CHAPTER 156
"Lady Asha!"
Garon watched as his army marched into Pyke, but instead of heading directly toward the Great Keep, he called out to Asha.
Asha, whose face still carried traces of excitement and joy, stopped beside him and asked, "What is it, Lord Garon?"
Garon first glanced toward the towers of Pyke perched upon the jagged sea cliffs before returning his gaze to Asha. "After this battle, there are not many defenders left inside Pyke. Before you completely stabilize the situation, I would like my men to guard the castle for you. What do you think?"
Garon smiled as though he were discussing the matter with her, but in truth, his words left no room for refusal.
Naturally, Asha understood that.
She looked toward the Glover soldiers, who had already begun climbing the walls and taking control of the gates. The excitement on her face quickly faded.
She was still the weaker side.
She knew that even if she refused, Garon would still seize this opportunity to secure the nearly empty fortress. His question was nothing more than courtesy.
"Hmph... damned men. They only ever think about their own interests. I must have been mad to think about winning him over..."
Asha snorted inwardly.
After traveling beside Garon for so many days, she already understood what kind of man he truly was.
Besides his extraordinary military talent, he possessed both boldness and meticulous caution. Once he made a decision, he never wavered. When it was time to gamble, he committed everything without hesitation. When caution was required, he left behind no weakness for anyone to exploit.
Yet strangely, Asha did not resent his request.
Besides Garon, she truly had no one else she could fully rely upon now.
At least, that would remain true until she officially sat upon the Seastone Chair as the acknowledged ruler of the Iron Islands.
"Very well."
"I'll trouble you with it."
Asha reluctantly agreed, though a trace of resentment lingered in her voice.
"Lord Garon, let us go to the council chamber in the Great Keep and discuss our next steps."
Just then, however, a middle-aged man wearing the robes of a maester hurried toward them.
Seeing Asha, he excitedly waved both hands.
"Asha!"
Asha turned around in surprise.
"Maester Wendamyr?"
"You're still alive?"
Breathing heavily, Wendamyr stopped before them with an expression full of relief.
"Yes... yes... it's really you, Asha."
He stepped forward and clasped her hands warmly.
Then his eyes shifted toward Garon with obvious caution as he lowered his voice.
"Who is this lord?"
"Where did you find these people?"
"And how did you escape from the North?"
Too many questions had accumulated in his mind.
They poured out all at once.
Asha could only smile bitterly.
She raised a hand to stop him.
"Maester, too much has happened."
"I'll explain everything later."
"More importantly..."
"How are my mother and Uncle Aeron?"
The excitement on Wendamyr's face gradually faded.
He nodded solemnly.
"We need to discuss that... in private."
Turning toward Garon, the old maester politely bowed.
"My lord, would you allow Lady Asha and me a moment alone?"
Garon did not answer immediately.
His eyes calmly moved between the two as though weighing something.
Only after several moments did he raise one hand, silently granting permission.
Asha nodded apologetically toward Garon before following Wendamyr toward the council chamber, the two speaking quietly along the way.
"Asha... your mother, Lady Alannys... her health has become much worse..."
"What?"
Garon watched the two disappear before shifting his attention toward Ron and the others beside him.
"Ron."
"What's the situation in the pine forest?"
Ron answered immediately.
"Most of the Ironborn were either routed or killed. Only a small number escaped west into the hills. Since Pyke was the priority, I chose not to pursue them."
"Hmm."
Garon nodded thoughtfully before issuing his next orders.
"Mihawk."
"Take three hundred men and seize every watchtower and gatehouse."
"Anyone who refuses to cooperate is to be executed."
"Ron."
"Personally escort Euron to the dungeon."
"Lock him inside and post guards."
"Afterward, station additional soldiers at every gate."
"Coordinate with Mihawk and maintain constant patrols."
"Without my permission..."
"No one enters."
"No one leaves."
"Remember that."
Ron and Mihawk immediately straightened.
"Yes, Lord Garon!"
Nearby, Sparta scratched his head before asking eagerly, "What about us, Lord Garon?"
Garon stepped forward, patted Sparta's shoulder, and smiled.
"Take your Skagosi and follow me."
"We're going to search every corner of Pyke."
"Inside and outside."
"Top to bottom."
Sparta's expression immediately became anxious.
"But... the magic?"
"Didn't you promise that after taking Pyke, you'd help us find the magic to tame dragons?"
Hearing this, Garon glanced toward Asha and Wendamyr, who were still walking together in the distance, before quietly reassuring him.
