Chapter 67: Capturing the Iron Bitch

With the help of the Stern Clan, the Frost Clan, and the Ice Dragon Clan, the Northern Army captured the Rock King's Abyss Keep. Having just reclaimed this precipitous fortress, Eddard ordered his soldiers to strengthen their patrols and remain vigilant.

To rescue the Ironborn Smiths and shipwrights held captive by the Northern Army in Abyss Keep, the "Iron Bitch" led her Ironborn Pirates through the heavy rain along the Abyss River, arriving beneath the walls of Abyss Keep to attempt an entry through a side gate.

Some Northern soldiers were guarding the cave at the base of Abyss Keep, which sat right against the Abyss River and was used by the Ironborn as a shipyard. The "Iron Bitch" Helen Pyke and her pirates killed the Northern guards at the shipyard, but only succeeded in drawing more Northern soldiers to the scene.

When Eddard arrived at the shipyard cave with Jon Snow, Domeric Bolton, and Theon Greyjoy, the Braavosi "Water Dancer" Syrio Forel was already leading a squad of Northern soldiers in a fierce battle against the Ironborn Pirates. Eddard immediately led his bastard son Jon Snow, his ward Domeric Bolton, his ward Theon, and the Winterfell household guards in a charge against the enemy line.

The "Iron Bitch" Helen Pyke swung her sharp sword, cutting down a fat Umber soldier before stabbing a Cerwyn soldier to death with her dagger. Helen Pyke's blade danced, and amidst the torrential rain, she became an emissary of death.

The Ironborn Pirates were formidable in combat. Being by the Abyss River near the sea, they could hear the sound of the waves and smell the salt air. The Ironborn Pirates believed the Drowned God's power was strong in this place, and they believed that even if they died in battle, they would enter the Drowned God's Liushui Gongdian to feast.

However, even though the Ironborn Pirates were bloodthirsty and brave, they could not overcome the endless waves of Northern soldiers. Billy Stane arrived with a squad of Driftwood Hall Rockborn warriors, and the situation grew increasingly dire for the Ironborn Pirates. More and more Ironborn Pirates fell, their blood staining the rainwater on the ground.

As time passed, the Ironborn Pirates not only failed to occupy the side gate but were instead pushed back by the Northern soldiers and Rockborn warriors to the banks of the Abyss River.

Seeing her Ironborn Pirates falling one after another, and seeing the Ironborn brothers who had followed her all the way from the Iron Islands and the Stepstones to Abyss Keep dying beneath the walls of the fortress, Helen Pyke fell into despair.

Helen Pyke was soaked to the bone. She drew her battle-axe and threw it, the axe striking a White Harbor soldier in the face. At that moment, a ghost-like shadow appeared before Helen Pyke.

This person was the Braavosi Water Dancer Syrio Forel. Syrio had served as the First Sword to the Sealord of Braavos for nine years and wielded a slender Assassin Sword. On this night of slaughter, Syrio had already used his Assassin Sword to kill several Ironborn Pirates familiar to Helen Pyke.

The "Iron Bitch" Helen Pyke's longsword thrust toward Syrio's chest, but Syrio dodged as fluidly as an eel. Immediately, the Water Dancer's Assassin Sword launched a fierce offensive, as swift as a spirit snake. Helen Pyke could only struggle to parry, and the song of steel echoed.

In the muddy, rain-drenched environment, the flexibility and speed of the Braavosi Water Dancer Syrio were clearly beyond what Helen Pyke could match. Soon, Helen Pyke was exhausted and increasingly on the defensive. Syrio kicked Helen Pyke, and she fell into the mire, the world blurring before her.

When the Iron Bitch wiped the mud from her eyes with her hand, Syrio Forel's sword was already pressed against her heart.

"Surrender, or die?"

Helen Pyke resigned herself to fate and released the longsword in her hand, and Syrio immediately took her dagger and axe.

Syrio Forel shouted: "The Iron Bitch has surrendered! Ironborn Pirates, will you not surrender yet?"

Greatjon appeared with a squad of Umber soldiers on the road from the Abyss River to the sea. The Ironborn Pirates' retreat was cut off, and seeing Helen Pyke captured, Terrence Pyke and the other Ironborn Pirates laid down their weapons one after another and raised their hands in surrender.

Eddard walked over to Helen Pyke and looked her over. "You are the Iron Bitch, who has committed so many evils? I thought you had escaped."

Helen Pyke said: "The Ironborn Smiths and shipwrights you captured are all my brothers. I had planned to rescue them and then escape, but I failed."

Theon smirked: "You're quite a looker for a woman, but it's a pity you're a fool. With a mere few hundred pirates, you thought you could kill your way into Abyss Keep to rescue the Ironborn inside?"

Helen Pyke recognized Theon's Iron Islands accent, and her gaze rested on the Sea Monster sigil on Theon's breastplate. "Are you of House Greyjoy? Could you be the legendary Theon Greyjoy? I know that King Balon sent a son to Winterfell to serve as a hostage for the Starks."

"A ward!" The smile vanished from Theon's face.

"Hostage or ward, it's all the same." Helen Pyke looked relaxed. She turned to Eddard: "Lord Eddard, are the Ironborn Smiths and shipwrights you captured still alive?"

Eddard said: "They are all still alive, locked in the dungeon."

A humble smile appeared on Helen Pyke's face. "As long as they are alive. If you spare my Ironborn men, I am willing to accept my crimes and kneel in submission."

Helen Pyke's eagerness to admit guilt and submit surprised Eddard somewhat.

Greatjon said angrily: "Iron Bitch, you have burned, killed, and plundered along the east coast of the North, abducting hundreds of women and children. Kneeling in submission will not save you."

Theon wore a cynical smile. "Iron Bitch, you are Ironborn; where has your backbone gone? Since you have been defeated, a swift death is the heroic path. The Drowned God's palace is waiting for you!"

An evil smile appeared on Helen Pyke's face. "I wanted to die heroically, too, but then I thought of your father, the head of our Iron Islands raiders, the noble King Balon. I still want to live. King Balon, holding tens of thousands of Ironborn warriors and thousands of longships, still knelt in submission to King Robert Baratheon of the Green Lands after the Iron Islands rebellion. Why can't I, a mere Iron Bitch, kneel to a Northern Duke?"

The smile on Theon's face instantly froze and vanished. Domeric Bolton laughed: "Theon, the Iron Bitch has touched a sore spot!"

Theon put away his wounded pride and said disdainfully: "The Iron Islands forbid Ironborn from raiding in the Seven Kingdoms. The Iron Bitch ran to the east coast of the North to raid and even incited Samlo Crowl to usurp the throne and start a Rockborn rebellion. By the laws of both the North and the Iron Islands, she must die."

"Lord Eddard, I suggest we behead the Iron Bitch right here, then send her body to the Iron Islands to be displayed on every island to intimidate those restless Ironborn Pirates."

Helen Pyke said calmly: "I do not fear death, but there are countless seas in this world waiting for me to conquer, and my Ironborn brothers need my care and affection. I beg Lord Eddard to spare my life. I am willing to fight for the North. My smiths can help Winterfell forge armor and weapons, my shipwrights can help the North build longships, and my Ironborn Pirates will fight for the North."

Eddard pondered for a long while. "Lock Helen Pyke and these pirates in the dungeon first. Whether they live or die depends on their performance."

(End of chapter)