Chapter 351: A Gift
Although his questions regarding the gods had not received the definitive answers he desired, Egger tentatively accepted the premise that the Great Other will not directly intervene. Rather than being convinced by Bran, it was more a matter of having no choice but to believe. After all, he knew what the White Walkers and wights looked like and what their weaknesses were, but the Great Other... if it truly existed and struck at the Night's Watch, who the hell knew how to slay a god?
At the very least, Egger had gathered enough information regarding the defenses along the Wall. Generally speaking, his defensive arrangements had no major gaps to fill. If he had to name something that needed changing, it would be the further reinforcement of the garrisons at the new fortresses of Westwatch-by-the-Bridge and Sentinel Stand, as well as the Shadow Tower. He also needed to continue clearing and repairing the patrol paths on the south side of the Gorge to eventually bring the frequency and density of patrols there up to the same level as the top of the ice wall, better countering the threat of the army of the dead on the northern bank.
Bran took another sip of water and remained silent for a moment, giving his throat a rest and allowing Egger time to think.
"If the Lord Commander has no other questions, I shall take the liberty of offering a suggestion: do not place all your hopes on repelling the enemy outside the Wall. Be prepared to fight White Walkers who have crossed over." A look of reminiscence returned to the boy's face. "During the Long Night thousands of years ago, humanity and the Children of the Forest fought the White Walkers without the Wall. The dead pressed on and the living retreated... they were nearly pushed south out of the Neck until a band of heroes, possessing courage, wisdom, and ability, took a ship and landed behind them. At the narrowest point where the North meets the lands beyond—at the very site of the Nightfort where we sit today—they cast a powerful spell at the cost of their lives to create a magical barrier. They unexpectedly severed the power source of the invading army. Only then did the legendary Azor Ahai have the chance to lead the allied forces... and win the Battle for the Dawn in one fell swoop."
"I understand—as long as the Wall stands, fighting the White Walkers on the south side offers a massive advantage." Egger shook his head. "But conversely, the living spread across this side would easily become prey and fresh recruits for the enemy. I will not allow the Others through just to utilize the Wall's function of screening out the Great Other's power, thereby exposing over a million residents of the North to the threat. As the highest officer of the Wall's garrison, to put it bluntly, I am a gatekeeper. Since I am a gatekeeper, my duty is clear: regardless of whether I succeed, I must at least try to keep the enemy outside the gate."
"I hope the Night's Watch can achieve that." Bran nodded silently. "I am merely telling you to be prepared to fight the enemy south of the Wall."
Egger had long been prepared without being told. Of the original nineteen fortresses of the Watch, Queenscrown, Westwatch-by-the-Bridge, and the newly established Sentinel Stand between the port and the Shadow Tower—which one hadn't been fortified with high walls and bastions under his command?
The goal was to ensure that if the battle—whether against the dead or the living—erupted on this side of the ice wall, his side would not be sitting ducks!
"Thank you for resolving so many of my doubts, Lord Greenseer." Had the other party not revealed their identity first, Egger would likely have feigned ignorance and asked about the whereabouts of Meera, Jojen, and Hodor. But now that they both knew each other's secrets, there was no need for theater. "You have just returned from beyond the Wall and surely need rest; I won't disturb you further. I have already sent a raven to Winterfell with the news of your safe return and instructed the Nightfort to arrange travel... It seems a bit late today, so we will depart tomorrow morning. We will wait at Queenscrown for your brother to send men for you."
"I will go with you to Queenscrown," Bran nodded. "But because that is currently the headquarters of the Night's Watch, not to return to Winterfell. Someone from House Stark has joined the Night's Watch in almost every generation. In this generation, I shall be the one to bear that responsibility."
Egger frowned. Bran wanted to take the black! Indeed, if one truly wanted to contribute the most to the fight against the White Walkers, what better place was there than the Night's Watch?
Theoretically, both the applicant and the Lord Commander who could make the decision were in this room; the matter could be settled on the spot. Emotionally, once Bran became a man of the Watch, he would be Egger's subordinate. Whether considering the security brought by keeping a supernatural being close or the direct military benefit of having a deluxe version of skinchanger scout, Egger could not refuse.
But the reality was not that simple. Robb had no son yet; as long as Bran lived, he was the beloved younger brother and first heir to the Lord of the North. The world had already seen what happened when the Mad King, without Tywin's consent, allowed the heir to House Lannister—the Kingslayer, Jaime—to don the white cloak.
"In principle... I do not object." Egger, who had already risen from his chair, stood still. After a moment of thought, he gave his answer. "As long as your mother and brother agree, you may take your vows. I hope you understand my concerns."
