Chapter 62: Flying Bae

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  The ironborn forces holy weren’t as big as I’d been thinking. Sure, their fleet looked impressive for a bunch of pirates, but it wouldn’t really matter in the war that’s about to go down ieros.

  A few thousand men spread across a hundred ships—yeah, that’s not mupared to the armies we’ll see g soon.

  Which is exactly why I’m letting them head off to raid the Free Cities instead, I thought, standing on a rocky ledge while workers bustled around the docks below. The smell of salt and tar hung in the air as they got the longships ready for their jour.

  They’d be wasted if I sent them against Stannis in Bckwater Bay. Maybe in another sario, I'd have used them there, but e on, they'd just end up burning in wildfire, along with all of Stannis’ people. It would be smarter to send them east where they might actually do something worthwhile, such as plundering money for me.

  Taking the throne was ohing, but paying back the insahe owhat was a whole other war entirely.

  Viserion shifted under me, her golden scales catg the dull m light. She’d beeiless; she always did if we stayed put too long. “B... humans slow,” she grumbled.

  “Patience,” I muttered, patting her neck. “We’ll get moving soon enough.”

  Below, the st crates and barrels were being hauled onto the ships. I saw Yara on the deck of her fgship, yelling orders at her crew. The Pirate Queen had ditched her usual leathers for something more heavy, though she still moved with that predatrace I'd grown to like.

  I guided Viserion down the high sky, passing slowly over the gathering fleet. The ironborn all paused, looking up as my dragon’s shadow slid across their faces.

  “Once again,” I shouted, my voice carrying over the water, “you’re setting sail to prove yourselves. This time, I won’t be going with you, for my presence is more valuable here. Use my abseo show me what the ironborn really do. Prove you deserve that tough reputation you keep boasting about!”

  I heard them muttering among themselves. Some of them shot me nasty looks—these proud raiders hated beied like this. But what could they do, really? Pick a fight with a guy who has a dragon?

  Our eyes met from a distance—mine and Yara’s. She gave me the smallest nod, and I knew we uood each other. She had to keep them in check, steer them tood targets, and make sure they didn’t get any bright ideas about returning to raid Westeros.

  I'd initially worried about Yara. These people loved and respected her but might try to pi her after ret events. They might try to kill her.

  Fortunately, something very iing appeared during our test time in the bedroom.

  [Your first true mate, Yara, has adapted to your preseer you've ejacuted into her so many times. She's e to accept you as her queror, her mate.]

  [In many fairy tales, people use a dragon's human partner as his weako threaten him. To break him down by killing her. A dragon shouldn't ever be disrespected in such a manner, for worlds have met their end because of lesser things.]

  [To proteate, you ow lend one of your Draic Traits to her. The choice is up to you. Do not be worried; she’ll lose access to the trait if you want to.]

  [Y/N]

  I hadn't decided yet, letting myself sleep over the decision.

  But now that I saw her moving her fleet for me, I was sure what to choose.

  [gratutions, you've chosen ‘Yes’! You ow lend one of your traits treyjoy.]

  [Avaible Traits:

  Dragon Wings (Click to Lend)]

  [Good choice! Your Mate Yara Greyjoy ow access Dragon Wings. You still use it, too, even if it’s at the same time as she does. Once again, if you want, you also stop lending it to her.]

  [Would you like to lend your experien how to use these wings to her too, or have her find it by herself?]

  [Y/N]

  There was no meaning in holding back the experience sihe whole point in doing this was so that she remained safe.

  I watched as Yara’s eyes twitched and her knees gave in. She fell, clutg her head tightly, while a few men rushed to her to see if she was alright.

  A minute passed as Yara waved them off, breathing heavily as she looked up at me. “You...” She looked at me and realized it wasn't a ce. I was the one who did this to her.

  This was a great boon, and I barely held back my excitement at having such power. The problem with strong people always was that he often had weaker people around him. With this ability? It wouldn't be the case. Although I was unsure if this would work for the non-virgins too…

  She stared at me, her eyes full of wonder, before we exged o nod. She realized why I'd lent her such power.

  The first ships drifted off the docks, oars dipping into the cold water.

  Sails unfurled, bck cloth stamped with the golden kraken of House Greyjoy catg the m breeze.

  Viserion flexed her wings, ready to fly. I had my own busio care for, things in King’s Landing wouldn’t sort themselves out. It was almost time for Stannis’ attack.

  ****

  The wind spped at my face as Viserion soared through clouds that looked like cotton stretched across an endless blue sky. We’d been flying for hours, leaving the Iron Isnds far behind. The afternoon sun lit up her golden scales, shimmering in crazy shades.

  Down below, Westeros sprawled out like a live map. Forests, hills, and rivers were all woven together, though the Rivernds looked pretty beat up from all the fights. Scorched fields and burned-out husks of vilges dotted the ndscape, telling silent stories of Lannister raids and Northern ter-attacks.

  The destru seemed almost artisti up here, like someone had taken a torch to an eborate painting. Not that the on folk down there would appreciate that parison.

  The sight reminded me why I o move fast. Every day of war meant more vilges turo ash, more resources wasted oy lords pying their game of thrones. At least I had a dragon—that tends to speed up iations.

