CHAPTER 140
Sansa's arrival successfully broke the atmosphere Garon had created.
What made matters even worse was that the scene before her was undeniably ambiguous.
At that moment, Asha's hair was disheveled, several strands of black hair clinging to her damp forehead. Her usually defiant eyes still carried traces of lingering excitement along with a strange look of surrender that had yet to fade. She stood with her legs pressed together, leaning against the cold stone wall, while the distance between her and Garon was far closer than what should exist between a prisoner and her captor.
No matter how Sansa looked at it, she could only conclude that something impossible to describe had just happened between them.
Fortunately, Garon recovered quickly.
Stepping to one side, he subtly blocked Sansa's view of Asha before asking calmly, "Sansa, why are you here?"
Seeing Garon step away, Asha unexpectedly revealed a faint expression of reluctant disappointment.
Sansa caught the subtle change instantly, and a sharp pang of jealousy rose within her chest.
"Hmph."
"All of Winterfell is my home. Why can't I be here?"
"Or..."
"Did I interrupt something?"
"No."
Garon pretended not to understand the implication behind her words and shamelessly replied, "You arrived at exactly the right moment."
He continued without hesitation.
"Miss Asha has agreed to cooperate with us."
Sansa's blue eyes, like frozen lakes beneath winter skies, slowly returned to Garon's face.
"Cooperate?"
Her voice remained soft, yet every word carried an icy edge.
"It seems Lord Garon's methods of persuasion are... remarkably effective."
She deliberately stressed the word "persuasion," allowing her gaze to sweep across Asha's slightly flushed face. The meaning behind her words could not have been clearer.
Garon offered no explanation.
Nor was this the time for one.
"Sansa, where is Maester Luwin?"
"The situation is urgent."
"Euron Crow's Eye's true objective is the dragon on Skagos."
"We have to act immediately."
"This isn't the place to talk."
Sansa bit her lip.
She shot Garon another glance, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction and the instinctive displeasure of someone whose territory had been challenged.
"Follow me."
Leaving behind only those cold words, she turned sharply, her skirts drawing a graceful arc as she led the way toward Winterfell's Great Hall.
Garon gestured for Asha to follow.
Asha's lips curled into a faint, inscrutable smile, seemingly amused by the subtle conflict she had just provoked.
With light footsteps, she finally walked out of the dungeon that had confined her for so many days.
Garon followed closely behind.
A short while later, they entered the Great Hall.
The fire blazed brightly within the enormous hearth, yet it failed to dispel the invisible tension hanging over the four people gathered around the long table.
Maester Luwin had originally been in Winter Town arranging accommodations for the Skagosi, but upon receiving Garon's message, he hurried back to Winterfell.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Sansa standing beside Garon while glaring coldly across the table at Asha, who stood on the opposite side of the map spread across its surface.
"Asha Greyjoy..."
"Lord Garon, why have you released her?"
Maester Luwin immediately sensed the unusual atmosphere within the hall. A trace of understanding passed through his wise old eyes before he calmly looked toward Garon.
Garon nodded slightly.
Ignoring Sansa's obvious displeasure, he explained,
"Miss Asha has agreed to cooperate with us."
"The condition is that we help her reclaim the Seastone Chair."
The words left Maester Luwin visibly astonished.
"Reclaim the Seastone Chair?"
"How?"
Walking quickly to Sansa's side, he lowered his voice.
"Euron has already declared himself King."
"That means the Iron Islands are effectively under his control."
"The war in the south is far from over."
"We're barely capable of defending Winterfell itself."
"So how exactly are we supposed to help Miss Asha reclaim the Seastone Chair?"
Garon shook his head.
"Maester, this isn't only for Miss Asha."
"It's for ourselves."
Without wasting another moment, he revealed his entire analysis of Euron's true objective.
He explained that Euron intended to use the North as a bridge to reach Skagos and seize the dragon.
"There are only two possible routes."
"He either marches across the North..."
"Or sails all the way around the continent of Westeros."
His finger traced the routes across the map.
"The previous invasion was his attempt at the first option."
"Although Crow's Eye failed, he has now returned to the Iron Islands."
"He killed Balon."
"That means he can organize another invasion whenever he wishes."
