The influence of the Logistics Department extended throughout every newly reactivated fortress.

Even as Ser Denys Mallister was still receiving insider information from Rickard Karstark, Aegor had already learned through his informants that more men from the Night’s Watch had arrived at Ice Mark City.

However, he paid it little mind, nor did he know that the Commander of Shadow Tower himself had come or that he would seek him out so quickly.

“Ser Mallister!” Aegor was visibly surprised for a moment, but a warm smile quickly spread across his face. “Your presence truly graces Ice Mark City. May I ask if you’re here on official business, or are you also curious about the living conditions of the New Gift settlers and wish to visit and provide guidance?”

“Official business. And it concerns you.” Denys stood impassively in the doorway, eyeing the room full of Night’s Watch Industry employees deep in some grand discussion. “Chief Logistics Officer, is it convenient to speak in private?”

Aegor had already guessed what this was likely about. Proper etiquette kept him from smiling smugly. He paused for a few seconds before nodding and signaling for everyone to leave.

All those in the room were his confidants. They not only understood the situation but had just finished discussing the Shadow Tower envoy’s arrival. Seeing Ser Mallister here, none of them had the slightest doubt about the reason, he had come to complain, but finding himself too late, decided to negotiate instead.

Though they obeyed Aegor’s command and filed out, many couldn’t help but glance at the old knight as they passed, their eyes filled with scorn or mockery.

…

Unbothered, Denys stepped aside. Once the room emptied and the door was shut, he moved to the table where the meeting had been held.

“I admire how you handled the crisis.”

“Handled it? You flatter me. I merely spoke the truth, and ultimately gained the forgiveness of the Northerners through sincerity.” Without Arya’s warning or Roose Bolton’s assistance, he’d never have gotten through this so smoothly, but such things could never be revealed to an opponent. “May I ask your purpose in coming, Ser Mallister?”

They were still rivals, and the old knight understood the caution in Aegor’s tone. As he examined the furnishings, he walked closer, stopping at a comfortable conversational distance.

“This election has wasted too much of the Night’s Watch’s time. I’ve come to bring it to an end.”

“Spending time to elect the right person is worthwhile.” Aegor gave a polite, false smile. “May I ask how you plan to ‘bring it to an end,’ Ser Mallister?”

“Let’s strike a deal. You agree to a few of my conditions, and I’ll withdraw from the election for Lord Commander and instruct the men of Shadow Tower to vote for you.”

“I respect you, Ser Mallister, and I desire your support but not through such means.” The smile vanished from Aegor’s face. He lowered his gaze, voice firm. “I’d rather take the proper path and earn my position through merit, not through underhanded trades of interests.”

Had he not already seen through this young man’s character after multiple rounds of contests, Denys might have felt ashamed in the face of such righteous words. But now, he knew better: this was simply posturing. Aegor was reinforcing the impression that he held all the cards to negotiate from a higher position.

With victory in hand, he was entitled to take this stance.

“I am old, Aegor.” Denys smiled, shaking his head as he hung his coat on the wall. Without waiting for an invitation, he sat down. “And I’m not as sharp as I once was. I can no longer engage in debates about worldviews or ethics… There are no outsiders here. Please allow me to shed this outer coat.” He spoke deliberately, with double meaning, and followed with a bold declaration. “I believe anything in the world can be traded—honor, chastity, loyalty, respect… so long as the timing and price are right. Rather than speak of ‘dirty’ or ‘clean,’ why not hear what I offer?”

Aegor hadn’t expected someone like Denys Mallister, so cautious about his reputation, to let go so completely. Such blunt, even villainous rhetoric might be thought silently but to say it out loud…

He was, in a sense, truly a straightforward man. Aegor, for a moment, found it difficult to maintain his facade. As the knight said, there were no outsiders here. Why not be honest for once?

Since the other party was sitting, and he was standing, it placed him at a disadvantage. Aegor smiled genuinely now, no longer acting, and sat down.

“All right. Let’s hear it.”

“Before you moved to surround Castle Black, you already had over half the votes—more than Cotter and I combined. Victory was within reach. Now, this incident has caused your support in Castle Black to collapse. But given that more than half of those 500 votes were from your own supporters or reformers, I suspect that no matter how serious the fallout, you won’t drop below a third. No matter how hard Cotter or I struggle, you’re in an unassailable position. It’s only a matter of time before you win.”

Aegor nodded. “That’s also how I see it. But that’s my leverage. What do you have to offer me?”

Denys raised three fingers. “One, you become Commander a few months earlier. Two, a loyal Commander of Shadow Tower. Three, a chance to eliminate risk entirely.”

—

“Commander a few months earlier”—that part was self-explanatory. Aegor had launched the mutiny to pressure neutral voters into speeding up the election. Instead, no neutrals budged, yet Ser Denys Mallister was stirred. With his support and especially if he could bring Shadow Tower’s 236 votes—Aegor could ignore the losses from Castle Black and win outright.

“A loyal Commander of Shadow Tower” also clear. Even if they hadn’t gotten along before, Aegor didn’t doubt Mallister’s integrity. If he pledged support, he would follow orders.

As for the “eliminate risk” point—Aegor understood what that meant without needing to ask.

He waited for Denys to continue.

“I heard the loan grain is set to arrive at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. I assume that while you blockaded Castle Black, you also took steps to secure the Night’s Watch’s only port?”

“That’s right. I don’t command armies, but I have basic military sense. The actions at Castle Black and Eastwatch happened simultaneously, coordinated. Men from the Logistics Department have already entered Eastwatch and now monitor the port.” Aegor didn’t hide anything. “But they’re a grain unloading team, not heavily armed. Their entry was peaceful. I don’t believe internal logistics movements need explanation.”

