Capítulo 271: 24
I still could not believe the news reaching me from down south, Balon's last defiance as they called it. To me it seemed more like a last "fuck you" from a beaten man to the world. Either way the ripples were spreading and I was dismayed at the results, being completely blindsided by the action like everyone else. Balon had been underestimated by his enemies for one last time and it had cost them dearly, the very foundations of Westeros swaying like a punch drunk boxer after getting suckered by a guy twice his size.
Standing on top of my tallest tower and looking at the frantic pace the rebuilding of Blackport continued at, as well as the construction happening all around the town, I sigh. While I had gotten out of the fiasco mostly unscratched by not being there at all – gods, I had even profited from it greatly – the same could not be said for many other northern lords. The Mormonts had lost their patriarch but still had been somewhat in luck as Jorah had been far from Pyke and easily managed the succession in consequence. With Lords Blackwood, Glover, Wull and Forrester either barely escaping or had been absent by grace of injury, my own block had been the least impacted of all northern noble alliances.
Amongst those confirmed dead or missing, presumed dead, were a lot of names I knew and which had had a lot of history to them in the old timeline which would never materialize now. Lords Reed, Karstark and Dustin had been present in the hall, decapitating three major northern houses. Houses Umber, Hornwood and Manderly had also lost members even though their lords remained amongst the living. Houses Bolton and Stark suffered no losses, both lords having been injured in the fighting and been far from the collapsing tower. Particularly painful for me and even more of a hit for my wife was the death of Mors Umber, the giant man having fought at the very front close to Robert and had been one closest to the suicidal king of Salt and Rock, never having a chance of escape. He would never get to know his granddaughter.
Closing my eyes for a moment I sigh sadly. Returning home had been such a reason for celebration with Alysanne having come out of the birth healthy and hale, just as little Mara did. The reunion had been heartfelt and I could not have been happier despite the reason for my early arrival being 'punished' by lord Stark for speaking out of turn in front of the king. I really could care less at that single point in time, the small bundle of grasping hands in my arms becoming my whole world for a while. I got half a week of joy before the first ravens arrived, telling of Balon's Defiance, and had been rotating like crazy ever since. There was just so much to do and to top it all I was acting on half knowledge, the speed of information being what it was.
That reminded me…. Turning around I descend the steps in the direction of my solar, sure steps quickly leading me to my goal, where I already find Wyndal, Alysanne, Hoster and Harren present. Their faces look grim and I was not looking forward to what they had to report, having done their best to get the bigger picture ever since we got word. Sitting down behind my desk after kissing my wife I wave for Harren to begin. "Let us start with the situation at home before we come to the bigger world. How is the rebuilding going? Have the new arrivals been settled? Any shortages?"
Harren, who had also taken to carrying an empty book along just like Wnydal, glances at his notes for a moment before answering. "In that order. Blackport is coming along nicely but will still take some time to be fully repaired. This is mostly focused on the harbor, the town itself not having been damaged overly much in the fighting. The shipyard will be back in operation within the month, the defenses will take longer as we are taking the opportunity to rebuild the towers with stone instead of using timber yet again."
Nodding at the sensible decision, more so as enemy naval assets would be scarce for a while, I beckon him to go on. "The immigrants have actually been a great help, the available manpower far outstripping the work we could put them to. They are mostly building their own houses and farms in the surrounding lands by now. If the summer lasts long enough they should become self-sufficient soon enough to be a burden for no more than half a year."
"I suspect this summer to last a good long while", I mutter, remembering my book knowledge. Even with everything going apeshit in the human realm the changes should not influence the strange weather patterns of Westeros overly much. Maybe. "How are our stores looking, assuming that the summer lasts at least five years?"
"Very specific, husband.", chuckles Alysanne. "Assuming the summer lasts as long as you speculate, then we will not be in trouble, six thousand more mouths or not. Currently we are of course drawing from the stores and will continue to do so until the new farms start harvesting in some months. We will be dangerously low by that point even with the imports we managed to procure from down south… and with the recent developments we will not be able to count on those."
"As expected.", I muse and smile at my wife, her pregnancy having forced her to occupy herself with at least some governing tasks instead of being on the training field all day. Her sitting in this council and actually having something worthwhile to offer to the conversation was a direct result of this. "We need to distribute the stores under the assumption that no more grain will arrive by trade for some time. Will we need to ration? Would public order survive it?"
Alysanne shakes her head. "Again, under the assumption that the summer lasts a good long while and that we are willing to dip into the winter supplies for some months longer, then no. It will be enough but it will be tight. If refugees continue to arrive it might become critical without the imports."
