Chapter 115

king

Daifosi

crow eye

crow eye

crow eye

Daifosi, king, illegitimate sons, Buleini

He's quick.

I know, I'm very quick and also very agile. She was also completely soaked. Daifosi could see she was trying not to tremble. The seaside wind wasn't that strong, but it was bitterly cold.

Daifosi wanted to take off his cloak to give it to her, but he saw her right arm had stiffened.

Sir, your insignia.

Blue cloth wrapped around something colorful—he couldn't tell what it was.

Brienne glanced at him silently, said nothing, bit the cloth with one hand, covered the mysterious object, then tied it tightly.

"Is this an armband?" Daifosi asked softly.

"Maybe it's a magic crown." Brienne bit her lip. Her wet golden hair streamed down her forehead with seawater, looking utterly destitute.

Dai Fo Si laughed. She almost snatched You Lun's crown.

"Put it on, maybe it'll feel a bit better. In my opinion, the wedding still has plenty of time." Dai Fo Si took off her tattered cloak and handed it to her.

"I don't think so." She put away her windbreaker, picked up her sword again, and walked toward the bride.

A Sha Ge Lei Qiao Yi wore a calm expression, neither sad nor happy, and jumped down from her horse arrogantly.

Choosing to let Bu Lei Ni become her protector, no matter the outcome, she would not lose.

If Bu Lei Ni won — in fact she had already won, and she had not chosen to press the attack — then this king would be seen as unable to defeat even a woman; if Bu Lei Ni lost, that would be completely fine, the king would merely have won against an ugly woman.

But was she really just doing this to mock and spite her uncle and future husband?

Under the current circumstances, their union is almost the best choice for the family. Without a doubt, You Lun's kingship will be more secure, its legitimacy unquestionable, and the actual heir, A Sha, can also regain through the role of queen the rights that rightfully belong to her.

More importantly, for the Ge Lei Qiao Yi family, there will be no more facing division, and because A Sha is the heir of Ha Er Luo Island, he can also incorporate the wealthiest Ha Er Luo Island into his actual rule.

If the Ha Er Luo count regretted naming A Sha as heir, that would be perfect; the king could then march on Ha Er Luo Island with just cause, asserting authority for his wife and clearing away any potential disobedience for himself.

"Under the witness of the Drowned God, raider, state your name and purpose." The older priest shouted with a dry voice.

"I, king of the Iron Islands, Ge Lei Qiao Yi's You Lun, have come to marry the daughter of the Ge Lei Qiao Yi Baron King, A Sha Ge Lei Qiao Yi." The king replied loudly.

"What do you offer as bride price?"

"Iron coins. I offer iron coins as bride price to marry the woman before me, I ask that, under the witness of the gods, the woman before me become……"

"The Drowned God!" The priest snapped at him angrily.

"The Drowned God!" The king added.

"Speak your words in full! You raider before me!" The even older priest said sternly.

The king held his head high, and instantly his face broke into a smile.

"I offer iron coins as bride price to marry the woman before me, I ask that, under the witness of the Drowned God, the woman before me bear legitimate iron offspring for me, they will continue my bloodline and carry on the gods' doctrine……"

"The Drowned God's doctrine!" The priest shouted angrily, looking as if he wanted to strike him with the wooden staff in his hand.

"……they will continue my bloodline and carry on the Drowned God's doctrine." The king's face turned pale, unsure whether it was because of the priest's tone or the cold weather.

"Under the witness of the Drowned God, daughter of the Ge Lei Qiao Yi Baron King, A Sha Ge Lei Qiao Yi, are you willing to become the wife of the raider before you?"

"I am not willing. But since he has successfully raided, I accept the fate arranged by the Drowned God, becoming his rock-wife, to bear him legitimate heirs, continue the raiders' bloodline, and carry on the Drowned God's doctrine." A Sha stood steady in the sea water up to her knees, speaking loudly.

"Under the witness of the Drowned God, Ge Lei Qiao Yi's You Lun and Ge Lei Qiao Yi's A Sha are now husband and wife." The old priest must have been holding back these words for a long time, his face full of contempt, and then he flicked his sleeve and left.

"Only a useless fool would choose to be a priest, right, my good queen?" You Lun took A Sha's hand, facing the cheering lords, captains, and the gathered crowds.

"He is my uncle." A Sha smiled brightly, "My uncle is a fool, and I feel sad."

The king laughed loudly.

"That's too much of a coincidence, this guy is my little brother. Hehe, he really is a fool, I recall your little brother is the same?" Without waiting for A Sha's answer, he took her hand and walked toward the shore where their horses were prepared.

The bride's horse was a solid-colored dragon horse, while the king had already switched to a tall, sturdy solid-colored black horse.

Dai Fo Si mounted and followed, glancing past the long pole erected on the shore, on which the assassins' corpses were impaled, each facing the sea.

Dai Fo Si didn't linger, spurred his horse toward the king's large pavilion set up by the sea.

