The Merry Midwife sails into White Harbor on the evening tide. The ship carries Davos Seaworth, Stannis’s envoy sent to treat with Lord Wyman Manderly. Davos spots a warship in the outer harbor. Her hull is black and gold, her figurehead a lion with an upraised paw, and Lionstar is written across her stern: the Freys are in White Harbor. Casso Mogat, captain of the Merry Midwife, tells Davos the ship will linger for three days, after which it will set sail with or without the King’s Hand.
Davos makes his way along the wharf and through the fish market. He enters the city through the Seal Gate, into a cobbled square with a fountain at its center. A twenty foot tall stone merman rises from its waters. He is sculpted in the likeness of a dead lord, but is known as Old Fishfoot by the locals. Davos purchases an apple from a cart, and gossips with the vendor: smallfolk from up the White Knife have sought refuge in the Old Mint; White Harbor is raising men; Lord Manderly’s granddaughter is betrothed to a Frey. After finishing his apple, he strolls across the yard and down a flight of steps, to a winesink called the Lazy Eel. Aside from the whores and the proprietor, Davos is alone in the Eel. He sits and waits in a shadowed alcove, drinking, his back against a wall.
Dusk falls and the benches of the Eel begin to fill with sailors. Seamen are the worst gossips in the world, Davos reflects, all I need to do is listen. He overhears that Robett Glover has been seen in White Harbour trying to raise men, without success; that the Bastard of Bolton is riding south with Hother Umber to attack Moat Cailin, accompanied by Hornwood and Cerwyn men as well; that the Lannisters are holding Wyman Manderly captive. Davos decides he has heard enough and sets out for New Castle. The gates of the castle are closed, but when Davos shouts salutation a postern opens. A guard emerges and asks his business. I need to see Lord Manderly at once, Davos replies, my business is with him, and him alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment