War of the Usurper IX

(Davos POV)

In King's Landing, if you leave the Red Keep and aren't careful, you might find yourself in Flea Bottom. In such a cesspool, did I have my glorious start. I got out as soon as I could. Found work on a smuggler ship, the Cobblecat under Roro Uhoris, a Tyroshi smuggler and pirate. Eventually, Uhoris was caught by the Night's Watch fleet from Eastwatch, where he was executed for trading weapons to wildlings. While impressed by this event, I did not refuse to trade with the members of the Night's Watch later. 

Soon every port on the Narrow Sea had a bounty on me, which they woudl collect if I didn't pay a percentage to the right people or pick the right tides. You know how to tell a good smuggler? When you talk to one, there's a head that talks back.

I was very good. Davos of Flea Bottom had run with orphans and beggars, but Davos the smuggler was received by merchants and lords ... when no one would catch them. Oddly the only honest work came from pirates, like the notorious, bloodthristy Salladhor Saan. Salladhor Saan, known as Salla to his friends, is a notorious Lysene pirate, sellsail, smuggler, trader, and banker. He styles himself the Prince of the Narrow Sea and is a descendant of the Saan family. All Salladhor ever wanted was someone to buy his cargo quickly before the tide left and sell it without telling where I got it. 

In time, I saved enough money to buy a small plot of land and found a woman who was kind enough to overlook my trade. Marya, the daughter of a carpenter is a good-natured woman, with a kindly smile. She is the best woman in the world. She gave me a son, Matthos. We dreamt of me gaining enogh money to settle my family for life and stop the smuggling business. 

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Then some Stormlord revolted against the Iron Throne. Wars aren't as good for smugglers as one might think. Every harbour fills with guards and inspectors and the seas fill with blockades and pirates paid by each side to prey on the other. 

Though I had no love for the Mad King, I've grown up around the power of King's Landing. I figured that this Robert Baratheon would end the same as the other rebel Lords, burnt to ash. But he didn't. 

The North, the Vale and the Riverlands joined his cause and fought against the ruling regime of the Targaryens. The tavern's people drank to Robert's health. Brave fools, I thought. My family would be left in the lurch if I lost my head. 

When Mace Tyrell marched on Robert's home, Storm's End, the castle was garrisoned by Robert's younger brother, Stannis Baratheon and a small guard. They would not hold out for long, we thought and when it fell, Robert would be left without a home. His support would bleed away, this I knew from experience. However, months later Stannis was still holding the castle. 

Nobody cared, but on voyage, I had seen what famine does and thought of all those men in Storm's End who would die unmourned and forgotten, no better than Flea Bottom orphans. I told Marya and myself then that I'd get a high price for my onions and salt beef. In truth, I knew that the Tyrell galleys would capture me, or that my ship would be destroyed and I drowned in the sea. 

Later that night, in a tiny boat with a black sail, I cursed myself and the moonlight as I waited for the tide to turn. When it did, the wind ripped the sail so hard, I ripped it down, fearing the Tyrell ships would hear it. Luckily, they've grown lax. What I didn't expect though, was to meet a smaller ship. One of similar length as mine, but better built and stronger, resisting the seemingly irresistible tides that gave Shipbreaker Bay its name. 

I was about to hit the sharp rocks when they arrived. The unknown ship shot arrows at my tiny boat with ropes wrapped around it and pulled up next to it. That was the first time I saw him, Petyr Baelish. The winds were wailing and the rain beat down on us, but he looked as calm as he was taking a stroll on the sandy beach. He smiled when he saw me and my cargo. 

I thought I was a dead man for sure. But instead, he gave me his hand and asked for my name. He told me that my intentions were honourable and good, but they were a bit early. I didn't know what he was talking about back then. He told me to get on his boat and had a few of his men, whom I never saw the face of, grab all of the onions and salted meat from my boat. Then we left and sailed a bit further out where a larger boat was waiting for us. It was not the largest vessel I had ever seen, but it was unlike any ship I had ever seen. It looked like it could cut through the waters like a harpoon through the air. And I was right. 

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Instead of moving towards Storm's End, we moved north and eventually reached 'Baelish Keep'. I had never heard of House Baelish to that point and I'm sure that many others also hadn't. 

When we approached the Keep, I saw the most advanced and biggest Harbour I had ever seen in my life. It was hard to think that the man who created it, was barely 6 and 10 name days old. The ships were grand and they were loaded with weapons I hadn't thought of using that way. Who would have thought of ever using ballistas that way? To hunt Wales sure, but against other ships? No. 

The size of the ships was so much larger than what I knew from the other kingdoms. The Redwyne fleet's longboats were probably half as long as the biggest vessels there. Everything was in the best of conditions and I was flabbergasted. The roads were nearly perfect and everything was made from some stone-like substance that was very hard and sturdy, I had never seen before. The docks were orderly ... orderly! That is as unthinkable as saying that the Mad King was sane. It felt unreal at times. 

