Chapter 307

The logistics corps' influence extended over every newly occupied fortress.

Long before Denys Mallister had finished gathering intelligence from Rickard Karstark, Aegor had already received word from his informants: another Night’s Watch officer had arrived at Ice Mark.

However, he neither cared much about it nor knew that the visitor was none other than the Commander of Shadow Tower himself. And he certainly hadn't expected—that the man would come looking for him so soon.

“Ser Mallister!”

Aegor’s face flashed with brief surprise before a warm smile settled in. “Your arrival truly graces Ice Mark with honor. Might I ask if you’re here on official business—or simply curious about the lives of the New Gift settlers, hoping to observe and offer guidance?”

“Business. And it concerns you.”

Denys stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept over the room, filled with Night’s Watch economic division officers huddled together, no doubt engaged in another one of their many schemes. “Chief Logistics Officer, would you be willing to speak in private?”

Aegor already had a good idea of what this was about.

He had to suppress the smirk threatening to creep onto his face—basic courtesy and self-restraint kept his expression neutral.

He waited exactly three seconds before nodding and motioning for his subordinates to leave.

Everyone in the room was his inner circle. They all knew the situation inside and out. Some had even been discussing Shadow Tower’s messenger mere moments before Ser Mallister’s arrival.

It took no great leap of logic to figure out why he was here—he had come to accuse, only to find he was too late. With no option to turn back empty-handed, he had opted to negotiate instead.

The men obeyed Aegor’s silent command, filing out of the room. But more than a few of them, as they passed by the aging knight, shot him glances—some mocking, some disdainful.

Denys, unbothered, stepped aside to let them through. Only once the room was empty, the door shut behind them, did he finally move forward.

Approaching the large table—where Aegor’s men had been gathered for their meeting not long ago—Denys let out a quiet sigh. “I must admit, lad, I underestimated you. Your methods for handling this crisis… I have to give you credit.”

“Methods?” Aegor echoed, feigning humility. “You flatter me, Ser. I merely spoke the truth and relied on sincerity to earn the forgiveness of our Northern lords.”

He would never have survived this if not for Arya’s warning and Roose Bolton’s cover, but that was not the kind of truth he was about to share—especially not with an opponent.

“So, Ser Mallister, what brings you here?”

They were still rivals.

Denys understood Aegor’s guarded stance perfectly. As he observed the room’s furnishings, he walked closer—just near enough that they could converse without effort, without raising their voices.

“This election has wasted enough of the Night’s Watch’s time. I’m here to end it.”

“The right choice is worth taking time for.” Aegor’s polite smile did not reach his eyes. “And how, might I ask, do you propose to ‘end it’?”

“A deal.”

Denys’ voice was calm, unwavering. “You accept a few conditions. In return, I withdraw from the election and instruct Shadow Tower’s men to cast their votes for you.”

Aegor’s smile vanished. His expression hardened, his tone turning resolute. “Ser Mallister, I respect you greatly. And I do desire your support… but not in this manner.”

He folded his arms, firmly shaking his head. “I prefer the honest path—to earn what I deserve through my own merit. Not through backroom dealings and sordid exchanges.”

Had Denys not already clashed with this young man several times, he might have felt a twinge of self-doubt in the face of such righteous posturing.

But he knew Aegor. He understood Aegor. And he saw through this performance for what it was—an attempt to strengthen his bargaining position.

Aegor already held the advantage. This was merely him setting the stage, feigning reluctance, building up the value of his side of the deal—all so that he could negotiate better terms.

With the way things stood, he had every right to play hard to get.

Denys let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “I’m an old man, Aegor.”

Without asking for permission, he removed his heavy coat and hung it by the wall before sinking into one of the chairs.

“I’m too slow, too tired to waste time on clever debates about morality and ideology. There’s no audience here. No outsiders listening in. So, allow me to set aside my ‘outer garments’ for a moment.”

The words were deliberately layered, their meaning unmistakable.

And then, without hesitation, he said something that would have shocked most men to their core.

“I believe that anything can be bought and sold. Honor. Chastity. Loyalty. Respect. All it takes is the right timing and the right price.”

