iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 414 Green's List 2
Asha stood quietly on the balcony, her posture upright, looking down. There was a lot of noise, but three-quarters of the rows of benches were empty. Only members of her mother's family, Harlo, were present.

Asha pursed her lips. Only a few of the iron chiefs invited by her uncle came. She did not doubt the loyalty of those chiefs who refused the invitation to the Greyjoy family... She, the original heir, lost the throne of Seastone, and now Euron has become the king of the Iron Islands. Faced with such a situation, they will naturally fall into hesitation and confusion.

Below the two giant crossed silver sickles, there is a high-backed chair, which is the exclusive seat for the leader of the Ten Tower City.

My uncle left long ago because he never liked noisy atmosphere.

Asha walked in the familiar corridor, each step carrying memories of the past. At this moment, her mood became much more relaxed. For her, compared with Pike City, Ten Tower City was more like her real home.

When she first saw the Ten Towers City, her uncle told her affectionately that it was built by his grandfather's grandfather. She was young and ignorant at the time, and thought that it was not a city at all, but ten castles tightly squeezed together.

She clearly remembered running up and down here breathlessly, chasing happily along the city wall walkway and the enclosed covered bridge... remembering fishing leisurely by the long stone pier... remembering immersing herself in her uncle's rich collection of books day and night, unable to extricate herself.

The library tower was the thickest of the ten towers, with a unique octagonal shape, built from large cut stones. Asha quickly climbed the stairs that were cleverly built into the thick walls and soon arrived at her uncle's study.

At this moment, my uncle was leaning over the table by the window, surrounded by parchment scrolls and several heavy books with leather covers and copper and iron clasps. Beeswax candles as thick and long as a person's arm were inserted in exquisite iron candlesticks, burning quietly on both sides of the seat, emitting a soft light.

His hair and beard are both brown, and he always likes to keep his beard short and neat. Unconsciously, the years have passed quietly... Uncle's beard has gradually turned gray.

Asha closed the door and said, "Uncle, what book is so important that you have to abandon the guests."

My uncle is neither fat nor thin, neither tall nor short, neither handsome nor ugly. He is an ordinary person, with no special features except his preference for books.

However, for most Iron Islanders, reading is a quirk, not something that ironborn people do.

Rodrik Harold lifted his eyes from the pages. "Maester Marwyn's Lost Book. He claims to have found three pages of Portents and Omens, a collection of visions written by the virgin daughter of Aenar Targaryen before the Doom came to Valyria. Well, Asha, does Lanny know you're here?"

Lani is the nickname that her uncle calls Asha's mother, and he is the only one who calls her that.

"I haven't seen her yet." Asha moved a stack of books off the chair with quick movements and then sat down on it steadily.

Rodrik glanced out the window. The moonlight was like water, quietly shining on the rippling sea.

"It's getting dark, so soon? I hadn't noticed. Well, Asha, you're late. We've been waiting for you for many days."

Asha leaned lazily against the back of her chair and said, "The Crow's Eye is very cunning. He seems to have anticipated my return and left many eyes behind. I need to avoid them."

Rodrik looked at his niece carefully and said with a slightly serious expression: "Well, there are also Lannister eyes. The merchants in Lannisport are trying to find out your whereabouts."

Asha shrugged nonchalantly. "Perhaps the lion is afraid that the Crow's Eye will burn their port and ships again."

During the Greyjoy Rebellion, under Euron's cunning strategy, the Iron Fleet successfully attacked Lannisport. The raging fire burned many ships in the harbor and dealt a heavy blow to the Lannister fleet.

Asha stretched her long legs under the table, flipping through a book at hand, and said, "I'm so hungry, oh, and thirsty too. I want a refreshing malt bar, uncle."

Rodrick pursed his lips and said seriously: "You know I don't allow eating and drinking in the study. This is bad for the books..."

“…It’s harmful.” Asha laughed.

Rodrik frowned, his voice was somewhat helpless: "You just like to provoke me."

