Capítulo 109: Davos 4
293AC
The onion knight stepped onto the deck of the Great Stag, stretching his back out in the pre-dawn light. He was getting old, the aches and pains he could have easily shaken off ten years back seemed to stick in his craw like jam nowadays.
Then again, maybe that was because of all the time he spent at sea. Far more in Lord Stannis service than he had when he was a smuggler ironically enough. Then again, this of all ships he could hardly fault for cramped quarters, the Trading galleons of the Narrow Sea Company were as luxurious on that front as any man could reasonably expect from a ship. For the officers at least. The crew was packed as tightly as any other, there were just more of them since numbers would be key in combat.
'Well, not crew precisely.' He corrected himself. The Marines were at best amateur sailors, but then that wasn't their purpose, a clever thing and a way to get fighting men aboard a fleet, needed as they often were.
The maritime troops were limited to the three galleons which Lord Stannis had recruited into the Royal Fleet, their captains quickly deputies and knighted so as to fit their station. They would see about lands for them once the war was over. It seemed a bit of an extreme measure for his Lord, but then he had grown hastier with his decisions since news of his son's loss came to Dragonstone.
As he walked out into the Grey twilight, however, he was surprised to see the shape of his Lord, easily the tallest man aboard the ship, standing out against the side of the deck in the flickering torchlight. He wore a long grey robe over his shoulders and seemed to be clutching the balcony tightly. Seeing no reason against it, Davis moved to greet him.
"Good-morning my lord. It's odd to see you up and about this early. Is something the matter?"
"What?" Stannis said, as distracted as Davis had ever seen him. "No, no, nothing the matter, in fact, it truly is a good, good morning, as you say."
He was shocked to see that his lord was actually smiling, though there was a hint of confusion to it.
"Uh, if you don't mind me asking Lord Stannis, what's making it so good."
His lord reached down into his cloak, pulling out a folded sheet of Dragonstone-paper, before holding it up in front of Davos.
"Two hours ago a courier-ship came in from Dragonstone. Brought this with it." He gestured to the letter, which bore the seal of the narrow sea company. "It's a letter from my son, Davos. Through from Sunspear to Dragonstone to me, he survived the storm."
If it had not been his Lord Stannis, Davos would have sworn he heard a tone of raw joy in his voice, and even with his lord's standard dourness, he thought that the edges of a smile might be creeping up the sides of his face.
"My son lived Davos."
The simple words seemed to make Lord Stannis grow ten years younger, once more a Baratheon in the prime of his youth. Though in truth his lord usually seemed far older than he was at twenty-nine.
"That's great news, my lord." Davos said, and though he knew that Lord Stannis usually didn't drink, he still felt it necessary to tack on, "should I go fetch a bottle of Arbor Gold?"
His Lord Straightened, "That wouldn't be prudent. We may reach Lys today if this wind holds, and with the Land-war going to the hells we need to free the city immediately." Lord Stannis turned his gaze towards Davos. "Tonight though perhaps, or whenever the city is liberated from the Volantenes. It can be a twin fold celebration."
"Aye Milord." He nodded. "I imagine your son will want to be coming to war then?"
"He asked me for instruction in the letter." The Lord admitted. Lord Stannis glanced northwest towards the horizon. "I wonder if he still aims to conquer the Stepstones as he did when he was younger."
"Wasn't that just a childish fantasy of his?" Davos glanced at Lord Stannis with a raised eyebrow, he had never known him to be ambitious, but then perhaps it was on behalf of his son that he felt that way.
"Perhaps, but then perhaps not. It would certainly add to Dragonstones reach, and the couriers have reported an uptick in pirate activity in the area."
"The Tyroshi won't like it." The city had fought with Kings over the isles before.
"And they'll do what with their outrage, betray the alliance after we've smashed the Volantene fleet? Try to avoid being crushed by Braavos and Westeros combined on the water?" Lord Stannis chuckled, it was an odd sound, especially rare after his son had been presumed dead. "No, they'll protest, but the Braavosi are itching to put the same prohibition against slavery on the Triarchy that they have on Pentos. They won't fight him, not openly."
Davos felt the urge to roll his eyes. "We have perhaps half of his Marines and a third of his gallons with us, and even with all of them it would be hard to hold the Stepstones."
"That could be resolved later." His lord reasoned, and Davos actually did roll his eyes.
"Why do you want this so much, my lord?"
Stannis breathed deeply, then turned towards Davos with a look of odd consternation on his face. "It's the best reason I can give Robert, and Arthur as well, for keeping him out of this war. Pirates are less dangerous than armies. If I direct him to join us I have no doubt he will. If I direct him to remain in Dragonstone for the duration of the war while he has a fleet ready to fight he will feel he cannot do his duty. This will be part of the war, tangentially at least, and he will be kept away from Essos."
Davos took a moment to swallow that and was beginning to open his mouth again when his lord cut him off.
"Enough, Davos. I understand your concern, and it is appreciated. But we will have ample time to discuss this later." The Baratheon gestured to the shapes of Islands begging to take shape on the horizon, cast purple by the light of the early dawn peeking over the horizon behind them. "It appears that we have bigger concerns at present."
As his half-fingered hand found the Myrish-eye at his hip and he spied the Dromond fleet of Volantis clustered about the Island's coasts like a flock of great red leviathans, he had to agree.
There was bloody work to be done.
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