Cotter Pyke opened his eyes.

Outside the window, the sky was still dim. Through the glass and curtains, the room remained dark. It was nowhere near bright enough to wake someone, and even taking the weather into account, it should still be early.

He blinked in confusion, wondering why he had woken up.

The Eastwatch-by-the-Sea delegation had come to Castle Black to take part in the election. Their mission was to canvass for votes and gather information about their opponents. Naturally, they did not need to wake up, assemble, and be called out on time every day like the local brothers, nor did they have to go on to drills or duties such as patrols and standing watch. From a purely practical standpoint, this election was almost a paid holiday, an expense-account trip, where no one would care if they slept late into the morning.

True, a few setbacks and frustrations had put him under considerable mental pressure, but Cotter was a hardened warrior. A little worry wasn’t enough to rob him of his sleep. Nonsense.

Lying on the bed, he thought for a few seconds and quickly realized he had not woken naturally.

Someone was shouting outside. He could not make out the words through the wall, but the tension in the voices did not need to be heard clearly to be felt.

What had happened?

…

As if in answer to his question, the horn sounded.

Because of slight differences in the instrument and the way it was blown, the alarm here had a slightly different tone than that at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, but the effect was the same. The low, penetrating sound of the horn was powerful and stirring enough to wake even the deepest sleeper. Normally, anyone startled awake would stay in bed and wait. If there was no second blast, they would roll over and go back to sleep. If there was a second blast, they would respond as drill required. But the tunnel through the Wall had long been sealed, and patrols Beyond the Wall had been stopped for who knew how long…

This could not be the signal for the return of Rangers.

Sleep vanished instantly. Cotter Pyke sprang from bed in one motion, snatched his coat from the hanger and threw it on. Years of Night’s Watch life had made these actions quick and practiced. When the second blast sounded, he already had his weapon in hand, had opened the door, and was stepping out.

No slower than him, the entire Castle Black came alive. In moments, the shouts of command, chaotic footsteps, and the clatter of steel as men searched for weapons shattered the quiet of a moment before, filling the fortress with grim tension.

Fortunately, the horn was not sounding from atop the Wall, and the dreaded third blast never came.

Cotter caught hold of a soldier hurrying across the yard. The man looked tense but was fully armed and equipped, clearly not just out of bed. Likely a sentry on duty. “Hey, what’s happened?”

“A large group of people suddenly appeared outside the fortress, a dense mass, at least several hundred. Their identity is unknown. Likely Wildlings!” The Night’s Watchman pulled free of Cotter’s grip. “Sorry, Lord… but I have to report to the other officers so they can open the armory.”

The sentry rushed toward the tower where the officers of Castle Black were housed, leaving Cotter with more questions.

Wildlings rebelling? Wasn’t this exactly the sort of trouble he had been hoping for to bring Aegor down? But the King-Beyond-the-Wall had already been taken to Crown Town. How could the Wildlings still be causing trouble? Could it be… something had gone wrong with the Kingslayer’s escort, Mance had escaped, and the former Wildling king had rallied his forces to come back for revenge?

Wildlings gathered under a respected leader were far more dangerous than a disorganized rabble.

Cotter did not know whether this was good news or bad, but one thing was certain: the enemy could not be allowed to break through Castle Black, or he would lose his life as well.

The officers of Castle Black were not slower to react than the visiting men. By the time the Eastwatch men had dressed, armed themselves, and rushed to the walls—walls that seemed insignificant compared to the Wall itself—the three senior officers had also arrived, almost at the same time.

…

“Have you figured out who those people outside are?”

“No. They could be Ironborn seeking revenge for our past interference, or a Wildling raiding party,” a sentry shook his head. “But it doesn’t look like that. Wildlings… aren’t this orderly.”

Indeed, under the dim, still-snowing sky, with the ground blanketed in white, the unknown army outside Castle Black stood out clearly. They wore dark clothing and were gathered on both sides of the Kingsroad, seeming to form up after a march.

Then, with surprising order, they fanned out to the sides, slowly changing from a compact mass into a broad line, encircling Castle Black in a fan shape. Every movement showed disciplined training.

Othell Yarwyck quickly saw what was wrong. “This… it looks like they’re trying to surround us.”

He did not need to point it out. Everyone could see it. The First Ranger frowned. “They mean us no good. Go. Except for those in the kitchen, get everyone armed. The cooks should hurry and bring breakfast to every post as soon as possible. The enemy could attack at any moment, and I don’t want our men fighting on empty stomachs.”

“Yes!”

