Chapter 56: Offensive Strategy

When Eddard first led the Northern Army to march toward the Rock King's Abyss Keep, they encountered a large army of Rockborn clans in the Huangshan mountains; the Northern Army killed three unicorns and hundreds of Rockborn soldiers, while Billy Stern fled toward Abyss Keep with the remaining dozen or so unicorns and soldiers.

Unicorns are massive in size and clearly could not cross the river via rope bridges; Eddard believes that if the unicorns entered Abyss Keep, they must have gone in via the main road.

The freezing rain was still falling, mixed with light snow. Eddard interrogated the prisoner before him, Donald Crowl, "Speak! Where exactly is the main road?"

Donald Crowl pulled a bitter face, "Lord Eddard, there is no main road at Abyss Keep. Billy Stern did not take the unicorns to Abyss Keep; unicorns cannot help defend a castle and would only consume the food in Abyss Keep for nothing. Abyss Keep is all caves and halls, and unicorns do not like living in dark places."

Eddard frowned, "If the unicorns are not in Abyss Keep, then where did they go?"

Unicorns are a nightmare for Northern cavalry because warhorses dislike the scent of unicorns and fear the roar of unicorns; during battle, many warhorses would stumble or even rear up when encountering a unicorn's roar, throwing the riders off their backs.

Donald Crowl shook his head, "Lord Eddard, I do not know where Billy Stern would hide the unicorns; I suppose it is some valley nearby."

Greatjon grabbed Donald and pressed a dagger against his throat; Donald's neck immediately began to bleed, "If you are not honest, then go to your death!"

Donald Crowl was so scared that his forehead was covered in beads of sweat, "Lord Eddard, I really do not know! It could be Hanshuanggu, or it could be Binglonggu; it is just some valley in the north. Lord Eddard, save poor Donald!"

Eddard saw that Donald Crowl's crotch was soaked through, and he waved his hand at Greatjon, "Release him! He has already pissed his pants in fear."

Greatjon then let go; Donald touched his neck with his shackled hands, looked at the blood staining them, and said fearfully, "I am bleeding, will I die?"

Theon smirked, "It is just a layer of skin grazed by a dagger; since when is it so easy to die?"

Eddard waved his hand, and the Winterfell Captain of the Guard, Jory Cassel, took Donald Crowl away and sent him back to the cage.

The Winterfell personal guard set up tents, and Eddard and his vassals entered. A map of Skagos was spread out on the table; this map was hand-drawn by Domeric Bolton, synthesizing information from Rockborn prisoners and guides.

Eddard's guard Dawson and the Braavos Water Dancer Syrio Forel stood by Eddard's side, while the Northern vassals surrounded the map of Skagos.

The Heir of Dreadfort, Domeric Bolton, said, "Lord Eddard, the Rock King is gathering a large army at Abyss Keep, yet their unicorns are hidden in the valleys. Could it be that the Rock King intends to send out unicorn cavalry to ambush our rear while we are attacking the castle?"

Eddard looked at Abyss Keep on the map and said, "The Rock King's conspiracy will not succeed; I will not attack the castle."

Lord Medger Cerwyn smiled, "Any army would return in defeat if they attacked such a steep and dangerous castle while short on grain and fodder. Lord Eddard, withdrawing the army is the wise decision."

Eddard said calmly, "I will not attack the castle, but I will not withdraw the army either. I intend to lead the army north to sweep the valleys north of Abyss Keep."

The smile on Lord Medger Cerwyn's face froze, "Lord Eddard, venturing deep into the interior is very dangerous, and now it has started to snow; the snow in the mountains will only be heavier. If the Rockborn cut off our retreat, would we not perish amidst hunger and cold?"

Roose Bolton echoed, "I support Lord Cerwyn's view; unless Sir Maron Manderly has transported grain and fodder by sea, it is too dangerous to venture deep into the interior. Lord Eddard, do not forget that Skagos is the largest island in the North, four or five times the size of Bear Island!"

Greatjon waved his fist, "Only cowards shout about retreating! Lord Eddard, I support the attack."

Rickard Karstark, "The Great Keg" Wull, Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island, and others all shouted to attack and wipe out the Rockborn.

"My lords, I thank you for your counsel." Eddard pointed his finger at the mountainous area north of Abyss Keep on the map, "According to information provided by our Rockborn guides and Rockborn prisoners, there are castles of the Frost Clan and the Ice Dragon Clan north of Abyss Keep; we can take these castles."

Theon said, "Will these castles be as steep and solid as Abyss Keep?"

The Rockborn guide Nonda said, "They will not. Among the castles of the Rockborn clan leaders, only Abyss Keep is a castle built relying on caves; the others are earth and wood structures. Similar to the Frost and Snow Clan's Frost Snow Hall and the Ice Dragon Clan's Ice Dragon Hall, they are just fortresses piled up with wood and mud."

Jon Snow said, "That sounds about the same as the manors of the small lords in the North." Ever since capturing the Heir of the Stern Clan, Baolaisen, on the battlefield, Eddard's bastard Jon Snow had become much more confident and had begun to speak actively at lordly meetings.

Eddard pointed his finger at Ice Dragon Hall and Frost Hall, "The Rock King Samlo Crowl has gathered many Rockborn warriors from the clan tribes to defend Abyss Keep; the leaders of the Ice Dragon Clan and the Frost Clan are likely also in Abyss Keep. Ice Dragon Hall and Frost Hall must be empty of defenses; if we march toward these two castles, the Rock King might divide his forces to rescue them."

Roose Bolton said in a soft voice, "The Rock King might also choose to hunker down in the castle and not send any Rockborn soldiers to rescue them."

Eddard smiled, "Then the leaders and warriors of the other clan tribes in the castle will be very unhappy. No leader is willing to stay in Abyss Keep and watch their own castle be destroyed."

Roose Bolton cast an approving look at Eddard, "I understand Lord Eddard's intention now. If the Rock King sends troops to rescue, the Rockborn sent out might be wiped out by the Northern Army. If he chooses to hold Abyss Keep and does not let the other Rockborn clan leaders and soldiers leave, the interior of Abyss Keep will become restless, and cracks will appear in the defense."

A group of lords and vassals nodded in approval.

Eddard mused, "I noticed that the leader of the Stern Clan, Billy, seems very dissatisfied with the Rock King, and the Stern Clan is the most powerful one among the Northern Rockborn clan tribes. If we can burn the flames of war to the Stern Clan's Driftwood Hall..."

The Rockborn guide Nonda said, "Lord Eddard, Driftwood Hall is eighty leagues away; the Northern Army's grain and fodder simply cannot support such a long expedition."

It is just a pity that Eddard currently cannot contact the "Sistermen" captain Kaserun the Greybeard and the Pentos Mercenary ships; these mercenaries are plundering in the waters around Skagos, and some ships might be near Driftwood Hall.

Eddard sighed, "Then we will set off toward Ice Dragon Hall and Frost Snow Hall; perhaps with good luck, we can find the valley where the unicorns are hidden."

These unicorns are divine beasts in the minds of the Rockborn; once they hear that the unicorns hidden in the valley are in danger, it might enrage the clan leaders in Abyss Keep, causing them to leave the castle and march toward the valley.

(End of chapter)