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Dragonstone was an island at the mouth of Blackwater Bay. The castle of Dragonstone was built entirely from black stone, and its towers were carved in the shapes of dragons.
After retreating from defeat beneath King's Landing, Stannis returned to his base with three thousand of his own troops and more than a thousand men from Davos's force.
Dragonstone occupied an extremely important strategic position. It could be called a dagger held to King's Landing's throat. After the Royal Fleet was destroyed, King's Landing no longer had any ability to threaten Dragonstone.
Since returning to Dragonstone, Stannis had ordered Davos to lead the remaining warships, blockade the throat of Blackwater Bay, cut off King's Landing's external trade, and constantly harass the Crownlands coast.
After retreating to Dragonstone, Stannis's only concern was the Redwyne Fleet from the Arbor. However, the Reach had already become an independent kingdom, and the Iron Throne had no authority to order the Redwyne Fleet to reinforce it.
As a precaution, Stannis still ordered the small number of troops he had left at Storm's End to constantly watch the nearby waters. If they saw a large fleet sailing north, they were to report immediately.
The Stone Drum was Dragonstone's main keep. Whenever a storm came, its ancient walls rumbled from within, giving it its name.
The Chamber of the Painted Table stood at the top of the Stone Drum. It was a huge round room with four tall, narrow windows facing east, west, south, and north. At the center of the chamber was a great map table carved and painted with a detailed map of Westeros.
The table was more than fifty feet long. At its widest, it was about half as wide as it was long; at its narrowest, less than four feet. The position corresponding to Dragonstone had been carefully designed to align with a seat on a raised platform, allowing everything on the tabletop to be seen at a glance.
Stannis sat in the high seat, his face grim. He glanced at his only remaining subordinates, Davos and Rolland, as well as Melisandre, whom he had sent back to Dragonstone while still at Bitterbridge.
In a dim voice, he said, "We have lost forty thousand men. How should we plan our next step? Does anyone have an opinion?"
"Your Grace, I have recently received revelation from my lord. The true battlefield lies in the north."
As soon as Stannis finished speaking, Melisandre smiled alluringly and answered in her distinctive accent.
"The north? The North?"
Hearing her words, Stannis frowned and murmured.
"Your Grace, I learned from some well-informed friends that Robb Stark has locked the entire North down tight. Even Tywin Lannister cannot get a hand in there.
"I fear the North is not a good choice now. Of course, if House Stark submits to House Baratheon again, then the North would be the best choice."
Ever since seeing Melisandre use evil magic, Davos had held deep mistrust of her. He immediately spoke to Stannis.
"When I was at Bitterbridge, I sent more than a dozen raven letters north, demanding Robb Stark's loyalty. The answers I received were all very direct refusals.
"Hmph. In my eyes, Robb Stark is now also a usurper. Eddard Stark did not teach his son well."
Hearing this, Stannis shook his head and denied the possibility, directly classifying Robb among the traitors.
"Your Grace, considering our present situation, please allow me to offer a suggestion: sail to Gulltown in the Vale."
Hearing Stannis's answer, Davos immediately voiced the suggestion he had considered repeatedly.
"Gulltown in the Vale? Davos, explain in detail why you suggest it."
"As you command, Your Grace."
Davos heard Stannis's question, immediately stood, saluted, pointed to the Painted Table, and continued.
"Some time ago, the false king Gerold Grafton, who called himself King of Gulltown, intended to take advantage of the Bronze King Andar Royce's war with the Eyrie by entering the Vale of Arryn from the south for a surprise attack.
"But unexpectedly, he was ambushed by a mixed force of Lannister and Eyrie cavalry led by Tyrion Lannister and suffered heavy losses.
"On his retreat to Gulltown, the King of the Fingers, Lyn Corbray, who had long been lying in ambush north of the Bay of Crabs, caught them all at once.
"Now House Grafton has been slaughtered to the last by Lyn, and Gulltown has fallen into House Corbray's hands."
"Hmph. One little Vale has so many false kings. These days, Westeros is full of kings.
"Forgive me. Continue."
Davos had stopped when he heard Stannis complain. At his words, he continued the topic from before.
"Gulltown is one of the five great ports, with a large population and especially many wealthy merchants. Economically, it can offer us great help.
"Second, Gulltown's strategic position is also important. From there, we can attack White Harbor to the north or threaten King's Landing to the south.
"Finally, the people of Gulltown are extremely dissatisfied with the cruel Lyn. The knightly tradition in the Vale is strong, and its people have always upheld righteousness. Joffrey is an incest-born bastard, as everyone knows.
"Therefore, Your Grace's inheritance is unquestionably the most orthodox and lawful. As long as we take Gulltown and issue a call, they will surely answer one after another."
"Your Grace, compared with the North, Gulltown is indeed the best choice."
