Chapter 7; Escapes
Characters of the chapter
Andravion Captain of the Shadow
Isabela Captain of the Siren'sCall II, admiral of the Felicisima armada (self-appointed)
Jon Snow, also known as Aegon Targaryen and Jon Stark, King of the North Kingdom of the Twin Kingdoms
Kieran, Agent of the Inquisition, mage advisor to the court of King Jon
Lyanna Mormont, Lady of Bear Island
Ser Caleb Threestones, Knight of Westeros,Second to Lyanna Mormont
Yara Greyjoy Master of ships on the small council of the south kingdom, commander of the royal navy, Queen of the Iron Islands
Yara stood on the deck of her ship, her crew hard at work. Around her were the other ships of her assault fleet. Isabela's ship had already left, as had the other fleet ships assigned to raiding duties. So far there had been no contact with the enemy, which most likely meant the Oxmen were not comfortable venturing too far beyond Bear island as of yet. Maybe it was a good thing the Qunari were not too confident, but on the other hand this would mean their local forces would be more consolidated, which could be a problem.
Once her ships had gotten past the Cape Kraken they had split into three groups. The ships under her command were now preparing to move past Sea Dragon point and into the waters surrounding Bear Island. Where the other two attack fleets were at the moment, she wasn't certain. She had a vague notion of where they ought to be though. Her fleet was moving close to the coast, to sweep the channel between Bear Island and the mainland. As resistance was expected to be heavy in that direction, hers was the strongest of the three fleets.
The second fleet was in the middle, to cover a route that would take them past the western and northern side of Bear Island, to meet up with her ships after. The second fleet was as strong as the first one. She suspected the Qunari would be most interested in controlling their access to the continent, but she also knew their approach to Bear Island was just as important. Cut that off and sustaining any invasion would be impossible.
The third fleet was the smallest of the three, sent farthest out to the sea. She didn't expect many ships that far away from dry land, but there would be some headed to Qunari holdings in the Stepstones. Destroying those would make the Qunari more nervous, more eager to get out of this war so their resistance against the Tevi's would not be compromised.
As the fleet sailed on she let her eyes move from ship to ship, her expression one of concern. She remembered Isabela's words about the strength of Qunari ships. And she remembered how the first battle with the Qunari had gone. How the Seadancer had been crippled by a single broadside from a dreadnaught and the narrow escape that had come after. Heavy losses seemed unavoidable. She wondered just how many of these ships she would see sinking beneath the waves in the coming fights.
She hoped she had enough ships. Maybe she should have brought more? Maybe she should have her forces as a single fleet instead of three groups? But no. That would simply not be efficient given what she was supposed to accomplish. And a large defensive fleet was absolutely necessary, otherwise she risked losing the Iron Islands and giving the Qunari a second foothold to attack from.
At least she had picked her ships properly. Most of her three fleets consisted of ships from the mainland Twin Kingdoms. Iron Islander ships would typically be her preferred choice because of her people's greater skill when riding the waves. But most Iron Islander ships were typically light, designed for speed and maneuverability, cases like the Seadancer being the rare exception. Well suited for raids and pursuing pirates that had a preference for similar types of ships, but not for sustained combat. On a mission like this the heavier warships of the mainlanders were a much better fit. As such the raiding elements she had sent had a lot more Iron Islanders with them.
Despite the careful selection of ships she needed to play this smart. She could not afford a head on confrontation, not until she had thinned the enemy out. Not against warships like this.
The second thing to worry about was the weather. This was really not the time of year to wage naval warfare. Had it been left to her she might not have been here at all now. Autumn storms were not as severe as those during winter, but they were more frequent. Even now the sky was leaden, their fleet doused with numerous showers during the day. All it would take was one proper storm and her fleet would be scattered all over the place. Then it would take who knows how long to cobble them all back together. Assaulting the Orlesians during a storm had been a crazy maneuver but she had gotten lucky and had not lost too many ships in the attempt. Tempting fate for a second time seemed unwise.
