CHAPTER 165
The morning mist hung over Ironman's Bay like a translucent veil, blanketing the calm waters beneath a cold, damp breeze carrying the scent of salt. Garon stood at the prow of the *Seasong*, gazing toward the dark silhouette slowly emerging where the sea met the sky.
Seagard.
Four days had already passed since Garon departed Pyke, and the fleet was now less than half a day's sail from the Mallister stronghold.
"Go and invite Lord Harlaw here."
Without taking his eyes off the horizon, Garon calmly issued the order.
One of his guards bowed and hurried away.
Before long, measured footsteps sounded across the deck.
Rodrik Harlaw, Lord of Ten Towers, known throughout the Iron Islands as the Reader, walked to Garon's side.
"You wished to see me, Lord Garon?"
"Yes."
Garon continued watching the distant outline of Seagard before speaking in the same calm tone one might use to discuss the weather.
"After we land, I need you to perform a play with me."
"A play?"
Confusion flashed across Rodrik's face.
"That's right."
Garon finally turned toward him, his crimson eyes carrying the confidence of someone who already saw several moves ahead.
"I want us to quarrel publicly after we come ashore."
"The dispute must appear fierce enough for everyone to notice, especially any men sent by Riverrun or other Riverlords."
"I want the Riverlands to believe there are deep divisions between the Northmen and the Ironborn."
Rodrik frowned.
"My lord, would it not be wiser to display unity at a time like this? Surely that would discourage our enemies."
"Why deliberately expose weakness?"
Garon lowered his voice.
"Because we have far more enemies than friends."
He allowed the words to settle before continuing.
"The North is not united."
"The Riverlands are even more divided."
"Bolton."
"Frey."
"And even Riverrun."
"Every one of them has ambitions of their own."
"If they see a Northern lord forging a close alliance with the Iron Islands in such a short time, what conclusion will they reach?"
Understanding slowly dawned on Rodrik.
"They'll become wary of us."
"If we appear divided instead, they'll lower their guard."
"Exactly."
Garon nodded with satisfaction.
"We still know too little about the current situation in the Riverlands."
"I need time to observe."
"So before that happens, let them underestimate us."
"Better yet..."
"Let them believe you are someone they can tempt to their side."
Rodrik Harlaw had never been merely a man who loved books.
As Lord of Ten Towers, he understood intrigue and politics as well as any noble in Westeros.
After a thoughtful silence, he nodded.
"I understand."
Still, Garon chose to explain further.
"I intend to hand them the exact story they wish to believe."
"They will willingly walk into the trap I've prepared."
"And you, Lord Harlaw, will play the most important role."
"You must become the man they believe they can manipulate."
"Remember."
"You need to appear greedy."
"Arrogant."
"And ambitious enough to betray anyone."
Rodrik bowed solemnly.
"I understand."
"My lord, you shall witness the finest performance of my life."
Garon smiled and personally helped him straighten.
Ever since revealing himself as Galon of the White Staff, strengthening his alliance with Asha, and redistributing influence throughout the Iron Islands, Garon had completely secured Rodrik's loyalty.
Rodrik had even silently accepted Asha becoming Garon's lover.
The two men remained standing at the bow as Seagard slowly grew larger before them.
Another half hour passed.
High atop Seagard's formidable walls, Ser Petyr Frey paced back and forth against the cold sea wind.
His thoughts were restless.
Even his usual patrol had become absentminded.
Ever since King Robb Stark broke his marriage pact with House Frey, the Twins had become the laughingstock of the Riverlands.
As a lesser Frey serving House Mallister, Petyr suffered just as much from the humiliation.
Lord Jason Mallister had never thought highly of him.
Now matters had become even worse.
Almost every day brought another sarcastic remark or cold dismissal.
"Perhaps I should simply return to the Twins."
"Even if no one values me there, at least I won't be treated like this."
Petyr sighed inwardly.
He believed he possessed talent.
