Chapter 79 Chapter 78: Samwell

The king was very angry.Sam saw it right away. Stannis was eating his breakfast of hard bread, corned beef, and hard-boiled eggs, and when the black brothers came in one by one and knelt before them, he pushed the food away and eyed them coldly.The red-robed woman Melisandre next to her seemed to find this scene very interesting. There's no place for me here, he thought uneasily as her red eyes fell on Sam.I just helped Maester Aemon upstairs.Dont look at me.I'm just the clerk of the Bachelor.The rest are all contenders for the position of Elder Xiong, except Bowen Marsh, who has withdrawn from the race, and he is still acting castellan and chief bursar.Sam doesn't understand why Melisandre is interested in him.

King Stannis made his brothers in black kneel for a long time, and they were unusually long. "Get up," he said at last.Sam held Maester Aemon up, helping him to his feet. Lord Janos Slynt cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "Your Majesty, at your call, I express the joy of all. When I first saw your banner from the Wall, I knew the kingdom was saved. 'This man has not forgotten his duty,' I say to good Sir Alliser Say, 'A strong man, a true king.' Allow us to congratulate you on your victory over the barbarians, and the singers will proclaim it, yes—"

"The singers can do what they like," Stannis interrupted. "Stop sucking up, Janos, it's no use." He stood up, frowning at them all. "Lady Melisandre told me I'm not happy that you haven't chosen a commander-in-chief yet. How long is this stupid thing going to go on?" "Your Majesty," argued Bowen Marsh, "no one has a two-thirds majority, and the election is only ten days old." "Nine days have been wasted. I have prisoners to deal with, countries to rule, and wars to wage. Certain decisions about the Wall and the Night's Watch need to be made quickly, and your Lord Commander has a right to participate."

"Yes, yes," said Janos Slynt, "but our brethren are mere soldiers. Soldiers, yes! Your Majesty is well aware that a soldier's duty is to obey orders. In my opinion, If His Majesty is willing to enlighten you, they will surely benefit from it. Please help everyone make wise choices for the future of the kingdom." This suggestion annoyed others. "Are you going to let the king wipe our asses?" asked Carter Pike angrily. "The power to choose the Commander-in-Chief belongs and belongs only to the Brothers in Black who are sworn to serve," emphasized Sir Dennis Mallister. "If they'd been wise, they wouldn't have picked me," murmured "Somber" Eddie.Scholar Aemon was as calm as ever, "Your Majesty, since Brandon the Builder built the Great Wall, the leader of the Night's Watch has been elected by himself. Up to Jeor Mormont, there have been nine hundred and ninety-seven successive presidents. Commanders, each one is chosen by the people he will lead, a tradition that goes back thousands of years."

Stannis gritted his teeth. "It is not my intention to usurp your power and your traditions. As for 'Your Majesty's instruction,' Janos, if I want to compel my brethren to choose you, I should say so." Those words scared Master Genos back.He smiled at a loss, his forehead began to sweat, but Bowen Marsh beside him said, "Who is more qualified to lead the Black Legion than he who once commanded the Golden Robe Guards, Your Majesty?" "Any one of you, even the cook, is better than him." The king looked at Slynt coldly. "I promise, Genos is not the first gold cloak to take bribes, but he is probably the first commander to make a lot of money from selling positions and vacancies. In the end, half of the officers in the Capital Guard had to part with their salaries Leave it to him. Is that so, Genos?"

Slynt's neck turned purple, "Lies, it's all lies! The higher the position, the more enemies you will make. Your Majesty knows that. They are quietly spreading rumors behind their backs, without any real evidence. No one dares to stand up..." "Two men who were about to come forward suddenly died on patrol." Stannis narrowed his eyes. "Don't take me for a fool, my lord, I have seen the evidence that Jon Arryn presented to the High Council. If I were king, you would lose more than your position, I promise, but Robert let you go so easily 'Small fault.' 'They're all thieves,' I remember him saying, 'better to be blatant than to be veiled, and the next one might be worse.' Well, no doubt it was Lord Petyr's My brother's mouth is talking, and Little Finger is always sensitive to money, maybe he uses your embezzlement to get as much profit as you get yourself."

