Chapter 606

Daenerys, prone to impulsive decisions, was in dire need of cool-headed advisors. Fortunately, Missandei’s timely suggestion brought her back to reason, and she agreed to delay making a decision.

With the meeting adjourned, the nobles moved on to the victory feast.

The war was far from over, so the "celebration" was more restrained than extravagant. But with the bounty of supplies generously “donated” by the Reachmen, Daenerys’ forces wouldn’t have to worry about logistics for quite some time.

Tonight’s feast was lavish by wartime standards—plenty of meat, bread, and vegetables, and even a limited allowance of alcohol, a rare luxury in the disciplined army.

Across Blackwall Keep and its surrounding encampment, the entire army reveled in the victory. Only the sentries remained sober, while everyone else ate, drank, and enjoyed the fleeting moment of peace.

Aegor made his customary rounds, drinking with his officers to build rapport. He even endured the unwanted attention of Princess Arianne Martell, who clearly had more than just a "conversation" in mind.

Once the feast was over, he finally returned to his quarters, intending to deal with a few minor matters before turning in for the night.

But before he could even sit down, a knock came at the door.

"Commander," the guard reported, "Asha Greyjoy requests an audience. She claims to have important intelligence on the Iron Fleet."
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Aegor narrowed his eyes.

The war council had just spent hours deliberating over how to deal with the Iron Fleet.

And now Asha suddenly remembered critical intelligence?

What a coincidence.

Someone—either deliberately or carelessly—must have let it slip to her that Dragonstone’s fleet had encountered the Ironborn.

Asha wasn’t much of an assassin, but she had a remarkable talent for getting people to talk.

Somehow, there were always fools willing to tell her things she wasn’t supposed to know.

Aegor wasn’t eager to see her, but "important intelligence" wasn’t something he could ignore.

After a moment of hesitation, he sighed.

"Let her in."
----


"Asha Greyjoy, have you finally cleared your head after some time to rest?"

Aegor’s first instinct was to say, You’ve got some nerve showing your face here.

But old habits of diplomatic politeness held his tongue.

Instead, he simply gestured toward a chair with thinly veiled displeasure.

"Sit. I hope your ‘important intelligence’ is actually worth my time."

Asha obeyed without her usual swagger.

For once, she sat properly, legs together, hands folded over her knees—her usual confidence dimmed by a rare sense of shame.

Even someone as bold as her knew she had screwed up too many times.
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"Daenerys’ fleet is no match for the Iron Fleet," Asha said bluntly.

"That remains to be seen," Aegor replied. "And that hardly qualifies as ‘intelligence.’"
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Asha hesitated, then changed tactics.

"The wealth my brother Theon left me… some of it must still remain, right?"
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Aegor arched a brow.

"Some," he admitted. Then he smiled coldly.

"But tell me—how much do you think my life is worth?"

Asha’s face flushed red.

She knew exactly what he meant.

Last time she had seen him, she had been under Euron’s spell, trying to assassinate him.

"Just for that," Aegor continued, "I could justify seizing every last coin your brother left behind."

Asha stammered, unable to form a response.

She could only mutter, "I trust you’re… not that kind of man, Lord Commander."
----


"Spare me the flattery," Aegor scoffed.

"I’m no saint. I’m just not petty enough to leave you completely destitute."

"I’ve already shown you more mercy than you deserve—allowing you to live after the war. The last thing you should be doing is wasting my time."

"If you’re here just to beg for another chance to go after Euron—then leave."
----


"I don’t want your mercy!"

Asha snapped, standing abruptly.

"Let me tell you what will happen."

"Give me one ship. Just one. When Daenerys’ fleet engages my uncle, I will lead the charge—flying the kraken banner for all to see."

"The moment Euron spots me, he will come for me himself. He’s too arrogant, too obsessed with control to let someone else handle it."

"And when he does, I’ll lure him in. I’ll board his ship, and I’ll settle every last blood debt he owes— for my father, for my uncle, for every drop of Greyjoy blood he’s spilled!"
----


Aegor couldn’t help it.

He laughed.

Oh, how noble. How heroic. How utterly, laughably foolish.

Even Robb Stark, surrounded by loyal bannermen, had been butchered by Euron like a lamb.

Even he had barely escaped with his life.

And now Asha Greyjoy, of all people, thought she could take on Crow’s Eye in a one-on-one duel?

Ridiculous.
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"Guards!"

Aegor had no patience for this idiocy.

He wasn’t busy tonight, but he’d rather sleep than waste time indulging Asha’s delusions.
----


"I know I’m no match for Euron!"

Seeing the guards enter, Asha panicked.

"But you are!"

"You’re the one who’s always finding solutions. If I bring him to you, you’ll figure out how to kill him, won’t you?"
----


Aegor’s eyes narrowed.

He didn’t move, but the moment Asha jumped to her feet, he instinctively prepared to defend himself.

Once bitten, twice shy.

The last time Asha had lunged at him, she had been under Euron’s spell.

He wasn’t about to repeat that mistake.
----


"Me?"

Aegor’s first thought was that even if he had Valyrian steel armor and legendary swordsmanship, he would never duel Euron personally.

His life was far too valuable to risk in a fight with a madman.

But then—

Something clicked.

A single word surfaced in his mind.

A cold, cruel, utterly effective idea.

Suicide attack.
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"Take her away," Aegor ordered.

The two guards stepped forward—

And then he changed his mind.

"Wait."

He waved them off.

"Leave us."
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Asha tensed, wary.

But instead of dismissing her, Aegor studied her carefully.

"You said you’re willing to be bait?"

His voice was low, thoughtful.

"Are you willing to die for it?"
----


"Yes," Asha answered instantly.

"Even if I can’t kill him myself, I’d rather die trying than live with the shame of letting him go unpunished."
----


Aegor leaned back.

She was telling the truth.

And more importantly—

She had unknowingly given him the perfect idea.
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There was just one problem.

If he proposed this plan to Daenerys, he would be committing to a naval war.

He would be telling her:

"We must fight on land and sea, and I will take responsibility for the outcome."

That… wasn’t his responsibility.

So why should he take that risk?
----


"Fine," Aegor said.

"I’ll give you a chance—but first, you need to solve two problems."

"One—you are still a prisoner of war. You cannot publicly act against Euron."

"Two—Daenerys hasn’t even decided whether to fight him yet."
----


"So, here’s my solution."

"You swear your oaths to the Night’s Watch."

"Once you don the black cloak, I will take you to Daenerys. As a Greyjoy, you can present this plan to her yourself."

"If she agrees, you get your shot at Euron. If not—that’s your burden to bear."

Asha went dead silent.

Then, she nodded.

"Deal."