Stepstones ― Dwarfstone...
For several weeks, the siege of Bloodstone intensified. House Velaryon deployed its ships to engage in naval warfare, Daemon rode atop Caraxes to strafe the Triarchy forces on the ground with dragonfire, and Aeonar would conduct night raids and covert reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. Casualties mounted on both sides as each continued harassing the other, with neither faction letting up. The Crabfeeder would not give up his claim to the Stepstones without a fight, but Corlys would never allow his ancient noble house to be ruined by those he perceived as a threat.
Positioned at Dwarfstone, the island was closely adjacent to Bloodstone and served as a base of operations for the final confrontation. Corlys brought House Velaryon's 700 soldiers, 60 knights and 18 ships, Daemon's private army consisted of mercenaries, and Aeonar remained on stand-by with Lykirī Mēre acolytes, 10 ships and 2,000 volunteers – landed knights and sons of minor lords eagerly seeking glory. Compared to the Triarchy's more than 2,000 corsairs, the battle was expected to be a costly one. Everyone felt the already heightened tension in the air. Whether it was anxiety or last-minute jitters, none of the soldiers could say for certain. Each man drank from their wineskins before offering their comrades a chance to quench their thirst. They hailed from different origins, sworn to different houses, but throughout the War for the Stepstones, they were forged in the crucible of combat and emerged as hardened veterans.
"Look over there. Off in the distance," a Velaryon knight pointed.
Across from where they stood, four ships in the Velaryon fleet sailed to bombard the Bloodstone with Caraxes flying overhead to provide cover. But the Triarchy, backed into a corner, hurled flaming boulders from catapults and trebuchets at the invading forces. One, two... both narrowly missed their targets and crashed into the seas. The third strike missed, but the fourth hit its mark, inflicting heavy damage on the Velaryon vessel. Five, six... again missed their mark.
Lord Corlys, head of House Velaryon and one of the three main leaders of the military operation, stood beside the war table alongside his heir, Laenor, and his younger brother, Vaemond. Donning a robust silver plate armor donning the seahorse insignia on the breastplate with scale-like brassards covering the arms and an oceanic tunic underneath, the Sea Snake was ready to end this battle. "We have 16, perhaps 18, seaworthy ships," he observed. "Seven hundred soldiers, some 60 knights. With the number of volunteers accompanying us for the final confrontation, our food has quickly begun to dwindle, save for what we can fish from the sea. I would say we'd have a fortnight, maybe a bit longer with strict rationing." He moved a piece on the map forward. "Our allies on the frontlines continue to hold off an enemy assault by the sea, but I've been informed their ships are being held back in preparations for what they say is part of a larger strategy. As such, I have made a call for Driftmark to send more ships, but they will be weeks away. Both sides are weary, numbers decline with each offensive. We must gather the full might of our forces and bring an end to the Triarchy, continue sending the dragons."
"Wait, father," Laenor interjected. "We send our men past the chokepoint beyond these dunes, we'll never get another chance and only end up jeopardizing the entire operation. A mistake like that would give the Crabfeeder an opening to launch a counteroffensive. In such a scenario we would have no choice but to retreat." He moved a piece across the map. "Archers hold the high positions, Triarchy foot soldiers hold the ground."
"Dragons can circle Bloodstone until they fall out of the sky," Vaemond said. "The Crabfeeder and his men have no reason to leave those caves."
"Not quite," Laenor pointed towards various x-marked locations, indicating different caves surrounding Bloodstone and tunnelways collapsed. "Our prince told me of his plan before we could rendezvous with Daemon. While Daemon and Caraxes strafe them on dragonback again and again, Aeonar and his Lykirī Mēre infiltrate their hideout under the cover of night to avoid being detected, giving them time to cut off these access points to numerous tunnels whenever they retreat within the caves and thin their numbers. Stealth, reconnaissance, and assassination were key to pulling it off, though it did cost us the lives of several of our men. As such, the Crabfeeder knows they cannot utilize the same strategy again, as the same would happen on their last remaining stronghold. He'll have no choice but to force a confrontation on the ground and the cliffs."
