Black cloth hung over the front and back doors. Aegor sat in the hall of the Night’s Watch office, reviewing the recent accounts of the Night’s Watch’s industries with Nina and making plans for the future.

Most of these matters could have been handled by Nina alone, but with a great war raging outside the city and all commercial and production activity in King’s Landing suspended, those hiding indoors needed something important to occupy themselves with, aside from the more… universally enjoyed pastimes.

Aegor knew little about the current situation in Westeros, which had already deviated from its original course. Aside from market rumors, his sources of intelligence were limited to his own businesses in the city, brothels, shops, a few garrison soldiers who had surrendered to him, and Arya in the Red Keep. With Arya temporarily cut off and the garrison in full combat mode, he was now nearly deaf and blind—unable to learn anything about the war in the west or the siege of King’s Landing. He couldn’t even confirm whether Melisandre, the key to victory or defeat, was in the city at this moment. Like most residents and nobles of King’s Landing, all he could do was stay inside and wait for the war to end.

…

“We have far too few intelligence sources. If we want to make it through this crisis safely, we must increase our investment in that area, make connections with people who live in or can enter and exit the Red Keep, from nobles to servants. For those we can’t reach directly, we can investigate their families and social ties. Start with those closest to us—for example, recruit their wives, children, brothers, and friends to work in the Night’s Watch industries and offices. When the time comes, we can use the excuse that ‘businessmen need to be well-informed’ to gradually pry open the mouths of those inside the Red Keep.”

Littlefinger was able to thrive in King’s Landing because of the intelligence he gathered from several brothels and his own position as Master of Coin in the Red Keep. With access to information inside and outside the walls, it was easy for him to get things done. As for the Night’s Watch, it had grown strong outside the Red Keep, but due to its rapid rise, its foundation was unstable and it had no time to extend its reach into the royal castle. In the early days, this weakness was masked by Arya’s help, but as time went on, the flaw became more and more apparent.

It was precisely because Aegor realized this that he began working to resolve the issue.

“Actually, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, the noble families of King’s Landing have been trying their best to place people in the Night’s Watch.” Nina pursed her lips. “When Lord Tyrion was still here, some of our investors and clients were already asking for jobs for their family’s descendants and retainers. But Lord Tyrion kept the line firm and only gave them minor, insignificant positions. For key roles, candidates had to go through assessment and compete based on ability.”

“Good. Continue doing that, but you can relax the requirements a little. There’s no such thing as a perfect bargain in this world… If we want to use the power of the nobles, it’s acceptable to keep some idle people, so long as they’re not completely useless and don’t cause us trouble. But we must control it—important and sensitive positions must go to those with clear backgrounds and real capabilities.” Aegor nodded. “Also, have in-depth talks with the prostitutes Littlefinger trained and left behind. See if they can reestablish contact with his original informants in the Red Keep. It’s a ready-made intelligence network. If we can inherit it, that would be ideal.”

“Understood. I’ll get started right away.”

…

…

…

The two novices began planning to build the Night’s Watch’s own intelligence agency. They lacked experience, but as the saying went, a nine-story tower starts with a mound of earth. As long as they moved forward step by step, they would see results eventually. While discussing their ideas with great enthusiasm, a guard knocked on the door and reported, “Master Aegor, there’s a little girl at the door. She’s knocking and shouting that she wants to see her master. What should we do?”

“Arya? What’s she doing here?” Aegor raised his eyebrows and quickly stood, clearly alarmed. “Damn it! How could she leave the Red Keep and come running around at a time like this?!”

Immediately abandoning their conversation, Aegor rushed to the front door, opened it, and saw his little apprentice, looking as though she had crawled out of a pile of mud.

Arya was filthy, hugging her knees and panting like she’d run a great distance. When she saw Aegor open the door, she looked up and smiled. “Master, I went to the office to look for you earlier. Why weren’t you open today?”

Open for business? What business in a day like this? Aegor yanked the girl inside and said, “You’ll be the death of me. Did you use that ‘secret passage’ again?”

“Yes.” The girl still looked proud.

“Why did you come to see me?”

“My sword is here. I came to take it back!”

“Sword? What sword?” Aegor had completely forgotten. After a few seconds, he realized what Arya was talking about. “Seven Hells… Of all days, you had to come today!”

