Chapter 12.2- The Seadragon's Roar

In the end, it took us close to a month to ensure that all the pirates were contained to their respective Islands and would not be in position to contest Daemon’s arrival. Once we had done so, we sent word to the fleet that they could move in, and so that is what led us to our present position, patrolling and policing the corridor that covered the straightest route between Tarth and Bloodstone.

Like expected, it was busy work, and not very productive busywork at tat. We had gotten rid of all the threats so there wasn’t anything that we expected to threaten the fleet as it made its journey but the experience with the Pirates and the Tyroshi had Corlys paranoid and so here I was now watching and waiting for anything to change. Nothing did.

I caught sight of the fleet about two hours into my patrol and I watched from above as they cut through the water, heading at full speed towards their Quarry. Bloodstone was the most imposing of the islands on the stepstones. The largest by a wide margin, almost about half again the size of Driftmark, and the only one to boast several fortifications. Three different Pirate Kings laid claim to the Island and they were in a constant state of war against each other, so Bloodstone would also be defended by bloodied and battle hardened men who would be unlikely to give up the land they were already so used to fighting over. It was going to be a tough nut to crack, and part of me was disappointed that I would never get to try my hand at it.

An hour into watching the Fleet, I finally got to see something happen. Even if it was something as routine as one of our caravels being sent to ferry Borros over to Daemon’s fleet. While he had been less than enthused at having to give up his squire for part of the wart, he had easily been appeased once it was clear that the only way we would be remaining together was if he agreed to forego the slaughter that was sure to be the taking of Bloodstone in favour of joining Corlys’ fleet at Grey Gallows, a much smaller, less noteworthy island. Needless to say, he was more than willing to say goodbye to me once those terms were clear. Not like his insistence on keeping me close was anything other than an attempt to annoy Corlys as much as possible.

The exchange happened without a hitch, and I returned to my patrol. The Stepstones, normally a hive of traffic seemed near deserted as Daemon’s fleet crossed unopposed. Of course, our war here had caused all the trade that normally flowed across to cease. Especially when Corlys had shown some weeks ago that he had no compunctions against seizing any trade ships that we came across under suspicion of piracy. Of course, it wasn’t piracy when we were the ones doing it. We had royal writ, I thought with a chuckle as I banked left and just about managed to miss the missile of red that shot through the space I had just been.

Igneel roared, far from pleased as Daemon turned his mount to face us.