111 Never see it coming

Never see it coming

Theon POV

I should have seen it coming. Before anything else, the Iron Bank would want to push their agenda. Like everyone else, they wanted something for themselves before they even considered supporting us. They weren't in the business of doing charity work, nor were they in the business of losing. Ser Harras wasn't to blame. He did everything he could to try to persuade them.

"Their demands are clear," Ser Harras said, this time for the rest of Daenerys' council to hear. "If Queen Daenerys wishes to bring the fight to Westeros for the Iron Throne, they want one million gold dragons the Iron Throne own them. After repaying them, they will only then be willing to support us for the right price."

"The Iron Bank and the Sealord of Bravoss are closely connected," Prince Frog replied. "If those two won't agree, neither will move."

"That another problem, the current Sealord is sick," Ser Harras continued. "And before a new Sealord is chosen, the fleet won't move out, no matter what."

At least the journey wasn't pointless, as Ser Harras managed to store our gold in the Iron Bank. From how Dany furrowed her eyes, I could tell she wouldn't take care of the debt from the Lannisters as much as the Iron Bank tried to push their agenda, that the debt was of the Throne and not the ruler. To me, it sounded like a scam they were trying to pull on us.

No matter how much gold I had, I would never just give it up. That gold was earned through the blood and iron of my men. It would be an insult to the Iron Islands if I just gave it away because someone asked for it. And Dany wasn't eager to agree to this kind of extortion either. We weren't that desperate.

"Well, we tried. It didn't work," I said, not even bothered by the news. "There is no point in crying over it."

"We still need food," Prince Frog was getting me annoyed, yapping about the same thing over and over again. "The other Free Cities won't support us. Our only choice was Braavos. Without them, we are isolated and surrounded by enemies. We will not be able to last long like that."

"Enough," I couldn't take it anymore. "It is fine to worry about these things, but there is no point complaining about them. If we need food, we will take it. It is as simple as that. Are we becoming isolated from other cities? So be it. I don't care about small things like that. We go where we want. We take what we want. We do as we wish."

"Bring New Ghis to their knees," Dany didn't need any more convincing.

"Shouldn't we at least wait until the Unsullied come back?" Prince Frog asked, not realizing how stupid he sounded. "We don't have enough men in the city to ensure the order."

"I am sorry," Dany said as she stood up from her seat. "I have shown that I am not capable of taking care of my city. It must have been an unsightly thing to see me struggle so much. I must have looked so helpless to you that I would need the help of the others to do anything."

"That wasn't what I meant, your Grace."

"Prince Quentyn," Oh, that's what his name was; well, it is his fault that it was a weird name. "I thank you for your hard work and your worry, but it is time I show that I am worth of your trust. Theon, gather your men and prepare to sail. I don't want our enemies to see you coming before it is too late."

"With pleasure, my dear," I replied with a smile.

It hasn't been long since we came back from Yunkai, but I had no intention of resting either way. I wasn't unsatisfied with the previous battle, so given the opportunity, of course, I will use it to get into another war. The fact that New Ghis and Volantis were our enemies didn't change; the sooner we deal with them, the faster we can move on to other stuff.

"Ha," Ser Harras let out a tired sigh. "And I thought I could get a handle on what happened while I was gone. It is one thing for us to take down Yunkai, but I still don't understand what Euron is doing here."

"I know I am asking too much, but can you tell me how long it will take for you to take down New Ghis?" Quentyn asked, seeming more tired than usual. "We need to save as much food as possible. We can't let people find out that we are running out of time."

He was overworking himself if he had to ask that. The war was unpredictable bitch. We didn't even have estimate numbers of New Ghis forces, nor how strong their defenses were. How could I possibly predict the time I would need to defeat them? And now, once they see our banners, they won't let their guard down. Conquering three cities was enough to prove oneself.

"Just prepare a week's worth of supplies," I smiled at Quentyn; if my men get hungry, they will have to get food from New Ghis.

Ser Harras, hearing my words, quickly took Quentyn away with desperate eyes. I didn't know they were so close, but I guess I didn't notice these things. The moment I started tracking who was close to whom, I thought I would lose my mind. That kind of thing is better to be left with Asha and Daenerys; they can worry about people's relationships as much as they want.

"Should I leave the leaders alive this time?" I asked Dany before leaving.

"Only if they surrender," Dany replied.

I was happy that she finally started to lose her innocence. She didn't worry about unnecessary things anymore, and most importantly, she had no hesitation now. When she knew she had to do something, she would not ponder about it but do it. Sometimes, making a decision is more important than the decision itself.

