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After accepting Theon's task, Asha immediately used Pyke's rookery to send letters of summons to the other islands of the Iron Islands.
Then she rode back to Lordsport. After searching several taverns in a row, she finally found her target.
"Qarl, wake up. It seems you want to die from too much drink, like Eddis."
Asha walked to a wine table and patted a drunk man with a handsome face, smooth pink cheeks, and no beard at all.
"Mm? Who... Asha!"
The drunk man named Qarl was forcibly awakened by Asha. He shook his muddled head. When he opened his eyes and saw her, he rose excitedly and unsteadily, then grabbed her in an embrace.
After being held by Qarl, Asha directly lifted her head and kissed him fiercely.
Qarl was Asha's second-in-command aboard Black Wind... and also her lover. He was known as Qarl the Maid. Among ironborn with messy beards, he had earned the name because of his smooth pink face.
Contrary to Qarl's delicate nickname, he was fierce and brave in battle, one of the Iron Islands' fiercest warriors, with a name known across the islands.
"Enough. Wake them all. We return to Black Wind."
After kissing for quite a while, Asha remembered that proper business remained unfinished. Feeling heat rise through her body, she forcibly suppressed the desire she had held back for months and ordered Qarl to wake the other crewmen sleeping over nearby tables and return to Black Wind.
"Good. Heh, we return to Black Wind, then enjoy ourselves properly."
Qarl answered, then immediately turned and began waking the other members of Black Wind's crew with rough kicks and punches.
When the other crewmen saw Asha, they were also extremely excited and embraced her in greeting. It was clear that she was deeply loved by her men.
Black Wind was a standard longship roughly one hundred feet long. Because of its size, it carried no engines such as scorpions or catapults. It relied on shallow draft and high maneuverability to approach targets for boarding battles.
Inside the cabin, two naked bodies were passionately entangled. Only after a shuddering cry did their fierce bout finally end.
"I have been away from the islands for months. What is the situation in the Iron Islands now?"
After assigning tasks to all the crewmen and sending them one by one to notify the other iron captains to gather, Asha lowered her head and asked Qarl, who lay in her arms.
"After returning from the Westerlands plunder, King Theon spends every day chasing women and amusement. Most matters of rule are handled by Quenton Greyjoy and Ramsay Bolton. The strength of the Iron Islands has gradually split into three factions.
"Quenton commands the several thousand ironborn of Pyke and has taken over the defense of Lordsport. He has also drawn in ironborn from Harlaw, Blacktyde, and Orkmont, making him the strongest faction.
"Ramsay has the forces of Great Wyk and Saltcliffe that His Grace Robb gave him before, and he has also won over the ironborn of Old Wyk.
"He provides King Theon with intelligence from every corner, and no one knows where he found a large group of sellswords. His overall strength is also very strong.
"Finally, there are neutral ironborn longships like our Black Wind, as well as the Northern Fleet commanded by Ser Wylis Manderly of White Harbor.
"They are gathered on the northern side of Lordsport and have trained strictly these past few months. They rarely cause trouble.
"However, some time ago, because drunken ironborn under Quenton provoked them, a brawl broke out between the two sides. In the end, King Theon punished him and suppressed public talk about it, forbidding anyone from discussing the matter again."
Although Qarl had spent the past few months drinking and seeking pleasure, he was completely clear on the Iron Islands' affairs. Hearing Asha ask, he explained them to her in good order.
"Now Theon has me gather the Iron Fleet and the Northern Fleet. Leaving the Northern Fleet aside for now, do you think I can use this chance to take over the Iron Fleet?"
After hearing Qarl's words, Asha asked thoughtfully.
"I do not think it is very likely."
At that, Qarl sat up in Asha's arms. First, he shook his head and answered, then continued.
"The Iron Islands now are completely different from when King Balon ruled. Aside from Pyke, the ironborn of the other islands outwardly submit to King Theon, but in their hearts, they acknowledge His Grace Robb.
"They acknowledge Quenton and Ramsay because they are bound by shared interests. So an appointment from King Theon alone is not enough to make them sincerely submit to you.
"Unless..."
"In other words, if I want to secure a foothold in the Iron Islands quickly, Ramsay or Quenton must fall first, and I must take over his power?"
Asha understood the meaning behind Qarl's words and stated it directly.
"Yes. Compared with Quenton, Ramsay is an outsider from the green lands and is undoubtedly the best target.
"Actually, Quenton has secretly approached me several times, wanting neutral ironborn longships like Black Wind to join him.
"After the recent brawl, he came to me again and said Ramsay had manipulated the incident from behind the scenes. From his tone, he badly wants to move against him."
