GOT: Chapter 282/283

Chapter 282: Blasting the Heroes (Part 2)

More than eighty percent of the Night's Watch brothers at Castle Black had arrived after hearing the news, and the hall was growing increasingly crowded. Among the many familiar and unfamiliar faces, Aegor spotted the Red Priestess Melisandre and her followers, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Even Maester Aemon, so aged he could barely walk, had been helped in by Sam.

Aegor scanned the hall, a faint smile playing on his lips.

(Good. That was just the warm-up. The real performance begins now.)

He didn't intend to only criticize Yohn Royce. This was a life-or-death struggle, with no path to retreat. The more witnesses there were, the better.

…

"In this cellar, we are electing the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. This number may be inflated, but let's not get hung up on that. Let's just say there have been several hundred Commanders in our history."

This speech wasn't rehearsed. Aegor was the only one who knew the lines, so naturally no one else could chime in or play along. He could only ask and answer himself.

"Among those hundreds of Commanders, apart from the infamous ones like the so-called 'Night King,' who was eventually taken down by the combined forces of the North and the King-Beyond-the-Wall, or Runcel Hightower who tried to pass the position to his bastard son, or Rodrik Flint who attempted to become King of the Wildlings... and other Commanders remembered for their failures or ambition—how many of the rest, whose names are buried in the river of history, were truly qualified? Sam, can you answer that?"

Sam was caught off guard by the sudden question. Thankfully, Maester Aemon, Jon, and Aegor were all present. Though he still didn't dare to meet the gaze of either Commander directly, their presence gave him enough courage to calm his nerves. After some thought, he roughly grasped Aegor's intent and cautiously replied:

"If we judge by whether they fulfilled their duty of guarding the Wall, then… since the Wall has never fallen, I suppose most of them were qualified."

"I think so too. The word qualified is far too cheap. So cheap that if someone used it to describe me, I'd be insulted. Right now, we face the White Walkers, and the unprecedented army of the dead they command. Sam, let me ask another question. Since the Night's Watch was founded, how many times have they attacked the Wall?"

"Never," Sam replied. "There's only one story about the thirteenth Lord Commander being seduced and corrupted by a woman suspected to be a White Walker, ruling the Nightfort as his own kingdom for thirteen years. He was the Night King you mentioned earlier. After he was defeated and killed by the combined forces of the King-Beyond-the-Wall and the King in the North, people discovered he had offered sacrifices to the White Walkers. But all these accounts come from unreliable texts. If you ask me, I'd say it's more reasonable to believe this: the White Walkers have never truly launched a large-scale attack on the Wall since the Night's Watch was founded."


---

Aegor nodded at him, then turned to face the crowd.

"I wouldn't boast about Sam's combat skills or bravery, but I believe in his reading and memory. Maester Aemon is also here. May I ask, Maester, is there anything you'd like to add regarding the history of White Walker attacks on the Wall?"

The blind Maester shook his head and replied in a trembling voice, "Aside from the vague accounts about the thirteenth Commander, which I cannot speak to, I have nothing to add."

"The Night's Watch was born after the Battle for the Dawn. At that time, the White Walkers had already been driven back to the Lands of Always Winter by the united forces of mankind, led by Azor Ahai. The first Lord Commander was likely one of the heroes of that war, but he didn't yet carry the title of Night's Watch when he fought them. Since then, the only mention of the White Walkers reappearing is the corruption of the thirteenth Commander. So our conclusion is clear. In all recorded history, no Lord Commander has ever led the Night's Watch to repel a large-scale attack by the White Walkers."

Cotter Pyke scowled and growled impatiently, "Get to the point. What are you trying to say?"

"Not long ago, the army of the dead attacked Castle Black. Countless wights burned by oil and wildfire still lie frozen in the snow. You can see them just by climbing the Wall. This is a threat no Commander in history has faced. What we need now is not someone who's possibly qualified, but someone willing, capable, and proven to lead the Night's Watch to victory in this war of ice and fire!"

…

The hall remained silent, though it was now several times more crowded than when Aegor first arrived. Even the quietest whispers, when layered together, formed a subtle hum. A few seconds after Aegor finished speaking, Cotter Pyke suddenly burst into laughter.

"You think you are the one to lead the Night's Watch to victory in this war of ice and fire? Isn't that a bit much?"

