CHAPTER 153
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By the time Asha returned with Tristifer, Garon was already inside the council hall of Castle Botley, studying maps and discussing tactics with his trusted officers.
"Garon, we have appeased the surrendered Ironborn just as you instructed, and we deliberately allowed more than a dozen of them to escape. I also confirmed that there are currently more than two thousand Ironborn gathered at Pyke to attend the kingsmoot and support Euron's rule. What should we do next?"
Unlike the spirited Tristifer, Asha appeared somewhat weary. Although she had gradually developed an inexplicable trust in Garon's plan, she still could not be certain it would succeed. Capturing Lordsport had already drawn the bow with no possibility of turning back. If Garon failed to defeat Euron in the coming battle, Garon might still find a way to escape, but she, the rightful heir challenging the usurper, would almost certainly die.
Garon raised his head, and with a single glance he noticed the tension hidden beneath Asha's calm expression. His thoughts turned quickly, and he immediately guessed what was troubling her.
"You've come at the perfect time. We were just discussing how to ambush Euron."
He calmly gestured for Asha and Tristifer to approach the map before speaking reassuringly.
"You two know the terrain around Lordsport and Pyke better than anyone. If Euron marches out from Pyke, where do you think would be the best place to set an ambush?"
Asha and Tristifer exchanged a glance before walking to the long table. Without hesitation, Asha pointed toward a dense pine forest marked between Lordsport and Pyke.
"Here."
Her finger traced a circle over the forest.
"The trees here are thick, visibility is poor, and the terrain naturally funnels an army into a narrow road. It's the ideal place for an ambush. If archers are hidden on both sides..."
Before she finished speaking, memories of the battle in the Wolfswood flashed through her mind. Her expression became complicated before she slowly nodded.
"The power of your archers is enough to throw any advancing army into complete confusion."
She then lifted her eyes toward Garon.
"But the real question is this."
"Will Euron truly leave Pyke?"
"You deliberately used my name and Uncle Rodrik's to mislead him, but will he really take the bait?"
"Of course."
Garon answered without the slightest hesitation.
"He will."
Asha frowned.
"Why?"
Not only Asha, but even Ron, Mihawk, Sparta and the other officers revealed puzzled expressions. None of them understood why Garon was so certain.
"Because I understand Euron better than he understands himself."
Those words passed silently through Garon's mind.
Naturally, he could never say such a thing aloud.
Pretending to ponder for a moment, he smiled faintly before explaining.
"Ever since fighting him at Winterfell, I realized just how cunning and treacherous he was. Because of that, I deliberately spent considerable effort studying his methods of war. That preparation was one of the reasons we achieved such a decisive victory at Ox Horn Mountain."
He paused briefly before continuing with complete confidence.
"Euron is arrogant, conceited, reckless and utterly consumed by ambition. You cannot judge him according to ordinary logic."
"All of you believe that once the situation becomes uncertain, he should remain behind the walls of Pyke and summon reinforcements from the other islands."
"But you've overlooked one very important fact."
His gaze slowly swept across everyone gathered inside the hall.
"Euron murdered his own brother to seize the Seastone Chair."
"He rules through fear, violence and blood."
"As a kinslayer, usurper and oathbreaker, he absolutely cannot show weakness before the Ironborn captains."
"If he does..."
"How could he possibly continue sitting upon the Seastone Chair?"
Asha's eyes brightened immediately.
"You're right."
"We Ironborn follow strength above all else."
"If he shows even the slightest hesitation, every captain who already questions him will begin doubting him openly."
Garon nodded approvingly.
"Exactly."
"More than anyone else, Euron now needs a swift and overwhelming victory."
"Only by crushing his enemies immediately can he continue intimidating every captain who secretly resents him."
Hearing Garon's approval, the uneasiness lingering within Asha gradually disappeared. Without realizing it herself, her trust in him deepened once again.
"Then, Garon..."
"How do we proceed?"
Garon had already discussed every possibility with his officers before Asha arrived.
"We don't have much time."
His finger landed upon the pine forest shown on the map.
"The survivors escaping from Lordsport will eventually reach Pyke."
"Before they arrive, we must already have our ambush prepared."
After thinking briefly, Garon immediately began issuing orders.
"Tristifer."
"You are now the rightful heir of House Botley."
"I need you to remain here and secure our line of retreat."
"Asha."
