Chapter 109: Act 2: Chapter 45

Fourteenth day, Eighth Moon, 260 AC (+2 days)

Ryden POV

I ran my sword over the whetstone, carefully applying pressure and the correct angle, and let the task consume my mind. Over and over again, seeking that perfect edge, flipping the blade over to ensure balance, I let the repetitive task comfort me as I waited for Arthur's first meeting with his new force to finish. No sense in waiting nervously.

My armor had returned from the blacksmith in much better condition, and I had already polished it back to some semblance of beauty, but it was clear that it had been through a lot. I chose not to dwell on what that meant.

My other weapons were back in shape; all that was left was my sword before I was ready for Tyrosh. I had already drilled with the men, getting the Rangers accustomed once more to formation-style fighting and getting the smallfolk into shape. The smallfolk volunteers had trained some in Redbridge and White Harbor, but I had really pushed them the past two days, specifically in formations and shooting under pressure. Father's focus on archery and his program to expand longbow shooting had paid off, with many volunteers being comfortable shooting the longbows, and those who were not were still somewhat proficient with bows in general.

I held the sword up to the sun and inspected it. The edge was nice and straight, sharp and without a curl, now it just needed a good polishing.

"Excuse me?" called out a voice.

I looked to see a brown-haired man standing a few meters from me. His surcoat and vaguely familiar face told me who he was. "Lord Cerwyn?"

The man grinned and extended his hand to me. "Auric Cerwyn," he confirmed, as we clasped hands.

He was the heir to Lord Cerwyn if I remembered my lessons correctly. "Well met, Auric Cerwyn."

"Well met indeed! I had realized just this morning that we have not yet had the chance to talk outside of formal occasions!"

"We have not," I confirmed. "Please, have a seat."

Auric settled onto a tree stump and looked around the little clearing we had made in the center of our tents. It wasn't much to look at, just a fire at the centre and a scattering of tree stumps as seats and some cooking equipment. But it was shielded from the road and gave some privacy, which was welcome in a war camp.

"I was sorry to hear of the death of your man Master Donovar, and the misfortune of that battle."

"My thanks, Auric. It weighs heavily on me, but there is little else to do than to continue on."

"Aye, my grandfather said the same after his brother had died back during Redbeard's attack."

"How have your battles fared so far?" I asked.

"Well enough, Ryden, well enough. Fighting a true battle is certainly better than hunting down stories of bandits or wildlings on my family's lands – most of which turn out to just be stories. Still, I eagerly look forward to returning home and enjoying some comforts once more."

I chuckled. "Aye, I can understand that. Still, it is nice to see more of the world."

Auric nodded eagerly. "Oh, aye! I hope that once this is all done, I can at least see Dorne! I hear their wenches are somethin' special! Maybe even Braavos too!"

"Both sound interesting, but I am married, so I cannot join you. Still, I am interested in trying some of these spices the Dornish use in their food. And to see what a desert is truly like."

"Ah, I'm not quite married myself – just betrothed you see. I can still get into a whole bunch of fun! There's talk all throughout the camp of making the eight! Some are cheating and using camp followers, but I intend to do it properly and visit each region!"

"What's 'making the eight'?" I asked.

"Oh!" exclaimed Auric, blushing. "It's ah… you know… having a wench from each Kingdom."

I nodded, amused at his reaction. Hopefully, he didn't think me devoid of all fun. "Sounds like an interesting challenge. Is there a similar one for hunting?"

Auric scratched his chin. "I don't know…" he said, trailing off. "It would certainly be interesting, hunting a unique animal to each kingdom! It must be a thing!" He laughed. "Truth be told, I was never one for much hunting – at least with large parties of men. A few good men going out for a week or two to live off the land can be good fun, but anything more than that I find becomes less about the hunt and more about the pageantry."

I laughed. "Aye, I am of similar mind – for all that the North laughs at the southerners and their pageantry, we certainly have our own."

He grinned. "I'm certain that says something about all of us, though I don't know what."

"Shall we agree that it says only the nicest of things?" I said, jokingly.

"Of course!"

"So, what do you like to do then?"

"I have always been fond of wrestling and horseback riding," he replied.

"Oh? Like races? Or just riding in general?"

"All of it," he said grinning. "A race is good for getting the heart going, but a nice ride into the countryside always reveals the beauty in my father's lands."

I nodded. "I agree; I have done a lot of riding over my father's lands as well – mostly as a part of the Rangers, but some for fun as well. I always think when I get to some remote area – 'how many people have stood where I stand?' Some of the areas, well away from anything, may not have ever seen a man before. It can be quite humbling."

"Some of the areas in my father's lands can be like that – hollows and valleys were there is little for people to do, so none have ever built a life there. But most of my family's lands are some of the premier farmland in the North, so people are in most places. Still, I can only imagine some of the areas along the Stoney Shore!"

