CHAPTER 96
The sky at the end of the long summer darkened quickly.
Just moments before the battle ended, everyone's faces had still been clearly visible, but by the time Garon finished inspecting the battlefield, everything in sight had been swallowed by gloom.
Even though he was accustomed to life in the North, Garon could not help cursing under his breath.
"This damned weather!"
He could hardly imagine how they would survive the long winter that was approaching.
Garon exhaled a cloud of white breath and shouted, "Light the torches and clear the battlefield as quickly as possible!"
Soon, the entirety of Sentinel Hill was illuminated by flickering torchlight.
"My lord, the battlefield has been cleared. All the Ironborn have been checked, and anyone who wasn't dead received another stab."
Roone's face was stained with blood as he spoke excitedly.
"We lost only around a hundred brothers, but we annihilated nearly two thousand Ironborn. With such a glorious victory, House Glover has made its name known across the North in a single battle!"
Garon did not become overly excited. Instead, he calmly asked, "How are the wounded?"
Roone's excitement subsided slightly.
"Five of the seriously wounded didn't make it. The remaining forty-three are only lightly injured. There are no major issues."
Garon nodded.
"Bury the fallen on the spot. Record every one of their names. When we return, their families will be rewarded and provided for."
Roone nodded and turned to leave.
At that moment, Jon hurried over.
"My lord, we've gotten the Ironborn to talk!"
He was breathing heavily, but his eyes shone with excitement.
"According to them, Asha led one hundred longships carrying two thousand men. Apart from the three hundred left behind to guard the ships on the coast, everyone else is here."
Garon immediately relaxed.
"Once Ser Rodrik destroys the Ironborn force on the shore, the battle for Deepwood Motte will be over."
He looked at Jon and asked again, "Did you learn anything about their overall plan?"
Jon nodded, his expression urgent.
"Yes. The Ironborn planned to split their forces into three armies. Victarion was supposed to seize Moat Cailin and cut off communications with Robb."
"Euron was to advance through Torrhen's Square and Torrhen's lands, then march toward Winterfell."
"And Asha was supposed to capture Deepwood Motte before joining Euron to besiege Winterfell."
"My lord, the Ironborn intend to conquer the entire North. We must reinforce Winterfell as soon as possible!"
Garon frowned.
Only now did he realize a problem.
Euron had returned to the Iron Islands far earlier than he should have.
"Strange."
Garon recalled the original events.
"According to what should have happened, Euron ought to have returned only after Balon's death to compete for the Seastone Chair."
"But now he's attacking the North alongside Asha. The entire sequence of events has changed."
Garon had long anticipated changes to the future.
After all, ever since arriving in this world, he had been influencing people and altering events.
What concerned him wasn't Euron appearing in the North.
What concerned him was why Euron had appeared here.
"Did Theon's death cause Balon Greyjoy to become completely obsessed with revenge and recall Euron early?"
Countless possibilities flashed through Garon's mind.
A moment later, his gaze settled upon his most valuable prize of war.
Asha Greyjoy.
"If she talks, I can learn the real situation on the Iron Islands."
"But making her cooperate won't be easy."
A dark glint flashed in Garon's eyes.
He had killed most of the men closest to her. Asha probably wanted nothing more than to tear him apart with her bare hands.
Winning her cooperation would be extremely difficult.
"Perhaps I can start with Theon's death..."
His eyes narrowed as a plan gradually took shape.
Jon noticed Garon's silence and felt increasingly anxious.
He wasn't worried that Garon would refuse to aid Winterfell.
He feared they would arrive too late.
If Winterfell fell before they reached it, everything would be lost.
Just as Jon was nearing the limits of his patience, Garon finally emerged from his thoughts.
Seeing Jon's anxious expression, he patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"If they need to besiege Winterfell, then Winterfell isn't in immediate danger."
Garon paused before continuing.
"Tomorrow we return to Deepwood Motte. Then I'll personally lead troops east to reinforce Winterfell."
"Don't worry. I won't allow any harm to come to Sansa."
Only then did Jon manage to calm himself.
At that moment, Roone returned once more.
"My lord, the dead have been buried and the wounded treated. What should we do next?"
Garon looked up at the dark sky and gave his orders.
"Everyone will gather and move to the nearest watchtower."
