Chapter 97: Interlude: Eighteen

Twelfth day, Tenth Moon, 259 AC (+63 days)

Edwyle examined the letter before him from the Night's Watch. It plead the need for aid, preferably a large shipment of food and weapons. They claimed that there had been a few wilding villages destroyed over the winter in an uncommon fashion and that the wildlings were running wild with various stories.

The rise of a new King-Beyond-the-Wall?

No bodies had been discovered, which was well past odd, but it could have been a cannibal tribe that swept through. Far from their normal dwellings, but not impossible.

The Watch wanted to send a Ranging to investigate – they had no wish to get caught with their trousers round their ankles as they had with Redbeard – but the villages were far to the north, and a great ranging would have to be assembled. Supplies would be needed, and the Watch could not do it on their own.

But the other letter on his desk also called to him. It spoke of duty and glory; wealth and plunder; blood and war. The chance to help arrange things as he liked. Conspicuous in its absence, but ever-present nonetheless, was the price. Wealth and plunder were at hand, but not now and maybe not for many moons. It would take a lot of work to prepare the North for war - a lot of supplies.

Could there be enough supplies for both?

He sighed. Not according to his Castellan and his largest bannermen. He couldn't leave a threat to the North alone, but something had to be done.

If he didn't call the full banners from the Mormonts, Umbers and Karstarks, it would give him enough time to recall the rest of his forces in the worst-case scenario, but none of those Houses would thank him for stopping them joining in on the plunder to be had in the south. None would accept stationing another lord's men in their keeps, even if it allowed more of their own men to go south.

A bitter pill to swallow for them but needs must. The King's letter outlined the need to possibly two waves of men to be sent; it seemed he had underestimated Aegon – it was an ambitious plan, one which might allow Edwyle to limit his bannermen's discontent. Other incentives might be needed, as well.

He would have to write a rejection to the Night's Watch and pray for the best. Perhaps he can stress that they continue their new way of doing their duty – making contacts with the Wildlings.

An ingenious plan, one which was already paying for itself with the information of the dead villages. If the Watch couldn't patrol the whole Wall, and it couldn't send out great Rangings, then the information must come to them. By creating contacts with the savages, whether it be by threat or reward, it made their job easier.

They wouldn't like it, but Edwyle truly had little choice – as much as it grated. Perhaps he could get Michael to send some food to the Wall– it would be useless over on the west coast anyway - since Edwyle could not spare weapons or metal. That and convincing the King to send any prisoners to the Wall might make up for his rejection.

Better than nothing.