"You will lead the Ironborn who are absolutely loyal to you and accompany us to the pine forest."
"Chief Sparta."
"You and every Skagosi warrior will strike Euron's vanguard head on."
"Ron."
"Mihawk."
"Split the archers equally."
"Hide yourselves on both sides of the forest."
"Once Euron's vanguard has completely entered the killing ground, immediately rain arrows upon the center of his army."
After confirming that everyone understood, Garon's expression became even more serious.
"Remember."
"The key to this battle is speed."
"And ruthlessness."
"We destroy the vanguard first."
"We shatter their morale."
"Then the archers throw their main force into complete disorder."
"Once their formation collapses..."
"We crush them completely."
"Understood?"
Everyone's spirits immediately surged.
"Yes, Lord Garon!"
Garon waved his hand.
"Move out."
More than a dozen officers immediately left the council hall to assemble the troops.
When everything had been prepared, Garon wasted no further time.
Under the cover of darkness, he silently led his army toward the pine forest between Lordsport and Pyke.
At almost the same time, the great hall within Pyke Castle was brightly illuminated by roaring flames dancing inside the enormous hearth.
Wrapped in a heavy cloak, Euron Greyjoy sat high upon the ancient Seastone Chair, listening to Gylbert Botley stumble through his report.
"Your Grace..."
Gylbert's face remained pale with fear as he described everything that had happened at Lordsport.
"There were people everywhere."
"They covered the harbor like fish during spawning season."
"It had to be the main force from Ten Towers."
"My nephew, Tristifer, personally declared that Lady Asha had returned and was leading House Harlaw in open rebellion."
"Ten Towers?"
Euron's voice remained disturbingly calm.
"Did you actually see the banners of House Harlaw?"
Gylbert hurriedly shook his head.
"It was far too dark."
"There were men everywhere."
"I... I couldn't see clearly."
"But besides House Harlaw..."
"Who else would possibly help that bitch Asha?"
"Rodrik Harlaw is her uncle."
"When you claimed the Seastone Chair, he even demanded that you negotiate with the North to bring her home."
As Gylbert finished speaking, a dangerous gleam flashed across Euron's remaining eye.
"Hmph."
"The North has devised an interesting little scheme."
"They're trying to make the Ironborn destroy ourselves."
"So they can enjoy the rewards afterward."
The image of Garon standing upon the walls of Winterfell appeared inside Euron's mind.
A twisted smile slowly spread across his face.
"Heh..."
"So..."
"This must be your doing again."
"But you've overlooked something."
"If I cannot defeat you immediately..."
"I can certainly defeat my dear little niece."
He slowly narrowed his eye before issuing his command.
"Men."
"Summon everyone inside Pyke."
"I will personally lead this army."
"And I shall offer my lovely niece to the Drowned God."
Gylbert froze.
"Your Grace..."
"Lady Asha truly has many men."
"At least two thousand."
"Perhaps as many as we do."
"Shouldn't we first summon reinforcements from the other captains?"
"At the very least, we should ask House Wynch at Iron Holt to send men immediately..."
Euron slowly rose from the Seastone Chair, cutting Gylbert off before he could continue.
"Gylbert."
"I believe Asha's little trick has frightened you out of your wits."
"If Rodrik Harlaw truly commanded that many warriors..."
"He would already be standing outside Pyke himself."
"My guess is simple."
"Asha and House Harlaw together command no more than a thousand men."
"We'll crush them without difficulty."
A low, twisted laugh echoed throughout the hall.
"Heh..."
"A pitiful rabble."
"They think a few ships and the cover of darkness are enough to challenge my rule."
"I'll personally tear them apart."
"I'll rip Asha's eyes from her skull and make buttons from them."
"I'll drink wine from Rodrik Harlaw's skull."
"Gather every man."
"We march immediately."
"Tonight..."
"I want the sea outside Lordsport stained red with the blood of traitors."
No one dared question Euron's command.
His fanatical confidence quickly infected the more savage Ironborn captains gathered within the hall.
Bloodthirsty roars echoed throughout Pyke.
Watching their frenzy, Euron's cruel smile widened.
In his imagination, everyone who had dared oppose him was already kneeling at his feet, screaming for mercy.
What Euron did not know was that Garon had already prepared a deadly trap inside the pine forest, waiting only for the Crow's Eye to walk into it.
{🥳 Loving the story so far? Craving more chapters? 🥰
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