Back in Meereen, Asher, Beskha and Croft were at the edge of the city, observing the signaling beacon of the slavers, a bowl of coal on a harpy statue.

"There it is. The East Watcher." Croft said as Asher observed the surroundings. "Now listen up. None of those guards can live long enough to light that beacon. Because if they do, this invasion gets a whole lot fucking harder." He handed Asher a spyglass. "Don't drop that."

Asher examined the outpost at the beacon, trying to plan out the attack before handing it over to Croft, who walked off, ready for an ambush with Asher. Asher turned to Beskha, who still seemed troubled. "Beskha?"

Beskha came back to the present before she waved Asher off upon noticing his worried look. "It's nothing. Just forget it."

"Is it Dezhor?" He's dead." Asher held her shoulder. "You gave him what he deserved. Time to move on."

"Not him I'm worried about. It's Croft." Beskha waved her hand. "It's done now."

They snuck towards the guards with their swords drawn and stealthily killed them as Asher pulled out a crossbow, covering Croft, who snuck up on the guards on the wall, killing them and Asher covered him. Beskha snuck up on another guard, slitting his throat and Croft barricaded the guard's post door with a barrel.

Asher snuck towards the beacon, while he continued quietly killing the guards but unfortunately, at the beacon, they were spotted as one of the guards fired a crossbow. Asher dodged, while another guard lighted a fuse that was about to light the beacon but Asher picked his hatchet and threw it, cutting the fuse before it would light the beacon as Beskha and Croft finished off the last remaining guards.

The invasion was going to go down safely. Or it would seem that way.

Rodrik, Elissa and Royland returned to Ironrath but as they got off their horses, Rodrik could tell his mother was worried. "Home at last. Back at Highpoint…" She looked up. "I wasn't sure your brother would survive the day."

"He nearly didn't." Rodrik nodded.

Elissa turned to him, concerned. "I was terrified when you called Ludd's bluff." She then managed to let out a soft smile. "But you knew exactly what you were doing." She dropped her shoulders, relieved. "He'll sleep in his bed, eat at our table… He'll be right here, where he belongs."

"I knew Ludd would never sacrifice his son." Rodrik said. "A Whitehill is a Whitehill, just like a Forrester is a Forrester."

"You made your family proud today." Elissa smiled.

"My lord… look." Royland said and they were all shocked to see that the courtyard was empty. No one around, no guards or smallfolk or Arthur or his elite.

"Where are the guards?" Elissa wondered.

There was blood on the ground and an arrow stuck into the wall of one of the cots as Rodrik's blood ran cold. "Talia? Duncan?!"

"Where are the Glenmores?" Elissa wondered.

"Where's anybody?" Royland added, all of them looking around the empty courtyard, perplexed.

Then, from the Great Hall they heard maniacal laugh that Rodrik didn't recognize but Elissa and Royland clearly did as they both paled and looked at each other, alerted and horrified.

"Wait here." Rodrik said. He limped towards the Great Hall as he heard the male voice from inside. He didn't recognize it but it held a hint of sadism and twisted pleasure and his blood ran cold, hoping it was not who he had feared it was.

"Come on, don't be so dreary. It was a joke."

"I'm sorry. I…" Talia paused, nervous. "I should have laughed…"

"Or maybe you think you can do better?"

Rodrik paled. No. By the Seven Gods, not him. As he approached the door and opened it, he saw his sister at the table with man with a short beard, broad nose and dark and dry hair, smiling with sadistic glee and Rodrik immediately realized who it was.

"Of course not. I— I didn't mean to of-offend you." Talia said nervously.

"Perhaps a song instead? I hear you've written a touching song about your dead brother. Am I in it? Let's hear it, shall we?"

"No." Talia's voice trembled.

"No?!"

Rodrik tapped his cane to get their attention as Talia turned to him, relieved. "Rodrik!"

"Rodrik…" The uninvited guest tapped the table happily, smiling at Rodrik, who glared up at the man, who was clearly making his little sister uncomfortable. "Welcome back."

Rodrik clenched his cane, restraining himself from doing something rash and trying to keep his tone leveled. "Lord Ramsay. Welcome to Ironrath."

"How courteous. Now I know where your sister gets her manners." Ramsay took a sip of wine from his cup as he turned to Rodrik's sister. "We've had a lovely time together, haven't we, Talia?" Talia shivered upon meeting his eyes as Ramsay tapped the wood of the table with a look that made it clear he was not in mood for disobedience. "Say it. Say it's been lovely."

"It's been lovely." Talia said hesitantly.

Ramsay smiled, satisfied as he turned to Rodrik. "And you…" He smirked, intrigued. "I'm told you're a man who can't be broken." He got up and looked at Rodrik with sadistic pleasure. "I've decided to come see for myself."