"What do you propose, my son?" Corlys asked.
"We'll need an offering of flesh to bait the crab. Draw him out into the open. Once he and his men are lured to these locations, that will give us our opening to strike. But to ensure its success, someone will have to undergo such a highly dangerous task by themselves before the signal could be given, otherwise, Aeonar's men won't know when to charge."
"Dragon returning!" Joffrey called out.
"*Reeeeerh!*"
Caraxes flew overhead, circling the main camp before landing on a nearby cliff.
"Yes. Who?" Vaemond agreed. "Which man will happily go to his death? Show me the knight who will march into that hell pit, nephew, and I will show you a madman."
"Daemon should go," Laenor said.
"Him?! Daemon is why so many of our men are dead!"
"He is at least fighting on the frontlines in this war, uncle. What role have you played in our council, uncle, other than Master of Complaints?"
"Enough, both of you," Corlys interjected sternly.
"If King's Landing will not support us, why should we support them?!" Vaemond yelled.
Grabbing his younger brother by the arm, the Sea Snake drew him closer. "Blood or no, Vaemond," he warned, "I will not have you stoke mutiny and jeopardize our operations here."
"If you do not seize control of this war, my lord, the crabs will soon dine on all of us."
Daemon, having strolled down to the main camp, pulled off his gloves and removed his helmet. "Preparations have been made." He informed the war council. The Rogue Prince turned to see the soldiers eyeing him. Most of his men are present, but some of his nephew's spies were as well. "Now, if you're done with your... little quarrel, I believe you have a plan in store for us."
"Yes, my prince," Joffrey nodded.
"We want you to use yourself as bait to draw Craghas Drahar into the opening," Corlys told him. "Make him believe he has won, and we can capitalize on his arrogance to turn the tide in our favor."
"One last gambit, one bold strategy," Daemon realized. "So essentially you want me to hog all the fame and glory yet again? I take it that means my nephew will not be joining us?"
"His role depends on your participation in this plan, Prince Daemon," Laenor explained. "Out of anyone present in this war council, there is none who could match your ferocity and unpredictable nature in battle. The Crabfeeder and his men won't be expecting such feigned deception if you use them to your advantage."
"And if the odds aren't in my favor?"
"Then we will have to send everything we have and hope for the best," Corlys replied bluntly. "Now... are you in, or not?"
Daemon surveyed the soldiers once more. Many were tired, and some looked at him with contempt, but he could see the look in their eyes. They wanted to end the war and go home, but if the Rogue Prince were to abandon them now, then the war effort would fail. Daemon hated losing. His reputation would be ruined. And he hated being bailed whenever he got in trouble. No, he would not fail. He would emerge victorious. And he will not be looked down upon again. "Get me a boat," he said.
Stepstones ― Bloodstone...
Ditching pieces of armor that could slow him down – gauntlets, pauldrons, vambrace, cuisse, and greaves – Daemon took a small rowboat to travel from the main camp to Bloodstone. Armed with only Dark Sister and a small dagger, the Rogue Prince was placing himself in dire jeopardy by coming here alone. Upon landfall, Daemon observed the scattered remains of Velaryon soldiers, wet banners, and the stench of rotten, decaying corpses of the Crabfeeder's victims who were nailed to wooden crosses during low tide filling the air.
This plan had better work.
Daemon continued pressing on through the war-torn beach, tearing off a pale white silk from a banner and strapping it to a small wooden pole. Ascending to one of the beach's tallest sandy peaks, the Rogue Prince – holding the crude white flag in one hand high in the air – began waving from side-to-side. Off in the distance, he could see Craghas Drahar slowly emerging, though not completely.
There you are, crab. Now... why don't you come on out just a little bit further?
But the Crabfeeder did not move. Instead, he remained at the entrance to his last remaining cave looking to the sky and seeing no dragon for an ambush.
Shit. Damn you. Having me degrade myself even further?
