Chapter 225: Old Tricks Replayed
Observation alone yielded no conclusions, but Egger had a tongue and a brain; he could ask, then judge for himself.
"Why did Ser Rodrik kill the Bolton bastard yet let this stinking wretch live?"
The leader of the Northern soldiers replied, "Ser Rodrik hoped to have this man testify to Lord Bolton in person regarding his bastard's crimes when the Lord returns to the North, thereby forcing House Bolton to voluntarily drop their claim to the Hornwood lands."
So that's it, Egger nodded. "Then why, in the end, was he released and given to the Night's Watch?"
"Err... a few days ago, Lord Bolton wrote back to Winterfell from the south, announcing he was severing all ties with his bastard. He stated that nothing Ramsay Snow did represented House Bolton and that he renounced all claims to Hornwood and its vassal lands."
Another soldier chimed in, "I heard the contents of the letter from someone else; I can still recite it—'The blood of a bastard is forever a source of chaos; this Ramsay is by nature cunning, greedy, and cruel. I declare my disassociation from him. Should he remain alive, my fair wife and my soon-to-be-born legitimate heirs shall never know peace.'"
"How decisive. Roose Bolton is a truly ruthless character," Yam remarked with admiration. "Both are Northmen, yet the education and attitude different men have toward their bastards are truly worlds apart."
This was an obvious comparison to Eddard Stark's bastard, Jon Snow. Everyone present caught the subtext immediately, and in their shared resonance, they couldn't help but nod in agreement.
Egger's suspicion deepened as he looked at Reek. "This fellow stinks so badly that if I let him join the Watch, I fear I'll never want to step foot in Castle Black again."
"If the Lord cannot stand the smell, I can go wash right away," Reek answered submissively.
The stench on Reek was something that couldn't be washed off. Egger continued to probe: "But the Night's Watch is already such a mess. What use is there in taking in scum like you?"
"My Lord, all those evil deeds were ordered by Lord Bolton's bastard! I can read and write, I can do anything—the Night's Watch will have need of me!"
How could the real Reek read and write? After these few words, Egger was nearly certain that the man before him was Ramsay Snow—the Bastard of Bolton.
A familiar surge of anger rose, which Egger suppressed with effort. His grand plan had only just begun; he bore the weight of the safety of the North and the Seven Kingdoms, as well as the futures of his followers and the employees of the Night's Watch industries. He had no desire—and no energy—to engage in a meaningless battle of wits with a villain and expose himself to danger.
"If I refuse this man's entry into the Night's Watch... how would the castellan of Winterfell or Ser Rodrik handle him?"
The grey-clad soldier shrugged. "I'm not a Winterfell man; I don't know much about Young Master Bran or Ser Rodrik. Likely... hanging or beheading."
"My Lord?" Reek became terrified at the words. "I can do anything, I swear I'll be loyal to the Watch."
"Forget it." Egger shook his head. Sending this man back to Winterfell for the Starks to deal with was the safest choice, but once a person left his grasp, variables appeared: Commander Mormont might veto his order and bring him to Castle Black, the fellow might escape en route, and so on... He didn't want to gamble. "It's a journey of several days to Winterfell; wasting time back and forth is pointless. Find a place and hang this fellow."
"My Lord? Why, my Lord? I've done nothing, my Lord!" Reek hadn't expected the situation to turn so quickly; he cried out in shock.
"Execute him immediately."
"Mercy, my Lord! Those foul deeds truly weren't mine!" The prisoner broke free from the grip of two soldiers and lunged toward Egger—whether to attack him or clutch his legs for mercy was unclear—but before he had run two steps, a Northern soldier swept him down with a spear. He hit the ground face-first; as he scrambled up to scream again, the spear shaft smashed into his face. Most of his teeth shattered instantly, leaving his face below the nose a bloody mess, rendering his words unintelligible.
Though they didn't understand why Egger's killing intent had suddenly flared, the soldiers had long since grown tired of escorting this stinking wretch anyway. "But where is there a place for an execution here?"
