Chapter 478

The unpredictability of events was truly maddening.

What had started as a pleasant surprise with the timely arrival of the Unsullied reinforcements had quickly devolved into a headache, thanks to the accompanying chaos stirred by Varys and Petyr Baelish. Yet ironically, it was the overlooked Eastwatch guide—a minor presence amidst the grand arrival—who delivered good news: the supposed threat Aegor had been meticulously guarding against at the easternmost edge of the Wall had inexplicably transformed into an unexpected ally.

As Aen Ymmet, the Eastwatch scout, relayed his “shocking revelation” with all the pomp of someone delivering explosive intelligence, Aegor was left scratching his head. Had Carter Pyke, the once-hostile commander of Eastwatch who’d been thoroughly humiliated by Aegor before, undergone some profound epiphany and truly defected to his cause? Or was this a clever double bluff, a ruse designed to lull him into complacency before plunging the knife?

Ultimately, Aegor concluded, it didn’t matter. Whether Carter’s newfound loyalty was genuine or a façade, the plan wouldn’t change.

Aegor would still order Carter to lead his loyalists on a “scouting mission” beyond the Wall in the days leading up to the expedition. If Carter’s allegiance was sincere, it would simply be a routine patrol; if not, whatever plans of betrayal Carter had concocted with the Northern conspirators would be rendered meaningless once they were isolated by the towering Wall, their hold on Eastwatch wrested away by reinforcements.

The truth of the Winterfell meeting had long since been pieced together by Aegor from multiple corroborating sources. Regardless of whether Carter Pyke participated in the Starks’ conspiracy or which side he chose to support, the outcome would not change. Aegor’s counterstrategy was already set in stone: before the North could act on its plans, he would preemptively strike. The moment his enemies expected him to lead a grand northern expedition, he would pivot south, executing a lightning-fast advance deep into the North's heart. His forces would descend on Winterfell before the Starks could muster a proper defense or rally their bannermen.

In fact, Carter’s abrupt allegiance was less a boon and more a potential liability. Aegor didn’t fear Carter as an enemy; a poorly-timed act of loyalty, however, could be far more dangerous. If Carter, in his eagerness to prove himself, acted rashly—say, by exposing the Northern spies or prematurely leaking their plans—it would derail Aegor’s carefully controlled narrative. Worse, it might throw the Starks themselves into the flames of public hatred, a move that could set the entire North ablaze in a storm of unchecked war.

Aegor didn’t care much for protecting his enemies from such a fate, but letting the flames of animosity spread unchecked would ultimately burn him as well. Reluctantly, he found himself in the absurd position of having to cover for his adversaries—cleaning up their messy conspiracy to ensure it didn’t backfire in ways that disrupted his own timetable.

“You’ve done well.” Suppressing the bitter irony of the situation, Aegor addressed Aen Ymmet with a firm, composed expression. “Return to Commander Pyke and tell him I’ve received the information. I’ll handle the response. However, stress to him the utmost importance of secrecy—under no circumstances should this information be leaked. Ensure this message is understood.”

“Yes, my lord!” Aen saluted smartly before hesitating. He shifted slightly, a flicker of nervous ambition crossing his face. “There’s... one more thing, my lord. I’ve heard tales of the Dragon Queen. How she forsook the easy path to the Iron Throne to come north and stand against the Long Night. Her bravery moved me deeply, and I... I wish to serve her. If there’s any way I can fight for her cause in reclaiming the Seven Kingdoms, I beg you to grant me that chance.”

Yesterday, Aen had been urging Carter Pyke to overthrow Aegor and claim the Lord Commander’s title. Today, after a single visit to Horgrown, the man was groveling for a chance to serve. Clearly, witnessing Aegor’s authority firsthand and glimpsing the scope of his ambition had utterly shattered Aen’s limited perspective. A humble title like “Eastwatch ranger” or even “Commander” was nothing compared to the grandeur of Aegor’s vision.

Aegor looked at him sharply, immediately understanding the situation.

A defector.

The Night’s Watch was full of restless souls—men who, like Aegor, refused to let the Wall be the end of their story. All it took was recognizing those with potential, reeling them in, and nurturing their ambition. The promising ones at Castle Black had long since been co-opted into Aegor’s network, but those at Shadow Tower and Eastwatch were less familiar and therefore less accessible. Aen, it seemed, was one of the sharpest minds from this latter pool.

Despite Aen’s impressive skill set—his uncanny marksmanship had earned him two confirmed White Walker kills, a feat Aegor himself had yet to match—Aegor didn’t have the time or energy to fully vet him. Not now.

“There are always opportunities,” Aegor said carefully, meeting Aen’s gaze with a measured expression. “But now, our priorities are clear. The Stark conspiracy must be contained, and the expedition to eradicate the remaining White Walkers is paramount. I’ll oversee the first, but the second requires someone of your caliber. I’ve decided to accelerate the timetable—the expedition will begin in one week. Return to Eastwatch and support your commander in keeping this secret and completing the patrol. When the dust has settled and you’ve returned safely, come to me again. I’ll ensure you have a place.”

The pieces were falling into place, but the timeline was painfully tight. Though the public plan was for the expedition to begin in a month, with the vanguard departing the day before to “scout,” Aegor’s true strategy was far more aggressive. The “main force” would never follow; the vanguard’s deployment was merely a cover to isolate potential troublemakers beyond the Wall. Meanwhile, Aegor’s core forces would strike south, seizing control of the Wall’s key fortresses to lock out returning “traitors” while the bulk of his army surged into Northern territory.

Even this revised timeline had already been shortened once—to two weeks instead of four. But now, with the arrival of Varys and Littlefinger, Aegor gritted his teeth and prepared to cut it down further.

Rushing preparations would bring complications, but Aegor would rather deal with logistical headaches than risk leaving Daenerys vulnerable to the whispers of those two vipers for a single day longer.

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