“But there’s a war going on.” Arya was confused by his flustered and angry tone. “If someone wants to hurt me or Sansa, at least we’ll have something to protect ourselves.”

“Nonsense… Utter nonsense…” Aegor was so angry his whole body trembled. He’d hung black cloth on the doors and stayed shut inside to avoid any ties to this war. On one side were Stannis and Eddard, on the other was Renly, who had made generous promises and wanted to recruit him. With the neutral status of the Night’s Watch, he would be fine no matter who won.

He had kept clear of the mess, only for his troublesome little apprentice to drag it straight to his door!

What to do with this hot potato? Throw it back to where it came from. After a brief pause, Aegor turned to his guards and barked, “Bring the horses, two of them! And remember—no one came here today. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

Arya looked up at Aegor with wide, innocent eyes full of confusion and fear, which only made him more frustrated. “Nina, go find a small black robe and dress her in it.”

Ten minutes later, a saddled horse stood at the door, and Arya had been dressed in black. Even the smallest robe looked like a large smock on her, so Nina had to tighten the belt and tie a cloth strip around her chest to keep it from slipping.

“Shut the door. Don’t open it unless it’s me.”

—

Aegor rode out from the house. The streets were deserted. Now and then, a few men hoping to take advantage of the chaos peeked from alleyways. But seeing Aegor in black, mounted with a sword at his waist, they quickly retreated.

Once prepared, he took Arya and headed toward the Red Keep.

Arya seemed quite fond of wearing black. Not only did she behave herself, she even asked excitedly if she could join the Night’s Watch. Aegor was too angry to respond. He just rode silently.

It didn’t take long for Arya to sense something was wrong. “Master, this isn’t the way to the office.”

“We’re not going to the office. I’m taking you back to the Red Keep. You’ll stay there obediently. As for the sword, I’ll send someone to deliver it when the time is right.”

“No need. Just go to the office and get it. I can go back by myself.”

“Go back by yourself?” Aegor glared at her. “Did you see those thugs poking their heads out of the alleys? If you fell into their hands without an escort, do you know what would happen to you?”

“What’s there to be afraid of? Someone chased me earlier, but he couldn’t run as fast as I can.”

“You’re proud of that?” Aegor was nearly driven mad by this reckless child. If a young noblewoman like her got caught by the wrong people during this chaos… she’d find out soon enough. “If you still think of me as your master, then shut your mouth and do as you’re told!”

“Oh…” Arya had never seen Aegor so angry. Realizing she’d gone too far, she shrank back and obediently followed him on horseback.

…

Lady Stark was a good rider, and the Night’s Watch house was only a few miles from Aegon’s High Hill. It would take a while on foot, but with horses, they would be there in no time. Before they reached the gate, Aegor noticed something was wrong. The Red Keep, which should have been tightly guarded on a day like this, had its gates wide open, with no one standing watch.

“Something’s not right, Arya. If you see anyone unfamiliar, don’t speak or act. Let me handle it.”

“Okay, Master.”

They slowed their horses and cautiously entered through the gates of the Red Keep.

The massive castle seemed deserted, which was impossible. Every instinct told Aegor to turn back, but if he left now, would he take Arya with him? He held back the urge to charge toward the Tower of the Hand. Then the sounds of fighting—shouts, screams, and weapons clashing—reached his ears. Just then, the first corpse appeared before them. The man lay face down on the stone path, his cloak soaked in blood beneath him. It was a gray wool cloak with white satin trim. The very same worn by the two guards Eddard Stark had assigned to assist him.

Arya instantly recognized the dead man. She was so frightened she nearly collapsed—this was the guard she had tricked into going to the kitchen for snacks just an hour ago!

Aegor felt a chill run down his spine. The worst-case scenario had come to pass. He’d done everything to stay uninvolved, only to be dragged into disaster by his own troublesome apprentice. He lowered his voice and ordered Arya, “Go. Back the way we came. Something’s wrong here.”

“But Sansa—”

“No buts. Move!”

Getting in had been easy. Getting out, not so much. Just a few minutes later, when they reached the bronze gates of the Red Keep again, there were suddenly people at the gate, more than a dozen men in gold cloaks, fully armed in chainmail and full plate. As soon as they spotted the two figures in black on horseback, they leveled their spears.

“Who are you? Don’t move!”

(To be continued.)

***

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