Game of Thrones: The Frozen Throne

The Northern vassals and Edd listened intently as Benford Tallhart recounted how their supplies had been burned. Benford had barely escaped the Ironborn raid. The grim news hit everyone like a punch. Greatjon's face turned red with anger, Lord Macey Seven was visibly dejected, and Lord Rickard Karstark roared for vengeance against the Ironborn.

This was a devastating blow to the Northern army. Without supplies, their numerical advantage would turn into a burden.

Even the usually soft-spoken Roose Bolton raised his voice, a rare occurrence. "Lord Edd, two-thirds of our provisions and baggage train were burned by the Ironborn across from Seal Bay. We have no choice but to retreat."

Greatjon snapped, "Roose Bolton, where is your courage? We've crossed Seal Bay with great effort! We should strike directly at the Rock King before Samro Crowl even realizes what's happening and smash him to pieces! And you want to retreat?"

Roose Bolton coldly retorted, "Now is not the time for reckless bravado. This is the largest island in the North, four or five times the size of Bear Island. How do you plan to conquer it without sufficient provisions?"

Ser Marlon Manderly added, "I never expected the Ironborn pirates of Skagos to be bold enough to launch a raid across the sea on our fleet, even after we landed on the island."

Edd's tone was laced with irritation. "I warned Herman Tallhart to be wary of an Ironborn ambush, yet they still managed to catch us off guard."

After landing on Skagos, the Northern army had only encountered resistance from the Stoneborn. Edd and the Northern lords had wondered about the Ironborn's whereabouts, with many believing they had fled in fear.

Lady Meggie Mormont of Bear Island harshly pointed out, "Two thousand Northern soldiers couldn't fend off an Ironborn raid? Were the Manderly brothers and Herman Tallhart sleeping?"

Rickard Karstark sneered, "Willis and Wendel are as useless as a pair of sausages. Leaving them in charge of the supplies was bound to end in disaster. I didn't expect Sir Herman Tallhart to fail so miserably as well."

Domeric Bolton, heir to the Dreadfort, asked, "Was it the Iron Whore or Haelen Pyke leading them?"

"Lord Edd, 'Iron Whore' and Haelen Pyke are the same person," Benford Tallhart interjected, his thick neck trembling with emotion. "It's her nickname. My father, Sir Herman Tallhart, saw the Ironborn pirates approaching and ordered the archers to fight back. When they boarded, my father and his men resisted with all their might."

Roose Bolton remained unmoved. "Sir Herman Tallhart fought bravely, but the supplies were still destroyed."

Benford Tallhart, furious, bellowed, "We killed over three hundred Ironborn pirates!"

"And lost the battle completely," Roose Bolton added flatly.

Theon Greyjoy, a friend of Benford Tallhart, might have laughed and mocked him under different circumstances. But with the Northern army suffering such a loss at the hands of the Ironborn, and the nobles already seething with anger, he restrained himself.

"We weren't completely annihilated," Benford insisted. "Many soldiers perished, but after escaping to the shoreline forests, I managed to regroup over eight hundred scattered men—knights from White Harbor, warriors from Torrhen's Square, and Winterfell soldiers."

Greatjon scorned, "Eight hundred cowards who fled the battlefield? A disgrace to the North!"

Marlon Manderly interjected, "My lords, though our losses are severe, Sir Herman Tallhart's counterattack destroyed over a dozen Ironborn longships and killed three hundred men. I interrogated some Ironborn prisoners, and they claimed the 'Iron Whore' led only eight hundred raiders on the attack."

This news lifted Edd's spirits slightly. "If the prisoners weren't lying, Haelen Pyke's forces should be down to fewer than five hundred. She won't be able to launch another large-scale assault. We will press on!"

This decision alarmed Roose Bolton and Lord Seven. Macey Seven spoke anxiously, "Lord Edd, with limited provisions, pressing deeper into Skagos means our thousands of men will starve!"

Edd responded firmly, "Don't be so pessimistic. We still have a third of our supplies on the island. If we ration carefully, we can last a month."

Roose Bolton countered, "A month is not enough to break the Rock King and the Iron Whore. Lord Edd, we cannot risk thousands of Northern elites. We should retreat and reconsider our approach."

"Reconsidering" meant delaying an attack on Skagos for years, allowing the pirates to continue ravaging the Northern coast.

Edd clenched his fists. "This is exactly what the Iron Whore wants—to burn our supplies and force us to retreat. I must press forward. We can resupply from the sea."

Roose Bolton warned, "The Ironborn can easily cut off our naval supply lines."

That was a major risk. After a moment of contemplation, Edd issued an order. "Send word to Greybeard Kasseren—I am granting him and his 'Sistermen' captains permission to raid the Stoneborn coastal villages for provisions, but they are forbidden from slaughtering innocents. The Pentoshi mercenary ships may also partake in the raids. The White Harbor fleet will patrol the waters, and if they encounter Ironborn, they are to destroy them!"

If the Iron Whore chose to fight the mercenaries and pirates, her forces would dwindle. Without the Ironborn, the North would control the seas around Skagos.

Domeric Bolton remarked, "Lord Edd, raiding will yield some supplies, but it won't be enough for an army of over seven thousand."

Greatjon declared, "House Umber will contribute our winter stores for the war effort."

To prepare for the ever-present threat of winter, Northern lords stockpiled large quantities of supplies.

Rickard Karstark of Karhold followed suit. "Karhold will also provide from our winter reserves."

Now, the pressure was on Roose Bolton. The Northern campaign was meant to crush the terror plaguing the North—House Bolton and Karhold had been hit hardest by pirate raids. With the other lords committing resources, all eyes turned to Roose Bolton.

Roose coughed a few times. "Our lands have been ravaged by the pirates and struck by plague. Our stores are insufficient. I still suggest we retreat."

Meggie Mormont sneered. "Since when did the Dreadfort become so miserly?"

Laughter and taunts followed from Lord Wull, Middle Rydell, Galbart Glover, and others. Left with no choice, Roose reluctantly agreed to contribute supplies.

With the decision to march forward settled, Edd ordered, "Bring me the Ironborn prisoner, James Cold. I have questions for him."

If they were to defeat the Iron Whore and her Ironborn, Edd needed more information.

________________

— Thanks to Venkat for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to Robin kristiansen for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to hussain jama for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to sable for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to Mohamed for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

" Help the story climb the rankings! Don't forget to leave a Power Stone and share your thoughts in the comments if you enjoyed this chapter!"