Difference between revisions of "A Clash of Kings-Chapter 24"

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{{Infobox Chapter ACfK
 
{{Infobox Chapter ACfK
 
| pov = [[Theon Greyjoy]]
 
| pov = [[Theon Greyjoy]]
| place        = [[Pyke]]
+
| place        = [[Lordsport]] and [[Pyke]]
 
| title = Theon II
 
| title = Theon II
 
| page = 277
 
| page = 277
Line 11: Line 11:
 
}}
 
}}
 
    
 
    
[[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]] is admiring his new longship when an ironborn woman calling herself Esgred interrupts him. His is taken by her and responds to his flirtations. He offers her a ride to the castle. As they proceed, Theon notes that the people they pass are finally showing him some respect. The arrive at [[Pyke]] where he learns she is his sister [[Asha Greyjoy]]. At the feast, Asha has the seat to the right of Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]], not him. He later joins his uncles and father in the planning to learn that he has been given the least important mission.
+
[[Theon Greyjoy]] meets an [[ironborn]] woman calling herself Esgred while admiring his [[Sea Bitch|new longship]]. Immediately taken by her, Theon responds to her flirtations, eventually offering her a ride to [[Balon Greyjoy|his father's]] [[Pyke|castle]]. They continue to flirt on route to [[Pyke]], but upon their arrival, Theon discovers that Esgred is actually his older sister, [[Asha Greyjoy|Asha]]. At the feast held by Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]] that evening, Asha sits in the seat to Balon's right, a place of high honor. Theon and Asha later join their father and two uncles, [[Victarion Greyjoy|Victarion]] and [[Aeron Greyjoy|Aeron]], in Balon's solar, where Balon reveals his plans. Theon is furious to discover that he has been given the least important mission.
  
==Synopsis==  
+
==Synopsis==
[[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]] is admiring the new longship his father gave him. It is not as large as the [[Great Kraken]] or [[Iron Victory]], but looks fast, has 50 oars, and will handle 100 men. He is interrupted by a striking ironborn woman calling herself Esgred, daughter of [[Ambrode]], wife to [[Sigrin]] the shipwright. Theon is taken by her, and tells her that that he has had women enough but none like her, adding that his cock has gone hard for her. She feels it, and tells him he is no liar. When he tells her it hurts fiercely, and she states poor lordling and claims to be newly with child. He tells her that this is all the better because he cannot get her pregnant, when this does not sway her he asks if she has ever had a prince, and how she can tell her children when she is wrinkled and gray she had a king. He next asks if he should name his ship after her, keep her in a tower with only jewels to wear like a princess of song. She tells him that he she build his ship, so he should name it after her. He tells her that Sigrin is wasted on her, and she tells him that Sirgin said the ship was wasted on him. Theon bristles, and learns she knows who he is. She then asks him what he thinks of the ship since Sigrin will want to know. Theon says he likes it and asks if it is as fast as it looks. She tells him that she is faster if the master knows how to handle her. Theon admits it’s been a few years since he sailed a ship, and acknowledges to himself that he never captained on, but he is a [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] so the sea is in his blood. When Theon states he would never mistreat such a fair maiden, Esgred states she is a sea bitch. Theon then states that he will call his ship Sea Bitch. When she reproachfully states he was going to name the ship after her, he tells her he did. Then he asks her to come on board so they can bless the ship with the milk of their loins. She tells him that the Drowned God may not take kindly to this sacrilege; the next day Theon’s uncle [[Aeron Greyjoy|Aeron]] is to bless the ship to the Drowned God with seawater. Theon replies:
+
Theon Greyjoy is at the docks at [[Lordsport]], admiring his [[Sea Bitch|new longship]]. He is approached by a striking ironborn woman calling herself Esgred. Theon is taken by her and immediately begins to flirt. Although she responds to Theon's flirtations, Esgred informs him that she is married and pregnant. Theon is not bothered by this, telling her that he cannot father a [[bastard]] on her if she is pregnant and attempting to sway her by informing her he is a prince. When he asks whether he should name his ship after her, Esgred tells him that he should, as she has she build his ship. She informs him she is the daughter of [[Ambrode]] and the wife of [[Sigrin]], the shipwright. When Theon claims she is wasted on Sigrin, she in turn claims that, according to Sigrin, the ship is wasted on Theon. She asks what Theon thinks of his new ship, but when Theon calls the ship a "fair maiden", Esgred states she is a sea bitch. Theon declares ''[[Sea Bitch]]'' to be the name of his new ship, which will be blessed by his uncle [[Aeron Greyjoy|Aeron]], a priest of the [[Drowned God]], the next day.
{{Quote|Bugger the Drowned God. If he troubles us, I’ll drown him again. We’re off to war within a fortnight. Would you send me into battle all sleepless with longing?}}
 