"If there isn't one, find a tree outside the walls or prop up a timber. Handle it yourselves; no need to ask further."
Egger wasn't actually a hundred percent certain this man was the Bastard of Bolton, nor did he have evidence that the man would continue to do evil or threaten him after joining the Watch... but he had come to a realization: to be responsible for his own cause, his followers, and his friends, what did it matter if he killed one villain by mistake?
...
"My Lord, even if you disliked the man, there was no need to kill him outright." Watching Reek being dragged away by several Northern soldiers while let out garbled cries, the confusion on Yam's face was impossible to hide. He never knew Egger had such a ruthless side. "If Castle Black or Winterfell looks into this..."
Mormont would certainly be displeased; he might call for a meeting and notify Egger that he could no longer refuse anyone... Winterfell would likely feel slighted too. But no matter what happened, they could only tell Egger not to act without authorization next time; they couldn't bring Janos or Ramsay back to life.
He would never face any substantial punishment. The Old Bear could not afford to cut off his own right hand during this crisis. As for Winterfell... Ser Rodrik might grumble a few words at him, but given the favor he had earned by saving Bran and Arya, the Starks would never trouble him over this.
As for Roose Bolton's retaliation... he had only ordered the execution of Reek, the man who had led his bastard astray. Why would he retaliate?
"If no one asks, act as if this fellow never existed. If someone does, pin it all on me," Egger said dismissively. "Perhaps I should have Mormont issue a proclamation stating the Night's Watch will no longer accept violent criminals? Sending everyone to the Wall—at this rate, who could feed them all!"
He spent another few dozen minutes inspecting the empty but high and sturdy warehouses, which were already prepared to receive goods; the tour of New Queenscrown was complete. When Egger returned to the main gate, Reek was already hanging from a sturdy branch of an oak tree outside the town. Looking at the corpse swaying in the wind, Egger was suddenly moved: this was a truly cruel, cold, and real world. There were no important characters, protagonists, or supporting roles—everyone was just a mortal.
As powerful as the Mountain, who had so much screen time in the original story, in this world he had been beheaded by Tywin and sent to Dorne to sue for peace without Egger even seeing him once. As cunning and evil as the Bastard of Bolton, he had the misfortune of falling into the hands of an Egger who knew him... On Egger's own turf, surrounded by his own soldiers, a single sentence could send his soul from this world.
What he was doing now was likely what people called being decisive in slaughter. Had all the great men in history who earned this reputation shared similar experiences and considerations of nearly being tripped up in a gutter?
He was no stronger than the Mountain, nor more cunning than the Bastard. If he didn't maintain constant vigilance and cruelty toward his enemies, should he one day fall into the hands of a rival or someone who despised him, he likely wouldn't fare much better than the corpse before him.
"No need to keep it hanging here. Take it down tomorrow and find a place to bury... no, burn it." Egger pulled back his thoughts and looked at Yam again. "Furthermore, I have other tasks to entrust to you. Queenscrown must have its own ability to communicate with the outside world. Add a rookery to the top of that tower on the island; I'll ask Mormont for someone to tend the ravens. Additionally, I don't have time to go south and negotiate grain purchases with the Northern lords one by one. Once you've settled things here, head south and visit every house once. Keep your attitude right—we are buying, not asking for donations. I know it's autumn, when the North traditionally begins stockpiling, but ask them for the sake of the Night's Watch protecting the North to try not to raise prices too much."
"Understood. Are there any other instructions?"
"Oh, right. Take a hundred gold dragons with you. At every stop, find a way to exchange them for small change—Silver Stags, Copper Stars—everything, the more fragmented the better. If we want every clansman to learn how to use money, Gold Dragons alone won't suffice." Egger thought for a moment and found nothing else to relay. "I truly have no other capable men to use here; you'll have a hard time of it. Of the soldiers Robb assigned to me, I'll take fifty; you take the rest. Stay safe."
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!