Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Theon

Although there was no anchorage around Pike, Theon still wanted to see his father's castle from the sea, just as he had ten years ago.When Robert Baratheon's warship took him away from his homeland, he went to be Eddard Stark's adopted son.He had stood by the rail that day, listening to the paddles of the oars and the drums of the oarsman, watching the city of Pyke shrink in the distance.Now, he wanted to watch it rise from the horizon in front of him, slowly growing in size. So the "Mirahan" sailed across the headland at his will.The sails fluttered, and the captain cursed the strong wind, the folly of the crew, and the noble lord.Theon pulled up his hood to block the splashing waves, and stared at the hometown.

The shore is full of sharp rocks and cliffs, and the whole castle seems to be integrated with it. The towers, walls, bridges and cliffs have the same gray and black stone, the same bad waves, the same dark moss, and the same bird droppings.The headland where the Greyjoy family fortress is located once pierced into the sea like a sword. However, after the waves beat day and night, the land was fragmented as early as a thousand years ago. Now there are only three barren islands and twelve islands. The towering boulders seemed to be the pillars of a temple dedicated to an unknown sea god, while the raging waves continued to rage.

Towering above the three islands and the sea pillars, Pyke City was one with them, somber and inviolable.The headland where the stone bridge to the largest island is located is blocked by a high wall. The huge main castle is located on this island, and in the distance are the "Kitchen Castle" and "Blood Castle", each occupying a small island.There are tall towers and outhouses on the sea pillars, and if they are close to each other, they are connected by closed arched passages, and if they are far away, they are connected by long and wobbly wooden rope suspension bridges.

The circular "sea tower" rises from the broken sword-like gap of the outermost island. This is the oldest building in the castle. The steep sea pillar below it has been destroyed by countless waves and almost corroded.There are white salt crystals accumulated over the centuries at the base of the tower, and the upper floors are covered with green lichen, as if covered with a thick blanket; the sharp top of the tower is smoky, and the night watch bonfire lasts all year round. Father's banner flutters on top of the tower in the sea.The Mirahan was too far away for Theon to see only the banner itself, but he knew the pattern: a golden sea monster of House Greyjoy, squirming, against a black background.The flag hangs high on iron poles, trembling in the strong wind, like a bird struggling to fly.Here there is no Stark direwolf to roam free, no Greyjoy kraken to live in its shadow.

Theon had never seen such a terrifying sight: the red tail of a comet faintly visible behind the castle as thin clouds raced across the sky.From Riverrun to Seafront, the Mallisters debated the meaning of the comet.This is my comet, Theon said to himself, reaching into the pocket of the fleece cloak, feeling for the oilskin pouch.Here is a letter from Robb Stark to him, thin paper but worth a crown. "My lord, is the castle exactly as in your impression?" the captain's daughter asked, leaning on his arm. "It's smaller," Theon admitted, "probably because of the distance." The Mirahan was a big-bellied southern merchant ship from Oldtown, carrying wine, cloth, and seeds, ready to trade for iron ore.The captain, also a potbellied merchant from the south, pursed his thick lips when he saw the rugged rocky shore below the castle, and kept away from the beachhead, much to Theon's displeasure.If it were a captain from the Iron Islands driving a longship, he would surely have walked along the cliffs and crossed the bridge between the main castle and the gatehouse, but this fat old town guy has neither such skills nor qualified skills. The crew, let alone have the courage to try such a behavior.So they sailed past Pike City at a safe distance, and Theon could only watch from a distance.Even so, it took a long time for the Mirahan to avoid hitting the reef.

"It must be very windy here," said the captain's daughter. He laughed and said, "Not only is it windy, but it's also very cold and humid. To be honest, this is a very difficult place... But my father once said that tough places can breed resolute people, and resolute people will rule the world .” After a while, the captain, whose face was as blue as the sea, came over and bowed to Theon, and asked, "My lord, can we enter the port immediately?" "Okay." A slight smile brushed Theon's lips.He had the audacity to grovel the old-town fellow with little gold.If the Iron Island longship had been waiting for him in Haijiang City, this journey would have been very different.It's just that Captain Iron Island is arrogant and hard to control, and he won't make a fuss when he sees nobles.The Iron Islands were a small place, nothing big, and the longships were smaller than the islands.As the saying goes, "every captain is the king of his own ship", it is no wonder that this place is called "the land of kings".Once you've seen your king shit on the rail, or turn blue in a storm, you can't kneel down to them, let alone gods, so every captain has to be tough.Thousands of years ago, King Uren "The Bloody Hand" said: The Drowned God made man, and he made a crown.

