The meeting place was a green stretch of grass dotted with gray-white mushrooms and freshly cut tree stumps.
The morning wind of the Stormlands carried a heavy, murky smell of sea salt, blowing endlessly from the east. Though the sea could not be seen from here, its traces were everywhere.
The men of Stannis Baratheon and Renly Baratheon faced one another in pairs. Great Lord Stannis had fewer men than Great Lord Renly, but his fleet ensured he could land anywhere in the Stormlands.
"We arrived earliest, but we cannot stop these two brothers." Hallis Mollen commented as Catelyn and the others rode among the stumps, standing isolated between the two armies. The Storm's golden quartered war banner and House Stark's direwolf banner fluttered atop the longspear clenched in his hand.
"War can no longer be stopped. Even though we carry the heir's decree, I doubt his two uncles will listen," Wendel Manderly said. "And I understand even better that Lord Gendry and Lord Robb did not want you to put yourself in danger."
"We are already in danger. For the sake of peace, we must at least make the attempt," Catelyn Stark replied. "Since Gendry and Robb sent me south to speak for them, I mean to carry out that duty properly."
Beyond the rain-damp fields and the stony, rugged hills, Catelyn could see the massive Storm's End standing beneath the sky, completely hiding the vast sea behind it.
"My lady, those should be Lord Stannis's men," Hallis Mollen called. Two riders appeared outside the neat, tiny-looking camp north of the castle and came slowly toward them.
"Yes." Catelyn saw Stannis's knights coming, bearing the banner of House Baratheon. Renly would surely arrive later. Renly had said this was his strategy, that he would never be the one who waited. Renly's game was somewhat childish, Catelyn thought.
Great Lord Stannis had arrived, the man all the world knew as harsh and unyielding.
Stannis wore no crown. His belt was set with garnets and topazes, and a large square ruby was embedded in the hilt of his sword. The rest of his clothing was plain: a cotton tunic beneath a studded leather vest, worn boots, and coarse brown breeches.
On Stannis's golden banner, a ring of flame had been added. Orange fire surrounded the golden war banner, though the crowned stag remained.
"Why choose a woman as standard-bearer?" Catelyn thought. The standard-bearer was dressed all in fiery red, her face hidden beneath a scarlet hood. She seemed to be a red priestess from beyond the Narrow Sea. The Lord of Light had deep roots across the Narrow Sea, throughout the Free Cities and the farther east, yet had never gained a foothold in the Seven Kingdoms.
Catelyn looked at Stannis. No wonder Robert had never much liked him. He was plain and unadorned, like cold iron and an ascetic. Compared with his free-spirited, pleasure-loving brothers, he seemed entirely out of place.
"Lady Stark," Stannis greeted her coldly. His hair seemed even thinner than before.
"Lord Stannis. I did not expect to meet you at Storm's End," Catelyn replied. Stannis had not put on a crown. Perhaps there was still room to turn things around.
"I did not expect to come here either," Stannis said. He was not handsome, with his balding head and square jaw, nor was he elegant or charming in speech. "I am sorry for your husband's death," he said, "though Eddard Stark was no friend of mine."
Catelyn almost laughed coldly. This was Stannis indeed, blunt and direct.
"Nor was he ever your enemy, my lord. When Lord Tyrell and Lord Redwyne trapped you in this castle and left you to starve, it was Eddard Stark who relieved your peril," Catelyn replied. Years ago, Eddard had come south to Storm's End and saved Stannis from starvation.
"That was by my brother's command, not out of love for me," Stannis answered. "Great Lord Stark performed his duty. I do not deny that. But did I not do enough? I should have been Robert's Hand."
Stannis looked at Catelyn. His claim to the office of Hand and to the Stormlands did not come entirely from a hunger for power. It was based on seniority, duty, and of course, his repeatedly wounded pride. Robert had treated Eddard like a brother, while slighting Stannis again and again.
"That was your brother's will. Eddard never coveted glory or wealth," Catelyn replied, though she felt somewhat guilty. After all, she had been the one who strongly urged Eddard to go to King's Landing.
"Yet he accepted it. And it should have been mine. Even so, I give you my word that I will see justice done for this murder."
Catelyn looked at Stannis. Every lord had promised her the same. "I have met Renly. He said the same thing. I only want my daughters back. Let the gods above deal with justice and fairness. My Sansa is in Cersei's hands. As for Arya, no one has seen her since the king died."
