Queen of the Iron Islands Chapter 10
Asha and company venture into Euron's golden tent to confront the warlocks of Qarth. Will she survive their sorcery and charms? All recognisable ASOIAF characters, locations, and concepts rightfully belong to George R. R. Martin. This is just a work of fan fiction meant to explore an alternate history of the World of Ice and Fire. As always, feel free to read and review.
Asha: The Warlocks of Qarth
Euron's great golden tent loomed ahead like a great pearl lying in the midst of the sandy flats. Amidst the darkness and relentless rain, the golden tent shone like a dull lamp. Strange ethereal noises rang from the great tent. Euron's tent was surrounded by a circle of warriors wearing spiked bronze caps and armed with long spears. With their shields, they formed a circular wall around the great golden tent of the Crow's Eye.
These were the Unsullied, a breed of eunuch slave-soldiers from the Ghiscari city of Astapor who were renown throughout the Known World for their martial prowess and unquestioning obedience. They were regarded as some of the most disciplined troops in the world and also made excellent guards. Their training began at the age of five when young slave boys were plucked from their mothers and castrated root and stem. Throughout their lives, the Unsullied endured a brutal and regimented training programme that made them into fierce but disciplined soldiers. Unlike free men, they never raped or pillaged following a battle.
Asha recalled reading about the Unsullied's combat prowess one rainy day when she was a girl of ten. During the Battle of Qohor, an army of three thousand Unsullied armed with spears had held back a Dothraki khalasar that was over fifty thousand strong. Only six hundred of the Unsullied survived the battle but over twelve thousand Dothraki and their horses fell that day. To honour the Unsullied, the surviving Dothraki had ridden before the Unsullied lines, and thrown their cut braids down in front of them. Given their excellent track record, it was no surprise that the Crow's Eye had purchased a number of these warriors.
"I count at least twenty of them," said Lucas "Left-Hand" Codd, her former foe who had become their unlikeliest ally in the fight against Euron.
"The Crow's Eye has hired the services of sorcerers," growled Aeron Greyjoy, as he rubbed his eyes.
"They're trained to fight as a phalanx," whispered Asha loudly "So, I suggest that we unleash the archers among us."
"Ah, and rain down death on them," added Grimtongue.
"I wouldn't underestimate the Crow's Eye if I were you," interjected Germund Botley "He's got basilisks or lizard-lions. The guy's fond of collecting monsters from distant lands."
Like Lucas Codd, this former accomplice of the Crow's Eye had decided to change sides in the midst of the mayhem. He also wanted a chance to redeem his blackened reputation by fighting or dying in combat.
The thought of fighting basilisks and lizard-lions sent shivers down Asha's spine. Basilisks were large dog-sized lizards that were capable of ripping dogs and pigs into shreds. Lizard-lions were great giant lizards the size of lions with massive jaws that were capable of ripping a man to shreds.
"Lizards, why does it have to be lizards," groaned Asha
"Don't give up, my niece," said Uncle Rodrik gently "We're in this together and if it's the Drowned God's will that we die trying to stop the Crow's Eye. So bet it."
"I'll like to write my name in iron, fire, and song," said Freya, Hagen's daughter
"Me too," murmured Lorren Longaxe in agreement
"Me three," echoed Rook
"Me four," added Harmund Pyke
Asha commanded thirty-and-five men, survivors of the massacre at Nagga's Hill. At least ten of them had the wisdom to carry their bows and arrows and crossbows with them. Or to pick up some fallen weapons amidst the mayhem and carnage.
Let's do this for the good of the Iron Islands, she thought, and the Seven Kingdoms. Rising from a crouching position, Asha rose with an axe in her right hand and a charred torch in her left hand, which had been doused by Euron's sorcerous rain.
"This Crow's Eye has murdered your king and many of our kin and friends," she shouted "Now, he has consorted with sorcerers and demons to kill all who oppose his ungodly rain. In the name of the Drowned God, let us put a stop to his sorcery!"
The other Ironborn raised their swords, hammers, axes, and bows-and-arrows and let out a great roar. They swarmed Euron's camp from all directions and charged towards his great golden camp and the shield wall of Unsullied. Immediately, the Unsullied lowered their spears. However, Asha had prepared for this. Her archers and crossbow men open fire on the Unsullied.
"Aim for their faces and necks," screamed Asha. The Unsullied wore bronze helmets but they lacked visors and their necks were left exposed. They only wore a quilted tunic over their chest.
Asha's archers and crossbowmen rained a torrent of arrows and crossbows on the Unsullied. Within seconds, several had fallen; leaving gaps within the shield wall.
"Go, now," bellowed Aeron Damphair "For the Drowned God."
Several voices echoed in agreement. Since the defeat of the Greyjoy rebellion, the Damphair had not raised a sword or hammer in anger. Asha leapt forward through a gap and knocked down an Unsullied with her axe. She then finished the job by smashing him through the chest with two savage blows. That should give him a quick, painless death , she thought.
Having breached the Unsullied shield wall, Asha entered the golden tent of the Crow's Eye. On the outside, it was made of a tough, golden cloth that could withstand wind, rain, and sleet. As she passed through the silken inner flaps, Asha found herself within a darkened interior that was lit up by several braziers and tall candles. There was a rich, overwhelming smell of incense, myrrh, and frankincense in the air. The Crow's Eye tent was richly decorated with ornate furniture, ivory, statues to strange gods, and other loot that Euron had accumulated during his three years of exile. Gosh, this man lived in the lap of luxury, she thought.