If he takes a long boat, the time to cross the ocean will also be halved.To be honest, the Mirahan was a difficult tub to move around.If there is a storm, he doesn't want to stay on this ship.But having said that, Theon has nothing to complain about, at least he didn't drown when he got home, not to mention there were other "entertainments" during the journey.He put his arms around the captain's daughter, "let me know when we get to King's Harbor," he said to her father, "let's go back to the cabin." In fact, this was originally the captain's room, but after they set sail from Haijiang City, it was handed over to Theon to use.The captain's daughter did not give him "use" together, but went to his bed obediently.With a glass of wine and a few sweet words, she obeyed obediently.The girl was too fat for him, with skin as spotted as oatmeal, but her breasts were comfortable to hold, and she was a virgin anyway.According to her age, it shouldn't be so, Theon felt a little strange.He believed that the captain must be very dissatisfied with this, but it was also a wonderful thing to see the guy groveling to him while suppressing his anger, always thinking of a high reward after the event was completed.

Theon took off his wet cloak, and the girl said, "It must be good to be home, my lord. How long has it been since you were away?" "Almost ten years." He told her, "When I was sent to Winterfell to be Eddard Stark's adopted son, I was only ten years old." In name, he was an adopted son, but in reality he was a hostage.He had been a hostage half his life...and now he was free, in control of his own life again, and no longer to be bossed around by the Starks.He drew the captain's daughter close and kissed her ear. "Take off your cloak." She lowered her eyes, suddenly shy, but complied.The sea-soaked coat slipped from her shoulders onto the deck, and she bowed slightly to him, smiling nervously.When she smiled, she looked really stinky, but he didn't expect women to be smart. "Come here," he told her.

She leaned over. "I've never been to the Iron Islands." "That's your luck." Sean stroked her hair, which was black and smooth, but it was a pity that it had been weathered and tangled. "The Iron Islands are harsh, rough terrain, with no comfort and no future. Life is hard when you're alive, and death is always with you. When people drink at night and enjoy themselves, they compare who is miserable, Is it a fisherman wrestling with the sea, or a farmer who wants to dig a little crop out of the barren land. To be honest, the poorest is the miner. They work in the dark all day long. What are they doing in the end? Iron, lead, and tin .No wonder the ancient ironborn went out to plunder."

The stupid girl didn't seem to listen, "I can go ashore with you," she said, "if you want me..." "You can go ashore," Theon said, rubbing her breasts, "but not with me, I'm afraid." "My lord, I can work in your castle. I can wash fish, bake bread, and churn butter, and my father says no one can beat my pepper crab soup. You can make me work in the kitchen, and I can cook pepper crab soup Here you go." "Will you warm my bed at night?" He stretched out his hand to untie the lace of her bodice with skillful and dexterous movements. "In the past, I might arrest you home and force you to be my wife, whether you like it or not. This was commonplace for the ancient Ironmen. A man must be a man who is also an Iron Islander like him. A 'rock wife' also has a 'salt concubine', that is, a woman snatched from outside."

The girl's eyes widened, but not because he had exposed her breasts. "My lord, I would like to be your salt concubine." "I'm afraid that's all a thing of the past," Theon said, running his fingers around her breast, slowly approaching the fat brown nipple. "Now we can no longer hold torches and hold swords and ride the wind and waves as we please. Now we have to plow the ground and cast nets like everyone else. We'll get through the winter with some salt cod and oatmeal, and we'll be good years." He opened his mouth and sucked it in. Her nipples, making her gasp in trembling breath. "You can put things in again if you want." She whispered in his ear as he sucked. When he finished sucking and raised his head, the place where he had just sucked it had turned dark red. "I'm going to teach you something new. Unbutton my pants and please me with your mouth." "With your mouth?" He stretched out his thumb and lightly brushed her thick lips, "Baby, this mouth was born to be used like this. If you want to be my salt concubine, you should be obedient." She was shy at first, but for such a clumsy girl, she made rapid progress, much