Chapter 304: Poisonous Insect or Loyal Hound?
The settlements for the New Gift residents did not stockpile resources, but fortunately, the Logistics Department had transported ingredients and chefs a day in advance. There were no concerns regarding food or drink, and the reunion of the Umber father and daughter greatly eased the awkwardness of the Northern lords sharing a roof with wildlings from beyond the Wall. The welcoming banquet at IceMark for the lords of the North was simple but not crude—it wasn't exactly warm, but neither was it neglectful. At the very least, nothing went wrong at the start.
As night fell, the members of the Great Houses of the North were assigned rooms in the guest house to rest, while the accompanying guards began their watch rotations under their respective commanders.
It wasn't apparent on the surface, but there were over a thousand New Gift residents—men, women, and children—currently inside IceMark. The Northern inspection tour would spend the night surrounded by these people they were more accustomed to calling wildlings. The soldiers on watch kept their ears pricked, vigilantly monitoring every rustle of grass and tree.
In the distance, the faint, indistinct howling of wolves could be heard. Aside from that, there was only the shrill wail of the cold wind and the occasional muffled thud of accumulated snow sliding off rooftops and hitting the ground. Watch after watch passed, and the dreaded riot or night attack never occurred. It wasn't until the cloud-shrouded sky began to brighten slowly that an uninvited guest, whose appearance and identity were entirely unexpected, arrived from outside the fortress.
"Someone arrived from the west and went straight into the main keep to find the Northern nobles?" Without needing further details, Egger immediately realized the visitor brought trouble just from that single description. "Did you hear anyone call his name? What does he look like? Any distinguishing features?"
"I didn't hear a name, but he looked like he had trekked a very long way. His body was covered in caked ice and snow, and he was so frozen he could barely speak properly. He muttered and negotiated with the guards for quite a while before being let in."
(Could it be a messenger sent from the Shadow Tower? I sent Kent to deliver messages overnight to prepare for my move; now my opponents are paying me back in kind, using the same trick to catch me off guard?)
Egger frowned. He had prepared himself mentally for this, but for a messenger to arrive so quickly in this heavy snow still exceeded his estimates. The disadvantage of IceMark lacking a perimeter wall became immediately apparent: even if he had god-like abilities, he couldn't blockade an entire settlement of this size. When reporting to Robb, he had claimed this was a deliberate arrangement, but the truth was: settling over a thousand New Gift residents into a fortress that once only garrisoned a few hundred Watchmen meant that the construction materials were barely enough for repairing residential houses; there was absolutely nothing left over to build a wall.
Egger had woken up early and relaxed, intending to confirm that the five tribes were ready for the Northern nobles' inspection and inquiries. However, hearing bad news the moment he stepped out caused his enthusiasm to vanish. He turned back, intending to gather his confidants, activate his backup plan, and organize the explanations he had long since prepared.
"Master, morning!" As he hurried through the courtyard, a crisp and energetic voice rang out.
"Arya?" Egger looked around and didn't see Miss Stark's guards. He immediately put on a stern face. "Has no one told you this place isn't safe? Don't go running around alone."
"I'm not running around. I just wanted to wander a bit before breakfast and see what the wildlings actually look like." Arya had been greeting Egger happily, but when he opened with a lecture, she immediately pouted. "Besides, I'm with you now. What's unsafe about that?"
"They aren't called wildlings now; they are New Gift dwellers," Egger corrected the girl's terminology. "I have serious business to attend to. Go back to the main keep and find your brother. You are not allowed to come out alone again."
"You're so annoying! Don't tell me what to do."
Arya stomped her foot in frustration and turned toward the main keep. At that moment, Egger's mind whirred, recalling the greatest utility of this girl's identity. "Hey, come back. I have something to tell you."
"What?" The girl wanted to ignore him out of spite, but since her cold-war tactics had failed against Egger several times, she reconsidered and turned back reluctantly.
Egger leaned in and whispered, "Someone just came from the west and went into the main keep to find your brother. Go find out who it is, and while you're at it, listen to what they talk about. Come tell me afterward."
"Have you no shame? When you want me to be your spy, you don't talk about safety! I won't do it. I'm going back to my room to stay, so nobody can say I'm wandering around."
"Hey, don't shout!" Egger pulled Arya back as she made to leave and gave her shoulders a quick rub. "Alright, alright, I shouldn't have scolded you just now. I apologize, okay? Be a good girl and help me out. Your master will treat you well later!"
"Get away from me, that's disgusting." Even though she knew he was just coaxing her, her temper vanished the moment he rubbed her shoulders. Arya had no defense against this thick-skinned master. She made a gagging face, then her eyes darted around. "I'll eavesdrop for you, but you have to find a chance to take me to see that tree!"
"Fine, fine. The next time you go to Nightfort, I promise you can look at it as much as you want!"
Even among family, no one else could shamelessly eavesdrop on Robb Stark's conversations like she could. Catelyn Stark, as an elder, couldn't act so abnormally; Sansa was famously refined and obedient; even before his fall, Bran Stark's only specialty was climbing walls. As for Rickon, he was still a small child.
