Chapter 139 136

"Yes, Ser Seaworth?" A smuggler in Stannis's service struck Ned as somehow unreal. "Bear in mind that in the North we execute thieves, not reward them."

"Strictly speaking, I never robbed anyone. Pirates did that. I simply moved cargo from one place to another." With a single motion he bared his left hand, the first joints of the fingers gone. "And that is how I paid King Stannis for my crimes, and I consider it just."

"What is it you want, Ser Davos?" Having taken the man's measure, Ned found himself more favorably disposed toward the king's counselor.

"Do you admire your ancestors?" The question left those present at a loss.

"Naturally." For men of noble birth the question seemed almost meaningless.

"Why do you admire them? Why is it that eight thousand years later an old man from the flea bottom knows the name of Brandon the Builder?"

"He founded House Stark, built Winterfell and the Wall, helped raise Storm's End and several other great structures."

"Yes, his deeds are remembered because they were held to be impossible beforehand. No one believed a wall four hundred and eighty kilometers long and two hundred meters high could be built. No one believed a castle could be raised in the heart of the North that would stand for thousands of years. No one believed it, and Brandon Stark did it. King Stannis held Storm's End with a handful of starving men, which was also held to be impossible. He defeated the ironborn with inferior numbers. That had never been done before." The former smuggler's words found something in the hearts of those listening. "We are at war, and here, now, we are making history. It does not matter where the intelligence came from. What matters is that we have a chance to do the impossible, to be the first to take Casterly Rock. My lords, ask yourselves: will you regret it if you do not try?"

Ned acknowledged that Ser Seaworth knew how to find the tender spot. Even he, a man who had long since stopped chasing after greatness, felt something stir unexpectedly in his chest. To say nothing of Robb and Edmure. They had already made up their minds and were waiting on his answer with barely concealed impatience. And Ned knew what he would say.

...

"Robb, what you are proposing is foolish," Ned said. He was tired of this conversation.

"Why? Theon has fought bravely, bled alongside us. He is loyal to us Father," Robb pressed. "You agreed to march on Casterly Rock yourself and we will need every man we have."

"I agreed because it was necessary. King Stannis is right. Tywin Lannister and his gold are the two chief pillars of the Lannisters. The poisoning of Tywin revealed a weakness; besieging his ancestral seat will undermine what remains of his authority." Robb was simply not a skilled politician. "The Greyjoys cannot be trusted. Better they make trouble for our enemies than for us, and Theon can be useful in that."

"Theon is like a brother to me. I would trust him with my life, and I am prepared to take that risk." Robb held his ground. "Send him home and we gain hundreds of longships. I am ready to accept responsibility if it goes wrong."

"Robb..."

"You cannot win a war without taking risks." Gods, how he had grown.

"Have it your way."

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