章 18: The North remembers
I was now standing in front of my men in the docks of our port. The peasants watched us worriedly as we prepared for the battle to come.
Dressed in my leather armor, my two short swords as I am too young for normal ones strapped on each side of my hips and my shield with our house coat of arms on my back.
My two wolves and sworn shields behind me waiting for my command.
I looked at Loki and Laika "You're staying with mother, guard her when I'm not around ok?" I transmitted my thoughts and they licked my face in confirmation sending their thoughts back.
I don't plan to fight but Murphys law says otherwise and I don't know if I contain my impulsiveness.
I get possessed during trainings... Even with my 130 cm i knock boys two heads taller to their ass. It's difficult to describe. Like some berserker I loose control of rational thinking and just want blood.
I killed my first men two months back after torturing him for the information I needed. The best part I didn't have even one nightmare after. Slept like on a cloud.
It's not that I'm afraid of blood or taking lives. There was enough attempts on my life for that. Death yes. Every normal person would be afraid of that, the important thing is not to show it.
I was more like a mascot here to give confidence to my men then to shed blood. I understood this will be their first test and already against seasoned sailors and warriors.
2324 men. Soldiers from the infantry, archers and marines looking at me to lead them. Seven name days old boy. Sounds funny? For me it did before, but now I'm not surprised. I remembered the ten years old Lyanna Mormont bravely fighting wights and a giant, getting killed at the end. That's just how North is and with my adult mentality I just started earlier.
Why loose all the advantage you have over others. Since five I was waiving a wooden sword, now that I can use short ones thanks to my larger body I'm not going to loose this chance.
I immerse myself in thoughts about the girl, I admire the her and will do anything to not let the same thing happen.
That's how this world is, especially since we're going to aid one of the most valiant houses in Westeros that I know of. The House Mormont.
"My lord, it's time." Ser Davos came up to tell me to start and after moved back to his son.
"Men of House Dustin! Are you afraid?!" I shouted as hard as I could. The singing lessons came in handy.
"No!" Not everyone answered and that's understandable.
"It looks like my soldiers lack balls! I said men of House Dustin! Are you afraid?!" I shouted harder.
"NO!" Now that was good.
"We're going to face the ones that think that drowning is the best way to meet their God! I say let's arrange them a meeting as the good people we are!" I heard my army laughing so that's good. "They kill, rape, pillage! Women, men, children! It doesn't matter to them! But it matters to us! No more will the Northern land be theirs to raid, no longer will they move as they wish on our Western shores! Our shores!" I swiftly pointed at the ground. "Every time they think about raiding the North let them tremble in fear of what awaits them if they come! Every time they will see our ships with the magnificent House Dustin coat of arms they will flee or die! They! Will! Die!" I took out my sword and pushed it in the air. I was followed by my two guards, Ser Davos and his sons and Ser Gerold.
"Night and day, ready for war!" I shouted my house words and was followed by the loud echoes of my men's voices.
"The North remembers!" As I finished a cacophony of voices and motivated shouts hit me again.
"Move out!" All the men moved to their ships, 6 Dromons and 3 quinquereme.
My own Sea Serpent left the port at the lead followed by Wrath and the Black Betha and behind them the rest of our fleet.
We moved down the Saltspear and entered Blazewater Bay where we were joined by two Ryswell's ships that we gave them and my uncles Roger and Rickard onboard. Grandpa stayed back to guard our shores.
The ships they had were some of the better ones we bought at the beginning, few years back.
After the talk with my mother, I told her about my worries concerning the Boltons after her elder sister marriage to Lord Roose Bolton.
She came to me few days later with news that Roose already started influencing house Ryswell, but her father made his stand with following the Dustin's. Us.
We helped them a lot in the years. They started trading using our contacts, protection and even the old ships.
Their coffers were filling and their lives got better.
What did the Boltons do after marriage? Sweet words and promises, nothing else.