"A deserter. A thief. A pervert who likes young boys. A scoundrel who ignores the rules of the Night's Watch and meddles constantly in the affairs of the Seven Kingdoms. And you think you deserve to be Lord Commander?" Yohn Royce finally found an opening and pounced. "You might be competent at logistics, but your character is so disgraceful that you're unworthy to lead a noble order like the Night's Watch!"

"I was forced to join the Night's Watch for theft," Aegor admitted, "but it wasn't because I committed some heinous crime. I was shipwrecked and stranded in Westeros without knowing the language. As for whether I'm a deserter—Lord Commander Mormont, Benjen Stark, and even the late Lord Eddard Stark all gave their judgment. That's not for you to decide. And that disgusting slander about me 'liking young boys'? I don't know where you heard it. If you have proof, show it. If not, shut your mouth."

He directly and firmly denied the baseless accusations, leaving the audience to decide who to believe. What mattered was that he never lost the upper hand.

"We're here to discuss who is best suited to lead the Night's Watch through this crisis. Yet Lord Royce chooses to attack me with unfounded rumors... At this point, I have to wonder—perhaps your character, my lord, is what's truly lacking."

Ignoring the former Lord of Runestone, who stood there still preparing a counterattack, Aegor turned and went on the offensive again, giving the enemy no space to regroup.

"Two months ago, I doubted whether I was fit to lead the Night's Watch in this war, so I withdrew from the election and deferred to two Commanders with greater seniority and prestige. But after waiting, I've come to realize that there is no one among the Watch that I can rely on—no one with enough seniority and proven ability. If I don't step forward, I can only watch helplessly as mediocrity leads the brothers of the Night's Watch and the people of the Gift to destruction."

"'Mediocre'?" The Chief Officer, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke up. "Is that how you describe experienced and respected Commanders like Ser Denys Mallister and Lord Cotter Pyke?"

Aegor didn't look at Othell Yarwyck. He simply threw the question to Sam.

"May I ask, how many men can Ser Denys Mallister and Lord Cotter Pyke vote for from their respective castles?"

No one was more familiar with these numbers than Sam. He replied immediately:

"Ser Denys Mallister can vote on behalf of the two hundred thirty-six men remaining at Shadow Tower. Eastwatch-by-the-Sea has two hundred and five. Over twenty came here with Lord Cotter Pyke, so he can vote for the remaining one hundred eighty-something."

"If anyone disputes these figures, speak up now." Aegor looked around. "Shadow Tower and Eastwatch each have more than two hundred brothers. Castle Black has about five hundred. The remaining few dozen are scattered among the newly reopened castles along the Wall and in the mountain clans. Altogether, that's just over a thousand voters in the Night's Watch. To win, a candidate needs two-thirds of the vote. For the two Commanders who can vote by proxy, that requirement is reduced—by the number of votes they control."

He sneered.

"And even with the bar lowered this much, the two of you have still been locked in a deadlock for dozens of days. You can't beat each other, and you won't concede. So now you've tried to reach a compromise through a third-party candidate—not by mutual respect, but out of desperation."

"Just because the election's dragged on without a result, you say the candidates are mediocre?" Othell Yarwyck scoffed. "Couldn't it be that they're too qualified, making the choice difficult?"

"That's possible," Aegor nodded. "I considered that. So I did my homework—I investigated the accomplishments of both Commanders during their terms. Would you like to hear the results?"

Yarwyck frowned. Aegor's response was too smooth, too prepared. It was like he'd walked right into a trap.

Still, he held firm. "Both Commanders have carried out their duties responsibly and never let the defenses of their castles fall."

Aegor smiled, feigning disdain, and slowly shook his head.

He glanced at the Black Brothers from Castle Black, most of whom were now present. The time was right.

"Yes, during their command, the Wildlings never broke through their sectors of the Wall to raid the Gift or the North. But what else? For decades, neither castle has grown stronger. The number of nearby subjects hasn't increased. Their living standards haven't improved. The Shadow Tower still only guards the Gorge and Skull Bridge. Eastwatch's fleet hasn't added a single ship in a hundred years. The two of you have only ever minded your own gates. You've been diligent, sure—but your results are no better than any 'qualified' Commander from the past thousand years."