Rolland, who had remained silent, agreed after Davos finished explaining.
"Mm. Then the next plan is decided. We go to Gulltown, then take the entire Vale."
Stannis strongly agreed with Davos's words and made the decision directly.
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Melisandre smiled and did not continue arguing. At least, compared with Dragonstone, Gulltown was somewhat closer to the north.
"You two may go. I have matters to discuss with Lady Melisandre."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Click.
After Davos and Rolland left the Chamber of the Painted Table, Davos closed the door behind them and said to Rolland, "Ser Rolland, thank you for supporting my suggestion just now."
"Ser Davos, there is no need to thank me for that. I merely agreed with the correct suggestion. Marching into the cold North is the most absurd and foolish suggestion I have ever heard."
Rolland raised his right hand and waved, indicating that Davos need not thank him.
"Mm. Gulltown must be taken. It is our only chance. I will go make preparations for battle."
Davos nodded and said farewell to Rolland. Rolland nodded without speaking and turned away.
Davos had been in great pain since his son's death. Now that he had a new goal, he spent the entire day preparing for battle. He inspected each of the remaining thirty-six warships.
Only when night fell did a servant of Stannis come to summon him to Aegon's Garden in the main keep.
Aegon's Garden lay near the Dragon Tail Gate of the main keep. It was filled with the pleasant fragrance of pine. Tall black trees rose around it. Wild roses and towering thornbushes grew there as well, and cranberries dotted the muddy ground.
When Davos arrived, a campfire had been lit in the center of the garden. Beside it stood Stannis, Melisandre, the prostitute Mhaegen, and Robert's bastard daughter, Barra.
After bringing Davos there, the servant quickly left. Only the five of them remained in the garden, along with the crackling campfire.
Seeing this arrangement, Davos's heart sank. He hesitated before asking, "Your Grace, you..."
Before he could finish, Stannis extended a hand and told him to be silent, then indicated with his eyes that Davos should watch quietly.
Melisandre smiled charmingly at Davos, then took out a wooden box and walked to Mhaegen, whose eyes were full of fear.
Seeing Mhaegen suddenly turn away with the child in her arms, Melisandre laughed softly. "Do not worry. I am only letting leeches draw a little of her blood. It will not cause any harm.
"If you do not cooperate, I can only do it by force."
Hearing Melisandre's words, tears immediately filled Mhaegen's eyes. She knew she had no other choice, so she turned and showed the small, soundly sleeping Barra in her arms.
Seeing her cooperate, Melisandre opened the wooden box. With tongs, she took out a shriveled leech as thick as a little finger, still writhing, and placed it on Barra's small face.
Perhaps because the leech was cold, Barra frowned in her sleep as if having a nightmare.
Next, Melisandre placed two more leeches on Barra's arm and chest. The leeches visibly filled with blood and swelled. In a few minutes, they had become as thick as thumbs.
When leeches sucked blood, they secreted a numbing toxin. Since Barra felt no pain, she slept soundly through the whole process and did not wake.
Seeing that the leeches had drawn enough blood, Melisandre used the tongs to retrieve the three leeches and place them back in the wooden box. Mhaegen, her face full of pain, immediately held Barra tightly in her arms and turned her back to the three of them.
Melisandre carried the wooden box back to Stannis and nodded. The two walked to the campfire while Davos watched silently behind them, anger hidden in his eyes.
"The night is dark and full of terrors. My lord, the Lord of Light, you are light, you are justice, you are all things.
"Your faithful servant prays to you..."
Standing beside the campfire, Melisandre lifted the wooden box toward Stannis and began praying in a chant.
Stannis reached into the box and took out one fat leech. Looking at the roaring campfire, he murmured, "Joffrey Baratheon, usurper."
As soon as he finished, Stannis raised his hand and threw the leech into the fire.
The fat leech landed in the roaring flames. Although it immediately stopped writhing, it was not burned black by the fire, as if something was brewing.
"Robb Stark, usurper."
Taking out another leech, Stannis spoke Robb's name and threw it in as well.
"Robin..."
"Your Grace, most of the Vale is controlled by Lysa Arryn, Littlefinger, and Tyrion Lannister. If we want the Vale, we only need to remove them.
"Robin Arryn is only a sickly child. Just like... Princess Shireen."
Davos, who had been silent, finally spoke up when he saw that Stannis was about to say Robin Arryn's name.
Hearing Davos's words, Stannis saw his kind and lovely daughter before his eyes. He hesitated slightly, then spoke. "Lysa Arryn, traitor."
Stannis threw the third fat leech into the campfire. At that moment, Melisandre also ended her prayer.
Crackle!
The three fat leeches in the fire suddenly made a crisp sound, and blood sprayed from their bodies.
As the fresh red blood scattered, the three leeches, which had just resisted the high heat, were instantly burned black by the flames and turned into three piles of ash.
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