Chapter 277: The Counterattack of the Conservatives
"We've all been played by that fellow!" Yohn Royce gathered the Vale lords who had been exiled to the Wall alongside him, speaking to them with a mix of shock and fury. "He announced he wouldn't participate in the election and left Castle Black; everyone thought he had seen the writing on the wall and chosen to be a man who knows when to yield. But everyone was wrong! He didn't give up at all. Instead, while we were all focused on the election, he ran off to the North to stir things up and borrow influence from the Starks!"
"Relax, old man. Robb Stark only announced he was coming to inspect the Gift; it doesn't necessarily mean he's coming to support Egger West's settlement plan... In fact, once he sees those wildlings, he might even oppose it."
"The words themselves aren't wrong, but do those rank-and-file soldiers idling away at the Wall have that kind of judgment? They'll only see that Egger took a trip south, and then the current head of House Stark followed him back to the Wall! I had some friendship with Robb's father, Ned. The Starks have been known for two generations for being honest and loyal—to put it bluntly, they're easy to fool! Facing a devious and utterly unscrupulous scoundrel like Egger, I fear they'll be sold and still help him count the coins."
Another Vale nobleman nodded solemnly. "Lord Yohn has a point. The North has always been the firmest supporter of the Night's Watch. The Watch is nominally independent, but in reality, it lives and breathes at the North's whim. Even if Robb Stark says nothing and does nothing on this trip, there will be plenty of weak-willed and over-imaginative men in Castle Black trying to guess the meaning of his actions. They might even cast their votes for Warner Buckwell simply because he 'came with Egger'—"
"No, they'll vote for Egger," Old Royce interrupted. "If I'm not mistaken, Buckwell is just a shadow for that boy. Once he returns to Castle Black, he will surely announce his candidacy for Lord Commander. Warner will take the opportunity to withdraw, and the votes originally supporting him will instantly transfer to that fellow's name. Add to that the Night's Watch brothers at Castle Black who change their minds—"
"But he publicly announced he wouldn't participate. Going back on his word..."
"There is no law stating one cannot join an election midway. In fact, any sworn brother of the Night's Watch can announce his candidacy at any day, even any hour, before the next Lord Commander is chosen." Yohn Royce spoke irritably: "I'd even wager he won't announce his re-entry himself. He'll have his lackeys put on a disgusting show where 'other brothers proactively nominate him' and it's 'the will of the people so he has no choice but to accept'!"
"I have to say, the feasibility of him doing that is extremely high." The room fell silent for a few seconds before someone spoke again. "Whose fault is it that we've wasted two whole months without electing a Lord Commander? Many brothers at Castle Black are tired of the daily canvassing and voting. If someone stands up to disrupt the deadlock... those who didn't care who became Lord Commander might vote for the newcomer just for the sake of novelty and excitement!"
"Even if every soldier in Castle Black votes for him, his count won't reach two-thirds—Commanders Pyke and Mallister hold over four hundred votes between them."
"You fool, don't you see it yet? What that fellow wants is for the Night's Watch to never be able to elect a leader. He is the Chief Logistics Officer; only a Lord Commander can order him to terminate the Gift Settlement Plan. As long as he holds onto those votes that might have gone to either Cotter or Denys, preventing those two stubborn old men from winning, he can continue his plan and keep being the goddamned King of the Wildlings!"
Finally, someone pointed out the only way out: "Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister... someone must convince one of them to support the other, cast their votes for their rival, and end this election immediately to terminate that cursed settlement plan."
"Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys loathe each other," Ser Templeton shook his head regretfully. "They'd sooner throw their votes into the sea than give them to one another."
"True. If you actually have the ability to convince them to vote for each other, you might as well save your energy and go straight to convincing Egger to give up his plan," another elderly noble snorted. "At least the latter task is slightly simpler."
"You old fossils!" Yohn muttered a complaint under his breath, then quickly realized he couldn't keep bickering with these people.
If he didn't want to see the despicable man who caused his son's death and broke the principle of neutrality—by advising King Robert on how to break the Blood Gate, leading to his own ruin—get his way, he had to find a way to make the election results stick before Egger returned.
