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***
Waking up was hard - as soon as Theon's consciousness gained clarity, he immediately felt pain. A searing pain echoed in his chest, his cheek itched, and a migraine added to the painful orchestra.
When he opened his eyes, Greyjoy experienced deja vu-the whole situation reminded him eerily of his first awakening in this world. A medieval room, a maester standing next to him, gazing intently at his patient. Only one detail remained... but instead of Theon's mother, his uncle entered.
The door quietly opened, and with loud footsteps his uncle entered the room, seemingly never taking off his armour. Victarion's grim gaze looked over his nephew, then shifted towards the maester. In his grey robes, he cringed under the Iron Fleet captain's gaze.
- How long have I been in bed? - Theon asked the very first question he was interested in.
- A few weeks,' Victarion answered briefly, standing in front of the lying king.
-Bad...,' the king muttered thoughtfully, 'very bad.
The room fell silent for a dozen seconds. The crowned Greyjoy pondered, sighing noisily and occasionally writhing in pain. Finally, sighing noisily, he said:
-We have much to talk about, Uncle.
Victarion only nodded, taking note.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''"'
- So all the islands have fallen? Good, very good,' Theon took a small sip from his wine cup as he settled into a chair by the warm hearth. Despite his serious wound, he was in a good mood. The current situation was not as bleak now as it had been after the battle with the Redwyn Fleet. The shield islands had fallen rather quickly and without serious losses.
Opposite Theon sat the captain of the Iron Fleet, whose gaze fell now and then on the parrot nestled beside the king. Greyjoy himself was dressed in casual clothes. Beneath his quilted doublet was a bandaged chest, and Theon's cheek had an ugly axe scar. If Cicero had not intervened in time, Theon would have been dead at the hands of a mere Oak Shield lad.
- I have put my own men in charge of the garrisons,' he said carefully, turning his eyes to the king.
'You trust only your subordinates, I understand you perfectly well, uncle.'
- Really? - Theon was fake surprised, 'For your information, Uncle, I want to give you the Shield Islands. So you can make those you put in charge lords and vassals. And you can take Oak Shield as the richest of all the other islands.
- You wanted to give me the Bright Isle,' Victarion reminded me.
-If you hadn't refused to take Lord Farman's daughter as your wife, the Bright Isles would have been yours. But you found the captive Lannister more agreeable in bed,' the Iron King said, 'so the Shield Isles will be yours. I need a man to protect them from the Spaniards, and you're the man for the job, Uncle.
- And who gets the Shield Islands?
- Harras the Knight. He's gladly accepted the offer.
- Isn't that too much honour for him? - You pay too much attention to Harlow.
- Loyalty must be backed up with something, Uncle. Lands, titles and marriages, or before you know it, your family will be out of business, thrown into the depths of history by disgruntled vassals.
'The Targaryens are a prime example of that.'
- 'However,' Theon continued, 'Harras will create a new branch, separate from the Harlows. Harlow of Bright Isle, what's not to like? One of his sons will inherit the Grey Garden and the other the Bright Isle.
- It's up to you, Theon. I'm not very good at this,' the Iron Fleet captain admitted, 'I was born to fight and follow orders, as your father told me before the Rebellion began. He was right about that.
Greyjoy made no comment on Victarion's words. He just didn't know what to say.
- Who went on the Mander looting spree? - Theon asked a new question.
- Halleck the Destroyer, Lord Sunderly, Lord Savain Botley, and a few smaller free captains. The rest are licking their wounds and waiting for you to recover.
- We should have a feast in a couple of days. I still need to recover and consider our next steps. Anything else?
Victarion hesitated for a moment, but said it anyway
- What about Dagmer? Such a warrior should be honourably sent to the Sea God.
- Don't worry about that, Uncle. If I sent Andric the Smooth to the Drowned One with all honours, why shouldn't I give that honour to Dagmer?
Theon learnt of Dagmer's death before the Shield Islands were stormed. It is said that one of the Iron Islands' strongest swordsmen took several knights with him before he died, slitting their throats open like pigs. He left honourably, and now he must be sent to the bottom, to the God's Halls. On a drakkar, with all his possessions.
- Is there any other news?
