House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men-Chapter 196: A Rift in The Riverlands II

(Drakken's POV)

[Raventree Hall]

"My Lord....." Lord Blackwood said, "W-What is the meaning of this?"

I sat in front of him, my legs and arms crossed as I simply leaned back on the couch. Mya sat next to me, leaned against me as I looked at him, the Lord of Raventree Hall, with a serious expression.

"What, I cannot come and visit you?" I asked with a raised eyebrow

"Well, that is not what I meant." He said, "But you have not done so in years....not since you've taken Mya as your Lady...."

"And you've heard of our exploits since then." I tilted my head, "I know Mya has kept in touch. Your grandson is well, thank you for asking."

He gulped, "Ah, yes..." He said, "Riktor..."

"Father, we have heard of the issues you've been having with House Bracken." Mya spoke up, "There seems to be another conflict brewing. You know how Our Lord feels about that. War without his permission is quite forbidden."

He looked down, "The truth is....." He said, "Those Bracken scum have done it again. They've been violating our agreement, Lord Drakken. They have desecrated our holy grounds, they're attempting to cut our Weirwood Trees down. They've even tried to get near your Tower and well....that place."

"Hmph." I said, "My Guardian will deal with the trespassers; I have nothing to concern myself with. But....you lot have been rather rowdy and I have come to be annoyed by it. If you're bound to repeat the war from years ago, then by all means, go to my doorstep and ask for leave."

He nodded, "I was contemplating in sending a letter." He said, "The truth is, I do not wish to go to war. But there is an issue that has arisen....aside from the incident a few days ago, I have heard of several Houses gathering against the influence of the Trinity."

"Ho?" I said with a smug smirk, "Is that so?"

"The Trinity is the absolute doctrine of House Drakkengard, father." Mya told him, "Any movement against the Trinity is a declaration of war against our House. I must warn you not to share such sentiments."

"I don't." He said, "I know, my dear Mya. I know of the consequences of opposing House Drakkengard."

"Here is my prediction, Lord Blackwood." I said with a chuckle, "Those Houses in the Riverlands that follow the Faith will try to sway those who don't to their side. And knowing that you lot are extremely stubborn descendants of the First Men, you will reject them."

"Yes." He said, "I will not have my family violate generations of tra-"

"Follow The Trinity instead." I cut him off

He looked at me with surprise, "W-What?" He said, "The Trinity?"

I nodded, "That is what I said." I told him, "The Trinity."

"Why would I do that?" He asked

"If you follow the Trinity, you will be under my absolute protection." I said with a slight smirk, "I will welcome Mya's brothers, your sons, as members of the Duskguard, bestowing them with a Mark. You understand, right? You understand what power the Duskguard holds. They have true power that will be rivaled by nobody."

"But...." He said as he pondered the option, "They will be your slaves...."

"Slaves?" I scowled, "Slaves?!"

I stood up and Mya grabbed my hand, "My Lord." She said softly, "Calm down."

"Remind your Father to watch what he says in my presence, Mya." I said with an angry tone, "Or does he wish for me to do that myself?"

"Father." Mya said, "The Duskguard are not slaves, they are servants of the God of War. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Worshipping the Trinity...." He said as he shook his head, "I am not calling it a False Religion, you can worship who you want, Mya....but you want us to forsake generations of our customs.....for what?"

"Protection." Mya said seriously, "Survival. If a conflict is to arise....again....there is no guarantee that your House will come out unscathed. You have no other bastard daughters to offer My Lord to solidify your survival. Not like he would accept...."

"You will plunge this land into chaos again, Lord Drakken?" He asked with a serious expression

"Men seem to forget their standing in this world." I said, "Gods, then men, then those who serve said men.....you do know the most important thing, right? A god stands before you....You are lucky that your blood runs through my son's....otherwise I would have you strung up in front of your sons and hear them scream for mercy as I rip out their entrails. Do not forget your place, Blackwood."

He sighed and looked down, "You don't know what you're asking of me." He said, "I cannot just do this willingly...."

"Hmph, fine." I said, "The Brackens will ally themselves with other Houses to run you down, considering that the Faith will target you not only for your worship of the Old Gods but because of your relationship to Mya."

He looked up to me, "What?" He said, "Mya is my basta-"

I cut him off by clutching him by the throat, "Watch your fucking tongue!" I said with anger, "Do not refer to her as that, she is a Drakkengard, don't forget it!!"

He clutched my arm as he gasped for air, his eyes widened in fear and shock.

"Lord Drakken." Mya said as she patted my arm, "It is fine, we should go."

I let go of him as he fell to the ground, "This is the only offer I will make you, Lord Blackwood." I told him as I kicked his leg aside, "If your House is attacked and overwhelmed, you best beg for the Duskguard to help....pray to the Trinity, pray to Sol'Tyr."

"That would be the only salvation you'll get."

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

"The Brackens, huh?" Saera said as she sat in front of me, "You should strike first, butcher a couple dozen of them to send them a message."

I raised an eyebrow, "Why would I do that?"

"You just said you believe they're conspiring with other Houses that worship the Faith to make a move on the Trinity." She said with a frown, "That is incentive enough for a god to strike, to show everyone else that the Trinity is absolute."

We were in the carriage that was wheeling us down the road to Harrenhal. For some reason, Saera did not want to stay in the castle and wanted to join us when we went to pay a visit to Mya's family. She, however, did not want to get off the carriage and simply waited in there. She had told me she did not want to walk inside a stupid man's hall.

"That is not a bad idea." Mya said, "But what else would that cause other than outrage? Outrage that will spark a war."

"War is good, no?" Saera smirked, "You want that, My Love~ War.....bloody war.....you can feed off the dead that result from a War. You are a god! Do not let anyone look down at you."

"Princess." Mya said, "Our Lord has a plan that requires patience and careful manipulation. If this War does not align with his plan, then it is not worth sparking it prematurely. The Trinity needs to get more and more influence. The Stormlands, The Reach, The Westerlands.....we have around a thousand followers in each region respectively.....nearly ten thousand in the Stormlands."

"So?" Saera asked

"Dorne, The Crownlands, The Vale..." Mya continued, "And....the North.....we need to reach those regions and have a firm grip on them to make a conflict worth it. The Faith will try to resist, but once that happens, Our Lord can reap the rewards."

"The Faith will resist far before that happens." Saera said with a smug smirk, "That is why he needs to strike now."

"To prevent further resistance..."