Chapter 73

The following day brought an unexpected surprise: Petyr Baelish had sent a messenger to the Night's Watch office with a pouch containing one hundred gold dragons, labeled as a "defense grant." While Aegor couldn't help but feel a twinge of irony at being covertly at odds with Littlefinger while receiving his money, he brushed aside any semblance of guilt. The funds were undoubtedly a product of Baelish’s scheming and manipulation, likely disguised as a state expense. Ultimately, it would be the common folk—the taxpayers—who bore the burden.

For Aegor, the situation was simple. The Night's Watch existed to protect Westeros against a real, existential threat from the north, and yet, even in this moment of crisis, it took the intervention of Eddard Stark to squeeze this meager sum out of the crown. The irony of defending an ungrateful realm was not lost on him.
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The hundred gold dragons weren’t much for the entirety of the Night’s Watch. It would barely cover a month’s worth of food for the brothers, and that didn’t even account for weapon upkeep or compensation for fallen members. However, in Aegor’s hands, the sum was a lifeline—a catalyst to firmly establish the Night’s Watch office in King’s Landing.

Since the funds were an official allocation and not tied to the bonds, Aegor had full discretion over their use. This small but vital pool of “public funds” meant he no longer needed to pinch every silver stag just to get by.
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Although Aegor had more or less mastered Westerosi Common Tongue, he continued to feign illiteracy when it came to reading and writing. This served multiple purposes: it deflected suspicion regarding the anonymous rumor slips he had distributed, and it allowed him to delegate writing tasks to Tyrion without raising eyebrows. Whether it was recruitment posters, fundraising notices, or supply requests, everything went through the dwarf’s meticulous penmanship.

By mid-morning, Aegor was teaching Arya sword basics when a group of workmen arrived to install the custom-made signboard for the Night's Watch office. The dark, polished wood bore the gilded words "Night’s Watch Office" in bold, commanding letters. Among the colorful and ornate signs of the street, this simple black-and-gold design stood out starkly, drawing attention with its understated elegance.
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As for the spread of rumors, Aegor refrained from investigating or drawing attention to his handiwork. Meanwhile, the paper prototypes from the sibling craftsmen were yet to materialize, and the obsidian mine on Dragonstone had only just begun operations. With no subordinates to delegate to, Aegor’s days became a mix of routine office management, interacting with Tyrion, and teaching Arya swordsmanship. For the first time in weeks, he found himself with more free time than he knew what to do with.
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Two days later, Tyrion arrived at the office with a nobleman in tow—Ser Laek, a minor lord from the Crownlands. Ser Laek had little interest in the details of the bond but was willing to purchase a single bond for one hundred gold dragons purely as a favor to the Lannisters. Tyrion had set the initial interest rate at three times their original plan, a bold move that underscored their confidence in future earnings.

After seeing off their first official bondholder, Tyrion grinned and turned to Aegor. "The first batch of sample paper is ready. Shall we take a look?"

Aegor perked up immediately. "Of course. Arya, want to come along?"

“Yes!” Arya beamed. “Where are we going?”

“To see something interesting,” Aegor replied, then glanced at Tyrion, who gave a nonchalant shrug. "Fine, bring her along. Just make sure she doesn’t break anything."
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Arya had quickly grown attached to Aegor, thanks to his mix of sword lessons, captivating tales of adventure, and playful tolerance for her quirks. She followed eagerly as they made their way through King’s Landing, accompanied by her Stark household guard.

After a lengthy ride through the city, the group arrived at a modest workshop in the northwest corner of King’s Landing. This was the first papermaking facility in the city that did not rely on animal hides as its primary material. Aegor dismounted, anticipation building as they approached the doors.

"Let’s see what these paper-makers can do," he said with a grin.