The Histories of the Vilebloods of Cainhurst, vol I, by Maester Dalfer.

The Vilebloods of Cainhurst, one of the Great Houses of the North. Their sigil, two golden wolves facing away from each other with their tails entwined, laid upon a scarlet background. Their words, unknown, though many assume it to be "Blood for the Lady".

Currently, at the time of writing, they are one of the more mysterious in the entirety of Westeros. To date, until this work, there have been no official 'Histories' written of the Vilebloods. The reasons are manifold, though the primary one is that the Vileblood family has had no Maester since their foundation in the North and prevents any and all wearing the links of the Citadel entrance to their castle, or even their land if they can help it. This is not even limited to Maesters, they bar their gates shut to almost everyone, Lord or Maester, great or small. The only ones ever allowed in are the Starks and even then only the "invited" are allowed inside. The Vilebloods themselves are rarely ever known to step outside.

Such an extreme policy of isolation severely limits attempts to study them, or gain any kind of information. Even their Knights, the castles only means of contact with the outside world, are notoriously tight-lipped*. As a result of this what we know of them at the time of writing comes almost entirely from outside sources, as well as stories and tales that have been retold over the years to become an accepted truth.

Thus I will endeavour, in the following volumes, to shed light upon this mysterious House. This first volume shall be a general overview of the early history of the Vilebloods, covering their possible origins and their role in the Bolton Rebellions. Further volumes will address later Vileblood history, particular aspects of the Vilebloods such as their unique practice of Knighthood, notable customs as well as notable Vilebloods throughout history.

Let us begin with that is already commonly known. The Vilebloods were, like the Manderleys, originally from the South but due to disagreements with the Faith they were exiled. Most assume that this was because the Vilebloods were worshipers of the Old Gods despite their apparent Andal nature. In fact a popular story is held that the Vilebloods found wisdom in the trees and lies in the book, so they chose the former which led to their exile. This exile then led them North where they were taken in under the Boltons, given land and made bannermen to fight in the Bolton rebellions against the Starks, wars in which the Vileblood Knights would acquire great renown, and much fear.

After the final Bolton rebellion was put down in which the Vilebloods played the decisive factor, they were freed from their bonds of vassalage to the Boltons and made a Great House, forming a new bond with the Starks. This also started the famous tradition of a Stark child being sent to Cainhurst to squire or be a lady-in-waiting.

Thus they have remained for hundreds of years, loyal vassals that grew wealthy off of the mines in the Lonely Hills and grew prestigious thanks to their Knights. These unique individuals are famous (Or infamous depending on who you are) for many things, their frequent bounty hunting for a start. In fact some have even taken to calling them Hunter-Knights because of this. They are also very notable because of the famously pompous "Cainhurst garb" and their unique weaponry, the most iconic of all being the curved, single edged longswords nearly all of them wield. Many are adventurers having trekked the length and breadth of Westeros, even into the Land-Beyond-The-Wall as well as across the Narrow Sea into Essos, bringing back bounties (quite literally in some cases) and treasures far and wide. The most famous of these Vileblood adventurers is Lady Maria, a person whose history is a rather colorful one if the stories of her are to be believed.

Like any Great House, they have their fare share of reasons to fear and be wary of them. The sheer unknown of the House puts many ill at ease with the Vilebloods and rumors of the goings on inside Castle Cainhurst spring forth every turn of the year, from the lurid to frightening. The rumors are not limited to the goings on inside of Cainhurst either as the Vileblood Knights also receive their fair share. Their bounty hunting are sometimes covers for kidnappings with many notable cases rumored to have occurred when there were known Vileblood Knights in the area. Some of these cases have strong merit. The fact that live bounties are often brought to Cainhurst puts fuel to the rumours that abound about that castle. Their reputation is also rather frightening, with the phrase "blood-crazed beasts" being a common descriptor for them, not to mention the rumours in which they would "rip out the hearts of their enemies with bare hands" that occur with frequency wherever they are found and whenever they fight.

Their known words also do not put anyone at ease, especially considering their previous associations with the Flayed Men and general fascination, some would call obsession, with blood. Certainly, they are not looked upon with much admiration, though they are a feared and respected House.

This said, we will begin the retelling of Vileblood History, starting with their origins in the Reach.

*As well as unnerving to talk to. I have had conversations with those most fanatical in the Faith and they seem like the most sane men compared to Vileblood Knights.

Vilebloods in the Reach.

The Vilebloods, much like the Manderleys, were once a Reachlander family that were chased out of their original homeland and sought refuge in the North. Like the Manderleys were accepted by the Starks as bannermen, the Vilebloods were accepted by the Bolton Red Kings.