"Let me be blunt." Aegor narrowed his eyes, focusing on the two Commanders. The pressure didn't break them, but the crowd felt it.

"You've merely relied on the Wall, built by Brandon the Builder, and on your obedient subordinates. You've spent decades holed up in your posts, thinking yourselves the most senior and capable veterans in the Watch. And now you believe the next Commander must be one of you."

…

Ser Denys Mallister remained composed. Cotter Pyke, however, jumped to his feet, snorting like a bull, hand on his hilt, until two of his men stepped forward and held him back.

"In peaceful times, you were qualified Commanders." Aegor glanced to where Jaime and his Westerlands men were standing, confirming his escape route in case things escalated. Feeling slightly reassured, he pressed on without fear.

"But in this once-in-a-thousand-years crisis, by my values and standards... I'm sorry to say this. I'm not singling anyone out, but the two Commanders present here—" He forced himself to swallow the words "are garbage" and replaced them with, "are mediocre."


---

The hushed murmurs vanished. Silence filled the cellar.

Due to the unique structure of the Night's Watch, each castle Commander had considerable autonomy. Disputes weren't rare. They often exchanged insults behind closed doors, tripped each other up, or fought for influence with subtle maneuvers. But to publicly declare another Commander worthless in front of half the Order—this wasn't just unprecedented. It was unthinkable.

Aegor had turned his attack on the two Commanders, leaving Yohn Royce, who had just been exchanging blows with him, completely unsure whether he should still argue. He had lost all momentum. And the two veteran Commanders, who had been supporting Royce just moments before, now found themselves the target and were too stunned to fight back.

Blindsided, the entire conservative faction stood frozen. In the heavy silence, Aegor seized complete control of the floor.

"I've never considered myself extraordinary. But I built the Night's Watch Logistics Department from nothing. I increased recruitment for the first time in history. I improved the lives of the brothers, giving them the dignity of true defenders of the realm. I even restored the defense and warning system along the Wall. These are my accomplishments as Chief Logistics Officer."

These were certainly not Aegor's achievements alone. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont had shown immense trust, insight, and wisdom throughout. It had been a joint effort. But when it came to taking credit, Aegor did not hesitate to claim it all.

"Call it arrogance if you like. But the truth is, I, Aegor West, have done more for the Night's Watch and changed the Wall more in two years than both of those Commanders have in a lifetime. After careful investigation and deliberation, I've come to the conclusion that I am the most suitable person to lead the Night's Watch right now."

"I once said I wouldn't run. But for the future of the Night's Watch, and for all mankind, I am breaking that vow." He turned to the blind Maester. "Maester Aemon, please add my name to the candidates."

He looked at the crowd and raised his voice.

"Brothers, if you do not wish to meet despair and death, then I ask you—cast your precious vote for me!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 283: Pressing Forward

"Well spoken, Chief Logistics Officer. You've made this old man reflect upon himself today." Even when insulted to his face, Ser Denys Mallister remained composed. His face didn't flush, and his tone barely changed. "You believe that facing an unprecedented crisis demands reform, but I believe it is precisely because we are in a difficult situation that we must proceed more cautiously."

He paused, then continued, "The so-called 'incompetents' may have been no better than their predecessors throughout history, but neither did they make more mistakes. While we did not bring any significant change to the Wall, we also didn't cause any damage. You, on the other hand, though you've made many contributions to the Night's Watch, also caused the death of a respected Lord Commander and placed our nineteen castles in a situation where they are, for the first time, 'filled with former enemies' and 'potentially facing threats from the South.' You are the radical faction. We are the conservative faction. To compare the strengths of the radicals with the weaknesses of the conservatives is a biased argument. Bluffing may deceive the low-ranking brothers who lack perspective, but it won't shake those with insight and independent judgment."

This old man wasn't dazed by the scolding. In fact, he was even showing some backbone… which lessened the impact of Aegor's performance.

After unleashing his furious onslaught, Aegor had clearly gained the upper hand. In essence, he had thrown down a royal flush right from the start.

Strike while the iron is hot. Then, the momentum fades. Finally, it disappears. While launching the first strike gave him a major advantage, the downside was that he had no better cards left to play. The best course now would have been to end the confrontation immediately, preserving the result. Every extra sentence would only water down the impact of his earlier victory.

