Chapter 297

Tranquil slipped out from Pike Island's King's Port one night, breaking through the blockade of Asha's loyal fleet, sailing out of Borteli Strait, and threw himself into his embrace—the true king of the Iron Islands, a free pirate captain, the invincible fleet commander.

Tranquil

Pike Island

King's Port

Asha

Iron Islands

free pirate captain

invincible fleet commander

Borteli Strait

threw himself into his embrace

But we need to keep the original meaning exactly. Let's produce a faithful translation:

"Tranquil slipped out from Pike Island's King's Port one night, breaking through the blockade of Asha's loyal fleet, sailing out of Borteli Strait, and threw himself into the embrace of him—the true king of the Iron Islands, a free pirate captain, the invincible fleet commander."

Tranquil slipped out from Pike Island's King's Port one night, breaking through the blockade of Asha's loyal fleet, sailing out of Borteli Strait, and threw himself into his embrace—the true king of the Iron Islands, a free pirate captain, the invincible fleet commander.

Our translation: "Tranquil slipped out from Pike Island's King's Port one night, breaking through the blockade of Asha's loyal fleet, sailing out of Borteli Strait, and threw himself into the embrace of him—the true king of the Iron Islands, a free pirate captain, the invincible fleet commander."

threw himself into his embrace

secretly sailed out from

breaking through the blockade

sailed out of

threw himself into his embrace

the true king of the Iron Islands

a free pirate captain

the invincible fleet commander

We used "him" referring to the protagonist. Good.

He didn't want anything of Youlun's, but the ship was different.

Translate: "He didn't want anything of Youlun's, but the ship was different."

We need to keep "He" as "He". "Youlun" -> Youlun. "ship" -> ship. "was different" -> was different.

Thus: "He didn't want anything of Youlun's, but the ship was different."

A ship is to a captain as a wife is to a husband. What kind of shameless husband would neglect his wife? What's more, this is Youlun's.

Translate: "A ship is to its captain as a wife is to her husband. What kind of shameless husband would neglect his wife? Moreover, this is Youlun's."

We need to keep the question marks. So: "A ship is to its captain as a wife is to her husband. What kind of shameless husband would neglect his wife? Moreover, this is Youlun's."

After Youlun's death, Tranquil became the property of the Greyjoy family.

Translate: "After Youlun's death, Tranquil became the property of the Greyjoy family."

We need to keep "Greyjoy family" as Greyjoy family. "property" -> property.

Thus: "After Youlun's death, Tranquil became the property of the Greyjoy family."

According to his agreement with Asha, he had no right to take any of those ships or even a single plank—this was the price he paid for refusing marriage, refusing submission—it was his own doing—he upheld worldly morality, and thus could only abandon the fleet he had long commanded.

Translate: "According to his agreement with Asha, he had no right to take any of those ships or even a single plank—this was the price he paid for refusing marriage, refusing submission, it was his own doing—he upheld worldly morality, and thus could only abandon the fleet he had long commanded."

We need to keep the dash structure. Let's produce: "According to his agreement with Asha, he had no right to take any of those ships or even a single plank—this was the price he paid for refusing marriage, refusing submission, it was his own doing—he upheld worldly morality, and thus could only abandon the fleet he had long commanded."

he had no right to take any of those ships or even a single plank

this was the price he paid for refusing marriage, refusing submission, it was his own doing

he upheld worldly morality, and thus could only abandon the fleet he had long commanded

However, she could not stop the sailors yearning for freedom, nor the captains and crew who despised the queen's rule.

Translate: "However, she could not stop the sailors yearning for freedom nor the captains and crew who despised the queen's rule."

We need to keep "she" as She. "sailors yearning for freedom" means sailors yearning for freedom. "captains and crew who despised the queen's rule" means captains and crew who despised the queen's rule.

Thus: "However, she could not stop the sailors yearning for freedom nor the captains and crew who despised the queen's rule."

Those pirates unwilling to live under the queen's rule flocked to him here.

Translate: "Those pirates unwilling to live under the queen's rule flocked to him here."

flocked to him here

Thus: "Those pirates unwilling to live under the queen's rule flocked to him here."

He waited for their arrival at the port of Great Wick Island.

Translate: "He waited at the port of Great Wick Island for their arrival."

We need to keep "Great Wick Island" as Great Wick Island. "port" -> port. "waited for their arrival" -> waited for their arrival.

Thus: "He waited at the port of Great Wick Island for their arrival."

Although that girl had driven him away, she dared not launch an attack against him, only able to watch helplessly as he gathered strength. Even those captains and chieftains who had chosen to side with the queen likewise dared not launch an attack against him.

Translate: "Although that girl had driven him away, she dared not launch an attack against him, could only watch helplessly as he gathered strength. Even those captains and chieftains who had chosen to side with the queen likewise dared not launch an attack against him."

We need to keep "that girl" as that girl. "driven him away" -> driven him away. "dared not launch an attack against him" -> dared not launch an attack against him. "could only watch helplessly as he gathered strength" -> could only watch helplessly as he gathered strength. "Even those captains and chieftains who had chosen to side with the queen likewise dared not launch an attack against him" -> Even those captains and chieftains who had chosen to side with the queen likewise dared not launch an attack against him.

Thus: "Although that girl had driven him away, she dared not launch an attack against him, could only watch helplessly as he gathered strength. Even those captains and chieftains who had chosen to side with the queen likewise dared not launch an attack against him."

She is now in trouble; how could pacifying the Iron Islands possibly be easy?

Translate: "She is now in trouble—how could pacifying the Iron Islands possibly be easy?"

We need to keep "She is now in trouble" as She is now in trouble. "how could pacifying the Iron Islands possibly be easy" -> how could pacifying the Iron Islands possibly be easy?

Thus: "She is now in trouble—how could pacifying the Iron Islands possibly be easy?"

Youlun slew a group of chieftains and captains who did not support him, granting their lands to the greedy supporters who backed him; he bestowed precious titles upon his obedient uncle instead of his disobedient son or other such recipients.

Translate: "Youlun killed a batch of chieftains and captains who did not support him, granting their lands to the greedy fools who backed him; he bestowed precious titles on his obedient uncle rather than his disobedient son or other such things."

slew a group of chieftains and captains who did not support him

He didn't want anything of You Lun's, but the ship was different.

A ship to a captain is like a wife to a husband. What shameless husband would neglect his wife? Moreover, this is You Lun's.

After You Lun's death, the Tranquil became the property of the Greyjoy family.

According to his agreement with Asha, he had no right to take any of those ships, not even a plank—this was the price of his refusing marriage, refusing submission, his own doing—he upheld worldly morality, and thus could only abandon the fleet he had long commanded.

Yet she could not stop the sailors yearning for freedom, nor the captains and crew who despised the queen's rule.

Those pirates unwilling to live under the queen's rule flocked to him here.

He waited for them at the harbor of Great Wyk.

Although the girl had expelled him, she dared not attack him, only able to watch as he gathered strength; even those captains and chieftains who had chosen to side with the queen dared not launch an attack against him.

Now she is mired in trouble—how could she possibly pacify the Iron Islands?

You Lun killed a batch of chieftains and captains who did not support him, granting their lands to the greedy fools who backed him; he bestowed precious titles on his obedient uncle rather than his disobedient son or the like.

The aggrieved lord-captains first turned to Asha, yet You Lun's fair-weather supporters were not much slower. Does the girl know how to settle the chieftains' disputes? Can she mediate the succession order among the chieftain families?

Now the new queen sits on the throne—how can she pacify them and make them obedient? The Ironborn have always been disobedient, let alone heed a woman's word, especially this woman who shamelessly killed her own "husband" at that foolish wedding?

Even the Ironborn cannot tolerate such decadence.

Wanting to be king of the Ironborn is not as simple as she imagines! He need only wait here quietly for the lords and captains dissatisfied with her, and he can gather strength.

These captains and sailors who came to him know that only he can be the true leader of the Ironborn, the king of the ironborn.

The loyal sailors on Pike Island surged onto the Tranquil moored at Kingsport, killed the mute sailors who refused orders, raised the ship's black sail under cover of night, and only when it rammed the two great ships docked at the shore did anyone realize that the most dangerous ship at sea had already fled the bay, heading for its destination of freedom.

It is a fine ship, like a sexy and elusive mistress.

He could feel the ship's ominous aura and the fear it exuded, like a bewitching woman standing before you—you must push her aside to get your thrill.

Its hull is blood-red; some say it is to conceal the bloodshed on board.

He needed no concealment—for an Ironborn to stain the deck red with killing is commonplace, even honorable—so he had craftsmen paint the hull black and gold, the Greyjoy colors; but the task was too great, and when he rushed to depart, the hull had become red, gold, and black—like a wanton trollop.

Whatever—great families always wear these colors, and they're all trollops!

Besides the hull and sail colors, the ship's captain also disliked the mouthless maiden figurehead—only because of the mouth; he loved the rest of her to bits.

He would not demand the sailors be silent, for their cries aboard the ship reassure him, making him feel life continues and his voyage presses onward.

To express this, he had the craftsmen cut a mouth in the maiden's smooth iron face, hoping she would shout for joy on his free ship; of course, he also hoped that when she sailed the seas she would remember who freed her from the Tranquil, who it was, and what she should fight for.

Most importantly, remember who her true master is.

He did not know whether the craftsman's skill was poor or the steel too fine, but when he saw the sculpture again, the maiden's once lovely smooth face began to rot, and her mouth inexplicably turned into an upturned iron blade.

He hated the useless craftsmen who turned his new lady into a monster, so he whipped them; they cried that the maiden's mouth was too hard, only able to be chipped open bit by bit with a drill… he smashed the teeth of the craftsman who said that.

Afterward, he had the craftsmen forge the flipped iron blade into a set of shark's teeth, making her look as if she were madly laughing at the sea ahead.

The beautiful maiden became a beautiful monster. Yet the more he looked, the more he liked her.

The monster has a horrifying charm—those teeth, that wild grin, is it not speaking of his ambition to conquer the sea?

For such a fine figurehead, he renamed the original Tranquil to the Clamor, and moreover cast aside his own Invincible Ironborn.

Since King Balon proclaimed himself king, the Invincible Ironborn has brought him nothing but failure and shame; he admits some of its battles were not bad, but failure is its nature.

Even in its last outing, it became just like him—a spoil for another.

Below Sea Dragon City, the she-wolf reaped not only that ship's captain but also his flagship.

When he was ransomed he spent no gold, but when he ransomed his own flagship he nearly emptied his storehouse.

Damn Merylest, damn the she-wolf.

When the sailors of You Lun threw him into the hold, he swore he would one day wash away the shame on his back with blood—this felt even more humiliating than losing at the kingsmoot.

But before he could wash away the shame in blood, he ought to become king of the Iron Islands, not a homeless brigand—and that is why he lurks in Great Wyk.

Just as he was preparing to lead his fleet south across the Summer Sea to the Stone Islands to fight for that dragon queen, the men of Braavos's Iron Bank came knocking.

This greedy lot imagined they could lure him with coin to fight for the petty Florents.

Laughable. The ship's captain at once ordered the sailors to toss him into the sea, yet accompanying that greedy merchant was also the Florents' Hand, Gastaforte.

"Revenge!" he shouted, "Are you not ready to cleanse the shame you bear?" It was not yet his place to question.

He could see his sailors looking at him. They all knew the ship's captain had once been captured by a woman. Had it not been for that, his fleet might have been much larger rather than merely the thirty ships it now is.

"I have borne much shame; I remember each instance and have repaid them all." He said to Gasta, hoping to forget the worst of them.

He ought to answer Gasta's question: it was he who once guarded the Florents' Firebeacon for them, which allowed him to pass through the Brightflame Bay into the Heatwave River and easily take Callyn Bay, causing that northern upstart to suffer a crushing defeat in the south.

But he would not feel much gratitude toward Gasta.

He took the ship's captain's gold; he ought to serve the captain, and moreover, precisely because he was too successful did You Lun find a loophole—otherwise, he should have been the great king of the Iron Islands.

"You have repaid much, but we all know the she-wolf's tale," Gasta's words made his temples throb, "What's more, she is a woman! A woman! Just as we would not let a woman sit on our heads, and what's more she is a bastard? A true man should not kneel before a woman."

"A true man should not kneel before a woman." He liked that line—was it not his own portrait?

Yet Asha is no bastard.

"Helping the Florents, will that bring revenge?"

"Helping the Florents will get you more gold, let you buy more warships in Braavos… if you are willing to pay only in iron, Braavos will also hand over the merchant shipping lanes departing from Braavos port to you—in short, that means many ships, a very great fleet—but you had best not drown the envoy."

Having heard that, he had the soldiers fish the seawater-drenched envoy out and toss him on the deck. Sea water doubtless washes away vanity and arrogance; the envoy's smile and shrewdness, marks of a gentleman, vanished from his face and eyes, and his gaze toward the ship's captain grew humble.

The ship's captain liked that look.

"But I know the fleet is not your aim," Gasta smiled at him, "What matters most is revenge, and we have already laid the plan."

"What plan?"

"The she-wolf has never lost on land, and the Florent earl himself deems he is no match for her, so we intend to move the fight to sea, after all, the Florents' Hand is separated from the rest of the North by sea and marsh."

Coward. Renouncing the land he was born to inherit, the ship's captain thought, the Florents' bitter revenge on the Starks is surely for this very day?

"Why would a she-wolf come out to sea to grapple with you?"

After all, the wolf runs fast, but as long as we are on water, if we sink her warship, she becomes a wolf fallen into water; you are a sea monster, naturally you can firmly seize her. Isn't that revenge?

The battle hasn't even started, and you already want to give up... Isn't what Jones Filipin wants just that piece of land?

Count Filipin wants the North. As long as the she-wolf dies, who could have a better chance than the count to become the new guardian of the North? Captain, aren't the men giving up just to regain it? Moreover, now the lords of Grave Mound Village are all half-hearted; how could we rely on such people to win?" He gave a sheepish smile and said, "We rely on you!"

His self-exile isn't just to come back, is it? He gave up Pike Island and chose to station at Greater Wick Island, isn't it to consolidate his core strength, to shake off the half-hearted leaders and the wavering captains?

The iron captain glanced at Gast again. He was quite right, so Viktalyon gazed at him and gave a slight nod.