章 9: Chapter 8
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Damian Rivers.
As soon as we arrived in Staromestad we decided not to stay there too long and picked up some of the people we had left in the tavern, bought some food and equipment and headed north.
And to avoid travelling, as they say, in vain, we were hired to guard important traders from Qarth. Somehow they had decided to visit some of the major cities and castles of the Seven Kingdoms. The Honourable Lor Ak Naris had hired us back in Staromest, and we had travelled hundreds of miles north through Old Horn, White Oak, Highgarden, Old Oak, and a dozen smaller towns, not to mention villages. The Quartian traded in mirrors, silk and spices, though it was more to keep himself from getting bored I think, mostly he met with various lords and representatives of trading houses. Maybe he was just making new treaties or something. I wasn't really interested. He paid generously, because the Quartians are generous people, or, to put it simply, spenders and majors, so we didn't give a damn what our employer did. During the whole journey we were attacked only once, and that was by brigands. We dealt with them quickly. Even on our side no one was killed.
During the long stops and free time I and my "officers" were engaged in preparation of the company and its cohesion. Still here was a cauldron of different peoples, and even beliefs, and that in itself caused conflicts. As we had already passed Old Oak and were approaching Crakehall, a very unpleasant incident occurred. A couple of Dothraki and a knight from Flea's End had become very good friends, and at one of their regular drinks they had a bet - who would get Gerda into bed? She had got used to men hitting on her while she was travelling, and in principle she could turn them down both gently and harshly. And since they were "their own", she told them about her preferences in bed with a smile. The guys did not understand this and decided to "prove" to her that men are better than women. In the end, we would have lost three of these shots for nothing. Barry Asgen and Varick Falcon were there to break them up.
In the morning I listened to their complaints and came to the opinion that it was time to do something about discipline. So I had the three "heroes" who had done the wrong and executed them. One Dothraki was simply quartered. The second cut off his balls and cock and made them eat it, and then after the "meal" cut off his head. And our brave knight, I gave him a sort of bloody raven. I had never done it before, so it took me a long time, and I didn't finish it, my subject died in the process. This sent shockwaves through at least half the squad. Then I made a speech about the relationship between them. And I pointed out that they can fuck as they like. With each other, with a goat, as long as it's consensual. Violence against fellow officers I will punish severely and mercilessly. Those who do not like the morals of the squad, they are free to leave it within twenty-four hours, and after the expiry of that time, I will give them "hell training", so that they do not take bad things into their heads and do not think with their dicks, or whatever they usually think... During the night, seven young men left us, the rest stayed. Even some of them started to look at me with more respect, though there was a touch of fear.
After that, there were no really serious accidents. The guys were training, learning new techniques and manoeuvres, and by the way, we took two "medics" to our squad on the way. One old maester and his apprentice, who decided to travel the world and study it. It was to our advantage, because with such a crowd, and the experience of major battles wounded will be a lot, and healing hands are few. Besides them, we were joined by quite a few different Flowers and Hills. Simple country boys who want a better life. They are tough, hardy and healthy guys. By the end of our journey together with the Quartian, we were already 120 soldiers plus a small ballast of Marquette women and small "servants". Soon they would be old enough to be squires.
We stopped at Lannisport. To my happiness and not only mine, a tournament was about to take place here.
Three thousand golden dragons were given for the victory in the equestrian competition, a thousand for the second place, and five hundred for the third. There were also three archery competitions, team battles, and a battlefield where everyone fought against everyone else. And for the last three competitions, the same amount of money was given - 300 gold dragons.
We tried to participate in all of them. All our archers participated in the archery competition, I and all our knights tried our luck in the main traditional competition, then the most experienced swordsmen of twenty-two people tried their luck in single duels, and we also formed several teams for joint action. In the latter case, however, we were personally told by Keevan Lannister that there were several teams from the same squad, so only one of ours was allowed. I didn't participate in the team competition and I was clearly not the greatest archer in the squad.
Despite the large influx of guests and knights of all sorts, I didn't remember much of the event. As far as I was concerned the strongest and most experienced opponents were my boys, the Lannisters, a couple of knights from Prostor and a few more from Greenfield and the Marbrant knights of the Border. I knocked a lot of them down, but still couldn't get first place. I barely made it to third, and I bruised my left shoulder pretty badly and broke my leg. We had to stay for three months after that, so that I and another wounded one of ours could recover. In the end I only got five hundred gold pieces, but that was enough for me and all of us. Besides, Lesho the summer man won the archery contest and got his three hundred as well. But in the other contests, none of us got anything.