Harren jumps in at that point, taking the second part of the question. "Public order will not be impacted either way, I suspect. Rumors of what happened at Pyke are already spreading and many will expect to tighten their belts because of it. Considering that house Ryther offered them a safe haven in turbulent times they will keep their peace as long they are not outright starving and maybe even then, happy to be as far away from the heaviest fighting as they can be. They will not endanger their new home just because they miss a meal. That the men at arms survived the rebellion nearly unscratched will of course help to keep the peace."
He pauses for a moment, a small smile forming on his face. "We actually have a problem there as we have a lot of youths wanting to join the guard, far more than we can accommodate. Many are looking for revenge, others simply for a safe meal."
I shrug. "I do not see the problem. Recruit who we can use. Looking at recent events I suspect that the next few years will be far from peaceful."
Harren grimaces. "While I suspect that to be correct I cannot in good coincidence agree to this. We have a thousand former thralls that have already fought during the rebellion in addition to the same number of recruits from the refugees and our own smallfolk, new and old. We could increase the men and arms and archer forces by roughly three thousand men if we had the intention – and the armor and weapons – to do so."
Blinking, I have to let that sink in for a moment, completely flabbergasted. "How many?!"
"Three thousand, give or take some.", Harren replies and smirks at my incredulous look. "See why I do not think this to be a good idea, my lord?"
"Again I appear to be my own greatest enemy", I muse while shaking my head in wonder. "To be successful enough that I actually find myself in a position where I do not have to scrap the barrel to get men to fight for me… such a curious problem."
Alysanne jumps into the conversation again. "While curious I do not see a problem. The Stark is marching for Moat Cailin and while he will reach it in a few weeks his party will not be the last one to cross the Neck. War will be upon us within the decade, the year if we are very unlucky. Arm and train them, I say. They will be needed."
"We cannot outfit this many at once, my lady.", groans Wyndal, having consulted his ever present book that by now was fastened to his robe by a sturdy iron chain. "A third we might be able to manage and only if we train half of them as archers from the start. Even with our ever increasing trade with the other northern houses and the far north we simply lack the materials to do anything more. This might have been different before Balon's Defiance but now… now we first will have to see who stays a friend and who does not."
"Then see to their recruiting and training while telling those not making the cut that they will be considered at the soonest opportunity.", I command, closing the topic for the moment. We would need the men, I felt it in my bones. "Wyndal. What of the rest of my lands? Three most notable things since I left for the rebellion."
The man collects himself for a moment. "The mine has been expanded and is turning in a very good profit, my lord. We will be easily able to finance and keep ourselves supplied as long as at least some trade routes remain open. The ships you acquired during the rebellion will help a great deal. As soon as we learn who can still be trusted I suspect we will see a further increase in trade volume again."
"We will have to wait and see.", I sigh and wave for him to continue.
"The number of Ryther smallfolk has grown exponentially. I can no longer say with any confidence just how many people populate your lands. But they are many many times the number of smallfolk that called your lands their home during your father's reign. You have come far, my lord."
I smiled tiredly at the man, who had been with me from the very start. "Thank you, Wyndal. I would not have been where I am today without your council. Still, we will need to know what we are working with. See to it that a census is done. Gender, age, profession and location will do for now."
The man grimaces, imagining the work involved but nods anyway. "It will be done, my lord. Just do not expect results any time soon. This will take time."
"I am aware", I nod and he continues. "Last and maybe most notable is that we have seen an increase of immigrants from the far north, roughly two hundred souls having migrated past the wall after taking a vow to obey our laws."
"This might not sound like much...", I mutter as a small smile reappears on my face, "but considering the reluctance of following a so-called 'kneeler' it is a great success indeed."
Wyndal nods in agreement. "Aye, I agree. Snowfort has also almost quadrupled in size and I would even dare to call it the largest settlement north of the wall if you do not count the valley of Thenn."
"Good news for once.", I mutter and turn to the greater round, face turning sober at once. "Now to the matters of the greater kingdoms. Did we learn what exactly happened during the siege of Pyke, who died...or survived and how the paramouncies are reacting?"
"Some, but a lot will only be learned as the other northmen return home. Ravens can only do so much.", sighs Alysanne and nods to Wyndal, who seems to be the person with the most information – as usual.
"Balon used Wildfire to crack the base of his castle, throwing the whole thing into the sea. That far all sources seem to agree.", he begins before once again consulting his notes. "King Robert and his complete kingsguard is reported to have been present and slain to the last. As have a lot of other lords all over the seven kingdoms bare Dorne as they had not been present in the first place. The northern lords lost relatively few as we counted amongst those in the first wave against the breached walls of Pyke. A lot were injured or exhausted by the time the last gate was breached and far from the collapse in consequence."