Earl Slynt's jaw was trembling, he was not ready for the words of rebuttal, he only heard Maester Aemon say: "Your Majesty, according to the law, after a man swears to become a brother of the Night Watch Legion, the former Mistakes and crimes are wiped out." "I understand that. If this Lord Genos happens to be the best material for the Night's Watch, I can only accept it. Which one you choose has nothing to do with me, just make a choice quickly. We have a war to fight." "Your Majesty," said Ser Denys Mallister cautiously and humbly, "if you mean the Wildlings . . . "

"Of course not. You know that very well, sir." "Then you should also be clear that although we are grateful for your help in dealing with Mance Rayder, we cannot fight for the throne for you. The Night's Watch has never participated in the disputes of the Seven Kingdoms. For eight thousand years—" "I know your history, Sir Dennis," said the king stiffly, "I assure you that you will not be asked to rise up against the gang of traitors and usurpers that give me such a headache, and I sincerely hope that you will continue to defend the Wall as you have always done. "

"We'll defend the Wall to the last man," said Carter Pike. "Maybe that's me." 'Melancholy,' Eddie said resignedly. Stannis folded his arms. "But I want something that you may not give so easily. I want a castle and a land grant." This outspoken speech was like throwing a can of wildfire into a brazier, and it suddenly exploded among the brothers in black.Marsh, Mallister, and Pike tried to speak at the same time, but King Stannis let them speak, and when he had finally finished speaking, he said: "I have three times as many people as you. If you want, you can take it by force." , but I prefer to seek your consent and obtain it legally."

"The gift is given to the Night's Watch in perpetuity, Your Majesty," Bowen Marsh emphasized. "Yes, according to the law, I cannot occupy, confiscate or deprive you from you, but gifts can be given, and naturally they can be given again." "What are you going to do with the grant?" asked Carter Pike. "Make good use of it. As for the castles, the positions of Eastwatch, Castle Black, and the Shadow Tower remain unchanged, and are still arranged by you, but for the defense of the Great Wall, you must leave the others to me and let my people protect them."