Sensing both hesitation and suspicion, Daemon unsheathed Dark Sister and holds the Valyrian steel blade in both hands before lowering himself to one knee in a gesture of surrender. Craghas sees him and silently motions to the men behind him to investigate if the Triarchy's enemy has truly surrendered. One by one, five corsairs approach Daemon cautiously.
Come on. Come on, cunts. Just a little bit closer...
"Nock," a Triarchy lieutenant stationed atop the cliffs ordered his archers. "Draw," he commands again. Thirteen archers pulled on their bowstrings and aimed down sight, ready to unleash a volley of arrows down on the Rogue Prince in case the deception was revealed.
Daemon holds his breath, waiting patiently before one of the Triarchy corsairs gets close enough to inspect Dark Sister. Once he felt the blade leave his hands, the Rogue Prince could not help but smirk. I have you now. Quickly drawing the dagger from his waist, Daemon slashes the corsair's inner thigh before piercing the armor to stab him in the chest before reclaiming Dark Sister.
"It's a trap!" a Triarchy soldier warns.
Now on the warpath, Daemon proceeds to cut down three more corsairs before leaping into the air to kick the lone soldier in the chest, sending him down the sandy dunes until a faint snap in his neck rendered him unable to move.
"Loose!" the Triarchy lieutenant ordered.
Archers released their grip and sent a barrage of arrows onto the beach. Daemon, taking cover under a supply cart, sprinted as fast as he could -- dodging arrows from every single direction. So long as the Triarchy retained control of the high ground, the Rogue Prince was in trouble.
"Loose!"
Daemon did not let up as more arrows came raining down from above as he makes his way closer and closer to the edge of the caves, causing Drahar to send out more men. The Rogue Prince intercepted more Triarchy soldiers along the way whilst avoiding arrows, cutting down one across the midsection, impaling another center mass, and ducking to sever another's leg from underneath him.
Closer, closer! Do not stop now! Just keep going! I have you in my sights now, Drahar! Now there is nowhere for you to run! You cannot escape from me!
More archers above readied their arrows, aiming at the Rogue Prince before he could reach their commanding officer.
"Loose!"
And again, a volley of arrows rained down. Daemon, however, continued sprinting toward the Crabfeeder as fast as he could. The prince-admiral was just within reach! More Triarchy soldiers came charging at him, but Daemon parries before performing raising Dark Sister high to give it more power followed by a downward strike across the back. He turned to see another swing at him, but Daemon ducked before slashing him across the gut and swinging back to nearly decapitate him. The Rogue Prince again spotted another Triarchy soldier raising his sword screaming at him, but he stops him in his tracks with a stop thrust – an impaling technique designed to preempt an opponent before their strikes get in full flow with the point of their blades.
"Come on!" Daemon roared. "It doesn't matter how many men you throw at me! I will cut them all down!"
One Triarchy soldier punches him, knocking Daemon into the sandy dunes, but the Rogue Prince trips him up and stabs him in the neck with his dagger. He quickly gets to his feet to intercept a strike from an axe with Dark Sister before spinning him around to slit his throat. However, Daemon gets hit with three arrows: two in his upper torso and another in his leg. The Rogue Prince shouts in pain and is forced to halt his charge. Daemon pulls out the arrow in his leg and staggers to his feet, though he is left with no option other than to shift his center of gravity to alleviate the burning discomfort in his leg. He then crawls underneath a ruined shipwreck to avoid the arrows, stopping momentarily to snap the arrows still lodged into his body.
Craghas again looks up to search for any of the Targaryen dragons, but still sees no sight of them. "Kill him," he commands.
Charging out of the woodwork in overwhelming numbers, the Triarchy moved to overwhelm Daemon. But Daemon was not going to go down without a fight. Gripping Dark Sister, he was determined to take down as many as he can. Still, Daemon waited patiently for the signal. He had lured the Triarchy forces directly into the exact location he needed them to be. Through the fire and smoke, Daemon could see behind him Corlys and his men arriving on the battlefield to assist him. The Sea Snake wielded a large battle axe in both hands with the tip of the blade extending further like a pike. Before long, the Velaryon forces charged toward the battlefield.