Hearing this, Qarl nodded directly and told Asha the most suitable target in his view.
"Mm. I dislike this Ramsay very much as well, especially that fake smile he always wears.
"Qarl, quietly contact Quenton. Have him come to Black Wind to meet me."
"Good. I will go see Quenton now. But Ramsay has many eyes on Pyke. I will discuss it with him and see how you two can meet in secret."
Hearing this, Qarl immediately picked his clothes up from the floor. As he quickly put them on, he answered Asha.
"Mm. Thank you, Qarl. Once I regain a voice in the Iron Islands, I will give you a longship of your own and make you an honored iron captain."
"I look forward to seeing my own longship, dear Asha."
Fully dressed, Qarl heard Asha's promise, turned with a smile, answered, and walked directly out of the cabin.
Time passed quickly. Deep in the night, with the moon high in the sky, a small two-oared boat left Black Wind and slowly rowed toward a sheltered reef away from Lordsport.
Behind the reef, Quenton stood quietly waiting with several men, torches in hand. Asha and Qarl stepped from the boat onto the reef, exchanged a few greetings with him, and then began discussing business.
Asha tilted her head and looked at the men behind him. Quenton immediately understood what she meant and said, "These brothers have gone through life and death with me. I trust them as you trust Qarl."
"Good. Quenton, I want to drive Ramsay, that outsider, back to the green lands. You have fought him for so long. You must have thought of many methods."
Hearing Quenton's words, Asha nodded and got straight to the point.
"Mm. Ramsay has contacted many smuggling merchant ships to secretly transport goods between north and south.
"In these few months, he has earned at least tens of thousands of gold dragons. None of that gold was taxed, which means he has embezzled at least five thousand gold dragons from the Iron Islands.
"King Theon valued him before because no one could replace him. Now that you are back, we can go see the king together tomorrow and accuse him of this.
"Even if Ramsay is someone His Grace Robb arranged, this matter alone is enough to send him rolling back to the green lands."
Seeing Asha be so direct, Quenton was equally direct and told her the damaging information he had discovered about Ramsay.
"That is enough. If he swallowed such a large sum of gold dragons, Theon can punish him, and His Grace Robb will not say anything. Besides, His Grace Robb does not seem to like Ramsay very much either."
After hearing Quenton's words, Asha knew this information alone would be enough to make Theon, who had liked money and women since childhood, punish Ramsay.
"Good. Then at daybreak tomorrow, we go see King Theon.
"Let me be clear. After Ramsay leaves the Iron Islands, I want to take over his smuggling business. Also, Orkmont's forces must answer to me."
"Heh. Wake up, Quenton. You are dreaming. Without my help, you cannot do anything to Ramsay. Otherwise, if you have held this information for so long, why did you not accuse him earlier?"
Seeing Quenton begin carving up Ramsay's power and making such a greedy demand, Asha laughed softly and shot him down.
"Then how do you intend to divide it?"
"First, the forces of all three islands belong to me..."
"What? Impossible..."
Their bargaining dragged on, rising and falling with the sound of the sea.
The night slowly passed, and the crimson sun rose from the sea.
Early the next morning, Quenton and Asha met punctually at the gate of Pyke.
"Asha, from the look of you, did you not sleep all night?"
Seeing the especially obvious dark circles under Asha's eyes, Quenton asked directly.
"Mm. Thinking about today's matter, I could not sleep."
Asha nodded and answered casually with a blank face.
Hearing her answer, Quenton laughed to himself. Women truly could not keep calm.
After the two waited a short while, Pyke's gate opened. Led by servants, they were brought to the long hall.
However, what surprised Quenton slightly was that Ramsay was already in the long hall, speaking about something with Theon, who sat on the Seastone Chair.
"King Theon!"
Entering the long hall and coming before the Seastone Chair, Quenton and Asha saluted Theon.
"Mm. Hah... Asha, Quenton. You came to see me so early. Is there something urgent?"
Theon nodded in response to their greeting, yawning constantly as he asked.
"King Theon, we have come to accuse..."
Hearing this, Quenton stepped forward directly and began reciting the words he had prepared the previous night.
Behind him, Asha suddenly drew the short dagger at her right waist, stepped forward quickly, seized the back of Quenton's neck with her left hand, and pressed the dagger to his throat with her right.
Clang, clang, clang!
Seeing Asha's movement, the guards throughout the long hall drew their longswords and closed in around her.
"Stand down."
Ramsay smiled at the sudden change before him. He waved his right hand and gave the order.
Hearing Ramsay's order, the hall guards turned to look at Theon, who frowned but did not speak. One after another, they sheathed their swords and returned to their positions.