“Indeed.” Denys nodded. Robb Stark wouldn’t summon him again just for this. “But the grain hasn’t arrived yet, has it?”

“Not yet… Or rather, I haven’t received any message confirming it.”

“Then let’s say it hasn’t. You should consider the possibility that after the siege is lifted, Cotter Pyke returns to Eastwatch and finds the port filled with unfamiliar men who answer to you. What do you think will happen?”

“I’ve already arranged—”

Denys cut him off. “I believe that. But as you well know, perfect plans exist only in theory. Things don’t always go your way. Rather than risk another incident at Eastwatch, why not consider this: with my support, you become Lord Commander. Then you can order Cotter Pyke to remain at Castle Black or bypass him entirely and command the Eastwatch men to cooperate with unloading the grain. If he resists, you’ll be quelling internal rebellion—as is your right. With your current power, there’s no risk at all.”

…

Aegor already understood everything Denys just said.

To be honest—being elected a few months earlier wasn’t enough on its own to make him compromise. His goal wasn’t just getting the Night’s Watch’s thousand brothers to obey, but expanding the influence of the Night’s Watch Industry and settling the tens of thousands in the Gift.

That work could continue even without a Commander.

But with the grain still not delivered, and conservative factions eyeing the situation, it made him uneasy.

Even if Denys hadn’t come today, Aegor would’ve sought him out once the Northern inspection group left.

But now that Denys had taken the initiative, Aegor had the upper hand. He crossed his legs and stopped pretending to hesitate.

“Your terms?”

“Three.” Denys lifted three fingers, steady despite his age. “First, Cotter Pyke and I remain as Commanders of Eastwatch and Shadow Tower, and you cannot reassign our senior officers without our consent. Second, no one—including Yohn Royce—will be punished or targeted after this. Third, once you take office, you’ll push reforms. But any changes to laws affecting the Night’s Watch must be discussed with me and require my approval.”

The first two points weren’t hard. In fact, Aegor had already decided on them. But the third…

“The first two are fine. The third—no way,” Aegor said flatly. “There’s too much I want to change. If I have to clear it all with you by raven, back and forth, it’d be a nightmare.”

“Asking for the sky, settling for the ground.”

“Hm, that’s asking a bit much. How about this—I’ll narrow the scope.” Denys smiled. “Only changes to rules affecting sworn brothers—the proper Night’s Watch. Like allowing them to leave the order. Those need my approval. Sound fair?”

Aegor had mentioned such reforms before, so it wasn’t surprising. Still…

The first two terms were tolerable. He didn’t need the sworn brothers to love him, just to guard the Wall. The Logistics Department and the settlers were where his real strength lay.

But this third point… Even after the compromise, it meant long-term restraint. As long as Denys lived, Aegor would be held back from changing key laws. Who knew how long he’d live? Maester Aemon had lived over a century.

Just as Aegor was about to refuse, he changed tack.

“Alright, but I have one condition.” He smiled. “If you can get my vote total above two-thirds and win the election before Cotter Pyke leaves Castle Black, I’ll agree to all three terms.”

…

The team delivering the withdrawal order would take two or three days to arrive. Ravens couldn’t fly at night. Voting at Castle Black started at dawn. So even if Denys pledged support now, he couldn’t affect tomorrow’s results.

Shadow Tower had just over 200 men, not enough to tip the scales instantly.

It would take several days to swing the vote, by which time Cotter Pyke would have already left Castle Black.

This condition was nearly impossible. In other words, Aegor didn’t really agree to the third term.

But if Denys’s influence was truly that strong… maybe he was worthy of being “Deputy Commander.”

…

“Agreed.” Denys didn’t even blink. “So—is it a deal?”

“Deal.” Aegor was surprised, but didn’t retract his word. Being a gentleman whose word is his bond occasionally felt satisfying. “But I’m curious. Given your poor relationship with Cotter Pyke, why insist on him remaining at Eastwatch?”

“You’ve never commanded a castle, so you wouldn’t understand,” Denys said, smiling. “A Commander is more than a superior officer. We’re like parents. We make sure the brothers don’t starve or freeze. Bowen Marsh only gives us the bare minimum. If the men want meat, wine, or new clothes, it depends on the Commander’s ability to provide. Cotter uses visiting merchant ships to trade for goods. I deal with Mountain Clans, some nobles, even Wildlings.”

He paused, nostalgic. “We’ve both served longer than Jeor Mormont. We’ve grown close to our men. Changing a Commander on the eve of battle is taboo—especially one in charge of a fortress.”

Aegor nodded thoughtfully.

“It’s good you understand. Yes, once you’re Commander, you can make changes. But the Night’s Watch isn’t like a regular army. Most are criminals and outcasts. They stay warm together on the Wall, with a little bit of honor. Even scoundrels have loyalty. If you replace Cotter—or take command yourself—you won’t gain the same obedience in the short term. Facing the dead now, that’s a risk we can’t take.”

Denys added, “I still hate Cotter. But after this war ends, I’ll fully support any new candidate you name.”

Aegor couldn’t argue with that. On this, at least, Denys truly was thinking of the Night’s Watch.

“Alright, let him enjoy his position for a while longer.”

…

The negotiation concluded smoothly. Aegor and Denys agreed on the immediate legal changes, leaving follow-up discussions for later.

As they stood to part ways, Aegor suddenly remembered something.

“Ser Denys Mallister,” he said, “I once publicly called you and Cotter Pyke mediocre. That was said in a moment of necessity, not my true opinion. Now, I’d like to take it back. You’re one of the noblest and most admirable men I’ve ever met. Please forgive my offense.”

The old knight turned and gave a tired smile.

“You’ll likely be the last Lord Commander I serve. I’m doing my best to believe you’ll do better than me. Don’t disappoint me.”

(To be continued.)

***

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