A Clash of Kings

(The second book in the Song of Ice and Fire series)

George R R Martin
Spectra
ISBN: 0553579908
PROOG!"
The comets tail spread across the dawn, a red slash that bled aboe the cra!s o"
#ra!onstone li$e a wo%nd in the pin$ and p%rple s$&'
The maester stood on the windswept balcon& o%tside his chambers' It was here the
raens came, a"ter lon! "li!ht' Their droppin!s spec$led the !ar!o&les that rose twele
"eet tall on either side o" him, a hellho%nd and a w&ern, two o" the tho%sand that
brooded oer the walls o" the ancient "ortress' (hen "irst he came to #ra!onstone, the
arm& o" stone !rotes)%es had made him %neas&, b%t as the &ears passed he had !rown
%sed to them' Now he tho%!ht o" them as old "riends' The three o" them watched the s$&
to!ether with "orebodin!'
The maester did not beliee in omens' *nd &et ' ' ' old as he was, +ressen had neer
seen a comet hal" so bri!ht, nor &et that color, that terrible color, the color o" blood and
"lame and s%nsets' ,e wondered i" his !ar!o&les had eer seen its li$e' The& had been
here so m%ch lon!er than he had, and wo%ld still be here lon! a"ter he was !one' I" stone
ton!%es co%ld spea$ ' ' '
S%ch "oll&' ,e leaned a!ainst the battlement, the sea crashin! beneath him, the blac$
stone ro%!h beneath his "in!ers' Tal$in! !ar!o&les and prophecies in the s$&' I am an old
done man, !rown !idd& as a child a!ain' ,ad a li"etimes hard-won wisdom "led him
alon! with his health and stren!th. ,e was a maester, trained and chained in the !reat
+itadel o" /ldtown' (hat had he come to, when s%perstition "illed his head as i" he were
an i!norant "ieldhand.
*nd &et ' ' ' and &et ' ' ' the comet b%rned een b& da& now, while pale !re& steam rose
"rom the hot ents o" #ra!onmont behind the castle, and &estermorn a white raen had
bro%!ht word "rom the +itadel itsel", word lon!-e0pected b%t no less "ear"%l "or all that,
word o" s%mmers end' /mens, all' Too man& to den&' (hat does it all mean. he wanted
to cr&'
12aester +ressen, we hae isitors'3 4&los spo$e so"tl&, as i" loath to dist%rb +ressens
solemn meditations' ,ad he $nown what driel "illed his head, he wo%ld hae sho%ted'
1The princess wo%ld see the white raen'3 5er correct, 4&los called her princess now,
as her lord "ather was a $in!' 6in! o" a smo$in! roc$ in the !reat salt sea, &et a $in!
nonetheless' 1,er "ool is with her'3
The old man t%rned awa& "rom the dawn, $eepin! a hand on his w&ern to stead&
himsel"' 1,elp me to m& chair and show them in'3
Ta$in! his arm, 4&los led him inside' In his &o%th, +ressen had wal$ed bris$l&, b%t he
was not "ar "rom his ei!htieth name da& now, and his le!s were "rail and %nstead&' Two
&ears past, he had "allen and shattered a hip, and it had neer mended properl&' 7ast &ear
when he too$ ill, the +itadel had sent 4&los o%t "rom /ldtown, mere da&s be"ore 7ord
Stannis had closed the isle ' ' ' to help him in his labors, it was said, b%t +ressen $new
the tr%th' 4&los had come to replace him when he died' ,e did not mind' Someone m%st
ta$e his place, and sooner than he wo%ld li$e ' ' '
,e let the &o%n!er man settle him behind his boo$s and papers' 18o brin! her' It is ill
to $eep a lad& waitin!'3 ,e waed a hand, a "eeble !est%re o" haste "rom a man no
lon!er capable o" hastenin!' ,is "lesh was wrin$led and spotted, the s$in so paper& thin
that he co%ld see the web o" eins and the shape o" bones beneath' *nd how the&
trembled, these hands o" his that had once been so s%re and de"t ' ' '
(hen 4&los ret%rned the !irl came with him, sh& as eer' Behind her, sh%""lin! and
hoppin! in that )%eer sidewa&s wal$ o" his, came her "ool' /n his head was a moc$
helm "ashioned "rom an old tin b%c$et, with a rac$ o" deer antlers strapped to the crown
and h%n! with cowbells' (ith his eer& l%rchin! step, the bells ran!, each with a
di""erent oice, clan!-a-dan! bon!-don! rin!-a-lin! clon! clon! clon!'
1(ho comes to see %s so earl&, 4&los.3 +ressen said'
1Its me and 4atches, 2aester'3 8%ileless bl%e e&es blin$ed at him' ,ers was not a
prett& "ace, alas' The child had her lord "athers s)%are 9%t o" 9aw and her mothers
%n"ort%nate ears, alon! with a dis"i!%rement all her own, the le!ac& o" the bo%t o"
!re&scale that had almost claimed her in the crib' *cross hal" one chee$ and well down
her nec$, her "lesh was sti"" and dead, the s$in crac$ed and "la$in!, mottled blac$ and
!re& and ston& to the to%ch' 14&los said we mi!ht see the white raen'3
1Indeed &o% ma&,3 +ressen answered' *s i" he wo%ld eer den& her' She had been
denied too o"ten in her time' ,er name was Shireen' She wo%ld be ten on her ne0t name
da&, and she was the saddest child that 2aester +ressen had eer $nown' ,er sadness is
m& shame, the old man tho%!ht, another mar$ o" m& "ail%re' 12aester 4&los, do me a
$indness and brin! the bird down "rom the roo$er& "or the 7ad& Shireen'3
1It wo%ld be m& pleas%re'3 4&los was a polite &o%th, no more than "ie-and-twent&, &et
solemn as a man o" si0t&' I" onl& he had more h%mor, more li"e in him: that was what
was needed here' 8rim places needed li!htenin!, not solemnit&, and #ra!onstone was
!rim be&ond a do%bt, a lonel& citadel in the wet waste s%rro%nded b& storm and salt,
with the smo$in! shadow o" the mo%ntain at its bac$' * maester m%st !o where he is
sent, so +ressen had come here with his lord some twele &ears past, and he had sered,
and sered well' ;et he had neer loed #ra!onstone, nor eer "elt tr%l& at home here'
/" late, when he wo$e "rom restless dreams in which the red woman "i!%red
dist%rbin!l&, he o"ten did not $now where he was'
The "ool t%rned his patched and piebald head to watch 4&los climb the steep iron steps
to the roo$er&' ,is bells ran! with the motion' 1<nder the sea, the birds hae scales "or
"eathers,3 he said, clan!-a-lan!in!' 1I $now, I $now, oh, oh, oh'3
5en "or a "ool, 4atch"ace was a sorr& thin!' 4erhaps once he co%ld eo$e !ales o"
la%!hter with a )%ip, b%t the sea had ta$en that power "rom him, alon! with hal" his wits
and all his memor&' ,e was so"t and obese, s%b9ect to twitches and trembles, incoherent
as o"ten as not' The !irl was the onl& one who la%!hed at him now, the onl& one who
cared i" he lied or died'
*n %!l& little !irl and a sad "ool, and maester ma$es three ' ' ' now there is a tale to
ma$e men weep' 1Sit with me, child'3 +ressen bec$oned her closer' 1This is earl& to
come callin!, scarce past dawn' ;o% sho%ld be sn%! in &o%r bed'3
1I had bad dreams,3 Shireen told him' 1*bo%t the dra!ons' The& were comin! to eat
me'3
The child had been pla!%ed b& ni!htmares as "ar bac$ as 2aester +ressen co%ld recall'
1(e hae tal$ed o" this be"ore,3 he said !entl&' 1The dra!ons cannot come to li"e' The&
are cared o" stone, child' In olden da&s, o%r island was the westernmost o%tpost o" the
!reat =reehold o" >al&ria' It was the >al&rians who raised this citadel, and the& had wa&s
o" shapin! stone since lost to %s' * castle m%st hae towers whereer two walls meet at
an an!le, "or de"ense' The >al&rians "ashioned these towers in the shape o" dra!ons to
ma$e their "ortress seem more "earsome, 9%st as the& crowned their walls with a
tho%sand !ar!o&les instead o" simple crenellations'3 ,e too$ her small pin$ hand in his
own "rail spotted one and !ae it a !entle s)%ee?e' 1So &o% see, there is nothin! to "ear'3
Shireen was %nconinced' 1(hat abo%t the thin! in the s$&. #alla and 2atrice were
tal$in! b& the well, and #alla said she heard the red woman tell 2other that it was
dra!onsbreath' I" the dra!ons are breathin!, doesnt that mean the& are comin! to li"e.3
The red woman, 2aester +ressen tho%!ht so%rl&' Ill eno%!h that shes "illed the head
o" the mother with her madness, m%st she poison the da%!hters dreams as well. ,e
wo%ld hae a stern word with #alla, warn her not to spread s%ch tales' 1The thin! in the
s$& is a comet, sweet child' * star with a tail, lost in the heaens' It will be !one soon
eno%!h, neer to be seen a!ain in o%r li"etimes' (atch and see'3
Shireen !ae a brae little nod' 12other said the white raen means its not s%mmer
an&more'3
1That is so, m& lad&' The white raens "l& onl& "rom the +itadel'3 +ressens "in!ers
went to the chain abo%t his nec$, each lin$ "or!ed "rom a di""erent metal, each
s&mboli?in! his master& o" another branch o" learnin!: the maesters collar, mar$ o" his
order' In the pride o" his &o%th, he had worn it easil&, b%t now it seemed hea& to him,
the metal cold a!ainst his s$in' 1The& are lar!er than other raens, and more cleer, bred
to carr& onl& the most important messa!es' This one came to tell %s that the +onclae
has met, considered the reports and meas%rements made b& maesters all oer the realm,
and declared this !reat s%mmer done at last' Ten &ears, two t%rns, and si0teen da&s it
lasted, the lon!est s%mmer in liin! memor&'3
1(ill it !et cold now.3 Shireen was a s%mmer child, and had neer $nown tr%e cold'
1In time,3 +ressen replied' 1I" the !ods are !ood, the& will !rant %s a warm a%t%mn
and bo%nti"%l harests, so we mi!ht prepare "or the winter to come'3 The small"ol$ said
that a lon! s%mmer meant an een lon!er winter, b%t the maester saw no reason to
"ri!hten the child with s%ch tales'
4atch"ace ran! his bells' 1It is alwa&s s%mmer %nder the sea,3 he intoned' 1The
merwies wear nenn&moans in their hair and weae !owns o" siler seaweed' I $now, I
$now, oh, oh, oh'3
Shireen !i!!led' 1I sho%ld li$e a !own o" siler seaweed'3
1<nder the sea, it snows %p,3 said the "ool, 1and the rain is dr& as bone' I $now, I
$now, oh, oh, oh'3
1(ill it tr%l& snow.3 the child as$ed'
1It will,3 +ressen said' B%t not "or &ears &et, I pra&, and then not "or lon!' 1*h, here is
4&los with the bird'3
Shireen !ae a cr& o" deli!ht' 5en +ressen had to admit the bird made an impressie
si!ht, white as snow and lar!er than an& haw$, with the bri!ht blac$ e&es that meant it
was no mere albino, b%t a tr%ebred white raen o" the +itadel' 1,ere,3 he called' The
raen spread its win!s, leapt into the air, and "lapped noisil& across the room to land on
the table beside him'
1Ill see to &o%r brea$"ast now,3 4&los anno%nced' +ressen nodded' 1This is the 7ad&
Shireen,3 he told the raen' The bird bobbed its pale head %p and down, as i" it were
bowin!' 17ad&,3 it croa$ed' 17ad&'3
The childs mo%th !aped open' 1It tal$s@3
1* "ew words' *s I said, the& are cleer, these birds'3
1+leer bird, cleer man, cleer cleer "ool,3 said 4atch"ace, 9an!lin!' 1/h, cleer
cleer cleer "ool'3 ,e be!an to sin!' 1The shadows come to dance, m& lord, dance m&
lord, dance m& lord,3 he san!, hoppin! "rom one "oot to the other and bac$ a!ain' 1The
shadows come to sta&, m& lord, sta& m& lord, sta& m& lord'3 ,e 9er$ed his head with
each word, the bells in his antlers sendin! %p a clan!or'
The white raen screamed and went "lappin! awa& to perch on the iron railin! o" the
roo$er& stairs' Shireen seemed to !row smaller' 1,e sin!s that all the time' I told him to
stop b%t he wont' It ma$es me scared' 2a$e him stop'3
*nd how do I do that. the old man wondered' /nce I mi!ht hae silenced him "oreer,
b%t now ' ' '
4atch"ace had come to them as a bo&' 7ord Ste""on o" cherished memor& had "o%nd
him in >olantis, across the narrow sea' The $in!Athe old $in!, *er&s II Tar!ar&en, who
had not been )%ite so mad in those da&s, had sent his lordship to see$ a bride "or 4rince
Bhae!ar, who had no sisters to wed' 1(e hae "o%nd the most splendid "ool,3 he wrote
+ressen, a "ortni!ht be"ore he was to ret%rn home "rom his "r%itless mission' 1/nl& a
bo&, &et nimble as a mon$e& and witt& as a do?en co%rtiers' ,e 9%!!les and riddles and
does ma!ic, and he can sin! prettil& in "o%r ton!%es' (e hae bo%!ht his "reedom and
hope to brin! him home with %s' Bobert will be deli!hted with him, and perhaps in time
he will een teach Stannis how to la%!h'3
It saddened +ressen to remember that letter' No one had eer ta%!ht Stannis how to
la%!h, least o" all the bo& 4atch"ace' The storm came %p s%ddenl&, howlin!, and
Shipbrea$er Ba& proed the tr%th o" its name' The lords two-masted !alle& (indpro%d
bro$e %p within si!ht o" his castle' =rom its parapets his two eldest sons had watched as
their "athers ship was smashed a!ainst the roc$s and swallowed b& the waters' *
h%ndred oarsmen and sailors went down with 7ord Ste""on Baratheon and his lad& wi"e,
and "or da&s therea"ter eer& tide le"t a "resh crop o" swollen corpses on the strand below
Storms 5nd'
The bo& washed %p on the third da&' 2aester +ressen had come down with the rest, to
help p%t names to the dead' (hen the& "o%nd the "ool he was na$ed, his s$in white and
wrin$led and powdered with wet sand' +ressen had tho%!ht him another corpse, b%t
when Comm& !rabbed his an$les to dra! him o"" to the b%rial wa!on, the bo& co%!hed
water and sat %p' To his d&in! da&, Comm& had sworn that 4atch"aces "lesh was clamm&
cold'
No one eer e0plained those two da&s the "ool had been lost in the sea' The "isher"ol$
li$ed to sa& a mermaid had ta%!ht him to breathe water in ret%rn "or his seed' 4atch"ace
himsel" had said nothin!' The witt&, cleer lad that 7ord Ste""on had written o" neer
reached Storms 5nd: the bo& the& "o%nd was someone else, bro$en in bod& and mind,
hardl& capable o" speech, m%ch less o" wit' ;et his "ools "ace le"t no do%bt o" who he
was' It was the "ashion in the =ree +it& o" >olantis to tattoo the "aces o" slaes and
serants: "rom nec$ to scalp the bo&s s$in had been patterned in s)%ares o" red and
!reen motle&'
1The wretch is mad, and in pain, and no %se to an&one, least o" all himsel",3 declared
old Ser ,arbert, the castellan o" Storms 5nd in those &ears' 1The $indest thin! &o%
co%ld do "or that one is "ill his c%p with the mil$ o" the popp&' * painless sleep, and
theres an end to it' ,ed bless &o% i" he had the wit "or it'3 B%t +ressen had re"%sed, and
in the end he had won' (hether 4atch"ace had !otten an& 9o& o" that ictor& he co%ld
not sa&, not een toda&, so man& &ears later'
1The shadows come to dance, m& lord, dance m& lord, dance m& lord,3 the "ool san!
on, swin!in! his head and ma$in! his bells clan! and clatter' Bon! don!, rin!-a-lin!,
bon! don!'
17ord,3 the white raen shrie$ed' 17ord, lord, lord'3
1* "ool sin!s what he will,3 the maester told his an0io%s princess' 1;o% m%st not ta$e
his words to heart' /n the morrow he ma& remember another son!, and this one will
neer be heard a!ain'3 ,e can sin! prettil& in "o%r ton!%es, 7ord Ste""on had written ' ' '
4&los strode thro%!h the door' 12aester, pardons'3
1;o% hae "or!otten the porrid!e,3 +ressen said, am%sed' That was most %nli$e 4&los'
12aester, Ser #aos ret%rned last ni!ht' The& were tal$in! o" it in the $itchen' I
tho%!ht &o% wo%ld want to $now at once'3
1#aos ' ' ' last ni!ht, &o% sa&. (here is he.3
1(ith the $in!' The& hae been to!ether most o" the ni!ht'3
There was a time when 7ord Stannis wo%ld hae wo$en him, no matter the ho%r, to
hae him there to !ie his co%nsel' 1I sho%ld hae been told,3 +ressen complained' 1I
sho%ld hae been wo$en'3 ,e disentan!led his "in!ers "rom Shireens' 14ardons, m&
lad&, b%t I m%st spea$ with &o%r lord "ather' 4&los, !ie me &o%r arm' There are too
man& steps in this castle, and it seems to me the& add a "ew eer& ni!ht, 9%st to e0 me'
Shireen and 4atch"ace "ollowed them o%t, b%t the child soon !rew restless with the old
mans creepin! pace and dashed ahead, the "ool l%rchin! a"ter her with his cowbells
clan!in! madl&'
+astles are not "riendl& places "or the "rail, +ressen was reminded as he descended the
t%rnpi$e stairs o" Sea #ra!on Tower' 7ord Stannis wo%ld be "o%nd in the +hamber o" the
4ainted Table, atop the Stone #r%m, #ra!onstones central $eep, so named "or the wa&
its ancient walls boomed and r%mbled d%rin! storms' To reach him the& m%st cross the
!aller&, pass thro%!h the middle and inner walls with their !%ardian !ar!o&les and blac$
iron !ates, and ascend more steps than +ressen cared to contemplate' ;o%n! men
climbed steps two at a time: "or old men with bad hips, eer& one was a torment' B%t
7ord Stannis wo%ld not thin$ to come to him, so the maester resi!ned himsel" to the
ordeal' ,e had 4&los to help him, at the least, and "or that he was !rate"%l'
Sh%""lin! alon! the !aller&, the& passed be"ore a row o" tall arched windows with
commandin! iews o" the o%ter baile&, the c%rtain wall, and the "ishin! illa!e be&ond'
In the &ard, archers were "irin! at practice b%tts to the call o" 1Notch, draw, loose'3 Their
arrows made a so%nd li$e a "loc$ o" birds ta$in! win!' 8%ardsmen strode the wallwal$s,
peerin! between the !ar!o&les on the host camped witho%t' The mornin! air was ha?&
with the smo$e o" coo$"ires, as three tho%sand men sat down to brea$ their "asts beneath
the banners o" their lords' 4ast the sprawl o" the camp, the anchora!e was crowded with
ships' No cra"t that had come within si!ht o" #ra!onstone this past hal" &ear had been
allowed to leae a!ain' 7ord Stanniss =%r&, a triple-dec$ed war !alle& o" three h%ndred
oars, loo$ed almost small beside some o" the bi!-bellied carrac$s and co!s that
s%rro%nded her'
The !%ardsmen o%tside the Stone #r%m $new the maesters b& si!ht, and passed them
thro%!h' 1(ait here,3 +ressen told 4&los, within' 1Its best I see him alone'3
1It is a lon! climb, 2aester'3
+ressen smiled' 1;o% thin$ I hae "or!otten. I hae climbed these steps so o"ten I
$now each one b& name'3
,al"wa& %p, he re!retted his decision' ,e had stopped to catch his breath and ease the
pain in his hip when he heard the sc%"" o" boots on stone, and came "ace-to-"ace with Ser
#aos Seaworth, descendin!'
#aos was a sli!ht man, his low birth written plain %pon a common "ace' * well-worn
!reen cloa$, stained b& salt and spra& and "aded "rom the s%n, draped his thin sho%lders,
oer brown do%blet and breeches that matched brown e&es and hair' *bo%t his nec$ a
po%ch o" worn leather h%n! "rom a thon!' ,is small beard was well peppered with !re&,
and he wore a leather !loe on his maimed le"t hand' (hen he saw +ressen, he chec$ed
his descent'
1Ser #aos,3 the maester said' 1(hen did &o% ret%rn.3
1In the blac$ o" mornin!' 2& "aorite time'3 It was said that no one had eer handled a
ship b& ni!ht hal" so well as #aos Shorthand' Be"ore 7ord Stannis had $ni!hted him,
he had been the most notorio%s and el%sie sm%!!ler in all the Seen 6in!doms'
1*nd.3
The man shoo$ his head' 1It is as &o% warned him' The& will not rise, 2aester' Not "or
him' The& do not loe him'3
No, +ressen tho%!ht' Nor will the& eer' ,e is stron!, able, 9%st ' ' ' a&e, 9%st past the
point o" wisdom ' ' ' &et it is not eno%!h' It has neer been eno%!h' 1;o% spo$e to them
all.3
1*ll. No' /nl& those that wo%ld see me' The& do not loe me either, these hi!hborns'
To them Ill alwa&s be the /nion 6ni!ht'3 ,is le"t hand closed, st%bb& "in!ers loc$in!
into a "ist: Stannis had hac$ed the ends o"" at the last 9oint, all b%t the th%mb' 1I bro$e
bread with 8%lian Swann and old 4enrose, and the Tarths consented to a midni!ht
meetin! in a !roe' The othersAwell, Beric #ondarrion is !one missin!, some sa& dead,
and 7ord +aron is with Benl&' Br&ce the /ran!e, o" the Bainbow 8%ard'3
1The Bainbow 8%ard.3
1Benl&s made his own 6in!s!%ard,3 the onetime sm%!!ler e0plained, 1b%t these
seen dont wear white' 5ach one has his own color' 7oras T&rells their 7ord
+ommander'3
It was 9%st the sort o" notion that wo%ld appeal to Benl& Baratheon: a splendid new
order o" $ni!hthood, with !or!eo%s new raiment to proclaim it' 5en as a bo&, Benl&
had loed bri!ht colors and rich "abrics, and he had loed his !ames as well' 17oo$ at
me@3 he wo%ld sho%t as he ran la%!hin! thro%!h the halls o" Storms 5nd' 17oo$ at me,
Im a dra!on,3 or 17oo$ at me, Im a wi?ard,3 or 17oo$ at me, loo$ at me, Im the rain
!od'3
The bold little bo& with wild blac$ hair and la%!hin! e&es was a man !rown now, one-
and-twent&, and still he pla&ed his !ames' 7oo$ at me, Im a $in!, +ressen tho%!ht
sadl&' /h, Benl&, Benl&, dear sweet child, do &o% $now what &o% are doin!. *nd wo%ld
&o% care i" &o% did. Is there an&one who cares "or him b%t me. 1(hat reasons did the
lords !ie "or their re"%sals.3 he as$ed Ser #aos'
1(ell, as to that, some !ae me so"t words and some bl%nt, some made e0c%ses, some
promises, some onl& lied'3 ,e shr%!!ed' 1In the end words are 9%st wind'3
1;o% co%ld brin! him no hope.3
1/nl& the "alse sort, and Id not do that,3 #aos said' 1,e had the tr%th "rom me'3
2aester +ressen remembered the da& #aos had been $ni!hted, a"ter the sie!e o"
Storms 5nd' 7ord Stannis and a small !arrison had held the castle "or close to a &ear,
a!ainst the !reat host o" the 7ords T&rell and Bedw&ne' 5en the sea was closed a!ainst
them, watched da& and ni!ht b& Bedw&ne !alle&s "l&in! the b%r!%nd& banners o" the
*rbor' (ithin Storms 5nd, the horses had lon! since been eaten, the do!s and cats were
!one, and the !arrison was down to roots and rats' Then came a ni!ht when the moon
was new and blac$ clo%ds hid the stars' +loa$ed in that dar$ness, #aos the sm%!!ler
had dared the Bedw&ne cordon and the roc$s o" Shipbrea$er Ba& ali$e' ,is little ship
had a blac$ h%ll, blac$ sails, blac$ oars, and a hold crammed with onions and salt "ish'
7ittle eno%!h, &et it had $ept the !arrison alie lon! eno%!h "or 5ddard Star$ to reach
Storms 5nd and brea$ the sie!e'
7ord Stannis had rewarded #aos with choice lands on +ape (rath, a small $eep, and
a $ni!hts honors ' ' ' b%t he had also decreed that he lose a 9oint o" each "in!er on his
le"t hand, to pa& "or all his &ears o" sm%!!lin!' #aos had s%bmitted, on the condition
that Stannis wield the $ni"e himsel": he wo%ld accept no p%nishment "rom lesser hands'
The lord had %sed a b%tchers cleaer, the better to c%t clean and tr%e' *"terward, #aos
had chosen the name Seaworth "or his new-made ho%se, and he too$ "or his banner a
blac$ ship on a pale !re& "ield-with an onion on its sails' The onetime sm%!!ler was
"ond o" sa&in! that 7ord Stannis had done him a boon, b& !iin! him "o%r less
"in!ernails to clean and trim'
No, +ressen tho%!ht, a man li$e that wo%ld !ie no "alse hope, nor so"ten a hard tr%th'
1Ser #aos, tr%th can be a bitter dra%!ht, een "or a man li$e 7ord Stannis' ,e thin$s
onl& o" ret%rnin! to 6in!s 7andin! in the "%llness o" his power, to tear down his
enemies and claim what is ri!ht"%ll& his' ;et now ' ' '3
1i" he ta$es this mea!er host to 6in!s 7andin!, it will be onl& to die' ,e does not hae
the n%mbers' I told him as m%ch, b%t &o% $now his pride'3 #aos held %p his !loed
hand' 12& "in!ers will !row bac$ be"ore that man bends to sense'3
The old man si!hed' 1;o% hae done all &o% co%ld' Now I m%st add m& oice to
&o%rs'3 (earil&, he res%med his climb'
7ord Stannis Baratheons re"%!e was a !reat ro%nd room with walls o" bare blac$ stone
and "o%r tall narrow windows that loo$ed o%t to the "o%r points o" the compass' In the
center o" the chamber was the !reat table "rom which it too$ its name, a massie slab o"
cared wood "ashioned at the command o" *e!on Tar!ar&en in the da&s be"ore the
+on)%est' The 4ainted Table was more than "i"t& "eet lon!, perhaps hal" that wide at its
widest point, b%t less than "o%r "eet across at its narrowest' *e!ons carpenters had
shaped it a"ter the land o" (esteros, sawin! o%t each ba& and penins%la %ntil the table
nowhere ran strai!ht' /n its s%r"ace, dar$ened b& near three h%ndred &ears o" arnish,
were painted the Seen 6in!doms as the& had been in *e!ons da&: riers and
mo%ntains, castles and cities, la$es and "orests'
There was a sin!le chair in the room, care"%ll& positioned in the precise place that
#ra!onstone occ%pied o"" the coast o" (esteros, and raised %p to !ie a !ood iew o"
the tabletop' Seated in the chair was a man in a ti!ht-laced leather 9er$in and breeches o"
ro%!hsp%n brown wool' (hen 2aester +ressen entered, he !lanced %p' 1I $new &o%
wo%ld come, old man, whether I s%mmoned &o% or no'3 There was no hint o" warmth in
his oice: there seldom was'
Stannis Baratheon, 7ord o" #ra!onstone and b& the !race o" the !ods ri!ht"%l heir to
the Iron Throne o" the Seen 6in!doms o" (esteros, was broad o" sho%lder and sinew&
o" limb, with a ti!htness to his "ace and "lesh that spo$e o" leather c%red in the s%n %ntil
it was as to%!h as steel' ,ard was the word men %sed when the& spo$e o" Stannis, and
hard he was' Tho%!h he was not &et "ie-and-thirt&, onl& a "rin!e o" thin blac$ hair
remained on his head, circlin! behind his ears li$e the shadow o" a crown' ,is brother,
the late 6in! Bobert, had !rown a beard in his "inal &ears' 2aester +ressen had neer
seen it, b%t the& said it was a wild thin!, thic$ and "ierce' *s i" in answer, Stannis $ept
his own whis$ers cropped ti!ht and short' The& la& li$e a bl%e-blac$ shadow across his
s)%are 9aw and the bon& hollows o" his chee$s' ,is e&es were open wo%nds beneath his
hea& brows, a bl%e as dar$ as the sea b& ni!ht' ,is mo%th wo%ld hae !ien despair to
een the drollest o" "ools: it was a mo%th made "or "rowns and scowls and sharpl&
worded commands, all thin pale lips and clenched m%scles, a mo%th that had "or!otten
how to smile and had neer $nown how to la%!h' Sometimes when the world !rew er&
still and silent o" a ni!ht, 2aester +ressen "ancied he co%ld hear 7ord Stannis !rindin!
his teeth hal" a castle awa&'
1/nce &o% wo%ld hae wo$en me,3 the old man said'
1/nce &o% were &o%n!' Now &o% are old and sic$, and need &o%r sleep'3 Stannis had
neer learned to so"ten his speech, to dissemble or "latter: he said what he tho%!ht, and
those that did not li$e it co%ld be damned' 1I $new &o%d learn what #aos had to sa&
soon eno%!h' ;o% alwa&s do, dont &o%.3
1I wo%ld be o" no help to &o% i" I did not,3 +ressen said' 1I met #aos on the stair'3
1*nd he told all, I s%ppose. I sho%ld hae had the mans ton!%e shortened alon! with
his "in!ers'3
1,e wo%ld hae made &o% a poor eno& then'3
1,e made me a poor eno& in an& case' The storm lords will not rise "or me' It seems
the& do not li$e me, and the 9%stice o" m& ca%se means nothin! to them' The craenl&
ones will sit behind their walls waitin! to see how the wind rises and who is li$el& to
tri%mph' The bold ones hae alread& declared "or Benl&' =or Benl&@3 ,e spat o%t the
name li$e poison on his ton!%e'
1;o%r brother has been the 7ord o" Storms 5nd these past thirteen &ears' These lords
are his sworn bannermenA3
1,is,3 Stannis bro$e in, 1when b& ri!hts the& sho%ld be mine' I neer as$ed "or
#ra!onstone' I neer wanted it' I too$ it beca%se Boberts enemies were here and he
commanded me to root them o%t' I b%ilt his "leet and did his wor$, d%ti"%l as a &o%n!er
brother sho%ld be to an elder, as Benl& sho%ld be to me' *nd what was Boberts than$s.
,e names me 7ord o" #ra!onstone, and !ies Storms 5nd and its incomes to Benl&'
Storms 5nd belon!ed to ,o%se Baratheon "or three h%ndred &ears: b& ri!hts it sho%ld
hae passed to me when Bobert too$ the Iron Throne'3
It was an old !rieance, deepl& "elt, and neer more so than now' ,ere was the heart o"
his lords wea$ness: "or #ra!onstone, old and stron! tho%!h it was, commanded the
alle!iance o" onl& a hand"%l o" lesser lords, whose ston& island holdin!s were too thinl&
peopled to &ield %p the men that Stannis needed' 5en with the sellswords he had
bro%!ht across the narrow sea "rom the =ree +ities o" 2&r and 7&s, the host camped
o%tside his walls was "ar too small to brin! down the power o" ,o%se 7annister'
1Bobert did &o% an in9%stice,3 2aester +ressen replied care"%ll&, 1&et he had so%nd
reasons' #ra!onstone had lon! been the seat o" ,o%se Tar!ar&en' ,e needed a mans
stren!th to r%le here, and Benl& was b%t a child'3
1,e is a child still,3 Stannis declared, his an!er rin!in! lo%d in the empt& hall, 1a
thiein! child who thin$s to snatch the crown o"" m& brow' (hat has Benl& eer done to
earn a throne. ,e sits in co%ncil and 9ests with 7ittle"in!er, and at to%rne&s he dons his
splendid s%it o" armor and allows himsel" to be $noc$ed o"" his horse b& a better man'
That is the s%m o" m& brother Benl&, who thin$s he o%!ht to be a $in!' I as$ &o%, wh&
did the !ods in"lict me with brothers.3
1I cannot answer "or the !ods'3
1;o% seldom answer at all these da&s, it seems to me' (ho maesters "or Benl&.
4erchance I sho%ld send "or him, I mi!ht li$e his co%nsel better' (hat do &o% thin$ this
maester said when m& brother decided to steal m& crown. (hat co%nsel did &o%r
collea!%e o""er to this traitor blood o" mine.3
1It wo%ld s%rprise me i" 7ord Benl& so%!ht co%nsel, ;o%r 8race'3 The &o%n!est o"
7ord Ste""ons three sons had !rown into a man bold b%t heedless, who acted "rom
imp%lse rather than calc%lation' In that, as in so m%ch else, Benl& was li$e his brother
Bobert, and %tterl& %nli$e Stannis'
1;o%r 8race,3 Stannis repeated bitterl&' 1;o% moc$ me with a $in!s st&le, &et what
am I $in! o". #ra!onstone and a "ew roc$s in the narrow sea, there is m& $in!dom'3 ,e
descended the steps o" his chair to stand be"ore the table, his shadow "allin! across the
mo%th o" the Blac$water B%sh and the painted "orest where 6in!s 7andin! now stood'
There he stood, broodin! oer the realm he so%!ht to claim, so near at hand and &et so
"ar awa&' 1Toni!ht I am to s%p with m& lords bannermen, s%ch as the& are' +elti!ar,
>elar&on, Bar 5mmon, the whole paltr& lot o" them' * poor crop, i" tr%th be told, b%t
the& are what m& brothers hae le"t me' That 7&sene pirate Salladhor Saan will be there
with the latest tall& o" what I owe him, and 2orosh the 2&rman will ca%tion me with
tal$ o" tides and a%t%mn !ales, while 7ord S%n!lass m%tters pio%sl& o" the will o" the
Seen' +elti!ar will want to $now which storm lords are 9oinin! %s' >elar&on will
threaten to ta$e his leies home %nless we stri$e at once' (hat am I to tell them. (hat
m%st I do now.3
1;o%r tr%e enemies are the 7annisters, m& lord,3 2aester +ressen answered' 1I" &o%
and &o%r brother were to ma$e common ca%se a!ainst themA3
1I will not treat with Benl&,3 Stannis answered in a tone that broo$ed no ar!%ment'
1Not while he calls himsel" a $in!'3
1Not Benl&, then,3 the maester &ielded' ,is lord was st%bborn and pro%d: when he had
set his mind, there was no chan!in! it' 1/thers mi!ht sere &o%r needs as well' 5ddard
Star$s son has been proclaimed 6in! in the North, with all the power o" (inter"ell and
Bierr%n behind him'3
1* !reen bo&,3 said Stannis, 1and another "alse $in!' *m I to accept a bro$en realm.3
1S%rel& hal" a $in!dom is better than none,3 +ressen said, 1and i" &o% help the bo&
aen!e his "athers m%rderA3
1(h& sho%ld I aen!e 5ddard Star$. The man was nothin! to me' /h, Bobert loed
him, to be s%re' 7oed him as a brother, how o"ten did I hear that. I was his brother, not
Ned Star$, b%t &o% wo%ld neer hae $nown it b& the wa& he treated me' I held Storms
5nd "or him, watchin! !ood men stare while 2ace T&rell and 4a0ter Bedw&ne "easted
within si!ht o" m& walls' #id Bobert than$ me. No' ,e than$ed Star$, "or li"tin! the
sie!e when we were down to rats and radishes' I b%ilt a "leet at Boberts command, too$
#ra!onstone in his name' #id he ta$e m& hand and sa&, (ell done, brother, whateer
sho%ld I do witho%t &o%. No, he blamed me "or lettin! (illem #arr& steal awa& >iser&s
and the babe, as i" I co%ld hae stopped it' I sat on his co%ncil "or "i"teen &ears, helpin!
Con *rr&n r%le his realm while Bobert dran$ and whored, b%t when Con died, did m&
brother name me his ,and. No, he went !allopin! o"" to his dear "riend Ned Star$, and
o""ered him the honor' *nd small !ood it did either o" them'3
1Be that as it ma&, m& lord,3 2aester +ressen said !entl&' 18reat wron!s hae been
done &o%, b%t the past is d%st' The "%t%re ma& &et be won i" &o% 9oin with the Star$s'
There are others &o% mi!ht so%nd o%t as well' (hat o" 7ad& *rr&n. I" the )%een
m%rdered her h%sband, s%rel& she will want 9%stice "or him' She has a &o%n! son, Con
*rr&ns heir' I" &o% were to betroth Shireen to himA3
1The bo& is wea$ and sic$l&,3 7ord Stannis ob9ected' 15en his "ather saw how it was,
when he as$ed me to "oster him on #ra!onstone' Serice as a pa!e mi!ht hae done him
!ood, b%t that damnable 7annister woman had 7ord *rr&n poisoned be"ore it co%ld be
done, and now 7&sa hides him in the 5&rie' Shell neer part with the bo&, I promise &o%
that'3
1Then &o% m%st send Shireen to the 5&rie,3 the maester %r!ed' 1#ra!onstone is a !rim
home "or a child' 7et her "ool !o with her, so she will hae a "amiliar "ace abo%t her'3
1=amiliar and hideo%s'3 Stannis "%rrowed his brow in tho%!ht' 1Still ' ' ' perhaps it is
worth the tr&in! ' ' '
12%st the ri!ht"%l 7ord o" the Seen 6in!doms be! "or help "rom widow women and
%s%rpers.3 a womans oice as$ed sharpl&'
2aester +ressen t%rned and bowed his head' 12& lad&,3 he said, cha!rined that he had
not heard her enter'
7ord Stannis scowled' 1I do not be!' /" an&one' 2ind &o% remember that, woman'3
1I am pleased to hear it, m& lord'3 7ad& Sel&se was as tall as her h%sband, thin o" bod&
and thin o" "ace, with prominent ears, a sharp nose, and the "aintest hint o" a m%stache
on her %pper lip' She pl%c$ed it dail& and c%rsed it re!%larl&, &et it neer "ailed to ret%rn'
,er e&es were pale, her mo%th stern, her oice a whip' She crac$ed it now' 17ad& *rr&n
owes &o% her alle!iance, as do the Star$s, &o%r brother Benl&, and all the rest' ;o% are
their one tr%e $in!' It wo%ld not be "ittin! to plead and bar!ain with them "or what is
ri!ht"%ll& &o%rs b& the !race o" !od'3
8od, she said, not !ods' The red woman had won her, heart and so%l, t%rnin! her "rom
the !ods o" the Seen 6in!doms, both old and new, to worship the one the& called the
7ord o" 7i!ht'
1;o%r !od can $eep his !race,3 said 7ord Stannis, who did not share his wi"es "erent
new "aith' 1Its swords I need, not blessin!s' #o &o% hae an arm& hidden somewhere
that &o%e not told me o".3 There was no a""ection in his tone' Stannis had alwa&s been
%ncom"ortable aro%nd women, een his own wi"e' (hen he had !one to 6in!s 7andin!
to sit on Boberts co%ncil, he had le"t Sel&se on #ra!onstone with their da%!hter' ,is
letters had been "ew, his isits "ewer: he did his d%t& in the marria!e bed once or twice a
&ear, b%t too$ no 9o& in it, and the sons he had once hoped "or had neer come'
12& brothers and %ncles and co%sins hae armies,3 she told him' 1,o%se =lorent will
rall& to &o%r banner'3
1,o%se =lorent can "ield two tho%sand swords at best'3 It was said that Stannis $new
the stren!th o" eer& ho%se in the Seen 6in!doms' 1*nd &o% hae a deal more "aith in
&o%r brothers and %ncles than I do, m& lad&' The =lorent lands lie too close to
,i!h!arden "or &o%r lord %ncle to ris$ 2ace T&rells wrath'3
1There is another wa&'3 7ad& Sel&se moed closer' 17oo$ o%t &o%r windows, m& lord'
There is the si!n &o% hae waited "or, bla?oned on the s$&' Bed, it is, the red o" "lame,
red "or the "ier& heart o" the tr%e !od' It is his bannerAand &o%rs@ See how it %n"%rls
across the heaens li$e a dra!ons hot breath, and &o% the 7ord o" #ra!onstone' It means
&o%r time has come, ;o%r 8race' Nothin! is more certain' ;o% are meant to sail "rom
this desolate roc$ as *e!on the +on)%eror once sailed, to sweep all be"ore &o% as he did'
/nl& sa& the word, and embrace the power o" the 7ord o" 7i!ht'3
1,ow man& swords will the 7ord o" 7i!ht p%t into m& hand.3 Stannis demanded
a!ain'
1*ll &o% need,3 his wi"e promised, 1The swords o" Storms 5nd and ,i!h!arden "or a
start, and all their lords bannermen'3
1#aos wo%ld tell &o% di""erent,3 Stannis said' 1Those swords are sworn to Benl&'
The& loe m& charmin! &o%n! brother, as the& once loed Bobert ' ' ' and as the& hae
neer loed me'3
1;es,3 she answered, 1b%t i" Benl& sho%ld die ' ' '3
Stannis loo$ed at his lad& with narrowed e&es, %ntil +ressen co%ld not hold his ton!%e'
1it is not to be tho%!ht' ;o%r 8race, whateer "ollies Benl& has committedA3
1=ollies. I call them treasons'3 Stannis t%rned bac$ to his wi"e' 12& brother is &o%n!
and stron!, and he has a ast host aro%nd him, and these rainbow $ni!hts o" his'3
12elisandre has !a?ed into the "lames, and seen him dead'3
+ressen was horrorstr%c$' 1=ratricide ' ' ' m& lord, this is eil, %nthin$able ' ' ' please,
listen to me'3
7ad& Sel&se !ae him a meas%red loo$' 1*nd what will &o% tell him, 2aester. ,ow
he mi!ht win hal" a $in!dom i" he !oes to the Star$s on his $nees and sells o%r da%!hter
to 7&sa *rr&n.3
1I hae heard &o%r co%nsel, +ressen,3 7ord Stannis said' 1Now I will hear hers' ;o%
are dismissed'3
2aester +ressen bent a sti"" $nee' ,e co%ld "eel 7ad& Sel&ses e&es on his bac$ as he
sh%""led slowl& across the room' B& the time he reached the bottom o" the steps it was
all he co%ld do to stand erect' 1,elp me,3 he said to 4&los'
(hen he was sa"e bac$ in his own rooms, +ressen sent the &o%n!er man awa& and
limped to his balcon& once more, to stand between his !ar!o&les and stare o%t to sea'
/ne o" Salladhor Saans warships was sweepin! past the castle, her !ail& striped h%ll
slicin! thro%!h the !re&!reen waters as her oars rose and "ell' ,e watched %ntil she
anished behind a headland' (o%ld that m& "ears co%ld anish so easil&' ,ad he lied so
lon! "or this.
(hen a maester donned his collar, he p%t aside the hope o" children, &et +ressen had
o"t "elt a "ather nonetheless' Bobert, Stannis, Benl& ' ' ' three sons he had raised a"ter the
an!r& sea claimed 7ord Ste""on' ,ad he done so ill that now he m%st watch one $ill the
other. ,e co%ld not allow it, wo%ld not allow it'
The woman was the heart o" it' Not the 7ad& Sel&se, the other one' The red woman,
the serants had named her, a"raid to spea$ her name' 1I will spea$ her name,3 +ressen
told his stone hellho%nd' 12elisandre' ,er'3 2elisandre o" *sshai, sorceress,
shadowbinder, and priestess to Bhllor, the 7ord o" 7i!ht, the ,eart o" =ire, the 8od o"
=lame and Shadow' 2elisandre, whose madness m%st not be allowed to spread be&ond
#ra!onstone'
,is chambers seemed dim and !loom& a"ter the bri!htness o" the mornin!' (ith
"%mblin! hands, the old man lit a candle and carried it to the wor$room beneath the
roo$er& stair, where his ointments, potions, and medicines stood neatl& on their sheles'
/n the bottom shel" behind a row o" sales in s)%at cla& 9ars he "o%nd a ial o" indi!o
!lass, no lar!er than his little "in!er' It rattled when he shoo$ it' +ressen blew awa& a
la&er o" d%st and carried it bac$ to his table' +ollapsin! into his chair, he p%lled the
stopper and spilled o%t the ials contents' * do?en cr&stals, no lar!er than seeds, rattled
across the parchment hed been readin!' The& shone li$e 9ewels in the candleli!ht, so
p%rple that the maester "o%nd himsel" thin$in! that he had neer tr%l& seen the color
be"ore'
The chain aro%nd his throat "elt er& hea&' ,e to%ched one o" the cr&stals li!htl& with
the tip o" his little "in!er' S%ch a small thin! to hold the power o" li"e and death' It was
made "rom a certain plant that !rew onl& on the islands o" the Cade Sea, hal" a world
awa&' The leaes had to be a!ed, and soa$ed in a wash o" limes and s%!ar water and
certain rare spices "rom the S%mmer Isles' *"terward the& co%ld be discarded, b%t the
potion m%st be thic$ened with ash and allowed to cr&stalli?e' The process was slow and
di""ic%lt, the necessaries costl& and hard to ac)%ire' The alchemists o" 7&s $new the wa&
o" it, tho%!h, and the =aceless 2en o" Braaos ' ' ' and the maesters o" his order as well,
tho%!h it was not somethin! tal$ed abo%t be&ond the walls o" the +itadel' *ll the world
$new that a maester "or!ed his siler lin$ when he learned the art o" healin!Ab%t the
world pre"erred to "or!et that men who $new how to heal also $new how to $ill'
+ressen no lon!er recalled the name the *sshaii !ae the lea", or the 7&sene poisoners
the cr&stal' In the +itadel, it was simpl& called the stran!ler' #issoled in wine, it wo%ld
ma$e the m%scles o" a mans throat clench ti!hter than an& "ist, sh%ttin! o"" his
windpipe' The& said a ictims "ace t%rned as p%rple as the little cr&stal seed "rom which
his death was !rown, b%t so too did a man cho$in! on a morsel o" "ood'
*nd this er& ni!ht 7ord Stannis wo%ld "east his bannermen, his lad& wi"e ' ' ' and the
red woman, 2elisandre o" *sshai'
I m%st rest, 2aester +ressen told himsel"' I m%st hae all m& stren!th come dar$' 2&
hands m%st not sha$e, nor m& co%ra!e "la!' It is a dread"%l thin! I do, &et it m%st be
done' I" there are !ods, s%rel& the& will "or!ie me' ,e had slept so poorl& o" late' * nap
wo%ld re"resh him "or the ordeal ahead' (earil&, he tottered o"" to his bed' ;et when he
closed his e&es, he co%ld still see the li!ht o" the comet, red and "ier& and iidl& alie
amidst the dar$ness o" his dreams' 4erhaps it is m& comet, he tho%!ht drowsil& at the
last, 9%st be"ore sleep too$ him' *n omen o" blood, "oretellin! m%rder ' ' ' &es ' ' '
(hen he wo$e it was "%ll dar$, his bedchamber was blac$, and eer& 9oint in his bod&
ached' +ressen p%shed himsel" %p, his head throbbin!' +l%tchin! "or his cane, he rose
%nstead& to his "eet' So late, he tho%!ht' The& did not s%mmon me' ,e was alwa&s
s%mmoned "or "easts, seated near the salt, close to 7ord Stannis' ,is lords "ace swam %p
be"ore him, not the man he was b%t the bo& he had been, standin! cold in the shadows
while the s%n shone on his elder brother' (hateer he did, Bobert had done "irst, and
better' 4oor bo& ' ' ' he m%st h%rr&, "or his sa$e'
The maester "o%nd the cr&stals where he had le"t them, and scooped them o"" the
parchment' +ressen owned no hollow rin!s, s%ch as the poisoners o" 7&s were said to
"aor, b%t a m&riad o" poc$ets !reat and small were sewn inside the loose sleees o" his
robe' ,e secreted the stran!ler seeds in one o" them, threw open his door, and called,
14&los. (here are &o%.3 (hen he heard no repl&, he called a!ain, lo%der' 14&los, I need
help'3 Still there came no answer' That was )%eer: the &o%n! maester had his cell onl& a
hal" t%rn down the stair, within eas& earshot'
In the end, +ressen had to sho%t "or the serants' 12a$e haste,3 he told them' 1I hae
slept too lon!' The& will be "eastin! b& now ' ' ' drin$in! ' ' ' I sho%ld hae been
wo$en'3 (hat had happened to 2aester 4&los. Tr%l&, he did not %nderstand'
*!ain he had to cross the lon! !aller&' * ni!ht wind whispered thro%!h the !reat
windows, sharp with the smell o" the sea' Torches "lic$ered alon! the walls o"
#ra!onstone, and in the camp be&ond, he co%ld see h%ndreds o" coo$"ires b%rnin!, as i"
a "ield o" stars had "allen to the earth' *boe, the comet bla?ed red and maleolent' I am
too old and wise to "ear s%ch thin!s, the maester told himsel"'
The doors to the 8reat ,all were set in the mo%th o" a stone dra!on' ,e told the
serants to leae him o%tside' It wo%ld be better to enter alone: he m%st not appear
"eeble' 7eanin! heail& on his cane, +ressen climbed the last "ew steps and hobbled
beneath the !atewa& teeth' * pair o" !%ardsmen opened the hea& red doors be"ore him,
%nleashin! a s%dden blast o" noise and li!ht' +ressen stepped down into the dra!ons
maw' /er the clatter o" $ni"e and plate and the low m%tter o" table tal$, he heard
4atch"ace sin!in!, 1' ' ' dance, m& lord, dance m& lord,3 to the accompaniment o"
9an!lin! cowbells' The same dread"%l son! hed s%n! this mornin!' 1The shadows come
to sta&, m& lord, sta& m& lord, sta& m& lord'3 The lower tables were crowded with
$ni!hts, archers, and sellsword captains, tearin! apart loaes o" blac$ bread to soa$ in
their "ish stew' ,ere there was no lo%d la%!hter, no ra%co%s sho%tin! s%ch as marred the
di!nit& o" other mens "easts: 7ord Stannis did not permit s%ch'
+ressen made his wa& toward the raised plat"orm where the lords sat with the $in!' ,e
had to step wide aro%nd 4atch"ace' #ancin!, his bells rin!in!, the "ool neither saw nor
heard his approach' *s he hopped "rom one le! to the other, 4atch"ace l%rched into
+ressen, $noc$in! his cane o%t "rom %nder him' The& went crashin! down to!ether
amidst the r%shes in a tan!le o" arms and le!s, while a s%dden !ale o" la%!hter went %p
aro%nd them' No do%bt it was a comical si!ht'
4atch"ace sprawled hal" on top o" him, motle& "ools "ace pressed close to his own' ,e
had lost his tin helm with its antlers and bells' 1<nder the sea, &o% "all %p,3 he declared'
1I $now, I $now, oh, oh, oh'3 8i!!lin!, the "ool rolled o"", bo%nded to his "eet, and did a
little dance'
Tr&in! to ma$e the best o" it, the maester smiled "eebl& and str%!!led to rise, b%t his
hip was in s%ch pain that "or a moment he was hal" a"raid that he had bro$en it all oer
a!ain' ,e "elt stron! hands !rasp him %nder the arms and li"t him bac$ to his "eet'
1Than$ &o%, ser,3 he m%rm%red, t%rnin! to see which $ni!ht had come to his aid ' ' '
12aester,3 said 7ad& 2elisandre, her deep oice "laored with the m%sic o" the 9ade
Sea' 1;o% o%!ht ta$e more care'3 *s eer, she wore red head to heel, a lon! loose !own
o" "lowin! sil$ as bri!ht as "ire, with da!!ed sleees and deep slashes in the bodice that
showed !limpses o" a dar$er bloodred "abric beneath' *ro%nd her throat was a red !old
cho$er ti!hter than an& maesters chain, ornamented with a sin!le !reat r%b&'
,er hair was not the oran!e or strawberr& color o" common red-haired men, b%t a deep
b%rnished copper that shone in the li!ht o" the torches' 5en her e&es were red ' ' ' b%t
her s$in was smooth and white, %nblemished, pale as cream' Slender she was, !race"%l,
taller than most $ni!hts, with "%ll breasts and narrow waist and a heart-shaped "ace'
2ens e&es that once "o%nd her did not )%ic$l& loo$ awa&, not een a maesters e&es'
2an& called her bea%ti"%l' She was not bea%ti"%l' She was red, and terrible, and red'
1I ' ' ' than$ &o%, m& lad&'3
1* man &o%r a!e m%st loo$ to where he steps,3 2elisandre said co%rteo%sl&' 1The
ni!ht is dar$ and "%ll o" terrors'3
,e $new the phrase, some pra&er o" her "aith' It ma$es no matter, I hae a "aith o" m&
own' 1/nl& children "ear the dar$,3 he told her' ;et een as he said the words, he heard
4atch"ace ta$e %p his son! a!ain' 1The shadows come to dance, m& lord, dance m& lord,
dance m& lord'3
1Now here is a riddle,3 2elisandre said' 1* cleer "ool and a "oolish wise man'3
Bendin!, she pic$ed %p 4atch"aces helm "rom where it had "allen and set it on +ressens
head' The cowbells ran! so"tl& as the tin b%c$et slid down oer his ears' 1* crown to
match &o%r chain, 7ord 2aester,3 she anno%nced' *ll aro%nd them, men were la%!hin!'
+ressen pressed his lips to!ether and "o%!ht to still his ra!e' She tho%!ht he was "eeble
and helpless, b%t she wo%ld learn otherwise be"ore the ni!ht was done' /ld he mi!ht be,
&et he was still a maester o" the +itadel' 1I need no crown b%t tr%th,3 he told her,
remoin! the "ools helm "rom his head'
1There are tr%ths in this world that are not ta%!ht at /ldtown'3 2elisandre t%rned "rom
him in a swirl o" red sil$ and made her wa& bac$ to the hi!h table, where 6in! Stannis
and his )%een were seated' +ressen handed the antlered tin b%c$et bac$ to 4atch"ace,
and made to "ollow'
2aester 4&los sat in his place'
The old man co%ld onl& stop and stare' 12aester 4&los,3 he said at last' 1;o% ' ' ' &o%
did not wa$e me'3
1,is 8race commanded me to let &o% rest'3 4&los had at least the !race to bl%sh' 1,e
told me &o% were not needed here'3
+ressen loo$ed oer the $ni!hts and captains and lords sittin! silent' 7ord +elti!ar,
a!ed and so%r, wore a mantle patterned with red crabs pic$ed o%t in !arnets' ,andsome
7ord >elar&on chose sea-!reen sil$, the white !old seahorse at his throat matchin! his
lon! "air hair' 7ord Bar 5mmon, that pl%mp bo& o" "o%rteen, was swathed in p%rple
elet trimmed with white seal, Ser *0ell =lorent remained homel& een in r%sset and
"o0 "%r, pio%s 7ord S%n!lass wore moonstones at throat and wrist and "in!er, and the
7&sene captain Salladhor Saan was a s%nb%rst o" scarlet satin, !old, and 9ewels' /nl& Ser
#aos dressed simpl&, in brown do%blet and !reen wool mantle, and onl& Ser #aos met
his !a?e, with pit& in his e&es'
1;o% are too ill and too con"%sed to be o" %se to me, old man'3 It so%nded so li$e 7ord
Stanniss oice, b%t it co%ld not be, it co%ld not' 14&los will co%nsel me hence"orth'
*lread& he wor$s with the raens, since &o% can no lon!er climb to the roo$er&' I will
not hae &o% $ill &o%rsel" in m& serice'3
2aester +ressen blin$ed' Stannis, m& lord, m& sad s%llen bo&, son I neer had, &o%
m%st not do this, dont &o% $now how I hae cared "or &o%, lied "or &o%, loed &o%
despite all. ;es, loed &o%, better than Bobert een, or Benl&, "or &o% were the one
%nloed, the one who needed me most' ;et all he said was, 1*s &o% command, m& lord,
b%t ' ' ' b%t I am h%n!r&' 2i!ht not I hae a place at &o%r table.3 *t &o%r side, I belon!
at &o%r side ' ' '
Ser #aos rose "rom the bench' 1I sho%ld be honored i" the maester wo%ld sit here
beside me, ;o%r 8race'3
1*s &o% will'3 7ord Stannis t%rned awa& to sa& somethin! to 2elisandre, who had
seated hersel" at his ri!ht hand, in the place o" hi!h honor' 7ad& Sel&se was on his le"t,
"lashin! a smile as bri!ht and brittle as her 9ewels'
Too "ar, +ressen tho%!ht d%ll&, loo$in! at where Ser #aos was seated' ,al" o" the
lords bannermen were between the sm%!!ler and the hi!h table' I m%st be closer to her i"
I am to !et the stran!ler into her c%p, &et how.
4atch"ace was caperin! abo%t as the maester made his slow wa& aro%nd the table to
#aos Seaworth' 1,ere we eat "ish,3 the "ool declared happil&, wain! a cod abo%t li$e
a scepter' 1<nder the sea, the "ish eat %s' I $now, I $now, oh, oh, oh'3
Ser #aos moed aside to ma$e room on the bench' 1(e all sho%ld be in motle&
toni!ht,3 he said !loomil& as +ressen seated himsel", 1"or this is "ools b%siness were
abo%t' The red woman has seen ictor& in her "lames, so Stannis means to press his
claim, no matter what the n%mbers' Be"ore shes done were all li$e to see what
4atch"ace saw, I "ear the bottom o" the sea'3
+ressen slid his hands %p into his sleees as i" "or warmth' ,is "in!ers "o%nd the hard
l%mps the cr&stals made in the wool' 17ord Stannis'3
Stannis t%rned "rom the red woman, b%t it was 7ad& Sel&se who replied' 16in!
Stannis' ;o% "or!et &o%rsel", 2aester'3
1,e is old, his mind wanders,3 the $in! told her !r%""l&' 1(hat is it, +ressen. Spea$
&o%r mind'3
1*s &o% intend to sail, it is ital that &o% ma$e common ca%se with 7ord Star$ and
7ad& *rr&n ' ' '
1I ma$e common ca%se with no one,3 Stannis Baratheon said'
1No more than li!ht ma$es common ca%se with dar$ness'3 7ad& Sel&se too$ his hand'
Stannis nodded' 1The Star$s see$ to steal hal" m& $in!dom, een as the 7annisters
hae stolen m& throne and m& own sweet brother the swords and serice and
stron!holds that are mine b& ri!hts' The& are all %s%rpers, and the& are all m& enemies'3
I hae lost him, +ressen tho%!ht, despairin!' I" onl& he co%ld somehow approach
2elisandre %nseen ' ' ' he needed b%t an instants access to her c%p' 1;o% are the ri!ht"%l
heir to &o%r brother Bobert, the tr%e 7ord o" the Seen 6in!doms, and 6in! o" the
*ndals, the Bho&nar, and the =irst 2en,3 he said desperatel&, 1b%t een so, &o% cannot
hope to tri%mph witho%t allies'3
1,e has an all&,3 7ad& Sel&se said' 1Bhllor, the 7ord o" 7i!ht, the ,eart o" =ire, the
8od o" =lame and Shadow'3
18ods ma$e %ncertain allies at best,3 the old man insisted, 1and that one has no power
here'3
1;o% thin$ not.3 The r%b& at 2elisandres throat ca%!ht the li!ht as she t%rned her
head, and "or an instant it seemed to !low bri!ht as the comet' 1I" &o% will spea$ s%ch
"oll&, 2aester, &o% o%!ht to wear &o%r crown a!ain'3
1;es,3 7ad& Sel&se a!reed' 14atchess helm' It s%its &o% well, old man' 4%t it on a!ain,
I command &o%'3
1<nder the sea, no one wears hats,3 4atch"ace said' 1I $now, I $now, oh, oh, oh'3
7ord Stanniss e&es were shadowed beneath his hea& brow, his mo%th ti!ht as his 9aw
wor$ed silentl&' ,e alwa&s !ro%nd his teeth when he was an!r&' 1=ool,3 he !rowled at
last, 1m& lad& wi"e commands' 8ie +ressen &o%r helm'3
No, the old maester tho%!ht, this is not &o%, not &o%r wa&, &o% were alwa&s 9%st,
alwa&s hard &et neer cr%el, neer, &o% did not %nderstand moc$er&, no more than &o%
%nderstood la%!hter'
4atch"ace danced closer, his cowbells rin!in!, clan!-a-lan!, din!-din!, clin$-clan$-
clin$-clan$' The maester sat silent while the "ool set the antlered b%c$et on his brow'
+ressen bowed his head beneath the wei!ht' ,is bells clan!ed' 14erhaps he o%!ht sin!
his co%nsel hence"orth,3 7ad& Sel&se said'
1;o% !o too "ar, woman,3 7ord Stannis said' 1,e is an old man, and hes sered me
well'3
*nd I will sere &o% to the last, m& sweet lord, m& poor lonel& son, +ressen tho%!ht,
"or s%ddenl& he saw the wa&' Ser #aoss c%p was be"ore him, still hal"-"%ll o" so%r red'
,e "o%nd a hard "la$e o" cr&stal in his sleee, held it ti!ht between th%mb and "ore"in!er
as he reached "or the c%p' Smooth motions, de"t, I m%st not "%mble now, he pra&ed, and
the !ods were $ind' In the blin$ o" an e&e, his "in!ers were empt&' ,is hands had not
been so stead& "or &ears, nor hal" so "l%id' #aos saw, b%t no one else, he was certain'
+%p in hand, he rose to his "eet' 12a&haps I hae been a "ool' 7ad& 2elisandre, will &o%
share a c%p o" wine with me. * c%p in honor o" &o%r !od, &o%r 7ord o" 7i!ht. * c%p to
toast his power.3
The red woman st%died him' 1I" &o% wish'3
,e co%ld "eel them all watchin! him' #aos cl%tched at him as he le"t the bench,
catchin! his sleee with the "in!ers that 7ord Stannis had shortened' 1(hat are &o%
doin!.3 he whispered'
1* thin! that m%st be done,3 2aester +ressen answered, 1"or the sa$e o" the realm,
and the so%l o" m& lord'3 ,e shoo$ o"" #aoss hand, spillin! a drop o" wine on the
r%shes'
She met him beneath the hi!h table with eer& mans e&es %pon them' B%t +ressen saw
onl& her' Bed sil$, red e&es, the r%b& red at her throat, red lips c%rled in a "aint smile as
she p%t her hand atop his own, aro%nd the c%p' ,er s$in "elt hot, "eerish' 1It is not too
late to spill the wine, 2aester'3
1No,3 he whispered hoarsel&' 1No'3
1*s &o% will'3 2elisandre o" *sshai too$ the c%p "rom his hands and dran$ lon! and
deep' There was onl& hal" a swallow o" wine remainin! when she o""ered it bac$ to him'
1*nd now &o%'3
,is hands were sha$in!, b%t he made himsel" be stron!' * maester o" the +itadel m%st
not be a"raid' The wine was so%r on his ton!%e' ,e let the empt& c%p drop "rom his
"in!ers to shatter on the "loor' 1,e does hae power here, m& lord,3 the woman said'
1*nd "ire cleanses'3 *t her throat, the r%b& shimmered redl&'
+ressen tried to repl&, b%t his words ca%!ht in his throat' ,is co%!h became a terrible
thin whistle as he strained to s%c$ in air' Iron "in!ers ti!htened ro%nd his nec$' *s he
san$ to his $nees, still he shoo$ his head, den&in! her, den&in! her power, den&in! her
ma!ic, den&in! her !od' *nd the cowbells peeled in his antlers, sin!in! "ool, "ool, "ool
while the red woman loo$ed down on him in pit&, the candle "lames dancin! in her red
red e&es'
C#APT"R $
AR%A
*t (inter"ell the& had called her 1*r&a ,orse"ace3 and shed tho%!ht nothin! co%ld be
worse, b%t that was be"ore the orphan bo& 7omm& 8reenhands had named her
17%mp&head'3
,er head "elt l%mp& when she to%ched it' (hen ;oren had dra!!ed her into that alle&
shed tho%!ht he meant to $ill her, b%t the so%r old man had onl& held her ti!ht, sawin!
thro%!h her mats and tan!les with his da!!er' She remembered how the bree?e sent the
"ist"%ls o" dirt& brown hair s$itterin! across the pain! stones, toward the sept where her
"ather had died' 1Im ta$in! men and bo&s "rom the cit&,3 ;oren !rowled as the sharp
steel scraped at her head' 1Now &o% hold still, bo&'3 B& the time he had "inished, her
scalp was nothin! b%t t%"ts and st%bble'
*"terward he told her that "rom there to (inter"ell shed be *rr& the orphan bo&' 18ate
sho%ldnt be hard, b%t the roads another matter' ;o% !ot a lon! wa& to !o in bad
compan&' I !ot thirt& this time, men and bo&s all bo%nd "or the (all, and dont be
thin$in! the&re li$e that bastard brother o &o%rs'3 ,e shoo$ her' 17ord 5ddard !ae me
pic$ o the d%n!eons, and I didnt "ind no little lordlin!s down there' This lot, hal" o
them wo%ld t%rn &o% oer to the )%een )%ic$ as spit "or a pardon and ma&be a "ew
silers' The other hal"d do the same, onl& the&d rape &o% "irst' So &o% $eep to &o%rsel"
and ma$e &o%r water in the woods, alone' Thatll be the hardest part, the pissin!, so
dont drin$ no moren &o% need'3
7eain! 6in!s 7andin! was eas&, 9%st li$e hed said' The 7annister !%ardsmen on the
!ate were stoppin! eer&one, b%t ;oren called one b& name and their wa!ons were
waed thro%!h' No one spared *r&a a !lance' The& were loo$in! "or a hi!hborn !irl,
da%!hter o" the 6in!s ,and, not "or a s$inn& bo& with his hair chopped o""' *r&a neer
loo$ed bac$' She wished the B%sh wo%ld rise and wash the whole cit& awa&, =lea
Bottom and the Bed 6eep and the 8reat Sept and eer&thin!, and eer&one too,
especiall& 4rince Co""re& and his mother' B%t she $new it wo%ldnt, and an&how Sansa
was still in the cit& and wo%ld wash awa& too' (hen she remembered that, *r&a decided
to wish "or (inter"ell instead'
;oren was wron! abo%t the pissin!, tho%!h' That wasnt the hardest part at all: 7omm&
8reenhands and ,ot 4ie were the hardest part' /rphan bo&s' ;oren had pl%c$ed some
"rom the streets with promises o" "ood "or their bellies and shoes "or their "eet' The rest
hed "o%nd in chains' 1The (atch needs !ood men,3 he told them as the& set o%t, 1b%t
&o% lot will hae to do'3
;oren had ta$en !rown men "rom the d%n!eons as well, thiees and poachers and
rapers and the li$e' The worst were the three hed "o%nd in the blac$ cells who m%st
hae scared een him, beca%se he $ept them "ettered hand and "oot in the bac$ o" a
wa!on, and owed the&d sta& in irons all the wa& to the (all' /ne had no nose, onl&
the hole in his "ace where it had been c%t o"", and the !ross "at bald one with the pointed
teeth and the weepin! sores on his chee$s had e&es li$e nothin! h%man'
The& too$ "ie wa!ons o%t o" 6in!s 7andin!, laden with s%pplies "or the (all: hides
and bolts o" cloth, bars o" pi! iron, a ca!e o" raens, boo$s and paper and in$, a bale o"
so%rlea", 9ars o" oil, and chests o" medicine and spices' Teams o" plow horses p%lled the
wa!ons, and ;oren had bo%!ht two co%rsers and a hal"-do?en don$e&s "or the bo&s'
*r&a wo%ld hae pre"erred a real horse, b%t the don$e& was better than ridin! on a
wa!on'
The men paid her no mind, b%t she was not so l%c$& with the bo&s' She was two &ears
&o%n!er than the &o%n!est orphan, not to mention smaller and s$innier, and 7omm& and
,ot 4ie too$ her silence to mean she was scared, or st%pid, or dea"' 17oo$ at that sword
7%mp&heads !ot there,3 7omm& said one mornin! as the& made their ploddin! wa&
past orchards and wheat "ields' ,ed been a d&ers apprentice be"ore he was ca%!ht
stealin!, and his arms were mottled !reen to the elbow' (hen he la%!hed he bra&ed li$e
the don$e&s the& were ridin!' 1(heres a !%tter rat li$e 7%mp&head !et him a sword.3
*r&a chewed her lip s%llenl&' She co%ld see the bac$ o" ;orens "aded blac$ cloa$ %p
ahead o" the wa!ons, b%t she was determined not to !o cr&in! to him "or help'
12a&be hes a little s)%ire,3 ,ot 4ie p%t in' ,is mother had been a ba$er be"ore she
died, and hed p%shed her cart thro%!h the streets all da&, sho%tin! 1,ot pies@ ,ot pies@3
1Some lord& lords little s)%ire bo&, thats it'3
1,e aint no s)%ire, loo$ at him' I bet thats not een a real sword' I bet its 9%st some
pla& sword made o" tin'3
*r&a hated them ma$in! "%n o" Needle' 1Its castle-"or!ed steel, &o% st%pid,3 she
snapped, t%rnin! in the saddle to !lare at them, 1and &o% better sh%t &o%r mo%th'3
The orphan bo&s hooted' 1(hered &o% !et a blade li$e that, 7%mp&"ace.3 ,ot 4ie
wanted to $now'
17%mp&head,3 corrected 7omm&' 1,e probl& stole it'3
1I did not@3 she sho%ted' Con Snow had !ien her Needle' 2a&be she had to let them
call her 7%mp&head, b%t she wasnt !oin! to let them call Con a thie"'
1I" he stole it, we co%ld ta$e it o"" him,3 said ,ot 4ie' 1Its not his an&how' I co%ld %se
me a sword li$e that'3
7omm& e!!ed him on' 18o on, ta$e it o"" him, I dare &o%'3
,ot 4ie $ic$ed his don$e&, ridin! closer' 1,e&, 7%mp&"ace, &o% !imme that sword'3
,is hair was the color o" straw, his "at "ace all s%nb%rnt and peelin!' 1;o% dont $now
how to %se it'3
;es I do, *r&a co%ld hae said' I $illed a bo&, a "at bo& li$e &o%, I stabbed him in the
bell& and he died, and Ill $ill &o% too i" &o% dont let me alone' /nl& she did not dare'
;oren didnt $now abo%t the stablebo&, b%t she was a"raid o" what he mi!ht do i" he
"o%nd o%t' *r&a was prett& s%re that some o" the other men were $illers too, the three in
the manacles "or s%re, b%t the )%een wasnt loo$in! "or them, so it wasnt the same'
17oo$ at him,3 bra&ed 7omm& 8reenhands' 1I bet hes !oin! to cr& now' ;o% want to
cr&, 7%mp&head.3
She had cried in her sleep the ni!ht be"ore, dreamin! o" her "ather' +ome mornin!,
shed wo$en red-e&ed and dr&, and co%ld not hae shed another tear i" her li"e had h%n!
on it'
1,es !oin! to wet his pants,3 ,ot 4ie s%!!ested'
17eae him be,3 said the bo& with the sha!!& blac$ hair who rode behind them'
7omm& had named him the B%ll, on acco%nt o" this horned helm he had that he polished
all the time b%t neer wore' 7omm& didnt dare moc$ the B%ll' ,e was older, and bi! "or
his a!e, with a broad chest and stron!-loo$in! arms'
1;o% better !ie ,ot 4ie the sword, *rr&,3 7omm& said' 1,ot 4ie wants it bad' ,e
$ic$ed a bo& to death' ,ell do the same to &o%, I bet'3
1I $noc$ed him down and I $ic$ed him in the balls, and I $ept $ic$in! him there %ntil
he was dead,3 ,ot 4ie boasted' 1I $ic$ed him all to pieces' ,is balls were bro$e open
and blood& and his coc$ t%rned blac$' ;o% better !imme the sword'3
*r&a slid her practice sword "rom her belt' 1;o% can hae this one,3 she told ,ot 4ie,
not wantin! to "i!ht'
1Thats 9%st some stic$'3 ,e rode nearer and tried to reach oer "or Needles hilt'
*r&a made the stic$ whistle as she laid the wood across his don$e&s hind)%arters' The
animal hawed and b%c$ed, d%mpin! ,ot 4ie on the !ro%nd' She a%lted o"" her own
don$e& and po$ed him in the !%t as he tried to !et %p and he sat bac$ down with a !r%nt'
Then she whac$ed him across the "ace and his nose made a crac$ li$e a branch brea$in!'
Blood dribbled "rom his nostrils' (hen ,ot 4ie be!an to wail, *r&a whirled toward
7omm& 8reenhands, who was sittin! on his don$e& openmo%thed' 1;o% want some
sword too.3 she &elled, b%t he didnt' ,e raised d&ed !reen hands in "ront o" his "ace and
s)%ealed at her to !et awa&'
The B%ll sho%ted, 1Behind &o%,3 and *r&a sp%n' ,ot 4ie was on his $nees, his "ist
closin! aro%nd a bi! 9a!!ed roc$' She let him throw it, d%c$in! her head as it sailed past'
Then she "lew at him' ,e raised a hand and she hit it, and then his chee$, and then his
$nee' ,e !rabbed "or her, and she danced aside and bo%nced the wood o"" the bac$ o"
his head' ,e "ell down and !ot %p and st%mbled a"ter her, his red "ace all smeared with
dirt and blood' *r&a slid into a water dancers stance and waited' (hen he came close
eno%!h, she l%n!ed, ri!ht between his le!s, so hard that i" her wooden sword had had a
point it wo%ld hae come o%t between his b%tt chee$s'
B& the time ;oren p%lled her o"" him, ,ot 4ie was sprawled o%t on the !ro%nd with his
breeches brown and smell&, cr&in! as *r&a whapped him oer and oer and oer'
15no%!h,3 the blac$ brother roared, pr&in! the stic$ sword "rom her "in!ers, 1&o% want
to $ill the "ool.3 (hen 7omm& and some others started to s)%eal, the old man t%rned on
them too' 1Sh%t &o%r mo%ths, or Ill be sh%ttin! them "or &o%' *n& more o this, Ill tie
&o% lot behind the wa!ons and dra! &o% to the (all'3 ,e spat' 1*nd that !oes twice "or
&o%, *rr&' ;o% come with me, bo&' Now3
The& were all loo$in! at her, een the three chained and manacled in the bac$ o" the
wa!on' The "at one snapped his point& teeth to!ether and hissed, b%t *r&a i!nored him'
The old man dra!!ed her well o"" the road into a tan!le o" trees, c%rsin! and m%tterin!
all the while' 1I" I had a thimble o sense, I wo%lde le"t &o% in 6in!s 7andin!' ;o%
hear me, bo&.3 ,e alwa&s snarled that word, p%ttin! a bite in it so she wo%ld be certain
to hear' 1<nlace &o%r breeches and p%ll Dem down' 8o on, theres no one here to see' #o
it'3
S%llenl&, *r&a did as he said' 1/er there, a!ainst the oa$' ;es, li$e that'3 She wrapped
her arms aro%nd the tr%n$ and pressed her "ace to the ro%!h wood' 1;o% scream now'
;o% scream lo%d'3
I wont, *r&a tho%!ht st%bbornl&, b%t when ;oren laid the wood a!ainst the bac$ o" her
bare thi!hs, the shrie$ b%rst o%t o" her an&wa&' 1Thin$ that h%rt.3 he said' 1Tr& this
one'3 The stic$ came whistlin!' *r&a shrie$ed a!ain, cl%tchin! the tree to $eep "rom
"allin!' 1/ne more'3 She held on ti!ht, chewin! her lip, "linchin! when she heard it
comin!' The stro$e made her 9%mp and howl' I wont cr&, she tho%!ht, I wont do that'
Im a Star$ o" (inter"ell, o%r si!il is the direwol", direwoles dont cr&' She co%ld "eel a
thin tric$le o" blood r%nnin! down her le"t le!' ,er thi!hs and chee$s were abla?e with
pain' 12i!ht be I !ot &o%r attention now,3 ;oren said' 1Ne0t time &o% ta$e that stic$ to
one o" &o%r brothers, &o%ll !et twice what &o% !ie, &o% hear me. Now coer &o%rsel"'3
The&re not m& brothers, *r&a tho%!ht as she bent to &an$ %p her breeches, b%t she
$new better than to sa& so' ,er hands "%mbled with her belt and laces'
;oren was loo$in! at her' 1;o% h%rt.3
+alm as still water, she told hersel", the wa& S&rio =orel had ta%!ht her' 1Some'3
,e spat' 1That pie bo&s h%rtin! worse' It wasnt him as $illed &o%r "ather, !irl, nor
that thiein! 7omm& neither' ,ittin! them wont brin! him bac$'3
1I $now,3 *r&a m%ttered s%llenl&'
1,eres somethin! &o% dont $now' It wasnt s%pposed to happen li$e it did' I was set
to leae, wa!ons bo%!ht and loaded, and a man comes with a bo& "or me, and a p%rse o"
coin, and a messa!e, neer mind who its "rom' 7ord 5ddards to ta$e the blac$, he sa&s
to me, wait, hell be !oin! with &o%' (h& d&o% thin$ I was there. /nl& somethin! went
)%eer'3
1Co""re&,3 *r&a breathed' 1Someone sho%ld $ill him@3
1Someone will, b%t it wont be me, nor &o% neither'3 ;oren tossed bac$ her stic$
sword' 18ot so%rlea" bac$ at the wa!ons,3 he said as the& made their wa& bac$ to the
road' 1;o%ll chew some, itll help with the stin!'3
It did help, some, tho%!h the taste o" it was "o%l and it made her spit loo$ li$e blood'
5en so, she wal$ed "or the rest o" that da&, and the da& a"ter, and the da& a"ter that, too
raw to sit a don$e&' ,ot 4ie was worse o"": ;oren had to shi"t some barrels aro%nd so he
co%ld lie in the bac$ o" a wa!on on some sac$s o" barle&, and he whimpered eer& time
the wheels hit a roc$' 7omm& 8reenhands wasnt een h%rt, &et he sta&ed as "ar awa&
"rom *r&a as he co%ld !et' 15er& time &o% loo$ at him, he twitches,3 the B%ll told her
as she wal$ed beside his don$e&' She did not answer' It seemed sa"er not to tal$ to
an&one'
That ni!ht she la& %pon her thin blan$et on the hard !ro%nd, starin! %p at the !reat red
comet' The comet was splendid and scar& all at once' 1The Bed Sword,3 the B%ll named
it: he claimed it loo$ed li$e a sword, the blade still red-hot "rom the "or!e' (hen *r&a
s)%inted the ri!ht wa& she co%ld see the sword too, onl& it wasnt a new sword, it was
Ice, her "athers !reatsword, all rippl& >al&rian steel, and the red was 7ord 5ddards
blood on the blade a"ter Ser Il&n the 6in!s 9%stice had c%t o"" his head' ;oren had made
her loo$ awa& when it happened, &et it seemed to her that the comet loo$ed li$e Ice m%st
hae, a"ter'
(hen at last she slept, she dreamed o" home' The $in!sroad wo%nd its wa& past
(inter"ell on its wa& to the (all, and ;oren had promised hed leae her there with no
one an& wiser abo%t who shed been' She &earned to see her mother a!ain, and Bobb and
Bran and Bic$on ' ' ' b%t it was Con Snow she tho%!ht o" most' She wished somehow
the& co%ld come to the (all be"ore (inter"ell, so Con mi!ht m%ss %p her hair and call
her 1little sister'3 Shed tell him, 1I missed &o%,3 and hed sa& it too at the er& same
moment, the wa& the& alwa&s %sed to sa& thin!s to!ether' She wo%ld hae li$ed that'
She wo%ld hae li$ed that better than an&thin!'
C#APT"R &
SA'SA
The mornin! o" 6in! Co""re&s name da& dawned bri!ht and wind&, with the lon! tail
o" the !reat comet isible thro%!h the hi!h sc%ttlin! clo%ds' Sansa was watchin! it "rom
her tower window when Ser *r&s /a$heart arried to escort her down to the to%rne&
!ro%nds' 1(hat do &o% thin$ it means.3 she as$ed him'
18lor& to &o%r betrothed,3 Ser *r&s answered at once' 1See how it "lames across the
s$& toda& on ,is 8races name da&, as i" the !ods themseles had raised a banner in his
honor' The small"ol$ hae named it 6in! Co""re&s +omet'3
#o%btless that was what the& told Co""re&: Sansa was not so s%re' 1Ie heard serants
callin! it the #ra!ons Tail'3
16in! Co""re& sits where *e!on the #ra!on once sat, in the castle b%ilt b& his son,3 Ser
*r&s said' 1,e is the dra!ons heirAand crimson is the color o" ,o%se 7annister,
another si!n' This comet is sent to herald Co""re&s ascent to the throne, I hae no do%bt'
It means that he will tri%mph oer his enemies'3
Is it tr%e. she wondered' (o%ld the !ods be so cr%el. ,er mother was one o" Co""re&s
enemies now, her brother Bobb another' ,er "ather had died b& the $in!s command'
2%st Bobb and her lad& mother die ne0t. The comet was red, b%t Co""re& was Baratheon
as m%ch as 7annister, and their si!il was a blac$ sta! on a !olden "ield' Sho%ldnt the
!ods hae sent Co"" a !olden comet.
Sansa closed the sh%tters and t%rned sharpl& awa& "rom the window' 1;o% loo$ er&
loel& toda&, m& lad&,3 Ser *r&s said'
1Than$ &o%, ser'3 6nowin! that Co""re& wo%ld re)%ire her to attend the to%rne& in his
honor, Sansa had ta$en special care with her "ace and clothes' She wore a !own o" pale
p%rple sil$ and a moonstone hair net that had been a !i"t "rom Co""re&' The !own had
lon! sleees to hide the br%ises on her arms' Those were Co""re&s !i"ts as well' (hen
the& told him that Bobb had been proclaimed 6in! in the North, his ra!e had been a
"earsome thin!, and he had sent Ser Boros to beat her'
1Shall we !o.3 Ser *r&s o""ered his arm and she let him lead her "rom her chamber' I"
she m%st hae one o" the 6in!s!%ard do!!in! her steps, Sansa pre"erred that it be him'
Ser Boros was short-tempered, Ser 2er&n cold, and Ser 2andons stran!e dead e&es
made her %neas&, while Ser 4reston treated her li$e a lac$wit child' *r&s /a$heart was
co%rteo%s, and wo%ld tal$ to her cordiall&' /nce he een ob9ected when Co""re&
commanded him to hit her' ,e did hit her in the end, b%t not hard as Ser 2er&n or Ser
Boros mi!ht hae, and at least he had ar!%ed' The others obe&ed witho%t )%estion ' ' '
e0cept "or the ,o%nd, b%t Co"" neer as$ed the ,o%nd to p%nish her' ,e %sed the other
"ie "or that'
Ser *r&s had li!ht brown hair and a "ace that was not %npleasant to loo$ %pon' Toda&
he made )%ite the dashin! "i!%re, with his white sil$ cloa$ "astened at the sho%lder b& a
!olden lea", and a spreadin! oa$ tree wor$ed %pon the breast o" his t%nic in shinin! !old
thread' 1(ho do &o% thin$ will win the da&s honors.3 Sansa as$ed as the& descended
the steps arm in arm'
1I will,3 Ser *r&s answered, smilin!' 1;et I "ear the tri%mph will hae no saor' This
will be a small "ield, and poor' No more than two score will enter the lists, incl%din!
s)%ires and "reeriders' There is small honor in %nhorsin! !reen bo&s'3
The last to%rne& had been di""erent, Sansa re"lected' 6in! Bobert had sta!ed it in her
"athers honor' ,i!h lords and "abled champions had come "rom all oer the realm to
compete, and the whole cit& had t%rned o%t to watch' She remembered the splendor o" it:
the "ield o" pailions alon! the rier with a $ni!hts shield h%n! be"ore each door, the
lon! rows o" sil$en pennants wain! in the wind, the !leam o" s%nli!ht on bri!ht steel
and !ilded sp%rs' The da&s had r%n! to the so%nds o" tr%mpets and po%ndin! hooes, and
the ni!hts had been "%ll o" "easts and son!' Those had been the most ma!ical da&s o" her
li"e, b%t the& seemed a memor& "rom another a!e now' Bobert Baratheon was dead, and
her "ather as well, beheaded "or a traitor on the steps o" the 8reat Sept o" Baelor' Now
there were three $in!s in the land, and war ra!ed be&ond the Trident while the cit& "illed
with desperate men' Small wonder that the& had to hold Co""s to%rnament behind the
thic$ stone walls o" the Bed 6eep'
1(ill the )%een attend, do &o% thin$.3 Sansa alwa&s "elt sa"er when +ersei was there
to restrain her son'
1I "ear not, m& lad&' The co%ncil is meetin!, some %r!ent b%siness'3 Ser *r&s dropped
his oice' 17ord T&win has !one to !ro%nd at ,arrenhal instead o" brin!in! his arm& to
the cit& as the )%een commanded' ,er 8race is "%rio%s'3 ,e "ell silent as a col%mn o"
7annister !%ardsmen marched past, in crimson cloa$s and lion-crested helms' Ser *r&s
was "ond o" !ossip, b%t onl& when he was certain that no one was listenin!'
The carpenters had erected a !aller& and lists in the o%ter baile&' It was a poor thin!
indeed, and the mea!er thron! that had !athered to watch "illed b%t hal" the seats' 2ost
o" the spectators were !%ardsmen in the !old cloa$s o" the +it& (atch or the crimson o"
,o%se 7annister: o" lords and ladies there were b%t a paltr& "ew, the hand"%l that
remained at co%rt' 8re&-"aced 7ord 8&les Bosb& was co%!hin! into a s)%are o" pin$
sil$' 7ad& Tanda was brac$eted b& her da%!hters, placid d%ll 7oll&s and acid-ton!%ed
=al&se' 5bon-s$inned Calabhar Eho was an e0ile who had no other re"%!e, 7ad&
5rmesande a babe seated on her wet n%rses lap' The tal$ was she wo%ld soon be wed to
one o" the )%eens co%sins, so the 7annisters mi!ht claim her lands'
The $in! was shaded beneath a crimson canop&, one le! thrown ne!li!entl& oer the
cared wooden arm o" his chair' 4rincess 2&rcella and 4rince Tommen sat behind him'
In the bac$ o" the ro&al bo0, Sandor +le!ane stood at !%ard, his hands restin! on his
swordbelt' The white cloa$ o" the 6in!s!%ard was draped oer his broad sho%lders and
"astened with a 9eweled brooch, the snow& cloth loo$in! somehow %nnat%ral a!ainst his
brown ro%!hsp%n t%nic and st%dded leather 9er$in' 17ad& Sansa,3 the ,o%nd anno%nced
c%rtl& when he saw her' ,is oice was as ro%!h as the so%nd o" a saw on wood' The
b%rn scars on his "ace and throat made one side o" his mo%th twitch when he spo$e'
4rincess 2&rcella nodded a sh& !reetin! at the so%nd o" Sansas name, b%t pl%mp little
4rince Tommen 9%mped %p ea!erl&' 1Sansa, did &o% hear. Im to ride in the to%rne&
toda&' 2other said I co%ld'3 Tommen was all o" ei!ht' ,e reminded her o" her own little
brother, Bran' The& were o" an a!e' Bran was bac$ at (inter"ell, a cripple, &et sa"e'
Sansa wo%ld hae !ien an&thin! to be with him' 1I "ear "or the li"e o" &o%r "oeman,3
she told Tommen solemnl&'
1,is "oeman will be st%""ed with straw,3 Co"" said as he rose' The $in! was clad in a
!ilded breastplate with a roarin! lion en!raed %pon its chest, as i" he e0pected the war
to en!%l" them at an& moment' ,e was thirteen toda&, and tall "or his a!e, with the !reen
e&es and !olden hair o" the 7annisters'
1;o%r 8race,3 she said, dippin! in a c%rts&'
Ser *r&s bowed' 14ra& pardon me, ;o%r 8race' I m%st e)%ip m&sel" "or the lists'3
Co""re& waed a c%rt dismissal while he st%died Sansa "rom head to heels' 1Im pleased
&o% wore m& stones'3
So the $in! had decided to pla& the !allant toda&' Sansa was relieed' 1I than$ &o% "or
them ' ' ' and "or &o%r tender words' I pra& &o% a l%c$& name da&, ;o%r 8race'3
1Sit,3 Co"" commanded, !est%rin! her to the empt& seat beside his own' 1,ae &o%
heard. The Be!!ar 6in! is dead'3
1(ho.3 =or a moment Sansa was a"raid he meant Bobb'
1>iser&s' The last son o" 2ad 6in! *er&s' ,es been !oin! abo%t the =ree +ities since
be"ore I was born, callin! himsel" a $in!' (ell, 2other sa&s the #othra$i "inall&
crowned him' (ith molten !old'3 ,e la%!hed' 1Thats "%nn&, dont &o% thin$. The
dra!on was their si!il' Its almost as !ood as i" some wol" $illed &o%r traitor brother'
2a&be Ill "eed him to woles a"ter Ie ca%!ht him' #id I tell &o%, I intend to challen!e
him to sin!le combat.3
1I sho%ld li$e to see that, ;o%r 8race'3 2ore than &o% $now Sansa $ept her tone cool
and polite, &et een so Co""re&s e&es narrowed as he tried to decide whether she was
moc$in! him' 1(ill &o% enter the lists toda&.3 she as$ed )%ic$l&'
The $in! "rowned' 12& lad& mother said it was not "ittin!, since the to%rne& is in m&
honor' /therwise I wo%ld hae been champion' Isnt that so, do!.3
The ,o%nds mo%th twitched' 1*!ainst this lot. (h& not.3
,e had been the champion in her "athers to%rne&, Sansa remembered' 1(ill &o% 9o%st
toda&, m& lord.3 she as$ed him'
+le!anes oice was thic$ with contempt' 1(o%ldnt be worth the bother o" armin!
m&sel"' This is a to%rnament o" !nats'3
The $in! la%!hed' 12& do! has a "ierce bar$' 4erhaps I sho%ld command him to "i!ht
the da&s champion' To the death'3 Co""re& was "ond o" ma$in! men "i!ht to the death'
1;o%d be one $ni!ht the poorer'3 The ,o%nd had neer ta$en a $ni!hts ows' ,is
brother was a $ni!ht, and he hated his brother'
* blare o" tr%mpets so%nded' The $in! settled bac$ in his seat and too$ Sansas hand'
/nce that wo%ld hae set her heart to po%ndin!, b%t that was be"ore he had answered her
plea "or merc& b& presentin! her with her "athers head' ,is to%ch "illed her with
re%lsion now, b%t she $new better than to show it' She made hersel" sit er& still'
1Ser 2er&n Trant o" the 6in!s!%ard,3 a herald called'
Ser 2er&n entered "rom the west side o" the &ard, clad in !leamin! white plate chased
with !old and mo%nted on a mil$-white char!er with a "lowin! !re& mane' ,is cloa$
streamed behind him li$e a "ield o" snow' ,e carried a twele-"oot lance'
1Ser ,obber o" ,o%se Bedw&ne, o" the *rbor,3 the herald san!' Ser ,obber trotted in
"rom the east, ridin! a blac$ stallion caparisoned in b%r!%nd& and bl%e' ,is lance was
striped in the same colors, and his shield bore the !rape cl%ster si!il o" his ,o%se' The
Bedw&ne twins were the )%eens %nwillin! !%ests, een as Sansa was' She wondered
whose notion it had been "or them to ride in Co""re&s to%rne&' Not their own, she
tho%!ht'
*t a si!nal "rom the master o" reels, the combatants co%ched their lances and p%t their
sp%rs to their mo%nts' There were sho%ts "rom the watchin! !%ardsmen and the lords and
ladies in the !aller&' The $ni!hts came to!ether in the center o" the &ard with a !reat
shoc$ o" wood and steel' The white lance and the striped one e0ploded in splinters
within a second o" each other' ,obber Bedw&ne reeled at the impact, &et somehow
mana!ed to $eep his seat' (heelin! their horses abo%t at the "ar end o" the lists, the
$ni!hts tossed down their bro$en lances and accepted replacements "rom the s)%ires' Ser
,oras Bedw&ne, Ser ,obbers twin, sho%ted enco%ra!ement to his brother'
B%t on their second pass Ser 2er&n sw%n! the point o" his lance to stri$e Ser ,obber
in the chest, driin! him "rom the saddle to crash reso%ndin!l& to the earth' Ser ,oras
c%rsed and ran o%t to help his battered brother "rom the "ield'
14oorl& ridden,3 declared 6in! Co""re&'
1Ser Balon Swann, o" Stonehelm in the Bed (atch,3 came the heralds cr&' (ide white
win!s ornamented Ser Balons !reathelm, and blac$ and white swans "o%!ht on his
shield' 12orros o" ,o%se Sl&nt, heir to 7ord Canos o" ,arrenhal'3
17oo$ at that %pi%mped oa",3 Co"" hooted, lo%d eno%!h "or hal" the &ard to hear'
2orros, a mere s)%ire and a new-made s)%ire at that, was hain! di""ic%lt& mana!in!
lance and shield' The lance was a $ni!hts weapon, Sansa $new, the Sl&nts lowborn'
7ord Canos had been no more than commander o" the +it& (atch be"ore Co""re& had
raised him to ,an renhal and the co%ncil'
I hope he "alls and shames himsel", she tho%!ht bitterl&' I hope Ser Balon $ills him'
(hen Co""re& proclaimed her "athers death, it had been Canos Sl&nt who sei?ed 7ord
5ddards seered head b& the hair and raised it on hi!h "or $in! and crowd to behold,
while Sansa wept and screamed'
2orros wore a chec$ered blac$-and-!old cloa$ oer blac$ armor inlaid with !olden
scrollwor$' /n his shield was the blood& spear his "ather had chosen as the si!il o" their
new-made ho%se' B%t he did not seem to $now what to do with the shield as he %r!ed his
horse "orward, and Ser Balons point str%c$ the bla?on s)%are' 2orros dropped his
lance, "o%!ht "or balance, and lost' /ne "oot ca%!ht in a stirr%p as he "ell, and the
r%nawa& char!er dra!!ed the &o%th to the end o" the lists, head bo%ncin! a!ainst the
!ro%nd' Co"" hooted derision' Sansa was appalled, wonderin! i" the !ods had heard her
en!e"%l pra&er' B%t when the& disentan!led 2orros Sl&nt "rom his horse, the& "o%nd
him bloodied b%t alie' 1Tommen, we pic$ed the wron! "oe "or &o%,3 the $in! told his
brother' 1The straw $ni!ht 9o%sts better than that one'3
Ne0t came Ser ,oras Bedw&nes t%rn' ,e "ared better than his twin, an)%ishin! an
elderl& $ni!ht whose mo%nt was bedec$ed with siler !ri""ins a!ainst a striped bl%e-and-
white "ield' Splendid as he loo$ed, the old man made a poor contest o" it' Co""re& c%rled
his lip' 1This is a "eeble show'3
1I warned &o%,3 said the ,o%nd' 18nats'3
The $in! was !rowin! bored' It made Sansa an0io%s' She lowered her e&es and
resoled to $eep )%iet, no matter what' (hen Co""re& Baratheons mood dar$ened, an&
chance word mi!ht set o"" one o" his ra!es'
17othor Br%ne, "reerider in the serice o" 7ord Baelish,3 cried the herald' 1Ser #ontos
the Bed, o" ,o%se ,ollard'3
The "reerider, a small man in dented plate witho%t deice, d%l& appeared at the west
end o" the &ard, b%t o" his opponent there was no si!n' =inall& a chestn%t stallion trotted
into iew in a swirl o" crimson and scarlet sil$s, b%t Ser #ontos was not on it' The
$ni!ht appeared a moment later, c%rsin! and sta!!erin!, clad in breastplate and pl%med
helm and nothin! else' ,is le!s were pale and s$inn&, and his manhood "lopped abo%t
obscenel& as he chased a"ter his horse' The watchers roared and sho%ted ins%lts'
+atchin! his horse b& the bridle, Ser #ontos tried to mo%nt, b%t the animal wo%ld not
stand still and the $ni!ht was so dr%n$ that his bare "oot $ept missin! the stirr%p'
B& then the crowd was howlin! with la%!hter ' ' ' all b%t the $in!' Co""re& had a loo$ in
his e&es that Sansa remembered well, the same loo$ hed had at the 8reat Sept o" Baelor
the da& he prono%nced death on 7ord 5ddard Star$' =inall& Ser #ontos the Bed !ae it
%p "or a bad 9ob, sat down in the dirt, and remoed his pl%med helm' 1I lose,3 he
sho%ted' 1=etch me some wine'3
The $in! stood' 1* cas$ "rom the cellars@ Ill see him drowned in it'3
Sansa heard hersel" !asp' 1No, &o% cant'3
Co""re& t%rned his head' 1(hat did &o% sa&.3
Sansa co%ld not beliee she had spo$en' (as she mad. To tell him no in "ront o" hal"
the co%rt. She hadnt meant to sa& an&thin!, onl& ' ' ' Ser #ontos was dr%n$ and sill&
and %seless, b%t he meant no harm'
1#id &o% sa& I cant. #id &o%.3
14lease,3 Sansa said, 1I onl& meant ' ' ' it wo%ld be ill l%c$, ;o%r 8race ' ' ' to, to $ill a
man on &o%r name da&'3
1;o%re l&in!,3 Co""re& said' 1I o%!ht to drown &o% with him, i" &o% care "or him so
m%ch'3
1I dont care "or him, ;o%r 8race'3 The words t%mbled o%t desperatel&' 1#rown him or
hae his head o"", onl& ' ' ' $ill him on the morrow, i" &o% li$e, b%t please ' ' ' not toda&,
not on &o%r name da&' I co%ldnt bear "or &o% to hae ill l%c$ ' ' ' terrible l%c$, een "or
$in!s, the sin!ers all sa& so ' ' '
Co""re& scowled' ,e $new she was l&in!, she co%ld see it' ,e wo%ld ma$e her bleed "or
this'
1The !irl spea$s tr%l&,3 the ,o%nd rasped' 1(hat a man sows on his name da&, he
reaps thro%!ho%t the &ear'3 ,is oice was "lat, as i" he did not care a whit whether the
$in! belieed him or no' +o%ld it be tr%e. Sansa had not $nown' It was 9%st somethin!
shed said, desperate to aoid p%nishment'
<nhapp&, Co""re& shi"ted in his seat and "lic$ed his "in!ers at Ser #ontos' 1Ta$e him
awa&' Ill hae him $illed on the morrow, the "ool'3
1,e is,3 Sansa said' 1* "ool' ;o%re so cleer, to see it' ,es better "itted to be a "ool
than a $ni!ht, isnt he. ;o% o%!ht to dress him in motle& and ma$e him clown "or &o%'
,e doesnt desere the merc& o" a )%ic$ death'3
The $in! st%died her a moment' 14erhaps &o%re not so st%pid as 2other sa&s'3 ,e
raised his oice' 1#id &o% hear m& lad&, #ontos. =rom this da& on, &o%re m& new "ool'
;o% can sleep with 2oon Bo& and dress in motle&'3
Ser #ontos, sobered b& his near br%sh with death, crawled to his $nees' 1Than$ &o%,
;o%r 8race' *nd &o%, m& lad&' Than$ &o%'3
*s a brace o" 7annister !%ardsmen led him o"", the master o" reels approached the
bo0' 1;o%r 8race,3 he said, 1shall I s%mmon a new challen!er "or Br%ne, or proceed
with the ne0t tilt.3
1Neither' These are !nats, not $ni!hts' Id hae them all p%t to death, onl& its m&
name da&' The to%rne& is done' 8et them all o%t o" m& si!ht'3
The master o" reels bowed, b%t 4rince Tommen was not so obedient' 1Im s%pposed
to ride a!ainst the straw man'3
1Not toda&'3
1B%t I want to ride@3
1I dont care what &o% want'3
12other said I co%ld ride'3
1She said,3 4rincess 2&rcella a!reed'
12other said,3 moc$ed the $in!' 1#ont be childish'3
1(ere children,3 2&rcella declared ha%!htil&' 1(ere s%pposed to be childish'3
The ,o%nd la%!hed' 1She has &o% there'3
Co""re& was beaten' 1>er& well' 5en m& brother co%ldnt tilt an& worse than these
others' 2aster, brin! o%t the )%intain, Tommen wants to be a !nat'3
Tommen !ae a sho%t o" 9o& and ran o"" to be readied, his ch%bb& little le!s p%mpin!
hard' 17%c$,3 Sansa called to him'
The& set %p the )%intain at the "ar end o" the lists while the princes pon& was bein!
saddled' Tommens opponent was a child-si?ed leather warrior st%""ed with straw and
mo%nted on a piot, with a shield in one hand and a padded mace in the other' Someone
had "astened a pair o" antlers to the $ni!hts head' Co""re&s "ather 6in! Bobert had worn
antlers on his helm, Sansa remembered ' ' ' b%t so did his %ncle 7ord Benl&, Boberts
brother, who had t%rned traitor and crowned himsel" $in!'
* pair o" s)%ires b%c$led the prince into his ornate siler-and-crimson armor' * tall
pl%me o" red "eathers spro%ted "rom the crest o" his helm, and the lion o" 7annister and
crowned sta! o" Baratheon "rolic$ed to!ether on his shield' The s)%ires helped him
mo%nt, and Ser *ron Santa!ar, the Bed 6eeps master-at-arms, stepped "orward and
handed Tommen a bl%nted siler lon!sword with a lea"-shaped blade, cra"ted to "it an
ei!ht-&ear-old hand'
Tommen raised the blade hi!h' 1+asterl& Boc$@3 he sho%ted in a hi!h bo&ish oice as
he p%t his heels into his pon& and started across the hard-pac$ed dirt at the )%intain'
7ad& Tanda and 7ord 8&les started a ra!!ed cheer, and Sansa added her oice to theirs'
The $in! brooded in silence'
Tommen !ot his pon& %p to a bris$ trot, waed his sword i!oro%sl&, and str%c$ the
$ni!hts shield a solid blow as he went b&' The )%intain sp%n, the padded mace "l&in!
aro%nd to !ie the prince a mi!ht& whac$ in the bac$ o" his head' Tommen spilled "rom
the saddle, his new armor rattlin! li$e a ba! o" old pots as he hit the !ro%nd' ,is sword
went "l&in!, his pon& cantered awa& across the baile&, and a !reat !ale o" derision went
%p' 6in! Co""re& la%!hed lon!est and lo%dest o" all'
1/h,3 4rincess 2&rcella cried' She scrambled o%t o" the bo0 and ran to her little
brother'
Sansa "o%nd hersel" possessed o" a )%eer !idd& co%ra!e' 1;o% sho%ld !o with her,3 she
told the $in!' 1;o%r brother mi!ht be h%rt'3
Co""re& shr%!!ed' 1(hat i" he is.3
1;o% sho%ld help him %p and tell him how well he rode'3 Sansa co%ld not seem to stop
hersel"'
1,e !ot $noc$ed o"" his horse and "ell in the dirt,3 the $in! pointed o%t' 1Thats not
ridin! well'3
17oo$,3 the ,o%nd interr%pted' 1The bo& has co%ra!e' ,es !oin! to tr& a!ain'3
The& were helpin! 4rince Tommen mo%nt his pon&' I" onl& Tommen were the elder
instead o" Co""re&, Sansa tho%!ht' I wo%ldnt mind marr&in! Tommen'
The so%nds "rom the !ateho%se too$ them b& s%rprise' +hains rattled as the portc%llis
was drawn %pward, and the !reat !ates opened to the crea$ o" iron hin!es' 1(ho told
them to open the !ate.3 Co"" demanded' (ith the tro%bles in the cit&, the !ates o" the
Bed 6eep had been closed "or da&s'
* col%mn o" riders emer!ed "rom beneath the portc%llis with a clin$ o" steel and a
clatter o" hooes' +le!ane stepped close to the $in!, one hand on the hilt o" his
lon!sword' The isitors were dinted and ha!!ard and d%st&, &et the standard the& carried
was the lion o" 7annister, !olden on its crimson "ield' * "ew wore the red cloa$s and
mail o" 7annister men-at-arms, b%t more were "reeriders and sellswords, armored in
oddments and bristlin! with sharp steel ' ' ' and there were others, monstro%s saa!es o%t
o" one o" /ld Nans tales, the scar& ones Bran %sed to loe' The& were clad in shabb&
s$ins and boiled leather, with lon! hair and "ierce beards' Some wore bloodstained
banda!es oer their brows or wrapped aro%nd their hands, and others were missin! e&es,
ears, and "in!ers'
In their midst, ridin! on a tall red horse in a stran!e hi!h saddle that cradled him bac$
and "ront, was the )%eens dwar" brother T&rion 7annister, the one the& called the Imp'
,e had let his beard !row to coer his p%shed-in "ace, %ntil it was a bristl& tan!le o"
&ellow and blac$ hair, coarse as wire' #own his bac$ "lowed a shadows$in cloa$, blac$
"%r striped with white' ,e held the reins in his le"t hand and carried his ri!ht arm in a
white sil$ slin!, b%t otherwise loo$ed as !rotes)%e as Sansa remembered "rom when he
had isited (inter"ell' (ith his b%l!in! brow and mismatched e&es, he was still the
%!liest man she had eer chanced to loo$ %pon'
;et Tommen p%t his sp%rs into his pon& and !alloped headlon! across the &ard,
sho%tin! with !lee' /ne o" the saa!es, a h%!e shamblin! man so hair& that his "ace was
all b%t lost beneath his whis$ers, scooped the bo& o%t o" his saddle, armor and all, and
deposited him on the !ro%nd beside his %ncle' Tommens breathless la%!hter echoed o""
the walls as T&rion clapped him on the bac$plate, and Sansa was startled to see that the
two were o" a hei!ht' 2&rcella came r%nnin! a"ter her brother, and the dwar" pic$ed her
%p b& the waist and sp%n her in a circle, s)%ealin!'
(hen he lowered her bac$ to the !ro%nd, the little man $issed her li!htl& on the brow
and came waddlin! across the &ard toward Co""re&'
Two o" his men "ollowed close behind him: a blac$-haired blac$-e&ed sellsword who
moed li$e a stal$in! cat, and a !a%nt &o%th with an empt& soc$et where one e&e sho%ld
hae been' Tommen and 2&rcella trailed a"ter them'
The dwar" went to one $nee be"ore the $in!' 1;o%r 8race'3
1;o%,3 Co""re& said'
12e,3 the Imp a!reed, 1altho%!h a more co%rteo%s !reetin! mi!ht be in order, "or an
%ncle and an elder'3
1The& said &o% were dead,3 the ,o%nd said'
The little man !ae the bi! one a loo$' /ne o" his e&es was !reen, one was blac$, and
both were cool' 1I was spea$in! to the $in!, not to his c%r'3
1Im !lad &o%re not dead,3 said 4rincess 2&rcella'
1(e share that iew, sweet child'3 T&rion t%rned to Sansa' 12& lad&, I am sorr& "or
&o%r losses' Tr%l&, the !ods are cr%el'3
Sansa co%ld not thin$ o" a word to sa& to him' ,ow co%ld he be sorr& "or her losses.
(as he moc$in! her. It wasnt the !ods whod been cr%el, it was Co""re&'
1I am sorr& "or &o%r loss as well, Co""re&,3 the dwar" said'
1(hat loss.3
1;o%r ro&al "ather. * lar!e "ierce man with a blac$ beard: &o%ll recall him i" &o% tr&'
,e was $in! be"ore &o%'3
1/h, him' ;es, it was er& sad, a boar $illed him'3
1Is that what Dthe& sa&, ;o%r 8race.3
Co""re& "rowned' Sansa "elt that she o%!ht to sa& somethin!' (hat was it that Septa
2ordane %sed to tell her. * lad&s armor is co%rtes&, that was it' She donned her armor
and said, 1Im sorr& m& lad& mother too$ &o% captie, m& lord'3
1* !reat man& people are sorr& "or that,3 T&rion replied, 1and be"ore I am done, some
ma& be a deal sorrier ' ' ' &et I than$ &o% "or the sentiment' Co""re&, where mi!ht I "ind
&o%r mother.3
1Shes with m& co%ncil,3 the $in! answered' 1;o%r brother Caime $eeps losin!
battles'3 ,e !ae Sansa an an!r& loo$, as i" it were her "a%lt' 1,es been ta$en b& the
Star$s and wee lost Bierr%n and now her st%pid brother is callin! himsel" a $in!'3
The dwar" smiled croo$edl&' 1*ll sorts o" people are callin! themseles $in!s these
da&s'3
Co"" did not $now what to ma$e o" that, tho%!h he loo$ed s%spicio%s and o%t o" sorts'
1;es' (ell' I am pleased &o%re not dead, <ncle' #id &o% brin! me a !i"t "or m& name
da&.3
1I did' 2& wits'3
1Id sooner hae Bobb Star$s head,3 Co"" said with a sl& !lance at Sansa' 1Tommen,
2&rcella, come'3
Sandor +le!ane lin!ered behind a moment' 1Id !%ard that ton!%e o" &o%rs, little
man,3 he warned, be"ore he strode o"" a"ter his lie!e'
Sansa was le"t with the dwar" and his monsters' She tried to thin$ o" what else she
mi!ht sa&' 1;o% h%rt &o%r arm,3 she mana!ed at last'
1/ne o" &o%r northmen hit me with a mornin!star d%rin! the battle on the 8reen =or$'
I escaped him b& "allin! o"" m& horse'3 ,is !rin t%rned into somethin! so"ter as he
st%died her "ace' 1Is it !rie" "or &o%r lord "ather that ma$es &o% so sad.3
12& "ather was a traitor,3 Sansa said at once' 1*nd m& brother and lad& mother are
traitors as well'3 That re"le0 she had learned )%ic$l&' 1I am lo&al to m& beloed Co""re&'3
1No do%bt' *s lo&al as a deer s%rro%nded b& woles'3
17ions,3 she whispered, witho%t thin$in!' She !lanced abo%t nero%sl&, b%t there was
no one close eno%!h to hear'
7annister reached o%t and too$ her hand, and !ae it a s)%ee?e' 1I am onl& a little lion,
child, and I ow, I shall not saa!e &o%'3 Bowin!, he said 1B%t now &o% m%st e0c%se
me' I hae %r!ent b%siness with )%een and co%ncil'3
Sansa watched him wal$ o"", his bod& swa&in! heail& "rom side to side with eer&
step, li$e somethin! "rom a !rotes)%erie' ,e spea$s more !entl& than Co""re&, she
tho%!ht, b%t the )%een spo$e to me !entl& too' ,es still a 7annister, her brother and
Co""s %ncle, and no "riend' /nce she had loed 4rince Co""re& with all her heart, and
admired and tr%sted his mother, the )%een' The& had repaid that loe and tr%st with her
"athers head' Sansa wo%ld neer ma$e that mista$e a!ain'
C#APT"R (
T%RIO'
In the chill& white raiment o" the 6in!s!%ard, Ser 2andon 2oore loo$ed li$e a corpse
in a shro%d' 1,er 8race le"t orders, the co%ncil in session is not to be dist%rbed'3
1I wo%ld be onl& a small dist%rbance, ser'3 T&rion slid the parchment "rom his sleee'
1I bear a letter "rom m& "ather, 7ord T&win 7annister, the ,and o" the 6in!' There is his
seal'3
1,er 8race does not wish to be dist%rbed,3 Ser 2andon repeated slowl&, as i" T&rion
were a d%llard who had not heard him the "irst time'
Caime had once told him that 2oore was the most dan!ero%s o" the 6in!s!%ardA
e0ceptin! himsel", alwa&sAbeca%se his "ace !ae no hint as what he mi!ht do ne0t'
T&rion wo%ld hae welcomed a hint' Bronn and Timett co%ld li$el& $ill the $ni!ht i" it
came to swords, b%t it wo%ld scarcel& bode well i" he be!an b& sla&in! one o" Co""re&s
protectors' ;et i" he let the man t%rn him awa&, where was his a%thorit&. ,e made
himsel" smile' 1Ser 2andon, &o% hae not met m& companions' This is Timett son o"
Timett, a red hand o" the B%rned 2en' *nd this is Bronn' 4erchance &o% recall Ser
>ardis 5!en, who was captain o" 7ord *rr&ns ho%sehold !%ard.3
1I $now the man'3 Ser 2andons e&es were pale !re&, oddl& "lat and li"eless'
16new,3 Bronn corrected with a thin smile'
Ser 2andon did not dei!n to show that he had heard that'
1Be that as it ma&,3 T&rion said li!htl&, 1I tr%l& m%st see m& sister and present m&
letter, ser' I" &o% wo%ld be so $ind as to open the door "or %s.3
The white $ni!ht did not respond' T&rion was almost at the point o" tr&in! to "orce his
wa& past when Ser 2andon abr%ptl& stood aside' 1;o% ma& enter' The& ma& not'3
* small ictor&, he tho%!ht, b%t sweet' ,e had passed his "irst test' T&rion 7annister
sho%ldered thro%!h the door, "eelin! almost tall' =ie members o" the $in!s small
co%ncil bro$e o"" their disc%ssion s%ddenl&' 1;o%,3 his sister +ersei said in a tone that
was e)%al parts disbelie" and distaste'
1I can see where Co""re& learned his co%rtesies'3 T&rion pa%sed to admire the pair o"
>al&rian sphin0es that !%arded the door, a""ectin! an air o" cas%al con"idence' +ersei
co%ld smell wea$ness the wa& a do! smells " ear'
1(hat are &o% doin! here.3 ,is sisters loel& !reen e&es st%died him witho%t the
least hint o" a""ection'
1#elierin! a letter "rom o%r lord "ather'3 ,e sa%ntered to the table and placed the
ti!htl& rolled parchment between them'
The e%n%ch >ar&s too$ the letter and t%rned it in his delicate powdered hands' 1,ow
$ind o" 7ord T&win' *nd his scalin! wa0 is s%ch a loel& shade o" !old'3 >ar&s !ae the
seal a close inspection' 1It !ies eer& appearance o" bein! !en%ine'3
1/" co%rse its !en%ine'3 +ersei snatched it o%t o" his hands' She bro$e the wa0 and
%nrolled the parchment'
T&rion watched her read' ,is sister had ta$en the $in!s seat "or hersel"Ahe !athered
Co""re& did not o"ten tro%ble to attend co%ncil meetin!s, no more than Bobert hadAso
T&rion climbed %p into the ,ands chair' It seemed onl& appropriate'
1This is abs%rd,3 the )%een said at last' 12& lord "ather has sent m& brother to sit in his
place in this co%ncil' ,e bids %s accept T&rion as the ,and o" the 6in!, %ntil s%ch time
as he himsel" can 9oin %s'3
8rand 2aester 4&celle stro$ed his "lowin! white beard and nodded pondero%sl&' 1It
wo%ld seem that a welcome is in order'3
1Indeed'3 Cowl&, baldin! Canos Sl&nt loo$ed rather li$e a "ro!, a sm%! "ro! who had
!otten rather aboe himsel"' 1(e hae sore need o" &o%, m& lord' Bebellion eer&where,
this !rim omen in the s$&, riotin! in the cit& streets ' ' '3
1*nd whose "a%lt is that, 7ord Canos.3 +ersei lashed o%t' 1;o%r !old cloa$s are
char!ed with $eepin! order' *s to &o%, T&rion, &o% co%ld better sere %s on the "ield o"
battle'3
,e la%!hed' 1No, Im done with "ields o" battle, than$ &o%' I sit a chair better than a
horse, and Id sooner hold a wine !oblet than a battle-a0e' *ll that abo%t the th%nder o"
the dr%ms, s%nli!ht "lashin! on armor, ma!ni"icent destriers snortin! and prancin!.
(ell, the dr%ms !ae me headaches, the s%nli!ht "lashin! on m& armor coo$ed me %p
li$e a harest da& !oose, and those ma!ni"icent destriers shit eer&where' Not that I am
complainin!' +ompared to the hospitalit& I en9o&ed in the >ale o" *rr&n, dr%ms,
horseshit, and "l& bites are m& "aorite thin!s'3
7ittle"in!er la%!hed' 1(ell said, 7annister' * man a"ter m& own heart'3
T&rion smiled at him, rememberin! a certain da!!er with a dra!onbone hilt and a
>al&rian steel blade' (e m%st hae a tal$ abo%t that, and soon' ,e wondered i" 7ord
4et&r wo%ld "ind that s%b9ect am%sin! as well' 14lease,3 he told them, 1do let me be o"
serice, in whateer small wa& I can'3
+ersei read the letter a!ain' 1,ow man& men hae &o% bro%!ht with &o%.3
1* "ew h%ndred' 2& own men, chie"l&' =ather was loath to part with an& o" his' ,e is
"i!htin! a war, a"ter all'3
1(hat %se will &o%r "ew h%ndred men be i" Benl& marches on the cit&, or Stannis sails
"rom #ra!onstone. I as$ "or an arm& and m& "ather sends me a dwar"' The $in! names
the ,and, with the consent o" co%ncil' Co""re& named o%r lord "ather'3
1*nd o%r lord "ather named me'3
1,e cannot do that' Not witho%t Co""s consent'3
17ord T&win is at ,arrenhal with his host, i" &o%d care to ta$e it %p with him,3 T&rion
said politel&' 12& lords, perchance &o% wo%ld permit me a priate word with m&
sister.3
>ar&s slithered to his "eet, smilin! in that %nct%o%s wa& he had' 1,ow &o% m%st hae
&earned "or the so%nd o" &o%r sweet sisters oice' 2& lords, please, let %s !ie them a
"ew moments to!ether' The woes o" o%r tro%bled realm shall $eep'3
Canos Sl&nt rose hesitantl& and 8rand 2aester 4&celle pondero%sl&, &et the& rose'
7ittle"in!er was the last' 1Shall I tell the steward to prepare chambers in 2ae!ors
,old"ast.3
12& than$s, 7ord 4et&r, b%t I will be ta$in! 7ord Star$s "ormer )%arters in the Tower
o" the ,and'3
7ittle"in!er la%!hed' 1;o%re a braer man than me, 7annister' ;o% do $now the "ate o"
o%r last two ,ands.3
1Two. I" &o% mean to "ri!hten me, wh& not sa& "o%r.3
1=o%r.3 7ittle"in!er raised an e&ebrow' 1#id the ,ands be"ore 7ord *rr&n meet some
dire end in the Tower. Im a"raid I was too &o%n! to pa& them m%ch mind'3
1*er&s Tar!ar&ens last ,and was $illed d%rin! the Sac$ o" 6in!s 7andin!, tho%!h I
do%bt hed had time to settle into the Tower' ,e was onl& ,and "or a "ortni!ht' The one
be"ore him was b%rned to death' *nd be"ore them came two others who died landless
and penniless in e0ile, and co%nted themseles l%c$&' I beliee m& lord "ather was the
last ,and to depart 6in!s 7andin! with his name, properties, and parts all intact'3
1=ascinatin!,3 said 7ittle"in!er' 1*nd all the more reason Id sooner bed down in the
d%n!eon'3
4erhaps &o%ll !et that wish, T&rion tho%!ht, b%t he said, 1+o%ra!e and "oll& are
co%sins, or so Ie heard' (hateer c%rse ma& lin!er oer the Tower o" the ,and, I pra&
Im small eno%!h to escape its notice'3
Canos Sl&nt la%!hed, 7ittle"in!er smiled, and 8rand 2aester 4&celle "ollowed them
both o%t, bowin! !rael&'
1I hope =ather did not send &o% all this wa& to pla!%e %s with histor& lessons,3 his
sister said when the& were alone'
1,ow I hae &earned "or the so%nd o" &o%r sweet oice,3 T&rion si!hed to her'
1,ow I hae &earned to hae that e%n%chs ton!%e p%lled o%t with hot pincers,3 +ersei
replied' 1,as "ather lost his senses. /r did &o% "or!e this letter.3 She read it once more,
with mo%ntin! anno&ance' 1(h& wo%ld he in"lict &o% on me. I wanted him to come
himsel"'3 She cr%shed 7ord T&wins letter in her "in!ers' 1I am Co""re&s re!ent, and I
sent him a ro&al command@3
1*nd he i!nored &o%,3 T&rion pointed o%t' 1,e has )%ite a lar!e arm&, he can do that'
Nor is he the "irst' Is he.3
+erseis mo%th ti!htened' ,e co%ld see her color risin!' 1I" I name this letter a "or!er&
and tell them to throw &o% in a d%n!eon, no one will i!nore that, I promise &o%'3
,e was wal$in! on rotten ice now, T&rion $new' /ne "alse step and he wo%ld pl%n!e
thro%!h' 1No one,3 he a!reed amiabl&, 1least o" all o%r "ather' The one with the arm&'
B%t wh& sho%ld &o% want to throw me into a d%n!eon, sweet sister, when Ie come all
this lon! wa& to help &o%.3
1I do not re)%ire &o%r help' It was o%r "athers presence that I commanded'3
1;es,3 he said )%ietl&, 1b%t its Caime &o% want'3
,is sister "ancied hersel" s%btle, b%t he had !rown %p with her' ,e co%ld read her "ace
li$e one o" his "aorite boo$s, and what he read now was ra!e, and "ear, and despair'
1CaimeA3
1Ais m& brother no less than &o%rs,3 T&rion interr%pted' 18ie me &o%r s%pport and I
promise &o%, we will hae Caime "reed and ret%rned to %s %nharmed'3
1,ow.3 +ersei demanded' 1The Star$ bo& and his mother are not li$e to "or!et that we
beheaded 7ord 5ddard'3
1Tr%e,3 T&rion a!reed, 1&et &o% still hold his da%!hters, dont &o%. I saw the older !irl
o%t in the &ard with Co""re&'3
1Sansa,3 the )%een said' 1Ie !ien it o%t that I hae the &o%n!er brat as well, b%t its
a lie' I sent 2er&n Trant to ta$e her in hand when Bobert died, b%t her wretched dancin!
master inter"ered and the !irl "led' No one has seen her since' 7i$el& shes dead' * !reat
man& people died that da&'3
T&rion had hoped "or both Star$ !irls, b%t he s%pposed one wo%ld hae to do' 1Tell me
abo%t o%r "riends on the co%ncil'3
,is sister !lanced at the door' 1(hat o" them.3
1=ather seems to hae ta$en a disli$e to them' (hen I le"t him, he was wonderin! how
their heads mi!ht loo$ on the wall beside 7ord Star$s'3 ,e leaned "orward across the
table' 1*re &o% certain o" their lo&alt&. #o &o% tr%st them.3
1I tr%st no one,3 +ersei snapped' 1I need them' #oes =ather beliee the& are pla&in! %s
"alse.3
1S%spects, rather'3
1(h&. (hat does he $now.3
T&rion shr%!!ed' 1,e $nows that &o%r sons short rei!n has been a lon! parade o"
"ollies and disasters' That s%!!ests that someone is !iin! Co""re& some er& bad
co%nsel'3
+ersei !ae him a searchin! loo$' 1Co"" has had no lac$ o" !ood co%nsel' ,es alwa&s
been stron!-willed' Now that hes $in!, he beliees he sho%ld do as he pleases, not as
hes bid'3
1+rowns do )%eer thin!s to the heads beneath them,3 T&rion a!reed' 1This b%siness
with 5ddard Star$ ' ' ' Co""re&s wor$.3
The )%een !rimaced' 1,e was instr%cted to pardon Star$, to allow him to ta$e the
blac$' The man wo%ld hae been o%t o" o%r wa& "oreer, and we mi!ht hae made peace
with that son o" his, b%t Co"" too$ it %pon himsel" to !ie the mob a better show' (hat
was I to do. ,e called "or 7ord 5ddards head in "ront o" hal" the cit&' *nd Canos Sl&nt
and Ser Il&n went ahead blithel& and shortened the man witho%t a word "rom me@3 ,er
hand ti!htened into a "ist' 1The ,i!h Septon claims we pro"aned Baelors Sept with
blood, a"ter l&in! to him abo%t o%r intent'3
1It wo%ld seem he has a point,3 said T&rion' 1So this 7ord Sl&nt, he was part o" it, was
he. Tell me, whose "ine notion was it to !rant him ,arrenhal and name him to the
co%ncil.3
17ittle"in!er made the arran!ements' (e needed Sl&nts !old cloa$s' 5ddard Star$ was
plottin! with Benl& and hed written to 7ord Stannis, o""erin! him the throne' (e mi!ht
hae lost all' 5en so, it was a close thin!' I" Sansa hadnt come to me and told me all
her "athers plans ' ' '3
T&rion was s%rprised' 1Tr%l&. ,is own da%!hter.3 Sansa had alwa&s seemed s%ch a
sweet child, tender and co%rteo%s'
1The !irl was wet with loe' She wo%ld hae done an&thin! "or Co""re&, %ntil he c%t o""
her "athers head and called it merc&' That p%t an end to that'3
1,is 8race has a %ni)%e wa& o" winnin! the hearts o" his s%b9ects,3 T&rion said with a
croo$ed smile' 1(as it Co""re&s wish to dismiss Ser Barristan Selm& "rom his
6in!s!%ard too.3
+ersei si!hed' 1Co"" wanted someone to blame "or Boberts death' >ar&s s%!!ested Ser
Barristan' (h& not. It !ae Caime command o" the 6in!s!%ard and a seat on the small
co%ncil, and allowed Co"" to throw a bone to his do!' ,e is er& "ond o" Sandor +le!ane'
(e were prepared to o""er Selm& some land and a towerho%se, more than the %seless old
"ool desered'3
1I hear that %seless old "ool slew two o" Sl&nts !old cloa$s when the& tried to sei?e
him at the 2%d 8ate'3
,is sister loo$ed er& %nhapp&' 1Canos sho%ld hae sent more men' ,e is not as
competent as mi!ht be wished'3
1Ser Barristan was the 7ord +ommander o" Bobert Baratheons 6in!s!%ard,3 T&rion
reminded her pointedl&' 1,e and Caime are the onl& s%riors o" *er&s Tar!ar&ens
seen' The small"ol$ tal$ o" him in the same wa& the& tal$ o" Serw&n o" the 2irror
Shield and 4rince *emon the #ra!on$ni!ht' (hat do &o% ima!ine the&ll thin$ when
the& see Barristan the Bold ridin! beside Bobb Star$ or Stannis Baratheon.3
+ersei !lanced awa&' 1I had not considered that'3
1=ather did,3 said T&rion' 1That is wh& he sent me' To p%t an end to these "ollies and
brin! &o%r son to heel'3
1Co"" will be no more tractable "or &o% than "or me'3
1,e mi!ht'3
1(h& sho%ld he.3
1,e $nows &o% wo%ld neer h%rt him'3
+erseis e&es narrowed' 1I" &o% beliee Id eer allow &o% to harm m& son, &o%re sic$
with "eer'3
T&rion si!hed' Shed missed the point, as she did so o"ten' 1Co""re& is as sa"e with me
as he is with &o%,3 he ass%red her, 1b%t so lon! as the bo& "eels threatened, hell be more
inclined to listen'3 ,e too$ her hand' 1I am &o%r brother, &o% $now' ;o% need me,
whether &o% care to admit it or no' ;o%r son needs me, i" hes to hae a hope o" retainin!
that %!l& iron chair'3
,is sister seemed shoc$ed that he wo%ld to%ch her' 1;o% hae alwa&s been c%nnin!'3
1In m& own small wa&'3 ,e !rinned'
1It ma& be worth the tr&in! ' ' ' b%t ma$e no mista$e, T&rion' I" I accept &o%, &o% shall
be the 6in!s ,and in name, b%t m& ,and in tr%th' ;o% will share all &o%r plans and
intentions with me be"ore &o% act, and &o% will do nothin! witho%t m& consent' #o &o%
%nderstand.3
1/h, &es'3
1#o &o% a!ree.3
1+ertainl&,3 he lied' 1I am &o%rs, sister'3 =or as lon! as I need to be' 1So, now that we
are o" one p%rpose, we o%!ht hae no more secrets between %s' ;o% sa& Co""re& had 7ord
5ddard $illed, >ar&s dismissed Ser Barristan, and 7ittle"in!er !i"ted %s with 7ord Sl&nt'
(ho m%rdered Con *rr&n.3
+ersei &an$ed her hand bac$' 1,ow sho%ld I $now.3
1The !riein! widow in the 5&rie seems to thin$ it was me' (here did she come b&
that notion, I wonder.3
1Im s%re I dont $now' That "ool 5ddard Star$ acc%sed me o" the same thin!' ,e
hinted that 7ord *rr&n s%spected or ' ' ' well, belieed ' ' '3
1That &o% were "%c$in! o%r sweet Caime.3
She slapped him'
1#id &o% thin$ I was as blind as =ather.3 T&rion r%bbed his chee$' 1(ho &o% lie with
is no matter to me ' ' ' altho%!h it doesnt seem )%ite 9%st that &o% sho%ld open &o%r le!s
"or one brother and not the other'3
She slapped him'
1Be !entle, +ersei, Im onl& 9estin! with &o%' I" tr%th be told, Id sooner hae a nice
whore' I neer %nderstood what Caime saw in &o%, apart "rom his own re"lection'3
She slapped him'
,is chee$s were red and b%rnin!, &et he smiled' 1I" &o% $eep doin! that, I ma& !et
an!r&'3
That sta&ed her hand' 1(h& sho%ld I care i" &o% do.3
1I hae some new "riends,3 T&rion con"essed' 1;o% wont li$e them at all' ,ow did
&o% $ill Bobert.3
1,e did that himsel"' *ll we did was help' (hen 7ancel saw that Bobert was !oin!
a"ter boar, he !ae him stron!wine' ,is "aorite so%r red, b%t "orti"ied, three times as
potent as he was %sed to' The !reat stin$in! "ool loed it' ,e co%ld hae stopped
swillin! it down an&time he cared to, b%t no, he drained one s$in and told 7ancel to
"etch another' The boar did the rest' ;o% sho%ld hae been at the "east, T&rion' There has
neer been a boar so delicio%s' The& coo$ed it with m%shrooms and apples, and it tasted
li$e tri%mph'3
1Tr%l&, sister, &o% were born to be a widow'3 T&rion had rather li$ed Bobert Baratheon,
!reat bl%sterin! oa" that he was ' ' ' do%btless in part beca%se his sister loathed him so'
1Now, i" &o% are done slappin! me, I will be o""'3 ,e twisted his le!s aro%nd and
clambered down aw$wardl& "rom the chair'
+ersei "rowned' 1I haent !ien &o% leae to depart' I want to $now how &o% intend
to "ree Caime'3
1Ill tell &o% when I $now' Schemes are li$e "r%it, the& re)%ire a certain ripenin!' Bi!ht
now, I hae a mind to ride thro%!h the streets and ta$e the meas%re o" this cit&'3 T&rion
rested his hand on the head o" the sphin0 beside the door' 1/ne partin! re)%est' 6indl&
ma$e certain no harm comes to Sansa Star$' It wo%ld not do to lose both the da%!hters'3
/%tside the co%ncil chamber, T&rion nodded to Ser 2andon and made his wa& down
the lon! a%lted hall' Bronn "ell in beside him' /" Timett son o" Timett there was no
si!n' 1(heres o%r red hand.3 T&rion as$ed'
1,e "elt an %r!e to e0plore' ,is $ind was not made "or waitin! abo%t in halls'3
1I hope he doesnt $ill an&one important'3 The clansmen T&rion had bro%!ht down
"rom their "astnesses in the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon were lo&al in their own "ierce wa&,
b%t the& were pro%d and )%arrelsome as well, prone to answer ins%lts real or ima!ined
with steel' 1Tr& to "ind him' *nd while &o% are at it, see that the rest hae been )%artered
and "ed' I want them in the barrac$s beneath the Tower o" the ,and, b%t dont let the
steward p%t the Stone +rows near the 2oon Brothers, and tell him the B%rned 2en m%st
hae a hall all to themseles'3
1(here will &o% be.3
1Im ridin! bac$ to the Bro$en *nil'3
Bronn !rinned insolentl&' 1Need an escort. The tal$ is, the streets are dan!ero%s'3
1Ill call %pon the captain o" m& sisters ho%sehold !%ard, and remind him that I am no
less a 7annister than she is' ,e needs to recall that his oath is to +asterl& Boc$, not to
+ersei or Co""re&'3
*n ho%r later, T&rion rode "rom the Bed 6eep accompanied b& a do?en 7annister
!%ardsmen in crimson cloa$s and lion-crested hal"helms' *s the& passed beneath the
portc%llis, he noted the heads mo%nted atop the walls' Blac$ with rot and old tar, the&
had lon! since become %nreco!ni?able' 1+aptain >&larr,3 he called, 1I want those ta$en
down on the morrow' 8ie them to the silent sisters "or cleanin!'3 It wo%ld be hell to
match them with the bodies, he s%pposed, &et it m%st be done' 5en in the midst o" war
certain decencies needed to be obsered'
>&larr !rew hesitant' 1,is 8race has told %s he wishes the traitors heads to remain on
the walls %ntil he "ills those last three empt& spi$es there on the end'3
17et me ha?ard a wild stab' /ne is "or Bobb Star$, the others "or 7ords Stannis and
Benl&' (o%ld that be ri!ht.3
1;es, m& lord'3
12& nephew is thirteen &ears old toda&, >&larr' Tr& and recall that' Ill hae the heads
down on the morrow, or one o" those empt& spi$es ma& hae a di""erent lod!er' #o &o%
ta$e m& meanin!, +aptain.3
1Ill see that the&re ta$en down m&sel", m& lord'3
18ood'3 T&rion p%t his heels into his horse and trotted awa&, leain! the red cloa$s to
"ollow as best the& co%ld'
,e had told +ersei he intended to ta$e the meas%re o" the cit&' That was not entirel& a
lie' T&rion 7annister was not pleased b& m%ch o" what he saw' The streets o" 6in!s
7andin! had alwa&s been teemin! and ra%co%s and nois&, b%t now the& ree$ed o" dan!er
in a wa& that he did not recall "rom past isits' * na$ed corpse sprawled in the !%tter
near the Street o" 7ooms, bein! torn at b& a pac$ o" "eral do!s, &et no one seemed to
care' (atchmen were m%ch in eidence, moin! in pairs thro%!h the alle&s in their !old
cloa$s and shirts o" blac$ rin!mail, iron c%d!els neer "ar "rom their hands' The mar$ets
were crowded with ra!!ed men sellin! their ho%sehold !oods "or an& price the& co%ld
!et ' ' ' and conspic%o%sl& empt& o" "armers sellin! "ood' (hat little prod%ce he did see
was three times as costl& as it had been a &ear a!o' /ne peddler was haw$in! rats
roasted on a s$ewer' 1=resh rats,3 he cried lo%dl&, 1"resh rats'3 #o%btless "resh rats were
to be pre"erred to old stale rotten rats' The "ri!htenin! thin! was, the rats loo$ed more
appeti?in! than most o" what the b%tchers were sellin!' /n the Street o" =lo%r, T&rion
saw !%ards at eer& other shop door' (hen times !rew lean, een ba$ers "o%nd
sellswords cheaper than bread, he re"lected'
1There is no "ood comin! in, is there.3 he said to >&larr'
17ittle eno%!h,3 the captain admitted' 1(ith the war in the rierlands and 7ord Benl&
raisin! rebels in ,i!h!arden, the roads are closed to so%th and west'3
1*nd what has m& !ood sister done abo%t this.3
1She is ta$in! steps to restore the $in!s peace,3 >&larr ass%red him' 17ord Sl&nt has
tripled the si?e o" the +it& (atch, and the )%een has p%t a tho%sand cra"tsmen to wor$
on o%r de"enses' The stonemasons are stren!thenin! the walls, carpenters are b%ildin!
scorpions and catap%lts b& the h%ndred, "letchers are ma$in! arrows, the smiths are
"or!in! blades, and the *lchemists 8%ild has pled!ed ten tho%sand 9ars o" wild"ire'3
T&rion shi"ted %ncom"ortabl& in his saddle' ,e was pleased that +ersei had not been
idle, b%t wild"ire was treachero%s st%"", and ten tho%sand 9ars were eno%!h to t%rn all o"
6in!s 7andin! into cinders' 1(here has m& sister "o%nd the coin to pa& "or all o" this.3
it was no secret that 6in! Bobert had le"t the crown astl& in debt, and alchemists were
seldom mista$en "or altr%ists'
17ord 7ittle"in!er alwa&s "inds a wa&, m& lord' ,e has imposed a ta0 on those wishin!
to enter the cit&'3
1;es, that wo%ld wor$,3 T&rion said, thin$in!, +leer' +leer and cr%el' Tens o"
tho%sands had "led the "i!htin! "or the s%pposed sa"et& o" 6in!s 7andin!' ,e had seen
them on the $in!sroad, tro%pes o" mothers and children and an0io%s "athers who had
!a?ed on his horses and wa!ons with coeto%s e&es' /nce the& reached the cit& the&
wo%ld do%btless pa& oer all the& had to p%t those hi!h com"ortin! walls between them
and the war ' ' ' tho%!h the& mi!ht thin$ twice i" the& $new abo%t the wild"ire'
The inn beneath the si!n o" the bro$en anil stood within si!ht o" those walls, near the
8ate o" the 8ods where the& had entered that mornin!' *s the& rode into its co%rt&ard, a
bo& ran o%t to help T&rion down "rom his horse' 1Ta$e &o%r men bac$ to the castle,3 he
told >&larr' 1Ill be spendin! the ni!ht here'3
The captain loo$ed d%bio%s' 1(ill &o% be sa"e, m& lord.3
1(ell, as to that, +aptain, when I le"t the inn this mornin! it was "%ll o" Blac$ 5ars'
/ne is neer )%ite sa"e when +hella da%!hter o" +he&$ is abo%t'3 T&rion waddled
toward the door, leain! >&larr to p%??le at his meanin!'
* !%st o" merriment !reeted him as he shoed into the inns common room' ,e
reco!ni?ed +hellas throat& ch%c$le and the li!hter m%sic o" Shaes la%!hter' The !irl
was seated b& the hearth, sippin! wine at a ro%nd wooden table with three o" the Blac$
5ars hed le"t to !%ard her and a pl%mp man whose bac$ was to him' The inn$eeper, he
ass%med ' ' ' %ntil Shae called T&rion b& name and the intr%der rose' 12& !ood lord, I
am so pleased to see &o%,3 he !%shed, a so"t e%n%chs smile on his powdered "ace'
T&rion st%mbled' 17ord >ar&s' I had not tho%!ht to see &o% here'3 The /thers ta$e
him, how did he "ind them so )%ic$l&.
1=or!ie me i" I intr%de,3 >ar&s said' 1I was ta$en b& a s%dden %r!e to meet &o%r
&o%n! lad&'3
1;o%n! lad&,3 Shae repeated, saorin! the words' 1;o%re hal" ri!ht, mlord' Im
&o%n!'3
5i!hteen, T&rion tho%!ht' 5i!hteen, and a whore, b%t )%ic$ o" wit, nimble as a cat
between the sheets, with lar!e dar$ e&es and "ine blac$ hair and a sweet, so"t, h%n!r&
little mo%th ' ' ' and mine@ #amn &o%, e%n%ch' 1I "ear Im the intr%der, 7ord >ar&s,3 he
said with "orced co%rtes&' 1(hen I came in, &o% were in the midst o" some merriment'3
12lord >ar&s complimented +hella on her ears and said she m%st hae $illed man&
men to hae s%ch a "ine nec$lace,3 Shae e0plained' It !rated on him to hear her call
>ar&s mlord in that tone: that was what she called him in their pillow pla&' 1*nd +hella
told him onl& cowards $ill the an)%ished'3
1Braer to leae the man alie, with a chance to cleanse his shame b& winnin! bac$ his
ear,3 e0plained +hella, a small dar$ woman whose !risl& nec$ware was h%n! with no
less than "ort&-si0 dried, wrin$led ears' T&rion had co%nted them once' 1/nl& so can &o%
proe &o% do not "ear &o%r enemies'3
Shae hooted' 1*nd then mlord sa&s i" he was a Blac$ 5ar hed neer sleep, "or dreams
o" one-eared men'3
1* problem I will neer need "ace,3 T&rion said' 1Im terri"ied o" m& enemies, so I $ill
them all'3
>ar&s !i!!led' 1(ill &o% ta$e some wine with %s, m& lord.3
1Ill ta$e some wine'3 T&rion seated himsel" beside Shae' ,e %nderstood what was
happenin! here, i" +hella and the !irl did not' >ar&s was delierin! a messa!e' (hen he
said, I was ta$en b& a s%dden %r!e to meet &o%r &o%n! lad&, what he meant was, ;o%
tried to hide her, b%t I $new where she was, and who she was, and here I am' ,e
wondered who had betra&ed him' The inn$eeper, that bo& in the stable, a !%ard on the
!ate ' ' ' or one o" his own.
1I alwa&s li$e to ret%rn to the cit& thro%!h the 8ate o" the 8ods,3 >ar&s told Shae as he
"illed the wine c%ps' 1The carin!s on the !ateho%se are e0)%isite, the& ma$e me weep
each time I see them' The e&es ' ' ' so e0pressie, dont &o% thin$. The& almost seem to
"ollow &o% as &o% ride beneath the portc%llis'3
1I neer noticed, mlord,3 Shae replied' 1Ill loo$ a!ain on the morrow, i" it please
&o%'3
#ont bother, sweetlin!, T&rion tho%!ht, swirlin! the wine in the c%p' ,e cares not a
whit abo%t carin!s' The e&es he boasts o" are his own' (hat he means is that he was
watchin!, that he $new we were here the moment we passed thro%!h the !ates'
1#o be care"%l, child,3 >ar&s %r!ed' 16in!s 7andin! is not wholl& sa"e these da&s' I
$now these streets well, and &et I almost "eared to come toda&, alone and %narmed as I
was' 7awless men are eer&where in this dar$ time, oh, &es' 2en with cold steel and
colder hearts'3 (here I can come alone and %narmed, others can come with swords in
their "ists, he was sa&in!'
Shae onl& la%!hed' 1I" the& tr& and bother me, the&ll be one ear short when +hella
r%ns them o""'3
>ar&s hooted as i" that was the "%nniest thin! he had eer heard, b%t there was no
la%!hter in his e&es when he t%rned them on T&rion' 1;o%r &o%n! lad& has an amiable
wa& to her' I sho%ld ta$e er& !ood care o" her i" I were &o%'3
1I intend to' *n& man who tries to harm herAwell, Im too small to be a Blac$ 5ar,
and I ma$e no claims to co%ra!e'3 See. I spea$ the same ton!%e &o% do, e%n%ch' ,%rt
her, and Ill hae &o%r head'
1I will leae &o%'3 >ar&s rose' 1I $now how wear& &o% m%st be' I onl& wished to
welcome &o%, m& lord, and tell &o% how er& pleased I am b& &o%r arrial' (e hae dire
need o" &o% on the co%ncil' ,ae &o% seen the comet.3
1Im short, not blind,3 T&rion said' /%t on the $in!sroad, it had seemed to coer hal"
the s$&, o%tshinin! the crescent moon'
1In the streets, the& call it the Bed 2essen!er,3 >ar&s said' 1The& sa& it comes as a
herald be"ore a $in!, to warn o" "ire and blood to "ollow'3 The e%n%ch r%bbed his
powdered hands to!ether' 12a& I leae &o% with a bit o" a riddle, 7ord T&rion.3 ,e did
not wait "or an answer' 1In a room sit three !reat men, a $in!, a priest, and a rich man
with his !old' Between them stands a sellsword, a little man o" common birth and no
!reat mind' 5ach o" the !reat ones bids him sla& the other two' D#o it sa&s the $in!, D"or
I am &o%r law"%l r%ler' D#o it sa&s the priest, D"or I command &o% in the names o" the
!ods' D#o it sa&s the rich man, Dand all this !old shall be &o%rs' So tell meAwho lies
and who dies.3 Bowin! deepl&, the e%n%ch h%rried "rom the common room on so"t
slippered "eet'
(hen he was !one, +hella !ae a snort and Shae wrin$led %p her prett& "ace' 1The
rich man lies' #oesnt he.3
T&rion sipped at his wine, tho%!ht"%l' 14erhaps' /r not' That wo%ld depend on the
sellsword, it seems'3 ,e set down his c%p' 1+ome, lets !o %pstairs'3
She had to wait "or him at the top o" the steps, "or her le!s were slim and s%pple while
his were short and st%nted and "%ll o" aches' B%t she was smilin! when he reached her'
1#id &o% miss me.3 she teased as she too$ his hand'
1#esperatel&,3 T&rion admitted' Shae onl& stood a shade oer "ie "eet, &et still he
m%st loo$ %p to her ' ' ' b%t in her case he "o%nd he did not mind' She was sweet to loo$
%p at'
1;o%ll miss me all the time in &o%r Bed 6eep,3 she said as she led him to her room'
1*ll alone in &o%r cold bed in &o%r Tower o" the ,and'3
1Too tr%e'3 T&rion wo%ld !ladl& hae $ept her with him, b%t his lord "ather had
"orbidden it' ;o% will not ta$e the whore to co%rt, 7ord T&win had commanded'
Brin!in! her to the cit& was as m%ch de"iance as he dared' *ll his a%thorit& deried "rom
his "ather, the !irl had to %nderstand that' 1;o% wont be "ar,3 he promised' 1;o%ll hae
a ho%se, with !%ards and serants, and Ill isit as o"ten as Im able'3
Shae $ic$ed sh%t the door' Thro%!h the clo%d& panes o" the narrow window, he co%ld
ma$e o%t the 8reat Sept o" Baelor crownin! >isen&as ,ill b%t T&rion was distracted b&
a di""erent si!ht' Bendin!, Shae too$ her !own b& the hem, drew it oer her head, and
tossed it aside' She did not beliee in smallclothes' 1;o%ll neer be able to rest,3 she
said as she stood be"ore him, pin$ and n%de and loel&, one hand braced on her hip'
1;o%ll thin$ o" me eer& time &o% !o to bed' Then &o%ll !et hard and &o%ll hae no
one to help &o% and &o%ll neer be able to sleep %nless &o%3Ashe !rinned that wic$ed
!rin T&rion li$ed so wellA3is that wh& the& call it the Tower o" the ,and, mlord.3
1Be )%iet and $iss me,3 he commanded'
,e co%ld taste the wine on her lips, and "eel her small "irm breasts pressed a!ainst him
as her "in!ers moed to the lacin!s o" his breeches' 12& lion,3 she whispered when he
bro$e o"" the $iss to %ndress' 12& sweet lord, m& !iant o" 7annister'3 T&rion p%shed her
toward the bed' (hen he entered her, she screamed lo%d eno%!h to wa$e Baelor the
Blessed in his tomb, and her nails le"t !o%!es in his bac$' ,ed neer had a pain he li$ed
hal" so well'
=ool, he tho%!ht to himsel" a"terward, as the& la& in the center o" the sa!!in! mattress
amidst the r%mpled sheets' (ill &o% neer learn, dwar". Shes a whore, damn &o%, its
&o%r coin she loes, not &o%r coc$' Bemember T&sha. ;et when his "in!ers trailed
li!htl& oer one nipple, it sti""ened at the to%ch, and he co%ld see the mar$ on her breast
where hed bitten her in his passion'
1So what will &o% do, mlord, now that &o%re the ,and o" the 6in!.3 Shae as$ed him
as he c%pped that warm sweet "lesh'
1Somethin! +ersei will neer e0pect,3 T&rion m%rm%red so"tl& a!ainst her slender
nec$' 1Ill do ' ' ' 9%stice'3
C#APT"R )
*RA'
Bran pre"erred the hard stone o" the window seat to the com"orts o" his "eatherbed and
blan$ets' *bed, the walls pressed close and the ceilin! h%n! hea& aboe him: abed, the
room was his cell, and (inter"ell his prison' ;et o%tside his window, the wide world still
called'
,e co%ld not wal$, nor climb nor h%nt nor "i!ht with a wooden sword as once he had,
b%t he co%ld still loo$' ,e li$ed to watch the windows be!in to !low all oer (inter"ell
as candles and hearth "ires were lit behind the diamond-shaped panes o" tower and hall,
and he loed to listen to the direwoles sin! to the stars'
/" late, he o"ten dreamed o" woles' The& are tal$in! to me, brother to brother, he told
himsel" when the direwoles howled' ,e co%ld almost %nderstand them ' ' ' not )%ite,
not tr%l&, b%t almost ' ' ' as i" the& were sin!in! in a lan!%a!e he had once $nown and
somehow "or!otten' The (alders mi!ht be scared o" them, b%t the Star$s had wol"
blood' /ld Nan told him so' 1Tho%!h it is stron!er in some than in others,3 she warned'
S%mmers howls were lon! and sad, "%ll o" !rie" and lon!in!' Sha!!&do!s were more
saa!e' Their oices echoed thro%!h the &ards and halls %ntil the castle ran! and it
seemed as tho%!h some !reat pac$ o" direwoles ha%nted (inter"ell, instead o" onl& two
' ' ' two where there had once been si0' #o the& miss their brothers and sisters too. Bran
wondered' *re the& callin! to 8re& (ind and 8host, to N&meria and 7ad&s Shade. #o
the& want them to come home and be a pac$ to!ether.
1(ho can $now the mind o" a wol".3 Ser Bodri$ +assel said when Bran as$ed him
wh& the& howled' Brans lad& mother had named him castellan o" (inter"ell in her
absence, and his d%ties le"t him little time "or idle )%estions'
1Its "reedom the&re callin! "or,3 declared =arlen, who was $ennelmaster and had no
more loe "or the direwoles than his ho%nds did' 1The& dont li$e bein! walled %p, and
whos to blame them. (ild thin!s belon! in the wild, not in a castle'3
1The& want to h%nt,3 a!reed 8a!e the coo$ as he tossed c%bes o" s%et in a !reat $ettle
o" stew' 1* wol" smells bettern an& man' 7i$e as not, the&e ca%!ht the scent o pre&'3
2aester 7%win did not thin$ so' 1(oles o"ten howl at the moon' These are howlin! at
the comet' See how bri!ht it is, Bran. 4erchance the& thin$ it is the moon'3
(hen Bran repeated that to /sha, she la%!hed alo%d' 1;o%r woles hae more wit than
&o%r maester,3 the wildlin! woman said' 1The& $now tr%ths the !re& man has "or!otten'3
The wa& she said it made him shier, and when he as$ed what the comet meant, she
answered, 1Blood and "ire, bo&, and nothin! sweet'3
Bran as$ed Septon +ha&le abo%t the comet while the& were sortin! thro%!h some
scrolls snatched "rom the librar& "ire' 1It is the sword that sla&s the season,3 he replied,
and soon a"ter the white raen came "rom /ldtown brin!in! word o" a%t%mn, so
do%btless he was ri!ht'
Tho%!h /ld Nan did not thin$ so, and shed lied lon!er than an& o" them' 1#ra!ons,3
she said, li"tin! her head and sni""in!' She was near blind and co%ld not see the comet,
&et she claimed she co%ld smell it' 1It be dra!ons, bo&,3 she insisted' Bran !ot no princes
"rom Nan, no more than he eer had'
,odor said onl&, 1,odor'3 That was all he eer said'
*nd still the direwoles howled' The !%ards on the walls m%ttered c%rses, ho%nds in
the $ennels bar$ed "%rio%sl&, horses $ic$ed at their stalls, the (alders shiered b& their
"ire, and een 2aester 7%win complained o" sleepless ni!hts' /nl& Bran did not mind'
Ser Bodri$ had con"ined the woles to the !odswood a"ter Sha!!&do! bit 7ittle (alder,
b%t the stones o" (inter"ell pla&ed )%eer tric$s with so%nd, and sometimes it so%nded as
i" the& were in the &ard ri!ht below Brans window' /ther times he wo%ld hae sworn
the& were %p on the c%rtain walls, lopin! ro%nd li$e sentries' ,e wished that he co%ld
see them'
,e co%ld see the comet han!in! aboe the 8%ards ,all and the Bell Tower, and "arther
bac$ the =irst 6eep, s)%at and ro%nd, its !ar!o&les blac$ shapes a!ainst the br%ised
p%rple d%s$' /nce Bran had $nown eer& stone o" those b%ildin!s, inside and o%t: he
had climbed them all, scamperin! %p walls as easil& as other bo&s ran down stairs' Their
roo"tops had been his secret places, and the crows atop the bro$en tower his special
"riends'
*nd then he had "allen'
Bran did not remember "allin!, &et the& said he had, so he s%pposed it m%st be tr%e' ,e
had almost died' (hen he saw the weatherworn !ar!o&les atop the =irst 6eep where it
had happened, he !ot a )%eer ti!ht "eelin! in his bell&' *nd now he co%ld not climb, nor
wal$ nor r%n nor sword"i!ht, and the dreams hed dreamed o" $ni!hthood had so%red in
his head'
S%mmer had howled the da& Bran had "allen, and "or lon! a"ter as he la& bro$en in his
bed: Bobb had told him so be"ore he went awa& to war' S%mmer had mo%rned "or him,
and Sha!!&do! and 8re& (ind had 9oined in his !rie"' *nd the ni!ht the blood& raen
had bro%!ht word o" their "athers death, the woles had $nown that too' Bran had been
in the maesters t%rret with Bic$on tal$in! o" the children o" the "orest when S%mmer
and Sha!!&do! had drowned o%t 7%win with their howls' (ho are the& mo%rnin! now.
,ad some enem& slain the 6in! in the North, who %sed to be his brother Bobb. ,ad his
bastard brother Con Snow "allen "rom the (all. ,ad his mother died, or one o" his
sisters. /r was this somethin! else, as maester and septon and /ld Nan seemed to thin$.
I" I were tr%l& a direwol", I wo%ld %nderstand the son!, he tho%!ht wist"%ll&' In his
wol" dreams, he co%ld race %p the sides o" mo%ntains, 9a!!ed ic& mo%ntains taller than
an& tower, and stand at the s%mmit beneath the "%ll moon with all the world below him,
the wa& it %sed to be'
1/ooo,3 Bran cried tentatiel&' ,e c%pped his hands aro%nd his mo%th and li"ted his
head to the comet' 1/oooooooooooooooooo, ahooooooooooooooo,3 he howled' It
so%nded st%pid, hi!h and hollow and )%aerin!, a little bo&s howl, not a wol"s' ;et
S%mmer !ae answer, his deep oice drownin! o%t Brans thin one, and Sha!!&do!
made it a chor%s' Bran haroooed a!ain' The& howled to!ether, last o" their pac$'
The noise bro%!ht a !%ard to his door, ,a&head with the wen on his nose' ,e peered
in, saw Bran howlin! o%t the window, and said, 1(hats this, m& prince.3
It made Bran "eel )%eer when the& called him prince, tho%!h he was Bobbs heir, and
Bobb was 6in! in the North now' ,e t%rned his head to howl at the !%ard' 1/ooooooo'
/o-oo-oooooooooooo'3
,a&head screwed %p his "ace' 1Now &o% stop that there'3
1/oo-/oo-/ooooo' /oo-/oo-/oooooooooooooooo'3
The !%ardsman retreated' (hen he came bac$, 2aester 7%win was with him, all in
!re&, his chain ti!ht abo%t his nec$' 1Bran, those beasts ma$e s%""icient noise witho%t
&o%r help'3 ,e crossed the room and p%t his hand on the bo&s brow' 1The ho%r !rows
late, &o% o%!ht to be "ast asleep'3
1Im tal$in! to the woles'3 Bran br%shed the hand awa&'
1Shall I hae ,a&head carr& &o% to &o%r bed.3
1I can !et to bed m&sel"'3 2i$$en had hammered a row o" iron bars into the wall, so
Bran co%ld p%ll himsel" abo%t the room with his arms' It was slow and hard and it made
his sho%lders ache, b%t he hated bein! carried' 1*n&wa&, I dont hae to sleep i" I dont
want to'3
1*ll men m%st sleep, Bran' 5en princes'3
1(hen I sleep I t%rn into a wol"'3 Bran t%rned his "ace awa& and loo$ed bac$ o%t into
the ni!ht' 1#o woles dream.3
1*ll creat%res dream, I thin$, &et not as men do'3
1#o dead men dream.3 Bran as$ed, thin$in! o" his "ather' In the dar$ cr&pts below
(inter"ell, a stonemason was chiselin! o%t his "athers li$eness in !ranite'
1Some sa& &es, some no,3 the maester answered' 1The dead themseles are silent on
the matter'3
1#o trees dream.3
1Trees. No ' ' '3
1The& do,3 Bran said with s%dden certaint&' 1The& dream tree dreams' I dream o" a
tree sometimes' * weirwood, li$e the one in the !odswood' It calls to me' The wol"
dreams are better' I smell thin!s, and sometimes I can taste the blood'3
2aester 7%win t%!!ed at his chain where it cha"ed his nec$' 1I" &o% wo%ld onl& spend
more time with the other childrenA3
1I hate the other children,3 Bran said, meanin! the (alders' 1I commanded &o% to send
them awa&'3
7%win !rew stern' 1The =re&s are &o%r lad& mothers wards, sent here to be "ostered at
her e0press command' It is not "or &o% to e0pel them, nor is it $ind' I" we t%rned them
o%t, where wo%ld the& !o.3
1,ome' Its their "a%lt &o% wont let me hae S%mmer'3
1The =re& bo& did not as$ to be attac$ed,3 the maester said, 1no more than I did'3
1That was Sha!!&do!'3 Bic$ons bi! blac$ wol" was so wild he een "ri!htened Bran
at times' 1S%mmer neer bit an&one'3
1S%mmer ripped o%t a mans throat in this er& chamber, or hae &o% "or!otten. The
tr%th is, those sweet p%ps &o% and &o%r brothers "o%nd in the snow hae !rown into
dan!ero%s beasts' The =re& bo&s are wise to be war& o" them'3
1(e sho%ld p%t the (alders in the !odswood' The& co%ld pla& lord o" the crossin! all
the& want, and S%mmer co%ld sleep with me a!ain' I" Im the prince, wh& wont &o%
heed me. I wanted to ride #ancer, b%t *lebell& wo%ldnt let me past the !ate'3
1*nd ri!htl& so' The wol"swood is "%ll o" dan!er: &o%r last ride sho%ld hae ta%!ht &o%
that' (o%ld &o% want some o%tlaw to ta$e &o% captie and sell &o% to the 7annisters.3
1S%mmer wo%ld sae me,3 Bran insisted st%bbornl&' 14rinces sho%ld be allowed to sail
the sea and h%nt boar in the wol"swood and 9o%st with lances'3
1Bran, child, wh& do &o% torment &o%rsel" so. /ne da& &o% ma& do some o" these
thin!s, b%t now &o% are onl& a bo& o" ei!ht'3
1Id sooner be a wol"' Then I co%ld lie in the wood and sleep when I wanted, and I
co%ld "ind *r&a and Sansa' Id smell where the& were and !o sae them, and when Bobb
went to battle Id "i!ht beside him li$e 8re& (ind' Id tear o%t the 6in!sla&ers throat
with m& teeth, rip, and then the war wo%ld be oer and eer&one wo%ld come bac$ to
(inter"ell' I" I was a wol" ' ' '3 ,e howled' 1/oo-ooo-oooooooooooo'
7%win raised his oice' 1* tr%e prince wo%ld welcomeA3
1**,///////,3 Bran howled, lo%der' 1**,////////////3
The maester s%rrendered' 1*s &o% will, child'3 (ith a loo$ that was part !rie" and part
dis!%st, he le"t the bedchamber'
,owlin! lost its saor once Bran was alone' *"ter a time he )%ieted' I did welcome
them, he told himsel", resent"%l' I was the lord in (inter"ell, a tr%e lord, he cant sa& I
wasnt' (hen the (alders had arried "rom the Twins, it had been Bic$on who wanted
them !one' * bab& o" "o%r, he had screamed that he wanted 2other and =ather and
Bobb, not these stran!ers' It had been %p to Bran to soothe him and bid the =re&s
welcome' ,e had o""ered them meat and mead and a seat b& the "ire, and een 2aester
7%win had said a"terward that hed done well'
/nl& that was be"ore the !ame'
The !ame was pla&ed with a lo!, a sta"", a bod& o" water, and a !reat deal o" sho%tin!'
The water was the most important, (alder and (alder ass%red Bran' ;o% co%ld %se a
plan$ or een a series o" stones, and a branch co%ld be &o%r sta""' ;o% didnt hae to
sho%t' B%t witho%t water, there was no !ame' *s 2aester 7%win and Ser Bodri$ were
not abo%t to let the children !o wanderin! o"" into the wol"swood in search o" a stream,
the& made do with one o" the m%r$& pools in the !odswood' (alder and (alder had
neer seen hot water b%bblin! "rom the !ro%nd be"ore, b%t the& both allowed how it
wo%ld ma$e the !ame een better'
Both o" them were called (alder =re&' Bi! (alder said there were b%nches o" (alders
at the Twins, all named a"ter the bo&s !rand"ather, 7ord (alder =re&' 1(e hae o%r own
names at (inter"ell,3 Bic$on told them ha%!htil& when he heard that'
The wa& their !ame was pla&ed, &o% laid the lo! across the water, and one pla&er stood
in the middle with the stic$' ,e was the lord o" the crossin!, and when one o" the other
pla&ers came %p, he had to sa&, 1I am the lord o" the crossin!, who !oes there.3 *nd the
other pla&er had to ma$e %p a speech abo%t who the& were and wh& the& sho%ld be
allowed to cross' The lord co%ld ma$e them swear oaths and answer )%estions' The&
didnt hae to tell the tr%th, b%t the oaths were bindin! %nless the& said 12a&baps,3 so
the tric$ was to sa& 12a&haps3 so the lord o" the crossin! didnt notice' Then &o% co%ld
tr& and $noc$ the lord into the water and &o% !ot to be lord o" the crossin!, b%t onl& i"
&o%d said 12a&haps'3 /therwise &o% were o%t o" the !ame' The lord !ot to $noc$
an&one in the water an&time he pleased, and he was the onl& one who !ot to %se a stic$'
In practice, the !ame seemed to come down to mostl& shoin!, hittin!, and "allin! into
the water, alon! with a lot o" lo%d ar!%ments abo%t whether or not someone had said
12a&haps'3 7ittle (alder was lord o" the crossin! more o"ten than not'
,e was 7ittle (alder een tho%!h he was tall and sto%t, with a red "ace and a bi!
ro%nd bell&' Bi! (alder was sharp-"aced and s$inn& and hal" a "oot shorter' 1,es "i"t&-
two da&s older than me,3 7ittle (alder e0plained, 1so he was bi!!er at "irst, b%t I !rew
"aster'3
1(ere co%sins, not brothers,3 added Bi! (alder, the little one' 1Im (alder son o"
Cammos' 2& "ather was 7ord (alders son b& his "o%rth wi"e' ,es (alder son o"
2errett' ,is !randmother was 7ord (alders third wi"e, the +ra$ehall' ,es ahead o" me
in the line o" s%ccession een tho%!h Im older'3
1/nl& b& "i"t&-two da&s,3 7ittle (alder ob9ected' 1*nd neither o" %s will eer hold the
Twins, st%pid'3
1I will,3 Bi! (alder declared' 1(ere not the onl& (alders either' Ser Steron has a
!randson, Blac$ (alder, hes "o%rth in line o" s%ccession, and theres Bed (alder, Ser
5mmons son, and Bastard (alder, who isnt in the line at all' ,es called (alder Biers
not (alder =re&' 4l%s theres !irls named (alda'3
1*nd T&r' ;o% alwa&s "or!et T&r'3
1,es (alt&r, not (alder,3 Bi! (alder said airil&' 1*nd hes a"ter %s, so he doesnt
matter' *n&how, I neer li$ed him'3
Ser Bodri$ decreed that the& wo%ld share Con Snows old bedchamber, since Con was
in the Ni!hts (atch and neer comin! bac$' Bran hated that: it made him "eel as i" the
=re&s were tr&in! to steal Cons place'
,e had watched wist"%ll& while the (alders contested with T%rnip the coo$s bo& and
Coseths !irls Band& and Sh&ra' The (alders had decreed that Bran sho%ld be the 9%d!e
and decide whether or not people had said 12a&baps,3 b%t as soon as the& started
pla&in! the& "or!ot all abo%t him'
The sho%ts and splashes soon drew others: 4alla the $ennel !irl, +a&ns bo& +alon,
TomToo whose "ather =at Tom had died with Brans "ather at 6in!s 7andin!' Be"ore
er& lon!, eer& one o" them was soa$ed and m%dd&' 4alla was brown "rom head to
heel, with moss in her hair, breathless "rom la%!hter' Bran had not heard so m%ch
la%!hin! since the ni!ht the blood& raen came' I" I had m& le!s, Id $noc$ all o" them
into the water, he tho%!ht bitterl&' No one wo%ld eer be lord o" the crossin! b%t me'
=inall& Bic$on came r%nnin! into the !odswood, Sha!!&do! at his heels' ,e watched
T%rnip and 7ittle (alder str%!!le "or the stic$ %ntil T%rnip lost his "ootin! and went in
with a h%!e splash, arms wain!' Bic$on &elled, 12e@ 2e now@ I want to pla&@3 7ittle
(alder bec$oned him on, and Sha!!&do! started to "ollow' 1No, Sha!!&,3 his brother
commanded' 1(oles cant pla&' ;o% sta& with Bran'3 *nd he did ' ' '
' ' ' %ntil 7ittle (alder had smac$ed Bic$on with the stic$, s)%are across his bell&'
Be"ore Bran co%ld blin$, the blac$ wol" was "l&in! oer the plan$, there was blood in
the water, the (alders were shrie$in! red m%rder, Bic$on sat in the m%d la%!hin!, and
,odor came l%mberin! in sho%tin! 1,odor@ ,odor@ ,odor@3
*"ter that, oddl&, Bic$on decided he li$ed the (alders' The& neer pla&ed lord o" the
crossin! a!ain, b%t the& pla&ed other !amesAmonsters and maidens, rats and cats,
come-into-m&-castle, all sorts o" thin!s' (ith Bic$on b& their side, the (alders
pl%ndered the $itchens "or pies and hone&combs, raced ro%nd the walls, tossed bones to
the p%ps in the $ennels, and trained with wooden swords %nder Ser Bodri$s sharp e&e'
Bic$on een showed them the deep a%lts %nder the earth where the stonemason was
carin! "athers tomb' 1;o% had no ri!ht@3 Bran screamed at his brother when he heard'
1That was o%r place, a Star$ place@3 B%t Bic$on neer cared'
The door to his bedchamber opened' 2aester 7%win was carr&in! a !reen 9ar, and this
time /sha and ,a&head came with him' 1Ie made &o% a sleepin! dra%!ht, Bran'3
/sha scooped him %p in her bon& arms' She was er& tall "or a woman, and wir&
stron!' She bore him e""ortlessl& to his bed'
1This will !ie &o% dreamless sleep,3 2aester 7%win said as he p%lled the stopper
"rom the 9ar' 1Sweet, dreamless sleep'3
1It will.3 Bran said, wantin! to beliee'
1;es' #rin$'3
Bran dran$' The potion was thic$ and chal$&, b%t there was hone& in it so it went down
eas&'
1+ome the morn, &o%ll "eel better'3 7%win !ae Bran a smile and a pat as he too$ his
leae'
/sha lin!ered behind' 1Is it the wol" dreams a!ain.3
Bran nodded'
1;o% sho%ld not "i!ht so hard, bo&' I see &o% tal$in! to the heart tree' 2i!ht be the
!ods are tr&in! to tal$ bac$'3
1The !ods.3 he m%rm%red, drows& alread&' /shas "ace !rew bl%rr& and !re&' Sweet,
dreamless sleep, Bran tho%!ht'
;et when the dar$ness closed oer him, he "o%nd himsel" in the !odswood, moin!
silentl& beneath !reen-!re& sentinels and !narled oa$s as old as time' I am wal$in!, he
tho%!ht, e0%ltin!' 4art o" him $new that it was onl& a dream, b%t een the dream o"
wal$in! was better than the tr%th o" his bedchamber, walls and ceilin! and door'
It was dar$ amon!st the trees, b%t the comet lit his wa&, and his "eet were s%re' ,e was
moin! on "o%r !ood le!s, stron! and swi"t, and he co%ld "eel the !ro%nd %nder"oot, the
so"t crac$lin! o" "allen leaes, thic$ roots and hard stones, the deep la&ers o" h%m%s' It
was a !ood "eelin!'
The smells "illed his head, alie and into0icatin!: the !reen m%dd& stin$ o" the hot
pools, the per"%me o" rich rottin! earth beneath his paws, the s)%irrels in the oa$s' The
scent o" s)%irrel made him remember the taste o" hot blood and the wa& the bones wo%ld
crac$ between his teeth' Slaer "illed his mo%th' ,e had eaten no more than hal" a da&
past, b%t there was no 9o& in dead meat, een deer' ,e co%ld hear the s)%irrels chitterin!
and r%stlin! aboe him, sa"e amon! their leaes, b%t the& $new better than to come
down to where his brother and he were prowlin!'
,e co%ld smell his brother too, a "amiliar scent, stron! and earth&, his scent as blac$ as
his coat' ,is brother was lopin! aro%nd the walls, "%ll o" "%r&' Bo%nd and ro%nd he went,
ni!ht a"ter da& a"ter ni!ht, tireless, searchin! ' ' ' "or pre&, "or a wa& o%t, "or his mother,
his littermates, his pac$ ' ' ' searchin!, searchin!, and neer "indin!'
Behind the trees the walls rose, piles o" dead man-roc$ that loomed all abo%t this spec$
o" liin! wood' Spec$led !re& the& rose, and moss-spotted, &et thic$ and stron! and
hi!her than an& wol" co%ld hope to leap' +old iron and splinter& wood closed o"" the
onl& holes thro%!h the piled stones that hemmed them in' ,is brother wo%ld stop at
eer& hole and bare his "an!s in ra!e, b%t the wa&s sta&ed closed'
,e had done the same the "irst ni!ht, and learned that it was no !ood' Snarls wo%ld
open no paths here' +irclin! the walls wo%ld not p%sh them bac$' 7i"tin! a le! and
mar$in! the trees wo%ld $eep no men awa&' The world had ti!htened aro%nd them, b%t
be&ond the walled wood still stood the !reat !re& caes o" man-roc$' (inter"ell, he
remembered, the so%nd comin! to him s%ddenl&' Be&ond its s$&-tall man-cli""s the tr%e
world was callin!, and he $new he m%st answer or die'
C#APT"R +
AR%A
The& traeled dawn to d%s$, past woods and orchards and neatl& tended "ields, thro%!h
small illa!es, crowded mar$et towns, and sto%t hold"asts' +ome dar$, the& wo%ld ma$e
camp and eat b& the li!ht o" the Bed Sword' The men too$ t%rns standin! watch' *r&a
wo%ld !limpse "ireli!ht "lic$erin! thro%!h the trees "rom the camps o" other traelers'
There seemed to be more camps eer& ni!ht, and more tra""ic on the $in!sroad b& da&'
2orn, noon, and ni!ht the& came, old "ol$s and little children, bi! men and small ones,
bare"oot !irls and women with babes at their breasts' Some droe "arm wa!ons or
b%mped alon! in the bac$ o" o0 carts' 2ore rode: dra"t horses, ponies, m%les, don$e&s,
an&thin! that wo%ld wal$ or r%n or roll' /ne woman led a mil$ cow with a little !irl on
its bac$' *r&a saw a smith p%shin! a wheelbarrow with his tools inside, hammers and
ton!s and een an anil, and a little while later a di""erent man with a di""erent
wheelbarrow, onl& inside this one were two babies in a blan$et' 2ost came on "oot, with
their !oods on their sho%lders and wear&, war& loo$s %pon their "aces' The& wal$ed
so%th, toward the cit&, toward 6in!s 7andin!, and onl& one in a h%ndred spared so
m%ch as a word "or ;oren and his char!es, traelin! north' She wondered wh& no one
else was !oin! the same wa& as them'
2an& o" the traelers were armed: *r&a saw da!!ers and dir$s, sc&thes and a0es, and
here and there a sword' Some had made cl%bs "rom tree limbs, or cared $nobb& sta""s'
The& "in!ered their weapons and !ae lin!erin! loo$s at the wa!ons as the& rolled b&,
&et in the end the& let the col%mn pass' Thirt& was too man&, no matter what the& had in
those wa!ons'
7oo$ with &o%r e&es, S&rio had said, listen with &o%r ears'
/ne da& a madwoman be!an to scream at them "rom the side o" the road' 1=ools@
The&ll $ill &o%, "ools@3 She was scarecrow thin, with hollow e&es and blood& "eet'
The ne0t mornin!, a slee$ merchant on a !re& mare reined %p b& ;oren and o""ered to
b%& his wa!ons and eer&thin! in them "or a )%arter o" their worth' 1Its war, the&ll
ta$e what the& want, &o%ll do better sellin! to me, m& "riend'3 ;oren t%rned awa& with
a twist o" his croo$ed sho%lders, and spat'
*r&a noticed the "irst !rae that same da&: a small mo%nd beside the road, d%! "or a
child' * cr&stal had been set in the so"t earth, and 7omm& wanted to ta$e it %ntil the B%ll
told him hed better leae the dead alone' * "ew lea!%es "arther on, 4raed pointed o%t
more !raes, a whole row "reshl& d%!' *"ter that, a da& hardl& passed witho%t one'
/ne time *r&a wo$e in the dar$, "ri!htened "or no reason she co%ld name' *boe, the
Bed Sword shared the s$& with hal" a tho%sand stars' The ni!ht seemed oddl& )%iet to
her, tho%!h she co%ld hear ;orens m%ttered snores, the crac$le o" the "ire, een the
m%""led stirrin!s o" the don$e&s' ;et somehow it "elt as tho%!h the world were holdin!
its breath, and the silence made her shier' She went bac$ to sleep cl%tchin! Needle'
+ome mornin!, when 4raed did not awa$en, *r&a reali?ed that it had been his
co%!hin! she had missed' The& d%! a !rae o" their own then, b%r&in! the sellsword
where hed slept' ;oren stripped him o" his al%ables be"ore the& threw the dirt on him'
/ne man claimed his boots, another his da!!er' ,is mail shirt and helm were parceled
o%t' ,is lon!sword ;oren handed to the B%ll' 1*rms li$e &o%rs, mi!ht be &o% can learn
to %se this,3 he told him' * bo& called Tarber tossed a hand"%l o" acorns on top o"
4raeds bod&, so an oa$ mi!ht !row to mar$ his place'
That eenin! the& stopped in a illa!e at an i&-coered inn' ;oren co%nted the coins
in his p%rse and decided the& had eno%!h "or a hot meal' 1(ell sleep o%tside, same as
eer, b%t the& !ot a bathho%se here, i" an& o" &o% "eels the need o hot water and a lic$ o
soap'3
*r&a did not dare, een tho%!h she smelled as bad as ;oren b& now, all so%r and
stin$&' Some o" the creat%res liin! in her clothes had come all the wa& "rom =lea
Bottom with her: it didnt seem ri!ht to drown them' Tarber and ,ot 4ie and the B%ll
9oined the line o" men headed "or the t%bs' /thers settled down in "ront o" the bathho%se'
The rest crowded into the common room' ;oren een sent 7omm& o%t with tan$ards "or
the three in "etters, whod been le"t chained %p in the bac$ o" their wa!on'
(ashed and %nwashed ali$e s%pped on hot por$ pies and ba$ed apples' The inn$eeper
!ae them a ro%nd o" beer on the ho%se' 1I had a brother too$ the blac$, &ears a!o'
Serin! bo&, cleer, b%t one da& he !ot seen "ilchin! pepper "rom mlords table' ,e
li$ed the taste o" it, is all' C%st a pinch o pepper, b%t Ser 2alcolm was a hard man' ;o%
!et pepper on the (all.3 (hen ;oren shoo$ his head, the man si!hed' 1Shame' 7&nc
loed that pepper'3
*r&a sipped at her tan$ard ca%tio%sl&, between spoon"%ls o" pie still warm "rom the
oen' ,er "ather sometimes let them hae a c%p o" beer, she remembered' Sansa %sed to
ma$e a "ace at the taste and sa& that wine was eer so m%ch "iner, b%t *r&a had li$ed it
well eno%!h' It made her sad to thin$ o" Sansa and her "ather'
The inn was "%ll o" people moin! so%th, and the common room er%pted in scorn when
;oren said the& were traelin! the other wa&' 1;o%ll be bac$ soon eno%!h,3 the
inn$eeper owed' 1Theres no !oin! north' ,al" the "ields are b%rnt, and what "ol$s are
le"t are walled %p inside their hold"asts' /ne b%nch rides o"" at dawn and another one
shows %p b& d%s$'3
1Thats nothin! to %s,3 ;oren insisted st%bbornl&' 1T%ll& or 7annister, ma$es no matter'
The (atch ta$es no part'3
7ord T%ll& is m& !rand"ather, *r&a tho%!ht' It mattered to her, b%t she chewed her lip
and $ept )%iet, listenin!'
1Its more than 7annister and T%ll&,3 the inn$eeper said' 1Theres wild men down "rom
the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon, tr& tellin! them &o% ta$e no part' *nd the Star$s are in it
too, the &o%n! lords come down, the dead ,ands son ' ' '3
*r&a sat %p strai!ht, strainin! to hear' #id he mean Bobb.
1I heard the bo& rides to battle on a wol",3 said a &ellow-haired man with a tan$ard in
his hand'
1=ools tal$'3 ;oren spat'
1The man I heard it "rom, he saw it himsel"' * wol" bi! as a horse, he swore'3
1Swearin! dont ma$e it tr%e, ,od,3 the inn$eeper said' 1;o% $eep swearin! &o%ll pa&
what &o% owe me, and Ie &et to see a copper'3 The common room er%pted in la%!hter,
and the man with the &ellow hair t%rned red'
1Its been a bad &ear "or woles,3 ol%nteered a sallow man in a traelstained !reen
cloa$' 1*ro%nd the 8ods 5&e, the pac$s hae !rown boldern an&one can remember'
Sheep, cows, do!s, ma$es no matter, the& $ill as the& li$e, and the& !ot no "ear o" men'
Its worth &o%r li"e to !o into those woods b& ni!ht'3
1*h, thats more tales, and no more tr%e than the other'3
1I heard the same thin! "rom m& co%sin, and shes not the sort to lie,3 an old woman
said' 1She sa&s theres this !reat pac$, h%ndreds o" them, man$illers' The one that leads
them is a she-wol", a bitch "rom the seenth hell'3
* she-wol"' *r&a sloshed her beer, wonderin!' (as the 8ods 5&e near the Trident. She
wished she had a map' It had been near the Trident that shed le"t N&meria' She hadnt
wanted to, b%t Cor& said the& had no choice, that i" the wol" came bac$ with them shed
be $illed "or bitin! Co""re&, een tho%!h hed desered it' The&d had to sho%t and
scream and throw stones, and it wasnt %ntil a "ew o" *r&as stones str%c$ home that the
direwol" had "inall& stopped "ollowin! them' She probabl& wo%ldnt een $now me now,
*r&a tho%!ht' /r i" she did, shed hate me'
The man in the !reen cloa$ said, 1I heard how this hellbitch wal$ed into a illa!e one
da& ' ' ' a mar$et da&, people eer&where, and she wal$s in bold as &o% please and tears
a bab& "rom his mothers arms' (hen the tale reached 7ord 2ooton, him and his sons
swore the&d p%t an end to her' The& trac$ed her to her lair with a pac$ o" wol"ho%nds,
and barel& escaped with their s$ins' Not one o" those do!s came bac$, not one'3
1Thats 9%st a stor&,3 *r&a bl%rted o%t be"ore she co%ld stop hersel"' 1(oles dont eat
babies'3
1*nd what wo%ld &o% $now abo%t it, lad.3 as$ed the man in the !reen cloa$'
Be"ore she co%ld thin$ o" an answer, ;oren had her b& the arm' 1The bo&s !reensic$
on beer, thats all it is'3
1No Im not' The& dont eat babies ' ' '3
1/%tside, bo& ' ' ' and see that &o% sta& there %ntil &o% learn to sh%t &o%r mo%th when
men are tal$in!'3 ,e !ae her a sti"" shoe, toward the side door that led bac$ to the
stables' 18o on now' See that the stablebo& has watered o%r horses'3
*r&a went o%tside, sti"" with "%r&' 1The& dont,3 she m%ttered, $ic$in! at a roc$ as she
stal$ed o""' It went rollin! and "etched %p %nder the wa!ons'
1Bo&,3 a "riendl& oice called o%t' 17oel& bo&'3
/ne o" the men in irons was tal$in! to her' (aril&, *r&a approached the wa!on, one
hand on Needles hilt'
The prisoner li"ted an empt& tan$ard, his chains rattlin!' 1* man co%ld %se another
taste o" beer' * man has a thirst, wearin! these hea& bracelets'3 ,e was the &o%n!est o"
the three, slender, "ine-"eat%red, alwa&s smilin!' ,is hair was red on one side and white
on the other, all matted and "ilth& "rom ca!e and trael' 1* man co%ld %se a bath too,3 he
said, when he saw the wa& *r&a was loo$in! at him' 1* bo& co%ld ma$e a "riend'3
1I hae "riends,3 *r&a said'
1None I can see,3 said the one witho%t a nose' ,e was s)%at and thic$, with h%!e
hands' Blac$ hair coered his arms and le!s and chest, een his bac$' ,e reminded *r&a
o" a drawin! she had once seen in a boo$, o" an ape "rom the S%mmer Isles' The hole in
his "ace made it hard to loo$ at him "or lon!'
The bald one opened his mo%th and hissed li$e some immense white li?ard' (hen
*r&a "linched bac$, startled, he opened his mo%th wide and wa!!led his ton!%e at her,
onl& it was more a st%mp than a ton!%e' 1Stop that,3 she bl%rted'
1* man does not choose his companions in the blac$ cells,3 the handsome one with the
red-and-white hair said' Somethin! abo%t the wa& he tal$ed reminded her o" S&rio: it
was the same, &et di""erent too' 1These two, the& hae no co%rtes&' * man m%st as$
"or!ieness' ;o% are called *rr&, is that not so.3
17%mp&head,3 said the noseless one' 17%mp&head 7%mp&"ace Stic$bo&' ,ae a care,
7orath, hell hit &o% with his stic$'3
1* man m%st be ashamed o" the compan& he $eeps, *rr&,3 the handsome one said'
1This man has the honor to be Ca)en ,!har, once o" the =ree +it& o" 7orath' (o%ld that
he were home' This mans ill-bred companions in captiit& are named Bor!e3Ahe
waed his tan$ard at the noseless manA3and Biter'3 Biter hissed at her a!ain,
displa&in! a mo%th"%l o" &ellowed teeth "iled into points' 1* man m%st hae some name,
is that not so. Biter cannot spea$ and Biter cannot write, &et his teeth are er& sharp, so
a man calls him Biter and he smiles' *re &o% charmed.3
*r&a bac$ed awa& "rom the wa!on' 1No'3 The& cant h%rt me, she told hersel", the&re
all chained %p'
,e t%rned his tan$ard %pside down' 1* man m%st weep'3
Bor!e, the noseless one, "l%n! his drin$in! c%p at her with a c%rse' ,is manacles made
him cl%ms&, &et een so he wo%ld hae sent the hea& pewter tan$ard crashin! into her
head i" *r&a hadnt leapt aside' 1;o% !et %s some beer, pimple' Now@3
1;o% sh%t &o%r mo%th@3 *r&a tried to thin$ what S&rio wo%ld hae done' She drew her
wooden practice sword'
1+ome closer,3 Bor!e said, 1and Ill shoe that stic$ %p &o%r b%n!hole and "%c$ &o%
blood&'3
=ear c%ts deeper than swords' *r&a made hersel" approach the wa!on' 5er& step was
harder than the one be"ore' =ierce as a wolerine, calm as still water' The words san! in
her head' S&rio wo%ld not hae been a"raid' She was almost close eno%!h to to%ch the
wheel when Biter l%rched to his "eet and !rabbed "or her, his irons clan$in! and rattlin!'
The manacles bro%!ht his hands %p short, hal" a "oot "rom her "ace' ,e hissed'
She hit him' ,ard, ri!ht between his little e&es'
Screamin!, Biter reeled bac$, and then threw all his wei!ht a!ainst his chains' The
lin$s slithered and t%rned and !rew ta%t, and *r&a heard the crea$ o" old dr& wood as the
!reat iron rin!s strained a!ainst the "loorboards o" the wa!on' ,%!e pale hands !roped
"or her while eins b%l!ed alon! Biters arms, b%t the bonds held, and "inall& the man
collapsed bac$ward' Blood ran "rom the weepin! sores on his chee$s'
1* bo& has more co%ra!e than sense,3 the one who had named himsel" Ca)en ,!har
obsered'
*r&a ed!ed bac$ward awa& "rom the wa!on' (hen she "elt the hand on her sho%lder,
she whirled, brin!in! %p her stic$ sword a!ain, b%t it was onl& the B%ll' 1(hat are &o%
doin!.3
,e raised his hands de"ensiel&' 1;oren said none o" %s sho%ld !o near those three'3
1The& dont scare me,3 *r&a said'
1Then &o%re st%pid' The& scare me'3 The B%lls hand "ell to the hilt o" his sword, and
Bor!e be!an to la%!h' 17ets !et awa& "rom them'3
*r&a sc%""ed at the !ro%nd with her "oot, b%t she let the B%ll lead her aro%nd to the
"ront o" the inn' Bor!es la%!hter and Biters hissin! "ollowed them' 1(ant to "i!ht.3 she
as$ed the B%ll' She wanted to hit somethin!'
,e blin$ed at her, startled' Strands o" thic$ blac$ hair, still wet "rom the bathho%se, "ell
across his deep bl%e e&es' 1Id h%rt &o%'3
1;o% wo%ld not'3
1;o% dont $now how stron! I am'3
1;o% dont $now how )%ic$ I am'3
1;o%re as$in! "or it, *rr&'3 ,e drew 4raeds lon!sword' 1This is cheap steel, b%t its a
real sword'3
*r&a %nsheathed Needle' 1This is !ood steel, so its realer than &o%rs'3
The B%ll shoo$ his head' 14romise not to cr& i" I c%t &o%.3
1Ill promise i" &o% will'3 She t%rned sidewa&s, into her water dancers stance, b%t the
B%ll did not moe' ,e was loo$in! at somethin! behind her' 1(hats wron!.3
18old cloa$s'3 ,is "ace closed %p ti!ht'
It co%ldnt be, *r&a tho%!ht, b%t when she !lanced bac$, the& were ridin! %p the
$in!sroad, si0 in the blac$ rin!mail and !olden cloa$s o" the +it& (atch' /ne was an
o""icer: he wore a blac$ enamel breastplate ornamented with "o%r !olden dis$s' The&
drew %p in "ront o" the inn'
7oo$ with &o%r e&es, S&rios oice seemed to whisper' ,er e&es saw white lather
%nder their saddles: the horses had been ridden lon! and hard' +alm as still water, she
too$ the B%ll b& the arm and drew him bac$ behind a tall "lowerin! hed!e'
1(hat is it.3 he as$ed' 1(hat are &o% doin!. 7et !o'3
1F%iet as a shadow,3 she whispered, p%llin! him down'
Some o" ;orens other char!es were sittin! in "ront o" the bathho%se, waitin! their t%rn
at a t%b' 1;o% men,3 one o" the !old cloa$s sho%ted' 1;o% the ones le"t to ta$e the
blac$.3
1(e mi!ht be,3 came the ca%tio%s answer'
1(ed rather 9oin &o% bo&s,3 old Be&sen said' 1(e hear its cold on that (all'3
The !old cloa$ o""icer dismo%nted' 1I hae a warrant "or a certain bo&A3
;oren stepped o%t o" the inn, "in!erin! his tan!led blac$ beard' 1(ho is it wants this
bo&.3
The other !old cloa$s were dismo%ntin! to stand beside their horses' 1(h& are we
hidin!.3 the B%ll whispered'
1Its me the& want,3 *r&a whispered bac$' ,is ear smelled o" soap' 1;o% be )%iet'3
1The )%een wants him, old man, not that its &o%r concern,3 the o""icer said, drawin! a
ribbon "rom his belt' 1,ere, ,er 8races seal and warrant'3
Behind the hed!e, the B%ll shoo$ his head do%bt"%ll&' 1(h& wo%ld the )%een want
&o%, *rr&.3
She p%nched his sho%lder' 1Be )%iet@3
;oren "in!ered the warrant ribbon with its blob o" !olden wa0' 14rett&'3 ,e spit'
1Thin! is, the bo&s in the Ni!hts (atch now' (hat he done bac$ in the cit& dont mean
piss-all'3
1The )%eens not interested in &o%r iews, old man, and neither am I,3 the o""icer said'
1Ill hae the bo&'3
*r&a tho%!ht abo%t r%nnin!, b%t she $new she wo%ldnt !et "ar on her don$e& when
the !old cloa$s had horses' *nd she was so tired o" r%nnin!' Shed r%n when Ser 2er&n
came "or her, and a!ain when the& $illed her "ather' I" she was a real water dancer, she
wo%ld !o o%t there with Needle and $ill all o" them, and neer r%n "rom an&one eer
a!ain'
1;o%ll hae no one,3 ;oren said st%bbornl&' 1Theres laws on s%ch thin!s'3
The !old cloa$ drew a shortsword' 1,eres &o%r law'3
;oren loo$ed at the blade' 1Thats no law, 9%st a sword' ,appens I !ot one too'3
The o""icer smiled' 1/ld "ool' I hae "ie men with me'3
;oren spat' 1,appens I !ot thirt&'3
The !old cloa$ la%!hed' 1This lot.3 said a bi! lo%t with a bro$en nose' 1(hos "irst.3
he sho%ted, showin! his steel'
Tarber pl%c$ed a pitch"or$ o%t o" a bale o" ha&' 1I am'3
1No, I am,3 called +%t9ac$, the pl%mp stonemason, p%llin! his hammer o"" the leather
apron he alwa&s wore'
12e'3 6%r? came %p o"" the !ro%nd with his s$innin! $ni"e in hand'
12e and him'3 6oss str%n! his lon!bow'
1*ll o" %s,3 said Be&sen, snatchin! %p the tall hardwood wal$in! sta"" he carried'
#obber stepped na$ed o%t o" the bathho%se with his clothes in a b%ndle, saw what was
happenin!, and dropped eer&thin! b%t his da!!er' 1Is it a "i!ht.3 he as$ed'
1I !%ess,3 said ,ot 4ie, scramblin! on all "o%rs "or a bi! roc$ to throw' *r&a co%ld not
beliee what she was seein!' She hated ,ot 4ie@ (h& wo%ld he ris$ himsel" "or her.
The one with the bro$en nose still tho%!ht it was "%nn&' 1;o% !irls p%t awa& them
roc$s and stic$s be"ore &o% !et span$ed' None o" &o% $nows what end o" a sword to
hold'3
1I do@3 *r&a wo%ldnt let them die "or her li$e S&rio' She wo%ldnt@ Shoin! thro%!h
the hed!e with Needle in hand, she slid into a water dancers stance'
Bro$en Nose !%""awed' The o""icer loo$ed her %p and down' 14%t the blade awa&, little
!irl, no one wants to h%rt &o%'3
1Im not a !irl@3 she &elled, "%rio%s' (hat was wron! with them. The& rode all this
wa& "or her and here she was and the& were 9%st smilin! at her' 1Im the one &o% want'3
1,es the one we want'3 The o""icer 9abbed his shortsword toward the B%ll, whod
come "orward to stand beside her, 4raeds cheap steel in his hand'
B%t it was a mista$e to ta$e his e&es o"" ;oren, een "or an instant' F%ic$ as that, the
blac$ brothers sword was pressed to the apple o" the o""icers throat' 1Neithers the one
&o% !et, less &o% want me to see i" &o%r apples ripe &et' I !ot me ten, "i"teen more
brothers in that inn, i" &o% still need conincin!' I was &o%, Id let loose o" that !%tc%tter,
spread m& chee$s oer that "at little horse, and !allop on bac$ to the cit&'3 ,e spat, and
po$ed harder with the point o" his sword' 1Now'3
The o""icers "in!ers %nc%rled' ,is sword "ell in the d%st'
1(ell 9%st $eep that,3 ;oren said' 18ood steels alwa&s needed on the (all'3
1*s &o% sa&' =or now' 2en'3 The !old cloa$s sheathed and mo%nted %p' 1;o%d best
scamper %p to that (all o" &o%rs in a h%rr&, old man' The ne0t time I catch &o%, I beliee
Ill hae &o%r head to !o with the bastard bo&s'3
1Better men than &o% hae tried'3 ;oren slapped the r%mp o" the o""icers horse with
the "lat o" his sword and sent him reelin! o"" down the $in!sroad' ,is men "ollowed'
(hen the& were o%t o" si!ht, ,ot 4ie be!an to whoop, b%t ;oren loo$ed an!rier than
eer' 1=ool@ ;o% thin$ hes done with %s. Ne0t time he wont prance %p and hand me no
damn ribbon' 8et the rest o%t o them baths, we need to be moin!' Bide all ni!ht,
ma&be we can sta& ahead o them "or a bit'3 ,e scooped %p the shortsword the o""icer
had dropped' 1(ho wants this.3
12e@3 ,ot 4ie &elled'
1#ont be %sin! it on *rr&'3 ,e handed the bo& the sword, hilt "irst, and wal$ed oer to
*r&a, b%t it was the B%ll he spo$e to' 1F%een wants &o% bad, bo&'3
*r&a was lost' 1(h& sho%ld she want him.3
The B%ll scowled at her' 1(h& sho%ld she want &o%. ;o%re nothin! b%t a little !%tter
rat@3
1(ell, &o%re nothin! b%t a bastard bo&@3 /r ma&be he was onl& pretendin! to be a
bastard bo&' 1(hats &o%r tr%e name.3
18endr&,3 he said, li$e he wasnt )%ite s%re'
1#ont see wh& no one wants neither o &o%,3 ;oren said, 1b%t the& cant hae &o%
re!ardless' ;o% ride them two co%rsers' =irst si!ht o" a !old cloa$, ma$e "or the (all
li$e a dra!ons on &o%r tail' The rest o %s dont mean spit to them'3
150cept "or &o%,3 *r&a pointed o%t' 1That man said hed ta$e &o%r head too'3
1(ell, as to that,3 ;oren said, 1i" he can !et it o"" m& sho%lders, hes welcome to it'3
C#APT"R ,
-O'
1Sam.3 Con called so"tl&'
The air smelled o" paper and d%st and &ears' Be"ore him, tall wooden sheles rose %p
into dimness, crammed with leatherbo%nd boo$s and bins o" ancient scrolls' * "aint
&ellow !low "iltered thro%!h the stac$s "rom some hidden lamp' Con blew o%t the taper
he carried, pre"errin! not to ris$ an open "lame amidst so m%ch old dr& paper' Instead he
"ollowed the li!ht, wendin! his wa& down the narrow aisles beneath barrel-a%lted
ceilin!s' *ll in blac$, he was a shadow amon! shadows, dar$ o" hair, lon! o" "ace, !re&
o" e&e' Blac$ moles$in !loes coered his hands: the ri!ht beca%se it was b%rned, the
le"t beca%se a man "elt hal" a "ool wearin! onl& one !loe'
Samwell Tarl& sat h%nched oer a table in a niche cared into the stone o" the wall'
The !low came "rom the lamp h%n! oer his head' ,e loo$ed %p at the so%nd o" Cons
steps'
1,ae &o% been here all ni!ht.3
1,ae I.3 Sam loo$ed startled'
1;o% didnt brea$ &o%r "ast with %s, and &o%r bed hadnt been slept in'3 Bast s%!!ested
that ma&be Sam had deserted, b%t Con neer belieed it' #esertion re)%ired its own sort
o" co%ra!e, and Sam had little eno%!h o" that'
1Is it mornin!. #own here theres no wa& to $now'3
1Sam, &o%re a sweet "ool,3 Con said' 1;o%ll miss that bed when were sleepin! on the
cold hard !ro%nd, I promise &o%'3
Sam &awned' 12aester *emon sent me to "ind maps "or the 7ord +ommander' I neer
tho%!ht ' ' ' Con, the boo$s, hae &o% eer seen their li$e. There are tho%sands@3
,e !a?ed abo%t him' 1The librar& at (inter"ell has more than a h%ndred' #id &o% "ind
the maps.3
1/h, &es'3 Sams hand swept oer the table, "in!ers pl%mp as sa%sa!es indicatin! the
cl%tter o" boo$s and scrolls be"ore him' 1* do?en, at the least'3 ,e %n"olded a s)%are o"
parchment' 1The paint has "aded, b%t &o% can see where the mapma$er mar$ed the sites
o" wildlin! illa!es, and theres another boo$ ' ' ' where is it now. I was readin! it a
moment a!o'3 ,e shoed some scrolls aside to reeal a d%st& ol%me bo%nd in rotted
leather' 1This,3 he said reerentl&, 1is the acco%nt o" a 9o%rne& "rom the Shadow Tower
all the wa& to 7orn 4oint on the =ro?en Shore, written b& a ran!er named Bedw&n' Its
not dated, b%t he mentions a #orren Star$ as 6in! in the North, so it m%st be "rom
be"ore the +on)%est' Con, the& "o%!ht !iants@ Bedw&n een traded with the children o"
the "orest, its all here'3 5er so delicatel&, he t%rned pa!es with a "in!er' 1,e drew maps
as well, see ' ' '3
12a&be &o% co%ld write an acco%nt o" o%r ran!in!, Sam'3
,ed meant to so%nd enco%ra!in!, b%t it was the wron! thin! to sa&' The last thin!
Sam needed was to be reminded o" what "aced them on the morrow' ,e sh%""led the
scrolls abo%t aimlessl&' 1Theres more maps' I" I had time to search ' ' ' eer&thin!s a
9%mble' I co%ld set it all to order, tho%!h: I $now I co%ld, b%t it wo%ld ta$e time ' ' ' well,
&ears, in tr%th'3
12ormont wanted those maps a little sooner than that'3 Con pl%c$ed a scroll "rom a
bin, blew o"" the worst o" the d%st' * corner "la$ed o"" between his "in!ers as he %nrolled
it' 17oo$, this one is cr%mblin!,3 he said, "rownin! oer the "aded script'
1Be !entle'3 Sam came aro%nd the table and too$ the scroll "rom his hand, holdin! it as
i" it were a wo%nded animal' 1The important boo$s %sed to be copied oer when the&
needed them' Some o" the oldest hae been copied hal" a h%ndred times, probabl&'3
1(ell, dont bother cop&in! that one' Twent&-three barrels o" pic$led cod, ei!hteen 9ars
o" "ish oil, a cas$ o" salt ' ' '3
1*n inentor&,3 Sam said, 1or perhaps a bill o" sale'3
1(ho cares how m%ch pic$led cod the& ate si0 h%ndred &ears a!o.3 Con wondered'
1I wo%ld'3 Sam care"%ll& replaced the scroll in the bin "rom which Con had pl%c$ed it'
1;o% can learn so m%ch "rom led!ers li$e that, tr%l& &o% can' It can tell &o% how man&
men were in the Ni!hts (atch then, how the& lied, what the& ate ' ' '3
1The& ate "ood,3 said Con, 1and the& lied as we lie'3
1;o%d be s%rprised' This a%lt is a treas%re, Con'3
1I" &o% sa& so'3 Con was do%bt"%l' Treas%re meant !old, siler, and 9ewels, not d%st,
spiders, and rottin! leather'
1I do,3 the "at bo& bl%rted' ,e was older than Con, a man !rown b& law, b%t it was hard
to thin$ o" him as an&thin! b%t a bo&' 1I "o%nd drawin!s o" the "aces in the trees, and a
boo$ abo%t the ton!%e o" the children o" the "orest ' ' ' wor$s that een the +itadel
doesnt hae, scrolls "rom old >al&ria, co%nts o" the seasons written b& maesters dead a
tho%sand &ears ' ' '3
1The boo$s will still be here when we ret%rn'3
1i" we ret%rn ' ' '3
1The /ld Bear is ta$in! two h%ndred seasoned men, three-)%arters o" them ran!ers'
Fhorin ,al"hand will be brin!in! another h%ndred brothers "rom the Shadow Tower'
;o%ll be as sa"e as i" &o% were bac$ in &o%r lord "athers castle at ,orn ,ill'3
Samwell Tarl& mana!ed a sad little smile' 1I was neer er& sa"e in m& "athers castle
either'3
The !ods pla& cr%el 9ests, Con tho%!ht' 4&p and Toad, all a lather to be a part o" the
!reat ran!in!, were to remain at +astle Blac$' It was Samwell Tarl&, the sel"-proclaimed
coward, !rossl& "at, timid, and near as bad a rider as he was with a sword, who m%st "ace
the ha%nted "orest' The /ld Bear was ta$in! two ca!es o" raens, so the& mi!ht send
bac$ word as the& went' 2aester *emon was blind and "ar too "rail to ride with them, so
his steward m%st !o in his place' 1(e need &o% "or the raens, Sam' *nd someone has to
help me $eep 8renn h%mble'3
Sams chins )%iered' 1;o% co%ld care "or the raens, or 8renn co%ld, or an&one,3 he
said with a thin ed!e o" desperation in his oice' 1I co%ld show &o% how' ;o% $now &o%r
letters too, &o% co%ld write down 7ord 2ormonts messa!es as well as I3
1Im the /ld Bears steward' Ill need to s)%ire "or him, tend his horse, set %p his tent:
I wont hae time to watch oer birds as well' Sam, &o% said the words' ;o%re a brother
o" the Ni!hts (atch now'3
1* brother o" the Ni!hts (atch sho%ldnt be so scared'3
1(ere all scared' (ed be "ools i" we werent'3 Too man& ran!ers had been lost the
past two &ears, een Ben9en Star$, Cons %ncle' The& had "o%nd two o" his %ncles men
in the wood, slain, b%t the corpses had risen in the chill o" ni!ht' Cons b%rnt "in!ers
twitched as he remembered' ,e still saw the wi!ht in his dreams, dead /thor with the
b%rnin! bl%e e&es and the cold blac$ hands, b%t that was the last thin! Sam needed to be
reminded o"' 1Theres no shame in "ear, m& "ather told me, what matters is how we "ace
it' +ome, Ill help &o% !ather %p the maps'3
Sam nodded %nhappil&' The sheles were so closel& spaced that the& had to wal$
sin!le "ile as the& le"t' The a%lt opened onto one o" the t%nnels the brothers called the
wormwal$s, windin! s%bterranean passa!es that lin$ed the $eeps and towers o" +astle
Blac$ %nder the earth' In s%mmer the wormwal$s were seldom %sed, sae b& rats and
other ermin, b%t winter was a di""erent matter' (hen the snows dri"ted "ort& and "i"t&
"eet hi!h and the ice winds came howlin! o%t o" the north, the t%nnels were all that held
+astle Blac$ to!ether'
Soon, Con tho%!ht as the& climbed' ,ed seen the harbin!er that had come to 2aester
*emon with word o" s%mmers end, the !reat raen o" the +itadel, white and silent as
8host' ,e had seen a winter once, when he was er& &o%n!, b%t eer&one a!reed that it
had been a short one, and mild' This one wo%ld be di""erent' ,e co%ld "eel it in his
bones'
The steep stone steps had Sam p%""in! li$e a blac$smiths bellows b& the time the&
reached the s%r"ace' The& emer!ed into a bris$ wind that made Cons cloa$ swirl and
snap' 8host was stretched o%t asleep beneath the wattle-and-da%b wall o" the !ranar&,
b%t he wo$e when Con appeared, b%sh& white tail held sti""l& %pri!ht as he trotted to
them'
Sam s)%inted %p at the (all' It loomed aboe them, an ic& cli"" seen h%ndred "eet
hi!h' Sometimes it seemed to Con almost a liin! thin!, with moods o" its own' The
color o" the ice was wont to chan!e with eer& shi"t o" the li!ht' Now it was the deep
bl%e o" "ro?en riers, now the dirt& white o" old snow, and when a clo%d passed be"ore
the s%n it dar$ened to the pale !re& o" pitted stone' The (all stretched east and west as
"ar as the e&e co%ld see, so h%!e that it shr%n$ the timbered $eeps and stone towers o"
the castle to insi!ni"icance' It was the end o" the world'
*nd we are !oin! be&ond it'
The mornin! s$& was strea$ed b& thin !re& clo%ds, b%t the pale red line was there
behind them' The blac$ brothers had d%bbed the wanderer 2ormonts Torch, sa&in!
Gonl& hal" in 9estH that the !ods m%st hae sent it to li!ht the old mans wa& thro%!h the
ha%nted "orest'
1The comets so bri!ht &o% can see it b& da& now,3 Sam said, shadin! his e&es with a
"ist"%l o" boo$s'
1Neer mind abo%t comets, its maps the /ld Bear wants'3
8host loped ahead o" them' The !ro%nds seemed deserted this mornin!, with so man&
ran!ers o"" at the brothel in 2oles Town, di!!in! "or b%ried treas%re and drin$in!
themseles blind' 8renn had !one with them' 4&p and ,alder and Toad had o""ered to
b%& him his "irst woman to celebrate his "irst ran!in!' The&d wanted Con and Sam to
come as well, b%t Sam was almost as "ri!htened o" whores as he was o" the ha%nted
"orest, and Con had wanted no part o" it' 1#o what &o% want,3 he told Toad, 1I too$ a
ow'3
*s the& passed the sept, he heard oices raised in son!' Some men want whores on the
ee o" battle, and some want !ods' Con wondered who "elt better a"terward' The sept
tempted him no more than the brothel: his own !ods $ept their temples in the wild
places, where the weirwoods spread their bone-white branches' The Seen hae no
power be&ond the (all, he tho%!ht, b%t m& !ods will be waitin!'
