Pirate City
Theon POV
The gentle wind caressed my hair. Looking back, I wondered what would happen next. Was I feeling a bit tired of all of this? A dead man like me shouldn't feel anything, but for some time, I had wanted everything to end as soon as possible. The Summer Isles awaited me, and yet here I was doing something foolish. But I only thought that it was the fasted way to end it all.
"Land ahead!"
The sun was already setting when we reached our destination. It wasn't the first island we encountered, but this was our final stop: Bloodstone, the largest island of the Stepstones. It was said that more than a hundred pirate ships came here every day. It could be regarded as the center for all pirates to gather.
On this island, there was nothing that could not be done or found. Pirates came to sell or trade their goods, resupply, recruit people for their crews, and, most importantly, to celebrate. In the center of it all was a sprawling wooden fortress that housed everyone. There were no guards, but thousands of pirates were always present, ready to fight anyone who threatened it.
"Put on your cloaks; we don't know what we're walking into," Dagmar Cleftjaw said as he surveyed the port we were approaching. "Nute, Adrik, stay by the king's side no matter what. Harras and Denys will stay and watch over the ship."
"What about the rest?" one of the Goodbrothers' twins asked.
"You two will come with me," Dagmar replied. "We'll gather supplies and see what we can find."
Aside from the Greycloaks, there were twenty more men on the small ship—my most trusted and reliable men. Those who didn't question me when I suddenly told them to burn the ship and board this one. The rest of the original crew were left behind in Volantis; I didn't want to gather too much attention, specifically from Euron.
Thirty men were enough for me. What was more important were the bags of gold. Gold that would buy many hearts on this island. And hopefully, promises and my name would buy even more. A hundred pirate crews would be far more than enough for my plans. I was confident that I would at least get half of them before I began to spill the blood of those who thought otherwise.
"Don't hide your weapons or armor," I said as we finally boarded the port. "People there will judge you on everything. Show them why they shouldn't mess with us, and they will back off."
"For the last time, I warn you, your Grace," Dagmar stopped me just as I was about to leave the ship.
"I know, the Ironborn and these pirates aren't on friendly terms," I replied. "Don't worry, I will take care of everything."
"That's what I am worried about," Dagmar muttered. "Remember, we are vastly outnumbered in the city. And we have many enemies."
I just glanced at him before jumping out of the ship, with Bronn, Anguy, Thoros, Nute, and Adrik following me. They were a bit slower since they had to carry heavy bags. The clinking of coins quickly attracted people to look our way at the port. I ignored them as I strode through the streets to the center of the fortress.
"Well, well, well." Before we could make our way out of the port, a group of thugs blocked our path. "What do we have here?"
"Look at that armor, full plate," another commented. "Nice swords too."
Even as they spoke about our appearance, their eyes were fixed on the bags. There were rules in this place: no fighting. Not within the walls. How well those rules were followed was no secret. The rules mattered only to the biggest and strongest pirate crews. If a bunch of strangers died, nobody would care.
"Nine?" I counted them aloud. "Return with three times the numbers before even trying anything."
"A smart guy," the largest man with an axe resting on his shoulder remarked. "Look around you, little lord. Your knights aren't worth a shit in this place. Just think of it as bad luck. Or more likely your stupid decision to walk around with pretty pieces on you and even prettier pieces hiding in the bags."
"You should have stayed home," another said, brandishing his knives and walking up to me. "You won't be able to buy anything with that gold, so why don't you let us help you with the weight? As a welcomed gift from Bloodstone to our newest guests."
"I see your head is weighing too much on your shoulders," I replied with a friendly smile. "Very well. I will help you with that."
Most people expect a swordsman to draw their swords before the fight. But I didn't want to clean my sword today, so I grabbed the face of the thug nearest to me and smashed his head into the stone pavement before throwing him at the big guy with the axe. Kicking the man with knives, I snatched one of them before cutting his neck and threw it at another's head.
As two guys lay dead before me and one with a bleeding head barely able to stand, I looked at the rest. The big guy now realized that I wasn't just some lordling who didn't know what he was doing. But, as any good thug would, he had to act tough or he would quickly lose his position and most likely his head. Yet, that hesitation was enough for Bronn to move unnoticed and stab him from the side.
"Well now, it looks we aren't outnumbered anymore," I looked at the last five man who were shitting their pants right now as the bravest and probably toughest people in their group were all killed. "How about you guys start running?"
Like good little idiots they were, they quickly scattered. People around us now looked more cautiously as we stepped over the dead bodies and continued on our way. Muttering began as we walked. I heard a few mentions that Blackbeard won't be happy and another bloodbath will soon begin, but I ignored it.
And while looking around for a place where most pirates would hang out, I noticed a big building with a lot of sound coming from the inside. It was some kind of tavern, maybe an inn. It seemed like the biggest establishment around, so without too much consideration, I walked towards it.