Every sentence was logical and precise, painting a vivid picture of Euron's ambition and the danger facing the North.
"According to Miss Asha, the captains of the Iron Islands are divided."
"Euron seized power through kinslaying."
"He will need time to secure his rule."
"And that time is our opportunity."
Garon looked directly at Maester Luwin.
"Waiting passively means death."
"We must strike first."
"We have to destroy his plans before he finishes consolidating his fleet."
His final words echoed through the hall.
Maester Luwin frowned deeply.
"Even if everything you've said is true..."
"We still cannot spare many soldiers."
"The Ironborn greatly outnumber us."
"How do you intend to take the initiative?"
"Cross the sea?"
"Even assuming we could win..."
"We don't possess enough ships."
Garon smiled, as though he had anticipated the question from the very beginning.
"Maester."
"During the campaign along the Stony Shore, I secured a number of Ironborn longships."
"After repairs, they'll be sufficient to carry us across the sea."
For a brief moment, Maester Luwin found himself speechless.
Before he could gather his thoughts and raise another objection, Asha stepped forward.
She had completely embraced her role as Garon's ally.
Or perhaps she simply enjoyed proving her worth before Sansa.
"Lady Stark."
"Maester Luwin."
Her voice remained hoarse, yet it carried unquestionable confidence.
"Euron committed kinslaying."
"He violated both the laws of men and the will of the Drowned God."
"Not everyone on the Iron Islands supports him."
"My father and I still have loyal followers."
"My uncle, Rodrik Harlaw, is one of them."
She deliberately emphasized her value.
"If I return and openly challenge Euron, many captains will stand with me."
"They will reject his rule."
Then she pointed toward the map.
Her finger traced several winding sea routes.
"I also know hidden channels that can bypass Euron's patrols and reach the heart of Pyke."
"Those routes are the foundation of our success."
She then looked directly at Sansa.
"And if you refuse to fight Euron..."
"Do you truly believe he will leave the North alone?"
Hatred burned within her eyes at the mention of Crow's Eye.
"In order to claim the dragon on Skagos, Euron obtained a form of sorcery from a shadowbinder."
"He believes it will allow him to control the dragon."
"The North is nothing more than an obstacle standing in his path."
"So sooner or later..."
"He will destroy it."
As she spoke, Asha deliberately concealed the existence of the dragon horn.
A strange light flashed across Garon's eyes.
He noticed the omission immediately.
Even so, he chose not to expose her.
Instead, he turned toward the silent Sansa.
"Sansa."
His voice became unusually sincere.
"If Euron launches another full invasion, even if we survive, the North will be crippled."
"And that will only place an even heavier burden upon King Robb."
"But if we support Asha..."
"We can overthrow Euron."
"We gain the Iron Islands as allies."
"We gain a fleet."
"And we threaten the Lannisters from the western sea while relieving pressure on Robb."
Sansa remained silent.
Deep down, she knew Garon's reasoning was sound.
Yet the scene she had witnessed in the dungeon replayed endlessly within her mind, making her heart feel as though it had been frozen solid.
However, when Garon mentioned Robb, everything changed.
Her brother's name became the key that quietly unlocked the strongest defenses around her heart.
Her concern for Robb and her duty to House Stark ultimately outweighed her personal jealousy.
Still, Maester Luwin hesitated.
"This plan carries enormous risks..."
"Maester."
Garon looked directly into his eyes.
"Trust me."
"Since this war began..."
"My judgment has never failed."
"Please."
"Believe in me."
Maester Luwin exchanged a glance with Sansa before letting out a long sigh.
Finally, he nodded.
"Very well."
"If this is truly our course..."
"Then we must prepare every detail carefully."
Only then did Sansa slowly draw a deep breath before turning toward Asha.
Her gaze was no longer merely cold.
It carried unmistakable authority, scrutiny, and the dignity of Winterfell's acting lady.
"Miss Greyjoy."
"I hope you remember the oath you swore today."
"The North will help you reclaim what is rightfully yours."
"In return..."
"I expect the Iron Islands to honor this alliance."
Asha met her eyes without hesitation.
Then she gave a solemn nod.
"I swear it..."
"In the name of the Drowned God."
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