  “Smell… humans,” Viserion growled, turning her big head slightly. “Many… below.”

  She was right. Robb Stark’s army was camped all across the area, tents dotting the nd like ant hills, as I remembered.

  As we dropped lower, I saw soldiers pointing up at us, but the wind yaheir shouts away before they reached me.

  Viserion nded with a heavy thud in a clearihe main camp, letting out a roar to greet them. Many soldiers fell back, while most hung back like they weren’t sure if they should bow or run, but at least they didn’t look too freaked out. News must’ve spread that I’d been helping the North, as I'd agreed.

  “Make way!” someone shouted. I turo see Robb Stark heading over with many Northern lords at his back. There was no Catelyn—so she robably locked up by now. They had no choice but to do something after that Jaime fiasco.

  “Yrace,” Robb said, his tone warm but still formal. The Young Wolf looked more like a king tha time we met. That nurse who'd cursed his fate in the inal was beside him this time. “We didn’t expect you so soon. I take it that things went alright in the Iron Isnds?”

  “Better than I expected,” I said, hopping off Viserion. “The irot themselves a new ruler. Balon Greyjoy is dead.”

  That brought on a round of gasps from the lords. Lord Umber’s bushy eyebrows practically jumped off his face. “Dead? How?”

  His own daughter did it, but people didn't o know that. The Ironborn didn't know that either, otherwise they'd have called Yara a traitor. “I did it,” I answered casually, liking how shocked they looked. “Yara Greyjoy rules now, having submitted under my authority.”

  “Seven hells,” someotered, and another spat.

  Being the practical rule he was, Robb asked, “And their fleet?”

  "They're saili to raid the Free Cities. They're dohering the North," I replied, log eyes with him. A slight smirk pyed at my lips as I added, "Your shores are safe now, and they'll be bringing their particur brand of chaos to different targets that aren't us. Anyway, that's why I'm here. Yara made me swear that her brother wouldn't be executed, so I'm asking you to let him live. He's in your dungeons, the st where I left him.”

  Robb's face went stiff at my words, torween feelirayed and remembering the friend he grew up with. “Well…”

  I could tell he didn't really want Theon dead, pride or not. The young wolf had that same look I'd seen on tless faces before, the struggle between duty aioween eople thought they should do and what they actually wao do.

  It was always eaining to watch.

  Lord Karstark stepped forward, face going red with anger. “That turncloak should die! He killed i children!”

  “Aye,” Llover chipped in. “The North remembers.”

  Then Bolton, that sneaky bastard, spoke up. “A live hostage is worth more than a dead traitor. The boy’s already suffered a lot down there. If you allow me, I’d inform my bastard to handle him.”

  Several lords nodded, and I saw Robb rex just a bit. He finally found an excuse. I found that pleasing, as well. Ramsay Bolton was a freak, but he’d break down Theon well, even if not as devastating as the inal timeline sihe Ironborn were an ally now. But this way, the Iron Queen’s brother will and against her.

  “Fine,” Robb said at st. “Because of our alliand for the sake of who he used to be, Theon will live. But he stays locked up until the war ends.”

  “That’s all I need,” I said with a grin, my hand. Robb shook it firmly.

  "What about... my sister?" he asked, slightly unsure. "Is Sansa safe? I got report from the Maester already, but I want to know from you." His eyes searched mine, desperate for reassurance about his beloved sister's fate, starving to know how our retionship had grown in that time.

  He'd be disappointed.

  Family meant everything to the Starks; it was both their greatest strength and their biggest weakness. A fact I'd learo appreciate.

  "She's good since she's in her home," I said, watg his face carefully. "Winterfell is cold, but she's happy there between Bran and Ri. Last I saw, she was teag the younger one how to embroider, though he seemed more ied in throwing the needles at the practice dummies when she wasn't looking." I let out a small chuckle, remembering the se. "Your sister's strong, Robb. Made of the same steel as the rest of you Starks."

  He let out a breath like a huge weight was gone, his shoulders visibly rexing. He still looked a little unsatisfied, probably because I didn't drop any personal idea about Sansa, but he accepted it. "Thank you. Really. For all you've done for the North. We won't fet it."

  Some more thank-yous and praises got tossed around, the usual diplomatiiceties that came with being royalty. I pyed along, but I noticed Viserion shiftih me, her muscles tensing with growing impatienbsp;

  My beautiful dragon never cared much about human ceremonies, and soon, it was time to go. I adjusted my position and climbed properly onto her back, feeling the familiar warmth of her scales against my legs. With a final, deliberate nod at Robb, I gripped her spiight.

  "Until ime, King in the North." The words carried just the right mix of resped authority. After all, we were equals now, at least on paper.

  But for how long, Robb should wonder.

  Viserion spread her magnifit wings, golden membranes catg the cool northern light. With a single, powerful thrust that kicked up dust and made the nearby horses whiny in fear, we lifted off into the crisp air.

  I watched the Stark army grow smaller below us, along with whatever fate awaited Theon in his cell. Some problems were better left behind on the ground.

  It was time to return to King’s Landing.

  **

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  Author Note: Sorry for the ck of updates guys, been sick tely. Among some other personal stuff.

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