Dominic Bolton loved history. In the great hall of Winterfell, before Eddard and the children of Winterfell, he was recounting tales of Skagos Island and the Skagosi who lived there.
"The Skagosi speak the Common Tongue, just like the Wildlings beyond The Wall, though some tribes may still speak the Old Tongue. They worship the Old Gods, much like the First Men of the North and the Wildlings beyond The Wall. Some Maesters at The Citadel classify the Skagosi as Wildlings, believing them to be descendants of seafaring adventurers, making them a maritime culture within the Wildlings. Other Maesters believe their customs are closer to the mountain clans of the North. Still others at The Citadel suggest the Skagosi may have Ibbenese blood."
"Regardless of whether they're more like Wildlings or mountain clans, they are a fierce and warlike people, preserving many savage customs, such as sacrificing living people to the weirwood trees. Many ancient texts record the Skagosi practice of cannibalism, which is said to be more common during the harsh winters."
Sansa shuddered. "That's terrible."
Bran tapped his spoon against his bowl. "What's so terrible about that? Old Nan's stories are much scarier! Old Nan says the Skagosi, on Skane Island next to Skagos, would capture women, kill the men and the old, and then feast on their flesh for half a year!"
Sansa turned pale with fright. Robb scoffed, "Old Nan's stories are just to scare little children."
Dominic smiled. "Perhaps there's some truth to the stories. The most authoritative work on Skagos Island and the Skagosi is Maester Baelor's The Edge of the World. Maester Baelor served as a Maester at Eastwatch for sixty years during the command of Commander Osric Stark."
"The terrifying Skane feasts from Old Nan's stories are also described in Maester Baelor's Edges of the World, though the details differ. Edges of the World records the Skagosi feasts lasting for half a month, not the six months of Old Nan's tales. Skane Island is likely a no-man's-land, with white bones scattered along the coast, and passing ships steer clear of it. Many sailors who have passed by say they can still hear the howls of the dead souls, so I believe this story has a high degree of truth."
Robb and Jon both began to feel uneasy; after all, Old Nan's stories were one thing, and a Maester's account was another.
Eddard cast a look of approval at Dominic. "Dominic, you're a walking library, knowing so much about the desolate and barbaric Skagos."
Dominic humbly said, "Lord Eddard, you flatter me. I just like the battles, heroes, and stories in books."
Theon said impatiently, "I haven't believed in stories since I was weaned! Stupid stories are just old women's chatter."
Eddard smiled. "Theon, you and Jon, Robb should all learn from Dominic. Read more, and it will increase your wisdom. If you want to become military strategists and leaders in the future, reading more can help you."
Robb and Jon nodded solemnly, while Theon was somewhat perfunctory.
Eddard added, "Of course, if you are determined to become a man of valor without brains, only charging into battle, then it doesn't matter whether you read or not. Just like Greatjon Umber. He actually asked me to lead troops alone, rowing fishing boats across the sea to Skagos Island to take revenge on those barbarians."
Greatjon's lands were raided by Skagosi pirates. The first attack happened at Seal Bay, on the newly established Salt Towns. The soldiers in these Salt Towns usually refined sea salt in the morning and practiced weapons in the afternoon. Because these people were newly recruited and hadn't been trained for many days, these new recruits were no match for the Skagosi pirates when they attacked the Salt Towns.
The first raid by the Skagosi pirates killed more than twenty people. A few days later, a raven arrived from the Last Hearth, reporting that the Skagosi pirates had slaughtered another village, killing the elderly and men, abducting women and children, and leaving corpses everywhere. Greatjon was furious and requested Eddard to march on Skagos Island to retaliate against the Skagosi.
Jon looked at Eddard, "Lord Stark, the Skagosi..."
"The Skagosi," Eddard corrected. "Skagosi is a derogatory term. The Skagosi are uncivilized barbarians. They are the traitors of the North, our enemies, and I will not underestimate the enemy. Contempt for the enemy will only lead to arrogance, and arrogance and underestimation are the greatest taboos on the battlefield."
Jon nodded. "Alright, the Skagosi pirates are burning, killing, and looting in Greatjon's territory. Greatjon requested to send troops to Skagos Island. Isn't this reasonable? Why do you think this is rash and reckless?"
Eddard said calmly, "Jon, if you want to grow up to be a qualified commander, you must consider the risks in everything you do. Greatjon wants to gather a fleet of fishing boats to compete with the barbaric Skagosi pirates at sea. He even wants to go deep into the unfamiliar Skagos Island. Don't you see the risks of Greatjon doing this? Think carefully and then answer me."
