(Cregan’s POV)

  I barely managed to keep my fury down as I stood at the bow of the Kraken as we moved alongside one of only two free berths on the piers of this pirate port. My anger wasn’t because the port was fighting back, far from it in fact. No rage was because there was no one here.

  The galleys of the port, six in total, were moored on other docks, and the port appeared fine, yet not a soul was present. Or at least not a soul was visibly present, though I doubted many if any were hidden inside any of the myriad of buildings that composed the port. Before we’d moved towards the dock, I’d spent time observing the port through my Myrish Eye. Rian had also flown over the port, and it was through his eyes I’d seen somewhere around a hundred men move along the wide path to Koros’ fortified settlement.

  While just a hundred men leaving the port might not be a major event, as the place should support up to five times that number, over the last ten days or so, I had watched as others had left. First, around two-hundred and fifty had left for the settlement to take part in the assault on Daemon’s position. An attack that had failed spectacularly because of my bond with Rian and getting the intelligence to Daemon so he had time to prepare an ambush.

  After that, another roughly one-hundred and fifty men had gone to the fortified settlement after Koros’ forces had been defeated by Daemon and his men. A further fifty had been pulled from the eastern port, but from the single recon I had done of that port, it appeared to be at near half-strength containing around four hundred bodies. Most of those would be pirates, but some might well be slaves or prisoners though if Koros had any of the latter, he would likely be holding them in his settlement.

  In other circumstances, I would have stopped a few days before arriving at this port and deployed a force of about a hundred men – led by Ymir – to move through the forest and prepare to cut off any attempted withdrawal. However, unlike previous battles where I had used that tactic, this port did not sit on a section of the coast that made such a move possible. As soon as my fleet had turned north toward this port, the coast was remarkably straight, and besides a few places that weren’t large enough for anything more than the odd rowboat to put ashore, the coast was rocky and unsuitable for landings.

  Add in that I could see through my Eye the port after half a day’s sail north, and the pirates there would know we were coming from them. Even sailing out into the Sea of Dorne, angling as if moving to simply pass their location had not been enough to lull them into a false sense of security. That was a sign the former command of this port was a smart man, as he understood that no fleet the size of mine could have arrived where we were without going past the port at the southern tip of the island – whose port Jaeronos now controlled in my name – and with knowledge of the failed battle, understood my fleet was hostile and chose to withdraw instead of throwing his men away in a battle they were very unlikely to win.

  The sound of the Kraken’s hull brushed against the pier was the signal to drop my musings. I leapt from the bow, my armoured boots striking the pier with a crunch. The planks beneath me groaned, and in one place sounded as if they’d cracked, but they held.

  I took a few steps forward before a far larger mass touched down with a grace I could never hope to match. That was Ymir who always insisted on being the first behind me, and as normal had his main coat upon him. It was growing tight around his midsection as he continued to grow, and might not stop an arrow at close range – to say nothing of blades or other weapons of war – but it offered him a layer of protection Which was what I wanted.

  I heard others land on the pier behind us. Some would be others moving to secure the port, the rest men mooring the war galley to the pier. On the bow, men would be surveying the port with the scorpions, seeking any hint of unexpected movement at which to fire.

  A faint cry from the skies above reminded me that Rian was there, keeping careful watch, though no hint of a need to show me anything helped reassure and annoy me that the port was deserted. Or at least the pirates had withdrawn, as the odds were that any slave unable to make the journey, or not worth the effort to bring and thus waste resources on, would be secured somewhere in the port.

  I moved forward quickly, reaching the docks in a few moments and then stood ready, prepared for any attack as Ymir and my men moved to join me. As expected, none came, but ever since the failed surrender-slash-ambush in the port Jaeronos now controlled, I refused to lower my guard until everywhere was secured. Hells, I was doing that before anyway, but ever since then, I felt my caution had grown. That ambush had failed, but the fact it had been allowed to take place at all was infuriating.

  As I looked around, I saw signs of recent occupation. Dice and cups sitting at a table, abandoned during the game the men had been playing. A still smoking fire under a pot that likely now held cold food. Nearby, plates rested on tables and the ground, flies beginning to gather at the exposed food.

  “Spread out,” I said firmly yet softly to my men, “and remain on guard. Do not discount the chance this might be an elaborate trap,” I added. Men moved off to my left and right as Ymir moved forward. Four men moved behind him, keeping their distance from the direwolf but staying close enough that if anyone attacked the beast they would be there to help. They might fear Ymir, but they knew better than to ignore my orders.

  I stayed on the dock, watching the men begin to spread out. Behind us, I heard one of the galleys move alongside the other side of the pier; the men there were quickly disembarking as my squires arrived at my sides. I might normally have them with me as soon as I jumped for the pier, but I was cautious about risking them on the small chance Rian and I had been wrong about the location of the pirates that should be manning this port.