"So, they've finally shown up," Daemon glared at his targets. "Now... who wants to die first?"
However, before any of the Triarchy could get close, a blazing inferno incinerated the beach. Flames roared, but due to the proximity of the conflagration, the force of the impact sent Daemon flying backward. As he landed on the sandy dunes, the Rogue Prince looked up to the skies to see Seasmoke circling with Laenor atop his dragon.
Nearby, Aeonar and his men looked up to see Seasmoke making an appearance. Unlike his previous regalia designed for stealth, infiltration, and assassination, the prince wore night-black plate armor, with the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen decorated in rubies on its breastplate, and underneath the plate, he wore golden ringmail. His black helm was decorated with gold, orange, and red silken streamers resembling flames, with draconic wings on the side and a crimson plume on the top. As soon as he saw Seasmoke, the flames lighting the field were the signal for him to join the fray. There you are. The time has come for the Triarchy to be eliminated. "All forces, begin the advance!" he called.
On cue, Aeonar's men charged from the left and right flanks. Though Drahar expected an ambush, he had not anticipated such a tactic to be executed on the ground working in unison with the dragons above. But with the various tunnels within the caves blocked due to repeated cave-ins, his hideout was the only one still standing and he had nowhere else to go. Well now, it seems I have underestimated this Aeonar Targaryen's resourcefulness. Well played, Young Dragon, but this momentary setback changes nothing. Only one of us will be walking away from the battlefield alive.
"Dracarys!" Laenor commanded.
Seasmoke descended lower and screeched before blasting the Triarchy soldiers in a sea of flame. Seizing the opportunity to press the attack, House Velaryon's soldiers rushed the enemy. Daemon's mercenaries and Aeonar's volunteer force caught up with them to join the fray.
"Nock!" the Triarchy lieutenant gave the order for his archers.
"*Reeeee!*"
Before any could raise their bows, a scout looked up. "Dragon!" he warned.
However, Seasmoke incinerated those along the cliffs before breaking away. The Triarchy archers scattered and turned to escape the blazing inferno, only to spot a larger, faster dragon flying towards them from the opposite direction with incredible speed.
"Another dragon!? Run!"
"Dracarys!" Aeonar commanded.
Vaelor shorts forth a wall of flame as he dove past, incinerating a swath of enemy archers. Once cleared out, Lykirī Mēre acolytes hopped onto the cliffs and began to deploy their swift, martial prowess against their designated targets. Aeonar and Vaelor ascend as the inferno below them burns. He surveys the battle as he looks for her next line of attack. Shifting his center of gravity, Aeonar unveils his Yi Tish bow and pulls an arrow from his quiver. Being atop a dragon mid-flight, hitting a moving target from above would be a challenge. Drawing back on his bowstring, the prince aimed down sight before releasing his grip. As Vaelor strafed to the left, a Triarchy soldier quickly collapsed. Motioning his assassins to begin the assist, the Lykirī Mēre readied their bows and arrows to unleash a volley from above, using the Triarchy's vantage point against them.
"Nock!", "Nuòkè!", "Ochijk!", "Bartan!"
"Draw!", "Chōu qiān!", "O Dre!", "Hakogon!"
"Loose!", "Sōng!", "Id'awz!", "Nābēmagon!"
Covered by the skies and the cliffs, the Velaryon-Targaryen host collided with the Triarchy. Shields and armor collided upon impact, steel swords clanged and rung as each soldier engaged the other in close-quarters combat, each shouting and cursing at the other. Daemon surveyed the battlefield before glancing upward; Seasmoke and Vaelor strafing the enemy with dragonfire, arrows rained down, their armies surrounding the Triarchy in a final effort to drive them from the Stepstones. Corlys bashes the corsairs rushing at him with the shaft before swinging his axe into another's torso, grunting with each swing, and thrusting forward to impale another. Nearby, Vaemond assists in the counterattack, utilizing both shield and sword to cut down enemy forces.
