Chapter 62

Six months later...
The Bleeding Tower
Tyrosh

The Ironborn, Salladhor Saan’s pirates, and the Dornish bannermen who had engaged in the fight often marveled at both the strangely colored hair and beards of the Tyroshi soldiers, sellswords, and local militia who resisted them, as well as their fierce courage. One couldn’t deny that the Tyroshi fought hard against their invaders, but it was pretty clear that they were in a bit of a pickle, too. It had been decided to attack the Free Cities in Essos themselves directly first, rather than liberate the Bay of Dragons immediately, as the collapse of the former would eradicate a later threat once Meereen, Astapor, and Yunkai were freed from bondage.

“So, these folks are surprised that their slaves rose up against them, outnumbering freemen by so much? That seems rather silly to me. Did they really believe that their slaves loved them and obeyed them out of such love? Stupid fools!” Salladhor Saan remarked with some amusement, even as he cut down yet another Tyroshi warrior holding out in the Bleeding Tower.

Very few parts of the ironically named “Free City” of Tyrosh were still in Tyroshi hands by now. The slaves of the city had indeed risen up against their masters, as soon as the Iron Fleet pushed its way into their harbor, along with Salladhor Saan’s pirate navy, as well as the Dornish ships. The Rhoynar had come for their vengeance, centuries after the Valyrian colonists had driven their ancestors from Mother Rhoyne’s embrace and slaughtered as well as enslaved so many of the race.

“Yes, well, this comeuppance is long overdue. Our forefathers suffered at their hands, from Princess Nymeria on down. This time, we’ve come to collect our debt of honor, and so we have,” Ser Ulwyck Uller declared as he cut down yet another Tyroshi soldier on his way to confront the Archon himself, who held himself up in the Bleeding Tower.

The Archon and the last of his personal bodyguard made their final stand in the Bleeding Tower, well aware that it was the last great stronghold in the city. There were still scattered pockets of resistance, but no other bulwark left to oppose the invaders. He was well aware that the Free City of Myr had already fallen to the Golden Company under Harry Strickland, in the service of Magister Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos. The power of the Free Cities of Essos was truly in peril due to this rather foolish war waged at the behest of the Triarchs of the Free City of Volantis. Myr was fallen, and now Tyrosh, with Lorath in serious jeopardy from the Braavosi juggernaut.

“These warriors do themselves credit in fighting so hard to protect their leader, but it is futile, is it not? Very well, though. I’m paying the iron price for everything that I get from here, including my honor as a Queen, the Bottomless Queen of the Iron Throne, Queen of Salt and Rock, Lady Reaper of Pyke,” Yara Greyjoy, who had given birth to her daughter, Asha, just three months prior, declared as she slaughtered yet another of these colorfully bearded Tyroshi men.

“So be it. How was it that you Ironborn like to say it, ‘What’s dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger,’ right? I rather like that saying. Dorne certainly has witnessed the resurgence of the Rhoynar, if nothing else,” Lord Harmen Uller, Lord of Hellholt, spoke as they finally reached the last line of defense, in the last chamber of the Bleeding Tower.

That was when he saw Lord Quentyn Qorgyle, Lord of Sandstone, get struck down right in front of his own son, Ser Gulian Qorgyle. Ser Gulian then slaughtered three men in response, leaving the Archon to stand with only four men left in his defense. Yet those four men still fought harder than lions or tigers, slaying Ser Ulwyck Uller just before two of them fell to Yara Greyjoy. When Lord Blackmont was cleft in half, the other two men were slain by Lord Dagos Manwoody and his brother, Ser Myles.