Only Arya, whom everyone in Winterfell knew as the second lady who loved to run wild, was both beloved and frequently unaccounted for. Her appearing anywhere caused no suspicion.
The most audacious spy in history walked boldly to her brother's room, made a shush gesture to the guards to keep them quiet, then carefully pushed the door open a crack and slipped inside.
Inside the room, the Northern lords had just been summoned by their liege to meet the visitor from afar: Yohn Royce.
The former Lord of Runestone had finally gambled correctly. He had set out from Castle Black yesterday and spent the day traveling north of the Wall, sticking close to the ice. He hadn't been discovered by the Others or the dead—or perhaps they had seen him but didn't care to approach the Wall just to kill one living man. Regardless, he had miraculously avoided any danger or trouble. He bypassed several forts before dark and finally ascended the Wall at Stonedoor—a place Egger hadn't coordinated with—with the help of the sentries on top.
After a brief rest, he immediately hit the road again. Fueled by hatred and a determination not to let his rival have his way, he traveled east from Stonedoor overnight, finally arriving here at dawn.
Although they had been on opposite sides during King Robert's suppression of the Vale, Yohn had been an old friend of Eddard Stark. Robb Stark maintained a measure of respect for the old lord, who had now been sentenced to take the black, receiving him courteously and listening to his tale.
"Lord Royce, you have traveled all night; you must be exhausted. Why don't you go down, change your clothes, and have something to eat? We will discuss what you've said seriously and respond as quickly as possible."
This was a clear indication that he didn't want Royce present for the discussion. Born a noble, Yohn understood Robb's meaning perfectly. He nodded in agreement, swept his eyes over the row of Northern lords sitting in various states of interest, and exited the room.
This temporary master bedroom for the Warden of the North had originally been the armory for the Watchmen at Ice-Mark. It was quite spacious, with a significant distance between the door and the interior. Neither the departing Yohn nor the Northern lords still in the room noticed Arya hiding behind the hanging wall curtains.
Robb Stark, facing such a situation for the first time, pondered with a furrowed brow before speaking: "You all heard what Lord Royce just said... What are your thoughts, my lords?"
"I've known Yohn for years. Though the last time we dealt with each other we were enemies on the battlefield, Lysa Arryn's nonsense... well, we all know how that was. I don't think he's a liar," Rickard Karstark muttered. "If what he says is true, then Egger doing these things in your name is... quite treasonous."
Roose Bolton glanced expressionlessly at Karstark and then turned to Robb. "I would first like to ask if Egger has reported any of this to you."
"He did... but he only mentioned the very beginning of the matter, and his version was vastly different from Yohn's. While I would prefer to believe Egger, whom I know better, somehow I feel that what Yohn said is closer to the truth," Robb said helplessly. "Lords Umber and Glover, what are your views?"
"Though Deepwood Motte owes him a personal favor, I must say Egger went too far this time," Galbart Glover said frankly. "I have no objection to however you choose to handle it, my lord."
Although Egger had helped Greatjon's uncle and daughter reunite just yesterday, truth be told, Mors was the only one in the entire Umber family who was truly overjoyed by the return of a female member missing for decades. To say the Umbers owed a favor was a bit of a stretch. The Lord of Last Hearth shrugged. "I agree with Lord Glover."
"I harbor doubts about the truth of the matter. But since everyone is in agreement, let us assume for now that what Yohn Royce says is true and that everything he mentioned was indeed planned and executed by Egger," Roose Bolton interjected. "However, I would like to correct one perspective: even if it is true that Egger sent the Queenscrown army to surround Castle Black, he has not violated a single law of the Seven Kingdoms. A candidate for Lord Commander of the Night's Watch using his own influence to suppress competitors and build momentum has no obligation to report to the Warden of the North."
Absurd. That was the first reaction of the other four in the room. But looking back and thinking carefully, it seemed to make some sense: legally, the Gift is of the same rank as the North or any of the Seven Kingdoms. A power struggle within the Gift for the election of a Lord Commander is like the internal struggles for succession within the Great Houses of the Riverlands or the Vale—as long as the person who eventually takes power remains loyal to the King and does not rebel or cause chaos, the other kingdoms technically have no right to intervene.
In this Change in the Gift, the ones at fault were actually the mountain clans who came to help. As guests and outsiders, they had colluded with a faction of the Night's Watch to influence the Lord Commander election and interfere in the internal affairs of the Gift. Strictly speaking, they had no ground to stand on.
Yet, these mountain clansmen were reinforcements who had traveled far to help defend the Wall; even Robb was embarrassed to criticize them.
"Egger is indeed not obligated to report his every move, but the Gift and the Wall concern the safety of the North. How could we truly ignore it? By your logic, if we're being technical, isn't whether or not to implement the Gift settlement plan an internal matter for the Night's Watch as well? And yet, aren't we here for an inspection?" Karstark showed a look of disdain. "Furthermore, this time Egger is doing wrong under the banner of House Stark. This is damaging the reputation of his liege lord—it is unforgivable."
"House Stark is not Egger's liege lord."
"Fine, fine, a slip of the tongue... Then he has stained the reputation of my liege lord, which is even more unforgivable!"