His eyes flickered with quiet amusement.

“Instead of discussing whether this trade is ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’ nonsense, why not hear what I have to offer?”

...

Aegor had not expected this. Denys Mallister—a man so obsessed with maintaining his pristine reputation—had just cast off his self-image entirely.

Such blatant, unfiltered cynicism… It sounded like something a villain from an old tale would say.

Thoughts like this were one thing—but saying them aloud?

Now that was a rare kind of audacity.

And Aegor had to admit… he found it refreshing.

For once, he dropped the act. He stopped pretending to be morally offended.

Denys was right. There were no outsiders here—why not have a genuine discussion for once?

Aegor smirked. “Fine. I’m listening.” And with that, he sat down.

Denys raised three fingers. “I’m offering you three things.”

“First—an early victory.”

“Second—a Shadow Tower commander who will be unwaveringly loyal to you.”

“And third—a way to eliminate all risks—permanently.”

Aegor leaned back slightly, his gaze sharpening. Denys was not offering mere votes. He was offering certainty.

And in the game of power, that was a currency beyond measure.

Aegor’s expression didn’t change. But in his mind, the real negotiations had just begun.

...

Aegor immediately understood what Denys meant by "an early victory."

When he had first chosen to risk launching the blockade, one of his key goals had been to pressure the indecisive, neutral voters—to force the election to move forward at a faster pace. But in the end…

The neutrals hadn’t budged.

Instead, he had flushed out Denys Mallister—one of the biggest players left on the board.

As Commander of Shadow Tower, Denys controlled the second-largest fortress on the Wall. His shift in allegiance was invaluable—had he still been able to command the 236 votes from his men, Aegor could have ignored the loss of support in Castle Black and won outright.

As for "a loyal Commander of Shadow Tower", that was easy enough to understand. Even as a rival, Aegor had never doubted Denys Mallister’s integrity.

If Denys made a commitment, he would not scheme behind Aegor’s back.

Whether or not they liked each other was irrelevant—so long as Denys followed orders without passive resistance, that was loyalty enough.

And "a way to eliminate all risks in one stroke"?

Aegor thought for a moment and quickly figured out what Denys was implying.

He processed it all in the span of a single breath—then, seeing that Denys clearly had more to say, gave him a slight nod to continue.

"I heard that the loaned grain shipments are arriving at Eastwatch soon," Denys said. "I assume that while you were sealing off Castle Black, you were also making arrangements for the Watch’s only functional port?"

"Of course." Aegor had no reason to deny it. "I may not be a warlord, but I understand basic military strategy. The operations at Castle Black and Eastwatch were executed in tandem—on the same day, one after the other. Logistics officers have already moved into Eastwatch, and the port is under observation."

In this candid atmosphere, Aegor saw no reason to sugarcoat things.

"But they’re just a grain-unloading crew. They’re lightly armed, and their entry into Eastwatch was completely peaceful. As far as I’m concerned, standard Watch operations like these require no explanation or approval from anyone."

"That’s true." Denys nodded.

Since there had been no violence involved in the takeover of Eastwatch, even if Robb Stark learned of it, he wouldn’t have enough reason to summon Aegor back for another round of questioning.

But then Denys’ tone shifted. "However, the loaned grain hasn’t arrived yet, has it?"

"No, not yet… or rather, I haven’t received word that it has."

"Then it hasn’t arrived." Denys gave him a knowing smirk. "And that means you need to be prepared for something."

"If Cotter Pyke returns to Eastwatch the moment the blockade lifts… and finds his fortress occupied by strangers loyal to you… what do you think will happen?"

"I’ve already made arrangements—"

Denys cut him off. "I’m sure you have. But you know as well as I do that no plan is ever perfect. Things don’t always go as expected. Rather than gambling on everything unfolding as you hope, consider another path."

He leaned slightly forward. "With my backing, you’ll win the election outright. And when you do—whether it’s forcing Cotter to stay put in Castle Black, or simply bypassing him and issuing direct orders to Eastwatch’s garrison to cooperate with the logistics corps—you’ll have a thousand ways to handle him."