"You don't have that many men," retorted Bowen Marsh. "Some ruined castles are nothing more than ruins," says head artisan Othel Yawick. "Ruins can be rebuilt." "Rebuild?" Arwick said. "Who's going to do it?" "This is a question I have considered. I just want you to give me a list detailing the current condition of each castle and the materials needed for reconstruction. Within a year, I will have them all stationed in the garrison, and in front of the gate Light the night fire." "Night fire?" Bowen Marsh looked at Melisandre suspiciously. "Light a night fire?" "Yes." The woman stood up in the swirling bright red silk robe, her bright copper-colored long hair fell on her shoulders. "The sword cannot stand against the darkness, but the light of God can. Never underestimate the opponent's strength, good lords, brave brothers, the war we wage is not for land or glory, but for life and death. If it fails, the world will perish together." Sam could see that the officials were puzzled by this statement.Bowen Marsh and Othel Yarwick exchanged a skeptical glance, Janos Slynt raged, and Three Finger Hobb looked like he'd rather go back to the kitchen and chop carrots.All were surprised when Maester Aemon murmured, "You mean the War of the Dawn, my lady, but where is the prince of prophecy?" "He stands before you," declared Melisandre, "but your eyes cannot see. Stannis Baratheon is the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, Son of the Flame, Warrior of Light, prophesied in It was fulfilled in him. The red comet in the sky announced his coming, and he possessed the hero's red sword 'Lightbringer'." Sam found that the red robe woman's words made the king very disturbed, and Stannis gritted his teeth, "You asked for help, but I arrived in time, my lords, now I can only accept me, or everyone is finished together, think about it carefully." He simply He gestured quietly, "That's enough, the maester stays for a while, and you, Tully, the others dismiss." Me? Sam was taken aback. What did he want me to do? The brethren bowed away. "You're the one who slew goblins in the snow," Stannis said when they were down to four. "Sam the Killer." Melisandre smiled. Sam felt himself blushing. "No, ma'am... Your Majesty, I mean, yes, I am Samwell Tarly, yes." "Your father was a valiant warrior," said King Stannis, "who defeated my elder brother at the Aspen Ford, and Mace Tyrell triumphantly claimed it for himself. He hasn't found the field yet, blue. Lord Dow has secured the victory. He slew Lord Kavron with the Valyrian greatsword, and offered his head to Aerys." The king rubbed his chin with one finger. "You're not like his son." "I...I am not the son he wanted, Your Majesty." "You would be a useful hostage if you were not in black," Stannis mused. "He is already in black, Your Grace," Maester Aemon pointed out. "I know that," said the king, "more than you think, Aemon Targaryen." The old man bowed his head. "I am only Aemon, Your Majesty. When a maester takes his oath and wears the necklace, he must give up his original family name." The king nodded slightly, as if he understood but didn't care. "I heard you killed that monster with an obsidian dagger," he said to Sam. "Yes, yes, Your Majesty. A dagger from Jon Snow." "Dragonglass," the red woman's laughter sounded like music, "is called 'frozen fire' in the ancient Valyrian language, no wonder it is a deadly weapon for these cold children of the gods." "At Dragonstone, where I once lived, there are many obsidian buried in the old tunnels at the bottom of the volcano," the king told Sam, "and they form layers, one by one. Mostly black, I remember, but there are greens and reds and even purples. I have sent a message to Sir Rowland, the acting lord, to start mining. I am afraid that Dragonstone Island will not last long. I hope that before the castle falls, the Lord of Light will grant us enough 'freezing fire' so that everyone can arm themselves against these monster." Sam cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty. That dagger... when I stabbed a ghoul, it shattered." Melisandre smiled, "These ghouls are activated by necromancy, and they are just dead flesh and blood. Steel and fire are enough to deal with them, but the creatures you call 'White Walkers' are much more terrifying." "It is the demon of ice and cold," said Stannis Baratheon, "an ancient enemy, a true rival." He turned to Sam again. "I heard that you and that wild woman passed under the Great Wall and passed through a magic gate." "Black, black door," Sam stammered, "under the Nightfort." "The Nightfort is the largest and oldest castle on the Wall," said the king. "I intend to make this my home while this war is fought. Then you will tell where the door is." "I," said Sam, "I would, I would, if..." If it was still there.Suppose it would be open to people who don't wear black.if…… "You will," Stannis interrupted, "and I'll tell you when." Maester Aemon smiled. "Your Majesty," he said, "I thought, before we leave, could it be a great honor for us to have a look at that magic sword. Everyone has heard countless legends about him." "You want to watch 'Lightbringer'? Aren't you blind?" "Sam is my eyes." The king frowned. "Everyone else can see, why not the blind?" His sword belt and scabbard hung on hooks by the fireplace.He took it down and drew his longsword.Just listen to the steel rubbing against the wood and leather, and then the study is filled with light: the lines of gold, orange and red flicker and change, and the jumping colors are as bright as flames. "Say, Samwell." Maester Aemon touched his arm. "It's self-illuminating," Sam lowered his voice, "like a flameless torch. The steel is yellow and red and orange, and it shines and shines, and it's more beautiful than sunlight on water. I wish you could see it, master." "I see, Sam, a sword full of sunshine, lovely and pleasing to the eye." The old man nodded stiffly, "Your Majesty. Ma'am. Thank you very much for your generosity." By the time King