House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men-Chapter 200: A Rift in The Riverlands VI

(Third Person POV) freёweɓnovel.com

[Oldstones]

"Who was the one who called this meeting?" A Riverlord said, "Where is Lord Tully? Lord Charlton, why isn't Lord Frey with you?"

The Riverlords all gathered in the center of the broken-down hall of the castle, the same spot where Drakken had encountered The River years prior. The Riverlords had been called to a meeting, being told that Lord Tully wished to speak to them at a neutral location. Little did they know that House Tully is currently under siege and most of the Riverlands were being enclosed by the Duskguard.

Several Lords of the Riverlands had gathered, including House Blackwood and House Bracken, who were glaring at each other.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lord Bracken said, "What is this scoundrel doing here?! Filthy mongrel!"

Lord Blackwood scowled, "Watch your tone, I am merely answering the summons of our Lord-Paramount, Lord Tully!" He said, "I do not wish to be in the same location as a heathen such are yourself!"

"I have brought 50 good men, we can settle this right now!" Lord Bracken challenged

"Well, my 70 men will be glad to shed Bracken blood...." Lord Blackwood said

"Enough." Lord Mallister stepped forth, "This is rather strange. We all brought a detachment of our men, as an escort only. It is not worth shedding blood over buffoonery..."

Lord Paege nodded, "We should calm down and wait for Lord Tully." He said, "Did anyone see the Tully banners when arriving?"

"No." Lord Piper said as he leaned against a broken piece of rubble, "I only saw all of ours. It is strange."

Lord Mooton looked around, "Plenty of us were gathered...." He said, "Do you think....hm....this could be some sort of trap?"

"Trap?!" Lord Bracken exclaimed, "By whom?! Who dares summon all of us here just to-...It cannot be...."

All of them stood there, frozen, for a couple of seconds. They were barely registering the possibility of who had truly gathered them there. But the moment the realization came across them, there was a slight shift in the air.

Lord Blackwood began to sweat, "Gods..." He said, "He's here...."

They all heard footsteps echoing through the hall and they turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows, the air beginning to get thicker by the second.

"Well well well..." Drakken's voice filled the air as he came into view, "Blackwood, Bracken, Mooton, Piper, Paege, Mallister...and several others who I do not recognize...all of the Riverlords...or at least the majority of them....all gathered here."

He stood atop the stony steps that were in front of the Riverlords, who merely looked at him with surprised looks on their faces.

Lord Mallister looked around, "Wait.." He said, "So it was not Lord Tully who summoned us here?! It was you!! House Drakkengard!"

Drakken looked at him, "Yes."

Lord Bracken took a step forward, "What is the meaning of this?!" He exclaimed, "Why have you brought us together?!"

All of the Riverlords began to murmur in agreement, their tones clearly displaying disapproval of this entire ordeal. Drakken simply looked at them with a slight smirk.

"I know." He said, "I know that the entire region of the Riverlands has a rift in it. A rift between ideals and religion. Heh, it is quite something, is it not? The first region I have leveled in a war is the also the first to have disagreements when it comes to my Trinity. Or.....are you being influenced?"

Lord Mooton looked at him, "What are you talking about?" he said, "What about the Trinity?"

"The Faith." Drakken said as he rubbed his neck, "It is seeking to oppose my Trinity. I suppose it has grown tired of how amazing my followers feel when following my doctrine. It cannot be helped, they are given an amazing life...well, compared to what you filthy dogs can provide."

Lord Mallister took a step forward, "Enough of this." He said, "Where is Lord Tully?"

"I have him locked down in his castle." Drakken told him, "Under siege. As we speak, my Duskguard is blocking off the borders. No help will come from any other region...not the North, not the Vale, not the Crowlands. Whoever is conspiring against the Trinity, do not expect any help from other Houses that are aligned with the Faith."

"Lord Drakken." Lord Piper said, "Who in their right mind will even consider opposing the Duskguard? The Trinity? You? It is madness!"

"That is right." Drakken said as he looked at his nails, "For years since the conflict that leveled this entire place, I have allowed all of you Houses to thrive under my control. House Tully was still Paramount, in name only....but House Drakkengard was the one in charge. How many of you benefited from my alliance with House Lannister, all of the merchant routes that brought in food, clothes, and plenty of jobs for your people?"

There was a bit of silence from the Riverlords, all of them shifting in their feet.

"I allowed you imbeciles to continue your religion, worshipping the Seven and the Old Gods." Drakken continued, "All for the sake of peace that I promised the King. And the reason that peace was even promised was solely because I was promised his daughters. And now that they are mine, I have come to the realization that I do not need to keep that peace. If you idiots wish to throw away the lives that were given to you and start another conflict without my permission, you will need to consider the consequences."