- Storm's End is besieged by lions, as is Dragonstone. There are still vague rumours from the East about Daenerys Targaryen.
- They call her the Mother of Dragons, don't they? Isn't she? - Theon asked, 'And do you think those rumours are true, Uncle?
Greyjoy didn't know what to do or what to believe. Rumours don't come from nothing, but the locals were used to exaggerating and making up wild things about what they'd seen.
- I don't know,' Victarion shrugged, leaning closer to the hearth for warmth. 'The Drowned One sees that the world is changing - merchants speak of krakens in the Summer Sea, of Others in the North, and dragons in the East. Which of these things are true and which of them are lies, we shall not know until we see for ourselves.
- Clever words,' Theon said, appreciating Uncle Theon's passage. He hadn't expected that,' but if the rumours were true, the Mad King's daughter might not want the Iron Throne back.
- She's at war with the whole of the Slaver's Bay, I don't think she wishes to return to Westeros. The foolish woman thinks she's invincible,' the Iron Fleet captain snorted.
- Dragons are powerful weapons that give you considerable conceit and arrogance, Uncle. That's what the Targaryens got away with.
- Well, what about the North? Have you heard from the Wall? Last time I heard, I received word of a request for help against the-- The Others.
- Wildlings were trying to break through. But as far as I know, the Northmen and the sentries fought them off. And as for the Others, that's just a story. An attempt to attract people. - Victarion dismissed it.
- Too crazy words to attract,' disagreed his nephew-king.
'There's clearly something fishy going on here. The sentries won't talk such nonsense about the Others and the dead beyond the Wall. Could it be the Long Night is coming?'
Thoughts of a possible ice age spoilt Theon's mood.
Boots with fur trimmed tops on the edges kept him warm and protected him from the cold stone tile floor. The castle, small by Westeros standards, was built almost entirely of stone - only the inner buildings like the barracks and stables were made of wood.
The warmth was provided by a burning hearth, capped with stone. Theon would have called it a fireplace rather than a hearth.
- So, to summarise - Daenerys Targaryen is to the east, to which my mad uncle is sailing to make an alliance against me. North of us, the war in the Riverlands is Robb Stark, whose position is very precarious - the two strongest houses in Westeros are against him, plus the Vale has joined the side of the Iron Throne. In the North, there are rumours of the Others and hordes of the dead. And that's not to mention our perilous position, Uncle. Things are very bad.
- Not so bad,' Victarion muttered, 'tales of dead men are not to be counted as danger. You're not a coward to be afraid of the same cowards who wear black cloaks, are you? Let the green-blooded slaughter each other for our own good.
- The Northmen are our allies,' the king reminded him.
The Iron Fleet captain grinned grimly:
-So far. The Ironborn have no allies. We don't need sheep who think they're wolves as friends.
The King of the Iron Islands closed his eyes tiredly. The wound in his chest ached again. I don't want the bandages to get bloody again. We should go to the Maester, Theon thought.
'No, not the maester. He's not to be trusted.'
- I don't want to argue about this,' Theon exhaled, calming the inner anger that flared up inside.
'Those sheep smashed you in a battle near Bright Isle. But he'll hold a grudge if you tell him, won't he?'
- Prepare the men, Uncle. Gather supplies. Wait for some captains from Mandera. And go to Arbor. You will lead the men in my place.
'Take Wine Town and Raemport. 'And intercept ships coming from Staromest through the Redwyn Strait. There's a lot of money flowing through there.'
Victarion left, closing the door behind him and leaving his nephew alone in his private chambers. One hand stroked the parrot while the other held onto the armrest of the chair. Relaxing as much as possible, Greyjoy pondered, gazing into the fire in the hearth.
'Arbor, Arbor... you're too fat a piece. I won't eat you, and if I did, I'd break my teeth. And I won't be able to hold on to it. Let them keep a couple of ports on the island and rob caravans, and then we'll see what happens.'
Lord Hewett's captured city was only slightly battered - the king had ordered that the city not be burned and that the workshops and smiths not be touched. The rest was allowed - looting, taking the townsfolk as slaves and their wives as salty wives. Blacksmiths and the rest of the craftsmen were declared the property of Theon, as by right the strongest in the Iron Islands. Not in physical terms, of course, but in terms of power.
