The Ancient Order of Sword and Star

I like this. I need to pay closer attention to Balon and those flames. I need to pay better attention to anyone staring into the flames, perhaps!

It could have been the Dance that he was predicting, or something else. His death is interesting to me. He was murdered in bed by a woman. Was this the only way his enemies could stop him? Or was it an isolated event? It just makes me think of Robb's death at the Red Wedding. The Lannister's couldn't beat him, so they found another way to take him out. Dalton Greyjoy raided the Westerlands and made enemies of at least one important Lannister, in my opinion, and that Lannister was Johanna Lannister, the widow of Jason Lannister and supposedly a Westerling by birth. That Lannister/Westerling connection is shifty and dangerous!

I would think there is a connection.

Hard to say what he feels about the gods, but he doesn't seem to fear anything, including men or mythos. As to what he know's, I think he does have some special knowledge. Is it the shade of the evening, or is it something else?

Politically, naming these 4 does make sense, as it weaken's Euron's enemies, and that makes sense except for Maron Volmark, who is sixteen, never balked at Euron's rule, and is likened to a rabbit. It does make sense that the fall of the Shield Islands will happen, and the forces of the reach will take them back. But is that also supposed to happen, to give a false sense of superiority to the reach? Euron is very smart.

As to why those men could be special blood wise, it's hard to say. Maron Volmark has the black blood of House Hoare. Andrik the Unsmiling is noted to be as large as a mountain (not sure how large that he really is) but also the best warrior in the Iron Islands. And we are not given a last name for him, which seems suspicious. Nute the Barber is also without last name in the text, also suspicious, as well as being a strong warrior. And Harras Harlaw has the blood of kings in him, as a Harlaw family was once the kings of the Isle of Harlaw, and he also has that sword. Perhaps Euron is after Nightfall? Mostly this is just speculation on my part.