Hope you guys liked the last chapter, again, I'm searching for proof readers, so contact me if you're interested.
P/s: I hope that I don't need to write about r*pe any more, it discomforts me just by thinking bout it, but unfortunately, we still have the fucking Ironborns ahead of us
I haven't watched the latest episode of House of the Dragon, but I am really excited about it.
The Disputed Lands, the nothern lake.
Draeden stood on the shores of the lake. It is the largest body of water in the Disputed Lands besides the Southern lake. A wide and long rivers connects the two lakes, running hundred, perhaps thousands of miles.
The lake is huge, you cannot see the shore opposite them even with the a Myrish eye.
The Stepstone forces are marching south along the river to find a crossing point, once they cross the river, they will be directly in contact in Volantis lands and Volon Therys.
The march would be easier compared to their previous march for the past few weeks. As they will have easier source of freshwater at their disposal compared to the desolate wasteland of the Disputed Lands.
But the hearts of the soldiers are uneasy. They knew that they will eventually encounter the main Volantene host. And their hearts are unsure whether they will live to tell the tale, as the Volantene army outnumber them two-to-one, not to mention, their supply lines are getting thinner and thinner.
But the troops take confidence from their leader, as Lord Draeden Draeterys looks confident amd had led them to multiple victories.
Taelan approaches Draeden, "My lord, enjoying the view?"
Draeden nods "Indeed, the lake is the greatest sign of life after we have entered the disputed lands."
Taelan nodded, "They say that the Disputed lands were one of the richest lands in Old Valyria."
Draeden nodded and smiled as he recalls his time in Old Valyria. "Indeed, the land bore the sweetest fruit and honey, bore the most bountiful harvests, it once housed many thousands of families as well, and the most precious metal was mined here. The rivers, ponds and streams litter the land, where there was peace and life."
Taelan smiled and asked "You say as if you have been there my lord."
Draeden chuckled and changed the topic "One day, one day... We will return these lands to what they once were, years of war and death had plagued this land for too long."
Taelan then chuckles "You have the most unrealistic goals my lord."
Draeden laughed and was about to reply, but the sound of hurried horse hooves interrupted him.
The rider was a Stepstone scout, as he approaches Taelan and Draeden, he descended his horse and made his way to the pair to report"My lords!"
The pair turned towards the scout and Taelan asks "What is it?"
The scout then dutily reports "Volantene host spotted, 30 miles away from the east river bank."
Taelan and Draeden's eyes widen at that and Taelan asks "How many?"
The scout gulped before answering "Commander, I lost count after 80, 000."
Taelan's jaw dropped at that, but the scout wasn't finished "That's not all, my lord, commander. I count at least 200 eliphants my lords."
Taelan was shocked, but Draeden was calm and confident, he dismisses the scout and notifies Taelan, "Come Taelan, we have the advantage to choose where we shall battle."
But Taelan stopped Draeden and requests"My lord! The larger army wins the battle nine times out of ten. Its not late to call your dragons. We may still win this."
Draeden sighs and answers "Taelan, if we are to rebuild a better Valyria, will you take it apon dragons to do so?" Draeden then pointed at his marching soldiers. "No! It is upon these men, do we rely on!"
Taelan winces, but understands his lord's words. He nodded and replies "I understand my lord. But still, I want you to know, there are fifty-five housand lives, Loyal, Valyrian lives at stake."
Draeden nodded "I will not have even a single one of them killed due to my recklessness. Every decision I make, is for our own good."
Taelan nods and replies "I understand my lord, but it is my duty to provide you true and sound wisdom."
Draeden smiles "Of course Taelan, as they say, All men must serve, including me."
"By the Seven..." King Argilac of the Storms exclaimed as he looked through a Myrish Glass. The massive Volantene host is just settling on the east side of the river.
He and the lord of the Stepstones as well as their captains stood on the west side of the river under an open tent. The river was wide enough to make archers of both side to lose their effectiveness, even for the Stormlander bowmen.
The Lord of the Stepstones proves to be a well organized leader as he had gave the order to fortify their side of the river by laying stakes and obstacles in the river to deter any attackers, digging trenches as well as organizing patrols.
King Argilac admires the field the lord of The Stepstone has chosen for battle. He has chosen to camp on the shore of a waist deep river crossing that will give the attackers on the opposite side of the river a hard time to cross the river, even elephants would have to suffer the raining arrows upon them. Adopting a defensive position considering they have the lesser numbers.
They know that there is also two river crossing on their left and right flank, which they believe their enemy knows as well. But last night a Stepstonian scout reported a smaller crossing 30 miles south, which their enemy mah not know of yet.
"Come my lords, we have a battle to plan." Lord Draeden of the Stepstones called out with his accented Common Tongue.