to his satisfaction.Her mouth was as wet and soft as her pussy, and that way he didn't have to listen to her nonsense.If I were born in the past, I would probably have taken her as my salt concubine, he thought as he reached out to play with her tangled hair.But that was a thing of the past, when we still followed the old ways, lived with the tomahawk instead of the pickaxe, and robbed riches, women, and glory.Mining is something that captives captured from other places should do, as well as such useless activities as farming and fishing. The Iron Islanders will never do it themselves.War is the proper occupation of the Ironborn, and the Drowned God made men to rape and plunder, to create new heavens and new earths with blood and fire and song, and to carve their names out of them. However, Dragon King Aegon burned "Black Heart" Harren to death, cut off the ancient road, and handed over Harren's kingdom to the weak river people, turning the Iron Islands into an inconspicuous pool of backwater in the unified country.Yet the bloody tales of old days are still told around the driftwood fires and smoking hearths all over the Isles, especially in the great stone halls of Pyke.One of Theon's father's titles was "Lord of the Marauders," and the tongue of House Greyjoy proudly proclaimed "Strong is better than hard work." The reason why King Balon raised his troops to rebel was actually to restore the ancient ways, not just out of vanity.Robert Baratheon, with the help of his friend Eddard Stark, draws a bloody end to the hope of restoring the ancient way.Now both of them are dead, replaced by a little kid, and the country created by Aegon the Conqueror has been disintegrated and dilapidated.The time has come, Theon thought, while the captain's daughter was busy sucking up and down, this season, this year, this day, and I was the man.He secretly smiled maliciously, wondering what his father's expression would be when he heard this: he was the youngest in the family, a hostage for many years, but he did what King Balon could not do. The orgasm came like a storm, spraying the girl with cum all over her mouth.She tried to pull away in panic, but Theon grabbed her hair and held her down.Afterwards, she crawled to his side, "Are you satisfied, my lord?" "Not bad," he told her. "It tastes salty," she whispered. "Like the sea?" She nodded, "My lord, I have always liked the sea." "Me too," he said, carelessly rubbing her nipples.This is true, for the people of the Iron Islands, the sea symbolizes freedom.He had forgotten these feelings until the Mirahan sailed away from Seagard, and he couldn't help repeating them.It was those sounds that reminded him: the creaking of wood and ropes, the shouting of the captain, the sound of the wind blowing the sails taut, each of them was as familiar as his own heartbeat, so reassuring.I will remember them, Theon swore to himself, and I will never stray far from the sea again. "My lord, just take me away." The captain's daughter begged, "I don't ask to enter your castle, I can stay in a nearby town and be your salt concubine." She reached out and stroked his cheek. Theon Greyjoy waved her hand away and climbed out of the berth. "I belong in Pike City, and you belong here." "I can't stay here." He put on his belt, "Why?" "My father," she said to him, "my lord, he will punish me as soon as you go away, he will beat me and scold me." Theon retrieved his cloak from the rack and swung it on. "That's what fathers are all about." He fastened his cloak with a silver hook. "Tell him he should be happy. I've fucked you so many times, it's hard for you not to get pregnant. If you can give birth to a king An illegitimate child, this is not an honor for everyone." She looked at him stupidly, so he left her and walked out. The Mirahan was slowly rounding a wooded headland.Under the cliff covered with pine trees, more than a dozen fishing boats are busy collecting their nets.The large merchant ship was far away from them, moving in zigzag.Theon moved to the bow for a better view.The first thing he saw was the castle of the Portleys. When he was a boy it had been built of timber and hedges, but Robert Baratheon had burned it down and Lord Chauvin had rebuilt it in stone.Today the little square fortress stood on a hill, with pale green banners embroidered with schools of whitebait hanging from the tops of squat towers. Beneath the shaky-looking protection of the small castle is the fishing village of King's Harbor, with its docks full of boats.The last time he had seen King's Harbor was a smoky ruin, longship embers and shipwrecks strewn like the carcasses of dead sea monsters along the craggy