I will divide them. One route will attack King's Landing from Blackwater Bay, and the other route…"
His gaze moved to the map on the long table, and he continued, "Will go along the King's Road. I will lead the troops myself."
Davos understood… The followers of the Lord of Light would take the sea route, and the "stubborn" followers of the Seven would take the land route.
This way, they could focus all their energy on fighting, rather than constantly bickering over a god.
"Your wisdom is unparalleled, King Stannis."
"Hmph!" Stannis's laughter was full of sarcasm.
He said, "If I were truly clever enough, I wouldn't want that iron chair covered in sharp, tooth-like spikes."
Davos looked at his King in shock.
Stannis said, "Smuggler, that is a chair made of countless interwoven steel knives and daggers, a very uncomfortable chair. Aerys was often left bloody, even called the 'Scab King', and if the legends are true, the cruel Maegor died on that chair. One cannot rest comfortably on it. I often wonder why my brother desperately wanted it."
Davos struggled to voice his confusion: "Since you don't like it, then why do you want it?"
King Stannis sat down in the chair and said, "Davos, it's not a question of wanting or not wanting it. As Robert's heir, the Iron Throne is mine; that is the law. After me, it must pass to my daughter, unless Selyse finally gives me a son. This is also the law."
After a pause, he continued, "According to the law, whether I want to be King or not, I am King. I have a duty, to my daughter, to the kingdom, and even to Robert… He didn't love me much, I know, but he was my brother. That Lannister woman cuckolded him, made a fool of him, and perhaps even murdered him. Such heinous crimes must receive a just trial, starting with Cersei and her bastards, and that is just the beginning."
Davos had not yet recovered from King Stannis's words when his King suddenly said sternly, "Now, tell me the truth, why do you want to kill Lady Melisandre?"
As his words fell, Davos's body trembled, and fine cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
Davos stared blankly at his King. Was it the Red Priestess?
King Stannis snorted coldly: "Smuggler, I have my own eyes and ears. Tell me the truth."
Davos gritted his teeth and said directly, "In a short time, I have personally witnessed your aging, and her dark magic."
He knelt down and continued, "King Stannis, she has her god whom she serves, but you have given me everything. You are my 'god', and I cannot allow myself to stand idly by."
The atmosphere was heavy. Davos could clearly feel his heart racing. He didn't know how long it lasted, perhaps only a short while, or a very long time. He seemed to hear a low sigh, but he suspected it was his imagination.
"Get up."
Davos first cautiously looked up at his King, then slowly stood up.
Stannis's emotionless voice sounded: "Davos, you have misunderstood Melisandre. She is my loyal servant. She only acts according to my commands, and I have only paid the necessary price."
"But…"
King Stannis interrupted, "Come here."
He rose from his chair and walked to the long table, his gaze fixed on the map of the Seven Kingdoms spread upon it.
Davos respectfully stood beside King Stannis.
After a moment of contemplation, King Stannis's hand swept across the map: "Look, Onion Knight. By law, this is my kingdom, my Westeros. The notion of the Seven Kingdoms is foolish. Three hundred years ago, Aegon the Conqueror already understood this: it is a single entity, one kingdom, ruled by one King."
Davos nodded in agreement and said, "One King means peace, King Stannis."
King Stannis nodded slightly, saying, "I will bring true justice to Westeros, where both high-ranking nobles and lowly commoners receive their just deserts for their actions."
He looked at his Onion Knight and continued, "I promise you, they made my kingdom bleed, and I will never forget it."
With that, Stannis left the long table and returned to his chair.
"Kneel, Davos Seaworth."
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