/%tside the armor&, Ser 5ndrew Tarth was wor$in! with some raw recr%its' The&d
come in last ni!ht with +onw&, one o" the wanderin! crows who roamed the Seen
6in!doms collectin! men "or the (all' This new crop consisted o" a !re&beard leanin!
on a sta"", two blond bo&s with the loo$ o" brothers, a "oppish &o%th in soiled satin, a
ra!!& man with a cl%b"oot, and some !rinnin! loon who m%st hae "ancied himsel" a
warrior' Ser 5ndrew was showin! him the error o" that pres%mption' ,e was a !entler
master-at-arms than Ser *lliser Thorne had been, b%t his lessons wo%ld still raise
br%ises' Sam winced at eer& blow, b%t Con Snow watched the swordpla& closel&'
1(hat do &o% ma$e o" them, Snow.3 #onal No&e stood in the door o" his armor&,
bare-chested %nder a leather apron, the st%mp o" his le"t arm %ncoered "or once' (ith
his bi! !%t and barrel chest, his "lat nose and bristl& blac$ 9aw, No&e did not ma$e a
prett& si!ht, b%t he was a welcome one nonetheless' The armorer had proed himsel" a
!ood "riend'
1The& smell o" s%mmer,3 Con said as Ser 5ndrew b%llr%shed his "oe and $noc$ed him
sprawlin!' 1(here did +onw& "ind them.3
1* lords d%n!eon near 8%lltown,3 the smith replied' 1* bri!and, a barber, a be!!ar,
two orphans, and a bo& whore' (ith s%ch do we de"end the realms o" men'3
1The&ll do'3 Con !ae Sam a priate smile' 1(e did'3
No&e drew him closer' 1;o%e heard these tidin!s o" &o%r brother.3
17ast ni!ht'3 +onw& and his char!es had bro%!ht the news north with them, and the
tal$ in the common room had been o" little else' Con was still not certain how he "elt
abo%t it' Bobb a $in!. The brother hed pla&ed with, "o%!ht with, shared his "irst c%p o"
wine with. B%t not mothers mil$, no' So now Bobb will sip s%mmerwine "rom 9eweled
!oblets, while Im $neelin! beside some stream s%c$in! snowmelt "rom c%pped hands'
1Bobb will ma$e a !ood $in!,3 he said lo&all&'
1(ill he now.3 The smith e&ed him "ran$l&' 1I hope thats so, bo&, b%t once I mi!ht
hae said the same o" Bobert'3
1The& sa& &o% "or!ed his warhammer,3 Con remembered'
1*&e' I was his man, a Baratheon man, smith and armorer at Storms 5nd %ntil I lost
the arm' Im old eno%!h to remember 7ord Ste""on be"ore the sea too$ him, and I $new
those three sons o" his since the& !ot their names' I tell &o% thisABobert was neer the
same a"ter he p%t on that crown' Some men are li$e swords, made "or "i!htin!' ,an!
them %p and the& !o to r%st'3
1*nd his brothers.3 Con as$ed'
The armorer considered that a moment' 1Bobert was the tr%e steel' Stannis is p%re iron,
blac$ and hard and stron!, &es, b%t brittle, the wa& iron !ets' ,ell brea$ be"ore he
bends' *nd Benl&, that one, hes copper, bri!ht and shin&, prett& to loo$ at b%t not worth
all that m%ch at the end o" the da&'3
*nd what metal is Bobb. Con did not as$' No&e was a Baratheon man: li$el& he
tho%!ht Co""re& the law"%l $in! and Bobb a traitor' *mon! the brotherhood o" the
Ni!hts (atch, there was an %nspo$en pact neer to probe too deepl& into s%ch matters'
2en came to the (all "rom all o" the Seen 6in!doms, and old loes and lo&alties were
not easil& "or!otten, no matter how man& oaths a man swore ' ' ' as Con himsel" had !ood
reason to $now' 5en SamAhis "athers ,o%se was sworn to ,i!h!arden, whose 7ord
T&rell s%pported 6in! Benl&' Best not to tal$ o" s%ch thin!s' The Ni!hts (atch too$ no
sides' 17ord 2ormont awaits %s,3 Con said'
1I wont $eep &o% "rom the /ld Bear'3 No&e clapped him on the sho%lder and smiled'
12a& the !ods !o with &o% on the morrow, Snow' ;o% brin! bac$ that %ncle o" &o%rs,
&o% hear.3
1(e will,3 Con promised him'
7ord +ommander 2ormont had ta$en %p residence in the 6in!s Tower a"ter the "ire
had !%tted his own' Con le"t 8host with the !%ards o%tside the door' 12ore stairs,3 said
Sam miserabl& as the& started %p' 1I hate stairs'3
1(ell, thats one thin! we wont "ace in the wood'3
(hen the& entered the solar, the raen spied them at once' 1Snow@3 the bird shrie$ed'
2ormont bro$e o"" his conersation' 1Too$ &o% lon! eno%!h with those maps'3 ,e
p%shed the remains o" brea$"ast o%t o" the wa& to ma$e room on the table' 14%t them
here' Ill hae a loo$ at them later'3
Thoren Smallwood, a sinew& ran!er with a wea$ chin and a wea$er mo%th hidden
%nder a thin scra!!le o" beard, !ae Con and Sam a cool loo$' ,e had been one o" *lliser
Thornes henchmen, and had no loe "or either o" them' 1The 7ord +ommanders place
is at +astle Blac$, lordin! and commandin!,3 he told 2ormont, i!norin! the
newcomers, 1it seems to me'3
The raen "lapped bi! blac$ win!s' 12e, me, me'3
1I" &o% are eer 7ord +ommander, &o% ma& do as &o% please,3 2ormont told the
ran!er, 1b%t it seems to me that I hae not died &et, nor hae the brothers p%t &o% in m&
place'3
1Im =irst Ban!er now, with Ben Star$ lost and Ser Carem& $illed,3 Smallwood said
st%bbornl&' 1The command sho%ld be mine'3
2ormont wo%ld hae none o" it' 1I sent o%t Ben Star$, and Ser (a&mar be"ore him' I
do not mean to send &o% a"ter them and sit wonderin! how lon! I m%st wait be"ore I
!ie &o% %p "or lost as well'3 ,e pointed' 1*nd Star$ remains =irst Ban!er %ntil we
$now "or a certaint& that he is dead' Sho%ld that da& come, it will be me who names his
s%ccessor, not &o%' Now stop wastin! m& time' (e ride at "irst li!ht, or hae &o%
"or!otten.3
Smallwood p%shed to his "eet' 1*s m& lord commands'3 /n the wa& o%t, he "rowned at
Con, as i" it were somehow his "a%lt'
1=irst Ban!er@3 The /ld Bears e&es li!hted on Sam' 1Id sooner name &o% =irst
Ban!er' ,e has the e""ronter& to tell me to m& "ace that Im too old to ride with him' #o
I loo$ old to &o%, bo&.3 The hair that had retreated "rom 2ormonts spotted scalp had
re!ro%ped beneath his chin in a sha!!& !re& beard that coered m%ch o" his chest' ,e
th%mped it hard' 1#o I loo$ "rail.3
Sam opened his mo%th, !ae a little s)%ea$' The /ld Bear terri"ied him' 1No, m&
lord,3 Con o""ered )%ic$l&' 1;o% loo$ stron! as a ' ' ' a ' ' '3
1#ont co?en me, Snow, &o% $now I wont hae it' 7et me hae a loo$ at these maps'3
2ormont pawed thro%!h them br%s)%el&, !iin! each no more than a !lance and a !r%nt'
1(as this all &o% co%ld "ind.3
1I ' ' ' m-m-m& lord,3 Sam stammered, 1there ' ' ' there were more, b-b-b%t ' ' ' the dis-
disorder ' ' '3
1These are old,3 2ormont complained, and his raen echoed him with a sharp cr& o"
1/ld, old'3
1The illa!es ma& come and !o, b%t the hills and riers will be in the same places,3
Con pointed o%t'
1Tr%e eno%!h' ,ae &o% chosen &o%r raens &et, Tarl&.3
12-m-maester *emon m-means to p-pic$ them come een"all, a"ter the "-"-"eedin!'3
1Ill hae his best' Smart birds, and stron!'3
1Stron!,3 his own bird said, preenin!' 1Stron!, stron!'3
1I" it happens that were all b%tchered o%t there, I mean "or m& s%ccessor to $now
where and how we died'3
Tal$ o" b%tcher& red%ced Samwell Tarl& to speechlessness' 2ormont leaned "orward'
1Tarl&, when I was a lad hal" &o%r a!e, m& lad& mother told me that i" I stood abo%t with
m& mo%th open, a weasel was li$e to mista$e it "or his lair and r%n down m& throat' I"
&o% hae somethin! to sa&, sa& it' /therwise, beware o" weasels'3 ,e waed a br%s)%e
dismissal' 1/"" with &o%, Im too b%s& "or "oll&' No do%bt the maester has some wor$
&o% can do'3
Sam swallowed, stepped bac$, and sc%rried o%t so )%ic$l& he almost tripped oer the
r%shes'
1Is that bo& as bi! a "ool as he seems.3 the 7ord +ommander as$ed when hed !one'
1=ool,3 the raen complained' 2ormont did not wait "or Con to answer' 1,is lord "ather
stands hi!h in 6in! Benl&s co%ncils, and I had hal" a notion to dispatch him ' ' ' no, best
not' Benl& is not li$e to heed a )%a$in! "at bo&' Ill send Ser *rnell' ,es a deal steadier,
and his mother was one o" the !reen-apple =ossowa&s'3
1I" it please m& lord, what wo%ld &o% hae o" 6in! Benl&.3
1The same thin!s Id hae o" all o" them, lad' 2en, horses, swords, armor, !rain,
cheese, wine, wool, nails ' ' ' the Ni!hts (atch is not pro%d, we ta$e what is o""ered'3
,is "in!ers dr%mmed a!ainst the ro%!hhewn plan$s o" the table' 1I" the winds hae been
$ind, Ser *lliser sho%ld reach 6in!s 7andin! b& the t%rn o" the moon, b%t whether this
bo& Co""re& will pa& him an& heed, I do not $now' ,o%se 7annister has neer been a
"riend to the (atch'3
1Thorne has the wi!hts hand to show them'3 * !risl& pale thin! with blac$ "in!ers, it
was, that twitched and stirred in its 9ar as i" it were still alie'
1(o%ld that we had another hand to send to Benl&'3
1#&wen sa&s &o% can "ind an&thin! be&ond the (all'3
1*&e, #&wen sa&s' *nd the last time he went ran!in!, he sa&s he saw a bear "i"teen
"eet tall'3 2ormont snorted' 12& sister is said to hae ta$en a bear "or her loer' Id
beliee that be"ore Id beliee one "i"teen "eet tall' Tho%!h in a world where dead come
wal$in! ' ' ' ah, een so, a man m%st beliee his e&es' I hae seen the dead wal$' Ie not
seen an& !iant bears'3 ,e !ae Con a lon!, searchin! loo$' 1B%t we were spea$in! o"
hands' ,ow is &o%rs.3
1Better'3 Con peeled o"" his moles$in !loe and showed him' Scars coered his arm
hal"wa& to the elbow, and the mottled pin$ "lesh still "elt ti!ht and tender, b%t it was
healin!' 1It itches, tho%!h' 2aester *emon sa&s thats !ood' ,e !ae me a sale to ta$e
with me when we ride'3
1;o% can wield 7on!claw despite the pain.3
1(ell eno%!h'3 Con "le0ed his "in!ers, openin! and closin! his "ist the wa& the maester
had shown him' 1Im to wor$ the "in!ers eer& da& to $eep them nimble, as 2aester
*emon said'3
1Blind he ma& be, b%t *emon $nows what hes abo%t' I pra& the !ods let %s $eep him
another twent& &ears' #o &o% $now that he mi!ht hae been $in!.3
Con was ta$en b& s%rprise' 1,e told me his "ather was $in!, b%t not ' ' ' I tho%!ht him
perhaps a &o%n!er son'3
1So he was' ,is "athers "ather was #aeron Tar!ar&en, the Second o" ,is Name, who
bro%!ht #orne into the realm' 4art o" the pact was that he wed a #ornish princess' She
!ae him "o%r sons' *emons "ather 2ae$ar was the &o%n!est o" those, and *emon was
his third son' 2ind &o%, all this happened lon! be"ore I was born, ancient as Smallwood
wo%ld ma$e me'3
12aester *emon was named "or the #ra!on$ni!ht'3
1So he was' Some sa& 4rince *emon was 6in! #aerons tr%e "ather, not *e!on the
<nworth&' Be that as it ma&, o%r *emon lac$ed the #ra!on$ni!hts martial nat%re' ,e
li$es to sa& he had a slow sword b%t )%ic$ wits' Small wonder his !rand"ather pac$ed
him o"" to the +itadel' ,e was nine or ten, I beliee ' ' ' and ninth or tenth in the line o"
s%ccession as well'3
2aester *emon had co%nted more than a h%ndred name da&s, Con $new' =rail,
shr%n$en, wi?ened, and blind, it was hard to ima!ine him as a little bo& no older than
*r&a'
2ormont contin%ed' 1*emon was at his boo$s when the eldest o" his %ncles, the heir
apparent, was slain in a to%rne& mishap' ,e le"t two sons, b%t the& "ollowed him to the
!rae not lon! a"ter, d%rin! the 8reat Sprin! Sic$ness' 6in! #aeron was also ta$en, so
the crown passed to #aerons second son, *er&s'3
1The 2ad 6in!.3 Con was con"%sed' *er&s had been $in! be"ore Bobert, that wasnt
so lon! a!o'
1No, this was *er&s the =irst' The one Bobert deposed was the second o" that name'3
1,ow lon! a!o was this.3
15i!ht& &ears or close eno%!h,3 the /ld Bear said, 1and no, I still hadnt been born,
tho%!h *emon had "or!ed hal" a do?en lin$s o" his maesters chain b& then' *er&s wed
his own sister, as the Tar!ar&ens were wont to do, and rei!ned "or ten or twele &ears'
*emon too$ his ows and le"t the +itadel to sere at some lordlin!s co%rt ' ' ' %ntil his
ro&al %ncle died witho%t iss%e' The Iron Throne passed to the last o" 6in! #aerons "o%r
sons' That was 2ae$ar, *emons "ather' The new $in! s%mmoned all his sons to co%rt
and wo%ld hae made *emon part o" his co%ncils, b%t he re"%sed, sa&in! that wo%ld
%s%rp the place ri!htl& belon!in! to the 8rand 2aester' Instead he sered at the $eep o"
his eldest brother, another #aeron' (ell, that one died too, leain! onl& a "eeble-witted
da%!hter as heir' Some po0 he ca%!ht "rom a whore, I beliee' The ne0t brother was
*erion'3
1*erion the 2onstro%s.3 Con $new that name' 1The 4rince (ho Tho%!ht ,e (as a
#ra!on3 was one o" /ld Nans more !r%esome tales' ,is little brother Bran had loed it'
1The er& one, tho%!h he named himsel" *erion Bri!ht"lame' /ne ni!ht, in his c%ps,
he dran$ a 9ar o" wild"ire, a"ter tellin! his "riends it wo%ld trans"orm him into a dra!on,
b%t the !ods were $ind and it trans"ormed him into a corpse' Not )%ite a &ear a"ter, 6in!
2ae$ar died in battle a!ainst an o%tlaw lord'3
Con was not entirel& innocent o" the histor& o" the realm: his own maester had seen to
that' 1That was the &ear o" the 8reat +o%ncil,3 he said' 1The lords passed oer 4rince
*erions in"ant son and 4rince #aerons da%!hter and !ae the crown to *e!on'3
1;es and no' =irst the& o""ered it, )%ietl&, to *emon' *nd )%ietl& he re"%sed' The !ods
meant "or him to sere, not to r%le, he told them' ,e had sworn a ow and wo%ld not
brea$ it, tho%!h the ,i!h Septon himsel" o""ered to absole him' (ell, no sane man
wanted an& blood o" *erions on the throne, and #aerons !irl was a lac$wit besides
bein! "emale, so the& had no choice b%t to t%rn to *emons &o%n!er brotherA*e!on,
the =i"th o" ,is Name' *e!on the <nli$el&, the& called him, born the "o%rth son o" a
"o%rth son' *emon $new, and ri!htl&, that i" he remained at co%rt those who disli$ed his
brothers r%le wo%ld see$ to %se him, so he came to the (all' *nd here he has remained,
while his brother and his brothers son and his son each rei!ned and died in t%rn, %ntil
Caime 7annister p%t an end to the line o" the #ra!on$in!s'3
16in!,3 croa$ed the raen' The bird "lapped across the solar to land on 2ormonts
sho%lder' 16in!,3 it said a!ain, str%ttin! bac$ and "orth'
1,e li$es that word,3 Con said, smilin!'
1*n eas& word to sa&' *n eas& word to li$e'3
16in!,3 the bird said a!ain'
1I thin$ he means "or &o% to hae a crown, m& lord'3
1The realm has three $in!s alread&, and thats two too man& "or m& li$in!'3 2ormont
stro$ed the raen %nder the bea$ with a "in!er, b%t all the while his e&es neer le"t Con
Snow'
It made him "eel odd' 12& lord, wh& hae &o% told me this, abo%t 2aester *emon.3
12%st I hae a reason.3 2ormont shi"ted in his seat, "rownin!' 1;o%r brother Bobb
has been crowned 6in! in the North' ;o% and *emon hae that in common' * $in! "or a
brother'3
1*nd this too,3 said Con' 1* ow'3
The /ld Bear !ae a lo%d snort, and the raen too$ "li!ht, "lappin! in a circle abo%t the
room, 18ie me a man "or eer& ow Ie seen bro$en and the (all will neer lac$ "or
de"enders'3
1Ie alwa&s $nown that Bobb wo%ld be 7ord o" (inter"ell'3
2ormont !ae a whistle, and the bird "lew to him a!ain and settled on his arm' 1*
lords one thin!, a $in!s another'3 ,e o""ered the raen a hand"%l o" corn "rom his
poc$et' 1The& will !arb &o%r brother Bobb in sil$s, satins, and elets o" a h%ndred
di""erent colors, while &o% lie and die in blac$ rin!mail' ,e will wed some bea%ti"%l
princess and "ather sons on her' ;o%ll hae no wi"e, nor will &o% eer hold a child o"
&o%r own blood in &o%r arms' Bobb will r%le, &o% will sere' 2en will call &o% a crow'
,im the&ll call ;o%r 8race' Sin!ers will praise eer& little thin! he does, while &o%r
!reatest deeds all !o %ns%n!' Tell me that none o" this tro%bles &o%, Con ' ' ' and Ill
name &o% a liar, and $now I hae the tr%th o" it'3
Con drew himsel" %p, ta%t as a bowstrin!' 1*nd i" it did tro%ble me, what mi!ht I do,
bastard as I am.3
1(hat will &o% do.3 2ormont as$ed' 1Bastard as &o% are.3
1Be tro%bled,3 said Con, 1and $eep m& ows'3
C#APT"R .
CAT"%'
,er sons crown was "resh "rom the "or!e, and it seemed to +atel&n Star$ that the
wei!ht o" it pressed hea& on Bobbs head'
The ancient crown o" the 6in!s o" (inter had been lost three cent%ries a!o, &ielded %p
to *e!on the +on)%eror when Torrhen Star$ $nelt in s%bmission' (hat *e!on had done
with it no man co%ld sa&' 7ord ,osters smith had done his wor$ well, and Bobbs
crown loo$ed m%ch as the other was said to hae loo$ed in the tales told o" the Star$
$in!s o" old: an open circlet o" hammered bron?e incised with the r%nes o" the =irst
2en, s%rmo%nted b& nine blac$ iron spi$es wro%!ht in the shape o" lon!swords' /" !old
and siler and !emstones, it had none: bron?e and iron were the metals o" winter, dar$
and stron! to "i!ht a!ainst the cold'
*s the& waited in Bierr%ns 8reat ,all "or the prisoner to be bro%!ht be"ore them, she
saw Bobb p%sh bac$ the crown so it rested %pon the thic$ a%b%rn mop o" his hair:
moments later, he moed it "orward a!ain: later he !ae it a )%arter t%rn, as i" that mi!ht
ma$e it sit more easil& on his brow' It is no eas& thin! to wear a crown, +atel&n tho%!ht,
watchin!, especiall& "or a bo& o" "i"teen &ears'
(hen the !%ards bro%!ht in the captie, Bobb called "or his sword' /l&ar =re&
o""ered it %p hilt "irst, and her son drew the blade and laid it bare across his $nees, a
threat plain "or all to see' 1;o%r 8race, here is the man &o% as$ed "or,3 anno%nced Ser
Bobin B&!er, captain o" the T%ll& ho%sehold !%ard'
16neel be"ore the $in!, 7annister@3 Theon 8re&9o& sho%ted' Ser Bobin "orced the
prisoner to his $nees'
,e did not loo$ a lion, +atel&n re"lected' This Ser +leos =re& was a son o" the 7ad&
8enna who was sister to 7ord T&win 7annister, b%t he had none o" the "abled 7annister
bea%t&, the "air hair and !reen e&es' Instead he had inherited the strin!& brown loc$s,
wea$ chin, and thin "ace o" his sire, Ser 5mmon =re&, old 7ord (alders second son' ,is
e&es were pale and water& and he co%ld not seem to stop blin$in!, b%t perhaps that was
onl& the li!ht' The cells below Bierr%n were dar$ and damp ' ' ' and these da&s
crowded as well'
1Bise, Ser +leos'3 ,er sons oice was not as ic& as his "athers wo%ld hae been, b%t
he did not so%nd a bo& o" "i"teen either' (ar had made a man o" him be"ore his time'
2ornin! li!ht !limmered "aintl& a!ainst the ed!e o" the steel across his $nees'
;et it was not the sword that made Ser +leos =re& an0io%s: it was the beast' 8re&
(ind, her son had named him' * direwol" lar!e as an& el$ho%nd, lean and smo$e-dar$,
with e&es li$e molten !old' (hen the beast padded "orward and sni""ed at the captie
$ni!ht, eer& man in that hall co%ld smell the scent o" "ear' Ser +leos had been ta$en
d%rin! the battle in the (hisperin! (ood, where 8re& (ind had ripped o%t the throats
o" hal" a do?en men'
The $ni!ht scrambled %p, ed!in! awa& with s%ch alacrit& that some o" the watchers
la%!hed alo%d' 1Than$ &o%, m& lord'3
1;o%r 8race,3 bar$ed 7ord <mber, the 8reat9on, eer the lo%dest o" Bobbs northern
bannermen ' ' ' and the tr%est and "iercest as well, or so he insisted' ,e had been the "irst
to proclaim her son 6in! in the North, and he wo%ld broo$ no sli!ht to the honor o" his
new-made soerei!n'
1;o%r 8race,3 Ser +leos corrected hastil&' 14ardons'3
,e is not a bold man, this one, +atel&n tho%!ht' 2ore o" a =re& than a 7annister, in
tr%th' ,is co%sin the 6in!sla&er wo%ld hae been a m%ch di""erent matter' The& wo%ld
neer hae !otten that honori"ic thro%!h Ser Caime 7annisters per"ect teeth'
1I bro%!ht &o% "rom &o%r cell to carr& m& messa!e to &o%r co%sin +ersei 7annister in
6in!s 7andin!' ;o%ll trael %nder a peace banner, with thirt& o" m& best men to escort
&o%'3
Ser +leos was isibl& relieed' 1Then I sho%ld be most !lad to brin! ,is 8races
messa!e to the )%een'3
1<nderstand,3 Bobb said, 1I am not !iin! &o% &o%r "reedom' ;o%r !rand"ather 7ord
(alder pled!ed me his s%pport and that o" ,o%se =re&' 2an& o" &o%r co%sins and %ncles
rode with %s in the (hisperin! (ood, b%t &o% chose to "i!ht beneath the lion banner'
That ma$es &o% a 7annister, not a =re&' I want &o%r pled!e, on &o%r honor as a $ni!ht,
that a"ter &o% delier m& messa!e &o%ll ret%rn with the )%eens repl&, and res%me &o%r
captiit&'3
Ser +leos answered at once' 1I do so ow'3
15er& man in this hall has heard &o%,3 warned +atel&ns brother Ser 5dm%re T%ll&,
who spo$e "or Bierr%n and the lords o" the Trident in the place o" their d&in! "ather' 1I"
&o% do not ret%rn, the whole realm will $now &o% "orsworn'3
1I will do as I pled!ed,3 Ser +leos replied sti""l&' 1(hat is this messa!e.3
1*n o""er o" peace'3 Bobb stood, lon!sword in hand' 8re& (ind moed to his side'
The hall !rew h%shed' 1Tell the F%een Be!ent that i" she meets m& terms, I will sheath
this sword, and ma$e an end to the war between %s'3
In the bac$ o" the hall, +atel&n !limpsed the tall, !a%nt "i!%re o" 7ord Bic$ard
6arstar$ shoe thro%!h a ran$ o" !%ards and o%t the door' No one else moed' Bobb
paid the disr%ption no mind' 1/l&ar, the paper,3 he commanded' The s)%ire too$ his
lon!sword and handed %p a rolled parchment'
Bobb %nrolled it' 1=irst, the )%een m%st release m& sisters and proide them with
transport b& sea "rom 6in!s 7andin! to (hite ,arbor' It is to be %nderstood that
Sansas betrothal to Co""re& Baratheon is at an end' (hen I receie word "rom m&
castellan that m& sisters hae ret%rned %nharmed to (inter"ell, I will release the )%eens
co%sins, the s)%ire (illem 7annister and &o%r brother Tion =re&, and !ie them sa"e
escort to +asterl& Boc$ or wheresoeer she desires them deliered'3
+atel&n Star$ wished she co%ld read the tho%!hts that hid behind each "ace, each
"%rrowed brow and pair o" ti!htened lips'
1Secondl&, m& lord "athers bones will be ret%rned to %s, so he ma& rest beside his
brother and sister in the cr&pts beneath (inter"ell, as he wo%ld hae wished' The
remains o" the men o" his ho%sehold !%ard who died in his serice at 6in!s 7andin!
m%st also be ret%rned'3
7iin! men had !one so%th, and cold bones wo%ld ret%rn' Ned had the tr%th o" it, she
tho%!ht' ,is place was at (inter"ell, he said as m%ch, b%t wo%ld I hear him. No' 8o, I
told him, &o% m%st be Boberts ,and, "or the !ood o" o%r ,o%se, "or the sa$e o" o%r
children ' ' ' m& doin!, mine, no other ' ' '
1Third, m& "athers !reatsword Ice will be deliered to m& hand, here at Bierr%n'3
She watched her brother Ser 5dm%re T%ll& as he stood with his th%mbs hoo$ed oer
his swordbelt, his "ace as still as stone'
1=o%rth, the )%een will command her "ather 7ord T&win to release those $ni!hts and
lords bannermen o" mine that he too$ captie in the battle on the 8reen =or$ o" the
Trident' /nce he does so, I shall release m& own capties ta$en in the (hisperin! (ood
and the Battle o" the +amps, sae Caime 7annister alone, who will remain m& hosta!e
"or his "athers !ood behaior'3
She st%died Theon 8re&9o&s sl& smile, wonderin! what it meant' That &o%n! man had
a wa& o" loo$in! as tho%!h he $new some secret 9est that onl& he was pri& to: +atel&n
had neer li$ed it'
17astl&, 6in! Co""re& and the F%een Be!ent m%st reno%nce all claims to dominion oer
the north' ,ence"orth we are no part o" their realm, b%t a "ree and independent $in!dom,
as o" old' /%r domain shall incl%de all the Star$ lands north o" the Nec$, and in addition
the lands watered b& the Bier Trident and its assal streams, bo%nded b& the 8olden
Tooth to the west and the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon in the east'3
1T,5 6IN8 IN T,5 N/BT,@3 boomed 8reat9on <mber, a ham-si?ed "ist hammerin!
at the air as he sho%ted' 1Star$@ Star$@ The 6in! in the North@3
Bobb rolled %p the parchment a!ain' 12aester >&man has drawn a map, showin! the
borders we claim' ;o% shall hae a cop& "or the )%een' 7ord T&win m%st withdraw
be&ond these borders, and cease his raidin!, b%rnin!, and pilla!e' The F%een Be!ent and
her son shall ma$e no claims to ta0es, incomes, nor serice "rom m& people, and shall
"ree m& lords and $ni!hts "rom all oaths o" "ealt&, ows, pled!es, debts, and obli!ations
owed to the Iron Throne and the ,o%ses Baratheon and 7annister' *dditionall&, the
7annisters shall delier ten hi!hborn hosta!es, to be m%t%all& a!reed %pon, as a pled!e
o" peace' These I will treat as honored !%ests, accordin! to their station' So lon! as the
terms o" this pact are abided with "aith"%ll&, I shall release two hosta!es eer& &ear, and
ret%rn them sa"el& to their "amilies'3 Bobb tossed the rolled parchment at the $ni!hts
"eet' 1There are the terms' I" she meets them, Ill !ie her peace' I" not3Ahe whistled,
and 8re& (ind moed "orward snarlin!A1Ill !ie her another (hisperin! (ood'3
1Star$@3 the 8reat9on roared a!ain, and now other oices too$ %p the cr&' 1Star$, Star$,
6in! in the North@3 The direwol" threw bac$ his head and howled'
Ser +leos had !one the color o" c%rdled mil$' 1The )%een shall hear &o%r messa!e, m&
A;o%r 8race'3
18ood,3 Bobb said' 1Ser Bobin, see that he has a !ood meal and clean clothin!' ,es
to ride at "irst li!ht'3
1*s &o% command, ;o%r 8race,3 Ser Bobin B&!er replied'
1Then we are done'3 The assembled $ni!hts and lords bannermen bent their $nees as
Bobb t%rned to leae, 8re& (ind at his heels' /l&ar =re& scrambled ahead to open the
door' +atel&n "ollowed them o%t, her brother at her side'
1;o% did well,3 she told her son in the !aller& that led "rom the rear o" the hall,
1tho%!h that b%siness with the wol" was 9aper& more be"ittin! a bo& than a $in!'3
Bobb scratched 8re& (ind behind the ear' 1#id &o% see the loo$ on his "ace, 2other.3
he as$ed, smilin!'
1(hat I saw was 7ord 6arstar$, wal$in! o%t'3
1*s did I3 Bobb li"ted o"" his crown with both hands and !ae it to /l&ar' 1Ta$e this
thin! bac$ to m& bedchamber'3
1*t once, ;o%r 8race'3 The s)%ire h%rried o""'
1Ill wa!er there were others who "elt the same as 7ord 6arstar$,3 her brother 5dm%re
declared' 1,ow can we tal$ o" peace while the 7annisters spread li$e a pestilence oer
m& "athers domains, stealin! his crops and sla%!hterin! his people. I sa& a!ain, we
o%!ht to be marchin! on ,arrenhal'3
1(e lac$ the stren!th,3 Bobb said, tho%!h %nhappil&'
5dm%re persisted' 1#o we !row stron!er sittin! here. /%r host dwindles eer& da&'3
1*nd whose doin! is that.3 +atel&n snapped at her brother' It had been at 5dm%res
insistence that Bobb had !ien the rier lords leae to depart a"ter his crownin!, each to
de"end his own lands' Ser 2ar) 4iper and 7ord 6ar&l >ance had been the "irst to !o'
7ord Conos Brac$en had "ollowed, owin! to reclaim the b%rnt shell o" his castle and
b%r& his dead, and now 7ord Cason 2allister had anno%nced his intent to ret%rn to his
seat at Sea!ard, still merci"%ll& %nto%ched b& the "i!htin!'
1;o% cannot as$ m& rier lords to remain idle while their "ields are bein! pilla!ed and
their people p%t to the sword,3 Ser 5dm%re said, 1b%t 7ord 6arstar$ is a northman' It
wo%ld be an ill thin! i" he were to leae %s'3
1Ill spea$ with him,3 said Bobb' 1,e lost two sons in the (hisperin! (ood' (ho can
blame him i" he does not want to ma$e peace with their $illers ' ' ' with m& "athers
$illers ' ' '3
12ore bloodshed will not brin! &o%r "ather bac$ to %s, or 7ord Bic$ards sons,3
+atel&n said' 1*n o""er had to be made, tho%!h a wiser man mi!ht hae o""ered sweeter
terms'3
1*n& sweeter and I wo%ld hae !a!!ed'3 ,er sons beard had !rown in redder than his
a%b%rn hair' Bobb seemed to thin$ it made him loo$ "ierce, ro&al ' ' ' older' B%t bearded
or no, he was still a &o%th o" "i"teen, and wanted en!eance no less than Bic$ard
6arstar$' It had been no eas& thin! to conince him to ma$e een this o""er, poor as it
was'
1+ersei 7annister will neer consent to trade &o%r sisters "or a pair o" co%sins' Its her
brother shell want, as &o% $now "%ll well'3 She had told him as m%ch be"ore, b%t
+atel&n was "indin! that $in!s do not listen hal" so attentiel& as sons'
1I cant release the 6in!sla&er, not een i" I wanted to' 2& lords wo%ld neer abide it'3
1;o%r lords made &o% their $in!'3
1*nd can %nma$e me 9%st as eas&'3
1I" &o%r crown is the price we m%st pa& to hae *r&a and Sansa ret%rned sa"e, we
sho%ld pa& it willin!l&' ,al" &o%r lords wo%ld li$e to m%rder 7annister in his cell' I" he
sho%ld die while hes &o%r prisoner, men will sa&A3
1Athat he well desered it,3 Bobb "inished'
1*nd &o%r sisters.3 +atel&n as$ed sharpl&' 1(ill the& desere their deaths as well. I
promise &o%, i" an& harm comes to her brother, +ersei will pa& %s bac$ blood "or blood
A3
17annister wont die,3 Bobb said' 1No one so m%ch as spea$s to him witho%t m&
warrant' ,e has "ood, water, clean straw, more com"ort than he has an& ri!ht to' B%t I
wont "ree him, not een "or *r&a and Sansa'3
,er son was loo$in! down at her, +atel&n reali?ed' (as it war that made him !row so
"ast, she wondered, or the crown the& had p%t on his head. 1*re &o% a"raid to hae
Caime 7annister in the "ield a!ain, is that the tr%th o" it.3
8re& (ind !rowled, as i" he sensed Bobbs an!er, and 5dm%re T%ll& p%t a brotherl&
hand on +atel&ns sho%lder' 1+at, dont' The bo& has the ri!ht o" this'3
1#ont call me the bo&,3 Bobb said, ro%ndin! on his %ncle, his an!er spillin! o%t all at
once on poor 5dm%re, who had onl& meant to s%pport him' 1Im almost a man !rown,
and a $in!A&o%r $in!, ser' *nd I dont "ear Caime 7annister' I de"eated him once, Ill
de"eat him a!ain i" I m%st, onl& ' '3 ,e p%shed a "all o" hair o%t o" his e&es and !ae a
sha$e o" the head' 1I mi!ht hae been able to trade the 6in!sla&er "or =ather, b%t ' ' '3
1' ' ' b%t not "or the !irls.3 ,er oice was ic& )%iet' 18irls are not important eno%!h,
are the&.3
Bobb made no answer, b%t there was h%rt in his e&es' Bl%e e&es, T%ll& e&es, e&es she
had !ien him' She had wo%nded him, b%t he was too m%ch his "athers son to admit it'
That was %nworth& o" me, she told hersel"' 8ods be !ood, what is to become o" me.
,e is doin! his best, tr&in! so hard, I $now it, I see it, and &et ' ' ' I hae lost m& Ned,
the roc$ m& li"e was b%ilt on, I co%ld not bear to lose the !irls as well ' ' '
1Ill do all I can "or m& sisters,3 Bobb said' 1I" the )%een has an& sense, shell accept
m& terms' I" not, Ill ma$e her r%e the da& she re"%sed me'3
4lainl&, hed had eno%!h o" the s%b9ect' 12other, are &o% certain &o% will not consent
to !o to the Twins. ;o% wo%ld be "arther "rom the "i!htin!, and &o% co%ld ac)%aint
&o%rsel" with 7ord =re&s da%!hters to help me choose m& bride when the war is done'3
,e wants me !one, +atel&n tho%!ht wearil&' 6in!s are not s%pposed to hae mothers,
it wo%ld seem, and I tell him thin!s he does not want to hear' 1;o%re old eno%!h to
decide which o" 7ord (alders !irls &o% pre"er witho%t &o%r mothers help, Bobb'3
1Then !o with Theon' ,e leaes on the morrow' ,ell help the 2allisters escort that
lot o" capties to Sea!ard and then ta$e ship "or the Iron Islands' ;o% co%ld "ind a ship
as well, and be bac$ at (inter"ell with a moons t%rn, i" the winds are $ind' Bran and
Bic$on need &o%'3
*nd &o% do not, is that what &o% mean to sa&. 12& lord "ather has little eno%!h time
remainin! him' So lon! as &o%r !rand"ather lies, m& place is at Bierr%n with him'3
1I co%ld command &o% to !o' *s $in!' I co%ld'3
+atel&n i!nored that' 1Ill sa& a!ain, I wo%ld sooner &o% sent someone else to 4&$e,
and $ept Theon close to &o%'3
1(ho better to treat with Balon 8re&9o& than his son.3
1Cason 2allister,3 o""ered +atel&n' 1T&tos Blac$wood' Steron =re&' *n&one ' ' ' b%t
not Theon'3
,er son s)%atted beside 8re& (ind, r%""lin! the wol"s "%r and incidentall& aoidin!
her e&es' 1Theons "o%!ht brael& "or %s' I told &o% how he saed Bran "rom those
wildlin!s in the wol"swood' I" the 7annisters wont ma$e peace, Ill hae need o" 7ord
8re&9o&s lon!ships'3
1;o%ll hae them sooner i" &o% $eep his son as hosta!e'3
1,es been a hosta!e hal" his li"e'3
1=or !ood reason,3 +atel&n said' 1Balon 8re&9o& is not a man to be tr%sted' ,e wore a
crown himsel", remember, i" onl& "or a season' ,e ma& aspire to wear one a!ain'3
Bobb stood' 1I will not !r%d!e him that' I" Im 6in! in the North, let him be 6in! o"
the Iron Islands, i" thats his desire' Ill !ie him a crown !ladl&, so lon! as he helps %s
brin! down the 7annisters'3
1BobbA3
1Im sendin! Theon' 8ood da&, 2other' 8re& (ind, come'3 Bobb wal$ed o"" bris$l&,
the direwol" paddin! beside him'
+atel&n co%ld onl& watch him !o' ,er son and now her $in!' ,ow )%eer that "elt'
+ommand, she had told him bac$ in 2oat +ailin' *nd so he did' 1I am !oin! to isit
=ather,3 she anno%nced abr%ptl&' 1+ome with me, 5dm%re'3
1I need to hae a word with those new bowmen Ser #esmond is trainin!' Ill isit him
later'3
I" he still lies, +atel&n tho%!ht, b%t she said nothin!' ,er brother wo%ld sooner "ace
battle than that sic$room'
The shortest wa& to the central $eep where her "ather la& d&in! was thro%!h the
!odswood, with its !rass and wild"lowers and thic$ stands o" elm and redwood' * wealth
o" r%stlin! leaes still cl%n! to the branches o" the trees, all i!norant o" the word the
white raen had bro%!ht to Bierr%n a "ortni!ht past' *%t%mn had come, the +onclae
had declared, b%t the !ods had not seen "it to tell the winds and woods as &et' =or that
+atel&n was d%l& !rate"%l' *%t%mn was alwa&s a "ear"%l time, with the specter o" winter
loomin! ahead' 5en the wisest man neer $new whether his ne0t harest wo%ld be the
last'
,oster T%ll&, 7ord o" Bierr%n, la& abed in his solar, with its commandin! iew to the
east where the riers T%mblestone and Bed =or$ met be&ond the walls o" his castle' ,e
was sleepin! when +atel&n entered, his hair and beard as white as his "eatherbed, his
once portl& "rame t%rned small and "rail b& the death that !rew within him'
Beside the bed, still dressed in mail ha%ber$ and trael-stained cloa$, sat her "athers
brother, the Blac$"ish' ,is boots were d%st& and spattered with dried m%d' 1#oes Bobb
$now &o% are ret%rned, <ncle.3 Ser Br&nden T%ll& was Bobbs e&es and ears, the
commander o" his sco%ts and o%triders'
1No' I came here strai!ht "rom the stables, when the& told me the $in! was holdin!
co%rt' ,is 8race will want to hear m& tidin!s in priate "irst Id thin$'3 The Blac$"ish
was a tall, lean man, !re& o" hair and precise in his moements, his clean-shaen "ace
lined and windb%rnt' 1,ow is he.3 he as$ed, and she $new he did not mean Bobb'
12%ch the same' The maester !ies him dreamwine and mil$ o" the popp& "or his pain,
so he sleeps most o" the time, and eats too little' ,e seems wea$er with each da& that
passes'3
1#oes he spea$.3
1;es ' ' ' b%t there is less and less sense to the thin!s he sa&s' ,e tal$s o" his re!rets, o"
%n"inished tas$s, o" people lon! dead and times lon! past' Sometimes he does not $now
what season it is, or who I am' /nce he called me b& 2others name'3
1,e misses her still,3 Ser Br&nden answered' 1;o% hae her "ace' I can see it in &o%r
chee$bones, and &o%r 9aw ' ' '3
1;o% remember more o" her than I do' It has been a lon! time'3 She seated hersel" on
the bed and br%shed awa& a strand o" "ine white hair that had "allen across her "athers
"ace'
15ach time I ride o%t, I wonder i" I shall "ind him alie or dead on m& ret%rn'3 #espite
their )%arrels, there was a deep bond between her "ather and the brother he had once
disowned'
1*t least &o% made &o%r peace with him'3
The& sat "or a time in silence, %ntil +atel&n raised her head' 1;o% spo$e o" tidin!s that
Bobb needed to hear.3 7ord ,oster moaned and rolled onto his side, almost as i" he had
heard'
Br&nden stood' 1+ome o%tside' Best i" we do not wa$e him'3
She "ollowed him o%t onto the stone balcon& that 9%tted three-sided "rom the solar li$e
the prow o" a ship' ,er %ncle !lanced %p, "rownin!' 1;o% can see it b& da& now' 2&
men call it the Bed 2essen!er ' ' ' b%t what is the messa!e.3
+atel&n raised her e&es, to where the "aint red line o" the comet traced a path across the
deep bl%e s$& li$e a lon! scratch across the "ace o" !od' 1The 8reat9on told Bobb that
the old !ods hae %n"%rled a red "la! o" en!eance "or Ned' 5dm%re thin$s its an omen
o" ictor& "or Bierr%n, he sees a "ish with a lon! tail, in the T%ll& colors, red a!ainst
bl%e'3 She si!hed' 1I wish I had their "aith' +rimson is a 7annister color'3
1That thin!s not crimson,3 Ser Br&nden said' 1Nor T%ll& red, the m%d red o" the rier'
Thats blood %p there, child, smeared across the s$&'
1/%r blood or theirs.3
1(as there eer a war where onl& one side bled.3 ,er %ncle !ae a sha$e o" the head'
1The rierlands are awash in blood and "lame all aro%nd the 8ods 5&e' The "i!htin! has
spread so%th to the Blac$water and north across the Trident, almost to the Twins' 2ar)
4iper and 6ar&l >ance hae won some small ictories, and this so%thron lordlin! Beric
#ondarrion has been raidin! the raiders, "allin! %pon 7ord T&wins "ora!in! parties and
anishin! bac$ into the woods' Its said that Ser B%rton +ra$ehall was boastin! that hed
slain #ondarrion, %ntil he led his col%mn into one o" 7ord Berics traps and !ot eer&
man o" them $illed'3
1Some o" Neds !%ard "rom 6in!s 7andin! are with this 7ord Beric,3 +atel&n
recalled' 12a& the !ods presere them'3
1#ondarrion and this red priest who rides with him are cleer eno%!h to presere
themseles, i" the tales be tr%e,3 her %ncle said, 1b%t &o%r "athers bannermen ma$e a
sadder tale' Bobb sho%ld neer hae let them !o' The&e scattered li$e )%ail, each man
tr&in! to protect his own, and its "oll&, +at, "oll&' Conos Brac$en was wo%nded in the
"i!htin! amidst the r%ins o" his castle, and his nephew ,endr& slain' T&tos Blac$woods
swept the 7annisters o"" his lands, b%t the& too$ eer& cow and pi! and spec$ o" !rain
and le"t him nothin! to de"end b%t Baentree ,all and a scorched desert' #arr& men
recapt%red their lords $eep b%t held it less than a "ortni!ht be"ore 8re!or +le!ane
descended on them and p%t the whole !arrison to the sword, een their lord'3
+atel&n was horrorstr%c$' 1#arr& was onl& a child'3
1*&e, and the last o" his line as well' The bo& wo%ld hae bro%!ht a "ine ransom, b%t
what does !old mean to a "rothin! do! li$e 8re!or +le!ane. That beasts head wo%ld
ma$e a noble !i"t "or all the people o" the realm, I ow'3
+atel&n $new Ser 8re!ors eil rep%tation, &et still ' ' ' 1#ont spea$ to me o" heads,
<ncle' +ersei has mo%nted Neds on a spi$e aboe the walls o" the Bed 6eep, and le"t it
"or the crows and "lies'3 5en now, it was hard "or her to beliee that he was tr%l& !one'
Some ni!hts she wo%ld wa$e in dar$ness, hal"-asleep, and "or an instant e0pect to "ind
him there beside her' 1+le!ane is no more than 7ord T&wins catspaw'3 =or T&win
7annisterA7ord o" +asterl& Boc$, (arden o" the (est, "ather to F%een +ersei, Ser
Caime the 6in!sla&er, and T&rion the Imp, and !rand"ather to Co""re& Baratheon, the
new-crowned bo& $in!Awas the tr%e dan!er, +atel&n belieed'
1Tr%e eno%!h,3 Ser Br&nden admitted' 1*nd T&win 7annister is no mans "ool' ,e sits
sa"e behind the walls o" ,arrenhal, "eedin! his host on o%r harest and b%rnin! what he
does not ta$e' 8re!or is not the onl& do! hes loosed' Ser *mor& 7orch is in the "ield as
well, and some sellsword o%t o" Fohor whod sooner maim a man than $ill him' Ie
seen what the& leae behind them' (hole illa!es p%t to the torch, women raped and
m%tilated, b%tchered children le"t %nb%ried to draw woles and wild do!s ' ' ' it wo%ld
sic$en een the dead'3
1(hen 5dm%re hears this, he will ra!e'3
1*nd that will be 9%st as 7ord T&win desires' 5en terror has its p%rpose, +at'
7annister wants to proo$e %s to battle'3
1Bobb is li$e to !ie him that wish,3 +atel&n said, "ret"%l' 1,e is restless as a cat
sittin! here, and 5dm%re and the 8reat9on and the others will %r!e him on'3 ,er son had
won two !reat ictories, smashin! Caime 7annister in the (hisperin! (ood and ro%tin!
his leaderless host o%tside the walls o" Bierr%n in the Battle o" the +amps, b%t "rom the
wa& some o" his bannermen spo$e o" him, he mi!ht hae been *e!on the +on)%eror
reborn'
Br&nden Blac$"ish arched a b%sh& !re& e&ebrow' 12ore "ool the&' 2& "irst r%le o" war,
+atAneer !ie the enem& his wish' 7ord T&win wo%ld li$e to "i!ht on a "ield o" his
own choosin!' ,e wants %s to march on ,arrenhal'3
1,arrenhal'3 5er& child o" the Trident $new the tales told o" ,arrenhal, the ast
"ortress that 6in! ,arren the Blac$ had raised beside the waters o" 8ods 5&e three
h%ndred &ears past, when the Seen 6in!doms had been seen $in!doms, and the
rierlands were r%led b& the ironmen "rom the islands' In his pride, ,arren had desired
the hi!hest hall and tallest towers in all (esteros' =ort& &ears it had ta$en, risin! li$e a
!reat shadow on the shore o" the la$e while ,arrens armies pl%ndered his nei!hbors "or
stone, l%mber, !old, and wor$ers' Tho%sands o" capties died in his )%arries, chained to
his sled!es, or laborin! on his "ie colossal towers' 2en "ro?e b& winter and sweltered
in s%mmer' (eirwoods that had stood three tho%sand &ears were c%t down "or beams and
ra"ters' ,arren had be!!ared the rierlands and the Iron Islands ali$e to ornament his
dream' *nd when at last ,arrenhal stood complete, on the er& da& 6in! ,arren too$ %p
residence, *e!on the +on)%eror had come ashore at 6in!s 7andin!'
+atel&n co%ld remember hearin! /ld Nan tell the stor& to her own children, bac$ at
(inter"ell' 1*nd 6in! ,arren learned that thic$ walls and hi!h towers are small %se
a!ainst dra!ons,3 the tale alwa&s ended' 1=or dra!ons "l&'3 ,arren and all his line had
perished in the "ires that en!%l"ed his monstro%s "ortress, and eer& ho%se that held
,arrenhal since had come to mis"ort%ne' Stron! it mi!ht be, b%t it was a dar$ place, and
c%rsed'
1I wo%ld not hae Bobb "i!ht a battle in the shadow o" that $eep,3 +atel&n admitted'
1;et we m%st do somethin!, <ncle'3
1*nd soon,3 her %ncle a!reed' 1I hae not told &o% the worst o" it, child' The men I
sent west hae bro%!ht bac$ word that a new host is !atherin! at +asterl& Boc$'3
*nother 7annister arm&' The tho%!ht made her ill' 1Bobb m%st be told at once' (ho
will command.3
1Ser Sta""ord 7annister, its said'3 ,e t%rned to !a?e o%t oer the riers, his red-and-
bl%e cloa$ stirrin! in the bree?e'
1*nother nephew.3 The 7annisters o" +asterl& Boc$ were a damnabl& lar!e and "ertile
ho%se'
1+o%sin,3 Ser Br&nden corrected' 1Brother to 7ord T&wins late wi"e, so twice related'
*n old man and a bit o" a d%llard, b%t he has a son, Ser #aen, who is more
"ormidable'3
1Then let %s hope it is the "ather and not the son who ta$es this arm& into the "ield'3
1(e hae some time &et be"ore we m%st "ace them' This lot will be sellswords,
"reeriders, and !reen bo&s "rom the stews o" 7annisport' Ser Sta""ord m%st see that the&
are armed and drilled be"ore he dare ris$ battle ' ' ' and ma$e no mista$e, 7ord T&win is
not the 6in!sla&er' ,e will not r%sh in heedless' ,e will wait patientl& "or Ser Sta""ord
to march be"ore he stirs "rom behind the walls o" ,arrenhal'3
1<nless ' ' '3 said +atel&n'
1;es.3 Ser Br&nden prompted'
1<nless he m%st leae ,arrenhal,3 she said, 1to "ace some other threat'3
,er %ncle loo$ed at her tho%!ht"%ll&' 17ord Benl&'3
16in! Benl&'3 I" she wo%ld as$ help "rom the man, she wo%ld need to !rant him the
st&le he had claimed "or himsel"'
14erhaps'3 The Blac$"ish smiled a dan!ero%s smile' 1,ell want somethin!, tho%!h'3
1,ell want what $in!s alwa&s want,3 she said' 1,oma!e'3
C#APT"R /
T%RIO'
Canos Sl&nt was a b%tchers son, and he la%!hed li$e a man choppin! meat' 12ore
wine.3 T&rion as$ed him'
1I sho%ld not ob9ect,3 7ord Canos said, holdin! o%t his c%p' ,e was b%ilt li$e a $e!,
and had a similar capacit&' 1I sho%ld not ob9ect at all' Thats a "ine red' =rom the
*rbor.3
1#ornish'3 T&rion !est%red, and his serin! man po%red' B%t "or the serants, he and
7ord Canos were alone in the Small ,all, at a small candlelit table s%rro%nded b&
dar$ness' 1F%ite the "ind' #ornish wines are not o"ten so rich'3
1Bich,3 said the bi! "ro!-"aced man, ta$in! a health& !%lp' ,e was not a man "or
sippin!, Canos Sl&nt' T&rion had made note o" that at once' 1;es, rich, thats the er&
word I was searchin! "or, the er& word' ;o% hae a !i"t "or words, 7ord T&rion, i" I
mi!ht sa& so' *nd &o% tell a droll tale' #roll, &es'3
1Im pleased &o% thin$ so ' ' ' b%t Im not a lord, as &o% are' * simple T&rion will
s%""ice "or me, 7ord Canos'3
1*s &o% wish'3 ,e too$ another swallow, dribblin! wine on the "ront o" his blac$ satin
do%blet' ,e was wearin! a cloth-o"-!old hal" cape "astened with a miniat%re spear, its
point enameled in dar$ red' *nd he was well and tr%l& dr%n$'
T&rion coered his mo%th and belched politel&' <nli$e 7ord Canos he had !one eas& on
the wine, b%t he was er& "%ll' The "irst thin! he had done a"ter ta$in! %p residence in
the Tower o" the ,and was in)%ire a"ter the "inest coo$ in the cit& and ta$e her into his
serice' This eenin! the& had s%pped on o0tail so%p, s%mmer !reens tossed with
pecans, !rapes, red "ennel, and cr%mbled cheese, hot crab pie, spiced s)%ash, and )%ails
drowned in b%tter' 5ach dish had come with its own wine' 7ord Canos allowed that he
had neer eaten hal" so well' 1No do%bt that will chan!e when &o% ta$e &o%r seat in
,arrenhal,3 T&rion said'
1=or a certaint&' 4erhaps I sho%ld as$ this coo$ o" &o%rs to enter m& serice, what do
&o% sa&.3
1(ars hae been "o%!ht oer less,3 he said, and the& both had a !ood lon! la%!h'
1;o%re a bold man to ta$e ,arrenhal "or &o%r seat' S%ch a !rim place, and h%!e ' ' '
costl& to maintain' *nd some sa& c%rsed as well'3
1Sho%ld I "ear a pile o" stone.3 ,e hooted at the notion' 1* bold man, &o% said' ;o%
m%st be bold, to rise' *s I hae' To ,arrenhal, &es@ *nd wh& not. ;o% $now' ;o% are a
bold man too, I sense' Small, ma&hap, b%t bold'3
1;o% are too $ind' 2ore wine.3
1No' No, tr%l&, I ' ' ' oh, !ods be damned, &es' (h& not. * bold man drin$s his "ill@3
1Tr%l&'3 T&rion "illed 7ord Sl&nts c%p to the brim' 1I hae been !lancin! oer the
names &o% p%t "orward to ta$e &o%r place as +ommander o" the +it& (atch'3
18ood men' =ine men' *n& o" the si0 will do, b%t Id choose *llar #eem' 2& ri!ht
arm' 8ood !ood man' 7o&al' 4ic$ him and &o% wont be sorr&' I" he pleases the $in!'3
1To be s%re'3 T&rion too$ a small sip o" his own wine' 1I had been considerin! Ser
Cacel&n B&water' ,es been captain on the 2%d 8ate "or three &ears, and he sered with
alor d%rin! Balon 8re&9o&s Bebellion' 6in! Bobert $ni!hted him at 4&$e' *nd &et his
name does not appear on &o%r list'3
7ord Canos Sl&nt too$ a !%lp o" wine and sloshed it aro%nd in his mo%th "or a moment
be"ore swallowin!' 1B&water' (ell' Brae man, to be s%re, &et ' ' ' hes ri!id, that one' *
)%eer do!' The men dont li$e him' * cripple too, lost his hand at 4&$e, thats what !ot
him $ni!hted' * poor trade, i" &o% as$ me, a hand "or a ser'3 ,e la%!hed' 1Ser Cacel&n
thin$s oerm%ch o" himsel" and his honor, as I see it' ;o%ll do better leain! that one
where he is, m& lorAT&rion' *llar #eems the man "or &o%'3
1#eem is little loed in the streets, I am told'3
1,es "eared' Thats better'3
1(hat was it I heard o" him. Some tro%ble in a brothel.3
1That' Not his "a%lt, m& lorAT&rion' No' ,e neer meant to $ill the woman, that was
her own doin!' ,e warned her to stand aside and let him do his d%t&'3
1Still ' ' ' mothers and children, he mi!ht hae e0pected shed tr& to sae the babe'3
T&rion smiled' 1,ae some o" this cheese, it !oes splendidl& with the wine' Tell me,
wh& did &o% choose #eem "or that %nhapp& tas$.3
1* !ood commander $nows his men, T&rion' Some are !ood "or one 9ob, some "or
another' #oin! "or a babe, and her still on the tit, that ta$es a certain sort' Not eer&
mand do it' 5en i" it was onl& some whore and her whelp'3
1I s%ppose thats so,3 said T&rion, hearin! onl& some whore and thin$in! o" Shae, and
T&sha lon! a!o, and all the other women who had ta$en his coin and his seed oer the
&ears'
Sl&nt went on, obliio%s' 1* hard man "or a hard 9ob, is #eem' #oes as hes told, and
neer a word a"terward'3 ,e c%t a slice o"" the cheese' 1This is "ine' Sharp' 8ie me a
!ood sharp $ni"e and a !ood sharp cheese and Im a happ& man'3
T&rion shr%!!ed' 15n9o& it while &o% can' (ith the rierlands in "lame and Benl& $in!
in ,i!h!arden, !ood cheese will soon be hard to come b&' So who sent &o% a"ter the
whores bastard.3
7ord Canos !ae T&rion a war& loo$, then la%!hed and wa!!ed a wed!e o" cheese at
him' 1;o%re a sl& one, T&rion' Tho%!ht &o% co%ld tric$ me, did &o%. it ta$es more than
wine and cheese to ma$e Canos Sl&nt tell more than he sho%ld' I pride m&sel"' Neer a
)%estion, and neer a word a"terward, not with me'3
1*s with #eem'3
1C%st the same' ;o% ma$e him &o%r +ommander when Im o"" to ,arrenhal, and &o%
wont re!ret it'3
T&rion bro$e o"" a nibble o" the cheese' It was sharp indeed, and eined with wine:
er& choice' 1(hoeer the $in! names will not hae an eas& time steppin! into &o%r
armor, I can tell' 7ord 2ormont "aces the same problem'3
7ord Canos loo$ed p%??led' 1I tho%!ht she was a lad&' 2ormont' Beds down with
bears, thats the one.3
1It was her brother I was spea$in! o"' Ceor 2ormont, the 7ord +ommander o" the
Ni!hts (atch' (hen I was isitin! with him on the (all, he mentioned how concerned
he was abo%t "indin! a !ood man to ta$e his place' The (atch !ets so "ew !ood men
these da&s'3 T&rion !rinned' 1,ed sleep easier i" he had a man li$e &o%, I ima!ine' /r
the aliant *llar #eem'3
7ord Canos roared' 1Small chance o" that@3
1/ne wo%ld thin$,3 T&rion said, 1b%t li"e does ta$e )%eer t%rns' +onsider 5ddard
Star$, m& lord' I dont s%ppose he eer ima!ined his li"e wo%ld end on the steps o"
Baelors Sept'3
1There were damn "ew as did,3 7ord Canos allowed, ch%c$lin!'
T&rion ch%c$led too' 1* pit& I wasnt here to see it' The& sa& een >ar&s was
s%rprised'3
7ord Canos la%!hed so hard his !%t shoo$' 1The Spider,3 he said' 16nows eer&thin!,
the& sa&' (ell, he didnt $now that'3
1,ow co%ld he.3 T&rion p%t the "irst hint o" a chill in his tone' 1,e had helped
pers%ade m& sister that Star$ sho%ld be pardoned, on the condition that he ta$e the
blac$'3
15h.3 Canos Sl&nt blin$ed a!%el& at T&rion'
12& sister +ersei,3 T&rion repeated, a shade more stron!l&, in case the "ool had some
do%bt who he meant' 1The F%een Be!ent'3
1;es'3 Sl&nt too$ a swallow' 1*s to that, well ' ' ' the $in! commanded it, mlord' The
$in! himsel"'3
1The $in! is thirteen,3 T&rion reminded him'
1Still' ,e is the $in!'3 Sl&nts 9owls )%iered when he "rowned' 1The 7ord o" the
Seen 6in!doms'3
1(ell, one or two o" them, at least,3 T&rion said with a so%r smile' 12i!ht I hae a
loo$ at &o%r spear.3
12& spear.3 7ord Canos blin$ed in con"%sion'
T&rion pointed' 1The clasp that "astens &o%r cape'3
,esitantl&, 7ord Canos drew o%t the ornament and handed it to T&rion'
1(e hae !oldsmiths in 7annisport who do better wor$, he opined' 1The red enamel
blood is a shade m%ch, i" &o% dont mind m& sa&in!' Tell me, m& lord, did &o% drie the
spear into the mans bac$ &o%rsel", or did &o% onl& !ie the command.3
1I !ae the command, and Id !ie it a!ain' 7ord Star$ was a traitor'3 The bald spot in
the middle o" Sl&nts head was beet-red, and his cloth-o"-!old cape had slithered o"" his
sho%lders onto the "loor' 1The man tried to b%& me'3
17ittle dreamin! that &o% had alread& been sold'3
Sl&nt slammed down his wine c%p' 1*re &o% dr%n$. I" &o% thin$ I will sit here and
hae m& honor )%estioned ' ' '3
1(hat honor is that. I do admit, &o% made a better bar!ain than Ser Cacel&n' *
lordship and a castle "or a spear thr%st in the bac$, and &o% didnt een need to thr%st the
spear'3 ,e tossed the !olden ornament bac$ to Canos Sl&nt' It bo%nced o"" his chest and
clattered to the "loor as the man rose'
1I misli$e the tone o" &o%r oice, m& loAImp' I am the 7ord o" ,arrenhal and a
member o" the $in!s co%ncil, who are &o% to chastise me li$e this.3
T&rion coc$ed his head sidewa&s' 1I thin$ &o% $now )%ite well who I am' ,ow man&
sons do &o% hae.3
1(hat are m& sons to &o%, dwar".3
1#war".3 ,is an!er "lashed' 1;o% sho%ld hae stopped at Imp' I am T&rion o" ,o%se
7annister, and someda&, i" &o% hae the sense the !ods !ae a sea sl%!, &o% will drop to
&o%r $nees in than$s that it was me &o% had to deal with, and not m& lord "ather' Now,
how man& sons do &o% hae.3
T&rion co%ld see the s%dden "ear in Canos Sl&nts e&es' 1Th-three, mlord' *nd a
da%!hter' 4lease, mlordA3
1;o% need not be!'3 ,e slid o"" his chair' 1;o% hae m& word, no harm will come to
them' The &o%n!er bo&s will be "ostered o%t as s)%ires' I" the& sere well and lo&all&,
the& ma& be $ni!hts in time' 7et it neer be said that ,o%se 7annister does not reward
those who sere it' ;o%r eldest son will inherit the title 7ord Sl&nt, and this appallin!
si!il o" &o%rs'3 ,e $ic$ed at the little !olden spear and sent it s$itterin! across the "loor'
17ands will be "o%nd "or him, and he can b%ild a seat "or himsel"' It will not be
,arrenhal, b%t it will be s%""icient' It will be %p to him to ma$e a marria!e "or the !irl'3
Canos Sl&nts "ace had !one "rom red to white' 1(h-what ' ' ' what do &o% ' ' ' .3 ,is
9owls were )%ierin! li$e mo%nds o" s%et'
1(hat do I mean to do with &o%.3 T&rion let the oa" tremble "or a moment be"ore he
answered' 1The carrac$ S%mmers #ream sails on the mornin! tide' ,er master tells me
she will call at 8%lltown, the Three Sisters, the isle o" S$a!os, and 5astwatch-b&-the-
Sea' (hen &o% see 7ord +ommander 2ormont, !ie him m& "ond re!ards, and tell him
that I hae not "or!otten the needs o" the Ni!hts (atch' I wish &o% lon! li"e and !ood
serice, m& lord'3
/nce Canos Sl&nt reali?ed he was not to be s%mmaril& e0ec%ted, color ret%rned to his
"ace' ,e thr%st his 9aw o%t' 1(e will see abo%t this, Imp' #war"' 4erhaps it will be &o%
on that ship, what do &o% thin$ o" that. 4erhaps it will be &o% on the (all'3 ,e !ae a
bar$ o" an0io%s la%!hter' 1;o% and &o%r threats, well, we will see' I am the $in!s "riend,
&o% $now' (e shall hear what Co""re& has to sa& abo%t this' *nd 7ittle"in!er and the
)%een, oh, &es' Canos Sl&nt has a !ood man& "riends' (e will see who !oes sailin!, I
promise &o%' Indeed we will'3
Sl&nt sp%n on his heel li$e the watchman hed once been, and strode the len!th o" the
Small ,all, boots rin!in! on the stone' ,e clattered %p the steps, threw open the door ' ' '
and came "ace-to-"ace with a tall, lantern-9awed man in blac$ breastplate and !old cloa$'
Strapped to the st%mp o" his ri!ht wrist was an iron hand' 1Canos,3 he said, deep-set e&es
!lintin! %nder a prominent brow rid!e and a shoc$ o" salt-and-pepper hair' Si0 !old
cloa$s moed )%ietl& into the Small ,all behind him as Canos Sl&nt bac$ed awa&'
17ord Sl&nt,3 T&rion called o%t, 1I beliee &o% $now Ser Cacel&n B&water, o%r new
+ommander o" the +it& (atch'3
1(e hae a litter waitin! "or &o%, m& lord,3 Ser Cacel&n told Sl&nt' 1The doc$s are
dar$ and distant, and the streets are not sa"e b& ni!ht' 2en'3
*s the !old cloa$s %shered o%t their onetime commander, T&rion called Ser Cacel&n to
his side and handed him a roll o" parchment' 1Its a lon! o&a!e, and 7ord Sl&nt will
want "or compan&' See that these si0 9oin him on the S%mmers #ream'3
B&water !lanced oer the names and smiled' 1*s &o% will'3
1Theres one,3 T&rion said )%ietl&' 1#eem' Tell the captain it wo%ld not be ta$en amiss
i" that one sho%ld happen to be swept oerboard be"ore the& reach 5astwatch'3
1Im told those northern waters are er& storm&, m& lord'3 Ser Cacel&n bowed and too$
his leae, his cloa$ ripplin! behind him' ,e trod on Sl&nts cloth-o"-!old cape on his
wa&'
T&rion sat alone, sippin! at what remained o" the "ine sweet #ornish wine' Serants
came and went, clearin! the dishes "rom the table' ,e told them to leae the wine' (hen
the& were done, >ar&s came !lidin! into the hall, wearin! "lowin! laender robes that
matched his smell' 1/h sweetl& done, m& !ood lord'3
1Then wh& do I hae this bitter taste in m& mo%th.3 ,e pressed his "in!ers into his
temples' 1I told them to throw *llar #eem into the sea' I am sorel& tempted to do the
same with &o%'3
1;o% mi!ht be disappointed b& the res%lt,3 >ar&s replied' 1The storms come and !o,
the waes crash oerhead, the bi! "ish eat the little "ish, and I $eep on paddlin!' 2i!ht I
tro%ble &o% "or a taste o" the wine that 7ord Sl&nt en9o&ed so m%ch.3
T&rion waed at the "la!on, "rownin!'
>ar&s "illed a c%p' 1*h' Sweet as s%mmer'3 ,e too$ another sip' 1I hear the !rapes
sin!in! on m& ton!%e'3
1I wondered what that noise was' Tell the !rapes to $eep still, m& head is abo%t to split'
It was m& sister' That was what the oh-so-lo&al 7ord Canos re"%sed to sa&' +ersei sent
the !old cloa$s to that brothel'3
>ar&s tittered nero%sl&' So he had $nown all alon!'
1;o% le"t that part o%t,3 T&rion said acc%sin!l&'
1;o%r own sweet sister,3 >ar&s said, so !rie"-stric$en he loo$ed close to tears' 1It is a
hard thin! to tell a man, m& lord' I was "ear"%l how &o% mi!ht ta$e it' +an &o% "or!ie
me.3
1No,3 T&rion snapped' 1#amn &o%' #amn her'3 ,e co%ld not to%ch +ersei, he $new'
Not &et, not een i" hed wanted to, and he was "ar "rom certain that he did' ;et it
ran$led, to sit here and ma$e a m%mmers show o" 9%stice b& p%nishin! the sorr& li$es o"
Canos Sl&nt and *llar #eem, while his sister contin%ed on her saa!e co%rse' 1In "%t%re,
&o% will tell me what &o% $now, 7ord >ar&s' *ll o" what &o% $now'3
The e%n%chs smile was sl&' 1That mi!ht ta$e rather a lon! time, m& !ood lord' I $now
)%ite a lot'3
1Not eno%!h to sae this child, it wo%ld seem'3
1*las, no' There was another bastard, a bo&, older' I too$ steps to see him remoed
"rom harms wa& ' ' ' b%t I con"ess, I neer dreamed the babe wo%ld be at ris$' *
baseborn !irl, less than a &ear old, with a whore "or a mother' (hat threat co%ld she
pose.3
1She was Boberts,3 T&rion said bitterl&' 1That was eno%!h "or +ersei, it wo%ld seem'3
1;es' It is !rieo%s sad' I m%st blame m&sel" "or the poor sweet babe and her mother,
who was so &o%n! and loed the $in!'3
1#id she.3 T&rion had neer seen the dead !irls "ace, b%t in his mind she was Shae
and T&sha both' 1+an a whore tr%l& loe an&one, I wonder. No, dont answer' Some
thin!s I wo%ld rather not $now'3 ,e had settled Shae in a sprawlin! stone-and-timber
manse, with its own well and stable and !arden: he had !ien her serants to see to her
wants, a white bird "rom the S%mmer Isles to $eep her compan&, sil$s and siler and
!emstones to adorn her, !%ards to protect her' *nd &et she seemed restie' She wanted to
be with him more, she told him: she wanted to sere him and help him' 1;o% help me
most here, between the sheets,3 he told her one ni!ht a"ter their loin! as he la& beside
her, his head pillowed a!ainst her breast, his !roin achin! with a sweet soreness' She
made no repl&, sae with her e&es' ,e co%ld see there that it was not what shed wanted
to hear'
Si!hin!, T&rion started to reach "or the wine a!ain, then remembered 7ord Canos and
p%shed the "la!on awa&' 1It does seem m& sister was tellin! the tr%th abo%t Star$s
death' (e hae m& nephew to than$ "or that madness'3
16in! Co""re& !ae the command' Canos Sl&nt and Ser Il&n 4a&ne carried it o%t,
swi"tl&, witho%t hesitation ' ' '3
1' ' ' almost as i" the& had e0pected it' ;es, we hae been oer this !ro%nd be"ore,
witho%t pro"it' * "oll&'3
1(ith the +it& (atch in hand, m& lord, &o% are well placed to see to it that ,is 8race
commits no "%rther ' ' ' "ollies. To be s%re, there is still the )%eens ho%sehold !%ard to
consider ' ' '3
1The red cloa$s.3 T&rion shr%!!ed' 1>&larrs lo&alt& is to +asterl& Boc$' ,e $nows I
am here with m& "athers a%thorit&' +ersei wo%ld "ind it hard to %se his men a!ainst me '
' ' besides, the& are onl& a h%ndred' I hae hal" a!ain as man& men o" m& own' *nd si0
tho%sand !old cloa$s, i" B&water is the man &o% claim'3
1;o% will "ind Ser Cacel&n to be co%ra!eo%s, honorable, obedient ' ' ' and most
!rate"%l'3
1To whom, I wonder.3 T&rion did not tr%st >ar&s, tho%!h there was no den&in! his
al%e' ,e $new thin!s, be&ond a do%bt' 1(h& are &o% so help"%l, m& lord >ar&s.3 he
as$ed, st%d&in! the mans so"t hands, the bald powdered "ace, the slim& little smile'
1;o% are the ,and' I sere the realm, the $in!, and &o%'3
1*s &o% sered Con *rr&n and 5ddard Star$.3
1I sered 7ord *rr&n and 7ord Star$ as best I co%ld' I was saddened and horri"ied b&
their most %ntimel& deaths'3
1Thin$ how I "eel' Im li$e to be ne0t'3
1/h, I thin$ not,3 >ar&s said, swirlin! the wine in his c%p' 14ower is a c%rio%s thin!,
m& lord' 4erchance &o% hae considered the riddle I posed &o% that da& in the inn.3
1It has crossed m& mind a time or two,3 T&rion admitted' 1The $in!, the priest, the rich
manAwho lies and who dies. (ho will the swordsman obe&. Its a riddle witho%t an
answer, or rather, too man& answers' *ll depends on the man with the sword'3
1*nd &et he is no one,3 >ar&s said' 1,e has neither crown nor !old nor "aor o" the
!ods, onl& a piece o" pointed steel'3
1That piece o" steel is the power o" li"e and death'3
1C%st so ' ' ' &et i" it is the swordsmen who r%le %s in tr%th, wh& do we pretend o%r
$in!s hold the power. (h& sho%ld a stron! man with a sword eer obe& a child $in!
li$e Co""re&, or a wine-sodden oa" li$e his "ather.3
1Beca%se these child $in!s and dr%n$en oa"s can call other stron! men, with other
swords'3
1Then these other swordsmen hae the tr%e power' /r do the&. (hence came their
swords. (h& do the& obe&.3 >ar&s smiled' 1Some sa& $nowled!e is power' Some tell
%s that all power comes "rom the !ods' /thers sa& it deries "rom law' ;et that da& on
the steps o" Baelors Sept, o%r !odl& ,i!h Septon and the law"%l F%een Be!ent and &o%r
eer-so-$nowled!eable serant were as powerless as an& cobbler or cooper in the crowd'
(ho tr%l& $illed 5ddard Star$ do &o% thin$. Co""re&, who !ae the command. Ser Il&n
4a&ne, who sw%n! the sword. /r ' ' ' another.3
T&rion coc$ed his head sidewa&s' 1#id &o% mean to answer &o%r damned riddle, or
onl& to ma$e m& head ache worse.3
>ar&s smiled' 1,ere, then' 4ower resides where men beliee it resides' No more and
no less'3
1So power is a m%mmers tric$.3
1* shadow on the wall,3 >ar&s m%rm%red, 1&et shadows can $ill' *nd o"ttimes a er&
small man can cast a er& lar!e shadow'3
T&rion smiled' 17ord >ar&s, I am !rowin! stran!el& "ond o" &o%' I ma& $ill &o% &et,
b%t I thin$ Id "eel sad abo%t it'3
1I will ta$e that as hi!h praise'3
1(hat are &o%, >ar&s.3 T&rion "o%nd he tr%l& wanted to $now' 1* spider, the& sa&'3
1Spies and in"ormers are seldom loed, m& lord' I am b%t a lo&al serant o" the realm'3
1*nd a e%n%ch' 7et %s not "or!et that'3
1I seldom do'3
14eople hae called me a hal"man too, &et I thin$ the !ods hae been $inder to me' I
am small, m& le!s are twisted, and women do not loo$ %pon me with an& !reat
&earnin! ' ' ' &et Im still a man' Shae is not the "irst to !race m& bed, and one da& I ma&
ta$e a wi"e and sire a son' I" the !ods are !ood, hell loo$ li$e his %ncle and thin$ li$e
his "ather' ;o% hae no s%ch hope to s%stain &o%' #war"s are a 9ape o" the !ods ' ' ' b%t
men ma$e e%n%chs' (ho c%t &o%, >ar&s. (hen and wh&. (ho are &o%, tr%l&.3
The e%n%chs smile neer "lic$ered, b%t his e&es !littered with somethin! that was not
la%!hter' 1;o% are $ind to as$, m& lord, b%t m& tale is lon! and sad, and we hae
treasons to disc%ss'3 ,e drew a parchment "rom the sleee o" his robe' 1The master o"
the 6in!s 8alle& (hite ,art plots to slip anchor three da&s hence to o""er his sword and
ship to 7ord Stannis'3
T&rion si!hed' 1I s%ppose we m%st ma$e some sort o" blood& lesson o%t o" the man.3
1Ser Cacel&n co%ld arran!e "or him to anish, b%t a trial be"ore the $in! wo%ld help
ass%re the contin%ed lo&alt& o" the other captains'3
*nd $eep m& ro&al nephew occ%pied as well' 1*s &o% sa&' 4%t him down "or a dose o"
Co""re&s 9%stice'3
>ar&s made a mar$ on the parchment' 1Ser ,oras and Ser ,obber Bedw&ne hae
bribed a !%ard to let them o%t a postern !ate, the ni!ht a"ter ne0t' *rran!ements hae
been made "or them to sail on the 4entoshi !alle& 2oonr%nner, dis!%ised as oarsmen'3
1+an we $eep them on those oars "or a "ew &ears, see how the& "anc& it.3 ,e smiled'
1No, m& sister wo%ld be distra%!ht to lose s%ch treas%red !%ests' In"orm Ser Cacel&n'
Sei?e the man the& bribed and e0plain what an honor it is to sere as a brother o" the
Ni!hts (atch' *nd hae men posted aro%nd the 2oonr%nner, in case the Bedw&nes "ind
a second !%ard short o" coin'3
1*s &o% will'3 *nother mar$ on the parchment' 1;o%r man Timett slew a winesellers
son this eenin!, at a !amblin! den on the Street o" Siler' ,e acc%sed him o" cheatin!
at tiles'3
1(as it tr%e.3
1/h, be&ond a do%bt'3
1Then the honest men o" the cit& owe Timett a debt o" !ratit%de' I shall see that he has
the $in!s than$s'3
The e%n%ch !ae a nero%s !i!!le and made another mar$' 1(e also hae a s%dden
pla!%e o" hol& men' The comet has bro%!ht "orth all manner o" )%eer priests, preachers,
and prophets, it wo%ld seem' The& be! in the winesin$s and pot-shops and "oretell doom
and destr%ction to an&one who stops to listen'3
T&rion shr%!!ed' 1(e are close on the three h%ndredth &ear since *e!ons 7andin!, I
s%ppose it is onl& to be e0pected' 7et them rant'3
1The& are spreadin! "ear, m& lord'3
1I tho%!ht that was &o%r 9ob'3
>ar&s coered his mo%th with his hand' 1;o% are er& cr%el to sa& so' /ne last matter'
7ad& Tanda !ae a small s%pper last ni!ht' I hae the men% and the !%est list "or &o%r
inspection' (hen the wine was po%red, 7ord 8&les rose to li"t a c%p to the $in!, and Ser
Balon Swann was heard to remar$, D(ell need three c%ps "or that' 2an& la%!hed ' ' '3
T&rion raised a hand' 15no%!h' Ser Balon made a 9est' I am not interested in
treasono%s table tal$, 7ord >ar&s'3
1;o% are as wise as &o% are !entle, m& lord'3 The parchment anished %p the e%n%chs
sleee' 1(e both hae m%ch to do' I shall leae &o%'3
(hen the e%n%ch had departed, T&rion sat "or a lon! time watchin! the candle and
wonderin! how his sister wo%ld ta$e the news o" Canos Sl&nts dismissal' Not happil&, i"
he was an& 9%d!e, b%t be&ond sendin! an an!r& protest to 7ord T&win in ,arrenhal, he
did not see what +ersei co%ld hope to do abo%t it' T&rion had the +it& (atch now, pl%s a
h%ndred-and-a-hal" "ierce clansmen and a !rowin! "orce o" sellswords recr%ited b&
Bronn' ,e wo%ld seem well protected'
#o%btless 5ddard Star$ tho%!ht the same'
The Bed 6eep was dar$ and still when T&rion le"t the Small ,all' Bronn was waitin!
in his solar' 1Sl&nt.3 he as$ed'
17ord Canos will be sailin! "or the (all on the mornin! tide' >ar&s wo%ld hae me
beliee that I hae replaced one o" Co""re&s men with one o" m& own' 2ore li$el&, I
hae replaced 7ittle"in!ers man with one belon!in! to >ar&s, b%t so be it'3
1;o%d best $now, Timett $illed a manA3
1>ar&s told me'3
The sellsword seemed %ns%rprised' 1The "ool "i!%red a one-e&ed man wo%ld be easier
to cheat' Timett pinned his wrist to the table with a da!!er and ripped o%t his throat
barehanded' ,e has this tric$ where he sti""ens his "in!ersA3
1Spare me the !risl& details, m& s%pper is sittin! badl& in m& bell&,3 T&rion said' 1,ow
!oes &o%r recr%itin!.3
1(ell eno%!h' Three new men toni!ht'3
1,ow do &o% $now which ones to hire.3
1I loo$ them oer' I )%estion them, to learn where the&e "o%!ht and how well the&
lie'3 Bronn smiled' 1*nd then I !ie them a chance to $ill me, while I do the same "or
them'3
1,ae &o% $illed an&.3
1No one we co%ld hae %sed'3
1*nd i" one o" them $ills &o%.3
1,ell be one &o%ll want to hire'3
T&rion was a little dr%n$, and er& tired' 1Tell me, Bronn' I" I told &o% to $ill a
babe ' ' ' an in"ant !irl, sa&, still at her mothers breast ' ' ' wo%ld &o% do it. (itho%t
)%estion.3
1(itho%t )%estion. No'3 The sellsword r%bbed th%mb and "ore"in!er to!ether' 1Id as$
how m%ch'3
*nd wh& wo%ld I eer need &o%r *llar #eem, 7ord Sl&nt. T&rion tho%!ht' I hae a
h%ndred o" m& own' ,e wanted to la%!h: he wanted to weep: most o" all, he wanted
Shae'
C#APT"R 0
AR%A
The road was little more than two r%ts thro%!h the weeds'
The !ood part was, with so little tra""ic thered be no one to point the "in!er and sa&
which wa& the&d !one' The h%man "lood that had "lowed down the $in!sroad was onl&
a tric$le here'
The bad part was, the road wo%nd bac$ and "orth li$e a sna$e, tan!lin! with een
smaller trails and sometimes seemin! to anish entirel& onl& to reappear hal" a lea!%e
"arther on when the& had all b%t !ien %p hope' *r&a hated it' The land was !entle
eno%!h, rollin! hills and terraced "ields interspersed with meadows and woodlands and
little alle&s where willows crowded close to slow shallow streams' 5en so, the path
was so narrow and croo$ed that their pace had dropped to a crawl'
It was the wa!ons that slowed them, l%mberin! alon!, a0les crea$in! %nder the wei!ht
o" their hea& loads' * do?en times a da& the& had to stop to "ree a wheel that had st%c$
in a r%t, or do%ble %p the teams to climb a m%dd& slope' /nce, in the middle o" a dense
stand o" oa$, the& came "ace-to-"ace with three men p%llin! a load o" "irewood in an o0
cart, with no wa& "or either to !et aro%nd' There had been nothin! "or it b%t to wait while
the "oresters %nhitched their o0, led him thro%!h the trees, sp%n the cart, hitched the o0
%p a!ain, and started bac$ the wa& the&d come' The o0 was een slower than the
wa!ons, so that da& the& hardl& !ot an&where at all'
*r&a co%ld not help loo$in! oer her sho%lder, wonderin! when the !old cloa$s wo%ld
catch them' *t ni!ht, she wo$e at eer& noise to !rab "or Needles hilt' The& neer made
camp witho%t p%ttin! o%t sentries now, b%t *r&a did not tr%st them, especiall& the orphan
bo&s' The& mi!ht hae done well eno%!h in the alle&s o" 6in!s 7andin!, b%t o%t here
the& were lost' (hen she was bein! )%iet as a shadow, she co%ld snea$ past all o" them,
"littin! o%t b& starli!ht to ma$e her water in the woods where no one wo%ld see' /nce,
when 7omm& 8reenhands had the watch, she shimmied %p an oa$ and moed "rom tree
to tree %ntil she was ri!ht aboe his head, and he neer saw a thin!' She wo%ld hae
9%mped down on top o" him, b%t she $new his scream wo%ld wa$e the whole camp, and
;oren mi!ht ta$e a stic$ to her a!ain'
7omm& and the other orphans all treated the B%ll li$e someone special now beca%se
the )%een wanted his head, tho%!h he wo%ld hae none o" it' 1I neer did nothin! to no
)%een,3 he said an!ril&' 1I did m& wor$, is all' Bellows and ton!s and "etch and carr&' I
was sposed to be an armorer, and one da& 2aster 2ott sa&s I !ot to 9oin the Ni!hts
(atch, thats all I $now'3 Then hed !o o"" to polish his helm' It was a bea%ti"%l helm,
ro%nded and c%red, with a slit isor and two !reat metal b%lls horns' *r&a wo%ld watch
him polish the metal with an oilcloth, shinin! it so bri!ht &o% co%ld see the "lames o" the
coo$"ire re"lected in the steel' ;et he neer act%all& p%t it on his head'
1I bet hes that traitors bastard,3 7omm& said one ni!ht, in a h%shed oice so 8endr&
wo%ld not hear' 1The wol" lord, the one the& nic$ed on Baelors steps'3
1,e is not,3 *r&a declared' 2& "ather onl& had one bastard, and thats Con' She stal$ed
o"" into the trees, wishin! she co%ld 9%st saddle her horse and ride home' She was a !ood
horse, a chestn%t mare with a white bla?e on her "orehead' *nd *r&a had alwa&s been a
!ood rider' She co%ld !allop o"" and neer see an& o" them, %nless she wanted to' /nl&
then shed hae no one to sco%t ahead o" her, or watch behind, or stand !%ard while she
napped, and when the !old cloa$s ca%!ht her, shed be all alone' It was sa"er to sta& with
;oren and the others'
1(ere not "ar "rom 8ods 5&e,3 the blac$ brother said one mornin!' 1The $in!sroad
wont be sa"e till were across the Trident' So well come %p aro%nd the la$e alon! the
western shore, the&re not li$e to loo$ "or %s there'3 *t the ne0t spot where two r%ts c%t
cross each other, he t%rned the wa!ons west'
,ere "armland !ae wa& to "orest, the illa!es and hold"asts were smaller and "arther
apart, the hills hi!her and the alle&s deeper' =ood !rew harder to come b&' In the cit&,
;oren had loaded %p the wa!ons with salt "ish, hard bread, lard, t%rnips, sac$s o" beans
and barle&, and wheels o" &ellow cheese, b%t eer& bite o" it had been eaten' =orced to
lie o"" the land, ;oren t%rned to 6oss and 6%r?, whod been ta$en as poachers' ,e
wo%ld send them ahead o" the col%mn, into the woods, and come d%s$ the& wo%ld be
bac$ with a deer sl%n! between them on a pole or a brace o" )%ail swin!in! "rom their
belts' The &o%n!er bo&s wo%ld be set to pic$in! blac$berries alon! the road, or climbin!
"ences to "ill a sac$ with apples i" the& happened %pon an orchard'
*r&a was a s$illed climber and a "ast pic$er, and she li$ed to !o o"" b& hersel"' /ne
da& she came across a rabbit, p%rel& b& happenstance' It was brown and "at, with lon!
ears and a twitch& nose' Babbits ran "aster than cats, b%t the& co%ldnt climb trees hal" so
well' She whac$ed it with her stic$ and !rabbed it b& its ears, and ;oren stewed it with
some m%shrooms and wild onions' *r&a was !ien a whole le!, since it was her rabbit'
She shared it with 8endr&' The rest o" them each !ot a spoon"%l, een the three in
manacles' Ca)en ,!har than$ed her politel& "or the treat, and Biter lic$ed the !rease o""
his dirt& "in!ers with a bliss"%l loo$, b%t Bor!e, the noseless one, onl& la%!hed and said,
1Theres a h%nter now' 7%mp&"ace 7%mp&head Babbit$iller'3
/%tside a hold"ast called Briarwhite, some "ieldhands s%rro%nded them in a corn"ield,
demandin! coin "or the ears the&d ta$en' ;oren e&ed their sc&thes and tossed them a
"ew coppers' 1Time was, a man in blac$ was "easted "rom #orne to (inter"ell, and een
hi!h lords called it an honor to shelter him %nder their roo"s,3 he said bitterl&' 1Now
craens li$e &o% want hard coin "or a bite o" worm& apple'3 ,e spat'
1Its sweetcorn, bettern a stin$in! old blac$ bird li$e &o% deseres,3 one o" them
answered ro%!hl&' 1;o% !et o%t o" o%r "ield now, and ta$e these snea$s and stabbers
with &o%, or well sta$e &o% %p in the corn to scare the other crows awa&'3
The& roasted the sweetcorn in the h%s$ that ni!ht, t%rnin! the ears with lon! "or$ed
stic$s, and ate it hot ri!ht o"" the cob' *r&a tho%!ht it tasted wonder"%l, b%t ;oren was
too an!r& to eat' * clo%d seemed to han! oer him, ra!!ed and blac$ as his cloa$' ,e
paced abo%t the camp restlessl&, m%tterin! to himsel"'
The ne0t da& 6oss came racin! bac$ to warn ;oren o" a camp ahead' 1Twent& or thirt&
men, in mail and hal"helms,3 he said' 1Some o" them are c%t %p bad, and ones d&in!,
"rom the so%nd o" him' (ith all the noise he was ma$in!, I !ot ri!ht %p close' The& !ot
spears and shields, b%t onl& one horse, and thats lame' I thin$ the& been there awhile,
"rom the stin$ o" the place'3
1See a banner.3
1Spotted treecat, &ellow and blac$, on a m%d-brown "ield'3
;oren "olded a so%rlea" into his mo%th and chewed' 1+ant sa&,3 he admitted' 12i!ht
be one side, mi!ht be tother' I" the&re h%rt that bad, li$el& the&d ta$e o%r mo%nts no
matter who the& are' 2i!ht be the&d ta$e more than that' I beliee well !o wide aro%nd
them'3 It too$ them miles o%t o" their wa&, and cost them two da&s at the least, b%t the
old man said it was cheap at the price' 1;o%ll hae time eno%!h on the (all' The rest o
&o%r lies, most li$e' Seems to me theres no r%sh to !et there'3
*r&a saw men !%ardin! the "ields more and more when the& t%rned north a!ain' /"ten
the& stood silentl& beside the road, !iin! a cold e&e to an&one who passed' 5lsewhere
the& patrolled on horses, ridin! their "ence lines with a0es strapped to their saddles' *t
one place, she spotted a man perched %p in a dead tree, with a bow in his hand and a
)%ier han!in! "rom the branch beside him' The moment he spied them, he notched an
arrow to his bowstrin!, and neer loo$ed awa& %ntil the last wa!on was o%t o" si!ht' *ll
the while, ;oren c%rsed' 1,im in his tree, lets see how well he li$es it %p there when the
/thers come to ta$e him' ,ell scream "or the (atch then, that he will'3
* da& later #obber spied a red !low a!ainst the eenin! s$&' 15ither this road went
and t%rned a!ain, or that s%ns settin! in the north'3
;oren climbed a rise to !et a better loo$' 1=ire,3 he anno%nced' ,e lic$ed a th%mb and
held it %p' 1(ind sho%ld blow it awa& "rom %s' Still bears watchin!'3
*nd watch it the& did' *s the world dar$ened, the "ire seemed to !row bri!hter and
bri!hter, %ntil it loo$ed as tho%!h the whole north was abla?e' =rom time to time, the&
co%ld een smell the smo$e, tho%!h the wind held stead& and the "lames neer !ot an&
closer' B& dawn the "ire had b%rned itsel" o%t, b%t none o" them slept er& well that
ni!ht' It was midda& when the& arried at the place where the illa!e had been' The
"ields were a charred desolation "or miles aro%nd, the ho%ses blac$ened shells' The
carcasses o" b%rnt and b%tchered animals dotted the !ro%nd, %nder liin! blan$ets o"
carrion crows that rose, cawin! "%rio%sl&, when dist%rbed' Smo$e still dri"ted "rom
inside the hold"ast' Its timber palisade loo$ed stron! "rom a"ar, b%t had not proed
stron! eno%!h'
Bidin! o%t in "ront o" the wa!ons on her horse, *r&a saw b%rnt bodies impaled on
sharpened sta$es atop the walls, their hands drawn %p ti!ht in "ront o" their "aces as i" to
"i!ht o"" the "lames that had cons%med them' ;oren called a halt when the& were still
some distance o"", and told *r&a and the other bo&s to !%ard the wa!ons while he and
2%rch and +%t9ac$ went in on "oot' * "loc$ o" raens rose "rom inside the walls when
the& climbed thro%!h the bro$en !ate, and the ca!ed raens in their wa!ons called o%t to
them with )%or$s and ra%co%s shrie$s'
1Sho%ld we !o in a"ter them.3 *r&a as$ed 8endr& a"ter ;oren and the others had been
!one a lon! time'
1;oren said wait'3 8endr&s oice so%nded hollow' (hen *r&a t%rned to loo$, she saw
that he was wearin! his helm, all shin& steel and !reat c%rin! horns'
(hen the& "inall& ret%rned, ;oren had a little !irl in his arms, and 2%rch and +%t9ac$
were carr&in! a woman in a slin! made o" an old torn )%ilt' The !irl was no older than
two and she cried all the time, a whimper& so%nd, li$e somethin! was ca%!ht in her
throat' 5ither she co%ldnt tal$ &et or she had "or!otten how' The womans ri!ht arm
ended in a blood& st%mp at her elbow, and her e&es didnt seem to see an&thin!, een
when she was loo$in! ri!ht at it' She tal$ed, b%t she onl& said one thin!' 14lease,3 she
cried, oer and oer' 14lease' 4lease'3 Bor!e tho%!ht that was "%nn&' ,e la%!hed
thro%!h the hole in his "ace where his nose had been, and Biter started la%!hin! too,
%ntil 2%rch c%rsed them and told them to sh%t %p'
;oren had them "i0 the woman a place in the bac$ o" a wa!on' 1*nd be )%ic$ abo%t
it,3 he said' 1+ome dar$, therell be woles here, and worse'3
1Im scared,3 ,ot 4ie m%rm%red when he saw the one-armed woman thrashin! in the
wa!on'
12e too,3 *r&a con"essed'
,e s)%ee?ed her sho%lder' 1I neer tr%l& $ic$ed no bo& to death, *rr&' I 9%st sold m&
momm&s pies, is all'3
*r&a rode as "ar ahead o" the wa!ons as she dared, so she wo%ldnt hae to hear the
little !irl cr&in! or listen to the woman whisper, 14lease'3 She remembered a stor& /ld
Nan had told once, abo%t a man imprisoned in a dar$ castle b& eil !iants' ,e was er&
brae and smart and he tric$ed the !iants and escaped ' ' ' b%t no sooner was he o%tside
the castle than the /thers too$ him, and dran$ his hot red blood' Now she $new how he
m%st hae "elt'
The one-armed woman died at een"all' 8endr& and +%t9ac$ d%! her !rae on a
hillside beneath a weepin! willow' (hen the wind blew, *r&a tho%!ht she co%ld hear the
lon! trailin! branches whisperin!, 14lease' 4lease' 4lease'3 The little hairs on the bac$
o" her nec$ rose, and she almost ran "rom the !raeside'
1No "ire toni!ht,3 ;oren told them' S%pper was a hand"%l o" wild radishes 6oss "o%nd,
a c%p o" dr& beans, water "rom a nearb& broo$' The water had a "%nn& taste to it, and
7omm& told them it was the taste o" bodies, rottin! someplace %pstream' ,ot 4ie wo%ld
hae hit him i" old Be&sen hadnt p%lled them apart'
*r&a dran$ too m%ch water, 9%st to "ill her bell& with somethin!' She neer tho%!ht
shed be able to sleep, &et somehow she did' (hen she wo$e, it was pitch-blac$ and her
bladder was "%ll to b%rstin!' Sleepers h%ddled all aro%nd her, wrapped in blan$ets and
cloa$s' *r&a "o%nd Needle, stood, listened' She heard the so"t "oot"alls o" a sentr&, men
t%rnin! in restless sleep, Bor!es rattlin! snores, and the )%eer hissin! so%nd that Biter
made when he slept' =rom a di""erent wa!on came the stead& rh&thmic scrape o" steel on
stone as ;oren sat, chewin! so%rlea" and sharpenin! the ed!e o" his dir$'
,ot 4ie was one o" the bo&s on watch' 1(here &o% !oin!.3 he as$ed when he saw
*r&a headin! "or the trees'
*r&a waed a!%el& at the woods'
1No &o%re not,3 ,ot 4ie said' ,e had !otten bolder a!ain now that he had a sword on
his belt, een tho%!h it was 9%st a shortsword and he handled it li$e a cleaer' 1The old
man said "or eer&one to sta& close toni!ht'3
1I need to ma$e water,3 *r&a e0plained'
1(ell, %se that tree ri!ht there'3 ,e pointed' 1;o% dont $now whats o%t there, *rr&' I
heard woles be"ore'3
;oren wo%ldnt li$e it i" she "o%!ht with him' She tried to loo$ a"raid' 1(oles. =or
tr%e.3
1I heard,3 he ass%red her'
1I dont thin$ I need to !o a"ter all'3 She went bac$ to her blan$et and pretended to
sleep %ntil she heard ,ot 4ies "ootsteps !oin! awa&' Then she rolled oer and slipped
o"" into the woods on the other side o" the camp, )%iet as a shadow' There were sentries
o%t this wa& too, b%t *r&a had no tro%ble aoidin! them' C%st to ma$e s%re, she went o%t
twice as "ar as %s%al' (hen she was s%re there was no one near, she s$inned down her
breeches and s)%atted to do her b%siness'
She was ma$in! water, her clothin! tan!led abo%t her an$les, when she heard r%stlin!
"rom %nder the trees' ,ot 4ie, she tho%!ht in panic, he "ollowed me' Then she saw the
e&es shinin! o%t "rom the wood, bri!ht with re"lected moonli!ht' ,er bell& clenched
ti!ht as she !rabbed "or Needle, not carin! i" she pissed hersel", co%ntin! e&es, two "o%r
ei!ht twele, a whole pac$ ' ' '
/ne o" them came paddin! o%t "rom %nder the trees' ,e stared at her, and bared his
teeth, and all she co%ld thin$ was how st%pid shed been and how ,ot 4ie wo%ld !loat
when the& "o%nd her hal"-eaten bod& the ne0t mornin!' B%t the wol" t%rned and raced
bac$ into the dar$ness, and )%ic$ as that the e&es were !one' Tremblin!, she cleaned
hersel" and laced %p and "ollowed a distant scrapin! so%nd bac$ to camp, and to ;oren'
*r&a climbed %p into the wa!on beside him, sha$en' 1(oles,3 she whispered hoarsel&'
1In the woods'3
1*&e' The& wo%ld be'3 ,e neer loo$ed at her'
1The& scared me'3
1#id the&.3 ,e spat' 1Seems to me &o%r $ind was "ond o woles'3
1N&meria was a direwol"'3 *r&a h%!!ed hersel"' 1Thats di""erent' *n&how, shes
!one' Cor& and I threw roc$s at her %ntil she ran o"", or else the )%een wo%ld hae $illed
her'3 it made her sad to tal$ abo%t it' 1I bet i" shed been in the cit&, she wo%ldnt hae
let them c%t o"" =athers head'3
1/rphan bo&s !ot no "athers,3 ;oren said, 1or did &o% "or!et that.3 The so%rlea" had
t%rned his spit red, so it loo$ed li$e his mo%th was bleedin!' 1The onl& woles we !ot to
"ear are the ones wear mans$in, li$e those who done "or that illa!e'3
1I wish I was home,3 she said miserabl&' She tried so hard to be brae, to be "ierce as a
wolerine and all, b%t sometimes she "elt li$e she was 9%st a little !irl a"ter all'
The blac$ brother peeled a "resh so%rlea" "rom the bale in the wa!on and st%""ed it into
his mo%th' 12i!ht be I sho%ld o" le"t &o% where I "o%nd &o%, bo&' *ll o" &o%' Sa"er in
the cit&, seems to me'3
1I dont care' I want to !o home'3
1Been brin!in! men to the (all "or close on thirt& &ears'3 =roth shone on ;orens lips,
li$e b%bbles o" blood' 1*ll that time, I onl& lost three' /ld man died o" a "eer, cit& bo&
!ot sna$ebit ta$in! a shit, and one "ool tried to $ill me in m& sleep and !ot a red smile
"or his tro%ble'3 ,e drew the dir$ across his throat, to show her' 1Three in thirt& &ears'3
,e spat o%t the old so%rlea"' 1* ship now, mi!ht hae been wiser' No chance o "indin!
more men on the wa&, b%t still ' ' ' cleer man, hed !o b& ship, b%t me ' ' ' thirt& &ears I
been ta$in! this $in!sroad'3 ,e sheathed his dir$' 18o to sleep, bo&' ,ear me.3
She did tr&' ;et as she la& %nder her thin blan$et, she co%ld hear the woles
howlin! ' ' ' and another so%nd, "ainter, no more than a whisper on the wind, that mi!ht
hae been screams'
C#APT"R $1
2A3OS
The mornin! air was dar$ with the smo$e o" b%rnin! !ods'
The& were all a"ire now, 2aid and 2other, (arrior and Smith, the +rone with her
pearl e&es and the =ather with his !ilded beard: een the Stran!er, cared to loo$ more
animal than h%man' The old dr& wood and co%ntless la&ers o" paint and arnish bla?ed
with a "ierce h%n!r& li!ht' ,eat rose shimmerin! thro%!h the chill air: behind, the
!ar!o&les and stone dra!ons on the castle walls seemed bl%rred, as i" #aos were seein!
them thro%!h a eil o" tears' /r as i" the beasts were tremblin!, stirrin! ' ' '
1*n ill thin!,3 *llard declared, tho%!h at least he had the sense to $eep his oice low'
#ale m%ttered a!reement'
1Silence,3 said #aos' 1Bemember where &o% are'3 ,is sons were !ood men, b%t
&o%n!, and *llard especiall& was rash' ,ad I sta&ed a sm%!!ler, *llard wo%ld hae
ended on the (all' Stannis spared him "rom that end, somethin! else I owe him ' ' '
,%ndreds had come to the castle !ates to bear witness to the b%rnin! o" the Seen' The
smell in the air was %!l&' 5en "or soldiers, it was hard not to "eel %neas& at s%ch an
a""ront to the !ods most had worshiped all their lies'
The red woman wal$ed ro%nd the "ire three times, pra&in! once in the speech o"
*sshai, once in ,i!h >al&rian, and once in the +ommon Ton!%e' #aos %nderstood onl&
the last' 1Bhllor, come to %s in o%r dar$ness,3 she called' 17ord o" 7i!ht, we o""er &o%
these "alse !ods, these seen who are one, and him the enem&' Ta$e them and cast &o%r
li!ht %pon %s, "or the ni!ht is dar$ and "%ll o" terrors'3 F%een Sel&se echoed the words'
Beside her, Stannis watched impassiel&, his 9aw hard as stone %nder the bl%e-blac$
shadow o" his ti!ht-cropped beard' ,e had dressed more richl& than was his wont, as i"
"or the sept'
#ra!onstones sept had been where *e!on the +on)%eror $nelt to pra& the ni!ht be"ore
he sailed' That had not saed it "rom the )%eens men' The& had oert%rned the altars,
p%lled down the stat%es, and smashed the stained !lass with warhammers' Septon Barre
co%ld onl& c%rse them, b%t Ser ,%bard Bambton led his three sons to the sept to de"end
their !ods' The Bambtons had slain "o%r o" the )%eens men be"ore the others
oerwhelmed them' *"terward 8%ncer S%n!lass, mildest and most pio%s o" lords, told
Stannis he co%ld no lon!er s%pport his claim' Now he shared a swelterin! cell with the
septon and Ser ,%bards two s%riin! sons' The other lords had not been slow to ta$e
the lesson'
The !ods had neer meant m%ch to #aos the sm%!!ler, tho%!h li$e most men he had
been $nown to ma$e o""erin!s to the (arrior be"ore battle, to the Smith when he
la%nched a ship, and to the 2other wheneer his wi"e !rew !reat with child' ,e "elt ill
as he watched them b%rn, and not onl& "rom the smo$e'
2aester +ressen wo%ld hae stopped this' The old man had challen!ed the 7ord o"
7i!ht and been str%c$ down "or his impiet&, or so the !ossips told each other' #aos
$new the tr%th' ,e had seen the maester slip somethin! into the wine c%p' 4oison' (hat
else co%ld it be. ,e dran$ a c%p o" death to "ree Stannis "rom 2elisandre, b%t somehow
her !od shielded her' ,e wo%ld !ladl& hae $illed the red woman "or that, &et what
chance wo%ld he hae where a maester o" the +itadel had "ailed. ,e was onl& a
sm%!!ler raised hi!h, #aos o" =lea Bottom, the /nion 6ni!ht'
The b%rnin! !ods cast a prett& li!ht, wreathed in their robes o" shi"tin! "lame, red and
oran!e and &ellow' Septon Barre had once told #aos how the&d been cared "rom the
masts o" the ships that had carried the "irst Tar!ar&ens "rom >al&ria' /er the cent%ries,
the& had been painted and repainted, !ilded, silered, 9eweled' 1Their bea%t& will ma$e
them more pleasin! to Bhllor,3 2elisandre said when she told Stannis to p%ll them
down and dra! them o%t the castle !ates'
The 2aiden la& athwart the (arrior, her arms widespread as i" to embrace him' The
2other seemed almost to sh%dder as the "lames came lic$in! %p her "ace' * lon!sword
had been thr%st thro%!h her heart, and its leather !rip was alie with "lame' The =ather
was on the bottom, the "irst to "all' #aos watched the hand o" the Stran!er writhe and
c%rl as the "in!ers blac$ened and "ell awa& one b& one, red%ced to so m%ch !lowin!
charcoal' Nearb&, 7ord +elti!ar co%!hed "it"%ll& and coered his wrin$led "ace with a
s)%are o" linen embroidered in red crabs' The 2&rmen swapped 9o$es as the& en9o&ed
the warmth o" the "ire, b%t &o%n! 7ord Bar 5mmon had t%rned a splotch& !re&, and 7ord
>elar&on was watchin! the $in! rather than the con"la!ration'
#aos wo%ld hae !ien m%ch to $now what he was thin$in!, b%t one s%ch as
>elar&on wo%ld neer con"ide in him' The 7ord o" the Tides was o" the blood o" ancient
>al&ria, and his ,o%se had thrice proided brides "or Tar!ar&en princes: #aos
Seaworth stan$ o" "ish and onions' It was the same with the other lordlin!s' ,e co%ld
tr%st none o" them, nor wo%ld the& eer incl%de him in their priate co%ncils' The&
scorned his sons as well' 2& !randsons will 9o%st with theirs, tho%!h, and one da& their
blood ma& wed with mine' In time m& little blac$ ship will "l& as hi!h as >elar&ons
seahorse or +elti!ars red crabs'
That is, i" Stannis won his throne' I" he lost ' ' '
5er&thin! I am, I owe to him' Stannis had raised him to $ni!hthood' ,e had !ien
him a place o" honor at his table, a war !alle& to sail in place o" a sm%!!lers s$i""' #ale
and *llard captained !alle&s as well, 2aric was oarmaster on the =%r&, 2atthos sered
his "ather on Blac$ Betha, and the $in! had ta$en #ean as a ro&al s)%ire' /ne da& he
wo%ld be $ni!hted, and the two little lads as well' 2ar&a was mistress o" a small $eep
on +ape (rath, with serants who called her mlad&, and #aos co%ld h%nt red deer in
his own woods' *ll this he had o" Stannis Baratheon, "or the price o" a "ew "in!er 9oints'
It was 9%st, what he did to me' I had "lo%ted the $in!s laws all m& li"e' ,e has earned
m& lo&alt&' #aos to%ched the little po%ch that h%n! "rom the leather thon! abo%t his
nec$' ,is "in!ers were his l%c$, and he needed l%c$ now' *s do we all' 7ord Stannis
most o" all'
4ale "lames lic$ed at the !re& s$&' #ar$ smo$e rose, twistin! and c%rlin!' (hen the
wind p%shed it toward them, men blin$ed and wept and r%bbed their e&es' *llard t%rned
his head awa&, co%!hin! and c%rsin!' * taste o" thin!s to come, tho%!ht #aos' 2an&
and more wo%ld b%rn be"ore this war was done'
2elisandre was robed all in scarlet satin and blood elet, her e&es as red as the !reat
r%b& that !listened at her throat as i" it too were a"ire' 1In ancient boo$s o" *sshai it is
written that there will come a da& a"ter a lon! s%mmer when the stars bleed and the cold
breath o" dar$ness "alls hea& on the world' In this dread ho%r a warrior shall draw "rom
the "ire a b%rnin! sword' *nd that sword shall be 7i!htbrin!er, the Bed Sword o"
,eroes, and he who clasps it shall be *?or *hai come a!ain, and the dar$ness shall "lee
be"ore him'3 She li"ted her oice, so it carried o%t oer the !athered host' 1*?or *hai,
beloed o" Bhllor@ The (arrior o" 7i!ht, the Son o" =ire@ +ome "orth, &o%r sword
awaits &o%@ +ome "orth and ta$e it into &o%r hand@3
Stannis Baratheon strode "orward li$e a soldier marchin! into battle' ,is s)%ires
stepped %p to attend him' #aos watched as his son #ean p%lled a lon! padded !loe
oer the $in!s ri!ht hand' The bo& wore a cream-colored do%blet with a "ier& heart
sewn on the breast' Br&en =arrin! was similarl& !arbed as he tied a sti"" leather cape
aro%nd ,is 8races nec$' Behind, #aos heard a "aint clan$ and clatter o" bells' 1<nder
the sea, smo$e rises in b%bbles, and "lames b%rn !reen and bl%e and blac$,3 4atch"ace
san! somewhere' 1I $now, I $now, oh, oh, oh'3
The $in! pl%n!ed into the "ire with his teeth clenched, holdin! the leather cloa$ be"ore
him to $eep o"" the "lames' ,e went strai!ht to the 2other, !rasped the sword with his
!loed hand, and wrenched it "ree o" the b%rnin! wood with a sin!le hard 9er$' Then he
was retreatin!, the sword held hi!h, 9ade-!reen "lames swirlin! aro%nd cherr&-red steel'
8%ards r%shed to beat o%t the cinders that cl%n! to the $in!s clothin!'
1* sword o" "ire@3 sho%ted F%een Sel&se' Ser *0ell =lorent and the other )%eens men
too$ %p the cr&' 1* sword o" "ire@ It b%rns@ It b%rns@ * sword o" "ire@3
2elisandre li"ted her hands aboe her head' 1Behold@ * si!n was promised, and now a
si!n is seen@ Behold 7i!htbrin!er@ *?or *hai has come a!ain@ *ll hail the (arrior o"
7i!ht@ *ll hail the Son o" =ire@3
* ra!!ed wae o" sho%ts !ae answer, 9%st as Stanniss !loe be!an to smolder'
+%rsin!, the $in! thr%st the point o" the sword into the damp earth and beat o%t the
"lames a!ainst his le!'
17ord, cast &o%r li!ht %pon %s@3 2elisandre called o%t'
1=or the ni!ht is dar$ and "%ll o" terrors,3 Sel&se and her )%eens men replied'
Sho%ld I spea$ the words as well. #aos wondered' #o I owe Stannis that m%ch. Is
this "ier& !od tr%l& his own. ,is shortened "in!ers twitched'
Stannis peeled o"" the !loe and let it "all to the !ro%nd' The !ods in the p&re were
scarcel& reco!ni?able an&more' The head "ell o"" the Smith with a p%"" o" ash and
embers' 2elisandre san! in the ton!%e o" *sshai, her oice risin! and "allin! li$e the
tides o" the sea' Stannis %ntied his sin!ed leather cape and listened in silence' Thr%st in
the !ro%nd, 7i!htbrin!er still !lowed r%dd& hot, b%t the "lames that cl%n! to the sword
were dwindlin! and d&in!'
B& the time the son! was done, onl& charwood remained o" the !ods, and the $in!s
patience had r%n its co%rse' ,e too$ the )%een b& the elbow and escorted her bac$ into
#ra!onstone, leain! 7i!htbrin!er where it stood' The red woman remained a moment
to watch as #ean $nelt with B&ren =arrin! and rolled %p the b%rnt and blac$ened sword
in the $in!s leather cloa$' The Bed Sword o" ,eroes loo$s a proper mess, tho%!ht
#aos'
* "ew o" the lords lin!ered to spea$ in )%iet oices %pwind o" the "ire' The& "ell silent
when the& saw #aos loo$in! at them' Sho%ld Stannis "all, the& will p%ll me down in an
instant' Neither was he co%nted one o" the )%eens men, that !ro%p o" ambitio%s $ni!hts
and minor lordlin!s who had !ien themseles to this 7ord o" 7i!ht and so won the
"aor and patrona!e o" 7ad&Ano, F%een, remember.ASel&se'
The "ire had started to dwindle b& the time 2elisandre and the s)%ires departed with
the precio%s sword' #aos and his sons 9oined the crowd ma$in! its wa& down to the
shore and the waitin! ships' 1#ean ac)%itted himsel" well,3 he said as the& went'
1,e "etched the !loe witho%t droppin! it, &es,3 said #ale'
*llard nodded' 1That bad!e on #eans do%blet, the "ier& heart, what was that. The
Baratheon si!il is a crowned sta!'3
1* lord can choose more than one bad!e,3 #aos said'
#ale smiled' 1* blac$ ship and an onion, =ather.3
*llard $ic$ed at a stone' 1The /thers ta$e o%r onion ' ' ' and that "lamin! heart' It was
an ill thin! to b%rn the Seen'3
1(hen did &o% !row so deo%t.3 #aos said' 1(hat does a sm%!!lers son $now o"
the doin!s o" !ods.3
1Im a $ni!hts son, =ather' I" &o% wont remember, wh& sho%ld the&.3
1* $ni!hts son, b%t not a $ni!ht,3 said #aos' 1Nor will &o% eer be, i" &o% meddle in
a""airs that do not concern &o%' Stannis is o%r ri!ht"%l $in!, it is not "or %s to )%estion
him' (e sail his ships and do his biddin!' That is all'3
1*s to that, =ather,3 #ale said, 1I misli$e these water cas$s the&e !ien me "or
(raith' 8reen pine' The water will spoil on a o&a!e o" an& len!th'3
1I !ot the same "or 7ad& 2ar&a,3 said *llard' 1The )%eens men hae laid claim to all
the seasoned wood'3
1I will spea$ to the $in! abo%t it,3 #aos promised' Better it come "rom him than "rom
*llard' ,is sons were !ood "i!hters and better sailors, b%t the& did not $now how to tal$
to lords' The& were lowborn, een as I was, b%t the& do not li$e to recall that' (hen the&
loo$ at o%r banner, all the& see is a tall blac$ ship "l&in! on the wind' The& close their
e&es to the onion'
The port was as crowded as #aos had eer $nown it' 5er& doc$ teemed with sailors
loadin! proisions, and eer& inn was pac$ed with soldiers dicin! or drin$in! or loo$in!
"or a whore ' ' ' a ain search, since Stannis permitted none on his island' Ships lined the
strand: war !alle&s and "ishin! essels, sto%t carrac$s and "at-bottomed co!s' The best
berths had been ta$en b& the lar!est essels: Stanniss "la!ship =%r& roc$in! between
7ord Ste""on and Sta! o" the Sea, 7ord >elar&ons silerh%lled 4ride o" #ri"tmar$ and
her three sisters, 7ord +elti!ars ornate Bed +law, the pondero%s Sword"ish with her
lon! iron prow' /%t to sea at anchor rode Salladhor Saans !reat >al&rian amon!st the
striped h%lls o" two do?en smaller 7&sene !alle&s'
* weathered little inn sat on the end o" the stone pier where Blac$ Betha, (raith, and
7ad& 2ar&a shared moorin! space with a hal"-do?en other !alle&s o" one h%ndred oars
or less' #aos had a thirst' ,e too$ his leae o" his sons and t%rned his steps toward the
inn' /%t "ront s)%atted a waist-hi!h !ar!o&le, so eroded b& rain and salt that his "eat%res
were all b%t obliterated' ,e and #aos were old "riends, tho%!h' ,e !ae a pat to the
stone head as he went in' 17%c$,3 he m%rm%red'
*cross the nois& common room, Salladhor Saan sat eatin! !rapes "rom a wooden
bowl' (hen he spied #aos, he bec$oned him closer' 1Ser $ni!ht, come sit with me' 5at
a !rape' 5at two' The& are marelo%sl& sweet'3 The 7&seni was a slee$, smilin! man
whose "lambo&ance was a b&word on both sides o" the narrow sea' Toda& he wore
"lashin! cloth-o"-siler, with da!!ed sleees so lon! the ends o" them pooled on the
"loor' ,is b%ttons were cared 9ade mon$e&s, and atop his wisp& white c%rls perched a
9a%nt& !reen cap decorated with a "an o" peacoc$ "eathers'
#aos threaded his wa& thro%!h the tables to a chair' In the da&s be"ore his
$ni!hthood, he had o"ten bo%!ht car!oes "rom Salladhor Saan' The 7&seni was a
sm%!!ler himsel", as well as a trader, a ban$er, a notorio%s pirate, and the sel"-st&led
4rince o" the Narrow Sea' (hen a pirate !rows rich eno%!h, the& ma$e him a prince' It
had been #aos who had made the 9o%rne& to 7&s to recr%it the old ro!%e to 7ord
Stanniss ca%se'
1;o% did not see the !ods b%rn, m& lord.3 he as$ed'
1The red priests hae a !reat temple on 7&s' *lwa&s the& are b%rnin! this and b%rnin!
that, cr&in! o%t to their Bhllor' The& bore me with their "ires' Soon the& will bore 6in!
Stannis too, it is to be hoped'3 ,e seemed %tterl& %nconcerned that someone mi!ht
oerhear him, eatin! his !rapes and dribblin! the seeds o%t onto his lip, "lic$in! them o""
with a "in!er' 12& Bird o" Tho%sand +olors came in &esterda&, !ood ser' She is not a
warship, no, b%t a trader, and she paid a call on 6in!s 7andin!' *re &o% s%re &o% will
not hae a !rape. +hildren !o h%n!r& in the cit&, it is said'3 ,e dan!led the !rapes
be"ore #aos and smiled'
1Its ale I need, and news'3
1The men o" (esteros are eer r%shin!,3 complained Salladhor Saan' 1(hat !ood is
this, I as$ &o%. ,e who h%rries thro%!h li"e h%rries to his !rae'3 ,e belched' 1The 7ord
o" +asterl& Boc$ has sent his dwar" to see to 6in!s 7andin!' 4erhaps he hopes that his
%!l& "ace will "ri!hten o"" attac$ers, eh. /r that we will la%!h o%rseles dead when the
Imp capers on the battlements, who can sa&. The dwar" has chased o"" the lo%t who
r%led the !old cloa$s and p%t in his place a $ni!ht with an iron hand'3 ,e pl%c$ed a
!rape, and s)%ee?ed it between th%mb and "ore"in!er %ntil the s$in b%rs' C%ice ran down
between his "in!ers'
* serin! !irl p%shed her wa& thro%!h, swattin! at the hands that !roped her as she
passed' #aos ordered a tan$ard o" ale, t%rned bac$ to Saan, and said, 1,ow well is the
cit& de"ended.3
The other shr%!!ed' 1The walls are hi!h and stron!, b%t who will man them. The& are
b%ildin! scorpions and spit"ires, oh, &es, b%t the men in the !olden cloa$s are too "ew
and too !reen, and there are no others' * swi"t stri$e, li$e a haw$ pl%mmetin! at a hare,
and the !reat cit& will be o%rs' 8rant %s wind to "ill o%r sails, and &o%r $in! co%ld sit
%pon his Iron Throne b& een"all on the morrow' (e co%ld dress the dwar" in motle&
and pric$ his little chee$s with the points o" o%r spears to ma$e him dance "or %s, and
ma&haps &o%r !oodl& $in! wo%ld ma$e me a !i"t o" the bea%ti"%l F%een +ersei to warm
m& bed "or a ni!ht' I hae been too lon! awa& "rom m& wies, and all in his serice'3
14irate,3 said #aos' 1;o% hae no wies, onl& conc%bines, and &o% hae been well
paid "or eer& da& and eer& ship'3
1/nl& in promises,3 said Salladhor Saan mo%rn"%ll&' 18ood ser, it is !old I crae, not
words on papers'3 ,e popped a !rape into his mo%th'
1;o%ll hae &o%r !old when we ta$e the treas%r& in 6in!s 7andin!' No man in the
Seen 6in!doms is more honorable than Stannis Baratheon' ,e will $eep his word'3
5en as #aos spo$e, he tho%!ht, This world is twisted be&ond hope, when lowborn
sm%!!lers m%st o%ch "or the honor o" $in!s'
1So he has said and said' *nd so I sa&, let %s do this thin!' 5en these !rapes co%ld be
no more ripe than that cit&, m& old "riend'3
The serin! !irl ret%rned with his ale' #aos !ae her a copper' 12i!ht be we co%ld
ta$e 6in!s 7andin!, as &o% sa&,3 he said as he li"ted the tan$ard, 1b%t how lon! wo%ld
we hold it. T&win 7annister is $nown to be at ,arrenhal with a !reat host, and 7ord
Benl& ' ' '3
1*h, &es, the &o%n! brother,3 said Salladhor Saan' 1That part is not so !ood, m&
"riend' 6in! Benl& bestirs himsel"' No, here he is 7ord Benl&, m& pardons' So man&
$in!s, m& ton!%e !rows wear& o" the word' The brother Benl& has le"t ,i!h!arden with
his "air &o%n! )%een, his "lowered lords and shinin! $ni!hts, and a mi!ht& host o" "oot'
,e marches %p &o%r road o" roses toward the er& same !reat cit& we were spea$in! o"'3
1,e ta$es his bride.3
The other shr%!!ed' 1,e did not tell me wh&' 4erhaps he is loath to part with the warm
b%rrow between her thi!hs, een "or a ni!ht' /r perhaps he is that certain o" his ictor&'3
1The $in! m%st be told'3
1I hae attended to it, !ood ser' Tho%!h ,is 8race "rowns so wheneer he does see me
that I tremble to come be"ore him' #o &o% thin$ he wo%ld li$e me better i" I wore a hair
shirt and neer smiled. (ell, I will not do it' I am an honest man, he m%st s%""er me in
sil$ and samite' /r else I shall ta$e m& ships where I am better loed' That sword was
not 7i!htbrin!er, m& "riend'3
The s%dden shi"t in s%b9ect le"t #aos %neas&' 1Sword.3
1* sword pl%c$ed "rom "ire, &es' 2en tell me thin!s, it is m& pleasant smile' ,ow shall
a b%rnt sword sere Stannis.3
1* b%rnin! sword,3 corrected #aos'
1B%rnt,3 said Salladhor Saan, 1and be !lad o" that, m& "riend' #o &o% $now the tale o"
the "or!in! o" 7i!htbrin!er. I shall tell it to &o%' It was a time when dar$ness la& hea&
on the world' To oppose it, the hero m%st hae a heros blade, oh, li$e none that had eer
been' *nd so "or thirt& da&s and thirt& ni!hts *?or *hai labored sleepless in the temple,
"or!in! a blade in the sacred "ires' ,eat and hammer and "old, heat and hammer and
"old, oh, &es, %ntil the sword was done' ;et when he pl%n!ed it into water to temper the
steel it b%rst as%nder'
1Bein! a hero, it was not "or him to shr%! and !o in search o" e0cellent !rapes s%ch as
these, so a!ain he be!an' The second time it too$ him "i"t& da&s and "i"t& ni!hts, and this
sword seemed een "iner than the "irst' *?or *hai capt%red a lion, to temper the blade b&
pl%n!in! it thro%!h the beasts red heart, b%t once more the steel shattered and split'
8reat was his woe and !reat was his sorrow then, "or he $new what he m%st do'
1* h%ndred da&s and a h%ndred ni!hts he labored on the third blade, and as it !lowed
white-hot in the sacred "ires, he s%mmoned his wi"e' DNissa Nissa he said to her, "or that
was her name, Dbare &o%r breast, and $now that I loe &o% best o" all that is in this
world' She did this thin!, wh& I cannot sa&, and *?or *hai thr%st the smo$in! sword
thro%!h her liin! heart' It is said that her cr& o" an!%ish and ecstas& le"t a crac$ across
the "ace o" the moon, b%t her blood and her so%l and her stren!th and her co%ra!e all
went into the steel' S%ch is the tale o" the "or!in! o" 7i!htbrin!er, the Bed Sword o"
,eroes'
1Now do &o% see m& meanin!. Be !lad that it is 9%st a b%rnt sword that ,is 8race
p%lled "rom that "ire' Too m%ch li!ht can h%rt the e&es, m& "riend, and "ire b%rns'3
Salladhor Saan "inished the last !rape and smac$ed his lips' 1(hen do &o% thin$ the
$in! will bid %s sail, !ood ser.3
1Soon, I thin$,3 said #aos, 1i" his !od wills it'3
1,is !od, ser "riend. Not &o%rs. (here is the !od o" Ser #aos Seaworth, $ni!ht o"
the onion ship.3
#aos sipped his ale to !ie himsel" a moment' The inn is crowded, and &o% are not
Salladhor Saan, he reminded himsel"' Be care"%l how &o% answer' 16in! Stannis is m&
!od' ,e made me and blessed me with his tr%st'3
1I will remember'3 Salladhor Saan !ot to his "eet' 12& pardons' These !rapes hae
!ien me a h%n!er, and dinner awaits on m& >al&rian' 2inced lamb with pepper and
roasted !%ll st%""ed with m%shrooms and "ennel and onion' Soon we shall eat to!ether in
6in!s 7andin!, &es. In the Bed 6eep we shall "east, while the dwar" sin!s %s a 9oll&
t%ne' (hen &o% spea$ to 6in! Stannis, mention i" &o% wo%ld that he will owe me
another thirt& tho%sand dra!ons come the blac$ o" the moon' ,e o%!ht to hae !ien
those !ods to me' The& were too bea%ti"%l to b%rn, and mi!ht hae bro%!ht a noble price
in 4entos or 2&r' (ell, i" he !rants me F%een +ersei "or a ni!ht I shall "or!ie him'3
The 7&seni clapped #aos on the bac$, and swa!!ered "rom the inn as i" he owned it'
Ser #aos Seaworth lin!ered oer his tan$ard "or a !ood while, thin$in!' * &ear a!o,
he had been with Stannis in 6in!s 7andin! when 6in! Bobert sta!ed a to%rne& "or
4rince Co""re&s name da&' ,e remembered the red priest Thoros o" 2&r, and the "lamin!
sword he had wielded in the melee' The man had made "or a color"%l spectacle, his red
robes "lappin! while his blade writhed with pale !reen "lames, b%t eer&one $new there
was no tr%e ma!ic to it, and in the end his "ire had !%ttered o%t and Bron?e ;ohn Bo&ce
had brained him with a common mace'
* tr%e sword o" "ire, now, that wo%ld be a wonder to behold' ;et at s%ch a cost ' ' '
(hen he tho%!ht o" Nissa Nissa, it was his own 2ar&a he pict%red, a !ood-nat%red
pl%mp woman with sa!!in! breasts and a $indl& smile, the best woman in the world' ,e
tried to pict%re himsel" driin! a sword thro%!h her, and sh%ddered' I am not made o"
the st%"" o" heroes, he decided' I" that was the price o" a ma!ic sword, it was more than
he cared to pa&'
#aos "inished his ale, p%shed awa& the tan$ard, and le"t the inn' /n the wa& o%t he
patted the !ar!o&le on the head and m%ttered, 17%c$'3 The& wo%ld all need it'
It was well a"ter dar$ when #ean came down to Blac$ Betha, leadin! a snow-white
pal"re&' 12& lord "ather,3 he anno%nced, 1,is 8race commands &o% to attend him in the
+hamber o" the 4ainted Table' ;o% are to ride the horse and come at once'3
It was !ood to see #ean loo$in! so splendid in his s)%ires raiment, b%t the s%mmons
made #aos %neas&' (ill he bid %s sail. he wondered' Salladhor Saan was not the onl&
captain who "elt that 6in!s 7andin! was ripe "or an attac$, b%t a sm%!!ler m%st learn
patience' (e hae no hope o" ictor&' I said as m%ch to 2aester +ressen, the da& I
ret%rned to #ra!onstone, and nothin! has chan!ed' (e are too "ew, the "oes too man&' I"
we dip o%r oars, we die' Nonetheless, he climbed onto the horse'
(hen #aos arried at the Stone #r%m, a do?en hi!hborn $ni!hts and !reat
bannermen were 9%st leain!' 7ords +elti!ar and >elar&on each !ae him a c%rt nod and
wal$ed on while the others i!nored him %tterl&, b%t Ser *0ell =lorent stopped "or a
word'
F%een Sel&ses %ncle was a $e! o" a man with thic$ arms and band& le!s' ,e had the
prominent ears o" a =lorent, een lar!er than his nieces' The coarse hair that spro%ted
"rom his did not stop him hearin! most o" what went on in the castle' =or ten &ears Ser
*0ell had sered as castellan o" #ra!onstone while Stannis sat on Boberts co%ncil in
6in!s 7andin!, b%t o" late he had emer!ed as the "oremost o" the )%eens men' 1Ser
#aos, it is !ood to see &o%, as eer,3 he said'
1*nd &o%, m& lord'3
1I made note o" &o% this mornin! as well' The "alse !ods b%rned with a merr& li!ht, did
the& not.3
1The& b%rned bri!htl&'3 #aos did not tr%st this man, "or all his co%rtes&' ,o%se
=lorent had declared "or Benl&'
1The 7ad& 2elisandre tells %s that sometimes Bhllor permits his "aith"%l serants to
!limpse the "%t%re in "lames' It seemed to me as I watched the "ire this mornin! that I
was loo$in! at a do?en bea%ti"%l dancers, maidens !arbed in &ellow sil$ spinnin! and
swirlin! be"ore a !reat $in!' I thin$ it was a tr%e ision, ser' * !limpse o" the !lor& that
awaits ,is 8race a"ter we ta$e 6in!s 7andin! and the throne that is his b& ri!hts'3
Stannis has no taste "or s%ch dancin!, #aos tho%!ht, b%t he dared not o""end the
)%eens %ncle' 1I saw onl& "ire,3 he said, 1b%t the smo$e was ma$in! m& e&es water'
;o% m%st pardon me, ser, the $in! awaits'3 ,e p%shed past, wonderin! wh& Ser *0ell
had tro%bled himsel"' ,e is a )%eens man and I am the $in!s'
Stannis sat at his 4ainted Table with 2aester 4&los at his sho%lder, an %ntid& pile o"
papers be"ore them' 1Ser,3 the $in! said when #aos entered, 1come hae a loo$ at this
letter'3
/bedientl&, he selected a paper at random' 1It loo$s handsome eno%!h, ;o%r 8race,
b%t I "ear I cannot read the words'3 #aos co%ld decipher maps and charts as well as
an&, b%t letters and other writin!s were be&ond his powers' B%t m& #ean has learned
his letters, and &o%n! Ste""on and Stannis as well'
1Id "or!otten'3 * "%rrow o" irritation showed between the $in!s brows' 14&los, read it
to him'3
1;o%r 8race'3 The maester too$ %p one o" the parchments and cleared his throat' 1*ll
men $now me "or the tr%eborn son o" Ste""on Baratheon, 7ord o" Storms 5nd, b& his
lad& wi"e +assana o" ,o%se 5stermont' I declare %pon the honor o" m& ,o%se that m&
beloed brother Bobert, o%r late $in!, le"t no tr%eborn iss%e o" his bod&, the bo& Co""re&,
the bo& Tommen, and the !irl 2&rcella bein! abominations born o" incest between
+ersei 7annister and her brother Caime the 6in!sla&er' B& ri!ht o" birth and blood, I do
this da& la& claim to the Iron Throne o" the Seen 6in!doms o" (esteros' 7et all tr%e
men declare their lo&alt&' #one in the 7i!ht o" the 7ord, %nder the si!n and seal o"
Stannis o" ,o%se Baratheon, the =irst o" ,is Name, 6in! o" the *ndals, the Bho&nar,
and the =irst 2en, and 7ord o" the Seen 6in!doms'3 The parchment r%stled so"tl& as
4&los laid it down'
12a$e it Ser Caime the 6in!sla&er hence"orth,3 Stannis said, "rownin!' 1(hateer else
the man ma& be, he remains a $ni!ht' I dont $now that we o%!ht to call Bobert m&
beloed brother either' ,e loed me no more than he had to, nor I him'3
1* harmless co%rtes&, ;o%r 8race,3 4&los said'
1* lie' Ta$e it o%t'3 Stannis t%rned to #aos' 1The maester tells me that we hae one
h%ndred seenteen raens on hand' I mean to %se them all' /ne h%ndred seenteen
raens will carr& one h%ndred seenteen copies o" m& letter to eer& corner o" the realm,
"rom the *rbor to the (all' 4erhaps a h%ndred will win thro%!h a!ainst storm and haw$
and arrow' I" so, a h%ndred maesters will read m& words to as man& lords in as man&
solars and bedchambers ' ' ' and then the letters will li$e as not be consi!ned to the "ire,
and lips pled!ed to silence' These !reat lords loe Co""re&, or Benl&, or Bobb Star$' I am
their ri!ht"%l $in!, b%t the& will den& me i" the& can' So I hae need o" &o%'3
1I am &o%rs to command, m& $in!' *s eer'3
Stannis nodded' 1I mean "or &o% to sail Blac$ Betha north, to 8%lltown, the =in!ers,
the Three Sisters, een (hite ,arbor' ;o%r son #ale will !o so%th in (raith, past +ape
(rath and the Bro$en *rm, all alon! the coast o" #orne as "ar as the *rbor' 5ach o" &o%
will carr& a chest o" letters, and &o% will delier one to eer& port and hold"ast and
"ishin! illa!e' Nail them to the doors o" septs and inns "or eer& man to read who can'3
#aos said, 1That will be "ew eno%!h'3
1Ser #aos spea$s tr%l&, ;o%r 8race,3 said 2aester 4&los' 1It wo%ld be better to hae
the letters read alo%d'3
1Better, b%t more dan!ero%s,3 said Stannis' 1These words will not be $indl& receied'3
18ie me $ni!hts to do the readin!,3 #aos said' 1That will carr& more wei!ht than
an&thin! I mi!ht sa&'3
Stannis seemed well satis"ied with that' 1I can !ie &o% s%ch men, &es' I hae a
h%ndred $ni!hts who wo%ld sooner read than "i!ht' Be open where &o% can and stealth&
where &o% m%st' <se eer& sm%!!lers tric$ &o% $now, the blac$ sails, the hidden coes,
whateer it re)%ires' I" &o% r%n short o" letters, capt%re a "ew septons and set them to
cop&in! o%t more' I mean to %se &o%r second son as well' ,e will ta$e 7ad& 2ar&a
across the narrow sea, to Braaos and the other =ree +ities, to delier other letters to the
men who r%le there' The world will $now o" m& claim, and o" +erseis in"am&'3
;o% can tell them, #aos tho%!ht, b%t will the& beliee. ,e !lanced tho%!ht"%ll& at
2aester 4&los' The $in! ca%!ht the loo$' 12aester, perhaps &o% o%!ht !et to &o%r
writin!' (e will need a !reat man& letters, and soon'3
1*s &o% will'3 4&los bowed, and too$ his leae'
The $in! waited %ntil he was !one be"ore he said, 1(hat is it &o% wo%ld not sa& in the
presence o" m& maester, #aos.3
12& lie!e, 4&los is pleasant eno%!h, b%t I cannot see the chain abo%t his nec$ witho%t
mo%rnin! "or 2aester +ressen'3
1Is it his "a%lt the old man died.3 Stannis !lanced into the "ire' 1I neer wanted
+ressen at that "east' ,ed an!ered me, &es, hed !ien me bad co%nsel, b%t I did not
want him dead' Id hoped he mi!ht be !ranted a "ew &ears o" ease and com"ort' ,e had
earned that m%ch, at least, b%tA3 he !ro%nd his teeth to!etherA1b%t he died' *nd 4&los
seres me abl&'3
14&los is the least o" it' The letter ' ' ' (hat did &o%r lords ma$e o" it, I wonder.3
Stannis snorted' 1+elti!ar prono%nced it admirable' I" I showed him the contents o" m&
pri&, he wo%ld declare that admirable as well' The others bobbed their heads %p and
down li$e a "loc$ o" !eese, all b%t >elar&on, who said that steel wo%ld decide the matter,
not words on parchment' *s i" I had neer s%spected' The /thers ta$e m& lords, Ill hear
&o%r iews'3
1;o%r words were bl%nt and stron!'3
1*nd tr%e'3
1*nd tr%e' ;et &o% hae no proo"' /" this incest' No more than &o% did a &ear a!o'3
1Theres proo" o" a sort at Storms 5nd' Boberts bastard' The one he "athered on m&
weddin! ni!ht, in the er& bed the&d made %p "or me and m& bride' #elena was a
=lorent, and a maiden when he too$ her, so Bobert ac$nowled!ed the babe' 5dric Storm,
the& call him' ,e is said to be the er& ima!e o" m& brother' I" men were to see him, and
then loo$ a!ain at Co""re& and Tommen, the& co%ld not help b%t wonder, I wo%ld thin$'3
1;et how are men to see him, i" he is at Storms 5nd.3
Stannis dr%mmed his "in!ers on the 4ainted Table' 1It is a di""ic%lt&' /ne o" man&'3 ,e
raised his e&es' 1;o% hae more to sa& abo%t the letter' (ell, !et on with it' I did not
ma$e &o% a $ni!ht so &o% co%ld learn to mo%th empt& co%rtesies' I hae m& lords "or
that' Sa& what &o% wo%ld sa&, #aos'3
#aos bowed his head' 1There was a phrase at the end' ,ow did it !o. #one in the
7i!ht o" the 7ord ' ' '3
1;es'3 The $in!s 9aw was clenched'
1;o%r people will misli$e those words'3
1*s &o% did.3 said Stannis sharpl&'
1I" &o% were to sa& instead, #one in the si!ht o" !ods and men, or B& the !race o" the
!ods old and new ' ' '3
1,ae &o% !one deo%t on me, sm%!!ler.3
1That was to be m& )%estion "or &o%, m& lie!e'3
1(as it now. It so%nds as tho%!h &o% loe m& new !od no more than &o% loe m&
new maester'3
1I do not $now this 7ord o" 7i!ht,3 #aos admitted, 1b%t I $new the !ods we b%rned
this mornin!' The Smith has $ept m& ships sa"e, while the 2other has !ien me seen
stron! sons'3
1;o%r wi"e has !ien &o% seen stron! sons' #o &o% pra& to her. It was wood we
b%rned this mornin!'3
1That ma& be so,3 #aos said, 1b%t when I was a bo& in =lea Bottom be!!in! "or a
copper, sometimes the septons wo%ld "eed me'3
1I "eed &o% now'3
1;o% hae !ien me an honored place at &o%r table' *nd in ret%rn I !ie &o% tr%th'
;o%r people will not loe &o% i" &o% ta$e "rom them the !ods the& hae alwa&s
worshiped, and !ie them one whose er& name so%nds )%eer on their ton!%es'3
Stannis stood abr%ptl&' 1Bhllor' (h& is that so hard. The& will not loe me, &o% sa&.
(hen hae the& eer loed me. ,ow can I lose somethin! I hae neer owned.3 ,e
moed to the so%th window to !a?e o%t at the moonlit sea' 1I stopped beliein! in !ods
the da& I saw the (indpro%d brea$ %p across the ba&' *n& !ods so monstro%s as to
drown m& mother and "ather wo%ld neer hae m& worship, I owed' In 6in!s
7andin!, the ,i!h Septon wo%ld prattle at me o" how all 9%stice and !oodness "lowed
"rom the Seen, b%t all I eer saw o" either was made b& men'3
1I" &o% do not beliee in !odsA3
1Awh& tro%ble with this new one.3 Stannis bro$e in' 1I hae as$ed m&sel" as well' I
$now little and care less o" !ods, b%t the red priestess has power'3
;es, b%t what sort o" power. 1+ressen had wisdom'3
1I tr%sted in his wisdom and &o%r wiles, and what did the& aail me, sm%!!ler. The
storm lords sent &o% pac$in!' I went to them a be!!ar and the& la%!hed at me' (ell,
there will be no more be!!in!, and no more la%!hin! either' The Iron Throne is mine b&
ri!hts, b%t how am I to ta$e it. There are "o%r $in!s in the realm, and three o" them hae
more men and more !old than I do' I hae ships ' ' ' and I hae her' The red woman' ,al"
m& $ni!hts are a"raid een to sa& her name, did &o% $now. I" she can do nothin! else, a
sorceress who can inspire s%ch dread in !rown men is not to be despised' * "ri!htened
man is a beaten man' *nd perhaps she can do more' I mean to "ind o%t'
1(hen I was a lad I "o%nd an in9%red !oshaw$ and n%rsed her bac$ to health'
4ro%dwin!, I named her' She wo%ld perch on m& sho%lder and "l%tter "rom room to
room a"ter me and ta$e "ood "rom m& hand, b%t she wo%ld not soar' Time and a!ain I
wo%ld ta$e her haw$in!, b%t she neer "lew hi!her than the treetops' Bobert called her
(ea$win!' ,e owned a !&r"alcon named Th%nderclap who neer missed her stri$e' /ne
da& o%r !reat-%ncle Ser ,arbert told me to tr& a di""erent bird' I was ma$in! a "ool o"
m&sel" with 4ro%dwin!, he said, and he was ri!ht'3 Stannis Baratheon t%rned awa& "rom
the window, and the !hosts who moed %pon the so%thern sea' 1The Seen hae neer
bro%!ht me so m%ch as a sparrow' It is time I tried another haw$, #aos' * red haw$'3
C#APT"R $$
T#"O'
There was no sa"e anchora!e at 4&$e, b%t Theon 8re&9o& wished to loo$ on his
"athers castle "rom the sea, to see it as he had seen it last, ten &ears be"ore, when Bobert
Baratheons war !alle& had borne him awa& to be a ward o" 5ddard Star$' /n that da&
he had stood beside the rail, listenin! to the stro$e o" the oars and the po%ndin! o" the
masters dr%m while he watched 4&$e dwindle in the distance' Now he wanted to see it
!row lar!er, to rise "rom the sea be"ore him'
/bedient to his wishes, the 2&raham beat her wa& past the point with her sails
snappin! and her captain c%rsin! the wind and his crew and the "ollies o" hi!hborn
lordlin!s' Theon drew the hood o" his cloa$ %p a!ainst the spra&, and loo$ed "or home'
The shore was all sharp roc$s and !lowerin! cli""s, and the castle seemed one with the
rest, its towers and walls and brid!es )%arried "rom the same !re&-blac$ stone, wet b&
the same salt waes, "estooned with the same spreadin! patches o" dar$ !reen lichen,
spec$led b& the droppin!s o" the same seabirds' The point o" land on which the 8re&9o&s
had raised their "ortress had once thr%st li$e a sword into the bowels o" the ocean, b%t
the waes had hammered at it da& and ni!ht %ntil the land bro$e and shattered,
tho%sands o" &ears past' *ll that remained were three bare and barren islands and a
do?en towerin! stac$s o" roc$ that rose "rom the water li$e the pillars o" some sea !ods
temple, while the an!r& waes "oamed and crashed amon! them'
#rear, dar$, "orbiddin!, 4&$e stood atop those islands and pillars, almost a part o"
them, its c%rtain wall closin! o"" the headland aro%nd the "oot o" the !reat stone brid!e
that leapt "rom the cli""top to the lar!est islet, dominated b& the massie b%l$ o" the
8reat 6eep' =arther o%t were the 6itchen 6eep and the Blood& 6eep, each on its own
island' Towers and o%tb%ildin!s cl%n! to the stac$s be&ond, lin$ed to each other b&
coered archwa&s when the pillars stood close, b& lon! swa&in! wal$s o" wood and rope
when the& did not'
The Sea Tower rose "rom the o%tmost island at the point o" the bro$en sword, the
oldest part o" the castle, ro%nd and tall, the sheer-sided pillar on which it stood hal"-eaten
thro%!h b& the endless batterin! o" the waes' The base o" the tower was white "rom
cent%ries o" salt spra&, the %pper stories !reen "rom the lichen that crawled oer it li$e a
thic$ blan$et, the 9a!!ed crown blac$ with soot "rom its ni!htl& watch"ire'
*boe the Sea Tower snapped his "athers banner' The 2&raham was too "ar o"" "or
Theon to see more than the cloth itsel", b%t he $new the deice it bore: the !olden $ra$en
o" ,o%se 8re&9o&, arms writhin! and reachin! a!ainst a blac$ "ield' The banner
streamed "rom an iron mast, shierin! and twistin! as the wind !%sted, li$e a bird
str%!!lin! to ta$e "li!ht' *nd here at least the direwol" o" Star$ did not "l& aboe, castin!
its shadow down %pon the 8re&9o& $ra$en'
Theon had neer seen a more stirrin! si!ht' In the s$& behind the castle, the "ine red
tail o" the comet was isible thro%!h thin, sc%ttlin! clo%ds' *ll the wa& "rom Bierr%n to
Sea!ard, the 2allisters had ar!%ed abo%t its meanin!' It is m& comet, Theon told
himsel", slidin! a hand into his "%r-lined cloa$ to to%ch the oils$in po%ch sn%! in its
poc$et' Inside was the letter Bobb Star$ had !ien him, paper as !ood as a crown'
1#oes the castle loo$ as &o% remember it, milord.3 the captains da%!hter as$ed as she
pressed hersel" a!ainst his arm'
1It loo$s smaller,3 Theon con"essed, 1tho%!h perhaps that is onl& the distance'3 The
2&raham was a "at-bellied so%thron merchanter %p "rom /ldtown, carr&in! wine and
cloth and seed to trade "or iron ore' ,er captain was a "at-bellied so%thron merchanter as
well, and the ston& sea that "oamed at the "eet o" the castle made his pl%mp lips )%ier,
so he sta&ed well o%t, "arther than Theon wo%ld hae li$ed' *n ironborn captain in a
lon!ship wo%ld hae ta$en them alon! the cli""s and %nder the hi!h brid!e that spanned
the !ap between the !ateho%se and the 8reat 6eep, b%t this pl%mp /ldtowner had
neither the cra"t, the crew, nor the co%ra!e to attempt s%ch a thin!' So the& sailed past at
a sa"e distance, and Theon m%st content himsel" with seein! 4&$e "rom a"ar' 5en so,
the 2&raham had to str%!!le mi!htil& to $eep itsel" o"" those roc$s'
1It m%st be wind& there,3 the captains da%!hter obsered'
,e la%!hed' 1(ind& and cold and damp' * miserable hard place, in tr%th ' ' ' b%t m&
lord "ather once told me that hard places breed hard men, and hard men r%le the world'3
The captains "ace was as !reen as the sea when he came bowin! %p to Theon and
as$ed, 12a& we ma$e "or port now, milord.3
1;o% ma&,3 Theon said, a "aint smile pla&in! abo%t his lips' The promise o" !old had
t%rned the /ldtowner into a shameless lic$spittle' It wo%ld hae been a m%ch di""erent
o&a!e i" a lon!ship "rom the islands had been waitin! at Sea!ard as hed hoped'
Ironborn captains were pro%d and will"%l, and did not !o in awe o" a mans blood' The
islands were too small "or awe, and a lon!ship smaller still' I" eer& captain was a $in!
aboard his own ship, as was o"ten said, it was small wonder the& named the islands the
land o" ten tho%sand $in!s' *nd when &o% hae seen &o%r $in!s shit oer the rail and
t%rn !reen in a storm, it was hard to bend the $nee and pretend the& were !ods' 1The
#rowned 8od ma$es men,3 old 6in! <rron Bedhand had once said, tho%sands o" &ears
a!o, 1b%t its men who ma$e crowns'3
* lon!ship wo%ld hae made the crossin! in hal" the time as well' The 2&raham was a
wallowin! t%b, i" tr%th be told, and he wo%ld not care to be aboard her in a storm' Still,
Theon co%ld not be too %nhapp&' ,e was here, %ndrowned, and the o&a!e had o""ered
certain other am%sements' ,e p%t an arm aro%nd the captains da%!hter' 1S%mmon me
when we ma$e 7ordsport,3 he told her "ather' 1(ell be below, in m& cabin'3 ,e led the
!irl awa& a"t, while her "ather watched them !o in s%llen silence'
The cabin was the captains, in tr%th, b%t it had been t%rned oer to Theons %se when
the& sailed "rom Sea!ard' The captains da%!hter had not been t%rned oer to his %se, b%t
she had come to his bed willin!l& eno%!h all the same' * c%p o" wine, a "ew whispers,
and there she was' The !irl was a shade pl%mp "or his taste, with s$in as splotch& as
oatmeal, b%t her breasts "illed his hands nicel& and she had been a maiden the "irst time
he too$ her' That was s%rprisin! at her a!e, b%t Theon "o%nd it diertin!' ,e did not
thin$ the captain approed, and that was am%sin! as well, watchin! the man str%!!le to
swallow his o%tra!e while per"ormin! his co%rtesies to the hi!h lord, the rich p%rse o"
!old hed been promised neer "ar "rom his tho%!hts'
*s Theon shr%!!ed o%t o" his wet cloa$, the !irl said, 1;o% m%st be so happ& to see
&o%r home a!ain, milord' ,ow man& &ears hae &o% been awa&.3
1Ten, or close as ma$es no matter,3 he told her' 1I was a bo& o" ten when I was ta$en to
(inter"ell, as a ward o" 5ddard Star$'3 * ward in name, a hosta!e in tr%th' ,al" his da&s
a hosta!e ' ' ' b%t no lon!er' ,is li"e was his own a!ain, and nowhere a Star$ to be seen'
,e drew the captains da%!hter close and $issed her on her ear' 1Ta$e o"" &o%r cloa$'3
She dropped her e&es, s%ddenl& sh&, b%t did as he bid her' (hen the hea& !arment,
sodden with spra&, "ell "rom her sho%lders to the dec$, she !ae him a little bow and
smiled an0io%sl&' She loo$ed rather st%pid when she smiled, b%t he had neer re)%ired a
woman to be cleer' 1+ome here,3 he told her'
She did' 1I hae neer seen the Iron Islands'3
1+o%nt &o%rsel" "ort%nate'3 Theon stro$ed her hair' It was "ine and dar$, tho%!h the
wind had made a tan!le o" it' 1The islands are stern and ston& places, scant o" com"ort
and blea$ o" prospect' #eath is neer "ar here, and li"e is mean and mea!er' 2en spend
their ni!hts drin$in! ale and ar!%in! oer whose lot is worse, the "isher"ol$ who "i!ht
the sea or the "armers who tr& and scratch a crop "rom the poor thin soil' I" tr%th be told,
the miners hae it worse than either, brea$in! their bac$s down in the dar$, and "or
what. Iron, lead, tin, those are o%r treas%res' Small wonder the ironmen o" old t%rned to
raidin!'3
The st%pid !irl did not seem to be listenin!' 1I co%ld !o ashore with &o%,3 she said' 1I
wo%ld, i" it please &o% ' ' '3
1;o% co%ld !o ashore,3 Theon a!reed, s)%ee?in! her breast, 1b%t not with me, I "ear'3
1Id wor$ in &o%r castle, milord' I can clean "ish and ba$e bread and ch%rn b%tter'
=ather sa&s m& peppercrab stew is the best hes eer tasted' ;o% co%ld "ind me a place in
&o%r $itchens and I co%ld ma$e &o% peppercrab stew'3
1*nd warm m& bed b& ni!ht.3 ,e reached "or the laces o" her bodice and be!an to
%ndo them, his "in!ers de"t and practiced' 1/nce I mi!ht hae carried &o% home as a
pri?e, and $ept &o% to wi"e whether &o% willed it or no' The ironmen o" old did s%ch
thin!s' * man had his roc$ wi"e, his tr%e bride, ironborn li$e himsel", b%t he had his salt
wies too, women capt%red on raids'3
The !irls e&es !rew wide, and not beca%se he had bared her breasts' 1I wo%ld be &o%r
salt wi"e, milord'3
1I "ear those da&s are !one'3 Theons "in!er circled one hea& teat, spiralin! in toward
the "at brown nipple' 1No lon!er ma& we ride the wind with "ire and sword, ta$in! what
we want' Now we scratch in the !ro%nd and toss lines in the sea li$e other men, and
co%nt o%rseles l%c$& i" we hae salt cod and porrid!e eno%!h to !et %s thro%!h a
winter'3 ,e too$ her nipple in his mo%th, and bit it %ntil she !asped'
1;o% can p%t it in me a!ain, i" it please &o%,3 she whispered in his ear as he s%c$ed'
(hen he raised his head "rom her breast, the s$in was dar$ red where his mo%th had
mar$ed her' 1It wo%ld please me to teach &o% somethin! new' <nlace me and pleas%re
me with &o%r mo%th'3
1(ith m& mo%th.3
,is th%mb br%shed li!htl& oer her "%ll lips' 1Its what those lips were made "or,
sweetlin!' I" &o% were m& salt wi"e, &o%d do as I command'3
She was timid at "irst, b%t learned )%ic$l& "or s%ch a st%pid !irl, which pleased him'
,er mo%th was as wet and sweet as her c%nt, and this wa& he did not hae to listen to
her mindless prattle' /nce I wo%ld hae $ept her as a salt wi"e in tr%th, he tho%!ht to
himsel" as he slid his "in!ers thro%!h her tan!led hair' /nce' (hen we still $ept the /ld
(a&, lied b& the a0e instead o" the pic$, ta$in! what we wo%ld, be it wealth, women, or
!lor&' In those da&s, the ironborn did not wor$ mines: that was labor "or the capties
bro%!ht bac$ "rom the hostin!s, and so too the sorr& b%siness o" "armin! and tendin!
!oats and sheep' (ar was an ironmans proper trade' The #rowned 8od had made them
to reae and rape, to care o%t $in!doms and write their names in "ire and blood and
son!'
*e!on the #ra!on had destro&ed the /ld (a& when he b%rned Blac$ ,arren, !ae
,arrens $in!dom bac$ to the wea$lin! riermen, and red%ced the Iron Islands to an
insi!ni"icant bac$water o" a m%ch !reater realm' ;et the old red tales were still told
aro%nd dri"twood "ires and smo$& hearths all across the islands, een behind the hi!h
stone halls o" 4&$e' Theons "ather n%mbered amon! his titles the st&le o" 7ord Beaper,
and the 8re&9o& words boasted that (e #o Not Sow'
It had been to brin! bac$ the /ld (a& more than "or the empt& anit& o" a crown that
7ord Balon had sta!ed his !reat rebellion' Bobert Baratheon had written a blood& end to
that hope, with the help o" his "riend 5ddard Star$, b%t both men were dead now' 2ere
bo&s r%led in their stead, and the realm that *e!on the +on)%eror had "or!ed was
smashed and s%ndered' This is the season, Theon tho%!ht as the captains da%!hter slid
her lips %p and down the len!th o" him, the season, the &ear, the da&, and I am the man'
,e smiled croo$edl&, wonderin! what his "ather wo%ld sa& when Theon told him that he,
the last-born, babe and hosta!e, he had s%cceeded where 7ord Balon himsel" had "ailed'
,is clima0 came on him s%dden as a storm, and he "illed the !irls mo%th with his
seed' Startled, she tried to p%ll awa&, b%t Theon held her ti!ht b& the hair' *"terward, she
crawled %p beside him' 1#id I please milord.3
1(ell eno%!h,3 he told her'
1It tasted salt&,3 she m%rm%red'
17i$e the sea.3
She nodded' 1I hae alwa&s loed the sea, milord'3
1*s I hae,3 he said, rollin! her nipple idl& between his "in!ers' It was tr%e' The sea
meant "reedom to the men o" the Iron Islands' ,e had "or!otten that %ntil the 2&raham
had raised sail at Sea!ard' The so%nds bro%!ht old "eelin!s bac$: the crea$ o" wood and
rope, the captains sho%ted commands, the snap o" the sails as the wind "illed them, each
as "amiliar as the beatin! o" his own heart, and as com"ortin!' I m%st remember this,
Theon owed to himsel"' I m%st neer !o "ar "rom the sea a!ain'
1Ta$e me with &o%, milord,3 the captains da%!hter be!!ed' 1I dont need to !o to &o%r
castle' I can sta& in some town, and be &o%r salt wi"e'3 She reached o%t to stro$e his
chee$'
Theon 8re&9o& p%shed her hand aside and climbed o"" the b%n$' 12& place is 4&$e,
and &o%rs is on this ship'3
1I cant sta& here now'3
,e laced %p his breeches' 1(h& not.3
12& "ather,3 she told him' 1/nce &o%re !one, hell p%nish me, milord' ,ell call me
names and hit me'3
Theon swept his cloa$ o"" its pe! and oer his sho%lders' 1=athers are li$e that,3 he
admitted as he pinned the "olds with a siler clasp' 1Tell him he sho%ld be pleased' *s
man& times as Ie "%c$ed &o%, &o%re li$el& with child' Its not eer& man who has the
honor o" raisin! a $in!s bastard'3 She loo$ed at him st%pidl&, so he le"t her there'
The 2&raham was ro%ndin! a wooded point' Below the pine-clad bl%""s, a do?en
"ishin! boats were p%llin! in their nets' The bi! co! sta&ed well o%t "rom them, tac$in!'
Theon moed to the bow "or a better iew' ,e saw the castle "irst, the stron!hold o" the
Botle&s' (hen he was a bo& it had been timber and wattle, b%t Bobert Baratheon had
ra?ed that str%ct%re to the !ro%nd' 7ord Sawane had reb%ilt in stone, "or now a small
s)%are $eep crowned the hill' 4ale !reen "la!s drooped "rom the s)%at corner towers,
each embla?oned with a shoal o" siler& "ish'
Beneath the d%bio%s protection o" the "ish-ridden little castle la& the illa!e o"
7ordsport, its harbor aswarm with ships' (hen last hed seen 7ordsport, it had been a
smo$in! wasteland, the s$eletons o" b%rnt lon!ships and smashed !alle&s litterin! the
ston& shore li$e the bones o" dead leiathans, the ho%ses no more than bro$en walls and
cold ashes' *"ter ten &ears, "ew traces o" the war remained' The small"ol$ had b%ilt new
hoels with the stones o" the old, and c%t "resh sod "or their roo"s' * new inn had risen
beside the landin!, twice the si?e o" the old one, with a lower stor& o" c%t stone and two
%pper stories o" timber' The sept be&ond had neer been reb%ilt, tho%!h: onl& a seen-
sided "o%ndation remained where it had stood' Bobert Baratheons "%r& had so%red the
ironmens taste "or the new !ods, it wo%ld seem'
Theon was more interested in ships than !ods' *mon! the masts o" co%ntless "ishin!
boats, he spied a T&roshi tradin! !alle& o""-loadin! beside a l%mberin! Ibbenese co!
with her blac$-tarred h%ll' * !reat n%mber o" lon!ships, "i"t& or si0t& at the least, stood
o%t to sea or la& beached on the pebbled shore to the north' Some o" the sails bore
deices "rom the other islands: the blood moon o" (&nch, 7ord 8oodbrothers banded
blac$ warhorn ,arlaws siler sc&the' Theon searched "or his %ncle 5%rons Silence' /"
that lean and terrible red ship he saw no si!n, b%t his "athers 8reat 6ra$en was there,
her bow ornamented with a !re& iron ram in the shape o" its namesa$e'
,ad 7ord Balon anticipated him and called the 8re&9o& banners. ,is hand went inside
his cloa$ a!ain, to the oils$in po%ch' No one $new o" his letter b%t Bobb Star$: the&
were no "ools, to entr%st their secrets to a bird' Still, 7ord Balon was no "ool either' ,e
mi!ht well hae !%essed wh& his son was comin! home at lon! last, and acted
accordin!l&'
The tho%!ht did not please him' ,is "athers war was lon! done, and lost' This was
Theons ho%rAhis plan, his !lor&, and in time his crown' ;et i" the lon!ships are hostin!
' ' '
It mi!ht be onl& a ca%tion, now that he tho%!ht on it' * de"ensie moe, lest the war
spill o%t across the sea' /ld men were ca%tio%s b& nat%re' ,is "ather was old now, and so
too his %ncle >ictarion, who commanded the Iron =leet' ,is %ncle 5%ron was a di""erent
son!, to be s%re, b%t the Silence did not seem to be in port' Its all "or the !ood, Theon
told himsel"' This wa&, I shall be able to stri$e all the more )%ic$l&'
*s the 2&raham made her wa& landward, Theon paced the dec$ restlessl&, scannin!
the shore' ,e had not tho%!ht to "ind 7ord Balon himsel" at )%a&side, b%t s%rel& his
"ather wo%ld hae sent someone to meet him' S&las So%rmo%th the steward, 7ord
Botle&, perhaps een #a!mer +le"t9aw' It wo%ld be !ood to loo$ on #a!mers hideo%s
old "ace a!ain' It was not as tho%!h the& had no word o" his arrial' Bobb had sent
raens "rom Bierr%n, and when the&d "o%nd no lon!ship at Sea!ard, Cason 2allister
had sent his own birds to 4&$e, s%pposin! that Bobbs were lost'
;et he saw no "amiliar "aces, no honor !%ard waitin! to escort him "rom 7ordsport to
4&$e, onl& small"ol$ !oin! abo%t their small b%siness' Shorehands rolled cas$s o" wine
o"" the T&roshi trader, "isher"ol$ cried the da&s catch, children ran and pla&ed' * priest
in the seawater robes o" the #rowned 8od was leadin! a pair o" horses alon! the
pebbled shore, while aboe him a slattern leaned o%t a window in the inn, callin! o%t to
some passin! Ibbenese sailors'
* hand"%l o" 7ordsport merchants had !athered to meet the ship' The& sho%ted
)%estions as the 2&raham was t&in! %p' 1(ere o%t o" /ldtown,3 the captain called
down, 1bearin! apples and oran!es, wines "rom the *rbor, "eathers "rom the S%mmer
Isles' I hae pepper, woen leathers, a bolt o" 2&rish lace, mirrors "or milad&, a pair o"
/ldtown woodharps sweet as an& &o% eer heard'3 The !an!plan$ descended with a
crea$ and a th%d' 1*nd Ie bro%!ht &o%r heir bac$ to &o%'3
The 7ordsport men !a?ed on Theon with blan$, boine e&es, and he reali?ed that the&
did not $now who he was' It made him an!r&' ,e pressed a !olden dra!on into the
captains palm' 1,ae &o%r men brin! m& thin!s'3 (itho%t waitin! "or a repl&, he strode
down the !an!plan$' 1Inn$eeper,3 he bar$ed, 1I re)%ire a horse'3
1*s &o% sa&, mlord,3 the man responded, witho%t so m%ch as a bow' ,e had "or!otten
how bold the ironborn co%ld be' 1,appens as I hae one mi!ht do' (here wo%ld &o% be
ridin!, mlord.3
14&$e'3 The "ool still did not $now him' ,e sho%ld hae worn his !ood do%blet, with
the $ra$en embroidered on the breast'
1;o%ll want to be o"" soon, to reach 4&$e a"ore dar$,3 the inn$eeper said' 12& bo&
will !o with &o% and show &o% the wa&'3
1;o%r bo& will not be needed,3 a deep oice called, 1nor &o%r horse' I shall see m&
nephew bac$ to his "athers ho%se'3
The spea$er was the priest he had seen leadin! the horses alon! the shoreline' *s the
man approached, the small"ol$ bent the $nee, and Theon heard the inn$eeper m%rm%r,
1#amphair'3
Tall and thin, with "ierce blac$ e&es and a bea$ o" a nose, the priest was !arbed in
mottled robes o" !reen and !re& and bl%e, the swirlin! colors o" the #rowned 8od' *
waters$in h%n! %nder his arm on a leather strap, and ropes o" dried seaweed were
braided thro%!h his waist-lon! blac$ hair and %ntrimmed beard'
* memor& prodded at Theon' In one o" his rare c%rt letters, 7ord Balon had written o"
his &o%n!est brother !oin! down in a storm, and t%rnin! hol& when he washed %p sa"e
on shore' 1<ncle *eron.3 he said do%bt"%ll&'
1Nephew Theon,3 the priest replied' 1;o%r lord "ather bid me "etch &o%' +ome'3
1In a moment, <ncle'3 ,e t%rned bac$ to the 2&raham' 12& thin!s,3 he commanded
the captain'
* sailor "etched him down his tall &ew bow and )%ier o" arrows, b%t it was the
captains da%!hter who bro%!ht the pac$ with his !ood clothin!' 12ilord'3 ,er e&es
were red' (hen he too$ the pac$, she made as i" to embrace him, there in "ront o" her
own "ather and his priestl& %ncle and hal" the island'
Theon t%rned de"tl& aside' 1;o% hae m& than$s'3
14lease,3 she said, 1I do loe &o% well, milord'3
1I m%st !o'3 ,e h%rried a"ter his %ncle, who was alread& well down the pier' Theon
ca%!ht him with a do?en lon! strides' 1I had not loo$ed "or &o%, <ncle' *"ter ten &ears, I
tho%!ht perhaps m& lord "ather and lad& mother mi!ht come themseles, or send
#a!mer with an honor !%ard'3
1It is not "or &o% to )%estion the commands o" the 7ord Beaper o" 4&$e'3 The priests
manner was chill&, most %nli$e the man Theon remembered' *eron 8re&9o& had been
the most amiable o" his %ncles, "ec$less and )%ic$ to la%!h, "ond o" son!s, ale, and
women' 1*s to #a!mer, the +le"tiaw is !one to /ld (&$ at &o%r "athers behest, to ro%st
the Stoneho%ses and the #r%mms'3
1To what p%rpose. (h& are the lon!ships hostin!.3
1(h& hae lon!ships eer hosted.3 ,is %ncle had le"t the horses tied %p in "ront o" the
waterside inn' (hen the& reached them, he t%rned to Theon' 1Tell me tr%e, nephew' #o
&o% pra& to the wol" !ods now.3
Theon seldom pra&ed at all, b%t that was not somethin! &o% con"essed to a priest, een
&o%r "athers own brother' 1Ned Star$ pra&ed to a tree' No, I care nothin! "or Star$s
!ods'3
18ood' 6neel'3
The !ro%nd was all stones and m%d' 1<ncle, IA3
16neel' /r are &o% too pro%d now, a lordlin! o" the !reen lands come amon! %s.3
Theon $nelt' ,e had a p%rpose here, and mi!ht need *erons help to achiee it' *
crown was worth a little m%d and horseshit on his breeches, he s%pposed'
1Bow &o%r head'3 7i"tin! the s$in, his %ncle p%lled the cor$ and directed a thin stream
o" seawater down %pon Theons head' It drenched his hair and ran oer his "orehead into
his e&es' Sheets washed down his chee$s, and a "in!er crept %nder his cloa$ and do%blet
and down his bac$, a cold ri%let alon! his spine' The salt made his e&es b%rn, %ntil it
was all he co%ld do not to cr& o%t' ,e co%ld taste the ocean on his lips' 17et Theon &o%r
serant be born a!ain "rom the sea, as &o% were,3 *eron 8re&9o& intoned' 1Bless him
with salt, bless him with stone, bless him with steel' Nephew, do &o% still $now the
words.3
1(hat is dead ma& neer die,3 Theon said, rememberin!'
1(hat is dead ma& neer die,3 his %ncle echoed, 1b%t rises a!ain, harder and stron!er'
Stand'3
Theon stood, blin$in! bac$ tears "rom the salt in his e&es' (ordless, his %ncle cor$ed
the waters$in, %ntied his horse, and mo%nted' Theon did the same' The& set o"" to!ether,
leain! the inn and the harbor behind them, %p past the castle o" 7ord Botle& into the
ston& hills' The priest ent%red no "%rther word'
1I hae been hal" m& li"e awa& "rom home,3 Theon ent%red at last' 1(ill I "ind the
islands chan!ed.3
12en "ish the sea, di! in the earth, and die' (omen birth children in blood and pain,
and die' Ni!ht "ollows da&' The winds and tides remain' The islands are as o%r !od made
them'3
8ods, he has !rown !rim, Theon tho%!ht' 1(ill I "ind m& sister and m& lad& mother at
4&$e.3
1;o% will not' ;o%r mother dwells on ,arlaw, with her own sister' It is less raw there,
and her co%!h tro%bles her' ;o%r sister has ta$en Blac$ (ind to 8reat (&$, with
messa!es "rom &o%r lord "ather' She will ret%rn eer lon!, &o% ma& be s%re'3
Theon did not need to be told that Blac$ (ind was *shas lon!ship' ,e had not seen
his sister in ten &ears, b%t that m%ch he $new o" her' /dd that she wo%ld call it that,
when Bobb Star$ had a wol" named 8re& (ind' 1Star$ is !re& and 8re&9o&s blac$,3 he
m%rm%red, smilin!, 1b%t it seems were both wind&'3
The priest had nothin! to sa& to that'
1*nd what o" &o%, <ncle.3 Theon as$ed' 1;o% were no priest when I was ta$en "rom
4&$e' I remember how &o% wo%ld sin! the old reain! son!s standin! on the table with a
horn o" ale in hand'3
1;o%n! I was, and ain,3 *eron 8re&9o& said, 1b%t the sea washed m& "ollies and m&
anities awa&' That man drowned, nephew' ,is l%n!s "illed with seawater, and the "ish
ate the scales o"" his e&es' (hen I rose a!ain, I saw clearl&'3
,e is as mad as he is so%r' Theon had li$ed what he remembered o" the old *eron
8re&9o&' 1<ncle, wh& has m& "ather called his swords and sails.3
1#o%btless he will tell &o% at 4&$e'3
1I wo%ld $now his plans now'3
1=rom me, &o% shall not' (e are commanded not to spea$ o" this to an& man'3
15en to me.3 Theons an!er "lared' ,ed led men in war, h%nted with a $in!, won
honor in to%rne& melees, ridden with Br&nden Blac$"ish and 8reat9on <mber, "o%!ht in
the (hisperin! (ood, bedded more !irls than he co%ld name, and &et this %ncle was
treatin! him as tho%!h he were still a child o" ten' 1I" m& "ather ma$es plans "or war, I
m%st $now o" them' I am not Dan& man, I am heir to 4&$e and the Iron Islands'3
1*s to that,3 his %ncle said, 1we shall see'3
The words were a slap in the "ace' 1(e shall see. 2& brothers are both dead' I am m&
lord "athers onl& liin! son'3
1;o%r sister lies'3
*sha, he tho%!ht, con"o%nded' She was three &ears older than Theon, &et still ' ' ' 1*
woman ma& inherit onl& i" there is no male heir in the direct line,3 he insisted lo%dl&' 1I
will not be cheated o" m& ri!hts, I warn &o%'3
,is %ncle !r%nted' 1;o% warn a serant o" the #rowned 8od, bo&. ;o% hae "or!otten
more than &o% $now' *nd &o% are a !reat "ool i" &o% beliee &o%r lord "ather will eer
hand these hol& islands oer to a Star$' Now be silent' The ride is lon! eno%!h witho%t
&o%r ma!pie chatterin!s'3
Theon held his ton!%e, tho%!h not witho%t str%!!le' So that is the wa& o" it, he
tho%!ht' *s i" ten &ears in (inter"ell co%ld ma$e a Star$' 7ord 5ddard had raised him
amon! his own children, b%t Theon had neer been one o" them' The whole castle, "rom
7ad& Star$ to the lowliest $itchen sc%llion, $new he was hosta!e to his "athers !ood
behaior, and treated him accordin!l&' 5en the bastard Con Snow had been accorded
more honor than he had'
7ord 5ddard had tried to pla& the "ather "rom time to time, b%t to Theon he had alwa&s
remained the man whod bro%!ht blood and "ire to 4&$e and ta$en him "rom his home'
*s a bo&, he had lied in "ear o" Star$s stern "ace and !reat dar$ sword' ,is wi"e was, i"
an&thin!, een more distant and s%spicio%s'
*s "or their children, the &o%n!er ones had been mewlin! babes "or most o" his &ears
at (inter"ell' /nl& Bobb and his baseborn hal" brother Con Snow had been old eno%!h to
be worth his notice' The bastard was a s%llen bo&, )%ic$ to sense a sli!ht, 9ealo%s o"
Theons hi!h birth and Bobbs re!ard "or him' =or Bobb himsel", Theon did hae a
certain a""ection, as "or a &o%n!er brother ' ' ' b%t it wo%ld be best not to mention that' In
4&$e, it wo%ld seem, the old wars were still bein! "o%!ht' That o%!ht not s%rprise him'
The Iron Islands lied in the past: the present was too hard and bitter to be borne'
Besides, his "ather and %ncles were old, and the old lords were li$e that: the& too$ their
d%st& "e%ds to the !rae, "or!ettin! nothin! and "or!iin! less'
It had been the same with the 2allisters, his companions on the ride "rom Bierr%n to
Sea!ard' 4atre$ 2allister was not too ill a "ellow: the& shared a taste "or wenches, wine,
and haw$in!' B%t when old 7ord Cason saw his heir !rowin! oerl& "ond o" Theons
compan&, he had ta$en 4atre$ aside to remind him that Sea!ard had been b%ilt to de"end
the coast a!ainst reaers "rom the Iron islands, the 8re&9o&s o" 4&$e chie" amon! them'
Their Boomin! Tower was named "or its immense bron?e bell, r%n! o" old to call the
towns"ol$ and "armhands into the castle when lon!ships were si!hted on the western
hori?on'
1Neer mind that the bell has been r%n! 9%st once in three h%ndred &ears,3 4atre$ had
told Theon the da& a"ter, as he shared his "athers ca%tions and a 9%! o" !reen-apple
wine'
1(hen m& brother stormed Sea!ard,3 Theon said' 7ord Cason had slain Bodri$
8re&9o& %nder the walls o" the castle, and thrown the ironmen bac$ into the ba&' 1I" &o%r
"ather s%pposes I bear him some enmit& "or that, its onl& beca%se he neer $new
Bodri$'3
The& had a la%!h oer that as the& raced ahead to an amoro%s &o%n! millers wi"e that
4atre$ $new' (o%ld that 4atre$ were with me now, 2allister or no, he was a more
amiable ridin! companion than this so%r old priest that his %ncle *eron had t%rned into'
The path the& rode wo%nd %p and %p, into bare and ston& hills' Soon the& were o%t o"
si!ht o" the sea, tho%!h the smell o" salt still h%n! sharp in the damp air' The& $ept a
stead& ploddin! pace, past a shepherds cro"t and the abandoned wor$in!s o" a mine'
This new, hol& *eron 8re&9o& was not m%ch "or tal$' The& rode in a !loom o" silence'
=inall& Theon co%ld s%""er it no lon!er' 1Bobb Star$ is 7ord o" (inter"ell now,3 he said'
*eron rode on' 1/ne wol" is m%ch li$e the other'3
1Bobb has bro$en "ealt& with the Iron Throne and crowned himsel" 6in! in the North'
Theres war'3
1The maesters raens "l& oer salt as soon as roc$' This news is old and cold'3
1It means a new da&, <ncle'3
15er& mornin! brin!s a new da&, m%ch li$e the old'3
1In Bierr%n, the& wo%ld tell &o% di""erent' The& sa& the red comet is a herald o" a new
a!e' * messen!er "rom the !ods'3
1* si!n it is,3 the priest a!reed, 1b%t "rom o%r !od, not theirs' * b%rnin! brand it is,
s%ch as o%r people carried o" old' It is the "lame the #rowned 8od bro%!ht "rom the sea,
and it proclaims a risin! tide' It is time to hoist o%r sails and !o "orth into the world with
"ire and sword, as he did'3
Theon smiled' 1I co%ld not a!ree more'3
1* man a!rees with !od as a raindrop with the storm'3
This raindrop will one da& be a $in!, old man' Theon had s%""ered )%ite eno%!h o" his
%ncles !loom' ,e p%t his sp%rs into his horse and trotted on ahead, smilin!'
It was ni!h on s%nset when the& reached the walls o" 4&$e, a crescent o" dar$ stone
that ran "rom cli"" to cli"", with the !ateho%se in the center and three s)%are towers to
either side' Theon co%ld still ma$e o%t the scars le"t b& the stones o" Bobert Baratheons
catap%lts' * new so%th tower had risen "rom the r%ins o" the old, its stone a paler shade
o" !re&, and as &et %nmarred b& patches o" lichen' That was where Bobert had made his
breach, swarmin! in oer the r%bble and corpses with his warharnmer in hand and Ned
Star$ at his side' Theon had watched "rom the sa"et& o" the Sea Tower, and sometimes
he still saw the torches in his dreams, and heard the d%ll th%nder o" the collapse'
The !ates stood open to him, the r%sted iron portc%llis drawn %p' The !%ards atop the
battlements watched with stran!ers e&es as Theon 8re&9o& came home at last'
Be&ond the c%rtain wall were hal" a h%ndred acres o" headland hard a!ainst the s$& and
the sea' The stables were here, and the $ennels, and a scatter o" other o%tb%ildin!s'
Sheep and swine h%ddled in their pens while the castle do!s ran "ree' To the so%th were
the cli""s, and the wide stone brid!e to the 8reat 6eep' Theon co%ld hear the crashin! o"
waes as he sw%n! down "rom his saddle' * stableman came to ta$e his horse'
* pair o" !a%nt children and some thralls stared at him with d%ll e&es, b%t there was no
si!n o" his lord "ather, nor an&one else he recalled "rom bo&hood' * blea$ and bitter
homecomin!, he tho%!ht'
The priest had not dismo%nted' 1(ill &o% not sta& the ni!ht and share o%r meat and
mead, <ncle.3
1Brin! &o%, I was told' ;o% are bro%!ht' Now I ret%rn to o%r !ods b%siness'3 *eron
8re&9o& t%rned his horse and rode slowl& o%t beneath the m%dd& spi$es o" the portc%llis'
* bentbac$ old crone in a shapeless !re& dress approached him waril&' 12lord, I am
sent to show &o% to chambers'3
1B& whose biddin!.3
1;o%r lord "ather, mlord'3
Theon p%lled o"" his !loes' 1So &o% do $now who I am' (h& is m& "ather not here to
!reet me.3
1,e awaits &o% in the Sea Tower, mlord' (hen &o% are rested "rom &o%r trip'3
*nd I tho%!ht Ned Star$ cold' 1*nd who are &o%.3
1,el&a, who $eeps this castle "or &o%r lord "ather'3
1S&las was steward here' The& called him So%rmo%th'3 5en now, Theon co%ld recall
the wine& stench o" the old mans breath'
1#ead these "ie &ears, mlord'3
1*nd what o" 2aester Falen, where is he.3
1,e sleeps in the sea' (endam&r $eeps the raens now'3
It is as i" I were a stran!er here, Theon tho%!ht' Nothin! has chan!ed, and &et
eer&thin! has chan!ed' 1Show me to m& chambers, woman,3 he commanded' Bowin!
sti""l&, she led him across the headland to the brid!e' That at least was as he
remembered: the ancient stones slic$ with spra& and spotted b& lichen, the sea "oamin!
%nder their "eet li$e some !reat wild beast, the salt wind cl%tchin! at their clothes'
(heneer hed ima!ined his homecomin!, he had alwa&s pict%red himsel" ret%rnin! to
the sn%! bedchamber in the Sea Tower, where hed slept as a child' Instead the old
woman led him to the Blood& 6eep' The halls here were lar!er and better "%rnished, i"
no less cold nor damp' Theon was !ien a s%ite o" chill& rooms with ceilin!s so hi!h that
the& were lost in !loom' ,e mi!ht hae been more impressed i" he had not $nown that
these were the er& chambers that had !ien the Blood& 6eep its name' * tho%sand
&ears be"ore, the sons o" the Bier 6in! had been sla%!htered here, hac$ed to bits in
their beds so that pieces o" their bodies mi!ht be sent bac$ to their "ather on the
mainland'
B%t 8re&9o&s were not m%rdered in 4&$e e0cept once in a !reat while b& their
brothers, and his brothers were both dead' It was not "ear o" !hosts that made him !lance
abo%t with distaste' The wall han!in!s were !reen with mildew, the mattress m%st&-
smellin! and sa!!in!, the r%shes old and brittle' ;ears had come and !one since these
chambers had last been opened' The damp went bone deep' 1Ill hae a basin o" hot
water and a "ire in this hearth,3 he told the crone' 1See that the& li!ht bra?iers in the
other rooms to drie o%t some o" the chill' *nd !ods be !ood, !et someone in here at
once to chan!e these r%shes'3
1;es, mlord' *s &o% command'3 She "led'
*"ter some time, the& bro%!ht the hot water he had as$ed "or' It was onl& tepid, and
soon cold, and seawater in the bar!ain, b%t it sered to wash the d%st o" the lon! ride
"rom his "ace and hair and hands' (hile two thralls lit his bra?iers, Theon stripped o""
his trael-stained clothin! and dressed to meet his "ather' ,e chose boots o" s%pple blac$
leather, so"t lambswool breeches o" siler&-!re&, a blac$ elet do%blet with the !olden
$ra$en o" the 8re&9o&s embroidered on the breast' *ro%nd his throat he "astened a
slender !old chain, aro%nd his waist a belt o" bleached white leather' ,e h%n! a dir$ at
one hip and a lon!sword at the other, in scabbards striped blac$-and-!old' #rawin! the
dir$, he tested its ed!e with his th%mb, p%lled a whetstone "rom his belt po%ch, and !ae
it a "ew lic$s' ,e prided himsel" on $eepin! his weapons sharp' 1(hen I ret%rn, I shall
e0pect a warm room and clean r%shes,3 he warned the thralls as he drew on a pair o"
blac$ !loes, the sil$ decorated with a delicate scrollwor$ tracer& in !olden thread'
Theon ret%rned to the 8reat 6eep thro%!h a coered stone wal$wa&, the echoes o" his
"ootsteps min!lin! with the ceaseless r%mble o" the sea below' To !et to the Sea Tower
on its croo$ed pillar, he had to cross three "%rther brid!es, each narrower than the one
be"ore' The last was made o" rope and wood, and the wet salt wind made it swa&
%nder"oot li$e a liin! thin!' Theons heart was in his mo%th b& the time he was hal"wa&
across' * lon! wa& below, the waes threw %p tall pl%mes o" spra& as the& crashed
a!ainst the roc$' *s a bo&, he %sed to r%n across this brid!e, een in the blac$ o" ni!ht'
Bo&s beliee nothin! can h%rt them, his do%bt whispered' 8rown men $now better'
The door was !re& wood st%dded with iron, and Theon "o%nd it barred "rom the inside'
,e hammered on it with a "ist, and c%rsed when a splinter sna!!ed the "abric o" his
!loe' The wood was damp and mold&, the iron st%ds r%sted'
*"ter a moment the door was opened "rom within b& a !%ard in a blac$ iron breastplate
and pothelm' 1;o% are the son.3
1/%t o" m& wa&, or &o%ll learn who I am'3 The man stood aside' Theon climbed the
twistin! steps to the solar' ,e "o%nd his "ather seated beside a bra?ier, beneath a robe o"
m%st& seals$ins that coered him "oot to chin' *t the so%nd o" boots on stone, the 7ord
o" the Iron Islands li"ted his e&es to behold his last liin! son' ,e was smaller than
Theon remembered him' *nd so !a%nt' Balon 8re&9o& had alwa&s been thin, b%t now he
loo$ed as tho%!h the !ods had p%t him in a ca%ldron and boiled eer& spare o%nce o"
"lesh "rom his bones, %ntil nothin! remained b%t hair and s$in' Bone thin and bone hard
he was, with a "ace that mi!ht hae been chipped "rom "lint' ,is e&es were "lint& too,
blac$ and sharp, b%t the &ears and the salt winds had t%rned his hair the !re& o" a winter
sea, "lec$ed with whitecaps' <nbo%nd, it h%n! past the small o" the bac$'
1Nine &ears, is it.3 7ord Balon said at last'
1Ten,3 Theon answered, p%llin! o"" his torn !loes'
1* bo& the& too$,3 his "ather said' 1(hat are &o% now.3
1* man,3 Theon answered' 1;o%r blood and &o%r heir'3
7ord Balon !r%nted' 1(e shall see'3
1;o% shall,3 Theon promised'
1Ten &ears, &o% sa&' Star$ had &o% as lon! as I' *nd now &o% come as his eno&'3
1Not his,3 Theon said' 17ord 5ddard is dead, beheaded b& the 7annister )%een'3
1The& are both dead, Star$ and that Bobert who bro$e m& walls with his stones' I
owed Id lie to see them both in their !raes, and I hae'3 ,e !rimaced' 1;et the cold
and the damp still ma$e m& 9oints ache, as when the& were alie' So what does it
sere.3
1It seres'3 Theon moed closer' 1I brin! a letterA3
1#id Ned Star$ dress &o% li$e that.3 his "ather interr%pted, s)%intin! %p "rom beneath
his robe' 1(as it his pleas%re to !arb &o% in elets and sil$s and ma$e &o% his own
sweet da%!hter.3
Theon "elt the blood risin! to his "ace' 1I am no mans da%!hter' I" &o% misli$e m&
!arb, I will chan!e it'3
1;o% will'3 Throwin! o"" the "%rs, 7ord Balon p%shed himsel" to his "eet' ,e was not
so tall as Theon remembered' 1That ba%ble aro%nd &o%r nec$Awas it bo%!ht with !old
or iron.3
Theon to%ched the !old chain' ,e had "or!otten' It has been so lon! ' ' ' In the /ld
(a&, women mi!ht decorate themseles with ornaments bo%!ht with coin, b%t a warrior
wore onl& the 9ewelr& he too$ o"" the corpses o" enemies slain b& his own hand' 4a&in!
the iron price, it was called'
1;o% bl%sh red as a maid, Theon' * )%estion was as$ed' Is it the !old price &o% paid,
or the iron.3
1The !old,3 Theon admitted'
,is "ather slid his "in!ers %nder the nec$lace and !ae it a &an$ so hard it was li$e to
ta$e Theons head o"", had the chain not snapped "irst' 12& da%!hter has ta$en an a0e
"or a loer,3 7ord Balon said' 1I will not hae m& son bedec$ himsel" li$e a whore'3 ,e
dropped the bro$en chain onto the bra?ier, where it slid down amon! the coals' 1It is as I
"eared' The !reen lands hae made &o% so"t, and the Star$s hae made &o% theirs'3
1;o%re wron!' Ned Star$ was m& !aoler, b%t m& blood is still salt and iron'3
7ord Balon t%rned awa& to warm his bon& hands oer the bra?ier' 1;et the Star$ p%p
sends &o% to me li$e a well-trained raen, cl%tchin! his little messa!e'3
1There is nothin! small abo%t the letter I bear,3 Theon said, 1and the o""er he ma$es is
one I s%!!ested to him'3
1This wol" $in! heeds &o%r co%nsel, does he.3 The notion seemed to am%se 7ord
Balon'
1,e heeds me, &es' Ie h%nted with him, trained with him, shared meat and mead with
him, warred at his side' I hae earned his tr%st' ,e loo$s on me as an older brother, he
A3
1No'3 ,is "ather 9abbed a "in!er at his "ace' 1Not here, not in 4&$e, not in m& hearin!,
&o% will not name him brother, this son o" the man who p%t &o%r tr%e brothers to the
sword' /r hae &o% "or!otten Bodri$ and 2aron, who were &o%r own blood.3
1I "or!et nothin!'3 Ned Star$ had $illed neither o" his brothers, in tr%th' Bodri$ had
been slain b& 7ord Cason 2allister at Sea!ard, 2aron cr%shed in the collapse o" the old
so%th tower ' ' ' b%t Star$ wo%ld hae done "or them 9%st as )%ic$ had the tide o" battle
chanced to sweep them to!ether' 1I remember m& brothers er& well,3 Theon insisted'
+hie"l& he remembered Bodri$s dr%n$en c%""s and 2arons cr%el 9apes and endless lies'
1I remember when m& "ather was a $in! too'3 ,e too$ o%t Bobbs letter and thr%st it
"orward' 1,ere' Bead it ' ' ' ;o%r 8race'3
7ord Balon bro$e the seal and %n"olded the parchment' ,is blac$ e&es "lic$ed bac$
and "orth' 1So the bo& wo%ld !ie me a crown a!ain,3 he said, 1and all I need do is
destro& his enemies'3 ,is thin lips twisted in a smile'
1B& now Bobb is at the 8olden Tooth,3 Theon said' 1/nce it "alls, hell be thro%!h the
hills in a da&' 7ord T&wins host is at ,arrenhal, c%t o"" "rom the west' The 6in!sla&er is
a captie at Bierr%n' /nl& Ser Sta""ord 7annister and the raw !reen leies hes been
!atherin! remain to oppose Bobb in the west' Ser Sta""ord will p%t himsel" between
Bobbs arm& and 7annisport, which means the cit& will be %nde"ended when we descend
on it b& sea' I" the !ods are with %s, een +asterl& Boc$ itsel" ma& "all be"ore the
7annisters so m%ch as reali?e that we are %pon them'3
7ord Balon !r%nted' 1+asterl& Boc$ has neer "allen'3
1<ntil now'3 Theon smiled' *nd how sweet that will be'
,is "ather did not ret%rn the smile' 1So this is wh& Bobb Star$ sends &o% bac$ to me,
a"ter so lon!. So &o% mi!ht win m& consent to this plan o" his.3
1It is m& plan, not Bobbs,3 Theon said pro%dl&' 2ine, as the ictor& will be mine, and
in time the crown' 1I will lead the attac$ m&sel", i" it please &o%' *s m& reward I wo%ld
as$ that &o% !rant me +asterl& Boc$ "or m& own seat, once we hae ta$en it "rom the
7annisters'3 (ith the Boc$, he co%ld hold 7annisport and the !olden lands o" the west'
It wo%ld mean wealth and power s%ch as ,o%se 8re&9o& had neer $nown'
1;o% reward &o%rsel" handsomel& "or a notion and a "ew lines o" scribblin!'3 ,is
"ather read the letter a!ain' 1The p%p sa&s nothin! abo%t a reward' /nl& that &o% spea$
"or him, and I am to listen, and !ie him m& sails and swords, and in ret%rn he will !ie
me a crown'3 ,is "lint& e&es li"ted to meet his sons' 1,e will !ie me a crown,3 he
repeated, his oice !rowin! sharp'
1* poor choice o" words, what is meant isA3
1(hat is meant is what is said' The bo& will !ie me a crown' *nd what is !ien can
be ta$en awa&'3 7ord Balon tossed the letter onto the bra?ier, atop the nec$lace' The
parchment c%rled, blac$ened, and too$ "lame'
Theon was a!hast' 1,ae &o% !one mad.3
,is "ather laid a stin!in! bac$hand across his chee$' 12ind &o%r ton!%e' ;o% are not
in (inter"ell now, and I am not Bobb the Bo&, that &o% sho%ld spea$ to me so' I am the
8re&9o&, 7ord Beaper o" 4&$e, 6in! o" Salt and Boc$, Son o" the Sea (ind, and no man
!ies me a crown' I pa& the iron price' I will ta$e m& crown, as <rron Bedhand did "ie
tho%sand &ears a!o'3
Theon ed!ed bac$ward, awa& "rom the s%dden "%r& in his "athers tone' 1Ta$e it, then,3
he spat, his chee$ still tin!lin!' 1+all &o%rsel" 6in! o" the Iron islands, no one will care '
' ' %ntil the wars are oer, and the ictor loo$s abo%t and spies the old "ool perched o""
his shore with an iron crown on his head'3
7ord Balon la%!hed' 1(ell, at the least &o% are no craen' No more than Im a "ool' #o
&o% thin$ I !ather m& ships to watch them roc$ at anchor. I mean to care o%t a
$in!dom with "ire and sword ' ' ' b%t not "rom the west, and not at the biddin! o" 6in!
Bobb the Bo&' +asterl& Boc$ is too stron!, and 7ord T&win too c%nnin! b& hal"' *&e, we
mi!ht ta$e 7annisport, b%t we sho%ld neer $eep it' No' I h%n!er "or a di""erent pl%m ' ' '
not so 9%ic& sweet, to be s%re, &et it han!s there ripe and %nde"ended'3
(here. Theon mi!ht hae as$ed, b%t b& then he $new'
C#APT"R $&
2A"'"R%S
The #othra$i named the comet shiera$ )i&a, the Bleedin! Star' The old men m%ttered
that it omened ill, b%t #aener&s Tar!ar&en had seen it "irst on the ni!ht she had b%rned
6hal #ro!o, the ni!ht her dra!ons had awa$ened' It is the herald o" m& comin!, she told
hersel" as she !a?ed %p into the ni!ht s$& with wonder in her heart' The !ods hae sent it
to show me the wa&'
;et when she p%t the tho%!ht into words, her handmaid #oreah )%ailed' 1That wa& lies
the red lands, 6haleesi' * !rim place and terrible, the riders sa&'3
1The wa& the comet points is the wa& we m%st !o,3 #an& insisted ' ' ' tho%!h in tr%th,
it was the onl& wa& open to her'
She dare not t%rn north onto the ast ocean o" !rass the& called the #othra$i sea' The
"irst $halasar the& met wo%ld swallow %p her ra!!ed band, sla&in! the warriors and
slain! the rest' The lands o" the 7amb 2en so%th o" the rier were li$ewise closed to
them' The& were too "ew to de"end themseles een a!ainst that %nwarli$e "ol$, and the
7ha?areen had small reason to loe them' She mi!ht hae str%c$ downrier "or the ports
at 2eereen and ;%n$ai and *stapor, b%t Ba$haro warned her that 4onos $halasar had
ridden that wa&, driin! tho%sands o" capties be"ore them to sell in the "lesh marts that
"estered li$e open sores on the shores o" Slaers Ba&' 1(h& sho%ld I "ear 4ono.3 #an&
ob9ected' 1,e was #ro!os $o, and alwa&s spo$e me !entl&'3
16o 4ono spo$e &o% !entl&,3 Ser Corah 2ormont said' 16hal 4ono will $ill &o%' ,e
was the "irst to abandon #ro!o' Ten tho%sand warriors went with him' ;o% hae a
h%ndred'3
No, #an& tho%!ht' I hae "o%r' The rest are women, old sic$ men and bo&s whose hair
has neer been braided' 1I hae the dra!ons,3 she pointed o%t'
1,atchlin!s,3 Ser Corah said' 1/ne swipe "rom an ara$h wo%ld p%t an end to them,
tho%!h 4ono is more li$e to sei?e them "or himsel"' ;o%r dra!on e!!s were more
precio%s than r%bies' * liin! dra!on is be&ond price' In all the world, there are onl&
three' 5er& man who sees them will want them, m& )%een'3
1The& are mine,3 she said "iercel&' The& had been born "rom her "aith and her need,
!ien li"e b& the deaths o" her h%sband and %nborn son and the mae!i 2irri 2a? #%%r'
#an& had wal$ed into the "lames as the& came "orth, and the& had dr%n$ mil$ "rom her
swollen breasts' 1No man will ta$e them "rom me while I lie'3
1;o% will not lie lon! sho%ld &o% meet 6hal 4ono' Nor 6hal Cha)o, nor an& o" the
others' ;o% m%st !o where the& do not'3
#an& had named him the "irst o" her F%eens!%ard ' ' ' and when 2ormonts !r%""
co%nsel and the omens a!reed, her co%rse was clear' She called her people to!ether and
mo%nted her siler mare' ,er hair had b%rned awa& in #ro!os p&re, so her handmaids
!arbed her in the s$in o" the hra$$ar #ro!o had slain, the white lion o" the #othra$i sea'
Its "earsome head made a hood to coer her na$ed scalp, its pelt a cloa$ that "lowed
across her sho%lders and down her bac$' The cream-colored dra!on s%n$ sharp blac$
claws into the lions mane and coiled its tail aro%nd her arm, while Ser Corah too$ his
acc%stomed place b& her side'
1(e "ollow the comet,3 #an& told her $halasar' /nce it was said, no word was raised
a!ainst it' The& had been #ro!os people, b%t the& were hers now' The <nb%rnt, the&
called her, and 2other o" #ra!ons' ,er word was their law'
The& rode b& ni!ht, and b& da& too$ re"%!e "rom the s%n beneath their tents' Soon
eno%!h #an& learned the tr%th o" #oreahs words' This was no $indl& co%ntr&' The& le"t
a trail o" dead and d&in! horses behind them as the& went, "or 4ono, Cha)o, and the
others had sei?ed the best o" #ro!os herds, leain! to #an& the old and the scrawn&, the
sic$l& and the lame, the bro$en animals and the ill-tempered' It was the same with the
people' The& are not stron!, she told hersel", so I m%st be their stren!th' I m%st show no
"ear, no wea$ness, no do%bt' ,oweer "ri!htened m& heart, when the& loo$ %pon m&
"ace the& m%st see onl& #ro!os )%een' She "elt older than her "o%rteen &ears' I" eer she
had tr%l& been a !irl, that time was done'
Three da&s into the march, the "irst man died' * toothless oldster with clo%d& bl%e
e&es, he "ell e0ha%sted "rom his saddle and co%ld not rise a!ain' *n ho%r later he was
done' Blood "lies swarmed abo%t his corpse and carried his ill l%c$ to the liin!' 1,is
time was past,3 her handmaid Irri declared' 1No man sho%ld lie lon!er than his teeth'3
The others a!reed' #an& bid them $ill the wea$est o" their d&in! horses, so the dead man
mi!ht !o mo%nted into the ni!ht lands'
Two ni!hts later, it was an in"ant !irl who perished' ,er mothers an!%ished wailin!
lasted all da&, b%t there was nothin! to be done' The child had been too &o%n! to ride,
poor thin!' Not "or her the endless blac$ !rasses o" the ni!ht lands: she m%st be born
a!ain'
There was little "ora!e in the red waste, and less water' It was a sere and desolate land
o" low hills and barren windswept plains' The riers the& crossed were dr& as dead
mens bones' Their mo%nts s%bsisted on the to%!h brown deil!rass that !rew in cl%mps
at the base o" roc$s and dead trees' #an& sent o%triders ran!in! ahead o" the col%mn, b%t
the& "o%nd neither wells nor sprin!s, onl& bitter pools, shallow and sta!nant, shrin$in!
in the hot s%n' The deeper the& rode into the waste, the smaller the pools became, while
the distance between them !rew' I" there were !ods in this trac$less wilderness o" stone
and sand and red cla&, the& were hard dr& !ods, dea" to pra&ers "or rain'
(ine !ae o%t "irst, and soon therea"ter the clotted mares mil$ the horselords loed
better than mead' Then their stores o" "latbread and dried meat were e0ha%sted as well'
Their h%nters "o%nd no !ame, and onl& the "lesh o" their dead horses "illed their bellies'
#eath "ollowed death' (ea$ children, wrin$led old women, the sic$ and the st%pid and
the heedless, the cr%el land claimed them all' #oreah !rew !a%nt and hollow-e&ed, and
her so"t !olden hair t%rned brittle as straw'
#an& h%n!ered and thirsted with the rest o" them' The mil$ in her breasts dried %p, her
nipples crac$ed and bled, and the "lesh "ell awa& "rom her da& b& da& %ntil she was lean
and hard as a stic$, &et it was her dra!ons she "eared "or' ,er "ather had been slain
be"ore she was born, and her splendid brother Bhae!ar as well' ,er mother had died
brin!in! her into the world while the storm screamed o%tside' 8entle Ser (illem #arr&,
who m%st hae loed her a"ter a "ashion, had been ta$en b& a wastin! sic$ness when she
was er& &o%n!' ,er brother >iser&s, 6hal #ro!o who was her s%n-and-stars, een her
%nborn son, the !ods had claimed them all' The& will not hae m& dra!ons, #an&
owed' The& will not'
The dra!ons were no lar!er than the scrawn& cats she had once seen s$%l$in! alon! the
walls o" 2a!ister Ill&rios estate in 4entos ' ' ' %ntil the& %n"olded their win!s' Their
span was three times their len!th, each win! a delicate "an o" transl%cent s$in,
!or!eo%sl& colored, stretched ta%t between lon! thin bones' (hen &o% loo$ed hard, &o%
co%ld see that most o" their bod& was nec$, tail, and win!' S%ch little thin!s, she tho%!ht
as she "ed them b& hand' /r rather, tried to "eed them, "or the dra!ons wo%ld not eat'
The& wo%ld hiss and spit at each blood& morsel o" horsemeat, steam risin! "rom their
nostrils, &et the& wo%ld not ta$e the "ood ' ' ' %ntil #an& recalled somethin! >iser&s had
told her when the& were children'
/nl& dra!ons and men eat coo$ed meat, he had said'
(hen she had her handmaids char the horsemeat blac$, the dra!ons ripped at it
ea!erl&, their heads stri$in! li$e sna$es' So lon! as the meat was seared, the& !%lped
down seeral times their own wei!ht eer& da&, and at last be!an to !row lar!er and
stron!er' #an& mareled at the smoothness o" their scales, and the heat that po%red o""
them, so palpable that on cold ni!hts their whole bodies seemed to steam'
5ach een"all as the $halasai set o%t, she wo%ld choose a dra!on to ride %pon her
sho%lder' Irri and Chi)%i carried the others in a ca!e o" woen wood sl%n! between their
mo%nts, and rode close behind her, so #an& was neer o%t o" their si!ht' It was the onl&
wa& to $eep them )%iescent'
1*e!ons dra!ons were named "or the !ods o" /ld >al&ria,3 she told her bloodriders
one mornin! a"ter a lon! ni!hts 9o%rne&' 1>isen&as dra!on was >ha!ar, Bhaen&s had
2era0es, and *e!on rode Balerion, the Blac$ #read' It was said that >ha!ars breath
was so hot that it co%ld melt a $ni!hts armor and coo$ the man inside, that 2era0es
swallowed horses whole, and Balerion ' ' ' his "ire was as blac$ as his scales, his win!s
so ast that whole towns were swallowed %p in their shadow when he passed oerhead'3
The #othra$i loo$ed at her hatchlin!s %neasil&' The lar!est o" her three was shin&
blac$, his scales slashed with strea$s o" iid scarlet to match his win!s and horns'
16haleesi,3 *!!o m%rm%red, 1there sits Balerion, come a!ain'3
1It ma& be as &o% sa&, blood o" m& blood,3 #an& replied !rael&, 1b%t he shall hae a
new name "or this new li"e' I wo%ld name them all "or those the !ods hae ta$en' The
!reen one shall be Bhae!al, "or m& aliant brother who died on the !reen ban$s o" the
Trident' The cream-and-!old I call >iserion' >iser&s was cr%el and wea$ and "ri!htened,
&et he was m& brother still' ,is dra!on will do what he co%ld not'3
1*nd the blac$ beast.3 as$ed Ser Corah 2ormont'
1The blac$,3 she said, 1is #ro!on'3
;et een as her dra!ons prospered, her $halasar withered and died' *ro%nd them the
land t%rned eer more desolate' 5en deil!rass !rew scant: horses dropped in their
trac$s, leain! so "ew that some o" her people m%st tr%d!e alon! on "oot' #oreah too$ a
"eer and !rew worse with eer& lea!%e the& crossed' ,er lips and hands bro$e with
blood blisters, her hair came o%t in cl%mps, and one een"all she lac$ed the stren!th to
mo%nt her horse' Cho!o said the& m%st leae her or bind her to her saddle, b%t #an&
remembered a ni!ht on the #othra$i sea, when the 7&sene !irl had ta%!ht her secrets so
that #ro!o mi!ht loe her more' She !ae #oreah water "rom her own s$in, cooled her
brow with a damp cloth, and held her hand %ntil she died, shierin!' /nl& then wo%ld
she permit the $halasar to press on'
The& saw no si!n o" other traelers' The #othra$i be!an to m%tter "ear"%ll& that the
comet had led them to some hell' #an& went to Ser Corah one mornin! as the& made
camp amidst a 9%mble o" blac$ windsco%red stones' 1*re we lost.3 she as$ed him'
1#oes this waste hae no end to it.3
1It has an end,3 he answered wearil&' 1I hae seen the maps the traders draw, m&
)%een' =ew caraans come this wa&, that is so, &et there are !reat $in!doms to the east,
and cities "%ll o" wonders' ;i Ti, Farth, *sshai b& the Shadow ' ' '3
1(ill we lie to see them.3
1I will not lie to &o%' The wa& is harder than I dared thin$'3 The $ni!hts "ace was !re&
and e0ha%sted' The wo%nd he had ta$en to his hip the ni!ht he "o%!ht 6hal #ro!os
bloodriders had neer "%ll& healed: she co%ld see how he !rimaced when he mo%nted his
horse, and he seemed to sl%mp in his saddle as the& rode' 14erhaps we are doomed i" we
press on ' ' ' b%t I $now "or a certaint& that we are doomed i" we t%rn bac$'3
#an& $issed him li!htl& on the chee$' It heartened her to see him smile' I m%st be
stron! "or him as well, she tho%!ht !riml&' * $ni!ht he ma& be, b%t I am the blood o" the
dra!on'
The ne0t pool the& "o%nd was scaldin! hot and stin$in! o" brimstone, b%t their s$ins
were almost empt&' The #othra$i cooled the water in 9ars and pots and dran$ it tepid'
The taste was no less "o%l, b%t water was water, and all o" them thirsted' #an& loo$ed at
the hori?on with despair' The& had lost a third o" their n%mber, and still the waste
stretched be"ore them, blea$ and red and endless' The comet moc$s m& hopes, she
tho%!ht, li"tin! her e&es to where it scored the s$&' ,ae I crossed hal" the world and
seen the birth o" dra!ons onl& to die with them in this hard hot desert. She wo%ld not
beliee it'
The ne0t da&, dawn bro$e as the& were crossin! a crac$ed and "iss%red plain o" hard
red earth' #an& was abo%t to command them to ma$e camp when her o%triders came
racin! bac$ at a !allop' 1* cit&, 6haleesi,3 the& cried' 1* cit& pale as the moon and
loel& as a maid' *n ho%rs ride, no more'3
1Show me,3 she said'
(hen the cit& appeared be"ore her, its walls and towers shimmerin! white behind a
eil o" heat, it loo$ed so bea%ti"%l that #an& was certain it m%st be a mira!e' 1#o &o%
$now what place this mi!ht be. Ser Corah'3
The e0ile $ni!ht !ae a wear& sha$e o" the head' 1No, m& )%een' I hae neer traeled
this "ar east'3
The distant white walls promised rest and sa"et&, a chance to heal and !row stron!, and
#an& wanted nothin! so m%ch as to r%sh toward them' Instead she t%rned to her
bloodriders' 1Blood o" m& blood, !o ahead o" %s and learn the name o" this cit&, and
what manner o" welcome we sho%ld e0pect'3
1*i, 6haleesi,3 said *!!o'
,er riders were not lon! in ret%rnin!' Ba$haro sw%n! down "rom his saddle' =rom his
medallion belt h%n! the !reat c%rin! ara$h that #an& had bestowed on him when she
named him bloodrider' 1This cit& is dead, 6haleesi' Nameless and !odless we "o%nd it,
the !ates bro$en, onl& wind and "lies moin! thro%!h the streets'3
Chi)%i sh%ddered' 1(hen the !ods are !one, the eil !hosts "east b& ni!ht' S%ch places
are best sh%nned' It is $nown'3
1It is $nown,3 Irri a!reed'
1Not to me'3 #an& p%t her heels into her horse and showed them the wa&, trottin!
beneath the shattered arch o" an ancient !ate and down a silent street' Ser Corah and her
bloodriders "ollowed, and then, more slowl&, the rest o" the #othra$i'
,ow lon! the cit& had been deserted she co%ld not $now, b%t the white walls, so
bea%ti"%l "rom a"ar, were crac$ed and cr%mblin! when seen %p close' Inside was a ma?e
o" narrow croo$ed alle&s' The b%ildin!s pressed close, their "acades blan$, chal$&,
windowless' 5er&thin! was white, as i" the people who lied here had $nown nothin!
o" color' The& rode past heaps o" s%n-washed r%bble where ho%ses had "allen in, and
elsewhere saw the "aded scars o" "ire' *t a place where si0 alle&s came to!ether, #an&
passed an empt& marble plinth' #othra$i had isited this place be"ore, it wo%ld seem'
4erhaps een now the missin! stat%e stood amon! the other stolen !ods in >aes #othra$'
She mi!ht hae ridden past it a h%ndred times, neer $nowin!' /n her sho%lder, >iserion
hissed'
The& made camp be"ore the remnants o" a !%tted palace, on a windswept pla?a where
deil!rass !rew between the pain! stones' #an& sent o%t men to search the r%ins' Some
went rel%ctantl&, &et the& went ' ' ' and one scarred old man ret%rned a brie" time later,
hoppin! and !rinnin!, his hands oer"lowin! with "i!s' The& were small, withered
thin!s, &et her people !rabbed "or them !reedil&, 9ostlin! and p%shin! at each other,
st%""in! the "r%it into their chee$s and chewin! bliss"%ll&'
/ther searchers ret%rned with tales o" other "r%it trees, hidden behind closed doors in
secret !ardens' *!!o showed her a co%rt&ard oer!rown with twistin! ines and tin&
!reen !rapes, and Cho!o discoered a well where the water was p%re and cold' ;et the&
"o%nd bones too, the s$%lls o" the %nb%ried dead, bleached and bro$en' 18hosts,3 Irri
m%ttered' 1Terrible !hosts' (e m%st not sta& here, 6haleesi, this is their place'3
1I "ear no !hosts' #ra!ons are more power"%l than !hosts'3 *nd "i!s are more
important' 18o with Chi)%i and "ind me some clean sand "or a bath, and tro%ble me no
more with sill& tal$'3
In the coolness o" her tent, #an& blac$ened horsemeat oer a bra?ier and re"lected on
her choices' There was "ood and water here to s%stain them, and eno%!h !rass "or the
horses to re!ain their stren!th' ,ow pleasant it wo%ld be to wa$e eer& da& in the same
place, to lin!er amon! shad& !ardens, eat "i!s, and drin$ cool water, as m%ch as she
mi!ht desire'
(hen Irri and Chi)%i ret%rned with pots o" white sand, #an& stripped and let them
scr%b her clean' 1;o%r hair is comin! bac$, 6haleesi,3 Chi)%i said as she scraped sand
o"" her bac$' #an& ran a hand oer the top o" her head, "eelin! the new !rowth' #othra$i
men wore their hair in lon! oiled braids, and c%t them onl& when de"eated' 4erhaps I
sho%ld do the same, she tho%!ht, to remind them that #ro!os stren!th lies within me
now 6hal #ro!o had died with his hair %nc%t, a boast "ew men co%ld ma$e'
*cross the tent, Bhae!al %n"olded !reen win!s to "lap and "l%tter a hal" "oot be"ore
th%mpin! to the carpet' (hen he landed, his tail lashed bac$ and "orth in "%r&, and he
raised his head and screamed' I" I had win!s, I wo%ld want to "l& too, #an& tho%!ht' The
Tar!ar&ens o" old had ridden %pon dra!onbac$ when the& went to war' She tried to
ima!ine what it wo%ld "eel li$e, to straddle a dra!ons nec$ and soar hi!h into the air' It
wo%ld be li$e standin! on a mo%ntaintop, onl& better' The whole world wo%ld be spread
o%t below I" I "lew hi!h eno%!h, I co%ld een see the Seen 6in!doms, and reach %p and
to%ch the comet'
Irri bro$e her reerie to tell her that Ser Corah 2ormont was o%tside, awaitin! her
pleas%re' 1Send him in,3 #an& commanded, sand-scr%bbed s$in tin!lin!' She wrapped
hersel" in the lions$in' The hra$$ar had been m%ch bi!!er than #an&, so the pelt coered
eer&thin! that wanted coerin!'