However, where the Manderleys were driven out due to politicking and power grabs, the Vileblood flight north was said to be, by the Vilebloods themselves, driven because of religious persecution. An interesting and plausible story, yet one that does not seem to have much evidence for other than the word of the Vilebloods. It is very plausible that this is what happened, I do not discount that, I only wish to explore and elaborate on this story.

The first recourse would be, if the records of the Vilebloods are barred as they usually are, to turn to the records of the Faith. However since this event happened so long ago (the exact date is unknown but it would certainly be post-Andal invasion) written records are nonexistent. Anything the people of the time deemed worthy of copying and retaining that can be read now makes no direct mention of an Andal family converting to the Old Gods Faith, an event that I assume, if it did happen, would be a very memorable one. Though perhaps it is a conscientious omission, perhaps the recent arrivals were feeling too insecure of their rule and the Faith of the Seven had yet to take hold amongst their conquered subjects. Thus when one of their own converted to the local religion they would be quick to suppress it.

The origin of this story comes from the records of the Winter King Grenn Stark, the second King of Winter to encounter the Vilebloods and one of the first to ever enter Castle Cainhurst. His journals, which have been repeatedly copied down over the centuries since they mark a notable event in Northern history, describe an encounter with the Vileblood Matriarch, the first known Annalise, in which the latter recounted the now official version of the story of the Vileblood exile and flight north. The certain phrase she is recorded to have said is that the Vilebloods had "a disagreement with the Faith", a phrase which many interpret as the Vilebloods turning to the Old Gods. She is also recorded to have said that they had been branded as "Vile-blooded creatures", from which the name Vileblood comes from.

No mention is made as to where the original Vileblood home was and, unlike the Manderleys, we cannot discern from their name, as what the Vilebloods were known as before they took on their current name is not known and they refuse to divulge.

However, I have taken it upon myself, with the aid my of my assistants and other hired help, to explore the possible sites all across the Reach to find possible remains of the original Vileblood holdings, an endeavour which took at least three years and would not have been possible without the aid of the local noble families and the generous contributions of my donors.

The first area I explored was the Red Mountains, in correspondence with the current holdings of the Vilbloods being the entirety of the Lonely Hills. Perhaps they preferred hilly, mountainous terrain. However from Uplands to the Kingswood, though I did discover many interesting things (of which I will put to writing at a future date), there appeared to have been no trace of Vileblood activity. Though ruins dot the mountains they were either from the wrong age, as evidenced by their style of architecture, or too weathered to determine anything useful. Thus after two years in the Mountains ranging back and forth I gave up my search.

However there was another location that suited my criteria, namely the southern portion of the Westerland Mountains and it is here where I found places of interest. Namely, the Red Lake.

This is a place that is once said to have been inhabited by the Children of the Forest before Brandon of the Bloody Blade slew them, thus giving the lake its name. Explorations within the lake itself and within the surrounding lands, undertaken by myself, my assistants and hired help, have revealed that the area was long ago inhabited, before the establishment modern Red Lake Castle. Midden mounds dot the shore of the lake and artificial cave systems had been made in the hills to the north.

What ties this place into the Vilebloods in particular are the carvings found in two of these caves, which included designs and motifs that bear striking resemblance to the kind found tattooed on or engraved into the armour of Vileblood Knights.

The first rune is a near carbon copy of a modern Vileblood Knight motif, the twisted cord with dripping anchors. It was found carved in a repeating pattern within a cave wall along with other carvings. The second rune, bearing resemblance to what is known today as the "spiked eye", was found carved into the walls of another cave. The caves were adjoining and seemed to have been connected to a deeper system but a cave-in had collapsed the path and to dig further would have been very dangerous. Perhaps there are other things beyond which I could not reach*.

Despite this, examining the runes found within provided a wealth of information and may act as clues as to the real cause of the Vileblood exile. The cave of the first rune was the first one we had encountered after we discovered the entrance. The path inside was large enough for two people abreast to comfortably walk through and the cave itself was fairly roomy, clearly having been carved out. It had three exits, two of which were blocked and the other leading to the second cave.

What discernable markings within this first cave mention "blood dregs". Along one wall were holes made at regular intervals at about chest height and in one of them my assistant found the remains of an iron bolt. Beneath a pile of rubble we also found chains and manacles, which gives an idea of what kind of place this was.

The other cave contained a wall of runes, with a deliberately carved slab of stone in front of it. The markings here are near indescribable but "rapture" had been etched into the stone.

The evidence suggest that this place was a prison, perhaps a Vileblood dungeon system built into the caves away from prying eyes. The first was perhaps a holding room, with the second being a dining area.

However, we did discuss another theory which could have major implications as to the causes of the Vileblood flight.

That the second room was a sacrifice chamber.

