Chapter 222: Plain Dealing
Jaime and the Western volunteers he brought to the Wall were fully equipped and highly trained. Upon returning to Castle Black, Mormont wasted no time in inducting them into the Order under the pressure of the front lines. Unsurprisingly, Jaime was made a Ranger Sergeant—a junior officer, but an officer nonetheless. In name, at least, he was now Egger's sworn brother.
As the welcoming feast concluded, the Night's Watch guests were assigned quarters by Old Flint. Being officers, Egger and Jaime were given one of the sturdiest, most wind-resistant tents in the entire clan. Sitting on his furs, Jaime shot a glance at Egger. "You just added a thousand mouths to the Order's burden and promised away a fortress on a whim. Mormont won't have an issue with that?"
Well, look at that. The Kingslayer, who's been a silent clam for a month, finally deigns to chat?
Egger looked at him with surprise. "The thousand mouths? I'm responsible for feeding them; Mormont needn't worry. As for the so-called fortress? It's a rat-infested ruin of no value to the Night's Watch. If Mormont would rather let them sit empty than house the reinforcements I brought in, then the Watch truly deserves to perish. There'd be no hope for the Wall anyway, and I should probably start planning my exit early."
There were nineteen castles along the Wall, and the Watch only had enough men to garrison three. This meant sixteen stood vacant. Egger's original plan was to settle the Wildlings in them once they were subdued, but his field research at the front lines had revealed a harsh truth: if he didn't find outside help to fight the Wildlings immediately, the very people he intended to recruit would kill him first. Driven by necessity, he had to accelerate his plan to repopulate the Gift... only the targets had shifted from Wildlings to clansmen.
Allies already living in the North would certainly be easier to manage than Wildlings, but the drawback was obvious: the clansmen were not homeless. They came and went as they pleased. Once winter passed and the mountains teemed with life again, many would surely abandon the fortresses to return to their ancestral lands, and no one could stop them. The Kings of Winter had spent thousands of years failing to turn the clansmen into true subjects; Egger, a newcomer, had even less chance.
Clansmen or Wildlings—which would prove the better strength to harness? The pros and cons could only be revealed by time.
Once they settled in, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Since Jaime had initiated the conversation, Egger was more than happy to show some goodwill and cozy up to such a powerful fighter and high-ranking noble. "Jaime, it's been a few days since we arrived at the Wall. How does life in the Watch compare to what you imagined? if you run into any trouble, just tell me. If I can solve it, I will."
"Thanks." Jaime unbuckled his armor, set it aside, and lay back on the bed. He cushioned the back of his head with his hands, staring up at the tent ceiling to rest. "But you should probably worry about yourself first."
Worry about myself? Egger was baffled. He was technically the superior officer here and had intended to win over the new Ranger Sergeant, only to be lectured out of the blue. He wasn't about to let that slide. "What do you mean by that?"
"Do you really think everyone else is blind?" Jaime scoffed. "When we first met at Winterfell, and the second time in King's Landing, you seemed like a decent enough fellow. Who knew you had this sort of hobby?"
"What hobby?" The more Egger heard, the more confused he became. He had plenty of secrets, but he didn't think any of them had offended Jaime Lannister. "Could you speak plainly?"
"On the road north, that young boy by your side," Jaime snorted. "Trousers soaked in blood—do you think we didn't see? What you like is your own business, but there's such a thing as restraint. Were you trying to kill him? Where is the boy now? Nursing his wounds at Winterfell, or did you 'dispose' of him somewhere?"
...
Egger's mouth fell open; he was momentarily stunned.
So Jaime and the Westerners had seen it too. But the misunderstanding had veered wildly off course: they thought Arya was a catamite or a page he was keeping for pleasure. To leave a boy broken and bleeding through his clothes was a depravity so extreme it was no wonder Jaime looked down on him.
Gods, that girl Arya has caused me a mountain of trouble!
Egger felt a massive headache coming on. Jaime was currently the undisputed best swordsman in the Watch and commanded over forty elite soldiers—a force very much worth winning over. But if he didn't clear this up, he would remain a boy-loving freak in Jaime's eyes. In such a state, forget making friends or allies; even maintaining a normal professional relationship as colleagues would be impossible.
But how to explain it? If he told Jaime that the "boy" he brought to Winterfell was actually Arya Stark, he'd be handing Jaime a major piece of leverage. While Stannis held King's Landing, breaking his neutral image wasn't something to take lightly.
After a brief deliberation, weighing the risks, Egger gritted his teeth. What's one piece of leverage? "What do you think you know? Do you know the child's name, or even if it was a boy or a girl? You think you've seen my 'true face' based on that?"
