Chapter 7: The Battle for Cutthroat Isle
The Stepstones, Cutthroat Isle
It was a very peaceful night. Moonlight spilled across the surface of the harbor, creating a sheet of silver ripples. The sound of the waves was pleasant and serene.
After the bustle of the day had faded, the docks of Cutthroat Isle were left with only the sound of waves lapping against the wooden planks, punctuated by the occasional creak of swaying ships.
The ships in the harbor lay quietly at anchor, their masts and sails casting long shadows under the faint Moonlight.
Only a few night watch boats remained in the harbor, continuing their patrols, while the lighthouse had switched modes to shine only near the main island.
As time passed, even these boats grew fewer in number, until eventually, not a single one remained.
In the distant pirate stronghold, lights became increasingly scarce, with only a few scattered candles still burning.
Meanwhile, inside a pirate prison holding slaves, several dark figures were moving slowly under the cover of night.
The two pirates on guard had long since succumbed to exhaustion. Their eyelids were locked in a fierce struggle, seemingly on the verge of collapse.
Swish...
"Uh... did you see that?"
Having caught a blurry glimpse of white, one of the pirate guards quickly woke his companion. The other man, still dazed, simply rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"What? Ah... cough, cough..."
"Ene—"
"Mmph... crack..."
The drowsy pirate didn't even have time to react before his mouth was clamped shut. His surprised words were cut short as a dagger pierced his throat.
The pirate who had first noticed something wrong tried to shout an alarm, but Direwolf Ghost lunged at his neck like a bolt of lightning, his words choked back by blood.
Click... clack...
After some fiddling by Narsas, the chains locking the prison gates were opened. Although the two guards didn't have keys, the thief's tools in his hand were very effective.
As the gates opened, a pungent, rank smell wafted out. According to Jon's previous scouting, nearly a hundred slaves were imprisoned here.
They had all been pillaged by the pirates under "Skullcap" Bill's command, to be kept until there were enough to sell to slave traders like Gusta.
"Who are you people?"
"The lord of light protect us!"
"You bastards, let us out of here right now!"
Narsas and his group, carrying torches, caused a commotion in the slave cells. Some people shouted curses, while others prayed for divine salvation.
Clearly, these people had mistaken Narsas and his group for pirates as well.
These people spoke many different languages, but the most common among them was the Common Tongue.
Because The Stepstones served as a vital passage between the eastern and western continents, many sailors, travelers, and merchants knew at least some of the Common Tongue.
Among the captives were some dark-skinned Summer Islanders. They were a unique race from the Summer Sea south of Westeros, with customs and habits vastly different from those of the eastern and western continents.
These slaves included men, women, the elderly, and children; some were even entire families. At this moment, however, they all shared a single identity: 'those who had lost their freedom.'
Howl...
Under Jon's control, Direwolf Ghost let out a sharp howl. Under the pressure of his massive presence, the surrounding crowd instinctively fell silent.
"We are 'The Chainbreakers.' We have come to eliminate the pirates and liberate the slaves. No matter which god you worship, we, believers of the old gods and the new, will set you free."
Narsas's words echoed in their ears. The information revealed left everyone feeling as if they had been struck by lightning.
"But you must also understand that we are here to deal with pirates. So, whatever you choose to do, we must first eliminate these pirates. Don't you agree?"
"Yes..."
"We should..."
"Indeed..."
After hearing Narsas's words, the crowd began to discuss fervently.
Clatter... shing...
Accompanied by the sound of clashing metal, countless daggers and shortswords appeared before their eyes.
"Come! Tell me your choice: will you step forward or shrink back?"
...Cutthroat Isle, Pirate Stronghold
"Skullcap" Bill was a pirate from the Iron Islands. He had fled to The Stepstones after killing a fellow countryman and being branded a fugitive by an Iron Islands lord.
Because he was ruthless and cruel, this old pirate—who had a section of his skull sliced off—eventually became the pirate leader of Cutthroat Isle.
The pirates were very happy today. Jon and his group, using Gusta's name, had arranged a deal with them. Not only had they paid a deposit, but they had also sent the pirates plenty of wine.