Aegor began thinking of a way to make his exit while maintaining a magnanimous posture. "I won't deny it. Talking more is pointless. Let's respect the brothers' choices and let votes and action speak."

"Talking more is pointless," Mallister echoed. "But it seems you've forgotten that Cotter Pyke and I hold more than a third of the Night's Watch's votes. You have the right to run. We have the right not to vote for you."

…

Nonsense. Of course he knew that. But the conservatives' move today to pool their votes behind Yohn Royce had nearly made that hateful man Aegor's superior. This unexpected shift—almost rendering all his efforts since crossing over into Westeros meaningless—was the greatest shock he'd faced aside from threats to his life.

Thanks to warnings from Jon and Grenn, along with Sam's reminders and delay tactics, and the newly renovated and widened King's Road, he had barely made it back in time to save the situation at the last moment. That alone was a stroke of tremendous luck.

Being able to prevent Royce from becoming Lord Commander today was enough to make Aegor feel grateful to the gods. He didn't have the luxury to worry about much else.

Old ginger is spicier. This old eagle, claws worn but still sharp, could actually remain calm and come up with a counter under such fierce criticism. Aegor had already played all his cards. If he kept going, the bystanders might begin to realize the two Commanders weren't quite as incompetent as he claimed. He had to retreat now.

Just as Aegor was thinking how to wrap things up cleanly, a clear voice unexpectedly rang out, "How shameless! Just because my Master told him two truths, he refuses to vote for him!"

…

Hundreds of black-clad men turned their heads toward the source, curious to see who dared to speak so boldly. But Aegor recognized the voice the moment it rang out, and his heart leapt with joy.

This girl—he hadn't doted on her for nothing. She'd actually stepped in at this critical moment to speak up for him!

When he met Grenn on the King's Road, the northern patrol group was less than three hours from Castle Black. Although he had split off with his guards and arrived ahead of the main group, they couldn't be far behind. Arya's appearance wasn't too surprising. What he didn't know was how long she'd been standing in the crowd or how much of his speech she had heard.

More importantly, if Arya was here… where was Robb Stark?

"Who is this young lady?" Mallister asked. He had been stationed at Castle Black for over two months and knew all the people there. Judging by the girl's appearance and clothing, she was clearly not one of the Wildling hostages. Mallister frowned. Something felt off.

Before anyone could answer, footsteps echoed from the stairwell once more. Jon was the first to come down.

"Arya, I told you not to run like that. If you fall and scar your face, let's see how you'll ever get married!"

Robb Stark followed, flanked by over a dozen guards from Winterfell, entering the hall in single file.

Almost every brother of the Night's Watch at Castle Black was now present, but the atmosphere was tense and heavy. It didn't feel like a welcome. The young Warden of the North glanced around the room and turned to Aegor with a questioning look.

"What's going on here?"

"Robb!" Arya ran to her brother's side and exclaimed, "That old man—just because my Master called him useless—he said he'd never vote for him!"

"All right, all right, grown-ups are talking now. Don't interrupt." No one knew Arya better than Robb. Her words were emotional and should be heard, but not taken too seriously. He smiled and patted her on the head, then looked toward the senior officers of the Night's Watch.

"It seems the election for Lord Commander is being held here. May I ask—have the results been determined?"

"Lord Stark," Maester Aemon acknowledged him with a nod, "happy to be of service. However, over two hundred votes have yet to be cast. Any votes not cast by dinner will be counted as abstentions. Only then can the results be finalized."

Robb had missed Aegor's earlier confrontation. Though he could sense the tension in the air, he wasn't sure what had caused it. Upon hearing Maester Aemon's words, he nodded.

"I see. Brothers of the Night's Watch, I wish to speak in my personal capacity. Mankind is facing an unprecedented threat. I hope you can set aside your differences and reach a consensus, elect a Commander as soon as possible, and coordinate your efforts to better fulfill the Watch's sacred duty—to guard the realm of men."

…

As Lord of the North, Robb's visit to Castle Black and his brief statement was reasonable and appropriate. But Aegor's mind was suddenly stirred. A new idea sparked: No. This wasn't over. He could seize this opportunity to push the conservatives one step further!

"Lord Stark!" he called out loudly, locking eyes with Ser Denys Mallister. "I too hope the Night's Watch can elect a Commander quickly. Unfortunately, we've run into some... complications in reaching a consensus. At this rate, it's unlikely a Lord Commander will be elected anytime soon."