But it had been deemed necessary to do as much damage as possible in this window of opportunity. Like it had been with the Orlesians, control of the seas was essential if they wanted to drive this enemy away. Only this time it would be much harder to achieve that control. And it was true that taking the offensive would undercut any Qunari plans to attack her homeland. That was a worthy goal to aim for. She was just unsure if it was worth the risk it entailed.
In any case come winter she all battling would have to be put on hold. Autumn storms might sink her fleet. Winter storms would do so without question. It would mark the end of the fighting until spring. At least she hoped that would be the case. She did not know how well dreadnoughts could weather the elements, but it stood to reason that their sheer size would make them superior to hers even in this regard. Harder for waves and wind to sink them. She only hoped the storms of wintertime would be too much even for them.
Her musings were interrupted by a call from the crow's nest: "Sail ahoy! Port side!"
Yara moved to the left side of the ship to take a closer look. She saw red sails in the distance, slowly rising from the horizon. But even from this distance it was clearly a dreadnought. Their first catch of the day.
"Right then. Get yourselves ready for a fight! Signal the fleet! Move in and engage that ship!" She told her crew.
On spotting her fleet the dreadnought turned tail and ran, heading around Sea Dragon Point. Her fleet gave pursuit. She would not allow it to escape to bring warning to the rest of them. The dreadnought vanished behind the landmass for a moment. When it came back into view, something else did as well, making her eyes widen in shock.
On the far side of Sea Dragon Point a whole line of dreadnoughts had been lying in wait, close the shore and out of sight. Now they were unfurling their sails and setting course straight for her fleet. She counted at least twenty six of them. Twenty seven now that the dreadnought they had been chasing turned around to engage as well. Far more than she had intended for her fleet to take on all at once.
This was a trap. They had sent this single dreadnought as bait, to lure her within range of the others. And she had fallen right into it. The enemy ships would reach firing range before her forces would have a chance to get away. If she ordered a retreat now it would be a massacre. The odds were not looking very good, but she had no choice. She had to engage.
"Prepare for battle." She ordered.
On Bear Island Lyanna was putting on the last piece of her armor. "I am ready Caleb. Let's get going."
"Caleb." She called after him when he was about to leave. "This is not a defeat. We will return."
Caleb nodded and went on his way.
"We will return." She repeated, this time to herself.
It had been a fairly long process of getting ready to leave. A long process of contacting the mainland to arrange for more ships, waiting for a response while getting her people ready to move and ensuring they were not found by the Qunari in the meantime. All attacks against the enemy had been suspended and she had given commands for her people to abandon their smaller encampments and return to the main camp. With the sudden stop in fighting it was only a matter of time before the Oxmen realized something was wrong, but she would not risk anymore people. Hopefully by the time the Qunari understood her intentions they would already be long gone. If they made it past today…
It had taken awhile to convince her people to leave as well. Many of them had not been any happier about it than she had been. Most of the smallfolk didn't travel that much, so for many of them this island was all they had ever known. But they knew that to stay meant certain death, or forced conversion to the Qun. Still, leaving like this felt bad. She tried to console herself by thinking that this was only a temporary state of affairs. A retreat to a better position, so she and her folk could return here at a more opportune time.
She hoped this was really the case.
Their camp had by now been emptied and cleared, leaving very few signs that there had been anything here at all. Even in retreat they would leave nothing of use to the Oxmen. And all their belongings could very well be needed where they were going. The King had offered to house her people at Wintertown for the time being, but with a war on who could speak for the state of his supplies, particularly as Westeros was preparing to hunker down with the approach of winter? Better to be prepared for every eventuality.
They set out in a column towards the shore, the King showing the way. Lyanna had her best fighters out doing scouting on all sides of the column, with support from the King's guards, watching for enemy patrols. This was a vulnerable moment and she would not have her people ambushed.
As they travelled, the King took note of a group of people with vacant expressions being herded along by a group of others. On seeing them he went to speak with Lyanna:
"If you don't mind me asking, what's with that group over there? Something seems… off… about them."
Lyanna glanced at them, her face bitter. "That? That's just one more injustice the Qunari have visited on my people. Found that group on our first raids against Qunari holding camps. That, as it happens is what the Qunari do to those who fight back too hard during their re-education into the Qun. That what they do to those who they deem beyond their ability to *fix*"
"The Qunari did that to them? How?" He asked, horrified.
"Never figured that part out. Only know the why because of what the people we've rescued can tell… and a few other sources I'd rather not detail. But the end results speak for themselves. The minds of these people… they're gone. We've found out they do as they're told and can do simple work reasonably well, but that's just about it." She said.
"You found out?" He asked.
"Tested it." She admitted. "Later we used them for manual labor. Didn't really want to use them like that considering how they came to be that way, but… we were really shorthanded. Their efforts freed others for more important tasks."
"That's… do you think there is any way to help them? To fix whatever has been done to them?" He asked.
"We don't know that either. I just couldn't leave them behind. They've lost the ability to take care of themselves. Without us they'll die." She said.
Jon shook his head. "Damn these Oxmen."
"Yeah…" Lyanna concurred quietly.
They finally made it back to the shore. Three ships were waiting for them there and several rowboats and been brought ashore. When they noticed the Bear Islanders approaching three individuals came to greet them. Jon recognized Davos in the trio. The second was a gruff looking Iron Islander with a greying hair and beard, a badly scarred face and a missing eye. Then there was a dark-skinned woman in elaborated and rather revealing clothing, partially covered by a cloak she wore to protect herself from the elements.
"Davos!" Jon greeted, the two shaking hands. "I trust everything is in order?"
"Yes Your Grace. We are ready to start transporting people as soon as you'd like." Davos said.
"May I present the other Captains of this endeavor?" He continued. "This is Captain Andravian of the Shadow."
"Not a very common thing, agreeing to be transported by an Iron Islander." Lyanna commented. "A decade or so ago it would have been out of the question. But I'm glad you and your ship are here to assist now."
The Iron islander chuckled. "There was a time the only non-crewmen I'd bring aboard would be thralls and salt wives. But according to our Queen it's a new era, with no room for the traditions of the past. Just as well I suppose. I was starting to get a little old for piracy anyway. Rather keep what's left of my face."
"And here we have Captain Isabela of Siren's Call II." Davos said, motioning to the woman.
"Pardon me, but you don't much look like a Westerosi. Where are you from?" Lyanna asked.
"I'm not. I'm from Thedas if you have to know. Beyond that I'm not really from anywhere." Isabela said.
"Really? Then how on earth did you get involved in all this? Are you a mercenary?" Lyanna asked.
"I do get paid. But the full story is more complicated than that. And a lot longer. I'd be happy to tell you all about it. Once we get out of here. Sticking around in Qunari occupied territory gives me the creeps." Isabela said.
"Yes. We ought to get ourselves underway." Jon said.
Lyanna nodded and turned to her people. "Okay, divide into three groups of roughly equal size and start heading into the boats. They'll bring you to the ship. Stay calm and be patient. You're all getting out. Let's get this done quickly but in good order. I'll be along once I know everyone is onboard."
"Shouldn't you go as well?" Jon asked.
"When my people are safely away." She stated firmly.
As Lyanna's people started heading to the boats, Isabela and Andravian returned to their ships as well. Lyanna and Caled stayed on the shore to help organize matters. Jon would not leave until she did and his guards stayed as well, along with Lyanna's best fighters. Davos lingered behind to speak with the King. Maester Jeremy was went with the first wave of boats to better organize matters on the other end of the evacuation.
"So, any trouble while I was gone?" Jon asked.
"Had dreadnoughts pass by twice before these other ships showed up. But I guess if they had spotted us they'd have tried to sink us. I was more worried about patrols on foot finding us, but none ever showed to my knowledge. It think we are good on that front." Davos said.
"And the crew of your ship? Any issues there?" Kieran joined in on the conversation.
Davos cleared his throat. "Tensions did rise quite high after that second dreadnought. The crew insisted on a meeting to discuss leaving early. Despite the messages you had sent some had gotten it in their heads that you might have already been killed and that there was no reason to stay to die as well. Others argued that since there were other ships on their way we were no longer needed. I made a show of being concerned about the situation before reminding them of their duty. Unfortunately I did have to make use of that trick you suggested, as a final measure. Felt like at that point I couldn't take any chances.
Kieran nodded grimly. "I see. Unfortunate that matters progressed that far, but at least the ship is where we need it to be." He glanced at Jon. "I suppose I ought to watch my back on the voyage back to the mainland."
"Yes. They were rather upset with you when I told them." Davos said.
"You should return to your ship. Once all these people are safely onboard we will be leaving immediately." Jon told Davos.
Some time later Isabela was monitoring the progress of the evacuation on her ship. Matters were progressing nicely. The boats belonging to her ship had made two trips ashore already. The third round was on its way back to her now. Even as either boat could fit only about eight passengers at a time (and less if they carried many items with them), she guessed she would have her fair share of people to transport soon. One more round to the shore and back might be needed. Then a straight shot to bring these people back to their friends on the mainland. Just a bit longer and her ship would be safely on the open water, where she could outrun any Qunari pursuit and she could relax.
A strange commotion on the Iron Islander ship caught her attention. To her considerable surprise they were already raising anchor and unfurling their sails. Even stranger, they were doing this while their boats were still on their way to them, loaded with people.
"What the…?" She said, looking around for what might have made them behave this way. Then she saw what had spooked them: A pair of dreadnoughts on the open water and fast approaching.
"Shit!" She cursed. "Bad guys on approach! Make us ready to get underway immediately!" She shouted to her crew.
"But what of our boats? Are we to just leave them behind? And the King… he's still on the shore!" One of the crewmen asked.
Isabela bit her lip, looking first at the shore, then at the dreadnoughts. They were not upon them yet. They had a little more time before they were in range. But is she miscalculated this and the dreadnoughts made it to firing range before she was able to get away they were all dead.
"We have to focus on the survivors on already in our care." She decided. "We'll wait to get this last batch, but then we have to go. As for anyone else… there is nothing we can do for them. They're on their own."
"We will cast off as soon as the people from our boats are onboard. The boats themselves we leave behind, there's no time to have them secured." She told her crew.
From the shore the dreadnoughts could not be seen, but what was happening with the ships had not escaped anyone's attention.
"What in the hell's are they doing? Where are they going?" Jon said as he observed the commotion. Andravion's ship was now well on its way out, while Isabela's was hastening to depart as well. Davos's ship was the only one holding position, signaling the other two to stop to no avail.
"They're leaving us behind? Their own too? What he fuck is going on!?" Lyanna exclaimed, her attention drawn to the abandoned boats of Isabela's ship left on the waves and Andravion's boats changing course, desperately racing for the one remaining ship.
"Nobody panic. Davos's ship is still there. We'll get the rest of us out with him. We just need to…" Jon began to say.
"Ataash Qunari!" A shout suddenly sounded from the woods, startling everyone. A force of at least a hundred Qunari soldiers erupted from the forest, charging at the beach group. Those numbers would have been enough to wipe out all the hundred and fifty Lyanna had with her, let alone the handful still left at the shore.
"Damn it! They've found us!" Lyanna said, drawing her sword.
"Form up everyone. We need to keep them off until the boats get back!" Jon said, Longclaw at the ready.
The humans gathered together, readying their weapons. Kieran was the first to act, waving his staff a number of glowing blue circles appearing on the ground. When the Qunari soldiers stepped on them they erupted on bursts of electricity, killing some and knocking others over. It was enough to slow the enemy down a little and fracture them into several clusters instead of a single mass, but they kept coming.
"There's too many. We'll not hold." Jon said. Then he turned his eyes to Kieran. "If you can do something now would be a good time!"
"I'll do what I can. Just give me a moment to concentrate." He said.
"We don't have a moment! Hurry it up!" Caleb said, javelins beginning to hit on the sand and some of the people as the Qunari were almost upon them.
Kieran began calling up energy, the air around them turning frigid all of all of a sudden. Jon was already raising his sword to take on the first charging Qunari when there was a flash of utter cold, ice erupting right in front of him, encasing the Qunari within it. The cold was so intense he had to stumble back, shielding his face. The ice kept on growing, becoming a thick wall of around two meters in height, a semicircle protecting the humans within. Surprised and angry Qunari voices came from the other side, while the humans looked dumbstruck.
"Oh shit…" Lyanna said, her eyes darting between the wall of ice and Kieran. "Haven't seen anything like that since the Battle of Nightfall. Don't mean to sound ungrateful, but suddenly I get why a lot of people from Thedas are scared of mages."
"A fear not entirely unwarranted, but you don't need to fear me." Kieran said.
Jon turned his attention back to the water. He saw that the boats of Davos's ship were well on their way to them. The abandoned boats of Andravion's ship had left their passengers with Davos and were headed toward them as well. Good. At least some were still behaving like they were supposed to. He certainly had some choice words for the crews of the other ships for breaking ranks like that. But by his estimate those boats would be enough to get all the remaining survivors out of here. As soon as they just got here…
Thankfully Davos seemed not to be fleeing the scene, but his ship had changed position, taking behind one of the larger rocks sticking out of the water. He couldn't see any obvious threat, but something clearly had him spooked as well. Jon wished he could at least understand what was going on. What were the ship crews suddenly afraid of?
"Watch out! They're trying to get around the ice!" Lyanna shouted a warning. And true enough, several Qunari were wading hip deep in the water, circling around the ice.
"They're coming over too!" Someone else shouted. Jon turned and saw other enemies using their weapons as crude ice picks to scale the wall. One had already reached the top, preparing to throw a javelin before being killed by a pair of arrows.
"Hold them off! Keep the path open for the boats!" Jon shouted.
The defense Kieran had put up was far from perfect, but it did give them some control of the battlefield, preventing the enemy from overwhelming them all at once. Even so it was clear they could not stay in this position for long. But hopefully for long enough…
Jon deflected a sword blow from and enemy, following up with a slash across the neck. Next he dodged away from a spear thrust, stabbing the offending soldier through the chest. In the process he missed one Qunari coming up from behind him. The soldier was already raising a weapon to finish him off when he was flung away by a blast of blue light. Jon turned and saw Kieran, who nodded and readied his next spell.
These were a new kind of enemy, unlike any Jon had faced before. But even now he was learning from them. Each of their soldiers was big and strong, more than a human could be. Speed was therefore essential in fighting them. Deflecting rather than parrying, choosing quick attacks over power. They were tough too, able to keep on fighting after injuries that would easily disable a human. It took several hits, or a major wound to the heart or head to put one down. And inflicting that damage was not easy. All the Qunari soldiers were obviously well trained, better than your average man-at-arms. Their armor was high quality as well, though nothing that Valyrian steel could not handle.
As Jon fought on, Lyanna and Caleb battled the enemy together. Even as he was busy with his own fights he noted how efficient and economic their joined fighting style was, honed to near perfection. Kieran meanwhile was unleashing spell after spell, tearing through enemy soldiers while protecting his side with barriers and other methods. His efforts were a great help in balancing the odds and buying more time. The four of them were able to fight the Qunari troopers efficiently, but the rest of Lyanna's people were at a disadvantage against them. Jon and the others kept the Qunari off them as best they could, but it was not always enough. Several more were killed. With every one that fell those left fought ever more fiercely to survive.
The first pair of boats reached the shore. "Fall back! Get to the boats! Come on!" Lyanna shouted, motioning at her people. One Qunari tried to rush her during her brief distraction, but she cut him down in short order. The first boats were full in a matter of seconds. The survivors were frightened, so keep the boats from being overloaded or tipped over by accident while still under attack from the Oxmen was a challenge. But the boats managed to depart safely the second pair arriving on the shore right at their heels.
"Last boats out! Everyone on board! Now! We're out of time!" Jon shouted, running to the boats with the rest.
Lyanna had just made it to the boats when she noticed Caleb had been distracted by the fighting the last human on the shore. "Caleb hurry!" She shouted at him.
On hearing her he turned and ran to the boats, Kieran firing off more magic from his staff to cover him. The knight had just reached the boats when a javelin caught him in the back and he crumbled against the side of the boat with a grunt.
"Caleb! No!" She shouted, dragging him onboard with Jon's help.
"Let's go! Now!" Jon shouted to the rowers, who began taking them away from the shore. More javelins were thrown at them, but Kieran surrounded the boats with a sphere of energy the projectiles bounced off of. Only when they were out of range did he lower it.
"Hold on Caleb. We'll get you help. They won't have you. They've taken so much. I won't let them take you too." She whispered to her lover while cradling him. Caleb for his part was unconscious but alive for the moment. Even so he needed healing, and soon. She turned to Kieran. "Can you help him? Please help him."
"I don't know healing magic. But I can do my best to ensure he lives long enough to get him to a proper healer. But not while we are on the boat. I'll need room to work." Kieran replied.
On finally climbing to the deck of the ship Jon was surprised to note many of the onboard Bear Islanders had hands on their weapons, while the crew looked uneasy, a clear tension between the two groups.
"What the… Davos, what's going on?" He asked.
"Apologies. There was a bit of an argument. The crew didn't want to wait for you and the Bear Islanders couldn't stomach the idea of leaving their own behind. Matters got rather heated, but it's all settled now." The Onion Knight explained.
"Really now? Two of our three ships suddenly decided to flee the scene and this ships was damn close to doing the same. What in the hells are you all scared of?" Jon demanded.
Davos did not reply, merely pointed out to the sea. Jon looked to where he was pointing and saw the masts of massive ships sticking out from behind the rock concealing Davos's vessel.
"Oh." Jon said. "Their ships?"
"Two of them. Blocking our passage. The other ships got away just in the nick of time. We weren't as lucky. If we try to leave they'll crack us open like a hard-boiled egg." Davos said. As if for emphasis one of the dreadnoughts fired, blasting off chunks or rock. A pair of mortar shells followed, exploding close by, showering the water with shrapnel.
"Should've gone when we had the chance." One of the crewmen muttered. "Could've left days ago if not for the damned witchcraft that mage cursed us with." He added, pointing a finger at Kieran, who was just helping Lyanna drag Caleb aboard. "Should just kill him and be done with it."
"That's enough." Jon cut in. "He has done nothing but his duty. And this crew is not in a position to start blaming anyone for anything. This isn't the first time I have heard of your plans to leave me stranded here. I have not forgotten. If you wish me to forget about it you'd be wisest to serve without complaint from now on.
The crewman looked sour but held his tongue, mainly because he was speaking with his King. Kieran had paid little attention to the conversation, too busy helping Lyanna remove the spear from Caleb and burning the wound closed to stop the bleeding. Some of Lyanna's people took the knight below decks, her following them, stopping only to shake Kieran's hand in gratitude. She would be of no more use in this situation, too distraught by what had happened. Master Jerome went below as well to attend to his newest patient.
"Maybe the rest of us ought to be distraught as well." Jon thought. This was a bad situation. The rock that they were hidden behind protected them for the moment. But as soon as they showed themselves they would be right on the sights of the closer dreadnought, while the second was standing guard just behind it. Between those two any clear avenue of escape was closed off.
And this was not the product of random chance either. With the appearance of Qunari troops and dreadnoughts at the same time told him this was a trap. Somehow the enemy had known of their plans in advance and had crafted a carefully executed plan to destroy them. Things had not gone exactly as the Oxmen had planned though, since two ships had escaped. But that hardly mattered since the important people were on this one, trapped between a rock and a hard place.
