CHAPTER 149
Stony Shore.
The sea breeze carried the scent of salt and cold as it stirred Garon's dark brown hair. He stood atop a towering black reef, gazing at the nearly thirty longships drawn up in orderly rows before him. They had once been the claws of the Ironborn invasion of the North, but now they rested quietly, waiting for a new master to give them an entirely different purpose.
Behind him stretched a military camp that had already begun to display true discipline. The order of the Glover soldiers, combined with the growing obedience of the Skagosi, had transformed this mixed force into an army with formidable combat strength.
Asha stood slightly behind him, just off to one side. The sea wind lifted her black hair, and the woman who had never cared much for appearances now quietly brushed several loose strands back into place, hoping to present her best self whenever Garon happened to glance her way. Although her eyes rested upon the longships, the corners of her vision wandered far more often to Garon's calm profile.
Throughout the journey from Winterfell, Asha's initial reluctance and desire to manipulate him had gradually been replaced by emotions she could neither understand nor control.
After failing to recruit Garon to her cause, she had watched him tame the fierce Skagosi with equal measures of iron discipline and remarkable wisdom. Whenever the army halted to camp, Garon organized contests between the Glover soldiers and the Skagosi. Some were individual duels while others involved squads of twenty men. Although the Skagosi often performed well in single combat, the disciplined formations of the Glovers almost always emerged victorious in group engagements.
Taking advantage of the Skagosi's deep respect for strength, Garon repeatedly used those victories to demonstrate the value of discipline on the battlefield. Even more importantly, his rewards and punishments were absolutely fair. Not even his own trusted retainers escaped punishment whenever they violated military discipline.
By the time the army reached the Stony Shore, even Sparta and the proud Skagosi warriors had genuinely accepted Garon's command.
During those same days, Asha also discovered something she had never expected. Garon possessed a strange charisma that steadily drew people toward him, and despite herself, she found it increasingly difficult not to admire him.
Most surprising of all was the trust and respect he showed her.
Whenever the army made camp, Garon always ensured she had suitable accommodations. He did not even place guards outside her tent, showing a degree of confidence that left her both puzzled and moved. During quieter moments, he would often seek her out to discuss the customs of the Iron Islands, naval warfare, sailing routes, and the traditions of seafaring peoples throughout the Sunset Sea. Whenever he praised her knowledge or acknowledged the value of her opinions, Asha felt an unfamiliar exhilaration, as though she had shared several cups of strong ale.
After spending so many days together, her attitude toward Garon had changed beyond recognition. What had begun as calculated manipulation had slowly become genuine trust, accompanied by feelings she could neither name nor fully understand.
Even now, Asha could not explain what Garon truly meant to her.
There was only one thing she knew with certainty.
The man standing before her resembled the sea itself, calm and composed on the surface, yet concealing beneath those tranquil waters a powerful current capable of swallowing everything around it.
Just as Asha's gaze unconsciously drifted back toward him, Garon finally broke the silence.
"The ships are ready."
Without turning around, he spoke in a calm but commanding voice.
"Now we decide where to drive the blade."
Asha inhaled slowly, forcing herself to push aside the confusion in her heart. Whatever feelings she had developed toward Garon, they could never outweigh her hatred for Euron Greyjoy, the kinslayer who had murdered King Balon Greyjoy and stolen the Seastone Chair.
Suppressing the turmoil within herself, she focused entirely on the realities of the Iron Islands.
"Pyke is easy to defend and nearly impossible to storm directly. Although Euron seized the Seastone Chair through kinslaying, he still commands many desperate captains who have chosen to follow him."
"Some have submitted to his cruelty, while others have become obsessed with his promises of dragons and conquest."
"As long as those captains remain loyal, taking Pyke will be extremely difficult."
She stepped beside Garon until they stood shoulder to shoulder, then looked directly into his face.
"I believe we should sail to Ten Towers first. That is the seat of my uncle, Lord Rodrik Harlaw. Of everyone in the Iron Islands, he is the most capable and most likely to support us."
"Through him we can contact the other houses that remain loyal to House Greyjoy, determine Pyke's defenses and Euron's current movements, and then..."
As she spoke, another thought quietly formed within her heart.
"If I am to sit securely upon the Seastone Chair, I cannot depend entirely upon the strength of Northern soldiers."
"Otherwise, the captains of the Iron Islands will never truly accept me as their queen."
Yet Garon seemed to read straight through her thoughts.
"Too slow."
