Chapter 21: Chapter 18
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Berrick Dondarrion.
The sun had risen and once again Berrick needed to lead his army under the walls of Sorrowful. They were about two days' journey from this town. He was leading two and a half thousand men, among them many knights, simple militiamen who had picked up battle scythes and shields for the first time in their lives, not to mention swords, and mercenaries of all sorts. Lord Swann had advised him to recruit more archers and had singled out all of his own. Lord Stone Helm's eldest son was away on Wrath's Cape, and Lord Swann himself cannot leave the castle because of ill health, and he could not ignore the late request of his immediate suzerain Renly Baratheon. Though at first he thought not to gather his men, for as he knew almost all the lords of the Angry Cape were going to unite and attack Sorrowful. And Berrik Dondarrion himself did not believe that an unknown young lord, a former bastard of Walder Frey, who had miraculously got a tasty piece of the pie in the Stormlands, would be able to oppose the assembled army.
Now Berrick realised that they were all facing a dangerous beast and it was not a lordling, but a lord who had decided to defend his rights to the last. Berrick understood him and even sympathised with him, but there was nothing he could do. As he himself would not give up what was his. Blackheart was something sympathetic to him, and now he even respected him and sincerely regretted that they would have to face each other in battle, not in a knight's ring or at the same table. But it couldn't be helped...
A few hours later they were on their way, around a little after lunchtime he received a report from scouts that they had spotted an army standing under banners of a white lion on a red field. It was Blackheart's forces.
Lord Lightning gave the necessary instructions to his subordinates, and they were already preparing themselves mentally for a clash.
They came to an area that was represented by a wide field that was bounded on the flanks by a river and a small forest.
Berrick lined up his troops in the traditional manner. There was cavalry on the flanks, light cavalry in front and heavy cavalry behind - knights. The first line was infantry in a mixed type of infantry and mercenary infantry, and storm infantry, and simple militia. This was dictated by the need for a wide front, as well as his opponent's. In front of the infantry, he built archers and a small number of crossbowmen. Behind the infantry were the separate personal guards of the minor knight houses, lords and Berrik's own guard.
Blackheart lined up his troops atypically to the Westerosi eye: his infantry and even his archers and crossbowmen stood in "squares" interspersed with each other, in an order that reminded him of a kaiwassa board. The cavalry was behind the infantry, and as Berrik thought, it would be difficult for them to engage quickly. And he didn't have much cavalry either. A few knights and apparently hired light cavalrymen from Dorne.
Berrik's squire, the young nephew of his fiancée Lady Dane had expressed the shortsightedness of their opponent. But Berrik stopped him, and said that perhaps it was dictated by something. Dondarrion did not want to underestimate the young Lord of Wrathful Cape, others had done so and had already paid for it.
Before the battle, Berrik and his troops heard the all-too-familiar shouting for their places:
One, two, Blackheart is coming your way,
Three, four, he's got his knives out,
Five, six, keep your eyes open,
♪ Seven, eight, don't mess with him ♪
Nine, ten, he's coming for you.
Eleven, twelve, run faster!
Thirteen, who didn't hide, it's not his fault....
The battle began with a skirmish between crossbowmen and archers.
However, the advantage was on Blackheart's side, as he had many crossbowmen from Myr, who had a much longer range, as well as killing power. At the same time, they were covered by rectangular shields and were firing from behind them. At some point Berrick realised that he would lose his riflemen this way and ordered them to retreat to the rear.
Berrik's infantrymen moved forward on his orders, covering his riflemen and their arrows began to reach the ranks of Blackheart's forces, they relatively quickly passed the distance between the armies and engaged in close combat. By this time Blackheart's army had rearranged itself and was no longer in the same "kaiwass" order, the archers and crossbowmen had retreated to the rear and his infantry had formed a solid line of defence, using unprecedented manoeuvrability and a technique called "turtle", they formed a tight formation and covered themselves with their shields. At the same time stinging the enemy with their weapons like bees.
But there was not yet a solid front line of fighting. The light infantry of Berrik's mercenaries had not yet reached Blackheart's flank. And the knights had only advanced to the other flank, which was near the forest.
