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"Sir, we seem to be surrounded," the knight beside him warned Garlan Tyrell. Garlan scanned the surrounding woods, noticing heavy shadows moving among the trees. He heard only Cole shouting, "Timett, the guests have arrived.
Why don't you come out to greet them?" Garlan pulled his reins, lightly kicked his spurs, and rushed toward Cole. In a flash of steel, the two riders clashed. Garlan leaned forward and raised his sword to fight again.
He was determined to capture Cole alive—his only hope of breaking this deadlock. The two swords collided, and the dark-haired warrior smiled. "Sir, why bother with this pointless resistance?" Garlan's grip loosened, his heart filled with frustration.
He thought of his father's disappointment and foolishness, realizing he was no different from Lord Mace. Both had been defeated repeatedly at Cole's hands. Every time hope rose, Cole had knocked them back down.
Seeing that Garlan no longer resisted, Cole called for his men to come forward and disarm him. Timett led his mountain clansmen to surround them from the forests.
Cole gave him all the armor from Garlan's knights and ordered him to equip his own men. Cole, not forgetting his original purpose, first went to the stronghold of the Stone Crows with Timett.
He summoned all the tribal leaders and instructed them that when attacking villagers in the Kingswood, they should spare those who didn't resist and drive them toward King's Landing. As for property and food, he placed no restrictions. Cole warned them that King's Landing might send knights to surround them, so they should hide carefully.
After drinking with the Stone Crows in the Kingswood, he led his party back to Storm's End. Outside the forest, Gilbert took charge of the prisoners. "Lord Garlan Tyrell, I'm curious—why are you here?" Cole asked. He allowed Garlan to ride a horse, though his hands and feet remained bound.
"I come here representing House Tyrell." "I've never heard of an envoy who draws his sword upon meeting someone, my Lord. You truly opened my eyes. Did you come to hold a trial by combat on behalf of Lord Mace? It's unfortunate he isn't here, and I have no right to judge him." "Not here?" Garlan asked. "He should be accompanying King Stannis on Dragonstone now.
You know only the king has the right to judge a Lord Paramount." Garlan couldn't help but frown. Stannis was not easy to deal with. Rumors said he now believed in the Lord of Light. When he'd arrived at King's Landing, his reputation for harshness had spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
Cole threw these thirty men into Storm's End's dungeon. Garlan had brought only thirty men as an envoy—truly admirable courage.
But he had already started this, so Cole didn't bother discussing the protocols of envoys. They hadn't expected to meet in the Kingswood. If not for that encounter, or if the Stone Crows hadn't appeared, perhaps Cole would be the one in the dungeon now.
Garlan had acted decisively. Cole hadn't said anything to Timett and his men. He had been ready to reveal the white dragon, but fortunately, he'd spotted these men from above. You could always trust the senses of the free folk from the mountains. They had followed closely behind Garlan's party.
Had Garlan not moved so quickly, Timett would likely have engaged him in battle long ago. The Rose and his son were now in their hands. These were two valuable hostages. It would depend on how Stannis used them.
But Cole didn't know that His Grace cared little about anything now, leaving all matters to Alester Florent. Yet this knight's situation wasn't very good either.
Recently, there had been constant turmoil on Dragonstone. First, Ser Alester Florent had become Hand of the King, managing the castle's affairs. During this time, he had been arrogant, considering himself above everyone else.
Afterward, the Onion Knight had suddenly returned, though everyone had believed him dead. The gods had blessed him. Although his ship, Black Betha, had been consumed by wildfire, he had not burned to death. However, the Onion Knight was arrested and imprisoned as soon as he arrived at the castle, charged with murdering castle officials.
Shortly after the Onion Knight's arrest, the Hand was also arrested and imprisoned for treason. That day, Alester Florent had received the captive Lord Mace Tyrell sent from Dragonstone, along with a letter. But he had paid no attention to the letter's contents, instead beginning negotiations with King's Landing.
He wrote to King's Landing, but was arrested before the letter could be sent. The letter stated that Stannis would renounce his claim to the throne and rule only Dragonstone and Storm's End, asking King's Landing to end the war. Dragonstone would return Lord Mace Tyrell but requested the return of Brightwater Keep—Florent's own castle—while maintaining his titles and rights.
The Onion Knight, Mace Tyrell, and Alester Florent now sat in Dragonstone's dungeons, unaware of outside events. Their status had once varied greatly, with Lord Mace standing highest, but now they shared one identity: prisoner.
Stannis seemed to treat them equally, imprisoning duke and smuggler together, though Davos wasn't charged with smuggling at present. At least Mace had a cell to himself at Storm's End.
Cole waited several days until the Myrish man finally returned from Dragonstone. He asked if Dragonstone had issued any orders, but the Myrish man shook his head.
The Hand had ignored the letter, simply taking Lord Mace Tyrell away excitedly and sending him back to Storm's End.
"Hand?" Cole couldn't remember whom Stannis had appointed as his Hand. Was it Davos? "It was Lord Alester Florent, sir," the Myrish man told him. Cole nodded. Florent was the queen's family. It wasn't surprising that Alester had been made Hand. "Have you seen the Onion Knight?" Cole asked.
Before leaving, he had instructed him to inquire about Davos. Having Davos at Stannis's side would prevent many foolish decisions. "No, everyone said the Onion Knight died at Dragonstone." The Myrish man didn't understand why his lord was so certain the Onion Knight lived. "Thank you for your service, Captain Moqorro of Myr."
It seemed the Onion Knight hadn't returned to Dragonstone. Cole wanted to send ships to search Blackwater Bay, but none of his men had vessels available.
Never mind—he hoped the gods would watch over Davos. With two important members of House Tyrell now in their hands, the Roses would surely act. In any case, Tywin had already made his move. The title of Lord of Storm's End was truly eye-catching.
It was a shame that Tywin Lannister had orchestrated the Red Wedding; otherwise, Cole would have needed to reconsider his position. He sent the letter to Stannis. He hadn't chosen to betray him when faced with temptation.
The next move depended on Stannis. Just then, thunder crashed. Cole looked to the sea and saw a low layer of dark clouds gathering on the horizon, as if a hurricane and rainstorm were brewing. The wind was rising.