Chapter Two

"There is no knight nor man at arms in the Stormlands who I need fear. But the Sanada Demons are worthy of such caution." Lyonel Baratheon

Less than three weeks had past since the Reach had failed to crush Robert Baratheon near Ashford. Lord Meadows and Lord Hightower had taken their army along the river to the south and followed it before passing through the mountains.

Now as the few thousand men they had marched Lord Meadows rode up towards Lord Hightower and informed him of the situation. "Lord Hightower, the men are exhausted and will need to rest soon."

Lord Meadows now cast his eyes around, they were close to Summerhall, the accursed and final resting place of Aegon the Unlikely. He had no idea truly who would be the one charged with the defence of Ueda. If it was Lord Yukitaka's brother or his youngest son or someone else, but it was not like it mattered.

Lord Meadows did not know enough about them in order to plan some sort of strategy in order to take Ueda from them. Yet any thoughts he was having were now cut short as Lord Hightower stated "Summerhall is not far from here, well what is left of it that is, we shall camp there for the night."

Lord Meadows felt something churn in his stomach as if the words of Lord Hightower had been some acid or off food. It was not considered good luck to pass by Summerhall, yet alone camp near it, in sight of it or around it.

But Lord Meadows knew that any objections he had were going to fall upon deaf years. Lord Hightower was not known for listening to those he considered below him. In fact Lord Meadows were certain that right now he and his men were only bodies that were meant to die in place of Hightower men for Lord Hightower.

So keeping that in mind he only replied to Lord Hightower "I shall inform the men then my Lord."

Now as he left to do that, the voice of Lord Hightower spoke at him rather than to him stating "See that you do, I'd rather not have to explain myself to them when we stop for the night Lord Meadows."

Whatever it was now that Lord Meadows had been feeling before now turned to anger though he did not show it. That arrogant and selfish bastard clearly just viewed him and the troops they had as a way to advance his own ends.

But orders were orders and he was under the command of Lord Hightower and now rode back to inform the men of the commanders decision. Even if he did not agree with it on a personal level he could not argue against it. Especially since now he was in the precarious situation where he could be branded a traitor at a moments notice and executed for it if Lord Hightower so willed it.


With Masayuki

Dusk had fallen and thanks to a force march which Masayuki had observed, the men of the Reach had arrived and set up camp at Summerhall. They had sentries, but all of them men were clearly exhausted from the march.

Now looking at the Archers he had brought with him, Masayuki gave them a nod. He had a plan in place and now slowly began to enact. He had waited his foes had eaten and from he could see, most of them were turning in for the night.

He waited and waited and finally the signal he had been waiting for came in the form of a massive fire that occurred on the other side of Summerhall. Masayuki saw panic now as those who saw the fire rushed over to see what was going on.

This was what he had waited for, when enough Sentries had abandoned their posts to check out on the disturbance, the Sanada struck. Swiftly moving over the grass carrying, bows, arrows and jars of oil. Somewhat of a costly venture, but then again when was war ever cheap?

With the chaos that was going on as men rushed out to see where the fire was and what was going on. Not a soul saw or heard the arrows that slammed into the throats of the few sentries that were left at their posts. None heard or saw the smashing of jars and the pouring of oil upon the rear of their encampment.

Now making sure that every single one of his men had pulled back to a safe distance where they would not be seen. Masayuki stood alone with a borrowed torch in his hands, watching now as the fire upon the eastern side of Summerhall died down. With that confirmed he now smirked and threw the torch onto one of the oil stained tents then ran, letting all hell break loose.


With Lord Meadows

The Lord of Grassy Vale had expected some sort of bad luck or misfortune to occur, but when he saw the first fire. He had thought it to be a Sanada attack of sorts and had left Lord Hightower alone now as he rushed out to see what was happening.

It was when the second fire started that he knew they had fallen into some kind of trap. Now as men fled the fire and other men rushed to put it out, he saw the first signs that the trap was sprung.

