DAVOS I
The waters of the Sea of Dorne had a deep blue color and unlike the eastern shores of Stormlands, its climate was not treacherous, and the risk of shipwrecks was almost nil. Davos thought that was why Stannis was so interested in the Sea of Dorne and had put his efforts into building a small fleet.
The Baratheon Fleet didn't even compare to the Lannister Fleet, and yet it was impressive. The stormlanders were strong and vigorous men, better sailors than the Westerners despite being less wealthy. And if Stannis' predictions were fulfilled, the time would come when they would face the power of Lannisport, although he prayed to the gods that this would never happen.
In the eyes of the world, Stannis was making peace with Dorne, which was certainly good for the kingdom. What Old Lion didn't know was that the Dornish would avenge Elia Martell sooner rather than later.
"Prince Oberyn", said Lord Stannis when they arrived at the meeting point. The man was escorted by three women, possibly his daughters if the rumors were true.
"Lord Stannis", replied him. "I see that you have brought prisoners to Ghaston Grey."
"Mnn who threatened Dorne, I guess we should talk privately."
Prince Oberyn nodded and was only followed by one of his daughters, while Davos was the only one who followed Stannis inside the prison. To be sure, being locked up there could be a punishment worse than death. Almost as harsh as the Wall, opposite punishments in themselves, one of ice and one of the scorching fires of the sun.
The prince's daughter was beautiful, although her beauty was strange, as if she had blood from the free cities. However, he noticed that he was hiding at least two daggers, which alerted him. The woman seemed to notice and gave him a malicious smile that made him even more nervous.
"I suppose you have heard by now", said the prince. "Lord Arryn has died and the King plans to travel to Winterfell to give the position of Hand to Lord Stark. He thought he would give the position to you, who are his brother."
"As you may know", replied Stannis, "my brother does not have much sympathy for me. Snub is natural in him, yet he is my brother and I owe him obedience."
"Of course, I obey Doran myself. In any case, I'm glad the next Hand is a Stark and not a Lannister, otherwise I would travel to King's Landing and kill the Old Lion."
Stannis gnashed his teeth at the dornishman recklessness.
"We need to act with caution. You want justice for Elia, I want justice for my brother. Robert is not guilty of the death of the princes, that crime belongs to Lord Tywin; nor is he guilty of Queen Cersei's adultery."
"If adultery is true", the prince snapped, "it is a crime that must be punished. Although a problem arises, who will your brother marry? A Tyrell girl? Because Dorne is not willing to go to war to place a Highgarden flower on the throne."
"Not even I", Stannis grumbles. "My brother may marry a lady from Riverlands or the unmarried Lady Hayford. In any case, it is not the future marriage of the King that we have come to discuss here, but the marriage of my younger brother to your niece. Does Prince Doran agree?"
"He is", Oberyn replied with a smile on his face. "He hopes that Ser Renly will visit Sunspear to marry Arianne. Thus our alliance will be sealed."
The two continued to talk while Davos watched, then the meeting ended, and Davos was back aboard Black Betha. They would soon land at Stone Helm and continue on their way to Summerhall, which their lord had been planning for years to partially rebuild. He never carried it out for lack of funds, but he recognized the importance of the castle since King Robert won three battles there in one day.
Davos was uneasy because he remembered the tragedy caused by sorcery. Ser Bonifer Hasty had told him what happened, how King Aegon V lost his life for trying to bring back the dragons. Ser Bonifer was a fervent devotee of the Seven and a friend of Davos, so much so that he allowed his great-niece to marry Dale.
The marriage between Dale and Tayla Hasty was the talk of the lords a few months ago, muttering about the rise of House Seaworth. Davos could only be happy about that, his grandchildren would have a better future thanks to having a Hasty mother. Ser Bonifer for his part did not care about the humble origins of Davos, paying attention only to the devotion to the Seven.
…
At Stone Helm they were received by Lord Gulian Swann and his wife Annabel Estermont, one of Lord Stannis' cousins. They were aware of the plans for the reconstruction of Summerhall and were interested because their lands adjoined the ruined castle.
