GOT: Chapter 290/291

Chapter 290: A Small Storm in the East Sea

Several days after the election was suspended, the "vote supervisors" appointed by Robb Stark arrived at the various fortresses along the Wall and began implementing the new one-person, one-vote system.

It was no exaggeration to call it a sweeping victory for the reformist faction. Shadow Tower had two hundred and thirty-six brothers of the Night's Watch with voting rights, while Eastwatch-by-the-Sea had two hundred and five. Even if none of these four hundred-plus votes went to Aegor, he would still suffer no loss. On the other hand, if even one voter abstained or abandoned their own Commander to support Aegor, his advantage would widen, approaching the two-thirds victory threshold.

Voting in each fortress was conducted in a closed booth, as instructed by Robb. The ballots were anonymous, and the tallying was carried out by a neutral third party. It was easy to imagine that the previous fear of retaliation for not voting for one's direct superior would be greatly reduced.

Everyone believed that at least some would vote for Aegor. The only question was how many. But Aegor never placed his hopes on people he didn't understand or couldn't control. His true strategy, or rather, the real opportunity for victory, lay elsewhere: newly added votes.

Those who had followed Melisandre and supported Stannis had formally taken their vows to join the Night's Watch, becoming full black brothers with the right to vote. Encouraged by propaganda and the promise of benefits, some among the Grey Area Citizens, both old and new, also began applying to join the Watch, and the number of recruits training in Castle Black's yard increased by the day.

With the Chief Training Officer now persuaded by Melisandre to support the reformists, time was fully on Aegor's side. As soon as these new recruits completed their training and took their vows, they would be eligible to vote... and when that day came, the contest would be over.

Step by step, the once-unlucky transmigrator in black was finally on the verge of a counterattack.


---

At the easternmost Night's Watch stronghold on the Wall, the cold winds blew with relentless force. The Ice Wall was lower here and vanished entirely just a short distance out into the sea. With no barrier to shield them from the howling winds from the North, and with the damp chill from Seal Bay constantly rolling in, Eastwatch-by-the-Sea had long been the most difficult place to endure along the Wall.

But today, it buzzed with rare activity. Brothers gathered in the courtyard, listening to a soldier from Winterfell—whose clothing stood out from the rest—loudly announcing Robb Stark's orders. The crowd began murmuring to one another.

"Why are we even voting at Eastwatch? Is this necessary? Besides Cotter Pyke, who else could we possibly vote for?"

"Let them hold the vote. But they're saying no proxies are allowed? We have to show up in person or it counts as abstaining? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Exactly. It's freezing! Thank the gods the dead aren't bothering us, but the lords from the South won't leave us alone. May the White Walkers take them all!"

"Instead of whining, let's vote quickly and get back inside to warm up."

"True. But how much longer is that guy going to talk?"

...

Listening to the mutterings around him, Will pursed his lips and leaned toward Gared. "That Aegor is really something now. He's actually running for Lord Commander against two Commanders... We used to patrol Beyond the Wall together and escaped the White Walkers side by side. You'll vote for him, right?"

Gared curled his lip. "Vote for him? I know exactly what kind of man that boy is. What makes you think he's fit to be Commander? Don't make me laugh."

"You haven't seen him in nearly two years. A lot can change. Judging by the supplies coming up from King's Landing, he's done quite well."

"Yeah, and in all that time, he never once came back to visit the Wall. Not even once to Eastwatch. I really wasted my time watching out for that kid."

"He had duties. It's not like he could just travel all the way back here just to see us," Will replied, scratching his head. He couldn't argue with Gared's complaint, but he still rubbed the dragonglass dagger Aegor had given him—a keepsake he treated like a lucky charm—and silently made up his mind to vote for his old comrade.

...

Months ago, when Mance Rayder led the Wildling army to the Wall, small groups escaped by raft across Seal Bay. Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, already short-staffed, faced a crisis. Jeor Mormont had responded by personally leading most of the Rangers to reinforce them. Among them were Aegor's old companions, black brothers who had patrolled the Wall, and some newly sworn lords from the Vale.

After Commander Mormont's sudden death, Cotter Pyke brought the Vale lords to Castle Black to enter the election, leaving behind Rangers who now had no voice in the vote—until Robb Stark intervened and restored their voting rights.