These were part of the private collection Gusta had kept on the sea fox. To ensure the success of the island seizure, Jon had added some sweetsleep to the wine.
To ensure his operations and plans on the Eastern Continent, Jon had specifically sought out Maester Luwin of Winterfell for a crash course in toxicology and pharmacology.
With Eddard Stark's permission, Jon obtained several books and some of Maester Luwin's poison collection, including a sweet-tasting sweetsleep potion.
A small amount of sweetsleep is not harmful; it merely produces an effect similar to a sleeping pill. Thus, the "Chainbreakers" sent to test the poison for the pirates showed no unusual symptoms.
Most of the pirates were now gathered in the stronghold's main hall. As the drug took effect, many were already in a half-dreaming, half-awake state.
The person Jon sent to communicate with the pirates was Garo, the former second mate of the sea fox who had surrendered.
Garo was the dying man Jon had saved with a vulnerary. He was originally a down-and-out sailor from Dorne. Because he was familiar with the routes between Dorne and The Stepstones, the late Captain Gusta had hired him as second mate in Seagull Town.
Jon had saved him because the man wasn't inherently evil, and after being revived by Jon, Garo became a fervent follower.
Although it was Garo's first time dealing with these specific pirates, he used his years of sailing experience to mingle with them.
"Hahaha! Drink up, my dear brother Garo! You must finish what that fellow Gusta couldn't!"
"Skullcap" Bill, his face flushed red, was urging Garo to drink. It seemed his grizzly-bear-like physique allowed him to resist the effects of the sweetsleep.
"Hahaha, let's drink!"
Garo, scruffy-bearded and with a scar on his face, took a sip with "Skullcap" Bill after glancing toward the entrance.
He was secretly suffering, already feeling a bit lightheaded. As a lifelong drinker, Garo knew this meant the drug was working.
Awoooo...
Just as Garo was wondering how to regroup with his companions, a strange wolf howl suddenly reached everyone's ears.
"They're here!"
Hearing the howl, Garo's heart swelled with excitement. He stood up and said to "Skullcap" Bill:
"Chief Bill, please excuse me for a moment!"
"Hahaha! What's the matter, Garo? Going for a piss? Don't you dare run off! We're not done yet."
"Skullcap" Bill spoke with a hint of pride, thinking Garo was trying to use a bathroom break to escape the drinking bout.
"No, no, I'll be back in a flash!"
Garo spoke while feigning drunken discomfort, though in his heart he was already thinking about how he would return to kill "Skullcap" Bill.
To be safe, "Skullcap" Bill sent a man to accompany Garo.
But as soon as the pirate, with Garo's arm around his shoulder, reached the hallway by the door, The Chainbreakers swarmed him and stabbed him until he looked like a hedgehog.
"Chainbreakers! In the name of the old gods and the new, cast these wicked men into hell!"
"Long live!" Under the astonished gazes of the newcomers, Jon summoned his iron sword from the void, illuminated by the dim torchlight.
As those morale-boosting words were shouted, all The Chainbreakers seemed to be enveloped in an aura. They cheered "Long live!" and followed Jon as he burst into the pirates' hall.
"Kill them!"... "What's going on?..."
"Ouch..."
"My head is so dizzy!..."
"Where's my sword?..."
Upon seeing Jon and The Chainbreakers, many pirates in the hall failed to react. Some scrambled to stand, while others fumbled for their weapons.
But the sweetsleep had taken hold; many didn't even have the strength to lift their hands.
Shing... Ah... cough...
Jon locked his eyes on "Skullcap" Bill, who looked like a great bear in the hall, and charged straight for him.
A blond youth blocking Jon's path had just raised the stool he was sitting on when Jon slit his throat. With a muffled groan, the boy collapsed, clutching his neck.
The Chainbreakers behind Jon surged into the hall like a flood toward the pirates.
Although most of them had little combat experience, the majority of the pirates were already poisoned.
Under Jon's leadership, the battle became completely one-sided. Countless pirates fell under the weapons of The Chainbreakers, and blood flooded the entire place.
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