Chapter 175: Black Wedding III

"Dodge!!!" Rhaegar shouted, alerting Rhaenyra in the carriage as the soldier fell dead before him.

Ding ding ding ding ding—

Bone arrows rained from above. Rhaegar swiftly swung his Dragon Claw sword, deflecting the incoming arrows.

"Whinny~~" His white horse wasn't as fortunate. An arrow pierced its eye, and the horse let out a pained cry, stumbling before collapsing to the ground.

Plop...

Rhaegar fell heavily onto the back of the horse, rolling quickly to avoid being crushed. Bone arrows continued to fall, narrowly missing him as he scrambled to his feet, agilely knocking away another arrow with his sword.

While Rhaegar managed to dodge the arrows, his soldiers weren't as lucky.

"Ah!..." The soldiers in the canyon became living targets, falling quickly to the relentless assault.

Rhaegar's primary concern was the two wagons, especially Rhaenyra still inside. The solid wood of the wagons withstood the bone arrows, the thick wood preventing them from piercing through. Only a few iron-tipped arrows managed to penetrate, but just barely.

Rhaegar sprinted towards the wagons, his Dragon Claw flashing as he deflected more arrows. Reaching the side of the carriage, he ducked into the limited shelter it provided.

"Rhaegar!" Rhaenyra's frightened voice called out from inside.

Bone arrows had found their way through the carriage windows, but Rhaenyra had heeded Rhaegar's warning and was huddled in a corner, avoiding the deadly projectiles.

"Stay hidden and keep quiet!" Rhaegar called back, relieved to hear her voice. He knew he had to protect her at all costs. Besides his father, Rhaenyra was the most important person to him.

"Rhaegar, what's happening? Get inside the wagon!" Rhaenyra's voice trembled, clinging to the corner of the wagon. She had heard the soldier's screams and feared for Rhaegar's safety.

Rhaegar didn't have time to answer; his eyes darted to the other wagon. Jeyne and Jessamyn were inside, their screams audible, indicating they were still alive.

As Rhaegar's thoughts wandered, the rain of bone arrows ceased. He pressed against the wagon, wary of making any sudden moves, uncertain if a second volley might follow.

Suddenly, from the bushes and rocks on both sides of the canyon, Mountain Clansmen emerged, armed with bows and weapons.

"Kill! The Vale bitch is in the cart!" an ugly, lanky man shouted from atop a huge rock, his voice echoing through the canyon.

The Mountain Clansmen discarded their crude wooden bows, leaping down the hillside like a swarm, rolling into the valley. Rhaegar peeked out to see hundreds of attackers swarming into the canyon.

"Dammit, we're in big trouble!" he muttered, pressing his back against the wagon and tightening his grip on his Dragon Claw sword. He hadn't expected an ambush between Runestone and Gulltown; this road had never been dangerous before.

"Hold on! The Cannibals are hurrying back!" Rhaegar called to Rhaenyra in the wagon, trying to bolster both her spirits and his own. When the arrows first fell, he had mentally summoned the Cannibal dragon, hoping it would arrive in time to turn the tide.

In a short span, hundreds of Mountain Clansmen had descended into the canyon, menacingly advancing toward the two wagons.

"Rhaegar!" Rhaenyra poked her head out, her eyes wide with fear as she saw the approaching horde. Without her dragon, she felt powerless.

Inside the other wagon, Jeyne and Jessamyn clung to each other, huddling in a corner. Jeyne's arm was pierced by an arrow, blood soaking through her sleeve.

"Mountain Clans, we've been ambushed!" Jeyne whispered, pulling back the corner of the curtain to glimpse the surrounding attackers, her fingers trembling. The sight of the Mountain Clansmen brought back haunting memories—her father and brothers had perished in a similar ambush.

"Surround the wagons and kill the Vale bitch!" the Mountain Clans' leader shouted.

At his command, the attackers closed in on the two wagons, weapons drawn. In the face of this dire threat, Rhaegar made a swift decision and stepped out from behind the wagon. He needed to buy time, knowing that the Cannibal dragon was only minutes away.

Gripping his Dragon Claw sword tightly, Rhaegar stepped in front of the wagon, ready to defend those inside.

The Mountain Clansmen, seeing only one young man standing against them, laughed heartily and tightened their circle.

"Stop!" Rhaegar shouted, his voice cutting through the air. Blood surged through his veins as he prepared for the inevitable clash.

No one heeded his command. The Mountain Clans continued their advance, treating him as nothing more than a minor obstacle. They believed one boy could easily be felled with a single swing of an axe.

As Rhaegar advanced to meet them, his voice grew cold and resolute. "I am Rhaegar Targaryen, heir to the throne. Stand down, or face the consequences!"

His declaration was met with derision. The Mountain Clans had slain many lords of the Vale and had always thrived in chaos and defiance.

"Rhaegar, listen to me! You can still escape!" Rhaenyra's voice called from the wagon behind him, urging him to save himself while there was still a chance.

Rhaegar didn't waver. His expression relaxed into calm determination as he faced the enemy. Behind him were Rhaenyra and Lady Jeyne. He would not abandon them.

"I am of true dragon blood," he murmured, raising his Dragon Claw sword to his eyes. The blade glinted with a deadly light.

His father once asked him what the dragon's claws symbolized. His answer was simple: "Fearlessness."

Now, he would embody that will.

"Kill him!" the Mountain Clans' leader bellowed, pointing at Rhaegar.

With a roar, the Clansmen charged. The gap between them closed rapidly, and Rhaegar could almost smell their rank odor.

He slowed his breathing, tightened his grip on the sword hilt, and waited for the right moment.

"I'm going to chop off your white-haired head!" one Clansman yelled, swinging a stone axe at him.

Rhaegar sidestepped, swinging his sword in a fluid motion, and decapitated the attacker. The head rolled away as more Clansmen lunged at him with their weapons.

In an instant, Rhaegar was surrounded. He thrust his sword through one man's throat, then pivoted to slice another's neck. Blood sprayed in all directions.

The Clansmen cursed and attacked with stone axes, spears, and mallets. Rhaegar moved with practiced precision, each stroke of his sword finding its mark. He was relentless, his movements becoming a blur of steel and blood.

"Get away! I won't die in a place like this!" he roared, cutting down another attacker.

He fought with increasing ferocity, his will unbreakable. More wildlings joined the fray, encircling him with layers of bodies. The fallen corpses piled up, limiting his movement.

The air was thick with the stench of blood. Rhaegar's pale skin turned crimson as he continued to fight, his body radiating heat.

(Word count: 1,131)