Tyrion's orders were quickly carried out.
As the dark line on the horizon became clearer, both Casterly Rock and Lannisport sprang into action.
Merchant ships still at sea immediately turned back toward the harbor. Their captains and crews had no time to mourn the loss of business; survival came first. Several vessels that could not return in time were abandoned, as neither the defenders of Casterly Rock nor the soldiers of Lannisport had the manpower to recover them.
Since the previous war, the Lannister fleet had been almost completely depleted, leaving the western coast virtually defenseless. Faced with an enemy approaching from the sea, Tyrion had no choice but to abandon any hope of fighting offshore and instead prepare to meet the invaders directly on the coastline.
It was the only realistic option available.
Building a fleet for King Karl Baratheon in such a short period was impossible. All Tyrion could do was minimize their losses and make the best use of the limited forces at his disposal.
Fortunately, Casterly Rock remained one of the strongest fortresses in Westeros. After assigning three hundred soldiers to Hall for its defense, Tyrion felt somewhat reassured. Even if the enemy attempted to attack the castle, reinforcements could still be sent from nearby.
After confirming that the Redwyne fleet appeared far more likely to strike Lannisport than Casterly Rock, Tyrion made his decision.
He donned his armor, fastened his small battle axe to his belt, and prepared to ride to the front lines.
Hall immediately stopped him.
"What exactly do you think you're going to accomplish on the battlefield?" Hall asked. "A stray horse—or even a donkey—could trample you to death."
Tyrion glared at him.
"Even if that happens, I'd still be more useful there than sitting safely behind these walls."
He pointed toward the sea.
"The Redwyne fleet is far stronger than any of you realize."
"If I don't command the defense personally, who will? Those noble lords are nothing more than a disorganized collection of survivors. None of them are trustworthy."
"If I don't keep them under control, I'd be lucky if they managed to land a single proper blow before running away."
Seeing Tyrion's determination, Hall could no longer argue.
The dwarf's words were harsh, but they were true.
What surprised Hall most was not Tyrion's intelligence, but his courage. Despite everything Tyrion had endured throughout his life, he was still willing to place himself on the front line.
After a long silence, Hall finally nodded.
"You may go."
"But I'll make sure you return alive."
He immediately gathered the remaining veterans of the former Blackstone Mercenary Company, along with more than thirty of the most reliable warriors from the High Mountain Clans, assigning them as Tyrion's personal guard.
It was all Hall could spare.
Casterly Rock was nearly impregnable, but it still required defenders. More importantly, it was now King Karl Baratheon's only true stronghold in the west.
Hall intended to hold it at all costs.
---
Far out upon the Sunset Sea, dozens of warships bearing House Redwyne's purple grape banner sailed steadily toward the western coast.
Dark clouds rolled across the sky.
The colorful rainbow that had stretched across the sea only moments earlier had vanished, replaced by howling winds and the promise of an approaching storm.
Along the shores outside Lannisport, the civilian population had already been evacuated.
Soldiers lined the beaches, their banners fluttering violently in the rising wind.
House Westerling, House Sarsfield, and House Swyft had brought the largest contingents, having escaped the previous wars with comparatively fewer losses.
Smaller houses such as Farman, Kenning, Prester, and Banefort contributed what little they could after suffering years of warfare and repeated Ironborn raids.
Other major western houses—including Marbrand, Lefford, Brax, Serrett, Lydden, Greenfield, and Estren—had chosen not to answer King Karl's call.
Rather than openly refusing, they simply remained silent and waited to see how events unfolded.
Looking across the assembled army, Tyrion could only sigh.
Nearly nine noble houses had answered the summons...
Yet together they had gathered barely three thousand soldiers.
Even after adding the two thousand men directly under his command, the total force numbered just over five thousand.
Most were infantry.
Their training varied greatly.
Many had never fought a proper battle.
As for hiring mercenaries...
Tyrion didn't even have enough money to consider the idea.
The former Lannister treasury was gone.
The newly established House El was practically bankrupt.
Half of Tyrion's daily work now consisted of worrying about money.
When he arrived carrying House El's crimson-and-black gemstone river banner, many of the assembled lords looked genuinely surprised.
They hadn't expected Tyrion himself to take command on the front line.
Lord Seth Farman of Fair Isle stepped forward first.
"Lord Tyrion..."
"Can we truly stop them?"
His anxiety was understandable.
Fair Isle had suffered repeatedly throughout history.
It had been raided by Ironborn countless times, conquered during the Dance of the Dragons, and devastated again during later conflicts.
Every generation seemed destined to endure another invasion.
Now another enemy fleet approached.
The old lord was exhausted.
He simply wanted his family to survive.
The other coastal lords silently waited for Tyrion's answer.
Tyrion smiled confidently.
"My lords, have faith."
"We have anticipated this attack for quite some time."
"If I, a dwarf whom half the realm loves to mock, am willing to stand here with you, then surely I wouldn't do so without preparation."
His words were calm and reassuring.
Whether they truly believed him or not hardly mattered.
At least morale did not collapse.
Tyrion immediately began assigning defensive positions.
Each noble received a section of coastline to defend.
Meanwhile, Tyrion personally took command of the harbor defenses alongside Shagga, Timett, and his own household troops.
The harbor would be the enemy's primary objective.
Even if they failed to hold the shoreline, they could still retreat into the city and force brutal street fighting.
Every possible contingency had already been considered.
---
The sea grew darker.
Cold rain began to fall.
A single raindrop landed on Tyrion's cheek.
He looked toward the sky.
Dark clouds churned overhead as the rain steadily intensified.
After wiping the water from his face, he lowered his visor and gripped his axe.
Because cavalry would have little room to maneuver during an amphibious landing, only a small mounted reserve was stationed farther inland.
The majority of the army remained around the harbor, prepared to repel the first landing.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense.
Visibility worsened as rain swept across the sea.
Finally...
The Redwyne fleet lowered dozens of landing boats.
Hundreds of soldiers climbed aboard, preparing to assault the coast.
---
Aboard the Redwyne flagship, Horas Redwyne frowned.
"Father..."
"Are we really attacking in this weather?"
His twin brother Hobber asked the same question with his eyes.
Lord Paxter Redwyne calmly observed the wind and sea before extending a hand into the rain.
"The weather favors us."
"Lannisport has no fleet."
"Landing here will not be difficult."
"The defenders know the terrain better than we do, but heavy rain reduces that advantage."
He watched the waves carefully.
"The wind and rain level the battlefield."
"More importantly..."
"This landing is only our main assault."
Horas immediately understood.
Other detachments had already landed elsewhere during the previous night.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
He saluted his father.
"Then Hobber and I will lead the first wave."
Paxter smiled with satisfaction.
This battle was an ideal opportunity for his sons to earn glory without facing overwhelming danger.
His objective had never been Casterly Rock.
There was little value in wasting time attacking an enormous fortress of solid stone.
Lannisport was different.
Capturing the city would cut King Karl Baratheon's western supply line, threaten his rear, and force his campaign against Highgarden to collapse.
That alone would be enough to change the course of the war.
Far above the battlefield, hidden among the storm clouds, a dark figure silently circled.
Concealed by rain and mist, it slowly descended toward the battlefield, completely unnoticed by everyone below.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)