The Iron Islands, Pyke.
Balon Greyjoy stood before the window at the top of the Sea Dragon Tower, gazing at the dark, iron-gray sea beneath the distant leaden sky.
The damp, salty wind swept through the window, carrying the scent of the sea and tossing his graying hair.
He had stood there all afternoon, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rusted Iron Anchor Pendant at his waist.
That morning, a raven had arrived at Pyke from King's Landing.
When the great black bird landed on the windowsill of the Maester's Tower, Harmune, Pyke's maester, saw the mark of the Maester's Tower in King's Landing engraved on its leg band and thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
After all, ever since King Balon had proclaimed the return of the Old Way and the Iron Fleet had begun burning, killing, and pillaging along the coasts of the Westerlands and the Reach, not a single raven had come from the south.
The raven's message was short, only a few lines, but it struck Balon's heart like a hammer. It also contained the very words he least wanted to see.
"Balon Greyjoy,
His Majesty Viserys Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the New Valyrian Empire, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains, Conqueror of the Dothraki, and Father of Dragons, hereby declares:
The Iron Throne does not recognize the 'Old Way.' The Ironborn's raids must cease, the independence of the Iron Islands must end, and House Greyjoy must bend the knee and swear allegiance to the Iron Throne.
Otherwise, dragonfire will burn every one of the Iron Islands to ashes."
Stamped at the bottom of the letter was House Targaryen's three-headed fire dragon, now