Chapter 153

Drogo rifled through the parchments upon the Painted Table, unrolling one after another, skimming them briefly before casting them aside.

Most were letters from Dragonstone’s vassals. From them, the khal could see that Stannis had been a proud and solitary man, his alliances narrow and fragile.

Among the discarded papers were drafts of letters, all nearly the same: I am the protector of all Seven Kingdoms, and you must bend the knee to the rightful king upon the Iron Throne. These were meant for the North, Dorne, and the Reach.