RM: Interlude: The Lion Bearded II

Bronn and company had found a weak point in the Crag's newly repaired defenses to sneak through. A grate in the base of one of the walls that allowed a small mountain stream to trickle through from a spring bubbling up from the mountainside that the Crag was situated on top of. The Westerlings could have dammed the small stream up, but they chose to let it flow, as it would provide an extra source of fresh water in a siege apart from the rain cisterns, something that was normally invaluable to a castle. In this case, however, the iron-barred grate that they were using to allow the stream to pass through down into the town at the base of the Mountain was a liability that Bronn and Company had prepared to exploit.

During their training with Vizimir, the Old Mossovite Witch Hunter had taught Bronn a few of the tricks of the Witch Hunter's Trade from back in Mossovy. One such trick was Alchemy, where Vizimir showed Bronn how to make a number of oils and powders. This included Black Powder, though that was not how they gained entry. Instead, a paste was utilized. A combination of Cadmia from refined from Calamine through Alchemical Processes, and Rust that burned hot enough to burn through Bronze, Iron, and even Steel, though the reaction was swift to burn and just as swift to burn out, unlike, say, Wildfire. When ignited, this Fire Paste seared through the iron bars of the grate as if it were a hot knife through soft cheese, allowing Bronn and Company their entrance.

Of course, entering the Castle grounds was the Easy Part. It was getting to where they needed to go that was difficult. Thankfully, they had a way to do just that, thanks to Likely Luke's suggestion and Anguy's keen eyesight. Tywin Lannister had hired a Group of Sellswords to bolster his numbers, the Black Wings, a newer Company founded by a Night's Watch Deserter that had stowed away on a Myrish Trade Ship that had put in at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, that Bronn had fought alongside in his days as a Sellsword in Essos, before he had been recruited by Vizimir and Lord Seawynd for their Network. They had only been operating for around three and a half decades at this point, and had taken enough losses in the Daughter's War that they had absorbed other shattered companies.

No one in the Black Wings had yet had time to truly meet with all the fresh recruits, allowing Bronn and Company to sneak in posing as some of said recruits. All they had needed were some of the Company's hooded gray cloaks with the sigil of the black wings embroidered on them. That was something that had been handily provided by a foraging party of Black Wings that Anguy had spotted attempting to scrounge for food in the foothills of the mountain the Crag sat on. They had fallen upon them with a fury, ambushing the Hapless group of Sellswords in a swift and brutal skirmish. Five minutes after springing their Ambush, Bronn and Company had their disguises.

Between that and the Flame Paste, they now had their way in and the run of the Crag. Of course, there was the fact that the second they began attempting to open the gates, that subterfuge would be through with and they would have to defend themselves, but they had to trust that King Stannis would relieve them soon enough. Fortunately, the King had promised a distraction that the Westerlanders, Traitor Crownlanders, Turncloak Riverlanders, and Sellswords couldn't hope to resist. As Bronn and Company made their way through the outer ward of the Castle of the Crag, they had to believe that distraction would give them what they needed. If it didn't, then what was the point of all this?

"Lot of Red Cloaks." Muttered Likely Luke.

"Aye, and not just them. Mooton Remnants, Mallisters, Hoggs, and Hayfords to boot." Nodded Bronn.

"Plus sellswords. Three Companies." Grunted Gragg Shorn.

"Aye, the Black Wings, the Brave Companions, and one other. I don't recognize the Banner. Crossed Swords on Pale Blue?" Questioned Anguy.

"The Guild of the Blue. They're a Company from Myr, formed out of the ashes of six smaller companies plus the Household Guards of House Drahar. They've been around for five decades or so." Informed Bronn.

"House Drahar?" Queried Likely Luke.

"Aye, a Noble House from the Sabyto River Region, they Practically Own the area around Lake Avyrno and the Upper Sabyto." Informed Bronn.

"An Old Merchant-Venturer House. They've got plenty of cash and muscle." Rumbled Gragg Shorn.

"I would bet that they also have Yvaevor Drahar, the Heir to House Drahar, in command. He's supposed to be a decent tactician and a good swordsman." Nodded Bronn.

"What's Myr doing here?" Asked Anguy.

"If I had to guess? Trying to squeeze every last copper star they can bloody well get out of Tywin Lannister." Smirked Bronn.

Hopefully, that was all that Myr was doing here. Bronn didn't think they had the coin and strength to do more than have some of their more or less proprietary sellswords hired out by the Lannisters. Not with all three Daughters still reeling from the Daughter's War of a couple of years ago. Still, if that wasn't the case, then this war might not end with this assault like they'd hoped, but actually widen in scope. It wasn't likely, but Vizimir had trained Bronn to think past the needs of the moment, and he'd be a piss-poor Agent if he couldn't figure out the wider implications of a plan he bloody-well spearheaded.