1Ie bro%!ht &o% a peach,3 Ser Corah said, $neelin!' It was so small she co%ld almost
hide it in her palm, and oerripe too, b%t when she too$ the "irst bite, the "lesh was so
sweet she almost cried' She ate it slowl&, saorin! eer& mo%th"%l, while Ser Corah told
her o" the tree it had been pl%c$ed "rom, in a !arden near the western wall'
1=r%it and water and shade,3 #an& said, her chee$s stic$& with peach 9%ice' 1The !ods
were !ood to brin! %s to this place'3
1(e sho%ld rest here %ntil we are stron!er,3 the $ni!ht %r!ed' 1The red lands are not
$ind to the wea$'3
12& handmaids sa& there are !hosts here'3
1There are !hosts eer&where,3 Ser Corah said so"tl&' 1(e carr& them with %s whereer
we !o'3
;es, she tho%!ht' >iser&s, 6hal #ro!o, m& son Bhae!o, the& are with me alwa&s' 1Tell
me the name o" &o%r !host, Corah' ;o% $now all o" mine'3
,is "ace !rew er& still' 1,er name was 7&nesse'3
1;o%r wi"e.3
12& second wi"e'3
It pains him to spea$ o" her, #an& saw, b%t she wanted to $now the tr%th' 1Is that all
&o% wo%ld sa& o" her.3 The lion pelt slid o"" one sho%lder and she t%!!ed it bac$ into
place' 1(as she bea%ti"%l.3
1>er& bea%ti"%l'3 Ser Corah li"ted his e&es "rom her sho%lder to her "ace' 1The "irst time
I beheld her, I tho%!ht she was a !oddess come to earth, the 2aid hersel" made "lesh'
,er birth was "ar aboe m& own' She was the &o%n!est da%!hter o" 7ord 7e&ton
,i!htower o" /ldtown' The (hite B%ll who commanded &o%r "athers 6in!s!%ard was
her !reat %ncle' The ,i!htowers are an ancient "amil&, er& rich and er& pro%d'3
1*nd lo&al,3 #an& said' 1I remember, >iser&s said the ,i!htowers were amon! those
who sta&ed tr%e to m& "ather'3
1Thats so,3 he admitted'
1#id &o%r "athers ma$e the match.3
1No,3 he said' 1/%r marria!e ' ' ' that ma$es a lon! tale and a d%ll one, ;o%r 8race' I
wo%ld not tro%ble &o% with it'3
1I hae nowhere to !o,3 she said' 14lease'3
1*s m& )%een commands'3 Ser Corah "rowned' 12& home ' ' ' &o% m%st %nderstand
that to %nderstand the rest' Bear island is bea%ti"%l, b%t remote' Ima!ine old !narled oa$s
and tall pines, "lowerin! thornb%shes, !re& stones bearded with moss, little cree$s
r%nnin! ic& down steep hillsides' The hall o" the 2ormonts is b%ilt o" h%!e lo!s and
s%rro%nded b& an earthen palisade' *side "rom a "ew cro"ters, m& people lie alon! the
coasts and "ish the seas' The island lies "ar to the north, and o%r winters are more terrible
than &o% can ima!ine, 6haleesi'
1Still, the island s%ited me well eno%!h, and I neer lac$ed "or women' I had m& share
o" "ishwies and cro"ters da%!hters, be"ore and a"ter I was wed' I married &o%n!, to a
bride o" m& "athers choosin!, a 8loer o" #eepwood 2otte' Ten &ears we were wed, or
near eno%!h as ma$es no matter' She was a plain-"aced woman, b%t not %n$ind' I
s%ppose I came to loe her a"ter a "ashion, tho%!h o%r relations were d%ti"%l rather than
passionate' Three times she miscarried while tr&in! to !ie me an heir' The last time she
neer recoered' She died not lon! a"ter'3
#an& p%t her hand on his and !ae his "in!ers a s)%ee?e' 1I am sorr& "or &o%, tr%l&'3
Ser Corah nodded' 1B& then m& "ather had ta$en the blac$, so I was 7ord o" Bear
Island in m& own ri!ht' I had no lac$ o" marria!e o""ers, b%t be"ore I co%ld reach a
decision 7ord Balon 8re&9o& rose in rebellion a!ainst the <s%rper, and Ned Star$ called
his banners to help his "riend Bobert' The "inal battle was on 4&$e' (hen Boberts
stonethrowers opened a breach in 6in! Balons wall, a priest "rom 2&r was the "irst man
thro%!h, b%t I was not "ar behind' =or that I won m& $ni!hthood'
1To celebrate his ictor&, Bobert ordained that a to%rne& sho%ld be held o%tside
7annisport' It was there I saw 7&nesse, a maid hal" m& a!e' She had come %p "rom
/ldtown with her "ather to see her brothers 9o%st' I co%ld not ta$e m& e&es o"" her' In a
"it o" madness, I be!!ed her "aor to wear in the to%rne&, neer dreamin! she wo%ld
!rant m& re)%est, &et she did'
1I "i!ht as well as an& man, 6haleesi, b%t I hae neer been a to%rne& $ni!ht' ;et with
7&nesses "aor $notted ro%nd m& arm, I was a di""erent man' I won 9o%st a"ter 9o%st'
7ord Cason 2allister "ell be"ore me, and Bron?e ;ohn Bo&ce' Ser B&man =re&, his
brother Ser ,osteen, 7ord (hent, Stron!boar, een Ser Boros Blo%nt o" the 6in!s!%ard,
I %nhorsed them all' In the last match, I bro$e nine lances a!ainst Caime 7annister to no
res%lt, and 6in! Bobert !ae me the champions la%rel' I crowned 7&nesse )%een o" loe
and bea%t&, and that er& ni!ht went to her "ather and as$ed "or her hand' I was dr%n$, as
m%ch on !lor& as on wine' B& ri!hts I sho%ld hae !otten a contempt%o%s re"%sal, b%t
7ord 7e&ton accepted m& o""er' (e were married there in 7annisport, and "or a "ortni!ht
I was the happiest man in the wide world'3
1/nl& a "ortni!ht.3 as$ed #an&' 5en I was !ien more happiness than that, with
#ro!o who was m& s%n-and-stars'
1* "ortni!ht was how lon! it too$ %s to sail "rom 7annisport bac$ to Bear island' 2&
home was a !reat disappointment to 7&nesse' It was too cold, too damp, too "ar awa&,
m& castle no more than a wooden lon!hall' (e had no mas)%es, no m%mmer shows, no
balls or "airs' Seasons mi!ht pass witho%t a sin!er eer comin! to pla& "or %s, and theres
not a !oldsmith on the island' 5en meals became a trial' 2& coo$ $new little be&ond
his roasts and stews, and 7&nesse soon lost her taste "or "ish and enison'
1I lied "or her smiles, so I sent all the wa& to /ldtown "or a new coo$, and bro%!ht a
harper "rom 7annisport' 8oldsmiths, 9ewelers, dressma$ers, whateer she wanted I
"o%nd "or her, b%t it was neer eno%!h' Bear Island is rich in bears and trees, and poor in
a%!ht else' I b%ilt a "ine ship "or her and we sailed to 7annisport and /ldtown "or
"estials and "airs, and once een to Braaos, where I borrowed heail& "rom the mone&-
lenders' It was as a to%rne& champion that I had won her hand and heart, so I entered
other to%rne&s "or her sa$e, b%t the ma!ic was !one' I neer distin!%ished m&sel" a!ain,
and each de"eat meant the loss o" another char!er and another s%it o" 9o%stin! armor,
which m%st needs be ransomed or replaced' The cost co%ld not be borne' =inall& I
insisted we ret%rn home, b%t there matters soon !rew een worse than be"ore' I co%ld no
lon!er pa& the coo$ and the harper, and 7&nesse !rew wild when I spo$e o" pawnin! her
9ewels'
1The rest ' ' ' I did thin!s it shames me to spea$ o"' =or !old' So 7&nesse mi!ht $eep
her 9ewels, her harper, and her coo$' In the end it cost me all' (hen I heard that 5ddard
Star$ was comin! to Bear Island, I was so lost to honor that rather than sta& and "ace his
9%d!ment, I too$ her with me into e0ile' Nothin! mattered b%t o%r loe, I told m&sel"'
(e "led to 7&s, where I sold m& ship "or !old to $eep %s'3
,is oice was thic$ with !rie", and #an& was rel%ctant to press him an& "%rther, &et
she had to $now how it ended' 1#id she die there.3 she as$ed him !entl&'
1/nl& to me,3 he said' 1In hal" a &ear m& !old was !one, and I was obli!ed to ta$e
serice as a sellsword' (hile I was "i!htin! Braaosi on the Bho&ne, 7&nesse moed
into the manse o" a merchant prince named Tre!ar /rmollen' The& sa& she is his chie"
conc%bine now, and een his wi"e !oes in "ear o" her'3
#an& was horri"ied' 1#o &o% hate her.3
1*lmost as m%ch as I loe her,3 Ser Corah answered' 14ra& e0c%se me, m& )%een' I
"ind I am er& tired'3
She !ae him leae to !o, b%t as he was li"tin! the "lap o" her tent, she co%ld not stop
hersel" callin! a"ter him with one last )%estion' 1(hat did she loo$ li$e, &o%r 7ad&
7&nesse.3
Ser Corah smiled sadl&' 1(h&, she loo$ed a bit li$e &o%, #aener&s'3 ,e bowed low'
1Sleep well, m& )%een'3
#an& shiered, and p%lled the lions$in ti!ht abo%t her' She loo$ed li$e me' It e0plained
m%ch that she had not tr%l& %nderstood' ,e wants me, she reali?ed' ,e loes me as he
loed her, not as a $ni!ht loes his )%een b%t as a man loes a woman' She tried to
ima!ine hersel" in Ser Corahs arms, $issin! him, pleas%rin! him, lettin! him enter her' It
was no !ood' (hen she closed her e&es, his "ace $ept chan!in! into #ro!os'
6hal #ro!o had been her s%n-and-stars, her "irst, and perhaps he m%st be her last' The
mae!i 2irri 2a? #%%r had sworn she sho%ld neer bear a liin! child, and what man
wo%ld want a barren wi"e. *nd what man co%ld hope to rial #ro!o, who had died with
his hair %nc%t and rode now thro%!h the ni!ht lands, the stars his $halasar.
She had heard the lon!in! in Ser Corahs oice when he spo$e o" his Bear Island' ,e
can neer hae me, b%t one da& I can !ie him bac$ his home and honor' That m%ch I
can do "or him'
No !hosts tro%bled her sleep that ni!ht' She dreamed o" #ro!o and the "irst ride the&
had ta$en to!ether on the ni!ht the& were wed' In the dream it was not horses the& rode,
b%t dra!ons'
The ne0t morn, she s%mmoned her bloodriders' 1Blood o" m& blood,3 she told the
three o" them, 1I hae need o" &o%' 5ach o" &o% is to choose three horses, the hardiest
and healthiest that remain to %s' 7oad as m%ch water and "ood as &o%r mo%nts can bear,
and ride "orth "or me' *!!o shall stri$e so%thwest, Ba$haro d%e so%th' Cho!o, &o% are to
"ollow shiera$ )i&a on so%theast'3
1(hat shall we see$, 6haleesi.3 as$ed Cho!o'
1(hateer there is,3 #an& answered' 1See$ "or other cities, liin! and dead' See$ "or
caraans and people' See$ "or riers and la$es and the !reat salt sea' =ind how "ar this
waste e0tends be"ore %s, and what lies on the other side' (hen I leae this place, I do
not mean to stri$e o%t blind a!ain' I will $now where I am bo%nd, and how best to !et
there'3
*nd so the& went, the bells in their hair rin!in! so"tl&, while #an& settled down with
her small band o" s%riors in the place the& named >aes Tolorro, the cit& o" bones' #a&
"ollowed ni!ht "ollowed da&' (omen harested "r%it "rom the !ardens o" the dead' 2en
!roomed their mo%nts and mended saddles, stirr%ps, and shoes' +hildren wandered the
twist& alle&s and "o%nd old bron?e coins and bits o" p%rple !lass and stone "la!ons with
handles cared li$e sna$es' /ne woman was st%n! b& a red scorpion, b%t hers was the
onl& death' The horses be!an to p%t on some "lesh' #an& tended Ser Corahs wo%nd
hersel", and it be!an to heal'
Ba$haro was the "irst to ret%rn' #%e so%th the red waste stretched on and on, he
reported, %ntil it ended on a blea$ shore beside the poison water' Between here and there
la& onl& swirlin! sand, wind-sco%red roc$s, and plants bristl& with sharp thorns' ,e had
passed the bones o" a dra!on, he swore, so immense that he had ridden his horse thro%!h
its !reat blac$ 9aws' /ther than that, he had seen nothin!'
#an& !ae him char!e o" a do?en o" her stron!est men, and set them to p%llin! %p the
pla?a to !et to the earth beneath' I" deil!rass co%ld !row between the pain! stones,
other !rasses wo%ld !row when the stones were !one' The& had wells eno%!h, no lac$ o"
water' 8ien seed, the& co%ld ma$e the pla?a bloom'
*!!o was bac$ ne0t' The so%thwest was barren and b%rnt, he swore' ,e had "o%nd the
r%ins o" two more cities, smaller than >aes Tolorro b%t otherwise the same' /ne was
warded b& a rin! o" s$%lls mo%nted on r%sted iron spears, so he dared not enter, b%t he
had e0plored the second "or as lon! as he co%ld' ,e showed #an& an iron bracelet he
had "o%nd, set with a %nc%t "ire opal the si?e o" her th%mb' There were scrolls as well,
b%t the& were dr& and cr%mblin! and *!!o had le"t them where the& la&'
#an& than$ed him and told him to see to the repair o" the !ates' I" enemies had crossed
the waste to destro& these cities in ancient da&s, the& mi!ht well come a!ain' 1I" so, we
m%st be read&,3 she declared'
Cho!o, was !one so lon! that #an& "eared him lost, b%t "inall& when the& had all b%t
ceased to loo$ "or him, he came ridin! %p "rom the so%theast' /ne o" the !%ards that
*!!o had posted saw him "irst and !ae a sho%t, and #an& r%shed to the walls to see "or
hersel"' It was tr%e' Cho!o came, &et not alone' Behind him rode three )%eerl& !arbed
stran!ers atop %!l& h%mped creat%res that dwar"ed an& horse'
The& drew rein be"ore the cit& !ates, and loo$ed %p to see #an& on the wall aboe
them' 1Blood o" m& blood,3 Cho!o called, 1I hae been to the !reat cit& Farth, and
ret%rned with three who wo%ld loo$ on &o% with their own e&es'3
#an& stared down at the stran!ers' 1,ere I stand' 7oo$, i" that is &o%r pleas%re ' ' ' b%t
"irst tell me &o%r names'3
The pale man with the bl%e lips replied in !%tt%ral #othra$i, 1I am 4&at 4ree, the !reat
warloc$'3
The bald man with the 9ewels in his nose answered in the >al&rian o" the =ree +ities, 1I
am Earo Ehoan #a0os o" the Thirteen, a merchant prince o" Farth'3
The woman in the lac)%ered wooden mas$ said in the +ommon Ton!%e o" the Seen
6in!doms, 1I am F%aithe o" the Shadow' (e come see$in! dra!ons'3
1See$ no more,3 #aener&s Tar!ar&en told them' 1;o% hae "o%nd them'3
C#APT"R $(
-O'
(hitetree, the illa!e was named on Sams old maps' Con did not thin$ it m%ch o" a
illa!e' =o%r t%mbledown oneroom ho%ses o" %nmortared stone s%rro%nded an empt&
sheep"old and a well' The ho%ses were roo"ed with sod, the windows sh%ttered with
ra!!ed pieces o" hide' *nd aboe them loomed the pale limbs and dar$ red leaes o" a
monstro%s !reat weirwood'
It was the bi!!est tree Con Snow had eer seen, the tr%n$ near ei!ht "eet wide, the
branches spreadin! so "ar that the entire illa!e was shaded beneath their canop&' The
si?e did not dist%rb him so m%ch as the "ace ' ' ' the mo%th especiall&, no simple cared
slash, b%t a 9a!!ed hollow lar!e eno%!h to swallow a sheep'
Those are not sheep bones, tho%!h' Nor is that a sheeps s$%ll in the ashes'
1*n old tree'3 2ormont sat his horse, "rownin!' 1/ld,3 his raen a!reed "rom his
sho%lder' 1/ld, old, old'3
1*nd power"%l'3 Con co%ld "eel the power'
Thoren Smallwood dismo%nted beside the tr%n$, dar$ in his plate and mail' 17oo$ at
that "ace' Small wonder men "eared them, when the& "irst came to (esteros' Id li$e to
ta$e an a0e to the blood& thin! m&sel"'3
Con said, 12& lord "ather belieed no man co%ld tell a lie in "ront o" a heart tree' The
old !ods $now when men are l&in!'3
12& "ather belieed the same,3 said the /ld Bear' 17et me hae a loo$ at that s$%ll'3
Con dismo%nted' Sl%n! across his bac$ in a blac$ leather sho%lder sheath was
7on!claw, the hand-and-a-hal" bastard blade the /ld Bear had !ien him "or sain! his
li"e' * bastard sword "or a bastard, the men 9o$ed' The hilt had been "ashioned new "or
him, adorned with a wol"s head pommel in pale stone, b%t the blade itsel" was >al&rian
steel, old and li!ht and deadl& sharp'
,e $nelt and reached a !loed hand down into the maw' The inside o" the hollow was
red with dried sap and blac$ened b& "ire' Beneath the s$%ll he saw another, smaller, the
9aw bro$en o""' It was hal"-b%ried in ash and bits o" bone'
(hen he bro%!ht the s$%ll to 2ormont, the /ld Bear li"ted it in both hands and stared
into the empt& soc$ets' 1The wildlin!s b%rn their dead' (ee alwa&s $nown that' Now I
wished Id as$ed them wh&, when there were still a "ew aro%nd to as$'3
Con Snow remembered the wi!ht risin!, its e&es shinin! bl%e in the pale dead "ace' ,e
$new wh&, he was certain'
1(o%ld that bones co%ld tal$,3 the /ld Bear !r%mbled' 1This "ellow co%ld tell %s
m%ch' ,ow he died' (ho b%rned him, and wh&' (here the wildlin!s hae !one'3 ,e
si!hed' 1The children o" the "orest co%ld spea$ to the dead, its said' B%t I cant'3 ,e
tossed the s$%ll bac$ into the mo%th o" the tree, where it landed with a p%"" o" "ine ash'
18o thro%!h all these ho%ses' 8iant, !et to the top o" this tree, hae a loo$' Ill hae the
ho%nds bro%!ht %p too' 4erchance this time the trail will be "resher'3 ,is tone did not
s%!!est that he held o%t m%ch hope o" the last'
Two men went thro%!h each ho%se, to ma$e certain nothin! was missed' Con was
paired with do%r 5ddison Tollett, a s)%ire !re& o" hair and thin as a pi$e, whom the other
brothers called #oloro%s 5dd' 1Bad eno%!h when the dead come wal$in!,3 he said to
Con as the& crossed the illa!e, 1now the /ld Bear wants them tal$in! as well. No !ood
will come o" that, Ill warrant' *nd whos to sa& the bones wo%ldnt lie. (h& sho%ld
death ma$e a man tr%th"%l, or een cleer. The dead are li$el& d%ll "ellows, "%ll o"
tedio%s complaintsAthe !ro%nds too cold, m& !raestone sho%ld be lar!er, wh& does he
!et more worms than I do ' ' '3
Con had to stoop to pass thro%!h the low door' (ithin he "o%nd a pac$ed dirt "loor'
There were no "%rnishin!s, no si!n that people had lied here b%t "or some ashes beneath
the smo$e hole in the roo"' 1(hat a dismal place to lie,3 he said'
1I was born in a ho%se m%ch li$e this,3 declared #oloro%s 5dd' 1Those were m&
enchanted &ears' 7ater I "ell on hard times'3 * nest o" dr& straw beddin! "illed one
corner o" the room' 5dd loo$ed at it with lon!in!' 1Id !ie all the !old in +asterl& Boc$
to sleep in a bed a!ain'3
1;o% call that a bed.3
1I" its so"ter than the !ro%nd and has a roo" oer it, I call it a bed'3 #oloro%s 5dd
sni""ed the air' 1I smell d%n!'3
The smell was er& "aint' 1/ld d%n!,3 said Con' The ho%se "elt as tho%!h it had been
empt& "or some time' 6neelin!, he searched thro%!h the straw with his hands to see i"
an&thin! had been concealed beneath, then made a ro%nd o" the walls' It did not ta$e
er& lon!' 1Theres nothin! here'3
Nothin! was what he had e0pected: (hitetree was the "o%rth illa!e the& had passed,
and it had been the same in all o" them' The people were !one, anished with their scant
possessions and whateer animals the& ma& hae had' None o" the illa!es showed an&
si!ns o" hain! been attac$ed' The& were simpl& ' ' ' empt&' 1(hat do &o% thin$
happened to them all.3 Con as$ed'
1Somethin! worse than we can ima!ine,3 s%!!ested #oloro%s 5dd' 1(ell, I mi!ht be
able to ima!ine it, b%t Id sooner not' Bad eno%!h to $now &o%re !oin! to come to
some aw"%l end witho%t thin$in! abo%t it a"oretime'3
Two o" the ho%nds were sni""in! aro%nd the door as the& reemer!ed' /ther do!s
ran!ed thro%!h the illa!e' +hett was c%rsin! them lo%dl&, his oice thic$ with the an!er
he neer seemed to p%t aside' The li!ht "ilterin! thro%!h the red leaes o" the weirwood
made the boils on his "ace loo$ een more in"lamed than %s%al' (hen he saw Con his
e&es narrowed: there was no loe lost between them'
The other ho%ses had &ielded no wisdom' 18one,3 cried 2ormonts raen, "lappin! %p
into the weirwood to perch aboe them' 18one, !one, !one'3
1There were wildlin!s at (hitetree onl& a &ear a!o'3 Thoren Smallwood loo$ed more
a lord than 2ormont did, clad in Ser Carem& B&$$ers !leamin! blac$ mail and
embossed breastplate' ,is hea& cloa$ was richl& trimmed with sable, and clasped with
the crossed hammers o" the B&$$ers, wro%!ht in siler' Ser Carem&s cloa$, once ' ' ' b%t
the wi!ht had claimed Ser Carem&, and the Ni!hts (atch wasted nothin!'
1* &ear a!o Bobert was $in!, and the realm was at peace,3 declared Carman B%c$well,
the s)%are stolid man who commanded the sco%ts' 12%ch can chan!e in a &ears time'3
1/ne thin! hasnt chan!ed,3 Ser 2allador 7oc$e insisted' 1=ewer wildlin!s means
"ewer worries' I wont mo%rn, whateers become o" them' Baiders and m%rderers, the
lot o" them'3
Con heard a r%stlin! "rom the red leaes aboe' Two branches parted, and he !limpsed
a little man moin! "rom limb to limb as easil& as a s)%irrel' Bedw&c$ stood no more
than "ie "eet tall, b%t the !re& strea$s in his hair showed his a!e' The other ran!ers
called him 8iant' ,e sat in a "or$ o" the tree oer their heads and said, 1Theres water to
the north' * la$e, mi!ht be' * "ew "lint hills risin! to the west, not er& hi!h' Nothin!
else to see, m& lords'3
1(e mi!ht camp here toni!ht,3 Smallwood s%!!ested'
The /ld Bear !lanced %p, searchin! "or a !limpse o" s$& thro%!h the pale limbs and
red leaes o" the weirwood' 1No,3 he declared' 18iant, how m%ch da&li!ht remains to
%s.3
1Three ho%rs, m& lord'3
1(ell press on north,3 2ormont decided' 1I" we reach this la$e, we can ma$e camp
b& the shore, perchance catch a "ew "ish' Con, "etch me paper, its past time I wrote
2aester *emon'3
Con "o%nd parchment, )%ill, and in$ in his saddleba! and bro%!ht them to the 7ord
+ommander' *t (hitetree, 2ormont scrawled' The "o%rth illa!e' *ll empt&' The
wildlin!s are !one' 1=ind Tarl& and see that he !ets this on its wa&,3 he said as he
handed Con the messa!e' (hen he whistled, his raen came "lappin! down to land on his
horses head' 1+orn,3 the raen s%!!ested, bobbin!' The horse whic$ered'
Con mo%nted his !arron, wheeled him abo%t, and trotted o""' Be&ond the shade o" the
!reat weirwood the men o" the Ni!hts (atch stood beneath lesser trees, tendin! their
horses, chewin! strips o" salt bee", pissin!, scratchin!, and tal$in!' (hen the command
was !ien to moe o%t a!ain, the tal$ died, and the& climbed bac$ into their saddles'
Carman B%c$wells sco%ts rode o%t "irst, with the an!%ard %nder Thoren Smallwood
headin! the col%mn proper' Then came the /ld Bear with the main "orce, Ser 2allador
7oc$e with the ba!!a!e train and pac$horses, and "inall& Ser /tt&n (&thers and the rear
!%ard' Two h%ndred men all told, with hal" a!ain as man& mo%nts'
B& da& the& "ollowed !ame trails and streambeds, the 1ran!ers roads3 that led them
eer deeper into the wilderness o" lea" and root' *t ni!ht the& camped beneath a starr&
s$& and !a?ed %p at the comet' The blac$ brothers had le"t +astle Blac$ in !ood spirits,
9o$in! and tradin! tales, b%t o" late the broodin! silence o" the wood seemed to hae
sombered them al' Cests had !rown "ewer and tempers shorter' No one wo%ld admit to
bein! a"raidAthe& were men o" the Ni!hts (atch, a"ter allAb%t Con co%ld "eel the
%nease' =o%r empt& illa!es, no wildlin!s an&where, een the !ame seemin!l& "led' The
ha%nted "orest had neer seemed more ha%nted, een eteran ran!ers a!reed'
*s he rode, Con peeled o"" his !loe to air his b%rned "in!ers' <!l& thin!s' ,e
remembered s%ddenl& how he %sed to m%ss *r&as hair' ,is little stic$ o" a sister' ,e
wondered how she was "arin!' It made him a little sad to thin$ that he mi!ht neer m%ss
her hair a!ain' ,e be!an to "le0 his hand, openin! and closin! the "in!ers' I" he let his
sword hand sti""en and !row cl%ms&, it well mi!ht be the end o" him, he $new' * man
needed his sword be&ond the (all'
Con "o%nd Samwell Tarl& with the other stewards, waterin! his horses' ,e had three to
tend: his own mo%nt, and two pac$horses, each bearin! a lar!e wire-and-wic$er ca!e
"%ll o" raens' The birds "lapped their win!s at Cons approach and screamed at him
thro%!h the bars' * "ew shrie$s so%nded s%spicio%sl& li$e words' 1,ae &o% been
teachin! them to tal$.3 he as$ed Sam'
1* "ew words' Three o" them can sa& snow3
1/ne bird croa$in! m& name was bad eno%!h,3 said Con, 1and snows nothin! a blac$
brother wants to hear abo%t'3 Snow o"ten meant death in the north'
1(as there an&thin! in (hitetree.3
1Bones, ashes, and empt& ho%ses'3 Con handed Sam the roll o" parchment' 1The /ld
Bear wants word sent bac$ to *emon'3
Sam too$ a bird "rom one o" the ca!es, stro$ed its "eathers, attached the messa!e, and
said, 1=l& home now, brae one' ,ome'3 The raen )%or$ed somethin! %nintelli!ible
bac$ at him, and Sam tossed it into the air' =lappin!, it beat its wa& s$&ward thro%!h the
trees' 1I wish he co%ld carr& me with him'3
1Still.3
1(ell,3 said Sam, 1&es, b%t ' ' ' Im not as "ri!htened as I was, tr%l&' The "irst ni!ht,
eer& time I heard someone !ettin! %p to ma$e water, I tho%!ht it was wildlin!s
creepin! in to slit m& throat' I was a"raid that i" I closed m& e&es, I mi!ht neer open
them a!ain, onl& ' ' ' well ' ' ' dawn came a"ter all'3 ,e mana!ed a wan smile' 1I ma& be
craen, b%t Im not st%pid' Im sore and m& bac$ aches "rom ridin! and "rom sleepin! on
the !ro%nd, b%t Im hardl& scared at all' 7oo$'3 ,e held o%t a hand "or Con to see how
stead& it was' 1Ie been wor$in! on m& maps'3
The world is stran!e, Con tho%!ht' Two h%ndred brae men had le"t the (all, and the
onl& one who was not !rowin! more "ear"%l was Sam, the sel"-con"essed coward' 1(ell
ma$e a ran!er o" &o% &et,3 he 9o$ed' 1Ne0t thin!, &o%ll want to be an o%trider li$e
8renn' Shall I spea$ to the /ld Bear.3
1#ont &o% dare@3 Sam p%lled %p the hood o" his enormo%s blac$ cloa$ and clambered
aw$wardl& bac$ onto his horse' It was a plow horse, bi! and slow and cl%ms&, b%t better
able to bear his wei!ht than the little !arrons the ran!ers rode' 1I had hoped we mi!ht
sta& the ni!ht in the illa!e,3 he said wist"%ll&' 1It wo%ld be nice to sleep %nder a roo"
a!ain'3
1Too "ew roo"s "or all o" %s'3 Con mo%nted a!ain, !ae Sam a partin! smile, and rode
o""' The col%mn was well %nder wa&, so he sw%n! wide aro%nd the illa!e to aoid the
worst o" the con!estion' ,e had seen eno%!h o" (hitetree'
8host emer!ed "rom the %nder!rowth so s%ddenl& that the !arron shied and reared'
The white wol" h%nted well awa& "rom the line o" march, b%t he was not hain! m%ch
better "ort%ne than the "ora!ers Smallwood sent o%t a"ter !ame' The woods were as
empt& as the illa!es, #&wen had told him one ni!ht aro%nd the "ire' 1(ere a lar!e
part&,3 Con had said' 1The !ames probabl& been "ri!htened awa& b& all the noise we
ma$e on the march'3
1=ri!htened awa& b& somethin!, no do%bt,3 #&wen said'
/nce the horse had settled, 8host loped alon! easil& beside him' Con ca%!ht %p to
2ormont as he was wendin! his wa& aro%nd a hawthorn thic$et' 1Is the bird awa&.3 the
/ld Bear as$ed'
1;es, m& lord' Sam is teachin! them to tal$'3
The /ld Bear snorted' 1,ell re!ret that' #amned thin!s ma$e a lot o" noise, b%t the&
neer sa& a thin! worth hearin!'3
The& rode in silence, %ntil Con said, 1I" m& %ncle "o%nd all these illa!es empt& as well
A3
1A,e wo%ld hae made it his p%rpose to learn wh&,3 7ord 2ormont "inished "or him,
1and it ma& well be someone or somethin! did not want that $nown' (ell, well be three
h%ndred when Fhorin 9oins %s' (hateer enem& waits o%t here will not "ind %s so eas&
to deal with' (e will "ind them, Con, I promise &o%'3
/r the& will "ind %s, tho%!ht Con'
C#APT"R $)
AR%A
The rier was a bl%e-!reen ribbon shinin! in the mornin! s%n' Beeds !rew thic$ in the
shallows alon! the ban$s, and *r&a saw a water sna$e s$immin! across the s%r"ace,
ripples spreadin! o%t behind it as it went' /erhead a haw$ "lew in la?& circles'
It seemed a peace"%l place ' ' ' %ntil 6oss spotted the dead man' 1There, in the reeds'3
,e pointed, and *r&a saw it' The bod& o" a soldier, shapeless and swollen' ,is sodden
!reen cloa$ had h%n! %p on a rotted lo!, and a school o" tin& siler "ishes were nibblin!
at his "ace' 1I told &o% there was bodies,3 7omm& anno%nced' 1I co%ld taste them in that
water'3
(hen ;oren saw the corpse, he spat' 1#obber, see i" hes !ot an&thin! worth the
ta$in!' 2ail, $ni"e, a bit o coin, what hae &o%'3 ,e sp%rred his !eldin! and rode o%t
into the rier, b%t the horse str%!!led in the so"t m%d and be&ond the reeds the water
deepened' ;oren rode bac$ an!r&, his horse coered in brown slime %p to the $nees' 1(e
wont be crossin! here' 6oss, &o%ll come with me %prier, loo$ "or a "ord' (oth,
8erren, &o% !o downstream' The rest o &o% wait here' 4%t a !%ard o%t'3
#obber "o%nd a leather p%rse in the dead mans belt' Inside were "o%r coppers and a
little han$ o" blond hair tied %p with a red ribbon' 7omm& and Tarber stripped na$ed and
went wadin!, and 7omm& scooped %p hand"%ls o" slim& m%d and threw them at ,ot 4ie,
sho%tin!, 12%d 4ie@ 2%d 4ie@3 In the bac$ o" their wa!on, Bor!e c%rsed and threatened
and told them to %nchain him while ;oren was !one, b%t no one paid him an& mind'
6%r? ca%!ht a "ish with his bare hands' *r&a saw how he did it, standin! oer a shallow
pool, calm as still water, his hand dartin! o%t )%ic$ as a sna$e when the "ish swam near'
It didnt loo$ as hard as catchin! cats' =ish didnt hae claws'
It was midda& when the others ret%rned' (oth reported a wooden brid!e hal" a mile
downstream, b%t someone had b%rned it %p' ;oren peeled a so%rlea" o"" the bale' 12i!ht
be we co%ld swim the horses oer, ma&be the don$e&s, b%t theres no wa& well !et
those wa!ons across' *nd theres smo$e to the north and west, more "ires, co%ld be this
side o the riers the place we want to be'3 ,e pic$ed %p a lon! stic$ and drew a circle
in the m%d, a line trailin! down "rom it' 1Thats 8ods 5&e, with the rier "lowin! so%th'
(ere here'3 ,e po$ed a hole beside the line o" the rier, %nder the circle' 1(e cant !o
ro%nd west o" the la$e, li$e I tho%!ht' 5ast ta$es %s bac$ to the $in!sroad'3 ,e moed
the stic$ %p to where the line and circle met' 1Near as I recall, theres a town here' The
hold"asts stone, and theres a lordlin! !ot his seat there too, 9%st a towerho%se, b%t hell
hae a !%ard, mi!ht be a $ni!ht or two' (e "ollow the rier north, sho%ld be there be"ore
dar$' The&ll hae boats, so I mean to sell all we !ot and hire %s one'3 ,e drew the stic$
%p thro%!h the circle o" the la$e, "rom bottom to top' 18ods be !ood, well "ind a wind
and sail across the 8ods 5&e to ,arrentown'3 ,e thr%st the point down at the top o" the
circle' 1(e can b%& new mo%nts there, or else ta$e shelter at ,arrenhal' Thats 7ad&
(hents seat, and shes alwa&s been a "riend o the (atch'3
,ot 4ies e&es !ot wide' 1Theres !hosts in ,arrenhal ' ' '3
;oren spat' 1Theres "or &o%r !hosts'3 ,e tossed the stic$ down in the m%d' 12o%nt
%p'3
*r&a was rememberin! the stories /ld Nan %sed to tell o" ,arrenhal' 5il 6in! ,arren
had walled himsel" %p inside, so *e!on %nleashed his dra!ons and t%rned the castle into
a p&re' Nan said that "ier& spirits still ha%nted the blac$ened towers' Sometimes men
went to sleep sa"e in their beds and were "o%nd dead in the mornin!, all b%rnt %p' *r&a
didnt reall& beliee that, and an&how it had all happened a lon! time a!o' ,ot 4ie was
bein! sill&: it wo%ldnt be !hosts at ,arrenhal, it wo%ld be $ni!hts' *r&a co%ld reeal
hersel" to 7ad& (hent, and the $ni!hts wo%ld escort her home and $eep her sa"e' That
was what $ni!hts did: the& $ept &o% sa"e, especiall& women' 2a&be 7ad& (hent wo%ld
een help the cr&in! !irl'
The rier trac$ was no $in!sroad, &et it was not hal" bad "or what it was, and "or once
the wa!ons rolled alon! smartl&' The& saw the "irst ho%se an ho%r sh& o" een"all, a sn%!
little thatch-roo"ed cotta!e s%rro%nded b& "ields o" wheat' ;oren rode o%t ahead,
hallooin!, b%t !ot no answer' 1#ead, mi!ht be' /r hidin!' #obber, Be&, with me'3 The
three men went into the cotta!e' 14ots is !one, no si!n o an& coin laid b&,3 ;oren
m%ttered when the& ret%rned' 1No animals' B%n, most li$e' 2i!ht be we met Dem on the
$in!sroad'3 *t least the ho%se and "ield had not been b%rned, and there were no corpses
abo%t' Tarber "o%nd a !arden o%t bac$, and the& p%lled some onions and radishes and
"illed a sac$ with cabba!es be"ore the& went on their wa&'
* little "arther %p the road, the& !limpsed a "oresters cabin s%rro%nded b& old trees
and neatl& stac$ed lo!s read& "or the splittin!, and later a ramshac$le stilt-ho%se leanin!
oer the rier on poles ten "eet tall, both deserted' The& passed more "ields, wheat and
corn and barle& ripenin! in the s%n, b%t here there were no men sittin! in trees, nor
wal$in! the rows with sc&thes' =inall& the town came into iew: a cl%ster o" white
ho%ses spread o%t aro%nd the walls o" the hold"ast, a bi! sept with a shin!led wooden
roo", the lords towerho%se sittin! on a small rise to the west ' ' ' and no si!n o" an&
people, an&where'
;oren sat on his horse, "rownin! thro%!h his tan!le o" beard' 1#ont li$e it,3 he said,
1b%t there it is' (ell !o hae %s a loo$' * care"%l loo$' See ma&be theres some "ol$
hidin!' 2i!ht be the& le"t a boat behind, or some weapons we can %se'3
The blac$ brother le"t ten to !%ard the wa!ons and the whimper& little !irl, and split
the rest o" them into "o%r !ro%ps o" "ie to search the town' 16eep &o%r e&es and ears
open,3 he warned them, be"ore he rode o"" to the towerho%se to see i" there was an& si!n
o" the lordlin! or his !%ards'
*r&a "o%nd hersel" with 8endr&, ,ot 4ie, and 7omm&' S)%at, $ettlebellied (oth had
p%lled an oar on a !alle& once, which made him the ne0t best thin! the& had to a sailor,
so ;oren told him to ta$e them down to the la$e"ront and see i" the& co%ld "ind a boat'
*s the& rode between the silent white ho%ses, !oosepric$les crawled %p *r&as arms'
This empt& town "ri!htened her almost as m%ch as the b%rnt hold"ast where the&d "o%nd
the cr&in! !irl and the one-armed woman' (h& wo%ld people r%n o"" and leae their
homes and eer&thin!. (hat co%ld scare them so m%ch.
The s%n was low to the west, and the ho%ses cast lon! dar$ shadows' * s%dden clap o"
so%nd made *r&a reach "or Needle, b%t it was onl& a sh%tter ban!in! in the wind' *"ter
the open rier shore, the closeness o" the town %nnered her'
(hen she !limpsed the la$e ahead between ho%ses and trees, *r&a p%t her $nees into
her horse, !allopin! past (oth and 8endr&' She b%rst o%t onto the !rass& sward beside
the pebbled shore' The settin! s%n made the tran)%il s%r"ace o" the water shimmer li$e a
sheet o" beaten copper' It was the bi!!est la$e she had eer seen, with no hint o" a "ar
shore' She saw a ramblin! inn to her le"t, b%ilt o%t oer the water on hea& wooden
pilin!s' To her ri!ht, a lon! pier 9%tted into the la$e, and there were other doc$s "arther
east, wooden "in!ers reachin! o%t "rom the town' B%t the onl& boat in iew was an
%pside-down rowboat abandoned on the roc$s beneath the inn, its bottom thoro%!hl&
rotted o%t' 1The&re !one,3 *r&a said, de9ected' (hat wo%ld the& do now.
1Theres an inn,3 7omm& said, when the others rode %p' 1#o &o% thin$ the& le"t an&
"ood. /r ale.3
17ets !o see,3 ,ot 4ie s%!!ested'
1Neer &o% mind abo%t no inn,3 snapped (oth' 1;oren said were to "ind a boat'3
1The& too$ the boats'3 Somehow *r&a $new it was tr%e: the& co%ld search the whole
town, and the&d "ind no more than the %pside-down rowboat' #espondent, she climbed
o"" her horse and $nelt b& the la$e' The water lapped so"tl& aro%nd her le!s' * "ew
lantern b%!s were comin! o%t, their little li!hts blin$in! on and o""' The !reen water was
warm as tears, b%t there was no salt in it' It tasted o" s%mmer and m%d and !rowin!
thin!s' *r&a pl%n!ed her "ace down into it to wash o"" the d%st and dirt and sweat o" the
da&' (hen she leaned bac$ the tric$les ran down the bac$ o" her nec$ and %nder her
collar' The& "elt !ood' She wished she co%ld ta$e o"" her clothes and swim, !lidin!
thro%!h the warm water li$e an s$inn& pin$ otter' 2a&be she co%ld swim all the wa& to
(inter"ell'
(oth was sho%tin! at her to help search, so she did, peerin! into boatho%ses and sheds
while her horse !ra?ed alon! the shore' The& "o%nd some sails, some nails, b%c$ets o"
tar !one hard, and a mother cat with a litter o" new-born $ittens' B%t no boats'
The town was as dar$ as an& "orest when ;oren and the others reappeared' 1Towers
empt&,3 he said' 17ords !one o"" to "i!ht ma&be, or to !et his small"ol$ to sa"et&, no
tellin!' Not a horse or pi! le"t in town, b%t well eat' Saw a !oose r%nnin! loose, and
some chic$ens, and theres !ood "ish in the 8ods 5&e'3
1The boats are !one,3 *r&a reported'
1(e co%ld patch the bottom o" that rowboat,3 said 6oss'
12i!ht do "or "o%r o %s,3 ;oren said'
1Theres nails,3 7omm& pointed o%t' 1*nd theres trees all aro%nd' (e co%ld b%ild %s
all boats'3
;oren spat' 1;o% $now an&thin! Dbo%t boat-b%ildin!, d&ers bo&.3 7omm& loo$ed
blan$'
1* ra"t,3 s%!!ested 8endr&' 1*n&one can b%ild a ra"t, and lon! poles "or p%shin!'3
;oren loo$ed tho%!ht"%l' 17a$es too deep to pole across, b%t i" we sta&ed to the
shallows near shore ' ' ' itd mean leain! the wa!ons' 2i!ht be thats best' Ill sleep on
it'3
1+an we sta& at the inn.3 7omm& as$ed'
1(ell sta& in the hold"ast, with the !ates barred,3 the old man said' 1I li$e the "eel o
stone walls abo%t me when I sleep'3
*r&a co%ld not $eep )%iet' 1(e sho%ldnt sta& here,3 she bl%rted' 1The people didnt'
The& all ran o"", een their lord'3
1*rr&s scared,3 7omm& anno%nced, bra&in! la%!hter'
1Im not,3 she snapped bac$, 1b%t the& were'3
1Smart bo&,3 said ;oren' 1Thin! is, the "ol$s who lied here were at war, li$e it or no'
(ere not' Ni!hts (atch ta$es no part, so no mans o%r enem&'3
*nd no mans o%r "riend, she tho%!ht, b%t this time she held her ton!%e' 7omm& and
the rest were loo$in! at her, and she did not want to seem craen in "ront o" them'
The hold"ast !ates were st%dded with iron nails' (ithin, the& "o%nd a pair o" iron bars
the si?e o" saplin!s, with post holes in the !ro%nd and metal brac$ets on the !ate' (hen
the& slotted the bars thro%!h the brac$ets, the& made a h%!e E brace' It was no Bed
6eep, ;oren anno%nced when the&d e0plored the hold"ast top to bottom, b%t it was
better than most, and sho%ld do "or a ni!ht well eno%!h' The walls were ro%!h
%nmortared stone ten "eet hi!h, with a wooden catwal$ inside the battlements' There was
a postern !ate to the north, and 8erren discoered a trap %nder the straw in the old
wooden barn, leadin! to a narrow, windin! t%nnel' ,e "ollowed it a lon! wa& %nder the
earth and came o%t b& the la$e' ;oren had them roll a wa!on on top o" the trap, to ma$e
certain no one came in that wa&' ,e diided them into three watches, and sent Tarber,
6%r?, and +%t9ac$ o"" to the abandoned towerho%se to $eep an e&e o%t "rom on hi!h'
6%r? had a h%ntin! horn to so%nd i" dan!er threatened'
The& droe their wa!ons and animals inside and barred the !ates behind them' The
barn was a ramshac$le thin!, lar!e eno%!h to hold hal" the animals in the town' The
haen, where the town"ol$ wo%ld shelter in times o" tro%ble, was een lar!er, low and
lon! and b%ilt o" stone, with a thatched roo"' 6oss went o%t the postern !ate and bro%!ht
the !oose bac$, and two chic$ens as well, and ;oren allowed a coo$"ire' There was a bi!
$itchen inside the hold"ast, tho%!h all the pots and $ettles had been ta$en' 8endr&,
#obber, and *r&a drew coo$ d%t&' #obber told *r&a to pl%c$ the "owl while 8endr&
split wood' 1(h& cant I split the wood.3 she as$ed, b%t no one listened' S%llenl&, she
set to pl%c$in! a chic$en while ;oren sat on the end o" the bench sharpenin! the ed!e o"
his dir$ with a whetstone'
(hen the "ood was read&, *r&a ate a chic$en le! and a bit o" onion' No one tal$ed
m%ch, not een 7omm&' 8endr& went o"" b& himsel" a"terward, polishin! his helm with
a loo$ on his "ace li$e he wasnt een there' The cr&in! !irl whimpered and wept, b%t
when ,ot 4ie o""ered her a bit o" !oose she !obbled it down and loo$ed "or more'
*r&a drew second watch, so she "o%nd a straw pallet in the haen' Sleep did not come
eas&, so she borrowed ;orens stone and set to honin! Needle' S&rio =orel had said that
a d%ll blade was li$e a lame horse' ,ot 4ie s)%atted on the pallet beside her, watchin!
her wor$' 1(hered &o% !et a !ood sword li$e that.3 he as$ed' (hen he saw the loo$
she !ae him, he raised his hands de"ensiel&' 1I neer said &o% stole it, I 9%st wanted to
$now where &o% !ot it, is all'3
12& brother !ae it to me,3 she m%ttered'
1I neer $new &o% had no brother'3
*r&a pa%sed to scratch %nder her shirt' There were "leas in the straw, tho%!h she
co%ldnt see wh& a "ew more wo%ld bother her' 1I hae lots o" brothers'3
1;o% do. *re the& bi!!er than &o%, or littler.3
I sho%ldnt be tal$in! li$e this' ;oren said I sho%ld $eep m& mo%th sh%t' 1Bi!!er,3 she
lied' 1The& hae swords too, bi! lon!swords, and the& showed me how to $ill people
who bother me'3
1I was tal$in!, not botherin!'3 ,ot 4ie went o"" and let her alone and *r&a c%rled %p
on her pallet' She co%ld hear the cr&in! !irl "rom the "ar side o" the haen' I wish shed
9%st be )%iet' (h& does she hae to cr& all the time.
She m%st hae slept, tho%!h she neer remembered closin! her e&es' She dreamed a
wol" was howlin!, and the so%nd was so terrible that it wo$e her at once' *r&a sat %p on
her pallet with her heart th%mpin!' 1,ot 4ie, wa$e %p'3 She scrambled to her "eet'
1(oth, 8endr&, didnt &o% hear.3 She p%lled on a boot'
*ll aro%nd her, men and bo&s stirred and crawled "rom their pallets' 1(hats wron!.3
,ot 4ie as$ed' 1,ear what.3 8endr& wanted to $now' 1*rr& had a bad dream,3 someone
else said'
1No, I heard it,3 she insisted' 1* wol"'3
1*rr& has woles in his head,3 sneered 7omm&' 17et them howl,3 8erren said,
1the&re o%t there, were in here'3 (oth a!reed' 1Neer saw no wol" co%ld storm a
hold"ast'3 ,ot 4ie was sa&in!, 1I neer heard nothin!'3
1It was a wol",3 she sho%ted at them as she &an$ed on her second boot' 1Somethin!s
wron!, someones comin!, !et %p@3
Be"ore the& co%ld hoot her down a!ain, the so%nd came sh%dderin! thro%!h the ni!ht
Aonl& it was no wol" this time, it was 6%r? blowin! his h%ntin! horn, so%ndin! dan!er'
In a heartbeat, all o" them were p%llin! on clothes and snatchin! "or whateer weapons
the& owned' *r&a ran "or the !ate as the horn so%nded a!ain' *s she dashed past the
barn, Biter threw himsel" "%rio%sl& a!ainst his chains, and Ca)en ,!har called o%t "rom
the bac$ o" their wa!on' 1Bo&@ Sweet bo&@ Is it war, red war. Bo&, "ree %s' * man can
"i!ht' Bo&@3 She i!nored him and pl%n!ed on' B& then she co%ld hear horses and sho%ts
be&ond the wall'
She scrambled %p onto the catwal$' The parapets were a bit too hi!h and *r&a a bit too
short: she had to wed!e her toes into the holes between the stones to see oer' =or a
moment she tho%!ht the town was "%ll o" lantern b%!s' Then she reali?ed the& were men
with torches, !allopin! between the ho%ses' She saw a roo" !o %p, "lames lic$in! at the
bell& o" the ni!ht with hot oran!e ton!%es as the thatch ca%!ht' *nother "ollowed, and
then another, and soon there were "ires bla?in! eer&where'
8endr& climbed %p beside her, wearin! his helm' 1,ow man&.3
*r&a tried to co%nt, b%t the& were ridin! too "ast, torches spinnin! thro%!h the air as
the& "l%n! them' 1* h%ndred,3 she said' 1Two h%ndred, I dont $now'3 /er the roar o"
the "lames, she co%ld hear sho%ts' 1The&ll come "or %s soon'3
1There,3 8endr& said, pointin!'
* col%mn o" riders moed between the b%rnin! b%ildin!s toward the hold"ast' =ireli!ht
!littered o"" metal helms and spattered their mail and plate with oran!e and &ellow
hi!hli!hts' /ne carried a banner on a tall lance' She tho%!ht it was red, b%t it was hard to
tell in the ni!ht, with the "ires roarin! all aro%nd' 5er&thin! seemed red or blac$ or
oran!e'
The "ire leapt "rom one ho%se to another' *r&a saw a tree cons%med, the "lames
creepin! across its branches %ntil it stood a!ainst the ni!ht in robes o" liin! oran!e'
5er&one was awa$e now, mannin! the catwal$s or str%!!lin! with the "ri!htened
animals below' She co%ld hear ;oren sho%tin! commands' Somethin! b%mped a!ainst
her le!, and she !lanced down to discoer the cr&in! !irl cl%tchin! her' 18et awa&@3 She
wrenched her le! "ree' 1(hat are &o% doin! %p here. B%n and hide someplace, &o%
st%pid'3 She shoed the !irl awa&'
The riders reined %p be"ore the !ates' 1;o% in the hold"ast@3 sho%ted a $ni!ht in a tall
helm with a spi$ed crest' 1/pen, in the name o" the $in!@3
1*&e, and which $in! is that.3 old Be&sen &elled bac$ down, be"ore (oth c%""ed him
into silence'
;oren climbed the battlement beside the !ate, his "aded blac$ cloa$ tied to a wooden
sta""' 1;o% men hold down here@3 he sho%ted' 1The town"ol$s !one'3
1*nd who are &o%, old man. /ne o" 7ord Berics craens.3 called the $ni!ht in the
spi$ed helm' 1i" that "at "ool Thoros is in there, as$ him how he li$es these "ires'3
18ot no s%ch man here,3 ;oren sho%ted bac$' 1/nl& some lads "or the (atch' 8ot no
part o &o%r war'3 ,e hoisted %p the sta"", so the& co%ld all see the color o" his cloa$'
1,ae a loo$' Thats blac$, "or the Ni!hts (atch'3
1/r blac$ "or ,o%se #ondarrion,3 called the man who bore the enem& banner' *r&a
co%ld see its colors more clearl& now in the li!ht o" the b%rnin! town: a !olden lion on
red' 17ord Berics si!il is a p%rple li!htnin! bolt on a blac$ "ield'3
S%ddenl& *r&a remembered the mornin! she had thrown the oran!e in Sansas "ace
and !otten 9%ice all oer her st%pid ior& sil$ !own' There had been some so%thron
lordlin! at the to%rne&, her sisters st%pid "riend Ce&ne was in loe with him' ,e had a
li!htnin! bolt on his shield and her "ather had sent him o%t to behead the ,o%nds
brother' It seemed a tho%sand &ears a!o now, somethin! that had happened to a di""erent
person in a di""erent li"e ' ' ' to *r&a Star$ the ,ands da%!hter, not *rr& the orphan bo&'
,ow wo%ld *rr& $now lords and s%ch.
1*re &o% blind, man.3 ;oren waed his sta"" bac$ and "orth, ma$in! the cloa$ ripple'
1;o% see a blood& li!htnin! bolt.3
1B& ni!ht all banners loo$ blac$,3 the $ni!ht in the spi$ed helm obsered' 1/pen, or
well $now &o% "or o%tlaws in lea!%e with the $in!s enemies'3
;oren spat' 1(hos !ot &o%r command.3
1I do'3 The re"lections o" b%rnin! ho%ses !limmered d%ll& on the armor o" his
warhorse as the others parted to let him pass' ,e was a sto%t man with a manticore on
his shield, and ornate scrollwor$ crawlin! across his steel breastplate' Thro%!h the open
isor o" his helm, a "ace pale and pi!!& peered %p' 1Ser *mor& 7orch, bannerman to
7ord T&win 7annister o" +asterl& Boc$, the ,and o" the 6in!' The tr%e $in!, Co""re&'3
,e had a hi!h, thin oice' 1In his name, I command &o% to open these !ates'3
*ll aro%nd them, the town b%rned' The ni!ht air was "%ll o" smo$e, and the dri"tin! red
embers o%tn%mbered the stars' ;oren scowled' 1#ont see the need' #o what &o% want
to the town, its na%!ht to me, b%t leae %s be' (ere no "oes to &o%'3
7oo$ with &o%r e&es, *r&a wanted to sho%t at the men below' 1+ant the& see were no
lords or $ni!hts.3 she whispered'
1I dont thin$ the& care, *rr&,3 8endr& whispered bac$'
*nd she loo$ed at Ser *mor&s "ace, the wa& S&rio had ta%!ht her to loo$, and she saw
that he was ri!ht'
1I" &o% are no traitors, open &o%r !ates,3 Ser *mor& called' 1(ell ma$e certain &o%re
tellin! it tr%e and be on o%r wa&'3
;oren was chewin! so%rlea"' 1Told &o%, no one here b%t %s' ;o% !ot m& word on that'3
The $ni!ht in the spi$ed helm la%!hed' 1The crow !ies %s his word'
1;o% lost, old man.3 moc$ed one o" the spearmen' 1The (alls a lon! wa& north o
here'3
1I command &o% once more, in 6in! Co""re&s name, to proe the lo&alt& &o% pro"ess
and open these !ates,3 said Ser *mor&'
=or a lon! moment ;oren considered, chewin!' Then he spat' 1#ont thin$ I will'3
1So be it' ;o% de"& the $in!s command, and so proclaim &o%rseles rebels, blac$
cloa$s or no'3
18ot me &o%n! bo&s in here,3 ;oren sho%ted down'
1;o%n! bo&s and old men die the same'3 Ser *mor& raised a lan)%id "ist, and a spear
came h%rtlin! "rom the "ire-bri!ht shadows behind' ;oren m%st hae been the tar!et, b%t
it was (oth beside him who was hit' The spearhead went in his throat and e0ploded o%t
the bac$ o" his nec$, dar$ and wet' (oth !rabbed at the sha"t, and "ell boneless "rom the
wal$'
1Storm the walls and $ill them all,3 Ser *mor& said in a bored oice' 2ore spears "lew'
*r&a &an$ed down ,ot 4ie b& the bac$ o" his t%nic' =rom o%tside came the rattle o"
armor, the scrape o" swords on scabbards, the ban!in! o" spears on shields, min!led with
c%rses and the hoo"beats o" racin! horses' * torch sailed spinnin! aboe their heads,
trailin! "in!ers o" "ire as it th%mped down in the dirt o" the &ard'
1Blades@3 ;oren sho%ted' 1Spread apart, de"end the wall whereer the& hit' 6oss,
<rre!, hold the postern' 7omm&, p%ll that spear o%t o" (oth and !et %p where he was'3
,ot 4ie dropped his shortsword when he tried to %nsheath it' *r&a shoed the blade
bac$ into his hand' 1I dont $now how to sword"i!ht,3 he said, white-e&ed'
1Its eas&,3 *r&a said, b%t the lie died in her throat as a hand !rasped the top o" the
parapet' She saw it b& the li!ht o" the b%rnin! town, so clear that it was as i" time had
stopped' The "in!ers were bl%nt, call%sed, wir& blac$ hairs !rew between the $n%c$les,
there was dirt %nder the nail o" the th%mb' =ear c%ts deeper than swords, she
remembered as the top o" a pothelm loomed %p behind the hand'
She slashed down hard, and Needles castle-"or!ed steel bit into the !raspin! "in!ers
between the $n%c$les' 1(inter"ell@3 she screamed' Blood sp%rted, "in!ers "lew, and the
helmed "ace anished as s%ddenl& as it had appeared' 1Behind@3 ,ot 4ie &elled' *r&a
whirled' The second man was bearded and helmetless, his dir$ between his teeth to leae
both hands "ree "or climbin!' *s he sw%n! his le! oer the parapet, she droe her point
at his e&es' Needle neer to%ched him: he reeled bac$ward and "ell' I hope he "alls on
his "ace and c%ts o"" his ton!%e' 1(atch them, not me@3 she screamed at ,ot 4ie' The
ne0t time someone tried to climb their part o" the wall, the bo& hac$ed at his hands with
his swordshort %ntil the man dropped awa&'
Ser *mor& had no ladders, b%t the hold"ast walls were ro%!h-c%t and %nmortared, eas&
to climb, and there seemed to be no end to the "oes' =or each one *r&a c%t or stabbed or
shoed bac$, another was comin! oer the wall' The $ni!ht in the spi$ed helm reached
the rampart, b%t ;oren tan!led his blac$ banner aro%nd his spi$e, and "orced the point o"
his dir$ thro%!h his armor while the man was "i!htin! the cloth' 5er& time *r&a loo$ed
%p, more torches were "l&in!, trailin! lon! ton!%es o" "lame that lin!ered behind her
e&es' She saw a !old lion on a red banner and tho%!ht o" Co""re&, wishin! he was here so
she co%ld drie Needle thro%!h his sneer& "ace' (hen "o%r men assa%lted the !ate with
a0es, 6oss shot them down with arrows, one b& one' #obber wrestled a man o"" the
wal$, and 7omm& smashed his head with a roc$ be"ore he co%ld rise, and hooted %ntil
he saw the $ni"e in #obbers bell& and reali?ed he wo%ldnt be !ettin! %p either' *r&a
9%mped oer a dead bo& no older than Con, l&in! with his arm c%t o""' She didnt thin$
shed done it, b%t she wasnt s%re' She heard F&le be! "or merc& be"ore a $ni!ht with a
wasp on his shield smashed his "ace in with a spi$ed mace' 5er&thin! smelled o" blood
and smo$e and iron and piss, b%t a"ter a time it seemed li$e that was onl& one smell' She
neer saw how the s$inn& man !ot oer the wall, b%t when he did she "ell on him with
8endr& and ,ot 4ie' 8endr&s sword shattered on the mans helm, tearin! it o"" his head'
<nderneath he was bald and scared-loo$in!, with missin! teeth and a spec$l& !re&
beard, b%t een as she was "eelin! sorr& "or him she was $illin! him, sho%tin!,
1(inter"ell@ (inter"ell@3 while ,ot 4ie screamed 1,ot 4ie@3 beside her as he hac$ed at
the mans scrawn& nec$'
(hen the s$inn& man was dead, 8endr& stole his sword and leapt down into the &ard
to "i!ht some more' *r&a loo$ed past him, and saw steel shadows r%nnin! thro%!h the
hold"ast, "ireli!ht shinin! o"" mail and blades, and she $new that the&d !otten oer the
wall somewhere, or bro$en thro%!h at the postern' She 9%mped down beside 8endr&,
landin! the wa& S&rio had ta%!ht her' The ni!ht ran! to the clash o" steel and the cries o"
the wo%nded and d&in!' =or a moment *r&a stood %ncertain, not $nowin! which wa& to
!o' #eath was all aro%nd her'
*nd then ;oren was there, sha$in! her, screamin! in her "ace' 1Bo&@3 he &elled, the
wa& he alwa&s &elled it' 18et o%t, its done, wee lost' ,erd %p all &o% can, &o% and
him and the others, the bo&s, &o% !et them o%t' Now@3
1,ow.3 *r&a said'
1That trap,3 he screamed' 1<nder the barn'3
F%ic$ as that he was !one, o"" to "i!ht, sword in hand' *r&a !rabbed 8endr& b& the
arm' 1,e said !o,3 she sho%ted, 1the barn, the wa& o%t'3 Thro%!h the slits o" his helm,
the B%lls e&es shone with re"lected "ire' ,e nodded' The& called ,ot 4ie down "rom the
wall and "o%nd 7omm& 8reenhands where he la& bleedin! "rom a spear thr%st thro%!h
his cal"' The& "o%nd 8erren too, b%t he was h%rt too bad to moe' *s the& were r%nnin!
toward the barn, *r&a spied the cr&in! !irl sittin! in the middle o" the chaos, s%rro%nded
b& smo$e and sla%!hter' She !rabbed her b& the hand and p%lled her to her "eet as the
others raced ahead' The !irl wo%ldnt wal$, een when slapped' *r&a dra!!ed her with
her ri!ht hand while she held Needle in the le"t' *head, the ni!ht was a s%llen red' The
barns on "ire, she tho%!ht' =lames were lic$in! %p its sides "rom where a torch had
"allen on straw, and she co%ld hear the screamin! o" the animals trapped within' ,ot 4ie
stepped o%t o" the barn' 1*rr&, come on@ 7omm&s !one, leae her i" she wont come@3
St%bbornl&, *r&a dra!!ed all the harder, p%llin! the cr&in! !irl alon!' ,ot 4ie sc%ttled
bac$ inside, abandonin! them ' ' ' b%t 8endr& came bac$, the "ire shinin! so bri!ht on
his polished helm that the horns seemed to !low oran!e' ,e ran to them, and hoisted the
cr&in! !irl %p oer his sho%lder' 1B%n@3
B%shin! thro%!h the barn doors was li$e r%nnin! into a "%rnace' The air was swirlin!
with smo$e, the bac$ wall a sheet o" "ire !ro%nd to roo"' Their horses and don$e&s were
$ic$in! and rearin! and screamin!' The poor animals, *r&a tho%!ht' Then she saw the
wa!on, and the three men manacled to its bed' Biter was "lin!in! himsel" a!ainst the
chains, blood r%nnin! down his arms "rom where the irons clasped his wrists' Bor!e
screamed c%rses, $ic$in! at the wood' 1Bo&@3 called Ca)en ,!har' 1Sweet bo&@3
The open trap was onl& a "ew "eet ahead, b%t the "ire was spreadin! "ast, cons%min!
the old wood and dr& straw "aster than she wo%ld hae belieed' *r&a remembered the
,o%nds horrible b%rned "ace' 1T%nnels narrow,3 8endr& sho%ted' 1,ow do we !et her
thro%!h.3
14%ll her,3 *r&a said' 14%sh her'3
18ood bo&s, $ind bo&s,3 called Ca)en ,!har, co%!hin!'
18et these "%c$in! chains o""@3 Bor!e screamed'
8endr& i!nored them' 1;o% !o "irst, then her, then me' ,%rr&, its a lon! wa&'3
1(hen &o% split the "irewood,3 *r&a remembered, 1where did &o% leae the a0e.3
1/%t b& the haen'3 ,e spared a !lance "or the chained men' 1Id sae the don$e&s
"irst' Theres no time'3
1;o% ta$e her@3 she &elled' 1;o% !et her o%t@ ;o% do it@3 The "ire beat at her bac$ with
hot red win!s as she "led the b%rnin! barn' It "elt blessedl& cool o%tside, b%t men were
d&in! all aro%nd her' She saw 6oss throw down his blade to &ield, and she saw them $ill
him where he stood' Smo$e was eer&where' There was no si!n o" ;oren, b%t the a0e
was where 8endr& had le"t it, b& the woodpile o%tside the haen' *s she wrenched it
"ree, a mailed hand !rabbed her arm' Spinnin!, *r&a droe the head o" the a0e hard
between his le!s' She neer saw his "ace, onl& the dar$ blood seepin! between the lin$s
o" his ha%ber$' 8oin! bac$ into that barn was the hardest thin! she eer did' Smo$e was
po%rin! o%t the open door li$e a writhin! blac$ sna$e, and she co%ld hear the screams o"
the poor animals inside, don$e&s and horses and men' She chewed her lip, and darted
thro%!h the doors, cro%ched low where the smo$e wasnt )%ite so thic$'
* don$e& was ca%!ht in a rin! o" "ire, shrie$in! in terror and pain' She co%ld smell the
stench o" b%rnin! hair' The roo" was !one %p too, and thin!s were "allin! down, pieces
o" "lamin! wood and bits o" straw and ha&' *r&a p%t a hand oer her mo%th and nose'
She co%ldnt see the wa!on "or the smo$e, b%t she co%ld still hear Biter screamin!' She
crawled toward the so%nd'
*nd then a wheel was loomin! oer her' The wa!on 9%mped and moed a hal" "oot
when Biter threw himsel" a!ainst his chains a!ain' Ca)en saw her, b%t it was too hard to
breathe, let alone tal$' She threw the a0e into the wa!on' Bor!e ca%!ht it and li"ted it
oer his head, riers o" soot& sweat po%rin! down his noseless "ace' *r&a was r%nnin!,
co%!hin!' She heard the steel crash thro%!h the old wood, and a!ain, a!ain' *n instant
later came a crac$ as lo%d as th%nder, and the bottom o" the wa!on came rippin! loose in
an e0plosion o" splinters'
*r&a rolled head"irst into the t%nnel and dropped "ie "eet' She !ot dirt in her mo%th
b%t she didnt care, the taste was "ine, the taste was m%d and water and worms and li"e'
<nder the earth the air was cool and dar$' *boe was nothin! b%t blood and roarin! red
and cho$in! smo$e and the screams o" d&in! horses' She moed her belt aro%nd so
Needle wo%ld not be in her wa&, and be!an to crawl' * do?en "eet down the t%nnel she
heard the so%nd, li$e the roar o" some monstro%s beast, and a clo%d o" hot smo$e and
blac$ d%st came billowin! %p behind her, smellin! o" hell' *r&a held her breath and
$issed the m%d on the "loor o" the t%nnel and cried' =or whom, she co%ld not sa&'
C#APT"R $+
T%RIO'
The )%een was not disposed to wait on >ar&s' 1Treason is ile eno%!h,3 she declared
"%rio%sl&, 1b%t this is bare"aced na$ed illain&, and I do not need that mincin! e%n%ch to
tell me what m%st be done with illains'3
T&rion too$ the letters "rom his sisters hand and compared them side b& side' There
were two copies, the words e0actl& ali$e, tho%!h the& had been written b& di""erent
hands'
12aester =ren$en receied the "irst missie at +astle Sto$eworth,3 8rand 2aester
4&celle e0plained' 1The second cop& came thro%!h 7ord 8&les'3
7ittle"in!er "in!ered his beard' 1I" Stannis bothered with them, its past certain eer&
other lord in the Seen 6in!doms saw a cop& as well'3
1I want these letters b%rned, eer& one,3 +ersei declared' 1No hint o" this m%st reach
m& sons ears, or m& "athers'3
1I ima!ine =athers heard rather more than a hint b& now,3 T&rion said dr&l&'
1#o%btless Stannis sent a bird to +asterl& Boc$, and another to ,arrenhal' *s "or
b%rnin! the letters, to what point. The son! is s%n!, the wine is spilled, the wench is
pre!nant' *nd this is not as dire as it seems, in tr%th'3
+ersei t%rned on him in !reen-e&ed "%r&' 1*re &o% %tterl& witless. #id &o% read what
he sa&s. The bo& Co""re&, he calls him' *nd he dares to acc%se me o" incest, ad%lter&,
and treason@3
/nl& beca%se &o%re !%ilt&' It was astonishin! to see how an!r& +ersei co%ld wa0 oer
acc%sations she $new per"ectl& well to be tr%e' I" we lose the war, she o%!ht to ta$e %p
m%mmer&, she has a !i"t "or it' T&rion waited %ntil she was done and said, 1Stannis m%st
hae some prete0t to 9%sti"& his rebellion' (hat did &o% e0pect him to write. Co""re& is
m& brothers tr%eborn son and heir, b%t I mean to ta$e his throne "or all that.3
1I will not s%""er to be called a whore@3
1(h&, sister, he neer claims Caime paid &o%' T&rion made a show o" !lancin! oer the
writin! a!ain' There had been some ni!!lin! phrase ' ' ' 1#one in the 7i!ht o" the 7ord,3
he read' 1* )%eer choice o" words, that'3
4&celle cleared his throat' 1These words o"ten appear in letters and doc%ments "rom
the =ree +ities' The& mean no more than, let %s sa&, written in the si!ht o" !od' The !od
o" the red priests' It is their %sa!e, I do beliee'3
1>ar&s told %s some &ears past that 7ad& Sel&se had ta$en %p with a red priest,3
7ittle"in!er reminded them'
T&rion tapped the paper' 1*nd now it wo%ld seem her lord h%sband has done the same'
(e can %se that a!ainst him' <r!e the ,i!h Septon to reeal how Stannis has t%rned
a!ainst the !ods as well as his ri!ht"%l $in! ' ' '3
1;es, &es,3 the )%een said impatientl&, 1b%t "irst we m%st stop this "ilth "rom spreadin!
"%rther' The co%ncil m%st iss%e an edict' *n& man heard spea$in! o" incest or callin!
Co"" a bastard sho%ld lose his ton!%e "or it'3
1* pr%dent meas%re,3 said 8rand 2aester 4&celle, his chain o" o""ice clin$in! as he
nodded'
1* "oll&,3 si!hed T&rion' 1(hen &o% tear o%t a mans ton!%e, &o% are not proin! him
a liar, &o%re onl& tellin! the world that &o% "ear what he mi!ht sa&'3
1So what wo%ld &o% hae %s do.3 his sister demanded'
1>er& little' 7et them whisper, the&ll !row bored with the tale soon eno%!h' *n& man
with a thimble o" sense will see it "or a cl%ms& attempt to 9%sti"& %s%rpin! the crown'
#oes Stannis o""er proo". ,ow co%ld he, when it neer happened.3 T&rion !ae his
sister his sweetest smile'
1Thats so,3 she had to sa&' 1Still ' ' '3
1;o%r 8race, &o%r brother has the ri!ht o" this'3 4et&r Baelish steepled his "in!ers' 1I"
we attempt to silence this tal$, we onl& lend it credence' Better to treat it with contempt,
li$e the pathetic lie it is' *nd meantime, "i!ht "ire with "ire'3
+ersei !ae him a meas%rin! loo$' 1(hat sort o" "ire.3
1* tale o" somewhat the same nat%re, perhaps' B%t more easil& belieed' 7ord Stannis
has spent most o" his marria!e apart "rom his wi"e' Not that I "a%lt him, Id do the same
were I married to 7ad& Sel&se' Nonetheless, i" we p%t it abo%t that her da%!hter is
baseborn and Stannis a c%c$old, well ' ' ' the small"ol$ are alwa&s ea!er to beliee the
worst o" their lords, partic%larl& those as stern, so%r, and pric$l& pro%d as Stannis
Baratheon'3
1,e has neer been m%ch loed, thats tr%e'3 +ersei considered a moment' 1So we pa&
him bac$ in his own coin' ;es, I li$e this' (ho can we name as 7ad& Sel&ses loer. She
has two brothers, I beliee' *nd one o" her %ncles has been with her on #ra!onstone all
this time ' ' '3
1Ser *0ell =lorent is her castellan'3 7oath as T&rion was to admit it, 7ittle"in!ers
scheme had promise' Stannis had neer been enamored o" his wi"e, b%t he was bristl& as
a hed!eho! where his honor was concerned and mistr%st"%l b& nat%re' I" the& co%ld sow
discord between him and his "ollowers, it co%ld onl& help their ca%se' 1The child has the
=lorent ears, Im told'3
7ittle"in!er !est%red lan!%idl&' 1* trade eno& "rom 7&s once obsered to me that
7ord Stannis m%st loe his da%!hter er& well, since hed erected h%ndreds o" stat%es o"
her all alon! the walls o" #ra!onstone' D2& lord I had to tell him, Dthose are
!ar!o&les'3 ,e ch%c$led' 1Ser *0ell mi!ht sere "or Shireens "ather, b%t in m&
e0perience, the more bi?arre and shoc$in! a tale the more apt it is to be repeated' Stannis
$eeps an especiall& !rotes)%e "ool, a lac$wit with a tattooed "ace'3
8rand 2aester 4&celle !aped at him, a!hast' 1S%rel& &o% do not mean to s%!!est that
7ad& Sel&se wo%ld brin! a "ool into her bed.3
1;o%d hae to be a "ool to want to bed Sel&se =lorent,3 said 7ittle"in!er' 1#o%btless
4atch"ace reminded her o" Stannis' *nd the best lies contain within them n%!!ets o"
tr%th, eno%!h to !ie a listener pa%se' *s it happens, this "ool is %tterl& deoted to the
!irl and "ollows her eer&where' The& een loo$ somewhat ali$e' Shireen has a mottled,
hal""ro?en "ace as well'3
4&celle was lost' 1B%t that is "rom the !re&scale that near $illed her as a babe, poor
thin!'3
1I li$e m& tale better,3 said 7ittle"in!er, 1and so will the small"ol$' 2ost o" them
beliee that i" a woman eats rabbit while pre!nant, her child will be born with lon!
"lopp& ears'3
+ersei smiled the sort o" smile she c%stomaril& resered "or Caime' 17ord 4et&r, &o%
are a wic$ed creat%re'3
1Than$ &o%, ;o%r 8race'3
1*nd a most accomplished liar,3 T&rion added, less warml&' This one is more
dan!ero%s than I $new, he re"lected'
7ittle"in!ers !re&-!reen e&es met the dwar"s mismatched stare with no hint o"
%nease' 1(e all hae o%r !i"ts, m& lord'3
The )%een was too ca%!ht %p in her reen!e to ta$e note o" the e0chan!e' 1+%c$olded
b& a hal"wit "ool@ Stannis will be la%!hed at in eer& winesin$ this side o" the narrow
sea'3
1The stor& sho%ld not come "rom %s,3 T&rion said, 1or it will be seen "or a sel"-serin!
lie'3 (hich it is, to be s%re'
/nce more 7ittle"in!er s%pplied the answer' 1(hores loe to !ossip, and as it happens
I own a brothel or three' *nd no do%bt >ar&s can plant seeds in the aleho%ses and pot-
shops'3
1>ar&s,3 +ersei said, "rownin!' 1(here is >ar&s.3
1I hae been wonderin! abo%t that m&sel", ;o%r 8race'3
1The Spider spins his secret webs da& and ni!ht,3 8rand 2aester 4&celle said
omino%sl&' 1I mistr%st that one, m& lords'3
1*nd he spea$s so $indl& o" &o%'3 T&rion p%shed himsel" o"" his chair' *s it happened,
he $new what the e%n%ch was abo%t, b%t it was nothin! the other co%ncilors needed to
hear' 14ra& e0c%se me, m& lords' /ther b%siness calls'3
+ersei was instantl& s%spicio%s' 16in!s b%siness.3
1Nothin! &o% need tro%ble &o%rsel" abo%t'3
1Ill be the 9%d!e o" that'3
1(o%ld &o% spoil m& s%rprise.3 T&rion said' 1Im hain! a !i"t made "or Co""re&' *
little chain'3
1(hat does he need with another chain. ,e has !old chains and siler, more than he
can wear' I" &o% thin$ "or a moment &o% can b%& Co""s loe with !i"tsA3
1(h&, s%rel& I hae the $in!s loe, as he has mine' *nd this chain I beliee he ma&
one da& treas%re aboe all others'3 The little man bowed and waddled to the door'
Bronn was waitin! o%tside the co%ncil chambers to escort him bac$ to the Tower o" the
,and' 1The smiths are in &o%r a%dience chamber, waitin! &o%r pleas%re,3 he said as the&
crossed the ward'
1(aitin! m& pleas%re' I li$e the rin! o" that, Bronn' ;o% almost so%nd a proper
co%rtier' Ne0t &o%ll be $neelin!'3
1=%c$ &o%, dwar"'3
1Thats Shaes tas$'3 T&rion heard 7ad& Tanda callin! to him merril& "rom the top o"
the serpentine steps' 4retendin! not to notice her, he waddled a bit "aster' 1See that m&
litter is readied, Ill be leain! the castle as soon as Im done here'3 Two o" the 2oon
Brothers had the door !%ard' T&rion !reeted them pleasantl&, and !rimaced be"ore
startin! %p the stairs' The climb to his bedchamber made his le!s ache'
(ithin he "o%nd a bo& o" twele la&in! o%t clothin! on the bed: his s)%ire, s%ch that he
was' 4odric$ 4a&ne was so sh& he was "%rtie'
T&rion had neer )%ite !otten oer the s%spicion that his "ather had in"licted the bo& on
him as a 9o$e'
1;o%r !arb, m& lord,3 the bo& m%mbled when T&rion entered, starin! down at his
boots' 5en when he wor$ed %p the co%ra!e to spea$, 4od co%ld neer )%ite mana!e to
loo$ at &o%' 1=or the a%dience' *nd &o%r chain' The ,ands chain'3
1>er& !ood' ,elp me dress'3 The do%blet was blac$ elet coered with !olden st%ds
in the shape o" lions heads, the chain a loop o" solid !old hands, the "in!ers o" each
claspin! the wrist o" the ne0t' 4od bro%!ht him a cloa$ o" crimson sil$ "rin!ed in !old,
c%t to his hei!ht' /n a normal man, it wo%ld be no more than a hal" cape'
The ,ands priate a%dience chamber was not so lar!e as the $in!s, nor a patch on the
astness o" the throne room, b%t T&rion li$ed its 2&rish r%!s, wall han!in!s, and sense
o" intimac&' *s he entered, his steward cried o%t, 1T&rion 7annister, ,and o" the 6in!'3
,e li$ed that too' The !a!!le o" smiths, armorers, and ironmon!ers that Bronn had
collected "ell to their $nees'
,e hoisted himsel" %p into the hi!h seat %nder the ro%nd !olden window and bid them
rise' 18oodman, I $now &o% are all b%s&, so I will be s%ccinct' 4od, i" &o% please'3 The
bo& handed him a canas sac$' T&rion &an$ed the drawstrin! and %pended the ba!' Its
contents spilled onto the r%! with a m%""led th%n$ o" metal on wool' 1I had these made
at the castle "or!e' I want a tho%sand more 9%st li$e them'3
/ne o" the smiths $nelt to inspect the ob9ect: three immense steel lin$s, twisted
to!ether' 1* mi!ht& chain'3
12i!ht&, b%t short,3 the dwar" replied' 1Somewhat li$e me' I "anc& one a !ood deal
lon!er' #o &o% hae a name.3
1The& call me Ironbell&, mlord'3 The smith was s)%at and broad, plainl& dressed in
wool and leather, b%t his arms were as thic$ as a b%lls nec$'
1I want eer& "or!e in 6in!s 7andin! t%rned to ma$in! these lin$s and 9oinin! them'
*ll other wor$ is to be p%t aside' I want eer& man who $nows the art o" wor$in! metal
set to this tas$, be he master, 9o%rne&man, or apprentice' (hen I ride %p the Street o"
Steel, I want to hear hammers rin!in!, ni!ht or da&' *nd I want a man, a stron! man, to
see that all this is done' *re &o% that man, 8oodman Ironbell&.3
12i!ht be I am, mlord' B%t what o" the mail and swords the )%een was wantin!.3
*nother smith spo$e %p' 1,er 8race commanded %s to ma$e chainmail and armor,
swords and da!!ers and a0es, all in !reat n%mbers' =or armin! her new !old cloa$s,
mlord'3
1That wor$ can wait,3 T&rion said' 1The chain "irst'3
12lord, be!!in! &o%r pardon, ,er 8race said those as didnt meet their n%mbers
wo%ld hae their hands cr%shed,3 the an0io%s Smith persisted' 1Smashed on their own
anils, she said'3
Sweet +ersei, alwa&s striin! to ma$e the small"ol$ loe %s' 1No one will hae their
hands smashed' ;o% hae m& word on it'3
1Iron is !rown dear,3 Ironbell& declared, 1and this chain will be needin! m%ch o" it,
and co$e beside, "or the "ires'3
17ord Baelish will see that &o% hae coin as &o% need it,3 T&rion promised' ,e co%ld
co%nt on 7ittle"in!er "or that m%ch, he hoped' 1I will command the +it& (atch to help
&o% "ind iron' 2elt down eer& horseshoe in this cit& i" &o% m%st'3
*n older man moed "orward, richl& dressed in a damas$ t%nic with siler "astenin!s
and a cloa$ lined with "o0"%r' ,e $nelt to e0amine the !reat steel lin$s T&rion had
d%mped on the "loor' 12& lord,3 he anno%nced !rael&, 1this is cr%de wor$ at best'
There is no art to it' S%itable labor "or common smiths, no do%bt, "or men who bend
horseshoes and hammer o%t $ettles, b%t I am a master armorer, as it please m& lord' This
is no wor$ "or me, nor m& "ellow masters' (e ma$e swords as sharp as son!, armor s%ch
as a !od mi!ht wear' Not this'3
T&rion tilted his head to the side and !ae the man a dose o" his mismatched e&es'
1(hat is &o%r name, master armorer.3
1Salloreon, as it please m& lord' I" the 6in!s ,and will permit, I sho%ld be most
honored to "or!e him a s%it o" armor s%itable to his ,o%se and hi!h o""ice'3 Two o" the
others sni!!ered, b%t Salloreon pl%n!ed ahead, heedless' 14late and scale, I thin$' The
scales !ilded bri!ht as the s%n, the plate enameled a deep 7annister crimson' I wo%ld
s%!!est a demons head "or a helm, crowned with tall !olden horns' (hen &o% ride into
battle, men will shrin$ awa& in "ear'3
* demons head, T&rion tho%!ht r%e"%ll&, now what does that sa& o" me. 12aster
Salloreon, I plan to "i!ht the rest o" m& battles "rom this chair' Its lin$s I need, not
demon horns' So let me p%t it to &o% this wa&' ;o% will ma$e chains, or &o% will wear
them' The choice is &o%rs'3 ,e rose, and too$ his leae with nar& a bac$ward !lance'
Bronn was waitin! b& the !ate with his litter and an escort o" mo%nted Blac$ 5ars'
1;o% $now where were bo%nd,3 T&rion told him' ,e accepted a hand %p into the litter'
,e had done all he co%ld to "eed the h%n!r& cit&Ahed set seeral h%ndred carpenters to
b%ildin! "ishin! boats in place o" catap%lts, opened the $in!swood to an& h%nter who
dared to cross the rier, een sent !old cloa$s "ora!in! to the west and So%thA&et he
still saw acc%sin! e&es eer&where he rode' The litters c%rtains shielded him "rom that,
and besides !ae him leis%re to thin$'
*s the& wo%nd their slow wa& down twist& Shadowblac$ 7ane to the "oot o" *e!ons
,i!h ,ill, T&rion re"lected on the eents o" the mornin!' ,is sisters ire had led her to
oerloo$ the tr%e si!ni"icance o" Stannis Baratheons letter' (itho%t proo", his
acc%sations were nothin!: what mattered was that he had named himsel" a $in!' *nd
what will Benl& ma$e o" that. The& co%ld not both sit the Iron Throne'
Idl&, he p%shed the c%rtain bac$ a "ew inches to peer o%t at the streets' Blac$ 5ars rode
on both sides o" him, their !risl& nec$laces looped abo%t their throats, while Bronn went
in "ront to clear the wa&' ,e watched the passersb& watchin! him, and pla&ed a little
!ame with himsel", tr&in! to sort the in"ormers "rom the rest' The ones who loo$ the
most s%spicio%s are li$el& innocent, he decided' Its the ones who loo$ innocent I need
to beware'
,is destination was behind the hill o" Bhaen&s, and the streets were crowded' *lmost
an ho%r had passed be"ore the litter swa&ed to a stop' T&rion was do?in!, b%t he wo$e
abr%ptl& when the motion ceased, r%bbed the sand "rom his e&es, and accepted Bronns
hand to climb down'
The ho%se was two stories tall, stone below and timber aboe' * ro%nd t%rret rose "rom
one corner o" the str%ct%re' 2an& o" the windows were leaded' /er the door sw%n! an
ornate lamp, a !lobe o" !ilded metal and scarlet !lass'
1* brothel,3 Bronn said' 1(hat do &o% mean to do here.3
1(hat does one %s%all& do in a brothel.3
The sellsword la%!hed' 1Shaes not eno%!h.3
1She was prett& eno%!h "or a camp "ollower, b%t Im no lon!er in camp' 7ittle men
hae bi! appetites, and Im told the !irls here are "it "or a $in!'3
1Is the bo& old eno%!h.3
1Not Co""re&' Bobert' This ho%se was a !reat "aorite o" his'3 *ltho%!h Co""re& ma&
indeed be old eno%!h' *n interestin! notion, that' 1I" &o% and the Blac$ 5ars care to
am%se &o%rseles, "eel "ree, b%t +hata&as !irls are costl&' ;o%ll "ind cheaper ho%ses all
alon! the street' 7eae one man here wholl $now where to "ind the others when I wish
to ret%rn'3
Bronn nodded' 1*s &o% sa&'3 The Blac$ 5ars were all !rins'
Inside the door, a tall woman in "lowin! sil$s was waitin! "or him' She had ebon s$in
and sandalwood e&es' 1I am +hata&a,3 she anno%nced, bowin! deepl&' 1*nd &o% areA3
17et %s not !et into the habit o" names' Names are dan!ero%s'3 The air smelled o"
some e0otic spice, and the "loor beneath his "eet displa&ed a mosaic o" two women
entwined in loe' 1;o% hae a pleasant establishment'3
1I hae labored lon! to ma$e it so' I am !lad the ,and is pleased'3 ,er oice was
"lowin! amber, li)%id with the accents o" the distant S%mmer Isles'
1Titles can be as dan!ero%s as names,3 T&rion warned' 1Show me a "ew o" &o%r !irls'3
1It will be m& !reat deli!ht' ;o% will "ind that the& are all as sweet as the& are
bea%ti"%l, and s$illed in eer& art o" loe'3 She swept o"" !race"%ll&, leain! T&rion to
waddle a"ter as best he co%ld on le!s hal" the len!th o" hers'
=rom behind an ornate 2&rish screen cared with "lowers and "ancies and dreamin!
maidens, the& peered %nseen into a common room where an old man was pla&in! a
cheer"%l air on the pipes' In a c%shioned alcoe, a dr%n$en T&roshi with a p%rple beard
dandled a b%0om &o%n! wench on his $nee' ,ed %nlaced her bodice and was tiltin! his
c%p to po%r a thin tric$le o" wine oer her breasts so he mi!ht lap it o""' Two other !irls
sat pla&in! at tiles be"ore a leaded !lass window' The "rec$led one wore a chain o" bl%e
"lowers in her hone&ed hair' The other had s$in as smooth and blac$ as polished 9et,
wide dar$ e&es, small pointed breasts' The& dressed in "lowin! sil$s cinched at the waist
with beaded belts' The s%nli!ht po%rin! thro%!h the colored !lass o%tlined their sweet
&o%n! bodies thro%!h the thin cloth, and T&rion "elt a stirrin! in his !roin' 1I wo%ld
respect"%ll& s%!!est the dar$-s$inned !irl,3 said +hata&a'
1Shes &o%n!'3
1She has si0teen &ears, m& lord'3
* !ood a!e "or Co""re&, he tho%!ht, rememberin! what Bronn had said' ,is "irst had
been een &o%n!er' T&rion remembered how sh& shed seemed as he drew her dress %p
oer her head the "irst time' 7on! dar$ hair and bl%e e&es &o% co%ld drown in, and he
had' So lon! a!o ' ' ' (hat a wretched "ool &o% are, dwar"' 1#oes she come "rom &o%r
home lands, this !irl.3
1,er blood is the blood o" s%mmer, m& lord, b%t m& da%!hter was born here in 6in!s
7andin!'3 ,is s%rprise m%st hae shown on his "ace, "or +hata&a contin%ed, 12& people
hold that there is no shame to be "o%nd in the pillow ho%se' In the S%mmer Isles, those
who are s$illed at !iin! pleas%re are !reatl& esteemed' 2an& hi!hborn &o%ths and
maidens sere "or a "ew &ears a"ter their "lowerin!s, to honor the !ods'3
1(hat do the !ods hae to do with it.3
1The !ods made o%r bodies as well as o%r so%ls, is it not so. The& !ie %s oices, so
we mi!ht worship them with son!' The& !ie %s hands, so we mi!ht b%ild them temples'
*nd the& !ie %s desire, so we mi!ht mate and worship them in that wa&'3
1Bemind me to tell the ,i!h Septon,3 said T&rion' 1I" I co%ld pra& with m& coc$, Id
be m%ch more reli!io%s'3 ,e waed a hand' 1I will !ladl& accept &o%r s%!!estion'3
1I shall s%mmon m& da%!hter' +ome'3
The !irl met him at the "oot o" the stairs' Taller than Shae, tho%!h not so tall as her
mother, she had to $neel be"ore T&rion co%ld $iss her' 12& name is *la&a&a,3 she said,
with onl& the sli!htest hint o" her mothers accent' 1+ome, m& lord'3 She too$ him b&
the hand and drew him %p two "li!hts o" stairs, then down a lon! hall' 8asps and shrie$s
o" pleas%re were comin! "rom behind one o" the closed doors, !i!!les and whispers
"rom another' T&rions coc$ pressed a!ainst the lacin!s o" his breeches' This co%ld be
h%miliatin!, he tho%!ht as he "ollowed *la&a&a %p another stair to the t%rret room' There
was onl& one door' She led him thro%!h and closed it' (ithin the room was a !reat
canopied bed, a tall wardrobe decorated with erotic carin!s, and a narrow window o"
leaded !lass in a pattern o" red and &ellow diamonds'
1;o% are er& bea%ti"%l, *la&a&a,3 T&rion told her when the& were alone' 1=rom head
to heels, eer& part o" &o% is loel&' ;et 9%st now the part that interests me most is &o%r
ton!%e'3
12& lord will "ind m& ton!%e well schooled' (hen I was a !irl I learned when to %se
it, and when not'3
1That pleases me'3 T&rion smiled' 1So what shall we do now. 4erchance &o% hae
some s%!!estion.3
1;es,3 she said' 1I" m& lord will open the wardrobe, he will "ind what he see$s'3
T&rion $issed her hand, and climbed inside the empt& wardrobe' *la&a&a closed it a"ter
him' ,e !roped "or the bac$ panel, "elt it slide %nder his "in!ers, and p%shed it all the
wa& aside' The hollow space behind the walls was pitch-blac$, b%t he "%mbled %ntil he
"elt metal' ,is hand closed aro%nd the r%n! o" a ladder' ,e "o%nd a lower r%n! with his
"oot, and started down' (ell below street leel, the sha"t opened onto a slantin! earthen
t%nnel, where he "o%nd >ar&s waitin! with candle in hand'
>ar&s did not loo$ at all li$e himsel"' * scarred "ace and a st%bble o" dar$ beard
showed %nder his spi$ed steel cap, and he wore mail oer boiled leather, dir$ and
shortsword at his belt' 1(as +hata&as to &o%r satis"action, m& lord.3
1*lmost too m%ch so,3 admitted T&rion' 1;o%re certain this woman can be relied on.3
1I am certain o" nothin! in this "ic$le and treachero%s world, m& lord' +hata&a has no
ca%se to loe the )%een, tho%!h, and she $nows that she has &o% to than$ "or riddin! her
o" *llar #eem' Shall we !o.3 ,e started down the t%nnel'
5en his wal$ is di""erent, T&rion obsered' The scent o" so%r wine and !arlic cl%n! to
>ar&s instead o" laender' 1I li$e this new !arb o" &o%rs,3 he o""ered as the& went'
1The wor$ I do does not permit me to trael the streets amid a col%mn o" $ni!hts' So
when I leae the castle, I adopt more s%itable !%ises, and th%s lie to sere &o% lon!er'3
17eather becomes &o%' ;o% o%!ht to come li$e this to o%r ne0t co%ncil session'3
1;o%r sister wo%ld not approe, m& lord'3
12& sister wo%ld soil her smallclothes'3 ,e smiled in the dar$' 1I saw no si!ns o" an&
o" her spies s$%l$in! a"ter me'3
1I am pleased to hear it, m& lord' Some o" &o%r sisters hirelin!s are mine as well,
%nbe$nownst to her' I sho%ld hate to thin$ the& had !rown so slopp& as to be seen'3
1(ell, Id hate to thin$ I was climbin! thro%!h wardrobes and s%""erin! the pan!s o"
"r%strated l%st all "or na%!ht'3
1Scarcel& "or na%!ht,3 >ar&s ass%red him' 1The& $now &o% are here' (hether an& will
be bold eno%!h to enter +hata&as in the !%ise o" patrons I cannot sa&, b%t I "ind it best
to err on the side o" ca%tion'3
1,ow is it a brothel happens to hae a secret entrance.3
1The t%nnel was d%! "or another 6in!s ,and, whose honor wo%ld not allow him to
enter s%ch a ho%se openl&' +hata&a has closel& !%arded the $nowled!e o" its e0istence'3
1*nd &et &o% $new o" it'3
17ittle birds "l& thro%!h man& a dar$ t%nnel' +are"%l, the steps are steep'3
The& emer!ed thro%!h a trap at the bac$ o" a stable, hain! come perhaps a distance o"
three bloc$s %nder Bhaen&ss ,ill' * horse whic$ered in his stall when T&rion let the
door slam sh%t' >ar&s blew o%t the candle and set it on a beam and T&rion !a?ed abo%t'
* m%le and three horses occ%pied the stalls' ,e waddled oer to the piebald !eldin! and
too$ a loo$ at his teeth' 1/ld,3 he said, 1and I hae m& do%bts abo%t his wind'3
1,e is not a mo%nt to carr& &o% into battle, tr%e,3 >ar&s replied, 1b%t he will sere, and
attract no notice' *s will the others' *nd the stablebo&s see and hear onl& the animals'3
The e%n%ch too$ a cloa$ "rom a pe!' It was ro%!hsp%n, s%n-"aded, and threadbare, b%t
er& ample in its c%t' 1I" &o% will permit me'3 (hen he swept it oer T&rions sho%lders
it eneloped him head to heel, with a cowl that co%ld be p%lled "orward to drown his
"ace in shadows' 12en see what the& e0pect to see,3 >ar&s said as he "%ssed and p%lled'
1#war"s are not so common a si!ht as children, so a child is what the& will see' * bo& in
an old cloa$ on his "athers horse, !oin! abo%t his "athers b%siness' Tho%!h it wo%ld be
best i" &o% came most o"ten b& ni!ht'3
1I plan to ' ' ' a"ter toda&' *t the moment, tho%!h, Shae awaits me'3 ,e had p%t her %p
in a walled manse at the "ar northeast corner o" 6in!s 7andin!, not "ar "rom the sea, b%t
he had not dared isit her there "or "ear o" bein! "ollowed'
1(hich horse will &o% hae.3
T&rion shr%!!ed' 1This one will do well eno%!h'3
1I shall saddle him "or &o%'3 >ar&s too$ tac$ and saddle down "rom a pe!'
T&rion ad9%sted the hea& cloa$ and paced restlessl&' 1;o% missed a liel& co%ncil'
Stannis has crowned himsel", it seems'3
1I $now'3
1,e acc%ses m& brother and sister o" incest' I wonder how he came b& that s%spicion'3
14erhaps he read a boo$ and loo$ed at the color o" a bastards hair, as Ned Star$ did,
and Con *rr&n be"ore him' /r perhaps someone whispered it in his ear'3 The e%n%chs
la%!h was not his %s%al !i!!le, b%t deeper and more throat&'
1Someone li$e &o%, perchance.3
1*m I s%spected. It was not me'3
1i" it had been, wo%ld &o% admit it.3
1No' B%t wh& sho%ld I betra& a secret I hae $ept so lon!. It is one thin! to deceie a
$in!, and )%ite another to hide "rom the cric$et in the r%shes and the little bird in the
chimne&' Besides, the bastards were there "or all to see'3
1Boberts bastards. (hat o" them.3
1,e "athered ei!ht, to the best o" m& $nowin!,3 >ar&s said as he wrestled with the
saddle' 1Their mothers were copper and hone&, chestn%t and b%tter, &et the babes were
all blac$ as raens ' ' ' and as ill-omened, it wo%ld seem' So when Co""re&, 2&rcella, and
Tommen slid o%t between &o%r sisters thi!hs, each as !olden as the s%n, the tr%th was
not hard to !limpse'3
T&rion shoo$ his head' I" she had borne onl& one child "or her h%sband, it wo%ld hae
been eno%!h to disarm s%spicion ' ' ' b%t then she wo%ld not hae been +ersei' 1I" &o%
were not this whisperer, who was.3
1Some traitor, do%btless'3 >ar&s ti!htened the cinch'
17ittle"in!er.3
1I named no name'3
T&rion let the e%n%ch help him mo%nt' 17ord >ar&s,3 he said "rom the saddle,
1sometimes I "eel as tho%!h &o% are the best "riend I hae in 6in!s 7andin!, and
sometimes I "eel &o% are m& worst enem&'3
1,ow odd' I thin$ )%ite the same o" &o%'3
C#APT"R $,
*RA'
7on! be"ore the "irst pale "in!ers o" li!ht pried apart Brans sh%tters, his e&es were
open'
There were !%ests in (inter"ell, isitors come "or the harest "east' This mornin! the&
wo%ld be tiltin! at )%intains in the &ard' /nce that prospect wo%ld hae "illed him with
e0citement, b%t that was be"ore'
Not now' The (alders wo%ld brea$ lances with the s)%ires o" 7ord 2anderl&s escort,
b%t Bran wo%ld hae no part o" it' ,e m%st pla& the prince in his "athers solar' 17isten,
and it ma& be that &o% will learn somethin! o" what lordship is all abo%t,3 2aester
7%win had said'
Bran had neer as$ed to be a prince' It was $ni!hthood he had alwa&s dreamed o":
bri!ht armor and streamin! banners, lance and sword, a warhorse between his le!s' (h&
m%st he waste his da&s listenin! to old men spea$ o" thin!s he onl& hal" %nderstood.
Beca%se &o%re bro$en, a oice inside reminded him' * lord on his c%shioned chair
mi!ht be crippledAthe (alders said their !rand"ather was so "eeble he had to be carried
eer&where in a litterAb%t not a $ni!ht on his destrier' Besides, it was his d%t&' 1;o% are
&o%r brothers heir and the Star$ in (inter"ell,3 Ser Bodri$ said, remindin! him o" how
Bobb %sed to sit with their lord "ather when his bannermen came to see him'
7ord (&man 2anderl& had arried "rom (hite ,arbor two da&s past, traelin! b&
bar!e and litter, as he was too "at to sit a horse' (ith him had come a lon! tail o"
retainers: $ni!hts, s)%ires, lesser lords and ladies, heralds, m%sicians, een a 9%!!ler, all
a!litter with banners and s%rcoats in what seemed hal" a h%ndred colors' Bran had
welcomed them to (inter"ell "rom his "athers hi!h stone seat with the direwoles
cared into the arms, and a"terward Ser Bodri$ had said hed done well' I" that had been
the end o" it, he wo%ld not hae minded' B%t it was onl& the be!innin!'
1The "east ma$es a pleasant prete0t,3 Ser Bodri$ e0plained, 1b%t a man does not cross
a h%ndred lea!%es "or a slier o" d%c$ and a sip o" wine' /nl& those who hae matters o"
import to set be"ore %s are li$e to ma$e the 9o%rne&'3
Bran !a?ed %p at the ro%!h stone ceilin! aboe his head' Bobb wo%ld tell him not to
pla& the bo&, he $new' ,e co%ld almost hear him, and their lord "ather as well' (inter is
comin!, and &o% are almost a man !rown, Bran' ;o% hae a d%t&'
(hen ,odor came b%stlin! in, smilin! and h%mmin! t%nelessl&, he "o%nd the bo&
resi!ned to his "ate' To!ether the& !ot him washed and br%shed' 1The white wool
do%blet toda&,3 Bran commanded' 1*nd the siler brooch' Ser Bodri$ will want me to
loo$ lordl&'3 *s m%ch as he co%ld, Bran pre"erred to dress himsel", b%t there were some
tas$sAp%llin! on breeches, lacin! his bootsAthat e0ed him' The& went )%ic$er with
,odors help' /nce he had been ta%!ht to do somethin!, he did it de"tl&' ,is hands were
alwa&s !entle, tho%!h his stren!th was astonishin!' 1;o% co%ld hae been a $ni!ht too, I
bet,3 Bran told him' 1I" the !ods hadnt ta$en &o%r wits, &o% wo%ld hae been a !reat
$ni!ht'3
1,odor.3 ,odor blin$ed at him with !%ileless brown e&es, e&es innocent o"
%nderstandin!'
1;es,3 said Bran' 1,odor'3 ,e pointed' /n the wall beside the door h%n! a bas$et,
sto%tl& made o" wic$er and leather, with holes c%t "or Brans le!s' ,odor slid his arms
thro%!h the straps and cinched the wide belt ti!ht aro%nd his chest, then $nelt beside the
bed' Bran %sed the bars s%n$ into the wall to s%pport himsel" as he sw%n! the dead
wei!ht o" his le!s into the bas$et and thro%!h the holes'
1,odor,3 ,odor said a!ain, risin!' The stablebo& stood near seen "eet tall all b&
himsel": on his bac$ Brans head almost br%shed the ceilin!' ,e d%c$ed low as the&
passed thro%!h the door' /ne time ,odor smelled bread ba$in! and ran to the $itchens,
and Bran !ot s%ch a crac$ that 2aester 7%win had to sew %p his scalp' 2i$$en had
!ien him a r%st& old isorless helm "rom the armor&, b%t Bran seldom tro%bled to wear
it' The (alders la%!hed wheneer the& saw it on his head'
,e rested his hands on ,odors sho%lders as the& descended the windin! stair' /%tside,
the so%nds o" sword and shield and horse alread& ran! thro%!h the &ard' It made a sweet
m%sic' Ill 9%st hae a loo$, Bran tho%!ht, a )%ic$ loo$, thats all'
The (hite ,arbor lordlin!s wo%ld emer!e later in the mornin!, with their $ni!hts and
men-at-arms' <ntil then, the &ard belon!ed to their s)%ires, who ran!ed in a!e "rom ten
to "ort&' Bran wished he were one o" them so badl& that his stomach h%rt with the
wantin!'
Two )%intains had been erected in the co%rt&ard, each a sto%t post s%pportin! a
spinnin! crossbeam with a shield at one end and a padded b%tt at the other' The shields
had been painted red-and-!old, tho%!h the 7annister lions were l%mp& and misshapen,
and alread& well scarred b& the "irst bo&s to ta$e a tilt at them'
The si!ht o" Bran in his bas$et drew stares "rom those who had not seen it be"ore, b%t
he had learned to i!nore stares' *t least he had a !ood iew: on ,odors bac$, he
towered oer eer&one' The (alders were mo%ntin! %p, he saw' The&d bro%!ht "ine
armor %p "rom the Twins, shinin! siler plate with enameled bl%e chasin!s' Bi! (alders
crest was shaped li$e a castle, while 7ittle (alder "aored streamers o" bl%e and !re&
sil$' Their shields and s%rcoats also set them apart "rom each other' 7ittle (alder
)%artered the twin towers o" =re& with the brindled boar o" his !randmothers ,o%se and
the plowman o" his mothers: +ra$ehall and #arr&, respectiel&' Bi! (alders
)%arterin!s were the tree-and-raens o" ,o%se Blac$wood and the twinin! sna$es o" the
4ae!es' The& m%st be h%n!r& "or honor, Bran tho%!ht as he watched them ta$e %p their
lances' * Star$ needs onl& the direwol"'
Their dappled !re& co%rsers were swi"t, stron!, and bea%ti"%ll& trained' Side b& side
the& char!ed the )%intains' Both hit the shields cleanl& and were well past be"ore the
padded b%tts came spinnin! aro%nd' 7ittle (alder str%c$ the harder blow, b%t Bran
tho%!ht Bi! (alder sat his horse better' ,e wo%ld hae !ien both his %seless le!s "or
the chance to ride a!ainst either'
7ittle (alder cast his splintered lance aside, spied Bran, and reined %p' 1Now theres
an %!l& horse,3 he said o" ,odor'
1,odors no horse,3 Bran said'
1,odor,3 said ,odor'
Bi! (alder trotted %p to 9oin his co%sin' 1(ell, hes not as smart as a horse, thats "or
certain'3 * "ew o" the (hite ,arbor lads po$ed each other and la%!hed'
1,odor'3 Beamin! !eniall&, ,odor loo$ed "rom one =re& to the other, obliio%s to
their ta%ntin!' 1,odor hodor.3
7ittle (alders mo%nt whic$ered' 1See, the&re tal$in! to each other' 2a&be hodor
means DI loe &o% in horse'3
1;o% sh%t %p, =re&'3 Bran co%ld "eel his color risin!'
7ittle (alder sp%rred his horse closer, !iin! ,odor a b%mp that p%shed him
bac$ward' 1(hat will &o% do i" I dont.3
1,ell set his wol" on &o%, co%sin,3 warned Bi! (alder'
17et him' I alwa&s wanted a wol"s$in cloa$'3
1S%mmer wo%ld tear &o%r "at head o"",3 Bran said'
7ittle (alder ban!ed a mailed "ist a!ainst his breastplate' 1#oes &o%r wol" hae steel
teeth, to bite thro%!h plate and mail.3
15no%!h@3 2aester 7%wins oice crac$ed thro%!h the clan!or o" the &ard as lo%d as a
th%nderclap' ,ow m%ch he had oerheard, Bran co%ld not sa& ' ' ' b%t it was eno%!h to
an!er him, clearl&' 1These threats are %nseeml&, and Ill hear no more o" them' Is this
how &o% behae at the Twins, (alder =re&.3
1I" I want to'3 *top his co%rser, 7ittle (alder !ae 7%win a s%llen !lare, as i" to sa&,
;o% are onl& a maester, who are &o% to reproach a =re& o" the +rossin!.
1(ell, it is not how 7ad& Star$s wards o%!ht behae at (inter"ell' (hats at the root
o" this.3 The maester loo$ed at each bo& in t%rn' 1/ne o" &o% will tell me, I swear, or
A3
1(e were hain! a 9ape with ,odor,3 con"essed Bi! (alder' 1I am sorr& i" we
o""ended 4rince Bran' (e onl& meant to be am%sin!'3 ,e at least had the !race to loo$
abashed'
7ittle (alder onl& loo$ed peeish' 1*nd me,3 he said' 1I was onl& bein! am%sin! too'3
The bald spot atop the maesters head had t%rned red, Bran co%ld see: i" an&thin!,
7%win was more an!r& than be"ore' 1* !ood lord com"orts and protects the wea$ and
helpless,3 he told the =re&s' 1I will not hae &o% ma$in! ,odor the b%tt o" cr%el 9ests, do
&o% hear me. ,es a !oodhearted lad, d%ti"%l and obedient, which is more than I can sa&
"or either o" &o%'3 The maester wa!!ed a "in!er at 7ittle (alder' 1*nd &o% will sta& o%t
o" the !odswood and awa& "rom those woles, or answer "or it'3 Sleees "lappin!, he
t%rned on his heels, stal$ed o"" a "ew paces, and !lanced bac$' 1Bran' +ome' 7ord
(&man awaits'3
1,odor, !o with the maester,3 Bran commanded'
1,odor,3 said ,odor' ,is lon! strides ca%!ht %p with the maesters "%rio%sl& p%mpin!
le!s on the steps o" the 8reat 6eep' 2aester 7%win held the door open, and Bran h%!!ed
,odors nec$ and d%c$ed as the& went thro%!h'
1The (aldersA3 he be!an'
1Ill hear no more o" that, its done'3 2aester 7%win loo$ed worn-o%t and "ra&ed' 1;o%
were ri!ht to de"end ,odor, b%t &o% sho%ld neer hae been there' Ser Bodri$ and 7ord
(&man hae bro$en their "ast alread& while the& waited "or &o%' 2%st I come m&sel" to
"etch &o%, as i" &o% were a little child.3
1No,3 Bran said, ashamed' 1Im sorr&' I onl& wanted ' ' '3
1I $now what &o% wanted,3 2aester 7%win said, more !entl&' 1(o%ld that it co%ld be,
Bran' #o &o% hae an& )%estions be"ore we be!in this a%dience.3
1(ill we tal$ o" the war.3
1;o% will tal$ o" na%!ht'3 The sharpness was bac$ in 7%wins oice' 1;o% are still a
child o" ei!ht ' ' '3
1*lmost nine@3
15i!ht,3 the maester repeated "irml&' 1Spea$ nothin! b%t co%rtesies %nless Ser Bodri$
or 7ord (&man p%ts &o% a )%estion'3
Bran nodded' 1Ill remember'3
1I will sa& nothin! to Ser Bodri$ o" what passed between &o% and the =re& bo&s'3
1Than$ &o%'3
The& p%t Bran in his "athers oa$ chair with the !re& elet c%shions, behind a lon!
plan$-and-trestle table' Ser Bodri$ sat on his ri!ht hand and 2aester 7%win to his le"t,
armed with )%ills and in$pots and a shea" o" blan$ parchment to write down all that
transpired' Bran ran a hand across the ro%!h wood o" the table and be!!ed 7ord
(&mans pardons "or bein! late'
1(h&, no prince is eer late,3 the 7ord o" (hite ,arbor responded amiabl&' 1Those
who arrie be"ore him hae come earl&, thats all'3 (&man 2anderl& had a !reat
boomin! la%!h' It was small wonder he co%ld not sit a saddle: he loo$ed as i" he
o%twei!hed most horses' *s wind& as he was ast, he be!an b& as$in! (inter"ell to
con"irm the new c%stoms o""icers he had appointed "or (hite ,arbor' The old ones had
been holdin! bac$ siler "or 6in!s 7andin! rather than pa&in! it oer to the new 6in!
in the North' 16in! Bobb needs his own coina!e as well,3 he declared, 1and (hite
,arbor is the er& place to mint it'3 ,e o""ered to ta$e char!e o" the matter, as it please
the $in!, and went "rom that to spea$ o" how he had stren!thened the ports de"enses,
detailin! the cost o" eer& improement'
In addition to a mint, 7ord 2anderl& also proposed to b%ild Bobb a war"leet' 1(e hae
had no stren!th at sea "or h%ndreds o" &ears, since Brandon the B%rner p%t the torch to
his "athers ships' 8rant me the !old and within the &ear I will "loat &o% s%""icient
!alle&s to ta$e #ra!onstone and 6in!s 7andin! both'3
Brans interest pric$ed %p at tal$ o" warships' No one as$ed him, b%t he tho%!ht 7ord
(&mans notion a splendid one' In his minds e&e he co%ld see them alread&' ,e
wondered i" a cripple had eer commanded a warship' B%t Ser Bodri$ promised onl& to
send the proposal on to Bobb "or his consideration, while 2aester 7%win scratched at
the parchment'
2idda& came and went' 2aester 7%win sent 4o0& T&m down to the $itchens, and the&
dined in the solar on cheese, capons, and brown oat-bread' (hile tearin! apart a bird
with "at "in!ers, 7ord (&man made polite in)%ir& a"ter 7ad& ,ornwood, who was a
co%sin o" his' 1She was born a 2anderl&, &o% $now' 4erhaps, when her !rie" has r%n its
co%rse, she wo%ld li$e to be a 2anderl& a!ain, eh.3 ,e too$ a bite "rom a win!, and
smiled broadl&' 1*s it happens, I am a widower these past ei!ht &ears' 4ast time I too$
another wi"e, dont &o% a!ree, m& lords. * man does !et lonel&'3 Tossin! the bones
aside, he reached "or a le!' 1/r i" the lad& "ancies a &o%n!er lad, well, m& son (endel is
%nwed as well' ,e is o"" so%th !%ardin! 7ad& +atel&n, b%t no do%bt he will wish to ta$e
a bride on his ret%rn' * aliant bo&, and 9oll' C%st the man to teach her to la%!h a!ain,
eh.3 ,e wiped a bit o" !rease o"" his chin with the sleee o" his t%nic'
Bran co%ld hear the distant clash o" arms thro%!h the windows' ,e cared nothin! abo%t
marria!es' I wish I was down in the &ard'
,is lordship waited %ntil the table had been cleared be"ore he raised the matter o" a
letter he had receied "rom 7ord T&win 7annister, who held his elder son, Ser (&lis,
ta$en captie on the 8reen =or$' 1,e o""ers him bac$ to me witho%t ransom, proided I
withdraw m& leies "rom ,is 8race and ow to "i!ht no more'3
1;o% will re"%se him, o" co%rse,3 said Ser Bodri$'
1,ae no "ear on that co%nt,3 the lord ass%red them' 16in! Bobb has no more lo&al
serant than (&man 2anderl&' I wo%ld be loath to see m& son lan!%ish at ,arrenhal an&
lon!er than he m%st, howeer' That is an ill place' +%rsed, the& sa&' Not that I am the
sort to swallow s%ch tales, b%t still, there it is' 7oo$ at whats be"allen this Canos Sl&nt'
Baised %p to 7ord o" ,arrenhal b& the )%een, and cast down b& her brother' Shipped o""
to the (all, the& sa&' I pra& some e)%itable e0chan!e o" capties can be arran!ed be"ore
too er& lon!' I $now (&lis wo%ld not want to sit o%t the rest o" the war' 8allant, that
son o" mine, and "ierce as a masti""'3
Brans sho%lders were sti"" "rom sittin! in the same chair b& the time the a%dience
drew to a close' *nd that ni!ht, as he sat to s%pper, a horn so%nded to herald the arrial
o" another !%est' 7ad& #onella ,ornwood bro%!ht no tail o" $ni!hts and retainers: onl&
hersel", and si0 tired men-at-arms with a moosehead bad!e on their d%st& oran!e lier&'
1(e are er& sorr& "or all &o% hae s%""ered, m& lad&,3 Bran said when she came be"ore
him to spea$ her words o" !reetin!s' 7ord ,ornwood had been $illed in the battle on the
8reen =or$, their onl& son c%t down in the (hisperin! (ood' 1(inter"ell will
remember'3
1That is !ood to $now'3 She was a pale h%s$ o" a woman, eer& line o" her "ace etched
with !rie"' 1I am er& wear&, m& lord' I" I mi!ht hae leae to rest, I sho%ld be
than$"%l'3
1To be s%re,3 Ser Bodri$ said' 1There is time eno%!h "or tal$ on the morrow'3
(hen the morrow came, most o" the mornin! was !ien oer to tal$ o" !rains and
!reens and saltin! meat' /nce the maesters in their +itadel had proclaimed the "irst o"
a%t%mn, wise men p%t awa& a portion o" each harest ' ' ' tho%!h how lar!e a portion
was a matter that seemed to re)%ire m%ch tal$' 7ad& ,ornwood was storin! a "i"th o" her
harest' *t 2aester 7%wins s%!!estion, she owed to increase that to a )%arter'
1Boltons bastard is massin! men at the #read"ort,3 she warned them' 1I hope he
means to ta$e them so%th to 9oin his "ather at the Twins, b%t when I sent to as$ his intent,
he told me that no Bolton wo%ld be )%estioned b& a woman' *s i" he were tr%eborn and
had a ri!ht to that name'3
17ord Bolton has neer ac$nowled!ed the bo&, so "ar as I $now,3 Ser Bodri$ said' 1I
con"ess, I do not $now him'3
1=ew do,3 she replied' 1,e lied with his mother %ntil two &ears past, when &o%n!
#omeric died and le"t Bolton witho%t an heir' That was when he bro%!ht his bastard to
the #read"ort' The bo& is a sl& creat%re b& all acco%nts, and he has a serant who is
almost as cr%el as he is' Bee$, the& call the man' Its said he neer bathes' The& h%nt
to!ether, the Bastard and this Bee$, and not "or deer' Ie heard tales, thin!s I can scarce
beliee, een o" a Bolton' *nd now that m& lord h%sband and m& sweet son hae !one
to the !ods, the Bastard loo$s at m& lands h%n!ril&'3
Bran wanted to !ie the lad& a h%ndred men to de"end her ri!hts, b%t Ser Bodri$ onl&
said, 1,e ma& loo$, b%t sho%ld he do more I promise &o% there will be dire retrib%tion'
;o% will be sa"e eno%!h, m& lad& ' ' ' tho%!h perhaps in time, when &o%r !rie" is passed,
&o% ma& "ind it pr%dent to wed a!ain'3
1I am past m& childbearin! &ears, what bea%t& I had lon! "led,3 she replied with a tired
hal" smile, 1&et men come sni""in! a"ter me as the& neer did when I was a maid'3
1;o% do not loo$ "aorabl& on these s%itors.3 as$ed 7%win'
1I shall wed a!ain i" ,is 8race commands it,3 7ad& ,ornwood replied, 1b%t 2ors
+row"ood is a dr%n$en br%te, and older than m& "ather' *s "or m& noble co%sin o"
2anderl&, m& lords bed is not lar!e eno%!h to hold one o" his ma9est&, and I am s%rel&
too small and "rail to lie beneath him'3
Bran $new that men slept on top o" women when the& shared a bed' Sleepin! %nder
7ord 2anderl& wo%ld be li$e sleepin! %nder a "allen horse, he ima!ined' Ser Bodri$
!ae the widow a s&mpathetic nod' 1;o% will hae other s%itors, m& lad&' (e shall tr&
and "ind &o% a prospect more to &o%r taste'3
14erhaps &o% need not loo$ er& "ar, ser'3
*"ter she had ta$en her leae, 2aester 7%win smiled' 1Ser Bodri$, I do beliee m&
lad& "ancies &o%'3
Ser Bodri$ cleared his throat and loo$ed %ncom"ortable'
1She was er& sad,3 said Bran'
Ser Bodri$ nodded' 1Sad and !entle, and not at all %ncomel& "or a woman o" her &ears,
"or all her modest&' ;et a dan!er to the peace o" &o%r brothers realm nonetheless'3
1,er.3 Bran said, astonished'
2aester 7%win answered' 1(ith no direct heir, there are s%re to be man& claimants
contendin! "or the ,ornwood lands' The Tallharts, =lints, and 6arstar$s all hae ties to
,o%se ,ornwood thro%!h the "emale line, and the 8loers are "osterin! 7ord ,ar&ss
bastard at #eepwood 2otte' The #read"ort has no claim that I $now, b%t the lands
ad9oin, and Boose Bolton is not one to oerloo$ s%ch a chance'3
Ser Bodri$ t%!!ed at his whis$ers' 1In s%ch cases, her lie!e lord m%st "ind her a
s%itable match'3
1(h& cant &o% marr& her.3 Bran as$ed' 1;o% said she was comel&, and Beth wo%ld
hae a mother'3
The old $ni!ht p%t a hand on Brans arm' 1* $indl& tho%!ht, m& prince, b%t I am onl&
a $ni!ht, and besides too old' I mi!ht hold her lands "or a "ew &ears, b%t as soon as I
died 7ad& ,ornwood wo%ld "ind hersel" bac$ in the same mire, and Beths prospects
mi!ht be perilo%s as well'3
1Then let 7ord ,ornwoods bastard be the heir,3 Bran said, thin$in! o" his hal" brother
Con'
Ser Bodri$ said, 1That wo%ld please the 8loers, and perhaps 7ord ,ornwoods shade
as well, b%t I do not thin$ 7ad& ,ornwood wo%ld loe %s' The bo& is not o" her blood'3
1Still,3 said 2aester 7%win, 1it m%st be considered' 7ad& #onella is past her "ertile
&ears, as she said hersel"' I" not the bastard, who.3
12a& I be e0c%sed.3 Bran co%ld hear the s)%ires at their swordpla& in the &ard below,
the rin! o" steel on steel'
1*s &o% will, m& prince,3 said Ser Bodri$' 1;o% did well'3 Bran "l%shed with pleas%re'
Bein! a lord was not so tedio%s as he had "eared, and since 7ad& ,ornwood had been so
m%ch brie"er than 7ord 2anderl&, he een had a "ew ho%rs o" da&li!ht le"t to isit with
S%mmer' ,e li$ed to spend time with his wol" eer& da&, when Ser Bodri$ and the
maester allowed it'
No sooner had ,odor entered the !odswood than S%mmer emer!ed "rom %nder an oa$,
almost as i" he had $nown the& were comin!' Bran !limpsed a lean blac$ shape
watchin! "rom the %nder!rowth as well' 1Sha!!&,3 he called' 1,ere, Sha!!&do!' To
me'3 B%t Bic$ons wol" anished as swi"tl& as hed appeared'
,odor $new Brans "aorite place, so he too$ him to the ed!e o" the pool beneath the
!reat spread o" the heart tree, where 7ord 5ddard %sed to $neel to pra&' Bipples were
r%nnin! across the s%r"ace o" the water when the& arried, ma$in! the re"lection o" the
weirwood shimmer and dance' There was no wind, tho%!h' =or an instant Bran was
ba""led'
*nd then /sha e0ploded %p o%t o" the pool with a !reat splash, so s%dden that een
S%mmer leapt bac$, snarlin!' ,odor 9%mped awa&, wailin! 1,odor, ,odor3 in disma&
%ntil Bran patted his sho%lder to soothe his "ears' 1,ow can &o% swim in there.3 he
as$ed /sha' 1Isnt it cold.3
1*s a babe I s%c$led on icicles, bo&' I li$e the cold'3 /sha swam to the roc$s and rose
drippin!' She was na$ed, her s$in b%mp& with !oosepric$les' S%mmer crept close and
sni""ed at her' 1I wanted to to%ch the bottom'3
1I neer $new there was a bottom'3
12i!ht be there isnt'3 She !rinned' 1(hat are &o% starin! at, bo&. Neer seen a
woman be"ore.3
1I hae so'3 Bran had bathed with his sisters h%ndreds o" times and hed seen serin!
women in the hot pools too' /sha loo$ed di""erent, tho%!h, hard and sharp instead o"
so"t and c%r&' ,er le!s were all sinew, her breasts "lat as two empt& p%rses' 1;o%e
!ot a lot o" scars'3
15er& one hard earned'3 She pic$ed %p her brown shi"t, shoo$ some leaes o"" o" it,
and p%lled it down oer her head'
1=i!htin! !iants.3 /sha claimed there were still !iants be&ond the (all' /ne da&
ma&be Ill een see one ' ' '
1=i!htin! men'3 She belted hersel" with a len!th o" rope' 1Blac$ crows, o"t as not'
6illed me one too,3 she said, sha$in! o%t her hair' It had !rown since shed come to
(inter"ell, well down past her ears' She loo$ed so"ter than the woman who had once
tried to rob and $ill him in the wol"swood' 1,eard some &atterin! in the $itchen toda&
abo%t &o% and them =re&s'3
1(ho. (hat did the& sa&.3
She !ae him a so%r !rin' 1That its a "ool bo& who moc$s a !iant, and a mad world
when a cripple has to de"end him'3
1,odor neer $new the& were moc$in! him,3 Bran said' 1*n&how he neer "i!hts'3
,e remembered once when he was little, !oin! to the mar$et s)%are with his mother and
Septa 2ordane' The& bro%!ht ,odor to carr& "or them, b%t he had wandered awa&, and
when the& "o%nd him some bo&s had him bac$ed into an alle&, po$in! him with stic$s'
1,odor@3 he $ept sho%tin!, crin!in! and coerin! himsel", b%t he had neer raised a
hand a!ainst his tormentors' 1Septon +ha&le sa&s he has a !entle spirit'3
1*&e,3 she said, 1and hands stron! eno%!h to twist a mans head o"" his sho%lders, i"
he ta$es a mind to' *ll the same, he better watch his bac$ aro%nd that (alder' ,im and
&o% both' The bi! one the& call little, it comes to me hes well named' Bi! o%tside, little
inside, and mean down to the bones'3
1,ed neer dare h%rt me' ,es scared o" S%mmer, no matter what he sa&s'3
1Then mi!ht be hes not so st%pid as he seems'3 /sha was alwa&s war& aro%nd the
direwoles' The da& she was ta$en, S%mmer and 8re& (ind between them had torn
three wildlin!s to blood& pieces' 1/r mi!ht be he is' *nd that tastes o" tro%ble too'3 She
tied %p her hair' 1;o% hae more o" them wol" dreams.3
1No'3 ,e did not li$e to tal$ abo%t the dreams'
1* prince sho%ld lie better than that'3 /sha la%!hed' 1(ell, &o%r dreams are &o%r
b%siness' 2ines in the $itchens, and Id best be !ettin! bac$ be"ore 8a!e starts to
sho%tin! and wain! that bi! wooden spoon o" his' B& &o%r leae, m& prince'3
She sho%ld neer hae tal$ed abo%t the wol" dreams, Bran tho%!ht as ,odor carried
him %p the steps to his bedchamber' ,e "o%!ht a!ainst sleep as lon! as he co%ld, b%t in
the end it too$ him as it alwa&s did' /n this ni!ht he dreamed o" the weirwood' It was
loo$in! at him with its deep red e&es, callin! to him with its twisted wooden mo%th, and
"rom its pale branches the three-e&ed crow came "lappin!, pec$in! at his "ace and cr&in!
his name in a oice as sharp as swords'
The blast o" horns wo$e him' Bran p%shed himsel" onto his side, !rate"%l "or the
repriee' ,e heard horses and boistero%s sho%tin!' 2ore !%ests hae come, and hal"-
dr%n$ b& the noise o" them' 8raspin! his bars he p%lled himsel" "rom the bed and oer to
the window seat' /n their banner was a !iant in shattered chains that told him that these
were <mber men, down "rom the northlands be&ond the 7ast Bier'
The ne0t da& two o" them came to!ether to a%dience: the 8reat9ons %ncles, bl%ster&
men in the winter o" their da&s with beards as white as the bears$in cloa$s the& wore' *
crow had once ta$en 2ors "or dead and pec$ed o%t his e&e, so he wore a ch%n$ o"
dra!on!lass in its stead' *s /ld Nan told the tale, hed !rabbed the crow in his "ist and
bitten its head o"", so the& named him +row"ood' She wo%ld neer tell Bran wh& his
!a%nt brother ,other was called (horesbane'
No sooner had the& been seated than 2ors as$ed "or leae to wed 7ad& ,ornwood'
1The 8reat9ons the ;o%n! (ol"s stron! ri!ht hand, all $now that to be tr%e' (ho better
to protect the widows lands than an <mber, and what <mber better than me.3
17ad& #onella is still !riein!,3 2aester 7%win said'
1I hae a c%re "or !rie" %nder m& "%rs'3 2ors la%!hed' Ser Bodri$ than$ed him
co%rteo%sl& and promised to brin! the matter be"ore the lad& and the $in!'
,other wanted ships' 1Theres wildlin!s stealin! down "rom the north, more than Ie
eer seen be"ore' The& cross the Ba& o" Seals in little boats and wash %p on o%r shores'
The crows in 5astwatch are too "ew to stop them, and the& !o to !ro%nd )%ic$ as
weasels' Its lon!ships we need, a&e, and stron! men to sail them' The 8reat9on too$ too
man&' ,al" o%r harest is !one to seed "or want o" arms to swin! the sc&thes'3
Ser Bodri$ p%lled at his whis$ers' 1;o% hae "orests o" tall pine and old oa$' 7ord
2anderl& has shipwri!hts and sailors in plent&' To!ether &o% o%!ht to be able to "loat
eno%!h lon!ships to !%ard both &o%r coasts'3
12anderl&.3 2ors <mber snorted' 1That !reat waddlin! sac$ o" s%et. ,is own people
moc$ him as 7ord 7ampre&, Ie heard' The man can scarce wal$' I" &o% st%c$ a sword
in his bell&, ten tho%sand eels wo%ld wri!!le o%t'3
1,e is "at,3 Ser Bodri$ admitted, 1b%t he is not st%pid' ;o% will wor$ with him, or the
$in! will $now the reason wh&'3 *nd to Brans astonishment, the tr%c%lent <mbers
a!reed to do as he commanded, tho%!h not witho%t !r%mblin!'
(hile the& were sittin! at a%dience, the 8loer men arried "rom #eepwood 2otte,
and a lar!e part& o" Tallharts "rom Torrhens S)%are' 8albart and Bobett 8loer had le"t
#eepwood in the hands o" Bobetts wi"e, b%t it was their steward who came to
(inter"ell' 12& lad& be!s that &o% e0c%se her absence' ,er babes are still too &o%n! "or
s%ch a 9o%rne&, and she was loath to leae them'3 Bran soon reali?ed that it was the
steward, not 7ad& 8loer, who tr%l& r%led at #eepwood 2otte' The man allowed that he
was at present settin! aside onl& a tenth o" his harest' * hed!e wi?ard had told him
there wo%ld be a bo%nti"%l spirit s%mmer be"ore the cold set in, he claimed' 2aester
7%win had a n%mber o" choice thin!s to sa& abo%t hed!e wi?ards' Ser Bodri$
commanded the man to set aside a "i"th, and )%estioned the steward closel& abo%t 7ord
,ornwoods bastard, the bo& 7arence Snow' In the north, all hi!hborn bastards too$ the
s%rname Snow' This lad was near twele, and the steward praised his wits and co%ra!e'
1;o%r notion abo%t the bastard ma& hae merit, Bran,3 2aester 7%win said a"ter' 1/ne
da& &o% will be a !ood lord "or (inter"ell, I thin$'3
1No I wont'3 Bran $new he wo%ld neer be a lord, no more than he co%ld be a $ni!ht'
1Bobbs to marr& some =re& !irl, &o% told me so &o%rsel", and the (alders sa& the same'
,ell hae sons, and the&ll be the lords o" (inter"ell a"ter him, not me'3
1It ma& be so, Bran,3 Ser Bodri$ said, 1b%t I was wed three times and m& wies !ae
me da%!hters' Now onl& Beth remains to me' 2& brother 2art&n "athered "o%r stron!
sons, &et onl& Cor& lied to be a man' (hen he was slain, 2art&ns line died with him'
(hen we spea$ o" the morrow nothin! is eer certain'3
7eobald Tallhart had his t%rn the "ollowin! da&' ,e spo$e o" weather portents and the
slac$ wits o" small"ol$, and told how his nephew itched "or battle' 1Ben"red has raised
his own compan& o" lances' Bo&s, none older than nineteen &ears, b%t eer& one thin$s
hes another &o%n! wol"' (hen I told them the& were onl& &o%n! rabbits, the& la%!hed
at me' Now the& call themseles the (ild ,ares and !allop abo%t the co%ntr& with
rabbits$ins tied to the ends o" their lances, sin!in! son!s o" chialr&'3
Bran tho%!ht that so%nded !rand' ,e remembered Ben"red Tallhart, a bi! bl%"" lo%d
bo& who had o"ten isited (inter"ell with his "ather, Ser ,elman, and had been "riendl&
with Bobb and with Theon 8re&9o&' B%t Ser Bodri$ was clearl& displeased b& what he
heard' 1I" the $in! were in need o" more men, he wo%ld send "or them,3 he said'
1Instr%ct &o%r nephew that he is to remain at Torrhens S)%are, as his lord "ather
commanded'3
1I will, ser,3 said 7eobald, and onl& then raised the matter o" 7ad& ,ornwood' 4oor
thin!, with no h%sband to de"end her lands nor son to inherit' ,is own lad& wi"e was a
,ornwood, sister to the late 7ord ,al&s, do%btless the& recalled' 1*n empt& hall is a sad
one' I had a tho%!ht to send m& &o%n!er son to 7ad& #onella to "oster as her own' Beren
is near ten, a li$el& lad, and her own nephew' ,e wo%ld cheer her, I am certain, and
perhaps he wo%ld een ta$e the name ,ornwood ' ' '3
1I" he were named heir.3 s%!!ested 2aester 7%win'
1' ' ' so the ,o%se mi!ht contin%e,3 "inished 7eobald'
Bran $new what to sa&' 1Than$ &o% "or the notion, m& lord,3 he bl%rted o%t be"ore Ser
Bodri$ co%ld spea$' 1(e will brin! the matter to m& brother Bobb' /h, and 7ad&
,ornwood'3
7eobald seemed s%rprised that he had spo$en' 1Im !rate"%l, m& prince,3 he said, b%t
Bran saw pit& in his pale bl%e e&es, min!led perhaps with a little !ladness that the
cripple was, a"ter all, not his son' =or a moment he hated the man'
2aester 7%win li$ed him better, tho%!h' 1Beren Tallhart ma& well be o%r best answer,3
he told them when 7eobald had !one' 1B& blood he is hal" ,ornwood' I" he ta$es his
%ncles name ' ' '3
1' ' ' he will still be a bo&,3 said Ser Bodri$, 1and hard-pressed to hold his lands a!ainst
the li$es o" 2ors <mber or this bastard o" Boose Boltons' (e m%st thin$ on this
care"%ll&' Bobb sho%ld hae o%r best co%nsel be"ore he ma$es his decision'3
1It ma& come down to practicalities,3 said 2aester 7%win' 1(hich lord he most needs
to co%rt' The rierlands are part o" his realm, he ma& wish to cement the alliance b&
weddin! 7ad& ,ornwood to one o" the lords o" the Trident' * Blac$wood, perhaps, or a
=re&A3
17ad& ,ornwood can hae one o" o%r =re&s,3 said Bran' 1She can hae both o" them i"
she li$es'3
1;o% are not $ind, m& prince,3 Ser Bodri$ chided !entl&'
Neither are the (alders' Scowlin!, Bran stared down at the table and said nothin!'
In the da&s that "ollowed, raens arried "rom other lordl& ho%ses, bearin! re!rets' The
bastard o" the #read"ort wo%ld not be 9oinin! them, the 2ormonts and 6arstar$s had all
!one so%th with Bobb, 7ord 7oc$e was too old to dare the 9o%rne&, 7ad& =lint was
hea& with child, there was sic$ness at (idows (atch' =inall& all o" the principal
assals o" ,o%se Star$ had been heard "rom sae "or ,owland Beed the cranno!man,
who had not set "oot o%tside his swamps "or man& a &ear, and the +erw&ns whose castle
la& a hal" da&s ride "rom (inter"ell' 7ord +erw&n was a captie o" the 7annisters, b%t
his son, a lad o" "o%rteen, arried one bri!ht, bl%ster& mornin! at the head o" two do?en
lances' Bran was ridin! #ancer aro%nd the &ard when the& came thro%!h the !ate' ,e
trotted oer to !reet them' +le& +erw&n had alwa&s been a "riend to Bran and his
brothers'
18ood morrow, Bran,3 +le& called o%t cheer"%ll&' 1/r m%st I call &o% 4rince Bran
now.3
1/nl& i" &o% want'3
+le& la%!hed' 1(h& not. 5er&one else is a $in! or prince these da&s' #id Stannis
write (inter"ell as well.3
1Stannis. I dont $now'3
1,es a $in! now too,3 +le& con"ided' 1,e sa&s F%een +ersei bedded her brother, so
Co""re& is a bastard'3
1Co""re& the Illborn,3 one o" the +erw&n $ni!hts !rowled' 1Small wonder hes
"aithless, with the 6in!sla&er "or a "ather'3
1*&e,3 said another, 1the !ods hate incest' 7oo$ how the& bro%!ht down the
Tar!ar&ens'3
=or a moment Bran "elt as tho%!h he co%ld not breathe' * !iant hand was cr%shin! his
chest' ,e "elt as tho%!h he was "allin!, and cl%tched desperatel& at #ancers reins'
,is terror m%st hae shown on his "ace' 1Bran.3 +le& +erw&n said' 1*re &o% %nwell.
Its onl& another $in!'3
1Bobb will beat him too'3 ,e t%rned #ancers head toward the stables, obliio%s to the
p%??led stares the +erw&ns !ae him' ,is blood was roarin! in his ears, and had he not
been strapped onto his saddle he mi!ht well hae "allen'
That ni!ht Bran pra&ed to his "athers !ods "or dreamless sleep' I" the !ods heard, the&
moc$ed his hopes, "or the ni!htmare the& sent was worse than an& wol" dream'
1=l& or die@3 cried the three-e&ed crow as it pec$ed at him' ,e wept and pleaded b%t
the crow had no pit&' It p%t o%t his le"t e&e and then his ri!ht, and when he was blind in
the dar$ it pec$ed at his brow, driin! its terrible sharp bea$ deep into his s$%ll' ,e
screamed %ntil he was certain his l%n!s m%st b%rst' The pain was an a0e splittin! his
head apart, b%t when the crow wrenched o%t its bea$ all slim& with bits o" bone and
brain, Bran co%ld see a!ain' (hat he saw made him !asp in "ear' ,e was clin!in! to a
tower miles hi!h, and his "in!ers were slippin!, nails scrabblin! at the stone, his le!s
dra!!in! him down, st%pid %seless dead le!s' 1,elp me@3 he cried' * !olden man
appeared in the s$& aboe him and p%lled him %p' 1The thin!s I do "or loe,3 he
m%rm%red so"tl& as he tossed him o%t $ic$in! into empt& air'
C#APT"R $.
T%RIO'
1I do not sleep as I did when I was &o%n!er,3 8rand 2aester 4&celle told him, b& wa&
o" apolo!& "or the dawn meetin!' 1I wo%ld sooner be %p, tho%!h the world be dar$, than
lie restless abed, "rettin! on tas$s %ndone,3 he saidAtho%!h his hea&-lidded e&es made
him loo$ hal"-asleep as he said it' In the air& chambers beneath the roo$er&, his !irl
sered them boiled e!!s, stewed pl%ms, and porrid!e, while 4&celle sered the
ponti"ications' 1In these sad times, when so man& h%n!er, I thin$ it onl& "ittin! to $eep
m& table spare'3
1+ommendable,3 T&rion admitted, brea$in! a lar!e brown e!! that reminded him
%nd%l& o" the 8rand 2aesters bald spotted head' 1I ta$e a di""erent iew' I" there is "ood
I eat it, in case there is none on the morrow'3 ,e smiled' 1Tell me, are &o%r raens earl&
risers as well.3
4&celle stro$ed the snow& beard that "lowed down his chest' 1To be s%re' Shall I send
"or )%ill and in$ a"ter we hae eaten.3
1No need'3 T&rion laid the letters on the table beside his porrid!e, twin parchments
ti!htl& rolled and sealed with wa0 at both ends' 1Send &o%r !irl awa&, so we can tal$'3
17eae %s, child,3 4&celle commanded' The serin! !irl h%rried "rom the room' 1These
letters, now ' ' '3
1=or the e&es o" #oran 2artell, 4rince o" #orne'3 T&rion peeled the crac$ed shell
awa& "rom his e!! and too$ a bite' It wanted salt' 1/ne letter, in two copies' Send &o%r
swi"test birds' The matter is o" !reat import'3
1I shall dispatch them as soon as we hae bro$en o%r "ast'3
1#ispatch them now' Stewed pl%ms will $eep' The realm ma& not' 7ord Benl& is
leadin! his host %p the roseroad, and no one can sa& when 7ord Stannis will sail "rom
#ra!onstone'3
4&celle blin$ed' 1I" m& lord pre"ersA3
1,e does'3
1I am here to sere'3 The maester p%shed himsel" pondero%sl& to his "eet his chain o"
o""ice clin$in! so"tl&' It was a hea& thin!, a do?en maesters collars threaded aro%nd
and thro%!h each other and ornamented with !emstones' *nd it seemed to T&rion that
the !old and siler and platin%m lin$s "ar o%tn%mbered those o" baser metals'
4&celle moed so slowl& that T&rion had time to "inish his e!! and taste the pl%msA
oercoo$ed and water&, to his tasteAbe"ore the so%nd o" win!s prompted him to rise'
,e spied the raen, dar$ in the dawn s$&, and t%rned bris$l& toward the ma?e o" sheles
at the "ar end o" the room'
The maesters medicines made an impressie displa&: do?ens o" pots sealed with wa0,
h%ndreds o" stoppered ials, as man& mil$!lass bottles, co%ntless 9ars o" dried herbs,
each container neatl& labeled in 4&celles precise hand' *n orderl& mind, T&rion
re"lected, and indeed, once &o% p%??led o%t the arran!ement, it was eas& to see that
eer& potion had its place' *nd s%ch interestin! thin!s' ,e noted sweetsleep and
ni!htshade, mil$ o" the popp&, the tears o" 7&s, powdered !re&cap, wol"sbane and
demons dance, basilis$ enom, blinde&e, widows blood ' ' '
Standin! on his toes and strainin! %pward, he mana!ed to p%ll a small d%st& bottle o""
the hi!h shel"' (hen he read the label, he smiled and slipped it %p his sleee'
,e was bac$ at the table peelin! another e!! when 8rand 2aester 4&celle came
creepin! down the stairs' 1It is done, m& lord'3 The old man seated himsel"' 1* matter
li$e this ' ' ' best done promptl&, indeed, indeed ' ' ' o" !reat import, &o% sa&.3
1/h, &es'3 The porrid!e was too thic$, T&rion "elt, and wanted b%tter and hone&' To be
s%re, b%tter and hone& were seldom seen in 6in!s 7andin! o" late, tho%!h 7ord 8&les
$ept them well s%pplied in the castle' ,al" o" the "ood the& ate these da&s came "rom his
lands or 7ad& Tandas' Bosb& and Sto$eworth la& near the cit& to the north, and were &et
%nto%ched b& war'
1The 4rince o" #orne, himsel"' 2i!ht I as$ ' ' '3
1Best not'3
1*s &o% sa&'3 4&celles c%riosit& was so ripe that T&rion co%ld almost taste it'
12a&haps ' ' ' the $in!s co%ncil ' ' '3
T&rion tapped his wooden spoon a!ainst the ed!e o" the bowl' 1The co%ncil e0ists to
adise the $in!, 2aester'3
1C%st so,3 said 4&celle, 1and the $in!A3
1Ais a bo& o" thirteen' I spea$ with his oice'3
1So &o% do' Indeed' The 6in!s /wn ,and' ;et ' ' ' &o%r most !racio%s sister, o%r
F%een Be!ent, she ' ' '3
1' ' ' bears a !reat wei!ht %pon those loel& white sho%lders o" hers' I hae no wish to
add to her b%rdens' #o &o%.3 T&rion coc$ed his head and !ae the 8rand 2aester an
in)%irin! stare'
4&celle dropped his !a?e bac$ to his "ood' Somethin! abo%t T&rions mismatched
!reen-and-blac$ e&es made men s)%irm: $nowin! that, he made !ood %se o" them' 1*h,3
the old man m%ttered into his pl%ms' 1#o%btless &o% hae the ri!ht o" it, m& lord' It is
most considerate o" &o% to ' ' ' spare her this ' ' ' b%rden'3
1Thats 9%st the sort o" "ellow I am'3 T&rion ret%rned to the %nsatis"actor& porrid!e'
1+onsiderate' +ersei is m& own sweet sister, a"ter all'3
1*nd a woman, to be s%re,3 8rand 2aester 4&celle said' 1* most %ncommon woman,
and &et ' ' ' it is no small thin!, to tend to all the cares o" the realm, despite the "railt& o"
her se0 ' ' '3
/h, &es, shes a "rail doe, 9%st as$ 5ddard Star$' 1Im pleased &o% share m& concern'
*nd I than$ &o% "or the hospitalit& o" &o%r table' B%t a lon! da& awaits'3 ,e sw%n! his
le!s o%t and clambered down "rom his chair' 1Be so !ood as to in"orm me at once sho%ld
we receie a repl& "rom #orne.3
1*s &o% sa&, m& lord'3
1*nd onl& me.3
1*h ' ' ' to be s%re'3 4&celles spotted hand was cl%tchin! at his beard the wa& a
drownin! man cl%tches "or a rope' It made T&rions heart !lad' /ne, he tho%!ht'
,e waddled o%t into the lower baile&: his st%nted le!s complained o" the steps' The s%n
was well %p now, and the castle was stirrin!' 8%ardsmen wal$ed the walls, and $ni!hts
and men-at-arms were trainin! with bl%nted weapons' Nearb&, Bronn sat on the lip o" a
well' * pair o" comel& serin! !irls sa%ntered past carr&in! a wic$er bas$et o" r%shes
between them, b%t the sellsword neer loo$ed' 1Bronn, I despair o" &o%'3 T&rion
!est%red at the wenches' 1(ith sweet si!hts li$e that be"ore &o%, all &o% see is a !a!!le
o" lo%ts raisin! a clan!or'3
1There are a h%ndred whoreho%ses in this cit& where a clipped copper will b%& me all
the c%nt I want,3 Bronn answered, 1b%t one da& m& li"e ma& han! on how close Ie
watched &o%r lo%ts'3 ,e stood' 1(hos the bo& in the chec$ered bl%e s%rcoat with the
three e&es on his shield.3
1Some hed!e $ni!ht' Tallad, he names himsel"' (h&.3
Bronn p%shed a "all o" hair "rom his e&es' 1,es the best o" them' B%t watch him, he
"alls into a rh&thm, delierin! the same stro$es in the same order each time he attac$s'3
,e !rinned' 1That will be the death o" him, the da& he "aces me'3
1,es pled!ed to Co""re&: hes not li$e to "ace &o%'3 The& set o"" across the baile&,
Bronn matchin! his lon! stride to T&rions short one' These da&s the sellsword was
loo$in! almost respectable' ,is dar$ hair was washed and br%shed, he was "reshl&
shaed, and he wore the blac$ breastplate o" an o""icer o" the +it& (atch' =rom his
sho%lders trailed a cloa$ o" 7annister crimson patterned with !olden hands' T&rion had
made him a !i"t o" it when he named him captain o" his personal !%ard' 1,ow man&
s%pplicants do we hae toda&.3 he in)%ired'
1Thirt& odd,3 answered Bronn' 12ost with complaints, or wantin! somethin!, as eer'
;o%r pet was bac$'3
,e !roaned' 17ad& Tanda.3
1,er pa!e' She inites &o% to s%p with her a!ain' Theres to be a ha%nch o" enison,
she sa&s, a brace o" st%""ed !eese sa%ced with m%lberries, andA3
1Aher da%!hter,3 T&rion "inished so%rl&' Since the ho%r he had arried in the Bed
6eep, 7ad& Tanda had been stal$in! him, armed with a neer-endin! arsenal o" lampre&
pies, wild boars, and saor& cream stews' Somehow she had !otten the notion that a
dwar" lordlin! wo%ld be the per"ect consort "or her da%!hter 7oll&s, a lar!e, so"t, dim-
witted !irl who r%mor said was still a maid at thirt&-and-three' 1Send her m& re!rets'3
1No taste "or st%""ed !oose.3 Bronn !rinned eill&'
14erhaps &o% sho%ld eat the !oose and marr& the maid' /r better still, send Sha!!a'3
1Sha!!as more li$e to eat the maid and marr& the !oose,3 obsered Bronn' 1*n&wa&,
7oll&s o%twei!hs him'3
1There is that,3 T&rion admitted as the& passed %nder the shadow o" a coered
wal$wa& between two towers' 1(ho else wants me.3
The sellsword !rew more serio%s' 1Theres a mone&lender "rom Braaos, holdin!
"anc& papers and the li$e, re)%ests to see the $in! abo%t pa&ment on some loan'3
1*s i" Co"" co%ld co%nt past twent&' Send the man to 7ittle"in!er, hell "ind a wa& to
p%t him o""' Ne0t.3
1* lordlin! down "rom the Trident, sa&s &o%r "athers men b%rned his $eep, raped his
wi"e, and $illed all his peasants'3
1I beliee the& call that war'3 T&rion smelled 8re!or +le!anes wor$, or that o" Ser
*mor& 7orch or his "athers other pet hellho%nd, the Fohori$' 1(hat does he want o"
Co""re&.3
1New peasants,3 Bronn said' 1,e wal$ed all this wa& to sin! how lo&al he is and be!
"or recompense'3
1Ill ma$e time "or him on the morrow'3 (hether tr%l& lo&al or merel& desperate, a
compliant rier lord mi!ht hae his %ses' 1See that hes !ien a com"ortable chamber
and a hot meal' Send him a new pair o" boots as well, !ood ones, co%rtes& o" 6in!
Co""re&'3 * show o" !enerosit& neer h%rt'
Bronn !ae a c%rt nod' 1Theres also a !reat !a!!le o" ba$ers, b%tchers, and
!reen!rocers clamorin! to be heard'3
1I told them last time, I hae nothin! to !ie them'3 /nl& a thin tric$le o" "ood was
comin! into 6in!s 7andin!, most o" it earmar$ed "or castle and !arrison' 4rices had
risen sic$enin!l& hi!h on !reens, roots, "lo%r, and "r%it, and T&rion did not want to thin$
abo%t what sorts o" "lesh mi!ht be !oin! into the $ettles o" the pot-shops down in =lea
Bottom' =ish, he hoped' The& still had the rier and the sea ' ' ' at least %ntil 7ord
Stannis sailed'
1The& want protection' 7ast ni!ht a ba$er was roasted in his own oen' The mob
claimed he char!ed too m%ch "or bread'3
1#id he.3
1,es not apt to den& it'3
1The& didnt eat him, did the&.3
1Not that Ie heard'3
1Ne0t time the& will,3 T&rion said !riml&' 1I !ie them what protection I can' The !old
cloa$sA3
1The& claim there were !old cloa$s in the mob,3 Bronn said' 1The&re demandin! to
spea$ to the $in! himsel"'3
1=ools'3 T&rion had sent them o"" with re!rets: his nephew wo%ld send them o"" with
whips and spears' ,e was hal"-tempted to allow it ' ' ' b%t no, he dare not' Soon or late,
some enem& wo%ld march on 6in!s 7andin!, and the last thin! he wanted was willin!
traitors within the cit& walls' 1Tell them 6in! Co""re& shares their "ears and will do all he
can "or them'3
1The& want bread, not promises'3
1I" I !ie them bread toda&, on the morrow Ill hae twice as man& at the !ates' (ho
else.3
1* blac$ brother down "rom the (all' The steward sa&s he bro%!ht some rotted hand
in a 9ar'3
T&rion smiled wanl&' 1Im s%rprised no one ate it' I s%ppose I o%!ht to see him' Its not
;oren, perchance.3
1No' Some $ni!ht' Thorne'3
1Ser *lliser Thorne.3 /" all the blac$ brothers hed met on the (all, T&rion 7annister
had li$ed Ser *lliser Thorne the least' * bitter, mean-spirited man with too !reat a sense
o" his own worth' 1+ome to thin$ on it, I dont beliee I care to see Ser *lliser 9%st now'
=ind him a sn%! cell where no one has chan!ed the r%shes in a &ear, and let his hand rot
a little more'3
Bronn snorted la%!hter and went his wa&, while T&rion str%!!led %p the serpentine
steps' *s he limped across the o%ter &ard, he heard the portc%llis rattlin! %p' ,is sister
and a lar!e part& were waitin! b& the main !ate'
2o%nted on her white pal"re&, +ersei towered hi!h aboe him, a !oddess in !reen'
1Brother,3 she called o%t, not warml&' The )%een had not been pleased b& the wa& hed
dealt with Canos Sl&nt'
1;o%r 8race'3 T&rion bowed politel&' 1;o% loo$ loel& this mornin!'3 ,er crown was
!old, her cloa$ ermine' ,er retin%e sat their mo%nts behind her: Ser Boros Blo%nt o" the
6in!s!%ard, wearin! white scale and his "aorite scowl: Ser Balon Swann, bow sl%n!
"rom his siler-inla& saddle: 7ord 8&les Bosb&, his whee?in! co%!h worse than eer:
,all&ne the 4&romancer o" the *lchemists 8%ild: and the )%eens newest "aorite, their
co%sin Ser 7ancel 7annister, her late h%sbands s)%ire %p9%mped to $ni!ht at his
widows insistence' >&larr and twent& !%ardsmen rode escort' 1(here are &o% bo%nd
this da&, sister.3 T&rion as$ed'
1Im ma$in! a ro%nd o" the !ates to inspect the new scorpions and spit"ires' I wo%ld
not hae it tho%!ht that all o" %s are as indi""erent to the cit&s de"ense as &o% seem to
be'3 +ersei "i0ed him with those clear !reen e&es o" hers, bea%ti"%l een in their
contempt' 1I am in"ormed that Benl& Baratheon has marched "rom ,i!h!arden' ,e is
ma$in! his wa& %p the roseroad, with all his stren!th behind him'3
1>ar&s !ae me the same report'3
1,e co%ld be here b& the "%ll moon'3
1Not at his present leis%rel& pace,3 T&rion ass%red her' 1,e "easts eer& ni!ht in a
di""erent castle, and holds co%rt at eer& crossroads he passes'3
1*nd eer& da&, more men rall& to his banners' ,is host is now said to be a h%ndred
tho%sand stron!'3
1That seems rather hi!h'3
1,e has the power o" Storms 5nd and ,i!h!arden behind him, &o% little "ool,3 +ersei
snapped down at him' 1*ll the T&rell bannermen b%t "or the Bedw&nes, and &o% hae
me to than$ "or that' So lon! as I hold those po0& twins o" his, 7ord 4a0ter will s)%at on
the *rbor and co%nt himsel" "ort%nate to be o%t o" it'3
1* pit& &o% let the 6ni!ht o" =lowers slip thro%!h &o%r prett& "in!ers' Still, Benl& has
other concerns besides %s' /%r "ather at ,arrenhal, Bobb Star$ at Bierr%n ' ' ' were I he,
I wo%ld do m%ch as he is doin!' 2a$e m& pro!ress, "la%nt m& power "or the realm to
see, watch, wait' 7et m& rials contend while I bide m& own sweet time' I" Star$ de"eats
%s, the so%th will "all into Benl&s hands li$e a wind"all "rom the !ods, and hell not
hae lost a man' *nd i" it !oes the other wa&, he can descend on %s while we are
wea$ened'3
+ersei was not appeased' 1I want &o% to ma$e =ather brin! his arm& to 6in!s
7andin!'3
(here it will sere no p%rpose b%t to ma$e &o% "eel sa"e' 1(hen hae I eer been able
to ma$e =ather do an&thin!.3
She i!nored the )%estion' 1*nd when do &o% plan to "ree Caime. ,es worth a h%ndred
o" &o%'3
T&rion !rinned croo$edl&' 1#ont tell 7ad& Star$, I be! &o%' (e dont hae a h%ndred
o" me to trade'3
1=ather m%st hae been mad to send &o%' ;o%re worse than %seless'3 The )%een
9er$ed on her reins and wheeled her pal"re& aro%nd' She rode o%t the !ate at a bris$ trot,
ermine cloa$ streamin! behind her' ,er retin%e hastened a"ter'
In tr%th, Benl& Baratheon did not "ri!hten T&rion hal" so m%ch as his brother Stannis
did' Benl& was beloed o" the commons, b%t he had neer be"ore led men in war'
Stannis was otherwise: hard, cold, ine0orable' I" onl& the& had some wa& o" $nowin!
what was happenin! on #ra!onstone ' ' ' b%t not one o" the "isher"ol$ he had paid to sp&
o%t the island had eer ret%rned, and een the in"ormers the e%n%ch claimed to hae
placed in Stanniss ho%sehold had been omino%sl& silent' The striped h%lls o" 7&sene
war !alle&s had been seen o""shore, tho%!h, and >ar&s had reports "rom 2&r o" sellsail
captains ta$in! serice with #ra!onstone' I" Stannis attac$s b& sea while his brother
Benl& storms the !ates, the&ll soon be mo%ntin! Co""re&s head on a spi$e' (orse, mine
will be beside him' * depressin! tho%!ht' ,e o%!ht to ma$e plans to !et Shae sa"el& o%t
o" the cit&, sho%ld the worst seem li$el&'
4odric$ 4a&ne stood at the door o" his solar, st%d&in! the "loor' 1,es inside,3 he
anno%nced to T&rions belt b%c$le' 1;o%r solar' 2& lord' Sorr&'3
T&rion si!hed' 17oo$ at me, 4od' It %nneres me when &o% tal$ to m& codpiece,
especiall& when Im not wearin! one' (ho is inside m& solar.3
17ord 7ittle"in!er'3 4odric$ mana!ed a )%ic$ loo$ at his "ace, then hastil& dropped his
e&es' 1I meant, 7ord 4et&r' 7ord Baelish' The master o" coin'3
1;o% ma$e him so%nd a crowd'3 The bo& h%nched down as i" str%c$, ma$in! T&rion
"eel abs%rdl& !%ilt&'
7ord 4et&r was seated on his window seat, lan!%id and ele!ant in a pl%sh pl%m-colored
do%blet and a &ellow satin cape, one !loed hand restin! on his $nee' 1The $in! is
"i!htin! hares with a crossbow,3 he said' 1The hares are winnin!' +ome see'3
T&rion had to stand on his toes to !et a loo$' * dead hare la& on the !ro%nd below:
another, lon! ears twitchin!, was abo%t to e0pire "rom the bolt in his side' Spent )%arrels
la& strewn across the hard-pac$ed earth li$e straws scattered b& a storm' 1Now@3 Co""
sho%ted' The !amesman released the hare he was holdin!, and he went bo%ndin! o""'
Co""re& 9er$ed the tri!!er on the crossbow' The bolt missed b& two "eet' The hare stood
on his hind le!s and twitched his nose at the $in!' +%rsin!, Co"" sp%n the wheel to winch
bac$ his strin!, b%t the animal was !one be"ore he was loaded' 1*nother@3 The
!amesman reached into the h%tch' This one made a brown strea$ a!ainst the stones,
while Co""re&s h%rried shot almost too$ Ser 4reston in the !roin'
7ittle"in!er t%rned awa&' 1Bo&, are &o% "ond o" potted hare.3 he as$ed 4odric$ 4a&ne'
4od stared at the isitors boots, loel& thin!s o" red-d&ed leather ornamented with
blac$ scrollwor$' 1To eat, m& lord.3
1Inest in pots,3 7ittle"in!er adised' 1,ares will soon oerr%n the castle' (ell be
eatin! hare thrice a da&'3
1Better than rats on a s$ewer,3 said T&rion' 14od, leae %s' <nless 7ord 4et&r wo%ld
care "or some re"reshment.3
1Than$ &o%, b%t no'3 7ittle"in!er "lashed his moc$in! smile' 1#rin$ with the dwar",
its said, and &o% wa$e %p wal$in! the (all' Blac$ brin!s o%t m& %nhealth& pallor'3
,ae no "ear, m& lord, T&rion tho%!ht, its not the (all I hae in mind "or &o%' ,e
seated himsel" in a hi!h chair piled with c%shions and said, 1;o% loo$ er& ele!ant
toda&, m& lord'3
1Im wo%nded' I strie to loo$ ele!ant eer& da&'3
1Is the do%blet new.3
1It is' ;o%re most obserant'3
14l%m and &ellow' *re those the colors o" &o%r ,o%se.3
1No' B%t a man !ets bored wearin! the same colors da& in and da& o%t, or so Ie
"o%nd'3
1Thats a handsome $ni"e as well'3
1Is it.3 There was mischie" in 7ittle"in!ers e&es' ,e drew the $ni"e and !lanced at it
cas%all&, as i" he had neer seen it be"ore' 1>al&rian steel, and a dra!onbone hilt' * tri"le
plain, tho%!h' Its &o%rs, i" &o% wo%ld li$e it'3
12ine.3 T&rion !ae him a lon! loo$' 1No' I thin$ not' Neer mine'3 ,e $nows, the
insolent wretch' ,e $nows and he $nows that I $now, and he thin$s that I cannot to%ch
him' I" eer tr%l& a man had armored himsel" in !old, it was 4et&r Baelish, not Caime
7annister' Caimes "amo%s armor was b%t !ilded steel, b%t 7ittle"in!er, ah ' ' ' T&rion had
learned a "ew thin!s abo%t sweet 4et&r, to his !rowin! dis)%iet'
Ten &ears a!o, Con *rr&n had !ien him a minor sinec%re in c%stoms, where 7ord 4et&r
had soon distin!%ished himsel" b& brin!in! in three times as m%ch as an& o" the $in!s
other collectors' 6in! Bobert had been a prodi!io%s spender' * man li$e 4et&r Baelish,
who had a !i"t "or r%bbin! two !olden dra!ons to!ether to breed a third, was inal%able
to his ,and' 7ittle"in!ers rise had been arrow-swi"t' (ithin three &ears o" his comin! to
co%rt, he was master o" coin and a member o" the small co%ncil, and toda& the crowns
reen%es were ten times what the& had been %nder his belea!%ered predecessor ' ' '
tho%!h the crowns debts had !rown ast as well' * master 9%!!ler was 4et&r Baelish'
/h, he was cleer' ,e did not simpl& collect the !old and loc$ it in a treas%re a%lt, no'
,e paid the $in!s debts in promises, and p%t the $in!s !old to wor$' ,e bo%!ht
wa!ons, shops, ships, ho%ses' ,e bo%!ht !rain when it was plenti"%l and sold bread
when it was scarce' ,e bo%!ht wool "rom the north and linen "rom the so%th and lace
"rom 7&s, stored it, moed it, d&ed it, sold it' The !olden dra!ons bred and m%ltiplied,
and 7ittle"in!er lent them o%t and bro%!ht them home with hatchlin!s'
*nd in the process, he moed his own men into place' The 6eepers o" the 6e&s were
his, all "o%r' The 6in!s +o%nter and the 6in!s Scales were men hed named' The
o""icers in char!e o" all three mints' ,arbormasters, ta0 "armers, c%stoms ser!eants,
wool "actors, toll collectors, p%rsers, wine "actors: nine o" eer& ten belon!ed to
7ittle"in!er' The& were men o" middlin! birth, b& and lar!e: merchants sons, lesser
lordlin!s, sometimes een "orei!ners, b%t 9%d!in! "rom their res%lts, "ar more able than
their hi!hborn predecessors'
No one had eer tho%!ht to )%estion the appointments, and wh& sho%ld the&.
7ittle"in!er was no threat to an&one' * cleer, smilin!, !enial man, eer&ones "riend,
alwa&s able to "ind whateer !old the $in! or his ,and re)%ired, and &et o" s%ch
%ndistin!%ished birth, one step %p "rom a hed!e $ni!ht, he was not a man to "ear' ,e had
no banners to call, no arm& o" retainers, no !reat stron!hold, no holdin!s to spea$ o", no
prospects o" a !reat marria!e'
B%t do I dare to%ch him. T&rion wondered' 5en i" he is a traitor. ,e was not at all
certain he co%ld, least o" all now, while the war ra!ed' 8ien time, he co%ld replace
7ittle"in!ers men with his own in $e& positions, b%t ' ' '
* sho%t ran! %p "rom the &ard' 1*h, ,is 8race has $illed a hare,3 7ord Baelish
obsered'
1No do%bt a slow one,3 T&rion said' 12& lord, &o% were "ostered at Bierr%n' Ie
heard it said that &o% !rew close to the T%ll&s'3
1;o% mi!ht sa& so' The !irls especiall&'3
1,ow close.3
1I had their maidenhoods' Is that close eno%!h.3
The lieAT&rion was "airl& certain it was a lieAwas deliered with s%ch an air o"
nonchalance that one co%ld almost beliee it' +o%ld it hae been +atel&n Star$ who
lied. *bo%t her de"loration, and the da!!er as well. The lon!er he lied, the more
T&rion reali?ed that nothin! was simple and little was tr%e' 17ord ,osters da%!hters do
not loe me,3 he con"essed' 1I do%bt the& wo%ld listen to an& proposal I mi!ht ma$e' ;et
comin! "rom &o%, the same words mi!ht "all more sweetl& on their ears'3
1That wo%ld depend on the words' I" &o% mean to o""er Sansa in ret%rn "or &o%r
brother, waste someone elses time' Co""re& will neer s%rrender his pla&thin!, and 7ad&
+atel&n is not so !reat a "ool as to barter the 6in!sla&er "or a slip o" a !irl'3
1I mean to hae *r&a as well' I hae men searchin!'3
1Searchin! is not "indin!'3
1Ill $eep that in mind, m& lord' In an& case, it was 7ad& 7&sa I hoped &o% mi!ht swa&'
=or her, I hae a sweeter o""er'3
17&sa is more tractable than +atel&n, tr%e ' ' ' b%t also more "ear"%l, and I %nderstand
she hates &o%'3
1She beliees she has !ood reason' (hen I was her !%est in the 5&rie, she insisted that
Id m%rdered her h%sband and was not inclined to listen to denials'3 ,e leaned "orward'
1I" I !ae her Con *rr&ns tr%e $iller, she mi!ht thin$ more $indl& o" me'3
That made 7ittle"in!er sit %p' 1Tr%e $iller. I con"ess, &o% ma$e me c%rio%s' (ho do
&o% propose.3
It was T&rions t%rn to smile' 18i"ts I !ie m& "riends, "reel&' 7&sa *rr&n wo%ld need
to %nderstand that'3
1Is it her "riendship &o% re)%ire, or her swords.3
1Both'3
7ittle"in!er stro$ed the neat spi$e o" his beard' 17&sa has woes o" her own' +lansmen
raidin! o%t o" the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon, in !reater n%mbers than eer be"ore ' ' ' and
better armed'3
1#istressin!,3 said T&rion 7annister, who had armed them' 1I co%ld help her with that'
* word "rom me ' ' '3
1*nd what wo%ld this word cost her.3
1I want 7ad& 7&sa and her son to acclaim Co""re& as $in!, to swear "ealt&, and to ma$e
war on the Star$s and T%ll&s'3
7ittle"in!er shoo$ his head' 1Theres the roach in &o%r p%ddin!, 7annister' 7&sa will
neer send her $ni!hts a!ainst Bierr%n'3
1Nor wo%ld I as$ it' (e hae no lac$ o" enemies' Ill %se her power to oppose 7ord
Benl&, or 7ord Stannis, sho%ld he stir "rom #ra!onstone' In ret%rn, I will !ie her 9%stice
"or Con *rr&n and peace in the >ale' I will een name that appallin! child o" hers (arden
o" the 5ast, as his "ather was be"ore him'3 I want to see him "l&, a bo&s oice whispered
"aintl& in memor&' 1*nd to seal the bar!ain, I will !ie her m& niece'3
,e had the pleas%re o" seein! a loo$ o" !en%ine s%rprise in 4et&r Baelishs !re&-!reen
e&es' 12&rcella.3
1(hen she comes o" a!e, she can wed little 7ord Bobert' <ntil s%ch time, shell be
7ad& 7&sas ward at the 5&rie'3
1*nd what does ,er 8race the )%een thin$ o" this plo&.3 (hen T&rion shr%!!ed,
7ittle"in!er b%rst into la%!hter' 1I tho%!ht not' ;o%re a dan!ero%s little man, 7annister'
;es, I co%ld sin! this son! to 7&sa'3 *!ain the sl& smile, the mischie" in his !lance' 1I" I
cared to'3
T&rion nodded, waitin!, $nowin! 7ittle"in!er co%ld neer abide a lon! silence'
1So,3 7ord 4et&r contin%ed a"ter a pa%se, %tterl& %nabashed, 1whats in &o%r pot "or
me.3
1,arrenhal'3
It was interestin! to watch his "ace' 7ord 4et&rs "ather had been the smallest o" small
lords, his !rand"ather a landless hed!e $ni!ht: b& birth, he held no more than a "ew ston&
acres on the windswept shore o" the =in!ers' ,arrenhal was one o" the richest pl%ms in
the Seen 6in!doms, its lands broad and rich and "ertile, its !reat castle as "ormidable as
an& in the realm ' ' ' and so lar!e as to dwar" Bierr%n, where 4et&r Baelish had been
"ostered b& ,o%se T%ll&, onl& to be br%s)%el& e0pelled when he dared raise his si!hts to
7ord ,osters da%!hter'
7ittle"in!er too$ a moment to ad9%st the drape o" his cape, b%t T&rion had seen the
"lash o" h%n!er in those sl& cats e&es' I hae him, he $new' 1,arrenhal is c%rsed,3 7ord
4et&r said a"ter a moment, tr&in! to so%nd bored'
1Then ra?e it to the !ro%nd and b%ild anew to s%it &o%rsel"' ;o%ll hae no lac$ o"
coin' I mean to ma$e &o% lie!e lord o" the Trident' These rier lords hae proen the&
cannot be tr%sted' 7et them do &o% "ealt& "or their lands'3
15en the T%ll&s.3
1I" there are an& T%ll&s le"t when we are done'3
7ittle"in!er loo$ed li$e a bo& who had 9%st ta$en a "%rtie bite "rom a hone&comb' ,e
was tr&in! to watch "or bees, b%t the hone& was so sweet' 1,arrenhal and all its lands
and incomes,3 he m%sed' 1(ith a stro$e, &o%d ma$e me one o" the !reatest lords in the
realm' Not that Im %n!rate"%l, m& lord, b%tAwh&.3
1;o% sered m& sister well in the matter o" the s%ccession'3
1*s did Canos Sl&nt' /n whom this same castle o" ,arrenhal was )%ite recentl&
bestowedAonl& to be snatched awa& when he was no lon!er o" %se'3
T&rion la%!hed' 1;o% hae me, m& lord' (hat can I sa&. I need &o% to delier the
7ad& 7&sa' I did not need Canos Sl&nt'3 ,e !ae a croo$ed shr%!' 1Id sooner hae &o%
seated in ,arrenhal than Benl& seated on the Iron Throne' (hat co%ld be plainer.3
1(hat indeed' ;o% reali?e that I ma& need to bed 7&sa *rr&n a!ain to !et her consent
to this marria!e.3
1I hae little do%bt &o%ll be e)%al to the tas$'3
1I once told Ned Star$ that when &o% "ind &o%rsel" na$ed with an %!l& woman, the
onl& thin! to do is close &o%r e&es and !et on with it'3 7ittle"in!er steepled his "in!ers
and !a?ed into T&rions mismatched e&es' 18ie me a "ortni!ht to concl%de m& a""airs
and arran!e "or a ship to carr& me to 8%lltown'3
1That will do nicel&'3
,is !%est rose' 1This has been )%ite the pleasant mornin!, 7annister' *nd
pro"itable ' ' ' "or both o" %s, I tr%st'3 ,e bowed, his cape a swirl o" &ellow as he strode
o%t the door'
Two, tho%!ht T&rion'
,e went %p to his bedchamber to await >ar&s, who wo%ld soon be ma$in! an
appearance' 5en"all, he !%essed' 4erhaps as late as moonrise, tho%!h he hoped not' ,e
hoped to isit Shae toni!ht' ,e was pleasantl& s%rprised when 8alt o" the Stone +rows
in"ormed him not an ho%r later that the powdered man was at his door' 1;o% are a cr%el
man, to ma$e the 8rand 2aester s)%irm so,3 the e%n%ch scolded' 1The man cannot
abide a secret'3
1Is that a crow I hear, callin! the raen blac$. /r wo%ld &o% sooner not hear what Ie
proposed to #oran 2artell.3
>ar&s !i!!led' 14erhaps m& little birds hae told me'3
1,ae the&, indeed.3 ,e wanted to hear this' 18o on'3
1The #ornishmen th%s "ar hae held aloo" "rom these wars' #oran 2artell has called
his banners, b%t no more' ,is hatred "or ,o%se 7annister is well $nown, and it is
commonl& tho%!ht he will 9oin 7ord Benl&' ;o% wish to diss%ade him'3
1*ll this is obio%s,3 said T&rion'
1The onl& p%??le is what &o% mi!ht hae o""ered "or his alle!iance' The prince is a
sentimental man, and he still mo%rns his sister 5lia and her sweet babe'3
12& "ather once told me that a lord neer lets sentiment !et in the wa& o" ambition ' ' '
and it happens we hae an empt& seat on the small co%ncil, now that 7ord Canos has
ta$en the blac$'3
1* co%ncil seat is not to be despised,3 >ar&s admitted, 1&et will it be eno%!h to ma$e a
pro%d man "or!et his sisters m%rder.3
1(h& "or!et.3 T&rion smiled' 1Ie promised to delier his sisters $illers, alie or
dead, as he pre"ers' *"ter the war is done, to be s%re'3
>ar&s !ae him a shrewd loo$' 12& little birds tell me that 4rincess 5lia cried a ' ' '
certain name ' ' ' when the& came "or her'3
1Is a secret still a secret i" eer&one $nows it.3 In +asterl& Boc$, it was common
$nowled!e that 8re!or +le!ane had $illed 5lia and her babe' The& said he had raped the
princess with her sons blood and brains still on his hands'
1This secret is &o%r lord "athers sworn man'3
12& "ather wo%ld be the "irst to tell &o% that "i"t& tho%sand #ornishmen are worth one
rabid do!'3
>ar&s stro$ed a powdered chee$' 1*nd i" 4rince #oran demands the blood o" the lord
who !ae the command as well as the $ni!ht who did the deed ' ' '3
1Bobert Baratheon led the rebellion' *ll commands came "rom him, in the end'3
1Bobert was not at 6in!s 7andin!'3
1Neither was #oran 2artell'3
1So' Blood "or his pride, a chair "or his ambition' 8old and land, that !oes witho%t
sa&in!' * sweet o""er ' ' ' &et sweets can be poisoned' I" I were the prince, somethin!
more wo%ld I re)%ire be"ore I sho%ld reach "or this hone&comb' Some to$en o" !ood
"aith, some s%re sa"e!%ard a!ainst betra&al'3 >ar&s smiled his slimiest smile' 1(hich
one will &o% !ie him, I wonder.3
T&rion si!hed' 1;o% $now, dont &o%.3
1Since &o% p%t it that wa&A&es' Tommen' ;o% co%ld scarcel& o""er 2&rcella to #oran
2artell and 7&sa *rr&n both'3
1Bemind me neer to pla& these !%essin! !ames with &o% a!ain' ;o% cheat'3
14rince Tommen is a !ood bo&'3
1I" I pr& him awa& "rom +ersei and Co""re& while hes still &o%n!, he ma& een !row to
be a !ood man'3
1*nd a !ood $in!.3
1Co""re& is $in!'3
1*nd Tommen is heir, sho%ld an&thin! ill be"all ,is 8race' Tommen, whose nat%re is
so sweet, and notabl& ' ' ' tractable'3
1;o% hae a s%spicio%s mind, >ar&s'3
1I shall ta$e that as a trib%te, m& lord' In an& case, 4rince #oran will hardl& be
insensible o" the !reat honor &o% do him' >er& de"tl& done, I wo%ld sa& ' ' ' b%t "or one
small "law'3
The dwar" la%!hed' 1Named +ersei.3
1(hat aails statecra"t a!ainst the loe o" a mother "or the sweet "r%it o" her womb.
4erhaps, "or the !lor& o" her ,o%se and the sa"et& o" the realm, the )%een mi!ht be
pers%aded to send awa& Tommen or 2&rcella' B%t both o" them. S%rel& not'3
1(hat +ersei does not $now will neer h%rt me'3
1*nd i" ,er 8race were to discoer &o%r intentions be"ore &o%r plans are ripe.3
1(h&,3 he said, 1then I wo%ld $now the man who told her to be m& certain enem&'3
*nd when >ar&s !i!!led, he tho%!ht, Three'
C#APT"R $/
SA'SA
+ome to the !odswood toni!ht, i" &o% want to !o home'
The words were the same on the h%ndredth readin! as the&d been on the "irst, when
Sansa had discoered the "olded sheet o" parchment beneath her pillow' She did not
$now how it had !otten there or who had sent it' The note was %nsi!ned, %nsealed, and
the hand %n"amiliar' She cr%shed the parchment to her chest and whispered the words to
hersel"' 1+ome to the !odswood toni!ht, i" &o% want to !o home,3 she breathed, eer so
"aintl&'
(hat co%ld it mean. Sho%ld she ta$e it to the )%een to proe that she was bein! !ood.
Nero%sl&, she r%bbed her stomach' The an!r& p%rple br%ise Ser 2er&n had !ien her
had "aded to an %!l& &ellow, b%t still h%rt' ,is "ist had been mailed when he hit her' It
was her own "a%lt' She m%st learn to hide her "eelin!s better, so as not to an!er Co""re&'
(hen she heard that the imp had sent 7ord Sl&nt to the (all, she had "or!otten hersel"
and said, 1I hope the /thers !et him'3 The $in! had not been pleased'
+ome to the !odswood toni!ht, i" &o% want to !o home'
Sansa had pra&ed so hard' +o%ld this be her answer at last, a tr%e $ni!ht sent to sae
her. 4erhaps it was one o" the Bedw&ne twins, or bold Ser Balon Swann ' ' ' or een
Beric #ondarrion, the &o%n! lord her "riend Ce&ne 4oole had loed, with his red-!old
hair and the spra& o" stars on his blac$ cloa$'
+ome to the !odswood toni!ht, i" &o% want to !o home'
(hat i" it was some cr%el 9ape o" Co""re&s, li$e the da& he had ta$en her %p to the
battlements to show her =athers head. /r perhaps it was some s%btle snare to proe she
was not lo&al' I" she went to the !odswood, wo%ld she "ind Ser Il&n 4a&ne waitin! "or
her, sittin! silent %nder the heart tree with Ice in his hand, his pale e&es watchin! to see
i" shed come.
+ome to the !odswood toni!ht, i" &o% want to !o home'
(hen the door opened, she h%rriedl& st%""ed the note %nder her sheet and sat on it' It
was her bedmaid, the mo%s& one with the limp brown hair' 1(hat do &o% want.3 Sansa
demanded'
1(ill milad& be wantin! a bath toni!ht.3
1* "ire, I thin$ ' ' ' I "eel a chill'3 She was shierin!, tho%!h the da& had been hot'
1*s &o% wish'3
Sansa watched the !irl s%spicio%sl&' ,ad she seen the note. ,ad she p%t it %nder the
pillow. It did not seem li$el&: she seemed a st%pid !irl, not one &o%d want delierin!
secret notes, b%t Sansa did not $now her' The )%een had her serants chan!ed eer&
"ortni!ht, to ma$e certain none o" them be"riended her'
(hen a "ire was bla?in! in the hearth, Sansa than$ed the maid c%rtl& and ordered her
o%t' The !irl was )%ic$ to obe&, as eer, b%t Sansa decided there was somethin! sl&
abo%t her e&es' #o%btless, she was sc%rr&in! o"" to report to the )%een, or ma&be >ar&s'
*ll her maids spied on her, she was certain'
/nce alone, she thr%st the note in the "lames, watchin! the parchment c%rl and blac$en'
+ome to the !odswood toni!ht, i" &o% want to !o home' She dri"ted to her window'
Below, she co%ld see a short $ni!ht in moon-pale armor and a hea& white cloa$ pacin!
the drawbrid!e' =rom his hei!ht, it co%ld onl& be Ser 4reston 8reen"ield' The )%een had
!ien her "reedom o" the castle, b%t een so, he wo%ld want to $now where she was
!oin! i" she tried to leae 2ae!ors ,old"ast at this time o" ni!ht' (hat was she to tell
him. S%ddenl& she was !lad she had b%rned the note'
She %nlaced her !own and crawled into her bed, b%t she did not sleep' (as he still
there. she wondered' ,ow lon! will he wait. It was so cr%el, to send her a note and tell
her nothin!' The tho%!hts went ro%nd and ro%nd in her head' I" onl& she had someone to
tell her what to do' She missed Septa 2ordane, and een more Ce&ne 4oole, her tr%est
"riend' The septa had lost her head with the rest, "or the crime o" serin! ,o%se Star$'
Sansa did not $now what had happened to Ce&ne, who had disappeared "rom her rooms
a"terward, neer to be mentioned a!ain' She tried not to thin$ o" them too o"ten, &et
sometimes the memories came %nbidden, and then it was hard to hold bac$ the tears'
/nce in a while, Sansa een missed her sister' B& now *r&a was sa"e bac$ in (inter"ell,
dancin! and sewin!, pla&in! with Bran and bab& Bic$on, een ridin! thro%!h the winter
town i" she li$ed' Sansa was allowed to !o ridin! too, b%t onl& in the baile&, and it !ot
borin! !oin! ro%nd in a circle all da&'
She was wide awa$e when she heard the sho%tin!' #istant at "irst, then !rowin! lo%der'
2an& oices &ellin! to!ether' She co%ld not ma$e o%t the words' *nd there were horses
as well, and po%ndin! "eet, sho%ts o" command' She crept to her window and saw men
r%nnin! on the walls, carr&in! spears and torches' 8o bac$ to &o%r bed, Sansa told
hersel", this is nothin! that concerns &o%, 9%st some new tro%ble o%t in the cit&' The tal$
at the wells had all been o" tro%bles in the cit& o" late' 4eople were crowdin! in, r%nnin!
"rom the war, and man& had no wa& to lie sae b& robbin! and $illin! each other' 8o to
bed'
B%t when she loo$ed, the white $ni!ht was !one, the brid!e across the dr& moat down
b%t %nde"ended'
Sansa t%rned awa& witho%t thin$in! and ran to her wardrobe' /h, what am I doin!. she
as$ed hersel" as she dressed' This is madness' She co%ld see the li!hts o" man& torches
on the c%rtain walls' ,ad Stannis and Benl& come at last to $ill Co""re& and claim their
brothers throne. I" so, the !%ards wo%ld raise the drawbrid!e, c%ttin! o"" 2ae!ors
,old"ast "rom the o%ter castle' Sansa threw a plain !re& cloa$ oer her sho%lders and
pic$ed %p the $ni"e she %sed to c%t her meat' I" it is some trap, better that I die than let
them h%rt me more, she told hersel"' She hid the blade %nder her cloa$'
* col%mn o" red-cloa$ed swordsmen ran past as she slipped o%t into the ni!ht' She
waited %ntil the& were well past be"ore she darted across the %nde"ended drawbrid!e' In
the &ard, men were b%c$lin! on swordbelts and cinchin! the saddles o" their horses' She
!limpsed Ser 4reston near the stables with three others o" the 6in!s!%ard, white cloa$s
bri!ht as the moon as the& helped Co""re& into his armor' ,er breath ca%!ht in her throat
when she saw the $in!' Than$"%ll&, he did not see her' ,e was sho%tin! "or his sword
and crossbow'
The noise receded as she moed deeper into the castle, neer darin! to loo$ bac$ "or
"ear that Co""re& mi!ht be watchin! ' ' ' or worse, "ollowin!' The serpentine steps twisted
ahead, striped b& bars o" "lic$erin! li!ht "rom the narrow windows aboe' Sansa was
pantin! b& the time she reached the top' She ran down a shadow& colonnade and pressed
hersel" a!ainst a wall to catch her breath' (hen somethin! br%shed a!ainst her le!, she
almost 9%mped o%t o" her s$in, b%t it was onl& a cat, a ra!!ed blac$ tom with a chewed-
o"" ear' The creat%re spit at her and leapt awa&'
B& the time she reached the !odswood, the noises had "aded to a "aint rattle o" steel
and a distant sho%tin!' Sansa p%lled her cloa$ ti!hter' The air was rich with the smells o"
earth and lea"' 7ad& wo%ld hae li$ed this place, she tho%!ht' There was somethin! wild
abo%t a !odswood: een here, in the heart o" the castle at the heart o" the cit&, &o% co%ld
"eel the old !ods watchin! with a tho%sand %nseen e&es'
Sansa had "aored her mothers !ods oer her "athers' She loed the stat%es, the
pict%res in leaded !lass, the "ra!rance o" b%rnin! incense, the septons with their robes
and cr&stals, the ma!ical pla& o" the rainbows oer altars inlaid with mother-o"-pearl and
on&0 and lapis la?%li' ;et she co%ld not den& that the !odswood had a certain power too'
5speciall& b& ni!ht' ,elp me, she pra&ed, send me a "riend, a tr%e $ni!ht to champion
me ' ' '
She moed "rom tree to tree, "eelin! the ro%!hness o" the bar$ beneath her "in!ers'
7eaes br%shed at her chee$s' ,ad she come too late. ,e wo%ld not hae le"t so soon,
wo%ld he. /r had he een been here. #are she ris$ callin! o%t. It seemed so h%shed and
still here ' ' '
1I "eared &o% wo%ld not come, child'3
Sansa whirled' * man stepped o%t o" the shadows, hea&set, thic$ o" nec$, shamblin!'
,e wore a dar$ !re& robe with the cowl p%lled "orward, b%t when a thin slier o"
moonli!ht to%ched his chee$, she $new him at once b& the blotch& s$in and web o"
bro$en eins beneath' 1Ser #ontos,3 she breathed, heartbro$en' 1(as it &o%.3
1;es, m& lad&'3 (hen he moed closer, she co%ld smell the so%r stench o" wine on his
breath' 12e'3 ,e reached o%t a hand'
Sansa shran$ bac$' 1#ont@3 She slid her hand %nder her cloa$, to her hidden $ni"e'
1(hat ' ' ' what do &o% want with me.3
1/nl& to help &o%,3 #ontos said, 1as &o% helped me'3
1;o%re dr%n$, arent &o%.3
1/nl& one c%p o" wine, to help m& co%ra!e' I" the& catch me now, the&ll strip the s$in
o"" m& bac$'3
*nd what will the& do to me. Sansa "o%nd hersel" thin$in! o" 7ad& a!ain' She co%ld
smell o%t "alsehood, she co%ld, b%t she was dead, =ather had $illed her, on acco%nt o"
*r&a' She drew the $ni"e and held it be"ore her with both hands'
1*re &o% !oin! to stab me.3 #ontos as$ed'
1I will,3 she said' 1Tell me who sent &o%'3
1No one, sweet lad&' I swear it on m& honor as a $ni!ht'3
1* $ni!ht.3 Co""re& had decreed that he was to be a $ni!ht no lon!er, onl& a "ool,
lower een than 2oon Bo&' 1I pra&ed to the !ods "or a $ni!ht to come sae me,3 she
said' 1I pra&ed and pra&ed' (h& wo%ld the& send me a dr%n$en old "ool.3
1I desere that, tho%!h ' ' ' I $now its )%eer, b%t ' ' ' all those &ears I was a $ni!ht, I
was tr%l& a "ool, and now that I am a "ool I thin$ ' ' ' I thin$ I ma& "ind it in me to be a
$ni!ht a!ain, sweet lad&' *nd all beca%se o" &o% ' ' ' &o%r !race, &o%r co%ra!e' ;o%
saed me, not onl& "rom Co""re&, b%t "rom m&sel"'3 ,is oice dropped' 1The sin!ers sa&
there was another "ool once who was the !reatest $ni!ht o" all ' ' '3
1=lorian,3 Sansa whispered' * shier went thro%!h her'
1Sweet lad&, I wo%ld be &o%r =lorian,3 #ontos said h%mbl&, "allin! to his $nees be"ore
her'
Slowl&, Sansa lowered the $ni"e' ,er head seemed terribl& li!ht, as i" she were
"loatin!' This is madness, to tr%st m&sel" to this dr%n$ard, b%t i" I t%rn awa& will the
chance eer come a!ain. 1,ow ' ' ' how wo%ld &o% do it. 8et me awa&.3
Ser #ontos raised his "ace to her' 1Ta$in! &o% "rom the castle, that will be the hardest'
/nce &o%re o%t, there are ships that wo%ld ta$e &o% home' Id need to "ind the coin and
ma$e the arran!ements, thats all'3
1+o%ld we !o now.3 she as$ed, hardl& darin! to hope'
1This er& ni!ht. No, m& lad&, I "ear not' =irst I m%st "ind a s%re wa& to !et &o% "rom
the castle when the ho%r is ripe' It will not be eas&, nor )%ic$' The& watch me as well'3
,e lic$ed his lips nero%sl&' 1(ill &o% p%t awa& &o%r blade.3
Sansa slipped the $ni"e beneath her cloa$' 1Bise, ser'3
1Than$ &o%, sweet lad&'3 Ser #ontos l%rched cl%msil& to his "eet, and br%shed earth
and leaes "rom his $nees' 1;o%r lord "ather was as tr%e a man as the realm has eer
$nown, b%t I stood b& and let them sla& him' I said nothin!, did nothin! ' ' ' and &et,
when Co""re& wo%ld hae slain me, &o% spo$e %p' 7ad&, I hae neer been a hero, no
B&am Bedw&ne or Barristan the Bold' Ie won no to%rne&s, no renown in war ' ' ' b%t I
was a $ni!ht once, and &o% hae helped me remember what that meant' 2& li"e is a poor
thin!, b%t it is &o%rs'3 Ser #ontos placed a hand on the !narled bole o" the heart tree' ,e
was sha$in!, she saw' 1I ow, with &o%r "athers !ods as witness, that I shall send &o%
home'3
,e swore' * solemn oath, be"ore the !ods' 1Then ' ' ' I will p%t m&sel" in &o%r hands,
ser' B%t how will I $now, when it is time to !o. (ill &o% send me another note.3
Ser #ontos !lanced abo%t an0io%sl&' 1The ris$ is too !reat' ;o% m%st come here, to the
!odswood' *s o"ten as &o% can' This is the sa"est place' The onl& sa"e place' Nowhere
else' Not in &o%r chambers nor mine nor on the steps nor in the &ard, een i" it seems we
are alone' The stones hae ears in the Bed 6eep, and onl& here ma& we tal$ "reel&'3
1/nl& here,3 Sansa said' 1Ill remember'3
1*nd i" I sho%ld seem cr%el or moc$in! or indi""erent when men are watchin!, "or!ie
me, child' I hae a role to pla&, and &o% m%st do the same' /ne misstep and o%r heads
will adorn the walls as did &o%r "athers'3
She nodded' 1I %nderstand'3
1;o% will need to be brae and stron! ' ' ' and patient, patient aboe all'3
1I will be,3 she promised, 1b%t ' ' ' please ' ' ' ma$e it as soon as &o% can' Im
a"raid ' ' '3
1So am I,3 Ser #ontos said, smilin! wanl&' 1*nd now &o% m%st !o, be"ore &o% are
missed'3
1;o% will not come with me.3
1Better i" we are neer seen to!ether'3
Noddin!, Sansa too$ a step ' ' ' then sp%n bac$, nero%s, and so"tl& laid a $iss on his
chee$, her e&es closed' 12& =lorian,3 she whispered' 1The !ods heard m& pra&er'3
She "lew alon! the rier wal$, past the small $itchen, and thro%!h the pi! &ard, her
h%rried "ootsteps lost beneath the s)%ealin! o" the ho!s in their pens' ,ome, she tho%!ht,
home, he is !oin! to ta$e me home, hell $eep me sa"e, m& =lorian' The son!s abo%t
=lorian and Con)%il were her er& "aorites' =lorian was homel& too, tho%!h not so old'
She was racin! headlon! down the serpentine steps when a man l%rched o%t o" a
hidden doorwa&' Sansa caromed into him and lost her balance' Iron "in!ers ca%!ht her
b& the wrist be"ore she co%ld "all, and a deep oice rasped at her' 1Its a lon! roll down
the serpentine, little bird' (ant to $ill %s both.3 ,is la%!hter was ro%!h as a saw on
stone' 12a&be &o% do'3
The ,o%nd' 1No, m& lord, pardons, Id neer'3 Sansa aerted her e&es b%t it was too
late, hed seen her "ace' 14lease, &o%re h%rtin! me'3 She tried to wri!!le "ree'
1*nd whats Co""s little bird doin! "l&in! down the serpentine in the blac$ o" ni!ht.3
(hen she did not answer, he shoo$ her' 1(here were &o%.3
1The !-!-!odswood, m& lord,3 she said, not darin! to lie' 14ra&in! ' ' ' pra&in! "or m&
"ather, and ' ' ' "or the $in!, pra&in! that hed not be h%rt'3
1Thin$ Im so dr%n$ that Id beliee that.3 ,e let !o his !rip on her arm, swa&in!
sli!htl& as he stood, stripes o" li!ht and dar$ness "allin! across his terrible b%rnt "ace'
1;o% loo$ almost a woman ' ' ' "ace, teats, and &o%re taller too, almost ' ' ' ah, &o%re
still a st%pid little bird, arent &o%. Sin!in! all the son!s the& ta%!ht &o% ' ' ' sin! me a
son!, wh& dont &o%. 8o on' Sin! to me' Some son! abo%t $ni!hts and "air maids' ;o%
li$e $ni!hts, dont &o%.3
,e was scarin! her' 1T-tr%e $ni!hts, m& lord'3
1Tr%e $ni!hts,3 he moc$ed' 1*nd Im no lord, no more than Im a $ni!ht' #o I need to
beat that into &o%.3 +le!ane reeled and almost "ell' 18ods,3 he swore, 1too m%ch wine'
#o &o% li$e wine, little bird. B%e wine. * "la!on o" so%r red, dar$ as blood, all a man
needs' /r a woman'3
,e la%!hed, shoo$ his head' 1#r%n$ as a do!, damn me' ;o% come now' Bac$ to &o%r
ca!e, little bird' Ill ta$e &o% there' 6eep &o% sa"e "or the $in!'3 The ,o%nd !ae her a
p%sh, oddl& !entle, and "ollowed her down the steps' B& the time the& reached the
bottom, he had lapsed bac$ into a broodin! silence, as i" he had "or!otten she was there'
(hen the& reached 2ae!ors ,old"ast, she was alarmed to see that it was Ser Boros
Blo%nt who now held the brid!e' ,is hi!h white helm t%rned sti""l& at the so%nd o" their
"ootsteps' Sansa "linched awa& "rom his !a?e' Ser Boros was the worst o" the
6in!s!%ard, an %!l& man with a "o%l temper, all scowls and 9owls'
1That one is nothin! to "ear, !irl'3 The ,o%nd laid a hea& hand on her sho%lder'
14aint stripes on a toad, he does not become a ti!er'3
Ser Boros li"ted his isor' 1Ser, whereA3
1=%c$ &o%r ser, Boros' ;o%re the $ni!ht, not me' Im the $in!s do!, remember.3
1The $in! was loo$in! "or his do! earlier'3
1The do! was drin$in!' It was &o%r ni!ht to shield him, ser' ;o% and m& other
brothers'3
Ser Boros t%rned to Sansa' 1,ow is it &o% are not in &o%r chambers at this ho%r, lad&.3
1I went to the !odswood to pra& "or the sa"et& o" the $in!'3 The lie so%nded better this
time, almost tr%e'
1;o% e0pect her to sleep with all the noise.3 +le!ane said' 1(hat was the tro%ble.3
1=ools at the !ate,3 Ser Boros admitted' 1Some loose ton!%es spread tales o" the
preparations "or T&re$s weddin! "east, and these wretches !ot it in their heads the&
sho%ld be "easted too' ,is 8race led a sortie and sent them sc%rr&in!'3
1* brae bo&,3 +le!ane said, mo%th twitchin!'
7et %s see how brae he is when he "aces m& brother, Sansa tho%!ht' The ,o%nd
escorted her across the drawbrid!e' *s the& were windin! their wa& %p the steps, she
said, 1(h& do &o% let people call &o% a do!. ;o% wont let an&one call &o% a $ni!ht'3
1I li$e do!s better than $ni!hts' 2& "athers "ather was $ennelmaster at the Boc$' /ne
a%t%mn &ear, 7ord T&tos came between a lioness and her pre&' The lioness didnt !ie a
shit that she was 7annisters own si!il' Bitch tore into m& lords horse and wo%ld hae
done "or m& lord too, b%t m& !rand"ather came %p with the ho%nds' Three o" his do!s
died r%nnin! her o""' 2& !rand"ather lost a le!, so 7annister paid him "or it with lands
and a towerho%se, and too$ his son to s)%ire' The three do!s on o%r banner are the three
that died, in the &ellow o" a%t%mn !rass' * ho%nd will die "or &o%, b%t neer lie to &o%'
*nd hell loo$ &o% strai!ht in the "ace'3 ,e c%pped her %nder the 9aw, raisin! her chin,
his "in!ers pinchin! her pain"%ll&' 1*nd thats more than little birds can do, isnt it. I
neer !ot m& son!'3
1I ' ' ' I $now a son! abo%t =lorian and Con)%il'3
1=lorian and Con)%il. * "ool and his c%nt' Spare me' B%t one da& Ill hae a son! "rom
&o%, whether &o% will it or no'3
1I will sin! it "or &o% !ladl&'3
Sandor +le!ane snorted' 14rett& thin!, and s%ch a bad liar' * do! can smell a lie, &o%
$now' 7oo$ aro%nd &o%, and ta$e a !ood whi""' The&re all liars here ' ' ' and eer& one
better than &o%'3
C#APT"R $0
AR%A
(hen she climbed all the wa& %p to the hi!hest branch, *r&a co%ld see chimne&s
po$in! thro%!h the trees' Thatched roo"s cl%stered alon! the shore o" the la$e and the
small stream that emptied into it, and a wooden pier 9%tted o%t into the water beside a
low lon! b%ildin! with a slate roo"'
She s$innied "arther o%t, %ntil the branch be!an to sa! %nder her wei!ht' No boats were
tied to the pier, b%t she co%ld see thin tendrils o" smo$e risin! "rom some o" the
chimne&s, and part o" a wa!on 9%ttin! o%t behind a stable'
Someones there' *r&a chewed her lip' *ll the other places the&d come %pon had been
empt& and desolate' =arms, illa!es, castles, septs, barns, it made no matter' I" it co%ld
b%rn, the 7annisters had b%rned it: i" it co%ld die, the&d $illed it' The& had een set the
woods abla?e where the& co%ld, tho%!h the leaes were still !reen and wet "rom recent
rains, and the "ires had not spread' 1The& wo%ld hae b%rned the la$e i" the& co%ld
hae,3 8endr& had said, and *r&a $new he was ri!ht' /n the ni!ht o" their escape, the
"lames o" the b%rnin! town had shimmered so bri!htl& on the water that it had seemed
that the la$e was a"ire'
(hen the& "inall& s%mmoned the nere to steal bac$ into the r%ins the ne0t ni!ht,
nothin! remained b%t blac$ened stones, the hollow shells o" ho%ses, and corpses' In
some places wisps o" pale smo$e still rose "rom the ashes' ,ot 4ie had pleaded with
them not to !o bac$, and 7omm& called them "ools and swore that Ser *mor& wo%ld
catch them and $ill them too, b%t 7orch and his men had lon! !one b& the time the&
reached the hold"ast' The& "o%nd the !ates bro$en down, the walls partl& demolished,
and the inside strewn with the %nb%ried dead' /ne loo$ was eno%!h "or 8endr&'
1The&re $illed, eer& one,3 he said' 1*nd do!s hae been at them too, loo$'3
1/r woles'3
1#o!s, woles, it ma$es no matter' Its done here'3
B%t *r&a wo%ld not leae %ntil the& "o%nd ;oren' The& co%ldnt hae $illed him, she
told hersel", he was too hard and to%!h, and a brother o" the Ni!hts (atch besides' She
said as m%ch to 8endr& as the& searched amon! the corpses'
The a0e blow that had $illed him had split his s$%ll apart, b%t the !reat tan!led beard
co%ld be no one elses, or the !arb, patched and %nwashed and so "aded it was more !re&
than blac$' Ser *mor& 7orch had !ien no more tho%!ht to b%r&in! his own dead than to
those he had m%rdered, and the corpses o" "o%r 7annister men-at-arms were heaped near
;orens' *r&a wondered how man& it had ta$en to brin! him down'
,e was !oin! to ta$e me home, she tho%!ht as the& d%! the old mans hole' There were
too man& dead to b%r& them all, b%t ;oren at least m%st hae a !rae, *r&a had insisted'
,e was !oin! to brin! me sa"e to (inter"ell, he promised' 4art o" her wanted to cr&' The
other part wanted to $ic$ him'
It was 8endr& who tho%!ht o" the lords towerho%se and the three that ;oren had sent
to hold it' The& had come %nder attac$ as well, b%t the ro%nd tower had onl& one entr&, a
second-stor& door reached b& a ladder' /nce that had been p%lled inside, Ser *mor&s
men co%ld not !et at them' The 7annisters had piled br%sh aro%nd the towers base and
set it a"ire, b%t the stone wo%ld not b%rn, and 7orch did not hae the patience to stare
them o%t' +%t9ac$ opened the door at 8endr&s sho%t, and when 6%r? said the&d be
better pressin! on north than !oin! bac$, *r&a had cl%n! to the hope that she still mi!ht
reach (inter"ell'
(ell, this illa!e was no (inter"ell, b%t those thatched roo"s promised warmth and
shelter and ma&be een "ood, i" the& were bold eno%!h to ris$ them' <nless its 7orch
there' ,e had horses: he wo%ld hae traeled "aster than %s'
She watched "rom the tree "or a lon! time, hopin! she mi!ht see somethin!: a man, a
horse, a banner, an&thin! that wo%ld help her $now' * "ew times she !limpsed motion,
b%t the b%ildin!s were so "ar o"" it was hard to be certain' /nce, er& clearl&, she heard
the whinn& o" a horse'
The air was "%ll o" birds, crows mostl&' =rom a"ar, the& were no lar!er than "lies as
the& wheeled and "lapped aboe the thatched roo"s' To the east, 8ods 5&e was a sheet o"
s%n-hammered bl%e that "illed hal" the world' Some da&s, as the& made their slow wa&
%p the m%dd& shore G8endr& wanted no part o" an& roads, and een ,ot 4ie and 7omm&
saw the sense in thatH, *r&a "elt as tho%!h the la$e were callin! her' She wanted to leap
into those placid bl%e waters, to "eel clean a!ain, to swim and splash and bas$ in the s%n'
B%t she dare not ta$e o"" her clothes where the others co%ld see, not een to wash them'
*t the end o" the da& she wo%ld o"ten sit on a roc$ and dan!le her "eet in the cool water'
She had "inall& thrown awa& her crac$ed and rotted shoes' (al$in! bare"oot was hard at
"irst, b%t the blisters had "inall& bro$en, the c%ts had healed, and her soles had t%rned to
leather' The m%d was nice between her toes, and she li$ed to "eel the earth %nder"oot
when she wal$ed'
=rom %p here, she co%ld see a small wooded island o"" to the northeast' Thirt& &ards
"rom shore, three blac$ swans were !lidin! oer the water, so serene ' ' ' no one had told
them that war had come, and the& cared nothin! "or b%rnin! towns and b%tchered men'
She stared at them with &earnin!' 4art o" her wanted to be a swan' The other part wanted
to eat one' She had bro$en her "ast on some acorn paste and a hand"%l o" b%!s' B%!s
werent so bad when &o% !ot %sed to them' (orms were worse, b%t still not as bad as the
pain in &o%r bell& a"ter da&s witho%t "ood' =indin! b%!s was eas&, all &o% had to do was
$ic$ oer a roc$' *r&a had eaten a b%! once when she was little, 9%st to ma$e Sansa
screech, so she hadnt been a"raid to eat another' (easel wasnt either, b%t ,ot 4ie
retched %p the beetle he tried to swallow, and 7omm& and 8endr& wo%ldnt een tr&'
;esterda& 8endr& had ca%!ht a "ro! and shared it with 7omm&, and, a "ew da&s be"ore,
,ot 4ie had "o%nd blac$berries and stripped the b%sh bare, b%t mostl& the& had been
liin! on water and acorns' 6%r? had told them how to %se roc$s and ma$e a $ind o"
acorn paste' It tasted aw"%l'
She wished the poacher hadnt died' ,ed $nown more abo%t the woods than all the
rest o" them to!ether, b%t hed ta$en an arrow thro%!h the sho%lder p%llin! in the ladder
at the towerho%se' Tarber had pac$ed it with m%d and moss "rom the la$e, and "or a da&
or two 6%r? swore the wo%nd was nothin!, een tho%!h the "lesh o" his throat was
t%rnin! dar$ while an!r& red welts crept %p his 9aw and down his chest' Then one
mornin! he co%ldnt "ind the stren!th to !et %p, and b& the ne0t he was dead'
The& b%ried him %nder a mo%nd o" stones, and +%t9ac$ had claimed his sword and
h%ntin! horn, while Tarber helped himsel" to bow and boots and $ni"e' The&d ta$en it
all when the& le"t' *t "irst the& tho%!ht the two had 9%st !one h%ntin!, that the&d soon
ret%rn with !ame and "eed them all' B%t the& waited and waited, %ntil "inall& 8endr&
made them moe on' 2a&be Tarber and +%t9ac$ "i!%red the& wo%ld stand a better
chance witho%t a !a!!le o" orphan bo&s to herd alon!' The& probabl& wo%ld too, b%t
that didnt stop her hatin! them "or leain!'
Beneath her tree, ,ot 4ie bar$ed li$e a do!' 6%r? had told them to %se animal so%nds
to si!nal to each other' *n old poachers tric$, hed said, b%t hed died be"ore he co%ld
teach them how to ma$e the so%nds ri!ht' ,ot 4ies bird calls were aw"%l' ,is do! was
better, b%t not m%ch'
*r&a hopped "rom the hi!h branch to one beneath it, her hands o%t "or balance' * water
dancer neer "alls' 7i!ht"oot, her toes c%rled ti!ht aro%nd the branch, she wal$ed a "ew
"eet, hopped down to a lar!er limb, then sw%n! hand oer hand thro%!h the tan!le o"
leaes %ntil she reached the tr%n$' The bar$ was ro%!h beneath her "in!ers, a!ainst her
toes' She descended )%ic$l&, 9%mpin! down the "inal si0 "eet, rollin! when she landed'
8endr& !ae her a hand to p%ll her %p' 1;o% were %p there a lon! time' (hat co%ld
&o% see.3
1* "ishin! illa!e, 9%st a little place, north alon! the shore' Twent&-si0 thatch roo"s and
one slate, I co%nted' I saw part o" a wa!on' Someones there'3
*t the so%nd o" her oice, (easel came creepin! o%t "rom the b%shes' 7omm& had
named her that' ,e said she loo$ed li$e a weasel, which wasnt tr%e, b%t the& co%ldnt
$eep on callin! her the cr&in! !irl a"ter she "inall& stopped cr&in!' ,er mo%th was "ilth&'
*r&a hoped she hadnt been eatin! m%d a!ain'
1#id &o% see people.3 as$ed 8endr&'
12ostl& 9%st roo"s,3 *r&a admitted, 1b%t some chimne&s were smo$in!, and I heard a
horse'3 The (easel p%t her arms aro%nd her le!, cl%tchin! ti!ht' Sometimes she did that
now'
1I" theres people, theres "ood,3 ,ot 4ie said, too lo%dl&' 8endr& was alwa&s tellin!
him to be more )%iet, b%t it neer did an& !ood' 12i!ht be the&d !ie %s some'3
12i!ht be the&d $ill %s too,3 8endr& said'
1Not i" we &ielded,3 ,ot 4ie said hope"%ll&'
1Now &o% so%nd li$e 7omm&'3
7omm& 8reenhands sat propped %p between two thic$ roots at the "oot o" an oa$' *
spear had ta$en him thro%!h his le"t cal" d%rin! the "i!ht at the hold"ast' B& the end o"
the ne0t da&, he had to limp alon! one-le!!ed with an arm aro%nd 8endr&, and now he
co%ldnt een do that' The&d hac$ed branches o"" trees to ma$e a litter "or him, b%t it
was slow, hard wor$ carr&in! him alon!, and he whimpered eer& time the& 9o%nced
him'
1(e hae to &ield,3 he said' 1Thats what ;oren sho%ld hae done' ,e sho%ld hae
opened the !ates li$e the& said'3
*r&a was sic$ o" 7omm& !oin! on abo%t how ;oren sho%ld hae &ielded' It was all he
tal$ed abo%t when the& carried him, that and his le! and his empt& bell&'
,ot 4ie a!reed' 1The& told ;oren to open the !ates, the& told him in the $in!s name'
;o% hae to do what the& tell &o% in the $in!s name' It was that stin$& old mans "a%lt'
I" hed o" &ielded, the& wo%ld hae le"t %s be'3
8endr& "rowned' 16ni!hts and lordlin!s, the& ta$e each other captie and pa&
ransoms, b%t the& dont care i" the li$es o" &o% &ield or not'3 ,e t%rned to *r&a' 1(hat
else did &o% see.3
1I" its a "ishin! illa!e, the&d sell %s "ish, I bet,3 said ,ot 4ie' The la$e teemed with
"resh "ish, b%t the& had nothin! to catch them with' *r&a had tried to %se her hands, the
wa& shed seen 6oss do, b%t "ish were )%ic$er than pi!eons and the water pla&ed tric$s
on her e&es'
1I dont $now abo%t "ish'3 *r&a t%!!ed at the (easels matted hair, thin$in! it mi!ht
be best to hac$ it o""' 1Theres crows down b& the water' Somethin!s dead there'3
1=ish, washed %p on shore,3 ,ot 4ie said' 1I" the crows eat it, I bet we co%ld'3
1(e sho%ld catch some crows, we co%ld eat them,3 said 7omm&' 1(e co%ld ma$e a
"ire and roast them li$e chic$ens'3
8endr& loo$ed "ierce when he scowled' ,is beard had !rown in thic$ and blac$ as
briar' 1I said, no "ires'3
17omm&s h%n!r&,3 ,ot 4ie whined, 1and I am too'3
1(ere all h%n!r&,3 said *r&a'
1;o%re not,3 7omm& spat "rom the !ro%nd' 1(orm breath'3
*r&a co%ld hae $ic$ed him in his wo%nd' 1I said Id di! worms "or &o% too, i" &o%
wanted'3
7omm& made a dis!%sted "ace' 1I" it wasnt "or m& le!, Id h%nt %s some boars'3
1Some boars,3 she moc$ed' 1;o% need a boarspear to h%nt boars, and horses and do!s,
and men to "l%sh the boar "rom its lair'3 ,er "ather had h%nted boar in the wol"swood
with Bobb and Con' /nce he een too$ Bran, b%t neer *r&a, een tho%!h she was older'
Septa 2ordane said boar h%ntin! was not "or ladies, and 2other onl& promised that
when she was older she mi!ht hae her own haw$' She was older now, b%t i" she had a
haw$ shed eat it'
1(hat do &o% $now abo%t h%ntin! boars.3 said ,ot 4ie'
12ore than &o%'3
8endr& was in no mood to hear it' 1F%iet, both o" &o%, I need to thin$ what to do'3 ,e
alwa&s loo$ed pained when he tried to thin$, li$e it h%rt him somethin! "ierce'
1;ield,3 7omm& said'
1I told &o% to sh%t %p abo%t the &ieldin!' (e dont een $now whos in there' 2a&be
we can steal some "ood'3
17omm& co%ld steal, i" it wasnt "or his le!,3 said ,ot 4ie' 1,e was a thie" in the cit&'3
1* bad thie",3 *r&a said, 1or he wo%ldnt hae !ot ca%!ht'3
8endr& s)%inted %p at the s%n' 15en"all will be the best time to snea$ in' Ill !o sco%t
come dar$'3
1No, Ill !o,3 *r&a said' 1;o%re too nois&'3
8endr& !ot that loo$ on his "ace' 1(ell both !o'3
1*rr& sho%ld !o,3 said 7omm&' 1,es snea$ier than &o% are'3
1(ell both !o, I said'3
1B%t what i" &o% dont come bac$. ,ot 4ie cant carr& me b& himsel", &o% $now he
cant ' ' '3
1*nd theres woles,3 ,ot 4ie said' 1I heard them last ni!ht, when I had the watch'
The& so%nded close'3
*r&a had heard them too' Shed been asleep in the branches o" an elm, b%t the howlin!
had wo$en her' Shed sat awa$e "or a !ood ho%r, listenin! to them, pric$les creepin! %p
her spine'
1*nd &o% wont een let %s hae a "ire to $eep them o"",3 ,ot 4ie said' 1Its not ri!ht,
leain! %s "or the woles'3
1No one is leain! &o%,3 8endr& said in dis!%st' 17omm& has his spear i" the woles
come, and &o%ll be with him' (ere 9%st !oin! to !o see, thats all: were comin! bac$'3
1(hoeer it is, &o% sho%ld &ield to them,3 7omm& whined' 1I need some potion "or
m& le!, it h%rts bad'3
1I" we see an& le! potion, well brin! it,3 8endr& said' 1*rr&, lets !o, I want to !et
near be"ore the s%n is down' ,ot 4ie, &o% $eep (easel here, I dont want her "ollowin!'3
17ast time she $ic$ed me'3
1Ill $ic$ &o% i" &o% dont $eep her here'3 (itho%t waitin! "or an answer, 8endr&
donned his steel helm and wal$ed o""'
*r&a had to scamper to $eep %p' 8endr& was "ie &ears older and a "oot taller than she
was, and lon! o" le! as well' =or a while he said nothin!, 9%st plowed on thro%!h the
trees with an an!r& loo$ on his "ace, ma$in! too m%ch noise' B%t "inall& he stopped and
said, 1I thin$ 7omm&s !oin! to die'3
She was not s%rprised' 6%r? had died o" his wo%nd, and hed been a lot stron!er than
7omm&' (heneer it was *r&as t%rn to help carr& him, she co%ld "eel how warm his
s$in was, and smell the stin$ o"" his le!' 12a&be we co%ld "ind a maester ' ' '3
1;o% onl& "ind maesters in castles, and een i" we "o%nd one, he wo%ldnt dirt& his
hands on the li$es o" 7omm&'3 8endr& d%c$ed %nder a low-han!in! limb'
1Thats not tr%e'3 2aester 7%win wo%ld hae helped an&one who came to him, she
was certain'
1,es !oin! to die, and the sooner he does it, the better "or the rest o" %s' (e sho%ld
9%st leae him, li$e he sa&s' I" it was &o% or me h%rt, &o% $now hed leae %s'3 The&
scrambled down a steep c%t and %p the other side, %sin! roots "or handholds' 1Im sic$
o" carr&in! him, and Im sic$ o" all his tal$ abo%t &ieldin! too' I" he co%ld stand %p, Id
$noc$ his teeth in' 7omm&s no %se to an&one' That cr&in! !irls no %se either'3
1;o% leae (easel alone, shes 9%st scared and h%n!r& is all'3 *r&a !lanced bac$, b%t
the !irl was not "ollowin! "or once' ,ot 4ie m%st hae !rabbed her, li$e 8endr& had told
him'
1Shes no %se,3 8endr& repeated st%bbornl&' 1,er and ,ot 4ie and 7omm&, the&re
slowin! %s down, and the&re !oin! to !et %s $illed' ;o%re the onl& one o" the b%nch
whos !ood "or an&thin!' 5en i" &o% are a !irl'3
*r&a "ro?e in her steps' 1Im not a !irl@3
1;es &o% are' #o &o% thin$ Im as st%pid as the& are.3
1No, &o%re st%pider' The Ni!hts (atch doesnt ta$e !irls, eer&one $nows that'3
1Thats tr%e' I dont $now wh& ;oren bro%!ht &o%, b%t he m%st hae had some reason'
;o%re still a !irl'3
1I am not@3
1Then p%ll o%t &o%r coc$ and ta$e a piss' 8o on'3
1I dont need to ta$e a piss' I" I wanted to I co%ld'3
17iar' ;o% cant ta$e o%t &o%r coc$ beca%se &o% dont hae one' I neer noticed be"ore
when there were thirt& o" %s, b%t &o% alwa&s !o o"" in the woods to ma$e &o%r water'
;o% dont see ,ot 4ie doin! that, nor me neither' I" &o%re not a !irl, &o% m%st be some
e%n%ch'3
1;o%re the e%n%ch'3
1;o% $now Im not'3 8endr& smiled' 1;o% want me to ta$e o%t m& coc$ and proe it.
