Chapter 60: The Skagosi Dispute

In the torch-lit hall of Abyss Keep, King of the Skagosi, Samro Crowl, wore a dark expression.

An elder of the Skagosi who had fled Frosthall knelt before the king.

"My king, Eddard Stark and his Northern army have burned Frosthall, torched the farmlands, and declared that he will systematically destroy and raze every stronghold. He has vowed to capture our women and girls to be sold in Lysene brothels and our men to be sold as slaves in Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh."

The Chieftain of the Frost Clan, Gewin, was heartbroken. "Eddard Stark has destroyed our ancestral stronghold and stolen our women and children. I demand vengeance!"

King Samro Crowl raised a hand to silence him. "Be quiet! Let them finish speaking first."

Another elder spoke up. "Eddard Stark has also declared that he will salt our fields so that nothing may ever grow again."

The Chieftain of the Maple Clan, Jor, shuddered. "This is utter cruelty! Skagos is already a harsh land with little fertile ground, and now he seeks to make it barren? He wants to wipe us out!"

A survivor from Icedrake Hall stepped forward. "The Northern army has also burned down Icedrake Hall and stolen the remains of the great ice dragon!"

The Chieftain of the Icedrake Clan, Aes, clenched his fists in rage. "The dragon's remains? That is our sacred ground! Eddard Stark has burned my hall, desecrated our holy site, and stolen our relic! The Starks and the Northerners must pay! King Crowl, we must march!"

Chieftain Gewin added, "If we do not act now, all our lands will be turned to ash, and our people will fall as slaves beneath Stark's sword!"

King Samro Crowl remained calm. "Chieftains, this is a trap. Eddard Stark spreads these rumors to lure us into battle. He knows that his Northern army outnumbers us, but he lacks supplies. If we hold Abyss Keep, the Starks will be the ones to break!"

Lord Bili of Driftwood Hall, who had been silent until now, barely contained his fury. "How can you be sure Stark lacks supplies? His hired Sistermen fleet and Pentoshi mercenaries sail around Skagos, pillaging and replenishing his stock. Once the Northern supply ships cross the Bay of Seals, they will have plenty of provisions."

King Crowl shook his head. "No. Helen Pyke, the Ironborn captain, has assured me she will destroy the Northern supply ships."

Bili sneered. "We are staking the fate of the Skagosi on the word of an Iron whore? Helen Pyke encouraged us to raid the Northern coast, claiming the Northern fleet was weak, and what happened? She couldn't even defeat the Sistermen and the Pentoshi sellsails!"

King Crowl sighed, trying to keep his patience. "I have told you before: the Sistermen and Pentoshi mercenaries are a baited trap. Eddard Stark uses them to wear down the Ironborn. These sellswords are of no concern—once Stark's army is broken, they will scatter."

Bili of Driftwood Hall repeated slowly, "Eddard Stark has already burned several of our ancestral strongholds and stolen our women and children. I fear we will fall before his army does."

Chieftain Aes of the Icedrake Clan shattered his drinking cup in rage. "King Crowl, we must march! If we remain in Abyss Keep, our people will see us as cowards!"

Chieftain Gewin of the Frost Clan shouted, "Our people are being slaughtered, our land is being ravaged—act now!"

The assembled chieftains roared their demands, pounding their chests and chanting, "War! Revenge!"

King Crowl sighed. "I will send our warriors—but only when the Magnar's reinforcements arrive. Raycen Magnar has gathered over a thousand warriors from the eastern coast. Once they arrive, we will crush the Northern army outside Abyss Keep, then strike at Eddard Stark."

Bili of Driftwood Hall scowled. "And when will Raycen Magnar's warriors arrive? The Northern army is at our gates, and Raycen is a cunning opportunist—he may not come at all. Relying on him to save Abyss Keep? Foolish."

"We do not need to wait. The Northern army outside Abyss Keep will not assault the keep. Leave a few hundred warriors here while our main force moves through the mountain passes and strikes at Stark's rear."

King Crowl shook his head. "Your plan is reckless. Stark has Skagosi guides and prisoners who will have told him of the mountain paths. If our warriors enter the valleys, they will fall into his trap."

Bili countered, "I still have twenty war beasts, and combined with the Crowl clan's, we can at least slow Stark's devastation on our lands."

King Crowl waved him off. "No. You must stay. I will not risk our war beasts. We hold the keep and wait for Magnar's reinforcements—or the Ironborn fleet."

Bili stood abruptly. "You would gamble the fate of the Skagosi on an Iron whore? You care only for Abyss Keep and your Ironborn allies, not the rest of us! **Eddard Stark may be marching on Driftwood Hall right now! My son, Baulsen, is already in Stark's hands. I will protect my land and rescue my son—I will take my warriors and leave!"

King Crowl growled, "Bili, remember your oath! You swore before the heart tree."

Bili Crowl met his gaze fiercely. "And you swore to protect every Skagosi, every clan that bent the knee to you. Yet you only care for your Iron whore. Let her and her Ironborn fight for you! I am done here!"

Bili of Driftwood Hall stormed out, his warriors following him.

Chieftain Aes of the Icedrake Clan rose from his seat. "King Crowl, we chose you, but you have failed us. You called us here to defend Abyss Keep, and we came. But when our lands burn, you refuse to fight. This is selfishness. I will follow Bili into battle!"

Chieftains Gewin of the Frost Clan and Aes of the Icedrake Clan marched after Bili.

King Samro Crowl sat in icy silence, as if the Stark words had already come true—Winter is Coming.

________________

— Thanks to Venkat for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to Robin kristiansen for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to hussain jama for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to sable for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

— Thanks to Mohamed for subscribing in Warden of the Realm

" Help the story climb the rankings! Don't forget to leave a Power Stone and share your thoughts in the comments if you enjoyed this chapter!"