Now, hundreds of black brothers pushed forward toward the voting booth, eager to cast their ballots and escape the cold. But the Winterfell soldier raised his hand and called for patience. "Brothers, please wait a moment. A noble from King's Landing, a follower of King Stannis, wishes to say a few words before you vote."

There were scattered boos, but discipline held under the watch of the officers. Though the King's authority meant little here, the Night's Watch still belonged to the Seven Kingdoms. And if the White Walkers ever came again, they'd need Southern aid.

Soon, a man in ornate clothes, bearing the flaming heart of R'hllor on his chest, stepped onto the platform. Under the watchful eyes of the Eastwatch soldiers, he began his rambling speech.

"Brave brothers of the Night's Watch! The Long Night is long and full of terrors. A great evil stirs beyond the Wall, a power no mortal can stand against. The endless night is nearly upon us. Only with courage like yours, and faith in the flaming heart, can humanity hope to endure…"

"What's he going on about?" Will asked, frowning. "Is he preaching?"

"It's that red god again," Gared replied with a sneer. "These bastards act like men but bark like dogs. Preaching in villages wasn't enough—now they've come inside the Wall to trick us black brothers too."

"But isn't this supposed to be about voting for Commander? What's the red god got to do with it?"

"There's always a reason. Just keep listening," Gared muttered, squinting. And sure enough, a familiar name soon came up. "See? There it is. He's talking about Aegor? Hah. That brat's still full of tricks. Now he's the Prophet, the chosen Lord Commander, the one who will lead us to defeat the red god's great enemy and end Winter?"

"Aegor's the Prophet?"

"Bah. You believe that?" Gared rolled his eyes. "He's no prophet. Just nonsense to scare children. I can't believe he's stooped to using this for votes. Everyone knows there are more brothers who'd bed that Red Priestess than follow her god. This pitch will flop."

"You never believe in anything, so of course you'd say that. But more and more brothers are switching to the red god. They gather around fires all day. At least it's something they believe in."

"Yeah. Their old gods never answered, so now they'll try new ones. Wait till they find out this one doesn't work either."

"You've never believed in anything, so how would you know it's fake? Besides, they say that Red Priestess really can use magic," Will said. "And I think there's truth in the idea that Aegor is part of some prophecy. Don't forget—when Waymar Royce led us into that trap, Aegor was the first to sense something was off. He warned me to watch for the dead. And you admitted he killed a White Walker and saved your life... Can you explain that?"

"That was just dumb luck. And don't start with that dragonglass dagger again. If it's so powerful, why don't you go out and kill all the White Walkers with it?"

"I'm just saying it might not all be nonsense."

"Well, stop talking nonsense. I'll vote for the brat, alright? Just don't go shouting this crap around—you'll get laughed at."

Will held his tongue. Gared had been promoted to squad leader for his past service and was now not only a senior brother but also an officer. Though frostbite had weakened his strength, his experience remained intact, and his words often carried more weight than some mid-tier commanders.

But while Will stayed silent, his mind kept turning. He'd only wanted to get Gared to vote for Aegor, but the more he thought about it, the more it all seemed to line up. Aegor's foresight with the White Walkers, the miracle of surviving their pursuit and striking back, and the dragonglass dagger...

Plenty of Rangers had survived missions Beyond the Wall, but to face death so many times and always come through? That was something else.

To Will, Aegor was no longer just an old friend. He had become something larger. A symbol. A belief.

If others said he was the Prophet... If someone was explaining those strange events... Why not believe?

Maybe one day, he'd even try praying to the red god himself.


---

Gared, of course, had no idea what Will was thinking. And even if he had, he wouldn't care. Old, savvy, and sharp, Gared's judgment of the brothers around him was spot-on. After listening to the noble on stage deliver his bloated propaganda, the mockery from the crowd was unmistakable. Many openly said it was a failed campaign ploy.

"That Lord from King's Landing!" Eastwatch's Chief Steward was the first to step forward. "Aegor West is a capable and excellent Chief Logistics Officer. Thanks to his efforts, our stores—like those in every castle along the Wall—are better stocked than ever. If he had come to speak for himself, we might not vote for him, but we'd have welcomed him with respect. But instead, he sends you to sell us on vague prophecies? It leaves a bad taste."

His speech resonated with many others.

"Right. We thought he was a solid quartermaster, but now it seems he's just another snake-oil peddler. Who knows what lies he told to get those Southern supplies?"

...