I dont hae an&thin! to hide'3
1;es &o% do,3 *r&a bl%rted, desperate to escape the s%b9ect o" the coc$ she didnt hae'
1Those !old cloa$s were a"ter &o% at the inn, and &o% wont tell %s wh&'3
1I wish I $new' I thin$ ;oren $new, b%t he neer told me' (h& did &o% thin$ the& were
a"ter &o%, tho%!h.3
*r&a bit her lip' She remembered what ;oren had said, the da& he had hac$ed o"" her
hair' This lot, hal" o them wo%ld t%rn &o% oer to the )%een )%ic$ as spit "or a pardon
and ma&be a "ew silers' The other hal"d do the same, onl& the&d rape &o% "irst' /nl&
8endr& was di""erent, the )%een wanted him too' 1Ill tell &o% i" &o%ll tell me,3 she said
waril&'
1I wo%ld i" I $new, *rr& ' ' ' is that reall& what &o%re called, or do &o% hae some
!irls name.3
*r&a !lared at the !narled root b& her "eet' She reali?ed that the pretense was done'
8endr& $new, and she had nothin! in her pants to conince him otherwise' She co%ld
draw Needle and $ill him where he stood, or else tr%st him' She wasnt certain shed be
able to $ill him, een i" she tried: he had his own sword, and he was a lot stron!er' *ll
that was le"t was the tr%th' 17omm& and ,ot 4ie cant $now,3 she said'
1The& wont,3 he swore' 1Not "rom me'3
1*r&a'3 She raised her e&es to his' 12& name is *r&a' /" ,o%se Star$'3
1/" ,o%se ' ' '3 It too$ him a moment be"ore he said, 1The 6in!s ,and was named
Star$' The one the& $illed "or a traitor'3
1,e was neer a traitor' ,e was m& "ather'3
8endr&s e&es widened' 1So thats wh& &o% tho%!ht ' ' '3
She nodded' 1;oren was ta$in! me home to (inter"ell'3
1I ' ' ' &o%re hi!hborn then, a ' ' ' &o%ll be a lad& ' ' '3
*r&a loo$ed down at her ra!!ed clothes and bare "eet, all crac$ed and call%sed' She
saw the dirt %nder her nails, the scabs on her elbows, the scratches on her hands' Septa
2ordane wo%ldnt een $now me, I bet' Sansa mi!ht, b%t shed pretend not to' 12&
mothers a lad&, and m& sister, b%t I neer was'3
1;es &o% were' ;o% were a lords da%!hter and &o% lied in a castle, didnt &o%. *nd
&o% ' ' ' !ods be !ood, I neer ' ' '3 *ll o" a s%dden 8endr& seemed %ncertain, almost
a"raid' 1*ll that abo%t coc$s, I neer sho%ld hae said that' *nd I been pissin! in "ront o"
&o% and eer&thin!, I ' ' ' I be! &o%r pardon, mlad&'3
1Stop that@3 *r&a hissed' (as he moc$in! her.
1I $now m& co%rtesies, mlad&,3 8endr& said, st%bborn as eer' 1(heneer hi!hborn
!irls came into the shop with their "athers, m& master told me I was to bend the $nee,
and spea$ onl& when the& spo$e to me, and call them mlad&'3
1I" &o% start callin! me mlad&, een ,ot 4ie is !oin! to notice' *nd &o% better $eep on
pissin! the same wa& too'3
1*s mlad& commands'3
*r&a slammed his chest with both hands' ,e tripped oer a stone and sat down with a
th%mp' 1(hat $ind o" lords da%!hter are &o%.3 he said, la%!hin!'
1This $ind'3 She $ic$ed him in the side, b%t it onl& made him la%!h harder' 1;o% la%!h
all &o% li$e' Im !oin! to see whos in the illa!e'3 The s%n had alread& "allen below the
trees: d%s$ wo%ld be on them in no time at all' =or once it was 8endr& who had to h%rr&
a"ter' 1;o% smell that.3 she as$ed'
,e sni""ed the air' 1Botten "ish.3
1;o% $now its not'3
1(e better be care"%l' Ill !o aro%nd west, see i" theres some road' There m%st be i"
&o% saw a wa!on' ;o% ta$e the shore' I" &o% need help, bar$ li$e a do!'3
1Thats st%pid' I" I need help, Ill sho%t help'3 She darted awa&, bare "eet silent in the
!rass' (hen she !lanced bac$ oer her sho%lder, he was watchin! her with that pained
loo$ on his "ace that meant he was thin$in!' ,es probabl& thin$in! that he sho%ldnt be
lettin! mlad& !o stealin! "ood' *r&a 9%st $new he was !oin! to be st%pid now'
The smell !rew stron!er as she !ot closer to the illa!e' It did not smell li$e rotten "ish
to her' This stench was ran$er, "o%ler' She wrin$led her nose'
(here the trees be!an to thin, she %sed the %nder!rowth, slippin! "rom b%sh to b%sh
)%iet as a shadow' 5er& "ew &ards she stopped to listen' The third time, she heard
horses, and a mans oice as well' *nd the smell !ot worse' #ead mans stin$, thats
what it is' She had smelled it be"ore, with ;oren and the others'
* dense thic$et o" brambles !rew so%th o" the illa!e' B& the time she reached it, the
lon! shadows o" s%nset had be!%n to "ade, and the lantern b%!s were comin! o%t' She
co%ld see thatched roo"s 9%st be&ond the hed!e' She crept alon! %ntil she "o%nd a !ap
and s)%irmed thro%!h on her bell&, $eepin! well hidden %ntil she saw what made the
smell'
Beside the !entl& lappin! waters o" 8ods 5&e, a lon! !ibbet o" raw !reen wood had
been thrown %p, and thin!s that had once been men dan!led there, their "eet in chains,
while crows pec$ed at their "lesh and "lapped "rom corpse to corpse' =or eer& crow
there were a h%ndred "lies' (hen the wind blew o"" the la$e, the nearest corpse twisted
on its chain, eer so sli!htl&' The crows had eaten most o" its "ace, and somethin! else
had been at it as well, somethin! m%ch lar!er' Throat and chest had been torn apart, and
!listenin! !reen entrails and ribbons o" ra!!ed "lesh dan!led "rom where the bell& had
been opened' /ne arm had been ripped ri!ht o"" the sho%lder: *r&a saw the bones a "ew
"eet awa&, !nawed and crac$ed, pic$ed clean o" meat'
She made hersel" loo$ at the ne0t man and the one be&ond him and the one be&ond
him, tellin! hersel" she was hard as a stone' +orpses all, so saa!ed and deca&ed that it
too$ her a moment to reali?e the& had been stripped be"ore the& were han!ed' The& did
not loo$ li$e na$ed people: the& hardl& loo$ed li$e people at all' The crows had eaten
their e&es, and sometimes their "aces' /" the si0th in the lon! row, nothin! remained b%t
a sin!le le!, still tan!led in its chains, swa&in! with each bree?e'
=ear c%ts deeper than swords' #ead men co%ld not h%rt her, b%t whoeer had $illed
them co%ld' (ell be&ond the !ibbet, two men in mail ha%ber$s stood leanin! on their
spears in "ront o" the lon! low b%ildin! b& the water, the one with the slate roo"' * pair
o" tall poles had been drien into the m%dd& !ro%nd in "ront o" it, banners droopin! "rom
each sta""' /ne loo$ed red and one paler, white or &ellow ma&be, b%t both were limp and
with the d%s$ settlin!, she co%ld not een be certain that red one was 7annister crimson'
I dont need to see the lion, I can see all the dead people, who else wo%ld it be b%t
7annisters.
Then there was a sho%t'
The two spearmen t%rned at the cr&, and a third man came into iew, shoin! a captie
be"ore him' It was !rowin! too dar$ to ma$e o%t "aces, b%t the prisoner was wearin! a
shin& steel helm, and when *r&a saw the horns she $new it was 8endr&' ;o% st%pid
st%pid st%pid ST<4I#@ she tho%!ht' I" hed been here she wo%ld hae $ic$ed him a!ain'
The !%ards were tal$in! lo%dl&, b%t she was too "ar awa& to ma$e o%t the words,
especiall& with the crows !abblin! and "lappin! closer to hand' /ne o" the spearmen
snatched the helm o"" 8endr&s head and as$ed him a )%estion, b%t he m%st not hae
li$ed the answer, beca%se he smashed him across the "ace with the b%tt o" his spear and
$noc$ed him down' The one whod capt%red him !ae him a $ic$, while the second
spearman was tr&in! on the b%lls-head helm' =inall& the& p%lled him to his "eet and
marched him o"" toward the storeho%se' (hen the& opened the hea& wooden doors, a
small bo& darted o%t, b%t one o" the !%ards !rabbed his arm and "l%n! him bac$ inside'
*r&a heard sobbin! "rom inside the b%ildin!, and then a shrie$ so lo%d and "%ll o" pain
that it made her bite her lip'
The !%ards shoed 8endr& inside with the bo& and barred the doors behind them' C%st
then, a breath o" wind came si!hin! o"" the la$e, and the banners stirred and li"ted' The
one on the tall sta"" bore the !olden lion, as shed "eared' /n the other, three slee$ blac$
shapes ran across a "ield as &ellow as b%tter' #o!s, she tho%!ht' *r&a had seen those
do!s be"ore, b%t where.
It didnt matter' The onl& thin! that mattered was that the& had 8endr&' 5en i" he was
st%bborn and st%pid, she had to !et him o%t' She wondered i" the& $new that the )%een
wanted him'
/ne o" the !%ards too$ o"" his helm and donned 8endr&s instead' It made her an!r& to
see him wearin! it, b%t she $new there was nothin! she co%ld do to stop him' She
tho%!ht she heard more screams "rom inside the windowless storeho%se, m%""led b& the
masonr&, b%t it was hard to be certain'
She sta&ed lon! eno%!h to see the !%ard chan!ed, and m%ch more besides' 2en came
and went' The& led their horses down to the stream to drin$' * h%ntin! part& ret%rned
"rom the wood, carr&in! a deers carcass sl%n! "rom a pole' She watched them clean and
!%t it and b%ild a coo$"ire on the "ar side o" the stream, and the smell o" coo$in! meat
min!led )%eerl& with the stench o" corr%ption' ,er empt& bell& roiled and she tho%!ht
she mi!ht retch' The prospect o" "ood bro%!ht other men o%t o" the ho%ses, near all o"
them wearin! bits o" mail or boiled leather' (hen the deer was coo$ed, the choicest
portions were carried to one o" the ho%ses'
She tho%!ht that the dar$ mi!ht let her crawl close and "ree 8endr&, b%t the !%ards
$indled torches o"" the coo$"ire' * s)%ire bro%!ht meat and bread to the two !%ardin!
the storeho%se, and later two more men 9oined them and the& all passed a s$in o" wine
"rom hand to hand' (hen it was empt& the others le"t, b%t the two !%ards remained,
leanin! on their spears'
*r&as arms and le!s were sti"" when she "inall& wri!!led o%t "rom %nder the briar into
the dar$ o" the wood' It was a blac$ ni!ht, with a thin slier o" moon appearin! and
disappearin! as the clo%ds blew past' Silent as a shadow, she told hersel" as she moed
thro%!h the trees' In this dar$ness she dared not r%n, "or "ear o" trippin! on some %nseen
root or losin! her wa&' /n her le"t 8ods 5&e lapped calml& a!ainst its shores' /n her
ri!ht a wind si!hed thro%!h the branches, and leaes r%stled and stirred' =ar o"", she
heard the howlin! o" woles'
7omm& and ,ot 4ie almost shit themseles when she stepped o%t o" the trees behind
them' 1F%iet,3 she told them, p%ttin! an arm aro%nd (easel when the little !irl came
r%nnin! %p'
,ot 4ie stared at her with bi! e&es' 1(e tho%!ht &o% le"t %s'3 ,e had his shortsword in
hand, the one ;oren had ta$en o"" the !old cloa$' 1I was scared &o% was a wol"'3
1(heres the B%ll.3 as$ed 7omm&'
1The& ca%!ht him,3 *r&a whispered' 1(e hae to !et him o%t' ,ot 4ie, &o% !ot to
help' (ell snea$ %p and $ill the !%ards, and then Ill open the door'3
,ot 4ie and 7omm& e0chan!ed a loo$' 1,ow man&.3
1I co%ldnt co%nt,3 *r&a admitted' 1Twent& at least, b%t onl& two on the door'3
,ot 4ie loo$ed as i" he were !oin! to cr&' 1(e cant "i!ht twent&'3
1;o% onl& need to "i!ht one' Ill do the other and well !et 8endr& o%t and r%n'3
1(e sho%ld &ield,3 7omm& said' 1C%st !o in and &ield'3
*r&a shoo$ her head st%bbornl&'
1Then 9%st leae him, *rr&,3 7omm& pleaded' 1The& dont $now abo%t the rest o" %s' I"
we hide, the&ll !o awa&, &o% $now the& will' Its not o%r "a%lt 8endr&s capt%red'3
1;o%re st%pid, 7omm&,3 *r&a said an!ril&' 1;o%ll die i" we dont !et 8endr& o%t'
(hos !oin! to carr& &o%.3
1;o% and ,ot 4ie'3
1*ll the time, with no one else to help. (ell neer do it' 8endr& was the stron! one'
*n&how, I dont care what &o% sa&, Im !oin! bac$ "or him'3 She loo$ed at ,ot 4ie'
1*re &o% comin!.3
,ot 4ie !lanced at 7omm&, at *r&a, at 7omm& a!ain' 1Ill come,3 he said rel%ctantl&'
17omm&, &o% $eep (easel here'3
,e !rabbed the little !irl b& the hand and p%lled her close' 1(hat i" the woles come.3
1;ield,3 *r&a s%!!ested'
=indin! their wa& bac$ to the illa!e seemed to ta$e ho%rs' ,ot 4ie $ept st%mblin! in
the dar$ and losin! his wa&, and *r&a had to wait "or him and do%ble bac$' =inall& she
too$ him b& the hand and led him alon! thro%!h the trees' 1C%st be )%iet and "ollow'3
(hen the& co%ld ma$e o%t the "irst "aint !low o" the illa!e "ires a!ainst the s$&, she
said, 1Theres dead men han!in! on the other side o" the hed!e, b%t the&re nothin! to be
scared o", 9%st remember "ear c%ts deeper than swords' (e hae to !o real )%iet and
slow'3 ,ot 4ie nodded'
She wri!!led %nder the briar "irst and waited "or him on the "ar side, cro%ched low' ,ot
4ie emer!ed pale and pantin!, "ace and arms blood& with lon! scratches' ,e started to
sa& somethin!, b%t *r&a p%t a "in!er to his lips' /n hands and $nees, the& crawled alon!
the !ibbet, beneath the swa&in! dead' ,ot 4ie neer once loo$ed %p, nor made a so%nd'
<ntil the crow landed on his bac$, and he !ae a m%""led !asp' 1(hos there.3 a oice
boomed s%ddenl& "rom the dar$'
,ot 4ie leapt to his "eet' 1I &ield@3 ,e threw awa& his sword as do?ens o" crows rose
shrie$in! and complainin! to "lap abo%t the corpses' *r&a !rabbed his le! and tried to
dra! him bac$ down, b%t he wrenched loose and ran "orward, wain! his arms' 1I &ield,
I &ield'3
She bo%nced %p and drew Needle, b%t b& then men were all aro%nd her' *r&a slashed at
the nearest, b%t he bloc$ed her with a steel-clad arm, and someone else slammed into her
and dra!!ed her to the !ro%nd, and a third man wrenched the sword "rom her !rasp'
(hen she tried to bite, her teeth snapped sh%t on cold dirt& chainmail' 1/ho, a "ierce
one,3 the man said, la%!hin!' The blow "rom his iron-clad "ist near $noc$ed her head
o""'
The& tal$ed oer her as she la& h%rtin!, b%t *r&a co%ld not seem to %nderstand the
words' ,er ears ran!' (hen she tried to crawl o"", the earth moed beneath her' The&
too$ Needle' The shame o" that h%rt worse than the pain, and the pain h%rt a lot' Con had
!ien her that sword' S&rio had ta%!ht her to %se it'
=inall& someone !rabbed the "ront o" her 9er$in, &an$ed her to her $nees' ,ot 4ie was
$neelin! too, be"ore the tallest man *r&a had eer seen, a monster "rom one o" /ld
Nans stories' She neer saw where the !iant had come "rom' Three blac$ do!s raced
across his "aded &ellow s%rcoat, and his "ace loo$ed as hard as i" it had been c%t "rom
stone' S%ddenl& *r&a $new where she had seen those do!s be"ore' The ni!ht o" the
to%rne& at 6in!s 7andin!, all the $ni!hts had h%n! their shields o%tside their pailions'
1That one belon!s to the ,o%nds brother,3 Sansa had con"ided when the& passed the
blac$ do!s on the &ellow "ield' 1,es een bi!!er than ,odor, &o%ll see' The& call him
the 2o%ntain That Bides'3
*r&a let her head droop, onl& hal" aware o" what was !oin! on aro%nd her' ,ot 4ie was
&ieldin! some more' The 2o%ntain said, 1;o%ll lead %s to these others,3 and wal$ed
o""' Ne0t she was st%mblin! past the dead men on their !ibbet, while ,ot 4ie told their
captors hed ba$e them pies and tarts i" the& didnt h%rt him' =o%r men went with them'
/ne carried a torch, one a lon!sword: two had spears'
The& "o%nd 7omm& where the&d le"t him, %nder the oa$' 1I &ield,3 he called o%t at
once when he saw them' ,ed "l%n! awa& his own spear and raised his hands, splotch&
!reen with old d&e' 1I &ield' 4lease'3
The man with the torch searched aro%nd %nder the trees' 1*re &o% the last. Ba$er bo&
said there was a !irl'3
1She ran o"" when she heard &o% comin!,3 7omm& said' 1;o% made a lot o" noise'3
*nd *r&a tho%!ht, B%n, (easel, r%n as "ar as &o% can, r%n and hide and neer come
bac$'
1Tell %s where we can "ind that whoreson #ondarrion, and therell be a hot meal in it
"or &o%'3
1(ho.3 said 7omm& blan$l&'
1I told &o%, this lot dont $now no more than those c%nts in the illa!e' (aste oblood&
time'3
/ne o" the spearmen dri"ted oer to 7omm&' 1Somethin! wron! with &o%r le!, bo&.3
1It !ot h%rt'3
1+an &o% wal$.3 ,e so%nded concerned'
1No,3 said 7omm&' 1;o% !ot to carr& me'3
1Thin$ so.3 The man li"ted his spear cas%all& and droe the point thro%!h the bo&s
so"t throat' 7omm& neer een had time to &ield a!ain' ,e 9er$ed once, and that was all'
(hen the man p%lled his spear loose, blood spra&ed o%t in a dar$ "o%ntain' 1+arr& him,
he sa&s,3 he m%ttered, ch%c$lin!'
C#APT"R &1
T%RIO'
The& had warned him to dress warml&' T&rion 7annister too$ them at their word' ,e
was !arbed in hea& )%ilted breeches and a woolen do%blet, and oer it all he had
thrown the shadows$in cloa$ he had ac)%ired in the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon' The cloa$
was abs%rdl& lon!, made "or a man twice his hei!ht' (hen he was not ahorse, the onl&
wa& to wear the thin! was to wrap it aro%nd him seeral times, which made him loo$
li$e a ball o" striped "%r'
5en so, he was !lad he had listened' The chill in the lon! dan$ a%lt went bone deep'
Timett had chosen to retreat bac$ %p to the cellar a"ter a brie" taste o" the cold below'
The& were somewhere %nder the hill o" Bhaen&s, behind the 8%ildhall o" the
*lchemists' The damp stone walls were splotch& with nitre, and the onl& li!ht came
"rom the sealed iron-and-!lass oil lamp that ,all&ne the 4&romancer carried so !in!erl&'
8in!erl& indeed ' ' ' and these wo%ld be the !in!er 9ars' T&rion li"ted one "or
inspection' It was ro%nd and r%dd&, a "at cla& !rape"r%it' * little bi! "or his hand, b%t it
wo%ld "it com"ortabl& in the !rip o" a normal man, he $new' The potter& was thin, so
"ra!ile that een he had been warned not to s)%ee?e too ti!htl&, lest he cr%sh it in his "ist'
The cla& "elt ro%!hened, pebbled' ,all&ne told him that was intentional' 1* smooth pot
is more apt to slip "rom a mans !rasp'3
The wild"ire oo?ed slowl& toward the lip o" the 9ar when T&rion tilted it to peer inside'
The color wo%ld be a m%r$& !reen, he $new, b%t the poor li!ht made that impossible to
con"irm' 1Thic$,3 he obsered'
1That is "rom the cold, m& lord,3 said ,all&ne, a pallid man with so"t damp hands and
an obse)%io%s manner' ,e was dressed in striped blac$-and-scarlet robes trimmed with
sable, b%t the "%r loo$ed more than a little patch& and moth-eaten' 1*s it warms, the
s%bstance will "low more easil&, li$e lamp oil'3
The s%bstance was the p&romancers own term "or wild"ire' The& called each other
wisdom as well, which T&rion "o%nd almost as anno&in! as their c%stom o" hintin! at the
ast secret stores o" $nowled!e that the& wanted him to thin$ the& possessed' /nce
theirs had been a power"%l !%ild, b%t in recent cent%ries the maesters o" the +itadel had
s%pplanted the alchemists almost eer&where' Now onl& a "ew o" the older order
remained, and the& no lon!er een pretended to transm%te metals ' ' '
' ' ' b%t the& co%ld ma$e wild"ire' 1(ater will not )%ench it, I am told'3
1That is so' /nce it ta$es "ire, the s%bstance will b%rn "iercel& %ntil it is no more'
2ore, it will seep into cloth, wood, leather, een steel, so the& ta$e "ire as well'3
T&rion remembered the red priest Thoros o" 2&r and his "lamin! sword' 5en a thin
coatin! o" wild"ire co%ld b%rn "or an ho%r' Thoros alwa&s needed a new sword a"ter a
melee, b%t Bobert had been "ond o" the man and eer !lad to proide one' 1(h& doesnt
it seep into the cla& as well.3
1/h, b%t it does,3 said ,all&ne' 1There is a a%lt below this one where we store the
older pots' Those "rom 6in! *er&ss da&' It was his "anc& to hae the 9ars made in the
shapes o" "r%its' >er& perilo%s "r%its indeed, m& lord ,and, and, hmmm, riper now than
eer, i" &o% ta$e m& meanin!' (e hae sealed them with wa0 and p%mped the lower
a%lt "%ll o" water, b%t een so ' ' ' b& ri!hts the& o%!ht to hae been destro&ed, b%t so
man& o" o%r masters were m%rdered d%rin! the Sac$ o" 6in!s 7andin!, the "ew acol&tes
who remained were %ne)%al to the tas$' *nd m%ch o" the stoc$ we made "or *er&s was
lost' /nl& last &ear, two h%ndred 9ars were discoered in a storeroom beneath the 8reat
Sept o" Baelor' No one co%ld recall how the& came there, b%t Im s%re I do not need to
tell &o% that the ,i!h Septon was beside himsel" with terror' I m&sel" saw that the& were
sa"el& moed' I had a cart "illed with sand, and sent o%r most able acol&tes' (e wor$ed
onl& b& ni!ht, weA3
1Adid a splendid 9ob, I hae no do%bt'3 T&rion placed the 9ar hed been holdin! bac$
amon! its "ellows' The& coered the table, standin! in orderl& rows o" "o%r and
marchin! awa& into the s%bterranean dimness' *nd there were other tables be&ond,
man& other tables' 1These, ah, "r%its o" the late 6in! *er&s, can the& still be %sed.3
1/h, &es, most certainl& ' ' ' b%t care"%ll&, m& lord, eer so care"%ll&' *s it a!es, the
s%bstance !rows eer more, hmmmm, "ic$le, let %s sa&' *n& "lame will set it a"ire' *n&
spar$' Too m%ch heat and 9ars will bla?e %p o" their own accord' It is not wise to let them
sit in s%nli!ht, een "or a short time' /nce the "ire be!ins within, the heat ca%ses the
s%bstance to e0pand iolentl&, and the 9ars shortl& "l& to pieces' I" other 9ars sho%ld
happen to be stored in the same icinit&, those !o %p as well, and soA3
1,ow man& 9ars do &o% hae at present.3
1This mornin! the (isdom 2%nciter told me that we had seen tho%sand ei!ht
h%ndred and "ort&' That co%nt incl%des "o%r tho%sand 9ars "rom 6in! *er&ss da&, to be
s%re'3
1/%r oerripe "r%its.3
,all&ne bobbed his head' 1(isdom 2alliard beliees we shall be able to proide a "%ll
ten tho%sand 9ars, as was promised the )%een' I conc%r'3 The p&romancer loo$ed
indecentl& pleased with that prospect'
*ss%min! o%r enemies !ie &o% the time' The p&romancers $ept their recipe "or
wild"ire a closel& !%arded secret, b%t T&rion $new that it was a len!th&, dan!ero%s, and
time-cons%min! process' ,e had ass%med the promise o" ten tho%sand 9ars was a wild
boast, li$e that o" the bannerman who ows to marshal ten tho%sand swords "or his lord
and shows %p on the da& o" battle with a h%ndred and two' I" the& can tr%l& !ie %s ten
tho%sand ' ' '
,e did not $now whether he o%!ht to be deli!hted or terri"ied' 4erhaps a smid!e o"
both' 1I tr%st that &o%r !%ild brothers are not en!a!in! in an& %nseeml& haste, (isdom'
(e do not want ten tho%sand 9ars o" de"ectie wild"ire, nor een one ' ' ' and we most
certainl& do not want an& mishaps'3
1There will be no mishaps, m& lord ,and' The s%bstance is prepared b& trained
acol&tes in a series o" bare stone cells, and each 9ar is remoed b& an apprentice and
carried down here the instant it is read&' *boe each wor$ cell is a room "illed entirel&
with sand' * protectie spell has been laid on the "loors, hmmm, most power"%l' *n& "ire
in the cell below ca%ses the "loors to "all awa&, and the sand smothers the bla?e at once'3
1Not to mention the careless acol&te'3 B& spell T&rion ima!ined ,all&ne meant cleer
tric$' ,e tho%!ht he wo%ld li$e to inspect one o" these "alse-ceilin!ed cells to see how it
wor$ed, b%t this was not the time' 4erhaps when the war was won'
12& brethren are neer careless,3 ,all&ne insisted' 1I" I ma& be, hmmmm, "ran$ ' ' '3
1/h, do'
1The s%bstance "lows thro%!h m& eins, and lies in the heart o" eer& p&romancer'
(e respect its power' B%t the common soldier, hmmmm, the crew o" one o" the )%eens
spit"ires, sa&, in the %nthin$in! "ren?& o" battle ' ' ' an& little mista$e can brin!
catastrophe' That cannot be said too o"ten' 2& "ather o"ten told 6in! *er&s as m%ch, as
his "ather told old 6in! Caehaer&s'3
1The& m%st hae listened,3 T&rion said' 1I" the& had b%rned the cit& down, someone
wo%ld hae told me' So &o%r co%nsel is that we had best be care"%l.3
1Be er& care"%l,3 said ,all&ne' 1Be er& er& care"%l'3
1These cla& 9ars ' ' ' do &o% hae an ample s%ppl&.3
1(e do, m& lord, and than$ &o% "or as$in!'3
1;o% wont mind i" I ta$e some, then' * "ew tho%sand'3
1* "ew tho%sand.3
1/r howeer man& &o%r !%ild can spare, witho%t inter"erin! with prod%ction' Its
empt& pots Im as$in! "or, %nderstand' ,ae them sent ro%nd to the captains on each o"
the cit& !ates'3
1I will, m& lord, b%t wh& ' ' ' .3
T&rion smiled %p at him' 1(hen &o% tell me to dress warml&, I dress warml&' (hen
&o% tell me to be care"%l, well ' ' '3 ,e !ae a shr%!' 1Ie seen eno%!h' 4erhaps &o%
wo%ld be so !ood as to escort me bac$ %p to m& litter.3
1It wo%ld be m& !reat, hmmm, pleas%re, m& lord'3 ,all&ne li"ted the lamp and led the
wa& bac$ to the stairs' 1It was !ood o" &o% to isit %s' * !reat honor, hmmm' It has been
too lon! since the 6in!s ,and !raced %s with his presence' Not since 7ord Bossart, and
he was o" o%r order' That was bac$ in 6in! *er&ss da&' 6in! *er&s too$ a !reat interest
in o%r wor$'3
6in! *er&s %sed &o% to roast the "lesh o"" his enemies' ,is brother Caime had told him
a "ew stories o" the 2ad 6in! and his pet p&romancers' 1Co""re& will be interested as
well, I hae no do%bt'3 (hich is wh& Id best $eep him well awa& "rom &o%'
1It is o%r !reat hope to hae the $in! isit o%r 8%ildhall in his own ro&al person' I hae
spo$en o" it to &o%r ro&al sister' * !reat "east ' ' '3
It was !rowin! warmer as the& climbed' 1,is 8race has prohibited all "eastin! %ntil
s%ch time as the war is won'3 *t m& insistence' 1The $in! does not thin$ it "ittin! to
ban)%et on choice "ood while his people !o witho%t bread'3
1* most, hmmm, loin! !est%re, m& lord' 4erhaps instead some "ew o" %s mi!ht call
%pon the $in! at the Bed 6eep' * small demonstration o" o%r powers, as it were, to
distract ,is 8race "rom his man& cares "or an eenin!' (ild"ire is b%t one o" the dread
secrets o" o%r ancient order' 2an& and wondro%s are the thin!s we mi!ht show &o%'3
1I will ta$e it %p with m& sister'3 T&rion had no ob9ection to a "ew ma!ic tric$s, b%t
Co""s "ondness "or ma$in! men "i!ht to the death was trial eno%!h: he had no intention
o" allowin! the bo& to taste the possibilities o" b%rnin! them alie'
(hen at last the& reached the top o" the steps, T&rion shr%!!ed o%t o" his shadows$in
"%r and "olded it oer his arm' The 8%ildhall o" the *lchemists was an imposin! warren
o" blac$ stone, b%t ,all&ne led him thro%!h the twists and t%rns %ntil the& reached the
8aller& o" the iron Torches, a lon! echoin! chamber where col%mns o" !reen "ire danced
aro%nd blac$ metal col%mns twent& "eet tall' 8hostl& "lames shimmered o"" the polished
blac$ marble o" the walls and "loor and bathed the hall in an emerald radiance' T&rion
wo%ld hae been more impressed i" he hadnt $nown that the !reat iron torches had onl&
been lit this mornin! in honor o" his isit, and wo%ld be e0tin!%ished the instant the
doors closed behind him' (ild"ire was too costl& to s)%ander'
The& emer!ed atop the broad c%rin! steps that "ronted on the Street o" the Sisters,
near the "oot o" >isen&as ,ill' ,e bid ,all&ne "arewell and waddled down to where
Timett son o" Timett waited with an escort o" B%rned 2en' 8ien his p%rpose toda&, it
had seemed a sin!%larl& appropriate choice "or his !%ard' Besides, their scars str%c$
terror in the hearts o" the cit& rabble' That was all to the !ood these da&s' /nl& three
ni!hts past, another mob had !athered at the !ates o" the Bed 6eep, chantin! "or "ood'
Co"" had %nleashed a storm o" arrows a!ainst them, sla&in! "o%r, and then sho%ted down
that the& had his leae to eat their dead' (innin! %s still more "riends'
T&rion was s%rprised to see Bronn standin! beside the litter as well' 1(hat are &o%
doin! here.3
1#elierin! &o%r messa!es,3 Bronn said' 1Ironhand wants &o% %r!entl& at the 8ate o"
the 8ods' ,e wont sa& wh&' *nd &o%e been s%mmoned to 2ae!ors too'3
1S%mmoned.3 T&rion $new o" onl& one person who wo%ld pres%me to %se that word'
1*nd what does +ersei want o" me.3
Bronn shr%!!ed' 1The )%een commands &o% to ret%rn to the castle at once and attend
her in her chambers' That striplin! co%sin o" &o%rs deliered the messa!e' =o%r hairs on
his lip and he thin$s hes a man'3
1=o%r hairs and a $ni!hthood' ,es Ser 7ancel now, neer "or!et'3 T&rion $new that
Ser Cacel&n wo%ld not send "or him %nless the matter was o" import' 1Id best see what
B&water wants' In"orm m& sister that I will attend her on m& ret%rn'3
1She wont li$e that,3 Bronn warned'
18ood' The lon!er +ersei waits, the an!rier shell become, and an!er ma$es her
st%pid' I m%ch pre"er an!r& and st%pid to composed and c%nnin!'3 T&rion tossed his
"olded cloa$ into his litter, and Timett helped him %p a"ter it'
The mar$et s)%are inside the 8ate o" the 8ods, which in normal times wo%ld hae
been thron!ed with "armers sellin! e!etables, was near deserted when T&rion crossed
it' Ser Cacel&n met him at the !ate, and raised his iron hand in br%s)%e sal%te' 12& lord'
;o%r co%sin +leos =re& is here, come "rom Bierr%n %nder a peace banner with a letter
"rom Bobb Star$'3
14eace terms.3
1So he sa&s'3
1Sweet co%sin' Show me to him'3
The !old cloa$s had con"ined Ser +leos to a windowless !%ardroom in the !ateho%se'
,e rose when the& entered' 1T&rion, &o% are a most welcome si!ht'3
1Thats not somethin! I hear o"ten, co%sin'3
1,as +ersei come with &o%.3
12& sister is otherwise occ%pied' Is this Star$s letter.3 ,e pl%c$ed it o"" the table'
1Ser Cacel&n, &o% ma& leae %s'3
B&water bowed and departed' 1I was as$ed to brin! the o""er to the F%een Be!ent,3
Ser +leos said as the door sh%t'
1I shall'3 T&rion !lanced oer the map that Bobb Star$ had sent with his letter' 1*ll in
!ood time, co%sin' Sit' Best' ;o% loo$ !a%nt and ha!!ard'3 ,e loo$ed worse than that, in
tr%th'
1;es'3 Ser +leos lowered himsel" onto a bench' 1It is bad in the rierlands, T&rion'
*ro%nd the 8ods 5&e and alon! the $in!sroad especiall&' The rier lords are b%rnin!
their own crops to tr& and stare %s, and &o%r "athers "ora!ers are torchin! eer& illa!e
the& ta$e and p%ttin! the small"ol$ to the sword'3
That was the wa& o" war' The small"ol$ were sla%!htered, while the hi!hborn were
held "or ransom' Bemind me to than$ the !ods that I was born a 7annister'
Ser +leos ran a hand thro%!h his thin brown hair' 15en with a peace banner, we were
attac$ed twice' (oles in mail, h%n!r& to saa!e an&one wea$er than themseles' The
!ods alone $now what side the& started on, b%t the&re on their own side now' 7ost three
men, and twice as man& wo%nded'3
1(hat news o" o%r "oe.3 T&rion t%rned his attention bac$ to Star$s terms' The bo&
does not want too m%ch' /nl& hal" the realm, the release o" o%r capties, hosta!es, his
"athers sword ' ' ' oh, &es, and his sisters'
1The bo& sits idle at Bierr%n,3 Ser +leos said' 1I thin$ he "ears to "ace &o%r "ather in
the "ield' ,is stren!th !rows less each da&' The rier lords hae departed, each to de"end
his own lands'3
Is this what =ather intended. T&rion rolled %p Star$s map' 1These terms will neer
do'3
1(ill &o% at least consent to trade the Star$ !irls "or Tion and (illem.3 Ser +leos
as$ed plaintiel&'
Tion =re& was his &o%n!er brother, T&rion recalled' 1No,3 he said !entl&, 1b%t well
propose o%r own e0chan!e o" capties' 7et me cons%lt with +ersei and the co%ncil' (e
shall send &o% bac$ to Bierr%n with o%r terms'3
+learl&, the prospect did not cheer him' 12& lord, I do not beliee Bobb Star$ will
&ield easil&' It is 7ad& +atel&n who wants this peace, not the bo&'3
17ad& +atel&n wants her da%!hters'3 T&rion p%shed himsel" down "rom the bench,
letter and map in hand' 1Ser Cacel&n will see that &o% hae "ood and "ire' ;o% loo$ in
dire need o" sleep, co%sin' I will send "or &o% when we $now more'3
,e "o%nd Ser Cacel&n on the ramparts, watchin! seeral h%ndred new recr%its drillin!
in the "ield below' (ith so man& see$in! re"%!e in 6in!s 7andin!, there was no lac$ o"
men willin! to 9oin the +it& (atch "or a "%ll bell& and a bed o" straw in the barrac$s, b%t
T&rion had no ill%sions abo%t how well these ra!!ed de"enders o" theirs wo%ld "i!ht i" it
came to battle'
1;o% did well to send "or me,3 T&rion said' 1I shall leae Ser +leos in &o%r hands' ,e
is to hae eer& hospitalit&'3
1*nd his escort.3 the commander wanted to $now'
18ie them "ood and clean !arb, and "ind a maester to see to their h%rts' The& are not
to set "oot inside the cit&, is that %nderstood.3 It wo%ld neer do to hae the tr%th o"
conditions in 6in!s 7andin! reach Bobb Star$ in Bierr%n'
1(ell %nderstood, m& lord'3
1/h, and one more thin!' The alchemists will be sendin! a lar!e s%ppl& o" cla& pots to
each o" the cit& !ates' ;o%re to %se them to train the men who will wor$ &o%r spit"ires'
=ill the pots with !reen paint and hae them drill at loadin! and "irin!' *n& man who
spatters sho%ld be replaced' (hen the& hae mastered the paint pots, s%bstit%te lamp oil
and hae them wor$ at li!htin! the 9ars and "irin! them while a"lame' /nce the& learn to
do that witho%t b%rnin! themseles, the& ma& be read& "or wild"ire'3
Ser Cacel&n scratched at his chee$ with his iron hand' 1(ise meas%res' Tho%!h I hae
no loe "or that alchemists piss'3
1Nor I, b%t I %se what Im !ien'3
/nce bac$ inside his litter, T&rion 7annister drew the c%rtains and pl%mped a c%shion
%nder his elbow' +ersei wo%ld be displeased to learn that he had intercepted Star$s
letter, b%t his "ather had sent him here to r%le, not to please +ersei'
It seemed to him that Bobb Star$ had !ien them a !olden chance' 7et the bo& wait at
Bierr%n dreamin! o" an eas& peace' T&rion wo%ld repl& with terms o" his own, !iin!
the 6in! in the North 9%st eno%!h o" what he wanted to $eep him hope"%l' 7et Ser +leos
wear o%t his bon& =re& r%mp ridin! to and "ro with o""ers and co%nters' *ll the while,
their co%sin Ser Sta""ord wo%ld be trainin! and armin! the new host hed raised at
+asterl& Boc$' /nce he was read&, he and 7ord T&win co%ld smash the T%ll&s and
Star$s between them'
Now i" onl& Boberts brothers wo%ld be so accommodatin!' 8lacial as his pro!ress
was, still Benl& Baratheon crept north and east with his h%!e so%thron host, and scarcel&
a ni!ht passed that T&rion did not dread bein! awa$ened with the news that 7ord Stannis
was sailin! his "leet %p the Blac$water B%sh' (ell, it wo%ld seem I hae a !oodl& stoc$
o" wild"ire, b%t still ' ' '
The so%nd o" some h%bb%b in the street intr%ded on his worries' T&rion peered o%t
ca%tio%sl& between the c%rtains' The& were passin! thro%!h +obblers S)%are, where a
si?able crowd had !athered beneath the leather awnin!s to listen to the rantin!s o" a
prophet' * robe o" %nd&ed wool belted with a hempen rope mar$ed him "or one o" the
be!!in! brothers'
1+orr%ption@3 the man cried shrill&' 1There is the warnin!@ Behold the =athers
sco%r!e@3 ,e pointed at the "%??& red wo%nd in the s$&' =rom this anta!e, the distant
castle on *e!ons ,i!h ,ill was directl& behind him, with the comet han!in!
"orebodin!l& oer its towers' * cleer choice o" sta!e, T&rion re"lected' 1(e hae
become swollen, bloated, "o%l' Brother co%ples with sister in the bed o" $in!s, and the
"r%it o" their incest capers in his palace to the pipin! o" a twisted little mon$e& demon'
,i!hborn ladies "ornicate with "ools and !ie birth to monsters@ 5en the ,i!h Septon
has "or!otten the !ods@ ,e bathes in scented waters and !rows "at on lar$ and lampre&
while his people stare@ 4ride comes be"ore pra&er, ma!!ots r%le o%r castles, and !old is
all ' ' ' b%t no more@ The Botten S%mmer is at an end, and the (horemon!er 6in! is
bro%!ht low@ (hen the boar did open him, a !reat stench rose to heaen and a tho%sand
sna$es slid "orth "rom his bell&, hissin! and bitin!@3 ,e 9abbed his bon& "in!er bac$ at
comet and castle' 1There comes the ,arbin!er@ +leanse &o%rseles, the !ods cr& o%t, lest
&e be cleansed@ Bathe in the wine o" ri!hteo%sness, or &o% shall be bathed in "ire@ =ire@3
1=ire@3 other oices echoed, b%t the hoots o" derision almost drowned them o%t' T&rion
too$ solace "rom that' ,e !ae the command to contin%e, and the litter roc$ed li$e a ship
on a ro%!h sea as the B%rned 2en cleared a path' Twisted little mon$e& demon indeed'
The wretch did hae a point abo%t the ,i!h Septon, to be s%re' (hat was it that 2oon
Bo& had said o" him the other da&. * pio%s man who worships the Seen so "erentl&
that he eats a meal "or each o" them wheneer he sits to table' The memor& o" the "ools
9ape made T&rion smile'
,e was pleased to reach the Bed 6eep witho%t "%rther incident' *s he climbed the
steps to his chambers, T&rion "elt a deal more hope"%l than he had at dawn' Time, thats
all I tr%l& need, time to piece it all to!ether' /nce the chain is done ' ' ' ,e opened the
door to his solar'
+ersei t%rned awa& "rom the window, her s$irts swirlin! aro%nd her slender hips'
1,ow dare &o% i!nore m& s%mmons@3
1(ho admitted &o% to m& tower.3
1;o%r tower. This is m& sons ro&al castle'3
1So the& tell me'3 T&rion was not am%sed' +rawn wo%ld be een less so: his 2oon
Brothers had the !%ard toda&' 1I was abo%t to come to &o%, as it happens'3
1(ere &o%.3
,e sw%n! the door sh%t behind him' 1;o% do%bt me.3
1*lwa&s, and with !ood reason'3
1Im h%rt'3 T&rion waddled to the sideboard "or a c%p o" wine' ,e $new no s%rer wa&
to wor$ %p a thirst than tal$in! with +ersei' 1I" Ie !ien &o% o""ense, I wo%ld $now
how'3
1(hat a dis!%stin! little worm &o% are' 2&rcella is m& onl& da%!hter' #id &o% tr%l&
ima!ine that I wo%ld allow &o% to sell her li$e a ba! o" oats.3
2&rcella, he tho%!ht' (ell, that e!! has hatched' 7ets see what color the chic$ is'
1,ardl& a ba! o" oats' 2&rcella is a princess' Some wo%ld sa& this is what she was born
"or' /r did &o% plan to marr& her to Tommen.3
,er hand lashed o%t, $noc$in! the wine c%p "rom his hand to spill on the "loor'
1Brother or no, I sho%ld hae &o%r ton!%e o%t "or that' I am Co""re&s re!ent, not &o%,
and I sa& that 2&rcella will not be shipped o"" to this #ornishman the wa& I was shipped
to Bobert Baratheon'3
T&rion shoo$ wine o"" his "in!ers and si!hed' 1(h& not. Shed be a deal sa"er in
#orne than she is here'3
1*re &o% %tterl& i!norant or simpl& pererse. ;o% $now as well as I that the 2artells
hae no ca%se to loe %s'3
1The 2artells hae eer& ca%se to hate %s' Nonetheless, I e0pect them to a!ree' 4rince
#orans !rieance a!ainst ,o%se 7annister !oes bac$ onl& a !eneration, b%t the
#ornishmen hae warred a!ainst Storms 5nd and ,i!h!arden "or a tho%sand &ears, and
Benl& has ta$en #ornes alle!iance "or !ranted' 2&rcella is nine, Tr&stane 2artell
eleen' I hae proposed the& wed when she reaches her "o%rteenth &ear' <ntil s%ch time,
she wo%ld be an honored !%est at S%nspear, %nder 4rince #orans protection'3
1* hosta!e,3 +ersei said, mo%th ti!htenin!'
1*n honored !%est,3 T&rion insisted, 1and I s%spect 2artell will treat 2&rcella more
$indl& than Co""re& has treated Sansa Star$' I had in mind to send Ser *r&s /a$heart
with her' (ith a $ni!ht o" the 6in!s!%ard as her sworn shield, no one is li$e to "or!et
who or what she is'3
1Small !ood Ser *r&s will do her i" #oran 2artell decides that m& da%!hters death
wo%ld wash o%t his sisters'3
12artell is too honorable to m%rder a nine-&ear-old !irl, partic%larl& one as sweet and
innocent as 2&rcella' So lon! as he holds her he can be reasonabl& certain that well
$eep "aith on o%r side, and the terms are too rich to re"%se' 2&rcella is the least part o" it'
Ie also o""ered him his sisters $iller, a co%ncil seat, some castles on the 2arches ' ' '3
1Too m%ch'3 +ersei paced awa& "rom him, restless as a lioness, s$irts swirlin!'
1;o%e o""ered too m%ch, and witho%t m& a%thorit& or consent'3
1This is the 4rince o" #orne we are spea$in! o"' I" Id o""ered less, hed li$el& spit in
m& "ace'3
1Too m%ch@3 +ersei insisted, whirlin! bac$'
1(hat wo%ld &o% hae o""ered him, that hole between &o%r le!s.3 T&rion said, his own
an!er "larin!'
This time he saw the slap comin!' ,is head snapped aro%nd with a crac$' 1Sweet
sweet sister,3 he said, 1I promise &o%, that was the last time &o% will eer stri$e me'3
,is sister la%!hed' 1#ont threaten me, little man' #o &o% thin$ =athers letter $eeps
&o% sa"e. * piece o" paper' 5ddard Star$ had a piece o" paper too, "or all the !ood it did
him'3
5ddard Star$ did not hae the +it& (atch, T&rion tho%!ht, nor m& clansmen, nor the
sellswords that Bronn has hired' I do' /r so he hoped' Tr%stin! in >ar&s, in Ser Cacel&n
B&water, in Bronn' 7ord Star$ had probabl& had his del%sions as well'
;et he said nothin!' * wise man did not po%r wild"ire on a bra?ier' Instead he po%red a
"resh c%p o" wine' 1,ow sa"e do &o% thin$ 2&rcella will be i" 6in!s 7andin! "alls.
Benl& and Stannis will mo%nt her head beside &o%rs'3
*nd +ersei be!an to cr&'
T&rion 7annister co%ld not hae been more astonished i" *e!on the +on)%eror himsel"
had b%rst into the room, ridin! on a dra!on and 9%!!lin! lemon pies' ,e had not seen his
sister weep since the& were children to!ether at +asterl& Boc$' *w$wardl&, he too$ a
step toward her' (hen &o%r sister cries, &o% were s%pposed to com"ort her ' ' ' b%t this
was +ersei@ ,e reached a tentatie hand "or her sho%lder'
1#ont to%ch me,3 she said, wrenchin! awa&' It sho%ld not hae h%rt, &et it did, more
than an& slap' Bed-"aced, as an!r& as she was !rie"-stric$en, +ersei str%!!led "or breath'
1#ont loo$ at me, not ' ' ' not li$e this ' ' ' not &o%'3
4olitel&, T&rion t%rned his bac$' 1I did not mean to "ri!hten &o%' I promise &o%,
nothin! will happen to 2&rcella'3
17iar,3 she said behind him' 1Im not a child, to be soothed with empt& promises' ;o%
told me &o% wo%ld "ree Caime too' (ell, where is he.3
1In Bierr%n, I sho%ld ima!ine' Sa"e and %nder !%ard, %ntil I "ind a wa& to "ree him'3
+ersei sni""ed' 1I sho%ld hae been born a man' I wo%ld hae no need o" an& o" &o%
then' None o" this wo%ld hae been allowed to happen' ,ow co%ld Caime let himsel" be
capt%red b& that bo&. *nd =ather, I tr%sted in him, "ool that I am, b%t where is he now
that hes wanted. (hat is he doin!.3
12a$in! war'3
1=rom behind the walls o" ,arrenhal.3 she said scorn"%ll&' 1* c%rio%s wa& o" "i!htin!'
It loo$s s%spicio%sl& li$e hidin!'3
17oo$ a!ain'3
1(hat else wo%ld &o% call it. =ather sits in one castle, and Bobb Star$ sits in another,
and no one does an&thin!'3
1There is sittin! and there is sittin!,3 T&rion s%!!ested' 15ach one waits "or the other
to moe, b%t the lion is still, poised, his tail twitchin!, while the "awn is "ro?en b& "ear,
bowels t%rned to 9ell&' No matter which wa& he bo%nds, the lion will hae him, and he
$nows it'3
1*nd &o%re )%ite certain that =ather is the lion.3
T&rion !rinned' 1Its on all o%r banners'3
She i!nored the 9est' 1I" it was =ather whod been ta$en captie, Caime wo%ld not be
sittin! b& idl&, I promise &o%'3
Caime wo%ld be batterin! his host to blood& bits a!ainst the walls o" Bierr%n, and the
/thers ta$e their chances' ,e neer did hae an& patience, no more than &o%, sweet
sister' 1Not all o" %s can be as bold as Caime, b%t there are other wa&s to win wars'
,arrenhal is stron! and well sit%ated'3
1*nd 6in!s 7andin! is not, as we both $now per"ectl& well' (hile =ather pla&s lion
and "awn with the Star$ bo&, Benl& marches %p the roseroad' ,e co%ld be at o%r !ates
an& da& now@3
1The cit& will not "all in a da&' =rom ,arrenhal it is a strai!ht, swi"t march down the
$in!sroad' Benl& will scarce hae %nlimbered his sie!e en!ines be"ore =ather ta$es him
in the rear' ,is host will be the hammer, the cit& walls the anil' It ma$es a loel&
pict%re'3
+erseis !reen e&es bored into him, war&, &et h%n!r& "or the reass%rance he was
"eedin! her' 1*nd i" Bobb Star$ marches.3
1,arrenhal is close eno%!h to the "ords o" the Trident so that Boose Bolton cannot
brin! the northern "oot across to 9oin with the ;o%n! (ol"s horse' Star$ cannot march
on 6in!s 7andin! witho%t ta$in! ,arrenhal "irst, and een with Bolton he is not stron!
eno%!h to do that'3 T&rion tried his most winnin! smile' 12eanwhile =ather lies o"" the
"at o" the rierlands, while o%r %ncle Sta""ord !athers "resh leies at the Boc$'3
+ersei re!arded him s%spicio%sl&' 1,ow co%ld &o% $now all this. #id =ather tell &o%
his intentions when he sent &o% here.3
1No' I !lanced at a map'3
,er loo$ t%rned to disdain' 1;o%e con9%red %p eer& word o" this in that !rotes)%e
head o" &o%rs, haent &o%, Imp.3
T&rion ts$ed' 1Sweet sister, I as$ &o%, i" we werent winnin!, wo%ld the Star$s hae
s%ed "or peace.3 ,e drew o%t the letter that Ser +leos =re& had bro%!ht' 1The ;o%n!
(ol" has sent %s terms, &o% see' <nacceptable terms, to be s%re, b%t still, a be!innin!'
(o%ld &o% care to see them.3
1;es'3 That "ast, she was all )%een a!ain' 1,ow do &o% come to hae them. The&
sho%ld hae come to me'3
1(hat else is a ,and "or, i" not to hand &o% thin!s.3 T&rion handed her the letter' ,is
chee$ still throbbed where +erseis hand had le"t its mar$' 7et her "la& hal" m& "ace, it
will be a small price to pa& "or her consent to the #ornish marria!e' ,e wo%ld hae that
now, he co%ld sense it'
*nd certain $nowled!e o" an in"ormer too ' ' ' well, that was the pl%m in his p%ddin!'
C#APT"R &$
*RA'
#ancer was draped in bardin!s o" snow& white wool embla?oned with the !re&
direwol" o" ,o%se Star$, while Bran wore !re& breeches and white do%blet, his sleees
and collar trimmed with air' /er his heart was his wol"s-head brooch o" siler and
polished 9et' ,e wo%ld sooner hae had S%mmer than a siler wol" on his breast, b%t Ser
Bodri$ had been %n&ieldin!'
The low stone steps bal$ed #ancer onl& "or a moment' (hen Bran %r!ed her on, she
too$ them easil&' Be&ond the wide oa$-and-iron doors, ei!ht lon! rows o" trestle tables
"illed (inter"ells 8reat ,all, "o%r on each side o" the center aisle' 2en crowded
sho%lder to sho%lder on the benches' 1Star$@3 the& called as Bran trotted past, risin! to
their "eet' 1(inter"ell@ (inter"ell@3
,e was old eno%!h to $now that it was not tr%l& him the& sho%ted "orAit was the
harest the& cheered, it was Bobb and his ictories, it was his lord "ather and his
!rand"ather and all the Star$s !oin! bac$ ei!ht tho%sand &ears' Still, it made him swell
with pride' =or so lon! as it too$ him to ride the len!th o" that hall he "or!ot that he was
bro$en' ;et when he reached the dais, with eer& e&e %pon him, /sha and ,odor %ndid
his straps and b%c$les, li"ted him o"" #ancers bac$, and carried him to the hi!h seat o"
his "athers'
Ser Bodri$ was seated to Brans le"t, his da%!hter Beth beside him' Bic$on was to his
ri!ht, his mop o" sha!!& a%b%rn hair !rown so lon! that it br%shed his ermine mantle' ,e
had re"%sed to let an&one c%t it since their mother had !one' The last !irl to tr& had been
bitten "or her e""orts' 1I wanted to ride too,3 he said as ,odor led #ancer awa&' 1I ride
better than &o%'3
1;o% dont, so h%sh %p,3 he told his brother' Ser Bodri$ bellowed "or )%iet' Bran raised
his oice' ,e bid them welcome in the name o" his brother, the 6in! in the North, and
as$ed them to than$ the !ods old and new "or Bobbs ictories and the bo%nt& o" the
harest' 12a& there be a h%ndred more,3 he "inished, raisin! his "athers siler !oblet'
1* h%ndred more@3 4ewter tan$ards, cla& c%ps, and iron-banded drin$in! horns
clashed to!ether' Brans wine was sweetened with hone& and "ra!rant with cinnamon
and cloes, b%t stron!er than he was %sed to' ,e co%ld "eel its hot sna$& "in!ers
wri!!lin! thro%!h his chest as he swallowed' B& the time he set down the !oblet, his
head was swimmin!'
1;o% did well, Bran,3 Ser Bodri$ told him' 17ord 5ddard wo%ld hae been most
pro%d'3 #own the table, 2aester 7%win nodded his a!reement as the serers be!an to
carr& in the "ood'
S%ch "ood Bran had neer seen: co%rse a"ter co%rse a"ter co%rse, so m%ch that he co%ld
not mana!e more than a bite or two o" each dish' There were !reat 9oints o" a%rochs
roasted with lee$s, enison pies ch%n$& with carrots, bacon, and m%shrooms, m%tton
chops sa%ced in hone& and cloes, saor& d%c$, peppered boar, !oose, s$ewers o"
pi!eon and capon, bee"-and-barle& stew, cold "r%it so%p' 7ord (&man had bro%!ht
twent& cas$s o" "ish "rom (hite ,arbor pac$ed in salt and seaweed: white"ish and
win$les, crabs and m%ssels, clams, herrin!, cod, salmon, lobster and lampre&s' There
was blac$ bread and hone&ca$es and oaten bisc%its: there were t%rnips and pease and
beets, beans and s)%ash and h%!e red onions: there were ba$ed apples and berr& tarts
and pears poached in stron!wine' (heels o" white cheese were set at eer& table, aboe
and below the salt, and "la!ons o" hot spice wine and chilled a%t%mn ale were passed %p
and down the tables'
7ord (&mans m%sicians pla&ed brael& and well, b%t harp and "iddle and horn were
soon drowned beneath a tide o" tal$ and la%!hter, the clash o" c%p and plate, and the
snarlin! o" ho%nds "i!htin! "or table scraps' The sin!er san! !ood son!s, 1Iron 7ances3
and 1The B%rnin! o" the Ships3 and 1The Bear and the 2aiden =air,3 b%t onl& ,odor
seemed to be listenin!' ,e stood beside the piper, hoppin! "rom one "oot to the other'
The noise swelled to a stead& r%mblin! roar, a !reat head& stew o" so%nd' Ser Bodri$
tal$ed with 2aester 7%win aboe Beths c%rl& head, while Bic$on screamed happil& at
the (alders' Bran had not wanted the =re&s at the hi!h table, b%t the maester reminded
him that the& wo%ld soon be $in' Bobb was to marr& one o" their a%nts, and *r&a one o"
their %ncles' 1She neer will,3 Bran said, 1not *r&a,3 b%t 2aester 7%win was
%n&ieldin!, so there the& were beside Bic$on'
The serin! men bro%!ht eer& dish to Bran "irst, that he mi!ht ta$e the lords portion
i" he chose' B& the time the& reached the d%c$s, he co%ld eat no more' *"ter that he
nodded approal at each co%rse in t%rn, and waed it awa&' I" the dish smelled especiall&
choice, he wo%ld send it to one o" the lords on the dais, a !est%re o" "riendship and "aor
that 2aester 7%win told him he m%st ma$e' ,e sent some salmon down to poor sad
7ad& ,ornwood, the boar to the boistero%s <mbers, a dish o" !oose-in-berries to +le&
+erw&n, and a h%!e lobster to Coseth the master o" horse, who was neither lord nor
!%est, b%t had seen to #ancers trainin! and made it possible "or Bran to ride' ,e sent
sweets to ,odor and /ld Nan as well, "or no reason b%t he loed them' Ser Bodri$
reminded him to send somethin! to his "oster brothers, so he sent 7ittle (alder some
boiled beets and Bi! (alder the b%ttered t%rnips'
/n the benches below, (inter"ell men mi0ed with small"ol$ "rom the winter town,
"riends "rom the nearer hold"asts, and the escorts o" their lordl& !%ests' Some "aces Bran
had neer seen be"ore, others he $new as well as his own, &et the& all seemed e)%all&
"orei!n to him' ,e watched them as "rom a distance, as i" he still sat in the window o"
his bedchamber loo$in! down on the &ard below, seein! eer&thin! &et a part o"
nothin!'
/sha moed amon! the tables, po%rin! ale' /ne o" 7eobald Tallharts men slid a hand
%p %nder her s$irts and she bro$e the "la!on oer his head, to roars o" la%!hter' ;et
2i$$en had his hand down some womans bodice, and she seemed not to mind' Bran
watched =arlen ma$e his red bitch be! "or bones and smiled at /ld Nan pl%c$in! at the
cr%st o" a hot pie with wrin$led "in!ers' /n the dais, 7ord (&man attac$ed a steamin!
plate o" lampre&s as i" the& were an enem& host' ,e was so "at that Ser Bodri$ had
commanded that a special wide chair be b%ilt "or him to sit in, b%t he la%!hed lo%d and
o"ten, and Bran tho%!ht he li$ed him' 4oor wan 7ad& ,ornwood sat beside him, her "ace
a ston& mas$ as she pic$ed listlessl& at her "ood' *t the opposite end o" the hi!h table,
,othen and 2ors were pla&in! a drin$in! !ame, slammin! their horns to!ether as hard
as $ni!hts meetin! in 9o%st'
It is too hot here, and too nois&, and the& are all !ettin! dr%n$' Bran itched %nder his
!re& and white woolens, and s%ddenl& he wished he were an&where b%t here' It is cool
in the !odswood now' Steam is risin! o"" the hot pools, and the red leaes o" the
weirwood are r%stlin!' The smells are richer than here, and be"ore lon! the moon will
rise and m& brother will sin! to it'
1Bran.3 Ser Bodri$ said' 1;o% do not eat'3
The wa$in! dream had been so iid, "or a moment Bran had not $nown where he
was' 1Ill hae more later,3 he said' 12& bell&s "%ll to b%rstin!'3
The old $ni!hts white m%stache was pin$ with wine' 1;o% hae done well, Bran'
,ere, and at the a%diences' ;o% will be an especial "ine lord one da&, I thin$'3
I want to be a $ni!ht' Bran too$ another sip o" the spiced hone& wine "rom his "athers
!oblet, !rate"%l "or somethin! to cl%tch' The li"eli$e head o" a snarlin! direwol" was
raised on the side o" the c%p' ,e "elt the siler m%??le pressin! a!ainst his palm, and
remembered the last time he had seen his lord "ather drin$ "rom this !oblet' It had been
the ni!ht o" the welcomin! "east, when 6in! Bobert had bro%!ht his co%rt to (inter"ell'
S%mmer still rei!ned then' ,is parents had shared the dais with Bobert and his )%een,
with her brothers beside her' <ncle Ben9en had been there too, all in blac$' Bran and his
brothers and sisters sat with the $in!s children, Co""re& and Tommen and 4rincess
2&rcella, whod spent the whole meal !a?in! at Bobb with adorin! e&es' *r&a made
"aces across the table when no one was loo$in!: Sansa listened raptl& while the $in!s
hi!h harper san! son!s o" chialr&, and Bic$on $ept as$in! wh& Con wasnt with them'
1Beca%se hes a bastard,3 Bran "inall& had to whisper to him'
*nd now the& are all !one' It was as i" some cr%el !od had reached down with a !reat
hand and swept them all awa&, the !irls to captiit&, Con to the (all, Bobb and 2other to
war, 6in! Bobert and =ather to their !raes, and perhaps <ncle Ben9en as well ' ' '
5en down on the benches, there were new men at the tables' Cor& was dead, and =at
Tom, and 4orther, *l&n, #esmond, ,%llen who had been master o" horse, ,arwin his
son ' ' ' all those who had !one so%th with his "ather, een Septa 2ordane and >a&on
4oole' The rest had ridden to war with Bobb, and mi!ht soon be dead as well "or all
Bran $new' ,e li$ed ,a&head and 4o0& T&m and S$ittric$ and the other new men well
eno%!h, b%t he missed his old "riends'
,e loo$ed %p and down the benches at all the "aces happ& and sad, and wondered who
wo%ld be missin! ne0t &ear and the &ear a"ter' ,e mi!ht hae cried then, b%t he co%ldnt'
,e was the Star$ in (inter"ell, his "athers son and his brothers heir, and almost a man
!rown'
*t the "oot o" the hall, the doors opened and a !%st o" cold air made the torches "lame
bri!hter "or an instant' *lebell& led two new !%ests into the "east' 1The 7ad& 2eera o"
,o%se Beed,3 the rot%nd !%ardsman bellowed oer the clamor' 1(ith her brother, Co9en,
o" 8re&water (atch'3
2en loo$ed %p "rom their c%ps and trenchers to e&e the newcomers' Bran heard 7ittle
(alder m%tter, 1=ro!eaters,3 to Bi! (alder beside him' Ser Bodri$ climbed to his "eet'
1Be welcome, "riends, and share this harest with %s'3 Serin! men h%rried to len!then
the table on the dais, "etchin! trestles and chairs'
1(ho are the&.3 Bic$on as$ed'
12%dmen,3 answered 7ittle (alder disdain"%ll&' 1The&re thiees and craens, and
the& hae !reen teeth "rom eatin! "ro!s'3
2aester 7%win cro%ched beside Brans seat to whisper co%nsel in his ear' 1;o% m%st
!reet these ones warml&' I had not tho%!ht to see them here, b%t ' ' ' &o% $now who the&
are.3
Bran nodded' 1+ranno!men' =rom the Nec$'3
1,owland Beed was a !reat "riend to &o%r "ather,3 Ser Bodri$ told him' 1These two are
his, it wo%ld seem'3
*s the newcomers wal$ed the len!th o" the hall, Bran saw that one was indeed a !irl,
tho%!h he wo%ld neer hae $nown it b& her dress' She wore lambs$in breeches so"t
with lon! %se, and a sleeeless 9er$in armored in bron?e scales' Tho%!h near Bobbs
a!e, she was slim as a bo&, with lon! brown hair $notted behind her head and onl& the
barest s%!!estion o" breasts' * woen net h%n! "rom one slim hip, a lon! bron?e $ni"e
"rom the other: %nder her arm she carried an old iron !reathelm spotted with r%st: a "ro!
spear and ro%nd leathern shield were strapped to her bac$'
,er brother was seeral &ears &o%n!er and bore no weapons' *ll his !arb was !reen,
een to the leather o" his boots, and when he came closer Bran saw that his e&es were
the color o" moss, tho%!h his teeth loo$ed as white as an&one elses' Both Beeds were
sli!ht o" b%ild, slender as swords and scarcel& taller than Bran himsel"' The& went to one
$nee be"ore the dais'
12& lords o" Star$,3 the !irl said' 1The &ears hae passed in their h%ndreds and their
tho%sands since m& "ol$ "irst swore their "ealt& to the 6in! in the North' 2& lord "ather
has sent %s here to sa& the words a!ain, "or all o%r people'3
She is loo$in! at me, Bran reali?ed' ,e had to ma$e some answer' 12& brother Bobb
is "i!htin! in the so%th,3 he said, 1b%t &o% can sa& &o%r words to me, i" &o% li$e'3
1To (inter"ell we pled!e the "aith o" 8re&water,3 the& said to!ether' 1,earth and heart
and harest we &ield %p to &o%, m& lord' /%r swords and spears and arrows are &o%rs to
command' 8rant merc& to o%r wea$, help to o%r helpless, and 9%stice to all, and we shall
neer "ail &o%'3
1I swear it b& earth and water,3 said the bo& in !reen'
1I swear it b& bron?e and iron,3 his sister said'
1(e swear it b& ice and "ire,3 the& "inished to!ether'
Bran !roped "or words' (as he s%pposed to swear somethin! bac$ to them. Their oath
was not one he had been ta%!ht' 12a& &o%r winters be short and &o%r s%mmers
bo%nti"%l,3 he said' That was %s%all& a !ood thin! to sa&' 1Bise' Im Brandon Star$'3
The !irl, 2eera, !ot to her "eet and helped her brother %p' The bo& stared at Bran all
the while' 1(e brin! &o% !i"ts o" "ish and "ro! and "owl,3 he said'
1I than$ &o%'3 Bran wondered i" he wo%ld hae to eat a "ro! to be polite' 1I o""er &o%
the meat and mead o" (inter"ell'3 ,e tried to recall all he had been ta%!ht o" the
cranno!men, who dwelt amon!st the bo!s o" the Nec$ and seldom le"t their wetlands'
The& were a poor "ol$, "ishers and "ro!-h%nters who lied in ho%ses o" thatch and woen
reeds on "loatin! islands hidden in the deeps o" the swamp' It was said that the& were a
cowardl& people who "o%!ht with poisoned weapons and pre"erred to hide "rom "oes
rather than "ace them in open battle' *nd &et ,owland Beed had been one o" =athers
sta%nchest companions d%rin! the war "or 6in! Boberts crown, be"ore Bran was born'
The bo&, Co9en, loo$ed abo%t the hall c%rio%sl& as he too$ his seat' 1(here are the
direwoles.3
1In the !odswood,3 Bic$on answered' 1Sha!!& was bad'3
12& brother wo%ld li$e to see them,3 the !irl said'
7ittle (alder spo$e %p lo%dl&' 1,ed best watch the& dont see him, or the&ll ta$e a
bite o%t o" him'3
1The& wont bite i" Im there'3 Bran was pleased that the& wanted to see the woles'
1S%mmer wont an&wa&, and hell $eep Sha!!&do! awa&'3 ,e was c%rio%s abo%t these
m%dmen' ,e co%ld not recall eer seein! one be"ore' ,is "ather had sent letters to the
7ord o" 8re&water oer the &ears, b%t none o" the cranno!men had eer called at
(inter"ell' ,e wo%ld hae li$ed to tal$ to them more, b%t the 8reat ,all was so nois&
that it was hard to hear an&one who wasnt ri!ht beside &o%'
Ser Bodri$ was ri!ht beside Bran' 1#o the& tr%l& eat "ro!s.3 he as$ed the old $ni!ht'
1*&e,3 Ser Bodri$ said' 1=ro!s and "ish and li?ard-lions, and all manner o" birds'3
2a&be the& dont hae sheep and cattle, Bran tho%!ht' ,e commanded the serin!
men to brin! them m%tton chops and a slice o"" the a%rochs and "ill their trenchers with
bee"-and-barle& stew' The& seemed to li$e that well eno%!h' The !irl ca%!ht him starin!
at her and smiled' Bran bl%shed and loo$ed awa&'
2%ch later, a"ter all the sweets had been sered and washed down with !allons o"
s%mmerwine, the "ood was cleared and the tables shoed bac$ a!ainst the walls to ma$e
room "or the dancin!' The m%sic !rew wilder, the dr%mmers 9oined in, and ,other
<mber bro%!ht "orth a h%!e c%red warhorn banded in siler' (hen the sin!er reached
the part in 1The Ni!ht That 5nded3 where the Ni!hts (atch rode "orth to meet the
/thers in the Battle "or the #awn, he blew a blast that set all the do!s to bar$in!'
Two 8loer men be!an a spinnin! s$irl on bladder and woodharp' 2ors <mber was
the "irst on his "eet' ,e sei?ed a passin! serin! !irl b& the arm, $noc$in! the "la!on o"
wine o%t o" her hands to shatter on the "loor' *midst the r%shes and bones and bits o"
bread that littered the stone, he whirled her and sp%n her and tossed her in the air' The
!irl s)%ealed with la%!hter and t%rned red as her s$irts swirled and li"ted'
/thers soon 9oined in' ,odor be!an to dance all b& himsel", while 7ord (&man as$ed
little Beth +assel to partner him' =or all his si?e, he moed !race"%ll&' (hen he tired,
+le& +erw&n danced with the child in his stead' Ser Bodri$ approached 7ad&
,ornwood, b%t she made her e0c%ses and too$ her leae' Bran watched lon! eno%!h to
be polite, and then had ,odor s%mmoned' ,e was hot and tired, "l%shed "rom the wine,
and the dancin! made him sad' It was somethin! else he co%ld neer do' 1I want to !o'3
1,odor,3 ,odor sho%ted bac$, $neelin!' 2aester 7%win and ,a&head li"ted him into
his bas$et' The "ol$ o" (inter"ell had seen this si!ht hal" a h%ndred times, b%t do%btless
it loo$ed )%eer to the !%ests, some o" whom were more c%rio%s than polite' Bran "elt the
stares'
The& went o%t the rear rather than wal$ the len!th o" the hall, Bran d%c$in! his head as
the& passed thro%!h the lords door' In the dim-lit !aller& o%tside the 8reat ,all, the&
came %pon Coseth the master o" horse en!a!ed in a di""erent sort o" ridin!' ,e had some
woman Bran did not $now shoed %p a!ainst the wall, her s$irts aro%nd her waist' She
was !i!!lin! %ntil ,odor stopped to watch' Then she screamed' 17eae them be,
,odor,3 Bran had to tell him' 1Ta$e me to m& bedchamber'3
,odor carried him %p the windin! steps to his tower and $nelt beside one o" the iron
bars that 2i$$en had drien into the wall' Bran %sed the bars to moe himsel" to the
bed, and ,odor p%lled o"" his boots and breeches' 1;o% can !o bac$ to the "east now, b%t
dont !o botherin! Coseth and that woman,3 Bran said'
1,odor,3 ,odor replied, bobbin! his head'
(hen he blew o%t his bedside candle, dar$ness coered him li$e a so"t, "amiliar
blan$et' The "aint so%nd o" m%sic dri"ted thro%!h his sh%ttered window'
Somethin! his "ather had told him once when he was little came bac$ to him s%ddenl&'
,e had as$ed 7ord 5ddard i" the 6in!s!%ard were tr%l& the "inest $ni!hts in the Seen
6in!doms' 1No lon!er,3 he answered, 1b%t once the& were a marel, a shinin! lesson to
the world'3
1(as there one who was best o" all.3
1The "inest $ni!ht I eer saw was Ser *rth%r #a&ne, who "o%!ht with a blade called
#awn, "or!ed "rom the heart o" a "allen star' The& called him the Sword o" the 2ornin!,
and he wo%ld hae $illed me b%t "or ,owland Beed'3 =ather had !otten sad then, and he
wo%ld sa& no more' Bran wished he had as$ed him what he meant'
,e went to sleep with his head "%ll o" $ni!hts in !leamin! armor, "i!htin! with swords
that shone li$e star"ire, b%t when the dream came he was in the !odswood a!ain' The
smells "rom the $itchen and the 8reat ,all were so stron! that it was almost as i" he had
neer le"t the "east' ,e prowled beneath the trees, his brother close behind him' This
ni!ht was wildl& alie, "%ll o" the howlin! o" the man-pac$ at their pla&' The so%nds
made him restless' ,e wanted to r%n, to h%nt, he wanted to ' ' '
The rattle o" iron made his ears pric$ %p' ,is brother heard it too' The& raced thro%!h
the %nder!rowth toward the so%nd' Bo%ndin! across the still water at the "oot o" the old
white one, he ca%!ht the scent o" a stran!er, the mansmell well mi0ed with leather and
earth and iron'
The intr%ders had p%shed a "ew &ards into the wood when he came %pon them: a
"emale and a &o%n! male, with no taint o" "ear to them, een when he showed them the
white o" his teeth' ,is brother !rowled low in his throat, &et still the& did not r%n'
1,ere the& come,3 the "emale said' 2eera, some part o" him whispered, some wisp o"
the sleepin! bo& lost in the wol" dream' 1#id &o% $now the& wo%ld be so bi!.3
1The& will be bi!!er still be"ore the& are !rown,3 the &o%n! male said, watchin! them
with e&es lar!e, !reen, and %na"raid' 1The blac$ one is "%ll o" "ear and ra!e, b%t the !re&
is stron! ' ' ' stron!er than he $nows ' ' ' can &o% "eel him, sister.3
1No,3 she said, moin! a hand to the hilt o" the lon! brown $ni"e she wore' 18o
care"%l, Co9en'3
1,e wont h%rt me' This is not the da& I die'3 The male wal$ed toward them, %na"raid,
and reached o%t "or his m%??le, a to%ch as li!ht as a s%mmer bree?e' ;et at the br%sh o"
those "in!ers the wood dissoled and the er& !ro%nd t%rned to smo$e beneath his "eet
and swirled awa& la%!hin!, and then he was spinnin! and "allin!, "allin!, "allin! ' ' '
C#APT"R &&
CAT"%'
*s she slept amidst the rollin! !rasslands, +atel&n dreamt that Bran was whole a!ain,
that *r&a and Sansa held hands, that Bic$on was still a babe at her breast' Bobb,
crownless, pla&ed with a wooden sword, and when all were sa"e asleep, she "o%nd Ned
in her bed, smilin!'
Sweet it was, sweet and !one too soon' #awn came cr%el, a da!!er o" li!ht' She wo$e
achin! and alone and wear&: wear& o" ridin!, wear& o" h%rtin!, wear& o" d%t&' I want to
weep, she tho%!ht' I want to be com"orted' Im so tired o" bein! stron!' I want to be
"oolish and "ri!htened "or once' C%st "or a small while, thats all ' ' ' a da& ' ' ' an ho%r ' ' '
/%tside her tent, men were stirrin!' She heard the whic$er o" horses, Shadd
complainin! o" sti""ness in his bac$, Ser (endel callin! "or his bow' +atel&n wished
the& wo%ld all !o awa&' The& were !ood men, lo&al, &et she was tired o" them all' It was
her children she &earned a"ter' /ne da&, she promised hersel" as she la& abed, one da&
she wo%ld allow hersel" to be less than stron!'
B%t not toda&' It co%ld not be toda&'
,er "in!ers seemed more cl%ms& than %s%al as she "%mbled on her clothes' She
s%pposed she o%!ht to be !rate"%l that she had an& %se o" her hands at all' The da!!er
had been >al&rian steel, and >al&rian steel bites deep and sharp' She had onl& to loo$ at
the scars to remember'
/%tside, Shadd was stirrin! oats into a $ettle, while Ser (endel 2anderl& sat strin!in!
his bow' 12& lad&,3 he said when +atel&n emer!ed' 1There are birds in this !rass'
(o%ld &o% "anc& a roast )%ail to brea$ &o%r "ast this mornin!.3
1/ats and bread are s%""icient ' ' ' "or all o" %s, I thin$' (e hae man& lea!%es &et to
ride, Ser (endel'3
1*s &o% will, m& lad&'3 The $ni!hts moon "ace loo$ed crest"allen, the tips o" his !reat
walr%s m%stache twitchin! with disappointment' 1/ats and bread, and what co%ld be
better.3 ,e was one o" the "attest men +atel&n had eer $nown, b%t howeerm%ch he
loed his "ood, he loed his honor more'
1=o%nd some nettles and brewed a tea,3 Shadd anno%nced' 1(ill mlad& ta$e a c%p.3
1;es, with than$s'3
She cradled the tea in her scarred hands and blew on it to cool it' Shadd was one o" the
(inter"ell men' Bobb had sent twent& o" his best to see her sa"el& to Benl&' ,e had sent
"ie lordlin!s as well, whose names and hi!h birth wo%ld add wei!ht and honor to her
mission' *s the& made their wa& so%th, sta&in! well clear o" towns and hold"asts, the&
had seen bands o" mailed men more than once, and !limpsed smo$e on the eastern
hori?on, b%t none had dared molest them' The& were too wea$ to be a threat, too man&
to be eas& pre&' /nce across the Blac$water, the worst was behind' =or the past "o%r
da&s, the& had seen no si!ns o" war'
+atel&n had neer wanted this' She had told Bobb as m%ch, bac$ in Bierr%n' 1(hen
last I saw Benl&, he was a bo& no older than Bran' I do not $now him' Send someone
else' 2& place is here with m& "ather, "or whateer time he has le"t'3
,er son had loo$ed at her %nhappil&' 1There is no one else' I cannot !o m&sel"' ;o%r
"athers too ill' The Blac$"ish is m& e&es and ears, I dare not lose him' ;o%r brother I
need to hold Bierr%n when we marchA3
12arch.3 No one had said a word to her o" marchin!'
1I cannot sit at Bierr%n waitin! "or peace' It ma$es me loo$ as i" I were a"raid to ta$e
the "ield a!ain' (hen there are no battles to "i!ht, men start to thin$ o" hearth and
harest, =ather told me that' 5en m& northmen !row restless'3
2& northmen, she tho%!ht' ,e is een startin! to tal$ li$e a $in!' 1No one has eer
died o" restlessness, b%t rashness is another matter' (ee planted seeds, let them !row'3
Bobb shoo$ his head st%bbornl&' 1(ee tossed some seeds in the wind, thats all' I"
&o%r sister 7&sa was comin! to aid %s, we wo%ld hae heard b& now' ,ow man& birds
hae we sent to the 5&rie, "o%r. I want peace too, b%t wh& sho%ld the 7annisters !ie me
an&thin! i" all I do is sit here while m& arm& melts awa& aro%nd me swi"t as s%mmer
snow.3
1So rather than loo$ craen, &o% will dance to 7ord T&wins pipes.3 she threw bac$'
1,e wants &o% to march on ,arrenhal, as$ &o%r %ncle Br&nden i"A3
1I said nothin! o" ,arrenhal,3 Bobb said' 1Now, will &o% !o to Benl& "or me, or m%st I
send the 8reat9on.3
The memor& bro%!ht a wan smile to her "ace' S%ch an obio%s plo&, that, &et de"t "or a
bo& o" "i"teen' Bobb $new how ill-s%ited a man li$e 8reat9on <mber wo%ld be to treat
with a man li$e Benl& Baratheon, and he $new that she $new it as well' (hat co%ld she
do b%t accede, pra&in! that her "ather wo%ld lie %ntil her ret%rn. ,ad 7ord ,oster been
well, he wo%ld hae !one himsel", she $new' Still, that leaeta$in! was hard, hard' ,e
did not een $now her when she came to sa& "arewell' 12inisa,3 he called her, 1where
are the children. 2& little +at, m& sweet 7&sa ' ' '3 +atel&n had $issed him on the brow
and told him his babes were well' 1(ait "or me, m& lord,3 she said as his e&es closed' 1I
waited "or &o%, oh, so man& times' Now &o% m%st wait "or me'3
=ate dries me so%th and so%th a!ain, +atel&n tho%!ht as she sipped the astrin!ent tea,
when it is north I sho%ld be !oin!, north to home' She had written to Bran and Bic$on,
that last ni!ht at Bierr%n' I do not "or!et &o%, m& sweet ones, &o% m%st beliee that' It
is onl& that &o%r brother needs me more'
1(e o%!ht to reach the %pper 2ander toda&, m& lad&,3 Ser (endel anno%nced while
Shadd spooned o%t the porrid!e' 17ord Benl& will not be "ar, i" the tal$ be tr%e'3
*nd what do I tell him when I "ind him. That m& son holds him no tr%e $in!. She did
not relish this meetin!' The& needed "riends, not more enemies, &et Bobb wo%ld neer
bend the $nee in homa!e to a man he "elt had no claim to the throne'
,er bowl was empt&, tho%!h she co%ld scarce remember tastin! the porrid!e' She laid
it aside' 1It is time we were awa&'3 The sooner she spo$e to Benl&, the sooner she co%ld
t%rn "or home' She was the "irst one mo%nted, and she set the pace "or the col%mn' ,al
2ollen rode beside her, bearin! the banner o" ,o%se Star$, the !re& direwol" on an ice-
white "ield'
The& were still a hal" da&s ride "rom Benl&s camp when the& were ta$en' Bobin =lint
had ran!ed ahead to sco%t, and he came !allopin! bac$ with word o" a "ar-e&es watchin!
"rom the roo" o" a distant windmill' B& the time +atel&ns part& reached the mill, the
man was lon! !one' The& pressed on, coerin! not )%ite a mile be"ore Benl&s o%triders
came swoopin! down on them, twent& men mailed and mo%nted, led b& a !ri??led
!re&beard o" a $ni!ht with bl%e9a&s on his s%rcoat'
(hen he saw her banners, he trotted %p to her alone' 12& lad&,3 he called, 1I am Ser
+olen o" 8reenpools, as it please &o%' These are dan!ero%s lands &o% cross'3
1/%r b%siness is %r!ent,3 she answered him' 1I come as eno& "rom m& son, Bobb
Star$, the 6in! in the North, to treat with Benl& Baratheon, the 6in! in the So%th'3
16in! Benl& is the crowned and anointed lord o" all the Seen 6in!doms, m& lad&,3
Ser +olen answered, tho%!h co%rteo%sl& eno%!h' 1,is 8race is encamped with his host
near Bitterbrid!e, where the roseroad crosses the 2ander' It shall be m& !reat honor to
escort &o% to him'3 The $ni!ht raised a mailed hand, and his men "ormed a do%ble
col%mn "lan$in! +atel&n and her !%ard' 5scort or captor. she wondered' There was
nothin! to be done b%t tr%st in Ser +olens honor, and 7ord Benl&s'
The& saw the smo$e o" the camps "ires when the& were still an ho%r "rom the rier'
Then the so%nd came dri"tin! across "arm and "ield and rollin! plain, indistinct as the
m%rm%r o" some distant sea, b%t swellin! as the& rode closer' B& the time the& ca%!ht
si!ht o" the 2anders m%dd& waters !lintin! in the s%n, the& co%ld ma$e o%t the oices
o" men, the clatter o" steel, the whinn& o" horses' ;et neither so%nd nor smo$e prepared
them "or the host itsel"'
Tho%sands o" coo$"ires "illed the air with a pale smo$& ha?e' The horse lines alone
stretched o%t oer lea!%es' * "orest had s%rel& been "elled to ma$e the tall sta""s that
held the banners' 8reat sie!e en!ines lined the !rass& er!e o" the roseroad, man!onels
and treb%chets and rollin! rams mo%nted on wheels taller than a man on horsebac$' The
steel points o" pi$es "lamed red with s%nli!ht, as i" alread& blooded, while the pailions
o" the $ni!hts and hi!h lords spro%ted "rom the !rass li$e sil$en m%shrooms' She saw
men with spears and men with swords, men in steel caps and mail shirts, camp "ollowers
str%ttin! their charms, archers "letchin! arrows, teamsters driin! wa!ons, swineherds
driin! pi!s, pa!es r%nnin! messa!es, s)%ires honin! swords, $ni!hts ridin! pal"re&s,
!rooms leadin! ill-tempered destriers' 1This is a "earsome lot o" men,3 Ser (endel
2anderl& obsered as the& crossed the ancient stone span "rom which Bitterbrid!e too$
its name'
1That it is,3 +atel&n a!reed'
Near all the chialr& o" the so%th had come to Benl&s call, it seemed' The !olden rose
o" ,i!h!arden was seen eer&where: sewn on the ri!ht breast o" armsmen and serants,
"lappin! and "l%tterin! "rom the !reen sil$ banners that adorned lance and pi$e, painted
%pon the shields h%n! o%tside the pailions o" the sons and brothers and co%sins and
%ncles o" ,o%se T&rell' *s well +atel&n spied the "o0-and-"lowers o" ,o%se =lorent,
=ossowa& apples red and !reen, 7ord Tarl&s stridin! h%ntsman, oa$ leaes "or
/a$heart, cranes "or +rane, a clo%d o" blac$-and-oran!e b%tter"lies "or the 2%llendores'
*cross the 2ander, the storm lords had raised their standards: Benl&s own
bannermen, sworn to ,o%se Baratheon and Storms 5nd' +atel&n reco!ni?ed Br&ce
+arons ni!htin!ales, the 4enrose )%ills, and 7ord 5stermonts sea t%rtle, !reen on !reen'
;et "or eer& shield she $new, there were a do?en stran!e to her, borne b& the small
lords sworn to the bannermen, and b& hed!e $ni!hts and "reeriders, who had come
swarmin! to ma$e Benl& Baratheon a $in! in "act as well as name'
Benl&s own standard "lew hi!h oer all' =rom the top o" his tallest sie!e tower, a
wheeled oa$en immensit& coered with rawhides, streamed the lar!est war banner that
+atel&n had eer seenAa cloth bi! eno%!h to carpet man& a hall, shimmerin! !old, with
the crowned sta! o" Baratheon blac$ %pon it, prancin! pro%d and tall'
12& lad&, do &o% hear that noise.3 as$ed ,allis 2ollen, trottin! close' 1(hat is that.3
She listened' Sho%ts, and horses screamin!, and the clash o" steel, and ' ' ' 1+heerin!,3
she said' The& had been ridin! %p a !entle slope toward a line o" bri!htl& colored
pailions on the hei!ht' *s the& passed between them, the press o" men !rew thic$er, the
so%nds lo%der' *nd then she saw'
Below, beneath the stone-and-timber battlements o" a small castle, a melee was in
pro!ress'
* "ield had been cleared o"", "ences and !alleries and tiltin! barriers thrown %p'
,%ndreds were !athered to watch, perhaps tho%sands' =rom the loo$s o" the !ro%nds,
torn and m%dd& and littered with bits o" dinted armor and bro$en lances, the& had been
at it "or a da& or more, b%t now the end was near' =ewer than a score o" $ni!hts
remained ahorse, char!in! and slashin! at each other as watchers and "allen combatants
cheered them on' She saw two destriers collide in "%ll armor, !oin! down in a tan!le o"
steel and horse"lesh' 1* to%rne&,3 ,al 2ollen declared' ,e had a penchant "or lo%dl&
anno%ncin! the obio%s'
1/h, splendid,3 Ser (endel 2anderl& said as a $ni!ht in a rainbowstriped cloa$
wheeled to delier a bac$hand blow with a lon!-handled a0e that shattered the shield o"
the man p%rs%in! him and sent him reelin! in his stirr%ps'
The press in "ront o" them made "%rther pro!ress di""ic%lt' 17ad& Star$,3 Ser +olen
said, 1i" &o%r men wo%ld be so !ood as to wait here, Ill present &o% to the $in!'3
1*s &o% sa&'3 She !ae the command, tho%!h she had to raise her oice to be heard
aboe the to%rne& din' Ser +olen wal$ed his horse slowl& thro%!h the thron!s, with
+atel&n ridin! in his wa$e' * roar went %p "rom the crowd as a helmetless red-bearded
man with a !ri""in on his shield went down be"ore a bi! $ni!ht in bl%e armor' ,is steel
was a deep cobalt, een the bl%nt mornin!star he wielded with s%ch deadl& e""ect, his
mo%nt barded in the )%artered s%n-and-moon heraldr& o" ,o%se Tarth'
1Bed Bonnets down, !ods be damned,3 a man c%rsed'
17orasll do "or that bl%eA3 a companion answered be"ore a roar drowned o%t the rest
o" his words'
*nother man was "allen, trapped beneath his in9%red horse, both o" them screamin! in
pain' S)%ires r%shed o%t to aid them'
This is madness, +atel&n tho%!ht' Beal enemies on eer& side and hal" the realm in
"lames, and Benl& sits here pla&in! at war li$e a bo& with his "irst wooden sword'
The lords and ladies in the !aller& were as en!rossed in the melee as the men on the
!ro%nd' +atel&n mar$ed them well' ,er "ather had o"t treated with the so%thron lords,
and not a "ew had been !%ests at Bierr%n' She reco!ni?ed 7ord 2athis Bowan, sto%ter
and more "lorid than eer, the !olden tree o" his ,o%se spread across his white do%blet'
Below him sat 7ad& /a$heart, tin& and delicate, and to her le"t 7ord Band&ll Tarl& o"
,orn ,ill, his !reatsword ,eartsbane propped %p a!ainst the bac$ o" his seat' /thers she
$new onl& b& their si!ils, and some not at all'
In their midst, watchin! and la%!hin! with his &o%n! )%een b& his side, sat a !host in a
!olden crown'
Small wonder the lords !ather aro%nd him with s%ch "eror, she tho%!ht, he is Bobert
come a!ain' Benl& was handsome as Bobert had been handsome: lon! o" limb and broad
o" sho%lder, with the same coalblac$ hair, "ine and strai!ht, the same deep bl%e e&es, the
same eas& smile' The slender circlet aro%nd his brows seemed to s%it him well' It was
so"t !old, a rin! o" roses e0)%isitel& wro%!ht: at the "ront li"ted a sta!s head o" dar$
!reen 9ade, adorned with !olden e&es and !olden antlers'
The crowned sta! decorated the $in!s !reen elet t%nic as well, wor$ed in !old
thread %pon his chest: the Baratheon si!il in the colors o" ,i!h!arden' The !irl who
shared the hi!h seat with him was also o" ,i!h!arden: his &o%n! )%een, 2ar!aer&,
da%!hter to 7ord 2ace T&rell' Their marria!e was the mortar that held the !reat
so%thron alliance to!ether, +atel&n $new' Benl& was one-and-twent&, the !irl no older
than Bobb, er& prett&, with a does so"t e&es and a mane o" c%rlin! brown hair that "ell
abo%t her sho%lders in la?& rin!lets' ,er smile was sh& and sweet'
/%t in the "ield, another man lost his seat to the $ni!ht in the rainbow-striped cloa$,
and the $in! sho%ted approal with the rest' 17oras@3 she heard him call' 17oras@
,i!h!arden@3 The )%een clapped her hands to!ether in e0citement'
+atel&n t%rned to see the end o" it' /nl& "o%r men were le"t in the "i!ht now, and there
was small do%bt whom $in! and commons "aored' She had neer met Ser 7oras T&rell,
b%t een in the distant north one heard tales o" the prowess o" the &o%n! 6ni!ht o"
=lowers' Ser 7oras rode a tall white stallion in siler mail, and "o%!ht with a lon!-
handled a0e' * crest o" !olden roses ran down the center o" his helm'
Two o" the other s%riors had made common ca%se' The& sp%rred their mo%nts
toward the $ni!ht in the cobalt armor' *s the& closed to either side, the bl%e $ni!ht
reined hard, smashin! one man "%ll in the "ace with his splintered shield while his blac$
destrier lashed o%t with a steel-shod hoo" at the other' In a blin$, one combatant was
%nhorsed, the other reelin!' The bl%e $ni!ht let his bro$en shield drop to the !ro%nd to
"ree his le"t arm, and then the 6ni!ht o" =lowers was on him' The wei!ht o" his steel
seemed to hardl& diminish the !race and )%ic$ness with which Ser 7oras moed, his
rainbow cloa$ swirlin! abo%t him'
The white horse and the blac$ one wheeled li$e loers at a harest dance, the riders
throwin! steel in place o" $isses' 7on!a0e "lashed and mornin!star whirled' Both
weapons were bl%nted, &et still the& raised an aw"%l clan!or' Shieldless, the bl%e $ni!ht
was !ettin! m%ch the worse o" it' Ser 7oras rained down blows on his head and
sho%lders, to sho%ts o" 1,i!h!arden@3 "rom the thron!' The other !ae answer with his
mornin!star, b%t wheneer the ball came crashin! in, Ser 7oras interposed his battered
!reen shield, embla?oned with three !olden roses' (hen the lon!a0e ca%!ht the bl%e
$ni!hts hand on the bac$swin! and sent the mornin!star "l&in! "rom his !rasp, the
crowd screamed li$e a r%ttin! beast' The 6ni!ht o" =lowers raised his a0e "or the "inal
blow'
The bl%e $ni!ht char!ed into it' The stallions slammed to!ether, the bl%nted a0ehead
smashed a!ainst the scarred bl%e breastplate ' ' ' b%t somehow the bl%e $ni!ht had the
ha"t loc$ed between steel-!a%ntleted "in!ers' ,e wrenched it "rom Ser 7orass hand, and
s%ddenl& the two were !rapplin! mo%nt-to-mo%nt, and an instant later the& were "allin!'
*s their horses p%lled apart, the& crashed to the !ro%nd with bone-9arrin! "orce' 7oras
T&rell, on the bottom, too$ the br%nt o" the impact' The bl%e $ni!ht p%lled a lon! dir$
"ree and "lic$ed open T&rells isor' The roar o" the crowd was too lo%d "or +atel&n to
hear what Ser 7oras said, b%t she saw the word "orm on his split, blood& lips' ;ield'
The bl%e $ni!ht climbed %nstead& to his "eet, and raised his dir$ in the direction o"
Benl& Baratheon, the sal%te o" a champion to his $in!' S)%ires dashed onto the "ield to
help the an)%ished $ni!ht to his "eet' (hen the& !ot his helm o"", +atel&n was startled
to see how &o%n! he was' ,e co%ld not hae had more than two &ears on Bobb' The bo&
mi!ht hae been as comel& as his sister, b%t the bro$en lip, %n"oc%sed e&es, and blood
tric$lin! thro%!h his matted hair made it hard to be certain'
1*pproach,3 6in! Benl& called to the champion'
,e limped toward the !aller&' *t close hand, the brilliant bl%e armor loo$ed rather less
splendid: eer&where it showed scars, the dents o" mace and warhammer, the lon!
!o%!es le"t b& swords, chips in the enameled breastplate and helm' ,is cloa$ h%n! in
ra!s' =rom the wa& he moed, the man within was no less battered' * "ew oices hailed
him with cries o" 1Tarth@3 and, oddl&, D* Bea%t&@ * Bea%t&@3 b%t most were silent' The
bl%e $ni!ht $nelt be"ore the $in!' 18race,3 he said, his oice m%""led b& his dented
!reathelm'
1;o% are all &o%r lord "ather claimed &o% were'3 Benl&s oice carried oer the "ield'
1Ie seen Ser 7oras %nhorsed once or twice ' ' ' b%t neer )%ite in that "ashion'3
1That were no proper %nhorsin!,3 complained a dr%n$en archer nearb&, a T&rell rose
sewn on his 9er$in' 1* ile tric$, p%llin! the lad down'3
The press had be!%n to open %p' 1Ser +olen,3 +atel&n said to her escort, 1who is this
man, and wh& do the& misli$e him so.3
Ser +olen "rowned' 1Beca%se he is no man, m& lad&' Thats Brienne o" Tarth, da%!hter
to 7ord Selw&n the 5enstar'3
1#a%!hter.3 +atel&n was horri"ied'
1Brienne the Bea%t&, the& name her ' ' ' tho%!h not to her "ace, lest the& be called %pon
to de"end those words with their bodies'3
She heard 6in! Benl& declare the 7ad& Brienne o" Tarth the ictor o" the !reat melee
at Bitterbrid!e, last mo%nted o" one h%ndred si0teen $ni!hts' 1*s champion, &o% ma&
as$ o" me an& boon that &o% desire' I" it lies in m& power, it is &o%rs'3
1;o%r 8race,3 Brienne answered, 1I as$ the honor o" a place amon! &o%r Bainbow
8%ard' I wo%ld be one o" &o%r seen, and pled!e m& li"e to &o%rs, to !o where &o% !o,
ride at &o%r side, and $eep &o% sa"e "rom all h%rt and harm'3
1#one,3 he said' 1Bise, and remoe &o%r helm'3
She did as he bid her' *nd when the !reathelm was li"ted, +atel&n %nderstood Ser
+olens words'
Bea%t&, the& called her ' ' ' moc$in!' The hair beneath the isor was a s)%irrels nest o"
dirt& straw, and her "ace ' ' ' Briennes e&es were lar!e and er& bl%e, a &o%n! !irls
e&es, tr%stin! and !%ileless, b%t the rest ' ' ' her "eat%res were broad and coarse, her teeth
prominent and croo$ed, her mo%th too wide, her lips so pl%mp the& seemed swollen' *
tho%sand "rec$les spec$led her chee$s and brow, and her nose had been bro$en more
than once' 4it& "illed +atel&ns heart' Is there an& creat%re on earth as %n"ort%nate as an
%!l& woman.
*nd &et, when Benl& c%t awa& her torn cloa$ and "astened a rainbow in its place,
Brienne o" Tarth did not loo$ %n"ort%nate' ,er smile lit %p her "ace, and her oice was
stron! and pro%d as she said, 12& li"e "or &o%rs, ;o%r 8race' =rom this da& on, I am
&o%r shield, I swear it b& the old !ods and the new'3 The wa& she loo$ed at the $in!A
loo$ed down at him, she was a !ood hand hi!her, tho%!h Benl& was near as tall as his
brother had beenAwas pain"%l to see'
1;o%r 8race@3 Ser +olen o" 8reenpools sw%n! down o"" his horse to approach the
!aller&' 1I be! &o%r leae'3 ,e went to one $nee' 1I hae the honor to brin! &o% the
7ad& +atel&n Star$, sent as eno& b& her son Bobb, 7ord o" (inter"ell'3
17ord o" (inter"ell and 6in! in the North, ser,3 +atel&n corrected him' She
dismo%nted and moed to Ser +olens side'
6in! Benl& loo$ed s%rprised' 17ad& +atel&n. (e are most pleased'3 ,e t%rned to his
&o%n! )%een' 12ar!aer& m& sweet, this is the 7ad& +atel&n Star$ o" (inter"ell'3
1;o% are most welcome here, 7ad& Star$,3 the !irl said, all so"t co%rtes&' 1I am sorr&
"or &o%r loss'3
1;o% are $ind,3 said +atel&n'
12& lad&, I swear to &o%, I will see that the 7annisters answer "or &o%r h%sbands
m%rder,3 the $in! declared' 1(hen I ta$e 6in!s 7andin!, Ill send &o% +erseis head'3
*nd will that brin! m& Ned bac$ to me. she tho%!ht' 1it will be eno%!h to $now that
9%stice has been done, m& lord'3
1;o%r 8race,3 Brienne the Bl%e corrected sharpl&' 1*nd &o% sho%ld $neel when &o%
approach the $in!'3
1The distance between a lord and a !race is a small one, m& lad&,3 +atel&n said' 17ord
Benl& wears a crown, as does m& son' I" &o% wish, we ma& stand here in the m%d and
debate what honors and titles are ri!htl& d%e to each, b%t it stri$es me that we hae more
pressin! matters to consider'3
Some o" Benl&s lords bristled at that, b%t the $in! onl& la%!hed' 1(ell said, m& lad&'
There will be time eno%!h "or !races when these wars are done' Tell me, when does
&o%r son mean to march a!ainst ,arrenhal.3
<ntil she $new whether this $in! was "riend or "oe, +atel&n was not abo%t to reeal the
least part o" Bobbs dispositions' 1I do not sit on m& sons war co%ncils, m& lord'3
1So lon! as he leaes a "ew 7annisters "or me, Ill not complain' (hat has he done
with the 6in!sla&er.3
1Caime 7annister is held prisoner at Bierr%n'3
1Still alie.3 7ord 2athis Bowan seemed disma&ed'
Bem%sed, Benl& said, 1It wo%ld seem the direwol" is !entler than the lion'3
18entler than the 7annisters,3 m%rm%red 7ad& /a$heart with a bitter smile, 1is drier
than the sea'3
1I call it wea$'3 7ord Band&ll Tarl& had a short, bristl& !re& beard and a rep%tation "or
bl%nt speech' 1No disrespect to &o%, 7ad& Star$, b%t it wo%ld hae been more seeml&
had 7ord Bobb come to pa& homa!e to the $in! himsel", rather than hidin! behind his
mothers s$irts'3
16in! Bobb is warrin!, m& lord,3 +atel&n replied with ic& co%rtes&, 1not pla&in! at
to%rne&'3
Benl& !rinned' 18o so"tl&, 7ord Band&ll, I "ear &o%re oermatched'3 ,e s%mmoned a
steward in the lier& o" Storms 5nd' 1=ind a place "or the lad&s companions, and see
that the& hae eer& com"ort' 7ad& +atel&n shall hae m& own pailion' Since 7ord
+aswell has been so $ind as to !ie me %se o" his castle, I hae no need o" it' 2& lad&,
when &o% are rested, I wo%ld be honored i" &o% wo%ld share o%r meat and mead at the
"east 7ord +aswell is !iin! %s toni!ht' * "arewell "east' I "ear his lordship is ea!er to
see the heels o" m& h%n!r& horde'3
1Not tr%e, ;o%r 8race,3 protested a wisp& &o%n! man who m%st hae been +aswell'
1(hat is mine is &o%rs'3
1(heneer someone said that to m& brother Bobert, he too$ them at their word,3
Benl& said' 1#o &o% hae da%!hters.3
1;es, ;o%r 8race' Two'3
1Then than$ the !ods that I am not Bobert' 2& sweet )%een is all the woman I desire'3
Benl& held o%t his hand to help 2ar!aer& to her "eet' 1(ell tal$ a!ain when &o%e had
a chance to re"resh &o%rsel", 7ad& +atel&n'3
Benl& led his bride bac$ toward the castle while his steward cond%cted +atel&n to the
$in!s !reen sil$ pailion' 1I" &o% hae need o" an&thin!, &o% hae onl& to as$, m&
lad&'3
+atel&n co%ld scarcel& ima!ine what she mi!ht need that had not alread& been
proided' The pailion was lar!er than the common rooms o" man& an inn and "%rnished
with eer& com"ort: "eather mattress and sleepin! "%rs, a wood-and-copper t%b lar!e
eno%!h "or two, bra?iers, to $eep o"" the ni!hts chill, sl%n! leather camp chairs, a
writin! table with )%ills and in$pot, bowls o" peaches, pl%ms, and pears, a "la!on o"
wine with a set o" matched siler c%ps, cedar chests pac$ed "%ll o" Benl&s clothin!,
boo$s, maps, !ame boards, a hi!h harp, a tall bow and a )%ier o" arrows, a pair o" red-
tailed h%ntin! haw$s, a ertible armor& o" "ine weapons' ,e does not stint himsel", this
Benl&, she tho%!ht as she loo$ed abo%t' Small wonder this host moes so slowl&'
Beside the entrance, the $in!s armor stood sentr&: a s%it o" "orest!reen plate, its
"ittin!s chased with !old, the helm crowned b& a !reat rac$ o" !olden antlers' The steel
was polished to s%ch a hi!h sheen that she co%ld see her re"lection in the breastplate,
!a?in! bac$ at her as i" "rom the bottom o" a deep !reen pond' The "ace o" a drowned
woman, +atel&n tho%!ht' +an &o% drown in !rie". She t%rned awa& sharpl&, an!r& with
her own "railt&' She had no time "or the l%0%r& o" sel"-pit&' She m%st wash the d%st "rom
her hair and chan!e into a !own more "ittin! "or a $in!s "east'
Ser (endel 2anderl&, 7%cas Blac$wood, Ser 4erw&n =re&, and the rest o" her
hi!hborn companions accompanied her to the castle' The !reat hall o" 7ord +aswells
$eep was !reat onl& b& co%rtes&, &et room was "o%nd on the crowded benches "or
+atel&ns men, amidst Benl&s own $ni!hts' +atel&n was assi!ned a place on the dais
between red-"aced 7ord 2athis Bowan and !enial Ser Con =ossowa& o" the !reen-apple
=ossowa&s' Ser Con made 9ests, while 7ord 2athis in)%ired politel& a"ter the health o"
her "ather, brother, and children'
Brienne o" Tarth had been seated at the "ar end o" the hi!h table' She did not !own
hersel" as a lad&, b%t chose a $ni!hts "iner& instead, a elet do%blet )%artered rose-and-
a?%re, breeches and boots and a "inetooled swordbelt, her new rainbow cloa$ "lowin!
down her bac$' No !arb co%ld dis!%ise her plainness, tho%!h: the h%!e "rec$led hands,
the wide "lat "ace, the thr%st o" her teeth' /%t o" armor, her bod& seemed %n!ainl&, broad
o" hip and thic$ o" limb, with h%nched m%sc%lar sho%lders b%t no bosom to spea$ o"'
*nd it was clear "rom her eer& action that Brienne $new it, and s%""ered "or it' She
spo$e onl& in answer, and seldom li"ted her !a?e "rom her "ood'
/" "ood there was plent&' The war had not to%ched the "abled bo%nt& o" ,i!h!arden'
(hile sin!ers san! and t%mblers t%mbled, the& be!an with pears poached in wine, and
went on to tin& saor& "ish rolled in salt and coo$ed crisp, and capons st%""ed with
onions and m%shrooms' There were !reat loaes o" brown bread, mo%nds o" t%rnips and
sweetcorn and pease, immense hams and roast !eese and trenchers drippin! "%ll o"
enison stewed with beer and barle&' =or the sweet, 7ord +aswells serants bro%!ht
down tra&s o" pastries "rom his castle $itchens, cream swans and sp%n-s%!ar %nicorns,
lemon ca$es in the shape o" roses, spiced hone& bisc%its and blac$berr& tarts, apple
crisps and wheels o" b%tter& cheese'
The rich "oods made +atel&n )%eas&, b%t it wo%ld neer do to show "railt& when so
m%ch depended on her stren!th' She ate sparin!l&, while she watched this man who
wo%ld be $in!' Benl& sat with his &o%n! bride on his le"t hand and her brother on the
ri!ht' *part "rom the white linen banda!e aro%nd his brow, Ser 7oras seemed none the
worse "or the da&s misadent%res' ,e was indeed as comel& as +atel&n had s%spected
he mi!ht be' (hen not !la?ed, his e&es were liel& and intelli!ent, his hair an artless
t%mble o" brown loc$s that man& a maid mi!ht hae enied' ,e had replaced his tattered
to%rne& cloa$ with a new one: the same brilliantl& striped sil$ o" Benl&s Bainbow
8%ard, clasped with the !olden rose o" ,i!h!arden'
=rom time to time, 6in! Benl& wo%ld "eed 2ar!aer& some choice morsel o"" the point
o" his da!!er, or lean oer to plant the li!htest o" $isses on her chee$, b%t it was Ser
7oras who shared most o" his 9ests and con"idences' The $in! en9o&ed his "ood and
drin$, that was plain to see, &et he seemed neither !l%tton nor dr%n$ard' ,e la%!hed
o"ten, and well, and spo$e amiabl& to hi!hborn lords and lowl& serin! wenches ali$e'
Some o" his !%ests were less moderate' The& dran$ too m%ch and boasted too lo%dl&,
to her mind' 7ord (ill%ms sons Cos%a and 5l&as disp%ted heatedl& abo%t who wo%ld be
"irst oer the walls o" 6in!s 7andin!' 7ord >arner dandled a serin! !irl on his lap,
n%??lin! at her nec$ while one hand went e0plorin! down her bodice' 8%&ard the 8reen,
who "ancied himsel" a sin!er, diddled a harp and !ae them a erse abo%t t&in! lions
tails in $nots, parts o" which rh&med' Ser 2ar$ 2%llendore bro%!ht a blac$-and-white
mon$e& and "ed him morsels "rom his own plate, while Ser Tanton o" the red-apple
=ossowa&s climbed on the table and swore to sla& Sandor +le!ane in sin!le combat' The
ow mi!ht hae been ta$en more solemnl& i" Ser Tanton had not had one "oot in a !ra&
boat when he made it'
The hei!ht o" "oll& was reached when a pl%mp "ool came caperin! o%t in !old-painted
tin with a cloth lions head, and chased a dwar" aro%nd the tables, whac$in! him oer the
head with a bladder' =inall& 6in! Benl& demanded to $now wh& he was beatin! his
brother' 1(h&, ;o%r 8race, Im the 6insla&er,3 the "ool said'
1Its 6in!sla&er, "ool o" a "ool,3 Benl& said, and the hall ran! with la%!hter'
7ord Bowan beside her did not 9oin the merriment' 1The& are all so &o%n!,3 he said'
It was tr%e' The 6ni!ht o" =lowers co%ld not hae reached his second name da& when
Bobert slew 4rince Bhae!ar on the Trident' =ew o" the others were er& m%ch older'
The& had been babes d%rin! the Sac$ o" 6in!s 7andin!, and no more than bo&s when
Balon 8re&9o& raised the Iron Islands in rebellion' The& are still %nblooded, +atel&n
tho%!ht as she watched 7ord Br&ce !oad Ser Bobar into 9%!!lin! a brace o" da!!ers' It is
all a !ame to them still, a to%rne& writ lar!e, and all the& see is the chance "or !lor& and
honor and spoils' The& are bo&s dr%n$ on son! and stor&, and li$e all bo&s, the& thin$
themseles immortal'
1(ar will ma$e them old,3 +atel&n said, 1as it did %s'3 She had been a !irl when
Bobert and Ned and Con *rr&n raised their banners a!ainst *er&s Tar!ar&en, a woman
b& the time the "i!htin! was done' 1I pit& them'3
1(h&.3 7ord Bowan as$ed her' 17oo$ at them' The&re &o%n! and stron!, "%ll o" li"e
and la%!hter' *nd l%st, a&e, more l%st than the& $now what to do with' There will be
man& a bastard bred this ni!ht, I promise &o%' (h& pit&.3
1Beca%se it will not last,3 +atel&n answered, sadl&' 1Beca%se the& are the $ni!hts o"
s%mmer, and winter is comin!'3
17ad& +atel&n, &o% are wron!'3 Brienne re!arded her with e&es as bl%e as her armor'
1(inter will neer come "or the li$es o" %s' Sho%ld we die in battle, the& will s%rel& sin!
o" %s, and its alwa&s s%mmer in the son!s' In the son!s all $ni!hts are !allant, all maids
are bea%ti"%l, and the s%n is alwa&s shinin!'3
(inter comes "or all o" %s, +atel&n tho%!ht' =or me, it came when Ned died' It will
come "or &o% too, child, and sooner than &o% li$e' She did not hae the heart to sa& it'
The $in! saed her' 17ad& +atel&n,3 Benl& called down' 1I "eel the need o" some air'
(ill &o% wal$ with me.3
+atel&n stood at once' 1I sho%ld be honored'3
Brienne was on her "eet as well' 1;o%r 8race, !ie me b%t a moment to don m& mail'
;o% sho%ld not be witho%t protection'3
6in! Benl& smiled' 1I" I am not sa"e in the heart o" 7ord +aswells castle, with m&
own host aro%nd me, one sword will ma$e no matter ' ' ' not een &o%r sword, Brienne'
Sit and eat' I" I hae need o" &o%, Ill send "or &o%'3
,is words seemed to stri$e the !irl harder than an& blow she had ta$en that a"ternoon'
1*s &o% will, ;o%r 8race'3 Brienne sat, e&es downcast' Benl& too$ +atel&ns arm and
led her "rom the hall, past a slo%chin! !%ardsman who strai!htened so h%rriedl& that he
near dropped his spear' Benl& clapped the man on the sho%lder and made a 9est o" it'
1This wa&, m& lad&'3 The $in! too$ her thro%!h a low door into a stair tower' *s the&
started %p, he said, 14erchance, is Ser Barristan Selm& with &o%r son at Bierr%n.3
1No,3 she answered, p%??led' 1Is he no lon!er with Co""re&. ,e was the 7ord
+ommander o" the 6in!s!%ard'3
Benl& shoo$ his head' 1The 7annisters told him he was too old and !ae his cloa$ to
the ,o%nd' Im told he le"t 6in!s 7andin! owin! to ta$e %p serice with the tr%e $in!'
That cloa$ Brienne claimed toda& was the one I was $eepin! "or Selm&, in hopes that he
mi!ht o""er me his sword' (hen he did not t%rn %p at ,i!h!arden, I tho%!ht perhaps he
had !one to Bierr%n instead'3
1(e hae not seen him'
1,e was old, &es, b%t a !ood man still' I hope he has not come to harm' The 7annisters
are !reat "ools'3 The& climbed a "ew more steps' 1/n the ni!ht o" Boberts death, I
o""ered &o%r h%sband a h%ndred swords and %r!ed him to ta$e Co""re& into his power'
,ad he listened, he wo%ld be re!ent toda&, and there wo%ld hae been no need "or me to
claim the throne'3
1Ned re"%sed &o%'3 She did not hae to be told'
1,e had sworn to protect Boberts children,3 Benl& said' 1I lac$ed the stren!th to act
alone, so when 7ord 5ddard t%rned me awa&, I had no choice b%t to "lee' ,ad I sta&ed, I
$new the )%een wo%ld see to it that I did not lon! o%tlie m& brother'3
,ad &o% sta&ed, and lent &o%r s%pport to Ned, he mi!ht still be alie, +atel&n tho%!ht
bitterl&'
1I li$ed &o%r h%sband well eno%!h, m& lad&' ,e was a lo&al "riend to Bobert, I $now ' '
' b%t he wo%ld not listen and he wo%ld not bend' ,ere, I wish to show &o% somethin!'3
The& had reached the top o" the stairwell' Benl& p%shed open a wooden door, and the&
stepped o%t onto the roo"'
7ord +aswells $eep was scarcel& tall eno%!h to call a tower, b%t the co%ntr& was low
and "lat and +atel&n co%ld see "or lea!%es in all directions' (hereer she loo$ed, she
saw "ires' The& coered the earth li$e "allen stars, and li$e the stars there was no end to
them' 1+o%nt them i" &o% li$e, m& lad&,3 Benl& said )%ietl&' 1;o% will still be co%ntin!
when dawn brea$s in the east' ,ow man& "ires b%rn aro%nd Bierr%n toni!ht, I
wonder.3
+atel&n co%ld hear "aint m%sic dri"tin! "rom the 8reat ,all, seepin! o%t into the ni!ht'
She dare not co%nt the stars'
1Im told &o%r son crossed the Nec$ with twent& tho%sand swords at his bac$,3 Benl&
went on' 1Now that the lords o" the Trident are with him, perhaps he commands "ort&
tho%sand'3
No, she tho%!ht, not near so man&, we hae lost men in battle, and others to the
harest'
1I hae twice that n%mber here,3 Benl& said, 1and this is onl& part o" m& stren!th'
2ace T&rell remains at ,i!h!arden with another ten tho%sand, I hae a stron! !arrison
holdin! Storms 5nd, and soon eno%!h the #ornishmen will 9oin me with all their power'
*nd neer "or!et m& brother Stannis, who holds #ra!onstone and commands the lords
o" the narrow sea'3
1It wo%ld seem that &o% are the one who has "or!otten Stannis,3 +atel&n said, more
sharpl& than shed intended'
1,is claim, &o% mean.3 Benl& la%!hed' 17et %s be bl%nt, m& lad&' Stannis wo%ld ma$e
an appallin! $in!' Nor is he li$e to become one' 2en respect Stannis, een "ear him, b%t
precio%s "ew hae eer loed him'3
1,e is still &o%r elder brother' I" either o" &o% can be said to hae a ri!ht to the Iron
Throne, it m%st be 7ord Stannis'3
Benl& shr%!!ed' 1Tell me, what ri!ht did m& brother Bobert eer hae to the Iron
Throne.3 ,e did not wait "or an answer' 1/h, there was tal$ o" the blood ties between
Baratheon and Tar!ar&en, o" weddin!s a h%ndred &ears past, o" second sons and elder
da%!hters' No one b%t the maesters care abo%t an& o" it' Bobert won the throne with his
warhammer'3 ,e swept a hand across the camp"ires that b%rned "rom hori?on to hori?on'
1(ell, there is m& claim, as !ood as Boberts eer was' I" &o%r son s%pports me as his
"ather s%pported Bobert, hell not "ind me %n!enero%s' I will !ladl& con"irm him in all
his lands, titles, and honors' ,e can r%le in (inter"ell as he pleases' ,e can een !o on
callin! himsel" 6in! in the North i" he li$es, so lon! as he bends the $nee and does me
homa!e as his oerlord' 6in! is onl& a word, b%t "ealt&, lo&alt&, serice ' ' ' those I m%st
hae'3
1*nd i" he will not !ie them to &o%, m& lord.3
1I mean to be $in!, m& lad&, and not o" a bro$en $in!dom' I cannot sa& it plainer than
that' Three h%ndred &ears a!o, a Star$ $in! $nelt to *e!on the #ra!on, when he saw he
co%ld not hope to preail' That was wisdom' ;o%r son m%st be wise as well' /nce he
9oins me, this war is !ood as done' (eA3 Benl& bro$e o"" s%ddenl&, distracted' 1(hats
this now.3
The rattle o" chains heralded the raisin! o" the portc%llis' #own in the &ard below, a
rider in a win!ed helm %r!ed his well-lathered horse %nder the spi$es' 1S%mmon the
$in!@3 he called'
Benl& a%lted %p into a crenel' 1Im here, ser'3
1;o%r 8race'3 The rider sp%rred his mo%nt closer' 1I came swi"t as I co%ld' =rom
Storms 5nd' (e are besie!ed, ;o%r 8race, Ser +ortna& de"ies them, b%t ' ' '3
1B%t ' ' ' thats not possible' I wo%ld hae been told i" 7ord T&win le"t ,arrenhal'3
1These are no 7annisters, m& lie!e' Its 7ord Stannis at &o%r !ates' 6in! Stannis, he
calls himsel" now'3
C#APT"R &(
-O'
* blowin! rain lashed at Cons "ace as he sp%rred his horse across the swollen stream'
Beside him, 7ord +ommander 2ormont !ae the hood o" his cloa$ a t%!, m%tterin!
c%rses on the weather' ,is raen sat on his sho%lder, "eathers r%""led, as soa$ed and
!r%mp& as the /ld Bear himsel"' * !%st o" wind sent wet leaes "lappin! ro%nd them
li$e a "loc$ o" dead birds' The ha%nted "orest, Con tho%!ht r%e"%ll&' The drowned "orest,
more li$e it'
,e hoped Sam was holdin! %p, bac$ down the col%mn' ,e was not a !ood rider een
in "air weather, and si0 da&s o" rain had made the !ro%nd treachero%s, all so"t m%d and
hidden roc$s' (hen the wind blew, it droe the water ri!ht into their e&es' The (all
wo%ld be "lowin! o"" to the so%th, the meltin! ice min!lin! with warm rain to wash
down in sheets and riers' 4&p and Toad wo%ld be sittin! near the "ire in the common
room, drin$in! c%ps o" m%lled wine be"ore their s%pper' Con enied them' ,is wet wool
cl%n! to him sodden and itchin!, his nec$ and sho%lders ached "iercel& "rom the wei!ht
o" mail and sword, and he was sic$ o" salt cod, salt bee", and hard cheese'
<p ahead a h%ntin! horn so%nded a )%aerin! note, hal" drowned beneath the constant
patter o" the rain' 1B%c$wells horn,3 the /ld Bear anno%nced' 1The !ods are !ood:
+rasters still there'3 ,is raen !ae a sin!le "lap o" his bi! win!s, croa$ed 1+orn,3 and
r%""led his "eathers %p a!ain'
Con had o"ten heard the blac$ brothers tell tales o" +raster and his $eep' Now he wo%ld
see it with his own e&es' *"ter seen empt& illa!es, the& had all come to dread "indin!
+rasters as dead and desolate as the rest, b%t it seemed the& wo%ld be spared that'
4erhaps the /ld Bear will "inall& !et some answers, he tho%!ht' *n&wa&, well be o%t o"
the rain'
Thoren Smallwood swore that +raster was a "riend to the (atch, despite his %nsaor&
rep%tation' 1The mans hal"-mad, I wont den& it,3 hed told the /ld Bear, 1b%t &o%d be
the same i" &o%d spent &o%r li"e in this c%rsed wood' 5en so, hes neer t%rned a
ran!er awa& "rom his "ire, nor does he loe 2ance Ba&der' ,ell !ie %s !ood co%nsel'3
So lon! as he !ies %s a hot meal and a chance to dr& o%r clothes, Ill be happ&' #&wen
said +raster was a $insla&er, liar, raper, and craen, and hinted that he tra""ic$ed with
slaers and demons' 1*nd worse,3 the old "orester wo%ld add, clac$in! his wooden
teeth' 1Theres a cold smell to that one, there is'3
1Con,3 7ord 2ormont commanded, 1ride bac$ alon! the col%mn and spread the word'
*nd remind the o""icers that I want no tro%ble abo%t +rasters wies' The men are to
mind their hands and spea$ to these women as little as need be'3
1*&e, m& lord'3 Con t%rned his horse bac$ the wa& the&d come' It was pleasant to
hae the rain o%t o" his "ace, i" onl& "or a little while' 5er&one he passed seemed to be
weepin!' The march was str%n! o%t thro%!h hal" a mile o" woods' In the midst o" the
ba!!a!e train, Con passed Samwell Tarl&, sl%mped in his saddle %nder a wide "lopp& hat'
,e was ridin! one dra& horse and leadin! the others' The dr%mmin! o" the rain a!ainst
the hoods o" their ca!es had the raens s)%aw$in! and "l%tterin!' 1;o% p%t a "o0 in with
them.3 Con called o%t'
(ater ran o"" the brim o" Sams hat as he li"ted his head' 1/h, h%llo, Con' No, the& 9%st
hate the rain, the same as %s'3
1,ow are &o% "arin!, Sam.3
1(etl&'3 The "at bo& mana!ed a smile' 1Nothin! has $illed me &et, tho%!h'3
18ood' +rasters 6eep is 9%st ahead' I" the !ods are !ood, hell let %s sleep b& his "ire'3
Sam loo$ed d%bio%s' 1#oloro%s 5dd sa&s +rasters a terrible saa!e' ,e marries his
da%!hters and obe&s no laws b%t those he ma$es himsel"' *nd #&wen told 8renn hes
!ot blac$ blood in his eins' ,is mother was a wildlin! woman who la& with a ran!er, so
hes a bas ' ' '3 S%ddenl& he reali?ed what he was abo%t to sa&'
1* bastard,3 Con said with a la%!h' 1;o% can sa& it, Sam' Ie heard the word be"ore'3
,e p%t the sp%rs to his s%re"ooted little !arron' 1I need to h%nt down Ser /tt&n' Be
care"%l aro%nd +rasters women'3 *s i" Samwell Tarl& needed warnin! on that score'
1(ell tal$ later, a"ter wee made camp'3
Con carried the word bac$ to Ser /tt&n (&thers, ploddin! alon! with the rear !%ard' *
small pr%ne-"aced man o" an a!e with 2ormont, Ser /tt&n alwa&s loo$ed tired, een at
+astle Blac$, and the rain had beaten him down %nmerci"%ll&' 1(elcome tidin!s,3 he
said' 1This wet has soa$ed m& bones, and een m& saddle sores complain o" saddle
sores'3
/n his wa& bac$, Con sw%n! wide o" the col%mns line o" march and too$ a shorter
path thro%!h the thic$ o" the wood' The so%nds o" man and horse diminished, swallowed
%p b& the wet !reen wild, and soon eno%!h he co%ld hear onl& the stead& wash o" rain
a!ainst lea" and tree and roc$' It was mida"ternoon, &et the "orest seemed as dar$ as
d%s$' Con woe a path between roc$s and p%ddles, past !reat oa$s, !re&-!reen sentinels,
and blac$-bar$ed ironwoods' In places the branches woe a canop& oerhead and he was
!ien a moments respite "rom the dr%mmin! o" the rain a!ainst his head' *s he rode
past a li!htnin!-blasted chestn%t tree oer!rown with wild white roses, he heard
somethin! r%stlin! in the %nderbr%sh' 18host,3 he called o%t' 18host, to me'3
B%t it was #&wen who emer!ed "rom the !reener&, "or$in! a sha!!& !re& !arron with
8renn ahorse beside him' The /ld Bear had deplo&ed o%triders to either side o" the main
col%mn, to screen their march and warn o" the approach o" an& enemies, and een there
he too$ no chances, sendin! the men o%t in pairs'
1*h, its &o%, 7ord Snow'3 #&wen smiled an oa$en smile: his teeth were cared o"
wood, and "it badl&' 1Tho%!ht me and the bo& had %s one o them /thers to deal with'
7ose &o%r wol".3
1,es o"" h%ntin!'3 8host did not li$e to trael with the col%mn, b%t he wo%ld not be
"ar' (hen the& made camp "or the ni!ht, hed "ind his wa& to Con at the 7ord
+ommanders tent'
1=ishin!, Id call it, in this wet,3 #&wen said'
12& mother alwa&s said rain was !ood "or !rowin! crops,3 8renn p%t in hope"%ll&'
1*&e, a !ood crop o" mildew,3 #&wen said' 1The best thin! abo%t a rain li$e this, it
saes a man "rom ta$in! baths'3 ,e made a clac$in! so%nd on his wooden teeth'
1B%c$wells "o%nd +raster,3 Con told them'
1,ad he lost him.3 #&wen ch%c$led' 1See that &o% &o%n! b%c$s dont !o nosin! abo%t
+rasters wies, &o% hear.3
Con smiled' 1(ant them all "or &o%rsel", #&wen.3
#&wen clac$ed his teeth some more' 12i!ht be I do' +rasters !ot ten "in!ers and one
coc$, so he dont co%nt b%t to eleen' ,ed neer miss a co%ple'3
1,ow man& wies does he hae, tr%l&.3 8renn as$ed'
12oren &o% eer will, brother' (ell, its not so hard when &o% breed &o%r own'
Theres &o%r beast, Snow'3
8host was trottin! alon! beside Cons horse with tail held hi!h, his white "%r r%""ed %p
thic$ a!ainst the rain' ,e moed so silentl& Con co%ld not hae said 9%st when he
appeared' 8renns mo%nt shied at the scent o" him: een now, a"ter more than a &ear, the
horses were %neas& in the presence o" the direwol"' 1(ith me, 8host'3 Con sp%rred o"" to
+rasters 6eep'
,e had neer tho%!ht to "ind a stone castle on the "ar side o" the (all, b%t he had
pict%red some sort o" motte-and-baile& with a wooden palisade and a timber tower $eep'
(hat the& "o%nd instead was a midden heap, a pi!st&, an empt& sheep"old, and a
windowless da%b-and-wattle hall scarce worth& o" the name' It was lon! and low,
chin$ed to!ether "rom lo!s and roo"ed with sod' The compo%nd stood atop a rise too
modest to name a hill, s%rro%nded b& an earthen di$e' Brown ri%lets "lowed down the
slope where the rain had eaten !apin! holes in the de"enses, to 9oin a r%shin! broo$ that
c%red aro%nd to the north, its thic$ waters t%rned into a m%r$& torrent b& the rains'
/n the so%thwest, he "o%nd an open !ate "lan$ed b& a pair o" animal s$%lls on hi!h
poles: a bear to one side, a ram to the other' Bits o" "lesh still cl%n! to the bear s$%ll, Con
noted as he 9oined the line ridin! past' (ithin, Carmen B%c$wells sco%ts and men "rom
Thoren Smallwoods an were settin! %p horse lines and str%!!lin! to raise tents' * host
o" pi!lets rooted abo%t three h%!e sows in the st&' Nearb&, a small !irl p%lled carrots
"rom a !arden, na$ed in the rain, while two women tied a pi! "or sla%!hter' The animals
s)%eals were hi!h and horrible, almost h%man in their distress' +hetts ho%nds bar$ed
wildl& in answer, snarlin! and snappin! despite his c%rses, with a pair o" +rasters do!s
bar$in! bac$' (hen the& saw 8host, some o" the do!s bro$e o"" and ran, while others
be!an to ba& and !rowl' The direwol" i!nored them, as did Con'
(ell, thirt& o" %s will be warm and dr&, Con tho%!ht once hed !otten a !ood loo$ at
the hall' 4erhaps as man& as "i"t&' The place was m%ch too small to sleep two h%ndred
men, so most wo%ld need to remain o%tside' *nd where to p%t them. The rain had t%rned
hal" the compo%nd &ard to an$le-deep p%ddles and the rest to s%c$in! m%d' *nother
dismal ni!ht was in prospect'
The 7ord +ommander had entr%sted his mo%nt to #oloro%s 5dd' ,e was cleanin! m%d
o%t o" the horses hooes as Con dismo%nted' 17ord 2ormonts in the hall,3 he
anno%nced' 1,e said "or &o% to 9oin him' Best leae the wol" o%tside, he loo$s h%n!r&
eno%!h to eat one o" +rasters children' (ell, tr%th be told, Im h%n!r& eno%!h to eat
one o" +rasters children, so lon! as he was sered hot' 8o on, Ill see to &o%r horse' I"
its warm and dr& inside, dont tell me, I wasnt as$ed in'3 ,e "lic$ed a !lob o" wet m%d
o%t "rom %nder a horseshoe' 1#oes this m%d loo$ li$e shit to &o%. +o%ld it be that this
whole hill is made o" +rasters shit.3
Con smiled' 1(ell, I hear hes been here a lon! time,3
1;o% cheer me not' 8o see the /ld Bear'3
18host, sta&,3 he commanded' The door to +rasters 6eep was made o" two "laps o"
deerhide' Con shoed between them, stoopin! to pass %nder the low lintel' Two do?en o"
the chie" ran!ers had preceded him, and were standin! aro%nd the "irepit in the center o"
the dirt "loor while p%ddles collected abo%t their boots' The hall stan$ o" soot, d%n!, and
wet do!' The air was hea& with smo$e, &et somehow still damp' Bain lea$ed thro%!h
the smo$e hole in the roo"' It was all a sin!le room, with a sleepin! lo"t aboe reached
b& a pair o" splinter& ladders'
Con remembered how hed "elt the da& the& had le"t the (all: nero%s as a maiden, b%t
ea!er to !limpse the m&steries and wonders be&ond each new hori?on' (ell, heres one
o" the wonders, he told himsel", !a?in! abo%t the s)%alid, "o%l-smellin! hall' The acrid
smo$e was ma$in! his e&es water' * pit& that 4&p and Toad cant see all the&re missin!'
+raster sat aboe the "ire, the onl& man to en9o& his own chair' 5en 7ord +ommander
2ormont m%st seat himsel" on the common bench, with his raen m%tterin! on his
sho%lder' Carman B%c$well stood behind, drippin! "rom patched mail and shin& wet
leather, beside Thoren Smallwood in the late Ser Carem&s hea& breastplate and sable-
trimmed cloa$'
+rasters sheeps$in 9er$in and cloa$ o" sewn s$ins made a shabb& contrast, b%t aro%nd
one thic$ wrist was a hea& rin! that had the !lint o" !old' ,e loo$ed to be a power"%l
man, tho%!h well into the winter o" his da&s now, his mane o" hair !re& !oin! to white'
* "lat nose and a droopin! mo%th !ae him a cr%el loo$, and one o" his ears was
missin!' So this is a wildlin!' Con remembered /ld Nans tales o" the saa!e "ol$ who
dran$ blood "rom h%man s$%lls' +raster seemed to be drin$in! a thin &ellow beer "rom a
chipped stone c%p' 4erhaps he had not heard the stories'
1Ie not seen Ben9en Star$ "or three &ears,3 he was tellin! 2ormont' 1*nd i" tr%th be
told, I neer once missed him'3 * hal"-do?en blac$ p%ppies and the odd pi! or two
s$%l$ed amon! the benches, while women in ra!!ed deers$ins passed horns o" beer,
stirred the "ire, and chopped carrots and onions into a $ettle'
1,e o%!ht to hae passed here last &ear,3 said Thoren Smallwood' * do! came sni""in!
ro%nd his le!' ,e $ic$ed it and sent it o"" &ippin!'
7ord 2ormont said, 1Ben was searchin! "or Ser (a&mar Bo&ce, whod anished with
8ared and &o%n! (ill'3
1*&e, those three I recall' The lordlin! no older than one o" these p%ps' Too pro%d to
sleep %nder m& roo", him in his sable cloa$ and blac$ steel' 2& wies !ie him bi! cow
e&es all the same'3 ,e t%rned his s)%int on the nearest o" the women' 18ared sa&s the&
were chasin! raiders' I told him, with a commander that !reen, best not catch Dem' 8ared
wasnt hal"-bad, "or a crow' ,ad less ears than me, that one' The Dbite too$ Dem, same as
mine'3 +raster la%!hed' 1Now I hear he !ot no head neither' The Dbite do that too.3
Con remembered a spra& o" red blood on white snow, and the wa& Theon 8re&9o& had
$ic$ed the dead mans head' The man was a deserter' /n the wa& bac$ to (inter"ell, Con
and Bobb had raced, and "o%nd si0 direwol" p%ps in the snow' * tho%sand &ears a!o'
1(hen Ser (a&mar le"t &o%, where was he bo%nd.3
+raster !ae a shr%!' 1,appens I hae better thin!s to do than tend to the comin!s and
!oin!s o" crows'3 ,e dran$ a p%ll o" beer and set the c%p aside' 1,ad no !ood so%thron
wine %p here "or a bears ni!ht' I co%ld %se me some wine, and a new a0e' 2ines lost its
bite, cant hae that, I !ot me women to protect'3 ,e !a?ed aro%nd at his sc%rr&in!
wies'
1;o% are "ew here, and isolated,3 2ormont said' 1I" &o% li$e, Ill detail some men to
escort &o% so%th to the (all'3
The raen seemed to li$e the notion' 1(all,3 it screamed, spreadin! blac$ win!s li$e a
hi!h collar behind 2ormonts head'
Their host !ae a nast& smile, showin! a mo%th"%l o" bro$en brown teeth' 1*nd what
wo%ld we do there, sere &o% at s%pper. (ere "ree "ol$ here' +raster seres no man'3
1These are bad times to dwell alone in the wild' The cold winds are risin!'3
17et them rise' 2& roots are s%n$ deep'3 +raster !rabbed a passin! woman b& the
wrist' 1Tell him, wi"e' Tell the 7ord +row how well content we are'3
The woman lic$ed at thin lips' 1This is o%r place' +raster $eeps %s sa"e' Better to die
"ree than lie a slae'3
1Slae,3 m%ttered the raen'
2ormont leaned "orward' 15er& illa!e we hae passed has been abandoned' ;o%rs
are the "irst liin! "aces wee seen since we le"t the (all' The people are !one ' ' '
whether dead, "led, or ta$en, I co%ld not sa&' The animals as well' Nothin! is le"t' *nd
earlier, we "o%nd the bodies o" two o" Ben Star$s ran!ers onl& a "ew lea!%es "rom the
(all' The& were pale and cold, with blac$ hands and blac$ "eet and wo%nds that did not
bleed' ;et when we too$ them bac$ to +astle Blac$ the& rose in the ni!ht and $illed'
/ne slew Ser Carem& B&$$er and the other came "or me, which tells me that the&
remember some o" what the& $new when the& lied, b%t there was no h%man merc& le"t
in them'3
The womans mo%th h%n! open, a wet pin$ cae, b%t +raster onl& !ae a snort'
1(ee had no s%ch tro%bles here ' ' ' and Ill than$ &o% not to tell s%ch eil tales %nder
m& roo"' Im a !odl& man, and the !ods $eep me sa"e' I" wi!hts come wal$in!, Ill $now
how to send them bac$ to their !raes' Tho%!h I co%ld %se me a sharp new a0e'3 ,e sent
his wi"e sc%rr&in! with a slap on her le! and a sho%t o" 12ore beer, and be )%ic$ abo%t
it'3
1No tro%ble "rom the dead,3 Carmen B%c$well said, 1b%t what o" the liin!, m& lord.
(hat o" &o%r $in!.3
16in!@3 cried 2ormonts raen' 16in!, $in!, $in!'3
1That 2ance Ba&der.3 +raster spit into the "ire' 16in!-be&ond-the-(all' (hat do "ree
"ol$ want with $in!s.3 ,e t%rned his s)%int on 2ormont' 1Theres m%ch I co%ld tell &o%
o Ba&der and his doin!s, i" I had a mind' This o the empt& illa!es, thats his wor$'
;o% wo%ld hae "o%nd this hall abandoned as well, i" I were a man to scrape to s%ch' ,e
sends a rider, tells me I m%st leae m& own $eep to come !roel at his "eet' I sent the
man bac$, b%t $ept his ton!%e' Its nailed to that wall there'3 ,e pointed' 12i!ht be that
I co%ld tell &o% where to see$ 2ance Ba&der' I" I had a mind'3 The brown smile a!ain'
1B%t well hae time eno%!h "or that' ;o%ll be wantin! to sleep beneath m& roo",
beli$e, and eat me o%t o" pi!s'3
1* roo" wo%ld be most welcome, m& lord,3 2ormont said' 1(ee had hard ridin!,
and too m%ch wet'3
1Then &o%ll !%est here "or a ni!ht' No lon!er, Im not that "ond o crows' The lo"ts
"or me and mine, b%t &o%ll hae all the "loor &o% li$e' Ie meat and beer "or twent&, no
more' The rest o &o%r blac$ crows can pec$ a"ter their own corn'3
1(ee pac$ed in o%r own s%pplies, m& lord,3 said the /ld Bear' 1(e sho%ld be
pleased to share o%r "ood and wine'3
+raster wiped his droopin! mo%th with the bac$ o" a hair& hand' 1Ill taste &o%r wine,
7ord +row, that I will' /ne more thin!' *n& man la&s a hand on m& wies, he loses the
hand'3
1;o%r roo", &o%r r%le,3 said Thoren Smallwood, and 7ord 2ormont nodded sti""l&,
tho%!h he loo$ed none too pleased'
1Thats settled, then'3 +raster !r%d!ed them a !r%nt' 1#&a hae a man can draw a
map.3
1Sam Tarl& can'3 Con p%shed "orward' 1Sam loes maps'3
2ormont bec$oned him closer' 1Send him here a"ter hes eaten' ,ae him brin! )%ill
and parchment' *nd "ind Tollett as well' Tell him to brin! m& a0e' * !%est !i"t "or o%r
host'3
1(hos this one now.3 +raster said be"ore Con co%ld !o' 1,e has the loo$ o" a Star$'3
12& steward and s)%ire, Con Snow'3
1* bastard, is it.3 +raster loo$ed Con %p and down' 12an wants to bed a woman,
seems li$e he o%!ht to ta$e her to wi"e' Thats what I do'3 ,e shooed Con o"" with a
wae' 1(ell, r%n and do &o%r serice, bastard, and see that a0e is !ood and sharp now,
Ie no %se "or d%ll steel'3
Con Snow bowed sti""l& and too$ his leae' Ser /tt&n (&thers was comin! in as he
was leain!, and the& almost collided at the deerhide door' /%tside, the rain seemed to
hae slac$ened' Tents had !one %p all oer the compo%nd' Con co%ld see the tops o"
others %nder the trees'
#oloro%s 5dd was "eedin! the horses' 18ie the wildlin! an a0e, wh& not.3 ,e
pointed o%t 2ormonts weapon, a shortha"ted battle-a0e with !old scrollwor$ inlaid on
the blac$ steel blade' 1,ell !ie it bac$, I ow' B%ried in the /ld Bears s$%ll, li$e as
not' (h& not !ie him all o%r a0es, and o%r swords as well. I misli$e the wa& the& clan$
and rattle as we ride' (ed trael "aster witho%t them, strai!ht to hells door' #oes it rain
in hell, I wonder. 4erhaps +raster wo%ld li$e a nice hat instead'3
Con smiled' 1,e wants an a0e' *nd wine as well'3
1See, the /ld Bears cleer' I" we !et the wildlin! well and tr%l& dr%n$, perhaps hell
onl& c%t o"" an ear when he tries to sla& %s with that a0e' I hae two ears b%t onl& one
head'3
1Smallwood sa&s +raster is a "riend to the (atch'3
1#o &o% $now the di""erence between a wildlin! whos a "riend to the (atch and one
whos not.3 as$ed the do%r s)%ire' 1/%r enemies leae o%r bodies "or the crows and the
woles' /%r "riends b%r& %s in secret !raes' I wonder how lon! that bears been nailed
%p on that !ate, and what +raster had there be"ore we came hallooin!.3 5dd loo$ed at
the a0e do%bt"%ll&, the rain r%nnin! down his lon! "ace' 1Is it dr& in there.3
1#rier than o%t here'3
1I" I l%r$ abo%t a"ter, not too close to the "ire, beli$e the&ll ta$e no note o" me till
morn' The ones %nder his roo" will be the "irst he m%rders, b%t at least well die dr&'3
Con had to la%!h' 1+rasters one man' (ere two h%ndred' I do%bt hell m%rder
an&one'3
1;o% cheer me,3 said 5dd, so%ndin! %tterl& morose' 1*nd besides, theres m%ch to be
said "or a !ood sharp a0e' Id hate to be m%rdered with a ma%l' I saw a man hit in the
brow with a ma%l once' Scarce split the s$in at all, b%t his head t%rned m%sh& and
swelled %p bi! as a !o%rd, onl& p%rpl&-red' * comel& man, b%t he died %!l&' Its !ood
that were not !iin! them ma%ls'3 5dd wal$ed awa& sha$in! his head, his sodden blac$
cloa$ sheddin! rain behind him'
Con !ot the horses "ed be"ore he stopped to thin$ o" his own s%pper' ,e was wonderin!
where to "ind Sam when he heard a sho%t o" "ear' 1(ol"@3 ,e sprinted aro%nd the hall
toward the cr&, the earth s%c$in! at his boots' /ne o" +rasters women was bac$ed %p
a!ainst the m%d-spattered wall o" the $eep' 16eep awa&,3 she was sho%tin! at 8host'
1;o% $eep awa&@3 The direwol" had a rabbit in his mo%th and another dead and blood&
on the !ro%nd be"ore him' 18et it awa&, mlord,3 she pleaded when she saw him'
1,e wont h%rt &o%'3 ,e $new at once what had happened: a wooden h%tch, its slats
shattered, la& on its side in the wet !rass' 1,e m%st hae been h%n!r&' (e haent seen
m%ch !ame'3 Con whistled' The direwol" bolted down the rabbit, cr%nchin! the small
bones between his teeth, and padded oer to him'
The woman re!arded them with nero%s e&es' She was &o%n!er than hed tho%!ht at
"irst' * !irl o" "i"teen or si0teen &ears, he 9%d!ed, dar$ hair plastered across a !a%nt "ace
b& the "allin! rain, her bare "eet m%dd& to the an$les' The bod& %nder the sewn s$ins
was showin! in the earl& t%rns o" pre!nanc&' 1*re &o% one o" +rasters da%!hters.3 he
as$ed'
She p%t a hand oer her bell&' 1(i"e now'3 5d!in! awa& "rom the wol", she $nelt
mo%rn"%ll& beside the bro$en h%tch' 1I was !oin! to breed them rabbits' Theres no
sheep le"t'3
1The (atch will ma$e !ood "or them'3 Con had no coin o" his own, or he wo%ld hae
o""ered it to her ' ' ' tho%!h he was not s%re what !ood a "ew coppers or een a siler
piece wo%ld do her be&ond the (all' 1Ill spea$ to 7ord 2ormont on the morrow'3
She wiped her hands on her s$irt' 12lordA3
1Im no lord'3
B%t others had come crowdin! ro%nd, drawn b& the womans scream and the crash o"
the rabbit h%tch' 1#ont &o% beliee him, !irl,3 called o%t 7ar$ the Sisterman, a ran!er
mean as a c%r' 1Thats 7ord Snow himsel"'3
1Bastard o" (inter"ell and brother to $in!s,3 moc$ed +hett, whod le"t his ho%nds to
see what the commotion was abo%t'
1That wol"s loo$in! at &o% h%n!r&, !irl,3 7ar$ said' 12i!ht be it "ancies that tender
bit in &o%r bell&'3
Con was not am%sed' 1;o%re scarin! her'3
1(arnin! her, more li$e'3 +hetts !rin was as %!l& as the boils that coered most o" his
"ace'
1(ere not to tal$ to &o%,3 the !irl remembered s%ddenl&'
1(ait,3 Con said, too late' She bolted, ran'
7ar$ made a !rab "or the second rabbit, b%t 8host was )%ic$er' (hen he bared his
teeth, the Sisterman slipped in the m%d and went down on his bon& b%tt' The others
la%!hed' The direwol" too$ the rabbit in his mo%th and bro%!ht it to Con'
1There was no call to scare the !irl,3 he told them'
1(ell hear no scolds "rom &o%, bastard'3 +hett blamed Con "or the loss o" his
com"ortable position with 2aester *emon, and not witho%t 9%stice' I" he had not !one to
*emon abo%t Sam Tarl&, +hett wo%ld still be tendin! an old blind man instead o" a pac$
o" ill-tempered h%ntin! ho%nds' 1;o% ma& be the 7ord +ommanders pet, b%t &o%re not
the 7ord +ommander ' ' ' and &o% wo%ldnt tal$ so blood& bold witho%t that monster o"
&o%rs alwa&s abo%t'3
1Ill not "i!ht a brother while were be&ond the (all,3 Con answered, his oice cooler
than he "elt'
7ar$ !ot to one $nee' 1,es a"raid o" &o%, +hett' /n the Sisters, we hae a name "or
them li$e him'3
1I $now all the names' Sae &o%r breath'3 ,e wal$ed awa&, 8host at his side' The rain
had dwindled to a thin dri??le b& the time he reached the !ate' #%s$ wo%ld be on them
soon, "ollowed b& another wet dar$ dismal ni!ht' The clo%ds wo%ld hide moon and stars
and 2ormonts Torch, t%rnin! the woods blac$ as pitch' 5er& piss wo%ld be an
adent%re, i" not )%ite o" the sort Con Snow had once enisioned'
/%t %nder the trees, some ran!ers had "o%nd eno%!h d%"" and dr& wood to start a "ire
beneath a slantin! rid!e o" slate' /thers had raised tents or made r%de shelters b&
stretchin! their cloa$s oer low branches' 8iant had crammed himsel" inside the hollow
o" a dead oa$' 1,ow d&e li$e m& castle, 7ord Snow.3
1It loo$s sn%!' ;o% $now where Sam is.3
16eep on the wa& &o% were' I" &o% come on Ser /tt&ns pailion, &o%e !one too
"ar'3 8iant smiled' 1<nless Sams "o%nd him a tree too' (hat a tree that wo%ld be'3
It was 8host who "o%nd Sam in the end' The direwol" shot ahead li$e a )%arrel "rom a
crossbow' <nder an o%tcrop o" roc$ that !ae some small de!ree o" shelter "rom the
rain, Sam was "eedin! the raens' ,is boots s)%ished when he moed' 12& "eet are
soa$ed thro%!h,3 he admitted miserabl&' 1(hen I climbed o"" m& horse, I stepped in a
hole and went in %p to m& $nees'3
1Ta$e o"" &o%r boots and dr& &o%r stoc$in!s' Ill "ind some dr& wood' I" the !ro%nds
not wet %nder the roc$, we mi!ht be able to !et a "ire b%rnin!'3 Con showed Sam the
rabbit' 1*nd well "east'3
1(ont &o% be attendin! 7ord 2ormont in the hall.3
1No, b%t &o% will' The /ld Bear wants &o% to map "or him' +raster sa&s hell "ind
2ance Ba&der "or %s'3
1/h'3 Sam did not loo$ an0io%s to meet +raster, een i" it meant a warm "ire'
1,e said eat "irst, tho%!h' #r& &o%r "eet'3 Con went to !ather "%el, di!!in! down %nder
dead"alls "or the drier wood beneath and peelin! bac$ la&ers o" sodden pine needles %ntil
he "o%nd li$el& $indlin!' 5en then, it seemed to ta$e "oreer "or a spar$ to catch' ,e
h%n! his cloa$ "rom the roc$ to $eep the rain o"" his smo$& little "ire, ma$in! them a
small sn%! alcoe'
*s he $nelt to s$in the rabbit, Sam p%lled o"" his boots' 1I thin$ theres moss !rowin!
between m& toes,3 he declared mo%rn"%ll&, wri!!lin! the toes in )%estion' 1The rabbit
will taste !ood' I dont een mind abo%t the blood and all'3 ,e loo$ed awa&' 1(ell, onl&
a little ' ' '3
Con spitted the carcass, ban$ed the "ire with a pair o" roc$s, and balanced their meal
atop them' The rabbit had been a scrawn& thin!, b%t as it coo$ed it smelled li$e a $in!s
"east' /ther ran!ers !ae them enio%s loo$s' 5en 8host loo$ed %p h%n!ril&, "lames
shinin! in his red e&es as he sni""ed' 1;o% had &o%rs be"ore,3 Con reminded him'
1Is +raster as saa!e as the ran!ers sa&.3 Sam as$ed' The rabbit was a shade
%nderdone, b%t tasted wonder"%l' 1(hats his castle li$e.3
1* midden heap with a roo" and a "irepit'3 Con told Sam what he had seen and heard in
+rasters 6eep'
B& the time the tellin! was done, it was dar$ o%tside and Sam was lic$in! his "in!ers'
1That was !ood, b%t now Id li$e a le! o" lamb' * whole le!, 9%st "or me, sa%ced with
mint and hone& and cloes' #id &o% see an& lambs.3
1There was a sheep"old, b%t no sheep'3
1,ow does he "eed all his men.3
1I didnt see an& men, 9%st +raster and his women and a "ew small !irls' I wonder hes
able to hold the place' ,is de"enses were nothin! to spea$ o", onl& a m%dd& di$e' ;o%
had better !o %p to the hall and draw that map' +an &o% "ind the wa&.3
1I" I dont "all in the m%d'3 Sam str%!!led bac$ into his boots, collected )%ill and
parchment, and sho%ldered o%t into the ni!ht, the rain patterin! down on his cloa$ and
"lopp& hat'
8host laid his head on his paws and went to sleep b& the "ire' Con stretched o%t beside
him, !rate"%l "or the warmth' ,e was cold and wet, b%t not so cold and wet as hed been
a short time be"ore' 4erhaps toni!ht the /ld Bear will learn somethin! that will lead %s
to <ncle Ben9en'
,e wo$e to the si!ht o" his own breath mistin! in the cold mornin! air' (hen he
moed, his bones ached' 8host was !one, the "ire b%rnt o%t' Con reached to p%ll aside the
cloa$ hed h%n! oer the roc$, and "o%nd it sti"" and "ro?en' ,e crept beneath it and
stood %p in a "orest t%rned to cr&stal'
The pale pin$ li!ht o" dawn spar$led on branch and lea" and stone' 5er& blade o"
!rass was cared "rom emerald, eer& drip o" water t%rned to diamond' =lowers and
m%shrooms ali$e wore coats o" !lass' 5en the m%d p%ddles had a bri!ht brown sheen'
Thro%!h the shimmerin! !reener&, the blac$ tents o" his brothers were encased in a "ine
!la?e o" ice'
So there is ma!ic be&ond the (all a"ter all' ,e "o%nd himsel" thin$in! o" his sisters,
perhaps beca%se hed dreamed o" them last ni!ht' Sansa wo%ld call this an enchantment,
and tears wo%ld "ill her e&es at the wonder o" it, b%t *r&a wo%ld r%n o%t la%!hin! and
sho%tin!, wantin! to to%ch it all'
17ord Snow.3 he heard' So"t and mee$' ,e t%rned'
+ro%ched atop the roc$ that had sheltered him d%rin! the ni!ht was the rabbit $eeper,
wrapped in a blac$ cloa$ so lar!e it drowned her' Sams cloa$, Con reali?ed at once' (h&
is she wearin! Sams cloa$. 1The "at one told me Id "ind &o% here, mlord,3 she said'
1(e ate the rabbit, i" thats what &o% came "or'3 The admission made him "eel abs%rdl&
!%ilt&'
1/ld 7ord +row, him with the tal$in! bird, he !ae +raster a crossbow worth a
h%ndred rabbits'3 ,er arms closed oer the swell o" her bell&' 1Is it tr%e, mlord. *re
&o% brother to a $in!.3
1* hal" brother,3 he admitted' 1Im Ned Star$s bastard' 2& brother Bobb is the 6in!
in the North' (h& are &o% here.3
1The "at one, that Sam, he said to see &o%' ,e !ie me his cloa$, so no one wo%ld sa& I
didnt belon!'3
1(ont +raster be an!r& with &o%.3
12& "ather dran$ oerm%ch o" the 7ord +rows wine last ni!ht' ,ell sleep most o" the
da&'3 ,er breath "rosted the air in small nero%s p%""s' 1The& sa& the $in! !ies 9%stice
and protects the wea$'3 She started to climb o"" the roc$, aw$wardl&, b%t the ice had
made it slipper& and her "oot went o%t "rom %nder her' Con ca%!ht her be"ore she co%ld
"all, and helped her sa"el& down' The woman $nelt on the ic& !ro%nd' 12lord, I be!
&o%A3
1#ont be! me an&thin!' 8o bac$ to &o%r hall, &o% sho%ldnt be here' (e were
commanded not to spea$ to +rasters women'3
1;o% dont hae to spea$ with me, mlor' C%st ta$e me with &o%, when &o% !o, thats
all I as$'3
*ll she as$s, he tho%!ht' *s i" that were nothin!'
1Ill ' ' ' Ill be &o%r wi"e, i" &o% li$e' 2& "ather, hes !ot nineteen now, one less wont
h%rt him none'3
1Blac$ brothers are sworn neer to ta$e wies, dont &o% $now that. *nd were !%ests
in &o%r "athers hall besides'3
1Not &o%,3 she said' 1I watched' ;o% neer ate at his board, nor slept b& his "ire' ,e
neer !ae &o% !%est-ri!ht, so &o%re not bo%nd to him' Its "or the bab& I hae to !o'3
1I dont een $now &o%r name'3
18ill&, he called me' =or the !ill&"lower'3
1Thats prett&'3 ,e remembered Sansa tellin! him once that he sho%ld sa& that
wheneer a lad& told him her name' ,e co%ld not help the !irl, b%t perhaps the co%rtes&
wo%ld please her' 1Is it +raster who "ri!htens &o%, 8ill&.3
1=or the bab&, not "or me' I" its a !irl, thats not so bad, shell !row a "ew &ears and
hell marr& her' B%t Nella sa&s its to be a bo&, and shes had si0 and $nows these thin!s'
,e !ies the bo&s to the !ods' +ome the white cold, he does, and o" late it comes more
o"ten' Thats wh& he started !iin! them sheep, een tho%!h he has a taste "or m%tton'
/nl& now the sheeps !one too' Ne0t it will be do!s, till ' ' '3 She lowered her e&es and
stro$ed her bell&'
1(hat !ods.3 Con was rememberin! that the&d seen no bo&s in +rasters 6eep, nor
men either, sae +raster himsel"'
1The cold !ods,3 she said' 1The ones in the ni!ht' The white shadows'3
*nd s%ddenl& Con was bac$ in the 7ord +ommanders Tower a!ain' * seered hand
was climbin! his cal" and when he pried it o"" with the point o" his lon!sword, it la&
writhin!, "in!ers openin! and closin!' The dead man rose to his "eet, bl%e e&es shinin!
in that !ashed and swollen "ace' Bopes o" torn "lesh h%n! "rom the !reat wo%nd in his
bell&, &et there was no blood'
1(hat color are their e&es.3 he as$ed her'
1Bl%e' *s bri!ht as bl%e stars, and as cold'3
She has seen them, he tho%!ht' +raster lied'
1(ill &o% ta$e me. 9%st so "ar as the (allA3
1(e do not ride "or the (all' (e ride north, a"ter 2ance Ba&der and these /thers,
these white shadows and their wi!hts' (e see$ them, 8ill&' ;o%r babe wo%ld not be sa"e
with %s'3
,er "ear was plain on her "ace' 1;o% will come bac$, tho%!h' (hen &o%r warrin!s
done, &o%ll pass this wa& a!ain'3
1(e ma&'3 I" an& o" %s still lie' 1Thats "or the /ld Bear to sa&, the one &o% call the
7ord +row' Im onl& his s)%ire' I do not choose the road I ride'3
1No'3 ,e co%ld hear the de"eat in her oice' 1Sorr& to be o" tro%ble, mlord' I onl& ' ' '
the& said the $in! $eeps people sa"e, and I tho%!ht ' ' '3 #espairin!, she ran, Sams cloa$
"lappin! behind her li$e !reat blac$ win!s'
Con watched her !o, his 9o& in the mornin!s brittle bea%t& !one' #amn her, he tho%!ht
resent"%ll&, and damn Sam twice "or sendin! her to me' (hat did he thin$ I co%ld do "or
her. (ere here to "i!ht wildlin!s, not sae them'
/ther men were crawlin! "rom their shelters, &awnin! and stretchin!' The ma!ic was
alread& "aded, ic& bri!htness t%rnin! bac$ to common dew in the li!ht o" the risin! s%n'
Someone had !otten a "ire started: he co%ld smell woodsmo$e dri"tin! thro%!h the trees,
and the smo$& scent o" bacon' Con too$ down his cloa$ and snapped it a!ainst the roc$,
shatterin! the thin cr%st o" ice that had "ormed in the ni!ht, then !athered %p 7on!claw
and shr%!!ed an arm thro%!h a sho%lder strap' * "ew &ards awa& he made water into a
"ro?en b%sh, his piss steamin! in the cold air and meltin! the ice whereer it "ell'
*"terward he laced %p his blac$ wool breeches and "ollowed the smells'
8renn and #&wen were amon! the brothers who had !athered ro%nd the "ire' ,a$e
handed Con a hollow heel o" bread "illed with b%rnt bacon and ch%n$s o" salt "ish
warmed in bacon !rease' ,e wol"ed it down while listenin! to #&wen boast o" hain!
three o" +rasters women d%rin! the ni!ht'
1;o% did not,3 8renn said, scowlin!' 1I wo%ld hae seen'3
#&wen whapped him %p alon!side his ear with the bac$ o" his hand' 1;o%. Seen.
;o%re blind as 2aester *emon' ;o% neer een saw that bear'3
1(hat bear. (as there a bear.3
1Theres alwa&s a bear,3 declared #oloro%s 5dd in his %s%al tone o" !loom&
resi!nation' 1/ne $illed m& brother when I was &o%n!' *"terward it wore his teeth
aro%nd its nec$ on a leather thon!' *nd the& were !ood teeth too, better than mine' Ie
had nothin! b%t tro%ble with m& teeth'3
1#id Sam sleep in the hall last ni!ht.3 Con as$ed him'
1Id not call it sleepin!' The !ro%nd was hard, the r%shes ill-smellin!, and m& brothers
snore "ri!ht"%ll&' Spea$ o" bears i" &o% will, none eer !rowled so "ierce as Brown
Bernarr' I was warm, tho%!h' Some do!s crawled atop me d%rin! the ni!ht' 2& cloa$
was almost dr& when one o" them pissed in it' /r perhaps it was Brown Bernarr' ,ae
&o% noticed that the rain stopped the instant I had a roo" aboe me. It will start a!ain
now that Im bac$ o%t' 8ods and do!s ali$e deli!ht to piss on me'3
1Id best !o see to 7ord 2ormont,3 said Con'
The rain mi!ht hae stopped, b%t the compo%nd was still a morass o" shallow la$es and
slipper& m%d' Blac$ brothers were "oldin! their tents, "eedin! their horses, and chewin!
on strips o" salt bee"' Carman B%c$wells sco%ts were ti!htenin! the !irths on their
saddles be"ore settin! o%t' 1Con,3 B%c$well !reeted him "rom horsebac$' 16eep a !ood
ed!e on that bastard sword o" &o%rs' (ell be needin! it soon eno%!h'3
+rasters hall was dim a"ter da&li!ht' Inside, the ni!hts torches had b%rned low, and it
was hard to $now that the s%n had risen' 7ord 2ormonts raen was the "irst to sp& him
enter' Three la?& "laps o" its !reat blac$ win!s, and it perched atop 7on!claws hilt'
1+orn.3 It nipped at a strand o" Cons hair'
1I!nore that wretched be!!ar bird, Con, its 9%st had hal" m& bacon'3 The /ld Bear sat
at +rasters board, brea$in! his "ast with the other o""icers on "ried bread, bacon, and
sheep!%t sa%sa!e' +rasters new a0e was on the table its !old inla& !leamin! "aintl& in
the torchli!ht' Its owner was sprawled %nconscio%s in the sleepin! lo"t aboe, b%t the
women were all %p, moin! abo%t and serin!' 1(hat sort o" da& do we hae.3
1+old, b%t the rain has stopped'3
1>er& !ood' See that m& horse is saddled and read&' I mean "or %s to ride within the
ho%r' ,ae &o% eaten. +raster seres plain "are, b%t "illin!'3
I will not eat 8rasters "ood, he decided s%ddenl&' 1I bro$e m& "ast with the men, m&
lord'3 Con shooed the raen o"" 7on!claw' The bird hopped bac$ to 2ormonts sho%lder,
where it promptl& shat' 1;o% mi!ht hae done that on Snow instead o" sain! it "or me,3
the /ld Bear !r%mbled' The raen )%or$ed'
,e "o%nd Sam behind the hall, standin! with 8ill& at the bro$en rabbit h%tch' She was
helpin! him bac$ into his cloa$, b%t when she saw Con she stole awa&' Sam !ae him a
loo$ o" wo%nded reproach' 1I tho%!ht &o% wo%ld help her'3
1*nd how was I to do that.3 Con said sharpl&' 1Ta$e her with %s, wrapped %p in &o%r
cloa$. (e were commanded not toA3
1I $now,3 said Sam !%iltil&, 1b%t she was a"raid' I $now what it is to be a"raid' I told
her ' ' '3 ,e swallowed'
1(hat. That wed ta$e her with %s.3
Sams "at "ace bl%shed a deep red' 1/n the wa& home'3 ,e co%ld not meet Cons e&es'
1Shes !oin! to hae a bab&'3
1Sam, hae &o% ta$en leae o" all &o%r sense. (e ma& not een ret%rn this wa&' *nd i"
we do, do &o% thin$ the /ld Bear is !oin! to let &o% pac$ o"" one o" +rasters wies.3
1I tho%!ht ' ' ' ma&be b& then I co%ld thin$ o" a wa& ' ' '3
1I hae no time "or this, I hae horses to !room and saddle'3 Con wal$ed awa& as
con"%sed as he was an!r&' Sams heart was a bi! as the rest o" him, b%t "or all his
readin! he co%ld be as thic$ as 8renn at times' It was impossible, and dishonorable
besides' So wh& do I "eel so ashamed.
Con too$ his acc%stomed position at 2ormonts side as the Ni!hts (atch streamed o%t
past the s$%lls on +rasters !ate' The& str%c$ o"" north and west alon! a croo$ed !ame
trail' 2eltin! ice dripped down all abo%t them, a slower sort o" rain with its own so"t
m%sic' North o" the compo%nd, the broo$ was in "%ll spate, cho$ed with leaes and bits
o" wood, b%t the sco%ts had "o%nd where the "ord la& and the col%mn was able to splash
across' The water ran as hi!h as a horses bell&' 8host swam, emer!in! on the ban$ with
his white "%r drippin! brown' (hen he shoo$, spra&in! m%d and water in all directions,
2ormont said nothin!, b%t on his sho%lder the raen screeched'
12& lord,3 Con said )%ietl& as the wood closed in aro%nd them once more' 1+raster has
no sheep' Nor an& sons'3
2ormont made no answer'
1*t (inter"ell one o" the serin! women told %s stories,3 Con went on' 1She %sed to
sa& that there were wildlin!s who wo%ld la& with the /thers to birth hal"-h%man
children'3
1,earth tales' #oes +raster seem less than h%man to &o%.3
In hal" a h%ndred wa&s' 1,e !ies his sons to the wood'3
* lon! silence' Then: 1;es'3 *nd 1;es,3 the raen m%ttered, str%ttin!' 1;es, &es, &es'3
1;o% $new.3
1Smallwood told me' 7on! a!o' *ll the ran!ers $now, tho%!h "ew will tal$ o" it'3
1#id m& %ncle $now.3
1*ll the ran!ers,3 2ormont repeated' 1;o% thin$ I o%!ht to stop him' 6ill him i" need
be'3 The /ld Bear si!hed' 1(ere it onl& that he wished to rid himsel" o" some mo%ths,
Id !ladl& send ;oren or +onw&s to collect the bo&s' (e co%ld raise them to the blac$
and the (atch wo%ld be that m%ch the stron!er' B%t the wildlin!s sere cr%eler !ods
than &o% or I' These bo&s are +rasters o""erin!s' ,is pra&ers, i" &o% will'3
,is wies m%st o""er di""erent pra&ers, Con tho%!ht'
1,ow is it &o% came to $now this.3 the /ld Bear as$ed him' 1=rom one o" +rasters
wies.3
1;es, m& lord,3 Con con"essed' 1I wo%ld sooner not tell &o% which' She was "ri!htened
and wanted help'3
1The wide world is "%ll o" people wantin! help, Con' (o%ld that some co%ld "ind the
co%ra!e to help themseles' +raster sprawls in his lo"t een now, stin$in! o" wine and
lost to sense' /n his board below lies a sharp new a0e' (ere it me, Id name it
D*nswered 4ra&er and ma$e an end'3
;es' Con tho%!ht o" 8ill&' She and her sisters' The& were nineteen, and +raster was
one, b%t ' ' '
1;et it wo%ld be an ill da& "or %s i" +raster died' ;o%r %ncle co%ld tell &o% o" the times
+rasters 6eep made the di""erence between li"e and death "or o%r ran!ers'3
12& "ather ' ' '3 ,e hesitated'
18o on, Con' Sa& what &o% wo%ld sa&'3
12& "ather once told me that some men are not worth hain!,3 Con "inished' 1*
bannerman who is br%tal or %n9%st dishonors his lie!e lord as well as himsel"'3
1+raster is his own man' ,e has sworn %s no ows' Nor is he s%b9ect to o%r laws' ;o%r
heart is noble, Con, b%t learn a lesson here' (e cannot set the world to ri!hts' That is not
o%r p%rpose' The Ni!hts (atch has other wars to "i!ht'3
/ther wars' ;es' I m%st remember' 1Carman B%c$well said I mi!ht hae need o" m&
sword soon'3
1#id he.3 2ormont did not seem pleased' 1+raster said m%ch and more last ni!ht, and
con"irmed eno%!h o" m& "ears to condemn me to a sleepless ni!ht on his "loor' 2ance
Ba&der is !atherin! his people to!ether in the =rost"an!s' Thats wh& the illa!es are
empt&' It is the same tale that Ser #en&s 2allister had "rom the wildlin! his men
capt%red in the 8or!e, b%t +raster has added the where, and that ma$es all the
di""erence'3
1Is he ma$in! a cit&, or an arm&.3
1Now, that is the )%estion' ,ow man& wildlin!s are there. ,ow man& men o" "i!htin!
a!e. No one $nows with certaint&' The =rost"an!s are cr%el, inhospitable, a wilderness
o" stone and ice' The& will not lon! s%stain an& !reat n%mber o" people' I can see onl&
one p%rpose in this !atherin!' 2ance Ba&der means to stri$e so%th, into the Seen
6in!doms'3
1(ildlin!s hae inaded the realm be"ore'3 Con had heard the tales "rom /ld Nan and
2aester 7%win both, bac$ at (inter"ell' 1Ba&m%n Bedbeard led them so%th in the time
o" m& !rand"athers !rand"ather, and be"ore him there was a $in! named Bael the Bard'3
1*&e, and lon! be"ore them came the ,orned 7ord and the brother $in!s 8endel and
8orne, and in ancient da&s Coram%n, who blew the ,orn o" (inter and wo$e !iants "rom
the earth' 5ach man o" them bro$e his stren!th on the (all, or was bro$en b& the power
o" (inter"ell on the "ar side ' ' ' b%t the Ni!hts (atch is onl& a shadow o" what we
were, and who remains to oppose the wildlin!s besides %s. The 7ord o" (inter"ell is
dead, and his heir has marched his stren!th so%th to "i!ht the 7annisters' The wildlin!s
ma& neer a!ain hae s%ch a chance as this' I $new 2ance Ba&der, Con' ,e is an
oathbrea$er, &es ' ' ' b%t he has e&es to see, and no man has eer dared to name him
"aintheart'3
1(hat will we do.3 as$ed Con'
1=ind him,3 said 2ormont' 1=i!ht him' Stop him'3
Three h%ndred, tho%!ht Con, a!ainst the "%r& o" the wild' ,is "in!ers opened and
closed'
C#APT"R &)
T#"O'
She was %ndeniabl& a bea%t&' B%t &o%r "irst is alwa&s bea%ti"%l, Theon 8re&9o&
tho%!ht'
1Now theres a prett& !rin,3 a womans oice said behind him' 1The lordlin! li$es the
loo$ o" her, does he.3
Theon t%rned to !ie her an appraisin! !lance' ,e li$ed what he saw' Ironborn, he
$new at a !lance: lean and lon!le!!ed, with blac$ hair c%t short, wind-cha"ed s$in,
stron! s%re hands, a dir$ at her belt' ,er nose was too bi! and too sharp "or her thin "ace,
b%t her smile made %p "or it' ,e 9%d!ed her a "ew &ears older than he was, b%t no more
than "ie-and-twent&' She moed as i" she were %sed to a dec$ beneath her "eet'
1;es, shes a sweet si!ht,3 he told her, 1tho%!h not hal" so sweet as &o%'3
1/ho'3 She !rinned' 1Id best be care"%l' This lordlin! has a hone&ed ton!%e'3
1Taste it and see'3
1Is it that wa&, then.3 she said, e&ein! him boldl&' There were women on the Iron
IslandsAnot man&, b%t a "ewAwho crewed the lon!ships alon! with their men, and it
was said that salt and sea chan!ed them, !ae them a mans appetites' 1,ae &o% been
that lon! at sea, lordlin!. /r were there no women where &o% came "rom.3
1(omen eno%!h, b%t none li$e &o%'3
1*nd how wo%ld &o% $now what Im li$e.3
12& e&es can see &o%r "ace' 2& ears can hear &o%r la%!hter' *nd m& coc$s !one hard
as a mast "or &o%'3
The woman stepped close and pressed a hand to the "ront o" his breeches' 1(ell,
&o%re no liar,3 she said, !iin! him a s)%ee?e thro%!h the cloth' 1,ow bad does it
h%rt.3
1=iercel&'3
14oor lordlin!'3 She released him and stepped bac$' 1*s it happens, Im a woman
wed, and new with child'3
1The !ods are !ood,3 Theon said' 1No chance Id !ie &o% a bastard that wa&'3
15en so, m& man wo%ldnt than$ &o%'3
1No, b%t &o% mi!ht'3
1*nd wh& wo%ld that be. Ie had lords be"ore' The&re made the same as other men'3
1,ae &o% eer had a prince.3 he as$ed her' 1(hen &o%re wrin$led and !re& and
&o%r teats han! past &o%r bell&, &o% can tell &o%r childrens children that once &o% loed
a $in!'3
1/h, is it loe were tal$in! now. *nd here I tho%!ht it was 9%st coc$s and c%nts'3
1Is it loe &o% "anc&.3 ,ed decided that he li$ed this wench, whoeer she was: her
sharp wit was a welcome respite "rom the damp !loom o" 4&$e' 1Shall I name m&
lon!ship a"ter &o%, and pla& &o% the hi!h harp, and $eep &o% in a tower room in m&
castle with onl& 9ewels to wear, li$e a princess in a son!.3
1;o% o%!ht to name &o%r ship a"ter me,3 she said, i!norin! all the rest' 1It was me who
b%ilt her'3
1Si!rin b%ilt her' 2& lord "athers shipwri!ht'3
1Im 5s!red' *mbrodes da%!hter, and wi"e to Si!rin'3
,e had not $nown that *mbrode had a da%!hter, or Si!rin a wi"e ' ' ' b%t hed met the
&o%n!er shipwri!ht onl& once, and the older one he scarce remembered' 1;o%re wasted
on Si!rin'3
1/ho' Si!rin told me this sweet ship is wasted on &o%'3
Theon bristled' 1#o &o% $now who I am.3
14rince Theon o" ,o%se 8re&9o&' (ho else. Tell me tr%e, m& lord, how well do &o%
loe her, this new maid o" &o%rs. Si!rin will want to $now'3
The lon!ship was so new that she still smelled o" pitch and resin' ,is %ncle *eron
wo%ld bless her on the morrow, b%t Theon had ridden oer "rom 4&$e to !et a loo$ at her
be"ore she was la%nched' She was not so lar!e as 7ord Balons own 8reat 6ra$en or his
%ncle >ictarions Iron >ictor&, b%t she loo$ed swi"t and sweet, een sittin! in her
wooden cradle on the strand: lean blac$ h%ll a h%ndred "eet lon!, a sin!le tall mast, "i"t&
lon! oars, dec$ eno%!h "or a h%ndred men ' ' ' and at the prow, the !reat iron ram in the
shape o" an arrowhead' 1Si!rin did me !ood serice,3 he admitted' 1Is she as "ast as she
loo$s.3
1=asterA"or a master that $nows how to handle her'3
1It has been a "ew &ears since I sailed a ship'3 *nd Ie neer captained one, i" tr%th be
told' 1Still, Im a 8re&9o&, and an ironman' The sea is in m& blood'3
1*nd &o%r blood will be in the sea, i" &o% sail the wa& &o% tal$,3 she told him'
1I wo%ld neer mistreat s%ch a "air maiden'3
1=air maiden.3 She la%!hed' 1Shes a sea bitch, this one'3
1There, and now &o%e named her' Sea Bitch'3
That am%sed her: he co%ld see the spar$le in her dar$ e&es' 1*nd &o% said &o%d name
her a"ter me,3 she said in a oice o" wo%nded reproach'
1I did'3 ,e ca%!ht her hand' 1,elp me, m& lad&' In the !reen lands, the& beliee a
woman with child means !ood "ort%ne "or an& man who beds her'3
1*nd what wo%ld the& $now abo%t ships in the !reen lands. /r women, "or that
matter. Besides, I thin$ &o% made that %p'3
1I" I con"ess, will &o% still loe me.3
1Still. (hen hae I eer loed &o%.3
1Neer,3 he admitted, 1b%t I am tr&in! to repair that lac$, m& sweet 5s!red' The wind
is cold' +ome aboard m& ship and let me warm &o%' /n the morrow m& %ncle *eron
will po%r seawater oer her prow and m%mble a pra&er to the #rowned 8od, b%t Id
sooner bless her with the mil$ o" m& loins, and &o%rs'3
1The #rowned 8od mi!ht not ta$e that $indl&'3
1B%!!er the #rowned 8od' I" he tro%bles %s, Ill drown him a!ain' (ere o"" to war
within a "ortni!ht' (o%ld &o% send me into battle all sleepless with lon!in!.3
18ladl&'3
1* cr%el maid' 2& ship is well named' I" I steer her onto the roc$s in m& distraction,
&o%ll hae &o%rsel" to blame'3
1#o &o% plan to steer with this.3 5s!red br%shed the "ront o" his breeches once more,
and smiled as a "in!er traced the iron o%tline o" his manhood'
1+ome bac$ to 4&$e with me,3 he said s%ddenl&, thin$in!, (hat will 7ord Balon sa&.
*nd wh& sho%ld I care. I am a man !rown, i" I want to brin! a wench to bed it is no
ones b%siness b%t m& own'
1*nd what wo%ld I do in 4&$e.3 ,er hand sta&ed where it was'
12& "ather will "east his captains toni!ht'3 ,e had them to "east eer& ni!ht, while he
waited "or the last stra!!lers to arrie, b%t Theon saw no need to tell all that'
1(o%ld &o% ma$e me &o%r captain "or the ni!ht, m& lord prince.3 She had the
wic$edest smile hed eer seen on a woman'
1I mi!ht' I" I $new &o%d steer me sa"e into port'3
1(ell, I $now which end o" the oar !oes in the sea, and theres no one better with ropes
and $nots'3 /ne-handed, she %ndid the lacin! o" his breeches, then !rinned and stepped
li!htl& awa& "rom him' 1* pit& Im a woman wed, and new with child'3
=l%stered, Theon laced himsel" bac$ %p' 1I need to start bac$ to the castle' I" &o% do
not come with me, I ma& lose m& wa& "or !rie", and all the islands wo%ld be poorer'3
1(e co%ldnt hae that ' ' ' b%t I hae no horse, m& lord'3
1;o% co%ld ta$e m& s)%ires mo%nt'3
1*nd leae &o%r poor s)%ire to wal$ all the wa& to 4&$e.3
1Share mine, then'3
1;o%d li$e that well eno%!h'3 The smile a!ain' 1Now, wo%ld I be behind &o%, or in
"ront.3
1;o% wo%ld be whereer &o% li$ed'3
1I li$e to be on top'3
(here has this wench been all m& li"e. 12& "athers hall is dim and dan$' It needs
5s!red to ma$e the "ires bla?e'3
1The lordlin! has a hone&ed ton!%e'3
1Isnt that where we be!an.3
She threw %p her hands' 1*nd where we end' 5s!red is &o%rs, sweet prince' Ta$e me to
&o%r castle' 7et me see &o%r pro%d towers risin! "rom the sea'3
1I le"t m& horse at the inn' +ome'3 The& wal$ed down the strand to!ether, and when
Theon too$ her arm, she did not p%ll awa&' ,e li$ed the wa& she wal$ed: there was a
boldness to it, part sa%nter and part swa&, that s%!!ested she wo%ld be 9%st as bold
beneath the blan$ets'
7ordsport was as crowded as hed eer seen it, swarmin! with the crews o" the
lon!ships that lined the pebbled shore and rode at anchor well o%t past the brea$water'
Ironmen did not bend their $nees o"ten nor easil&, b%t Theon noted that oarsmen and
town"ol$ ali$e !rew )%iet as the& passed, and ac$nowled!ed him with respect"%l bows
o" the head' The& hae "inall& learned who I am, he tho%!ht' *nd past time too'
7ord 8oodbrother o" 8reat (&$ had come in the ni!ht be"ore with his main stren!th,
near "ort& lon!ships' ,is men were eer&where, conspic%o%s in their striped !oats hair
sashes' It was said abo%t the inn that /tter 8imp$nees whores were bein! "%c$ed
bowle!!ed b& beardless bo&s in sashes' The bo&s were welcome to them so "ar as Theon
was concerned' * po0ier den o" slatterns he hoped hed neer see' ,is present
companion was more to his taste' That she was wed to his "athers shipwri!ht and
pre!nant to boot onl& made her more intri!%in!'
1,as m& lord prince be!%n choosin! his crew.3 5s!red as$ed as the& made their wa&
toward the stable' 1,o, Bl%etooth,3 she sho%ted to a passin! sea"arer, a tall man in
bears$in est and raen-win!ed helm' 1,ow "ares &o%r bride.3
1=at with child, and tal$in! o" twins'3
1So soon.3 5s!red smiled that wic$ed smile' 1;o% !ot &o%r oar in the water )%ic$l&'3
1*&e, and stro$ed and stro$ed and stro$ed,3 roared the man,
1* bi! man,3 Theon obsered' 1Bl%etooth, was it. Sho%ld I choose him "or m& Sea
Bitch.3
1/nl& i" &o% mean to ins%lt him' Bl%etooth has a sweet ship o" his own'3
1I hae been too lon! awa& to $now one man "rom another,3 Theon admitted' ,ed
loo$ed "or a "ew o" the "riends hed pla&ed with as a bo&, b%t the& were !one, dead, or
!rown into stran!ers' 12& %ncle >ictarion has loaned me his own steersman'3
1B&mol" Stormdr%n$. * !ood man, so lon! as hes sober'3 She saw more "aces she
$new, and called o%t to a passin! trio, 1<ller, Farl' (heres &o%r brother, S$&te.3
1The #rowned 8od needed a stron! oarsman, I "ear,3 replied the stoc$& man with the
white strea$ in his beard'
1(hat he means is, 5ldiss dran$ too m%ch wine and his "at bell& b%rst,3 said the pin$-
chee$ed &o%th beside him'
1(hats dead ma& neer die,3 5s!red said'
1(hats dead ma& neer die'3
Theon m%ttered the words with them' 1;o% seem well $nown,3 he said to the woman
when the men had passed on'
15er& man loes the shipwri!hts wi"e' ,e had better, lest he wants his ship to sin$' I"
&o% need men to p%ll &o%r oars, &o% co%ld do worse than those three'3
17ordsport has no lac$ o" stron! arms'3 Theon had !ien the matter no little tho%!ht' It
was "i!hters he wanted, and men who wo%ld be lo&al to him, not to his lord "ather or his
%ncles' ,e was pla&in! the part o" a d%ti"%l &o%n! prince "or the moment, while he
waited "or 7ord Balon to reeal the "%llness o" his plans' I" it t%rned o%t that he did not
li$e those plans or his part in them, howeer, well ' ' '
1Stren!th is not eno%!h' * lon!ships oars m%st moe as one i" &o% wo%ld hae her
best speed' +hoose men who hae rowed to!ether be"ore, i" &o%re wise'3
1Sa!e co%nsel' 4erhaps &o%d help me choose them'3 7et her beliee I want her
wisdom, women "anc& that'
1I ma&' I" &o% treat me $indl&'3
1,ow else.3
Theon )%ic$ened his stride as the& neared the 2&raham, roc$in! hi!h and empt& b&
the )%a&' ,er captain had tried to sail a "ortni!ht past, b%t 7ord Balon wo%ld not permit
it' None o" the merchantmen that called at 7ordsport had been allowed to depart a!ain:
his "ather wanted no word o" the hostin! to reach the mainland be"ore he was read& to
stri$e'
12ilord,3 a plaintie oice called down "rom the "orecastle o" the merchanter' The
captains da%!hter leaned oer the rail, !a?in! a"ter him' ,er "ather had "orbidden her to
come ashore, b%t wheneer Theon came to 7ordsport he spied her wanderin! "orlornl&
abo%t the dec$' 12ilord, a moment,3 she called a"ter him' 1*s it please milord ' ' '3
1#id she.3 5s!red as$ed as Theon h%rried her past the co!' 14lease milord.3
,e saw no sense in bein! co& with this one' 1=or a time' Now she wants to be m& salt
wi"e'3
1/ho' (ell, shed pro"it "rom some saltin!, no do%bt' Too so"t and bland, that one' /r
am I wron!.3
1;o%re not wron!'3 So"t and bland' 4recisel&' ,ow had she $nown.
,e had told (e0 to wait at the inn' The common room was so crowded that Theon had
to p%sh his wa& thro%!h the door' Not a seat was to be had at bench nor table' Nor did he
see his s)%ire' 1(e0,3Ahe sho%ted oer the din and clatter' I" hes %p with one o" those
po0& whores, Ill strip the hide o"" him, he was thin$in! when he "inall& spied the bo&,
dicin! near the hearth ' ' ' and winnin! too, b& the loo$ o" the pile o" coins be"ore him'
1Time to !o,3 Theon anno%nced' (hen the bo& paid him no mind, he sei?ed him b&
the ear and p%lled him "rom the !ame' (e0 !rabbed %p a "ist"%l o" coppers and came
alon! witho%t a word' That was one o" the thin!s Theon li$ed best abo%t him' 2ost
s)%ires hae loose ton!%es, b%t (e0 had been born d%mb ' ' ' which didnt seem to $eep
him "rom bein! cleer as an& twele-&ear-old had a ri!ht to be' ,e was a baseborn son
o" one o" 7ord Botle&s hal" brothers' Ta$in! him as s)%ire had been part o" the price
Theon had paid "or his horse'
(hen (e0 saw 5s!red, his e&es went ro%nd' ;o%d thin$ hed neer seen a woman
be"ore, Theon tho%!ht' 15s!red will be ridin! with me bac$ to 4&$e' Saddle the horses,
and be )%ic$ abo%t it'3
The bo& had ridden in on a scrawn& little !arron "rom 7ord Balons stable, b%t Theons
mo%nt was )%ite another sort o" beast' 1(here did &o% "ind that hellhorse.3 5s!red
as$ed when she saw him, b%t "rom the wa& she la%!hed he $new she was impressed'
17ord Botle& bo%!ht him in 7annisport a &ear past, b%t he proed to be too m%ch horse
"or him, so Botle& was pleased to sell'3 The Iron Islands were too sparse and roc$& "or
breedin! !ood horses' 2ost o" the islanders were indi""erent riders at best, more
com"ortable on the dec$ o" a lon!-ship than in the saddle' 5en the lords rode !arrons or
sha!!& ,arlaw ponies, and o0 carts were more common than dra&s' The small"ol$ too
poor to own either one p%lled their own plows thro%!h the thin, ston& soil'
B%t Theon had spent ten &ears in (inter"ell, and did not intend to !o to war witho%t a
!ood mo%nt beneath him' 7ord Botle&s mis9%d!ment was his !ood "ort%ne: a stallion
with a temper as blac$ as his hide, lar!er than a co%rser i" not )%ite so bi! as most
destriers' *s Theon was not )%ite so bi! as most $ni!hts, that s%ited him admirabl&' The
animal had "ire in his e&es' (hen hed met his new owner, hed p%lled bac$ his lips and
tried to bite o"" his "ace'
1#oes he hae a name.3 5s!red as$ed Theon as he mo%nted'
1Smiler'3 ,e !ae her a hand, and p%lled her %p in "ront o" him, where he co%ld p%t his
arms aro%nd her as the& rode' 1I $new a man once who told me that I smiled at the
wron! thin!s'3
1#o &o%.3
1/nl& b& the li!hts o" those who smile at nothin!'3 ,e tho%!ht o" his "ather and his
%ncle *eron'
1*re &o% smilin! now, m& lord prince.3
1/h, &es'3 Theon reached aro%nd her to ta$e the reins' She was almost o" a hei!ht with
him' ,er hair co%ld hae %sed a wash and she had a "aded pin$ scar on her prett& nec$,
b%t he li$ed the smell o" her, salt and sweat and woman'
The ride bac$ to 4&$e promised to be a !ood deal more interestin! than the ride down
had been'
(hen the& were well be&ond 7ordsport, Theon p%t a hand on her breast' 5s!red
reached %p and pl%c$ed it awa&' 1Id $eep both hands on the reins, or this blac$ beast o"
&o%rs is li$e to "lin! %s both o"" and $ic$ %s to death'3
1I bro$e him o" that'3 *m%sed, Theon behaed himsel" "or a while, chattin! amiabl& o"
the weather G!re& and oercast, as it had been since he arried, with "re)%ent rainsH and
tellin! her o" the men hed $illed in the (hisperin! (ood' (hen he reached the part
abo%t comin! that close to the 6in!sla&er himsel", he slid his hand bac$ %p to where it
had been' ,er breasts were small, b%t he li$ed the "irmness o" them'
1;o% dont want to do that, m& lord prince'3
1/h, b%t I do'3 Theon !ae her a s)%ee?e'
1;o%r s)%ire is watchin! &o%'3
17et him' ,ell neer spea$ o" it, I swear'3
5s!red pried his "in!ers o"" her breast' This time she $ept him "irml& prisoned' She had
stron! hands'
1I li$e a woman with a !ood ti!ht !rip'3
She snorted' 1Id not hae tho%!ht it, b& that wench on the water"ront'3
1;o% m%st not 9%d!e me b& her' She was the onl& woman on the ship'3
1Tell me o" &o%r "ather' (ill he welcome me $indl& to his castle.3
1(h& sho%ld he. ,e scarcel& welcomed me, his own blood, the heir to 4&$e and the
Iron Islands'3
1*re &o%.3 she as$ed mildl&' 1Its said that &o% hae %ncles, brothers, a sister'3
12& brothers are lon! dead, and m& sister ' ' ' well, the& sa& *shas "aorite !own is a
chainmail ha%ber$ that han!s down past her $nees, with boiled leather smallclothes
beneath' 2ens !arb wont ma$e her a man, tho%!h' Ill ma$e a !ood marria!e alliance
with her once wee won the war, i" I can "ind a man to ta$e her' *s I recall, she had a
nose li$e a %lt%res bea$, a ripe crop o" pimples, and no more chest than a bo&'3
1;o% can marr& o"" &o%r sister,3 5s!red obsered, 1b%t not &o%r %ncles'3
12& %ncles ' ' '3 Theons claim too$ precedence oer those o" his "athers three
brothers, b%t the woman had to%ched on a sore point nonetheless' In the islands it was
scarce %nheard o" "or a stron!, ambitio%s %ncle to dispossess a wea$ nephew o" his
ri!hts, and %s%all& m%rder him in the bar!ain' B%t I am not wea$, Theon told himsel",
and I mean to be stron!er &et b& the time m& "ather dies' 12& %ncles pose no threat to
me,3 he declared' 1*eron is dr%n$ on seawater and sanctit&' ,e lies onl& "or his !odA3
1,is !od. Not &o%rs.3
12ine as well' (hat is dead can neer die'3 ,e smiled thinl&' 1I" I ma$e pio%s noises
as re)%ired, #amphair will !ie me no tro%ble' *nd m& %ncle >ictarionA3
17ord +aptain o" the Iron =leet, and a "earsome warrior' I hae heard them sin! o" him
in the aleho%ses'3
1#%rin! m& lord "athers rebellion, he sailed into 7annisport with m& %ncle 5%ron and
b%rned the 7annister "leet where it la& at anchor,3 Theon recalled' 1The plan was
5%rons, tho%!h' >ictarion is li$e some !reat !re& b%lloc$, stron! and tireless and
d%ti"%l, b%t not li$e to win an& races' No do%bt, hell sere me as lo&all& as he has
sered m& lord "ather' ,e has neither the wits nor the ambition to plot betra&al'3
15%ron +rowe&e has no lac$ o" c%nnin!, tho%!h' Ie heard men sa& terrible thin!s o"
that one'3
Theon shi"ted his seat' 12& %ncle 5%ron has not been seen in the islands "or close on
two &ears' ,e ma& be dead'3 I" so, it mi!ht be "or the best' 7ord Balons eldest brother
had neer !ien %p the /ld (a&, een "or a da&' ,is Silence, with its blac$ sails and
dar$ red h%ll, was in"amo%s in eer& port "rom Ibben to *sshai, it was said'
1,e ma& be dead,3 5s!red a!reed, 1and i" he lies, wh&, he has spent so lon! at sea,
hed be hal" a stran!er here' The ironborn wo%ld neer seat a stran!er in the Seastone
+hair'3
1I s%ppose not,3 Theon replied, be"ore it occ%rred to him that some wo%ld call him a
stran!er as well' The tho%!ht made him "rown' Ten &ears is a lon! while, b%t I am bac$
now, and m& "ather is "ar "rom dead' I hae time to proe m&sel"'
,e considered "ondlin! 5s!reds breast a!ain, b%t she wo%ld probabl& onl& ta$e his
hand awa&, and all this tal$ o" his %ncles had dampened his ardor somewhat' Time
eno%!h "or s%ch pla& at the castle, in the priac& o" his chambers' 1I will spea$ to ,el&a
when we reach 4&$e, and see that &o% hae an honored place at the "east,3 he said' 1I
m%st sit on the dais, at m& "athers ri!ht hand, b%t I will come down and 9oin &o% when
he leaes the hall' ,e seldom lin!ers lon!' ,e has no bell& "or drin$ these da&s'3
1* !rieo%s thin! when a !reat man !rows old'3
17ord Balon is b%t the "ather o" a !reat man'3
1* modest lordlin!'3
1/nl& a "ool h%mbles himsel" when the world is so "%ll o" men ea!er to do that 9ob "or
him'3 ,e $issed her li!htl& on the nape o" her nec$'
1(hat shall I wear to this !reat "east.3 She reached bac$ and p%shed his "ace awa&'
1Ill as$ ,el&a to !arb &o%' /ne o" m& lad& mothers !owns mi!ht do' She is o"" on
,arlaw, and not e0pected to ret%rn'3
1The cold winds hae worn her awa&, I hear' (ill &o% not !o see her. ,arlaw is onl& a
da&s sail, and s%rel& 7ad& 8re&9o& &earns "or a last si!ht o" her son'3
1(o%ld that I co%ld' I am $ept too b%s& here' 2& "ather relies on me, now that I am
ret%rned' +ome peace, perhaps ' ' '3
1;o%r comin! mi!ht brin! her peace'3
1Now &o% so%nd a woman,3 Theon complained'
1I con"ess, I am ' ' ' and new with child'3
Somehow that tho%!ht e0cited him' 1So &o% sa&, b%t &o%r bod& shows no si!ns o" it'
,ow shall it be proen. Be"ore I beliee &o%, I shall need to see &o%r breasts !row ripe,
and taste &o%r mothers mil$'3
1*nd what will m& h%sband sa& to this. ;o%r "athers own sworn man and serant.3
1(ell !ie him so man& ships to b%ild, hell neer $now &o%e le"t him'3
She la%!hed' 1Its a cr%el lordlin! whos sei?ed me' I" I promise &o% that one da& &o%
ma& watch m& babe !et s%c$, will &o% tell me more o" &o%r war, Theon o" ,o%se
8re&9o&. There are miles and mo%ntains still ahead o" %s, and I wo%ld hear o" this wol"
$in! &o% sered, and the !olden lions he "i!hts'3
5er an0io%s to please her, Theon obli!ed' The rest o" the lon! ride passed swi"tl& as
he "illed her prett& head with tales o" (inter"ell and war' Some o" the thin!s he said
astonished him' She is eas& to tal$ to, !ods praise her, he re"lected' I "eel as tho%!h Ie
$nown her "or &ears' I" the wenchs pillow pla& is hal" the e)%al o" her wit, Ill need to
$eep her ' ' ' ,e tho%!ht o" Si!rin the Shipwri!ht, a thic$-bodied, thic$-witted man,
"la0en hair alread& recedin! "rom a pimpled brow, and shoo$ his head' * waste' * most
tra!ic waste'
It seemed scarcel& an& time at all be"ore the !reat c%rtain wall o" 4&$e loomed %p
be"ore them'
The !ates were open' Theon p%t his heels into Smiler and rode thro%!h at a bris$ trot'
The ho%nds were bar$in! wildl& as he helped 5s!red dismo%nt' Seeral came bo%ndin!
%p, tails wa!!in!' The& shot strai!ht past him and almost bowled the woman oer,
leapin! all aro%nd her, &appin! and lic$in!' 1/"",3 Theon sho%ted, aimin! an ine""ect%al
$ic$ at one bi! brown bitch, b%t 5s!red was la%!hin! and wrestlin! with them'
* stableman came po%ndin! %p a"ter the do!s' 1Ta$e the horse,3 Theon commanded
him, 1and !et these damn do!s awa&A3
The lo%t paid him no mind' ,is "ace bro$e into a h%!e !ap-toothed smile and he said,
17ad& *sha' ;o%re bac$'3
17ast ni!ht,3 she said' 1I sailed "rom 8reat (&$ with 7ord 8oodbrother, and spent the
ni!ht at the inn' 2& little brother was $ind eno%!h to let me ride with him "rom
7ordsport'3 She $issed one o" the do!s on the nose and !rinned at Theon'
*ll he co%ld do was stand and !ape at her' *sha' No' She cannot be *sha' ,e reali?ed
s%ddenl& that there were two *shas in his head' /ne was the little !irl he had $nown'
The other, more a!%el& ima!ined, loo$ed somethin! li$e her mother' Neither loo$ed a
bit li$e this ' ' ' this ' ' ' this ' ' '
1The pimples went when the breasts came,3 she e0plained while she t%ssled with a
do!, 1b%t I $ept the %lt%res bea$'3
Theon "o%nd his oice' 1(h& didnt &o% tell me.3
*sha let !o o" the ho%nd and strai!htened' 1I wanted to see who &o% were "irst' *nd I
did'3 She !ae him a moc$in! hal" bow' 1*nd now, little brother, pra& e0c%se me' I need
to bathe and dress "or the "east' I wonder i" I still hae that chainmail !own I li$e to wear
oer m& boiled leather smallclothes.3 She !ae him that eil !rin, and crossed the
brid!e with that wal$ hed li$ed so well, hal" sa%nter and hal" swa&'
(hen Theon t%rned awa&, (e0 was smir$in! at him' ,e !ae the bo& a clo%t on the
ear' 1Thats "or en9o&in! this so m%ch'3 *nd another, harder' 1*nd thats "or not warnin!
me' Ne0t time, !row a ton!%e'3
,is own chambers in the 8%est 6eep had neer seemed so chill&, tho%!h the thralls
had le"t a bra?ier b%rnin!' Theon $ic$ed his boots o"", let his cloa$ "all to the "loor, and
po%red himsel" a c%p o" wine, rememberin! a !aw$& !irl with $nob $nees and pimples'
She %nlaced m& breeches, he tho%!ht, o%tra!ed, and she said ' ' ' oh, !ods, and I said ' ' '
,e !roaned' ,e co%ld not possibl& hae made a more appallin! "ool o" himsel"'
No, he tho%!ht then' She was the one who made me a "ool' The eil bitch m%st hae
en9o&ed eer& moment o" it' *nd the wa& she $ept reachin! "or m& coc$ ' ' '
,e too$ his c%p and went to the window seat, where he sat drin$in! and watchin! the
sea while the s%n dar$ened oer 4&$e' I hae no place here, he tho%!ht, and *sha is the
reason, ma& the /thers ta$e her@ The water below t%rned "rom !reen to !re& to blac$' B&
then he co%ld hear distant m%sic, and he $new it was time to chan!e "or the "east'
Theon chose plain boots and plainer clothes, somber shades o" blac$ and !re& to "it his
mood' No ornament: he had nothin! bo%!ht with iron' I mi!ht hae ta$en somethin! o""
that wildlin! I $illed to sae Bran Star$, b%t he had nothin! worth the ta$in!' Thats m&
c%rsed l%c$, I $ill the poor'
The lon! smo$& hall was crowded with his "athers lords and captains when Theon
entered, near "o%r h%ndred o" them' #a!mer +le"t9aw had not &et ret%rned "rom /ld
(&$ with the Stoneho%ses and #r%mms, b%t all the rest were thereA,arlaws "rom
,arlaw, Blac$t&des "rom Blac$t&de, Sparrs, 2erl&ns, and 8oodbrothers "rom 8reat
(&$, Saltcli""es and S%nderlies "rom Saltcli""e, and Botle&s and (&nches "rom the other
side o" 4&$e' The thralls were po%rin! ale, and there was m%sic, "iddles and s$ins and
dr%ms' Three b%rl& men were doin! the "in!er dance, spinnin! short-ha"ted a0es at each
other' The tric$ was to catch the a0e or leap oer it witho%t missin! a step' It was called
the "in!er dance beca%se it %s%all& ended when one o" the dancers lost one ' ' ' or two, or
"ie'
Neither the dancers nor the drin$ers too$ m%ch note o" Theon 8re&9o& as he strode to
the dais' 7ord Balon occ%pied the Seastone +hair, cared in the shape o" a !reat $ra$en
"rom an immense bloc$ o" oil& blac$ stone' 7e!end said that the =irst 2en had "o%nd it
standin! on the shore o" /ld (&$ when the& came to the Iron Islands' To the le"t o" the
hi!h seat were Theons %ncles' *sha was ensconced at his ri!ht hand, in the place o"
honor' 1;o% come late, Theon,3 7ord Balon obsered'
1I as$ &o%r pardon'3 Theon too$ the empt& seat beside *sha' 7eanin! close, he hissed
in her ear, 1;o%re in m& place'3
She t%rned to him with innocent e&es' 1Brother, s%rel& &o% are mista$en' ;o%r place is
at (inter"ell'3 ,er smile c%t' 1*nd where are all &o%r prett& clothes. I heard &o%
"ancied sil$ and elet a!ainst &o%r s$in'3 She was in so"t !reen wool hersel", simpl&
c%t, the "abric clin!in! to the slender lines o" her bod&'
1;o%r ha%ber$ m%st hae r%sted awa&, sister,3 he threw bac$' 1* !reat pit&' Id li$e to
see &o% all in iron'3
*sha onl& la%!hed' 1;o% ma& &et, little brother ' ' ' i" &o% thin$ &o%r Sea Bitch can
$eep %p with m& Blac$ (ind'3 /ne o" their "athers thralls came near, bearin! a "la!on
o" wine' 1*re &o% drin$in! ale or wine toni!ht, Theon.3 She leaned oer close' 1/r is it
still a taste o" m& mothers mil$ &o% thirst "or.3
,e "l%shed' 1(ine,3 he told the thrall' *sha t%rned awa& and ban!ed on the table,
sho%tin! "or ale'
Theon hac$ed a loa" o" bread in hal", hollowed o%t a trencher, and s%mmoned a coo$ to
"ill it with "ish stew' The smell o" the thic$ cream made him a little ill, b%t he "orced
himsel" to eat some' ,ed dr%n$ eno%!h wine to "loat him thro%!h two meals' I" I retch,
it will be on her' 1#oes =ather $now that &o%e married his shipwri!ht.3 he as$ed his
sister'
1No more than Si!rin does'3 She !ae a shr%!' 15s!red was the "irst ship he b%ilt' ,e
named her a"ter his mother' I wo%ld be hard-pressed to sa& which he loes best'3
15er& word &o% spo$e to me was a lie'3
1Not eer& word' Bemember when I told &o% I li$e to be on top.3 *sha !rinned'
That onl& made him an!rier' 1*ll that abo%t bein! a woman wed, and new with child ' '
'3
1/h, that part was tr%e eno%!h'3 *sha leapt to her "eet' 1Bol"e, here,3 she sho%ted
down at one o" the "in!er dancers, holdin! %p a hand' ,e saw her, sp%n, and s%ddenl& an
a0e came "l&in! "rom his hand, the blade !leamin! as it t%mbled end oer end thro%!h
the torchli!ht' Theon had time "or a cho$ed !asp be"ore *sha snatched the a0e "rom the
air and slammed it down into the table, splittin! his trencher in two and splatterin! his
mantle with drippin!s' 1Theres m& lord h%sband'3 ,is sister reached down inside her
!own and drew a dir$ "rom between her breasts' 1*nd heres m& sweet s%c$lin! babe'3
,e co%ld not ima!ine how he loo$ed at that moment, b%t s%ddenl& Theon 8re&9o&
reali?ed that the 8reat ,all was rin!in! with la%!hter, all o" it at him' 5en his "ather
was smilin!, !ods be damned, and his %ncle >ictarion ch%c$led alo%d' The best response
he co%ld s%mmon was a )%eas& !rin' (e shall see who is la%!hin! when all this is done,
bitch'
*sha wrenched the a0e o%t o" the table and "l%n! it bac$ down at the dancers, to
whistles and lo%d cheers' 1;o%d do well to heed what I told &o% abo%t choosin! a
crew'3 * thrall o""ered them a platter, and she stabbed a salted "ish and ate it o"" the end
o" her dir$' 1I" &o% had tro%bled to learn the "irst thin! o" Si!rin, I co%ld neer hae
"ooled &o%' Ten &ears a wol", and &o% land here and thin$ to prince abo%t the islands, b%t
&o% $now nothin! and no one' (h& sho%ld men "i!ht and die "or &o%.3
1I am their law"%l prince,3 Theon said sti""l&'
1B& the laws o" the !reen lands, &o% mi!ht be' B%t we ma$e o%r own laws here, or
hae &o% "or!otten.3
Scowlin!, Theon t%rned to contemplate the lea$in! trencher be"ore him' ,e wo%ld
hae stew in his lap be"ore lon!' ,e sho%ted "or a thrall to clean it %p' ,al" m& li"e I
hae waited to come home, and "or what. 2oc$er& and disre!ard. This was not the
4&$e he remembered' /r did he remember. ,e had been so &o%n! when the& too$ him
awa& to hold hosta!e'
The "east was a mea!er eno%!h thin!, a s%ccession o" "ish stews, blac$ bread, and
spiceless !oat' The tastiest thin! Theon "o%nd to eat was an onion pie' *le and wine
contin%ed to "low well a"ter the last o" the co%rses had been cleared awa&'
7ord Balon 8re&9o& rose "rom the Seastone +hair' 1,ae done with &o%r drin$ and
come to m& solar,3 he commanded his companions on the dais' 1(e hae plans to la&'3
,e le"t them with no other word, "lan$ed b& two o" his !%ards' ,is brothers "ollowed in
short order' Theon rose to !o a"ter them'
12& little brother is in a r%sh to be o""'3 *sha raised her drin$in! horn and bec$oned
"or more ale'
1/%r lord "ather is waitin!'3
1*nd has, "or man& a &ear' It will do him no harm to wait a little lon!er ' ' ' b%t i" &o%
"ear his wrath, sc%rr& a"ter him b& all means' ;o% o%!ht to hae no tro%ble catchin! o%r
%ncles'3 She smiled' 1/ne is dr%n$ on seawater, a"ter all, and the other is a !reat !re&
b%lloc$ so dim hell probabl& !et lost'3
Theon sat bac$ down, anno&ed' 1I r%n a"ter no man'3
1No man, b%t eer& woman.3
1It was not me who !rabbed &o%r coc$'3
1I dont hae one, remember. ;o% !rabbed eer& other bit o" me )%ic$ eno%!h'3
,e co%ld "eel the "l%sh creepin! %p his chee$s' 1Im a man with a mans h%n!ers' (hat
sort o" %nnat%ral creat%re are &o%.3
1/nl& a sh& maid'3 *shas hand darted o%t %nder the table to !ie his coc$ a s)%ee?e'
Theon nearl& 9%mped "rom his chair' 1(hat, dont &o% want me to steer &o% into port,
brother.3
12arria!e is not "or &o%,3 Theon decided' 1(hen I r%le, I beliee I will pac$ &o% o"" to
the silent sisters'3 ,e l%rched to his "eet and strode o"" %nsteadil& to "ind his "ather'
Bain was "allin! b& the time he reached the swa&in! brid!e o%t to the Sea Tower' ,is
stomach was crashin! and ch%rnin! li$e the waes below, and wine had %nsteadied his
"eet' Theon !ritted his teeth and !ripped the rope ti!htl& as he made his wa& across,
pretendin! that it was *shas nec$ he was cl%tchin!'
