Saturday Stories
August 4, 2018
He does not have authority like the king, nor has favor with the gods like the priest, nor gold like the merchant. He is, like the Faceless Men assassins of Braavos, "No one."
Yet with his sword, a mere piece of steel, he holds the power of life and death.
"Power is a curious thing," said Varys, the master spy known as The Spider, in "Clash of Kings," George RR Martin's second novel in his epic saga "A Song of Fire Ice" – which inspired Game of Thrones.
Joffrey is now the King in a swift power grab by his mother, Queen Cersei Lannister, at the moment King Robert Baratheon died.
Joffrey's first act, on orders from Cersei, was to execute Ned Stark, the Hand of the King whom Baratheon appointed as regent until Joffrey comes of age, and one of the few honorable men in all the Seven Kingdoms.
In retaliation, the lords in the north of Westeros have declared independence and proclaimed fifteen-year old Robb Stark, Ned's youngest son, as King In The North.
Robb surprised them all as he won battle after battle as they march towards the capital, King's Landing, to avenge the death of Ned Stark.
And Robb has captured Jamie Lannister, the Captain of the Kingsguard – and the brother of Cersei.
Rumors about Cersei and Jamie are beginning to spread like wildfire. Is Joffrey truly the son of King Robert Baratheon and the rightful heir? Or is he the bastard son of Jamie, a usurper born of incest and treason?
Yet true or not, Joffrey is now the most powerful man in the land.
And Robb has sworn to kill him to avenge his father.
So he needs more men. On a secret mission, he sent his mother, Catelyn Stark, to meet with Robert's youngest brother, Renly Baratheon – who has also declared a rebellion.
Renly has just formed an alliance with House Tyrell, the second wealthiest and most powerful family next to the Lannisters. He just married the young and beautiful Margaery, who has agreed though she knew that Renly is the lover of her brother Loras.
The Baratheons and the Starks share a common foe, the Lannisters, but Renly has another enemy – his brother Stannis Baratheon who is also building an army and an armada of pirates to claim the throne.
Stannis' ally is the mysterious Melisandre, a master of the mystic arts and black magic. She is a priestess for the ancient god R'hllor, the "Lord of Light" – who can bring people back from the dead.
Now the Starks are in the crossfire between the Baratheon brothers.
Yet there is another threat – to all of them.
On the continent of Essos across the sea, Daenerys Targaryen, the last remaining child of "The Mad King," Aerys Targaryen, with a rightful claim to the throne, has come of age.
Yet Daenerys is no mere mortal – she cannot be burned.
And she is the first in a thousand years to possess the power to summon dragons – and the dragons have come.
Game of Thrones
Season 2
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