"We can discuss the matter of reputation later; let us first talk about the safety of the North and the Seven Kingdoms." Roose Bolton curled his lip slightly and said expressionlessly, "In Qarth, across the Narrow Sea, there is an ancient guild of assassins called the Sorrowful Men. They often use a poisonous insect known as a manticore for assassinations. They choose this creature because its venom is incredibly potent and has no cure; those stung are certain to die."
Lord Karstark knit his brows impatiently. "What are you prattling on about? What the hell does a poisonous bug have to do with the safety of the North and the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Don't be so hasty, Rickard," Roose Bolton continued unhurriedly. "How is this poisonous insect selected? According to rumors of unknown credibility, the selectors throw a pile of poisonous insects into a basin and let them slaughter each other. The one that survives without being maimed is the ideal individual, possessing both toxicity and strength. Such an insect is then chosen to assassinate high-value targets—Great Lords."
"Your story is an eye-opener, Lord Bolton," Robb said, not understanding the point but remaining polite. "However, I fail to see what connection this has to the topic we are currently discussing."
"My lord, if you were the person in the Sorrowful Men responsible for selecting the insect, would you intervene to make the fight more 'fair' just because one insect was particularly strong, savage... or particularly cunning while they were tearing each other apart in the basin?"
"Of course not," Robb answered without hesitation. "I would be picking an insect to kill someone, not for show or for the sport of pit-fighting. If such an insect existed, I would be overjoyed; why would I intervene..." Before he could finish, he understood what Old Leech meant. "I see. Lord Bolton, you mean the election for Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is the selection of the 'poisonous insect.' I want the smartest, most capable person to serve; whoever wins is the qualified next Lord Commander. I should not intervene?"
"Exactly. The Chief Logistics Officer has fully demonstrated his command, charisma, decisiveness... and other comprehensive abilities. If you, as the Warden of the North, intervene too much at the final stage of this election and end up selecting someone else to be Lord Commander, I ask you: can that person suppress Egger—who controls the Night's Watch Industry, can easily mobilize a thousand mountain clan warriors, and has even subdued tens of thousands of wildlings—and prevent 'conflicting orders' within the Gift?"
Karstark stared at Roose Bolton for a moment and chuckled. "Interesting. I truly don't understand. If Galbart or the Greatjon were speaking for him, I could at least comprehend it. But I've heard you and Egger have no personal dealings. What are you after, going to such great lengths to speak for him?"
(What am I after? I am after a great deal! Only if an ambitious, restless, and brilliant man controls the Gift can the North's stagnant ruling structure of hundreds of years have a chance to change. A brute like you, a watchdog for the Starks—how could you possibly know, or think that far ahead?)
Roose Bolton felt disdain, but his face remained calm. "What you heard is correct; he and I have no personal connection. My support for him is entirely out of self-interest." He spread his hands. "Because I feel that only with a capable man like Egger West leading the Night's Watch to defend the Wall can I sleep soundly at home, without worrying that one day, while I'm lying in bed, the Others will suddenly bring a host of dead men to the gates of the Dreadfort."
"No one questions Egger's ability," Karstark grunted. "But choosing a Lord Commander is for the safety of the northern borders of the Seven Kingdoms; is that the same as picking a bug to kill someone? If he can casually send troops to surround Castle Black today and point weapons at his sworn brothers, who can guarantee he won't develop ambitions in the future, seize the Wall for himself, and turn on us? Don't forget, the original rule that 'Night's Watch fortresses shall have no walls' was precisely to prevent a Lord Commander from becoming too powerful!"
"What Lord Karstark says is exactly my concern," Robb nodded approvingly. "Lord Bolton, once a Lord Commander is chosen, I am entrusting the rear to him. This is vastly different from hiding a manticore in a gift to assassinate an outsider. Ability is important, but humility, loyalty, and a sense of honor are also indispensable. Please believe me, I am closer to Egger than anyone here, and I hope my friend becomes Lord Commander. But if he can use my name today to deal with his own sworn brothers, then I must worry whether he will threaten me in the future once his position is secure."
"Even including the surrendered wildlings, the entire Gift has only forty thousand people. The North can summon more troops than that. Furthermore, this land cannot produce its own grain. No matter how great his ability, what could he do against the North?" Roose Bolton realized further argument was useless and decisively took a step back. "I believe the most important thing now is to select a capable man to survive this winter crisis first. But your concerns are not without merit, my lord. It's just that I feel—to decide to change our policy toward the Gift based solely on the word of a noble convicted of treason is perhaps too hasty. We should at least give Egger a chance to come clean and explain his reasons for doing this."
Karstark turned his head away. "Hmph, I suspect the boy will mostly just use his silver tongue to gloss things over. But since Lord Bolton has said so, I agree: give him a chance to explain."
Robb nodded with satisfaction and tapped the table. "Guard!"
The guard at the door answered quickly and pushed it open. Arya seized the opportunity to zip out. The guard, nearly knocked over, looked at the second lady's retreating back with a bewildered expression, shook his head helplessly, and walked into the inner room. "My lord, your orders?"
"Go and invite the Chief Logistics Officer. Tell him I have urgent matters to discuss with him."
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!