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"It's difficult for me to forgive those conspirators, Cole," the king said, shaking his head as he sat at his desk.
"The kingdom is already crumbling, Your Grace," Cole persisted in his attempt to convince him.
Stannis remained silent for a moment before speaking. "I bear a responsibility to the realm. To every boy, girl, man, and woman in Westeros—I am accountable to them all."
"If the Dothraki and Ironborn are allowed to make landfall, Westeros will drown in blood. They know only plunder and slaughter."
How could Stannis not know their nature? The Ironborn had always been reavers at heart, and the Dothraki were no less savage.
"What terms did they offer you?"
"Tyrion Lannister's letter only mentions an invitation to a wedding. Tyrion is to marry Sansa of House Stark, and Joffrey will soon wed Margaery Tyrell."
"Does Eddard Stark know his daughter is being married off?" the king asked.
"I believe he must know by now."
"Stark, Tyrell, Lannister, and Martell," the king said with bitter irony.
He stood and said, "Go and see Shireen. I need some time alone."
As he gazed out the window into the darkness, a knock sounded at his door.
"Your Grace." It was Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight.
"You have disappointed me, smuggler," the king said without turning. "I should punish you, but Cole interceded on your behalf. He says you are my most loyal knight and were merely deceived."
Davos bowed his head in shame, cursing his own ignorance. "I know I have failed you grievously, Your Grace."
"I summoned you not to hear self-recrimination. I named you Hand of the King because I value your counsel. Tell me truly, Ser—what is a king's duty?" Stannis asked.
"A king's duty is to the realm, Your Grace. The king protects his people and his kingdom," Davos answered without hesitation.
"Have you read the letter again?" the king asked.
"Yes." Davos had asked a maester to read it to him in full. Ser Axell had only shared selected passages.
"Cole suggested a temporary truce with King's Landing. He argued that the forces at Dragonstone and Storm's End weren't strong enough to face enemies from across the Narrow Sea. Who are these enemies? The Lannisters? The Dothraki? It makes my decision difficult."
"Your Grace, what happens when you put the cart before the horse?" the Onion Knight suddenly asked.
"The cart before the horse, smuggler."
Davos nodded slightly. "Your realm needs your salvation, Your Grace. When Mad King Aerys brought ruin to the land, it was your brother Robert who defeated him and saved the Seven Kingdoms from fire and blood. That is why men were willing to name him king. You should win the throne through serving the realm, not win the realm through seizing the throne."
Surprise flashed across Stannis's face as Davos's words pulled him into deep contemplation.
Davos was right. He had become almost obsessed with claiming power and the Iron Throne, nearly losing sight of his true responsibilities. Melisandre had prophesied of "a hero born amidst salt and smoke, dragons waking from stone, and a sword of light drawn from flames." These prophecies pointed to him.
This was the duty fate had assigned him. Though he had never asked for it, he must bear this burden.
"Every man must do his duty, smuggler," the king said. "Remember yours."
Not far from Cole's chambers in the castle, the woman in red once again blocked his path.
He tried to walk past, but she stepped in front of him. "The night is dark, my lord."
Cole gave a cold laugh and turned to leave.
"Ants cannot comprehend human speech, just as humans cannot fully interpret the omens of the gods," she called after him. "I sometimes mistake warnings for prophecies, or prophecies for warnings. For this, I ask your forgiveness, my lord."
"I have no interest in your gods or prophecies, my lady," Cole replied without looking back.
He took a different route. The castle was filled with statues of various beasts and monsters. Cole couldn't fathom why Aegon the Conqueror had collected such things. They had an eerie quality about them.
Shireen was not in Aegon's Garden. She and Edric were with Maester Pylos for their lessons.
When Cole pushed open the door, Edric Storm was the first to spot him.
"We're studying history, brother!" He proudly held up a book.
"The conquest of Aegon the Conqueror," Shireen explained.
Edric bounded over to him. "You were amazing that day!"
Both children had been quickly evacuated by the guards when the fighting broke out.
"Who taught you to fight with swords? Can you use a warhammer? Did they hurt you?" Edric fired questions at him.
"Too many questions at once," Cole smiled, holding up his hands. "I can't answer them all."
Cole greeted the maester, then found a chair and sat down to answer a few of Edric's questions.
"A warhammer is much more powerful than a sword, brother. You should try it sometime!"
"If I have the chance, perhaps I will."
Cole discussed history with them—he had read many books about Aegon the Conqueror during his time at the Wall.
The conquest of the three dragons was known to all. Cole had heard that the skeleton of Balerion the Black Dread was kept in King's Landing. He longed to see it, even knowing that his own mount was far smaller than Balerion had been.
The books recorded that Balerion's wings could cast a shadow over half of King's Landing. The thought was terrifying. Only such monsters could have subdued the Seven Kingdoms.
"There are dragons on Dragonstone," Edric suddenly announced. "Someone saw one—a white dragon flying toward the castle."
He and Shireen had searched the entire morning but found no trace of any dragon around the castle.
The white beast had flown high into the clouds, concealing itself.
They had prepared for discovery. If Stannis hadn't suddenly awakened, Cole would have escaped on dragonback.
Many must have glimpsed it, but who would truly believe in the existence of a creature as legendary as a dragon?
Just as some claimed to have seen mermaids, while others spoke of sea dragons.
The white dragon hovered high above, flying out to sea only after ensuring Cole was no longer in danger.
There were far fewer human eyes over the water than on land. The beast had found an uninhabited island to serve as its shelter.
Beyond hunting for food, the dragon spent most of its time sleeping.
Of course, Cole would occasionally encourage it to exercise.
The dragon's mind was like that of a newborn—innocent and curious about everything.
Sometimes it would become playful, but fortunately, it remained under Cole's guidance.
A dragon and its rider are connected in spirit, sharing both prosperity and suffering.
Raising dragons takes time. Though the white beast had already begun to show its power, it remained far from the might of the Conqueror's three dragons.
This dragon was Cole's final and most crucial advantage. Unlike Aegon or the rumored Dragon Queen across the sea, he did not have three dragons at his command—only this one.