What is dead may never die (Chapter 41)

Welcome home

Theon POV

Staying in the room, locked up, wasn’t my style in the end. Before the night fell, I took out my journal and ripped a page out. Taking a quill and ink from my bag, I started to write. Father thought he could cage me, but he was wrong if he thought I couldn’t do anything.

After writing what I wanted, I folded the paper and laid it on the table. Afterward, I sat on my bed and closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes again, I was on the ship I had arrived in. I prowled on all fours outside the cabin and then to the port. Only then did I realize how far I was from Pyke. It would take hours before I reached it, so I didn’t waste time and ran.

…

Arriving at Pyke climbing the walls to reach my room, taking the folded paper, and returning to the ship took all day. When I returned, it was already night. Thoros was soundly sleeping in his cabin when I jumped on his face. He was spooked so much that he fell out of his bed.

“What in the seven hells?” He looked around for why he was on the ground before finding me. “Oh, aren’t you that rodent that Theon took in? What do you have in your mouth, a letter?”

Thoros picked me up before taking the paper that I was biting. He read it and quickly got up and dressed. Taking his belt with the sword, he strode out of the cabin. I jumped on his shoulder before he could leave me. He looked weirdly at me but only grunted and didn’t try to chase me away.

Thoros walked around the port until he found a tavern. Entering it, he looked around and found Anguy and Bronn drinking. Next time I meet them, I will have to reprimand them on how they spend my gold. Especially Bronn, who had a wench on his lap. Maybe I should throw him into the sea.

“There you are,” Thoros sat next to them, trying to keep a low profile. “Enough drinking. We have work to do.”

“What are you yapping about?” Bronn said as he took his face out of the wench’s chest. “Can’t you see we are enjoying ourselves?”

“Take it and go,” Thoros threw a gold coin to the wench and told her.

“What do you think I am,” The woman threw the drink from Bronn’s cup at Thoros’ face. “I am not a common wench you have in your Greenlands. I only like iron. The bigger, the better, so take your gold and fuck yourself out.”

“You heard the woman,” Bronn said with a smirk.

“I may not have a big iron that you like, but it is enough for you to leave for a moment,” Anguy said, putting a knife to the woman’s neck. “We have work to do, and your beauty is distracting.”

“Maybe it isn’t as big as I would like, but I like how you use it,” The woman slowly got up, then went to the Anguy and kissed him. “Come to see me when you are done with your work, sweetie.”

I should have expected this much from the Iron Islands, but damn, I never knew Anguy was terrifying when he was drunk. I will have to remember that. I don’t want to piss off Anguy when he is hammered. There were other ways to die.

“So, what is so important?” Bronn asked, still looking at the woman who left him.

“We need to find Theon’s sister,” Bronn said.

“Isn’t she in Pyke?” Bronn asked, but he guessed wrong. I couldn’t find her in Pyke. “How to expect us to get to her?”

“Hey Margaret, bring us ale,” Before Thoros could answer, a group of men got inside the tavern and called out for the woman who had just left Bronn. “Did you hear Theon fucking Greyjoy returned?”

“What?” Margaret asked. “I heard someone important came to the port this morning. Was it Theon?”

“Yeah, I heard from his honor guard. The man was so scared of Theon that he wouldn’t stop talking about how tough the man is,” The man replied. “Damn, I was cleaning the deck when he arrived. I would have liked to see him.”

“What for? So, he could gouge your eyes out and eat them? The honor guard probably pissed himself when he heard it.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind having him invading me,” Margaret said as she brought ale, “Alas, I heard he caught himself a lady for his salt wife.”

“Yeah, it is said she is as beautiful as the Lannister Queen but younger,” Another man said, and everyone in the tavern started to laugh. “Do you think he would take me into his crew?”

“You, why would he need you? He can take castles all by himself. I heard he just climbed the walls of Golden Tooth, killed the guards, fucked the lady of the castle, and only then did he open the gates for his Northmen to enter.”

“Damn it, him taking all the fun for himself,” Another man laughed. “What are we doing here? We should have sailed and joined him in killing the lions from Westerlands. Just like Harren the Black, he came and took what he wanted. Nobody could stop him.”

“Aye, let’s drink for Theon, the Black prince.”

“Fuck, I hope Lord Balon won’t hold us back now that Theon has returned.”

“It seems these men like our lord,” Bronn commented.

“Anguy, try to speak with them and see if anyone can help to get a letter to Theon’s sister,” Thoros ordered Anguy.

“Got it,” Anguy put down his cup and stood up. “Hey, do any of you know where to find the Black prince’s sister?”

I almost fell from Thoros shoulder when I heard Anguy yelling. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him and us. Anguy didn’t understand the situation as he looked back at them.

“I don’t know you. Why would we tell you?”

“You don’t know me?” Anguy replied and walked to the man who answered him. “I am Anguy from the Marches, faithful companion of the one you call the Black prince.”

“Anguy, the archer?” Someone asked. “I heard about him. It is said that he never misses, and his arrows killed hundreds of Lannister men.”

“If it is true, why would you need to know how to find Asha?”

“Hmm,” Anguy started to think and then turned to us. “Thoros, why do we need to find Theon’s sister?”

I will never let Anguy drink ever again. Thoros probably felt the same as he facepalmed himself in frustration. Still, Thoros stood up from his seat, putting one hand on his sword hilt, and looked at the men around the tavern.

