Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

After practice, sweat soaked their foreheads, and the sea breeze brought a touch of coolness.

Euron sheathed his sword and stood there, seemingly casually raising the question: "Sir, I heard that you recently wiped out the Kingsguard Brotherhood, which had been wreaking havoc in the region."

As soon as he finished speaking, Arthur Dayne's expression, which had been slightly relaxed due to the sparring, suddenly tightened, as if covered by a layer of frost. He remained silent for a moment, a trace of indelible sorrow flashing across his purple eyes.

"They weren't bandits, they were a bunch of demons fallen into the abyss." His voice lowered, as if soaked in the ice of the North, each word carrying a heavy weight. "They... nailed babies to oak trees, and drew twisted smiling faces on the bark with their blood. There was a madman... who, just because a mother had hidden half a sack of salt to survive, chopped her young son into mincemeat right in front of her."

He raised his eyes, his gaze passing through Euron, as if he were seeing that hellish scene again. "We've counted thirty-seven bodies," he continued, his voice suppressing a thunderous rage, "including twelve children. They should have had a future."

It was this heinous atrocity that prompted Arthur Dayne to petition King Aerys and personally lead an army to quell the rebellion.

According to Ser Jaime Lannister's later recollections, the "Smiling Knight" was comparable to the Mountain of his time: "He was somewhat mad, cruel in his ways, yet strangely possessed a twisted chivalrous demeanor, and most importantly, he knew nothing of fear." This reveals the terror and formidable strength of the "Smiling Knight."

But in the end, Arthur Dayne personally beheaded the "Smiling Knight" in the final battle, eradicating this scourge and winning the heartfelt love of the people of the Riverlands and the Royal Territory.

Arthur Dayne became a legend, deeply admired by later generations such as Jaime Lannister, Barristan Selmy, and even his enemy Eddard Stark, not only because of his unparalleled martial arts skills, but also because of the kindness, integrity, and nobility rooted in his soul.

He was the living embodiment of a "true knight"—brave and upright, vowing to protect the weak and innocent, especially women and children who could not defend themselves; he was of impeccable character, elegant in demeanor, and possessed the dignified bearing unique to soldiers. Jaime even once exclaimed in his signature sarcastic tone, "Ser Arthur Dayne could urinate with his right hand and wield a sword with his left, and still cut down five of you worthless wretch."

However, even such a near-invincible knight was not without victories in his countless battles. His only two defeats in his life were both against the same person—Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

This prince was not only the king's eldest son and the future ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, but also Arthur Dayne's closest friend.

Whether there was any exaggeration involved is something only the parties involved truly know. At least in Euron's view, Ser Arthur definitely held back in those two matches. But this wasn't cowardice; perhaps it was another manifestation of his loyalty and chivalry—his cherishment of friendship and his upholding of the Crown Prince's dignity.

Euron exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "You are a true knight!"

Arthur Dayne sheathed his sword and said with sincere admiration, "You possess extraordinary skill and courage. If you so desire, becoming a true knight in the future will not be difficult for you."

Euron burst into laughter upon hearing this, the sound carrying the untamed spirit of the Ironborn: "Ha ha, Sir Arthur, have you ever heard of any Ironborn from the Iron Islands being knighted? That seems rather contrary to the will of the Drowned God." His tone was half teasing, half stating the cultural divide that stretched between the Iron Islands and the mainland.

Arthur Dayne smiled knowingly and added, "And I remember they all said... you are the 'Son of the Drowned God'." This statement indicated that the extraordinary rumors about Euron, and even his mysterious title, had reached the ears of this Kingsguard.

Euron's smile faded slightly, his tone becoming more pragmatic. He gazed at the barren coastline and bustling port in the distance: "My father has always longed to change the Ancient Roads, to change the Ironborn, and to truly integrate the Iron Islands into the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. But it has always been fraught with difficulties. The Seven Kingdoms still harbor prejudices against us, and to this day still call us pirates, or even worse nicknames." His gaze returned to Ser Arthur, pointing to the land. "As you can see, the Iron Islands are barren, unsuitable for cultivation. The only things we can trade are salt, iron, and fish. If we were to pay three times the salt tax as the King commands… it would be tantamount to draining our lifeblood, forcing us back onto the Ancient Roads!"

