Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 386 Nas Island - The Flag of Sanctuary

The conflicts and clashes within the Red Keep's throne room in Westeros, blocked by the thick stone walls and distant waves, had yet to reach Euron Greyjoy's ears.

Even if the message, carrying threats and anger, came riding on the sea breeze, Euron would only respond with a cold laugh.

To him, the king's arguments and the envoys' protests were nothing more than bursting bubbles on the shore, a temporary uproar that would eventually dissipate in the sound of the tide.

These weak and feeble diplomatic statements became Euron's next pretext for starting a war.

At sunrise tomorrow, the fleet of the Iron Islands will once again depart from the coast.

Euron's gaze had already crossed the coral coast of the Summer Islands and was now fixed on the more distant south.

His next stop was Nas Island—the legendary butterfly island known for its velvet and beautiful women.

King Baron frowned, staring at the land marked as Nas Island on the nautical chart.

When Euron decided to set sail this way, he raised his objection for the first time—but not for the usual reasons.

"That is not an island for warriors, Euron!" King Balon's deep voice echoed in the council chamber. He said, "There are no strong walls or sharp blades there, no bloodthirsty soldiers. The Nath worship a so-called god of harmony," letting them—

They would rather break a musical string than touch a sword, and even apologize to the tree before picking fruit.

He described the residents who abandoned the coast and hid in the deep mountains and forests—they responded to violence with silence and replaced resistance with escape.

The Nas people on Nas Island are incredibly weak and can be bullied by anyone. They have no defenses whatsoever, but this seemingly easily accessible land hides a defense more terrifying than any army.

"Legend has it that butterflies with eye-spots on their wings are messengers of the gods. They protect the island, ensuring that every invasion ends with the same curse—butterfly fever."

King Baron described in detail the horror of the illness: a high fever would begin, followed by a strange and frenzied dance that could not be stopped, and the patient would be unable to eat, until the skin bled and the muscles peeled off the bones like rotting cloth.

Even though Nymeria and her valiant Loyna warriors were treated kindly by the Nath, they could not escape the plague that drove them away.

"How do you intend to rule such an island? Are you going to capture those Nath people who wouldn't even step on an ant and enslave them?" Baron finally posed this unsolvable question, his voice tinged with sarcasm—after all, everyone knew that Euron's fleet never engaged in the slave trade.

"I know all that you've said—the ancient history, the butterfly curse." Euron raised his eyes, his heterochromatic pupils unwavering, and said calmly, "I've never thought of ruling that cursed land."

Baron frowned, waiting for him to continue.

"We're not going to rule," Euron chuckled, a slight smile playing on his lips. "We're just going to protect. All I'm going to do is plant our Iron Islands' golden kraken flag on their shores and become the nominal guardians of that land."

"Protection?" Baron repeated the word, as if savoring a strangely flavored fruit.

"Of course." Euron's expression was unusually serious, even solemn: "For these people who are indifferent to worldly affairs..."

People who love peace, shouldn't we, the strong who wield swords, generously offer protection? Isn't that an honor?

Baron fell silent. He looked at Euron, utterly disbelieving that this man who treated war as an art would suddenly have a change of heart. Behind these seemingly noble words, there must be a deeper scheme at play.

Seeing his brother Baron's lingering doubts, Euron chuckled and patted the twin swords at his waist. "Don't worry, brother," he said, "I have my own course. The fleet won't dock, the sailors won't land. I'll go alone, riding the Harishion," and return before sunrise. I won't disturb their gods, nor their dreams."

Nas is located in the western part of the Basilisk Islands, north of Sothros, and directly south of the Valyrian Peninsula, separated from Zal and Valyria by the Summer Sea.

The Nas people are known as the "peaceful people" by the wider world because of their generations of peace-loving tradition.

This peaceful and unassuming kindness became a symbol of disaster for the slave-owning nations across the cruel Narrow Sea.

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The cunning slave traders had long since figured out the patterns on Nas Island: staying only a few hours would make it difficult to contract the terrifying "butterfly fever." Furthermore, since the butterflies, considered messengers of the gods, were diurnal, dark and stormy nights became the perfect opportunity for their raids. Time and again, they surged ashore like a tide, penetrating the tranquil inland, wielding their knives against the inhabitants whom even animals wouldn't harm.