  "Get those ships checked, now," I growled, my eyes scanning the docks. My men hesitated, sensing my mood, but they obeyed. Those galleys took up the other piers, meaning outside of the galley now mooring alongside the Kraken, the men had to come ashore via rowboats. Unlike some of the ports on Redwater, this one did not have the sandy beach that would allow a galley to ram the shore without anything more than minor damage.

  As Edric and Trystane moved away, both in full armour with swords drawn and shields high, men heading with them to obey my orders, my gaze continued to scan the port. Most of the dwellings were the same as in other ports: Single-storey wooden structures. However, three buildings were made of stone. Two were clearly storehouses based on their dimensions and large double doors that faced the dock. The other, however, wasn’t and it was towards that building that I slowly moved.

  Given its position of prominence in sight of the docks and the better quality of its construction, it didn’t take a Maester to know this would be the port commander’s former office and dwelling. A glance behind confirmed that three men were coming with me, their roles to watch my back ensuring I wasn’t moving alone around the potentially hostile location.

  As we reached the door to the commander’s dwelling and office, I stepped back and let two of the men open the door. They entered cautiously, aware of the potential for a trap or ambush, though, after a half-dozen steps and no sounds of fighting or pain, I followed after them. While the commander would’ve taken most of his valuables and treasure with him, I hoped he had left at least any books or maps he had. The maps might detail locations on the island or around it to explore or avoid while the books would give me something to read while the port was secured. The odds were good that I would have read anything I might find in this dwelling, but I was not going to allow my mind to grow blunt while I focused on combat against Koros and his men.

  … …

  … …

  The morning after taking the port, I found myself using the office in the building I’d taken as my residence while here – the former commander’s dwelling – listening to reports from my men. Right now, I was sitting with Edric, Trystane, Koryn, Myles, Clatton, and Miltar as they gave their reports. Clatton was a sellsword I’d promoted to sergeant on the voyage to this port, his responsibility was the security of the port and the training and integration of the men under my command. Given most came from formerly serving pirate lords, and likely held grudges with others in my ranks, it was a thankless task even if, so far, there’d been no scuffles or worse, but I knew that wouldn’t last.

  Koryn had gone first, reporting that there’d been no sign of pirates in the settlement, though about two dozen slaves had been found. All were, to be blunt about it, in no shape to do much of anything but remain subservient to others. They're broken beyond help, their minds shattered by years of suffering. The fact that they are still alive is an insult to the gods. What the hell should I do with them? Well, save for letting them continue to serve, which was why one of them – a man who could not remember his name – stood in the corner of my room, keeping his distance from us and Kaa who was in his cage– I needed to get another cage soon as he was starting to get too big for his current accommodation – and resting peacefully; pleased to be off the Kraken.

  Miltar had gone next, and he was still speaking. First, he had reported on the checks on the Kraken and the currently moored galley we’d arrived with. As this was a larger port, and we would be here for some time – Koros’ settlement meant we couldn’t simply sail on and engage Crann Snow – I had ordered him and the other captains and crew of the warships to check each ship in turn while moored for any damage that needed fixing, or general cleaning of items like barnacles if possible.

  Snow controlled a single port on the shaft of land that extended north from Koros’ territory. Nominally, he was subservient to Koros, but given the distances between their ports, and the fact that Snow’s port lay far from any shipping lanes, I suspected that loyalty was weak. Something that the few of Koros’ men who knew of Snow seemed to confirm.

  The Northern bastard would be if he chose to fight, little more than a road bump on my voyage around the north of The Shrouded Isle, but I hoped he might be persuaded to bend the knee without a fight. It would depend heavily on which Northern house he shared blood with, and how much of the North’s almost instinctual need to serve the Starks was ingrained within him.

  “The new ships are, from what we can tell, in usable condition,” Miltar continued as he seemed to be nearing the end of his report. “However, we lack the men to crew them properly. At least if we expect to use them and the rest of the fleet in battle,” He added with a sigh. “The lack of men here to bend the knee to you is starting to place a strain on our ability to man the vessels under your command.”

  I grunted, aware of the issue. “Once the ships are checked for damage, and anything of value taken to one of the stores, we’ll return to the matter.” I noticed Edric frown, as he was thinking carefully about something, but when he didn’t say anything, I turned to Myles, so he could begin his report.

  “No change to report since we spoke last night, mi’lord,” he said slowly. “Food and the like are well stocked, and one of the storehouses is three-quarters full of trade goods, but beyond that, nothing much new to report in the way of coin, gems, or jewellery.”