Yohn Royce decided to act immediately.
The Commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea was lean, wiry, and tough, but by no means handsome: two small eyes set too close together, a broken nose, and a widow's peak like a spearhead in the center of his forehead. Pox scars had utterly ruined his face, and the beard he grew to cover them was thin and ragged.
When Yohn found him again, Cotter was gambling with dice against three subordinates in the Shield Hall. Seeing the former leader of the Lords Declarant approach, he didn't even look up. "Come to convince me to give my votes to someone else again?"
"Yes, but this time is different from the last..."
"Nothing is different. My answer remains the same: impossible." Cotter Pyke snorted coldly. "I know, you're a high-born lord, and I'm a bastard. Even though I work with you at Eastwatch, you still favor Mallister because of his noble status. But—bah, I won't waste words. Go back and tell him this isn't a curse: he's too old. If we elect him, we'll likely be back here re-electing someone in less than a year."
"No, Commander—"
"Have you ever asked what he plans to do as Lord Commander? Write letters to the wights? He's a good knight, no doubt, but not a warrior. And he's simply too old—I don't give a damn who he knocked off a horse in some stupid tourney fifty years ago. Even a blind old man knows that the defense of the Shadow Tower is carried by Qhorin Halfhand. We are facing wights and a massive horde of wildlings already inside the Wall; we need a strong, battle-hardened leader now more than ever!" Pyke slammed the table angrily. "I'll tell you this, Lord Bronze Yohn: I don't give a damn about the position of Lord Commander. I grew up on a deck; Eastwatch is where I belong. But if we hand the Night's Watch to that fancy eagle from the Shadow Tower, the Wall's defense is finished!"
"Commander, you've said these things more than once." Yohn raised his voice to interrupt Cotter Pyke's rambling. "Your stance is clear: you will never vote for Ser Denys Mallister. What if it were someone else? Would you consider it?"
"Who? Bowen Marsh? That man who only knows how to count spoons? Don't even mention Othell; he's a creature of habit who does whatever the Lord Commander tells him. Now that Mormont is dead, he just listens to Bowen Marsh—"
"Me," Yohn said decisively. "If it were me, would you consider it?"
"You?" Cotter Pyke stopped his complaining in surprise, staring at the man for a long time before shaking his head. "No, no, no. Your seniority is too shallow. You've only been in the Watch for a year. Even your rival, Egger West, has been here longer."
"Even if I had joined yesterday, I would be eligible for the election," Yohn retorted bluntly. "The Old Bear hadn't worn the black for many years when he was elected Lord Commander. He won based on his noble status as the former Lord of Bear Island, his experience and ability in governing and leading troops, and the blood ties between House Mormont and the Northern lords! I possess all of these qualifications!"
Royce, like the Starks, had the blood of the First Men. He was the former Lord of Runestone, nicknamed Bronze Yohn; his ability and experience were beyond question, and his lineage was sufficiently famous and noble... Cotter Pyke frowned in thought, unable to find a reason to refute him. After a long pause, he came up with a question: "The Old Bear joined the Watch voluntarily. You—you were forced to take the black after a failed rebellion."
"King Robert called it 'rebellion,' but... by the Old Gods and the New, we only wanted to drive Lysa Arryn—who murdered our liege lord—out of the Vale. Everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knows what truly happened."
"Forget the rebellion business; you are indeed eligible to run." Cotter waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to pack up their dice and coins and leave. "But what do you have to convince me to give you my two hundred votes?"
"Because you cannot win the Lord Commander's seat this way, and I can offer a better choice: a triumvirate." Yohn Royce raised his head and laid out his vision. "You excel at sailing and fighting, while Ser Denys excels at dealing with nobles and kings. The Night's Watch needs both skills. Let me be the titular Lord Commander; you will still command Eastwatch, Ser Denys will still control the Shadow Tower, and all other major affairs of the Watch will be decided by the three of us together. What do you think?"
"Heh—" Cotter chuckled softly, not answering immediately.
