Chapter 301: Change in the Gift (Part 2)
Cotter Pyke opened his eyes.
Outside the window, the sky was still gloomy. Filtered through the glass and curtains, the room remained shrouded in darkness. The light was far from enough to wake a person; even accounting for the weather, it had to be early.
He blinked in confusion. How had he woken up?
The Eastwatch delegation had come to Castle Black for the election with the tasks of canvassing for votes and gathering intelligence on their rival's movements. Naturally, they didn't need to wake, assemble, and stand for roll call every day like the local soldiers, nor did they have to endure training or garrison duties like patrolling and sentry work. Physiologically speaking, this election could be considered a paid vacation, a trip on the public dime where one could sleep until broad daylight without interference.
Indeed, several setbacks and frustrations had placed significant mental pressure on Cotter, but he was a resilient warrior. To think a few worries could keep him from sleeping? Nonsense.
Lying in bed and pondering for a few seconds, he quickly realized he hadn't woken up naturally.
Someone was shouting outside. Through the walls, he couldn't make out the words, but the tone of tension was unmistakable even without clarity of speech.
What was happening?
As if answering his question, the horn sounded.
Due to subtle differences in the instrument itself and the method of blowing, the alarm's tone differed slightly from those at Eastwatch, but the effect was the same. The low blast possessed immense piercing power—haunting and soul-stirring, it was enough to wake the dead. Generally, a startled person would lie in bed and wait; if there was no second blast, they would roll over and go back to sleep. If there was, they would react according to drill procedures. But the gates through the Wall had long been blocked, and the patrols beyond the Wall had ceased for who knows how long...
This could not be the signal for returning rangers.
Drowsiness vanished instantly. Cotter Pyke vaulted from the bed, grabbed his heavy coat from the rack, and threw it over his shoulders. Decades in the Night's Watch had made these movements habitual and rapid. By the time the second horn sounded, he had grabbed his weapon and marched out the door.
Less than a beat behind him, all of Castle Black woke with equal speed. In an instant, tense shouted orders, chaotic footsteps, and the metallic clatter of searching for weapons shattered the previous silence, filling the fortress with an air of grim urgency.
Fortunately, the horn blasts did not come from atop the Wall, nor did the soul-shattering third blast ring out.
Cotter caught a soldier hurrying across the courtyard. The man looked nervous but was fully geared; clearly, he hadn't just woken up but was a sentry on duty. "Hey, what's happening?!"
"A massive crowd appeared outside the fortress, a dark mass of them. At least several hundred, identity unknown. Likely wildlings!" The Night's Watchman wrenched his arm from Cotter's grip. "Apologies, my lord... but I must hurry to inform the other officers—the armory must be opened."
The sentry rushed toward the tower where the officers of Castle Black resided, leaving Cotter full of doubt.
A wildling uprising? Wasn't that the very effect he had intended to manufacture to topple Egger? But the King-Beyond-the-Wall had already been moved to Queenscrown; how could the wildlings still cause trouble? Unless... the Kingslayer had made a mistake during the escort, Mance had escaped, and the former Wildling King had gathered his hosts again to strike back and wash away his shame?
Wildlings gathered under a leader of prestige were far harder to deal with than a scattered rabble!
Cotter didn't know whether to count this as good news or bad, but one thing was certain: he could not let the enemy breach Castle Black, or he would lose his life as well!
The officers of Castle Black were naturally no slower than their guests. By the time the men of Eastwatch had dressed and armed themselves to reach the perimeter wall—which seemed so low as to be non-existent compared to the Wall itself—the three "Firsts" had also arrived one after another.
"Have we identified the group outside?"
"No. It could be Ironborn seeking revenge for our previous interference, or perhaps a wildling raiding party," a sentry said, shaking his head. "But it doesn't look like it. Wildlings... wouldn't be this orderly."
Indeed, under the gloomy, snowing sky and set against the white backdrop of the snow, the unidentified army outside Castle Black was exceptionally conspicuous. Clad in dark clothing, they were currently huddling on both sides of the Kingsroad, appearing to be assembling and forming ranks after a march.
Soon, they fanned out with considerable order, slowly stretching from a cluster into a band, forming a crescent around tiny Castle Black. Their every movement displayed a quite impressive level of training.
Othell Yarwyck quickly sensed something wrong. "This... why does it look like they are surrounding us?"
He didn't need to point it out for others to see. The First Ranger furrowed his brows deeply. "They come with ill intent. Go—arm everyone except those in the kitchens. Tell the cooks to hurry up and get breakfast to the lines as quickly as possible. The enemy could attack at any moment; I don't want the men fighting on empty stomachs!"
"Yes, sir!"