  I nodded, remembering the dozen giant rolls of silk – possibly from Qarth or YiTi based on the style and quality – that had a position of importance in the storehouse. Those alone would finance this expedition if I pulled back now, yet the other goods were almost as valuable as well. Yet anything small and valuable, such as coin and the like, hadn’t been present. At least not outside of a few odd pouches found while searching the various buildings that had served as barracks for the pirates. The only thing of note had been a small chest – about a metre long and a half in depth and height – in the commander’s private quarters. That had been half full of coin, though nothing more valuable than a Silver Moon. There had, based on the marks on the floor on either side of it, been two other chests there at one point, but I knew the commander had taken them – and the higher-valued treasure within – with him when he fled the port.

  “Even then, I had doubted we would find much before we arrived,” I said slowly. “The newest men to our ranks had been remarkably consistent in saying that outside the commanders of the larger ports like this one, and captains of a handful of warships, all the true valuables were taken to Koros’ capital. Which just makes it even more important we take it,” I added, drawing a chuckle from the men present.

  “Aye, mi’lord. Still, we were lucky they did not spoil the food and wine left behind,” Myles commented, earning a nod from me. That had been a concern of mine as we’d taken the port, as it would not have taken much to break the several dozen casks of wine and ale in one of the storehouses, nor to leave the food there – such as it was – exposed to the elements or ruined with sand and dirt.

  “Probably because those they left will spoil quickly if we are not careful,” Koryn cut in, “The drink is shit,” Koryn muttered, shaking his head in disgust. "Would’ve been better if they’d left us some decent food at least." I chuckled at that, agreeing with the assessment. Nothing in the storehouse was even on par with an Arbor Gold; to say nothing of a good Dornish Red or even a beer or stout from the North. “Based on the tracks we found leading from the port along the path, it is clear they had carts to transport much of what they wanted, and with the open coast here, time to see us approach and thus move to take most of what they wanted with them.”

  “There were no stables so how did they move the carts?” Trystane asked quietly.

  “Slaves,” I grunted out, barely containing my anger at my answer. “They would have used the slaves to pull and push the carts. At least those that could survive the journey and were worth taking.”

  “Which is why those left behind are in such poor condition,” Miltar added with a shake of his head. The man had formerly been a pirate, but it seemed he either disliked the practice or more likely as he had once served The Bloodhawk, retained some hatred toward Koros and his men.

  “Aye, and now we have to deal with them,” I responded. “They probably expect us to kill them and be done with it,” I added in disgust.

  “My Lord,” I turned to Edric to see him with a thoughtful expression on his face. “Mi…” He paused and took a breath. “Might we consider sending the slaves to Ser Jaeronos along with two or three of the galleys? He would be better placed to manage the former slaves and use the extra vessel than we would.”

  I nodded as I considered Edric’s idea. “Aye, that would work,” I said as I scratched my chin only to grumble at the stubble forming there. Not so much that I was growing a beard, but that, as I was still a fucking teenager, that it wasn’t growing uniformly. Since we’d been away from Northpoint for about three-quarters of a moon, the fact I had the stubble wasn’t a surprise, but I hated how unevenly it was distributed. Ideally, I’d get someone to trim it, but there were few men I’d trust to hold a blade to my throat. “If we send three of four galleys with skeleton crews, and then have one return we increase Jaeronos’ ability to project power, get the slaves somewhere relatively safe, and ensure we do not have to leave vessels behind when the time comes to move on from this port.”

  I did plan to claim the port, the settlement, and the rest of Koros’ territory in due time, but I wasn’t yet near the point where I could start leaving behind significant numbers of men and equipment to secure every port I wanted to hold. Thus, I had to balance the desire to begin building the ports up like Northpoint with my need to wipe clean the island of pirate threats.

  Yes, sending the men away like that would leave me short-handed for a time, but they should be able to make the voyage there and back before Daemon and I assaulted the settlement. That battle was going to be bloody, but I’d need to leave men in the port to secure the fleet so that, if things went badly, we could fall back and withdraw the fewer ships we might leave behind in that instance, the weaker Koros would be afterwards. I wasn’t planning to fall back, but a wise leader had to consider the possibility of defeat if he wished to protect against it.

  “How goes the search for Koros’ scouts and saboteurs?” I asked the room, shifting the topic along while already considering when men to send to escort the ships and slaves to Jaeronos.

  “So far we have yet to capture any, Mi’lord,” Clatton responded slightly sheepishly. “At least any in a condition that they might be persuaded to talk. “Your beast is an excellent tracker, mi’lord, but he tends to be rather… brutal in his methods of taking down any who cross his path before we can return to the port with them.”

  I chuckled at the way Clatton’s face paled as he spoke. “Aye, he does prefer bloody takedowns: as one would expect of a direwolf. Still, while Koros’ scouts will likely not provide anything of value, I will speak with Ymir so that he leaves those he finds in a condition that they might last long enough for at least some questioning.” Clatton nodded slowly, as if uncertain if I was being honest or simply stringing him along as the idea I could control a direwolf was one I didn’t think many believed possible. “Now, is there anything else that needs to be discussed?” I asked the room, feeling we had reached the end of the morning’s meeting. When the men all shook their heads, I smiled and clapped my hands. “Good. Return to your duties, though if something that you feel requires my attention arises, I expect to be found and notified immediately.”