He simply had never been given the chance to prove it.
Back at the Twins, his relationship with Lord Walder Frey had always been distant.
The old lord barely remembered his name.
The duties assigned to him were always the chores nobody else wanted.
After finally leaving the Twins to serve House Mallister at Seagard, he had believed his fortunes would improve.
Instead, one small mistake had ruined everything.
Now he spent his days guarding city walls.
Looking across Ironman's Bay, Petyr felt as though both his bones and ambitions were slowly rusting away.
He sighed again.
Then, just as his thoughts drifted elsewhere, a tiny black speck appeared through the sea mist.
Years of standing watch made his body react before his mind caught up.
"Enemy fleet!"
Petyr immediately grabbed the warning horn hanging beside the battlements and blew it with all his strength.
The sharp blast shattered the quiet morning.
Moments later, the great warning bell within Seagard began ringing.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
The entire city instantly descended into chaos.
Lord Jason Mallister quickly rushed onto the battlements.
He raised a bronze spyglass and looked toward Ironman's Bay.
The moment he saw the approaching fleet, he angrily barked,
"Petyr!"
"Look more carefully!"
"Those are House Glover's banners."
"They belong to King Robb's bannermen."
"They're our allies."
"Have sea crabs eaten your brains?"
"But, my lord..."
Petyr pointed toward the fleet.
"The ships of House Harlaw are sailing with them."
"The silver scythe of Ten Towers is flying beside the Glover banners."
"How could House Glover possibly sail alongside Ironborn?"
Jason's angry rebuke stopped midway.
He immediately lifted the spyglass again.
Sure enough.
Behind House Glover's crimson banner bearing the silver mailed fist flew the black banners of House Harlaw, displaying the silver scythe of Ten Towers.
Jason's expression changed immediately.
"Quick!"
"Close the city gates!"
"Have every man prepare for battle!"
The lord of Seagard hurriedly barked one order after another.
Outside the walls, peasants working in nearby fields heard the warning bells and fled toward the city with their families.
Within moments, orderly Seagard had become a scene of complete confusion.
As dozens of longships drew steadily closer, the atmosphere inside the city grew increasingly tense.
Jason's face darkened.
Much of Seagard's strength had already marched to Riverrun.
The men remaining behind could barely defend the walls.
If the Ironborn truly attacked in force, abandoning the city might become his only option.
"Damn it."
"Have the Iron Islands also bent the knee to the Iron Throne?"
By now, news of the crushing defeat at the Blackwater and the alliance between House Lannister and House Tyrell had spread across the Riverlands.
Many Riverlords had begun questioning whether they should continue supporting Robb Stark.
Fortunately, House Mallister remained loyal to Riverrun.
Otherwise, Jason would never have sent nearly half his strength to aid the Tullys.
Just as his anxiety continued growing, something unexpected happened.
The fleet halted before reaching the harbor.
None of the longships advanced farther.
Instead, a single small boat was lowered and rowed toward the docks.
Not long afterward, a messenger hurried up the walls.
"My lord!"
"The men from the ships claim they're allied forces of House Glover and the Iron Islands."
"They say they've come to reinforce King Robb."
"Allied forces?"
Jason stared blankly.
"House Glover... and the Iron Islands?"
No matter how hard he tried, he simply could not understand how those two could possibly have become allies.
"My lord."
Petyr stepped forward.
"This isn't the time to wonder about that."
"Shouldn't we send someone to meet them first?"
Jason instinctively turned to scold him.
But after a brief pause, another thought crossed his mind.
"Captain Petyr."
"You spotted the fleet first."
"You'll go."
"Meet them."
"And learn exactly why they've come."
Petyr blinked.
"Me?"
Before he could object, Jason had already descended from the walls with the other officers.
Petyr remained standing there alone.
After a long silence, he let out another helpless sigh.
He fastened his sword belt securely around his waist, mounted his horse, and slowly rode out through the gates of Seagard.