Pyke

[Fel]

The shore of Pyke is full of jagged outcroppings of rock and cliffs, and the castle seems a part of the rest with its towers, walls, and bridges quarried of the same grey-black stone, wetted by the same waves, covered with the same patches of dark green lichen, and speckled with the droppings of the same sea birds

[Erik]

A band of nearly ninety Ironborn approaches the keep, marching under two banners: One the black-and-gold kraken of Greyjoy, one a flag of peace. When they reach the gate, their leader, a young woman, steps forward and calls to the guards, "Hail! Let Qhored know his cousin's come for a visit!"

[Fel]

"Which cousin'd that be?" the guard yells back from atop the walls.

[Erik]

"Helya Greyjoy, daughter of Gysella Harlaw and Erik Greyjoy!"

[Fel]

The guard laughed, and then disappeared for a short while. When he returned he called down, "ye can come on in, but ye're only allowed take ten men with ya." The gates began to open.

[Erik]

Helya says a few words to her men and most of them move off the road, beginning to set up camp, while ten follow her inside. She takes a deep breath as she enters the keep, and her eyes wander, as though she wants to take in all she sees.

[Fel]

The heavy gates closed again after Helya and her men entered, enclosing then within the castle. A thrall arrived and led her to the main hall of the Great Keep, where on the raised dais Lord Qhored sat on the oily black Seastone Chair. His eyes were hard and cold, his expression grim. He waits for her to speak.

[Erik]

Helya takes some steps forward and kneels, then begins to speak. "Hail, Qhored, the Harlaw, Lord of Pyke, Harlaw, and all the Iron Islands, King of Salt and Rock, Son of the Sea Wind, Lord Reaper of Pyke," She raises her head, smiling, and lifts herself to her feet, "And, presumably, a title or two I've gone and forgotten. But also my cousin, grandson of my uncle. I come to you in peace, both to see the family that I have not for too many years, and to speak on matters important to our houses. I do hope I find you well, cousin Qhored."

[Fel]

"Pretty words, cousin," Qhored said, "but pretty words are cheap and they buy you nothing. You would claim friendship and loyalty, even as you sport the traitor's name given to you by Erik the False? The name of Harral, who killed our great-grandfather, the name of Andrik and Ulfrik, who attempted to kill my father, the name Erik pretended to, who betrayed my father and had him killed in the most cowardly of fashions."

"Your olive branch is barbed and poisoned, dear cousin."

[Erik]

Helya bows her head, acknowledging the accusations, before replying, "I do not deny, there have been troubles in the past. I am here to see that those troubles remain in the past. Believe you me, cousin, you have nothing to worry about from me or my brothers. Pyke is yours. My cousin Andrik, the damn fool, swore to give up the house's claim to it, should he be killed by your father, and of course he was. Frankly, we're quite content in the Stepstones, anyway." She flashes a pleased-with-herself-smirk, "And besides that, what houses would follow us after my father lost the war? All we want is cooperation, Qhored. When Ironborn fights Ironborn, only the Green Lands win."

[Fel]

"As your father proved when he drove our people against one another while they warred in foreign lands," Qhored sneered. "The Greyjoys have never been anything but liars and betrayers since my house assumed control of the Islands. If you had come to me bearing your true and proper name, the one Felryn Harlaw raised Erik the False to, your words might have some meaning."

[Erik]

Helya laughs. "Coldiron, my lord? Are we Greenlanders, to bandy about our names like this? The fact of the matter is, our iron isn't particularly cold these days, and is unlikely to be anytime soon, given the Northerner occupation of our rightful fief. Save for us, Greyjoy is a dead house. Balor's children are all dead. Andrik and Ulfrik as well, and their children are nowhere to be found. My father's father and brothers disappeared years ago." She shrugs, "We are all that remains. Call us what you wish."

[Fel]

"I will."

"Tell me why you have come."

[Erik]

"Well, it's quite simple, cousin. We would extend the hand of friendship. As I'm sure you know, we've been reaving in the Stepstones for some time. Recently, we found ourselves a fine little island and liberated it from the smugglers that had been using it. Jhorgo calls it New Pyke. A small step toward the recreation of our islands' grand old empire. Or, at least, it would be, so long as you would let us kneel to the Seastone Chair."

[Fel]

Qhored considered Helya for a moment.

"The Braavosi in the Narrow Sea are our ultimate enemies, this is true," he said grudgingly. "And having a base in the Stepstones would be a great benefit."

"I will accept this arrangement, so long as your brother Jhorgo comes and swears himself to me in person. But do not think the Iron Fleet will sail to your rescue when Braavos finally gets around to swatting you."