When she still refuses, Theon states his ship is well named. She touches his crotch as she asks if he will steer with this. He asks if she would come back to [[Pyke]] with him to the feast (he does not tell her that Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]] is having a feast every night while waiting for his captains to arrive). She teases him some more, even unlacing his breaches. She tells him she has not horse and finally she agrees to ride with him on his horse back to Pyke, refusing to ride Theon’s squire’s horse since the squire would have to walk.
 
  
As they walk back to the inn in [[Lordsport]] to get Theon’s horse, Theon notices that the people grew very quiet as they pass and acknowledged them with bows; it is about time. Many of those in the town were the men of Lord [[Gorold Goodbrother]] of [[Great Wyk]] who had just arrived with 40 ships. As they pass Theon thinks how busy [[Otter Gimpknee]]’s whorehouse will be, and that his companion was more to his taste.
+
They flirt some more, but Esgred continues to refuse to sleep with him. She does accept Theon's invitation to a feast held by Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]] at Pyke that evening. Together, they walk through [[Lordsport]], crowded with the men of the newly arrived Lord [[Gorold Goodbrother]] of [[Great Wyk]], to the [[Otter Gimpknee's inn|inn]] to find Theon's horse and squire. Theon is glad to notice that the people grow quiet as they pass and acknowledge them with bows, considering it a sign of respect to him. On their way to the inn, Esgred inquires whether Theon has already assembled a crew. When Esgred calls out to several men she is familiar with, Theon comes to realize that he has been away from Pyke for a long time and that any friends he once had are now strangers to him. He tells Esgred that his uncle [[Victarion Greyjoy|Victarion]] has loaned him his steersman, [[Rymolf Stormdrunk]]. As they pass the ''[[Myraham]]'', which has not yet been allowed to leave by Lord Balon, the [[Daughter of the captain of the Myraham|captain's daughter]] on board calls out to Theon, who admits to Esgred that he has slept with her.
  
The woman asks Theon about his crew. As they pass, she calls to [[Bluetooth]], and Theon learns that he has his own ship. Theon thinks long it has been, and any friends he had were now strangers. He tells her that his uncle [[Victarion Greyjoy]] has loaned his steersman [[Rymolf Stormdrunk]]. She calls also to [[Uller]], [[Qarl the Maid|Qarl]] and [[Skyte]], and they learn that Skyte’s brother [[Eldiss]] is dead. They pass the ship [[Myraham]], which could not leave because Lord Balon was not allowing any ships to leave. As they do the girl on board calls to Theon, and he has to admit to Esgred that he had slept with the he did even though she was soft and bland, but there was no other woman on board.
+
At the inn Theon finds his squire, [[Wex Pyke]], whom he orders to saddle his warhorse [[Smiler]], which he had purchased from Lord [[Sawane Botley]]. Esgred is impressed by Theon's horse and rides double with Theon to Pyke, sitting in front of him. During the ride, he frequently attempts to fondle her breasts, but she removes his hands each time. When she asks Lord Balon will welcome her, Theon tells her that he himself had hardly been welcomed. Esgred questions Theon’s status as heir as he has brothers, uncles, and his sister. He tells her that his brothers are dead and that he’ll find a husband for his sister [[Asha Greyjoy|Asha]]. His uncles, however, are a sore point. Although his own claim is stronger, it is not unheard of on the [[Iron Islands]] for an uncle to dispose of a weak nephew. Theon claims Aeron only cares for the Drowned God, Victarion is tireless and dutiful, and Euron is most likely dead, having been gone from the islands for two years. Esgred admits that Euron may be dead and that if he is alive he would be half a stranger, which would make it unlikely that the ironborn would seat him on the [[Seastone Chair]]. Theon is bothered by the thought, as his absence of ten years has made him more of a stranger than Euron. Regardless, he is determined to prove himself worthy.
  
