The cold wind, carrying moisture, blew through the air as Jon tightly gripped Ygritte's hand, anxiously waiting for Wright and Renly to respond.
He had arrived at the magic school with Robb at the age of ten, and the most important stages of his growth were spent following Renly and Wright. He trusted that his teachers would make deciTheons that would benefit him.
Renly did not answer, gesturing to Wright that his apprentice would handle the situation.
Wright thought for a moment before turning to Ygritte and asking, "If given the chance, would you wish to become human again?"
"I would. Becoming human means I could have children with Jon," Ygritte's thoughts were simple.
Wright nodded. "Then I agree for you to stay, but you must cooperate with Tyene's experiment. Furthermore, until we deal with the Others beyond the Wall, you cannot live on the continent of Westeros. I will have you settled in Tyrosh."
The Three-Eyed Raven had sent Leaf to share a prophecy, warning that Ygritte was important, and Jon had guaranteed her safety with his life. Killing her would be simple, but finding a willing vampire to cooperate with the research wasn't easy. Tyene would likely be pleased with this arrangement.
"Does that mean I won't see Jon again?"
"Jon is the commander of the City Guard. He has a leave every year, and with ships traveling faster, he'll be able to visit you when he has time. Or you could pray we resolve the issue beyond the Wall soon."
"I will pray to the Old Gods."
Renly asked, "But what if she secretly develops offspring or drinks human blood?"
Wright looked into Ygritte's eyes. "Jon has guaranteed you. He should have explained what that means. If you make a mistake, he will be implicated as well. If you cooperate with Tyene, you'll receive a monthly stipend. If you need blood, you can have someone buy animals for you or purchase blood from the poor."
In Tyrosh, whether one was poor or not depended on how they spent their money. Some people would spend their entire paycheck within days, only to rely on friends to survive. Those who were strong could sell blood for some extra coin and live comfortably for a while.
"We will keep our promise! Thank you, Master Wright," Jon quickly pulled Ygritte into a bow of thanks.
Renly also nodded in agreement. When Ygritte mentioned the Old Gods, it confirmed that she was of a special bloodline, untouched by the influence of dark gods—perhaps they had simply overlooked her. Even if she were a spy, Wright had ways to control her in Tyrosh.
"Ygritte, for now, stay on the Isle of Faces. Once the matters in King's Landing are resolved, you will return to Tyrosh aboard the Wave-Rider Knight. I'll have Jon notify you," Wright said, rising to leave.
Renly was about to mount a dragon's back. "Jon, are you returning with us, or staying here?"
"Go ahead, teachers. I'll return to King's Landing myself. I'll be there by tomorrow morning," Jon said, standing still.
"Heh, take care of yourself," Wright said, not intending to leave just yet, wanting to stay a bit longer.
As they watched the two dragons take to the sky, Jon felt great joy. He sat on a large rock, pulling Ygritte with him, and began talking about the noble families in Tyrosh and what to be cautious about. As he spoke, Ygritte began removing his clothes, and Jon placed his wrist against her cold, red lips. Tonight, he intended to satisfy his woman.
Throughout the conversation, they never mentioned Melisandre. She was unpredictable and had an unusual mindset, not to be understood with normal reasoning. As long as she didn't interfere with them, Jon chose to ignore her and avoid worrying.
---
The third day after Wright returned to King's Landing, as the first light of dawn broke, all the gold cloaks flooded out of the military camp and dispersed to the noble residences, notifying them that the king would be crowned that day. The ceremony would take place at Dragonstone Hill, the square next to the magic school.
Theon hesitated for a long time, staring at the armor and noble robes laid out on the bed. In the past, he had envied the nobles who wore such splendid robes, but now that he had them, he found the armor that had accompanied him through life and death to be his true favorite.
After resolving the bandit disputes in Ny Sar and by chance arriving at Myr to help Tyrion with some delicate matters, Wright's reward had been granted. He was given lands in the outskirts of Myr, along with a castle built by a local noble. He could recruit servants and soldiers and move in at any time.
Originally, Tyrion had wanted Theon to stay, but halfway there, in high spirits, his sister Asha, having received some news, brought a large group of people to drag Theon back.
As both a sister and a mother figure, Theon had no inclination to resist Asha. Now, he resided in House Manderly mansion.
