The waves roared.
The air in Pyke's great hall was heavy.
More people sat at the long table than at last night's grand feast, but each face was solemn, silently gloomy, fully armored, with weapons at their side.
Some glanced around, seeing Pyke soldiers wearing the Kraken Sigil guarding inside and outside the hall.
Some stared blankly at the Kraken-shaped Seastone Chair at the far end. There was no King on the Throne, only a light, floating Driftwood Crown.
The Driftwood Crown.
They found it in King Balon's chambers, but its owner was gone.
The violently swaying drawbridge seemed to be the culprit.
Was it?
The rough seas near Pyke were unsuitable for Longships, and the storm and waves in the dark night grew fiercer. Pyke still sent people to the nearest Port to dispatch ships to search.
The result was regrettable, and not unexpected.
The dozens of drowned sailors and two Longships were not enough for the Drowned God in the sea to return King Balon.
The chief of the Iron Islands' reavers was gone.
His body might have been swallowed by the deep sea, gnawed by fish and shrimp.
But, he still had a Soul.
What Is Dead May Never Die.
The drowned Ironborn were the Fortunate. Because of their bravery and piety, the Drowned God chose them and invited them to feast in the Drowned God's Flowing Palace in the sea.
Mermaids would fulfill their every wish.
The Drowned God chose him.
The Drowned God chose King Balon and summoned the King to the Flowing Palace.
Was it?
Many looked at the three people to the left and right of the Seastone Chair.
King Balon's second brother, the Lord Commander of the Iron Fleet, Victarion Greyjoy. He sat at the head of the right side, his face calm.
King Balon's youngest brother, the chief of the Drowned Men, Euron Greyjoy. He sat beside his brother, muttering to himself, undoubtedly praying to the Drowned God.
Sitting alone on the left was King Balon's only daughter, the Captain of the Black Wind, Asha Greyjoy.
She wore tall leather boots soaked in salt, wool breeches, a short jacket, and a sleeveless vest. If you didn't look at her face and her swelling chest, she would look exactly like an Ironborn male Warrior.
But after all, she was a woman. How could a woman rule the Iron Islands and command countless Longships?
Perhaps it was because of this.
Many cast suspicious glances at Asha, while others looked at the other two.
King Balon fell into the sea and died on the night of the reaving feast, the night he put on the Crown. This was too coincidental, so coincidental it was almost certainly a conspiracy.
Who killed the King? Who was the kinslayer?
And.
Who would be the new King?
Victarion, the Iron Captain who possessed the Iron Fleet, or Asha, who was more qualified by law?
Others thought of the two Krakens who were not present.
Euron the Crow's Eye.
Theon, who was in the Green Lands and had been forgotten by the Iron Islands for nearly ten years.
These two Krakens were more qualified than the three Krakens present, but one had been reaving abroad for years, and the other was under the control of the Iron Throne. Perhaps that was why.
Who killed King Balon?
An atmosphere of suspicion, calculation, estrangement, and panic was gradually brewing.
Finally.
Euron Wet Hair stood up from his seat.
All eyes focused on Wet Hair, and the great hall became even quieter. Only the roar of the waves continued, unstoppable by anyone.
Euron Wet Hair spread his bony hands.
"We come from the sea, and to the sea we shall return," he deliberately lowered his voice.
People had to concentrate and listen carefully.
"The wrathful Storm God swept Balon from the Castle, dashed him to death, and now he is feasting in the Drowned God's Flowing Palace beneath the waves."
He looked up.
"Balon is dead! The Iron King is dead!"
Everyone bowed their heads in silence.
"What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" Euron reminded them.
"King Balon, my eldest brother, gave his life to restore the Old Way. Everything he had was paid for with iron."
"He was Balon the Brave, Balon the Blessed, Balon who wore the Crown twice! It was he who won us back our freedom and the favor of the Drowned God! But Balon is gone..."
"We need a new Iron King, to sit on the Seastone Chair and continue Balon's work!"
"Wet Hair" Euron's voice was resonant.
"The new King will rise!"
"The new King will rise!" Asha and Victarion immediately responded.
The crowd followed suit, "The new King will rise!"
"He will rise, he will," Euron's voice was like the rolling waves.
"But who is he? Who can take up Balon's burden? Who can rule these sacred islands? Is he among us?"
The Priest spread his hands wide. "Who will be our King?"
The long table was crowded, and no one spoke.
Asha showed no emotion on her face, tossing a dagger between her hands to hide her inner anxiety.
Only Captains and Lords were entitled to speak in the great hall. Her followers spoke in low voices, even the words of the bravest "Maiden" Corl were as small as dust.
Asha needed someone with more weight.
However, her father's death had been completely unexpected.
Time was so tight that Asha didn't have time to prepare much, only managing to secure the support of her uncle and Uncle Victarion.
The question was, who would break the silence?
Asha cast a hopeful glance towards her uncle at the long table below, the Lord of Harlaw, head of the Harlaw Family, "Rodrik the Reader".
Rodrik Harlaw sighed slightly, shaking his head, then nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Knight" Harras Harlaw stood up.
"Are we to hand over the Iron Islands to some green boy in King's Landing, and kneel to the Green Lands?"
"Knight" Harras Harlaw drew the sword from his waist, the Valyrian Steel Sword "Nightfall". He thrust the sharp black sword downwards, instantly piercing the thick long table.
"Never!"
"From the day Theon Greyjoy left the Iron Islands, he was no longer a proud Kraken. From the moment he knelt and served Joffrey, he was no longer a free Ironborn."
"There is only one true heir to King Balon! A true Warrior, an excellent Captain, a believer in the Drowned God, one of our own!"
"Knight" Harras Harlaw looked up at Asha on the high platform.
"I agree!"
"That's right, we can't let Theon be the new King."
"King Balon always favored his daughter, clearly intending to groom his own heir."
"Queen Asha!"
"Asha is the true blood and successor of King Balon! The Old Way will be restored in her hands!"
Many Captains from the Harlaw Family, Womark Family, Stonetree Family, Kenning Family, and Myre Family spoke in agreement.
Others did not rush to express their opinions, but instead stared intently at the Iron Captain to the right of the Seastone Chair.
Victarion simply looked at Asha in silence.
So Captains and Lords like "Red Ralf" Ralf Stonehouse, Sawane Botley, "the Lame" Ralf, and Ralf Kenning also began to shout "Queen Asha".
Half the people were shouting, and the other half were joining in. The voices in the great hall gradually unified, and the gloomy atmosphere began to dissipate.
Asha suppressed the smile on her lips.
Bang!
"Good niece, am I late?" A gentle and calm voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Everyone looked towards the open doorway of the great hall.
It was him!
Silence fell again.
"Crow's Eye" Euron scanned the room, smiling. "It seems I'm not too late."
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