Eddard still remembered Luwin mentioning that the Iron Islands' King's Port was home to the best blacksmiths. The Armor and Weapons forged by the King's Port blacksmiths were unmatched throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Eddard had once asked Theon to write to Balon for blacksmiths, and Balon had sent blacksmith apprentices.
The Skagosi of Skagos Island, like the mountain clans of the North, the mountain clans of the Vale, and the wildlings beyond the Wall, were divided into many tribes. These tribes, vying for land, food, and women, constantly fought each other. They played a poor man's version of the game of thrones on that island cursed by cannibals.
Because of this, the Skagosi had long been unable to threaten the North.
Now, the Skagosi tribes had surprisingly unified. With their internal troubles resolved, the next logical step was external expansion. No wonder the Skagosi pirates were so rampant.
However, Eddard was most concerned about the Ironborn. The Iron Fleet of the Iron Islands could only be rivaled by the Royal Fleet in King's Port and the Redwyne Fleet of Arbor. The Ironborn were also the most adept at naval and water battles in all of Westeros.
If the Ironborn and the Skagosi were really colluding across mountains and seas, it would be a nightmare for the North, which lacked naval power.
Balon Greyjoy had always been ambitious; how could he not be? Back then, he led the Iron Islands, raising the banner of rebellion and challenging Robert of the Seven Kingdoms. Although the rebellion was suppressed, only six years had passed. The Ironborn couldn't forget the humiliation of that crushing defeat, and the North had done its utmost to suppress the Iron Islands' rebellion.
Eddard was starting to regret investing in the expansion of Winter Town outside Winterfell. If he hadn't been so eager to expand Winter Town, he could have hired ships in White Harbor or the Free Cities and, with the Northern warriors, sailed through Seal Bay to deal with the Skagosi.
Recently, Eddard had entrusted the construction of stables, forges, barracks, and a large market to Thorne Arryn. These projects had all laid their foundations and were slowly being built up. Winterfell's funds were almost depleted, relying only on the income from the salt warehouses and beehives to barely keep afloat.
The Greatjon glanced at Theon and said to Eddard, "Lord Eddard, I actually quite like Theon, but I absolutely despise the Ironborn. It seems the Iron Islands are not only raiding the West Coast but also colluding with the Skagosi to attack the East Coast."
Eddard pondered for a moment, "The Ironborn are indeed highly suspect. However, the Ironborn's Armor, Weapons, and longships also flow out through trade. Is it possible that the Skagosi obtained these supplies through maritime trade?"
Maester Luwin said, "Lord Eddard, I think that's unlikely. The Skagosi don't even have their own Currency. According to the records, they only barter."
Eddard said, "Maester Luwin, is that another conclusion based on those ancient records? I think we should look at the problem with a developing perspective. The records have never mentioned Skagosi so well-equipped, and yet, here they are, aren't they?"
Luwin nodded in agreement, "Yes, the Citadel's records on the Skagosi and Skagos Island are from hundreds of years ago and are somewhat outdated. There's nothing to be done. After all, Skagos Island is nominally part of The North, but they are virtually an independent kingdom."
Financial advisor Clarus shrugged, "Anyway, I've been to major ports across the Seven Kingdoms and the Free Cities, and I've never encountered a single Skagosi, let alone a Skagosi merchant ship. Unless the Ironborn deliberately sailed so far to Skagos Island, it's impossible for the Skagosi to obtain the Iron Islands' Armor and Weapons."
From the Iron Islands, the sea route to Skagos Island requires sailing south along the Sunset Sea, passing Lannisport in the Westerlands, Oldtown in the Reach, crossing the Redwyne Strait, rounding the long and desolate coast of Dorne, entering the Narrow Sea, traversing the pirate-infested waters of the Stepstones, entering the Stormlands' storm-prone Shipbreaker Bay, passing through the Crownlands and the Vale of Arryn, and then following the long eastern coast of The North to reach Skagos Island.
