(Third Person POV)
[The Stepstones]
Riktor was in a tent, looking at a map on a table, "Listen...." He said, "We need to scour all the caves in this side of the island. We have to make sure that nobody is lurking about like roaches here."
"Yes, My Lord." a Duskguard Knight said as the others looked at the map he was pointing at, "For what little information we were able to gather, some Myrish remnants were able to scatter and even get on boats, escaping to the nearby islands. If we are correct, a specific island closest to the East will have the main influence of this newly formed Triarchy."
Riktor placed his hand on his chin, "I see...." I said, "My main concern is any remaining enemy closest to us. We need total control of our territories. We wipe them out and fortify the perimeters of the island, placing watchtowers on all corners and placing patrolling ships a few miles surrounding the perimeter. The lanes through the Stepstones are blocked off, but.....Maegor has guaranteed a direct path towards Dorne and the Reach in his previous campaign."
"It will take a while to get any supplies further inland but it could be done." the knight said, "We need to make sure that no enemy presence are in the shipping lanes, so we need to close them off until we eradicate the enemy."
"Of course." Riktor nodded, "We'll start with our island. We won't stop until every nook and cranny is scoured and every Myrish foe is killed. I want heads mounted on pikes and messages sent to the Triarchy. Tell them that I, Riktor Drakkengard, am not here to play around. This is merely the start."
Before anyone else could say anything, a Knight entered the tent, "Lord Riktor!" He said, "We have received a message from the current leader of the Myrish forces."
He showed Riktor a letter, and Riktor straightened up, reaching for it, "is that so?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, "What could those fools possibly want? How did this even reach us?"
"A Myrish group waving the white flag, claiming they were merely messengers. We have them detained, but they're unharmed," the Knight said, "We have made sure that there are no traps, our scouts don't spot anything out of the ordinary."
Riktor read the letter, "Hmph." He said, "This Chragas Drahar....he is telling me to surrender. What a surprising message to send someone who obliterated his forces in a single sweep. What exactly is going on in his mind."
"We should spread our forces out, scour the island completely and seize any enemy." a Knight said, "That way this Chragas Drahar will understand that Surrender is not in the vocabulary of the Duskguard and House Drakkengard."
"That won't be enough." Riktor crumpled the letter, "When we take full control of this island, we'll launch full assaults on the other islands. Any Pirate, outlaw, and scumbag that resists against us will be wiped out by our power. Brutus will trample their dead bodies and lay waste to their forces, it matters not what is before us."
"The Stepstones will be ours."
**************
[A Few Days Later]
Brutus let out a vicious snarl as he ripped apart the bodies of several Myrish soldiers who were in a pile that was left behind. The disturbing sound of breaking bones and torn flesh filled the air and even unsettled nearby Duskguard knights.
It was an hour after a serious battle, one that the Duskguard had obviously won. For days, the island that Riktor had taken was thoroughly searched and cleansed of any enemy influence and at the last minute, several hundred Myrish invaded the northernmost part of the island, attempting to break through their perimeter and deal a good blow.
Riktor foresaw this and was ready, luring most of them into a trap and having his dozens of knights sweep through the sides of the beach and met the myrish head-on himself while he rode on Brutus, who trampled them down by the dozen, and within a few minutes, the battle was over.
Only crushed corpses and red sand were left in the beach after the battle and now Brutus was helping himself to a below-average meal.
Riktor was sitting on a large rock, cleaning his sword with a cloth, looking at the sight of the tide slowly hitting the bank.
A Duskguard Knight walked up to him, "Lord Riktor, do you wish to send a message to Harrenhal?" He asked, "We can have a letter sent to Dorne, and they can send it from there. Princess Elia is more than happy to do so."
Riktor shook his head, "What reason do I have for that?" He asked, "All of this? It's nothing to my Father, it is not what he wanted me to do. It is not what I was entrusted to do."
".....I see...." the Knight said, "Well, judging from the way that the nearby ships retreated, I doubt we'll get any action later today."
"Good." Riktor said, "That means we can rest well. Tomorrow is when the real challenge starts. We launch the assault then. From there, we'll make it our mission to take control of our islands. Do in fact send a letter to Dorne and request Ser Horrace for a bit more supplies and men to reinforce the encampments we'll leave in the process."
"As you desire." The Knight said, "It will be done. We received a message from Ezra. It is why I asked you about the letter."
"What is it?" Riktor asked him
"The Dragon Ritual has been successful." The Knight told him, "A Draconic Resonance was felt throughout the Marks of everyone."
"No wonder all of you were extra energetic as of late." Riktor said as he rubbed his neck, "Well, that is good. Is that all?"
"Yes." the Knight nodded
"Well, good to know." Riktor said, "Seems my father has his own plans....."
As the Duskguard Knight walked away, Riktor simply looked over to the waters, hearing how serene the waves sounded, drowning out the loud sounds of Brutus feeding on corpses. He simply closed his eyes and sniffed the air, filtering out the smell of blood and smelled the salt in the air.
"Hm....." He said as he opened his eyes, "War..."
"Is that what I was meant for?"