rocky shores, and the houses nothing but broken walls and cooling soot.Ten years later, there are few traces of the war.Villagers used old stones to build new houses and cut turf to build roofs.A new hotel was built next to the pier, which was twice the size of the old one. The first floor was made of stone bricks, and the second and third floors were made of wood.The church next to it has never been rebuilt, and only the original seven-pointed base remains. It seems that Robert Baratheon's anger has completely ruined the appetite of the Iron Islanders for the new god. Theon was far more interested in ships than in gods.Among the masts of countless fishing boats, he caught a glimpse of a Tyroshi merchant ship unloading, alongside a clumsy Ibben skiff, its hull painted black with pitch.In addition, there are a large number of long ships, at least fifty or sixty, anchored in the sea outside the harbor, or resting on the pebble shore to the north.Some of the ship's symbols came from nearby islands, such as the blood moon banner of House Winch, the striped black horn of Lord Gubler, and the silver sickle of House Harlow.Theon looked for Uncle Euron's "Serenity" among them, but he didn't see the terrifying sail of the narrow red ship.My father's "Ocean Monster" was parked at the pier, with a huge gray iron ram in the shape of a sea monster in front of the bow. Could it be that King Balon had already anticipated his origin, so he summoned the princes under the Greyjoy family early?He couldn't help reaching into the cloak again, touching the oilskin bag.No one but Robb Stark knows the contents of the letter.They were very cautious and did not dare to entrust such important matters to Raven.However, King Balon is not a cheap lamp. His son has been away for many years and chose to return home at this moment. He probably guessed the intention of this trip and made preparations in advance. Thinking of this, he was a little unhappy, his father's war had long since ended, and it was in vain.It was time for Theon to rise up—this was his plan, and it would be his glory, and the future crown should be his.However, if the longship fleet has begun to assemble... He thought about it again, maybe this was just taking precautions and taking defensive actions in advance to prevent the flames of war from spreading to this point.When people get old, it's easy to be nervous. My father is indeed old, and so is my second uncle Victarion, who commands the Iron Island fleet.Uncle Euron is another matter, but the Serenity does not seem to be in port at the moment.It's best, Theon said to himself, so I can send troops sooner. The Mirahan was gradually approaching land, and Theon paced restlessly on the deck, scanning the shore frequently.He didn't expect King Balon to come in person, but his father would always send someone to pick him up.Steward Silas the Mouth, Bodley the Chief, even Dagmer the Cleftjaw.It would be great to see Dagmer's grim old face again.Anyway, they will not be ignorant of his trip.Robb sent seven ravens from Riverrun, and when they found no longships were coming to Seagard, Jason Mallister decided that Robb's ravens had not brought the news, and sent his own. However, he didn't see any familiar faces, and there was no honor guard who came to escort him from King's Harbor to Pike City. Only ordinary people came and went.Dockworkers pushed wine barrels off Tyroshi merchant ships, fishermen hawked their catch of the day, and children ran and played.Above a Drowned God priest in a sea-blue robe leading two horses ambled along the gravel shore, a prostitute poked her head out of an inn window to greet passing Ibben sailors. Many merchants from King's Harbor had already gathered at the pier, waiting for the ship to enter the port. As soon as the Miraham was tied up, they shouted and asked questions. "We come from Oldtown!" the captain called down, "with apples and oranges, wine from the Arbor, feathered cloaks from the Summer Isles, a piece of Myrish lace, mirrors for the ladies, and a pair of Oldtown Your wooden harp, it’s the real deal!” The ship planks lowered with a creak, and landed on the pier with a bang. "I even brought back your young master!" The businessman in King's Harbor stared blankly at Theon with a dazed expression on his face, only then did he realize that they didn't know who he was at all.He was quite annoyed, and stuffed a gold dragon coin into the captain's hand. "Ask your people to carry my luggage down." Without waiting for the other party to reply, he strode off the ship's plank. "The innkeeper!" he cried, "I want a horse!" "Yes, my lord," replied the man, without even bowing.He had