"What pulled Euron to the bottom of the sea was an iron weight tied with a thick rope. That thick rope was connected to a fifty-foot-long thin rope, and at the end of the thin rope were two airbags. It was thanks to them that I did not sink while diving close to Euron, and it was also thanks to the airbags floating on the surface…"
"Floating beacons?" Asha's description was somewhat vague, but Aegor understood the principle as soon as he heard it. "But how did you ensure the airbags would not be used by Euron to save himself?"
"I considered that, so I prepared in advance before boarding the ship. The size of those two airbags was just enough to balance the buoyancy against the weight of the iron block. After tying the iron block to Euron's feet, I only needed to puncture one of the airbags. After that, no one could stop him from going to meet the Drowned God."
Heh, quite thorough.
Aegor immediately understood, and a scene quickly formed in his mind.
Holding her breath, Asha gripped the airbags, the iron weight, and the bundle of thick and thin ropes in one hand, while using her other three limbs to swim in the cold and dim sea, resisting the chill and currents like a fish. She approached Euron from below and, within a single breath, completed a series of actions. She tied the thick rope tightly around Euron's feet, dodged his struggles, released the thin rope, and punctured one of the two airbags. In this way, the remaining airbag attached to the thin rope could not be used by Euron to save himself, yet after he drowned, it would float to the surface and mark the location of the King of the Iron Islands' body. Those who came to retrieve it only needed to find the airbag and pull along the rope to raise Euron's body and strip off his armor as a trophy of war.
What kind of divine maneuver was that?
In Aegor's eyes, who could barely manage a dog paddle or backstroke and could only ensure he would not drown if he fell into the water, this was a task of hellish difficulty, something utterly impossible.
"Too risky. If the thin rope did not fully extend or broke midway, or if the water where Euron drowned was deeper than fifty feet, would that not render everything useless?" Aegor shook his head, feeling chilled just imagining it. "And if you became entangled in the rope underwater and could not free yourself, would you not have failed the mission and lost your life as well?"
"Hmph, now you are suddenly worried about me? Who was it that thought even speaking to me was a waste of time a week ago?" Asha snorted, mocking him. "I knew you would object, so I did not tell you about this until after I succeeded. Just answer me, do you want it or not?"
A person who succeeds can say anything with confidence.
Aegor gave a soft snort, tolerating her impertinence.
She was absolutely right. If she had discussed this plan with him beforehand or asked for his approval, he would have rejected it without hesitation.
Dragonsteel armor was indeed a treasure, but it was far less important than killing Euron and winning the naval battle at Blackwater Bay. He would rather let this treasure remain buried at the bottom of the sea forever than increase the risk or casualties of this war for it, even by the slightest margin.
If asked whether he approved of such a plan, the answer would certainly be no.
But asking him whether he wanted it now that everything was done was another matter.
Admittedly, with his temperament, even if he possessed a full set of armor impervious to swords, spears, fire, and water, he would never personally charge into battle in tomorrow's siege. Asha rushing to deliver this today was, in truth, somewhat unnecessary.
That said, what man could resist the temptation of owning legendary dragonsteel armor?
Reforging Dark Sister into Lightbringer had been an act born of necessity and regret, but now…
"Does Daenerys know about this?"
"I did not steal it from her armory. Many people saw me retrieve the body, strip off the armor, and throw it back into the sea," Asha lifted her chin. "None of them were as knowledgeable as your witch, able to tell at a glance that this was forged from Valyrian steel. The plan to blow up Serenity was proposed by me, and the risk was taken by me. I killed Euron with my own hands, and he shares my surname. This is my war trophy, Greyjoy's treasure. What does it have to do with the Queen?"
Aegor slapped his forehead.
He had indeed asked a foolish question.
The ingrained habits of another culture had surfaced again.
Daenerys was not the emperor of a unified dynasty. In this era, even a queen would neither dare nor be able to seize war trophies from her followers, let alone something one Greyjoy had taken from another Greyjoy.
Asha giving him this dragonsteel armor was entirely reasonable and lawful. Only one question remained.
"You retrieved Euron's body and then threw it back into the sea?"
"What else? Even if there was a blood feud between us, he was still my uncle, my blood kin. Did you expect me to cut off his head and bring it to you?"
"Very well, my apologies. Let me rephrase." Aegor shrugged and abandoned that line of inquiry. "Why not offer this armor to Her Grace? Anything I can grant you, Daenerys can surely grant as well."
"Lord Commander," Melisandre interrupted, unable to contain herself as they went back and forth over whether to accept the gift. "The appearance of this scale mail here is no coincidence. It is a reward and safeguard bestowed by the Lord of Light upon His representative. It is destined to belong to you. Lady Asha merely served as the final link in its journey."
The red priestess clearly did not understand what they were truly discussing.
Both Aegor and Asha rolled their eyes inwardly, neither agreeing nor refuting her declaration.
Asha raised her head and met Aegor's gaze directly. "If I said it was out of gratitude for the considerable care you gave me while I was trapped in Queenscrown, would you believe it?"
Aegor narrowed his eyes, his lips unmoving. He had little patience for empty teasing.
"Fine, fine." Asha pouted, realizing she had failed to provoke him. "There is some gratitude, but that is worth at most a Valyrian steel dagger. The second reason is that this scale mail is made for a man. Even if I offered it to Her Grace, she could not wear it. As for the third reason, Lord Commander, you have not forgotten the grand ambition I once confided in you, have you?"
Grand ambition?
Aegor could not recall at once. After thinking for a moment, he made a tentative guess.
"Leading the Iron Islands to a better future?"
"That's right. Daenerys can pardon my crime of invading the North. She can help me shed my identity as a member of the Night's Watch. She can support me as Lady of Pyke, reward me with immense wealth, and even grant me the title of Guardian of the Islands. But she cannot make the islands prosperous and strong. That is beyond her will and her ability." The fact that he at least remembered her words pleased Asha greatly. She smiled and paused. "But you can. That is why I chose to give this treasure to you, instead of offering it to her."
(To be continued.)