Once the alliance was confirmed, the next step was to discuss the concrete details that would determine life and death.
Maester Luwin was the first to speak, placing the core problem on the table.
"Lord Galon, the soldiers under your command number barely a thousand... With such a force, crossing the sea to attack the Iron Islands is impossible."
"And the forces that just came to reinforce Winterfell have only recently departed.
Even if we summon them back in the name of House Stark, they will not risk everything for the Iron Islands."
Luwin frowned deeply, still unconvinced about the alliance.
His words carried a clear implication—he hoped Galon would abandon the idea.
'Galon's influence over House Stark is already too great. Not only Sansa, but even Bran supports him.'
'If he is not restrained, he may drag House Stark into a reckless gamble…'
Though Luwin did not know Galon's true intentions and had never doubted his loyalty, he could not shake the feeling that Galon had his own agenda.
So he pressed further.
"Furthermore, Winterfell is the heart of the North. It cannot be left undefended. We must retain sufficient forces here until King Robb returns."
"Lord Galon, perhaps this cooperation should wait until King Robb comes back before we consider it further?"
Sansa nodded, her voice filled with concern.
"Yes, Galon. With so few men, if you act rashly… what if something happens to you?"
She did not care as much about the success of the alliance—only about Galon's safety.
Asha, standing nearby, grew anxious. She feared Galon might refuse, but before she could speak, he cut in.
"Lady Sansa, Maester Luwin."
Galon spoke calmly.
"I understand your concerns. But this cooperation is not about clashing head-on with the Iron Islands."
"Our goal is to strike quickly, eliminate Euron, and stop his madness. The key is infiltration—getting into Pyke and killing Euron in one decisive move."
He paused and looked at Luwin.
"I intend to leave Jon with three hundred men to defend Winterfell and recruit more soldiers nearby."
"That will ensure Winterfell's safety."
Luwin visibly relaxed at this, but Sansa frowned.
"Seven hundred men… you intend to take only seven hundred to the Iron Islands?"
"Isn't that suicide?"
Even Asha's eyes dimmed with disappointment.
No one understood the Iron Islands better than she did.
Though she claimed to have supporters, most would only side with her if she already had the advantage. No one would back a losing cause.
Not even her uncle Rodrik Harlaw would gamble the future of Ten Towers lightly.
She had hoped Galon would call upon Robb and the Northern armies to crush Pyke and kill Euron.
But now, hearing it was only seven hundred men, her hope nearly collapsed.
Galon's eyes flickered. He easily read their thoughts.
Then he turned toward the hall entrance.
"That is why our guests—the Skagosi—must be part of the plan."
Those words made Luwin stiffen slightly, as if he had just grasped Galon's intention.
Asha's eyes lit up with realization.
So that was why Galon knew about the dragon. The Skagosi had already come to Winterfell.
"Lord Galon, you intend to use them to attack the Iron Islands?"
Luwin stroked his beard, speaking cautiously.
"The Skagosi have sworn loyalty to House Stark for centuries, but they rarely interact with us. We cannot easily command them."
"And they came here seeking aid, not to fight our wars."
Galon smiled faintly.
"You are correct, Maester. Which is precisely why we must bring them along."
He looked around the room, his voice steady and persuasive.
"The Skagosi are fierce and unruly. Leaving five hundred of them in Winterfell is a risk.
But if we drive them away, we would break the ancient pact with Skagos and tarnish House Stark's honor."
Luwin nodded in agreement.
"But what if they refuse?"
Galon chuckled.
"Refuse? They need our help to hunt the dragon. And Euron seeks that same dragon, even possessing magic said to control it."
"Helping us eliminate Euron is already their responsibility. It is the price they must pay to prove their sincerity."
A sharp glint passed through his eyes.
In truth, his thoughts ran deeper.
'Deepwood Motte can barely raise three thousand men at full strength.'
'The other Northern lords follow House Stark, and even if I control the North one day, many will only pretend obedience.'
'But Skagos is different. They are fierce, isolated, and rarely involved with the North.'
'Sparta said they have at least tens of thousands of warriors. If I can subdue them through the dragon, all of Westeros will be within my reach.'
Thinking of the dragon, Galon glanced briefly at Asha.
'Asha only wants to use me and the North to reclaim her Seastone Chair.'
'But I will use this opportunity to bind her—step by step—until she is completely under my control.'
'Only then can I command the Iron Islands through her.'
The Iron Islands were not the North.
To them, Galon would always be an outsider.
He needed a ruler who would obey him.
And among them all, who was more suitable than Asha?
She was not as reckless as Balon or Euron, nor as weak-willed as Theon. She wanted a different future for the Iron Islands.
That made her the perfect choice.
Galon had deliberately ignored her concealment of the Dragon Horn.
He was waiting.
Waiting until the day she willingly revealed everything to him.
It was both a test and a certainty.
At that moment, Sansa and Luwin exchanged a glance. Galon's reasoning was flawless.
Sansa nodded slowly.
"You are right. The Skagosi should contribute. Maester Luwin, please assist Galon in negotiating with their leader."
As Luwin agreed, Asha stepped forward again, eager to prove her worth.
"Even so, this still isn't enough. I need to send a message to my uncle—Rodrik Harlaw of Ten Towers."
"Only with internal support can we win."
All eyes turned to her.
"You captured other Ironborn, didn't you? Some of my trusted men are among them.
Release one or two of them.
Let them take a small boat back to Ten Towers and inform my uncle of our alliance."
When mentioning her uncle, her voice carried a trace of uncertainty.
She was not fully confident she could persuade him. Still, she steadied herself and pointed to the map.
She outlined hidden sea routes, weaknesses in Pyke's defenses, and which houses could be swayed.
Her knowledge made Galon's plan clearer and more refined.
When she finished describing the secret paths into Pyke, Galon struck the table decisively.
"Good. Then it is settled."
"Sansa, issue the order. Let Asha identify one or two of her men. Release them and send them to Ten Towers immediately."
"I will speak with Sparta and secure the Skagosi's participation. Then I will lead the army to the Stony Shore and wait for our signal."
"Once we confirm internal support, we strike Pyke directly."
His voice was firm and absolute.
Sansa looked at him.
Standing over the map, tall and composed, his eyes sharp—it was as if everything was already within his grasp.
The lingering discomfort in her heart remained.
But it was overshadowed by something else.
Admiration. Trust.
She nodded. "We proceed according to Lord Galon's plan. Maester Luwin, assist him fully."
Luwin bowed in agreement.
Asha looked at Galon, her expression complicated.
She had seen both herself and Victarion fall before him.
Now she could not tell whether bringing him to the Iron Islands was a blessing… or a disaster.
In the end, she could only think to herself—
'If only Galon were Ironborn...'
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