House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men: Chapter 524: Drakkengards II

(Drakken's POV)

"So....." I looked at the letter, "He's taken more territory." 

"So it seems." Mya said with a smile, "What are your thoughts?" 

I had received a letter, reporting the Duskguard's movements over at Tyrosh. Riktor has systematically taken more territory, seizing towns and destroying any Triarchy resistance. He has done this over the past few months. I was rather surprised at how patiently and slowly he has been approaching this. 

It is as if he's waiting, waiting to be taught by the flow of War. It was something I didn't expect from him, especially after the recent events. The mere fact that he was disconnected from Westeros and tossed into a War.....it must've caused him to focus more on what he is meant for. 

This was good. 

This was very good. That is what I wanted to hear. I wanted my son to be what he was meant to be. But, it is too early to get excited and start complimenting him. I need to wait until I see actual results. Judging by the way things are in the east, there will be greater obstacles for him to overcome. 

"Hm." I said with a shrug, "What do you want me to say?" 

Mya tilted her head, "Some words of praise...." She said, "Perhaps.....?" 

"He needs a bit more battles and victories for me to do that." I set the letter aside, "You know that already, Mya." 

"Well, that is true." She said, "But at the very least, do not be this cold." 

I heard the door open and Astorias ran inside, "Papa!!" 

I looked over to see as she jumped onto my lap, hitting me in the stomach by accident. 

"Ah...." I said as I caught her, "Girl, you're no longer a small child, to be doing this all the time. You're growing by the day." 

"I don't care." she sat on my lap and scowled, "Where is my Master?!" 

"Hm?" I raised an eyebrow, "Visenya? I set her on a mission, why?" 

"She's my Master!!" Astorias exclaimed, "How else am I going to train?????" 

I blinked, "Okay....." 

She clutched my shirt and leaned towards me, "Bring her back." She said, "Now." 

"No." I said, "You don't need her." 

"Yes, I do!" She said, "I want to train and get stronger!!" 

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever." I said

"Fufu~" Mya walked over and kissed her on the head, "Such an eager child. Your Father has given her a task, Astorias. He won't call her back until the right time." 

"And when is that?!" Astorias said, "Papa, I want to get stronger!"

"If you want to get stronger, you have to learn from me." I said seriously, "You won't need someone as weak as her." 

Her eyes lit up, "Y-You'll train me????" 

I shrugged, "I don't see why not." 

She hugged me, "Thank you, papa~" She said as she kissed my cheek, "I love you~" 

"Yes, yes." I said, "Go to the training yard, I'll be there shortly." 

She jumped off me and skipped happily out the door while humming. 

Mya looked at me, "You best not break her heart." She said with a raised eyebrow, "That child looks up to you." 

"I'm not going to do that." I stood up, "It is about time I teach her how to control her blessing. We must not keep it bottled up too long. She needs to learn restraint and discipline. Call Sylas over to the training yard, he is going to partake in the lessons." 

"Sylas is busy." Mya told me, "I am afraid he won't partake." 

I looked at her, "What is he doing?" 

Mya let out a sigh, "He's purging filth." She said, "Or that is what he calls it." 

"Purging filth?" I asked, "What do you mean?" 

"He says he didn't want to bother you with it." Mya reached for my hand, "But he's been executing men who have been lusting after children. He goes around in the nearby villages with a few knights, taking them out and impaling them with his spears." 

"Oh?" I said with a slight smirk, "Is that so? Now, that is something worth speaking about, Mya. I'll check on this one day, to personally inspect his work." 

"I suppose so." Mya said with a frown, "But I would like for him to show restraint sometimes." 

"No such thing as purging filth." I said, "Especially if it's my own blood doing it. Hehe.....anyways....after I train Astorias...I will indulge in your body." 

"So be sure to await me in your bed." 

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

[The Next Day]

"Swordsmanship is but a spectrum, you see." I told the twins, "You have the sword and shield, which is arguably the most common combination among Knights. I don't like using that because it's boring. Although it can be very strong. You have fencing which consists of rapiers, foils, epees, and sabers. I consider fencing to be like a dance, it is almost rhythmic......quite strong if you're skilled with it. And you have the ordinary Longsword fighting.....I really don't know what that one is called. It's a very easy thing to learn. Along with Greatsword Fighting." 

"Which one do you like?" Maekar asked, "I have never seen you wield a sword." 

I shrugged, "They're all bad to me." I said

"How come Mother told me you were really good at it?" Maelor asked

The two twins were sitting on the ground as I was in front of a weapons rack. I was speaking to them about the types of swords and swordsmanship. Maekar had words of criticism as always and Maelor kept having questions. 

"I am." I said, "But as someone with power greater than any swordsmanship, why would I bother having a favorite in that aspect." 

"Swords are instruments of death, are they not?" Maekar said, "And War too. Wouldn't you have a favorite one?" 

"I guess so." I said, "But I can cut a person without touching them with a blade, so why bother using a sword." 

"That's cheating." Maekar scowled

"That's power." I corrected him

"Riktor uses a Greatsword." Maelor spoke up, "He's good with it." 

"Yes, he is." I told him

"Sylas uses a spear." Maelor said, "Astorias is wielding a halberd........" 

"Right." I nodded

"You want us to choose our weapons, Father?" Maekar crossed his arms, "I guess we could do that." 

"I want a sword." Maelor said, "But not a longsword....or a greatsword..." 

"I see." I said, "What kind of sword? A rapier? A saber?" 

"No....yes....." He said as he closed his eyes and placed his hands on his chin, "Something almost as thin as a rapier.....and curved like a saber.....I want a blade that can cut sharp.....but I can unsheathe it very quickly and elegantly." 

"That's.....oddly specific." I said, "You want a Katana?" 

"A kata-what?" Maekar frowned

"Where I'm from, there's a nation of warriors who wield these durable blades. They're thin and slightly curved. Their swordsmanship is different than the longswords, greatsword, and fencing arts." I explained, "They're called Katanas and they use a swordsmanship that is called Kenjutsu...or something like that. They also use Sorcery along with the swordsmanship to produce incredibly powerful warriors. But they're not something I would ingrain in my brain and call amazing." 

"Well..." Maelor said with a nod, "I want that." 

"Okay then." I said, "I think I can craft you one. You, Maekar?" 

"Hm......" Maekar said as he narrowed his eyes, "Can you create a weapon that can shift between two forms?" 

"Excuse me?" I asked

"I want a Sword." He said, "But I want a spear." 

"A Sword-Spear." I said, "A hybrid weapon. Yes. I can make that." 

"Then make it." He snapped his fingers, "And I wish to be good at it. Can you train me?" 

"Yes." I nodded

"Then train me." He said

I narrowed my eyes, "Awfully lippy, hm?" I said, "You're lucky you're Maegelle's son." 

"Little brat....."