CHAPTER 141
With the alliance confirmed, it was time to discuss the finer details of the operation, details that would determine whether they lived or died.
Maester Luwin was the first to speak, placing the greatest obstacle before everyone.
"Lord Garon, your force numbers no more than a thousand men."
"With only those soldiers, a seaborne invasion of the Iron Islands has virtually no chance of succeeding."
"And the banners that answered Winterfell's call have only just returned to their own lands. Even if House Stark summons them again, I doubt many would risk everything for a campaign against the Iron Islands."
The old maester frowned deeply. It was obvious he still opposed the alliance.
In truth, he was still trying to persuade Garon to abandon the plan entirely.
"Garon's influence within House Stark has grown too great."
"Not only Lady Sansa, but even Bran trusts his judgment."
"If no one tempers his ambition, House Stark may be dragged into an unnecessary gamble."
Although Maester Luwin had never questioned Garon's loyalty to House Stark, he could not shake the feeling that the young lord possessed ambitions beyond those he openly revealed.
He continued,
"Furthermore, Winterfell is the heart of the North."
"It cannot be left undefended."
"A sufficient garrison must remain here until King Robb returns."
He looked directly at Garon.
"Would it not be wiser to postpone this alliance until His Grace returns?"
Sansa nodded worriedly.
"Yes, Garon."
"With so few soldiers..."
"If you rush into this..."
"And something happens to you..."
Her voice gradually softened.
She cared little whether the alliance ultimately succeeded.
What truly frightened her was the thought of Garon becoming trapped upon the Iron Islands with no path home.
Before Asha could interrupt, Garon calmly raised a hand.
"Lady Sansa."
"Maester Luwin."
"I understand your concerns."
"But our objective is not to wage a full-scale war against the Iron Islands."
"Our objective is to eliminate Crow's Eye before he can carry out his ambition."
"The key to victory is infiltrating Pyke..."
"And killing Euron in a single decisive strike."
He then shifted his attention toward Maester Luwin.
"My plan is for Jon Snow to remain behind with three hundred men."
"He will defend Winterfell and continue recruiting and training soldiers from the surrounding lands."
"That will ensure Winterfell remains secure."
Maester Luwin's expression eased slightly.
Sansa, however, frowned even more.
"Seven hundred men..."
"You're planning to take only seven hundred men to the Iron Islands?"
"Isn't that no different from throwing an egg against a stone?"
Even Asha's expression darkened.
No one present understood the Iron Islands better than she did.
Although she had claimed to possess many loyal supporters among Balon's followers, those captains would only declare themselves once victory appeared certain.
No one willingly followed a doomed claimant.
Not even her uncle, Rodrik Harlaw, would gamble the future of Ten Towers without reason.
Originally, Asha had hoped Garon would wait for King Robb's return and use the Northern host to crush Pyke before placing her upon the Seastone Chair.
Now...
Hearing there would be only seven hundred men...
She nearly lost hope.
Garon easily read the thoughts written across all three of their faces.
His eyes flickered before he looked toward the doors of the Great Hall.
"That is why..."
"Our Skagosi guests must become part of the plan."
The moment those words were spoken, Maester Luwin's entire body stiffened.
He immediately understood Garon's intention.
Across the table, surprise and relief flashed across Asha's face.
She finally understood how Garon had learned about the dragon upon Skagos.
The Skagosi had already come to Winterfell.
"Lord Garon..."
"You intend to bring the Skagosi into the campaign against the Iron Islands?"
After Garon nodded, Maester Luwin stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Although the Skagosi swore themselves to House Stark centuries ago, there has been almost no contact between us."
"It will not be easy to command them."
"And they came seeking our aid."
"They did not come to serve as soldiers in our war."
Garon had anticipated every one of those objections.
"The Maester speaks wisely."
"But that is precisely why they must accompany us."
His gaze swept across everyone present.
"The Skagosi are fierce warriors."
"The five hundred men they brought with them are too powerful to simply leave wandering around Winterfell."
"But if we drive them away..."
"We violate the ancient oath between House Stark and Skagos."
"That would stain House Stark's honor."
Maester Luwin slowly nodded.
"But what if they refuse?"
Garon laughed.
"Refuse?"
