Stony Shore.
The biting wind was as sharp as a knife, carrying the salty tang of the sea and the bitterness of failure.
Euron Greyjoy stood on a black rock, gazing with one eye at the dark, turbulent sea at sunset.
Behind him were the few remaining Ironborn, all of them disheveled and covered in wounds.
As for his Silence crew, most of them died with Victarion at Ox Horn Mountain, and the rest escaped to an unknown location.
Captain Euron
A captain with a fresh scar on his face stepped forward. "Are we just going to go back to the Iron Islands to confess like this? King Balon…" Euron suddenly turned his head, a near-fanatical flame burning in his single eye, as if the failure of Ox Horn Mountain was just an insignificant episode.
"go back?"
He chuckled hoarsely, "We're not going back to confess our sins, we're going to usher in a new era!"
Captain Fresh Scar was completely bewildered and thought Euron seemed to have gone mad.
Having suffered such a crushing defeat, with nearly a third of the Iron Islands' forces lost in the North, if they were to return, Balon would either skin them alive and feed them to the fish, or at least show them some pity.
A new era?
Noticing the captain's expression, Euron chuckled and said, "You think the Northerners have won?"
He didn't look at his subordinates' expressions, but instead spread his arms and pointed to the blurry and intimidating horizon to the north.
"They are blind, just like you."
"They guard the forests and the castle, yet they know nothing of the giant beast that sleeps at their doorstep!"
The Ironborn looked at each other, puzzled.
Euron's single eye gleamed with greed and madness.
He lowered his voice, as if sharing a shocking secret: "Do you know why we're attacking the North?"
Euron answered his own question before the Ironborns could reply.
"It's because we're going to Skags Island!"
A look of confusion crossed Captain Scarface's face: "Skaggs Island? What would we do on that island inhabited only by savages?"
"Heh…" Euron chuckled twice, his gaze fixed on the northeast with burning intensity, "Because there are dragons there!"
dragon?
This word exploded like a thunderclap in Ironborn.
"Yes, dragon!" Euron said in a low, seductive tone, looking at the speechless, shocked Ironborn.
" The Targaryen family acquired the dragon, which allowed them to rule the Seven Kingdoms for centuries with an iron throne."
"But if we control the dragon, what does our failure today matter?"
"At that time, the whole world will grovel at our feet and be at our disposal!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his men's eyes lit up.
It seems that he is already fantasizing about plundering the whole world.
A triumphant smile crept onto Euron's lips.
"but!"
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming cold and realistic.
"With just a few people and a few wrecked ships, can we possibly break through the Northerners' formidable defenses, reach Skaggos, and seize the dragon's power?"
We can't!
He scanned the crowd, a barely concealed killing intent flashing in his single eye.
We must change our strategy!
"Let us stop shedding blood for a few cold stones from the North and instead seize the power that will allow us to rule the world."
"We're going to take a longer but safer route—bypassing the entire Westeros, heading north from the Narrow Sea, and landing directly on Skaggs!"
After a series of failures, Euron felt a strange fear whenever he thought of Galon.
This fear made him unable to accept himself.
Now, he has staked everything on the dragon.
"Once I capture the dragon, I will make you watch as I destroy everything you have, including your family!"
At this moment, Euron had never hated anyone so much.
But then, one of his men asked, " Will King Balon... agree? Miss Asha is still in the hands of the North!"
Euron's lips curled into a cold, cruel smile.
I will persuade him!
"He must agree for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the Iron Islands!"
"If...he is short-sighted, fixated only on the few stone houses in front of him...."
He paused for a moment, the murderous intent in his right eye enough to freeze blood.
"Then he is no longer worthy to be the king who leads Ironborn to glory!"
The meaning of Euron is self-evident.
The others had varying expressions, but none of them voiced their opposition.
After such a crushing defeat, they are now in the same boat as Euron, each trying to shake off the other.
"Return to Parker immediately!"
"I need to have a good talk with my brother as soon as possible!"
Euron ignored the group's reaction and issued the order directly.
Just as Euron returned to the Iron Islands, Sansa was waiting for Asha's reply in the dungeon of Winterfell.
Sansa wore a dark dress, her youthful face striving to maintain the solemnity befitting her role as acting city lord.
But her slightly red and swollen eyes revealed the immense grief she had experienced in the past few days.
Miss Greyjoy
Sansa spoke first, keeping her voice as steady as possible, "We hope you've thought it through in the next few days."
Asha raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the young Stark, and a slightly mocking smile appeared on her face.
"consider?"
"Consider how to beg for surrender from the man who defeated me, killed my uncle, and destroyed Iron Fleet?"
Sansa shook her head. "This isn't about surrendering; it's about stopping the pointless bloodshed on both sides."
" I explained your brother Theon's death to you a few days ago. If you write to your father, you can end this war that brings no benefit to the Iron Islands."
" King Robb, he..."
" King Robb?" Asha interrupted Sansa, keenly catching the new title.
A strange glint flashed in her eyes, then she suddenly understood.
"ah...
"So something big happened in the South, which is why you're even more eager for peace, right?"
She immediately realized the other party's situation and tried to regain some initiative in the negotiations.
Sansa did not deny it; she took a deep breath and spoke frankly.
"Yes, we need to stabilize the rear."
"But this is also your opportunity."
"We can exchange you for each other's prisoners."
"Even if the Iron Islands were willing to recognize King Robb and cease their attacks on the North."
"Then we will also recognize King Balon's identity and allow him to plunder the West, where gold is far more valuable than furs from the North!"
This condition caused Asha to fall silent for a moment.
In fact, after confirming that Uncle Victarion had died in battle and Uncle Euron had fled, she knew in her heart that the Iron Islands plan had completely failed.
Unless his father immediately uses the dragon horn to control the dragon, he will surely compromise temporarily for the sake of his own life.
a long time.
Asha sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Okay, you're right, Miss Stark."
Sansa was secretly pleased, looking at Asha who seemed to have given in, "So, what's your plan?"
Asha's eyes flashed, and the image of Galon appeared in her mind.
"I can write to my father, urging him to accept the exchange and consider your proposal."
She paused, her eyes fixed on Sansa. "But before I write this letter, I need to see someone!"
Sansa: "Who?"
" Galon Glover!"
A complex look flashed in Asha's eyes, "The man who plotted to capture me at Deepwood Motte, and then defeated my uncle at Ox Horn Mountain."
"I need to know what kind of opponent I am bowing to!"
She looked at Sansa, who was trying to act like an adult, and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.
As the daughter of King Balon, how could she possibly surrender to a weak child?
Even Stark won't work!
Asha's request was unexpected by Sansa.
She hesitated for a long time before saying, "Lord Galon is currently fighting abroad, and I cannot bring him back immediately!"
"I can wait!"
Asha's attitude was firm: "I'll write to him as soon as I see him! Otherwise, don't even think about making me surrender!"
She crossed her arms again, displaying an unquestionable attitude.
This was both a result of her pride and a strategy—she wanted to assess the abilities of the Stark before her in the North firsthand.
Sansa looked troubled, but then she thought that although the request was tricky, it wasn't entirely unacceptable.
Once Galon recaptures Moat Cailin, he will eventually return to Winterfell.
"I will send a message to Galon, Lord Galon."
Sansa finally nodded, "But in the meantime, I hope you'll keep your promise and carefully consider the contents of this letter."
Asha nodded slightly: "Deal, Ms. Stark."
Seeing this, Sansa turned and left the dungeon.
Before things were settled, she felt it was more appropriate to keep Asha in jail.
Meanwhile, Galon, the person the two were trading with, was still on his way back to Winterfell with Reed and his sister.