(1,200 words)
- General POV -
- Gulltown - The Vale - Westeros - 282 A.D. -
"Be calm my knights... The traitors will not be able to cross our walls!" a man with dirty blond hair, porous and unkempt skin, along with broad shoulders and thick arms shouted to his soldiers. It was Gerold Grafton, Lord of House Grafton and Lord of Gulltown.
He was a vassal of House Arryn of The Vale. But he was more a vassal of The Crown, as he used his city to shelter all House Targaryen loyalists. Resisting against Arryn and preventing Robert from getting his army.
"My lord... The men of the incoming fleet are coming," one of his trusted men said to Lord Gerold, and he frowned as he watched the incoming forces.
"The archers?" he asked.
"They don't have many shells left, and most of them are exhausted. They've been repulsing Lord Ar... for some time now... forces. I mean, Jon Arryn's."
"I understand..." replied Grafton. "Then send the men to the ramparts simply. To stop whatever siege tools they're carrying, even though they don't have anything heavy. That sort of thing can't be carried on ships. At most ladders."
"Understood my lord. I will deliver your orders" replied the soldier.
On the other side of the wall, were the armies of 20,000 mercenaries from different companies hired by Percival.
He hired many smaller companies, with only Second Sons as a larger one, in order to have some companies exterminated. So that he would not have to pay them anything. But the contract was for one year, so at this point he was still taking care of his hired soldiers.
"What are we doing? We have no way in" said a random mercenary.
"Easy Firo" replied another mercenary. "The leader told us that whoever hired us has a...:" said another mercenary, but he didn't finish explaining when a huge explosion was heard all over the battlefield, to be followed by the wall being blown into a thousand pieces.
"What was that!" shouted Grafton shocked to see his "impenetrable" wall explode and collapse. "Good grief" he muttered as he now saw thousands of men rushing in with swords in their hands and bloodthirsty grins running inside the city as they cut down everything in sight. He was mesmerized as he watched his city being sacked and burned.... With horror in his eyes.
"My lord!" shouted one of the men snapping him out of his stupor.
"Yes..." he muttered. "All men! Defend your home!" he shouted again. But all the soldiers had low morale. A few minutes ago their Lord had told them it was a safe place, and the next instant they were being overrun.
That they were facing 20,000 soldiers being 3,500 didn't help either. So when they found themselves surrounded by enemy forces, more than 2,000 men raised their hands in surrender.
And just as they were told by their contractor, Percival, who made a deal with Robert that he could take the soldiers as prisoners captured by his men. They all heeded him.
In the future they would be brainwashed and become part of Percival Bolton's armies. Accompanying him in his future conquests.
"What was that..." commented Jon Arryn as he watched in shock at the explosion in the castle as well with the ease with which Percival's army took control of the city. He had heard of his prisoner dealings with Robert, and obviously did not agree with his decision. But there was nothing he could do about Robert's stubbornness. Although these men belonged to The Vale, so it should be his decision. But the last thing they needed right now was to divide and fight over trifles.
"That's unbelievable. I don't know what kind of weapon did that, but it would be able to take down any wall and fortress" Robert said, though he was frowning as his eyes show caution.
Such a weapon was too dangerous.... And Robert didn't like someone like Percival having something like that in his hands. It was even worse than the Valyrian Fire. Maybe not as lethal, due to the fire spreading and destroying everything, but much more effective.
"He's getting more and more dangerous, that kid.... You shouldn't have been so easy with his dealings Robert" Jon Arryn said to Robert, who responded with a snort. But there was nothing he could really do.
Not respecting his promises could land him in big trouble with Percival Bolton, that much was clear to Robert. And he could not afford to fight a war right after the rebellion. He was sure of his victory, but he wanted to give his all against the dragons. Without having to worry about anything in the future.
- Percival Bolton POV -
"The city is ready my Lord" Davos said to me next to me, while the leaders of the different mercenary groups were talking among themselves with smiles on their faces.
I hadn't lost any men, and they hadn't lost more than 100, so it was quite profitable. What I paid, which wasn't a lot either, was quite profitable.
I mean... What I am going to pay is the profit of a month or less. And that's taking into account that there is at least one man from each company as a survivor. But I'll see to it that most of them die.
"That's good. What are the profits?" I asked.
"It was 2,000 soldiers approximately. And the wealth looted was decent."
"The mercenaries looted?" I asked, and he grimaced.
"Not money... But..." he said to me uncomfortably.
"But what?" I asked with my cold eyes searching for an answer. Davos was as loyal as Qyburn. But the difference between the two was the moral compass the navigator had. Something Qyburn lacked.
"But yes... They killed civilians and raped women," he told me, and I narrowed my eyes.
"Putting in clauses to prevent that sort of thing required more money," I told him, and he frowned a little.
"But..."
"No Davos... If they commit those crimes, sins will fall on them. I'm not going to force them to do anything. They have their mission and they must fulfill it. That is not part of the mission but it doesn't contradict it either" I told him, and he nodded reluctantly.
"I understand my Lord... Shall I prepare the ships for the prisoners?" he asked.
"Yes, take them in 30 ships. The voyage shouldn't take more than two weeks. And I doubt we'll need those men before then. Four thousand should be enough to control the 2,000. But make sure they're all in chains and without food. The weaker the better. Only one meal every five days before we get to Pentos, where they will be.... Treated" I replied.
"Your wish is my command."
When Davos turned away to deliver my orders, I brought a wounded and furious Gerold Grafton before Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn.
"It was a good job" said Jon.
"I did my best" I replied.
"So..." added Robert. "I'll take some ships to Stormlands, to gather my minions and face the Tyrells" he said. "What will you do, come with me or stay in the Vale?" asked Robert.
"I think it best to stay in The Vale with Lord Arryn, and so march alongside the Stark armies. I am a Bolton after all, it is only natural," I commented, receiving nods