A/N: Hey guys,
Here's today's third chapter.
For every two new pàtreons, I will upload one more chapter the next day.
Thanks for your support.
You can read up to 25 advanced chapters on my pàtreon.
https://www.pàtreon.com/Gnanaa
Enjoy.
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After Edward left Ashara to rest and take care of the children, he went to the hall. He had a meeting with Bruce Caron. He had to discuss the exact plan with him before he left to follow Jon, who should attack Robert and the northern army at some point.
When Edward entered the hall, he found Bruce and his uncle, Heldon, waiting for him. Heldon was the Castellan of Storm's End at the moment, so he would, of course, attend this meeting. Cassana did not have the heart to participate in such meeting anymore.
"Sit." Said Edward to both men who stood to welcome him. He did not have that much time for formalities here.
After they all took their seat, Edward ordered the guard to prepare the map. He then turned to Bruce to ask about the detailed report about the mission regarding the royal fleet.
"Bruce, the exact details about your mission." Said Edward with a calm voice while drinking some wine from the cup. He looked at Bruce and hurried him up.
"As you instructed, my lord. After sending a squadron to help Lord Clinn, I took the rest of the fleets and divided them into two parts. The first group attacked Dragonstone while I took the rest to attack the rest of the fleet in King's Landing. We took them by surprise and managed to take over a hundred and thirty ships while sinking another twenty. The Targaryens could not fight us on the water anymore." Said Bruce in one long breath. He looked at Edward, waiting for his next question.
Bruce's admiration for Edward was on the level of the eight commanders under Edward, if not more. Edward had changed his life a lot, and he would sacrifice his life for Edward. The second son of Lord Caron turned into the admiral of Stormsland's fleets, even higher than his brother in Edward's eyes. It was all because of Edward's favor that he reached this point.
"What about our losses?" Asked Edward as he looked at Bruce's eyes. That was the most pressing question in his eyes.
"We lost only one ship while another two were a little damaged, but they are getting fixed right now." Said Bruce as he looked proud of his achievement. But Edward found it unnecessary losses. They attacked using the surprise's element, and the Royal Fleet should not have that much time to prepare. Plus, Edward's ships were more sturdy and fast than the royal fleet, so how could they lose a ship here.
"How many deaths?" Asked Edward as he looked a little uncomfortable. He could train soldiers with ease, but the marines needed special care. The sailors had to be trained as soldiers and learn how to use ships and fight on water.
"About twenty-four men, my lord." Said Bruce with some gloomy expression after seeing the look on Edward's face.
Edward nodded his head after hearing Bruce's reply. He still found the deaths of the sailors a little uncomfortable.
"What about Clinn's side?" Asked Edward as he looked at the soldiers who had just entered with a map in his hand.
"Lord Clinn managed to take Stonedance and Sharp Point after ten days of arriving. He performed miraculously and did not lose many soldiers. The Targaryen sent a three-thousand men army through the land and another twenty ships from the bay to take them back, but Ser Clinn managed to defeat them all without many casualties. After we took the royal fleet, the Targaryen stopped attacking the two towns." Explained Bruce with admiration in his eyes. He had figured the reason why Jon Clinn was the closest and favored man under Edward. He indeed deserved it with his talent and hard work.
Edward nodded his head. He expected no less from Clinn. He turned his eyes to Heldon to tell him what to do.
"Send a letter to Clinn and tell him to return to the bronze gate, then travel to Tumbleton and leave only four thousand men under one of his men to hold the two towns." Said Edward with a smile. It was time for Clinn to have some more action.
"Aye." Said Heldon as he signaled the guard to bring the paper and ink to write to Clinn.
"As for you, Bruce. If Dorne supported the crown and sent an army, I want you to wait till they leave Dorn before attacking Wyl. Use the tactic 'Poisonless' that we have practiced. I will send Stannis to take down Kingsgrave as well." Said Edward as he pointed at the two castles on the map.
Getting a nod from Bruce, Edward turned to Heldon to tell him his last command.
"In two days, A Targaryen girl would reach Storm's End. I want you to take her secretly without anyone knowing and hide her in Ashara's room, am I clear?" Said Edward with a threatening look as he looked at Heldon. He would not accept any mistake in his plans, even from his uncle. Rhaenys was a critical chess piece in his overall plan.
Heldon nodded his head with a serious expression after seeing Edward's look. He had to perform this mission without mistake and make sure that he would not screw things up.
"It is time for me to go. Send a message to Stannis, Benjamin, Robin, Brown, and Flip to only leave two thousand men in the towns and send someone to take over. Tell them to meet me in Tumbleton. We are marching North." Said Edward as he looked at Heldon. It was finally time to end this war. He did not want to waste much time. He already took two of the three pieces of land that he wanted. The third one would depend on Dorne's choice.
After that, Edward took his men and left Storm's End, heading to Helltown. From there, he would travel to Tumbleton. After all the men reach the place, he would march North and make a pincer attack against Jon.
Meanwhile, Jon, who was having it hard those days, had just managed to gather another ten thousand men from Crownland and prepared to attack Riverland before they could complete the marriage ceremonies between the three houses. That was his only way to redeem himself.
After taking Aerys's permission, he marched with the ten thousand men north after warning the small council about Edward's possible attack on King's Landing. After Edward's little farce of sending a thousand horseriders to play with the hearts of the people in King's Landing, everyone did not take him seriously. They thought that he was immersed in attacking The Reach that he did not have time to attack King's Landing.
At Riverrun, Robert had already made his way to the castle. It had been a long way. He had left his brother mote than a month ago and made his way to this place. It took him all this time because he got stopped many times on the roads by the Taragaryen's patrol soldiers. He had to hide and take turns from time to time till he reached Riverrun.
When he reached Riverrun, he was greeted by everyone, especially the old fox, Hoster Tully. After Robert told them Edward's plans of sending him here, Jon and the rest nodded their heads. They knew that Edward attracted much attention down south to help them move with the plans, so they had to take this chance.