A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

me for an utter fool, ser?” asked Stannis. “I have twenty
thousand men. You are besieged by land and sea. Why would I choose single
combat when my eventual victory is certain?” The king pointed a finger at him.
“I give you fair warning. If you force me to take my castle by storm, you may
expect no mercy. I will hang you for traitors, every one of you.”
    â€œAs the gods will it. Bring on your storm, my lord—and recall, if you
do, the
name
of this castle.” Ser Cortnay gave a pull on his reins
and rode back toward the gate.
    Stannis said no word, but turned his horse around and started back toward his
camp. The others followed. “If we storm these walls thousands will die,”
fretted ancient Lord Estermont, who was the king’s grandfather on his mother’s
side. “Better to hazard but a single life, surely? Our cause is righteous, so
the gods must surely bless our champion’s arms with victory.”
    God, old man,
thought Davos.
You forget, we have only one now,
Melisandre’s Lord of Light.
    Ser Jon Fossoway said, “I would gladly take this challenge

myself, though I’m not half the swordsman Lord Caron is, or Ser Guyard. Renly
left no notable knights at Storm’s End. Garrison duty is for old men and green
boys.”
    Lord Caron agreed. “An easy victory, to be sure. And what glory, to win
Storm’s End with a single stroke!”
    Stannis raked them all with a look. “You chatter like magpies, and with less
sense. I will have quiet.” The king’s eyes fell on Davos. “Ser. Ride with
me.” He spurred his horse away from his followers. Only Melisandre kept pace,
bearing the great standard of the fiery heart with the crowned stag within.
As if it had been swallowed whole.
    Davos saw the looks that passed between the lordlings as he rode past them to
join the king. These were no onion knights, but proud men from houses whose
names were old in honor. Somehow he knew that Renly had never chided them in
such a fashion. The youngest of the Baratheons had been born with a gift for
easy courtesy that his brother sadly lacked.
    He eased back to a slow trot when his horse came up beside the king’s. “Your
Grace.” Seen at close hand, Stannis looked worse than Davos had realized from
afar. His face had grown haggard, and he had dark circles under his
eyes.
    â€œA smuggler must be a fair judge of men,” the king said. “What do you make
of this Ser Cortnay Penrose?”
    â€œA stubborn man,” said Davos carefully.
    â€œHungry for death, I call it. He throws my pardon in my face. Aye, and throws
his life away in the bargain, and the lives

of every man inside those walls.
Single combat?
” The king snorted in
derision. “No doubt he mistook me for Robert.”
    â€œMore like he was desperate. What other hope does he have?”
    â€œNone. The castle will fall. But how to do it quickly?” Stannis brooded on
that for a moment. Under the steady
clop-clop
of hooves, Davos could
hear the faint sound of the king grinding his teeth. “Lord Alester urges me to
bring old Lord Penrose here. Ser Cortnay’s father. You know the man, I
believe?”
    â€œWhen I came as your envoy, Lord Penrose received me more courteously than
most,” Davos said. “He is an old done man, sire. Sickly and
failing.”
    â€œFlorent would have him fail more visibly. In his son’s sight, with a noose
about his neck.”
    It was dangerous to oppose the queen’s men, but Davos had vowed always to tell
his king the truth. “I think that would be ill done, my liege. Ser Cortnay
will watch his father die before he would ever
betray his trust. It would gain
us nothing, and bring dishonor to our cause.”
    â€œWhat dishonor?” Stannis bristled. “Would you have me spare the lives of
traitors?”
    â€œYou have spared the lives of those behind us.”
    â€œDo you scold me for that, smuggler?”
    â€œIt is not my place.” Davos feared he had said too much.
    The king was relentless. “You esteem this Penrose more than you do my lords
bannermen. Why?”
    â€œHe keeps faith.”
    â€œA misplaced faith in a dead usurper.”
    â€œYes,” Davos admitted, “but still, he keeps faith.”
    â€œAs those behind us do not?”
    Davos had come too far with Stannis to play coy now. “Last year they