Harry had his eyes widened in shock as he looked all around, and though he could not see the other end of the camp, he was certain that the camp had been surrounded by these creatures from all directions.
What was happening? Harry Strickland was not sure. But there was one image that was constantly flashing in his mind. Lord Aeos.
He did not know what was actually happening. He did not know how the man did it. But he knew one thing for certain. Whatever was happening was being done by Lord Aeos. There was no doubting it.
The glimpses of Lord Aeos arrogantly declaring that he would spare their lives were constantly flashing in his mind. A self deprecating smile appeared on his face. He realized that it was not Lord Aeos who had been an idiot and a fool. It was they who were the fools. Lord Aeos had probably been serious in his offer. If he could really control all these creatures, he knew that his entire army was about to be slaughtered.
"Ser Harry," the siege commander stammered. "What is happening?"
Harry looked to his side to see the other two commanders standing next to him. Just like every other man, they too had their eyes bulging in shock, and their bodies were trembling instinctively.
Harry also turned to his left to see the large Dothraki tribe that had gathered at the front, and standing before them was Khal Gorro. Just like them, the Dothraki too were in a state of shock, but Harry could tell they were less shocked compared to the mercenaries.
It was probably not the first time they had witnessed an Essosi Scorpion. Perhaps, they might have witnessed a few other mythological things too.
"Ser Harry!" the urgent voice of the cavalry commander snapped Harry's attention back to his counterparts. "What is happening?"
"How would I know?" Harry shrugged. He did not share his thoughts about Lord Aeos being behind all this.
But neither he nor the others had to wait long to get their answers. The creatures began to part, and soon a pathway was carved through them. And then they saw it.
An Essosi Scorpion was moving forward through the pathway. This scorpion was the largest of all the scorpions. It was at least one and half times larger than the second largest Essosi Scorpion.
As it drew closer, Harry and the rest spotted three silhouettes standing atop its massive back. Even before their faces became clear, they knew who those figures were. And their assumptions were proven right.
Within moments, as the enormous scorpion approached, the faces became visible. Lord Aeos and his two subordinates.
And Lord Aeos had a grin on his face. A dangerous grin. An evil grin. A grin that sent chills crawling down their spines.
Very soon, the scorpion reached close to the front end of the camp, and Lord Aeos jumped down from its back, landing a few feet away from Harry and the other two commanders. Melisandre and Grey Worm followed suit, landing a couple of steps behind Jon.
There was complete silence as Jon took a couple of steps forward arriving close to the trio. Only the gasping and panting sounds of the wild dogs, hyenas, and wolves filled the air.
"Ser Harry!" Jon's voice cut through the silence. "We meet again."
"This is your doing!" the siege commander almost shrieked, his voice trembling with fear. "This is your doing!"
"How did you do it? How are you controlling these creatures? Who are you? What are you?"
Everyone stood frozen as the realisation sank in . Lord Aeos was probably something beyond human. No wonder he had managed to take over the three cities with such ease. Everything suddenly made sense. His power, his confidence, his impossible victories.
"Do you regret your choice?" Jon asked, tilting his head. "If you had really considered my offer, you all would be alive."
"Now, look," he said, spreading his arms. "You will all die a death in vain."
"You!" the cavalry commander spat, pointing a finger at Jon. "You are a demon."
Jon shook his head. "You should beg for your lives rather than insult me."
But no one begged. They understood there was no way Lord Aeos would allow anyone to escape with the secret of his powers. It was not that death was strange or new to them. Like everyone else, they feared it. But their profession meant they accepted the risk of dying at any moment. They had only not expected to be greeted by death in such a manner.
"So those tales from the North are true after all," Harry sighed after a moment.
Jon raised an eyebrow, and Harry went on, "I heard tales of Northmen moving their consciousness into animals and controlling them. I never thought those stories could actually be true."
Jon did not comment. Given his identity as Jon Snow, it was not surprising that Harry would make the connection.
"Men!" Harry shouted, drawing his sword. "I know this is something we have never seen and never expected. But now that the situation has turned like this, we have no option but to face it head on."
"I know that winning this battle is almost impossible," Harry roared, raising his sword high into the air, "but damn me if an army thirty five thousand strong cannot kill a few thousand of these creatures!" His voice carried over the tense silence, filled with defiance and desperation alike.
"And I ask this, if any of you get the chance, escape! The world must hear of the powers of Lord Aeos!"
Although Harry had said so, a small, dangerous plan was forming in his mind, to kill Lord Aeos. Right now, with the giant scorpion looming behind him, it seemed impossible. But maybe, in the chaos of battle, they could accomplish it.
Lord Aeos was controlling all these creatures. If he was killed, perhaps the beasts would scatter. And from the look of him, Lord Aeos did not appear to be a warrior of great skill.
It was a desperate plan but a plan nonetheless.
"Is everyone with me?" Harry shouted.
A thunderous roar erupted in response from the mercenaries, their voices trembling with courage and fear alike. Swords were raised, shields lifted.
Jon stood still, calm, letting it all unfold before him. His face was unreadable, his eyes cold and steady.
Harry turned toward the Dothraki, who had already unsheathed their arakhs, their wild cries rising in the air. He exchanged a brief nod with Khal Gorro.
The Khal's burning eyes were fixed on Lord Aeos. Jon turned his head toward him and gave a faint, knowing smile. He still remembered his words to the Khal. He would give him the chance to try.
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