An arrow whizzed through the air and hit a man right in the chest, bringing him down coughing up blood. Another arrow slammed into the head of a knight whom Lord Meadows knew from the heraldry he had upon his chest.

Unarmed and without armour, they were sitting ducks with this large fire that was lighting up the whole came for any enemy archers to see. To make matters worse the fire seemed to be spreading now across the tents. This caused men to run in fear of burning to death only to be shot by arrows.

Some hit and killed their marks, some missed, others hit but did not hit fatally. Sounding the cry Lord Meadows called out at the top of his lungs "Fire, Foes, awaken, we are ambushed, look to your defences now!"

Running to where he now saw a shield Lord Meadows picked it up and raised it to cover his head and chest. Only just in the nick of time as an arrows thudded into the shield right after he had done been able to do so. To him the situation had just gotten from bad to worse, this had to be some sort of ambush, but in his memories, Masayuki was not one to lay a single trap!

Where could Masayuki be, what could he be doing, is this trap meant to thin out their numbers? Or could it be a decisive confrontation that Masayuki sought right now? With the trap he could easily push all the Reachmen into a corner and then cut them down. But then Lord Meadows recalled something he had heard once in the Sanada Household and it was "All warfare is based on deception."

If that is the case, then to Lord Meadows he must find out where Masayuki is if he is here at all. This chaos cannot be allowed to continue if it did. It would mean the failure of this expedition as it were. But now what he saw proved that the situation was now going from bad to worse. For some brave men had managed to get water to the tents that were on fire. But now as they through water on it, the fire seemed to grow and spread further out lashing out at the men and burning them.


With Masayuki

Men of the Reach worked tirelessly to try to put out the fires now as they were best by arrows. So carry water dropped their precious cargo and tried to take cover. The braver of them pressed on through the arrows. While a good number did fall there were those who made it and were able to throw water upon the flames.

At which point the flames would burst forth and lick them for the lack of a better phrase. Masayuki observed this now. His ploy had been a success, the Reachmen army was now in a panic and many were being shot down or consumed by the flames. Of course this was only temporary so now looking to his Uncle he states "Signal the retreat, we're pulling out."

This confused the veteran a little, had it been Masayuki's father, they'd be pressing in on the enemy and apply pressure now. But he did not question his nephew and only said "It will be done."

With that he turned to leave as Masayuki watched from the shadows as the Reachmen burned. It was tempting to try to force an encounter here. If he were to force a confrontation right now he would not be beyond the possibility of defeat. That and there are times when an army must not be attacked.

This night raid with fire had worked, but it was not yet time to attack the Reachmen in full force. No this was merely a diversion a cause for them to be wary of everything an anything. Numbers were on the side of the for now.

The fires still burned but the Reachmen had started to make some progress into putting it out. Oil had been the fuel for the fire and the screams of burning men implied it had been the correct course of action.

With one last glance back at what chaos he had wrought Masayuki satisfied with this night took his leave of this place. How ironic, that an army camped and Summerhall would be set on fire, it did cause Masayuki's mind to ponder. "Just how will this place be treated after my actions this night?"

Questions for another time, for now he had to make his way back to his forces. Then march them out of here through under the cover of darkness to avoid the Reachmen army. He was going to need his rest and get as much as he could. Because tomorrow marked the start of a new day and challenge.


The Morning After

Lord Meadows now sat with Lord Hightower in the remains of the camp. They had lost many men last night, too many and they both knew it. Both now sat in silence as a young squire came back to report to Lord Hightower "My Lord, we have a count of our casualties?"

There was a waver in the boys voice, he was unsure if his lord wished to hear what he had to say. But Lord Hightower now looked up and said "Then speak lad, tell it to me straight. How many did we lose last night?"

Now swallowing hard the boy states "My Lords, the dead are around only 213, but the wounded sir are almost double that number at 405 men reported for having serious burns or arrow wounds."

