MTLNOVEL Chapter 55: War
(Third Person POV)
[Oldstones, Riverlands]
There were flames that spread all over the field outside the ruins of the castle, and several large piles of corpses were scattered. The battlefield was scarred, vicious fighting had taken place right outside Oldstones.
There were surviving Tully soldiers who limped away from the battlefield, having avoided death from Drakken's men. These men were left alone, believed to be worthless to fight or kill. Should they return to fight even more, they would be obliterated. Those who fought for Drakken were celebrating their victory on the edge of the ruins, letting out shouts that filled the air.
They had killed those who resisted and did not wish to surrender, completely annihilated anyone who dared stand against them. For days they have fought, defeating the waves of soldiers that House Tully had sent. While the waves were in the hundreds, it was still a serious battle. What made this even more impressive was that Drakken did not participate much in the battle. He simply obliterated the first wave, killing the Knight that had greeted him prior and took the Greenseer inside, telling his men to deal with the rest.
Right now, the God of War and Death was walking out of the ruins, making his way past the camp that his men had.
He reached one of his high-ranking men, who was sitting down and cleaning his sword.
"What is our situation?" Drakken asked as he stood in front of him
The Man looked up at him, "My Lord." He said, "We have finished up here. There is about 1,000 dead. A bit more than I had hope for."
"Our casualties?" Drakken asked
"45." The man said
"Not bad." Drakken said
"All thanks to your blessing." The man said
"Somebody get me a map." Drakken said seriously
Then, a soldier ran up with a map and placed it on a table next to them. Drakken walked over and leaned on the table, looking at the map.
"What is the move?" the man asked
"Conquest." Drakken said, "We go around and get more bodies to join our cause."
Drakken trailed his finger from Oldstones to Riverrun and tapped it on there.
"House Tully?" the man asked
"That is right." He said, "I'll go and get us a couple thousand men to convert and then we'll take Riverrun. Should House Tully resist, I'll wipe them out. I mean business now. It is time for everyone to know what it means to defy me."
"After Riverrun, we should head to Harrenhal." The Man said
"That is the plan." Drakken said, "We'll expand our army and head to the Vale, to destroy anyone that gets in our way. Once in the Vale, we'll conquer everything and slowly make our way up North and we take that too."
"The North worship the Old Gods, not the Seven." The Man asked
"What is your name?" Drakken asked him
"Jon Rivers." the Man said
"Jon." Drakken said, "You should shut the fuck up sometimes."
Jon grimaced but said nothing to that.
"I don't care if the North worships the Old Gods, we're taking their men and marching back down to the Westerlands." Drakken said, "This campaign will take a long time so we need a lot of men that are converted to our cause. Once in the Westerlands, we'll begin the true bloodshed. We'll destroy everything and take in anyone who wishes to worship the God of War. Then we make our way down to the Reach and do the same. And after the Reach, we head to the Stormlands and finish it up there, surrounding the Crowlands completely. The Targaryens will feel hopeless against us."
"I see...." Jon said, "How long do you reckon it will take, My Lord?"
"At most, a few weeks." Drakken said, "That is if we work fast. Hopefully it all goes to plan and no idiot ruins it for me."
"What of the Targaryen dragons?" another man asked
"What about them?" Drakken asked him with a serious look, "Do you think I am afraid of those lizards?"
"Well, they are the reason that House Targaryen is in power..." The man said
Jon gulped, "He is right...."
"I have my own weapons." Drakken smirked, "I am not worried about them in the slightest."
"If you say so." Jon said
Drakken slammed his hand on the table, "Good!" He said, "We should also name our army when we form it completely.....I have been doing some thinking."
"Yes, My Lord..." Jon said
Drakken smirked, "How about...." He said,
"The Duskguard."
***************
[King's Landing]
"What do you mean that House Tully is suffering losses?!" Jaehaerys exclaimed, "What is the meaning of this?!"
"We do not know how...." Septon Barth said, "All we know is that there was a battle in Oldstones in which Drakken's men have come out victorious. Almost a thousand dead...."
Alysanne looked at Jaehaerys, "Jaehaerys...." she said, "This is not good at all....."
Jaheaerys clenched his fists, "So he is serious..." He said as he looked down, "This is not good, one of the worst things possible. If things escalate, he'll spread his terror all across the Realm...."
"It appears that they began to move towards Riverrun. Lord Tully has requested for aid, for a dragon." Barth said
"Where is Baelon? Did I not send him to the Tower and discuss a peace arrangement with Drakken?!" Jaehaerys asked
"Baelon has returned." Barth told him, "Apparently, he was attacked by a demonic beast at the Tower. He is still shaken up. Vhagar suffered some wounds and needs rest...."
"What?!' Jaehaerys said as he stood up, "How is this possible?!"
Lord Rodrik Arryn grimaced, "That is not good. For Vhagar to be wounded?" He said, "How...."
"What do we do, Jaehaerys?" Alysanne said, "He took our eggs and yet he still intends to wage war on us...."
"Let me think...." Jaehaerys said, "Let me think....."
"All this because a single girl did not wish to recognize him as a god." Barth said, "How pathetic."
"You call it pathetic, Septon Barth, but he is a man of great power." Alysanne said, "Pathetic or not, he is leaving us cornered. The King did not keep decades of peace for it to turn out like this."
"Something has to be done..." Lord Arryn said, "A marriage proposal? But....he refused....."
Jaehaerys sighed and looked at Barth, "Barth..." He said,
"Bring me Maegelle."