Chapter 504

“Mature? I wouldn’t go that far, but plans... I certainly had them.” Roose Bolton flexed his wrist slightly. “However, now that the Gift’s army has marched south toward Winterfell, those plans are meaningless. Aegor Wester is a meticulous man. If he has mobilized his troops, it means he is thoroughly prepared and confident of success. I’m no longer worried that the Stark family’s schemes could threaten Her Grace’s dragons. Instead, I’m concerned about something else—something far more dangerous.

"The Night’s Watch has always maintained a close relationship with the Starks, and Aegor Wester himself is personally close to both the Young Wolf and his younger sister. Once he surrounds or captures Winterfell, I fear he won’t have the resolve to root out those stubborn fools. He’ll likely resort to threats and persuasion to force Winterfell’s allegiance, which could allow too many half-hearted supporters to infiltrate the Queen’s camp. Such leniency could undermine Her Grace’s efforts for unification and reform, planting the seeds of failure.”

“Hm...” Varys tapped his fingers thoughtfully before nodding. “Indeed, such a scenario seems quite plausible. It sounds like you already have a solution, Lord Bolton?”

“My advice is simple: either the Queen should bypass the North entirely and return south, or she should move quickly to the frontlines at Winterfell and personally oversee the situation. Only by verifying the Stark family’s intentions herself can she prevent the Commander from being swayed by sentiment or the influence of his men and making a catastrophic mistake.” Bolton’s sharp gaze reflected his conviction. “I noticed there are no camps outside the walls of Last Hearth, which suggests Her Grace has brought only a limited number of her personal troops. The Dreadfort has thousands of well-trained soldiers ready. I am willing to deploy them immediately to escort Her Grace.”

“A generous offer, and one I must genuinely thank you for.” Varys inclined his head sincerely. While five hundred Unsullied and two dragons were sufficient to handle most conventional threats, an additional force providing external support and protection would certainly bolster their position. “I do have another question, though. When the Starks were preparing their ‘dragon-slaying operation,’ was the task of manufacturing dragon-hunting scorpions assigned to the Dreadfort?”

“Yes, but after receiving the blueprints, we only made a show of it and never constructed a single functional scorpion!” Fearing that the eunuch was questioning his loyalty, Bolton quickly explained.

“I never doubted you,” Varys reassured him with a warm smile. “But I would suggest this: send a raven to Winterfell immediately, warning the Starks that the Night’s Watch has marched south and is heading straight for them. At the same time, inform Robb Stark that you’ve hurriedly finished a small batch of dragon-hunting scorpions and are prepared to bypass the Gift’s army to launch a surprise attack on Last Hearth to eliminate the Queen’s dragons.”

(What a cunning spider!) Bolton thought to himself. Even without Varys’s suggestion, this was something he had already planned to do. He had waited years for the chance to rebel against the Starks and had accounted for every possible scenario. But the eunuch, in a flash of brilliance, had identified the most effective way to destroy the Stark family.

“And why would I do that?” Bolton asked, feigning confusion. He enjoyed the game of pretending ignorance, as it allowed others to feel superior in intellect and drop their guard. “If I inform Winterfell, wouldn’t I be putting Aegor in danger?”

“Winterfell’s patrols are already operating in the Wolfswood, not far to the south. The Gift’s army will be discovered soon regardless. A warning now will not harm the situation; instead, it will bolster the Stark family’s trust in your loyalty,” Varys replied, indifferent to whether Bolton’s confusion was genuine or not. He explained patiently. “As for the latter plan... you must understand, if the Queen truly wishes to take Winterfell, it will be easy. You and I both know Aegor has close ties to the Stark family. His hasty march south looks less like a military maneuver and more like a rescue mission. If Winterfell surrenders under the pressure of the Gift’s army, then as you suggested, Her Grace’s camp will be infiltrated with false supporters.”

“Ah, I see now!” Bolton exclaimed, finally dropping his act. “If I pretend to lead dragon-hunting scorpions to attack Her Grace’s dragons, Winterfell will believe the tide of war remains uncertain. They will refuse to surrender and instead hold the castle. Then, when the Queen herself arrives at Winterfell and finds the gates closed and the Stark banner still flying, the family’s obstinate nature will be laid bare.”

“Precisely,” Varys agreed. “The method may seem underhanded, but for the good of the realm... it is our best option. That being said, with the Gift’s army racing against time, I suggest you do the same. Return to the Dreadfort immediately, gather your forces, and bring them to the Queen as soon as possible.”

Bolton’s pride bristled slightly at the idea that he, the Lord of the Dreadfort, had traveled all this way only to be denied an audience with the Queen for lacking an escort. Still, he needed Daenerys’s support to overthrow the Starks, and Varys’s favor was crucial to his plans. Suppressing his irritation, he nodded decisively. “Very well. I won’t linger any longer. I’ll leave at once. I wish you success, Lord Varys.”

(Success? Lately, nothing has been going as planned!) Varys thought bitterly. Though Bolton’s words stung like mockery, he knew it was only his own frustration talking. He forced a polite smile and returned the pleasantry. “And I wish you a safe journey, Lord Bolton.”
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Roose Bolton mounted his horse, gestured to his guards, and turned to leave without hesitation. The snow and wind had not abated, and the swirling ice crystals quickly obscured his figure as he disappeared into the white expanse.

“All right, let’s return as well,” Varys said, addressing the Unsullied escort. He turned and began walking back toward the castle.

In truth, Varys bore no ill will toward the Starks. If anything, he respected and even liked them a little. If everyone were as straightforward and principled as the Stark family, men like him could live in paradise, free to scheme without opposition. Yet, he had aided Bolton in plotting their downfall because, in the aftermath of the Gift’s sudden march and Daenerys’s likely abandonment of her southern plans, he needed a way to mitigate the damage. Securing influence over the North was the most enticing option.

The cold truth was undeniable: the Stark family’s legitimacy and independence made them a difficult obstacle to control, and their longstanding ties to Petyr Baelish made them a liability. Eliminating them and supporting a puppet like Bolton was a far more advantageous route.

As Varys considered the implications of his actions, his mind returned to Aegor Wester. The Night’s Watch Commander’s unexpected influence had disrupted his plans at every turn. Whether by intention or coincidence, Aegor was becoming an undeniable threat to his carefully laid schemes.

For the first time in years, Varys felt a chill unrelated to the northern wind.