"They came because they cannot kill the dragon themselves."
"Euron seeks that very same dragon."
"He even possesses sorcery that he believes can allow him to control it."
"In helping us eliminate Euron..."
"They are protecting themselves."
"And proving their sincerity."
While speaking, another calculation surfaced within Garon's mind.
"Deepwood Motte commands only a few thousand soldiers."
"Even if I one day control the North, many Northern lords may secretly oppose me because of their loyalty to House Stark."
"But Skagos is different."
"The Skagosi are isolated."
"They rarely deal with the rest of the North."
"Had the dragon not threatened them, they never would have sought Winterfell's aid."
"From Sparta's own words..."
"There are at least ten thousand warriors on Skagos."
"If I gain both their loyalty and the dragon..."
"Then all Westeros will eventually lie within my reach."
His thoughts shifted toward Asha.
"Asha currently sees me only as a means of reclaiming the Seastone Chair."
"But she is isolated."
"Helpless."
"I have more than enough time to slowly win both her loyalty and her trust."
"When that day comes..."
"The Iron Islands themselves will answer to me."
Unlike the North, the Iron Islands would never willingly accept an outsider as their ruler.
He therefore needed a Greyjoy who would rule in his name.
Among all of Balon's surviving kin...
Asha was the ideal choice.
She lacked Balon's blind pride.
She lacked Euron's madness.
She lacked Theon's recklessness.
She genuinely wished to lead the Ironborn onto a different path.
That made her invaluable.
As for the dragon horn...
Garon had deliberately ignored her attempt to conceal its existence.
One day...
When Asha trusted him completely...
She would reveal it herself.
That omission had become both a test and a promise.
Sansa exchanged another glance with Maester Luwin.
The logic behind Garon's proposal was difficult to refute.
Finally, Sansa nodded.
"You're right."
"The Skagosi should contribute to this campaign."
"Maester Luwin..."
"Please assist Garon in negotiating with their leader, Sparta."
Before Maester Luwin could respond, Asha stepped forward, eager to demonstrate her own importance.
"Even then..."
"You still won't have enough people."
"I need to send word to my uncle."
"Rodrik Harlaw of Ten Towers."
"Only by striking from both inside and outside can we hope to succeed."
Every eye in the hall turned toward her.
"You captured many Ironborn during the campaign."
"Among the prisoners are several of my most trusted retainers."
"Release one or two of them."
"Let them sail to Ten Towers."
"They will inform my uncle of our alliance."
When speaking of Rodrik Harlaw, uncertainty briefly crept into her voice.
Even she could not guarantee that words alone would persuade him.
Still...
She composed herself and pointed across the map.
Her finger traced several hidden sea routes surrounding Pyke.
She explained secret channels, weaknesses in the island's coastal defenses, and identified the noble houses most likely to oppose Euron if given the opportunity.
Every piece of information refined Garon's plan further.
After Asha finished outlining the final secret passage into Pyke, Garon struck the table decisively.
"Good."
"The plan is settled."
"Sansa."
"Authorize Lady Asha to select one or two of her trusted retainers."
"Release them immediately."
"They are to sail for Ten Towers without delay."
"I will personally negotiate with Sparta and persuade the Skagosi to join us."
"Then..."
"I'll lead the army to the Stony Shore."
"We'll wait for word from our allies inside the Iron Islands."
"The moment confirmation arrives..."
"We sail for Pyke."
Every word carried unwavering confidence.
Sansa looked quietly at Garon.
Standing before the map, he seemed to command the entire room.
Tall.
Confident.
As though every piece upon the board already lay exactly where he intended.
The jealousy lingering in her heart remained.
Yet it was gradually overshadowed by admiration for his decisiveness and fearless resolve.
Finally, she nodded.
"We shall proceed according to Lord Garon's plan."
"Maester Luwin..."
"Please give him your full support."
The old maester bowed in agreement.
Across the table, Asha looked at Garon with equally complicated emotions.
She remembered how both she and Victarion had fallen before him.
For the first time...
She found herself wondering whether bringing Garon to the Iron Islands would prove to be salvation...
Or the greatest mistake the Greyjoys had ever made.
In the end, only one thought lingered in her heart.
"If only Garon had been born Ironborn…"