The evidence for this is threefold, the first is the phrase "blood dreg" from the first cave which may imply someone unwanted, perhaps someone with 'unclean blood' whatever that may mean. The second piece of evidence is the presence of the altar-like object in front of the wall of runes, a stone slab that had been purposely carved and seemed to be able to fit a full grown man and on which the word "rapture" was etched into. The third piece of evidence is the rune itself. My assistant noticed that if one were to turn it sideways, it can be interpreted as a chest being parted to expose the heart. Now, this is also something that, supposedly, Vileblood Knights are known to do to their enemies. There are also no bolt holes in this room so no prisoners were being kept here, at least for any great length of time. That the Vilebloods seem to have a fascination with blood may also lend weight to this theory.

If we were to take the above theory and carry on with it, we can create a hypothesis that the Vilebloods practiced this chest-parting ritual onto prisoners they brought here, why and to what end it is not known** but the possibility that they did may have drawn the disgust and ire of the Faith, and perhaps the Cainhurst's own neighbours, resulting in their demise.

This is, of course, a theory and remains to be proven but it does give a good reason as to why there are so little traces of the Vilebloods in the Reach. They were either so feared or so disgusting that their neighbours sought their annihilation.

Whatever the case, the Vilebloods were forced out of lands and they traveled North, where we enter the next phase of our story.

*I should also note that, despite being unacademic, the caves gave a very eerie feeling. It was noticeably colder inside that it was out despite the summer weather and my hired help, and even myself and my assistants I must admit, heard a constant breeze as we explored and cleared out the rubble. A whispering of the wind that my hired help were convinced were voices, "ghosts of the dead", were their words. Likely it was because of the wider cave system beyond that created the draft.

**I theorize it may have been a religious practice, perhaps giving "rapture" to the "blood dregs", in other words a ritual execution meant to purify the unclean.

Vilebloods in the North.

The Vilebloods arrived in the North at a time of instability in the region.

The Boltons had taken up the crown of the Red Kings once more and rebelled, lead by Rodrick Bolton, sometimes known as Rodrick Wolfbane. It would be the second of the four Bolton rebellions and would see the Vilebloods make a notable impact, the start of their rise to prominence in Northern politics.

How the Vilebloods ended up in the North or the details of their acceptance by the Boltons is not available to us. We do know that sometime after their arrival they were made bannermen of the Boltons. I speculate a deal was struck, perhaps something as simple as land for service as the Boltons faced a larger Stark host and were likely eager to gain any kind of manpower. Whatever the case, soon after their arrival the Vilebloods were granted land in the Lonely Hills to establish a holdfast and were thrown into combat against Stark-led forces.

The sources for the majority of the next three chapter were the Records and Chronicles of the Kings of Winter by Maester Eubarth Strong and Histories of Northern Relations by Maester Ethon Glover as well as further works listed in the bibliography.

Though they may have participated in previous engagements, the first recorded instance of Vilebloods in the field was at the battle of Sheepshead, the second major engagement in the war. In the first, at the Crossing of the White Knife, the Boltons were beaten back after having failed to properly hide their movements. Sheepshead occurred when the Boltons were making a stand to deflect the overeager Stark vanguard and give themselves time and space to breathe.

What precisely the Vilebloods brought to the battle is not known but it is suggested that Vileblood heavy cavalry was a strong, and perhaps their only, presence. Local folk stories and songs also allude to this, namely the song Ride of the Red Men. That such stories survive after so long a time suggest that the Vilebloods made a notable impact. Vilebloods today are also known only to field Knights and in later revolts, also only fielded Knights.

Whatever the case, the Vilebloods at Sheepshead appeared to have made several charges (from three to ten depending on the sources) to blunt the Stark Vanguard's assault on the Bolton left flank, buying enough time for the rest of the Bolton forces to defeat their enemies, who rolled them up along the line from the left. A general rout ensued amongst the Stark forces and they fled, pursued by Bolton dogs, light cavalry and Vilebloods. It is worthy to mention the hilly terrain they fought in and how adverse it was to cavalry tactics, so it may speak of either Vileblood skill in their horsemanship or luck, or to good positioning. Either way, they played a pivotal role.

The next engagement came again at Sheepshead Hills. The Boltons knew that by this point in the war the Stark Host had grown in number, significantly outnumbering them by a large margin. Some suggest that it was at least a five to one ratio of Stark to Bolton men as being the most conservative estimate. These forces had crossed the White Knife and were now bearing down on the Dreadfort.

In preparation the Boltons fortified the gap between Hornwood and the Lonely Hills, likely hoping to weather the oncoming storm.

A storm which came in the form of King Harrion Stark.