They were insulting Aegor? Will's heart burned. He made to push forward and speak, but Gared grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing?"

"They're calling Aegor a liar!"

"And you think you can change their minds? You're no orator. You think shouting at them will help? Aegor can speak his mind because he has the title. Who are you? What weight do your words carry?" Gared glared at him. "Stand still. Let that babbling noble finish and then go cast your vote."

Will gritted his teeth but obeyed. Still, he watched closely.

But the noble on stage wasn't done yet.

"I take no orders from Lord Aegor or any member of the Night's Watch. He is the one chosen by R'hllor, the one destined to defeat the god of cold and death. That is the vision Lady Melisandre saw in the sacred flames. It is the will of the Lord of Light!"

It would have been better if he'd said nothing.

The moment he mentioned Melisandre again, the crowd erupted.

"Send that witch back to Asshai! She struts around the Wall preaching her madness. How are we supposed to fight the dead when we're always dealing with her lies?"

"That one claimed he killed a White Walker. Maybe even that's fake!"

"You dare insult Lady Melisandre? She is King Stannis's trusted advisor!"

There were already followers of R'hllor at Eastwatch, and when it came to faith, sparks flew fast. In the chaos, Gared—who'd just told Will to stay silent—forgot his own words.

He exploded.

Killing a White Walker was the most glorious moment of his life. He had bragged about it endlessly, in Black Castle and at Eastwatch. And now someone dared to question it?

"Who just said Aegor made that up?" Gared's voice rasped as he shouted. "Step forward! White Walkers have pale skin and inhuman strength. They carry ice blades that freeze steel, and their evil magic raises the dead. When killed, they melt away into nothing. Aegor and I reported all this to Commander Mormont! And then it was confirmed by the Rangers' second battle Beyond the Wall! You think we just guessed all that?"

"Maybe you read it in some old book," a voice muttered. "Just saying, I didn't see it. Could be made up."

"You didn't see it?" Gared froze. A few seconds passed before he had a flash of inspiration.

"My brothers! Aegor and I are not the only ones who have killed a White Walker. When Commander Mormont led us Beyond the Wall to capture a wight, we all fought together and brought one down again! That glory belongs to every Ranger here! And now someone dares say, 'I didn't see it, so who knows if it's true?' What's next? You'll say the White Walkers don't exist? One line wipes away the sacrifices of countless Rangers over the years. Are we going to let that stand?"

Gared wasn't trained in rhetoric, but he had instinct. By tying himself to every Ranger present, he changed the argument from "Aegor's claims" to "insulting all Rangers."

And Rangers weren't just in Castle Black.

Eastwatch and Shadow Tower, though small, still had Rangers. They had fought, bled, and died Beyond the Wall. Gared's shout turned the mood. Now it was Rangers versus garrison brothers who had never faced the dead.

"White Walkers exist! I was there when we killed the second one!"

"Frank, apologize for your nonsense."

"Sorry… I was just questioning Aegor. I didn't mean…"

"Doubt requires proof!" Gared pressed on. "I don't know if Aegor will be a good Lord Commander. But I saw him charge a White Walker with my own eyes. That courage alone earns my vote!"

"Exactly!" Will cried out. He wasn't much for speeches, but joining in was easy. He held up the dragonglass dagger. "This is the weapon Aegor used to kill the White Walker! For his courage, I'll vote for him too!"

The red god's follower, seeing that he'd nearly ruined everything, slipped away quietly. A Stark guard stepped forward to take over and smooth things out.

"All right, brothers. Support who you want, that's your right. Let's stop arguing and get to voting."

Seeing he'd done his part, Gared returned to Will's side, satisfied. He offered one last bit of advice.

"See? That's how you win support. We might not convince all of Castle Black to switch sides, but at least the Rangers will consider our Aegor... Now put that dagger away before you make a fool of yourself."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 291: The Dagger Revealed (Part 1)

For the first time in its history, the Night's Watch Commander election, conducted with a one-person, one-vote system, finally came to an end. Once the votes were counted at fortresses other than Castle Black, the results were immediately sent to the headquarters via raven.

Voting had been suspended for several days to allow the brothers to clear their minds and reflect on their true intentions. This cooling-off period significantly reduced emotional influence on the results, as reflected in the Castle Black tally—Aegor's votes there had slightly decreased.

