Chapter 80

|Balon Greyjoy - Lord of the Iron Islands and The High Admiral of the Iron Fleet|

Mobility. Mobility is the most important thing for any pirate. We need to go fast to surprise our prey, and we need to go fast to get away from each other. That is the tactic we, the Ironborn, use to become the most powerful pirates in the world.

We are the fastest pirates in the world, and it was the title that had never been taken from us until now.

"Row! Row faster!"

I grit my teeth as I see a fleet catching up with us. We are still faster than them because the Drowned Gods bless us for giving us wind, and they have bigger ships. However, for some reason, they can sail that fast.

It is as if they catch a big wind to push their ship faster.

"Arrow!"

I take out my shield and put it above my head. I could feel some of the arrows hit my knee and shoulder, but it was not fatal. The armor blocks most of the damage. I look around and see that we are almost reaching the strait.

We continue to defend ourselves from the attack that bastard Lunarians are doing to us. I release a relief breath when I see them stop following us when we get near the strait.

The strait is our greatest defense, and even the Lunarian fleet will not attack us without a second thought and long preparation.

I sigh once more and sit on the deck with my shield next to me.

"Brother"

I can see Euron walk toward me with that smile on his face. The smile mocked me for failing to attack the Royal Fleet before they could get together. He likes to do this. He likes playing mind games. He likes to see me lose control and attack him first. He is a bastard like that.

"What do you want, Euron? We just barely come out alive with minimal casualties and I don't want to hear your voice right now."

"What with the hate, brother? Aren't we on the same side?"

"Speak. I don't have enough time to play with you."

"Then I will speak plainly."

He sits next to me and says,

"Give me three ships and a hundred men to do as I please."

"What's for?"

"To attack the other city. We need to disperse the mainland army's attention."

"And how do you want to do that?"

"By attacking the Highgarden, of course!"

I look at him as if he is an idiot before saying.

"You want to attack Highgarden? The place where more than three thousand troops are waiting for you if they know you are coming."

"And that is why I will make sure they do not know when we are coming."

"And how do you do that? You need to go past the Oakenshield before you can get into the river to Highgarden."

"That is why I ask you to let me do whatever I want to the people I bring."

He gave me a sinister grin and looked at his men.

I see. He wants to rip their tongues out of their mouth, huh? The silent Euron's personal ship is crewed by a mute that he picks himself and then rips their tongues out of their mouth. As much as I did not want to admit it, he can raid Highgarden with his personal crew if he does it.

"Fine. Take a hundred crew and you can do whatever you want. Take as many items as you want from the storage but make sure you are successful in your mission. I did not want failure."

"Hahahahahaha! Don't worry brother, I never fail."

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"Your highness! Your highness!"

I put the fork on the plate and see a young man enter the dining room while panting.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry for interrupting you, your highness, but we have an emergency."

"What is it?"

"The Highgarden have fallen to the Ironborn!"

"What?!" Doran slammed his hand on the table and looked at the messenger. "Give me that!"

Doran looks at the letter from the Guild and reads it. Then, after seeing him giving the letter to Oberyn, I said.

"Can I ask the reason why you are so shocked?"

"With Highgarden falling under the Ironborn's hand, they can now attack Starfall using the river between the Prince's Mountain."

"Are you sure? If we notify Lord Dayne, they can get ready for the incoming attack, right?"

"That would be true if not for the captain who led the attack."

"Who is it?"

"Euron Greyjoy also known as the Crow's Eye."

"Why is he so dangerous?"

"Because he is quiet, your majesty."

I look at Patrick, who looks at the letter with a serious expression.

"Euron Greyjoy is a well-known pirate who did not make any sound when he attacked. The only sounds coming from his attack are the people screaming for help and begging for mercy. He is ruthless and cunning. Taking over Highgarden alone is proof of his cunning. Highgarden has three thousand troops in it and he can conquer it? That is something that should be impossible but he did it. That is what makes him dangerous, he is unpredictable. You cannot know what his next plan is."

"I see. Unpredictable, cunning, and ruthless. What a combination of personality."

He will do anything to make sure his goal is accomplished, and he has a lot of plans to accomplish that. We really need to watch his every movement.

"Patrick, can you tell Bakir to keep an eye on Euron for me? Keep close eyes on him but make sure he did not notice any guild member watching him."

"Of course, your highness."

"What do you think, Doran? Will you help the Iron Throne by attacking Highgarden and liberating it from the hand of the traitor?"

I look at Doran, who smiles softly.

"No. I will not move my army to help them. Mace Martell is a bastard who keeps shouting about how he is the one keeping us, a barbarian, at bay from the rest of the Kingdom. I want to see him face the reality that he is not invisible just because he has the most army in his city."

Fair enough. I also don't want to waste resources to help people I don't know. So let's watch what will happen for now and maybe station some of the navies in Starfall.