Maegor XVI:
30AC
How many times had I fantasized about being in this situation? At the head of an army that was staring down the innumerable hordes of barbarians or heathens at the gates. Racking my brain to try and come up with a strategy to fell the endless horde. Yet actually being in the same position I had imagined myself in so many times was a strange feeling.
My previous unshakeable confidence in our inevitable victory had been somewhat shaken the first time I flew over the Dothraki army on dragonback. Scouts now said it numbered close to eighty thousand men, counting the non-combatants. Such a force was even greater than my mother and her siblings had faced at the Field of Fire.
The veritable sea of men that lay before the hill we had chosen to seal our fate on was an awe-inspiring sight. Tens of thousands of Sarnori pikemen, hailed as the greatest in the world. Even more Dothraki screamers, widely proclaimed as the agents of the apocalypse for the terror they wrought on the world thus far. Dothraki horse archers, the backbone of the incredible conquests by previous Khals, and though they were out of sight from the hill he was currently on. The siege engines brought down a dozen cities all across Essos.
In comparison, Pentos mustered around thirty thousand men, counting the mercenary companies hired for this battle. Many of whom were militia from the countryside that surrounded Pentos, hired on from a long-suffering middle class this city once boasted of.
'Another blight of slavery,' I thought, my eye still staring through the far eye I had been gifted. The landed middle class of Pentos were a proud bunch. Descendants of Andals and Valyrians had lived here for millennia and were slowly but surely being drowned out by the slaveholding elites of the city. Who bought up enormous estates and sent slaves to farm on them.
This then forced the now landless men into the city, where they needed to be housed and fed. This of course came back to bite Pentos once the raiding began, as food became more expensive, and now feeding the populace had developed into a large problem.
'Problems for later,' I thought, refocusing my eyes toward the countless tents set up behind the lines of battle. I had been expecting to spot a golden yurt for a while now but they all looked identical.
'Crafty bastards,' I thought with a sneer. Ever since my first pass over the army. The Dothraki had homogenized their army to a great extent. If specific tents had been demarcated, I could strike them in the night atop Terrax, thus depriving the enemy force of their leadership.
Unfortunately, it seemed Khal Temmo lived up to his reputation and he had reacted strongly to my presence. I had received quite a few messengers over the last few moons, discrete ones of course, threatening me but also "advising" me to leave Pentos to her fate and return to "the land across the sea."
It was all empty bluster of course. They feared my dragon, that much was obvious, I just needed to see how I could best use him in this upcoming battle. As he was our key to defeating this much larger force.
"Spot anything different?" I heard Dick Bean say from behind me and I merely shook my head.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, but I am certain the battle will begin soon," I said with a straight face. Normally, I was more cheerful around Dick Bean, he was a person I could unwind around, and teaching him was fun, yet this was no time for cheer. Regardless of what happened, this battle would be bloody.
"Why are you so certain?" Dick asked, looking a bit sheepish. He had grown more confident over the last few moons of being in Pentos, but fundamentally he was still a two and ten-year-old smallfolk boy.
"Pay attention during tonight's council meeting, you will be attending as my squire," I said with a reassuring smile. Dick would not be seeing combat in this battle, so he had nothing real to fear.
"Yes, my prince!" Dick said with a bow before I moved back toward my dragon. He was situated on the hill the army was currently deployed on, thankfully a decent distance away about halfway up the hill.
Terrax had mellowed somewhat since settling on the coast near my manse, but I was still wary of bringing a murderbeast so close to a bunch of very jumpy men. Especially when I could feel through our bond that he was practically itching for a fight.
Dragons were abnormal creatures. That much should be obvious, with the whole flying and breathing fire. Yet they were abnormal in more mundane ways too. Unlike practically every other creature in this world, a dragon's first instinct was to fight. Especially when they were facing down a threat they perceived as weaker than them.
My dragon rose from his slumbering position when I closed in on his head. His bright green eyes appeared from the black lids which once hid them and he stared me down. An energy of anticipation and waiting coursing through our bond.
