Kapitel 130: Stannis 8
293AC
He glared down at the new letter from King's landing as if it were cursed, the news of the Queen's new pregnancy was a bit disturbing, though according to the Hand Jon Arryn it did at least appear to be Robert's given the timing.
That was good, his desire to rush back and fight a civil war against Twin Lannister while his brothers were stuck in Essos was rather low.
Then again, at least that might let him leave this stupid city.
"My lord?" He looked up from the letter as Der Davis approached, his newly renamed Valyrian sword, "Full Moon" hanging from his hip as always. The man seemed a tad paranoid about the weapon, and Stannis was fairly sure that he had taken to clutching it in his sleep.
"Yes, Davos. Another… guest, I take it?"
"Yes My Lord, Lady Vinya Ha'aeron, she's waiting just outside."
"Send her in." Stannis ground his teeth, dragging his left hand down his face. 'Another thrice-damned slaver.'
To say that the political position in Lys was tense at the moment would be the understatement of the century.
The crux of the matter was fairly simple, the city had been liberated from Volante control, but most of the Tyroshi navy had been lost in the fighting.
This meant that the city was now essentially under the control of the joint fleets of Westeros and Braavos while they repaired, provisioned themselves, and generally sought to prepare for redeployment to the mainland, either relieving Myr or striking Volantis, depending on how the winds blew.
Of course, there was a rather glaring issue with that.
Lys was a slave city.
And not just a city that used a few slaves, like Norvos, or Pentos had been, but part of the triarchy, and a major exporter to the flesh markets of Sothoryos and Essos.
No, the bricks of Lys were paved by slaves, both literally and figuratively, and it had been less than a day after their victory when the Sealord had come to him expressing his desire to end that abominable practice here once and for all.
Overall, Stannis agreed with the man. He would ban slavery in his holdings just as he had banned prostitution.
The issue, of course, was that this wasn't his holding, and wasn't Braavosi either. Lys was their ally, and thus, as duty directed, he had decided to remain decisively neutral on the subject. He had no right to impose himself on the city in such a way.
Unfortunately, this prompted the Lyseni nobility to think he was on their side.
Case in point, Lady Vinya's visit, and the visits of dozens of others like her over the last three months.
He sized up the woman as she entered the chamber, and was immediately reminded strongly of his sister-in-law the queen. From the way she obviously radiated sexuality, with her low cut dress and the blatant sway in her hips, to her fine features unmarked by anything resembling struggle or hardship, to the way all of her following retainers seemed to be utterly worshipful of her.
No, the Valyrian woman in front of him was not the queen, but he found he had the same bile rising in his stomach for both women.
"Lady Vinya." He said plainly, not having words to waste on a slaver, "why have you come?"
"Ah well, since you did not express a desire to come to visit me in my pillow houses." If the woman thought to lean over to expose her beasts was going to be a convincing argument for her case she was sorely mistaken. "I decided I should come and visit the great and powerful Lord Baratheon myself."
"I see." Stannis said frankly "well you have seen him. Is there any reason you should stay here?"
"Why of course!". Stannis almost groaned at the woman's refusal to accept dismissal. "I have brought gifts, after all, fine things for the liberator of our city, who is so kind as to shield us from the sometimes excessive actions of the Braavosi as well."
The Lord of Dragonstone almost rolled his eyes. He had received many gifts over the past week and a half, and only half of them were remotely appropriate. Still, the (Two!) gem-encrusted silver phalluses would be resold and used to further his interests, so in truth, he did have at least some interests in hearing the woman out.
"I will certainly accept any gifts you think appropriate, within reason at least."
"Ah, wonderful," the woman said, squeezing her breasts together with her arms in yet another misguided attempt to seduce him. "Let us bring them out then." The woman gave him a sultry smile. "I was able to hide away much of my treasure from the Volantenes, so I hope you appreciate it as I do your actions my Lord Baratheon."
He glanced as three strongboxes were taken out by the woman's servants, or perhaps slaves. It was hard to tell in this damnable city.
"First, a ladies ransom, since you saved me from the Volantene hand, 500 gold coins of Lys." The first strongbox opened to reveal that volume of currency, all engraved with the nude Lyseni love goddess in all her perverse glory, spread wide for the purpose of the debauched city.
He nodded, and the woman continued.
"Next, a ring which belonged to my great grandfather, it comes from your homeland of the Stormlands and is of the purest gold, encrusted with rubies and sapphires. Of the finest quality. Fit for one who defended our city."
Stannis raised an eyebrow as he nodded, observing the ring. It was clearly artfully made, and he could believe it was from Westeros by its shape. "A fine gift." He said after a moment, his distaste for the woman not preventing him from appreciating it's value, which was vastly greater than the previous chest.
"I am glad you like it." The woman said finally and gestured for the final gift to be presented. "And last, but certainly not least, a Golden Medallion bearing my house's sigil." The woman said, smiling broadly. "I have heard that your son runs a trading company that works in Westeros and Braavos. Simply give him this and I will personally help him establish an office for his company here in Lys. A token of friendship from my house to yours."
Stannis glanced at the amulet. It bore the symbol of a star hanging over the island of Lys, and he wondered if there was some particular context he was missing there.
Nonetheless, he appreciated a gift not directed at himself for once. Though if the woman knew enough to know of his family it did paint her attempts to seduce him in a marginally less tasteful light.
"Thank you." He said, and there was honesty in it. He was sure Arthur would appreciate the assistance.
"You are most welcome," the woman said, smiling "feel free to come to visit me at my estate whenever you like Lord Stannis. I should certainly like to come to know our city's savior better."
As he watched the woman go, the Lord of Dragonstone rolled his eyes, though they then traced over the admittedly appreciated gifts.
Then he snorted. The woman should not think he would betray his wife so easily. Nor his duty.
If he was willing to do such things then he wouldn't be shielding this despicable city from the Sealord, to begin with.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein