NOVEL WEB Chapter 96: Chapter 96
The knight did indeed remember Aegor not just because his investment had earned him several gold dragons in interest upon redemption, but also due to Aegor's distinctive black attire and foreign features as a sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Recognizing him at a glance, the knight not only greeted him warmly but also introduced him to those around him.
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"This is the Night's Watchman I mentioned before. You all thought it had to be a scam, but I withdrew my entire investment and actually received three gold dragons in monthly interest. As far as I know, nearly everyone who answered the king's call cashed out their bonds to buy equipment. That's just how things are."
"Three percent interest?" Another knight looked surprised. "I don't get it, where is the Night's Watch getting this kind of money?"
"As for our profits," Aegor interjected smoothly, "if you have more than five hundred gold dragons, you can invest directly and earn even higher returns. For details, once we've dealt with this rebellion and returned to King's Landing, you can visit my office. It's directly across from the garrison's East Camp. I'd be happy to give you a full introduction. And if you'd like to see the Night's Watch factory in operation, that can be arranged as well."
He delivered his pitch in a matter of seconds before seamlessly shifting the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Now then, which kind-hearted knight would be willing to deliver a message to King Robert for me?"
"I know one of the Kingsguard on duty today. I'll speak with him on your behalf," the knight who had bought bonds offered, thumping his chest in assurance. After all, he had personally profited from the Night's Watch investment, and a favor was the least he could do. "Wait here for my return don't go wandering off."
"Much appreciated."
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Standing outside a tent marked with three red stripes, Aegor spent some time conversing with the knights. He spoke persuasively, pitching the Night's Watch enterprise with ease, and soon several of them showed interest in both the bonds and the industry he described. By the time their discussion ended, many had already expressed their intent to visit his office in King's Landing once the war was over.
This unexpected gain significantly eased Aegor's frustration at what had felt like wasted time.
In truth, first impressions mattered in any world. When he had first approached the knights for directions, both he and his attendant Casey had looked respectable enough. Then, the knight who recognized him had personally vouched for him. And when they heard that this Chief Logistics Officer of the Night's Watch was managing hundreds, if not thousands of gold dragons, their wariness vanished.
It no longer mattered that he wore black or belonged to the Night's Watch. In their eyes, he was simply a man of means.
Aegor had long understood this simple reality—wealth, or even the mere appearance of wealth, opened doors. It was little wonder that people instinctively flaunted their riches. After all, money was just another form of power, and those who controlled resources naturally commanded respect among their peers. It was a truth as old as time, applying to both men and beasts alike.
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About twenty minutes later, the knight who had gone to speak with the Kingsguard returned, accompanied by another man wearing a tunic embroidered with two stag antlers.
Aegor recognized him immediately.
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"Earl Buckwell!"
What were the odds? Aegor had a feeling this was too much of a coincidence, but he simply raised an eyebrow and held his tongue.
The man before him was none other than the Lord of Staghorn Castle, a noble of the Crownlands who had once planned to invest in the Night's Watch enterprise. He had intended to put down a thousand gold dragons for a stake in the paper mill, but the sudden civil unrest in the Vale had disrupted his plans before the funds ever arrived in King's Landing.
Even though their deal had fallen through, the bond between them remained. The old earl might have been forced to halt his investment, but he was still the first nobleman to visit the Night's Watch office and personally inspect the papermaking workshop. Over fifty years of age and yet bold enough to take risks on new ventures, his decisiveness alone made him someone worth befriending.
The gray-haired Earl Buckwell nodded to Aegor and the surrounding knights before speaking in a formal tone.
"His Majesty has ordered that the Night's Watchman be attached to the army of Staghorn Castle. I am responsible for your safety."
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With that, Aegor's position in the army was finally settled. The old earl bid farewell to the other knights, then led Aegor and their respective attendants toward the camp belonging to Staghorn Castle's forces.
"Truth be told, King Robert had completely forgotten about summoning you," Buckwell admitted once they were out of earshot of the others. "It was only when your friend reminded him that he remembered."
The earl shook his head with a small smile. This was hardly an honorable thing to reveal, but as a vassal, he had no right to criticize his king, especially not one as powerful as Robert Baratheon.
"His Majesty was deliberating on where to place you when I happened to be present, so I volunteered to take you under my command."
"Uh… well, I appreciate your kindness, my lord."
Aegor had suspected this outcome all along. Still, hearing it confirmed made his heart sink. He had already resigned himself to this trip, but knowing for certain that he was only here because of a half-remembered whim made the entire ordeal feel even more absurd.
Yet no matter how much he cursed Robert internally, he wouldn't be foolish enough to voice those thoughts before a high-ranking noble. At least, not yet.
"You needn't thank me. Since you're here, it's best to make peace with it. King Robert's memory is unpredictable, he forgets new ideas quickly but often recalls old ones at inconvenient times. If this rebellion ends and he suddenly remembers wanting Royce and the others to take the black, only to realize no one's there to handle it… well, you'd be in serious trouble."
Buckwell had just given voice to the very concern Tyrion and Aegor had discussed earlier.
