Change of plans
Theon POV
It looked like the whole world was bringing me down when I saw the empty harbor of Oldtown. The annoying seagull was screaming next to me. I didn't listen to the people around me speaking. The Greycloaks looked at me for instructions. All I wanted to tell them was to go and bring me the head of Lord Hightower.
The Greycloaks were my royal guards chosen by my sister, Asha. She refused to let me go alone if I didn't have guards around me. No matter how much I tried to explain that as an Ironborn, I didn't need something like this. She didn't listen. Hearing how I recklessly went into a battle, she didn't care about reputation or tradition.
I immediately chose Bronn and Anguy to be the Greycloaks, and I thought it would end this, but Asha didn't let it go so quickly. Dagmar Cleftjaw, captain of Foamdrinker and a master at arms in Pyke, was chosen to accompany me. Uncle Victarion told his best man in his crew, Nute, to come with me. Lord Drumm seeing an opportunity, appointed one of his best men, Adrik, to protect me.
These five men should have been enough not to fear anyone in the future, as I thought they were very skilled and deadly. Yet Kraken had ten tentacles; I had to have ten guards. Harras Harlaw, my cousin and lord Rodrik's nephew, the wielder of the Valyrian steel sword Nightfall, took the sixth position of my guards. He looked so reliable that I even considered making him the guard commander, but I chose to see how they could handle themselves before making such a decision.
Denys and Donnel Drumm took the Greycloak because I suspected Lord Drumm didn't want to be outshone by other houses when it came to me. The brothers didn't look like they cared about whom they served. Then there were the two of lord Goodbrother's triplets, Gran and Gormond. I could not tell who was who. Both are tall with dark hair and eyes. Their eldest triplet looked the same. As of now, I called both of them gg brothers as I saw cut enemies with ease and brutality I liked.
"My bow," I said, and a bow was delivered to me with a quiver of arrows.
"Your grace, what are your orders?" Nute asked.
"We will land and hear what these knights, with shaking hands, have to say," I replied.
The Harbor was empty apart from thousands of soldiers with spears, swords, and shields, as well as hundreds of archers on the city's walls. The banner with a white tower with a flaming top stood proudly. I wanted to drown that banner so the flame would go out for eternity, but instead, I waved a white flag asking for a parley.
My ship landed, being the lone ship in the whole harbor. I saw the knights raising their shields and a man coming in front. The sun was just behind me, setting under the sea's horizon. My Greycloaks moved menacingly, and I wondered how many these ten would be able to kill before falling.
"You stand before ser Baelor Hightower, heir to Hightower and Oldtown," A squire came forth and announced.
"You speak to Black King Theon Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands, captain of Kraken's tail, and," I waved my hand to Anguy as I didn't want to hear all these titles. It was embarrassing, even if I never admitted it to anyone.
"Speak what you want, or leave, King of reavers," Ser Baelor Hightower said.
"You won," I said in bewilderment to everyone. "Well done."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"What? You want more?" I asked. "You predicted our movements. All the remaining Redwyne and Hightower fleet is in Arbor, isn't it? You knew that I would send most ships to Shield Islands, so you chose to take on the smallest fleet to slow me down. Risky but well-thought plan. I applaud you."
"I thank you?" Ser Baelor didn't know what to say when I told him how he outsmarted me.
"You welcome," I replied. "I will leave, as I can see, even though your men are afraid and shaking, their eyes hold resolve to fight to the end to stop me."
"Just like that?" Ser Baelor didn't believe me.
"Yes," I said. "But before I go, I would ask you to send me a letter when the Lannister and the Tyrrells fall out of power. When the Hightower stands on top of the Reach, we can make some deal to help each other."
I left at those words. Seeing how furious ser Baelor was, I could tell he understood what I did. Now I wonder what the rest of the Houses would think when they hear that I came and not only not fought with House Hightower but even offered them a deal. Trust was waning between House Tyrell and the rest of the Reach. With a little push, I could bring the Reach to civil war, but for that to happen, Lannisters need to fall.
"Your Grace, are we leaving like this?" Ser Harras Harlaw asked as we walked back to the ship.
"Yes."
"But, your grace," He stopped before finishing his words.
"You unsatisfied?" I asked. "Why do you think I am leaving?"
"Why?" One of the Goodbrother brothers asked.
"Look at them. What do you see?" I asked.
"I see trembling summer knights."
"They are afraid," I agreed. "Yet they still stand tall and proud with determined eyes. Maybe because they know what will happen if we breach the walls, they are prepared to die before letting us do so."
"We would lose too many in this battle," Anguy added. "And because you are sons of noble houses of the Iron Islands, we can't risk your lives so recklessly."
What Anguy said was true, Goodbrother, Drumm, and Harlaw, the three most influential houses of the Iron Islands, with their sons serving as my guard. It would be problematic if something happened to them, especially with Harras Harlaw and Denys Drumm, who were heirs to their houses. It was my sister's plan too, not letting me act recklessly without thinking.
