As the longship slowly sailed into the rocky bay of the Iron Islands, the salty sea breeze seemed to carry the distinct, steely chill of House Greyjoy.
Tyrion Lannister stood on the pitching deck, gazing at the desolate, craggy islands before him. A trace of reluctance flickered in his mismatched eyes.
The wonders he had witnessed at sea these past days—whether it was the gentle Sea Cat, Marina; the Steel-Scaled Sawshark that cleaved the waves; or the venomous Sea Serpent that reeked of death—were far more interesting than the glittering halls of Casterly Rock and endless family meetings. He had almost become infatuated with this unrestrained, unknown, salty air.
But all journeys have an end.
The hull bumped gently against the crude dock, emitting a dull grinding sound that woke Tyrion from his reverie. He took a deep breath, suppressing that untimely sentimentality, and let shrewd calculation return to his eyes.
"It seems the time has come to say goodbye," he said, turning to the Greyjoys beside him. The corner of his mouth pulled into his habitual, slightly mocking yet sincere smile. "I must return to 'discuss' the serious business of opening a bank with my Lord Father."
He emphasized the word "discuss" with a playful bite, as if already foreseeing Lord Tywin's stern face and the inevitable high-stakes conversation. With that, he turned sharply. His slightly clumsy but determined figure walked step by step under the leaden sky of the Iron Islands, heading toward the road back to Casterly Rock. In his mind, he was already calculating how to transform the ambition forged in the raging waves into irrefutable numbers and power on a ledger.
Euron waved goodbye, telling him that their reunion wouldn't be far off; he would visit King's Landing before long.
---
In the Great Hall of Pyke, roaring flames danced in the massive stone fireplace, dispelling the damp chill customary of Iron Islands nights.
The long table was laden with roasted sea fish, blood pies, and steaming seafood stew. The air was thick with the scent of spices and ale—all characteristic foods of the Iron Islands.
Ashara Dayne sat beside Euron. Her pale fingers rested somewhat awkwardly beside the rough wooden utensils, forming a sharp contrast with the unrestrained dining manners of the surrounding Greyjoy family. This was her first time setting foot on these islands known for their hardness and grimness, and her first time amidst so many "krakens."
This constraint did not last long.
Euron keenly sensed her discomfort and broke the ice with a clever topic debating the merits of Dornish Summerwine versus the Iron Islands' Kraken Red. His sister-in-law, Alannys, helped hold Daeron while imparting wisdom on how to handle husbands, causing Balon to slap the table and roar with laughter, bringing the whole room to life. The lively Asha followed up by sharing a funny story about an uncle falling into the sea the first time he got drunk, making everyone laugh. Euron's mother, Lady Sancha, sitting beside Ashara, softly explained the origin of each dish to her.
Under the subtle guidance and warmth of the family, Ashara's tense shoulders gradually relaxed. A genuine smile surfaced on her lips as she began to integrate into this noisy, vibrant family feast.
Just when the banquet atmosphere was at its peak, Maester Qalen, holding a scroll, walked silently to the main seat and whispered a report. The news came from the Citadel far to the south and had been sent to all Seven Kingdoms—the Long Summer was coming. This winter would end thoroughly when spring arrived.
The news sparked a low murmur of discussion in the hall. Euron pondered for a moment, remembering the hundreds of Dornish prisoners who had arrived on the same ship. Since winter was ending, there was no need to rush them to the Wall while the roads were still treacherous with cold.
"In that case," Euron's booming voice drowned out the murmurs, "let these Dornish guests spend this short winter in our Iron Islands. It won't be too late to send them north when spring comes next year."
He paused, looking around at the family members present, and laughed. "Of course, the Iron Islands feed no idlers. The salt pans need strong labor, and the depths of the mines always need muscle. Before spring arrives, they will have plenty of work to repay us for our bread and salt."
---
After the banquet.
The noise and warmth of Pyke were left far behind. The lights of the dock gradually shrank into a few blurry spots on the inky sea.
Euron, Ashara, Lysa, the newly named Dagmer, and Daeron—cradled in Ashara's arms—embarked on the journey back to Iron Wind Island.
The night breeze was slightly cool, blowing through Ashara's hair. She looked at the pitch-black, boundless sea before her, wondering how they would cross, when she saw Euron walk to the edge of the reef where the waves crashed. He didn't issue a thunderous shout, but simply patted the surface of the sea gently, as if silently conveying a message.
After a moment of silence, the sea surface not far away rose soundlessly. Water slid off the sides of a smooth, massive object like a curtain.
The giant beast known as the "Sea of the Shallows" emerged under the moonlight. Its form was distinct from the creatures that had appeared before; its massive body had fluid lines, and its skin glowed with a soft, mother-of-pearl luster in the cold moonlight, appearing unusually gentle and tranquil. It slowly approached the shore, lowering its head covered in wondrous patterns, like a naturally formed floating bridge.
"Come up," Euron said, stepping onto the broad, stable back first, then turning to extend a hand to Ashara. Lysa followed with practiced ease, while Dagmer, upon stepping up, still couldn't hide a trace of awe in his eyes—every contact with this giant beast made him feel his own insignificance and the weight of this honor.
Once the four were steady, the "Sea of the Shallows" began to move smoothly, almost silently. It cut through the velvet ink-blue surface, kicking up fine spray that glittered with phosphorescence. The sea breeze brushed gently past their ears, and the outline of Iron Wind Island gradually became clear in the night, like a sleeping sea beast. This voyage under the moon felt less like riding a boat and more like being gently carried by the ocean itself, returning them to their own reef and castle.
Under the moonlight, the "Sea of the Shallows"—the beast Euron called "Red Sever"—glided steadily across the ink-blue sea. Ashara stood on its back, broad as land. The night wind teased her long hair, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the surrounding waters shrouded in darkness.
She remembered the letters Euron had sent her earlier. In those sentences soaked in sea breeze, he mentioned why he moved out of the main keep of Pyke and chose to live alone on the smaller, more isolated Iron Wind Island nearby. The description on the paper was concise and calm: "The wind howls on the way, reefs are everywhere, ships find it hard to pass."
Back then, reading those words while leaning on her balcony, she had pictured nothing more than a common sea route with slightly rougher waves. Only now, standing personally on Red Sever's back, traversing these waters whose jagged outlines were revealed by the moonlight, did she truly understand what those words meant.
Below, black reefs loomed like the teeth of lurking sea monsters, appearing and disappearing amidst the churning white foam. Even though a massive beast like Red Sever smoothed the waves with unmatched power, the grim shadows underwater and the dull, thunderous sound of waves crashing against the rocks were enough to startle the heart. The wind here seemed constrained by an invisible force, forming deadly vortices that tore at anything attempting to pass. She simply couldn't imagine how an ordinary wooden longship could find a path through this maze filled with roaring gales and fatal reefs.
What had once been knowledge on paper now transformed into a real, pressing pressure that hit her face with salty mist. She involuntarily took a deep breath, her fingertips tightening slightly.
Euron's voice sounded beside her, carrying a knowing smile. "Didn't lie to you, did I? Now you understand why I need Red Sever as a mount!"
Ashara nodded, her gaze still fixed on the perilous waters.