章 485: Chapter 485: A Letter from Viserys
Yet, at this very moment, a letter from King's Landing shattered the eerie atmosphere within Storm's End.
*Flap, flap—*
A raven, black as night, descended from the sky, its wings stilled as it alighted upon a tower of Storm's End. Servants were soon notified, and two maesters hurried over.
"Maester Clyson, a letter from King's Landing," one announced.
The maester of Storm's End fed the raven a morsel, skillfully untying the letter from its leg as it pecked at the snack. He glanced at the seal, and his face slightly changed.
"What?" he muttered.
An elderly maester, his face lined with age, also changed color upon hearing the 'young' maester's words.
He took the letter from the other's hand and looked at it. The seal, embossed with a three-headed dragon and edged in gold, clearly identified the writer.
"This is a personal letter from Viserys?" he questioned.
"Who is the young dragonlord writing to?" Maester Clyson and the maester of Storm's End almost simultaneously inquired. Clyson referred to him as 'Viserys,' while the Storm's End maester called him 'young dragonlord.'
The envelope was clearly addressed, 'To be delivered to the Lord of Storm's End.'
Who was the lord of Storm's End? The answer was obvious.
The two maesters exchanged glances, and the Storm's End maester took the letter from the old Clyson, nodding slightly. He descended the stairs and made straight for Renly's study.
Maester Clyson watched his younger colleague's retreating back from the tower, his dim eyes twinkling.
"This letter..." he began.
The septuagenarian was clearly still sharp-witted, and he sensed that something was amiss.
Why would Viserys secretly write to Renly? As mortal enemies, what could they possibly have to discuss? What might Viserys have written in the letter? If Viserys was now writing to Renly, did that mean Renly had written to Viserys before, and this was merely a reply?
Clyson's white-haired head pondered, his mind racing, as he stood atop the tower, leaning on the balustrade.
Then, considering recent news of Renly contacting Viserys and inquiring about terms should Storm's End bend the knee, Maester Clyson felt he was drawing closer to the truth.
"Not good," he murmured, his face suddenly changing. If things were as he suspected, then Viserys and Renly were undoubtedly conspiring against Stannis.
Though once the maester of Storm's End and impartial towards the Baratheon children, he liked Renly as well.
When Clyson had followed Stannis to Dragonstone, it was out of sympathy for the child who had held the castle for over a year, gaining the greatest merit but reaping the least reward. He felt Stannis needed him most.
Clyson viewed the Baratheon children as his own. Robert was imprisoned, and the other two brothers should unite against their foes rather than quarrel over power, or be divided by their enemies, leading to fratricide.
"Renly has gone astray!" he exclaimed.
"No, I must hurry to inform Stannis and stop Renly."
Clyson's brief contemplation left him feeling overworked, sweat beading on his forehead, his nose reddening.
The old maester's age was indeed showing, and with his injured behind, he hurried down from the tower, making for Stannis's chambers, nearly stumbling on the way.
"Maester Clyson, what's the matter?"
"What's so urgent?" Davos, the Onion Knight, quickly supported the nearly fallen Clyson, asking in surprise.
"I must see Stannis!"
"Take me to Stannis quickly; tell him Renly wants to kill him!" Clyson panted, his wrinkled face flushed, clutching Davos's hand and speaking hurriedly.
"What?!" Davos was startled, nearly turning to run to Stannis's chambers.
But, as a naturally cautious man, he thought it over, finding the matter unlikely.
Stannis's power, though not as strong as Renly's, was not much weaker. Renly seeking to kill Stannis at this time would only please their enemies and pain their kin, would it not?
And according to the faith of the Seven, kinslayers are surely punished by the gods. Based on Davos's understanding of Renly, he was not someone of resolute mind and action.
How could he decide to risk civil war and kill Stannis at this time, and have the courage to be a kinslayer?
"This matter is of great import, Maester Clyson. We must not act rashly, lest misunderstandings arise," Davos calmly advised.
"Tell Lord Stannis yourself."
Davos then called a guard to escort Clyson to Stannis.
"Guard!"
Being cautious, he gathered all the guards loyal to Stannis, securing the area near Stannis's chambers, leaving no room for error.
Better safe than sorry.
Though Davos instinctively felt the matter unlikely, who could be certain in this world without the ability to foresee?
Negligence in this game of thrones would surely lead to utter ruin.
In Stannis's chambers, clad in armor and preparing to train soldiers, he was taken aback by Clyson's words, also sensing something amiss.
"What?"
"There's such a thing?"
Stannis's brow furrowed, his nature suspicious.
Viserys writing to Renly? What did he write? Stannis had once seen Viserys himself, in the war room at Riverrun.
Based on his understanding, Viserys was not one to waste time on trivial matters. He would not write to Renly about something insignificant.
And if it were significant, why had Renly not come to discuss it after receiving the letter?
"Maester Clyson, you've come at the right time."
"No, I must find Renly and ask him clearly."
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