GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond The Ice

"Over a hundred thousand wildlings beyond the Wall are desperate to cross before winter sets in. The Night's Watch is too weak to stop them. Change is inevitable, and change often means destruction."

Aegor carefully avoided mentioning the White Walkers. Without solid proof, bringing up such things would only undermine his credibility.

"But the reason I was able to organize all of this," he continued, "aside from the support of Lord Tyrion Lannister, is that I didn't offend anyone."

---

It sounded like a clever turn of phrase, but in reality, Tyrion had once summed it up in a much cruder yet entirely accurate way:

"The price wasn't too high."

The real reason Tyrion had been able to pull Aegor from the Wall aside from money and some strategic embellishments was that Aegor had been insignificant. He had no powerful allies, no sworn enemies. No one had been invested in his fate, and no one had cared enough to challenge the decision. When he left, there had been no outraged voices running to Lord Commander Mormont or King Robert to demand his return.

But if a former heir of an earl, someone who had been sent to the Night's Watch as punishment for backing the wrong side in Robert's Rebellion wanted to leave? That was an entirely different matter.

There was no exaggeration in saying that Robert's rule would not have lasted had he allowed such things. Even now, long after his rebellion, those who had fought against him had only two choices: switch allegiances or remove themselves from power entirely. That was the unspoken rule of Westeros.

A king sat at the top of the feudal order, the greatest beneficiary of the noble system. Unless he was an utter fool, someone with a political mind as abysmal as Joffrey's, he would never be the one to break that system and weaken his own authority, not for something as trivial as a bribe.

If anyone wanted to buy their way out of the Night's Watch, they would have to offer a price so high it would truly tempt the king. And even then, they would have to ensure that no one in Westeros protested the decision.

House Buckwell was wealthy enough that they could afford a sum in the thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of gold dragons. But for Robert, a man who had been a king for years yet had no concept of how much daily necessities actually cost, that was nothing. It wasn't even a fraction of what he owed Tywin Lannister and the Iron Bank. Would a sum like that really interest him?

Technically, the Night's Watch could ignore the king's opinions altogether. But in practice? In a land where all power ultimately answered to the throne, how many truly dared to disregard a king's will?

People could talk about Frey's arrogance, Prince Oberyn's defiance, the Queen of Thorns' cunning, or the brutal audacity of the Boltons. But as long as Robert Baratheon still lived and the alliances of House Baratheon, Stark, and Arryn remained intact, even the boldest of schemers had to bide their time and keep their heads down.

Even setting aside external politics, there was a more immediate problem:

How much effort had Tyrion already put into persuading the Night's Watch leadership to release Aegor? It had taken extraordinary maneuvering just to get them to make an exception for someone as unimportant as him.

Sir Jarman Buckwell, on the other hand, was a different matter entirely. He was not just a ranger, he was a political exile, a noble sent to the Wall to ensure his house survived the rebellion.

The real danger wasn't the lack of gold but the inequality of such an act.

If the precedent were set that the right price could free a man from the Wall, it would destroy the Night's Watch in an instant.

Those with wealth or noble ties would scramble to find ways to buy their way out, while those without anything would be left seething with resentment, watching helplessly as others escaped. The leadership of the Night's Watch, as well as the rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, would never allow such a situation to unfold.

If that ever happened, their response would be swift and brutal: a total crackdown to stop the problem before it spread.

And if that day came?

Even Aegor who had done everything by the book so far might find himself dragged back to the Wall.

This was not something that could be handled easily.

---

"I see."

Earl Buckwell nodded slowly, understanding the unspoken meaning in Aegor's words. He had been lucky to keep his head after choosing the losing side in Robert's Rebellion. Trying to push further seeking to undo his son's sentence was an overreach.

Still, he was not willing to give up entirely.

"But I have an idea," the old earl said. "Since you are the chief logistics officer, perhaps you could intervene in personnel assignments. Transfer Jarman to serve under your department as a logistics officer. Then, order him to work in the Crownlands, officially tasked with 'procuring food and supplies at Staghorn Castle.' That way, everyone wins."

The suggestion was completely viable in theory.