At the inn, his squire [[Wex Pyke ]] ignores Theon’s call, and so Theon had to grab him by the ear from a dicing table; Theon liked having Wex as a squire because he was born dumb. When Wex sees Esgred, his eyes go wide. Theon sends him to saddle the horses, Theon’s horse [[Smiler]] being an impressive beast that he had purchased from Lord [[Sawane Botley]]; the Iron Islanders tend to be indifferent riders, and the horse had proven too much for Lord Botley and he was happy to sell, Wex being part of the deal. Theon was happy to be able to find a good war horse, not wanting to go to war without one. Esgred is impressed. Theon mounts and pulls Esgred in front of him.  
+
During the remainder of the journey they speak of the feast, [[Alannys Harlaw|Theon's mother]], who resides at [[Harlaw]], and Esgred's pregnancy. She eventually asks about [[Robb Stark]] and his war against the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]], and Theon tells her about the battles they have fought. As they arrive at Pyke, however, Theon discovers to his horror that Esgred is actually Asha when the stableboy addresses her by her name. Asha reveals she arrived with Lord Goodbrother the night before and had stayed a night at the inn. As Theon gapes at her, she tells him that kept silent about her identity because she wanted to see who he was first. Asha leaves and Theon takes his anger out on Wex, who is smirking at him. Theon retreats to his chambers, angry, thinking how Asha made a fool of him and how he has no place at Pyke because of her. When he hears the distant music he dresses for Balon's feast, deciding to wear only plain clothes while cursing the fact that he has no ornaments "bought with iron".
  
As they ride he puts his hand on her breasts, but she removes them each time, finally ensuring he cannot put it again on her breast. When she asks if his father will welcome her, and he tells her that he hardly welcomed his heir. She tells him that there are his uncles and his sister. He tells her that his sister wears a mail hauberk with boiled leather small cloths, has a nose like a vulture, pimples, and no breasts. He will marry her off if someone will take her. She then asks about his uncles. Theon knows that his uncle are a threat to his inheritance since an uncle deposing of a weak nephew had happened in the Iron Islands; Theon does not believe he is weak, and will be stronger by the time his father dies. He tells her that [[Aeron]] only cares for his god, and Victarion is strong and tireless and dutiful. She mentions that [[Euron Greyjoy]] has no lack of cunning, and Theon replies he has not been seen for two years and may be dead; he and his ship [[Silence]] with its black sails and dark red hull were infamous. Esgred admits that he may be dead, and if he is alive he would be half a stranger, and the Ironborn would not seat a stranger on the [[Seastone Chair]]. The idea that the Ironborn would not make a stranger king bothers Threon since he is more of a stranger than Euron, but he does have time to prove himself.
+
At the hall Lord Balon is feasting near four hundred lords and captains. All the houses of the Iron Islands are present<ref group="N">Identified are [[House Harlaw]], [[House Blacktyde]], [[House Sparr]], [[House Merlyn]], and [[House Goodbrother]], [[House Saltcliffe]], [[House Sunderly]], [[House Botley]] and [[House Wynch]].</ref> except for [[House Stonehouse]] and [[House Drumm]], who have yet to arrive. At the dais, Balon comments that Theon is late. Theon sits down next to Asha, who is siting at Balon's right in a place of high honor. When Theon hisses to her that she is in his seat, she replies that his place is at [[Winterfell]] and asks where his pretty clothes are. When Theon asks if every word she told him was a lie, she says not. Calling out to one of the dancers, [[Rolfe]], Asha catches a [[finger dance|flying axe]] and splits Theon’s trencher with it, telling him the axe is her husband. She then pulls a dirk from between her breasts and tells him it is her suckling babe. Theon realizes the entire hall is laughing at him. As Asha sits back down, she tells him he should learn about the isles and the people on them, asking him why they should die for Theon if he does not know them. Theon insists he is their prince, but Asha counters that the ironborn do not follow the laws of the green lands, but rather make their own.
  
