Chapter 467

The Future of the Iron Islands?

To be fair, the question does have some merit. The Iron Islands, isolated and fortified by their geography, are surrounded by stormy seas and treacherous reefs far more defensible than Dragonstone or the Stepstones. Add to that Euron Greyjoy’s massive fleet—one of the largest and most formidable in all of Westeros, perhaps even the known world—and it’s clear that the Iron Islands are among the hardest territories to conquer. They would likely be one of the last regions to fall under Aegor’s envisioned rule for Daenerys.

However, this strength is purely tactical. Strategically, the Iron Islands are more a stubborn bone to chew than an unavoidable obstacle. For all the difficulty of launching an invasion there, it is even harder for the Ironborn to project power inland. Whether it was Stannis, Robb, Tywin, or anyone else, conquering the Iron Islands might be a challenge, but the same applies in reverse—Euron’s fleets are even less capable of making significant gains on land.

If Asha’s question about the Iron Islands’ future is a veiled query about Euron’s threat, the answer is simple: yes, Aegor has plans to deal with him. But if she’s asking whether Aegor has crafted a tailor-made strategy for bringing the Ironborn into Daenerys’s Seven Kingdoms... the answer is no—or rather, yes, but it’s not a priority.

Aegor’s plan for southern conquest is clear: start with the weakest first. Why waste time and resources fighting a poor, hard-bitten, sea-bound group of raiders when the Reach or the Crownlands offer far greater rewards? His approach to the Iron Islands is simple: keep a watchful eye on them, ensuring they don’t disrupt the broader campaign. Once the mainland is unified under Daenerys, the Ironborn can be dealt with like Robert handled Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion—overwhelming force, no room for subterfuge, and absolute submission.

Euron, with his bizarre magical trinkets and mysterious potions, might stir up trouble, but Aegor doubted he would dare to send sailors onto the mainland to disrupt his methodical conquest of Westeros. And even if Euron tried, what good would wooden ships and Valyrian steel armor do against cannons?

This train of thought ran through Aegor’s mind in an instant, but he had no obligation to explain his strategies to a woman who was once his enemy and now held limited value as a political pawn. Reclining lazily in his chair, he rested his elbow on the armrest and propped his chin on his fist, adopting an amused and casual expression.

It wasn’t an act of friendliness—he was genuinely entertained. After years of scheming, bluffing, and maneuvering in this strange new world, he found it refreshing that someone was finally trying to persuade him for a change.
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“I haven’t given it much thought.” Aegor’s exhaustion from recent tasks made him curious to see how Asha would try to pitch her ideas. “But if you have any thoughts, Lady Asha, I’m listening.”

His nonchalant tone and posture made Asha bristle. Once, she would have slapped anyone who dared speak to her like that before storming out of the room. But months of captivity had tempered her temper, and the reality of her dependence on this man forced her to bite back her pride. Most importantly, she knew that only Aegor had the power and incentive to help her achieve her goals.

At least he hadn’t dismissed her outright. The fact that he was willing to listen wasn’t the worst possible outcome.

“My father was Balon Greyjoy, Lord of Pyke and King of the Iron Islands,” Asha began. “He died clinging to the idea of ‘Ironborn glory,’ repeating idiocies like ‘what is taken is better than what is earned.’ He dreamed of breaking free from the Iron Throne’s control, restoring the ‘Old Way,’ and making the Ironborn feared across Westeros once more.”

She paused, her teeth clenched, before forcing herself to continue. “I loved my father, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was a stubborn fool. He refused to understand the truth—that the ‘Old Way’ was nothing more than piracy, and the so-called respect of the mainlanders was nothing but fear of provoking raiders. He glorified looting and plundering, blind to the misery he left behind. And he ignored how often the Ironborn suffered when the mainlanders struck back. I’ll not follow the path of my father or my ancestors.”

Aegor raised an eyebrow, mildly intrigued by Asha’s boldness in denouncing her father. He gestured for her to continue.

“The Iron Islands are barren, with poor soil and harsh weather. Long ago, raiding the fertile lands of the mainland was a necessary evil to survive. Back then, Westeros was a patchwork of weak, divided kingdoms that couldn’t fight back. The ‘Old Way’ thrived under those conditions.”

Her tone grew sharp. “But the unification of smaller kingdoms into larger ones—culminating in Aegon’s Conquest—made raiding increasingly dangerous and less profitable. The ‘Old Way’ became obsolete. Yet, the Ironborn cling to their glorious past, dreaming of wealth and power through theft rather than labor. It’s idiocy! They remember their victories, but never the times their villages were razed, their women violated, or their people enslaved in retaliation.”

Aegor smirked. He saw where this was going: Asha was trying to paint herself as a pragmatic, forward-thinking leader, in stark contrast to her father’s outdated ideals. It was clever—laying the groundwork for whatever favor she planned to ask next—but unconvincing. He decided to prod her a bit.

“Quite the high-minded perspective, Lady Asha,” Aegor remarked. “But if I recall correctly, you answered your father’s call to invade the North and were captured at Deepwood Motte by the mountain clans under my command. Doesn’t that count as walking the same ‘Old Way’ you just denounced?”

Asha glared at him but didn’t retreat. “You’re supposed to be clever, Lord Commander,” she retorted. “So tell me, what should I have done? Defy my father outright, lose his favor, and be married off to secure an alliance with some island lord? Or play along, gain his trust, and build the support base I’d need to change the Ironborn’s fate?”

She leaned forward, her voice firm. “I wasn’t born as the Iron Islands’ heir, Aegor. I’m a woman. Everything I’ve earned, I had to fight twice as hard to claim. When my father ordered the invasion of the North, I didn’t believe in his ‘Old Way,’ nor did I think his plan would work. But I followed his orders to maintain my position, knowing that when the time came, I could seize power and lead the Ironborn down a different path.”

Aegor tilted his head slightly, now genuinely intrigued. “And if Euron hadn’t returned to murder your father? If I hadn’t marched south with the Night’s Watch? What would you have done?”

Asha’s expression softened, sensing his curiosity. “While my father sent most of the Ironborn forces to raid the North, I would’ve staged a coup on Pyke, ousted him, and taken command of the islands myself. Only by leading the Ironborn can I steer them away from their doomed traditions and toward a new future.”
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For a moment, Aegor didn’t respond. Then, he smiled. “A bold plan, Lady Asha. So tell me—what is it you want from me?”