A relief

A relief

Theon POV

It isn't often I praise someone, but this time, I would bow my head in awe of the strategic brilliance of Prince Quentyn Martell. Feeding an army of fifteen thousand Dothraki, five thousand Unsullied, eight thousand Ironborn, four thousand sellswords, and thirty thousand freedmen wasn't an easy task to accomplish with the severe food lack we faced. Yet, the Prince managed to do so, a testament to his resourcefulness and foresight.

Without the Prince's strategic moves, my plan would have been a mere fantasy. The journey to Volantis was arduous, and the provision of supplies to sustain and prepare our army was a crucial factor in enabling them to cover such vast distances at the speed I desired. After all, our army had to reach Volantis before they discovered the truth about the fleet I had dispatched with a skeleton crew.

I heard of the Volantis fleet and how much effort they put into defending their waters, especially after I arrived in Essos. So, it shouldn't be that hard to bait them and make them follow my fleet out of the city in a wild goose chase. Leaving the city pretty much defenseless. I was sure that Volantis was too proud of their responses to our messages to try and bring the fight with their superior numbers to me.

They won't have the chance to face me, though. Asha and Euron will lead them astray, while the true force will strike from the land. It's a strategic use of my reputation. No one would anticipate the Lord of the Sea launching an attack from the land. The fear they hold for me will drive them to use all their resources to eliminate me. This is why I am certain that Volantis will mobilize the majority of its forces to pursue my fleet.

"I don't like this place," Thoros said as we were reaching Mantarys. "It gives me chills even under this scorching sun. Something is wrong with this place; I can feel it deep in my bones."

This time, I had to agree with Thoros. I read and heard many things about the city of Mantarys. Mantarys remained inhabited after the Doom of Valyria, but its people are said to be twisted and monstrous. And closing in on it, I could feel the fire in my blood to cool in warning. Maybe I was imagining it, but my instincts told me this place wasn't somewhere I would be welcomed, no matter my reputation.

"It could be our ally if we reach out to them," Dany said, riding next to us in front of the army.

"Some places and people are better left alone," I replied. "Who knows what they want and what they can do. If we approach them hastily, we might make more enemies."

"Aye, we better leave this place alone," Anguy agreed. "If Theon is careful of it, it isn't a place we should approach."

I gave a side glance at Anguy, asking what he meant. He only shrugged his shoulders in reply, telling me that I knew what he meant. He was becoming cheekier with time; I should kick his ass some time. With these thoughts, we passed by Mantarys, not disturbing it. As I laid my eyes on the city, I didn't wish to enter it, no matter what riches it might promise me.

…

Our army was sixty thousand strong. Even if I wouldn't call the freedmen soldiers, they at least knew how to stand in ranks and march menacingly while holding their weapons right. That was more than enough to make them a real army in the eyes of our enemy. And it wasn't like they weren't trained. I made sure drills were made for them to learn how to stab with their spears and block with their shields.

The black walls surrounding the eastern city of Volantis didn't look easy to breach. And the walls surrounding the rest of the city stretched longer than I expected. Even our army couldn't surround the city without spreading too thin. There was no wonder why the rulers of Volantis were so proud and sure of themselves.

"It sure is oppressive," Prince Oberyn said as he looked at the rest of the small council of Queen Daenerys. "I have been here a couple of times. But it is the first time I feel so suppressed by the might of this city."

"The walls are tall," I agreed. "They look down on us from up here. Yet, they will fall like everyone else that stood before me."

"My children will bring them down," Dany wasn't worried either. "But we need to find what they have behind these walls. Even if our scouts find out that their fleet is gone, we don't know how big an army they still have inside the city."

"That's not true," I said with a smile as Anguy brought me a cage with the seagull inside. "I know everything I need to know."

It didn't take long for me to fly over Volantis and look over the inside of the city. With that, I found the defensive plans and the best route to take over the city. And as I have predicted, my plan worked. The Volantis still had twenty thousand slave soldiers stretching thin on the walls and behind them, maybe ten thousand more hiding somewhere, but not more.