Theon mentions that he will be seated on the dais with his father, but will ensure that [[Helya]] will provide an honored spot for her. He will come down to join her when his father leaves—he has no belly for drink. She states that it is a grievous when a great man grows old and Theon replies that Balon is but the father of a great man. She then asks what she will wear and Theon tells her that one of his mother’s gowns might fit; she is in [[Harlaw]]. Esgred then asks if he will visit his mother since she is only a day’s sail away, and Theon replies that his father relies on him, and maybe when peace comes. Theon again tries to seduce her, and she resists and asks about [[Winterfell]]. He obliges, surprised with some of what he told her.
+
Finally Lord Balon rises, telling them to join him in his solar when they are finished. After arguing with Asha, Theon leaves and crosses the rope bridge to the [[Sea Tower]], where he finds his father and two uncles, Victarion and [[Aeron Greyjoy|Aeron]], in the damp, drafty solar. On seeing him, Balon tells him it is time he heard his plans, refusing to hear any of Theon's suggestions. He tells Theon that he will command eight ships to [[harrying of the Stony Shore]], accompanied by Aeron and [[Dagmer]]. Theon feels slapped, feeling the work is beneath him and that the inclusion of Aeron and Dagmer indicates that Balon does not trust him. As Asha slips in, Balon tells them that she will take thirty ships with picked men to take [[Deepwood Motte]]. Victarion is to make the main thrust at [[Moat Cailin]], sailing up the [[Saltspear]] and the [[Fever River]]. Once they hold Moat Cailin Robb Stark will not be able to return north. Theon tries to tell Balon that the lords hold the castles, but again Balon shuts him up, saying the lords have gone south with Robb. Winterfell may hold out for a year, but the rest shall be theirs.
  
When they reach the castle, hounds assail them as Theon helps Esgred off. When the stableboy arrives, Theon tells him to get the horse and to get the damn dogs away. Instead the stableboy, smiling calls the woman “[[Asha Greyjoy|Asha]], stating she is back. She tells the stableboy how she arrived with Lord Goodbrother and stayed at the inn the previous night. Theon gapes at her as she tells him the pimples disappeared when the breast came, but she still has the vulture’s beak. She tells him that she did not tell him who she was because she wanted to see who he was first. She excuses herself saying she wonders if she still ahves chainmail gown to wear over her boiled leather smallcloths. Wex is smirking at him, so he hits the boy twice.
+
Theon leaves the solar, but on the rope bridge a sudden gust of wind causes him to stumble to his knees. Asha is suddenly there and helps him back up, guiding him across the rest of the bridge. She comments he cannot hold his wine either. Theon tells her he liked her better as Esgred, and she tells him she liked him better when he was nine.
  
Back in his cold chambers, despite the braziers, he thinks how Asha made a fool of him, and enjoyed it and even undid his breaches. He now has no place here because of her. When he finally hears the distanct music he knows it is time to go. He chooses plain clothes with no jewelry—he has no jewelry bought with iron, which irritates him, his cursed luck that he has only killed the poor.
+
==Characters==
 
+
{| class="wikitable" width="80%"
He enters the hall to find with near 400 lords and captains; all the houses present except for [[House Stonehouse]] and [[House Drumm]]. This includes [[House Harlaw]], [[House Blacktyde]], [[House Sparr]], [[House Merlyn]], and [[House Goodbrother]], [[House Saltcliffe]], [[House Sunderly]], [[House Botley]] and [[House Wynch]]. Along with the drinking there were the dancers doing the finger dance where spinning axes often took fingers. Theon arrives at the dais to find his uncles to his father’s right and Asha to his left. He father tells him he is late. When he sits at the seat next to Asha, he hisses to her that she is in his seat and she replies that his place is in Winterfell, and asks where his pretty cloths are. He replies that her hauberk must have rusted away. When a thrall arrives to serve wine or beer, she asks if he still has a taste for her mother’s milk. When Theon asks if every word she told him was a lie, she says not. She calls to one of the dancers, [[Rolfe]], who throws an axe to her, which she catches handedly, and splits Theon’s trencher with it (it splashes his mantle), telling him the axe is her husband. Then she pulls a dirk from between her breasts, and tells him this is her suckling babe. The hall is suddenly ringing with laughter, and Theon realizes it is at him. She then tells him that if he had troubled to learn anything about Sigrin she could not have fooled him; why should men fight and die for him when he knows nothing and no one in the islands. He replies that he is their prince. She tells him that it might be true by the laws of the green lands, but the Ironborn make their own laws.
+
|- valign="top"
 