Asha laughed again: "Oh, my uncle, don't be so wronged. You should have known that I treat everyone like this. Okay, let's not talk about me. How have you been recently?"

"Not bad. My eyesight is getting worse. I've sent to Mill to get a pair of glasses to help me read."

After that, Rodrik stared at his niece for a while, then said, "What do you want to do, eh, Asha?"

Asha slammed the book shut and asked, "Was my father murdered?"

After a pause, Rodrik slowly said, "Your mother believes it was murder."

"how about you?"

Rodrik shrugged slightly and said calmly, "The cable bridge broke and Baron fell to his death. When the storm came, the bridge in Pike City was not stable... at least that's what we know."

Asha pulled out the dagger and cleaned the dirt from under her nails. She said, "The Crow's Eye was gone for three years and returned on the day my father died."

Rodrik frowned. "To be precise, it was the next day. When Balon died, the Silence was still at sea, at least that's what they claimed. Even so, I also think Euron came back too... just in time, so to speak..."

"I wouldn't say that!"

Asha thrust the point of her dagger into the tabletop. "There are only forty longships anchored beneath the city walls. They are not enough to dislodge the Crow's Eye from my father's throne."

After a pause, Rodrik said slowly: "I sent out the invitation in your name, for my love for you and your mother. The Harlow family is already here, plus the Stonetree family and the Womack family, and part of the Miri family..."

"All from Harlo Island." Asha leaned her hands on the table and laughed.

Rodrik sighed and said, "Theon is wearing black. You are indeed the only heir of Balon... You may not like what I say, Asha, but I must be honest. You cannot sit on the Seastone Throne. No woman has ever ruled the Ironborn."

"I have an uncle."

"Your father has brothers. I am not Greyjoy."

Asha pulled out the dagger stuck in the table and said, "For me, Ten Tower City is in the hands of my dear uncle, and I own Harlo Island."

Rodrik sighed again. "My kin are sworn enemies, and I have their men and ships at my disposal in case of war. … If you seek the Seastone Seat by war, your name may be called, I have no doubt, but it will not be loud. And when the Crow's Eye calls, so too may those who drink in my halls. I repeat, do not sail into this storm. Your struggle is hopeless."

Her uncle's advice failed to convince Asha: "How can you know there is no hope if you don't try? After all, I am the first in line and should be Baron's heir."

Rodrik spread his hands and said, "You are still a willful child. Think about your poor mother. You are the only one left in Lanny. If necessary, I will burn the Black Wind and leave you behind." Asha took a step back in a slightly exaggerated manner: "What? You want me to swim to Pike City?"

Rodrik took his hands off the book and leaned back in his chair. "Swimming across the vast, cold ocean for a crown you can't keep. Asha, your father had more courage than reason. The Old Ways once served the Iron Islands because we were one of many small kingdoms. It's a pity that Aegon the Conqueror ended the separatism. Why did Balon turn a blind eye? The Old Ways died with Harren the Black and his sons."

"I understand."

Asha loved her father, but she would not deceive herself. Balon was brave, but in some ways he was blind and reckless. He was not a good leader.

After a pause, she continued, "You mean, we have to be slaves of the Iron Throne for the rest of our lives?"

Rodrik stared at her for a while, then spoke slowly, "The continent of Westeros has fallen into war for the Iron Throne. The Crow's Eye told the Ironborn that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for expansion, and he will lead them to obtain a large tract of green land."

Asha sat back in her chair and grinned. "Uncle Euron's suggestion sounds good. I may consider it when I take my father's Seastone Throne."

Looking at her uncle who sighed again, she said seriously: "If there is a reef on the starboard side and a storm on the port side, a wise captain will turn to the third way."

Rodrik's eyes narrowed slightly: "Tell me, where is the third way?"

Asha straightened her full chest, her voice full of unwavering determination: "I will become the first queen in the history of the Iron Islands."