The Swanns were the most powerful family in Stormlands after the Baratheons, as the main home of the Marches. Unlike other nobles, they never showed from to Davos, although they were not friendly with him either. Davos had learned that the Hight Septon was Lord Gulian's cousin, Luceon Frey being his birth name, the son of Cyrenna Swann, Lord Gulian's elder sister.
If they were right, and they were, the Swanns were a family Stannis couldn't ignore. And while his head was married to a cousin of Stannis, it would soon be necessary to strengthen the ties. Hopefully, one of his descendants would be as prominent a knight as Ser Balon Swann.
"Lord Stannis!" Lord Gulian greeted. "It's an honor to have you in my castle."
"Nice to see you, cousin", Lady Annabel added.
"Greetings to them both", Stannis replied with his unrefined courtesy. "It will be an honor for me to spend the night in the castle."
"And tomorrow, my son Balon will escort you to Sumerhall. He will serve you well, he is a great gentleman, the best in all of Stormlands."
Davos knew that every father bragged about his children's abilities, yet Ser Balon was a brave and courteous young, as a skilled warrior. He is good with the spear, better with the mace and exceptional with the bow. No doubt a man worthy of the white cloak if Stannis were to influence King Robert.
The next day they made their way to the Targaryens' summer residence. When they arrived, Davos realized that even its ruins were majestic and without a doubt it must have been majestic at its best. However, it was so big that even he realized how difficult it would be to restore it. Stannis also seemed to notice it and that's why he called him aside.
"Do you know what happened in these rooms, Ser Davos?"
"Of course, milord. Sorcery, an affront to the gods."
"No, Davos, it wasn't sorcery, it was stupidity. The fire is difficult to control, it's fortunate that Aerys did not burn the Red Keep."
"Ser Bonifer claims that King Aegon V performed a strange ritual", Davos snapped.
"Ser Bonifer is a good man, but his love for the gods prevents him from seeing the panorama clearly. In addition to his love for Queen Rhaella herself, he doesn't want to tarnish her name."
―His love for Queen Rhaella?"
"Yes, I remember as a child, he came once to Storm's End when my grandmother Rhaelle was still alive. My sweet grandmother regretted Aerys's behavior and even commented that she would have preferred to see her niece married to Ser Bonifer."
"I didn't know."
"Few know, Davos. Everyone knows that Ser Bonifer was a great jouster, many know that he dedicated his life to the gods because he didn't get the love of a woman, but few know that he was a woman was the Queen. Although she was a princess back then, even King Jaehaerys was a prince."
"I never thought I would speak ill of the old King Aegon", lamented Davos. "When I was a kid everyone at Flea Bottom loved him."
"He was a good king, Davos. As Master of Laws, I have rescued some of his edicts, which has made me unpopular with the great lords, but thanks to it the common people love Robert. My point is that the magic ends badly, the dragons are gone, and nothing will make them come back."
"I understand."
Davos fell silent, and there was an awkward silence, then Stannis spoke.
"I would have to apply for a loan from the Iron Bank if I want to rebuild this castle", Stannis snorted.
"Milord, why don't you divide the surrounding land first?" I know you don't like beer, but Stormlands beer is the best of all the Seven Kingdoms. These lands will not be the most fertile, but they could become barley producers."
For a moment, Davos thought that his lord was going to grind his teeth, but he didn't.
"It's a good idea, Ser Davos. I will draw up a plan with the neighboring nobles to move peasants."
Davos was proud of himself.
"And to whom shall you give this lordship, milord?"
"To my son Hoster, of course. He is still a child, but I must still secure his future. If I am the lord of Storm's End it is because of my marriage to Catelyn. My late father-in-law demanded it from Robert, otherwise my brother would never have forgiven me for Aerys's children escaping to Essos.
Davos didn't say anything more. He knew how much his lord loved Storm's End, as well as how much he loved his children. Davos could understand it because he himself was the father of seven, seven boys who would have a good future because Davos had the friendship of Lord Paramount of Stormlands. Because their small lands would give them a sustenance they would otherwise lack.