"I know Terrax, soon," I promised him. I had already been giving my dragon a taste of proper bloodshed for the last two moons but he was itching for the real deal. Many dragons were noted to practically crave violence in the books on Dragonstone. My dragon was, fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, one of them.
I spent the rest of that day with Terrax. Looking for stray foraging parties that wandered too far out to punish them. Yet it seemed my prediction was correct and they were preparing for an attack. As none were visible from my position on the hill.
…
Just as the sun was setting, I turned in for the regular camp meetings that were being held. This army was a hodgepodge and had several commanders that all needed to be consulted. There was a clear hierarchy but even still, the command was messier than it ought to have been.
First, there was me, the sole dragon rider and officially the commander of the Black Company. Then there was Magister Thorello, one of my chief adversaries and the head of the Pentoshi army and militia. Rounding everything else out were the captains of the Men of Valor and the Company of the Cat.
"Well Prince Maegor, did you see anything of note today?" Magister Thorello said to me and his tone said all that was needed.
Ever since Tyanna of Pentos was put to death in a messy show trial. I had gained quite a number of new enemies in the city of Pentos. Houses Narratys and Brenyl remained allies, however, even they had to tone down their support to a degree. But the powerful House Iranhor joined the now very loud group of families questioning my presence within the city.
They were fearful of my intentions, of falling under the domination of a dragon rider. Not to mention my distaste for the institution of slavery was well known. In the rich and powerful slaver society of Pentos, it was a bad look.
'I suppose that is what I get for making threats,' I thought with a frown. I probably should have known that giving an ultimatum to the Conclave that Tyanna be put to death or I would leave Pentos to her fate would burn some bridges but I could not help it. Tyanna had to go and I would not let her slip the noose. Thankfully, my influence in addition to a few well-placed promises and threats got me the sentencing I wanted. Death by hanging, privately of course, but death by hanging all the same.
Regardless, so long as the Dothraki remained a threat, the faction poised against me would not blatantly act. Hearing that Tyanna had been a lone actor from Shiera was a welcome reprieve. If I had to smoke out a dangerous faction in Pentos when we were so weakly situated in the city, we very well may have been forced to flee the city for Tyrosh.
However, now the situation had changed. Not only did I possess a small army to back up my dragon. But I was also more comfortable within the city itself, with a proper series of guards and procedures to prevent any and all chances of poison. Dedicated food tasters, dedicated chefs, and extensive usage of guest right. All were precautions readily taken.
The other two captains meanwhile were more openly antagonistic. The Pentoshi opposition at least had to pretend to like me while they had need of my services. These sellswords were in it for the money and everyone knew it. They felt slighted that I had been paid more than their entire army had cost Pentos.
'A dragon is worth more than a few thousand men,' I thought before responding to Magister Thorello.
"Nothing exceptional, just the usual deployments and the occasional foraging party sent out into the countryside," I said shrugging my shoulders. At this point, we were just waiting for the battle. We were dug in on this hill, with ready access to our own supply from Ghoyan Drohe for food and we were right on the Little Rhoyne for water.
"And you are certain they will attack soon?" Captain Borello said and I merely nodded my head.
"They have no choice," I said with full confidence. I had engineered their current predicament, what remained to be seen was just how effective I had been.
"What makes you so sure?" I heard Captain Syrio say next and I let out an unimpressed huff in response.
"Their numbers work against them. They have to supply their force and while their situation is precarious, ours is as good as it gets. Waiting only costs them," I said with complete confidence.
Supply was the largest killer of armies. This I learned firsthand and from the countless history lessons from my old life. A numerically bigger force helped in battle unless they were all starving to death.
The Dothraki army was like a cancer on the land it sat on. They ate like a blight on the land and left everything in their wake depleted. This was part of the strategy though. The moment we learned Khal Temmo had left on his march. I deployed to Ghoyan Drohe to begin making probing attacks while Pentos scorched much of their path to the city.
I was not daring enough to try and strafe the main force. Given the sheer number of them and the fame of the Dothraki archers. But their herds of animals? Their foraging parties? Their supply wagons? All suffered under Terrax's flame.