Robb had intended only to offer a polite formality. He hadn't expected a direct reply and asked instinctively, "What sort of complications?"

"It stems from the rules for electing a Commander," Aegor explained. "According to those rules, in castles other than Castle Black, the brothers entrust their votes to the castle's Commander or a designated representative, who then votes on behalf of all those unable to travel. A candidate must receive two-thirds of all votes to win. This rule, on its face, is not a problem. The difficulty lies here: after years of decline and several purges, only three castles are still held entirely by the Night's Watch. Among them, the Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea account for over a third of the Watch's total numbers. The voting power of these four hundred-plus brothers is now held entirely by Ser Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke. If, for whatever reason—personal feelings or otherwise—these two refuse to align with any candidate, then… the two of them, in theory, can block the Night's Watch from ever electing a Lord Commander. I propose we change this system."

"Oh?" Robb's brows lifted. He hadn't known any of this before. "And what would you suggest?"

"That you, my Lord, appoint someone to oversee the fairness of the process, and that votes be cast at all three main castles—allowing every brother to vote in person."

Aegor had barely set foot in the Shadow Tower or Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and had no influence there. In truth, he was the one preventing the Watch from electing a Commander. This accusation and suggestion were nothing more than a counterstrike meant to throw off Ser Denys Mallister's rhythm and shake his composure.

Since he had already thoroughly offended both Commanders and had no hope of winning their votes, he might as well flip the table. One man, one vote—this outcome would always benefit him.

(He's really going that far?)

Aegor's unexpected tactic stunned the crowd once again. This time, even Ser Denys Mallister lost his composure. He rose, a mix of shock and outrage on his face, and, without considering Robb Stark's temperament, snapped sharply.

"Lord Stark, no offense intended, but you have no authority to amend the rules of the Night's Watch. That power lies solely with the Lord Commander!"

"And now, you cannot elect a Lord Commander. Is that not a problem?" Robb's expression darkened. "I have no desire to alter the Night's Watch's traditions, but this is an exceptional time. The North faces an unprecedented threat. As its Lord, I must prioritize the safety of my people. I'm sorry, but I can't promise to put the rules of the Wall above all else. If necessary, I will intervene."

He seriously considered Aegor's proposal. Though it didn't feel entirely right, he couldn't find any flaw in it either. At last, he said, "Of course, I've only just arrived today. It wouldn't be proper to immediately take over and dictate changes to the Night's Watch's rules. I'll observe for a few days first. I hope, in that time, you Commanders can resolve your disagreements—so I'll be spared the burden of 'interfering in the Watch's internal affairs.'"


---

Is it reasonable for a Commander to vote on behalf of all brothers stationed at his castle?

From a modern viewpoint, obviously not. But reality is more complicated. Even if every Night's Watch member personally voted to elect a universally liked Commander, the Lord Commander still governs through the castle Commanders. Most brothers obey the orders of their direct superior, not the Lord Commander himself.

Communication is not instantaneous.

The Commander's authority is enacted through the cooperation of the castle Commanders. Effective control of the Wall's defense depends on how many of them are truly willing to obey orders. A popular Commander may not perform better than a skilled one who has managed to win over more sub-commanders.

Even now, when only three castles are fully garrisoned, the representative voting system still serves a purpose. Its principle is simple—if a candidate can't even win over the other two Commanders, then even if he is elected, how will he command the entire Night's Watch like an extension of his own hand?

If Eddard Stark or another older decision-maker had been here, they would've rejected Aegor's proposal outright. But Robb Stark was still young. He couldn't fully grasp the deeper implications. And beyond that… compared to the conservative veterans who had spent two months bickering without results, this Lord of Winterfell—still under twenty, still a youth—was clearly more emotionally inclined toward Aegor, who had been toiling tirelessly for the North these past two months.

---

Robb's words also brought Aegor back to his senses. He realized he may have overstepped. This proposal might've had more impact if made privately. Bringing it up publicly was too obvious, almost like forcing Robb to take a stance on the spot. Fortunately, his bond with House Stark was strong enough that Robb wouldn't take offense.

"Lord Stark is right. I suggest we allow the brothers to vote freely for now, and wait for the outcome before deciding on the next steps."

(To be continued.)