Chapter 54: Standoff Between Two Armies

The stone gate of Abyss Keep, engraved with Rockborn warriors and unicorns, slowly opened, and the Rock King Samlo Crowl, along with Billy, leader of the Stern Clan, walked out of the gate with a squad of crossbowmen and slingers, arriving at the opposite side of the rope bridge.

Samlo Crowl was draped in a seal-skin coat over chainmail, while Billy Stern wore a snow-white bear-skin coat.

Although his temples were gray, the Rock King Samlo Crowl had a sturdy build and a powerful voice; he shouted toward the Northern Army on the other side of the rope bridge, "I am the Rock King Samlo Crowl; among you, who is Eddard Stark?"

Eddard Stark spurred his horse forward a step and shouted loudly, "I am Eddard Stark. Samlo Crowl, you have usurped the title of king and colluded with the Iron Bitch Helene Pyke to slaughter the innocent on the east coast of the North. You have stirred the wrath of the North, and now the Northern Army has reached the gates of your Abyss Keep. Kneel and submit now, and it is not yet too late."

The Rock King Samlo Crowl and the Rockborn warriors behind him let out mocking laughter. Samlo Crowl said, "You have already seen my Abyss Keep; this is a gift bestowed upon the Crowl Clan by the Old Gods and the Children of the Forest. No one can conquer this fortress. If the Northmen are not afraid of death, they are welcome to attack."

"The Iron Bitch burned the North's grain, and I know your supplies cannot last long. Cowards of the North, come if you have the guts!"

The Rockborn soldiers mocked and insulted the Northern Army on the opposite bank in unison.

Theon Greyjoy, Domeric Bolton, Jon Snow, and the various nobles of the North beside Eddard were all incensed by the Rock King's arrogant tone.

"Greatjon" Umber gripped his axe, "Lord Eddard, I am willing to lead the clan warriors in a charge; I would rather die than fail to cross this rope bridge."

The hot-tempered Greatjon Umber said, "Lord Eddard, when it comes to charging and breaking lines, our Umber warriors never fall behind. Leave the task of taking the bridge to me!"

Lord Medger Cerwyn was startled, "Charging like this will only waste lives in vain; we should set up camp and lay siege."

Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island said disdainfully, "Lord Cerwyn, siege tactics require sufficient grain. Ever since the Iron Bitch burned our supplies, we have had none to spare. Want to use a siege and starvation tactics to force Abyss Keep to submit? That is impossible; the Northmen would be the first to starve to death outside Abyss Keep."

Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort spoke in a soft voice, "My lords, the Northern Army has reached the walls of Abyss Keep, and the goal of intimidating and teaching the Rockborn a lesson has already been achieved; why not quit while we are ahead? To insist on a siege outside such a perilous fortress while short on grain is madness."

Lord Rickard Karstark of Karhold said angrily, "Short on grain? Did Lord Marlon Manderly not go to transport the grain? Lord Roose, I suspect you are just reluctant to part with the Dreadfort's grain, are you not?"

Roose Bolton suppressed his anger, "I am not stingy with grain; I am considering the Northern Army. Sir Maron Manderly did go to transport the grain, but who knows where his fleet has gone? My lords, do not forget, it was because the Manderly brothers failed to guard the grain that it was destroyed; how much better can Maron Manderly be?"

"If Maron Manderly's fleet was attacked at sea by the Iron Bitch Helene Pyke, once our grain is exhausted, we won't even have time to retreat."

The vassals argued endlessly; the mountain clan leaders, Greatjon, and Maege Mormont advocated attacking the fortress, while Roose Bolton, Medger Cerwyn, and Haris Hornwood leaned toward retreating or laying siege. Eddard could not help but wonder, what would Robert Baratheon do if he were facing this fortress?

Robert Baratheon had always favored rapid assaults; a rope bridge would not stop Robert. But Eddard was not Robert, after all; he would not blindly launch an attack and let the Northern warriors bleed for nothing.

Eddard waved his hand, and the vassals immediately stopped their discussion. Eddard said, "The Rock King is shouting from the opposite bank, clearly hoping we will take the initiative to attack; I will never grant the enemy their wish."

Domeric Bolton, heir to the Dreadfort, said, "Lord Eddard, if we do not attack, are we really going to retreat? We have sacrificed so many warriors and marched arduously through the mountains to get here."

Syrio Forel, the Braavos Water Dancer, said, "The Ironborn's smithy and shipyard are right here in Abyss Keep. If they are not destroyed, the Ironborn can continuously manufacture weapons, armor, and longships for the Rockborn at Abyss Keep."

Eddard said, "I will not force an attack, but I will not retreat either."

He had to find a way to lure the Rockborn out of Abyss Keep; what could he do? Eddard pondered for a long time, and a plan had already formed in his mind.

The Rockborn guide Nonda Maple walked to Eddard's side and whispered, "Lord Eddard, the man beside the Rock King is the leader of the Stern Clan of Driftwood Hall, Billy Stern."

Billy Stern's son, Baolaisen, heir to Driftwood Hall, had been captured by Jon Snow and was now locked in a cage. The Rock King Samlo Crowl's nephew, Donald Crowl, the steward of Abyss Keep, was also Eddard's prisoner.

Eddard shouted toward the Rock King Samlo Crowl on the other side of the rope bridge, "Samlo, I have your Rockborn noble prisoners, and you have Northern noble prisoners; why not exchange them?"

Billy Stern's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said to Samlo Crowl, "Stark has agreed to exchange prisoners; hurry and trade back my son Baolaisen!"

The Rock King rolled his eyes at Billy Stern, "What are you in such a rush for?"

Standing on the opposite side of the rope bridge, Eddard saw the conversation between Billy and the Rock King. Although the distance was too great for Eddard to hear clearly, the expressions on Billy Stern and the Rock King's faces during their exchange were captured by Eddard.

The Rock King shouted to Eddard, "Is my nephew Donald Crowl well? If you dare to mistreat Donald, I guarantee that the fat Manderly brothers from White Harbor and that Herman Tallhart in my hands will not fare well either."

Eddard smiled, "Your nephew Donald is unharmed. However, the situation of the heir to Driftwood Hall, Baolaisen, is not so good; his chest wound is severe. The maester accompanying my army has already said that Baolaisen's wound has become infected, and I fear he will not last many more days."

Billy Stern was shocked upon hearing this; he stepped forward and shouted to Eddard, "Eddard Stark, release my son immediately, or I guarantee I will make you wish you were dead."

Eddard shrugged, "I am willing to use Baolaisen to exchange for my Northern noble prisoners, but Samlo refuses to agree, and there is nothing I can do."

Billy Stern looked at the Rock King with resentment, and the Rock King said, "Eddard might be lying; Baolaisen might be unharmed, perhaps perfectly fine."

"Might, perhaps," Billy Stern said gloomily, "Rock King, the enemy certainly might be lying, but I dare not gamble with my son's life. The fact is that my son's life or death is unknown, and I implore you to trade back my son."

The Rock King looked troubled, "I cannot. The Iron Bitch said the Manderly brothers from White Harbor and Herman Tallhart are her prisoners, and only she can dispose of them; she is keeping them for a purpose."

Billy Stern suppressed his anger, "Is Abyss Keep run by the Iron Bitch? Samlo, at the tribal council of the Nine Great Clans, we swore allegiance to you, not the Iron Bitch! Is it really as the rumors say, that the Iron Bitch rules the Rockborn through you?"

Eddard saw Billy Stern and the Rock King arguing and revealed a satisfied smile; the seeds of suspicion had already been sown, and all that remained was to wait for the right moment to ripen.

(End of chapter)