There are few blacksmiths on the Islands. Theon's long term plans for blacksmiths and craftsmen were something he needed badly.
'And what is to be done with Euron? I can't send the usual assassins, too small a chance of success.'
The hand stroking the parrot stopped and an idea popped into Greyjoy's head.
'Ordinary assassins yes. But if we hire an assassin from the Order of the Compassionate? There are a couple of other assassin orders that aren't as popular as the Faceless Ones and the Qarth assassins. I'll hire them all at once. And the money... when the money flows from captured ships, plundered cities, and slaves sold in Essos, then I'll hire them. But who will I send as my envoy to the Assassins? Yeah... the problem.'
- You'll have to be my ears and eyes in many places,' Theon said to his pet. He was sure he understood.
Too much he had underestimated Cicero and his physical abilities. The bond between them had grown stronger, and after being in the parrot's skin for a long time, he realised a lot.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''"'
- Lord Paxter, how is your shoulder? - Greyjoy asked indifferently, sitting at the long table in the Oak Shield (castle) dining hall.
Theon had decided to have a refreshment, and to brighten up the dull dinner, he had invited the captive Redwyne. Many captains and lords had left the Shield Isles, plundering the shores of Mandera, Victarion was too busy with the king's errand. Given Lord Rodrik's presence in the Iron Islands. He had no one to talk to - Lord Hewett is too aggressive. Lord Paxter, on the other hand, is perfectly adequate.
- Much better than last time,' Lord Arbora replied courteously, sitting across from the Iron King.
- I'm glad I hit you in the shoulder and not the head,' Theon said without any emotion on his face as he savoured the deliciously cooked bacon, sprinkled with crushed pepper for spice. There were also a couple of trout dishes on the table, fried seagulls (a strange dish, Theon thought, but the locals liked it), loaves of delicate-tasting black bread, pears in wine, and a variety of pastries with fruit. That's not counting a couple of drinks, like diluted wine (Arborian, gold and Dornish, red).
Redwyn pressed his lips together and limited himself to that, restraining himself.
Chewing on a piece of bacon, and drinking the wine, Theon continued the conversation:
-So, Lord Redwyn. Your fleet is defeated, and you are now my prisoner. How do you feel about your situation?
- A foolish question,' Paxter Redwyne frowned, not understanding what the Ironborn king wanted him to say.
- Yes, a foolish one indeed,' Greyjoy agreed with his prisoner, 'then let us go another way. Arbor's garrisons are not very strong and numerous, are they? You took many with you to increase the number of your sailors and warriors on the galleys.
- A few thousand footsoldiers remained in Arbor,' Redwyn lied. Theon realised that, but said nothing.
- The Shield Islands have fallen, and now the next target for me is your dominion ...
- Arbor is too tough a nut for you, Your Grace,' Redwyn interrupted him. Greyjoy looked at him grimly, snapping at him.
-Don't interrupt me, or you'll follow the fate of the hundred of your sailors who went to the Drowned God. I have a suggestion for you, Lord Redwyne. Order your soldiers to surrender the gates and open the gates of Arbor's cities and castles. Then your family, and your servants, will not be harmed.
'I said nothing about ordinary townsfolk, defenders and plunderers.'
- Why should I believe you? - Lord Arbora grinned,' The ironborn have no faith.
- When the Bright Isle fell, Lord Farman and his family were untouched. When the Shield Islands fell, I did not touch Lord Oak Shield and his family. They are all under my protection as my trophy. And if you order your men to surrender Arbor...
- Feed me to the sea lions,' the Southern Lord refused, 'I will not dishonour my family. Take Arbor by storm, but know, Your Majesty, your ancestors have tried to take my ancestral domain many times, and failed each time.
- Times are changing, Lord Paxter,' Theon snorted, slightly annoyed by Redwyne's answer. He hadn't hoped for much, but still... it wasn't pleasant,' 'Who would have thought that in a whole decade the Ironborn would have robbed Lannisport twice, fallen Bright Isle and Cayce? The people of the Western Kingdom couldn't have imagined such things when Tywin Lannister ruled them. But Tywin Lannister is dead and the entire coast of the West has been sacked.