Bowen Marsh looked out over the walls, estimating the number of men outside. The black figures stood out clearly against the white snow. He quickly breathed a sigh of relief: less than a thousand. Although half the Night’s Watch in Castle Black were old, weak, sick, or maimed, the walls gave them a great advantage. So long as they did not sally out, they could hold against twice as many enemies.

For the first time, he truly felt the wisdom of the Old Commander’s decision to build walls, but he still did not dare to sound careless. “There aren’t many enemies, but they look well-trained. We can’t take them lightly. Go, tell the Maester to send ravens to the nearby forts for help. Othell, see that everything that can be used for defense is brought out, including lamp oil and wildfire. Also, send men to the top of the Wall to move the scorpions facing north over to the south side. We may need them.”

“All right,” the Chief Builder nodded without hesitation and hurried away.

After making a series of arrangements, Bowen Marsh turned to the commander of Eastwatch. “Lord Cotter, if there’s a battle later, please lead your brothers from Eastwatch to help hold the gate.”

“Hmph, I can see for myself where men are needed. You don’t need to worry about that. You’d better hurry and figure out how these men outside suddenly appeared and what they want.”

After all, they were a professional army that drilled every day. It did not take long for company after company of black-clad brothers to arm themselves and get onto the towers and walls.

Accustomed to the towering height of the Wall, Castle Black’s walls, barely ten meters high, offered little sense of security. The men paced uneasily, shouting out their needs: arrows here, crossbows there. Someone wanted to use the privy before the battle, someone else wanted to hone his sword one last time. Brother Cellador began leading the followers of the Seven in prayer, begging the Warrior for strength. The kitchen brothers started carrying out buckets of black bread and onion-meat soup. After handing them out, they hauled the empty pots up onto the wall and lit fires beneath them to heat oil for defense.

Half a day of bustling activity passed, but the enemy did not take the opportunity to attack. Even after Castle Black’s defensive preparations were nearly complete, the mysterious army outside the walls did not come any closer. Instead, they calmly fanned out and formed a ring just beyond bowshot, keeping their distance.

Just as the brothers began to discuss whether to send someone out to scout the enemy’s identity, a sharp-eyed soldier shouted. From the line of troops outside, a figure stepped forward and began walking across the snow toward the main gate.

All eyes fixed on the approaching figure. As he came closer, the men on the walls of Castle Black were surprised to see that he was also dressed in black, and many of them even recognized him.

Not a sworn brother, but someone they counted as one of their own: one of the senior leaders of the Night’s Watch Industry in the Gift, Yam, the town chief of Crown Town.

—

Yam came to the base of the wall, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. “By order of Lord Stark, Warden of the North, and Chief Logistics Officer Aegor West, I have brought men to investigate a case of unidentified persons attempting to murder the surrendered King-Beyond-the-Wall. By request of the Lord of Winterfell, no one is to leave until he has inspected the Wall and returned to Castle Black to investigate this matter personally. I apologize for any disturbance or offense!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Cotter Pyke leaned over the edge of the wall, gripping the stone, and roared, “Robb Stark would issue such an order? Even if it were true, he has no right to restrict the Night’s Watch!”

“I am not clear whether Lord Stark has the right to do so, but I serve the Night’s Watch Industry, I am paid by the Night’s Watch Logistics Department, and I naturally obey the orders of the Commander and the Chief Logistics Officer, and am responsible to the Night’s Watch. It is my duty. Please cooperate,” Yam did not know Cotter Pyke, but that did not hinder his response. The lines had been prepared in advance, and no matter who came forward or what they said, he would answer like a machine. “Furthermore, I must clarify: all the troops mobilized by Crown Town for this operation come from the mountain clans. No people of the New Gift are involved. Whatever happens, we will never pose a threat to our friends of the Night’s Watch in Castle Black. Other than not leaving Castle Black, brothers can just train and guard the Wall as usual. There is no need to be nervous.”

Having said that, the town chief of Crown Town gave a slight bow, and without waiting for the reaction of the officers on the wall, turned and walked away, swaggering back to the besieging ranks.

“That boy’s insane!” Cotter Pyke’s eyes bulged with rage, and he slammed a fist into the stone wall with a dull thud. “Does he think that by surrounding Castle Black with troops and showing his strength, the brothers will just vote for him? What a pipe dream!”

“No, he isn’t trying to force the Night’s Watch in Castle Black to vote for him with force. He’s trying to stop you from returning to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea!” Yohn Royce shuddered, instantly seeing through Aegor’s plan. A chill ran down his spine. Was this man really a worm in someone else’s belly? Otherwise, how could he take precautions against a plan that Cotter had been thinking of but had not even begun to act on?

