Game of Thrones: The Frozen Throne

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Standing on the beach, Eddard gazed at the Northern fleet scattered across the ocean.

"Ser Marlon Manderly, can our great ships remain anchored nearby?"

If they could, the Northern army would have a secure retreat if the battle turned unfavorable. Though Eddard was confident that the Rock King, Samro Crowl's Rockborn warriors, the Iron Whores, and the Ironborn pirates under Helen Pyke couldn't stand against the Northern army of over eight thousand men, having a retreat plan was always wise.

Ser Marlon Manderly frowned. "Anchor nearby? My lord, I'm afraid that's not possible. We've already seen how treacherous the reefs here are. If our ships remain in these waters, they may survive the daylight, but a single storm at night could send many of them crashing into the rocks and sinking."

Eddard sighed. "Then we have no choice but to send the fleet back to the shores of House Umber's lands. Ser Marlon Manderly, take the ships and set sail! Bring back the remaining supply vessels to Skagos."

Currently, two-thirds of their supplies were still stored on the shores opposite Seal Bay, in the lands of House Umber, under the command of Ser Herman Tallhart of Torrhen's Square. Wylis and Wendel Manderly of White Harbor were also stationed there. Herman Tallhart commanded over two thousand soldiers, a mixed force from Winterfell, White Harbor, and Torrhen's Square.

Once Herman Tallhart and the Manderly brothers arrived with the remaining two thousand men and supplies, the Northern army would surpass ten thousand soldiers. Even if Samro Crowl rallied all nine clan tribes of Skagos, he would still be unable to withstand their assault.

Ser Marlon Manderly hesitated. "My lord, what if the Ironborn longships block the surrounding waters after I leave with the fleet?"

Eddard replied calmly, "I will not easily surrender our hard-won control over the sea. I will order the Sistermen's ships and the Pentoshi mercenary vessels to patrol these waters."

After Ser Marlon Manderly departed, Eddard summoned Jon Snow and instructed him to bring Greybeard Casselren.

Greybeard Casselren watched the great ships sail toward the shores opposite Seal Bay, his expression tense. "My lord, with the great ships gone, if the Ironborn pirates launch a full-scale attack, my Sistermen longships alone may not be enough to repel them. If the Ironborn longships blockade the beach, won't the Northern army be trapped on this island?"

Eddard remained composed. "For now, the pirate longships don't seem to pose a major threat. Don't worry, the Sistermen fleet won't be fighting alone—Pentoshi mercenary ships will assist you."

Greybeard Casselren finally smiled.

Eddard continued, "Greybeard, I've heard that you've spent years sailing the Narrow Sea, often mingling with pirates around the Stepstones."

"Who told you that?" Greybeard Casselren immediately denied it. "Greybeard is an honest man. I have never engaged in the business of banditry."

Eddard chuckled. "I know you've been a smuggler and a pirate. The Three Sisters have always been a den of smugglers and thieves. But I hold a deep fondness for the Sisters. During Robert's Rebellion, when Mad King Aerys put a bounty on my head across the Seven Kingdoms, I fled the Eyrie and found a ship in the Sisters that carried me back to the North."

Greybeard laughed. "I've heard that tale in Sisterton. Many there claim that you had a romance with one of the local whores—that she bore your bastard. For years, several women claimed to be lovers of Lord Eddard Stark, hoping to attract more customers!"

Eddard shot a wary glance at Jon Snow, standing nearby, and quickly changed the subject. "Let's not talk about whores. I wanted to ask, in all your years sailing the Narrow Sea, have you ever heard of the Iron Whore or Helen Pyke?"

Greybeard Casselren stroked his beard. "I've never heard of the Iron Whore, but Helen Pyke… I did hear her name in the Stepstones. She supposedly hails from Pyke in the Iron Islands. There are many Ironborn pirates around the Stepstones, and Helen Pyke had a bit of a reputation among them. A few years ago, I heard she was defeated by the Lysene pirate Salladhor Saan. After that, she vanished from the Stepstones."

"Some say she returned to the Iron Islands. Others claim that Salladhor Saan sold her to a Lysene brothel, where she was called the 'Pirate Queen' to attract customers. There are even rumors that she ended up in King's Landing and was hanged by Stannis, the Master of Ships. And finally, there's the theory that she came to Skagos and now serves Samro Crowl."

"Pyke is the bastard surname of the Iron Islands, and Helen is a common name. Honestly, I can't say how many different Helens Pyke there are."

It was a mystery within a mystery.

Eddard patted Greybeard Casselren's shoulder. "Regardless, your information is valuable. If you ever face trouble in Northern waters or ports, just mention my name."

Greybeard Casselren's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Hearing that from you, my lord, is worth more than any commission I could make in White Harbor. And if you ever need anything in the Three Sisters, just say the word. Don't forget, we once swore fealty to Winterfell and paid tribute!"

The Three Sisters were officially part of the Vale under House Arryn's rule, but the Sistermen had little love for the Arryns. Historically, Sistermen pirates had once seized Wolf's Den—the precursor to White Harbor—and raided upriver along the White Knife. In retaliation, the Kings of Winter not only drove them out but also conquered the Three Sisters, forcing them into submission.

Though the Three Sisters were now little more than barren islands, overshadowed by the wealth of White Harbor, their strategic value remained undeniable. Whoever controlled the Three Sisters controlled Bite Bay, and whoever controlled Bite Bay held the throat of the North in their grasp.

Eddard made his way to the encampment atop a hill, where he spotted a heart tree—a weirwood with a face carved into its trunk, its crimson sap resembling blood. The tree stood facing the sea, its surrounding soil a deep reddish hue. Could the ancient, terrifying practice of blood sacrifice still persist on Skagos?

The Rockborn of Skagos, like most Northerners, worshiped the Old Gods. This was land watched over by the Old Gods.

Winterfell's command tent, bearing the direwolf sigil, was erected not far from the heart tree.

Inside, Eddard and his bannermen gathered around a table where maps were laid out. Ser Jory Cassel led Winterfell's guards, ensuring everything was in place.

Standing beside Eddard was his bodyguard, Dawson, holding the Valyrian steel greatsword, Ice. To his left stood Syrio Forel, the Braavosi Water Dancer. Surrounding the table were Lord Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort, Lord Rickard Karstark of Karhold, Lord Galbart Glover of Deepwood Motte, and Lady Mage Mormont of Bear Island.

Theon Greyjoy grinned. "My lord, the Rockborn have fled, and those Ironborn pirates who sought to provoke war between the Iron Islands and the North have disappeared. Speed is of the essence—we should advance at once."

Eddard replied, "I've already sent scouts under Ser Ferran and Robert Glover to survey the surroundings. Once Herman Tallhart arrives with the supply fleet, we will advance inland."

Greatjon Umber bellowed, "My lord, these savages are no match for us. We should strike before the Rock King can gather his forces!"

Eddard sighed. "If we had a proper map of Skagos, I would prefer to send light cavalry straight to the Rock King's stronghold. But this is unknown territory. We don't know its castles, its fortresses, its rivers. We don't even know where the Rock King resides."

Domeric Bolton of the Dreadfort stepped forward. "My lord, leave the mapping to me."

Roose Bolton added, "We've captured many Rockborn prisoners. If we interrogate them properly, we may find the Rock King's hiding place. And once we do, this war will be as good as won."

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