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Aethon had expected many things in the coming weeks, maybe even a dispute over supply lines and a handful of pirate raids to get some vengeance for their incinerated friends at the bottom of the sea.
Perhaps even scattered resistance from whatever remnants of the Triarchy still lingered among the islands.
What he had not expected was for the Triarchy to answer so quickly or so boldly.
Maybe they thought the battle against the pirates weakened the fleet, or maybe there was another reason, but one couldn’t be sure this night.
The sea was shrouded beneath darkness, broken only by moonlight reflecting across the restless waves.
Most of the fleet lay anchored around the newly secured island, while patrol ships continued their endless circuits through the surrounding waters.
It was one of those patrols that spotted an anomaly first, when one looked closer, there were lights in the distance igniting, dozens then hundreds.
Sails slowly emerged from the darkness like ghosts crossing the sea.
“Enemy fleet!”
The lookout’s cry echoed across the night, it was obvious that this many ships approaching was no friend who wanted to just greet them and share hugs, it was clear that something was about to ensue when the look out said “Triarchy banners!
One hundred ships north…”
He paused, squinting through the darkness before his face paled as more ships emerged.
The alarm bell rang immediately and moments later a massive war horn bellowed across the sea.
Its deep roar shattered the peaceful night such that every Velaryon sailor understood exactly what that signal meant.
Earlier that very evening, Aethon had finalized another shipment order from Lys.
Since he didn’t want to waste time in reaping the fruits of this narrow gate of trade, he placed an order for thousands of logs, cut stone and iron fittings for the fortress, the sooner it was built the better.
This was everything required to begin constructing a temporary harbor fortress before permanent walls could eventually replace it, Corlys had already stationed several dozen warships around the island specifically to protect those future construction efforts. Read this novel at novelping . com for the best experience.
That decision now proved invaluable, the patrol vessels were already underway when the Triarchy emerged from the darkness in a assault, it could be said that the Stepstones were economically lucrative to them, so it’s understandable why they keep coming back for it.
Signal fires erupted across the sea as flags changed.
As a manner to alert everyone, war horns answered one another from ship to ship.
Within minutes the entire Velaryon fleet was awake.
Back on shore, Aethon had been enjoying what he hoped would be a peaceful night’s sleep in his tent.
Instead his eyes snapped open at the sound of shouting outside his tent.
Then came another horn, it was long and urgent followed immediately by frantic voices saying “To the ships!”
“Move!”
“Enemy fleet!”
He threw aside the blanket and stepped outside.
The peaceful camp from only moments earlier had transformed into utter chaos as captains and lieutenants sprinted toward the shoreline while soldiers hurriedly fastened breastplates over half-buttoned tunics.
Some still struggled to tighten their belts as they ran, while others grabbed helmets only after climbing into waiting rowboats.
Fortunately very few men had remained ashore after the evening’s celebration.
Only senior officers had stayed behind for the victory feast held in Aethon’s name.
The overwhelming majority of the army still occupied the fleet itself.
Even so many of those now rowing toward the anchored warships clearly regretted every cup of wine they’d enjoyed only hours earlier.
One captain nearly lost his balance while climbing aboard a boat.
Another paused halfway through buckling his armor before remembering he still needed an oar to row, but no one complained, they simply rowed harder towards their battleships.
“Aethon!”
Without slowing, he thrust another suit of armor into Aethon’s hands saying “Put this on.”
His tone left no room for argument, besides he was already rushing in the other direction saying “We’re under attack.”
Aethon stared briefly at the equipment before quickly dressing up while rushing next to Corlys, It fit perfectly with every measurement, strap and plate.
So this made him say “…You had this made.”
Corlys continued fastening his gauntlets as he quickly replied “I’ve known you long enough Aethon.”
A faint smile touched his lips despite the circumstances as he said “I suspected you’d eventually ignore your own good judgment and involve yourself anyway.”
It seemed that Corlys prepared his armor in advance thinking he was originally going to accept the campaign.
Aethon couldn’t help shaking his head as he heard Corlys say “Hurry.”
He was already turning back toward the shoreline saying “We’ll speak after we’ve won.”
He disappeared into the darkness with that and Aethon wasted no more time, still his thoughts ran amuck, ‘The armor is good, I guess I’ll keep it, still this was a foolish move by whoever is attacking us, don’t they know what lies here?
I guess I have to demonstrate.’
Within minutes he was fully armored and instead of following the others toward the beach, he sprinted inland.
The path climbed steadily toward the highest hill overlooking the island.
Even before reaching the summit, flashes of orange illuminated the night sky behind him.
When Aethon finally glanced back, the battle had already begun.
Warships collided with thunderous crashes that echoed across the sea while fire spread from sail to sail as flaming arrows streaked through the darkness like swarms of angry stars, even from this distance he could still hear men screaming their lungs out whether in pain or as a battle cry.
Several Velaryon vessels had already caught fire, this was apparent when he saw the banners of the seahorse.
Others responded by ramming directly into enemy ships, splintering timber beneath enormous impacts, while also boarding the said ships to massacre each other.
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