Chapter 70: Incorporating the Ironborn

In the dungeon, Eddard said, "Helen Pyke, I am willing to spare you, but some of my vassals might recognize you. Once they discover I have spared the Iron Bitch, who has committed so many evils, how am I to appease their dissatisfaction?"

Helen Pyke said, "During my years as a pirate, I have hoarded a few jars of Gold Dragons. Lord Eddard can bestow this money upon the vassals."

Gold Dragons always ring true wherever they go.

Eddard ordered the Winterfell household guard to clear the battlefield outside Abyss Keep and transport the corpses of the fallen Ironborn to the Heart Tree in the woods behind Abyss Keep, where the bodies of over two hundred Ironborn pirates were piled into a small hill. Eddard selected a red-haired female pirate to impersonate the Iron Bitch and "hanged" her corpse from the Heart Tree.

The next day, the Northern vassals and the Rockborn leaders Billy Stern, Gewen Hanshuang, Aisi Binglong, and others were all satisfied with Duke Eddard's severe punishment of the "Ironborn pirates."

Following the clues provided by Helen Pyke, the Northern soldiers found the cave where the Northern women and children were being held. These women and children, numbering over six hundred, had been imprisoned in the cave by the Rock King Samlo Crowl to serve as bondmen.

Many Northern women and children were rescued, and the Northern vassals' hatred for the Ironborn pirates slightly diminished. Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort, Rickard Karstark of Karhold, Greatjon Umber, the Manderly brothers of White Harbor, and Sir Herman Tallhart of Torrhen's Square, among other Northern vassals, all received Gold Dragons bestowed by Eddard.

This money came from the Rock King's storeroom and the Iron Bitch's personal purse, and the Northern vassals no longer insisted on exterminating the Ironborn pirates.

On the seashore outside Abyss Keep, Helen Pyke, accompanied by the shipwright Mogul, the smith Wote, and more than a dozen other Ironborn smiths, James Codd, and Terrence Pyke, knelt before Eddard, facing the sea, and swore an oath to the Duke of the North.

"We swear in the name of the Drowned God and the New and Old Gods that we are willing to serve Winterfell and House Stark. If we break this oath, we shall suffer the severe punishment of the Drowned God and never be able to enter the Drowned God's Liushui Gongdian for the feast."

Eddard helped Helen Pyke up and signaled for the other Ironborn to rise. "I swear by the honor of House Stark and the North, you shall forever have a place in my halls and share the hearths and tables of the North."

Eddard spared Helen Pyke and her Ironborn subordinates and gained the allegiance of this group; they numbered only a little over a hundred, but one-tenth of them were smiths and shipwrights.

Roose Bolton, Greatjon Umber, Rickard Karstark, and others of the North stood in the distance, watching the Ironborn swear allegiance to Eddard.

After Helen Pyke left with the Ironborn, Roose Bolton, Greatjon Umber, and Rickard Karstark immediately surrounded him.

Roose Bolton, draped in a wool-lined cloak, said in a soft, whispering voice, "Lord Eddard, even if you do not exterminate these Ironborn, you should not take them in."

Greatjon Umber echoed in a gruff voice, "Aye, Lord Eddard, the Ironborn have always been a fickle, cruel, and bloodthirsty people."

Rickard Karstark said, "What credit or honor can the Iron Bitch have? She is nothing but a barbarian who believes in the strange Drowned God."

Eddard said calmly, "My lords, do not forget, you have all accepted Helen Pyke's Gold Dragons; she has already paid for her sins with money."

Roose Bolton said, "That was her paying to save her life. We did not insist that you execute her, we only hope, Lord Eddard, that you do not take in Ironborn pirates."

The sea breeze blew against Eddard's face, and Eddard listened to the whispers of the ocean, "Among the Ironborn, there are not only pirates but also shipwrights and smiths. These craftsmen can help the North build longships and forge armor and weapons."

Lord Rickard Karstark pressed his hand to his sword hilt, "Lord Eddard, it is dangerous to have over a hundred Ironborn gathered together. This place is right by the sea; they could very well plan a surprise attack, seize ships, and flee."

Roose Bolton reminded him, "Lord Eddard, do not forget, while the Rock King Samlo Crowl has lost Abyss Keep and become a stray dog, the Rock King has not yet surrendered. He is very likely to join forces with the Magnar clan leader and is leading a reassembled Rockborn army, closing in on Abyss Keep. If Helen Pyke and the Rock King join forces, Abyss Keep will be in danger."

Eddard smiled, "Thank you for your reminder, I have already made arrangements. I have ordered Helen to have her Ironborn subordinates settled separately, in groups of five to ten, and integrated into the Dreadfort troops, White Harbor troops, Umber troops, Karhold troops, Cerwyn troops, Barrowton troops, and mountain clan troops within the Northern Army."

"After the war ends, these Ironborn pirates will follow the heads of these Northern houses back to their respective castles in the North to serve, effectively acting as hostages. With over a hundred Ironborn spread across the castles of the North, only craftsmen like the shipwright Mogul and the smith Wote remain by Helen Pyke's side. In this way, even if Helen Pyke wanted to rebel, would she have the chance?"

Roose Bolton, Rickard Karstark, and Greatjon Umber were all somewhat surprised. Greatjon Umber frowned, "The Iron Bitch agreed?"

"She had no choice but to agree, otherwise she could only choose death. Rest assured, I do not trust the Ironborn; trust is something that takes time to earn. We should try to accept more people to serve the North. Just think, if I had not persuaded Billy Stern to surrender, he would not have helped us take Abyss Keep."

Roose Bolton, Greatjon Umber, and Rickard Karstark all nodded in approval. Lord Rickard Karstark looked toward the east, "Lord Eddard, the scouts of Robett Glover and Fellan claim that the Magnar clan army is closing in on Abyss Keep. These Rockborn from the eastern regions number over a thousand. The Rock King has received reinforcements and will certainly plan an offensive."

Eddard said, "If the Rock King truly joins forces with the Magnar clan, I will happen to send the Ironborn pirates and the Rockborn who have surrendered to the North to face them. The Rockborn of the Blood Drink Clan, Maple Leaf Clan, and Stern Clan are ready at any time to prove their loyalty to Winterfell."

"However, I believe that as long as the Magnar clan leader, Rayson, is not a fool, he will not continue to throw his life away for the Rock King. The Magnar clan of the King's Hall and the Crowl clan of Abyss Keep have been blood enemies since ancient times. Rayson Magnar only submitted to the Rock King before because he lost to the Rock King in the struggle for dominance among the Rockborn."

"Now that the Rock King has lost Abyss Keep, the Northern Army is pressing down, and after the Ironborn pirates surrendered, the Rockborn have completely lost control of the sea. The Rock King only has a tiny handful of Crowl clan warriors left. When he goes in a wretched state to seek refuge with Rayson Magnar, it is unlikely that the Rockborn of the Magnar clan will fight for the Rock King."

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(End of chapter)