Game of Thrones: Oath of Iron and Fire-Chapter 50: Night of the Wolfpack

Stones in the Night.

Stones flew through the pitch-black night, raining down on the streets of Powdergrass Manor like a deadly downpour.

Despite their size, the Myrish managed to keep most of these terrifying gifts from falling within the manor walls. Many stones landed just inside the walls, while others struck the towers, battlements, and defensive towers.

But surrounding the Myrish's three daughters, Bloodbeard had set up a solid position for the catapults, launching attacks around the clock.

The night was also Gendry's friend. The Free Army's escaped slaves, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, harassed the Myrish army multiple times under the cover of darkness.

Now it was the Wolf Hour, the longest and darkest part of the night. For many gathered at the eastern gate by Gendry, this would be their final night.

Gendry led four hundred Wolfpack cavalry, followed by two thousand warriors—four hundred expanded Wolfpack infantry, sixteen hundred Free Army soldiers, with Steel Fist leading the Wolfpack infantry and Grey Wolf leading the Free Army infantry.

The warriors, trained by the Wolfpack, the Unsullied, and Gendry himself, finally looked like an elite force.

Grey Wolf led fifteen Unsullied at the front of the Free Army infantry. Each Unsullied carried three spears, a shortsword, and a shield. The flickering firelight danced on the long spikes of their bronze helmets, bathing their clean-shaven faces.

The rest of the warriors guarded the other gates. The southern gate was under the most pressure, while the northern gate was the least threatened. Once the battle began, the longbowmen hiding in the fields, upon hearing the horn, would assist from the west.

Perhaps holding their ground would be safer, but the expanded town around the manor was not impregnable. And facing the intense fury of the slavemasters, taking the initiative was a better option.

"Follow me, follow Steel Fist, follow the Unsullied in training! You are the best warriors!"

"Freedom! Freedom!" the Free Army shouted. For the slaves, defeat in war meant they would not survive. The slavemasters were always brutal with escaped slaves.

"The plan is well-prepared!" Gendry said. "I'll charge with the cavalry. Once the gates open, we'll move at full speed straight for the mercenary rabble and the catapults. When their army forms ranks, flank them from the rear and sides, not the front. Avoid the spears."

"Don't forget our targets, the catapults, and then those rabble in the back," Longspear added. "The Myrish three bitches, we're unlikely to take them, so let's dismantle or burn them."

Steel Fist nodded. "Also, kill as many mercenary leaders, Myrish nobles, and slave overseers as possible. Burn their tents, especially the big ones, the really big ones."

"No capturing slaves! Slaves are our friends!" Grey Wolf said.

"You are formidable warriors, make a lot of noise and scare them. When our cavalry breaks their ranks and a gap appears, follow the cavalry through the gap and wreak as much havoc as you can. If possible, spare the slaves and target the mercenary leaders, nobles, and officers.

Retreat before you get surrounded," Gendry instructed Steel Fist. Steel Fist's four hundred plate-armored infantry were the elite of the foot soldiers.

The Unsullied's formation was rigid and orderly, but it took time to fully deploy. Their cavalry charge would buy time for the Unsullied to lead the Free Army into a proper spear and shield formation.

"Listen for my horn!" Gendry added. "Cavalry against cavalry, infantry against infantry. We'll catch them off guard. They'll attack before the Unsullied formation is ready if their commander, Bloodbeard, isn't a fool. And I'll try to delay that process. Grey Wolf's Unsullied spear thrusts will break Bloodbeard's formation. Bloodbeard's elite, the Myrish elite, are only about a thousand strong."

"We will follow your orders, Commander! Great Liberator," Grey Wolf said. "Charge at the attack horn. Retreat at the retreat horn. Our manor is still there, and the enemy won't dare come within crossbow range."

"Avoid their strength, drain their morale, strike their weakness," Gendry thought of his tactics. It was the best strategy and one he was most comfortable with.

The Disputed Lands were mostly flat and vast, but a full-scale frontal charge was a losing tactic. The best and most ruthless tactic was the Dornish way of blunting the enemy's edge and then striking. Unfortunately, the Disputed Lands were too fertile, and there was no need to consider cutting off supply lines.

To the east, the dawn's light pierced through the darkness. Tens of thousands of lives depended on today's battle. It was time.

Gendry put on his wolf's head helmet, throat guard, and Myrish brocade cloak. His dark-headed warhammer gleamed with a cold, chilling light. He raised his shield and slid his arm into the straps.

Gendry didn't trust any gods, but he still hoped the Seven across in Westeros would grant him strength. The Warrior to give him storm-like power, and the Crone a bit of wisdom to lead his men to victory.

"Maybe I'll die in a woman's arms, or on the cold battlefield! But not today!" Longspear raised his weapon and shouted. A torrent of steel charged forward.

Knights were adjusting their helmets, touching their swords and axes.

"Long live the Wolfpack!"

"Long live the Wolfpack!"

"Kill!" Gendry raised his warhammer, hearing all sorts of sounds. The wind whipping through the banners, the clash of steel, and the sound of horseshoes hitting the ground.

The steel torrent charged first, like a heavy punch.

Bloodbeard hesitated for a moment, then quickly snapped back to reality. Bloodthirsty but experienced, Bloodbeard ordered his free sellswords to charge and had the Cat's Guild immediately form up against the cavalry's spear formation. The Cat's Guild's three hundred knights were his elite and couldn't be wasted at this moment.

"Where's the Long Spears? Eight hundred knights, get them over here!" Bloodbeard commanded.

"Captain, the Long Spears' knights are under attack. The enemy's longbowmen are ambushed outside the city, and some of these bows can shoot three hundred yards!"

"Useless, a bunch of useless men!" Bloodbeard roared in fury. "Didn't we have scouts? How could they not have spotted them?"

"They were very well hidden, concealed in the woods. When it comes to terrain, we don't have that advantage."

"Never mind!" Bloodbeard stopped considering the Long Spears, perhaps it was a feint, the real focus was the center and the Second Sons' side. He had to hold steady, be like a rock.

"Charge the Second Sons!" Gendry issued the command, targeting the Second Sons. Down-and-out and infamous, the Second Sons were now like a limping chicken, no longer the force they once were. Their weapons were in such poor condition that some were barely usable.

The ferocious assault came like a tidal wave, directly shattering the Second Sons' formation. The Second Sons fought back desperately, but to little avail.

Many of the Second Sons' warriors were thrown from their horses and killed on the spot. The Titan's Bastard was frantic, quickly blowing his horn for help. On the other side, he organized his men to counterattack and fight to the death.

"Charge!" The magnificent warhorses charged at the Second Sons, Gendry swinging his mace. He had to strike the Second Sons first, then burn the catapults, and flank around. He aimed to slaughter as many able-bodied fighters as possible.

Gendry's mace gleamed with a deadly chill, smashing the Second Sons' warriors clad in tattered chainmail.

With a swing of the mace, the sheer force crushed faces and shattered skulls.

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