- Arbor will not fall,' Paxter Redwyn said stubbornly.
- Did you also think of your 'invincible' fleet? - Theon asked with a sneer.
Theon had nothing to say, so he ate sullenly, trying not to look at Greyjoy.
There was an uncomfortable silence at the table, making the atmosphere in the stone and square room unsuitable for quiet conversation.
- All right, Lord Paxter, let's talk about something else. I am interested in you as an interlocutor.
'And as a source of knowledge.'
- What can you tell me about the capital? I've never been there. They say the Red Keep is famous for its dungeons and its walls are impregnable?
'''''''''''''''''''''''''"'
Staromest, a glorious land and one of the greatest cities in Westeros. Baelor Hightower looked down from the High Tower at the stone houses whose multi-coloured roofs caused ripples in his eyes. Every house in Staromest was covered with stone and tile, every road with stone cobblestones. Straddling both banks of the Medovicka, a large river that ran all the way to the Florenths' Jasnovodnaya Fortress, Staromest had been an important trading town since the time of the Gardener kings. Later, a centre of faith in the Seven and home to the Maesters.
'All this will be mine,' Baylor thought, and then he remembered his father. Leighton, nicknamed the Elder of Staromest, emerged from the highest floor of the High Tower for the first time in ten years. The Ironborn had defeated the Redwine fleet, and taken the Shield Islands. A great threat to the trade flowing through Redwyne Bay. And a risk of invasion.
- You, Baelor, get to work building the fleet,' Lord Leighton said, sitting comfortably on the throne of Staromest. It was from this throne that the Hightowers had once ruled the vast lands of the Expanse as kings, not lords,' he said.
Three dozen war galleys, led by the huge, four-decked ship Staromest's Honour. It was a considerable force, but it could not stand against hundreds of ironborn ships - a four-decked ship could not be taken by a battering ram, but the ironmen were famous for their ability to quickly take ships by boarding.
- Garth,' his father's wise and experienced eyes turned to his middle son, Garth, nicknamed Grey Steel. Baelor himself was called Bright Smile, though some mockingly called him Windblower, as Oberyn Martell had aptly nicknamed him after one bad fiasco. The heir to Staromest doesn't even want to think about it.
- Your job is to train the recruits. I have already announced the recruitment of the Guard, and soon the first batch of men will be at your disposal. Take a couple of knights to help you,' Glas Staromesta continued.
- Yes, Father,' he nodded obediently and looked at his brother. The relationship between the two brothers had always been...nothing. No love, no hate. Simple indifference - each living his own life and serving his father.
- Gunthor, the harbour is yours. Fortify the harbour, check every ship that enters the harbour. The Ironborn are clever with their tricks. You heard how Bright Isle fell, didn't you?
- Taken by storm under cover of night,' shrugged Gunthor, the anointed knight. Baylor's third brother,' he shrugged, 'is a common sight among pirates.
- That's right, they mysteriously overpowered the sentries, climbed the walls, and opened the gates. So, reinforce the posts at night so the pirates don't take the garrison by surprise,' the old Hightower said in a creaky voice.
- Humphrey, you go to Lys.
- How many to hire? - he guessed at once. Old Town could use mercenaries.
- A couple of thousand. We'll probably need men to take back the Shield Islands when the Lannisters and Tyrells deal with the Grim Wolf in the Riverlands.
- Also... visit Lynessa. Tell her it's time to repay her family's debt. Tell her to persuade her lord to give us a decent fleet. If she refuses, tell her I'll be very disappointed. She'll understand.
-You'll reach the town of Kew, and from there you'll sail to Lys,' his father added.
Humphrey nodded, and that was the end of their family council. Leighton Hightower, along with his first daughter, Malora, had once again locked themselves in the High Tower. The Lord of Staromesta hoped to get answers from the Mad Maiden, but Baylor doubted the answers would be adequate and understandable.
And he, Baylor Bright Smile had work waiting for him. Shipbuilders must be strained, labourers must be hired, materials must be bought, and more.
High in the sky, an incomprehensible bouquet of brightly coloured flowers suddenly flew by. Baylor squeezed his eyes shut and looked again, finding nothing.
'It was just a dream. I guess I shouldn't take wine in the morning.'