Game of Thrones: I am Dothraki, not a barbarian

Chapter 203 Death Soldier
As Davenport, Stannis, and Davos left the Fury, a painted Reese's Clipper sailed toward them.

The man standing at the bow was Salado Sun, hired by Stannis at great expense. The old pirate, dressed in a wine-red coat, stood out conspicuously in the moonlight.

"My King!" Salado Sun cried out, "Get on the ship! Salado Sun has come to rescue you!"

Davos looked up blankly, then recognized his old friend, "Salado?"

"It is indeed me, my Lord Onion Knight!" Salado hurriedly ordered his men to lower the rope ladder. "Come up quickly, it's not safe here!"

The three were pulled aboard the Valyrian, and Salado immediately knelt before Stannis.

“Your Majesty, Salado Sun will always be your most loyal servant!” he exclaimed dramatically. “My ship, my men, everything I own is yours!”
Those despicable Pentos people have resorted to evil witchcraft! But Salado Sun will never abandon the king!

Stannis stared at him expressionlessly. "You've come at just the right time, Salado."

“Your Majesty, this is no coincidence, it is fate!” Salado stood up, rubbing his hands together. “I have been waiting nearby for the right moment. As you know, Salado Sunn, though a businessman, also understands the value of loyalty. Especially loyalty to the true king, hehe.”

Davos coughed and said, "Salado, we need..."

“Rest! Food! Clean clothes!” Salado interrupted him. “These will all be provided, my friend. Someone, prepare the best cabin for His Majesty the King!”

...

As night fell, the remnants of the Combined Fleet regrouped fifty nautical miles north of Pentos Bay.

After washing up, showering, and changing his clothes, Davos went into the cabin.

A fragrant aroma of spices wafted through the air. Silk tapestries from Yuhai hung on the walls, and a Mil carpet covered the floor. Against the wall stood an ebony desk.

“Your Majesty,” Davos’s voice was extremely heavy, “I must tell you a cruel truth.”

Stannis stood in front of a mirror, his pale and haggard face reflected in it.

Hearing the voice, he turned to look at Davos, awaiting his bluntness.

"Just tell me straight, you never lie to me."

Davos unconsciously touched the leather bag around his neck containing four severed fingers with his left hand.

“We have suffered heavy losses. According to reports from the ships, at least 23 of the 100 Dromon warships have sunk or been completely rendered combat ineffective.”

Stannis's face darkened further. "Continue."

"Six ships were sunk directly, including the Braavos flagship, the Sea Giant, and seventeen ships were unable to continue fighting."

Daveston paused, "Worse still, panic is spreading. Many crew members have fallen overboard in the chaos, and several ships have collided while trying to avoid those terrible weapons."

“The loss rate is close to a quarter…” Stannis said coldly, “and we haven’t even scratched a hair on the enemy’s head.”

“Your Majesty, I am not a coward, as you know. I have spent most of my life at sea, and I have seen all kinds of storms. But today…”

He shook his head, his brown eyes filled with pain.

"What I saw today was not fighting, but slaughter. The power of those weapons is completely beyond our comprehension."

Just then, a ferry from the Iron Fleet slowly approached the Valyrian.

A lieutenant of the Iron Fleet, dressed in a purple silk robe, boarded the ship and was led to the cabin by a sailor.

“Stannis Baratheon,” the lieutenant said coldly, his hands behind his back, “the Iron Bank is very disappointed with your performance today.”

Stannis's face darkened further. "I don't need to report to the merchants."

The adjutant sneered, "Don't forget, Your Majesty, the Iron Treasury is your creditor. Without the Iron Treasury's support, you are nothing."

His eyes were disdainful. "Now, the Iron Bank has ordered you to continue the attack on Pentos."

"Are you crazy?" Dai Feng couldn't help but interject. "We suffered huge losses in this battle!"

“Shut up, kid,” the adjutant glanced at him, then turned to Stannis. “We’ll provide wildfire. Lots of wildfire. Enough to burn down the entire Pentos Bay.” Stannis gritted his teeth. “My lord, I’m sorry, I must refuse.”

The adjutant's tone left no room for argument, "Think carefully about your situation, Your Majesty. Otherwise, the Iron Treasury will immediately recover all investments made in you as king. All outstanding debts will be due immediately!"

Seeing that the king was about to agree again, Davos hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, think of those soldiers whose families have been destroyed! Our army can no longer fight!"

"Do we even have a choice?!"

Not everyone dares to turn against the Iron Bank. Thinking of this, Stannis couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"We only have a sliver of hope if the Iron Treasury supports us..."

The adjutant nodded in satisfaction. "Smart! Wildfire will be delivered tomorrow morning. Remember, the Iron Treasury's patience is limited."

...

The adjutant left, and the candlelight flickered in the cabin of the Valyrian, where everyone gathered.

Everyone knew that this was a mission from which there was no return.

“Twenty small boats, filled with wildfire.” Stannis sat at the head of the table, his face grim. “I need brave men to carry out this mission.”

“I’ll go!” Dai Feng was the first to stand up, his young face full of determination.

“No.” Davos immediately pressed down on his son’s shoulder. “You’re too young.”

“Father, I am already sixteen years old!” Devon argued. “I am the king’s attendant; it is my duty!”

Davos looked at his son, and then thought of his four sons who had just died in battle: Dale, Arad, Malik, and Mathos.

His voice became unusually hoarse: "No, I have already lost four sons. Davon, you must live."

He turned to Stannis: "Your Majesty, let me go."

“Davos…” A hint of reluctance flashed in Stannis’s eyes.

“I will go.” An aged voice rang out; it was Ser Richard Hope, the old knight from House Ismond, his hair already gray. “Your Majesty, my family has served Baratheon for generations. Tonight, let me do my last for you.”

“And me.” Ser Gerald Goyle rose, one of the few Stormlands Knights loyal to Stannis. “Since we’re going to die anyway, let’s make our deaths meaningful.”

“Count me in,” Sir Justin Marseille joined in, the young knight from the royal domain’s eyes gleaming with fervor. “The Lord of Light will protect us!”

Stannis paused for a moment, then finally nodded and personally filled the cups of wine for the warriors.

"Gentlemen," he raised his glass, a rare smile appearing on his face, "you are all true knights!"

"For the cause of justice!" Richard raised his glass.

"For the King!" the others responded in unison.

Then, everyone drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor was strong, just like the fate they were about to face.

Davon tried to argue, but Davos held his arm tightly: “Listen, son. If I don’t come back, you must serve His Majesty well. Remember, the honor of the Seaworth family is loyalty.”

“Father…” Dai Feng’s eyes reddened.

At midnight, Stannis orchestrated the attack.

Twenty fast boats loaded with wildfires quietly approached the Bay of Pentos.

The moonlight was hazy, and a thin mist floated on the sea. The small boats lowered their sails halfway down and turned off their lights, gliding silently across the water like twenty ghosts.

The cabin was filled with more than a dozen fire pots, and there was a small catapult at the bow.

"Keep quiet," Davos commanded in a low voice, "wait until we're within two hundred yards before firing!"

(End of this chapter)