NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: The Bonds of Iron and Fire
Chapter 22: The Bonds of Iron and Fire
The flames of the recent battle with the Lannister fleet still smoldered on the beaches of Sunblode Isle. Broken pieces of ships littered the shoreline, their once-proud golden banners now reduced to ashes. The air reeked of burned wood and salt, a stark reminder of the confrontation. Villagers moved cautiously, their hushed whispers carrying an air of unease.
At the harbor, Ivar stood with his council, his dark cloak billowing in the cool morning wind. He gazed at the wreckage, the embers of victory failing to mask the weight of what had just transpired.
"This was only a taste," Lysa Blackthorne said quietly, standing at his side. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon as if expecting more ships to appear at any moment. "Tywin sent this fleet as a warning, not an invasion. Next time, he'll come in force."
Timothy Sunrise, leaning casually against a broken mast, scoffed. "Let him come. We'll burn his ships, shatter his armies, and make him regret the day he ever heard of Sunblode Isle."
Roland Emberhill, still nursing a shallow wound from the battle, frowned. "It's not that simple. Tywin doesn't make mistakes twice. The next attack won't be so easy to repel."
"He's right," Duncan Greenfield added, his voice heavy with experience. "The Lannisters have resources we can't match. If Tywin truly decides to commit to this war, we'll need more than just ships and swords to hold him off."
Ivar's expression remained unreadable, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Then we'll make sure he doesn't commit. Tywin's strength lies in his gold and his alliances. If we can undermine both, we'll force him to fight on our terms."
Lysa raised an eyebrow. "And how do you propose we do that?"
"By reminding the lords of the Riverlands where their loyalties lie," Ivar said. "And by ensuring Tywin's allies start questioning whether his ambitions are worth the cost."
Tensions Among the Lords
The next step in Ivar's plan brought him back to Riverrun, where the lords of the Riverlands had been summoned once again by Hoster Tully. The great hall buzzed with tension as the lords gathered, their faces a mix of anger, fear, and suspicion. The recent battle had shaken their fragile unity, and whispers of discontent spread like wildfire.
At the center of the hall, Walder Frey stood with his arms crossed, his beady eyes darting from one lord to another. "This is what comes of trusting a man like Sunblode," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "He antagonizes the Lannisters, and now we're all at risk of paying the price."
Tytos Blackwood, seated at the far end of the table, glared at Frey. "Better to stand with Sunblode than to cower and betray our people for Lannister gold."
"Careful, Blackwood," Frey spat. "You might find your lands burned long before the Lannisters ever set foot in the Riverlands."
"Enough!" Hoster Tully's voice cut through the room, silencing the bickering lords. "The Ironborn have been beaten back, but now we face a greater threat. If the Lannisters are allowed to move unchecked, they'll tear the Riverlands apart piece by piece."
"And whose fault is that?" Jonos Bracken muttered under his breath.
Ivar, standing near the door, stepped forward. His presence commanded immediate attention, the room falling into an uneasy silence as the lords turned to face him.
"If blame is what you're looking for, look no further than the man who conspired with the Lannisters," Ivar said coldly, his gaze locking onto Frey. "House Sunblode didn't provoke Tywin Lannister. It exposed the betrayal that would have destroyed this Accord before it ever began."
Frey bristled, his face flushing red. "You overstep, Sunblode. You may have burned a few ships, but that doesn't make you the savior of the Riverlands."
"No," Ivar replied, his tone sharp as steel. "But it does make me the one who's willing to fight for it. Can you say the same, Frey?"
The room erupted into murmurs, the lords exchanging uneasy glances.
Brynden Blackfish, leaning against a pillar, smirked. "The boy has a point."
Hoster raised his hand once more, silencing the room. "Enough. This squabbling achieves nothing. Lord Sunblode has proven his commitment to the Riverlands. If we are to survive, we must focus on strengthening our defenses—not tearing each other apart."
A Call to Action
After the meeting, Ivar remained in the hall, his council gathering around him. Timothy leaned against the table, his usual smirk replaced by a thoughtful frown.
"They're scared," he said. "Frey, Bracken, even Tully. They're all waiting for someone to make the first move, and they're terrified it'll be the wrong one."
"They're right to be scared," Ivar replied. "But fear can be a tool if we use it correctly."
Lysa crossed her arms, her gaze distant. "Frey is still a problem. He's too slippery to trust, and too powerful to ignore."
"Then we keep him in check," Ivar said. "But for now, we need to focus on the bigger threat. Tywin is probing for weaknesses. If we show any, he'll exploit them."
Roland frowned. "And what if he doesn't find any weaknesses? What if he comes at us head-on?"
"Then we'll show him the cost of underestimating us," Ivar said.
Strengthening the Alliance
In the weeks that followed, Ivar worked tirelessly to solidify the Riverland Accord. He traveled from one lord's castle to the next, meeting with them personally to address their concerns and rally their support.
At Raventree Hall, Tytos Blackwood greeted Ivar warmly. The two men spoke late into the night, discussing strategies for fortifying the northern borders.
"The Blackwoods will stand with you," Tytos said, raising his goblet. "We've seen enough of Lannister treachery to know where our loyalties lie."
At Stone Hedge, Jonos Bracken was less enthusiastic. "I'm no fan of the Lannisters," he admitted, "but if this Accord collapses, it'll be every house for itself. Are you sure we can hold it together?"
"We don't have a choice," Ivar replied. "Unity is the only way we survive."
Even Walder Frey, grudging and bitter as ever, agreed to contribute troops to the Accord's efforts—though Ivar knew the promise was likely to be broken the moment Frey saw a better opportunity.
The Atmosphere of Sunblode
Back on Sunblode Isle, the preparations for war intensified. The once-quiet island now bustled with activity day and night. Blacksmiths worked tirelessly, the rhythmic clang of hammers echoing through the village. Soldiers drilled in the fields, their movements precise and disciplined.
Among the soldiers, tensions were high. Some whispered fears of the Lannisters' retaliation, while others spoke with confidence about Ivar's leadership.
One young recruit, a boy no older than sixteen, hesitated as he tightened the straps on his armor. His older brother, a grizzled veteran, clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't let fear get to you," the veteran said gruffly. "Lord Sunblode knows what he's doing. He hasn't let us down yet."
The boy nodded, though his hands still shook.
Near the docks, Timothy oversaw the construction of new ships, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "We'll need speed and firepower," he said to the shipwrights. "If we're going to face another fleet, we need to hit them hard and fast."
At the forge, Lysa stood beside a blacksmith as he worked on reforging an ancient blade. The air was thick with heat and the acrid smell of molten metal.
"You think this will be enough?" the blacksmith asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
Lysa's gaze was steely. "It has to be."
The Storm Approaches
As the days turned into weeks, the tension on Sunblode Isle grew. Scouts reported increased Lannister activity near the Riverlands' western borders, and rumors of Tywin's plans spread like wildfire.
One night, as Ivar stood alone on the cliffs overlooking the sea, Timothy joined him.
"You've been quiet lately," Timothy said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Something on your mind?"
Ivar didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the dark horizon. "Tywin is testing us," he said finally. "But I can't shake the feeling that this is only the beginning. The real storm hasn't even started yet."
Timothy smirked, though there was little humor in it. "Good thing we're building a fortress, then."
Ivar's lips twitched into a faint smile. "A fortress won't be enough. We need more than walls—we need people willing to fight for something bigger than themselves."
Timothy nodded, his smirk fading. "You've got them. Now let's make sure they don't regret it.
Donation please 🥺