+
| style="width:50%" |
Finally Lord Balon rises and tells those on the dais to join him in his solar when they are finished. He leaves and then his brothers follow. Theon is rising to leave and Asha asks him why he is in such a rush since his father has been waiting for him for years, but if he fears, scurry after him. Theon sits back annoyed saying he runs after no man. She tells him no man but every woman. He replies this it was not me who grabbed your cock, and replies she does not have one. He tells her that he is a man with natural hungers, and asks what sort of unnatural creature is she. She tells him she is only a shy maid and gives his cock a squeeze under the table. With that Theon stumbles to find his father.
+
'''Appearing:'''
 +
*[[Aeron Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Asha Greyjoy]]
 +
*Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Bluetooth]]
 +
*[[Daughter of the captain of the Myraham]]
 +
*[[Qarl the Maid]]
 +
*[[Skyte]]
 +
*[[Smiler]]
 +
*[[Theon Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Uller]]
 +
*[[Victarion Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Wex Pyke]]
 +
| style="width:50%" |
 +
'''Mentioned:'''
 +
{{Columns|2|
 +
*[[Alannys Harlaw]]
 +
*[[Ambrode]]
 +
*[[Bran Stark]]
 +
*[[Captain of the Myraham]]
 +
*[[Dagmer Cleftjaw]]
 +
*[[Eddard Stark]]
 +
*[[Eldiss]]
 +
*[[Euron Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Galbart Glover]]
 +
*[[Helya]]
 +
*[[Jaime Lannister]]
 +
*Lord [[Gorold Goodbrother]]
 +
*[[Maron Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Otter Gimpknee]]
 +
*[[Robb Stark]]
 +
*[[Robett Glover]]
 +
*[[Rodrik Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[Rymolf Stormdrunk]]
 +
*[[Sargon Botley]]
 +
*Lord [[Sawane Botley]]
 +
*[[Sigrin]]
 +
}}
 +
|}
  
Theon arrives in the damp, drafty solar to find his father before the brazier buried under sealskin robes, his uncles on either side. On seeing him arrive, his father tells him it is time he heard his plans, and rudely shuts him up when he states he has suggestions. He first tells Theon that he will command 8 ships that will harry the [[Stony Shore]] and will be accompanied by Aeron and Dagmer. Theon feels slapped, being sent to do reaver’s work, burning the houses of fishermen and his father did not even trust him sufficiently, sending Aeron and Dagmer with him. Balon tells Asha, who had just slipped in, that she will take 30 ships with picked men to take the castle at [[Deepwood Motte]]. Asha states that she always wanted a castle while Theon thinks that is should have been him given this task since he had been there several times. Victorion gets the main thrust at [[Moat Cailin]], sailing up the [[Saltspear]] and the [[Fever River]]. Once they hold Moat Cailin, [[Robb Stark]], the pup, will not be able to go back north. Theon tries to tell Balon that the lords hold the castles, but again Balon shuts him up, saying the lords have gone south with the pup. Winterfell may hold out for a year, but the rest shall be theirs.
+
==Places and terms mentioned==
 +
{| class="wikitable" width="80%"
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
| style="width:25%;" |
 +
'''Places:'''
 +
*[[Asshai]]
 +
*[[Blacktyde]]
 +
*[[Deepwood Motte]]
 +
*[[Fever River]]
 +
*[[Great Wyk]]
 +
*[[Harlaw]]
 +
*[[Ibben]]
 +
*[[Iron Islands]]
 +
*[[Lannisport]]
 +
*[[Lordsport]]
 +
**[[Otter Gimpknee's inn]]
 +
*[[Moat Cailin]]
 +
*[[Old Wyk]]
 +
*[[Pyke]]
 +
**[[Sea Tower]] of Pyke
 +
**Great Hall of Pyke
 +
**Guest Keep of Pyke
 +
*[[Saltcliffe]]
 +
*[[Saltspear]]
 +
*[[Sea Dragon Point]]
 +
*[[Stony Shore]]
 +
*The [[Neck]]
 +
*[[Whispering Wood]]
 +
*[[Winterfell]]
 +
| style="width:25%;" |
 +
'''Houses:'''
 +
*[[House Drumm]]
 +
*[[House Blacktyde]]
 +
*[[House Botley]]
 +
*[[House Glover]]
 +
*[[House Goodbrother]]
 +
*[[House Greyjoy]]
 +
*[[House Harlaw]]
 +
*[[House Merlyn]]
 +
*[[House Saltcliffe]]
 +
*[[House Sparr]]
 +
*[[House Stonehouse]]
 +
*[[House Sunderly]]
 +
*[[House Wynch]]
 +
| style="width:25%;" |
 +
'''Ships:'''
 +
*''[[Black Wind]]''
 +
*''[[Esgred (ship)]]''
 +
*''[[Great Kraken]]''
 +
*''[[Iron Victory]]''
 +
*''[[Myraham]]''
 +
*''[[Sea Bitch]]''
 +
*''[[Silence]]''
 +
| style="width:25%;" |
 +
'''Terms:'''
 +
*[[Damphair]]
 +
*[[Drowned God]]
 +
*[[Finger dance]]
 +
*[[First Men]]
 +
*[[Green lands]]
 +
*[[Greyjoy's Rebellion]]
 +
*[[Kingslayer]]
 +
*Lannister fleet
 +
*[[Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet]]
 +
*[[Seastone Chair]]
 +
*The [[Old Way]]
 +
*[[Wildling]]
 +
|}
  
