Chapter 34: King of Rocks

Although Jaime Codd's lies were exposed by Eddard, his Iron Islands accent and his piety toward the Drowned God could prove that his identity as an ironborn was genuine.

Inside the tent, Eddard looked toward Greatjon Umber, "How many ironborn prisoners have you captured in total?"

Greatjon said helplessly, "Too damn few. Whether they are ironborn pirates or Rockborn pirates, they are equipped with ironborn armor and wield ironborn weapons. They never engage in direct combat, only ambushes. When we encounter such enemies, we can only kill them outright, otherwise our casualties would be even more severe."

"Besides Jaime Codd, we have captured a few other ironborn prisoners, but these prisoners were all severely wounded. Some died from excessive blood loss as soon as they were brought back, and some died after only a few hours of torture. These prisoners all confessed that King Balon of the Iron Islands was the mastermind, so I was convinced."

Eddard said, "Jaime Codd is lying. It seems this group of ironborn pirates colluding with the Rockborn unified their story before setting out: once captured by Northmen, they would confess that King Balon sent them. The ironborn pirates seem to intentionally want to direct the North's fury toward Balon Greyjoy."

"Besides Balon Greyjoy, have you interrogated any other names from the ironborn prisoners?"

Greatjon Umber placed his strong arms across his chest, "Some ironborn prisoners confessed the names Iron Bitch and Helen Pyke before they died. Lord Eddard, I suspected back in Winterfell that these pirates were brought here by Cotter Pyke of Eastwatch. Look at this Helen Pyke; she shares a surname with Cotter Pyke, so she is likely his sister, right?"

Eddard could not help but smile upon hearing this. Someone as simple as Greatjon would make such a mistake.

Eddard explained to Greatjon, "Pyke is the surname for bastards of the Iron Islands, just like Snow in the North, Flowers in the Reach, and Stone in the Vale. If there really is such a person as Helen Pyke, it only means she is a bastard daughter from the Iron Islands. How could she possibly have any connection to Cotter Pyke of Eastwatch?"

Greatjon was suddenly enlightened, "So that's how it is. Could it be that the Iron Bitch and a bastard girl named Helen Pyke planned this attack on the East Coast together? Damn it, I feel terrible just thinking that I lost a battle to women."

Eddard said, "What about the Rockborn prisoners? What did they reveal?"

Greatjon said helplessly, "Since the war with the pirates began, we have captured even more Rockborn pirates—at least a dozen! But these savages, many would rather die than reveal information. However, under torture, there were some gains. The Rockborn prisoners revealed that the nine great Rockborn clans, under the leadership of Samlo Crowl, have obtained ironborn equipment and are becoming increasingly powerful. They will continuously bring wealth back to the islands."

Domeric Bolton, the Heir to the Dreadfort, took notes with a pen on the side. Because there are so few ancient records of Skagos, this island has always been shrouded in mist, and even the Citadel lacks information. Domeric Bolton is determined to record all kinds of information obtained from this battle with the Rockborn clans. He has tentatively titled this book *The Forgotten Corner of the North—A Complete Record of Skagos and the Rockborn*.

Domeric stopped writing, "Lord Greatjon, did the Rockborn prisoners reveal how many clans there are on Skagos?"

Greatjon Umber stroked his beard and mused, "My men did ask. The Rockborn prisoners said there must be over thirty clans of varying sizes. The most powerful are the nine great clans. Among the nine great clans, the Crowl Clan and the Stane Clan are the strongest. Samlo Crowl unified Skagos more than a dozen years ago. The leaders of the major clans swore blood oaths under the heart tree and pledged their loyalty to Samlo. Samlo was crowned King of Rocks."

Eddard frowned, "King of Rocks? That sounds even more dangerous than Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Did the Rockborn prisoners say when the ironborn pirates arrived on Skagos?"

Ever since Aegon the Conqueror swept across Westeros with his dragons and the last King in the North, Torrhen Stark, surrendered his crown and knelt to Aegon, the House Stark of the Kings in the North was demoted to Dukes of the North. Since then, there have been no more kings in the North.