"Ser Denys has already said that if you agree to this plan, he will also give his votes to me. We only need to win over another two hundred votes from the brothers at Castle Black, and the matter is settled." Royce gritted his teeth and told a bold-faced lie. "Egger West has been away from Winterfell for several days and could return to Castle Black any moment now. I hope to have your answer as soon as possible."
The Commander of the Shadow Tower was born under the Booming Tower of Seagard, a Mallister through and through. The collar and cuffs of his black velvet doublet were trimmed with ermine, and his cloak was fastened by a silver eagle's claw. His beard was snowy white, and most of his hair had fallen out, his face etched with deep wrinkles. Yet he remained agile, kept his teeth, and the years had not dimmed his blue-grey eyes nor diminished his noble bearing.
"Lord Yohn." When Yohn entered the Spear Tower where the Shadow Tower delegation resided, the old noble was the first to speak. "House Royce and House Mallister have been friends since ancient times. Indeed, the two of us have known each other for decades... I sincerely hope you haven't come to convince me to give my votes to Cotter Pyke. No offense, but Pyke is the one who should withdraw. My vote count is higher, and I am the more suitable candidate."
"You are indeed more suitable than him." Yohn Royce nodded, determined to state his intent quickly to avoid being forced to listen to a wall of nonsense as he had with Pyke. "But you and Cotter Pyke have been rivals for too long. He fears that once you become Lord Commander, you will strip him of his command at Eastwatch."
"He would say that?" Denys looked at Yohn in surprise. "You and I both know that a man of honor would never stoop to such petty personal vendettas. Tell him that if I win, he can keep his original position."
"I certainly believe in your character, Ser Denys." Yohn shrugged helplessly. "Cotter Pyke didn't voice his fear either; it's just something I've observed. He's Ironborn by birth, raised on decks watching rape and slaughter, growing up amidst schemes and intrigue... violence and suspicion are soaked into his bones. Whether he believes it or not, he won't simply accept such a promise."
"That is a pity then," Ser Denys said expressionlessly. "Cotter Pyke is an admirable warrior, but you and I are high-born; we should understand well that some things cannot be solved with swords alone. The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch must be a leader, not just a general. He must have connections, the ability to communicate with other nobles, and the capacity to handle troublesome affairs—he must command enough conviction and respect."
The old knight leaned back in his chair. "I do not crave power. In the last election, when Lord Mormont's name was proposed, I withdrew in full support. Even earlier, I made way for Lord Qorgyle—as long as the Night's Watch is in reliable hands, I am content. But unfortunately, I cannot convince myself to make way for Pyke of Eastwatch."
"I understand and share your concerns, Ser Denys." Yohn Royce nodded. "But if the commanders of the Shadow Tower and Eastwatch continue to clutch their votes like this, the Night's Watch won't elect a Lord Commander even by next year. If that happens, our Chief Logistics Officer will continue to play with his 'Gift Settlement Plan' until those wildlings eventually destroy the Night's Watch."
"If we can't elect one, we'll keep voting until I die or Pyke changes his mind—it's not without precedent in history." Ser Denys didn't have a son "murdered" by Egger; he shrugged. "As for Egger and his wildlings, they won't last long. There isn't enough grain."
"Not enough grain." Yohn nodded. "But once Egger can no longer feed those wildlings, do you think he'll quietly send them away? Don't forget, the cellars of Castle Black still hide countless winter reserves. If he incites that mob to storm Castle Black—without the protection of the Wall and relying only on a single perimeter wall—the Watch cannot resist the charge of ten thousand wildlings."
Mallister frowned in thought for a few seconds and then nodded. "That is indeed a concern. Do you have a suggestion for this?"
"I have a good proposal to offer—a triumvirate." Yohn spoke solemnly. "With someone like myself—who has neither personal grudges nor deep ties with either of you—serving as the titular Lord Commander to exercise the supreme authority to halt the settlement plan, while maintaining the positions of both commanders. The major affairs of the Watch would be decided by the three of us together."
Pausing for a moment, he steeled himself and added: "Cotter Pyke has already said that if you agree to give your votes to me, he will join in as well."
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