"Will the Ironborn come?"
Out of caution, Daeron held a discussion.
To be honest, he didn't know much about the Ironborn.
His few impressions were of the brothers Balon Greyjoy and "Crows Eye" Euron.
One cruel and cunning, the other cunning and cruel.
Ser Footly did not answer directly, but instead explained the defensive deployment of The Reach.
In the entire continent of Westeros, The Reach has the largest total area.
The North is also large, but it is remote and the land is barren.
The Reach has a pleasant climate and fertile soil, supporting the largest population on the continent.
Many prominent great nobles were born on this land.
With the Tyrells of Highgarden as the liege lords, there are two great noble houses below them (second-in-command level): House Rowan of Goldengrove and the Hightowers of Oldtown.
The former occupies the fertile northern lands of The Reach and serves as the gateway to defend against invasions from the Westerlands.
The latter possesses the largest port in Westeros—Oldtown.
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Furthermore, the most famous are the Redwyne Fleet of The Arbor and the fleet of the Shield Islands.
Called upon by the House Tyrell, the two fleets integrated into one can rival the Royal Fleet built with heavy investment by the Iron Throne.
Daeron summoned the army to march north, and the Tyrell, Rowan, Hightower, and Redwyne families all responded.
These lords have strong soldiers and sturdy horses, with no worries about the future.
But the Shield Islands cannot!
As the name "Islands" suggests, there is more than one lordly family on them; rather, multiple lordly families are united together.
The Iron Islands often harass the coastal areas.
When led by a powerful King of the Iron Islands, they often break through the maritime blockade of the Shield Islands, sailing down the source of the Mander River to pillage the villages and towns along the way.
Therefore, the Shield Islands are the first line of defense against the Ironborn and absolutely cannot be moved away.
Daeron understood and asked, "Is the seastone chair of the Iron Islands led by Quellon Greyjoy?"
"That's right."
Ser Footly nodded in agreement.
At this time, Lady Olenna frowned slightly and said with emphasis, "Quellon Greyjoy is an unconventional Ironborn; he is the most cautious, wisest, and strongest Ironborn lord since Aegon's Conquest."
In his youth, he was already a famous warrior, fighting slavers and pirates in the Summer Sea, carving out a great reputation.
But during his reign, he preferred peace, gradually abandoning the Old Way (the term for reaving) and strengthening ties with the green lands (the territories of the Seven Kingdoms outside the Iron Islands).
An Ironborn with such a style of conduct is simply an outlier.
"I remember Quellon Greyjoy participated in the War of the Ninepenny Kings."
Daeron had some impression and knew that he had helped the royal family.
During the War of the Ninepenny Kings, Quellon led a hundred warships to provide reinforcement, bringing great help to the Iron Throne's side, and was even commended after the war.
Lady Olenna said calmly, "But he is old, and power is gradually being handed over to his sons."
Daeron immediately understood.
Quellon's reign was extremely glorious, yet difficult to replicate.
His sons are pure Ironborn; they will not follow the policies left by their father but will instead actively restore the original traditions of the Ironborn.
Ser Footly said, "Once the army is fully assembled, we should discuss the specific strategy for defending against Ironborn incursions."
Meanwhile, at Pyke in the Iron Islands.
A youth about twelve or thirteen years old, tall with messy black hair, walked down the corridor, faintly hearing the conversation of his father and older brothers.
Aeron Greyjoy was handsome and the youngest of the brothers, having not yet participated in any reaving.
He was invited to join the discussion and pushed open the door to enter.
---
"Father, the Seven Kingdoms are in chaos, and the Iron Throne is too busy to look after itself. We should go to sea and pay the iron price."
Balon Greyjoy was in his prime, his thick black hair already balding prematurely, which, combined with his rigid face, gave him more of an Ironborn villainous image.
Aeron peeked and saw his father and two other older brothers.
Quellon Greyjoy sat on the lord's throne, wearing salt-stained leather clothing and armor. One rough hand rested casually on the armrest, while the other reached into his clothes to rub his lower abdomen.
He was of a burly build, six and a half feet tall (198 cm), as strong as a bull.
His appearance was ordinary, but his weather-beaten face was full of majesty, making one not dare to ignore his authority.
At this moment, King Quellon was tired of dealing with the joint petition of his three sons.
The eldest son Balon, the Second Son Euron, and the third son Victarion.
All three sons were adults and fierce Ironborn, eager to prove their reaving abilities.
Aeron walked to the left, standing next to his eldest and third brothers.
Opposite the three brothers was the pale-skinned, handsome, black-bearded, and black-haired "Crows Eye" Euron, who exuded an air of evil from head to toe.
Euron's left eye was covered by an eyepatch, hence the name "Crows Eye."
Seeing his little brother Aeron enter, Euron looked him over with his one good, bright blue eye, his gaze full of mockery, and licked his lips.
Aeron turned pale and hid behind his tall third brother, Victarion.
But on second thought, third brother Victarion couldn't suppress the other, so he hurriedly hid behind his eldest brother, Balon.
Euron saw this, and the mockery in his eyes grew even stronger.
"Euron, what do you have to say?"
King Quellon spoke in a deep voice, wanting to hear his Second Son's differing opinion.
Balon stopped speaking, his emotionless eyes turning to stare at his second brother, with whom he had always been at odds.