"Asha, what are you doing?"
Feeling the coldness at his throat, Quenton, who had been completely unprepared, tried to glance backward and asked softly.
"How did my father die?"
The icy question drifted from behind him, and every hair on Quenton's body stood up.
"King Balon? He hanged himself. Several iron captains saw it with their own eyes."
The moment Quenton finished, Asha, clearly dissatisfied with that answer, exerted slight pressure with her right hand. The tip of the dagger instantly cut his skin, and fresh red blood trickled down along the blade.
"Asha, you suspect Father's death had something to do with him?"
Hearing Asha's conversation with Quenton, Theon seemed to understand and asked.
"Ramsay, did you not say last night that you had evidence? Where is your evidence?"
Asha did not answer Theon's question. She looked at Ramsay beside him and spoke loudly.
"King Theon, I only learned last night that King Balon was murdered by Quenton. The evidence is outside the door now."
Seeing Theon turn and stare at him, Ramsay immediately lowered his head and smiled ingratiatingly.
"Suicide... murder. Hmph. Bring in the evidence."
Hearing this, Theon's expression darkened, and he spoke to Ramsay through gritted teeth.
"Let them in."
Ramsay nodded and immediately called toward the door of the long hall.
"Greetings, King Theon."
The doors opened, and two ironborn entered behind Asha and Quenton, saluting Theon.
"Lady Asha, the witness on the left has risked his life beside Quenton. Quenton trusts him just as you trust Qarl.
"His words should count as evidence, yes?"
Ramsay pointed at the ironborn on the left and spoke to Asha.
Asha turned and looked. The ironborn on the left was indeed one of the trusted men Quenton had brought to the reef the previous night.
"You are Quenton's confidant. Speak. What exactly happened to my father?"
"A few months ago, Quenton led us to first kill the guards outside King Balon's bedchamber. Then I stood watch outside while they went in and strangled King Balon."
Hearing Asha's question, Quenton's confidant immediately answered.
"The one on the right is one of the iron captains who examined King Balon's cause of death. Tell us what happened then."
"Four of us iron captains examined King Balon's cause of death together. Hawkeye Jon discovered something wrong and said it directly, but Quenton suddenly stabbed him full of holes with a dagger.
"Ah, poor old Jon. Quenton even pushed his body into the sea."
Hearing Ramsay's words, the older iron captain immediately explained how Quenton had killed the man back then.
"If their words are still not enough as evidence, Quenton's confidant can be seized and questioned, and the other two iron captains can be found."
Seeing Theon and Asha fall silent after listening, Ramsay immediately spoke.
"King Theon! At that time, King Balon refused to surrender and wanted to execute you. I was saving you!
"Otherwise, how could you be sitting on the Seastone Chair now? How could the Iron Islands have developed so prosperously?
"Please, for the sake of my service to you, ugh, do not kill me. I do not want to die!"
Knowing this matter could no longer be hidden, Quenton immediately pleaded with Theon in a tearful voice.
"My father... did not want to die either."
Behind Quenton, Asha leaned close to his ear and spoke softly.
Slice!
The moment Asha finished, the dagger in her right hand suddenly drew hard from left to right. She used so much force that a large flap of flesh opened across Quenton's throat, revealing the pale bone of his windpipe.
"Asha, you will take over Quenton's work. Speed up the fleet assembly. I want to go to Seagard earlier.
"Ramsay, I leave the remaining matters to you."
Knowing that Quenton's words had not been wrong, that Balon had indeed been likely to execute him at the time, Theon suddenly felt dispirited. He gave a faint order and rose from the long hall.
"You two were very wise. Go collect your rewards. Heh. The others who took part in this or hid it will die miserably.
"Men, clean this place."
Ramsay slowly descended the steps before the Seastone Chair. After smiling at the two witnesses, he called for people to enter and deal with Quenton's body.
"Ramsay, you are quite good. You timed my return to Black Wind perfectly. I have your eyes among my crew too, don't I?
"Although Quenton is dead, do not be too pleased. I know the things you have done."
After wiping her dagger clean on Quenton's body, Asha spoke coldly to Ramsay.
"Lady Asha, I would not dare embezzle Pyke's assets. Those taxes were handed to that person."
Ramsay naturally knew what she meant. He immediately explained and turned his head toward the high Seastone Chair.
"You deliberately leaked that matter to Quenton, didn't you? If he truly investigated it, Theon would only come to hate him.
"Good method. From today onward, I will try to think more highly of you.
"Heh. Be careful that I do not catch you overreaching."
Asha's mind was not slow either. She instantly understood that the smuggling taxes were also part of Ramsay's scheme. With a smile that did not reach her eyes, she turned and left the long hall.
