Patience is a deadly weapon in the right hands, but one that few warriors seem able to master. However, the Protector of Naath is one who can. He has waited fifteen years for this moment. He took his opportunities as and when they arose. The Imp was a notorious whoremonger. It took little difficulty for one of his agents to slit his throat, passed out drunk, after he had enjoyed her. It threw the government at Kings Landing into a chaos from which it has never recovered. Bronn Stokeworth was the next to go. The relatives of the Tyrells resented this upstart. A poisoned mushroom was quite sufficient to rid Highgarden of his noxious presence, and restore it to its true owners. The Reach will cause him no trouble when the time comes to strike. Grand Maester Tarly had choked on a pear; such a pity. It turned out that he wasn't much mourned at the Citadel after all. He has given military assistance to the Dornish, as they fight for their independence. Kings Landing still claims Sunspear, but that war is now as good as over. He would be tempted to strike at the false king, but the man is lost in world of his own by all accounts. Far better to leave an ineffectual king in place than run the risk of an efficient replacement.

He had been surprised to learn that the Queen of the North was profiting from the slave trade. She and her people had treated him with ill-disguised contempt, during their stay at Winterfell. Even so, he had not thought she would sink so low. But human beings will so often disappoint you. Still, this was to the good. His men had intercepted slave ships coming from the North, from time to time, and freed over three thousand people. Of those, a thousand men have been trained to fight, and are eager for vengeance, and a return to their homeland. Over the past five years, they have been sent in small batches to Pyke, along with over five thousand of his own veterans. It had not been hard to determine that the Pirate Queen shared his desire for vengeance. After a couple of naval defeats, Kings Landing had reluctantly recognised the Iron Islands as an independent country. However, the islands were barren, and famine was always a danger. Fortunately, Naath had an abundance of food. It had not been difficult to draw up a commercial treaty between the two countries, trading food for coal and iron ore. During the course of negotiations, it had become clear that the Greyjoy wanted to reverse the settlement at Kings Landing; and shared his need to obtain justice for the woman who had freed him from bondage.

After years of planning, it is now time to strike. Obtaining reliable information from the North has been a great deal harder than from the South. The Wolf Queen's Inquisiton is formidable, and more than one of his agents has died in her torture chambers. But, he has been able to build up an accurate picture over time. He knows the expression It is better to be feared than to be loved, for men love at their own convenience, but fear at the convenience of another. She is feared, and rightly so. But, she has committed the cardinal error of making herself hated. A tyrant can hold down her subjects, but he suspects that she cannot defeat a foreign invasion at the same time. Especially, when that invader comes, not as a conqueror, but as a liberator. Yara Greyjoy will claim the Northern crown, but will ensure that the Iron Islands and North remain separate kingdoms, and that the Northern lords will continue to enjoy their lands and privileges. As for the Smallfolk, they will hardly mourn the disappearance of the Queen's inquisitors.

He arrived in Pyke, the previous day. Now he meets the Queen, in her chambers.

"All is ready my lord. Over a hundred ships, and eight thousand of my men, along with yours. "

"We shall be outnumbered on land, still."

"We shall. But, the Wolf Queen's subjects are disaffected. The Mormonts and the lords of Stony Shore are seeking a change of Queen. I expect others will seize the opportunity, as well. Just think, for the first time in eight thousand years, a Stark will no longer rule the North."

"There is an end to all things. But, how will the traitor at Castle Black react? I have unfinished business with him."

"He and I have come to an understanding. I bear him a grudge as much as you do, but I despise his sister more. It would seem that he has no love for her, either. The Night's Watch will take no part in this struggle. And, he has given me invaluable information about the state of the North's defences. "

"I presume he has a price?"

"No retaliation against him, and I must promise to spare Princess Catelyn and send her to him. I can do as I please with his sister. You must forego your vengeance on him. The North would rally behind him, if he made a bid for the crown. Besides, he may have committed the murder, but it was the Wolf Queen who pushed him into the deed. "

"It goes against the grain, but he is no tyrant, at least. I promise that I will not seek vengeance on him."

"What news from our friend in Pentos?"

"He is old, but still committed to the cause. I have brought a wealth in gold and gemstones from him. And this." He handed Queen Yara a painting wrapped in canvass. When she unveiled it, it showed a portrait of a young girl, with a bird of prey on her arm. "Infanta with a Hawk" I believe it is called. He had it painted when she and her brother stayed at his manse. I believe it's the only portrait of her in existence."

"A rare gift. When I take Winterfell, I'll exhibit it in the Great Hall. I wouldn't want dear Sansa to miss that display."

"You won't kill her, then?"

"Gods no." Yara smiled nastily. "If there's one thing I've learned in this life, there are far worse things you can do to an enemy than killing her."