If the Ironborn truly shipped Weapons, Armor, and longships along this long route to a barren island, the only explanation was that the Iron Islands had allied with the Skagosi.
Theon was a little anxious. "We Iron Islands are separated from Skagos Island by thousands of mountains and rivers, a great distance."
Roose Bolton smiled faintly, "But the Ironborn are present in The North, isn't the famous Theon Greyjoy, right beside the Duke of The North, one of them?"
Theon trembled with anger.
Greatjon roared, "That's right, don't forget Cotter Pyke, the Night's Watch commander at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. He's an Iron Islands Bastard."
Pyke was a surname unique to Iron Islands Bastards, like Snow in The North, Rivers in the Riverlands, and Flowers in the Reach.
Greatjon continued, "I send grain and money to the Night's Watch every year, to support them in defending The Wall. When the Skagosi invaded my lands, I went to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea myself and asked Cotter Pyke to send a fleet to help us fight the Skagosi. Do you know what that Ironborn bastard said?"
"'Our mission is to guard The Wall and fight against the threats north of The Wall. The Night's Watch will never participate in internal conflicts within the Seven Kingdoms. Skagos Island is nominally part of The North, and the Night's Watch will not participate.' What a load of crap? I suspect the Skagosi's Weapons and Armor were sent through the ships of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea."
The men of House Umber, the men of House Karstark brought by Lord Rickard Karstark, and the men of the Dreadfort brought by Lord Roose Bolton all voiced their agreement, and the hall erupted in noise.
Lord Rickard Karstark gripped his longsword tightly, his face flushed with anger. "Lord Eddard, who besides us Northmen gives a damn about the Night's Watch these days? Without our support with food and coin, the Night's Watch would have starved long ago. They claim to guard the Seven Kingdoms, but wildlings and raiders appear in the northern mountains, in the bogs, in Seal Bay every year, even in the Wolfswood."
"Wildling raiders often use small boats to sneak past Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, slipping into the lands of House Umber and my own. Who knows if Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall, has infiltrated the wildling forces on Skagos Island? In any case, both the wildlings and the Skagosi are barbaric, stealing our wealth and kidnapping our children and women."
Roose Bolton said softly, "Lord Eddard, your brother Benjen Stark is the First Ranger of the Night's Watch. Why not use Benjen to have Jeor Mormont, the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, investigate Cotter Pyke? My analysis is that Balon has colluded with Cotter Pyke, and they have joined forces, colluding with the Skagosi to attack the coast of The North."
Eddard placed his hands on the Ice Wolf throne and said calmly, "You have no evidence for your accusations against Cotter Pyke. From the moment he donned the black, he swore not to participate in the internal conflicts of the Seven Kingdoms. The Night's Watch remains impartial. Do you expect Cotter Pyke to lead the fleet of Eastwatch and directly attack the Skagosi pirates?"
"Cotter Pyke is right. Skagos Island is part of The North, and the Skagosi are traitors to The North. Unless we can prove that the Skagosi of Skagos Island have colluded with Mance Rayder, the Old Bear, Jeor Mormont, will not send the Night's Watch to fight the Skagosi."
Moreover, if the Skagosi were equipped with a large number of Iron Islands longships, Armor, and Weapons, Eddard couldn't see any chance of victory for the broken-down fleet of the Night's Watch at Eastwatch in a naval battle against the Skagosi pirates.
Eddard stood up and looked around at everyone in the hall.
"We don't need the Night's Watch's assistance. The North can handle the Skagosi on its own. The Skagosi seem to have forgotten that House Stark of Winterfell is their liege lord. For their betrayal and slaughter, I have decided to strike back decisively. It's time to make them kneel again. With Iron and Blood!"
The ancient hall of the King of Winter in Winterfell erupted. Greatjon Umber pounded his massive fists on his chest, Roose Bolton whispered his agreement, and Lord Rickard Karstark drew his longsword. The Northerners roared their battle cry.
"Iron and Blood!"
....
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