Game of Thrones: The Frozen Throne

"My lord Eddard, that's an entire fleet!"

Eddard Stark sat upon the Stone Direwolf Throne, passed down through generations of Kings in the North. Beside him, at a long table, sat Maester Luwin, Treasurer Klar, and Robb Stark. The wards of Winterfell, Domeric Bolton—heir to the Dreadfort—and Theon Greyjoy stood at Eddard's sides, clad in chainmail with swords in hand.

Sansa, Bran, and Arya stood next to Catelyn Stark, while Septa Mordane held young Rickon. Jon Snow was also present but deliberately kept his distance from Catelyn.

The Lord of Last Hearth, Greatjon Umber, bore a deep scar on his forehead. Blood had congealed in his hair, and his armor was stained crimson. The towering warrior radiated fury.

"In all my years, I've never seen so many Skagosi! Damn cannibal tribes."

"Skagosi" was a derogatory term Northerners used for the inhabitants of Skagos, who called themselves the Rockborn. They lived on Skagos Island, just across the Bay of Seals from Greatjon's lands. Recently, Rockborn pirates had ravaged the territories of House Umber, House Karstark, and House Bolton. They had burned watchtowers along Saltpans, raided fishing villages, abducted women and children, and slaughtered all others.

A Dire Threat

Maester Luwin asked, "Lord Umber, how many were there?"

Greatjon spat on the ground. "When I led the Umber cavalry to the coast, I faced a pirate army—at least five hundred strong! Every one of them wielded sharp battle axes and longswords, clad in leather and chainmail. Damn cannibal warriors."

Luwin frowned. "That seems unlikely. According to Citadel records, the Rockborn, like the wildlings beyond the Wall, lack blacksmiths and have little access to steel weapons."

Roose Bolton, Count of the Dreadfort, cloaked in crimson, spoke in a soft yet mocking tone. "Tell me, Maester Luwin, how old are these records of yours?"

Luwin hesitated. "Approximately five hundred years old."

Bolton's whisper carried a hint of scorn. "Five-hundred-year-old history? Five centuries ago, Aegon the Conqueror had yet to bring his dragons to Westeros. Now, dragons are extinct, and the Targaryen dynasty lies in ruins. Yet you judge the Rockborn based on outdated chronicles?"

He leaned forward. "When I led the Dreadfort's cavalry against these savages, their equipment was no worse than a castle's garrison—far superior to the peasant levies I mustered. My farmers held hammers and sickles, but our enemies wielded steel battle axes."

An Unnatural Supply of Weapons

Such fine weaponry seemed absurd for the Rockborn. The savage, isolated island of Skagos should not have had access to such an abundance of armor and steel.

Had Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, infiltrated Skagos as Eddard had feared? The cunning wildling king might have struck a deal with the Rockborn chieftains, but that wouldn't explain their surplus of weapons and armor. After all, the wildlings also lacked blacksmiths. If Mance had acquired such quality steel, he wouldn't have handed it to the Rockborn so freely.

Or perhaps some faction within the Seven Kingdoms was secretly supplying them.

This seemed plausible. The Seal Bay trade routes were active, with many ships from the Seven Kingdoms and Free Cities passing through to trade with the Night's Watch at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea or even with the wildlings. Some slaver ships even viewed the lands beyond the Wall as a paradise for capturing slaves.

Given the North's lack of naval power, if an enemy of Winterfell had infiltrated Skagos and armed the Rockborn, it wouldn't have been difficult. But who was behind this?

Suspicions and Shadows

Eddard's first suspect was Tywin Lannister of Casterly Rock. Using an enemy's enemy for personal gain was a classic Tywin move. Casterly Rock was drowning in gold—they could certainly afford to fund the Rockborn against Winterfell. But to what end?

The wolves of the North and the lions of the West had never seen eye to eye. During Robert's Rebellion, it was Robert Baratheon's victory at the Trident that sealed the Targaryens' fate, but it was the Lannisters who delivered the final blow.

If Tywin was behind the Rockborn attacks, the only logical reason was that he sought to weaken the North while consolidating power in the South. If the Rockborn rebellion occupied Winterfell's armies, Tywin could maneuver without interference and seize the Iron Throne.

The thought sent a chill down Eddard's spine. Was winter truly coming?

Aside from Tywin, another potential culprit was the Targaryen loyalists who had fled across the Narrow Sea.

Viserys Targaryen, the Mad King's only surviving son, and his younger sister Daenerys still lived. Though neither seemed an immediate threat, who knew what schemes their supporters were plotting? The Narrow Sea was filled with ambitious merchants, exiled nobles, and the remnants of the Blackfyre Rebellion.

Could someone across the sea be orchestrating this attack?

Of course, the enemy might also come from within the North itself.

Eddard thought of the bitter widow, Lady Barbrey Dustin, Lord Rodrik Ryswell of the Rills, and Roose Bolton, who now stood in this very hall.

Lady Barbrey had long harbored resentment toward Eddard. She had never forgiven him for burying her husband's remains in distant Dorne. Before her marriage, she had been betrothed to Eddard's late brother, Brandon, and she believed Eddard had stolen Winterfell from him.

Barbrey was Rodrik Ryswell's daughter and Roose Bolton's sister-in-law.

The alliance of House Dustin, House Ryswell, and House Bolton was powerful. To curb their ambitions, Eddard had taken Roose Bolton's heir, Domeric, as his ward in Winterfell, ensuring their loyalty.

Had this move instead provoked Lady Dustin and Roose Bolton?

Eddard doubted Rodrik Ryswell himself would rebel—he was old. But could he control his daughter Barbrey and former son-in-law Roose?

His gaze fell upon Roose Bolton's pale, leech-like eyes. The man had come to Winterfell with Greatjon Umber and Lord Rickard Karstark, seeking aid against the Rockborn pirates. The Dreadfort's lands were vast and rich. Bolton's strength was formidable—and he was never lacking in ambition.

Had Roose orchestrated this entire conflict, only to whisper in his soft voice…?

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