I smiled. "Most of the coastal area has seen people at some point or another, but it's the interior that is truly remote – especially up in the mountains."

"I can imagine! The mountain clans further north of you have lived there for millennia, and still, there are places that man has never set foot before!"

"I have never been one for wanderlust, but coming across a truly remarkable spot helps me to understand those that are overcome with it."

"Aye, I love my home and have no wish to be gone for long, but it is remarkable seeing more of the world. My second cousin is one of those – overcome with wanderlust. He's been part of a ship's crew for near a decade now, sailing all over Westeros and Essos, but he resists all calls from his mother to come home and find a wife."

"Has far east has he gotten?"

Auric shrugged. "Don't know exactly, but I don't think any father that Volantis. Sailing around the Doom is dangerous, and so were the Stepstones before we got here! He mostly stayed close to Westeros if they traveled south. Otherwise, anything north of the Stepstones was open for him. I think he's made it as far as Lorath in the north, though he wants to one day sail to Saath."

"Saath?"

"The last city of the Kingdom of Sarnor – the rest was destroyed by the Dothraki."

"I've never heard of them before."

"I'm not surprised; I had to dig the information out from my maester when my cousin had written about it."

"I had always thought the Dothraki had destroyed everything east of Qohor."

"As had I, but my maester told me differently. There is also the Kingdom of Omber even further east, and a few other Kingdoms as well."

"Incredible!" I breathed. The world seemed so large all of a sudden. What else might be out there, just waiting for someone to discover!

"Aye, they have to pay most of what they have in tribute to the bloody savages, but I suppose it's better than being a slave yourself."

I shook my head. "It still amazes me how the Dothraki have managed to become so powerful."

Auric shrugged. "True enough, that kind of nonsense wouldn't work in Westeros, but the Essosi have never been that strong." He snorted. "See how they have crumbled so far?"

I grimaced. "For the most part," I said weakly.

He grimaced as well. "Ah, shit. My apologies."

I waved him off. "No, no. I understand. For the most part, they have proven unimpressive, but it's mostly been pirates so far."

"Some mercenaries too, but I see your point."

A somewhat awkward silence descended upon us, as I resisted the urge to fidget. He seemed like a good man, and I shouldn't let his outreach go unanswered, regardless of the pain from the last few moments.

"Say, do you have a horse here?"

"Aye," he replied, relieved that I restarted the conversation. "Back at my tent."

"What do you say to having a ride around the island for a bit? See if we can't find someplace remarkable."

Auric grinned. "I think we're going to be great friends."

Xxxx

Arthur POV

I carefully clenched and unclenched my fist as the men assembled in front of me on an empty field near camp. In the distance, I could see other men being drilling under various banners, as their commanders and lords took advantage of the time on a safe island to get their men into shape before the next battle.

I almost envied them – they had an easier task. My men weren't unskilled, but they were skilled in something other than what I needed them for. Many of them were knights, well versed in many weapons and skilled with horses, but they were more likely to charge with lances or run down a bandit on horseback with a mace. I had to stretch them into a new direction.

I cleared my throat and projected my voice as loudly as I could, and said, "Men! Knights! You have been chosen by Prince Duncan and Lord Baratheon to join a new group of men – a new group for a new war! Never before has a true Westerosi army descended upon the Disputed Lands, and now they shall know fear!"

A ragged cheer went up from the men. "As part of this, the Prince wants us to be his dagger! But not some knife in the dark! No! The shining example for all to follow! We will stop the Essosi supplies from reaching their armies! Cause chaos and mayhem in their lands, so that when our army finally marches them down, they are cowering like dogs!" Another cheer, stronger this time, sounded. "And dogs they are! Miserable, slaving dogs! To gain their wealth, they have used the backs of their fellows – even some of us! To that, we say no more! We shall relieve them of their gold and free their slaves while we are at it! We shall be the beacon that all slaves look to, as we follow the course of the old gods and the new!"

The men cheered again, and my heart soared. I could do this.

"You men are already skilled, so I'm not here to treat you as new recruits! Nay, we will go over some things to make sure that everyone knows them, but fear not! We will soon begin our work! Good deeds and riches await us!"

The final part got the loudest roar yet, for few could resist both riches and being a hero. "You are all dismissed for today! Tomorrow, we shall start early and finish quickly!"

As the men departed in good cheer, my two captains assigned by Prince Duncan and Lord Baratheon remained behind. "Shall we retire to the tent?" I asked.

The tent was a simple affair, more of a pavilion, that let us stay out of the sun of such a warm summer day – a pity, but today was a day for work, not play. A servant poured each of us some watered wine before I dismissed her, and I looked at my companions.

Ser Jacke Waters was a Massey bastard, who had been a companion of the Prince for many years, and was forty years old. He was a nondescript man of average height who had a constant look of polite detachment. Prince Duncan assured me that he was a skilled horseman and knight and was known for his cunning. Hopefully, he worked hard.