We know he had lost his third and second sons at the first battle of Sheepshead, them being the leaders of the Vanguard so his very direct and aggressive actions in the second battle are understandable.

The battle began with a spirited charge by Stark infantry onto prepared Bolton defences. However the hilly terrain and the defense works themselves blunted much of the force of the charge and the Boltons were able to fight pockets of Stark men with their own greater concentrations. Eventually the attack was called off and the first wave pulled back but the defenders were not to be given rest as a second wave came almost immediately after the first retired.

This was a more threatening advance as the second wave were able to form closer to Bolton lines and make a more effective charge. Nonetheless this too was eventually repulsed, to much death and sorrow on both sides.

However, with the advantage in numbers it would only be a matter of time until the Bolton lines crumbled and the road to the Dreadfort left open.

The Vilebloods would soon make their impact again. Before the battle they had been sent north along with the Bolton horse, towards the foothills of the Lonely Hills. When the Stark host was sighted they quietly circled around and positioned themselves directly to the Stark's left, unseen due to lacklustre scouting by the Starks who were confident and eager for battle.

After the second wave had been repulsed the Starks, perhaps now more cautious, advanced their archers to shower the Bolton lines and pin them in place, preventing them respite. Any counter archery was simply overwhelmed by the number of arrows on the Stark side. Under the cover of this bombardment the third wave of Stark forces, fresh unbloodied troops, advanced within spitting distance of Bolton lines and prepared for a charge.

As the horns were called and the drums sounded for the charge, the Stark forces would have been surprised that they were going to be on the receiving end.

The Vileblood and Bolton cavalry burst out from the hills and smashed into the Stark left, slaying many and putting more to rout. After the initial shock wore off however Stark reserves were called forth and prevented any major breakthrough. It must be remembered that the Vileblood numbers at this time would have been very low, perhaps even under a hundred men. With them came an estimated three hundred light Bolton horse who were not used to the shock cavalry tactics of the Reachlanders. Thus what could have been a battle ending charge was contained, though to great bloodshed if the songs are to believed.

Meanwhile the Stark cavalry had earlier been sent through Hornwood, bypassing the defences. There they had encountered light defenses, mostly Bolton dogs who they quickly swept aside.

Outnumbered, outflanked and with their greatest hurrah fizzling out into nothing, the Boltons fled and would soon surrender.

Interestingly the Vilebloods seemed to have avoided any major loss to themselves. Their Knights in the battle had been able to flee into the Lonely Hills, their smaller numbers and lack of Stark cavalry aiding them in evading pursuit.* Their dead however would have likely been counted as general Bolton casualties, after all, this was the first time the Starks had seen the Vilebloods and must have assumed that the Boltons had hired a mercenary company if they bothered to care at all.

What the Vilebloods did after the rebellion is unknown, as the sources that I have used to describe their role in the battle make no direct mention of Vileblood presence. Indeed, the Boltons themselves describe the Vilebloods not as a house in and of themselves but their retainers and seem to have brushed them under the rug, as it were.

Vileblood was not a name to be known in the North, though that was to change in time.

*There is also a story of how the Stark soldiers so feared the bloody slaughter the Vilebloods inflicted upon their fellows that they were hesitant to give chase. Not an unbelievable one, given the current reputation of the Vileblood Knights now.

Third Bolton Rebellion

The third of the Bolton Rebellions occurred forty years after the second, after the passing of King Harrion and well into the reign of his son King Grenn Stark. The causes originate from the previous rebellion as King Harrion levied harsh taxes and made reprisals against the Boltons, denying them charters and any chance to expand their wealth, power or influence. This policy of stepping on the neck of the Boltons was carried on by his son, who likely also had no consideration for those who killed his brothers.

Such a situation however could not be maintained forever.

Once Rodrick's grandson, Rogar, came into his majority (his father having died in the rebellion), he set about gathering resources for the next conflict. Though the income from his holdings was enough to raise a respectable force, he knew that he would be severely outnumbered with just household forces alone.

Which is why he turned to the Vilebloods.

What the Vilebloods were doing after the rebellion is again unknown but it can be assumed that they had finished construction of Castle Cainhurst, at least, the initial version of the modern thing. Where they got the resources is again unknown but it can be safely assumed that they had quarried and mined into the Lonely Hills and perhaps floated lumber down the Last River from the Wolfswood. That these activities were not in the records of neighbouring houses makes one assume that they were done clandestinely or perhaps they were too small to make any note of.

It is remarkable indeed that the Vileblood presence went unnoticed for this long, though it is likely due to several factors: Vileblood secrecy, an ever present thing and the Boltons, who were not eager to advertise the fact that they had more than they should.

