Chapter 286

When one party is resolute and immune to persuasion, and the other lacks the leverage to sway them, negotiations lose their challenge and excitement—often resulting in one-sided agreements with little meaning.

Aegor had experienced this once before, during his negotiations with Margaery Tyrell over the price of technology transfers. Now, thousands of miles away at the Wall, he found himself in a similar situation while dealing with another influential woman.

This time, however, he held the upper hand.

Melisandre had mistaken him for the prophesied Azor Ahai and willingly offered her aid. But Aegor was confident he could win the Lord Commander election on his own, using his resources and skills. While her support was a welcome bonus, he didn’t need it—her contributions merely saved him some effort. Gratitude for timely assistance was one thing, but expecting to leverage such help into a share of his influence over the Wall and the Gift was underestimating his political savvy.

Fortunately, Melisandre seemed to sense his determination—or perhaps she was willing to compromise for her chosen “Prince.” After some back-and-forth, she abandoned her third demand entirely without withdrawing her support. In effect, she had all but surrendered unconditionally.
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The next day, the election resumed, and Aegor set his plans into motion. Warner Buckwell withdrew from the race, and most of his votes—though slightly diminished—transferred to Aegor. At the same time, some of the Castle Black brothers who had wavered and voted for Yohn Royce the previous day switched their votes to Aegor.

The contrast between the two factions was stark. The reformists rallied unanimously around a single leader, while the conservatives were fragmented. Yohn Royce, after his “one-day tour” of the election, hastily withdrew. The two commanders who had stepped aside for him—Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke—rejoined the race, but their inability to unite only perpetuated the stalemate.

This time, however, the brothers at Castle Black had little patience for them.

By mid-morning, during the first round of voting after Aegor’s return, he had surged into the lead with over 400 votes, well ahead of Mallister’s 300 and Pyke’s 200. The results were a clear signal of Castle Black’s sentiment. Both Mallister and Pyke had lost over 100 votes compared to their previous highs, with Pyke’s support from Castle Black dropping to barely double digits outside his Eastwatch delegation.

While the voting results were somewhat predictable, the events that followed were not. A series of seemingly unrelated but crucial developments caught everyone by surprise:

The nobles who had accompanied Melisandre—a group of 20 to 30 Southerners—collectively applied to join the Night’s Watch. Aegor’s previous attempts to block criminals from joining the Watch had been overruled by Commander Mormont, establishing a precedent that no officer could refuse an oath-taker. Moreover, these were no ordinary recruits—they were noble-born, trained as knights, and among the most desirable additions to the Watch.

Ser Andrew Tarth, the current master-at-arms at Castle Black, announced plans to recruit new members from the Gift. Any healthy man under 50 could apply.

Denys Mallister, after an early lunch, departed Castle Black with his retinue for the Shadow Tower, leaving behind a single representative to vote on behalf of his garrison.
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Despite being harshly criticized by Aegor the previous day, Mallister still secured close to 100 votes from Castle Black—a testament to his enduring respect among the brothers. Yet the veteran commander chose to leave during a moment of relative strength. It was baffling.

Mallister’s departure effectively meant surrendering his Castle Black support and conceding the election—an act seemingly at odds with his decision to reenter the race. His behavior could be interpreted as a silent protest: if he couldn’t win, he would ensure no one else could either. However, with Robb Stark present at the Wall, this seemed like an affront to the Warden of the North, practically forcing Robb to support Aegor’s proposed electoral reforms: abolishing commander-voting rights for fortress representatives.

Could Mallister have anticipated this? Was he preparing his soldiers at the Shadow Tower for a broader election under the new system?

Aegor couldn’t make sense of it and ultimately decided that Mallister had likely accepted his inevitable victory but couldn’t bring himself to vote for him out of pride. Thus, he left to avoid facing the outcome.
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Robb Stark, being young and impatient, acted quickly. The day after Mallister’s departure, the Warden of the North intervened directly.

Announcing that he was suspending the current election process, Robb ordered the removal of all “voting representatives” except the candidates themselves and began preparations for a universal one-man, one-vote system.

To ensure fairness, Robb planned to dispatch supervisors to every Watch-held fortress along the Wall. His sizable retinue from Winterfell would manage the logistical challenges. However, as preparations were underway, two major developments occurred in the Gift:

Grain shipments from the North began arriving in Holdfast. Though many Northern families were reluctant to send provisions for the wildlings, the Night’s Watch’s willingness to pay and their assistance in repelling Ironborn raids kept the trade moving. While the supplies were modest, they were enough to sustain the Gift until the grain ships from Braavos arrived.

Delegations from the four Northern houses closest to the Gift—Glover, Umber, Karstark, and Bolton—arrived at Castle Black.
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The arrival of over 200 Northerners transformed the atmosphere at Castle Black. The crowded headquarters bustled with activity as rarely-used rooms were reopened to accommodate the influx. The tension of the ongoing election gave way to a brief period of camaraderie and excitement.

That evening, Robb hosted a banquet for the Northern lords.

“Lords, you already know why I summoned you here,” Robb began. “The late Lord Commander Mormont’s settlement plan seeks to integrate the surrendered wildlings into the Gift, supporting the Wall’s defenses and solving manpower shortages. However, the wildlings have always been our greatest threat. To ensure the North’s safety, I’ve called you to inspect the Gift with me and decide whether to intervene in this plan.”

The lords nodded in agreement. Glover spoke first. “We heard about the election for the new Lord Commander. Has a winner been chosen yet?”

“Not yet,” Robb replied, his tone sharp as he glanced at the Watch officers present. “The candidates have failed to reach a consensus after over two months. I’ve intervened to replace the representative voting system with a one-man, one-vote election. Until the brothers choose a leader, the settlement plan remains unresolved. Our inspection will help us determine whether it should proceed.”

Roose Bolton’s cold gaze swept the room as he voiced a cutting observation. “Without a Lord Commander, the Watch itself may lack a unified stance on the settlement. Even if we form opinions on the matter, to whom would we address our concerns? And who would act on them?”

Robb hesitated, caught off-guard by the question. After a moment, he responded, “The Watch’s election may continue indefinitely, but the wildling issue cannot wait. If we find the settlement plan poses a threat, we’ll halt it ourselves, regardless of the election’s outcome. Otherwise, we’ll return to the North and leave the matter to the Watch.”

Bolton nodded but pressed further. “That’s practical enough, but why complicate things with a vote? In times of crisis, traditions are luxuries we cannot afford. Appoint a Lord Commander directly, then share our findings with him. It would save time and resources.”

The suggestion startled Aegor, who hadn’t expected Bolton to advocate something so unorthodox. The man’s pragmatism was alarming, and Aegor silently vowed to remain wary of him.
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“Lord Bolton,” Cotter Pyke interrupted, “the Wall has stood for thousands of years, and no Lord Commander has ever been appointed by a Stark. Modifying the voting system is one thing, but appointing a leader outright? That would destroy the brothers’ trust in their commander!”

Glover agreed. “The Watch needs a leader chosen by its brothers, someone they respect. A forced appointment might solve the immediate issue but undermine the Wall’s long-term defenses.”

Even Aegor, the likely beneficiary of such an appointment, found the idea unappealing. Winning this way would feel hollow and breed resentment among the Watch.

Fortunately, Robb dismissed the notion. “Rest assured, lords, there’s no need for such measures.” He gestured toward Aegor. “The settlement plan is under his management as Mormont’s successor. He will lead our inspection, and any concerns can be directed to him.”

Aegor nodded, alread