He takes a deep breath before forging on. "The lords lost, Karstark, Reed, Dustin and Umber being most prominent among them, were only lost because they proved themselves to be fighters beyond compare, battling the bloody slog through the castle from start to finish. Compared to the other kingdoms the North got away lightly, if rumors are to be believed."
I sigh, "Just go one Paramount after the next, Wyndal."
The man nods. "Very well, my lord. The Riverlands lost the Blackfish in addition to the heads of the houses Bracken, Mallister and Mooton. The Freys lost no one, arriving too late at Seaguard to catch the ships for the Iron Islands in the first place."
"The late lord Frey", I mutter and shake my head. The more things changed, the more things stayed the same.
Wyndal nods slightly. "Just so, my lord. Lord Walder Frey is reported to be putting a lot of pressure on young lord Tully to wed one of his daughters, the Freys now standing as the most numerous and with it the most powerful house in the Riverlands… if one does not count the Faith."
I groan and start to massage my head. "Lord Stark just sits by as his kin is exonerated by those… squatters?"
Wyndal smirks. "Of course not. While the Blackfish is no more there remain powerful allies to Lord Tully, such as Lord Stark. His way north after escaping Pyke leads him right past the Twins. I expect the pressure to lessen soon enough."
"Escaping Pyke", I mutter and sigh yet again. "That such a thing has been needed in the first place is a torture to every rational mind."
Alysanne disagrees. "No, husband. From the moment the king fell it was certain that others would try to fill the void. Nature abhors imbalance. In this case it was the Faith to do so… in their absence it would have been someone else."
I stay silent, not answering to the statement I knew to be true enough. After losing a lot of nobles the Faith had tried to force the armies around Pyke to congregate under their banner, their presence being the 'only' stable one around. Thankfully lord Stannis had been around, forcing the surviving lords to bow to his regency by stubborn adherence to the rules more than anything else. It of course helped greatly that he could count on the support of three kingdoms – the North, the Vale and the Riverlands – in addition to his own stormlanders, to see his claim acknowledged. While he has lost the lords of houses Dondarrion, Selmy and Swann in addition to half a dozen lesser ones he nonetheless had a good grip on his realm. Considering that many of the fallen lords had not liked him overly much in the first place he might even be better off, now that I though about it.
Even so the newly appointed lord protector of the realm, and oh boy did I not envy him once he returned to the capital, did ship off the northern forces first of all. Obviously he knew very well, or was well counseled, that having the mostly seven worshiping houses of the south close to the 'heathens' would spell disaster in a hurry if nothing was done about it. So he had lord Stark – with his agreement of course – and every northmen still breathing shipped to Seaguard as soon as ships could be organized, which was fast indeed as he still controlled the royal fleet or at least what was left of it after the recent battles.
Joining them were a lot of former thralls that had lived close to Pyke. Enough of them that it was said the ships of the royal fleet had been nearly sinking by the added weight. I was pretty sure that this was an overstatement but even so there would be a few thousand more souls following after Lord Stark on his way north. Not all most likely as a lot would be trying to return to their former homes but still more than enough to strengthen the North yet again. From a populace perspective the last few years had been the best the North had enjoyed since the conquest, the number of people calling the North their home having risen greatly.
Interestingly enough the Targaryens also offered ships for the voyage, having denied any knowledge of the wildfire being used in Balon's defiance. Most did not believe their claims of innocence but neither was there proof enough to see to their conviction. A lot of Pyromancers had been thrown into the wind after the Kings Fire, so it would not be impossible for Balon to have snatched up some even without the help of the Dragons. Of course the fact that the Targaryens fostered the two youngest Greyjoys only increased the suspicion – baseless or not. Either way it was yet another strain on a continent already showing dangerous cracks as a lot of things changed at once. I also had another suspect in mind that no fingers had been pointed at yet.
"The Sparrow survived, I take it?", I question, avoiding outright admitting that I might have been wrong in my last statement.
"He did.", dryly verifies Wyndal at once. "Lord Balish wasn't even close to the fighting, being a priest in profession. Since he has been busy decrying the ironborn 'heathens' and their wicked ways, using it as a legitimization to the existence of the faith militant."
"I am sure Lord Stannis loved that.", I state drily enough to actually get some laughs out of the people present.
