Chapter 55: Lies and Psychological Warfare

Eddard's Northern Army and the Rockborn army of Abyss Keep stood in a standoff, separated by a rope bridge over the rushing Abyss River. Eddard shouted to the Rock King Samlo Crowl at the other end of the rope bridge, "Samlo, do not think that just because you are hiding in Abyss Keep, you will be safe. Our Northern fleet has completely controlled the ocean, and we can obtain supplies from the sea without end."

The Rock King Samlo said disdainfully, "Lies! The waters around Skagos are still controlled by the Iron Bitch and her fleet of Ironborn longships. As for your grain ships, just wait to be plundered by the Iron Bitch and the Ironborn! Besides the Ironborn, we also have Rockborn pirates."

Eddard feigned ease, "My Sistermen pirates and Pentos mercenaries are constantly plundering coastal villages; the Ironborn cannot even guard the Rockborn coastline, yet they want to attack grain ships? You are dreaming! Let me tell you the truth! I have already sent envoys to invite the Sealord's fleet from Braavos."

"The Braavosi purple-oared warships are peerless in the world; counting on Ironborn longships to clash with the Sealord's fleet is nothing but throwing an egg against a rock."

In truth, Eddard had absolutely no money to hire the Braavosi fleet; his only relationship with Braavos was that he owed the Iron Bank a massive debt. He fabricated this reason to shake the morale of the Rockborn in Abyss Keep. To defend Abyss Keep, the Rock King had summoned warriors from many clans, including the Stern Clan, the Maple Leaf Clan, the Frost Clan, and the Ice Dragon Clan.

These Rockborn leaders responded to the Rock King's call and came to Abyss Keep, strengthening the defense of the keep, but their own territories were inevitably left defenseless. Eddard's fabrication of a non-existent Braavosi fleet would undoubtedly cause many Rockborn clan leaders staying in Abyss Keep to worry and doubt.

Sure enough, upon hearing Eddard say this, the leaders of the Ice Dragon Clan, the Maple Leaf Clan, and the Frost Clan all began to worry. Billy, the leader of the Stern Clan, asked the Rock King worriedly, "If the Braavosi fleet comes, can the Iron Bitch win?"

The Rock King Samlo gave a light snort, "Do not listen to Eddard Stark's nonsense. This fellow looks honest, but in reality, he is a braggart and a liar."

The Rock King Samlo shouted to Eddard, "Stark, you invited the Sealord's Braavosi fleet? Heh heh! Why don't you say that Robert Baratheon has brought the armies of the Seven Kingdoms to Skagos? Why don't you say that King Balon's Iron Fleet, the Arbor Fleet, and the Royal Fleet have all arrived?"

"Who doesn't know how to brag? You want to bluff us, I'm afraid it is not that easy."

Some Rockborn clan leaders cheered in rough voices. Eddard smiled, and with a wave of his hand, he called over the Braavosi Water Dancer Syrio Forel, "This is Syrio Forel of Braavos. He served as the First Sword beside the Sealord for nine years. If you don't believe it, you can ask him!"

Eddard gave Syrio Forel a look, and Syrio understood. He shouted in Braavosi to the Rock King and the clan leaders on the other side of the bridge, "The Sealord's purple fleet has already controlled every part of the waters around Skagos; the Rockborn have no chance of winning."

None of these Rockborn clan leaders, except for the Rock King, understood Braavosi, but hearing a foreigner speak a long string of gibberish, they began to believe a little that the Sealord's fleet had truly arrived.

Eddard said, "The Ironborn and Rockborn pirates are plundering along the coast of the North, affecting maritime trade. As one of the largest ports in the world, can Braavos just let you run wild? The Sealord has dispatched a fleet to teach you a lesson; both the Iron Bitch and the Ironborn will be buried at sea."

This was, of course, another lie fabricated by Eddard. Braavos relied on maritime trade; when pirates ran rampant in the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones, affecting trade, the Sealord would indeed dispatch a fleet to wipe out the pirates. Sometimes the Sealord would join forces with the King's Landing royal family, Tyrosh, Lys, Pentos, and others to strike at pirates.

However, Braavos would not care whether the shipping routes around Skagos were clear. There were ships that passed by the coast of Skagos to trade with Eastwatch and the brothers of the Night's Watch, and some slaver ships and smugglers would also pass through here, but the total volume of this trade was pitifully small. Skagos itself had no shipping value, and the reefs around the island made many navigators, sailors, and captains shy away.

If Helene Pyke were by the Rock King's side, she could easily expose Eddard's lie. However, many of the clan leaders currently by the Rock King's side rarely went to sea and had little knowledge of the outside world, so they could only be half-skeptical of Eddard's claims.

The Rock King Samlo Crowl had traveled to cities like Lorath, Braavos, and White Harbor when he was young, and he was considered well-informed among the Rockborn. Samlo did not believe it at all. He said, "If the Braavosi Sealord's fleet had really come, why don't you have the fleet come to the waters near Abyss Keep? To besiege Abyss Keep? You are simply lying!"

Eddard said, "Then stay in Abyss Keep like a turtle! We will head north, go deep into the interior, and wipe out every Rockborn castle. With the cooperation of the Sealord's fleet, the Sistermen fleet, and the Pentos mercenaries, places like Frost Hall, Maple Leaf Hall, Driftwood Hall, and King's Hall will all be destroyed."

The sky began to rain with winter rain again, the wind grew stronger, and the rope bridge over Abyss Keep swayed violently in the strong wind.

The Rock King laughed, "In the deep mountains and valleys, caves and forests, there are Rockborn warriors everywhere. You will bleed with every step you take forward. If you don't believe it, you can try. You don't dare to charge at the castle, and I can't be bothered to pay attention to you. I will feast in Abyss Keep with my Rockborn warriors and warm my bed with women captured from the North. You Northern Army can just freeze and starve outside!"

The Rock King Samlo Crowl turned and walked into Abyss Keep with the clan leaders, leaving a group of stonethrowers and archers to guard the other side of the rope bridge.

Great Jon said, "Lord Eddard, we traveled across mountains and seas, isn't it to teach the Rockborn a lesson and take revenge? Those children and women who were abducted are all locked in Abyss Keep. Charge! I am willing to lead the charge!"

And then be the first to fall, plummeting into the abyss to his death. Great Jon was brave and skilled in battle, fearless of death, but Eddard did not want his men to die in vain.

Eddard said, "The Rock King wants to provoke us into attacking Abyss Keep, but on such a narrow rope bridge, our numerical advantage cannot be utilized. Lining up to charge onto the rope bridge will only result in dying for nothing."

Great Jon was a bit unhappy, "Are we just going to tuck our tails and retreat?"

"I will not retreat." Eddard ordered someone to bring over the hostage Donald Crowl, who was bound in iron chains and shackles.

"Donald, you are the castellan of the Rock King's castle; there should be no one who knows this castle better than you. Tell me, does Abyss Keep have any other paths for a sneak attack?"

Donald Crowl said, "There is a small path, but during a siege, the Rock King will certainly be on guard. If one risks entering the small path, it is just as certain death as walking the rope bridge."

Eddard said, "Only a small path? You are lying! Don't tell me the unicorns brought by Billy Stern can walk the small path into Abyss Keep. Or do you want me to believe that those unicorns walked the rope bridge to Abyss Keep?"

(End of chapter)