“What happened… This… where should I even begin?” Nina grew nervous again, fumbling for words and unsure of where to start. “Let me think.”
(Where was that sharp, confident businesswoman who had just been asking me about contracts, bonds, investments, or loans? How does she even talk to clients like this?)<...
The Night’s Watch office looked just as it had two months ago, yet there were subtle changes. The golden sign Aegor had personally ordered still hung high above the entrance, but now, strange objects resembling advertising boards stood on the ground outside. Dismounting to examine them, Aegor discovered they were made of pa...
2025-01-28 22:25:05 +0000 UTC View Post“Marriage should be decided by one’s parents.” Forcing down the frustration in her chest, Margaery forced a smile onto her lips. “Let’s not discuss such matters, Lord Aegor. The lords of the League of Justice have all been apprehended. Since His Majesty has commanded you to accompany the army, it seems he bears no i...
2025-01-28 22:24:46 +0000 UTC View PostHighgarden had long set its sights on the crown.
As one of the most powerful houses in Westeros, rivaling even Tywin Lannister, the Tyrells had spent the decade following Robert's Rebellion lying low and avoiding controversy, patiently waiting for Robert's sons to come of age. The Queen of Thorns had poured her heart a...
“Ser Selmy,” Aegor greeted, stepping closer.
“Ser Wester,” the old knight replied, turning to get a better look at the newcomer under the moonlight. Though they weren’t acquainted, Aegor’s reputation as someone loyal to the Night’s Watch and dedicated to its cause had earned him a degree of respect from B...
Aegor coughed violently after spitting out his wine, wiping his mouth as he glanced at Stevron Frey—the man old enough to be Roslin Frey’s grandfather. From the way Stevron’s expression shifted from shock to unrestrained glee, it was clear that even the Freys themselves had no prior knowledge of this “good news.” Ro...
2025-01-28 22:23:49 +0000 UTC View PostOutside the tent, the raucous cheers and shouts of celebrating soldiers seeped through the canvas, forming a stark contrast to the tense silence within. Under the gaze of countless nobles, Aegor’s body began to tremble slightly—he had not expected Robert to reward him with such a dramatic “make a wish” moment, leaving...
2025-01-28 22:23:31 +0000 UTC View PostThe Bloody Gate had fallen, but the events leading to its capture had unfolded in a way no one could have predicted.
For reasons Aegor had not foreseen, the elite troops sent into the mountains to subdue or ally with the mountain clans faced unexpected challenges. These natives, familiar with the rugged terrain, employ...
Are the mountain clans truly difficult to deal with?
Not really. They’re poorly equipped, malnourished, and utterly untrained—fighting them would be no different from fighting the Free Folk beyond the Wall. So why haven’t the rulers of the Vale ever made an effort to eliminate them?
The answer is simple: the s...
“Damn the Night’s Watch!” Robert’s face flushed even redder in an instant.
As king, his whimsical decision to bring along a “camp-following Night’s Watchman” had originally been a gesture of confidence—a statement that the Bloody Gate would fall with ease. But with the campaign stalled, this unprecedent...
"Wait!" Earl Buckwell raised a hand, halting Aegor mid-sentence. The unexpected gesture left the Night's Watchman momentarily stunned. The old man leaned forward, his gaze sharp yet calm. "Aegor, I’ve seen your sharp mind at work before; I’ve no doubts about your abilities. But let me ask you this—does your idea guarant...
2025-01-28 22:22:15 +0000 UTC View PostAegor listened patiently as Earl Buckwell explained the situation, finally grasping the two main problems plaguing the army—morale and wages.
Simple issues on paper, but with complications that stretched far.
----
When Robert ordered over thirty thousand soldiers from the allied forces to split into sma...
During the duel, Aegor was grateful that Oberyn had shown restraint, but now, having surrendered and accepted defeat, he would count himself lucky if the Dornish prince refrained from mocking him outright. For a man of Oberyn’s station, why would he flatter someone like Aegor—a mediocre fighter and mere quartermaster of t...
2025-01-28 22:21:36 +0000 UTC View PostAegor had only been south of the Wall for a few months, but he made a habit of keeping himself in shape during his time in King’s Landing. Training with Arya—a tireless ball of energy—for two or three hours at a stretch had done wonders for his reflexes and muscle tone, even if his technique remained lacking. When his f...
2025-01-28 22:21:18 +0000 UTC View Post“So, this is the legendary ‘White Walker Slayer.’ I’ve heard tales of your exploits!” Oberyn spun his spear in a casual flourish, planting it firmly on the ground as he smiled, scrutinizing the new opponent who had been shoved into the circle. “Hmm, it seems the rumors weren’t entirely exaggerated. You’re clea...