forgotten how daring the Iron Islanders were. "I happen to have one available here. Where are you going, my lord?" "Pike City." The idiot didn't even recognize him.I knew he should have worn that fine coat with the sea monster crest embroidered on the chest. "Then you have to get on the road quickly so that you can reach Pike City before dark." The innkeeper said, "I will let my little devil go with you and help you lead the way." "Don't bother your son," cried a low voice, "and your horse. I'll take my nephew home." The speaker was the monk he had just seen walking along the bank with a horse.As soon as this person approached, the surrounding people knelt down one after another, and Sean heard the owner of the shop whisper, "'Damp Hair' is here." The monk was tall and thin, with piercing black eyes and a hooked nose, and he wore robes of gray, blue and green, the colors of the sea, which symbolizes the Drowned God.A waterskin was strapped under his arm, and his waist-length black hair and beard, never trimmed, were strewn with dried seaweed. Sean seemed to remember something.King Balon seldom wrote letters to his son, and the occasional letters were abrupt, but once he did mention that his younger brother was swept into the sea during a storm, and was washed back to the shore safely, and then he joined the priesthood. "Uncle Aeron?" He wasn't sure. "Nephew Theon," answered the monk, "your lord father has commanded me to fetch you. Come." "Uncle, wait a moment." He turned to the Miraham. "My luggage!" he ordered the captain. A sailor fetched his yew longbow and quiver, and it was the captain's daughter who carried his dressed. "My lord," she said with red eyes.He took the pocket, and she made a gesture of hugging him, in front of her own father, his monk uncle, and the islanders! Theon avoided skillfully, "Thank you." "I beg you," she said, "my lord, I really love you." "I have to go." Uncle had already walked a long way along the pier, and Theon hurriedly took three steps and two steps to keep up. "Uncle, I didn't expect it to be you. After these ten years, I thought my father and mother would pick me up in person, or send Dagmore to lead the honor guard." "You have no right to question the orders of the leader of the Pike Island predators." The monk's tone was cold, not at all like the person in Theon's impression.Aeron Greyjoy was his dearest uncle, with a cynical personality, a cheerful love for laughter, and a love of music, wine and women. "As for Dagmer, Cleftjaw went to Old Wyk at your father's orders, and summoned Stonehouse and Drum." "Why is this? Why are the longships assembled here?" "Why are the longboats assembled?" The uncle tied the two horses in front of the hotel on the shore.Once they got there, he turned to Theon. "Good nephew, tell me the truth, do you believe in the gods of the wolves?" Theon seldom prayed, in fact, but such a thing was not to be discussed in front of a monk, not even a dear uncle. "Ned Stark believes in a tree. No, I don't despise Stark's god." "Very well. Get on your knees." The ground was full of rocks and mud, "Uncle, I—" "I told you to kneel down! Why, don't you become a young master of the green land, are you too honorable?" Theon knelt down.He had a more important purpose in his trip, and maybe he needed Aeron's help.A little more mud and horse manure on his trousers is worth it for the crown, he thought. "Bow your head." Uncle lifted the water bag, opened the stopper, and poured the seawater inside towards Theon.The sea water soaked his hair, ran from his forehead into his eyes, dripped down his cheeks, seeped into his cloak and coat, and trickled down his back like a cold stream down his spine.The sea salt stung his eyes, and he could only hold back his screams.On his lips he tasted the ocean. "Let your servant Theon rise from the sea like you!" intoned Aeron Greyjoy. "Give him the blessing of sea salt, give him the blessing of stone, give him the blessing of steel. Nephew, will you Remember the prayer?" "The dead never die," Theon remembered. "The dead don't die," the uncle replied, "there will be a rise again, and it will be stronger. Get up." Theon stood up, blinking back tears.Uncle stuffed the water bag without saying a word, untied the horse, and rode on.Theon followed suit.The two left the inn and the docks, passed Lord Botley's castle, and entered the rocky hills.The monk never said another word. "I've been away from home for half my life," finally Theon couldn't help it, "has the island changed a lot?" "Men fished from the sea and plowed the land and then died. Women laid short-lived children on the bed of blood and pain. The sun rises