Lord Meadows shook his head now and looked to his superior saying "That is almost two tenths of our number" turning back to the squire he asks "does the Maesters have the tallies on my own and Lord Hightowers?"

The Squire gave a nod before stating "I believe around that about forty to eighty roughly is what the Maester said Lord Meadows. The rest were all of House Hightowers bannermen."

Lord Hightower who clearly was not in the beast of moods now sighed before asking "Do we know of any enemy casualties. How many of these Sanada men did we get?"

He knew the answer to that question before he even asked it, he just had to ask it all the same. So now the Squire gave the answer he expected to hear "None my Lord, if they did though. It would appear that they took their dead with them."

Gritting his teeth Lord Hightower told or rather ordered the Squire "You may leave now boy and make yourself useful elsewhere."

With a polite bow the Squire left the two Lords to their own thoughts and counsel which now Lord Hightower asked for "What is your take from this Lord Meadows. You know the Sanada don't you?"

With a slow nod Lord Meadows answered his superior saying "That may be so my Lord. But I know only a little more than you do. That said I can say that this was a tactic to wear us down my lord."

Lord Hightower snapped a little at his fellow lord saying "I can tell that too fool, what I want to know is just how the hell do we combat someone like that? He attacked us in the night while we slept and set our camp on fire! What can we do to make sure that he cannot chip away at a tenth or more of our men every night!?"

But after that outburst Lord Hightower managed to regain himself and calmly state "Our men are tired from the forced march out here. They are also unhappy with the fact that we've been sent here while our Lord Paramount besieges Storm's End."

The reply he got was not one he expected "We should stay where we are for now. I am of the mind that the Sanada have planned for us to move forward or to withdraw as it were. That said it would be a rather tall order to give due to our current situation. Although it would give us some respite."

After a few moments of thought, Lord Hightower shook his head "Nay, we'll press on Lord Meadows. While I do not doubt your skills as a knight. Our Lord Paramount and House Tyrell would not think look favourable on retreated at the first sign of danger."

Lord Meadows did not argue even though he desired to, no instead he only said "If that is what you believe is best my Lord. Then I shall see to it that your orders are carried out to the fullest."

With those words said he excused himself from the presence of Lord Hightower and went off to inform his troops of what was going to happen. He knew enough of the Sanada that the previous night was only the beginning. But they would have to remain vigilant if they were to succeed in their task. The real question Lord Meadows wanted answered though was "Just how many men do the Sanada have in their lands?"


Near Summerhall

A group of Reachmen had been sent out to scout the area ahead of the army, Lord Hightower was not going to be caught off guard like that again. As they moved with stealth, the scouts thought that this would just be routine mission, they thought wrong.

A Shadowcat mirrored their movements, a shadowcat that was not supposed to be in this area at all. It watch the reach men through its slitted eyes now as it stalk them. Who could blame a man for running for his life if he ever saw this beast. It was an apex predator that knew how to ambush its prey. If men had stronger more keen sense of smell perhaps they would have been able to pick up the scent of this beast when the wind changed.

But by then it was already too late, the shadowcat was in position and now merely waited for its prey to stumble into its trap. The Scouts of the Reach now found some sort of path that could possibly lead them to a trail of the Sanada. Now as the rear of the three committed to this path, the ambush was sprung and the shadowcat leapt out silently and swiftly to pounce upon its prey.


Reachmen Army

Screams could be heard echoing from up ahead which put the entire vanguard upon alert. They had been Lord Meadows men and while he did desire to rush out and find them. He knew he had to show some form of restraint, this might be a trap set by the Sanada. They had lost too many men already, any more and they would not only be the laughing stock of the Reach. But more than likely would be punished my Mace Tyrell for their failures here.

But eventually the march caught up the scouts or what was left of them. The sight, it was repulsive the men had been ripped apart. Someone or something had crushed the head of man like it had been a fruit. Another had wounds across his face, chest and neck. The last scout had his face missing as if it was bitten off more than anything else.

