"Kevan, Robb Stark must not return to Winterfell alive."
"I understand, brother."
Those were Tywin Lannister's final instructions to Kevan after they returned to their tents following the capture of Deepwood Motte alongside Balon Greyjoy.
---
Late that night, when most of the camp had fallen asleep and only a handful of Ironborn remained awake on patrol or drinking around their fires, Kevan quietly emerged from his tent.
A dagger was hidden beneath his cloak.
Pretending to search for a place to relieve himself, he silently circled around the camp until he approached the area where Robb Stark was being held.
The moment he arrived, he froze.
Two corpses lay beside the campfire.
Kevan's heart skipped a beat.
His eyes immediately shifted toward the oak tree.
Robb Stark was still tied to the trunk, his head hanging limply.
In the dim firelight, it was impossible to tell whether he was alive or dead.
Frowning, Kevan tightened his grip on the dagger and cautiously scanned the surroundings.
The camp appeared deserted.
Had someone gotten here before him?
The question lingered in his mind.
Regardless of the answer, he had to confirm whether Robb Stark was still alive.
And if he was...
Kevan would make sure he wasn't for long.
---
Although Kevan moved carefully, Robb had noticed him long ago.
Pretending to remain unconscious, Robb quietly watched the approaching figure.
The polished blade of Kevan's dagger reflected the flickering firelight.
Sensing danger, Robb could no longer remain silent.
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
Kevan was startled.
He hadn't expected Robb to be awake.
"You're still alive?"
"But... who did this?"
Both men were caught off guard.
Each had questions neither expected to ask.
Then Kevan suddenly realized how foolish his own question had been.
What did it matter who had killed the guards?
His purpose tonight was simple.
Robb Stark had to die.
Kevan raised the dagger.
"Forgive me, Robb Stark."
"You must die."
"May the gods forgive me."
With that, he thrust the dagger toward Robb's chest.
---
The instant his arm moved—
A dark shadow exploded from the bushes beside him.
Before Kevan could react, powerful jaws clamped down on his wrist.
It was Grey Wind.
Focused entirely on Robb, Kevan had never noticed the direwolf silently circling behind him.
Before the dagger could touch Robb, Grey Wind's tremendous weight slammed Kevan to the ground.
Over a year had passed since Eddard Stark and his children had found the orphaned wolf pups.
The once tiny cubs had grown into enormous beasts.
Standing on its hind legs, Grey Wind was taller than most men.
Even Kevan's broad and powerful frame couldn't withstand the direwolf's charge.
The moment Kevan hit the ground, Grey Wind tightened its jaws.
Crack!
Kevan's wrist shattered instantly beneath the crushing force.
Before he could even scream, Grey Wind planted its massive forepaws on his chest.
Then it began violently shaking its head from side to side.
Its powerful hind legs pushed backward while its jaws tore relentlessly at Kevan's arm.
The attack was savage.
Kevan barely had time to register the pain before he was dragged violently across the ground.
His dagger flew from his hand the instant his wrist broke.
Only then did he scream.
"AAAHHH—!"
But after only two agonized cries...
The pain suddenly changed.
Kevan instinctively looked down.
His right hand was gone.
Grey Wind had torn it clean off.
Blood erupted from the mangled stump.
Shredded flesh hung loosely.
Several tendons had stretched grotesquely from the severed arm before finally snapping under the force.
The unbearable agony forced another bloodcurdling scream from Kevan.
He no longer cared about Robb.
He only wanted the pain to stop.
---
Suddenly—
Thunk!
A short bolt pierced Kevan's throat.
His scream died instantly.
His vision blurred.
Before either he or Robb understood what had happened—
Several more bolts whistled through the darkness.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Within moments, five or six bolts had buried themselves in Kevan's chest and head.
His eyes widened.
Life quickly faded from them.
Unable to draw another breath, Kevan Lannister died where he lay.
Still tied to the tree, Robb stared blankly.
Everything had happened too quickly.
He slowly lifted his head toward the darkness.
A few moments later...
A tall, slender woman carrying a crossbow stepped into the firelight.
Several Ironborn followed behind her.
It was Asha Greyjoy.
---
Without saying a word, Asha immediately noticed the two dead guards beside the fire.
Then her eyes landed on Grey Wind.
Its muzzle was still stained crimson with fresh blood.