After a little thought, Berrik gave a sudden order that the light infantry that was advancing on Blackheart's flank to withdraw, and then ordered the light cavalry to attack the area that was to be attacked. Lord Berrick saw that the infantry, especially the light infantry just froze in place, so it was better to use the light cavalry.
Only he gave the order to do so and the light cavalry advanced into the battle. He noticed that the heavy knight cavalry was somehow also standing still like this. Moreover, it slowly began to retreat backwards.
The reason for this was the surprise that Blackheart's infantrymen used - the long green-coloured spades that were on the ground and didn't rise from the ground until the decisive moment. At the same time, behind the light infantry that Berrik Dondarrion's knights met with, there were a number of Myrian crossbowmen lined up behind the light infantry that were raised by the legs of the simple militiamen so that they could have a better view and time to aim at the knights. The crossbowmen towered above the infantry and could now shoot the enemy unimpeded. The situation was the same, but on a smaller scale in infantry clashes, only there only archers and storm lords' militia were shot off for some reason.
At some point the commander of the knights' cavalry realised that it was necessary to retreat and regroup, but as soon as he gave this command, about three hundred Dornish horsemen came out from the forest, and at the junction of the lords' militia and the knights' cavalry Blackheart's infantrymen suddenly made a sharp leap forward. And went on the offensive.
The knights' cavalry was in a vise and could not leave their section of the battle. Moreover, the Storm Lords' militia began to slowly but steadily retreat. At the same time, Blackheart's entire cavalry under his personal command hissed towards his left flank. And on the right, a battle had already begun between the new lord's infantry and light cavalry. In doing so, they were the only ones of the Storm Lords' troops to gain an outright upper hand over the enemy, and move them backwards in position. Blackheart's infantry moved slowly but backwards under the steady onslaught of the light cavalry.
- Riflemen and one line of infantry remain in these positions, the rest on the right flank! - Berrick gave a new command and already personally led a new offensive with all the forces at hand.
Next to him rode his squire Edric Dane, it was he who for some reason looked back
first and exclaimed:
- We are under attack!
Berrik turned his head back for a moment in the same way. And he saw that the archers and the few infantry were being massacred by a squad under the banners of the Raven-Briars. And next to them, two or maybe three hundred more of what looked like light riders under the banners of the Wind Chasers were already marching to their rear.
Berrick had miscalculated!
Only now did he realise that all Blackheart's actions were just moves, like in kaiwassa, to trap his troops. The right flank of the battle is already completely victorious for Blackheart. The knights surrender en masse.
The centre is closing in and forcing his infantry to retreat. And the left flank is caught in a cauldron and is now even partially thrown into the water, but it is not surrendering. One of Berrick's most loyal vassals was there and he will hold his sword to the last drop of blood. But there they also lost.
He's not strong enough to fend off both sides of the heavy and light cavalry at once. And it wasn't the entire force now engaged in battle, a third of Damian Blackheart's infantry. He could continue the fight, even win, hoping for luck, and the bravery of his loyal men. But it would have cost a lot. He didn't want unnecessary bloodshed. If Renly had been the king's brother ten times over, he wasn't going to simply waste so many human lives. And Blackheart could send many innocent sons, husbands and fathers of the men of the Stormlands to the other world.
The choice was swift.
He ordered his men to halt. And himself rode forward alone.
Blackheart also halted his mounted troop and rode out to meet Dondarrion. Shining his red and white armour with a white lion on his chest. He removed his helmet and flipped his overgrown dreadlocked hair back. Lord Berrik realised that perhaps Blackheart was nicknamed demon by the commoners because of his predatory scarlet like blood eyes.
- Lord Blackheart. You have defeated me. I see no reason to continue this fight. You will win in the end, but the cost to both of us will be high. Will you accept my surrender? - and handed him his sword.
Blackheart smiled slightly and nodded.