Bowen Marsh looked out past the wall, attempting to estimate the number of the army outside. The black dots on the white snow were clear and easy to distinguish. He soon breathed a sigh of relief: less than a thousand. Although half the Night's Watch in Castle Black were old, weak, or disabled, the existence of the perimeter wall greatly compensated for this disadvantage. As long as they didn't launch an active sortie, they could hold out against an enemy twice that size.
For the first time, he felt what a wise decision it had been for the Old Bear to order the construction of the wall, yet he didn't dare show carelessness. "The enemy is not numerous, but they appear well-trained. Do not underestimate them! Inform the Maester to send ravens to the neighboring forts for aid. Othell, go make arrangements. Bring out everything that can be used for defense, including oil and wildfire! Additionally, send men to the top of the Wall to move the scorpions facing north to the south side. They might come in handy later!"
"Understood." The First Builder didn't hesitate; he nodded quickly and turned to leave.
After finishing the arrangements, Bowen Marsh turned to the Commander of Eastwatch. "Lord Cotter, if a battle breaks out, I ask that you lead the brothers of Eastwatch to assist our men in defending the gate."
"Hmph. I can see for myself where men are needed; you needn't worry about it. You lot had better find out how this gang outside appeared and what their purpose is!"
Being a professional army that drilled daily, it didn't take long for squad after squad of black-clad men to don their gear and take to the towers and walls.
Accustomed to the majesty of the Wall, the perimeter wall of Castle Black, less than ten meters high, offered the Night's Watchmen little sense of security. They paced and peered out uneasily, shouting their needs to one another: arrows here, bolts there; someone wanting a final trip to the privy, someone else intending a final sharpen of their sword. Septon Cellador began leading the followers of the Seven in prayer, beseeching the Warrior for strength. The brothers in the kitchen began hauling out tubs of black bread and onion broth, and once distributed, they brought out the large pots to the wall-top to light fires and boil oil for defense.
They worked with feverish intensity for some time, yet the enemy did not seize the chance to strike. By the time Castle Black's defensive preparations were nearly complete, the mysterious army outside had not moved a single step closer to the wall. Instead, they spread out and established a blockade just beyond bowshot, confronting Castle Black from a distance.
Just as the Night's Watchmen began discussing whether to send scouts out to identify the opposition, a sharp-eyed soldier cried out: within the blockade line already arrayed outside the fortress, a figure stepped out from the ranks and began walking through the snow toward the main gate.
Every eye fell upon the newcomer. As he drew closer, the Watchmen atop the walls of Castle Black discovered to their surprise that the man was also dressed in black, and many even recognized him.
He was not a Sworn Brother, yet he was one of their own—one of the high-ranking leaders of the Night's Watch Industry in the Gift, the "Mayor of Queenscrown," Liam.
"My lords!" Liam walked to the base of the wall, holding his hands high to show he was no threat. "Under the instructions of the Warden of the North, Lord Stark, and Chief Logistics Officer Egger West, I have brought men to handle the case of 'unidentified persons attempting to murder the surrendered King-Beyond-the-Wall.' Per the request of the Lord of Winterfell, no one is permitted to leave until he concludes his inspection of the Wall and returns personally to Castle Black to investigate this matter. We apologize for the intrusion and offense; please understand!"
"What nonsense are you spewing?" Cotter Pyke roared, leaning over the stone edge of the wall. "Robb Stark would give such an order? Even if it were true, he has no authority to restrict the movements of the Night's Watch!"
"I am not aware of whether Lord Stark has the authority to do so, but I serve the Night's Watch Industry and receive my wages from the Night's Watch Logistics Department. Naturally, I follow the orders of the Lord Commander and the Chief Logistics Officer and am responsible to the Night's Watch. Given my duty, I ask for your cooperation." Liam did not know Cotter Pyke, but that did not hinder his response—the lines were pre-scripted. No matter who appeared or what they said, he would provide a fixed reply like a machine. "Furthermore, one point must be clarified: all forces mobilized from Queenscrown for this journey are from the mountain clans; no new Gift residents are involved. No matter what happens, we will never pose a threat to our friends of the Night's Watch in Castle Black. Aside from being unable to leave the fortress, the brothers should simply train and guard the Wall as usual. There is no need for tension!"
Having said this, the Mayor of Queenscrown bowed slightly. Ignoring the reactions of the officers atop the wall, he turned and walked away with a swagger, returning to the ranks of the besiegers.
"The boy has gone mad!" Cotter Pyke's eyes bulged with rage as he slammed a fist into the stonework with a dull thud. "Does he think that by surrounding Castle Black and flexing his muscles, the brothers will turn into cowards and give him their votes? Pure fantasy!"
"No, he's not trying to use force to coerce the Watchmen of Castle Black into voting for him; he's stopping you from returning to Eastwatch!" Yohn Royce felt a jolt of realization as he suddenly understood Egger's intent. A faint chill ran down his spine. Was this fellow truly a mind-reader? Otherwise, how could he have taken preventive measures against a plan Cotter was only brooding over and hadn't even begun to implement?