Lord Petyr led me to a large tent since his castle was being built at the moment. So many different things were being built and I just asked myself where he got all of that gold from to pay for all of it. But that was none of my concern. I simply observed everything and followed along. Inside the large tent, there were many plans laid out on a big table and someone brought refreshments for us to enjoy. It all functioned so well. Nothing had to be said, it all just happened automatically. 

Lord Petyr then started talking with me. He asked me questions about myself, my life and my family. I didn't dare to lie in front of him, since there was something about him, that commanded respect. There was wisdom and cunning in his eyes, that bellied his youth. He nodded his head and after I was finished, began telling me about himself. About his family's short history, about his fosterage under Lord Hoster Tully and the 'sad' end. He told me about the possibility it brought him and the way it paved for his success as a merchant. He also told me about the war, the rebellion and his intentions to help those men and women in Storm's End. 

He created a plan. It felt as if he had long prepared for this moment and was just now acting on it. I was sure that he didn't know about me since I decided to act on it on impulse and never told anyone about it. He said that he was present during the Battle of the Bells, back in Stoney Sept and had been preparing for what to do about the siege at Storm's End for months now. And now the time was right. It was time for a wake-up call to the Redwynes and Tyrells. An attack was to happen, where they would be surprised and their lax behaviour would be punished. 

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I watch as the two large vessels sail towards the other two ships inside Shipbreaker Bay. The ballistas fly and do untold damage to the hull of the ship, before a few brave and foolish men, try to board the ships of Lord Petyr. I can only see from afar and hear the sounds of battle, but from what I can make out, it is a massacre. Lord Petyr betted on a quick attack that would give us more than enough time to unload all of the goods for Storm's End and then leave again before the reinforcements arrived.

The man next to me holds a spying glass and then hands it to me. 

"There is the signal, Davos. We should go now," he tells me.

I take the spying glass and look at the main ship, where Lord Petyr is. I see the large red sail with his sigil on it. The crown on top with a sword stabbed inside a gem of some kind. I don't understand the meaning of the sigil or his house words, but I'm sure they hold meaning. 'Did you miss me?', those are his house words. It might be playing at the fact that Lord Hoster sent him away and he managed to be so successful, but I'm uncertain. I nod my head and turn to the man next to me. Ferdinand is his name. 

"Give word to the others, we go as fast as possible."

"Aye."

Our ship makes its way towards the stony caves beneath Storm's End and almost doesn't fit inside. Despite the ship's 'small size', it is still rather large and much much larger than the tiny boat, I was using when coming here the first time. We stop the boat and I disembark. Then, I see him. Stannis Baratheon. His looks don't betray any emotion. He simply stands there, sword-ready and prepared to fight us to the death. But our white flag has somewhat eased them and stopped us from getting attacked right away. 

"Who are you?" I hear him ask. 

"I am Davos, a smuggler. I am together with these men who belong to House Baelish from one of the Fingers in the Vale. We have brought you food and supplies to help you during this siege."

"And who is the Lord of House Baelish? I have heard rumours about a mysterious house appearing and surprising the entire realm," Stannis Baratheon says and looks at Ferdinand. 

"It is not I, Lord Stannis. My name is Ferdinand. We bring you food for you and your men. The rebellion will succeed, we are certain of it and you will not bend, of that my Lord is certain. That is why we bring you food, to hold strong until the siege is lifted."

"I see. Very well then, go and help them unload," Stannis tells his men. 

I see the men weeping when they see all the food we bring. It is really a lot of food, that we managed to pack on the boat. It should fill the bellies of the men and women for at least one or two moons. If they eat it sparingly, then three.

The men and even women work hard to unload everything as fast as possible. The attack on the three Redwyne ships didn't go unnoticed I'm sure, so time is of the essence. I suddenly hear a noise from the back and see Ferdinand coming towards me. 

"Davos, we need to leave. It seems like there was another Redwyne ship in the area. Lord Petyr and General Darlan will take care of it, but there might be more. We should make haste."

"Aye, we are finished unloading everything. Let us go."

"Davos the smuggler."

I turn around and see Stannis Baratheon. 

"Yes, my Lord?"

"I thank you for your help. Tell your Lord Petyr, that I will thank him personally, should the possibility ever present itself."

"Aye, I will tell him, my Lord. Farewell then. And good luck."

As we sail away, I hear the shooting of the ballista and know that the poor Redwyne ship should have waited for reinforcements. I look back one last time and see that Stannis Baratheon still hasn't gone back. He has made quite an impression on me. 

Very much unlike Lord Petyr, whom I can't get a read on at all. Lord Stannis seems to be a special man. I guess the future will tell. 

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The war will be over very soon. One more chapter I think. One or two max.