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laugh and ask Varys what he'd sent this year。 Renly was no better。 He left the boy's upbringing to castellans and maesters； and every one fell victim to his charm。 Penrose chose to die rather than give him up。〃 The king ground his teeth together。 〃It still angers me。 How could he think I would hurt the boy？ I chose Robert； did I not？ When that hard day came。 I chose blood over honor。〃
He does not use the boy's name。 That made Davos very uneasy。 hope young Edric will recover soon。〃
Stannis waved a hand； dismissing his concern。 〃It is a chill； no more。 He coughs； he shivers； he has a fever。 Maester Pylos will soon set him right。 By himself the boy is nought； you understand； but in his veins flows my brother's blood。 There is power in a king's blood； she says。〃
Davos did not have to ask who she was。
Stannis touched the Painted Table。 〃Look at it； onion knight。 My realm； by rights。 My Westeros。〃 He swept a hand across it。 〃This talk of Seven Kingdoms is a folly。 Aegon saw that three hundred years ago when he stood where we are standing。 They painted this table at his mand。 Rivers and bays they painted； hills and mountains； castles and cities and market towns； lakes and swamps and forests 。 。 。 but no borders。 It is all one。 One realm； for one king to rule alone。〃
〃One king〃 agreed Davos。 〃One king means peace。〃
〃I shall bring justice to Westeros。 A thing Ser Axell understands as little as he does war。 Claw Isle would gain me naught 。 。 。 and it was evil； just as you said。 Celtigar must pay the traitor's price himself； in his own person。 And when I e into my kingdom； he shall。 Every man shall reap what he has sown； from the highest lord to the lowest gutter rat。 And some will lose more than the tips off their fingers； I promise you。 They have made my kingdom bleed； and I do not forget that。〃 King Stannis turned from the table。 〃On your knees； Onion Knight。〃
〃Your Grace？〃
〃For your onions and fish； I made you a knight once。 For this； I am of a mind to raise you to lord。〃
This？ Davos was lost。 〃I am content to be your knight； Your Grace。 I would not know how to begin being lordly。〃
〃Good。 To be lordly is to be false。 I have learned that lesson hard。 Now； kneel。 Your king mands。〃
Davos knelt； and Stannis drew his longsword。 Lightbringer； Melisandre had named it； the red sword of heroes； drawn from the fires where the seven gods were consumed。 The room seemed to grow brighter as the blade slid from its scabbard。 The steel had a glow to it； now orange； now yellow； now red。 The air shimmered around it； and no jewel had ever sparkled so brilliantly。 But when Stannis touched it to Davos's shoulder； it felt no different than any other longsword。 〃Ser Davos of House Seaworth；〃 the king said； /are you my true and honest liege man； now and forever？〃
〃I am； Your Grace。〃
〃And do you swear to serve me loyally all your days； to give me honest counsel and swift obedience； to defend my rights and my realm against all foes in battles great and small； to protect my people and punish my enemies？〃
〃I do； Your Grace。〃
〃Then rise again； Davos Seaworth； and rise as Lord of the Rainwood； Admiral of the Narrow Sea； and Hand of the King。〃
For a moment Davos was too stunned to move。 I woke this morning in his dungeon。 〃Your Grace； you cannot 。 。 。 I am no fit man to be a King's Hand。〃
〃There is no man fitter。〃 Stannis sheathed Lightbringer； gave Davos his hand； and pulled him to his feet。
〃I am lowborn；〃 Davos reminded him。 〃An upjumped smuggler。 Your lords will never obey me。〃
〃Then we will make new lords。〃
〃But 。 。 。 I cannot read 。 。 。 nor write 。 。 。
〃Maester Pylos can read for you。 As to writing； my last Hand wrote the head off his shoulders。 All I ask of you are the things you've always given me。 Honesty。 Loyalty。 Service。〃
〃Surely there is someone better 。 。 。 some great lord。 。
Stannis snorted。 〃Bar Emmon； that boy？ My faithless grandfather？ Celtigar has abandoned me； the new Velaryon is six years old； and the new Sunglass sailed for Volantis after I burned his brother。〃 He made an angry gesture。 〃A few good men remain； it's true。 Ser Gilbert Farring holds Storm's End for me still； with two hundred loyal men。 Lord Morrigen； the Bastard of Nightsong； young Chyttering； my cousin Andrew 。 。 。 but I trust none of them as I trust you； my lord of Rainwood。 You will be my Hand。 It is you I want beside me for the battle。〃
Another battle will be the end of all of us； thought Davos。 Lord Alester saw that much true enough。 〃Your Grace asked for honest counsel。 In honesty then 。 。 。 we lack the strength for another battle against the Lannisters。〃
〃It is the great battle His Grace is speaking of；〃 said a woman's voice； rich with the accents of the east。 Melisandre stood at the door in her red silks and shimmering satins； holding a covered silver dish in her hands。 〃These little wars are no more than a scuffle of children before what is to e。 The one whose name may not be spoken is marshaling his power； Davos Seaworth； a power fell and evil and strong beyond measure。
Soon es the cold； and the night that never ends。〃 She placed the silver dish on the Painted Table。 〃Unless true men find the courage to fight it。 Men whose hearts are fire。〃
Stannis stared at the silver dish。 〃She has shown it to me； Lord Davos。 In the flames。〃
〃You saw it； sire？〃 It was not like Stannis Baratheon to lie about such a thing。
〃With mine own eyes。 After the battle； when I was lost to despair； the Lady Melisandre bid me gaze into the hearthfire。 The chimney was drawing strongly； and bits of ash were rising from the fire。 I stared at them； feeling half a fool； but she bid me look deeper； and 。 。 。 the ashes were white； rising in the updraft； yet all at once it seemed as if they were falling。 Snow； I thought。 Then the sparks in the air seemed to circle； to bee a ring of torches； and I was looking through the fire down on some high hill in a forest。 The cinders had bee men in black behind the torches； and there were shapes moving through the snow。 For all the heat of the fire； I felt a cold so terrible I shivered； and when I did the sight was gone； the fire but a fire once again。 But what I saw was real； I'd stake my kingdom on it。〃
〃And have；〃 said Melisandre。
The conviction in the king's voice frightened Davos to the core。 〃A hill in a forest 。 。 。 shapes in the snow 。 。 。 I don't 。 。 。〃
〃It means that the battle is begun；〃 said Melisandre。 〃The sand is running through the glass more quickly now； and man's hour on earth is almost done。 We must act boldly； or all hope is lost。 Westeros must unite beneath her one true king； the prince that was promised； Lord of Dragonstone and chosen of R'hllor。〃
〃R'hllor chooses queerly； then。〃 The king grimaced； as if he'd tasted something foul。 〃Why me； and not my brothers？ Renly and his peach。 in my dreams I see the juice running from his mouth； the blood from his throat。 If he had done his duty by his brother； we would have smashed Lord Tywin。 A victory even Robert could be proud of。 Robert 。 。 。 〃 His teeth ground side to side。 〃He is in my dreams as well。 Laughing。 Drinking。 Boasting。 Those were the things he was best at。 Those； and fighting。 I never bested hi