If Aegor had been a typical sworn brother of the Night's Watch, an honorable man with no attachment to anything but his duty, he could have ignored the king's whims entirely. He could have disregarded Robert's foolishness and done nothing, since the oaths of the Night's Watch explicitly forbade interference in the politics of the Seven Kingdoms.
Unfortunately, he was not that kind of man. And as long as the king issued an order, Aegor had no choice but to comply.
Even if this entire campaign turned out to be nothing more than an empty trip to the Vale, it wasn't something he could afford to dismiss lightly. There was too much money on the line.
"You're right," Aegor admitted. "I was already prepared to waste some time when I came here."
"That's good. I understand that the Night's Watch is sworn not to involve itself in the internal struggles of the Seven Kingdoms, but this situation is different. This isn't the Six Kingdoms waging war on the Vale, this is the Seven Kingdoms united to quell a rebellion. The war isn't being fought against the Duke of the Vale himself. Strictly speaking, your presence here doesn't break any rules."
Seeing the uncertainty on Aegor's face, Buckwell continued in a reassuring tone.
"Besides, whether or not King Robert succeeds in breaching the Bloody Gate for the first time in history, no one will hold you accountable. There's no reason to worry."
It was a reasonable point. The old earl was a wise man.
If Robert's forces broke through the Bloody Gate, the outcome was obvious. And if he failed, the most likely scenario would be a negotiated settlement, the king agreeing to withdraw his army in exchange for the Justice League guaranteeing Lysa Arryn's safety and delivering her for trial.
As for the notion that a handful of Vale lords could somehow defeat an army led by Robert Baratheon himself? That was pure fantasy.
Unless, of course, some other time traveler had appeared in the Vale and started manufacturing gunpowder.
But barring that, there was no realistic scenario where the Righteous Alliance came out on top.
I have already sent a letter to Castle Black requesting that an official be dispatched to the south. If the rebellion is quelled swiftly and without trouble, I will simply fulfill my duties as expected. But if things do not go smoothly, who will have the time to concern themselves with me? Once the Crows arrive to take over my role, I can set down this burden and return to King's Landing without worry.
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The Earl of Staghorn and the chief logistics officer of the Night's Watch walked together toward the Buckwell camp, conversing along the way. Aegor quickly gathered more information.
The forces from Staghorn Castle numbered five hundred, including twenty knights. The king planned to depart at dawn, heading for Saltpans to rendezvous with the Riverlands army before moving to the mouth of the Vale, where they would wait for reinforcements from the other kingdoms.
And then there was one last piece of news, one that made Aegor nearly burst into laughter.
Robert had ordered Petyr Baelish to travel to Braavos and negotiate the next loan, ensuring that the realm did not plunge into financial ruin while waging war.
Aegor couldn't hide his surprise. "How is that possible? I mean… isn't our Master of Coin still facing rather serious charges?"
"Exactly. Who knows?" Buckwell sighed. "That man has always been responsible for handling the Crown's loans with the Iron Bank. And now, with a war looming, there's no one else who can take his place in Braavos… Imagine it: we send the adulterer to borrow money, and then we march off to rescue the adulterer. Only King Robert could come up with something so utterly ridiculous." The old earl shook his head, swallowing whatever choice words he had nearly spoken. "Of course, this is only a rumor for now. We shouldn't assume it's fact without evidence. But if it is true, I doubt Littlefinger will ever return to Westeros."
"Indeed."
Aegor composed himself. It was absurd, yes, but then again, Robert had thought to summon a Night's Watchman for this campaign. Was there anything he wouldn't do? Unexpected as it was, this situation did not change the fact that Littlefinger had already been undone by his own schemes.
Baelish was a noble in name only, stripped of power and influence. Even if he fled across the Narrow Sea, what could he possibly do? Would he dare to steal the Iron Bank's loan and start his own venture to challenge Westeros? That would be suicide. The Iron Bank would never support a rival to one of its most valuable clients. And as for the Faceless Men—well, they were not exactly known for leniency.
With that conversation settled, they moved on to discussing Jarman Buckwell, who was currently stationed at Castle Black.
Like most noble houses in the Crownlands, House Buckwell had originally been loyal to the Targaryens. During Robert's Rebellion, Staghorn Castle had chosen the losing side. After Rhaegar fell at the Battle of the Trident, the heir of House Buckwell surrendered, was taken captive, and ultimately sent north to take the black.
Over the years, Jarman Buckwell had risen to the rank of ranger squad leader at Castle Black. Aegor himself had nearly been placed under his command. To some extent, it was this connection that had given Earl Buckwell a favorable first impression of the Night's Watch.
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"The Night's Watch has rarely had much involvement with the Seven Kingdoms. Why, then, have they suddenly begun collecting provisions from the south and even starting industries?"
Now that they were away from Tyrion and the other Crownlands nobles, the old earl finally voiced the question he had refrained from asking during his last visit to the office.
For noble houses, sending a family heir to the Wall was more than just an inconvenience, it was a catastrophe. With Jarman Buckwell serving as a sworn brother, the family had lost one of its most promising successors. Such a loss could easily lead to decline.
It was only natural that the old earl would be anxious.
Aegor immediately understood the implication.
The earl saw hope in him. If Aegor West could leave the Wall and operate freely in the south, then perhaps, under the right circumstances Jarman Buckwell could do the same.