I was treated by all our "doctors" and Rex too. He was constantly drinking me almost forcefully with all sorts of potions, which according to him were supposed to speed up my recovery, although because of this drink, I had thoughts that he wanted to poison me with this stuff....
But luckily in three months I recovered completely, and the bone fused without any problems, I didn't even limp. But I lost a little of my fighting form, though I was lying down only for the first month and a half, the rest of the time I was waddling or riding in a cart, but at the same time I was practising archery with a crossbow and trying to follow the training of the young men. To avoid fermentation and laziness in the squad, I sent most of the boys, under Varik's leadership, on small tasks in the Western Lands or just to chase rare gangs of brigands. I also taught them new techniques and manoeuvres that I could remember from the medieval European history course at the academy. In general, I tried not to sit idle, and something to occupy myself.
We received no assignments from the Lannisters and no offers of permanent service from me either. I think the Lannisters have enough skilful men for the moment. Well, I don't really need it, although it hurt my ego.
After I was back in action, we started on a new contract.
It was to participate in the suppression of a rebellion against a minor lord. Lord William Serrette, though still a Lannister bannerman, was nowhere near the wealth and power he once had. He had a couple of knightly families and two houses that had lordships at his command, not counting the two hundred swords he originally had. That seems like a normal large force for a Lannister bannerman. Except the devil is in the details. The catch is that both knight houses tried their luck in one, to put it mildly, bandit raid on the lands of one lord of Prostor, for which they paid with their heads and half the men they had under their command. One of the vassal lords has neglected his lands and doesn't have nearly enough warriors to help his suzerain, and the other is a minor lord, cared for by his aunt, who discourages him from helping Lord Serrett in any way possible. As a result, some of his men and the men sent by his vassals make up a force of only a hundred and fifty men. And with these forces, he needs to bring his castle back under his rule. There was a riot a month ago. What it was about, I'm not really interested in, it's not that important. But the fact is, it was commanded by a former mercenary captain who settled down and became the headman of one of the villages. He, the local septon and a couple of other smart guys revolted against the lord, managed to defeat him in a clear field, and almost took him prisoner, and then, when he fled to Lannisport trying to find money and men to fix everything. Only by this time they'd already taken his ancestral castle of Silver Hill and held it for some time.
I learnt all this beforehand. Or rather, even though it was in advance, but purely by accident and to my luck. So I at least knew what I was agreeing to and had time to get better terms of the contract. I found out about this situation thanks to Lord William's tenant, he and a couple of his friends had been drinking in one of the eateries where Marik, Lesho, and I were trolling local girls and sipping good Arborian. I overheard them drunkenly swearing at the rednecks that had rebelled against them, and that's how I learnt some of the general information. And then we drank together, got to know each other and I learnt the whole story.
And then I talked to my officers about it. I decided not to make the decision alone, for I was not sure that my squad was ready for such a thing. Of course, the Lord of Silver Hill would hire some more men, maybe his vassals would be a little more generous with warriors, plus a couple of old debtors or friends, and so three hundred would be the minimum, maybe even three and a half or four hundred with us. With proper leadership, we can get by with a small force. Alexander the Great, Cortes, Pissaro, Charles XII and many other famous generals conquered vast territories, fought with armies that outnumbered them many times over and lost few of their men. This was not only because they had better weapons or God helped them. I also have a god on my side, but I don't think he can help me. They acted unconventionally, boldly, applied many innovative ideas. Alexander the Great has always been a role model for me. Even with the huge Persian war machine at his side he limited himself to only those forces that were proven in battle with him or against him, the most organised and loyal. And this was also a plus in his campaigns on the territory of modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
So, success is real the main thing is how to prepare for it and how to act. Besides, even if against us there will be twice or even three times more people for an organised group of soldiers it is not a problem. Yes, there will be losses, but they are inevitable in any case and in any battle. It's just that in this case, the main problem may not even be an experienced commander who led the popular uprising, but the disagreements in the "army". Lord William, his master at arms who escaped with him, the commander of the guard, and maybe some of the sword knights will want to lead the substance. And that's where anything could happen.
That's why when I met with William Serrett, I decided to bring it up right away.
- Never! - The lord even jumped up from his seat. - I can't give you that right without my commander of the guard, and even more so with a living master of arms.
Both of these men were here, and the last Ser Marcus Hill was not happy with this proposal of mine. He was a man clearly old-school, about sixty years old to be sure, though quite serious looking, not frail and infirm, but quite a healthy man that could hold a sword and wield it.