"We are going to Arbor," I said. "If luck is on me, we might still find the Redwyne and Hightower fleet before they slip under our noses."
I couldn't let them play with me so easily. I knew Victarion wasn't weak enough to be defeated entirely. If luck was with me, maybe I could destroy the remaining forces in the Sunset Sea. Then nobody would be able to stop the Ironborn. They got me this time, but I won't let them enjoy the victory for long.
…
When I arrived at the Arbor, I found only a bit more than a score of ships from the Iron Islands. There were plenty of wrecks all around the island. The coast was littered with broken pieces of ships, and at the bottom of the sea, there were more burned-down ships. But it took only one look to see that there weren't that many Redwyne ships wrecked.
"Where is captain Victarion?" I asked once I boarded the Iron Victory.
"He was injured. He is in his cabin, your Grace," One of his crewmates quickly knelt to me and answered. "I will call for him at once."
"No need, I will see him myself," I told him and walked to the cabin.
Inside I found Victarion sitting and drinking while a healer changed bloody bandages. The healer almost fell when he saw me, he quickly knelt, but I dismissed him. Victarion wanted to say something, but I held up my hand for him to be quiet and instead finished changing his bandages, to his surprise.
"You are angrier about losing than I am, uncle," I said. "You don't need to say anything."
"Their surrounded us," He slammed his fist to the table, knocking a bottle of wine to the floor. "Those bastards were prepared for us."
"Who led them?" I asked.
"That bastard Leyton Hightower from what I gathered after capturing a few of the knights that went for my head."
"Leyton Hightower?" I asked. "Didn't he lock himself in his tower with only his daughter keeping him company?"
"It seems he left his tower," Victarion grunted. "It felt like he knew when we would come, how many ships we would have. He prepared well to meet us."
"Too well," I replied, and they retreated like they knew I was coming. "Well, it doesn't matter. You only need to crush him next time, uncle."
"I have shamed you, your Grace," He bowed his head while gritting his teeth.
"Uncle, you are one of the greatest warriors in the known world. You only bring prestige to the family," I said. "Rest for now. Once I surround the Island, we can start our attack. Even if they won this time, they made a grave mistake not finishing you up. Am I wrong, uncle?"
"No, they will regret not killing me for the rest of their lives."
At last, Victarion regained some spirit. I needed him, even if he wasn't an outstanding commander. He was a strong man whom people willingly let themselves be led by him. I needed to direct him a bit, and he could accomplish many things. I needed him to be by my side with his ax pointing at my enemies.
…
I waited for a day to see if the Redwyne fleet would come back, but it seemed their tactic was hit and run. It was an effective tactic as plenty of rivers ran deep into the Reach from the Sunset Sea. They could hide in there. If we tried to follow them, they would block our exit, trapping us. There was no way I would take the risk.
We still had numbers on our side. This defeat couldn't be compared to the one they received at Lannisport. They still couldn't fight us on equal terms, so there was no need to hold back in taking over the Arbor. Ryamsport felt the fury of Victarion as he breached it and led the men taking over it. While he did that, I took over Mermaid's Palace and moved to Starfish Harbor.
I let Victarion take the rest smaller islands. Still, I ordered them not to hunt down the refugees running away. They could run to only a few places, so I called my most resourceful and shrewd men to infiltrate as refugees. They will go to Highgarden or Oldtown and gather as much information about these places as possible.
I suspected that some spies in my ranks might have provided information to lord Hightower about our movements, as his counterattack was too calculated. I wouldn't say I liked how much he could predict my movements, as he knew me very well. Well, I didn't let it cloud my judgment. I can't suspect anyone, as it will only create problems if I am wrong. Still, I will have to be more careful from now on.
There was less resistance than expected as I walked through Ryamsport. Maybe because I let them escape, they took the chance to avoid fighting us. Soon, our forces took over the whole island and started pillaging. I gave strict orders not to burn down vineyards and capture those responsible for making wine.
The gold was lovely, but I wanted something I could export and trade with that could last us a long time. When winter comes, I will need to make the trade with Dorne and the free cities of Essos for us to survive. The wine was something that sold well no matter where or when. Arbor wine was incredibly famous, and losing it would be a shame.
I was happy with this victory. Now I only needed to wait for Asha. As I was thinking about the future, Thoros came back. He has closed himself in his room for days, not leaving. He didn't even let me inside. I was worried about him, but I had other things to keep my mind occupied, so I let him be.
"Theon," Thoros was tired and thinner than I remembered him to be. "The lord of the light has shown me a path. We must go to Essos."
I wanted to smack his head, but instead gave him a bottle of wine and told him not to overreact. Essos wasn't a bad place to seek something I needed, but there was no way I would just go there because Thoros thinks his god wants us to go there. I already had enough problems to think about and a lot to do before making such decisions. Still, I needed to change my plan.