Chapter 22: Collusion Between Ironborn and Rockborn?

Maester Luwin touched his chain, "Recently, the Rockborn pirates seem to have become increasingly rampant. Could it be that Saltpans has provoked these savages?"

Klar wore a sky-blue robe, adorned with sapphires and emeralds, "Does Maester Luwin mean that these savages have come to plunder salt?"

Maester Luwin shrugged, "Skagos has always been shrouded in terrifying legends of cannibalism. Few captains dare to go to the island to trade with the Rockborn. Winterfell implemented a maritime ban on Skagos many years ago. Although the North lacks the naval power to enforce a blockade, the Rockborn rarely come to the North to trade, so the outside world lacks information about the island. I do not know if they are short of salt."

Smalljon Umber's armor was stained with blood; it seemed he had not taken it off for many days. Smalljon said sternly, "Old Maester, the Rockborn cross the sea in ships to plunder salt? How is that possible? They destroyed three of our coastal saltpans and have no interest in the sea salt everywhere. They are just here to burn, kill, and pillage."

Eddard listened quietly, his anger burning hotter inside, but he restrained himself; after all, in front of his vassals and family, impotent rage was useless.

"Were any prisoners captured?"

Greatjon Umber said, "We captured a few. I interrogated them, and when they refused to speak, I had them all beheaded."

Eddard sighed, "You were too impatient and reckless; you should have locked the prisoners up and interrogated them slowly."

Greatjon Umber was a valiant Warrior, but he was clearly not very skilled at such interrogations.

Eddard turned to Rickard Karstark of Karhold, who was a distant relative of House Stark of Winterfell.

"Did Karhold capture any prisoners when engaging the Rockborn?"

According to the report the Maester of Karhold had previously sent to Winterfell, the Rockborn pirates not only destroyed the fishing villages and saltpans in the Karstark lands but also traveled up the Last River, killing and plundering wildly all the way, staining the Last River red with blood.

Rickard Karstark was so angry his face turned red.

"These damned pirates run away as soon as they see the cavalry of Karhold. We captured a few who couldn't make it to their ships and locked them in the Karhold dungeon, but these damned savages actually smashed the cell door and killed three of my guards. I took my men and slaughtered them all."

Fortunately, Roose Bolton did not disappoint Eddard.

"Lord Eddard, I captured six. The damned Rockborn went to the marshes of the Weeping Water to plunder and got stuck in the mud—that is the breeding ground for my favorite leeches. I took the six prisoners to my dungeon. At first, these savages spat at me, saying they would rather die than be interrogated."

"Then I brought out the Flayed Man's knife, the traditional craft of our Dreadfort. I gave the skin on their fingers and toes a thorough trimming, starting with the skin of the little finger..."

Eddard felt a wave of nausea, "Spare me the tedious details."

Roose Bolton, "These fellows then revealed some secrets."

Eddard leaned forward, "What are they?"

Roose Bolton's gaze rested on Theon Greyjoy.

"The Ironborn and the Rockborn have colluded to plan the attacks on the east coast of the North."

For a moment, everyone in the hall—Maester Luwin, Robb, Jon Snow, Catelyn, Sansa, Bran, Arya, the servants of Winterfell, the Umber family members who had come to petition at Winterfell, the Karstark family members, the Dreadfort attendants—all eyes fell squarely on Theon Greyjoy.

After all, Theon was the only Ironborn in the hall, and the Heir to the Iron Islands.

Originally, Theon had been standing to the right of Eddard's throne, serving as a guard, his face wearing his habitual mocking expression. As soon as he heard Roose Bolton accuse the Ironborn of colluding with the Rockborn pirates, the smile on Theon's face froze instantly, and his face was twisted with anger.

"Lord Eddard, this is complete nonsense. As everyone knows, the Iron Islands are in the southwest of the North, and Skagos is in the northeast of the North, separated by the entire Northern continent. Even if some Ironborn pirates defied my father's will to go out and plunder, they would go straight to Sea Dragon Point or the Stony Shore from Ironman's Bay. Why would they go all the way around to the east coast?"

"Besides, why would noble Ironborn plunder with savage, lowly Rockborn? Roose Bolton is slandering the Ironborn."

Eddard gestured to Theon, "Theon, do not be agitated. Roose Bolton has made his accusation; let us hear his reasons first."

Domeric, the Heir to the Dreadfort and a guard on Eddard's other side, said, "Lord Eddard, since this concerns the collusion between the Ironborn and the Rockborn to attack the North, I think it would be better to have Theon step aside first."

Greatjon Umber, Lord Rickard Karstark, and half the people in the hall demanded that Theon step aside. Theon glared at Domeric.

Eddard raised his fist, and the hall immediately fell silent.

"Theon is my ward. He has lived in Winterfell since he was ten and has not returned to the Iron Islands since. I believe that even if Balon Greyjoy planned the Rockborn attack on the east coast, it has nothing to do with Theon. He is my man."

Theon looked at Eddard with gratitude, but he was still very angry at the Northern lords for trying to drive him away.

Eddard met Roose Bolton's eyes, which were like thin ice.

"Now tell me everything you interrogated, word for word."

The soft whispers of the Lord of Dreadfort echoed in the hall of Winterfell, and everyone listened intently.

"A Rockborn of the Crowl Clan confessed under the torture of the Dreadfort. He said that the Crowl Clan chieftain, Samro, used force and strategy to unite the nine major tribes of Skagos, and the other smaller tribes have also submitted one after another. Samro's weapons and equipment were all provided by the Ironborn."

Theon snorted, "How can one trust the words of a Rockborn prisoner?"

Roose Bolton said, "His testimony has been corroborated by other prisoners."

Rickard Karstark said, "Lord Eddard, there are fishermen in my territory who escaped the Rockborn massacre who say the ships the Rockborn rode were very similar to the Longships of the Ironborn."

Greatjon Umber nodded, "That's right. At first, the fishermen on my coast said the same thing. They all thought the Ironborn pirates had come, but it turned out to be the Rockborn."

Roose Bolton reached out, and an attendant immediately handed over an axe, while another attendant handed over a piece of broken Plate Armor.

"Lord Eddard, the Rockborn ride in Ironborn Longships, use weapons forged by the Ironborn, and wear Ironborn armor. Our weaponsmith at the Dreadfort has determined that this is Ironborn craftsmanship. If you don't believe it, you can ask your Winterfell Smith to inspect it."

Eddard beckoned, and the Winterfell Smith, Mikken, immediately stepped forward. Mikken touched the sharp blade with his hand and then examined the broken Plate Armor.

"Judging by the luster, materials, and craftsmanship of this axe, it is indeed Ironborn work."

(End of chapter)