"Don't worry."
"Euron is already our prisoner."
"When he wakes up, I'll personally interrogate him."
"I promise I'll make him reveal everything he knows about the Dragonbinder horn."
Only then did Sparta grin happily.
"Good."
"I'll listen to you, Lord."
Seeing this, Garon waved his hand.
"Go."
"Carry out your orders."
Ron and Mihawk immediately departed.
Soon afterward, disciplined Glover soldiers and fierce Skagosi warriors completely replaced the original garrison, firmly taking control of Pyke's defenses.
The already oppressive atmosphere inside the castle became even heavier beneath Northern occupation.
Garon paid no attention.
Leading the Skagosi, he spread through every section of the fortress like hunters sweeping a forest.
All remaining Ironborn soldiers were disarmed, separated, and imprisoned for later questioning.
Even the servants were gathered together under guard.
Garon made no effort to search immediately for Dragonbinder.
Instead, he personally oversaw the systematic elimination of every hidden danger inside the castle.
Before the captains of the Iron Islands arrived, he intended to place all of Pyke completely under his control.
While Garon searched every hall, tower, bridge, and chamber throughout Pyke Castle, Asha continued recounting everything that had happened in the North to Maester Wendamyr.
"That's everything."
"I formed an alliance with House Stark."
"They agreed to help me reclaim the Seastone Chair."
"In return, I will support the North in its war against the Lannisters."
Understanding finally dawned across Wendamyr's face.
"So that's what happened."
"I feared they had taken you hostage."
"But House Glover..."
Remembering the generations of bloodshed between House Glover and the Ironborn, he spoke worriedly.
"Asha..."
"The hatred between House Glover and the Iron Islands runs very deep."
"Even if Lord Stark ordered them to help you..."
"I'm afraid some among them may still do... irrational things."
Just then, several shrill screams suddenly echoed from somewhere outside the council chamber before quickly falling silent.
Clearly, Garon had already begun purging the castle.
"He's already begun."
"Asha!"
"You must stop him."
"You can't simply watch while Northerners slaughter Ironborn."
"If the captains discover this, your rule will never be secure."
Wendamyr's warning struck Asha's heart like a heavy stone.
A subtle but undeniable feeling slowly emerged.
Although she was now, in name, the mistress of Pyke...
Nothing actually belonged to her.
Not the castle.
Not the soldiers.
Not even her own safety.
Everything remained under Garon's control.
That feeling of helplessness instinctively made her uneasy.
Even humiliated.
"This is not Winterfell."
"This is my home."
"I can't allow Garon to do whatever he wants here."
Asha unconsciously rested one hand upon the smooth stone of the Seastone Chair.
"Garon's ambitions will surely require my support."
"Perhaps... this is the perfect chance to test him again."
"If it's confirmed..."
Her expression became conflicted.
She still wasn't prepared to completely oppose Garon.
"Asha?"
Wendamyr called again.
"What are you thinking?"
Asha returned to herself before quietly shaking her head.
"Nothing."
"Go and invite Lord Garon here."
"Then send ravens to every captain of the Iron Islands."
"I want them all gathered at Pyke within seven days."
"They will witness the public judgment of the kinslayer."
Wendamyr bowed respectfully.
"As you command."
He turned and departed.
Once he was gone, Asha remained standing before the Seastone Chair.
Her expression was unusually complicated.
"Father..."
Her fingers slowly traced the ancient carvings upon the dark stone.
It was almost as though she could still feel Balon's lingering presence.
Finally, she climbed the steps and slowly sat upon the Seastone Chair.
Only now did she truly understand the burden her father had always carried.
It was a weight beyond words.
"Well?"
Not long afterward, Garon arrived alone at the entrance to the council chamber after receiving Wendamyr's message.
He calmly looked toward Asha.
"How does it feel?"
"What?"
Asha looked up toward him.
"The feeling of sitting upon the Seastone Chair."
Garon slowly approached.
"Does it feel as though power itself rests within your hands?"
"As though life and death are yours to decide?"
Asha let out a faint snort.
"Lord Garon."
"You don't need to test me."
"I am not Euron Greyjoy."
"Since I agreed to work with you, I have no intention of breaking my word."
Garon chuckled softly.
"That would certainly be for the best."
Although he smiled, a cold glimmer briefly flashed through his crimson eyes as he looked at Asha sitting upon the Seastone Chair.
It disappeared almost immediately.
Asha noticed nothing.
Instead, she continued speaking.
"Lord Garon."