The second was a younger knight, also a bastard, Ser Jacon Hill, judging by his facial features, he could be Lord Serrett's bastard, except that his hair is blond and gathered in a ponytail. This knight, maybe a little older than twenty-five or twenty-eight, was looking at me with a smile and even some excitement. Which was odd.
- My lord. - I spoke with politeness and a smile. - I am in no way belittling the merits of your loyal knights, but I expressed my desire not because of my ego or ambition. - which is a bit of a lie. - but because it is the best option for this campaign. My men and I have learnt to fight under these conditions. And your valiant knights and soldiers are used to a different kind of fighting.
- What do you mean? - Marcus Hill asked glumly.
- That fighting another organised unit and fighting a large number of peasants are different things and each situation is dangerous in its own way. When two squads of knights clash, they fight generally according to certain rules and tactics. Unconsciously any knight expects certain actions. But peasants, pirates and brigands are a completely different people who live differently, and if necessary fight the same way. As far as I know, they are commanded by a former mercenary captain? - the lord nodded. - That's the kind of brothers I know. I know how they think and how they act. And I'm sure there are peasants on his side who, for example, were called into the militia in the days of Robert Baratheon and Balon Greyjoy's Rebellion? And this is serious, by the way. They've been through two wars, they know how to fight. How many of them do you have?
- As far as I know," the weapons master spoke. - After the Kraken rebellion, we had about a hundred men who had been through both wars, but we don't know how many have survived to date and are on the rebel side. Probably half at worst.
- Exactly. - I nodded gratefully at him. - Five dozen experienced soldiers, plus a good commander, plus the support of the septon, and this is a very good reason for the peasants, who can raise the morale of the rebels and give them additional strength with their sermons. And also after the capture of your house, it is quite possible that a dozen other simple guards could go to the camp of the rebels voluntarily. After all, if your castle is taken by them, how could it be otherwise? - The lord's jaw made the sound of gnashing teeth. - And yet I am sure that such a rich lord as you have stocks of weapons, shields, spears and some armour. And considering that it seems to have been a little over a month since you arrived here, you've been able to teach this rabble a few things. They're no longer a rabble, but a group that's already well organised for battle. Considering that we have already agreed today and will move out with the forces we already have there as soon as possible, it will only be a fortnight before we reach your lands. Your delay is an unnecessary time to increase their strength. Let on your side valiant proven knights, but only those people have knowledge of the terrain and an experienced commander, who will not lead them immediately against you in a fair open fight, but will arrange ambushes, various diversions and traps. And only when you will be weakened, they will give battle. In this case, they will have a clear advantage in numbers. On the basis of the above, you will suffer heavy casualties. I have no doubt you will regain your lands, but you will lose much. Most notably your loyal servants. But let's say, even if we theoretically suffer great losses under my command of your men, everything can be written off to my incompetence, and your honour and reputation will be saved. You will simply be a victim of circumstance and a man that "saw something valiant even in a bastard", but he did not live up to your expectations.
At these words, Ser Marcus hesitated, and the young bastard grinned. He seems to have figured out my plan. Lord Serrette and his weapons master are slightly bigger tightwads, though their brains are preoccupied with the current situation and they are on edge. So their critical thinking is understated. But I didn't stop there and added more:
- That said, Lord Serrett, may I ask what forces you have on hand? How many cavalry, archers, foot soldiers?
Ser Marcus answered me again:
- Mostly cavalry and crossbowmen. Five dozen knights and free riders, as well as their squires, then two dozen crossbowmen, the rest a dozen and a half on foot. But we will soon have help from old friends, several knight houses have responded, and they will send us more mounted men and archers. About five or six dozen or so.
- So you have no foot soldiers, I take it? And in order to fight not on the plains, but in the forests and hilly terrain, you will have to rush the knights and let them into a less familiar form of battle, reducing the effectiveness of their skills? - I clarified.
- That is correct. - The young bastard agreed. - Ser Damian is right in a way, Lord Serrette. I thought the same thing, but I did not dare to challenge Ser Marcus's suggestion. But Ser Damian changed my mind.
Lord William Serrett and Ser Marcus Hill were silent, thinking something of their own, and looked at each other a couple of times.
I waited "obediently" for their decision.