And yet, I wasn't going to act so rashly this time, for I knew that they knew that they didn't stand a chance against me. So, rather than fight me head-on, they would choose a different path. It wouldn't be the first time they tried to do something like this anyway. With their riches and connections, assassins weren't hard to buy or even raise.

But I had a weapon that Volantis could never get, no matter how much they paid. Ser Barristan Selmy has many years of experience and capabilities to protect anyone left in his charge. Even I had to be careful around him, as every time he locked his eyes with mine, I felt like he could cut me apart if I made just one wrong move. Ever vigilant and focused, even the best of assassins couldn't reach Dany before his sword cut them.

Too bad for me, Ser Barristan Selmy, was protecting Dany and not me. Too bad for the assassins that will surely come tonight for my head; I didn't sleep, and I didn't tire. And even if I didn't have Ser Barristan Selmy, I had my guards. Every single one of them was more than capable of handling the worst the world could throw at me. So, I was curious what and how many would be sent to take my head.

"I have seen many men, wise and old, brave and young," The Red Priest Moqorro said as his black hand scratched his white beard. "Yet, I had never seen a more terrifying smile than yours, Lord of the Sea. Even my flames won't show the terrors you might unleash on your enemies."

"You won't have to see them if you manage to open the gates for us," I replied as the Red Priest prepared to return to his city and open negotiations with the city and us.

"I will surely try my best, but I fear that the Triarchs won't listen to me as much as I like them to," Moqorro said. "But as an apology, I will warn you of the tigers in my city. They love to bear their claws, and if you enter their territory, I advise you to be careful of them."

"If they stand in my way, their claws shall be broken," I replied. "But I appreciate the warning."

Moqorro nodded gravely as he rode ahead with the rest of the Red Priests and their guards, who had accompanied us. Dany's expression hadn't changed, but I could tell that she wanted at least to try and reach some agreement with the rulers of Volantis before it turned out to be a bloodbath. But I didn't hold much hope and was waiting for the battle to begin by the next morning.

"This war will be the end, right?" Dany suddenly asked, and before I could reply, Ser Barristan closed his eyes with a dour expression. That was enough of an answer to Dany. "Make it the end."

Her words were like steel. We could only listen to her, and I was ready to make her words come true. Volantis will be the last to fall before we move on to the Seven Kingdoms. Grey Worm and Prince Oberyn left to make sure the army was settled in. Daario, Jorah, and Barristan left with Dany, but I stayed and watched the walls.

"What the plan?" Bronn asked, nursing a flask by his mouth. "Did you find a secret entryway into the city? Or do you have someone from inside who will open the gates for us?"

"The plan is simple," I said. "We wait for them to open the gates."

"Who will open the gates?" Bronn looked concerned. Like always, he was more sensible of us.

"The nobles will open the gates and welcome us into the city," I said.

"This time, I think your confidence in your plan is misplaced, King Theon," The Tattered Prince said, joining us. "The Triarchs of Volantis are too proud of their blood and would never let their city fall."

"Then we will have to see."

I knew for sure that they would open the gates and try to talk to us because they had no other choice. No, they won't have any other choice by the next morning. As much as they want to kick and scream like children, they will have no other choice but to acknowledge that they are out of the options. And so, they will try to stall us until their fleet and soldiers return. But with the compass I gave to Asha, my fleet was leading them to the abyss.

…

Blood dripped from my sword. It was getting dull. As I cleaned it, I let the rising sunlight reflect from the iron. I could see the blade chipped and, in some places, cracked. It had become a bit thin from the excessive sharpening. This sword served me for a long time, but as I cleaned it surrounded by dozens of corpses, I was considering replacing it before returning to Westeros.

"Maybe this time they will learn," Anguy said as he ripped arrows from one of the assassin's heads. "They must have been expensive if they managed to get this close. Maybe they are one of the best, so the rest will finally realize that no amount of reward promised is worth trying to kill you."

"Not many fear death until they are face to face with it," I said. "And it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. The ones on the top, with their power and wealth, will always make the same mistakes. The consequences of failure don't reach them often. That is why it will be very satisfying to see their faces when I reach them."