"He put a stop to it at once, yes. Mostly at least.", confirms Wyndal. "… but we are moving off topic. By now the Riverlands will be mostly occupied with their own problems as a lot of major houses changed leadership or suddenly find themselves with a lack of family members. I expect this to change little with the quarreling lot of Riverlords before a lot of people get married and the next generation is born to see to a stable succession. If Lord Stark can keep the Tullys from marrying into House Frey we will have to see."
"The Vale?", I ask, wanting to change topics at least a little.
"Lord Arryn survived by being the hand. He stayed in King's Landing, taking care of ruling in Robert's absence. His son did as well, ruling the Eyrie after his first son by Lysa Tully had just been born. The Vale lost a few lords nonetheless, Jon Royce as well as Lord Wynwood and Hunter being chief amongst them."
"So at least one ally remains to the North even if the Riverlands fall to unrest.", I muse absently, swirling the ale in a tankard I had just grabbed from a nearby table. "At least as long as Lord Arryn lives."
"Aye, as long as John Arryn lives we will have an ally in the Vale", Wyndal agrees before hesitating for a moment. "Sadly I do not know how long this state of affairs will persist. There have been rumors of at least two attempts on his life."
I feel my emerging headache intensifying at his words, a groan forcing its way past my lips. "Of course there are… The Crownlands?"
"Lords Rykker and Staunton lost their patriarchs, the heirs of houses Blount and Rosby also perished. Set in relation to the other paramouncies they suffered comparatively little."
"For all use that will be to them", Hoster mutters, joining the conversation for the first time. "The Crownlands might be officially beholden to King's Landing but the Dragons are calling the shots here - make no mistake."
"How is the house of the Dragon faring then?", I ask the man.
"Well enough", he grumbles, obviously not having a high opinion of the Targaryens. "The Velaryons were the most numerous of the Dragon supporters to be present at Pyke and they are mostly sea faring, leaving them far from the disaster the siege of Pyke turned out to be. Can't blame them either as they are better suited for the sea anyway. Lost no one of consequence because of it and were the first to search for survivors from the water after the collapse."
"The first ones to search for surviving valyrian steel you mean.", I counter dryly and he chuckles. "Aye, my lord. That as well."
He continues after a small pause, gaze thoughtful. "As far as we know there have been at least four valyrian blades within the hall as it collapsed, leaving quite the fortune in the rubble. None have been found yet, nor has the body of the king. At least no one is talking about it if they got one. Lord Stannis has declared the area off limits and – by council of someone called Seaworth – set a date for an auction at Pyke in four weeks time, where you can 'buy' the rights to search the sea around Pyke and the castle itself for a period of ten years. Afterwards the castle will default back to the surviving Greyjoy boy, who then will return from Targaryen fosterage."
Leaning back in surprise I find myself confused. "While I can see the use in selling off rights searching for the steel I cannot find the use in giving the castle back to the Greyjoys, especially a boy all but raised by the dragons."
"Oh, there is a lot of use in both.", corrects Hoster and swirls the beer in his tankard. "The Lord Protector needs money to rebuild most of all, valyrian steel – while useful – is of comparatively little concern to him. Auctioning the chance of finding it off gives him a hard return for something that might not show any success in the first place. Were Tywin alive he would have jumped at the chance alone and even without him a lot of money will change hands for the promise of a heritage blade."
"Which still leaves me confused about the Greyjoy boy.", I point out and he nods, coming to this part.
"Aye, of course. I have met many an Ironborn in my years going to sea and they are a stubborn lot, Iron Price or no. Taking the islands from them completely might be possible but it would chow through men and resources in such quantities that few might find it worthwhile. Even with Theon Greyjoy at the head the promise of a 'rightful' ruler returning will keep the peace better than trying to conquer them completely. And after ten years of inevitable mismanagement by whoever gets Pyke the Reavers will need a generation to come back to their former strength. At the very least. As I see it Lord Stannis is getting three birds with one stone. He gets money, shoves off a rebellious problem to someone else and weakens the Reavers enough that they likely will not be a problem again in his lifetime."
I stay silent for a long moment, mulling over his analysis. "This seems to be a sensible way to go about things if one is as uninterested in the valyrian steel as Stannis seems to be. Others will of course jump at the chance, making the scheme likely too successful. Even with others most assuredly seeing through the whole thing just as well as you did, the subjective prize is just too big to ignore."
"Just so, my lord.", agrees Hoster and leans back again, having said his piece.
"Are the Lannisters the biggest contender for the rights?", I query the greater round only for Wyndal to shake his head.
