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What is dead may never die (Chapter 97)
🕑 Added 2023-11-19 17:20:32 +0000 UTCBy the command of the Supreme Commander
Theon POV
Well, in a way, I was fucked. Even though we held advantageous positions. The pyramids were easy to defend, and we had enough hostages to last us the winter. But without the supreme commander in my hands, I couldn’t disperse the slave army. Neither could I hold back the Iron Legions from New Ghis and the men from Volantis.
It might be best to wait for reinforcements, but it didn’t feel right. I risked a lot and have probably exhausted a pretty fair amount of my luck to get into this position. I wasn’t ready to acknowledge that I needed help. Not before I run out of options. And even if I did run out of options like now, I only needed to find new ones and end this once and for all.
“These are all the documents signed by the supreme commander,” Anguy dropped piles of documents before me. “It ranges from commands to letters and short messages.”
“Good,” I replied, taking a look at them. “It is time to get to work. Prepare blank paper and pen with ink.”
Even though the supreme commander was dead, it didn’t mean I couldn’t trick the others of it being otherwise. All I needed was to write a believable command for the slave soldiers to surrender and lay down their weapons. Telling them to fight for me might be a bit too much and unbelievable, but as long as I can copy the handwriting of the supreme commander and forge his sign, it should work.
“The situation seems stable for now,” Thoros informed me as he returned from observing the outside. “The soldiers are hesitant to attack the Pyramids for fear of the lives of the hostages, and our defenses look good enough to hold for a while.”
“How is the search for his children coming up?” I asked Anguy.
“We found two sons and one daughter,” Anguy quickly replied. “But we know he has two more daughters. It might seem that they aren’t in the pyramid.”
It wasn’t hard to find the families of the Wise Masters. Their demeanor was different from others. Most were prideful and arrogant and didn’t care what they said. They probably felt like no one could touch them until now, no matter what they did. Well, I have now shattered their dream world, and they will only be used for my purposes.
“Hang by his legs from the tallest point of the pyramid,” I instructed Anguy. “Show the armies waiting for us outside that we are not messing around.”
“Which one?” Anguy didn’t care for my methods even one bit.
“The worst one.”
Anguy left to do his job with a nod while I started my own. At least I have my memories of learning Valyrian in Winterfell. Otherwise, I might be fucked. Reading through all the documents the supreme commander wrote, I started copying words to write a command for the surrender of the Yunkai forces. One word by one, I begin writing.
…
In a way, I was lucky that Bronn was smart enough to abandon his post and go into hiding in the city of Yunkai. It was only a question of time before he was discovered, but when most of the forces of Yunkai were concentrated on the occupied pyramids, Bronn was mostly safe. So, it wasn’t a surprise that he cursed me when a seagull found him and delivered a letter to him.
Still warged into the seagull, I watched over Bronn as he read the letter. It was a slow progress, as he recently learned how to read. After he had read, I heard him sigh in defeat. Putting on a disguise and hiding his sword, Bronn instructed the rest of his group to wait for him. Bronn followed my lead as I flew above him and led him through the streets to his destination.
Weaving through the streets, avoiding soldiers and guards, I quickly led Bronn to the barracks occupied by the Windblown sellsword company. From what Oberyn has said, Windblown and the Company of the Cat had some enmity. And from what I was able to observe, although the Company of the Cat had more men, the Windblown sellswords were more disciplined and better armed.
“Who goes here?” A guard stopped Bronn in Valyrian.
Bronn didn’t understand his words, but the spear's sharp end told him everything he needed to know. Bronn picked up the second letter I had dropped on him and presented it to the guard. The guard took and read to whom it was addressed. The guard tried to ask Bronn a few questions, but Bronn didn’t understand the Valyrian and just shrugged his shoulders.
By the third question, the guard gave up, pointed for Bronn to wait, and left. Bronn glanced around, uncomfortable, and would periodically touch his sword handle. He didn’t know if the guard went to bring his leader or gather more men to capture him. I could tell that Bronn was sweating excessively. But I could see Bronn had nothing to worry about as the Guard returned with his leader.
“You don’t speak Valyrian, do you?” An old man with silver-grey hair approached Bronn and asked in common tongue.
“Not a word,” Bronn replied with a confident smile.
“Come, we speak inside,” The old man said, motioning for Bronn to follow. “People call Tattered Prince.”
“Bronn.”
I landed on Bronn’s shoulder before he entered the barracks. The Tattered Prince looked questionably at me, but in the end, he ignored the bird on Bronn’s shoulder. The barracks were cramped. Every room they passed was filled to prim with men and their stuff. It was more cramped than my ship, and at least my ship was filled with gold.
“Is what was written in the letter true?” The Tattered Prince asked as they entered a private room.
“Which part?” Bronn asked, as he had no idea what was written in it.
“The part where it says that even if we win this battle, we won’t be paid by the Wise Masters.”
