Chapter 24: Luwin's Counsel

"Lord Eddard, this is simply madness!"

In the library of Winterfell, Maester Luwin stroked the chain around his neck.

"Lord Eddard, a maester's vows require me to provide counsel to my lord. I have served in Winterfell for many years; Lord Eddard and Catelyn Stark have treated me like family, and I view Robb, Bran, Jon Snow, and every child of Winterfell as my own flesh and blood. Therefore, I beg you, withdraw the decision to send troops to Skagos!"

Eddard frowned as he looked at the map of the North, his gaze lingering on the waters near Skagos.

"As vassals of Winterfell, it is one thing for the Rockborn to refuse to kneel and submit, but they have dared to sail to my lands, destroy Saltpans and villages, and slaughter my people. As Warden of the North, I must send troops. Should I sit idly by while my subjects are butchered by savages?"

Maester Luwin said, "Although the outside world generally views Skagos as a barren, savage, and uncivilized place, history tells us that the Rockborn living on the island are not easy to deal with. Back in the days when House Stark reigned as kings in the North, the King in the North sent troops to Skagos many times, hoping to annex the island and complete the unification of the North. However, every time the Northern Army withdrew, the embers of rebellion would reignite on Skagos."

"Lord Eddard, do not forget that just over a hundred years ago, during the time of Daeron the Good, the Rockborn once raised the banner of rebellion and challenged the rule of Winterfell. That war lasted for three years, and countless Northern warriors died at sea or in the strange mountains of Skagos; this even included your ancestor, Duke Bartholomew Stark."

Eddard pressed his hand onto the map, his palm covering Skagos exactly.

"The Kings in the North or Wardens of the North of the past could not do it, so you think I cannot either? This is the largest island in the North and has been the territory of the King in the North since ancient times. It is one thing for the Rockborn traitors to refuse to come to the North to kneel, pay tribute, and acknowledge their liege, but they have actually dared to attack."

"If this continues, my subjects and vassals will feel that Winterfell is powerless to suppress rebellion. They will think House Stark of Winterfell is weak and easily bullied. Once the seeds of rebellion are sown, the vast North will be engulfed in the flames of war. I am not a bloodthirsty or bellicose man, but I have no other choice."

Maester Luwin sighed, "Lord Eddard, if the Winter Town had not been expanded, I would support you in sending troops. But now... we are undertaking massive construction in the Winter Town, and our treasury is nearly exhausted. To engage in militarism without money—may I ask how we are to fight a war?"

Eddard said, "I was just about to tell you; I have decided to accept the suggestion of Klar and borrow money from Lord Wyman Manderly of White Harbor. You write a letter to Lord Wyman, saying that Winterfell is borrowing one hundred thousand Gold Dragons from White Harbor, to be slowly offset by the taxes White Harbor pays to Winterfell."

Maester Luwin's eyes widened: "Lord Eddard would rather borrow money than wage war against savages? If the war begins, one hundred thousand Gold Dragons will not even be enough for the war's consumption."

Eddard said, "That is why I ultimately have to borrow money from the Iron Bank. I have already had Klar send someone to ride posthaste to White Harbor to contact the envoy of the Iron Bank's office in White Harbor, with a preliminary plan to borrow five hundred thousand Gold Dragons."

Maester Luwin said in shock, "Lord Eddard, this is too crazy. To deal with the savages of Skagos, you are willing to let Winterfell shoulder such a massive debt? Can Winterfell really afford to repay such a huge debt?"

Eddard said patiently, "Luwin, the five hundred thousand Gold Dragons are not all for military expenses. The expansion of the Winter Town would require borrowing money sooner or later. With this money, the shipyards in White Harbor can also officially begin building the Northern fleet."

Originally, after consulting with the shipwright Malin, Eddard intended to postpone the shipbuilding plan. But now, the fact that the Rockborn are using the longships of the Ironborn to wreak havoc on the east coast of the North, and the possibility of an alliance between the Ironborn and the Rockborn, has made Eddard determined to build the fleet, even if it means being heavily in debt.

Maester Luwin said gloomily, "The Rockborn of Skagos are merely a skin rash. 'The Iron Bank will have its due.' Any king who defaults on money owed to the Iron Bank will find the Iron Bank funding rebels. Once winter comes, our default on the debt to the Iron Bank will be a certainty. Is my lord not afraid of the Iron Bank inciting various rebellions in the North? It is not worth shouldering such a huge debt for a handful of Rockborn pirates."

"A skin rash? A handful of pirates?" Eddard was somewhat angry, "Luwin, whether it is the Dreadfort, House Umber, or House Karstark, all have reported that pirates are appearing by the hundreds—it is a fleet of pirates in droves! I am grateful for your counsel, but you have misjudged the situation."

"The Rockborn have a large number of weapons, armor, and even longships from the Iron Islands. Is there really an Ironborn presence on the Rockborn's island? Or perhaps, are the Rockborn in collusion with Cotter Pyke at Eastwatch? Has Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, bypassed the Wall and reached some sort of alliance with the Rockborn by sea?"

Eddard pointed to Skagos on the map for Maester Luwin to see.

"This is the largest island in the North, and nominally it is a fief of Winterfell, yet we do not know how many Rockborn tribes are on this island, how many people there are, or if there is even currency. The information we have is often contradictory, as you yourself should know very well, Luwin."

"The data shows that the people on Skagos are very backward and savage, without even currency. Yet, such a backward tribe was able to make the Northern Army gathered by Winterfell spend three years over 100 years ago without being able to conquer them, with the Lord of Winterfell and thousands of Northern warriors losing their lives."

"I must take the Northern Army into Skagos. Even if I cannot force the Rockborn to submit, I must find out the secrets of Skagos. Are the Rockborn really colluding with the Iron Islands? I absolutely will not allow the Ironborn or the likes of Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, to use the Rockborn to stir up trouble in the rear of the North. As it stands, the threat of the Rockborn exceeds that of the Wildling tribes beyond the Wall."

Even if the Wildlings crossed the Wall, Eddard could assemble the Northern Army and crush them in the Gift and the lands of House Umber. Poorly equipped and lacking discipline, the Wildlings have been caught between the Night's Watch and the Northern Army and annihilated every time they invaded the North in history.

The Rockborn are different. They rely on the largest island in the North, and once they launch a large-scale attack, the North, which lacks naval power, will find it difficult to wipe them out.

Maester Luwin stared at Skagos on the map, "Perhaps Lord Eddard is right, but even if we set out on an expedition, the North lacks naval power. Lord Eddard is as close as a brother to King Robert Baratheon, and the current Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, was not only your foster father but is also your brother-in-law. Lysa Arryn, the wife of Jon Arryn, is the sister of Catelyn Stark."

"Since the Rockborn are using weapons and armor from the Iron Islands while raiding the coast of the North, we have every reason to suspect that Balon of the Iron Islands is the mastermind behind the Rockborn invasion of the North. Why does Lord Eddard not write to King Robert Baratheon and Hand of the King Jon Arryn in King's Landing to request a ruling from King's Landing?"

(End of Chapter)