[Lore] The Death of A Dragon

The Disputed Lands 261 AC

"My Prince, it is time we depart." A Targaryen knight spoke up. Before him sat a silver haired man, clad in battered steel armor. The young Prince looked over his shoulder at the captain.

"Aye, round up the prisoners. I will speak with the captains, execute the rest." Violet eyes looked through the man, as if he were entranced with some far off target. The Prince rose, dusting gravel and sand from his behind, the steel of his gauntlets clanking as he did so.

He looked down from the hill he sat atop. A windswept plain of sand and beachgrass lay before him. Upon it, hundreds of men lay dead and dying. They bore various cloaks and colors, from olive drabs, to intricate turquoise and pinks. Mercenaries, bandits, hedge knights, and free riders. They'd all come together, remnants of the Band of Nine. They were followers of some captain or another who followed Spotted Tom. He didn't particularly care, it was not his mission to care. He was simply sent here to "clean up". Those had been the kings words, "quietly clean up this mess".

He watched as five men were brought forward, cut and battered from the days fighting. "The war's over your Princely highness. Why have you come and bushwhacked us?!" The first man shouted, as he was forced to his knees.

The sharp eyed Prince looked the man up and down, but paid him no mind. He looked over the other assembled outlaws. No doubt they held similar beliefs. "Are you stupid?" He asked, pacing down the embankment, till he was level with the prisoners. "You think you can simply attack the Iron Throne, house Targaryen. And then scurry off back to your crab infested hovels? No, this is over when we say it is." He drew his sword, and placed the blood stained tip to the man's throat.

"I have need of information. The man who gives it to me may leave. Those who do not will die slowly." He looked the gathered men over. "We've heard whispers that a Blackfyre yet lives. A woman. Where is she?" He looked to the man before him, his gaze growing more intense by the moment.

"Blackfyre? Your Grace, if I knews about a Blackyfre I'd have told yous for some coins!" He cried desperately. "I knows no Blackfyre my Prince!" The man yelped in pain as steel met flesh, and the Targaryen Prince's blade pierced his eye socket.

"I am not interested in what you do not know. I am looking for a Blackfyre!" He demanded, plucking the eye from its socket. He placed the tip of his blade at the man's other eye, as he desperately struggled against his captors.

"P-please! I knows nothing!" The mercenary cried out once more, as steel met flesh, and his sight was robbed of him. The Targaryen Prince simply grunted, and wiped the tip of his blade in the sand at his feet.

He looked to his knight commander. "Cut them into ribbons if you must. I will have my Blackfyre, failure is not an option." He declared as he placed the tip of his sword at the maimed man's throat. He pushed it forward, listening as a sick squelch of skin giving way to castle forged steel overtook the man's wails. He watched, emotionlessly as the husk of a man fell to the ground. "You have an hour, then we hit the next camp." He stated flatly, sheathing his sword once more. He thundered off returning to the perch he'd been seated at before. He looked to the tree that he'd sat at the base of. "Tree of crowns my arse. You beggars were nothing more than up jumped raiders." He looked down at the battle site once more. And watched with little interest as dozens of men were executed like cattle.

Lys 2626 AC

The "Lost Prince" watched the city state of Lys near over a sea of crashing waves. He'd earned the nickname by way of jest from his captains and men. With many discussing how he'd secretly been exiled, while others explained he was on a search for glory and fame. In reality only a select few knew the truth. The man looked over his shoulder, as he heard cavalry boots approaching.

"My Prince, the captain says we'll make port by sundown. Are you certain you wish to do this?" The knight asked, noticeable concern on his face.

"Quentyn, have I not proved myself to you by now." The Lost Prince asked, an amused smirk evident as he turned to face his second in command. "We've fought a dozen battles from the Disputed Lands till now. Have I ever led you wrong."

"No my Prince." The Byrch knight started. "But this is different, this is gravely dangerous. His Grace did not ask you to face this alone!"

"No, but he was quite clear. If I'm to prove myself to his Grace, I must put an end to the Blackfyre dynasty once and for all. And retrieve the sword of kings." The man said, resolute determination evident in his gaze. "I have nothing else old friend, I must succeed." He frowned patting the man on the arm.

"Maegor this is madness, what if it's a trap. You must at least take an escort." The knight retorted.

"And what will the streets say? If I show up with a compliment of royal guards, or a platoon of cavalrymen. They'll go to ground if they hear. No Quentyn, I must play my role as much now as ever." He looked back to the approaching island. "Why else would I start the rumor of the Lost Prince? What could be more naive, and susceptible to influence than a playboy Prince on his own?"

He laughed at the thought. "If this Blackfyre really is the courtesan the stories say she is. How could she ever pass up such an opportunity?" He grit his teeth looking up to the sky, a storm was brewing, he could feel it. "I will not give her the chance to escape old friend. Once I've got my claws in her, I will end this myself. And we will all return, as esteemed heroes. They'll write songs about you." He joked looking back at the older knight.

Whatever misgivings the crownlander had about his Prince's plans, he kept to himself. He'd known Maegor for three years now, three years they'd spent hunting the remnants of the Blackfyre family in Essos. He knew how much this mission meant to the man. He patted his friend on the shoulder knowingly. "Once you've got her, sink your teeth into her good. I do not wish to return a decade form now looking for more Blackfyre pups." He joked.