But Aegor wasn't about to tell him the truth, that his position as chief logistics officer was little more than an illusion.

Most people, upon hearing his title, assumed he was the fifth-highest authority in the Night's Watch, ranking just below the Lord Commander, the Chief Ranger, the First Steward, and the Master of Arms. This misunderstanding—this illusion—was precisely what Aegor wanted them to believe.

And so far, it had been extremely beneficial.

But the reality?

He wasn't even close to having that kind of power. Even a random ranger captain carried more weight than he did.

Right now, Aegor was lucky just to not be recalled to the Wall. The idea of pulling strings to get someone else out? That was a battle he couldn't even start to fight.

"My lord," Aegor said carefully, "I won't deceive you."

He chose his words carefully not outright lying, but framing the truth in a way that would temper Buckwell's expectations.

"The logistics department was only recently established. It does not hold as much influence as the older divisions. I do have the authority to recruit new personnel as I see fit. But transferring someone from Castle Black?" He shook his head. "That is beyond my power. At least for now. After all, I have only been in office for two months."

He paused for a moment before continuing,

"Once I expand the Night's Watch industry, build a network of allies at court, gain control over the bulk of the Watch's logistical supply, and eventually send my own trained men to the Wall…."

Aegor painted a picture of what could be achieved if everything went according to plan. But in the end, he concluded with a more serious tone,

"Influence and authority don't appear out of thin air. They must be earned. My lord, you have spent decades in power you must understand this better than anyone."

"I do," Earl Buckwell nodded. The man in black before him had made his position clear.

"I will do everything I can to support your endeavors in King's Landing. As for investment… once this war is over, if Staghorn Castle's finances are still intact, we will continue as planned. Profit is secondary, I'm willing to take little or none at all. But please, Chief Logistics Officer, remember Jarman's situation."

"You have my gratitude, my lord. The Night's Watch will not forget your aid during this critical time for the defense of the Wall."

Dealing with intelligent men was always easier.

With just a few words, two individuals or in this case, two small factions that had previously been strangers had discovered common interests and even reached a preliminary agreement for cooperation.

Aegor felt a twinge of guilt.

The truth was, he had no means of rescuing Jarman Buckwell. But in order to secure investment, he had deliberately implied that it might be possible, just difficult.

Perhaps this was just how things worked. The longer he played this financial game, the more he found himself changing. He was no longer simply an engineer. He had become a businessman, one who never missed an opportunity to promote his financial ventures, always steering conversations toward money and investment.

Once upon a time, he had been an honest man, the kind who never lied except to his parents or his girlfriend. But now? He could weave half-truths and grand promises without so much as blinking.

It was not a pleasant realization, becoming someone he once disliked.

But at least he had no intention of outright scamming his investors.

This was a brutal world, and he, a man with no family name, no noble blood, and no real backing couldn't afford to play the game any other way.

Littlefinger, one of the most cunning figures in Westeros, had been easily toppled by a single rumor thanks to Aegor's interference. But that wasn't because Petyr Baelish had been incompetent, it was because public perception was dangerous.

Still, if there was one thing worth learning from Littlefinger, it was his ability to profit from chaos.

Having just secured his first investment through a mix of diplomacy and deception, Aegor found himself wondering:

What would Baelish have done in my situation?

Dragged into a military campaign on a whim, forced to waste time at a crucial moment in his business's development, what would Littlefinger have done?

The answer came to him quickly.

Yes, this war was a show of strength for Robert. It was an opportunity for the king to relive the glory of battle, a way to remind the realm of his power.

But for Aegor, a "Night's Watchman," this was something else entirely.

Most of the realm's nobles had answered the king's summons and gathered here.

That meant that right now, in one place, was a collection of men who controlled wealth, land, and resources.

And he had just been handed the opportunity to meet them, all without having to chase them down or beg for introductions.

Tyrion had urged him to enjoy the trip, but Aegor had never been one to sit idly by while others worked themselves to the bone.

While his partners in King's Landing toiled like dogs to keep their operations running, he would not simply wander the Vale, admiring the scenery.

He would seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If this campaign was going to waste his time, then he would make it worthwhile.

By the time he returned to King's Landing, he would have built the network he needed.

***

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