"So… this is where young Arthur has decided to make his capital in the stepstones. It's smaller than I expected." Davis commented his eyes lingering on the small but bustling port town of great gallows. Stannis smoked lightly at all of his son's ships running back and forth, all flying odd banners or perhaps signal flags.
"Mhm, hardly, his letters say he wants to build a capital elsewhere, the bay here is too small for his purposes." Stannis turned towards the cliffs that his ship had just passed through, his eyes lingering on the picked-over corpses in the wrought-iron cages that hung from their sides. "It's certainly well protected, a good choice for a temporary command." His eyes followed their slope up to the twin fortresses that sat at their peaks. "Especially with cannon."
Davos seemed to catch his meaning and nodded quickly. "Perhaps. Do you still intend to scold him?"
"Of course." The Lord of Dragonstone nodded sharply as if that were even in question. "He has acted beyond his station, I do not doubt his competence in doing so."
Stannis chose to ignore Ser Davos pointed eye roll, instead of turning his gaze to the port proper. Scratching at his beard.
"Let's move to dock then. We hardly have time to dawdle. Not after what happened to Myr."
A shadow passed over Davos face at the memory of the reports, the pillar of smoke that had been visible across half the disputed lands by the reports, and the words from the Tyroshi confirming the city's destruction.
Stannis tapped his gauntlet on the railing of the Great Stag.
"We can only hope to arrive in time to support Robert."
"Indeed." Davos chuckled, "Which is why your choice to stop here is a bit baffling, particularly for the purposes of scolding a boy who's largely followed the letter of your commands, if not their spirit."
"I did not order him to found an independent kingdom. It is beyond either of our stations. And his assumption of the role of its defacto King is only an act of further arrogance." Stannis grumbled. "I will not see my son become Daemon Blackfire."
"He's not a Bastard my lord."
"A Bastard may be less a man than a true born son, but his actions are still proof of his value." Stannis ground his teeth. "I will speak no more of this."
"Yes, Milord."
The two men settled into a calm silence as the enormous ship came into port at last, though it was still dwarfed somewhat by the Sword of Baratheon docked across the small bay. The extra cannon ports now far more conspicuous than they were on its now-famous maiden voyage.
'And I suspect the mummer that thought of that one believes himself very clever.'
Stannis nodded, looking for Arthur on the shore as he made for the gangplank, though he couldn't spot him, instead of finding a small entourage of men he quickly realized must have been officers in his son's forces by their garb.
"Does my son think himself too regal to meet his father at the port?" He asked loudly.
If the men were shocked by this they did not show it, instead one of them stepped forth from the group. A Dragonseed recognizably.
"No, my lord Stannis. Prince Arthur was out resolving a land dispute on the eastern shore when news of your approach and the disaster at Myr came in. He is likely riding this way as we speak."
"Mmph." Stannis nodded. His hackles lowering. That at least was good news, he would have to scold the boy far more strongly if his arrogance had already grown to that towering height.
"I suppose you all were left in charge here then?"
"To an extent, I am Kaerion my lord, we have met before though you likely do not remember. I'm the port director here for the Narrow Sea Company, but I am not a proper governor so I cannot make policy or command troops beyond my own forces."
"Mhm." Stannis nodded, shifting his gaze across the town. "Does my son govern from one of the fortresses?"
"No my lord, he has converted an Inn at the center of town for the moment, though he says it will only be temporary."
"Show me, I will look over my son's governance."
"Yes my lord."
Stannis narrowed his eyes, this all seemed to easy. Even if they accepted him as Arthur's father, they were not sworn to him.
'It seems I will have even more questions for Arthur when he arrives here.'