It presumably forced Khal Temmo to force march his army here. Living off the land to the best of their abilities. It meant that while they arrived here exhausted, they also did not have much time to play with. As they were no doubt faced with the option of starving or picking an easier target.
"It costs them but how much? Have you spotted them eating their horses yet?" Magister Thorello said next and I shook my head.
"That would be ideal but I think they are rationing what they have left and resting from their march. Their infantry arrived just yesterday after all. I think the battle will likely come tomorrow or the next day. Depending on just how devastating my attacks on them were," I laid out the situation.
Khal Temmo once more proved his competence by detaching his cavalry from his infantry. Once the Dothraki screamers and horse archers were facing down the Pentoshi force. I could not exactly leave them to scorch their supply lines, lest I leave the Pentoshi force vulnerable to attack while I was gone.
"Should we double the night guard then? If they are desperate, they could change a night attack. As that would also hinder your dragon," Magister Thorello continued to prove he was unfortunately not incompetent and pointed out the next serious question.
"If I were them, I would try to attack in the early morning. The sun at their back and still waking up soldiers on our side could give them enough of an advantage for them to finally initiate combat." This was why the war was such a mess. Countless factors played into whether or not an army could fight or even how well they could.
"Then we must retire for the night if no tricks are to be had. It would be best for us to be prepared for the coming battle as best we can," Captain Syrio said after that and I agreed. My tent was right next to Terrax should a night attack occur anyway, so all our meeting was truly doing was wasting precious time we could use sleeping. Especially if I was right in my assumption of a morning attack.
"Very well, best of luck to you all," Magister Thorello said as we all stood up. I had to make my way back to the camp set up for my own men. As they were situated nearest to Terrax.
Walking through the orderly and well-maintained camp Pentos had set up made me smile. We had meticulously planned out each and every facet of this camp for many moons and the fruits of our labor were a sight to behold.
This hill outside Ghoyan Drohe had been turned into a veritable fortress. With battlements, trenches, caltrop strewn across the field before the hill, and even a small stone wall put up to aid our smaller force to the best of our ability. Given we were outnumbered around two to one, it was the best usage of our resources.
The Black Company was situated on the left flank of the army. With my dragon situated slightly further down the hill and the small force of cavalry, the Pentoshi could muster situated on the flat ground on the side of the mountain. With the other flank guarded by the Little Rhoyne.
'Should a battle truly begin in the morning… I will likely be supporting them,' I thought with a cursory glace sent their way. Facing the Dothraki on flat land was not an enviable position to be held. So their apprehension was well known and sympathized with.
So my dragon would likely be with them for a number of reasons. Flat land was better for strafing attacks on dragonback, it was far from the main column of men so friendly fire was unlikely, and securing the flank of the army so the hill was not encircled was vital to any potential victory.
'No point in static defenses if you can just go around,' I thought with a smile. I was experiencing a mix of emotions looking out at the seemingly endless number of campfires in the Dothraki camp.
The two most prominent were excitement and fear. I was excited to finally achieve what I had been working toward. Defeating the Dothraki on the open field would make me a legend, world-renowned. Yet I also felt fear, not for my own life. But for what I could lose.
I had a proper family now, the cavalier disregard I had for my life in the Stepstones and when hunting The Giant would do me no good. Leaving Shiera and Daeron behind, scared me more than any number of unwashed barbarians.
…
'The hell?' I could not help but think as I saw the Dothraki moving dozens of supply wagons off their left flank, extending far outside of their lines of battle.
"Prince Maegor!" I heard one soldier call out to me, no doubt trying to tell me what I just saw and heard. A great many horns sounded across the field and a veritable sea of Dothraki cavalry poured out of their right flank. Poised to smash the tiny cavalry force Pentos could muster to compete with them.
"I know," I said simply as I put on my helm and grasped the reins of Terrax. I took a deep breath and let out a small prayer before I snapped the reins and said the word.
"Soves!" I roared and the black body beneath me surged with power. Terrax's huge muscles moved beneath his scales and hoisted his huge body up from his resting position. Terrax seemed to brace himself before launching forward using the tips of his wings and powerful legs. His huge body going airborne only to then be carried aloft by the powerful beats of his great gray wings.