Stannis sheathed his sword, the room seemed very dark, though sunlight was still streaming in through the windows. "Very well, now that you have read it, go back to your duty. Mark my words, your brethren must elect a commander-in-chief tonight, or I will make them regret it." When Sam helped Maester Aemon down the narrow stairs, the other party was completely lost in his thoughts, until he crossed the courtyard, and suddenly said, "I don't feel the heat, how about you, Sam?" "Heat? From that sword?" He tried to remember, "The air around it changed and glowed, as if it was sitting on the edge of a hot brazier, sensing the radiant heat." "You don't feel the heat, though, do you? The scabbard of this sword is wood and leather, isn't it? I heard it when His Majesty drew it. Was the leather scorched, Sam? Was the wood burnt or blackened?" "No," Sam admitted, "I didn't see it." Maester Aemon nodded.When he got back to his room, he told Sam to light a fire, and helped himself to a chair by the fire. "Being so old is hard work," he sighed, sitting on the cushions. "It's even harder when you're blind. I miss the sun, and books. Yes, I miss books most." Aemon waved his hand. "Before you vote, you can rest." "Vote... Master, don't you have nothing to do? The king said that Lord Genos is..." "I understand," said Maester Aemon, "but don't forget, Sam, that I am a maester, wearing the necklace and swearing. My duty is to advise the Lord Commander, whoever he is, at this moment , It would be too inappropriate for me to show bias.” "I'm not a maester," said Sam, "what can I do?" Aemon lifted his blind white eyes, turned to Sam's face, and smiled faintly, "Oh, I don't know, Samwell. What can you do?" I can do it, Sam thought, I must.And you have to act immediately. If you hesitate, you will lose your courage.I am a man of the Night's Watch, he reminded himself, as he trotted across the courtyard.I am a man of the Night's Watch, I can do it.Once upon a time, Lord Mormont would tremble and scream, but that was the old Sam, before the Fist of the First Men and Craster's Keep, before wights and Cold Hands, before Death Riding Before the White Walkers of the horse appeared.He is braver now.Gilly makes me braver, he told Jon.That is the truth.That is the truth. Carter Pike was the more formidable of the two Commanders, so Sam decided to go to him first, while his courage was still eager.He found him in the old Hall of Shields, playing dice with three Eastwatch men, and a red-haired sergeant who had come from Dragonstone to follow Stannis. When Sam begged to speak, Pike gave an order, and the others gathered up the dice and coins and left. In his studded soft armor and coarse breeches, Cotter Pyke was lean and strong, but by no means handsome.His small eyes were too close together, his nose was broken, and his forehead was as thin as the point of a spear.The measles had completely ruined his face, and the beard he had grown to hide it was sparse and sprawling. "'Slayer' Sam!" he greeted in his own way. "Are you sure you stabbed a White Walker, not a child's snow knight?" It got off to a bad start. "Dragonglass killed it, my lord," Sam explained feebly. "Ah, no doubt about it. Come on, come on, killer. Did the Scholar send you?" "School?" Sam swallowed, "I... I just left him, my lord." It was not a lie, Pike chose the wrong interpretation as his own business, and he would be more willing to listen to it.Sam took a deep breath and spoke his plan. Unexpectedly, before he could say twenty words, he was interrupted by Parker. "You want me to kneel down and kiss the hem of Mallister's fine cloak, won't you? I should have guessed that you lords would flock like sheep. Well, tell Aemon he's wasting you My time. If anyone quits, it should be Mallister. Shit, that guy is too old for this position, you go and tell him, if we take him, it will probably take less than a year, and he will be taken again Come back and choose someone again." "He's old," Sam admitted, "but experienced." "The experience of sitting in the tower looking at the map? As the commander in chief, what is he going to do? Write to the ghouls? He is a good knight, no compromise, but not a warrior, I don't give a shit fifty years The blind old man knew who he knocked off in some stupid tourney before, and Halfhand did all the fighting for him. Now with the goddamn king on his head, we need warriors more than ever Leader. Asking for ruins and clearings today, without compromise, who knows what His Majesty will want tomorrow? Do you think Mallister has the guts to stand up against Stannis Baratheon and that red bitch?" He haha laughing out loud. "I don't think so." "You won't support him?" Sam concluded despondently. "Are you 'Killer' Sam or 'Deaf' Dick? No, of course I'm not for him." Pike nodded with a finger. "Get it, boy, I don't want the damn position, never did. I'm used to fighting on deck, I don't want to ride, and Castle Black is too far from the sea. But I'd rather fuck my ass with a hot red sword than Give the Legion of the Night's Watch to the fancy eagle in the Shadow Tower, if the old man asks, just say so." He stood up. "Quickly get out of my sight." Sam mustered up all his remaining courage, "What if it was someone else? Can you support someone else? "Others? Who? Bowen Marsh? This guy who can only count spoons? Oser is used to obedience. He does what others ask him to do. He does a good job, but that's all. Slynt... well, he The gang likes him, I admit it, I really want to stuff him in the king's stomach, see if Stannis will hiccup... But no, that guy smells like King's Landing, damn, toad Does Wing think he is a dragon?" Pike laughed. "Who's left? Harb? We can pick him, but who's going to cook your mutton then, killer? Damn, you should like his goddamned mutton like this." There is not much to say.Thoroughly thwarted, Sam stammers his thanks and leaves.I can do better on Sir Denys' side, he tried to console himself as he walked through the castle.Sir Dennis was a cavalryman, of