and the moon sets, and the wind and tide remain the same. The islands are what God created." My God, he's a different man, Theon thought. "Sister and mother still live in Pike?" "No. Your mother now lives on Harlow with her sister, who suffers from a cough, and the climate is less severe there. Your sister is on board the Black Wind to Great Wyk at your father's orders. The letter has been sent. But don’t worry, she will come back soon.” As soon as Theon heard it, he knew that the Black Wind was Asha's longship. He hadn't seen his sister for ten years, but at least he knew her a little bit.Funny to think she named her ship like that, and Robb Stark had a wolf named Gray Wind. "The Starks are grey, and the Greyjoys are black," he muttered to himself, smiling, "but both seem to like the wind." The monk did not comment on this. "What about you, Uncle?" Theon asked. "When I left Pike, you were still a monk. I often think of you standing on the table, holding a horn of ale, singing the ancient war song of plunder. .” "I was young and vain," said Aeron Greyjoy, "and the sea washed away my ignorance and vanity. The old me was drowned, nephew, his lungs filled with sea water, The fish ate the scales from his eyes. When I stood up again, I could see clearly." He's not just cranky, he's crazy!Theon preferred the Aeron Greyjoy he remembered. "Uncle, father, why did he assemble the army and ships?" "Of course he will tell you when you get to Pike City." "I wonder now what his plans are." "From me, you can't know. We are ordered not to tell outsiders." "Even me?" Theon was furious.He has led soldiers to war, hunted with the king, won the tournament, fought side by side with Brynden the Blackfish and Greatjon of the Umber family, participated in the victory in the Whispering Forest, and slept with as many women as records Unclear, my uncle still treats him like a ten-year-old child! "If father intends to send troops, I must know. I am not an 'outsider', I am the heir to Pike and the Iron Islands!" "Well," said the uncle, "not sure." This sentence is like a hot slap. "Not necessarily? My brothers are all dead, and my father is the only son left!" "And your sister." Asha!He was a little at a loss, she was three years older than Sean, but... "Unless the male direct blood relationship is severed, women have no inheritance rights!" He emphasized loudly, "I warn you, no one will try to take away my rights!" Uncle snorted, "Boy, you dare to 'warn' those who serve the Drowned God? I think you have completely forgotten your origin. If you think your father will give up the Iron Islands to the Starks, you are very wrong Wrong. Shut up now, the road is still long, I don't have time to listen to you chirping like a bird!" Sean forced himself to suppress his anger and shut his mouth.So, he thought, do they think I've been a Stark after ten years at Winterfell?Although Duke Ed let him grow up with his children, Theon was never a part of them.The whole town, from Lady Stark to the cheapest kitchen boy, knew he was a hostage to make sure his father was "well behaved" and treated him as such.Even the bastard Jon Snow was treated better than him. Duke Eddard often tried to play the role of father, but Theon always reminded himself that he was the one who brought blood to Pike City and drove him away from his homeland.As a child, he lived in the shadow of Stark's stern visage and that terrifying greatsword, and his wife was even more distant and suspicious. As for their children, the younger ones were almost babes, except for Robb and his half-brother Jon Snow, who were a little older to attract his attention.The bastard was sullen, sensitive to any taunt, and especially jealous of Theon's noble parentage and the importance Robb held of him.To Robb himself, Theon had some affection, a kind of affection for his brother... but it was best not to say that.It appears that in Pyke, the wounds of war are still unabated.It shouldn't have surprised him that the islands were living in the past, because the reality was too harsh and too painful to bear.What's more, my father and uncles are old, and old nobles have this kind of virtue. They will keep their old accounts in mind until they die, and they will not forget any entanglements, and there is no possibility of forgiveness. That was the case with the Mallisters.He had been with them on the road from Riverrun to Seagard.Patrick Mallister was a good mate, they had the same interests in girls, wine and falconry, but old Lord Jason saw his heir and Theon getting better and better, so he took Patrick Mallister. Step aside and remind him not to forget his roots.Seagard, their home, was built