"Oakfist Alyn?"
The moment Logar heard the young man's name, he froze.
He remembered the legendary figure who would later replace the deceased Lord Corlys as Master of Ships for the Blacks — Alyn Velaryon, known as Oakfist.
According to the stories, Alyn had an older brother named Addam. Both were Corlys's bastards.
After losing his trueborn son Laenor, and with most of his nephews proving useless, the Sea Snake had petitioned Queen Rhaenyra to legitimize the two boys. Later, Addam would tame Laenor's dragon Sea Smoke and become a dragonrider. After Addam's death, Alyn would inherit House Velaryon.
"You have an older brother named Addam, don't you?"
Logar still found it hard to believe the capable young man standing before him was the future Oakfist. He couldn't help asking again.
"My lord knows my brother?" Alyn looked surprised. He had sailed here fully expecting to die — such was the fate of bastards.
"So it really is him."
A surge of delight rose in Logar's chest. This Alyn was rare talent. He had to win him over.
Even if he couldn't secure true loyalty right away, the connection to his brother — the future dragonrider Addam — was too valuable to ignore.
Addam was one of the few men who truly embodied knightly honor in the original timeline. Dragonriders were the most powerful strategic assets of this age. Logar could not afford to make an enemy of one.
Thinking fast, Logar clapped Alyn on the shoulder and said warmly, "Do your best here. We're going to take this island and make it ours!"
Alyn looked a little puzzled but didn't overthink it. He had already seen Logar and his pirates fight like demons earlier. The captain's friendly attitude suddenly made the days ahead on this barren rock feel a lot more promising.
After absorbing Alyn's detachment, Logar wasted no time. Reclaiming the base meant they would soon face wave after wave of enemy counterattacks. They had to prepare — now.
First came rewarding the men.
After back-to-back bloody fights the pirates were exhausted but riding high. The moment Logar approached, they crowded around him, eyes burning with fanatic loyalty.
There was no mystery why. Their captain led from the very front in every battle — and he always won.
More importantly, after every fight he shared a huge portion of the loot with them. His reputation for open-handedness had already spread across the entire Stepstones.
Following a leader who could fight like a demon and reward his men so lavishly — how could these pirates not love him? How could they not obey?
"Brothers, we've won another victory!"
Under the setting sun, facing dozens of feverish eyes, Logar spoke in a deep voice. "But this is only the beginning. Taking back our land is just the first step. From now on we hold this island, build it strong, and make these waters ours!
We will turn this place into our home — and charge every merchant ship that sails past! If the Dornish on Grey Gallows or the Three Whores on Bloodstone try to stop us, we'll make sure they never leave alive!"
"That's right! Send them to the bottom!"
Inspired by Logar's words, the pirates roared with excitement. Fresh off a major victory, their confidence was sky-high.
"To hold off the Dornish and Triarchy counterattacks, we must strengthen our defenses immediately! And of course the pay will be generous!"
"Whatever you say, Captain!" the men shouted eagerly. As long as there was coin at the end, they were willing to do anything.
Seeing their high morale, Logar breathed easier. He ordered Femon and the others to light bonfires, break out wine and meat, and celebrate the victory.
Afterward he gathered Femon, Kendel, and the newly arrived Alyn inside the command tent for a council of war.
"I brought a group of craftsmen from Shelltown this time. Kendel, you're a shipwright by trade — they're yours now. Start fortifying the base immediately."
"No problem, Captain!" Kendel Waters replied excitedly. He had only joined recently but was already being given important responsibilities. The trust filled him with gratitude; he was ready to die for Logar if needed.
"Captain, while we're building defenses we also have to raid supply ships with the Velaryons and guard against enemy raids," Femon said worriedly. "Aren't we going to be short on manpower?"
Even after recruiting in Driftmark, Logar's total force was barely four or five hundred. Today's battle had cost them dozens dead and many more wounded.
Even with Alyn's fifty Velaryon soldiers staying behind, the numbers still felt dangerously thin against the strongholds on Bloodstone and Grey Gallows.
"You're right to worry," Logar said calmly. "That's why I'm sending men to the smaller islands where the scattered pirate crews hide. We're going to recruit more fighters!
Our recent victories have shown those poor bastards being bullied by the Triarchy and Dorne that those two powers aren't invincible.
Right now those scattered crews are being hunted like dogs. Spread the word that Logar the Throat-Cutter has returned. Anyone who joins me will be richly rewarded — gold, status, whatever they want. I won't be stingy!"
"Brilliant, Captain!" Femon agreed at once.
The name Throat-Cutter already echoed across every rock in the Stepstones. The enemy hated him and had put a huge bounty on his head, while the pirates worshipped him, singing songs of how he repeatedly beat far larger forces.
The crew that had come to this island to join him earlier was living proof. These men desperately wanted a true king of the sea to lead them to victory.
After settling those matters, Logar turned to Alyn. "Alyn, since Lord Malentin made you the liaison between House Velaryon and my company, I'll need you to press him and Lord Daemon for the supplies we urgently need."
Alyn, pleasantly surprised by Logar's friendly attitude, nodded immediately. "I will do everything in my power, my lord."
With that the meeting ended and the tent fell quiet once more.
Over the following days the nameless island Logar had reclaimed rang constantly with the sound of hammers and dragged timber.
Salt wind whipped across the rocks as Logar drove his men to build strong defenses. He had scout ships watching Bloodstone and Grey Gallows at all times, and with the Velaryon fleet maintaining its blockade at sea, he didn't fear a sudden surprise attack.
Craftsmen and pirates worked side by side. Some swung axes to fell thick logs, others dug ditches with picks and shovels.
Under Logar's direction several wooden watchtowers rose along the high ground near the shore, complete with lookout platforms to scan the sea.
The old broken camp entrance was reinforced with massive oak beams thick as a man's embrace. The walls were raised higher and studded with sharpened stakes. Shallow ditches were dug at the base to stop climbers.
Kendel and the shipwrights used leftover tar from shipbuilding to seal every gap in the walls — strengthening them and making them resistant to fire.
The massive construction project meant Logar had to spend almost every coin he had just received. It pained him, but for survival, he had no choice.
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