However, as he frowned and pondered that, a shout went up from the walls of the Crag and a commotion began to occur within the outer ward. It seemed that King Stannis' distraction was getting underway now, and that meant the time for pondering about the implications of the plan was dead and dusted. There was only time left for action now, and Bronn and Company were nothing if not men of action. Fortunately, they were about to get some unknowing help in their plan from an unlikely source. As Bronn and Company watched the commotion begin to unfold, a large, bearded man in ringmail and a Black Wings Cloak, with the Bronze and Amber Arm Ring of a Wildling, stepped forth to begin bellowing orders to the Black Wings in the Outer Ward. As the Wildling-Turned-Sellsword Lieutenant spotted Bronn and Company, he pointed to them before bellowing more orders.

"You lot! Get to the Gatehouse! It's being held by Seaguard Men and Vargo Hoat's Lackeys! They'll need someone there to put iron in their spines in case the Enemy tries to force their way in!" Ordered the Lieutenant.

"Will do, Chief!" Agreed Bronn.

Then, without questioning their good fortune, Bronn and Company headed for the gatehouse. When they arrived, they found the situation to be just as the Black Wings Lieutenant had claimed it to be. A handful of Mallister Guards in boiled leather over chainmail, some holding matchlock muskets with smoldering matchcords already lit, but most holding crossbows, were perched against the outer wall, ready to fire through the arrow slits at anyone advancing. Meanwhile, six of Vargo Hoat's Men were standing about in their mismatched armor, watching as some of House Westerling's Levies in padded jacks with the Seashell Badge of House Westerling sewn to them, began to heat a cauldron of boiling oil over a small stove, ready to pour it down the murder holes should anyone make it into the gates.

Two of the Brave Companions, a misnomer if ever there was one, turned to look at Bronn and Company as they entered the Gatehouse from the stairway. One of them was a large Man in Ringmail, wielding a Bastard Sword, with Piggy Eyes and a wide, flat nose. The other was a smaller Man dressed in an eyesore of a Green and Pink Jester's Motley over a chainmail Byrnie, and who wielded a flail with three spiked heads. As Bronn and Company entered, it was the Fool who spoke up.

"Who in the Seven Hells are you lot?" Questioned the Jester.

"Aye. We have it under control. We don't need your help." Intoned the Piggy Man.

"Oh, you do, do you?" Queried Bronn.

"We do. Now piss off, unless you have some ale or a pretty bird you feel like sharing?" Asked the Jester.

As he asked this, the Mallister Men began loading their Muskets and taking potshots at the approaching Vanguard under King Stannis with their Crossbows. As the first ripple of matchlock fire belched out, and King Stannis' Vanguard came under fire, Bronn knew he had little time to waste. This was a fact that was punctuated by the booming of cannonfire as the Lannister Guns from the castle walls and the guns of King Stannis' Artillery began to trade fire back and forth. It was now or never to break their cover and begin killing.

"We don't." Huffed Gragg Shorn.

"Then piss off!" Scowled the Piggy Man.

"No." Refused Likely Luke.

"There's something you aren't getting." Added Anguy.

"We're not your relief." Smirked Bronn.

As he said that, Bronn drew his Fighting Knife and, in a flash, threw it into the face of the Jester. The forward-curved blade buried itself in the Jester's skull, splitting that eyesore of a Green and Pink Motley Hat and splatting blood and brain matter all over the floor. Bronn drew his sword as Likely Luke and Gragg Shorn charged, while Anguy put three shafts into the Piggy Man, who was drawing his bastard sword to charge at Bronn, within a dozen seconds. Bronn finished the man off with his own blade, decapitating him before kicking the cauldron of boiling oil off the small stove to scald the Westerling Men that were heating it, slaying half a dozen of the Crag's Levies with one kick.

As Gragg Shorn and Likely Luke began to hew limbs and heads off of the surprised Mallister Guards, one of them managed to club Gragg Shorn in the temple with the oaken butt of his matchlock. Fortunately, the Ibbenese Warrior was made of sturdier stuff than the average man. He would live, more to the point, his anger and having his scalp busted open and his skull bruised fueled his actions as he literally hewed the offending Mallister Guard in half from shoulder to groin. Likely Luke, likewise, took a crossbow bolt to the shoulder, though given he was wearing Arsenal Steel Mail under his pilfered cloak, the bolt was blunted to the point of being a flesh wound. His bastard sword split the skull of the offending Mallister Guard.

A Mallister Musketeer turned, matchlock primed and ready to fire into Bronn, only for his eye to sport a feathered shaft as Anguy covered Bronn's back. The Mallister Musketeer's Matchlock discharged harmlessly into the ceiling as he fell, Bronn nodding at Anguy, who turned to put another arrow into the lung of a Mallister Crossbowman. Meanwhile, Bronn cut the legs out from a Brave Companion before parrying a strike from a Second Brave Companion's Cleaver-like blade. Bronn ran his blade down the length of his new opponent's sword, the lack of a proper crossguard allowing him to flick his wrist and sever the man's fingers. The Brave Companion fell back with a strangled gasp, clutching the ruin of his hand and allowing Bronn to run him through.