to defend the coast against the ironborn raids—especially Greyjoy on Pyke.The "Hong Bell Tower" in the city is named after the huge bronze bell on the tower. In ancient times, whenever long ships appeared in the western ocean, they would ring the alarm bell, calling on the residents of villages and towns and farmers in the fields to quickly enter the city for refuge. "Don't even think about knocking once in three hundred years." The next day, Patrick brought a can of green cider to Theon, and told him his father's teachings while drinking. "It's the time when my brother raided Haijiang City." Theon said.In this battle, Lord Jason beheaded Rodrik Greyjoy and drove the Iron Island raiders back to the sea. "If your father thinks that I am hostile to him because of this, he obviously doesn't know Rhodes." Lick." After speaking, the two laughed, and then hurried to find a young miller who was in love with Patrick.I wish it was Patrick with me now.Mallisters or not, he was far more interesting company than this strange old monk who had been Aeron's uncle. Higher and higher they went, into the rocky hills of the Bad Ridge.Soon the sea was out of sight, but the smell of salt was still strong in the humid air.They moved slowly and steadily, passing a shepherd's field and an abandoned mine.This Aeron Greyjoy in front of him was devout and not talkative, so the two of them hardly spoke a word.Sean couldn't hold back. "Winterfell is now held by Robb Stark," he began. Aeron continued to ride, "What's the difference between a new wolf and an old wolf?" "Robb has broken with the Iron Throne and made himself King in the North. There are wars all over the island." "The maester's raven flies like a stone across the salt water ocean. It's old news, cold and icy." "Uncle, it means a new day is coming." "Every day the sun rises, it is a new day, but it is not the same as the old one." "That's not what I heard in Riverrun. Everyone said that the red comet symbolizes the arrival of a new era. It is the messenger of the gods." "Omens, yes," agreed the monk, "but from our gods, not theirs. It was a burning torch, like the ones my people carried in ancient times. It was the Drowned God from the sea. The torch he brought, foretells the rising tide. Now we must muster the fleet, and let the sword and the fire come upon the world, as he did in the past." Theon smiled slightly, "I totally agree." "To God, your opinion is like a drop of rain in a storm." Old man, this drop of rain will one day become the overlord of one side.Theon had had enough of his uncle's gloom, so he kicked his spurs and trotted forward, a smile on his face. Near sunset, they arrived at the base of Pike City. The city wall was like a black stone crescent connecting the cliffs on both sides. The gate tower was in the middle, and there were three square towers on each side.Theon could still make out the scars from Robert Baratheon's trebuchet.The destroyed south tower has been rebuilt in light gray stone, not yet covered with lichen.It was from here that Robert broke into the castle, swinging his warhammer, leaping over rocks and corpses, and the generals came in, with Ned Stark at his side.At that time, Theon watched all this from a distance in the sea tower, and he still dreams of burning torches from time to time, and hears the loud crash of the tower collapsing. The city gate was wide open, and the rusty iron gate had already been raised, and the guards on the city wall looked at Theon Greyjoy who was returning home with strange eyes. After passing the outer stone wall, there is a headland with a width of 50 mu, connecting the sea and the sky.The stables and kennels are located here, as well as some outbuildings.Herds of pigs and sheep are huddled in pens, and city dogs are running around.To the south is the cliff, and the wide stone bridge leading to the main castle.Theon got off his horse and heard the familiar sound of waves lapping on the shore.A stable boy came and took his horse.Two skinny children and a few serfs stared blankly at him, but there was no sign of his father at all, nor any characters from his childhood memories.It was sad and bitter to come across such a scene at home, he thought to himself. The monk didn't dismount, "Uncle, don't you stay overnight and have dinner with us?" "My task was to bring you, and now that you have come, I will return to serve the Drowned God." Aeron Greyjoy turned his horse, and slowly passed under the muddy spikes of the iron gate. However, I rode out. A hunchbacked old woman in an ordinary gray cloth skirt walked towards him cautiously, "My lord, I am ordered to take you to the room to rest." "Whose