Chapter 94: The Night's Watch in the Host (Part I)
"What are you worried about? It's not like they're sending you to the front lines; think of it as a vacation," Tyrion consoled him with a shrug. "The scenery in the Vale is actually quite lovely, provided you're looking at the mountains rather than climbing them. Do you really think Robert can lose? At the very worst, it'll be a draw."
"I'm not worried about my personal safety. It's just... our business is currently in its critical growth phase. If one of the 'Two Giants' behind the Night's Watch industries suddenly vanishes, it will undoubtedly have a negative impact!"
"Two Giants? Heh... thanks!" Tyrion rolled his eyes, secretly admiring the man's unique ability to weave flattery into his complaints. "I'll be here in King's Landing; nothing catastrophic will happen. As for you, it's a royal command. It's best not to harbor any thoughts of passive resistance. Just go along obediently and do as you're told. By the time you return, the factory will be in full swing. I might even have an entire interest group assembled for you. One introduction and you'll instantly become a man of status and connections—someone with 'background' in the eyes of outsiders, and 'the man upstairs' to the members of our industry."
"Sigh... fine. I'll have to leave the hard work to you then."
"Don't mention it. I have to live up to being called a 'Giant,' don't I? Sign a declaration authorizing me to handle all affairs of the Night's Watch office during your absence, leave one of your seals behind, and leave the rest to me. Go enjoy your trip to the Vale."
...
Egger decided to follow Tyrion's advice. This was the reality of being caught in the gears of power. In truth, he wasn't genuinely worried that the business would collapse without him—his partner was a talent rarely seen in the Seven Kingdoms. Aside from modern foresight, technical knowledge, and height, Tyrion surpassed him in methods, intellect, and connections. With the major financial crisis averted, the sky wouldn't fall... and given Tyrion's character, there was no fear of being pushed out of the partnership.
Egger wasn't afraid; he was frustrated. Tyrion didn't know that this war, in a sense, had been triggered by Egger himself. Months ago, standing beneath the First Keep of Winterfell watching Bran fall, he had felt an illusion that fate and the plot were immutable. Today, he realized the plot was not only changeable but terrifyingly easy to alter.
If you could find the right lever, a gentle nudge would cause the subsequent plot to collapse like dominoes into something unrecognizable. Now, he had lost the advantage of knowing the future, and the ripples from his own wings had circled back to strike him.
It was an unpleasant feeling. There was a word for it... right, backlash. He was suffering the backlash of his own rumors.
The order came from the King. While Egger in principle didn't report to him, the only man in Westeros who could currently defy Robert Baratheon to his face and emerge unscathed was Eddard Stark. Furthermore, finance required the ruling class to allow it to function, or better yet, participate in it. No matter how he looked at it, the trip to the Vale was unavoidable. With a few days left before the Crownlands' army marched, Egger spent his time briefing Tyrion and giving orders to his subordinates, hoping they could carry out his plans.
The deadline for his next ransom payment—or rather, the delivery of supplies to the Night's Watch—was a month away. Egger had originally planned to use this shipment to pave the way for his long-term goals. Beyond the items on the Lord Commander's list, he intended to voluntarily donate extra goods. Food at the Wall was mediocre, so he arranged for several thousand pounds of meat and several barrels of wine to be included in every shipment to improve the brothers' diet. Most Watchmen, aside from officers, only had one set of winter clothes; if they got wet or needed washing, the men had to shiver in their rooms waiting for them to dry. He planned to gradually provide every brother with a spare set of cold-weather gear.
If he continued this cycle, a phenomenon would soon emerge within the Night's Watch: whenever the Logistics Department made a delivery, the garrison would get a feast and new clothes, boots, or hats. Under these tangible benefits, the visibility of his new department would explode. The best part was that compared to grain and weapons, these items were incredibly cheap. Spending a little gold to buy popularity was an absolute bargain.
...
He didn't just want to provide these things; he wanted the crates and sacks clearly marked as coming from the Night's Watch Logistics Department, procured and provided by Egger West himself. He didn't want the men at the Wall enjoying the meat and warmth while remaining in the dark about his hard work.
Tyrion had highly approved of the plan, but Egger realized he would likely be away when the next shipment was due. He entrusted the meat and wine to a merchant recommended by Tyrion—it didn't matter where they were sourced, as long as they reached the Wall and didn't make anyone sick. As for the clothing... Egger called Nina and tasked her with the project. She was to prepare a batch of thick, black winter gear, and every item had to be embroidered or stamped with Night's Watch Logistics Department and Supervised by Egger West in a way that wouldn't easily wash off.
Nina's family was already in the textile and garment trade, so this wasn't an unreasonable request. It also served as a test to see if the girl's competence matched her sharp wit.
He hoped the clever people around him wouldn't disappoint. Tucked away in the safe rear, it was impossible to compete with frontline commanders for glory and prestige, but building a bit of presence and making the brothers remember him fondly shouldn't be difficult.
The bond redemptions were nearing their end. Those who hadn't claimed their money by now had either forgotten or simply didn't care about a hundred gold pieces. In the end, about 1,200 of the 2,000 gold dragons were redeemed—placing the capital chain right between the 50% and 70% danger zones he had calculated. Three days after being handpicked by the King, Egger packed his bags, took his young squire Casey—whom he had recruited in King's Landing—and rode out of the city toward the army's assembly point.
The horses trotted, the metal rings on the reins and bits jingling. Bathed in the morning sun, the Chief Logistics Officer and his follower rode out through the Gods Gate, quickly leaving the walls and the stench of King's Landing behind. While still some distance from the camp, Egger spotted the cooking fires. Soon, a cacophony of sound surged over the farmlands like the call of a distant sea.
As they drew closer, the roar of the crowd intensified. When they crested a hill, the sound became distinct, and the sight of tents spreading across the hills under the summer sun caught their eyes. Countless campfires sent a pale haze into the sky. Rows of horses stretched for miles. The surrounding woods had been stripped bare to create poles for banners. Siege engines, which couldn't be rushed into production before a war, were lined up along the Kingsroad, some with wheels taller than a man. Countless spear tips glinted red in the sun, and the pavilions of lords and knights sat like mushrooms after a rain, large and small across the fields.
Tens of thousands of soldiers moved among these mushrooms—men on horseback, men with spears, men with swords, men with bows. Around the perimeter, carters moved busily with supplies, and stablehands tended to the livestock.
It was a noisy, chaotic symphony of clashing steel, neighing horses, and human chatter, occasionally punctuated by the laughter of camp children. The air smelled of food and waste—much fresher than in King's Landing, but a stench nonetheless. When people gather in such numbers, they must eat, and then they must relieve themselves. Thus, Robert's single decree had created this massive entity before them: a sprawling gathering of lords, soldiers, and the following army of servants, merchants, and commoners.
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