All the searats were dead, but their ship was still intact. Dany had gone aboard with some of Boar's hares and freed the oar slaves from their chains.
The liberated mice and shrews were running down the beach. "WHEE!" they were shouting. "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Dany was standing on the shore with Boar and Tyrion, looking over the boat admiringly. "I'm no judge of ships, but this looks like a pretty nice vessel," she said. "I could sail back to Westeros in this."
Boar said, "I'm glad I didn't die in this story like I did in the book I came from."
"Story's not over yet," Tyrion reminded him.
Just then, two more ships appeared on the horizon. "I say, I hope that ain't more searats!" a hare exclaimed.
Tyrion noticed that the ships had kraken figureheads. "Those aren't rat ships. They're Greyjoy ships, from the Iron Islands. What are they doing in Mossflower?"
The ships pulled into shore and dropped anchor right next to Bloodwake. Asha got out of one and Yara got out of the other. They walked up to Dany. "Are you Daenerys Targaryen?" Asha asked.
"Yes," Dany said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Asha Greyjoy and this is my sister Yara. We've come to help you take back Westeros. We've got a hundred more ships floating out in the bay."
Tyrion had never met Balon Greyjoy's daughters before, but he had heard of them. "Only 100 ships? I thought the Iron Fleet had more than that," he said.
"Our evil uncle Euron has taken over the rest of the Iron Islands," Yara explained. "We will help you claim the Iron Throne if you help us deal with Euron and support our claim to the Iron Islands."
This was great news! 100 manned ships, combined with Boar the Fighter's forces, the army back at Marshank, and of course, the three dragons, would be enough for Dany to finally travel to Westeros and begin her invasion. But she had one condition before she agreed to their terms. "If I'm going to support an independent kingdom of the Iron Islands, the Ironborn will have to cease all raiding, reaving, pillaging, and rape."
Yara balked. "But raiding and pillaging is our way of life! We pay the iron price for everything we take."
"Well, you can't keep doing it if you want my help," said Daenerys. "Our fathers left the world worse than they found it, but we're going to leave the world better than we found it."
"I guess it is kind of dumb to acquire everything by stealing it," said Asha.
Swayed, Yara agreed. "Okay. We'll give up raiding the mainland."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Gilly and Steve had arrived at Oldtown. But they weren't going to the Citadel right away. First, Steve was going to drop Gilly off at his family's castle, Horn Hill.
"We can't let my dad know you're a wildling," Steve warned as they approached the castle. "He hates wildlings. And don't tell him that your father was the one who knocked you up. We're gonna have to pretend the kid is my son. Otherwise, Dad might not take him in."
He went up to the door and knocked. His mother, Lady Francine Smith, answered it. She was surprised to see her son. "Steve! What are you doing here? Did you desert the Night's Watch? Are you an oathbreaker now? Quick! Get inside! You have to hide before someone sees you and cuts your head off!"
"Calm down, Mom!" Steve said. "I didn't desert. They sent me away because the maester at Castle Black died. I'm going to become a maester myself so I can take his place."
"Oh. Okay," said Francine. Then she saw Gilly. In spite of the wildling girl's rough appearance, Francine immediately noticed her beauty. "Who's this?" she asked.
Gilly handed the baby to Steve and tried to curtsey. "If it please you, m'lady, my name's Gilly. This is my son… Steve Jr."
"Steve Jr.?" Francine repeated. "Are you telling me my son Steve is his father?"
"Uh, yeah, that's right," said Steve. "This is my son."
Francine beamed. "Oh, this is fantastic! I'm a grandmother! I never thought this day would come! And your father just came home yesterday. He'll be thrilled when he hears this news! Come with me, Gilly. Let's see if we can find a proper dress for you."
"I never had a real dress afore!" Gilly exclaimed. She had spent her life wearing old sacks.
"Well, you can wear some of my daughter Hayley's old clothes."
They all went inside.