order?" "It is the order of your lord father, my lord." Theon took off his gloves. "So you do know me. Why didn't my father come to meet me?" "My lord, he is waiting for you in the sea tower. Please rest for a while." I still think Ned Stark is cold. "and who are you?" "Halia, I will manage the castle for your father." "The manager is Silas, right? People call him 'Stinky Mouth'." Even now, Theon still remembers the smell of wine in the old man's mouth. "My lord, he died five years ago." "Where is Bachelor Quilon? Where is he?" "Rested at the bottom of the sea. It is Windarmere who looks after the raven now." I seem to be a stranger here, Theon thought to himself, nothing has changed, but nothing seems to be the same. "Then take me to my room, woman," he ordered.She bowed stiffly and led him across the headland to the bridge.This place finally matches my memory: the old stone bridge is slippery due to the waves, covered with lichens, the raging waves under my feet are like ferocious monsters, and the salty sea breeze clings to my clothes. In the past, when he imagined the scene of going home, his former comfortable bedroom in the Sea Tower always came to mind. Unexpectedly, the old woman took him into the "Blood Castle".这里的厅堂较为宽敞，装潢也较佳，但还是一样湿冷。分给席恩的套房屋顶极高，竟因阴暗的关系看不到天花板，里面寒气袭人。倘若他不知“血堡”正因这组套房而得名，对此的印象可能会好些。千年以前，某个河流王所有的儿子全部在此惨遭屠杀，他们熟睡时被活活砍成碎片，再送回大陆给他们父亲。 至于葛雷乔伊家的人，虽从未在自家城中遭他人谋害，但兄弟阋墙是常有的事，好在他的哥哥们全都死了。他嫌恶地环顾四周，并非因为怕鬼，只因墙上的壁毡长满青霉，床垫凹陷、闻起来有霉味，灯心草席则老旧而开裂。这些房间已有多年不曾使用，透着彻骨的湿意。“给我弄缸热水，赶紧给炉子生火。”他吩咐老妪，“记得把其他房间的火盆也点燃，多少能驱走寒意。还有，看在诸神的份上，赶快找个人把这些破草席都清掉。” “是，大人，就照您的意思。”她连忙逃走。 过了一会，他们果真照他的要求弄来热水。虽然水温不高，很快就变凉了，而且还是海水，但洗去旅途风尘已然足够。他一边看着两名奴工燃起火盆，一边脱去沾满尘土的衣裳，准备换装去见父亲。他挑了柔韧的黑皮靴，银灰色的羊毛软裤，胸前绣有葛雷乔伊家金色海怪的黑天鹅绒外衣，又在脖子上戴了一串细金链，腰间系上一条漂白的皮带，再配上一把短刀和黑金剑鞘的长剑。他抽出短刀，用拇指测试刀锋，又从腰袋里拿出磨刀石擦了几下。他对自己保养武器的习惯颇感自豪。“在我回来以前，把房间弄暖和，铺好新席。”他取出一双有金线涡形装饰的黑丝手套戴上，同时警告奴工。 席恩经由一条封顶石砌走廊回到主堡，脚步回音应着下方不休的怒涛。海中塔位于一座歪曲的海柱上，欲达该处，需经三座桥梁，且一桥比一桥窄。最后一座桥仅以木材与绳索做成，在海风吹拂下摇晃不止，彷若活物。席恩才走到一半，心便似跳了出来。遥远的下方恶浪袭岸，激起层层水花。小时候他可以快步跑过此桥，即使夜半时分也行。小孩子天不怕地不怕，他的怀疑悄声说，成年人则不然。 门是灰色的木料，上面镶了铁钉。席恩发觉它从内拴上，便握拳敲门，谁知木屑竟刺穿手套，扎得他忍不住咒骂。木头潮湿长霉，铁钉早已锈蚀。 过了半晌，有个身穿黑铁胸甲和圆形头盔的卫兵开了门，“你就是那个儿子？” “滚开，否则要你好看！”那人往旁边站开。席恩爬上蜿蜒的楼梯来到塔顶，发现父亲正坐在火盆边，身穿发霉的海豹皮连身长袍，从下巴到脚都包在里面。铁岛之王听见石阶上的脚步声，便抬头看他唯一在世的儿子。他比席恩印象中要渺小得多，瘦削不堪。巴隆·葛雷乔伊一向很瘦，如今更彷佛被神灵放进大锅，煮干了全身每一寸肌肉，仅余肤发。他体瘦如柴，一副硬骨架，而那张脸简直就像用燧石凿出，惟独一双黑眼十分锐利。父亲的头发历经岁月和海风摧残，成了冬日大海的灰色，其间缀了几朵白浪，未经扎理，垂下过肩。 “九年了？”最后巴隆大王开口。 “十年。”席恩回答，脱下被刺破的手套。 “你被他们带走时是个孩子，”父亲说，“现在呢？” “我已长大成人，”席恩答道，“我是您的亲生骨肉，也是您的继承人。” 巴隆大王哼了一声，“这我可不敢确定。” “我会让您确定。”席恩向他保证。 “你说十年？史塔克那家伙养你的时间和我一样长，你现在更成了他的使节。” “不。”席恩道，“艾德大人已死，他被兰尼斯特家的太后斩首示众。” “史塔克和那个砸破我城墙的劳勃，他们两个都死了。我发过誓一定要亲眼见他们进坟墓，现在果真如愿以偿。”他皱起眉头，“可遇上湿冷天气，我的关节还是会痛，和他们在世时没两样。所以到头来这有什么意义呢？” “当然有意义，”席恩走上前，“我带来一封信——” “是奈德·史塔克教你穿成这样？”父亲眯起眼睛，打断他的话，“他喜欢你穿天鹅绒和丝衣服，当他的乖女儿？” 席恩只觉血气上涌，“我才不是他女儿！您不喜欢我的衣服，我换就是。” “非换不可。”巴隆大王甩开皮袍，站起身来。他没有席恩印象中那么高。“你脖子上戴的东西——用金子还是用铁换来？” 席恩摸摸金链，他竟然忘了。那是好久以前的事了啊……依照古道，女人可以花钱买装饰品打扮自己，然而战士所穿戴的饰品，必得从自己杀死的敌人身上夺来，所谓“付铁钱”是也。 “席恩，你脸红得跟闺女一样。我再问你一遍：你付的是金子，还是铁钱？” “是金子。”席恩坦承。 父亲伸手抓住项链猛力一扯，差点没把席恩的脖子扭断，幸好链子先掉。“我女儿的爱人是把斧头，”巴隆大王说，“我绝不准我儿子打扮得跟个婊子似的！”他把项链丢进火盆，断链滑入燃烧的炭火。“果不出我所料，青绿之地上你养尊处优，史塔克家把你变成跟他们一个样！” “你错了，奈德·史塔克是囚禁我的狱卒，而我体内仍然流着海盐与钢铁的血脉。” 巴隆转过身，伸手到火盆上取暖。“话虽如此，史塔克家那小鬼可把你当成训练有素的信鸦，乖乖带着他的小纸条来见我。” “这绝非什么纸条，”席恩道，“他开的条件是我提议的！” “这么说来，小狼很听你话，是不是？”巴隆大王似乎颇觉有趣。 “没错，他听我的。我和他一起打猎，一起练剑，一起吃饭，一起打仗，我已经赢得了他的信赖，他把我当作哥哥一样，他——” “住口！”父亲指着他的脸，“不准你在这里，在派克城中，在我的面前说你是他'哥哥'，你真正的哥哥就是被这个人的父亲杀的，难道你忘了你的亲哥哥罗德利克和马伦？” “我什么也没忘。”老实讲，哥哥根本不是奈德·史塔克所杀。罗德利克在海疆城死在杰森·梅利斯特伯爵手里，马伦则葬身于崩塌的南塔之中……不过倘若命运使他们碰上史塔克，想必他也会毫不迟疑地杀了他们吧。“哥哥们的样子我记得很清楚。”席恩坚持，他当然记得罗德利克酒后赏他的耳光，以及马伦恶毒的嘲弄和无休无止的谎言。“我同时还记得，我的父亲原本是个国王。”他拿出罗柏的信，向前一推。“信在这里……陛下，请您过目。” 巴隆大王揭去封蜡，展开羊皮纸，那双黑眼来回扫视。“所以这小鬼想要再给我一顶王冠，”他说，“只要我帮他除掉敌人。”他的薄唇露出一抹微笑。 “罗柏现下正准备攻打金牙城，”席恩道，“攻陷之后，他只需一天时间便可穿越丘陵。泰温大人的军队目前驻于赫伦堡，完全与西部隔绝，弑君者则被关在奔流城。西境只剩史戴佛·兰尼斯特爵士和他那群刚募集的新兵与罗柏作对。史戴佛爵士会将兵力部署在罗柏和兰尼斯港之间，也就是说，我们若从海上进犯，兰尼斯港将无力反抗。倘若神灵眷顾，我们很可能在兰尼斯特军尚未发觉前便拿下凯岩城。” 巴隆大王哼了一声，“从没人能攻陷凯岩城。” “除了我们。”席恩微笑道。多么美妙！ 可惜父亲没笑，“罗柏·史塔克让你回来就为了这个？要你说服我同意他的计划？” “这是我的计划，不是罗柏的。”席恩骄傲地说。没错，接下来的胜利也会是我的，还有最后的王冠。“如果您同意，我将亲自领军。待我军自兰尼斯特手中拿下凯岩城，请您将之赐给我作为奖赏，我将在那里建立根据地。”有了凯岩城，他便能吞并兰尼斯港和西部富庶的黄金领地，那将是葛雷乔伊家族从未有过的财富与荣耀。 “就凭这几个字，你的胃口倒不小。”父亲又把信读过一遍，“这狼崽子可没提奖赏的事，他只说你代表他，要我乖乖听话，派出舰队和大军为他作战，然后给我一顶王冠。”他抬起燧石般的眼睛，直视儿子。“他会'给'我一顶王冠。”他复诵一遍，语气尖锐了许多。 “那只是措辞不佳，实际上——” “实际上就是这个意思。那小鬼要'给'我一顶王冠，既然是给的，就可以再收回去。”巴隆公爵手一挥，把信丢进火盆，正好落在项链上。羊皮纸四角卷起，发黑，起火燃烧。 席恩简直不敢相信，“你疯了吗？” 父亲反手便是一记耳光，“注意你的言辞。这里可不是临冬城，我也不是罗柏那小毛头，你没资格对我这样说话。我是派克岛掠夺者之首，海盐王与磐岩王，海风之子，我不需任何人施舍王冠，我付出铁钱，亲自夺取，就和五千年前的'血手'乌伦一样。” 席恩后退几步，远离父亲突如其来的暴怒口吻。“那你就去拿吧！”他吼道，脸颊隐隐作痛。“你就自封铁岛之王吧，没人会理睬你……等战争结束，胜利者只会看到一个头戴铁冠的蠢老头，傻笑着站在海边！” 巴隆大王哈哈大笑：“不错，起码你不是懦夫，同样地我也不蠢。你以为我召集舰队是为了好看？我打算用刀剑与烈焰打出一片江山……但不是从西部，更不能照着小鬼国王罗柏的意思。凯岩城太坚固，何况泰温大人精明无比。对，我们是可能攻下兰尼斯港，但绝对守不住。我属意的是另一颗果实……或许没那么甜，可是一样成熟番透，高挂枝头，无人摘采。” Where is it?席恩刚想开口，却蓦然得到了答案。