"Whoo!" Laenor hollered with excitement. Seasmoke quickly descends and snatches several corsairs in his talons before dropping them upon his ascent.
Aeonar shook his head. Too much fun... Atop Vaelor, he continued firing more consecutive arrows from the skies. "Dracarys!" he commanded again.
Vaelor again banks toward the Triarchy to spew forth an arc of flame. Seasmoke then joins in. Both dragons fly side-by-side encircling their prey before diving toward their enemy. Those who noticed the approaching dragons were unable to get out of the way in time before being swept up. Whereas Seasmoke snatched another in his talons, Vaelor snapped his jaws tightly around a corsair's midsection, thrashing his head from side-to-side until applying enough pressure to bite him in half.
As he fired his last arrow, Aeonar looks down through the sea of fire and sees the Crabfeeder turning to flee into the caves with Daemon giving chase. No. There is no escape for you. He pats Vaelor three times, making the dragon turn around.
"Get back here!" Daemon rushed.
Craghas did not bother to look behind him as he approached his remaining stronghold. However, before he could take refuge, a column of fire cut off his escape route. The proximity forced him back. The Crabfeeder regained his footing and looked up to see Vaelor hovering over him, snarling. Aeonar then jumped off his dragon and landed on his feet in front of Drahar. Vaelor flew off to engage nearby Triarchy vessels in combat, with Seasmoke accompanying him. Before long, Daemon caught up.
"End of the line, Drahar," Daemon said. "You hover a breath away from destruction. I look forward to killing you."
"Your defensive lines have crumbled, and your only means to escape are blocked," Aeonar pointed out. "Surely, you realize that it's pointless to continue fighting a battle you can't win?"
Aeonar and a wall of fire in front, Daemon and enemy troops at his back, plus two dragons above and archers using his own men's vantage point against him. The Crabfeeder knew this fight would be to the death. Kneeling, he feigned surrender. However, Craghas grabbed a handful of sand and threw it in Aeonar's face.
"Gagh!" Aeonar exclaimed in surprise, shutting his eyes, and trying to wipe them.
Seizing the opportunity, Craghas knocked Aeonar aside and leaped through the flames to flee into the caves. Daemon moved to swing Dark Sister but stopped short when his nephew was in the way. Once the young prince was able to open his eyes, the Rogue Prince brought him to his feet.
"Does that answer your question?" Daemon raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, bēmagon bē, kepus. (Shut up, uncle.)" Aeonar got to his feet.
Both Targaryen princes ran into the cave, ignoring the flames that kissed them with intense heat. They knew the Crabfeeder had nowhere left to run, not with the extensive strategies they had deployed against the Triarchy forces surrounding Bloodstone. Now that they had the enemy commander within their grasp, Daemon and Aeonar were not going to let Craghas Drahar get away. Proceeding deeper into the cave, light began to dissipate. They were now in complete, utter darkness. Only the sound of water dripping from the rocks echoed throughout the cavern.
"I doubt Drahar is simply going to wait for us," Aeonar whispered.
"I agree," Daemon replied. "This place is dark. A perfect site for an ambush."
"One more thing. He has greyscale. So, whatever you do, don't touch him or you'll get infected."
"Well, that just makes things more interesting."
As Daemon tightened his grip on Dark Sister, Aeonar unsheathed one of his longswords and cautiously proceeded. Utilizing his training as an assassin, he kept his ears perked up to detect the faintest sound of movement. No matter how low-key or subtle, he would be able to hear it to determine which direction the enemy was positioned. Another drop of water, and both stopped in their tracks. Daemon's eyes narrowed, the darkness compounding his sight. Aeonar closed his eyes, concentrating on picking up the sound waves. A drop of water, the faintest shouts coming from outside... and then a tumbling rock. Aeonar's eyes quickly opened and shifted his posture.
"Above us!"
