107 No mercy
It has been 3 moons since the invasion commenced and they still were faster then the progress of the other islands in Ironman Bay.
After landing and securing their positions the alliance forces commenced their attack on the Ironborn castles on the southern part of the island to get rid of any danger at their back.
It's not like Brendan didn't want to go North, directly to Ten Towers of Harlaw to get his revenge, but each time he and his 4000 men pushed further in that direction, there was the danger of getting separated, surrounded and finished off.
Like this, with the order from Lord Karstark, Lord Dustin and his solders could only wait for an appropriate time lo launch their attacks again while guarding the rest of the army's back.
Brendan was an impatient lad, so before anything, he send few of his men to scout the cave where his mother was before.
The news weren't optimistic as the report said there were signs of battle around the place, but no bodies or indications what happened after.
Even with all of this, the Northmen pushed and besieged castle after castle.
The first one and the fastest to fall was House Harlaw of Harridan Hill. 14 000 soldiers stormed the walls and finished the battle in a day with the death of Lord Boremund Harlaw by the axe of Greatjon Umber.
At the same time Ser Hightower took the castle of House Kenning after leaving Brienne and her men to guard their back from any possible reinforcements marching to support the castle, just as Brendan did on the opposite side.
When Ser Gerold moved to attack the castle of House Volmark, where the forces were supposed to meet, Lord Karstark just finished taking the seat of House Myre.
This was one of the hardest battles the Northmen had up to the date.
Smalljon got his leg and arm broken when a stone hit the shield he held above his head while climbing the ladder to reach the wall, his leg broke when he fell to the ground between the men waiting to start the climb.
The men pulled him out from below the wall as he shouted and struggled and wanted to get back into the fight.
Next Rodrik Forrester got a crossbow bolt to his shoulder and arrow in the leg effectively ending this war for him for now, as he would need at least 2 moons to recuperate as per Qyburn order.
While storming the inside of the castle Matthos Seaworth got stabbed in the stomach by a spear, fortunately he will make it, and he did kill the man even while wounded.
With all this happening the younger generation finally understood that it's no longer a game.
What everyone was grateful for was the effort the Dornish girls Tyene and Nymeria put in savings lives.
The girls didn't fight, but it doesn't mean they weren't on the front lines.
They attached themselves to the frontline medical staff.
Basically they were the ones running and helping every wounded soldier before the man or woman were transported to the temporary field hospital.
Their names were spoken often by men as more and more soldiers were kept alive long enough for the doctors to help them.
Tyene knowledge of potions and herbs made a big difference and Nymeria operated on soldiers countless times on the field even under constant arrows raining just next to her.
Obara wasn't worse by being the first on the walls and held for long enough to let the Northerners get a foothold almost deciding the victory.
Missandei took care of everyone as if they were her family, often running around for hours making sure everyone was fed, warm and comfortable without eating or resting herself.
Then finally the armies of Lord Karstark and Ser Hightower met, still... Things didn't get easier.
During the last charge on House Volmark castle, Harrion Karstark almost died if not for Mors Umber and Jorah Mormont.
The men saved him in the last moments as his unit charged too deep into the enemy positions and was separated and almost killed off.
With a long gush from his collar bone to his hip Harrion was transported back to the field hospital where Qyburn was already waiting.
All of them will remember this invasion in the future and hopefully learn from their mistakes.
There were good moments too.
Smalljon Umber and Alysane Mormont we're officially an item after the She bear beat his arse back to the bed in the hospital where he tried to sneak out from.
The girl stayed with him all the time, and when Brendan visited him with some strong wine, he almost stayed as one of the patients as well when the she bear saw Jon with a drink in his hand.
Now when the southern part of the island was done with they moved north.
When the other forces stormed the rest of the island castles, Brendan with his reunited 7000 strong legion stood in front of the burning Ten Towers... he was finally let off the leash.
Everything burned before him, in the distance the last seat of House Harlaw stood it an orange coat of flames surrounding it.
