Asha's silent approval was like removing an invisible shackle from Galon's wrists.
From that mont onward, he acted without restraint.
Any servant or surrendered Ironborn who had once been close to Euron, or who showed even the slightest hesitation during interrogation, quietly disappeared.
For two straight days, agonized screams echoed across the skies above Pyke without pause.
Thanks to the Skagosi's brutal interrogation thods, the captured servants quickly spilled everything they knew about Euron.
Including the dragon horn.
The mont Galon learned that the horn had been hidden away by Wendamyr, he imdiately headed to the council hall to find Asha.
Inside the hall, Asha sat atop the Seastone Chair while Wendamyr stood below her side.
Galon stopped before them.
"Lady Asha, according to your agreent with the North, I hope you will hand over Euron's magical artifact to ."
There was faint disappointnt in his eyes as he looked at her.
Previously, after learning that Asha had concealed the existence of the dragon horn, Galon had not exposed her lie.
Instead, he had hoped that by gradually taking control of both her body and mind, she would willingly reveal the horn herself.
But even after Pyke had fallen, Asha still had not spoken of it.
Clearly, Galon had not completely conquered her.
Part of her still wavered.
Yet Galon's words startled Asha.
Annoyance imdiately flashed across her face.
'Damn it... how did I forget about that?'
She turned toward Wendamyr. "Maester, where is the dragon horn hidden now?"
Wendamyr answered at once.
"In the Sea Tower. Euron kept it inside a hidden compartnt in the attic chamber."
Galon's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Then please take there."
Asha stood up.
"I'll go with you."
Galon looked slightly surprised, but nodded in agreent.
The two walked side by side out of the hall and followed the rocky passageways toward the Sea Tower.
The entire way, Asha remained strangely quiet and distracted.
anwhile, Galon's thoughts were completely occupied by the dragon horn, and he failed to notice anything unusual about her.
About twenty minutes later, they crossed the swaying rope bridge and entered the Sea Tower.
"This way."
Asha pointed toward a wooden staircase before leading him upward into the attic chamber where Balon had once lived.
No one knew the room's layout better than she did.
She walked directly toward a wardrobe standing against the eastern wall.
Instead of opening it, she braced herself against one side and pushed hard.
With a grinding sound, a hidden compartnt tall enough for a person slowly revealed itself.
And the very first thing Galon saw was the dragon horn resting inside.
He strode forward imdiately.
His fingers brushed across the twisted black-and-red surface of the horn as fascination filled his crimson eyes.
"So this is the dragon horn..."
He could almost feel the power sleeping within it.
Behind him, Asha struggled internally for a mont before finally firming her resolve.
"That's right. This is the dragon horn Euron brought back from Valyria."
"I don't know how he managed to bring it back, but there's no doubt it contains terrifying magic."
She stared at Galon's back and warned him seriously.
"I don't know whether it can truly control dragons. But I do know one thing... Blowing it costs your life."
"Galon... you must never sound it yourself."
"Oh?"
Galon's expression returned to calmness as he smiled faintly. "And why do you say that?"
Asha sighed and recounted the story of Balon forcing servants to blow the horn.
"According to that kinslayer Euron, only he can use it properly. Anyone else who blows it dies."
Galon traced the Valyrian glyphs carved into the horn and smiled faintly.
'So she still intends to maintain our alliance.'
'If she had continued hiding the danger of the horn from , then I would've needed another thod of cooperation.'
His thoughts moved rapidly as his gaze settled upon the glowing Valyrian symbols.
"I understand."
He answered calmly.
Seeing how indifferent he appeared, Asha thought he doubted her warning and hurriedly tried to persuade him again.
"Galon, don't blow it. You really will die. If you don't believe , you can have soone else test it first."
Galon heard the urgency in her voice and turned toward her with a smile. "Of course I believe you."
"Don't worry. Without absolute certainty, I would never use it."
Only then did Asha visibly relax.
anwhile, Galon turned back toward the horn known as Dragonbinder and silently reflected.
'In the canon, the red priest Moqorro made it clear.'
'The Valyrian glyphs engraved upon the horn describe the conditions required to use it.'
'Dragonbinder. No mortal man shall sound and live. Blood for fire, fire for blood.'
'That ans only the horn's recognized master can safely blow it.'
mories from his previous life surfaced in his mind.
'According to those theories, becoming the horn's master requires a blood-binding ritual.'
'But before that...'
'The previous owner must die first.'
"Euron..."
Galon whispered the na softly enough that only he could hear it.
Then he turned back toward Asha. "Lady Asha, leave the horn here for now. We'll retrieve it when we return later."
Asha blinked in surprise.
She had expected him to take it imdiately. "You... aren't afraid I'll hide it again?"
She tested him deliberately.
"What if, after the captains arrive, I decide not to give it to you?"
Galon answered without hesitation.
"You won't."
"Why?"
"Because you're smart, Asha."
He stepped closer until he stood directly before her, gazing into her eyes with a soft voice.
"You understand very well that to you, the dragon horn is only a bargaining chip."
"Beyond that, it's worthless."
Asha inhaled the masculine scent coming from him at such close range and forced herself to remain calm.
"If it's a bargaining chip, then it has value."
"And if I deliberately raise that value, what will you do?"
Galon rely smiled. "And how high do you intend to raise the price?"
"I want your loyalty."
Once again, Asha extended her invitation.
"Ever since that night at sea, I've thought about this a lot."
"Galon, your ambition has no real foundation. It's like a castle floating in the sky. One strong wind and it collapses."
"But my Iron Islands can beco your foundation."
"Leave the North. Co with ."
"We'll hunt dragons together... and conquer all of Westeros. And when we succeed, I'll share the Iron Throne with you."
Her voice was sincere.
Galon chuckled softly.
"Not bad."
"Your persuasion has improved since last ti."
"Persuasion?"
A flicker of disappointnt crossed Asha's face. "You think I'm lying to you?"
"No."
Galon lifted her chin gently with two fingers, just as he once had in the dungeon at Winterfell.
"I believe you."
"But Asha... why do you always underestimate ?"
"You say I lack strength. But do you actually know what strength I possess?"
"As your ally, let give you one piece of advice: Never allow appearances to blind you."
Asha's eyes burned stubbornly.
"Then tell ."
"What power do you really have?"
Galon only gave her a aningful smile. "You'll find out soon enough."
He stepped back.
"We've wasted enough ti. By now, the n from Lordsport and Iron Holt should be arriving at Pyke."
"We should greet our guests."
"Especially House Wynch... They were the first to swear loyalty to Euron."
Without offering further explanation, Galon restored the hidden compartnt and closed it again.
Asha suddenly felt oddly empty once his presence moved away.
But afraid he might notice, she imdiately forced herself back into anger.
"Walton betrayed my father."
"I'm going to hang him before everyone."
Galon smiled.
"My pleasure."
The two left the Sea Tower together.
When Asha returned to the Bloodkeep, she quickly received word that both Tris Botley and Walton Wynch had arrived.
Under Asha's furious command, Galon ordered Walton executed and had his corpse hung from the seaward wall of Pyke.
Over the next several days, captains from across the Iron Islands gradually arrived at the castle.
Each of them saw the swaying corpse hanging above the cliffs and felt their hearts tighten in fear.
And when the final family from Great Wyk finally reached Pyke, the trial of Euron Greyjoy officially began.
__________
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