- Once upon a time, when men were more respectful of their gods, they decided important disputes according to their will. The duel of the Seven is a prime example. But I don't want bloodshed. - the lord explained to us all. - We'll have a contest between archers, foot soldiers and knights. Seven from each side. The archers will compete in target practice. The foot soldiers will do single combat and the knights will clash at spears. If more than three of your men win each contest, you will lead my men into battle as their commander. That is my word. It is fair and just. And if the Seven are favourable to me, I will have what is rightfully mine.
His "son" smiled, and the weapons master frowned, but took his lord at his word.
And so it was settled then.
Then Lord Serrette said that he would choose my men to be my opponents. So I made a ruse. I sent some of them, the younger ones, to the "infirmary", and told the lord, when he asked me about the absence of part of the squad, that they had been poisoned by the wine they had bought from the Dornish, so they were lying down and being treated. And he calmed down or just let that information pass his ears, continuing to choose people for the contest. And it seems that the lord chose those he considered "weak" opponents. Those whose armour was old, whose bows were not particularly refined, or new, as instructed by his master of weapons. In fact, I suspected something like that, and ordered Lesho, Varik and Tom from Seven Streams and two other experienced marksmen to change into something simple to make them look cheesy. That's how those five made the "list". It was the same with the foot and mounted fighters. Though about the mounted ones I did not think twice and was ready to vouch for each of our knights, because I had already crossed spears with them, and I know what they are capable of.
The most interesting thing is that the foot soldiers were Gerda, Marik, Ben, Asgen, Rex, Dornish Leslie and Asgen's dear relative from Braavos. And they, if you don't count Darry, me and Varick, well plus a couple of knights are the best single fighters.
As a result, after the competition, which lasted from dawn to dusk, we won 6:1 in the archery competition, 7 out of 7 in foot battles, but only 4 out of 7 in knights' jousts. So we won.
And I was recognised after that as the commander of this "campaign". The most dissatisfied was the master of arms, Ser Marcus Hill, but so far his remarks did not reach further than grumbling and angry glances at me.
In order not to anger fate and stay in power over all the people anyway, I decided to reduce the list of possible discontents a little.
Rex came in handy for that. I simply gave him the command to carefully send the old weapons master to the other world. But without even a hint of murder.
And Rex did not fail. A true assassin. I don't know how he did it, but he faked a pretty ignominious death in his bed with a whore. Used a couple of different mixtures and added to the whore's drink, Ser Hill's food, and whatever incense he put in the room where they were to give the effect of a strong but slow poison. To all, Ser Marcus died of choking on his own vomit, and even shitting himself. The Maester who was brought in for the "autopsy" assured Lord Serrette that the cause of death was excessive drinking of bad wine, strain on the heart and old age.
Lord Silver Hill was angry, but he didn't think to blame me or anyone else for what had happened. Everything went well, and I praised Rex for his marvellous work.
After a couple more days we moved on to our destination. Lord William and I had 430 men under our arm. He added some more mercenaries and in the end we have 190 mounted knights and free riders, 185 foot soldiers (most of them my boys) and 95 crossbowmen and archers, plus a small transport. That's a pretty good force.
I often sent my men out to scout for traps and ambushes. There weren't any, and there shouldn't have been, because we were on the Golden Road, which was nearly a hundred miles north of the Serrettes' lands. We had to take the road that was northeast of the family castle. And that's where the rebels would surely ambush me. So I decided to do a trick and send only the cavalry, part of the wagon, half a dozen foot soldiers and a dozen crossbowmen, all under the command of Ser Jaykon and Lari the Short-handed. They were well aware of my plans and what needed to be done.
A crowd like them would surely attract more attention than the warriors on foot who were trudging westward from a convenient road through the forests and mountains. Of course, the effectiveness of my infantrymen decreases in mountainous terrain, but I didn't just teach them to march and fight in formation. And besides, we had a lot of archers.
Our main task was to cover the "main forces" and counterattack the rebels, who will definitely try to attack from behind an ambush. That's why we moved close to the column, and often went on reconnaissance with the locals. They were Serrett's loyal men, who had travelled through these mountains and forests in their childhood and youth, and then gone into the lord's service.
Somewhere on the second day of crossing the Alps... that is, the local mountains, we spotted a large detachment of archers and peasants, who were armed with axes, spears and scythes, and equipped a little more decently than usual.
We kept in touch with the main squad and so we quickly co-operated for a "counter-ambush". There is no point in describing this battle. We had an easier time defeating a bunch of former peasants and hunters than we might have thought at first. Despite the fact that the locals couldn't spot us, my squad's training and the caution of the rest of the mercenaries we had with us made our losses one knight, five archers and seven foot soldiers, against almost completely killed rebels and three dozen taken prisoner. There were many women among them, for as it turned out some of them had also decided to "taste the blood" of their lord. But as a result they were now warming the soldiers they had opposed.