"While Tywin Lannister was rumored to be after valyrian steel like a mad dog after a hare, his son is much less likely to be as… fanatical. Lord Jamie Lannister survived Pyke by being at his uncle Gerion's side during the collapse, the man having taken a crossbow to the neck and perished by now. While he has the finances I find it unlikely that he will bind a problem like Pyke around his neck, especially with the realm as unstable as it is. He is more likely to conserve his strength, should he need it to stabilize the claim his nephew has to the throne."
"The Westerlands got out of it mostly unscratched then?", I inquired only for him to shake his head.
"No, my lord.", Wyndal replies and consults his notes once again. "While Jamie Lannister remains whole and hale, a lot of his greater subordinate lords have been in the hall and are dead or missing as a consequence. Lords Marbrand, Westerling and Lefford have gone down with the castle, the second one taking his heir with him and leaving only two daughters to continue his line. The Westerling lands are as such all but up for grabs with a lot of lesser lords putting pressure on Lady Westerling to marry off her daughters. Lord Lannister will have his hands full keeping the peace in his own lands, lest his vassals come to blows over the prize."
"The Reach then?", I sigh and shake my head, mourning the realities of medieval politics. Dangle a castle in front of a bunch of minor lords and keeping them from killing each other over it became a near impossible task at once. I really did not envy Jamie Lannister at the moment, nor did I ever.
Wyndal nods. "A likely outcome, yes. While Lords Tyrell and Florent perished at Pyke, their heirs are affluent enough to give it a try, more so as they will likely see owning a valyrian blade as yet another way to one-up the other one. That Lord Tarly and his blade were also lost due to Balon's Defiance will be yet another incentive. They also have the manpower necessary to control Pyke despite lingering resistance by the locals."
"The Reach made out half the army present, inefficient as it proved to be at the start.", interjects Hoster. "The cost in nobles has been comparatively heavy because of it as well, the Ashfords, Fossoways, Rowans and even the Redwynes losing their patriarchs either in the fighting or in the Defiance."
"A lot of dead", I agree easily, summarizing the event. "All kingdoms but Dorne suffered due to it. Are they reacting in any way? What about the Faith? Where are the fanatics in all of this?"
Harren shrugs. "According to the few merchants still making the rounds from the desert the Martells are doing fuck all. And why would they? The rest of the continent is imploding even without their aid. All they have to do is wait, something I hear the current head of the house is very good at."
I sigh, acknowledging the point. "The Faith?"
The present people grimace nearly in unison, making my heart plummet. "What have they done now?", I query, dreading the answer the very moment the words leave my mouth.
"The Faith has used the slaughter of Pyke to regain a lot of the influence that was lost by your words at Ten Towers, my Lord.", states Wyndal carefully and I impatiently wave for him to continue, knowing that that alone would be hardly worth mentioning.
"The Faith Militant used Balon's Defiance to recruit a lot of the men suddenly finding themselves without a lord after the catastrophe, doubling their numbers as soldiers flocked to them as a beacon of stability in insecure times. Only the Reach forces present outnumber them on their own and the Militant is still gaining numbers as far as I was able to learn."
Harren speaks up next, face grim. "The fanatics have used the absence of lords in their home lands to stir up trouble there as well, whipping the smallfolk into a frenzy. Moat Cailin has again seen thousands of refugees streaming into the North. Lord Stark will likely gather yet more around him on his way north, the Riverlands being the worst off of all… afflicted… kingdoms. If Lord Stannis doesn't do something about the Sparrow and his men then the south will explode into civil war before the year is out."
I close my eyes at his words, not being all that surprised. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would have been able to see the writing on the wall the moment the Faith Militant rose again as a serious power. By its existence alone it shook the stability of the continent, not that there had been much of that in the first place after the rebellion.
"Any word on Balish himself?", I ask, feeling suddenly very tired despite it being still early in the day.
"Currently in Harrenhal with a strong force of the Militant", replies Wyndal with a frown. "Lady Whent is said to be an adherent follower of the Seven and to be offered her castle to the men to use as the gods see fit."
"As the gods see fit.", I repeat in disbelief, shaking my head slightly. "So, to summarize. The south is imploding as many a lord struggles with succession while the Sparrow uses the chaos to claim one of the strongest castles – even if it is a ruin – in the realm, intending to do whatever with it. No one knows if the Targaryens or someone else is behind the Wildfyre used in Balon's defiance. The man might have even done it completely on his own volition as well – who knows? Anything else?"
"The Queen is rumored to have rejected Lord Stannis as regent, claiming the title for herself.", states Alysanne into the ensuring silence, which is broken immediately afterwards as my tankard shatters against the wall, the breaking of pottery doing nothing to mask me cursing like a veteran sailor on his worst day.
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