Although the sledge carrying the Black Dragon was large and clumsy, the long-uncleared snow outside Last Hearth was thick and smooth enough. After receiving the order, the Gift Army transport team moved Drogon about one li away half an hour later, pulling him out from behind the trees at the turn of the road outside the castle and dragging him to a position clearly visible from the castle walls.
After climbing the wall and confirming with his own eyes that there was indeed a Black Dragon curled up on the combined sledge, Rickard Karstark, as agreed, ordered his men to gather their troops and withdraw from Last Hearth.
Aegor had not missed the old man whispering to his son and sending him away earlier. Fortunately, after a flurry of activity inside and outside, the worst situation he feared did not happen. The Karstark forces did not take him hostage but instead divided into a main force and a rearguard. They withdrew cleanly and decisively before dark, the last man leaving and completely abandoning the castle.
After several twists and turns, the struggle over the empty castle finally came to an end.
Dragons were indeed somewhat useful.
No matter how much he felt that a Queen without dragons would be easier to manage, Aegor had to admit this.
If they relied solely on ground troops, even thousands of armies and tens of thousands of horses would find it difficult to make someone like Rickard Karstark hand over a castle without firing a single arrow. But one dragon, and not even a particularly large one, merely recovering after a major battle, had easily completed a task that a hundred thousand troops could not, solely through deterrence.
Aegor realized he had long been trapped in a misconception.
He came from another world, and no matter how magical a creature was, it could never be more fantastical than the act of transmigration itself. Therefore, his perception of dragons had never been the same as ordinary people's from the very beginning. Combined with his knowledge of the story, his prior awareness of the dragons' existence, and his understanding of their weaknesses and the weapons that could harm them, Aegor subconsciously underestimated dragons, believing they were only suitable for dealing with wights and were burdens in wars of conquest.
But he had overlooked something. Not everyone viewed magical creatures with his mindset and perspective, nor did everyone study history, geography, and astronomy or know about Dragon Hunting Ballistas. Even if they did, with the technological level and productivity of this world, it would be difficult to mass-produce and equip a new weapon quickly.
If the enemy underestimated the existence of dragons, these flying fire-breathing giants could unleash destructive power that shocked even their riders and terrified their enemies. Conversely, if dragons became the top priority, those who opposed them would have to spend time, energy, and resources to construct weapons and train personnel. These costs would inevitably cut into their ability to deal with regular armies. That was the irreconcilable contradiction between backward productivity and the need for rulers to deal with extraordinary threats. It was conceivable that this contradiction would persist for a long time, until weapons like guns that could kill both dragons and humans became widespread.
This contradiction was precisely what gave dragons immense value, even when they did not directly take part in combat.
Dragons were the nuclear weapons of this world. They could not compare in destructive power, but their deterrence was even greater. Even if he wished they would all die quickly so the Queen could stand firmly on her own, that should only happen after the overall situation was settled. At least for now, he should be grateful they were on his side.
With this realization, Aegor took Drogon's treatment more seriously. He ordered the first batch of Soldiers who had excitedly poured into the castle to begin planning how to dismantle the west gate of Last Hearth to make it easier to transport Drogon inside.
After a short wait, the core of the Gift Army, the Crownland Guard, also escorted the Queen into the castle.
"Last Hearth is yours, Your Majesty," Aegor said formally after a simple bow to Daenerys, then tried hard to suppress a tone of reproach. "But did we not agree earlier? I would go into the city to check the situation, and you would wait at a distance outside, avoiding letting the dragons show themselves. Why did you let Rhaegal fly over the castle?"
Aegor had never made the agreement with Daenerys that he told Rickard about, the one about how if he did not return in an hour she should unleash the dragons to burn the city. Rhaegal's flyover turned what should have been a routine inspection, like entering his own home, into an adventure akin to walking alone into an enemy's lair. It was not that he was afraid of taking risks, but he disliked unnecessary ones that were not part of the plan. Although he managed to persuade Rickard to withdraw through improvisation and dragon deterrence, he doubted Rickard was truly moved by his promise. More likely, the old man pretended to be swayed by the land division, but once he returned to Karhold, he would immediately complain to Robb Stark that the Night's Watch had seized the Umbers' castle with ill intent.
The seeds of conflict were sown, and the plan to have the North continue supplying Dragonglass and saltpeter would likely become difficult.
He could not deny he felt some resentment, but no matter how he planned and calculated, the Queen was still the Queen. She was not a puppet he controlled. Aegor would not be foolish enough to reveal anger and disrespectfully question the monarch he served about why she had disrupted his plans.
"You were inside for so long. I was worried you were in trouble," Daenerys explained, completely unaware. "If something had happened to you, what would I do when I do not know anyone else in the Gift Army?"