- At last I see someone intelligent among the Storm Lords. They are few and far between. Yes, I do, and I don't want any more blood from my neighbours. - He gave a hand signal to one of the black masked riders with the same scarlet eyes as his own, and he pulled a pair of red flags from a pouch at his side and rode off to the side, signalling something.
Berrick also sent off a few of his riders with orders to the rest of his commanders who were ahead and fighting to lay down their weapons and surrender.
Soon the battle was over.
Damian Blackheart was victorious.
Lord Berrick Dondarrion stood beside Damian Blackheart and oversaw the removal of the corpses, the treatment of the wounded, and the surrender of weapons. Blackheart behaved quite decently and even chivalrously towards the prisoners. He said little, did more and observed.
Towards evening they set up camp to rest and move out in the morning.
Dondarrion did not have the necessary sum to ransom himself and his men, and much had gone into preparations and hiring. But Blackheart took Berrik at his word that he would pay the ransom, which was standard and not excessive, unlike other lords he already knew. It also added a little plus to Blackheart's favour in Dondarrion's eyes.
In the morning, when the camp was fully awake and Berrick and Damian were having a leisurely conversation, and their squires were talking amongst themselves and finding common ground, a duty officer flew into Blackheart's tent to report that TWO White Cloaks had arrived in the camp.
Blackheart grimaced for a moment, his jowls flaring. But he gave the command to escort the two royal guards and set the table.
Soon after, two individuals well known to Lord Lightning walked in, they were the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Baristan Selmy, and the Kingslayer, Ser Jaime Lannister.
- Lord Blackheart, Lord Dondarrion, we are glad to have caught you alive and unharmed.
- Alas, the same cannot be said for our dead and maimed men. - Dondarrion replied with a nod.
- But nevertheless we are glad to welcome you. - Blackheart smiled cheerfully, though a moment ago he had been visibly unhappy to see them. - What brings you here? Your duties seem to consist of guarding members of the royal family? Or have I missed something?
- As well as serving the king and carrying out his orders. - replied in the same manner as the Kingslayer. - And we are here on his orders. Ser Merrin Trant was also with us, but he went to Lord Swann and Morrigen on a similar mission. The King orders everyone to preserve the King's Peace and to bring all the lords and your men who attacked Lord Renly's tax collector to the capital to deal with the situation.
- Is that so? - Lord Blackheart tilted his head to the side. - Why didn't our king order it right away? I had sent him a raven with news of everything from the beginning, even before the first battle.
- New facts have come to light, Lord Blackheart. - Selmy has spoken. - And they contradict both each other and your words. The Lord Hand has offered to summon all those involved in the conflict to the capital for trial, and he wants you to keep the peace in the lands of the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Renly has also sent word to his Captain of the Guard, Ser Loras, and to his vassals to keep them from fighting.
At these words it dawned on Dondarrion that if there was such a message, he felt embarrassed. Even if it was late after the capture of the three Storm Lords' strongholds, Lord Swann should have received it and informed the others, or Lord Morrigen, but they had not said a word, nor had he received any message other than to help the Lords of Wrathful Cape in their "punitive force".
- Sires," Berrik spoke. - I assure you that I have received no such message, and neither Lord Swann nor Lord Morrigen have said a word to me about receiving such a message. Are you sure it was sent?
This time everyone thought for a moment. Then the old knight took the floor again.
- I have known Lord Swann for a long time, and I can say with certainty that if he had received such a message, he would certainly not go against the will of his suzerain, and certainly not against the king. Nor does he like to rush headlong into battle. Although he's done it in the past, but only when he was young. He's a very reasonable man.
- Misty Forest, Rain House, and Jade are actually in my hands right now, if there was a message like this coming in, I would know. Even here. After all, I have a maester's apprentice with me who has a few ravens with him. And yesterday I received a message from Sorrowful, telling me of the arrival of five hundred more mercenaries. But no word of any message from Lord Renly.
- Quite an interesting situation. - Lannister grinned. - We and you now know of a message from Lord Renly addressed to the lords of Angry Cape that no one but Lord Renly seems to have seen. It's an unpleasant situation.
Ser Barristan, Berrik, and even Damian Blackheart are already frowning here.
