Even at the forceful landing of Caraxes, Daemon saw that the unexpected entrant was not perturbed at all.
Even as the ground grumbled and the wind rustled. As if a dragon's might was inconsequential.
If anything, he just heard the bronze-clad grumble something along the lines of. "Shucks, here I was thinking that I was already at a decent pace in my speedrunning."
"What have you done?!" Was all that Daemon could ask from his tall dragon. Towards one who was most likely none other than his abandoned son.
The Bold Bronze, who has clearly just done something absurd.
Ending a years-long attrition within one night of intrusion.
Which is shocking enough, given that the famous Bronze Order was nowhere in sight.
Meaning that the boy might have just ended it all by himself.
Then again, Daemon can't help but ask. "Ronan... son... what have you done?"
"What's done is done... and stop with that sappy stuff. It's very unbecoming." He lectured and then said. "As for what I was about to do... well... I was thinking of feeding the Crabfeeder to the crabs. Cause it feels poetic."
"Poetic justice, as they say." The young man mused whilst tugging on the defeated Drahar.
The very Crabfeeder... shivering at the hearing of his twisted fate or mayhaps a natural reaction against the beast who had him by the ropes.
On the other hand, Daemon really had not much to react to it. In account of processing this all.
The intervention of Ronan... the terrifying implications of what has happened... the conclusion of the war that came from nowhere... and the feeling of loss that overwhelmed him.
Yet his son had something else to add, saying. "Oh right... I got a letter here. From the King. Which should explain why I'm here."
"It's a bit bloodied..." He said, as he rummaged along his blood-stained armor to pick up a parchment he tucked away.
Colored and crusted, so without much regret, the youth smiled. "Yeah... you probably can't read it now. Unfortunately... hehe..."
"But the gist should be simple enough." He added. "The King sends aid in the form of me. Because you were taking too long... too long in fact, that Vaemond Velaryon had to ask for help for the lot of you."
To which, Daemon's mind stalled.
With shame, embarrassment, and hints of anger overwhelming him... whilst his son was grinning his way.
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Accordingly, back in Dwarfstone, what's left of the Velaryon army was shoring up... preparing for what's to come.
With the lot of them tired and weary... all glum and dirty...
Nonetheless, by the council table, their Lord Corlys Velaryon continued on to discuss their current state.
"We have 18 seaworthy ships. Perhaps 16 or less when their oddly quiet catapults go back into action."
"Only seven hundred foot soldiers, some 60 knights."
"While our food quickly dwindles... save for what we can fish from the sea."
"I would say we have a fortnight, mayhaps a bit longer with strict rationing."
"Though I've made call for Driftmark to send more ships, but they should still be weeks away."
"So, we are faltering and the Triarchy knows it." With that grim note, the Sea Snake concluded... to then add that. "So, we must press the attack… continue sending the dragons."
But Laenor, one of their dragonriders, regretfully said. "It's pointless, father."
And using their maps and props, he reasoned that. "The Crabfeeder has created a chokepoint here, beyond these dunes."
"Archers hold the high positions, foot soldiers hold the ground."
"We've strafed them on dragonback again and again, but they just retreat within the caves."
So, Vaemond interjected, saying. "Dragons can circle Bloodstone until they fall out of the sky. The Crabfeeder and his men have no reason to leave those caves."
"We must give them one..." Laenor suggested while plopping a fish figurine amidst the crab pincers. "An offering of flesh to bait the crab."
"Who?" The Sea Snake asked... and consequently, a watcher from the edges shouted. "Dragon returning!"
With Caraxes gliding above, a quick return from its early charge. With many men looking up to get a glimpse of its rider, whom they considered their leading vanguard...
Regardless of that, Vaemond intoningly continued. "Yes... Who? Which man here will happily go to his death as the offered flesh?"
"Show me the knight who will march into that hell pit, nephew..." He said. "...and I will show you a madman."
So, Laenor answered. "Daemon."
But Vaemond was having none of that as he angrily complained that. "Daemon is why we are losing!"
"He at least is fighting this war." Laenor countered and then questioned. "What role have you played in this council, uncle... other than Master of Complaints?"
"Enough, Laenor." The Sea Snake reined in his son.
Which only emboldened Vaemond as he passionately shouted. "If King's Landing will not support Daemon... why should any of us?!"
Earning the attention of the nearby men and mayhaps making them reevaluate their thoughts... on the very Prince who had dismounted from his dragon and was walking in the midst of them.
Quiet and menacingly so...
Which was a bad sign, so it forced the Sea Snake to use his authority. "Blood or no, Vaemond, I will not have you stoke mutiny..."
However, Vaemond was relatively unmoved as he cautioned. "If you do not seize control of this war, brother, the crabs will soon dine on all of us..."
It just so happened that Prince Daemon already neared their little war huddle... and just when they thought he'd punish the zealous Velaryon for the very vocal disrespect...
The Rogue Prince actually and suddenly did!
With blood spilling all over...
As the Targaryen's helm repeatedly bashed onto Vaemond Velaryon's head... to the shock of the onlooking many...
And the belated reaction of Corlys and Laenor... who were horrified at this outburst that came from nowhere!
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Of course, it didn't take long for them to pry the very angry Daemon from the smashed Vaemond...
And while the foul-mouthed Velaryon's fate remained unclear... the rest of the begrudged Velaryons and their ever-following men were eventually informed of why the Rogue Prince did what he did...
A tell-taling that did nothing to assuage their confounded confusion... only worsened it...
However, when they inevitably did make it to Bloodstone... they suddenly understood...
What happenstance led the Prince into such a mad act.
For he could very well have seen this eerily hushed battlefield... with some of its caves already oozing with the stench of death... with stray dead litteringly scattered here and there.
And as a centerpiece for it all was the Crabfeeder, letting out hoarse screams... as a multitude of crabs was swarming at him.
To serve as a stark contrast to that grim display of agony... was a cheerful bronze knight with red spatters. Nonchalantly enjoying the grim view that he could very well have curated.
With none daring to even disturb him while he does so.
Be it the Knight of Kisses... the rider of Seasmoke... or the Sea Snake himself...
For this was the Bold Bronze that had achieved what they couldn't.
Smashing the enemy on his supposed own... whilst they themselves were rested.
So, all the praise and glory to him... while they may as well just be glaring disappointments.