Daemon looked up and saw Drahar attempting an ambush from the cave's upper terrace, but both Aeonar and Daemon were quick to avoid it. With a falcata in one hand and his hammer in the other, Craghas Drahar challenged the Targaryens in battle. The Rogue Prince made the first move, swinging Dark Sister but was deflected by the falcata. Aeonar moved to join the fray and swing at the Crabfeeder, only to be intercepted by the hammer and rolled out of the way when Drahar retaliated. All three engage in a fierce battle trying to gain the advantage over the other; Aeonar keeps moving around Drahar to prevent him from taking the fight deeper into the cave which would limit room to maneuver but had to keep him at bay to keep from coming into physical contact with Drahar's greyscale ailment. The young prince kicks the Crabfeeder away, forcing him to engage with Daemon once more.
The Rogue Prince moves the fight further close to the cave's entrance, but Craghas was not making it easy for either of them. Locking weapons, Daemon punches Drahar's mask; although it bruised his hand, the movement temporarily disorientated the Crabfeeder. Despite being outnumbered two to one, Drahar held his own. Aeonar side flips onto the inner corridor and leaps from on high to bring down his blade onto the Crabfeeder's hammer in a split second. The momentum momentarily brings Drahar to his knees. With Daemon's ferocity and Aeonar's agility coordinating with such fluidity as well as attacking from different directions simultaneously, the Crabfeeder soon found himself in trouble.
"Die, Drahar!" Daemon roared. He moves in for the kill as Craghas, exhausted, holds up his falcata to parry Dark Sister. However, such distraction enables Aeonar to unsheathe one of his two 16-inch daggers with his left hand and proceeds to stab Drahar in the back. The Crabfeeder's audible grunt caused his grip to weaken momentarily, but it proved enough for Daemon to drive Dark Sister into his chest, nearly cleaving him in two. Aeonar, using his longsword in his right hand, swung back up around to chop into Drahar until his blade met with Dark Sister, effectively bisecting the Crabfeeder. The amount of blood pouring when their swords met mostly covered Daemon and stained his armor.
With uncle and nephew each dragging the two halves of the bisected Crabfeeder behind them out into the open – Daemon holding one of the sleeves and Aeonar a leg – the battle was slowly winding down. Corlys turned to see both Targaryen princes standing before them. Hours had passed, but what remained of the Triarchy forces were effectively taken prisoner.
"Victory is ours!" Vaemond hollered.
"Aooo!" the volunteer forces cried out.
Daemon said nothing but felt a triumphant smirk curl across his face. His reputation as a military commander would increase exponentially because of his victory in the Stepstones. Defeating the Triarchy, killing the Crabfeeder, and bringing such a critical shipping lane under their control, House Targaryen was on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with not seen since Aegon's Conquest once again.
Aeonar, however, remained silent. He watched as his uncle began ordering what remained of the Triarchy forces on Bloodstone to be staked on the beaches the same way Craghas Drahar used to execute his prisoners. All of them. The prince then watched as Vaelor, having destroyed the remaining Triarchy fleet, fly closer to shore and approach his rider. The dragon vocalized in clicks. Noticing the faint scratches and small gashes in the Swiftrunner, Aeonar stretched out his hand and rubbed Vaelor's snout. The dragon nudged his rider, assuring him that he was all right. This was merely just a nuisance compared to a powerful beast such as him. "Ziry iksos ao se nyke. Lēda ao rȳ ñuha, konir drējior daoruni bona kostagon kelītīs īlva. (It is just you and me. With you at my side, there is nothing that can stop us.)"
Vaelor again vocalized in draconic clicks, seeming to agree with his rider.
Just then, a Lykirī Mēre assassin approached. "Mou 'amir. (My prince.)" he informed. "Mas eumala' ècho eabr al thálassa almutamarkiza tous eaftoús tous lilnihayiyi stádio. Hum étoimos man ajilik entolés. (Our agents across the sea have positioned themselves for the final stage. They are ready for your commands.)"
"Hasan. (Good.)" Aeonar replied. "Steíle to tartib. Yabda Schédio Midén. (Send the order. Begin Plan Zero.)" You do not enter the dragon's lair unless you are looking for trouble. Now the Triarchy will learn what happens when you provoke the blood of Old Valyria. Their High Council magisters... will all burn.