Lord Blackwood took a step forward, "Lord Drakken-"

"How many men can the entirety of the Riverlands muster?" Drakken asked, "I'll answer that for you; less than 30,000. If there is a serious conflict and House Tully needs to send its banners to the field, then it'll definitely be less than 20,000 due to how divided you dogs are. And let me be honest here, against that many of you mongrels, I only need a single detachment of 3,000 Duskguard soldiers to destroy you all. Fuck, I don't even need to use the Duskguard. Either I can do it myself or I can have my Beasts to do it for me. The point is.....you all live because I fucking allow it. And this is how I am repaid? Conspiracies?!"

Lord Bracken glared at him, "You don't understand." He said, "For generations, our Houses have worshipped our gods and we have served our Paramount faithfully. Do you really think that by just coming here, you can simply overtake the Riverlands....? Or the entire Realm?!"

"Yes." Drakken said bluntly, "Because, unlike the Seven or the Old Gods, I walk among you filth. I am the God of War and Death, the physical representation of the Trinity. Tell me, what physical signs have your Gods brought upon the land? Nothing, that is the answer. Did your gods step in when I razed the land to the ground, killing and taking people to my side? No. So answer me this, is it worth dying for a pointless Faith?"

The Riverlords looked at each other with unease, not liking where this is going.

"The Rift of the Riverlands must no longer exist." Drakken continued as he looked at all of them, "You have been brought here for one single purpose; to make a decision. Either stay loyal to your Faith, whether the Old Gods or the Seven.....or join the Trinity.....and become aligned with the Duskguard. Because from this point on, House Drakkengard will become the Paramount of the Riverlands. And not just that, House Drakkengard will set its sights to the Westerlands and the Vale."

"F-For what reason do you intend to do this?" Lord Mallister asked

"War." Drakken said with a smirk, "War, you stupid ingrate. I am the God of War, after all. And Sol'Tyr requires offerings."

"If we refuse?" Lord Bracken said

Drakken's expression hardened as he looked at him, "Hm....." He said, "There is going to be no opportunity to think it over. This is going to be a forced conversion of religions. Those who are willing to give in to the Trinity for the sake of their house's survival, go ahead and kneel. Now."

The entire area began to shake as Drakken's eyes glowed, everyone realizing that he was not bluffing at all.

Suddenly, most of the Riverlords immediately knelt down, including Lord Piper and Lord Blackwood. Those who remained standing were Lords Mooton, Bracken, Charlton, and some others.

Drakken then began to take his coat off, "Hm." He said, "Those of you who knelt down, step back. Nobody goes anywhere, lest they wish to lose their heads."

Drakken set his coat to the side and began to take his shirt off, revealing his toned bare body. Those who knelt to him got up and stepped back, leaving those who refused to stay there in the center of the area.

Lord Bracken looked at him with a frown, "W-What are you doing?" he said before looking at the others, "You all dare to kneel before this bastard, this false god?! Blackwood, you stupid cunt, just because your bastard whore of a daughter is fucking him, you are going to stoop so low and kiss his fucking feet?!"

Lord Blackwood simply glared at him, saying nothing.

Drakken then walked down the steps as he slowly walked over to him, "Hm, making your choice is one thing." He said as he reached him, "But insulting my Lady? That is not something that you will easily get away with."

Lord Bracken spat on the ground, "Fuck you." He said, "The Faith will not allow your heresy, Drakken! You are no true god, you are but a blasphemous sorcerer!! Your tricks will soon reach their end!!"

"Yes yes, foul sorcery...." Drakken said as he looked down, "But...here I am....without sorcery....."

In a swift motion, Drakken hit Lord Bracken with a fierce right straight, striking him in the face. The blow caused the Lord to fall to the ground hard with a resounding thud.

"Aghh...." Lord Bracken groaned as he laid on his back, his nose broken and blood pouring down to his face, "W-What...."

Drakken stomped on his knee, a serious snap being heard, "Hmph."

"Ahhh!!" Bracken exclaimed

Drakken then got on top of him and mounted him, raising his fist up, "Here I am with no Sorcery." He said as he swung his fist down to his face, "And yet you are helpless."

The fist drove down to his face, a crack being heard. Lord Bracken's body went limp as he was severely concussed by the blow.

Drakken then began to continuously punch him in the face with both hands, bringing his fists down at his face hard.

"No."

The fist shattered the man's skull, caving it in.

"Sorcery."

Another punch hit the motionless Lord in the face, blood splashing everywhere as his face was mutilated.

"Yet."

His entire head was caved in, blood beginning to pool around the ground as Drakken's fist were completely covered in red.

"I...."

Drakken continued to punch the man's head, repeatedly causing blood, teeth, and skull fragments to fly out.

"Am....."

Everyone watched in shock and horror as Drakken simply brought his fists down, nothing but blood and brain bits flying out.

"Superior."

The final punch hit through the back of the skull, cracking the ground. Drakken merely looked at the pool of blood and skull bits beneath his fist. There was no reaction in his face, simply a cold and emotionless expression.

He slowly stood up, and everyone saw as the sclera of his eyes turned pitch black, and black veins began to appear under his eyes.

He looked around, his dragon eyes glowing, "So...." He said,

"Do you imbeciles wish to oppose me?"