Chapter 226

News arrived from the west of the Wall: Mance Rayder had officially launched his full-scale assault. The wildlings were intensifying their efforts to cross the Gorge and had begun attacking Westwatch-by-the-Bridge, attempting to capture and repair the ancient Skulls Bridge, which the Night’s Watch had long since destroyed to prevent crossings. Ser Denys Mallister and the Shadow Tower garrison had repelled several attacks, but their casualties were heavy, prompting Mormont to send another hundred men from Castle Black as reinforcements.

But there was good news too. When Ygritte publicly revealed Mance’s battle plans to the Night’s Watch, she must have believed that overwhelming numbers alone would secure victory. She and Mance could not have foreseen that a "madman" within the Night’s Watch—someone not even in the leadership—would return to the frontlines at the critical moment and devise an unorthodox solution to the crisis.

With several of Aegor’s contingency plans in place, the manpower shortage was finally alleviated, if only temporarily. When Aegor had first arrived in this world, the Gift had been home to some 7,000 to 8,000 civilians spread along the Wall, supplying nearly half of the Night’s Watch’s provisions. However, wildling invasions and raids had devastated the population, leaving only a little over 2,000 survivors. Mormont ordered these remaining residents to relocate to fortified Night’s Watch strongholds. While they lacked the combat prowess to fight the wildlings, they could shelter within the walls and assist with repairs and construction, freeing up Night’s Watch soldiers for more urgent tasks.

...

The mountain clans had proven more efficient than expected. By the time Aegor finished arranging matters in New Crown Town and returned to the Wall with a few petty criminals from Winterfell’s dungeons, the advance party of the Flint Clan had already arrived at Castle Black.

Though the Wull Clan was technically the largest in the North, half of their members needed to remain in their fishing villages along the Bay of Ice. As a result, the Flint Clan provided the most reinforcements to the Gift. Following the terms of their agreement, the first wave of settlers was directed to Nightfort, located a few dozen leagues west of Castle Black.

The Nightfort had been the traditional headquarters of the Night’s Watch. Built to accommodate up to 10,000 people, it had never been fully occupied, a remnant of the First Men’s extreme response to the White Walkers. Two centuries ago, the Nightfort was abandoned when the Night’s Watch could no longer maintain it, and Castle Black became the new headquarters.

Now, this largest and most imposing of the Wall’s fortresses was a perfect home for the largest incoming group of settlers. Though the Nightfort required extensive repairs, its sheer size meant there was plenty of material available to convert it into a functional shelter for 1,000 people. Mormont had dispatched ten craftsmen to assist with the work, and with the arrival of the Flint Clan, the first stage of reinforcing the Wall was officially underway.

Aegor provided the Flints with an initial sum of fifty gold dragons to ensure their settlement went smoothly. In the North, where prices and living standards were low, this was a fortune. Castle Black’s storerooms contained enough supplies to sustain 1,000 men for a year, and Mormont agreed to sell some of these reserves, trusting Aegor’s promise to replenish them later. The Flints could use their money to purchase anything they needed from Castle Black at fair prices—set high enough to discourage profiteering but low enough to remain affordable.

...

“A hundred men won’t be enough to hold the Gorge,” Aegor explained. “I plan to recruit paid volunteers from the clans and settlers in the Gift. After brief training, they’ll reinforce the Shadow Tower and Westwatch-by-the-Bridge to secure the Skulls Bridge. At the same time, if Ygritte’s words are to be believed, Mance’s forces will dig tunnels and scale the Wall along its length. We must restore patrols on the Wall as quickly as possible.”

“Restoring patrols means clearing the Wall’s top paths first,” someone pointed out. “But with so few craftsmen, that’ll take time.”

Aegor nodded. “Mormont and I have already allocated settlements to key fortresses: Stonedoor, Nightfort, Deep Lake, and the Shadow Tower. These strongholds will host the incoming clans, who will take responsibility for maintaining their sections of the Wall. From among them, I’ll recruit assistants, sentries, and patrolmen to ensure seamless defenses along the Wall’s length. No matter where the wildlings attempt to climb or dig, someone will always be there to respond.”

“Do you think the clansmen will be disciplined enough to follow orders and complete their tasks?” Jeremy asked skeptically. “You put them on the Wall, and they might just wrap themselves in blankets and sleep in a corner.”

“It’s possible,” Aegor admitted, “which is why every fortress with clansmen will have Night’s Watch overseers. A small team of craftsmen, stewards, and rangers will manage them. With ten to twenty Night’s Watch members per fortress, overseeing hundreds of clansmen, the Wall can be turned into an impenetrable barrier.”

“What ensures the clansmen obey the Night’s Watch?” someone asked.

“Money,” Aegor replied. “Clansmen who patrol, repair, or guard the Wall will be paid. I’m working out the exact wages, but it’s the most efficient method. Anyone who refuses to comply can go back to the fortresses and live on the bare minimum. There’ll be no shortage of others willing to take their place. I’ve promised the clan leaders that no one will starve, but they’ll soon realize that doing nothing means just that—they won’t starve, but they won’t live well either.”

“Everything comes down to money with you,” the chief steward grumbled. “Isn’t there another way?”

“Forgive my merchant mindset, but if you have a better idea, I’m all ears,” Aegor retorted.

The steward sighed but didn’t argue further. Mormont, however, raised a valid concern. “What about our own brothers? The Night’s Watch is already filled with criminals and outcasts. If they’re stationed with the clans, who’s to say they won’t lead by bad example—lazing about, stealing, or worse?”

The majority of the Night’s Watch consisted of criminals, with the remainder being desperate men with nowhere else to turn. Mormont’s fears were justified.

“I’ll prioritize volunteers and those of noble birth as commanders of the new fortresses,” Aegor suggested. “While nobility doesn’t guarantee virtue, it’s better than assigning criminals. Additionally, I’ll place trusted Night’s Watch industry staff at each fortress to oversee wages and provisions while quietly monitoring defenses.”

“That should work,” Mormont agreed, though he remained uneasy.

...

The meeting concluded with a clear strategy: distribute the incoming clans across the Wall’s strongholds, ensuring every section was guarded and prepared. While the plan offered hope, it also demanded significant resources and coordination. Aegor bore the heaviest burden. As more settlers arrived, the Night’s Watch had to feed and supply them, and Castle Black’s storerooms—sufficient for 1,000 men for two years—would soon be stretched thin.

For Aegor, this was both a crisis and an opportunity. If he could lead the Night’s Watch through these challenges, he would earn honor, influence, and power. But first, he had to survive the storm.