Chapter 63: Dealing with the Captives

Chapter 63: Dealing with the Captives

The leaders of the Rockborn were brought before Eddard Stark. Billy Stern, chieftain of the Stern Clan, Ace Frostfang, chieftain of the Frostfang Clan, and Gavin Iceborn, chieftain of the Iceborn Clan, stood before him. Their fur-lined cloaks were stained with blood, and though wounded, their injuries were not severe.

Eddard's sworn sword, Dawson, stood beside him, holding the Valyrian steel greatsword, Ice. Ned's gaze swept across Billy Stern, Ace Frostfang, and Gavin Iceborn in turn.

"You are all chieftains of the Rockborn," Ned said. "Your ancestors swore fealty to House Stark of Winterfell, yet you chose to follow the so-called Rock King, Samro Crowl, in rebellion. You have broken your oaths. By all rights, I should have you executed."

Billy Stern gave a wolfish grin. "Eddard Stark, it is true that our forebears once bent the knee to Winterfell, but that was centuries ago. Whether they broke their oaths or not, I do not know, but I swore no such vow to you or your house."

Ned gave a slight smile. "It is not too late to swear fealty now. Do so, and I will spare you—and the hundreds of Rockborn prisoners under my mercy."

Most of the Rockborn had perished in the battle at Frostvale. Many were cut down by Northern archers, while others were trampled beneath the hooves of unicorns. Of the twenty or so unicorns Billy Stern had brought, only fifteen remained, all now in Ned's possession.

Gavin Iceborn glared at Ned. "You burned my hall to the ground, slaughtered my people, salted my lands, and now you seek to sell our women and children into slavery in the Free Cities. How could I ever bend the knee to such a man?"

Ace Frostfang nodded in agreement. "We would rather die than submit to the butcher of the Rockborn."

Ned's voice remained calm. "Threats are one thing, but carrying them out is another. It is true that I destroyed Iceborn Hall and Frostfang Hall, and that I burned your fields. But compared to the fishing villages and salt camps you Rockborn have razed along the Eastern Shores of the North, my actions were measured. I am the Warden of the North, not a slaver, nor have I salted your lands. Skagos is part of the North."

Gavin Iceborn, Billy Stern, and Ace Frostfang looked taken aback. Billy frowned. "You did not take our women and children?"

Ned scoffed. "Why would I? The Northern host has already lost much of its provisions thanks to the Iron Whore, Helen Pyke. My men are already stretching what little food we have. Would you have me believe in Skagos' old tales and eat your kin instead?"

"The Seven Kingdoms forbid slavery. As Warden of the North, how could I ever lead by breaking the law? Many slavers from Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr sail past Skagos and Eastwatch to capture Free Folk beyond the Wall, but few come to Skagos itself. This land belongs to the North."

Billy Stern scoffed. "You expect us to believe the North has shielded us from slavers all these years? Ha! If that were true, perhaps we should be thanking Lord Stark for his kindness."

Ned replied, "If you do not believe me, ask the Iron Whore herself. Ask any slaver. Be it the Sealord of Braavos, the Magister of Lys, or the Prince of the Stepstones, none dare openly defy the laws of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Helen Pyke, the Iron Whore, fled the Royal Fleet in the south like a beaten cur. She could not even match the Lysene pirate, Salladhor Saan. She is a failure in the pirate wars of the Stepstones, a wretched thing who fled to Skagos, and the Rock King was fool enough to think he gained an ally."

"She gave you some weapons and longships, and that was enough for you to raid the Eastern Shores alongside the Ironborn. The North is a land under the watch of the Old Gods. The Rockborn worship the Old Gods, yet you fought and died for a woman who kneels before strange foreign deities."

The battlefield lay strewn with Rockborn and unicorn corpses, while carrion crows feasted upon them. Billy Stern, Ace Frostfang, and Gavin Iceborn fell silent.

Billy Stern finally spoke, forcing strength into his voice. "We did not fight for the Iron Whore. We fought for the Rock King, Samro Crowl."

Ned turned his gaze toward the distant mountains. "You would kneel for a usurper and refuse to bend the knee to Winterfell? What promises did Samro Crowl make to you? Glory, wealth, power? And what did he give you instead? Death and ruin."

"The Rock King sits safe within his Dreadfort, his stronghold high and steep. He hides behind his Ironborn allies, while you, his supposed loyal chieftains, watch your halls burn. When your lands were taken, your people slain, did he send a single warrior to aid you? I saw no banners of House Crowl."

Ned raised a hand, and Dawson stepped forward, offering him Ice.

"I have spoken my piece. You have a choice—bend the knee or lose your heads."

Billy Stern let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. "Do it, Eddard Stark."

Ned said, "You would die before yielding? Have you no thought for your son, Borlason? If you die, who will protect him? Who will keep the Stern Clan safe?"

Billy Stern's fifteen-year-old son, Borlason, had been captured in the earlier battle by Jon Snow, Ned's bastard son.

At the mention of Borlason, Billy Stern's resolve faltered. "How is my son? Is he hurt?"

Ned motioned, and Syrio Forel, the Braavosi Water Dancer, brought forth Borlason. Seeing his son unharmed, Billy Stern breathed a small sigh of relief.

"Lord Stark, let my son go, and I will submit to whatever fate you decree."

Ned gave a small smile. "Here is my judgment—you will live, but you must bend the knee. If you refuse to kneel, we will pretend you have done so. But you must swear your loyalty before the heart tree, before the Old Gods."

Ned picked up the Stern Clan's fallen banner, stained with blood and dirt. He unfurled it and turned to Billy.

"Tell me, Billy, what do you see?"

Billy Stern frowned. "What do you mean? That is the sigil of House Stern—driftwood without leaves, the mark of Driftwood Hall."

Ned said, "Why does the driftwood bear no leaves? Because it has no roots. Skagos itself is like driftwood, drifting aimlessly. The Rockborn have refused to root themselves in the North. You chose to float adrift with the Ironborn, and so your sigil bears no leaves, no life. Winter is coming, Billy. The only way forward is to take root in the North."

Billy Stern was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "Lord Stark, I will bend the knee. House Stern will swear fealty to Winterfell."

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