Terrax let out an excited roar at the commencement of battle and his energy flowed readily between us. Silencing my nerves and steeling me for the carnage ahead.
Terrax taking flight must have mustered up the courage of the Pentoshi cavalry as they surged forward with me. Riding at full gallop to meet the Dothraki forces head-on. 'I will have to ask Aeron what it is like fighting beneath a dragon later,' I thought with a giddy smile as the feeling of power one got on Dragonback sprang to life within me.
I had to credit the Dothraki, as their horses hardly seemed to waver at the sight of my dragon closing in. Yet oddly enough, the Dothraki force was still remarkably far back to where they ought to be.
'Strange,' I thought before Terrax was practically on top of them. I did not need to say the words as Terrax readily pulled his wings together for a steep dive. I had practiced this technique with Terrax more times than I could possibly count. Learned directly from my mother, it was her preferred style after the fall of Meraxes.
A fast dive, followed by a burst of flames before ascending again to repeat the process. This mitigated the chance of a lucky shot hitting and left little time for the opposing forces to react to the path.
No doubt the sight of a building-sized beast hurtling toward them at unimaginable speeds also did tremendous mental damage. Even discounting the positively demonic sounds a dragon could make during combat.
As if on cue. Terrax let out a mighty roar as we neared closer and closer to the ground. The excitement and bloodlust shared between dragon and rider reached its peak as I shouted the words I had been waiting to say.
"Dracarys!" I roared with a smile on my face. Green flames soon poured from the mouth of Terrax and bathed the horses and Dothraki beath our attack run in an apocalyptic heat.
The screams of the dead and dying filled my ears as I gripped the reins and urged my dragon rightwards, flying rather low and continuing to spray a stream of fire onto the now panicking horses below. Each torrent of bright green flames released a new series of sickening cries and I was lost in a trance listening to the chorus.
I was not in that trance for long, however. As soon as I began to pull the reins up, a searing pain appeared on my right arm and Terrax roared out in pain. 'What?' I thought, immediately bringing a hand to my elbow.
Just then, a realization hit me and I turned to see boiling blood seep from the bottom of Terrax's right-wing membrane, coating the ground below in the lava-like material. 'What?!' I thought again, turning my head back and forth as if it were on a swivel.
Just in time for something large to fly right about a foot in front of me. It was so fast I could hardly see what it was but my head turned to where it came from.
Those supply wagons that I had seen earlier. The same ones that were suspiciously close to the main force of the horse archers.
'Scorpions!' I thought in an instant as I lowered myself down and practically hugged Terrax. Pulling on our mental connection and using my arms to pull on the reins hard to get him to start making evasive maneuvers.
Terrax's rage and pain seared through our bond and I winced at the feeling. A downside of growing closer to your dragon, close enough to give mental commands, was the sharing of pain between rider and dragon.
It was not one-to-one but I could feel the impact of every arrow launched from below, every scratch and cut on Terrax's wings. I felt all of them and I felt his rage.
Terrax was not fearful of the damage he was sustaining. He merely wished to kill his attackers even more. Terrax's body surged with might once more as he beat his wings with a ferocity I had never seen before.
In mere moments, we were practically on top of the siege engines, the scorpions and ballistae standing no chance against the fire of Terrax. Yet in his rage, he was not satisfied. Consumed by bloodlust and a fiery rage, he descended from the air itself and took to fighting the perceived threat with tooth and claw.
"Terrax!" I quickly yelled as he landed on his two feet. His barbed tail swung back and forth behind him, smashing every cart in range as he continued spraying a stream of searing hot green flames on everything in sight.
I fiddled with the satchels on his saddle desperately trying to fish out the whip to get him airborne once more. Terrax's erratic movements on the ground tossed me back and forth in the saddle.
"Finally!" I yelled as I pulled the steel whip from the satchel and prepared to crack the whip on Terrax's head. Normally he would listen to my commands but his bloodlust had gotten the better of him.
"Sov-" I began before I spotted numerous shadows appear to form on the back of Terrax's skin. The sun momentarily blocked out in several spots along Terrax's body.