Now, in the North's own backyard, Skagos, a King of Rocks has actually emerged. How could House Stark tolerate this?

Greatjon Umber frowned, "Three years ago? Five years ago? I don't remember clearly."

Theon Greyjoy said, "Lord Eddard, whether it was three years ago or five years ago, it was after my father's rebellion was suppressed. After the Greyjoy Rebellion was suppressed, my father restricted the ironborn, allowing them only to fish at sea and forbidding them from raiding in the Seven Kingdoms, though raiding in the Stepstones and the Summer Sea was permitted."

"The ironborn are pirates of the sky, a free-spirited people. Every captain of a longship is a king on their own ship. These ironborn naturally were unhappy with my father's prohibition. I suspect it was during this period that a group of ironborn, harboring dreams of conquering the sea and plundering wealth, left their homeland and began their adventures in the Stepstones or the Summer Sea, eventually arriving at Skagos."

Eddard frowned, "But that doesn't explain why they chose Skagos specifically? There are so many ships from the Seven Kingdoms and the Free Cities in the Stepstones every day. Pirates gain higher profits raiding in the Stepstones, and it is closer to the Iron Islands. Why would they choose to come to Skagos to raid the East Coast of the North?"

Theon lowered his head in thought, "That is indeed very abnormal."

Eddard turned to Greatjon, "Did the Rockborn prisoners mention the names Iron Bitch and Helen Pyke?" If the Rockborn prisoners also mentioned these two names, the credibility of the ironborn prisoners' confessions would be greatly increased.

Greatjon shook his head, "No. But the Rockborn prisoners did confirm that there are women among the ironborn. The ironborn pirates must have reached an alliance with the King of Rocks, Samlo Crowl, but these Rockborn are just ordinary raiders and don't know what kind of relationship their Rock King has with the ironborn."

"The Rockborn prisoners also mentioned that the ironborn initially obtained longships, weapons, and armor from the south. Later, smiths and shipwrights came to the island. The Rockborn do not know how to smelt steel, nor do they know how to build ships. The King of Rocks, Samlo Crowl, gives the smiths and shipwrights good treatment on the island. They have their own smithies and places for shipbuilding."

Accepting ironborn to build ships and forge iron for the Rockborn—it seems this Samlo Crowl's ambition goes far beyond unifying Skagos.

When Eddard was expanding the Winter Town, he once had Theon Greyjoy write a letter to King Balon. The North offered to pay to hire smiths and shipwrights from the Iron Islands, but King Balon was very dismissive, sending only blacksmith apprentices and not a single shipwright.

Now that there are ironborn smiths and shipwrights on Skagos, they have an advantage over Winterfell in this regard. Eddard felt unhappy just thinking about it.

Eddard said angrily, "It seems this damned King of Rocks, Samlo Crowl, intends to use the wealth plundered from the North to develop the economy of Skagos and strengthen the military power of the Rockborn."

Domeric Bolton held his pen, "Lord Eddard, does this look like something man-eating barbarians would do? Even if only half of the Rockborn prisoners' confessions are true, this Samlo Crowl is definitely not simple, and certainly not an easy opponent. It seems the information the North and the Citadel have on the Rockborn and Skagos is severely outdated. My book will record the true Rockborn."

Eddard praised, "You have the ability to do so."

Domeric turned to Greatjon, "Lord Greatjon, did these Rockborn prisoners say whether there is currency on Skagos? Maester Bard's *World's Edge* records that the Rockborn have a custom of cannibalism and have no concept of currency. When trading with outsiders, they barter, using obsidian and unicorn horns to trade with adventurers who come to the island. Is this true?"

"Did the Rockborn prisoners say whether the records in these materials are true? How exactly do they trade?"

Greatjon cursed, "The damn Rockborn pirates are ravaging my territory; how would I have the mood to ask them how they spend their money?"

(End of chapter)