"Scram it." Before we could enter it, a man waiting by the doors stopped us. "It isn't a place for the likes of you."
"Do you want me shove your head to your asshole?" I asked, staring back at him.
"Heh, maybe it's a place for people like you," the man said and surprisingly stepped away.
And there I thought I could make my entrance using him. I had to content myself with pushing the doors to the establishment. The noise grew louder; laughter, screams of pain from closed doors, dice hitting the table, and cups clashing were everywhere. It was a pretty nice place, and surprisingly, the musicians were pretty good too.
"Tch, there are quite a few famous people here," Adrik commented as he looked around. "Look over there, by the table in the corner, the big guy with an axe for a hand. That's Axe Hand Morgan; Prince Victorian has clashed with him multiple times in the past decade."
"Seeing that he is alive, that means he isn't a simple man," I replied.
"Over there, the thin guy by the bar," Then Adrik pointed at another man. "Silverhand Johnny, the one who is wearing silver gauntlets. It is said that those have melted into his skin, and he can't take them off. Yet it still didn't stop him from playing his lute or cutting anyone who was on this path."
"Wait, that old bitch, I know her," Thoros said as he looked over the second floor and found an older woman drinking while observing everyone below, especially us. "That's Big Mom; it is said she has the biggest crew and has even fought in the Ninepenny War. She is as cruel as she is ugly."
"Fuck, that pirate empress," Bronn suddenly directed our gaze to a tall woman sitting by the biggest table.
"What? Does she rule the island or something?" I asked, not really impressed by a pretty girl playing dice while drinking wine.
"Well, basically, yes," Bronn replied. "All the gold on the island comes through her. If a sellsword is looking for work in these parts, they have to go through her too. I heard she was a former slave, so she really hates slavers, so if any pirates are holding any of them, they better not leave their ship, for her wrath knows no bounds."
"Well then, she will be a good start," I said with a smile.
Pushing through the crowd, I walked to the biggest table where a tall woman wearing jewelry all over her body was rolling the dice with a dozen or so people around her, just happy to be in her presence. The table was full, and it seemed like a line formed to get to it. But I cared little for that and pushed them out of the way, ignoring angry yells before walking to the seat right next to her.
"The game is still going on," one of the men sitting by the table said, glancing at me. "Wait for your turn. Better yet, get out of there before you are left with only your breeches, and that if you are lucky."
"Oh, I am pretty lucky," I replied, grabbing the guy in my seat by his neck and throwing him out before sitting down. "I have gambled with death a few times already."
"Oh," The Empress frowned at first, but once she heard my words, she smiled. "And how did it go?"
"As you can see, I won," I replied, taking the dice and throwing them on the table without shaking them or knowing the rules.
"How did you manage that?"
"Let's just say I have cheated him," I replied as a knife was put to my neck. "The guy behind me, what's his name?"
"My name is Garret," A rough voice answered in my ear.
"Garret, how many people have you killed?"
"I don't know, I lost count, but in dozens, it doesn't matter who they are, children, women, or lordlings who don't know their place in this world."
"Anguy, how many people did you kill?"
"Seven hundred and eighty-two," Anguy replied, leisurely stepping to my side.
"How many women and children are in that count?"
"None."
"Now, I am in a good mood, so before I see your face, I would recommend that you leave."
There was no answer, but the knife was retracted quickly enough. Now everyone's attention was on us. The tavern even quieted down, like they awaited what would happen next. After all, it wasn't an everyday occurrence that six, well-armed men would walk into a place like this with bags of gold over their shoulders. Though I guess everyone was more interested in the blood that would be spilled rather than the gold.
"You lost," Suddenly the Empress said as he nudged the dice I threw. "It seems your luck has run out."
Suddenly, the people sitting by the table left, and it was now filled with men I had been introduced to not long ago. There was some space between us and everyone else in the tavern. They all looked at me and my companions, as if I were some kind of piece of meat, and they hadn't decided among themselves who would be the first to devour me.
"Anguy the Dead-eye, The Drunken Priest Thoros, Bronn the Sword of the Black King, Adrik the Unsmiling, Nute the Barber," The Empress named each of us before turning her head to me. "And The Black King, Theon Greyjoy."
"Dead-eye? Seriously?" I asked with a snicker. "The Sword of the Black King? That's a bit weak. But I guess you know who I am. And you know us pretty well."
"A man worth two hundred thousand gold dragons would be recognized anywhere he went," Silverhand replied. "Now, the question is, what is stopping us from taking that gold. For I see only five guards."
"No, you see death," I replied, taking the dice into my hands again. "Let's make a bet. If the number I throw is even, you listen to me before making any decisions."
"And if it's odd?" Big Mom asked.
"Then all of you die."
I replied before throwing the dice on the table. Everyone's eyes turned to the dice as it fell on the table, rolling a couple of times before settling in place. I laughed at the results, as everyone else joined in.