"The history of the past is written in ink, and the history of the present is written in blood." Rodrik continued to persuade: "We had one king, then five. Now there are only crows, clamoring for the body called Westeros. Asha, stay with your mother. I am afraid she will not have much time."

Asha shifted in her chair. "My mother raised me and taught me to be brave. If I give up my father's crown, I will spend my life wondering what would have happened if I hadn't given it up, and complaining that the Seastone Seat should have belonged to me..."

After a pause, she continued, "Uncle, do you know where Crow's Eye took the Ironborn?"

Rodrik shook his head: "I don't think anyone knows Crow's Eye's true intention. He once sent me to Pyke Island to surrender and pledge allegiance..."

Asha shrugged. "The Crow's Eye knows very well the importance of Harlow Island in the Iron Islands. Isn't he jumping up and down in anger?"

"He seemed to be in a hurry and ignored me. If the Crow's Eye is unwilling to let you go, I will pledge my loyalty to him on the condition that I will not harm you."

Asha stood up and said, "I can protect myself. Uncle, I am the daughter of King Balon, Asha of House Greyjoy. I am a sea monster and I claim the throne of Seastone."

"You are just another crow, screaming for carrion." Rodrik closed his eyes tiredly, paused, then opened his eyes and said, "Your brother may be able to help you become queen."

Asha spread her hands. "Ha, my brother, the Prince of Winterfell is now serving as the great Night's Watchman at the Wall."

"You need a loyal 'Running Wolf' rather than another sea monster. Captain Asha, perhaps Theon Greyjoy is your third choice." Rodrik waved his hand and continued: "You go, I want to continue reading Maester Marwyn's works."

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Woo———Woo——Woo———

In the dim light of morning, Kleber's low and long military bugle sounded.

On the high observation platform, Green Crab sat in the main seat. Around him were the nobles who were stationed or lived in Saltpan Town, including a small number of riverland lords and knights.

There were much lower viewing platforms on both sides. The main audience on the right were noble ladies and aristocratic ladies, while on the left were merchants and their families.

Green looked at the formation of more than 3,000 Kleber longbow soldiers, where the soldiers would demonstrate the famous volley shooting of the Kleber family archers of the Seven Kingdoms.

When Green arrived at Saltpan Town, he felt their uneasiness about the war. In order to appease their hearts, the benevolent lord specially arranged today's scene.

Green originally wanted to arrange a real salvo of arrows, but unfortunately... the venue limited his plan.

Green turned his gaze to the other side, where two hundred valley knights wearing shining armor (Chapter 398) were ready, and the first show was their "performance".

At this time, the MC sang: "Glory to Knight Kleber!"

As he finished speaking, the long military bugle call sounded again.

The knights raised their lances one after another, the tips of their lances flashing brightly in the sun, and then... they drove the tall horses under their crotch and began to move forward slowly.

The sound of horse hooves gradually changed from light to heavy and powerful, as if the earth was shaking.

Amid the exclamations of the spectators, the formation of two hundred knights gradually accelerated, like a surging torrent of steel.

The silver armor sparkled in the sunlight, the marigold flags fluttered in the wind, and they seemed to be galloping on a real battlefield.

When they approached the viewing platform, the knights suddenly changed their formation, split into several small teams, and began to perform complex and precise interweaving and detours, with their spears intersecting and sparks flying.

The sound of horse hooves, the clash of armor and the shouts of knights intertwined to form a passionate war music.

The spectators cheered even louder, and finally... the knights gathered again and formed a tight circle.

They raised their spears high and shouted in unison: "Long live Lord Green! Long live Crab!"

The demonstration ended, and the knights slowly rode away amid the cheers of the spectators.

Not long after the valley knights left, the short and fat master of ceremonies appeared in front of the viewing platform: "Glory to the Kleber Longbowmen!"

Woo—Woo—With the low sound of a military bugle, three thousand Kleber longbow soldiers neatly and skillfully drew arrows from the quivers on their backs and put them on the bowstrings.

(End of this chapter)