The solar was as damp and dra"t& as eer' B%ried %nder his seals$in robes, his "ather
sat be"ore the bra?ier with his brothers on either side o" him' >ictarion was tal$in! o"
tides and winds when Theon entered, b%t 7ord Balon waed him silent' 1I hae made
m& plans' It is time &o% heard them'3
1I hae some s%!!estionsA3
1(hen I re)%ire &o%r co%nsel I shall as$ "or it,3 his "ather said' 1(e hae had a bird
"rom /ld (&$' #a!mer is brin!in! the #r%mms and Stoneho%ses' I" the !od !rants %s
!ood winds, we will sail when the& arrie ' ' ' or &o% will' I mean "or &o% to stri$e the
"irst blow, Theon' ;o% shall ta$e ei!ht lon!ships northA3
15i!ht.3 ,is "ace reddened' 1(hat can I hope to accomplish with onl& ei!ht
lon!ships.3
1;o% are to harr& the Ston& Shore, raidin! the "ishin! illa!es and sin$in! an& ships
&o% chance to meet' It ma& be that &o% will draw some o" the northern lords o%t "rom
behind their stone walls' *eron will accompan& &o%, and #a!mer +le"t9aw'3
12a& the #rowned 8od bless o%r swords,3 the priest said'
Theon "elt as i" hed been slapped' ,e was bein! sent to do reaers wor$, b%rnin!
"ishermen o%t o" their hoels and rapin! their %!l& da%!hters, and &et it seemed 7ord
Balon did not tr%st him s%""icientl& to do een that m%ch' Bad eno%!h to hae to s%""er
the #amphairs scowls and chidin!s' (ith #a!mer +le"t9aw alon! as well, his command
wo%ld be p%rel& nominal'
1*sha m& da%!hter,3 7ord Balon went on, and Theon t%rned to see that his sister had
slipped in silentl&, 1&o% shall ta$e thirt& lon!ships o" pic$ed men ro%nd Sea #ra!on
4oint' 7and %pon the tidal "lats north o" #eepwood 2otte' 2arch )%ic$l&, and the castle
ma& "all be"ore the& een $now &o% are %pon them'3
*sha smiled li$e a cat in cream' 1Ie alwa&s wanted a castle,3 she said sweetl&'
1Then ta$e one'3
Theon had to bite his ton!%e' #eepwood 2otte was the stron!hold o" the 8loers'
(ith both Bobett and 8albart warrin! in the so%th, it wo%ld be li!htl& held, and once the
castle "ell the ironmen wo%ld hae a sec%re base in the heart o" the north' I sho%ld be the
one sent to ta$e #eepwood' ,e $new #eepwood 2otte, he had isited the 8loers
seeral times with 5ddard Star$'
1>ictarion,3 7ord Balon said to his brother, 1the main thr%st shall "all to &o%' (hen m&
sons hae str%c$ their blows, (inter"ell m%st respond' ;o% sho%ld meet small opposition
as &o% sail %p Saltspear and the =eer Bier' *t the headwaters, &o% will be less than
twent& miles "rom 2oat +ailin' The Nec$ is the $e& to the $in!dom' *lread& we
command the western seas' /nce we hold 2oat +ailin, the p%p will not be able to win
bac$ to the north ' ' ' and i" he is "ool eno%!h to tr&, his enemies will seal the so%th end
o" the ca%sewa& behind him, and Bobb the bo& will "ind himsel" ca%!ht li$e a rat in a
bottle'3
Theon co%ld $eep silent no lon!er' 1* bold plan, =ather, b%t the lords in their castles
A3
7ord Balon rode oer him' 1The lords are !one so%th with the p%p' Those who
remained behind are the craens, old men, and !reen bo&s' The& will &ield or "all, one
b& one' (inter"ell ma& de"& %s "or a &ear, b%t what o" it. The rest shall be o%rs, "orest
and "ield and hall, and we shall ma$e the "ol$ o%r thralls and salt wies'3
*eron #amphair raised his arms' 1*nd the waters o" wrath will rise hi!h, and the
#rowned 8od will spread his dominion across the !reen lands@3
1(hat is dead can neer die,3 >ictarion intoned' 7ord Balon and *sha echoed his
words, and Theon had no choice b%t to m%mble alon! with them' *nd then it was done'
/%tside the rain was "allin! harder than eer' The rope brid!e twisted and writhed
%nder his "eet' Theon 8re&9o& stopped in the center o" the span and contemplated the
roc$s below' The so%nd o" the waes was a crashin! roar, and he co%ld taste the salt
spra& on his lips' * s%dden !%st o" wind made him lose his "ootin!, and he st%mbled to
his $nees'
*sha helped him rise' 1;o% cant hold &o%r wine either, brother'3
Theon leaned on her sho%lder and let her !%ide him across the rainslic$ boards' 1I
li$ed &o% better when &o% were 5s!red,3 he told her acc%sin!l&'
She la%!hed' 1Thats "air' I li$ed &o% better when &o% were nine'3
C#APT"R &+
T%RIO'
Thro%!h the door came the so"t so%nd o" the hi!h harp, min!led with a trillin! o"
pipes' The sin!ers oice was m%""led b& the thic$ walls, &et T&rion $new the erse' I
loed a maid as "air as s%mmer, he remembered, with s%nli!ht in her hair ' ' '
Ser 2er&n Trant !%arded the )%eens door this ni!ht' ,is m%ttered 12& lord3 str%c$
T&rion as a tad !r%d!in!, b%t he opened the door nonetheless' The son! bro$e o""
abr%ptl& as he strode into his sisters bedchamber'
+ersei was reclinin! on a pile o" c%shions' ,er "eet were bare, her !olden hair art"%ll&
to%sled, her robe a !reen-and-!old samite that ca%!ht the li!ht o" the candles and
shimmered as she loo$ed %p' 1Sweet sister,3 T&rion said, 1how bea%ti"%l &o% loo$
toni!ht'3 ,e t%rned to the sin!er' 1*nd &o% as well, co%sin' I had no notion &o% had s%ch
a loel& oice'3
The compliment made Ser 7ancel s%l$&: perhaps he tho%!ht he was bein! moc$ed' It
seemed to T&rion that the lad had !rown three inches since bein! $ni!hted' 7ancel had
thic$ sand& hair, !reen 7annister e&es, and a line o" so"t blond "%?? on his %pper lip' *t
si0teen, he was c%rsed with all the certaint& o" &o%th, %nleaened b& an& trace o" h%mor
or sel" do%bt, and wed to the arro!ance that came so nat%rall& to those born blond and
stron! and handsome' ,is recent eleation had onl& made him worse' 1#id ,er 8race
send "or &o%.3 the bo& demanded'
1Not that I recall,3 T&rion admitted' 1It !riees me to dist%rb &o%r reels, 7ancel, b%t
as it happens, I hae matters o" import to disc%ss with m& sister'3
+ersei re!arded him s%spicio%sl&' 1I" &o% are here abo%t those be!!in! brothers,
T&rion, spare me &o%r reproaches' I wont hae them spreadin! their "ilth& treasons in
the streets' The& can preach to each other in the d%n!eons'3
1*nd co%nt themseles l%c$& that the& hae s%ch a !entle )%een,3 added 7ancel' 1I
wo%ld hae had their ton!%es o%t'3
1/ne een dared to sa& that the !ods were p%nishin! %s beca%se Caime m%rdered the
ri!ht"%l $in!,3 +ersei declared' 1It will not be borne, T&rion' I !ae &o% ample
opport%nit& to deal with these lice, b%t &o% and &o%r Ser Cacel&n did nothin!, so I
commanded >&larr to attend to the matter'3
1*nd so he did'3 T&rion had been anno&ed when the red cloa$s had dra!!ed a hal"
do?en o" the scabro%s prophets down to the d%n!eons witho%t cons%ltin! him, b%t the&
were not important eno%!h to battle oer' 1No do%bt we will all be better o"" "or a little
)%iet in the streets' That is not wh& I came' I hae tidin!s I $now &o% will be an0io%s to
hear, sweet sister, b%t the& are best spo$en o" priil&'3
1>er& well'3 The harpist and the piper bowed and h%rried o%t, while +ersei $issed her
co%sin chastel& on the chee$' 17eae %s, 7ancel' 2& brothers harmless when hes
alone' I" hed bro%!ht his pets, wed smell them'3
The &o%n! $ni!ht !ae his co%sin a bale"%l !lance and p%lled the door sh%t "orce"%ll&
behind him' 1Ill hae &o% $now I ma$e Sha!!a bathe once a "ortni!ht,3 T&rion said
when he was !one'
1;o%re er& pleased with &o%rsel", arent &o%. (h&.3
1(h& not.3 T&rion said' 5er& da&, eer& ni!ht, hammers ran! alon! the Street o"
Steel, and the !reat chain !rew lon!er' ,e hopped %p onto the !reat canopied bed' 1Is
this the bed where Bobert died. Im s%rprised &o% $ept it'3
1It !ies me sweet dreams,3 she said' 1Now spit o%t &o%r b%siness and waddle awa&,
Imp'3
T&rion smiled' 17ord Stannis has sailed "rom #ra!onstone'3
+ersei bolted to her "eet' 1*nd &et &o% sit there !rinnin! li$e a harest-da& p%mp$in.
,as B&water called o%t the +it& (atch. (e m%st send a bird to ,arrenhal at once'3 ,e
was la%!hin! b& then' She sei?ed him b& the sho%lders and shoo$ him' 1Stop it' *re &o%
mad, or dr%n$. Stop it@3
It was all he co%ld do to !et o%t the words' 1I cant,3 he !asped' 1Its too ' ' ' !ods, too
"%nn& ' ' ' Stannis ' ' '3
A1(hat.3
1,e hasnt sailed a!ainst %s,3 T&rion mana!ed' 1,es laid sie!e to Storms 5nd' Benl&
is ridin! to meet him'3
,is sisters nails d%! pain"%ll& into his arms' =or a moment she stared incred%lo%s, as
i" he had be!%n to !ibber in an %n$nown ton!%e' 1Stannis and Benl& are "i!htin! each
other.3 (hen he nodded, +ersei be!an to ch%c$le' 18ods be !ood,3 she !asped, 1Im
startin! to beliee that Bobert was the cleer one'3
T&rion threw bac$ his head and roared' The& la%!hed to!ether' +ersei p%lled him o""
the bed and whirled him aro%nd and een h%!!ed him, "or a moment as !idd& as a !irl'
B& the time she let !o o" him, T&rion was breathless and di??&' ,e sta!!ered to her
sideboard and p%t o%t a hand to stead& himsel"'
1#o &o% thin$ it will tr%l& come to battle between them. I" the& sho%ld come to some
accordA3
1The& wont,3 T&rion said' 1The& are too di""erent and &et too m%ch ali$e, and neither
co%ld eer stomach the other'3
1*nd Stannis has alwa&s "elt he was cheated o" Storms 5nd,3 +ersei said tho%!ht"%ll&'
1The ancestral seat o" ,o%se Baratheon, his b& ri!hts ' ' ' i" &o% $new how man& times
he came to Bobert sin!in! that same d%ll son! in that !loom& a!!rieed tone he has'
(hen Bobert !ae the place to Benl&, Stannis clenched his 9aw so ti!ht I tho%!ht his
teeth wo%ld shatter'3
1,e too$ it as a sli!ht'3
1It was meant as a sli!ht,3 +ersei said'
1Shall we raise a c%p to brotherl& loe.3
1;es,3 she answered, breathless' 1/h, !ods, &es'3
,is bac$ was to her as he "illed two c%ps with sweet *rbor red' It was the easiest thin!
in the world to sprin$le a pinch o" "ine powder into hers' 1To Stannis@3 he said as he
handed her the wine' ,armless when Im alone, am I.
1To Benl&@3 she replied, la%!hin!' 12a& the& battle lon! and hard, and the /thers ta$e
them both@3
Is this the +ersei that Caime sees. (hen she smiled, &o% saw how bea%ti"%l she was,
tr%l&' I loed a maid as "air as s%mmer, with s%nli!ht in her hair' ,e almost "elt sorr& "or
poisonin! her'
It was the ne0t mornin! as he bro$e his "ast that her messen!er arried' The )%een was
indisposed and wo%ld not be able to leae her chambers' Not able to leae her pri&,
more li$e' T&rion made the proper s&mpathetic noises and sent word to +ersei to rest
eas&, he wo%ld treat with Ser +leos as the&d planned'
The Iron Throne o" *e!on the +on)%eror was a tan!le o" nast& barbs and 9a!!ed metal
teeth waitin! "or an& "ool who tried to sit too com"ortabl&, and the steps made his
st%nted le!s cramp as he climbed %p to it, all too aware o" what an abs%rd spectacle he
m%st be' ;et there was one thin! to be said "or it' It was hi!h'
7annister !%ardsmen stood silent in their crimson cloa$s and lion-crested hal"helms'
Ser Cacel&ns !old cloa$s "aced them across the hall' The steps to the throne were
"lan$ed b& Bronn and Ser 4reston o" the 6in!s!%ard' +o%rtiers "illed the !aller& while
s%pplicants cl%stered near the towerin! oa$-and-bron?e doors' Sansa Star$ loo$ed
especiall& loel& this mornin!, tho%!h her "ace was as pale as mil$' 7ord 8&les stood
co%!hin!, while poor co%sin T&re$ wore his bride!rooms mantle o" minier and elet'
Since his marria!e to little 7ad& 5rmesande three da&s past, the other s)%ires had ta$en
to callin! him 1(et N%rse3 and as$in! him what sort o" swaddlin! clothes his bride
wore on their weddin! ni!ht'
T&rion loo$ed down on them all, and "o%nd he li$ed it' 1+all "orth Ser +leos =re&'3 ,is
oice ran! o"" the stone walls and down the len!th o" the hall' ,e li$ed that too' * pit&
Shae co%ld not be here to see this, he re"lected' Shed as$ed to come, b%t it was
impossible'
Ser +leos made the lon! wal$ between the !old cloa$s and the crimson, loo$in!
neither ri!ht nor le"t' *s he $nelt, T&rion obsered that his co%sin was losin! his hair'
1Ser +leos,3 7ittle"in!er said "rom the co%ncil table, 1&o% hae o%r than$s "or brin!in!
%s this peace o""er "rom 7ord Star$'3
8rand 2aester 4&celle cleared his throat' 1The F%een Be!ent, the 6in!s ,and, and
the small co%ncil hae considered the terms o""ered b& this sel"-st&led 6in! in the North'
Sad to sa&, the& will not do, and &o% m%st tell these northmen so, ser'3
1,ere are o%r terms,3 said T&rion' 1Bobb Star$ m%st la& down his sword, swear "ealt&,
and ret%rn to (inter"ell' ,e m%st "ree m& brother %nharmed, and place his host %nder
Caimes command, to march a!ainst the rebels Benl& and Stannis Baratheon' 5ach o"
Star$s bannermen m%st send %s a son as hosta!e' * da%!hter will s%""ice where there is
no son' The& shall be treated !entl& and !ien hi!h places here at co%rt, so lon! as their
"athers commit no new treasons'3
+leos =re& loo$ed ill' 12& lord ,and,3 he said, 17ord Star$ will neer consent to these
terms'3
(e neer e0pected he wo%ld, +leos' 1Tell him that we hae raised another !reat host at
+asterl& Boc$, that soon it will march on him "rom the west while m& lord "ather
adances "rom the east' Tell him that he stands alone, witho%t hope o" allies' Stannis and
Benl& Baratheon war a!ainst each other, and the 4rince o" #orne has consented to wed
his son Tr&stane to the 4rincess 2&rcella'3 2%rm%rs o" deli!ht and consternation ali$e
arose "rom the !aller& and the bac$ o" the hall'
1*s to this o" m& co%sins,3 T&rion went on, 1we o""er ,arrion 6arstar$ and Ser (&lis
2anderl& "or (illem 7annister, and 7ord +erw&n and Ser #onnel 7oc$e "or &o%r
brother Tion' Tell Star$ that two 7annisters are worth "o%r northmen in an& season'3 ,e
waited "or the la%!hter to die' 1,is "athers bones he shall hae, as a !est%re o" Co""re&s
!ood "aith'3
17ord Star$ as$ed "or his sisters and his "athers sword as well,3 Ser +leos reminded
him'
Ser Il&n 4a&ne stood m%te, the hilt o" 5ddard Star$s !reatsword risin! oer one
sho%lder' 1Ice,3 said T&rion' 1,ell hae that when he ma$es his peace with %s, not
be"ore'3
1*s &o% sa&' *nd his sisters.3
T&rion !lanced toward Sansa, and "elt a stab o" pit& as he said, 1<ntil s%ch time as he
"rees m& brother Caime, %nharmed, the& shall remain here as hosta!es' ,ow well the&
are treated depends on him'3 *nd i" the !ods are !ood, B&water will "ind *r&a alie,
be"ore Bobb learns shes !one missin!'
1I shall brin! him &o%r messa!e, m& lord'3
T&rion pl%c$ed at one o" the twisted blades that spran! "rom the arm o" the throne' *nd
now the thr%st' 1>&larr,3 he called'
12& lord'3
1The men Star$ sent are s%""icient to protect 7ord 5ddards bones, b%t a 7annister
sho%ld hae a 7annister escort,3 T&rion declared' 1Ser +leos is the )%eens co%sin, and
mine' (e shall sleep more easil& i" &o% wo%ld see him sa"el& bac$ to Bierr%n'3
1*s &o% command' ,ow man& men sho%ld I ta$e.3
1(h&, all o" them'3
>&larr stood li$e a man made o" stone' It was 8rand 2aester 4&celle who rose,
!aspin!, 12& lord ,and, that cannot ' ' ' &o%r "ather, 7ord T&win himsel", he sent these
!ood men to o%r cit& to protect F%een +ersei and her children ' ' '3
1The 6in!s!%ard and the +it& (atch protect them well eno%!h' The !ods speed &o% on
&o%r wa&, >&larr'3
*t the co%ncil table >ar&s smiled $nowin!l&, 7ittle"in!er sat "ei!nin! boredom, and
4&celle !aped li$e a "ish, pale and con"%sed' * herald stepped "orward' 1I" an& man has
other matters to set be"ore the 6in!s ,and, let him spea$ now or !o "orth and hold his
silence'3
1I will be heard'3 * slender man all in blac$ p%shed his wa& between the Bedw&ne
twins'
1Ser *lliser@3 T&rion e0claimed' 1(h&, I had no notion that &o%d come to co%rt' ;o%
sho%ld hae sent me word'3
1I hae, as well &o% $now'3 Thorne was as pric$l& as his name, a spare, sharp-"eat%red
man o" "i"t&, hard-e&ed and hard-handed, his blac$ hair strea$ed with !re&' 1I hae been
sh%nned, i!nored, and le"t to wait li$e some baseborn serant'3
1Tr%l&. Bronn, this was not well done' Ser *lliser and I are old "riends' (e wal$ed the
(all to!ether'3
1Sweet Ser *lliser,3 m%rm%red >ar&s, 1&o% m%st not thin$ too harshl& o" %s' So man&
see$ o%r Co""re&s !race, in these tro%bled and t%m%lt%o%s times'3
12ore tro%bled than &o% $now, e%n%ch'3
1To his "ace we call him 7ord 5%n%ch,3 )%ipped 7ittle"in!er'
1,ow ma& we be o" help to &o%, !ood brother.3 8rand 2aester 4&celle as$ed in
soothin! tones'
1The 7ord +ommander sent me to ,is 8race the $in!,3 Thorne answered' 1The matter
is too !rae to be le"t to serants'3
1The $in! is pla&in! with his new crossbow,3 T&rion said' Biddin! himsel" o" Co""re&
had re)%ired onl& an %n!ainl& 2&rish crossbow that threw three )%arrels at a time, and
nothin! wo%ld do b%t that he tr& it at once' 1;o% can spea$ to serants or hold &o%r
silence'3
1*s &o% will,3 Ser *lliser said, displeas%re in eer& word' 1I am sent to tell &o% that
we "o%nd two ran!ers, lon! missin!' The& were dead, &et when we bro%!ht the corpses
bac$ to the (all the& rose a!ain in the ni!ht' /ne slew Ser Carem& B&$$er, while the
second tried to m%rder the 7ord +ommander'3
#istantl&, T&rion heard someone sni!!er' #oes he mean to moc$ me with this "oll&.
,e shi"ted %neasil& and !lanced down at >ar&s, 7ittle"in!er, and 4&celle, wonderin! i"
one o" them had a role in this' * dwar" en9o&ed at best a ten%o%s hold on di!nit&' /nce
the co%rt and $in!dom started to la%!h at him, he was doomed' *nd &et ' ' ' and &et ' ' '
T&rion remembered a cold ni!ht %nder the stars when hed stood beside the bo& Con
Snow and a !reat white wol" atop the (all at the end o" the world, !a?in! o%t at the
trac$less dar$ be&ond' ,e had "eltAwhat. somethin!, to be s%re, a dread that had c%t
li$e that "ri!id northern wind' * wol" had howled o"" in the ni!ht, and the so%nd had sent
a shier thro%!h him'
#ont be a "ool, he told himsel"' * wol", a wind, a dar$ "orest, it meant nothin!' *nd
&et ' ' ' ,e had come to hae a li$in! "or old Ceor 2ormont d%rin! his time at +astle
Blac$' 1I tr%st that the /ld Bear s%ried this attac$.3
1,e did'3
1*nd that &o%r brothers $illed these, ah, dead men.3
1(e did'3
1;o%re certain that the& are dead this time.3 T&rion as$ed mildl&' (hen Bronn
cho$ed on a snort o" la%!hter, he $new how he m%st proceed' 1Tr%l& tr%l& dead.3
1The& were dead the "irst time,3 Ser *lliser snapped' 14ale and cold, with blac$ hands
and "eet' I bro%!ht Careds hand, torn "rom his corpse b& the bastards wol"'3
7ittle"in!er stirred' 1*nd where is this charmin! to$en.3
Ser *lliser "rowned %ncom"ortabl&' 1it ' ' ' rotted to pieces while I waited, %nheard'
Theres na%!ht le"t to show b%t bones'3
Titters echoed thro%!h the hall' 17ord Baelish,3 T&rion called down to 7ittle"in!er,
1b%& o%r brae Ser *lliser a h%ndred spades to ta$e bac$ to the (all with him'3
1Spades.3 Ser *lliser narrowed his e&es s%spicio%sl&'
1I" &o% b%r& &o%r dead, the& wont come wal$in!,3 T&rion told him, and the co%rt
la%!hed openl&' 1Spades will end &o%r tro%bles, with some stron! bac$s to wield them'
Ser Cacel&n, see that the !ood brother has his pic$ o" the cit& d%n!eons'3
Ser Cacel&n B&water said, 1*s &o% will, m& lord, b%t the cells are near empt&' ;oren
too$ all the li$el& men'3
1*rrest some more, then,3 T&rion told him' 1/r spread the word that theres bread and
t%rnips on the (all, and the&ll !o o" their own accord'3 The cit& had too man& mo%ths
to "eed, and the Ni!hts (atch a perpet%al need o" men' *t T&rions si!nal, the herald
cried an end, and the hall be!an to empt&'
Ser *lliser Thorne was not so easil& dismissed' ,e was waitin! at the "oot o" the iron
Throne when T&rion descended' 1#o &o% thin$ I sailed all the wa& "rom 5astwatch-b&-
the-Sea to be moc$ed b& the li$es o" &o%.3 he "%med, bloc$in! the wa&' 1This is no 9ape'
I saw it with m& own e&es' I tell &o%, the dead wal$'3
1;o% sho%ld tr& to $ill them more thoro%!hl&'3 T&rion p%shed past' Ser *lliser made to
!rab his sleee, b%t 4reston 8reen"ield thr%st him bac$' 1No closer, ser'3
Thorne $new better than to challen!e a $ni!ht o" the 6in!s!%ard' 1;o% are a "ool,
Imp,3 he sho%ted at T&rions bac$'
The dwar" t%rned to "ace him' 12e. Tr%l&. Then wh& were the& la%!hin! at &o%, I
wonder.3 ,e smiled wanl&' 1;o% came "or men, did &o% not.3
1The cold winds are risin!' The (all m%st be held'3
1*nd to hold it &o% need men, which Ie !ien &o% ' ' ' as &o% mi!ht hae noted, i"
&o%r ears heard an&thin! b%t ins%lts' Ta$e them, than$ me, and be!one be"ore Im "orced
to ta$e a crab "or$ to &o% a!ain' 8ie m& warm re!ards to 7ord 2ormont ' ' ' and to Con
Snow as well'3 Bronn sei?ed Ser *lliser b& the elbow and marched him "orce"%ll& "rom
the hall'
8rand 2aester 4&celle had alread& sc%ttled o"", b%t >ar&s and 7ittle"in!er had watched
it all, start to "inish' 1I !row eer more admirin! o" &o%, m& lord,3 con"essed the e%n%ch'
1;o% appease the Star$ bo& with his "athers bones and strip &o%r sister o" her protectors
in one swi"t stro$e' ;o% !ie that blac$ brother the men he see$s, rid the cit& o" some
h%n!r& mo%ths, &et ma$e it all seem moc$er& so none ma& sa& that the dwar" "ears
snar$s and !r%m$ins' /h, de"tl& done'3
7ittle"in!er stro$ed his beard' 1#o &o% tr%l& mean to send awa& all &o%r !%ards,
7annister.3
1No, I mean to send awa& all m& sisters !%ards'3
1The )%een will neer allow that'3
1/h, I thin$ she ma&' I am her brother, and when &o%e $nown me lon!er, &o%ll learn
that I mean eer&thin! I sa&'3
15en the lies.3
15speciall& the lies' 7ord 4et&r, I sense that &o% are %nhapp& with me'3
1I loe &o% as m%ch as I eer hae, m& lord' Tho%!h I do not relish bein! pla&ed "or a
"ool' I" 2&rcella weds Tr&stane 2artell, she can scarcel& wed Bobert *rr&n, can she.3
1Not witho%t ca%sin! a !reat scandal,3 he admitted' 1I re!ret m& little r%se, 7ord 4et&r,
b%t when we spo$e, I co%ld not $now the #ornishmen wo%ld accept m& o""er'3
7ittle"in!er was not appeased' 1I do not li$e bein! lied to, m& lord' 7eae me o%t o"
&o%r ne0t deception'3
/nl& i" &o%ll do the same "or me, T&rion tho%!ht, !lancin! at the da!!er sheathed at
7ittle"in!ers hip' 1I" I hae !ien o""ense, I am deepl& sorr&' *ll men $now how m%ch
we loe &o%, m& lord' *nd how m%ch we need &o%'3
1Tr& and remember that'3 (ith that 7ittle"in!er le"t them'
1(al$ with me, >ar&s,3 said T&rion' The& le"t thro%!h the $in!s door behind the
throne, the e%n%chs slippers whis$in! li!htl& oer the stone'
17ord Baelish has the tr%th o" it, &o% $now' The )%een will neer permit &o% to send
awa& her !%ard'3
1She will' ;o%ll see to that'3
* smile "lic$ered across >ar&ss pl%mp lips' 1(ill I.3
1/h, "or a certaint&' ;o%ll tell her it is part o" m& scheme to "ree Caime'3
>ar&s stro$ed a powdered chee$' 1This wo%ld do%btless inole the "o%r men &o%r
man Bronn searched "or so dili!entl& in all the low places o" 6in!s 7andin!' * thie", a
poisoner, a m%mmer, and a m%rderer'3
14%t them in crimson cloa$s and lion helms, the&ll loo$ no di""erent "rom an& other
!%ardsmen' I searched "or some time "or a r%se that mi!ht !et them into Bierr%n be"ore
I tho%!ht to hide them in plain si!ht' The&ll ride in b& the main !ate, "l&in! 7annister
banners and escortin! 7ord 5ddards bones'3 ,e smiled croo$edl&' 1=o%r men alone
wo%ld be watched i!ilantl&' =o%r amon! a h%ndred can lose themseles' So I m%st send
the tr%e !%ardsmen as well as the "alse ' ' ' as &o%ll tell m& sister'3
1*nd "or the sa$e o" her beloed brother, she will consent, despite her mis!iin!s'3
The& made their wa& down a deserted colonnade' 1Still, the loss o" her red cloa$s will
s%rel& ma$e her %neas&'3
1I li$e her %neas&,3 said T&rion'
Ser +leos =re& le"t that er& a"ternoon, escorted b& >&larr and a h%ndred red-cloa$ed
7annister !%ardsmen' The men Bobb Star$ had sent 9oined them at the 6in!s 8ate "or
the lon! ride west'
T&rion "o%nd Timett dicin! with his B%rned 2en in the barrac$s' 1+ome to m& solar at
midni!ht'3 Timett !ae him a hard one-e&ed stare, a c%rt nod' ,e was not one "or lon!
speeches'
That ni!ht he "easted with the Stone +rows and 2oon Brothers in the Small ,all,
tho%!h he sh%nned the wine "or once' ,e wanted all his wits abo%t him' 1Sha!!a, what
moon is this.3
Sha!!as "rown was a "ierce thin!' 1Blac$, I thin$'3
1In the west, the& call that a traitors moon' Tr& not to !et too dr%n$ toni!ht, and see
that &o%r a0e is sharp'3
1* Stone +rows a0e is alwa&s sharp, and Sha!!as a0es are sharpest o" all' /nce I c%t
o"" a mans head, b%t he did not $now it %ntil he tried to br%sh his hair' Then it "ell o""'3
1Is that wh& &o% neer br%sh &o%rs.3 The Stone +rows roared and stamped their "eet,
Sha!!a hootin! lo%dest o" all'
B& midni!ht, the castle was silent and dar$' #o%btless a "ew !old cloa$s on the walls
spied them leain! the Tower o" the ,and, b%t no one raised a oice' ,e was the ,and
o" the 6in!, and where he went was his own a""air'
The thin wooden door split with a th%ndero%s crac$ beneath the heel o" Sha!!as boot'
4ieces went "l&in! inward, and T&rion heard a womans !asp o" "ear' Sha!!a hac$ed the
door apart with three !reat blows o" his a0e and $ic$ed his wa& thro%!h the r%ins' Timett
"ollowed, and then T&rion, steppin! !in!erl& oer the splinters' The "ire had b%rned
down a "ew !lowin! embers, and shadows la& thic$ across the bedchamber' (hen
Timett ripped the hea& c%rtains o"" the bed, the na$ed serin! !irl stared %p with wide
white e&es' 14lease, m& lords,3 she pleaded, 1dont h%rt me'3 She crin!ed awa& "rom
Sha!!a, "l%shed and "ear"%l, tr&in! to coer her charms with her hands and comin! %p a
hand short'
18o,3 T&rion told her' 1Its not &o% we want'3
1Sha!!a wants this woman'3
1Sha!!a wants eer& whore in this cit& o" whores,3 complained Timett son o" Timett'
1;es,3 Sha!!a said, %nabashed' 1Sha!!a wo%ld !ie her a stron! child'3
1I" she wants a stron! child, shell $now whom to see$,3 T&rion said' 1Timett, see her
o%t ' ' ' !entl&, i" &o% wo%ld'3
The B%rned 2an p%lled the !irl "rom the bed and hal" marched, hal" dra!!ed her
across the chamber' Sha!!a watched them !o, mo%rn"%l as a p%pp&' The !irl st%mbled
oer the shattered door and o%t into the hall, helped alon! b& a "irm shoe "rom Timett'
*boe their heads, the raens were screechin!'
T&rion dra!!ed the so"t blan$et o"" the bed, %ncoerin! 8rand 2aester 4&celle
beneath' 1Tell me, does the +itadel approe o" &o% beddin! the serin! wenches,
2aester.3
The old man was as na$ed as the !irl, tho%!h he made a mar$edl& less attractie si!ht'
=or once, his hea&-lidded e&es were open wide' 1(hat is the meanin! o" this. I am an
old man, &o%r lo&al serant ' ' '3
T&rion hoisted himsel" onto the bed' 1So lo&al that &o% sent onl& one o" m& letters to
#oran 2artell' The other &o% !ae to m& sister'3
1N-no,3 s)%ealed 4&celle' 1No, a "alsehood, I swear it, it was not me' >ar&s, it was
>ar&s, the Spider, I warned &o%A3
1#o all maesters lie so poorl&. I told >ar&s that I was !iin! 4rince #oran m& nephew
Tommen to "oster' I told 7ittle"in!er that I planned to wed 2&rcella to 7ord Bobert o"
the 5&rie' I told no one that I had o""ered 2&rcella to the #ornish ' ' ' that tr%th was onl&
in the letter I entr%sted to &o%'3
4&celle cl%tched "or a corner o" the blan$et' 1Birds are lost, messa!es stolen or sold ' ' '
it was >ar&s, there are thin!s I mi!ht tell &o% o" that e%n%ch that wo%ld chill &o%r blood '
' '3
12& lad& pre"ers m& blood hot'3
12a$e no mista$e, "or eer& secret the e%n%ch whispers in &o%r ear, he holds seen
bac$' *nd 7ittle"in!er, that one ' ' '3
1I $now all abo%t 7ord 4et&r' ,es almost as %ntr%stworth& as &o%' Sha!!a, c%t o"" his
manhood and "eed it to the !oats'3
Sha!!a he"ted the h%!e do%ble-bladed a0e' 1There are no !oats, ,al"man'3
12a$e do'3
Boarin!, Sha!!a leapt "orward' 4&celle shrie$ed and wet the bed, %rine spra&in! in all
directions as he tried to scramble bac$ o%t o" reach' The wildlin! ca%!ht him b& the end
o" his billow& white beard and hac$ed o"" three-)%arters o" it with a sin!le slash o" the
a0e'
1Timett, do &o% s%ppose o%r "riend will be more "orthcomin! witho%t those whis$ers
to hide behind.3 T&rion %sed a bit o" the sheet to wipe the piss o"" his boots'
1,e will tell the tr%th soon'3 #ar$ness pooled in the empt& pit o" Timetts b%rned e&e'
1I can smell the stin$ o" his "ear'3
Sha!!a tossed a hand"%l o" hair down to the r%shes, and sei?ed what beard was le"t'
1,old still, 2aester,3 %r!ed T&rion' 1(hen Sha!!a !ets an!r&, his hands sha$e'3
1Sha!!as hands neer sha$e,3 the h%!e man said indi!nantl&, pressin! the !reat
crescent blade %nder 4&celles )%ierin! chin and sawin! thro%!h another tan!le o"
beard'
1,ow lon! hae &o% been sp&in! "or m& sister.3 T&rion as$ed'
4&celles breathin! was rapid and shallow' 1*ll I did, I did "or ,o%se 7annister'3 *
sheen o" sweat coered the broad dome o" the old mans brow, and wisps o" white hair
cl%n! to his wrin$led s$in' 1*lwa&s ' ' ' "or &ears ' ' ' &o%r lord "ather, as$ him, I was
eer his tr%e serant ' ' ' Dtwas I who bid *er&s open his !ates ' ' '3
That too$ T&rion b& s%rprise' ,e had been no more than an %!l& bo& at +asterl& Boc$
when the cit& "ell' 1So the Sac$ o" 6in!s 7andin! was &o%r wor$ as well.3
1=or the realm@ /nce Bhae!ar died, the war was done' *er&s was mad, >iser&s too
&o%n!, 4rince *e!on a babe at the breast, b%t the realm needed a $in! ' ' ' I pra&ed it
sho%ld be &o%r !ood "ather, b%t Bobert was too stron!, and 7ord Star$ moed too swi"tl&
' ' '3
1,ow man& hae &o% betra&ed, I wonder. *er&s, 5ddard Star$, me ' ' ' 6in! Bobert as
well. 7ord *rr&n, 4rince Bhae!ar. (here does it be!in, 4&celle.3 ,e $new where it
ended'
The a0e scratched at the apple o" 4&celles throat and stro$ed the so"t wobbl& s$in
%nder his 9aw, scrapin! awa& the last hairs' 1;o% ' ' ' were not here,3 he !asped when the
blade moed %pward to his chee$s' 1Bobert ' ' ' his wo%nds ' ' ' i" &o% had seen them,
smelled them, &o% wo%ld hae no do%bt ' ' '3
1/h, I $now the boar did &o%r wor$ "or &o% ' ' ' b%t i" hed le"t the 9ob hal" done,
do%btless &o% wo%ld hae "inished it'3
1,e was a wretched $in! ' ' ' ain, dr%n$en, lechero%s ' ' ' he wo%ld hae set &o%r
sister aside, his own )%een ' ' ' please ' ' ' Benl& was plottin! to brin! the ,i!h!arden
maid to co%rt, to entice his brother ' ' ' it is the !ods own tr%th ' ' '3
1*nd what was 7ord *rr&n plottin!.3
1,e $new,3 4&celle said' 1*bo%t ' ' ' abo%t ' ' '3
1I $now what he $new abo%t,3 snapped T&rion, who was not an0io%s "or Sha!!a and
Timett to $now as well'
1,e was sendin! his wi"e bac$ to the 5&rie, and his son to be "ostered on
#ra!onstone ' ' ' he meant to act ' ' '3
1So &o% poisoned him "irst'3
1No'3 4&celle str%!!led "eebl&' Sha!!a !rowled and !rabbed his head' The clansmans
hand was so bi! he co%ld hae cr%shed the maesters s$%ll li$e an e!!shell had he
s)%ee?ed'
T&rion ts$ed at him' 1I saw the tears o" 7&s amon! &o%r potions' *nd &o% sent awa&
7ord *rr&ns own maester and tended him &o%rsel", so &o% co%ld ma$e certain that he
died'3
1* "alsehood@3
1Shae him closer,3 T&rion s%!!ested' 1The throat a!ain'3
The a0e swept bac$ down, raspin! oer the s$in' * thin "ilm o" spit b%bbled on
4&celles lips as his mo%th trembled' 1I tried to sae 7ord *rr&n' I owA3
1+are"%l now, Sha!!a, &o%e c%t him'3
Sha!!a !rowled' 1#ol" "athered warriors, not barbers'3
(hen he "elt the blood tric$lin! down his nec$ and onto his chest, the old man
sh%ddered, and the last stren!th went o%t o" him' ,e loo$ed shr%n$en, both smaller and
"railer than he had been when the& b%rst in on him' 1;es,3 he wimpered, 1&es, +olemon
was p%r!in!, so I sent him awa&' The )%een needed 7ord *rr&n dead, she did not sa& so,
co%ld not, >ar&s was listenin!, alwa&s listenin!, b%t when I loo$ed at her I $new' It was
not me who !ae him the poison, tho%!h, I swear it'3 The old man wept' 1>ar&s will tell
&o%, it was the bo&, his s)%ire, ,%!h he was called, he m%st s%rel& hae done it, as$
&o%r sister, as$ her'3
T&rion was dis!%sted' 1Bind him and ta$e him awa&,3 he commanded' 1Throw him
down in one o" the blac$ cells'3
The& dra!!ed him o%t the splintered door' 17annister,3 he moaned, 1all Ie done has
been "or 7annister ' ' '3
(hen he was !one, T&rion made a leis%rel& search o" the )%arters and collected a "ew
more small 9ars "rom his sheles' The raens m%ttered aboe his head as he wor$ed, a
stran!el& peace"%l noise' ,e wo%ld need to "ind someone to tend the birds %ntil the
+itadel sent a man to replace 4&celle'
,e was the one Id hoped to tr%st' >ar&s and 7ittle"in!er were no more lo&al, he
s%spected ' ' ' onl& more s%btle, and th%s more dan!ero%s' 4erhaps his "athers wa&
wo%ld hae been best: s%mmon Il&n 4a&ne, mo%nt three heads aboe the !ates, and hae
done' *nd wo%ldnt that be a prett& si!ht, he tho%!ht'
C#APT"R &,
AR%A
=ear c%ts deeper than swords, *r&a wo%ld tell hersel", b%t that did not ma$e the "ear !o
awa&' It was as m%ch a part o" her da&s as stale bread and the blisters on her toes a"ter a
lon! da& o" wal$in! the hard, r%tted road'
She had tho%!ht she had $nown what it meant to be a"raid, b%t she learned better in
that storeho%se beside the 8ods 5&e' 5i!ht da&s she had lin!ered there be"ore the
2o%ntain !ae the command to march, and eer& da& she had seen someone die'
The 2o%ntain wo%ld come into the storeho%se a"ter he had bro$en his "ast and pic$
one o" the prisoners "or )%estionin!' The illa!e "ol$ wo%ld neer loo$ at him' 2a&be
the& tho%!ht that i" the& did not notice him, he wo%ld not notice them ' ' ' b%t he saw
them an&wa& and pic$ed whom he li$ed' There was no place to hide, no tric$s to pla&,
no wa& to be sa"e'
/ne !irl shared a soldiers bed three ni!hts r%nnin!: the 2o%ntain pic$ed her on the
"o%rth da&, and the soldier said nothin!'
* smile& old man mended their clothin! and babbled abo%t his son, o"" serin! in the
!old cloa$s at 6in!s 7andin!' 1* $in!s man, he is,3 he wo%ld sa&, 1a !ood $in!s man
li$e me, all "or Co""re&'3 ,e said it so o"ten the other capties be!an to call him *ll-"or-
Co""re& wheneer the !%ards werent listenin!' *ll-"or-Co""re& was pic$ed on the "i"th
da&'
* &o%n! mother with a po0-scarred "ace o""ered to "reel& tell them all she $new i"
the&d promise not to h%rt her da%!hter' The 2o%ntain heard her o%t: the ne0t mornin!
he pic$ed her da%!hter, to be certain shed held nothin! bac$'
The ones chosen were )%estioned in "%ll iew o" the other capties, so the& co%ld see
the "ate o" rebels and traitors' * man the others called the Tic$ler as$ed the )%estions'
,is "ace was so ordinar& and his !arb so plain that *r&a mi!ht hae tho%!ht him one o"
the illa!ers be"ore she had seen him at his wor$' 1Tic$ler ma$es them howl so hard
the& piss themseles,3 old stoopAsho%lder +hisw&c$ told them' ,e was the man shed
tried to bite, whod called her a "ierce little thin! and smashed her head with a mailed
"ist' Sometimes he helped the Tic$ler' Sometimes others did that' Ser 8re!or +le!ane
himsel" wo%ld stand motionless, watchin! and listenin!, %ntil the ictim died'
The )%estions were alwa&s the same' (as there !old hidden in the illa!e. Siler,
!ems. (as there more "ood. (here was 7ord Beric #ondarrion. (hich o" the illa!e
"ol$ had aided him. (hen he rode o"", where did he !o. ,ow man& men were with
them. ,ow man& $ni!hts, how man& bowmen, how man& men-at-arms. ,ow were the&
armed. ,ow man& were horsed. ,ow man& were wo%nded. (hat other enem& had
the& seen. ,ow man&. (hen. (hat banners did the& "l&. (here did the& !o. (as
there !old hidden in the illa!e. Siler, !ems. (here was 7ord Beric #ondarrion. ,ow
man& men were with him. B& the third da&, *r&a co%ld hae as$ed the )%estions
hersel"'
The& "o%nd a little !old, a little siler, a !reat sac$ o" copper pennies, and a dented
!oblet set with !arnets that two soldiers almost came to blows oer' The& learned that
7ord Beric had ten starelin!s with him, or else a h%ndred mo%nted $ni!hts: that he had
ridden west, or north, or so%th: that he had crossed the la$e in a boat: that he was stron!
as an a%rochs or wea$ "rom the blood& "l%0' No one eer s%ried the Tic$lers
)%estionin!: no man, no woman, no child' The stron!est lasted past een"all' Their
bodies were h%n! be&ond the "ires "or the woles'
B& the time the& marched, *r&a $new she was no water dancer' S&rio =orel wo%ld
neer hae let them $noc$ him down and ta$e his sword awa&, nor stood b& when the&
$illed 7omm& 8reenhands' S&rio wo%ld neer hae sat silent in that storeho%se nor
sh%""led alon! mee$l& amon! the other capties' The direwol" was the si!il o" the
Star$s, b%t *r&a "elt more a lamb, s%rro%nded b& a herd o" other sheep' She hated the
illa!ers "or their sheepishness, almost as m%ch as she hated hersel"'
The 7annisters had ta$en eer&thin!: "ather, "riends, home, hope, co%ra!e' /ne had
ta$en Needle, while another had bro$en her wooden stic$ sword oer his $nee' The& had
een ta$en her st%pid secret' The storeho%se had been bi! eno%!h "or her to creep o""
and ma$e her water in some corner when no one was loo$in!, b%t it was di""erent on the
road' She held it as lon! as she co%ld, b%t "inall& she had to s)%at b& a b%sh and s$in
down her breeches in "ront o" all o" them' It was that or wet hersel"' ,ot 4ie !aped at her
with bi! moon e&es, b%t no one else een tro%bled to loo$' 8irl sheep or bo& sheep, Ser
8re!or and his men did not seem to care'
Their captors permitted no chatter' * bro$en lip ta%!ht *r&a to hold her ton!%e' /thers
neer learned at all' /ne bo& o" three wo%ld not stop callin! "or his "ather, so the&
smashed his "ace in with a spi$ed mace' Then the bo&s mother started screamin! and
Ba"" the Sweetlin! $illed her as well'
*r&a watched them die and did nothin!' (hat !ood did it do &o% to be brae. /ne o"
the women pic$ed "or )%estionin! had tried to be brae, b%t she had died screamin! li$e
all the rest' There were no brae people on that march, onl& scared and h%n!r& ones'
2ost were women and children' The "ew men were er& old or er& &o%n!: the rest had
been chained to that !ibbet and le"t "or the woles and the crows' 8endr& was onl&
spared beca%se hed admitted to "or!in! the horned helm himsel": smiths, een
apprentice smiths, were too al%able to $ill'
The& were bein! ta$en to sere 7ord T&win 7annister at ,arrenhal, the 2o%ntain told
them' 1;o%re traitors and rebels, so than$ &o%r !ods that 7ord T&wins !iin! &o% this
chance' Its more than &o%d !et "rom the o%tlaws' /be&, sere, and lie'3
1Its not 9%st, its not,3 she heard one wi?ened old woman complain to another when
the& had bedded down "or the ni!ht' 1(e neer did no treason, the others come in and
too$ what the& wanted, same as this b%nch'3
17ord Beric did %s no h%rt, tho%!h,3 her "riend whispered' 1*nd that red priest with
him, he paid "or all the& too$'3
14aid. ,e too$ two o" m& chic$ens and !ae me a bit o" paper with a mar$ on it' +an I
eat a bit o" ra!!& old paper, I as$ &o%. (ill it !ie me e!!s.3 She loo$ed abo%t to see
that no !%ards were near, and spat three times' 1Theres "or the T%ll&s and theres "or the
7annisters and theres "or the Star$s'3
1Its a sin and a shame,3 an old man hissed' 1(hen the old $in! was still alie, hed
not hae stood "or this'3
16in! Bobert.3 *r&a as$ed, "or!ettin! hersel"'
16in! *er&s, !ods !race him,3 the old man said, too lo%dl&' * !%ard came sa%nterin!
oer to sh%t them %p' The old man lost both his teeth, and there was no more tal$ that
ni!ht'
Besides his capties, Ser 8re!or was brin!in! bac$ a do?en pi!s, a ca!e o" chic$ens, a
scrawn& mil$ cow, and nine wa!ons o" salt "ish' The 2o%ntain and his men had horses,
b%t the capties were all a"oot, and those too wea$ to $eep %p were $illed o%t o" hand,
alon! with an&one "oolish eno%!h to "lee' The !%ards too$ women o"" into the b%shes at
ni!ht, and most seemed to e0pect it and went alon! mee$l& eno%!h' /ne !irl, prettier
than the others, was made to !o with "o%r or "ie di""erent men eer& ni!ht, %ntil "inall&
she hit one with a roc$' Ser 8re!or made eer&one watch while he too$ o"" her head
with a sweep o" his massie two-handed !reatsword' 17eae the bod& "or the woles,3
he commanded when the deed was done, handin! the sword to his s)%ire to be cleaned'
*r&a !lanced sidelon! at Needle, sheathed at the hip o" a blac$bearded, baldin! man-
at-arms called 4ollier' Its !ood that the& too$ it awa&, she tho%!ht' /therwise she
wo%ld hae tried to stab Ser 8re!or, and he wo%ld hae c%t her ri!ht in hal", and the
woles wo%ld eat her too'
4ollier was not so bad as some o" the others, een tho%!h hed stolen Needle' The
ni!ht she was ca%!ht, the 7annister men had been nameless stran!ers with "aces as ali$e
as their nasal helms, b%t shed come to $now them all' ;o% had to $now who was la?&
and who was cr%el, who was smart and who was st%pid' ;o% had to learn that een
tho%!h the one the& called Shitmo%th had the "o%lest ton!%e shed eer heard, hed !ie
&o% an e0tra piece o" bread i" &o% as$ed, while 9oll& old +hisw&c$ and so"t-spo$en Ba""
wo%ld 9%st !ie &o% the bac$ o" their hand'
*r&a watched and listened and polished her hates the wa& 8endr& had once polished
his horned helm' #%nsen wore those b%lls horns now, and she hated him "or it' She
hated 4ollier "or Needle, and she hated old +hisw&c$ who tho%!ht he was "%nn&' *nd
Ba"" the Sweetlin!, whod drien his spear thro%!h 7omm&s throat, she hated een
more' She hated Ser *mor& 7orch "or ;oren, and she hated Ser 2er&n Trant "or S&rio,
the ,o%nd "or $illin! the b%tchers bo& 2&cah, and Ser Il&n and 4rince Co""re& and the
)%een "or the sa$e o" her "ather and =at Tom and #esmond and the rest, and een "or
7ad&, Sansas wol"' The Tic$ler was almost too scar& to hate' *t times she co%ld almost
"or!et he was still with them: when he was not as$in! )%estions, he was 9%st another
soldier, )%ieter than most, with a "ace li$e a tho%sand other men'
5er& ni!ht *r&a wo%ld sa& their names' 1Ser 8re!or,3 shed whisper to her stone
pillow' 1#%nsen, 4ollier, +hisw&c$, Ba"" the Sweetlin!' The Tic$ler and the ,o%nd'
Ser *mor&, Ser Il&n, Ser 2er&n, 6in! Co""re&, F%een +ersei'3 Bac$ in (inter"ell, *r&a
had pra&ed with her mother in the sept and with her "ather in the !odswood, b%t there
were no !ods on the road to ,arrenhal, and her names were the onl& pra&er she cared to
remember'
5er& da& the& marched, and eer& ni!ht she said her names, %ntil "inall& the trees
thinned and !ae wa& to a patchwor$ landscape o" rollin! hills, meanderin! streams, and
s%nlit "ields, where the h%s$s o" b%rnt hold"asts thr%st %p blac$ as rotten teeth' It was
another lon! da&s march be"ore the& !limpsed the towers o" ,arrenhal in the distance,
hard beside the bl%e waters o" the la$e'
It wo%ld be better once the& !ot to ,arrenhal, the capties told each other, b%t *r&a
was not so certain' She remembered /ld Nans stories o" the castle b%ilt on "ear' ,arren
the Blac$ had mi0ed h%man blood in the mortar, Nan %sed to sa&, droppin! her oice so
the children wo%ld need to lean close to hear, b%t *e!ons dra!ons had roasted ,arren
and all his sons within their !reat walls o" stone' *r&a chewed her lip as she wal$ed
alon! on "eet !rown hard with call%s' It wo%ld not be m%ch lon!er, she told hersel":
those towers co%ld not be more than a "ew miles o""'
;et the& wal$ed all that da& and most o" the ne0t be"ore at last the& reached the "rin!es
o" 7ord T&wins arm&, encamped west o" the castle amidst the scorched remains o" a
town' ,arrenhal was deceptie "rom a"ar, beca%se it was so h%!e' Its colossal c%rtain
walls rose beside the la$e, sheer and s%dden as mo%ntain cli""s, while atop their
battlements the rows o" wood-and-iron scorpions loo$ed as small as the b%!s "or which
the& were named'
The stin$ o" the 7annister host reached *r&a well be"ore she co%ld ma$e o%t the
deices on the banners that spro%ted alon! the la$eshore, atop the pailions o" the
westermen' =rom the smell, *r&a co%ld tell that 7ord T&win had been here some time'
The latrines that rin!ed the encampment were oer"lowin! and swarmin! with "lies, and
she saw "aint !reenish "%?? on man& o" the sharpened sta$es that protected the
perimeters'
,arrenhals !ateho%se, itsel" as lar!e as (inter"ells 8reat 6eep, was as scarred as it
was massie, its stones "iss%red and discolored' =rom o%tside, onl& the tops o" "ie
immense towers co%ld be seen be&ond the walls' The shortest o" them was hal" a!ain as
tall as the hi!hest tower in (inter"ell, b%t the& did not soar the wa& a proper tower did'
*r&a tho%!ht the& loo$ed li$e some old mans !narled, $n%c$l& "in!ers !ropin! a"ter a
passin! clo%d' She remembered Nan tellin! how the stone had melted and "lowed li$e
candlewa0 down the steps and in the windows, !lowin! a s%llen searin! red as it so%!ht
o%t ,arren where he hid' *r&a co%ld beliee eer& word: each tower was more
!rotes)%e and misshapen than the last, l%mp& and r%nneled and crac$ed'
1I dont want to !o there,3 ,ot 4ie s)%ea$ed as ,arrenhal opened its !ates to them'
1Theres !hosts in there'3
+hisw&c$ heard him, b%t "or once he onl& smiled' 1Ba$er bo&, heres &o%r choice'
+ome 9oin the !hosts, or be one'3
,ot 4ie went in with the rest o" them'
In the echoin! stone-and-timber bathho%se, the capties were stripped and made to
scr%b and scrape themseles raw in t%bs o" scaldin! hot water' Two "ierce old women
s%perised the process, disc%ssin! them as bl%ntl& as i" the& were newl& ac)%ired
don$e&s' (hen *r&as t%rn came ro%nd, 8oodwi"e *mabel cl%c$ed in disma& at the
si!ht o" her "eet, while 8oodwi"e ,arra "elt the call%s on her "in!ers that lon! ho%rs o"
practice with Needle had earned her' 18ot those ch%rnin! b%tter, Ill wa!er,3 she said'
1Some "armers whelp, are &o%. (ell, neer &o% mind, !irl, &o% hae a chance to win a
hi!her place in this world i" &o% wor$ hard' I" &o% wont wor$ hard, &o%ll be beaten'
*nd what do the& call &o%.3
*r&a dared not sa& her tr%e name, b%t *rr& was no !ood either, it was a bo&s name
and the& co%ld see she was no bo&' 1(easel,3 she said, namin! the "irst !irl she co%ld
thin$ o"' 17omm& called me (easel'3
1I can see wh&,3 sni""ed 8oodwi"e *mabel' 1That hair is a "ri!ht and a nest "or lice as
well' (ell hae it o"", and then &o%re "or the $itchens'3
1Id sooner tend the horses'3 *r&a li$ed horses, and ma&be i" she was in the stables
shed be able to steal one and escape'
8oodwi"e ,arra slapped her so hard that her swollen lip bro$e open all oer a!ain'
1*nd $eep that ton!%e to &o%rsel" or &o%ll !et worse' No one as$ed &o%r iews'3
The blood in her mo%th had a salt& metal tan! to it' *r&a dropped her !a?e and said
nothin!' I" I still had Needle, she wo%ldnt dare hit me, she tho%!ht s%llenl&'
17ord T&win and his $ni!hts hae !rooms and s)%ires to tend their horses, the& dont
need the li$es o" &o%,3 8oodwi"e *mabel said' 1The $itchens are sn%! and clean, and
theres alwa&s a warm "ire to sleep b& and plent& to eat' ;o% mi!ht hae done well there,
b%t I can see &o%re not a cleer !irl' ,arra, I beliee we sho%ld !ie this one to (eese'3
1I" &o% thin$ so, *mabel'3 The& !ae her a shi"t o" !re& ro%!hsp%n wool and a pair o"
ill-"ittin! shoes, and sent her o""'
(eese was %ndersteward "or the (ailin! Tower, a s)%at man with a "lesh& carb%ncle o"
a nose and a nest o" an!r& red boils near one corner o" his pl%mp lips' *r&a was one o"
si0 sent to him' ,e loo$ed them all oer with a !imlet e&e' 1The 7annisters are !enero%s
to those as sere them well, an honor none o" &o%r sort desere, b%t in war a man ma$es
do with whats to hand' (or$ hard and mind &o%r place and mi!ht be one da& &o%ll rise
as hi!h as me' I" &o% thin$ to pres%me on his lordships $indness, tho%!h, &o%ll "ind me
waitin! a"ter mlord has !one, &see'3 ,e str%tted %p and down be"ore them, tellin! them
how the& m%st neer loo$ the hi!hborn in the e&e, nor spea$ %ntil spo$en to, nor !et in
his lordships wa&' 12& nose neer lies,3 he boasted' 1I can smell de"iance, I can smell
pride, I can smell disobedience' I catch a whi"" o" an& s%ch stin$s, &o%ll answer "or it'
(hen I sni"" &o%, all I want to smell is "ear'3
C#APT"R &.
2A"'"R%S
/n the walls o" Farth, men beat !on!s to herald her comin!, while others blew c%rio%s
horns that encircled their bodies li$e !reat bron?e sna$es' * col%mn o" camelr& emer!ed
"rom the cit& as her honor !%ards' The riders wore scaled copper armor and sno%ted
helms with copper t%s$s and lon! blac$ sil$ pl%mes, and sat hi!h on saddles inlaid with
r%bies and !arnets' Their camels were dressed in blan$ets o" a h%ndred di""erent h%es'
1Farth is the !reatest cit& that eer was or eer will be,3 4&at 4ree had told her, bac$
amon!st the bones o" >aes Tolorro' 1It is the center o" the world, the !ate between north
and so%th, the brid!e between east and west, ancient be&ond memor& o" man and so
ma!ni"icent that Saathos the (ise p%t o%t his e&es a"ter !a?in! %pon Farth "or the "irst
time, beca%se he $new that all he saw therea"ter sho%ld loo$ s)%alid and %!l& b&
comparison'3
#an& too$ the warloc$s words well salted, b%t the ma!ni"icence o" the !reat cit& was
not to be denied' Three thic$ walls encircled Farth, elaboratel& cared' The o%ter was
red sandstone, thirt& "eet hi!h and decorated with animals: sna$es slitherin!, $ites
"l&in!, "ish swimmin!, intermin!led with woles o" the red waste and striped horses and
monstro%s elephants' The middle wall, "ort& "eet hi!h, was !re& !ranite alie with
scenes o" war: the clash o" sword and shield and spear, arrows in "li!ht, heroes at battle
and babes bein! b%tchered, p&res o" the dead' The innermost wall was "i"t& "eet o" blac$
marble, with carin!s that made #an& bl%sh %ntil she told hersel" that she was bein! a
"ool' She was no maid: i" she co%ld loo$ on the !re& walls scenes o" sla%!hter, wh&
sho%ld she aert her e&es "rom the si!ht o" men and women !iin! pleas%re to one
another.
The o%ter !ates were banded with copper, the middle with iron: the innermost were
st%dded with !olden e&es' *ll opened at #an&s approach' *s she rode her siler into the
cit&, small children r%shed o%t to scatter "lowers in her path' The& wore !olden sandals
and bri!ht paint, no more'
*ll the colors that had been missin! "rom >aes Tolorro had "o%nd their wa& to Farth:
b%ildin!s crowded abo%t her "antastical as a "eer dream in shades o" rose, iolet, and
%mber' She passed %nder a bron?e arch "ashioned in the li$eness o" two sna$es matin!,
their scales delicate "la$es o" 9ade, obsidian, and lapis la?%li' Slim towers stood taller
than an& #an& had eer seen, and elaborate "o%ntains "illed eer& s)%are, wro%!ht in the
shapes o" !ri""ins and dra!ons and manticores'
The Fartheen lined the streets and watched "rom delicate balconies that loo$ed too
"rail to s%pport their wei!ht' The& were tall pale "ol$ in linen and samite and ti!er "%r,
eer& one a lord or lad& to her e&es' The women wore !owns that le"t one breast bare,
while the men "aored beaded sil$ s$irts' #an& "elt shabb& and barbaric as she rode past
them in her lions$in robe with blac$ #ro!on on one sho%lder' ,er #othra$i called the
Fartheen 12il$ 2en3 "or their paleness, and 6hal #ro!o had dreamed o" the da& when
he mi!ht sac$ the !reat cities o" the east' She !lanced at her bloodriders, their dar$
almond-shaped e&es !iin! no hint o" their tho%!hts' Is it onl& the pl%nder the& see. she
wondered' ,ow saa!e we m%st seem to these Fartheen'
4&rat 4ree cond%cted her little $halasar down the center o" a !reat arcade where the
cit&s ancient heroes stood thrice li"e-si?e on col%mns o" white and !reen marble' The&
passed thro%!h a ba?aar in a caerno%s b%ildin! whose latticewor$ ceilin! was home to
a tho%sand !ail& colored birds' Trees and "lowers bloomed on the terraced walls aboe
the stalls, while below it seemed as i" eer&thin! the !ods had p%t into the world was "or
sale'
,er siler shied as the merchant prince Earo Ehoan #a0os rode %p to her: the horses
co%ld not abide the close presence o" camels, she had "o%nd' 1I" &o% see here an&thin!
that &o% wo%ld desire, / most bea%ti"%l o" women, &o% hae onl& to spea$ and it is
&o%rs,3 Earo called down "rom his ornate horned saddle'
1Farth itsel" is hers, she has no need o" ba%bles,3 bl%e-lipped 4&at 4ree san! o%t "rom
her other side' 1It shall be as I promised, 6haleesi' +ome with me to the ,o%se o" the
<nd&in!, and &o% shall drin$ o" tr%th and wisdom'3
1(h& sho%ld she need &o%r 4alace o" #%st, when I can !ie her s%nli!ht and sweet
water and sil$s to sleep in.3 Earo said to the warloc$' 1The Thirteen shall set a crown o"
blac$ 9ade and "ire opals %pon her loel& head'3
1The onl& palace I desire is the red castle at 6in!s 7andin!, m& lord 4&at'3 #an& was
war& o" the warloc$: the mae!i 2irri 2a? #%%r had so%red her on those who pla&ed at
sorcer&' 1*nd i" the !reat o" Farth wo%ld !ie me !i"ts, Earo, let them !ie me ships
and swords to win bac$ what is ri!ht"%ll& mine'3
4&ats bl%e lips c%rled %pward in a !racio%s smile' 1It shall be as &o% command,
6haleesi'3 ,e moed awa&, swa&in! with his camels motion, his lon! beaded robes
trailin! behind'
1The &o%n! )%een is wise be&ond her &ears,3 Earo Ehoan #a0os m%rm%red down at
her "rom his hi!h saddle' 1There is a sa&in! in Farth' * warloc$s ho%se is b%ilt o" bones
and lies'3
1Then wh& do men lower their oices when the& spea$ o" the warloc$s o" Farth. *ll
across the east, their power and wisdom are reered'3
1/nce the& were mi!ht&,3 Earo a!reed, 1b%t now the& are as l%dicro%s as those "eeble
old soldiers who boast o" their prowess lon! a"ter stren!th and s$ill hae le"t them' The&
read their cr%mblin! scrolls, drin$ shade-o"-the-eenin! %ntil their lips t%rn bl%e, and
hint o" dread powers, b%t the& are hollow h%s$s compared to those who went be"ore'
4&at 4rees !i"ts will t%rn to d%st in &o%r hands, I warn &o%'3 ,e !ae his camel a lic$ o"
his whip and sped awa&'
1The crow calls the raen blac$,3 m%ttered Ser Corah in the +ommon Ton!%e o"
(esteros' The e0ile $ni!ht rode at her ri!ht hand, as eer' =or their entrance into Farth,
he had p%t awa& his #othra$i !arb and donned a!ain the plate and mail and wool o" the
Seen 6in!doms hal" a world awa&' 1;o% wo%ld do well to aoid both those men, ;o%r
8race'3
1Those men will help me to m& crown,3 she said'
1Earo has ast wealth, and 4&at 4ree pretends to power,3 the $ni!ht said br%s)%el&' /n
his dar$ !reen s%rcoat, the bear o" ,o%se 2ormont stood on its hind le!s, blac$ and
"ierce' Corah loo$ed no less "erocio%s as he scowled at the crowd that "illed the ba?aar' 1I
wo%ld not lin!er here lon!, m& )%een' I misli$e the er& smell o" this place'3
#an& smiled' 14erhaps its the camels &o%re smellin!' The Fartheen themseles seem
sweet eno%!h to m& nose'3
1Sweet smells are sometimes %sed to coer "o%l ones'3
2& !reat bear, #an& tho%!ht' I am his )%een, b%t I will alwa&s be his c%b as well, and
he will alwa&s !%ard me' It made her "eel sa"e, b%t sad as well' She wished she co%ld
loe him better than she did'
Earo Ehoan #a0os had o""ered #an& the hospitalit& o" his home while she was in the
cit&' She had e0pected somethin! !rand' She had not e0pected a palace lar!er than man&
a mar$et town' It ma$es 2a!ister Ill&rios manse in 4entos loo$ li$e a swineherds
hoel, she tho%!ht' Earo swore that his home co%ld com"ortabl& ho%se all o" her people
and their horses besides: indeed, it swallowed them' *n entire win! was !ien oer to
her' She wo%ld hae her own !ardens, a marble bathin! pool, a scr&in! tower and
warloc$s ma?e' Slaes wo%ld tend her eer& need' In her priate chambers, the "loors
were !reen marble, the walls draped with color"%l sil$ han!in!s that shimmered with
eer& breath o" air' 1;o% are too !enero%s,3 she told Earo Ehoan #a0os'
1=or the 2other o" #ra!ons, no !i"t is too !reat'3 Earo was a lan!%id, ele!ant man
with a bald head and a !reat bea$ o" a nose cr%sted with r%bies, opals, and "la$es o" 9ade'
1/n the morrow, &o% shall "east %pon peacoc$ and lar$s ton!%e, and hear m%sic worth&
o" the most bea%ti"%l o" women' The Thirteen will come to do &o% homa!e, and all the
!reat o" Farth'3
*ll the !reat o" Farth will come to see m& dra!ons, #an& tho%!ht, &et she than$ed
Earo "or his $indness be"ore she sent him on his wa&' 4&at 4ree too$ his leae as well,
owin! to petition the <nd&in! /nes "or an a%dience' 1* honor rare as s%mmer snows'3
Be"ore he le"t he $issed her bare "eet with his pale bl%e lips and pressed on her a !i"t, a
9ar o" ointment that he swore wo%ld let her see the spirits o" the air' 7ast o" the three
see$ers to depart was F%aithe the shadowbinder' =rom her #an& receied onl& a
warnin!' 1Beware,3 the woman in the red lac)%er mas$ said'
1/" whom.3
1/" all' The& shall come da& and ni!ht to see the wonder that has been born a!ain into
the world, and when the& see the& shall l%st' =or dra!ons are "ire made "lesh, and "ire is
power'3
(hen F%aithe too was !one, Ser Corah said, 1She spea$s tr%l&, m& )%een ' ' ' tho%!h I
li$e her no more than the others'3
1I do not %nderstand her'3 4&at and Earo had showered #an& with promises "rom the
moment the& "irst !limpsed her dra!ons, declarin! themseles her lo&al serants in all
thin!s, b%t "rom F%aithe she had !otten onl& the rare cr&ptic word' *nd it dist%rbed her
that she had neer seen the womans "ace' Bemember 2irri 2a? #%%r, she told hersel"'
Bemember treacher&' She t%rned to her bloodriders' 1(e will $eep o%r own watch so
lon! as we are here' See that no one enters this win! o" the palace witho%t m& leae, and
ta$e care that the dra!ons are alwa&s well !%arded'3
1It shall be done, 6haleesi,3 *!!o said'
1(e hae seen onl& the parts o" Farth that 4&at 4ree wished %s to see,3 she went on'
1Ba$haro, !o "orth and loo$ on the rest, and tell me what &o% "ind' Ta$e !ood men with
&o%Aand women, to !o places where men are "orbidden'3
1*s &o% sa&, I do, blood o" m& blood,3 said Ba$haro'
1Ser Corah, "ind the doc$s and see what manner o" ships la& at anchor' It has been hal"
a &ear since I last heard tidin!s "rom the Seen 6in!doms' 4erhaps the !ods will hae
blown some !ood captain here "rom (esteros with a ship to carr& %s home'3
The $ni!ht "rowned' 1That wo%ld be no $indness' The <s%rper will $ill &o%, s%re as
s%nrise'3 2ormont hoo$ed his th%mbs thro%!h his swordbelt' 12& place is here at &o%r
side'3
1Cho!o can !%ard me as well' ;o% hae more lan!%a!es than m& bloodriders, and the
#othra$i mistr%st the sea and those who sail her' /nl& &o% can sere me in this' 8o
amon! the ships and spea$ to the crews, learn where the& are "rom and where the& are
bo%nd and what manner o" men command them'3
Bel%ctantl&, the e0ile nodded' 1*s &o% sa&, m& )%een'3
(hen all the men had !one, her handmaids stripped o"" the traelstained sil$s she
wore, and #an& padded o%t to where the marble pool sat in the shade o" a portico' The
water was delicio%sl& cool, and the pool was stoc$ed with tin& !olden "ish that nibbled
c%rio%sl& at her s$in and made her !i!!le' It "elt !ood to close her e&es and "loat,
$nowin! she co%ld rest as lon! as she li$ed' She wondered whether *e!ons Bed 6eep
had a pool li$e this, and "ra!rant !ardens "%ll o" laender and mint' It m%st, s%rel&'
>iser&s alwa&s said the Seen 6in!doms were more bea%ti"%l than an& other place in the
world'
The tho%!ht o" home dis)%ieted her' I" her s%n-and-stars had lied, he wo%ld hae led
his $halasar across the poison water and swept awa& her enemies, b%t his stren!th had
le"t the world' ,er bloodriders remained, sworn to her "or li"e and s$illed in sla%!hter,
b%t onl& in the wa&s o" the horselords' The #othra$i sac$ed cities and pl%ndered
$in!doms, the& did not r%le them' #an& had no wish to red%ce 6in!s 7andin! to a
blac$ened r%in "%ll o" %n)%iet !hosts' She had s%pped eno%!h on tears' I want to ma$e
m& $in!dom bea%ti"%l, to "ill it with "at men and prett& maids and la%!hin! children' I
want m& people to smile when the& see me ride b&, the wa& >iser&s said the& smiled "or
m& "ather'
B%t be"ore she co%ld do that she m%st con)%er'
The <s%rper will $ill &o%, s%re as s%nrise, 2ormont had said' Bobert had slain her
!allant brother Bhae!ar, and one o" his creat%res had crossed the #othra$i sea to poison
her and her %nborn son' The& said Bobert Baratheon was stron! as a b%ll and "earless in
battle, a man who loed nothin! better than war' *nd with him stood the !reat lords her
brother had named the <s%rpers do!s, cold-e&ed 5ddard Star$ with his "ro?en heart,
and the !olden 7annisters, "ather and son, so rich, so power"%l, so treachero%s'
,ow co%ld she hope to oerthrow s%ch men. (hen 6hal #ro!o had lied, men
trembled and made him !i"ts to sta& his wrath' I" the& did not, he too$ their cities, wealth
and wies and all' B%t his $halasar had been ast, while hers was mea!er' ,er people
had "ollowed her across the red waste as she chased her comet, and wo%ld "ollow her
across the poison water too, b%t the& wo%ld not be eno%!h' 5en her dra!ons mi!ht not
be eno%!h' >iser&s had belieed that the realm wo%ld rise "or its ri!ht"%l $in! ' ' ' b%t
>iser&s had been a "ool, and "ools beliee in "oolish thin!s'
,er do%bts made her shier' S%ddenl& the water "elt cold to her, and the little "ish
pric$lin! at her s$in anno&in!' #an& stood and climbed "rom the pool' 1Irri,3 she called,
1Chi)%i'
*s the handmaids toweled her dr& and wrapped her in a sandsil$ robe, #an&s tho%!hts
went to the three who had so%!ht her o%t in the +it& o" Bones' The Bleedin! Star led me
to Farth "or a p%rpose' ,ere I will "ind what I need, i" I hae the stren!th to ta$e what is
o""ered, and the wisdom to aoid the traps and snares' I" the !ods mean "or me to
con)%er, the& will proide, the& will send me a si!n, and i" not ' ' ' i" not ' ' '
It was near een"all and #an& was "eedin! her dra!ons when Irri stepped thro%!h the
sil$en c%rtains to tell her that Ser Corah had ret%rned "rom the doc$s ' ' ' and not alone'
1Send him in, with whomeer he has bro%!ht,3 she said, c%rio%s'
(hen the& entered, she was seated on a mo%nd o" c%shions, her dra!ons all abo%t her'
The man he bro%!ht with him wore a cloa$ o" !reen and &ellow "eathers and had s$in as
blac$ as polished 9et' 1;o%r 8race,3 the $ni!ht said, 1I brin! &o% F%h%r% 2o, captain o"
the +innamon (ind o%t o" Tall Trees Town'3
The blac$ man $nelt' 1I am !reatl& honored, m& )%een,3 he said: not in the ton!%e o"
the S%mmer Isles, which #an& did not $now, b%t in the li)%id >al&rian o" the Nine =ree
+ities'
1The honor is mine, F%h%r% 2o,3 said #an& in the same lan!%a!e' 1,ae &o% come
"rom the S%mmer Isles.3
1This is so, ;o%r 8race, b%t be"ore, not hal" a &ear past, we called at /ldtown' =rom
there I brin! &o% a wondro%s !i"t'3
1* !i"t.3
1* !i"t o" news' #ra!onmother, Stormborn, I tell &o% tr%e, Bobert Baratheon is dead'3
/%tside her walls, d%s$ was settlin! oer Farth, b%t a s%n had risen in #an&s heart'
1#ead.3 she repeated' In her lap, blac$ #ro!on hissed, and pale smo$e rose be"ore her
"ace li$e a eil' 1;o% are certain. The <s%rper is dead.3
1So it is said in /ldtown, and #orne, and 7&s, and all the other ports where we hae
called'3
,e sent me poisoned wine, &et I lie and he is !one' 1(hat was the manner o" his
death.3 /n her sho%lder, pale >iserion "lapped win!s the color o" cream, stirrin! the air'
1Torn b& a monstro%s boar whilst h%ntin! in his $in!swood, or so I heard in /ldtown'
/thers sa& his )%een betra&ed him, or his brother, or 7ord Star$ who was his ,and' ;et
all the tales a!ree in this: 6in! Bobert is dead and in his !rae'3
#an& had neer loo$ed %pon the <s%rpers "ace, &et seldom a da& had passed when
she had not tho%!ht o" him' ,is !reat shadow had lain across her since the ho%r o" her
birth, when she came "orth amidst blood and storm into a world where she no lon!er had
a place' *nd now this ebon& stran!er had li"ted that shadow'
1The bo& sits the Iron Throne now,3 Ser Corah said'
16in! Co""re& rei!ns,3 F%h%r% 2o a!reed, 1b%t the 7annisters r%le' Boberts brothers
hae "led 6in!s 7andin!' The tal$ is, the& mean to claim the crown' *nd the ,and has
"allen, 7ord Star$ who was 6in! Boberts "riend' ,e has been sei?ed "or treason'3
1Ned Star$ a traitor.3 Ser Corah snorted' 1Not blood& li$el&' The 7on! S%mmer will
come a!ain be"ore that one wo%ld besmirch his precio%s honor'3
1(hat honor co%ld he hae.3 #an& said' 1,e was a traitor to his tr%e $in!, as were
these 7annisters'3 It pleased her to hear that the <s%rpers do!s were "i!htin! amon!st
themseles, tho%!h she was %ns%rprised' The same thin! happened when her #ro!o
died, and his !reat $halasar tore itsel" to pieces' 12& brother is dead as well, >iser&s
who was the tr%e $in!,3 she told the S%mmer Islander' 16hal #ro!o m& lord h%sband
$illed him with a crown o" molten !old'3 (o%ld her brother hae been an& wiser, had he
$nown that the en!eance he had pra&ed "or was so close at hand.
1Then I !riee "or &o%, #ra!onmother, and "or bleedin! (esteros, bere"t o" its ri!ht"%l
$in!'3
Beneath #an&s !entle "in!ers, !reen Bhae!al stared at the stran!er with e&es o"
molten !old' (hen his mo%th opened, his teeth !leamed li$e blac$ needles' 1(hen does
&o%r ship ret%rn to (esteros, +aptain.3
1Not "or a &ear or more, I "ear' =rom here the +innamon (ind sails east, to ma$e the
traders circle ro%nd the 9ade Sea'3
1I see,3 said #an&, disappointed' 1I wish &o% "air winds and !ood tradin!, then' ;o%
hae bro%!ht me a precio%s !i"t'3
1I hae been ampl& repaid, !reat )%een'3
She p%??led at that' 1,ow so.3
,is e&es !leamed' 1I hae seen dra!ons'3
#an& la%!hed' 1*nd will see more o" them one da&, I hope' +ome to me in 6in!s
7andin! when I am on m& "athers throne, and &o% shall hae a !reat reward'3
The S%mmer Islander promised he wo%ld do so, and $issed her li!htl& on the "in!ers as
he too$ his leae' Chi)%i showed him o%t, while Ser Corah 2ormont remained'
16haleesi,3 the $ni!ht said when the& were alone, 1I sho%ld not spea$ so "reel& o" &o%r
plans, i" I were &o%' This man will spread the tale whereer he !oes now'3
17et him,3 she said' 17et the whole world $now m& p%rpose' The <s%rper is dead,
what does it matter.3
1Not eer& sailors tale is tr%e,3 Ser Corah ca%tioned, 1and een i" Bobert be tr%l& dead,
his son r%les in his place' This chan!es nothin!, tr%l&'3
1This chan!es eer&thin!'3 #an& rose abr%ptl&' Screechin!, her dra!ons %ncoiled and
spread their win!s' #ro!on "lapped and clawed %p to the lintel oer the archwa&' The
others s$ittered across the "loor, win!tips scrabblin! on the marble' 1Be"ore, the Seen
6in!doms were li$e m& #ro!os $halasar, a h%ndred tho%sand made as one b& his
stren!th' Now the& "l& to pieces, een as the $halasar did a"ter m& $hal la& dead'3
1The hi!h lords hae alwa&s "o%!ht' Tell me whos won and Ill tell &o% what it means'
6haleesi, the Seen 6in!doms are not !oin! to "all into &o%r hands li$e so man& ripe
peaches' ;o% will need a "leet, !old, armies, alliancesA3
1*ll this I $now'3 She too$ his hands in hers and loo$ed %p into his dar$ s%spicio%s
e&es' Sometimes he thin$s o" me as a child he m%st protect, and sometimes as a woman
he wo%ld li$e to bed, b%t does he eer tr%l& see me as his )%een. 1I am not the
"ri!htened !irl &o% met in 4entos' I hae co%nted onl& "i"teen name da&s, tr%e ' ' ' b%t I
am as old as the crones in the dosh $haleen and as &o%n! as m& dra!ons, Corah' I hae
borne a child, b%rned a $hal, and crossed the red waste and the #othra$i sea' 2ine is the
blood o" the dra!on'3
1*s was &o%r brothers,3 he said st%bbornl&'
1I am not >iser&s'3
1No,3 he admitted' 1There is more o" Bhae!ar in &o%, I thin$, b%t een Bhae!ar co%ld
be slain' Bobert proed that on the Trident, with no more than a warhammer' 5en
dra!ons can die'3
1#ra!ons die'3 She stood on her toes to $iss him li!htl& on an %nshaen chee$' 1B%t so
do dra!onsla&ers'3
C#APT"R &/
*RA'
2eera moed in a war& circle, her net dan!lin! loose in her le"t hand, the slender
three-pron!ed "ro! spear poised in her ri!ht' S%mmer "ollowed her with his !olden e&es,
t%rnin!, his tail held sti"" and tall' (atchin!, watchin! ' ' '
1;ai@3 the !irl sho%ted, the spear dartin! o%t' The wol" slid to the le"t and leapt be"ore
she co%ld draw bac$ the spear' 2eera cast her net, the tan!les %n"oldin! in the air be"ore
her' S%mmers leap carried him into it' ,e dra!!ed it with him as he slammed into her
chest and $noc$ed her oer bac$ward' ,er spear went spinnin! awa&' The damp !rass
c%shioned her "all b%t the breath went o%t o" her in an 1/o"'3 The wol" cro%ched atop
her'
Bran hooted' 1;o% lose'3
1She wins,3 her brother Co9en said' 1S%mmers snared'3
,e was ri!ht, Bran saw' Thrashin! and !rowlin! at the net, tr&in! to rip "ree, S%mmer
was onl& ensnarin! himsel" worse' Nor co%ld he bite thro%!h' 17et him o%t'3
7a%!hin!, the Beed !irl threw her arms aro%nd the tan!led wol" and rolled them both'
S%mmer !ae a piteo%s whine, his le!s $ic$in! a!ainst the cords that bo%nd them' 2eera
$nelt, %ndid a twist, p%lled at a corner, t%!!ed de"tl& here and there, and s%ddenl& the
direwol" was bo%ndin! "ree'
1S%mmer, to me'3 Bran spread his arms' 1(atch,3 he said, an instant be"ore the wol"
bowled into him' ,e cl%n! with all his stren!th as the wol" dra!!ed him b%mpin!
thro%!h the !rass' The& wrestled and rolled and cl%n! to each other, one snarlin! and
&appin!, the other la%!hin!' In the end it was Bran sprawled on top, the m%d-spattered
direwol" %nder him' 18ood wol",3 he panted' S%mmer lic$ed him across the ear'
2eera shoo$ her head' 1#oes he neer !row an!r&.3
1Not with me'3 Bran !rabbed the wol" b& his ears and S%mmer snapped at him
"iercel&, b%t it was all in pla&' 1Sometimes he tears m& !arb b%t hes neer drawn
blood'3
1;o%r blood, &o% mean' I" hed !otten past m& net ' ' '3
1,e wo%ldnt h%rt &o%' ,e $nows I li$e &o%'3 *ll o" the other lords and $ni!hts had
departed within a da& or two o" the harest "east, b%t the Beeds had sta&ed to become
Brans constant companions' Co9en was so solemn that /ld Nan called him 1little
!rand"ather,3 b%t 2eera reminded Bran o" his sister *r&a' She wasnt scared to !et dirt&,
and she co%ld r%n and "i!ht and throw as !ood as a bo&' She was older than *r&a,
tho%!h: almost si0teen, a woman !rown' The& were both older than Bran, een tho%!h
his ninth name da& had "inall& come and !one, b%t the& neer treated him li$e a child'
1I wish &o% were o%r wards instead o" the (alders'3 ,e be!an to str%!!le toward the
nearest tree' ,is dra!!in! and wri!!lin! was %nseeml& to watch, b%t when 2eera
moed to li"t him he said, 1No, dont help me'3 ,e rolled cl%msil& and p%shed and
s)%irmed bac$ward, %sin! the stren!th o" his arms, %ntil he was sittin! with his bac$ to
the tr%n$ o" a tall ash' 1See, I told &o%'3 S%mmer la& down with his head in Brans lap'
1I neer $new an&one who "o%!ht with a net be"ore,3 he told 2eera while he scratched
the direwol" between the ears' 1#id &o%r master-at-arms teach &o% net-"i!htin!.3
12& "ather ta%!ht me' (e hae no $ni!hts at 8re&water' No master-at-arms, and no
maester'3
1(ho $eeps &o%r raens.3
She smiled' 1Baens cant "ind 8re&water (atch, no more than o%r enemies can'3
1(h& not.3
1Beca%se it moes,3 she told him'
Bran had neer heard o" a moin! castle be"ore' ,e loo$ed at her %ncertainl&, b%t he
co%ldnt tell whether she was teasin! him or not' 1I wish I co%ld see it' #o &o% thin$
&o%r lord "ather wo%ld let me come isit when the war is oer.3
1;o% wo%ld be most welcome, m& prince' Then or now'3
1Now.3 Bran had spent his whole li"e at (inter"ell' ,e &earned to see "ar places' 1I
co%ld as$ Ser Bodri$ when he ret%rns'3 The old $ni!ht was o"" east, tr&in! to set to
ri!hts the tro%ble there' Boose Boltons bastard had started it b& sei?in! 7ad& ,ornwood
as she ret%rned "rom the harest "east, marr&in! her that er& ni!ht een tho%!h he was
&o%n! eno%!h to be her son' Then 7ord 2anderl& had ta$en her castle' To protect the
,ornwood holdin!s "rom the Boltons, he had written, b%t Ser Bodri$ had been almost as
an!r& with him as with the bastard' 1Ser Bodri$ mi!ht let me !o' 2aester 7%win neer
wo%ld'3
Sittin! cross-le!!ed %nder the weirwood, Co9en Beed re!arded him solemnl&' 1It wo%ld
be !ood i" &o% le"t (inter"ell, Bran'3
1It wo%ld.3
1;es' *nd sooner rather than later'3
12& brother has the !reensi!ht,3 said 2eera' 1,e dreams thin!s that haent
happened, b%t sometimes the& do'3
1There is no sometimes, 2eera'3 * loo$ passed between them: him sad, her de"iant'
1Tell me whats !oin! to happen,3 Bran said'
1I will,3 said Co9en, 1i" &o%ll tell me abo%t &o%r dreams'3
The !odswood !rew )%iet' Bran co%ld hear leaes r%stlin!, and ,odors distant
splashin! "rom the hot pools' ,e tho%!ht o" the !olden man and the three-e&ed crow,
remembered the cr%nch o" bones between his 9aws and the copper& taste o" blood' 1I
dont hae dreams' 2aester 7%win !ies me sleepin! dra%!hts'3
1#o the& help.3
1Sometimes'3
2eera said, 1*ll o" (inter"ell $nows &o% wa$e at ni!ht sho%tin! and sweatin!, Bran'
The women tal$ o" it at the well, and the !%ards in their hall'3
1Tell %s what "ri!htens &o% so m%ch,3 said Co9en'
1I dont want to' *n&wa&, its onl& dreams' 2aester 7%win sa&s dreams mi!ht mean
an&thin! or nothin!'3
12& brother dreams as other bo&s do, and those dreams mi!ht mean an&thin!,3 2eera
said, 1b%t the !reen dreams are di""erent'3
Co9ens e&es were the color o" moss, and sometimes when he loo$ed at &o% he seemed
to be seein! somethin! else' 7i$e now' 1I dreamed o" a win!ed wol" bo%nd to earth with
!re& stone chains,3 he said' 1It was a !reen dream, so I $new it was tr%e' * crow was
tr&in! to pec$ thro%!h the chains, b%t the stone was too hard and his bea$ co%ld onl&
chip at them'3
1#id the crow hae three e&es.3
Co9en nodded'
S%mmer raised his head "rom Brans lap, and !a?ed at the m%dman with his dar$
!olden e&es'
1(hen I was little I almost died o" !re&water "eer' That was when the crow came to
me'3
1,e came to me a"ter I "ell,3 Bran bl%rted' 1I was asleep "or a lon! time' ,e said I had
to "l& or die, and I wo$e %p, onl& I was bro$en and I co%ldnt "l& a"ter all'3
1;o% can i" &o% want to'3 4ic$in! %p her net, 2eera shoo$ o%t the last tan!les and
be!an arran!in! it in loose "olds'
1;o% are the win!ed wol", Bran,3 said Co9en' 1I wasnt s%re when we "irst came, b%t
now I am' The crow sent %s here to brea$ &o%r chains'3
1Is the crow at 8re&water.3
1No' The crow is in the north'3
1*t the (all.3 Bran had alwa&s wanted to see the (all' ,is bastard brother Con was
there now, a man o" the Ni!hts (atch'
1Be&ond the (all'3 2eera Beed h%n! the net "rom her belt' 1(hen Co9en told o%r lord
"ather what hed dreamed, he sent %s to (inter"ell'3
1,ow wo%ld I brea$ the chains, Co9en.3 Bran as$ed'
1/pen &o%r e&e'3
1The& are open' +ant &o% see.3
1Two are open'3 Co9en pointed' 1/ne, two'3
1I onl& hae two'3
1;o% hae three' The crow !ae &o% the third, b%t &o% will not open it'3 ,e had a slow
so"t wa& o" spea$in!' 1(ith two e&es &o% see m& "ace' (ith three &o% co%ld see m&
heart' (ith two &o% can see that oa$ tree there' (ith three &o% co%ld see the acorn the
oa$ !rew "rom and the st%mp that it will one da& become' (ith two &o% see no "arther
than &o%r walls' (ith three &o% wo%ld !a?e so%th to the S%mmer Sea and north be&ond
the (all'3
S%mmer !ot to his "eet' 1I dont need to see so "ar'3 Bran made a nero%s smile' 1Im
tired o" tal$in! abo%t crows' 7ets tal$ abo%t woles' /r li?ard-lions' ,ae &o% eer
h%nted one, 2eera. (e dont hae them here'3
2eera pl%c$ed her "ro! spear o%t o" the b%shes' 1The& lie in the water' In slow
streams and deep swampsA3
,er brother interr%pted' 1#id &o% dream o" a li?ard-lion.3
1No,3 said Bran' 1I told &o%, I dont wantA3
1#id &o% dream o" a wol".3
,e was ma$in! Bran an!r&' 1I dont hae to tell &o% m& dreams' Im the prince' Im
the Star$ in (inter"ell'3
1(as it S%mmer.3
1;o% be )%iet'3
1The ni!ht o" the harest "east, &o% dreamed &o% were S%mmer in the !odswood,
didnt &o%.3
1Stop it@3 Bran sho%ted' S%mmer slid toward the weirwood, his white teeth bared'
Co9en Beed too$ no mind' 1(hen I to%ched S%mmer, I "elt &o% in him' C%st as &o% are
in him now'3
1;o% co%ldnt hae' I was in bed' I was sleepin!'3
1;o% were in the !odswood, all in !re&'3
1It was onl& a bad dream ' ' '3
Co9en stood' 1I "elt &o%' I "elt &o% "all' Is that what scares &o%, the "allin!.3
The "allin!, Bran tho%!ht, and the !olden man, the )%eens brother, he scares me too,
b%t mostl& the "allin!' ,e did not sa& it, tho%!h' ,ow co%ld he. ,e had not been able to
tell Ser Bodri$ or 2aester 7%win, and he co%ld not tell the Beeds either' I" he didnt tal$
abo%t it, ma&be he wo%ld "or!et' ,e had neer wanted to remember' It mi!ht not een be
a tr%e rememberin!'
1#o &o% "all eer& ni!ht, Bran.3 Co9en as$ed )%ietl&'
* low r%mblin! !rowl rose "rom S%mmers throat, and there was no pla& in it' ,e
stal$ed "orward, all teeth and hot e&es' 2eera stepped between the wol" and her brother,
spear in hand' 16eep him bac$, Bran'3
1Co9en is ma$in! him an!r&'3
2eera shoo$ o%t her net'
1Its &o%r an!er, Bran,3 her brother said' 1;o%r "ear'3
1It isnt' Im not a wol"'3 ;et hed howled with them in the ni!ht, and tasted blood in
his wol" dreams'
14art o" &o% is S%mmer, and part o" S%mmer is &o%' ;o% $now that, Bran'3
S%mmer r%shed "orward, b%t 2eera bloc$ed him, 9abbin! with the three-pron!ed spear'
The wol" twisted aside, circlin!, stal$in!' 2eera t%rned to "ace him' 1+all him bac$,
Bran'3
1S%mmer@3 Bran sho%ted' 1To me, S%mmer@3 ,e slapped an open palm down on the
meat o" his thi!h' ,is hand tin!led, tho%!h his dead le! "elt nothin!'
The direwol" l%n!ed a!ain, and a!ain 2eeras spear darted o%t' S%mmer dod!ed,
circled bac$' The b%shes r%stled, and a lean blac$ shape came paddin! "rom behind the
weirwood, teeth bared' The scent was stron!: his brother had smelled his ra!e' Bran "elt
hairs rise on the bac$ o" his nec$' 2eera stood beside her brother, with woles to either
side' 1Bran, call them o""'3
1I cant@3
1Co9en, %p the tree'3
1Theres no need' Toda& is not the da& I die'3
1#o it@3 she screamed, and her brother scrambled %p the tr%n$ o" the weirwood, %sin!
the "ace "or his handholds' The direwoles closed' 2eera abandoned spear and net,
9%mped %p, and !rabbed the branch aboe her head' Sha!!&s 9aws snapped sh%t beneath
her an$le as she sw%n! %p and oer the limb' S%mmer sat bac$ on his ha%nches and
howled, while Sha!!&do! worried the net, sha$in! it in his teeth'
/nl& then did Bran remember that the& were not alone' ,e c%pped hands aro%nd his
mo%th' 1,odor@3 he sho%ted' 1,odor@ ,odor@3 ,e was badl& "ri!htened and somehow
ashamed' 1The& wont h%rt ,odor,3 he ass%red his treed "riends'
* "ew moments passed be"ore the& heard a t%neless h%mmin!' ,odor arried hal"-
dressed and m%d-spattered "rom his isit to the hot pools, b%t Bran had neer been so
!lad to see him' 1,odor, help me' +hase o"" the woles' +hase them o""'3
,odor went to it !lee"%ll&, wain! his arms and stampin! his h%!e "eet, sho%tin!
1,odor, ,odor,3 r%nnin! "irst at one wol" and then the other' Sha!!&do! was the "irst to
"lee, slin$in! bac$ into the "olia!e with a "inal snarl' (hen S%mmer had eno%!h, he
came bac$ to Bran and la& down beside him'
No sooner did 2eera to%ch !ro%nd than she snatched %p her spear and net a!ain' Co9en
neer too$ his e&es o"" S%mmer' 1(e will tal$ a!ain,3 he promised Bran'
It was the woles, it wasnt me' ,e did not %nderstand wh& the&d !otten so wild'
2a&be 2aester 7%win was ri!ht to loc$ them in the !odswood' 1,odor,3 he said, 1brin!
me to 2aester 7%win'3
The maesters t%rret below the roo$er& was one o" Brans "aorite places' 7%win was
hopelessl& %ntid&, b%t his cl%tter o" boo$s and scrolls and bottles was as "amiliar and
com"ortin! to Bran as his bald spot and the "lappin! sleees o" his loose !re& robes' ,e
li$ed the raens too'
,e "o%nd 7%win perched on a hi!h stool, writin!' (ith Ser Bodri$ !one, all o" the
!oernance o" the castle had "allen on his sho%lders' 12& prince,3 he said when ,odor
entered, 1&o%re earl& "or lessons toda&'3 The maester spent seeral ho%rs eer&
a"ternoon t%torin! Bran, Bic$on, and the (alder =re&s'
1,odor, stand still'3 Bran !rasped a wall sconce with both hands and %sed it to p%ll
himsel" %p and o%t o" the bas$et' ,e h%n! "or a moment b& his arms %ntil ,odor carried
him to a chair' 12eera sa&s her brother has the !reensi!ht'3
2aester 7%win scratched at the side o" his nose with his writin! )%ill' 1#oes she
now.3
,e nodded' 1;o% told me that the children o" the "orest had the !reensi!ht' I
remember'3
1Some claimed to hae that power' Their wise men were called !reenseers'3
1(as it ma!ic.3
1+all it that "or want o" a better word, i" &o% m%st' *t heart it was onl& a di""erent sort
o" $nowled!e'3
1(hat was it.3
7%win set down his )%ill' 1No one tr%l& $nows, Bran' The children are !one "rom the
world, and their wisdom with them' It had to do with the "aces in the trees, we thin$' The
=irst 2en belieed that the !reenseers co%ld see thro%!h the e&es o" the weirwoods'
That was wh& the& c%t down the trees wheneer the& warred %pon the children'
S%pposedl& the !reenseers also had power oer the beasts o" the wood and the birds in
the trees' 5en "ish' #oes the Beed bo& claim s%ch powers.3
1No' I dont thin$' B%t he has dreams that come tr%e sometimes, 2eera sa&s'3
1*ll o" %s hae dreams that come tr%e sometimes' ;o% dreamed o" &o%r lord "ather in
the cr&pts be"ore we $new he was dead, remember.3
1Bic$on did too' (e dreamed the same dream'3
1+all it !reensi!ht, i" &o% wish ' ' ' b%t remember as well all those tens o" tho%sands o"
dreams that &o% and Bic$on hae dreamed that did not come tr%e' #o &o% perchance
recall what I ta%!ht &o% abo%t the chain collar that eer& maester wears.3
Bran tho%!ht "or a moment, tr&in! to remember' 1* maester "or!es his chain in the
+itadel o" /ldtown' Its a chain beca%se &o% swear to sere, and its made o" di""erent
metals beca%se &o% sere the realm and the realm has di""erent sorts o" people' 5er&
time &o% learn somethin! &o% !et another lin$' Blac$ iron is "or raenr&, siler "or
healin!, !old "or s%ms and n%mbers' I dont remember them all'3
7%win slid a "in!er %p %nder his collar and be!an to t%rn it, inch b& inch' ,e had a
thic$ nec$ "or a small man, and the chain was ti!ht, b%t a "ew p%lls had it all the wa&
aro%nd' 1This is >al&rian steel,3 he said when the lin$ o" dar$ !re& metal la& a!ainst the
apple o" his throat' 1/nl& one maester in a h%ndred wears s%ch a lin$' This si!ni"ies that
I hae st%died what the +itadel calls the hi!her m&steriesAma!ic, "or want o" a better
word' * "ascinatin! p%rs%it, b%t o" small %se, which is wh& so "ew maesters tro%ble
themseles with it'
1*ll those who st%d& the hi!her m&steries tr& their own hand at spells, soon or late' I
&ielded to the temptation too, I m%st con"ess it' (ell, I was a bo&, and what bo& does not
secretl& wish to "ind hidden powers in himsel". I !ot no more "or m& e""orts than a
tho%sand bo&s be"ore me, and a tho%sand since' Sad to sa&, ma!ic does not wor$'3
1Sometimes it does,3 Bran protested' 1I had that dream, and Bic$on did too' *nd there
are ma!es and warloc$s in the east ' ' '3
1There are men who call themseles ma!es and warloc$s,3 2aester 7%win said' 1I had
a "riend at the +itadel who co%ld p%ll a rose o%t o" &o%r ear, b%t he was no more ma!ical
than I was' /h, to be s%re, there is m%ch we do not %nderstand' The &ears pass in their
h%ndreds and their tho%sands, and what does an& man see o" li"e b%t a "ew s%mmers, a
"ew winters. (e loo$ at mo%ntains and call them eternal, and so the& seem ' ' ' b%t in the
co%rse o" time, mo%ntains rise and "all, riers chan!e their co%rses, stars "all "rom the
s$&, and !reat cities sin$ beneath the sea' 5en !ods die, we thin$' 5er&thin! chan!es'
14erhaps ma!ic was once a mi!ht& "orce in the world, b%t no lon!er' (hat little
remains is no more than the wisp o" smo$e that lin!ers in the air a"ter a !reat "ire has
b%rned o%t, and een that is "adin!' >al&ria was the last ember, and >al&ria is !one' The
dra!ons are no more, the !iants are dead, the children o" the "orest "or!otten with all
their lore'
1No, m& prince' Co9en Beed ma& hae had a dream or two that he beliees came tr%e,
b%t he does not hae the !reensi!ht' No liin! man has that power'3
Bran said as m%ch to 2eera Beed when she came to him at d%s$ as he sat in his
window seat watchin! the li!hts "lic$er to li"e' 1Im sorr& "or what happened with the
woles' S%mmer sho%ldnt hae tried to h%rt Co9en, b%t Co9en sho%ldnt hae said all that
abo%t m& dreams' The crow lied when he said I co%ld "l&, and &o%r brother lied too'3
1/r perhaps &o%r maester is wron!'3
1,e isnt' 5en m& "ather relied on his co%nsel'3
1;o%r "ather listened, I hae no do%bt' B%t in the end, he decided "or himsel"' Bran,
will &o% let me tell &o% abo%t a dream Co9en dreamed o" &o% and &o%r "osterlin!
brothers.3
1The (alders arent m& brothers'3
She paid that no heed' 1;o% were sittin! at s%pper, b%t instead o" a serant, 2aester
7%win bro%!ht &o% &o%r "ood' ,e sered &o% the $in!s c%t o"" the roast, the meat rare
and blood&, b%t with a saor& smell that made eer&ones mo%th water' The meat he
sered the =re&s was old and !re& and dead' ;et the& li$ed their s%pper better than &o%
li$ed &o%rs'3
1I dont %nderstand'3
1;o% will, m& brother sa&s' (hen &o% do, well tal$ a!ain'3
Bran was almost a"raid to sit to s%pper that ni!ht, b%t when he did, it was pi!eon pie
the& set be"ore him' 5er&one else was sered the same, and he co%ldnt see that
an&thin! was wron! with the "ood the& sered the (alders' 2aester 7%win has the tr%th
o" it, he told himsel"' Nothin! bad was comin! to (inter"ell, no matter what Co9en said'
Bran was relieed ' ' ' b%t disappointed too' So lon! as there was ma!ic, an&thin! co%ld
happen' 8hosts co%ld wal$, trees co%ld tal$, and bro$en bo&s co%ld !row %p to be
$ni!hts' 1B%t there isnt,3 he said alo%d in the dar$ness o" his bed' 1Theres no ma!ic,
and the stories are 9%st stories'3
*nd he wo%ld neer wal$, nor "l&, nor be a $ni!ht'
C#APT"R &0
T%RIO'
The r%shes were scratch& %nder the soles o" his bare "eet' 12& co%sin chooses a )%eer
ho%r to come isitin!,3 T&rion told a sleep-be"%ddled 4odric$ 4a&ne, whod do%btless
e0pected to be well roasted "or wa$in! him' 1See him to m& solar and tell him Ill be
down shortl&'3
It was well past midni!ht, he 9%d!ed "rom the blac$ o%tside the window' #oes 7ancel
thin$ to "ind me drows& and slow o" wit at this ho%r. he wondered' No, 7ancel scarce
thin$s at all, this is +erseis doin!' ,is sister wo%ld be disappointed' 5en abed, he
wor$ed well into the mornin!Areadin! b& the "lic$erin! li!ht o" a candle, scr%tini?in!
the reports o" >ar&ss whisperers, and porin! oer 7ittle"in!ers boo$s o" acco%nts %ntil
the col%mns bl%rred and his e&es ached'
,e splashed some tepid water on his "ace "rom the basin beside his bed and too$ his
time s)%attin! in the !arderobe, the ni!ht air cold on his bare s$in' Ser 7ancel was
si0teen, and not $nown "or his patience' 7et him wait, and !row more an0io%s in the
waitin!' (hen his bowels were empt&, T&rion slipped on a bedrobe and ro%!hed his thin
"la0en hair with his "in!ers, all the more to loo$ as i" he had wa$ened "rom sleep'
7ancel was pacin! be"ore the ashes o" the hearth, !arbed in slashed red elet with
blac$ sil$ %ndersleees, a 9eweled da!!er and a !ilded scabbard han!in! "rom his
swordbelt' 1+o%sin,3 T&rion !reeted him' 1;o%r isits are too "ew' To what do I owe this
%ndesered pleas%re.3
1,er 8race the F%een Be!ent has sent me to command &o% to release 8rand 2aester
4&celle'3 Ser 7ancel showed T&rion a crimson ribbon, bearin! +erseis lion seal
impressed in !olden wa0' 1,ere is her warrant'3
1So it is'3 T&rion waed it awa&' 1I hope m& sister is not oerta0in! her stren!th, so
soon a"ter her illness' It wo%ld be a !reat pit& i" she were to s%""er a relapse'3
1,er 8race is )%ite recoered,3 Ser 7ancel said c%rtl&'
12%sic to m& ears'3 Tho%!h not a t%ne Im "ond o"' I sho%ld hae !ien her a lar!er
dose' T&rion had hoped "or a "ew more da&s witho%t +erseis inter"erence, b%t he was
not too terribl& s%rprised b& her ret%rn to health' She was Caimes twin, a"ter all' ,e
made himsel" smile pleasantl&' 14od, b%ild %s a "ire, the air is too chill& "or m& taste'
(ill &o% ta$e a c%p with me, 7ancel. I "ind that m%lled wine helps me sleep'3
1I need no help sleepin!,3 Ser 7ancel said' 1I am come at ,er 8races behest, not to
drin$ with &o%, Imp'3
6ni!hthood had made the bo& bolder, T&rion re"lectedAthat, and the sorr& part he had
pla&ed in m%rderin! 6in! Bobert' 1(ine does hae its dan!ers'3 ,e smiled as he
po%red' 1*s to 8rand 2aester 4&celle ' ' ' i" m& sweet sister is so concerned "or him, I
wo%ld hae tho%!ht shed come hersel"' Instead she sends &o%' (hat am I to ma$e o"
that.3
12a$e o" it what &o% will, so lon! as &o% release &o%r prisoner' The 8rand 2aester is
a sta%nch "riend to the F%een Be!ent, and %nder her personal protection'3 * hint o" a
sneer pla&ed abo%t the lads lips: he was en9o&in! this' ,e ta$es his lessons "rom +ersei'
1,er 8race will neer consent to this o%tra!e' She reminds &o% that she is Co""re&s
re!ent'3
1*s I am Co""re&s ,and'3
1The ,and seres,3 the &o%n! $ni!ht in"ormed him airil&' 1The re!ent r%les %ntil the
$in! is o" a!e'3
14erhaps &o% o%!ht write that down so Ill remember it better'3 The "ire was crac$lin!
merril&' 1;o% ma& leae %s, 4od,3 T&rion told his s)%ire' /nl& when the bo& was !one
did he t%rn bac$ to 7ancel' 1There is more.3
1;es' ,er 8race bids me in"orm &o% that Ser Cacel&n B&water de"ied a command
iss%ed in the $in!s own name'3
(hich means that +ersei has alread& ordered B&water to release 4&celle, and been
reb%""ed' 1I see'3
1She insists that the man be remoed "rom his o""ice and placed %nder arrest "or
treason' I warn &o%A3
,e set aside his wine c%p' 1Ill hear no warnin!s "rom &o%, bo&'3
1Ser,3 7ancel said sti""l&' ,e to%ched his sword, perhaps to remind T&rion that he wore
one' 1,ae a care how &o% spea$ to me, Imp'3 #o%btless he meant to so%nd threatenin!,
b%t that abs%rd wisp o" a m%stache r%ined the e""ect'
1/h, %nhand &o%r sword' /ne cr& "rom me and Sha!!a will b%rst in and $ill &o%' (ith
an a0e, not a wines$in'3
7ancel reddened: was he s%ch a "ool as to beliee his part in Boberts death had !one
%nnoted. 1I am a $ni!htA3
1So Ie noted' Tell meAdid +ersei hae &o% $ni!hted be"ore or a"ter she too$ &o%
into her bed.3
The "lic$er in 7ancels !reen e&es was all the admission T&rion needed' So >ar&s told
it tr%e' (ell, no one can eer claim that m& sister does not loe her "amil&' 1(hat,
nothin! to sa&. No more warnin!s "or me, ser.3
1;o% will withdraw these "ilth& acc%sations orA3
14lease' ,ae &o% !ien an& tho%!ht to what Co""re& will do when I tell him &o%
m%rdered his "ather to bed his mother.3
1It was not li$e that@3 7ancel protested, horri"ied'
1No. (hat was it li$e, pra&.3
1The )%een !ae me the stron!wine@ ;o%r own "ather 7ord T&win, when I was named
the $in!s s)%ire, he told me to obe& her in eer&thin!'3
1#id he tell &o% to "%c$ her too.3 7oo$ at him' Not )%ite so tall, his "eat%res not so
"ine, and his hair is sand instead o" sp%n !old, &et still ' ' ' een a poor cop& o" Caime is
sweeter than an empt& bed, I s%ppose' 1No, I tho%!ht not'3
1I neer meant ' ' ' I onl& did as I was bid, I ' ' '3
1' ' ' hated eer& instant o" it, is that what &o% wo%ld hae me beliee. * hi!h place at
co%rt, $ni!hthood, m& sisters le!s openin! "or &o% at ni!ht, oh, &es, it m%st hae been
terrible "or &o%'3 T&rion p%shed himsel" to his "eet' 1(ait here' ,is 8race will want to
hear this'3
The de"iance went "rom 7ancel all at once' The &o%n! $ni!ht "ell to his $nees a
"ri!htened bo&' 12erc&, m& lord, I be! &o%'3
1Sae it "or Co""re&' ,e li$es a !ood be!'3
12& lord, it was &o%r sisters biddin!, the )%een, as &o% said, b%t ,is 8race ' ' ' hed
neer %nderstand ' ' '3
1(o%ld &o% hae me $eep the tr%th "rom the $in!.3
1=or m& "athers sa$e@ Ill leae the cit&, it will be as i" it neer happened@ I swear, I
will end it ' ' '3
It was hard not to la%!h' 1I thin$ not'3
Now the lad loo$ed lost' 12& lord.3
1;o% heard me' 2& "ather told &o% to obe& m& sister. >er& well, obe& her' Sta& close
to her side, $eep her tr%st, pleas%re her as o"ten as she re)%ires it' No one need eer
$now ' ' ' so lon! as &o% $eep "aith with me' I want to $now what +ersei is doin!' (here
she !oes, who she sees, what the& tal$ o", what plans she is hatchin!' *ll' *nd &o% will
be the one to tell me, wont &o%.3
1;es, m& lord'3 7ancel spo$e witho%t a moments hesitation' T&rion li$ed that' 1I will'
I swear it' *s &o% command'3
1Bise'3 T&rion "illed the second c%p and pressed it on him' 1#rin$ to o%r
%nderstandin!' I promise, there are no boars in the castle that I $now o"'3 7ancel li"ted
the c%p and dran$, albeit sti""l&' 1Smile, co%sin' 2& sister is a bea%ti"%l woman, and its
all "or the !ood o" the realm' ;o% co%ld do well o%t o" this' 6ni!hthood is nothin!' I"
&o%re cleer, &o%ll hae a lordship "rom me be"ore &o%re done'3 T&rion swirled the
wine in his c%p' 1(e want +ersei to hae eer& "aith in &o%' 8o bac$ and tell her I be!
her "or!ieness' Tell her that &o% "ri!htened me, that I want no con"lict between %s, that
hence"orth I shall do nothin! witho%t her consent'3
1B%t ' ' ' her demands ' ' '3
1/h, Ill !ie her 4&celle'3
1;o% will.3 7ancel seemed astonished'
T&rion smiled' 1Ill release him on the morrow' I co%ld swear that I hadnt harmed a
hair on his head, b%t it wo%ldnt be strictl& tr%e' In an& case, hes well eno%!h, tho%!h I
wont o%ch "or his i!or' The blac$ cells are not a health& place "or a man his a!e'
+ersei can $eep him as a pet or send him to the (all, I dont care which, b%t I wont
hae him on the co%ncil'3
1*nd Ser Cacel&n.3
1Tell m& sister &o% beliee &o% can win him awa& "rom me, !ien time' That o%!ht to
content her "or a while'3
1*s &o% sa&'3 7ancel "inished his wine'
1/ne last thin!' (ith 6in! Bobert dead, it wo%ld be most embarrassin! sho%ld his
!riein! widow s%ddenl& !row !reat with child'3
12& lord, I ' ' ' we ' ' ' the )%een has commanded me not to ' ' '3
,is ears had t%rned 7annister crimson' 1I spill m& seed on her bell&, m& lord'3
1* loel& bell&, I hae no do%bt' 2oisten it as o"ten as &o% wish ' ' ' b%t see that &o%r
dew "alls nowhere else' I want no more nephews, is that clear.3
Ser 7ancel made a sti"" bow and too$ his leae'
T&rion allowed himsel" a moment to "eel sorr& "or the bo&' *nother "ool, and a
wea$lin! as well, b%t he does not desere what +ersei and I are doin! to him' It was a
$indness that his %ncle 6ean had two other sons: this one was %nli$el& to lie o%t the
&ear' +ersei wo%ld hae him $illed o%t o" hand i" she learned he was betra&in! her, and
i" b& some !race o" the !ods she did not, 7ancel wo%ld neer s%rie the da& Caime
7annister ret%rned to 6in!s 7andin!' The onl& )%estion wo%ld be whether Caime c%t
him down in a 9ealo%s ra!e, or +ersei m%rdered him "irst to $eep Caime "rom "indin! o%t'
T&rions siler was on +ersei'
* restlessness was on him, and T&rion $new "%ll well he wo%ld not !et bac$ to sleep
toni!ht' Not here, in an& case' ,e "o%nd 4odric$ 4a&ne asleep in a chair o%tside the door
o" the solar, and shoo$ him b& the sho%lder' 1S%mmon Bronn, and then r%n down to the
stables and hae two horses saddled'3
The s)%ires e&es were clo%d& with sleep' 1,orses'3
1Those bi! brown animals that loe apples, Im s%re &o%e seen them' =o%r le!s and a
tail' B%t Bronn "irst'3
The sellsword was not lon! in appearin!' 1(ho pissed in &o%r so%p.3 he demanded'
1+ersei, as eer' ;o%d thin$ Id be %sed to the taste b& now, b%t neer mind' 2&
!entle sister seems to hae mista$en me "or Ned Star$'3
1I hear he was taller'3
1Not a"ter Co"" too$ o"" his head' ;o% o%!ht to hae dressed more warml&, the ni!ht is
chill'3
1*re we !oin! somewhere.3
1*re all sellswords as cleer as &o%.3
The cit& streets were dan!ero%s, b%t with Bronn beside him T&rion "elt sa"e eno%!h'
The !%ards let him o%t a postern !ate in the north wall, and the& rode down
Shadowblac$ 7ane to the "oot o" *e!ons ,i!h ,ill, and thence onto 4i!r%n *lle&, past
rows o" sh%ttered windows and tall timber-and-stone b%ildin!s whose %pper stories
leaned o%t so "ar oer the street the& almost $issed' The moon seemed to "ollow them as
the& went, pla&in! pee$-and-snea$ amon! the chimne&s' The& enco%ntered no one b%t a
lone old crone, carr&in! a dead cat b& the tail' She !ae them a "ear"%l loo$, as i" she
were a"raid the& mi!ht tr& to steal her dinner, and sl%n$ o"" into the shadows witho%t a
word'
T&rion re"lected on the men who had been ,and be"ore him, who had proed no match
"or his sisters wiles' ,ow co%ld the& be. 2en li$e that ' ' ' too honest to lie, too noble
to shit, +ersei deo%rs s%ch "ools eer& mornin! when she brea$s her "ast' The onl& wa&
to de"eat m& sister is to pla& her own !ame, and that was somethin! the 7ords Star$ and
*rr&n wo%ld neer do' Small wonder that both o" them were dead, while T&rion
7annister had neer "elt more alie' ,is st%nted le!s mi!ht ma$e him a comic !rotes)%e
at a harest ball, b%t this dance he $new'
#espite the ho%r, the brothel was crowded' +hata&a !reeted them pleasantl& and
escorted them to the common room' Bronn went %pstairs with a dar$-e&ed !irl "rom
#orne, b%t *la&a&a was b%s& entertainin!' 1She will be so pleased to $now &o%e
come,3 said +hata&a' 1I will see that the t%rret room is made read& "or &o%' (ill m& lord
ta$e a c%p o" wine while he waits.3
1I will,3 he said'
The wine was poor st%"" compared to the inta!es "rom the *rbor the ho%se normall&
sered' 1;o% m%st "or!ie %s, m& lord,3 +hata&a said' 1I cannot "ind !ood wine at an&
price o" late'3
1;o% are not alone in that, I "ear'3
+hata&a commiserated with him a moment, then e0c%sed hersel" and !lided o""' *
handsome woman, T&rion re"lected as he watched her !o' ,e had seldom seen s%ch
ele!ance and di!nit& in a whore' Tho%!h to be s%re, she saw hersel" more as a $ind o"
priestess' 4erhaps that is the secret' It is not what we do, so m%ch as wh& we do it'
Somehow that tho%!ht com"orted him'
* "ew o" the other patrons were !iin! him sidewa&s loo$s' The last time he ent%red
o%t, a man had spit on him ' ' ' well, had tried to' Instead hed spit on Bronn, and in
"%t%re wo%ld do his spittin! witho%t teeth'
1Is milord "eelin! %nloed.3 #anc& slid into his lap and nibbled at his ear' 1I hae a
c%re "or that'3
Smilin!, T&rion shoo$ his head' 1;o% are too bea%ti"%l "or words, sweetlin!, b%t Ie
!rown "ond o" *la&a&as remed&'3
1;o%e neer tried mine' 2ilord neer chooses an&one b%t D;a&a' Shes !ood b%t Im
better, dont &o% want to see.3
1Ne0t time, perhaps'3 T&rion had no do%bt that #anc& wo%ld be a liel& hand"%l' She
was p%!-nosed and bo%nc&, with "rec$les and a mane o" thic$ red hair that t%mbled
down past her waist' B%t he had Shae waitin! "or him at the manse'
8i!!lin!, she p%t her hand between his thi!hs and s)%ee?ed him thro%!h his breeches'
1I dont thin$ he wants to wait till ne0t time,3 she anno%nced' 1,e wants to come o%t
and co%nt all m& "rec$les, I thin$'3
1#anc&'3 *la&a&a stood in the doorwa&, dar$ and cool in !a%?& !reen sil$' 1,is
lordship is come to isit me'3
T&rion !entl& disentan!led himsel" "rom the other !irl and stood' #anc& did not seem
to mind' 1Ne0t time,3 she reminded him' She p%t a "in!er in her mo%th and s%c$ed it'
*s the blac$-s$inned !irl led him %p the stairs, she said, 14oor #anc&' She has a
"ortni!ht to !et m& lord to choose her' 5lsewise she loses her blac$ pearls to 2arei'3
2arei was a cool, pale, delicate !irl T&rion had noticed once or twice' 8reen e&es and
porcelain s$in, lon! strai!ht siler& hair, er& loel&, b%t too solemn b& hal"' 1Id hate to
hae the poor child lose her pearls on acco%nt o" me'3
1Then ta$e her %pstairs ne0t time'3
12a&be I will'3
She smiled' 1I thin$ not, m& lord'3
Shes ri!ht, T&rion tho%!ht, I wont' Shae ma& be onl& a whore, b%t I am "aith"%l to her
a"ter m& "ashion'
In the t%rret room, as he opened the door o" the wardrobe, he loo$ed at *la&a&a
c%rio%sl&' 1(hat do &o% do while Im !one.3
She raised her arms and stretched li$e some slee$ blac$ cat' 1Sleep' I am m%ch better
rested since &o% be!an to isit %s, m& lord' *nd 2arei is teachin! %s to read, perhaps
soon I will be able to pass the time with a boo$'3
1Sleep is !ood,3 he said' 1*nd boo$s are better'3 ,e !ae her a )%ic$ $iss on the
chee$' Then it was down the sha"t and thro%!h the t%nnel'
*s he le"t the stable on his piebald !eldin!, T&rion heard the so%nd o" m%sic dri"tin!
oer the roo"tops' It was pleasant to thin$ that men still san!, een in the midst o"
b%tcher& and "amine' Bemembered notes "illed his head, and "or a moment he co%ld
almost hear T&sha as shed s%n! to him hal" a li"etime a!o' ,e reined %p to listen' The
t%ne was wron!, the words too "aint to hear' * di""erent son! then, and wh& not. ,is
sweet innocent T&sha had been a lie start to "inish, onl& a whore his brother Caime had
hired to ma$e him a man'
Im "ree o" T&sha now, he tho%!ht' Shes ha%nted me hal" m& li"e, b%t I dont need her
an&more, no more than I need *la&a&a or #anc& or 2arei, or the h%ndreds li$e them
Ie bedded with oer the &ears' I hae Shae now ' ' ' Shae'
The !ates o" the manse were closed and barred' T&rion po%nded %ntil the ornate bron?e
e&e clac$ed open' 1Its me'3 The man who admitted him was one o" >ar&ss prettier
"inds, a Braaosi da!!erman with a harelip and a la?& e&e' T&rion had wanted no
handsome &o%n! !%ardsmen loiterin! abo%t Shae da& a"ter da&' 1=ind me old, %!l&,
scarred men, pre"erabl& impotent,3 he had told the e%n%ch' 12en who pre"er bo&s' /r
men who pre"er sheep, "or that matter'3 >ar&s had not mana!ed to come %p with an&
sheeploers, b%t he did "ind a e%n%ch stran!ler and a pair o" "o%lsmellin! Ibbenese who
were as "ond o" a0es as the& were o" each other' The others were as choice a lot o"
mercenaries as eer !raced a d%n!eon, each %!lier than the last' (hen >ar&s had
paraded them be"ore him, T&rion had been a"raid hed !one too "ar, b%t Shae had neer
%ttered a word o" complaint' *nd wh& wo%ld she. She has neer complained o" me, and
Im more hideo%s than all her !%ards to!ether' 4erhaps she does not een see %!liness'
5en so, T&rion wo%ld sooner hae %sed some o" his mo%ntain clansmen to !%ard the
manse: +hellas Blac$ 5ars perhaps, or the 2oon Brothers' ,e had more "aith in their
iron lo&alties and sense o" honor than in the !reed o" sellswords' The ris$ was too !reat,
howeer' *ll 6in!s 7andin! $new the wildlin!s were his' I" he sent the Blac$ 5ars here,
it wo%ld onl& be a matter o" time %ntil the whole cit& $new the 6in!s ,and was $eepin!
a conc%bine'
/ne o" the Ibbenese too$ his horse' 1,ae &o% wo$en her.3 T&rion as$ed him'
1No, mlord'3
18ood'3
The "ire in the bedchamber had b%rned down to embers, b%t the room was still warm'
Shae had $ic$ed o"" her blan$ets and sheets as she slept' She la& n%de atop the
"eatherbed, the so"t c%res o" her &o%n! bod& limned in the "aint !low "rom the hearth'
T&rion stood in the door and dran$ in the si!ht o" her' ;o%n!er than 2arei, sweeter than
#anc&, more bea%ti"%l than *la&a&a, shes all I need and more' ,ow co%ld a whore loo$
so clean and sweet and innocent, he wondered.
,e had not intended to dist%rb her, b%t the si!ht o" her was eno%!h to ma$e him hard'
,e let his !arments "all to the "loor, then crawled onto the bed and !entl& p%shed her
le!s apart and $issed her between the thi!hs' Shae m%rm%red in her sleep' ,e $issed her
a!ain, and lic$ed at her secret sweetness, on and on %ntil his beard and her c%nt were
both soa$ed' (hen she !ae a so"t moan and sh%ddered, he climbed %p and thr%st
himsel" inside her and e0ploded almost at once'
,er e&es were open' She smiled and stro$ed his head and whispered, 1I 9%st had the
sweetest dream, mlord'3
T&rion nipped at her small hard nipple and nestled his head on her sho%lder' ,e did not
p%ll o%t o" her: wo%ld that he neer had to p%ll o%t o" her' 1This is no dream,3 he
promised her' It is real, all o" it, he tho%!ht, the wars, the intri!%es, the !reat blood&
!ame, and me in the center o" it ' ' ' me, the dwar", the monster, the one the& scorned and
la%!hed at, b%t now I hold it all, the power, the cit&, the !irl' This was what I was made
"or, and !ods "or!ie me, b%t I do loe it ' ' '
*nd her' *nd her'
C#APT"R (1
AR%A
(hateer names ,arren the Blac$ had meant to !ie his towers were lon! "or!otten'
The& were called the Tower o" #read, the (idows Tower, the (ailin! Tower, the Tower
o" 8hosts, and 6in!sp&re Tower' *r&a slept in a shallow niche in the caerno%s a%lts
beneath the (ailin! Tower, on a bed o" straw' She had water to wash in wheneer she
li$ed, a ch%n$ o" soap' The wor$ was hard, b%t no harder than wal$in! miles eer& da&'
(easel did not need to "ind worms and b%!s to eat, as *rr& had: there was bread eer&
da&, and barle& stews with bits o" carrot and t%rnip, and once a "ortni!ht een a bite o"
meat'
,ot 4ie ate een better: he was where he belon!ed, in the $itchens, a ro%nd stone
b%ildin! with a domed roo" that was a world %nto itsel"' *r&a too$ her meals at a trestle
table in the %ndercro"t with (eese and his other char!es, b%t sometimes she wo%ld be
chosen to help "etch their "ood, and she and ,ot 4ie co%ld steal a moment to tal$' ,e
co%ld neer remember that she was now (easel and $ept callin! her *rr&, een tho%!h
he $new she was a !irl' /nce he tried to slip her a hot apple tart, b%t he made s%ch a
cl%ms& 9ob o" it that two o" the coo$s saw' The& too$ the tart awa& and beat him with a
bi! wooden spoon'
8endr& had been sent to the "or!e: *r&a seldom saw him' *s "or those she sered with,
she did not een want to $now their names' That onl& made it h%rt worse when the&
died' 2ost o" them were older than she was and content to let her alone'
,arrenhal was ast, m%ch o" it "ar !one in deca&' 7ad& (hent had held the castle as
bannerman to ,o%se T%ll&, b%t shed %sed onl& the lower thirds o" two o" the "ie
towers, and let the rest !o to r%in' Now she was "led, and the small ho%sehold shed le"t
co%ld not be!in to tend the needs o" all the $ni!hts, lords, and hi!hborn prisoners 7ord
T&win had bro%!ht, so the 7annisters m%st "ora!e "or serants as well as "or pl%nder and
proender' The tal$ was that 7ord T&win planned to restore ,arrenhal to !lor&, and
ma$e it his new seat once the war was done'
(eese %sed *r&a to r%n messa!es, draw water, and "etch "ood, and sometimes to sere
at table in the Barrac$s ,all aboe the armor&, where the men-at-arms too$ their meals'
B%t most o" her wor$ was cleanin!' The !ro%nd "loor o" the (ailin! Tower was !ien
oer to storerooms and !ranaries, and two "loors aboe ho%sed part o" the !arrison, b%t
the %pper stories had not been occ%pied "or ei!ht& &ears' Now 7ord T&win had
commanded that the& be made "it "or habitation a!ain' There were "loors to be scr%bbed,
!rime to be washed o"" windows, bro$en chairs and rotted beds to be carried o""' The
topmost stor& was in"ested with nests o" the h%!e blac$ bats that ,o%se (hent had %sed
"or its si!il, and there were rats in the cellars as well ' ' ' and !hosts, some said, the
spirits o" ,arren the Blac$ and his sons'
*r&a tho%!ht that was st%pid' ,arren and his sons had died in 6in!sp&re Tower, that
was wh& it had that name, so wh& sho%ld the& cross the &ard to ha%nt her. The (ailin!
Tower onl& wailed when the wind blew "rom the north, and that was 9%st the so%nd the
air made blowin! thro%!h the crac$s in the stones where the& had "iss%red "rom the heat'
I" there were !hosts in ,arrenhal, the& neer tro%bled her' It was the liin! men she
"eared, (eese and Ser 8re!or +le!ane and 7ord T&win 7annister himsel", who $ept his
apartments in 6in!sp&re Tower, still the tallest and mi!htiest o" all, tho%!h lopsided
beneath the wei!ht o" the sla!!ed stone that made it loo$ li$e some !iant hal"-melted
blac$ candle'
She wondered what 7ord T&win wo%ld do i" she marched %p to him and con"essed to
bein! *r&a Star$, b%t she $new shed neer !et near eno%!h to tal$ to him, and an&how
hed neer beliee her i" she did, and a"terward (eese wo%ld beat her blood&'
In his own small str%ttin! wa&, (eese was nearl& as scar& as Ser 8re!or' The
2o%ntain swatted men li$e "lies, b%t most o" the time he did not een seem to $now the
"l& was there' (eese alwa&s $new &o% were there, and what &o% were doin!, and
sometimes what &o% were thin$in!' ,e wo%ld hit at the sli!htest proocation, and he had
a do! who was near as bad as he was, an %!l& spotted bitch that smelled worse than an&
do! *r&a had eer $nown' /nce she saw him set the do! on a latrine bo& whod
anno&ed him' She tore a bi! ch%n$ o%t o" the bo&s cal" while (eese la%!hed'
It too$ him onl& three da&s to earn the place o" honor in her ni!htl& pra&ers' 1(eese,3
she wo%ld whisper, "irst o" all' 1#%nsen, +hisw&c$, 4ollier, Ba"" the Sweetlin!' The
Tic$ler and the ,o%nd' Ser 8re!or, Ser *mor&, Ser Il&n, Ser 2er&n, 6in! Co""re&,
F%een +ersei'3 I" she let hersel" "or!et een one o" them, how wo%ld she eer "ind him
a!ain to $ill him.
/n the road *r&a had "elt li$e a sheep, b%t ,arrenbal t%rned her into a mo%se' She was
!re& as a mo%se in her scratch& wool shi"t, and li$e a mo%se she $ept to the crannies and
creices and dar$ holes o" the castle, sc%rr&in! o%t o" the wa& o" the mi!ht&'
Sometimes she tho%!ht the& were all mice within those thic$ walls, een the $ni!hts
and the !reat lords' The si?e o" the castle made een 8re!or +le!ane seem small'
,arrenhal coered thrice as m%ch !ro%nd as (inter"ell, and its b%ildin!s were so m%ch
lar!er the& co%ld scarcel& be compared' Its stables ho%sed a tho%sand horses, its
!odswood coered twent& acres, its $itchens were as lar!e as (inter"ells 8reat ,all,
and its own !reat hall, !randl& named the ,all o" a ,%ndred ,earths een tho%!h it onl&
had thirt& and some G*r&a had tried to co%nt them, twice, b%t she came %p with thirt&-
three once and thirt&-"ie the other timeH was so caerno%s that 7ord T&win co%ld hae
"easted his entire host, tho%!h he neer did' (alls, doors, halls, steps, eer&thin! was
b%ilt to an inh%man scale that made *r&a remember the stories /ld Nan %sed to tell o"
the !iants who lied be&ond the (all'
*nd as lords and ladies neer notice the little !re& mice %nder their "eet, *r&a heard all
sorts o" secrets 9%st b& $eepin! her ears open as she went abo%t her d%ties' 4rett& 4ia
"rom the b%tter& was a sl%t who was wor$in! her wa& thro%!h eer& $ni!ht in the castle'
The wi"e o" the !aoler was with child, b%t the real "ather was either Ser *l&n Stac$spear
or a sin!er called (hitesmile (at' 7ord 7e""ord made moc$ o" !hosts at table, b%t
alwa&s $ept a candle b%rnin! b& his bed' Ser #%naers s)%ire Cod!e co%ld not hold his
water when he slept' The coo$s despised Ser ,ar&s Sw&"t and spit in all his "ood' /nce
she een oerheard 2aester Tothm%res serin! !irl con"idin! to her brother abo%t some
messa!e that said Co""re& was a bastard and not the ri!ht"%l $in! at all' 17ord T&win told
him to b%rn the letter and neer spea$ s%ch "ilth a!ain,3 the !irl whispered'
6in! Boberts brothers Stannis and Benl& had 9oined the "i!htin!, she heard' 1*nd
both o" them $in!s now,3 (eese said' 1Bealms !ot more $in!s than a castles !ot rats'3
5en 7annister men )%estioned how lon! Co""re& wo%ld hold the Iron Throne' 1The
lads !ot no arm& b%t them !old cloa$s, and hes r%led b& a e%n%ch, a dwar", and a
woman,3 she heard a lordlin! m%tter in his c%ps' 1(hat !ood will the li$es o" them be i"
it comes to battle.3 There was alwa&s tal$ o" Beric #ondarrion' * "at archer once said
the Blood& 2%mmers had slain him, b%t the others onl& la%!hed' 17orch $illed the man
at B%shin! =alls, and the 2o%ntains slain him twice' 8ot me a siler sta! sa&s he dont
sta& dead this time neither'3
*r&a did not $now who Blood& 2%mmers were %ntil a "ortni!ht later, when the
)%eerest compan& o" men shed eer seen arried at ,arrenhal' Beneath the standard o"
a blac$ !oat with blood& horns rode copper men with bells in their braids: lancers astride
striped blac$-and-white horses: bowmen with powdered chee$s: s)%at hair& men with
sha!!& shields: brown-s$inned men in "eathered cloa$s: a wisp& "ool in !reen-and-pin$
motle&: swordsmen with "antastic "or$ed beards d&ed !reen and p%rple and siler:
spearmen with colored scars that coered their chee$s: a slender man in septons robes, a
"atherl& one in maesters !re&, and a sic$l& one whose leather cloa$ was "rin!ed with
lon! blond hair'
*t their head was a man stic$-thin and er& tall, with a drawn emaciated "ace made
een lon!er b& the rop& blac$ beard that !rew "rom his pointed chin nearl& to his waist'
The helm that h%n! "rom his saddle horn was blac$ steel, "ashioned in the shape o" a
!oats head' *bo%t his nec$ he wore a chain made o" lin$ed coins o" man& di""erent
si?es, shapes, and metals, and his horse was one o" the stran!e blac$-and-white ones'
1;o% dont want to $now that lot, (easel,3 (eese said when he saw her loo$in! at the
!oat-helmed man' Two o" his drin$in! "riends were with him, men-at-arms in serice to
7ord 7e""ord'
1(ho are the&.3 she as$ed'
/ne o" the soldiers la%!hed' 1The =ootmen, !irl' Toes o" the 8oat' 7ord T&wins
Blood& 2%mmers'3
14ease "or wits' ;o% !et her "la&ed, &o% can scr%b the blood& steps,3 said (eese'
1The&re sellswords, (easel !irl' +all themseles the Brae +ompanions' #ont %se
them other names where the& can hear, or the&ll h%rt &o% bad' The !oat-helms their
captain, 7ord >ar!o ,oat'3
1,es no "%c$in! lord,3 said the second soldier' 1I heard Ser *mor& sa& so' ,es 9%st
some sellsword with a mo%th "%ll o" slobber and a hi!h opinion o" hissel"'3
1*&e,3 said (eese, 1b%t she better call him lord i" she wants to $eep all her parts'3
*r&a loo$ed at >ar!o ,oat a!ain' ,ow man& monsters does 7ord T&win hae.
The Brae +ompanions were ho%sed in the (idows Tower, so *r&a need not sere
them' She was !lad o" that: on the er& ni!ht the& arried, "i!htin! bro$e o%t between
the sellswords and some 7annister men' Ser ,ar&s Sw&"ts s)%ire was stabbed to death
and two o" the Blood& 2%mmers were wo%nded' The ne0t mornin! 7ord T&win han!ed
them both "rom the !ateho%se walls, alon! with one o" 7ord 7&ddens archers' (eese
said the archer had started all the tro%ble b& ta%ntin! the sellswords oer Beric
#ondarrion' *"ter the han!ed men had stopped $ic$in!, >ar!o ,oat and Ser ,ar&s
embraced and $issed and swore to loe each other alwa&s as 7ord T&win loo$ed on'
*r&a tho%!ht it was "%nn& the wa& >ar!o ,oat lisped and slobbered, b%t she $new better
than to la%!h'
The Blood& 2%mmers did not lin!er lon! at ,arrenhal, b%t be"ore the& rode o%t a!ain,
*r&a heard one o" them sa&in! how a northern arm& %nder Boose Bolton had occ%pied
the r%b& "ord o" the Trident' 1I" he crosses, 7ord T&win will smash him a!ain li$e he did
on the 8reen =or$,3 a 7annister bowmen said, b%t his "ellows 9eered him down'
1Boltonll neer cross, not till the ;o%n! (ol" marches "rom Bierr%n with his wild
northmen and all them woles'3
*r&a had not $nown her brother was so near' Bierr%n was m%ch closer than
(inter"ell, tho%!h she was not certain where it la& in relation to ,arrenhal' I co%ld "ind
o%t somehow, I $now I co%ld, i" onl& I co%ld !et awa&' (hen she tho%!ht o" seein!
Bobbs "ace a!ain *r&a had to bite her lip' *nd I want to see Con too, and Bran and
Bic$on, and 2other' 5en Sansa ' ' ' Ill $iss her and be! her pardons li$e a proper lad&,
shell li$e that'
=rom the co%rt&ard tal$ shed learned that the %pper chambers o" the Tower o" #read
ho%sed three do?en capties ta$en d%rin! some battle on the 8reen =or$ o" the Trident'
2ost had been !ien "reedom o" the castle in ret%rn "or their pled!e not to attempt
escape' The& owed not to escape, *r&a told hersel", b%t the& neer swore not to help
me escape'
The capties ate at their own table in the ,all o" a ,%ndred ,earths, and co%ld o"ten
be seen abo%t the !ro%nds' =o%r brothers too$ their e0ercise to!ether eer& da&, "i!htin!
with staes and wooden shields in the =lowstone ;ard' Three o" them were =re&s o" the
+rossin!, the "o%rth their bastard brother' The& were onl& there a short time, tho%!h: one
mornin! two other brothers arried %nder a peace banner with a chest o" !old, and
ransomed them "rom the $ni!hts whod capt%red them' The si0 =re&s all le"t to!ether'
No one ransomed the northmen, tho%!h' /ne "at lordlin! ha%nted the $itchens, ,ot 4ie
told her, alwa&s loo$in! "or a morsel' ,is m%stache was so b%sh& that it coered his
mo%th, and the clasp that held his cloa$ was a siler-and-sapphire trident' ,e belon!ed
to 7ord T&win, b%t the "ierce, bearded &o%n! man who li$ed to wal$ the battlements
alone in a blac$ cloa$ patterned with white s%ns had been ta$en b& some hed!e $ni!ht
who meant to !et rich o"" him' Sansa wo%ld hae $nown who he was, and the "at one
too, b%t *r&a had neer ta$en m%ch interest in titles and si!ils' (heneer Septa
2ordane had !one on abo%t the histor& o" this ho%se and that ho%se, she was inclined to
dri"t and dream and wonder when the lesson wo%ld be done'
She did remember 7ord +erw&n, tho%!h' ,is lands had been close to (inter"ell, so he
and his son +le& had o"ten isited' ;et as "ate wo%ld hae it, he was the onl& captie
who was neer seen: he was abed in a tower cell, recoerin! "rom a wo%nd' =or da&s
and da&s *r&a tried to wor$ o%t how she mi!ht steal past the door !%ards to see him' I"
he $new her, he wo%ld be honor bo%nd to help her' * lord wo%ld hae !old "or a
certaint&, the& all did: perhaps he wo%ld pa& some o" 7ord T&wins own sellswords to
ta$e her to Bierr%n' =ather had alwa&s said that most sellswords wo%ld betra& an&one
"or eno%!h !old'
Then one mornin! she spied three women in the cowled !re& robes o" the silent sisters
loadin! a corpse into their wa!on' The bod& was sewn into a cloa$ o" the "inest sil$,
decorated with a battle-a0e si!il' (hen *r&a as$ed who it was, one o" the !%ards told
her that 7ord +erw&n had died' The words "elt li$e a $ic$ in the bell&' ,e co%ld neer
hae helped &o% an&wa&, she tho%!ht as the sisters droe the wa!on thro%!h the !ate'
,e co%ldnt een help himsel", &o% st%pid mo%se'
*"ter that it was bac$ to scr%bbin! and sc%rr&in! and listenin! at doors' 7ord T&win
wo%ld soon march on Bierr%n, she heard' /r he wo%ld drie so%th to ,i!h!arden, no
one wo%ld eer e0pect that' No, he m%st de"end 6in!s 7andin!, Stannis was the
!reatest threat' ,ed sent 8re!or +le!ane and >ar!o ,oat to destro& Boose Bolton and
remoe the da!!er "rom his bac$' ,ed sent raens to the 5&rie, he meant to wed the
7ad& 7&sa *rr&n and win the >ale' ,ed bo%!ht a ton o" siler to "or!e ma!ic swords
that wo%ld sla& the Star$ war!s' ,e was writin! 7ad& Star$ to ma$e a peace, the
6in!sla&er wo%ld soon be "reed'
Tho%!h raens came and went eer& da&, 7ord T&win himsel" spent most o" his da&s
behind closed doors with his war co%ncil' *r&a ca%!ht !limpses o" him, b%t alwa&s "rom
a"arAonce wal$in! the walls in the compan& o" three maesters and the "at captie with
the b%sh& m%stache, once ridin! o%t with his lords bannermen to isit the encampments,
b%t most o"ten standin! in an arch o" the coered !aller& watchin! men at practice in the
&ard below' ,e stood with his hands loc$ed to!ether on the !old pommel o" his
lon!sword' The& said 7ord T&win loed !old most o" all: he een shit !old, she heard
one s)%ire 9est' The 7annister lord was stron!-loo$in! "or an old man, with sti"" !olden
whis$ers and a bald head' There was somethin! in his "ace that reminded *r&a o" her
own "ather, een tho%!h the& loo$ed nothin! ali$e' ,e has a lords "ace, thats all, she
told hersel"' She remembered hearin! her lad& mother tell =ather to p%t on his lords "ace
and !o deal with some matter' =ather had la%!hed at that' She co%ld not ima!ine 7ord
T&win eer la%!hin! at an&thin!' /ne a"ternoon, while she was waitin! her t%rn to draw
a pail o" water "rom the well, she heard the hin!es o" the east !ate !roanin!' * part& o"
men rode %nder the portc%llis at a wal$' (hen she spied the manticore crawlin! across
the shield o" their leader, a stab o" hate shot thro%!h her'
In the li!ht o" da&, Ser *mor& 7orch loo$ed less "ri!htenin! than he had b& torchli!ht,
b%t he still had the pi!s e&es she recalled' /ne o" the women said that his men had
ridden all the wa& aro%nd the la$e chasin! Beric #ondarrion and sla&in! rebels' (e
werent rebels, *r&a tho%!ht' (e were the Ni!hts (atch: the Ni!hts (atch ta$es no
side' Ser *mor& had "ewer men than she remembered, tho%!h, and man& wo%nded' I
hope their wo%nds "ester' I hope the& all die'
Then she saw the three near the end o" the col%mn'
Bor!e had donned a blac$ hal""ielm with a broad iron nasal that made it hard to see
that he did not hae a nose' Biter rode pondero%sl& beside him on a destrier that loo$ed
read& to collapse %nder his wei!ht' ,al"healed b%rns coered his bod&, ma$in! him een
more hideo%s than be"ore'
B%t Ca)en ,!har still smiled' ,is !arb was still ra!!ed and "ilth&, b%t he had "o%nd
time to wash and br%sh his hair' It streamed down across his sho%lders, red and white
and shin&, and *r&a heard the !irls !i!!lin! to each other in admiration'
I sho%ld hae let the "ire hae them' 8endr& said to, I sho%ld hae listened' I" she
hadnt thrown them that a0e the&d all be dead' =or a moment she was a"raid, b%t the&
rode past her witho%t a "lic$er o" interest' /nl& Ca)en ,!har so m%ch as !lanced in her
direction, and his e&es passed ri!ht oer her' ,e does not $now me, she tho%!ht' *rr&
was a "ierce little bo& with a sword, and Im 9%st a !re& mo%se !irl with a pail'
She spent the rest o" that da& scr%bbin! steps inside the (ailin! Tower' B& een"all her
hands were raw and bleedin! and her arms so sore the& trembled when she l%!!ed the
pail bac$ to the cellar' Too tired een "or "ood, *r&a be!!ed (eeses pardons and
crawled into her straw to sleep' 1(eese,3 she &awned' 1#%nsen, +hisw&c$, 4ollier,
Ba"" the Sweetlin!' The Tic$ler and the ,o%nd' Ser 8re!or, Ser *mor&, Ser Il&n, Ser
2er&n, 6in! Co""re&, F%een +ersei'3 She tho%!ht she mi!ht add three more names to her
pra&er, b%t she was too tired to decide toni!ht'
*r&a was dreamin! o" woles r%nnin! wild thro%!h the wood when a stron! hand
clamped down oer her mo%th li$e smooth warm stone, solid and %n&ieldin!' She wo$e
at once, s)%irmin! and str%!!lin!' 1* !irl sa&s nothin!,3 a oice whispered close behind
her ear' 1* !irl $eeps her lips closed, no one hears, and "riends ma& tal$ in secret' ;es.3
,eart po%ndin!, *r&a mana!ed the tiniest o" nods'
Ca)en ,!har too$ his hand awa&' The cellar was blac$ as pitch and she co%ld not see
his "ace, een inches awa&' She co%ld smell him, tho%!h: his s$in smelled clean and
soap&, and he had scented his hair' 1* bo& becomes a !irl,3 he m%rm%red'
1I was alwa&s a !irl' I didnt thin$ &o% saw me'3
1* man sees' * man $nows'3
She remembered that she hated him' 1;o% scared me' ;o%re one o" them now, I
sho%ld hae let &o% b%rn' (hat are &o% doin! here. 8o awa& or Ill &ell "or (eese'3
1* man pa&s his debts' * man owes three'3
1Three.3
1The Bed 8od has his d%e, sweet !irl, and onl& death ma& pa& "or li"e' This !irl too$
three that were his' This !irl m%st !ie three in their places' Spea$ the names, and a man
will do the rest'3
,e wants to help me, *r&a reali?ed with a r%sh o" hope that made her di??&' 1Ta$e me
to Bierr%n, its not "ar, i" we stole some horses we co%ldA3
,e laid a "in!er on her lips' 1Three lies &o% shall hae o" me' No more, no less' Three
and we are done' So a !irl m%st ponder'3 ,e $issed her hair so"tl&' 1B%t not too lon!'3
B& the time *r&a lit her st%b o" a candle, onl& a "aint smell remained o" him, a whi"" o"
!in!er and cloes lin!erin! in the air' The woman in the ne0t niche rolled oer on her
straw and complained o" the li!ht, so *r&a blew it o%t' (hen she closed her e&es, she
saw "aces swimmin! be"ore her' Co""re& and his mother, Il&n 4a&ne and 2er&n Trant and
Sandor +le!ane ' ' ' b%t the& were in 6in!s 7andin! h%ndreds o" miles awa&, and Ser
8re!or had lin!ered onl& a "ew ni!hts be"ore departin! a!ain "or more "ora!in!, ta$in!
Ba"" and +hisw&c$ and the Tic$ler with him' Ser *mor& 7orch was here, tho%!h, and
she hated him almost as m%ch' #idnt she. She wasnt certain' *nd there was alwa&s
(eese'
She tho%!ht o" him a!ain the ne0t mornin!, when lac$ o" sleep made her &awn'
1(easel,3 (eese p%rred, 1ne0t time I see that mo%th droop open, Ill p%ll o%t &o%r
ton!%e and "eed it to m& bitch'3 ,e twisted her ear between his "in!ers to ma$e certain
shed heard, and told her to !et bac$ to those steps, he wanted them clean down to the
third landin! b& ni!ht"all'
*s she wor$ed, *r&a tho%!ht abo%t the people she wanted dead' She pretended she
co%ld see their "aces on the steps, and scr%bbed harder to wipe them awa&' The Star$s
were at war with the 7annisters and she was a Star$, so she sho%ld $ill as man&
7annisters as she co%ld, that was what &o% did in wars' B%t she didnt thin$ she sho%ld
tr%st Ca)en' I sho%ld $ill them m&sel"' (heneer her "ather had condemned a man to
death, he did the deed himsel" with Ice, his !reatsword' 1I" &o% wo%ld ta$e a mans li"e,
&o% owe it to him to loo$ him in the "ace and hear his last words,3 shed heard him tell
Bobb and Con once'
The ne0t da& she aoided Ca)en ,!har, and the da& a"ter that' It was not hard' She
was er& small and ,arrenhal was er& lar!e, "%ll o" places where a mo%se co%ld hide'
*nd then Ser 8re!or ret%rned, earlier than e0pected, driin! a herd o" !oats this time
in place o" a herd o" prisoners' She heard hed lost "o%r men in one o" 7ord Berics ni!ht
raids, b%t those *r&a hated ret%rned %nscathed and too$ %p residence on the second "loor
o" the (ailin! Tower' (eese saw that the& were well s%pplied with drin$' 1The& alwa&s
hae a !ood thirst, that lot,3 he !r%mbled' 1(easel, !o %p and as$ i" the&e !ot an&
clothes that need mendin!, Ill hae the women see to it'3
*r&a ran %p her well-scr%bbed steps' No one paid her an& mind when she entered'
+hisw&c$ was seated b& the "ire with a horn o" ale to hand, tellin! one o" his "%nn&
stories' She dared not interr%pt, %nless she wanted a blood& lip'
1*"ter the ,ands to%rne&, it were, be"ore the war come,3 +hisw&c$ was sa&in!' 1(e
were on o%r wa&s bac$ west, seen o" %s with Ser 8re!or' Ba"" was with me, and &o%n!
Coss Stilwood, hed s)%ired "or Ser in the lists' (ell, we come on this pisswater rier,
r%nnin! hi!h on acco%nt thered been rains' No wa& to "ord, b%t theres an aleho%se near,
so there we repair' Ser ro%sts the brewer and tells him to $eep o%r horns "%ll till the
waters "all, and &o% sho%ld see the mans pi! e&es shine at the si!ht o siler' So hes
"etchin! %s ale, him and his da%!hter, and poor thin st%"" it is, no moren brown piss,
which dont ma$e me an& happier, nor Ser neither' *nd all the time this brewers sa&in!
how !lad he is to hae %s, c%stom bein! slow on acco%nt o them rains' The "ool wont
sh%t his &ap, not him, tho%!h Ser is sa&in! not a word, 9%st broodin! on the 6ni!ht o
4ansies and that b%!!ers tric$ he pla&ed' ;o% can see how ti!ht his mo%th sits, so me
and the other lads we $now bettern to sa& a s)%ea$ to him, b%t this brewer hes !ot to
tal$, he een as$s how mlord "ared in the 9o%stin!' Ser 9%st !ae him this loo$'3
+hisw&c$ cac$led, )%a""ed his ale, and wiped the "oam awa& with the bac$ o" his hand'
12eanwhile, this da%!hter o" his has been "etchin! and po%rin!, a "at little thin!,
ei!hteen or soA3
1Thirteen, more li$e,3 Ba"" the Sweetlin! drawled'
1(ell, be that as it ma&, shes not m%ch to loo$ at, b%t 5!!ons been drin$in! and !ets
to to%chin! her, and mi!ht be I did a little to%chin! mesel", and Ba""s tellin! &o%n!
Stilwood that he o%!ht t dra! the !irl %pstairs and ma$e hissel" a man, !iin! the lad
co%ra!e as it were' =inall& Coss reaches %p %nder her s$irt, and she shrie$s and drops her
"la!on and !oes r%nnin! o"" to the $itchen' (ell, it wo%ld hae ended ri!ht there, onl&
what does the old "ool do b%t he !oes to Ser and as$s him to ma$e %s leae the !irl
alone, him bein! an anointed $ni!ht and all s%ch'
1Ser 8re!or, he wasnt pa&in! no mind to none o" o%r "%n, b%t now he loo$s, &o%
$now how he does, and he commands that the !irl be bro%!ht be"ore him' Now the old
man has to dra! her o%t o" the $itchen, and no one to blame b%t hissel"' Ser loo$s her
oer and sa&s, DSo this is the whore &o%re so concerned "or and this besotted old "ool
sa&s, D2& 7a&nas no whore, ser ri!ht to 8re!ors "ace' Ser, he neer blin$s, 9%st sa&s,
DShe is now tosses the old man another siler, rips the dress o"" the wench, and ta$es her
ri!ht there on the table in "ront o" her da, her "loppin! and wi!!lin! li$e a rabbit and
ma$in! these noises' The loo$ on the old mans "ace, I la%!hed so hard ale was comin!
o%t me nose' Then this bo& hears the noise, the son I "i!%re, and comes r%shin! %p "rom
the cellar, so Ba"" has to stic$ a dir$ in his bell&' B& then Sers done, so he !oes bac$ to
his drin$in! and we all hae a t%rn' Tobbot, &o% $now how he is, he "lops her oer and
!oes in the bac$ wa&' The !irl was done "i!htin! b& the time I had her, ma&be shed
decided she li$ed it a"ter all, tho%!h to tell the tr%th I wo%ldnt hae minded a little
wi!!lin!' *nd now heres the best bit ' ' ' when its all done, Ser tells the old man that he
wants his chan!e' The !irl wasnt worth a siler, he sa&s ' ' ' and damned i" that old man
didnt "etch a "ist"%l o" coppers, be! mlords pardon, and than$ him "or the c%stom@3
The men all roared, none lo%der than +hisw&c$ himsel", who la%!hed so hard at his
own stor& that snot dribbled "rom his nose down into his scra!!& !re& beard' *r&a stood
in the shadows o" the stairwell and watched him' She crept bac$ down to the cellars
witho%t sa&in! a word' (hen (eese "o%nd that she hadnt as$ed abo%t the clothes, he
&an$ed down her breeches and caned her %ntil blood ran down her thi!hs, b%t *r&a
closed her e&es and tho%!ht o" all the sa&in!s S&rio had ta%!ht her, so she scarcel& "elt
it'
Two ni!hts later, he sent her to the Barrac$s ,all to sere at table' She was carr&in! a
"la!on o" wine and po%rin! when she !limpsed Ca)en ,!har at his trencher across the
aisle' +hewin! her lip, *r&a !lanced aro%nd waril& to ma$e certain (eese was not in
si!ht' =ear c%ts deeper than swords, she told hersel"'
She too$ a step, and another, and with each she "elt less a mo%se' She wor$ed her wa&
down the bench, "illin! wine c%ps' Bor!e sat to Ca)ens ri!ht, deep dr%n$, b%t he too$ no
note o" her' *r&a leaned close and whispered, 1+hisw&c$,3 ri!ht in Ca)ens ear' The
7orathi !ae no si!n that he had heard'
(hen her "la!on was empt&, *r&a h%rried down to the cellars to re"ill it "rom the cas$,
and )%ic$l& ret%rned to her po%rin!' No one had died o" thirst while she was !one, nor
een noted her brie" absence'
Nothin! happened the ne0t da&, nor the da& a"ter, b%t on the third da& *r&a went to the
$itchens with (eese to "etch their dinner' 1/ne o" the 2o%ntains men "ell o"" a
wallwal$ last ni!ht and bro$e his "ool nec$,3 she heard (eese tell a coo$'
1#r%n$.3 the woman as$ed'
1No moren %s%al' Some are sa&in! it was ,arrens !host "l%n! him down'3 ,e snorted
to show what he tho%!ht o" s%ch notions'
It wasnt ,arren, *r&a wanted to sa&, it was me' She had $illed +hisw&c$ with a
whisper, and she wo%ld $ill two more be"ore she was thro%!h' Im the !host in
,arrenhal, she tho%!ht' *nd that ni!ht, there was one less name to hate'
C#APT"R ($
CAT"%'
The meetin! place was a !rass& sward dotted with pale !re& m%shrooms and the raw
st%mps o" "elled trees'
1(e are the "irst, m& lad&,3 ,allis 2ollen said as the& reined %p amidst the st%mps,
alone between the armies' The direwol" banner o" ,o%se Star$ "lapped and "l%ttered atop
the lance he bore' +atel&n co%ld not see the sea "rom here, b%t she co%ld "eel how close
it was' The smell o" salt was hea& on the wind !%stin! "rom the east'
Stannis Baratheons "ora!ers had c%t the trees down "or his sie!e towers and catap%lts'
+atel&n wondered how lon! the !roe had stood, and whether Ned had rested here when
he led his host so%th to li"t the last sie!e o" Storms 5nd' ,e had won a !reat ictor& that
da&, all the !reater "or bein! bloodless'
8ods !rant that I shall do the same, +atel&n pra&ed' ,er own lie!e men tho%!ht she
was mad een to come' 1This is no "i!ht o" o%rs, m& lad&,3 Ser (endel 2anderl& had
said' 1I $now the $in! wo%ld not wish his mother to p%t hersel" at ris$'3
1(e are all at ris$,3 she told him, perhaps too sharpl&' 1#o &o% thin$ I wish to be here,
ser.3 I belon! at Bierr%n with m& d&in! "ather, at (inter"ell with m& sons' 1Bobb sent
me so%th to spea$ "or him, and spea$ "or him I shall'3 It wo%ld be no eas& thin! to "or!e
a peace between these brothers, +atel&n $new, &et "or the !ood o" the realm, it m%st be
tried'
*cross rain-sodden "lelds and ston& rid!es, she co%ld see the !reat castle o" Storms
5nd rearin! %p a!ainst the s$&, its bac$ to the %nseen sea' Beneath that mass o" pale !re&
stone, the encirclin! arm& o" 7ord Stannis Baratheon loo$ed as small and insi!ni"icant
as mice with banners'
The son!s said that Storms 5nd had been raised in ancient da&s b& #%rran, the "irst
Storm 6in!, who had won the loe o" the "air 5lenei, da%!hter o" the sea !od and the
!oddess o" the wind' /n the ni!ht o" their weddin!, 5lenei had &ielded her maidenhood
to a mortals loe and th%s doomed hersel" to a mortals death, and her !riein! parents
had %nleashed their wrath and sent the winds and waters to batter down #%rrans hold'
,is "riends and brothers and weddin! !%ests were cr%shed beneath collapsin! walls or
blown o%t to sea, b%t 5lenei sheltered #%rran within her arms so he too$ no harm, and
when the dawn came at last he declared war %pon the !ods and owed to reb%ild'
=ie more castles he b%ilt, each lar!er and stron!er than the last, onl& to see them
smashed as%nder when the !ale winds came howlin! %p Shipbrea$er Ba&, driin! !reat
walls o" water be"ore them' ,is lords pleaded with him to b%ild inland: his priests told
him he m%st placate the !ods b& !iin! 5lenei bac$ to the sea: een his small"ol$
be!!ed him to relent' #%rran wo%ld hae none o" it' * seenth castle he raised, most
massie o" all' Some said the children o" the "orest helped him b%ild it, shapin! the
stones with ma!ic: others claimed that a small bo& told him what he m%st do, a bo& who
wo%ld !row to be Bran the B%ilder' No matter how the tale was told, the end was the
same' Tho%!h the an!r& !ods threw storm a"ter storm a!ainst it, the seenth castle stood
de"iant, and #%rran 8ods!rie" and "air 5lenei dwelt there to!ether %ntil the end o" their
da&s'
8ods do not "or!et, and still the !ales came ra!in! %p the narrow sea' ;et Storms 5nd
end%red, thro%!h cent%ries and tens o" cent%ries, a castle li$e no other' Its !reat c%rtain
wall was a h%ndred "eet hi!h, %nbro$en b& arrow slit or postern, eer&where ro%nded,
c%rin!, smooth, its stones "it so c%nnin!l& to!ether that nowhere was creice nor an!le
nor !ap b& which the wind mi!ht enter' That wall was said to be "ort& "eet thic$ at its
narrowest, and near ei!ht& on the seaward "ace, a do%ble co%rse o" stones with an inner
core o" sand and r%bble' (ithin that mi!ht& b%lwar$, the $itchens and stables and &ards
sheltered sa"e "rom wind and wae' /" towers, there was b%t one, a colossal dr%m tower,
windowless where it "aced the sea, so lar!e that it was !ranar& and barrac$s and "east
hall and lords dwellin! all in one, crowned b& massie battlements that made it loo$
"rom a"ar li$e a spi$ed "lst atop an %pthr%st arm'
12& lad&,3 ,al 2ollen called' Two riders had emer!ed "rom the tid& little camp
beneath the castle, and were comin! toward them at a slow wal$' 1That will be 6in!
Stannis'3
1No do%bt'3 +atel&n watched them come' Stannis it m%st be, &et that is not the
Baratheon banner' It was a bri!ht &ellow, not the rich !old o" Benl&s standards, and the
deice it bore was red, tho%!h she co%ld not ma$e o%t its shape'
Benl& wo%ld be last to arrie' ,e had told her as m%ch when she set o%t' ,e did not
propose to mo%nt his horse %ntil he saw his brother well on his wa&' The "irst to arrie
m%st wait on the other, and Benl& wo%ld do no waitin!' It is a sort o" !ame $in!s pla&,
she told hersel"' (ell, she was no $in!, so she need not pla& it' +atel&n was practiced at
waitin!'
*s he neared, she saw that Stannis wore a crown o" red !old with points "ashioned in
the shape o" "lames' ,is belt was st%dded with !arnets and &ellow topa?, and a !reat
s)%are-c%t r%b& was set in the hilt o" the sword he wore' /therwise his dress was plain:
st%dded leather 9er$in oer )%ilted do%blet, worn boots, breeches o" brown ro%!hsp%n'
The deice on his s%n-&ellow banner showed a red heart s%rro%nded b& a bla?e o"
oran!e "ire' The crowned sta! was there, &es ' ' ' shr%n$en and enclosed within the heart'
5en more c%rio%s was his standard bearerAa woman, !arbed all in reds, "ace
shadowed within the deep hood o" her scarlet cloa$' * red priestess, +atel&n tho%!ht,
wonderin!' The sect was n%mero%s and power"%l in the =ree +ities and the distant east,
b%t there were "ew in the Seen 6in!doms'
17ad& Star$,3 Stannis Baratheon said with chill co%rtes& as he reined %p' ,e inclined
his head, balder than she remembered'
17ord Stannis,3 she ret%rned'
Beneath the ti!ht-trimmed beard his hea& 9aw clenched hard, &et he did not hector her
abo%t titles' =or that she was d%l& !rate"%l' 1I had not tho%!ht to "ind &o% at Storms
5nd'3
1I had not tho%!ht to be here'3
,is deepset e&es re!arded her %ncom"ortabl&' This was not a man made "or eas&
co%rtesies' 1I am sorr& "or &o%r lords death,3 he said, 1tho%!h 5ddard Star$ was no
"riend to me'3
1,e was neer &o%r enem&, m& lord' (hen the 7ords T&rell and Bedw&ne held &o%
prisoned in that castle, starin!, it was 5ddard Star$ who bro$e the sie!e'3
1*t m& brothers command, not "or loe o" me,3 Stannis answered' 17ord 5ddard did
his d%t&, I will not den& it' #id I eer do less. I sho%ld hae been Boberts ,and'3
1That was &o%r brothers will' Ned neer wanted it'3
1;et he too$ it' That which sho%ld hae been mine' Still, I !ie &o% m& word, &o% shall
hae 9%stice "or his m%rder'3
,ow the& loed to promise heads, these men who wo%ld be $in!' 1;o%r brother
promised me the same' B%t i" tr%th be told, I wo%ld sooner hae m& da%!hters bac$, and
leae 9%stice to the !ods' +ersei still holds m& Sansa, and o" *r&a there has been no
word since the da& o" Boberts death'3
1I" &o%r children are "o%nd when I ta$e the cit&, the& shall be sent to &o%'3 *lie or
dead, his tone implied'
1*nd when shall that be, 7ord Stannis. 6in!s 7andin! is close to &o%r #ra!onstone,
b%t I "ind &o% here instead'3
1;o% are "ran$, 7ad& Star$' >er& well, Ill answer &o% "ran$l&' To ta$e the cit&, I need
the power o" these so%thron lords I see across the "ield' 2& brother has them' I m%st
needs ta$e them "rom him'3
12en !ie their alle!iance where the& will, m& lord' These lords swore "ealt& to
Bobert and ,o%se Baratheon' I" &o% and &o%r brother were to p%t aside &o%r )%arrelA3
1I hae no )%arrel with Benl&, sho%ld he proe d%ti"%l' I am his elder, and his $in!' I
want onl& what is mine b& ri!hts' Benl& owes me lo&alt& and obedience' I mean to hae
it' =rom him, and "rom these other lords'3 Stannis st%died her "ace' 1*nd what ca%se
brin!s &o% to this "ield, m& lad&. ,as ,o%se Star$ cast its lot with m& brother, is that the
wa& o" it.3
This one will neer bend, she tho%!ht, &et she m%st tr& nonetheless' Too m%ch was at
sta$e' 12& son rei!ns as 6in! in the North, b& the will o" o%r lords and people' ,e
bends the $nee to no man, b%t holds o%t the hand o" "riendship to all'3
16in!s hae no "riends,3 Stannis said bl%ntl&, 1onl& s%b9ects and enemies'3
1*nd brothers,3 a cheer"%l oice called o%t behind her' +atel&n !lanced oer her
sho%lder as 7ord Benl&s pal"re& pic$ed her wa& thro%!h the st%mps' The &o%n!er
Baratheon was splendid in his !reen elet do%blet and satin cloa$ trimmed in air' The
crown o" !olden roses !irded his temples, 9ade sta!s head risin! oer his "orehead, lon!
blac$ hair spillin! o%t beneat' Ca!!ed ch%n$s o" blac$ diamond st%dded his swordbelt,
and a chain o" !old and emeralds looped aro%nd his nec$'
Benl& had chosen a woman to carr& his banner as well, tho%!h Brienne hid "ace and
"orm behind plate armor that !ae no hint o" her se0' *top her twele-"oot lance, the
crowned sta! pranced blac$-on-!old as the wind o"" the sea rippled the cloth'
,is brothers !reetin! was c%rt' 17ord Benl&'3
16in! Benl&' +an that tr%l& be &o%, Stannis.3
Stannis "rowned' 1(ho else sho%ld it be.3
Benl& !ae an eas& shr%!' 1(hen I saw that standard, I co%ld not be certain' (hose
banner do &o% bear.3
12ine own'3
The red-clad priestess spo$e %p' 1The $in! has ta$en "or his si!il the "ier& heart o" the
7ord o" 7i!ht'3
Benl& seemed am%sed b& that' 1*ll "or the !ood' I" we both %se the same banner, the
battle will be terribl& con"%sed'3
+atel&n said, 17et %s hope there will be no battle' (e three share a common "oe who
wo%ld destro& %s all'3
Stannis st%died her, %nsmilin!' 1The Iron Throne is mine b& ri!hts' *ll those who den&
that are m& "oes'3
1The whole o" the realm denies it, brother,3 said Benl&' 1/ld men den& it with their
death rattle, and %nborn children den& it in their motherswombs' The& den& it in #orne
and the& den& it on the (all' No one wants &o% "or their $in!' Sorr&'3
Stannis clenched his 9aw, his "ace ta%t' 1I swore I wo%ld neer treat with &o% while &o%
wore &o%r traitors crown' (o%ld that I had $ept to that ow'3
1This is "oll&,3 +atel&n said sharpl&' 17ord T&win sits at ,arrenhal with twent&
tho%sand swords' The remnants o" the 6in!sla&ers arm& hae re!ro%ped at the 8olden
Tooth, another 7annister host !athers beneath the shadow o" +asterl& Boc$, and +ersei
and her son hold 6in!s 7andin! and &o%r precio%s Iron Throne' ;o% each name
&o%rsel" $in!, &et the $in!dom bleeds, and no one li"ts a sword to de"end it b%t m& son'3
Benl& shr%!!ed' 1;o%r son has won a "ew battles' I shall win the war' The 7annisters
can wait m& pleas%re'3
1I" &o% hae proposals to ma$e, ma$e them,3 Stannis said br%s)%el&, 1or I will be
!one'3
1>er& well,3 said Benl&' 1I propose that &o% dismo%nt, bend &o%r $nee, and swear me
&o%r alle!iance'3
Stannis cho$ed bac$ ra!e' 1That &o% shall neer hae'3
1;o% sered Bobert, wh& not me.3
1Bobert was m& elder brother' ;o% are the &o%n!er'3
1;o%n!er, bolder, and "ar more comel& ' ' '3
1' ' ' and a thie" and a %s%rper besides'3
Benl& shr%!!ed' 1The Tar!ar&ens called Bobert %s%rper' ,e seemed to be able to bear
the shame' So shall I'3
This will not do' 17isten to &o%rseles@ I" &o% were sons o" mine, I wo%ld ban! &o%r
heads to!ether and loc$ &o% in a bedchamber %ntil &o% remembered that &o% were
brothers'3
Stannis "rowned at her' 1;o% pres%me too m%ch, 7ad& Star$' I am the ri!ht"%l $in!,
and &o%r son no less a traitor than m& brother here' ,is da& will come as well'3
The na$ed threat "anned her "%r&' 1;o% are er& "ree to name others traitor and %s%rper,
m& lord, &et how are &o% an& di""erent. ;o% sa& &o% alone are the ri!ht"%l $in!, &et it
seems to me that Bobert had two sons' B& all the laws o" the Seen 6in!doms, 4rince
Co""re& is his ri!ht"%l heir, and Tommen a"ter him ' ' ' and we are all traitors, howeer
!ood o%r reasons'3
Benl& la%!hed' 1;o% m%st "or!ie 7ad& +atel&n, Stannis' Shes come all the wa&
down "rom Bierr%n, a lon! wa& ahorse' I "ear she neer saw &o%r little letter'3
1Co""re& is not m& brothers seed,3 Stannis said bl%ntl&' 1Nor is Tommen' The& are
bastards' The !irl as well' *ll three o" them abominations born o" incest'3
(o%ld een +ersei be so mad. +atel&n was speechless'
1Isnt that a sweet stor&, m& lad&.3 Benl& as$ed' 1I was camped at ,orn ,ill when
7ord Tarl& receied his letter, and I m%st sa&, it too$ m& breath awa&'3 ,e smiled at his
brother' 1I had neer s%spected &o% were so cleer, Stannis' (ere it onl& tr%e, &o% wo%ld
indeed be Boberts heir'3
1(ere it tr%e. #o &o% name me a liar.3
1+an &o% proe an& word o" this "able.3
Stannis !ro%nd his teeth'
Bobert co%ld neer hae $nown, +atel&n tho%!ht, or +ersei wo%ld hae lost her head
in an instant' 17ord Stannis,3 she as$ed, 1i" &o% $new the )%een to be !%ilt& o" s%ch
monstro%s crimes, wh& did &o% $eep silent.3
1I did not $eep silent,3 Stannis declared' 1I bro%!ht m& s%spicions to Con *rr&n'3
1Bather than &o%r own brother.3
12& brothers re!ard "or me was neer more than d%ti"%l,3 said Stannis' 1=rom me,
s%ch acc%sations wo%ld hae seemed peeish and sel"serin!, a means o" placin! m&sel"
"irst in the line o" s%ccession' I belieed Bobert wo%ld be more disposed to listen i" the
char!es came "rom 7ord *rr&n, whom he loed'3
1*h,3 said Benl&' 1So we hae the word o" a dead man'3
1#o &o% thin$ he died b& happenstance, &o% p%rblind "ool. +ersei had him poisoned,
"or "ear he wo%ld reeal her' 7ord Con had been !atherin! certain proo"sA3
1Awhich do%btless died with him' ,ow inconenient'3
+atel&n was rememberin!, "ittin! pieces to!ether' 12& sister 7&sa acc%sed the )%een
o" $illin! her h%sband in a letter she sent me at (inter"ell,3 she admitted' 17ater, in the
5&rie, she laid the m%rder at the "eet o" the )%eens brother T&rion'3
Stannis snorted' 1I" &o% step in a nest o" sna$es, does it matter which one bites &o%
"irst.3
1*ll this o" sna$es and incest is droll, b%t it chan!es nothin!' ;o% ma& well hae the
better claim, Stannis, b%t I still hae the lar!er arm&'3 Benl&s hand slid inside his cloa$'
Stannis saw, and reached at once "or the hilt o" his sword, b%t be"ore he co%ld draw steel
his brother prod%ced ' ' ' a peach' 1(o%ld &o% li$e one, brother.3 Benl& as$ed, smilin!'
1=rom ,i!h!arden' ;o%e neer tasted an&thin! so sweet, I promise &o%'3 ,e too$ a
bit' C%ice ran "rom the corner o" his mo%th'
1I did not come here to eat "r%it'3 Stannis was "%min!'
12& lords@3 +atel&n said' 1(e o%!ht to be hammerin! o%t the terms o" an alliance, not
tradin! ta%nts'3
1* man sho%ld neer re"%se to taste a peach,3 Benl& said as he tossed the stone awa&'
1,e ma& neer !et the chance a!ain' 7i"e is short, Stannis' Bemember what the Star$s
sa&' (inter is comin!'3 ,e wiped his mo%th with the bac$ o" his hand'
1I did not come here to be threatened, either'3
1Nor were &o%,3 Benl& snapped bac$' 1(hen I ma$e threats, &o%ll $now it' I" tr%th be
told, Ie neer li$ed &o%, Stannis, b%t &o% are m& own blood, and I hae no wish to sla&
&o%' So i" it is Storms 5nd &o% want, ta$e it ' ' ' as a brothers !i"t' *s Bobert once !ae
it to me, I !ie it to ;/<'3
1It is not &o%rs to !ie' It is mine b& ri!hts'3
Si!hin!, Benl& hal" t%rned in the saddle' 1(hat am I to do with this brother o" mine,
Brienne. ,e re"%ses m& peach, he re"%ses m& castle, he een sh%nned m& weddin! ' ' '3
1(e both $now &o%r weddin! was a m%mmers "arce' * &ear a!o &o% were schemin!
to ma$e the !irl one o" Boberts whores'3
1* &ear a!o I was schemin! to ma$e the !irl Boberts )%een,3 Benl& said, 1b%t what
does it matter. The boar !ot Bobert and I !ot 2ar!aer&' ;o%ll be pleased to $now she
came to me a maid'3
1In &o%r bed shes li$e to die that wa&'3
1/h, I e0pect Ill !et a son on her within the &ear' 4ra&, how man& sons do &o% hae,
Stannis. /h, &esAnone'3 Benl& smiled innocentl&' 1*s to &o%r da%!hter, I %nderstand'
I" m& wi"e loo$ed li$e &o%rs, Id send m& "ool to serice her as well'3
15no%!h@3 Stannis roared' 1I will not be moc$ed to m& "ace, do &o% hear me. I will
not@3 ,e &an$ed his lon!sword "rom its scabbard' The steel !leamed stran!el& bri!ht in
the wan s%nli!ht, now red, now &ellow, now bla?in! white' The air aro%nd it seemed to
shimmer, as i" "rom heat'
+atel&ns horse whinnied and bac$ed awa& a step, b%t Brienne moed between the
brothers, her own blade in hand' 14%t %p &o%r steel@3 she sho%ted at Stannis'
+ersei 7annister is la%!hin! hersel" breathless, +atel&n tho%!ht wearil&'
Stannis pointed his shinin! sword at his brother' 1I am not witho%t merc&,3 th%ndered
he who was notorio%sl& witho%t merc&' 1Nor do I wish to s%ll& 7i!htbrin!er with a
brothers blood' =or the sa$e o" the mother who bore %s both, I will !ie &o% this ni!ht
to rethin$ &o%r "oll&, Benl&' Stri$e &o%r banners and come to me be"ore dawn, and I will
!rant &o% Storms 5nd and &o%r old seat on the co%ncil and een name &o% m& heir %ntil
a son is born to me' /therwise, I shall destro& &o%'3
Benl& la%!hed' 1Stannis, thats a er& prett& sword, Ill !rant &o%, b%t I thin$ the !low
o"" it has r%ined &o%r e&es' 7oo$ across the "ields, brother' +an &o% see all those
banners.3
1#o &o% thin$ a "ew bolts o" cloth will ma$e &o% $in!.3
1T&rell swords will ma$e me $in!' Bowan and Tarl& and +aron will ma$e me $in!,
with a0e and mace and warhammer' Tarth arrows and 4enrose lances, =ossowa&, +%&,
2%llendore, 5stermont, Selm&, ,i!htower, /a$heart, +rane, +aswell, Blac$bar,
2orri!en, Beesb%r&, Shermer, #%nn, =ootl& ' ' ' een ,o%se =lorent, &o%r own wi"es
brothers and %ncles, the& will ma$e me $in!' *ll the chialr& o" the so%th rides with me,
and that is the least part o" m& power' 2& "oot is comin! behind, a h%ndred tho%sand
swords and spears and pi$es' *nd &o% will destro& me. (ith what, pra&. That paltr&
rabble I see there h%ddled %nder the castle walls. Ill call them "ie tho%sand and be
!enero%s, cod"ish lords and onion $ni!hts and sellswords' ,al" o" them are li$e to come
oer to me be"ore the battle starts' ;o% hae "ewer than "o%r h%ndred horse, m& sco%ts
tell meA"reeriders in boiled leather who will not stand an instant a!ainst armored
lances' I do not care how seasoned a warrior &o% thin$ &o% are, Stannis, that host o"
&o%rs wont s%rie the "irst char!e o" m& an!%ard'3
1(e shall see, brother'3 Some o" the li!ht seemed to !o o%t o" the world when Stannis
slid his sword bac$ into its scabbard' 1+ome the dawn, we shall see'3
1I hope &o%r new !ods a merci"%l one, brother'3
Stannis snorted and !alloped awa&, disdain"%l' The red priestess lin!ered a moment
behind' 17oo$ to &o%r own sins, 7ord Benl&,3 she said as she wheeled her horse aro%nd'
+atel&n and 7ord Benl& ret%rned to!ether to the camp where his tho%sands and her
"ew waited their ret%rn' 1That was am%sin!, i" not terribl& pro"itable,3 he commented' 1I
wonder where I can !et a sword li$e that. (ell, do%btless 7oras will ma$e me a !i"t o" it
a"ter the battle' It !riees me that it m%st come to this'3
1;o% hae a cheer"%l wa& o" !riein!,3 said +atel&n, whose distress was not "ei!ned'
1#o I.3 Benl& shr%!!ed' 1So be it' Stannis was neer the most cherished o" brothers, I
con"ess' #o &o% s%ppose this tale o" his is tr%e. I" Co""re& is the 6in!sla&ers !etA3
1A&o%r brother is the law"%l heir'3
1(hile he lies,3 Benl& admitted' 1Tho%!h its a "ools law, wo%ldnt &o% a!ree. (h&
the oldest son, and not the best-"itted. The crown will s%it me, as it neer s%ited Bobert
and wo%ld not s%it Stannis' I hae it in me to be a !reat $in!, stron! &et !enero%s, cleer,
9%st, dili!ent, lo&al to m& "riends and terrible to m& enemies, &et capable o" "or!ieness,
patientA3
1Ah%mble.3 +atel&n s%pplied'
Benl& la%!hed' 1;o% m%st allow a $in! some "laws, m& lad&'3
+atel&n "elt er& tired' It had all been "or nothin!' The Baratheon brothers wo%ld
drown each other in blood while her son "aced the 7annisters alone, and nothin! she
co%ld sa& or do wo%ld stop it' It is past time I went bac$ to Bierr%n to close m& "athers
e&es, she tho%!ht' That m%ch at least I can do' I ma& be a poor eno&, b%t I am a !ood
mo%mer, !ods sae me'
Their camp was well sited atop a low ston& rid!e that ran "rom north to so%th' It was
"ar more orderl& than the sprawlin! encampment on the 2ander, tho%!h onl& a )%arter
as lar!e' (hen hed learned o" his brothers assa%lt on Storms 5nd, Benl& had split his
"orces, m%ch as Bobb had done at the Twins' ,is !reat mass o" "oot he had le"t behind at
Bitterbrid!e with his &o%n! )%een, his wa!ons, carts, dra"t animals, and all his
c%mbersome sie!e machiner&, while Benl& himsel" led his $ni!hts and "reeriders in a
swi"t dash east'
,ow li$e his brother Bobert he was, een in that ' ' ' onl& Bobert had alwa&s had
5ddard Star$ to temper his boldness with ca%tion' Ned wo%ld s%rel& hae preailed
%pon Bobert to brin! %p his whole "orce, to encircle Stannis and besie!e the besie!ers'
That choice Benl& had denied himsel" in his headlon! r%sh to come to !rips with his
brother' ,e had o%tdistanced his s%ppl& lines, le"t "ood and "ora!e da&s behind with all
his wa!ons and m%les and o0en' ,e m%st come to battle soon, or stare'
+atel&n sent ,al 2ollen to tend to their horses while she accompanied Benl& bac$ to
the ro&al pailion at the heart o" the encampment' Inside the walls o" !reen sil$, his
captains and lords bannermen were waitin! to hear word o" the parle&' 12& brother has
not chan!ed,3 their &o%n! $in! told them as Brienne %n"astened his cloa$ and li"ted the
!old-and-9ade crown "rom his brow' 1+astles and co%rtesies will not appease him, he
m%st hae blood' (ell, I am o" a mind to !rant his wish'3
1;o%r 8race, I see no need "or battle here,3 7ord 2athis Bowan p%t in' 1The castle is
stron!l& !arrisoned and well proisioned, Ser +ortna& 4enrose is a seasoned
commander, and the treb%chet has not been b%ilt that co%ld breach the walls o" Storms
5nd' 7et 7ord Stannis hae his sie!e' ,e will "ind no 9o& in it, and whilst he sits cold
and h%n!r& and pro"itless, we will ta$e 6in!s 7andin!'3
1*nd hae men sa& I "eared to "ace Stannis.3
1/nl& "ools will sa& that,3 7ord 2athis ar!%ed'
Benl& loo$ed to the others' 1(hat sa& &o% all.3
1I sa& that Stannis is a dan!er to &o%,3 7ord Band&ll Tarl& declared' 17eae him
%nblooded and he will onl& !row stron!er, while &o%r own power is diminished b&
battle' The 7annisters will not be beaten in a da&' B& the time &o% are done with them,
7ord Stannis ma& be as stron! as &o% ' ' ' or stron!er'3
/thers chor%sed their a!reement' The $in! loo$ed pleased' 1(e shall "i!ht, then'3
I hae "ailed Bobb as I "ailed Ned, +atel&n tho%!ht' 12& lord,3 she anno%nced' 1I" &o%
are set on battle, m& p%rpose here is done' I as$ &o%r leae to ret%rn to Bierr%n'3
1;o% do not hae it'3 Benl& seated himsel" on a camp chair'
She sti""ened' 1I had hoped to help &o% ma$e a peace, m& lord' I will not help &o%
ma$e a war'3
Benl& !ae a shr%!' 1I daresa& well preail witho%t &o%r "ie-and-twent&, m& lad&' I
do not mean "or &o% to ta$e part in the battle, onl& to watch it'3
1I was at the (hisperin! (ood, m& lord' I hae seen eno%!h b%tcher&' I came here an
eno&A3
1*nd an eno& &o% shall leae,3 Benl& said, 1b%t wiser than &o% came' ;o% shall see
what be"alls rebels with &o%r own e&es, so &o%r son can hear it "rom &o%r own lips'
(ell $eep &o% sa"e, neer "ear'3 ,e t%rned awa& to ma$e his dispositions' 17ord
2athis, &o% shall lead the center o" m& main battle' Br&ce, &o%ll hae the le"t' The ri!ht
is mine' 7ord 5stermont, &o% shall command the resere'3
1I shall not "ail &o%, ;o%r 8race,3 7ord 5stermont replied'
7ord 2athis Bowan spo$e %p' 1(ho shall hae the an.3
1;o%r 8race,3 said Ser Con =ossowa&, 1I be! the honor'3
1Be! all &o% li$e,3 said Ser 8%&ard the 8reen, 1b& ri!hts it sho%ld be one o" the seen
who stri$es the "irst blow'3
1It ta$es more than a prett& cloa$ to char!e a shield wall,3 Band&ll Tarl& anno%nced' 1I
was leadin! 2ace T&rells an when &o% were still s%c$in! on &o%r mothers teat,
8%&ard'3
* clamor "illed the pailion, as other men lo%dl& set "orth their claims' The $ni!hts o"
s%mmer, +atel&n tho%!ht' Benl& raised a hand' 15no%!h, m& lords' I" I had a do?en
ans, all o" &o% sho%ld hae one, b%t the !reatest !lor& b& ri!hts belon!s to the !reatest
$ni!ht' Ser 7oras shall stri$e the "irst blow'3
1(ith a !lad heart, ;o%r 8race'3 The 6ni!ht o" =lowers $nelt be"ore the $in!' 18rant
me &o%r blessin!, and a $ni!ht to ride beside me with &o%r banner' 7et the sta! and rose
!o to battle side b& side'3
Benl& !lanced abo%t him' 1Brienne'3
1;o%r 8race.3 She was still armored in her bl%e steel, tho%!h she had ta$en o"" her
helm' The crowded tent was hot, and sweat plastered limp &ellow hair to her broad,
homel& "ace' 12& place is at &o%r side' I am &o%r sworn shield ' ' '3
1/ne o" seen,3 the $in! reminded her' 1Neer "ear, "o%r o" &o%r "ellows will be with
me in the "i!ht'3
Brienne dropped to her $nees' 1I" I m%st part "rom ;o%r 8race, !rant me the honor o"
armin! &o% "or battle'3
+atel&n heard someone sni!!er behind her' She loes him, poor thin!, she tho%!ht
sadl&' Shed pla& his s)%ire 9%st to to%ch him, and neer care how !reat a "ool the& thin$
her'
18ranted,3 Benl& said' 1Now leae me, all o" &o%' 5en $in!s m%st rest be"ore a
battle'3
12& lord,3 +atel&n said, 1there was a small sept in the last illa!e we passed' I" &o%
will not permit me to depart "or Bierr%n, !rant me leae to !o there and pra&'3
1*s &o% will' Ser Bobar, !ie 7ad& Star$ sa"e escort to this sept ' ' ' b%t see that she
ret%rns to %s b& dawn'3
1;o% mi!ht do well to pra& &o%rsel",3 +atel&n added'
1=or ictor&.3
1=or wisdom'3
Benl& la%!hed' 17oras, sta& and help me pra&' Its been so lon! Ie )%ite "or!otten
how' *s to the rest o" &o%, I want eer& man in place b& "irst li!ht, armed, armored, and
horsed' (e shall !ie Stannis a dawn he will not soon "or!et'3
#%s$ was "allin! when +atel&n le"t the pailion' Ser Bobar Bo&ce "ell in beside her'
She $new him sli!htl&Aone o" Bron?e ;ohns sons, comel& in a ro%!h-hewn wa&, a
to%rne& warrior o" some renown' Benl& had !i"ted him with a rainbow cloa$ and a s%it
o" blood red armor, and named him one o" his seen' 1;o% are a lon! wa& "rom the >ale,
ser,3 she told him'
1*nd &o% "ar "rom (inter"ell, m& lad&'3
1I $now what bro%!ht me here, b%t wh& hae &o% come. This is not &o%r battle, no
more than it is mine'3
1I made it m& battle when I made Benl& m& $in!'3
1The Bo&ces are bannermen to ,o%se *rr&n'3
12& lord "ather owes 7ad& 7&sa "ealt&, as does his heir' * second son m%st "ind !lor&
where he can'3 Ser Bobar shr%!!ed' 1* man !rows wear& o" to%rne&s'3
,e co%ld not be older than one-and-twent&, +atel&n tho%!ht, o" an a!e with his
$in! ' ' ' b%t her $in!, her Bobb, had more wisdom at "i"teen than this &o%th had eer
learned' /r so she pra&ed'
In +atel&ns small corner o" the camp, Shadd was slicin! carrots into a $ettle, ,al
2ollen was dicin! with three o" his (inter"ell men, and 7%cas Blac$wood sat
sharpenin! his da!!er' 17ad& Star$,3 7%cas said when he saw her, 12ollen sa&s it is to
be battle at dawn'3
1,al has the tr%th o" it,3 she answered' *nd a loose ton!%e as well, it wo%ld seem'
1#o we "i!ht or "lee.3
1(e pra&, 7%cas,3 she answered him' 1(e pra&'3
C#APT"R (&
SA'SA
The lon!er &o% $eep him waitin!, the worse it will !o "or &o%,3 Sandor +le!ane
warned her'
Sansa tried to h%rr&, b%t her "in!ers "%mbled at b%ttons and $nots' The ,o%nd was
alwa&s ro%!h-ton!%ed, b%t somethin! in the wa& he had loo$ed at her "illed her with
dread' ,ad Co""re& "o%nd o%t abo%t her meetin!s with Ser #ontos. 4lease no, she
tho%!ht as she br%shed o%t her hair' Ser #ontos was her onl& hope' I hae to loo$ prett&,
"o"" li$es me to loo$ prett&, hes alwa&s li$ed me in this !own, this color' She smoothed
the cloth down' The "abric was ti!ht across her chest'
(hen she emer!ed, Sansa wal$ed on the ,o%nds le"t, awa& "rom the b%rned side o"
his "ace' 1Tell me what Ie done'3
1Not &o%' ;o%r $in!l& brother'3
1Bobbs a traitor'3 Sansa $new the words b& rote' 1I had no part in whateer he did'3
8ods be !ood, dont let it be the 6in!sla&er' I" Bobb had harmed Caime 7annister, it
wo%ld mean her li"e' She tho%!ht o" Ser Il&n, and how those terrible pale e&es starin!
pitilessl& o%t o" that !a%nt poc$mar$ed "ace'
The ,o%nd snorted' 1The& trained &o% well, little bird'3 ,e cond%cted her to the lower
baile&, where a crowd had !athered aro%nd the archer& b%tts' 2en moed aside to let
them thro%!h' She co%ld hear 7ord 8&les co%!hin!' 7oiterin! stablehands e&ed her
insolentl&, b%t Ser ,oras Bedw&ne aerted his !a?e as she passed, and his brother
,obber pretended not to see her' * &ellow cat was d&in! on the !ro%nd, mewlin!
piteo%sl&, a crossbow )%arrel thro%!h its ribs' Sansa stepped aro%nd it, "eelin! ill'
Ser #ontos approached on his broomstic$ horse: since hed been too dr%n$ to mo%nt
his destrier at the to%rne&, the $in! had decreed that hence"orth he m%st alwa&s !o
horsed' 1Be brae,3 he whispered, s)%ee?in! her arm'
Co""re& stood in the center o" the thron!, windin! an ornate crossbow' Ser Boros and
Ser 2er&n were with him' The si!ht o" them was eno%!h to tie her insides in $nots'
1;o%r 8race'3 She "ell to her $nees'
16neelin! wont sae &o% now,3 the $in! said' 1Stand %p' ;o%re here to answer "or
&o%r brothers latest treasons'3
1;o%r 8race, whateer m& traitor brother has done, I had no part' ;o% $now that, I be!
&o%, pleaseA3
18et her %p@3
The ,o%nd p%lled her to her "eet, not %n!entl&'
1Ser 7ancel,3 Co"" said, 1tell her o" this o%tra!e'3
Sansa had alwa&s tho%!ht 7ancel 7annister comel& and well spo$en, b%t there was
neither pit& nor $indness in the loo$ he !ae her' 1<sin! some ile sorcer&, &o%r brother
"ell %pon Ser Sta""ord 7annister with an arm& o" war!s, not three da&s ride "rom
7annisport' Tho%sands o" !ood men were b%tchered as the& slept, witho%t the chance to
li"t sword' *"ter the sla%!hter, the northmen "easted on the "lesh o" the slain'3
,orror coiled cold hands aro%nd Sansas throat'
1;o% hae nothin! to sa&.3 as$ed Co""re&'
1;o%r 8race, the poor child is shoc$ed witless,3 m%rm%red Ser #ontos'
1Silence, "ool'3 Co""re& li"ted his crossbow and pointed it at her "ace' 1;o% Star$s are
as %nnat%ral as those woles o" &o%rs' Ie not "or!otten how &o%r monster saa!ed
me'3
1That was *r&as wol",3 she said' 17ad& neer h%rt &o%, b%t &o% $illed her an&wa&'3
1No, &o%r "ather did,3 Co"" said, 1b%t I $illed &o%r "ather' I wish Id done it m&sel"' I
$illed a man last ni!ht who was bi!!er than &o%r "ather' The& came to the !ate sho%tin!
m& name and callin! "or bread li$e I was some ba$er, b%t I ta%!ht them better' I shot the
lo%dest one ri!ht thro%!h the throat'3
1*nd he died.3 (ith the %!l& iron head o" the )%arrel starin! her in the "ace, it was
hard to thin$ what else to sa&'
1/" co%rse he died, he had m& )%arrel in his throat' There was a woman throwin!
roc$s, I !ot her as well, b%t onl& in the arm'3 =rownin!, he lowered the crossbow' 1Id
shoot &o% too, b%t i" I do 2other sa&s the&d $ill m& %ncle Caime' Instead &o%ll 9%st be
p%nished and well send word to &o%r brother abo%t what will happen to &o% i" he
doesnt &ield' #o!, hit her'3
17et me beat her@3 Ser #ontos shoed "orward, tin armor clatterin!' ,e was armed
with a 1mornin!star3 whose head was a melon' 2& =lorian' She co%ld hae $issed him,
blotch& s$in and bro$en eins and all' ,e trotted his broomstic$ aro%nd her, sho%tin!
1Traitor, traitor3 and whac$in! her oer the head with the melon' Sansa coered hersel"
with her hands, sta!!erin! eer& time the "r%it po%nded her, her hair stic$& b& the
second blow' 4eople were la%!hin!' The melon "lew to pieces' 7a%!h, Co""re&, she
pra&ed as the 9%ice ran down her "ace and the "ront o" her bl%e sil$ !own' 7a%!h and be
satis"ied'
Co""re& did not so m%ch as sni!!er' 1Boros' 2er&n'3
Ser 2er&n Trant sei?ed #ontos b& the arm and "l%n! him br%s)%el& awa&' The red-
"aced "ool went sprawlin!, broomstic$, melon, and all' Ser Boros sei?ed Sansa'
17eae her "ace,3 Co""re& commanded' 1I li$e her prett&'3
Boros slammed a "ist into Sansas bell&, driin! the air o%t o" her' (hen she do%bled
oer, the $ni!ht !rabbed her hair and drew his sword, and "or one hideo%s instant she
was certain he meant to open her throat' *s he laid the "lat o" the blade across her thi!hs,
she tho%!ht her le!s mi!ht brea$ "rom the "orce o" the blow' Sansa screamed' Tears
welled in her e&es' It will be oer soon' She soon lost co%nt o" the blows'
15no%!h,3 she heard the ,o%nd rasp'
1No it isnt,3 the $in! replied' 1Boros, ma$e her na$ed'3
Boros shoed a meat& hand down the "ront o" Sansas bodice and !ae a hard &an$'
The sil$ came tearin! awa&, barin! her to the waist' Sansa coered her breasts with her
hands' She co%ld hear sni!!ers, "ar o"" and cr%el' 1Beat her blood&,3 Co""re& said, 1well
see how her brother "anciesA3
1(hat is the meanin! o" this.3
The Imps oice crac$ed li$e a whip, and s%ddenl& Sansa was "ree' She st%mbled to
her $nees, arms crossed oer her chest, her breath ra!!ed' 1Is this &o%r notion o"
chialr&, Ser Boros.3 T&rion 7annister demanded an!ril&' ,is pet sellsword stood with
him, and one o" his wildlin!s, the one with the b%rned e&e' 1(hat sort o" $ni!ht beats
helpless maids.3
1The sort who seres his $in!, Imp'3 Ser Boros raised his sword, and Ser 2er&n
stepped %p beside him, his blade scrapin! clear o" its scabbard'
1+are"%l with those,3 warned the dwar"s sellsword' 1;o% dont want to !et blood all
oer those prett& white cloa$s'3
1Someone !ie the !irl somethin! to coer hersel" with,3 the Imp said'
Sandor +le!ane %n"astened his cloa$ and tossed it at her' Sansa cl%tched it a!ainst her
chest, "ists b%nched hard in the white wool' The coarse weae was scratch& a!ainst her
s$in, b%t no elet had eer "elt so "ine'
1This !irls to be &o%r )%een,3 the Imp told Co""re&' 1,ae &o% no re!ard "or her
honor.3
1Im p%nishin! her'3
1=or what crime. She did not "i!ht her brothers battle'3
1She has the blood o" a wol"'3
1*nd &o% hae the wits o" a !oose'3
1;o% cant tal$ to me that wa&' The $in! can do as he li$es'3
1*er&s Tar!ar&en did as he li$ed' ,as &o%r mother eer told &o% what happened to
him.3
Ser Boros Blo%nt harr%mphed' 1No man threatens ,is 8race in the presence o" the
6in!s!%ard'3
T&rion 7annister raised an e&ebrow' 1I am not threatenin! the $in!, ser, I am ed%catin!
m& nephew' Bronn, Timett, the ne0t time Ser Boros opens his mo%th, $ill him'3 The
dwar" smiled' 1Now that was a threat, ser' See the di""erence.3
Ser Boros t%rned a dar$ shade o" red' 1The )%een will hear o" this@3
1No do%bt she will' *nd wh& wait. Co""re&, shall we send "or &o%r mother.3
The $in! "l%shed'
1Nothin! to sa&, ;o%r 8race.3 his %ncle went on' 18ood' 7earn to %se &o%r ears more
and &o%r mo%th less, or &o%r rei!n will be shorter than I am' (anton br%talit& is no wa&
to win &o%r peoples loe ' ' ' or &o%r )%eens'3
1=ear is better than loe, 2other sa&s'3 Co""re& pointed at Sansa' 1She "ears me'3
The Imp si!hed' 1;es, I see' * pit& Stannis and Benl& arent twele-&ear-old !irls as
well' Bronn, Timett, brin! her'3
Sansa moed as i" in a dream' She tho%!ht the Imps men wo%ld ta$e her bac$ to her
bedchamber in 2ae!ors ,old"ast, b%t instead the& cond%cted her to the Tower o" the
,and' She had not set "oot inside that place since the da& her "ather "ell "rom !race, and
it made her "eel "aint to climb those steps a!ain'
Some serin! !irls too$ char!e o" her, mo%thin! meanin!less com"orts to stop her
sha$in!' /ne stripped o"" the r%ins o" her !own and smallclothes, and another bathed her
and washed the stic$& 9%ice "rom her "ace and her hair' *s the& scr%bbed her down with
soap and sl%iced warm water oer her head, all she co%ld see were the "aces "rom the
baile&' 6ni!hts are sworn to de"end the wea$, protect women, and "i!ht "or the ri!ht, b%t
none o" them did a thin!' /nl& Ser #ontos had tried to help, and he was no lon!er a
$ni!ht, no more than the Imp was, nor the ,o%nd ' ' ' the ,o%nd hated $ni!hts ' ' ' I hate
them too, Sansa tho%!ht' The& are no tr%e $ni!hts, not one o" them'
*"ter she was clean, pl%mp !in!er-headed 2aester =ren$en came to see her' ,e bid
her lie "acedown on the mattress while he spread a sale across the an!r& red welts that
coered the bac$s o" her le!s' *"terward he mi0ed her a dra%!ht o" dreamwine, with
some hone& so it mi!ht !o down easier' 1Sleep a bit, child' (hen &o% wa$e, all this will
seem a bad dream'3
No it wont, &o% st%pid man, Sansa tho%!ht, b%t she dran$ the drearnwine an&wa&, and
slept'
It was dar$ when she wo$e a!ain, not )%ite $nowin! where she was, the room both
stran!e and stran!el& "amiliar' *s she rose, a stab o" pain went thro%!h her le!s and
bro%!ht it all bac$' Tears "illed her e&es' Someone had laid o%t a robe "or her beside the
bed' Sansa slipped it on and opened the door' /%tside stood a hard-"aced woman with
leather& brown s$in, three nec$laces looped abo%t her scrawn& nec$' /ne was !old and
one was siler and one was made o" h%man ears' 1(here does she thin$ shes !oin!.3
the woman as$ed, leanin! on a tall spear'
1The !odswood'3 She had to "ind Ser #ontos, be! him to ta$e her home now be"ore it
was too late'
1The hal"man said &o%re not to leae,3 the woman said' 14ra& here, the !ods will
hear'3
2ee$l&, Sansa dropped her e&es and retreated bac$ inside' She reali?ed s%ddenl& wh&
this place seemed so "amiliar' The&e p%t me in *r&as old bedchamber, "rom when
=ather was the ,and o" the 6in!' *ll her thin!s are !one and the "%rnishin!s hae been
moed aro%nd, b%t its the same ' ' '
* short time later, a serin! !irl bro%!ht a platter o" cheese and bread and olies, with
a "la!on o" cold water' 1Ta$e it awa&,3 Sansa commanded, b%t the !irl le"t the "ood on a
table' She was thirst&, she reali?ed' 5er& step sent $nies thro%!h her thi!hs, b%t she
made hersel" cross the room' She dran$ two c%ps o" water, and was nibblin! on an olie
when the $noc$ came'
*n0io%sl&, she t%rned toward the door, smoothed down the "olds o" her robe' 1;es.3
The door opened, and T&rion 7annister stepped inside' 12& lad&' I tr%st I am not
dist%rbin! &o%.3
1*m I &o%r prisoner.3
12& !%est'3 ,e was wearin! his chain o" o""ice, a nec$lace o" lin$ed !olden hands' 1I
tho%!ht we mi!ht tal$'3
1*s m& lord commands'3 Sansa "o%nd it hard not to stare: his "ace was so %!l& it held
a )%eer "ascination "or her'
1The "ood and !arments are to &o%r satis"action.3 he as$ed' 1I" there is an&thin! else
&o% need, &o% hae onl& to as$'3
1;o% are most $ind' *nd this mornin! ' ' ' it was er& !ood o" &o% to help me'3
1;o% hae a ri!ht to $now wh& Co""re& was so wroth' Si0 ni!hts !one, &o%r brother "ell
%pon m& %ncle Sta""ord, encamped with his host at a illa!e called /0cross not three
da&s ride "rom +asterl& Boc$' ;o%r northerners won a cr%shin! ictor&' (e receied
word onl& this mornin!'3
Bobb will $ill &o% all, she tho%!ht, e0%ltin!' 1Its ' ' ' terrible, m& lord' 2& brother is a
ile traitor'3
The dwar" smiled wanl&' 1(ell, hes no "awn, hes made that clear eno%!h'3
1Ser 7ancel said Bobb led an arm& o" war!s ' ' '3
The Imp !ae a disdain"%l bar$ o" la%!hter' 1Ser 7ancels a wines$in warrior who
wo%ldnt $now a war! "rom a wart' ;o%r brother had his direwol" with him, b%t I s%spect
thats as "ar as it went' The northmen crept into m& %ncles camp and c%t his horse lines,
and 7ord Star$ sent his wol" amon! them' 5en war-trained destriers went mad' 6ni!hts
were trampled to death in their pailions, and the rabble wo$e in terror and "led, castin!
aside their weapons to r%n the "aster' Ser Sta""ord was slain as he chased a"ter a horse'
7ord Bic$ard 6arstar$ droe a lance thro%!h his chest' Ser B%bert Bra0 is also dead,
alon! with Ser 7&mond >i$ar&, 7ord +ra$ehall, and 7ord 9ast' ,al" a h%ndred more hae
been ta$en captie, incl%din! 9asts sons and m& nephew 2art&n 7annister' Those who
s%ried are spreadin! wild tales and swearin! that the old !ods o" the north march with
&o%r brother'3
1Then ' ' ' there was no sorcer&.3
7annister snorted' 1Sorcer& is the sa%ce "ools spoon oer "ail%re to hide the "laor o"
their own incompetence' 2& m%tton-headed %ncle had not een tro%bled to post sentries,
it wo%ld seem' ,is host was rawAapprentice bo&s, miners, "ieldhands, "isher"ol$, the
sweepin!s o" 7annisport' The onl& m&ster& is how &o%r brother reached him' /%r "orces
still hold the stron!hold at the 8olden Tooth, and the& swear he did not pass'3 The dwar"
!ae an irritated shr%!' 1(ell, Bobb Star$ is m& "athers bane' Co""re& is mine' Tell me,
what do &o% "eel "or m& $in!l& nephew.3
1I loe him with all m& heart,3 Sansa said at once'
1Tr%l&.3 ,e did not so%nd coninced' 15en now.3
12& loe "or ,is 8race is !reater than it has eer been'3
The Imp la%!hed alo%d' 1(ell, someone has ta%!ht &o% to lie well' ;o% ma& be
!rate"%l "or that one da&, child' ;o% are a child still, are &o% not. /r hae &o%
"lowered.3
Sansa bl%shed' It was a r%de )%estion, b%t the shame o" bein! stripped be"ore hal" the
castle made it seem li$e nothin!' 1No, m& lord'3
1Thats all to the !ood' I" it !ies &o% an& solace, I do not intend that &o% eer wed
Co""re&' No marria!e will reconcile Star$ and 7annister a"ter all that has happened, I
"ear' 2ores the pit&' The match was one o" 6in! Boberts better notions, i" Co""re&
hadnt m%c$ed it %p'3
She $new she o%!ht to sa& somethin!, b%t the words ca%!ht in her throat'
1;o% !row er& )%iet,3 T&rion 7annister obsered' 1Is this what &o% want. *n end to
&o%r betrothal.3
1I ' ' '3 Sansa did not $now what to sa&' Is it a tric$. (ill he p%nish me i" I tell the
tr%th. She stared at the dwar"s br%tal b%l!in! brow, the hard blac$ e&e and the shrewd
!reen one, the croo$ed teeth and wir& beard' 1I onl& want to be lo&al'3
17o&al,3 the dwar" m%sed, 1and "ar "rom an& 7annisters' I can scarce blame &o% "or
that' (hen I was &o%r a!e, I wanted the same thin!'3 ,e smiled' 1The& tell me &o% isit
the !odswood eer& da&' (hat do &o% pra& "or, Sansa.3
I pra& "or Bobbs ictor& and Co""re&s death ' ' ' and "or home' =or (inter"ell' 1I pra&
"or an end to the "i!htin!'3
1(ell hae that soon eno%!h' There will be another battle, between &o%r brother Bobb
and m& lord "ather, and that will settle the iss%e'3
Bobb will beat him, Sansa tho%!ht' ,e beat &o%r %ncle and &o%r brother Caime, hell
beat &o%r "ather too'
It was as i" her "ace were an open boo$, so easil& did the dwar" read her hopes' 1#o not
ta$e /0cross too m%ch to heart, m& lad&,3 he told her, not %n$indl&' 1* battle is not a
war, and m& lord "ather is ass%redl& not m& %ncle Sta""ord' The ne0t time &o% isit the
!odswood, pra& that &o%r brother has the wisdom to bend the $nee' /nce the north
ret%rns to the $in!s peace, I mean to send &o% home'3 ,e hopped down o"" the window
seat and said, 1;o% ma& sleep here toni!ht' Ill !ie &o% some o" m& own men as a
!%ard, some Stone +rows perhapsA3
1No,3 Sansa bl%rted o%t, a!hast' I" she was loc$ed in the Tower o" the ,and, !%arded
b& the dwar"s men, how wo%ld Ser #ontos eer spirit her awa& to "reedom.
