A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

Davos was
seated. Half of the lords bannermen were between the smuggler and the high
table.
I must be closer to her if I am to get the strangler into her cup,
yet how?
    Patchface was capering about as the maester made his slow

way around the table to Davos Seaworth. “Here we eat fish,” the fool declared
happily, waving a cod about like a scepter. “Under the sea, the fish eat us. I
know, I know, oh, oh, oh.”
    Ser Davos moved aside to make room on the bench. “We all should be in motley
tonight,” he said gloomily as Cressen seated himself, “for this is fool’s
business we’re about. The red woman has seen victory in her flames, so Stannis
means to press his claim, no matter what the numbers. Before she’s done we’re
all like to see what Patchface saw, I fear—the bottom of the
sea.”
    Cressen slid his hands up into his sleeves as if for warmth. His fingers found
the hard lumps the crystals made in the wool. “Lord Stannis.”
    Stannis turned from the red woman, but it was Lady Selyse who replied.
“
King
Stannis. You forget yourself, Maester.”
    â€œHe is old, his mind wanders,” the king told her gruffly. “What is it,
Cressen? Speak your mind.”
    â€œAs you intend to sail, it is vital that you make common cause with Lord Stark
and Lady Arryn . . .”
    â€œI make common cause with no one,” Stannis Baratheon said.
    â€œNo more than light makes common cause with darkness.” Lady Selyse took his
hand.
    Stannis nodded. “The Starks seek to steal half my kingdom, even as the
Lannisters have stolen my throne and my own sweet brother the swords and
service and strongholds that are mine by rights. They are all usurpers, and
they are all my enemies.”
    I have lost him,
Cressen thought, despairing. If only he
could somehow approach Melisandre unseen . . . he needed but an
instant’s access to her cup. “You are the rightful heir to your brother
Robert, the true Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and King of the Andals, the
Rhoynar, and the First Men,” he said desperately, “but even so, you cannot
hope to triumph without allies.”
    â€œHe has an ally,” Lady Selyse said. “R’hllor, the Lord of Light, the Heart
of Fire, the God of Flame and Shadow.”
    â€œGods make uncertain allies at best,” the old man insisted, “and
that
one has no power here.”
    â€œYou think not?” The ruby at Melisandre’s throat caught the light as she
turned her head, and for an instant it seemed to glow bright as the comet. “If
you will speak such folly, Maester, you ought to wear your crown
again.”
    â€œYes,” Lady Selyse agreed. “Patches’s helm. It suits you well, old man. Put
it on again, I command you.”
    â€œUnder the sea, no one wears hats,” Patchface said. “I know, I know, oh, oh,
oh.”
    Lord Stannis’s eyes were shadowed beneath his heavy brow, his mouth tight as
his jaw worked silently. He always ground his teeth when he was angry.
“Fool,” he growled at last, “my lady wife commands. Give Cressen your
helm.”
    No,
the old maester thought,
this is not you, not your way, you
were always just, always hard yet never cruel, never, you did not understand
mockery, no more than you understood laughter.
    Patchface danced closer, his cowbells ringing,
clang-a-lang,
ding-ding, clink-clank-clink-clank.
The maester sat silent

while the fool set the antlered bucket on his brow. Cressen bowed his head
beneath the weight. His bells clanged. “Perhaps he ought sing his counsel
henceforth,” Lady Selyse said.
    â€œYou go too far, woman,” Lord Stannis said. “He is an old man, and he’s
served me well.”
    And I will serve you to the last, my sweet lord, my poor lonely son,
Cressen thought, for suddenly he saw the way. Ser Davos’s cup was before him,
still half-full of sour red. He found a hard flake of crystal in his sleeve,
held it tight between thumb and forefinger as he reached for the cup.
Smooth motions, deft, I must not fumble now,
he prayed, and the gods
were kind. In the blink of an eye, his fingers were empty. His hands had not
been so steady for years, nor half so fluid. Davos saw, but no one else, he was
certain. Cup in hand, he rose to his feet. “Mayhaps I have been a fool. Lady
Melisandre, will you share a cup of wine