Chapter 89: The Mill of Fire
In Dragon Nest City, Silverwing suddenly seemed to sense something, crawling out of the Dragonpit and roaring towards the North. Valarr in the Twin Towers was also instantly awakened from his sleep, with Leila Settiga still soundly asleep beside him.
Valarr looked out the window with some confusion, but saw nothing, only a roar from Silverwing, which then faded into silence.
Riverlands, Harrenhal.
Prince Daemon captured the castle with almost no effort; Ser Simon Strong, the acting castellan of the enormous and terrifying fortress, immediately knelt and surrendered the moment he saw Caraxes land on King's Pyre Tower.
He and House Strong in Harrenhal were already inclined towards the Black faction, so they naturally raised the Queen's quartered banner, and House Strong's wealth of tens of thousands of gold dragons was also given to the Queen. Then Caraxes immediately set off, flying towards other castles in the Riverlands.
"Bracken, traitor!"
By the riverside mill, the army of House Blackwood, bearing the raventree banner and the Queen's quartered sigil banner, marched grandly into the lands of House Bracken. They burned farmlands and mills, drove away cattle and sheep, plundered every village, demolished every visible sept, and chopped up the wooden carvings of the Seven for firewood.
Lord Amos Bracken immediately gathered his army and likewise marched grandly toward the Blackwood border. They flew the red horse banner of House Bracken, and King Aegon's banner, the black banner with a golden dragon, which symbolized Sunfyre's dazzling golden scales and the King's unquestionable authority.
Just as Lord Amos Bracken was preparing to set up camp, the Blackwood cavalry "shamelessly" launched a surprise attack on the Bracken infantry, who had just arrived and were preparing to set up camp. Knights in plate and chainmail instantly tore through the Bracken crossbowmen and peasant infantry as if tearing a piece of paper. Free riders and light cavalry poured in through the gaps the knights had created, cutting down the Bracken soldiers and sending them sprawling. Flames engulfed the entire mill in the blink of an eye.
"Blackwood!" Lord Amos roared, ordering his knights and heavy infantry to hold the line, while he slowly pushed back with his main force. Fortunately, the Blackwood cavalry was busy pursuing the fleeing soldiers and did not reorganize to counter his attack, nor did the Blackwood infantry follow up.
A good opportunity!
Lord Amos Bracken immediately organized a knightly counterattack, and he himself sought out his old rival, Lord Samwell Blackwood. Even if he were turned to ash, Bracken would recognize him.
"Samwell, you shameless coward, traitor, come on!" Amos charged his warhorse towards Samwell, bringing his sword down, which Lord Samwell blocked with his own blade. "I return the same words to you, Bracken!"
The two lords fought on horseback, and soon both dismounted. Lord Amos Bracken drew the flanged mace from his waist and smashed it towards the Ravenswood lord's breastplate. Blackwood was not to be outdone, thrusting his longsword forward, and sword and mace clanged amid the flames.
The battle between the two lords lasted a long time, neither able to gain an advantage until Lord Samwell's sword missed, and Lord Amos seized the opening, smashing the mace into Blackwood's wrist. Lord Blackwood cried out in pain, and his longsword clattered from his hand.
How could Bracken let the injured Blackwood go? The mace rained down fiercely upon his old rival's breastplate, helmet, and abdomen, shattering armor in just a few blows.
Blood flowed everywhere, along with white brain matter and some unknown, turbid liquid.
Lord Blackwood's almost flattened body slowly fell to the ground. Just as Lord Bracken was about to raise his hammer in triumph, a long arrow, from an unknown source, pierced steadily and accurately into the gap in Lord Bracken's helmet.
These old enemies lay together like that, their blood and shattered remains intermingled, no longer distinguishable.
The black-haired maiden in leather armor lowered her longbow, coldly watching the chaotic battlefield. The Blackwood infantry, under her and Robb Rivers's leadership, finally arrived on the battlefield. Robb Rivers led the longbowmen in a volley of arrows toward the burning mill.
The Bracken army collapsed. Already low in morale due to losing their lord and being caught in a surprise attack, they had only managed to hold on through chaos and the cooperation of the Bracken knights and heavy infantry. Now, subjected to a rain of arrows, they disintegrated instantly. Only Relladon Rivers, Lord Amos Bracken's bastard brother, swam across the river with the remnants of his forces, retreating toward his castle.
But when Ser Relladon arrived at Stone Hedge, the sight before him almost made him fall from his horse. His nephew, Humphrey, was tied up and hung by the gate, the young boy already a tearful mess. The red horse banner on his castle had disappeared, replaced by the banners of House Piper, House Frey, House Ryger, and House Darry.
A continuous stretch of military camps spread out below the castle—along with a dragon.
Prince Daemon stared coldly at Ser Relladon, and Caraxes, beneath him, stretched his long neck forward, staring at Relladon Rivers with the same terrifying gaze. Several lords stood upon the walls, watching silently.
Lord Forrest Frey of the Twins was a handsome middle-aged man. Dressed in blue plate armor, he stood full of vigor. The young Lord Frey had boldly courted the Queen when she came to the Riverlands. Now, when Prince Daemon descended on his dragon, Lord Frey immediately raised the Queen's banner. He led 200 knights and 600 armored infantry to join Daemon's host. Furthermore, his warlike wife, Lady Sarra, would also gather about 2,000 peasant soldiers and mercenaries to fight for the Queen.
Lord Petyr Piper of Pinkmaiden also readily led 100 knights and 700 armored infantry on a forced march, while his grandson continued to gather a larger force in the rear. The elderly lord explained to Daemon and the other Riverlords the reason for their swift decision during the march:
"We swore an oath to her with our swords. Now I am old—some of them are dead, some are old—but I am not too old to forget my oath, nor are they so shameless as to die without telling their children and grandchildren the oath they must uphold."
The old lord continued,
"And now the sword is still in my hand. I have not forgotten—and neither has it."
In just a few days, as Daemon descended upon castle after castle, House Mooton of Maidenpool, House Mallister of Seagard, and House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest all raised the Queen's banner. The Riverlords gathered several thousand troops, and their numbers continued to grow.
Ser Relladon slowly dismounted, knelt, and raised his longsword.
"House Bracken is willing to pledge allegiance to the Queen, only asking that you spare my ignorant nephew."
Daemon smiled and accepted Relladon's surrender.
From then on, most of the Riverlands had turned black. The armies of the Riverlords began to march toward Harrenhal.
Above the sky.
Aemond lay somewhat dazed upon Vhagar's back; he had finally emerged from the fury of the previous day.
"What have I done?"
A chill surged instantly into the one-eyed prince's heart.
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