Returning to Rogar, he turned to the Vilebloods as a way to circumvent Stark overwatch and blockade. Accounts of the conflict and the army he would later field suggest that the Vilebloods had a measure of wealth to give to their liege lord, perhaps they had struck already struck the rich resources of the Lonely Hills that they are now known for.

The growing wealth however, and the attempts to make connections to other discontent lords, was noticed by the Starks who immediately threatened the Boltons and made warnings for them to cease and desist their activities.

Thus was the spark for the third Bolton rebellion.

The Starks likely forced Rogar's hand before he was ready but his eagerness and conduct in the war was well known. After all, he became known as Rogar the Red Hand for his less than savoury hobby of pulling out the innards of still living Starks with his bare hands.

The mustering of the armies began, the Boltons having an easy time of it as they had already been preparing for war and had a smaller force in total to muster. The Starks were not slow however as King Grenn had also been anticipating conflict, perhaps even desiring it as he already had his Household forces at the ready and launched an unexpected offensive, perhaps with the intent of finishing this war before it could escalate, or to pen the Boltons in their own lands.

The Vilebloods were the best prepared out of all however, for they were quick to come down from the Lonely Hills and intercept the Stark forces who were caught in the Sheepshead in marching column. Needless to say, this did not work in their favour.

The following battle is, luckily for us, well recorded in the records of King Grenn who participated in the battle and later wrote about the event. It is from him, as well as several others, that much of this chapter is based on.

The battle began with the scattering of the screening force of light horse by the Vilebloods. This alerted the main Stark forces that they were under attack but attempts to form up were halted by the surprisingly rapid advance of the Vileblood Knights which smashed into the vulnerable columns. King Grenn wrote an account of the event:

"...like possessed animals, heedless of their own wounds they attacked. No arrow turned them, no spear halted them, no sword warded them. On they came like thunder in a storm. Reckless beasts screaming Blood. Blood. Blood"

A chilling account to be sure.

King Grenn later recounts how the Vilebloods, who at this point he assumed to be Boltons, carried the charge and decimated the first and second columns. The rest of the Stark host managed to retreat up a hill and form up as their fellows were being chased down and killed. King Grenn himself was saved by his loyal and skilled guardsmen who managed to get him through the Vileblood host, to much losses.

After the attack a standoff ensued and King Grenn was able to observe his new, sudden enemy:

"There were at least a hundred hundred horse, with each rider clad in full plate engraved with strange patterns and wearing black or red cloaks. They bore lances and curious curved longswords"

The standoff lasted until the night when King Grenn decided to withdraw. He explains that with his own horse scattered and only a scarce few returning, he did not have the mobility needed to pin the Vilebloods down nor the ability to determine whether this was just an advanced force and that more were coming.

Thus, with a single charge the Vilebloods gave precious time for the Boltons to muster their whole host, as well as a display of martial prowess that would later be used to entice other rebel lords to the Bolton cause.

The war would go on for four years and would see a number of battles, the Vilebloods playing a role in many of them. They would soon become a distinct force in the field, being noted by the Starks and other Houses as different from the general Bolton forces. Many inquiries were made into the background of these new arrivals but they were unable to determine the origins of the Vilebloods or indeed why they were serving the Boltons.

Using wealth derived from Vileblood holdings and from looting, as well as connections with lords unhappy with Stark rule Rogar managed to sustain and pursue a war against heavy odds. His seizure of Ramsgate allowed him to call for mercenaries overseas and to import much needed supplies, as well as stir the smugglers of the Sisters to activity against the Starks. On the battlefield he proved a skilled and able, if brutal, commander. He never engaged the Stark host in its entirety, instead harassing, delaying and threatening its flanks and fighting only small pieces of it. The Vilebloods also accounted themselves well and they became a feared sight for the Stark side, appearing in the records of the Umber's, Flint's and Dustin's and other Great Houses of the North.

Eventually however the Bolton war-making capabilities were ground to a halt. Their lands were continuously being raided, Ramsgate was blockaded by the very smugglers that once paid service to him and, most importantly I imagine, the location of Castle Cainhurst was found out and subsequently the castle was besieged. This event led to the loss of income and the loss of the Vileblood Knights from Rogar's service as they fell back to defend their keep.

Rogar gave one last battle, the result of a desperate gamble. Leaving his holdings to the predation of his enemies he mustered his depleted forces and marched west, intent on crossing the White Knife and attacking Winterfell. King Grenn however got wind of his movements and laid a trap, splitting his larger force on either of the White Knife. He waited for Rogar to cross and once the Bolton forces were in the middle of making their way through the river he attacked from both sides, enveloping and completely destroying the Bolton army. Rogar, who killed a number of Grenn's relatives, was slain in the waters of the White Knife, by King Grenn himself if the tales are to be believed.