A Brave Companion rushed for Bronn's Rear with a Myrish Naval Dirk, cutting out at Bronn and drawing a superficial wound along Bronn's left Bicep, only for Bronn's riposte to cut the Man's throat. Anguy then shot the last Brave Companion who was charging Bronn with a handaxe and shield, an arrow punching through the Man's neck from the side. With Gragg Shorn and Likely Luke finishing off the last of the Mallister Men, the fight was over with soon enough, and a pile of bodies was all that was left of the Garrison of the Gatehouse of the Crag.

"Come on now! Get to the bloody Capstan!" Ordered Bronn.

"Right. Gragg, you with me?" Questioned Likely Luke.

"One moment. Head hurts." Grunted Gragg Shorn, clutching his temple where he'd been smashed with the Musket Butt.

The moment passed, however, and the pair made their way over to the large capstan winch that controlled the gates. It took two men to operate, which left only Bronn and Anguy to defend the Gatehouse against anyone trying to come up and retake it. That was a fact that wasn't lost on Anguy as he sidled over to Bronn, nodding at the nominal leader of the Group, which even King Stannis had begun referring to as Bronn's Brute Squad every now and again. Bronn nodded back.

"What's on your mind?" He queried.

"Can we defend this for as long as it takes for the Vanguard to storm in?" Asked Anguy.

"We don't have much of a choice, Anguy. The King told us to do this." Pointed out Bronn.

"I know, and normally, I'd be willing to say we'd be capable, but Gragg Shorn is clearly hurt, no matter what he says." Frowned Anguy.

"It doesn't matter. We've a job to do and we'll bloody well do it." Insisted Bronn.

"Because we're professionals." Nodded Anguy.

"Damn right we are." Agreed Bronn.

As Likely Luke and Gragg Shorn worked the Capstan Winch and the gate opened up, however, none of Anguy's misgivings about the mission mattered any longer. They were committed now, and someone was going to send a group to try to retake the Gatehouse. It was just a matter of time. All that was left now was for them to fight off the inevitable counterattack and hold until relieved by King Stannis and his forces. Bronn could already hear shouting from the outside. He positioned himself near the door to the spiral stairwell, Anguy posting up nearby, lying in wait for the counterattack.

They didn't have to wait very long, as a group of mixed Mooton Remnants, Black Wings, and Hayford Men came rushing up the spiral stairs. Bronn threw his fighting knife into the face of a Hayford Man before Running Through a Black Wings Sellsword in boiled leather over a padded jack. Anguy fired his bow into the chest of a Mooton Man, and the battle was joined. Soon enough, the enemy was retreating back down the spiral stairs, leaving several dead and wounded in their wake. As Bronn and Anguy were joined by Likely Luke and the wounded Gragg Shorn, however, Bronn reflected that the next attempt would likely be a lot more professional. He would turn out to be right.

The next group of enemy forces to try and retake the Gatehouse would be a mix of Lannister Guards and Blue Guild Men, led by Ser Forley Prester. Ser Forley and Bronn crossed swords, neither one managing to gain the upper hand on the other for very long. However, it was not their duel that proved decisive, but events elsewhere that led to Bronn and Company keeping hold of the Gatehouse. King Stannis had managed to storm the Gates under fire from the walls, thanks to Bronn and Company's infiltration. Tywin Lannister had called for a withdrawal of all forces into the Inner Ward around the Keep. Ser Forley's group was among the forces retreating.

They had done it, though at a cost, as Likely Luke was lightly wounded in the shoulder from a crossbow bolt, Gragg Shorn had a concussion, split scalp, and bruised skull, and Bronn had a wound on his left bicep. Only Anguy, who had hung out of melee with his bow, was unwounded, though out of arrows at this point. Thankfully, they were relieved shortly afterward by a party of men under the command of Ser Justin Massey. As they rested, their wounds being seen to, Bronn could only sigh.

"I need a bloody holiday." He grumbled as his bicep was being stitched up.

At least it would only be a matter of time now before Tywin Lannister was defeated. That was something, at least, maybe even enough for Bronn to get a bonus. He'd been eyeing a Manse in the Pentoshi Flatlands close to the border with Braavos for a while now that would allow him to properly court Rolena zo Asni. He only had to save up a bit more to meet the Price of the Magister who owned it and the small Tea Plantation attached to it.

And that, Bronn reflected, would make all this worth it. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. It seems like thanks to Bronn and Company, Stannis is close to finally removing Tywin Lannister as a threat once and for all. Once he's done with this, all that's left for him to do is to move to Casterly Rock, garrisoned by a skeleton force, and depose Tommen, then the Westerlands will be out of the War, and it will literally just be Littlefinger left, a losing proposition if ever there was one. Also, yes, Bronn did use a form of Crude Alchemical Thermite Paste to get into the Crag. Thanks for noticing. It's the sort of mix of engineering and magic that tends to happen in Ricasso's territory, like the Coquina Stone Bastion Forts that have Runic Enhancements helping them to better resist attack, which guard his cities.

At any rate, the next chapter will be a look at the Ironborn Civil War, as we go into the Endgame There. That will be followed by a return to Ricasso's POV for the next part of events during the Battle of Maidenpool, and followed by the next part of the Battle of the Wall.

Stay tuned. . .