His voice remained calm, but every word carried absolute certainty.
Asha blinked in surprise and looked at him.
Garon finally turned, his crimson eyes burning with unwavering determination.
"Speed is everything, Lady Asha."
"We cannot be completely certain where your uncle's loyalties truly lie."
"As for contacting the other houses..."
He shook his head.
"The hearts of men are hidden. Who can guarantee that none of them will betray us in exchange for Euron's favor?"
Watching Asha fall silent in thought, he continued.
"If we sail to Ten Towers first, news of our arrival will almost certainly spread."
"The moment Euron hears of it, he can strengthen Pyke's defenses or even sail out himself. With the limited forces at our disposal, meeting the Iron Fleet in open waters would be suicide."
Asha frowned.
"But what if Crows Eye already has a large army gathered inside Pyke?"
"Our force isn't even large enough to storm its walls."
"Then we force him to leave them."
Garon's sharp gaze rested upon her.
"Among the men you brought from Winterfell, one of them is from Lordsport, isn't he?"
Asha nodded.
"Tristifer Botley is the second son of House Botley. Since his elder brother died during the fighting in the North, he should now be the heir to Lordsport."
She paused as understanding slowly dawned upon her.
"You're planning to use him to secure Lordsport... and force Euron to march out from Pyke?"
Garon gave a slight nod.
"Exactly."
He turned once more toward the crashing waves.
"Euron murdered his own brother to seize the Seastone Chair. His rule is unstable, and his attention is fixed upon his dream of claiming the dragon on Skagos."
"He will never expect us to dare cross the Sunset Sea."
"Nor will he expect us to arrive this quickly."
His calm and methodical reasoning echoed in Asha's ears, making it almost impossible not to trust his judgment.
"We'll use the secret sea route you provided to bypass the outer islands under cover of darkness."
"We'll seize Lordsport before anyone realizes we've arrived."
"Once we've learned Pyke's exact situation, we'll draw Crows Eye out of his fortress and strike before he can react."
"And after Euron dies, your presence as King Balon's rightful heir will become our greatest weapon. The moment your banners rise before Pyke, many captains who submitted through fear or resentment will abandon Euron and return to House Greyjoy."
"That is how we win the greatest victory while paying the smallest possible price."
Even Asha found herself speechless.
The plan was unbelievably bold.
It almost bordered on madness.
After several long moments, even she hesitated before speaking.
"The risks are enormous..."
Garon turned toward her once again.
"Of course they are."
"But war itself is nothing but risk."
"Hesitation only gives those risks time to multiply until every opportunity is lost."
His voice became softer, almost like a whisper tempting someone toward an irreversible choice.
"This is your only path to victory."
Asha lowered her head.
Conflict flashed repeatedly across her face.
Yet when she finally raised her eyes and met Garon's unwavering gaze, the fear inside her slowly gave way to trust.
The confidence born from his strength and wisdom finally tipped the scales.
"You're right..."
She slowly drew a deep breath, determination returning to her eyes.
"Hesitation leads to defeat."
"Then we'll do it your way."
"We sail straight for Pyke."
"I'll personally guide the fleet through the most secret sea lanes."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Garon's mouth.
"The psychological pressure of the past several days wasn't wasted. She is beginning to trust me."
"But this is still far from enough."
"My refusal to sail first to Ten Towers was never simply about speed."
"It also ensures that, isolated from her own supporters, she will have no choice but to rely upon my strength to reclaim the Seastone Chair."
"When that day comes, all of her authority and prestige will be inseparable from my support."
"She will depend upon me more deeply, both politically and emotionally."
"And only then will the Iron Islands truly be under my control."
With those thoughts settled, Garon extended his hand.
Asha looked at him for a brief moment before placing her own hand into his.
Their hands met above the cold sea wind, sealing the bold and dangerous plan that would decide the fate of the Iron Islands.
Far below the cliffs, the waves crashed endlessly against the black rocks, while the howling wind seemed to herald the coming of an even greater storm.
{🥳 Loving the story so far? Craving more chapters? 🥰
If you're enjoying the journey, don't forget to vote with your Power Stones! Every Power Stone helps the novel reach more readers and motivates me to keep the updates coming. 💙
Support me on Patreon and unlock 70+ advance chapters right now, plus 3 fresh chapters every two days to keep you hooked! 🎉
✨ Subscribe or grab lifetime access with a one-time purchase... your choice, no pressure!
👉 /mythborne }