Clydas

Clydas is a steward of the Night's Watch at Castle Black, a short, round man with dim pink eyes like some nocturnal creature, and a few white hairs clinging to his scalp. He served as Maester Aemon's assistant for years, tending to the ravens and carrying out the old maester's orders. After Aemon departed for Oldtown, Clydas took over the care of the rookery, though he lacked a tenth of Aemon's knowledge or wisdom, and even less of his judgment.

Role and Duties

Clydas's primary role is that of a steward and messenger. He occupies the rooms beneath the rookery, where he tends to the ravens and handles correspondence for the Lord Commander. When Jon Snow needs to send a letter or receive news, it is often Clydas who brings the parchment, his dim pink eyes blinking in the candlelight. He is also responsible for mulling wine and providing simple hospitality to the Lord Commander when he visits late at night. After Maester Aemon's departure, Clydas becomes the de facto keeper of the ravens, though his eyesight is failing and he is not a true maester.

Interactions with Jon Snow

Clydas appears before Jon Snow on several occasions, always bearing news. He brings Jon a letter from Ramsay Bolton, sealed with pink wax, which announces the fall of Moat Cailin and the impending wedding of Ramsay to Arya Stark. The letter frightens Clydas, and he trembles as he delivers it, his face pale as snow. Later, he brings Jon a message from Cotter Pyke at Hardhome, reporting the dire situation there: wild seas, lost ships, and dead things in the woods and water. Clydas is also present when Jon announces his plan to ride south against Ramsay Bolton, and he is among those who witness the aftermath of Jon's stabbing.

Limitations and Significance

Clydas is a loyal and competent steward, but he is not a leader or a strategist. He is described as having "not a tenth of Aemon Targaryen's knowledge or experience, and even less of his wisdom." His role is that of a faithful servant, carrying out orders and delivering messages, but he does not offer counsel or make decisions. His presence underscores the thinning of the Night's Watch's leadership after the deaths of the Old Bear and the departure of Maester Aemon and Samwell Tarly. He is a reminder of the Watch's diminished state, where even a simple steward must take on responsibilities far beyond his training.