"When it was built, several wooden cabins and tents were left there. The men can spend the night inside."
"Tomorrow, once we receive word from Ser Rodrik, we return to Deepwood Motte and then march to relieve Winterfell."
Neither Roone nor Jon objected.
The two men immediately departed to organize the troops.
Soon, Garon led his army away from Sentinel Hill and marched toward the nearest watchtower.
After Garon's force departed, packs of wolves attracted by the scent of blood flooded onto the battlefield.
They feasted greedily upon the Ironborn corpses.
From time to time, other predators arrived as well.
Throughout the night, Sentinel Hill became a banquet ground for beasts.
An hour later.
Garon's army arrived at the watchtower.
The wooden cabins originally built to shelter workers during construction were still intact, so he immediately ordered camp established.
"Roone, arrange food and rest for the soldiers."
"Jon, come with me. We need to establish additional guard posts."
By the time Garon finished handling everything, another three hours had passed.
By then, the night was black as ink.
Inside the wooden cabin closest to the watchtower, five soldiers were guarding the tightly bound Asha Greyjoy.
Just then, Garon pushed open the door and entered carrying a cup of melted snow water.
"My lord!"
The five soldiers immediately stood.
Garon glanced at Asha, who sat bound against the wall, before smiling.
"I'll take over here. Go eat something and get some rest."
Knowing their lord's abilities, the soldiers had no objections.
They quickly left the cabin.
After they departed, Garon placed the cup before Asha, untied the cloth gagging her mouth, and held the cup toward her.
"Lady Asha, have some water."
Asha merely stared at him coldly and said nothing.
Garon didn't mind.
After setting the cup down, he sat cross-legged opposite her and smiled.
"Lady Asha, can you tell me why the Iron Islands are attacking the North?"
He waited for a response.
All he received was a mocking stare.
Seeing this, Garon looked directly into her eyes and answered his own question.
"Because of Theon, perhaps?"
"That's understandable. Theon died in Winterfell. Anyone would want revenge for family."
"But unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong target."
Asha finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
"What do you mean?"
"Wasn't Theon framed and killed by you?"
Garon's eyes flickered.
"Framed?"
"Lord Stark is an honorable man. Do you truly think he would frame his own ward?"
"Poor Theon. He was misled, and his death..."
Garon sighed as though reluctant to continue.
"Never mind. You wouldn't believe me even if I explained."
"Once I take you to Winterfell, you'll understand everything yourself."
Yet the more Garon withheld information, the faster Asha's thoughts raced.
"The truth?"
"Could there really be more to Theon's death?"
"No. He's trying to deceive me."
She lowered her head and thought quietly.
When she looked up again, she found Garon leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, apparently preparing to sleep.
Asha called out several times.
Receiving no response, she began struggling violently against her ropes.
Without even opening his eyes, Garon spoke.
"Lady Asha, save your strength."
"I have no intention of killing you, but I would appreciate some peace and quiet."
"If you continue causing trouble, I won't hesitate to knock you unconscious."
His cold warning made Asha grit her teeth angrily.
The cabin returned to silence.
Only the crackling of torch flames could be heard.
Asha understood that with Garon personally guarding her, escape was impossible.
She studied his handsome face with a complicated expression.
"Garon Glover..."
"How did I lose to a man younger than me?"
"Asha, Asha..."
"How are you supposed to inherit the Seastone Chair like this?"
"If Father knew, he'd be disappointed."
"No."
"You must pull yourself together."
"You can seek revenge when an opportunity appears."
Unwilling to accept her defeat, Asha's thoughts continued to churn.
Without realizing it, her determination to die gradually faded.
Eventually, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Much later, after the torches had burned out completely, Garon suddenly awoke within a dream.
His vision shifted.
He immediately realized he had entered the body of a heart tree.
"I wonder how Winterfell is doing."
His consciousness leapt through the weirwood network toward Winterfell's godswood.
After possessing the heart tree there, he found no signs of a siege.
He carefully sensed the surroundings.
All around him, only Winterfell's guards continued their nightly patrols.
"It seems Euron is still waiting for Asha."
"That means I still have time."
Garon remained within Winterfell throughout the night.
He did not see Sansa come to pray before dawn.
Only then did he withdraw his consciousness and return to his own body.
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