"Now, Lord, with the truth you sought in hand, can you make your decision again?" The Greenseer showed no intention of seeking Aegor's sympathy. After venting, he paused, allowing time for thought before continuing, "I don't know, and I don't intend to ask, what task Lady R'hllor has given you. But I am confident, whatever your goal is, greensight will greatly aid in achieving it. Nod, and I will be at your service. But if you refuse, I will never again set foot Beyond the Wall."
Some beliefs are never meant to be spoken aloud, yet are held as doctrine by certain people. For Aegor, one of them was this: everything in the world carries a hidden price.
After the Greenseer laid bare what he had previously concealed, the original "voluntary service" was clearly exposed as a transaction with defined terms. If Aegor accepted the deal, he would bear the risk of R'hllor's potential wrath, while the Greenseer would repay him with his extraordinary abilities. In any case, this was much more reliable than the supposed "no reward" mentioned before.
Aegor was the kind of person who felt at ease when he could see the price clearly. After all, when the cost is known, anything can be bought if one is willing to pay. But if the price is unclear, one never knows what the future cost might be.
Now the situation was simplified. What he needed to weigh was only whether the price was worth it.
He leaned back in the chair, sinking into the cushion, seeming to stare at the Greenseer, but in truth, carefully analyzing the pros and cons of this transaction.
---
As his mind kicked into full speed, Aegor quickly realized the situation wasn't as simple as he had originally thought.
The matter of "being blamed by R'hllor," though seemingly severe, was not the most pressing concern. His current identity was that of the red god's chosen, and even R'hllor herself had stated that as long as he followed her command, she wouldn't care how many sins he committed or how much deceit he used in her name.
This seemingly rash remark actually laid her bottom line bare. It was a clear sign to Aegor that as long as he worked for her, all his choices and actions could be treated as her true will.
To summarize, whatever Aegor did, R'hllor would back him.
And this delegation of authority meant that Aegor now had the power to relieve the Greenseer of his duties, freeing him from a watch that had lasted thousands of years. That was why, after sensing R'hllor's aura and seeing Aegor, the Greenseer had made this request.
Since R'hllor had delegated the authority, she had no grounds to turn against her chosen one for using it properly. Even if she regained her strength in the future and found out her mother's appointed jailer had been "reassigned," she might at most scold or dismiss him, and might not even overturn the decision.
Thinking from this angle, wasn't it worth the small risk to gain such a powerful helper?
However, this line of thinking brought up another question. If the Greenseer were relieved of his duty and retired, who would take his place?
The cold god, cowed by R'hllor's overwhelming power, had retreated into his lair. But he would eventually realize that his enemy might not return and would strike again. What if R'hllor remained absent and unable to assist when that time came? Would humanity be forced to face the former ruler of this world without a watcher or early warning?
That was the concern from the perspective of the greater good. From a practical standpoint, as a being born of a low-magic world, the cold god's physical body had already been destroyed once. He might not have the strength to reshape mountains or destroy the world. His threat could potentially be mitigated through strong kingdoms, advanced weaponry, powerful red priests, and reinforced defenses at the Wall.
But Aegor also had to think of his personal interest. Not all threats came from outside.
If he accepted the Greenseer's help, could he truly control such an ancient and extraordinary figure, someone with a mind sharpened by thousands of years, who knew R'hllor was strong but not omnipotent, and who wielded greensight and the power to influence subconscious thought?
It was easy to imagine that Aegor's natural caution and keen sense of self-preservation would seem childish in the eyes of the Greenseer. The Greenseer feared only the title of "R'hllor's chosen." He likely cared nothing for Aegor's political status, power, or influence in the world of men. If Aegor accepted the offer, in the short term, the Greenseer might obey and assist, making The Gift's forces as unstoppable as a tiger with wings. The Seven Kingdoms could be conquered with ease. But in the long run...
After enough time together, the Greenseer, with his piercing mind and far-seeing eyes, would eventually detect the signs. R'hllor had not returned, and Aegor could not reach her. He would realize that Aegor was simply wearing the title of chosen one, but the one who had granted it had abandoned him.
At that point, Aegor would be trapped. On one side, he would rely on the Greenseer's intelligence network, which had taken root thanks to his assistance. On the other, the Greenseer's loyalty would begin to fade, his awe of R'hllor gradually vanishing in her absence.
What would happen then?
Thanks to his immersion in the vast knowledge of the modern world, countless historical precedents appeared in Aegor's mind. Warnings from the past.
The Greenseer, though too wary to harm R'hllor's spokesperson directly, could still manipulate events from the shadows like an upgraded version of Varys. By choosing what information to reveal, subtly misleading him, and manipulating the minds of key figures around him, he could gradually sideline Aegor without anyone noticing.
Would he even realize it if he was falling into such a trap? And even if he did, would he have any way to put the Greenseer back into his box?
That was the mild scenario.
The worst-case scenario was handing over the fruits of victory or becoming a mere puppet. A more terrifying possibility remained. The Greenseer, having silently endured R'hllor's neglect for millennia, might be seething with hidden rage. If one day he discovered that the goddess had truly fallen and was no longer the force she once was, would he not turn traitor again? Would he not return to the cold god, helping him reclaim the world and plunge it into darkness?
