Chapter 675: Escape

On the streets of Tyroshi.

Suddenly, dozens of masked mercenaries emerged from both ends of the street, unsheathing their blades and lunging towards Asha, the Iron Throne's emissary, and her Ironborn subordinate named Gormond.

"Kill her!"

Both, seasoned in numerous battles, reacted commendably.

"Damn it!"

"Run!"

Asha and her Ironborn, their expressions altering, hesitated not a moment. They opted not to draw their blades in defiance but whipped their horses around and charged towards the direction with the fewest assailants.

"Out of the way!"

In this era, without mastery of magic, even the most formidable knight can't oppose dozens of foes simultaneously, for one doesn't have eyes in the back of their head.

Asha and Gormond made no mistake in their choice. They aggressively spurred their warhorses, charging into the mercenaries who dared not block their path with their lives, for being hit by a galloping warhorse meant certain death or grievous injury.

Asha managed to break through, but Gormond, her Ironborn, was not as fortunate.

He was yanked from his horse by a masked mercenary, crashing heavily to the ground. His warhorse, in pain, collided with the stable of a nearby tavern.

Thud, thud, thud—

Immediately, the masked mercenary pulled a dagger from his waist, ruthlessly stabbing it several times into the unfortunate Ironborn's abdomen, blood gushing forth instantly.

Gormond, his face reflecting disbelief, stared wide-eyed at the assassin as he fell.

The attack was so abrupt that nobody expected that, in the light of day on Tyroshi's streets, someone would dare assault the Iron Throne's emissary, a commander with two thousand soldiers at her disposal.

"Heh, heh, heh—"

Blood surged from Gormond's throat, obstructing his airway. He looked towards Asha's retreating figure, wanting to say something, but no words came. His head tilted, drawing his last breath.

Not far away,

"Hu~"

Asha Greyjoy, having fortuitously escaped the ambush, turned her horse around, standing on the street, gazing back towards the chaos.

Her eyes, having witnessed the faithful servant of her father - who had loyally followed her through thick and thin, through famine and feast in the mountains of the Westerlands - perish at the hands of these masked scoundrels, flared red.

"Damn it!"

On the other side, the mercenary leader who had just killed Gormond wiped the blood from his blade on the fallen Ironborn's body, lifted his head, and saw Asha Greyjoy observing them from a distance.

His eyes radiated mockery, then lifted his hand, making a throat-slitting gesture towards Asha.

This was a blatant provocation. Asha's eyes reddened, her hands clutching the reins until her knuckles whitened. However, the Ironborn Princess could only seethe impotently; to draw a blade and fight back now would be tantamount to suicide.

"Chase her!"

Meanwhile, the masked mercenaries, who had just surrounded them, had now regrouped. The leader, who had just killed Gormond, gestured towards Asha, not far away.

Instantly, the masked mercenaries chased after Asha, who, seeing this, changed her expression once more, then spurred her horse, its legs powerfully propelling it forward.

"Go!"

At this moment, the streets of Tyroshi descended into chaos, people screaming and scattering in all directions.

"Murder!"

"Murder!"

The suddenness of this scene left many unable to react in time. Now, however, they came to their senses. Seeing the body on the ground, and the assassins with their sharp blades, pandemonium ensued. Screams of terror filled the air as they scattered in every direction.

"Move!"

"Move!"

The chaos on the street hindered Asha's escape on horseback. Now, with her speed reduced, she couldn't simply charge through, everywhere people, panicked and scrambling, blocked her way.

But this staunch Ironborn Princess was not one to dither. Gritting her teeth, she leapt from her horse, attempting to escape through the frenzied crowd on foot.

The chaos on the street that hindered Asha's escape naturally also obstructed the pursuing masked mercenaries.

"Move!"

But they were not as civilized as Asha. Seeing her abandon her horse and vanish into the crowd, they grew anxious.

"Don't let her escape!"

The masked mercenaries, infuriated to see Asha disappear, drew their blades and began slashing at the Tyroshi commoners and slaves in their path, hoping to cut a bloody path through to find Asha.

However, the outcome was not as the mercenary leader expected. Their wanton slashing induced even greater panic on the street, chaos ensued, and the situation became even murkier.

"Chase!"

"Chase her!"

Asha fled ahead, while the mercenaries, like hunting hounds, relentlessly pursued, seemingly unwilling to relent until she was dead.

Their mission was not to kill an Ironborn, but to target the emissary of the Iron Throne. If they couldn't kill her, killing others would be meaningless.

"Move!"

"Move!"

The enemies chased her mercilessly for gold or greater gains, while Asha ran for her life, naturally investing every ounce of her will.

"Hu~"

"Hu~"

The dark-haired woman panted lightly, then reached out to grasp a small cart selling oysters, clams, and cockles by the roadside.

"Give it to me!"

She shoved the seafood vendor aside, pushing him to the ground, this innocent vendor who had no idea what was happening was pushed into a squat, falling heavily onto the floor.

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?"

Splash—

Asha didn't pay him any mind, immediately flipping the cart over with a crash, the overturned cart blocking the road, the stench of seawater and scattered shells instantly pervading, used to obstruct the enemies' pursuit.

The dark-haired woman fled ahead, the killers relentlessly chasing her, and Asha swiftly turned into a small alley, hoping to use the complex terrain to shake them off.

However, at this moment, an inconspicuous door in the alley suddenly opened unexpectedly.

Inside was a tall man, his face unclear due to the dim, unlit interior. He reached out for Asha, his movements swift, accurate, and ruthless, catching Asha off guard.

"Come in!"

He directly grabbed Asha's wrist, pulling her into the room, then heavily shut the door.