A man with a straight back and a resolute face was sitting in front of a round wooden table, writing something.
There was also a half-burned piece of white wax placed on the clean and tidy table. The candle flame was gently swayed by the wind blowing through the cracks in the window, casting his shadow on the wall behind him.
It was raining heavily outside the window, and the noisy sound of the rain made him a little upset.
immediately.
Snapped--
The pen barrel in his hand was accidentally broken, and Stannis's face looked slightly ugly.
Then he threw the broken pen holder directly to the wall on the side.
For some unknown reason, Stannis felt a little uneasy at this time, and the suddenly broken pen barrel was like a sign before something bad happened.
The muscles between the man's eyebrows twisted into a knot, then he raised his hand and rubbed his temples slightly with rough fingers, trying to make himself more awake.
However, it didn't help.
Then the pale lips tightened, and Stannis was worried now.
He has long forgotten how to smile, let alone what it means to be happy.
His eldest brother Robert Baratheon has now become the king, and the traditional fiefdom of the Baratheon family, Storm's End, should logically be handed over to the next heir.
Of course, the king can also continue to keep Storm's End until he chooses an outstanding successor and then divides it.
However, there is no doubt that Stannis is the first heir of Storm's End. His brother Renly is only a child and does not pose any threat to him.
At least that's what Stannis thinks.
Even before his eldest brother Robert gave birth to an heir, he, as the younger brother, could even be regarded as the first heir to the Iron Throne.
But now Stannis suddenly has a bad feeling.
The reason may be the bad personal relationship with his brother, as well as the lack of news from King's Landing.
"Perhaps Robert just wants to regain Dragonstone first."
Stannis loosened his fingers from rubbing his temples, sighed, and then said to himself.
The knot formed by the muscles between the eyebrows also loosened slightly.
Although the relationship with his brother was not harmonious, and he had some complaints about his methods of dealing with things, Stannis was still loyal and did not doubt his brother in the slightest.
He knew how much Robert hated the Targaryens, and he gave himself an explanation in his heart.
Perhaps Robert just hoped to regain Dragonstone first and then hand over Storm's End to him.
now.
Since Lord Redwyne's fleet returned from Dragonstone, it has returned to the west coast of Westeros to recuperate.
And King Robert's determination to regain Dragonstone has not wavered in the slightest.
Stannis is still staying at Storm's End and is rushing to build warships and train the royal navy.
Now most of the newly built warships have been launched, and the newly trained navy has already taken some shape.
Stannis is full of ambitions and believes that once his royal navy is successfully trained, it will be easy to regain Dragonstone.
"Is brother in there?"
And at this time.
A boy's immature and slightly excited voice came from outside the study door, but then there was a cold voice.
"I'm sorry, Master Renly."
"Lord Stannis does not wish to see anyone now."
A guard guarding outside the study stopped Renly Baratheon, the third young master of Storm's End Castle.
The boy wearing a blue velvet jacket seemed to have a basin of cold water poured over his head, and he accidentally dropped a shiny stone in his hand to the ground.
The third young master of Storm's End is somehow slightly...different from boys of the same age.
Although he also received some easier knight training, in fact he had little interest in wielding swords and guns.
Renly prefers to collect some beautiful things.
For example, he just went to the beach with some friends and picked up some beautiful stones, and among them this shiny stone was his favorite.
However, because the storm surge was coming, several children were driven back before they could have fun.
So after Renly returned to the castle, he took the stone and wanted to share it with his brother Stannis.
However, I didn't expect that the boy came over excitedly but was rejected directly.
Renly's mood instantly dropped, and he pursed his lips slightly in frustration. He picked up his beloved beautiful stone from the ground and was about to leave.
Stannis, who was in the study, heard the whole conversation outside and frowned slightly, but finally spoke in a calm voice.
"Renly?"
"Let him in."
In fact, he still cares very much for his younger brother.
Their parents, Lord Stephen Baratheon and Duchess Cassana Ismond, died in an accident at Shipbreaker Bay, leaving only a young brother behind.
The eldest brother Robert has a wild and unruly personality, while the calm and experienced second brother Stannis plays the role of a strict father.
However, Stannis is not good at expressing his feelings.
When he heard that his brother allowed him to enter the study, the black-haired boy immediately wiped away the frustration on his face and smiled happily.
But at this moment.
Boom——
A melodious alarm bell suddenly sounded from the distant direction of the lighthouse.
Stannis, who was sitting in the study, was slightly stunned, with a look of astonishment on his stern face. The guards guarding outside the study and Renly were also stunned.
This voice is so familiar.
So much so that it awakened the memories hidden in Renly's heart that had not yet had time to disappear.
Just half a year ago, they were trapped in Storm's End eating rats, and the sound of horns and bells could be heard from outside from time to time.
At that moment, young master Renly, who was only five years old, was so frightened that he cried on the spot, and the scene was filled with excitement.
The entire Storm's End Castle was not much better. The painful memories from half a year ago still seemed to be before our eyes. Soldiers were running around in a hurry, and the servants in the castle were in a mess.
Stannis was the calmest among them. After experiencing the shock just now, the man with a resolute face quickly calmed his mind.
Then he immediately stood up from the chair and pushed open the door to the study, without even looking at Renly who was sitting on the ground crying in fear.
Holding the hilt of the sword with one hand, he strode outside with a gloomy expression.
"Seven Hells!"
"Can anyone tell me what happened?"
At this moment, a soldier finally ran over in a panic and told Stannis what had happened.
"Lord Stannis, something serious has happened."
The soldier was out of breath as he ran. It seemed that he ran over from the watchtower in one breath.
At this moment, panic was still written on his face.
"A large number of unidentified ships have appeared on the sea, and they are now riding the storm towards the port!"