CHAPTER 152
Whoosh! Accompanied by the surging waves, more than twenty longships, illuminated by the blazing fire consuming the small boat, came into Captain Lyken's view.
"Damn it! Quick, warn everyone!"
Lyken no longer had time to pay attention to Tristifer Botley. Turning around, he sprinted toward the bell tower overlooking the harbor while two Ironborn seized Tristifer and attempted to drag him away. Taking advantage of the confusion, Tristifer struggled with all his strength, finally breaking free from their grasp. He slammed onto the ground, rolled once, snatched up a fallen axe, and immediately hurled himself into the sea behind the docks.
"Forget about him!"
"Organize everyone immediately! Send word to Lord Gylbert! Tell him Lady Asha has returned with the people of Ten Towers!"
Lyken glanced briefly at Tristifer swimming into the darkness before leading his men through the harbor, shouting orders in every direction.
Within moments, Ironborn who had been drinking, gambling, or whoring throughout Lordsport rushed into the streets in confusion. The instant they heard that Asha Greyjoy had supposedly returned alongside House Harlaw, their expressions changed completely. Some were delighted, some fearful, while the more cautious immediately fled toward the inland road leading to Pyke to report the news.
At the bell tower overlooking the harbor, the drowsy watchman was finally roused by the commotion outside. Climbing hurriedly to the top, he looked toward the sea and immediately spotted the blazing fire consuming the small boat.
"Enemy attack!"
Without wasting another heartbeat, he seized the great rope and rang the warning bell.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The deep sound rolled across the sleeping harbor.
Ironborn poured from every corner of Lordsport, shouting as they rushed toward the central square. In only a short time, roughly three to four hundred defenders gathered.
"Gentlemen!"
Captain Lyken drew his sword and pointed it toward the night sky.
"Asha Greyjoy has returned with the men of Ten Towers!"
"The time has come to prove your loyalty to King Euron and Lord Gylbert!"
"Brothers... charge!"
He took the lead, charging toward the harbor with hundreds of Ironborn behind him.
By the time they reached the shoreline, Garon had already led the Northern soldiers from the longships. They leapt into the freezing seawater, advancing toward the beach in disciplined ranks.
"Kill!"
"Reclaim the Iron Islands for Lady Asha!"
"Long live Lady Asha!"
"Long live House Harlaw!"
Following Garon's arrangements, both the Glover soldiers and the Skagosi shouted Asha's name and House Harlaw's banner, disguising the true nature of the invading force as they surged ashore like a black tide.
The two armies collided violently upon the beach.
Smash!
Sparta swung his enormous obsidian warhammer with terrifying force, crushing the skull of the first Ironborn who reached him.
"Kill them all!"
His towering body resembled a monster born from Skagos itself. Every swing of his crude yet terrifying weapon shattered bones and sent Ironborn flying across the sand.
Ignoring most attacks aimed at him, Sparta relied upon overwhelming strength and fearless aggression to carve a bloody path straight through the defenders.
Behind him, hundreds of Skagosi roared like wild beasts, hacking with axes and thrusting with spears as though they hunted prey rather than fought a battle.
The Ironborn of Lordsport had never encountered warriors like these.
The ferocity of the Skagosi instantly threw their defensive lines into chaos.
After only a brief clash, signs of collapse had already appeared among the defenders.
The situation became even worse when Garon personally led the disciplined Glover infantry to cut off every possible avenue of retreat.
"No... these aren't men from Ten Towers!"
Barely avoiding an incoming axe, Lyken finally noticed the armor and banners worn by the disciplined soldiers surrounding them.
"They're not Ironborn at all!"
"Who are these people?"
His eyes darted wildly across the battlefield while desperately parrying incoming attacks.
Moments later, he spotted a tall warrior clad in leather armor leading disciplined ranks that steadily enveloped the harbor from both flanks.
"The North..."
"They're Northerners!"
Lyken's heart skipped a beat.
He even saw Lady Asha herself fighting alongside that tall commander against her own countrymen.
"Damn it!"
He narrowly avoided another Skagosi blow, but before he could warn the others, his men had already begun to break.
Of the three to four hundred defenders who had assembled, fewer than one hundred remained standing.
"No..."
Despair gripped Lyken's heart.
He instantly realized that remaining here meant certain death.
Without another thought, he turned and fled toward the center of Lordsport.
His escape completely shattered what little morale remained among the defenders.
"I surrender!"
"Lady Asha, I surrender too!"
One after another, the remaining Ironborn threw down their weapons, kneeling in the icy seawater while begging Asha Greyjoy for mercy.
But Garon still commanded the battlefield.
With one clean stroke, he cut down an Ironborn attempting to escape before sweeping his sharp gaze across the battlefield.