"The number of people in Eastwatch voting for him far exceeded expectations. He doesn't want to lose those dozens of votes, so he's willing to do whatever it takes to hinder your return to the east!"
"If that is the reason, he has likely miscalculated. Such an arrogant and public mobilization of troops against his own Sworn Brothers will cost him more votes in Castle Black than he gained in all of Eastwatch." Bowen Marsh's face was ice-cold, his voice barely masking his fury. As a soldier, no one could tolerate such an insult: to be surrounded on one's own ground... unable even to walk out the door!
"Though that man came over to identify himself and claimed there are no wildlings in that army, no one can guarantee that is the truth. Defensive preparations will proceed as usual!" The First Ranger issued high-pitched orders with a solemn expression. "Lord Cotter, I do not know if Egger's move is targeted specifically at you, but for your own safety, I suggest you cancel your plans to return to Eastwatch today."
Cancel the trip? Cotter Pyke felt a rush of blood to his head. In his decades of life, he hadn't exactly never backed down or compromised. But like this time: he had already suppressed his indignation and admitted he couldn't beat Egger, intending to slink home in passive resistance, yet the opponent still wouldn't let him go.
This was simply too much!
"What? As the Commander of Eastwatch, do I now have to look to a damn logistics officer's whims just to return to the fortress I command? I'm walking out that gate today, and I'd like to see who dares stop me!"
Theoretically, indeed, no one could stop him.
The Commander of Eastwatch and the Chief Logistics Officer held similar ranks within the hierarchy of the Night's Watch. This meant that while not a direct subordinate, Cotter Pyke was a superior to Liam. If the latter dared to raise a hand, it would be insubordination.
As for the claim that all participants were mountain clansmen and no new Gift residents were involved—even if true, the mountain clans were guests in the Gift, while Cotter Pyke was an ironclad "master." According to guest right... a guest harming a master, for whatever reason, was a grave violation of the laws of gods and men. If the mountain clans wanted to continue living in the Gift, they would never dare act so recklessly.
But in reality? Within that blockade line outside the walls, there was at least one person who absolutely dared to stop him.
"The Kingslayer took Mance Rayder to Queenscrown yesterday and hasn't returned; he is likely out there right now," Bowen Marsh said helplessly. "If he stands before you and says, as he did yesterday, 'those who wish to leave must step over my corpse,' what will you do then?"
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head; Cotter Pyke's fire was instantly halfway extinguished.
It was true. Neither the employees of the Night's Watch Industry nor the mountain clans living in the Gift would ever dare harm a high-ranking officer of the Night's Watch. But if the opposition had someone whose martial skill was so high that they could "defeat or capture him while ensuring he was not harmed," then the situation was entirely different.
As it happened, there really was such a person on the other side.
Rush out to be humiliated and then driven back, or stay like a coward behind the walls... it was a truly difficult choice.
"And what are your plans?" Cotter Pyke's expression shifted several times. "Do you really intend to be obedient and not step a foot out of Castle Black until the other side withdraws?"
"Lord Cotter, I understand what you are thinking." The First Ranger shook his head helplessly. "Leading the brothers out for a fight, escalating things to an unmanageable degree, and then having Robb Stark come to clean up the mess and punish the instigator... it sounds satisfying. But shedding blood for no reason and weakening the Wall's defenses would give the Others an opening! We are the shield that guards the realms of men. If humanity suffers great loss or even extinction because of our internal conflicts and impulses, who could bear that responsibility?"
"Yes, of course. For the greater good! The greater good!" Cotter Pyke roared, his face flushed. "Stop the nonsense. You just intend to use that excuse to keep indulging that boy's arrogance until he destroys the Night's Watch!"
"Lord Cotter, calm yourself." The other man's anger was entirely understandable. Even Bowen Marsh had to admit that their side had compromised to an excessive degree, and Egger was being excessively aggressive. "But the fact remains: there are scores or even hundreds of soldiers born of the mountain clans inside Castle Black, and currently, no one possesses the prestige to lead the entire fortress to attack when the brothers know those outside are not enemies. Even if there were, we wouldn't win. The man can mobilize a force nearly equal to the total strength of the Night's Watch with a single word. In such circumstances, to insist on a head-on collision would be to invite ridicule upon ourselves."
Cotter sneered. "Fine. Then I wonder what brilliant insight you have, Lord Steward?"
"We can at least agree on one point—as the Warden of the North, Robb Stark would never order the mountain clans to send troops to surround Castle Black. I bet everything that he is 100% ignorant of this matter; Egger is using his name to intimidate people. One can even infer further—the letter we sent out yesterday likely never reached his hands. Rather than internal strife and bloodshed, I'd like to see what happens if we don't write a letter, but instead send people to report the situation in person... Let's see how Egger explains his actions to the Warden of the North this time."
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