"Hmm?" Jaime stared at Egger with surprise for a moment. Seeing Egger's righteous indignation, he realized he might have misunderstood. His tone softened considerably. "Who was the child then... boy or girl... was it a girl?" Jaime, a man in his thirties, obviously knew about a woman's flow. It clicked instantly. "The blood was—"
"As long as you understand. I cannot reveal the child's identity to you, but I hope you realize I am not the sort of man you imagined."
"Fine, I was mistaken." Egger had traveled from King's Landing, and the child had vanished at Winterfell. As a Lannister, Jaime was well-informed. Piecing together the clues, it was easy enough to guess Arya's identity. "However, doing so seems to violate the Night's Watch principle of neutrality."
"Indeed. But I also helped Tyrion escape King's Landing on the day you caused that mess, which also violated the principle of neutrality," Egger countered without backing down. "I think you, of all people, understand—in this world, there are some rules we simply don't follow to the letter, isn't that right?"
The room fell silent for a few more seconds. Jaime felt a bit sheepish. He sat up halfway. "Fine, I got it wrong. I apologize." He shrugged, and after a long detour, he finally answered Egger's original question. "But since you've cleared up some misunderstandings for me, there are things about me I might as well make clear to you—no matter what my father told you at the Golden Tooth, ignore him. Don't worry about giving me special treatment or trying to find a way to get me out of these black clothes. Just let me be an ordinary man of the Watch."
Egger looked at Jaime with confusion, nodding as he waited for him to continue.
"It's not a personal slight against you; I appreciate the sentiment..." Jaime paused, letting out a long breath. "But I've made too many mistakes in this life. Putting on the black and coming to the edge of the world to join the Watch might be the only right thing I've ever done. This once, let me keep a vow. Dying in battle against Wildlings or whatever those White Walkers are might be the best end for me. If you truly want to help me, just ensure my bones are returned to Casterly Rock when the time comes."
...
This time, it was Egger's turn to be surprised. On second thought, Jaime's mindset was unexpected but logical. People in different circumstances have vastly different outlooks. Egger was racking his brain to achieve great deeds and seize influence so he could one day decide his own fate—perhaps take off the black or do something even bigger. But for others, joining the Watch was already the best possible destination.
Jaime was a man in his thirties. He might seem impulsive, naive, or reckless compared to his peers, but he wasn't a child. He had his own thoughts, could take care of himself, and didn't need someone else micromanaging him.
The Kingslayer had his own plan. All that redemption and atonement talk was likely just Egger projecting his own ideas.
Despite the misunderstandings, clearing the air was a good thing. The conversation wasn't exactly pleasant, but it certainly narrowed the distance between them—a good start.
"I understand. Thank you for telling me what's on your mind," Egger nodded. "But since we're being open, let me be clear as well: the Wall is the front line protecting the realms of men, not a place for someone to seek inner penance or throw their life away. You want to be an ordinary man of the Watch? Fine. But your oath requires you to protect your own life so you can keep your watch. Don't go doing something that seems 'noble' or 'tragic' but is actually worthless, like seeking an early death."
"Furthermore, there's something you've likely forgotten: you were the very first purchaser of a Night's Watch bond. The Night's Watch industries wouldn't be where they are today without that first donation of yours, which was never redeemed. You are my creditor and a founding investor—one could even say a benefactor. Even if you've lost that bond, the fact remains. Our relationship isn't just 'acquaintances' or 'sworn brothers.' I will try to treat you like an ordinary ranger. But remember this: if I can't help but give you a little extra care or treatment, it's not out of pity, mercy, or a favor to your father or brother. It's because I truly owe you. Accept it gracefully; don't overthink it or take it as an insult."
Jaime looked at Egger thoughtfully and then smiled. It was just a slight twitch of the lips, but it was a smile nonetheless. Perhaps he was remembering the bond he'd long since lost, or the bizarre conversation he'd had when Tyrion dragged him to visit the Watch's workshops, or even their strange connection to Bran's fall... regardless, his attitude had shifted significantly.
"Understood. My thanks to the Chief Logistics Officer for explaining these things. I shall keep them in mind."
Jaime replied in the tone of a subordinate. Though he still maintained that cynical, world-weary "don't care" attitude, Egger knew that while the attempt to get close had started on the wrong foot, the harvest was plentiful.
Then, the heavy flap of the tent was lifted. Two young girls slipped inside, their faces a mixture of shyness and suppressed delight. "Good evening, lords. The Chief ordered us... to warm the beds for our honored guests."
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