As I had expected, the assassins infiltrated our camp at night and tried to kill off the leaders of the army. I was the most important target as my tent was besieged from all sides by forty assassins. Of course, Dany and other leaders were attacked by a few assassins, too. But since we were already expecting it, they didn't manage to do any damage.

They didn't even manage to destroy our water and food supplies. Volantis was too old and too predictable in its tactics. They had no imagination or courage to do something more daring, and that's why I felt so disappointed. The least they could have done was mimic me, but it was too much to ask these old fools who knew nothing of what was happening below their feet.

"The army is ready, King Theon," Jorah rode past my tent and informed me. "The Queen is waiting for you."

"Then let's not make her wait longer," I replied. "Anguy, find someone to clean up this mess."

I still reeked of blood as I approached Dany and the others. The others patiently awaited me. The morning sun had already risen high, and the army was on the move. The men took their positions and awaited orders to attack. But just as I thought, Volantis didn't wish to fight yet, and after seeing us, they sent out a group of riders to invite us for a conversation with the Triarchs of Volantis.

"So, the bullshit begins," Oberyn muttered under his breath. "Is as we predicted. They will try to stall for time. And hope to last until the rest of their soldiers return."

"They asked of us almost immediately," Dany said. "That's good; they are afraid and worried. It means they know that their men aren't close enough and are already starting to make sure we don't attack while they aren't prepared."

"But that also means that we can't trust anything they say, as they will say anything to stall us," Ser Barristan replied. "In the end, this parley will mean nothing."

"That's not entirely true," I said. "It will give me an opportunity to look at the eyes of the people we will fight against. Much can be gained from it."

Eyes weren't the important thing I was looking for. I wanted to see how the rulers of Volantis talked, acted, and looked. Then, I could form my opinions about how they would act and think. After knowing it all, it shouldn't be too hard to find a way to force them to surrender. Even I was reserved about destroying them. The black walls two hundred feet tall protecting them didn't look easily breached, even with dragons.

…

Daenerys POV

"Rhaegar was kind, your grace," Ser Barristan seemed to like to remind me of that. "He would have been a great king, a wise and noble king."

The dragons lay by my feet, and my children rested as the sun rose even higher. We had to make the Triarchs of Volantis wait to show that we weren't in a hurry either. They had been on a hunt last night, seeking prey. They returned bloodied and satisfied as the prey came to us themselves. Theon said they were satisfied not because they had eaten but because they had hunted. They were predators, and everything below them was their prey.

"Yet, he is not a king," I replied, finding my voice colder than I liked. "He is dead."

"Your Grace," Ser Barristan was too worried, too concerned, but that was one of his better qualities.

"I heard it many times from you," I interrupted him. "He fought valiantly. He fought nobly. I know what you are trying to say. He was nothing like Theon."

"King Theon loves killing, Your Grace," Ser Barristan said. "He relishes in the idea of war, of a battle."

"Of a victory," I added, knowing too well. "All men enjoy what they do best."

"Prince Rhaegar didn't," Ser Barristan bitterly replied. "He was good at it. He was not the best, but he never put his heart into his sword. If he did, he would have been one of the best swordsmen in history. But he never enjoyed hurting others. He hated killing the most. But he was good at it, maybe even more talented in it than in his music or readings."

"Better than Theon?"

"I don't think there is a man better at killing their enemies than King Theon. But that not the point I wanted to make, Your Grace…"

"I know what you wanted to say," I replied with a kind smile. "But it isn't neither the time nor the place. Theon is who he is. Neither you nor I will change that. And we, no, I need a man like him by my side if I want to accomplish what I set out for."

"I only worry that King Theon will push too far too hard and put us in a difficult position."

"It might happen as you say," I said. "That's why I have you by my side. For I know that no matter what, you will be able to get me out of that position."