On the rope bridge, a sudden gust of wind causes him to stumble to his knees. Asha is there to help him up and guide him across the rest of the bridge, telling him he cannot hold his wine either. Theon tells her he liked her better as Esgred, and she tells him she liked him better when he was nine.
+
==Notes==
 +
{{Notes}}
  
==References and Notes==
+
==External links==
{{References|2}}
 
 
*Analyses and summary of the chapter [http://slynt.blogspot.com/2011/10/re-read-theon-ii-keeping-up-appearances.html in the course of a 10th reread] by Slynt.  
 
*Analyses and summary of the chapter [http://slynt.blogspot.com/2011/10/re-read-theon-ii-keeping-up-appearances.html in the course of a 10th reread] by Slynt.  
 
*[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/03/a-read-of-ice-and-fire-a-clash-of-kings-part-12 Review and summary] by Leigh Butler.
 
*[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/03/a-read-of-ice-and-fire-a-clash-of-kings-part-12 Review and summary] by Leigh Butler.

Revision as of 12:02, 2 April 2018

Theon II
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Theon Greyjoy
Place Lordsport and Pyke
Page 277 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Theon I
Jon III  ← Theon II →  Tyrion VI

Theon III

Theon Greyjoy meets an ironborn woman calling herself Esgred while admiring his new longship. Immediately taken by her, Theon responds to her flirtations, eventually offering her a ride to his father's castle. They continue to flirt on route to Pyke, but upon their arrival, Theon discovers that Esgred is actually his older sister, Asha. At the feast held by Lord Balon Greyjoy that evening, Asha sits in the seat to Balon's right, a place of high honor. Theon and Asha later join their father and two uncles, Victarion and Aeron, in Balon's solar, where Balon reveals his plans. Theon is furious to discover that he has been given the least important mission.

Synopsis

Theon Greyjoy is at the docks at Lordsport, admiring his new longship. He is approached by a striking ironborn woman calling herself Esgred. Theon is taken by her and immediately begins to flirt. Although she responds to Theon's flirtations, Esgred informs him that she is married and pregnant. Theon is not bothered by this, telling her that he cannot father a bastard on her if she is pregnant and attempting to sway her by informing her he is a prince. When he asks whether he should name his ship after her, Esgred tells him that he should, as she has she build his ship. She informs him she is the daughter of Ambrode and the wife of Sigrin, the shipwright. When Theon claims she is wasted on Sigrin, she in turn claims that, according to Sigrin, the ship is wasted on Theon. She asks what Theon thinks of his new ship, but when Theon calls the ship a "fair maiden", Esgred states she is a sea bitch. Theon declares Sea Bitch to be the name of his new ship, which will be blessed by his uncle Aeron, a priest of the Drowned God, the next day.

They flirt some more, but Esgred continues to refuse to sleep with him. She does accept Theon's invitation to a feast held by Lord Balon Greyjoy at Pyke that evening. Together, they walk through Lordsport, crowded with the men of the newly arrived Lord Gorold Goodbrother of Great Wyk, to the inn to find Theon's horse and squire. Theon is glad to notice that the people grow quiet as they pass and acknowledge them with bows, considering it a sign of respect to him. On their way to the inn, Esgred inquires whether Theon has already assembled a crew. When Esgred calls out to several men she is familiar with, Theon comes to realize that he has been away from Pyke for a long time and that any friends he once had are now strangers to him. He tells Esgred that his uncle Victarion has loaned him his steersman, Rymolf Stormdrunk. As they pass the Myraham, which has not yet been allowed to leave by Lord Balon, the captain's daughter on board calls out to Theon, who admits to Esgred that he has slept with her.