Watching Asha's tall, slender back, Ramsay's smile remained.
That day, the ironborn most loyal to Quenton were all dealt with in blood, and Asha took over all of Pyke's forces.
However, among the outer islands, only Great Wyk expressed willingness to follow Asha. Old Wyk and Saltcliffe both turned to Ramsay.
No matter how angry Asha was at having been outmaneuvered, five days later, the Iron Fleet, gathered with nearly ten thousand men, and the Northern Fleet, with nearly five thousand men, sailed toward Seagard in grand formation.
By the time Theon arrived at Seagard with a fleet that seemed to cover all of Ironman's Bay, he was roughly two days later than expected.
Given the limits of travel and communication in this age, although Robb had told Asha to gather them in one week, in his heart, he had expected it to take two weeks. Therefore, he did not rebuke Theon for the delay.
At Seagard, Theon did not speak of the changes in the Iron Islands. Robb carefully explained his strategic thinking to him several times.
Finally, from the eighteen thousand Winterfell recruits, Robb selected five thousand soldiers made up entirely of northern citizens and assigned them to Theon's force.
The next day, the two of them split into two columns and set out from Seagard with their respective troops.
Robb led two thousand light cavalry and the remaining thirteen thousand recruits, but he did not march directly toward Riverrun.
Instead, he passed through Raventree Hall, Stone Hedge, and Darry in order. At each, he used four thousand Winterfell recruits to replace the northern veterans who had held the castles after the previous round of war.
After the replacement, each of the three castles had six thousand northern soldiers holding it: two thousand veterans and four thousand recruits.
As a defensive force, that number was entirely sufficient. During these past few months, the grain, supplies, and defensive engines provided by Riverrun had also been transported to the three castles.
As for the three commanders who had originally led troops to recover the castles, Lord Tytos, Lord Rickard, and Lord Jason were likewise transferred by Robb into the army he personally led.
More than ten days later, Robb brought this extremely powerful northern army to Riverrun.
When Robb arrived at Riverrun, Edmure was still outside with Ser Marq, continuing to raid Westerlands army outposts.
Although Brynden had already reported the matter by letter, the moment he saw Robb in the council hall, he immediately reported the strangeness of the prisoner exchange and Edmure's recent, eerie string of victories.
"Your Grace, that is the situation. With Edmure's successive victories, his reputation in Riverrun, and even across the Riverlands, has risen higher and higher.
"Especially among the newly recruited soldiers. Most of them admire Edmure greatly and long to join his command."
"Great-uncle, Uncle Edmure's reputation has already been raised very high.
"If you continue suppressing him by force, not only will he have other thoughts in his heart, but others will also think you are deliberately holding him down.
"Therefore, I will place all the Riverlands recruits under Uncle Edmure's command and have him lead them."
Hearing Brynden's report, Robb looked at Harrenhal's position on the map and spoke his view of the matter.
"Your Grace, I have known Edmure since he was a child. He truly has no problem leading small forces in battle, but on a battlefield this important, he is very likely to become the weakness through which the enemy breaks us.
"Just as with the five thousand cavalry he lost before. This time, it is a force of nearly ten thousand men. If he buries them..."
Hearing that Robb wanted to give the recruits to Edmure, Brynden immediately spoke in some urgency.
"Great-uncle, do not worry. If Tywin truly has a scheme, he will not move against Uncle Edmure in the short term. If Uncle truly does bury that force of ten thousand men, I will make Tywin pay twice the price."
"Sigh. Very well. Everything will follow your command."
"Good. I will tell you the general arrangement for what comes next..."
While Robb explained the near-term tactical arrangements to Brynden, Edmure and Ser Marq returned in triumph again with several hundred prisoners.
The recruits camped outside Riverrun were all extremely excited, shouting Edmure's name loudly. The northern veterans silently wiped weapons, adjusted armor, and made other preparations for battle.
Lord Tytos, who knew exactly what Edmure was like, did not even lift his head. He only spoke quietly with Lord Rickard, Lord Jason, and the other familiar lords.
Edmure, riding at the front on his warhorse, also saw this. He curled his lip, somewhat displeased, and rode straight toward Riverrun.
After returning to the castle, Edmure saw Robb and Brynden waiting for him. When he heard that the king would place all the Riverlands recruits under his command, he excitedly hugged him.
Then, on the grounds that Ser Marq had accumulated enough battle merit over the past two months, he asked Robb to allow Lord Piper to regain his freedom. Of course, punishments such as stripping his title remained.
Knowing he could not refuse, Robb agreed readily. Watching Edmure run excitedly toward the dungeons, the king called Crey and ordered him to pay special attention to all people and matters connected to Edmure and Lord Piper's father and son.
