A ruler as prone to confusion as Daenerys especially needed calm advisors. At Missandei's reminder, she came to her senses, agreed, and announced that she would not make a decision for the time being.
The meeting adjourned, and the nobles moved on to the celebratory banquet.
With the great enemy not yet eliminated, the so-called celebration was naturally brief. Backed by the massive supplies generously provided by the Riverlands army, Daenerys's side would not have to worry about provisions for a long time. Tonight's feast was not only abundant in food, but also offered vegetables, meat, bread, and even a moderate amount of alcohol, which was usually strictly forbidden in the army. Everyone in the camps inside and outside Blackwall Keep, except for the rotating sentries, enjoyed drinking and feasting.
After lowering himself to drink with the officers at the same table and strengthen their rapport, and then dealing with Princess Arianne, who wanted a private "heart-to-heart" conversation with him with clearly improper intentions, Aegor, full from food and drink, returned to his residence with his guards, intending to handle a few official matters before sleeping.
Before he had even properly sat down, the guard outside knocked and reported that Asha Greyjoy claimed to have important information about the Iron Fleet.
The earlier meeting had been about how to deal with the Iron Fleet. How could this woman suddenly recall relevant information?
Aegor did not believe it was a coincidence. Someone must have intentionally or unintentionally revealed news of the Ironborn attack on the Dragonstone fleet to the Iron Islands princess. This female pirate's skills as an assassin were mediocre, but her ability to befriend others and extract information from strangers seemed to be improving. For some reason, people were always willing to tell her what was happening.
He did not particularly wish to see her, but since she claimed it was "important information," after a moment's hesitation, Aegor sighed. "Bring her in."
…
"Lady Asha, after resting for a while, has your mind cleared?" Aegor had actually wanted to ask if she still had the nerve to see him, but the courtesy ingrained in him prevented him from speaking so sarcastically to a noblewoman. With a displeased expression, he gestured to a chair. "Sit. Your important information had better be useful."
"Daenerys's fleet is no match for the Iron Fleet." Asha sat primly, legs together and hands on her knees, no longer as casual as before. Even someone as free-spirited as she understood shame after making several mistakes in succession.
"Whether they are a match, we will only know after fighting. That can hardly be called information."
"There should still be some of the inheritance Theon left me, right?" Asha did not dare argue and changed the subject.
"There is some left, but how much do you think my life is worth?" Aegor realized she had no important information. She simply could not endure being ignored and wanted to prove she still had value. "The last time you returned under the Crow's Eye's control and attempted to assassinate me, for that alone it would not be excessive to confiscate all of your brother's wealth."
Asha's face flushed red. She hesitated, unsure how to respond, and could only mutter, "I believe the Lord Commander is not that kind of person."
"Hmph, spare me the flattery." Aegor rolled his eyes. "I am not a good man, just not so petty as to seize a family's entire fortune. It is already generous of me to leave you a way out after the war. You should not waste my time by coming here. If you only want another chance to deal with Euron, then I must ask you to leave."
"I do not want the way out you give." Asha insisted stubbornly. "Let me tell you what will happen. Give me a ship. When Daenerys's fleet fights my uncle, I will raise the golden kraken banner and charge at the front. Euron will recognize me at a glance. With his arrogant and suspicious nature, he will surely command Silence to approach and personally board my ship to capture me. At that time, I will settle all the blood debts he owes, from my father, my uncle, and all those whose blood is on his hands."
What a heroic spirit. Even Robb Stark, protected by numerous nobles, had his direwolf slain before the Crow's Eye and nearly lost his own life. She, a woman, even with decent skills, what would she use to settle blood debts with a man like him?
"Guards."
Aegor did not wish to waste more words. He had little pressing business tonight, but even the small amount of private time he had managed to secure was better spent sleeping than indulging someone else's recklessness.
"I am no match for Euron, that is true." Seeing the guards enter to escort her out, Asha stood anxiously. "But do you not still have you? I am willing to use myself as bait to lure him onto one of Daenerys's ships. Can you not find a way to deal with him?"
Although Melisandre was present, Aegor also rose from his chair the moment Asha did. Once bitten, twice shy. He still remembered the danger of the last attack.
Still have him?
His first reaction was that even if he truly possessed unmatched martial skill and wielded Valyrian steel like Euron, he would never personally fight him. His own life was far more valuable than that madman's.
But in the next instant, Aegor realized that "still have him" did not necessarily mean he had to confront Euron personally.
For no clear reason, a rather ruthless term surfaced in his mind.
A suicide strike.
…
The two guards who had entered were about to remove Asha when Aegor suddenly stopped them, waving them away and leaving the Kraken's Daughter alone in the room.
"Use yourself as bait?" he said thoughtfully. "That idea interests me, Lady Asha. Answer me this. Do you truly have the resolve to kill him and the willingness to risk your life?"
"Yes, of course. If I cannot personally kill that bastard to avenge Balon and my uncle, I will never find peace, even in death." Asha spoke through clenched teeth, anxious that he might doubt her. "Give me one last chance, Lord Commander. If I do not return with Euron's head, I swear I will never appear before you again, not even for a moment."
Whether she found peace was none of Aegor's concern, but he believed her determination. More importantly, her words about using herself as bait had sparked a bold and dangerous idea in his mind.
The difficulty was that if he presented this idea to Daenerys, it would be tantamount to urging her to wage war on both land and sea, and he would be accepting responsibility for the outcome.
The Dragonstone fleet was not trained by him, and he would not command this naval battle. What was he to gain by interfering beyond his authority?
"Very well. Suppose I am willing to give you another chance. Two problems remain." Aegor gestured for her to sit and returned to his own chair. "First, you are still technically a prisoner of war entrusted to me by the North. It would not be appropriate for you to act openly. Second, whether to wage immediate war against Euron has not even been decided by Daenerys. I know nothing of the fleet's current condition, and I have no confidence it can defeat the Iron Fleet. I am unwilling to make such a decision on Her Grace's behalf."
"To resolve these issues, I have an idea," he concluded. "You will announce that you are joining the Night's Watch. Once you don the black, I will present you to Daenerys. As a Greyjoy, you will propose this plan in your own name. Whether she adopts it will be her decision, and the credit or blame for its success or failure will fall on you. What do you think?"
(To be continued.)
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