Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 76 Black Stag and White Stag

“Your Grace, greetings from Lord Monford Velaryon of Driftmark at sea.” Ser Cortnay Penrose presented a letter.

Renly took the letter, glanced at it, and tossed it onto the desk with a chuckle.

“Young Lord Velaryon is quite arrogant, thinking that forty warships will make the lords of the Stormlands obedient.”

Renly walked to the window and looked down at the sea, dozens of ship shadows huddled together, both powerful and insignificant.

“Ignore him. Velaryon may have forgotten the origin of the name Storm's End. The stones and the storms will greet his ‘invincible’ fleet for us.”

Everyone knows the legend of Storm's End.

The ballad tells that the daughter of the Sea God and the Goddess of the Wind, Ynyr, fell in love with the human Durran. She resolutely gave up her long life and chose to spend a short but happy life with Durran.

However, Ynyr's father and mother were furious and gave their daughter's wedding seawater and storms as gifts.

The gift was too heavy. Durran's castle collapsed, and none of his family and guests survived. Only Ynyr and Durran, protected by her, saw the calm ruins afterward.

Durran and Ynyr did not give in.

They repaired the castle, and the gods once again brought storms. Then they built new castles, each more solid and taller than the last, again and again.

Until someone helped them with magic, the castle finally successfully resisted the storms and the sea's invasion.

This castle was then named “Storm's End,” and Durran became the first Storm King, ruling over the vast territory of the Stormlands.

All that was thousands of years ago, in the Age of Dawn.

Storm's End has never been breached.

Cortnay Penrose looked puzzled, “Lord Velaryon is aboard the ‘Glory of Driftmark,’ which is Velaryon's largest warship. Why is he so diligent?”

Renly returned to his seat, “Perhaps Lord Velaryon is just sincerely serving the king. His dear Majesty has not returned Dragonstone to little Shireen.”

Renly was not so naive. Monford Velaryon must have felt that Joffrey was sure to win, so he dared to bet so heavily.

After all, when he set sail, Joffrey had not yet issued that absurd order.

Renly almost couldn't help laughing, “Ser Cortnay, the Iron Throne's decree has been read for a week. What is the total amount of taxes owed by Storm's End?”

Cortnay Penrose shook his head and clicked his tongue, “It's hard to imagine. If calculated from the Targaryen period, even selling the entire Stormlands would not be enough to repay. Even if calculated from the year of King Robert's ascension, the tax arrears have already reached 1.6 million gold dragons!”

Renly couldn't help but cheer for his opponent inwardly.

The situation in the Stormlands is already so bad, the other six kingdoms must be even worse.

Joffrey only gave three years. At that time, could the lords and dukes of the Seven Kingdoms offer such a huge fortune?

Which duke can take money from the family treasury to subsidize this bottomless pit? If they pursue taxes from their subordinate lords, it will inevitably lead to various contradictions, weakening their own prestige and power, which is harmful and unprofitable.

Even if Eddard Stark and Duke Tywin still fully support him, will their lords obey the Iron Throne without reservation?

Renly knew that the scales of victory had tilted greatly towards his side, waiting for the largest weight to fall, and the scales would completely fall to his side. The Baratheons will reclaim the Iron Throne.

Loras, I'm just making you suffer.

Renly tried his best to hide his inner anxiety, “It's been two weeks, has the Reach not replied yet?”

But Cortnay Penrose still felt the duke's impatience. The duke had asked three times today alone.

Knock knock knock.

A clear knock suddenly sounded. Ser Cortnay went to check and returned to Renly's side with a look of joy.

“Your Grace, the seal of the rose.”

Renly immediately took it over and carefully examined it. That's right, the blooming golden rose pattern was exquisite and familiar to the point of being unforgettable. The liege lord of the most fertile Reach in the Seven Kingdoms—House Tyrell.

Renly took a deep breath, carefully opened the wax seal, and unfolded the scroll to read silently:

“To Duke Renly of Storm's End, Governor of the Stormlands, Master of Laws, of House Baratheon:

The Tyrells and all loyal subjects of the Reach vow to uphold the lawful succession of the Iron Throne.

If the bloodline of King Joffrey I is in doubt, the lords of the Seven Kingdoms should not be afraid to question and bravely take responsibility to clarify the truth.

The Tyrells are willing to be pioneers.

—Respectfully, Willas Tyrell.”

Willas Tyrell, the eldest son of Duke Tyrell, the heir to Highgarden. Renly was both satisfied and regretful.

How good it would be if Duke Mace Tyrell and the “Queen of Thorns” jointly expressed their position.

Renly shook his head again. No, if the Tyrell family was really so reckless, it would not be worth relying on. This is enough for now.

The biggest weight has already been placed on the scales.

Renly stood up.

The battlefield will be south of King's Landing and Casterly Rock, north of Highgarden and Storm's End.

Three months is the limit.

The North is the farthest and can only send 20,000 troops at most. The Riverlands and the Vale each have 20,000 to 30,000. The Westerlands have 40,000 to 50,000. The Crownlands are the closest, and it is possible to arm 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers.

But with Joffrey's decree to collect taxes, it would be good if the lords could send some miscellaneous soldiers as a token.

Old Hoster of the Riverlands is about to die, and Lysa of the Vale is a neurotic madwoman. The two places will most likely only protect themselves.

Dorne and the Iron Islands have no goodwill towards the Lannisters.

At best, Joffrey can have 50,000 troops.

The Stormlands alone have 20,000 to 30,000 troops. As long as the Reach sends more than 50,000, this battle to win back the Iron Throne will be devastating. The enemy may even defect before the battle.

Renly seemed to have already seen the courtiers under the Iron Throne swear allegiance to him.

“Ser Cortnay, summon all the lords of the Stormlands, gather troops at Storm's End, and prepare for battle. Also, send this letter to every castle in the Seven Kingdoms, including the Red Keep.”

Ser Cortnay took the parchment without a wax seal. He only glanced at it and immediately froze.

“Your Grace, Joffrey, he…”

Renly smiled, “Ser, I am His Majesty now. You didn't see it wrong. Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella are all products of incest. According to all the laws of gods and men, the Iron Throne should be inherited by me!”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

His Majesty's eyes were so hot and sharp that Ser Cortnay couldn't help but look away. The banner hanging on the wall came into view.

On the golden background of the banner is the coat of arms inherited from the ancient Storm Kings, the symbol of House Baratheon for three hundred years, a raging fire, a crowned stag.

The black stag.

Under the crowned stag banner of the Red Keep, Hanna brought good news to King Joffrey.

“Hunters have discovered a pure white stag in the Kingswood. Congratulations, Your Majesty. This must be an auspicious sign bestowed by the gods for tomorrow's coronation.”

Joffrey said indifferently: “A reward of one hundred gold dragons. Rain is getting more and more crazy. It's time to change a mount.”

The war is about to spread. The coronation ceremony is a good opportunity. King's Landing will begin to be reborn tomorrow, and Westeros will achieve a magical empire in the guise of religion.

Azor Ahai, the Hero King.

“Where is Melisandre, the priestess of R'hllor from Asshai?”

Hanna remembered her, “She lives in an inn next to the Mud Gate. Does Your Majesty want to summon her?”

Joffrey smiled.

After tomorrow, Melisandre will come to his door on her own.

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