"Balon…"
Euron's right eye flickered with thoughts unknown to others. "You have no need to worry that I will replace you after controlling the dragons."
"On the contrary, I will help you fulfill your ambition to conquer Westeros."
Balon laughed inwardly. He knew Euron far too well, especially when Euron deliberately put on a show of goodwill.
He stared coldly at his brother and sneered, "I don't recall you ever being this kind-hearted."
Euron shook his head slightly and said earnestly, "Then you underestimate me, Balon."
He paused, then spoke with fanatic fervor. "Only by gazing upon the gods can one understand how vast the world truly is. Compared to the mission the gods have granted me, what are the Seven Kingdoms?"
Euron spread his arms as if embracing the whole world, his expression deranged like that of a mad zealot.
Watching him now, Asha felt a chill rise in her heart.
She asked instinctively, "A divine mission?"
"Haha—"
At the mention of the mission, Euron burst into manic laughter and revealed part of the prophecy from his dreams.
"Dragons will spew fire upon the weirwood trees, and the supreme god will descend upon the world once more!"
"And my task is to heed the god's will and burn all the weirwood trees with dragonfire!"
Victarion frowned in confusion. "Burn the weirwood trees?"
He had long been used to Euron's madness, yet he could not understand why Euron was so intent on destroying the weirwoods.
Then realization struck him. "Euron, you abandoned the Drowned God. Are you worshiping some other dark god now?"
Euron offered no explanation.
He stopped laughing, his face abruptly returning to calm, and spoke in a coaxing tone.
"Balon, as long as you help me capture the dragons and allow me to complete the god's mission, I will hand the dragons over to you."
"Think about it. House Greyjoy will become the second dragonriding house. The Old Way you dream of can be restored at any time.
Conquering the Seven Kingdoms will be effortless!"
Balon remained unmoved by Euron's temptation.
His brows knit tightly as he stared at Euron in silence for a long while, until a thought formed in his mind.
'Euron… must be mad.'
'The horn is a Valyrian creation, yet he attributes it to the gods and obsesses over this so-called mission…'
Balon sneered inwardly and tested him. "I can help you capture the dragons, but the horn stays with me. And you must swear by your god that after completing your mission, you will give the dragons to me."
Euron agreed without the slightest hesitation.
After hearing Euron's oath, Balon grew even more cautious.
But thinking of the North, now dangerously exposed, his eyes shifted, and he devised a new role for Euron.
As for the dragons, that could wait.
Balon was not foolish enough to believe Euron's ravings outright.
At the very least, he needed to thoroughly study the dragon horn first.
"Then we should discuss how to reach Skagos," Euron said, finally asking about the plan.
At Balon's signal, Victarion spread out a map and explained the situation of Skagos.
"You've been to Skagos. You should know it lies north of the Shivering Sea, at the mouth of the Bay of Seals in the North."
Victarion pointed at Skagos on the map and shook his head.
"To get there from the Iron Islands, there are only two routes.
Either sail south, circle the entire continent of Westeros, or land in the North and cross it to reach the Bay of Seals."
"Both routes are extremely dangerous, especially at a time like this."
Euron understood Victarion's meaning, and his expression darkened slightly.
He had never imagined that after a single journey away, Westeros would descend into complete chaos.
First, King Robert died unexpectedly.
Then the Hand of the King, Stark, was imprisoned by the Lannister queen on charges of treason.
The war between lion and wolf had begun.
Other regions of the Seven Kingdoms were also being dragged into the conflict.
Now the wolf cub of the North had led his army across Moat Cailin and entrenched himself at Riverrun.
The Lannisters had split their forces, one besieging Riverrun, the other waiting in ambush along the kingsroad.
Meanwhile, as the war spread, Stannis Baratheon of Dragonstone publicly accused Joffrey of being born of incest, declaring him unfit to inherit the throne.
Stannis had already raised his banners and called upon the Baratheon bannermen of the Stormlands to join him.
Yet those bannermen instead gathered around Renly, who had fled from King's Landing, proclaiming the legitimized Edric Baratheon and allying with the Reach to rise against Joffrey as well.
At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the Vale and Dorne were drawn in as well.
This was the most chaotic Westeros had ever been.
"Sailing south…" Victarion continued calmly. "Leaving aside how long it would take…"
"We would not only face unpredictable weather and the sea, but also enemy fleets.
Once discovered, even if we wish to avoid battle, they will fear us joining their enemies and force us to fight."
Euron's eyes flickered. "Then you're saying our only option is to cross the North?"
Victarion pointed at the map and sighed.
"Crossing the North is just as dangerous."
"Though the wolf cub has taken most of the North's forces south, many still remain behind to defend it."
"If we raided as before, strike and retreat, there would be no issue. But this time, we must cross the entire North…"
He looked at Balon, concern evident in his eyes. "Once Winterfell detects our movements, they would be fools not to muster forces to hunt us down. If our retreat is cut off, we will all die in the frozen North."
When Victarion finished, Euron and Asha both turned their gaze to Balon, waiting for his decision.
Balon had already prepared an answer.
He slammed his hand on the table and said coldly, "In that case, we might as well go all the way and seize the entire North!"
Asha shuddered with excitement. "Father, you mean a full-scale war with the North?"
Balon nodded, murderous intent spilling from him. "Exactly. This opportunity will not come again. And it is time to avenge your brother."
He studied the map carefully, plotting their routes, then issued his orders.
"Victarion, you will lead the Iron Fleet to seize Moat Cailin and cut off the wolf cub from the North."
"Euron, you will command the Silence. I will give you another thousand men.
Land at Sea Dragon Point, take Deepwood Motte, and advance on Winterfell through the Wolfswood."
"Asha, I will give you two thousand men. Land along the Stony Shore, pass through Torrhen's Square and Cerwyn Castle, and march straight to Winterfell.
Join forces with Euron and take the castle."
"Once we capture Winterfell, we can control the wolf cub and cross the North to reach the Bay of Seals."
After Balon finished, Asha pressed her case. "Father, let me lead the assault on Deepwood Motte."
"Deepwood Motte killed my sailors. I still have a score to settle. And I want to take a castle as my prize!"
Balon hesitated briefly, then agreed. "Very well. Euron, what do you think?"
Euron had no objections.
To him, as long as he could capture a dragon, everything else was trivial.
The four gathered around the map and began discussing the timing of their campaign.
Soon enough,
they decided to depart in three days, agreeing to rendezvous beneath Winterfell in a month and take it.
At the same time, Galon was still in Deepwood Motte, dealing with troubles of his own.
__________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Xorath