Davos watches the Seven burn with his sons Allard and Dale. Melisandre says a prayer while walking around the fire as Stannis and Selyse look on. The queen's men had destroyed the sept. Ser Hubard Rambton and his sons tried to defend it, but he was slain along with one son and the others were thrown in prison along with Septon Barre. Lord Guncer then told Stannis he could no longer support him, and he was thrown in prison too. Lords Ardrian, Duram, and Monford are there, but seem uncomfortable. Davos is also uncomfortable, but owes Stannis for everything. It is thanks to Stannis that Davos has a knighthood, that his sons Dale and Allard command the galleys Wraith and Lady Marya, that his son Maric is oarmaster on Fury, and that his son Matthos serves Davos on his galley, Black Betha. His son Devan is squire to Stannis, his wife Marya is mistress of a keep, and two youngest¹ will hopefully be knighted someday. In return for all these favors, Davos's loyalty is unwavering.

Melisandre proclaims that it is written that at the end of a long summer when the stars bleed and darkness covers the land Azor Ahai shall be reborn and draw Lightbringer, a flaming sword, from the fire and destroy the darkness. She bids Stannis to come forth. His squires, Devan and Bryen Farring, prepare him as Patchface sings of flames under the sea. Stannis reaches into the flames and pulls out a sword that had been thrust into the Mother; the sword glows with a green flame. Selyse, Ser Axell Florent, and other queens men shout in adulation and Melisandre declares Stannis to be Azor Ahai reborn. Stannis has to drop the sword afterwards and soon departs. Davos notices that the sword is a charred ruin. After the ceremony is over, Davos goes down to the port, which is crowded with the ships of Stannis's fleet, including the flagship, Fury, Lord Steffon, Stag of the Sea, Lord Monford's Pride of Driftmark, Lord Ardrian's Red Claw, and Swordfish. Further out in the harbor is Salladhor Saan's flagship, Valyrian. Davos turns aside and enters an inn.

Inside, Davos spies Salladhor Saan and joins him. They have been friends a long time, and it was Davos who traveled to Lys on behalf of Stannis to recruit the banker, smuggler, and pirate who styles himself the Prince of the Narrow Sea. One of Salladhor's trading ships, Bird of a Thousand Colors, is just arrived with news. He says that Tyrion is in King's Landing and has run out Janos Slynt. The city is not well defended as there are too few men. Renly has left Highgarden and marches on King's Landing. Salladhor does not believe that the sword Stannis pulled out of the fire was Lightbringer and is grateful for it. He tells the story of the forging of the original sword. According to legend, Azor Ahai forged Lightbringer when a great darkness was upon the land. He spent thirty days and thirty nights in a temple forging the blade in sacred fires, but when he tempered it in water, the sword shattered. The next forging took fifty days and nights and Azor Ahai tempered it by plunging the blade into the heart of a lion, but once again he failed. For the third attempt, Azor Ahai worked the forge for a hundred days and nights and then summoned his wife, Nissa Nissa, to plunge the blade into her breast. By sacrificing the thing he loved most in the world, Azor Ahai was able to complete Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes. Salladhor takes his leave, and Davos departs soon after.

That evening, Devan comes with a summons from Stannis. On his way to see the king, he is stopped by Ser Axell. Axell served as castellan of Dragonstone for ten years while Stannis served on the small council, but has lately become one of the foremost of the queen's men who are fanatically devoted to the Lord of Light. He is particularly fervent in this night and claims that he saw a vision of in the flames, as the priests of the Lord of Light are supposed to be able to from time to time. Stannis is attended by Maester Pylos when Davos arrives. Stannis shows Davos a letter, but Davos cannot read, though his youngest sons Daven, Stannis, and Steffon can. Pylos reads the letter for him, which declares Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella the children of Jaime and sets forth Stannis's claim to the throne. The letter is executed in the name of the Lord of Light. Stannis plans to use all 117 ravens on Dragonstone to send the message to every corner of the realm. He means to have Davos and Dale sail their ships in opposite directions around the coast of the realm and announce the same message. Allard will sail to the free cities and do the same. Davos indicates that he would like a private word, and Stannis sends Pylos away.

Davos is curious what Stannis's lords made of the letter, and he says they all flattered him and that he wants the truth from Davos. Davos points out that there is still no proof of incest, and Stannis says that Storm's End holds a proof of a sort, Edric Storm, whom Robert acknowledged as his bastard because the child's mother was Delena Florent and she had been a maiden before they had conceived the child on Stannis's wedding night in Stannis's marriage bed. Stannis wants to parade Edric before the realm and point out how none of the royal children have Robert's features, but Davos points out that getting him out of Storm's End would be difficult. Davos also says that the people will not like him replacing their gods with a new one. Stannis is indifferent. He does not believe in gods and has not since he watched his parents die, but he cannot deny Melisandre's power. He tells of a falcon he owned in his youth that he found injured and nursed back to health. He named the bird Proudwing and was fond of it, but it would never hunt. Robert, on the other hand, had a great bird called Thunderclap that never missed a strike. Finally, Stannis's great uncle, Ser Harbert, told him to choose a new bird because he was embarrassing himself. Stannis saw the wisdom and did so. Of the four kings in Westeros, he is the weakest in military strength, and so he hopes that Melisandre can tip the balance.