Whatever the truth of it may be, it sent shivers down the spines of some of the men. To Lord Meadows and Lord Hightower, they knew it was just the work of some animal. But it was all too coincidental for the more superstitious men. Of course there was nothing anyone could do about it now, the minds of the weak willed would wonder.

Lord Hightower now made the comment "It would appear we have found our scouts. Now unless I am an utter fool. Then this is the work of some beast or has been made to look like the work of some beast."

Lord Meadows was going to suggest that they now double their patrols in case of any beasts as it were. The last thing they needed was to lose a man in the night to hungry beast. But instead of speaking he reserved his opinion on this matter. Lord Hightower looked once more at what had been the remains of the scouts before turning to Lord Meadows and stating "We march through the night. The sooner we arrive at their holding the better."

This was a mistake, Lord Meadows knew it. If a fire attack at night had not been off the table, then they would be assaulted by the Sanada forces the moment they tried to set up a siege camp. But this was Leyton Hightower's command not his own. So all he could do was follow orders, he just prayed to the Mother and Father that he would live through this campaign as it were.


With Masayuki

The youngest son of the late Lord Yukitaka Sanada watched from a distance the approaching army. It did not take a tactical genius to see that had a slow forced march as it were. But just how far would they get, he was unsure. Of course today was a time of rest for his own forces, they could not carry on night raids and march ahead of the enemy on empty stomach and tired bodies.

Now normally an army could not rest if they had to race back to the keep before the enemy arrived. But this was not the case with Masayuki, he had a stratagem ready meant to slow the march down.

Smiling to himself and looking down at his own feet he had to ask "Just how how often do marching men look at their feet when they walk. Just how often do they take notice of what is under foot beneath them?"

The true answer to that question was going to be found out by Lord Hightower and Lord Meadows rather soon. It didn't matter if they avoided this trap or not, the goal of buying time would be achieved none the less. Of course he had reserves ready to spring the ambush if the right conditions were to be met. Along with the banners that had been borrowed during the confusion of last night. Another question he would find the answer to soon was "Mud that has been drenched with all, filled with hay, does it feel different to that of mud with water and hay?"


With Lord Meadows

Upon realising they were marching now on a muddy path Lord Meadows had suggested to superior "My Lord, this mud would slow us down, we should find an alternate route?"

But Lord Hightower had waved that off saying "That in itself would slow us down. We shall march forward and keep on moving all the same."

The column of troops had been marching on this muddy path for a while now. There had been no recent rains to justify the mud as it were but Lord Hightower knew better or at least so he thought.

An explanation for the mud was that it was a hastily built road so that the Sanada forces could retreat quickly. Having served its purpose it fell into disrepair right away, it was not the most far fetched thing to be ever considered. But since last night the men marched slowly and with more caution than before. Some may have even feared that the Sanada would rise up out of the mud as if they were demons from within the earth.

Whatever the case may be they found the mud to be more slippery and more treacherous than it should be. Last night Lord Meadows might have dismissed this as just his own imagination and that of others. But since that fire attack had happened, Lord Meadows was on edge trying to see a trap where others could not. Now as he stopped his horse and dismounted he felt the ground upon which they stood and the only sensation that came to mind was oily.

Then it hit him, the Sanada had used oil last night to burn the tents down and cause mass panic within the army. They had done so right after some men had been drawn away to another fire, then the real fire started! It might be he was over thinking things or he might be onto something, none the less now as he was about to mount up again. He saw a scout now ride rush up to Lord Hightower.

Being someway behind the Lord, he could not hear what words passed between those two, but something changed after those words had been said. Lord Hightower now drew his sword and raised it high into the air before saying "We have their scent! Now men with me quickly we'll catch the Sanada unawares!"

A cheer erupted from the men now as they began to march as quickly as they could without falling over in the mud. Some men did but rose up to march on, that scout must have had a sure location on the Sanada forces to rile up Lord Hightower like that.