1(o%ld &o% pre"er Blac$ 5ars. Ill !ie &o% +hella i" a woman wo%ld ma$e &o% more
at ease'3
14lease, no, m& lord, the wildlin!s "ri!hten me'3
,e !rinned' 12e as well' B%t more to the point, the& "ri!hten Co""re& and that nest o"
sl& ipers and lic$spittle do!s he calls a 6in!s!%ard' (ith +hella or Timett b& &o%r side,
no one wo%ld dare o""er &o% harm'3
1I wo%ld sooner ret%rn to m& own bed'3 * lie came to her s%ddenl&, b%t it seemed so
ri!ht that she bl%rted it o%t at once' 1This tower was where m& "athers men were slain'
Their !hosts wo%ld !ie me terrible dreams, and I wo%ld see their blood whereer I
loo$ed'3
T&rion 7annister st%died her "ace' 1I am no stran!er to ni!htmares, Sansa' 4erhaps &o%
are wiser than I $new' 4ermit me at least to escort &o% sa"el& bac$ to &o%r own
chambers'3
C#APT"R ((
CAT"%'
It was "%ll dar$ be"ore the& "o%nd the illa!e' +atel&n "o%nd hersel" wonderin! i" the
place had a name' I" so, its people had ta$en that $nowled!e with them when the& "led,
alon! with all the& owned, down to the candles in the sept' Ser (endel lit a torch and led
her thro%!h the low door'
(ithin, the seen walls were crac$ed and croo$ed' 8od is one, Septon /sm&nd had
ta%!ht her when she was a !irl, with seen aspects, as the sept is a sin!le b%ildin!, with
seen walls' The wealth& septs o" the cities had stat%es o" the Seen and an altar to each'
In (inter"ell, Septon +ha&le h%n! cared mas$s "rom each wall' ,ere +atel&n "o%nd
onl& ro%!h charcoal drawin!s' Ser (endel set the torch in a sconce near the door, and
le"t to wait o%tside with Bobar Bo&ce'
+atel&n st%died the "aces' The =ather was bearded, as eer' The 2other smiled, loin!
and protectie' The (arrior had his sword s$etched in beneath his "ace, the Smith his
hammer' The 2aid was bea%ti"%l, the +rone wi?ened and wise'
*nd the seenth "ace ' ' ' the Stran!er was neither male nor "emale, &et both, eer the
o%tcast, the wanderer "rom "ar places, less and more than h%man, %n$nown and
%n$nowable' ,ere the "ace was a blac$ oal, a shadow with stars "or e&es' It made
+atel&n %neas&' She wo%ld !et scant com"ort there'
She $nelt be"ore the 2other' 12& lad&, loo$ down on this battle with a mothers e&es'
The& are all sons, eer& one' Spare them i" &o% can, and spare m& own sons as well'
(atch oer Bobb and Bran and Bic$on' (o%ld that I were with them'3
* crac$ ran down thro%!h the 2others le"t e&e' It made her loo$ as i" she were cr&in!'
+atel&n co%ld hear Ser (endels boomin! oice, and now and a!ain Ser Bobars )%iet
answers, as the& tal$ed o" the comin! battle' /therwise the ni!ht was still' Not een a
cric$et co%ld be heard, and the !ods $ept their silence' #id &o%r old !ods eer answer
&o%, Ned. she wondered' (hen &o% $nelt be"ore &o%r heart tree, did the& hear &o%.
=lic$erin! torchli!ht danced across the walls, ma$in! the "aces seem hal"-alie,
twistin! them, chan!in! them' The stat%es in the !reat septs o" the cities wore the "aces
the stonemasons had !ien them, b%t these charcoal scratchin!s were so cr%de the&
mi!ht be an&one' The =athers "ace made her thin$ o" her own "ather, d&in! in his bed at
Bierr%n' The (arrior was Benl& and Stannis, Bobb and Bobert, Caime 7annister and
Con Snow' She een !limpsed *r&a in those lines, 9%st "or an instant' Then a !%st o" wind
thro%!h the door made the torch sp%tter, and the semblance was !one, washed awa& in
oran!e !lare'
The smo$e was ma$in! her e&es b%rn' She r%bbed at them with the heels o" her scarred
hands' (hen she loo$ed %p at the 2other a!ain, it was her own mother she saw' 7ad&
2inisa T%ll& had died in childbed, tr&in! to !ie 7ord ,oster a second son' The bab&
had perished with her, and a"terward some o" the li"e had !one o%t o" =ather' She was
alwa&s so calm, +atel&n tho%!ht, rememberin! her mothers so"t hands, her warm smile'
I" she had lied, how di""erent o%r lies mi!ht hae been' She wondered what 7ad&
2inisa wo%ld ma$e o" her eldest da%!hter, $neelin! here be"ore her' I hae come so
man& tho%sands o" lea!%es, and "or what. (ho hae I sered. I hae lost m& da%!hters,
Bobb does not want me, and Bran and Bic$on m%st s%rel& thin$ me a cold and %nnat%ral
mother' I was not een with Ned when he died ' ' '
,er head swam, and the sept seemed to moe aro%nd her' The shadows swa&ed and
shi"ted, "%rtie animals racin! across the crac$ed white walls' +atel&n had not eaten
toda&' 4erhaps that had been %nwise' She told hersel" that there had been no time, b%t
the tr%th was that "ood had lost its saor in a world witho%t Ned' (hen the& too$ his
head o"", the& $illed me too'
Behind her the torch spit, and s%ddenl& it seemed to her that it was her sisters "ace on
the wall, tho%!h the e&es were harder than she recalled, not 7&sas e&es b%t +erseis'
+ersei is a mother too' No matter who "athered those children, she "elt them $ic$ inside
her, bro%!ht them "orth with her pain and blood, n%rsed them at her breast' I" the& are
tr%l& Caimes ' ' '
1#oes +ersei pra& to &o% too, m& lad&.3 +atel&n as$ed the 2other' She co%ld see the
pro%d, cold, loel& "eat%res o" the 7annister )%een etched %pon the wall' The crac$ was
still there: een +ersei co%ld weep "or her children' 15ach o" the Seen embodies all o"
the Seen,3 Septon /sm&nd had told her once' There was as m%ch bea%t& in the +rone
as in the 2aiden, and the 2other co%ld be "iercer than the (arrior when her children
were in dan!er' ;es ' ' '
She had seen eno%!h o" Bobert Baratheon at (inter"ell to $now that the $in! did not
re!ard Co""re& with an& !reat warmth' I" the bo& was tr%l& Caimes seed, Bobert wo%ld
hae p%t him to death alon! with his mother, and "ew wo%ld hae condemned him'
Bastards were common eno%!h, b%t incest was a monstro%s sin to both old !ods and
new, and the children o" s%ch wic$edness were named abominations in sept and
!odswood ali$e' The dra!on $in!s had wed brother to sister, b%t the& were the blood o"
old >al&ria where s%ch practices had been common, and li$e their dra!ons the
Tar!ar&ens answered to neither !ods nor men'
Ned m%st hae $nown, and 7ord *rr&n be"ore him' Small wonder that the )%een had
$illed them both' (o%ld I do an& less "or m& own. +atel&n clenched her hands, "eelin!
the ti!htness in her scarred "in!ers where the assassins steel had c%t to the bone as she
"o%!ht to sae her son' 1Bran $nows too,3 she whispered, lowerin! her head' 8ods be
!ood, he m%st hae seen somethin!, heard somethin!, that was wh& the& tried to $ill him
in his bed'
7ost and wear&, +atel&n Star$ !ae hersel" oer to her !ods' She $nelt be"ore the
Smith, who "i0ed thin!s that were bro$en, and as$ed that he !ie her sweet Bran his
protection' She went to the 2aid and beseeched her to lend her co%ra!e to *r&a and
Sansa, to !%ard them in their innocence' To the =ather, she pra&ed "or 9%stice, the
stren!th to see$ it and the wisdom to $now it, and she as$ed the (arrior to $eep Bobb
stron! and shield him in his battles' 7astl& she t%rned to the +rone, whose stat%es o"ten
showed her with a lamp in one hand' 18%ide me, wise lad&,3 she pra&ed' 1Show me the
path I m%st wal$, and do not let me st%mble in the dar$ places that lie ahead'3
=inall& there were "ootsteps behind her, and a noise at the door' 12& lad&,3 Ser Bobar
said !entl&, 1pardon, b%t o%r time is at an end' (e m%st be bac$ be"ore the dawn
brea$s'3
+atel&n rose sti""l&' ,er $nees ached, and she wo%ld hae !ien m%ch "or a "eatherbed
and a pillow 9%st then' 1Than$ &o%, ser' I am read&'3
The& rode in silence thro%!h sparse woodland where the trees leaned dr%n$enl& awa&
"rom the sea' The nero%s whinn& o" horses and the clan$ o" steel !%ided them bac$ to
Benl&s camp' The lon! ran$s o" man and horse were armored in dar$ness, as blac$ as i"
the Smith had hammered ni!ht itsel" into steel' There were banners to her ri!ht, banners
to her le"t, and ran$ on ran$ o" banners be"ore her, b%t in the predawn !loom, neither
colors nor si!ils co%ld be discerned' * !re& arm&, +atel&n tho%!ht' 8re& men on !re&
horses beneath !re& banners' *s the& sat their horses waitin!, Benl&s shadow $ni!hts
pointed their lances %pward, so she rode thro%!h a "orest o" tall na$ed trees, bere"t o"
leaes and li"e' (here Storms 5nd stood was onl& a deeper dar$ness, a wall o" blac$
thro%!h which no stars co%ld shine, b%t she co%ld see torches moin! across the "ields
where 7ord Stannis had made his camp'
The candles within Benl&s pailion made the shimmerin! sil$en walls seem to !low,
trans"ormin! the !reat tent into a ma!ical castle alie with emerald li!ht' Two o" the
Bainbow 8%ard stood sentr& at the door to the ro&al pailion' The !reen li!ht shone
stran!el& a!ainst the p%rple pl%ms o" Ser 4armens s%rcoat, and !ae a sic$l& h%e to the
s%n"lowers that coered eer& inch o" Ser 5mmons enameled &ellow plate' 7on! sil$en
pl%mes "lew "rom their helms, and rainbow cloa$s draped their sho%lders'
(ithin, +atel&n "o%nd Brienne armorin! the $in! "or battle while the 7ords Tarl& and
Bowan spo$e o" dispositions and tactics' It was pleasantl& warm inside, the heat
shimmerin! o"" the coals in a do?en small iron bra?iers' 1I m%st spea$ with &o%, ;o%r
8race,3 she said, !rantin! him a $in!s st&le "or once, an&thin! to ma$e him heed her'
1In a moment, 7ad& +atel&n,3 Benl& replied' Brienne "it bac$plate to breastplate oer
his )%ilted t%nic' The $in!s armor was a deep !reen, the !reen o" leaes in a s%mmer
wood, so dar$ it dran$ the candleli!ht' 8old hi!hli!hts !leamed "rom inla& and
"astenin!s li$e distant "ires in that wood, win$in! eer& time he moed' 14ra& contin%e,
7ord 2athis'3
1;o%r 8race,3 2athis Bowan said with a sidewa&s !lance at +atel&n' 1*s I was
sa&in!, o%r battles are well drawn %p' (h& wait "or da&brea$. So%nd the adance'3
1*nd hae it said that I won b& treacher&, with an %nchialro%s attac$. #awn was the
chosen ho%r'3
1+hosen b& Stannis,3 Band&ll Tarl& pointed o%t' 1,ed hae %s char!e into the teeth o"
the risin! s%n' (ell be hal"-blind'3
1/nl& %ntil "irst shoc$,3 Benl& said con"identl&' 1Ser 7oras will brea$ them, and a"ter
that it will be chaos'3 Brienne ti!htened !reen leather straps and b%c$led !olden b%c$les'
1(hen m& brother "alls, see that no ins%lt is done to his corpse' ,e is m& own blood, I
will not hae his head paraded abo%t on a spear'3
1*nd i" he &ields.3 7ord Tarl& as$ed'
1;ields.3 7ord Bowan la%!hed' 1(hen 2ace T&rell laid sie!e to Storms 5nd, Stannis
ate rats rather than open his !ates'3
1(ell I remember'3 Benl& li"ted his chin to allow Brienne to "asten his !or!et in place'
1Near the end, Ser 8awen (&lde and three o" his $ni!hts tried to steal o%t a postern !ate
to s%rrender' Stannis ca%!ht them and ordered them "l%n! "rom the walls with catap%lts'
I can still see 8awens "ace as the& strapped him down' ,e had been o%r master-at-
arms'3
7ord Bowan appeared p%??led' 1No men were h%rled "rom the walls' I wo%ld s%rel&
remember that'3
12aester +ressen told Stannis that we mi!ht be "orced to eat o%r dead, and there was
no !ain in "lin!in! awa& !ood meat'3 Benl& p%shed bac$ his hair' Brienne bo%nd it with
a elet tie and p%lled a padded cap down oer his ears, to c%shion the wei!ht o" his
helm' 1Than$s to the /nion 6ni!ht we were neer red%ced to dinin! on corpses, b%t it
was a close thin!' Too close "or Ser 8awen, who died in his cell'3
1;o%r 8race'3 +atel&n had waited patientl&, b%t time !rew short' 1;o% promised me a
word'3
Benl& nodded' 1See to &o%r battles, m& lords ' ' ' oh, and i" Barristan Selm& is at m&
brothers side, I want him spared'3
1Theres been no word o" Ser Barristan since Co""re& cast him o%t,3 7ord Bowan
ob9ected'
1I $now that old man' ,e needs a $in! to !%ard, or who is he. ;et he neer came to
me, and 7ad& +atel&n sa&s he is not with Bobb Star$ at Bierr%n' (here else b%t with
Stannis.3
1*s &o% sa&, ;o%r 8race' No harm will come to him'3 The lords bowed deepl& and
departed'
1Sa& &o%r sa&, 7ad& Star$,3 Benl& said' Brienne swept his cloa$ oer his broad
sho%lders' It was cloth-o"-!old, hea&, with the crowned sta! o" Baratheon pic$ed o%t in
"la$es o" 9et'
1The 7annisters tried to $ill m& son Bran' * tho%sand times I hae as$ed m&sel" wh&'
;o%r brother !ae me m& answer' There was a h%nt the da& he "ell' Bobert and Ned and
most o" the other men rode o%t a"ter boar, b%t Caime 7annister remained at (inter"ell, as
did the )%een'3
Benl& was not slow to ta$e the implication' 1So &o% beliee the bo& ca%!ht them at
their incest ' ' '3
1I be! &o%, m& lord, !rant me leae to !o to &o%r brother Stannis and tell him what I
s%spect'3
1To what end.3
1Bobb will set aside his crown i" &o% and &o%r brother will do the same,3 she said,
hopin! it was tr%e' She wo%ld ma$e it tr%e i" she m%st: Bobb wo%ld listen to her, een i"
his lords wo%ld not' 17et the three o" &o% call "or a 8reat +o%ncil, s%ch as the realm has
not seen "or a h%ndred &ears' (e will send to (inter"ell, so Bran ma& tell his tale and all
men ma& $now the 7annisters "or the tr%e %s%rpers' 7et the assembled lords o" the Seen
6in!doms choose who shall r%le them'3
Benl& la%!hed' 1Tell me, m& lad&, do direwoles ote on who sho%ld lead the pac$.3
Brienne bro%!ht the $in!s !a%ntlets and !reathelm, crowned with !olden antlers that
wo%ld add a "oot and a hal" to his hei!ht' 1The time "or tal$ is done' Now we see who is
stron!er'3 Benl& p%lled a lobstered !reen-and-!old !a%ntlet oer his le"t hand, while
Brienne $nelt to b%c$le on his belt, hea& with the wei!ht o" lon!sword and da!!er'
1I be! &o% in the name o" the 2other,3 +atel&n be!an when a s%dden !%st o" wind
"l%n! open the door o" the tent' She tho%!ht she !limpsed moement, b%t when she
t%rned her head, it was onl& the $in!s shadow shi"tin! a!ainst the sil$en walls' She
heard Benl& be!in a 9est, his shadow moin!, li"tin! its sword, blac$ on !reen, candles
!%tterin!, shierin!, somethin! was )%eer, wron!, and then she saw Benl&s sword still
in its scabbard, sheathed still, b%t the shadowsword ' ' '
1+old,3 said Benl& in a small p%??led oice, a heartbeat be"ore the steel o" his !or!et
parted li$e cheesecloth beneath the shadow o" a blade that was not there' ,e had time to
ma$e a small thic$ !asp be"ore the blood came !%shin! o%t o" his throat'
1;o%r 8rAno@3 cried Brienne the Bl%e when she saw that eil "low, so%ndin! as
scared as an& little !irl' The $in! st%mbled into her arms, a sheet o" blood creepin! down
the "ront o" his armor, a dar$ red tide that drowned his !reen and !old' 2ore candles
!%ttered o%t' Benl& tried to spea$, b%t he was cho$in! on his own blood' ,is le!s
collapsed, and onl& Briennes stren!th held him %p' She threw bac$ her head and
screamed, wordless in her an!%ish'
The shadow Somethin! dar$ and eil had happened here, she $new, somethin! that she
co%ld not be!in to %nderstand' Benl& neer cast that shadow #eath came in that door
and blew the li"e o%t o" him as swi"t as the wind sn%""ed o%t his candles'
/nl& a "ew instants passed be"ore Bobar Bo&ce and 5mmon +%& came b%rstin! in,
tho%!h it "elt li$e hal" the ni!ht' * pair o" men-at-arms crowded in behind with torches'
(hen the& saw Benl& in Briennes arms, and her drenched with the $in!s blood, Ser
Bobar !ae a cr& o" horror' 1(ic$ed woman@3 screamed Ser 5mmon, he o" the
s%n"lowered steel' 1*wa& "rom him, &o% ile creat%re@3
18ods be !ood, Brienne, wh&.3 as$ed Ser Bobar'
Brienne loo$ed %p "rom her $in!s bod&' The rainbow cloa$ that h%n! "rom her
sho%lders had t%rned red where the $in!s blood had soa$ed into the cloth' 1I ' ' ' I ' ' '3
1;o%ll die "or this'3 Ser 5mmon snatched %p a lon!-handled battlea0e "rom the
weapons piled near the door' 1;o%ll pa& "or the $in!s li"e with &o%r own@3
1N/@3 +atel&n Star$ screamed, "indin! her oice at last, b%t it was too late, the blood
madness was on them, and the& r%shed "orward with sho%ts that drowned her so"ter
words'
Brienne moed "aster than +atel&n wo%ld hae belieed' ,er own sword was not to
hand, so she snatched Benl&s "rom its scabbard and raised it to catch 5mmons a0e on
the downswin!' * spar$ "lashed bl%ewhite as steel met steel with a rendin! crash, and
Brienne spran! to her "eet, the bod& o" the dead $in! thr%st r%del& aside' Ser 5mmon
st%mbled oer it as he tried to close, and Briennes blade sheared thro%!h the wooden
ha"t to send his a0ehead spinnin!' *nother man thr%st a "lamin! torch at her bac$, b%t
the rainbow cloa$ was too sodden with blood to b%rn' Brienne sp%n and c%t, and torch
and hand went "l&in!' =lames crept across the carpet' The maimed man be!an to scream'
Ser 5mmon dropped the a0e and "%mbled "or his sword' The second man-at-arms
l%n!ed, Brienne parried, and their swords danced and clan!ed a!ainst each other' (hen
5mmon +%& came wadin! bac$ in, Brienne was "orced to retreat, &et somehow she held
them both at ba&' /n the !ro%nd, Benl&s head rolled sic$enin!l& to one side, and a
second mo%th &awned wide, the blood comin! "rom him now in slow p%lses'
Ser Bobar had h%n! bac$, %ncertain, b%t now he was reachin! "or his hilt' 1Bobar, no,
listen'3 +atel&n sei?ed his arm' 1;o% do her wron!, it was not her' ,elp her@ ,ear me, it
was Stannis'3 The name was on her lips be"ore she co%ld thin$ how it !ot there, b%t as
she said it, she $new that it was tr%e' 1I swear it, &o% $now me, it was Stannis $illed
him'3
The &o%n! rainbow $ni!ht stared at this madwoman with pale and "ri!htened e&es'
1Stannis. ,ow.3
1I do not $now' Sorcer&, some dar$ ma!ic, there was a shadow, a shadow3 ,er own
oice so%nded wild and cra?ed to her, b%t the words po%red o%t in a r%sh as the blades
contin%ed to clash behind her' 1* shadow with a sword, I swear it, I saw' *re &o% blind,
the !irl loed him@ ,elp her@3 She !lanced bac$, saw the second !%ardsman "all, his
blade droppin! "rom limp "in!ers' /%tside there was sho%tin!' 2ore an!r& men wo%ld
be b%rstin! in on them an& instant, she $new' 1She is innocent, Bobar' ;o% hae m&
word, on m& h%sbands !rae and m& honor as a Star$@3
That resoled him' 1I will hold them,3 Ser Bobar said' 18et her awa&'3 ,e t%rned and
went o%t'
The "ire had reached the wall and was creepin! %p the side o" the tent' Ser 5mmon was
pressin! Brienne hard, him in his enameled &ellow steel and her in wool' ,e had
"or!otten +atel&n, %ntil the iron bra?ier came crashin! into the bac$ o" his head' ,elmed
as he was, the blow did no lastin! harm, b%t it sent him to his $nees' 1Brienne, with me,3
+atel&n commanded' The !irl was not slow to see the chance' * slash, and the !reen sil$
parted' The& stepped o%t into dar$ness and the chill o" dawn' 7o%d oices came "rom the
other side o" the pailion' 1This wa&,3 +atel&n %r!ed, 1and slowl&' (e m%st not r%n, or
the& will as$ wh&' (al$ eas&, as i" nothin! were amiss'3
Brienne thr%st her sword blade thro%!h her belt and "ell in beside +atel&n' The ni!ht
air smelled o" rain' Behind them, the $in!s pailion was well abla?e, "lames risin! hi!h
a!ainst the dar$' No one made an& moe to stop them' 2en r%shed past them, sho%tin!
o" "ire and m%rder and sorcer&' /thers stood in small !ro%ps and spo$e in low oices' *
"ew were pra&in!, and one &o%n! s)%ire was on his $nees, sobbin! openl&'
Benl&s battles were alread& comin! apart as the r%mors spread "rom mo%th to mo%th'
The ni!ht"ires had b%rned low, and as the east be!an to li!hten the immense mass o"
Storms 5nd emer!ed li$e a dream o" stone while wisps o" pale mist raced across the
"ield, "l&in! "rom the s%n on win!s o" wind' 2ornin! !hosts, she had heard /ld Nan call
them once, spirits ret%rnin! to their !raes' *nd Benl& one o" them now, !one li$e his
brother Bobert, li$e her own dear Ned'
1I neer held him b%t as he died,3 Brienne said )%ietl& as the& wal$ed thro%!h the
spreadin! chaos' ,er oice so%nded as i" she mi!ht brea$ at an& instant' 1,e was
la%!hin! one moment, and s%ddenl& the blood was eer&where ' ' ' m& lad&, I do not
%nderstand' #id &o% see, did &o% ' ' ' .3
1I saw a shadow' I tho%!ht it was Benl&s shadow at the "irst, b%t it was his brothers'3
17ord Stannis.3
1I "elt him' It ma$es no sense, I $now'3
It made sense eno%!h "or Brienne' 1I will $ill him,3 the tall homel& !irl declared'
1(ith m& lords own sword, I will $ill him' I swear it' I swear it' I swear it'3
,al 2ollen and the rest o" her escort were waitin! with the horses' Ser (endel
2anderl& was all in a lather to $now what was happenin!' 12& lad&, the camp has !one
mad,3 he bl%rted when he saw them' 17ord Benl&, is heA3 ,e stopped s%ddenl&, starin!
at Brienne and the blood that drenched her'
1#ead, b%t not b& o%r hands'3
1The battleA3 ,al 2ollen be!an'
1There will be no battle'3 +atel&n mo%nted, and her escort "ormed %p abo%t her, with
Ser (endel to her le"t and Ser 4erw&n =re& on her ri!ht' 1Brienne, we bro%!ht mo%nts
eno%!h "or twice o%r n%mber' +hoose one, and come with %s'3
1I hae m& own horse, m& lad&' *nd m& armorA3
17eae them' (e m%st be well awa& be"ore the& thin$ to loo$ "or %s' (e were both
with the $in! when he was $illed' That will not be "or!otten'3 (ordless, Brienne t%rned
and did as she was bid' 1Bide,3 +atel&n commanded her escort when the& were all
ahorse' 1I" an& man tries to stop %s, c%t him down'3
*s the lon! "in!ers o" dawn "anned across the "ields, color was ret%rnin! to the world'
(here !re& men had sat !re& horses armed with shadow spears, the points o" ten
tho%sand lances now !linted silerl& cold, and on the m&riad "lappin! banners +atel&n
saw the bl%sh o" red and pin$ and oran!e, the richness o" bl%es and browns, the bla?e o"
!old and &ellow' *ll the power o" Storms 5nd and ,i!h!arden, the power that had been
Benl&s an ho%r a!o' The& belon! to Stannis now, she reali?ed, een i" the& do not $now
it themseles &et' (here else are the& to t%rn, i" not to the last Baratheon. Stannis has
won all with a sin!le eil stro$e'
I am the ri!ht"%l $in!, he had declared, his 9aw clenched hard as iron, and &o%r son no
less a traitor than m& brother here' ,is da& will come as well'
* chill went thro%!h her'
C#APT"R ()
-O'
The hill 9%tted aboe the dense tan!le o" "orest, risin! solitar& and s%dden, its
windswept hei!hts isible "rom miles o""' The wildlin!s called it the =ist o" the =irst
2en, ran!ers said' It did loo$ li$e a "ist, Con Snow tho%!ht, p%nchin! %p thro%!h earth
and wood, its bare brown slopes $n%c$led with stone'
,e rode to the top with 7ord 2ormont and the o""icers, leain! 8host below %nder the
trees' The direwol" had r%n o"" three times as the& climbed, twice ret%rnin! rel%ctantl& to
Cons whistle' The third time, the 7ord +ommander lost patience and snapped, 17et him
!o, bo&' I want to reach the crest be"ore d%s$' =ind the wol" later'3
The wa& %p was steep and ston&, the s%mmit crowned b& a chest-hi!h wall o" t%mbled
roc$s' The& had to circle some distance west be"ore the& "o%nd a !ap lar!e eno%!h to
admit the horses' 1This is !ood !ro%nd, Thoren,3 the /ld Bear proclaimed when at last
the& attained the top' 1(e co%ld scarce hope "or better' (ell ma$e o%r camp here to
await ,al"hand'3 The 7ord +ommander sw%n! down o"" his saddle, dislod!in! the
raen "rom his sho%lder' +omplainin! lo%dl&, the bird too$ to the air'
The iews atop the hill were bracin!, &et it was the rin!wall that drew Cons e&e, the
weathered !re& stones with their white patches o" lichen, their beards o" !reen moss' It
was said that the =ist had been a rin!"ort o" the =irst 2en in the #awn *!e' 1*n old
place, and stron!,3 Thoren Smallwood said'
1/ld,3 2ormonts raen screamed as it "lapped in nois& circles abo%t their heads'
1/ld, old, old'3
1F%iet,3 2ormont !rowled %p at the bird' The /ld Bear was too pro%d to admit to
wea$ness, b%t Con was not deceied' The strain o" $eepin! %p with &o%n!er men was
ta$in! its toll'
1These hei!hts will be eas& to de"end, i" need be,3 Thoren pointed o%t as he wal$ed his
horse alon! the rin! o" stones, his sable-trimmed cloa$ stirrin! in the wind'
1;es, this place will do'3 The /ld Bear li"ted a hand to the wind, and raen landed on
his "orearm, claws scrabblin! a!ainst his blac$ rin!mail'
1(hat abo%t water, m& lord.3 Con wondered'
1(e crossed a broo$ at the "oot o" the hill'3
1* lon! climb "or a drin$,3 Con pointed o%t, 1and o%tside the rin! o" stones'3
Thoren said, 1*re &o% too la?& to climb a hill, bo&.3
(hen 7ord 2ormont said, 1(ere not li$e to "ind another place as stron!' (ell carr&
water, and ma$e certain we are well s%pplied,3 Con $new better than to ar!%e' So the
command was !ien, and the brothers o" the Ni!hts (atch raised their camp behind the
stone rin! the =irst 2en had made' Blac$ tents spro%ted li$e m%shrooms a"ter a rain, and
blan$ets and bedrolls coered the bare !ro%nd' Stewards tethered the !arrons in lon!
lines, and saw them "ed and watered' =oresters too$ their a0es to the trees in the wanin!
a"ternoon li!ht to harest eno%!h wood to see them thro%!h the ni!ht' * score o"
b%ilders set to clearin! br%sh, di!!in! latrines, and %nt&in! their b%ndles o" "ire-
hardened sta$es' 1I will hae eer& openin! in the rin!wall ditched and sta$ed be"ore
dar$,3 the /ld Bear had commanded'
/nce hed p%t %p the 7ord +ommanders tent and seen to their horses, Con Snow
descended the hill in search o" 8host' The direwol" came at once, all in silence' /ne
moment Con was stridin! beneath the trees, whistlin! and sho%tin!, alone in the !reen,
pinecones and "allen leaes %nder his "eet: the ne0t, the !reat white direwol" was
wal$in! beside him, pale as mornin! mist'
B%t when the& reached the rin!"ort, 8host bal$ed a!ain' ,e padded "orward waril& to
sni"" at the !ap in the stones, and then retreated, as i" he did not li$e what hed smelled'
Con tried to !rab him b& the scr%"" o" his nec$ and ha%l him bodil& inside the rin!, no
eas& tas$: the wol" wei!hed as m%ch as he did, and was stron!er b& "ar' 18host, whats
wron! with &o%.3 It was not li$e him to be so %nsettled' In the end Con had to !ie it %p'
1*s &o% will,3 he told the wol"' 18o, h%nt'3 The red e&es watched him as he made his
wa& bac$ thro%!h the moss& stones'
The& o%!ht to be sa"e here' The hill o""ered commandin! iews, and the slopes were
precipito%s to the north and west and onl& sli!htl& more !entle to the east' ;et as the
d%s$ deepened and dar$ness seeped into the hollows between the trees, Cons sense o"
"orebodin! !rew' This is the ha%nted "orest, he told himsel"' 2a&be there are !hosts
here, the spirits o" the =irst 2en' This was their place, once'
1Stop actin! the bo&,3 he told himsel"' +lamberin! atop the piled roc$s, Con !a?ed o""
toward the settin! s%n' ,e co%ld see the li!ht shimmerin! li$e hammered !old o"" the
s%r"ace o" the 2il$water as it c%red awa& to the so%th' <prier the land was more
r%!!ed, the dense "orest !iin! wa& to a series o" bare ston& hills that rose hi!h and wild
to the north and west' /n the hori?on stood the mo%ntains li$e a !reat shadow, ran!e on
ran!e o" them recedin! into the bl%e-!re& distance, their 9a!!ed pea$s sheathed eternall&
in snow' 5en "rom a"ar the& loo$ed ast and cold and inhospitable'
+loser at hand, it was the trees that r%led' To so%th and east the wood went on as "ar as
Con co%ld see, a ast tan!le o" root and limb painted in a tho%sand shades o" !reen, with
here and there a patch o" red where a weirwood sho%ldered thro%!h the pines and
sentinels, or a bl%sh o" &ellow where some broadlea"s had be!%n to t%rn' (hen the wind
blew, he co%ld hear the crea$ and !roan o" branches older than he was' * tho%sand
leaes "l%ttered, and "or a moment the "orest seemed a deep !reen sea, storm-tossed and
heain!, eternal and %n$nowable'
8host was not li$e to be alone down there, he tho%!ht' *n&thin! co%ld be moin!
%nder that sea, creepin! toward the rin!"ort thro%!h the dar$ o" the wood, concealed
beneath those trees' *n&thin!' ,ow wo%ld the& eer $now. ,e stood there "or a lon!
time, %ntil the s%n anished behind the saw-toothed mo%ntains and dar$ness be!an to
creep thro%!h the "orest'
1Con.3 Samwell Tarl& called %p' 1I tho%!ht it loo$ed li$e &o%' *re &o% well.3
1(ell eno%!h'3 Con hopped down' 1,ow did &o% "are toda&.3
1(ell' I "ared well' Tr%l&'3
Con was not abo%t to share his dis)%iet with his "riend, not when Samwell Tarl& was at
last be!innin! to "ind his co%ra!e' 1The /ld Bear means to wait here "or Fhorin
,al"hand and the men "rom the Shadow Tower'3
1It seems a stron! place,3 said Sam' 1* rin!"ort o" the =irst 2en' #o &o% thin$ there
were battles "o%!ht here.3
1No do%bt' ;o%d best !et a bird read&' 2ormont will want to send bac$ word'3
1I wish I co%ld send them all' The& hate bein! ca!ed'3
1;o% wo%ld too, i" &o% co%ld "l&'3
1I" I co%ld "l&, Id be bac$ at +astle Blac$ eatin! a por$ pie,3 said Sam'
Con clapped him on the sho%lder with his b%rned hand' The& wal$ed bac$ thro%!h the
camp to!ether' +oo$"ires were bein! lit all aro%nd them' /erhead, the stars were
comin! o%t' The lon! red tail o" 2ormonts Torch b%rned as bri!ht as the moon' Con
heard the raens be"ore he saw them' Some were callin! his name' The birds were not
sh& when it came to ma$in! noise'
The& "eel it too' 1Id best see to the /ld Bear,3 he said' 1,e !ets nois& when he isnt
"ed as well'3
,e "o%nd 2ormont tal$in! with Thoren Smallwood and hal" a do?en other o""icers'
1There &o% are,3 the old man said !r%""l&' 1Brin! %s some hot wine, i" &o% wo%ld' The
ni!ht is chill&'3
1;es, m& lord'3 Con b%ilt a coo$"ire, claimed a small cas$ o" 2ormonts "aorite rob%st
red "rom stores, and po%red it into a $ettle' ,e h%n! the $ettle aboe the "lames while he
!athered the rest o" his in!redients' The /ld Bear was partic%lar abo%t his hot spiced
wine' So m%ch cinnamon and so m%ch n%tme! and so m%ch hone&, not a drop more'
Baisins and n%ts and dried berries, b%t no lemon, that was the ran$est sort o" so%thron
heres&Awhich was )%eer, since he alwa&s too$ lemon in his mornin! beer' The drin$
m%st be hot to warm a man properl&, the 7ord +ommander insisted, b%t the wine m%st
neer be allowed to come to a boil' Con $ept a care"%l e&e on the $ettle'
*s he wor$ed, he co%ld hear the oices "rom inside the tent' Carman B%c$well said,
1The easiest road %p into the =rost"an!s is to "ollow the 2il$water bac$ to its so%rce'
;et i" we !o that path, Ba&der will $now o" o%r approach, certain as s%nrise'3
1The 8iants Stair mi!ht sere,3 said Ser 2allador 7oc$e, 1or the S$irlin! 4ass, i" its
clear'3
The wine was steamin!' Con li"ted the $ettle o"" the "ire, "illed ei!ht c%ps, and carried
them into the tent' The /ld Bear was peerin! at the cr%de map Sam had drawn him that
ni!ht bac$ in +rasters 6eep' ,e too$ a c%p "rom Cons tra&, tried a swallow o" wine, and
!ae a br%s)%e nod o" approal' ,is raen hopped down his arm' 1+orn,3 it said' 1+orn'
+orn'3
Ser /tt&n (&thers waed the wine awa&' 1I wo%ld not !o into the mo%ntains at all,3 he
said in a thin, tired oice' 1The =rost"an!s hae a cr%el bite een in s%mmer, and
now ' ' ' i" we sho%ld be ca%!ht b& a storm ' ' '3
1I do not mean to ris$ the =rost"an!s %nless I m%st,3 said 2ormont' 1(ildlin!s can no
more lie on snow and stone than we can' The& will emer!e "rom the hei!hts soon, and
"or a host o" an& si?e, the onl& ro%te is alon! the 2il$water' I" so, we are stron!l& placed
here' The& cannot hope to slip b& %s'3
1The& ma& not wish to' The& are tho%sands, and we will be three h%ndred when the
,al"hand reaches %s'3 Ser 2allador accepted a c%p "rom Con'
1I" it comes to battle, we co%ld not hope "or better !ro%nd than here,3 declared
2ormont' 1(ell stren!then the de"enses' 4its and spi$es, caltrops scattered on the
slopes, eer& breach mended' Carman, Ill want &o%r sharpest e&es as watchers' * rin! o"
them, all aro%nd %s and alon! the rier, to warn o" an& approach' ,ide them %p in trees'
*nd we had best start brin!in! %p water too, more than we need' (ell di! cisterns' It
will $eep the men occ%pied, and ma& proe need"%l later'3
12& ran!ersA3 started Thoren Smallwood'
1;o%r ran!ers will limit their ran!in! to this side o" the rier %ntil the ,al"hand
reaches %s' *"ter that, well see' I will not lose more o" m& men'3
12ance Ba&der mi!ht be massin! his host a da&s ride "rom here, and wed neer
$now,3 Smallwood complained'
1(e $now where the wildlin!s are massin!,3 2ormont came bac$' 1(e had it "rom
+raster' I misli$e the man, b%t I do not thin$ he lied to %s in this'3
1*s &o% sa&'3 Smallwood too$ a s%llen leae' The others "inished their wine and
"ollowed, more co%rteo%sl&'
1Shall I brin! &o% s%pper, m& lord.3 Con as$ed'
1+orn,3 the raen cried' 2ormont did not answer at once' (hen he did he said onl&,
1#id &o%r wol" "ind !ame toda&.3
1,es not bac$ &et'3
1(e co%ld do with "resh meat'3 2ormont d%! into a sac$ and o""ered his raen a
hand"%l o" corn' 1;o% thin$ Im wron! to $eep the ran!ers close.3
1Thats not "or me to sa&, m& lord'3
1It is i" &o%re as$ed'3
1I" the ran!ers m%st sta& in si!ht o" the =ist, I dont see how the& can hope to "ind m&
%ncle,3 Con admitted'
1The& cant'3 The raen pec$ed at the $ernels in the /ld Bears palm' 1Two h%ndred
men or ten tho%sand, the co%ntr& is too ast'3 The corn !one, 2ormont t%rned his hand
oer'
1;o% wo%ld not !ie %p the search.3
12aester *emon thin$s &o% cleer'3 2ormont moed the raen to his sho%lder' The
bird tilted its head to one side, little e&es a-!litter'
The answer was there' 1Is it ' ' ' it seems to me that it mi!ht be easier "or one man to
"ind two h%ndred than "or two h%ndred to "ind one'3
The raen !ae a cac$lin! scream, b%t the /ld Bear smiled thro%!h the !re& o" his
beard' 1This man& men and horses leae a trail een *emon co%ld "ollow' /n this hill,
o%r "ires o%!ht to be isible as "ar o"" as the "oothills o" the =rost"an!s' I" Ben Star$ is
alie and "ree, he will come to %s, I hae no do%bt'3
1;es,3 said Con, 1b%t ' ' ' what i" ' ' '3
1' ' ' hes dead.3 2ormont as$ed, not %n$indl&'
Con nodded, rel%ctantl&'
1#ead,3 the raen said' 1#ead' #ead'3
1,e ma& come to %s an&wa&,3 the /ld Bear said' 1*s /thor did, and Ca"er =lowers' I
dread that as m%ch as &o%, Con, b%t we m%st admit the possibilit&'3
1#ead,3 his raen cawed, r%""lin! its win!s' Its oice !rew lo%der and more shrill'
1#ead'3
2ormont stro$ed the birds blac$ "eathers, and sti"led a s%dden &awn with the bac$ o"
his hand' 1I will "orsa$e s%pper, I beliee' Best will sere me better' (a$e me at "irst
li!ht'3
1Sleep well, m& lord'3 Con !athered %p the empt& c%ps and stepped o%tside' ,e heard
distant la%!hter, the plaintie so%nd o" pipes' * !reat bla?e was crac$lin! in the center o"
the camp, and he co%ld smell stew coo$in!' The /ld Bear mi!ht not be h%n!r&, b%t Con
was' ,e dri"ted oer toward the "ire'
#&wen was holdin! "orth, spoon in hand' 1I $now this wood as well as an& man alie,
and I tell &o%, I wo%ldnt care to ride thro%!h it alone toni!ht' +ant &o% smell it.3
8renn was starin! at him with wide e&es, b%t #oloro%s 5dd said, 1*ll I smell is the
shit o" two h%ndred horses' *nd this stew' (hich has a similar aroma, now that I come
to sni"" it'3
1Ie !ot &o%r similar aroma ri!ht here'3 ,a$e patted his dir$' 8r%mblin!, he "illed
Cons bowl "rom the $ettle'
The stew was thic$ with barle&, carrot, and onion, with here and there a ra!!ed shred
o" salt bee", so"tened in the coo$in!'
1(hat is it &o% smell, #&wen.3 as$ed 8renn'
The "orester s%c$ed on his spoon a moment' ,e had ta$en o%t his teeth' ,is "ace was
leather& and wrin$led, his hands !narled as old roots' 1Seems to me li$e it smells ' ' '
well ' ' ' cold'3
1;o%r heads as wooden as &o%r teeth,3 ,a$e told him' 1Theres no smell to cold'3
There is, tho%!ht Con, rememberin! the ni!ht in the 7ord +ommanders chambers' It
smells li$e death' S%ddenl& he was not h%n!r& an&more' ,e !ae his stew to 8renn,
who loo$ed in need o" an e0tra s%pper to warm him a!ainst the ni!ht'
The wind was blowin! bris$l& when he le"t' B& mornin!, "rost wo%ld coer the
!ro%nd, and the tent ropes wo%ld be sti"" and "ro?en' * "ew "in!ers o" spiced wine
sloshed in the bottom o" the $ettle' Con "ed "resh wood to the "ire and p%t the $ettle oer
the "lames to reheat' ,e "le0ed his "in!ers as he waited, s)%ee?in! and spreadin! %ntil
the hand tin!led' The "irst watch had ta$en %p their stations aro%nd the perimeter o" the
camp' Torches "lic$ered all alon! the rin!wall' The ni!ht was moonless, b%t a tho%sand
stars shone oerhead'
* so%nd rose o%t o" the dar$ness, "aint and distant, b%t %nmista$able: the howlin! o"
woles' Their oices rose and "ell, a chill& son!, and lonel&' It made the hairs rise alon!
the bac$ o" his nec$' *cross the "ire, a pair o" red e&es re!arded him "rom the shadows'
The li!ht o" the "lames made them !low'
18host,3 Con breathed, s%rprised' 1So &o% came inside a"ter all, eh.3 The white wol"
o"ten h%nted all ni!ht: he had not e0pected to see him a!ain till da&brea$' 1(as the
h%ntin! so bad.3 he as$ed' 1,ere' To me, 8host'3
The direwol" circled the "ire, sni""in! Con, sni""in! the wind, neer still' It did not seem
as i" he were a"ter meat ri!ht now' (hen the dead came wal$in!, 8host $new ,e wo$e
me, warned me' *larmed, he !ot to his "eet' 1is somethin! o%t there. 8host, do &o% hae
a scent.3 #&wen said he smelled cold'
The direwol" loped o"", stopped, loo$ed bac$' ,e wants me to "ollow 4%llin! %p the
hood o" his cloa$, Con wal$ed awa& "rom the tents, awa& "rom the warmth o" his "ire,
past the lines o" sha!!& little !arrons' /ne o" the horses whic$ered nero%sl& when
8host padded b&' Con soothed him with a word and pa%sed to stro$e his m%??le' ,e
co%ld hear the wind whistlin! thro%!h crac$s in the roc$s as the& neared the rin!wall' *
oice called o%t a challen!e' Con stepped into the torchli!ht' 1I need to "etch water "or
the 7ord +ommander'3
18o on, then,3 the !%ard said' 1Be )%ic$ abo%t it'3 ,%ddled beneath his blac$ cloa$,
with his hood drawn %p a!ainst the wind, the man neer een loo$ed to see i" he had a
b%c$et'
Con slipped sidewa&s between two sharpened sta$es while 8host slid beneath them' *
torch had been thr%st down into a creice, its "lames "l&in! pale oran!e banners when
the !%sts came' ,e snatched it %p as he s)%ee?ed thro%!h the !ap between the stones'
8host went racin! down the hill' Con "ollowed more slowl&, the torch thr%st o%t be"ore
him as he made his descent' The camp so%nds "aded behind him' The ni!ht was blac$,
the slope steep, ston&, and %neen' * moments inattention wo%ld be a s%re wa& to brea$
an an$le ' ' ' or his nec$' (hat am I doin!. he as$ed himsel" as he pic$ed his wa& down'
The trees stood beneath him, warriors armored in bar$ and lea", deplo&ed in their silent
ran$s awaitin! the command to storm the hill' Blac$, the& seemed ' ' ' it was onl& when
his torchli!ht br%shed a!ainst them that Con !limpsed a "lash o" !reen' =aintl&, he heard
the so%nd o" water "lowin! oer roc$s' 8host anished in the %nderbr%sh' Con str%!!led
a"ter him, listenin! to the call o" the broo$, to the leaes si!hin! in the wind' Branches
cl%tched at his cloa$, while oerhead thic$ limbs twined to!ether and sh%t o%t the stars'
,e "o%nd 8host lappin! "rom the stream' 18host,3 he called, 1to me' Now3 (hen the
direwol" raised his head, his e&es !lowed red and bale"%l, and water streamed down
"rom his 9aws li$e slaer' There was somethin! "ierce and terrible abo%t him in that
instant' *nd then he was o"", bo%ndin! past Con, racin! thro%!h the trees' 18host, no,
sta&,3 he sho%ted, b%t the wol" paid no heed' The lean white shape was swallowed b& the
dar$, and Con had onl& two choicesAto climb the hill a!ain, alone, or to "ollow'
,e "ollowed, an!r&, holdin! the torch o%t low so he co%ld see the roc$s that threatened
to trip him with eer& step, the thic$ roots that seemed to !rab as his "eet, the holes
where a man co%ld twist an an$le' 5er& "ew "eet he called a!ain "or 8host, b%t the
ni!ht wind was swirlin! amon!st the trees and it dran$ the words' This is madness, he
tho%!ht as he pl%n!ed deeper into the trees' ,e was abo%t to t%rn bac$ when he
!limpsed a "lash o" white o"" ahead and to the ri!ht, bac$ toward the hill' ,e 9o!!ed a"ter
it, c%rsin! %nder his breath'
* )%arter wa& aro%nd the =ist he chased the wol" be"ore he lost him a!ain' =inall& he
stopped to catch his breath amidst the scr%b, thorns, and t%mbled roc$s at the base o" the
hill' Be&ond the torchli!ht, the dar$ pressed close'
* so"t scrabblin! noise made him t%rn' Con moed toward the so%nd, steppin!
care"%ll& amon! bo%lders and thornb%shes' Behind a "allen tree, he came on 8host
a!ain' The direwol" was di!!in! "%rio%sl&, $ic$in! %p dirt'
1(hat hae &o% "o%nd.3 Con lowered the torch, reealin! a ro%nded mo%nd o" so"t
earth' * !rae, he tho%!ht' B%t whose.
,e $nelt, 9ammed the torch into the !ro%nd beside him' The soil was loose, sand&' Con
p%lled it o%t b& the "ist"%l' There were no stones, no roots' (hateer was here had been
p%t here recentl&' Two "eet down, his "in!ers to%ched cloth' ,e had been e0pectin! a
corpse, "earin! a corpse, b%t this was somethin! else' ,e p%shed a!ainst the "abric and
"elt small, hard shapes beneath, %n&ieldin!' There was no smell, no si!n o" !raeworms'
8host bac$ed o"" and sat on his ha%nches, watchin!'
Con br%shed the loose soil awa& to reeal a ro%nded b%ndle perhaps two "eet across' ,e
9ammed his "in!ers down aro%nd the ed!es and wor$ed it loose' (hen he p%lled it "ree,
whateer was inside shi"ted and clin$ed' Treas%re, he tho%!ht, b%t the shapes were
wron! to be coins, and the so%nd was wron! "or metal'
* len!th o" "ra&ed rope bo%nd the b%ndle to!ether' Con %nsheathed his da!!er and c%t
it, !roped "or the ed!es o" the cloth, and p%lled' The b%ndle t%rned, and its contents
spilled o%t onto the !ro%nd, !litterin! dar$ and bri!ht' ,e saw a do?en $nies, lea"-
shaped spearheads, n%mero%s arrowheads' Con pic$ed %p a da!!er blade, "eatherli!ht
and shin& blac$, hiltless' Torchli!ht ran alon! its ed!e, a thin oran!e line that spo$e o"
ra?or sharpness' #ra!on!lass' (hat the maesters call obsidian' ,ad 8host %ncoered
some ancient cache o" the children o" the "orest, b%ried here "or tho%sands o" &ears. The
=ist o" the =irst 2en was an old place, onl& ' ' '
Beneath the dra!on!lass was an old warhorn, made "rom an a%rochs horn and banded
in bron?e' Con shoo$ the dirt "rom inside it, and a stream o" arrowheads "ell o%t' ,e let
them "all, and p%lled %p a corner o" the cloth the weapons had been wrapped in, r%bbin!
it between his "in!ers' 8ood wool, thic$, a do%ble weae, damp b%t not rotted' It co%ld
not hae been lon! in the !ro%nd' *nd it was dar$' ,e sei?ed a hand"%l and p%lled it
close to the torch' Not dar$' Blac$'
5en be"ore Con stood and shoo$ it o%t, he $new what he had: the blac$ cloa$ o" a
Sworn Brother o" the Ni!hts (atch'
C#APT"R (+
*RA'
*lebell& "o%nd him in the "or!e, wor$in! the bellows "or 2i$$en' 12aester wants &o%
in the t%rret, mlord prince' Theres been a bird "rom the $in!'3
1=rom Bobb.3 50cited, Bran did not wait "or ,odor, b%t let *lebell& carr& him %p the
steps' ,e was a bi! man, tho%!h not so bi! as ,odor and nowhere near as stron!' B& the
time the& reached the maesters t%rret he was red-"aced and p%""in!' Bic$on was there
be"ore them, and both (alder =re&s as well'
2aester 7%win sent *lebell& awa& and closed his door' 12& lords,3 he said !rael&,
1we hae had a messa!e "rom ,is 8race, with both !ood news and ill' ,e has won a
!reat ictor& in the west, shatterin! a 7annister arm& at a place named /0cross, and has
ta$en seeral castles as well' ,e writes %s "rom *shemar$, "ormerl& the stron!hold o"
,o%se 2arbrand'3
Bic$on t%!!ed at the maesters robe' 1Is Bobb comin! home.3
1Not 9%st &et, I "ear' There are battles &et to "i!ht'3
1(as it 7ord T&win he de"eated.3 as$ed Bran'
1No,3 said the maester' 1Ser Sta""ord 7annister commanded the enem& host' ,e was
slain in the battle'3
Bran had neer een heard o" Ser Sta""ord 7annister' ,e "o%nd himsel" a!reein! with
Bi! (alder when he said, 17ord T&win is the onl& one who matters'3
1Tell Bobb I want him to come home,3 said Bic$on' 1,e can brin! his wol" home too,
and 2other and =ather'3 Tho%!h he $new 7ord 5ddard was dead, sometimes Bic$on
"or!ot ' ' ' will"%ll&, Bran s%spected' ,is little brother was st%bborn as onl& a bo& o" "o%r
can be'
Bran was !lad "or Bobbs ictor&, b%t dis)%ieted as well' ,e remembered what /sha
had said the da& that his brother had led his arm& o%t /" (inter"ell' ,es marchin! the
wron! wa&, the wildlin! woman had insisted'
1Sadl&, no ictor& is witho%t cost'3 2aester 7%win t%rned to the (alders' 12& lords,
&o%r %ncle Ser Steron =re& was amon! those who lost their lies at /0cross' ,e too$ a
wo%nd in the battle, Bobb writes' It was not tho%!ht to be serio%s, b%t three da&s later he
died in his tent, asleep'3
Bi! (alder shr%!!ed' 1,e was er& old' =ie-and-si0t&, I thin$' Too old "or battles' ,e
was alwa&s sa&in! he was tired'3
7ittle (alder hooted' 1Tired o" waitin! "or o%r !rand"ather to die, &o% mean' #oes this
mean Ser 5mmons the heir now.3
1#ont be st%pid,3 his co%sin said' 1The sons o" the "irst son come be"ore the second
son' Ser B&man is ne0t in line, and then 5dw&n and Blac$ (alder and 4et&r 4imple'
*nd then *e!on and all his sons'3
1B&man is old too,3 said 7ittle (alder' 14ast "ort&, I bet' *nd he has a bad bell&' #o
&o% thin$ hell be lord.3
1Ill be lord' I dont care i" he is'3
2aester 7%win c%t in sharpl&' 1;o% o%!ht to be ashamed o" s%ch tal$, m& lords' (here
is &o%r !rie". ;o%r %ncle is dead'3
1;es,3 said 7ittle (alder' 1(ere er& sad'3
The& werent, tho%!h' Bran !ot a sic$ "eelin! in his bell&' The& li$e the taste o" this
dish better than I do' ,e as$ed 2aester 7%win to be e0c%sed'
1>er& well'3 The maester ran! "or help' ,odor m%st hae been b%s& in the stables' It
was /sha who came' She was stron!er than *lebell&, tho%!h, and had no tro%ble li"tin!
Bran in her arms and carr&in! him down the steps'
1/sha,3 Bran as$ed as the& crossed the &ard' 1#o &o% $now the wa& north. To the
(all and ' ' ' and een past.3
1The wa&s eas&' 7oo$ "or the Ice #ra!on, and chase the bl%e star in the riders e&e'3
She bac$ed thro%!h a door and started %p the windin! steps'
1*nd there are still !iants there, and ' ' ' the rest ' ' ' the /thers, and the children o" the
"orest too.3
1The !iants Ie seen, the children Ie heard tell o", and the white wal$ers ' ' ' wh& do
&o% want to $now.3
1#id &o% eer see a three-e&ed crow.3
1No'3 She la%!hed' 1*nd I cant sa& Id want to'3 /sha $ic$ed open the door to his
bedchamber and set him in his window seat, where he co%ld watch the &ard below'
It seemed onl& a "ew heartbeats a"ter she too$ her leae that the door opened a!ain,
and 9o9en Beed entered %nbidden, with his sister 2eera behind him' 1;o% heard abo%t
the bird.3 Bran as$ed' The other bo& nodded' 1It wasnt a s%pper li$e &o% said' It was a
letter "rom Bobb, and we didnt eat it, b%tA3
1The !reen dreams ta$e stran!e shapes sometimes,3 9o9en admitted' 1The tr%th o" them
is not alwa&s eas& to %nderstand'3
1Tell me the bad thin! &o% dreamed,3 Bran said' 1The bad thin! that is comin! to
(inter"ell'3
1#oes m& lord prince beliee me now. (ill he tr%st m& words, no matter how )%eer
the& so%nd in his ears.3
Bran nodded'
1It is the sea that comes'3
1The sea.3
1I dreamed that the sea was lappin! all aro%nd (inter"ell' I saw blac$ waes crashin!
a!ainst the !ates and towers, and then the salt water came "lowin! oer the walls and
"illed the castle' #rowned men were "loatin! in the &ard' (hen I "irst dreamed the
dream, bac$ at 8re&water, I didnt $now their "aces, b%t now I do' That *lebell& is one,
the !%ard who called o%r names at the "east' ;o%r septons another' ;o%r smith as well'3
12i$$en.3 Bran was as con"%sed as he was disma&ed' 1B%t the sea is h%ndreds and
h%ndreds o" lea!%es awa&, and (inter"ells walls are so hi!h the water co%ldnt !et in
een i" it did come'3
1In the dar$ o" ni!ht the salt sea will "low oer these walls,3 said 9o9en' 1I saw the
dead, bloated and drowned'3
1(e hae to tell them,3 Bran said' 1*lebell& and 2i$$en, and Septon +ha&le' Tell
them not to drown'3
1It will not sae them,3 replied the bo& in !reen'
2eera came to the window seat and p%t a hand on his sho%lder' 1The& will not beliee,
Bran' No more than &o% did'3 9o9en sat on Brans bed' 1Tell me what &o% dream'3
,e was scared, een then, b%t he had sworn to tr%st them, and a Star$ o" (inter"ell
$eeps his sworn word' 1Theres di""erent $inds,3 he said slowl&' 1Theres the wol"
dreams, those arent so bad as the others' I r%n and h%nt and $ill s)%irrels' *nd theres
dreams where the crow comes and tells me to "l&' Sometimes the tree is in those dreams
too, callin! m& name' That "ri!htens me' B%t the worst dreams are when I "all'3 ,e
loo$ed down into the &ard, "eelin! miserable' 1I neer %sed to "all be"ore' (hen I
climbed' I went eer&place, %p on the roo"s and alon! the walls, I %sed to "eed the crows
in the B%rned Tower' 2other was a"raid that I wo%ld "all b%t I $new I neer wo%ld' /nl&
I did, and now when I sleep I "all all the time'3
2eera !ae his sho%lder a s)%ee?e' 1Is that all.3
1I !%ess'3
1(ar!,3 said Co9en Beed'
Bran loo$ed at him, his e&es wide' 1(hat.3
1(ar!' Shapechan!er' Beastlin!' That is what the& will call &o%, i" the& sho%ld eer
hear o" &o%r wol" dreams'3
The names made him a"raid a!ain' 1(ho will call me.3
1;o%r own "ol$' In "ear' Some will hate &o% i" the& $now what &o% are' Some will
een tr& to $ill &o%'3
/ld Nan told scar& stories o" beastlin!s and shapechan!ers sometimes' In the stories
the& were alwa&s eil' 1Im not li$e that,3 Bran said' 1Im not' Its onl& dreams'3
1The wol" dreams are no tr%e dreams' ;o% hae &o%r e&e closed ti!ht wheneer &o%re
awa$e, b%t as &o% dri"t o"" it "l%tters open and &o%r so%l see$s o%t its other hal"' The
power is stron! in &o%'3
1I dont want it' I want to be a $ni!ht'3
1* $ni!ht is what &o% want' * war! is what &o% are' ;o% cant chan!e that, Bran, &o%
cant den& it or p%sh it awa&' ;o% are the win!ed wol", b%t &o% will neer "l&'3 Co9en !ot
%p and wal$ed to the window' 1<nless &o% open &o%r e&e'3 ,e p%t two "in!ers to!ether
and po$ed Bran in the "orehead, hard'
(hen he raised his hand to the spot, Bran "elt onl& the smooth %nbro$en s$in' There
was no e&e, not een a closed one' 1,ow can I open it i" its not there.3
1;o% will neer "ind the e&e with &o%r "in!ers, Bran' ;o% m%st search with &o%r
heart'3 Co9en st%died Brans "ace with those stran!e !reen e&es' 1/r are &o% a"raid.3
12aester 7%win sa&s theres nothin! in dreams that a man need "ear'3
1There is,3 said Co9en'
1(hat.3
1The past' The "%t%re' The tr%th'3
The& le"t him more m%ddled than eer' (hen he was alone, Bran tried to open his
third e&e, b%t he didnt $now how' No matter how he wrin$led his "orehead and po$ed at
it, he co%ldnt see an& di""erent than hed done be"ore' In the da&s that "ollowed, he tried
to warn others abo%t what Co9en had seen, b%t it didnt !o as he wanted' 2i$$en tho%!ht
it was "%nn&' 1The sea, is it. ,appens I alwa&s wanted to see the sea' Neer !ot where I
co%ld !o to it, tho%!h' So now its comin! to me, is it. The !ods are !ood, to ta$e s%ch
tro%ble "or a poor smith'3
1The !ods will ta$e me when the& see "it,3 Septon +ha&le said )%i etl&, 1tho%!h I
scarcel& thin$ it li$el& that Ill drown, Bran' I !rew %p on the ban$s o" the (hite 6ni"e,
&o% $now' Im )%ite the stron! swimmer'3
*lebell& was the onl& one who paid the warnin! an& heed' ,e went to tal$ to 9o9en
himsel", and a"terward stopped bathin! and re"%sed to !o near the well' =inall& he stan$
so bad that si0 o" the other !%ards threw him into a t%b o" scaldin! water and scr%bbed
him raw while he screamed that the& were !oin! to drown him li$e the "ro!bo& had said'
Therea"ter he scowled wheneer he saw Bran or 9o9en abo%t the castle, and m%ttered
%nder his breath'
It was a "ew da&s a"ter *lebell&s bath that Ser Bodri$ ret%rned to (inter"ell with his
prisoner, a "lesh& &o%n! man with "at moist lips and lon! hair who smelled li$e a pri&,
een worse than *lebell& had' 1Bee$, hes called,3 ,a&head said when Bran as$ed who
it was' 1I neer heard his tr%e name' ,e sered the Bastard o" Bolton and helped him
m%rder 7ad& ,ornwood, the& sa&'3
The Bastard himsel" was dead, Bran learned that eenin! oer s%pper' Ser Bodri$s
men had ca%!ht him on ,ornwood land doin! somethin! horrible GBran wasnt )%ite
s%re what, b%t it seemed to be somethin! &o% did witho%t &o%r clothesH and shot him
down with arrows as he tried to ride awa&' The& came too late "or poor 7ad& ,ornwood,
tho%!h' *"ter their weddin!, the Bastard had loc$ed her in a tower and ne!lected to "eed
her' Bran had heard men sa&in! that when Ser Bodri$ had smashed down the door he
"o%nd her with her mo%th all blood& and her "in!ers chewed o""'
1The monster has tied %s a thorn& $not,3 the old $ni!ht told 2aester 7%win' 17i$e it or
no, 7ad& ,ornwood was his wi"e' ,e made her sa& the ows be"ore both septon and
heart tree, and bedded her that er& ni!ht be"ore witnesses' She si!ned a will namin!
him as heir and "i0ed her seal to it'3
1>ows made at sword point are not alid,3 the maester ar!%ed'
1Boose Bolton ma& not a!ree' Not with land at iss%e'3 Ser Bodri$ loo$ed %nhapp&'
1(o%ld that I co%ld ta$e this serin! mans head o"" as well, hes as bad as his master'
B%t I "ear I m%st $eep him alie %ntil Bobb ret%rns "rom his wars' ,e is the onl& witness
to the worst o" the Bastards crimes' 4erhaps when 7ord Bolton hears his tale, he will
abandon his claim, b%t meantime we hae 2anderl& $ni!hts and #read"ort men $illin!
one another in ,ornwood "orests, and I lac$ the stren!th to stop them'3 The old $ni!ht
t%rned in his seat and !ae Bran a stern loo$' 1*nd what hae &o% been abo%t while Ie
been awa&, m& lord prince. +ommandin! o%r !%ardsmen not to wash. #o &o% want
them smellin! li$e this Bee$, is that it.3
1The sea is comin! here,3 Bran said' 1Co9en saw it in a !reen dream' D2ebell& is !oin!
to drown'3
2aester 7%win t%!!ed at his chain collar' 1The Beed bo& beliees he sees the "%t%re in
his dreams, Ser Bodri$' Ie spo$en to Bran abo%t the %ncertaint& o" s%ch prophecies,
b%t i" tr%th be told, there is tro%ble alon! the Ston& Shore' Baiders in lon!ships,
pl%nderin! "ishin! illa!es' Bapin! and b%rnin!' 7eobald Tallhart has sent his nephew
Ben"red to deal with them, b%t I e0pect the&ll ta$e to their ships and "lee at the "irst
si!ht o" armed men'3
1*&e, and stri$e somewhere else' The /thers ta$e all s%ch cowards' The& wo%ld neer
dare, no more than the Bastard o" Bolton, i" o%r main stren!th were not a tho%sand
lea!%es so%th'3 Ser Bodri$ loo$ed at Bran' 1(hat else did the lad tell &o%.3
1,e said the water wo%ld "low oer o%r walls' ,e saw *lebell& drowned, and 2i$$en
and Septon +ha&le too'3
Ser Bodri$ "rowned' 1(ell, sho%ld it happen that I need to ride a!ainst these raiders
m&sel", I shant ta$e *lebell&, then' ,e didnt see me drowned, did he. No. 8ood'3 it
heartened Bran to hear that' 2a&be the& wont drown, then, he tho%!ht' I" the& sta&
awa& "rom the sea'
2eera tho%!ht so too, later that ni!ht when she and Co9en met Bran in his room to pla&
a three-sided !ame o" tiles, b%t her brother shoo$ his head' 1The thin!s I see in !reen
dreams cant be chan!ed'3
That made his sister an!r&' 1(h& wo%ld the !ods send a warnin! i" we cant heed it
and chan!e whats to come.3
1I dont $now,3 Co9en said sadl&'
1I" &o% were *lebell&, &o%d probabl& 9%mp into the well to hae done with it@ ,e
sho%ld "i!ht, and Bran sho%ld too'3
12e.3 Bran "elt s%ddenl& a"raid' 1(hat sho%ld I "i!ht. *m I !oin! to drown too.3
2eera loo$ed at him !%iltil&' 1I sho%ldnt hae said ' ' '3
,e co%ld tell that she was hidin! somethin!' 1#id &o% see me in a !reen dream.3 he
as$ed Co9en nero%sl&' 1(as I drowned.3
1Not drowned'3 Co9en spo$e as i" eer& word pained him' 1I dreamed o" the man who
came toda&, the one the& call Bee$' ;o% and &o%r brother la& dead at his "eet, and he was
s$innin! o"" &o%r "aces with a lon! red blade'3
2eera rose to her "eet' 1I" I went to the d%n!eon, I co%ld drie a spear ri!ht thro%!h his
heart' ,ow co%ld he m%rder Bran i" he was dead.3
1The !aolers will stop &o%,3 Co9en said' 1The !%ards' *nd i" &o% tell them wh& &o%
want him dead, the&ll neer beliee'3
1I hae !%ards too,3 Bran reminded them' 1*lebell& and 4o0& T&m and ,a&head and
the rest'3
Co9ens moss& e&es were "%ll o" pit&' 1The& wont be able to stop him, Bran' I co%ldnt
see wh&, b%t I saw the end o" it' I saw &o% and Bic$on in &o%r cr&pts, down in the dar$
with all the dead $in!s and their stone woles'3
No, Bran tho%!ht' No' 1I" I went awa& ' ' ' to 8re&water, or to the crow, someplace "ar
where the& co%ldnt "ind me ' ' '3
1It will not matter' The dream was !reen, Bran, and the !reen dreams do not lie'3
C#APT"R (,
T%RIO'
>ar&s stood oer the bra?ier, warmin! his so"t hands' 1It wo%ld appear Benl& was
m%rdered most "ear"%ll& in the er& midst o" his arm&' ,is throat was opened "rom ear to
ear b& a blade that passed thro%!h steel and bone as i" the& were so"t cheese'3
12%rdered b& whose hand.3 +ersei demanded'
1,ae &o% eer considered that too man& answers are the same as no answer at all.
2& in"ormers are not alwa&s as hi!hl& placed as we mi!ht li$e' (hen a $in! dies,
"ancies spro%t li$e m%shrooms in the dar$' * !room sa&s that Benl& was slain b& a
$ni!ht o" his own Bainbow 8%ard' * washerwoman claims Stannis stole thro%!h the
heart o" his brothers arm& with his ma!ic sword' Seeral men-at-arms beliee a woman
did the "ell deed, b%t cannot a!ree on which woman' * maid that Benl& had sp%rned,
claims one' * camp "ollower bro%!ht in to sere his pleas%re on the ee o" battle, sa&s a
second' The third ent%res that it mi!ht hae been the 7ad& +atel&n Star$'3
The )%een was not pleased' 12%st &o% waste o%r time with eer& r%mor the "ools care
to tell.3
1;o% pa& me well "or these r%mors, m& !racio%s )%een'3
1(e pa& &o% "or the tr%th, 7ord >ar&s' Bemember that, or this small co%ncil ma& !row
smaller still'3
>ar&s tittered nero%sl&' 1;o% and &o%r noble brother will leae ,is 8race with no
co%ncil at all i" &o% contin%e'3
1I daresa&, the realm co%ld s%rie a "ew less co%ncilors,3 said 7ittle"in!er with a
smile'
1#ear dear 4et&r,3 said >ar&s, 1are &o% not concerned that &o%rs mi!ht be the ne0t
name on the ,ands little list.3
1Be"ore &o%, >ar&s. I sho%ld neer dream o" it'3
12a&haps we will be brothers on the (all to!ether, &o% and I3 >ar&s !i!!led a!ain'
1Sooner than &o%d li$e, i" the ne0t words o%t o" &o%r mo%th are not somethin! %se"%l,
e%n%ch'3 =rom the loo$ o" her e&es, +ersei was prepared to castrate >ar&s all oer a!ain'
12i!ht this be some r%se.3 as$ed 7ittle"in!er'
1I" so, it is a r%se o" s%rpassin! cleerness,3 said >ar&s' 1It has certainl& hoodwin$ed
me'3
T&rion had heard eno%!h' 1Co"" will be so disappointed,3 he said' 1,e was sain! s%ch
a nice spi$e "or Benl&s head' B%t whoeer did the deed, we m%st ass%me Stannis was
behind it' The !ain is clearl& his'3 ,e did not li$e this news: he had co%nted on the
brothers Baratheon decimatin! each other in blood& battle' ,e co%ld "eel his elbow
throbbin! where the mornin!star had laid it open' It did that sometimes in the damp' ,e
s)%ee?ed it %selessl& in his hand and as$ed, 1(hat o" Benl&s host.3
1The !reater part o" his "oot remains at Bitterbrid!e'3 >ar&s abandoned the bra?ier to
ta$e his seat at the table' 12ost o" the lords who rode with 7ord Benl& to Storms 5nd
hae !one oer banner-and-blade to Stannis, with all their chialr&'3
17ed b& the =lorents, Id wa!er,3 said 7ittle"in!er'
>ar&s !ae him a simperin! smile' 1;o% wo%ld win, m& lord' 7ord *lester was indeed
the "irst to bend the $nee' 2an& others "ollowed'3
12an&,3 T&rion said pointedl&, 1b%t not all.3
1Not all,3 a!reed the e%n%ch' 1Not 7oras T&rell, nor Band&ll Tarl&, nor 2athis Bowan'
*nd Storms 5nd itsel" has not &ielded' Ser +ortna& 4enrose holds the castle in Benl&s
name, and will not beliee his lie!e is dead' ,e demands to see the mortal remains
be"ore he opens his !ates, b%t it seems that Benl&s corpse has %nacco%ntabl& anished'
+arried awa&, most li$el&' * "i"th o" Benl&s $ni!hts departed with Ser 7oras rather than
bend the $nee to Stannis' Its said the 6ni!ht o" =lowers went mad when he saw his
$in!s bod&, and slew three o" Benl&s !%ards in his wrath, amon! them 5mmon +%&
and Bobar Bo&ce'3
* pit& he stopped at three, tho%!ht T&rion'
1Ser 7oras is li$el& ma$in! "or Bitterbrid!e,3 >ar&s went on' 1,is sister is there,
Benl&s )%een, as well as a !reat man& soldiers who s%ddenl& "ind themseles $in!less'
(hich side will the& ta$e now. * tic$lish )%estion' 2an& sere the lords who remained
at Storms 5nd, and those lords now belon! to Stannis'3
T&rion leaned "orward' 1There is a chance here, it seems to me' (in 7oras T&rell to
o%r ca%se and 7ord 2ace T&rell and his bannermen mi!ht 9oin %s as well' The& ma&
hae sworn their swords to Stannis "or the moment, &et the& cannot loe the man, or
the& wo%ld hae been his "rom the start'3
1Is their loe "or %s an& !reater.3 as$ed +ersei'
1Scarcel&,3 said T&rion' 1The& loed Benl&, clearl&, b%t Benl& is slain' 4erhaps we can
!ie them !ood and s%""icient reasons to pre"er Co""re& to Stannis ' ' ' i" we moe
)%ic$l&'3
1(hat sort o" reasons do &o% mean to !ie them.3
18old reasons,3 7ittle"in!er s%!!ested at once'
>ar&s made a ts$in! so%nd' 1Sweet 4et&r, s%rel& &o% do not mean to s%!!est that these
p%issant lords and noble $ni!hts co%ld be bo%!ht li$e so man& chic$ens in the mar$et'3
1,ae &o% been to o%r mar$ets o" late, 7ord >ar&s.3 as$ed 7ittle"in!er' 1;o%d "ind it
easier to b%& a lord than a chic$en, I daresa&' /" co%rse, lords cl%c$ pro%der than
chic$ens, and ta$e it ill i" &o% o""er them coin li$e a tradesman, b%t the& are seldom
aderse to ta$in! !i"ts ' ' ' honors, lands, castles ' ' '3
1Bribes mi!ht swa& some o" the lesser lords,3 T&rion said, 1b%t neer ,i!h!arden'3
1Tr%e,3 7ittle"in!er admitted' 1The 6ni!ht o" =lowers is the $e& there' 2ace T&rell has
two older sons, b%t 7oras has alwa&s been his "aorite' (in him, and ,i!h!arden will be
&o%rs'3
;es, T&rion tho%!ht' 1It seems to me we sho%ld ta$e a lesson "rom the late 7ord Benl&'
(e can win the T&rell alliance as he did' (ith a marria!e'3
>ar&s %nderstood the )%ic$est' 1;o% thin$ to wed 6in! Co""re& to 2an !aer& T&rell'3
1I do'3 Benl&s &o%n! )%een was no more than "i"teen, si0teen, he seemed to recall ' ' '
older than Co""re&, b%t a "ew &ears were nothin!, it was so neat and sweet he co%ld taste
it'
1Co""re& is betrothed to Sansa Star$,3 +ersei ob9ected'
12arria!e contracts can be bro$en' (hat adanta!e is there in weddin! the $in! to the
da%!hter o" a dead traitor.3
7ittle"in!er spo$e %p' 1;o% mi!ht point o%t to ,is 8race that the T&rells are m%ch
wealthier than the Star$s, and that 2ar!aer& is said to be loel& ' ' ' and beddable
besides'3
1;es,3 said T&rion, 1Co"" o%!ht to li$e that well eno%!h'3
12& son is too &o%n! to care abo%t s%ch thin!s'3
1;o% thin$ so.3 as$ed T&rion' 1,es thirteen, +ersei' The same a!e at which I
married'3
1;o% shamed %s all with that sorr& episode' Co""re& is made o" "iner st%""'3
1So "ine that he had Ser Boros rip o"" Sansas !own'3
1,e was an!r& with the !irl'3
1,e was an!r& with that coo$s bo& who spilled the so%p last ni!ht as well, b%t he
didnt strip him na$ed'3
1This was not a matter o" some spilled so%pA3
No, it was a matter o" some prett& teats' *"ter that b%siness in the &ard, T&rion had
spo$en with >ar&s abo%t how the& mi!ht arran!e "or Co""re& to isit +hata&as' * taste o"
hone& mi!ht sweeten the bo&, he hoped' ,e mi!ht een be !rate"%l, !ods "orbid, and
T&rion co%ld do with a shade more !ratit%de "rom his soerei!n' It wo%ld need to be
done secretl&, o" co%rse' The tric$& bit wo%ld be partin! him "rom the ,o%nd' 1The do!
is neer "ar "rom his masters heels,3 hed obsered to >ar&s, 1b%t all men sleep' *nd
some !amble and whore and isit winesin$s as well'3
1The ,o%nd does all these thin!s, i" that is &o%r )%estion'3
1No,3 said T&rion' 12& )%estion is when'3
>ar&s had laid a "in!er on his chee$, smilin! eni!maticall&' 12& lord, a s%spicio%s man
mi!ht thin$ &o% wished to "ind a time when Sandor +le!ane was not protectin! 6in!
Co""re&, the better to do the bo& some harm'3
1S%rel& &o% $now me better than that, 7ord >ar&s,3 T&rion said' 1(h&, all I want is "or
Co""re& to loe me'3
The e%n%ch had promised to loo$ into the matter' The war made its own demands,
tho%!h: Co""re&s initiation into manhood wo%ld need to wait' 1#o%btless &o% $now &o%r
son better than I do,3 he made himsel" tell +ersei, 1b%t re!ardless, theres still m%ch to
be said "or a T&rell marria!e' It ma& be the onl& wa& that Co""re& lies lon! eno%!h to
reach his weddin! ni!ht'3
7ittle"in!er a!reed' 1The Star$ !irl brin!s Co""re& nothin! b%t her bod&, sweet as that
ma& be' 2ar!aer& T&rell brin!s "i"t& tho%sand swords and all the stren!th o"
,i!h!arden'3
1Indeed'3 >ar&s laid a so"t hand on the )%eens sleee' 1;o% hae a mothers heart, and
I $now ,is 8race loes his little sweetlin!' ;et $in!s m%st learn to p%t the needs o" the
realm be"ore their own desires' I sa& this o""er m%st be made'3
The )%een p%lled "ree o" the e%n%chs to%ch' 1;o% wo%ld not spea$ so i" &o% were
women' Sa& what &o% will, m& lords, b%t Co""re& is too pro%d to settle "or Benl&s
leain!s' ,e will neer consent'3
T&rion shr%!!ed' 1(hen the $in! comes o" a!e in three &ears, he ma& !ie or withhold
his consent as he pleases' <ntil then, &o% are his re!ent and I am his ,and, and he will
marr& whomeer we tell him to marr&' 7eain!s or no'3
+erseis )%ier was empt&' 12a$e &o%r o""er then, b%t !ods sae &o% all i" Co"" does
not li$e this !irl'3
1Im so pleased we can a!ree,3 T&rion said' 1Now, which o" %s shall !o to
Bitterbrid!e. (e m%st reach Ser 7oras with o%r o""er be"ore his blood can cool'3
1;o% mean to send one o" the co%ncil.3
1I can scarcel& e0pect the 6ni!ht o" =lowers to treat with Bronn or Sha!!a, can I. The
T&rells are pro%d'3
,is sister wasted no time tr&in! to twist the sit%ation to her adanta!e' 1Ser Cacel&n
B&water is nobl& born' Send him'3
T&rion shoo$ his head' 1(e need someone who can do more than repeat o%r words and
"etch bac$ a repl&' /%r eno& m%st spea$ "or $in! and co%ncil and settle the matter
)%ic$l&'3
1The ,and spea$s with the $in!s oice'3 +andleli!ht !leamed !reen as wild"ire in
+erseis e&es' 1I" we send &o%, T&rion, it will be as i" Co""re& went himsel"' *nd who
better, ;o% wield words as s$ill"%ll& as Caime wields a sword'3
*re &o% that ea!er to !et me o%t o" the cit&, +ersei. 1;o% are too $ind, sister, b%t it
seems to me that a bo&s mother is better "itted to arran!e his marria!e than an& %ncle'
*nd &o% hae a !i"t "or winnin! "riends that I co%ld neer hope to match'3
,er e&es narrowed' 1Co"" needs me at his side'3
1;o%r 8race, m& lord ,and,3 said 7ittle"in!er, 1the $in! needs both o" &o% here' 7et
me !o in &o%r stead'3
1;o%.3 (hat !ain does he see in this. T&rion wondered'
1I am o" the $in!s co%ncil, &et not the $in!s blood, so I wo%ld ma$e a poor hosta!e' I
$new Ser 7oras passin! well when he was here at co%rt, and !ae him no ca%se to
misli$e me' 2ace T&rell bears me no enmit& that I $now o", and I "latter m&sel" that I
am not %ns$illed in ne!otiation'3
,e has %s' T&rion did not tr%st 4et&r Baelish, nor did he want the man o%t o" his si!ht,
&et what other choice was le"t him. It m%st be 7ittle"in!er or T&rion himsel", and he
$new "%ll well that i" he le"t 6in!s 7andin! "or an& len!th o" time, all that he had
mana!ed to accomplish wo%ld be %ndone' 1There is "i!htin! between here and
Bitterbrid!e,3 he said ca%tio%sl&' 1*nd &o% can be past certain that 7ord Stannis will be
dispatchin! his own shepherds to !ather in his brothers wa&ward lambs'3
1Ie neer been "ri!htened o" shepherds' Its the sheep who tro%ble me' Still, I
s%ppose an escort mi!ht be in order'3
1I can spare a h%ndred !old cloa$s,3 T&rion said'
1=ie h%ndred'3
1Three h%ndred'3
1*nd "ort& moreAtwent& $ni!hts with as man& s)%ires' I" I arrie witho%t a $ni!htl&
tail, the T&rells will thin$ me o" small acco%nt'3
That was tr%e eno%!h' 1*!reed'3
1Ill incl%de ,orror and Slobber in m& part&, and send them on to their lord "ather
a"terward' * !est%re o" !oodwill' (e need 4a0ter Bedw&ne, hes 2ace T&rells oldest
"riend, and a !reat power in his own ri!ht'3
1*nd a traitor,3 the )%een said, bal$in!' 1The *rbor wo%ld hae declared "or Benl&
with all the rest, e0cept that Bedw&ne $new "%ll well his whelps wo%ld s%""er "or it'3
1Benl& is dead, ;o%r 8race,3 7ittle"in!er pointed o%t, 1and neither Stannis nor 7ord
4a0ter will hae "or!otten how Bedw&ne !alle&s closed the sea d%rin! the sie!e o"
Storms 5nd' Bestore the twins and perchance we ma& win Bedw&nes loe'3
+ersei remained %nconinced' 1The /thers can $eep his loe, I want his swords and
sails' ,oldin! ti!ht to those twins is the best wa& to ma$e certain that well hae them'3
T&rion had the answer' 1Then let %s send Ser ,obber bac$ to the *rbor and $eep Ser
,oras here' 7ord 4a0ter o%!ht to be cleer eno%!h to riddle o%t the meanin! o" that, I
sho%ld thin$'3
The s%!!estion was carried witho%t protest, b%t 7ittle"in!er was not done' 1(ell want
horses' Swi"t and stron!' The "i!htin! will ma$e remo%nts hard to come b&' * !oodl&
s%ppl& o" !old will also be needed, "or those !i"ts we spo$e o" earlier'3
1Ta$e as m%ch as &o% re)%ire' I" the cit& "alls, Stannis will steal it all an&wa&'3
1Ill want m& commission in writin!' * doc%ment that will leae 2ace T&rell in no
do%bt as to m& a%thorit&, !rantin! me "%ll power to treat with him concernin! this match
and an& other arran!ements that mi!ht be re)%ired, and to ma$e bindin! pled!es in the
$in!s name' It sho%ld be si!ned b& Co""re& and eer& member o" this co%ncil, and bear
all o%r seals'3
T&rion shi"ted %ncom"ortabl&' 1#one' (ill that be all. I remind &o%, theres a lon!
road between here and Bitterbrid!e'3
1Ill be ridin! it be"ore dawn brea$s'3 7ittle"in!er rose' 1I tr%st that on m& ret%rn, the
$in! will see that I am s%itabl& rewarded "or m& aliant e""orts in his ca%se.3
>ar&s !i!!led' 1Co""re& is s%ch a !rate"%l soerei!n, Im certain &o% will hae no ca%se
to complain, m& !ood brae lord'3
The )%een was more direct' 1(hat do &o% want, 4et&r.3
7ittle"in!er !lanced at T&rion with a sl& smile' 1I shall need to !ie that some
consideration' No do%bt Ill thin$ o" somethin!'3 ,e s$etched an air& bow and too$ his
leae, as cas%al as i" he were o"" to one o" his brothels'
T&rion !lanced o%t the window' The "o! was so thic$ that he co%ld not een see the
c%rtain wall across the &ard' * "ew dim li!hts shone indistinct thro%!h that !re&ness' *
"o%l da& "or trael, he tho%!ht' ,e did not en& 4et&r Baelish' 1(e had best see to
drawin! %p those doc%ments' 7ord >ar&s, send "or parchment and )%ill' *nd someone
will need to wa$e Co""re&'3
It was still !re& and dar$ when the meetin! "inall& ended' >ar&s sc%rried o"" alone, his
so"t slippers whis$in! alon! the "loor' The 7annisters lin!ered a moment b& the door'
1,ow comes &o%r chain, brother.3 the )%een as$ed as Ser 4reston "astened a air-lined
cloth-o"-siler cloa$ abo%t her sho%lders'
17in$ b& lin$, it !rows lon!er' (e sho%ld than$ the !ods that Ser +ortna& 4enrose is as
st%bborn as he is' Stannis will neer march north with Storms 5nd %nta$en in his rear'3
1T&rion, I $now we do not alwa&s a!ree on polic&, b%t it seems to me that I was wron!
abo%t &o%' ;o% are not so bi! a "ool as I ima!ined' In tr%th, I reali?e now that &o% hae
been a !reat help' =or that I than$ &o%' ;o% m%st "or!ie me i" I hae spo$en to &o%
harshl& in the past'3
12%st I.3 ,e !ae her a shr%!, a smile' 1Sweet sister, &o% hae said nothin! that
re)%ires "or!ieness'3
1Toda&, &o% mean.3 The& both la%!hed ' ' ' and +ersei leaned oer and planted a
)%ic$, so"t $iss on his brow'
Too astonished "or words, T&rion co%ld onl& watch her stride o"" down the hall, Ser
4reston at her side' 1,ae I lost m& wits, or did m& sister 9%st $iss me.3 he as$ed Bronn
when she was !one'
1(as it so sweet.3
1It was ' ' ' %nanticipated'3 +ersei had been behain! )%eerl& o" late' T&rion "o%nd it
er& %nsettlin!' 1I am tr&in! to recall the last time she $issed me' I co%ld not hae been
more than si0 or seen' Caime had dared her to do it'3
1The womans "inall& ta$en note o" &o%r charms'3
1No,3 T&rion said' 1No, the woman is hatchin! somethin!' Best "ind o%t what, Bronn'
;o% $now I hate s%rprises'3
C#APT"R (.
T#"O'
Theon wiped the spittle o"" his chee$ with the bac$ o" his hand' 1Bobb will !%t &o%,
8re&9o&,3 Ben"red Tallheart screamed' 1,ell "eed &o%r t%rncloa$s heart to his wol",
&o% piece o" sheep d%n!'3
*eron #amphairs oice c%t thro%!h the ins%lts li$e a sword thro%!h cheese' 1Now
&o% m%st $ill him'3
1I hae )%estions "or him "irst,3 said Theon'
14%c$ &o%r )%estions'3 Ben"red h%n! bleedin! and helpless between St&!! and
(erla!' 1;o%ll cho$e on them be"ore &o% !et an& answers "rom me, craen'
T%rncloa$'3
<ncle *eron was relentless' 1(hen he spits on &o%, he spits on all o" %s' ,e spits on
the #rowned 8od' ,e m%st die'3
12& "ather !ae me the command here, <ncle'3
1*nd sent me to co%nsel ;/<'3
*nd to watch me' Theon dare not p%sh matters too "ar with his %ncle' The command
was his, &es, b%t his men had a "aith in the #rowned 8od that the& did not hae in him,
and the& were terri"ied o" *eron #amphair' I cannot "a%lt them "or that'
1;o%ll lose &o%r head "or this, 8re&9o&' The crows will eat the 9ell& o" &o%r e&es'3
Ben"red tried to spit a!ain, b%t onl& mana!ed a little blood' 1The /thers b%!!er &o%r
wet !od'3
Tallhart, &o%e spit awa& &o%r li"e, Theon tho%!ht' 1St&!!, silence him,3 he said'
The& "orced Ben"red to his $nees' (erla! tore the rabbits$in o"" his belt and 9ammed it
between his teeth to stop his sho%tin!' St&!! %nlimbered his a0e'
1No,3 *eron #amphair declared' 1,e m%st be !ien to the !od' The old wa&'3
(hat does it matter. #ead is dead' 1Ta$e him, then'3
1;o% will come as well' ;o% command here' The o""erin! sho%ld come "rom &o%'3
That was more than Theon co%ld stomach' 1;o% are the priest, <ncle, I leae the !od
to &o%' #o me the same $indness and leae the battles to me'3 ,e waed his hand, and
(erla! and St&!! be!an to dra! their captie o"" toward the shore' *eron #amphair
!ae his nephew a reproach"%l loo$, then "ollowed' #own to the pebbled beach the&
wo%ld !o, to drown Ben"red Tallhart in salt water' The old wa&'
4erhaps its a $indness, Theon told himsel" as he stal$ed o"" in the other direction'
St&!! was hardl& the most e0pert o" headsmen, and Ben"red had a nec$ thic$ as a
boars, hea& with m%scle and "at' I %sed to moc$ him "or it, 9%st to see how an!r& I
co%ld ma$e him, he remembered' That had been, what, three &ears past. (hen Ned
Star$ had ridden to Torrhens S)%are to see Ser ,elman, Theon had accompanied him
and spent a "ortni!ht in Ben"reds compan&'
,e co%ld hear the ro%!h noises o" ictor& "rom the croo$ in the road where the battle
had been "o%!ht ' ' ' i" &o%d !o so "ar as to call it a battle' 2ore li$e sla%!hterin! sheep,
i" tr%th be told' Sheep "leeced in steel, b%t sheep nonetheless'
+limbin! a 9%mble o" stone, Theon loo$ed down on the dead men and d&in! horses'
The horses had desered better' T&mor and his brothers had !athered %p what mo%nts
had come thro%!h the "i!ht %nh%rt, while <r?en and Blac$ 7orren silenced the animals
too badl& wo%nded to be saed' The rest o" his men were lootin! the corpses' 8ein
,arlaw $nelt on a dead mans chest, sawin! o"" his "in!er to !et at a rin!' 4a&in! the
iron price' 2& lord "ather wo%ld approe' Theon tho%!ht o" see$in! o%t the bodies o" the
two men hed slain himsel" to see i" the& had an& 9ewelr& worth the ta$in!, b%t the
notion le"t a bitter taste in his mo%th' ,e co%ld ima!ine what 5ddard Star$ wo%ld hae
said' ;et that tho%!ht made him an!r& too' Star$ is dead and rottin!, and na%!ht to me,
he reminded himsel"'
/ld Botle&, who was called =ishwhis$ers, sat scowlin! b& his pile o" pl%nder while his
three sons added to it' /ne o" them was in a shoin! match with a "at man named
Todric, who was reelin! amon! the slain with a horn o" ale in one hand and an a0e in the
other, clad in a cloa$ o" white "o0"%r onl& sli!htl& stained b& the blood o" its preio%s
owner'
#r%n$, Theon decided, watchin! him bellow' It was said that the ironmen o" old had
o"t been blood-dr%n$ in battle, so berser$ that the& "elt no pain and "eared no "oe, b%t
this was a common ale-dr%n$'
1(e0, m& bow and )%ier'3 The bo& ran and "etched them' Theon bent the bow and
slipped the strin! into its notches as Todric $noc$ed down the Botle& bo& and "l%n! ale
into his e&es' =ishwhis$ers leapt %p c%rsin!, b%t Theon was )%ic$er' ,e drew on the
hand that cl%tched the drin$in! horn, "i!%rin! to !ie them a shot to tal$ abo%t, b%t
Todric spoiled it b& l%rchin! to one side 9%st as he loosed' The arrow too$ him thro%!h
the bell&'
The looters stopped to !ape' Theon lowered his bow' 1No dr%n$ards, I said, and no
s)%abbles oer pl%nder'3 /n his $nees, Todric was d&in! noisil&' 1Botle&, silence him'3
=ishwhis$ers and his sons were )%ic$ to obe&' The& slit Todrics throat as he $ic$ed
"eebl&, and were strippin! him o" cloa$ and rin!s and weapons be"ore he was een dead'
Now the& $now I mean what I sa&' 7ord Balon mi!ht hae !ien him the command,
b%t Theon $new that some o" his men saw onl& a so"t bo& "rom the !reen lands when
the& loo$ed at him' 1*n&one else hae a thirst.3 No one replied' 18ood'3 ,e $ic$ed at
Ben"reds "allen banner, cl%tched in the dead hand o" the s)%ire whod borne it' *
rabbits$in had been tied below the "la!' (h& rabbits$ins. he had meant to as$, b%t bein!
spat on had made him "or!et his )%estions' ,e tossed his bow bac$ to (e0 and strode
o"", rememberin! how elated hed "elt a"ter the (hisperin! (ood, and wonderin! wh&
this did not taste as sweet' Tallhart, &o% blood& oerpro%d "ool, &o% neer een sent o%t
a sco%t'
The&d been 9o$in! and een sin!in! as the&d come on, the three trees o" Tallhart
streamin! aboe them while rabbits$ins "lapped st%pidl& "rom the points o" their lances'
The archers concealed behind the !orse had spoiled the son! with a rain o" arrows, and
Theon himsel" had led his men-at-arms o%t to "inish the b%tchers wor$ with da!!er, a0e,
and warhammer' ,e had ordered their leader spared "or )%estionin!'
/nl& he had not e0pected it to be Ben"red Tallhart'
,is limp bod& was bein! dra!!ed "rom the s%r" when Theon ret%rned to his Sea Bitch'
The masts o" his lon!ships stood o%tlined a!ainst the s$& alon! the pebbled beach' /"
the "ishin! illa!e, nothin! remained b%t cold ashes that stan$ when it rained' The men
had been p%t to the sword, all b%t a hand"%l that Theon had allowed to "lee to brin! the
word to Torrhens S)%are' Their wies and da%!hters had been claimed "or salt wies,
those who were &o%n! eno%!h and "air' The crones and the %!l& ones had simpl& been
raped and $illed, or ta$en "or thralls i" the& had %se"%l s$ills and did not seem li$el& to
ca%se tro%ble'
Theon had planned that attac$ as well, brin!in! his ships %p to the shore in the chill
dar$ness be"ore the dawn and leapin! "rom the prow with a lon!a0e in his hand to lead
his men into the sleepin! illa!e' ,e did not li$e the taste o" an& o" this, b%t what choice
did he hae.
,is thrice-damned sister was sailin! her Blac$ (ind north een now, s%re to win a
castle o" her own' 7ord Balon had let no word o" the hostin! escape the Iron Islands, and
Theons blood& wor$ alon! the Ston& Shore wo%ld be p%t down to sea raiders o%t "or
pl%nder' The northmen wo%ld not reali?e their tr%e peril, not %ntil the hammers "ell on
#eepwood 2otte and 2oat +ailin' *nd a"ter all is done and won, the& will ma$e son!s
"or that bitch *sha, and "or!et that I was een here' That is, i" he allowed it'
#a!mer +le"t9aw stood b& the hi!h cared prow o" his lon!ship, =oamdrin$er' Theon
had assi!ned him the tas$ o" !%ardin! the ships: otherwise men wo%ld hae called it
#a!mers ictor&, not his' * more pric$l& man mi!ht hae ta$en that "or a sli!ht, b%t the
+le"t9aw had onl& la%!hed'
1The da& is won,3 #a!mer called down' 1*nd &et &o% do not smile, bo&' The liin!
sho%ld smile, "or the dead cannot'3 ,e smiled himsel" to show how it was done' It made
"or a hideo%s si!ht' <nder a snow& white mane o" hair, #a!mer +le"t9aw had the most
!%t-ch%rnin! scar Theon had eer seen, the le!ac& o" the lon!a0e that had near $illed
him as a bo&' The blow had splintered his 9aw, shattered his "ront teeth, and le"t him "o%r
lips where other men had b%t two' * sha!!& beard coered his chee$s and nec$, b%t the
hair wo%ld not !row oer the scar, so a shin& seam o" p%c$ered, twisted "lesh diided his
"ace li$e a creasse thro%!h a snow"ield' 1(e co%ld hear them sin!in!,3 the old warrior
said' 1It was a !ood son!, and the& san! it brael&'3
1The& san! better than the& "o%!ht' ,arps wo%ld hae done them as m%ch !ood as
their lances did'3
1,ow man& men are lost.3
1/" o%rs.3 Theon shr%!!ed' 1Todric' I $illed him "or !ettin! dr%n$ and "i!htin! oer
loot'3
1Some men are born to be $illed'3 * lesser man mi!ht hae been a"raid to show a
smile as "ri!htenin! as his, &et #a!mer !rinned more o"ten and more broadl& than 7ord
Balon eer had'
<!l& as it was, that smile bro%!ht bac$ a h%ndred memories' Theon had seen it o"ten
as a bo&, when hed 9%mped a horse oer a moss& wall, or "l%n! an a0e and split a tar!et
s)%are' ,ed seen it when he bloc$ed a blow "rom #a!mers sword, when he p%t an
arrow thro%!h a sea!%ll on the win!, when he too$ the tiller in hand and !%ided a
lon!ship sa"el& thro%!h a snarl o" "oamin! roc$s' ,e !ae me more smiles than m&
"ather and 5ddard Star$ to!ether' 5en Bobb ' ' ' he o%!ht to hae won a smile the da&
hed saed Bran "rom that wildlin!, b%t instead hed !otten a scoldin!, as i" he were
some coo$ whod b%rned the stew'
1;o% and I m%st tal$, <ncle,3 Theon said' #a!mer was no tr%e %ncle, onl& a sworn
man with perhaps a pinch o" 8re&9o& blood "o%r or "ie lies bac$, and that "rom the
wron! side o" the blan$et' ;et Theon had alwa&s called him %ncle nonetheless'
1+ome onto m& dec$, then'3 There were no mlords "rom #a!mer, not when he stood
on his own dec$' /n the Iron Islands, eer& captain was a $in! aboard his own ship'
,e climbed the plan$ to the dec$ o" the =oamdrin$er in "o%r lon! strides, and #a!mer
led him bac$ to the cramped a"t cabin, where the old man po%red a horn o" so%r ale and
o""ered Theon the same' ,e declined' 1(e did not capt%re eno%!h horses' * "ew, b%t ' ' '
well, Ill ma$e do with what I hae, I s%ppose' =ewer men means more !lor&'3
1(hat need do we hae o" horses.3 7i$e most ironmen, #a!mer pre"erred to "i!ht on
"oot or "rom the dec$ o" a ship' 1,orses will onl& shit on o%r dec$s and !et in o%r wa&'3
1I" we sailed, &es,3 Theon admitted' 1I hae another plan'3 ,e watched the other
care"%ll& to see how he wo%ld ta$e that' (itho%t the +le"t9aw he co%ld not hope to
s%cceed' +ommand or no, the men wo%ld neer "ollow him i" both *eron and #a!mer
opposed him, and he had no hope o" winnin! oer the so%r-"aced priest'
1;o%r lord "ather commanded %s to harr& the coast, no more'3 5&es pale as sea "oam
watched Theon "rom %nder those sha!!& white e&ebrows' (as it disapproal he saw
there, or a spar$ o" interest. The latter, he tho%!ht ' ' ' hoped ' ' '
1;o% are m& "athers man'3
1,is best man, and alwa&s hae been'3
4ride, Theon tho%!ht' ,e is pro%d, I m%st %se that, his pride will be the $e&' 1There is
no man in the Iron Islands hal" so s$illed with spear or sword'3
1;o% hae been too lon! awa&, bo&' (hen &o% le"t, it was as &o% sa&, b%t I am !rown
old in 7ord 8re&9o&s serice' The sin!ers call *ndri$ best now' *ndri$ the <nsmilin!,
the& name him' * !iant o" a man' ,e seres 7ord #r%mm o" /ld (&$' *nd Blac$
7orren and Farl the 2aid are near as dread'3
1This *ndri$ ma& be a !reat "i!hter, b%t men do not "ear him as the& "ear &o%'3
1*&e, thats so,3 #a!mer said' The "in!ers c%rled aro%nd the drin$in! horn were hea&
with rin!s, !old and siler and bron?e, set with ch%n$s o" sapphire and !arnet and
dra!on!lass' ,e had paid the iron price "or eer& one, Theon $new'
1I" I had a man li$e &o% in m& serice, I sho%ld not waste him on this childs b%siness
o" harr&in! and b%rnin!' This is no wor$ "or 7ord Balons best man'3
#a!mers !rin twisted his lips apart and showed the brown splinters o" his teeth' 1Nor
"or his tr%eborn son.3 ,e hooted' 1I $now &o% too well, Theon' I saw &o% ta$e &o%r "irst
step, helped &o% bend &o%r "irst bow' DTis not me who "eels wasted'3
1B& ri!hts I sho%ld hae m& sisters command,3 he admitted, %ncom"ortabl& aware o"
how peeish that so%nded'
1;o% ta$e this b%siness too hard, bo&' It is onl& that &o%r lord "ather does not $now
&o%' (ith &o%r brothers dead and &o% ta$en b& the woles, &o%r sister was his solace'
,e learned to rel& on her, and she has neer "ailed him'3
1Nor hae I' The Star$s $new m& worth' I was one o" Br&nden Blac$"ishs pic$ed
sco%ts, and I char!ed with the "irst wae in the (hisperin! (ood' I was that close to
crossin! swords with the 6in!sla&er himsel"'3 Theon held his hands two "eet apart'
1#ar&n ,ornwood came between %s, and died "or it'3
1(h& do &o% tell me this.3 #a!mer as$ed' 1It was me who p%t &o%r "irst sword in
&o%r hand' I $now &o% are no craen'3
1#oes m& "ather.3
The hoar& old warrior loo$ed as i" he had bitten into somethin! he did not li$e the taste
o"' 1It is onl& ' ' ' Theon, the Bo& (ol" is &o%r "riend, and these Star$s had &o% "or ten
&ears'3
1I am no Star$'3 7ord 5ddard saw to that' 1I am a 8re&9o&, and I mean to be m&
"athers heir' ,ow can I do that %nless I proe m&sel" with some !reat deed.3
1;o% are &o%n!' /ther wars will come, and &o% shall do &o%r !reat deeds' =or now, we
are commanded to harr& the Ston& Shore'3
17et m& %ncle *eron see to it' Ill !ie him si0 ships, all b%t =oamdrin$er and Sea
Bitch, and he can b%rn and drown to his !ods s%r"eit'3
1The command was !ien &o%, not *eron #amphair'3
1So lon! as the harr&in! is done, what does it matter. No priest co%ld do what I mean
to, nor what I as$ o" &o%' I hae a tas$ that onl& #a!mer +le"t9aw can accomplish'3
#a!mer too$ a lon! dra%!ht "rom his horn' 1Tell me'3
,e is tempted, Theon tho%!ht' ,e li$es this reaers wor$ no better than I do' 1I" m&
sister can ta$e a castle, so can 4
1*sha has "o%r or "ie times the men we do'3
Theon allowed himsel" a sl& smile' 1B%t we hae "o%r times the wits, and "ie times
the co%ra!e'3
1;o%r "atherA3
1Awill than$ me, when I hand him his $in!dom' I mean to do a deed that the harpers
will sin! o" "or a tho%sand &ears'3
,e $new that wo%ld !ie #a!mer pa%se' * sin!er had made a son! abo%t the a0e that
crac$ed his 9aw in hal", and the old man loed to hear it' (heneer he was in his c%ps he
wo%ld call "or a reain! son!, somethin! lo%d and storm& that told o" dead heroes and
deeds o" wild alor' ,is hair is white and his teeth are rotten, b%t he still has a taste "or
!lor&'
1(hat wo%ld m& part be in this scheme o" &o%rs, bo&.3 #a!mer +le"t9aw as$ed a"ter a
lon! silence, and Theon $new he had won'
1To stri$e terror into the heart o" the "oe, as onl& one o" &o%r name co%ld do' ;o%ll
ta$e the !reat part o" o%r "orce and march on Torrhens S)%are' ,elman Tallhart too$ his
best men so%th, and Ben"red died here with their sons' ,is %ncle 7eobald will remain,
with some small !arrison'3 I" I had been able to )%estion Ben"red, I wo%ld $now 9%st
how small' 12a$e no secret o" &o%r approach' Sin! all the brae son!s &o% li$e' I want
them to close their !ates'3
1Is this Torrhens S)%are a stron! $eep.3
1Stron! eno%!h' The walls are stone, thirt& "eet hi!h, with s)%are towers at each corner
and a s)%are $eep within'3
1Stone walls cannot be "ired' ,ow are we to ta$e them. (e do not hae the n%mbers to
storm een a small castle'3
1;o% will ma$e camp o%tside their walls and set to b%ildin! catap%lts and sie!e
en!ines'3
1That is not the /ld (a&' ,ae &o% "or!otten. Ironmen "i!ht with swords and a0es,
not b& "lin!in! roc$s' There is no !lor& in starin! o%t a "oeman'3
17eobald will not $now that' (hen he sees &o% raisin! sie!e towers, his old womans
blood will r%n cold, and he will bleat "or help' Sta& &o%r archers, <ncle, and let the
raen "l&' The castellan at (inter"ell is a brae man, b%t a!e has sti""ened his wits as
well as his limbs' (hen he learns that one o" his $in!s bannermen is %nder attac$ b& the
"earsome #a!mer +le"t9aw, he will s%mmon his stren!th and ride to Tallharts aid' It is
his d%t&' Ser Bodri$ is nothin! i" not d%ti"%l'3
1*n& "orce he s%mmons will be lar!er than mine,3 #a!mer said, 1and these old
$ni!hts are more c%nnin! than &o% thin$, or the& wo%ld neer hae lied to see their
"irst !re& hair' ;o% set %s a battle we cannot hope to win, Theon' This Torrhens S)%are
will neer "all'3
Theon smiled' 1Its not Torrhens S)%are I mean to ta$e'3
C#APT"R (/
AR%A
+on"%sion and clan!or r%led the castle' 2en stood on the beds o" wa!ons loadin!
cas$s o" wine, sac$s o" "lo%r, and b%ndles o" new-"letched arrows' Smiths strai!htened
swords, $noc$ed dents "rom breastplates, and shoed destriers and pac$ m%les ali$e' 2ail
shirts were tossed in barrels o" sand and rolled across the l%mp& s%r"ace o" the
=lowstone ;ard to sco%r them clean' (eeses women had twent& cloa$s to mend, a
h%ndred more to wash' The hi!h and h%mble crowded into the sept to!ether to pra&'
/%tside the walls, tents and pailions were comin! down' S)%ires tossed pails o" water
oer coo$"ires, while soldiers too$ o%t their oilstones to !ie their blades one last !ood
lic$' The noise was a swellin! tide: horses blowin! and whic$erin!, lords sho%tin!
commands, men-at-arms tradin! c%rses, camp "ollowers s)%abblin!'
7ord T&win 7annister was marchin! at last'
Ser *ddam 2arbrand was the "irst o" the captains to depart, a da& be"ore the rest' ,e
made a !allant show o" it, ridin! a spirited red co%rser whose mane was the same copper
color as the lon! hair that streamed past Ser *ddams sho%lders' The horse was barded
in bron?e-colored trappin!s d&ed to match the riders cloa$ and embla?oned with the
b%rnin! tree' Some o" the castle women sobbed to see him !o' (eese said he was a !reat
horseman and sword "i!hter, 7ord T&wins most darin! commander'
I hope he dies, *r&a tho%!ht as she watched him ride o%t the !ate, his men streamin!
a"ter him in a do%ble col%mn' I hope the& all die' The& were !oin! to "i!ht Bobb, she
$new' 7istenin! to the tal$ as she went abo%t her wor$, *r&a had learned that Bobb had
won some !reat ictor& in the west' ,ed b%rned 7annisport, some said, or else he meant
to b%rn it' ,ed capt%red +asterl& Boc$ and p%t eer&one to the sword, or he was
besie!in! the 8olden Tooth ' ' ' b%t somethin! had happened, that m%ch was certain'
(eese had her r%nnin! messa!es "rom dawn to d%s$' Some o" them een too$ her
be&ond the castle walls, o%t into the m%d and madness o" the camp' I co%ld "lee, she
tho%!ht as a wa!on r%mbled past her' I co%ld hop on the bac$ o" a wa!on and hide, or
"all in with the camp "ollowers, no one wo%ld stop me' She mi!ht hae done it i" not "or
(eese' ,ed told them more than once what hed do to an&one who tried to r%n o"" on
him' 1It wont be no beatin!, oh, no' I wont la& a "in!er on &o%' Ill 9%st sae &o% "or the
Fohori$, &es I will, Ill sae &o% "or the +rippler' >ar!o ,oat his name is, and when he
!ets bac$ hell c%t o"" &o%r "eet'3 2a&be i" (eese were dead, *r&a tho%!ht ' ' ' b%t not
when she was with him' ,e co%ld loo$ at &o% and smell what &o% were thin$in!, he
alwa&s said so'
(eese neer ima!ined she co%ld read, tho%!h, so he neer bothered to seal the
messa!es he !ae her' *r&a pee$ed at them all, b%t the& were neer an&thin! !ood, 9%st
st%pid st%"" sendin! this cart to the !ranar& and that one to the armor&' /ne was a
demand "or pa&ment on a !amblin! debt, b%t the $ni!ht she !ae it to co%ldnt read'
(hen she told him what it said he tried to hit her, b%t *r&a d%c$ed %nder the blow,
snatched a siler-banded drin$in! horn o"" his saddle, and darted awa&' The $ni!ht
roared and came a"ter her, b%t she slid between two wa&ns, woe thro%!h a crowd o"
archers, and 9%mped a latrine trench' In his mail he co%ldnt $eep %p' (hen she !ae the
horn to (eese, he told her that a smart little (easel li$e her desered a reward' 1Ie !ot
m& e&e on a pl%mp crisp capon to s%p on toni!ht' (ell share it, me and &o%' ;o%ll li$e
that'3
5er&where she went, *r&a searched "or Ca)en ,!har, wantin! to whisper another
name to him be"ore those she hated were all !one o%t o" her reach, b%t amidst the chaos
and con"%sion the 7orathi sellsword was not to be "o%nd' ,e still owed her two deaths,
and she was worried she wo%ld neer !et them i" he rode o"" to battle with the rest'
=inall& she wor$ed %p the co%ra!e to as$ one o" the !ate !%ards i" hed !one' 1/ne o"
7orchs men, is he.3 the man said' 1,e wont be !oin!, then' ,is lordships named Ser
*mor& castellan o" ,arrenhal' That whole lots sta&in! ri!ht here, to hold the castle' The
Blood& 2%mmers will be le"t as well, to do the "ora!in!' That !oat >ar!o ,oat is li$e to
spit, him and 7orch hae alwa&s hated each other'3
The 2o%ntain wo%ld be leain! with 7ord T&win, tho%!h' ,e wo%ld command the an
in battle, which meant that #%nsen, 4ollier, and Ba"" wo%ld all slip between her "in!ers
%nless she co%ld "ind Ca)en and hae him $ill one o" them be"ore the& le"t'
1(easel,3 (eese said that a"ternoon' 18et to the armor& and tell 7%can that Ser 7&onel
notched his sword in practice and needs a new one' ,eres his mar$'3 ,e handed her a
s)%are o" paper' 1Be )%ic$ abo%t it now, hes to ride with Ser 6ean 7annister'3
*r&a too$ the paper and ran' The armor& ad9oined the castle smith&, a lon! hi!h-roo"ed
t%nnel o" a b%ildin! with twent& "or!es b%ilt into its walls and lon! stone water tro%!hs
"or temperin! the steel' ,al" o" the "or!es were at wor$ when she entered' The walls
ran! with the so%nd o" hammers, and b%rl& men in leather aprons stood sweatin! in the
s%llen heat as the& bent oer bellows and anils' (hen she spied 8endr&, his bare chest
was slic$ with sweat, b%t the bl%e e&es %nder the hea& blac$ hair had the st%bborn loo$
she remembered' *r&a didnt $now that she een wanted to tal$ to him' It was his "a%lt
the&d all been ca%!ht' 1(hich one is 7%can.3 She thr%st o%t the paper' 1Im to !et a
new sword "or Ser 7&onel'3
1Neer mind abo%t Ser 7&onel'3 ,e drew her aside b& the arm' 17ast ni!ht ,ot 4ie
as$ed me i" I heard &o% &ell (inter"ell bac$ at the hold"ast, when we were all "i!htin!
on the wall'3
1I neer did@3
1;es &o% did' I heard &o% too'3
15er&one was &ellin! st%"",3 *r&a said de"ensiel&' 1,ot 4ie &elled hot pie' ,e m%st
hae &elled it a h%ndred times'3
1Its what &o% &elled that matters' I told ,ot 4ie he sho%ld clean the wa0 o%t o" his
ears, that all &o% &elled was 8o to hell@ I" he as$s &o%, &o% better sa& the same'3
1I will,3 she said, een tho%!h she tho%!ht !o to hell was a st%pid thin! to &ell' She
didnt dare tell ,ot 4ie who she reall& was' 2a&be I sho%ld sa& ,ot 4ies name to la)en'
1Ill !et 7%can,3 8endr& said'
7%can !r%nted at the writin! Gtho%!h *r&a did not thin$ he co%ld read itH, and p%lled
down a hea& lon!sword' 1This is too !ood "or that oa", and &o% tell him I said so,3 he
said as he !ae her the blade'
1I will,3 she lied' I" she did an& s%ch thin!, (eese wo%ld beat her blood&' 7%can co%ld
delier his own ins%lts'
The lon!sword was a lot heaier than Needle had been, b%t *r&a li$ed the "eel o" it'
The wei!ht o" steel in her hands made her "eel stron!er' 2a&be Im not a water dancer
&et, b%t Im not a mo%se either' * mo%se co%ldnt %se a sword b%t I can' The !ates were
open, soldiers comin! and !oin!, dra&s rollin! in empt& and !oin! o%t crea$in! and
swa&in! %nder their loads' She tho%!ht abo%t !oin! to the stables and tellin! them that
Ser 7&onel wanted a new horse' She had the paper, the stablebo&s wo%ldnt be able to
read it an& better than 7%can had' I co%ld ta$e the horse and the sword and 9%st ride o%t'
I" the !%ards tried to stop me Id show them the paper and sa& I was brin!in! eer&thin!
to Ser 7&onel' She had no notion what Ser 7&onel loo$ed li$e or where to "ind him,
tho%!h' I" the& )%estioned her, the&d $now, and then (eese ' ' ' (eese ' ' '
*s she chewed her lip, tr&in! not to thin$ abo%t how it wo%ld "eel to hae her "eet c%t
o"", a !ro%p o" archers in leather 9er$ins and iron helms went past, their bows sl%n!
across their sho%lders' *r&a heard snatches o" their tal$' 8iants I tell &o%, hes !ot !iants
twent& "oot tall come down "rom be&ond the (all, "ollow him li$e do!s ' ' '
1' ' ' not nat%ral, comin! on them so "ast, in the ni!ht and all' ,es more wol" than
man, all them Star$s are shit on &o%r woles and !iants, the bo&d piss his pants i" he
$new we was comin!' ,e wasnt man eno%!h to march on ,arrenhal, was he. Ban
>other wa&, didnt he. ,ed r%n now i" he $new what was best "or him'3
1So &o% sa&, b%t mi!ht be the bo& $nows somethin! we dont, ma&be its %s o%!ht to
be r%n ' ' '3
;es, *r&a tho%!ht' ;es, its &o% who o%!ht to r%n, &o% and 7ord T&win and the
2o%ntain and Ser *ddam and Ser *mor& and st%pid Ser 7&onel whoeer he is, all o"
&o% better r%n or m& brother will $ill &o%, hes a Star$, hes more wol" than man, and so
am I'
1(easel'3 (eeses oice crac$ed li$e a whip' She neer saw where he came "rom, b%t
s%ddenl& he was ri!ht in "ront o" her' 18ie me that' Too$ &o% lon! eno%!h'3 ,e
snatched the sword "rom her "in!ers, and dealt her a stin!in! slap with the bac$ o" his
hand' 1Ne0t time be )%ic$er abo%t it'3
=or a moment she had been a wol" a!ain, b%t (eeses slap too$ it all awa& and le"t her
with nothin! b%t the taste o" her own blood in her mo%th' Shed bitten her ton!%e when
he hit her' She hated him "or that'
1;o% want another.3 (eese demanded' 1;o%ll !et it too' Ill hae none o" &o%r
insolent loo$s' 8et down to the brewho%se and tell T%""leberr& that I hae two do?en
barrels "or him, b%t he better send his lads to "etch them or Ill "ind someone wants Dem
worse'3 *r&a started o"", b%t not )%ic$ eno%!h "or (eese' 1;o% r%n i" &o% want to eat
toni!ht,3 he sho%ted, his promises o" a pl%mp crisp capon alread& "or!otten' 1*nd dont
be !ettin! lost a!ain, or I swear Ill beat &o% blood&'3
;o% wont, *r&a tho%!ht' ;o% wont eer a!ain' B%t she ran' The old !ods o" the north
m%st hae been !%idin! her steps' ,al"wa& to the brewho%se, as she passin! %nder the
stone brid!e that arched between (idows Tower and 6in!sp&re, she heard harsh,
!rowlin! la%!hter' Bor!e came aro%nd a corner with three other men, the manticore
bad!e o" Ser *mor& sewn oer their hearts' (hen he saw her, he stopped and !rinned,
showin! a mo%th"%l o" croo$ed brown teeth %nder the leather "lap he wore sometimes to
coer the hole in his "ace' 1;orens little c%nt,3 he called her' 18%ess we $now wh& that
blac$ bastard wanted &o% on the (all, dont we.3 ,e la%!hed a!ain, and the others
la%!hed with him' 1(heres &o%r stic$ now.3 Bor!e demanded s%ddenl&, the smile !one
as )%ic$ as it had come' 1Seems to me I promised to "%c$ &o% with it'3 ,e too$ a step
toward her' *r&a ed!ed bac$ward' 1Not so brae now that Im not in chains, are &o%.3
1I saed &o%'3 She $ept a !ood &ard between them, read& to r%n )%ic$ as a sna$e i" he
made a !rab "or her'
1/we &o% another "%c$in! "or that, seems li$e' #id ;oren p%mp &o%r c%nn&, or did he
li$e that ti!ht little ass better.3
1Im loo$in! "or Ca)en,3 she said' 1Theres a messa!e'3
Bor!e halted' Somethin! in his e&es ' ' ' co%ld it be that he was scared o" Ca)en
,!har. 1The bathho%se' 8et o%t o" m& wa&'3
*r&a whirled and ran, swi"t as a deer, her "eet "l&in! oer the cobbles all the wa& to the
bathho%se, She "o%nd Ca)en soa$in! in a t%b, steam risin! aro%nd him as a serin! !irl
sl%iced hot water oer his head' ,is lon! hair, red on one side and white on the other,
"ell down across his sho%lders, wet and hea&'
She crept %p )%iet as a shadow, b%t he opened his e&es all the same' 1She steals in on
little mice "eet, b%t a man hears,3 he said' ,ow co%ld he hear me. she wondered, and it
seemed as i" he heard that as well' 1The sc%"" o" leather on stone sin!s lo%d as warhorns
to a man with open ears' +leer !irls !o bare"oot'3
1I hae a messa!e'3 *r&a e&ed the serin! !irl %ncertainl&' (hen she did not seem
li$el& to !o awa&, she leaned in %ntil her mo%th was almost to%chin! his ear' 1(eese,3
she whispered'
Ca)en ,!har closed his e&es a!ain, "loatin! lan!%id, hal"-asleep' 1Tell his lordship a
man shall attend him at his leis%re'3 ,is hand moed s%ddenl&, splashin! hot water at
her, and *r&a had to leap bac$ to $eep "rom !ettin! drenched'
(hen she told T%""leberr& what (eese had said, the brewer c%rsed lo%dl&' 1;o% tell
(eese m& lads !ot d%ties to attend to, and &o% tell him hes a po0-ridden bastard too,
and the seen hells will "ree?e oer be"ore he !ets another horn o" m& ale' Ill hae them
barrels within the ho%r or 7ord T&win will hear o" it, see i" he dont'3
(eese c%rsed too when *r&a bro%!ht bac$ that messa!e, een tho%!h she le"t o%t the
po0-ridden bastard part' ,e "%med and threatened, b%t in the end he ro%nded %p si0 men
and sent them o"" !r%mblin! to "etch the barrels down to the brewho%se'
S%pper that eenin! was a thin stew o" barle&, onion, and carrots, with a wed!e o" stale
brown bread' /ne o" the women had ta$en to sleepin! in (eeses bed, and she !ot a
piece o" ripe bl%e cheese as well, and a win! o"" the capon that (eese had spo$en o" that
mornin!' ,e ate the rest himsel", the !rease r%nnin! down in a shin& line thro%!h the
boils that "estered at the corner o" his mo%th' The bird was almost !one when he !lanced
%p "rom his trencher and saw *r&a starin!' 1(easel, come here'3
* "ew mo%th"%ls o" dar$ meat still cl%n! to one thi!h' ,e "or!ot, b%t now hes
remembered, *r&a tho%!ht' It made her "eel bad "or tellin! Ca)en to $ill him' She !ot o""
the bench and went to the head o" the table'
1I saw &o% loo$in! at me'3 (eese wiped his "in!ers on the "ront o" her shi"t' Then he
!rabbed her throat with one hand and slapped her with the other' 1(hat did I tell &o%.3
,e slapped her a!ain, bac$hand' 16eep those e&es to &o%rsel", or ne0t time Ill spoon
one o%t and "eed it to m& bitch'3 * shoe sent her st%mblin! to the "loor' ,er hem ca%!ht
on a loose nail in the splintered wooden bench and ripped as she "ell' 1;o%ll mend that
be"ore &o% sleep,3 (eese anno%nced as he p%lled the last bit o" meat o"" the capon'
(hen he was "inished he s%c$ed his "in!ers noisil&, and threw the bones to his %!l&
spotted do!'
1(eese,3 *r&a whispered that ni!ht as she bent oer the tear in her shi"t' 1#%nsen,
4ollier, Ba"" the Sweetlin!,3 she said, callin! a name eer& time she p%shed the bone
needle thro%!h the %nd&ed wool' 1The Tic$ler and the ,o%nd' Ser 8re!or, Ser *mor&,
Ser Il&n, Ser 2er&n, 6in! Co""re&, F%een +ersei'3 She wondered how m%ch lon!er she
wo%ld hae to incl%de (eese in her pra&er, and dri"ted o"" to sleep dreamin! that on the
morrow, when she wo$e, hed be dead'
B%t it was the sharp toe o" (eeses boot that wo$e her, as eer' The main stren!th o"
7ord T&wins host wo%ld ride this da&, he told them as the& bro$e their "ast on oatca$es'
1#ont none o" &o% be thin$in! how eas& itll be here once mlord o" 7annister is !one,3
he warned' 1The castle wont !row no smaller, I promise &o% that, onl& now therell be
"ewer hands to tend to it' ;o% lot o" sl%!abeds are !oin! to learn what wor$ is now, &es
&o% are'3
Not "rom &o%' *r&a pic$ed at her oaten ca$e' (eese "rowned at her, as i" he smelled
her secret' F%ic$l& she dropped her !a?e to her "ood, and dared not raise her e&es a!ain'
4ale li!ht "illed the &ard when 7ord T&win 7annister too$ his leae o" ,arrenhal' *r&a
watched "rom an arched window hal"wa& %p the (ailin! Tower' ,is char!er wore a
blan$et o" enameled crimson scales and !ilded crinet and charn"ron, while 7ord T&win
himsel" sported a thic$ ermine cloa$' ,is brother Ser 6ean loo$ed near as splendid' No
less than "o%r standard-bearers went be"ore them, carr&in! h%!e crimson banners
embla?oned with the !olden lion' Behind the 7annisters came their !reat lords and
captains' Their banners "lared and "lapped, a pa!eant o" color: red o0 and !olden
mo%ntain, p%rple %nicorn and bantam rooster, brindled boar and bad!er, a siler "erret
and a 9%!!ler in motle&, stars and s%nb%rsts, peacoc$ and panther, cheron and da!!er,
blac$ hood and bl%e beetle and !reen arrow'
7ast o" all came Ser 8re!or +le!ane in his !re& plate steel, astride a stallion as bad-
tempered as his rider' 4ollier rode beside him, with the blac$ do! standard in his hand
and 8endr&s horned helm on his head' ,e was a tall man, b%t he loo$ed no more than a
hal"-!rown bo& when he rode in his masters shadow'
* shier crept %p *r&as spine as she watched them pass %nder the !reat iron portc%llis
o" ,arrenhal' S%ddenl& she $new that she had made a terrible mista$e' Im so st%pid, she
tho%!ht' (eese did not matter, no more than +hisw&c$ had' These were the men who
mattered, the ones she o%!ht to hae $illed' 7ast ni!ht she co%ld hae whispered an& o"
them dead, i" onl& she hadnt been so mad at (eese "or hittin! her and l&in! abo%t the
capon' 7ord T&win, wh& didnt I sa& 7ord T&win.
4erhaps it was not too late to chan!e her mind' (eese was not $illed &et' I" she co%ld
"ind Ca)en, tell him ' ' '
,%rriedl&, *r&a ran down the twistin! steps, her chores "or!otten' She heard the rattle
o" chains as the portc%llis was slowl& lowered, its spi$es sin$in! deep into the
!ro%nd ' ' ' and then another so%nd, a shrie$ o" pain and "ear'
* do?en people !ot there be"ore her, tho%!h none was comin! an& too close' *r&a
s)%irmed between them' (eese was sprawled across the cobbles, his throat a red r%in,
e&es !apin! si!htlessl& %p at a ban$ o" !re& clo%d' ,is %!l& spotted do! stood on his
chest, lappin! at the blood p%lsin! "rom his nec$, and eer& so o"ten rippin! a mo%th"%l
o" "lesh o%t o" the dead mans "ace'
=inall& someone bro%!ht a crossbow and shot the spotted do! dead while she was
worr&in! at one o" (eeses ears'
1#amnedest thin!,3 she heard a man sa&' 1,e had that bitch do! since she was a p%p'3
1This place is c%rsed,3 the man with the crossbow said'
1Its ,arrens !host, thats what it is,3 said 8oodwi"e *mabel' 1Ill not sleep here
another ni!ht, I swear it'3
*r&a li"ted her !a?e "rom the dead man and his dead do!' Ca)en ,!har was leanin! %p
a!ainst the side o" the (ailin! Tower' (hen he saw her loo$in!, he li"ted a hand to his
"ace and laid two "in!ers cas%all& a!ainst his chee$'
C#APT"R (0
CAT"%'
Two da&s ride "rom Bierr%n, a sco%t spied them waterin! their horses beside a m%dd&
steam' +atel&n had neer been so !lad to see the twin tower bad!e o" ,o%se =re&'
(hen she as$ed him to lead them to her %ncle, he said, 1The Blac$"ish is !one west
with the $in!, m& lad&' 2art&n Biers commands the o%triders in his stead'3
1I see'3 She had met Biers at the Twins: a baseborn son o" 7ord (alder =re&, hal"
brother to Ser 4erw&n' It did not s%rprise her to learn that Bobb had str%c$ at the heart o"
7annister power: clearl& he had been contemplatin! 9%st that when he sent her awa& to
treat with Benl&' 1(here is Biers now.3
1,is camp is two ho%rs ride, m& lad&'3
1Ta$e %s to him,3 she commanded' Brienne helped her bac$ into her saddle, and the&
set o%t at once'
1,ae &o% come "rom Bitterbrid!e, m& lad&.3 the sco%t as$ed'
1No'3 She had not dared' (ith Benl& dead, +atel&n had been %ncertain o" the reception
she mi!ht receie "rom his &o%n! widow and her protectors' Instead she had ridden
thro%!h the heart o" the war, thro%!h "ertile rierlands t%rned to blac$ened desert b& the
"%r& o" the 7annisters, and each ni!ht her sco%ts bro%!ht bac$ tales that made her ill'
17ord Benl& is slain,3 she added'
1(ed hoped that tale was some 7annister lie, orA3
1(o%ld that it were' 2& brother commands in Bierr%n.3
1;es, m& lad&' ,is 8race le"t Ser 5dm%re to hold Bierr%n and !%ard his rear'3
8ods !rant him the stren!th to do so, +atel&n tho%!ht' *nd the wisdom as well' 1Is
there word "rom Bobb in the west.3
1;o% hae not heard.3 The man seemed s%rprised' 1,is 8race won a !reat ictor& at
/0cross' Ser Sta""ord 7annister is dead, his host scattered'3
Ser (endel 2anderl& !ae a whoop o" pleas%re, b%t +atel&n onl& nodded' Tomorrows
trials concerned her more than &esterda&s tri%mphs'
2art&n Biers had made his camp in the shell o" a shattered hold"ast, beside a roo"less
stable and a h%ndred "resh !raes' ,e went to one $nee when +atel&n dismo%nted' 1(ell
met, m& lad&' ;o%r brother char!ed %s to $eep an e&e o%t "or &o%r part&, and escort &o%
bac$ to Bierr%n in all haste sho%ld we come %pon &o%'3
+atel&n scarce li$ed the so%nd o" that' 1Is it m& "ather.3
1No, m& lad&' 7ord ,oster is %nchan!ed'3 Biers was a r%dd& man with scant
resemblance to his hal" brothers' 1It is onl& that we "eared &o% mi!ht chance %pon
7annister sco%ts' 7ord T&win has le"t ,arrenhal and marches west with all his power'3
1Bise,3 she told Biers, "rownin!' Stannis Baratheon wo%ld soon be on the march as
well, !ods help them all' 1,ow lon! %ntil 7ord T&win is %pon %s.3
1Three da&s, perhaps "o%r, it is hard to $now' (e hae e&es o%t alon! all the roads, b%t
it wo%ld be best not to lin!er'3
Nor did the&' Biers bro$e his camp )%ic$l& and saddled %p beside her, and the& set o""
a!ain, near "i"t& stron! now, "l&in! beneath the direwol", the leapin! tro%t, the twin
towers'
,er men wanted to hear more o" Bobbs ictor& at /0cross, and Biers obli!ed'
1Theres a sin!er come to Bierr%n, calls himsel" B&m%nd the Bh&mer, hes made a son!
o" the "i!ht' #o%btless &o%ll hear it s%n! toni!ht, m& lad&' D(ol" in the Ni!ht this
B&m%nd calls it'3 ,e went on to tell how the remnants o" Ser Sta""ords host had "allen
bac$ on 7annisport' (itho%t sie!e en!ines there was no wa& to storm +asterl& Boc$, so
the ;o%n! (ol" was pa&in! the 7annisters bac$ in $ind "or the deastation the&d
in"licted on the rierlands' 7ords 6arstar$ and 8loer were raidin! alon! the coast,
7ad& 2ormont had capt%red tho%sands o" cattle and was driin! them bac$ toward
Bierr%n, while the 8reat9on had sei?ed the !old mines at +astamere, N%nns #eep, and
the 4endric ,ills' Ser (endel la%!hed' 1Nothin!s more li$e to brin! a 7annister
r%nnin! than a threat to his !old'3
1,ow did the $in! eer ta$e the Tooth.3 Ser 4erw&n =re& as$ed his bastard brother'
1Thats a hard stron! $eep, and it commands the hill road'3
1,e neer too$ it' ,e slipped aro%nd it in the ni!ht' Its said the direwol" showed him
the wa&, that 8re& (ind o" his' The beast sni""ed o%t a !oat trac$ that wo%nd down a
de"ile and %p alon! beneath a rid!e, a croo$ed and ston& wa&, &et wide eno%!h "or men
ridin! sin!le "ile' The 7annisters in their watchtowers !ot not so m%ch a !limpse o"
them'3 Biers lowered his oice' 1Theres some sa& that a"ter the battle, the $in! c%t o%t
Sta""ord 7annisters heart and "ed it to the wol"'3
1I wo%ld not beliee s%ch tales,3 +atel&n said sharpl&' 12& son is no saa!e'3
1*s &o% sa&, m& lad&' Still, its no more than the beast desered' That is no common
wol", that one' The 8reat9ons been heard to sa& that the old !ods o" the north sent those
direwoles to &o%r children'3
+atel&n remembered the da& when her bo&s had "o%nd the p%ps in the late s%mmer
snows' There had been "ie, three male and two "emale "or the "ie tr%eborn children o"
,o%se Star$ ' ' ' and a si0th, white o" "%r and red o" e&e, "or Neds bastard son Con Snow'
No common woles, she tho%!ht' No indeed'
That ni!ht as the& made their camp, Brienne so%!ht o%t her tent' 12& lad&, &o% are
sa"el& bac$ amon! &o%r own now, a da&s ride "rom &o%r brothers castle' 8ie me leae
to !o'3
+atel&n sho%ld not hae been s%rprised' The homel& &o%n! woman had $ept to hersel"
all thro%!h their 9o%rne&, spendin! most o" her time with the horses, br%shin! o%t their
coats and p%llin! stones "rom their shoes' She had helped Shadd coo$ and clean !ame as
well, and soon proed that she co%ld h%nt as well as an&' *n& tas$ +atel&n as$ed her to
t%rn her hand to, Brienne had per"ormed de"tl& and witho%t complaint, and when she
was spo$en to she answered politel&, b%t she neer chattered, nor wept, nor la%!hed' She
had ridden with them eer& da& and slept amon! them eer& ni!ht witho%t eer tr%l&
becomin! one o" them'
It was the same when she was with Benl&, +atel&n tho%!ht' *t the "east, in the melee,
een in Benl&s pailion with her brothers o" the Bainbow 8%ard' There are walls
aro%nd this one hi!her than (inter"ells'
1I" &o% le"t %s, where wo%ld &o% !o.3 +atel&n as$ed her'
1Bac$,3 Brienne said' 1To Storms 5nd'3
1*lone'3 It was not a )%estion'
The broad "ace was a pool o" still water, !iin! no hint o" what mi!ht lie in the depths
below' 1;es'3
1;o% mean to $ill Stannis'3
Brienne closed her thic$ call%sed "in!ers aro%nd the hilt o" her sword'
The sword that had been his' 1I swore a ow' Three times I swore' ;o% heard me'3
1I did,3 +atel&n admitted' The !irl had $ept the rainbow cloa$ when she discarded the
rest o" her bloodstained clothin!, she $new' Briennes own thin!s had been le"t behind
d%rin! their "li!ht, and she had been "orced to clothe hersel" in odd bits o" Ser (endels
spare !arb, since no one else in their part& had !arments lar!e eno%!h to "it her' 1>ows
sho%ld be $ept, I a!ree, b%t Stannis has a !reat host aro%nd him, and his own !%ards
sworn to $eep him sa"e'3
1I am not a"raid o" his !%ards' I am as !ood as an& o" them' I sho%ld neer hae "led'3
1Is that what tro%bles &o%, that some "ool mi!ht call &o% craen.3 She si!hed'
1Benl&s death was no "a%lt o" &o%ts' ;o% sered him aliantl&, b%t when &o% see$ to
"ollow him into the earth, &o% sere no one'3 She stretched o%t a hand, to !ie what
com"ort a to%ch co%ld !ie' 1I $now how hard it isA3
Brienne shoo$ o"" her hand' 1No one $nows'3
1;o%re wron!,3 +atel&n said sharpl&' 15er& mornin!, when I wa$e, I remember that
Ned is !one' I hae no s$ill with swords, b%t that does not mean that I do not dream o"
ridin! to 6in!s 7andin! and wrappin! m& hands aro%nd +ersei 7annisters white throat
and s)%ee?in! %ntil her "ace t%rns blac$'3
The Bea%t& raised her e&es, the onl& part o" her that was tr%l& bea%ti"%l' 1I" &o% dream
that, wh& wo%ld &o% see$ to hold me bac$. Is it beca%se o" what Stannis said at the
parle&.3
(as it. +atel&n !lanced across the camp' Two men were wal$in! sentr&, spears in
hand' 1I was ta%!ht that !ood men m%st "i!ht eil in this world, and Benl&s death was
eil be&ond all do%bt' ;et I was also ta%!ht that the !ods ma$e $in!s, not the swords o"
men' I" Stannis is o%r ri!ht"%l $in!A3
1,es not' Bobert was neer the ri!ht"%l $in! either, een Benl& said as m%ch' Caime
7annister m%rdered the ri!ht"%l $in!, a"ter Bobert $illed his law"%l heir on the Trident'
(here were the !ods then. The !ods dont care abo%t men, no more than $in!s care
abo%t peasants'3
1* !ood $in! does care'3
17ord Benl& ' ' ' ,is 8race, he ' ' ' he wo%ld hae been the best $in!, m& lad&, he was
so !ood, he ' ' '3
1,e is !one, Brienne,3 she said, as !entl& as she co%ld' 1Stannis and Co""re& remain ' ' '
and so does m& son'3
1,e wo%ldnt ' ' ' &o%d neer ma$e a peace with Stannis, wo%ld &o%. Bend the $nee.
;o% wo%ldnt ' ' '3
1I will tell &o% tr%e, Brienne' I do not $now' 2& son ma& be a $in!, b%t I am no
)%een ''' onl& a mother who wo%ld $eep her children sa"e, howeer she co%ld'3
1I am not made to be a mother' I need to "i!ht'3
1Then "i!ht ' ' ' b%t "or the liin!, not the dead' Benl&s enemies are Bobbs enemies as
well'3
Brienne stared at the !ro%nd and sh%""led her "eet' 1I do not $now &o%r son, m& lad&'3
She loo$ed %p' 1I co%ld sere &o%' I" &o% wo%ld hae me'3
+atel&n was startled' 1(h& me.3
The )%estion seemed to tro%ble Brienne' 1;o% helped me' In the pailion ' ' ' when
the& tho%!ht that I had ' ' ' thati had ' ' '
1;o% were innocent'3
15en so, &o% did not hae to do that' ;o% co%ld hae let them $ill me' I was nothin!
to &o%'3
4erhaps I did not want to be the onl& one who $new the dar$ tr%th o" what had
happened there, +atel&n tho%!ht' 1Brienne, I hae ta$en man& wellborn ladies into m&
serice oer the &ears, b%t neer one li$e &o%' I am no battle commander'3
1No, b%t &o% hae co%ra!e' Not battle co%ra!e perhaps b%t ' ' ' I dont $now ' ' ' a $ind
o" womans co%ra!e' *nd I thin$, when the time comes, &o% will not tr& and hold me
bac$' 4romise me that' That &o% will not hold me bac$ "rom Stannis'3
+atel&n co%ld still hear Stannis sa&in! that Bobbs t%rn too wo%ld come in time' It was
li$e a cold breath on the bac$ o" her nec$' 1(hen the time comes, I will not hold &o%
bac$'3
The tall !irl $nelt aw$wardl&, %nsheathed Benl&s lon!sword, and laid it at her "eet'
1Then I am &o%rs, m& lad&' ;o%r lie!e man, or ' ' ' whateer &o% wo%ld hae me be' I
will shield &o%r bac$ and $eep &o%r co%nsel and !ie m& li"e "or &o%rs, i" need be' I
swear it b& the old !ods and the new'3
1*nd I ow that &o% shall alwa&s hae a place b& m& hearth and meat and mead at m&
table, and pled!e to as$ no serice o" &o% that mi!ht brin! &o% into dishonor' I swear it
b& the old !ods and the new' *rise'3 *s she clasped the other womans hands between
her own, +atel&n co%ld not help b%t smile' ,ow man& times did I watch Ned accept a
mans oath o" serice. She wondered what he wo%ld thin$ i" he co%ld see her now'
The& "orded the Bed =or$ late the ne0t da&, %pstream o" Bierr%n where the rier made
a wide loop and the waters !rew m%dd& and shallow' The crossin! was !%arded b& a
mi0ed "orce o" archers and pi$emen wearin! the ea!le bad!e o" the 2allisters' (hen
the& saw +atel&ns banners, the& emer!ed "rom behind their sharpened sta$es and sent a
man oer "rom the "ar ban$ to lead her part& across' 1Slow and care"%l li$e, milad&,3 he
warned as he too$ the bridle o" her horse' 1(ee planted iron spi$es %nder the water,
&see, and theres caltrops scattered amon! them roc$s there' Its the same on all the
"ords, b& &o%r brothers command'3
5dm%re thin$s to "i!ht here' The reali?ation !ae her a )%eas& "eelin! in the bowels,
b%t she held her ton!%e'
Between the Bed =or$ and the T%mblestone, the& 9oined a stream o" small"ol$ ma$in!
"or the sa"et& o" Bierr%n' Some were driin! animals be"ore them, others p%llin!
wa&ns, b%t the& made wa& as +atel&n rode past, and cheered her with cries o" 1T%ll&@3
or 1Star$@3 ,al" a mile "rom the castle, she passed thro%!h a lar!e encampment where
the scarlet banner o" the Blac$woods waed aboe the lords tent' 7%cas too$ his leae
o" her there, to see$ o%t his "ather, 7ord T&tos' The rest rode on'
+atel&n spied a second camp str%n! o%t alon! the ban$ north o" the T%mblestone,
"amiliar standards "lappin! in the windA2ar) 4ipers dancin! maiden, #arr&s
plowman, the twinin! red-and-white sna$es o" the 4ae!es' The& were all her "athers
bannermen, lords o" the Trident' 2ost had le"t Bierr%n be"ore she had, to de"end their
own lands' I" the& were here a!ain, it co%ld onl& mean that 5dm%re had called them
bac$' 8ods sae %s, its tr%e, he means to o""er battle to 7ord T&win'
Somethin! dar$ was dan!lin! a!ainst the walls o" Bierr%n, +atel&n saw "rom a
distance' (hen she rode close, she saw dead men han!in! "rom the battlements,
sl%mped at the ends o" lon! ropes with hempen nooses ti!ht aro%nd their nec$s, their
"aces swollen and blac$' The crows had been at them, b%t their crimson cloa$s still
showed bri!ht a!ainst the sandstone walls'
1The& hae han!ed some 7annisters,3 ,al 2ollen obsered'
1* prett& si!ht,3 Ser (endel 2anderl& said cheer"%ll&'
1/%r "riends hae be!%n witho%t %s,3 4erw&n =re& 9ested' The others la%!hed, all b%t
Brienne, who !a?ed %p at the row o" bodies %nblin$in!, and neither spo$e nor smiled'
I" the& hae slain the 6in!sla&er, then m& da%!hters are dead as well' +atel&n sp%rred
her horse to a canter' ,al 2ollen and Bobin =lint raced past at a !allop, halooin! to the
!ateho%se' The !%ards on the walls had do%btless spied her banners some time a!o, "or
the portc%llis was %p as the& approached'
5dm%re rode o%t "rom the castle to meet her, s%rro%nded b& three o" her "athers sworn
men-!reat-bellied Ser #esmond 8rell the master-at-arms, <ther&des (a&n the steward,
and Ser Bobin B&!er, Bierr%ns bi! bald captain o" !%ards' The& were all three o" an
a!e with 7ord ,oster, men who had spent their lies in her "athers serice' /ld men,
+atel&n reali?ed'
5dm%re wore a bl%e-and-red cloa$ oer a t%nic embroidered with siler "ish' =rom the
loo$ o" him, he had not shaed since she rode so%th: his beard was a "ier& b%sh' 1+at, it
is !ood to hae &o% sa"el& bac$' (hen we heard o" Benl&s death, we "eared "or &o%r
li"e' *nd 7ord T&win is on the march as well'3
1So I am told' ,ow "ares o%r "ather.3
1/ne da& he seems stron!er, the ne0t ,e shoo$ his head' 1,es as$ed "or &o%' I did not
$now what to tell him'3
1I will !o to him soon,3 she owed' 1,as there been word "rom Storms 5nd since
Benl& died. /r "rom Bitterbrid!e.3 No raens came to men on the road, and +atel&n
was an0io%s to $now what had happened behind her'
1Nothin! "rom Bitterbrid!e' =rom Storms 5nd, three birds "rom the castellan, Ser
+ortna& 4enrose, all carr&in! the same plea' Stannis has him s%rro%nded b& land and
sea' ,e o""ers his alle!iance to whatsoeer $in! will brea$ the sie!e' ,e "ears "or the
bo&, he sa&s' (hat bo& wo%ld that be, do &o% $now.3
15dric Storm,3 Brienne told them' 1Boberts bastard son'3
5dm%re loo$ed at her c%rio%sl&' 1Stannis has sworn that the !arrison mi!ht !o "ree,
%nharmed, proided the& &ield the castle within the "ortni!ht and delier the bo& into his
hands, b%t Ser +ortna& will not consent'3
,e ris$s all "or a baseborn bo& whose blood is not een his own, +atel&n tho%!ht' 1#id
&o% send him an answer.3
5dm%re shoo$ his head' 1(h&, when we hae neither help nor hope to o""er. *nd
Stannis is no enem& o" o%rs'3
Ser Bobin B&!er spo$e' 12& lad&, can &o% tell %s the manner o" 7ord Benl&s death.
The tales wee heard hae been )%eer'3
1+at,3 her brother said, 1some sa& &o% $illed Benl&' /thers claim it was some so%thron
woman'3 ,is !lance lin!ered on Brienne'
12& $in! was m%rdered,3 the !irl said )%ietl&, 1and not b& 7ad& +atel&n' I swear it on
m& sword, b& the !ods old and new'3
1This is Brienne o" Tarth, the da%!hter o" 7ord Selw&n the 5enstar, who sered in
Benl&s Bainbow 8%ard,3 +atel&n told them' 1Brienne, I am honored to ac)%aint &o%
with m& brother Ser 5dm%re T%ll&, heir to Bierr%n' ,is steward <ther&des (a&n' Ser
Bobin B&!er and Ser #esmond 8rell'3
1,onored,3 said Ser #esmond' The others echoed him' The !irl "l%shed, embarrassed
een at this commonplace co%rtes&' I" 5dm%re tho%!ht her a c%rio%s sort o" lad&, at least
he had the !race not to sa& so'
1Brienne was with Benl& when he was $illed, as was I,3 said +atel&n, 1b%t we had no
part in his death'3 She did not care to spea$ o" the shadow, here in the open with men all
aro%nd, so she waed a hand at the bodies' 1(ho are these men &o%e han!ed.3
5dm%re !lanced %p %ncom"ortabl&' 1The& came with Ser +leos when he bro%!ht the
)%eens answer to o%r peace o""er'3
+atel&n was shoc$ed' 1;o%e $illed eno&s.3
1=alse eno&s,3 5dm%re declared' 1The& pled!ed me their peace and s%rrendered their
weapons, so I allowed them "reedom o" the castle, and "or three ni!hts the& ate m& meat
and dran$ m& mead whilst I tal$ed with Ser +leos' /n the "o%rth ni!ht, the& tried to "ree
the 6in!sla&er'3 ,e pointed %p' 1That bi! br%te $illed two !%ards with na%!ht b%t those
ham hands o" his, ca%!ht them b& the throats and smashed their s$%lls to!ether while
that s$inn& lad beside him was openin! 7annisters cell with a bit o" wire, !ods c%rse
him' The one on the end was some sort o" damned m%mmer' ,e %sed m& own oice to
command that the Bier 8ate be opened' The !%ardsmen swear to it, 5n!er and #elp
and 7on! 7ew, all three' I" &o% as$ me, the man so%nded nothin! li$e me, and &et the
oa"s were raisin! the portc%llis all the same'3
This was the Imps wor$, +atel&n s%spected: it stan$ o" the same sort o" c%nnin! he
had displa&ed at the 5&rie' /nce, she wo%ld hae named T&rion the least dan!ero%s o"
the 7annisters' Now she was not so certain' 1,ow is it &o% ca%!ht them.3
1*h, as it happened, I was not in the castle' Id crossed the T%mblestone to, ah ' ' '3
1;o% were whorin! or wenchin!' 8et on with the tale'3
5dm%res chee$s "lamed as red as his beard' 1It was the ho%r be"ore dawn, and I was
onl& then ret%rnin!' (hen 7on! 7ew saw m& boat and reco!ni?ed me, he "inall&
tho%!ht to wonder who was standin! below bar$in! commands, and raised a cr&'3
1Tell me the 6in!sla&er was reta$en'3
1;es, tho%!h not easil&' Caime !ot hold o" a sword, slew 4o%l 4ern"ord and Ser
#esmonds s)%ire 2&les, and wo%nded #elp so badl& that 2aester >&man "ears hell
soon die as well' It was a blood& mess' *t the so%nd o" steel, some o" the other red
cloa$s r%shed to 9oin him, barehand or no' I han!ed those beside the "o%r who "reed him,
and threw the rest in the d%n!eons' Caime too' (ell hae no more escapes "rom that
one' ,es down in the dar$ this time, chained hand and "oot and bolted to the wall'3
1*nd +leos =re&.3
1,e swears he $new na%!ht o" the plot' (ho can sa&. The man is hal" 7annister, hal"
=re&, and all liar' I p%t him in Caimes old tower cell'3
1;o% sa& he bro%!ht terms.3
1I" &o% can call them that' ;o%ll li$e them no more than I did, I promise'3
1+an we hope "or no help "rom the so%th, 7ad& Star$.3 as$ed <ther&des (a&n, her
"athers steward' 1This char!e o" incest ' ' ' 7ord T&win does not s%""er s%ch sli!hts
li!htl&' ,e will see$ to wash the stain "rom his da%!hters name with the blood o" her
acc%ser, 7ord Stannis m%st see that' ,e has no choice b%t to ma$e common ca%se with
%s'3
Stannis has made common ca%se with a power !reater and dar$er' 17et %s spea$ o"
these matters later'3 +atel&n trotted oer the drawbrid!e, p%ttin! the !risl& row o" dead
7annisters behind her' ,er brother $ept pace' *s the& rode o%t into the b%stle o"
Bierr%ns %pper baile&, a na$ed toddler ran in "ront o" the horses' +atel&n 9er$ed her
reins hard to aoid him, !lancin! abo%t in disma&' ,%ndreds o" small"ol$ had been
admitted to the castle, and allowed to erect cr%de shelters a!ainst the walls' Their
children were eer&where %nder"oot, and the &ard teemed with their cows, sheep, and
chic$ens' 1(ho are all these "ol$.3
12& people,3 5dm%re answered' 1The& were a"raid'3
/nl& m& sweet brother wo%ld crowd all these %seless mo%ths into a castle that mi!ht
soon be %nder sie!e' +atel&n $new that 5dm%re had a so"t heart: sometimes she tho%!ht
his head was een so"ter' She loed him "or it, &et still ' ' '
1+an Bobb be reached b& raen.3
1,es in the "ield, m& lad&,3 Ser #esmond replied' 1The bird wo%ld hae no wa& to
"ind him'3
<ther&des (a&n co%!hed' 1Be"ore he le"t %s, the &o%n! $in! instr%cted %s to send &o%
on to the Twins %pon &o%r ret%rn, 7ad& Star$' ,e as$s that &o% learn more o" 7ord
(alders da%!hters, to help him select his bride when the time comes'3
1(ell proide &o% with "resh mo%nts and proisions,3 her brother promised' 1;o%ll
want to re"resh &o%rsel" be"oreA3
1Ill want to sta&,3 +atel&n said, dismo%ntin!' She had no intention o" leain! Bierr%n
and her d&in! "ather to pic$ Bobbs wi"e "or him' Bobb wants me sa"e, I cannot "a%lt
him "or that, b%t his prete0t is !rowin! threadbare' 1Bo&,3 she called, and an %rchin "rom
the stables ran o%t to ta$e the reins o" her horse'
5dm%re sw%n! down "rom his saddle' ,e was a head taller than she was, b%t he wo%ld
alwa&s be her little brother' 1+at,3 he said %nhappil&, 17ord T&win is comin!A3
1,e is ma$in! "or the west, to de"end his own lands' I" we close o%r !ates and shelter
behind the walls, we can watch him pass with sa"et&'3
1This is T%ll& land,3 5dm%re declared' 1I" T&win 7annister thin$s to cross it
%nbloodied, I mean to teach him a hard lesson'3
The same lesson &o% ta%!ht his son. ,er brother co%ld be st%bborn as rier roc$ when
his pride was to%ched, b%t neither o" them was li$el& to "or!et how Ser Caime had c%t
5dm%res host to blood& pieces the last time he had o""ered battle' 1(e hae nothin! to
!ain and eer&thin! to lose b& meetin! 7ord T&win in the "ield,3 +atel&n said tact"%ll&'
1The &ard is not the place to disc%ss m& battle plans'3
1*s &o% will' (here shall we !o.3
,er brothers "ace dar$ened' =or a moment she tho%!ht he was abo%t to lose his
temper with her, b%t "inall& he snapped, 1The !odswood' I" &o% will insist'3
She "ollowed him alon! a !aller& to the !odswood !ate' 5dm%res an!er had alwa&s
been a s%l$&, s%llen thin!' +atel&n was sorr& she had wo%nded him, b%t the matter was
too important "or her to concern hersel" with his pride' (hen the& were alone beneath
the trees, 5dm%re t%rned to "ace her'
1;o% do not hae the stren!th to meet the 7annisters in the "ield,3 she said bl%ntl&'
1(hen all m& stren!th is marshaled, I sho%ld hae ei!ht tho%sand "oot and three
tho%sand horse,3 5dm%re said'
1(hich means 7ord T&win will hae near twice &o%r n%mbers'3
1Bobbs won his battles a!ainst worse odds,3 5dm%re replied, 1and I hae a plan'
;o%e "or!otten Boose Bolton' 7ord T&win de"eated him on the 8reen =or$, b%t "ailed
to p%rs%e' (hen 7ord T&win went to ,an renhal, Bolton too$ the r%b& "ord and the
crossroads' ,e has ten tho%sand men' Ie sent word to ,elman Tallhart to 9oin him with
the !arrison Bobb le"t at the TwinsA3
15dm%re, Bobb le"t those men to hold the Twins and ma$e certain 7ord (alder $eeps
"aith with %s'3
1,e has,3 5dm%re said st%bbornl&' 1The =re&s "o%!ht brael& in the (hisperin! (ood,
and old Ser Steron died at /0cross, we hear' Ser B&man and Blac$ (alder and the rest
are with Bobb in the west, 2art&n has been o" !reat serice sco%tin!, and Ser 4erw&n
helped see &o% sa"e to Benl&' 8ods be !ood, how m%ch more can we as$ o" them.
Bobbs betrothed to one o" 7ord (alders da%!hters, and Boose Bolton wed another, I
hear' *nd haent &o% ta$en two o" his !randsons to be "ostered at (inter"ell.3
1* ward can easil& become a hosta!e, i" need be'3 She had not $nown that Ser Steron
was dead, nor o" Boltons marria!e'
1I" were two hosta!es to the !ood, all the more reason 7ord (alder dare not pla& %s
"alse' Bolton needs =re&s men, and Ser ,elmans as well' Ie commanded him to
reta$e ,arrenhal'3
1Thats li$e to be a blood& b%siness'3
1;es, b%t once the castle "alls, 7ord T&win will hae no sa"e retreat' 2& own leies
will de"end the "ords o" Bed =or$ a!ainst his crossin!' I" he attac$s across the rier, hell
end as Bhae!ar did when he tried to cross the Trident' I" he holds bac$, hell be ca%!ht
between Bierr%n and ,arrenhal, and when Bobb ret%rns "rom the west we can "inish
him "or !ood and all'3
,er brothers oice was "%ll o" br%s)%e con"idence, b%t +atel&n "o%nd hersel" wishin!
that Bobb had not ta$en her %ncle Br&nden west with him' The Blac$"ish was the
eteran o" hal" a h%ndred battles: 5dm%re was the eteran o" one, and that one lost'
1The plans a !ood one,3 he concl%ded' 17ord T&tos sa&s so, and 7ord 9onos as well'
(hen did Blac$wood and Brac$en a!ree abo%t an&thin! that was not certain, I as$
&o%.3
1Be that as it ma&'3 She was s%ddenl& wear&' 4erhaps she was wron! to oppose him'
4erhaps it was a splendid plan, and her mis!iin!s onl& a womans "ears' She wished
Ned were here, or her %ncle Br&nden, or ' ' ' 1,ae &o% as$ed =ather abo%t this.3
1=ather is in no state to wei!h strate!ies' Two da&s a!o he was ma$in! plans "or &o%r
marria!e to Brandon Star$@ 8o see him &o%rsel" i" &o% do not beliee me' This plan will
wor$, +at, &o%ll see'3
1I hope so, 5dm%re' I tr%l& do'3 She $issed him on the chee$, to let him $now she
meant it, and went to "ind her "ather'
7ord ,oster T%ll& was m%ch as she had le"t himAabed, ha!!ard, "lesh pale and
clamm&' The room smelled o" sic$ness, a clo&in! odor made %p in e)%al parts o" stale
sweat and medicine' (hen she p%lled bac$ the drapes, her "ather !ae a low moan, and
his e&es "l%ttered open' ,e stared at her as i" he co%ld not comprehend who she was or
what she wanted'
1=ather'3 She $issed him' 1I am ret%rned'3
,e seemed to $now her then' 1;o%e come,3 he whispered "aintl&, lips barel& moin!'
1;es,3 she said' 1Bobb sent me so%th, b%t I h%rried bac$'3
1So%th ' ' ' where ' ' ' is the 5&rie so%th, sweetlin!. I dont recall ' ' ' oh, dear heart, I
was a"raid ' ' ' hae &o% "or!ien me, child.3 Tears ran down his chee$s'
1;o%e done nothin! that needs "or!ieness, =ather'3 She stro$ed his limp white hair
and "elt his brow' The "eer still b%rned him "rom within, despite all the maesters
potions'
1It was best,3 her "ather whispered' 1Cons a !ood man, !ood ' ' ' stron!, $ind ' ' ' ta$e
care o" &o% ' ' ' he will ' ' ' and well born, listen to me, &o% m%st, Im &o%r "ather ' ' '
&o%r "ather ' ' ' &o%ll wed when +at does, &es &o% will ' ' '3
,e thin$s Im 7&sa, +atel&n reali?ed' 8ods be !ood, he tal$s as i" we were not married
&et'
,er "athers hands cl%tched at hers, "l%tterin! li$e two "ri!htened white birds' 1That
striplin! ' ' ' wretched bo& ' ' ' not spea$ that name to me, &o%r d%t& ' ' ' &o%r mother, she
wo%ld ' ' '3 7ord ,oster cried as a spasm o" pain washed oer him' 1/h, !ods "or!ie
me, "or!ie me, "or!ie me' 2& medicine ' ' '3
*nd then 2aester >&man was there, holdin! a c%p to his lips' 7ord ,oster s%c$ed at
the thic$ white potion as ea!er as a babe at the breast, and +atel&n co%ld see peace settle
oer him once more' 1,ell sleep now, m& lad&,3 the maester said when the c%p was
empt&' The mil$ o" the popp& had le"t a thic$ white "ilm aro%nd her "athers mo%th'
2aester >&man wiped it awa& with a sleee'
+atel&n co%ld watch no more' ,oster T%ll& had been a stron! man, and pro%d' It h%rt
her to see him red%ced to this' She went o%t to the terrace' The &ard below was crowded
with re"%!ees and chaotic with their noises, b%t be&ond the walls the riers "lowed clean
and p%re and endless' Those are his riers, and soon he will ret%rn to them "or his last
o&a!e'
2aester >&man had "ollowed her o%t' 12& lad&,3 he said so"tl&, 1I cannot $eep the end
at ba& m%ch lon!er' (e o%!ht send a rider a"ter his brother' Ser Br&nden wo%ld wish to
be here'3
1;es,3 +atel&n said, her oice thic$ with her !rie"'
1*nd the 7ad& 7&sa as well, perhaps.3
17&sa will not come'3
1I" &o% wrote her &o%rsel", perhaps ' ' '3
1I will p%t some words to paper, i" that please &o%'3 She wondered who 7&sas
1wretched striplin!3 had been' Some &o%n! s)%ire or hed!e $ni!ht, li$e as not ' ' '
tho%!h b& the ehemence with which 7ord ,oster had opposed him, he mi!ht hae been
a tradesmans son or baseborn apprentice, een a sin!er' 7&sa had alwa&s been too "ond
o" sin!ers' I m%st not blame her' Con *rr&n was twent& &ears older than o%r "ather,
howeer noble'
The tower her brother had set aside "or her %se was the er& same that she and 7&sa
had shared as maids' It wo%ld "eel !ood to sleep on a "eatherbed a!ain, with a warm "ire
in the hearth: when she was rested the world wo%ld seem less blea$'
B%t o%tside her chambers she "o%nd <ther&des (a&n waitin! with two women clad in
!re&, their "aces cowled sae "or their e&es' +atel&n $new at once wh& the& were here'
1Ned.3
The sisters lowered their !a?e' <ther&des said, 1Ser +leos bro%!ht him "rom 6in!s
7andin!, m& lad&'3
1Ta$e me to him,3 she commanded'
The& had laid him o%t on a trestle table and coered him with a banner, the white
banner o" ,o%se Star$ with its !re& direwol" si!il' 1I wo%ld loo$ on him,3 +atel&n said'
1/nl& the bones remain, m& lad&'3
1I wo%ld loo$ on him,3 she repeated'
/ne o" the silent sisters t%rned down the banner'
Bones, +atel&n tho%!ht' This is not Ned, this is not the man I loed, the "ather o" m&
children' ,is hands were clasped to!ether oer his chest, s$eletal "in!ers c%rled abo%t
the hilt o" some lon!sword, b%t the& were not Neds hands, so stron! and "%ll o" li"e'
The& had dressed the bones in Neds s%rcoat, the "ine white elet with the direwol"
bad!e oer the heart, b%t nothin! remained o" the warm "lesh that had pillowed her head
so man& ni!hts, the arms that had held her' The head had been re9oined to the bod& with
"ine siler wire, b%t one s$%ll loo$s m%ch li$e another, and in those empt& hollows she
"o%nd no trace o" her lords dar$ !re& e&es, e&es that co%ld be so"t as a "o! or hard as
stone' The& !ae his e&es to crows, she remembered'
+atel&n t%rned awa&' 1That is not his sword'3
1Ice was not ret%rned to %s, m& lad&,3 <ther&des said' 1/nl& 7ord 5ddards bones'3
1I s%ppose I m%st than$ the )%een "or een that m%ch'3
1Than$ the Imp, m& lad&' It was his doin!'3
/ne da& I will than$ them all' 1I am !rate"%l "or &o%r serice, sisters,3 +atel&n said,
1b%t I m%st la& another tas$ %pon &o%' 7ord 5ddard was a Star$, and his bones m%st be
laid to rest beneath (inter"ell'3 The& will ma$e a stat%e o" him, a stone li$eness that will
sit in the dar$ with a direwol" at his "eet and a sword across his $nees' 12a$e certain the
sisters hae "resh horses, and a%!ht else the& need "or the 9o%rne&,3 she told <ther&des
(a&n' 1,al 2ollen will escort them bac$ to (inter"ell, it is his place as captain o"
!%ards'3 She !a?ed down at the bones that were all that remained o" her lord and loe'
1Now leae me, all o" &o%' I wo%ld be alone with Ned toni!ht'3
The women in !re& bowed their heads' The silent sisters do not spea$ to the liin!,
+atel&n remembered d%ll&, b%t some sa& the& can tal$ to the dead' *nd how she enied
that ' ' '
C#APT"R )1
2A"'"R%S
The drapes $ept o%t the d%st and heat o" the streets, b%t the& co%ld not $eep o%t
disappointment' #an& climbed inside wearil&, !lad "or the re"%!e "rom the sea o"
Fartheen e&es' 12a$e wa&,3 Cho!o sho%ted at the crowd "rom horsebac$, snappin! his
whip, 1ma$e wa&, ma$e wa& "or the 2other o" #ra!ons'3
Beclinin! on cool satin c%shions, Earo Ehoan #a0os po%red r%b&-red wine into
matched !oblets o" 9ade and !old, his hands s%re and stead& despite the swa& o" the
palan)%in' 1I see a deep sadness written %pon &o%r "ace, m& li!ht o" loe'3 ,e o""ered
her a !oblet' 1+o%ld it be the sadness o" a lost dream.3
1* dream dela&ed, no more'3 #an&s ti!ht siler collar was cha"in! a!ainst her throat'
She %n"astened it and "l%n! it aside' The collar was set with an enchanted ameth&st that
Earo swore wo%ld ward her a!ainst all poisons' The 4%reborn were notorio%s "or
o""erin! poisoned wine to those the& tho%!ht dan!ero%s, b%t the& had not !ien #an& so
m%ch as a c%p o" water' The& neer saw me "or a )%een, she tho%!ht bitterl&' I was onl&
an a"ternoons am%sement, a horse !irl with a c%rio%s pet'
Bhae!al hissed and d%! sharp blac$ claws into her bare sho%lder as #an& stretched o%t
a hand "or the wine' (incin!, she shi"ted him to her other sho%lder, where he co%ld claw
her !own instead o" her s$in' She was !arbed a"ter the Fartheen "ashion' Earo had
warned her that the 5nthroned wo%ld neer listen to a #othra$i, so she had ta$en care to
!o be"ore them in "lowin! !reen samite with one breast bared, silered sandals on her
"eet, with a belt o" blac$-and-white pearls abo%t her waist' =or all the help the& o""ered, I
co%ld hae !one na$ed' 4erhaps I sho%ld hae' She dran$ deep'
#escendants o" the ancient $in!s and )%eens o" Farth, the 4%reborn commanded the
+iic 8%ard and the "leet o" ornate !alle&s that r%led the straits between the seas'
#aener&s Tar!ar&en had wanted that "leet, or part o" it, and some o" their soldiers as
well' She made the traditional sacri"ice in the Temple o" 2emor&, o""ered the traditional
bribe to the 6eeper o" the 7on! 7ist, sent the traditional persimmon to the opener o" the
#oor, and "inall& receied the traditional bl%e sil$ slippers s%mmonin! her to the ,all o"
a Tho%sand Thrones'
The 4%reborn heard her pleas "rom the !reat wooden seats o" their ancestors, risin! in
c%red tiers "rom a marble "loor to a hi!h-domed ceilin! painted with scenes o" Farths
anished !lor&' The chairs were immense, "antasticall& cared, bri!ht with !oldwor$ and
st%dded with amber, on&0, lapis, and 9ade, each one di""erent "rom all the others, and
each striin! to be the most "ab%lo%s' ;et the men who sat in them seemed so listless
and world-wear& that the& mi!ht hae been asleep' The& listened, b%t the& did not hear,
or care, she tho%!ht' The& are 2il$ 2en indeed' The& neer meant to help me' The&
came beca%se the& were c%rio%s' The& came beca%se the& were bored, and the dra!on on
m& sho%lder interested them more than I did'
1Tell me the words o" the 4%reborn,3 prompted Earo Ehoan #a0os' 1Tell me what the&
said to sadden the )%een o" m& heart'3
1The& said no'3 The wine tasted o" pome!ranates and hot s%mmer da&s' 1The& said it
with !reat co%rtes&, to be s%re, b%t %nder all the loel& words, it was still no'3
1#id &o% "latter them.3
1Shamelessl&'3
1#id &o% weep.3
1The blood o" the dra!on does not weep,3 she said testil&'
Earo si!hed' 1;o% o%!ht to hae wept'3 The Fartheen wept o"ten and easil&: it was
considered a mar$ o" the ciili?ed man' 1The men we bo%!ht, what did the& sa&.3
12athos said nothin!' (endello praised the wa& I spo$e' The 50)%isite re"%sed me
with the rest, b%t he wept a"terward'3
, D*las, that Fartheen sho%ld be so "aithless'3 Earo was not himsel" o" the 4%reborn,
b%t he had told her whom to bribe and how m%ch to o""er' 1(eep, weep, "or the
treacher& o" men'3
#an& wo%ld sooner hae wept "or her !old' The bribes shed tendered to 2athos
2allarawan, (endello Far #eeth, and 5!on 5meros the 50)%isite mi!ht hae bo%!ht
her a ship, or hired a score o" sellswords' 1S%ppose I sent Ser Corah to demand the ret%rn
o" m& !i"ts.3 she as$ed'
1S%ppose a Sorrow"%l 2an came to m& palace one ni!ht and $illed &o% as &o% slept,3
said Earo' The Sorrow"%l 2en were an ancient sacred !%ild o" assassins, so named
beca%se the& alwa&s whispered, 1I am so sorr&,3 to their ictims be"ore the& $illed them'
The Fartheen were nothin! i" not polite' 1It is wisel& said that it is easier to mil$ the
Stone +ow o" =aros than to wrin! !old "rom the 4%reborn'3
#an& did not $now where =aros was, b%t it seemed to her that Farth was "%ll o" stone
cows' The merchant princes, !rown astl& rich o"" the trade between the seas, were
diided into three 9ealo%s "actions: the *ncient 8%ild o" Spicers, the To%rmaline
Brotherhood, and the Thirteen, to which Earo belon!ed' 5ach ied with the others "or
dominance, and all three contended endlessl& with the 4%reborn' *nd broodin! oer all
were the warloc$s, with their bl%e lips and dread powers, seldom seen b%t m%ch "eared'
She wo%ld hae been lost witho%t Earo' The !old that she had s)%andered to open the
doors o" the ,all o" a Tho%sand Thrones was lar!el& a prod%ct o" the merchants
!enerosit& and )%ic$ wits' *s the r%mor o" liin! dra!ons had spread thro%!h the east,
eer more see$ers had come to learn i" the tale was tr%eAand Earo Ehoan #a0os saw to
it that the !reat and the h%mble ali$e o""ered some to$en to the 2other o" #ra!ons'
The tric$le he started soon swelled to a "lood' Trader captains bro%!ht lace "rom 2&r,
chests o" sa""ron "rom ;i Ti, amber and dra!on!lass o%t o" *sshai' 2erchants o""ered
ba!s o" coin, silersmiths rin!s and chains' 4ipers piped "or her, t%mblers t%mbled, and
9%!!lers 9%!!led, while d&ers draped her in colors she had neer $nown e0isted' * pair
o" Co!os Nhai presented her with one o" their striped ?orses, blac$ and white and "ierce'
* widow bro%!ht the dried corpse o" her h%sband, coered with a cr%st o" silered
leaes: s%ch remnants were belieed to hae !reat power, especiall& i" the deceased had
been a sorcerer, as this one had' *nd the To%rmaline Brotherhood pressed on her a
crown wro%!ht in the shape o" a three-headed dra!on: the coils were &ellow !old, the
win!s siler, the heads cared "rom 9ade, ior&, and on&0'
The crown was the onl& o""erin! shed $ept' The rest she sold, to !ather the wealth she
had wasted on the 4%reborn' Earo wo%ld hae sold the crown tooAthe Thirteen wo%ld
see that she had a m%ch "iner one, he sworeAb%t #an& "orbade it' 1>iser&s sold m&
mothers crown, and men called him a be!!ar' I shall $eep this one, so men will call me
a )%een'3 *nd so she did, tho%!h the wei!ht o" it made her nec$ ache'
;et een crowned, I am a be!!ar still, #an& tho%!ht' I hae become the most splendid
be!!ar in the world, b%t a be!!ar all the same' She hated it, as her brother m%st hae' *ll
those &ears o" r%nnin! "rom cit& to cit& one step ahead o" the <s%rpers $nies, pleadin!
"or help "rom archons and princes and ma!isters, b%&in! o%r "ood with "latter&' ,e m%st
hae $nown how the& moc$ed him' Small wonder he t%rned so an!r& and bitter' In the
end it had drien him mad' It will do the same to me i" I let it' 4art o" her wo%ld hae
li$ed nothin! more than to lead her people bac$ to >aes Tolorro, and ma$e the dead cit&
bloom' No, that is de"eat' I hae somethin! >iser&s neer had' I hae the dra!ons' The
dra!ons are all the di""erence'
She stro$ed Bhae!al' The !reen dra!on closed his teeth aro%nd the meat o" her hand
and nipped hard' /%tside, the !reat cit& m%rm%red and thr%mmed and seethed, all its
m&riad oices blendin! into one low so%nd li$e the s%r!e o" the sea' 12a$e wa&, &o%
2il$ 2en, ma$e wa& "or the 2other o" #ra!ons,3 Cho!o cried, and the Fartheen moed
aside, tho%!h perhaps the o0en had more to do with that than his oice' Thro%!h the
swa&in! draperies, #an& ca%!ht !limpses o" him astride his !re& stallion' =rom time to
time he !ae one o" the o0en a "lic$ with the siler-handled whip she had !ien him'
*!!o !%arded on her other side, while Ba$haro rode behind the procession, watchin!
the "aces in the crowd "or an& si!n o" dan!er' Ser Corah she had le"t behind toda&, to
!%ard her other dra!ons: the e0ile $ni!ht had been opposed to this "oll& "rom the start'
,e distr%sts eer&one, she re"lected, and perhaps "or !ood reason'
*s #an& li"ted her !oblet to drin$, Bhae!al sni""ed at the wine and drew his head bac$,
hissin!' 1;o%r dra!on has a !ood nose'3 Earo wiped his lips' 1The wine is ordinar&' It is
said that across the 9ade Sea the& ma$e a !olden inta!e so "ine that one sip ma$es all
other wines taste li$e ine!ar' 7et %s ta$e m& pleas%re bar!e and !o in search o" it, &o%
and I'3
1The *rbor ma$es the best wine in the world,3 #an& declared' 7ord Bedw&ne had
"o%!ht "or her "ather a!ainst the <s%rper, she remembered, one o" the "ew to remain tr%e
to the last' (ill he "i!ht "or me as well. There was no wa& to be certain a"ter so man&
&ears' 1+ome with me to the *rbor, Earo, and &o%ll hae the "inest inta!es &o% eer
tasted' B%t well need to !o in a warship, not a pleas%re bar!e'3
1I hae no warships' (ar is bad "or trade' 2an& times I hae told &o%, Earo Ehoan
#a0os is a man o" peace'3
Earo Ehoan #a0os is a man o" !old, she tho%!ht, and !old will b%& me all the ships
and swords I need' 1I hae not as$ed &o% to ta$e %p a sword, onl& to lend me &o%r
ships'3
,e smiled modestl&' 1/" tradin! ships I hae a "ew, that is so' (ho can sa& how
man&. /ne ma& be sin$in! een now, in some storm& corner o" the S%mmer Sea' /n the
morrow, another will "all a"o%l o" corsairs' The ne0t da&, one o" m& captains ma& loo$ at
the wealth in his hold and thin$, *ll this sho%ld belon! to me' S%ch are the perils o"
trade'
(h&, the lon!er we tal$, the "ewer ships I am li$el& to hae' I !row poorer b& the
instant'3
18ie me ships, and I will ma$e &o% rich a!ain'3
12arr& me, bri!ht li!ht, and sail the ship o" m& heart' I cannot sleep at ni!ht "or
thin$in! o" &o%r bea%t&'3
#an& smiled' Earos "lower& protestations o" passion am%sed her, b%t his manner was
at odds with his words' (hile Ser Corah had scarcel& been able to $eep his e&es "rom her
bare breast when hed helped her into the palan)%in, Earo hardl& dei!ned to notice it,
een in these close con"ines' *nd she had seen the bea%ti"%l bo&s who s%rro%nded the
merchant prince, "littin! thro%!h his palace halls in wisps o" sil$' 1;o% spea$ sweetl&,
Earo, b%t %nder &o%r words I hear another no'3
1This Iron Throne &o% spea$ o" so%nds monstro%s cold and hard' I cannot bear the
tho%!ht o" 9a!!ed barbs c%ttin! &o%r sweet s$in'3 The 9ewels in Earos nose !ae him
the aspect o" some stran!e !litter& bird' ,is lon!, ele!ant "in!ers waed dismissal' 17et
this be &o%r $in!dom, most e0)%isite o" )%eens, and let me be &o%r $in!' I will !ie &o%
a throne o" !old, i" &o% li$e' (hen Farth be!ins to pall, we can 9o%rne& ro%nd ;i Ti and
search "or the dreamin! cit& o" the poets, to sip the wine o" wisdom "rom a dead mans
s$%ll'3
1I mean to sail to (esteros, and drin$ the wine o" en!eance "rom the s$%ll o" the
<s%rper'3 She scratched Bhae!al %nder one e&e, and his 9ade!reen win!s %n"olded "or a
moment, stirrin! the still air in the palan)%in'
* sin!le per"ect tear ran down the chee$ o" Earo Ehoan #a0os' 1(ill nothin! t%rn &o%
"rom this madness.3
1Nothin!,3 she said, wishin! she was as certain as she so%nded' 1I" each o" the
Thirteen wo%ld lend me ten shipsA3
1;o% wo%ld hae one h%ndred thirt& ships, and no crew to sail them' The 9%stice o"
&o%r ca%se means na%!ht to the common men o" Farth' (h& sho%ld m& sailors care who
sits %pon the throne o" some $in!dom at the ed!e o" the world.3
1I will pa& them to care'3
1(ith what coin, sweet star o" m& heaen.3
1(ith the !old the see$ers brin!'3
1That &o% ma& do,3 Earo ac$nowled!ed, 1b%t so m%ch carin! will cost dear' ;o% will
need to pa& them "ar more than I do, and all o" Farth la%!hs at m& r%ino%s !enerosit&'3
1I" the Thirteen will not aid me, perhaps I sho%ld as$ the 8%ild o" Spicers or the
To%rmaline Brotherhood.3
Earo !ae a lan!%id shr%!' 1The& will !ie &o% nothin! b%t "latter& and lies' The
Spicers are dissemblers and bra!!arts and the Brotherhood is "%ll o" pirates'3
1Then I m%st heed 4&at =ree, and !o to the warloc$s'3
The merchant prince sat %p sharpl&' 14&at 4ree has bl%e lips, and it is tr%l& said that
bl%e lips spea$ onl& lies' ,eed the wisdom o" one who loes &o%' (arloc$s are bitter
creat%res who eat d%st and drin$ o" shadows' The& will !ie &o% na%!ht' The& hae
na%!ht to !ie'3
1I wo%ld not need to see$ sorcero%s help i" m& "riend Earo Ehoan #a0os wo%ld !ie
me what I as$'3
1I hae !ien &o% m& home and heart, do the& mean nothin! to &o%. I hae !ien &o%
per"%me and pome!ranates, t%mblin! mon$e&s and spittin! sna$es, scrolls "rom lost
>al&ria, an idols head and a serpents "oot' I hae !ien &o% this palan)%in o" ebon& and
!old, and a matched set o" b%lloc$s to bear it, one white as ior& and one blac$ as 9et,
with horns inlaid with 9ewels'3
1;es,3 #an& said' 1B%t it was ships and soldiers I wanted'3
1#id I not !ie &o% an arm&, sweetest o" women. * tho%sand $ni!hts, each in shinin!
armor'3
The armor had been made o" siler and !old, the $ni!hts o" 9ade and ber&l and on&0
and to%rmaline, o" amber and opal and ameth&st, each as tall as her little "in!er' 1*
tho%sand loel& $ni!hts,3 she said, 1b%t not the sort m& enemies need "ear' *nd m&
b%lloc$s cannot carr& me across the water, IAwh& are we stoppin!.3 The o0en had
slowed notabl&'
16haleesi,3 *!!o called thro%!h the drapes as the palan)%in 9er$ed to a s%dden halt'
#an& rolled onto an elbow to lean o%t' The& were on the "rin!es o" the ba?aar, the wa&
ahead bloc$ed b& a solid wall o" people' 1(hat are the& loo$in! at.3
Cho!o rode bac$ to her' 1* "irema!e, 6haleesi'3
1I want to sec'3
1Then &o% m%st'3 The #othra$i o""ered a hand down' (hen she too$ it, he p%lled her
%p onto his horse and sat her in "ront o" him, where she co%ld see oer the heads o" the
crowd' The "irema!e had con9%red a ladder in the air, a crac$lin! oran!e ladder o"
swirlin! "lame that rose %ns%pported "rom the "loor o" the ba?aar, reachin! toward the
hi!h latticed roo"'
2ost o" the spectators, she noticed, were not o" the cit&: she saw sailors o"" tradin!
ships, merchants come b& caraan, d%st& men o%t o" the red waste, wanderin! soldiers,
cra"tsmen, slaers' Cho!o, slid one hand abo%t her waist and leaned close' 1The 2il$
2en sh%n him' 6haleesi, do &o% see the !irl in the "elt hat. There, behind the "at priest'
She is aA3
1Ac%tp%rse,3 "inished #an&' She was no pampered lad&, blind to s%ch thin!s' She had
seen c%tp%rses aplent& in the streets o" the =ree +ities, d%rin! the &ears shed spent with
her brother, r%nnin! "rom the <s%rpers hired $nies'
The ma!e was !est%rin!, %r!in! the "lames hi!her and hi!her with broad sweeps o" his
arms' *s the watchers craned their nec$s %pward, the c%tp%rses s)%irmed thro%!h the
press, small blades hidden in their palms' The& relieed the prospero%s o" their coin with
one hand while pointin! %pward with the other'
(hen the "ier& ladder stood "ort& "eet hi!h, the ma!e leapt "orward and be!an to climb
it, scramblin! %p hand oer hand as )%ic$ as a mon$e&' 5ach r%n! he to%ched dissoled
behind him, leain! no more than a wisp o" siler smo$e' (hen he reached the top, the
ladder was !one and so was he'
1* "ine tric$,3 anno%nced Cho!o with admiration'
1No tric$,3 a woman said in the +ommon Ton!%e'
#an& had not noticed F%aithe in the crowd, &et there she stood, e&es wet and shin&
behind the implacable red lac)%er mas$' 1(hat mean &o%, m& lad&.3
1,al" a &ear !one, that man co%ld scarcel& wa$e "ire "rom dra!on!lass' ,e had some
small s$ill with powders and wild"ire, s%""icient to entrance a crowd while his c%tp%rses
did their wor$' ,e co%ld wal$ across hot coals and ma$e b%rnin! roses bloom in the air,
b%t he co%ld no more aspire to climb the "ier& ladder than a common "isherman co%ld
hope to catch a $ra$en in his nets'3
#an& loo$ed %neasil& at where the ladder had stood' 5en the smo$e was !one now,
and the crowd was brea$in! %p, each man !oin! abo%t his b%siness' In a moment more
than a "ew wo%ld "ind their p%rses "lat and empt&' 1*nd now.3
1*nd now his powers !row, 6haleesi' *nd &o% are the ca%se o" it'3
12e.3 She la%!hed' 1,ow co%ld that be.3
The woman stepped closer and la& two "in!ers on #an&s wrist' 1;o% are the 2other
o" #ra!ons, are &o% not.3
1She is, and no spawn o" shadows ma& to%ch her'3 Cho!o br%shed F%aithes "in!ers
awa& with the handle o" his whip'
The woman too$ a step bac$ward' 1;o% m%st leae this cit& soon, #aener&s Tar!ar&en,
or &o% will neer be permitted to leae it at all'3
#an&s wrist still tin!led where F%aithe had to%ched her' 1(here wo%ld &o% hae me
!o.3 she as$ed'
1To !o north, &o% m%st 9o%rne& so%th' To reach the west, &o% m%st !o east' To !o
"orward &o% m%st !o bac$, and to to%ch the li!ht &o% m%st pass beneath the shadow'3
*sshai, #an& tho%!ht' She wo%ld hae me !o to *sshai' 1(ill the *sshaii !ie me an
arm&.3 she demanded' 1(ill there be !old "or me in *sshai. (ill there be ships. (hat
is there in *sshai that I will not "ind in Farth.3
1Tr%th,3 said the woman in the mas$' *nd bowin!, she "aded bac$ into the crowd'
Ba$haro snorted contempt thro%!h his droopin! blac$ m%stachios' 16haleesi, better a
man sho%ld swallow scorpions than tr%st in the spawn o" shadows, who dare not show
their "ace beneath the s%n' It is $nown'3
1It is $nown,3 *!!o a!reed'
Earo Ehoan #a0os had watched the whole e0chan!e "rom his c%shions' (hen #an&
climbed bac$ into the palan)%in beside him, he said, 1;o%r saa!es are wiser than the&
$now' S%ch tr%ths as the *sshaii hoard are not li$e to ma$e &o% smile'3 Then he pressed
another c%p o" wine on her, and spo$e o" loe and l%st and other tri"les all the wa& bac$
to his manse'
In the )%iet o" her chambers, #an& stripped o"" her "iner& and donned a loose robe o"
p%rple sil$' ,er dra!ons were h%n!r&, so she chopped %p a sna$e and charred the pieces
oer a bra?ier' The& are !rowin!, she reali?ed as she watched them snap and s)%abble
oer the blac$ened "lesh' The& m%st wei!h twice what the& had in >aes Tolorro' 5en
so, it wo%ld be &ears be"ore the& were lar!e eno%!h to ta$e to war' *nd the& m%st be
trained as well, or the& will la& m& $in!dom waste' =or all her Tar!ar&en blood, #an&
had not the least idea o" how to train a dra!on'
Ser Corah 2ormont came to her as the s%n was !oin! down' 1The 4%reborn re"%sed
&o%.3
1*s &o% said the& wo%ld' +ome, sit, !ie me &o%r co%nsel'3 #an& drew him down to
the c%shions beside her, and Chi)%i bro%!ht them a bowl o" p%rple olies and onions
drowned in wine'
1;o% will !et no help in this cit&, 6haleesi'3 Ser Corah too$ an onion between th%mb
and "ore"in!er' 15ach da& I am more coninced o" that than the da& be"ore' The
4%reborn see no "arther than the walls o" Farth, and Earo ' ' '3
1,e as$ed me to marr& him a!ain'3
1;es, and I $now wh&'3 (hen the $ni!ht "rowned, his hea& blac$ brows 9oined
to!ether aboe his deep-set e&es'
1,e dreams o" me, da& and ni!ht'3 She la%!hed'
1=or!ie me, m& )%een, b%t it is &o%r dra!ons he dreams o"'3
1Earo ass%res me that in Farth, man and woman each retain their own propert& a"ter
the& are wed' The dra!ons are mine'3 She smiled as #ro!on came hoppin! and "lappin!
across the marble "loor to crawl %p on the c%shion beside her'
1,e tells it tr%e as "ar as it !oes, b%t theres one thin! he "ailed to mention' The
Fartheen hae a c%rio%s weddin! c%stom, m& )%een' /n the da& o" their %nion, a wi"e
ma& as$ a to$en o" loe "rom her h%sband' (hatsoeer she desires o" his worldl& !oods,
he m%st !rant' *nd he ma& as$ the same o" her' /ne thin! onl& ma& be as$ed, b%t
whateer is named ma& not be denied'3
1/ne thin!,3 she repeated' 1*nd it ma& not be denied.3
1(ith one dra!on, Earo Ehoan #a0os wo%ld r%le this cit&, b%t one ship will "%rther
o%r ca%se b%t little'3
#an& nibbled at an onion and re"lected r%e"%ll& on the "aithlessness o" men' 1(e
passed thro%!h the ba?aar on o%r wa& bac$ "rom the ,all o" a Tho%sand Thrones,3 she
told Ser Corah' 1F%aithe was there'3 She told him o" the "irema!e and the "ier& ladder,
and what the woman in the red mas$ had told her'
1I wo%ld be !lad to leae this cit&, i" tr%th be told,3 the $ni!ht said when she was done'
1B%t not "or *sshai'3
1(here, then.3
15ast,3 he said'
1I am hal" a world awa& "rom m& $in!dom een here' I" I !o an& "arther east I ma&
neer "ind m& wa& home to (esteros'3
1I" &o% !o west, &o% ris$ &o%r li"e'3
1,o%se Tar!ar&en has "riends in the =ree +ities,3 she reminded him' 1Tr%er "riends
than Earo or the 4%reborn'3
1I" &o% mean Ill&rio 2opatis, I wonder' =or s%""icient !old, Ill&rio wo%ld sell &o% as
)%ic$l& as he wo%ld a slae'3
12& brother and I were !%ests in Ill&rios manse "or hal" a &ear' I" he meant to sell %s,
he co%ld hae done it then'3
1,e did sell &o%,3 Ser Corah said' 1To 6hal #ro!o'3
#an& "l%shed' ,e had the tr%th o" it, b%t she did not li$e the sharpness with which he
p%t it' 1Ill&rio protected %s "rom the <s%rpers $nies, and he belieed in m& brothers
ca%se'3
1Ill&rio beliees in no ca%se b%t Ill&rio' 8l%ttons are !reed& men as a r%le, and
ma!isters are deio%s' Ill&rio 2opatis is both' (hat do &o% tr%l& $now o" him.3
1I $now that he !ae me m& dra!on e!!s'3
,e snorted' 1I" hed $nown the& were li$e to hatch, hed wo%ld hae sat on them
himsel"'3
That made her smile despite hersel"' 1/h, I hae no do%bt o" that, ser' I $now Ill&rio
better than &o% thin$' I was a child when I le"t his manse in 4entos to wed m& s%n-and-
stars, b%t I was neither dea" nor blind' *nd I am no child now'3
15en i" Ill&rio is the "riend &o% thin$ him,3 the $ni!ht said st%bbornl&, 1he is not
power"%l eno%!h to enthrone &o% b& himsel", no more than he co%ld &o%r brother'3
1,e is rich,3 she said' 1Not so rich as Earo, perhaps, b%t rich eno%!h to hire ships "or
me, and men as well'3
1Sellswords hae their %ses,3 Ser Corah admitted, 1b%t &o% will not win &o%r "athers
throne with sweepin!s "rom the =ree +ities' Nothin! $nits a bro$en realm to!ether so
)%ic$ as an inadin! arm& on its soil'3
1I am their ri!ht"%l )%een,3 #an& protested'
1;o% are a stran!er who means to land on their shores with an arm& o" o%tlanders who
cannot een spea$ the +ommon Ton!%e' The lords o" (esteros do not $now &o%, and
hae eer& reason to "ear and mistr%st &o%' ;o% m%st win them oer be"ore &o% sail' *
"ew at least'3
1*nd how am I to do that, i" I !o east as &o% co%nsel.3
,e ate an olie and spit o%t the pit into his palm' 1I do not $now, ;o%r 8race,3 he
admitted, 1b%t I do $now that the lon!er &o% remain in one place, the easier it will be "or
&o%r enemies to "ind &o%' The name Tar!ar&en still "ri!htens them, so m%ch so that the&
sent a man to m%rder &o% when the& heard &o% were with child' (hat will the& do when
the& learn o" &o%r dra!ons.3
#ro!on was c%rled %p beneath her arm, as hot as a stone that has soa$ed all da& in the
bla?in! s%n' Bhae!al and >iserion were "i!htin! oer a scrap o" meat, b%""etin! each
other with their win!s as smo$e hissed "rom their nostrils' 2& "%rio%s children, she
tho%!ht' The& m%st not come to harm' 1The comet led me to Farth "or a reason' I had
hoped to "ind m& arm& here, b%t it seems that will not be' (hat else remains, I as$
m&sel".3 I am a"raid, she reali?ed, b%t I m%st be brae' 1+ome the morrow, &o% m%st !o
to 4&at 4ree'3
C#APT"R )$
T%RIO'
The !irl neer wept' ;o%n! as she was, 2&rcella Baratheon was a princess born' *nd a
7annister, despite her name, T&rion reminded himsel", as m%ch Caimes blood as
+erseis'
To be s%re, her smile was a shade trem%lo%s when her brothers too$ their leae o" her
on the dec$ o" the Seaswi"t, b%t the !irl $new the proper words to sa&, and she said them
with co%ra!e and di!nit&' (hen the time came to part, it was 4rince Tommen who cried,
and 2&rcella who !ae him com"ort'
T&rion loo$ed down %pon the "arewells "rom the hi!h dec$ o" 6in! Boberts ,ammer,
a !reat war !alle& o" "o%r h%ndred oars' Bobs ,ammer, as her oarsmen called her,
wo%ld "orm the main stren!th o" 2&rcellas escort' 7ionstar, Bold (ind, and 7ad&
7&anna wo%ld sail with her as well'
It made T&rion more than a little %neas& to detach so !reat a part o" their alread&
inade)%ate "leet, depleted as it was b& the loss o" all those ships that had sailed with
7ord Stannis to #ra!onstone and neer ret%rned, b%t +ersei wo%ld hear o" nothin! less'
4erhaps she was wise' I" the !irl was capt%red be"ore she reached S%nspear, the #ornish
alliance wo%ld "all to pieces' So "ar #oran 2artell had done no more than call his
banners' /nce 2&rcella was sa"e in Braaos, he had pled!ed to moe his stren!th to the
hi!h passes, where the threat mi!ht ma$e some o" the 2archer lords rethin$ their
lo&alties and !ie Stannis pa%se abo%t marchin! north' It was p%rel& a "eint, howeer'
The 2artells wo%ld not commit to act%al battle %nless #orne itsel" was attac$ed, and
Stannis was not so !reat a "ool' Tho%!h some o" his bannermen ma& be, T&rion
re"lected' I sho%ld thin$ on that'
,e cleared his throat' 1;o% $now &o%r orders, +aptain'3
1I do, m& lord' (e are to "ollow the coast, sta&in! alwa&s in si!ht o" land, %ntil we
reach +rac$claw 4oint' =rom there we are to stri$e o%t across the narrow sea "or
Braaos' /n no acco%nt are we to sail within si!ht o" #ra!onstone'3
1*nd i" o%r "oes sho%ld chance %pon &o% nonetheless.3
1I" a sin!le ship, we are to r%n them o"" or destro& them' I" there are more, the Bold
(ind will cleae to the Seaswi"t to protect her while the rest o" the "leet does battle'3
T&rion nodded' I" the worst happened, the little Seaswi"t o%!ht to be able to o%tr%n
p%rs%it' * small ship with bi! sails, she was "aster than an& warship a"loat, or so her
captain had claimed' /nce 2&rcella reached Braaos, she o%!ht to be sa"e' ,e was
sendin! Ser *r&s /a$heart as her sworn shield, and had en!a!ed the Braaosi to brin!
her the rest o" the wa& to S%nspear' 5en 7ord Stannis wo%ld hesitate to wa$e the an!er
o" the !reatest and most power"%l o" the =ree +ities' Traelin! "rom 6in!s 7andin! to
#orne b& wa& o" Braaos was scarcel& the most direct o" ro%tes, b%t it was the sa"est ' ' '
or so he hoped'
I" 7ord Stannis $new o" this sailin!, he co%ld not choose a better time to send his "leet
a!ainst %s' T&rion !lanced bac$ to where the B%sh emptied o%t into Blac$water Ba& and
was relieed to see no si!ns o" sails on the wide !reen hori?on' *t last report, the
Baratheon "leet still la& o"" Storms 5nd, where Ser +ortna& 4enrose contin%ed to de"&
the besie!ers in dead Benl&s name' 2eanwhile, T&rions winch towers stood
three)%arters complete' 5en now men were hoistin! hea& bloc$s o" stone into place,
no do%bt c%rsin! him "or ma$in! them wor$ thro%!h the "estiities' 7et them c%rse'
*nother "ortni!ht, Stannis, thats all I re)%ire' *nother "ortni!ht and it will be done'
T&rion watched his niece $neel be"ore the ,i!h Septon to receie his blessin! on her
o&a!e' S%nli!ht ca%!ht in his cr&stal crown and spilled rainbows across 2&rcellas
%pt%rned "ace' The noise "rom the rierside made it impossible to hear the pra&ers' ,e
hoped the !ods had sharper ears' The ,i!h Septon was as "at as a ho%se, and more
pompo%s and lon! o" wind than een 4&celle' 5no%!h, old man, ma$e an end to it,
T&rion tho%!ht irritabl&' The !ods hae better thin!s to do than listen to &o%, and so do I'
(hen at last the dronin! and m%mblin! was done, T&rion too$ his "arewell o" the
captain o" Bobs ,ammer' 1#elier m& niece sa"el& to Braaos, and there will be a
$ni!hthood waitin! "or &o% on &o%r ret%rn,3 he promised'
*s he made his wa& down the steep plan$ to the )%a&, T&rion co%ld "eel %n$ind e&es
%pon him' The !alle& roc$ed !entl& and the moement %nder"oot made his waddle
worse than eer' Ill wa!er the&d loe to sni!!er' No one dared, not openl&, tho%!h he
heard m%tterin!s min!led with the crea$ o" wood and rope and the r%sh o" the rier
aro%nd the pilin!s' The& do not loe me, he tho%!ht' (ell, small wonder' Im well "ed
and %!l&, and the& are starin!'
Bronn escorted him thro%!h the crowd to 9oin his sister and her sons' +ersei i!nored
him, pre"errin! to laish her smiles on their co%sin' ,e watched her charmin! 7ancel
with e&es as !reen as the rope o" emeralds aro%nd her slim white throat, and smiled a
small sl& smile to himsel"' I $now &o%r secret, +ersei, he tho%!ht' ,is sister had o"t
called %pon the ,i!h Septon o" late, to see$ the blessin!s o" the !ods in their comin!
str%!!le with 7ord Stannis ' ' ' or so she wo%ld hae him beliee' In tr%th, a"ter a brie"
call at the 8reat Sept o" Baelor, +ersei wo%ld don a plain brown traelers cloa$ and
steal o"" to meet a certain hed!e $ni!ht with the %nli$el& name o" Ser /sm%nd
6ettleblac$, and his e)%all& %nsaor& brothers /sne& and /s"r&d' 7ancel had told him
all abo%t them' +ersei meant to %se the 6ettleblac$s to b%& her own "orce o" sellswords'
(ell, let her en9o& her plots' She was m%ch sweeter when she tho%!ht she was
o%twittin! him' The 6ettleblac$s wo%ld charm her, ta$e her coin, and promise her
an&thin! she as$ed, and wh& not, when Bronn was matchin! eer& copper penn&, coin
"or coin. *miable ro!%es all three, the brothers were in tr%th m%ch more s$illed at deceit
than the&d eer been at bloodlettin!' +ersei had mana!ed to b%& hersel" three hollow
dr%ms: the& wo%ld ma$e all the "ierce boomin! so%nds she re)%ired, b%t there was
nothin! inside' It am%sed T&rion no end'
,orns blew "an"ares as 7ionstar and 7ad& 7&anna p%shed o%t "rom shore, moin!
downrier to clear the wa& "or Seaswi"t' * "ew cheers went %p "rom the cr%sh alon! the
ban$s, as thin and ra!!ed as the clo%ds sc%ttlin! oerhead' 2&rcella smiled and waed
"rom the dec$' Behind her stood *r&s /a$heart, his white cloa$ streamin!' The captain
ordered lines cast o"", and oars p%shed the Seaswi"t o%t into the l%st& c%rrent o" the
Blac$water B%sh, where her sails blossomed in the wind-common white sails, as T&rion
had insisted, not sheets o" 7annister crimson' 4rince Tommen sobbed' 1;o% mew li$e a
s%c$lin! babe,3 his brother hissed at him' 14rinces arent s%pposed to cr&'3
14rince *emon the #ra!on$ni!ht cried the da& 4rincess Naer&s wed his brother
*e!on,3 Sansa Star$ said, 1and the twins Ser *rr&$ and Ser 5rr&$ died with tears on
their chee$s a"ter each had !ien the other a mortal wo%nd'3
1Be )%iet, or Ill hae Ser 2er&n !ie &o% a mortal wo%nd,3 Co""re& told his betrothed'
T&rion !lanced at his sister, b%t +ersei was en!rossed in somethin! Ser Balon Swann
was tellin! her' +an she tr%l& be so blind as to what he is. he wondered'
/%t on the rier, Bold (ind %nshipped her oars and !lided downstream in the wa$e o"
Seaswi"t' 7ast came 6in! Boberts ,ammer, the mi!ht o" the ro&al "leet ' ' ' or at least
that portion that had not "led to #ra!onstone last &ear with Stannis' T&rion had chosen
the ships with care, aoidin! an& whose captains mi!ht be o" do%bt"%l lo&alt&, accordin!
to >ar&s ' ' ' b%t as >ar&s himsel" was o" do%bt"%l lo&alt&, a certain amo%nt o"
apprehension remained' I rel& too m%ch on >ar&s, he re"lected' I need m& own
in"ormers' Not that Id tr%st them either' Tr%st wo%ld !et &o% $illed'
,e wondered a!ain abo%t 7ittle"in!er' There had been no word "rom 4et&r Baelish
since he had ridden o"" "or Bitterbrid!e' That mi!ht mean nothin!Aor eer&thin!' 5en
>ar&s co%ld not sa&' The e%n%ch had s%!!ested that perhaps 7ittle"in!er had met some
mis"ort%ne on the roads' ,e mi!ht een be slain' T&rion had snorted in derision' 1I"
7ittle"in!er is dead, then Im a !iant'3 2ore li$el&, the T&rells were bal$in! at the
proposed marria!e' T&rion co%ld scarcel& blame them' I" I were 2ace 7H7rell, I wo%ld
sooner hae lo""re&s head on a pi$e than his coc$ in m& da%!hter'
The little "leet was well o%t into the ba& when +ersei indicated that it was time to !o'
Bronn bro%!ht T&rions horse and helped him mo%nt' That was 4odric$ 4a&nes tas$, b%t
the& had le"t 4od bac$ at the Bed 6eep' The !a%nt sellsword made "or a m%ch more
reass%rin! presence than the bo& wo%ld hae'
The narrow streets were lined b& men o" the +it& (atch, holdin! bac$ the crowd with
the sha"ts o" their spears' Ser Cacel&n B&water went in "ront, headin! a wed!e o"
mo%nted lancers in blac$ rin!mail and !olden cloa$s' Behind him came Ser *ron
Santa!ar and Ser Balon Swann, bearin! the $in!s banners, the lion o" 7annister and
crowned sta! o" Baratheon'
6in! Co""re& "ollowed on a tall !re& pal"re&, a !olden crown set %pon his !olden c%rls'
Sansa Star$ rode a chesn%t mare at his side, loo$in! neither ri!ht nor le"t, her thic$
a%b%rn hair "lowin! to her sho%lders beneath a net o" moonstones' Two o" the
6in!s!%ard "lan$ed the co%ple, the ,o%nd on the $in!s ri!ht hand and Ser 2andon
2oore to the le"t o" the Star$ !irl'
Ne0t came Tommen, sn%""lin!, with Ser 4reston 8reen"ield in his white armor and
cloa$, and then +ersei, accompanied b& Ser 7ancel and protected b& 2er&n Trant and
Boros Blo%nt' T&rion "ell in with his sister' *"ter them "ollowed the ,i!h Septon in his
litter, and a lon! tail o" other co%rtiersASer ,oras Bedw&ne, 7ad& Tanda and her
da%!hter, Calabhar Eho, 7ord 8&les Bosb&, and the rest' * do%ble col%mn o" !%ardsmen
bro%!ht %p the rear'
The %nshaen and the %nwashed stared at the riders with d%ll resentment "rom behind
the line o" spears' I li$e this not one spec$, T&rion tho%!ht' Bronn had a score o"
sellswords scattered thro%!h the crowd with orders to stop an& tro%ble be"ore it started'
4erhaps +ersei had similarl& disposed her 6ettleblac$s' Somehow T&rion did not thin$ it
wo%ld help m%ch' I" the "ire was too hot, &o% co%ld hardl& $eep the p%ddin! "rom
scorchin! b& tossin! a hand"%l o" raisins in the pot'
The& crossed =ishmon!ers S)%are and rode alon! 2%dd& (a& be"ore t%rnin! onto the
narrow, c%rin! ,oo$ to be!in their climb %p *e!ons ,i!h ,ill' * "ew oices raised a
cr& o" 1Co""re&@ *ll hail, all hail@3 as the &o%n! $in! rode b&, b%t "or eer& man who
pic$ed %p the sho%t, a h%ndred $ept their silence' The 7annisters moed thro%!h a sea o"
ra!!ed men and h%n!r& women, breastin! a tide o" s%llen e&e' C%st ahead o" him, +ersei
was la%!hin! at somethin! 7ancel had said, tho%!h he s%spected her merriment was
"ei!ned' She co%ld not be obliio%s to the %nrest aro%nd them, b%t his sister alwa&s
belieed in p%ttin! on the brae show'
,al"wa& alon! the ro%te, a wailin! woman "orced her wa& between two watchmen and
ran o%t into the street in "ront o" the $in! and his companions, holdin! the corpse o" her
dead bab& aboe her head' It was bl%e and swollen, !rotes)%e, b%t the real horror was
the mothers e&es' Co""re& loo$ed "or a moment as i" he meant to ride her down, b%t
Sansa Star$ leaned oer and said somethin! to him' The $in! "%mbled in his p%rse, and
"l%n! the woman a siler sta!' The coin bo%nced o"" the child and rolled awa&, %nder the
le!s o" the !old cloa$s and into the crowd, where a do?en men be!an to "i!ht "or it' The
mother neer once blin$ed' ,er s$inn& arms were tremblin! "rom the dead wei!ht o" her
son'
17eae her, ;o%r 8race,3 +ersei called o%t to the $in!, 1shes be&ond o%r help, poor
thin!'3
The mother heard her' Somehow the )%eens oice c%t thro%!h the womans raa!ed
wits' ,er slac$ "ace twisted in loathin!' 1(hore@3 she shrie$ed' 16in!sla&ers whore@
Brother"%c$er@3 ,er dead child dropped "rom her arms li$e a sac$ o" "lo%r as she
pointed at +ersei' 1Brother"%c$er brother"%c$er brother"%c$er'3
T&rion neer saw who threw the d%n!' ,e onl& heard Sansas !asp and Co""re&s
bellowed c%rse, and when he t%rned his head, the $in! was wipin! brown "ilth "rom his
chee$' There was more ca$ed in his !olden hair and spattered oer Sansas le!s'
1(ho threw that.3 Co""re& screamed' ,e p%shed his "in!ers into his hair, made a
"%rio%s "ace, and "l%n! awa& another hand"%l o" d%n!' 1I want the man who threw that@3
he sho%ted' 1* h%ndred !olden dra!ons to the man who !ies him %p'3
1,e was %p there@3 someone sho%ted "rom the crowd' The $in! wheeled his horse in a
circle to s%re& the roo"tops and open balconies aboe them' In the crowd people were
pointin!, shoin!, c%rsin! one another and the $in!'
14lease, ;o%r 8race, let him !o,3 Sansa pleaded'
The $in! paid her no heed' 1Brin! me the man who "l%n! that "ilth@3 Co""re&
commanded' 1,ell lic$ it o"" me or Ill hae his head' #o!, &o% brin! him here@3
/bedient, Sandor +le!ane sw%n! down "rom his saddle, b%t there was no wa& thro%!h
that wall o" "lesh, let alone to the roo"' Those closest to him be!an to s)%irm and shoe
to !et awa&, while others p%shed "orward to see' T&rion smelled disaster' 1+le!ane, leae
o"", the man is lon! "led'3
1I want him@3 Co""re& pointed at the roo"' 1,e was %p there@ #o!, c%t thro%!h them
and brin!A3
* t%m%lt o" so%nd drowned his last words, a rollin! th%nder o" ra!e and "ear and hatred
that en!%l"ed them "rom all sides' 1Bastard@3 someone screamed at Co""re&, 1bastard
monster'3 /ther oices "l%n! calls o" 1(hore3 and 1Brother"%c$er3 at the )%een, while
T&rion was pelted with sho%ts o" 1=rea$3 and 1,al"man'3 2i0ed in with the ab%se, he
heard a "ew cries o" 1C%stice3 and 1Bobb, 6in! Bobb, the ;o%n! (ol",3 o" 1Stannis@3
and een 1Benl&@3 =rom both sides o" the street, the crowd s%r!ed a!ainst the spear
sha"ts while the !old cloa$s str%!!led to hold the line' Stones and d%n! and "o%ler thin!s
whistled oerhead' 1=eed %s@3 a woman shrie$ed' 1Bread@3 boomed a man behind her'
1(e want bread, bastard@3 In a heartbeat, a tho%sand oices too$ %p the chant' 6in!
