Baelor gritted his teeth. "Do not open the gates, and do not attack."
"Understood." Ser Garth and Ser Moryn nodded.
"Ask for aid, Baelor," Garth said. "This situation is more than we can handle."
Oldtown's docks had been burned and most of its fleet sunk, making it even harder to fight the Ironborn.
Even on land, the Hightower soldiers had proved rather poor. They were well equipped, but not ruthless enough, much less resilient.
"They-they've tied Ser Guncer to the prow." Moryn raised his Myr lens and saw it clearly.
Baelor snatched the lens. That silver hair belonged to his younger brother, without a doubt. "It's him. It really is Guncer."
Guncer Hightower was being carried by Crow's Eye's sailors.
"Then let me lead the soldiers out. There are still some warships in Oldtown, and we can borrow a few from the Merchant Guild," Garth pleaded. "I'm the second son. I must save my younger brother. In the Ironborn's hands, he's better off dead."
"Shut up, Garth. I've already lost one brother and the docks. I don't want to lose another," Baelor said coldly. He clenched his hand until blood seeped out. The humiliation of this day. "For the honor of House Hightower-if both of you were captured, it would be an immense disgrace..."
"I understand." Garth turned his head away, treating Guncer as though he were already dead.
For the honor of House Hightower and Oldtown, anything could be sacrificed, even family.
"What about Father?"
"I'll explain to him when the time comes. We are foolish Hightowers who have disgraced our house, burned our docks, and lost our own kin."
"I fear the Redwyne Fleet alone won't be enough. Lord Paxter doesn't dare act on his own either," Ser Moryn said. "Crow's Eye comes and goes like a ghost,