His voice was steady, assured. "Even if he refuses to obey or starts a conflict at Eastwatch, any force you deploy will be a lawful suppression of internal rebellion within the Watch. With the power you hold, there won’t be a shred of risk."

Aegor didn’t need Denys to spell it out.

Honestly—the idea of securing the Lord Commander position a few months early was tempting, but not tempting enough to make him rush into negotiations.

The truth was, his primary focus was not on commanding a mere thousand black-cloaked men.

What mattered to him was the tens of thousands of settlers in the Gift, and the economic empire he was constructing through the Night’s Watch’s industries.

And for that, the election wasn’t even necessary.

His projects were already moving forward just fine without a Lord Commander in office.

But—when combined with two other factors—the unresolved status of the loaned grain and the constant sabotage attempts from the conservative factions—he was beginning to feel a bit uneasy.

In fact, even if Denys hadn’t come to him tonight, Aegor had already been considering seeking him out once the Northern inspection was over.

By convention, the party that initiates negotiations is at a disadvantage—which made Denys’ visit a pleasant surprise.

Not exactly a miracle, but still convenient.

Aegor crossed his legs and stopped pretending to hesitate. "Your terms?"

"Three, the same as before." Denys' pale, aging skin sagged slightly from age, but his raised hand—three fingers extended—remained perfectly steady.

"One: Cotter Pyke and I remain in command of Shadow Tower and Eastwatch. Any officer promotions or reassignments at these fortresses must receive our approval."

"Two: No retribution. No purges. No settling of old scores—this includes Yohn Royce."

"Three: When you begin your inevitable reforms, any legal changes related to the Gift must be discussed and approved by me."

The first two conditions were mildly irritating but acceptable—keeping Cotter in charge of Eastwatch was frustrating, but aside from that, Aegor had already planned on a policy of restraint.

But the third condition?

That was a hard no.

"The first two—fine. The third? Absolutely not." Aegor’s rejection was immediate and firm. "I have too many things I want to change, too many laws I need to rewrite. If I have to consult you every time, argue back and forth—likely through ravens rather than face-to-face—it’ll be unbearable."

Denys had expected that response.

"Fair enough. Then I’ll revise it. Let’s narrow the scope of legal discussions."

He was unfazed, adjusting his offer without hesitation. "Any changes that directly affect the sworn brothers of the Watch—those who have taken the oath—must be discussed with me first. For example, if you wanted to change the Watch’s vows to allow voluntary resignation, that would require negotiation. How about that?"

Aegor nearly laughed. So that’s what he was after.

Rumors had spread—that Aegor was considering allowing sworn brothers to resign from their lifelong vows. It made sense that Denys was here to block such an idea before it could take root.

On the surface, it seemed like Denys was compromising.

But in reality, nothing had changed—he still wanted veto power over every meaningful reform within the Night’s Watch.

The first two conditions? Aegor could live with them. He didn’t need the sworn brothers’ loyalty—he just needed them to stand on the Wall and do their damn job.

But the third?

Even in its revised form, it was a direct challenge to the Lord Commander’s authority. It would chain Aegor down for as long as Denys lived.

And no one knew how long that might be.

Aegor was about to reject it outright—but after a moment’s thought, he decided to take a different approach.

"Fine. But I have a condition of my own."

He locked eyes with Denys and smiled. "If you can secure me a two-thirds majority before Cotter Pyke leaves Castle Black, I’ll accept all three of your terms."

...

The team sent to Castle Black with the withdrawal order had already departed and would arrive in two or three days. By now, night had fallen, which meant no ravens could fly out, and since the voting at Castle Black took place every morning at dawn, even if Denys Mallister decided right this moment to withdraw from the election and throw his full support behind Aegor, he wouldn't be able to influence tomorrow’s results.

Besides, Shadow Tower only had a little over two hundred men—not an insignificant number, but in this one man, one vote election, not all of them would necessarily follow their commander’s orders. Denys alone couldn't instantly overturn the situation.

