Davos I

289 AC

The Onion Knight stared at the young Baratheon who had snatched him from his duties and forced him to give a detailed explanation of every individual function of the rigging on the cogs that made up the larger part of the royal fleet. "Is that all?" he said, trying to keep the sarcasm to a minimum, it was still Lord Stannis' son after all, and he had no desire to offend any Baratheon. Even if the boy seemed less prone to his family's famous fury.

"One moment please, I do have more questions." The boy said quickly, continuing to scribble notes around a surprisingly well-detailed diagram of the ship in question. "I just want to have a good idea of its function."

"You planning on being a shipwright as well as a lord?"

"And about a dozen other things, I want to be a Renaissance man of sorts."

"Renaissance?" the word sounded strange in his ears, but the boy just smiled at him like an old man.

"An old word for Rebirth or Renewal. Westeros and even Essos have stagnated for far too long, I want to renew them. Or at least Dragonstone."

"And how do you plan on doing that exactly?" Davos asked.

Arthur simply raised his journal, turning to another page. "Partially with these."

On the page were detailed sketches of four different varieties of ships. They were clearly representative of different sizes and roles, but universally their rigging was far more complex than even a War Galley. "This one here is just a swan ship isn't it?" he asked, gesturing to one of the vessels. "But missing the fore and aft-castles."

"They won't be necessary anymore and they slow the ship down. If you look at the hatches on the sides. Those will have cannons behind them."

"The tubes that explode?" Davos chuckled, as the boy pouted at the question.

"Only for now, the Bessemer converters work better every time."

"Sure, and I'm sure the ships will too, only ships are expensive." He patted the lordling on the head, hoping lord Stannis wouldn't mind. "Find yourself a proper shipwright before you try building these. I won't say they've got no potential. That would be a lie since they seem to be like swan ships, but make sure you've got someone who knows what you're doing helping you, and not a crazed alchemist."

"Hmm." the child at least, didn't seem to take offense instead of just staring at his drawings. "Fine. I guess it was a long shot anyway."

"What was?"

"I thought to ask you to help me convince Father to try test building these, I've actually already arranged shipwrights, I just need materials from the mainland."

Davos sighed, so that was what he wanted. He could have just asked for it.

"I don't see an issue with it, but you aren't gonna get money for all of them unproven. Tell you what, which of these is the smallest?"

The boy gestured to the bottom right one. A thin vessel with a shallow draft and three triangular sails hanging from a single mast. "This is a Cutter, well, or a Sloop, I can't decide between the names. It's supposed to be small and extremely fast. And it can run right up against the wind."

"I'll see what I can do." Convincing Lord Stannis wouldn't be all that difficult in all likelihood, the utility of a fast sailing vessel was self-explanatory, but he would want to see it himself before he approved it. "Can you give me another copy of that drawing, and what you think each sail and design element will do?"

"Sure." the boy said, a little oddly, but Davos took it to mean "yes", and he watched with a little bit of wonder as the boy knocked out another quick drawing.

"If my father needs more explanation, let him know to ask me when you beat the Ironborn I guess." the child grimaced. "I'd prefer to start as soon as possible though, honestly. As you say it's trial and error, and I want to have reliable ships before I reach my majority."

"Oh? Planning on conquering the stepstones?"

The boy, no, Arthur, looked up at Davos with blue eyes that were just as sharp as his father's, and with a far brighter ambition. "Maybe."

When the boy left, Davos found himself standing for a good long while in the lengthening evening, only occasionally moving to help the men load supplies or otherwise give orders. The Men didn't like the lack of whores on Dragonstone, but ultimately they would keep in line out of respect for Lord Stannis.

'And speaking of the Lord.` Davos smiled as Lord Stannis approached, standing up and greeting him. "Milord."

"Ser Davos. How goes the preparation?"

"Well enough. We should have no issues getting to the Reach with what we have aboard now."

"Good," Stannis said, marching by towards the Fury, which sat further down the docks.

"Pardon me, Lord, are you not staying at the castle tonight?"

"Are the men?"

"No, my Lord."

"Then I shan't be either." Davos wondered why the upper nobility even bothered marrying at all if they disliked each other so much. He certainly intended to stay at Port with his own dear wife.

'Then again, perhaps it's just duty.'

Even after serving as his right hand for nearly a decade, Davos found his lord hard to read at times.

He turned back towards the castle and felt the crunch of paper in his pocket. 'Ah, I forgot to ask him about the boats.'