Arthur Dayne nodded solemnly and said frankly, "I understand your predicament. But I am merely a member of the Kingsguard, and I have no say in the decisions made by the Council regarding taxation and national policy." He paused, then made a knightly promise, "However, I will truthfully report to the King what I have seen and heard in the Iron Islands, especially your actual difficulties. I believe that the King will make a fair judgment after understanding the truth."

Euron nodded. He believed Ser Arthur Dayne would tell the truth, his character and chivalry beyond question. But at the same time, he was even more certain that the mad king sitting on the Iron Throne would not have the patience to listen, much less make any "fair judgment."

The luncheon was a simple affair; Lord Owen Mariewes, the Hand of the King, did not appear. He instructed his servants to bring the food to his guest room, clearly preferring to spend time with the two Reese ladies in bed. From the afternoon onward, the lords of the Iron Islands, following orders, arrived at Pike City by ship one after another.

Inside the main hall of Pyke City, the salty scent of the sea breeze mingled with the chill of the stone floor. With each arrival of the Iron Islands lords, the atmosphere grew increasingly somber and meaningful. Euron Greyjoy stood in the hall, calmly welcoming each arriving vassal.

The lord of Black Tide Island strode in first. This old captain, known for his fiery temper, instinctively restrained his usual arrogance the moment he saw Euron. He leaned forward slightly, far beyond the necessary formality, and spoke in an almost hoarse but unusually solemn tone: "Lord Euron." The three words were short and powerful, yet filled with unmistakable approval.

A lord from Harlow Island followed closely behind (not Baron's father-in-law, but a member of a collateral branch of the Harlow family). He was an elder known for his shrewdness and erudition, yet he showed no sign of negligence. He placed his right hand on his chest in a gesture of respect uncommon in the Iron Islands, almost continental, and scrutinized Euron with a sharp gaze, his tone steady and resolute: "Summoned here, to await your command, my lord." His words were cautious and precise, as if reporting to a recognized ruler.

The representative from Salt Cliff Island was a relatively young captain, his awe tinged with undisguised fervor. He almost tiptoed to Euron, his eyes gleaming with admiration, his voice slightly raised with excitement: "Lord Euron! We saw your fleet return! It was truly…" He seemed unable to find the right words, finally nodding vigorously, "...truly remarkable!"

The man from Old Wake Island was a taciturn old man, his face as weathered as a rock etched by the sea. He said nothing, but walked up to Euron, stopped, and looked deeply into Euron's eyes with his grey eyes, which had seen countless storms. Then, slowly and solemnly, he lowered his head, a head that had never yielded easily. This silent respect carried more weight than any flowery words.

The lords of the other islands arrived one after another. Their behavior may have varied in detail, but the core was the same: their eyes followed Euron closely, carefully capturing every word he said and every subtle change in his expression, as if his words themselves contained unquestionable weight and wisdom.

Throughout the entire process, no one questioned why Euron was in charge. The natural acceptance and respect created an invisible force field that made onlookers clearly feel who was truly in control of the situation.

The two Kingsguard—Arthur Dayne and Levin Martell—stood like two silent white statues in the shadows of the hall, their sharp eyes not missing a single detail. They took in every expression, gesture, and word of every lord as they faced Euron; it was not mere formality, but a deep-seated, almost instinctive respect.

Ser Arthur's handsome face remained impassive, but a faint hint of surprise and scrutiny flickered in his deep purple eyes. He had seen countless nobles throughout the Seven Kingdoms, from vassals of the Riverlands to princes of Dorne, and knew that such heartfelt reverence could not be easily obtained through noble birth or military prowess alone.

Levin Martell, the Iron Guard from Dorne standing beside him, raised an eyebrow slightly. He recalled the assessment of Euron by Prince Oberyn Martell, known for his sharp eye, before his departure: "Having traveled with that boy for three years, the only thing I'm certain of is that he is, besides the true dragons, another prodigy whose forehead has been kissed hard by fate. Given time, no one in the Seven Kingdoms will be able to ignore his name." At the time, Levin had dismissed it as the prince's usual exaggeration, but now, seeing it with his own eyes, he truly understood its weight.

The two knights exchanged a swift glance, needing no words to understand the shock in each other's hearts. The image of this young Greyjoy's second son suddenly became even more profound and extraordinary in their eyes. He had clearly already conquered these Iron Island lords, known for their unruly nature, with a wisdom, courage, or inexplicable personal charm far beyond his years, winning their genuine approval, and even… extraordinary loyalty.