“Far more men at Eastwatch voted for him than expected. He does not want to lose those dozens of votes, so he will do anything to keep you from going back east!”

“If that is the reason, then he has miscalculated. By openly mobilizing troops and targeting his sworn brothers, the votes he loses here at Castle Black will be more than all the votes he gained at Eastwatch.” Bowen Marsh’s face was cold, but his voice could not hide his anger. As a soldier, no one could endure such an insult: being surrounded in their own stronghold, unable even to leave the gate.

“Although that fellow came forward and identified himself, claiming there are no Wildlings among the men outside, no one can guarantee that’s true. Necessary defensive measures must still be taken as usual!” the First Ranger ordered sternly. “Lord Cotter, I do not know whether Aegor’s move is aimed at you, but for your safety, I suggest you cancel your plan to return to Eastwatch today.”

Cancel the trip? Cotter Pyke felt a rush of hot blood to his head. In all his decades, there had been times when he had admitted defeat and compromised. But this time, when he had already grudgingly admitted he could not outfight Aegor and had planned to slink home in passive resistance, yet the other man still refused to let him go, was the first.

Simply too much.

“What, as commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, do I now have to look at the face of some damned Chief Logistics Officer just to return to the fortress I command? I’m walking out that gate today, and I want to see who dares stop me!”

Theoretically, no one could stop him.

The commander of Eastwatch and the Chief Logistics Officer were of similar rank in the Night’s Watch, meaning that though not directly subordinate, Cotter Pyke was Yam’s superior. If the latter dared to act against him, it would be insubordination.

And as for the participants in this operation being all from the mountain clans, with no New Gift people involved—even if that was true, the mountain clans were guests in the Gift, while Cotter Pyke was a true master there. By guest right, a guest raising a hand against a master, no matter the reason, was an unforgivable act of rebellion, a violation of natural law. If the mountain clans wished to go on living in the Gift, they would not dare to act recklessly.

But in reality? Out in the blockade line, there was at least one man who would absolutely dare to stop him.

“The Kingslayer took Mance Rayder to Crown Town yesterday and hasn’t come back. He’s most likely outside right now,” Bowen Marsh said helplessly. “If he stands in front of you, and says, like yesterday, ‘Those who want to leave must step over my corpse,’ what will you do?”

As though doused in cold water, Cotter Pyke’s anger was instantly cooled by more than half.

That was right. Neither the employees of the Night’s Watch Industry nor the mountain clans living in the Gift would dare harm a senior officer of the Night’s Watch. But if the other side had someone whose martial skill was high enough to “defeat or capture him without harm,” then the situation would be different.

And coincidentally, they did indeed have such a man.

To rush out only to be humiliated and driven back, or to hide meekly behind the walls like a coward… Truly a bitter choice.

“What are your plans?” Cotter Pyke’s face twisted. “Are you really going to just sit inside Castle Black until they withdraw?”

“I understand what you’re thinking,” the First Ranger shook his head helplessly. “Leading the brothers out for a fight, letting things escalate out of control, and then having Robb Stark come to clean up the mess and punish whoever started it… The thought of it is satisfying. But shedding blood for no reason and weakening the defense of the Wall would give the White Walkers an opening. We are the shield that guards the realms of men. If mankind suffers heavy losses or even destruction because of our own internal quarrels and impulses, who will bear that responsibility?”

“Yes. Consider the big picture. Consider the big picture!” Cotter Pyke roared, his face red. “Stop making excuses! You just want to keep letting that boy run wild until he destroys the Night’s Watch!”

“Lord Cotter, calm yourself.” His anger was completely understandable. Even Bowen Marsh had to admit that their side had compromised and backed down far too much, and that Aegor was being far too aggressive. “But the fact is, there are dozens, even hundreds, of brothers born to the mountain clans inside Castle Black. And right now, no one has the authority to lead the whole garrison out to attack when the brothers know that the men outside are not enemies. Even if someone had such authority, we would not win. He can summon about as many men as the entire Night’s Watch combined with a single word. In this situation, still thinking of confronting them head-on, clashing directly, is just asking for trouble.”

Cotter sneered. “All right then. I wonder what brilliant idea you, as the senior officer, have?”

“At least on one point we can agree—Robb Stark, as Warden of the North, could not have ordered the mountain clans to surround Castle Black. I am certain he knows nothing about this. Aegor is using his name to frighten people. We can also infer something else—the letter we sent yesterday did not reach him. Rather than shedding blood in a fratricidal fight, I would like to see how Aegor explains himself to the Warden of the North when, instead of sending another letter, we send someone directly to report what is happening… Let’s see how Aegor explains this to the Warden of the North.”

(To be continued.)

***

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