Chapter 97

“The tens of thousands of Free Folk beyond the Wall are fleeing the foretold Long Winter and attempting to cross into the Seven Kingdoms. The Night’s Watch, weakened and in disarray, is no longer capable of holding them back. Reform is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Without change, extinction is inevitable.” Aegor deliberately avoided mentioning the Others. Without concrete evidence, speaking of such things would only make others dismiss him as a fool. “That said, the reason I’ve been sent to organize these efforts—aside from the invaluable assistance of Lord Tyrion Lannister—is primarily because I’ve ‘offended no one.’”

…

Tyrion had summed it up succinctly, in his usual unvarnished style: “The price wasn’t too high.”

The truth was, Tyrion’s success in getting Aegor away from the Wall wasn’t just due to promises of funding or his silver tongue. The real reason lay in Aegor himself: he was insignificant. He had no powerful patrons, but he also had no enemies. There was no one watching his every move, waiting for him to slip up so they could run to Lord Commander Mormont or complain to King Robert.

If it had been a different case—say, a former heir to a noble house, forced to don the black after siding with the wrong faction during Robert’s Rebellion—such a man would have found it impossible to leave. Unless Robert Baratheon died, and even then, it wouldn’t be easy. For those who backed the wrong side, survival meant either defecting mid-battle or self-imposed exile. That was an unspoken rule of Westerosi politics. As the ultimate beneficiary of this "game of thrones," Robert—unless he were a political disaster like Joffrey—would never undermine these rules just for minor gains.

To leave the Wall like Aegor did, one would need to offer the King something so enticing he couldn’t refuse, and even then, they’d have to silence all dissenting voices.

Take House Buckwell, for example. They were wealthy enough to scrape together thousands of gold dragons. But to Robert, who had spent years as a reckless warrior-king oblivious to the true cost of governance, that kind of money was nothing. It wouldn’t even make a dent in the debts he owed to Tywin Lannister and the Iron Bank of Braavos. What use would Robert have for such an offer?

In theory, the Night’s Watch could act independently of the King. But in practice, how many in Westeros could afford to disregard the wishes of their supreme ruler? Look at the likes of Walder Frey, Oberyn Martell, Olenna Tyrell, or Roose Bolton. They all carried an aura of defiance, but as long as Robert lived and the alliance of Baratheon, Stark, Tully, and Arryn remained intact, even the most cunning heroes and heroines had to bide their time in their castles, keeping their heads down.

Even ignoring the outside world, there was a more immediate obstacle: how much effort had it taken Tyrion to convince the Night’s Watch leadership to let Aegor leave, despite him being just an "ordinary man"? If it were a politically sensitive figure like Ser Jarman Buckwell—a ranger and “political exile”—the difficulty would skyrocket.

The Night’s Watch couldn’t afford to let this become a precedent. If they allowed individuals to leave, the institution would fall apart overnight. Nobles with connections would bribe their way out, while those without would seethe with jealousy, leading to internal chaos. Once this trend began, the rulers of Westeros and the Watch’s own leadership would clamp down to preserve their security. If things escalated, even Aegor, out here on official business, might be dragged back to the Wall.

This wasn’t an easy problem to solve.

…

“I see.” The old Buckwell lord nodded, understanding Aegor’s subtext. Standing on the wrong side during Robert’s Rebellion and escaping with his head still attached had been fortunate enough. Hoping to leave the Night’s Watch might be pushing his luck, but the old lord wasn’t ready to give up. “However, I do have an idea—since you’re the Chief Logistics Officer, could you arrange for Jarman to be reassigned to your department? Task him with procuring supplies and arms for the Watch in the Crownlands, using Buckwell lands as his base. Wouldn’t that solve the issue?”

The idea was feasible, but Aegor wasn’t about to admit that his position as Chief Logistics Officer was barely more than an honorary title, secured through half-truths and manipulation. Most people assumed that Aegor was one of the top-ranking officers of the Night’s Watch, below only the Lord Commander, First Ranger, First Builder, and First Steward. This misconception worked to his advantage and had already brought him some benefits.

In reality, though? Even a random ranger captain held more sway than Aegor. He was already pushing his luck staying away from the Wall this long; he couldn’t afford to take risks by stretching his authority.

“My lord, I won’t lie to you.” Aegor decided against outright deception but chose his words carefully. “The logistics department is newly established, and its authority doesn’t yet rival the older branches. I have the freedom to recruit as I see fit, but I cannot reassign anyone stationed at the Wall… at least, not for now. I’ve only been in this position for two months.”

He paused, then added, “Once I’ve expanded the Watch’s enterprises, built a network of allies in King’s Landing, and monopolized the logistics supply chain for the Watch, I’ll have the influence to push for personnel changes. But influence and authority aren’t handed out—they must be earned. I’m sure you, as someone who’s managed a noble house for decades, understand this principle.”

“I understand.” Lord Buckwell nodded again, realizing that Aegor was seeking a clear stance. “I’ll do what I can to support your efforts in King’s Landing. Once this campaign ends, and assuming Buckwell’s coffers aren’t completely drained, we’ll proceed with the investment as agreed. I don’t mind reduced profits—or even none at all—but I hope you’ll keep Jarman’s matter in mind.”

“You’re too kind, my lord. The Night’s Watch will remember your support during this critical moment for the Wall’s defense.”

…

It was easy to negotiate with intelligent people. In just a few exchanges, two unrelated individuals—or rather, two small factions—had identified mutual interests and even laid the groundwork for future collaboration.

Aegor felt a twinge of guilt. He couldn’t actually help Lord Buckwell retrieve Jarman, but he had intentionally allowed the old lord to believe that it was a difficult but not impossible task. Such was the nature of the game he was now playing. From an honest engineer, Aegor was slowly transforming into a smooth-talking merchant, always looking for ways to steer conversations toward money, investments, and profits.

Once, he had been a straightforward man, unwilling to deceive anyone outside of his closest loved ones. Now, he could lie without blushing or faltering.

Becoming someone he once disliked wasn’t a pleasant experience, but at least he wasn’t planning to swindle his investors out of their money. In this harsh world, he couldn’t afford to act recklessly. While Littlefinger had fallen easily thanks to a well-placed rumor, it was a reminder that in Westeros, reputation and perception were everything.

Securing his first investment with clever words, Aegor pondered his next move. If Petyr Baelish were in his place, forced to waste time on Robert Baratheon’s whims, what would he do?

The answer was clear. This rebellion in the Vale might just be a show of strength for Robert—a chance to relive his glory days. But for Aegor, it was an opportunity. Nearly every notable noble in the realm would be here, responding to the King’s call. This was a rare chance to connect with the realm’s most influential figures without chasing them across Westeros.

Time wasted on this campaign could be repaid tenfold in connections. Though Tyrion had suggested Aegor enjoy this trip to the Vale, Aegor wasn’t the type to idly sightsee while his partners in King’s Landing worked tirelessly.

This was his chance to turn lost time into a valuable network of allies. Opportunity knocked only once.