chapter 204 part 2
Davos weaved through the tables, pulled up a chair, and sat opposite him. He looked at Salladhor and gave a slight nod.
Salladhor jutted his lips. "My friend, the flames spread everywhere. Stare too long and you'll hurt your eyes."
Davos shrugged slightly. "She says the red comet was prophesied in the ancient books of Asshai."
Salladhor pursed his lips. "I think the red star is a sign for me to return to my old trade."
Davos merely quirked a corner of his mouth, saying nothing.
Salladhor burped and continued, "I never thought the lord of Casterly Rock would send his dwarf son to run things in King's Landing. Does he hope to use that ugly face to scare away his enemies, or does he want the imp to dance on the walls and make us laugh ourselves to death?"
Davos raised his mug and took a sip of ale. "Salladhor, how are the defenses at King's Landing?"
Salladhor leaned back in his chair. "The walls? High and thick. They're busy building catapults and scorpions, but what good will that do? Those Gold Cloaks are all tame little birds, and besides them, the Lannisters have no one else to defend the city."
He paused, then leaned forward and continued, "I think as long as we strike quickly, like... an eagle swooping down on a rabbit, the great capital will be ours. If the winds are favorable, our Lord Stannis can be sitting on the Iron Throne by tomorrow evening. Then we can dress that little wretch up like a jester, poke his arse with a spear, and make him dance for us!"
He chuckled. "And maybe your kind Lord Stannis will even reward me with a wonderful night with the beautiful Queen Cersei! Just thinking about it fills me with the will to fight, my friend!"
Davos put down his mug. "Pirate, weren't you just complaining that the people of Westeros are too impatient? Lord Stannis is a just man. You will be handsomely rewarded for every ounce of effort you put in."
Salladhor whined, "My dear old friend, what your poor friend wants is glittering gold, not promises written on paper!"
Davos assured him with a serious expression, "Salladhor, you'll get your gold once we've taken the royal treasury in King's Landing. Stannis Baratheon is the most honorable man in all the Seven Kingdoms. He will keep his promise."
Salladhor waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, alright, my friend."
Davos showed a faint smile. "Thank you, my friend."
Salladhor first sighed helplessly, then leaned a little closer to Davos, the smile gone from his face. "Davos, even if we take King's Landing as you say, how long do you think we can hold it? Tywin Lannister has a massive army, and Renly Baratheon..."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "I've heard that Stannis's brother Renly is preparing to march on this great city we were just discussing. He's bringing his beautiful young queen, his gaggle of flower lords and shining knights, and a hundred thousand soldiers, all along the Roseroad."
Davos asked in surprise, "Are you sure? He's bringing his new bride with him to war?"
Salladhor laughed loudly and shrugged. "Unfortunately, that king didn't think to explain his reasons to me..."
His expression turned lewd. "Perhaps... he can't bear to be without his bride's warmth for a single night? Or maybe... he thinks victory is already in his grasp."
Davos pondered for a moment. "I will report this matter to Lord Stannis."
Salladhor drained the rest of the wine in his mug, wiped his mouth with his hand, and said, "My dear knight, when do you think our boss will finally give the order to set sail?"
Davos frowned. "Soon, I imagine, my friend."
"Still waiting for that sign from the red priestess?"
Davos fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Salladhor spread his hands and rose from his chair. "I see. It looks like it won't be long before the two of us are feasting in the Red Keep, listening to cheerful little tunes sung by acolytes."
He walked over and patted Davos's shoulder. "When you see His Grace Stannis, please be so kind as to remind him that by the next new moon, he'll owe me another twenty-two thousand Gold Dragons... Hmm, if he lets me sleep with Queen Cersei for a night, I can waive some of the interest."
With that, Salladhor swaggered out of the tavern.
Davos sat for a while longer with a furrowed brow. Glancing at the sky outside, he drained the ale in his mug, pushed it aside, and stood up to leave.
...
Outside the sept on Dragonstone, flames shot into the sky. The Maiden and the Mother, the Warrior and the Smith, the Crone with pearl eyes, the Father with the gilded beard, and the Stranger carved to look almost animalistic—all were now engulfed in a sea of fire.
Hundreds of people had gathered here to witness the burning of the Seven. To commit such a sacrilegious act against the gods most had worshipped their entire lives made even the soldiers maintaining order feel deeply uneasy.
Melisandre walked slowly around the raging pyre. She wore a long, blood-red silken robe. Her eyes, like the great ruby at her throat, were a brilliant red, as if they too were burning.
She sang as she walked, "We offer these false gods to you, these Seven-in-One who are your enemies. Take them and grant us your light, for the night is dark and full of terrors."
She cried out, "R'hllor, Lord of Light! Mortals are shrouded in darkness. Come to us now!"
Stannis stood watching, his face expressionless. His wife, Selyse Florent, stood beside him, piously repeating the prayers after Melisandre.
Watching the gods burn, Davos, who stood at the back, tightened his brow... Those who opposed the Lord of Light were either killed or thrown in prison. There was no one left to stop this.
He sighed inwardly. For Davos, a man who came from a smuggler's background, the gods held no special meaning. But he was opposed to harming his own people over questions of true or false gods.
...
Black smoke rose, churning and twisting. Suddenly the wind shifted, and the onlookers blinked, their eyes watering as they rubbed them.
Melisandre raised her voice. "According to the prophecies in the ancient books of Asshai, after a long summer, the stars will bleed and a cold darkness will fall upon the world. In this hour of terror, a warrior will draw a burning sword from the fire. That sword will be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who wields it will be Azor Ahai reborn, and he shall drive the darkness from the world."
She raised her voice higher. "Azor Ahai, beloved of R'hllor! Warrior of Light! Son of Fire! Come! Your sword awaits you! Draw the sword that is yours!"
As Melisandre's words faded, Stannis strode forward as if marching onto a battlefield. Amidst the pyre, he grasped the sword's hilt with his gloved right hand and, with a great heave, pulled the blade free.
Tongues of jade-green flame licked at the blade. Stannis raised the sword high.
A soft gasp rippled through the crowd.
Lady Selyse cried out, "The burning sword!"
There was a moment of silence, then the crowd took up the chant: "The burning sword!"
"The burning sword!"
"The burning sword!"
"The burning sword!"
Melisandre raised both hands above her head and chanted in a loud voice, "Behold! The prophecy, now fulfilled! Behold, that is Lightbringer! Azor Ahai is reborn to the world! Hail! Hail the warrior of light! Hail! Hail the son of fire!"
She shouted, "The night is dark and full of terrors! Lord of Light, grant us your radiance!"
Suddenly, Davos saw Stannis thrust the flaming sword into the ground. He then immediately tore off his burning gauntlet, letting it fall to the earth.
Lightbringer, stuck in the ground, still glowed red, but the flames licking its blade were rapidly dying down.
The longsword began to turn black, looking more and more like a piece of scrap iron... *This*, Davos thought, *is the Red Sword of Heroes the priestess spoke of?*
(end of chapter)