Chapter 677: Victarion

Standing before Asha and rescuing her from peril was none other than her uncle, Victarion.

Time had aged him, his once dark hair now streaked with gray, indicating that the recent years hadn't been kind to him. He had weathered countless storms.

Yet, the once-undefeated captain of the Iron Fleet's "Ironseed" still maintained his imposing stature and powerful arms.

Crow's feet crinkled at the corners of his eyes as he gazed at his niece, letting out a deep sigh.

"Asha."

To Asha, the fact that her Uncle Victarion was still alive was the greatest surprise.

Victarion had always been her father Balon's most loyal follower. He had never defied his elder brother's commands, holding him in the highest esteem, bordering on reverence.

In their youth, Victarion had been kind to both Asha and young Theon, and to their brothers Rodrik and Maron. He often took them out to sea and played with them. Tragically, both Rodrik and Maron were slain when the armies of the Iron Throne stormed Pyke.

Back then, a heartbroken Victarion had bid farewell to his younger brother Theon, who had been sent to Winterfell as both a ward and a hostage. Theon was too young to remember, but Asha had shed countless tears in his absence.

However, when the White Walkers began their invasion, Balon Greyjoy believed they couldn't cross the seas and decided to watch the events unfold from the sidelines. But to his shock, the White Walkers ambushed Blacktyde Island by boat.

Disbelieving, Balon sent Victarion with a fleet to investigate Blacktyde. From that moment, Victarion and his fleet, along with the Ironseed, vanished without a trace.

Asha had assumed that her uncle had perished, or had turned into one of the undead, just like her father Balon.

But to her astonishment, here was Victarion, very much alive and in Tyrosh.

"Uncle, how can this be?!"

Asha, overwhelmed with emotion, grabbed Victarion's shoulders, seeking answers.

After a brief embrace, Asha let go, again seeking clarity on the same burning question. She was desperate to know what had befallen Victarion over the years.

The formidable former commander of the Iron Fleet shook his head, sighed, and began his tale.

"In short…"

Victarion recounted his escape from Blacktyde Island, detailing the numerous challenges he had faced.

When he had gone to Blacktyde on his brother's orders, his fleet was ambushed by the White Walkers. Cunning and seemingly intelligent, the White Walkers decimated Victarion's forces, sinking most of their ships in the icy waters.

Victarion had fought valiantly till the very end, but was nearly killed by a distinctive White Walker – a gray-haired female wielding an icy bow and arrow. With no options left, he leaped into the sea.

Assuming he would meet his end, he was unexpectedly rescued by a merchant ship flying the banner of a Tyrosh trading company.

He wanted to return to the Iron Islands to warn his people, but the ship's captain informed him of a price for his life. Victarion was now a slave.

He lifted his tangled hair, revealing a scar on his face – a mark of slavery in Tyrosh.

The Tyrosh trading company had seen value in Victarion's strength. Such slaves fetched high prices, especially in the fighting pits of cities like Meereen and Yunkai.

Victarion had indeed been sold to a slave trader in Meereen. After countless battles, he emerged as a champion in the fighting pits, earning his master a fortune.

Having elevated his status, Victarion seized an opportunity to escape, murdering his master in the process. He became a wanted man, and eventually found passage back to Tyrosh.

Fresh from his journeys, he had learned of Asha's visit to Tyrosh as the commander of the Iron Throne's fleet.