- Then we have no choice but to obey the king's will and sort things out on the spot. I think it would be quicker to reach King's Landing by sea. I suggest you sires visit Mourningtown and from there we'll go to court.
- I will lead my men and those of my allies to Stone Helm and from there I will go straight to King's Landing. - said Berrik Dondarrion.
- I don't think that's a problem. And we, in turn, can pass on the King's orders to report to the capital to Lady Mary, Ser Loras, Lord Wylde and Lord Estermont. - concluded Baristan Selmy.
Teena Sand.
Teena was a rather inquisitive person. Not in terms of science, no. Her younger sister Sarella, who had been away in Staromestes for a year and a half now, disguised as a young boy and learning all sorts of wisdom, took precedence here. No! Her abilities lay in another sphere and her interests likewise. Therefore the interest she showed was of a very different kind. It was mainly an interest in people. Very often in men. She was certainly not her sister Nymeria, who was very voluptuous and liked to drag both men and women into her bed, no, she was interested in individuals
So it was this time that curiosity took hold of her during her older sister Obara's offer to go with her to the Sorrowful. In her sister's squad, the elderly man who had been their squad's scorekeeper had recently died and a new younger, more educated and reliable man was needed. Teena could in principle and soon decline if need be. If she got bored, she would "get off the hook" as usual. But this time she didn't want to let her sister down, she wanted to help her, and she was bored with the Sun Spear, so she decided to change her surroundings.
Moreover, she was interested in the fact that the customer was a certain Damian Blackheart, the Lord of Sorrowful Town. Her best friend and cousin Arianna had already told her about him a few days ago. A young knight that was, until recently, seemingly a mere bastard of Walder Frey, that served as the commander of one of the squads, which had previously been a mercenary unit, that ploughed the expanse of the Seven Kingdoms. And on one lucky occasion, he saved the little princess Myrcella Baratheon. Then he got on Robert Baratheon's good side and he granted him lands and made him his vassal. And as soon as he took possession, he managed to get in the way of Renly, the king's younger brother. Arianna marvelled at this lord's bold, even somewhat reckless act of standing alone against an army many times his size and defeating it. Moreover, he had taken three fortresses in a short time and added to his treasury. And as Herold Dane was told by his old friend who brought the news that Blackheart needed Dornish mercenaries, Lari the Short-Handed, he has reaped a bountiful harvest from the blood of his enemies and the treasure of the Storm Lords. And he has no intention of stopping there.
Tiena agreed to her sister's suggestion and soon they were following Nymeria and Herold, who were also leading their men into the Sorrowful.
When she saw Blackheart for the first time, it took her breath away. Not so much from the fact that he was handsome, but because she felt that beastly stare that pierced through her entire body when they met eyes. Teena tried to pull herself together, but the sight of a heated Blackheart who had just returned from the battlefield and his squinting gaze made her heart flutter with fear and somehow excitement.
But soon, Damian Blackheart lost interest in Tiena and switched to all three commanders of the mercenary squads and negotiated with them about the terms of the contract, although everything was agreed, that sire Lari Short-handed, but for decency these four also sat in Blackheart's office, and Tiena went to deal with the affairs of the squad.
Then came the turn of the new battle. Tiena stayed in Sorrowful, as did Nymeria's squad and one hundred of Obara's copiers, to guard Sorrowful from any trouble. Blackheart did the right thing in protecting his fiefdom just in case. The Dornish are good warriors, and honour their word.
Six days after his army left for battle they returned again with spoils, prisoners and glory.
He was victorious again, and over the experienced commander who had fought with King Robert in the famous rebellion. Both Obara and Herold Dane spoke favourably of his talent and warrior skills. Obara lost to him when they crossed their spear and sword with him. In contrast to her, Ser Herold had a better record with the results of friendly sparring, once he won, once he lost, and once they came to a draw. So it's hard to say who is more skilful and dangerous. And Tiena had not seen these fights. She only heard about it from the participants.