Speculating maliciously is not considered virtuous among common folk. But Aegor, who had clawed his way to where he stood, believed that only by always preparing for the worst and leaving himself an escape route could he survive in this absurd and dangerous world.
The Greenseer's offer was too tempting. Aegor had to douse his own enthusiasm with cold logic to keep himself from agreeing immediately. That paranoid instinct served him well. After a brief moment of silent contemplation, he reached a painful conclusion.
He had no way to prevent, counter, or even detect the Greenseer's betrayal if it came.
Accepting him would be like making a pact with a devil. The risks far outweighed the rewards.
"No." After a short but intense deliberation, Aegor finally spoke. His tone was calm and firm. "I believe that rather than entangling yourself in the petty conflicts of mortals, Her Grace, the red god, would prefer you to continue monitoring the North, the domain of her enemy. Though your abilities would be useful to me, I am confident I can win without them."
Bran looked at him in silence. No emotion surfaced on his pale, youthful face, not even anger. Perhaps his fury had been spent earlier, or perhaps it had sunk back into silent endurance.
But Aegor had no intention of betting on how far he could be pushed. Though he had turned down a seemingly sincere offer, he still needed to give ground elsewhere, just enough to avoid provoking a fight from frustration or resentment.
"However, I understand the hardship of being Beyond the Wall. Therefore, as the spokesperson of the Lord of Light, I approve your request to move your station to the southern side of the Wall."
To the outside world, Bran was just a crippled Stark boy. Even if he had not declared his refusal to return Beyond the Wall, Aegor wouldn't have insisted, given his useless legs. Since that was the case, he might as well do him a favor.
"In addition, I will instruct the Logistics Department to meet your daily needs to the highest degree possible. You will live in comfort, with the treatment and standards befitting a Stark. Consider it a reward for your years of vigilance Beyond the Wall." Aegor spoke slowly but without hesitation, meeting Bran's gaze. "Lastly, I promise I will report your situation to Lady R'hllor during my next communion and request her final judgment."
Bran's face twitched slightly. That final statement had finally gotten a reaction from him.
"Thank you. But please, my Lord, when you face her... omit my earlier outburst."
So, he was still afraid. Dissatisfied or not, R'hllor still terrified him. Aegor smiled inwardly, but his face remained stern as he nodded.
"However, I also have conditions."
"First, if the cold god makes any move, you must detect it immediately and warn the army. Second, now that you wear the black and have moved to The Gift, you are also responsible for the safety of the Night's Watch and The Gift itself. While monitoring the North, I want you to also observe the land and sea around The Gift. If you detect any threats, whether from the Ironborn by sea or from the land, remember your duty and station."
"Third, I do not want another Jon incident. Restrain the emotions of others in their dreams. If any suspicious message damaging to me spreads from you or enters anyone's mind, regardless of whether it was truly your doing, I will hold you accountable."
He looked at Bran, face still blank, and concluded, "That's it. Do you have any questions or requests?"
"I will obey your orders, Lord Commander." Though dissatisfaction practically radiated from his skin, the Greenseer agreed honestly. "I have only one request. Please transfer me to Nightfort. Near the ancient heart tree, my powers are at their strongest."
"Fine."
Aegor nodded, but in his mind, he added a new task to his list. He would dispatch a number of red god followers to the Nightfort. That way, if this man tried anything, he would not be caught off guard.
"If there is nothing else, prepare to move to Nightfort. The transfer orders will be issued in two days."
Since he had not granted the Greenseer's full request, it was only natural not to expect a warm farewell. Seeing Bran say no more, Aegor rose from his seat, walked steadily to the door without looking back, pushed it open, and stepped outside.
The bright light made him squint. The cold wind hit his face. Outside the door, he saw that Melisandre had not waited in the next room as ordered. The Red Priestess, immune to the cold, stood outside with the nurse assigned to Bran and Aegor's guards. As he emerged, several pairs of eyes turned to him.
"Take the Stark boy back to his quarters," Aegor instructed the woman from New Gift. She nodded and entered the room to push Bran's wheelchair.
He turned to a trusted guard. "Inform Yam. Have him prepare a ship at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea for Moqorro's return to Volantis, and a carriage for Bran Stark to travel to Nightfort. Also, tell Humfrey to be ready for wartime information control. Begin when I give the signal. Be extremely careful. Do not leak anything in advance."
Once the messenger guard had hurried off, Aegor looked back at Melisandre and met her deep red gaze.
"I know you have many questions, but don't rush. If I have time tonight, I'll explain everything. For now... unless there's something urgent, come with me. There's real work to be done."
Among the gifts from R'hllor, the cold resistance and the half-dragon scale's inherited might were just minor benefits. But now, Aegor finally understood the warmth in his chest earlier. The magic embedded in that small scale might have granted him immunity to mind reading and subconscious manipulation. The Greenseer had likely tried to influence him earlier and been blocked.
That was why he had remained so honest.
The identity of R'hllor's chosen had helped Aegor eliminate two major concerns: the Greenseer's threat and The Gift's vulnerability. That was the most useful, even unexpected, benefit.
Now, he could fully focus on the coming southern campaign.
(To be continued.)