Chapter 210: A Word to Disturb the Mind
"Meera, Jojen—it's a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Egger."
The Night's Watchman feigned complete ignorance of the pair, returning a steady smile while a storm raged within him. It seemed he had relaxed too early. While the North might lack political figures capable of checking him, it was home to inhuman, transcendent powers.
Compared to the likes of the Old Gods or the Great Other, figures like Renly were merely bit players.
Why did Jojen Reed want to see him? Was it simple curiosity from a boy toward a famous Sworn Brother, or was he sent by the Three-Eyed Crow... or rather, the Old Gods, to deliver a message?
"Lord Egger, we have all heard of the calamities occurring north of the Wall. My father originally intended to send soldiers north to assist, but with the sudden outbreak of war in the south, Robb Stark took too many men; those remaining are barely enough for self-defense." The girl explained with a hint of bashfulness. "So, providing men was impossible, but we gathered as much fodder and grain as we could to send north. Consider it our modest contribution to the defenders of the Wall."
"That is excellent. Allow me to represent the Night's Watch in thanking House Reed for their aid." Egger spoke in official platitudes, returning the girl's smile with a gaze so steady it made her blush slightly.
The way Meera looked at him reminded Egger of Nina. He had practically turned posturing into an instinct by now. His attire and aura radiated the presence of a great man; combined with the exaggerated rumors and tales following him, it was remarkably easy to inspire admiration in young women. "Do you return from the south to the Wall to solve the trouble of the wildlings and the Others?"
Solve the trouble of the wildlings and the Others? It would be best if he could, but he hadn't left King's Landing specifically to be a hero. Egger nodded with righteous solemnity. "Indeed. The Wall faces a crisis unseen for millennia. As a member of the Night's Watch, I cannot stay in the south enjoying comforts at such a critical moment."
The girl seemed to believe him entirely. "With a legendary figure like yourself guarding the Wall, the people of the North can breathe a sigh of relief! On behalf of all descendants of the First Men, I express my gratitude and respect to the Chief Logistics Officer!"
Meera had clearly read that book, The Fantastic Adventures of a Night's Watchman; she looked every bit the shy, delighted fan meeting a hero. Knowing the girl was not the key figure, Egger shared a few friendly words with her before shifting his gaze directly to Jojen, locking eyes with the boy who possessed the Greensight.
For a boy of thirteen or fourteen, Jojen possessed a maturity and gravity far beyond his years. The two stared at each other in silence for a moment. No words were exchanged, but Egger found himself unnerved by those eerie green eyes. To break the silence, he took the initiative to speak. "I wonder... what brings you two to Winterfell at this time?"
It was a meaningless question; Egger knew exactly what the Reed siblings were doing in Winterfell. Because his note had chased Petyr Baelish away, many events that should have happened were either prevented or greatly delayed—including Theon's betrayal and the capture of Winterfell. These two young people were currently waiting for a good opportunity to kidnap Bran and take him beyond the Wall.
Undoubtedly, as the second son of House Stark and a cripple... with Winterfell in good order, taking Bran secretly to the far north was an impossible task. The Three-Eyed Crow beyond the Wall was likely growing impatient.
Meera stammered, "Uh... we are here to serve the Lord of Winterfell, Bran Stark—"
"I saw you in a dream, Watchman." Jojen interrupted Meera's hollow and unconvincing explanation. "The North is about to face a blizzard forged of blood. Only a Watchman from a strange land can stop it. Your place is at the Wall, not here. You should head north as quickly as possible."
Egger looked at Jojen in surprise.
The boy before him was undeniably the spokesman and servant of the Three-Eyed Crow, but there was one thing Egger couldn't distinguish: had the greenseer activated Jojen's innate prophetic abilities, giving him a portion of the greenseer's power, or was he merely controlling his dreams and senses, giving Jojen the illusion that he could dream the future?
This distinction affected another crucial point: were the words Jojen spoke a future he had actually seen, or were they a deception and distraction used by the greenseer through his mouth? Was it possible that the greenseer, having witnessed Egger almost preventing Bran's fall, feared he would ruin things again and sent someone the moment he arrived at Winterfell to usher him away with strange words?
...
"I plan to set out north tomorrow." Egger's mind processed a mountain of thoughts in an instant without settling on any of them, but his mouth gave a swift response. "Child, I do not believe in your dreams... but I will go to the Wall, not because of a word from you, but because I am a Man of the Night's Watch."