"The Lord Commander means he believed he could persuade the Karstarks to give up the castle. Your Majesty letting the dragon fly over their heads put him in a passive position," Moqorro said with a smile as he looked at Aegor. "That is what you meant, correct?"
"Perhaps I was overly anxious because I cared. I apologize. But I am glad you are safe," Daenerys said, not trying to argue. Her slight embarrassment and honest apology, without arrogance, smothered Aegor's lingering resentment instead.
This little Queen's way of thinking was very different from his own, Aegor thought helplessly. It was highly likely that she truly cared about him rather than intending to cause trouble. Worse yet, her chaotic actions had actually worked out and frightened the Karstarks away, while he, contrary to what Moqorro suggested, could not have persuaded them to retreat without the dragon.
Although this dangerous situation had been caused by the Queen's impulsiveness, he might also be partly responsible. He should have guessed the Karstarks' intention in occupying Last Hearth from the beginning, should not have held onto illusions, and should have besieged the castle directly and forced them to yield by using military force and the dragon.
"Forget it. It is nothing."
With that thought, Aegor's frustration faded. He shook his head helplessly, deciding not to be petty and instead swallow the bitter lesson.
If a subordinate made a mistake while carrying out an order, he could avoid future problems by distancing himself from that person or not assigning them important tasks. He had built a highly disciplined and efficient command system using this method, but he could not dismiss the Queen and find a new one simply because she acted foolishly once.
Changing jobs might lead to higher pay, but for the Night's Watch, who were supposed to remain neutral, constantly shifting political allegiances would only make them increasingly despised and worthless.
He was a subject, at least for now. If the monarch he served had a peculiar way of thinking and temper, then he should take that into account as a variable beforehand, rather than hoping to change her. Aegor had a feeling that situations like this, caused by differences in personality, would only increase.
With that settled, he no longer dwelled on it. "I will personally oversee and guide the construction of the temporary dragon lair for Drogon's recovery. The weather is cold. Please go inside and rest first, Your Majesty. I will follow soon."
"All right," Daenerys nodded and entered the main keep with Moqorro.
Putting the unpleasant matters aside, Aegor began arranging the construction of the temporary dragon lair. The Gift Army first needed to find a way to transport Drogon into the castle, then build a raised dry area between the fortress near the training ground and the city wall using wood, and erect a large shed to provide a sheltered, snow-proof, roughly enclosed space for the injured Black Dragon. Such a temporary structure might be too simple for humans to live in and would be too cold without a fireplace, but dragons had high body temperatures. As long as the structure could slow heat loss compared to being in the open, the lair would naturally warm up. There was no need to worry about the dragon freezing.
He then sent several teams to the larger winter settlements in the Umbers' territory south and northeast of the castle to gather and purchase live sheep from the locals to feed the dragon.
After finishing this matter, Aegor finally summoned the old-school Night's Watch from Castle Black who were in the army, led by the Rangers. Those who had worn black before he became Lord Commander received a new task. They were to immediately go to various parts of the North to collect the Dragonglass previously distributed to local residents and the saltpeter they had been taught to refine.
Their positions were already different. No one knew how long the fragile peace between the Gift and the North would last. Aegor decided to stop losses as much as possible before the situation collapsed.
Old-school Night's Watch like Jon Snow, who had voluntarily joined the Watch seeking honor and atonement, would not agree with or support Aegor abandoning neutrality to help the Queen conquer the world. Keeping them near him was not particularly useful. Sending them out instead was quieter. The black cloaks they had worn for years and their conservative reputation were the best shields. Even if a full-scale war broke out, the North would rather replace the Lord Commander with an obedient one than destroy the Night's Watch. For ordinary brothers of the Watch, the North would certainly try to win them over rather than arrest or execute them. This meant that sending Night's Watch Soldiers to collect resources was ideal. If they returned with the desired saltpeter, all the better. If they failed, they would merely return empty-handed. It was perfectly suited for them.
After arranging all these matters, Aegor felt he had not missed anything. He turned and walked toward the center of the castle, entering the main keep where the Umbers had lived for generations.
The fire in the freshly lit fireplace blazed, and the room was already warm.
The Soldiers had thoroughly searched every corner of the castle and cleaned away all bodies and bloodstains. There was no one hiding who should not be there. Except for valuable items like gold and silver suspected to have been taken by the Karstarks, the necessary facilities and belongings were mostly intact. The Queen and the two priests of the Lord of Light had been waiting for him for some time. Aegor did not dare delay any longer. He sat down on a polished chair once used by some Umber ancestor and began discussing the next steps before the incomplete Queen's council.
(To be continued.)
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