Argilac then entered the open tent on top of a hill where the top commanders made their headquarters.
Argilac then notices a map in front of the Valyrian lord. Once the commanders have gathered around the map, Draeden announces, "I have a plan, as we all know there are four know river crossings to us, and the Volantene host have just arrived fater a long march from Volon Therys. The summary of this plan involves an assault on the Volantene encampments in order to make battle preparations that are beneficial to us."
Argilac's eyebrows tighten "But why? We have the lesser number, why should we attack first?"
Draeden then analyzed for Argilac "Exactly, The Volanatene host wouldn't see it coming, they belive their larger force to be unchallengable. Other than that, the Volantene host has just marched hundreds of miles with mininal rest, should we attack them, it would caught them off guard. Not to mention, this attack is to only put a plan to action, their numbers are to vast, I plan to put a distraction to lay a distraction. "
Argilac was confused as to what Draeden was saying.
But Draeden explained "We will lauch a diversion ambush on the Volantene encampments to distract them. But King Argilac's host will habe no part in this assault."
King Argilac's eyes narrowed as he questions "Why? Do you think the Stormlanders weak?"
Draeden smirked, "No, quite the opposite. You and your men will cross the river by the southern crossing 30 miles from here, and when the time comes, we will lock them in a pincer movement and crush them."
Argilac now understands and nods with a grin.
But Captain Belicho was skeptical "But my tecaher, Grohan Ragan will be there, he will see right through this strategy as if it was laid bare in broad daylight."
Draeden grinned, "Who says it was in broad daylight."
Belicho allowed a small smile on his face, he was eager to watch this unfold, but anxious to see it's end.
After that, the captains went to mobilize their troops and wait until nightfall.
The Volantene Encampments, Nighttime
The Volantene peasant-turned soldiers are settling for the night after days of hard marching. They only have little patrols around their vast perimeter.
The Volantene encampment stretched for miles of land to encamp over 100,000 men. Making it easier for ambush as there are wider points for ambush, and harder to rally.
But the core of their force, the elephants are placed at the rear encampments as the Triarch wishes them to be an element of surprise, even though Belicho have notified Draeden. Combined with minimal patrol and security measures, this could spell disaster and become the doom of thousands.
The clever general, Grohan Ragan notices and went to alert Triarch Horonno, but was intercepted outside of Horonno's tent by the captain of Horonno's guard.
"Commander. I'm sorry, but Lord Triarch has declared that he does not wish to see you." The Captain says.
Ragan sighs "I know, but can inform the Triarch to put more patrols. Should our enemy ambush us we shall not have the power to fight back."
The captain nodded but sighed "The Triarch declares that all his warriors shall rest so that they will do well on the assault tomorrow."
Ragan's eyes widen "But they have just had a hard march!"
The Captain nods "The Triarch wants to end this quickly, so that he may-"
The Captain was cut off as he heard faint screaming and sounds of engaging steel on their right.
Ragan's eyes darted at the right, and saw fire...
At a distance, the edge of their right encampments has been lit up in the night by orange fire. And the sound of faint battle resonates in the air. Many soldiers and captains got up to see what was going on.
Triarch Horonno's captain of the guard immediately went inside to awaken Horonno, while Ragan went and gather the awaken men. "MEN! We are ambushed! On me! Repel the attackers!"
Some soldiers that have enough discipline followed after Ragan that was rushing towards the right, but many of the levies just stood there in shock.
The fighting was mostly one sided before Ragan and his reinforcements arrived. The Volantene men have few or no armour on them when the attack happenen. They were preparing to rest for the night, but it seems many shall rest for their eternity.
Ragan saw a naked man that was on fire screaming as he ran to find water, but the river was hundreds of meter away. Focusing on the slaughter in front, Ragan can hear the horrifying cries and begs of mercy behind the fire.
"We're too late..." A half naked Volantene soldier whispered beside Ragan.
Ragan turned towards the soldier "Nonsense! We can still buy time for our remaining comrades!"
The soldier nodded before his focus wasdistracted by a row of lamellar armour clad Stepstone soldiers marching through the fire with impeccable discipline.
Ragan's eyes hardened and orders "Defend the camp! Stall them until reinforcements arrive!"
The soldiers then charged towrads the Stepstonian soldiers. The difference in skill discipline, armour amd equipment soon arose.
The Stepstone soldiers were easily taking out the less disciplined and armoured Volantene soldiers, causing Volantene lines to be pushed back swiftly.
Ragan had already put down around a score of Stepstonian soldiers, but he feels that his the line is breaking even though the right encampment survivors had joined the fighting.
And Ragan was shocked to find out that they are almost pushed back to the central encampments. He then realised that he was trampling over his fallen brothers in arms while more fell around him.