Women from Nas Island were highly sought after in the brothels of the Free City due to their unique gentleness and beauty, becoming the most expensive slaves.

In the greedy eyes of slave traders and pirates, every gentle Nash was nothing less than a moving, breathing mountain of gold.

They measure life with eyes stained with the stench of money, and put a price tag on pure souls.

The dreaded butterfly fever was indeed a terrifying chasm, but before the golden dragons that could fill the decks, even death seemed to be bribed. To seize this astonishing profit, they were willing to take risks, paving a bloody road to wealth with the bones of their companions.

This dark past unexpectedly wove together a precious friendship.

The warrior queen Alicia once rescued a Nas girl named Freya from a rusty cage during a fierce naval battle with a slave ship. She personally escorted the future queen back to her homeland, and the seeds of friendship quietly sprouted amidst blood and fire.

Since then, an invisible bridge has been built between Nas and Isla Mujeres.

Queen Freya visited the island multiple times, exchanging its fine velvet and rare medicinal herbs for the fruits and salt of the Isle of Women. Therefore, when Alicia heard that Euron intended to become the "protector" of Nas, she immediately approached him.

“The Nath will gladly accept your banner,” Alicia said to Euron, her eyes shining with certainty. “They have suffered greatly from plunder and desperately need a talisman to deter the wolves.”

Alicia offered, "If you'd like, I can accompany you myself. Queen Freya is an old friend of mine, and it would be most appropriate for me to introduce you."

Euron's lips curled into a smile as he said, "With pleasure. Then, I'll trouble the Warrior Queen to accompany me on this journey."

“Just call me Alicia.” Alicia nodded slightly, her gaze never leaving Euron’s face. The sea breeze brushed against her temples, and her eyes held a mixture of scrutiny and contemplation. After a brief pause, she spoke again, her voice low and clear: “Before we set sail, I still have one question. Are you really—merely content with just planting your flag on that beach, that island?”

Euron laughed and said, "Everyone knows that my fleet does not transport slaves, and I never engage in the slave trade. You saw it for yourself in the Summer Islands; I do not take pleasure in killing, and I have never killed innocent civilians."

“I know.” Alicia stepped forward, her skirt brushing the deck, and said, “That’s precisely why I’m even more curious. I know you’re a very ambitious person, and I know you wouldn’t make a meaningless deal. These past few days I’ve been pondering how a single, unguarded flag can truly deter the wolves lurking in the shadows.”

"So," Euron turned his head with interest and asked, "have you figured out the answer?"

Alicia took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "Your target was never Nas Island, but the slave owners who treated the Nas people as property. What you need is a legitimate excuse," a warship that can sail to them at any time.

A glint of light flashed in Euron's eyes, like a bolt of lightning suddenly appearing in the dark clouds. He hadn't expected that the one who truly saw through this veil was the warrior queen from the island of women before him.

"Now that you've guessed it," Euron asked, his voice tinged with inquiry, "why are you still willing to help me?"

“I’m not helping you, but Nas Island, and the peace-loving people of Nas,” Alicia replied resolutely. “Your actions and your flag may not stop all pirates and human traffickers, but they can at least make them less rampant. And ultimately, you will direct your attacks at the slave owners. Whatever your initial intentions, Nas Island will ultimately benefit from this.” She raised her eyes, looking directly at Euron. “Your motives may not be pure, but you can indeed help Nas Island. This time, your sword will strike those who deserve it.”

Euron gazed intently into Alicia's eyes and smiled. "You're very smart."

"Thank you for the compliment!"

Alicia suddenly said, "I've heard you wield dual swords and are the most powerful warrior in Westeros. Would I have the honor of learning from you?" She raised the spear in her hand, her fighting spirit high.

Euron smiled and said, "I'd also like to see the combat skills passed down from Nymeria."

The two men went up to the deck of the giant ship, facing the rising sun, and clashed with each other, swords and spears.