I heard the arrows bounce off Terrax's nigh impenetrable scales before they hit my much more penetrable armor. The Dragonstone steel armor did its job well but I felt a few arrows pierce through and line my back and left arm with sharp, searing pain.
"Soves!" I roared then, cracking the whip hard and my pain combined with the whip finally spurred Terrax into action. With a powerful beat of his wings and a large jump. He was airborne and flying nearly straight upwards for cloud cover.
"Too high, Terrax!" I said then but my willful dragon had decided my life was his priority now. Getting me far away from the combat I began pulling out what arrows I could from the ones stuck into my armor.
'Damn it all!' I thought again, furiously ripping each and every arrow out of my forearm. The Dothraki archers lived up to their fame, I had a good handful of arrows sticking out of my arm and back.
"Dohaeris!" I roared, my steel whip cracking on the top of Terrax's head just as we ascended into the clouds. I appreciated his concern for my wellbeing but our leaving the battlefield spelled doom for our side.
My dragon finally listened to reason. He stopped his ascent and steadied himself just above the clouds. I did not let the stunning view stop me, however. I retook the reins of my dragon and pulled in for another descent.
"No more mistakes!" I said aloud to my dragon as we rapidly plummeted towards the earth.
Aeron VI
30AC
"Prince Maegor is fleeing!" he heard one of the soldiers yell from his position near the back of the line and Aeron's purple eyes scanned the skies.
He spotted the distinctive form of Terrax flying straight upwards, toward the clouds dotting the sky and Aeron felt the sweat begin to really form on his face.
His fear for his friend's life was soon drowned out by a sickening sound. A series of hundreds of horns bellowed out from the main force of the Dothraki. Half of the Dothraki force had been slowly creeping up since the morning but they entered a full charge now.
"Brace yourselves!" Aeron said then, that he had been preparing himself and the force mustered from Westeros for several moons now but they were soon to feel the full might of nearly forty thousand men bearing down on the Pentoshi army.
Another series of horns bellowed out from their own hill and Aeron readied himself in anticipation. He was not on the front lines but he would be expected to push with the rest of the shieldwall in all likelihood. The sellsword company was too small to really have a dedicated cavalry force yet so everyone was effectively heavy infantry for the time being.
He and Maegor had divided the company into three, roughly equal units. Maegor had placed the most experienced group of soldiers in front, ready to face the Dothraki head-on, and then the less experienced soldiers were behind them, to get some experience and give the first group the might to push back against the wall of Dothraki. Finally, the rookies remained in reserve, ready to reinforce the fighting groups but also remaining well-rested in case of emergency.
Aeron was currently with the last group and was praying the defenses held. They had dug trenches and built up a rudimentary stone wall to aid in their defense but the sheer number of men surging forward may very well be too much.
"What about Prince Maegor?" one of the men behind Aeron said and he had to dispel those thoughts right then before they poisoned the thoughts of his men and crippled their morale.
"He is merely aligning himself for another pass. Focus on the enemy in front of you," Aeron just managed to say before the deafening sound of thousands of shields and spears clashing filled the air.
Aeron watched as the second group fidgeted in place. The first group was holding the Dothraki forces at the wall, thus not necessitating their entrance to the combat just yet.
"Where are you Maegor?" Aeron thought aloud. He continued to scan the skies but he spotted no black thunderbolt, no skydemon terrorizing his enemies. All he saw were torrential fires and dust kicked up from the battle a half mile to the left flank and Aeron dreaded the outcome of that.
'Did Maegor do enough damage before he flew up?' Aeron thought with more and more sweat pooling at the back of his neck.
Their whole strategy hinged on the left flank of the Pentoshi army winning their skirmish with the right flank of the Dothraki. With dragon support, this should be possible, yet Aeron saw absolutely nothing as a storm of dust and green flames were kicked up in the cold, dry fields that surrounded Ghoyan Drohe in the winter.
The presence of green flames on the horizon made it clear that Terrax had let his fury be known. But how much damage was actually received from the Dothraki forces could not be determined.