My mother received the request to foster Domeric Bolton. My mom wanted to reject but I asked her to accept. It won't matter either way as Ramsey will kill him and I don't plan to let that family live on.
Then we moved North and were joined by House Glenmore ship that swore fielty to House Ryswell under command of Lord Arthur the son of Lord Glenmore.
Our three houses were cooperating and protecting each others. I did trust them, but not with my life that's why I had my Whisperers there as well and for now they are loyal.
I was laying in my cabin waiting for the morning thinking about a lot of things.
We kept very good relationships between our three families. I know it's better to share the cake than to eat it alone, so we started to improve our relationships with other houses not only in the North but in whole of Westeros and made some new contacts in Essos as well.
Manderly's, Glover's by trade. Foresters by trade and aid with their Whitehill problem. Umbers with aiding by lending men to patrol their land and protect from Free folk and selling cheap food and clothes.
I'm not a philanthropist we get ours. Every Warg in those we catch we take. Every Free folk willing to bend the knee we take.
All the investments will bring their return in due time just like our ever growing accounts in Iron Bank.
Now we will aid the Mormonts.
The trip was uneventful until in the morning we came closer to Sea Dragon Point where we saw a burned fisherman's village.
That was enough to remind my men why we are here. Each one of them wanted a piece of the squids now.
"Captain. Signal to commander Davos if we would be able to send one ship to check on the village and help the survivors... if there are any." The man did as told and I saw the last ship in the formation with our yellow sails and Coat of arms on them change direction and swim to the shore.
Next hour was full of tensions. Our men started to became idle and when they did, they started questioning things and that's not good.
I was about to do something when we heard a shout informing us about smoke rising from the island. We almost could not see anything because of the fog.
"Prepare for battle!" I shouted waking my men up from their stupor. They immediately remembered their training and started to move.
"My lord, you should wait in your cabin." Ser Arthur said but it's not why I'm here.
"Ser Arthur you know best I cannot do that." I crossed my arms on my chest and waited, it's a good thing he knows how stubborn I am and didn't press the matter and just stood behind me.
During naval battles Ser Davos had full command of the fleet, I'm not going to push my luck since that's one of the reasons I've brought him here.
"Stubborn as always I see." Ser Bryce was always next to me. Maybe I misjudged him... Maybe I shouldn't be so vengeful, it's not like he did what he did with bad faith...
"You know me Ser Bryce..." I turned and smiled at him. It's been the first time in two years that I did that and he looked shocked.
"Don't be so shocked. I'm still pissed at you." I looked back to the front seeing the Ironborn ships. Some of them already landed and were fighting with House Mormont men and women.
"Aye, that you are my little lord. No one holds a grudge like you do..." he smiled as well, but his was more of a the relieved type.
I saw the captain coming back and ours and one other ship steered to the side when the rest of the fleet charged forward increasing their tempo right at the Ironborn's back. So this is what Davos planned.
"Captain. Signal our escort that we're going to be evading the squids fleet to the side and going to the island to aid the Mormonts in their defense." I said looking coldly at the situation on the land.
"My lord but Ser Seaworth orders..." he was hesitant and that's good I think as it shows he trusts his leadership.
"Since Ser Davos doesn't need us we will land and help with the defense. I have about 600 men wanting blood captain. I don't plan to let them sit on their arses! " I gave him my don't question me again look and the man complied.
"You sure about this young lord?" Ser Arthur calmly asked and I think nothing can upset the man. Well Bryce might be able to but nothing more.
"It's better then watching them die right?" I pointed at the Island. "And I have you guys with me." I looked at my 2 guards with a smirk. "Time to earn your pay boys! Sound the horns! Let's get us some squids!"
The men started cheering.
"You herd young lord! He has us!" Ser Bryce was chipping happily like a girl in one of our Pleasure houses during work.
I saw our fleet engage the Ironborn by ramming directly into them our 10 including two of our command vessels and three of our allies started their fight.
"Now it begins..." I whispered to the sound of our great horns.
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