While Robb handled various political and military affairs at Riverrun, Tywin, who had long stationed troops at Harrenhal, received a raven letter from Casterly Rock in the Westerlands.
The Kingspyre Tower had once been Harrenhal's tallest and largest tower, but Aegon the Conqueror had brought his dragon and melted half of Harren the Black together with the tower.
Even so, the remaining rooms in the castle were still the size of reception halls in other small castles. Therefore, the lord's chambers of Harrenhal remained here.
Tywin, Kevan, Jaime, and the other Lannisters had gathered in the lord's chambers.
"The krakens of the Iron Islands have all moved out. Two or three hundred warships have occupied the mouth of Lannisport's harbor. Speak. What are your views?"
After receiving Casterly Rock's letter, Tywin did not convene a military council. Instead, he summoned Jaime and Kevan for a family meeting.
"Father, including the cannon fodder recently recruited, we have a powerful force of fifty-five thousand men. I do not understand what we have been waiting for at Harrenhal all this time. Now we have even let the enemy attack first."
Knowing their side held a huge advantage in troops, Jaime had been asking to fight for more than ten days, but Tywin had always held him back.
"Jaime, that wolf pup is good at avoiding attacks and striking other places instead. In the war a few months ago, we suffered because of that and were made to run in circles.
"So this time, we waited specifically for them to move first, then planned our response."
Seeing Tywin remain silent, Kevan immediately explained to Jaime.
"Hoh. To make you treat him so cautiously, it seems Ned's eldest son truly has ability.
"Fine, back to the main matter. The krakens attacking Lannisport was within our expectations.
"These past few months, Daven has been leading men to add obstacles near the harbor and set up nets. He has also placed many catapults, scorpions, and other defensive engines in the harbor district.
"If the krakens truly want to land in Lannisport, they may have to swim."
Jaime praised him once, then stated his own view.
"No. The krakens' longships have extremely shallow drafts. Their large ships certainly cannot enter the harbor district, but if they use their numbers and land by force with many small boats, Daven's two or three thousand men cannot stop them."
Hearing Jaime's words, Kevan directly pointed out his mistake.
"If that is the case, send Addam's troops from the Golden Tooth to support him. With his force assisting, Lannisport will certainly have no problem."
As soon as Kevan finished, Jaime immediately answered.
"But if Addam's troops leave, what happens if the northern army at Riverrun attacks the Golden Tooth?"
"The Golden Tooth's walls are high and solid. How could they possibly take it?"
"That is not certain. Casterly Rock was even harder to take, yet..."
"Enough. Both of you stop."
Seeing Jaime and Kevan begin arguing directly, Tywin immediately spoke and stopped them.
When both of them looked toward him, Tywin gave his order directly. "Send word for Addam to take five thousand cavalry and five thousand infantry to Lannisport. Five thousand Stormlands infantry, along with the original one thousand defenders, will remain at the Golden Tooth, for a total of six thousand.
"Even if the northern army attacks together, they cannot take the Golden Tooth in a short time. Moreover, the Golden Tooth is not far from Lannisport. Addam's five thousand cavalry can reinforce it at any time."
"Kevan will lead thirty thousand Westerlands troops to hold the crossroads and prevent the northern army from taking the chance to march straight into the Crownlands. Jaime, since you like attacking, take twenty thousand Westerlands troops and seize the Riverlands castles other than Riverrun.
"This time, we do not need to divide forces to occupy them. After taking a castle, absorb the prisoners willing to surrender. Kill all who are unwilling.
"Finally, destroy or burn those castles."
"As you command."
After hearing the orders, Jaime and Kevan exchanged a glance, then nodded and saluted, accepting their respective tasks.
As Tywin's orders were given, the Westerlands army, which had been almost rusting at Harrenhal over these months, immediately began preparing and entered a state of war.
The next day, Kevan and Jaime led their forces out of Harrenhal in grand formation. Tywin stood atop the Kingspyre Tower, quietly watching the two Westerlands armies depart.
At the same time, the northern army stationed at Riverrun also split into two forces.
Edmure led nearly ten thousand Riverlands recruits east along the river road. His goal was to tear open the Westerlands defensive line near Acorn Hall, then turn toward the Crownlands.
Robb led thirteen thousand northern troops west along the river road. His goal was the Golden Tooth.
After receiving Tywin's order, Addam, stationed at the Golden Tooth, immediately acted, gathering men and horses to reinforce Lannisport.
As the place where the first round of war between the Westerlands and the North had begun, Lannisport once again became the horn that sounded the beginning of the second round.
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