Chapter 65: Capturing Abyss Keep

Late at night, the bright moonlight shone upon the cold, desolate Abyss Keep.

Billy, leader of the Stern Clan, Gewen, leader of the Frost Clan, and Ace, leader of the Ice Dragon Clan, followed the upward stone stairs, bringing with them the Rockborn soldiers who had already surrendered to the North, and arrived at the side gate entrance of the path behind Abyss Keep.

The Crowl Clan adjutant guarding the spot was somewhat surprised: "Leader Billy, why have you returned?"

Billy Stern said: "I led the Rockborn to defeat Eddard Stark's Northern Army in the valley, but my men suffered heavy losses, so I had to return to Abyss Keep to consult with the Rock King."

The Crowl Clan adjutant, believing Billy Stern was still an ally of the Rock King, let Billy Stern and the clan Rockborn behind him enter Abyss Keep.

Billy Stern stood at the side gate, watching his Rockborn file into the side gate. Once the last Rockborn soldier had walked into Abyss Keep, Billy Stern took advantage of the Crowl Clan adjutant's distraction, pulled out a sharp dagger, and stabbed it into the adjutant's heart.

Other Crowl Clan soldiers guarding the gate were killed by the warriors of the Stern Clan, Ice Dragon Clan, and Frost Clan. Billy Stern and his Rockborn seized the side gate and signaled for Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold, to lead one thousand Northern warriors into Abyss Keep.

Lord Rickard Karstark and Billy Stern led the combined Northern and Rockborn army, charging into Abyss Keep and killing every Crowl Clan Rockborn they saw. Many Crowl Clan Rockborn had just opened their sleepy eyes and were killed before they could even pick up their weapons. Some Crowl Clan members and other clan Rockborn who had been conscripted by the Rock King to defend the keep chose to kneel and surrender.

Samlo Crowl, the Rock King, was sleeping under a fur blanket in his bedroom when he suddenly heard the sounds of battle erupting in the hall; he was so frightened he scrambled to his feet.

A Crowl Clan adjutant rushed in: "Rock King, the Northern Army and many other Rockborn clan soldiers have breached Abyss Keep, flee quickly!"

The sounds of battle drew near. Samlo Crowl had no time to ask more, so he threw on a fur coat, clutched his crown made of stone, and under the protection of a squad of Crowl personal guards, fled in a panic through a small eastern gate.

Billy Stern led a group of Stern Clan warriors to the Abyss Keep Prison, killed the guards, and smashed the shackles.

Sir Herman Tallhart of Torrhen's Square, Sir Wylis Manderly, Heir to White Harbor, Sir Wendel Manderly, and dozens of other Northern captives were imprisoned there. Seeing the Rockborn beginning to slaughter each other, they were all filled with confusion.

By the light of a torch, Sir Herman Tallhart scrutinized Billy Stern: "Are you not the leader of the Stern Clan? You are a subordinate of the Rock King, why are you killing these guards?"

Lord Rickard Karstark walked over: "Billy Stern and several clan leaders have already sworn allegiance to Duke Eddard Stark. They have abandoned the Rock King who usurped the throne and have returned to the rule of Winterfell."

Sir Herman Tallhart, Sir Wendel Manderly, Sir Wylis Manderly, and the other captives all revealed relieved smiles upon seeing they were rescued.

Rickard Karstark said: "Warriors of the North, you have spent almost the entire war in these cells. Quickly pick up your weapons and let the Rockborn and the Ironborn feel the wrath of the North!"

Sir Herman Tallhart and the Manderly brothers all picked up the weapons of the Crowl guards from the ground and followed Lord Rickard Karstark and Leader Billy Stern out to the slaughter.

Many small Rockborn clans summoned by the Rock King, such as the Maple Leaf Clan and the Blood Drink Clan, saw the Northern Army and Billy Stern storming the castle and chose to surrender without resistance.

The Northern Army fought all the way to the main gate of Abyss Keep, where arrow towers and catapults guarded the drawbridge. Those guarding it were the personal guards of the Crowl Clan; they resisted fiercely, but their numbers were too few, and they were soon routed by the forces led by Sir Herman Tallhart, Billy Stern, and Rickard Karstark.

With the cooperation of Billy Stern, the Northern Army took Abyss Keep in one fell swoop. At dawn, the Direwolf Banner flew high above the arrow tower in front of the main gate of Abyss Keep.

Eddard arrived with the Northern Army at the camp of the Northern forces stationed outside Abyss Keep, where Roose Bolton, Lord of Dreadfort, and Galbart Glover, Lord of Deepwood Motte, came out to greet him.

Roose Bolton said in a soft, whispering voice: "Lord Eddard, Rickard Karstark and Billy Stern have already captured Abyss Keep." Billy Stern had finally not disappointed Eddard; the Rockborn's surprise attack had achieved miraculous results.

Galbart Glover said: "Sir Herman Tallhart, the Manderly brothers, and the other Northern captives imprisoned in the Abyss Keep dungeon have all been rescued. The Northern Army also captured Rockborn nobles such as Alfonso, leader of the Maple Leaf Clan, and Brandy, leader of the Blood Drink Clan."

Roose Bolton added: "It is only a pity that the Rock King, Samlo Crowl, escaped; he seems to have fled toward the east to rendezvous with Rayson, leader of the Magnar Clan."

Eddard smiled: "There is nothing to regret. With Abyss Keep in our hands, Samlo Crowl has become a stray dog; he can no longer pose any threat. What of the Ironborn smiths, shipwrights, and shipbuilders in Abyss Keep?"

Galbart Glover said: "These Ironborn have all been captured. There are about a dozen Ironborn smiths, over twenty Rockborn smith apprentices, two shipwrights, and over twenty shipbuilders. Rickard Karstark has already locked them all in the dungeon, awaiting Lord Eddard's disposal."

If these Ironborn smiths and shipwrights could serve Winterfell, they could help Winterfell build longships and forge armor and weapons in the future.

Eddard said: "Has Marlon Manderly brought the grain ships ashore?"

In Roose Bolton's ice-cold eyes, a gleam of victory flickered: "Lord Eddard, the Iron Bitch's thirty-plus longships are closely following the grain ships in the nearby waters, so the grain ships cannot dock for the time being. But what does it matter? Lord Rickard Karstark sent word that the granaries of Abyss Keep are piled high with grain; the Northern Army has ample provisions."

To hold Abyss Keep and deal with a potential siege, the Rock King Samlo Crowl had collected a great deal of grain from the various clans and tribes and placed it in the Abyss Keep storehouses. After the castle fell, all these provisions fell into the hands of the Northern Army.

Eddard shielded his eyes with his hand and looked toward the Northern grain ships on the sea and the Ironborn longships further away; he was very curious about where the Iron Bitch, Helene Pyke, was.

"Helene Pyke still thinks of hunting our grain ships, not knowing that Abyss Keep has already fallen. Helene Pyke does not yet know that she has turned from hunter to prey at this moment. I will make her pay the price."

(End of chapter)