Trigger Warning; Violence, Gore, Maelys.
Silvertongue
Fourth Moon, 256 AC
Alequo couldn't help the smile forming across his face as their ship began to slow. The great city of Tyrosh, encasing the entire island it sat upon, sat just a ways away. The city he'd been born and raised in, and the city that would soon be his.
Alequo was a well connected man, especially for a simple merchant like himself. He considered his connections as his greatest strength, even more so than his deep pockets. It was through said connections that he was not only able to accrue the ships for their forces, but also mask their movements from the Tyroshi prince.
They saw calm seas and great weather as they made their way from the mainland towards the Tyroshi island, a true showing of the 'calm before the storm'.
Samarro and The Old Mother were raiding the islands to the south, ensuring that even if their movements were caught the Tyroshi navy would be too far to deter their landing.
Beyond that, their forces were split in two. Spotted Tom, The Lord of Battles, and their men would make land to the south, is a port that Alequo also happened to own.
The men would begin their assault while Nine Eyes, the Monstrous, and their respective companies would make land in the north where the prince resided. The Ebon Prince and Ser Derrick Fassoway stayed on the mainland, stopping any reinforcements from forming while their backs were turnt.
A plan in which Alequo had formed himself using his knowledge of the city and his connections. It was a true showing of his brilliance, and he'd be soon rewarded for it with the entire city.
The ship's horns sounded, signaling that they'd soon make land. The men of the Golden Company hollered in preparation as they equipped themselves. The ship was filled by moving men in minutes, all ready for battle.
Alequo found himself in the command deck, Maelys the Monstrous standing before him. The giant of a man was donned in his own armor, pure black metal accustomed to fit his large body as well as the putrid mass growing from his neck.
The man wielding a giant greatsword in his right hand, and a golden shield with the Blackfyre sigil in his left. He paid the merchant no mind, instead inspecting his sword and armor.
"Do leave the prince alive, if you could," Alequo spoke, the mountainous man still inspecting his weapon. "I'd like to end his life myself." The man grunted in response, which was most likely the best response he'd get.
Alequo smiled and turned away. He'd only seen the man in battle once before, but knew that his nickname of 'the Monstrous' was more than earned. The man was a killing machine, so he'd have to find the prince before he got his giant hands on him.
Alequo donned armor and a dagger himself. He wasn't much of a fighter– if one at all, but he knew the importance of being protected. He'd avoid battle, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't find him.
Another horn sounded as the ship came to a stop, finally finding itself in one of the northern ports. Yells of alert and surprise quickly struck his ears as the Golden Company men made their way onto land, slaying anyone who tried to hinder them.
Alequo was one of the last to exit the ship, more than content to stay towards the back. Everywhere he looked, bodies laid. He had to give the prince some praise. The man had kept enough soldiers to protect himself, but it'd be useless.
With their forces split, and facing armies of 5000 men from both sides, they would quickly be overwhelmed. Alequo followed the path of bodies as he made his way towards the prince's palace, which was still more or else untouched by the chaos of the city,
The Golden Company continued their ruthless advance, cutting down any and everyone. Smallfolk rushed out of their path, afraid that their life would end if they even gazed at the armored men. Alequo didn't blame them for having that attitude.
Finally, he found himself at the fortified entrance towards the prince's palace. Archer's rained arrows upon them from the palace, but the men had quickly set up shields as defense.
Men struck at the entrance with their weapons, but their swords barely left marks on the giant metal door. That was, until Maelys made himself known.
With a roar akin to a dragon, the Monstrous man rushed towards the door with speed unnatural of his size. He collided with the door, transferring as much force as he could. The door remained shut, but now sported a clear dent where the man made contact with it.
Maelys looked completely unaffected by the collision, which sent down the merchant's spine. Rising up, the man walked back to where he stood moments prior, determined to crash into the door again.
Without a doubt the door wouldn't stand another hit or two, and the archers noticed this as well. Completely ignoring the others, they turned their attention towards the mountainous man, who in turn raised his shield.
Arrows struck the wood, as well as the metal of his armor, but didn't hinder the man at all. He rushed forward at the same speed as before, crashing into the door. With a loud crash, the door caved inward, revealing the lush interior to all close enough to see.
The men around him yelled in triumph as they rushed the now open door. The archers shot their nocked arrows before quickly retreating from the windows, no doubt preparing for the men who would soon be upon them.
Alequo followed after, following along the long hallways towards the throne room. A look towards his rear showed the Monstrous Maelys following behind him, effortlessly slaying any who even dared oppose him.
The merchant spoke a silent prayer, both that he'd never come opposite of the man and that he found the king first.
