The sun rose as it always did, casting its light over the blue sea, the tawny sandstone, and the blood-stained mountain path.
After an unexpected counterattack the previous night, the Reach forces had reclaimed the ridge.
Along the narrow mountain path, barricades and trenches were hastily constructed overnight, awaiting the Dornish assault to come.
On the Dornish side, the loss of so many days of hard-won gains dealt a significant blow to morale. And with news that the Reach reinforcements had arrived, many Dornish soldiers were beginning to believe this pier might be an impregnable fortress.
Fortunately, Princess Arianne had recently gathered the upper ranks of her army to align their resolve and bind them by oath, leaving no room for retreat.
But even so, she knew that if something didn't change, morale would continue to plummet. And this pier might indeed become an invincible fortress.
Worse yet, time was not on their side. As the attacking force, their losses would only mount.
The Reach was wealthier than Dorne. If this turned into a prolonged war of attrition, Dorne would inevitably be worn down.
It had to be a swift victory.
Princess Arianne's gaze swept over the assembled knights before her, stopping on Ser Gerold Dayne of High Hermitage.
"Ser Gerold, you will lead the first assault today!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Gerold replied without hesitation, his voice loud and clear.
"Ser Ulwyck , you will lead the second wave."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Ser Perros, you will lead the third."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
...
After arranging the sequence of attacks, the knights prepared to leave when Arianne's voice caught them off guard with a startling command:
"Gentlemen, the attacks will proceed in this order, day and night without interruption, until the Reach forces are entirely driven from our land!"
"Day and night?" one knight blurted out in disbelief. "Your Highness, do you mean we will continue even at night?"
"Indeed!" Arianne's tone was as unyielding as Dorne's desert grit. "We will give the Reach no opportunity to catch their breath!"
"But..."
"This is my final decision!" Arianne interrupted sharply, her authority brooking no dissent. "Have you already forgotten the vows you swore?"
At that moment, Ser Gerold Dayne stepped forward and declared:
"I support Her Highness' decision!"
Following him, the knights of House Uller also called out:
"We support Her Highness' decision!"
Then came House Blackmont's knights...
With more and more knights rallying to her side, the few dissenters held their tongues, unwilling to object further.
"Excellent!" Arianne drew her blood-stained sword, issuing orders like a queen. "My knights, prove your valor with the blood of your enemies! Proclaim your glory with a resounding victory!"
"For Princess Arianne!" Ser Gerold Dayne drew his sword and roared, his voice raw with passion.
The others followed suit:
"For Princess Arianne!"
"For Princess Arianne!"
...
As the drums sounded, the Dornish launched yet another attack.
But this time, with the Reach forces bolstered by reinforcements and led by Lord Randyll Tarly, they responded with newfound composure.
The brutal clash continued from daybreak into twilight, but even after dark, the Dornish kept advancing, their torches blazing as they charged.
Standing behind the barricades, Samwell watched the advancing Dornish soldiers under torchlight, noting how they surged forward relentlessly. "The Dornish truly are mad."
"The dying beast fights fiercest," Lord Tarly remarked, unperturbed.
Samwell, however, was less confident than his father. Night battles were always fraught with unpredictability. He recalled how he'd almost lost his life to the first Thenn warrior during his initial battle at Eagle's Nest.
"The commander on their side is Arianne Martell, isn't it?" Randyll Tarly asked.
"Yes."
"So, that endlessly patient Doran Martell has a daughter like fire," Tarly mused with a faint smile. "The gods do love irony."
Samwell glanced at his father, sensing layers in his words.
"If no one stops that girl, this war is already lost for Dorne." Randyll's voice exuded absolute confidence.
"Father, the Dornish have us under constant pressure," Samwell countered, unconvinced. "Even if we gain more reinforcements, their numbers will still surpass ours."
"When has a larger army ever guaranteed victory?" Randyll Tarly scoffed.
Seeing Samwell's lingering doubt, Tarly added:
"She has abandoned Dorne's greatest strength and is fighting in a style that Dorne is least suited for. They're marching toward defeat."
With that, Lord Tarly turned and walked away.
Samwell pondered his father's words, finally understanding.
Indeed, direct frontal assaults were not the Dornish way.
Their true strength lay in guerrilla warfare.
Long ago, the Conqueror, Aegon Targaryen, had conquered six kingdoms with his dragons but failed to subdue Dorne. Was it because Dorne was too formidable to face dragonfire?
Of course not.
The dragons had scorched nearly every Dornish city, but the Dornish refused to engage directly. Instead, they hid in the vast deserts, mountains, and forests, launching ambushes and raids. After nine years of tenacious resistance, they finally forced House Targaryen to withdraw.
That was the true terror of the Dornish.
They were like venomous snakes of the desert, hidden and lethal, striking their enemies in their most vulnerable moments.
But now, under Arianne's leadership, they attacked like a pack of frenzied hounds.
Relaxing at last, Samwell followed his father back to the camp, finally able to rest.
...
In the days that followed, Dorne's unyielding attacks continued day and night, forcing the Reach forces to fall back from over a dozen defensive lines. The Dornish seemed closer to driving the Reach back into the Summer Sea with every inch gained.
Yet in these same days, more reinforcements for the Reach arrived.
House Florent, House Redwyne, House Mullendore, House Cuy... Samwell gazed at the harbor, nearly overflowing with ships, his heart filled with exhilaration.
This must be what they mean by the phrase, 'A righteous cause attracts many allies'
Caesar thought smugly to himself, pretending to ignore the fact that most of these reinforcements were actually his creditors.
With this new strength at their disposal, Samwell decided it was time to enact his "Raid on High Hermitage" plan.
The plan received the full support of the other House leaders, who mostly agreed because they trusted Lord Randyll Tarly's judgment and were eager to follow his lead.
In the end, it was decided that Lord Randyll Tarly and Samwell Caesar would lead the four thousand strongest men on this mission, while Alekyne Florent would command the remaining two thousand soldiers to defend the pier and draw the Dornish attention.
To ensure secrecy, the division took place under the cover of night.
And to keep the Dornish from noticing the sudden drop in numbers, Samwell even called for additional Wildling laborers from Eagle's Nest to fill the gaps.
Finally, on a dimly starlit night, with the Arbor fleet guarding them, the transport ships quietly left the pier, heading upriver along the Torrentine.
(End of Chapter)