Jon pondered for a long time, "Greatjon's fishing boats can't compete with the pirate ships at all. They might be attacked by the Skagosi pirates after going to sea, and he might not even reach Skagos Island."
Eddard nodded, "That's right. Even if he reaches Skagos Island, an island that is haunted by terrifying cannibalism, few outsiders dare to set foot on it. For Greatjon and the Umber men, it is a completely unfamiliar place, narrow mountain paths, ancient forests, unfamiliar lakes... the consequence of going deep alone is likely to be the entire army's annihilation."
Robb gritted his teeth, "Damn the Skagosi pirates. They are simply traitors to the North. They once swore allegiance to Winterfell, but they have repeatedly committed offenses. I estimate the Skagosi have long forgotten that the Starks were once their liege lords. The Skagosi pirates attacked the Umber lands. Father, as the Warden of the North, the Duke of Winterfell, are we to endure the Skagosi's slaughter and humiliation?"
Eddard said, "I've already sent word to Greatjon and Rickard Karstark. They are to kill any Skagosi pirates on sight and destroy their ships as much as possible, but they are not to engage them at sea."
Dominic said, "Lord Eddard, Skagos Island is a backward and impoverished place. I think if House Karstark and House Umber combined their forces, and Winterfell also sent soldiers, we could assemble a fleet and sail to Skagos Island to teach those barbarians a lesson. Our chances of winning would be high."
"Of course, if Lord Eddard were to conscript soldiers from all over The North, with the Crannogmen archers, the Riverlands cavalry, the Dreadfort cavalry and spearmen, the knights of White Harbor, the infantry of the mountain clans, the spear and shield men of Deepwood Motte, and the bow cavalry of Torrhen's Square, all gathering at Seal Bay and finding ships to transport them to Skagos Island to completely wipe out this group of barbarians, it wouldn't be difficult to make them submit."
Eddard gave a wry smile. "Do you think the Skagosi are really that easy to deal with?"
Dominic shrugged. "When a lord gathers a large army, the barbarians will retreat into the mountains, struggle for a while, and then be defeated and captured, kneeling in submission. When a tyrant is rampant, a hero will answer the call of the people, raise the banner of justice, kill the tyrant, and rebuild the dawn. Justice always triumphs over evil, that's how it's written in the history books."
Dominic's face held a confident smile. Among his peers, Dominic was considered mature and well-read, but he was still too young.
Eddard frowned. "War is not a game. Every victory you see is actually fraught with danger. Don't underestimate the Skagosi. In fact, the last Skagosi rebellion occurred during the reign of Daeron II, just over 100 years ago. That rebellion lasted for several years and claimed thousands of lives, including the then-Duke of the North, Barth Stark."
Originally, Eddard's Salt Towns plan was aimed at the Ironborn raiders on the west coast, but the Skagosi on the east coast were the first to jump. According to reports, there were still small groups of raiders on the west coast, but they mostly attacked fishing villages, and the Ironborn rarely harassed the Salt Towns, which were guarded by coastal watchtowers.
The Skagosi raids forced Eddard to turn his attention to Skagos Island. According to the ravens sent from Castle Cerwyn, Skagosi pirates had even appeared in the Karstark family's peninsula territory, although not on the scale of the Umber's.
The expansion of Winter Town, the Salt Towns, the military settlements in the increase lands, and the hive plans in various places meant that a large amount of gold dragons flowed out of Winterfell every day. Now that Winterfell was short on funds, those damn Skagosi pirates chose to stir up trouble at this time, making Eddard very depressed.
Because Skagos Island was too mysterious, no one knew exactly how many tribes and people lived deep in the mountains of the island. However, judging from the last time Winterfell put down the rebellion on Skagos Island, the Skagosi were not easy to deal with.
Now, the Night's Watch at Eastwatch would kill any Wildling boat they caught in Seal Bay, but they still couldn't stop the Wildling ships from appearing in the Umber's, and even the Karstark's territories. It was easy to imagine that Wildling raiders landing on Skagos Island by boat was a common occurrence.
The Wildlings and the Skagosi tribes had similar accents in their Common Tongue, and it was said that some tribes could even communicate in the Old Tongue. They both worshipped the Old Gods and had similar customs. If the detestable Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, were to infiltrate Skagos Island and use it as a springboard to attack The North, it would be a major disaster for The North.
Putting aside everything else, Eddard's hard-earned plans for the Salt Towns, the military settlements in the increase lands, the hives, and the Winter Town expansion would all have to be interrupted, and the previous investments would be in vain.
Thinking of this, Eddard, in the warm hall, actually felt cold, a chill creeping up his spine.
As the cold wind rose, it cut to the bone.