Aegor expected things to play out like this: word would spread to Castle Black that Denys had withdrawn from the election, prompting many Shadow Tower men to vote for him the next day. That would allow him to maintain an absolute lead despite losing a significant number of votes from Castle Black. With that momentum, those who had previously wavered would start shifting back to his side as well.

But since voting happened once per day, this process would drag on—at least five or six days before a winner was declared.

By that time, Cotter Pyke would have long since left Castle Black.

The condition Aegor had set was almost impossible to fulfill—and if it was impossible, then he had effectively negated the third part of the deal.

On the other hand, if Denys Mallister truly had enough influence to turn the entire election around overnight, then making him a "Deputy Lord Commander" wouldn't be such a bad trade.

......

"Fine, I accept."

Aegor hadn't expected Denys to agree so immediately—without even a moment of hesitation.

"Then we have a deal?" Denys asked.

"Deal." Aegor might have been surprised, but he wasn’t about to go back on his word. For once, it felt good to be the kind of man whose words were final. "I'm just curious—your relationship with Cotter Pyke has always been terrible. Why insist on keeping him as Eastwatch’s commander?"

"You've never managed a castle yourself, so you wouldn't understand," Denys said with a knowing smile. "To the men, a fortress commander isn’t just a superior officer. He’s their caretaker—both their father and their mother. He keeps them alive in battle, makes sure they don’t starve, ensures they have clothes to wear."

Denys leaned back slightly, as if reminiscing. "Take Bowen Marsh, for example. You know how he is—so tight-fisted, he must have starved to death in his last life. He only distributes resources per head, just enough to keep us from freezing or starving, never a bit extra. If we want our men to enjoy a warm meal, a stiff drink, or even a new cloak, that’s up to us as commanders.

"Cotter Pyke does it by trading with merchant ships that stop at Eastwatch. I do it by negotiating with hill clans, friendly Northern houses, even Free Folk."

He paused, the hint of a smile forming at the edge of his lips. "Between the two of us, we've been in command longer than Jeor Mormont was Lord Commander. I’m not exaggerating when I say that most of our men trust us more than anyone else in the Watch. It might not be the kind of bond that lasts beyond death, but it's stronger than you’d think. Replacing a commander at the wrong time? That’s a battlefield disaster. And replacing one of the three key fortresses' commanders? That’s outright dangerous."

Aegor nodded thoughtfully. "I see..."

"I'm glad you do. Yes, as Lord Commander, you will have the power to reassign officers. But understand this—Night’s Watchmen are not ordinary soldiers. Most of them are criminals, outcasts, and scum—men abandoned by the Seven Kingdoms.

"They take the black knowing they’ll never retire, never grow old in peace. The only thing they have left is their sense of brotherhood, however twisted it might be. Even if you put in a perfectly competent replacement—or even go to Eastwatch yourself—you will not gain the same level of trust and obedience that Cotter Pyke commands.

"And right now, with White Walkers and the dead threatening our gates, we cannot afford to take that risk."

Denys hesitated, then added, "Make no mistake—I hate Cotter Pyke. If this war ends and you want to replace him, I’ll gladly support you. But until then, we need him."

Aegor couldn't find anything to argue against. For once, he truly believed that Denys was genuinely thinking about the Wall’s survival—no hidden agenda, no deception.

"Alright," he relented. "Let the old bastard enjoy his command for a little longer."

......

With negotiations concluded, the two spent some time discussing the finer details of Aegor’s upcoming reforms—establishing which Night’s Watch laws he would immediately change upon taking office. They agreed to leave the rest for future discussions.

The deal was made.

The two men stood, brushing off the informal attitudes they had adopted for the discussion, and bid each other farewell.

Just as Denys was about to step out the door, Aegor suddenly spoke up.

"Ser Mallister," he said. "Back at Castle Black, I publicly claimed that you and Cotter Pyke were both incompetent and useless. You must understand—that was a necessary political move, not something I truly believed.

"Now, I want to retract those words. You are one of the most honorable and admirable men I have ever met. I hope you can forgive my previous insult."

The old knight turned back, offering a faint, weary smile.

"You will likely be the last Lord Commander I serve," he said. "I tell myself that you will do better than I could have.

"Do not make me regret it."

......