"I hope so. Remember: 'Your place is at the Wall.' Do not wander off again." Jojen repeated with total solemnity, then turned and walked back toward where they had come. "We shall not trouble you further!"
"I'm sorry, my brother is always like this. But he has green dreams—dreams that must come true. So, please, My Lord, do not ignore what he said." Meera gave Egger an apologetic look before turning to chase after her brother, soon vanishing from the Watchman's sight.
What did that mean? Egger was lost in a fog. The greenseer had sent Jojen just to say one cryptic sentence—what was the goal? Could he not be more like Quaithe was with the Mother of Dragons and say a few more lines for him to analyze?
His journey north was always going to end at the Wall; why go through the trouble of sending someone to rush him? Could that old wretch of a greenseer hold a grudge for the last time Egger almost interfered, and had prepared some trap in the north, urging him to hurry into it? But hadn't Melisandre said she had left the mark of the Red God on him, and that the Old Gods wouldn't dare harm him easily?
Filled with doubt, Egger continued toward the gates of Winterfell. Catelyn had ordered a room prepared for him, but he decided to stay at an inn in the Winter Town instead. Firstly, to be near his men to arrange work, and secondly, for fear that the reckless Arya might pull the absurdity of crawling into his bedroll in the middle of the night again. Being in Winterfell was different from being on the road; if the Starks found him sleeping with their lady, even if he had done nothing... no amount of explanation would clear his name.
...
As he was about to exit the gates of Winterfell, the chatter of the guards caught his attention. He feigned casual conversation and approached them. Relying on the black brothers aura that automatically boosted rapport in the North, he quickly extracted the latest explosive news: Renly Baratheon had been assassinated on the eve of the Northern coalition and Stannis's counter-attack on King's Landing. In the aftermath, the Stormlands and Reach forces had fallen into infighting within the city... With the help of the Northern coalition, Stannis had retaken King's Landing with little effort and reclaimed the Iron Throne!
"Another great victory! They say the prisoners won't even fit in the dungeons. If Randyll Tarly hadn't arrived with his army in time, I reckon even that Tyrell lass would've been caught to warm Lord Robb's bed."
"Randyll Tarly is supposed to be a great general, the southerners praise him to the heavens... but when he meets us Northmen, he loses every time. Twice they've clashed, and twice he's barely escaped with his life, hahaha..."
"It's a queer business, though. Didn't they say that Loras fellow was Renly's man? Why would he suddenly turn and kill his Kingly paramour?"
"Maybe he saw his lover marry his sister and share a bed with her every night. Jealousy makes a man do strange things."
"There's some sense in that—"
Egger stood rooted to the spot as he listened to the guards' conversation.
Renly's death was expected; that Stannis waited a month for Melisandre to act was the only surprise. As for "Loras killing his lover," that was an impossibility—but right now, Egger was truly caught in a dilemma. He had headed north to avoid being dragged onto Renly's doomed ship. Now, the source of the trouble he wanted to dodge had vanished. Should he immediately head south to King's Landing to continue the expansion of the Night's Watch industries, or should he truly do as he just promised Meera: head to the Wall to face the wildlings and the Others?
Jojen coming to tell him Your place is at the Wall was actually providing advice for the choice he was about to face!
Walking out the gates of Winterfell, Egger's mind was in turmoil. When he reached the door of the inn where his team was staying and saw his subordinates and employees drinking and chatting, he suddenly snapped back to reality. He was no longer the small, empty-handed nobody he once was; he was the leader of a faction. He was responsible for countless subordinates and followers. Why was it that as soon as supernatural beings were involved, he reverted to his old self—indecisive and overthinking like an ordinary man?
If the Three-Eyed Crow wanted to deal with him, there was no need to send Jojen to say a useless sentence that would put him on guard. If he wanted safety, his own vigilance was the best bet. As for heading north or south—was there a contradiction? Why feel forced to decide today just because of Jojen's words? Given his current influence and the contributions the Night's Watch industries provided the command, once he met with Mormont and reported on his year of work, if his mind changed and he decided to return to King's Landing, who could stop him?
If he didn't know what the greenseer wanted or what means he had, he would act as if he didn't exist! He would head north as planned, inspect Queen's Crown, guide the construction of the base, and participate in the defense of the Wall... As for the next step after that, he would worry about it after those two tasks were done!
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