She deliberately kept her voice calm.
"I hope you don't misunderstand our alliance."
"I, Asha Greyjoy, swear before the Drowned God that my promises to the North, to House Stark, and to you will never change."
"The Iron Islands need allies."
"And I need your help."
Even now, Asha still hadn't abandoned the thought of drawing Garon to her side.
Her gaze remained filled with sincerity.
Garon, however, remained completely unmoved.
His crimson eyes were as calm as still water.
"So..."
"What do you want from me?"
Asha immediately answered.
"Stop the killing inside Pyke."
"We've already won."
"The Iron Islands belong to me now."
"There is no need to continue the slaughter."
"Won?"
A strange smile appeared upon Garon's face.
He looked directly into Asha's eyes.
"Do you truly believe that?"
His question instantly froze her expression.
"Asha."
Garon slowly walked forward until he stood at the foot of the Seastone Chair.
His voice became completely direct.
"You are still too naïve."
Anger immediately appeared upon Asha's face.
She opened her mouth to argue.
Garon interrupted her before she could speak.
"I do not distrust you."
He looked steadily into her eyes.
"But before power..."
"Personal promises are often the most fragile things in the world."
"They are worth very little."
A trace of mockery appeared at the corner of his lips as he slowly drew his greatsword several inches from its scabbard.
"The only reason you are sitting there today..."
"...is because my sword removed every obstacle standing before you."
He looked toward the windows overlooking the sea.
"But those captains sailing toward Pyke..."
"Will they obey your blood..."
"...or my sword?"
His tone remained calm.
Yet every word struck with merciless precision.
"Without me..."
"You are nothing more than someone who lost."
"And whether someone who has already lost can truly keep the Seastone Chair..."
"I think you understand better than anyone."
Asha's face immediately turned pale before flushing red with anger.
She suddenly stood.
Before she could speak, Garon continued.
"Asha."
"Think carefully."
"The moment I loosen my control..."
"Who can guarantee that no one will exploit your trust to do something... irrational?"
His steady gaze rested firmly upon her.
"Until every captain publicly acknowledges your rule before the Drowned God..."
"Until your throne is secure..."
"Until the safety of both me and my men is guaranteed..."
"Pyke must remain under my absolute control."
"This is not only for me."
"It is also for you."
"It is the necessary price of achieving our shared goal."
His words crashed into Asha like icy seawater.
Instantly, she became completely clearheaded.
She suddenly realized that the man standing before her was far more than a brilliant commander.
He understood power itself.
His caution did not come from distrust alone.
It came from a perfect understanding of the political game surrounding the Seastone Chair.
Once the captains gathered at Pyke...
No one could predict what would happen.
Seeing that Asha had finally calmed down, Garon changed the subject.
"And do you truly believe defeating Euron means everything is finished?"
"His followers are still hiding throughout this castle."
"They are also hiding among the captains sailing here."
He slowly sheathed his sword.
"Those captains betrayed your father."
"They willingly accepted a kinslayer as king."
"What makes you believe they will suddenly become loyal to you?"
"They are venomous sea snakes."
"They can strike at any moment."
"If you truly wish to secure the Seastone Chair..."
"Legitimacy alone will never be enough."
"You must uproot every supporter Euron still possesses."
"You must cleanse the Iron Islands completely."
Asha remained silent.
She remembered how stubbornly Pyke's defenders had resisted even after Euron's defeat.
"...You're right."
After a long silence, she slowly inhaled.
Determination appeared within her eyes.
As Balon's chosen heir...
And as a woman...
She had always understood how many captains looked down upon her.
While Balon lived, he suppressed them.
Now...
She would have to do it herself.
"Euron's followers must be removed."
"What do you need me to do?"
The hesitation in Asha's eyes gradually disappeared.
In its place emerged a stronger desire to survive...
And to rule.
Hearing those words, the corners of Garon's lips rose almost imperceptibly.
"In the Queen's name..."
"Allow me to help you complete this necessary purge."
"It will strengthen your rule."
"And it will make every captain understand one truth."
"Cooperation with the North is now the only future left for the Iron Islands."
Asha silently looked at Garon.
She knew she no longer had any path of retreat.
Or perhaps...
Garon had already chosen that path for her long ago.
Suppressing the complicated emotions filling her heart, Asha slowly nodded.
At the very same time, as Garon convinced Asha to begin the great purge of Euron's remaining supporters, countless ravens flew out from Pyke Castle, carrying news of the island's new ruler to every corner of the Iron Islands.