Chapter 60: The Quarrel of the Rockborn

In the hall of Abyss Keep, under the illumination of torches, the complexion of the Rock King Samlo Crowl was exceptionally gloomy.

An elderly Rockborn who had fled from Frost Hall knelt before the Rock King.

"Rock King, Eddard Stark and his Northern Army have burned down Frost Hall and burned the farmlands. Eddard Stark claims that he will break through and burn every single castle one by one. He will seize Rockborn women and girls to sell to the brothels of Lys, and sell the male Rockborn as slaves to Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh."

The leader of the Frost Clan, Gewen, was heartbroken, "Eddard Stark has destroyed our clan's ancestral castle just like that, and abducted our clan's women and children. I want revenge!"

The Rock King waved his hand at the Frost Clan leader Gewen, "Quiet! Listen to these people finish speaking first."

Another elder said, "Eddard Stark also said that he wants to sow salt into the farmlands so that our land can never grow plants again."

The leader of the Maple Leaf Clan, Joel, was so frightened he shivered, "Eddard Stark is truly too cruel. He is trying to exterminate the Rockborn! Our Skagos island has mountainous terrain and little arable land to begin with, and he still wants to sow salt on the farmland."

An elder who had fled from the territory of the Ice Dragon Clan said, "Ice Dragon Hall was likewise burned by the Northern Army, and the Northern Army even stole the remains of the Ice Dragon!"

The leader of the Ice Dragon Clan, Ace, glared with wide eyes in anger, "The remains of the Ice Dragon? That is the holy ground of our Ice Dragon Clan! Eddard Stark burned my Ice Dragon Hall, desecrated the holy ground, and stole the giant dragon's remains. I must make Stark and the Northmen pay the price! Rock King, please send troops to attack the Northern Army for us!"

The Frost Clan leader Gewen said, "If we do not act now, our Rockborn lands will be scorched earth everywhere, and our Rockborn people will be reduced to slaves amidst Stark's fire and longswords!"

The Rock King Samlo Crowl said calmly, "Clan leaders, this is merely a trick of Eddard Stark. He released these rumors just to force us to leave Abyss Keep and fight a decisive battle with him! Eddard Stark's Northern Army has superior numbers but insufficient provisions. As long as we hold Abyss Keep, Stark will inevitably collapse!"

The Lord of Floating Driftwood Hall, the leader of the Stern Clan, Billy, who had been silent, suppressed his anger, "Rock King, how can you be certain that Stark has insufficient provisions? Right now, the seas around Skagos are filled with the Sistermen fleets and Pentos Mercenaries hired by Eddard Stark. The Northern Army can obtain supplies by plundering. Once the Northern grain ships pass through Seal Bay, the North will not lack provisions either."

The Rock King shook his head, "That will not happen. The Iron Bitch Helene Pyke has guaranteed to me that she will destroy the Northern grain ships."

Billy Stern sneered, "The fate of the Rockborn is actually tied to the guarantee of an Iron Bitch? Rock King, Helene Pyke originally incited the Rockborn to plunder the North's east coast, saying the Northern naval power was vulnerable, but what was the result? Helene Pyke cannot even deal with the Sistermen mercenaries and Pentos mercenaries."

The Rock King explained with patience, "How many times have I told you? The plundering by the Sistermen mercenaries and Pentos mercenaries in the coastal waters of Skagos is simply bait released by Eddard Stark. He wants to use the mercenaries to exhaust the Ironborn Pirates. In fact, the Sistermen and Pentos mercenaries are not worth mentioning at all. Once the Northern Army collapses, these mercenaries will run faster than anyone."

"Once the Northern Army collapses?" Billy Stern repeated, enunciating each word, "Rock King, Eddard Stark has led the Northern Army to burn down multiple ancient Rockborn castles in succession and abduct our women and children. I think we will collapse before the Northern Army does."

The Ice Dragon Clan leader Ace crushed the wine cup in his hand, "Rock King, send troops immediately! Staying in Abyss Keep will only make the Rockborn people think we are cowards."

The Frost Clan leader Gewen said angrily, "Rock King, your Rockborn people are being slaughtered and the land is being ravaged. Take action!"

Other clan leaders roared, pounded their chests, and shouted, "Send troops!" "Revenge!"

The Rock King sighed, "Clan leaders, I can send troops, but we must wait for the reinforcements of the Magnar Clan to arrive. The leader of the Magnar, Rayson, has gathered thousands of warriors from the east coast. Once the Rockborn of the Magnar Clan arrive, we can eliminate the Northern Army outside Abyss Keep, and then we can deal with Eddard Stark."

Billy Stern said, "The problem is, when will Rayson Magnar's reinforcements arrive? With the Northern Army pressing on our borders, Rayson Magnar has always been a fickle, cunning, and selfish fellow. Counting on him to save Abyss Keep? I think that is not very realistic."

"Actually, there is no need to wait at all. This Northern Army outside Abyss Keep does not dare to attack the city. The Rock King can leave a few hundred warriors to hold the fort, and our main Rockborn force can enter the mountains via the back mountain path to kick Eddard Stark's ass."

The Rock King said, "Your plan is completely unfeasible. Eddard Stark is luring us to attack. He has Rockborn guides and captives in his hands, so he naturally knows the road from Abyss Keep to the northern valleys. Once the Rockborn army enters the valley, it will fall into the encirclement of the Northern Army."

Billy Stern said, "I and other tribes have more than twenty unicorns in our hands. Adding the unicorns of the Crowl Clan, if we attack together, we can at least stop the Northern Army from burning and plundering on Rockborn land."

The Rock King waved his hand, "No! You must stay. I will not risk the unicorns. We only need to hold Abyss Keep and wait for the Magnar Clan's reinforcements to arrive before launching an attack. Or, wait for the Iron Bitch to return."

Billy Stern stood up with a "Whoosh!", "The fate of the Rockborn cannot be buried in the hands of the Iron Bitch. You and your Iron Bitch only care about Abyss Keep and your Ironborn, and never care about the Rockborn of our other clans. Eddard Stark is very likely attacking Floating Driftwood Hall right now, and my son Baolaisen is also in Eddard Stark's hands. I must protect my own territory and save my son. I am taking the warriors of the Stern Clan and leaving!"

The Rock King said angrily, "Billy, do not forget your oath to the King. You swore before the Heart Tree..."

Billy Stern said proudly, "You also do not forget your oath before the Heart Tree. You swore to protect every Rockborn person and protect every tribe that submitted to you. And what is the result? You only love your Iron Bitch. Just let your Iron Bitch and her Ironborn help you fight the war! I am leaving!"

The Stern leader Billy took the lead and left, and the warriors of the Stern Clan in the hall followed him out.

The Ice Dragon Clan leader Ace stood up, "Rock King, we chose you, but you have truly disappointed us. You gathered us to help you defend Abyss Keep, and we came, but when our castles were burned and our territories were occupied, you refused to send troops. Doing this is too selfish. I am going to fight alongside the Stern Clan leader!"

The Frost Clan leader Gewen and the Ice Dragon Clan leader Ace followed the Stern Clan leader Billy out of the hall. The Rock King felt bone-chilling cold in an instant, just like the Stark house words, "Winter is Coming."

(End of chapter)