"My view is to restore the Old Way."
Euron had considerable courage and said loudly, "However, compared to the Seven Kingdoms, I have a better outlook on the Stepstones."
The pirates of Three Daughters have made a comeback, only to occupy the Stepstones.
I heard that the archipelago is full of special gems worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Picking up just one would be enough to feed Pyke for a year.
Hearing this, King Quellon shook his head in silence, not thinking much of his Second Son's vision.
"Those are special gems; warriors who have mastered Life Force can absorb them and leap to become stronger people."
Euron hated being opposed.
King Quellon said, "If I let you lead a team to the Stepstones, how many men and how many ships will you take? Can you compete with the pirates of Three Daughters? If the raid fails, how will you explain it to the Ironborn?"
A series of questions, each hitting the mark.
Balon sneered, despising his second brother's arrogance.
The Iron Islands have no land suitable for farming and can only survive through reaving.
Just like the Greyjoy family motto: "We Do Not Sow!"
Translated, it means: we don't farm, we are bandits.
In such a survival environment where even the subsistence level is hard to maintain, what you steal isn't important, and where you steal isn't important.
The only thing that matters is how much you steal!
A successful raid means that no matter the sacrifice, enough iron price (plundered wealth) must be seized.
If there isn't much iron price, or if the raid fails altogether.
Then what awaits the leader will be the cruelest retaliation from the Ironborn.
Victarion's voice was muffled as he agreed, "I support the eldest brother's proposal. The Stepstones are the territory of the Free Cities. It's easier and safer for us to raid the Seven Kingdoms."
Euron's single eye was full of resentment, but he hid it well, lowering his head so as not to be discovered.
"Raiding the Seven Kingdoms is no small matter. Have you made preparations in advance?"
King Quellon calmly pressed.
Balon and Victarion had already planned it out.
When the Seven Kingdoms are in chaos and the allied forces of The Reach march north, it will be the perfect time for the Ironborn to strike from behind.
Oldtown, The Arbor, and the Shield Islands are all excellent targets for reaving.
"Stupid!"
King Quellon rebuked, "The Iron Throne is powerful and possesses the Royal Fleet, which is the best in the Seven Kingdoms. Once the House Targaryen suppresses the rebellion, how will the Iron Islands manage?"
He had seen the power of the Iron Throne and was clear about the gap between it and the Iron Islands.
Once the Iron Throne has its hands free, the Iron Islands will surely have no good outcome.
Balon's face was gloomy, his voice raspy: "Father, you made the Ironborn abandon the Old Way. The Ironborn are full of complaints and are raiding behind your back."
"With such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, are you still going to make us give up the Old Way and be cowards?"
King Quellon did not answer, but stared coldly at his eldest son and said indifferently, "Balon, are you questioning your father? Are you coveting the seastone chair beneath my buttocks?"
Balon feared his father's authority and did not dare to admit it.
But it was clear that he was not convinced in his heart.
"Then all of you get out, you little brats!"
King Quellon roared, and the entire Pyke seemed to tremble twice.
Aeron followed his three older brothers and fled.
After everyone had left.
King Quellon restrained his aura and let out a long, silent sigh.
His large hand massaged his lower abdomen, trying to alleviate the piercing pain.
He was getting old and had developed a stomach ailment a few years ago. His stomach felt like it was on fire, aching day and night.
Thanks to his mastery of Life Force and his occasional consumption of some special crops, his body had not been dragged down, and he still maintained a strong appearance.
But only he knew that his burly frame was already just a facade.
He was almost unable to keep his sons in check.
"Sigh!"
King Quellon's face twisted, and he had the maester secretly bring a cup of milk of the poppy to drink, in order to relieve the stomach pain.
While his body could still move, he had to choose a successor as soon as possible.
But all three sons wanted to restore the Old Way and discard the policies he had maintained for so many years.
If they truly led the Ironborn to raid the Seven Kingdoms, they might not have a good end.
Pyke, a remote attic.
"Crows Eye" Euron returned to his residence and slammed the door shut with a bang.
He had a strange personality and disliked noise. The room he lived in was also the quietest, like the silent deep sea, without a single sound.
"Damn old man, the older he gets, the more cowardly he becomes."
Euron pushed aside the naked corpse of a salt wife, sat on the bed, and rummaged through his collection of treasure chests.
The chest opened, and inside were special gems spread out on the bottom.
Euron took out a crystal-clear diamond and held it in his palm to absorb.
These special gems were the iron price he had seized from the pirates of Three Daughters while leading his fleet privately.
According to the slavers who resold special gems, each type of special gem has its own unique effect.
Red represents strength, green represents speed, sea blue represents precision—
Diamonds are the most special; they can provide an enhancement effect based on what a person's body is best at.
Normally, few pirates use them; instead, they are used to test physical specialties for the subsequent selection of gems.
After a long while.
Euron opened his single eye, and a flash of emerald green passed through his blue eye.
It was the speed of an emerald, which could also be called agility or something similar.
"When I become stronger, I will lead the Ironborn to conquer the Stepstones and the Essos."
The corners of Euron's mouth curled up as he rummaged through the chest for emeralds and absorbed them one by one.
And at the bottom of the chest, there was also a small glass bottle.
That was the secret poison of Lys—the Strangler.
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