Axell Florent brings Davos Seaworth before King Stannis Baratheon, taking the torch with him to leave his brother Alester alone in the darkness of the cells. Axell tells Davos in private that he has seen Stannis's victory in the flames, and if Davos does not help him become Hand, he will see the Onion Knight killed. Stannis proclaims that Alester will die for treason, and he has Axell tell Davos of his plan to invade Claw Isle. Davos calls the plan a folly, and Stannis dismisses the enraged Axell. Stannis mentions that Barristan Selmy once told him that "the rot in King Aerys's reign began with Varys", and that Robert should have killed the eunuch, and sent Jaime Lannister to the Wall as Lord Eddard Starkhad suggested, but Robert listened to Jon Arryn instead.

Stannis then raises Davos to Lord of the Rainwood, Admiral of the Narrow Sea, and his new Hand of the King. When Stannis mentions battle, Davos mistakes him to mean the continuance of the war, but Melisandre has entered the room and calls it "the great battle… Soon comes the cold, and the night that never ends". Stannis has also seen a vision in the flames, of men in black with torches on a high hill in the forest during snow, while all around them shapes were moving. Melisandre proclaims that Westeros must unite under King Stannis in order to defeat the one whose name must not be spoken. Stannis takes three leeches fat with the blood of Edric Storm. Melisandre tells him that this is not the best way, for it both will and will not work. The better way is to sacrifice Edric to the flames, for there is power in a king's blood: Melisandre believes that his death will wake the stone dragon, as prophesied, and the sacrifice of one life to save thousands of others is warranted, but Stannis will not hear of it. Stannis tosses the leeches one at a time into a brazier, naming each of the false kings: Joffrey Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy, and Robb Stark.

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