"I am infirm, and it is not easy for me to travel between Winterfell and Queenscrown to convince my family before joining. I must trouble the Lord Commander to send my decision to Winterfell by raven and ask them to come to the Gift to find me." Bran nodded, seemingly not at all worried about the potential opposition. "I was so focused on the White Walkers and the Wall that I nearly forgot another piece of business. I brought something back from beyond the Wall that I wish to present to the Night's Watch. Consider it a gesture of gratitude in advance for the trouble the sworn brothers will take in caring for a broken body like mine. It is in the corner by the bed; the Lord Commander can take a few steps and fetch it himself."
Egger looked over and saw nothing at first. He had to walk around Bran's chair and go further in. Finally, in the gap between the wall and another cabinet on the inner side of the bed, he saw the object: a slender longsword leaning against the wall, encased in an old scabbard, looking as if it hadn't been used in centuries.
A strong premonition suddenly surged from deep within his heart, turning into a certainty once Egger leaned over to pick up the weapon: this sword was light—so light that one couldn't help but suspect the scabbard was empty.
"Dark Sister. Bloodraven was her previous master," Bran explained with a nonchalant expression, his tone as casual as if he were mentioning a kitchen spatula. "As for her story, the historical records are too numerous to count, so I won't repeat them. You need only know that she is forged of Valyrian steel and is the bane of the White Walkers. A legendary blade for a hero; I believe you will make the most of her."
Egger stood dazed for a moment, holding the Valyrian steel sword. Although he was familiar with the plot, he had honestly forgotten minor details like the Greenseer having a Valyrian steel sword. This was indeed an unexpected surprise.
"Understood. I promise: she will play her part." The sword was a gift to the Night's Watch, not a personal gift to him. Egger did not stand on ceremony; instead, after a sincere and solemn thank you, he bid the boy farewell once more. "Rest well. The great war is upon us; I have much preparation to do."
Bran finally nodded and did not stop him a third time, watching as Egger left the room.
Outside, the cold wind howled, but the sky was still bright. Egger closed the wooden door and took a deep breath. He was in no hurry to put on his gloves; instead, with bare hands, he lifted Dark Sister. With one hand on the hilt and the other on the scabbard, he cautiously attempted to draw the blade.
The exterior of the sword offered a foul texture—a mixture of filth and dampness. Due to being unused for so long, the mouth of the scabbard had bonded with the hilt's semicircular guard. Egger's first effortless attempt failed to budge it. Only after applying more strength on the second try did the crusted rust and grime at the scabbard's mouth yield to the external force and crumble.
There was no flashy flash of cold light, nor the legendary clear ring of a dragon's cry. Yet, even under the somber sky of the Nightfort where the sun was obscured by clouds, the drawn Valyrian steel sword remained as dazzling as if it were fresh from the forge. The rippled patterns were clearly visible, yet it looked as if a very thin layer of transparent glaze had been applied to the surface, which did not affect the smoothness or metallic luster of the blade itself...
Clang— The sword was not very long. Egger quickly drew the entire length, pointing the tip to the sky, holding it in a standard Night's Watch grip as he examined it closely.
The guards waiting in a sheltered spot nearby saw Egger exit the room and stepped out from the corner to watch.
"Valyrian steel?"
Someone quickly guessed—not necessarily out of vast knowledge, but because as Egger's security detail, they were already intimately familiar with their boss. The Lord Commander, who was never an enthusiast for weaponry, was examining a sword this seriously for the first time. The blade had to be extraordinary. If they were to guess, they would naturally start with the top-tier Valyrian steel.
"It truly is?" Seeing Egger nod, the crowd gasped in unison.
Unless you were in Westeros, you could never truly appreciate the scarcity and value of Valyrian steel in this world. Even before the Doom, when this metal was not yet extinct, the price of a single Valyrian steel sword was enough to arm an entire army. After the methods of smelting and forging Valyrian steel vanished with the Freehold, every Valyrian steel weapon became a limited edition, and its value skyrocketed to an "incalculable" level. Even the Lannister family, with wealth that could rival nations, could not obtain one through legal channels.
Any Valyrian steel sword could easily be traded for a castle that was by no means shabby, or prompt the Iron Bank and House Lannister to readily approve hundreds of thousands in interest-free loans. And the blade Egger now held was the legendary weapon once carried by Aegon Targaryen's sister, Visenya—a weapon that had performed great deeds during the Conqueror's unification of the Seven Kingdoms!
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