"I will not lie to you. I had originally intended, after taking the capital, to find your daughters and return them to you at once, alive or dead. But now that will not do."
"Your elder daughter has already been rescued, and is now at The Eyrie. But your sister and that traitor Littlefinger are dead."
"What?" Catelyn was shocked. She had not expected the situation to change so quickly.
"There is a letter from Gendry at The Eyrie as proof. Sansa Stark was rescued, but Petyr Baelish and Lysa Tully were thrown from The Eyrie." Stannis tossed an envelope to Catelyn. "And he merely told me to blockade King's Landing."
Catelyn took the letter. The northern attendants' faces lit with joy. If Sansa had been rescued, they could truly strike south.
"Gods be good. If my daughters return to me, I should go back to Winterfell." Catelyn looked at the letter with tangled feelings, tears of joy in her eyes. How wonderful it would be to see her children again. Sansa was alive, but her sister and Littlefinger were both dead. The rights and wrongs of it were deeply complicated.
"No attack on King's Landing?"
"Besides, King's Landing is about to starve. Gendry's men are raiding Rosby," Stannis said flatly. He too had once thought of himself as a famous commander, but among his own generation, his glory had been overshadowed by his elder brother Robert and by Eddard. He had not expected that now, he would be surpassed by the younger generation as well.
"Lord Gendry has given you an opportunity, just as you once obeyed your family," Catelyn said, thinking of her mission again and unable to stop herself. It seemed Stannis still had concerns.
"You are mistaken. Lord Stannis is the one chosen by the Lord of Light, the hero who will save the world," the red priestess carrying the banner declared.
"No matter who is king, Renly is a traitor. I need these armies. They must come into my hands."
"By the laws of the realm, men owe loyalty to their liege lord. According to the king's will, these nobles swore fealty to Robert and House Baratheon. If you and your brother can end your quarrel and bend the knee in recognition, I believe the heir will treat you with mercy and favor, as a sign of respect and of House Baratheon's unity."
"My lady, I know House Stark has climbed onto my nephew's wagon, along with House Tully and House Arryn. For his age, he is exceptional," Stannis said with a frown. "But by the order of succession, he has been legitimized, while I am also the legitimate second son."
This man will never compromise, Catelyn thought. He is full of grievance and resentment. Yet she still could not give up. Too much depended on this. "Under Robert's will, with the support of nobles and smallfolk alike, think of your dead brother. He would never have allowed you to do this."
"And if I do not? Will he kill me? A king has no friends, does he?" Stannis declared. "Only subjects and enemies."
"And brothers," a cheerful voice came from behind Catelyn.
The young Great Lord Renly appeared behind them, dressed splendidly and full of grace. Renly's beautiful mare picked her way leisurely among the tree stumps.
Catelyn looked at Renly and Stannis. Each was one side of Robert. Renly had taken the splendor, while Stannis had taken the strength, and both had their own faults.
Renly wore a green velvet tunic and a silk cloak trimmed with squirrel fur, looking bright and polished. A golden crown sat on his head, with a jade stag at the brow, while his long black hair spilled beneath it. His scabbard was set with countless large black diamonds, cut with exquisite skill, and a gold necklace set with emeralds hung around his neck.
Renly's standard-bearer was also a woman. Catelyn knew she was the Tarth girl, though Brienne's heavy armor hid her face and figure, revealing nothing of her sex. On the twelve-foot spear in her hand, the black crowned stag leapt against a golden field, while the sea wind rippled it without end.
"Great Lord Renly."
"I am King Renly now, brother. Is that truly your banner, Stannis?"
"Who else's would it be?"
"From a distance, I could hardly be certain. Whose banner are you flying, exactly?"
"My own."
"The banner bears the flame of the Lord of Light," the red priestess said.
"Good. That saves confusion. I hear that bastard has a new four-sided banner too."
"With a powerful enemy before you, both of you should make peace and settle this properly. There is no need to fight," Catelyn urged. "Besides, by law, the Iron Throne belongs to your nephew."
"That bastard?" Renly scoffed. "Because of my brother's deathbed will? Because he wants revenge on the Lannister woman? He has stripped us of our rights. I think he must have been confused."
Stannis's face turned livid, and he said nothing.
"Were you there at the time?" Stannis suddenly asked.
"I was there, but not when Robert died. Eddard did not let me see the will either. At the scene, it was only him and old Barristan."
