CHAPTER 146
Asha was unwilling to accept it. She bit her lip, confusion and bewilderment flickering across her eyes, yet Garon offered no explanation. Instead, he lowered his head and continued studying the map before him, not sparing her another glance.
The rebellious and proud daughter of Balon Greyjoy stared at the man who seemed completely indifferent to her existence. Anger, confusion, and an indescribable curiosity tangled together inside her heart. She wanted to question him several times, but reason held her back.
"I still need him to help me reclaim the Iron Islands. I'll endure this for a few more days."
"When I sit upon the Seastone Chair... Hmph, I'll make you beg me!"
Thinking this, Asha gave Garon one long, lingering look, as though she wished to engrave his calm expression into her memory forever. Without another word, she turned and walked away. Her long legs carried her out of the tent, her figure appearing proud beneath the flickering lamplight, though an inexplicable loneliness and stubborn determination lingered in her departing silhouette.
Only after she disappeared did Garon finally raise his head and look toward the tent entrance. He shook his head slightly and smiled inwardly.
"Asha... you still haven't understood the situation."
"Why would I persuade Winterfell to help you?"
"Because I intend to control the Iron Islands myself."
"You're trying to tempt me with something that already belongs to me."
"Heh..."
His eyes gleamed sharply. From the very moment he decided to support Asha, he had already regarded the Iron Islands as territory destined to fall into his hands.
As for Asha, in Garon's plans, her future role was simply to govern the Iron Islands on his behalf, just as Galbart Glover managed Deepwood Motte under House Glover.
"Still..."
"I should also think about how to slowly break through her defenses while she's isolated and has nowhere else to turn."
"Only then will she gradually place her trust in me."
After pondering for a while, Garon concluded that the best place to begin was with Asha's personality.
"Balon raised her as his heir despite the traditions of the Iron Islands."
"Because she's a woman, she's spent her whole life seeking recognition."
"The defeat at Sea Dragon Point and Balon's death must have shattered much of her confidence."
"I can use her hatred for Euron to slowly restore her confidence."
"I'll give her the recognition she's always sought until she willingly trusts me."
"If that's the case..."
"Tomorrow, I'll begin by discussing naval warfare with her."
His eyes flashed as he silently arranged the next steps of his plan.
Meanwhile, Asha returned to her own tent after leaving Garon's command tent.
The moment she entered, the companions she had brought out of Winterfell's dungeons gathered around her.
Their expressions were filled with concern.
"Asha!"
Qarl the Maid, one of Asha's most trusted companions since childhood, stepped forward first.
"Well?"
"What did the Giant Bear Slayer say?"
Asha slowly shook her head.
"He neither accepted nor refused."
Qarl frowned.
"What exactly is Glover planning?"
Tris Botley lowered his voice with a sneer.
"I don't think that Northerner has any good intentions."
"He's simply using us."
"What if..."
"We leave tonight?"
Another immediately objected.
"Leave?"
"Go where?"
"Back to the Iron Islands, of course."
"Do you want Lady Asha to walk straight into Euron's hands?"
"Euron stole the Seastone Chair. Returning now would be walking to our deaths."
"Then we'll sail for Lys."
"Or Pentos."
"Anywhere is better than dancing to Glover's tune."
The argument quickly filled the tent.
Everyone had a different opinion.
Asha remained silent throughout.
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed against her sleeve.
Escape?
The idea briefly crossed her mind.
With her skill at sea and her knowledge of ships, escaping would not be difficult.
Especially since Garon had never placed her under close guard.
Yet the thought disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.
The only thing sustaining her now was reclaiming her father's Iron Islands.
At that moment, Qarl looked toward her.
"Asha."
"What do you want to do?"
"We'll all follow your decision."
Asha slowly raised her head.
Her eyes swept across every familiar face gathered inside the tent.
Some were distant kin.
Others had sailed beside her since childhood.
Each of them was someone she trusted.
"Euron committed kinslaying."
"He murdered my father."
"He stole the Seastone Chair."
"I won't run."
"Even if I must die..."
"I'll die upon the Iron Islands."
"If any of you are afraid..."
"You may leave."
"I won't stop you."
Her firm answer completely rejected the earlier suggestion of fleeing.
Qarl's face immediately darkened.
"Asha."
"Do you doubt our loyalty?"
"No true Ironborn abandons an oath."
"I swore my life to House Greyjoy."
"I'll keep that oath until I die."
The others echoed his words one after another.
Had circumstances been different, they might have broken into cheers.
A smile finally appeared on Asha's face.
"I know."
"I trust every one of you."
"That's exactly why I chose you from among the prisoners."
She paused before speaking again.
"But remember one thing."
"Don't cause trouble while we're here."
"You all saw what happened yesterday."
"If you anger Garon..."
"I won't be able to save you."
The group exchanged glances.
One of them finally muttered,
"Can someone so obsessed with discipline really defeat Crow's Eye?"
Asha frowned before replying firmly,
"If Garon defeated Euron once..."
"He can defeat him again."
"Our task is to cooperate with him."
"We return to the Iron Islands."
"We kill Euron."
"And we reclaim everything we've lost."
"Do you understand?"
Everyone nodded together.
"Understood."
"Don't worry."
"We won't cause any trouble."
Once the discussion ended, Asha dismissed everyone from the tent.
Left alone, she quietly listened to the howling wind and falling snow outside.
Yet her heart remained restless.
"Garon..."
"Glover..."
"Who exactly are you?"
"What are you truly planning?"
As she replayed every conversation they had shared, Asha became increasingly convinced that Garon was hiding a far greater objective.
Whatever it was...
It concerned both her and the Iron Islands.
Yet no matter how hard she thought, she could not uncover his true intentions.
To Asha, Garon had become like the dangerous games she had loved as a child.
She knew the risk.
Yet she was irresistibly drawn toward it.
The desire to understand him became so overwhelming that, during the night, she even dreamed the man embracing her had become Garon.
When she awoke the following morning, an inexplicable sense of emptiness settled over her heart.
From that day onward, Asha unconsciously began paying close attention to Garon's every action, quietly observing him and trying to understand the man behind the calm exterior.
Garon naturally noticed her scrutiny.
However, he neither acknowledged it nor exposed her.
Instead, he pretended not to notice, allowing her to continue observing him freely.
As the journey continued, the army also began to change following the previous day's conflict.
The Skagosi remained fierce by nature, yet their formations gradually became more orderly, and fewer warriors wandered away from the marching column without permission.
Many even began unconsciously copying the disciplined movements of the Glover soldiers, responding to commands with increasing speed.
Likewise, the Northern soldiers gradually restrained their contempt.
At the very least, they no longer openly provoked the Skagosi.
Seeing the atmosphere steadily improve, Garon gradually devoted more attention to Asha. Under the pretense of discussing naval warfare, he patiently questioned her about Ironborn fleets, sea routes, tides, and naval tactics, while quietly deepening the trust between them.
Several days passed in succession, and the relationship between the two slowly advanced.
Finally, just as Garon's army approached the Stony Shore, Bran Stark, still within Winterfell, made the long-awaited decision to begin his journey beyond the Wall.