Ser Jamie Staedmon, on the other hand, was only a bit older than myself at 25 and had a sharp, hawkish nose made prominent by his short, brown hair. His House hailed from the Stormlands, on the border with the Reach, and were known for their horsemanship – though they did not always fit in the chivalric mold that the Reachers aspired to. Jamie was the only volunteer of the two, so hopefully, with his skill and enthusiasm, I could get this whole thing to work.

"Well met, Sers; I am to be your commander; my name is Arthur Ragnar."

"Ser Jamie Staedmon." "Ser Jacke Waters," they said, introducing themselves.

"Prince Duncan has told me a little bit about you already, so I am happy to have two skilled men such as yourselves with me for the coming fighting."

"Thank you," replied Ser Jacke. "Err, how should we address you? I am unfamiliar with Northern titles."

I smiled to put him at ease. "Ah, no trouble. A Master is somewhat similar to a landed knight, but for my House and the position we occupy, sometimes we are referred to as lords. But for our purposes here, you may refer to me as just Arthur, or Ser if it pleases you. I have been given Thanehood – the Northern version of knighthood - which has all of its members referred to as Ser."

Ser Jacke nodded. "Ah, thanks, Ser Arthur. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish."

"As do I," said Ser Jamie. "What is our overall strategy?"

"Firstly," I said, "We are going to split into three groups, each being headed by one of us. Actually, are you both aware of the rest of the army's plan?"

They both shook their heads. "Right, well Lord Baratheon is taking his part of the army to start to besiege Tyrosh, starting on Little Tyrosh – their second island. Meanwhile, Prince Duncan is to take the other half of the army to what the Essosi call the Remnant – essentially the big finger-like peninsula to the south of us. He will sweep inland from there and start to carve out a new state for us to ally with – a non-slaving one."

"Our goal is to assist with that and to help with the army efforts in a more general manner as well. We will be attacking supplies and other soft targets to make sure our enemies struggle to gather in force against our main army. To do this, we will be raiding caravans, farms, and smaller, less defended towns. Our attacks will be quick-hitting, so we will always be on the move – like ghosts. I want to be uncatchable. While we are doing that, we are killing every slaver we come across and free the slaves – spreading the message of anti-slavery and the creation of a new Essosi state. Follow me so far?"

Both men nodded. "Excellent! So, we will split into three groups and start to make our way inland, north of the Remnant, and start to hamper enemy movement in that area – though our location may change as information comes in about the exact locations of the enemy forces. Primarily, we will be sticking to areas with the highest chance of success and impact. These will be areas along trade routes, like rivers, and those that are far away from the traditional fighting lines. We will be aiming for big manors and soft targets."

"What will we be doing with loot?" asked Ser Jamie.

"Loot is tricky," I replied. "We have a few concerns, the biggest being what to do with it – for I have no quarrel with the men looting. We are a highly mobile force, Sers. That means we cannot be burdened down unnecessarily, but I have no wish to see none of us compensated for our efforts. Additionally, we are trying to foster to the goodwill of the people in the area, so stripping them of everything and leaving them to starve does nothing to help us achieve that."

"Is there any way to bring our loot back to the main army?" asked Ser Jacke.

I shook my head. "Unlikely, unless they are able to push quite far, we will be isolated, so we cannot count on bringing anything to them, or expecting any reinforcements."

"We will be cutoff then," concluded Ser Jacke.

"Aye, but with the countryside wide open, we have room to maneuver so we won't get trapped, but it will require some work. Ideally, I would eventually like to recruit a few locals to help us navigate, but for now, we will have to settle for detailed maps. If we become overburdened with loot, we also have the option of burying some of it for later."

"Locals would be a boon," said Ser Jamie. "But could we trust them to fight against their own fellows?"

I nodded. "We can, simply because the Essosi are not like us – unified. Furthermore, if we recruit ex-slaves, they will hold no love for their old masters and may be eager to help us."

"My biggest concern is that if we are isolated, why would we be splitting into three groups, Ser Arthur?"

"We will be splitting into three to cover as many soft targets as possible while remaining close enough to help each other. I want us to be in daily communication and coordinating our actions, as well as maintaining a good scout screen so that we do not get surprised."

Ser Jamie grimaced. "That level of coordination will be incredibly difficult, especially for the first time."

"I know," I replied. "I don't expect miracles, so as we start, we will be avoiding tougher targets and focus on very easy targets only and work on being mobile and preventing the enemy from knowing much about us. We will grow into the role," I said confidently.

Both men nodded firmly. Good. "Come, we have many details yet to sort out, and I want us to be ready for training the men tomorrow. We have a lot of work to do."

As Donovar always said, 'Preparation is the key to hard work.'