  The four men stood, though Koryn froze as the action drew a loud, menacing hiss from Kaa’s location. I bit back a chuckle as he eyed the viper nervously as, during the voyage to The Shrouded Isle, I had discovered that the man had a fear of snakes. Something that the presence of the nearly metre-and-a-half-long viper only made worse.

  Once the foursome had left the room, I stood and moved over to the cage. “Hey there boy,” I said as I opened the door and extended my arm towards Kaa. “You wanting out?” I asked as he moved closer and began to slide along my arm. I grunted slightly at the weight as he made his way to my shoulders and then wrapped himself around my neck. As he draped himself over my shoulders, his head shifting so he could see and taste the air about us, I turned to my squires.

  The pair had remained seated, knowing that I would be speaking to them more now the meeting was over. “It seems that we now have time on land to kill. For now, I wish you two to head upstairs and find a quiet room in which to continue your meditations on magic, though make sure to avoid Rian as he was still resting when I came down. After midday, we shall spend time on the docks sparring as I feel it would serve you well to train on such uneven ground.”

  The boys nodded and stood, giving me a wider berth than normal due to Kaa’s presence. While they understood I had complete control over the viper – at least so long as neither of us was threatened – they and others still felt it safer to keep their distance. Oberyn had made clear the danger of a bloodflower viper’s venom, and with Kaa continuing to grow at an accelerated rate to our connection, that venom was even more potent. So much so that I suspected he could kill a horse with a single bite, if not an auroch: not that I had yet needed to test that theory, though I had a few ideas of how to use him during the siege.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  … …

  … …

  I walked at the front of the long column as I led the majority of my men along the track that led from the port on The Shrouded Isle’s western coast towards Koros’ settlement. Of the roughly four hundred and fifty men I’d taken the recently abandoned port with, I’d left behind fifty to secure it under the command of Koryn. They would be joined by about sixty others who would return after dropping off three of my latest captured galleys and the dozens of slaves left in the port with Jaeronos to the south before they returned on a fourth galley that made up the small fleet.

  While a hundred-odd men were only enough to man the Kraken, they would be charged with making it appear that enough men to man the war galley and the nine galleys moored and anchored in the harbour could be crewed. While it was unlikely that anyone would come close to the port while we were besieging Koros’ capital, I wasn’t going to leave that many ships undefended.

  The rest of my men, around three hundred in total, were moving along the path behind me, or would be once it was their turn to depart the port. While some were moving out on the flanks along with Ymir, securing the forests so we didn’t walk into an ambush, the majority would be travelling down the track.

  Daemon would be moving out from his port as well this morning, a missive sent a few days ago via Rian informing him of my intentions, to which he’d replied and agreed to do the same as me. Like me, he would be leaving men behind to secure the port and fleet, though he had more men under his command to do that with, though the counter was it would take longer for his men to reach the settlement, and then create a camp large enough for his men.

  Clearing away part of the forest was going to be a fucking pain, but the downed trees could be used in the construction of the various equipment I expected us to need for assaulting the fortified location. Things such as ladders, battering rams, and even portable palisades were going to be needed to not just take the place, but limit our losses.

  As much as I would prefer to sweep through the island, if we chose to attack the walls of the settlement – which I’d seen via Rian were being rebuilt ever since Koros had lost his battle against Daemon – the loss in men would render my plans to take and hold The Shrouded Isle null and void before I’d even taken half the ports upon it. Koros might only have about half to seventy per cent of the men I had under my combined command, but with the high ground and behind fortified walls, and even with additional support possible from his remaining port far to the east, he could bleed us dry if we rushed into battle unprepared.

  While the preparations for the assault were underway, I planned to use Rian and the gulls to fully scout the settlement from above, Ymir in the forests and hills around it, and if the opportunity arose, slip Kaa inside to maybe take out the odd guard or two. However, I knew I had to be careful with Kaa as unlike Rian who flew high above, or Ymir who could take down any pirate with ease, Kaa had to rely on stealth and guile to both move around and attack, and as he was so long, it was getting harder for him to do so.

  Still, I knew I could find uses for him, and with a few days of marching, followed by more of creating the area for the camp, I suspected I’d come up with ideas for how to use him in the prelude and afterwards of the siege and assault on the settlement.

  … …

  … …

  “You look like shit.”

  I grunted at the comment as I approached Daemon. “I would say fuck you, but you’re not my type,” I shot back without any real venom as we clasped forearms. I saw a few of the people nearby give us looks as if we’d suddenly grown second heads, but I ignored them. Instead, as we laughed at each other, we shared a manly hug.