But despite the sudden surge of energy among the men, a dreadful feeling was overwhelming it in the mind of Lord Meadows. Many of these men must be thinking of last night an avenging their friends, brothers and comrades. The men were slipping everywhere, the mud proved to be slimly and slippery. Because of the quick march they had started to lose balance far quicker than they had at a slow march.


With Masayuki

It would appear that Lord Hightower took the bait and marched his men right into a trap. The area that they were being led to. Masayuki had taken two weeks to set up the trap there. But right now thanks to the fact that he had people maintain it until the last few minutes per say it was ready.

The ground had been dug up repeatedly to make sure the ground was unstable along with waterlogging it frequently to make it more like a marsh. And Lord Leyton Hightower had just marched his heavy armoured units right into it. Now normally the ground should hold, but with that many men on it in heavy armour there is no way it is not going to start to sink.

He could see it now as the Reachmen gathered in the deserted camp of the Sanada or rather the staged deserted camp. On the side of the mountain where Masayuki was concealed so were his troops and a few surprised for his flowery guests. Now as the majority of the Reach Vanguard along with some of the centre two had entered the killing zone Masayuki waved his gunbai. With that single motion he allowed a few words to slip from his mouth "Let us now see just what the men of the Reach are made of."


With Lord Meadows

Lord Meadows had yet to catch up with Lord Hightower as it were when the knot that had been forming in his stomach tightened. As if it was some prophetic warning that came all too late, the mountainside to their flank began to shake. Then boulders that did not seem unstable before started thunder down crashing into flesh and metal.

Men screamed and tried to get out of the way to find that their feet were beyond ankle deep in mud. Thus they were unable to avoid the incoming boulders that crashed into them. But of course the mud also did slow down the boulders somewhat rather than letting them go all the way through. That said it was little comfort since panic caused many men to try and turn around and flee only to find more boulders crashing into those behind them cutting off their path of escape that way.

Then it came a volley of arrows that caused Lord Meadows to raise his shield to protect himself. Luckily his horse was still able to move with more ease than some of the soldiers with him as he tried to find solid ground to try and get a grip on. Some men had managed to raise their shields in time, but those who had narrowly avoid the boulders did not stand a chance.

While some men were hit in non lethal places, others were not so fortunate and now fell down their bodies and blood adding to the treacherous mud. The rear and reserve units behind them must have been confused by the sudden preemptive strike and must not have known to push forward or pull back. It was then that Lord Meadows realised the boulders were not the Sanada's trump right now, no they were only means to sow discord within the army.

Looking now ahead Lord Meadows caught sight of Leyton Hightower who was doing his best to command the his men. It would appear that he was trying to lead his men up the mountain to the Sanada. But what cavalry he had and the heavy infantry were poor suited to do so. Not to mention the fact they would have to face the volleys as they tried to overcome the weight of their own armour and the ground upon which they stepped.

It was now that something else was revealed by the Sanada forces, hay stacks of which were covered in some liquid were now rolled down he mountain side as well. Those who had their shields up braced them as they came down only to find themselves covered in oil. Which meant only one thing, a fire trap!

Lord Meadows now cried out "Pull back men, pull back now!"

But it was too late, a volley of arrows came crashing down killing some more men but they were just cover. Cover for the torch bearers who came down the side of the mountain yell "ALL MEN MUST DIE!"

Then subsequently flinging their torches in the stacks of hay covered with oil which now erupted in flames. Those who had braced themselves and had been covered with oil too now were lit on fire and cried out in agony as they fire burnt their flesh. Those in fleeting moments Lord Meadows saw Lord Hightower's horse take an arrow and then he saw the Lord no more.

Where the hell were the bloody reserves and what on in the name of the seven were they doing? Lord Meadows now tried to lead his men out through the obstacles of fire, lodged boulders and incoming arrows. But the ground here was treacherous as noted before and a slip of the horse sent Lord Meadows crashing forward. The last thing he saw was the mud about to hit his face or rather his face about to hit the mud, then there was only darkness before him.