Having put on his armor and left his bedroom, Theon happened to run into Wendel Manderly. Theon was working for Andrew Estermont in the intelligence department, while Wendel served in the army of Ashara. The two were rising stars of Tyrosh. Though Wendel was a good few years older than Theon, they still got along well and had a good relationship.
"Theon, did you sleep well last night?" Originally a plump man, Wendel had become a tall and sturdy young man after the brutal treatment in Ashara, his heavy armor now providing a sense of security.
Theon, having gained some life experience, no longer wore the carefree expresTheon of his youth: "Your bed is very comfortable."
After descending the stairs to the dining room for breakfast, House Manderly had just woken up, and the two could hear footsteps from upstairs.
"Have you thought about what I mentioned yesterday?" Wendel said, cutting a large piece of smoked meat and placing it on his plate.
"You know, I don't have elders at home, so my sister makes the deciTheons for me," Theon replied.
"My niece is quite the beauty! She was once betrothed to Rhaegar Frey, but that fool betrayed humanity and became a vampire. Now he's dead, turned into a potion and likely hanging on someone's belt. She's only a year younger than you, Theon. If you agree, I'll personally talk to your sister," Wendel said slowly.
Wendel's brother, Wylis, was the heir to White Harbor. Currently, he had two daughters but no sons. The powerful House Frey had fallen, and their marriage alliance had ended with the death of the intended groom. Finding a new one was important.
The current Lord of White Harbor knew very well the benefits of aligning with Wright. Soon, large numbers of Northerners would migrate to Tyrosh, making the noble families from the Stepstones the first choice for marriage alliances. Most of the first group of nobles had already married, and the unmarried ones, like Andrew Estermont, who controlled the intelligence department, were too difficult for the Manderlys to handle. They then turned to the option of Theon.
The Manderlys had gathered all the information they could about Theon. The siblings had first completed a secret misTheon for the Baratheon, then wiped out the remnants of the Golden Company, after which they were pardoned by the king. His sister, Asha, was granted the title of Lady of Kaos, while Theon seemed to have received nothing before mysteriously disappearing for a period, only to later reappear in Myr and perform a great deed. The Manderly family was certain that Theon had been quietly handling important matters in the background.
Ultimately, it was Asha's marriage announcement that decided the Manderly family should pursue Theon as a son-in-law.
"My brother has two daughters. If you don't like Wynafryd, there's also her younger sister Wylla, who is already of age," Wendel added, recommending his niece again.
"Wendel, I really appreciate the Manderlys considering me, but I've never even met your niece. Isn't it a bit sudden to arrange an engagement like this?" Theon, thin as a reed, but strong and lean, not one to gain weight easily, was sure that Wendel's niece was likely just as stout, like the rest of the Manderlys. He kept making excuses to avoid agreeing.
One was eager, the other indifferent, and their conversation went nowhere.
"Let's get going. Today's the coronation ceremony. Your family is with the Lord Stark group, and we are with Tyrosh' side," Wendel said. After breakfast, Theon strapped his sword, Nightfall, to his belt, preparing to drag Wendel along, who was still munching on meat.
Wendel shoved another slice of meat into his mouth, and the two hurried out.
As they reached the hall, the Manderly family was just descending the stairs.
"Lord Manderly, Ser Wylis, Lady Leona, good morning!" As Wendel's friend and a guest in their home, Theon greeted them politely.
"Haha, Theon, have you agreed to become our son-in-law?" Lord Manderly laughed heartily, slapping Theon on the shoulder with his large, heavy hand.
"I still need to get my sister's approval first," Theon said, smiling awkwardly.
"Very well then, Wendel, go speak to Asha today," Lord Manderly said before heading to the dining room with his family.
Theon, who had just managed to escape Lord Manderly's enthusiastic clutches the night before, was about to leave when a young girl descended the stairs.
Her hair was braided and hung down to her chest, a style for unmarried girls. She wore a pristine white gown adorned with intricate golden jewelry, and her expresTheon was calm, exuding a noble and graceful air. The most striking feature, however, was her slender figure.
"Good morning, Ser Theon, Uncle Wendel," the girl greeted them politely.
"Mm," Wendel responded briefly.
"Hello!" Theon's eyes didn't leave her face.
She entered the dining room, and Theon grabbed Wendel's arm. "Is she your relative?"
Wendel looked puzzled. "She's my niece Wynafryd. You met her at the banquet last night, didn't you?"