However, in total, he once again pulled ahead of his remaining rivals with unstoppable momentum. The votes he lost at Castle Black were made up for by new supporters who had sworn their oaths to the Night's Watch under Melisandre's influence. Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea cast eleven and forty-six votes for him, respectively. While there were some abstentions and minor losses at the newly activated fortresses that had previously supported him, the number could be counted on one hand.

After many twists and turns, the final tally showed Aegor nearing five hundred votes. With dozens of abstentions, his percentage had actually surpassed the halfway mark.

Victory was within reach.


---

"Eastwatch-by-the-Sea cast forty-six votes for that guy?" Cotter Pyke, as Commander, found it deeply humiliating to have nearly a quarter of his fortress's garrison vote for a rival. He couldn't accept the outcome. "I've fought alongside the men of my fortress for over twenty years. They wouldn't betray me! Something's off—the Stark vote counters are rigging the count!"

"The man you're accusing is the one holding the fate of the Night's Watch in his hands. If he wanted Aegor to win, all it would take is a single word, my Lord." Yohn Royce was just as anxious about the election results, but he hadn't completely lost his composure. "Your soldiers may not have betrayed you. But you've forgotten—over thirty Rangers recently transferred from Castle Black are stationed at Eastwatch. They've worked with Aegor before."

"Even if that's true, that only accounts for thirty-some votes. What about the rest?"

"Shadow Tower cast over a dozen votes for him too, and that was under the direct supervision of Ser Denys Mallister. Face the truth. No matter how beloved you think you are, there will always be a few men who've harbored quiet resentment for years but never dared speak out. And there will always be those who believe the man who clothed and fed them is more fit to be Commander than you. The situation is grim, yes, but that man's votes are still far from the two-thirds mark. If the plan I proposed earlier works, no matter how far ahead he is now, we can still drag him back down."

Of course Cotter Pyke knew what Yohn Royce was referring to. The sabotage plan was solid, but they had encountered obstacles gathering allies. First, Ser Denys Mallister had condemned them and stormed off, effectively handing the opponent a gift. Then the Chief Officer at Castle Black dragged his feet for days, ultimately refusing to join.

The Wildlings' surrender and the uprising among the New Gift settlers would be a severe blow to the proponents of the resettlement plan... but if it failed or was exposed afterward, the conspirators would be finished—and might even lose their lives. Bearing the full risk alone, even someone as iron-willed as Cotter Pyke hesitated.

Should they act without allies?

Yohn Royce saw the hesitation in his eyes and clenched his teeth in frustration. Robb Stark had already departed Castle Black that morning with a large Northern delegation and, accompanied by Aegor, had begun inspecting the Wall. With both the radical leader and their strongest backer absent, now was the perfect moment to strike. But a few men from the Vale couldn't pull it off alone—if they could, Yohn would've carried it out long ago.

Ser Denys Mallister had been correct in principle: Mance Rayder had surrendered and was now being held under house arrest at Castle Black. Even if a new Lord Commander were elected, he would still need to hold a proper trial before executing him. A lynching done in haste, just to discredit Aegor, would leave the perpetrators relying on the defense of "the law does not punish the many" to avoid punishment. That meant the number of people involved had to be significant.

With neither Shadow Tower nor Castle Black officers willing to cooperate, and if Cotter Pyke also backed out... what could a mere Ranger captain do by leading a handful of men to assassinate Mance?

His own end would be no better than Aegor's.

...

"Do you hear those recruits drilling outside?" Yohn Royce pointed out the window. "They're all Grey Area settlers, mountain clansmen, and Wildlings lured in by Aegor with promises of full bellies, warm clothes, and regular wages... If we don't act soon, do you really think those men, once they finish training and swear their oaths, will vote for us? Or for the man who brought them here and paid them?"

"They're not nobles. They can't just finish training and be approved to join the Night's Watch overnight."

"True. But whether they've 'finished training' or not is just a matter of words from the drillmaster at Castle Black, isn't it? And the bad news I received is that Endrew has decided to become Aegor's lackey... We don't have much time left, my Lord. You'd better decide quickly!"

Cotter tilted his head and listened. The recruits' voices echoed clearly through the window. The Night's Watch hadn't seen so many new men drilling at once in years. By tradition, a fifth of them would be assigned to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea once training was complete. As one of the three Commanders on the Wall, he should've been pleased. But right now...