With Blackheart came two more White Cloaks, who with him and some other captured lords and knights were on their way to King's Landing to deal with the situation. But that didn't stop them from throwing a feast to celebrate the victory, where the captives were also present. Though not all of them were in great spirits.
Somewhere around midnight Tiena got tired of the spirit of alcohol and sweaty bodies after dancing in the donjon, and went outside, noticing that some of the others were also scattered either outside or inside on their own. Even Nymeria, embraced by a northern woman who was surrounded by Blackheart, had retired to her room for a hot night of very pleasant company.
She had no desire to go to bed with anyone. Not because there were no suitable candidates, but because she had no desire.
Walking through the small garden in the fresh air, Tiena was thinking about something of her own, when suddenly she heard hot moans and the noise of clothes.
After walking a few metres, she stepped out from behind a large bush, and immediately skirted back.
Cautiously crouching down and sticking out her blonde head, she watched two already sweaty and hot bodies intertwine with each other, giving pleasure and pleasure. Was there any caressing involved? Hardly!
Tiena recognised her sister at once, that she was hovering over her lover and knew that she does not like gentle caresses, she likes to conquer, and "ride around" her stallions, be it horse or man. She is a strong nature and doesn't like romantic nonsense unlike her other sisters.
They were in the 69 position. She was actively swallowing his cock and he in turn was caressing her womb with his tongue.
They were both naked and their clothes were scattered around.
Teena smiled wickedly and continued to peek. Along the way she slipped her hand under the hem of her dress and the other into the neckline on her chest and fondled her breasts. She liked the picture she was seeing.
Soon the lovers rose sharply, or rather Obara's lover threw her off her and put her on all fours, entered sharply and began to blow her roughly and sharply, making her moan and growl wildly.
Teena recognised her lover as Damian Blackheart. Now, she was even more interested in watching it all.
Blackheart was like a beast with no pity and no care for his partner, fucking her like a bitch while letting out a beastly growl. Soon he discharged his seed into the gut of her older sister. But that was not the end of it, he got to his feet, he put Obara on his knees, she had not yet recovered from the orgasm and opened her mouth, into which immediately flew a cock that had not yet had time to fall off, very decent in Tiena's opinion.
She obediently took it in and worked with her mouth.
The blonde was surprised at such obedience on her part. She had never liked to obey, had always been willful even in bed. And here she acted like a simple girl, who decided to fuck in all the slits, and she was glad.
Soon Tiena's judgement was justified, and he turned Obara's back to him again and entered her sharply. The third oldest snake saw Obara's eyes widen from the penetration of the "wrong place", and how she opened and closed her mouth in pain and indignation. But for a long time Blackheart did not stand still, but clawed at her arse with his fingers, leaving red stains on her swarthy skin, and did not let her break free. You could read the smugness and pride on his face now for putting her in this position and taking advantage of her.
Tiena was bursting with feelings from the inside out. It wasn't just excitement, but surprise, interest, and also a desire to teach him a lesson somehow for using her so rudely, even if it was Obara's will. But while she wasn't thinking hard about her plans for 'revenge', her mind and hands were busy with other things.
Soon he discharged again, straight into her without taking his cock out. And then he bit Obara's shoulder until it bled, leaving his peculiar mark on her.
He pulled away from her rather abruptly after that and started to get dressed.
- I take it you haven't had your arse kicked yet, Lady Obara?! - Blackheart asked with a smile. - Was I the first to pluck that "flower"?
- R-r-r. I'll kill you! - growled Obara and got up despite the pain in her arse.
- I mean the first. - Damian nodded to himself and looked up at the sky. - That's good to know.
- Aren't you afraid I'll rip your arse off for this? - Obara asked, and without getting dressed she went to her things and took out a knife, then quickly walked over to him and put the blade to his groin. - I know how to use it.
Damian wasn't afraid, Tiena clearly understood that, he only smiled and flashed his scarlet eyes.