Grimtongue and Aeron were next to follow. Next came Rodrik, Freya, Tristen Botley, and Rook.
Rodrik was bleeding from a gash in his right shoulder. Outside the tent rang the cries of men, the clash of steel, and the roars of strange monstrous beasts. The Crow's Eye's guards had set his lizard monsters loose on her men. She heard the clang of steel striking hard hides.
At the heart of Euron's great golden tent sat a circle of five individuals; three men and two women. They wore long, beaded robes and hoods which shrouded their heads. There was something creepy and sinister about their presence. They seemed to be chanting on some strange tongue. In the middle of the circle lay a blue, glowing flame. Screaming, Aeron and Germund charged at the warlocks but some invisible force threw them to the ground.
The warlocks then turned to face the intruders. They removed their beaded hoods to reveal faces with death pale white flesh and pale blue lips. Even the whites of their eyes were blue. Amidst the shroud of smoke and incense, their leader appeared to be a beautiful woman with long platinum hair and purple eyes. But as the shroud passed, Asha saw her true form and appearance. She was a withered old hag with violet blue flesh, pale blue lips, and pale blue eyes; the same colour as the Crow's Eye. She was one of the Undying Ones.
"Who dares to disturb the domain of the Undying Warlocks," thundered the Undying hag with a voice of thunder.
"I am Asha Greyjoy, the daughter and last surviving heir of Balon the Ninth of his Name since the Grey King," bellowed Asha "I am here to put an end to the Crow's Eye's sorcery and end his reign of tyranny and death."
"Yield or die, you heathens," roared Aeron "How dare you defile the sacred shores of Old Wyk! You are enemies of the Drowned God! Surrender now or we will cut up your flesh and feed it to the fishes."
"Haha," sniggered the Undying hag "Neither words nor swords can threaten us."
She and her companions raised their arms and hands. Suddenly, Asha and her companions felt a strange invisible force chocking their necks and chests. It was like being strangled to death by a great serpent.
"This is but a small sample of our powers. Our powers are greater than your Drowned God," taunted the Undying hag "Now, you will die. But there is something the blue flames want to show you. Something from the future"
At the sound of her voice, the blue fire quadrupled. It was a strange fire because it did not burn any of the tent nor did it leave a smell. Through the blue flames, she and her companions saw a stark vision of the future. A great winter with a long, dark night had descended on all of Westeros including the Iron Islands. Even the seas were frozen solid with ice. All of the Iron Islands were covered in snow. From the North, hordes of undead wrights, which had once been living men, were descending on the Iron Islands.
They were led by demonic ice demons with glowing blue eyes that rode on dead horses and giant spiders. The Ironborn fought back with sword and fire but to no avail. They were overwhelmed by the legions of the undead, who devoured on the flesh of the living. When all seemed to be lost, a figure bearing a flaming sword that parted the darkness appeared in the distance. He rallied men of all races for a great battle against the darkness and defeated the Others…
Asha's eyes were growing dim. This invisible force was choking the life out of her and her companions. It seemed that it was going to be the end. The Undying hag and her companions smirked at the plight of their foes.
"So, here lies Asha Greyjoy and her merry company," taunted the hag "Nobody crosses the…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a ray of light burst through the dark tent. Asha caught side of a wet sword and a wet head. It was Lucas Codd. He and the other Ironborn had succeeded in overcoming the Unsullied and Euron's lizard-monsters. Lucas, followed by Germund, Lorren Longaxe, Harmund Pyke, Fingers, and several others hacked their way into the tent with their blades. As quick as a pack of wolves, Lucas and his companions cut down the hag's companions with their blades. The ground quickly spilled with pale blue blood.
Almost instantaneously, Asha felt the invisible snake coil around her neck and torso loosen, as did her companions. Grabbing her axe, she planted her axe in the hag's head. Her head burst open like a rotten pumpkin. Asha could not believe that the warlock's flesh was softer than boiled pumpkin. The rain washed away the sorcerous blue fire. All of a sudden, the rain and lightning came to an abrupt stop. Asha and her companions caught a glimpse of the sunlight.
Asha and her companions had just turned the tide of the battle; though most of the acknowledgment had to go to Lucas and Germund, who had restored their names and standing in Ironborn society. The two Ironmen stood tall and proud over the corpses of the warlocks. They were no longer under the pall of shame. Nay, they were once again worthy Ironborn.
"It seems we won't be sending you to the Wall after all," said Aeron "You have saved the day."
"Thank the Drowned God," chuckled Germund "I hate snow and ice."
"Well, that shows that not all of us Codds are thieves and rogues," joked Lucas.
Asha smiled. But then another thought crept into her head. Thinking allowed, Asha said, "But where's Ila and Victarion?"
Endnotes
I am sorry that the great fight between Victarion and Euron will have to wait till the next chapter. Too much happens in this chapter. Basically, Asha and company not only encounter the Qarthian warlocks and the Unsullied. They also see a glimpse into the future that convinces them that the Others are real and that the Ironborn have to change their ways in order to survive.
Well, think of the Others as representing climate change. The unseen force that almost chokes the life out of Asha & company is a reference to The Force from Star Wars. I also decided to give Germund Botley and Lucas Codd a second chance to show that anybody can change for the better.