IGN brings us a pair of Ironborn interviews, after a huge episode for the islanders this week on Game of Thrones. Portrayer of the late king Balon, Patrick Malahide, and Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy) both chat with IGN‘s Terri Schwartz about their characters and the twists we saw play out in “Home.”

In the interview, Malahide describes the creation of his stormy death scene with new cast member Pilou Asbæk (Euron). The actor explains how the two of them stood underneath “great big revolving rain machines” in a quarry (presumably Magheramorne Quarry, where we saw the likely set being built) last November.

The rains came down, “And there was Pilou, who was dancing around all excited on the bridge, which is swinging. They had ropes on it so it was swinging around to make it look like it was high wind. Then the rain machine started, and I’ve never seen anyone’s enthusiasm evaporate quite so quickly,” he tells IGN with a laugh.

Malahide has a good sense of humor. When Schwartz observes that Theon and Balon never saw each other again, he says, “I saw a piece of him, of course.”

He was aware that fans expected him to die long ago. “I’m aware of it because fans keep on coming up to me saying, ‘You’re still here. How come you’re still here?’ [laughs] Which is very amusing. Somebody offered to print me a t-shirt that said, ‘The last of the Five Kings. Still here.’ Last king standing.”

The interview is a great read, and includes his choice for the Seastone Chair and much more so visit the full interview at IGN.

The actress who plays Balon’s daughter Yara also talks to IGN this week. Gemma Whelan can’t reveal too much about season 6 for fear of spoilers but she offers a few hints and talks about her co-stars on Game of Thrones.

“I can’t really say what’s going to happen other than they probably wouldn’t have invested in such a start to the Greyjoy’s story this season if it wasn’t going to go somewhere. Pilou Asbæk was fantastic fun to work with. There’s some stuff coming up.”

As for Euron Greyjoy, Yara is aware of his existence, but isn’t close to him. The actress says, “She knows she’s got an uncle that’s been gone, absent, for a very long time. I don’t think she’s expecting to see him.”

Now that Balon is dead, will Yara be stepping in to rule? Whelan tells IGN, “Certainly I think she’s a strong candidate.” She speaks of her character’s qualifications: “She’s been there. She’s grasped it. She knows the place inside and out, the men and how the ironborn work. She’s seen the mistakes her father has made and is determined to push forward in a different way.”

Another family matter: when Yara last saw a barely recognizable Theon, he’d turned his back on her and she left him at the Dreadfort. IGN asks, will she welcome him back now? Whelan explains Yara’s stance.

“I know that she stands for family, truly down deep in her heart. Her version of morally correct. One would hope that they would manage to sort things out, but I don’t know, you’ll have to wait and see.”

Gemma has a lot more to say about the show, her enthusiasm for it and her co-stars so check out the rest at IGN.

There is more info incoming from Entertainment Weekly‘s cover story with Kit Harington and the death and resurrection of Jon Snow.

According to EW, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss gave Jon Snow a code name to be used on set at all times, except when the cameras were rolling: “LC,” which stands for “Lord Commander.”

Kit Harington tells EW, “No one was allowed to say ‘Jon Snow’ on set, ever, everyone had to refer to me as ‘LC.'” There was no written mention of Jon Snow anywhere, nothing in the scripts, call sheets, or any sort of props and wardrobe materials.

And of course, not only is he not dead, “It’s a massive season for him, it’s the biggest season for him so far, he features very prominently this season,” says Harington. “I was told that when I was told I was coming back – that the season I was coming back for would be my biggest, and that’s quite a lot to take as well.”

Speaking of the resurrection, David J. Peterson, the show’s creator of High Valyrian, has helpfully published a translation of Melisandre’s High Valyrian dialogue spoken over Jon’s body in “Home.”

This is what she said (in High Valyrian): Zȳhys ōñoso jehikagon Āeksiot epi, se gīs hen sȳndrorro jemagon.

“We ask the Lord to shine his light, and lead a soul out of darkness.” Zȳhys perzys stepagon Āeksio Ōño jorepi, se morghūltas lȳs qēlītsos sikagon.

“We beg the Lord to share his fire, and light a candle that has gone out.” Hen sȳndrorro, ōños. Hen ñuqīr, perzys. Hen morghot, glaeson.

“From darkness, light. From ashes, fire. From death, life.”

Thanks, David! You can follow him on Twitter and Tumblr.