But fortunately for Ragan, help came. The Caprain of Horonno's guard had led the Volantene left encampments to reinforce Ragan.
Ragan sighed in relief as he saw a more well-armoured contingent arrived.
Upon seeing this, the Stepstonian soldiers slowly draw back. The Captain then approached Ragan "Commander! Go have some rest while we finish this!"
Ragan nodded and went back towards the central camp, with only half the numbers that it had.
But Ragan felt something wasn't right as he notices the Central camp was too empty, and the Stepstonian lines was withdrawing with order.
Then he realized.
"Captain! Wait!" Ragan called before he was cut off by the war cries of a contingent of Unsullied that crossed the ford in the cover of night.
The unsullied quickly lighted their torches and set the tents to flames and killed everyone that is not dressed in Stepstone uniforms.
The screams and cries of fighting raged across the Volantene encampment.
Ragan can see a unit of unsullied broke off and attacked the Volantene reinforcements from the rear, which killed the Captain of Horonno's guard.
Ragan then ran towards the rear encampments to rally some men for a counter attack, where the fighting has yet to affect them. Even though the elephants are mistakenly placed by Horonno in the rear. The elephants are out of the question to mobilize right now as the encampment p makes it impossible for the elephants to navigate without trampling some of our own.
By the time Ragan arrived with reinforcements, The Stepstone forces have already withdrawn, and although Ragan's fresh troops combined with the survivors still have the superior numbers, they were too afraid to lay chase, Ragan feared for another ambush.
The sky was alredy lighting up as the fires were put out.
Ragan sighed as he observes the aftermath. Thousands of Volantene bodies lay on their own encampment, some still dying admist the bodies and even more wounded an maimed. It would be a pain in their ass to clean them up to avoid diseases.
"Commander Ragan! The Triarch wishes to see you!" A wounded soldier called.
Ragan nodded and went towards the Triarch's tent located on the rear of the center.
The Triarch was waiting for Ragan, he is already wearing armour in case the fighting reached him.
Horonno then asked "So, how bad is it?"
Ragan sighed "Extremely bad."
Horonno sighed and slumped in his chair, "Well, what counsel do you have?"
Ragan nodded but replied "I have Master, but you wouldn't like it."
Horonno nodded and asked "Go ahead anyways, its not like I have a choice anyway."
Ragan sighed "Master, I advise that we should pull back to Volon Therys. We have already lost the initiative. We ought to pull back and regroup to seek for opportunities."
Horonno's face tighten in discomfort "You mean to say I have lost already?"
"Master, it is the truth, we must pull back and win another day, retire and-" Ragan was trying to explain before Goronno threw his chalice at Ragan.
"Are you commanding me to give in to my enemy?! A slave commanding his master, to surrender to his enemies?" Horonno questions.
"But Master, you told me to advise you, I am not commanding you. Please, I only wamt save your men" Ragan pleaded.
But Horonno held his hand up. "Enough, I will deal with your cowardice and disloyalty after I have DEFEATED the Stepstone pretender, SLAVE"!
With that Ragan was escorted out by Horonno's guards. Fearing for his own future as well as his brother in arms.
The Stepstone encampments
It was a major victory for the Stepstone forces, but they didn't dare to celebrate as they have witnessed first hand of the size and speed of Ragan's organzing of troops.
Draeden stood on the edge of the river and looked across the river as smoke rose to sky from the Volantene encampments.
Taelan Rexagon then asks Draeden "My lord, do you think this assault have successfully covered up the Storm host's crossing of the river?"
Draeden smiled and replies "It seems we have dear Taelan. No battalions were sent after them. We have successfully smughled them across the river."
Taelan nods, but advises"We're lucky the elephants are at the rear my lord, but I don't belive they will make the same mistake next time."
Draeden then replies "I know Taelan, I wouldn't have given the order to assault them just now if I saw the elephants in the center. But, I already have a tactic to deal with the elephants."
Taelan's eyes widen "How my lord?"
Draeden grinned and said "Follow me, after they are familiar with this formation and the Storm detatchment is in position, we begin the attack."
Here's another chapter for you guys, hope you enjoyed, this is the assault of nightfall,a battle preparation set by Draeden to set his plan in motion by placing the Storm host in position to flank the Volantene and take them by surprise as well as to snatch the initiative from Volantis.
Draeden and Horonno aren't fighting for the Valyrian name specifically, they are fighting for the legitimacy. Sort of like the Holy Roman Empire or Byzantine trying to claim legitimacy from the Roman empire.
Yeah the grammar wasn't as on point as I wanted since I was lazy to do spellcheck and my auto spellcheck malfunctioned.
Next Chapter: The Battle Of The Pretender's Grave