"Lord Eddard, this is madness!"
In the study of Winterfell, Maester Luwin stroked the chain around his neck.
"Lord Eddard, the oath of a maester requires me to advise my lord. I have served in Winterfell for many years. Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn treat me like family, and I consider Robb, Bran, Jon Snow, and every child of Winterfell as my own flesh and blood. Therefore, I implore you, withdraw your decision to send troops to Skagos!"
Eddard frowned, studying the map of the North, his gaze fixed near Skagos.
"As a vassal of Winterfell, the Skagosi's refusal to submit is one thing, but they dared to sail to my lands, destroy Salt Town and villages, and slaughter my people. As the Warden of the North, I must act. Am I to stand by and watch my people be killed by these barbarians?"
Maester Luwin said, "Although the outside world generally views Skagos as barren, savage, and uncivilized, history tells us that the Skagosi who live on the island are not to be trifled with. As early as the days when the Starks ruled the North, the Kings of Winter sent troops to Skagos many times, hoping to incorporate the island and complete the unification of the North. However, every time the Northern army withdrew, the flames of rebellion would rekindle on Skagos."
"Lord Eddard, do not forget that just over a hundred years ago, during the reign of King Daeron II, the Skagosi raised the banner of rebellion, challenging the rule of Winterfell. That war lasted for three years, and countless Northern warriors died at sea or in the unfamiliar mountains of Skagos, including your ancestor, Duke Bastion Stark."
Eddard pressed his hand onto the map, his palm covering Skagos.
"Because the former Kings of the North, or Wardens of the North, couldn't do it, you think I can't either? This is the largest island in the North, and has been the domain of the Kings of the North since ancient times. Those Skagosi rebels refuse to come and bow down to the North, and pay tribute, but they dare to attack."
"If this continues, my people and vassals will feel that Winterfell is unable to suppress the rebellion. They will think that House Stark of Winterfell is weak and can be bullied. Once the seeds of rebellion are sown, the vast North will be engulfed in war. I am not a bloodthirsty warmonger, but I have no other choice."
Luwin sighed, "Lord Eddard, if Winter Town had not been expanded, I would support you in sending troops, but now… We are undertaking major construction in Winter Town, and our treasury is almost depleted. Without money, how can we wage war?"
Eddard said, "I was just about to tell you that I have decided to accept Clarr's suggestion and borrow money from Lord Wyman Manderly of White Harbor. You will write a letter to Lord Wyman, stating that Winterfell wishes to borrow one hundred thousand Gold Dragons from White Harbor, which will be gradually offset by the taxes White Harbor pays to Winterfell."
Luwin widened his eyes: "Lord Eddard, you would rather borrow money than go to war against the barbarians? If the war begins, one hundred thousand Gold Dragons will not be enough to cover the expenses."
Eddard said, "Therefore, I will ultimately have to borrow money from the Iron Bank. I have already asked Clarr to send someone on horseback to White Harbor to contact the Iron Bank's envoy at the White Harbor office. The initial plan is to borrow five hundred thousand Gold Dragons."
Luwin was shocked: "Lord Eddard, this is too crazy. To deal with the barbarians of Skagos, you are willing to burden Winterfell with such a huge debt? Can Winterfell really afford such a huge debt?"
Eddard patiently said: "Luwin, five hundred thousand Gold Dragons are not all for military expenses. The expansion of Winter Town will require borrowing money sooner or later. With this money, the shipyards of White Harbor can also officially begin to build the fleet of the North." Originally, Eddard and the shipwright Marlin had discussed postponing the shipbuilding plan, but now, the Skagosi, riding the longships of the Ironborn, were rampaging along the eastern coast of the North. The possibility of an alliance between the Ironborn and the Skagosi made Eddard determined to build a fleet, even if it meant being heavily in debt.
Luwin sighed, "The Skagosi of Skagos are just a minor problem. 'The Iron Bank never forgets,' and any king who falls behind on their debts will find the Iron Bank funding rebellions. When winter comes, it's almost certain we'll owe the Iron Bank. Surely, my lord, you don't want the Iron Bank stirring up trouble in The North? It's not worth such a huge debt for a handful of Skagosi pirates."
"A minor problem? A handful of pirates?" Eddard was annoyed. "Luwin, both the Dreadfort, House Umber, and House Karstark have reported hundreds of pirates, entire fleets of them! I appreciate your counsel, but you've misjudged the situation."
"The Skagosi have a lot of weapons, armor, and even longships from the Iron Islands. Is there an Ironborn presence on Skagos? Or perhaps, have the Skagosi made a deal with Carter Pike of Eastwatch? Has Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall, bypassed The Wall and made some sort of alliance with the Skagosi by sea?"
Eddard pointed at Skagos on the map for Luwin to see.
"It's the largest island in The North, nominally a holding of Winterfell, yet we don't know how many Skagosi tribes live there, how many people they have, or if they even use currency. The information we have is often contradictory, as you well know, Luwin."
"The reports say the people of Skagos are backward and savage, even without currency. Yet, despite this backwardness, over a hundred years ago, they held off the Northern army, summoned by Winterfell, for three years, costing the Duke of Winterfell and thousands of Northern warriors their lives."
"I must lead the Northern army to Skagos. Even if we can't force the Skagosi to submit, we must uncover their secrets. Have they allied with the Iron Islands? I will not allow the Ironborn or the likes of Mance Rayder to use the Skagosi to cause trouble in our rear. As things stand, the threat from the Skagosi is greater than that of the wildling tribes beyond The Wall."
Even if wildlings crossed The Wall, Eddard could gather the Northern army and crush them in the lands of House Umber. The ill-equipped and undisciplined wildlings had always been crushed in the past, caught between the Night's Watch and the Northern army.
The Skagosi were different. They relied on the largest island in The North, and if they launched a large-scale attack, The North, lacking naval power, would struggle to eliminate them.
Luwin the maester stared at the map of Skagos. "Perhaps Lord Eddard is right, but even if we go to war, The North lacks naval strength. Lord Eddard is as close as a brother to King Robert. The current Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, was not only your foster father, but also your brother-in-law. Jon Arryn's wife, Lysa, is Lady Catelyn's sister."
"Since the Skagosi used weapons and armor from the Iron Islands when they raided the coast of The North, we have every reason to suspect that Balon of the Iron Islands is the mastermind behind the Skagosi's invasion of The North. Why doesn't Lord Eddard write to King Robert in King's Landing and Prime Minister Jon Arryn, requesting a ruling from King's Landing?"
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