Thus ended the third Bolton rebellion. King Grenn however would not be able to enjoy it for long as he would pass the year after with his son, Edderion Stark, becoming the next King of Winter.

Before he passed however he would see the surrender of Castle Cainhurst and be one of the few allowed within its grounds.

Ennobling of the Vilebloods

The siege of Cainhurst laster for an unknown amount of time, anywhere from six months to a year. We know though that the besiegers, mostly Ubers and Glovers, assaulted only once and were ferociously repulsed. After the failed assault they settled in for a long siege, surrounding Castle Cainhurst and cutting off the above-ground supply routes. Whether the Vilebloods had underground routes it is not fully known but I am making the assumption that they did in fact have them. It would make sense considering their mining activities and the fact that they recorded to have sallied out from unexpected areas.

Curiously, they did this both to kill and kidnap the besiegers. The latter, perhaps, because of the demoralizing effect of seeing your fellows being strung up along the walls of the castle.*

When Robar was slain at White Knife the news took time to reach the Vilebloods, and more for them to believe it.

When King Grenn arrived with his army however, it was undoubtedly clear who had won the war.

Negotiations began in which King Grenn demanded to know who these strangers were. When he heard the story of the Vileblood origins he had this to say:

"Exiles from the Reach. Southerners. Southerners had made a home in the Lonely Hills right under our noses. Unbelievable"

King Grenn recounts the widely believed and near official account of the Vileblood origins that we are familiar with today, that they had been exiled due to "a disagreement with the Faith", a phrase which most assume to mean that they were followers of the Old Gods. They took the the brand of "Vileblood" as their name to spurn the Faith which had driven them out of their homes and accused them of being vile-blooded.

King Grenn and a few other Northern Nobles were then invited into Castle Cainhurst where we get a rare description of the interior:

"Statues and gargoyles were everywhere. They lined the paths outside, they stood on the battlements and they filled the interior. There were more statues inside that castle than there were people I am sure. And the people themselves were a queer folk, wretched little servants and pompous Knights who wore southern garb when not in armour"

Once they made their way to the dining hall where the Lords were met with the Matriarch of the Vilebloods, the first Annalise known to us. King Grenn describes the encounter as follows:

"Pale. This 'Annalise' was a pale thing, thin and unhealthy looking. Skin like ice and hair like snow, and a southerner's arrogance, pomp, speech and clothes. She wore this iron mask, a helmet that covered her head and never once took it off. When I asked what it was for she simply laughed. A strange creature.

Her guards wore the strangest 'armour' I had ever seen, pieces of engraved silver sewn into small cloaks and engraved helmets that were impossible to see out of with the visors down. Every inch of silver was engraved in some flowery pattern. There were two of them with her, the only two I had seen who wore that ridiculous clothing.

On the table was laid a feast, so much food that it could have fed the castle twice or three times over. How they had this much food I do not know. And more of those blasted statues were on the table itself.

Nevertheless we ate and we talked with the leader of these "Vilebloods" as they called themselves"

This encounter provides a rare look at the inner workings of Castle Cainhurst, a topic that will be explored in a later volume.

The result that followed was the recognition of the Cainhurst Vilebloods as a Noble House, in exchange for paying their tax to the Starks instead of the Boltons. King Grenn attempted to split the Vilebloods from the Boltons fully but he quoted Lady Annalise, saying that "a pact was made, and our own was the price". King Grenn took this to mean that the Boltons held Vileblood hostages. Nonetheless he would still try to annul the oaths of vassalage as part of a wider attempt to dismantle Bolton influence in the region, though he was careful in his attempts as it risked his own ties.

This attempt would halt with his death the following year, his son King Edderion Stark pursuing a more amicable policy towards the Boltons. He reversed much of the punishments his father meted out, including the tax rights, and did not attempt to separate the Vilebloods and the Boltons. Throughout his reign he worked on healing the rifts that had formed during and before the rebellion, to much success as the North would not see another Bolton uprising for a number of years.

*This was the first recorded instance of Vileblood kidnappings, an act in which they are now rather infamous for, or rather under heavy suspicion for. More on this topic in later volumes.

The Fourth Bolton revolt.

With the Vilebloods fully established a Noble House and now firmly known of by the other Northern Houses, one would expect a flurry of activity as they integrated themselves to the Northern political network.

On the contrary, the Vilebloods seemed to have been extremely reluctant to engage any further than to trade. They made no bonds of fealty, no friendships and no ties of marriage. At least, none have been recorded. In fact they barred their gates and prevented near anyone entrance whether they were from a Noble or a Great House, a policy that has not changed since. Only the Kings of Winter or, assumedly, the Bolton Lords were ever granted entrance.