Last night, Theon had been drunk and couldn't remember anyone he had met.
"Wendel, I'm sold on this relative of yours! If my sister doesn't agree, I'll jump into the Blackwater River!" Theon said.
Today, everyone was heading towards Dragonpit Hill for the coronation ceremony. There were so many people that the gold-robed guards had to enforce the rule that no one could ride horses or take carriages—everyone had to walk.
The streets had been cleaned, and servants held flags with family crests, while nobles wore luxurious clothes and expensive jewelry, constantly displaying their family wealth and status.
The attendants of Tyrosh all stayed on the ships. Arriving at the harbor with Wendel, Theon had not yet recruited any subordinates, so Wendel had his own attendants help raise Theon's family banner.
House Manderly's banner featured a merman holding a trident, while Theon's banner displayed a merman holding the Nightfall sword. The two similar flags finally met.
However, as is often the case, troublemakers always show up when things seem pleasant. Another group of nobles setting sail from the same harbor, besides Tyrosh, were the Iron Islanders.
Called "The Reader" by some, Lord Rodrik Harlaw, the head of House Harlaw, led his people to block Theon's path.
"Theon, you killed my nephew Harras and took the Nightfall! Today, you won't be able to walk up to Dragonpit Hill unless you return the sword!" Rodrik, who preferred reading to fighting, stood firm as the head of the house. Despite his personal preferences, he felt the need to set an example for his family.
"You bastard Theon, today is your last day!" shouted Hotho "Humpback" Harlaw, wielding a battle axe. Other members of House Harlaw also joined in, shouting loudly. With more than thirty of them, their momentum was not something Theon alone could match.
Furious, Theon's face turned bright red, and he was about to draw Nightfall when Wendel, standing next to him, stopped him.
"Lord Harlaw, today is the king's coronation, don't you think you're going too far?" Wendel said, pointing at the sky.
Everyone looked up, and they saw six dragons soaring through the skies above King's Landing. Causing a disturbance today was not only disrespecting House Baratheon but also showing no respect for Theon's powerful patron, Lord Wright.
"Theon, the Nightfall belongs to our family. You took it, so we'll take it back. You'd better be ready to clean your neck," Hotho "Humpback" shouted, running the edge of his battle axe along his own neck.
"Bastard! You'd better not sail back to Tyrosh! If you swim back, I'll let you go!" said another Harlaw family member, Ser Boremund, nicknamed The Blue.
Wendel kept holding onto Theon, worried he might do something rash in his anger.
Hearing the commotion, nearby nobles began to gather.
"Lord Harlaw, the holder of the Nightfall isn't just anyone. The records from Red Keep and the Citadel confirm it. House Greyjoy was the first to hold it!" A familiar voice spoke up. It was Theon's sister, Asha.
Theon felt much more at ease hearing her voice.
Asha, wearing armor and carrying a battle axe on her shoulder, pushed through the crowd to stand beside Theon. Her expression was one of readiness to strike anyone who dared move against them. Behind her were several attendants holding the Merman banner with drawn swords.
Also with her was a handsome young man dressed in noble robes with silver and gold hair. He stood by Asha's side, and behind him was a detachment of several hundred Tyroshi naval soldiers in full armor, blocking the entire street.
"Silver Seahorse, Lord Aurane Velaryon of Seagull Island, what are you doing in our Iron Island business? You Stepstones folks don't care about the law, using your numbers to bully others?" Lord Rodrik, the scholar, spoke with more restraint than his rough relatives.
Aurane commanded the largest fleet in the Tyroshi northern regions, even more powerful than the Ironborn's. Offending him wouldn't lead to open war, but a blocked port could mean the Ironborn would be stranded. Tyroshi had wealth, while the Ironborn would starve. More crucially, Aurane was a close ally of Wright, and if there was trouble, Wright would likely show up.
"The law prohibits personal duels within the city, but Theon is Asha's brother, and Asha is my fiancée. Theon is being threatened in public, and his life is in danger. As his brother-in-law, I can't just stand by and do nothing!" Aurane said, placing his arm around Asha's shoulders.
Asha, known for her fiery temper and prowess with a blade, enjoyed both men and women. She wasn't considered conventionally beautiful but was striking in her own way. She wasn't fond of makeup, often dressing in either armor or military attire, making her and Aurane look more like comrades or battle partners than a married couple.