…

If only everything were that simple. Sometimes, everything was put on one decision, and making a wrong one would put everything in jeopardy. Attacking New Ghis wasn't something I was worried about. If they were only capable of what they had shown in Yunkai, then they would fall over my feet quickly enough. What made me hesitate was Euron.

"I say just give him the order to go in first and hope he dies," Asha said as we were discussing our plan.

"People like Euron don't die easily," I replied, as I could recognize that Euron had stared at the abyss multiple times before. "He will find a way to survive. And what if he achieves victory? I don't want my people to have an even better opinion of him. Our only choice is to put him in the back so he can't do anything."

"It is a great place for him to backstab us," Asha disagreed, unsatisfied with my method. "You know that you sound like you are afraid of him. It feels like you know something about him that you aren't sharing."

"All I know is that he is dangerous." Everything I knew about Euron was from my notes, and I could feel he was somehow similar to me, just more twisted. "He is smart and a good manipulator. I could tell how easily he could change his expressions as he needed them. With only a few gifts, he already has gained favor from most captains. We can't give them more reasons to like Euron."

"I guess winning battles would only add to his reputation." Asha knew that, too, but she refused to believe it. "But what can he do that you haven't done? Like everyone else, I saw you come back from the dead. You rose from the depths of the sea. Your word is final, no matter what. And neither Euron nor anyone else will be able to take that away from you."

She wasn't wrong. I won battle after battle, no matter who my opponent was. By now, the whole world knew my name. But who cared about Euron? Everyone would dismiss him as just another pirate, even if he was a notorious one. And that is what made me worried. It felt like he was hiding himself and waiting for a moment when nobody would see him coming before making his move.

As much as I wanted to dismiss that feeling, I couldn't. If only my memories weren't that messed up, and I knew more about him. Right now, I could only guess his motives and goals, but I never could be sure. Was he after the Iron Islands? Or was he dreaming of something bigger? Either way, Euron knew he could never get power from me unless he undermined me.

People's minds can be changed. I knew that from the moment I became the god to them. They already calmed down and mostly stopped worshiping me, but they still looked up at me like I was above a man. Losing one battle or someone making me bleed would make them question themselves about what they believed.

That is when Euron will move. When a doubt forms in their mind, he will use it to supplement himself. Maybe he wants me to try and do something to him. Try to get rid of him one way or another so he can later justify his actions. But even then, he won't be able to win the loyalty of my men. At least not until I am gone.

"He won't take away anything from me," I told Asha. "Even if I don't particulary like my position, nor do I have any need for it. I am still the King of the Iron Islands. And Euron will have to take that title for my dead and stiff hands."

"He will have to kill you," Asha understood that to win, Euron had to get rid of me.

"That's why you need to step up, Asha," I replied. "He never can have more loyalty than me, but you are different. As much as I trust you and believe in your abilities, you still are just my sister. It would be best if you gained your name."

"It won't be easy to rise above your shadows," Asha quickly understood my point. "To most, I am still just a woman. Some even think I am some prize they can win. If I want to beat Euron, I have to earn my reputation along the Ironborn, with my own hands and actions."

"Good," I nodded as a plan started to form in my mind. "Then I will be leaving New Ghis to you."

"Wait, what?"

I had no time to explain it to her. I had to find Thoros and the others. What was I even thinking? New Ghis would never satisfy my thirst. It was too small, too insignificant. Volantis, on the other hand, wasn't a bad target. Volantis was the biggest Free city in Essos, bigger than even Meereen, which was already as big as Astapor and Yunkai combined.

So, attacking them was a foolish thought. We simply didn't have enough men, and Volantis knew that too. They especially won't expect our attack while we are at war with New Ghis. Their eyes are on me. I can feel it. Once our ships leave Meereen, the world will wait with bated breath for where we land. And they will breathe at ease when they hear that we are at New Ghis.

"Thoros!" Of course, I would find him drinking. "I need you to look into the future."

"I am not drunk enough for your bullshit, Theon," Thoros replied, not even looking at Theon. "Let me enjoy my free time before I am sent to another battlefield. You might be fine not sleeping, but I am an old man, and my bones are aching from how much I had to endure going with you."

"You look just drunk enough," I replied before dragging him to my chambers.

We might not have enough men, but it doesn't mean we can't find them. There was one extremely bloodthirsty group of men who feared no one. And if Yunkai managed to get Motho hired, who could stop me from hiring my own Dothraki army? Surely, Motho would know at least a few Khals who would join me. I only needed to know where Motho was. Hopefully, he was coming to Meereen as I asked him. And hopefully Thoros will be able to see it in his flames. Volantis will never see me coming.