Alequo came to a stop as he finally saw the throne room, guarded by without a doubt the prince's five best warriors. He cursed to himself, he'd have to wait until someone capable of combat found their way here before he could move in.
Of course, the gods seemed to mock him, for the one person he didn't want to see showed himself. With a rough yell, Maelys charged towards the men, his sword held high.
One of the guards tried to meet the sword with his own, a decision that led him to his death. The smaller metal snapped cleanly in two, the mass of metal slicing through the sword and the armor protecting him without any hindrance at all.
The other four didn't let the death of their comrade deter them. The furthest one from the raging giant, equipt with a spear, stabbed towards Maelys' form. The spear hit the giant's armor, scratching it a bit but doing no further damage than that.
Two of the closer men wielding swords tried to slash at the man's exposed head, but his superior size caused their blades to glance across his chest plate.
In a swift, powerful movement Maelys saw his greatsword go from the remains of the first guard to the sides of one of the nearby men. The force nearly split the man in two, his body crashing into his comrade and lifting him from his feet.
The spear-bearing guard tried to attack from behind, but a wave of Maelys' shield saw the base of the spear split in two. Now disarmed, the man did as best as he could, diving towards the giant's knees.
Maelys didn't budge at all, swinging his sword again and making contact with the sword-wielding man from before. Alequo gave the man props, for he still lived even after the strike, but the shield he used to protect himself – as well as his arm, had been effortlessly broken.
Alequo spotted the fifth man, who'd been noticeably absent until now further down the hall, bow in hand. He let loose an arrow, which barely missed the mass on Maelys' neck.
In a defiant roar, Maelys smashed his shield atop the guard on his knee, no doubt killing the man. A powerful kick sent the broken-arm guard crashing into the wall, and Maelys turned his attention to the last remaining guard.
In a charge similar to that of a bull, Maelys was upon the man, who was crushed underneath his superior mass. The sound of crunching– which Alequo couldn't discern as the man's armor or his bones, caused him to grimace.
With the guards now dispatched, the merchant opened the door to the throne room. A crossbow bolt barely missed his head. If he wasn't stunned by the near-death experience, he'd have laughed as the Tyroshi price cursed his luck aloud.
"Get back! I'll have you hung!" The man yelled, scrambling to knock another bolt onto his crossbow. Alequo smirked as he approached the prince.
"I'm afraid you don't have the power to make do of your promise, my prince." The merchant's dagger found purchase in the scrambling form of the prince. The man yelled in pain as Alequo relentlessly stabbed him, glee filling his face.
He didn't know how many times he stabbed the man, he'd lost count in the thirties. He was finally knocked off his murderous act by a sound he'd assured himself he'd never hear.
A deep, bountiful laugh filled the throne room, causing Alequo to look back in surprise. There, he saw the last person he'd expect, Maelys the Monstrous. A smile formed on his face and the man laughed, his voice probably heard from the entrance.
It wasn't until the merchant got closer to the man that he saw what caused such a reaction. Hidden away in the corner of the throne room, placated atop a luscious red cushion adorned with jewelry sat a large, shiny black egg.
There was no doubt about it.A dragon egg. Alequo would have rushed the thing had any other person been in the room, but he wouldn't dare oppose Maelys the Monstrous.
The giant of a man walked towards the egg, his giant palm betraying the true size the thing had. Confusion formed on the giant's face, prompted by him thoroughly inspecting the egg. Finally, after a minute or two, he sat the egg back on its jeweled throne.
"Silvertongue," the giant's sudden voice caused the merchant to jump. It was the first time he'd heard the giant talk since the formation of the Band of Nine. Had he somehow upset him? "Bring me the most Valyrian woman you can find."
"Of course, Maelys. If you don't mind, may I know why?" Alequo questioned, trying to seem as unthreatening as possible. Against the monstrosity before him, he probably needn't try at all. Alas, there was nothing wrong with a bit of extra security.
The giant turned, walking towards him. Alequo cursed the gods for a second, no doubt fearing for his life. He hadn't breathed until Maelys finally passed him, exiting the throne room. He sighed, a tad bit annoyed at the lack of an answer.
Then, the deep voice of the Monstrous sounded from the hallway. "Through my blood, I will bring dragons back into this world."
He didn't know what the monstrosity meant, but he wasn't one to speak in riddles. Alequo sighed to himself before sitting on the Tyroshi throne.
Whether he'd accomplish his means or not, the merchant didn't care. He placed the prince's crown atop his head, the biggest smile he'd ever had strewn across his face. Finally, after decades of work, Tyrosh was his.