  “Well played with the battle,” I said as we broke the hug, still smiling. “You led him in perfectly, though I’m fucking jealous you had a proper battle. All I’ve had was a small skirmish at sea and then a pathetic attempt at an ambush.”

  Daemon chuckled as he turned and guided me into his camp. “You were the one who chose to sail to the west and then north, not I,” he countered with a grin. “Still, you’ll get your battle soon enough,” He added with a jerk of his thumb towards the north. There, just out of sight of his camp, lay Koros’ fortified settlement.

  The front of his camp, unlike mine, was in clear view of the settlement though far enough back that it was safe from enemy archers. Both camps, however, had spread out into the forests around us, and while his men were still hard at work to expand the area to support more of his men. I glanced southwards to see men still filtering into his camp, making clear the disparity in the size of our forces.

  My camp was already coming along nicely by the time I’d headed into the forest separating my camp from Daemon’s, whereas this place had a long way to go before it was ready. Off to one side, I saw several men scamper back quickly as Ymir emerged from the forest.

  “Attack him and I’ll fucking end you,” I growled as I saw men I didn’t recognize move to draw their blades. That, along with Daemon glaring and Ymir’s head snapping in their direction, almost daring them to attack him, was enough to have the men back down and then move off. “On you go,” I said to Ymir, “see what you can find over there.”

  The direwolf snorted and gave a fractional nod before moving off, intending to head to the east to begin scouting there. He’d already done some preliminary scouting of the forests to the north and east of my camp; enough that he’d brought back the bodies of two barely alive scouts, along with something that might be nothing, but I felt was something. Now, he would track through the forest to the east of Daemon’s camp with orders to alert me through our bond if he found anything of note.

  “As for taking the settlement, it’s not going to be as easy as you might think,” I said to Daemon as he led me deeper into his still-developing camp. “Since my last missive, he’s been working on further preparations for the coming battle.

  Daemon frowned at hearing this. “That is troubling news,” he commented, “though let us keep such discussions until we reach my command tent.”

  I nodded in agreement and walked alongside him. On each side of the camp, back from the front, men were working to take down trees. While those would be used in the construction of siege equipment, for now, the focus was on clearing a large enough area to house all the tents and other structures needed to house the men while the siege was taking place. Cloth was an issue, though it appeared Daemon had borrowed the sails from some, if not most of his ships, whereas I had been able to take some of the trade goods left the port where my fleet was docked for this purpose. Yes, it would mean wasting much of the rolls of cotton and linen there, but I was uncertain when we would have the ability to move the giant rolls from this isle to somewhere we might be able to sell them. Particularly when the rolls of silk were easily worth twenty to thirty times the price of the linen.

  I made a note to check, once my camp was complete and I had returned if there was any linen and cloth leftover, and if so, to have it transported through the forest to Daemon. Currently, there was no path between the camps, and with the paths only joining outside the walls of Koros’ settlement, we would need at least a navigable track through the forest so that regular messages could be sent, to ensure scouts and saboteurs didn’t slip between us to cause trouble, and to coordinate the assault once it was time for that.

  As we moved through the camp, the heads of many turned our way. Most, seeming to recognize me, lowered their heads or nodded in my direction, and I returned the second gesture. A small number didn’t however, though I noted that most of those were men formerly loyal to Allerion who were, bar the relatively small number of men formerly loyal to Koros that I had in my ranks, the newest members of my forces and thus those most likely to not trust me.

  As I saw a group of men that had bent the knee with Rakakz, I turned to Daemon. “How is our newest captain behaving?”

  “So far he has not stepped out of line,” Daemon replied with a hint of annoyance. “He fought well in the battle and obeyed my orders. However, I grow concerned that it will only be a matter of time until he attempts to wrest control of this army from your hands, and that your abilities are greater than he understands.” Daemon stopped as we reached the entrance to his tent. “He has an inkling of how you managed to ambush his fleet not long after we landed on Redwater, though he remains unaware of just how you managed it, believing it to have been a stroke of luck for you at having a fleet at sea that his ships missed or ignored.”

  I grunted in irritation. “I did wonder when he might start putting the pieces together or at least voice them publicly,” I said before shaking my head. “Perhaps after Koros is defeated, we can hint to him privately about the bonds I share with Ymir, Rian, and Kaa.”

  “I would be shocked if he did not already have suspicions,” Daemon replied with an amused chuckle. “The men already talk about your connection to House Stark since you are one of only two in Westeros to have a direwolf at your side.” I snorted in agreement, remembering that Robb had Quicksilver. The fact he had named his direwolf after a Targaryen dragon still amused me to this day. “There are even some who feel you are Azor Ahai reborn,” He added with a grin.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I grumbled as my head drooped and I shook it. “I thought we had removed most of the followers of R’hllor from our ranks in previous battles?”