“Probably,” Bronn said truthfully as he sat by the table. “I don’t know much how the Wise Masters make an opinion, but if my king said it so, it must be true.”
“You know I could kill you as you just confessed to be serving the invader.”
“You could, and then you would lose,” Bronn replied with a smirk, but I could see him reaching for his sword handle.
“I have to say, it was a bold move to invade the city like he did,” The Tattered Prince said with a bit of admiration. “But it was still a foolish move that will cost him his life.”
“Heh,” Bronn chuckled, finding the Tattered Prince’s words funny. “I know nothing about the Wise Masters, but I know Theon Greyjoy. There is a reason why he is called the Undead. He is a Black King that doesn’t lose.”
“Luck runs out eventually,” The Tattered Prince replied, not impressed by Bronn’s words. “The other Wise Masters are willing to sacrifice the hostages' lives. They are just waiting so they wouldn’t look too eager to do so.”
“Luck isn’t something King Theon had much to begin with,” Bronn said, narrowing his eyes at the Tattered Prince. “Let me put it this way: even if you manage to storm the Pyramids.”
“When,” The Tattered Prince interrupted Bronn. “There is no question of if. We will break to their defenses after the Wise Masters decide to abandon the hostages.”
“Even then,” Bronn continued, not disturbed by the Tattered Prince’s words. “King Theon won’t go without a fight. He would rather bring the whole Pyramid down with him than be defeated.”
“Still, it has nothing to do with me,” The Tattered Prince replied. “So, you better think carefully about your next words before I decide to capture and bring you to the Wise Masters.”
“Well, if that you answer, so be it,” Bronn took his hand from his sword handle and settled it on the table. “But if I were you, I would start enjoying the last moments of your life.”
“Your threats mean nothing to me,” The Tattered Prince replied disappointedly.
“I'm sure you are not concerned,” Bronn smirked. “But I wonder, when you are so preoccupied with us, have you forgotten who we are with? Mother of the Dragons rings any bells? Astapor? The Unsullied? You will break through the defenses we have erected, but won’t it be too late by then?”
“So, it wasn’t a foolish action?”
“Have you seen the gold King Theon brought to Yunkai?” Bronn asked and waited for the Tattered Prince to nod. “It is all yours if you agree to fight for us when the real battle begins. And you should remember that we could have come to the Company of the Cat with the same proposition.”
“And how would I know when the real battle begins?”
“The bird will inform you,” Bronn pointed at the seagull on his shoulder.
I fluttered my wings before landing on the Tattered Prince's shoulder and returned to Bronn. Bronn stood up and left the private room before leaving the barracks. Nobody stopped us, so it was clear that the Tattered Prince was intrigued by the proposal. Of course, if he senses that we are losing, he will change sides, but it also means that the Tattered Prince will join the winning side. And I had no desire to lose.
…
Not being able to sleep and not getting tired had its advantages. Working without rest, I quickly wrote a convincing command in the same handwriting as the supreme commander and copied the signature perfectly. I would have done it faster if I hadn’t been busy observing the outside of the Pyramid and furthering my plan.
“Theon,” Thoros called out for me. “The Wise Masters want to meet you to discuss your terms.”
“So, it is time for us to crush them,” I replied with a smile as I stood up.
The path had to be cleared for us to leave the pyramid. A small path was created from us to pass the hall to the double doors that separated us from the outside. And even the double doors couldn’t be opened all the way through. The barricades didn’t allow it. But it was enough for me and my guards to pass through.
A short distance from the Pyramid stood the allied forces of Yunkai. The Wise Masters stood first protected by their slave soldiers. On one side of the Wise Masters stood the Iron Legions and the men from Volantis. On the other side, I saw the Tattered Prince and other leaders of their sellsword companies. It was a pretty warm welcome.
“King Theon Greyjoy.”
“Shut up,” I interrupted the Wise Master who was addressing me and instead turned to the slave soldiers of Yunkai. “By the command of the Supreme Commander of the Armies and Allies of Yunkai, all the slaves of Yunkai are free. They may take their weapons and leave the city.”
“What nonsense are you…”
“Be quiet!” I silenced the Wise Master, who tried to stop me before I continued in Valyrian so the slaves would understand me. “I have the command of the Supreme Commander himself, written and signed by him. No one has the authority to deny his command, so I say once again, slaves of Yunkai, you are free, and the only ones holding you back are the people you are protecting. Don’t fear them, for if they try to fight you, as a member of the Mother of Dragons court, I am obliged to help you and fight with you for your freedom.”
With that, I threw the command to the slave soldiers and turned to leave. I could see the hesitation in most slave soldiers' eyes, but I also saw determination. They might not have served the Wise Masters long, but I knew how much they must been mistreated and how much resentment they hold. Even if they were afraid to fight the Wise Master, with the direct command of their commander, they would leave. And it wasn’t like the Wise Masters could do anything to stop them, as one and a half thousand men inside their city would take that opportunity to strike.
