Chapter 578

Aegor had no intention of making martyrs of those who had lost kin fighting the White Walkers, but someone had to pay for their previous insolence—and for the gunpowder wasted by the Gifted Lands Army. After a round of negotiations, the final judgment was passed:

The former lord, Jason Mallister, was to abdicate in favor of his son, Patrick Mallister. Under Stark escort, Jason would don the black and serve at the Wall, atoning for his defiance by aiding in the development of lands beyond it. As for Seagard, it would pay a hefty sum in grain and military supplies as war reparations, and Northern soldiers would remain stationed in the castle until the war’s conclusion, ensuring a smooth transition of power.

Conquering a land of scattered, disorganized lords brought Aegor no real satisfaction. In truth, the credit for securing one of the Seven Kingdoms within just a week largely belonged to Robb Stark.

House Tully was weak—so weak, in fact, that most Riverlords looked to House Stark as their guiding light. When the direwolf banner appeared among the besieging forces, it delivered a crushing blow to the morale of the Riverlands’ nobility.

With this matter settled, the army continued its march southward to the next stop in the Trident.

For many of these lords, the conquest was not merely about survival—it was an opportunity to break free from the stifling dominance of House Tully, to elevate their families to a new political status.

People are not machines. They always desire more. If the system provides no avenue for their ambitions, they will find other ways to realize them. And when those means turn to rebellion, the best countermeasure is simple: give them something to chase. Even if their demands cannot be immediately met, they can at least be promised a reward, pushing any potential conflicts down the road.

The third order of business: preparations for the establishment of an independent intelligence service.
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The second condition Aegor had offered struck right at the heart of old Lord Walder Frey’s ambitions.

Initially, the marquis had only planned to offer a token sum of supplies in exchange for peace, wanting nothing to do with the chaos of war. But in the end, his greed won out, and he made the impulsive decision to throw his lot in with the queen.

"Lord Aegor, this completely contradicts your original plan," even the usually reserved Robb Stark could not help but voice his concern. "We have barely ten thousand men—if we attempt to invade the Westerlands, even with gunpowder, the battle will be brutal."
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House Mallister was no ordinary noble house.

With a long history of producing knights like Ser Denys Mallister, they valued honor and reputation above all. Their fortress, Seagard, had been constructed explicitly to repel Ironborn invasions, built with thick walls and defensive expertise.

Aegor had once hoped to leverage his distant connection to Ser Denys’ sacrifice at the Shadow Tower to sway the family into submission—he had even sent them a ceremonial "Lightbringer" as a token of his esteem.

But his good intentions were met with nothing but scorn.

Forty years of estrangement had severed all ties. Whatever goodwill Aegor might have had through the Night’s Watch was nothing compared to the blood feud they still harbored against the Mad King.

Jason Mallister not only barred his gates and refused all negotiations, but he stood atop his battlements and publicly denounced Daenerys as the spawn of a mad tyrant, while branding Aegor himself a traitor and rebel.

Only Stannis Baratheon, he declared, was the true and rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms.

Aegor had no patience for this nonsense.

The artillerymen, who had been itching for battle, finally got their moment.

As the thunderous roar of cannons shattered the battlefield, not only were the Northern and Frey forces left stunned by the raw power on display, but the Mallisters’ fabled pride—their so-called "Unconquerable" house words—was reduced to dust.

A sustained bombardment left the gate and sections of the wall pockmarked and crumbling, on the verge of collapse. Aegor then ordered the Northern and Frey forces to take formation and presented the final ultimatum.
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The first major decree: soldiers of the Gifted Lands Army would see their wages doubled.

Seagard was no ordinary castle.

It was a fortress, designed for war.

The Mallisters were poor compared to the Freys, but in terms of martial prowess, they stood far above the rest of the Riverlands' scattered nobility.

If one were to find the hardest bone to break among the Riverlords, it was undoubtedly House Mallister.

Now, with both the richest (House Frey) and the strongest (House Mallister) subdued, the army’s advance through the Trident became unstoppable.

House Blackwood of Raventree Hall and House Bracken of Stone Hedge surrendered without a fight.

Maidenpool didn’t even bother resisting—the moment the army arrived, the town had already hung Targaryen banners over its gates.

Meanwhile, to the south, Roose Bolton had sent good news:

The Dreadfort’s forces had not only seized Harroway’s Town and forced the surrender of Saltpans, but had even marched uncontested into Harrenhal.

With House Mooton of Maidenpool—the only Riverlands house that had sided with the Mad King during Robert’s Rebellion—immediately pledging allegiance, the entire Trident was now under Daenerys’ banner.
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For all his miserly reputation, Walder Frey was astoundingly generous when it came to securing his family's legacy.

For Aegor’s vague, yet-to-be-defined promise, he had provided more in supplies than even Roose Bolton—and had assembled over a thousand soldiers in mere days to join the queen’s cause.

Walder had already ensured Frey blood would spread across Westeros through marriage alliances.

He had already secured noble connections by wedding his kin to the likes of House Stark and House Bolton.

Now, with an independent military force of his own, he was merely waiting for the final step—one that had not yet revealed itself.
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With the entire Riverlands subjugated and supply lines secured, the first phase of Aegor’s grand strategy was nearly complete.

According to the original plan, the next move was to turn east, march along the River Road into the Crownlands, and rendezvous with Daenerys and the Unsullied to besiege King’s Landing together.

But to the shock of every noble in his retinue, after a single night at Riverrun, Aegor issued a new order:

The army would continue westward—toward the Westerlands.

Their destination: the Lannisters’ mountain stronghold of Golden Tooth.
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With the army now numbering eight thousand strong, Aegor finally had the breathing room to address unfinished business.

Among his top priorities:

Military restructuring. The command system was revised, separating officers into commanders (responsible for orders and strategy) and morale officers (tasked with maintaining troop cohesion, much like preachers or political officers).

Counterintelligence measures. The infiltration of Winterfell’s kitchens by Varys’ agents had served as a harsh wake-up call—Aegor had been far too reliant on his personal reputation as a deterrent, while completely neglecting internal surveillance.

The formation of an independent intelligence agency.

For now, it would be an empty shell, but every great endeavor had to start somewhere.
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In the cold, damp winds of the Riverlands, Aegor waited.

Two hours later, the gates of the Twins swung open.

Robb Stark rode out to meet him, bearing good news.

House Frey had sworn allegiance.
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Aegor simply smiled.

"Good. Then let’s be on our way."

"Where to?"

"West," Aegor said, turning his horse.

"To visit an old friend."