At the inn Theon finds his squire, Wex Pyke, whom he orders to saddle his warhorse Smiler, which he had purchased from Lord Sawane Botley. Esgred is impressed by Theon's horse and rides double with Theon to Pyke, sitting in front of him. During the ride, he frequently attempts to fondle her breasts, but she removes his hands each time. When she asks Lord Balon will welcome her, Theon tells her that he himself had hardly been welcomed. Esgred questions Theon’s status as heir as he has brothers, uncles, and his sister. He tells her that his brothers are dead and that he’ll find a husband for his sister Asha. His uncles, however, are a sore point. Although his own claim is stronger, it is not unheard of on the Iron Islands for an uncle to dispose of a weak nephew. Theon claims Aeron only cares for the Drowned God, Victarion is tireless and dutiful, and Euron is most likely dead, having been gone from the islands for two years. Esgred admits that Euron may be dead and that if he is alive he would be half a stranger, which would make it unlikely that the ironborn would seat him on the Seastone Chair. Theon is bothered by the thought, as his absence of ten years has made him more of a stranger than Euron. Regardless, he is determined to prove himself worthy.

During the remainder of the journey they speak of the feast, Theon's mother, who resides at Harlaw, and Esgred's pregnancy. She eventually asks about Robb Stark and his war against the Lannisters, and Theon tells her about the battles they have fought. As they arrive at Pyke, however, Theon discovers to his horror that Esgred is actually Asha when the stableboy addresses her by her name. Asha reveals she arrived with Lord Goodbrother the night before and had stayed a night at the inn. As Theon gapes at her, she tells him that kept silent about her identity because she wanted to see who he was first. Asha leaves and Theon takes his anger out on Wex, who is smirking at him. Theon retreats to his chambers, angry, thinking how Asha made a fool of him and how he has no place at Pyke because of her. When he hears the distant music he dresses for Balon's feast, deciding to wear only plain clothes while cursing the fact that he has no ornaments "bought with iron".

At the hall Lord Balon is feasting near four hundred lords and captains. All the houses of the Iron Islands are present[N 1] except for House Stonehouse and House Drumm, who have yet to arrive. At the dais, Balon comments that Theon is late. Theon sits down next to Asha, who is siting at Balon's right in a place of high honor. When Theon hisses to her that she is in his seat, she replies that his place is at Winterfell and asks where his pretty clothes are. When Theon asks if every word she told him was a lie, she says not. Calling out to one of the dancers, Rolfe, Asha catches a flying axe and splits Theon’s trencher with it, telling him the axe is her husband. She then pulls a dirk from between her breasts and tells him it is her suckling babe. Theon realizes the entire hall is laughing at him. As Asha sits back down, she tells him he should learn about the isles and the people on them, asking him why they should die for Theon if he does not know them. Theon insists he is their prince, but Asha counters that the ironborn do not follow the laws of the green lands, but rather make their own.

Finally Lord Balon rises, telling them to join him in his solar when they are finished. After arguing with Asha, Theon leaves and crosses the rope bridge to the Sea Tower, where he finds his father and two uncles, Victarion and Aeron, in the damp, drafty solar. On seeing him, Balon tells him it is time he heard his plans, refusing to hear any of Theon's suggestions. He tells Theon that he will command eight ships to harrying of the Stony Shore, accompanied by Aeron and Dagmer. Theon feels slapped, feeling the work is beneath him and that the inclusion of Aeron and Dagmer indicates that Balon does not trust him. As Asha slips in, Balon tells them that she will take thirty ships with picked men to take Deepwood Motte. Victarion is to make the main thrust at Moat Cailin, sailing up the Saltspear and the Fever River. Once they hold Moat Cailin Robb Stark will not be able to return north. Theon tries to tell Balon that the lords hold the castles, but again Balon shuts him up, saying the lords have gone south with Robb. Winterfell may hold out for a year, but the rest shall be theirs.

Theon leaves the solar, but on the rope bridge a sudden gust of wind causes him to stumble to his knees. Asha is suddenly there and helps him back up, guiding him across the rest of the bridge. She comments he cannot hold his wine either. Theon tells her he liked her better as Esgred, and she tells him she liked him better when he was nine.

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