noble birth, and of gentle speech. When he found Sam and Gilly on the road, he treated them with courtesy.Sir Dennis will listen to me, and he will. The commander of the Shadow Tower was born under the Hong Bell Tower in Haijiang City, and he is a mallister through and through.The collar and cuffs of his black velvet tunic were trimmed with ermine, and his cloak was fastened by the claws of a silver eagle.His beard was white, his hair was mostly bald, and his face was deeply lined, but still quick, with teeth in his mouth, and his blue-gray eyes had not dimmed or dimmed with age. "Lord Tully," he greeted Sam at once as his steward led Sam into the Spear Tower where the Shadow Tower men lived, "I am glad to see you recovered. Would you like a glass of wine? I remember, your lord mother From the Florents, when can we talk, I knocked your grandfather and grandfather off the horse at the same tourney. But not today, I know we have more pressing matters. You must be from Maester Aemon Where did he come from, does he have any advice for me?" Sam took a sip of his wine and carefully considered his words, "The maester put on his necklace and swore an oath... At this moment, it would be too inappropriate for him to show bias..." The old knight smiled slightly, "Yes, so he can't come in person, I understand, Samwell. Aemon and I are old people, and we will be considerate in such matters. Please tell us the purpose of this trip. " The wine was sweet, and Sir Dennis, unlike Carter Pike, listened to Sam's plan seriously, but shook his head in the end. "I admit that it would be a dark day in the history of the Night's Watch if the king appointed the Commander-in-Chief. Especially this king, he can't keep the crown for long. But really, Samwell, it should be Pike who quit. I have more votes than him and a better fit than him." "True," Sam admitted, "but Cotter Pyke may be barely up to it. They say he often proves himself in battle." He didn't want to offend Ser Denys by praising his opponent, but what else could be said? "Many brethren have proved themselves in battle. That is not enough. Some things cannot be settled with an axe. Maester Aemon understands that, but Cotter Pyke does not. The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch must be a leader, must have the ability to be like other nobles... …and the ability to deal with the king. He has to command the respect of others." Sir Dennis leaned forward. "You and I are the heirs of princes. We all know the importance of origin, blood and early education, which cannot be replaced by martial arts. I became a squire at the age of twelve, a knight at the age of eighteen, and won the tournament at the age of twenty-two. Champion of the Conference, and have commanded the Shadow Tower for thirty-three years. Blood, birth, and education have equipped me to deal with kings. Pike... well, do you remember what he said this morning, 'You're going to let the king wipe us Ass'? Samwell, it's not my habit to criticize brethren, but let's be frank... The ironborn are a people of pirates and thieves, and Cotter Pike has been raping and killing since he was a child. Master Harmon is responsible for all the letters. No, I don't want to disappoint Maester Aemon, but I can't bring myself to make way for Pike of Eastwatch." This time Sam was ready, "Will you support someone else? Someone more suitable?" Dennis thought for a moment, "I never covet glory. In the last election, when Lord Mormont's name was brought up, I gave up with all my heart. Before that, I also made way for Lord Kogel. As long as the Night Watchmen I would be content in the hands of a trustworthy man. But neither Bowen Marsh nor Othel Awick is that kind of man, and this so-called Lord of Harrenhal is the butcher's son, a Lannister-raised buffoon, no wonder So corrupt." "There is one more man," Sam blurted out, "in whom Lord Lord Mormont trusts, and so does Donal Noye and Qhorin Halfhand. Though he is not as noble as you, he is of ancient blood. He is at the Castle Born and raised in a castle, he learned swords and spears from knights, and learned words and knowledge from bachelors. His father was a duke, and his brother was a king." Sir Denys stroked his long white beard. "Maybe," he said after a long time, "he's very young, but...maybe, maybe he can do the job, I admit. However, there is no doubt that I am more suitable, and I am the wiser choice." Jon said that whether a lie can be honored depends on the content and purpose.So Sam said, "If we don't choose a Lord Commander tonight, King Stannis intends to name Cotter Pyke. He told Maester Aemon so this morning, after you left." "I see, I see," Sir Dennis stood up, "I'll think about it. Thank you, Samwell, and please express my thanks to Master Aemon." Sam trembled as he left the spear tower.What did I do? What did I say, he thought? If they find out, what will...? Send me to the Great Wall to stand guard? Pull out my intestines? Turn me into a ghoul? Suddenly, it seems like this Ridiculous, he who has seen crows peck at little Paul's face, why is he afraid of Carter Pike and Sir Denys Mallister? Pike was not happy to see him back. "It's you again? Let the fart go, don't make me angry." "Just a moment," Sam promised, "you say you won't quit for Sir Denys, maybe for someone else." "Who is this time, killer? Yourself?" "No. A real warrior. Donal Noye handed over the Great Wall to him when the wildlings came, and he was still Lao Xiong's squire. The only problem is, he's an illegitimate son." Carter Pike laughed, "Seven Hells, damn it, it's like sticking a spear up Mallister's asshole, isn't it? Maybe worth it just for that, the boy How bad can it go?" He snorted. "But I'm better than him, and I'm the one who needs it, and any fool can see that." "Which fools," Sam agreed, "include me. But... well, some things should not have been said, but... but if no one is chosen tonight, King Stannis intends to force Ser Dennis on us. He told Maester Aemon this morning, after you left."