Once again the intelligence gathering of the Twin Kingdoms had proven deficient compared to that of their enemies. Hopefully Tyrion and Daenerys's new mage ally would straighten this out soon enough. That was concern number two for certain.
"We need a plan. I can…"Kieran said as he walked over before suddenly grunting in pain, holding his head with both hands.
"Kieran, are you alright?" Jon asked, placing a hand on the mage's shoulder.
"Yes. The discomfort was only temporary. I was contacted by Lord Brandon. He is aware of our situation and is sending help. We must make ourselves ready to move when it arrives. I know when." Kieran said, as if nothing had happened.
"He can just contact you like that?" Jon asked, perplexed.
"Apparently so. Before we have conversed in the fade when I slept. But even I was unaware he could contact me while awake. I hope this won't be a commonly used method going forward." Kieran explained.
"What's this help he's going to send?" Davos asked.
"I don't know. I just got a glimpse of something really big and alive, underwater I think. Whatever he is sending he intends to attack the dreadnought closer to us with it. In the commotion we will have a fighting chance to escape."
The dreadnought fired again, tearing at the rock protecting them.
"Well, whatever the hells he had planned he'd better hurry up with it. No way we can stay here for long." Davos said grimly.
"It will be here soon. Just be ready to act on my command." Kieran said. Davos looked at Jon, who nodded. Kieran was the only one with a plan, so they would follow his directions.
For about ten minutes they waited, the dreadnought firing on them every now and then.
"Now ser Davos. Begin to move us out. Keep the dreadnought closer to us between the one farther to us for as long as you can." Kieran said then, his voice calm.
"Are you sure? Nothing is happening yet. Is the help ready yet?" Davos asked.
"Now is the time for us to move. Trust me." Kieran.
Davos drew a shuddering breath. "Raise the sails! Oars out! Best speed put of the cove!"
As they came out from behind the rock the dreadnought came into view and Jon suppressed a gasp. The enemy was close by, the intimidatingly massive vessel bristling with firepower visible in all its glory. Davos's ship attempting to flee had not gone unnoticed the crews pointing at them. The dreadnought began to turn slowly to bring it broadside batteries to bear, while on the top deck mortars were being prepared for firing. They would never make it out of the way in time. Unless something happened it would all be over in a matter of moments.
"Kieran?" Jon asked, his knuckles white as he grasped the railing of the ship.
"Trust me." Kieran repeated, fixing the enemy vessel with a firm stare.
Just as the enemy vessel was about to fire on them, something happened. A massive shadow passed in the water, rushing toward the Qunari ship with incredible speed, its passage creating a ripple that rocked Davos's ship. The dreadnought shuddered and was violently jerked to the side. The ship continued to shake and shift in a disordered manner, while from inside the ships a sound of breaking wood could be heard, the cannons shifting violently in their gun ports. The crew were rushing around, made frantic by… something. Then an enormous grey tentacle tore through the deck, wrapped itself around the main mast and snapped it apart like a twig. More tentacles appeared, exploding from inside the ship, tearing through anything in their path. The Qunari crew fought back as hard as they could, but blades were of little use and cannons could not be used against an attack from inside the ship.
"Seven hells! Is that what I think it is?" Jon breathed, barely believing his eyes.
"A kraken. So that's what he meant! He found one…" Kieran said in awe.
The tentacles continued wrecking the ship, the Qunari vessel looking just about doomed. Then a colossal explosion tore the dreadnought apart and the kraken with it. Many tentacles were cut open or blown off. The flaming husk of the dreadnought began to sink beneath the waves, the water turning red, riddled with burning debris and flesh.
"Damn. They must have detonated their powder magazine. They sacrificed themselves just take down the kraken. Loyal to the Qun, even in death." Kieran commented.