“I remember you, the red priest that served Robert Baratheon, one of the first to climb Pyke.”

“The red priest of Myr,” Another man stood up and walked up to him. Would I need to fight while being a squirrel? “What are you doing here? Why has no one offered a drink for the brave companions of Theon the Black prince.”

“Aye, you said you are looking for Asha Greyjoy,” A man came and put a cup into Thoros’ hands. “I am a member of her crew. She is now on her ship, the Black Wind. I will lead you to her, but can you have a few words with Theon about me? Maybe he let me join his crew, at least be on one of the ships of his fleet.”

“Ah, sure,” Thoros didn’t know how to answer, so he just agreed and drank whatever was in the cup.

“Good, good. I am called Cromm. I am good with axes. I am sure I could be of use to Theon.”

“Damn it, Cromm, Asha is too good for you,” Another younger man came to Thoros. “I am Qarl. I will take you to Asha Greyjoy, but better leave now. She will soon return to Pyke.”

“Good, it is quite urgent,” Thoros said. “Lead the way.”

“What about your friends?”

“What about them?” Thoros turned to look at Anguy, and I almost fell from Thoros’ shoulder again. Anguy was face-first on the ground. “Bronn, pick him up and return to the ship.”

Bronn smiled and nodded, yet I didn’t believe he would do just that. He has already set his eyes for another wench. I miss you, Jalabhar. Why have you left me first? I only have Thoros with me now.

The two left, with me still sitting on Thoros’ shoulder. I could see Qarl’s gaze on me. Thoros probably didn’t know how to explain me sitting on his shoulder. In the end, both of them decided to ignore me.

“I would be careful next time revealing yourself,” Qarl said. “In the tavern, nobody was from noble houses, so they didn’t mind you, but if you met a lord or son of a lord, you wouldn’t be left alone. Lord Balon Greyjoy would probably kill you on the spot if he met you.”

“I know, but it is an urgent matter, and I need to find Asha.”

“We here,” Qarl said, stopping before the longship. “The Black Wind, let’s go inside. Asha, you have a guest.”

“Maid?” My sister came out of her cabin to look at Qarl and Thoros. “Who is this?”

“Thoros of the Myr,” Thoros introduced himself. “I need to speak with you urgently.”

“One of Theon’s companions? Come in,” Asha led us to her cabin. “So, what do you need?”

“Read it, and you will understand,” Thoros gave her the letter I wrote.

“It can’t be,” Asha said after reading it. “Damn it all, Qarl, prepare me a horse. I am going to Pyke.”

It was good to know that I could trust my sister, at least. It seems not everyone supports Balon in his endeavor to the North. Maybe we can end his farse without losing lives in the North. I didn’t want to sour my relationship with Robb. Now, I hope Balon will listen to both of his children.

…

Asha didn’t look happy after coming to my room. The guard outside didn’t know what to do. He was ignored by Asha, no matter how much he tried to tell her that she couldn’t come inside my room. I sat on my bed, calmly looking at her.

“What happened?” Asha asked.

“Our father made a foolish decision. I disagreed with him, and he locked me up.”

“What decision?”

“Do you know anything about what our father is planning?”

“The North, isn’t it?”

“So, you knew,” I said. “He wants to attack the North and marry me to Cercei Lannister.”

“What? He didn’t say anything about marrying you to anyone. He told me that we would take the world by storm once you returned. First would be the North. They would know what it means to cross me. That is what father said.”

“So, in the end, it is about his revenge and pride,” I sighed. “He would bow his head to Lannister rather than listen to me, his son.”

“You were taken away by the North. Our brothers were killed by them, or have you forgotten?”

“Taken away?” I asked, getting angry, “Don’t fool yourself. Father gave me away to keep his head. It was our father who killed our brothers, not anyone else. You ask me if I have forgotten. I, who was taken away from his family and home?”

“I didn’t mean it like this. But why would you care about the North? You are home now.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about. It is the only chance we will get to take the Westerlands. Their men are wasted, I know, because I am the reason they are gone. Tywin will be stuck fighting king Stannis. We could take the Westerlands, their gold, and lands, but you are thinking about some petty revenge. Think about the future. Even if we took the North, it is nothing but wastelands. There is little farming land and even less gold. Please tell me you will help me to persuade father.”

“Our father had decided, and he is our lord.”

“I am your brother. I have been sacrificed once already. Will you let me be sacrificed again for our father’s ambitions?” I asked. “Do you think you won’t be sacrificed after for whenever he needs to accomplish something? Please help me not only for you and me but for the future of the Iron Islands. Don’t let our father’s pride destroy everything our grandfather has built.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“The Lannisters have sent him a letter with their offer. If you didn’t know about my marriage, no one else knows too. I don’t think many will be happy to find their lord to be sold out by Lannister gold. Find it. It is all the proof we need to put our father’s leadership into question. It would be better before he sends you to the North. Because after it, I won’t hold back and let father ruin us.”

“In a few days, he will hold a feast and council. I will find the letter before it,” She said. “Can you escape the room and confront father and the other lords?”

“I could escape whenever I want, sister, and thank you for trusting me.”

“You are my brother. Nothing will change that,” Asha said and turned to leave but stopped before the door. “And brother.”

“Yes?”

“Welcome home.”