Game of Thrones: Digger of the Dreadfort

Not far away, there was a camp outside Storm's End.

Stannis Baratheon wore a crown of red gold, the edges deliberately shaped into flames.

His belt was set with garnets and topaz, and a large square ruby ​​was set in the hilt of his sword.

The rest of his clothes were very simple, a studded leather vest over a cotton jacket, a pair of worn boots, brown breeches with rough weavers...

A few nights ago, Renly Baratheon was seriously wounded and dying from an assassination attempt.

A group of nobles with ulterior motives immediately turned against them and joined Stannis's army.

Led by Lord Alister Florent of Brightwater, Lord Ismond of Greenstone Castle, Ser Jon of House Fossoway of Green Apple, and Ser Brian of House Fossoway of Red Apple...

Most of Renly's ten thousand horsemen joined Stannis Baratheon's army.

Now Stannis's power has greatly increased.

The noble lords surrounded him all day long, buzzing like flies on a corpse...

Chapter 281 Storm’s End, because of victory!

Storm's End.

The acting city lord, Sir Cortanai Penros, stood on the top of the city. He was a knight from the Penros family in the Stormlands.

Ser Cortanay was bald, with a brown shovel-like beard beneath his chin.

He is stubborn, older, and an experienced commander.

When Renly Baratheon was the Lord Advocate in King's Landing, Ser Cortanai was appointed as the acting Lord of Storm's End for a long time and gained Renly's trust.

Above his head, flying high were Baratheon's crowned stag banner and Penrose's brown background and white feather banner. The white feathers were two crossed feathers...

Stannis Baratheon besieged Storm's End with a vast and magnificent army that surrendered.

However, there was no trace of discouragement or panic on Sir Cortanay's weather-beaten face.

When Renly and the Reach allied forces garrisoned Bitterbridge, they left sufficient troops at Storm's End.

Storm's End is impregnable, with a strong garrison, sufficient supplies of food and grass, and its own rich combat experience.

Therefore, Ser Cortanai has the confidence to challenge Stannis in the city.

In the "War of the Usurper", Stannis, who was outnumbered, could still hold out for a year under the siege of the Reach army.

There is really no reason for him to surrender in half a month!

Wouldn't that completely disgrace the Penlos family?

Under the city wall, chain armor and plate armor clanged as large groups of people ran.

Stannis Baratheon took Melisandre close to the city wall, followed by a large number of noble lords.

Davos Seaworth, the "Onion Knight", had the honor of following the "King".

He also wore armor, but he felt very uncomfortable. His shoulders and back were sore from the unaccustomed weight.

Davos decided that he must look cumbersome and stupid.

Everyone in this group is of higher birth and superior status than the Onion Knight.

Under the sun, the great nobles of the south sparkled.

They wore gold-plated and silver-plated armor, and their helmets were decorated with silk feathers, feathers or statues in the shape of family crests, with eyes inlaid with gems...

…………

The sun shone brightly on the rim of the flame-shaped crown above Stannis' head.

He looked much older, like half a corpse!

Ever since the night when Renly was assassinated by the red witch's magic, Stannis could barely sleep.

The "King" is often troubled by nightmares, and even the maester's poppy milk doesn't work. Only Melisandre can soothe him to sleep.

Stannis stopped under the high wall, separated from Ser Cortanai on the top of the city by a thick stone wall.

"Sir," he said with stiff politeness.

"Lord Stannis." The other party's tone was not so polite, and the answer was as expected.

"In accordance with formal etiquette, when meeting the king, you should address him as "Your Majesty."

Count Florentine of Brightwater City rode forward a few steps, and the wind blowing from the bay whipped his long cloak:

"Ser Cortanay, your loyalty is to the Baratheon family of Storm's End. Now King Stannis is the legal owner of this place... and our true king. He is the Baratheon family. The bloodline of King Robert, the first heir..."

Lord Florent was the first noble under Renly to turn to Stannis.

He even helped convince some wavering nobles to join Stannis's army.

Coupled with the relationship with his niece Selyse, Earl Florent believes that he has a high status in Stannis's heart.

For a traitor like Count Florentine who was obsessed with profit, Sir Cortanai didn't bother to answer him at all.

He looked down at the red-robed witch beside him and remembered the truth that the "Knight of Flowers" sent to tell him half a month ago.

It was this woman who used weird and evil magic to assassinate His Majesty Renly!

"You are the red-robed witch from Asshai?" Sir Cortanai shouted.

"My name is Melisandre, ser."

Among the group, only Melisandre was unarmed, wearing a smooth red robe, drinking sunlight with a large ruby ​​in her throat, "Serve your king and the Lord of Light."

"Good luck in your work, my lady," Sir Cortanai replied, "but I serve other gods and serve another king."

"There is only one true god, and only one true king," Melisandre declared.

“Are we here to argue about theological theories?

Madam, if you are willing to inform me in advance, I will definitely bring the monks here..."

Sir Cortanai shook his head.

"You know exactly what we are here for," Stannis stepped forward and said, "I gave you half a month to consider my terms, and my patience has reached its limit.

Now, I give you one last chance, Sir Cortanai.

I command you to open the gates of the city and return to me what is mine. "

"What are the conditions?" Sir Cortanai asked.

"No change!" said Stannis, "I will forgive your treason.

Your soldiers can choose to join our army or go home.

They can keep their weapons and personal belongings they can take with them..."

"Lord Stannis, your terms are really generous, but my answer is still 'no'!" Ser Cortanai roared.

Stannis clenched his jaw and said nothing.

Melisandre replied on his behalf: "You ordinary people in darkness and ignorance, Sir Cortanai, the Red God of Light 'R'hllor' will punish you!"

"May the White Walkers sodomize your Lord of Light!"

Ser Cortanai spat, "When you're done, wipe his ass with your rags."

As he spoke, Sir Cortanai burst out laughing.

The knight behind him also laughed...

"I have [-] troops under my command, and you are surrounded by land and sea."

Stannis pointed at the other person and asked loudly:

"Why resist when the final victory is undoubtedly mine?

I give you a stern warning.

If you force me to use force, you will receive no mercy.

Our army will sweep through this city like a storm. When the city falls, you and all your subordinates will have no choice but to be hanged as traitors..."

“You come, this is the will of the gods.

Lord Stannis - Yet if you have any brains, remember the name of this castle. "

Sir Cortanai turned and left.

The nobles below the city were left looking at each other in disbelief.

There is no doubt that the negotiations have broken down!

Stannis turned his horse back to camp with a dark face.

Others follow suit.

"If this magnificent castle is attacked by force, I'm afraid we will lose thousands of people, and we may not be able to capture it!"

Riding on his horse, Count Florent said worriedly to a noble.

…………

The king's military tent.

There were only three people inside, Stannis, Melisandre, and Davos.

Even Count Florentine, who thought he had made great contributions, was turned away.

Davos looked at the king sitting in the chair.

That night, the "shadow" born by the red witch seemed to overdraw Stannis's life force.

He looked haggard and had deep dark circles around his eyes.

"Smugglers should be very aware of what is happening," Stannis said first. "Ser Davos, what do you think of Ser Cortanai Penros?"

"He's stubborn."

Davos said cautiously, "But also loyal!"

"Loyalty? What kind of evaluation is this? Could it be that the noble lords under my command cannot do this?"

"good."