Co""re& and 6in! Bobb and 6in! Stannis were "or!otten, and 6in! Bread r%led alone'
1Bread,3 the& clamored' 1Bread, bread@3
T&rion sp%rred to his sisters side, &ellin!, 1Bac$ to the castle' Now3 +ersei !ae a c%rt
nod, and Ser 7ancel %nsheathed his sword' *head o" the col%mn, Cacel&n B&water was
roarin! commands' ,is riders lowered their lances and droe "orward in a wed!e' The
$in! was wheelin! his pal"re& aro%nd in an0io%s circles while hands reached past the
line o" !old cloa$s, !raspin! "or him' /ne mana!ed to !et hold o" his le!, b%t onl& "or an
instant' Ser 2andons sword slashed down, partin! hand "rom wrist' 1Bide@3 T&rion
sho%ted at his nephew, !iin! the horse a sharp smac$ on the r%mp' The animal reared,
tr%mpetin!, and pl%n!ed ahead, the press shatterin! be"ore him'
T&rion droe into the !ap hard on the $in!s hooes' Bronn $ept pace, sword in hand'
* 9a!!ed roc$ "lew past his head as he rode, and a rotten cabba!e e0ploded a!ainst Ser
2andons shield' To their le"t, three !old cloa$s went down %nder the s%r!e, and then the
crowd was r%shin! "orward, tramplin! the "allen men' The ,o%nd had anished behind,
tho%!h his riderless horse !alloped beside them' T&rion saw *ron Santa!ar p%lled "rom
the saddle, the !old-and-blac$ Baratheon sta! torn "rom his !rasp' Ser Balon Swann
dropped the 7annister lion to draw his lon!sword' ,e slashed ri!ht and le"t as the "allen
banner was ripped apart, the tho%sand ra!!ed pieces swirlin! awa& li$e crimson leaes
in a stormwind' In an instant the& were !one' Someone sta!!ered in "ront o" Co""re&s
horse and shrie$ed as the $in! rode him down' (hether it had been man, woman, or
child T&rion co%ld not hae said' Co""re& was !allopin! at his side, whe&-"aced, with Ser
2andon 2oore a white shadow on his le"t'
*nd s%ddenl& the madness was behind and the& were clatterin! across the cobbled
s)%are that "ronted on the castle barbican' * line o" spearmen held the !ates' Ser Cacel&n
was wheelin! his lances aro%nd "or another char!e' The spears parted to let the $in!s
part& pass %nder the portc%llis' 4ale red walls loomed %p abo%t them, reass%rin!l& hi!h
and aswarm with crossbowmen'
T&rion did not recall dismo%ntin!' Ser 2andon was helpin! the sha$en $in! o"" his
horse when +ersei, Tommen, and 7ancel rode thro%!h the !ates with Ser 2er&n and Ser
Boros close behind' Boros had blood smeared alon! his blade, while 2er&ns white
cloa$ had been torn "rom his bac$' Ser Balon Swann rode in helmetless, his mo%nt
lathered and bleedin! at the mo%th' ,oras Bedw&ne bro%!ht in 7ad& Tanda, hal" cra?ed
with "ear "or her da%!hter 7oll&s, who had been $noc$ed "rom the saddle and le"t
behind' 7ord 8&les, more !re& o" "ace than eer, stammered o%t a tale o" seein! the
,i!h Septon spilled "rom his litter, screechin! pra&ers as the crowd swept oer him'
Calabhar Eho said he tho%!ht hed seen Ser 4reston 8reen"ield o" the 6in!s!%ard ridin!
bac$ toward the ,i!h Septons oert%rned litter, b%t he was not certain'
T&rion was diml& aware o" a maester as$in! i" he was in9%red' ,e p%shed his wa&
across the &ard to where his nephew stood, his d%n!encr%sted crown as$ew' 1Traitors,3
Co""re& was babblin! e0citedl&, 1Ill hae all their heads, IllA3
The dwar" slapped his "l%shed "ace so hard the crown "lew "rom Co""re&s head' Then
he shoed him with both hands and $noc$ed him sprawlin!' 1;o% blind blood& "ool'3
1The& were traitors,3 Co""re& s)%ealed "rom the !ro%nd' 1The& called me names and
attac$ed me@3
1;o% set &o%r do! on them@ (hat did &o% ima!ine the& wo%ld do, bend the $nee
mee$l& while the ,o%nd lopped o"" some limbs. ;o% spoiled witless little bo&, &o%e
$illed +le!ane and !ods $now how man& more, and &et &o% come thro%!h %nscratched'
#amn &o%@3 *nd he $ic$ed him' It "elt so !ood he mi!ht hae done more, b%t Ser
2andon 2oore p%lled him o"" as Co""re& howled, and then Bronn was there to ta$e him
in hand' +ersei $nelt oer her son, while Ser Balon Swann restrained Ser 7ancel' T&rion
wrenched "ree o" Bronns !rip' 1,ow man& are still o%t there.3 he sho%ted to no one and
eer&one'
12& da%!hter,3 cried 7ad& Tanda' 14lease, someone m%st !o bac$ "or 7oll&s ' ' '3
1Ser 4reston is not ret%rned,3 Ser Boros Blo%nt reported, 1nor *ron Santa!ar'3
1Nor (et N%rse,3 said Ser ,oras Bedw&ne' That was the moc$in! name the other
s)%ires had h%n! on &o%n! T&re$ 7annister'
T&rion !lanced ro%nd the &ard' 1(heres the Star$ !irl.3
=or a moment no one answered' =inall& Co""re& said, 1She was ridin! b& me' I dont
$now where she went'3
T&rion pressed bl%nt "in!ers into his throbbin! temples' I" Sansa Star$ had come to
harm, Caime was as !ood as dead' 1Ser 2andon, &o% were her shield'3
Ser 2andon 2oore remained %ntro%bled' 1(hen the& mobbed the ,o%nd, I tho%!ht
"irst o" the $in!'3
1*nd ri!htl& so,3 +ersei p%t in' 1Boros, 2er&n, !o bac$ and "ind the !irl'3
1*nd m& da%!hter,3 7ad& Tanda sobbed' 14lease, sers ' ' '3
Ser Boros did not loo$ pleased at the prospect o" leain! the sa"et& o" the castle' 1;o%r
8race,3 he told the )%een, 1the si!ht o" o%r white cloa$s mi!ht enra!e the mob'3
T&rion had stomached all he cared to' 1The /thers ta$e &o%r "%c$in! cloa$s@ Ta$e
them o"" i" &o%re a"raid to wear them, &o% blood& oa" ' ' ' b%t "ind me Sansa Star$ or I
swear, Ill hae Sha!!a split that %!l& head o" &o%rs in two to see i" theres an&thin!
inside b%t blac$ p%ddin!'3
Ser Boros went p%rple with ra!e' 1;o% wo%ld call me %!l&, &o%.3 ,e started to raise
the blood& sword still cl%tched in his mailed "ist' Bronn shoed T&rion %nceremonio%sl&
behind him'
1Stop it@3 +ersei snapped' 1Boros, &o%ll do as &o%re bid, or well "ind someone else
to wear that cloa$' ;o%r oathA3
1There she is@3 Co""re& sho%ted, pointin!'
Sandor +le!ane cantered bris$l& thro%!h the !ates astride Sansas chestn%t co%rser'
The !irl was seated behind, both arms ti!ht aro%nd the ,o%nds chest'
T&rion called to her' 1*re &o% h%rt, 7ad& Sansa.3
Blood was tric$lin! down Sansas brow "rom a deep !ash on her scalp' 1The& ' ' ' the&
were throwin! thin!s ' ' ' roc$s and "ilth, e!!s ' ' ' I tried to tell them, I had no bread to
!ie them' * man tried to p%ll me "rom the saddle' The ,o%nd $illed him, I thin$ ''' his
arm ' ' '3 ,er e&es widened and she p%t a hand oer her mo%th' 1,e c%t o"" his arm'3
+le!ane li"ted her to the !ro%nd' ,is white cloa$ was torn and stained, and blood
seeped thro%!h a 9a!!ed tear in his le"t sleee' 1The little birds bleedin!' Someone ta$e
her bac$ to her ca!e and see to that c%t'3 2aester =ren$en sc%rried "orward to obe&'
1The& did "or Santa!ar,3 the ,o%nd contin%ed' 1=o%r men held him down and too$ t%rns
bashin! at his head with a cobblestone' I !%tted one, not that it did Ser *ron m%ch
!ood'3
7ad& Tanda approached him' 12& da%!hterA3
1Neer saw her'3 The ,o%nd !lanced aro%nd the &ard, scowlin!' 1(heres m& horse.
I" an&thin!s happened to that horse, someones !oin! to pa&'3
1,e was r%nnin! with %s "or a time,3 T&rion said, 1b%t I dont $now what became o"
him a"ter that'3
1=ire@3 a oice screamed down "rom atop the barbican' 12& lords, theres smo$e in the
cit&' =lea Bottoms a"ire'3
T&rion was in%tterabl& wear&, b%t there was no time "or despair' 1Bronn, ta$e as man&
men as &o% need and see that the water wa!ons are not molested,3 8ods be !ood, the
wild"ire, i" an& bla?e sho%ld reach that ' ' ' 1(e can lose all o" =lea Bottom i" we m%st,
b%t on no acco%nt m%st the "ire reach the 8%ildhall o" the *lchemists, is that
%nderstood. +le!ane, &o%ll !o with him'3
=or hal" a heartbeat, T&rion tho%!ht he !limpsed "ear in the ,o%nds dar$ e&es' =ire, he
reali?ed' The /thers ta$e me, o" co%rse he hates "lre, hes tasted it too well' The loo$
was !one in an instant, replaced b& +le!anes "amiliar scowl' 1Ill !o,3 he said, 1tho%!h
not b& &o%r command' I need to "ind that horse'3
T&rion t%rned to the three remainin! $ni!hts o" the 6in!s!%ard' 15ach o" &o% will ride
escort to a herald' +ommand the people to ret%rn to their homes' *n& man "o%nd on the
streets a"ter the last peal o" the een"all bell will be $illed'3
1/%r place is beside the $in!,3 Ser 2er&n said, complacent'
+ersei reared %p li$e a iper' 1;o%r place is where m& brother sa&s it is,3 she spit' 1The
,and spea$s with the $in!s own oice, and disobedience is treason'3
Boros and 2er&n e0chan!ed a loo$' 1Sho%ld we wear o%r cloa$s, ;o%r 8race.3 Ser
Boros as$ed'
18o na$ed "or all I care' It mi!ht remind the mob that &o%re men' The&re li$e to hae
"or!otten a"ter seein! the wa& &o% behaed o%t there in the street'3
T&rion let his sister ra!e' ,is head was throbbin!' ,e tho%!ht he co%ld smell smo$e,
tho%!h perhaps it was 9%st the scent o" his neres "ra&in!'
Two o" the Stone +rows !%arded the door o" the Tower o" the ,and' 1=ind me Timett
son o" Timett'3
1Stone +rows do not r%n s)%ea$in! a"ter B%rned 2en,3 one o" the wildlin!s in"ormed
him ha%!htil&'
=or a moment T&rion had "or!otten who he was dealin! with' 1Then "ind me Sha!!a'3
1Sha!!a sleeps'3
It was an e""ort not to scream' 1(a$e' ,im'3
1It is no eas& thin! to wa$e Sha!!a son o" #ol",3 the man complained' 1,is wrath is
"earsome'3 ,e went o"" !r%mblin!'
The clansman wandered in &awnin! and scratchin!' 1,al" the cit& is riotin!, the other
hal" is b%rnin!, and Sha!!a lies snorin!,3 T&rion said'
1Sha!!a misli$es &o%r m%dd& water here, so he m%st drin$ &o%r wea$ ale and so%r
wine, and a"ter his head h%rts'3
1I hae Shae in a manse near the Iron 8ate' I want &o% to !o to her and $eep her sa"e,
whateer ma& come'3
The h%!e man smiled, his teeth a &ellow creasse in the hair& wilderness o" his beard'
1Sha!!a will "etch her here'3
1C%st see that no harm comes to her' Tell her I will come to her as soon as I ma&' This
er& ni!ht, perhaps, or on the morrow "or a certaint&'3
;et b& een"all the cit& was still in t%rmoil, tho%!h Bronn reported that the "ires were
)%enched and most o" the roin! mobs dispersed' 2%ch as T&rion &earned "or the
com"ort o" Shaes arms, he reali?ed he wo%ld !o nowhere that ni!ht'
Ser Cacel&n B&water deliered the b%tchers bill as he was s%ppin! on a cold capon and
brown bread in the !loom o" his solar' #%s$ had "aded to dar$ness b& then, b%t when his
serants came to li!ht his candles and start a "ire in the hearth, T&rion had roared at them
and sent them r%nnin!' ,is mood was as blac$ as the chamber, and B&water said nothin!
to li!hten it'
The list o" the slain was topped b& the ,i!h Septon, ripped apart as he s)%ealed to his
!ods "or merc&' Starin! men ta$e a hard iew o" priests too "at to wal$, T&rion
re"lected'
Ser 4restons corpse had been oerloo$ed at "irst: the !old cloa$s had been searchin!
"or a $ni!ht in white armor, and he had been stabbed and hac$ed so cr%ell& that he was
red-brown "rom head to heel'
Ser *ron Santa!ar had been "o%nd in a !%tter, his head a red p%lp inside a cr%shed
helm'
7ad& Tandas da%!hter had s%rrendered her maidenhood to hal" a h%ndred sho%tin!
men behind a tanners shop' The !old cloa$s "o%nd her wanderin! na$ed on Sowbell&
Bow'
T&re$ was still missin!, as was the ,i!h Septons cr&stal crown' Nine !old cloa$s had
been slain, two score wo%nded' No one had tro%bled to co%nt how man& o" the mob had
died'
1I want T&re$ "o%nd, alie or dead,3 T&rion said c%rtl& when B&water was done' 1,es
no more than a bo&' Son to m& late %ncle T&!ett' ,is "ather was alwa&s $ind to me'3
1(ell "ind him' The septons crown as well'3
1The /thers can b%!!er each other with the septons crown, "or all I care'3
1(hen &o% named me to command the (atch, &o% told me &o% wanted plain tr%th,
alwa&s'3
1Somehow I hae a "eelin! I am not !oin! to li$e whateer &o%re abo%t to sa&,3
T&rion said !loomil&'
1(e held the cit& toda&, m& lord, b%t I ma$e no promises "or the morrow' The $ettle is
close to boilin!' So man& thiees and m%rderers are abroad that no mans ho%se is sa"e,
the blood& "l%0 is spreadin! in the stews alon! 4isswater Bend, theres no "ood to be had
"or copper nor siler' (here be"ore &o% heard onl& m%tterin!s "rom the !%tter, now
theres open tal$ o" treason in !%ildhalls and mar$ets'3
1#o &o% need more men.3
1I do not tr%st hal" the men I hae now' Sl&nt tripled the si?e o" the (atch, b%t it ta$es
more than a !old cloa$ to ma$e a watchman' There are !ood men and lo&al amon! the
new recr%its, b%t also more br%tes, sots, craens, and traitors than &o%d care to $now'
The&re hal"-trained and %ndisciplined, and what lo&alt& the& hae is to their own s$ins'
I" it comes to battle, the&ll not hold, I "ear'3
1I neer e0pected them to,3 said T&rion' 1/nce o%r walls are breeched, we are lost,
Ie $nown that "rom the start'3
12& men are lar!el& drawn "rom the small"ol$' The& wal$ the same streets, drin$ in
the same winesin$s, spoon down their bowls o" brown in the same pot-shops' ;o%r
e%n%ch m%st hae told &o%, there is small loe "or the 7annisters in 6in!s 7andin!'
2an& still remember how &o%r lord "ather sac$ed the cit&, when *er&s opened the !ates
to him' The& whisper that the !ods are p%nishin! %s "or the sins o" &o%r ,o%seA"or
&o%r brothers m%rder o" 6in! *er&s, "or the b%tcher& o" Bhae!ars children, "or the
e0ec%tion o" 5ddard Star$ and the saa!er& o" Co""re&s 9%stice' Some tal$ openl& o"
how m%ch better thin!s were when Bobert was $in!, and hint that times wo%ld be better
a!ain with Stannis on the throne' In pot-shops and winesin$s and brothels, &o% hear
these thin!sAand in the barrac$s and !%ardhalls as well, I "ear'3
1The& hate m& "amil&, is that what &o% are tellin! me.3
1*&e ' ' ' and will t%rn on them, i" the chance comes'3
12e as well.3
1*s$ &o%r e%n%ch'3
1Im as$in! &o%'3
B&waters deep-set e&es met the dwar"s mismatched ones, and did not blin$' 1;o%
most o" all, m& lord'3
12ost o" all.3 The in9%stice was li$e to cho$e him' 1It was Co""re& who told them to
eat their dead, Co""re& who set his do! on them' ,ow co%ld the& blame me.3
1,is 8race is b%t a bo&' In the streets, it is said that he has eil co%ncilors' The )%een
has neer been $nown as a "riend to the commons, nor is 7ord >ar&s called the Spider
o%t o" loe ' ' ' b%t it is &o% the& blame most' ;o%r sister and the e%n%ch were here when
times were better %nder 6in! Bobert, b%t &o% were not' The& sa& that &o%e "illed the
cit& with swa!!erin! sellswords and %nwashed saa!es, br%tes who ta$e what the& want
and "ollow no laws b%t their own' The& sa& &o% e0iled Canos Sl&nt beca%se &o% "o%nd
him too bl%"" and honest "or &o%r li$in!' The& sa& &o% threw wise and !entle 4&celle
into the d%n!eons when he dared raise his oice a!ainst &o%' Some een claim that &o%
mean to sei?e the Iron Throne "or &o%r own'3
1;es, and I am a monster besides, hideo%s and misshapen, neer "or!et that'3 ,is hand
coiled into a "ist' 1Ie heard eno%!h' (e both hae wor$ to attend to' 7eae me'3
4erhaps m& lord "ather was ri!ht to despise me all these &ears, i" this is the best I can
achiee, T&rion tho%!ht when he was alone' ,e stared down at the remains o" his s%pper,
his bell& roilin! at the si!ht o" the cold !reas& capon' #is!%sted, he p%shed it awa&,
sho%ted "or 4od, and sent the bo& r%nnin! to s%mmon >ar&s and Bronn' 2& most tr%sted
adisers are a e%n%ch and a sellsword, and m& lad&s a whore' (hat does that sa& o"
me.
Bronn complained o" the !loom when he arried, and insisted on a "ire in the hearth' It
was bla?in! b& the time >ar&s made his appearance' 1(here hae &o% been.3 T&rion
demanded'
1*bo%t the $in!s b%siness, m& sweet lord'3
1*h, &es, the $in!,3 T&rion m%ttered' 12& nephew is not "it to sit a pri&, let alone the
Iron Throne'3
>ar&s shr%!!ed' 1*n apprentice m%st be ta%!ht his trade'3
1,al" the Dprentices on Bee$in! 7ane co%ld r%le better than this $in! o" &o%rs'3 Bronn
seated himsel" across the table and p%lled a win! o"" the capon'
T&rion had made a practice o" i!norin! the sellswords "re)%ent insolences, b%t toni!ht
he "o%nd it !allin!' 1I dont recall !iin! &o% leae to "inish m& s%pper'3
1;o% didnt loo$ to be eatin! it,3 Bronn said thro%!h a mo%th"%l o" meat' 1+it&s
starin!, its a crime to waste "ood' ;o% hae an& wine.3
Ne0t hell want me to po%r it "or him, T&rion tho%!ht dar$l&' 1;o% !o too "ar,3 he
warned'
1*nd &o% neer !o "ar eno%!h'3 Bronn tossed the win!bone to the r%shes' 15er thin$
how eas& li"e wo%ld be i" the other one had been born "irst.3 ,e thr%st his "in!ers inside
the capon and tore o"" a hand"%l o" breast' 1The weep& one, Tommen' Seems li$e hed
do whateer he was told, as a !ood $in! sho%ld'3
* chill crept down T&rions spine as he reali?ed what the sellsword was hintin! at' I"
Tommen was $in! ' ' '
There was onl& one wa& Tommen wo%ld become $in!' No, he co%ld not een thin$ it'
Co""re& was his own blood, and Caimes son as m%ch as +erseis' 1I co%ld hae &o%r head
o"" "or sa&in! that,3 he told Bronn, b%t the sellsword onl& la%!hed'
1=riends,3 said >ar&s, 1)%arrelin! will not sere %s' I be! &o% both, ta$e heart'3
1(hose.3 as$ed T&rion so%rl&' ,e co%ld thin$ o" seeral temptin! choices'
C#APT"R )&
2A3OS
Ser +ortna& 4enrose wore no armor' ,e sat a sorrel stallion, his standard-bearer a
dapple !re&' *boe them "lapped Baratheons crowned sta! and the crossed )%ills o"
4enrose, white on a r%sset "ield' Ser +ortna&s spade-shaped beard was r%sset as well,
tho%!h hed !one wholl& bald on top' I" the si?e and splendor o" the $in!s part&
impressed him, it did not show on that weathered "ace'
The& trotted %p with m%ch clin$in! o" chain and rattle o" plate' 5en #aos wore mail,
tho%!h he co%ld not hae said wh&: his sho%lders and lower bac$ ached "rom the
%nacc%stomed wei!ht' It made him "eel c%mbered and "oolish, and he wondered once
more wh& he was here' It is not "or me to )%estion the $in!s commands, and &et ' ' '
5er& man o" the part& was o" better birth and hi!her station than #aos Seaworth, and
the !reat lords !littered in the mornin! s%n' Silered steel and !old inla& bri!htened their
armor, and their warhelms were crested in a riot o" sil$en pl%mes, "eathers, and
c%nnin!l& wro%!ht heraldic beasts with !emstone e&es' Stannis himsel" loo$ed o%t o"
place in this rich and ro&al compan&' 7i$e #aos, the $in! was plainl& !arbed in wool
and boiled leather, tho%!h the circlet o" red !old abo%t his temples lent him a certain
!rande%r' S%nli!ht "lashed o"" its "lame-shaped points wheneer he moed his head'
This was the closest #aos had come to ,is 8race in the ei!ht da&s since Blac$ Betha
had 9oined the rest o" the "leet o"" Storms 5nd' ,ed so%!ht an a%dience within an ho%r
o" his arrial, onl& to be told that the $in! was occ%pied' The $in! was o"ten occ%pied,
#aos learned "rom his son #ean, one o" the ro&al s)%ires' Now that Stannis Baratheon
had come into his power, the lordlin!s b%??ed aro%nd him li$e "lies ro%nd a corpse' ,e
loo$s hal" a corpse too, &ears older than when I le"t #ra!onstone' #ean said the $in!
scarcel& slept o" late' 1Since 7ord Benl& died, he has been tro%bled b& terrible
ni!htmares,3 the bo& had con"ided to his "ather' 12aesters potions do not to%ch them'
/nl& the 7ad& 2elisandre can soothe him to sleep'3
Is that wh& she shares his pailion now. #aos wondered' To pra& with him. /r does
she hae another wa& to soothe him to sleep. it was an %nworth& )%estion, and one he
dared not as$, een o" his own son' #ean was a !ood bo&, b%t he wore the "lamin!
heart pro%dl& on his do%blet, and his "ather had seen him at the ni!ht"ires as d%s$ "ell,
beseechin! the 7ord o" 7i!ht to brin! the dawn' ,e is the $in!s s)%ire, he told himsel",
it is onl& to be e0pected that he wo%ld ta$e the $in!s !od'
#aos had almost "or!otten how hi!h and thic$ the walls o" Storms 5nd loomed %p
close' 6in! Stannis halted beneath them, a "ew "eet "rom Ser +ortna& and his standard-
bearer' 1Ser,3 he said with sti"" co%rtes&' ,e made no moe to dismo%nt'
12& lord'3 That was less co%rteo%s, b%t not %ne0pected'
1It is c%stomar& to !rant a $in! the st&le ;o%r 8race,3 anno%nced 7ord =lorent' * red
!old "o0 po$ed its shinin! sno%t o%t "rom his breastplate thro%!h a circle o" lapis la?%li
"lowers' >er& tall, er& co%rtl&, and er& rich, the 7ord o" Bri!htwater 6eep had been
the "irst o" Benl&s bannermen to declare "or Stannis, and the "irst to reno%nce his old
!ods and ta$e %p the 7ord o" 7i!ht' Stannis had le"t his )%een on #ra!onstone alon!
with her %ncle *0ell, b%t the )%eens men were more n%mero%s and power"%l than eer,
and *lester =lorent was the "oremost'
Ser +ortna& 4enrose i!nored him, pre"errin! to address Stannis' 1This is a notable
compan&' The !reat lords 5stermont, 5rrol, and >arner' Ser Con o" the !reen-apple
=ossowa&s and Ser Br&an o" the red' 7ord +aron and Ser 8%&ard o" 6in! Benl&s
Bainbow 8%ard ' ' ' and the p%issant 7ord *lester =lorent o" Bri!htwater, to be s%re' Is
that &o%r /nion 6ni!ht I sp& to the rear. (ell met, Ser #aos' I "ear I do not $now the
lad&'3
1I am named 2elisandre, ser'3 She alone came %narmored, b%t "or her "lowin! red
robes' *t her throat the !reat r%b& dran$ the da&li!ht' 1I sere &o%r $in!, and the 7ord o"
7i!ht'3
1I wish &o% well o" them, m& lad&,3 Ser +ortna& answered, 1b%t I bow to other !ods,
and a di""erent $in!'3
1There is b%t one tr%e $in!, and one tr%e !od,3 anno%nced 7ord =lorent'
1*re we here to disp%te theolo!&, m& lord. ,ad I $nown, I wo%ld hae bro%!ht a
septon'3
1;o% $now "%ll well wh& we are here,3 said Stannis' 1;o% hae had a "ortni!ht to
consider m& o""er' ;o% sent &o%r raens' No help has come' Nor will it' Storms 5nd
stands alone, and I am o%t o" patience' /ne last time, ser, I command &o% to open &o%r
!ates, and delier me that which is mine b& ri!hts'3
1*nd the terms.3 as$ed Ser +ortna&'
1Bemain as be"ore,3 said Stannis' 1I will pardon &o% "or &o%r treason, as I hae
pardoned these lords &o% see behind me' The men o" &o%r !arrison will be "ree to enter
m& serice or to ret%rn %nmolested to their homes' ;o% ma& $eep &o%r weapons and as
m%ch propert& as a man can carr&' I will re)%ire &o%r horses and pac$ animals,
howeer'3
1*nd what o" 5dric Storm.3
12& brothers bastard m%st be s%rrendered to me'3
1Then m& answer is still no, m& lord'3
The $in! clenched his 9aw' ,e said nothin!'
2elisandre spo$e instead' 12a& the 7ord o" 7i!ht protect &o% in &o%r dar$ness, Ser
+ortna&'3
12a& the /thers b%!!er &o%r 7ord o" 7i!ht,3 4enrose spat bac$, 1and wipe his arse
with that ra! &o% bear'3
7ord *lester =lorent cleared his throat' 1Ser +ortna&, mind &o%r ton!%e' ,is 8race
means the bo& no harm' The child is his own blood, and mine as well' 2& niece #elena
was the mother, as all men $now' I" &o% will not tr%st to the $in!, tr%st to me' ;o% $now
me "or a man o" honorA3
1I $now &o% "or a man o" ambition,3 Ser +ortna& bro$e in' 1* man who chan!es $in!s
and !ods the wa& I chan!e m& boots' *s do these other t%rncloa$s I see be"ore me'3
*n an!r& clamor went %p "rom the $in!s men' ,e is not "ar wron!, #aos tho%!ht'
/nl& a short time be"ore, the =ossowa&s, 8%&ard 2on ri!en, and the 7ords +aron,
>arner, 5rrol, and 5stermont had all belon!ed to Benl&' The& had sat in his pailion,
helped him ma$e his battle plans, plotted how Stannis mi!ht be bro%!ht low' *nd 7ord
=lorent had been with themAhe mi!ht be F%een Sel&ses own %ncle, b%t that had not
$ept the 7ord o" Bri!htwater "rom bendin! his $nee to Benl& when Benl&s star was
risin!'
Br&ce +aron wal$ed his horse "orward a "ew paces, his lon! rainbowstriped cloa$
twistin! in the wind o"" the ba&' 1No man here is a t%rncloa$, ser' 2& "ealt& belon!s to
Storms 5nd, and 6in! Stannis is its ri!ht"%l lord ' ' ' and o%r tr%e $in!' ,e is the last o"
,o%se Baratheon, Boberts heir and Benl&s'3
1I" that is so, wh& is the 6ni!ht o" =lowers not amon! &o%. *nd where is 2athis
Bowan. Band&ll Tarl&. 7ad& /a$heart. (h& are the& not here in &o%r compan&, the&
who loed Benl& best. (here is Brienne o" Tarth, I as$ &o%.3
1That one.3 Ser 8%&ard 2orri!en la%!hed harshl&' 1She ran' *s well she mi!ht' ,ers
was the hand that slew the $in!'3
1* lie,3 Ser +ortna& said' 1I $new Brienne when she was no more than a !irl pla&in! at
her "athers "eet in 5en"all ,all, and I $new her still better when the 5enstar sent her
here to Storms 5nd' She loed Benl& Baratheon "rom the "irst moment she laid e&es on
him, a blind man co%ld see it'3
1To be s%re,3 declared 7ord =lorent airil&, 1and she wo%ld scarcel& be the "irst maid
maddened to m%rder b& a man who sp%rned her' Tho%!h "or m& own part, I beliee it
was 7ad& Star$ who slew the $in!' She had 9o%rne&ed all the wa& "rom Bierr%n to
plead "or an alliance, and Benl& had re"%sed her' No do%bt she saw him as a dan!er to
her son, and so remoed him'3
1It was Brienne,3 insisted 7ord +aron' 1Ser 5mmon +%& swore as m%ch be"ore he
died' ;o% hae m& oath on that, Ser +ortna&'3
+ontempt thic$ened Ser +ortna&s oice' 1*nd what is that worth. ;o% wear &o%r
cloa$ o" man& colors, I see' The one Benl& !ae &o% when &o% swore &o%r oath to
protect him' I" he is dead, how is it &o% are not.3 ,e t%rned his scorn on 8%&ard
2orri!en' 1I mi!ht as$ the same o" &o%, ser' 8%&ard the 8reen, &es. /" the Bainbow
8%ard. Sworn to !ie his own li"e "or his $in!s. i" I had s%ch a cloa$, I wo%ld be
ashamed to wear it'3
2orri!en bristled' 1Be !lad this is a parle&, 4enrose, or I wo%ld hae &o%r ton!%e "or
those words'3
1*nd cast it in the same "ire where &o% le"t &o%r manhood.3
15no%!h@3 Stannis said' 1The 7ord o" 7i!ht willed that m& brother die "or his treason'
(ho did the deed matters not'3
1Not to &o%, perhaps,3 said Ser +ortna&' 1I hae heard &o%r proposal, 7ord Stannis'
Now here is mine'3 ,e p%lled o"" his !loe and "l%n! it "%ll in the $in!s "ace' 1Sin!le
combat' Sword, lance, or an& weapon &o% care to name' /r i" &o% "ear to ha?ard &o%r
ma!ic sword and ro&al s$in a!ainst an old man, name &o% a champion, and I shall do the
same'3 ,e !ae 8%&ard 2orri!en and Br&ce +aron a scathin! loo$' 15ither o" these
p%ps wo%ld do nicel&, I sho%ld thin$'3
Ser 8%&ard 2orri!en !rew dar$ with "%r&' 1I will ta$e %p the !a!e, i" it please the
$in!'3
1*s wo%ld I3 Br&ce +aron loo$ed to Stannis'
The $in! !ro%nd his teeth' 1No'3
Ser +ortna& did not seem s%rprised' 1Is it the 9%stice o" &o%r ca%se &o% do%bt, m& lord,
or the stren!th o" &o%r arm. *re &o% a"raid Ill piss on &o%r b%rnin! sword and p%t it
o%t.3
1#o &o% ta$e me "or an %tter "ool, ser.3 as$ed Stannis' 1I hae twent& tho%sand men'
;o% are besie!ed b& land and sea' (h& wo%ld I choose sin!le combat when m& eent%al
ictor& is certain.3 The $in! pointed a "in!er at him' 1I !ie &o% "air warnin!' I" &o%
"orce me to ta$e m& castle b& storm, &o% ma& e0pect no merc&' I will han! &o% "or
traitors, eer& one o" &o%'3
1*s the !ods will it' Brin! on &o%r storm, m& lordAand recall, i" &o% do, the name o"
this castle'3 Ser +ortna& !ae a p%ll on his reins and rode bac$ toward the !ate'
Stannis said no word, b%t t%rned his horse aro%nd and started bac$ toward his camp'
The others "ollowed' 1I" we storm these walls tho%sands will die,3 "retted ancient 7ord
5stermont, who was the $in!s !rand"ather on his mothers side' 1Better to ha?ard b%t a
sin!le li"e, s%rel&. /%r ca%se is ri!hteo%s, so the !ods m%st s%rel& bless o%r champions
arms with ictor&'3
8od, old man, tho%!ht #aos' ;o% "or!et, we hae onl& one now, 2elisandres 7ord o"
7i!ht'
Ser Con =ossowa& said, 1I wo%ld !ladl& ta$e this challen!e m&sel", tho%!h Im not hal"
the swordsman 7ord +aron is, or Ser 8%&ard' Benl& le"t no notable $ni!hts at Storms
5nd' 8arrison d%t& is "or old men and !reen bo&s'3
7ord +aron a!reed' 1*n eas& ictor&, to be s%re' *nd what !lor&, to win Storms 5nd
with a sin!le stro$e@3
Stannis ra$ed them all with a loo$' 1;o% chatter li$e ma!pies, and with less sense' I
will hae )%iet'3 The $in!s e&es "ell on #aos' 1Ser' Bide with me'3 ,e sp%rred his
horse awa& "rom his "ollowers' /nl& 2elisandre $ept pace, bearin! the !reat standard o"
the "ier& heart with the crowned sta! within' *s i" it had been swallowed whole'
#aos saw the loo$s that passed between the lordlin!s as he rode past them to 9oin the
$in!' These were no onion $ni!hts, b%t pro%d men "rom ho%ses whose names were old
in honor' Somehow he $new that Benl& had neer chided them in s%ch a "ashion' The
&o%n!est o" the Baratheons had been born with a !i"t "or eas& co%rtes& that his brother
sadl& lac$ed'
,e eased bac$ to a slow trot when his horse came %p beside the $in!s' 1;o%r 8race'3
Seen at close hand, Stannis loo$ed worse than #aos had reali?ed "rom a"ar' ,is "ace
had !rown ha!!ard, and he had dar$ circles %nder his e&es'
1* sm%!!ler m%st be a "air 9%d!e o" men,3 the $in! said' 1(hat do &o% ma$e o" this
Ser +ortna& 4enrose.3
1* st%bborn man,3 said #aos care"%ll&'
1,%n!r& "or death, I call it' ,e throws m& pardon in m& "ace' *&e, and throws his li"e
awa& in the bar!ain, and the lies o" eer& man inside those walls' Sin!le combat.3 The
$in! snorted in derision' 1No do%bt he mistoo$ me "or Bobert'3
12ore li$e he was desperate' (hat other hope does he hae.3
1None' The castle will "all' B%t how to do it )%ic$l&.3 Stannis brooded on that "or a
moment' <nder the stead& clop-clop o" hooes, #aos co%ld hear the "aint so%nd o" the
$in! !rindin! his teeth' 17ord *lester %r!es me to brin! old 7ord 4enrose here' Ser
+ortna&s "ather' ;o% $now the man, I beliee.3
1(hen I came as &o%r eno&, 7ord 4enrose receied me more co%rteo%sl& than most,3
#aos said' 1,e is an old done man, sire' Sic$l& and "ailin!'3
1=lorent wo%ld hae him "ail more isibl&' In his sons si!ht, with a noose abo%t his
nec$'3 it was dan!ero%s to oppose the )%eens men, b%t #aos had owed alwa&s to tell
his $in! the tr%th' 1I thin$ that wo%ld be ill done, m& lie!e' Ser +ortna& will watch his
"ather die be"ore he wo%ld eer betra& his tr%st' It wo%ld !ain %s nothin!, and brin!
dishonor to o%r ca%se'3
1(hat dishonor.3 Stannis bristled' 1(o%ld &o% hae me spare the lies o" traitors.3
1;o% hae spared the lies o" those behind %s'3
1#o &o% scold me "or that, sm%!!ler.3
1It is not m& place'3 #aos "eared he had said too m%ch'
The $in! was relentless' 1;o% esteem this 4enrose more than &o% do m& lords
bannermen' (h&.3
1,e $eeps "aith'3
1* misplaced "aith in a dead %s%rper'3
1;es,3 #aos admitted, 1b%t still, he $eeps "aith'3
1*s those behind %s do not.3
#aos had come too "ar with Stannis to pla& co& now' 17ast &ear the& were Boberts
men' * moon a!o the& were Benl&s' This mornin! the& are &o%rs' (hose will the& be
on the morrow.3
*nd Stannis la%!hed' * s%dden !%st, ro%!h and "%ll o" scorn' 1I told &o%, 2elisandre,3
he said to the red woman, 1m& /nion 6ni!ht tells me the tr%th'3
1I see &o% $now him well, ;o%r 8race,3 the red woman said'
1#aos, I hae missed &o% sorel&,3 the $in! said' 1*&e, I hae a tail o" traitors, &o%r
nose does not deceie &o%' 2& lords bannermen are inconstant een in their treasons' I
need them, b%t &o% sho%ld $now how it sic$ens me to pardon s%ch as these when I hae
p%nished better men "or lesser crimes' ;o% hae eer& ri!ht to reproach me, Ser #aos'3
1;o% reproach &o%rsel" more than I eer co%ld, ;o%r 8race' ;o% m%st hae these !reat
lords to win &o%r throneA3
1=in!ers and all, it seems'3 Stannis smiled !riml&'
<nthin$in!, #aos raised his maimed hand to the po%ch at his throat, and "elt the
"in!erbones within' 7%c$'
The $in! saw the motion' 1*re the& still there, /nion 6ni!ht. ;o% hae not lost
them.3
1No',
1(h& do &o% $eep them. I hae o"ten wondered'3
1The& remind me o" what I was' (here I came "rom' The& remind me o" &o%r 9%stice,
m& lie!e'3
1It was 9%stice,3 Stannis said' 1* !ood act does not wash o%t the bad, nor a bad act the
!ood' 5ach sho%ld hae its own reward' ;o% were a hero and a sm%!!ler'3 ,e !lanced
behind at 7ord =lorent and the others, rainbow $ni!hts and t%rncloa$s, who were
"ollowin! at a distance' 1These pardoned lords wo%ld do well to re"lect on that' 8ood
men and tr%e will "i!ht "or Co""re&, wron!l& beliein! him the tr%e $in!' * northman
mi!ht een sa& the same o" Bobb Star$' B%t these lords who "loc$ed to m& brothers
banners $new him "or a %s%rper' The& t%rned their bac$s on their ri!ht"%l $in! "or no
better reason than dreams o" power and !lor&, and I hae mar$ed them "or what the& are'
4ardoned them, &es' =or!ien' B%t not "or!otten'3 ,e "ell silent "or a moment, broodin!
on his plans "or 9%stice' *nd then, abr%ptl&, he said, 1(hat do the small"ol$ sa& o"
Benl&s death.3
1The& !riee' ;o%r brother was well loed'3
1=ools loe a "ool,3 !r%mbled Stannis, 1b%t I !riee "or him as well' =or the bo& he
was, not the man he !rew to be'3 ,e was silent "or a time, and then he said, 1,ow did
the commons ta$e the news o" +erseis incest.3
1(hile we were amon! them the& sho%ted "or 6in! Stannis' I cannot spea$ "or what
the& said once we had sailed'3
1So &o% do not thin$ the& belieed.3
1(hen I was sm%!!lin!, I learned that some men beliee eer&thin! and some
nothin!' (e met both sorts' *nd there is another tale bein! spread as wellA3
1;es'3 Stannis bit o"" the word' 1Sel&se has !ien me horns, and tied a "ools bells to
the end o" each' 2& da%!hter "athered b& a hal"wit 9ester@ * tale as ile as it is abs%rd'
Benl& threw it in m& teeth when we met to parle&' ;o% wo%ld need to be as mad as
4atch"ace to beliee s%ch a thin!'3
1That ma& be so, m& lie!e ' ' ' b%t whether the& beliee the stor& or no, the& deli!ht to
tell it'3 In man& places it had come be"ore them, poisonin! the well "or their own tr%e
tale'
1Bobert co%ld piss in a c%p and men wo%ld call it wine, b%t I o""er them p%re cold
water and the& s)%int in s%spicion and m%tter to each other abo%t how )%eer it tastes'3
Stannis !ro%nd his teeth' 1I" someone said I had ma!ic$ed m&sel" into a boar to $ill
Bobert, li$el& the& wo%ld beliee that as well'3
1;o% cannot stop them tal$in!, m& lie!e,3 #aos said, 1b%t when &o% ta$e &o%r
en!eance on &o%r brothers tr%e $illers, the realm will $now s%ch tales "or lies'3
Stannis onl& seemed to hal" hear him' 1I hae no do%bt that +ersei had a hand in
Boberts death' I will hae 9%stice "or him' *&e, and "or Ned Star$ and Con *rr&n as
well'3
1*nd "or Benl&.3 The words were o%t be"ore #aos co%ld stop to consider them'
=or a lon! time the $in! did not spea$' Then, er& so"tl&, he said, 1I dream o" it
sometimes' /" Benl&s d&in!' * !reen tent, candles, a woman screamin!' *nd blood'3
Stannis loo$ed down at his hands' 1I was still abed when he died' ;o%r #ean will tell
&o%' ,e tried to wa$e me' #awn was ni!h and m& lords were waitin!, "rettin!' I sho%ld
hae been ahorse, armored' I $new Benl& wo%ld attac$ at brea$ o" da&' #ean sa&s I
thrashed and cried o%t, b%t what does it matter. It was a dream' I was in m& tent when
Benl& died, and when I wo$e m& hands were clean'3
Ser #aos Seaworth co%ld "eel his phantom "in!ertips start to itch' Somethin! is wron!
here, the onetime sm%!!ler tho%!ht' ;et he nodded and said, 1I see'3
1Benl& o""ered me a peach' *t o%r parle&' 2oc$ed me, de"ied me, threatened me, and
o""ered me a peach' I tho%!ht he was drawin! a blade and went "or mine own' (as that
his p%rpose, to ma$e me show "ear. /r was it one o" his pointless 9ests. (hen he spo$e
o" how sweet the peach was, did his words hae some hidden meanin!.3 The $in! !ae
a sha$e o" his head, li$e a do! sha$in! a rabbit to snap its nec$' 1/nl& Benl& co%ld e0
me so with a piece o" "r%it' ,e bro%!ht his doom on himsel" with his treason, b%t I did
loe him, #aos' I $now that now' I swear, I will !o to m& !rae thin$in! o" m&
brothers peach'3
B& then the& were in amon!st the camp, ridin! past the ordered rows o" tents, the
blowin! banners, and the stac$s o" shields and spears' The stin$ o" horse d%n! was
hea& in the air, min!led with the woodsmo$e and the smell o" coo$in! meat' Stannis
reined %p lon! eno%!h to bar$ a br%s)%e dismissal to 7ord =lorent and the others,
commandin! them to attend him in his pailion one ho%r hence "or a co%ncil o" war'
The& bowed their heads and dispersed, while #aos and 2elisandre rode to the $in!s
pailion'
The tent had to be lar!e, since it was there his lords bannermen came to co%ncil' ;et
there was nothin! !rand abo%t it' It was a soldiers tent o" hea& canas, d&ed the dar$
&ellow that sometimes passed "or !old' /nl& the ro&al banner that streamed atop the
center pole mar$ed it as a $in!s' That, and the !%ards witho%t: )%eens men leanin! on
tall spears, with the bad!e o" the "ier& heart sewn oer their own'
8rooms came %p to help them dismo%nt' /ne o" the !%ards relieed 2elisandre o" her
c%mbersome standard, driin! the sta"" deep into the so"t !ro%nd' #ean stood to one
side o" the door, waitin! to li"t the "lap "or the $in!' *n older s)%ire waited beside him'
Stannis too$ o"" his crown and handed it to #ean' 1+old water, c%ps "or two' #aos,
attend me' 2& lad&, I shall send "or &o% when I re)%ire &o%'3
1*s the $in! commands'3 2elisandre bowed'
*"ter the bri!htness o" the mornin!, the interior o" the pailion seemed cool and dim'
Stannis seated himsel" on a plain wooden camp stool and waed #aos to another' 1/ne
da& I ma& ma$e &o% a lord, sm%!!ler' I" onl& to ir$ +elti!ar and =lorent' ;o% will not
than$ me, tho%!h' It will mean &o% m%st s%""er thro%!h these co%ncils, and "ei!n interest
in the bra&in! o" m%les'3
1(h& do &o% hae them, i" the& sere no p%rpose.3
1The m%les loe the so%nd o" their own bra&in!, wh& else. *nd I need them to ha%l
m& cart' /h, to be s%re, once in a !reat while some %se"%l notion is p%t "orth' B%t not
toda&, I thin$Aah, heres &o%r son with o%r water'3
#ean set the tra& on the table and "illed two cla& c%ps' The $in! sprin$led a pinch o"
salt in his c%p be"ore he dran$: #aos too$ his water strai!ht, wishin! it were wine'
1;o% were spea$in! o" &o%r co%ncil.3
17et me tell &o% how it will !o' 7ord >elar&on will %r!e me to storm the castle walls at
"irst li!ht, !rapnels and scalin! ladders a!ainst arrows and boilin! oil' The &o%n! m%les
will thin$ this a splendid notion' 5stermont will "aor settlin! down to stare them o%t,
as T&rell and Bedw&ne once tried with me' That mi!ht ta$e a &ear, b%t old m%les are
patient' *nd 7ord +aron and the others who li$e to $ic$ will want to ta$e %p Ser
+ortna&s !a%ntlet and ha?ard all %pon a sin!le combat' 5ach one ima!inin! he will be
m& champion and win %nd&in! "ame'3 The $in! "inished his water' 1(hat wo%ld &o%
hae me do, sm%!!ler.3
#aos considered a moment be"ore he answered' 1Stri$e "or 6in!s 7andin! at once'3
The $in! snorted' 1*nd leae Storms 5nd %nta$en.3
1Ser +ortna& does not hae the power to harm &o%' The 7annisters do' * sie!e wo%ld
ta$e too lon!, sin!le combat is too chanc&, and an assa%lt wo%ld cost tho%sands o" lies
with no certaint& o" s%ccess' *nd there is no need' /nce &o% dethrone Co""re& this castle
m%st come to &o% with all the rest' It is said abo%t the camp that 7ord T&win 7annister
r%shes west to resc%e 7annisport "rom the en!eance o" the northmen ' ' '3
1;o% hae a passin! cleer "ather, #ean,3 the $in! told the bo& standin! b& his elbow'
1,e ma$es me wish I had more sm%!!lers in m& serice' *nd "ewer lords' Tho%!h &o%
are wron! in one respect, #aos' There is a need' I" I leae Storms 5nd %nta$en in m&
rear, it will be said I was de"eated here' *nd that I cannot permit' 2en do not loe me as
the& loed m& brothers' The& "ollow me beca%se the& "ear me ' ' ' and de"eat is death to
"ear' The castle m%st "all'3 ,is 9aw !ro%nd side to side' 1*&e, and )%ic$l&' #oran 2artell
has called his banners and "orti"ied the mo%ntain passes' ,is #ornishmen are poised to
sweep down onto the 2arches' *nd ,i!h!arden is "ar "rom spent' 2& brother le"t the
!reater part o" his power at Bitterbrid!e, near si0t& tho%sand "oot' I sent m& wi"es
brother Ser 5rrol with Ser 4armen +rane to ta$e them %nder m& command, b%t the&
hae not ret%rned' I "ear that Ser 7oras T&rell reached Bitterbrid!e be"ore m& eno&s,
and too$ that host "or his own'3
1*ll the more reason to ta$e 6in!s 7andin! as soon as we ma&' Salladhor Saan told
meA3
1Salladhor Saan thin$s onl& o" !old@3 Stannis e0ploded' 1,is head is "%ll o" dreams o"
the treas%re he "ancies lies %nder the Bed 6eep, so let %s hear no more o" Salladhor
Saan' The da& I need militar& co%nsel "rom a 7&sene bri!and is the da& I p%t o"" m&
crown and ta$e the blac$'3 The $in! made a "ist' 1*re &o% here to sere me, sm%!!ler.
/r to e0 me with ar!%ments.3
1I am &o%rs,3 #aos said'
1Then hear me' Ser +ortna&s lie%tenant is co%sin to the =ossowa&s' 7ord 2eadows, a
!reen bo& o" twent&' Sho%ld some ill chance stri$e down 4enrose, command o" Storms
5nd wo%ld pass to this striplin!, and his co%sins beliee he wo%ld accept m& terms and
&ield %p the castle'3
1I remember another striplin! who was !ien command o" Storms 5nd' ,e co%ld not
hae been m%ch more than twent&'3
17ord 2eadows is not as stonehead st%bborn as I was'3
1St%bborn or craen, what does it matter. Ser +ortna& 4enrose seemed hale and heart&
to me'3
1So did m& brother, the da& be"ore his death' The ni!ht is dar$ and "%ll o" terrors,
#aos'3
#aos Seaworth "elt the small hairs risin! on the bac$ o" his nec$' 12& lord, I do not
%nderstand &o%'3
1I do not re)%ire &o%r %nderstandin!' /nl& &o%r serice' Ser +ortna& will be dead
within the da&' 2elisandre has seen it in the "lames o" the "%t%re' ,is death and the
manner o" it' ,e will not die in $ni!htl& combat, needless to sa&'3 Stannis held o%t his
c%p, and #ean "illed it a!ain "rom the "la!on' 1,er "lames do not lie' She saw Benl&s
doom as well' /n #ra!onstone she saw it, and told Sel&se' 7ord >elar&on and &o%r
"riend Salladhor Saan wo%ld hae had me sail a!ainst Co""re&, b%t 2elisandre told me
that i" I went to Storms 5nd, I wo%ld win the best part o" m& brothers power, and she
was ri!ht'3
1B-b%t,3 #aos stammered, 17ord Benl& onl& came here beca%se &o% had laid sie!e to
the castle' ,e was marchin! toward 6in!s 7andin! be"ore, a!ainst the 7annisters, he
wo%ld haeA3
Stannis shi"ted in his seat, "rownin!' 1(as, wo%ld hae, what is that. ,e did what he
did' ,e came here with his banners and his peaches, to his doom ' ' ' and it was well "or
me he did' 2elisandre saw another da& in her "lames as well' * morrow where Benl&
rode o%t o" the so%th in his !reen armor to smash m& host beneath the walls o" 6in!s
7andin!' ,ad I met m& brother there, it mi!ht hae been me who died in place o" him'3
1/r &o% mi!ht hae 9oined &o%r stren!th to his to brin! down the 7annisters,3 #aos
protested' 1(h& not that. I" she saw two "%t%res, well ' ' ' both cannot be tr%e'3
6in! Stannis pointed a "in!er' 1There &o% err, /nion 6ni!ht' Some li!hts cast more
than one shadow' Stand be"ore the ni!ht"ire and &o%ll see "or &o%rsel"' The "lames shi"t
and dance, neer still' The shadows !row tall and short, and eer& man casts a do?en'
Some are "ainter than others, thats all' (ell, men cast their shadows across the "%t%re as
well' /ne shadow or man&' 2elisandre sees them all'
1;o% do not loe the woman' I $now that, #aos, I am not blind' 2& lords misli$e her
too' 5stermont thin$s the "lamin! heart ill-chosen and be!s to "i!ht beneath the crowned
sta! as o" old' Ser 8%&ard sa&s a woman sho%ld not be m& standard-bearer' /thers
whisper that she has no place in m& war co%ncils, that I o%!ht to send her bac$ to
*sshai, that it is sin"%l to $eep her in m& tent o" a ni!ht' *&e, the& whisper ' ' ' while she
seres'3
1Seres how.3 #aos as$ed, dreadin! the answer'
1*s needed'3 The $in! loo$ed at him' 1*nd &o%.3
1I ' ' '3 #aos lic$ed his lips' 1I am &o%rs to command' (hat wo%ld &o% hae me do.3
1Nothin! &o% hae not done be"ore' /nl& land a boat beneath the castle, %nseen, in the
blac$ o" ni!ht' +an &o% do that.3
1;es' Toni!ht.3
The $in! !ae a c%rt nod' 1;o% will need a small boat' Not Blac$ Betha' No one m%st
$now what &o% do'3
#aos wanted to protest' ,e was a $ni!ht now, no lon!er a sm%!!ler, and he had neer
been an assassin' ;et when he opened his mo%th, the words wo%ld not come' This was
Stannis, his 9%st lord, to whom he owed all he was' *nd he had his sons to consider as
well' 8ods be !ood, what has she done to him.
1;o% are )%iet,3 Stannis obsered'
*nd sho%ld remain so, #aos told himsel", &et instead he said, 12& lie!e, &o% m%st
hae the castle, I see that now, b%t s%rel& there are other wa&s' +leaner wa&s' 7et Ser
+ortna& $eep the bastard bo& and he ma& well &ield'3
1I m%st hae the bo&, #aos' 2%st' 2elisandre has seen that in the "lames as well'3
#aos !roped "or some other answer' 1Storms 5nd holds no $ni!ht who can match Ser
8%&ard or 7ord +aron, or an& o" a h%ndred others sworn to &o%r serice' This sin!le
combat ' ' ' co%ld it be that Ser +ortna& see$s "or a wa& to &ield with honor. 5en i" it
means his own li"e.3
* tro%bled loo$ crossed the $in!s "ace li$e a passin! clo%d' 12ore li$e he plans some
treacher&' There will be no combat o" champions' Ser +ortna& was dead be"ore he eer
threw that !loe' The "lames do not lie, #aos'3
;et the& re)%ire me to ma$e them tr%e, he tho%!ht' It had been a lon! time since #aos
Seaworth "elt so sad'
*nd so it was that he "o%nd himsel" once more crossin! Shipbrea$er Ba& in the dar$ o"
ni!ht, steerin! a tin& boat with a blac$ sail' The s$& was the same, and the sea' The same
salt smell was in the air, and the water ch%c$lin! a!ainst the h%ll was 9%st as he
remembered it' * tho%sand "lic$erin! camp"ires b%rned aro%nd the castle, as the "ires o"
the T&rells and Bedw&nes had si0teen &ears be"ore' B%t all the rest was di""erent'
The last time it was li"e I bro%!ht to Storms 5nd, shaped to loo$ li$e onions' This time
it is death, in the shape o" 2elisandre o" *sshai' Si0teen &ears a!o, the sails had crac$ed
and snapped with eer& shi"t o" wind, %ntil hed p%lled them down and !one on with
m%""led oars' 5en so, his heart had been in his !%llet' The men on the Bedw&ne !alle&s
had !rown la0 a"ter so lon!, howeer, and the& had slipped thro%!h the cordon smooth
as blac$ satin' This time, the onl& ships in si!ht belon!ed to Stannis, and the onl& dan!er
wo%ld come "rom watchers on the castle walls' 5en so, #aos was ta%t as a bowstrin!'
2elisandre h%ddled %pon a thwart, lost in the "olds o" a dar$ red cloa$ that coered her
"rom head to heels, her "ace a paleness beneath the cowl' #aos loed the water' ,e
slept best when he had a dec$ roc$in! beneath him, and the si!hin! o" the wind in his
ri!!in! was a sweeter so%nd to him than an& a sin!er co%ld ma$e with his harp strin!s'
5en the sea bro%!ht him no com"ort toni!ht, tho%!h' 1I can smell the "ear on &o%, ser
$ni!ht,3 the red woman said so"tl&'
1Someone once told me the ni!ht is dar$ and "%ll o" terrors' *nd toni!ht I am no
$ni!ht' Toni!ht I am #aos the sm%!!ler a!ain' (o%ld that &o% were an onion'3
She la%!hed' 1Is it me &o% "ear. /r what we do.3
1(hat &o% do' Ill hae no part o" it'3
1;o%r hand raised the sail' ;o%r hand holds the tiller'3
Silent, #aos tended to his co%rse' The shore was a snarl o" roc$s, so he was ta$in!
them well o%t across the ba&' ,e wo%ld wait "or the tide to t%rn be"ore comin! abo%t'
Storms 5nd dwindled behind them, b%t the red woman seemed %nconcerned' 1*re &o%
a !ood man, #aos Seaworth.3 she as$ed'
(o%ld a !ood man be doin! this. 1I am a man,3 he said' 1I am $ind to m& wi"e, b%t I
hae $nown other women' I hae tried to be a "ather to m& sons, to help ma$e them a
place in this world' *&e, Ie bro$en laws, b%t I neer "elt eil %ntil toni!ht' I wo%ld sa&
m& parts are mi0ed, mlad&' 8ood and bad'3
1* !re& man,3 she said' 1Neither white nor blac$, b%t parta$in! o" both' Is that what
&o% are, Ser #aos.3
1(hat i" I am. It seems to me that most men are !re&'3
1I" hal" o" an onion is blac$ with rot, it is a rotten onion' * man is !ood, or he is eil'3
The "ires behind them had melted into one a!%e !low a!ainst the blac$ s$&, and the
land was almost o%t o" si!ht' It was time to come abo%t' 1(atch &o%r head, m& lad&'3 ,e
p%shed on the tiller, and the small boat threw %p a c%rl o" blac$ water as she t%rned'
2elisandre leaned %nder the swin!in! &ard, one hand on the !%nwale, calm as eer'
(ood crea$ed, canas crac$ed, and water splashed, so lo%dl& a man mi!ht swear the
castle was s%re to hear' #aos $new better' The endless crash o" wae on roc$ was the
onl& so%nd that eer penetrated the massie seaward walls o" Storms 5nd, and that b%t
"aintl&'
* ripplin! wa$e spread o%t behind as the& sw%n! bac$ toward the shore' 1;o% spea$ o"
men and onions,3 #aos said to 2elisandre' 1(hat o" women. Is it not the same "or
them. *re &o% !ood or eil, m& lad&.3
That made her ch%c$le' 1/h, !ood' I am a $ni!ht o" sorts m&sel", sweet ser' *
champion o" li!ht and li"e'3
1;et &o% mean to $ill a man toni!ht,3 he said' 1*s &o% $illed 2aester +ressen'3
1;o%r maester poisoned himsel"' ,e meant to poison me, b%t I was protected b& a
!reater power and he was not'3
1*nd Benl& Baratheon. (ho was it who $illed him.3
,er head t%rned' Beneath the shadow o" the cowl, her e&es b%rned li$e pale red candle
"lames' 1Not 73
17iar'3 #aos was certain now'
2elisandre la%!hed a!ain' 1;o% are lost in dar$ness and con"%sion, Ser #aos'3
1*nd a !ood thin!'3 #aos !est%red at the distant li!hts "lic$erin! alon! the walls o"
Storms 5nd' 1=eel how cold the wind is. The !%ards will h%ddle close to those torches'
* little warmth, a little li!ht, the&re a com"ort on a ni!ht li$e this' ;et that will blind
them, so the& will not see %s pass'3 I hope' 1The !od o" dar$ness protects %s now, m&
lad&' 5en &o%'3
The "lames o" her e&es seemed to b%rn a little bri!hter at that' 1Spea$ not that name,
ser' 7est &o% draw his blac$ e&e %pon %s' ,e protects no man, I promise &o%' ,e is the
enem& o" all that lies' It is the torches that hide %s, &o% hae said so &o%rsel"' =ire' The
bri!ht !i"t o" the 7ord o" 7i!ht'3
1,ae it &o%r wa&'3
1,is wa&, rather'3
The wind was shi"tin!, #aos co%ld "eel it, see it in the wa& the blac$ canas rippled'
,e reached "or the hal&ards' 1,elp me brin! in the sail' Ill row %s the rest o" the wa&'3
To!ether the& tied o"" the sail as the boat roc$ed beneath them' *s #aos %nshipped
the oars and slid them into the chopp& blac$ water, he said, 1(ho rowed &o% to Benl&.3
1There was no need,3 she said' 1,e was %nprotected' B%t here ' ' ' this Storms 5nd is
an old place' There are spells woen into the stones' #ar$ walls that no shadow can pass
Aancient, "or!otten, &et still in place'3
1Shadow.3 #aos "elt his "lesh pric$lin!' 1* shadow is a thin! o" dar$ness'3
1;o% are more i!norant than a child, ser $ni!ht' There are no shadows in the dar$'
Shadows are the serants o" li!ht, the children o" "ire' The bri!htest "lame casts the
dar$est shadows'3
=rownin!, #aos h%shed her then' The& were comin! close to shore once more, and
oices carried across the water' ,e rowed, the "aint so%nd o" his oars lost in the rh&thm
o" the waes' The seaward side o" Storms 5nd perched %pon a pale white cli"", the
chal$& stone slopin! %p steepl& to hal" a!ain the hei!ht o" the massie c%rtain wall' *
mo%th &awned in the cli"", and it was that #aos steered "or, as he had si0teen &ears
be"ore' The t%nnel opened on a caern %nder the castle, where the storm lords o" old had
b%ilt their landin!'
The passa!e was nai!able onl& d%rin! hi!h tide, and was neer less than treachero%s,
b%t his sm%!!lers s$ills had not deserted him' #aos threaded their wa& de"tl& between
the 9a!!ed roc$s %ntil the cae mo%th loomed %p be"ore them' ,e let the waes carr&
them inside' The& crashed aro%nd him, slammin! the boat this wa& and that and soa$in!
them to the s$in' * hal"-seen "in!er o" roc$ came r%shin! %p o%t o" the !loom, snarlin!
"oam, and #aos barel& $ept them o"" it with an oar'
Then the& were past, en!%l"ed in dar$ness, and the waters smoothed'
The little boat slowed and swirled' The so%nd o" their breathin! echoed %ntil it seemed
to s%rro%nd them' #aos had not e0pected the blac$ness' The last time, torches had
b%rned all alon! the t%nnel, and the e&es o" starin! men had peered down thro%!h the
m%rder holes in the ceilin!' The portc%llis was somewhere ahead, he $new' #aos %sed
the oars to slow them, and the& dri"ted a!ainst it almost !entl&'
1This is as "ar as we !o, %nless &o% hae a man inside to li"t the !ate "or %s'3 ,is
whispers sc%rried across the lappin! water li$e a line o" mice on so"t pin$ "eet'
1,ae we passed within the walls.3
1;es' Beneath' B%t we can !o no "arther' The portc%llis !oes all the wa& to the bottom'
*nd the bars are too closel& spaced "or een a child to s)%ee?e thro%!h'3
There was no answer b%t a so"t r%stlin!' *nd then a li!ht bloomed amidst the dar$ness'
#aos raised a hand to shield his e&es, and his breath ca%!ht in his throat' 2elisandre
had thrown bac$ her cowl and shr%!!ed o%t o" the smotherin! robe' Beneath, she was
na$ed, and h%!e with child' Swollen breasts h%n! hea& a!ainst her chest, and her bell&
b%l!ed as i" near to b%rstin!' 18ods presere %s,3 he whispered, and heard her answerin!
la%!h, deep and throat&' ,er e&es were hot coals, and the sweat that dappled her s$in
seemed to !low with a li!ht o" its own' 2elisandre shone'
4antin!, she s)%atted and spread her le!s' Blood ran down her thi!hs, blac$ as in$' ,er
cr& mi!ht hae been a!on& or ecstas& or both' *nd #aos saw the crown o" the childs
head p%sh its wa& o%t o" her' Two arms wri!!led "ree, !raspin!, blac$ "in!ers coilin!
aro%nd 2elisandres strainin! thi!hs, p%shin!, %ntil the whole o" the shadow slid o%t
into the world and rose taller than #aos, tall as the t%nnel, towerin! aboe the boat' ,e
had onl& an instant to loo$ at it be"ore it was !one, twistin! between the bars o" the
portc%llis and racin! across the s%r"ace o" the water, b%t that instant was lon! eno%!h'
,e $new that shadow' *s he $new the man whod cast it'
C#APT"R )(
-O'
The call came dri"tin! thro%!h the blac$ o" ni!ht' Con p%shed himsel" onto an elbow,
his hand reachin! "or 7on!claw b& "orce o" habit as the camp be!an to stir' The horn that
wa$es the sleepers, he tho%!ht'
The lon! low note lin!ered at the ed!e o" hearin!' The sentries at the rin!wall stood
still in their "ootsteps, breath "rostin! and heads t%rned toward the west' *s the so%nd o"
the horn "aded, een the wind ceased to blow' 2en rolled "rom their blan$ets and
reached "or spears and swordbelts, moin! )%ietl&, listenin!' * horse whic$ered and was
h%shed' =or a heartbeat it seemed as i" the whole "orest were holdin! its breath' The
brothers o" the Ni!hts (atch waited "or a second blast, pra&in! the& sho%ld not hear it,
"earin! that the& wo%ld'
(hen the silence had stretched %nbearabl& lon! and the men $new at last that the horn
wo%ld not wind a!ain, the& !rinned at one another sheepishl&, as i" to den& that the& had
been an0io%s' Con Snow "ed a "ew stic$s to the "ire, b%c$led on his swordbelt, p%lled on
his boots, shoo$ the dirt and dew "rom the cloa$, and "astened it aro%nd his sho%lders'
The "lames bla?ed %p beside him, welcome heat beatin! a!ainst his "ace as he dressed'
,e co%ld hear the 7ord +ommander moin! inside the tent' *"ter a moment 2ormont
li"ted the "lap' 1/ne blast.3 /n his sho%lder, his raen sat "l%""ed and silent, loo$in!
miserable'
1/ne, m& lord,3 Con a!reed' 1Brothers ret%rnin!'3
2ormont moed to the "ire' 1The ,al"hand' *nd past time'3 ,e had !rown more
restie eer& da& the& waited: m%ch lon!er and he wo%ld hae been "it to whelp c%bs'
1See that theres hot "ood "or the men and "odder "or the horses' Ill see Fhorin at once'3
1Ill brin! him, m& lord'3 The men "rom the Shadow Tower had been e0pected da&s
a!o' (hen the& had not appeared, the brothers had be!%n to wonder' Con had heard
!loom& m%tterin!s aro%nd the coo$"ire, and not 9%st "rom #oloro%s 5dd' Ser /tt&n
(&thers was "or retreatin! to +astle Blac$ as soon as possible' Ser 2allador 7oc$e
wo%ld stri$e "or the Shadow Tower, hopin! to pic$ %p Fhorins trail and learn what had
be"allen him' *nd Thoren Smallwood wanted to p%sh on into the mo%ntains' 12ance
Ba&der $nows he m%st battle the (atch,3 Thoren had declared, 1b%t he will neer loo$
"or %s so "ar north' I" we ride %p the 2il$water, we can ta$e him %nawares and c%t his
host to ribbons be"ore he $nows we are on him'3
1The n%mbers wo%ld be !reatl& a!ainst %s,3 Ser /tt&n had ob9ected' 1+raster said he
was !atherin! a !reat host' 2an& tho%sands' (itho%t Fhorin, we are onl& two h%ndred'3
1Send two h%ndred woles a!ainst ten tho%sand sheep, ser, and see what happens,3
said Smallwood con"identl&'
1There are !oats amon! these sheep, Thoren,3 warned Carman B%c$well' 1*&e, and
ma&be a "ew lions' Battleshirt, ,arma the #o!shead, *l"&n +row$iller ' ' '3
1I $now them as well as &o% do, B%c$well,3 Thoren Smallwood snapped bac$' 1*nd I
mean to hae their heads, eer& one' These are wildlin!s' No soldiers' * "ew h%ndred
heroes, dr%n$ most li$e, amidst a !reat horde o" women, children, and thralls' (e will
sweep oer them and send them howlin! bac$ to their hoels'3
The& had ar!%ed "or man& ho%rs, and reached no a!reement' The /ld Bear was too
st%bborn to retreat, b%t neither wo%ld he r%sh headlon! %p the 2il$water, see$in! battle'
In the end, nothin! had been decided b%t to wait a "ew more da&s "or the men "rom the
Shadow Tower, and tal$ a!ain i" the& did not appear'
*nd now the& had, which meant that the decision co%ld be dela&ed no lon!er' Con was
!lad o" that m%ch, at least' I" the& m%st battle 2ance Ba&der, let it be soon'
,e "o%nd #oloro%s 5dd at the "ire, complainin! abo%t how di""ic%lt it was "or him to
sleep when people insisted on blowin! horns in the woods' Con !ae him somethin! new
to complain abo%t' To!ether the& wo$e ,a$e, who receied the 7ord +ommanders
orders with a stream o" c%rses, b%t !ot %p all the same and soon had a do?en brothers
c%ttin! roots "or a so%p'
Sam came p%""in! %p as Con crossed the camp' <nder the blac$ hood his "ace was as
pale and ro%nd as the moon' 1I heard the horn' ,as &o%r %ncle come bac$.3
1Its onl& the men "rom the Shadow Tower'3 It was !rowin! harder to clin! to the hope
o" Ben9en Star$s sa"e ret%rn' The cloa$ he had "o%nd beneath the =ist co%ld well hae
belon!ed to his %ncle or one o" his men, een the /ld Bear admitted as m%ch, tho%!h
wh& the& wo%ld hae b%ried it there, wrapped aro%nd the cache o" dra!on!lass, no one
co%ld sa&' 1Sam, I hae to !o'3
*t the rin!wall, he "o%nd the !%ards slidin! spi$es "rom the hal"-"ro?en earth to ma$e
an openin!' It was not lon! %ntil the "irst o" the brothers "rom the Shadow Tower be!an
wendin! their wa& %p the slope' *ll in leather and "%r the& were, with here and there a
bit o" steel or bron?e: hea& beards coered hard lean "aces, and made them loo$ as
sha!!& as their !arrons' Con was s%rprised to see some o" them were ridin! two to a
horse' (hen he loo$ed more closel&, it was plain that man& o" them were wo%nded'
There has been tro%ble on the wa&'
Con $new Fhorin ,al"hand the instant he saw him, tho%!h the& had neer met' The bi!
ran!er was hal" a le!end in the (atch: a man o" slow words and swi"t action, tall and
strai!ht as a spear, lon!-limbed and solemn' <nli$e his men, he was clean-shaen' ,is
hair "ell "rom beneath his helm in a hea& braid to%ched with hoar"rost, and the blac$s
he wore were so "aded the& mi!ht hae been !re&s' /nl& th%mb and "ore"in!er remained
on the hand that held the reins: the other "in!ers had been sheared o"" catchin! a
wildlin!s a0e that wo%ld otherwise hae split his s$%ll' It was told that he had thr%st his
maimed "ist into the "ace o" the a0eman so the blood sp%rted into his e&es, and slew him
while he was blind' Since that da&, the wildlin!s be&ond the (all had $nown no "oe
more implacable'
Con hailed him' 17ord +ommander 2ormont wo%ld see &o% at once' Ill show &o% to
his tent'3
Fhorin sw%n! down "rom his saddle' 12& men are h%n!r&, and o%r horses re)%ire
tendin!'3
1The&ll all be seen to'3
The ran!er !ae his horse into the care o" one o" his men and "ollowed' 1;o% are Con
Snow' ;o% hae &o%r "athers loo$'3
1#id &o% $now him, m& lord.3
1I am no lordlin!' /nl& a brother o" the Ni!hts (atch' I $new 7ord 5ddard, &es' *nd
his "ather be"ore him'3
Con had to h%rr& his steps to $eep %p with Fhorins lon! strides' 17ord Bic$ard died
be"ore I was born'3
1,e was a "riend to the (atch'3 Fhorin !lanced behind' 1It is said that a direwol" r%ns
with &o%'3
18host sho%ld be bac$ b& dawn' ,e h%nts at ni!ht'3
The& "o%nd #oloro%s 5dd "r&in! a rasher o" bacon and boilin! a do?en e!!s in a $ettle
oer the /ld Bears coo$"ire' 2ormont sat in his woodand-leather camp chair' 1I had
be!%n to "ear "or &o%' #id &o% meet with tro%ble.3
1(e met with *l"&n +row$iller' 2ance had sent him to sco%t alon! the (all, and we
chanced on him ret%rnin!'3 Fhorin remoed his helm' 1*l"&n will tro%ble the realm no
lon!er, b%t some o" his compan& escaped %s' (e h%nted down as man& as we co%ld, b%t
it ma& be that a "ew will win bac$ to the mo%ntains'3
1*nd the cost.3
1=o%r brothers dead' * do?en wo%nded' * third as man& as the "oe' *nd we too$
capties' /ne died )%ic$l& "rom his wo%nds, b%t the other lied lon! eno%!h to be
)%estioned'3
1Best tal$ o" this inside' Con will "etch &o% a horn o" ale' /r wo%ld &o% pre"er hot
spiced wine.3
1Boiled water will s%""ice' *n e!! and a bite o" bacon'3
1*s &o% wish'3 2ormont li"ted the "lap o" the tent and Fhorin ,al"hand stooped and
stepped thro%!h'
5dd stood oer the $ettle swishin! the e!!s abo%t with a spoon' 1I en& those e!!s,3
he said' 1I co%ld do with a bit o" boilin! abo%t now' I" the $ettle were lar!er, I mi!ht
9%mp in' Tho%!h I wo%ld sooner it were wine than water' There are worse wa&s to die
than warm and dr%n$' I $new a brother drowned himsel" in wine once' It was a poor
inta!e, tho%!h, and his corpse did not improe it'3
1;o% dran$ the wine.3
1Its an aw"%l thin! to "ind a brother dead' ;o%d hae need o" a drin$ as well, 7ord
Snow'3 5dd stirred the $ettle and added a pinch more n%tme!'
Bestless, Con s)%atted b& the "ire and po$ed at it with a stic$' ,e co%ld hear the /ld
Bears oice inside the tent, p%nct%ated b& the raens s)%aw$s and Fhorin ,al"hands
)%ieter tones, b%t he co%ld not ma$e o%t the words' *l"&n +row$iller dead, thats !ood'
,e was one o" the bloodiest o" the wildlin! raiders, ta$in! his name "rom the blac$
brothers hed slain' So wh& does Fhorin so%nd so !rae, a"ter s%ch a ictor&.
Con had hoped that the arrial o" men "rom the Shadow Tower wo%ld li"t the spirits in
the camp' /nl& last ni!ht, he was comin! bac$ thro%!h the dar$ "rom a piss when he
heard "ie or si0 men tal$in! in low oices aro%nd the embers o" a "ire' (hen he heard
+hett m%tterin! that it was past time the& t%rned bac$, Con stopped to listen' 1Its an old
mans "oll&, this ran!in!,3 he heard' 1(ell "ind nothin! b%t o%r !raes in them
mo%ntains'3
1Theres !iants in the =rost"an!s, and war!s, and worse thin!s,3 said 7ar$ the
Sisterman'
1Ill not be !oin! there, I promise &o%'3
1The /ld Bears not li$e to !ie &o% a choice'3
12i!ht be we wont !ie him one,3 said +het' C%st then one o" the do!s had raised his
head and !rowled, and he had to moe awa& )%ic$l&, be"ore he was seen' I was not
meant to hear that, he tho%!ht' ,e considered ta$in! the tale to 2ormont, b%t he co%ld
not brin! himsel" to in"orm on his brothers, een brothers s%ch as +hett and the
Sisterman' It was 9%st empt& tal$, he told himsel"' The& are cold and a"raid, we all are' It
was hard waitin! here, perched on the ston& s%mmit aboe the "orest, wonderin! what
the morrow mi!ht brin!' The %nseen enem& is alwa&s the most "earsome'
Con slid his new da!!er "rom its sheath and st%died the "lames as the& pla&ed a!ainst
the shin& blac$ !lass' ,e had "ashioned the wooden hilt himsel", and wo%nd hempen
twine aro%nd it to ma$e a !rip' <!l&, b%t it sered' #oloro%s 5dd opined that !lass
$nies were abo%t as %se"%l as nipples on a $ni!hts breastplate, b%t Con was not so
certain' The dra!on!lass blade was sharper than steel, albeit "ar more brittle'
It m%st hae been b%ried "or a reason'
,e had made a da!!er "or 8renn as well, and another "or the 7ord +ommander' The
warhorn he had !ien to Sam' /n closer e0amination the horn had proed crac$ed, and
een a"ter he had cleaned all the dirt o%t, Con had been %nable to !et an& so%nd "rom it'
The rim was chipped as well, b%t Sam li$ed old thin!s, een worthless old thin!s'
12a$e a drin$in! horn o%t o" it,3 Con told him, 1and eer& time &o% ta$e a drin$ &o%ll
remember how &o% ran!ed be&ond the (all, all the wa& to the =ist o" the =irst 2en'3 ,e
!ae Sam a spearhead and a do?en arrowheads as well, and passed the rest o%t amon!
his other "riends "or l%c$'
The /ld Bear had seemed pleased b& the da!!er, b%t he pre"erred a steel $ni"e at his
belt, Con had noticed' 2ormont co%ld o""er no answers as to who mi!ht hae b%ried the
cloa$ or what it mi!ht mean' 4erhaps Fhorin will $now The ,al"hand had ent%red
deeper into the wild than an& other liin! man'
1;o% want to sere, or shall I.3
Con sheathed the da!!er' 1Ill do it'3 ,e wanted to hear what the& were sa&in!'
5dd c%t three thic$ slices o"" a stale ro%nd o" oat bread, stac$ed them on a wooden
platter, coered them with bacon and bacon drippin!s, and "illed a bowl with hard-
coo$ed e!!s' Con too$ the bowl in one hand and the platter in the other and bac$ed into
the 7ord +ommanders tent,
Fhorin was seated cross-le!!ed on the "loor, his spine as strai!ht as a spear'
+andleli!ht "lic$ered a!ainst the hard "lat planes o" his chee$s as he spo$e' 1' ' '
Battleshirt, the (eepin! 2an, and eer& other chie" !reat and small,3 he was sa&in!'
1The& hae war!s as well, and mammoths, and more stren!th than we wo%ld hae
dreamed' /r so he claimed' I will not swear as to the tr%th o" it' 5bben beliees the man
was tellin! %s tales to ma$e his li"e last a little lon!er'3
1Tr%e or "alse, the (all m%st be warned,3 the /ld Bear said as Con placed the platter
between them' 1*nd the $in!'3
1(hich $in!.3
1*ll o" them' The tr%e and the "alse ali$e' I" the& wo%ld claim the realm, let them
de"end it'3
The ,al"hand helped himsel" to an e!! and crac$ed it on the ed!e o" the bowl' 1These
$in!s will do what the& will,3 he said, peelin! awa& the shell' 17i$el& it will be little
eno%!h' The best hope is (inter"ell' The Star$s m%st rall& the north'3
1;es' To be s%re'3 The /ld Bear %nrolled a map, "rowned at it, tossed it aside, opened
another' ,e was ponderin! where the hammer wo%ld "all, Con co%ld see it' The (atch
had once manned seenteen castles alon! the h%ndred lea!%es o" the (all, b%t the& had
been abandoned one b& one as the brotherhood dwindled' /nl& three were now
!arrisoned, a "act that 2ance Ba&der $new as well as the& did' 1Ser *lliser Thorne will
brin! bac$ "resh leies "rom 6in!s 7andin!, we can hope' I" we man 8re&!%ard "rom
the Shadow Tower and the 7on! Barrow "rom 5astwatch ' ' '3
18re&!%ard has lar!el& collapsed' Stonedoor wo%ld sere better, i" the men co%ld be
"o%nd' Icemar$ and #eep 7a$e as well, ma&haps' (ith dail& patrols alon! the
battlements between'3
14atrols, a&e' Twice a da&, i" we can' The (all itsel" is a "ormidable obstacle'
<nde"ended, it cannot stop them, &et it will dela& them' The lar!er the host, the lon!er
the&ll re)%ire' =rom the emptiness the&e le"t behind, the& m%st mean to brin! their
women with them' Their &o%n! as well, and beasts ' ' ' hae &o% eer seen a !oat climb a
ladder. * rope. The& will need to b%ild a stair, or a !reat ramp ' ' ' it will ta$e a moons
t%rn at the least, perhaps lon!er' 2ance will $now his best chance is to pass beneath the
(all' Thro%!h a !ate, or ' ' '3
1* breach'3
2ormonts head came %p sharpl&' 1(hat.3
1The& do not plan to climb the (all nor to b%rrow beneath it, m& lord' The& plan to
brea$ it'3
1The (all is seen h%ndred "eet hi!h, and so thic$ at the base that it wo%ld ta$e a
h%ndred men a &ear to c%t thro%!h it with pic$s and a0es'3
15en so'3
2ormont pl%c$ed at his beard, "rownin!' 1,ow.3
1,ow else. Sorcer&'3 Fhorin bit the e!! in hal"' 1(h& else wo%ld 2ance choose to
!ather his stren!th in the =rost"an!s. Blea$ and hard the& are, and a lon! wear& march
"rom the (all'3
1Id hoped he chose the mo%ntains to hide his m%ster "rom the e&es o" m& ran!ers'3
14erhaps,3 said Fhorin, "inishin! the e!!, 1b%t there is more, I thin$' ,e is see$in!
somethin! in the hi!h cold places' ,e is searchin! "or somethin! he needs'3
1Somethin!.3 2ormonts raen li"ted its head and screamed' The so%nd was sharp as a
$ni"e in the closeness o" the tent'
1Some power' (hat it is, o%r captie co%ld not sa&' ,e was )%estioned perhaps too
sharpl&, and died with m%ch %nsaid' I do%bt he $new in an& case'3
Con co%ld hear the wind o%tside' It made a hi!h thin so%nd as it shiered thro%!h the
stones o" the rin!wall and t%!!ed at the tent ropes' 2ormont r%bbed his mo%th
tho%!ht"%ll&' 1Some power,3 he repeated' 1I m%st $now'3
1Then &o% m%st send sco%ts into the mo%ntains'3
1I am loath to ris$ more men'3
1(e can onl& die' (h& else do we don these blac$ cloa$s, b%t to die in de"ense o" the
realm. I wo%ld send "i"teen men, in three parties o" "ie' /ne to probe the 2il$water,
one the S$irlin! 4ass, one to climb the 8iants Stair' Carman B%c$well, Thoren
Smallwood, and m&sel" to command' To learn what waits in those mo%ntains'3
1(aits,3 the raen cried' 1(aits'3
7ord +ommander 2ormont si!hed deep in his chest' 1I see no other choice,3 he
conceded, 1b%t i" &o% do not ret%rn ' ' '3
1Someone will come down o%t o" the =rost"an!s, m& lord,3 the ran!er said' 1I" %s, all
well and !ood' I" not, it will be 2ance Ba&der, and &o% sit s)%are in his path' ,e cannot
march so%th and leae &o% behind, to "ollow and harr& his rear' ,e m%st attac$' This is a
stron! place'3
1Not that stron!,3 said 2ormont'
1Beli$e we shall all die, then' /%r d&in! will b%& time "or o%r brothers on the (all'
Time to !arrison the empt& castles and "ree?e sh%t the !ates, time to s%mmon lords and
$in!s to their aid, time to hone their a0es and repair their catap%lts' /%r lies will be
coin well spent'3
1#ie,3 the raen m%ttered, pacin! alon! 2ormonts sho%lders' 1#ie, die, die, die'3 The
old Bear sat sl%mped and silent, as i" the b%rden o" speech had !rown too hea& "or him
to bear' B%t at last he said, 12a& the !ods "or!ie me' +hoose &o%r men'3
Fhorin ,al"hand t%rned his head' ,is e&es met Cons, and held them "or a lon!
moment' 1>er& well' I choose Con Snow'3
2ormont blin$ed' 1,e is hardl& more than a bo&' *nd m& steward besides' Not een a
ran!er'3
1Tollett can care "or &o% as well, m& lord'3 Fhorin li"ted his maimed, two-"in!ered
hand' 1The old !ods are still stron! be&ond the (all' The !ods o" the =irst 2en ' ' ' and
the Star$s'3
2ormont loo$ed at Con' 1(hat is &o%r will in this.3
1To !o,3 he said at once'
The old man smiled sadl&' 1I tho%!ht it mi!ht be'3
#awn had bro$en when Con stepped "rom the tent beside Fhorin ,al"hand' The wind
swirled aro%nd them, stirrin! their blac$ cloa$s and sendin! a scatter o" red cinders
"l&in! "rom the "ire'
1(e ride at noon,3 the ran!er told him' 1Best "ind that wol" o" &o%rs'3
C#APT"R ))
T%RIO'
The )%een intends to send 4rince Tommen awa&'3 The& $nelt alone in the h%shed
dimness o" the sept, s%rro%nded b& shadows and "lic$erin! candles, b%t een so 7ancel
$ept his oice low' 17ord 8&les will ta$e him to Bosb&, and conceal him there in the
!%ise o" a pa!e' The& plan to dar$en his hair and tell eer&one that he is the son o" a
hed!e $ni!ht'3
1Is it the mob she "ears. /r me.3
1Both,3 said 7ancel'
1*h'3 T&rion had $nown nothin! o" this plo&' ,ad >ar&ss little birds "ailed him "or
once. 5en spiders m%st nod, he s%pposed ' ' ' or was the e%n%ch pla&in! a deeper and
more s%btle !ame than he $new. 1;o% hae m& than$s, ser'3
1(ill &o% !rant me the boon I as$ed o" &o%.3
14erhaps'3 7ancel wanted his own command in the ne0t battle' * splendid wa& to die
be"ore he "inished !rowin! that m%stache, b%t &o%n! $ni!hts alwa&s thin$ themseles
inincible'
T&rion lin!ered a"ter his co%sin had slipped awa&' *t the (arriors altar, he %sed one
candle to li!ht another' (atch oer m& brother, &o% blood& bastard, hes one o" &o%rs'
,e lit a second candle to the Stran!er, "or himsel"'
That ni!ht, when the Bed 6eep was dar$, Bronn arried to "ind him sealin! a letter'
1Ta$e this to Ser Cacel&n B&water'3 The dwar" dribbled hot !olden wa0 down onto the
parchment'
1(hat does it sa&.3 Bronn co%ld not read, so he as$ed imp%dent )%estions'
1That hes to ta$e "i"t& o" his best swords and sco%t the roseroad'3 T&rion pressed his
seal into the so"t wa0'
1Stannis is more li$e to come %p the $in!sroad'3
1/h, I $now' Tell B&water to disre!ard whats in the letter and ta$e his men north' ,es
to la& a trap alon! the Bosb& road' 7ord 8&les will depart "or his castle in a da& or two,
with a do?en men-at-arms, some serants, and m& nephew' 4rince Tommen ma& be
dressed as a pa!e'3
1;o% want the bo& bro%!ht bac$, is that it.3
1No' I want him ta$en on to the castle'3 Bemoin! the bo& "rom the cit& was one o" his
sisters better notions, T&rion had decided' *t Bosb&, Tommen wo%ld be sa"e "rom the
mob, and $eepin! him apart "rom his brother also made thin!s more di""ic%lt "or Stannis:
een i" he too$ 6in!s 7andin! and e0ec%ted Co""re&, hed still hae a 7annister claimant
to contend with' 17ord 8&les is too sic$l& to r%n and too craen to "i!ht' ,ell command
his castellan to open the !ates' /nce inside the walls, B&water is to e0pel the !arrison
and hold Tommen there sa"e' *s$ him how he li$es the so%nd o" 7ord B&water'3
17ord Bronn wo%ld so%nd better' I co%ld !rab the bo& "or &o% 9%st as well' Ill dandle
him on m& $nee and sin! him n%rser& son!s i" theres a lordship in it'3
1I need &o% here,3 said T&rion' *nd I dont tr%st &o% with m& nephew Sho%ld an& ill
be"all Co""re&, the 7annister claim to the Iron Throne wo%ld rest on Tommens &o%n!
sho%lders' Ser Cacel&ns !old cloa$s wo%ld de"end the bo&: Bronns sellswords were
more apt to sell him to his enemies'
1(hat sho%ld the new lord do with the old one.3
1(hateer he pleases, so lon! as he remembers to "eed him' I dont want him d&in!'3
T&rion p%shed awa& "rom the table' 12& sister will send one o" the 6in!s!%ard with the
prince'3
Bronn was not concerned' 1The ,o%nd is Co""re&s do!, he wont leae him'
Ironhands !old cloa$s sho%ld be able to handle the others eas& eno%!h'3
1I" it comes to $illin!, tell Ser Cacel&n I wont hae it done in "ront o" Tommen'3
T&rion donned a hea& cloa$ o" dar$ brown wool' 12& nephew is tenderhearted'3
1*re &o% certain hes a 7annister.3
1Im certain o" nothin! b%t winter and battle,3 he said' 1+ome' Im ridin! with &o%
part o" the wa&'3
1+hata&as.3
1;o% $now me too well'3
The& le"t thro%!h a postern !ate in the north wall' T&rion p%t his heels into his horse
and clattered down Shadowblac$ 7ane' * "ew "%rtie shapes darted into alle&s at the
so%nd o" hoo"beats on the cobbles, b%t no one dared accost them' The co%ncil had
e0tended his c%r"ew: it was death to be ta$en on the streets a"ter the een"all bells had
s%n!' The meas%re had restored a de!ree o" peace to 6in!s 7andin! and )%artered the
n%mber o" corpses "o%nd in the alle&s o" a mornin!, &et >ar&s said the people c%rsed
him "or it' The& sho%ld be than$"%l the& hae the breath to c%rse' * pair o" !old cloa$s
con"ronted them as the& were ma$in! their wa& alon! +oppersmiths (&nd, b%t when
the& reali?ed whom the&d challen!ed the& be!!ed the ,ands pardons and waed them
on' Bronn t%rned so%th "or the 2%d 8ate and the& parted compan&'
T&rion rode on toward +hata&as, b%t s%ddenl& his patience deserted him' ,e twisted
in the saddle, scannin! the street behind' There were no si!ns o" "ollowers' 5er&
window was dar$ or ti!htl& sh%ttered' ,e heard nothin! b%t the wind swirlin! down the
alle&s' I" +ersei has someone stal$in! me toni!ht, he m%st be dis!%ised as a rat' 1B%!!er
it all,3 he m%ttered' ,e was sic$ o" ca%tion' (heelin! his horse aro%nd, he d%! in his
sp%rs' I" an&ones a"ter me, well see how well the& ride' ,e "lew thro%!h the moonli!ht
streets, clatterin! oer cobbles, dartin! down narrow alle&s and %p twist& w&nds, racin!
to his loe'
*s he hammered on the !ate he heard m%sic wa"tin! "aintl& oer the spi$ed stone
walls' /ne o" the Ibbenese %shered him inside' T&rion !ae the man his horse and said,
1(ho is that.3 The diamond-shaped panes o" the lon!hall windows shone with &ellow
li!ht, and he co%ld hear a man sin!in!'
The Ibbenese shr%!!ed' 1=atbell& sin!er'3
The so%nd swelled as he wal$ed "rom the stable to the ho%se' T&rion had neer been
"ond o" sin!ers, and he li$ed this one een less than the r%n o" the breed, si!ht %nseen'
(hen he p%shed open the door, the man bro$e o""' 12& lord ,and'3 ,e $nelt, baldin!
and $ettle-bellied, m%rm%rin!, 1*n honor, an honor'3
12lord'3 Shae smiled at the si!ht o" him' ,e li$ed that smile, the )%ic$ %nthin$in!
wa& it came to her prett& "ace' The !irl wore her p%rple sil$, belted with a cloth-o"-siler
sash' The colors "aored her dar$ hair and the smooth cream o" her s$in'
1Sweetlin!,3 he called her' 1*nd who is this.3
The sin!er raised his e&es' 1I am called S&mon Siler Ton!%e, m& lord' * pla&er, a
sin!er, a taletellerA3
1*nd a !reat "ool,3 T&rion "inished' 1(hat did &o% call me, when I entered.3
1+all. I onl& ' ' '3 The siler in S&mons ton!%e seemed to hae t%rned to lead' 12&
lord ,and, I said, an honor ' ' '3
1* wiser man wo%ld hae pretended not to reco!ni?e me' Not that I wo%ld hae been
"ooled, b%t &o% o%!ht to hae tried' (hat am I to do with &o% now. ;o% $now o" m&
sweet Shae, &o% $now where she dwells, &o% $now that I isit b& ni!ht alone'3
1I swear, Ill tell no one ' ' '3
1/n that m%ch we a!ree' 8ood ni!ht to &o%'3 T&rion led Shae %p the stairs'
12& sin!er ma& neer sin! a!ain now,3 she teased' 1;o%e scared the oice "rom
him'3
1* little "ear will help him reach those hi!h notes'3
She closed the door to their bedchamber' 1;o% wont h%rt him, will &o%.3 She lit a
scented candle and $nelt to p%ll o"" his boots' 1,is son!s cheer me on the ni!hts &o%
dont come'3
1(o%ld that I co%ld come eer& ni!ht,3 he said as she r%bbed his bare "eet' 1,ow well
does he sin!.3
1Better than some' Not so !ood as others'3
T&rion opened her robe and b%ried his "ace between her breasts' She alwa&s smelled
clean to him, een in this ree$in! st& o" a cit&' 16eep him i" &o% li$e, b%t $eep him
close' I wont hae him wanderin! the cit& spreadin! tales in pot-shops'3
1,e wontA3 she started'
T&rion coered her mo%th with his own' ,ed had tal$ eno%!h: he needed the sweet
simplicit& o" the pleas%re he "o%nd between Shaes thi!hs' ,ere, at least, he was
welcome, wanted'
*"terward, he eased his arm o%t "rom %nder her head, slipped on his t%nic, and went
down to the !arden' * hal"-moon silered the leaes o" the "r%it trees and shone on the
s%r"ace o" the stone bathin! pond' T&rion seated himsel" beside the water' Somewhere
o"" to his ri!ht a cric$et was chirpin!, a c%rio%sl& home& so%nd' It is peace"%l here, he
tho%!ht, b%t "or how lon!.
* whi"" o" somethin! ran$ made him t%rn his head' Shae stood in the door behind him,
dressed in the siler& robe hed !ien her' I loed a maid as white as winter, with
moon!low in her hair' Behind her stood one o" the be!!in! brothers, a portl& man in
"ilth& patched robes, his bare "eet cr%st& with dirt, a bowl h%n! abo%t his nec$ on a
leather thon! where a septon wo%ld hae worn a cr&stal' The smell o" him wo%ld hae
!a!!ed a rat'
17ord >ar&s has come to see &o%,3 Shae anno%nced'
The be!!in! brother blin$ed at her, astonished' T&rion la%!hed' 1To be s%re' ,ow is it
&o% $new him when I did not.3
She shr%!!ed' 1Its still him' /nl& dressed di""erent'3
1* di""erent loo$, a di""erent smell, a di""erent wa& o" wal$in!,3 said T&rion' 12ost
men wo%ld be deceied'3
1*nd most women, ma&be' B%t not whores' * whore learns to see the man, not his
!arb, or she t%rns %p dead in an alle&'3
>ar&s loo$ed pained, and not beca%se o" the "alse scabs on his "eet' T&rion ch%c$led'
1Shae, wo%ld &o% brin! %s some wine.3 ,e mi!ht need a drin$' (hateer bro%!ht the
e%n%ch here in the dead o" ni!ht was not li$e to be !ood'
1I almost "ear to tell &o% wh& Ie come, m& lord,3 >ar&s said when Shae had le"t
them' 1I brin! dire tidin!s'3
1;o% o%!ht to dress in blac$ "eathers, >ar&s, &o%re as bad an omen as an& raen'3
*w$wardl&, T&rion p%shed to his "eet, hal" a"raid to as$ the ne0t )%estion' 1Is it Caime.3
I" the& hae harmed him, nothin! will sae them'
1No, m& lord' * di""erent matter' Ser +ortna& 4enrose is dead' Storms 5nd has opened
its !ates to Stannis Baratheon'3
#isma& droe all other tho%!hts "rom T&rions mind' (hen Shae ret%rned with the
wine, he too$ one sip and "l%n! the c%p awa& to e0plode a!ainst the side o" the ho%se'
She raised a hand to shield hersel" "rom the shards as the wine ran down the stones in
lon! "in!ers, blac$ in the moonli!ht' 1#amn him@3 T&rion said'
>ar&s smiled, showin! a mo%th "%ll o" rotted teeth' 1(ho, m& lord. Ser +ortna& or
7ord Stannis.3
1Both o" them'3 Storms 5nd was stron!, it sho%ld hae been able to hold o%t "or hal" a
&ear or more ' ' ' time eno%!h "or his "ather to "inish with Bobb Star$' 1,ow did this
happen.3
>ar&s !lanced at Shae' 12& lord, m%st we tro%ble &o%r sweet lad&s sleep with s%ch
!rim and blood& tal$.3
1* lad& mi!ht be a"raid,3 said Shae, 1b%t Im not'3
1;o% sho%ld be,3 T&rion told her' 1(ith Storms 5nd "allen, Stannis will soon t%rn his
attention toward 6in!s 7andin!'3 ,e re!retted "lin!in! awa& that wine now' 17ord
>ar&s, !ie %s a moment, and Ill ride bac$ to the castle with &o%'3
1I shall wait in the stables'3 ,e bowed and stomped o""'
T&rion drew Shae down beside him' 1;o% are not sa"e here'3
1I hae m& walls, and the !%ards &o% !ae me'3
1Sellswords,3 T&rion said' 1The& li$e m& !old well eno%!h, b%t will the& die "or it. *s
"or these walls, a man co%ld stand on anothers sho%lders and be oer in a heartbeat' *
manse m%ch li$e this one was b%rned d%rin! the riots' The& $illed the !oldsmith who
owned it "or the crime o" hain! a "%ll larder, 9%st as the& tore the ,i!h Septon to pieces,
raped 7oll&s hal" a h%ndred times, and smashed Ser *rons s$%ll in' (hat do &o% thin$
the& wo%ld do i" the& !ot their hands on the ,ands lad&.3
1The ,ands whore, &o% mean.3 She loo$ed at him with those bi! bold e&es o" hers'
1Tho%!h I wo%ld be &o%r lad&, mlord' Id dress in all the bea%ti"%l thin!s &o% !ae me,
in satin and samite and cloth-o"-!old, and Id wear &o%r 9ewels and hold &o%r hand and
sit b& &o% at "easts' I co%ld !ie &o% sons, I $now I co%ld ' ' ' and I ow Id neer shame
&o%'3
2& loe "or &o% shames me eno%!h' 1* sweet dream, Shae' Now p%t it aside, I be!
&o%' It can neer be'3
1Beca%se o" the )%een. Im not a"raid o" her either'3
1I am'3
1Then $ill her and be done with it' Its not as i" there was an& loe between &o%'3
T&rion si!hed' 1Shes m& sister' The man who $ills his own blood is c%rsed "oreer in
the si!ht o" !ods and men' 2oreoer, whateer &o% and I ma& thin$ o" +ersei, m& "ather
and brother hold her dear' I can scheme with an& man in the Seen 6in!doms, b%t the
!ods hae not e)%ipped me to "ace Caime with swords in hand'3
1The ;o%n! (ol" and 7ord Stannis hae swords and the& dont scare &o%'3
,ow little &o% $now, sweetlin!' 1*!ainst them I hae all the power o" ,o%se
7annister' *!ainst Caime or m& "ather, I hae no more than a twisted bac$ and a pair o"
st%nted le!s'3
1;o% hae me'3 Shae $issed him, her arms slidin! aro%nd his nec$ as she pressed her
bod& to his'
The $iss aro%sed him, as her $isses alwa&s did, b%t this time T&rion !entl&
disentan!led himsel"' 1Not now' Sweetlin!, I hae ' ' ' well, call it the seed o" a plan' I
thin$ I mi!ht be able to brin! &o% into the castle $itchens'3
Shaes "ace went still' 1The $itchens.3
1;es' I" I act thro%!h >ar&s, no one will be the wiser'3
She !i!!led' 12lord, Id poison &o%' 5er& man whos tasted m& coo$in! has told me
what a !ood whore I am'3
1The Bed 6eep has s%""icient coo$s' B%tchers and ba$ers too' ;o%d need to pose as a
sc%llion'3
1* pot !irl,3 she said, 1in scratch& brown ro%!hsp%n' Is that how mlord wants to see
me.3
12lord wants to see &o% alie,3 T&rion said' 1;o% can scarcel& sco%r pots in sil$ and
elet'3
1,as mlord !rown tired o" me.3 She reached a hand %nder his t%nic and "o%nd his
coc$' In two )%ic$ stro$es she had it hard' 1,e still wants me'3 She la%!hed' 1(o%ld
&o% li$e to "%c$ &o%r $itchen wench, mlord. ;o% can d%st me with "lo%r and s%c$ !ra&
o"" m& titties i" &o% ' ' '3
1Stop it'3 The wa& she was actin! reminded him o" #anc&, who had tried so hard to
win her wa!er' ,e &an$ed her hand awa& to $eep her "rom "%rther mischie"' 1This is not
the time "or bed sport, Shae' ;o%r li"e ma& be at sta$e'3
,er !rin was !one' 1I" Ie displeased nilord, I neer meant it, onl& ' ' ' co%ldnt &o%
9%st !ie me more !%ards.3
T&rion breathed a deep si!h' Bemember how &o%n! she is, he told himsel"' ,e too$ her
hand' 1;o%r !ems can be replaced, and new !owns can be sewn twice as loel& as the
old' To me, &o%re the most precio%s thin! within these walls' The Bed 6eep is not sa"e
either, b%t its a deal sa"er than here' I want &o% there'3
1In the $itchens'3 ,er oice was "lat' 1Sco%rin! pots'3
1=or a short while'3
12& "ather made me his $itchen wench,3 she said, her mo%th twistin!' 1That was wh&
I ran o""'3
1;o% told me &o% ran o"" beca%se &o%r "ather made &o% his whore,3 he reminded her'
1That too' I didnt li$e sco%rin! his pots no more than I li$ed his coc$ in me'3 She
tossed her head' 1(h& cant &o% $eep me in &o%r tower. ,al" the lords at co%rt $eep
bedwarmers'3
1I was e0pressl& "orbidden to ta$e &o% to co%rt'3
1B& &o%r st%pid "ather'3 Shae po%ted' 1;o%re old eno%!h to $eep all the whores &o%
want' #oes he ta$e &o% "or a beardless bo&. (hat co%ld he do, span$ &o%.3
,e slapped her' Not hard, b%t hard eno%!h' 1#amn &o%,3 he said' 1#amn &o%' Neer
moc$ me' Not &o%'3
=or a moment Shae did not spea$' The onl& so%nd was the cric$et, chirpin!, chirpin!'
1Be! pardon, mlord,3 she said at last, in a hea& wooden oice' 1I neer meant to be
imp%dent'3
*nd I neer meant to stri$e &o%' 8ods be !ood, am I t%rnin! into +ersei. 1That was ill
done,3 he said' 1/n both o%r parts' Shae, &o% do not %nderstand'3 (ords he had neer
meant to spea$ came t%mblin! o%t o" him li$e m%mmers "rom a hollow horse' 1(hen I
was thirteen, I wed a cro"ters da%!hter' /r so I tho%!ht her' I was blind with loe "or
her, and tho%!ht she "elt the same "or me, b%t m& "ather r%bbed m& "ace in the tr%th' 2&
bride was a whore Caime had hired to !ie me m& "irst taste o" manhood'3 *nd I
belieed all o" it, "ool that I was' 1To drie the lesson home, 7ord T&win !ae m& wi"e
to a barrac$s o" his !%ardsmen to %se as the& pleased, and commanded me to watch'3
*nd to ta$e her one last time, a"ter the rest were done' /ne last time, with no trace o"
loe or tenderness remainin!' 1So &o% will remember her as she tr%l& is,3 he said, and I
sho%ld hae de"ied him, b%t m& coc$ betra&ed me, and I did as I was bid' 1*"ter he was
done with her, m& "ather had the marria!e %ndone' It was as i" we had neer been wed,
the septons said'3 ,e s)%ee?ed her hand' 14lease, lets hae no more tal$ o" the Tower o"
the ,and' ;o% will be in the $itchens onl& a little while' /nce were done with Stannis,
&o%ll hae another manse, and sil$s as so"t as &o%r hands'3
Shaes e&es had !rown lar!e b%t he co%ld not read what la& behind them' 12& hands
wont be so"t i" I clean oens and scrape plates all da&' (ill &o% still want them to%chin!
&o% when the&re all red and raw and crac$ed "rom hot water and l&e soap.3
12ore than eer,3 he said' 1(hen I loo$ at them, the&ll remind me how brae &o%
were'3
,e co%ld not sa& i" she belieed him' She lowered her e&es' 1I am &o%rs to command,
mlord'3
It was as m%ch acceptance as she co%ld !ie toni!ht, he saw that plain eno%!h' ,e
$issed her chee$ where hed str%c$ her, to ta$e some stin! "rom the blow' 1I will send
"or &o%'3
>ar&s was waitin! in the stables, as promised' ,is horse loo$ed spained and hal"-
dead' T&rion mo%nted %p: one o" the sellswords opened the !ates' The& rode o%t in
silence' (h& did I tell her abo%t T&sha, !ods help me. he as$ed himsel", s%ddenl&
a"raid' There were some secrets that sho%ld neer be spo$en, some shames a man sho%ld
ta$e to his !rae' (hat did he want "rom her, "or!ieness. The wa& she had loo$ed at
him, what did that mean. #id she hate the tho%!ht o" sco%rin! pots that m%ch, or was it
his con"ession. ,ow co%ld I tell her that and still thin$ she wo%ld loe me. part o" him
said, and another part moc$ed, sa&in!, =ool o" a dwar", it is onl& the !old and 9ewels the
whore loes'
,is scarred elbow was throbbin!, 9arred eer& time the horse set down a hoo"'
Sometimes he co%ld almost "anc& he heard the bones !rindin! to!ether inside' 4erhaps
he sho%ld see a maester, !et some potion "or the pain ' ' ' b%t since 4&celle had reealed
himsel" "or what he was, T&rion 7annister mistr%sted the maesters' The !ods onl& $new
who the& were conspirin! with, or what the& had mi0ed in those potions the& !ae &o%'
1>ar&s,3 he said' 1I need to brin! Shae into the castle witho%t +ersei becomin! aware'3
Brie"l&, he s$etched o%t his $itchen scheme'
(hen he was done, the e%n%ch made a little cl%c$in! so%nd' 1I will do as m& lord
commands, o" co%rse ' ' ' b%t I m%st warn &o%, the $itchens are "%ll o" e&es and ears'
5en i" the !irl "alls %nder no partic%lar s%spicion, she will be s%b9ect to a tho%sand
)%estions' (here was she born. (ho were her parents. ,ow did she come to 6in!s
7andin!. The tr%th will neer do, so she m%st lie ' ' ' and lie, and lie'3 ,e !lanced down
at T&rion' 1*nd s%ch a prett& &o%n! $itchen wench will incite l%st as well as c%riosit&'
She will be to%ched, pinched, patted, and "ondled'
4ot bo&s will crawl %nder her blan$ets o" a ni!ht' Some lonel& coo$ ma& see$ to wed
her' Ba$ers will $nead her breasts with "lo%red hands'3
1Id sooner hae her "ondled than stabbed,3 said T&rion'
>ar&s rode on a "ew paces and said, 1It mi!ht be that there is another wa&' *s it
happens, the maidserant who attends 7ad& Tandas da%!hter has been "ilchin! her
9ewels' (ere I to in"orm 7ad& Tanda, she wo%ld be "orced to dismiss the !irl at once'
*nd the da%!hter wo%ld re)%ire a new maidserant'3
1I see'3 This had possibilities, T&rion saw at once' * lad&s bedmaid wore "iner !arb
than a sc%llion, and o"ten een a 9ewel or two' Shae sho%ld be pleased b& that' *nd
+ersei tho%!ht 7ad& Tanda tedio%s and h&sterical, and 7oll&s a boine lac$wit' She was
not li$e to pa& them an& "riendl& calls'
17oll&s is timid and tr%stin!,3 >ar&s said' 1She will accept an& tale she is told' Since
the mob too$ her maidenhood she is a"raid to leae her chambers, so Shae will be o%t o"
si!ht ' ' ' b%t conenientl& close, sho%ld &o% hae need o" com"ort'3
1The Tower o" the ,and is watched, &o% $now as well as 7 +ersei wo%ld be certain to
!row c%rio%s i" 7oll&ss bedmaid startin! pa&in! me calls'3
1I mi!ht be able to slip the child into &o%r bedchamber %nseen' +hata&as is not the
onl& ho%se to boast a hidden door'3
1* secret access. To m& chambers.3 T&rion was more anno&ed than s%rprised' (h&
else wo%ld 2ae!or the +r%el hae ordered death "or all the b%ilders who had wor$ed on
his castle, e0cept to presere s%ch secrets. 1;es, I s%ppose there wo%ld be' (here will I
"ind the door. In m& solar. 2& bedchamber.3
12& "riend, &o% wo%ld not "orce me to reeal all m& little secrets, wo%ld &o%.3
1,ence"orth thin$ o" them as o%r little secrets, >ar&s'3 T&rion !lanced %p at the e%n%ch
in his smell& m%mmers !arb' 1*ss%min! &o% are on m& side ' ' '3
1+an &o% do%bt it.3
1(h& no, I tr%st &o% implicitl&'3 * bitter la%!h echoed o"" the sh%ttered windows' 1I
tr%st &o% li$e one o" m& own blood, in tr%th' Now tell me how +ortna& 4enrose died'3
1It is said that he threw himsel" "rom a tower'3
1Threw himsel". No, I will not beliee that@3
1,is !%ards saw no man enter his chambers, nor did the& "ind an& within a"terward'3
1Then the $iller entered earlier and hid %nder the bed,3 T&rion s%!!ested, 1or he
climbed down "rom the roo" on a rope' 4erhaps the !%ards are l&in!' (hos to sa& the&
did not do the thin! themseles.3
1#o%btless &o% are ri!ht, m& lord'3
,is sm%! tone said otherwise' 1B%t &o% do not thin$ so. ,ow was it done, then.3
=or a lon! moment >ar&s said nothin!' The onl& so%nd was the statel& clac$ o"
horseshoes on cobbles' =inall& the e%n%ch cleared his throat' 12& lord, do &o% beliee
in the old powers.3
12a!ic, &o% mean.3 T&rion said impatientl&' 1Bloodspells, c%rses, shapeshi"tin!, those
sorts o" thin!s.3 ,e snorted' 1#o &o% mean to s%!!est that Ser +ortna& was ma!ic$ed to
his death.3
1Ser +ortna& had challen!ed 7ord Stannis to sin!le combat on the mornin! he died' I
as$ &o%, is this the act o" a man lost to despair. Then there is the matter o" 7ord Benl&s
m&sterio%s and most "ort%ito%s m%rder, een as his battle lines were "ormin! %p to
sweep his brother "rom the "ield'3 The e%n%ch pa%sed a moment' 12& lord, &o% once
as$ed me how it was that I was c%t'3
1I recall,3 said T&rion' 1;o% did not want to tal$ o" it'3
1Nor do I, b%t ' ' '3 This pa%se was lon!er than the one be"ore, and when >ar&s spo$e
a!ain his oice was di""erent somehow' 1I was an orphan bo& apprenticed to a traelin!
"oll&' /%r master owned a "at little co! and we sailed %p and down the narrow sea
per"ormin! in all the =ree +ities and "rom time to time in /ldtown and 6in!s 7andin!'
1/ne da& at 2&r, a certain man came to o%r "oll&' *"ter the per"ormance, he made an
o""er "or me that m& master "o%nd too temptin! to re"%se' I was in terror' I "eared the
man meant to %se me as I had heard men %sed small bo&s, b%t in tr%th the onl& part o"
me he had need o" was m& manhood' ,e !ae me a potion that made me powerless to
moe or spea$, &et did nothin! to d%ll m& senses' (ith a lon! hoo$ed blade, he sliced
me root and stem, chantin! all the while' I watched him b%rn m& manl& parts on a
bra?ier' The "lames t%rned bl%e, and I heard a oice answer his call, tho%!h I did not
%nderstand the words the& spo$e'
1The m%mmers had sailed b& the time he was done with me' /nce I had sered his
p%rpose, the man had no "%rther interest in me, so he p%t me o%t' (hen I as$ed him what
I sho%ld do now, he answered that he s%pposed I sho%ld die' To spite him, I resoled to
lie' I be!!ed, I stole, and I sold what parts o" m& bod& still remained to me' Soon I was
as !ood a thie" as an& in 2&r, and when I was older I learned that o"ten the contents o" a
mans letters are more al%able than the contents o" his p%rse'
1;et I still dream o" that ni!ht, m& lord' Not o" the sorcerer, nor his blade, nor een the
wa& m& manhood shrieled as it b%rned' I dream o" the oice' The oice "rom the
"lames' (as it a !od, a demon, some con9%rers tric$. I co%ld not tell &o%, and I $now all
the tric$s' *ll I can sa& "or a certaint& is that he called it, and it answered, and since that
da& I hae hated ma!ic and all those who practice it' I" 7ord Stannis is one s%ch, I mean
to see him dead'3
(hen he was done, the& rode in silence "or a time' =inall& T&rion said, 1* harrowin!
tale' Im sorr&'3
The e%n%ch si!hed' 1;o% are sorr&, b%t &o% do not beliee me' No, m& lord, no need to
apolo!i?e' I was dr%!!ed and in pain and it was a er& lon! time a!o and "ar across the
sea' No do%bt I dreamed that oice' Ie told m&sel" as m%ch a tho%sand times'3
1I beliee in steel swords, !old coins, and mens wits,3 said T&rion' 1*nd I beliee
there once were dra!ons' Ie seen their s$%lls, a"ter all'3
17et %s hope that is the worst thin! &o% eer see, m& lord'3
1/n that we a!ree'3 T&rion smiled' 1*nd "or Ser +ortna&s death, well, we $now
Stannis hired sellsails "rom the =ree +ities' 4erhaps he bo%!ht himsel" a s$illed assassin
as well'3
1* er& s$illed assassin'3
1There are s%ch' I %sed to dream that one da& Id be rich eno%!h to send a =aceless
2an a"ter m& sweet sister'3
1Be!ardless o" how Ser +ortna& died,3 said >ar&s, 1he is dead, the castle "allen'
Stannis is "ree to march'3
1*n& chance we mi!ht conince the #ornishmen to descend on the 2arches.3 as$ed
T&rion'
1None'3
1* pit&' (ell, the threat ma& sere to $eep the 2archer lords close to their castles, at
least' (hat news o" m& "ather.3
1I" 7ord T&win has won across the Bed =or$, no word has reached me &et' I" he does
not hasten, he ma& be trapped between his "oes' The /a$heart lea" and the Bowan tree
hae been seen north o" the 2ander'3
1No word "rom 7ittle"in!er.3
14erhaps he neer reached Bitterbrid!e' /r perhaps hes died there' 7ord Tarl& has
sei?ed Benl&s stores and p%t a !reat man& to the sword: =lorents, chie"l&' 7ord +aswell
has sh%t himsel" %p in his castle'3
T&rion threw bac$ his head and la%!hed'
>ar&s reined %p, nonpl%ssed' 12& lord.3
1#ont &o% see the 9est, 7ord >ar&s.3 T&rion waed a hand at the sh%ttered windows,
at all the sleepin! cit&' 1Storms 5nd is "allen and Stannis is comin! with "ire and steel
and the !ods alone $now what dar$ powers, and the !ood "ol$ dont hae Caime to
protect them, nor Bobert nor Benl& nor Bhae!ar nor their precio%s 6ni!ht o" =lowers'
/nl& me, the one the& hate'3 ,e la%!hed a!ain' 1The dwar", the eil co%nselor, the
twisted little mon$e& demon' Im all that stands between them and chaos'3
C#APT"R )+
CAT"%'
Tell =ather I hae !one to ma$e him pro%d'3 ,er brother sw%n! %p into his saddle,
eer& inch the lord in his bri!ht mail and "lowin! m%d-and-water cloa$' * siler tro%t
ornamented the crest o" his !reathelm, twin to the one painted on his shield'
1,e was alwa&s pro%d o" &o%, 5dm%re' *nd he loes &o% "iercel&' Beliee that'3
1I mean to !ie him better reason than mere birth'3 ,e wheeled his warhorse abo%t and
raised a hand' Tr%mpets so%nded, a dr%m be!an to boom, the drawbrid!e descended in
"its and starts, and Ser 5dm%re T%ll& led his men o%t "rom Bierr%n with lances raised
and banners streamin!'
I hae a !reater host than &o%rs, brother, +atel&n tho%!ht as she watched them !o' *
host o" do%bts and "ears'
Beside her, Briennes miser& was almost palpable' +atel&n had ordered !arments sewn
to her meas%re, handsome !owns to s%it her birth and se0, &et still she pre"erred to dress
in oddments o" mail and boiled leather, a swordbelt cinched aro%nd her waist' She wo%ld
hae been happier ridin! to war with 5dm%re, no do%bt, b%t een walls as stron! as
Bierr%ns re)%ired swords to hold them' ,er brother had ta$en eer& able-bodied man
"or the "ords, leain! Ser #esmond 8rell to command a !arrison made %p o" the
wo%nded, the old, and the sic$, alon! with a "ew s)%ires and some %ntrained peasant
bo&s still sh& o" manhood' This, to de"end a castle crammed "%ll o" women and children'
(hen the last o" 5dm%res "oot had sh%""led %nder the portc%llis, Brienne as$ed,
1(hat shall we do now, m& lad&.3
1/%r d%t&'3 +atel&ns "ace was drawn as she started across the &ard' I hae alwa&s
done m& d%t&, she tho%!ht' 4erhaps that was wh& her lord "ather had alwa&s cherished
her best o" all his children' ,er two older brothers had both died in in"anc&, so she had
been son as well as da%!hter to 7ord ,oster %ntil 5dm%re was born' Then her mother
had died and her "ather had told her that she m%st be the lad& o" Bierr%n now, and she
had done that too' *nd when 7ord ,oster promised her to Brandon Star$, she had
than$ed him "or ma$in! her s%ch a splendid match'
I !ae Brandon m& "aor to wear, and neer com"orted 4et&r once a"ter he was
wo%nded, nor bid him "arewell when =ather sent him o""' *nd when Brandon was
m%rdered and =ather told me I m%st wed his brother, I did so !ladl&, tho%!h I neer saw
Neds "ace %ntil o%r weddin! da&' I !ae m& maidenhood to this solemn stran!er and
sent him o"" to his war and his $in! and the woman who bore him his bastard, beca%se I
alwa&s did m& d%t&'
,er steps too$ her to the sept, a seen-sided sandstone temple set amidst her mothers
!ardens and "illed with rainbow li!ht' It was crowded when the& entered: +atel&n was
not alone in her need "or pra&er' She $nelt be"ore the painted marble ima!e o" the
(arrior and lit a scented candle "or 5dm%re and another "or Bobb o"" be&ond the hills'
6eep them sa"e and help them to ictor&, she pra&ed, and brin! peace to the so%ls o" the
slain and com"ort to those the& leae behind'
The septon entered with his censer and cr&stal while she was at her pra&ers, so +atel&n
lin!ered "or the celebration' She did not $now this septon, an earnest &o%n! man close to
5dm%res a!e' ,e per"ormed his o""ice well eno%!h, and his oice was rich and pleasant
when he san! the praises to the Seen, b%t +atel&n "o%nd hersel" &earnin! "or the thin
)%aerin! tones o" Septon /sm&nd, lon! dead' /sm&nd wo%ld hae listened patientl& to
the tale o" what she had seen and "elt in Benl&s pailion, and he mi!ht hae $nown
what it meant as well, and what she m%st do to la& to rest the shadows that stal$ed her
dreams' /sm&nd, m& "ather, <ncle Br&nden, old 2aester 6&m, the& alwa&s seemed to
$now eer&thin!, b%t now there is onl& me, and it seems I $now nothin!, not een m&
d%t&' ,ow can I do m& d%t& i" I do not $now where it lies.
+atel&ns $nees were sti"" b& the time she rose, tho%!h she "elt no wiser' 4erhaps she
wo%ld !o to the !odswood toni!ht, and pra& to Neds !ods as well' The& were older than
the Seen' /%tside, she "o%nd son! o" a er& di""erent sort' B&m%nd the Bh&mer sat b&
the brewho%se amidst a circle o" listeners, his deep oice rin!in! as he san! o" 7ord
#eremond at the Blood& 2eadow'
*nd there he stood with sword in hand, the last o" #arr&s ten ' ' '
Brienne pa%sed to listen "or a moment, broad sho%lders h%nched and thic$ arms
crossed a!ainst her chest' * mob o" ra!!ed bo&s raced b&, screechin! and "lailin! at each
other with stic$s' (h& do bo&s so loe to pla& at war. +atel&n wondered i" B&m%nd was
the answer' The sin!ers oice swelled as he neared the end o" his son!'
*nd red the !rass beneath his "eet, and red his banners bri!ht, and red the !low o"
settin! s%n that bathed him in its li!ht' 1+ome on, come on,3 the !reat lord called, 1m&
sword is h%n!r& still'3 *nd with a cr& o" saa!e ra!e, The& swarmed across the rill ' ' '
1=i!htin! is better than this waitin!,3 Brienne said' 1;o% dont "eel so helpless when
&o% "i!ht' ;o% hae a sword and a horse, sometimes an a0e' (hen &o%re armored its
hard "or an&one to h%rt &o%'3
16ni!hts die in battle,3 +atel&n reminded her'
Brienne loo$ed at her with those bl%e and bea%ti"%l e&es' 1*s ladies die in childbed'
No one sin!s son!s abo%t them'3
1+hildren are a battle o" a di""erent sort'3 +atel&n started across the &ard' 1* battle
witho%t banners or warhorns, b%t no less "ierce' +arr&in! a child, brin!in! it into the
world ' ' ' &o%r mother will hae told &o% o" the pain ' ' '3
1I neer $new m& mother,3 Brienne said' 12& "ather had ladies ' ' ' a di""erent lad&
eer& &ear, b%t ' ' '3
1Those were no ladies,3 +atel&n said' 1*s hard as birth can be, Brienne, what comes
a"ter is een harder' *t times I "eel as tho%!h I am bein! torn apart' (o%ld that there
were "ie o" me, one "or each child, so I mi!ht $eep them all sa"e'3
1*nd who wo%ld $eep &o% sa"e, m& lad&.3
,er smile was wan and tired' 1(h&, the men o" m& ,o%se' /r so m& lad& mother
ta%!ht me' 2& lord "ather, m& brother, m& %ncle, m& h%sband, the& will $eep me
sa"e ' ' ' b%t while the& are awa& "rom me, I s%ppose &o% m%st "ill their place, Brienne'3
Brienne bowed her head' 1I shall tr&, m& lad&'3
7ater that da&, 2aester >&man bro%!ht a letter' She saw him at once, hopin! "or some
word "rom Bobb, or "rom Ser Bodri$ in (inter"ell, b%t the messa!e proed to be "rom
one 7ord 2eadows, who named himsel" castellan o" Storms 5nd' It was addressed to
her "ather, her brother, her son, 1or whoeer now holds Bierr%n'3 Ser +ortna& 4enrose
was dead, the man wrote, and Storms 5nd had opened its !ate to Stannis Baratheon, the
tr%eborn and ri!ht"%l heir' The castle !arrison had sworn their swords to his ca%se, one
and all, and no man o" them had s%""ered harm'
1Sae +ortna& 4enrose,3 +atel&n m%rm%red' She had neer met the man, &et she
!rieed to hear o" his passin!' 1Bobb sho%ld $now o" this at once,3 she said' 1#o we
$now where he is.3
1*t last word he was marchin! toward the +ra!, the seat o" ,o%se (esterlin!,3 said
2aester >&man' 1I" I dispatched a raen to *shemar$, it ma& be that the& co%ld send a
rider a"ter him'3
1#o so'3
+atel&n read the letter a!ain a"ter the maester was !one' 17ord 2eadows sa&s nothin!
o" Boberts bastard,3 she con"ided to Brienne' 1I s%ppose he &ielded the bo& with the
rest, tho%!h I con"ess, I do not %nderstand wh& Stannis wanted him so badl&'3
14erhaps he "ears the bo&s claim'3
1* bastards claim. No, its somethin! else ' ' ' what does this child loo$ li$e.3
1,e is seen or ei!ht, comel&, with blac$ hair and bri!ht bl%e e&es' >isitors o"t tho%!ht
him 7ord Benl&s own son'3
1*nd Benl& "aored Bobert'3 +atel&n had a !limmer o" %nderstandin!' 1Stannis means
to parade his brothers bastard be"ore the realm, so men mi!ht see Bobert in his "ace and
wonder wh& there is no s%ch li$eness in Co""re&'3
1(o%ld that mean so m%ch.3
1Those who "aor Stannis will call it proo"' Those who s%pport Co""re& will sa& it
means nothin!'3 ,er own children had more T%ll& abo%t them than Star$' *r&a was the
onl& one to show m%ch o" Ned in her "eat%res' *nd "on Snow, b%t he was neer mine'
She "o%nd hersel" thin$in! o" Cons mother, that shadow& secret loe her h%sband wo%ld
neer spea$ o"' #oes she !riee "or Ned as I do. /r did she hate him "or leain! her bed
"or mine. #oes she pra& "or her son as I hae pra&ed "or mine.
The& were %ncom"ortable tho%!hts, and "%tile' I" Con had been born o" *shara #a&ne
o" Star"all, as some whispered, the lad& was lon! dead: i" not, +atel&n had no cl%e who
or where his mother mi!ht be' *nd it made no matter' Ned was !one now, and his loes
and his secrets had all died with him'
Still, she was str%c$ a!ain b& how stran!el& men behaed when it came to their
bastards' Ned had alwa&s been "iercel& protectie o" Con, and Ser +ortna& 4enrose had
!ien %p his li"e "or this 5dric Storm, &et ' ' ' Boose Boltons bastard had meant less to
him than one o" his do!s, to 9%d!e "rom the tone o" the )%eer cold letter 5dm%re had
!otten "rom him not three da&s past' ,e had crossed the Trident and was marchin! on
,arrenhal as commanded, he wrote' 1* stron! castle, and well !arrisoned, b%t ,is 8race
shall hae it, i" I m%st $ill eer& liin! so%l within to ma$e it so'3 ,e hoped ,is 8race
wo%ld wei!h that a!ainst the crimes o" his bastard son, whom Ser Bodri$ +assel had p%t
to death' 1* "ate he no do%bt earned,3 Bolton had written' 1Tainted blood is eer
treachero%s, and Bamsa&s nat%re was sl&, !reed&, and cr%el' I co%nt m&sel" well rid o"
him' The tr%eborn sons m& &o%n! wi"e has promised me wo%ld neer hae been sa"e
while he lied'3
The so%nd o" h%rr&in! "ootsteps droe the morbid tho%!hts "rom her head' Ser
#esmonds s)%ire dashed pantin! into the room and $nelt' 12& lad& ' ' ' 7annisters ' ' '
across the rier'3
1Ta$e a lon! breath, lad, and tell it slowl&'3
,e did as she bid him' 1* col%mn o" armored men,3 he reported' 1*cross the Bed
=or$' The& are "l&in! a p%rple %nicorn below the lion o" 7annister'3
Some son o" 7ord Bra0' Bra0 had come to Bierr%n once when she was a !irl, to
propose weddin! one o" his sons to her or 7&sa' She wondered whether it was this same
son o%t there now, leadin! the attac$'
The 7annisters had ridden o%t o" the so%theast beneath a bla?e o" banners, Ser
#esmond told her when she ascended to the battlements to 9oin him' 1* "ew o%triders,
no more,3 he ass%red her' 1The main stren!th o" 7ord T&wins host is well to the so%th'
(e are in no dan!er here'3
So%th o" the Bed =or$ the land stretched awa& open and "lat' =rom the watchtower
+atel&n co%ld see "or miles' 5en so, onl& the nearest "ord was isible' 5dm%re had
entr%sted 7ord Cason 2allister with its de"ense, as well as that o" three others "arther
%prier' The 7annister riders were millin! abo%t %ncertainl& near the water, crimson and
siler banners "lappin! in the wind' 1No more than "i"t&, m& lad&,3 Ser #esmond
estimated'
+atel&n watched the riders spread o%t in a lon! line' 7ord Casons men waited to
receie them behind roc$s and !rass and hilloc$s' * tr%mpet blast sent the horsemen
"orward at a pondero%s wal$, splashin! down into the c%rrent' =or a moment the& made
a brae show, all bri!ht armor and streamin! banners, the s%n "lashin! o"" the points o"
their lances'
1Now,3 she heard Brienne m%tter'
It was hard to ma$e o%t what was happenin!, b%t the screams o" the horses seemed
lo%d een at this remoe, and beneath them +atel&n heard the "ainter clash o" steel on
steel' * banner anished s%ddenl& as its bearer was swept %nder, and soon a"ter the "irst
dead man dri"ted past their walls, borne alon! b& the c%rrent' B& then the 7annisters had
p%lled bac$ in con"%sion' She watched as the& re-"ormed, con"erred brie"l&, and !alloped
bac$ the wa& the& had come' The men on the walls sho%ted ta%nts a"ter them, tho%!h
the& were alread& too "ar o"" to hear'
Ser #esmond slapped his bell&' 1(o%ld that 7ord ,oster co%ld hae seen that' It
wo%ld hae made him dance'3
12& "athers dancin! da&s are past, I "ear,3 +atel&n said, 1and this "i!ht is 9%st be!%n'
The 7annisters will come a!ain' 7ord T&win has twice m& brothers n%mbers'3
1,e co%ld hae ten times and it wo%ld not matter,3 Ser #esmond said' 1The west ban$
o" the Bed =or$ is hi!her than the east, m& lad&, and well wooded' /%r bowmen hae
!ood coer, and a clear "ield "or their sha"ts ' ' ' and sho%ld an& breach occ%r, 5dm%re
will hae his best $ni!hts in resere, read& to ride whereer the& are most sorel& needed'
The rier will hold them'3
1I pra& that &o% are ri!ht,3 +atel&n said !rael&'
That ni!ht the& came a!ain' She had commanded them to wa$e her at once i" the
enem& ret%rned, and well a"ter midni!ht a serin! !irl to%ched her !entl& b& the
sho%lder' +atel&n sat %p at once' 1(hat is it.3
1The "ord a!ain, m& lad&'3
(rapped in a bedrobe, +atel&n climbed to the roo" o" the $eep' =rom there she co%ld
see oer the walls and the moonlit rier to where the battle ra!ed' The de"enders had
b%ilt watch"ires alon! the ban$, and perhaps the 7annisters tho%!ht to "ind them ni!ht-
blind or %nwar&' I" so, it was "oll&' #ar$ness was a chanc& all& at best' *s the& waded in
to breast their wa& across, men stepped in hidden pools and went down splashin!, while
others st%mbled oer stones or !ashed their "eet on the hidden caltrops' The 2allister
bowmen sent a storm o" "ire arrows hissin! across the rier, stran!el& bea%ti"%l "rom
a"ar' /ne man, pierced thro%!h a do?en times, his clothes a"ire, danced and whirled in
the $nee-deep water %ntil at last he "ell and was swept downstream' B& the time his bod&
came bobbin! past Bierr%n, the "ires and his li"e had both been e0tin!%ished'
* small ictor&, +atel&n tho%!ht when the "i!htin! had ended and the s%riin!
"oemen had melted bac$ into the ni!ht, &et a ictor& nonetheless' *s the& descended the
windin! t%rret steps, +atel&n as$ed Brienne "or her tho%!hts' 1That was the br%sh o"
7ord T&wins "in!ertip, m& lad&,3 the !irl said' 1,e is probin!, "eelin! "or a wea$ point,
an %nde"ended crossin!' I" he does not "ind one, he will c%rl all his "in!ers into a "ist and
tr& and ma$e one'3 Brienne h%nched her sho%lders' 1Thats what Id do' (ere I him'3
,er hand went to the hilt o" her sword and !ae it a little pat, as i" to ma$e certain it was
still there'
*nd ma& the !ods help %s then, +atel&n tho%!ht' ;et there was nothin! she co%ld do
"or it' That was 5dm%res battle o%t there on the rier: hers was here inside the castle'
The ne0t mornin! as she bro$e her "ast, she sent "or her "athers a!ed steward,
<ther&des (a&n' 1,ae Ser +leos =re& bro%!ht a "la!on o" wine' I mean to )%estion
him soon, and I want his ton!%e well loosened'3
1*s &o% command, m& lad&'3
Not lon! a"ter, a rider with the 2allister ea!le sewn on his breast arried with a
messa!e "rom 7ord Cason, tellin! o" another s$irmish and another ictor&' Ser =lement
Bra0 had tried to "orce a crossin! at a di""erent "ord si0 lea!%es to the so%th' This time
the 7annisters shortened their lances and adanced across the rier behind on "oot, b%t
the 2allister bowmen had rained hi!h arcin! shots down oer their shields, while the
scorpions 5dm%re had mo%nted on the rierban$ sent hea& stones crashin! thro%!h to
brea$ %p the "ormation' 1The& le"t a do?en dead in the water, onl& two reachin! the
shallows, where we dealt with them bris$l&,3 the rider reported' ,e also told o" "i!htin!
"arther %pstream, where 7ord 6ar&l >ance held the "ords' 1Those thr%sts too were t%rned
aside, at !rieo%s cost to o%r "oes'3
4erhaps 5dm%re was wiser than I $new, +atel&n tho%!ht' ,is lords all saw the sense in
his battle plans, wh& was I so blind. 2& brother is not the little bo& I remember, no
more than Bobb is'
She waited %ntil eenin! be"ore !oin! to pa& her call %pon Ser +leos =re&, reasonin!
that the lon!er she dela&ed, the dr%n$er he was li$el& to be' *s she entered the tower
cell, Ser +leos st%mbled to his $nees' 12& lad&, I $new na%!ht o" an& escape' The Imp
said a 7annister m%st needs hae a 7annister escort, on m& oath as a $ni!htA3
1*rise, ser'3 +atel&n seated hersel"' 1I $now no !randson o" (alder =re& wo%ld be an
oathbrea$er'3 <nless it sered his p%rpose' 1;o% bro%!ht peace terms, m& brother said'3
1I did'3 Ser +leos l%rched to his "eet' She was pleased to see how %nstead& he was'
1Tell me,3 she commanded, and he did'
(hen he was done, +atel&n sat "rownin!' 5dm%re had been ri!ht, these were no terms
at all, e0cept 17annister will e0chan!e *r&a and Sansa "or his brother.3
1;es' ,e sat on the Iron Throne and swore it'3
1Be"ore witnesses.3
1Be"ore all the co%rt, m& lad&' *nd the !ods as well' I said as m%ch to Ser 5dm%re, b%t
he told me it was not possible, that ,is 8race Bobb wo%ld neer consent'3
1,e told &o% tr%e'3 She co%ld not een sa& that Bobb was wron!' *r&a and Sansa were
children' The 6in!sla&er, alie and "ree, was as dan!ero%s as an& man in the realm' That
road led nowhere' 1#id &o% see m& !irls. *re the& treated well.3
Ser +leos hesitated' 1I ' ' ' &es, the& seemed ' ' '3
,e is "%mblin! "or a lie, +atel&n reali?ed, b%t the wine has "%ddled his wits' 1Ser
+leos,3 she said cooll&, 1&o% "or"eited the protection o" &o%r peace banner when &o%r
men pla&ed %s "alse' 7ie to me, and &o%ll han! "rom the walls beside them' Beliee
that' I shall as$ &o% once moreAdid &o% see m& da%!hters.3
,is brow was damp with sweat' 1I saw Sansa at the co%rt, the da& T&rion told me his
terms' She loo$ed most bea%ti"%l, m& lad&' 4erhaps a, a bit wan' #rawn, as it were'3
Sansa, b%t not *r&a' That mi!ht mean an&thin!' *r&a had alwa&s been harder to tame'
4erhaps +ersei was rel%ctant to parade her in open co%rt "or "ear o" what she mi!ht sa&
or do' The& mi!ht hae her loc$ed sa"el& o%t o" si!ht' /r the& mi!ht hae $illed her'
+atel&n shoed the tho%!ht awa&' 1,is terms, &o% said ' ' ' &et +ersei is F%een Be!ent'3
1T&rion spo$e "or both o" them' The )%een was not there' She was indisposed that da&,
I was told'3
1+%rio%s'3 +atel&n tho%!ht bac$ to that terrible tre$ thro%!h the 2o%ntains o" the
2oon, and the wa& T&rion 7annister had somehow sed%ced that sellsword "rom her
serice to his own' The dwar" is too cleer b& hal"' She co%ld not ima!ine how he had
s%ried the hi!h road a"ter 7&sa had sent him "rom the >ale, &et it did not s%rprise her'
,e had no part in Neds m%rder, at the least' *nd he came to m& de"ense when the
clansmen attac$ed %s' I" I co%ld tr%st his word ' ' '
She opened her hands to loo$ down at the scars across her "in!ers' ,is da!!ers mar$s,
she reminded hersel"' ,is da!!er, in the hand o" the $iller he paid to open Brans throat'
Tho%!h the dwar" denied it, to be s%re' 5en a"ter 7&sa loc$ed him in one o" her s$&
cells and threatened him with her moon door, he had still denied it' 1,e lied,3 she said,
risin! abr%ptl&' 1The 7annisters are liars eer& one, and the dwar" is the worst o" them'
The $iller was armed with his own $ni"e'3
Ser +leos stared' 1I $now nothin! o" an&A3
1;o% $now nothin!,3 she a!reed, sweepin! "rom the cell' Brienne "ell in beside her,
silent' It is simpler "or her, +atel&n tho%!ht with a pan! o" en&' She was li$e a man in
that' =or men the answer was alwa&s the same, and neer "arther awa& than the nearest
sword' =or a woman, a mother, the wa& was stonier and harder to $now'
She too$ a late s%pper in the 8reat ,all with her !arrison, to !ie them what
enco%ra!ement she co%ld' B&m%nd the Bh&mer san! thro%!h all the co%rses, sparin! her
the need to tal$' ,e closed with the son! he had written abo%t Bobbs ictor& at /0cross'
1*nd the stars in the ni!ht were the e&es o" his woles, and the wind itsel" was their
son!'3
Between the erses, B&m%nd threw bac$ his head and howled, and b& the end, hal" o"
the hall was howlin! alon! with him, een #esmond 8rell, who was well in his c%ps'
Their oices ran! o"" the ra"ters'
7et them hae their son!s, i" it ma$es them brae, +atel&n tho%!ht, to&in! with her
siler !oblet'
1There was alwa&s a sin!er at 5en"all ,all when I was a !irl,3 Brienne said )%ietl&' 1I
learned all the son!s b& heart'3
1Sansa did the same, tho%!h "ew sin!ers eer cared to ma$e the lon! 9o%rne& north to
(inter"ell'3 I told her there wo%ld be sin!ers at the $in!s co%rt, tho%!h' I told her she
wo%ld hear m%sic o" all sorts, that her "ather co%ld "ind some master to help her learn the
hi!h harp' /h, !ods "or!ie me ' ' '
Brienne said, 1I remember a woman ' ' ' she came "rom some place across the narrow
sea' I co%ld not een sa& what lan!%a!e she san! in, b%t her oice was as loel& as she
was' She had e&es the color o" pl%ms and her waist was so tin& m& "ather co%ld p%t his
hands aro%nd it' ,is hands were almost as bi! as mine'3 She closed her lon!, thic$
"in!ers, as i" to hide them'
1#id &o% sin! "or &o%r "ather.3 +atel&n as$ed'
Brienne shoo$ her head, starin! down at her trencher as i" to "ind some answer in the
!ra&'
1=or 7ord Benl&.3
The !irl reddened' 1Neer, I ' ' ' his "ool, he made cr%el 9apes sometimes, and I ' ' '3
1Someda& &o% m%st sin! "or me'3
1I ' ' ' please, I hae no !i"t'3 Brienne p%shed bac$ "rom the table' 1=or!ie me, m&
lad&' #o I hae &o%r leae to !o.3
+atel&n nodded' The tall, %n!ainl& !irl le"t the hall with lon! strides, almost %nnoticed
amidst the reelr&' 2a& the !ods !o with her, she tho%!ht as she ret%rned listlessl& to her
s%pper'
It was three da&s later when the hammer blow that Brienne had "oretold "ell, and "ie
da&s be"ore the& heard o" it' +atel&n was sittin! with her "ather when 5dm%res
messen!er arried' The mans armor was dinted, his boots d%st&, and he had a ra!!ed
hole in his s%rcoat, b%t the loo$ on his "ace as he $nelt was eno%!h to tell her that the
news was !ood' 1>ictor&, m& lad&'3 ,e handed her 5dm%res letter' ,er hand trembled
as she bro$e the seal'
7ord T&win had tried to "orce a crossin! at a do?en di""erent "ords, her brother wrote,
b%t eer& thr%st had been thrown bac$' 7ord 7e""ord had been drowned, the +ra$ehall
$ni!ht called Stron!boar ta$en captie, Ser *ddam' 2arbrand thrice "orced to retreat ' ' '
b%t the "iercest battle had been "o%!ht at Stone 2ill, where Ser 8re!or +le!ane had led
the assa%lt' So man& o" his men had "allen that their dead horses threatened to dam the
"low' In the end the 2o%ntain and a hand"%l o" his best had !ained the west ban$, b%t
5dm%re had thrown his resere at them, and the& had shattered and reeled awa& blood&
and beaten' Ser 8re!or himsel" had lost his horse and sta!!ered bac$ across the Bed
=or$ bleedin! "rom a do?en wo%nds while a rain o" arrows and stones "ell all aro%nd
him' 1The& shall not cross, +at,3 5dm%re scrawled, 17ord T&win is marchin! to the
so%theast' * "eint perhaps, or "%ll retreat, it matters not' The& shall not cross'3
Ser #esmond 8rell had been elated' 1/h, i" onl& I mi!ht hae been with him,3 the old
$ni!ht said when she read him the letter' 1(here is that "ool B&m%nd. Theres a son! in
this, b& the !ods, and one that een 5dm%re will want to hear' The mill that !ro%nd the
2o%ntain down, I co%ld almost ma$e the words m&sel", had I the sin!ers !i"t'3
1Ill hear no son!s %ntil the "i!htin!s done,3 +atel&n said, perhaps too sharpl&' ;et she
allowed Ser #esmond to spread the word, and a!reed when he s%!!ested brea$in! open
some cas$s in honor o" Stone 2ill' The mood within Bierr%n had been strained and
somber: the& wo%ld all be better "or a little drin$ and hope'
That ni!ht the castle ran! to the so%nds o" celebration' 1Bierr%n@3 the small"ol$
sho%ted, and 1T%ll&@ T%ll&@3 The&d come "ri!htened and helpless, and her brother had
ta$en them in when most lords wo%ld hae closed their !ates' Their oices "loated in
thro%!h the hi!h windows, and seeped %nder the hea& redwood doors' B&m%nd pla&ed
his harp, accompanied b& a pair o" dr%mmers and a &o%th with a set o" reed pipes'
+atel&n listened to !irlish la%!hter, and the e0cited chatter o" the !reen bo&s her brother
had le"t her "or a !arrison' 8ood so%nds ' ' ' and &et the& did not to%ch her' She co%ld not
share their happiness' In her "athers solar she "o%nd a hea& leatherbo%nd boo$ o" maps
and opened it to the rierlands' ,er e&es "o%nd the path o" the Bed =or$ and traced it b&
"lic$erin! candleli!ht' 2archin! to the so%theast, she tho%!ht' B& now the& had li$el&
reached the headwaters o" the Blac$water B%sh, she decided'
She closed the boo$ een more %neas& than be"ore' The !ods had !ranted them ictor&
a"ter ictor&' *t Stone 2ill, at /0cross, in the Battle o" the +amps, at the (hisperin!
(ood ' ' '
B%t i" we are winnin!, wh& am I so a"raid.
C#APT"R ),
*RA'
The so%nd was the "aintest o" clin$s, a scrapin! o" steel oer stone' ,e li"ted his head
"rom his paws, listenin!, sni""in! at the ni!ht' The eenin!s rain had wo$en a h%ndred
sleepin! smells and made them ripe and stron! a!ain' 8rass and thorns, blac$berries
bro$en on the !ro%nd, m%d, worms, rottin! leaes, a rat creepin! thro%!h the b%sh' ,e
ca%!ht the sha!!& blac$ scent o" his brothers coat and the sharp copper& tan! o" blood
"rom the s)%irrel hed $illed' /ther s)%irrels moed thro%!h the branches aboe,
smellin! o" wet "%r and "ear, their little claws scratchin! at the bar$' The noise had
so%nded somethin! li$e that'
*nd he heard it a!ain, clin$ and scrape' It bro%!ht him to his "eet' ,is ears pric$ed and
his tail rose' ,e howled, a lon! deep shier& cr&, a howl to wa$e the sleepers, b%t the
piles o" man-roc$ were dar$ and dead' * still wet ni!ht, a ni!ht to drie men into their
holes' The rain had stopped, b%t the men still hid "rom the damp, h%ddled b& the "ires in
their caes o" piled stone'
,is brother came slidin! thro%!h the trees, moin! almost as )%iet as another brother
he remembered diml& "rom lon! a!o, the white one with the e&es o" blood' This
brothers e&es were pools o" shadow, b%t the "%r on the bac$ o" his nec$ was bristlin!'
,e had heard the so%nds as well, and $nown the& meant dan!er'
This time the clin$ and scrape were "ollowed b& a slitherin! and the so"t swi"t patter o"
s$in"eet on stone' The wind bro%!ht the "aintest whi"" o" a man-smell he did not $now'
Stran!er' #an!er' #eath'
,e ran toward the so%nd, his brother racin! beside him' The stone dens rose be"ore
them, walls slic$ and wet' ,e bared his teeth, b%t the man-roc$ too$ no notice' * !ate
loomed %p, a blac$ iron sna$e coiled ti!ht abo%t bar and post' (hen he crashed a!ainst
it, the !ate sh%ddered and the sna$e clan$ed and slithered and held' Thro%!h the bars he
co%ld loo$ down the lon! stone b%rrow that ran between the walls to the ston& "ield
be&ond, b%t there was no wa& thro%!h' ,e co%ld "orce his m%??le between the bars, b%t
no more' 2an& a time his brother had tried to crac$ the blac$ bones o" the !ate between
his teeth, b%t the& wo%ld not brea$' The& had tried to di! %nder, b%t there were !reat "lat
stones beneath, hal"-coered b& earth and blown leaes'
Snarlin!, he paced bac$ and "orth in "ront o" the !ate, then threw himsel" at it once
more' It moed a little and slammed him bac$' 7oc$ed, somethin! whispered' +hained'
The oice he did not hear, the scent witho%t a smell' The other wa&s were closed as well'
(here doors opened in the walls o" man-roc$, the wood was thic$ and stron!' There was
no wa& o%t'
There is, the whisper came, and it seemed as i" he co%ld see the shadow o" a !reat tree
coered in needles, slantin! %p o%t o" the blac$ earth to ten times the hei!ht o" a man'
;et when he loo$ed abo%t, it was not there' The other side o" the !odswood, the sentinel,
h%rr&, h%rr& ' ' '
Thro%!h the !loom o" ni!ht came a m%""led sho%t, c%t short'
Swi"tl&, swi"tl&, he whirled and bo%nded bac$ into the trees, wet leaes r%stlin!
beneath his paws, branches whippin! at him as he r%shed past' ,e co%ld hear his brother
"ollowin! close' The& pl%n!ed %nder the heart tree and aro%nd the cold pool, thro%!h the
blac$berr& b%shes, %nder a tan!le o" oa$s and ash and hawthorn scr%b, to the "ar side o"
the wood ' ' ' and there it was, the shadow hed !limpsed witho%t seein!, the slantin!
tree pointin! at the roo"tops' Sentinel, came the tho%!ht'
,e remembered how it was to climb it then' The needles eer&where, scratchin! at his
bare "ace and "allin! down the bac$ o" his nec$, the stic$& sap on his hands, the sharp
pine& smell o" it' It was an eas& tree "or a bo& to climb, leanin! as it did, croo$ed, the
branches so close to!ether the& almost made a ladder, slantin! ri!ht %p to the roo"'
8rowlin!, he sni""ed aro%nd the base o" the tree, li"ted a le! and mar$ed it with a
stream o" %rine' * low branch br%shed his "ace, and he snapped at it, twistin! and p%llin!
%ntil the wood crac$ed and tore' ,is mo%th was "%ll o" needles and the bitter taste o" the
sap' ,e shoo$ his head and snarled'
,is brother sat bac$ on his ha%nches and li"ted his oice in a %l%latin! howl, his son!
blac$ with mo%rnin!' The wa& was no wa&' The& were not s)%irrels, nor the c%bs o"
men, the& co%ld not wri!!le %p the tr%n$s o" trees, clin!in! with so"t pin$ paws and
cl%ms& "eet' The& were r%nners, h%nters, prowlers'
/"" across the ni!ht, be&ond the stone that hemmed them close, the do!s wo$e and
be!an to bar$' /ne and then another and then all o" them, a !reat clamor' The& smelled
it too: the scent o" "oes and "ear'
* desperate "%r& "illed him, hot as h%n!er' ,e spran! awa& "rom the wall loped o""
beneath the trees, the shadows o" branch and lea" dapplin! his !re& "%r ' ' ' and then he
t%rned and raced bac$ in a r%sh' ,is "eet "lew $ic$in! %p wet leaes and pine needles,
and "or a little time he was a h%nter and an antlered sta! was "leein! be"ore him and he
co%ld see it, smell it, and he ran "%ll o%t in p%rs%it' The smell o" "ear made his heart
th%nder and slaer ran "rom his 9aws, and he reached the "allin! tree in stride and threw
himsel" %p the tr%n$, claws scrabblin! at the bar$ "or p%rchase' <pward he bo%nded, %p,
two bo%nds, three, hardl& slowin!, %ntil he was amon! the lower limbs' Branches
tan!led his "eet and whipped at his e&es, !re&-!reen needles scattered as he sho%ldered
thro%!h them, snappin!' ,e had to slow' Somethin! sna!!ed at his "oot and he wrenched
it "ree, snarlin!' The tr%n$ narrowed %nder him, the slope steeper, almost strai!ht %p, and
wet' The bar$ tore li$e s$in when he tried to claw at it' ,e was a third o" the wa& %p,
hal"wa&, more, the roo" was almost within reach ' ' ' and then he p%t down a "oot and "elt
it slip o"" the c%re o" wet wood, and s%ddenl& he was slidin!, st%mblin!' ,e &owled in
"ear and "%r&, "allin!, "allin!, and twisted aro%nd while the !ro%nd r%shed %p to brea$
him ' ' '
*nd then Bran was bac$ abed in his lonel& tower room, tan!led in his blan$ets, his
breath comin! hard' 1S%mmer,3 he cried alo%d' 1S%mmer'3 ,is sho%lder seemed to ache,
as i" he had "allen on it, b%t he $new it was onl& the !host o" what the wol" was "eelin!'
Co9en told it tr%e' I am a beastlin!' /%tside he co%ld hear the "aint bar$in! o" do!s' The
sea has come' Its "lowin! oer the walls, 9%st as "o9en saw Bran !rabbed the bar
oerhead and p%lled himsel" %p, sho%tin! "or help' No one came, and a"ter a moment he
remembered that no one wo%ld' The& had ta$en the !%ard o"" his door' Ser Bodri$ had
needed eer& man o" "i!htin! a!e he co%ld la& his hands on, so (inter"ell had been le"t
with onl& a to$en !arrison'
The rest had le"t ei!ht da&s past, si0 h%ndred men "rom (inter"ell and the nearest
hold"asts' +le& +erw&n was brin!in! three h%ndred more to 9oin them on the march, and
2aester 7%win had sent raens be"ore them, s%mmonin! leies "rom (hite ,arbor and
the barrowlands and een the deep places inside the wol"swood' Torrhens S)%are was
%nder attac$ b& some monstro%s war chie" named #a!mer +le"t9aw' /ld Nan said he
co%ldnt be $illed, that once a "oe had c%t his head in two with an a0e, b%t #a!mer was
so "ierce hed 9%st p%shed the two hales bac$ to!ether and held them %ntil the& healed
%p' +o%ld #a!mer hae won. Torrhens S)%are was man& da&s "rom (inter"ell, &et still
' ' '
Bran p%lled himsel" "rom the bed, moin! bar to bar %ntil he reached the windows' ,is
"in!ers "%mbled a little as he sw%n! bac$ the sh%tters' The &ard was empt&, and all the
windows he co%ld see were blac$' (inter"ell slept' 1,odor@3 he sho%ted down, as lo%d
as he co%ld' ,odor wo%ld be asleep aboe the stables, b%t ma&be i" he &elled lo%d
eno%!h hed hear, or somebod& wo%ld' 1,odor, come "ast@ /sha@ 2eera, Co9en,
an&one@3 Bran c%pped his hands aro%nd his mo%th' 1,/////#/////B@3
B%t when the door crashed open behind him, the man who stepped thro%!h was no one
Bran $new' ,e wore a leather 9er$in sewn with oerlappin! iron dis$s, and carried a dir$
in one hand and an a0e strapped to his bac$' 1(hat do &o% want.3 Bran demanded,
a"raid' 1This is m& room' ;o% !et o%t o" here'3
Theon 8re&9o& "ollowed him into the bedchamber' 1(ere not here to harm &o%,
Bran'3
1Theon.3 Bran "elt di??& with relie"' 1#id Bobb send &o%. Is he here too.3
1Bobbs "ar awa&' ,e cant help &o% now'3
1,elp me.3 ,e was con"%sed' 1#ont scare me, Theon'3
1Im 4rince Theon now' (ere both princes, Bran' (ho wo%ld hae dreamed it. B%t
Ie ta$en &o%r castle, m& prince'3
1(inter"ell.3 Bran shoo$ his head' 1No, &o% co%ldnt'3
17eae %s, (erla!'3 The man with the dir$ withdrew' Theon seated himsel" on the bed'
1I sent "o%r men oer the walls with !rapplin! claws and ropes, and the& opened a
postern !ate "or the rest o" %s' 2& men are dealin! with &o%rs een now' I promise &o%,
(inter"ell is mine'3
Bran did not %nderstand' 1B%t &o%re =athers ward'3
1*nd now &o% and &o%r brother are m& wards' *s soon as the "i!htin!s done, m& men
will be brin!in! the rest o" &o%r people to!ether in the 8reat ,all' ;o% and I are !oin! to
spea$ to them' ;o%ll tell them how &o%e &ielded (inter"ell to me, and command
them to sere and obe& their new lord as the& did the old'3
1I wont,3 said Bran' 1(ell "i!ht &o% and throw &o% o%t' I neer &ielded, &o% cant
ma$e me sa& I did'3
1This is no !ame, Bran, so dont pla& the bo& with me, I wont stand "or it' The castle
is mine, b%t these people are still &o%rs' I" the prince wo%ld $eep them sa"e, hed best do
as hes told'3 ,e rose and went to the door' 1Someone will come dress &o% and carr&
&o% to the 8reat ,all' Thin$ care"%ll& on what &o% want to sa&'3
The waitin! made Bran "eel een more helpless than be"ore' ,e sat in the window seat,
starin! o%t at dar$ towers and walls blac$ as shadow' /nce he tho%!ht he heard sho%tin!
be&ond the 8%ards ,all, and somethin! that mi!ht hae been the clash o" swords, b%t he
did not hae S%mmers ears to hear, nor his nose to smell' *wa$e, I am still bro$en, b%t
when I sleep, when Im S%mmer, I can r%n and "i!ht and hear and smell'
,e had e0pected that ,odor wo%ld come "or him, or ma&be one o" the serin! !irls,
b%t when the door ne0t opened it was 2aester 7%win, carr&in! a candle' 1Bran,3 he said,
1&o% ' ' ' $now what has happened. ;o% hae been told.3 The s$in was bro$en aboe
his le"t e&e, and blood ran down that side o" his "ace'
1Theon came' ,e said (inter"ell was his now'3
The maester set down the candle and wiped the blood o"" his chee$' 1The& swam the
moat' +limbed the walls with hoo$ and rope' +ame oer wet and drippin!, steel in
hand'3 ,e sat on the chair b& the door, as "resh blood "lowed' 1*lebell& was on the !ate,
the& s%rprised him in the t%rret and $illed him' ,a&heads wo%nded as well' I had time
to send o"" two raens be"ore the& b%rst in' The bird to (hite ,arbor !ot awa&, b%t the&
bro%!ht down the other with an arrow'3 The maester stared at the r%shes' 1Ser Bodri$
too$ too man& o" o%r men, b%t I am to blame as m%ch as he is' I neer saw this dan!er, I
neer ' ' '3 lo9en saw it, Bran tho%!ht' 1;o% better help me dress'3
1;es, thats so'3 In the hea& ironbo%nd chest at the "oot o" Brans bed the maester
"o%nd smallclothes, breeches, and t%nic' 1;o% are the Star$ in (inter"ell, and Bobbs
heir' ;o% m%st loo$ princel&'3 To!ether the& !arbed him as be"it a lord'
1Theon wants me to &ield the castle,3 Bran said as the maester was "astenin! the cloa$
with his "aorite wol"s-head clasp o" siler and 9et'
1There is no shame in that' * lord m%st protect his small"ol$' +r%el places breed cr%el
peoples, Bran, remember that as &o% deal with these ironmen' ;o%r lord "ather did what
he co%ld to !entle Theon, b%t I "ear it was too little and too late'3
The ironman who came "or them was a s)%at thic$-bodied man with a coal-blac$ beard
that coered hal" his chest' ,e bore the bo& easil& eno%!h, tho%!h he loo$ed none too
happ& with the tas$' Bic$ons bedchamber was a hal" t%rn down the steps' The "o%r-
&ear-old was cran$& at bein! wo$en' 1I want 2other,3 he said' 1I want her' *nd
Sha!!&do! too'3
1;o%r mother is "ar awa&, m& prince'3 2aester 7%win p%lled a bedrobe oer the childs
head' 1B%t Im here, and Bran'3 ,e too$ Bic$on b& the hand and led him o%t'
Below, the& came on 2eera and Co9en bein! herded "rom their room b& a bald man
whose spear was three "eet taller than he was' (hen Co9en loo$ed at Bran, his e&es were
!reen pools "%ll o" sorrow' /ther ironmen had ro%sted the =re&s' 1;o%r brothers lost his
$in!dom,3 7ittle (alder told Bran' 1;o%re no prince now, 9%st a hosta!e'3
1So are &o%,3 Co9en said, 1and me, and all o" %s'3
1No one was tal$in! to &o%, "ro!eater'3
/ne o" the ironmen went be"ore them carr&in! a torch, b%t the rain had started a!ain
and soon drowned it o%t' *s the& h%rried across the &ard the& co%ld hear the direwoles
howlin! in the !odswood' I hope S%mmer wasnt h%rt "allin! "rom the tree'
Theon 8re&9o& was seated in the hi!h seat o" the Star$s' ,e had ta$en o"" his cloa$'
/er a shirt o" "ine mail he wore a blac$ s%rcoat embla?oned with the !olden $ra$en o"
his ,o%se' ,is hands rested on the woles heads cared at the ends o" the wide stone
arms' 1Theons sittin! in Bobbs chair,3 Bic$on said'
1,%sh, Bic$on'3 Bran co%ld "eel the menace aro%nd them, b%t his brother was too
&o%n!' * "ew torches had been lit, and a "ire $indled in the !reat hearth, b%t most o" the
hall remained in dar$ness' There was no place to sit with the benches stac$ed a!ainst the
walls, so the castle "ol$ stood in small !ro%ps, not darin! to spea$' ,e saw /ld Nan, her
toothless mo%th openin! and closin!' ,a&head was carried in between two o" the other
!%ards, a bloodstained banda!e wrapped abo%t his bare chest' 4o0& T&m wept
inconsolabl&, and Beth +assel cried with "ear'
1(hat hae we here.3 Theon as$ed o" the Beeds and =re&s'
1These are 7ad& +atel&ns wards, both named (alder =re&,3 2aester 7%win
e0plained' 1*nd this is Co9en Beed and his sister 2eera, son and da%!hter to ,owland
Beed o" 8re&water (atch, who came to renew their oaths o" "ealt& to (inter"ell'3
1Some mi!ht call that ill-timed,3 said Theon, 1tho%!h not "or me' ,ere &o% are and
here &o%ll sta&'3 ,e acated the hi!h seat' 1Brin! the prince here, 7orren'3 The blac$-
bearded man d%mped Bran onto the stone as i" he were a sac$ o" oats'
4eople were still bein! drien into the 8reat ,all, prodded alon! with sho%ts and the
b%tts o" the spears' 8a!e and /sha arried "rom the $itchens, spotted with "lo%r "rom
ma$in! the mornin! bread' 2i$$en the& dra!!ed in c%rsin!' =arlen entered limpin!,
str%!!lin! to s%pport 4alla' ,er dress had been ripped in two: she held it %p with a
clenched "ist and wal$ed as i" eer& step were a!on&' Septon +ha&le r%shed to lend a
hand, b%t one o" the ironmen $noc$ed him to the "loor'
The last man marched thro%!h the doors was the prisoner Bee$, whose stench
preceded him, ripe and p%n!ent' Bran "elt his stomach twist at the smell o" him' 1(e
"o%nd this one loc$ed in a tower cell,3 anno%nced his escort, a beardless &o%th with
!in!er-colored hair and sodden clothin!, do%btless one o" those whod sw%m the moat'
1,e sa&s the& call him Bee$'3
1+ant thin$ wh&,3 Theon said, smilin!' 1#o &o% alwa&s smell so bad, or did &o% 9%st
"inish "%c$in! a pi!.3
1,aent "%c$ed no one since the& too$ me, mlord' ,e$es me tr%e name' I was in
serice to the Bastard o the #read"ort till the Star$s !ie him an arrow in the bac$ "or a
weddin! !i"t'3
Theon "o%nd that am%sin!' 1(ho did he marr&.3
1The widow o ,ornwood, mlord'3
1That crone. (as he blind. She has teats li$e empt& wines$ins, dr& and withered'3
1It wasnt her teats he wed her "or, mlord'3
The ironmen slammed sh%t the tall doors at the "oot o" the hall' =rom the hi!h seat,
Bran co%ld see abo%t twent& o" them' ,e probabl& le"t some !%ards on the !ates and the
armor&' 5en so, there co%ldnt be more than thirt&'
Theon raised his hands "or )%iet' 1;o% all $now meA3
1*&e, we $now &o% "or a sac$ o" steamin! d%n!@3 sho%ted 2i$$en, be"ore the bald
man droe the b%tt o" his spear into his !%t, then smashed him across the "ace with the
sha"t' The smith st%mbled to his $nees and spat o%t a tooth'
12i$$en, &o% be silent'3 Bran tried to so%nd stern and lordl&, the wa& Bobb did when
he made a command, b%t his oice betra&ed him and the words came o%t in a shrill
s)%ea$'
17isten to &o%r little lordlin!, 2i$$en,3 said Theon' 1,e has more sense than &o% do'3
* !ood lord protects his people, he reminded himsel"' 1Ie &ielded (inter"ell to
Theon'3
17o%der, Bran' *nd call me prince'3
,e raised his oice' 1I hae &ielded (inter"ell to 4rince Theon' *ll o" &o% sho%ld do
as he commands &o%'3
1#amned i" I will@3 bellowed 2i$$en'
Theon i!nored the o%tb%rst' 12& "ather has donned the ancient crown o" salt and roc$,
and declared himsel" 6in! o" the Iron Islands' ,e claims the north as well, b& ri!ht o"
con)%est' ;o% are all his s%b9ects'3
1B%!!er that'3 2i$$en wiped the blood "rom his mo%th' 1I sere the Star$s, not some
treasono%s s)%id o"Aaah'3 The b%tt o" the spear smashed him "ace "irst into the stone
"loor'
1Smiths hae stron! arms and wea$ heads,3 obsered Theon' 1B%t i" the rest o" &o%
sere me as lo&all& as &o% sered Ned Star$, &o%ll "ind me as !enero%s a lord as &o%
co%ld want'3 on his hands and $nees, 2i$$en spat blood' 4lease dont, Bran wished at
him, b%t the blac$smith sho%ted, 1I" &o% thin$ &o% can hold the north with this sorr& lot
oA3
The bald man droe the point o" his spear into the bac$ o" 2i$$ens nec$' Steel slid
thro%!h "lesh and came o%t his throat in a welter o" blood' * woman screamed, and
2eera wrapped her arms aro%nd Bic$on' Its blood he drowned on, Bran tho%!ht
n%mbl&' ,is own blood'
1(ho else has somethin! to sa&.3 as$ed Theon 8re&9o&'
1,odor hodor hodor hodor,3 sho%ted ,odor, e&es wide'
1Someone $indl& sh%t that hal"wit %p'3
Two ironmen be!an to beat ,odor with the b%tts o" their spears' The stablebo&
dropped to the "loor, tr&in! to shield himsel" with his hands'
1I will be as !ood a lord to &o% as 5ddard Star$ eer was'3 Theon raised his oice to
be heard aboe the smac$ o" wood on "lesh' 1Betra& me, tho%!h, and &o%ll wish &o%
hadnt' *nd dont thin$ the men &o% see here are the whole o" m& power' Torrhens
S)%are and #eepwood 2otte will soon be o%rs as well, and m& %ncle is sailin! %p the
Saltspear to sei?e 2oat +ailin' I" Bobb Star$ can stae o"" the 7annisters, he ma& rei!n
as 6in! o" the Trident herea"ter, b%t ,o%se 8re&9o& holds the north now'3
1Star$s lords will "i!ht &o%,3 the man Bee$ called o%t' 1That bloated pi! at (hite
,arbor "or one, and them <mbers and 6arstar$s too' ;o%ll need men' =ree me and Im
&o%rs'3
Theon wei!hed him a moment' 1;o%re cleerer than &o% smell, b%t I co%ld not s%""er
that stench'3
1(ell,3 said Bee$, 1I co%ld wash some' I" I was "ree'3
1* man o" rare !ood sense'3 Theon smiled' 1Bend the $nee'3 one o" the ironmen
handed Bee$ a sword, and he laid it at Theons "eet and swore obedience to ,o%se
8re&9o& and 6in! Balon' Bran co%ld not loo$' The !reen dream was comin! tr%e'
12lord 8re&9o&@3 /sha stepped past 2i$$ens bod&' 1I was bro%!ht here captie too'
;o% were there the da& I was ta$en'3
I tho%!ht &o% were a "riend, Bran tho%!ht, h%rt'
1I need "i!hters,3 Theon declared, 1not $itchen sl%ts'3
1It was Bobb Star$ p%t me in the $itchens' =or the best part o" a &ear, Ie been le"t to
sco%r $ettles, scrape !rease, and warm the straw "or this one'3 She threw a loo$ at 8a!e'
1Ie had a bell&"%l o" it' 4%t a spear in m& hand a!ain'3
1I !ot a spear "or &o% ri!ht here,3 said the bald man whod $illed 2i$$en' ,e !rabbed
his crotch, !rinnin!'
/sha droe her bon& $nee %p between his le!s' 1;o% $eep that so"t pin$ thin!'3 She
wrested the spear "rom him and %sed the b%tt to $noc$ him o"" his "eet' 1Ill hae me the
wood and iron'3 The bald man writhed on the "loor while the other reaers sent %p !ales
o" la%!hter'
Theon la%!hed with the rest' 1;o%ll do,3 he said' 16eep the spear: St&!! can "ind
another' Now bend the $nee and swear'3
(hen no one else r%shed "orward to pled!e serice, the& were dismissed with a
warnin! to do their wor$ and ma$e no tro%ble' ,odor was !ien the tas$ o" bearin! Bran
bac$ to his bed' ,is "ace was all %!l& "rom the beatin!, his nose swollen and one e&e
closed' 1,odor,3 he sobbed between crac$ed lips as he li"ted Bran in h%!e stron! arms
and blood& hands and carried him bac$ o%t into the rain'
C#APT"R ).
AR%A
Theres !hosts, I $now there is'3 ,ot 4ie was $neadin! bread, his arms "lo%red %p to
his elbows' 14ia saw somethin! in the b%tter& last ni!ht'3
*r&a made a r%de noise' 4ia was alwa&s seein! thin!s in the b%tter&' <s%all& the& were
men' 1+an I hae a tart.3 she as$ed' 1;o% ba$ed a whole tra&'3
1I need a whole tra&' Ser *mor& is partial to them'3
She hated Ser *mor&' 17ets spit on them'3
,ot 4ie loo$ed aro%nd nero%sl&' The $itchens were "%ll o" shadows and echoes, b%t
the other coo$s and sc%llions were all asleep in the caerno%s lo"ts aboe the oens'
1,ell $now'3
1,e will not,3 *r&a said' 1;o% cant taste spit'3
1I" he does, its me the&ll whip'3 ,ot 4ie stopped his $neadin!' 1;o% sho%ldnt een
be here' Its the blac$ o" ni!ht'3
It was, b%t *r&a neer minded' 5en in the blac$ o" ni!ht, the $itchens were neer still:
there was alwa&s someone rollin! do%!h "or the mornin! bread, stirrin! a $ettle with a
lon! wooden spoon, or b%tcherin! a ho! "or Ser *mor&s brea$"ast bacon' Toni!ht it was
,ot 4ie'
1I" 4in$e&e wa$es and "inds &o% !oneA3 ,ot 4ie said'
14in$e&e neer wa$es'3 ,is tr%e name was 2ebble, b%t eer&one called him 4in$e&e
"or his r%nn& e&es' 1Not once hes passed o%t'3 5ach mornin! he bro$e his "ast with ale'
5ach eenin! he "ell into a dr%n$en sleep a"ter s%pper, wine-colored spit r%nnin! down
his chin' *r&a wo%ld wait %ntil she heard him snorin!, then creep bare"oot %p the
serants stair, ma$in! no more noise than the mo%se shed been' She carried neither
candle nor taper' S&rio had told her once that dar$ness co%ld be her "riend, and he was
ri!ht' I" she had the moon and the stars to see b&, that was eno%!h' 1I bet we co%ld
escape, and 4in$e&e wo%ldnt een notice I was !one,3 she told ,ot 4ie'
1I dont want to escape' Its better here than it was in them woods' I dont want to eat
no worms' ,ere, sprin$le some "lo%r on the board'3
*r&a coc$ed her head' 1(hats that.3
1(hat. I dontA3
17isten with &o%r ears, not &o%r mo%th' That was a warhorn' Two blasts, didnt &o%
hear. *nd there, thats the portc%llis chains, someones !oin! o%t or comin! in' (ant to
!o see.3 The !ates o" ,arrenhal had not been opened since the mornin! 7ord T&win had
marched with his host'
1Im ma$in! the mornin! bread,3 ,ot 4ie complained' 1*n&how I dont li$e it when
its dar$, I told &o%'3
1Im !oin!' Ill tell &o% a"ter' +an I hae a tart.3
1No'3
She "ilched one an&wa&, and ate it on her wa& o%t' It was st%""ed with chopped n%ts
and "r%it and cheese, the cr%st "la$& and still warm "rom the oen' 5atin! Ser *mor&s
tart made *r&a "eel darin!' Bare"oot s%re"oot li!ht"oot, she san! %nder her breath' I am
the !host in ,arrenhal'
The horn had stirred the castle "rom sleep: men were comin! o%t into the ward to see
what the commotion was abo%t' *r&a "ell in with the others' * line o" o0 carts were
r%mblin! %nder the portc%llis' 4l%nder, she $new at once' The riders escortin! the carts
spo$e in a babble o" )%eer ton!%es' Their armor !linted pale in the moonli!ht, and she
saw a pair o" striped blac$-and-white ?orses' The Blood& 2%mmers' *r&a withdrew a
little deeper into the shadows, and watched as a h%!e blac$ bear rolled b&, ca!ed in the
bac$ o" a wa!on' /ther carts were loaded down with siler plate, weapons and shields,
ba!s o" "lo%r, pens o" s)%ealin! ho!s and scrawn& do!s and chic$ens' *r&a was thin$in!
how lon! it had been since shed had a slice o"" a por$ roast when she saw the "irst o"
the prisoners'
B& his bearin! and the pro%d wa& he held his head, he m%st hae been a lord' She
co%ld see mail !lintin! beneath his torn red s%rcoat' *t "irst *r&a too$ him "or a
7annister, b%t when he passed near a torch she saw his deice was a siler "ist, not a
lion' ,is wrists were bo%nd ti!htl&, and a rope aro%nd one an$le tied him to the man
behind him, and him to the man behind him, so the whole col%mn had to sh%""le alon! in
a l%rchin! loc$step' 2an& o" the capties were wo%nded' I" an& halted, one o" the riders
wo%ld trot %p and !ie him a lic$ o" the whip to !et him moin! a!ain' She tried to
9%d!e how man& prisoners there were, b%t lost co%nt be"ore she !ot to "i"t&' There were
twice that man& at least' Their clothin! was stained with m%d and blood, and in the
torchli!ht it was hard to ma$e o%t all their bad!es and si!ils, b%t some o" those *r&a
!limpsed she reco!ni?ed' Twin towers' S%nb%rst' Blood& man' Battle-a0e' The battlea0e
is "or +erw&n, and the white s%n on blac$ is 6arstar$' The&re northmen' 2& "athers
men, and Bobbs' She didnt li$e to thin$ what that mi!ht mean'
The Blood& 2%mmers be!an to dismo%nt' Stablebo&s emer!ed sleep& "rom their straw
to tend their lathered horses' /ne o" the riders was sho%tin! "or ale' The noise bro%!ht
Ser *mor& 7orch o%t onto the coered !aller& aboe the ward, "lan$ed b& two
torchbearers' 8oat-helmed >ar!o ,oat reined %p below him' 12& lord cathellan,3 the
sellsword said' ,e had a thic$, slobber& oice, as i" his ton!%e was too bi! "or his
mo%th'
1(hats all this, ,oat.3 Ser *mor& demanded, "rownin!'
1+aptiths' Booth Bolton tho%!ht to croth the rier, b%t m& Bra"e +ompanions c%t his
an to pieceth' 6illed man&, and thent Bolton r%nnin!' Thith ith their lord commander,
8loer, and the one behind ith Ther *en&th =re&'3
Ser *mor& 7orch stared down at the roped capties with his little pi! e&es' *r&a did
not thin$ he was pleased' 5er&one in the castle $new that he and >ar!o ,oat hated each
other' 1>er& well,3 he said' 1Ser +adw&n, ta$e these men to the d%n!eons'3
The lord with the mailed "ist on his s%rcoat raised his e&es' 1(e were promised
honorable treatmentA3 he be!an'
1Silenth@3 >ar!o ,oat screamed at him, spra&in! spittle'
Ser *mor& addressed the capties' 1(hat ,oat promised &o% is nothin! to me' 7ord
T&win made me the castellan o" ,arrenhal, and I shall do with &o% as I please'3 ,e
!est%red to his !%ards' 1The !reat cell %nder the (idows Tower o%!ht to hold them all'
*n& who do not care to !o are "ree to die here'3
*s his men herded o"" the capties at spearpoint, *r&a saw 4in$e&e emer!e "rom the
stairwell, blin$in! at the torchli!ht' I" he "o%nd her missin!, he wo%ld sho%t and threaten
to whip the blood& hide o"" her, b%t she was not a"raid' ,e was no (eese' ,e was
"oreer threatenin! to whip the blood& hide o"" this one or that one, b%t *r&a neer
act%all& $new him to hit' Still, it wo%ld be better i" he neer saw her' She !lanced
aro%nd' The o0en were bein! %nharnessed, the carts %nloaded, while the Brae
+ompanions clamored "or drin$ and the c%rio%s !athered aro%nd the ca!ed bear' In the
commotion, it was not hard to slip o"" %nseen' She went bac$ the wa& she had come,
wantin! to be o%t o" si!ht be"ore someone noticed her and tho%!ht to p%t her to wor$'
*wa& "rom the !ates and the stables, the !reat castle was lar!el& deserted' The noise
dwindled behind her' * swirlin! wind !%sted, drawin! a hi!h shier& scream "rom the
crac$s in the (ailin! Tower' 7eaes had be!%n to "all "rom the trees in the !odswood,
and she co%ld hear them moin! thro%!h the deserted co%rt&ards and between the empt&
b%ildin!s, ma$in! a "aint s$itter& so%nd as the wind droe them across the stones' Now
that ,arrenhal was near empt& once a!ain, so%nd did )%eer thin!s here' Sometimes the
stones seemed to drin$ %p noise, shro%din! the &ards in a blan$et o" silence' /ther times,
the echoes had a li"e o" their own, so eer& "oot"all became the tread o" a !hostl& arm&,
and eer& distant oice a !hostl& "east' The "%nn& so%nds were one o" the thin!s that
bothered ,ot 4ie, b%t not *r&a'
F%iet as a shadow, she "litted across the middle baile&, aro%nd the Tower o" #read, and
thro%!h the empt& mews, where people said the spirits o" dead "alcons stirred the air
with !hostl& win!s' She co%ld !o where she wo%ld' The !arrison n%mbered no more
than a h%ndred men, so small a troop that the& were lost in ,arrenhal' The ,all o" a
,%ndred ,earths was closed o"", alon! with man& o" the lesser b%ildin!s, een the
(ailin! Tower' Ser *mor& 7orch resided in the castellans chambers in 6in!sp&re,
themseles as spacio%s as a lords, and *r&a and the other serants had moed to the
cellars beneath him so the& wo%ld be close at hand' (hile 7ord T&win had been in
residence, there was alwa&s a man-at-arms wantin! to $now &o%r b%siness' B%t now
there were onl& a h%ndred men le"t to !%ard a tho%sand doors, and no one seemed to
$now who sho%ld be where, or care m%ch'
*s she passed the armor&, *r&a heard the rin! o" a hammer' * deep oran!e !low shone
thro%!h the hi!h windows' She climbed to the roo" and pee$ed down' 8endr& was
beatin! o%t a breastplate' (hen he wor$ed, nothin! e0isted "or him b%t metal, bellows,
"ire' The hammer was li$e part o" his arm' She watched the pla& o" m%scles in his chest
and listened to the steel m%sic he made' ,es stron!, she tho%!ht' *s he too$ %p the
lon!-handled ton!s to dip the breastplate into the )%enchin! tro%!h, *r&a slithered
thro%!h the window and leapt down to the "loor beside him'
,e did not seem s%rprised to see her' 1;o% sho%ld be abed, !irl'3 The breastplate
hissed li$e a cat as he dipped it in the cold water' 1(hat was all that noise.3
1>ar!o =loats come bac$ with prisoners' I saw their bad!es' Theres a 8loer, "rom
#eepwood 2otte, hes m& "athers man' The rest too, mostl&'3 *ll o" a s%dden, *r&a
$new wh& her "eet had bro%!ht her here' 1;o% hae to help me !et them o%t'3
8endr& la%!hed' 1*nd how do we do that.3
1Ser *mor& sent them down to the d%n!eon' The one %nder the (idows Tower, thats
9%st one bi! cell' ;o% co%ld smash the door open with &o%r hammerA3
1(hile the !%ards watch and ma$e bets on how man& swin!s it will ta$e me, ma&be.3
*r&a chewed her lips' 1(ed need to $ill the !%ards'3
1,ow are we s%pposed to do that.3
12a&be there wont be a lot o" them'3
1I" theres two, thats too man& "or &o% and me' ;o% neer learned nothin! in that
illa!e, did &o%. ;o% tr& this and >ar!o ,oat will c%t o"" &o%r hands and "eet, the wa&
he does'3 8endr& too$ %p the ton!s a!ain'
1;o%re a"raid'3
17eae me alone, !irl'3
18endr&, theres a h%ndred northmen' 2a&be more, I co%ldnt co%nt them all' Thats as
man& as Ser *mor& has' (ell, not co%ntin! the Blood& 2%mmers' (e 9%st hae to !et
them o%t and we can ta$e oer the castle and escape'3
1(ell, &o% cant !et them o%t, no moren &o% co%ld sae 7omm&'3 8endr& t%rned the
breastplate with the ton!s to loo$ at it closel&' 1*nd i" we did escape, where wo%ld we
!o.3
1(inter"ell,3 she said at once' 1Id tell 2other how &o% helped me, and &o% co%ld sta&
A3
1(o%ld mlad& permit. +o%ld I shoe &o%r horses "or &o%, and ma$e swords "or &o%r
lordl& brothers.3
Sometimes he made her so an!r&' 1;o% stop that@3
1(h& sho%ld I wa!er m& "eet "or the chance to sweat in (inter"ell in place o"
,arrenhal. ;o% $now old Ben Blac$th%mb. ,e came here as a bo&' Smithed "or 7ad&
(hent and her "ather be"ore her and his "ather be"ore him, and een "or 7ord 7othston
who held ,arrenhal be"ore the (hents' Now he smiths "or 7ord T&win, and &o% $now
what he sa&s. * swords a sword, a helms a helm, and i" &o% reach in the "ire &o% !et
b%rned, no matter who &o%re serin!' 7%cans a "air eno%!h master' Ill sta& here'3
1The )%een will catch &o%, then' She didnt send !old cloa$s a"ter Ben Blac$th%mb@3
17i$el& it wasnt een me the& wanted'3
1It was too, &o% $now it' ;o%re somebod&'3
1Im a Dprentice smith, and one da& mi!ht be Ill ma$e a master armorer ' ' ' i" I dont
r%n o"" and lose m& "eet or !et m&sel" $illed'3 ,e t%rned awa& "rom her, pic$ed %p his
hammer once more, and be!an to ban!'
*r&as hands c%rled into helpless "ists' 1The ne0t helm &o% ma$e, p%t m%les ears on it
in place o" b%lls horns@3 She had to "lee, or else she wo%ld hae started hittin! him' ,e
probabl& wo%ldnt een "eel it i" I did' (hen the& "ind who he is and c%t o"" his st%pid
m%lehead, hell be sorr& he didnt help' She was better o"" witho%t him an&how' ,e was
the one who !ot her ca%!ht at the illa!e'
B%t thin$in! o" the illa!e made her remember the march, and the storeroom, and the
Tic$ler' She tho%!ht o" the little bo& whod been hit in the "ace with the mace, o" st%pid
old *ll-"or-Co""re&, o" 7omm& 8reenhands' I was a sheep, and then I was a mo%se, I
co%ldnt do an&thin! b%t hide' *r&a chewed her lip and tried to thin$ when her co%ra!e
had come bac$' Ca)en made me brae a!ain' ,e made me a !host instead o" a mo%se'
She had been aoidin! the 7orathi since (eeses death' +hisw&c$ had been eas&,
an&one co%ld p%sh a man o"" the wallwal$, b%t (eese had raised that %!l& spotted do!
"rom a p%p, and onl& some dar$ ma!ic co%ld hae t%rned the animal a!ainst him' ;oren
"o%nd Ca)en in a blac$ cell, the same as Bor!e and Biter, she remembered' Ca)en did
somethin! horrible and ;oren $new, thats wh& he $ept him in chains' I" the 7orathi was
a wi?ard, Bor!e and Biter co%ld be demons he called %p "rom some hell, not men at all'
Ca)en still owed her one death' In /ld Nans stories abo%t men who were !ien ma!ic
wishes b& a !r%m$in, &o% had to be especiall& care"%l with the third wish, beca%se it was
the last' +hisw&c$ and (eese hadnt been er& important' The last death has to co%nt,
*r&a told hersel" eer& ni!ht when she whispered her names' B%t now she wondered i"
that was tr%l& the reason she had hesitated' So lon! as she co%ld $ill with a whisper,
*r&a need not be a"raid o" an&one ' ' ' b%t once she %sed %p the last death, she wo%ld
onl& be a mo%se a!ain'
(ith 4in$e&e awa$e, she dared not !o bac$ to her bed' Not $nowin! where else to
hide, she made "or the !odswood' She li$ed the sharp smell o" the pines and sentinels,
the "eel o" !rass and dirt between her toes, and the so%nd the wind made in the leaes' *
slow little stream meandered thro%!h the wood, and there was one spot where it had
eaten the !ro%nd awa& beneath a dead"all'
There, beneath rottin! wood and twisted splintered branches, she "o%nd her hidden
sword'
8endr& was too st%bborn to ma$e one "or her, so she had made her own b& brea$in!
the bristles o"" a broom' ,er blade was m%ch too li!ht and had no proper !rip, b%t she
li$ed the sharp 9a!!ed splinter& end'
(heneer she had a "ree ho%r she stole awa& to wor$ at the drills S&rio had ta%!ht her,
moin! bare"oot oer the "allen leaes, slashin! at branches and whac$in! down leaes'
Sometimes she een climbed the trees and danced amon! the %pper branches, her toes
!rippin! the limbs as she moed bac$ and "orth, teeterin! a little less eer& da& as her
balance ret%rned to her' Ni!ht was the best time: no one eer bothered her at ni!ht'
*r&a climbed' <p in the $in!dom o" the leaes, she %nsheathed and "or a time "or!ot
them all, Ser *mor& and the 2%mmers and her "athers men ali$e, losin! hersel" in the
"eel o" ro%!h wood beneath the soles o" her "eet and the swish o" sword thro%!h air' *
bro$en branch became Co""re&' She str%c$ at it %ntil it "ell awa&' The )%een and Ser Il&n
and Ser 2er&n and the ,o%nd were onl& leaes, b%t she $illed them all as well, slashin!
them to wet !reen ribbons' (hen her arm !rew wear&, she sat with her le!s oer a hi!h
limb to catch her breath in the cool dar$ air, listenin! to the s)%ea$ o" bats as the&
h%nted' Thro%!h the lea"& canop& she co%ld see the bone-white branches o" the heart
tree' It loo$s 9%st li$e the one in (inter"ell "rom here' I" onl& it had been ' ' ' then when
she climbed down she wo%ld hae been home a!ain, and ma&be "ind her "ather sittin!
%nder the weirwood where he alwa&s sat'
Shoin! her sword thro%!h her belt, she slipped down branch to branch %ntil she was
bac$ on the !ro%nd' The li!ht o" the moon painted the limbs o" the weirwood siler&
white as she made her wa& toward it, b%t the "ie-pointed red leaes t%rned blac$ b&
ni!ht' *r&a stared at the "ace cared into its tr%n$' It was a terrible "ace, its mo%th
twisted, its e&es "larin! and "%ll o" hate' Is that what a !od loo$ed li$e. +o%ld !ods be
h%rt, the same as people. I sho%ld pra&, she tho%!ht s%ddenl&'
*r&a went to her $nees' She wasnt s%re how she sho%ld be!in' She clasped her hands
to!ether' ,elp me, &o% old !ods, she pra&ed silentl&' ,elp me !et those men o%t o" the
d%n!eon so we can $ill Ser *mor&, and brin! me home to (inter"ell' 2a$e me a water
dancer and a wol" and not a"raid a!ain, eer'
(as that eno%!h. 2a&be she sho%ld pra& alo%d i" she wanted the old !ods to hear'
2a&be she sho%ld pra& lon!er' Sometimes her "ather had pra&ed a lon! time, she
remembered' B%t the old !ods had neer helped him' Bememberin! that made her an!r&'
1;o% sho%ld hae saed him,3 she scolded the tree' 1,e pra&ed to &o% all the time' I
dont care i" &o% help me or not' I dont thin$ &o% co%ld een i" &o% wanted to'3
18ods are not moc$ed, !irl'3
The oice startled her' She leapt to her "eet and drew her wooden sword' Ca)en ,!har
stood so still in the dar$ness that he seemed one o" the trees' 1* man comes to hear a
name' /ne and two and then comes three' * man wo%ld hae done'3
*r&a lowered the splinter& point toward the !ro%nd' 1,ow did &o% $now I was here.3
1* man sees' * man hears' * man $nows'3
She re!arded him s%spicio%sl&' ,ad the !ods sent him. 1,owd &o% ma$e the do! $ill
(eese. #id &o% call Bor!e and Biter %p "rom hell. Is Ca)en ,!har &o%r tr%e name.3
1Some men hae man& names' (easel' *rr&' *r&a'3
She bac$ed awa& "rom him, %ntil she was pressed a!ainst the heart tree' 1#id 8endr&
tell.3
1* man $nows,3 he said a!ain' 12& lad& o" Star$'3
2a&be the !ods had sent him in answer to her pra&ers' 1I need &o% to help me !et
those men o%t o" the d%n!eons' That 8loer and those others, all o" them' (e hae to
$ill the !%ards and open the cell somehowA3
1* !irl "or!ets,3 he said )%ietl&' 1Two she has had, three were owed' I" a !%ard m%st
die, she needs onl& spea$ his name'3
1B%t one !%ard wont be eno%!h, we need to $ill them all to open the cell'3 *r&a bit
her lip hard to stop "rom cr&in!' 1I want &o% to sae the northmen li$e I saed &o%'3
,e loo$ed down at her pitilessl&' 1Three lies were snatched "rom a !od' Three lies
m%st be repaid' The !ods are not moc$ed'3 ,is oice was sil$ and steel'
1I neer moc$ed'3 She tho%!ht "or a moment' 1The name ' ' ' can I name an&one. *nd
&o%ll $ill him.3
Ca)en ,!har inclined his head' 1* man has said'3
1*n&one.3 she repeated' 1* man, a woman, a little bab&, or 7ord T&win, or the ,i!h
Septon, or &o%r "ather.3
1* mans sire is lon! dead, b%t did he lie, and did &o% $now his name, he wo%ld die at
&o%r command'3
1Swear it,3 *r&a said' 1Swear it b& the !ods'3
1B& all the !ods o" sea and air, and een him o" "ire, I swear it'3 ,e placed a hand in
the mo%th o" the weirwood' 1B& the seen new !ods and the old !ods be&ond co%nt, I
swear it'3
,e has sworn' 15en i" I named the $in! ' ' '3
1Spea$ the name, and death will come' /n the morrow, at the t%rn o" the moon, a &ear
"rom this da&, it will come' * man does not "l& li$e a bird, b%t one "oot moes and then
another and one da& a man is there, and a $in! dies'3 ,e $nelt beside her, so the& were
"ace-to-"ace, 1* !irl whispers i" she "ears to spea$ alo%d' (hisper it now' Is it Co""re&.3
*r&a p%t her lips to his ear' 1Its Ca)en ,!har'3
5en in the b%rnin! barn, with walls o" "lame towerin! all aro%nd and him in chains,
he had not seemed so distra%!ht as he did now' 1* !irl ' ' ' she ma$es a 9est'3
1;o% swore' The !ods heard &o% swear'3
1The !ods did hear,3 There was a $ni"e in his hand s%ddenl&, its blade thin as her little
"in!er' (hether it was meant "or her or him, *r&a co%ld not sa&' 1* !irl will weep' * !irl
will lose her onl& "riend'3
1;o%re not m& "riend' * "riend wo%ld help me'3 She stepped awa& "rom him,
balanced on the balls o" her "eet in case he threw his $ni"e' 1Id neer $ill a "riend'3
Ca)ens smile came and went' 1* !irl mi!ht ' ' ' name another name then, i" a "riend did
help.3
1* !irl mi!ht,3 she said' 1I" a "riend did help'3
The $ni"e anished' 1+ome'3
1Now.3 She had neer tho%!ht he wo%ld act so )%ic$l&'
1* man hears the whisper o" sand in a !lass' * man will not sleep %ntil a !irl %nsa&s a
certain name' Now, eil child'3
Im not an eil child, she tho%!ht, I am a direwol", and the !host in ,arrenhal' She p%t
her broomstic$ bac$ in its hidin! place and "ollowed him "rom the !odswood'
#espite the ho%r, ,arrenhal stirred with "it"%l li"e' >ar!o ,oats arrial had thrown o""
all the ro%tines' /0 carts, o0en, and horses had all anished "rom the &ard, b%t the bear
ca!e was still there' It had been h%n! "rom the arched span o" the brid!e that diided the
o%ter and middle wards, s%spended on hea& chains, a "ew "eet o"" the !ro%nd' * rin! o"
torches bathed the area in li!ht' Some o" the bo&s "rom the stables were tossin! stones to
ma$e the bear roar and !r%mble' *cross the ward, li!ht spilled thro%!h the door o" the
Barrac$s ,all, accompanied b& the clatter o" tan$ards and men callin! "or more wine' *
do?en oices too$ %p a son! in a !%tt%ral ton!%e stran!e to *r&as ears'
The&re drin$in! and eatin! be"ore the& sleep, she reali?ed' 4in$e&e wo%ld hae sent
to wa$e me, to help with the serin!' ,ell $now Im not abed' B%t li$el& he was b%s&
po%rin! "or the Brae +ompanions and those o" Ser *mor&s !arrison who had 9oined
them' The noise the& were ma$in! wo%ld be a !ood distraction'
1The h%n!r& !ods will "east on blood toni!ht, i" a man wo%ld do this thin!,3 Ca)en
said' 1Sweet !irl, $ind and !entle' <nsa& one name and sa& another and cast this mad
dream aside'3
1I wont'3
1C%st so'3 ,e seemed resi!ned' 1The thin! will be done, b%t a !irl m%st obe&' * man
has no time "or tal$'3
1* !irl will obe&,3 *r&a said' 1(hat sho%ld I do.3
1* h%ndred men are h%n!r&, the& m%st be "ed, the lord commands hot broth' * !irl
m%st r%n to the $itchens and tell her pie bo&'3
1Broth,3 she repeated' 1(here will &o% be.3
1* !irl will help ma$e broth, and wait in the $itchens %ntil a man comes "or her' 8o'
B%n'3
,ot 4ie was p%llin! his loaes "rom the oens when she b%rst into the $itchen, b%t he
was no lon!er alone' The&d wo$en the coo$s to "eed >ar!o ,oat and his Blood&
2%mmers' Serin! men were carr&in! o"" bas$ets o" ,ot 4ies bread and tarts, the chie"
coo$ was carin! cold slices o"" a ham, spit bo&s were t%rnin! rabbits while the pot !irls
basted them with hone&, women were choppin! onions and carrots' 1(hat do &o% want,
(easel.3 the chie" coo$ as$ed when he saw her'
1Broth,3 she anno%nced' 12& lord wants broth'3
,e 9er$ed his carin! $ni"e at the blac$ iron $ettles h%n! oer the "lames' 1(hat do
&o% thin$ that is. Tho%!h Id soon as piss in it as sere it to that !oat' +ant een let a
man hae a ni!hts sleep'3 ,e spat' 1(ell, neer &o% mind, r%n bac$ and tell him a $ettle
cant be h%rried,3
1Im to wait here %ntil its done'3
1Then sta& o%t o" the wa&' /r better &et, ma$e &o%rsel" o" %se' B%n to the b%tter&: his
!oatship will be wantin! b%tter and cheese' (a$e %p 4ia and tell her shed best be
nimble "or once, i" she wants to $eep both o" her "eet'3
She ran as "ast as she co%ld' 4ia was awa$e in the lo"t, moanin! %nder one o" the
2%mmers, b%t she slipped bac$ into her clothes )%ic$ eno%!h when she heard *r&a
sho%t' She "illed si0 bas$ets with croc$s o" b%tter and bi! wed!es o" stin$& cheese
wrapped in cloth' 1,ere, help me with these,3 she told *r&a'
1I cant' B%t &o% better h%rr& or >ar!o ,oat will chop o"" &o%r "oot'3 She darted o""
be"ore 4ia co%ld !rab her' /n the wa& bac$, she wondered wh& none o" the capties had
their hands or "eet chopped o""' 2a&be >ar!o ,oat was a"raid to ma$e Bobb an!r&'
Tho%!h he didnt seem the sort to be a"raid o" an&one'
,ot 4ie was stirrin! the $ettles with a lon! wooden spoon when *r&a ret%rned to the
$itchens' She !rabbed %p a second spoon and started to help' =or a moment she tho%!ht
ma&be she sho%ld tell him, b%t then she remembered the illa!e and decided not to'
,ed onl& &ield a!ain'
Then she heard the %!l& so%nd o" Bor!es oice' 1+oo$,3 he sho%ted' 1(ell ta$e &o%r
blood& broth'3 *r&a let !o o" the spoon in disma&' I neer told him to brin! them' Bor!e
wore his iron helmet, with the nasal that hal" hid his missin! nose' Ca)en and Biter
"ollowed him into the $itchen'
1The blood& broth isnt blood& read& &et,3 the coo$ said' 1It needs to simmer' (e onl&
now p%t in the onions andA3
1Sh%t &o%r hole, or Ill shoe a spit %p &o%r ass and well baste &o% "or a t%rn or two' I
said broth and I said now'3
,issin!, Biter !rabbed a hand"%l o" hal"-charred rabbit ri!ht o"" the spit, and tore into it
with his pointed teeth while hone& dripped between his "in!ers'
The coo$ was beaten' 1Ta$e &o%r blood& broth, then, b%t i" the !oat as$s wh& it tastes
so thin, &o% tell him'3
Biter lic$ed the !rease and hone& o"" his "in!ers as Ca)en ,!har donned a pair o"
hea& padded mitts' ,e !ae a second pair to *r&a' 1* weasel will help'3 The broth was
boilin! hot, and the $ettles were hea&' *r&a and Ca)en wrestled one between them,
Bor!e carried one b& himsel", and Biter !rabbed two more, hissin! in pain when the
handles b%rned his hands' 5en so, he did not drop them' The& l%!!ed the $ettles o%t o"
the $itchens and across the ward' Two !%ards had been posted at the door o" the
(idows Tower' 1(hats this.3 one said to Bor!e'
1* pot o" boilin! piss, want some.3
Ca)en smiled disarmin!l&' 1* prisoner m%st eat too'3
1No one said nothin! abo%tA3
*r&a c%t him o""' 1Its "or them, not &o%'3
The second !%ard waed them past' 1Brin! it down, then'3
Inside the door a windin! stair led down to the d%n!eons' Bor!e led the wa&, with
Ca)en and *r&a brin!in! %p the rear' 1* !irl will sta& o%t o" the wa&,3 he told her'
The steps opened onto a dan$ stone a%lt, lon!, !loom&, and windowless' * "ew
torches b%rned in sconces at the near end where a !ro%p o" Ser *mor&s !%ards sat
aro%nd a scarred wooden table, tal$in! and pla&in! at tiles' ,ea& iron bars separated
them "rom where the capties were crowded to!ether in the dar$' The smell o" the broth
bro%!ht man& %p to the bars'
*r&a co%nted ei!ht !%ards' The& smelled the broth as well' 1Theres the %!liest serin!
wench I eer saw,3 their captain said to Bor!e' 1(hats in the $ettle.3
1;o%r coc$ and balls' ;o% want to eat or not.3
/ne o" the !%ards had been pacin!, one standin! near the bars, a third sittin! on the
"loor with his bac$ to the wall, b%t the prospect o" "ood drew all o" them to the table'
1*bo%t blood& time the& "ed %s'3
1That onions I smell.3
1So wheres the bread.3
1=%c$, we need bowls, c%ps, spoonsA3
1No &o% dont'3 Bor!e heaed the scaldin! hot broth across the table, "%ll in their
"aces' Ca)en ,!har did the same' Biter threw his $ettles too, swin!in! them %nderarm
so the& sp%n across the d%n!eon, rainin! so%p' /ne ca%!ht the captain in the temple as
he tried to rise' ,e went down li$e a sac$ o" sand and la& still' The rest were screamin!
in a!on&, pra&in!, or tr&in! to crawl o""'
*r&a pressed bac$ a!ainst the wall as Bor!e be!an to c%t throats' Biter pre"erred to
!rab the men behind the head and %nder the chin and crac$ their nec$s with a sin!le
twist o" his h%!e pale hands' /nl& one o" the !%ards mana!ed to !et a blade o%t' Ca)en
danced awa& "rom his slash, drew his own sword, droe the man bac$ into a corner with
a "l%rr& o" blows, and $illed him with a thr%st to the heart' The 7orathi bro%!ht the blade
to *r&a still red with hearts blood and wiped it clean on the "ront o" her shi"t' 1* !irl
sho%ld be blood& too' This is her wor$'3
The $e& to the cell h%n! "rom a hoo$ on the wall aboe the table' Bor!e too$ it down
and opened the door' The "irst man thro%!h was the lord with the mailed "ist on his
s%rcoat' 1(ell done,3 he said' 1I am Bobett 8loer'3
12& lord'3 Ca)en !ae him a bow'
/nce "reed, the capties stripped the dead !%ards o" their weapons and darted %p the
steps with steel in hand' Their "ellows crowded a"ter them, bare-handed' The& went
swi"tl&, and with scarcel& a word' None o" them seemed )%ite so badl& wo%nded as the&
had when >ar!o ,oat had marched them thro%!h the !ates o" ,arrenhal' 1This o" the
so%p, that was cleer,3 the man 8loer was sa&in!' 1I did not e0pect that' (as it 7ord
,oats idea.3
Bor!e be!an to la%!h' ,e la%!hed so hard that snot "lew o%t the hole where his nose
had been' Biter sat on top o" one o" the dead men, holdin! a limp hand as he !nawed at
the "in!ers' Bones crac$ed between his teeth'
1(ho are &o% men.3 * crease appeared between Bobett 8loers brows' 1;o% were
not with ,oat when he came to 7ord Boltons encampment' *re &o% o" the Brae
+ompanions.3
Bor!e wiped the snot o"" his chin with the bac$ o" his hand' 1(e are now'3
1This man has the honor to be Ca)en ,!har, once o" the =ree +it& o" 7orath' This
mans disco%rteo%s companions are named Bor!e and Biter' * lord will $now which is
Biter'3 ,e waed a hand toward *r&a' 1*nd hereA3
1Im (easel,3 she bl%rted, be"ore he co%ld tell who she reall& was' She did not want
her name said here, where Bor!e mi!ht hear, and Biter, and all these others she did not
$now'
She saw 8loer dismiss her' 1>er& well,3 he said' 17ets ma$e an end to this blood&
b%siness'3
(hen the& climbed bac$ %p the windin! stair, the& "o%nd the door !%ards l&in! in
pools o" their own blood' Northmen were r%nnin! across the ward' *r&a heard sho%ts'
The door o" Barrac$s ,all b%rst open and a wo%nded man sta!!ered o%t screamin!'
Three others ran a"ter him and silenced him with spear and sword' There was "i!htin!
aro%nd the !ateho%se as well' Bor!e and Biter r%shed o"" with 8loer, b%t Ca)en ,!har
$nelt beside *r&a' 1* !irl does not %nderstand.3
1;es I do,3 she said, tho%!h she didnt, not tr%l&'
The 7orathi m%st hae seen it on her "ace' 1* !oat has no lo&alt&' Soon a wol" banner
is raised here, I thin$' B%t "irst a man wo%ld hear a certain name %nsaid'3
1I ta$e bac$ the name'3 *r&a chewed her lip' 1#o I still hae a third death.3
1* !irl is !reed&'3 Ca)en to%ched one o" the dead !%ards and showed her his blood&
"in!ers' 1,ere is three and there is "o%r and ei!ht more lie dead below' The debt is paid'3
1The debt is paid,3 *r&a a!reed rel%ctantl&' She "elt a little sad' Now she was 9%st a
mo%se a!ain'
1* !od has his d%e' *nd now a man m%st die'3 * stran!e smile to%ched the lips o"
Ca)en ,!har'
1#ie.3 she said, con"%sed' (hat did he mean. 1B%t I %nsaid the name' ;o% dont need
to die now'3
1I do' 2& time is done'3 Ca)en passed a hand down his "ace "rom "orehead to chin, and
where it went he chan!ed' ,is chee$s !rew "%ller, his e&es closer: his nose hoo$ed, a
scar appeared on his ri!ht chee$ where no scar had been be"ore' *nd when he shoo$ his
head, his lon! strai!ht hair, hal" red and hal" white, dissoled awa& to reeal a cap o"
ti!ht blac$ c%rls'
*r&as mo%th h%n! open' 1(ho are &o%.3 she whispered, too astonished to be a"raid'
1,ow did &o% do that. (as it hard.3
,e !rinned, reealin! a shin& !old tooth' 1No harder than ta$in! a new name, i" &o%
$now the wa&'3
1Show me,3 she bl%rted' 1I want to do it too'3
1I" &o% wo%ld learn, &o% m%st come with me'3
*r&a !rew hesitant' 1(here.3
1=ar and awa&, across the narrow sea'3
1I cant' I hae to !o home' To (inter"ell'3
1Then we m%st part,3 he said, 1"or I hae d%ties too'3 ,e li"ted her hand and pressed a
small coin into her palm' 1,ere'3
1(hat is it.3
1* coin o" !reat al%e'3
*r&a bit it' It was so hard it co%ld onl& be iron' 1Is it worth eno%!h to b%& a horse.3
1It is not meant "or the b%&in! o" horses'3
1Then what !ood is it.3
1*s well as$ what !ood is li"e, what !ood is death. i" the da& comes when &o% wo%ld
"ind me a!ain, !ie that coin to an& man "rom Braaos, and sa& these words to himA
alar mor!h%lis'3
1>alar mor!h%lis,3 *r&a repeated' It wasnt hard' ,er "in!ers closed ti!ht oer the
coin' *cross the &ard, she co%ld hear men d&in!' 14lease dont !o, Ca)en'3
1Ca)en is as dead as *rr&,3 he said sadl&, 1and I hae promises to $eep' >alar
mor!h%lis, *r&a Star$' Sa& it a!ain'3
1>alar mor!h%lis,3 she said once more, and the stran!er in Ca)ens clothes bowed to
her and stal$ed o"" thro%!h the dar$ness, cloa$ swirlin!' She was alone with the dead
men' The& desered to die, *r&a told hersel", rememberin! all those Ser *mor& 7orch
had $illed at the hold"ast b& the la$e'
The cellars %nder 6in!sp&re were empt& when she ret%rned to her bed o" straw' She
whispered her names to her pillow, and when she was done she added, 1>alar
mor!h%lis,3 in a small so"t oice, wonderin! what it meant'
+ome dawn, 4in$e&e and the others were bac$, all b%t one bo& whod been $illed in
the "i!htin! "or no reason that an&one co%ld sa&' 4in$e&e went %p alone to see how
matters stood b& li!ht o" da&, complainin! all the while that his old bones co%ld not
abide steps' (hen he ret%rned, he told them that ,arrenhal had been ta$en' 1Them
Blood& 2%mmers $illed some o" Ser *mor&s lot in their beds, and the rest at table a"ter
the& were !ood and dr%n$' The new lord will be here be"ore the da&s o%t, with his
whole host' ,es "rom the wild north %p where that (all is, and the& sa& hes a hard one'
This lord or that lord, theres still wor$ to be done' *n& "ooler& and Ill whip the s$in o""
&o%r bac$'3 ,e loo$ed at *r&a when he said that, b%t neer said a word to her abo%t
where she had been the ni!ht be"ore'
*ll mornin! she watched the Blood& 2%mmers strip the dead o" their al%ables and
dra! the corpses to the =lowstone ;ard, where a p&re was laid to dispose o" them'
Sha!well the =ool hac$ed the heads o"" two dead $ni!hts and pranced abo%t the castle
swin!in! them b& the hair and ma$in! them tal$' 1(hat did &o% die o".3 one head
as$ed' 1,ot weasel so%p,3 replied the second'
*r&a was set to moppin! %p dried blood' No one said a word to her be&ond the %s%al,
b%t eer& so o"ten she wo%ld notice people loo$in! at her stran!el&' Bobett 8loer and
the other men the&d "reed m%st hae tal$ed abo%t what had happened down in the
d%n!eon, and then Sha!well and his st%pid tal$in! heads started in abo%t the weasel
so%p' She wo%ld hae told him to sh%t %p, b%t she was scared to' The "ool was hal"-mad,
and shed heard that hed once $illed a man "or not la%!hin! at one o" his 9apes' ,e
better sh%t his mo%th or Ill p%t him on m& list with the rest, she tho%!ht as she scr%bbed
at a reddish-brown stain' It was almost een"all when the new master o" ,arrenhal
arried' ,e had a plain "ace, beardless and ordinar&, notable onl& "or his )%eer pale e&es'
Neither pl%mp, thin, nor m%sc%lar, he wore blac$ rin!mail and a spotted pin$ cloa$' The
si!il on his banner loo$ed li$e a man dipped in blood' 1/n &o%r $nees "or the 7ord o"
the #read"ort@3 sho%ted his s)%ire, a bo& no older than *r&a, and ,arrenhal $nelt'
>ar!o ,oat came "orward' 12& lord, ,arrenhal ith &o%rth'3
The lord !ae answer, b%t too so"tl& "or *r&a to hear' Bobett 8loer and Ser *en&s
=re&, "reshl& bathed and clad in clean new do%blets and cloa$s, came %p to 9oin them'
*"ter some brie" tal$, Ser *en&s led them oer to Bor!e and Biter' *r&a was s%rprised to
see them still here: somehow she wo%ld hae e0pected them to anish when Ca)en did'
*r&a heard the harsh so%nd o" Bor!es oice, b%t not what he was sa&in!' Then
Sha!well po%nced on her, dra!!in! her o%t across the &ard' 12& lord, m& lord,3 he san!,
t%!!in! at her wrist, 1heres the weasel who made the so%p@3
17et !o,3 *r&a said, wri!!lin! o%t o" his !rasp'
The lord re!arded her' /nl& his e&es moed: the& were er& pale, the color o" ice'
1,ow old are &o%, child.3
She had to thin$ "or a moment to remember' 1Ten'3
1Ten, m& lord,3 he reminded her' 1*re &o% "ond o" animals.3
1Some $inds' 2& lord'3
* thin smile twitched across his lips' 1B%t not lions, it wo%ld seem' Nor manticores'3
She did not $now what to sa& to that, so she said nothin!'