  “It seems that either we missed some, or the stories they told about you and your flaming sword travelled among the men and they have now taken that up.” Dameon clasped me on the shoulder. “Do not worry. While igniting Red Rain is a simple action given your gifts, you have yet to lead us into battle with their Great Other. Nor birth a dragon from stone,” he added with a chuckle as he shook his head. “Though if you do, I will pay a good fortune to see the faces of the Great lords who learn one not of Targaryen descent could do so.”

  “Not helping,” I growled back, my thoughts turning to Alysanne. She was a daughter – be it a bastard one – of House Targaryen, and had a dragon egg. When we had last spoken, she assured me that none knew of it, but it was only a matter of time until someone in Sunspear learnt of it. I knew with The Price of Blood unlocking my ability for Blood Magic, and the dreams I was having about how there was some potential connection between that branch of magic and dragons, I did wonder if I could help Alysanne hatch her egg.

  She was not Jon, and that alone fucked up so much of how events at The Wall would go, first with the Wildlings and then, Gods help us when the Others marched upon it with their army of the dead. However, as she was also a girl, her ability to influence events was even smaller than the opportunities Jon had gained.

  She could not hold a title, not unless she married some minor, unimportant lord somewhere, nor would anyone take her seriously as a threat to the throne or care for her words. At least not without a dragon at her side. Yet, if I could help her birth such a creature – the Red Comet was about two years from appearing in the skies above us – the odds were good that many in Westeros and beyond would move to kill her and either do the same with her dragon or claim it as their own.

  As I was against marrying my cousin – for a myriad of reasons – I needed someone at her side who would not only know of her heritage but care for and defend her to his last breath. While a fellow bastard, Daemon was a good match in that sense, and from how he spoke longingly for her, he was genuinely falling in love with her, which was why I supported their union.

  However, short of joining the Night’s Watch, and thus assuming the role that Jon had played, there was little I could do at The Wall to keep events on track. That was something I had no interest in doing as it would lock my fate into the Watch, which was something I couldn’t do. Not when I had a child on the way – bastard they might be, but they were my progeny – and I wanted to do what I could to leave them something in whatever world came into being after the Others were, Gods-willing, defeated.

  About the only thing I had going for me that I had more than just a few years to prepare for the arrival of the Others, was that this timeline might not match the show or books – though I had only read the first. I recalled, though slightly unclearly for some strange reason, that GRRM had spoken of wanting there to have been five or so years between the Wildlings and the Others attacking The Wall. While I wasn’t working on that being the case, I did hope there was some sort of gap of at least a few years, so that I and all of Westeros had time to prepare for the coming second Long Night.

  Daemon seemed to grow concerned as I remained silent, lost in my thoughts, and with his hand on my shoulder, guided me into his command tent. It was a minor thing, but his tent was bigger than mine when it should be the other way around as all men in this camp were sworn to me not him. However, as he had more men to command here than I did in my camp, I could accept the need for him to have a larger tent. Plus, as I looked around, I understood this tent had been brought aboard the Pride when we’d first set sail for Redwater.

  The tent, and most of the others, had never been needed there, but at least now it and others were seeing use, even if I wished we could blitz The Shrouded Isle as we had Redwater. as the inner flap of the tent was pulled back, I saw a familiar face standing there. “Jekar,” I said to Daemon’s squire.

  “My Lord,” He replied with a bow. I still disliked being called a lord by my men but had learnt to accept it as to them, even if none in Westeros or Essos recognized me as one, I held domain over an island. Well, technically two but Redwater was currently abandoned whereas Dustspear was little more than a single growing village.

  “I see you are getting used to your title,” Daemon said with a chuckle as he moved toward a large rectangular table that had been set up in the centre of the tent. “Your title might only exist in the minds of your men, but that is enough for many.”

  “How honoured I am that a group of sellswords and former pirates consider me their lord,” I grumbled as I moved toward the table as well. The table was one I knew came from the Howl as I had a similar table on the Kraken – having taken them both from Redwater. As I approached the table, I saw a small stack of parchment near where Daemon sat, a longer look confirmed those were the missives I’d sent him via Rian since he had landed on this isle.

  “We all have to start somewhere,” he shot back as he sat. “Remember that there is also the population of Northpoint and the rather impressive haul of coin and treasure you have collected from Redwater. I suspect you have enough to purchase the hand of a trueborn daughter of many houses in Dorne and beyond.”

  I grunted as I sat, uncomfortable with his comment even though there was truth in it. Bride prices were common enough that, even though I was a bastard, with the treasure I had, I could probably purchase a trueborn lady as my wife, but I had no intention of doing so. As for Northpoint, there I had no issue with the matter. While small, being around six hundred villagers and about a third that in Watch and seamen, the settlement was mine, though I seemed to spend half a moon away for every day I was present.

  “Where are Cayde and Rakakz?” I asked, turning the conversation back to current matters. While Cayde being present would not require us to watch what was said and revealed, Rakakz’s presence would cause an issue.