The moment he spotted Lyken and the remaining fugitives retreating, he immediately led a group of Glover soldiers to intercept them.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The thunderous battle cries drowned out every other sound.
Within moments, the last organized resistance along the harbor had been completely annihilated.
Once the fighting ended, Garon immediately waved his hand.
The army swiftly began securing every district of Lordsport.
The chaos spreading through the harbor rapidly expanded across the entire settlement like ripples becoming a tidal wave.
Some of the Skagosi, intoxicated by battle, charged through the streets attacking anyone who resisted.
Garon watched coldly for a brief moment before allowing them enough freedom to vent the bloodlust accumulated throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, he personally led the Glover soldiers together with Asha toward the harbor warehouses, shipyards, docks, and every other strategic location.
One vital position after another fell under his control.
Towering flames illuminated shattered buildings, broken wagons, and bodies scattered throughout the streets.
By the time Gylbert Botley finally received word inside Castle Botley, Lordsport had already fallen completely into Garon's hands.
Without giving the enemy time to recover, Garon immediately advanced again.
Led by Asha and Tristifer Botley, he marched directly toward Castle Botley with part of the army.
"This is bad!"
"My lord!"
"The harbor garrison has been wiped out, and Lady Asha is marching this way with her forces!"
The scout stumbled breathlessly into the great hall.
The moment Gylbert Botley heard those words, his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"House Harlaw..."
"Rodrik Harlaw has actually rebelled..."
He could scarcely believe it.
Not long ago, he had still been discussing the Iron Fleet with Lord Rodrik.
"Damn that old man..."
"He hid his intentions well."
Before he could finish cursing Rodrik Harlaw, another guard burst into the hall.
"My lord!"
"The rebels are almost here!"
"They're everywhere!"
"A sea of men!"
"There must be... at least two thousand!"
Hearing the terrified report, Gylbert's thoughts immediately descended into chaos.
"So many..."
"I only have two hundred men."
"How can I possibly defend the castle?"
He no longer had the presence of mind to consider whether House Harlaw truly possessed such numbers.
Only survival remained in his thoughts.
"Go!"
"Hurry!"
He leapt to his feet, shouting at the few guards he trusted most.
"Saddle the horses!"
"We leave through the rear gate!"
"Ride for Pyke!"
"Only King Euron can save us now!"
Almost stumbling over himself, Gylbert rushed from the great hall.
Escorted by several loyal guards, he fled through the castle's rear gate like a stray dog, galloping desperately toward Pyke without daring to look back.
When Garon and Asha entered Castle Botley with the main force, the fortress had already been abandoned.
Only frightened servants and a handful of soldiers who had surrendered remained inside.
Standing within the great hall, Garon looked toward the dying fire inside the hearth.
His expression showed no joy from victory.
Only cold resolve.
"Secure the harbor."
"Treat the wounded."
"Count every captured weapon and supply."
"Chief Sparta, restrain your warriors."
"No unnecessary slaughter."
"Proclaim throughout Lordsport that anyone found roaming the streets without permission will be executed."
One order after another was issued with perfect clarity.
Only after everything had been arranged did Garon turn toward Asha, whose armor was stained with blood.
"Lady Asha."
"Take Tristifer and your remaining Ironborn."
"Go throughout the harbor and the town."
"Tell everyone that you and House Harlaw have returned to punish the kinslayer Euron Crow's Eye."
"Remember."
"Do not reveal that the North is involved."
"I want Euron to lower his guard."
"And deliberately allow a few survivors to escape."
"They'll carry our message to Pyke for us."
Asha silently met Garon's eyes.
After a brief pause, she nodded before leaving together with Tristifer.
Soon afterward, following Garon's earlier instructions, soldiers throughout Lordsport loudly proclaimed the same message.
"Lady Asha Greyjoy has returned!"
"Lord Rodrik Harlaw supports the rightful heir!"
"Only the kinslayer Euron Crow's Eye will be punished!"
"Those who surrender will be spared!"
Exactly as Garon intended, frightened survivors fled toward Pyke carrying only one story.
Lady Asha and House Harlaw had returned solely to execute the kinslayer Euron.
As Asha hurried through the cold streets beside her followers, her heart burned hotter with every passing moment.
She clearly understood Garon's intention.
He was deliberately fanning the flames, forcing Euron to leave the safety of Pyke and fight a decisive battle.
It was an enormous gamble.
Yet remembering Garon's calm confidence and ruthless decisiveness, the anxiety in her heart gradually transformed into unwavering trust.
"Euron..."
"Kinslayer..."
"How will you answer this challenge?"
"Will you remain behind the walls..."
"Or will you do exactly as Garon expects and march out to meet us?"
Looking toward the distant silhouette of Pyke, a place more familiar to her than anywhere else in the world, Asha felt anticipation steadily rising within her heart.