Layers of Iron Islands soldiers guarded the camp's several entrances, checking each person for weapons. Dai Fo Si was found with a single gold coin; otherwise, he had nothing.

The soldiers showed a mocking expression and let him in.

"Damn, what's there to complain about?" The tall knight with the quartered insignia told his impatient companion to shut up. "Even counts of higher rank than you are searched, and knights bearing Valyrian steel swords must likewise hang their swords high—you're nothing, what right do you have to shout here? Look, even the king's own hand obediently handed over gold? Damn, our cautious soldiers believe gold can kill too!"

Most killings are caused by gold. "Yes, my lords, I have been searched, but I noticed that Tas's Bu Lei Ni has not, and her weapons have not been confiscated." He merely wanted to know the reason.

"She is the queen's protector. Aside from the king's guards, no one can carry weapons here. Hehe, as long as she doesn't accompany the king and queen into the warm pavilion, she may carry any weapon."

The camp had two layers, inner and outer. The outer layer was where soldiers rested, cooks prepared ingredients, and utensils were stacked; the inner layer centered on the king and queen's raised platform, with domestically renowned lords, counts, famous captains, famous knights, and ever-ready maidservants standing on either side.

Bu Lei Ni stood at the queen's side, her expression stern, having already changed into new clothes, riding pants, and cloak, her attire completely matching her family's style. It seemed she had long prepared for today's wedding.

The ground inside the camp was covered with huge hides, leveled flat except for the area where the king and queen's table stood, which rose only a few feet above the guests.

When the guests entered one after another, their banners were hung respectively on the edges of the canopy and on its top.

Dai Fo Si seemed to have entered a world of banners.

He could not understand most of the families to which the banners belonged. The most conspicuous one he did understand—the huge golden sea‑monster flag behind the king and queen, hanging straight down from the edge of the canopy behind them like a tapestry. Dai Fo Si always felt that flag was slightly askew.

Dai Fo Si was seated to the king's left, relatively close to the king.

Directly opposite Dai Fo Si was the young priest; to his right sat the scholar Luo De Li Ke Ha Er Luo, head of the Ha Er Luo family, present chieftain of Ha Er Luo Island, and A Sha Ge Lei Qiao Yi's most relied‑upon uncle, who was qualified to sit in the king's left‑hand seat of honor; to his left was Dennis Zhuo Gu, son of Deng Stan Zhuo Gu, a renowned captain and also the heir to the leadership of Old Weike Island.

Dennis had been dissatisfied ever since he sat down, feeling that he had been placed beneath the Onion Knight.

Actually, this was a favor granted by the king. Many counts' seats were not as far forward as his.

Dai Fo Si did not know whether the banquet began with lamps lit inside the great tent or with the Iron Islands' raucous raiding war song; by the time he realized the feast had started, the interior of the camp was already abuzz with the aromas of wine, meat, and various rising vapors.

Various peals of laughter and drumming sounds continued without cease.

No one greeted Davos, and Davos was happy to drink alone, carefully observing his surroundings with his eyes. He felt as if he had returned to that inn on Sweet Sister Island.

There was frank clamor, here was superficial clamor; it seemed everyone was waiting for an opportunity.

The king held the queen's hand, gazing with keen interest at the merry guests, occasionally saying something to the queen beside him, then bursting into loud laughter. The queen also responded from time to time, smiling and speaking pleasantly.

Brienne stood beside her like an ugly pillar.

My niece Asha chose this woman as her guardian, truly wise. I didn't understand at first, but now I do. I don't know how much fighting ability she has, but this bearing and posture already surpass most of the guards.

I think no one is more suited to be a guard than she. She was once one of Renly's seven Rainbow Guards, and Renly had chosen a blue robe for her.

My lords! the king raised his cup and stood up. Amid the noisy tent, the sounds of people, drummers, and strings gradually faded. My lords! Today, the Greyjoy family, through marriage, has once again reconciled and received the full support of the Lords of the Seven Islands; I am deeply grateful! This toast is for you, brave Lords of the Iron Islands and captains, wishing you continued support for me and your brave efforts in restoring the old ways.

No! a clear voice rang out after the king's words, drawing everyone's attention in the tent.

Dennis Zhuo almost slammed the table, about to launch into a scolding.

King Youlun! he shouted, grabbing a short piece of driftwood and rising from his seat, Lords and captains present, even a dead king is not worth mentioning. Your first cup should be offered to the deity we revere, the Drowned God.

Davos was shocked by his rudeness and boldness. The king before him had nothing to do with tolerance, nor with reverence for the gods.

I think the best offering to the gods for the first cup is blood. The king clenched his cup and sneered, Surely the priest's blood is what he likes best.

Inside the great tent, a moment later it became utterly silent.

You cannot desecrate the god. The priest said calmly, smiling.

I've known since childhood that if no one has done something, one must actually try it. Now I want to try. The king sneered.

If you insist on doing this, he said, withdrawing his smile, I am sorry.

His hand snapped the driftwood, and a purple slender arrow shot out from it in an instant, flying straight toward the king.