Inside the tent, Jon couldn't help but feel amused watching Sora pour tea. She moved on tiptoes, barely daring to breathe.
Davos and his group, on the other hand, were serious and formal. They had come directly with a warrant from Stannis.
Jon knew that exactly how much he could "cash in" on his achievement of capturing and holding King's Landing would depend entirely on his "attitude" and "performance" in this meeting.
So he was careful not to show any disrespect. Especially with the Red Woman, Melisandre, sitting right across from him. Jon silently prayed she wouldn't see through his act.
After a few polite exchanges, Davos broke the silence first. "Although I never met Lord Eddard myself, I've heard others describe the Duke of Winterfell. Jon, you truly resemble him."
Davos smiled as he spoke, trying to warm up the room. In Westerosi noble circles, saying a son resembled his father was almost always a compliment—especially for a bastard like Jon.
"You flatter me. Lord Eddard's honor is a height I can never hope to reach in this lifetime." Jon knew Davos was Stannis's most loyal subject and his most honest counselor. He not only executed Stannis's will but also guided him, offering frank advice even when Stannis didn't want to hear it—even when it angered him.
In the end, Stannis had rewarded that loyalty, making Davos—a man born in Flea Bottom—his Hand of the King.
Following the original timeline, it wouldn't be long before Stannis, on Davos's advice, sailed north to aid the Night's Watch.
That showed just how high Davos stood in Stannis's estimation. Besides, Davos was a good man; Jon genuinely wanted to be on good terms with him.
Penny, sitting nearby, held a different view. He believed Jon's "monumental achievement" was mostly dumb luck.
If Stannis's forces hadn't sacrificed so many men, exhausting the Lannister army and depleting Tyrion's wildfire, Jon never could have taken the city. So, ever since entering the tent, Penny had sat with his arms crossed, projecting an air of distant hostility.
"I didn't take Lord Jon for the humble type. If you ask me, as long as you don't go fathering any bastards of your own, you've already surpassed your father morally," Penny said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The temperature in the tent dropped instantly.
Jon's polite demeanor vanished in a flash. Davos tried to intervene, but it was too late.
Jon stood up and, with lightning speed, backhanded Penny across the face. The knight hit the ground, completely dazed.
"You bastard! You dare strike me?!" Penny scrambled to draw his sword, but Jon didn't give an inch.
"My father died fighting for the rights of the rightful King. If you dare speak one more ill word about him, I will kill you right here!" Jon's voice was ice-cold. Penny choked on his insults. Seeing the situation spiraling, Davos rushed to calm things down.
Sora stood frozen in shock, too scared to move.
Through it all, Melisandre didn't lift a finger.
Nursing a rapidly swelling cheek, Penny stormed out of the tent, cursing under his breath. As far as he was concerned, this grudge was set in stone.
He knew Jon opposed Robb's crown and had seized command through a mutiny. That meant Jon had no choice but to follow Stannis.
I'll have plenty of ways to mess with him later, Penny thought.
With Penny gone, Davos apologized profusely to Jon. Jon admitted he had been a bit impulsive. Both agreed to treat it as a minor incident and move on.
Davos then asked about what he had seen on his way into the city, praising Jon's governance. Then, he voiced a lingering question: "Jon, I noticed I didn't see many Northern soldiers on the streets. Why is that?"
What Davos really wanted to know was whether someone had tipped Jon off about their arrival. If so, he needed to be on guard.
"Most of the soldiers I brought from the North and the Riverlands haven't seen much of the world," Jon explained smoothly. "After fighting battle after battle, they're under immense pressure. If I let them roam freely in King's Landing, it would be a nightmare for public order. So, I have them stationed at the Old Gate to the north. Of course, I've improved their rations—meat at almost every meal—to keep them happy and rewarded. As for their proper rewards for the campaign, we're still tallying the merits. I trust King Stannis won't forget those who served him well."
Hearing this, Davos nodded with satisfaction again. When Tywin took King's Landing years ago, he let his men sack the city brutally. The contrast between the two commanders was stark.
Jon continued, "Actually, I was a bit disappointed when I saw King's Landing. The smell is awful. I don't much care for going into the city proper."
Hearing Jon joke about the smell, Davos laughed and agreed heartily.
When Jon mentioned his disdain for the brothels, Davos was even more surprised. Stannis had once proposed banning brothels, only to face opposition from everyone.
If he told Stannis this, the King would likely feel a personal affinity for Jon, beyond just appreciating his military success.
Davos was thinking all this without realizing that Jon's gesture of building a collective monument for the fallen—which included his four sons—had already biased him in Jon's favor.
But there was still one critical question: Why was Jon supporting Stannis? Was this actually a directive from Winterfell?
Although he knew Jon opposed Robb's crown, making that unlikely, Davos needed to hear it from Jon to be sure.
He genuinely wanted to work with Jon in the future and keep such a talent on Stannis's side. He couldn't afford to be sloppy about vetting him.
When asked why he opposed Robb and supported Stannis, Jon gave his answer:
"Ser Davos, when I don't know what to do, I ask myself what Lord Eddard would have done. He and King Robert were like brothers; he would never have wanted the realm to fracture. That is why I oppose Robb crowning himself. My father died fighting for the rightful heir. I believe he would have supported King Robert's eldest brother. So, I support King Stannis. Truth be told, I don't know Stannis well. But I hear he is a king who cares deeply about justice. And I believe only such a king can pull this chaotic realm back on track!"
Davos saw the sincerity in Jon's words. There was no falsehood there. The fact that Jon admitted he didn't know Stannis personally, but was following Ned's principles, made it feel incredibly authentic.
He supported Stannis because he believed Stannis should be a good king based on Ned Stark's values. It wasn't flattering, but it was honest. Davos's last shred of doubt vanished.
He didn't just see Jon as an ally now; he was happy. Because he, too, served Stannis for his justice.
"Very well, Jon. I will relay our conversation to His Grace word for word. Is there anything else you wish to say to the King? You can tell me," Davos said warmly, resting his hands on his knees.
Jon was about the same age as his sons, which stirred a fatherly affection in him.
Davos resolved to secure the best possible lands and titles for Jon. But Jon's next words made him doubt his ears.
"Ser Davos, I have no personal message for King Stannis. If I must say something, I hope His Grace comes to King's Landing as soon as possible to take the Iron Throne and rule the realm.
"A few days ago, I received a plea for help from the Wall. As you probably know, I am a deserter from the Night's Watch. I came south privately to avenge my father, Eddard. Now that my blood feud is settled, it is time for me to return to the Wall. I only hope King Stannis can send more support to the Night's Watch."
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