"We have our window! Use the flames for cover! Davos shouted to his crew. Their ship was gaining good distance from the shore when the second dreadnought worked its way around the fire. On seeing it Kieran went to the rear of the ship and launched a fireball from his staff. The bolt of flame punctured multiple sails, setting all of them ablaze. The Qunari warship turned aside and abandoned pursuit, the crew too busy trying to stop the flames from spreading.
Kieran noticed the crewman that had spoken of him earlier watching what his spell had wrought on the enemy ship in awe, and went to speak to him.
"Still hoping to kill me? Still thinking you can?" Kieran askes in a menacing voice, igniting a flame on his palm. The crewman paled, shook his head and took a step back.
"Didn't think so." Kieran said with a smirk and turned away.
"Er… Ser Mage? Don't meant to offend, but… that spell you put on the ship? Should it not be removed before we get too far from the shore?" The crewman asked.
"There is no spell. There never was done." Kieran replied over his shoulder.
"What? There isn't? …You tricked us!" The crewman said.
"I did indeed. And from what I hear I needed to as well." Kieran said.
After an hour had passed without a sign of enemy pursuit, Jon sought Kieran out. "It looks like we're in the clear."
"So it seems." Kieran said. "How is Ser Caleb?" He asked.
"The Maester says he will live, thanks in large part to your efforts. Once we get him to a mage who knows healing magic he will be back in the action none worse for wear." Jon said.
"That's good to hear. This has been a bloody day. I'm glad to have lessened the number of lives we lost, even if only by one." Kieran said.
"You saved more than that. You and Bran fought well today. I'm thankful to both of you. That reminds me… I've been thinking of how to reward your service during the siege of Winterfell. But I don't really know what you might find valuable." Jon said.
"I need little by the way of rewards. Let's just agree that if I ever need a favor from you, you will provide?" Kieran said.
Jon smiled. "Agreed. If what you ask that day is in my power, it is yours."
Yara cursed as a storm of cannonballs swept past, shattering another one of her vessels. The battle had been a disaster. The Qunari had played to all their strengths, forming themselves into a firing line and unleashing a storm of fire against her fleet. The opening barrage had destroyed several ships, badly damaging others, including hers. The ships following behind had been slowed and bunched up by the wreckage created, easy targets for the follow up barrages. As more time passed and more wreckage had been added it had become harder and harder for the ships of the Twin Kingdoms to get to grips with the enemy.
Only two ships of the enemy had been brought down. One near the edge of their line where a number of Royalist ships had managed to close and ram it, sinking it. Another had its flank on fire after several lucky catapult hits. As she watched it went up in a violent explosion damaging two other dreadnoughts close by. At some other time a sight like that might have brought a smile to her lips, but not when dozens of her own ships had been lost.
It had already become clear this was not a fight she could hope to win, so she now sought to save as much as she could. She had ordered half her fleet to retreat while the other half bought time by continuing to attack. Her ship was with the latter group. Seeing their enemy breaking the Qunari switched tactics. Now their warships were ploughing straight through her formation discharging both broadsides again and again, her remaining vessels disintegrating before the onslaught. The Oxmen were showing no mercy. Smaller swivel guns and mortars blew up rowboats full of survivors, their ships heedlessly running over those left in the water.
She could not say just how the Seadancer got through that hellstorm, but somehow her ship emerged through to the other side, badly damaged and listing though she was. Yara looked back, seeing that only a handful of other ships had made it through a gauntlet, scattering in all directions. With the larger prize out of easy reach, the dreadnoughts turned around to chase them down. For the moment her ship was out of range.
Yara sighed, bowing her head, feeling exhausted. "We've done all we can. Set a northern course. We'll avoid enemy waters and look for our other fleets so we can warn them. If we don't find them we'll head for home." She commanded. Even she was surprised how even her voice sounded. She should have felt anger or grief. But right now she was just numb from the butchery her forces had been subjected to.
As they sailed away she saw one of the enemy vessel turning to hunt them down and she sighed again. This would be a long voyage then, trying to outrun her pursuer.
She was starting to get really sick from running from these guys…