  “Cadye remains in the port. Even though it costs us a skilled blade, I felt it wise to leave him there to oversee the defences on the chance Koros sends some of his vessels to test our rear. As for The Gilded Hand, he is gathering about fifty men to scout the forest to our east and the path from the fort to the remaining pirate port. Ideally, I will create a camp near that path so we can intercept men and supplies moving between them, but I need to determine the lay of the land first.”

  “That makes sense, though I would suggest you alert Rakakz before he leaves that Ymir is now in the same area he intends to scout. I would hate to lose men to a misunderstanding,” I add, not fearing any of them bar perhaps The Gilded Hand himself, from being able to threaten or hurt my direwolf.

  “As would I. Jekar, would you see that Rakakz is alerted to the issue.” The boy nodded and then raced from the tent leaving us alone. “Now, would I be correct in assuming you have already scouted the surrounding forests?”

  “Aye. Both with men and via my companions.” I reach into a pouch I have brought with me and pull out two rolls of parchment. “This is the one using information from my scouts, with a few added details as possible things,” I said, sliding the first roll onto the table. “This one, however, includes everything Rian and Ymir had discovered.” I unroll that parchment, which contains a simple map of the island along with details I have been adding to ever since leaving Bronn in The Whores.

  The first parchment would remain with Daemon, granting him knowledge of what my scouts had so far discovered, and what little I had learnt from men formerly loyal to Koros that had bent the knee to me at the first two ports I took, but what was on the currently unrolled map he would have to commit to memory, and I could see his eyes studying it intently already. Before I returned to my camp, I would ask Daemon, if he had not already, to add details about the island from those he had captured and had bent to the knee to him after the battle at his port. While it was unlikely they could add anything major to the map that I didn’t already know, I hoped one or two might know something of the internal layout of the settlement.

  For the siege to not only succeed, but ensure no damage to the supplies and treasure within, I needed to know the locations of the barracks, slave quarters, storehouses, armoury, and treasure room. I already knew a few of those locations, but until I could confirm the locations of all of them, I remained hesitant to mark my suspicions on the map. If the men now in Daemon’s ranks could not offer anything of use, I was considering sending Kaa in for a few night-time scouting missions. He could move through the settlement better than most and should be able to take out the odd guard or two if the chance arose.

  “Is this a hidden path?” Daemon asked, pointing at a faint wavy line that was heading northwest from the settlement.

  “Aye. Ymir found it last night and while I would not let him explore it fully, based on the way it winds around the hills and near the settlement while generally moving towards the nearby coast, I suspect it is an escape route Koros had created. Or perhaps one made by one of the pirates who ruled here before him.”

  “Logical,” Daemon commented, his gaze on the little section of the coast where the land suddenly jutted north. There was a very slight inlet there according to the map I had. “A way to fall back if the worst happened makes perfect sense. If there is a hidden port or cave large enough for a galley, he could move his most valuable treasures and loyal men there and depart, either to regroup or live out his life in luxury until the end of his coin or life.”

  “that is my thinking on the matter as well,” I said with a smirk. “I do not think he has anything bar one or two vessels there if he is even aware of the location, but the longer the siege goes on, and the more desperate he becomes, the greater the chance he tries to slip away in the dark of one moonless night.”

  “You are set on a siege then?” Dameon asked, looking up at me.

  “Aye. I would prefer to smash through the place, but the loss of life would be too great for us to continue the campaign,” I explained slowly. “Add in that this settlement, if taken intact, will bring us almost all of Koros’ bounty, which given what was left in the port where my fleet is berthed has to be impressive, and also a logical place to begin development of the island like with Northpoint, and I have little choice but to slow the assault of the isle.” I tapped the port where my fleet was based. “Entan remains in command of my fleet, though with orders to have eight scorpions removed from the galleys – not the Kraken – and brought to my camp. They will be useful for both the siege and the assault.”

  “I will have orders sent to Cayde for him to do the same,” Daemon said, drawing a nod from me. “It will cost us much to take the fort after a siege, but I concur that we cannot assault it early.” He smirked as if enjoying some private jest. “If we take it intact, and Jaeronos and Bronn can hold their positions, then you will control trade along the Dornish side of the Steps, from which your true plans can develop.”

  I tilted my head, wondering what he thought my plans were.

  “I was there when you crafted your missive to Salladhor Saan,” He continued, “when you offered the potential for a future alliance between you, him, and The Lotus Prince. Saan and the Prince are two of the three pirate lords we know that do not engage in piracy, and instead earn their living offering ships safe passage through the waters they control, even supposedly attacking ships under the banners of other pirates. It does not take a Maester to determine your intent is to offer the same passage to any ship that wishes to travel along the Dornish coast from Sunspear to the Broken Arm.

  “If it works, you will control trade around the sea of Westeros from White Harbour to Lannisport and across the Narrow Sea.”