2025-01-28 22:21:00 +0000 UTC View PostThis rebellion had drawn together countless secondary characters from the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, all gathered here in the allied army’s camp.
How many were there in total? Too many to count.
Due to limited time and the constraints of social hierarchy, Aegor couldn’t possibly meet all these notable ...
Outside the tent, the sun shone brightly, heralding yet another ordinary day in the allied army’s encampment. When Aegor finally woke naturally, dressed, and stepped outside, he immediately sensed something off about the atmosphere.
A quick scan of his surroundings soon revealed the source of the oddity: clusters of ...
Petyr Baelish stood on the deck, staring indifferently at the ship’s path ahead. The mist over the sea gradually receded as the June Flower glided smoothly forward, slicing through the gray-green waters. Soon, a jagged ridge of rocky peaks rose from the surface, and the colossal figure of the Titan of Braavos came into view...
2025-01-28 22:20:04 +0000 UTC View PostAn alliance with House Tully could indeed bolster House Tyrell's influence across the Seven Kingdoms, while also consolidating their control over the Reach. However, in times of peace, such benefits were merely decorative. Wasting the only marriage opportunity of their precious daughter for this marginal gain seemed unwise—...
2025-01-28 22:19:45 +0000 UTC View PostMargaery’s attempt to corner Aegor into her schemes had failed. All her acting and eloquent flattery were for naught. Yet, she maintained her composure, showing not the slightest hint of humiliation or anger. That alone made her far superior to a certain someone like Cersei.
When her probing words bore no fruit, she ...
"Ambition" sounds like a sinister term, but call it "shrewdness," and it instantly feels different. Everyone has desires or goals, and these aspirations should not be treated as monstrous. They are the driving force of personal agency and societal progress. Altruism is indeed a noble and commendable trait that promotes the su...
2025-01-28 21:22:39 +0000 UTC View Post“Our books?” Aegor’s eyelid twitched, and a thought immediately crossed his mind—something so popular with the soldiers could only be a certain type of illustrated, unsavory material. He approached the tent, and as he got closer, he could hear the conversation between the vendor and the soldiers.
“You’re ro...
Amid the rhythmic pounding of the battering ram against the gate, Aegor suddenly found the answer to a question that had been troubling him earlier. In terms of defensibility, the Bloody Gate was still inferior to the Sword Gate. The latter overlooked the approach to Shu with a commanding height. From ancient times until now,...
2025-01-28 21:22:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe Bloody Gate stood like an immovable sentinel, wedged between the towering cliffs that flanked the only pass into the Vale through the Mountains of the Moon. Its defenses consisted of two watchtowers clinging to the rock face, a sealed arching bridge of gray stone connecting them, and layers of crenellations reinforcing bo...
2025-01-28 21:21:43 +0000 UTC View PostOf course, Aegor knew that calling the King’s actions “putting on airs” was a subjective and emotionally charged critique. While it was undeniable that Robert Baratheon was now a literal fat man, the more important distinction lay in how he was raised. As the eldest son of his house, Robert’s upbringing had been compl...
2025-01-28 21:21:24 +0000 UTC View PostAegor and Lord Buckwell came to an understanding, deciding not to dwell further on the subject of retrieving Jarman from the Night’s Watch. After traveling a little further, they arrived at the camp of the Buckwell forces. Amid dozens of blue-and-white striped tents adorned with antler sigils, Aegor and his young squire wer...
2025-01-28 21:21:05 +0000 UTC View Post“The tens of thousands of Free Folk beyond the Wall are fleeing the foretold Long Winter and attempting to cross into the Seven Kingdoms. The Night’s Watch, weakened and in disarray, is no longer capable of holding them back. Reform is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Without change, extinction is inevitable.” A...
2025-01-28 21:20:45 +0000 UTC View PostThe knight did remember Aegor—not solely because of the interest that had accrued on his bonds, which amounted to several gold dragons, but also due to Aegor’s distinct black garb of the Night’s Watch and his unique, unmistakable Eastern features. Upon recognizing him, the knight greeted Aegor warmly and took the initia...
2025-01-28 21:20:27 +0000 UTC View PostNot even young Cassie, barely a man grown and a boy of King’s Landing, could hide his wide-eyed astonishment. And Aegor, who had "served in the army" in another life, found himself equally stunned by the sheer scale of the massive encampment before him.
Compared to this vast assembly of soldiers, Castle Black looked ...
"What are you so worried about? No one’s sending you into battle—just think of it as a sightseeing trip," Tyrion said with a shrug, attempting to console Aegor. "The Vale has some beautiful scenery if you’re not climbing mountains. Do you really think Robert could lose? At worst, it’ll be a stalemate."
"I’m n...
