Mormont knew what his words meant.
But he understood better what a dragon represented!
Not armies. Not gold. But absolute power—the kind that rewrites rules.
With a dragon, they would no longer fear the dead!
The Lord Commander's words—like a boulder dropped into a still lake—sent shockwaves through Castle Black's courtyard, then plunged it into deathly silence.
Every Night's Watchman stared, nearly catatonic.
The Lord Commander just said that—in front of everyone!
Your will is my will?
Your orders are the Night's Watch's highest law?
This wasn't delegation.
This was abdication!
Alliser Thorne's body trembled violently.
His knees weakened. He could barely stand.
He understood what a dragon meant too.
With a dragon, Lynn could easily amass enormous power.
Even... covet the throne forged from swords!
He looked at Mormont. Then at Lynn. The last shred of pride in his eyes crumbled, leaving only endless despair and madness.
It's over.
I'm finished.
Lynn—the thorn in his side—had become an existence he could never reach.
He's become Castle Black's—the entire Night's Watch's—uncrowned king!
"Lord Commander, you..."
Lynn hadn't expected the Old Bear to be so decisive, to say this publicly.
"You're worthy."
Mormont waved a hand, cutting off Lynn's protest.
"I'm not senile. I know what I'm saying. And I know what a dragon means."
Mormont turned, gaze sweeping over everyone like lightning, voice carrying undeniable authority.
"From today, Commander Lynn's authority equals mine."
"Any who disobey, any who dissent—will be treated as traitors!"
"Understood?"
After brief silence—a tidal wave of response.
"Yes, Lord Commander!"
Aside from a few officers whose faces shifted uncertainly, most Night's Watchmen—especially the common soldiers and rangers—roared their approval.
Fanaticism blazed on their faces.
Before the threat of wights and White Walkers—
Rules? Tradition? All bullshit!
They needed a leader who could keep them alive!
And Lynn—undoubtedly—was that man!
He prophesies the future. He slays White Walkers. He even found a legendary dragon egg!
He's the savior sent by the Old Gods!
Follow him—follow hope!
Watching this fervent scene, Lynn's heart burned.
The Old Bear is gambling. Betting I'll fight the coming Long Night for the North, for all the realm.
A bold wager.
"Ser Thorne."
Lynn's gaze suddenly fell on the broken man who looked like his bones had been removed.
Thorne's body jerked violently, as if doused with ice water.
He looked up into Lynn's terrifyingly calm eyes.
"You seemed... very critical of what I found?"
Lynn's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly cooled the courtyard's fervent atmosphere.
Every gaze focused on Thorne—scrutinizing, hostile.
Everyone knew Thorne had been targeting Lynn openly and covertly.
Thorne's face turned white as paper.
He remembered his sharp, mocking taunts.
Lynn is preparing to move against me!
I thought he couldn't touch me.
Who could've guessed he'd find a dragon egg?
And Mormont's reaction—completely unexpected.
The Lord Commander is grooming Lynn!
Treating him as his successor!
"Fake! This has to be fake!"
"He's a fraud! You're all being fooled!"
Those words—now like slaps across his own face.
"I... I didn't..."
Thorne's voice trembled. He tried to defend himself.
"Didn't?"
Lynn smiled. No warmth in it.
"You mean we all misheard?"
Thorne's lips quivered. He couldn't speak.
Lynn walked toward him.
Step by step.
Each one like a weight crushing Thorne's heart.
"Ser Thorne, you've always seemed to dislike me."
"Since I returned to Castle Black."
"You mocked my birth. Questioned my ability. Called me a deserter, a traitor. Even..."
Lynn stopped in front of Thorne.
His voice turned ice-cold.
"...sent someone to assassinate me."
BOOM.
The courtyard exploded again!
Assassination?
The attack on Lynn—Ser Thorne ordered it?
"You're lying!"
Thorne jumped like a cornered animal.
He shrieked: "Slander! When did I ever send assassins?!"
"Really?"
Lynn waved a hand. Torren immediately produced a dagger from his cloak.
An ordinary Night's Watch standard-issue blade, stained with dried, blackened blood.
"This dagger—taken from the assassin who tried to enter my room at night."
Lynn's gaze slowly swept toward several recruits in the crowd.
The same recruits Jon had disciplined before—Grenn, Pyp, and others who'd caused trouble.
Their faces turned deathly pale under Lynn's stare.
"...I think they recognize it."
Lynn had made his decision.
Thorne—a constant threat.
Before, I lacked the power and pretext to move against him.
But now—different.
The dragon egg's appearance. Mormont's full support. His soldiers' fanatical worship.
All of it gave Lynn the confidence to remove this obstacle.
Make an example.
Use Thorne's blood to cement his unshakable position in Castle Black!
Let everyone know—
Cross Lynn—
And there's only one outcome.
Death.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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