One glance was enough.
She immediately understood what had happened.
The direwolf had killed the guards.
Grey Wind lowered its body.
Its fur stood on end.
Its teeth were bared as it growled threateningly.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Without hesitation, Asha discarded her empty crossbow and smoothly drew the shortsword at her waist.
Behind her, the Ironborn either nocked arrows or unsheathed their weapons.
The killing intent between both sides erupted instantly.
---
Sensing the danger, Grey Wind attacked first.
Like a bolt of lightning, it lunged toward the nearest Ironborn.
Its jaws closed around the man's throat.
Unlike a wrist...
A human neck offered almost no resistance.
One savage bite ripped open the sailor's throat.
Blood sprayed several feet through the air.
But that was all Grey Wind could accomplish.
The next instant—
Several arrows flew toward it.
Two struck their mark.
One pierced its hind leg.
Another drove deep into its abdomen.
Grey Wind collapsed beside the dying Ironborn.
Blood splashed across its black-and-white fur.
Even after falling, the direwolf struggled to stand.
But its injured hindquarters refused to support its weight.
It collapsed once more.
Realizing it had been seriously wounded, Grey Wind whimpered softly.
Even so...
It continued baring its teeth and growling at the humans before it.
---
"Stop!"
"Please stop!"
Only now did Robb recover from his shock.
Looking at Grey Wind, pierced by two arrows, one buried deep in its abdomen, his heart ached.
It had come here only to save him.
Watching his loyal companion die before his eyes felt as though the arrows had pierced his own heart.
Despite its injuries, Grey Wind dragged itself forward.
Its hindquarters barely moved anymore.
Even so...
It stubbornly placed itself between Robb and the Ironborn.
Asha couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Your wolf?"
"It seems incredibly loyal."
"I've heard every Stark child has one."
Robb nodded desperately.
"Please..."
"Don't hurt him anymore."
Asha shook her head.
"It killed our men."
"It was defending itself!"
"You attacked first!"
Robb argued.
Before Asha could respond—
One of the Ironborn ignored the conversation entirely.
He calmly drew another arrow.
Without hesitation...
He aimed directly at Grey Wind's neck.
Twang!
The arrow shot forward.
Robb watched helplessly.
The arrow struck Grey Wind squarely in the throat.
The great direwolf collapsed.
Its body twitched once...
Then became still.
The Ironborn lowered his bow and spat onto the ground.
"This beast killed three of my men."
"And you expect me to spare it?"
"My arrow should've gone through your throat instead."
Even Asha hadn't expected the captain accompanying her to act so decisively.
She turned toward him.
The three dead guards had all belonged to his crew.
Every one of them had died at Grey Wind's jaws.
His anger was understandable.
Still furious, the captain strode toward Robb.
Robb remained staring blankly at Grey Wind's lifeless body.
He never even noticed the man approaching.
Bound tightly by thick ropes, there was nothing he could have done anyway.
The captain's fist slammed into Robb's face.
Bang!
Two teeth flew from Robb's mouth.
The captain looked ready to continue.
Asha stepped forward and stopped him.
"Enough."
"My father wants him alive."
The captain glared at her.
"Then I'll break his arm."
"Cut off one of his ears."
"Maybe gouge out one of his eyes."
Without another word, Asha pressed her shortsword against his throat.
"Are you questioning my authority?"
"Or challenging me?"
Feeling the cold steel against his neck, the captain finally stopped.
More importantly...
The sailors from Asha's own longship, Black Wind, had already surrounded him.
They were fiercely loyal to her.
Asha always fought beside her crew on the front lines.
She was willing to die for them.
And they would gladly die for her.
Of course...
Quite a few of them also wanted to share her bed.
The captain glared hatefully.
"Bitch."
"You've taken a liking to this Stark boy."
"Enjoy him while he's still useful."
"Maybe you'll even leave behind a wolf-blooded bastard."
Seeing that he had no choice, the captain spat another curse before turning away.
His actions had already avenged his fallen crew in the eyes of the other Ironborn.
As an Ironborn herself, Asha understood his reasoning.
If he had simply accepted the deaths of his men without retaliation...
His crew would likely abandon him by the very next day.
Among the Ironborn...
No one followed a coward.
If Balon hadn't specifically ordered Robb Stark kept alive...
Even Asha would never have intervened.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)