He clenched his fists, deep in thought, his expression shifting several times. At last, he gritted his teeth and slammed a fist onto the table. "Fine! I'm in! Gather the men. We move now!"

"Yes!"

Yohn exhaled in relief, his spirits lifting. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the door—but before he could open it, the door was pushed inward from the outside.

A former Vale knight, whom he had assigned to monitor the daily life of Mance Rayder's family in Hardin's Tower, entered, panic all over his face. "Bad news. The Kingslayer and his Westermen are gathered at the base of Hardin's Tower. They're trying to move the King-Beyond-the-Wall's family!"

...

The plan had leaked? Cotter Pyke and Yohn Royce exchanged shocked glances. Only a very small number of people had known about it. The detailed orders hadn't even been issued to the soldiers yet. Only the people in this room, a few trusted Vale lords, and some Shadow Tower and Castle Black officers they had previously tried to win over had been informed.

Who had betrayed them? Other conservative officers? Or their own men at Eastwatch?

Regardless, this was disastrous. A hundred times worse than Aegor winning votes—this was outright betrayal.

"It must've been that old bastard Mallister—he sold us out to Aegor in hopes of keeping his post after the election!" Cotter Pyke bellowed, his face contorted in rage. Just moments ago, he had been hesitating whether to act. Who would have guessed he'd lose the chance altogether so soon? "You few, come with me! Yohn, go rally the others. We can't let the Wildling King get away!"

...

At the base of Hardin's Tower, an old but sturdy carriage was parked on the roadside. Mance Rayder's family, with help from a few Westermen soldiers, were loading bags of belongings onto it—clearly preparing to move.

"Stop!" Cotter Pyke led his men straight toward the carriage, blocking the Westermen. "What do you think you're doing? Who gave you permission to move the Wildling King's family out of Hardin's Tower?"

The Westermen glanced at each other, unsure how to respond.

As hostages under house arrest, Mance and his family had no say. And the Westermen left here were merely ordinary Rangers of the Night's Watch. Facing a fortress Commander, they were clearly outmatched.

So, the man responsible for this act—Jaime Lannister—had to step forward.

With his usual air of arrogance, the Kingslayer strolled out from the tower's base and stepped to the front. Flashing a bright smile, he replied, "We received word that someone with malicious intent may be plotting to harm Mance Rayder and his family, which would threaten the stability of the Gift. For the good of the realm, it was decided—after some discussion—that they should be relocated to ensure their safety."

"Discussion? With whom? Who gave you the authority to handle such a critical hostage as the King-Beyond-the-Wall? You're a Ranger captain!"

"It's not my decision to make." Jaime shrugged, flipping his golden hair. "But with all due respect, it's not yours either, my Lord."

Cotter Pyke was stunned for a moment—because Jaime was right. Accepting Mance's surrender and keeping him as a hostage at Castle Black had been Jeor Mormont's orders. According to Aegor's argument, no changes could be made until a new Commander was chosen. That damned Aegor—was he going to keep using a dead man's will to restrict them time and again?

Wait... Cotter quickly spotted the flaw. Mormont's orders limited the conservatives, yes—but they also limited the radicals. Jaime had no right to move Mance's family either!

"You're right. It's not your call. It's not mine either. Only the new Commander can decide where the Wildling King's family stays. So return them to the tower at once."

"Sorry, but Commander Jeor Mormont appeared to me in a dream. He ordered me to move Mance Rayder's family to Crown Town for their safety."

"In a dream?!" Cotter's eyes bulged. "You just said it was a discussion!"

"Correct. I dreamt Jeor Mormont gave me an order. After waking, I informed the Chief Logistics Officer. The two of us discussed it and decided to carry it out."

Snickers and whispers rippled through the crowd. Of course no one believed such a ridiculous excuse. Even Jaime blushed slightly. Lying and deceit were not his strengths. He had resisted when Aegor suggested this excuse—but with Val and her family's safety on the line, he eventually went through with it.

"You—" Cotter Pyke was not good at dealing with unreasonable people. He turned red with fury and couldn't even speak. His hand shot to the axe on his back. "I don't care about your dreams. No one is taking the Wildling King's family out of Castle Black today!"

Perfect. Just as Aegor had predicted.

The awkwardness of lying faded, and a faint smile curved Jaime's lips. Cotter Pyke's favorite method was violence. So was his. When two men who lived by "strike first, talk later" faced off... let's see who came out on top.

(To be continued.)