Chapter 46: A Difficult Decision

The Northern vassals and Eddard listened as Benfred Tallhart recounted how the provisions had been burned; Benfred Tallhart had escaped the Ironborn ambush by a hair's breadth. This bad news hit everyone like a punch; Greatjon was red with rage, Lord Medger Cerwyn was dejected, and Lord Rickard Karstark shouted about seeking revenge on the Ironborn.

For the Northern Army, this was a heavy blow; without provisions, the North's numerical advantage would become a burden.

Even Roose Bolton, who was always soft-spoken, raised his voice for the first time: "Lord Eddard, two-thirds of our provisions and baggage train were burned by the Ironborn across Seal Bay. We have no choice but to retreat."

Greatjon roared: "Roose Bolton, where has your courage gone? We finally crossed Seal Bay; we should strike directly at the King of Rocks, catch Samlo Crowl off guard, and beat his ass to a pulp, yet you are thinking of retreating?"

Roose Bolton said coldly: "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 can we conquer it without enough provisions?"

Sir Maron Manderly said: "I never expected the Ironborn Pirates of Skagos to dare to cross the sea and attack our fleet anchored on the opposite shore while the Northern Army was landing on Skagos."

Eddard said indignantly: "I warned Herman Tallhart to be careful of Ironborn Pirate ambushes, yet the opponent still succeeded in their sneak attack."

After the Northern Army landed on Skagos, all the resistance they encountered came from the Rockborn. Eddard and the Northern vassals had once wondered where the Ironborn Pirates had gone, and many believed the Ironborn had already fled at the first sign of trouble.

Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island pointed out sharply: "Two thousand Northern soldiers couldn't stop an Ironborn ambush; are the Manderly brothers and Herman Tallhart sleeping?"

Rickard Karstark sneered: "Those two clowns, Wylis and Wendel, look just like sausages; expecting them to guard the provisions would lead to this outcome. I didn't expect Sir Herman Tallhart to drop the ball at a critical moment either."

Domeric Bolton, Heir to the Dreadfort, said: "Is it the Iron Bitch or Helen Pyke who is leading the Ironborn?"

"Lord Eddard, the 'Iron Bitch' and Helen Pyke are the same person; 'Iron Bitch' is Helen Pyke's nickname." Benfred Tallhart's thick neck trembled with agitation. "My father, Sir Herman Tallhart, saw the Ironborn Pirates attacking and ordered the archers to fight back fiercely. After the Ironborn Pirates boarded the ships, my father led the soldiers in a desperate resistance."

Roose Bolton said: "Herman Tallhart fought bravely, but the provisions were destroyed nonetheless."

Benfred Tallhart was like an enraged bull: "We killed over three hundred Ironborn Pirates."

"And the entire force was wiped out," Roose Bolton added.

Theon Greyjoy was a friend of Benfred Tallhart; if the Northmen hadn't just suffered a major loss to the Ironborn Pirates, he certainly would have laughed out loud and mocked Benfred Tallhart mercilessly. However, since the Ironborn Pirates had just dealt the North a heavy blow, Theon saw that the Northern nobles were all in a foul mood, so he suppressed his laughter and kept his mouth shut.

"We were not wiped out," Benfred Tallhart said. "Many soldiers died in battle, but after I escaped to the jungle on the shore, I rallied over 800 routed soldiers there, including White Harbor Knights and soldiers from Torrhen's Square and Winterfell."

Greatjon scolded: "Over 800 cowards who fled the field! A disgrace to the North."

Maron Manderly said: "My lords, the Northern Army's casualties are indeed heavy, but Sir Herman Tallhart's counterattack resulted in the destruction of over a dozen Ironborn longships and the deaths of over three hundred men. I interrogated several Ironborn captives, and they said the Iron Bitch had only 800 Ironborn left before crossing the sea to raid."

This news slightly lifted Eddard's spirits. He said: "If the Ironborn captives are not lying, Helen Pyke has fewer than five hundred Ironborn Pirates left; she will find it difficult to organize another large-scale maritime offensive. We must continue the march!"

This decision shocked both Roose Bolton and Lord Cerwyn. Lord Medger Cerwyn said: "Lord Eddard, on an unfamiliar island, insisting on advancing without sufficient provisions—once we penetrate deep into the interior of Skagos, our thousands of troops will starve to death."

Eddard said: "Do not be so pessimistic; we still have one-third of our provisions transported to the island. If we ration them, we can hold out for a month."

Roose Bolton said: "It is unlikely that we can make the Rock King and the Iron Bitch submit in a month. Lord Eddard, we cannot risk thousands of the North's elite; we should retreat to the North and plan accordingly."

"Plan accordingly" meant that the North would be unable to deploy troops to Skagos for several years, and the pirates would continue to ravage the Beijing Donghaian.

Eddard clenched his fists: "The Iron Bitch wants to destroy the provisions to force us to retreat. I must go to war; provisions can be resupplied from the sea."

Roose Bolton said: "The Ironborn Pirates can easily cut off our maritime supply lines."

This was indeed a huge hidden danger. Eddard pondered for a long time: "Pass the order, tell Kaserun the Greybeard that I authorize him and his 'Sistermen' captains to raid the coastal villages of the Rockborn to collect military rations, but they are not allowed to kill the innocent indiscriminately. The mercenary ships from Pentos may also participate in the raiding. Other White Harbor ships are responsible for patrolling and guarding; if they encounter Ironborn Pirates, fight them to the death!"

If the Iron Bitch chose to use Ironborn Pirates to fight the mercenaries, the number of pirates under her command would dwindle; without the Ironborn, the North would control the waters around Skagos.

Domeric said: "Lord Eddard, raiding can collect some provisions, but for a Northern Army of over seven thousand men, it is still too little."

Greatjon said: "House Umber is willing to provide our winter stores to serve as provisions for the army."

To cope with the winter that could arrive at any time, every lord in the North would stockpile ample provisions.

Lord Rickard Karstark of Karhold said: "We at Karhold are also willing to provide our winter stores."

Now the pressure was on Roose Bolton; after all, the Northern Army had mobilized in such force to wipe out the pirates in the territories of the Dreadfort, House Umber, and Karhold. Now that Greatjon and Rickard Karstark were both willing to provide their winter stores, everyone was waiting to see Roose Bolton's reaction.

Roose Bolton coughed a few times: "Our territory has been raided by pirates and has suffered from plague; our reserves are insufficient. I suggest we retreat."

Maege Mormont sneered: "Since when did the Dreadfort become a bunch of misers?"

"Big Bucket" Wull, Liddle, Galbart Glover, and others all mocked Roose Bolton. Roose Bolton had no choice but to agree to provide provisions.

After confirming the continuation of the march, Eddard said: "Bring me the Ironborn James Codd from the cage; I have some questions for him."

Eddard had to learn more about the Iron Bitch Helen Pyke and the Ironborn under her command.

(End of chapter)