Aeron is on Great Wyk drowning initiates into the priesthood of the Drowned God. He has drowned three already without incident, but the fourth and final man, Emmond, thrashes about and Aeron needs help to finish the job. As he finishes, he sees three men on shore, the Sparr and his son Steffarion and Gormond Goodbrother. He finishes the ceremony with the help of his drowned men, including Norjen and Rus, using CPR to bring Emmond back to life and accepting him into the drowned men, before turning to the new arrivals. Gormond tells him that Balon is dead, killed when the bridge he was crossing at Pyke was destroyed in a storm. Aeron declares that the Storm God cast him down for making the ironmen great again. He takes Gormond's mount and tells his men to meet him at Pebbleton. When Aeron arrives at Hammerhorn, Gran escorts him to the hall, where Lord Gorold awaits with Maester Murenmure. Aeron tells him to send everyone away, but while Gorold sends Gran and two of his daughters, Gysella and Gwin, out of the room, he has the maester stay. Aeron cannot abide maesters and begins to leave until Murenmure informs him that Euron sits the Seastone Chair and calls on all captains to return to Pyke and do fealty. Aeron immediately states that only a godly man may sit the Seastone Chair and Euron worships only his pride. Murenmure says that Theon is now ruler, or Asha if he is dead, but Aeron cares not for green land law and states that no woman may sit the chair either. Gorold asks what to do, and Aeron says he should send no answer until Aeron has prayed. Aeron continues on to Pebbleton with Greydon Goodbrother guiding him. Greydon leaves him the next morning to take the news of Balon's death to his cousins at Downdelving, Crow Spike Keep, and Corpse Lake, and Aeron continues to Pebbleton alone, stopping to preach on the way and gathering a dozen followers. By the time he arrives at Pebbleton, his drowned men have prepared a shelter for him, where he retires after drowning his new followers. He is restless, and so wades our into the water and finally figures out what must be done. Lord Meldred comes to see him the next morning. He has received a bird from Euron as well as one from Asha at Ten Towers, the seat of House Harlaw. Aeron preaches to the assembled that they should go neither to Pyke nor Ten Towers but rather to the ruins of the Grey King's hall at the hill of Nagga on Old Wyk for a kingsmoot.