Ser Barristan bowed slightly at my words. I understood his worry about how Theon was acting, but I wasn't that worried about it. Unlike anyone else, to me Theon looked honest. He said what he wanted to say, and he did what he wanted to do. And that is why I wouldn't say I liked Euron. That man was making Theon hesitate. It wasn't my place to interfere, but I knew that Euron wasn't our ally and Theon couldn't kill him, so I would wait for him to slip, and I would kill Euron myself as he wasn't bound to me by blood like Theon was.

"Are you ready, Dany?" The dragons rose at Theon's voice. I knew they liked him, as they would focus on him every time he was in their sight. "The Volantis sheep are waiting for us. And I am curious to see how fat they are before we roast them by the fire."

That confidence was like that of Drogo or Daario but different. Theon seemed to be bigger than the world. Like my children, he looked at everyone from above and regarded them as prey and nothing else. Even after facing death and impossible odds, he didn't flinch and never seemed to be worried. It gave me the confidence to face the world and everything it had to throw at me.

…

Disgusting.

It was the only word I could use to describe the triarchs of Volantis. They weren't fat, as Theon thought they would be. They were pretty, with smooth skin and well-developed bodies, pretty faces, and long, luscious hair. They wore expensive, over-the-top clothes and jewelry. And yet, behind all of that, I found their eyes disgusting.

Their smiles and laughter as they spoke arrogantly made me realize that they saw this war as a game. It was like a tourney to them. They had no fear for their lives. And I knew why. It was because no danger had ever come to them. They fought wars by buying sellswords and assassins. They never left the comfort of their walls and guards.

They didn't care if they lost or not. For they knew their lives were secure and all those who would die were of no concern to them. At worst, they will lose a few toys, and with all the gold they got stashed away for centuries, will buy them new toys. It made me angry for taking them so seriously. Theon was wrong. They weren't sheep; they were leeches sucking the blood out of their people.

"Hah," it was a long, drowned-out sigh. But it silenced everyone. The smiles were gone from the rulers of Volantis as Theon relaxed in this chair. "What a relief!"

"Relief?" Malaquo Maegyr was one of the current ruling triarchs of the Free City of Volantis. And he seemed to be one of the most experienced ones of the lot. That is why he seemed to shudder as Theon spoke.

"Yes, it is a relief," Theon continued. "I was afraid you would surrender like New Ghis. There is no fun in that. So, I thank you for not surrendering and laughing at our faces. Now, I have more people to kill before I leave these lands. It makes me tremble from happiness. You have no idea how much I will enjoy killing you. Seeing you bleed down, cry, and beg for mercy will be the greatest enjoyment to me."

"I like to see if what is said about you is at least half true," one of the youngest triarchs said, not hiding his discourtesy but still not daring to sneer at Theon. "Even your flying pets won't be able to burn our black walls."

"We have a word for people like you where I come from," Theon replied. "We call people like you a child of summer. For all you have seen was the light of the sun, and everything you felt was its warmth. I will show you the darkness of the sea. You will shudder at its cold as the depth crushes you. And the only dragon you should be afraid of is sitting right before you."

"We will attack by the next sunrise," I said with a feral smile matching that one of Theon's. "If the gates are still closed by then, we will kill every single one of you who is hiding behind them. If they are open, on the other hand, I will spare every single one who is standing next to them."

I made sure my words would be final as I stood up and we left their premises. I doubted they would agree to my proposition. But there was nothing else to say to the people who would sacrifice hundreds and thousands of people without hesitation and do it again when the first time failed. They had no remorse for the people they decisions killed.

At least Theon looked happy at the idea of fucking them over. And I would lie if I said that I wasn't delighted by such an idea. Seeing their falling heads will bring me pleasant dreams. It was truly a relief to me that Theon was by my side. And I could trust him to do what he always does. I could trust him to win. That much I was sure of.

A.N. Hello there. I am finally back, even if only for a few days. I was unlucky, and I had patrol and guard duty on weekends, so I wasn't let go home for the past month. But it seems I won't have such duty next weekend, at least for a while, if nothing changes. Still, I am back for now and I plan to write while I have time. A new chapter of "Will of Embers" Should be posted by tomorrow too. Well, that's all, folks, and see you.