"In truth, the contents of the king's will were correct. Back then, I went to Lord Arryn first, but I never expected him to be poisoned afterward. It was not Cersei who poisoned him. It was Littlefinger."
Catelyn shuddered. She thought of the secret letter her sister Lysa had sent to Winterfell, accusing the queen of murdering her husband. So it had all been false.
"In any case, King's Landing is full of villains. They watched while Robert was deceived by the Lannisters. If I had been there, I would certainly have avenged him."
"And now you wear a crown. You are a rebel." Stannis clenched his jaw, his face pulled tight.
Catelyn looked at the two of them, both ready to draw blood, and frustration rose in her. "The Lannisters are in a poor position now. A single push, and that wall will fall. Whether Tywin at Harrenhal, the Kingslayer hiding in Casterly Rock, or Cersei hiding in King's Landing, none of them can stand against us. Why can you not endure one another for the sake of the realm? If you both claim to be king, the kingdom will only split apart and bleed. Aside from Gendry and my son, is no one else willing to draw a sword and defend the realm?"
Renly looked at Stannis. "That bastard won a few times, nothing more than luck. As for me, I will win far more. Highgarden will soon support me. With that, I can crush the Lannisters and the blacksmith."
"You are thinking too much, Great Lord Renly," Stannis said. "The Vale has already agreed to send troops to support the northern army."
"What?" Renly was startled. The situation was moving too quickly. That made it even more impossible for him to keep waiting.
"Brother, I imagine you are dissatisfied with Robert's deathbed will as well, especially a will written while his mind was burned by fever. I suggest we join together." Renly quickly smiled again. "Besides, unless I am mistaken, the blacksmith will not offer you such generous terms. Will he marry your daughter? And that delicate Targaryen girl has surely not forgotten that you once besieged Dragonstone and nearly captured them alive."
"How would we join together?"
"I appoint you as my Hand of the King and commander of the fleet. My heir Edric will marry your daughter Shireen, and together we march on King's Landing. As for Storm's End, I will give it to you, just as Robert once did. If you like this gift, I can be generous, so long as you obey me. Edric is a legitimized bastard of higher birth. Among all Robert's bastards, he is the one the Seven Kingdoms knows, and he is far more persuasive."
"What do you want me to do?"
"There is no need to fully acknowledge Robert's will or recognize the blacksmith's bloodline. We have a better choice in Edric."
"That is treason," Catelyn could not help saying.
"The Lannisters are the traitors. As for that little blacksmith, did my brother ever even see him while he was alive?"
Renly looked at Stannis. "For victory's sake, I suggest you dismount at once, kneel on one knee, and swear fealty."
Stannis forced down his anger. "You will never have that."
"You could serve Robert. Why can you not serve me?"
"Robert was my elder brother. You are only my younger brother."
"Yes, I am younger than you, braver, prettier..."
"Rebel. Usurper."
"So you mean to serve the blacksmith, then?" Renly looked at Stannis.
"He is lawful," Catelyn cut in. "King Robert has sons, and daughters as well."
"Does the blacksmith offer you more?" Renly asked, puzzled. "As for your daughter, I actually understand. Edric is a handsome lad, and I have already been as generous as possible. If my wife were as ugly as yours, I would rather call for a fool to serve her."
"Enough!" Stannis roared, glaring at Renly. "I will not allow anyone to insult me to my face."
The negotiations had collapsed. The next time the two sides met, it would be war after dawn.
"We shall see at daybreak."
"I only hope your new god is merciful, brother." Stannis snorted and rode away in a cloud of dust, his face full of contempt. The red priestess lingered a moment longer.
"Remember your own sins, Lord Renly," she said, circling on horseback as she spoke.
...
"Tell Loras our plan is ready to begin," Renly told the Tarth girl. The standard-bearer nodded. War would not wait until dawn. He had prepared his move to be as swift as lightning.
Lord Cod, the Onion Knight, and wandering sellswords all mixed together. Renly knew Stannis's men were a rabble, with very few regular soldiers. But Stannis himself had fought a hundred battles and was hard and stubborn. To make certain of victory, a surprise attack was necessary.
Renly returned to his own quarters, deliberately keeping some distance from Catelyn. At this moment, he could not trust Catelyn.
"As long as my army launches its surprise attack, everything will be all right," Renly thought.
***
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