  I chuckled and shook my head, impressed that he had determined my goals. “You are correct,” I said slowly. “It will take years, if not decades, to develop that sort of power, however. Still, if I make no further move than Bloodstone, I will control the three largest islands in the Stepstones and as word gets out of my efforts to develop the islands, I expect more and more people will wish to move here, and that is just as valuable.

  “If I moved to simply control the trade routes, then I would be facing constant threats from other pirates, and potentially the former Triarchy and Volantis. By developing the islands into settlements and ports under my control, I can use their presence to buy myself time to build up my fleet and prepare to take control of the seas around most of the Stepstones; something that Sann, The Lotus Prince, and Marys Valtaris already do on a far smaller scale.”

  “This is true, but at least now, going forward I understand the full scope of your intentions in the Steps. That will make it easier for me to consider any moves I make on your behalf. I would also consider explaining this to Cayde, Jaeronos and Bronn when you can. All three, while below me in the chain of command, might already have some inkling of your true motivations and could make good governors of your holdings.”

  “Fair enough,” I replied with a chuckle, “though for now, we should focus on the settlement – the fact it lacks a name is irritating – and the best ways we can take it with as little long-term damage as necessary. Not at the expense of our men though.” I leaned forward and pointed at the wall of the settlement. “Koros has worked to fix and reinforce the walls, building a handful of new watchtowers around the walls. The rest of the wall, however, has no walkway meaning that anyone inside and not in the watchtower will have to either be in another building to see over the walls or, if they have the arrows for it, fire blindly in our general direction.

  “He’s been sending out teams to cut down trees and gather resources for a siege, though three of those teams have been intercepted. The four slaves we captured haven’t yet revealed much as they remain scared to cross their masters,” I growled out that word with enough venom that Daemon’s brow rose, “however the two pirates we took alive confirmed the locations of all the watchtowers, the main barracks and Koros’ residence.” I pointed to those in turn, knowing they were marked on the other less accurate but more public map I’d quickly created. “It seems that I arrived quicker than he expected, and with Ymir being… well, Ymir, we were able to intercept his teams before they knew we were there.”

  “With you having cut off teams in the west, and aware my men would be coming from the south, he will focus on the east and north,” Daemon said, tapping the approximate places on the map. “While there is little we can do to stop him sending teams here,” He pointed at a section of the map northeast of the settlement, “we can limit his ability to roam to the east while, assuming Ymir’s up for it, you can send men to the northwest.”

  “I expect he’ll pull back all but a handful of teams once he knows your camp is here. Even then, they would only operate if they could slip from the settlement without being seen. I will also have to be cautious of any scouts he sends out. If he learns my force is only a few hundred strong, he may choose to sally forth in strength with the intent to overrun me before you are aware.

  “To make it worse, he has cleared the ground around the settlement back about fifty metres, making it hard to get close to the walls without being seen and as the paths merge at the walls, we will have to clear a track between the camps to ensure we have easy lines of communication.”

  “The track will have to be far enough back that they do not know what we are doing even if they hear us taking down trees.” Daemon paused and grunted. “It is a shame that we have encountered a pirate with a basic understanding of land warfare,” He muttered.

  “Aye, and it gets worse,” I added, pointing at the area just outside the walls of the settlement. “There has been no effort to strengthen the ground, so it is nothing more than loose dirt. Any attack at the walls is not only a dead man’s run but carries the risk of battering rams for the gates might get caught in the ground, to say nothing of the dangers of even a light squall turning the area into a mud pit and forcing us to delay an attack.”

  “Beyond two rams, we should not need much more in the way of equipment,” Daemon said, pondering the matter. “The walls are but a few stories high?” I nodded. “Then ladders and grapples will be enough, though if as you say there is no walkway behind the wall, then the only places to attempt to get over would be at the watchtowers. No doubt Koros will have a second line of defence prepared for any such breach.”

  “He does,” I said pointing at a few small buildings just back of the walls. “New watchtowers further back, along with a few other potential surprises. However, I have a few ideas on how to deal with those before we assault the place,” I said with a vicious smirk. Daemon leaned closer, curious about my thoughts.

  Koros was preparing for a long siege, but I could do so as well. As long as The Bloodhawk in particular, and other pirates elsewhere in the Steps, remained unaware of Koros’ predicament, and the false strength in manpower of my fleets, then I could take my time as well. However, I knew that this siege could not keep us bogged down too long. The longer we dallied, the greater the chance someone would realise what was going on and either target Daemon’s port or those controlled by Jaeronos and Bronn to cut my lines.

  While we could handle the loss of the latter two, losing the fleet under Daemon’s command would cripple my plans worse than tossing men at the settlement in a blind rush. Neither option was one I wanted to occur, but I knew the Gods were a bunch of fickle fucks, so all I could do was hope they if they truly existed, were backing my actions.

  … …

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