Stannis grows angry at the slow process to pick the next successor to the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He has no love for the frontrunner, Janos Slynt, the corrupt former commander of King's Landing's City Watch. He threatens to overthrow the ancient election process if the Black Brothers stalemate again and no clear winner emerges. Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister have split the vote of the moderates between the those who want to rely on the old values and those who want a fresh face in command. The withdrawal by the steward Bowen Marsh has not clarified the race. Othell Yarwyk is also considering abandoning his candidacy. Dolorous Edd Tollett has put forth a new candidate for all to consider.
The knight's watch are in an uproar. The new candidate is one not yet considered for the post. He is young and vigorous, has served well in the past and has no allegiance to any of the factions. Both Mallister and Pyke have been convinced to throw their support behind him each to prevent the other from being selected by Stannis and to prevent the corrupt Slynt from being selected. The future hangs in the balance.
After another self-serving outburst from Slynt, Yarwyk throws his support behind the new candidate. The kettle is called for. As the lid is removed, a huge black raven bursts out, flaps around the room and lands on the shoulder of the the new candidate, cawing out his name: BLOOMBERG! BLOOMBERG! BLOOMBERG!
