Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 101 Whispers and Lies

The revelry was to continue all night until dawn, or for people to get drunk and pass out on the beach in the hall. But after nightfall, King Coron left the hall, and Euron, Balon, and Balf also left one after another.

The stone chambers of Pike Town are hidden deep beneath the sea tower. Here, the embers of the revelry in the square can no longer be heard; only the cold, salty sea wind hisses through the cracks in the stone, and the candlelight flickers uneasily.

Inside the room lies the heart of the Iron Islands: King Coron sits on a sea rock, his face as somber as the sea before a storm.

His two sons, Euron, leaned against the stone wall, his eyes gleaming in the shadows; Balon, like a taut stone statue, rested his fists on his knees, every line conveying suppressed rage. Balf stood silently guarding the door like a reef, while the elderly Maester Clygon nervously examined his necklace.

Lisa, the maid, a woman who was usually as inconspicuous as a shadow, had now become the center of the storm.

Her voice was clear and calm as she reported, word by word, the whispers that had clung to the two princes like venomous snakes for the past three or four years.

“It started when Lord Baron was drunk,” she said, her gaze lowered but unwavering. “Someone ‘unintentionally’ brought up the distribution of the Ancient Road and the traditional rights of the eldest son. Lately, such voices have become more numerous and direct. They bluntly stated that the interests of Platinum Sands should be controlled by the heir, and implied that Lord Euron’s accumulation of wealth and recruitment of Red God Priests and Shadowbinders were acts of subversion.” She paused. “In the last two months, someone has begun to approach Lady Alanis, attempting to convey to Lord Baron through her the ‘necessity’ of striking first.”

Her gaze shifted to Euron, her tone changing slightly. "As for Lord Euron, the methods used are more subtle. They mostly praise him, commending his wisdom and courage as far surpassing others, and lamenting that his talents are limited by his status, thus subtly reminding him to be wary of jealousy and scheming from his closest relatives."

Lisa paused slightly here, her long eyelashes drooping as if she were considering how to relay the overly blunt suggestion accurately and gracefully. The air in the stone chamber seemed to freeze, and the candlelight cast flickering shadows on her pale face.

A moment later, she raised her eyes, her gaze not falling on any of the parties involved, but respectfully landing on the ground in front of King Koren. Her voice remained clear and calm as a report should be, but it carried a subtle hint that was hard to ignore.

"Recently—some people have even tentatively reached out to me." She carefully chose her words. "They didn't directly threaten or bribe me, but rather, in a tone that seemed to be concerned about my future, they revealed to me—or perhaps it should be called a reminder—that Young Master Baron felt 'deeply unfair' and 'frustrated' about the current distribution of benefits on the ancient road."

She took a slight breath and continued, "After that, they asked me in an almost pitying tone if I was willing to 'make plans for myself' and implied that with my looks and intelligence, if I could win the favor of young master Baron, my future might certainly be more than just that of a maid." She finally uttered the word softly, "They asked me if I was willing to become young master Baron's 'salt concubine'."

The moment these words were spoken, the temperature in the stone chamber seemed to drop several degrees. This proposal went far beyond ordinary power struggles; it was like a cold, venomous snake, not only attempting to sow discord between father and son, brothers, but also trying to turn a seemingly unrelated maid into a pawn on the chessboard. Its sinister and despicable intentions were blatantly obvious. Moreover, this "seemingly unrelated" maid had been by Euron's side ever since arriving in the Iron Islands, helping him with all his chores. In everyone's eyes, it was already certain that she would become Euron's concubine; it was only a matter of time.

The elder brother, Balon, harbors illicit desires for his younger brother Euron's salt concubine!

The room was deathly silent, save for King Coron's heavy breathing. Baron's face flushed with rage. Balf's expression also turned extremely grim, while Maester Clay let out a silent sigh.

"Enough." King Koren's voice, like a boulder rolling down, broke the silence. He rose from his throne, his massive body rising, his gaze like a cold anchor, fixing on his two sons one after the other.

"These venomous insects lurking in the shadows," he growled, "trying to corrupt my blood and tear my archipelago apart with whispers and lies." His fist slammed heavily on the armrest. "Lisa, keep an eye on them! Every single one! I need to know who's behind this damned conspiracy!"

After a moment of silence, King Coron struck the seastone scepter heavily with his fingers, producing a dull thud as if to affirm his resolve. His deep gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on his two sons, his gaze as heavy as the pressure of the deep sea.

"But now, the probing dagger should be sheathed." His voice was deep, yet carried an undeniable authority, echoing in the stone chamber. "These small actions, these whispers that fester in the shadows, are like the holes drilled in the hull of a ship—seemingly insignificant, yet enough to sink even the most fortified warship. They bring no glory, only flood the decks of our family with the filth of suspicion, and allow the flames of division in the Iron Islands to burn ever brighter with every whisper."

He slowly rose to his feet, his massive frame casting a shadow that enveloped almost everyone present. "It's time to end this. Otherwise, these rumors will no longer be whispers, but a raging storm tearing at our throats. Didn't the old lady of the Redwin family just openly and blatantly instigate this in public? If we don't stop it soon, many more others will say similar things!"

The next morning, as the island lords, grieving and laden with spoils, prepared to depart, they were summoned once again before the sea stone.

King Coron stood tall in the morning light and sea breeze, his face showing no trace of revelry, only a cold majesty.

"The revelry is over!" His voice cut through the roar of the waves, reaching everyone's ears clearly. "Before you leave, one thing must be clear, as ironclad as a law!"

He reached out and pointed to Baron, who stood beside him with a cold expression.

"Baron Greyjoy, my eldest son, will be the sole and rightful heir of the Iron Islands! His rights are granted by both the Seastone and the Ancient Trail traditions, and are beyond question!"

His gaze swept across the entire area like a blade, lingering particularly on the faces of certain lords.

"I've heard that some people have tongues as venomous as sea serpents, who love to spread rumors and sow discord among my sons." His voice suddenly turned incredibly dangerous. "Listen, this is my first and last warning: keep your tongues shut. Anyone who dares to utter another rumor, attempting to divide House Greyjoy, challenging my decision—whether lord, captain, or priest—I will personally rip out their tongue and chain them to the rocks to offer to the drowning god!"

The chilling warning, like a winter's chill, instantly extinguished everyone's remaining intoxication.

At that moment, they clearly realized that the king's wrath was far more terrifying than the enemy fleet. In absolute silence, the lords bowed their heads in submission, then quickly and quietly boarded their respective ships and left Pike.

1