“Well spoken, Chief Logistics Officer. You’ve made this old man reflect upon himself today.” Even when insulted to his face, Ser Denys Mallister remained composed. His face didn’t flush, and his tone barely changed. “You believe that facing an unprecedented crisis demands reform, but I believe it is precisely because we are in a difficult situation that we must proceed more cautiously.”

He paused, then continued, “The so-called ‘incompetents’ may have been no better than their predecessors throughout history, but neither did they make more mistakes. While we did not bring any significant change to the Wall, we also didn’t cause any damage. You, on the other hand, though you’ve made many contributions to the Night’s Watch, also caused the death of a respected Lord Commander and placed our nineteen castles in a situation where they are, for the first time, ‘filled with former enemies’ and ‘potentially facing threats from the South.’ You are the radical faction. We are the conservative faction. To compare the strengths of the radicals with the weaknesses of the conservatives is a biased argument. Bluffing may deceive the low-ranking brothers who lack perspective, but it won’t shake those with insight and independent judgment.”

This old man wasn’t dazed by the scolding. In fact, he was even showing some backbone… which lessened the impact of Aegor’s performance.

After unleashing his furious onslaught, Aegor had clearly gained the upper hand. In essence, he had thrown down a royal flush right from the start.

Strike while the iron is hot. Then, the momentum fades. Finally, it disappears. While launching the first strike gave him a major advantage, the downside was that he had no better cards left to play. The best course now would have been to end the confrontation immediately, preserving the result. Every extra sentence would only water down the impact of his earlier victory.

Aegor began thinking of a way to make his exit while maintaining a magnanimous posture. “I won’t deny it. Talking more is pointless. Let’s respect the brothers’ choices and let votes and action speak.”

“Talking more is pointless,” Mallister echoed. “But it seems you’ve forgotten that Cotter Pyke and I hold more than a third of the Night’s Watch’s votes. You have the right to run. We have the right not to vote for you.”

…

Nonsense. Of course he knew that. But the conservatives’ move today to pool their votes behind Yohn Royce had nearly made that hateful man Aegor’s superior. This unexpected shift—almost rendering all his efforts since crossing over into Westeros meaningless—was the greatest shock he’d faced aside from threats to his life.

Thanks to warnings from Jon and Grenn, along with Sam’s reminders and delay tactics, and the newly renovated and widened King’s Road, he had barely made it back in time to save the situation at the last moment. That alone was a stroke of tremendous luck.

Being able to prevent Royce from becoming Lord Commander today was enough to make Aegor feel grateful to the gods. He didn’t have the luxury to worry about much else.

Old ginger is spicier. This old eagle, claws worn but still sharp, could actually remain calm and come up with a counter under such fierce criticism. Aegor had already played all his cards. If he kept going, the bystanders might begin to realize the two Commanders weren’t quite as incompetent as he claimed. He had to retreat now.

Just as Aegor was thinking how to wrap things up cleanly, a clear voice unexpectedly rang out, “How shameless! Just because my Master told him two truths, he refuses to vote for him!”

…

Hundreds of black-clad men turned their heads toward the source, curious to see who dared to speak so boldly. But Aegor recognized the voice the moment it rang out, and his heart leapt with joy.

This girl—he hadn’t doted on her for nothing. She’d actually stepped in at this critical moment to speak up for him!

When he met Grenn on the King’s Road, the northern patrol group was less than three hours from Castle Black. Although he had split off with his guards and arrived ahead of the main group, they couldn’t be far behind. Arya’s appearance wasn’t too surprising. What he didn’t know was how long she’d been standing in the crowd or how much of his speech she had heard.

More importantly, if Arya was here… where was Robb Stark?

“Who is this young lady?” Mallister asked. He had been stationed at Castle Black for over two months and knew all the people there. Judging by the girl’s appearance and clothing, she was clearly not one of the Wildling hostages. Mallister frowned. Something felt off.

Before anyone could answer, footsteps echoed from the stairwell once more. Jon was the first to come down.

“Arya, I told you not to run like that. If you fall and scar your face, let’s see how you’ll ever get married!”

Robb Stark followed, flanked by over a dozen guards from Winterfell, entering the hall in single file.

Almost every brother of the Night’s Watch at Castle Black was now present, but the atmosphere was tense and heavy. It didn’t feel like a welcome. The young Warden of the North glanced around the room and turned to Aegor with a questioning look.

“What’s going on here?”

“Robb!” Arya ran to her brother’s side and exclaimed, “That old man—just because my Master called him useless—he said he’d never vote for him!”

“All right, all right, grown-ups are talking now. Don’t interrupt.” No one knew Arya better than Robb. Her words were emotional and should be heard, but not taken too seriously. He smiled and patted her on the head, then looked toward the senior officers of the Night’s Watch.

“It seems the election for Lord Commander is being held here. May I ask—have the results been determined?”

“Lord Stark,” Maester Aemon acknowledged him with a nod, “happy to be of service. However, over two hundred votes have yet to be cast. Any votes not cast by dinner will be counted as abstentions. Only then can the results be finalized.”

Robb had missed Aegor’s earlier confrontation. Though he could sense the tension in the air, he wasn’t sure what had caused it. Upon hearing Maester Aemon’s words, he nodded.

