Asha was unwilling to accept it.
She bit her lip, confusion and frustration flickering across her face.
But Galon offered no explanation. He simply lowered his head and continued studying the map, not sparing her another glance.
For soone as proud and rebellious as Asha, being ignored like this stirred a storm of emotions—anger, confusion, and a strange, unnaable curiosity.
Several tis, she nearly spoke.
Each ti, reason held her back.
'I still need him to help reclaim the Iron Islands. I can endure this for now.'
'When I take the Seastone Chair...' A faint cold smile touched her lips. 'I'll make you beg .'
She stared at him one last ti, as if trying to carve his calm expression into her mory.
Then she turned and left without another word.
Her tall figure disappeared into the firelit shadows, her back straight, yet carrying a trace of loneliness and stubborn pride.
After she left, Galon finally looked up toward the tent entrance.
He shook his head slightly.
'Asha... you still don't understand your situation.'
'Why do you think I convinced Winterfell to support you? Because I intend to take the Iron Islands for myself.'
'And yet you try to use what already belongs to to recruit ...'
A faint, amused smile appeared on his lips.
From the mont he decided to help Asha, he had already regarded the Iron Islands as his own.
As for Asha...
In his eyes, she would one day be no more than a steward—like the castellan of Deepwood Motte—managing the islands on his behalf.
'But I should start thinking about how to take hold of her properly.'
'How to break through her defenses while she's isolated... until both her heart and loyalty bear my mark.'
He leaned back slightly, thinking.
'If I want to control her, I need to start with her nature.'
'Asha was raised as a female heir in the Iron Islands. She's always craved recognition.'
'The failure at Sea Dragon Point and Balon's death must have shaken her deeply.'
'I need to use her hatred for Euron... give her validation, rebuild her confidence, and slowly earn her trust.'
'And once she trusts ...'
His eyes flickered.
'Tomorrow, I'll start by asking her about naval warfare.'
With that, he began outlining the next steps in his mind.
anwhile, Asha returned to her own tent.
As soon as she entered, several of her followers gathered around her. Their faces were filled with anxiety.
"Asha!"
Tristifer Botley stepped forward first. As the adopted son of her mother and soone who had admired her since childhood, his concern was obvious.
"What did that Bearslayer say?"
Asha shook her head. "He neither agreed nor refused."
Tristifer frowned.
"What is Glover planning?"
Another man, Dane, lowered his voice. "I don't trust that Northman. He's using us."
"Why don't we leave tonight?"
"Leave? And go where?"
"Back to the Iron Islands!"
"You want Asha to walk into her own death?"
"Then sail to Lys, or Pentos. Anywhere is better than being dragged along by him!"
Voices rose, argunts breaking out across the tent.
No one could agree.
Asha sat in silence, her fingers unconsciously brushing her sleeve.
Escape?
The thought crossed her mind for a brief mont.
With her knowledge of the sea, she could leave whenever she wanted. Especially since Galon had made no effort to restrict her freedom.
But she dismissed the idea almost imdiately.
The only thing keeping her going now was reclaiming her father's kingdom.
Tristifer turned back to her.
"Asha. What do you want to do?"
"We'll follow your lead."
Asha looked at each of them in turn. These were her people—family, companions, loyal followers.
"Euron murdered my father and stole the Seastone Chair. I will not run. Even if I die, I will die in the Iron Islands."
"If any of you are afraid, you may leave. I won't stop you."
Her voice was firm and resolute.
Tristifer's expression hardened. "Asha, do you doubt my loyalty?"
"There has never been an oathbreaker in Lordsport. I will follow House Greyjoy to the end."
The others echoed him.
Asha smiled faintly.
"I know your loyalty. That's why I chose you." She paused, then added, "But listen carefully. Don't cause trouble."
"You saw what happened today. If you anger Galon, even I won't be able to protect you."
They exchanged glances.
One of them muttered, "He's too harsh. Can he really defeat Euron?"
Asha's eyes sharpened.
"If he defeated Euron once, he can do it again. All we need to do is follow him back to the Iron Islands..."
"Then kill Euron and take back what's ours."
"Understood?"
"Understood!"
They nodded one after another.
Asha waved them away.
Once alone, she sat in silence, listening to the wind howling outside. Her thoughts refused to settle.
'Galon Glover...'
'What are you really planning?'
The more she thought about him, the more she felt there was sothing deeper beneath his actions.
Sothing that involved her... and the Iron Islands.
But no matter how much she tried, she couldn't see through him.
To her, he was like a dangerous ga she had played as a child—sothing thrilling, unpredictable, and impossible to resist.
Even if it ant losing sothing of herself.
That night, even in her dreams, the man beside her was no longer anyone else. It was Galon.
When she woke the next morning, a strange emptiness lingered in her chest.
From that day on, Asha began watching him closely. Studying his every move, trying to understand him.
Galon noticed almost imdiately.
But he said nothing. Instead, he pretended not to notice, allowing her to observe him freely.
As the days passed, the army began to change.
The Skagosi were still wild, but their formations grew tighter.
They no longer wandered off at will. They began watching the Northerners... imitating their discipline.
And the Northerners, in turn, held back their contempt.
At the very least, open conflict disappeared.
With the army stabilizing, Galon shifted more of his attention to Asha.
Under the pretense of learning naval warfare, he began drawing her closer—step by step. Over several days, their relationship subtly deepened.
And just as Galon's army neared the Stony Shore—
Far away in Winterfell, Bran finally made his decision to go north.
__________
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