Aeron watched as the dust cloud on the horizon grew larger and larger and he was tempted to pull out his Myrish eye. If the Pentoshi cavalry failed to best their Dothraki adversaries, they may very well be doomed.
His view was momentarily turned away as he spotted the second line move forward to support the first. Giving a nod to the commander of that line. Aeron returned his attention to the battle in the distance only to notice a terrible thing.
The Dothraki had noticed the hole in their line and Aeron could see thousands of Dothraki screamers gallop across the field at full sprint, no doubt wishing to capitalize on the gap to outflank them.
"Inform Magister Thorello! Dothraki screamers are closing in on the left flank and we need reinforcements to hold the line!" Aeron quickly roared at Dick Bean, who was spending the battle with him.
As the Dothraki screamers rapidly closed in, Aeron turned to his men. "We must hold them here! It is either victory or death!" he roared but the line behind him failed to move.
"Lord Aeron, we cannot defeat them!" one terrified soldier called out and Aeron desperately wracked his brain for any ideas.
"Did you come here to live out a fantasy? We are warriors! They will sing songs of this battle, let them sing our names instead of the Dothraki! Victory or death!" Aeron gave an impromptu speech and the men hesitantly rallied.
"I choose victory!" one soldier yelled before the chant resounded across the men, so ferocious that it even spread to the men in the second and first line.
"To victory!" they roared and the third line formed their shield wall. Patiently waiting for the arrival of the famed Dothraki screamers. Continuing to shout "To Victory" all the while.
Dismounting his horse. Aeron prepared his own equipment. Fastening his helmet and readying his pike to meet the enemy. He pushed his way toward the front of the formation and braced himself.
'Lead by example, right Maegor?' Aeron thought before he heard a deafening roar from above.
The thousand men he was squished between all suddenly lurched forward to meet with the enemy while Aeron turned his gaze skyward. As the army clashed with the horsemen around him. Aeron spotted the distinctive form of Terrax descending from the clouds at a breathtaking speed.
Mere moments slowed to a near halt. The world seemed to slow itself down to Aeron, as he beheld the monster descending toward their position at a rapid pace. Only for the dragon's dive to end and a torrent of green flame to spew from the beast's mouth.
A green inferno rapidly enveloped the ground as the screams of burning men filled the air. The sound of abject agony bled through the whole battlefield. Hundreds of men burning to a crisp under the intense heat of a dragon's flames.
Aeron watched as the famed Dothraki screamers. The same ones who had brought down Sarnor, Essaria, Qohor, and Norvos. Burned to charcoal under the heat of dragon flame. Their skin turned black as night and their bodies withered under the intense heat. Each former man melted like a wax candle.
'Was this what the Field of Fire was like?' Aeron absentmindedly thought as he watched another Dothraki screamer melt under the awe-inspiring power of a dragon's flames. This was the power that brought Westeros to heel. This was the power that brought most of Essos to heel under Old Valyria. And Aeron was glad it was on his side.
"Fall back," Aeron heard himself say, almost instinctively. The heat from the fires wafted over him as the men behind him began to flee uphill, away from the rapidly rising green flames. Terrax had released his flames a dozen or so feet behind the main skirmishing line but they were rapidly ascending. The dry grass, stiff breeze, and the incline provided the means for an inferno.
Up and up they went, many men dropping their gear as they fled the ever-expanding flames. They reached the camp at the top of the hill and some began to stop before Aeron began yelling, even though his voice was hoarse.
"Keep going! Fire goes uphill!" he said, continuing to run through the camp and then moving downhill. Away from the flames and death as thousands of men followed him back down the hill.
The flames licked at their heels. Aeron chanced a glance backward and spotted the inferno enveloping the entire hill. 'Maegor must be still going,' Aeron thought with a sense of relief. The dry, cold grasses of the Pentoshi flatlands yielded itself well to cavalry but it yielded itself even better to Dragonfire. In seemingly no time at all, Aeron's entire vision was clouded with smoke and blazing green fires.
The Dothraki would have no great victory that day. Maegor showed the whole world why the Dothraki were nothing before the Doom. As one dragon brought the greatest army seen since the Doom of Valyria to its very knees.