Still, the Vilebloods did interact, firstly by trade which, it must be noted that, as is the case now, Vileblood Knights were the ones to conduct the mercantile business and not independent merchants. The Vilebloods then, as now, were like the Casterlys and later the Lannisters in that they directly controlled the mines in their holdings and the flow of resources. Vileblood Knights also began their bounty hunting around this period.

In any case, aside from those instances a long silence ensued from the sources, until we pick up again at the fourth and final Bolton revolt.

This occurred during the regency of the boy King Brandon Stark, with the regents being his mother Queen Breyna Dustin and his uncle Crejon Stark.

The cause of the conflict was a multifold one, the ambitions of Ronald Bolton certainly played a part, as well as the perceived weakness of a boy-king and the apparent insecurity of the regency. Queen Breyna and Crejon were known to have had their disagreements. Ronald had also been in conflict with Cregan's father King Rynden Stark over Bolton rights to land north of the Last River. The principal conflict however had been over who held the rights to Vileblood taxes, who at this time were said to have become very wealthy, with their domain expanding to encompass nearly all of the Lonely Hills.

When Rynden died Ronald had began preparations for war. He made common cause with House Greenwood and Amber, two Lordly Houses which had been dwindling in power and saw the regency as a time to reclaim old might. He also enticed House Greystark of Wolf's Den who had claims to Winterfell.

The spark is said to have come when, at a feast celebrating the end of winter, Crejon and Ronald came into conflict. Over what it is not known, only that "a great insult had been had and could not be endured", wrote the Stark chronicler. The following month the Boltons donned the crown of the Red Kings, for what would be the last time.

Crejon, as Marshall of the Realm, acted quickly and cunningly. He struck not for the Dreadfort but for Amberhold, the seat of House Amber to the west of Long Lake. Though the Ambers had not officially declared for the Boltons it was known that they had been in correspondence and they had their own cause for revolt. Crejon's march panicked Lord Amber who sent a call for aid while he tried to play the loyal vassal. The messenger however had been intercepted and subsequently Amberhold was besieged and assaulted. The last of the Ambers, Lord Durrion and his son Darren, died with sword in hand defending their home which was ransacked and burned to the ground.

The message was clear, remain loyal or die. Thanks in large part to this move no other Houses joined the Boltons other than House Greenwood and Greystark.

As Crejon was smashing Amberhold Ronald struck at Ramsgate with the Greenwoods while the Greystarks had besieged Oldcastle, eventually taking it when the Bolton-Greenword army came to re-enforce them. The result of these actions was Bolton control of all the lands east of the White Knife and south of the Last River, a considerable power base which Ronald put to good use by amassing wealth and gathering more forces.

This was to be the greatest rebellion the Starks had ever faced but the rest of the North had rallied behind Crejon and the boy King.

What the Vilebloods were doing during this early phase was, seemingly, nothing. Records from the Stark side make no mention of the Vilebloods being seen in the field at this time while records on the Bolton side indicate that there was a frustration with the relationship.

These are the first signs of the Vileblood's eventual betrayal of the Boltons, which suggest that it was so sudden as is widely believed.

Stark and Bolton forces would spend the next two years fighting along the White Knife, each side trying to cross and being repulsed by the other. Crejon Stark was a bold and daring commander but this had its own weaknesses. He was sometimes overeager, a fact that Ronald exploited. Ronald in turn was criticized for being too cautious and when he did make attempts to cross the river he would quickly fall back once the greater Stark host arrived.

Meanwhile the Vilebloods had still yet to be seen on the field, that is, until the battle of Shepherd's Crossing.

It is known at this point that communications with Castle Cainhurst were either nonexistent or minimal at best. Bolton messengers would be turned away and the Vilebloods held no rookery so no raven knew where to land. Ronald was known to have been very angry at this lack of correspondence.

So, when the Vileblood forces turned up at Shepherds Crossing it must have been a surprise to all. The three forces had a standoff, with the Vilebloods and Boltons on the right bank and the Starks on the left. After the initial shock of seeing the Vileblood force, once again composed entirely of heavy cavalry said to number around two or three hundred, wore off the Boltons sent a delegation.

The delegation returned with the message: "return what was ours". What that phrase specifically referred to is unknown but it can be safely assumed that, like the Third Bolton Rebellion, the Boltons held Vileblood hostages or perhaps items of great value.

Whatever it was, Roland rejected the demand and told the Vilebloods to obey "as they were bid to do", a demand that was seemingly rejected in turn as the Vilebloods made no move to join the Bolton camp.