Brendan just waited but his and his men bloodlust surely reached the castle defenders.
The flames were so big that even him and the legionnaires could feel them on their faces.
He didn't order them to storm the walls yet.
Everyone who wanted to leave the castle already did, now, only the Harlaw fanatics were left.
Those that left would be inspected by the Neverwinter guards to check for Ironborn.
If anyone tried to leave by sea, Dale and the wargs would capture them.
Truthfully, like this Dale Seaworth confiscate more gold and treasures from the running Ironborn nobles than all of the land forces did.
It will be equally split between all of the houses later on.
'Good' Brendan thought, 'let's see who is more of a crazy fanatic Rodrik. Your men or mine!'.
The trebuchets continuously rained rocks from behind the neat rows of the legion soldiers.
The smoke was rising so high that it should be visible even from the other parts of the island.
Brendan held his helmet under his left arm. His armour has a lot more dents and scratches than before. His right hand rested on the dragon hilt of his trusted Blackfyre and on the left hip a new acquisition that could mesmerize anyone who payed attention. Nightfall.
The sword was taken from the dead body of Harras Harlow from Grey Garden.
The most recognizable in the sword was the moonstone pommel and the guard with the hooks pointing down in the direction of the blade.
The blade itself gorgeously embroidered with old runes.
Brendan loved the sword the moment his hand gripped it, without any hesitation he exchanged his old, nameless Valyrian steel sword for Nightfall.
Giving his old weapon to Lord Harrion Karstark as a get well gift.
On the same day he got the Red Rain from Ser Hightower, yet without thinking the boy gave it back to the knight as he was now the head of House Reyne, since the man was going so far as to even relinquish his old surname in the future and take his wife's one about which Brendan and Gerold already spoke more than once.
When the flames started to die down it was time to end it all.
He didn't just want to win, no.
Brendan wanted to make an example out of them, to show everyone what happens when they reach their hand for anything of his, especially his family or friends.
That was as well the reason that he played it all so that only he and his loyal to the point of being fanatics men were the ones taking the Ten Towers of Harlaw.
The rest of the houses were cleaning the rest of the island and looking for his mother together with half of his Neverwinter guards.
Turning back Brendan looked at the faces of his legionnaires.
"Do you see that?!" he looked into their eyes and pointed at the castle. "There they are!" He shouted in anger and excitement.
"There are those who slaughtered our brothers! Who kidnapped your Lady and my mother!" he stopped controlling his emotions "My mother!!" He shouted louder with fury.
The eyes of his men looked in the distance as more and more killing intent seeped from their bodies.
"The same scums that "oh so bravery" ambushed a woman with a handful of her guards when she tried to save them! Pissed at the desecrated bodies of our friends! Of our brothers! OF! OUR! BROTHERS!" Brendan remembered how the body of Ser Hadrian and his men looked when he first saw them.
"I know you feel the same fury as I do! The same men I called brothers and sisters, you did as well!" he was now in the faces of the first line of his men and women shouting out his real feelings.
His voice was reaching far away, so most of his men heard it, some of them giving a battle cry in excitement.
"I want them dead! I want the animals to be put to the sword! Each and every one of them!" he calmed down a bit after releasing the flames from the deepest part of his heart.
"You saw on the Island what I did! Do they deserve mercy? Ra*ing and killing children, enslaving people!" Brendan gave his loudest shout.
"""No mercy!""" Thousands of throats shouted back with one voice.
"Then what will you do?!" Brendan punched the shields of the closest legionnaires, his eyes looking into theirs from no more than few centimeters and seeing their fury rising.
"""Kill! Kill! Kill!""" again his soldiers shouted back.
"No mercy!" He turned and looked at the castle while slowly putting on his helmet.
"""HA-OOH!"""
"No surrender!" Brendan took his shield from the ground and started walking with a slow step to the battle.
"""HA-OOH!""" The legion followed their Lord without breaking the formation.