We took a break for a day, so that the guys "relieved stress" and that I and Lord Serrett agreed on further actions. Then we travelled more freely along the ravelled road and entered the forests.
There were new problems waiting for us. Specifically, guerrilla warfare. It was not so massive as in Belarus or in Ukraine in the Great Patriotic War, but still noticeably caused problems. We even prevented several attempts to poison the common cauldron, as a result, by the time we got to Silver Hill, we had lost thirteen men killed, and another nine lay with poisoning and wounds of medium severity. But we plucked those saboteur scouts good, too.
It so happened that we directly from the march had to prepare urgently for battle.
Or rather, the intelligence reported that the enemy was going to surround us near a rivulet that adjoined several hills. We had to pass through it quickly in order not to be at a disadvantage. Otherwise, if we had not passed through it, we would have had to storm the heights, you can't use cavalry, and they could set traps or make small fortifications.
We jumped through and took the area ourselves, but we realised that we would have to start fighting before we had even rested from the march. And behind us there was still a transport and a small rearguard.
We couldn't afford to build fortifications, only our own.
Lord Serrett offered to send a negotiator to them to offer them to surrender to the lord's mercy and only the instigators would be punished for the rebellion. But as soon as the messenger came within fifty metres of them, they put several arrows into him. There would be no negotiation or peace, so we prepare for battle.
The enemy had over five hundred men with them, roughly. And that's not even taking into account those in the castle and guarding it.
The enemy's ranks were fairly even, their former mercenary had trained them well over the two months they'd been on the loose.
They had no mounted men at all. Only foot soldiers armed with spears, axes and swords (some of them), as well as archers, crossbowmen were almost nonexistent.
I built all the infantry below on more or less level ground. The archers, some of them were behind the infantrymen, the rest of the archers and crossbowmen were on the hills with some of the cavalry. And the rest of the cavalry and all the knights were in the rear behind the hills, just in case, covering our rear and serving as a reserve for the battle.
We didn't go on the offensive. There was no point. Our fighters didn't worry as much as our opponents should have, and we could afford to play in defence. Besides, I was not going to widen the field for the rioters' manoeuvres, the narrower the better for us.
After two hours of waiting, the rebel line went into a frontal attack.
Closer to the first line of infantrymen the rioters' formation began to break and even the whole hagala began to divide into their squads little by little. I thought it was a cunning plan. But I realised that the leader running behind them was shouting "Form up!". He had overestimated his capabilities and the training of his subordinates.
I smiled evilly and gave the command:
- Infantry! Hold formation! Spears!
They tensed and thrust their spears forward.
- Archers! Crossbowmen! Fire!
They opened fire.
At the same time on the mountain, the crossbowmen also opened fire, but not on the entire crowd, but only on the fiercest fighters and possible leaders.
The cavalry was inactive for the moment.
The first minutes of the battle were underway. I received a report that a detachment of seven dozen men tried to attack us from the rear, but they were stopped by the knights who were in the rearguard. Some were taken prisoner, and some were not held and fled into the woods. But there's no need to worry about them now. They are probably too frightened to attack again.
Meanwhile, the carnage continued, and we were also taking casualties, but my boys were better trained and supported.
Even I, despite being in the rear and commanding from there, was wounded in the leg by an arrow, but after pulling out the arrow and dressing the wound, I resumed my command.
I spotted the supposed "leader" of these rioters and took him down with a crossbow bolt. This caused some of the peasants to start fleeing.
- Cavalry! Attack!
Almost all the cavalry advanced from the side of the hills and rushed to the flank of the rioters.
- Infantry! Come on, boys! - I jumped on my horse, ignoring the pain in my leg, and rode with Rex and a couple of other Dornish to the attack.
I shot left and right.
We didn't really have a plan to surround and kill all the rebels (who would pay taxes after all this?), but we managed to do it, and the terrified peasants of yesterday began to drop their weapons and beg us in the name of the Seven to spare them.
Victory was in our pocket, now all that was left was to take the castle and it was done.
I was about to turn my horse towards Lord Serrett when a pain pierced my chest. I looked down and realised it was a crossbow bolt that had hit me in the chest. I dropped my sword, my strength was leaving me, the pain was increasing, and then I realised, I had been hit by two more arrows. One in my arm and the other in my leg, this time not in my right but in my left.
After that I fell to the ground and fell into unconsciousness.
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