- Afraid? Is there any point in being afraid of something that doesn't depend on us? No! Is there any point in being afraid of anything in life at all? If there is something that we do not want and avoid, then it must be done skilfully, I mean avoided, or not done. If there is something that does not depend on us, we do not like, but it is bound to happen, then it should be accepted. There is no point in being afraid of the unknown. I'm not saying I'm not afraid of anything, I'm still a human being, whatever they say about me. But if you want to "punish" me, why do you hesitate?
- You think I won't do it? - she asked defiantly.
- You might as well do it. - agreed Blackheart. - But the problem is, you're a man of words and deeds. If you're going to do something, you're going to do it. But now the question is, why don't you do it if you've already decided to do it?! And I can more than see that you've already decided to cut off my precious flesh, but you're not doing it. It makes you wonder, my sweet Obara. - And Tiena saw that Blackheart kissed Obara, while holding her close with one hand and grasping the back of her head with the other.
But what struck her most was not Blackheart's lack of sense of self-preservation, but how pliable Obara became and how she pressed her body against him, a lone moan being heard against the brunet's lips.
- See, I think I'm on the right track. - he grinned as he broke the kiss. - My theory is confirmed every time. Man is essentially, if you put aside reason, just an animal, with a set of desires and instincts. We all have that nature and it's foolish to deny it. And your desires, Obara, lie on the plane that you wish to use against others - control and power!
Obara was silent and Tiena listened intently.
- You are proud, willful and strong, just as your father taught you to be, but despite all your qualities, you are still a woman. It's not a vice or a disadvantage, it's just a fact that you can't get away from. And that fact is that among all your lovers you look for someone you can submit to. It's like you said: "There isn't a stallion in Dorne I can't ride, or a man...". But the truth is, time after time, you wish, not consciously, to be taken advantage of as you take advantage of men. To be conquered by them, to be so fucked that you don't have a chance to move on your own. You want to fall into the hands of someone who will own you. Because your deepest desire is to find a man as strong, handsome, brave, strong-willed, brave, intelligent and powerful as your father. - At these words, Obara twitched. - You guessed it! - Damian grinned contentedly.
- You're just talking drunken and self-righteous nonsense. - Sand said.
- Am I? Ata-ta. Don't say such platitudes, you can do better than that. Besides, you value honesty in people, and you're trying to lie to yourself. And me. No matter how many lies you tell, I've told you the truth that you're hiding in the depths of your heart. You're like an open book to me.
- You're just a man who fucked me.
- Just? No, no, no, no. I fucked you. And I fucked you like a bitch, without asking your opinion or your wishes. And you could have stopped it. But as soon as I entered your arse, you moaned and whimpered, not really trying to get out. No, no, no, you wanted it. And I gave it to you on a platter. Stop talking like it never happened. Just admit that you want it to happen again. You found me! Someone you want, someone who will treat you like a thing. And I will! - Damian assured her and leaned closer to her face. - You'll be like a whore in bed for me, I guarantee it. You will fulfil my every wish. And in battle, you will fight for me as your lord. It's a formal offer. I've acquired a lot of land, and I need vassals. So it'll be convenient if I don't have to go to Dorne to get you when I get the chance.
- You--you--you--
- I-I-I-I-I-I!" Blackheart nodded smugly. - You'll pick up the metaphors later. It's not important right now. What's important is that I'm done with you for the day. So get that knife away from my cock before I whip you for bad behaviour. Or do you want that right now? I thought your arse was sore enough as it is.
There was a sepulchral silence for a few minutes, with Obara's face frozen like stone. Teena resented the red-eyed bastard's insolent behaviour, but nevertheless stayed out of the way and watched with interest, while Blackheart smirked and waited for Sande's reaction.
Obara put the knife away and even threw it on the ground.
- Good girl. I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon with the others for King's Landing. You're coming with me. You'll take two dozen of your best men with you. The rest of you stay on Cape Wrath, I'm extending their contract beyond this six months, another six months. I think I'll need them, my gut says so. And my gut has never deceived me.
Tiena had mixed feelings. Only Obara was in more mixed feelings, who, after Blackheart left, dressed and left just like that. And Tiena Sand was still sitting behind that bush and staring at the sky thinking about what had just happened and what strange feeling had settled in her after what she had heard?
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