CHAPTER 344: CAMPAIGN IN THE SANDS IX

(Third Person POV)

[Several Miles From Yronwood]

Maegor stood over a dune, feeling the heat of the sun that burned the sands of Dorne. He looked at the massive trail of dust clouds that stretched out for what seemed like miles. He did not expect the Sandwym to suddenly move further inwards, thinking that it would simply stay in the Red Mountains as planned by Olyver.

He looked at one of the other Knights, "Wasn’t it supposed to stay in the passages?" He asked, "What’s the deal?"

"I believe Olyver has the passes locked down by several outposts. Fifty men each." one said, "One at each entrance and two on the way. It is completely locked down without the Desert God."

"I see...." Maegor said, "And this one?"

The Knight looked down, "We are standing on its path." He said, "Olyver mentioned that the Desert God is special and would be beneficial to Lord Drakken’s future plans."

Maegor frowned, "What are you talking about?" He asked, "Beneficial?"

The Knight crouched down and scooped up a handful of sand, showing it him. Maegor narrowed his eyes to see that the sand had a bit of a glow to it, and after focusing his sight a bit, he noticed that there were small minerals within the sand.

"What is that?" He asked

"Don’t know." The Knight said, "My guess is that it comes from the Desert God. It has a directive, implanted in it by Lord Drakken himself. Just like the other gods he has created; Ammaria, Grayle, and Lyssa. They follow the directive and complete it without issue."

The Knight straightened up and Maegor looked ahead. They were seeing how the dust clouds stretched out for a long time. This told Maegor that whatever the Sandwym was doing, it was spreading that mineral all across the sands of Dorne.

"What is Drakken planning?" Maegor said

"We don’t know. We don’t ask." the Knight said, "You are Duskguard now. You don’t do that either. You simply do as you are told."

Maegor scowled, "I am a King." He said with an angry tone, "Is that how you speak to someone who sat the Iron Throne?"

"You were a King." the Knight said, "Now, you are nothing more than a Duskguard Knight, just like myself and all the others. A bit more special than us, sure. But you are nothing more than a Duskguard. Even Lord-Commander Jon is above you."

Maegor clenched his fists, "You...."

"You were dead a long time. Things change." the Knight told him, "And now, you were resurrected by Lord Drakken. That is something you cannot forget. And if you do...."

"Well...I cannot guarantee anything pleasant."

****************

[Sunspear]

"What is the word from Tyrosh?" Oren Martell asked his advisors, "Where is Tristeyn?"

"Tristeyn is currently dealing with an issue, Prince Oren." one of them said, "A Tyroshi Lord answered the call, he is considering the offer but wants one thing."

"What is it?" Oren asked

"He wants both your sisters." the advisor said, "Both Elia and Tyene."

"Done." Oren said, "Send word to him. I expect a fleet to come at once and want men on the ground as soon as possible. Waste no time. Fetch Tyene and have her pretty. Now."

"Of course." the advisor stood up, "And Princess Elia?"

"I don’t give a shit." Oren said, "I just want the situation in my nation to be resolved. Curse that Jaehaerys...I have sent a request for Balerion but he denied. Simply because Baelon lost a dragon in Dorne already....he doesn’t want to risk anything again....."

"The Targaryens won’t help you, Brother." Elia said seriously

Oren turned around to see his sister standing at the far end of the room, "How long have you been there?!"

"I was shut in the room again." Elia said, "I could not help but overhear what you have planned for us."

Oren glared at her, "You made your choice. This is what you get for it." He said, "I will have you suffer.....and then the Tyroshi can have you."

"Leave Tyene out of this." She said seriously, "They can have me, for all I care. Leave our little sister alone."

"No." Oren stood up and walked over to her, limping as he did so, "You see...daughters and sisters are far more valuable than gold. That is the reason why I have kept you....because your holes are valuable, my dear Elia..."

"Hm." Elia said, "Even if they are used?"

"Used?" Oren chuckled, "Do you think that matters to the Tyroshi? Sure, yours can be used....but Tyene? Oh, she’d be a treat for him."

Elia scowled, "If anyone touches her..." She said with anger, "I will-"

She was cut off by Oren smacking her face, "Shut up." He said, "You will do nothing."

Elia had stumbled to the side, "Drakken is aware....." She said softly, "Of what you are doing."

Oren narrowed his eyes, "What?"

"Drakken....." Elia rubbed her lips, which had been bruised, "Will kill you....."

"Is that what you think?" Oren asked, "Eh?"

Elia’s knees trembled as she slowly got to her knees, an angry look on her face.

"What are you doing?" Oren asked, "Get up, you stupid sow."

Elia closed her eyes and placed her hands in a prayer gesture, mumbling words.

Oren reached for her hair and tried to pull her up, "What are you doing?!" He bellowed, "Get up!!!!"

Elia grimaced in pain as she kept her prayer, saying words that Oren could not hear as a bit of tears formed in her eyes.

"You stupid bitch!" Oren punched her in the stomach, buckling her over and he then kicked her on the side, "Who are you praying to? Our gods?! The Red One?! Or Drakken?!"

Elia was on the ground, her hands still in the gesture as she kept praying, her eyes remained closed.

Oren kicked her again and Elia grunted, but did not react much to it. Her eyes closed shut, tears leaking through her eyelids as she tried to bear with the pain.

"My Prince." The advisor said, "You’re.....overdoing it.....the Tyroshi Lord.."

"Shut up!" Oren snapped, "I want to know what this stupid woman is doing?! What-"

He was cut off by the sound of tremors. The entire room began to shake violently as everyone looked around in alarm.

"What is...?" an advisor said, "A tremor?!"

"What is this?!" Oren exclaimed, "This...!"

He limped to the balcony of his room and looked outside, seeing that the entire castle was also caught in the tremors. In the far side of the villa of Sunspear, Oren saw a massive cloud of dust and sand forming. The cloud was so massive that it reached up into the sky, nearly blocking out the sun.

"Some sort of attack?!" an advisor exclaimed

"ELIA!!!!!" Oren shouted, "What did you do?!"

Elia was clutching her side, "....I prayed...." She said softly, "For my people.....for Dorne.....I prayed to be released of you....."

"You stupid-" Oren started

The sound of a deafening roar cut him off, and he turned back around to see a massive serpentine figure burst our from the ground and shoot straight into the sky, scattering the cloud of dust and sand as its brown and black scales were visible.

Oren widened his eyes, "What...."

He watched as the creature coiled itself in the air, turning to face Sunspear as it opened its mouth and released a strange gas into the air. Its golden eyes pierced right at Oren, who was frozen in fear.

"Dorne..." Elia said, "Will not survive his wrath, Oren..."

"You will never understand..."