“I see. Brothers of the Night’s Watch, I wish to speak in my personal capacity. Mankind is facing an unprecedented threat. I hope you can set aside your differences and reach a consensus, elect a Commander as soon as possible, and coordinate your efforts to better fulfill the Watch’s sacred duty—to guard the realm of men.”

…

As Lord of the North, Robb’s visit to Castle Black and his brief statement was reasonable and appropriate. But Aegor’s mind was suddenly stirred. A new idea sparked: No. This wasn’t over. He could seize this opportunity to push the conservatives one step further!

“Lord Stark!” he called out loudly, locking eyes with Ser Denys Mallister. “I too hope the Night’s Watch can elect a Commander quickly. Unfortunately, we’ve run into some… complications in reaching a consensus. At this rate, it’s unlikely a Lord Commander will be elected anytime soon.”

Robb had intended only to offer a polite formality. He hadn’t expected a direct reply and asked instinctively, “What sort of complications?”

“It stems from the rules for electing a Commander,” Aegor explained. “According to those rules, in castles other than Castle Black, the brothers entrust their votes to the castle’s Commander or a designated representative, who then votes on behalf of all those unable to travel. A candidate must receive two-thirds of all votes to win. This rule, on its face, is not a problem. The difficulty lies here: after years of decline and several purges, only three castles are still held entirely by the Night’s Watch. Among them, the Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea account for over a third of the Watch’s total numbers. The voting power of these four hundred-plus brothers is now held entirely by Ser Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke. If, for whatever reason—personal feelings or otherwise—these two refuse to align with any candidate, then… the two of them, in theory, can block the Night’s Watch from ever electing a Lord Commander. I propose we change this system.”

“Oh?” Robb’s brows lifted. He hadn’t known any of this before. “And what would you suggest?”

“That you, my Lord, appoint someone to oversee the fairness of the process, and that votes be cast at all three main castles—allowing every brother to vote in person.”

Aegor had barely set foot in the Shadow Tower or Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and had no influence there. In truth, he was the one preventing the Watch from electing a Commander. This accusation and suggestion were nothing more than a counterstrike meant to throw off Ser Denys Mallister’s rhythm and shake his composure.

Since he had already thoroughly offended both Commanders and had no hope of winning their votes, he might as well flip the table. One man, one vote—this outcome would always benefit him.

(He’s really going that far?)

Aegor’s unexpected tactic stunned the crowd once again. This time, even Ser Denys Mallister lost his composure. He rose, a mix of shock and outrage on his face, and, without considering Robb Stark’s temperament, snapped sharply.

“Lord Stark, no offense intended, but you have no authority to amend the rules of the Night’s Watch. That power lies solely with the Lord Commander!”

“And now, you cannot elect a Lord Commander. Is that not a problem?” Robb’s expression darkened. “I have no desire to alter the Night’s Watch’s traditions, but this is an exceptional time. The North faces an unprecedented threat. As its Lord, I must prioritize the safety of my people. I’m sorry, but I can’t promise to put the rules of the Wall above all else. If necessary, I will intervene.”

He seriously considered Aegor’s proposal. Though it didn’t feel entirely right, he couldn’t find any flaw in it either. At last, he said, “Of course, I’ve only just arrived today. It wouldn’t be proper to immediately take over and dictate changes to the Night’s Watch’s rules. I’ll observe for a few days first. I hope, in that time, you Commanders can resolve your disagreements—so I’ll be spared the burden of ‘interfering in the Watch’s internal affairs.'”

—

Is it reasonable for a Commander to vote on behalf of all brothers stationed at his castle?

From a modern viewpoint, obviously not. But reality is more complicated. Even if every Night’s Watch member personally voted to elect a universally liked Commander, the Lord Commander still governs through the castle Commanders. Most brothers obey the orders of their direct superior, not the Lord Commander himself.

Communication is not instantaneous.

The Commander’s authority is enacted through the cooperation of the castle Commanders. Effective control of the Wall’s defense depends on how many of them are truly willing to obey orders. A popular Commander may not perform better than a skilled one who has managed to win over more sub-commanders.

Even now, when only three castles are fully garrisoned, the representative voting system still serves a purpose. Its principle is simple—if a candidate can’t even win over the other two Commanders, then even if he is elected, how will he command the entire Night’s Watch like an extension of his own hand?

If Eddard Stark or another older decision-maker had been here, they would’ve rejected Aegor’s proposal outright. But Robb Stark was still young. He couldn’t fully grasp the deeper implications. And beyond that… compared to the conservative veterans who had spent two months bickering without results, this Lord of Winterfell—still under twenty, still a youth—was clearly more emotionally inclined toward Aegor, who had been toiling tirelessly for the North these past two months.

—

Robb’s words also brought Aegor back to his senses. He realized he may have overstepped. This proposal might’ve had more impact if made privately. Bringing it up publicly was too obvious, almost like forcing Robb to take a stance on the spot. Fortunately, his bond with House Stark was strong enough that Robb wouldn’t take offense.

“Lord Stark is right. I suggest we allow the brothers to vote freely for now, and wait for the outcome before deciding on the next steps.”

(To be continued.)

***

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