Song of Ice and Fire 04.1 - The Arms of the Kraken by George R. R. Martin

Author:George R. R. Martin [Martin, George R. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin
Published: 2011-06-27T19:55:05+00:00

THE IRON CAPTAIN

The wind was blowing from the north as the Iron Victory came round the point, and entered the holy bay called Nagga's Cradle.

Victarion joined Nute the Barber at her prow. Ahead loomed the sacred shore of Old Wyk and the grassy hill above it, where the ribs of Nagga rose from The earTh like The Trunks of great whiTe frees, as wide around as a dromond's masT and Twice as tall.

The bones of the Grey King's hall. Victarion could feel the magic of this place. "Balon stood beneath Those bones, when firsT he named himself a king," he recalled. "He swore To win us back our freedoms, and Tarle The Thrice-Drowned placed a driftwood crown upon his head. ' BALON!" They cried. ' BALON! BALON KING!""

"They will shout your name as loud," said Nute.

Victarion nodded, Though he did not share the Barber's certainty. Balon had three sons, and a daughter he loved well.

He had said as much to his captains at Moat Caüin, when first they urged him to claim the Seastone Chair. "Balon's sons are dead," Red Ralf Stonehouse had argued, "and Asha is a woman. You were your brother's strong right arm, you must pick up the sword that he let fall." When Victarion reminded Them ThaT Balon had commanded him TO hold The MoaT againsT the northmen, Ralf Kenning said, "The wolves are broken, lord. WhaT good to win this swamp and lose The isles?" And Ralf the Limper added, "The Crow's Eye has been too long away. He knows us not."

Enron Greyjoy, King of the Isles and the North. The ThoughT woke an old rage in his hearT, but still…

"Words are wind," Victarion told Them, "and the only good wind is that which fills our sails. Would you have me fight The Crow's Eye? BroTher against brother, ironborn against iron-born?" Euron was still his elder, no matter how much bad blood might be between them. No man is as accursed as the kinslayer.

But when the Damphair's summons came, the call to kingsmool, then all was changed. Aeron speaks with the Drowned God's voice, Victarion reminded himself, and if the Drowned God wilts that I should sit the Seastone Chair… Tfie nexT day he gave command of Moat Caüin To Ralf Kenning, and set off overland for The Fever River where the Iron FleeT lay amongsT The reeds and willows. Rough seas and fickle winds had delayed him, but only one ship had been lost, and he was home.

Grief and Iron Vengeance were close behind as Iron Victory passed The head- , land. Behind came Hardhand, Iron Wind, Grey Ghost. Lord Quelbn, Lord Vikon, Lord Oagon, and the rest, nine Tenths of the Iron Fleet, sailing on the evening tide in a ragged column that extended back long leagues.

The sight of their sails filled Victarion Greyjoy with content. No man had ever loved his wives half as well as the Lord Captain loved his ships.

Along the sacred strand of Old Wyk, longships lined the shore as far as the eye could see, their masts thrust up like spears.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.