Across the river meanwhile the Starks watched with interest and when night fell, Crejon made a bold and risky move, where he famously decided to confront the Vilebloods himself. He and a party of picked men quietly crossed the river and approached the Vileblood camp. There they were greeted by "Knights both clad in Silver cloaks and silver armour", describing the particular armour of what we now know as the Household Guard, a seemingly senior or superior branch of the Vileblood Knights. Crejon asked them to abandon the Boltons and swear allegiance to House Stark in exchange for their elevation into a Great House with all the prestige that would come with that title, as well as gaining other benefits.

The Vilebloods are said to have deliberated long into the night and it was only when the sun was starting to peek over the horizon did they give their infamous answer: "Your child for Cainhurst"

Now, whether they actually said this is debatable as the source for this is the tale of Crejon's Howl which has rather embellished dialogue to make the story more dramatic.

In any case Crejon was insulted and declared he would not not agree to those terms, returning to his army and beginning the Battle of Shepherd's Crossing.

A battle in which he would nearly lose.

He ordered an advance over the crossing, an advance that was contested by the Boltons. A bloody melee began and the river soon ran red once more. Slowly however, despite suffering heavy casualties, the Stark forces through sheer weight of numbers started to gain the upper hand. Seeing this Roland formed a second line and called for the first to retreat, though whether any succeeded in doing so is doubtful.

The bloodied Starks pushed into this second line, much of them being funneled into the centre where more grinding melee began. Crejon was at the head of this attack if the story is to be believed, hacking and smashing with sword and shield and felling many Bolton fighters. As they saw the advance more and more Stark forces forded the river, eager to get into combat. The Bolton lines bent at the centre, but did not buckle and soon a significant portion of the stark army was surrounded on three sides by Bolton forces.

They had walked into a trap.

Roland had made a risky gamble that paid off as he ordered his reserves into the grind and what resulted was a slaughter, Stark forces pressed from three sides quickly losing cohesion and, with their best fighters having fallen earlier, morale. The final blow came when the Stark Direwolf banner that signified Crejon had fallen and was not raised again. Thinking their leader killed the Stark forces began to rout, but the path to retreat was congested and so a bloody slaughter ensued. Some threw themselves into the deep parts of the river, risking drowning while others made a desperate last stand.

However, Crejon had not been slain, simply his standard bearer but he saw how the situation had developed. At this point he is said to have looked upon his army and despaired, then when surveying the battlefield he caught sight of the Cainhurst banner upon the hill where the Vileblood Knights stood watching.

Once more, Crejon gambled. He fought his way through the Bolton lines along with the remaining Stark Guard and made a break for it. When he was seen cutting his way through Bolton cavalry descended upon him and his party but, thanks to the sacrifice of his companions, he managed to steal a horse and ride full pelt towards the Vilebloods. With the Bolton cavalry right behind him and within earshot of the Vilebloods he shouted that he "accepts their terms".

The Vileblood Knights were still for a moment, Crejon holding his breath as he rode with Boltons nipping at his heels.

Then, a horn was sounded and the Knights levelled their lances. A second horn and they charged.

The Vileblood charge would prove to be devastating. They smashed into the cavalry pursuing Crejon, wiping them off the field and carried on right into the backs of the Bolton army.

The slaughter they inflicted is said to be so horrific that it would forever establish their reputation as "blood-crazed beasts". Many stories abound about how the Vilebloods "ripped the limbs off of men", how they "tore out hearts and guts" and how they "cut all to pieces". According to these stories the Vileblood Knights seemed to have gone into a frenzy of killing. The Greystark and Greenwoods would lose their menfolk in this slaughter, ending their lines. Jon Greystark famously had his throat ripped out while Theon Greenwood would drown himself rather than face Vileblood swords.

The charge saved the battered Stark army and would bring a swift end to Bolton ambitions. Roland managed to escape the slaughter, fleeing with meager forces to the Dreadfort which would be besieged in the following weeks.

The Vilebloods had earned both fame and infamy for this act, with some praising them for seeing wisdom in joining the Starks and others deriding them, accusing them of plotting the battle so that they would come out the victor. Whatever the case Crejon made a pact with the Vilebloods that would remain unbroken to this day.

The siege of the Dreadfort lasted for mere weeks before the castle was stormed and ransacked. Interestingly we hear that Roland collapsed part of the castle's dungeons, perhaps as a last way to spite his enemies by killing prisoners he held. It certainly worked if that was the case as the Vilebloods were driven to great anger and demolished part of the castle, as well as flaying Roland's corpse.

Thus ended the fourth and final Bolton revolt, with the Boltons brought to their lowest ebb and the Vilebloods elevated. They became a Great House and were acknowledged as Lords of the Lonely Hills. Crejon's son Bran would be the first of many Stark children to squire in Cainhurst, sealing the bonds between Stark and Vileblood.

This ends the first volume covering the early history of the Vilebloods of Cainhurst.