1The& tell me &o% are called (easel' That will not sere' (hat name did &o%r mother
!ie &o%.3
She bit her lip, !ropin! "or another name' 7omm& had called her 7%mp&head, Sansa
%sed ,orse"ace, and her "athers men once d%bbed her *r&a <nder"oot, b%t she did not
thin$ an& o" those were the sort o" name he wanted'
1N&meria,3 she said' 1/nl& she called me Nan "or short'3
1;o% will call me m& lord when &o% spea$ to me, Nan,3 the lord said mildl&' 1;o% are
too &o%n! to be a Brae +ompanion, I thin$, and o" the wron! se0' *re &o% a"raid o"
leeches, child.3
1The&re onl& leeches' 2& lord'3
12& s)%ire co%ld ta$e a lesson "rom &o%, it wo%ld seem' =re)%ent leechin!s are the
secret o" a lon! li"e' * man m%st p%r!e himsel" o" bad blood' ;o% will do, I thin$' =or so
lon! as I remain at ,arrenhal, Nan, &o% shall be m& c%pbearer, and sere me at table and
in chambers'3
This time she $new better than to sa& that shed sooner wor$ in the stables' 1;es, &o%r
lord' I mean, m& lord'3
The lord waed a hand' 12a$e her presentable,3 he said to no one in partic%lar, 1and
ma$e certain she $nows how to po%r wine witho%t spillin! it'3 T%rnin! awa&, he li"ted a
hand and said, 17ord ,oat, see to those banners aboe the !ateho%se'3
=o%r Brae +ompanions climbed to the ramparts and ha%led down the lion o"
7annister and Ser *mor&s own blac$ manticore' In their place the& raised the "la&ed
man o" the #read"ort and the direwol" o" Star$' *nd that eenin!, a pa!e named Nan
po%red wine "or Boose Bolton and >ar!o ,oat as the& stood on the !aller&, watchin! the
Brae +ompanions parade Ser *mor& 7orch na$ed thro%!h the middle ward' Ser *mor&
pleaded and sobbed and cl%n! to the le!s o" his captors, %ntil Bor!e p%lled him loose,
and Sha!well $ic$ed him down into the bear pit'
The bear is all in blac$, *r&a tho%!ht' 7i$e ;oren' She "illed Boose Boltons c%p, and
did not spill a drop'
C#APT"R )/
2A"'"R%S
In this cit& o" splendors, #an& had e0pected the ,o%se o" the <nd&in! /nes to be the
most splendid o" all, b%t she emer!ed "rom her palan)%in to behold a !re& and ancient
r%in'
7on! and low, witho%t towers or windows, it coiled li$e a stone serpent thro%!h a
!roe o" blac$-bar$ed trees whose in$& bl%e leaes made the st%"" o" the sorcero%s drin$
the Fartheen called shade o" the eenin!' No other b%ildin!s stood near' Blac$ tiles
coered the palace roo", man& "allen or bro$en: the mortar between the stones was dr&
and cr%mblin!' She %nderstood now wh& Earo Ehoan #a0os called it the 4alace o"
#%st' 5en #ro!on seemed dis)%ieted b& the si!ht o" it' The blac$ dra!on hissed, smo$e
seepin! o%t between his sharp teeth'
1Blood o" m& blood,3 Cho!o said in #othra$i, 1this is an eil place, a ha%nt o" !hosts
and mae!i' See how it drin$s the mornin! s%n. 7et %s !o be"ore it drin$s %s as well'3
Ser Corah 2ormont came %p beside them' 1(hat power can the& hae i" the& lie in
that.3
1,eed the wisdom o" those who loe &o% best,3 said Earo Ehoan #a0os, lo%n!in!
inside the palan)%in' 1(arloc$s are bitter creat%res who eat d%st and drin$ o" shadows'
The& will !ie &o% na%!ht' The& hae na%!ht to !ie'3
*!!o p%t a hand on his ara$h' 16haleesi, it is said that man& !o into the 4alace o"
#%st, b%t "ew come o%t'3
1It is said,3 Cho!o a!reed'
1(e are blood o" &o%r blood,3 said *!!o, 1sworn to lie and die as &o% do' 7et %s
wal$ with &o% in this dar$ place, to $eep &o% sa"e "rom harm'3
1Some places een a $hal m%st wal$ alone,3 #an& said'
1Ta$e me, then,3 Ser Corah %r!ed' 1The ris$A3
1F%een #aener&s m%st enter alone, or not at all'3 The warloc$ 4&at 4ree stepped o%t
"rom %nder the trees' ,as he been there all alon!. #an& wondered' 1Sho%ld she t%rn
awa& now, the doors o" wisdom shall be closed to her "oreermore'3
12& pleas%re bar!e awaits, een now,3 Earo Ehoan #a0os called o%t' 1T%rn awa&
"rom this "oll&, most st%bborn o" )%eens' I hae "l%tists who will soothe &o%r tro%bled
so%l with sweet m%sic, and a small !irl whose ton!%e will ma$e &o% si!h and melt'3
Ser Corah 2ormont !ae the merchant prince a so%r loo$' 1;o%r 8race, remember
2irri 2a? #%%r'3
1I do,3 #an& said, s%ddenl& decided' 1I remember that she had $nowled!e' *nd she
was onl& a mae!i'3
4&at 4ree smiled thinl&' 1The child spea$s as sa!el& as a crone' Ta$e m& arm, and let
me lead &o%'3
1I am no child'3 #an& too$ his arm nonetheless' It was dar$er than she wo%ld hae
tho%!ht %nder the blac$ trees, and the wa& was lon!er' Tho%!h the path seemed to r%n
strai!ht "rom the street to the door o" the palace, 4&at 4ree soon t%rned aside' (hen she
)%estioned him, the warloc$ said onl&, 1The "ront wa& leads in, b%t neer o%t a!ain'
,eed m& words, m& )%een' The ,o%se o" the <nd&in! /nes was not made "or mortal
men' I" &o% al%e &o%r so%l, ta$e care and do 9%st as I tell &o%'3
1I will do as &o% sa&,3 #an& promised'
1(hen &o% enter, &o% will "ind &o%rsel" in a room with "o%r doors: the one &o% hae
come thro%!h and three others' Ta$e the door to &o%r ri!ht' 5ach time, the door to &o%r
ri!ht' I" &o% sho%ld come %pon a stairwell, climb' Neer !o down, and neer ta$e an&
door b%t the "irst door to &o%r ri!ht'3
1The door to m& ri!ht,3 #an& repeated' 1I %nderstand' *nd when I leae, the
opposite.3
1B& no means,3 4&at 4ree said' 17eain! and comin!, it is the same' *lwa&s %p'
*lwa&s the door to &o%r ri!ht' /ther doors ma& open to &o%' (ithin, &o% will see man&
thin!s that dist%rb &o%' >isions o" loeliness and isions o" horror, wonders and terrors'
Si!hts and so%nds o" da&s !one b& and da&s to come and da&s that neer were' #wellers
and seritors ma& spea$ to &o% as &o% !o' *nswer or i!nore them as &o% choose, b%t
enter no room %ntil &o% reach the a%dience chamber'3
1I %nderstand'3
1(hen &o% come to the chamber o" the <nd&in!, be patient' /%r little lies are no
more than a "lic$er o" a moths win! to them' 7isten well, and write each word %pon
&o%r heart'3
(hen the& reached the doorAa tall oal mo%th, set in a wall "ashioned in the li$eness
o" a h%man "aceAthe smallest dwar" #an& had eer seen was waitin! on the threshold'
,e stood no hi!her than her $nee, his "aced pinched and pointed, sno%tish, b%t he was
dressed in delicate lier& o" p%rple and bl%e, and his tin& pin$ hands held a siler tra&'
<pon it rested a slender cr&stal !lass "illed with a thic$ bl%e li)%id: shade o" the eenin!,
the wine o" warloc$s' 1Ta$e and drin$,3 %r!ed 4&at 4ree'
1(ill it t%rn m& lips bl%e.3
1/ne "l%te will sere onl& to %nstop &o%r ears and dissole the ca%l "rom o"" &o%r e&es,
so that &o% ma& hear and see the tr%ths that will be laid be"ore &o%'3
#an& raised the !lass to her lips' The "irst sip tasted li$e in$ and spoiled meat, "o%l, b%t
when she swallowed it seemed to come to li"e within her' She co%ld "eel tendrils
spreadin! thro%!h her chest, li$e "in!ers o" "ire coilin! aro%nd her heart, and on her
ton!%e was a taste li$e hone& and anise and cream, li$e mothers mil$ and #ro!os seed,
li$e red meat and hot blood and molten !old' It was all the tastes she had eer $nown,
and none o" them ' ' ' and then the !lass was empt&'
1Now &o% ma& enter,3 said the warloc$' #an& p%t the !lass bac$ on the seritors tra&,
and went inside'
She "o%nd hersel" in a stone anteroom with "o%r doors, one on each wall' (ith neer a
hesitation, she went to the door on her ri!ht and stepped thro%!h' The second room was
a twin to the "irst' *!ain she t%rned to the ri!ht-hand door' (hen she p%shed it open she
"aced &et another small antechamber with "o%r doors' I am in the presence o" sorcer&'
The "o%rth room was oal rather than s)%are and walled in wormeaten wood in place
o" stone' Si0 passa!es led o%t "rom it in place o" "o%r' #an& chose the ri!htmost, and
entered a lon!, dim, hi!h-ceilin!ed hall' *lon! the ri!ht hand was a row o" torches
b%rnin! with a smo$& oran!e li!ht, b%t the onl& doors were to her le"t' #ro!on %n"olded
wide blac$ win!s and beat the stale air' ,e "lew twent& "eet be"ore th%ddin! to an
%ndi!ni"ied crash' #an& strode a"ter him'
The mold-eaten carpet %nder her "eet had once been !or!eo%sl& colored, and whorls o"
!old co%ld still be seen in the "abric, !lintin! bro$en amidst the "aded !re& and mottled
!reen' (hat remained sered to m%""le her "oot"alls, b%t that was not all to the !ood'
#an& co%ld hear so%nds within the walls, a "aint sc%rr&in! and scrabblin! that made her
thin$ o" rats' #ro!on heard them too' ,is head moed as he "ollowed the so%nds, and
when the& stopped he !ae an an!r& scream' /ther so%nds, een more dist%rbin!, came
thro%!h some o" the closed doors' /ne shoo$ and th%mped, as i" someone were tr&in! to
brea$ thro%!h' =rom another came a dissonant pipin! that made the dra!on lash his tail
wildl& "rom side to side' #an& h%rried )%ic$l& past'
Not all the doors were closed' I will not loo$, #an& told hersel", b%t the temptation was
too stron!'
In one room, a bea%ti"%l woman sprawled na$ed on the "loor while "o%r little men
crawled oer her' The& had rattish pointed "aces and tin& pin$ hands, li$e the seritor
who had bro%!ht her the !lass o" shade' /ne was p%mpin! between her thi!hs' *nother
saa!ed her breasts, worr&in! at the nipples with his wet red mo%th, tearin! and
chewin!'
=arther on she came %pon a "east o" corpses' Saa!el& sla%!htered, the "easters la&
strewn across oert%rned chairs and hac$ed trestle tables, asprawl in pools o" con!ealin!
blood' Some had lost limbs, een heads' Seered hands cl%tched blood& c%ps, wooden
spoons, roast "owl, heels o" bread' In a throne aboe them sat a dead man with the head
o" a wol"' ,e wore an iron crown and held a le! o" lamb in one hand as a $in! mi!ht
hold a scepter, and his e&es "ollowed #an& with m%te appeal'
She "led "rom him, b%t onl& as "ar as the ne0t open door' I $now this room, she
tho%!ht' She remembered those !reat wooden beams and the cared animal "aces that
adorned them' *nd there o%tside the window, a lemon tree@ The si!ht o" it made her
heart ache with lon!in!' It is the ho%se with the red door, the ho%se in Braaos' No
sooner had she tho%!ht it than old Ser (illem came into the room, leanin! heail& on
his stic$' 17ittle princess, there &o% are,3 he said in his !r%"" $ind oice' 1+ome,3 he
said, 1come to me, m& lad&, &o%re home now, &o%re sa"e now'3 ,is bi! wrin$led hand
reached "or her, so"t as old leather, and #an& wanted to ta$e it and hold it and $iss it, she
wanted that as m%ch as she had eer wanted an&thin!' ,er "oot ed!ed "orward, and then
she tho%!ht, ,es dead, hes dead, the sweet old bear, he died a lon! time a!o' She
bac$ed awa& and ran'
The lon! hall went on and on and on, with endless doors to her le"t and onl& torches to
her ri!ht' She ran past more doors than she co%ld co%nt, closed doors and open ones,
doors o" wood and doors o" iron, cared doors and plain ones, doors with p%lls and
doors with loc$s and doors with $noc$ers' #ro!on lashed a!ainst her bac$, %r!in! her
on, and #an& ran %ntil she co%ld r%n no more'
=inall& a !reat pair o" bron?e doors appeared to her le"t, !rander than the rest' The&
sw%n! open as she neared, and she had to stop and loo$' Be&ond loomed a caerno%s
stone hall, the lar!est she had eer seen' The s$%lls o" dead dra!ons loo$ed down "rom
its walls' <pon a towerin! barbed throne sat an old man in rich robes, an old man with
dar$ e&es and lon! siler-!re& hair' 17et him be $in! oer charred bones and coo$ed
meat,3 he said to a man below him' 17et him be the $in! o" ashes'3 #ro!on shrie$ed, his
claws di!!in! thro%!h sil$ and s$in, b%t the $in! on his throne neer heard, and #an&
moed on'
>iser&s, was her "irst tho%!ht the ne0t time she pa%sed, b%t a second !lance told her
otherwise' The man had her brothers hair, b%t he was taller, and his e&es were a dar$
indi!o rather than lilac' 1*e!on,3 he said to a woman n%rsin! a newborn babe in a !reat
wooden bed' 1(hat better name "or a $in!.3
1(ill &o% ma$e a son! "or him.3 the woman as$ed'
1,e has a son!,3 the man replied' 1,e is the prince that was promised, and his is the
son! o" ice and "ire'3 ,e loo$ed %p when he said it and his e&es met #an&s, and it
seemed as i" he saw her standin! there be&ond the door' 1There m%st be one more,3 he
said, tho%!h whether he was spea$in! to her or the woman in the bed she co%ld not sa&'
1The dra!on has three heads'3 ,e went to the window seat, pic$ed %p a harp, and ran his
"in!ers li!htl& oer its siler& strin!s' Sweet sadness "illed the room as man and wi"e
and babe "aded li$e the mornin! mist, onl& the m%sic lin!erin! behind to speed her on
her wa&'
It seemed as tho%!h she wal$ed "or another ho%r be"ore the lon! hall "inall& ended in a
steep stone stair, descendin! into dar$ness' 5er& door, open or closed, had been to her
le"t' #an& loo$ed bac$ behind her' The torches were !oin! o%t, she reali?ed with a start
o" "ear' 4erhaps twent& still b%rned' Thirt& at most' /ne more !%ttered o%t een as she
watched, and the dar$ness came a little "arther down the hall, creepin! toward her' *nd
as she listened it seemed as i" she heard somethin! else comin!, sh%""lin! and dra!!in!
itsel" slowl& alon! the "aded carpet' Terror "illed her' She co%ld not !o bac$ and she was
a"raid to sta& here, b%t how co%ld she !o on. There was no door on her ri!ht, and the
steps went down, not %p'
;et another torch went o%t as she stood ponderin!, and the so%nds !rew "aintl& lo%der'
#ro!ons lon! nec$ sna$ed o%t and he opened his mo%th to scream, steam risin! "rom
between his teeth' ,e hears it too' #an& t%rned to the blan$ wall once more, b%t there
was nothin!' +o%ld there be a secret door, a door I cannot see. *nother torch went o%t'
*nother' The "irst door on the ri!ht, he said, alwa&s the "irst door on the ri!ht' The "irst
door on the ri!ht ' ' '
It came to her s%ddenl&' ' ' ' is the last door on the le"t@
She "l%n! hersel" thro%!h' Be&ond was another small room with "o%r doors' To the
ri!ht she went, and to the ri!ht, and to the ri!ht, and to the ri!ht, and to the ri!ht, and to
the ri!ht, and to the ri!ht, %ntil she was di??& and o%t o" breath once more'
(hen she stopped, she "o%nd hersel" in &et another dan$ stone chamber ' ' ' b%t this
time the door opposite was ro%nd, shaped li$e an open mo%th, and 4&at 4ree stood
o%tside in the !rass beneath the trees' 1+an it be that the <nd&in! are done with &o% so
soon.3 he as$ed in disbelie" when he saw her'
1So soon.3 she said, con"%sed' 1Ie wal$ed "or ho%rs, and still not "o%nd them'3
1;o% hae ta$en a wron! t%rnin!' +ome, I will lead &o%'3 4&at 4ree held o%t his hand'
#an& hesitated' There was a door to her ri!ht, still closed ' ' '
1Thats not the wa&,3 4&at 4ree said "irml&, his bl%e lips prim with disapproal' 1The
<nd&in! /nes will not wait "oreer'3
1/%r little lies are no more than a "lic$er o" a moths win! to them,3 #an& said,
rememberin!'
1St%bborn child' ;o% will be lost, and neer "o%nd'3
She wal$ed awa& "rom him, to the door on the ri!ht'
1No,3 4&at screeched' 1No, to me, come to me, to meeeeeee'3 ,is "ace cr%mbled
inward, chan!in! to somethin! pale and wormli$e'
#an& le"t him behind, enterin! a stairwell' She be!an to climb' Be"ore lon! her le!s
were achin!' She recalled that the ,o%se o" the <nd&in! /nes had seemed to hae no
towers'
=inall& the stair opened' To her ri!ht, a set o" wide wooden doors had been thrown
open' The& were "ashioned o" ebon& and weirwood, the blac$ and white !rains swirlin!
and twistin! in stran!e interwoen patterns' The& were er& bea%ti"%l, &et somehow
"ri!htenin!' The blood o" the dra!on m%st not be a"raid' #an& said a )%ic$ pra&er,
be!!in! the (arrior "or co%ra!e and the #othra$i horse !od "or stren!th' She made
hersel" wal$ "orward'
Be&ond the doors was a !reat hall and a splendor o" wi?ards' Some wore s%mpt%o%s
robes o" ermine, r%b& elet, and cloth o" !old' /thers "ancied elaborate armor st%dded
with !emstones, or tall pointed hats spec$led with stars' There were women amon!
them, dressed in !owns o" s%rpassin! loeliness' Sha"ts o" s%nli!ht slanted thro%!h
windows o" stained !lass, and the air was alie with the most bea%ti"%l m%sic she had
eer heard'
* $in!l& man in rich robes rose when he saw her, and smiled' 1#aener&s o" ,o%se
Tar!ar&en, be welcome' +ome and share the "ood o" "oreer' (e are the <nd&in! o"
Farth'3
17on! hae we awaited &o%,3 said a woman beside him, clad in rose and siler' The
breast she had le"t bare in the Fartheen "ashion was as per"ect as a breast co%ld be'
1(e $new &o% were to come to %s,3 the wi?ard $in! said' 1* tho%sand &ears a!o we
$new, and hae been waitin! all this time' (e sent the comet to show &o% the wa&'3
1(e hae $nowled!e to share with &o%,3 said a warrior in shinin! emerald armor, 1and
ma!ic weapons to arm &o% with' ;o% hae passed eer& trial' Now come and sit with %s,
and all &o%r )%estions shall be answered'3
She too$ a step "orward' B%t then #ro!on leapt "rom her sho%lder' ,e "lew to the top
o" the ebon&-and-weirwood door, perched there, and be!an to bite at the cared wood'
1* will"%l beast,3 la%!hed a handsome &o%n! man' 1Shall we teach &o% the secret
speech o" dra!on$ind. +ome, come'3
#o%bt sei?ed her' The !reat door was so hea& it too$ all o" #an&s stren!th to b%d!e
it, b%t "inall& it be!an to moe' Behind was another door, hidden' It was old !re& wood,
splinter& and plain ' ' ' b%t it stood to the ri!ht o" the door thro%!h which shed entered'
The wi?ards were bec$onin! her with oices sweeter than son!' She ran "rom them,
#ro!on "l&in! bac$ down to her' Thro%!h the narrow door she passed, into a chamber
awash in !loom'
* lon! stone table "illed this room' *boe it "loated a h%man heart, swollen and bl%e
with corr%ption, &et still alie' It beat, a deep pondero%s throb o" so%nd, and each p%lse
sent o%t a wash o" indi!o li!ht' The "i!%res aro%nd the table were no more than bl%e
shadows' *s #an& wal$ed to the empt& chair at the "oot o" the table, the& did not stir,
nor spea$, nor t%rn to "ace her' There was no so%nd b%t the slow, deep beat o" the rottin!
heart'
' ' ' mother o" dra!ons ' ' ' came a oice, part whisper and part moan ' ' ' ' dra!ons ' ' '
dra!ons ' ' ' dra!ons ' ' ' other oices echoed in the !loom' Some were male and some
"emale' /ne spo$e with the timbre o" a child' The "loatin! heart p%lsed "rom dimness to
dar$ness' It was hard to s%mmon the will to spea$, to recall the words she had practiced
so assid%o%sl&' 1I am #aener&s Stormborn o" ,o%se Tar!ar&en, F%een o" the Seen
6in!doms o" (esteros'3 #o the& hear me. (h& dont the& moe. She sat, "oldin! her
hands in her lap' 18rant me &o%r co%nsel, and spea$ to me with the wisdom o" those
who hae con)%ered death'3
Thro%!h the indi!o m%r$, she co%ld ma$e o%t the wi?ened "eat%res o" the <nd&in!
/ne to her ri!ht, an old old man, wrin$led and hairless' ,is "lesh was a ripe iolet-bl%e,
his lips and nails bl%er still, so dar$ the& were almost blac$' 5en the whites o" his e&es
were bl%e' The& stared %nseein! at the ancient woman on the opposite side o" the table,
whose !own o" pale sil$ had rotted on her bod&' /ne withered breast was le"t bare in the
Fartheen manner, to show a pointed bl%e nipple hard as leather'
She is not breathin!' #an& listened to the silence' None o" them are breathin!, and the&
do not moe, and those e&es see nothin!' +o%ld it be that the <nd&in! /nes were dead.
,er answer was a whisper as thin as a mo%ses whis$er' ' ' ' we lie ' ' ' lie ' ' '
lie ' ' ' it so%nded' 2&riad other oices whispered echoes ' ' ' ' and $now ' ' ' $now ' ' '
$now ' ' ' $now ' ' '
1I hae come "or the !i"t o" tr%th,3 #an& said' 1In the lon! hall, the thin!s I saw ' ' '
were the& tr%e isions, or lies. 4ast thin!s, or thin!s to come. (hat did the& mean.3
' ' ' the shape o" shadows ' ' ' morrows not &et made ' ' ' drin$ "rom the c%p o" ice ' ' '
drin$ "rom the c%p o" "ire ' ' '
' ' ' mother o" dra!ons ' ' ' child o" three ' ' '
1Three.3 She did not %nderstand'
' ' ' three heads has the dra!on ' ' ' the !host chor%s &arnmered inside her s$%ll with
neer a lip moin!, neer a breath stirrin! the still bl%e air' ' ' ' mother o" dra!ons ' ' '
child o" storm ' ' ' The whispers became a swirlin! son!' ' ' ' three "ires m%st &o% li!ht ' '
' one "or li"e and one "or death and one to loe ' ' ' ,er own heart was beatin! in %nison
to the one that "loated be"ore her, bl%e and corr%pt ' ' ' three mo%nts m%st &o% ride ' ' '
one to bed and one to dread and one to loe ' ' ' The oices were !rowin! lo%der, she
reali?ed, and it seemed her heart was slowin!, and een her breath' ' ' ' three treasons
will &o% $now ' ' ' once "or blood and once "or !old and once "or loe ' ' '
1I dont ' ' '3 ,er oice was no more than a whisper, almost as "aint as theirs' (hat
was happenin! to her. 1I dont %nderstand,3 she said, more lo%dl&' (h& was it so hard
to tal$ here. 1,elp me' Show me'3
' ' ' help her ' ' ' the whispers moc$ed' ' ' ' show her ' ' '
Then phantoms shiered thro%!h the m%r$, ima!es in indi!o' >iser&s screamed as the
molten !old ran down his chee$s and "illed his mo%th' * tall lord with copper s$in and
siler-!old hair stood beneath the banner o" a "ier& stallion, a b%rnin! cit& behind him'
B%bies "lew li$e drops o" blood "rom the chest o" a d&in! prince, and he san$ to his
$nees in the water and with his last breath m%rm%red a womans name' ' ' ' mother o"
dra!ons, da%!hter o" death ' ' ' 8lowin! li$e s%nset, a red sword was raised in the hand
o" a bl%e-e&ed $in! who cast no shadow' * cloth dra!on swa&ed on poles amidst a
cheerin! crowd' =rom a smo$in! tower, a !reat stone beast too$ win!, breathin! shadow
"ire' ' ' ' mother o" dra!ons, sla&er o" lies ' ' ' ,er siler was trottin! thro%!h the !rass, to
a dar$lin! stream beneath a sea o" stars' * corpse stood at the prow o" a ship, e&es bri!ht
in his dead "ace, !re& lips smilin! sadl&' * bl%e "lower !rew "rom a chin$ in a wall o"
ice, and "illed the air with sweetness' ' ' ' mother o" dra!ons, bride o" "ire ' ' '
=aster and "aster the isions came, one a"ter the other, %ntil it seemed as i" the er& air
had come alie' Shadows whirled and danced inside a tent, boneless and terrible' * little
!irl ran bare"oot toward a bi! ho%se with a red door' 2irri 2a? #%%r shrie$ed in the
"lames, a dra!on b%rstin! "rom her brow' Behind a siler horse the blood& corpse o" a
na$ed man bo%nced and dra!!ed' * white lion ran thro%!h !rass taller than a man'
Beneath the 2other o" 2o%ntains, a line o" na$ed crones crept "rom a !reat la$e and
$nelt shierin! be"ore her, their !re& heads bowed' Ten tho%sand slaes li"ted
bloodstained hands as she raced b& on her siler, ridin! li$e the wind' 12other@3 the&
cried' 12other, mother@3 The& were reachin! "or her, to%chin! her, t%!!in! at her cloa$,
the hem o" her s$irt, her "oot, her le!, her breast' The& wanted her, needed her, the "ire,
the li"e, and #an& !asped and opened her arms to !ie hersel" to them ' ' '
B%t then blac$ win!s b%""eted her ro%nd the head, and a scream o" "%r& c%t the indi!o
air, and s%ddenl& the isions were !one, ripped awa&, and #an&s !asp t%rned to horror'
The <nd&in! were all aro%nd her, bl%e and cold, whisperin! as the& reached "or her,
p%llin!, stro$in!, t%!!in! at her clothes, to%chin! her with their dr& cold hands, twinin!
their "in!ers thro%!h her hair' *ll the stren!th had le"t her limbs' She co%ld not moe'
5en her heart had ceased to beat' She "elt a hand on her bare breast, twistin! her nipple'
Teeth "o%nd the so"t s$in o" her throat' * mo%th descended on one e&e, lic$in!, s%c$in!,
bitin! ' ' '
Then indi!o t%rned to oran!e, and whispers t%rned to screams' ,er heart was
po%ndin!, racin!, the hands and mo%ths were !one, heat washed oer her s$in, and #an&
blin$ed at a s%dden !lare' 4erched aboe her, the dra!on spread his win!s and tore at the
terrible dar$ heart, rippin! the rotten "lesh to ribbons, and when his head snapped
"orward, "ire "lew "rom his open 9aws, bri!ht and hot' She co%ld hear the shrie$s o" the
<nd&in! as the& b%rned, their hi!h thin paper& oices cr&in! o%t in ton!%es lon! dead'
Their "lesh was cr%mblin! parchment, their bones dr& wood soa$ed in tallow' The&
danced as the "lames cons%med them: the& sta!!ered and writhed and sp%n and raised
bla?in! hands on hi!h, their "in!ers bri!ht as torches'
#an& p%shed hersel" to her "eet and b%lled thro%!h them' The& were li!ht as air, no
more than h%s$s, and the& "ell at a to%ch' The whole room was abla?e b& the time she
reached the door' 1#ro!on,3 she called, and he "lew to her thro%!h the "ire'
/%tside a lon! dim passa!ewa& stretched serpentine be"ore her, lit b& the "lic$erin!
oran!e !lare "rom behind' #an& ran, searchin! "or a door, a door to her ri!ht, a door to
her le"t, an& door, b%t there was nothin!, onl& twist& stone walls, and a "loor that seemed
to moe slowl& %nder her "eet, writhin! as i" to trip her' She $ept her "eet and ran "aster,
and s%ddenl& the door was there ahead o" her, a door li$e an open mo%th'
(hen she spilled o%t into the s%n, the bri!ht li!ht made her st%mble' 4&at 4ree was
!ibberin! in some %n$nown ton!%e and hoppin! "rom one "oot to the other' (hen #an&
loo$ed behind her, she saw thin tendrils o" smo$e "orcin! their wa& thro%!h crac$s in
the ancient stone walls o" the 4alace o" #%st, and risin! "rom between the blac$ tiles o"
the roo"'
,owlin! c%rses, 4&at 4ree drew a $ni"e and danced toward her, b%t #ro!on "lew at his
"ace' Then she heard the crac$ o" Cho!os whip, and neer was a so%nd so sweet' The
$ni"e went "l&in!, and an instant later Ba$haro was slammin! 4&at to the !ro%nd' Ser
Corah 2ormont $nelt beside #an& in the cool !reen !rass and p%t his arm aro%nd her
sho%lder'
+hapter I9
T%RIO'
I" &o% die st%pidl&, Im !oin! to "eed &o%r bod& to the !oats,3 T&rion threatened as the
"irst load o" Stone +rows p%shed o"" "rom the )%a&'
Sha!!a la%!hed' 1The ,al"man has no !oats'3
1Ill !et some 9%st "or ;/<'3
#awn was brea$in!, and pale ripples o" li!ht shimmered on the s%r"ace o" the rier,
shatterin! %nder the poles and re"ormin! when the "err& had passed' Timett had ta$en his
B%rned 2en into the $in!swood two da&s be"ore' ;esterda& the Blac$ 5ars and 2oon
Brothers "ollowed, toda& the Stone +rows'
1(hateer &o% do, dont tr& and "i!ht a battle,3 T&rion said' 1Stri$e at their camps and
ba!!a!e train' *mb%sh their sco%ts and han! the bodies "rom trees ahead o" their line o"
march, loop aro%nd and c%t down stra!!lers' I want ni!ht attac$s, so man& and so
s%dden that the&ll be a"raid to sleepA3
Sha!!a laid a hand atop T&rions head' 1*ll this I learned "rom #ol" son o" ,ol!er
be"ore m& beard had !rown' This is the wa& o" war in the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon'3
1The $in!swood is not the 2o%ntains o" the 2oon, and &o% wont be "i!htin! 2il$
Sna$es and 4ainted #o!s' *nd listen to the !%ides Im sendin!, the& $now this wood as
well as &o% $now &o%r mo%ntains' ,eed their co%nsel and the&ll sere &o% well'3
1Sha!!a will listen to the ,al"mans pets,3 the clansman promised solemnl&' *nd then
it was time "or him to lead his !arron onto the "err&' T&rion watched them p%sh o"" and
pole o%t toward the center o" the Blac$water' ,e "elt a )%eer twin!e in the pit o" his
stomach as Sha!!a "aded in the mornin! mist' ,e was !oin! to "eel na$ed witho%t his
clansmen'
,e still had Bronns hirelin!s, near ei!ht h%ndred o" them now, b%t sellswords were
notorio%sl& "ic$le' T&rion had done what he co%ld to b%& their contin%ed lo&alt&,
promisin! Bronn and a do?en o" his best men lands and $ni!hthoods when the battle was
won' The&d dr%n$ his wine, la%!hed at his 9ests, and called each other ser %ntil the&
were all sta!!erin! ' ' ' all b%t Bronn himsel", whod onl& smiled that insolent dar$ smile
o" his and a"terward said, 1The&ll $ill "or that $ni!hthood, b%t dont eer thin$ the&ll
die "or it'3
T&rion had no s%ch del%sion'
The !old cloa$s were almost as %ncertain a weapon' Si0 tho%sand men in the +it&
(atch, than$s to +ersei, b%t onl& a )%arter o" them co%ld be relied %pon' 1Theres "ew
o%t-and-o%t traitors, tho%!h theres some, een &o%r spider hasnt "o%nd them all,3
B&water had warned him' 1B%t theres h%ndreds !reener than sprin! !rass, men who
9oined "or bread and ale and sa"et&' No man li$es to loo$ craen in the si!ht o" his
"ellows, so the&ll "i!ht brae eno%!h at the start, when its all warhorns and blowin!
banners' B%t i" the battle loo$s to be !oin! so%r the&ll brea$, and the&ll brea$ bad' The
"irst man to throw down his spear and r%n will hae a tho%sand more troddin! on his
heels'3
To be s%re, there were seasoned men in the +it& (atch, the core o" two tho%sand
whod !otten their !old cloa$s "rom Bobert, not +ersei' ;et een those ' ' ' a watchman
was not tr%l& a soldier, 7ord T&win 7annister had been "ond o" sa&in!' /" $ni!hts and
s)%ires and men-atarms, T&rion had no more than three h%ndred' Soon eno%!h, he m%st
test the tr%th o" another o" his "athers sa&in!s: /ne man on a wall was worth ten
beneath it'
Bronn and the escort were waitin! at the "oot o" the )%a&, amidst swarmin! be!!ars,
strollin! whores, and "ishwies cr&in! the catch' The "ishwies did more b%siness than
all the rest combined' B%&ers "loc$ed aro%nd the barrels and stalls to ha!!le oer
win$les, clams, and rier pi$e' (ith no other "ood comin! into the cit&, the price o" "ish
was ten times what it had been be"ore the war, and still risin!' Those who had coin came
to the rier"ront each mornin! and each eenin!, in hopes o" brin!in! home an eel or a
pot o" red crabs: those who did not slipped between the stalls hopin! to steal, or stood
!a%nt and "orlorn beneath the walls'
The !old cloa$s cleared a path thro%!h the press, shoin! people aside with the sha"ts
o" their spears' T&rion i!nored the m%ttered c%rses as best he co%ld' * "ish came sailin!
o%t o" the crowd, slim& and rotten' It landed at his "eet and "lew to pieces' ,e stepped
oer it !in!erl& and climbed into his saddle' +hildren with swollen bellies were alread&
"i!htin! oer pieces o" the stin$in! "ish'
2o%nted, he !a?ed alon! the rier"ront' ,ammers ran! in the mornin! air as carpenters
swarmed oer the 2%d 8ate, e0tendin! wooden hoardin!s "rom the battlements' Those
were comin! well' ,e was a deal less pleased b& the cl%tter o" ramshac$le str%ct%res that
had been allowed to !row %p behind the )%a&s, attachin! themseles to the cit& walls
li$e barnacles on the h%ll o" a ship: bait shac$s and pot-shops, wareho%ses, merchants
stalls, aleho%ses, the cribs where the cheaper sort o" whores spread their le!s' It has to
!o, eer& bit o" it' *s it was, Stannis wo%ld hardl& need scalin! ladders to storm the
walls'
,e called Bronn to his side' 1*ssemble a h%ndred men and b%rn eer&thin! &o% see
here between the waters ed!e and the cit& walls'3 ,e waed his st%bb& "in!ers, ta$in!
in all the water"ront s)%alor' 1I want nothin! le"t standin!, do &o% %nderstand.3
The blac$-haired sellsword t%rned his head, considerin! the tas$' 1Them as own all
this wont li$e that m%ch'3
1I neer ima!ined the& wo%ld' So be it: the&ll hae somethin! else to c%rse the eil
mon$e& demon "or'3
1Some ma& "i!ht'3
1See that the& lose'3
1(hat do we do with those that lie here.3
17et them hae a reasonable time to remoe their propert&, and then moe them o%t'
Tr& not to $ill an& o" them, the&re not the enem&' *nd no more rapes@ 6eep &o%r men
in line, damn it'3
1The&re sellswords, not septons,3 said Bronn' 1Ne0t &o%ll be tellin! me &o% want
them sober'3
1It co%ldnt h%rt'3
T&rion onl& wished he co%ld as easil& ma$e cit& walls twice as tall and three times as
thic$' Tho%!h perhaps it did not matter' 2assie walls and tall towers had not saed
Storms 5nd, nor ,arrenhal, nor een (inter"ell'
,e remembered (inter"ell as he had last seen it' Not as !rotes)%el& h%!e as ,arrenhal,
nor as solid and impre!nable to loo$ at as Storms 5nd, &et there had been a !reat
stren!th in those stones, a sense that within those walls a man mi!ht "eel sa"e' The news
o" the castles "all had come as a wrenchin! shoc$' 1The !ods !ie with one hand and
ta$e with the other,3 he m%ttered %nder his breath when >ar&s told him' The& had !ien
the Star$s ,arrenhal and ta$en (inter"ell, a dismal e0chan!e'
No do%bt he sho%ld be re9oicin!' Bobb Star$ wo%ld hae to t%rn north now' I" he co%ld
not de"end his own home and hearth, he was no sort o" $in! at all' It meant repriee "or
the west, "or ,o%se 7annister, and &et ' ' '
T&rion had onl& the a!%est memor& o" Theon 8re&9o& "rom his time with the Star$s'
* callow &o%th, alwa&s smilin!, s$illed with a bow: it was hard to ima!ine him as 7ord
o" (inter"ell' The 7ord o" (inter"ell wo%ld alwa&s be a Star$'
,e remembered their !odswood: the tall sentinels armored in their !re&-!reen needles,
the !reat oa$s, the hawthorn and ash and soldier pines, and at the center the heart tree
standin! li$e some pale !iant "ro?en in time' ,e co%ld almost smell the place, earth& and
broodin!, the smell o" cent%ries, and he remembered how dar$ the wood had been een
b& da&' That wood was (inter"ell' It was the north' I neer "elt so o%t o" place as I did
when I wal$ed there, so m%ch an %nwelcome intr%der' ,e wondered i" the 8re&9o&s
wo%ld "eel it too' The castle mi!ht well be theirs, b%t neer that !odswood' Not in a
&ear, or ten, or "i"t&'
T&rion 7annister wal$ed his horse slowl& toward the 2%d 8ate' (inter"ell is nothin!
to &o%, he reminded himsel"' Be !lad the place has "allen, and loo$ to &o%r own walls'
The !ate was open' Inside, three !reat treb%chets stood side b& side in the mar$et s)%are,
peerin! oer the battlements li$e three h%!e birds' Their throwin! arms were made "rom
the tr%n$s o" old oa$s, and banded with iron to $eep them "rom splittin!' The !old
cloa$s had named them the Three (hores, beca%se the&d be !iin! 7ord Stannis s%ch a
l%st& welcome' /r so we hope'
T&rion p%t his heels into his horse and trotted thro%!h the 2%d 8ate, breastin! the
h%man tide' /nce be&ond the (hores, the press !rew thinner and the street opened %p
aro%nd him'
The ride bac$ to the Bed 6eep was %neent"%l, b%t at the Tower o" the ,and he "o%nd
a do?en an!r& trader captains waitin! in his a%dience chamber to protest the sei?%re o"
their ships' ,e !ae them a sincere apolo!& and promised compensation once the war
was done' That did little to appease them' 1(hat i" &o% sho%ld lose, m& lord.3 one
Braaosi as$ed'
1Then appl& to 6in! Stannis "or &o%r compensation'3
B& the time he rid himsel" o" them, bells were rin!in! and T&rion $new he wo%ld be
late "or the installation' ,e waddled across the &ard almost at a r%n and crowded into the
bac$ o" the castle sept as Co""re& "astened white sil$ cloa$s abo%t the sho%lders o" the
two newest members o" his 6in!s!%ard' The rite seemed to re)%ire that eer&one stand,
so T&rion saw nothin! b%t a wall o" co%rtl& arses' /n the other hand, once the new ,i!h
Septon was "inished leadin! the two $ni!hts thro%!h their solemn ows and anointin!
them in the names o" the Seen, he wo%ld be well positioned to be "irst o%t the doors'
,e approed o" his sisters choice o" Ser Balon Swann to ta$e the place o" the slain
4reston 8reen"ield' The Swarms were 2archer lords, pro%d, power"%l, and ca%tio%s'
4leadin! illness, 7ord 8%lian Swann had remained in his castle, ta$in! no part in the
war, b%t his eldest son had ridden with Benl& and now Stannis, while Balon, the
&o%n!er, sered at 6in!s 7andin!' I" hed had a third son, T&rion s%spected hed be o""
with Bobb Star$' It was not perhaps the most honorable co%rse, b%t it showed !ood
sense: whoeer won the iron Throne, the Swarms intended to s%rie' In addition to
bein! well born, &o%n! Ser Balon was aliant, co%rtl&, and s$illed at arms: !ood with a
lance, better with a mornin!star, s%perb with the bow' ,e wo%ld sere with honor and
co%ra!e'
*las, T&rion co%ld not sa& the same "or +erseis second choice' Ser /sm%nd
6ettleblac$ loo$ed "ormidable eno%!h' ,e stood si0 "eet and si0 inches, most o" it sinew
and m%scle, and his hoo$ nose, b%sh& e&ebrows, and spade-shaped brown beard !ae his
"ace a "ierce aspect, so lon! as he did not smile' 7owborn, no more than a hed!e $ni!ht,
6ettleblac$ was %tterl& dependent on +ersei "or his adancement, which was do%btless
wh& shed pic$ed him' 1Ser /sm%nd is as lo&al as he is brae,3 shed told Co""re& when
she p%t "orward his name' It was tr%e, %n"ort%natel&' The !ood Ser /sm%nd had been
sellin! her secrets to Bronn since the da& shed hired him, b%t T&rion co%ld scarcel& tell
her that'
,e s%pposed he o%!ht not complain' The appointment !ae him another ear close to
the $in!, %nbe$nownst to his sister' *nd een i" Ser /sm%nd proed an %tter craen, he
wo%ld be no worse than Ser Boros Blo%nt, c%rrentl& residin! in a d%n!eon at Bosb&' Ser
Boros had been escortin! Tommen and 7ord 8&les when Ser Cacel&n B&water and his
!old cloa$s had s%rprised them, and had &ielded %p his char!e with an alacrit& that
wo%ld hae enra!ed old Ser Barristan Selm& as m%ch as it did +ersei: a $ni!ht o" the
6in!s!%ard was s%pposed to die in de"ense o" the $in! and ro&al "amil&' ,is sister had
insisted that Co""re& strip Blo%nt o" his white cloa$ on the !ro%nds o" treason and
cowardice' *nd now she replaces him with another man 9%st as hollow ' ' '
The pra&in!, owin!, and anointin! seemed to ta$e most o" the mornin!' T&rions le!s
soon be!an to ache' ,e shi"ted his wei!ht "rom one "oot to the other, restless' 7ad&
Tanda stood seeral rows %p, he saw, b%t her da%!hter was not with her' ,e had been
hal" hopin! to catch a !limpse o" Shae' >ar&s said she was doin! well, b%t he wo%ld
pre"er to see "or himsel"'
1Better a lad&s maid than a pot !irl,3 Shae had said when T&rion told her the e%n%chs
scheme' 1+an I ta$e m& belt o" siler "lowers and m& !old collar with the blac$
diamonds &o% said loo$ed li$e m& e&es. I wont wear them i" &o% sa& I sho%ldnt'3
7oath as he was to disappoint her, T&rion had to point o%t that while 7ad& Tanda was
b& no means a cleer woman, een she mi!ht wonder i" her da%!hters bedmaid seemed
to own more 9ewelr& than her da%!hter' 1+hoose two or three dresses, no more,3 he
commanded her' 18ood wool, no sil$, no samite, and no "%r' The rest Ill $eep in m&
own chambers "or when &o% isit me'3 It was not the answer Shae had wanted, b%t at
least she was sa"e'
(hen the inestit%re was "inall& done Co""re& marched o%t between Ser Balon and Ser
/sm%nd in their new white cloa$s, while T&rion lin!ered "or a word with the new ,i!h
Septon Gwho was his choice, and wise eno%!h to $now who p%t the hone& on his breadH'
1I want the !ods on o%r side,3 T&rion told him bl%ntl&' 1Tell them that Stannis has
owed to b%rn the 8reat Sept o" Baelor'3
1Is it tr%e, m& lord.3 as$ed the ,i!h Septon, a small, shrewd man with a wisp& white
beard and wi?ened "ace'
T&rion shr%!!ed' 1It ma& be' Stannis b%rned the !odswood at Storms 5nd as an
o""erin! to the 7ord o" 7i!ht' I" hed o""end the old !ods, wh& sho%ld he spare the new.
Tell them that' Tell them that an& man who thin$s to !ie aid to the %s%rper betra&s the
!ods as well as his ri!ht"%l $in!'3
1I shall, m& lord' *nd I shall command them to pra& "or the health o" the $in! and his
,and as well'3
,all&ne the 4&romancer was waitin! on him when T&rion ret%rned to his solar, and
2aester =ren$en had bro%!ht messa!es' ,e let the alchemist wait a little lon!er while he
read what the raens had bro%!ht him' There was an old letter "rom #oran 2artell,
warnin! him that Storms 5nd had "allen, and a m%ch more intri!%in! one "rom Balon
8re&9o& on 4&$e, who st&led himsel" 6in! o" the isles and the North' ,e inited 6in!
Co""re& to send an eno& to the Iron Islands to "i0 the borders between their realms and
disc%ss a possible alliance'
T&rion read the letter three times and set it aside' 7ord Balons lon!ships wo%ld hae
been a !reat help a!ainst the "leet sailin! %p "rom Storms 5nd, b%t the& were tho%sands
o" lea!%es awa& on the wron! side o" (esteros, and T&rion was "ar "rom certain that he
wanted to !ie awa& hal" the realm' 4erhaps I sho%ld spill this one in +erseis lap, or
ta$e it to the co%ncil'
/nl& then did he admit ,all&ne with the latest tallies "rom the alchemists' 1This cannot
be tr%e,3 said T&rion as he pored oer the led!ers' 1*lmost thirteen tho%sand 9ars. #o
&o% ta$e me "or a "ool. Im not abo%t to pa& the $in!s !old "or empt& 9ars and pots o"
sewa!e sealed with wa0, I warn &o%'3
1No, no,3 ,all&ne s)%ea$ed, 1the s%ms are acc%rate, I swear' (e hae been, hmmm,
most "ort%nate, m& lord ,and' *nother cache o" 7ord Bossarts was "o%nd, more than
three h%ndred 9ars' <nder the #ra!onpit@ Some whores hae been %sin! the r%ins to
entertain their patrons, and one o" them "ell thro%!h a patch o" rotted "loor into a cellar'
(hen he "elt the 9ars, he mistoo$ them "or wine' ,e was so dr%n$ he bro$e the seal and
dran$ some'3
1There was a prince who tried that once,3 said T&rion dr&l&' 1I haent seen an&
dra!ons risin! oer the cit&, so it wo%ld seem it didnt wor$ this time either'3 The
#ra!onpit atop the hill o" Bhaen&s had been abandoned "or a cent%r& and a hal"' ,e
s%pposed it was as !ood a place as an& to store wild"ire, and better than most, b%t it
wo%ld hae been nice i" the late 7ord Bossart had told someone' 1Three h%ndred 9ars,
&o% sa&. That still does not acco%nt "or these totals' ;o% are seeral tho%sand 9ars ahead
o" the best estimate &o% !ae me when last we met'3
1;es, &es, thats so'3 ,all&ne mopped at his pale brow with the sleee o" his blac$-
and-scarlet robe' 1(e hae been wor$in! er& hard, m& lord ,and, hmmm'3
1That wo%ld do%btless e0plain wh& &o% are ma$in! so m%ch more o" the s%bstance
than be"ore'3 Smilin!, T&rion "i0ed the p&romancer with his mismatched stare' 1Tho%!h
it does raise the )%estion o" wh& &o% did not be!in wor$in! hard %ntil now'3
,all&ne had the comple0ion o" a m%shroom, so it was hard to see how he co%ld t%rn
an& paler, &et somehow he mana!ed' 1(e were, m& lord ,and, m& brothers and I hae
been laborin! da& and ni!ht "rom the "irst, I ass%re &o%' It is onl&, hmmm, we hae made
so m%ch o" the s%bstance that we hae become, hmmm, more practiced as it were, and
also3Athe alchemist shi"ted %ncom"ortabl&A3 certain spells, hmmm, ancient secrets o"
o%r order, er& delicate, er& tro%blesome, b%t necessar& i" the s%bstance is to be,
hmmm, all it sho%ld be ' ' '3
T&rion was !rowin! impatient' Ser Cacel&n B&water was li$el& here b& now, and
Ironhand misli$ed waitin!' 1;es, &o% hae secret spells: how splendid' (hat o" them.3
1The&, hmmm, seem to be wor$in! better than the& were'3 ,all&ne smiled wea$l&'
1;o% dont s%ppose there are an& dra!ons abo%t, do &o%.3
1Not %nless &o% "o%nd one %nder the #ra!onpit' (h&.3
1/h, pardon, I was 9%st rememberin! somethin! old (isdom 4ollitor told me once,
when I was an acol&te' Id as$ed him wh& so man& o" o%r spells seemed, well, not as
e""ect%al as the scrolls wo%ld hae %s beliee, and he said it was beca%se ma!ic had
be!%n to !o o%t o" the world the da& the last dra!on died'3
1Sorr& to disappoint &o%, b%t Ie seen no dra!ons' I hae noticed the 6in!s 9%stice
l%r$in! abo%t, howeer' Sho%ld an& o" these "r%its &o%re sellin! me t%rn o%t to be "illed
with an&thin! b%t wild"ire, &o%ll be seein! him as well'3
,all&ne "led so )%ic$l& that he almost bowled oer Ser Cacel&nAno, 7ord Cacel&n, he
m%st remember that' Ironhand was merci"%ll& direct, as eer' ,ed ret%rned "rom Bosb&
to delier a "resh le& o" spearmen recr%ited "rom 7ord 8&less estates and res%me his
command o" the +it& (atch' 1,ow does m& nephew "are.3 T&rion as$ed when the&
were done disc%ssin! the cit&s de"enses'
14rince Tommen is hale and happ&, m& lord' ,e has adopted a "awn some o" m& men
bro%!ht home "rom a h%nt' ,e had one once be"ore, he sa&s, b%t Co""re& s$inned her "or
a 9er$in' ,e as$s abo%t his mother sometimes, and o"ten be!ins letters to the 4rincess
2&rcella, tho%!h he neer seems to "inish an&' ,is brother, howeer, he does not seem
to miss at all'3
1;o% hae made s%itable arran!ements "or him, sho%ld the battle be lost.3
12& men hae their instr%ctions'3
1(hich are.3
1;o% commanded me to tell no one, m& lord'3
That made him smile' 1Im pleased &o% remember'3 Sho%ld 6in!s 7andin! "all, he
mi!ht well be ta$en alie' Better i" he did not $now where Co""re&s heir mi!ht be "o%nd'
>ar&s appeared not lon! a"ter 7ord Cacel&n had le"t' 12en are s%ch "aithless creat%res,3
he said b& wa& o" !reetin!'
T&rion si!hed' 1(hos the traitor toda&.3
The e%n%ch handed him a scroll' 1So m%ch illain&, it sin!s a sad son! "or o%r a!e' #id
honor die with o%r "athers.3
12& "ather is not dead &et'3 T&rion scanned the list' 1I $now some o" these names'
These are rich men' Traders, merchants, cra"tsmen' (h& sho%ld the& conspire a!ainst
%s.3
1It seems the& beliee that 7ord Stannis m%st win, and wish to share his ictor&' The&
call themseles the *ntler 2en, a"ter the crowned sta!'3
1Someone sho%ld tell them that Stannis chan!ed his si!il' Then the& can be the ,ot
,earts'3 It was no matter "or 9ests, tho%!h: it appeared that these *ntler 2en had armed
seeral h%ndred "ollowers, to sei?e the /ld 8ate once battle was 9oined, and admit the
enem& to the cit&' *mon! the names on the list was the master armorer Salloreon' 1I
s%ppose this means I wont be !ettin! that terri"&in! helm with the demon horns,3
T&rion complained as he scrawled the order "or the mans arrest'
C#APT"R +1
T#"O'
/ne moment he was asleep: the ne0t, awa$e'
6&ra nestled a!ainst him, one arm draped li!htl& oer his, her breasts br%shin! his
bac$' ,e co%ld hear her breathin!, so"t and stead&' The sheet was tan!led abo%t them' It
was the blac$ o" ni!ht' The bedchamber was dar$ and still'
(hat is it. #id I hear somethin!. Someone.
(ind si!hed "aintl& a!ainst the sh%tters' Somewhere, "ar o"", he heard the &owl o" a cat
in heat' Nothin! else' Sleep, 8re&9o&, he told himsel"' The castle is )%iet, and &o% hae
!%ards posted' *t &o%r door, at the !ates, on the armor&'
,e mi!ht hae p%t it down to a bad dream, b%t he did not remember dreamin!' 6&ra
had worn him o%t' <ntil Theon had sent "or her, she had lied all o" her ei!hteen &ears in
the winter town witho%t eer settin! "oot inside the walls o" the castle' She came to him
wet and ea!er and lithe as a weasel, and there had been a certain %ndeniable spice to
"%c$in! a common taern wench in 7ord 5ddard Star$s own bed'
She m%rm%red sleepil& as Theon slid o%t "rom %nder her arm and !ot to his "eet' * "ew
embers still smoldered in the hearth' (e0 slept on the "loor at the "oot o" the bed, rolled
%p inside his cloa$ and dead to the world' Nothin! moed' Theon crossed to the window
and threw open the sh%tters' Ni!ht to%ched him with cold "in!ers, and !oosepric$les
rose on his bare s$in' ,e leaned a!ainst the stone sill and loo$ed o%t on dar$ towers,
empt& &ards, blac$ s$&, and more stars than a man co%ld eer co%nt i" he lied to be a
h%ndred' * hal"-moon "loated aboe the Bell Tower and cast its re"lection on the roo" o"
the !lass !ardens' ,e heard no alarms, no oices, not so m%ch as a "oot"all'
*lls well, 8re&9o&' ,ear the )%iet. ;o% o%!ht to be dr%n$ with 9o&' ;o% too$
(inter"ell with "ewer than thirt& men, a "eat to sin! o"' Theon started bac$ to bed' ,ed
roll 6&ra on her bac$ and "%c$ her a!ain, that o%!ht to banish these phantoms' ,er !asps
and !i!!les wo%ld ma$e a welcome respite "rom this silence'
,e stopped' ,e had !rown so %sed to the howlin! o" the direwoles that he scarcel&
heard it an&more ' ' ' b%t some part o" him, some h%nters instinct, heard its absence'
<r?en stood o%tside his door, a sinew& man with a ro%nd shield sl%n! oer his bac$'
1The woles are )%iet,3 Theon told him' 18o see what the&re doin!, and come strai!ht
bac$'3 The tho%!ht o" the direwoles r%nnin! loose !ae him a )%eas& "eelin!' ,e
remembered the da& in the wol"swood when the wildlin!s had attac$ed Bran' S%mmer
and 8re& (ind had torn them to pieces'
(hen he prodded (e0 with the toe o" his boot, the bo& sat %p and r%bbed his e&es'
12a$e certain Bran Star$ and his little brother are in their beds, and be )%ic$ abo%t it'3
12lord.3 6&ra called sleepil&'
18o bac$ to sleep, this does not concern &o%'3 Theon po%red himsel" a c%p o" wine
and dran$ it down' *ll the time he was listenin!, hopin! to hear a howl' Too "ew men, he
tho%!ht so%rl&' I hae too "ew men' I" *sha does not come ' ' '
(e0 ret%rned the )%ic$est, sha$in! his head side to side' +%rsin!, Theon "o%nd his
t%nic and breeches on the "loor where he had dropped them in his haste to !et at 6&ra'
/er the t%nic he donned a 9er$in o" iron-st%dded leather, and he belted a lon!sword and
da!!er at his waist' ,is hair was wild as the wood, b%t he had lar!er concerns'
B& then <r?en was bac$' 1The woles be !one'3
Theon told himsel" he m%st be as cold and deliberate as 7ord 5ddard' 1Bo%se the
castle,3 he said' 1,erd them o%t into the &ard, eer&one, well see whos missin!' *nd
hae 7orren ma$e a ro%nd o" the !ates' (e0, with me'3
,e wondered i" St&!! had reached #eepwood 2otte &et' The man was not as s$illed a
rider as he claimedAnone o" the ironmen were m%ch !ood in the saddleAb%t thered
been time eno%!h' *sha mi!ht well be on her wa&' *nd i" she leams that I hae lost the
Star$s ' ' ' It did not bear thin$in! abo%t'
Brans bedchamber was empt&, as was Bic$ons hal" a t%rn below' Theon c%rsed
himsel"' ,e sho%ld hae $ept a !%ard on them, b%t hed deemed it more important to
hae men wal$in! the walls and protectin! the !ates than to n%rsemaid a co%ple o"
children, one a cripple'
/%tside he heard sobbin! as the castle "ol$ were p%lled "rom their beds and drien into
the &ard' Ill !ie them reason to sob' Ie %sed them !entl&, and this is how the& repa&
me' ,ed een had two o" his own men whipped blood& "or rapin! that $ennel !irl, to
show them he meant to be 9%st' The& still blame me "or the rape, tho%!h' *nd the rest'
,e deemed that %n"air' 2i$$en had $illed himsel" with his mo%th, 9%st as Ben"red had'
*s "or +ha&le, he had to !ie someone to the #rowned 8od, his men e0pected it' 1I bear
&o% no ill will,3 hed told the septon be"ore the& threw him down the well, 1b%t &o% and
&o%r !ods hae no place here now'3 ;o%d thin$ the others mi!ht be !rate"%l he hadnt
chosen one o" them, b%t no' ,e wondered how man& o" them were part o" this plot
a!ainst him'
<r?en ret%rned with Blac$ 7orren' 1The ,%nters 8ate,3 7orren said' 1Best come see'3
The ,%nters 8ate was conenientl& sited close to the $ennels and $itchens' It opened
directl& on "ields and "orests, allowin! riders to come and !o witho%t "irst passin!
thro%!h the winter town, and so was "aored b& h%ntin! parties' 1(ho had the !%ard
here.3 Theon demanded'
1#rennan and S)%int'3
#rennan was one o" the men whod raped 4alla' 1I" the&e let the bo&s escape, Ill
hae more than a little s$in o"" their bac$ this time, I swear it'3
1No need "or that,3 Blac$ 7orren said c%rtl&'
Nor was there' The& "o%nd S)%int "loatin! "acedown in the moat, his entrails dri"tin!
behind him li$e a nest o" pale sna$es' #rennan la& hal" na$ed in the !ateho%se, in the
sn%! room where the drawbrid!e was wor$ed' ,is throat had been opened ear to ear' *
ra!!ed t%nic concealed the hal"-healed scars on his bac$, b%t his boots were scattered
amidst the r%shes, and his breeches tan!led abo%t his "eet' There was cheese on a small
table near the door, beside an empt& "la!on' *nd two c%ps'
Theon pic$ed one %p and sni""ed at the dre!s o" wine in the bottom' 1S)%int was %p on
the wallwal$, no.3
1*&e,3 said 7orren'
Theon "l%n! the c%p into the hearth' 1Id sa& #rennan was p%llin! down his breeches
to stic$ it in the woman when she st%c$ it in him' ,is own cheese $ni"e, b& the loo$ o"
it' Someone "ind a pi$e and "ish the other "ool o%t o" the moat'3
The other "ool was in a deal worse shape than #rennan' (hen Blac$ 7orren drew him
o%t o" the water, the& saw that one o" his arms had been wrenched o"" at the elbow, hal"
o" his nec$ was missin!, and there was a ra!!ed hole where his nael and !roin once had
been' The pi$e tore thro%!h his bowels as 7orren was p%llin! him in' The stench was
aw"%l'
1The direwoles,3 Theon said' 1Both o" them, at a !%ess'3 #is!%sted, he wal$ed bac$
to the drawbrid!e' (inter"ell was encircled b& two massie !ranite walls, with a wide
moat between them' The o%ter wall stood ei!ht& "eet hi!h, the inner more than a
h%ndred' 7ac$in! men, Theon had been "orced to abandon the o%ter de"enses and post
his !%ards alon! the hi!her inner walls' ,e dared not ris$ hain! them on the wron! side
o" the moat sho%ld the castle rise a!ainst him'
There had to be two or more, he decided' (hile the woman was entertainin! #rennan,
the others "reed the woles'
Theon called "or a torch and led them %p the steps to the wallwal$' ,e swept the "lame
low be"ore him, loo$in! "or ' ' ' there' /n the inside o" the rampart and in the wide
crenel between two %pthr%st merlons' 1Blood,3 he anno%nced, 1cl%msil& mopped %p' *t
a !%ess, the woman $illed #rennan and lowered the drawbrid!e' S)%int heard the clan$
o" chains, came to hae a loo$, and !ot this "ar' The& p%shed the corpse thro%!h the
crenel into the moat so he wo%ldnt be "o%nd b& another sentr&'3
<r?en peered alon! the walls' 1The other watch t%rrets are not "ar' I see torches
b%rnin!A3
1Torches, b%t no !%ards,3 Theon said testil&' 1(inter"ell has more t%rrets than I hae
men'3
1=o%r !%ards at the main !ate,3 said Blac$ 7orren, 1and "ie wal$in! the walls beside
S)%int'3
<r?en said, 1I" he had so%nded his hornA3
I am sered b& "ools' 1Tr& and ima!ine it was &o% %p here, <r?en' Its dar$ and cold'
;o% hae been wal$in! sentr& "or ho%rs, loo$in! "orward to the end o" &o%r watch' Then
&o% hear a noise and moe toward the !ate, and s%ddenl& &o% see e&es at the top o" the
stair, !lowin! !reen and !old in the torchli!ht' Two shadows come r%shin! toward &o%
"aster than &o% can beliee' ;o% catch a !limpse o" teeth, start to leel &o%r spear, and
the& slam into &o% and open &o%r bell&, tearin! thro%!h leather as i" it were
cheesecloth'3 ,e !ae <r?en a hard shoe' 1*nd now &o%re down on &o%r bac$, &o%r
!%ts are spillin! o%t, and one o" them has his teeth aro%nd &o%r nec$'3 Theon !rabbed
the mans scrawn& throat, ti!htened his "in!ers, and smiled' 1Tell me, at what moment
d%rin! all o" this do &o% stop to blow &o%r "%c$in! horn.3 ,e shoed <r?en awa&
ro%!hl&, sendin! him st%mblin! bac$ a!ainst a merlon' The man r%bbed his throat' I
sho%ld hae had those beasts p%t down the da& we too$ the castle, he tho%!ht an!ril&' Id
seen them $ill, I $new how dan!ero%s the& were'
1(e m%st !o a"ter them,3 Blac$ 7orren said'
1Not in the dar$'3 Theon did not relish the idea o" chasin! direwoles thro%!h the
wood b& ni!ht: the h%nters co%ld easil& become the h%nted' 1(ell wait "or da&li!ht'
<ntil then, I had best !o spea$ with m& lo&al s%b9ects'3
#own in the &ard, a %neas& crowd o" men, women, and children had been p%shed %p
a!ainst the wall' 2an& had not been !ien time to dress: the& coered themseles with
woolen blan$ets, or h%ddled na$ed %nder cloa$s or bedrobes' * do?en ironmen hemmed
them in, torches in one hand and weapons in the other' The wind was !%stin!, and the
"lic$erin! oran!e li!ht re"lected d%ll& o"" steel helms, thic$ beards, and %nsmilin! e&es'
Theon wal$ed %p and down be"ore the prisoners, st%d&in! the "aces' The& all loo$ed
!%ilt& to him' 1,ow man& are missin!.3
1Si0'3 Bee$ stepped %p behind him, smellin! o" soap, his lon! hair moin! in the
wind' 1Both Star$s, that bo! bo& and his sister, the hal"wit "rom the stables, and &o%r
wildlin! woman'3
/sha' ,e had s%spected her "rom the moment he saw that second c%p' I sho%ld hae
$nown better than to tr%st that one' Shes as %nnat%ral as *sha' 5en their names so%nd
ali$e'
1,as an&one had a loo$ at the stables.3
1*!!ar sa&s no horses are missin!'3
1#ancer is still in his stall.3
1#ancer.3 Bee$ "rowned' 1*!!ar sa&s the horses are all there' /nl& the hal"wit is
missin!'3
The&re a"oot, then' That was the best news hed heard since he wo$e' Bran wo%ld be
ridin! in his bas$et on ,odors bac$, no do%bt' /sha wo%ld need to carr& Bic$on: his
little le!s wo%ldnt ta$e him "ar on their own' Theon was con"ident that hed soon hae
them bac$ in his hands' 1Bran and Bic$on hae "led,3 he told the castle "ol$, watchin!
their e&es' 1(ho $nows where the&e !one.3 No one answered' 1The& co%ld not hae
escaped witho%t help,3 Theon went on' 1(itho%t "ood, clothin!, weapons'3 ,e had
loc$ed awa& eer& sword and a0e in (inter"ell, b%t no do%bt some had been hidden
"rom him' 1Ill hae the names o" all those who aided them' *ll those who t%rned a blind
e&e'3 The onl& so%nd was the wind' 1+ome "irst li!ht, I mean to brin! them bac$'3 ,e
hoo$ed his th%mbs thro%!h his swordbelt' 1I need h%ntsmen' (ho wants a nice warm
wol"s$in to see them thro%!h the winter. 8a!e.3 The coo$ had alwa&s !reeted him
cheer"%ll& when he ret%rned "rom the h%nt, to as$ whether hed bro%!ht an&thin! choice
"or the table, b%t he had nothin! to sa& now' Theon wal$ed bac$ the wa& he had come,
searchin! their "aces "or the least si!n o" !%ilt& $nowled!e' 1The wild is no place "or a
cripple' *nd Bic$on, &o%n! as he is, how lon! will he last o%t there. Nan, thin$ how
"ri!htened he m%st be'3 The old woman had nattered at him "or ten &ears, tellin! her
endless stories, b%t now she !aped at him as i" he were some stran!er' 1I mi!ht hae
$illed eer& man o" &o% and !ien &o%r women to m& soldiers "or their pleas%re, b%t
instead I protected &o%' Is this the than$s &o% o""er.3 Coseth whod !roomed his horses,
=arlen whod ta%!ht him all he $new o" ho%nds, Barth the brewers wi"e whod been his
"lrstAnot one o" them wo%ld meet his e&es' The& hate me, he reali?ed'
Bee$ stepped close' 1Strip o"" their s$ins,3 he %r!ed, his thic$ lips !listenin!' 17ord
Bolton, he %sed to sa& a na$ed man has "ew secrets, b%t a "la&ed mans !ot none'3
The "la&ed man was the si!il o" ,o%se Bolton, Theon $new: a!es past, certain o" their
lords had !one so "ar as to cloa$ themseles in the s$ins o" dead enemies' * n%mber o"
Star$s had ended th%s' S%pposedl& all that had stopped a tho%sand &ears a!o, when the
Boltons had bent their $nees to (inter"ell' /r so the& sa&, b%t old wa&s die hard, as well
I $now ' ' '
1There will be no "la&in! in the north so lon! as I r%le in (inter"ell,3 Theon said
lo%dl&' I am &o%r onl& protection a!ainst the li$es o" him, he wanted to scream' ,e
co%ld not be that blatant, b%t perhaps some were cleer eno%!h to ta$e the lesson'
The s$& was !re&in! oer the castle walls' #awn co%ld not be "ar o""' 1Coseth, saddle
Smiler and a horse "or &o%rsel"' 2%rch, 8ariss, 4o0& T&m, &o%ll come as well'3 2%rch
and 8ariss were the best h%ntsmen in the castle, and T&rn was a "ine bowman' 1*!!ar,
Bednose, 8elmarr, Bee$, (e0'3 ,e needed his own to watch his bac$' 1=arlen, Ill want
ho%nds, and &o% to handle them'3
The !ri??led $ennelmaster crossed his arms' 1*nd wh& wo%ld I care to h%nt down m&
own tr%eborn lords, and babes at that.3
Theon moed close' 1I am &o%r tr%eborn lord now, and the man who $eeps 4alla sa"e'3
,e saw the de"lance die in =arlens e&es' 1*&e, mlord'3
Steppin! bac$, Theon !lanced abo%t to see who else he mi!ht add' 12aester 7%win,3
he anno%nced'
1I $now nothin! o" h%ntin!'3
No, b%t I dont tr%st &o% in the castle in m& absence' 1Then its past time &o% learned'3
17et me come too' I want that wol"s$in cloa$'3 * bo& stepped "orward, no older than
Bran' It too$ Theon a moment to remember him' 1Ie h%nted lots o" times be"ore,3
(alder =re& said' 1Bed deer and el$, and een boar'3
,is co%sin la%!hed at him' 1,e rode on a boar h%nt with his "ather, b%t the& neer let
him near the boar'3
Theon loo$ at the bo& do%bt"%ll&' 1+ome i" &o% li$e, b%t i" &o% cant $eep %p, dont
thin$ that Ill n%rse &o% alon!'3 ,e t%rned bac$ to Blac$ 7orren' 1(inter"ell is &o%rs in
m& absence' I" we do not ret%rn, do with it as &o% will'3 That blood& well o%!ht to hae
them pra&in! "or m& s%ccess'
The& assembled b& the ,%nters 8ate as the "irst pale ra&s o" the s%n br%shed the top
o" the Bell Tower, their breath "rostin! in the cold mornin! air' 8elmarr had e)%ipped
himsel" with a lon!a0e whose reach wo%ld allow him to stri$e be"ore the woles were
on him' The blade was hea& eno%!h to $ill with a sin!le blow' *!!ar wore steel
!reaes' Bee$ arried carr&in! a boar spear and an oerst%""ed washerwomans sac$
b%l!in! with !od $nows what' Theon had his bow: he needed nothin! else' /nce he had
saed Brans li"e with an arrow' ,e hoped he wo%ld not need to ta$e it with another, b%t
i" it came to that, he wo%ld'
5leen men, two bo&s, and a do?en do!s crossed the moat' Be&ond the o%ter wall, the
trac$s were plain to read in the so"t !ro%nd: the pawprints o" the woles, ,odors hea&
tread, the shallower mar$s le"t b& the "eet o" the two Beeds' /nce %nder the trees, the
ston& !ro%nd and "allen leaes made the trail harder to see, b%t b& then =arlens red bitch
had the scent' The rest o" the do!s were close behind, the ho%nds sni""in! and bar$in!, a
pair o" monstro%s masti""s brin!in! %p the rear' Their si?e and "erocit& mi!ht ma$e the
di""erence a!ainst a cornered direwol"'
,ed hae !%essed that /sha mi!ht r%n so%th to Ser Bodri$, b%t the trail led north b&
northwest, into the er& heart o" the wol"swood' Theon did not li$e that one bit' It wo%ld
be a bitter iron& i" the Star$s made "or #eepwood 2otte and deliered themseles ri!ht
into *shas hands' Id sooner hae them dead, he tho%!ht bitterl&' It is better to be seen
as cr%el than "oolish'
(isps o" pale mist threaded between the trees' Sentinels and soldier pines !rew thic$
abo%t here, and there was nothin! as dar$ and !loom& as an eer!reen "orest' The
!ro%nd was %neen, and the "allen needles dis!%ised the so"tness o" the t%r" and made
the "ootin! treachero%s "or the horses, so the& had to !o slowl&' Not as slowl& as a man
carr&in! a cripple, tho%!h, or a bon& harridan with a "o%r-&ear-old on her bac$' ,e told
himsel" to be patient' ,ed hae them be"ore the da& was o%t'
2aester 7%win trotted %p to him as the& were "ollowin! a !ame trail alon! the lip o" a
raine' 1Th%s "ar h%ntin! seems indistin!%ishable "rom ridin! thro%!h the woods, m&
lord'3
Theon smiled' 1There are similarities' B%t with h%ntin!, theres blood at the end'3
12%st it be so. This "li!ht was !reat "oll&, b%t will &o% not be merci"%l. These are &o%r
"oster brothers we see$'3
1No Star$ b%t Bobb was eer brotherl& toward me, b%t Bran and Bic$on hae more
al%e to me liin! than dead'3
1The same is tr%e o" the Beeds' 2oat +ailin sits on the ed!e o" the bo!s' 7ord
,owland can ma$e &o%r %ncles occ%pation a isit to hell i" he chooses, b%t so lon! as
&o% hold his heirs he m%st sta& his hand'3
Theon had not considered that' In tr%th, he had scarcel& considered the m%dmen at all,
be&ond e&ein! 2eera once or twice and wonderin! i" she was still a maiden' 1;o% ma&
be ri!ht' (e will spare them i" we can'3
1*nd ,odor too, I hope' The bo& is simple, &o% $now that' ,e does as he is told' ,ow
man& times has he !roomed &o%r horse, soaped &o%r saddle, sco%red &o%r mail.3
,odor was nothin! to him' 1i" he does not "i!ht %s, we will let him lie'3 Theon
pointed a "in!er' 1B%t sa& one word abo%t sparin! the wildlin!, and &o% can die with her'
She swore me an oath, and pissed on it'3
The maester inclined his head' 1I ma$e no apolo!ies "or oathbrea$ers' #o what &o%
m%st' I than$ &o% "or &o%r merc&'3
2erc&, tho%!ht Theon as 7%win dropped bac$' Theres a blood& trap' Too m%ch and
the& call &o% wea$, too little and &o%re monstro%s' ;et the maester had !ien him !ood
co%nsel, he $new' ,is "ather tho%!ht onl& in terms o" con)%est, b%t what !ood was it to
ta$e a $in!dom i" &o% co%ld not hold it. =orce and "ear co%ld carr& &o% onl& so "ar' *
pit& Ned Star$ had ta$en his da%!hters so%th: elsewise Theon co%ld hae ti!htened his
!rip on (inter"ell b& marr&in! one o" them' Sansa was a prett& little thin! too, and b&
now li$el& een ripe "or beddin!' B%t she was a tho%sand lea!%es awa&, in the cl%tches
o" the 7annisters' * shame'
The wood !rew eer wilder' The pines and sentinels !ae wa& to h%!e dar$ oa$s'
Tan!les o" hawthorn concealed treachero%s !%llies and c%ts' Ston& hills rose and "ell'
The& passed a cro"ters cotta!e, deserted and oer!own, and s$irted a "looded )%arr&
where the still water had a sheen as !re& as steel' (hen the do!s be!an to ba&, Theon
"i!%red the "%!ities were near at hand' ,e sp%rred Smiler and "ollowed at a trot, b%t
what he "o%nd was onl& the carcass o" a &o%n! el$ ' ' ' or what remained o" it'
,e dismo%nted "or a closer loo$' The $ill was still "resh, and plainl& the wor$ o"
woles' The do!s sni""ed ro%nd it ea!erl&, and one o" the masti""s b%ried his teeth in a
ha%nch %ntil =arlen sho%ted him o""' No part o" this animal has been b%tchered, Theon
reali?ed' The woles ate, b%t not the men' 5en i" /sha did not want to ris$ a "ire, she
o%!ht to hae c%t them a "ew stea$s' It made no sense to leae so m%ch !ood meat to rot'
1=arlen, are &o% certain were on the ri!ht trail.3 he demanded' 1+o%ld &o%r do!s be
chasin! the wron! woles.3
12& bitch $nows the smell o" S%mmer and Sha!!& well eno%!h'3
1I hope so' =or &o%r sa$e'3
7ess than an ho%r later, the trail led down a slope toward a m%dd& broo$ swollen b&
the recent rains' It was there the do!s lost the scent' =arlen and (e0 waded across with
the ho%nds and came bac$ sha$in! their heads while the animals ran!ed %p and down
the "ar ban$, sni""in!' 1The& went in here, mlord, b%t I cant see where the& come o%t,3
the $ennelmaster said'
Theon dismo%nted and $nelt beside the stream' ,e dipped a hand in it' The water was
cold' 1The& wont hae sta&ed lon! in this,3 he said' 1Ta$e hal" the do!s downstream,
Ill !o %pA3
(e0 clapped his hands to!ether lo%dl&'
1(hat is it.3 Theon said'
The m%te bo& pointed'
The !ro%nd near the water was sodden and m%dd&' The trac$s the woles had le"t were
plain eno%!h' 14awprints, &es' So.3
(e0 droe his heel into the m%d, and pioted his "oot this wa& and that' It le"t a deep
!o%!e'
Coseth %nderstood' 1* man the si?e o" ,odor o%!ht to hae le"t a deep print in this
m%d,3 he said' 12ore so with the wei!ht o" a bo& on his bac$' ;et the onl& boot prints
here are o%r own' See "or &o%rsel"'3
*ppalled, Theon saw it was tr%e' The woles had !one into the t%r!id brown water
alone' 1/sha m%st hae t%rned aside bac$ o" %s' Be"ore the el$, most li$el&' She sent the
woles on b& themseles, hopin! wed chase a"ter them'3 ,e ro%nded on his h%ntsmen'
1I" &o% two hae pla&ed me "alseA3
1Theres been onl& the one trail, m& lord, I swear it,3 said 8ariss de"ensiel&' 1*nd the
direwoles wo%ld neer hae parted "rom them bo&s' Not "or lon!'3
Thats so, Theon tho%!ht' S%mmer and Sha!!&do! mi!ht hae !one o"" to h%nt, b%t
soon or late the& wo%ld ret%rn to Bran and Bic$on' 18ariss, 2%rch, ta$e "o%r do!s and
do%ble bac$, "ind where we lost them' *!!ar, &o% watch them, Ill hae no tric$er&'
=arlen and I will "ollow the direwoles' 8ie a blast on the horn when &o% pic$ %p the
trail' Two blasts i" &o% catch si!ht o" the beasts themseles' /nce we "ind where the&
went, the&ll lead %s bac$ to their masters'3
,e too$ (e0, the =re& bo&, and 8&nir Bednose to search %pstream' ,e and (e0 rode
on one side o" the broo$, Bednose and (alder =re& on the other, each with a pair o"
ho%nds' The woles mi!ht hae come o%t on either ban$' Theon $ept an e&e o%t "or
trac$s, spoor, bro$en branches, an& hint as to where the direwoles mi!ht hae le"t the
water' ,e spied the prints o" deer, el$, and bad!er easil& eno%!h' (e0 s%rprised a i0en
drin$in! at the stream, and (alder "l%shed three rabbits "rom the %nderbr%sh and
mana!ed to p%t an arrow in one' The& saw the claw mar$s where a bear had shredded
the bar$ o" a tall birch' B%t o" the direwoles there was no si!n'
* little "arther, Theon told himsel"' 4ast that oa$, oer that rise, past the ne0t bend o"
the stream, well "ind somethin! there' ,e pressed on lon! a"ter he $new he sho%ld t%rn
bac$, a !rowin! sense o" an0iet& !nawin! at his bell&' It was midda& when he wrenched
Smilers head ro%nd in dis!%st and !ae %p'
Somehow /sha and the wretched bo&s were el%din! him' It sho%ld not hae been
possible, not on "oot, b%rdened with a cripple and a &o%n! child' 5er& passin! ho%r
increased the li$elihood that the& wo%ld ma$e !ood their escape' I" the& reach a illa!e '
' ' The people o" the north wo%ld neer den& Ned Star$s sons, Bobbs brothers' The&d
hae mo%nts to speed them on their wa&, "ood' 2en wo%ld "i!ht "or the honor o"
protectin! them' The whole blood& north wo%ld rall& aro%nd them'
The woles went downstream, thats all' ,e cl%n! to that tho%!ht' That red bitch will
sni"" where the& came o%t o" the water and well be a"ter them a!ain'
B%t when the& 9oined %p with =arlens part&, one loo$ at the $ennelmasters "ace
smashed all o" Theons hopes to shards' 1The onl& thin! those do!s are "lt "or is a bear
baitin!,3 he said an!ril&' 1(o%ld that I had a bear'3
1The do!s are not at "a%lt'3 =arlen $nelt between a masti"" and his precio%s red bitch, a
hand on each' 1B%nnin! water dont hold no scents, mlord'3
1The woles had to come o%t o" the stream somewhere'3
1No do%bt the& did' <pstream or down' (e $eep on, well "ind the place, b%t which
wa&.3
1I neer $new a wol" to r%n %p a streambed "or miles,3 said Bee$' 1* man mi!ht' I" he
$new he was bein! h%nted, he mi!ht' B%t a wol".3
;et Theon wondered' These beasts were not as other woles' I sho%ld hae s$inned the
c%rsed thin!s'
It was the same tale all oer a!ain when the& re9oined 8ariss, 2%rch, and *!!ar' The
h%ntsmen had retraced their steps hal"wa& to (inter"ell witho%t "indin! an& si!n o"
where the Star$s mi!ht hae parted compan& with the direwoles' =arlens ho%nds
seemed as "r%strated as their masters, sni""in! "orlornl& at trees and roc$s and snappin!
irritabl& at each other'
Theon dared not admit de"eat' 1(ell ret%rn to the broo$' Search a!ain' This time well
!o as "ar as we m%st'3
1(e wont "ind them,3 the =re& bo& said s%ddenl&' 1Not so lon! as the "ro!eaters are
with them' 2%dmen are snea$s, the& wont "i!ht li$e decent "ol$s, the& s$%l$ and %se
poison arrows, ;o% neer see them, b%t the& see &o%' Those who !o into the bo!s a"ter
them !et lost and neer come o%t' Their ho%ses moe, een the castles li$e 8re&water
(atch'3 ,e !lanced nero%sl& at !reener& that encircled them on all sides' 1The& mi!ht
be o%t there ri!ht now, listenin! to eer&thin! we sa&'3
=arlen la%!hed to show what he tho%!ht o" that notion' 12& do!s wo%ld smell
an&thin! in them b%shes' Be all oer them be"ore &o% co%ld brea$ wind, bo&'3
1=ro!eaters dont smell li$e men,3 =re& insisted' 1The& hae a bo!!& stin$, li$e "ro!s
and trees and sc%mm& water' 2oss !rows %nder their arms in place o" hair, and the& can
lie with nothin! to eat b%t m%d and breathe swamp water'3
Theon was abo%t to tell him what he o%!ht to do with his wet n%rses "able when
2aester 7%win spo$e %p' 1The histories sa& the cranno!men !rew close to the children
o" the "orest in the da&s when the !reenseers tried to brin! the hammer o" the waters
down %pon the Nec$' It ma& be that the& hae secret $nowled!e'3
S%ddenl& the wood seemed a deal dar$er than it had a moment be"ore, as i" a clo%d had
passed be"ore the s%n' It was one thin! to hae some "ool bo& spo%tin! "oll&, b%t
maesters were s%pposed to be wise' 1The onl& children that concern me are Bran and
Bic$on,3 Theon said' 1Bac$ to the stream' Now'3
=or a moment he did not thin$ the& were !oin! to obe&, b%t in the end old habit
asserted itsel"' The& "ollowed s%llenl&, b%t the& "ollowed' The =re& bo& was as 9%mp& as
those rabbits hed "l%shed earlier' Theon p%t men on either ban$ and "ollowed the
c%rrent' The& rode "or miles, !oin! slow and care"%l, dismo%ntin! to lead the horses
oer treachero%s !ro%nd, lettin! the !ood-"or-bear-bait ho%nds sni"" at eer& b%sh'
(here a "allen tree dammed the "low, the h%nters were "orced to loop aro%nd a deep
!reen pool, b%t i" the direwoles had done the same the&d le"t neither print nor spoor'
The beasts had ta$en to swimmin!, it seemed' (hen I catch them, the&ll hae all the
swimmin! the& can stomach' Ill !ie them both to the #rowned 8od'
(hen the woods be!an to dar$en, Theon 8re&9o& $new he was beaten' 5ither the
cranno!men did $now the ma!ic o" the children o" the "orest, or else /sha had deceied
them with some wildlin! tric$' ,e made them press on thro%!h the d%s$, b%t when the
last li!ht "aded Coseth "inall& wor$ed %p the co%ra!e to sa&, 1This is "r%itless, m& lord'
(e will lame a horse, brea$ a le!'3
1Coseth has the ri!ht o" it,3 said 2aester 7%win' 18ropin! thro%!h the woods b&
torchli!ht will aail %s nothin!'3
Theon co%ld taste bile at the bac$ o" his throat, and his stomach was a nest o" sna$es
twinin! and snappin! at each other' I" he crept bac$ to (inter"ell empt&-handed, he
mi!ht as well dress in motle& hence"orth and wear a pointed hat: the whole north wo%ld
$now him "or a "ool' *nd when m& "ather hears, and *sha ' ' '
12lord prince'3 Bee$ %r!ed his horse near' 12i!ht be them Star$s neer came this
wa&' I" I was them, I wo%ld hae !one north and east, ma&be' To the <mbers' 8ood
Star$ men, the& are' B%t their lands are a lon! wa&' The bo&s will shelter someplace
nearer' 2i!ht be I $now where'3
Theon loo$ed at him s%spicio%sl&' 1Tell me'3
1;o% $now that old mill, sittin! lonel& on the *corn (ater. (e stopped there when I
was bein! dra!!ed to (inter"ell a captie' The millers wi"e sold %s ha& "or o%r horses
while that old $ni!ht cl%c$ed oer her brats' 2i!ht be the Star$s are hidin! there'3
Theon $new the mill' ,e had een t%mbled the millers wi"e a time or two' There was
nothin! special abo%t it, or her' 1(h& there. There are a do?en illa!es and hold"asts
9%st as close'3
*m%sement shone in those pale e&es' 1(h&. Now thats past $nowin!' B%t the&re
there, I hae a "eelin!'3
,e was !rowin! sic$ o" the mans sl& answers' ,is lips loo$ li$e two worms "%c$in!'
1(hat are &o% sa&in!. I" &o%e $ept some $nowled!e "rom meA3
12lord prince.3 Bee$ dismo%nted, and bec$oned Theon to do the same' (hen the&
were both a"oot, he p%lled open the cloth sac$ hed "etched "rom (inter"ell' 1,ae a
loo$ here'3
It was !rowin! hard to see' Theon thr%st his hand into the sac$ impatientl&, !ropin!
amon!st so"t "%r and ro%!h scratch& wool' * sharp point pric$ed his s$in, and his "in!ers
closed aro%nd somethin! cold and hard' ,e drew o%t a wol"s-head brooch, siler and
9et' <nderstandin! came s%ddenl&' ,is hand closed into a "ist' 18elmarr,3 he said,
wonderin! whom he co%ld tr%st' None o" them' 1*!!ar' Bednose' (ith %s' The rest o"
&o% ma& ret%rn to (inter"ell with the ho%nds' Ill hae no "%rther need o" them' I $now
where Bran and Bic$on are hidin! now'3
14rince Theon,3 2aester 7%win entreated, 1&o% will remember &o%r promise. 2erc&,
&o% said'3
12erc& was "or this mornin!,3 said Theon' It is better to be "eared than la%!hed at'
1Be"ore the& made me an!r&'3
C#APT"R +$
-O'
The& co%ld see the "ire in the ni!ht, !limmerin! a!ainst the side o" the mo%ntain li$e a
"allen star' It b%rned redder than the other stars, and did not twin$le, tho%!h sometimes it
"lared %p bri!ht and sometimes dwindled down to no more than a distant spar$, d%ll and
"aint'
,al" a mile ahead and two tho%sand "eet %p, Con 9%d!ed, and per"ectl& placed to see
an&thin! moin! in the pass below'
1(atchers in the S$irlin! 4ass,3 wondered the oldest amon! them' In the sprin! o" his
&o%th, he had been s)%ire to a $in!, so the blac$ brothers still called him S)%ire
#albrid!e' 1(hat is it 2ance Ba&der "ears, I wonder.3
1I" he $new the&d lit a "ire, hed "la& the poor bastards,3 said 5bben, a s)%at bald man
m%scled li$e a ba! o" roc$s'
1=ire is li"e %p here,3 said Fhorin ,al"hand, 1b%t it can be death as well'3 B& his
command, the&d ris$ed no open "lames since enterin! the mo%ntains' The& ate cold salt
bee", hard bread, and harder cheese, and slept clothed and h%ddled beneath a pile o"
cloa$s and "%rs, !rate"%l "or each others warmth' It made Con remember cold ni!hts
lon! a!o at (inter"ell, when hed shared a bed with his brothers' These men were
brothers too, tho%!h the bed the& shared was stone and earth'
1The&ll hae a horn,3 said Stonesna$e'
The ,al"hand said, 1* horn the& m%st not blow'3
1Thats a lon! cr%el climb b& ni!ht,3 5bben said as he e&ed the distant spar$ thro%!h a
cle"t in the roc$s that sheltered them' The s$& was clo%dless, the 9a!!ed mo%ntains risin!
blac$ on blac$ %ntil the er& top, where their cold crowns o" snow and ice shone palel&
in the moonli!ht'
1*nd a lon!er "all,3 said Fhorin ,al"hand' 1Two men, I thin$' There are li$e to be two
%p there, sharin! the watch'3
12e'3 The ran!er the& called Stonesna$e had alread& shown that he was the best
climber amon! them' It wo%ld hae to be him'
1*nd me,3 said Con Snow'
Fhorin ,al"hand loo$ed at him' Con co%ld hear the wind $eenin! as it shiered thro%!h
the hi!h pass aboe them' /ne o" the !arrons whic$ered and pawed at the thin ston& soil
o" the hollow where the& had ta$en shelter' 1The wol" will remain with %s,3 Fhorin said'
1(hite "%r is seen too easil& b& moonli!ht'3 ,e t%rned to Stonesna$e' 1(hen its done,
throw down a b%rnin! brand' (ell come when we see it "all'3
1No better time to start than now,3 said Stonesna$e'
The& each too$ a lon! coil o" rope' Stonesna$e carried a ba! o" iron spi$es as well, and
a small hammer with its head wrapped in thic$ "elt' Their !arrons the& le"t behind, alon!
with their helms, mail, and 8host' Con $nelt and let the direwol" n%??le him be"ore the&
set o""' 1Sta&,3 he commanded' 1Ill be bac$ "or &o%'3
Stonesna$e too$ the lead' ,e was a short wir& man, near "i"t& and !re& o" beard b%t
stron!er than he seemed, and he had the best ni!ht e&es o" an&one Con had eer $nown'
,e needed them toni!ht' B& da& the mo%ntains were bl%e-!re&, br%shed with "rost, b%t
once the s%n anished behind the 9a!!ed pea$s the& t%rned blac$' Now the risin! moon
had linmed them in white and siler'
The blac$ brothers moed thro%!h blac$ shadows amidst blac$ roc$s, wor$in! their
wa& %p a steep, twistin! trail as their breath "rosted in the blac$ air' Con "elt almost
na$ed witho%t his mail, b%t he did not miss its wei!ht' This was hard !oin!, and slow' To
h%rr& here was to ris$ a bro$en an$le or worse' Stonesna$e seemed to $now where to
p%t his "eet as i" b& instinct, b%t Con needed to be more care"%l on the bro$en, %neen
!ro%nd'
The S$irlin! 4ass was reall& a series o" passes, a lon! twistin! co%rse that went %p
aro%nd a s%ccession o" ic& wind-cared pea$s and down thro%!h hidden alle&s that
seldom saw the s%n' *part "rom his companions, Con had !limpsed no liin! man since
the&d le"t the wood behind and be!%n to ma$e their wa& %pward' The =rost"an!s were
as cr%el as an& place the !ods had made, and as inimical to men' The wind c%t li$e a
$ni"e %p here, and shrilled in the ni!ht li$e a mother mo%rnin! her slain children' (hat
"ew trees the& saw were st%nted, !rotes)%e thin!s !rowin! sidewa&s o%t o" crac$s and
"iss%res' T%mbled sheles o" roc$ o"ten oerh%n! the trail, "rin!ed with han!in! icicles
that loo$ed li$e lon! white teeth "rom a distance'
;et een so, Con Snow was not sorr& he had come' There were wonders here as well'
,e had seen s%nli!ht "lashin! on ic& thin water"alls as the& pl%n!ed oer the lips o"
sheer stone cli""s, and a mo%ntain meadow "%ll o" a%t%mn wild"lowers, bl%e coldsnaps
and bri!ht scarlet "rost"ires and stands o" pipers !rass in r%sset and !old' ,e had peered
down raines so deep and blac$ the& seemed certain to end in some hell, and he had
ridden his !arron oer a wind-eaten brid!e o" nat%ral stone with nothin! b%t s$& to either
side' 5a!les nested in the hei!hts and came down to h%nt the alle&s, circlin!
e""ortlessl& on !reat bl%e-!re& win!s that seemed almost part o" the s$&' /nce he had
watched a shadowcat stal$ a ram, "lowin! down the mo%ntainside li$e li)%id smo$e %ntil
it was read& to po%nce'
Now it is o%r t%rn to po%nce' ,e wished he co%ld moe as s%re and silent as that
shadowcat, and $ill as )%ic$l&' 7on!claw was sheathed across his bac$, b%t he mi!ht not
hae room to %se it' ,e carried dir$ and da!!er "or closer wor$' The& will hae weapons
as well, and I am not armored' ,e wondered who wo%ld proe the shadowcat b& ni!hts
end, and who the ram'
=or a lon! wa& the& sta&ed to the trail, "ollowin! its twists and t%rns as it sna$ed alon!
the side o" the mo%ntain, %pward, eer %pward' Sometimes the mo%ntain "olded bac$ on
itsel" and the& lost si!ht o" the "ire, b%t soon or late it wo%ld alwa&s reappear' The path
Stonesna$e chose wo%ld neer hae sered "or the horses' In places Con had to p%t his
bac$ to the cold stone and sh%""le alon! sidewa&s li$e a crab, inch b& inch' 5en where
the trac$ widened it was treachero%s: there were crac$s bi! eno%!h to swallow a mans
le!, r%bble to st%mble oer, hollow places where the water pooled b& da& and "ro?e hard
b& ni!ht' /ne step and then another, Con told himsel"' /ne step and then another, and I
will not "all'
,e had not shaed since leain! the =ist o" the =irst 2en, and the hair on his lip was
soon sti"" with "rost' Two ho%rs into the climb, the wind $ic$ed %p so "iercel& that it was
all he co%ld do to h%nch down and clin! to the roc$, pra&in! he wo%ld not be blown o""
the mo%ntain' /ne step and then another, he res%med when the !ale s%bsided' /ne step
and then another, and I will not "all'
Soon the& were hi!h eno%!h so that loo$in! down was best not considered' There was
nothin! below b%t &awnin! blac$ness, nothin! aboe b%t moon and stars' 1The
mo%ntain is &o%r mother,3 Stonesna$e had told him d%rin! an easier climb a "ew da&s
past' 1+lin! to her, press &o%r "ace %p a!ainst her teats, and she wont drop &o%'3 Con
had made a 9o$e o" it, sa&in! how hed alwa&s wondered who his mother was, b%t neer
tho%!ht to "ind her in the =rost"an!s' It did not seem nearl& so am%sin! now' /ne step
and then another, he tho%!ht, clin!in! ti!ht'
The narrow trac$ ended abr%ptl& where a massie sho%lder o" blac$ !ranite thr%st o%t
"rom the side o" the mo%ntain' *"ter the bri!ht moonli!ht, its shadow was so blac$ that it
"elt li$e steppin! into a cae' 1Strai!ht %p here,3 the ran!er said in a )%iet oice' 1(e
want to !et aboe them'3 ,e peeled o"" his !loes, t%c$ed them thro%!h his belt, tied
one end o" his rope aro%nd his waist, the other end aro%nd Con' 1=ollow me when the
rope !rows ta%t'3 The ran!er did not wait "or an answer b%t started at once, moin!
%pward with "in!ers and "eet, "aster than Con wo%ld hae belieed' The lon! rope
%nwo%nd slowl&' Con watched him closel&, ma$in! note o" how he went, and where he
"o%nd each handhold, and when the last loop o" hemp %ncoiled, he too$ o"" his own
!loes and "ollowed, m%ch more slowl&'
Stonesna$e had passed the rope aro%nd the smooth spi$e o" roc$ he was waitin! on,
b%t as soon as Con reached him he shoo$ it loose and was o"" a!ain' This time there was
no conenient cle"t when he reached the end o" their tether, so he too$ o%t his "elt-
headed hammer and droe a spi$e deep into a crac$ in the stone with a series o" !entle
taps' So"t as the so%nds were, the& echoed o"" the stone so lo%dl& that Con winced with
eer& blow, certain that the wildlin!s m%st hear them too' (hen the spi$e was sec%re,
Stonesna$e sec%red the rope to it, and Con started a"ter him' S%c$ on the mo%ntains teat,
he reminded himsel"' #ont loo$ down' 6eep &o%r wei!ht aboe &o%r "eet' #ont loo$
down' 7oo$ at the roc$ in "ront o" &o%' Theres a !ood handhold, &es' #ont loo$ down'
I can catch a breath on that led!e there, all I need to do is reach it' Neer loo$ down'
/nce his "oot slipped as he p%t his wei!ht on it and his heart stopped in his chest, b%t
the !ods were !ood and he did not "all' ,e co%ld "eel the cold seepin! o"" the roc$ into
his "in!ers, b%t he dared not don his !loes: !loes wo%ld slip, no matter how ti!ht the&
seemed, cloth and "%r moin! between s$in and stone, and %p here that co%ld $ill him'
,is b%rned hand was sti""enin! %p on him, and soon it be!an to ache' Then he ripped
open his th%mbnail somehow, and a"ter that he le"t smears o" blood whereer he p%t his
hand' ,e hoped he still had all his "in!ers b& the end o" the climb'
<p the& went, and %p, and %p, blac$ shadows creepin! across the moonlit wall o" roc$'
*n&one down on the "loor o" the pass co%ld hae seen them easil&, b%t the mo%ntain hid
them "rom the iew o" the wildlin!s b& their "ire' The& were close now, tho%!h' Con
co%ld sense it' 5en so, he did not thin$ o" the "oes who were waitin! "or him, all
%n$nowin!, b%t o" his brother at (inter"ell' Bran %sed to loe to climb' I wish I had a
tenth part o" his co%ra!e'
The wall was bro$en two-thirds o" the wa& %p b& a croo$ed "iss%re o" ic& stone'
Stonesna$e reached down a hand to help him %p' ,e had donned his !loes a!ain, so Con
did the same' The ran!er moed his head to the le"t, and the two o" them crawled alon!
the shel" three h%ndred &ards or more, %ntil the& co%ld see the d%ll oran!e !low be&ond
the lip o" the cli""'
The wildlin!s had b%ilt their watch"ire in a shallow depression aboe the narrowest
part o" the pass, with a sheer drop below and roc$ behind to shelter them "rom the worst
o" the wind' That same windbrea$ allowed the blac$ brothers to crawl within a "ew "eet
o" them, creepin! alon! on their bellies %ntil the& were loo$in! down on the men the&
m%st $ill'
/ne was asleep, c%rled %p ti!ht and b%ried beneath a !reat mo%nd o" s$ins' Con co%ld
see nothin! o" him b%t his hair, bri!ht red in the "ireli!ht' The second sat close to the
"lames, "eedin! them twi!s and branches and complainin! o" the wind in a )%er%lo%s
tone' The third watched the pass, tho%!h thele was little to see, onl& a ast bowl o"
dar$ness rin!ed b& the snow& sho%lders o" the mo%ntains' It was the watcher who wore
the horn'
Three' =or a moment Con was %ncertain' There was onl& s%pposed to be two' /ne was
asleep, tho%!h' *nd whether there was two or three or twent&, he still m%st do what he
had come to do' Stonesna$e to%ched his arm, pointed at the wildlin! with the horn' Con
nodded toward the one b& the "ire' It "elt )%eer, pic$in! a man to $ill' ,al" the da&s o"
his li"e had been spent with sword and shield, trainin! "or this moment' #id Bobb "eel
this wa& be"ore his "irst battle. he wondered, b%t there was no time to ponder the
)%estion' Stonesna$e moed as "ast as his namesa$e, leapin! down on the wildlin!s in a
rain o" pebbles' Con slid 7on!claw "rom its sheath and "ollowed'
It all seemed to happen in a heartbeat' *"terward Con co%ld admire the co%ra!e o" the
wildlin! who reached "irst "or his horn instead o" his blade' ,e !ot it to his lips, b%t
be"ore he co%ld so%nd it Stonesna$e $noc$ed the horn aside with a swipe o" his
shortsword' Cons man leapt to his "eet, thr%stin! at his "ace with a b%rnin! brand' ,e
co%ld "eel the heat o" the "lames as he "linched bac$' /%t o" the corner o" his e&e, he saw
the sleeper stirrin!, and $new he m%st "inish his man )%ic$' (hen the brand sw%n!
a!ain, he b%lled into it, swin!in! the bastard sword with both hands' The >al&rian steel
sheared thro%!h leather, "%r, wool, and "lesh, b%t when the wildlin! "ell he twisted,
rippin! the sword "rom Cons !rasp' /n the !ro%nd the sleeper sat %p beneath his "%rs'
Con slid his dir$ "ree, !rabbin! the man b& the hair and 9ammin! the point o" the $ni"e %p
%nder his chin as he reached "or hisAno, herA
,is hand "ro?e' 1* !irl'3
1* watcher,3 said Stonesna$e' 1* wildlin!' =inish her'3
Con co%ld see "ear and "ire in her e&es' Blood ran down her white throat "rom where
the point o" his dir$ had pric$ed her' /ne thr%st and its done, he told himsel"' ,e was so
close he co%ld smell onion on her breath' She is no older than I am' Somethin! abo%t her
made him thin$ o" *r&a, tho%!h the& loo$ed nothin! at all ali$e' 1(ill &o% &ield.3 he
as$ed, !iin! the dir$ a hal" t%rn' *nd i" she doesnt.
1I &ield'3 ,er words steamed in the cold air'
1;o%re o%r captie, then'3 ,e p%lled the dir$ awa& "rom the so"t s$in o" her throat'
1Fhorin said nothin! o" ta$in! capties,3 said Stonesna$e'
1,e neer said not to'3 Con let !o his !rip on the !irls hair, and she sc%ttled bac$ward,
awa& "rom them'
1Shes a spearwi"e'3 Stonesna$e !est%red at the lon!-ha"ted a0e that la& beside her
sleepin! "%rs' 1She was reachin! "or that when &o% !rabbed her' 8ie her hal" a chance
and shell b%r& it between &o%r e&es'3
1I wont !ie her hal" a chance'3 Con $ic$ed the a0e well o%t o" the !irls reach' 1#o
&o% hae a name.3
1;!ritte'3 ,er hand r%bbed at her throat and came awa& blood&' She stared at the
wetness'
Sheathin! his dir$, he wrenched 7on!claw "ree "rom the bod& o" the man hed $illed'
1;o% are m& captie, ;!ritte'3
1I !ae &o% m& name'3
1Im Con Snow'3
She "linched' 1*n eil name'3
1* bastard name,3 he said' 12& "ather was 7ord 5ddard Star$ o" (inter"ell'3
The !irl watched him waril&, b%t Stonesna$e !ae a mordant ch%c$le' 1Its the captie
s%pposed to tell thin!s, remember.3 The ran!er thr%st a lon! branch into the "ire' 1Not
that she will' Ie $nown wildlin!s to bite o"" their own ton!%es be"ore the&d answer a
)%estion'3 (hen the end o" the branch was bla?in! merril&, he too$ two steps and "l%n!
it o%t oer the pass' It "ell thro%!h the ni!ht spinnin! %ntil it was lost to si!ht'
1;o% o%!ht to b%rn them &o% $illed,3 said ;!ritte'
1Need a bi!!er "ire "or that, and bi! "ires b%rn bri!ht'3 Stonesna$e t%rned, his e&es
scannin! the blac$ distance "or an& spar$ o" li!ht' 1*re there more wildlin!s close b&, is
that it.3
1B%rn them,3 the !irl repeated st%bbornl&, 1or it mi!ht be &o%ll need them swords
a!ain'3
Con remembered dead /thor and his cold blac$ hands' 12a&be we sho%ld do as she
sa&s'3
1There are other wa&s'3 Stonesna$e $nelt beside the man hed slain, stripped him o"
cloa$ and boots and belt and est, then hoisted the bod& oer one thin sho%lder and
carried it to the ed!e' ,e !r%nted as he tossed it oer' * moment later the& heard a wet,
hea& smac$ well below them' B& then the ran!er had the second bod& down to the s$in
and was dra!!in! it b& the arms' Con too$ the "eet and to!ether the& "l%n! the dead man
o%t in the blac$ness o" the ni!ht'
;!ritte watched and said nothin!' She was older than hed tho%!ht at "irst, Con
reali?ed: ma&be as old as twent&, b%t short "or her a!e, band&le!!ed, with a ro%nd "ace,
small hands, and a p%! nose' ,er sha!!& mop o" red hair st%c$ o%t in all directions' She
loo$ed pl%mp as she cro%ched there, b%t most o" that was la&ers o" "%r and wool and
leather' <nderneath all that she co%ld be as s$inn& as *r&a'
1(ere &o% sent to watch "or %s.3 Con as$ed her'
1;o%, and others'3
Stonesna$e warmed his hands oer the "ire' 1(hat waits be&ond the pass.3
1The "ree "ol$'3
1,ow man&.3
1,%ndreds and tho%sands' 2ore than &o% eer saw, crow'3 She smiled' ,er teeth were
croo$ed, b%t er& white'
She doesnt $now how man&' 1(h& come here.3
;!ritte "ell silent'
1(hats in the =rost"an!s that &o%r $in! co%ld want. ;o% cant sta& here, theres no
"ood'3
She t%rned her "ace awa& "rom him'
1#o &o% mean to march on the (all. (hen.3
She stared at the "lames as i" she co%ld not hear him'
1#o &o% $now an&thin! o" m& %ncle, Ben9en Star$.3
;!ritte i!nored him' Stonesna$e la%!hed' 1i" she spits o%t her ton!%e, dont sa& I
didnt warn &o%'3
* low r%mblin! !rowl echoed o"" the roc$' Shadowcat, Con $new at once' *s he rose
he heard another, closer at hand' ,e p%lled his sword and t%rned, listenin!'
1The& wont tro%ble %s,3 ;!ritte said' 1Its the dead the&e come "or' +ats can smell
blood si0 miles o""' The&ll sta& near the bodies till the&e eaten eer& last strin!&
shred o meat, and crac$ed the bones "or the marrow'3
Con co%ld hear the so%nds o" their "eedin! echoin! o"" the roc$s' It !ae him an %neas&
"eelin!' The warmth o" the "ire made him reali?e how bone-tired he was, b%t he dared
not sleep' ,e had ta$en a captie, and it was on him to !%ard her' 1(ere the& &o%r $in.3
he as$ed her )%ietl&' 1The two we $illed.3
1No more than &o% are'3
12e.3 ,e "rowned' 1(hat do &o% mean.3
1;o% said &o% were the Bastard o (inter"ell'3
1I am'3
1(ho was &o%r mother.3
1Some woman' 2ost o" them are'3 Someone had said that to him once' ,e did not
remember who'
She smiled a!ain, a "lash o" white teeth' 1*nd she neer s%n! &o% the son! o the
winter rose.3
1I neer $new m& mother' /r an& s%ch son!'3
1Bael the Bard made it,3 said ;!ritte' 1,e was 6in!-be&ond-theA(all a lon! time
bac$' *ll the "ree "ol$ $now his son!s, b%t mi!ht be &o% dont sin! them in the so%th'3
1(inter"ells not in the so%th,3 Con ob9ected'
1;es it is' 5er&thin! below the (alls so%th to %s'3
,e had neer tho%!ht o" it that wa&' 1I s%ppose its all in where &o%re standin!'3
1*&e,3 ;!ritte a!reed' 1It alwa&s is'3
1Tell me,3 Con %r!ed her' It wo%ld be ho%rs be"ore Fhorin came %p, and a stor& wo%ld
help $eep him awa$e' 1I want to hear this tale o" &o%rs'3
12i!ht be &o% wont li$e it m%ch'3
1Ill hear it all the same'3
1Brae blac$ crow,3 she moc$ed' 1(ell, lon! be"ore he was $in! oer the "ree "ol$,
Bael was a !reat raider'3
Stonesna$e !ae a snort' 1* m%rderer, robber, and raper, is what &o% mean'3
1Thats all in where &o%re standin! too,3 ;!ritte said' 1The Star$ in (inter"ell wanted
Baels head, b%t neer co%ld ta$e him, and the taste o "ail%re !alled him' /ne da& in his
bitterness he called Bael a craen who pre&ed onl& on the wea$' (hen word o that !ot
bac$, Bael owed to teach the lord a lesson' So he scaled the (all, s$ipped down the
$in!sroad, and wal$ed into (inter"ell one winters ni!ht with harp in hand, namin!
himsel" S&!erri$ o" S$a!os' S&!erri$ means Ddeceier in the /ld Ton!%e, that the =irst
2en spo$e, and the !iants still spea$'
1North or so%th, sin!ers alwa&s "ind a read& welcome, so Bael ate at 7ord Star$s own
table, and pla&ed "or the lord in his hi!h seat %ntil hal" the ni!ht was !one' The old son!s
he pla&ed, and new ones hed made himsel", and he pla&ed and san! so well that when
he was done, the lord o""ered to let him name his own reward' D*ll I as$ is a "lowerJ
Bael answered, Dthe "airest "lower that blooms in the !ardens o (inter"ell'
1Now as it happened the winter roses had onl& then come into bloom, and no "lower is
so rare nor precio%s' So the Star$ sent to his !lass !ardens and commanded that the most
bea%ti"%l o the winter roses be pl%c$ed "or the sin!ers pa&ment' *nd so it was done'
B%t when mornin! come, the sin!er had anished ' ' ' and so had 7ord Brandons maiden
da%!hter' ,er bed the& "o%nd empt&, b%t "or the pale bl%e rose that Bael had le"t on the
pillow where her head had lain'3
Con had neer heard this tale be"ore' 1(hich Brandon was this s%pposed to be.
Brandon the B%ilder lied in the *!e o" ,eroes, tho%sands o" &ears be"ore Bael' There
was Brandon the B%rner and his "ather Brandon the Shipwri!ht, b%tA3
1This was Brandon the #a%!hterless,3 ;!ritte said sharpl&' 1(o%ld &o% hear the tale,
or no.3
,e scowled' 18o on'3
17ord Brandon had no other children' *t his behest, the blac$ crows "lew "orth "rom
their castles in the h%ndreds, b%t nowhere co%ld the& "ind an& si!n o Bael or this maid'
=or most a &ear the& searched, till the lord lost heart and too$ to his bed, and it seemed
as tho%!h the line o Star$s was at its end' B%t one ni!ht as he la& waitin! to die, 7ord
Brandon heard a childs cr&' ,e "ollowed the so%nd and "o%nd his da%!hter bac$ in her
bedchamber, asleep with a babe at her breast'3
1Bael had bro%!ht her bac$.3
1No' The& had been in (inter"ell all the time, hidin! with the dead beneath the castle'
The maid loed Bael so dearl& she bore him a son, the son! sa&s ' ' ' tho%!h i" tr%th be
told, all the maids loe Bael in them son!s he wrote' Be that as it ma&, whats certain is
that Bael le"t the child in pa&ment "or the rose hed pl%c$ed %nas$ed, and that the bo&
!rew to be the ne0t 7ord Star$' So there it isA&o% hae Baels blood in &o%, same as
me'3
1It neer happened,3 Con said'
She shr%!!ed' 12i!ht be it did, mi!ht be it didnt' It is a !ood son!, tho%!h' 2&
mother %sed to sin! it to me' She was a woman too, Con Snow' 7i$e &o%rs'3 She r%bbed
her throat where his dir$ had c%t her' 1The son! ends when the& "ind the babe, b%t there
is a dar$er end to the stor&' Thirt& &ears later, when Bael was 6in!-be&ond-the-(all and
led the "ree "ol$ so%th, it was &o%n! 7ord Star$ who met him at the =ro?en =ord ' ' ' and
$illed him, "or Bael wo%ld not harm his own son when the& met sword to sword'3
1So the son slew the "ather instead,3 said Con'
1*&e,3 she said, 1b%t the !ods hate $insla&ers, een when the& $ill %n$nowin!' (hen
7ord Star$ ret%rned "rom the battle and his mother saw Baels head %pon his spear, she
threw hersel" "rom a tower in her !rie"' ,er son did not lon! o%tlie her' /ne o his lords
peeled the s$in o"" him and wore him "or a cloa$'3
1;o%r Bael was a liar,3 he told her, certain now'
1No,3 ;!ritte said, 1b%t a bards tr%th is di""erent than &o%rs or mine' *n&wa&, &o%
as$ed "or the stor&, so I told it'3 She t%rned awa& "rom him, closed her e&es, and seemed
to sleep'
#awn and Fhorin ,al"hand arried to!ether' The blac$ stones had t%rned to !re& and
the eastern s$& had !one indi!o when Stonesna$e spied the ran!ers below, wendin! their
wa& %pward' Con wo$e his captie and held her b& the arm as the& descended to meet
them' Than$"%ll&, there was another wa& o"" the mo%ntain to the north and west, alon!
paths m%ch !entler than the one that had bro%!ht them %p here' The& were waitin! in a
narrow de"ile when their brothers appeared, leadin! their !arrons' 8host raced ahead at
"irst scent o" them' Con s)%atted to let the direwol" close his 9aws aro%nd his wrist,
t%!!in! his hand bac$ and "orth' It was a !ame the& pla&ed' B%t when he !lanced %p, he
saw ;!ritte watchin! with e&es as wide and white as hens e!!s'
Fhorin ,al"hand made no comment when he saw the prisoner' 1There were three,3
Stonesna$e told him' No more than that'
1(e passed two,3 5bben said, 1or what the cats had le"t o" them'3 ,e e&ed the !irl
so%rl&, s%spicion plain on his "ace'
1She &ielded,3 Con "elt compelled to sa&'
Fhorins "ace was impassie' 1#o &o% $now who I am.3
1Fhorin ,al"hand'3 The !irl loo$ed hal" a child beside him, b%t she "aced him boldl&'
1Tell me tr%e' I" I "ell into the hands o" &o%r people and &ielded m&sel", what wo%ld it
win me.3
1* slower death than elsewise'3
The bi! ran!er loo$ed to Con' 1(e hae no "ood to "eed her, nor can we spare a man to
watch her'3
1The wa& be"ore %s is perilo%s eno%!h, lad,3 said S)%ire #albrid!e' 1/ne sho%t when
we need silence, and eer& man o" %s is doomed'3
5bben drew his da!!er' 1* steel $iss will $eep her )%iet'3
Cons throat was raw' ,e loo$ed at them all helplessl&' 1She &ielded hersel" to me'3
1Then &o% m%st do what needs be done,3 Fhorin ,al"hand said' 1;o% are the blood o"
(inter"ell and a man o" the Ni!hts (atch'3 ,e loo$ed at the others' 1+ome, brothers'
7eae him to it' It will !o easier "or him i" we do not watch'3 *nd he led them %p the
steep twistin! trail toward the pale pin$ !low o" the s%n where it bro$e thro%!h a
mo%ntain cle"t, and be"ore er& lon! onl& Con and 8host remained with the wildlin! !irl'
,e tho%!ht ;!ritte mi!ht tr& to r%n, b%t she onl& stood there, waitin!, loo$in! at him'
1;o% neer $illed a woman be"ore, did &o%.3 (hen he shoo$ his head, she said, 1(e die
the same as men' B%t &o% dont need to do it' 2ance wo%ld ta$e &o%, I $now he wo%ld'
Theres secret wa&s' Them crows wo%ld neer catch %s'3
1Im as m%ch a crow as the& are,3 Con said'
She nodded, resi!ned' 1(ill &o% b%rn me, a"ter.3
1I cant' The smo$e mi!ht be seen'3
1Thats so'3 She shr%!!ed' 1(ell, theres worse places to end %p than the bell& o" a
shadowcat'3
,e p%lled 7on!claw oer a sho%lder' 1*rent &o% a"raid.3
17ast ni!ht I was,3 she admitted' 1B%t now the s%ns %p'3 She p%shed her hair aside to
bare her nec$, and $nelt be"ore him' 1Stri$e hard and tr%e, crow, or Ill come bac$ and
ha%nt &o%'3
7on!claw was not so lon! or hea& a sword as his "athers Ice, b%t it was >al&rian steel
all the same' ,e to%ched the ed!e o" the blade to mar$ where the blow m%st "all, and
;!ritte shiered' 1Thats cold,3 she said' 18o on, be )%ic$ abo%t it'3
,e raised 7on!claw oer his head, both hands ti!ht aro%nd the !rip' /ne c%t, with all
m& wei!ht behind it' ,e co%ld !ie her a )%ic$ clean death, at least' ,e was his "athers
son' (asnt he. (asnt he.
1#o it,3 she %r!ed him a"ter a moment' 1Bastard' #o it' I cant sta& brae "oreer'3
(hen the blow did not "all she t%rned her head to loo$ at him'
Con lowered his sword' 18o,3 he m%ttered'
;!ritte stared'
1Now,3 he said, 1be"ore m& wits ret%rn' 8o'3
She went'
C#APT"R +&
SA'SA
The so%thern s$& was blac$ with smo$e' It rose swirlin! o"" a h%ndred distant "ires, its
soot& "in!ers sm%d!in! o%t the stars' *cross the Blac$water B%sh, a line o" "lame b%rned
ni!htl& "rom hori?on to hori?on, while on this side the Imp had "ired the whole
rier"ront: doc$s and wareho%ses, homes and brothels, eer&thin! o%tside the cit& walls'
5en in the Bed 6eep, the air tasted o" ashes' (hen Sansa "o%nd Ser #ontos in the
)%iet o" the !odswood, he as$ed i" shed been cr&in!' 1Its onl& "rom the smo$e,3 she
lied' 1It loo$s as tho%!h hal" the $in!swood is b%rnin!'3
17ord Stannis wants to smo$e o%t the Imps saa!es'3 #ontos swa&ed as he spo$e, one
hand on the tr%n$ o" a chestn%t tree' * wine stain discolored the red-and-&ellow motle&
o" his t%nic' 1The& $ill his sco%ts and raid his ba!!a!e train' *nd the wildlin!s hae
been li!htin! "ires too' The Imp told the )%een that Stannis had better train his horses to
eat ash, since he wo%ld "ind no blade o" !rass' I heard him sa& so' I hear all sorts o"
thin!s as a "ool that I neer heard when I was a $ni!ht' The& tal$ as tho%!h I am not
there, andAhe leaned close, breathin! his wine& breath ri!ht in her "aceA3the Spider
pa&s in !old "or an& little tri"le' I thin$ 2oon Bo& has been his "or &ears'3
,e is dr%n$ a!ain' 2& poor =lorian he names himsel", and so he is' B%t he is all I hae'
1Is it tr%e 7ord Stannis b%rned the !odswood at Storms 5nd.3
#ontos nodded' 1,e made a !reat p&re o" the trees as an o""erin! to his new !od' The
red priestess made him do it' The& sa& she r%les him now, bod& and so%l' ,es owed to
b%rn the 8reat Sept o" Baelor too, i" he ta$es the cit&'3
17et him'3 (hen Sansa had "irst beheld the 8reat Sept with its marble walls and seen
cr&stal towers, shed tho%!ht it was the most bea%ti"%l b%ildin! in the world, b%t that had
been be"ore Co""re& beheaded her "ather on its steps' 1I want it b%rned'3
1,%sh, child, the !ods will hear &o%'3
1(h& sho%ld the&. The& neer hear m& pra&ers'3
1;es the& do' The& sent me to &o%, didnt the&.3
Sansa pic$ed at the bar$ o" a tree' She "elt li!ht-headed, almost "eerish' 1The& sent
&o%, b%t what !ood hae &o% done. ;o% promised &o% wo%ld ta$e me home, b%t Im
still here'3
#ontos patted her arm' 1Ie spo$en to a certain man I $now, a !ood "riend to me ' ' '
and &o%, m& lad&' ,e will hire a swi"t ship to ta$e %s to sa"et&, when the time is ri!ht'3
1The time is ri!ht now,3 Sansa insisted, 1be"ore the "i!htin! starts' The&e "or!otten
abo%t me' I $now we co%ld slip awa& i" we tried'3
1+hild, child'3 #ontos shoo$ his head' 1/%t o" the castle, &es, we co%ld do that, b%t the
cit& !ates are more heail& !%arded than eer, and the Imp has een closed o"" the rier'3
It was tr%e' The Blac$water B%sh was as empt& as Sansa had eer seen it' *ll the
"erries had been withdrawn to the north ban$, and the tradin! !alle&s had "led or been
sei?ed b& the Imp to be made oer "or battle' The onl& ships to be seen were the $in!s
war !alle&s' The& rowed endlessl& %p and down, sta&in! to the deep water in the middle
o" the rier and e0chan!in! "li!hts o" arrows with Stanniss archers on the so%th shore'
7ord Stannis himsel" was still on the march, b%t his an!%ard had appeared two ni!hts
a!o d%rin! the blac$ o" the moon' 6in!s 7andin! had wo$en to the si!ht o" their tents
and banners' The& were "ie tho%sand, Sansa had heard, near as man& as all the !old
cloa$s in the cit&' The& "lew the red or !reen apples o" ,o%se =ossowa&, the t%rtle o"
5stermont, and the "o0-and-"lowers o" =lorent, and their commander was Ser 8%&ard
2orri!en, a "amo%s so%thron $ni!ht who men now called 8%&ard the 8reen' ,is
standard showed a crow in "li!ht, its blac$ win!s spread wide a!ainst a storm-!reen s$&'
B%t it was the pale &ellow banners that worried the cit&' 7on! ra!!ed tails streamed
behind them li$e "lic$erin! "lames, and in place o" a lords si!il the& bore the deice o" a
!od: the b%rnin! heart o" the 7ord o" 7i!ht'
1(hen Stannis comes, hell hae ten times as man& men as Co""re& does, eer&one
sa&s so'3
#ontos s)%ee?ed her sho%lder' 1The si?e o" his host does not matter, sweetlin!, so lon!
as the& are on the wron! side o" the rier' Stannis cannot cross witho%t ships'3
1,e has ships' 2ore than Co""re&'3
1Its a lon! sail "rom Storms 5nd, the "leet will need to come %p 2asse&s ,oo$ and
thro%!h the 8%llet and across Blac$water Ba&' 4erhaps the !ood !ods will send a storm
to sweep them "rom the seas'3 #ontos !ae a hope"%l smile' 1It is not eas& "or &o%, I
$now' ;o% m%st be patient, child' (hen m& "riend ret%rns to the cit&, we shall hae o%r
ship' ,ae "aith in &o%r =lorian, and tr& not to be a"raid'3
Sansa d%! her nails into her hand' She co%ld "eel the "ear in her t%mm&, twistin! and
pinchin!, worse eer& da&' Ni!htmares o" the da& 4rincess 2&rcella had sailed still
tro%bled her sleep: dar$ s%""ocatin! dreams that wo$e her in the blac$ o" ni!ht,
str%!!lin! "or breath' She co%ld hear the people screamin! at her, screamin! witho%t
words, li$e animals' The& had hemmed her in and thrown "ilth at her and tried to p%ll
her o"" her horse, and wo%ld hae done worse i" the ,o%nd had not c%t his wa& to her
side' The& had torn the ,i!h Septon to pieces and smashed in Ser *rons head with a
roc$' Tr& not to be a"raid@ he said'
The whole cit& was a"raid' Sansa co%ld see it "rom the castle walls' The small"ol$ were
hidin! themseles behind closed sh%tters and barred doors as i" that wo%ld $eep them
sa"e' The last time 6in!s 7andin! had "allen, the 7annisters looted and raped as the&
pleased and p%t h%ndreds to the sword, een tho%!h the cit& had opened its !ates' This
time the Imp meant to "i!ht, and a cit& that "o%!ht co%ld e0pect no merc& at all'
#ontos was prattlin! on' 1I" I were still a $ni!ht, I sho%ld hae to p%t on armor and
man the walls with the rest' I o%!ht to $iss 6in! Co""re&s "eet and than$ him sweetl&'3
1I" &o% than$ed him "or ma$in! &o% a "ool, hed ma$e &o% a $ni!ht a!ain,3 Sansa said
sharpl&'
#ontos ch%c$led' 12& Con)%ils a cleer !irl, isnt she.3
1Co""re& and his mother sa& Im st%pid'3
17et them' ;o%re sa"er that wa&, sweetlin!' F%een +ersei and the Imp and 7ord >ar&s
and their li$e, the& all watch each other $een as haw$s, and pa& this one and that one to
sp& o%t what the others are doin!, b%t no one eer tro%bles themseles abo%t 7ad&
Tandas da%!hter, do the&.3 #ontos coered his mo%th to sti"le a b%rp' 18ods presere
&o%, m& little Con)%il'3 ,e was !rowin! weep&' The wine did that to him' 18ie &o%r
=lorian a little $iss now' * $iss "or l%c$'3 ,e swa&ed toward her'
Sansa dod!ed the wet !ropin! lips, $issed him li!htl& on an %nshaen chee$, and bid
him !ood ni!ht' It too$ all her stren!th not to weep' She had been weepin! too m%ch o"
late' It was %nseeml&, she $new, b%t she co%ld not seem to help hersel": the tears wo%ld
come, sometimes oer a tri"le, and nothin! she did co%ld hold them bac$'
The drawbrid!e to 2ae!ors ,old"ast was %n!%arded' The imp had moed most o" the
!old cloa$s to the cit& walls, and the white $ni!hts o" the 6in!s!%ard had d%ties more
important than do!!in! her heels' Sansa co%ld !o where she wo%ld so lon! as she did
not tr& to leae the castle, b%t there was nowhere she wanted to !o'
She crossed oer the dr& moat with its cr%el iron spi$es and made her wa& %p the
narrow t%rnpi$e stair, b%t when she reached the door o" her bedchamber she co%ld not
bear to enter' The er& walls o" the room made her "eel trapped: een with the window
opened wide it "elt as tho%!h there were no air to breathe'
T%rnin! bac$ to the stair, Sansa climbed' The smo$e blotted o%t the stars and the thin
crescent o" moon, so the roo" was dar$ and thic$ with shadows' ;et "rom here she co%ld
see eer&thin!: the Bed 6eeps tall towers and !reat corner"orts, the ma?e o" cit& streets
be&ond, to so%th and west the rier r%nnin! blac$, the ba& to the east, the col%mns o"
smo$e and cinders, and "ires, "ires eer&where' Soldiers crawled oer the cit& walls li$e
ants with torches, and crowded the hoardin!s that had spro%ted "rom the ramparts' #own
b& the 2%d 8ate, o%tlined a!ainst the dri"tin! smo$e, she co%ld ma$e o%t the a!%e
shape o" the three h%!e catap%lts, the bi!!est an&one had eer seen, oertoppin! the
walls b& a !ood twent& "eet' ;et none o" it made her "eel less "ear"%l' * stab went
thro%!h her, so sharp that Sansa sobbed and cl%tched at her bell&' She mi!ht hae "allen,
b%t a shadow moed s%ddenl&, and stron! "in!ers !rabbed her arm and steadied her'
She !rabbed a merlon "or s%pport, her "in!ers scrabblin! at the ro%!h stone' 17et !o o"
me,3 she cried' 17et !o'3
1The little bird thin$s she has win!s, does she. /r do &o% mean to end %p crippled li$e
that brother o" &o%rs.3
Sansa twisted in his !rasp' 1I wasnt !oin! to "all' It was onl& ' ' ' &o% startled me,
thats all'3
1;o% mean I scared &o%' *nd still do'3
She too$ a deep breath to calm hersel"' 1I tho%!ht I was alone, I She !lanced awa&'
1The little bird still cant bear to loo$ at me, can she.3 The ,o%nd released her' 1;o%
were !lad eno%!h to see m& "ace when the mob had &o%, tho%!h' Bemember.3
Sansa remembered all too well' She remembered the wa& the& had howled, the "eel o"
the blood r%nnin! down her chee$ "rom where the stone had str%c$ her, and the !arlic
stin$ on the breath o" the man who had tried to p%ll her "rom her horse' She co%ld still
"eel the cr%el pinch o" "in!ers on her wrist as she lost her balance and be!an to "all'
Shed tho%!ht she was !oin! to die then, b%t the "in!ers had twitched, all "ie at once,
and the man had shrie$ed lo%d as a horse' (hen his hand "ell awa&, another hand,
stron!er, shoed her bac$ into her saddle' The man with the !arlic$& breath was on the
!ro%nd, blood p%mpin! o%t the st%mp o" his arm, b%t there were others all aro%nd, some
with cl%bs in hand' The ,o%nd leapt at them, his sword a bl%r o" steel that trailed a red
mist as it sw%n!' (hen the& bro$e and ran be"ore him he had la%!hed, his terrible
b%rned "ace "or a moment trans"ormed'
She made hersel" loo$ at that "ace now, reall& loo$' It was onl& co%rteo%s, and a lad&
m%st neer "or!et her co%rtesies' The scars are not the worst part, nor een the wa& his
mo%th twitches' Its his e&es' She had neer seen e&es so "%ll o" an!er' 1I ' ' ' I sho%ld
hae come to &o% a"ter,3 she said haltin!l&' 1To than$ &o%, "or ' ' ' "or sain! me ' ' ' &o%
were so brae'3
1Brae.3 ,is la%!h was hal" a snarl' 1* do! doesnt need co%ra!e to chase o"" rats'
The& had me thirt& to one, and not a man o" them dared "ace me'3
She hated the wa& he tal$ed, alwa&s so harsh and an!r&' 1#oes it !ie &o% 9o& to scare
people.3
1No, it !ies me 9o& to $ill people'3 ,is mo%th twitched' 1(rin$le %p &o%r "ace all &o%
li$e, b%t spare me this "alse piet&' ;o% were a hi!h lords !et' #ont tell me 7ord 5ddard
Star$ o" (inter"ell neer $illed a man'3
1That was his d%t&' ,e neer li$ed it'3
1Is that what he told &o%.3 +le!ane la%!hed a!ain' 1;o%r "ather lied' 6illin! is the
sweetest thin! there is'3 ,e drew his lon!sword' 1,eres &o%r tr%th' ;o%r precio%s "ather
"o%nd that o%t on Baelors steps' 7ord o" (inter"ell, ,and o" the 6in!, (arden o" the
North, the mi!ht& 5ddard Star$, o" a line ei!ht tho%sand &ears old ' ' ' b%t Il&n 4a&nes
blade went thro%!h his nec$ all the same, didnt it. #o &o% remember the dance he did
when his head came o"" his sho%lders.3
Sansa h%!!ed hersel", s%ddenl& cold' 1(h& are &o% alwa&s so hate"%l. I was than$in!
&o% ' ' '3
1C%st as i" I was one o" those tr%e $ni!hts &o% loe so well, &es' (hat do &o% thin$ a
$ni!ht is "or, !irl. ;o% thin$ its all ta$in! "aors "rom ladies and loo$in! "ine in !old
plate. 6ni!hts are "or $illin!'3 ,e laid the ed!e o" his lon!sword a!ainst her nec$, 9%st
%nder her ear' Sansa co%ld "eel the sharpness o" the steel' 1I $illed m& "irst man at
twele' Ie lost co%nt o" how man& Ie $illed since then' ,i!h lords with old names,
"at rich men dressed in elet, $ni!hts p%""ed %p li$e bladders with their honors, &es, and
women and children tooAthe&re all meat, and Im the b%tcher' 7et them hae their
lands and their !ods and their !old' 7et them hae their sers'3 Sandor +le!ane spat at her
"eet to show what he tho%!ht o" that' 1So lon! as I hae this,3 he said, li"tin! the sword
"rom her throat, 1theres no man on earth I need "ear'3
50cept &o%r brother, Sansa tho%!ht, b%t she had better sense than to sa& it alo%d' ,e is
a do!, 9%st as he sa&s' * hal"-wild, mean-tempered do! that bites an& hand that tries to
pet him, and &et will saa!e an& man who tries to h%rt his masters' 1Not een the men
across the rier.3
+le!anes e&es t%rned toward the distant "ires' 1*ll this b%rnin!'3 ,e sheathed his
sword' 1/nl& cowards "i!ht with "ire'3
17ord Stannis is no coward'3
1,es not the man his brother was either' Bobert neer let a little thin! li$e a rier stop
him'3
1(hat will &o% do when he crosses.3
1=i!ht' 6ill' #ie, ma&be'3
1*rent &o% a"raid. The !ods mi!ht send &o% down to some terrible hell "or all the eil
&o%e done'3
1(hat eil.3 ,e la%!hed' 1(hat !ods.3
1The !ods who made %s all'3
1*ll.3 he moc$ed' 1Tell me, little bird, what $ind o" !od ma$es a monster li$e the
Imp, or a hal"wit li$e 7ad& Tandas da%!hter. I" there are !ods, the& made sheep so
woles co%ld eat m%tton, and the& made the wea$ "or the stron! to pla& with'3
1Tr%e $ni!hts protect the wea$'3
,e snorted' 1There are no tr%e $ni!hts, no more than there are !ods' I" &o% cant
protect &o%rsel", die and !et o%t o" the wa& o" those who can' Sharp steel and stron!
arms r%le this world, dont eer beliee an& di""erent'3
Sansa bac$ed awa& "rom him' 1;o%re aw"%l'3
1Im honest' Its the world thats aw"%l' Now "l& awa&, little bird, Im sic$ o" &o%
peepin! at me'3
(ordless, she "led' She was a"raid o" Sandor +le!ane ' ' ' and &et, some part o" her
wished that Ser #ontos had a little o" the ,o%nds "erocit&' There are !ods, she told
hersel", and there are tr%e $ni!hts too' *ll the stories cant be lies'
That ni!ht Sansa dreamed o" the riot a!ain' The mob s%r!ed aro%nd her, shrie$in!, a
maddened beast with a tho%sand "aces' 5er&where she t%rned she saw "aces twisted
into monstro%s inh%man mas$s' She wept and told them she had neer done them h%rt,
&et the& dra!!ed her "rom her horse all the same' 1No,3 she cried, 1no, please, dont,
dont,3 b%t no one paid her an& heed' She sho%ted "or Ser #ontos, "or her brothers, "or
her dead "ather and her dead wol", "or !allant Ser 7oras who had !ien her a red rose
once, b%t none o" them came' She called "or the heroes "rom the son!s, "or =lorian and
Ser B&am Bedw&ne and 4rince *emon the #ra!on$ni!ht, b%t no one heard' (omen
swarmed oer her li$e weasels, pinchin! her le!s and $ic$in! her in the bell&, and
someone hit her in the "ace and she "elt her teeth shatter' Then she saw the bri!ht
!limmer o" steel' The $ni"e pl%n!ed into her bell& and tore and tore and tore, %ntil there
was nothin! le"t o" her down there b%t shin& wet ribbons'
(hen she wo$e, the pale li!ht o" mornin! was slantin! thro%!h her window, &et she
"elt as sic$ and ach& as i" she had not slept at all' There was somethin! stic$& on her
thi!hs' (hen she threw bac$ the blan$et and saw the blood, all she co%ld thin$ was that
her dream had somehow come tr%e' She remembered the $nies inside her, twistin! and
rippin!' She s)%irmed awa& in horror, $ic$in! at the sheets and "allin! to the "loor,
breathin! ra!!edl&, na$ed, bloodied, and a"raid'
B%t as she cro%ched there, on her hands and $nees, %nderstandin! came' 1No, please,3
Sansa whimpered, 1please, no'3 She didnt want this happenin! to her, not now, not here,
not now, not now, not now, not now'
2adness too$ hold o" her' 4%llin! hersel" %p b& the bedpost, she went to the basin and
washed between her le!s, scr%bbin! awa& all the stic$iness' B& the time she was done,
the water was pin$ with blood' (hen her maidserants saw it the& wo%ld $now Then
she remembered the bedclothes' She r%shed bac$ to the bed and stared in horror at the
dar$ red stain and the tale it told' *ll she co%ld thin$ was that she had to !et rid o" it, or
else the&d see' She co%ldnt let them see, or the&d marr& her to Co""re& and ma$e her
la& with him'
Snatchin! %p her $ni"e, Sana hac$ed at the sheet, c%ttin! o%t the stain' I" the& as$ me
abo%t the hole, what will I sa&. Tears ran down her "ace' She p%lled the torn sheet "rom
the bed, and the stained blan$et as well' Ill hae to b%rn them' She balled %p the
eidence, st%""ed it in the "ireplace, drenched it in oil "rom her bedside lamp, and lit it
a"ire' Then she reali?ed that the blood had soa$ed thro%!h the sheet into the "eatherbed,
so she b%ndled that %p as well, b%t it was bi! and c%mbersome, hard to moe' Sansa
co%ld !et onl& hal" o" it into the "ire' She was on her $nees, str%!!lin! to shoe the
mattress into the "lames as thic$ !re& smo$e eddied aro%nd her and "illed the room,
when the door b%rst open and she heard her maid !asp'
In the end it too$ three o" them to p%ll her awa&' *nd it was all "or nothin!' The
bedclothes were b%rnt, b%t b& the time the& carried her o"" her thi!hs were blood& a!ain'
It was as i" her own bod& had betra&ed her to Co""re&, %n"%rlin! a banner o" 7annister
crimson "or all the world to see'
(hen the "ire was o%t, the& carried o"" the sin!ed "eatherbed, "anned awa& the worst o"
the smo$e, and bro%!ht %p a t%b' (omen came and went, m%tterin! and loo$in! at her
stran!el&' The& "illed the t%b with scaldin! hot water, bathed her and washed her hair
and !ae her a cloth to wear between her le!s' B& then Sansa was calm a!ain, and
ashamed "or her "oll&' The smo$e had r%ined most o" her clothin!' /ne o" the women
went awa& and came bac$ with a !reen wool shi"t that was almost her si?e' 1Its not as
prett& as &o%r own thin!s, b%t it will sere,3 she anno%nced when shed p%lled it down
oer Sansas head' 1;o%r shoes werent b%rned, so at least &o% wont need to !o bare"oot
to the )%een'3
+ersei 7annister was brea$in! her "ast when Sansa was %shered into her solar' 1;o%
ma& sit,3 the )%een said !racio%sl&' 1*re &o% h%n!r&.3 She !est%red at the table' There
was porrid!e, hone&, mil$, boiled e!!s, and crisp "ried "ish'
The si!ht o" the "ood made Sansa "eel ill' ,er t%mm& was tied in a $not' 1No, than$
&o%, ;o%r 8race'3
1I dont blame &o%' Between T&rion and 7ord Stannis, eer&thin! I cat tastes o" ash'
*nd now &o%re settin! "ires as well' (hat did &o% hope to accomplish.3
Sansa lowered her head' 1The blood "ri!htened me'3
1The blood is the seal o" &o%r womanhood' 7ad& +atel&n mi!ht hae prepared &o%'
;o%e had &o%r "irst "lowerin!, no more'3
Sansa had neer "elt less "lower&' 12& lad& mother told me, b%t I ' ' ' I tho%!ht it
wo%ld be di""erent'3
1#i""erent how.3
1I dont $now' 7ess ' ' ' less mess&, and more ma!ical'3
F%een +ersei la%!hed' 1(ait %ntil &o% birth a child, Sansa' * womans li"e is nine
parts mess to one part ma!ic, &o%ll learn that soon eno%!h ' ' ' and the parts that loo$
li$e ma!ic o"ten t%rn o%t to be messiest o" all'3 She too$ a sip o" mil$' 1So now &o% are
a woman' #o &o% hae the least idea o" what that means.3
1It means that I am now "it to be wedded and bedded,3 said Sansa, 1and to bear
children "or the $in!'3
The )%een !ae a wr& smile' 1* prospect that no lon!er entices &o% as it once did, I
can see' I will not "a%lt &o% "or that' Co""re& has alwa&s been di""ic%lt' 5en his birth ' ' '
I labored a da& and a hal" to brin! him "orth' ;o% cannot ima!ine the pain, Sansa' I
screamed so lo%dl& that I "ancied Bobert mi!ht hear me in the $in!swood'3
1,is 8race was not with &o%.3
1Bobert. Bobert was h%ntin!' That was his c%stom' (heneer m& time was near, m&
ro&al h%sband wo%ld "lee to the trees with his h%ntsmen and ho%nds' (hen he ret%rned
he wo%ld present me with some pelts or a sta!s head, and I wo%ld present him with a
bab&'
1Not that I wanted him to sta&, mind &o%' I had 8rand 2aester 4&celle and an arm& o"
midwies, and I had m& brother' (hen the& told Caime he was not allowed in the
birthin! room, he smiled and as$ed which o" them proposed to $eep him o%t'
1Co""re& will show &o% no s%ch deotion, I "ear' ;o% co%ld than$ &o%r sister "or that, i"
she werent dead' ,es neer been able to "or!et that da& on the Trident when &o% saw
her shame him, so he shames &o% in t%rn' ;o%re stron!er than &o% seem, tho%!hAI
e0pect &o%ll s%rie a bit o" h%miliation' I did' ;o% ma& neer loe the $in!, b%t &o%ll
loe his children'3
1I loe ,is 8race with all m& heart,3 Sansa said'
The )%een si!hed' 1;o% had best learn some new lies, and )%ic$l&' 7ord Stannis will
not li$e that one, I promise &o%'3
1The new ,i!h Septon said that the !ods will neer permit 7ord Stannis to win, since
Co""re& is the ri!ht"%l $in!'3
* hal" smile "lic$ered across the )%eens "ace' 1Boberts tr%eborn son and heir' Tho%!h
Co"" wo%ld cr& wheneer Bobert pic$ed him %p' ,is 8race did not li$e that' ,is bastards
had alwa&s !%r!led at him happil&, and s%c$ed his "in!er when he p%t it in their little
baseborn mo%ths' Bobert wanted smiles and cheers, alwa&s, so he went where he "o%nd
them, to his "riends and his whores' Bobert wanted to be loed' 2& brother T&rion has
the same disease' #o &o% want to be loed, Sansa.3
15er&one wants to be loed'3
1I see "lowerin! hasnt made &o% an& bri!hter,3 said +ersei' 1Sansa, permit me to share
a bit o" womanl& wisdom with &o% on this er& special da&' 7oe is poison' * sweet
poison, &es, b%t it will $ill &o% all the same'3

C#APT"R +(
-O'
It was dar$ in the S$irlin! 4ass' The !reat stone "lan$s o" the mo%ntains hid the s%n "or
most o" the da&, so the& rode in shadow, the breath o" man and horse steamin! in the
cold air' Ic& "in!ers o" water tric$led down "rom the snowpac$ aboe into small "ro?en
pools that crac$ed and bro$e beneath the hooes o" their !arrons' Sometimes the& wo%ld
see a "ew weeds str%!!lin! "rom some crac$ in the roc$ or a splotch o" pale lichen, b%t
there was no !rass, and the& were aboe the trees now'
The trac$ was as steep as it was narrow, wendin! its wa& eer %pward' (here the pass
was so constricted that ran!ers had to !o sin!le "ile, S)%ire #albrid!e wo%ld ta$e the
lead, scannin! the hei!hts as he went, his lon!bow eer close to hand' It was said he had
the $eenest e&es in the Ni!hts (atch'
8host padded restlessl& b& Cons side' =rom time to time he wo%ld stop and t%rn, his
ears pric$ed, as i" he heard somethin! behind them' Con did not thin$ the shadowcats
wo%ld attac$ liin! men, not %nless the& were starin!, b%t he loosened 7on!claw in its
scabbard een so'
* wind-cared arch o" !re& stone mar$ed the hi!hest point o" the pass' ,ere the wa&
broadened as it be!an its lon! descent toward the alle& o" the 2il$water' Fhorin
decreed that the& wo%ld rest here %ntil the shadows be!an to !row a!ain' 1Shadows are
"riends to men in blac$,3 he said'
Con saw the sense o" that' It wo%ld be pleasant to ride in the li!ht "or a time, to let the
bri!ht mo%ntain s%n soa$ thro%!h their cloa$s and chase the chill "rom their bones, b%t
the& dared not' (here there were three watchers there mi!ht be others, waitin! to so%nd
the alarm'
Stonesna$e c%rled %p %nder his ra!!ed "%r cloa$ and was asleep almost at once' Con
shared his salt bee" with 8host while 5bben and S)%ire #albrid!e "ed the horses' Fhorin
,al"hand sat with his bac$ to a roc$, honin! the ed!e o" his lon!sword with lon! slow
stro$es' Con watched the ran!er "or a "ew moments, then s%mmoned his co%ra!e and
went to him' 12& lord,3 he said, 1&o% neer as$ed me how it went' (ith the !irl'3
1I am no lord, Con Snow'3 Fhorin slid the stone smoothl& alon! the steel with his two-
"in!ered hand'
1She told me 2ance wo%ld ta$e me, i" I ran with her'3
1She told &o% tr%e'3
1She een claimed we were $in' She told me a stor& ' ' '3
1' ' ' o" Bael the Bard and the rose o" (inter"ell' So Stonesna$e told me' It happens I
$now the son!' 2ance wo%ld sin! it o" old, when he came bac$ "rom a ran!in!' ,e had
a passion "or wildlin! m%sic' *&e, and "or their women as well'3
1;o% $new him.3
1(e all $new him'3 ,is oice was sad'
The& were "riends as well as brothers, Con reali?ed, and now the& are sworn "oes'
1(h& did he desert.3
1=or a wench, some sa&' =or a crown, others wo%ld hae it'3 Fhorin tested the ed!e o"
his sword with the ball o" his th%mb' 1,e li$ed women, 2ance did, and he was not a
man whose $nees bent easil&, thats tr%e' B%t it was more than that' ,e loed the wild
better than the (all' It was in his blood' ,e was wildlin! born, ta$en as a child when
some raiders were p%t to the sword' (hen he le"t the Shadow Tower he was onl& !oin!
home a!ain'3
1(as he a !ood ran!er.3
1,e was the best o" %s,3 said the ,al"hand, 1and the worst as well' /nl& "ools li$e
Thoren Smallwood despise the wildlin!s' The& are as brae as we are, Con' *s stron!, as
)%ic$, as cleer' B%t the& hae no discipline' The& name themseles the "ree "ol$, and
each one thin$s himsel" as !ood as a $in! and wiser than a maester' 2ance was the
same' ,e neer learned how to obe&'3
1No more than me,3 said Con )%ietl&'
Fhorins shrewd !re& e&es seemed to see ri!ht thro%!h him' 1So &o% let her !o.3 ,e
did not so%nd the least s%rprised'
1;o% $now.3
1Now' Tell me wh& &o% spared her'3
It was hard to p%t into words' 12& "ather neer %sed a headsman' ,e said he owed it to
men he $illed to loo$ into their e&es and hear their last words' *nd when I loo$ed into
;!rittes e&es, I ' ' '3 Con stared down at his hands helplessl&' 1I $now she was an
enem&, b%t there was no eil in her'3
1No more than in the other two'3
1It was their lies or o%rs Con said' 1I" the& had seen %s, i" the& had so%nded that horn '
' '3
1The wildlin!s wo%ld h%nt %s down and sla& %s, tr%e eno%!h'3
1Stonesna$e has the horn now, tho%!h, and we too$ ;!rittes $ni"e and a0e' Shes
behind %s, a"oot, %narmed ' ' '3
1*nd not li$e to be a threat,3 Fhorin a!reed' 1I" I had needed her dead, I wo%ld hae
le"t her with 5bben, or done the thin! m&sel"'3
1Then wh& did &o% command it o" me.3
1I did not command it' I told &o% to do what needed to be done, and le"t &o% to decide
what that wo%ld be'3 Fhorin stood and slid his lon!sword bac$ into its scabbard' 1(hen
I want a mo%ntain scaled, I call on Stonesna$e' Sho%ld I need to p%t an arrow thro%!h
the e&e o" some "oe across a wind& battle"ield, I s%mmon S)%ire #albrid!e' 5bben can
ma$e an& man !ie %p his secrets' To lead men &o% m%st $now them, Con Snow' I $now
more o" &o% now than I did this mornin!'3
1*nd i" I had slain her.3 as$ed Con'
1She wo%ld be dead, and I wo%ld $now &o% better than I had be"ore' B%t eno%!h tal$'
;o% o%!ht be sleepin!' (e hae lea!%es to !o, and dan!ers to "ace' ;o% will need &o%r
stren!th'3
Con did not thin$ sleep wo%ld come easil&, b%t he $new the ,al"hand was ri!ht' ,e
"o%nd a place o%t o" the wind, beneath an oerhan! o" roc$, and too$ o"" his cloa$ to %se
it "or a blan$et' 18host,3 he called' 1,ere' To me'3 ,e alwa&s slept better with the !reat
white wol" beside him: there was com"ort in the smell o" him, and welcome warmth in
that sha!!& pale "%r' This time, tho%!h, 8host did no more than loo$ at him' Then he
t%rned awa& and padded aro%nd the !arrons, and )%ic$ as that he was !one' ,e wants to
h%nt, Con tho%!ht' 4erhaps there were !oats in these mo%ntains' The shadowcats m%st
lie on somethin!' 1C%st dont tr& and brin! down a Dcat,3 he m%ttered' 5en "or a
direwol", that wo%ld be dan!ero%s' ,e t%!!ed his cloa$ oer him and stretched o%t
beneath the roc$'
(hen he closed his e&es, he dreamed o" direwoles'
There were "ie o" them when there sho%ld hae been si0, and the& were scattered,
each apart "rom the others' ,e "elt a deep ache o" emptiness, a sense o" incompleteness'
The "orest was ast and cold, and the& were so small, so lost' ,is brothers were o%t there
somewhere, and his sister, b%t he had lost their scent' ,e sat on his ha%nches and li"ted
his head to the dar$enin! s$&, and his cr& echoed thro%!h the "orest, a lon! lonel&
mo%rn"%l so%nd' *s it died awa&, he pric$ed %p his ears, listenin! "or an answer, b%t the
onl& so%nd was the si!h o" blowin! snow'
Con.
The call came "rom behind him, so"ter than a whisper, b%t stron! too' +an a sho%t be
silent. ,e t%rned his head, searchin! "or his brother, "or a !limpse o" a lean !re& shape
moin! beneath the trees, b%t there was nothin!, onl& ' ' '
* weirwood'
It seemed to spro%t "rom solid roc$, its pale roots twistin! %p "rom a m&riad o" "iss%res
and hairline crac$s' The tree was slender compared to other weirwoods he had seen, no
more than a saplin!, &et it was !rowin! as he watched, its limbs thic$enin! as the&
reached "or the s$&' (ar&, he circled the smooth white tr%n$ %ntil he came to the "ace'
Bed e&es loo$ed at him' =ierce e&es the& were, &et !lad to see him' The weirwood had
his brothers "ace' ,ad his brother alwa&s had three e&es.
Not alwa&s, came the silent sho%t' Not be"ore the crow'
,e sni""ed at the bar$, smelled wol" and tree and bo&, b%t behind that there were other
scents, the rich brown smell o" warm earth and the hard !re& smell o" stone and
somethin! else, somethin! terrible' #eath, he $new' ,e was smellin! death' ,e crin!ed
bac$, his hair bristlin!, and bared his "an!s'
#ont be a"raid, I li$e it in the dar$' No one can see &o%, b%t &o% can see them' B%t
"irst &o% hae to open &o%r e&es' See. 7i$e this' *nd the tree reached down and to%ched
him'
*nd s%ddenl& he was bac$ in the mo%ntains, his paws s%n$ deep in a dri"t o" snow as
he stood %pon the ed!e o" a !reat precipice' Be"ore him the S$irlin! 4ass opened %p into
air& emptiness, and a lon! ee-shaped alle& la& spread beneath him li$e a )%ilt, awash
in all the colors o" an a%t%mn a"ternoon'
* ast bl%e-white wall pl%!!ed one end o" the ale, s)%ee?in! between the mo%ntains
as i" it had sho%ldered them aside, and "or a moment he tho%!ht he had dreamed himsel"
bac$ to +astle Blac$' Then he reali?ed he was loo$in! at a rier o" ice seeral tho%sand
"eet hi!h' <nder that !litterin! cold cli"" was a !reat la$e, its deep cobalt waters
re"lectin! the snowcapped pea$s that rin!ed it' There were men down in the alle&, he
saw now: man& men, tho%sands, a h%!e host' Some were tearin! !reat holes in the hal"-
"ro?en !ro%nd, while others trained "or war' ,e watched as a swarmin! mass o" riders
char!ed a shield wall, astride horses no lar!er than ants' The so%nd o" their moc$ battle
was a r%stlin! o" steel leaes, dri"tin! "aintl& on the wind' Their encampment had no
plan to it: he saw no ditches, no sharpened sta$es, no neat rows o" horse lines'
5er&where cr%de earthen shelters and hide tents spro%ted hapha?ardl&, li$e a po0 on the
"ace o" the earth' ,e spied %ntid& mo%nds o" ha&, smelled !oats and sheep, horses and
pi!s, do!s in !reat pro"%sion' Tendrils o" dar$ smo$e rose "rom a tho%sand coo$"ires'
This is no arm&, no more than it is a town' This is a whole people come to!ether'
*cross the lon! la$e, one o" the mo%nds moed' ,e watched it more closel& and saw
that it was not dirt at all, b%t alie, a sha!!& l%mberin! beast with a sna$e "or a nose and
t%s$s lar!er than those o" the !reatest boar that had eer lied' *nd the thin! ridin! it
was h%!e as well, and his shape was wron!, too thic$ in the le! and hips to be a man'
Then a s%dden !%st o" cold made his "%r stand %p, and the air thrilled to the so%nd o"
win!s' *s he li"ted his e&es to the ice-white mo%ntain hei!hts aboe, a shadow
pl%mmeted o%t o" the s$&' * shrill scream split the air' ,e !limpsed bl%e-!re& pinions
spread wide, sh%ttin! o%t the s%n ' ' '
18host@3 Con sho%ted, sittin! %p' ,e co%ld still "eel the talons, the pain' 18host, to
me@3
5bben appeared, !rabbed him, shoo$ him' 1F%iet@ ;o% mean to brin! the wildlin!s
down on %s. (hats wron! with &o%, bo&.3
1* dream,3 said Con "eebl&' 1I was 8host, I was on the ed!e o" the mo%ntain loo$in!
down on a "ro?en rier, and somethin! attac$ed me' * bird ' ' ' an ea!le, I thin$ ' ' '3
S)%ire #albrid!e smiled' 1Its alwa&s prett& women in m& dreams' (o%ld that I
dreamed more o"ten'3
Fhorin came %p beside him' 1* "ro?en rier, &o% sa&.3
1The 2il$water "lows "rom a !reat la$e at the "oot o" a !lacier,3 Stonesna$e p%t in'
1There was a tree with m& brothers "ace' The wildlin!s ' ' ' there were tho%sands,
more than I eer $new e0isted' *nd !iants ridin! mammoths'3 =rom the wa& the li!ht
had shi"ted, Con 9%d!ed that he had been asleep "or "o%r or "ie ho%rs' ,is head ached,
and the bac$ o" his nec$ where the talons had b%rned thro%!h him' B%t that was in the
dream'
1Tell me all that &o% remember, "rom "irst to last,3 said Fhorin ,al"hand'
Con was con"%sed' 1It was onl& a dream'3
1* wol" dream,3 the ,al"hand said' 1+raster told the 7ord +ommander that the
wildlin!s were !atherin! at the so%rce o" the 2il$water' That ma& be wh& &o% dreamed
it' /r it ma& be that &o% saw what waits "or %s, a "ew ho%rs "arther on' Tell me'3 it made
him "eel hal" a "ool to tal$ o" s%ch thin!s to Fhorin and the other ran!ers, b%t he did as
he was commanded' None o" the blac$ brothers la%!hed at him, howeer' B& the time he
was done, een S)%ire #albrid!e was no lon!er smilin!'
1S$inchan!er.3 said 5bben !riml&, loo$in! at the ,al"hand' #oes he mean the ea!le.
Con wondered' /r me. S$inchan!ers and war!s belon!ed in /ld Nans stories, not in the
world he had lied in all his li"e' ;et here, in this stran!e blea$ wilderness o" roc$ and
ice, it was not hard to beliee'
1The cold winds are risin!' 2ormont "eared as m%ch' Ben9en Star$ "elt it as well' #ead
men wal$ and the trees hae e&es a!ain' (h& sho%ld we bal$ at war!s and !iants.3
1#oes this mean m& dreams are tr%e as well.3 as$ed S)%ire #albrid!e' 17ord Snow
can $eep his mammoths, I want m& women'3
12an and bo& Ie sered the (atch, and ran!ed as "ar as an&,3 said 5bben' 1Ie seen
the bones o" !iants, and heard man& a )%eer tale, b%t no more' I want to see them with
m& own e&es'3
1Be care"%l the& dont see &o%, 5bben,3 Stonesna$e said'
8host did not reappear as the& set o%t a!ain' The shadows coered the "loor o" the pass
b& then, and the s%n was sin$in! "ast toward the 9a!!ed twin pea$s o" the h%!e mo%ntain
the ran!ers named =or$top' I" the dream was tr%e ' ' ' 5en the tho%!ht scared him'
+o%ld the ea!le hae h%rt 8host, or $noc$ed him o"" the precipice. *nd what abo%t the
weirwood with his brothers "ace, that smelled o" death and dar$ness.
The last ra& o" s%n anished behind the pea$s o" =or$top' Twili!ht "illed the S$irlin!
4ass' It seemed to !row colder almost at once' The& were no lon!er climbin!' In "act,
the !ro%nd had be!%n to descend, tho%!h as &et not sharpl&' It was littered with crac$s
and bro$en bo%lders and t%mbled heaps o" roc$' It will be dar$ soon, and still no si!ht o"
8host' It was tearin! Con apart, &et he dare not sho%t "or the direwol" as he wo%ld hae
li$ed' /ther thin!s mi!ht be listenin! as well'
1Fhorin,3 S)%ire #albrid!e called so"tl&' 1There' 7oo$'3
The ea!le was perched on a spine o" roc$ "ar aboe them, o%tlined a!ainst the
dar$enin! s$&' (ee seen other ea!les, Con tho%!ht' That need not be the one I dreamed
o"'
5en so, 5bben wo%ld hae loosed a sha"t at it, b%t the s)%ire stopped him' 1The birds
well o%t o" bowshot'3
1I dont li$e it watchin! %s'3
The s)%ire shr%!!ed' 1Nor me, b%t &o% wont stop it' /nl& waste a !ood arrow'3
Fhorin sat in his saddle, st%d&in! the ea!le "or a lon! time' 1(e press on,3 he "inall&
said' The ran!ers res%med their descent'
8host, Con wanted to sho%t, where are &o%.
,e was abo%t to "ollow Fhorin and the others when he !limpsed a "lash o" white
between two bo%lders' * patch o" old snow, he tho%!ht, %ntil he saw it stir' ,e was o""
his horse at once' *s he went to his $nees,
8host li"ted his head' ,is nec$ !listened wetl&, b%t he made no so%nd when Con peeled
o"" a !loe and to%ched him' The talons had torn a blood& path thro%!h "%r and "lesh, b%t
the bird had not been able to snap his nec$'
Fhorin ,al"hand was standin! oer him' 1,ow bad.3
*s i" in answer, 8host str%!!led to his "eet'
1The wol" is stron!,3 the ran!er said' 15bben, water' Stonesna$e, &o%r s$in o" wine'
,old him still, Con'3
To!ether the& washed the ca$ed blood "rom the direwol"s "%r' 8host str%!!led and
bared his teeth when Fhorm po%red the wine into the ra!!ed red !ashes the ea!le had
le"t him, b%t Con wrapped his arms aro%nd him and m%rm%red soothin! words, and soon
eno%!h the wol" )%ieted' B& the time the&d ripped a strip "rom Cons cloa$ to wrap the
wo%nds, "%ll dar$ had settled' /nl& a d%stin! o" stars set the blac$ o" s$& apart "rom the
blac$ o" stone' 1#o we press on.3 Stonesna$e wanted to $now'
Fhorin went to his !arron' 1Bac$, not on'3
1Bac$.3 Con was ta$en b& s%rprise'
15a!les hae sharper e&es than men' (e are seen' So now we r%n'3 The ,al"hand
wo%nd a lon! blac$ scar" aro%nd his "ace and sw%n! %p into the saddle'
The other ran!ers e0chan!ed a loo$, b%t no man tho%!ht to ar!%e' /ne b& one the&
mo%nted and t%rned their mo%nts toward home' 18host, come,3 he called, and the
direwol" "ollowed, a pale shadow moin! thro%!h the ni!ht'
*ll ni!ht the& rode, "eelin! their wa& %p the twistin! pass and thro%!h the stretches o"
bro$en !ro%nd' The wind !rew stron!er' Sometimes it was so dar$ that the& dismo%nted
and went ahead on "oot, each man leadin! his !arron' /nce 5bben s%!!ested that some
torches mi!ht sere them well, b%t Fhorin said, 1No "ire,3 and that was the end o" that'
The& reached the stone brid!e at the s%mmit and be!an to descend a!ain' /"" in the
dar$ness a shadowcat screamed in "%r&, its oice bo%ncin! o"" the roc$s so it seemed as
tho%!h a do?en other Dcats were !iin! answer' /nce Con tho%!ht he saw a pair o"
!lowin! e&es on a led!e oerhead, as bi! as harest moons'
In the blac$ ho%r be"ore dawn, the& stopped to let the horses drin$ and "ed them each a
hand"%l o" oats and a twist or two o" ha&' 1(e are not "ar "rom the place the wildlin!s
died,3 said Fhorin' 1=rom there, one man co%ld hold a h%ndred' The ri!ht man'3 ,e
loo$ed at S)%ire #albrid!e'
The s)%ire bowed his head' 17eae me as man& arrows as &o% can spare, brothers'3 ,e
stro$ed his lon!bow' 1*nd see m& !arron has an apple when &o%re home' ,es earned
it, poor beastie'3
,es sta&in! to die, Con reali?ed'
Fhorin clasped the s)%ires "orearm with a !loed hand' 1I" the ea!le "lies down "or a
loo$ at &o% ' ' '3
1' ' ' hell spro%t some new "eathers'3
The last Con saw o" S)%ire #albrid!e was his bac$ as he clambered %p the narrow path
to the hei!hts'
(hen dawn bro$e, Con loo$ed %p into a clo%dless s$& and saw a spec$ moin! thro%!h
the bl%e' 5bben saw it too, and c%rsed, b%t Fhorin told him to be )%iet' 17isten'3
Con held his breath, and heard it' =ar awa& and behind them, the call o" a h%ntin! horn
echoed a!ainst the mo%ntains'
1*nd now the& come,3 said Fhorin'
C#APT"R +)
T%RIO'
4od dressed him "or his ordeal in a pl%sh elet t%nic o" 7annister crimson and bro%!ht
him his chain o" o""ice' T&rion le"t it on the bedside table' ,is sister misli$ed bein!
reminded that he was the 6in!s ,and, and he did not wish to in"lame the relations
between them an& "%rther'
>ar&s ca%!ht %p with him as he was crossin! the &ard' 12& lord,3 he said, a little o%t
o" breath' 1;o% had best read this at once'3 ,e held o%t a parchment in a so"t white
hand' 1* report "rom the north'3
18ood news or bad.3 T&rion as$ed'
1That is not "or me to 9%d!e'3
T&rion %nrolled the parchment' ,e had to s)%int to read the words in the torchlit &ard'
18ods be !ood,3 he said so"tl&' 1Both o" them.3
1I "ear so, m& lord' It is so sad' So !rieo%s sad' *nd them so &o%n! and innocent'3
T&rion remembered how the woles had howled when the Star$ bo& had "allen' *re
the& howlin! now, I wonder. 1,ae &o% told an&one else.3 he as$ed'
1Not as &et, tho%!h o" co%rse I m%st'3
,e rolled %p the letter' 1Ill tell m& sister'3 ,e wanted to see how she too$ the news'
,e wanted that er& m%ch'
The )%een loo$ed especiall& loel& that ni!ht' She wore a low-c%t !own o" deep !reen
elet that bro%!ht o%t the color o" her e&es' ,er !olden hair t%mbled across her bare
sho%lders, and aro%nd her waist was a woen belt st%dded with emeralds' T&rion waited
%ntil he had been seated and sered a c%p o" wine be"ore thr%stin! the letter at her' ,e
said not a word' +ersei blin$ed at him innocentl& and too$ the parchment "rom his hand'
1I tr%st &o%re pleased,3 he said as she read' 1;o% wanted the Star$ bo& dead, I
beliee'3
+ersei made a so%r "ace' 1It was Caime who threw him "rom that window, not me' =or
loe, he said, as i" that wo%ld please me' It was a st%pid thin! to do, and dan!ero%s
besides, b%t when did o%r sweet brother eer stop to thin$.3
1The bo& saw &o%,3 T&rion pointed o%t'
1,e was a child' I co%ld hae "ri!htened him into silence'3 She loo$ed at the letter
tho%!ht"%ll&' 1(h& m%st I s%""er acc%sations eer& time some Star$ st%bs his toe. This
was 8re&9o&s wor$, I had nothin! to do with it'3
17et %s hope 7ad& +atel&n beliees that'3
,er e&es widened' 1She wo%ldntA3
1A$ill Caime. (h& not. (hat wo%ld &o% do i" Co""re& and Tommen were m%rdered.3
1I still hold Sansa@3 the )%een declared'
1(e still hold Sansa,3 he corrected her, 1and we had best ta$e !ood care o" her' Now
where is this s%pper &o%e promised me, sweet sister.3
+ersei set a tast& table, that co%ld not be denied' The& started with a cream& chestn%t
so%p, cr%st& hot bread, and !reens dressed with apples and pine n%ts' Then came
lampre& pie, hone&ed ham, b%ttered carrots, white beans and bacon, and roast swan
st%""ed with m%shrooms and o&sters' T&rion was e0ceedin!l& co%rteo%s: he o""ered his
sister the choice portions o" eer& dish, and made certain he ate onl& what she did' Not
that he tr%l& tho%!ht shed poison him, b%t it neer h%rt to be care"%l'
The news abo%t the Star$s had so%red her, he co%ld see' 1(ee had no word "rom
Bitterbrid!e.3 she as$ed an0io%sl& as she speared a bit o" apple on the point o" her
da!!er and ate it with small, delicate bites'
1None'3
1Ie neer tr%sted 7ittle"in!er' =or eno%!h coin, hed !o oer to Stannis in a
heartbeat'3
1Stannis Baratheon is too blood& ri!hteo%s to b%& men' Nor wo%ld he ma$e a
com"ortable lord "or the li$es o" 4et&r' This war has made "or some )%eer bed"ellows, I
a!ree, b%t those two. No'3
*s he cared some slices o"" the ham, she said, 1(e hae 7ad& Tanda to than$ "or the
pi!'3
1* to$en o" her loe.3
1* bribe' She be!s leae to ret%rn to her castle' ;o%r leae as well as mine' I s%spect
she "ears &o%ll arrest her on the road, as &o% did 7ord 8&les'3
1#oes she plan to ma$e o"" with the heir to the throne.3 T&rion sered his sister a c%t
o" ham and too$ one "or himsel"' 1Id sooner she remain' I" she wants to "eel sa"e, tell
her to brin! down her !arrison "rom Sto$eworth' *s man& men as she has'3
1I" we need men so badl&, wh& did &o% send awa& &o%r saa!es.3 * certain testiness
crept into +erseis oice'
1It was the best %se I co%ld hae made o" them,3 he told her tr%th"%ll&' 1The&re "ierce
warriors, b%t not soldiers' In "ormal battle, discipline is more important than co%ra!e'
The&e alread& done %s more !ood in the $in!swood than the& wo%ld eer hae done
%s on the cit& walls'3
*s the swan was bein! sered, the )%een )%estioned him abo%t the conspirac& o" the
*ntler 2en' She seemed more anno&ed than a"raid' 1(h& are we pla!%ed with so man&
treasons. (hat in9%r& has ,o%se 7annister eer done these wretches.3
1None,3 said T&rion, 1b%t the& thin$ to be on the winnin! side ' ' ' which ma$es them
"ools as well as traitors'3
1*re &o% certain &o%e "o%nd them all.3
1>ar&s sa&s so'3 The swan was too rich "or his taste'
* line appeared on +erseis pale white brow, between those loel& e&es' 1;o% p%t too
m%ch tr%st in that e%n%ch'3
1,e seres me well'3
1/r so hed hae &o% beliee' ;o% thin$ &o%re the onl& one he whispers secrets to.
,e !ies each o" %s 9%st eno%!h to conince %s that wed be helpless witho%t him' ,e
pla&ed the same !ame with me, when I "irst wed Bobert' =or &ears, I was coninced I
had no tr%er "riend at co%rt, b%t now ' ' '3 She st%died his "ace "or a moment' 1,e sa&s
&o% mean to ta$e the ,o%nd "rom Co""re&'3
#amn >ar&s' 1I need +le!ane "or more important d%ties'3
1Nothin! is more important than the li"e o" the $in!'3
1The li"e o" the $in! is not at ris$' Co"" will hae brae Ser /sm%nd !%ardin! him, and
2er&n Trant as well'3 The&re !ood "or nothin! better' 1I need Balon Swann and the
,o%nd to lead sorties, to ma$e certain Stannis !ets no toehold on o%r side o" the
Blac$water'3
1Caime wo%ld lead the sorties himsel"'3
1=rom Bierr%n. Thats )%ite a sortie'3
1Co""s onl& a bo&'3
1* bo& who wants to be part o" this battle, and "or once hes showin! some sense' I
dont intend to p%t him in the thic$ o" the "i!htin!, b%t he needs to be seen' 2en "i!ht
more "iercel& "or a $in! who shares their peril than one who hides behind his mothers
s$irts'3
1,es thirteen, T&rion'3
1Bemember Caime at thirteen. I" &o% want the bo& to be his "athers son, let him pla&
the part' Co"" wears the "inest armor !old can b%&, and hell hae a do?en !old cloa$s
aro%nd him at all times' I" the cit& loo$s to be in the least dan!er o" "allin!, Ill hae him
escorted bac$ to the Bed 6eep at once'3
,e had tho%!ht that mi!ht reass%re her, b%t he saw no si!n o" pleas%re in those !reen
e&es' 1(ill the cit& "all.3
1No'3 B%t i" it does, pra& that we can hold the Bed 6eep lon! eno%!h "or o%r lord
"ather to march to o%r relie"'
1;o%e lied to me be"ore, T&rion'3
1*lwa&s with !ood reason, sweet sister' I want amit& between %s as m%ch as &o% do'
Ie decided to release 7ord 8&les'3 ,e had $ept 8&les sa"e "or 9%st this !est%re' 1;o%
can hae Ser Boros Blo%nt bac$ as well'3
The )%eens mo%th ti!htened' 1Ser Boros can rot at Bosb&,3 she said, 1b%t TommenA3
1Asta&s where he is' ,es sa"er %nder 7ord Cacel&ns protection than he wo%ld eer
hae been with 7ord 8&les'3
Serin! men cleared awa& the swan, hardl& to%ched' +ersei bec$oned "or the sweet' 1I
hope &o% li$e blac$berr& tarts'3
1I loe all sorts o" tarts'3
1/h, Ie $nown that a lon! while' #o &o% $now wh& >ar&s is so dan!ero%s.3
1*re we pla&in! at riddles now. No'3
1,e doesnt hae a coc$'3
1Neither do &o%'3 *nd dont &o% 9%st hate that, +ersei.
14erhaps Im dan!ero%s too' ;o%, on the other hand, are as bi! a "ool as eer& other
man' That worm between &o%r le!s does hal" &o%r thin$in!'3
T&rion lic$ed the cr%mbs o"" his "in!ers' ,e did not li$e his sisters smile' 1;es, and
9%st now m& worm is thin$in! that perhaps it is time I too$ m& leae'3
1*re &o% %nwell, brother.3 She leaned "orward, !iin! him a !ood loo$ at the top o"
her breasts' 1S%ddenl& &o% appear somewhat "l%stered'3
1=l%stered.3 T&rion !lanced at the door' ,e tho%!ht hed heard somethin! o%tside' ,e
was be!innin! to re!ret comin! here alone' 1;o%e neer shown m%ch interest in m&
coc$ be"ore'3
1Its not &o%r coc$ that interests me, so m%ch as what &o% stic$ it in' I dont depend on
the e%n%ch "or eer&thin!, as &o% do' I hae m& own wa&s o" "indin! o%t thin!s ' ' '
especiall& thin!s that people dont want me to $now'3
1(hat are &o% tr&in! to sa&.3
1/nl& thisAI hae &o%r little whore'3
T&rion reached "or his wine c%p, b%&in! a moment to !ather his tho%!hts' 1I tho%!ht
men were more to &o%r taste'3
1;o%re s%ch a droll little "ellow' Tell me, hae &o% married this one &et.3 (hen he
!ae her no answer she la%!hed and said, 1=ather will be eer so relieed'3
,is bell& "elt as i" it were "%ll o" eels' ,ow had she "o%nd Shae. ,ad >ar&s betra&ed
him. /r had all his preca%tions been %ndone b& his impatience the ni!ht he rode directl&
to the manse. 1(h& sho%ld &o% care who I choose to warm m& bed.3
1* 7annister alwa&s pa&s his debts,3 she said' 1;o%e been schemin! a!ainst me
since the da& &o% came to 6in!s 7andin!' ;o% sold 2&rcella, stole Tommen, and now
&o% plot to hae Co"" $illed' ;o% want him dead so &o% can r%le thro%!h Tommen'3
(ell, I cant sa& the notion isnt temptin!' 1This is madness, +ersei' Stannis will be
here in da&s' ;o% need me'3
1=or what. ;o%r !reat prowess in battle.3
1Bronns sellswords will neer "i!ht witho%t me,3 he lied'
1/h, I thin$ the& will' Its &o%r !old the& loe, not &o%r impish wit' ,ae no "ear,
tho%!h, the& wont be witho%t &o%' I wont sa& I haent tho%!ht o" slittin! &o%r throat
"rom time to time, b%t Caime wo%ld neer "or!ie me i" I did'3
1*nd the whore.3 ,e wo%ld not call her b& name' I" I can conince her Shae means
nothin! to me, perhaps ' ' '
1Shell be treated !entl& eno%!h, so lon! as no harm comes to m& sons' I" Co"" sho%ld
be $illed, howeer, or i" Tommen sho%ld "all into the hands o" o%r enemies, &o%r little
c%nt will die more pain"%ll& than &o% can possibl& ima!ine'3
She tr%l& beliees I mean to $ill m& own nephew 1The bo&s are sa"e,3 he promised her
wearil&' 18ods be !ood, +ersei, the&re m& own blood@ (hat sort o" man do &o% ta$e
me "or.3
1* small and twisted one'3
T&rion stared at the dre!s on the bottom o" his wine c%p' (hat wo%ld Caime do in m&
place. 6ill the bitch, most li$el&, and worr& abo%t the conse)%ences a"terward' B%t
T&rion did not hae a !olden sword, nor the s$ill to wield one' ,e loed his brothers
rec$less wrath, b%t it was their lord "ather he m%st tr& and em%late' Stone, I m%st be
stone, I m%st be +asterl& Boc$, hard and %nmoable' I" I "ail this test, I had as lie" see$
o%t the nearest !rotes)%erie' 1=or all I $now, &o%e $illed her alread&,3 he said'
1(o%ld &o% li$e to see her. I tho%!ht &o% mi!ht'3 +ersei crossed the room and threw
open the hea& oa$en door' 1Brin! in m& brothers whore'3
Ser /sm%nds brothers /sne& and /s"r&d were peas "rom the same pod, tall men with
hoo$ed noses, dar$ hair, and cr%el smiles' She h%n! between them, e&es wide and white
in her dar$ "ace' Blood tric$led "rom her bro$en lip, and he co%ld see br%ises thro%!h
her torn clothin!' ,er hands were bo%nd with rope, and the&d !a!!ed her so she co%ld
not spea$'
1;o% said she wo%ldnt be h%rt'3
1She "o%!ht'3 <nli$e his brothers, /sne& 6ettleblac$ was cleanshaen, so the
scratches showed plainl& on his bare chee$s' 18ot claws li$e a shadowcat, this one'3
1Br%ises heal,3 said +ersei in a bored tone' 1The whore will lie' So lon! as Co""
does'3
T&rion wanted to la%!h at her' It wo%ld hae been so sweet, so er& er& sweet, b%t it
wo%ld hae !ien the !ame awa&' ;o%e lost, +ersei, and the 6ettleblac$s are een
bi!!er "ools than Bronn claimed' *ll he needed to do was sa& the words' Instead he
loo$ed at the !irls "ace and said, 1;o% swear &o%ll release her a"ter the battle.3
1I" &o% release Tommen, &es'3
,e p%shed himsel" to his "eet' 16eep her then, b%t $eep her sa"e' I" these animals thin$
the& can %se her ' ' ' well, sweet sister, let me point o%t that a scale tips two wa&s'3 ,is
tone was calm, "lat, %ncarin!: hed reached "or his "athers oice, and "o%nd it'
1(hateer happens to her happens to Tommen as well, and that incl%des the beatin!s
and rapes'3 I" she thin$s me s%ch a monster, Ill pla& the part "or her'
+ersei had not e0pected that' 1;o% wo%ld not dare'3
T&rion made himsel" smile, slow and cold' 8reen and blac$, his e&es la%!hed at her'
1#are. Ill do it m&sel"'3
,is sisters hand "lashed at his "ace, b%t he ca%!ht her wrist and bent it bac$ %ntil she
cried o%t' /s"r&d moed to her resc%e' 1/ne more step and Ill brea$ her arm,3 the
dwar" warned him' The man stopped' 1;o% remember when I said &o%d neer hit me
a!ain, +ersei.3 ,e shoed her to the "loor and t%rned bac$ to the 6ettleblac$s' 1<ntie
her and remoe that !a!'3
The rope had been so ti!ht as to c%t o"" the blood to her hands' She cried o%t in pain as
the circ%lation ret%rned' T&rion massa!ed her "in!ers !entl& %ntil "eelin! ret%rned'
1Sweetlin!,3 he said, 1&o% m%st be brae' I am sorr& the& h%rt &o%'3
1I $now &o%ll "ree me, m& lord'3
1I will,3 he promised, and *la&a&a bent oer and $issed him on the brow' ,er bro$en
lips le"t a smear o" blood on his "orehead' * blood& $iss is more than I desere, T&rion
tho%!ht' She wo%ld neer hae been h%rt b%t "or me'
,er blood still mar$ed him as he loo$ed down at the )%een' 1I hae neer li$ed &o%,
+ersei, b%t &o% were m& own sister, so I neer did &o% harm' ;o%e ended that' I will
h%rt &o% "or this' I dont $now how &et, b%t !ie me time' * da& will come when &o%
thin$ &o%rsel" sa"e and happ&, and s%ddenl& &o%r 9o& will t%rn to ashes in &o%r mo%th,
and &o%ll $now the debt is paid'3 in war, his "ather had told him once, the battle is oer
in the instant one arm& brea$s and "lees' No matter that the&re as n%mero%s as the&
were a moment be"ore, still armed and armored: once the& had r%n be"ore &o% the&
wo%ld not t%rn to "i!ht a!ain' So it was with +ersei' 18et o%t@3 was all the answer she
co%ld s%mmon' 18et o%t o" m& si!ht@3
T&rion bowed' 18ood ni!ht, then' *nd pleasant dreams'3
,e made his wa& bac$ to the Tower o" the ,and with a tho%sand armored "eet
marchin! thro%!h his s$%ll' I o%!ht to hae seen this comin! the "irst time I slipped
thro%!h the bac$ o" +hata&as wardrobe' 4erhaps he had not wanted to see' ,is le!s
were achin! badl& b& the time he had made the climb' ,e sent 4od "or a "la!on o" wine
and p%shed his wa& into his bedchamber'
Shae sat cross-le!!ed in the canopied bed, n%de b%t "or the hea& !olden chain that
looped across the swell o" her breasts: a chain o" lin$ed !olden hands, each claspin! the
ne0t'
T&rion had not e0pected her' 1(hat are &o% doin! here.3
7a%!hin!, she stro$ed the chain' 1I wanted some hands on m& titties ' ' ' b%t these little
!old ones are cold'3
=or a moment he did $now what to sa&' ,ow co%ld he tell her that another woman had
ta$en the beatin! meant "or her, and mi!ht well die in her place sho%ld some mischance
o" battle "ell Co""re&. ,e wiped *la&a&as blood "rom his brow with the heel o" his hand'
1The 7ad& 7oll&sA3
1Shes asleep' Sleeps all she eer wants to do, the !reat cow' She sleeps and she eats'
Sometimes she "alls asleep while shes eatin!' The "ood "alls %nder the blan$ets and she
rolls in it, and I hae to clean her'3 She made a dis!%sted "ace' 1*ll the& did was "%c$
her'3
1,er mother sa&s shes sic$'3
1She has a bab& in her bell&, thats all'3
T&rion !a?ed aro%nd the room' 5er&thin! seemed m%ch as he le"t it' 1,ow did &o%
enter. Show me the hidden door'3
She !ae a shr%!' 17ord >ar&s made me wear a hood' I co%ldnt see, e0cept ' ' ' there
was one place, I !ot a peep at the "loor o%t the bottom o" the hood' It was all tiles, &o%
$now, the $ind that ma$e a pict%re.3
1* mosaic.3
Shae nodded' 1The& were colored red and blac$' I thin$ the pict%re was a dra!on'
/therwise, eer&thin! was dar$' (e went down a ladder and wal$ed a lon! wa&s, %ntil I
was all twisted aro%nd' /nce we stopped so he co%ld %nloc$ an iron !ate' I br%shed
a!ainst it when we went thro%!h' The dra!on was past the !ate' Then we went %p
another ladder, with a t%nnel at the top' I had to stoop, and I thin$ 7ord >ar&s was
crawlin!'3
T&rion made a ro%nd o" the bedchamber' /ne o" the sconces loo$ed loose' ,e stood on
his toes and tried to t%rn it' It reoled slowl&, scrapin! a!ainst the stone wall' (hen it
was %pside down, the st%b o" the candle "ell o%t' The r%shes scattered across the cold
stone "loor did not show an& partic%lar dist%rbance' 1#oesnt mlord want to bed me.3
as$ed Shae'
1In a moment'3 T&rion threw open his wardrobe, shoed the clothin! aside, and p%shed
a!ainst the rear panel' (hat wor$ed "or a whoreho%se mi!ht wor$ "or a castle as
well ' ' ' b%t no, the wood was solid, %n&ieldin!' * stone beside the window seat drew
his e&e, b%t all his t%!!in! and proddin! went "or na%!ht' ,e ret%rned to the bed
"r%strated and anno&ed'
Shae %ndid his laces and threw her arms aro%nd his nec$' 1;o%r sho%lders "eel as hard
as roc$s,3 she m%rm%red' 1,%rr&, I want to "eel &o% inside me'3 ;et as her le!s loc$ed
aro%nd his waist, his manhood le"t him' (hen she "elt him !o so"t, Shae slid down %nder
the sheets and too$ him in her mo%th, b%t een that co%ld not ro%se him'
*"ter a "ew moments he stopped her' 1(hats wron!.3 she as$ed' *ll the sweet
innocence o" the world was written there in the lines o" her &o%n! "ace'
Innocence. =ool, shes a whore, +ersei was ri!ht, &o% thin$ with &o%r coc$, "ool, "ool'
1C%st !o to sleep, sweetlin!,3 he %r!ed, stro$in! her hair' ;et lon! a"ter Shae had ta$en
his adice, T&rion himsel" still la& awa$e, his "in!ers c%pped oer one small breast as he
listened to her breathin!'
C#APT"R ++
CAT"%'
The 8reat ,all o" Bierr%n was a lonel& place "or two to sit to s%pper' #eep shadows
draped the walls' /ne o" the torches had !%ttered o%t, leain! onl& three' +atel&n sat
starin! into her wine !oblet' The inta!e tasted thin and so%r on her ton!%e' Brienne was
across "rom her' Between them, her "athers hi!h seat was as empt& as the rest o" the
hall' 5en the serants were !one' She had !ien them leae to 9oin the celebration'
The walls o" the $eep were thic$, &et een so, the& co%ld hear the m%""led so%nds o"
reelr& "rom the &ard o%tside' Ser #esmond had bro%!ht twent& cas$s %p "rom the
cellars, and the small"ol$ were celebratin! 5dm%res imminent ret%rn and Bobbs
con)%est o" the +ra! b& hoistin! horns o" n%t-brown ale'
I cannot blame them, +atel&n tho%!ht' The& do not $now *nd i" the& did, wh& sho%ld
the& care. The& neer $new m& sons' Neer watched Bran climb with their hearts in
their throats, pride and terror so min!led the& seemed as one, neer heard him la%!h,
neer smiled to see Bic$on tr&in! so "iercel& to be li$e his older brothers' She stared at
the s%pper set be"ore her: tro%t wrapped in bacon, salad o" t%rnip !reens and red "ennel
and sweet!rass, pease and onions and hot bread' Brienne was eatin! methodicall&, as i"
s%pper were another chore to be accomplished' I am become a so%r woman, +atel&n
tho%!ht' I ta$e no 9o& in mead nor meat, and son! and la%!hter hae become s%spicio%s
stran!ers to me' I am a creat%re o" !rie" and d%st and bitter lon!in!s' There is an empt&
place within me where m& heart was once'
The so%nd o" the other womans eatin! had become intolerable to her' 1Brienne, I am
no "it compan&' 8o 9oin the reels, i" &o% wo%ld' #rin$ a horn o" ale and dance to
B&m%nds harpin!'3
1I am not made "or reels, m& lad&'3 ,er bi! hands tore apart a heel o" blac$ bread'
Brienne stared at the ch%n$s as i" she had "or!otten what the& were' 1I" &o% command it,
I ' ' '3
+atel&n co%ld sense her discom"ort' 1I onl& tho%!ht &o% mi!ht en9o& happier compan&
than mine'3
1Im well content'3 The !irl %sed the bread to sop %p some o" the bacon !rease the
tro%t had been "ried in'
1There was another bird this mornin!'3 +atel&n did not $now wh& she said it' 1The
maester wo$e me at once' That was d%ti"%l, b%t not $ind' Not $ind at all'3 She had not
meant to tell Brienne' No one $new b%t her and 2aester >&man, and she had meant to
$eep it that wa& %ntil ' ' ' %ntil ' ' '
<ntil what. =oolish woman, will holdin! it secret in &o%r heart ma$e it an& less tr%e.
I" &o% neer tell, neer spea$ o" it, will it become onl& a dream, less than a dream, a
ni!htmare hal"-remembered. /h, i" onl& the !ods wo%ld be so !ood'
1Is it news o" 6in!s 7andin!.3 as$ed Brienne'
1(o%ld that it was' The bird came "rom +astle +erw&n, "rom Ser Bodri$, m&
castellan'3 #ar$ win!s, dar$ words' 1,e has !athered what power he co%ld and is
marchin! on (inter"ell, to ta$e the castle bac$'3 ,ow %nimportant all that so%nded now'
1B%t he said ' ' ' he wrote ' ' ' he told me, he ' ' '3
12& lad&, what is it. Is it some news o" &o%r sons.3
S%ch a simple )%estion that was: wo%ld that the answer co%ld be as simple' (hen
+atel&n tried to spea$, the words ca%!ht in her throat' 1I hae no sons b%t Bobb'3 She
mana!ed those terrible words witho%t a sob, and "or that m%ch she was !lad'
Brienne loo$ed at her with horror' 12& lad&.3
1Bran and Bic$on tried to escape, b%t were ta$en at a mill on the *corn (ater' Theon
8re&9o& has mo%nted their heads on the walls o" (inter"ell' Theon 8re&9o&, who ate at
m& table since he was a bo& o" ten'3 I hae said it, !ods "or!ie me' I hae said it and
made it tr%e'
Briennes "ace was a water& bl%r' She reached across the table, b%t her "in!ers stopped
short o" +atel&ns, as i" the to%ch mi!ht be %nwelcome' 1I ' ' ' there are no words, m&
lad&' 2& !ood lad&' ;o%r sons, the& ' ' ' the&re with the !ods now'3
1*re the&.3 +atel&n said sharpl&' 1(hat !od wo%ld let this happen. Bic$on was onl& a
bab&' ,ow co%ld he desere s%ch a death. *nd Bran ' ' ' when I le"t the north, he had
not opened his e&es since his "all' I had to !o be"ore he wo$e' Now I can neer ret%rn to
him, or hear him la%!h a!ain'3 She showed Brienne her palms, her "in!ers' 1These
scars ' ' ' the& sent a man to c%t Brans throat as he la& sleepin!' ,e wo%ld hae died
then, and me with him, b%t Brans wol" tore o%t the mans throat'3 That !ae her a
moments pa%se' 1I s%ppose Theon $illed the woles too' ,e m%st hae, elsewise ' ' ' I
was certain the bo&s wo%ld be sa"e so lon! as the direwoles were with them' 7i$e Bobb
with his 8re& (ind' B%t m& da%!hters hae no woles now'3
The abr%pt shi"t o" topic le"t Brienne bewildered' 1;o%r da%!hters ' ' '3
1Sansa was a lad& at three, alwa&s so co%rteo%s and ea!er to please' She loed nothin!
so well as tales o" $ni!htl& alor' 2en wo%ld sa& she had m& loo$, b%t she will !row
into a woman "ar more bea%ti"%l than I eer was, &o% can see that' I o"ten sent awa& her
maid so I co%ld br%sh her hair m&sel"' She had a%b%rn hair, li!hter than mine, and so
thic$ and so"t ' ' ' the red in it wo%ld catch the li!ht o" the torches and shine li$e copper'
1*nd *r&a, well ' ' ' Neds isitors wo%ld o"t mista$e her "or a stablebo& i" the& rode
into the &ard %nanno%nced' *r&a was a trial, it m%st be said' ,al" a bo& and hal" a wol"
p%p' =orbid her an&thin! and it became her hearts desire' She had Neds lon! "ace, and
brown hair that alwa&s loo$ed as tho%!h a bird had been nestin! in it' I despaired o" eer
ma$in! a lad& o" her' She collected scabs as other !irls collect dolls, and wo%ld sa&
an&thin! that came into her head' I thin$ she m%st be dead too'3 (hen she said that, it
"elt as tho%!h a !iant hand were s)%ee?in! her chest' 1I want them all dead, Brienne'
Theon 8re&9o& "irst, then Caime 7annister and +ersei and the Imp, eer& one, eer& one'
B%t m& !irls ' ' ' m& !irls will ' ' '3
1The )%een ' ' ' she has a little !irl o" her own,3 Brienne said aw$wardl&' 1*nd sons
too, o" an a!e with &o%rs' (hen she hears, perhaps she ' ' ' she ma& ta$e pit&, and ' ' '3
1Send m& da%!hters bac$ %nharmed.3 +atel&n smiled sadl&' 1There is a sweet
innocence abo%t &o%, child' I co%ld wish ' ' ' b%t no' Bobb will aen!e his brothers' Ice
can $ill as dead as "ire' Ice was Neds !reatsword' >al&rian steel, mar$ed with the
ripples o" a tho%sand "oldin!s, so sharp I "eared to to%ch it' Bobbs blade is d%ll as a
c%d!el compared to Ice' It will not be eas& "or him to !et Theons head o"", I "ear' The
Star$s do not %se headsmen' Ned alwa&s said that the man who passes the sentence
sho%ld swin! the blade, tho%!h he neer too$ an& 9o& in the d%t&' B%t I wo%ld, oh, &es'3
She stared at her scarred hands, opened and closed them, then slowl& raised her e&es'
1Ie sent him wine'3
1(ine.3 Brienne was lost' 1Bobb. /r ' ' ' Theon 8re&9o&.3
1The 6in!sla&er'3 The plo& had sered her well with +leos =re&' I hope &o%re thirst&,
Caime' I hope &o%r throat is dr& and ti!ht' 1I wo%ld li$e &o% to come with me'3
1I am &o%rs to command, m& lad&'3
18ood'3 +atel&n rose abr%ptl&' 1Sta&, "inish &o%r meal in peace' I will send "or &o%
later' *t midni!ht'3
1So late, m& lad&.3
1The d%n!eons are windowless' /ne ho%r is m%ch li$e another down there, and "or me,
all ho%rs are midni!ht'3 ,er "ootsteps ran! hollowl& when +atel&n le"t the hall' *s she
climbed to 7ord ,osters solar, she co%ld hear them o%tside, sho%tin!, 1T%ll&@3 and 1*
c%p@ * c%p to the brae &o%n! lord@3 2& "ather is not dead, she wanted to sho%t down at
them' 2& sons are dead, b%t m& "ather lies, damn &o% all, and he is &o%r lord still'
7ord ,oster was deep in sleep' 1,e had a c%p o" drearnwine not so lon! a!o, m& lad&,3
2aester >&man said' 1=or the pain' ,e will not $now &o% are here'3
1It ma$es no matter,3 +atel&n said' ,e is more dead than alie, &et more alie than m&
poor sweet sons'
12& lad&, is there a%!ht I mi!ht do "or &o%. * sleepin! dra%!ht, perhaps.3
1Than$ &o%, 2aester, b%t no' I will not sleep awa& m& !rie"' Bran and Bic$on desere
better "rom me' 8o and 9oin the celebration, I will sit with m& "ather "or a time'3
1*s &o% will, m& lad&'3 >&man bowed and le"t her'
7ord ,oster la& on his bac$, mo%th open, his breath a "aint whistlin! si!h' /ne hand
h%n! oer the ed!e o" the mattress, a pale "rail "leshless thin!, b%t warm when she
to%ched it' She slid her "in!ers thro%!h his and closed them' No matter how ti!htl& I
hold him, I cannot $eep him here, she tho%!ht sadl&' 7et him !o' ;et her "in!ers wo%ld
not seem to %nbend'
1I hae no one to tal$ with, =ather,3 she told him' 1I pra&, b%t the !ods do not answer'3
7i!htl& she $issed his hand' The s$in was warm, bl%e eins branchin! li$e riers
beneath his pale transl%cent s$in' /%tside the !reater riers "lowed, the Bed =or$ and the
T%mblestone, and the& wo%ld "low "oreer, b%t not so the riers in her "athers hand' Too
soon that c%rrent wo%ld !row still' 17ast ni!ht I dreamed o" that time 7&sa and I !ot lost
while ridin! bac$ "rom Sea!ard' #o &o% remember. That stran!e "o! came %p and we
"ell behind the rest o" the part&' 5er&thin! was !re&, and I co%ld not see a "oot past the
nose o" m& horse' (e lost the road' The branches o" the trees were li$e lon! s$inn& arms
reachin! o%t to !rab %s as we passed' 7&sa started to cr&, and when I sho%ted the "o!
seemed to swallow the so%nd' B%t 4et&r $new where we were, and he rode bac$ and
"o%nd %s ' ' '
1B%t theres no one to "ind me now, is there. This time I hae to "ind o%r own wa&, and
it is hard, so hard'
1I $eep rememberin! the Star$ words' (inter has come, =ather' =or me' =or me' Bobb
m%st "i!ht the 8re&9o&s now as well as the 7annisters, and "or what. =or a !old hat and
an iron chair. S%rel& the land has bled eno%!h' I want m& !irls bac$, I want Bobb to la&
down his sword and pic$ some homel& da%!hter o" (alder =re& to ma$e him happ& and
!ie him sons' I want Bran and Bic$on bac$, I want ' ' '3 +atel&n h%n! her head' 1I
want,3 she said once more, and then her words were !one'
*"ter a time the candle !%ttered and went o%t' 2oonli!ht slanted between the slats o"
the sh%tters, la&in! pale siler& bars across her "athers "ace' She co%ld hear the so"t
whisper o" his labored breathin!, the endless r%sh o" waters, the "aint chords o" some
loe son! dri"tin! %p "rom the &ard, so sad and sweet' 1I loed a maid as red as a%t%mn,3
B&m%nd san!, 1with s%nset in her hair'3
+atel&n neer noticed when the sin!in! ended' ,o%rs had passed, &et it seemed onl& a
heartbeat be"ore Brienne was at the door' 12; lad&,3 she anno%nced so"tl&' 12idni!ht
has come'3
2idni!ht has come, =ather, she tho%!ht, and I m%st do m& d%t&' She let !o o" his hand'
The !aoler was a "%rtie little man with bro$en eins in his nose' The& "o%nd him bent
oer a tan$ard o" ale and the remains o" a pi!eon pie, more than a little dr%n$' ,e
s)%inted at them s%spicio%sl&' 1Be!!in! &o%r "or!ieness, mlad&, b%t 7ord 5dm%re
sa&s no one is to see the 6in!sla&er witho%t a writin! "rom him, with his seal %pon it'3
17ord 5dm%re. ,as m& "ather died, and no one told me.3
The !aoler lic$ed his lips' 1No, mlad&, not as I $nows'3
1;o% will open the cell, or &o% will come with me to 7ord ,osters solar and tell him
wh& &o% saw "it to de"& me'3
,is e&es "ell' 1*s mlad& sa&s'3 The $e&s were chained to the st%dded leather belt that
!irdled his waist' ,e m%ttered %nder his breath as he sorted thro%!h them, %ntil he "o%nd
the one that "it the door to the 6in!sla&ers cell'
18o bac$ to &o%r ale and leae %s,3 she commanded' *n oil lamp h%n! "rom a hoo$ on
the low ceilin!' +atel&n too$ it down and t%rned %p the "lame' 1Brienne, see that I am
not dist%rbed'3
Noddin!, Brienne too$ %p a position 9%st o%tside the cell, her hand restin! on the
pommel o" her sword' 12& lad& will call i" she has need o" me'3
+atel&n sho%ldered aside the hea& wood-and-iron door and stepped into "o%l
dar$ness' This was the bowels o" Bierr%n, and smelled the part' /ld straw crac$led
%nder"oot' The walls were discolored with patches o" nitre' Thro%!h the stone, she co%ld
hear the "aint r%sh o" the T%mblestone' The lampli!ht reealed a pail oer"lowin! with
"eces in one corner and a h%ddled shape in another' The "la!on o" wine stood beside the
door, %nto%ched' So m%ch "or that plo&' I o%!ht to be than$"%l that the !aoler did not
drin$ it himsel", I s%ppose'
Caime raised his hands to coer his "ace, the chains aro%nd his wrists clan$in!' 17ad&
Star$,3 he said, in a oice hoarse with dis%se' 1I "ear I am in no condition to receie
&o%'3
17oo$ at me, ser'3
1The li!ht h%rts m& e&es' * moment, i" &o% wo%ld'3 Caime 7annister had been allowed
no ra?or since the ni!ht he was ta$en in the (hisperin! (ood, and a sha!!& beard
coered his "ace, once so li$e the )%eens' 8lintin! !old in the lampli!ht, the whis$ers
made him loo$ li$e some !reat &ellow beast, ma!ni"icent een in chains' ,is %nwashed
hair "ell to his sho%lders in ropes and tan!les, the clothes were rottin! on his bod&, his
"ace was pale and wasted ' ' ' and een so, the power and the bea%t& o" the man were still
apparent'
1I see &o% had no taste "or the wine I sent &o%'3
1S%ch s%dden !enerosit& seemed somewhat s%spect'3
1I can hae &o%r head o"" an&time I want' (h& wo%ld I need to poison &o%.3
1#eath b& poison can seem nat%ral' ,arder to claim that m& head simpl& "ell o""'3 ,e
s)%inted %p "rom the "loor, his cat-!reen e&es slowl& becomin! acc%stomed to the li!ht'
1Id inite &o% to sit, b%t &o%r brother has ne!lected to proide me a chair'3
1I can stand well eno%!h'3
1+an &o%. ;o% loo$ terrible, I m%st sa&' Tho%!h perhaps its 9%st the li!ht in here'3 ,e
was "ettered at wrist and an$le, each c%"" chained to the others, so he co%ld neither stand
nor lie com"ortabl&' The an$le chains were bolted to the wall' 1*re m& bracelets hea&
eno%!h "or &o%, or did &o% come to add a "ew more. Ill rattle them prettil& i" &o% li$e'3
1;o% bro%!ht this on &o%rsel",3 she reminded him' 1(e !ranted &o% the com"ort o" a
tower cell be"ittin! &o%r birth and station' ;o% repaid %s b& tr&in! to escape'3
1* cell is a cell' Some %nder +asterl& Boc$ ma$e this one seem a s%nlit !arden' /ne
da& perhaps Ill show them to &o%'3
I" he is cowed, he hides it well, +atel&n tho%!ht' 1* man chained hand and "oot sho%ld
$eep a more co%rteo%s ton!%e in his mo%th, ser' I did not come here to be threatened'3
1No. Then s%rel& it was to hae &o%r pleas%re o" me. Its said that widows !row
wear& o" their empt& beds' (e o" the 6in!s!%ard ow neer to wed, b%t I s%ppose I
co%ld still serice &o% i" thats what &o% need' 4o%r %s some o" that wine and slip o%t o"
that !own and well see i" Im %p to it'3
+atel&n stared down at him in re%lsion' (as there eer a man as bea%ti"%l or as ile as
this one. 1I" &o% said that in m& sons hearin!, he wo%ld $ill &o% "or it'3
1/nl& so lon! as I was wearin! these'3 Caime 7annister rattled his chains at her' 1(e
both $now the bo& is a"raid to "ace me in sin!le combat'3
12& son ma& be &o%n!, b%t i" &o% ta$e him "or a "ool, &o% are sadl& mista$en ' ' ' and
it seems to me that &o% were not so )%ic$ to ma$e challen!es when &o% had an arm& at
&o%r bac$'3
1#id the old 6in!s o" (inter hide behind their mothers s$irts as well.3
1I !row wear& o" this, ser' There are thin!s I m%st $now'3
1(h& sho%ld I tell &o% an&thin!.3
1To sae &o%r li"e'3
1;o% thin$ I "ear death.3 That seemed to am%se him'
1;o% sho%ld' ;o%r crimes will hae earned &o% a place o" torment in the deepest o" the
seen hells, i" the !ods are 9%st'3
1(hat !ods are those, 7ad& +atel&n. The trees &o%r h%sband pra&ed to. ,ow well did
the& sere him when m& sister too$ his head o"".3 Caime !ae a ch%c$le' 1I" there are
!ods, wh& is the world so "%ll o" pain and in9%stice.3
1Beca%se o" men li$e &o%'3
1There are no men li$e me' Theres onl& me'3
There is nothin! here b%t arro!ance and pride, and the empt& co%ra!e o" a madman' I
am wastin! m& breath with this one' I" there was eer a spar$ o" honor in him, it is lon!
dead' 1I" &o% will not spea$ with me, so be it' #rin$ the wine or piss in it, ser, it ma$es
no matter to me'3
,er hand was at the door p%ll when he said, 17ad& Star$'3 She t%rned, waited' 1Thin!s
!o to r%st in this damp,3 Caime went on' 15en a mans co%rtesies' Sta&, and &o% shall
hae &o%r answers ' ' ' "or a price'3
,e has no shame' 1+apties do not set prices'3
1/h, &o%ll "ind mine modest eno%!h' ;o%r t%rn$e& tells me nothin! b%t ile lies, and
he cannot een $eep them strai!ht' /ne da& he sa&s +ersei has been "la&ed, and the ne0t
its m& "ather' *nswer m& )%estions and Ill answer &o%rs'3
1Tr%th"%ll&.3
1/h, its tr%th &o% want. Be care"%l, m& lad&' T&rion sa&s that people o"ten claim to
h%n!er "or tr%th, b%t seldom li$e the taste when its sered %p'3
1I am stron! eno%!h to hear an&thin! &o% care to sa&'3
1*s &o% will, then' B%t "irst, i" &o%d be so $ind ' ' ' the wine' 2& throat is raw'3
+atel&n h%n! the lamp "rom the door and moed the c%p and "la!on closer' Caime
sloshed the wine aro%nd his mo%th be"ore he swallowed' 1So%r and ile,3 he said, 1b%t it
will do'3 ,e p%t his bac$ to the wall, drew his $nees %p to his chest, and stared at her'
1;o%r "irst )%estion, 7ad& +atel&n.3
Not $nowin! how lon! this !ame mi!ht contin%e, +atel&n wasted no time' 1*re &o%
Co""re&s "ather.3
1;o% wo%ld neer as$ %nless &o% $new the answer'3
1I want it "rom &o%r own lips'3
,e shr%!!ed' 1Co""re& is mine' *s are the rest o" +erseis brood, I s%ppose'3
1;o% admit to bein! &o%r sisters loer.3
1Ie alwa&s loed m& sister, and &o% owe me two answers' #o all m& $in still lie.3
1Ser Sta""ord 7annister was slain at /0cross, I am told'3
Caime was %nmoed' 1<ncle #olt, m& sister called him' Its +ersei and T&rion who
concern me' *s well as m& lord "ather'3
1The& lie, all three'3 B%t not lon!, i" the !ods are !ood'
Caime dran$ some more wine' 1*s$ &o%r ne0t'3
+atel&n wondered i" he wo%ld dare answer her ne0t )%estion with an&thin! b%t a lie'
1,ow did m& son Bran come to "all.3
1I "l%n! him "rom a window'3
The eas& wa& he said it too$ her oice awa& "or an instant' I" I had a $ni"e, I wo%ld $ill
him now, she tho%!ht, %ntil she remembered the !irls' ,er throat constricted as she said,
1;o% were a $ni!ht, sworn to de"end the wea$ and innocent'3
1,e was wea$ eno%!h, b%t perhaps not so innocent' ,e was sp&in! on %s'
1Bran wo%ld not sp&'3
1Then blame those precio%s !ods o" &o%rs, who bro%!ht the bo& to o%r window and
!ae him a !limpse o" somethin! he was neer meant to see'3
1Blame the !ods.3 she said, incred%lo%s' 1;o%rs was the hand that threw him' ;o%
meant "or him to die'3
,is chains chin$ed so"tl&' 1I seldom "lin! children "rom towers to improe their health'
;es, I meant "or him to die'3
1*nd when he did not, &o% $new &o%r dan!er was worse than eer, so &o% !ae &o%r
catspaw a ba! o" siler to ma$e certain Bran wo%ld neer wa$e'3
1#id I now.3 Caime li"ted his c%p and too$ a lon! swallow' 1I wont den& we tal$ed o"
it, b%t &o% were with the bo& da& and ni!ht, &o%r maester and 7ord 5ddard attended him
"re)%entl&, and there were !%ards, een those damned direwoles ' ' ' it wo%ld hae
re)%ired c%ttin! m& wa& thro%!h hal" o" (inter"ell' *nd wh& bother, when the bo&
seemed li$e to die o" his own accord.3
1I" &o% lie to me, this session is at an end'3 +atel&n held o%t her hands, to show him
her "in!ers and palms' 1The man who came to slit Brans throat !ae me these scars'
;o% swear &o% had no part in sendin! him.3
1/n m& honor as a 7annister'3
1;o%r honor as a 7annister is worth less than this'3 She $ic$ed oer the waste pail'
=o%l-smellin! brown oo?e crept across the "loor o" the cell, soa$in! into the straw'
Caime 7annister bac$ed awa& "rom the spill as "ar as his chains wo%ld allow' 1I ma&
indeed hae shit "or honor, I wont den& it, b%t I hae neer &et hired an&one to do m&
$illin!' Beliee what &o% will, 7ad& Star$, b%t i" I had wanted &o%r Bran dead I wo%ld
hae slain him m&sel"'3
8ods be merci"%l, hes tellin! the tr%th' 1I" &o% did not send the $iller, &o%r sister did'3
1I" so, Id $now' +ersei $eeps no secrets "rom me'3
1Then it was the Imp'3
1T&rion is as innocent as &o%r Bran' ,e wasnt climbin! aro%nd o%tside o" an&ones
window, sp&in!'3
1Then wh& did the assassin hae his da!!er.3
1(hat da!!er was this.3
1It was so lon!,3 she said, holdin! her hands apart, 1plain, b%t "inel& made, with a
blade o" >al&rian steel and a dra!onbone hilt' ;o%r brother won it "rom 7ord Baelish at
the to%rne& on 4rince Co""re&s name da&'3
7annister po%red, dran$, po%red, and stared into his wine c%p' 1This wine seems to be
improin! as I drin$ it' Ima!ine that' I seem to remember that da!!er, now that &o%
describe it' (on it, &o% sa&. ,ow.3
1(a!erin! on &o% when &o% tilted a!ainst the 6ni!ht o" =lowers'3 ;et when she heard
her own words +atel&n $new she had !otten it wron!' 1No ' ' ' was it the other wa&.3
1T&rion alwa&s bac$ed me in the lists,3 Caime said, 1b%t that da& Ser 7oras %nhorsed
me' * mischance, I too$ the bo& too li!htl&, b%t no matter' (hateer m& brother
wa!ered, he lost ' ' ' b%t that da!!er did chan!e hands, I recall it now' Bobert showed it
to me that ni!ht at the "east' ,is 8race loed to salt m& wo%nds, especiall& when dr%n$'
*nd when was he not dr%n$.3
T&rion 7annister had said m%ch the same thin! as the& rode thro%!h the 2o%ntains o"
the 2oon, +atel&n remembered' She had re"%sed to beliee him' 4et&r had sworn
otherwise, 4et&r who had been almost a brother, 4et&r who loed her so m%ch he "o%!ht
a d%el "or her hand ' ' ' and &et i" Caime and T&rion told the same tale, what did that
mean. The brothers had not seen each other since departin! (inter"ell more than a &ear
a!o' 1*re &o% tr&in! to deceie me.3 Somewhere there was a trap here'
1Ie admitted to shoin! &o%r precio%s %rchin o%t a window, what wo%ld it !ain me to
lie abo%t this $ni"e.3 ,e tossed down another c%p o" wine' 1Beliee what &o% will, Im
past carin! what people sa& o" me' *nd its m& t%rn' ,ae Boberts brothers ta$en the
"ield.3
1The& hae'3
1Now theres a ni!!ardl& response' 8ie me more than that, or &o%r ne0t answer will
be as poor'3
1Stannis marches a!ainst 6in!s 7andin!,3 she said !r%d!in!l&' 1Benl& is dead,
m%rdered at Bitterbrid!e b& his brother, thro%!h some blac$ art I do not %nderstand'3
1* pit&,3 Caime said' 1I rather li$ed Benl&, tho%!h Stannis is )%ite another tale' (hat
side hae the T&rells ta$en.3
1Benl&, at "irst' Now, I co%ld not sa&'3
1;o%r bo& m%st be "eelin! lonel&'3
1Bobb was si0teen a "ew da&s past ' ' ' a man !rown, and a $in!' ,es won eer& battle
hes "o%!ht' The last word we had "rom him, he had ta$en the +ra! "rom the
(esterlin!s'3
1,e hasnt "aced m& "ather &et, has he.3
1(hen he does, hell de"eat him' *s he did &o%'3
1,e too$ me %nawares' * craens tric$'3
1;o% dare tal$ o" tric$s. ;o%r brother T&rion sent %s c%tthroats in eno&s !arb, %nder
a peace banner'3
1I" it were one o" &o%r sons in this cell, wo%ldnt his brothers do as m%ch "or him.3
2& son has no brothers, she tho%!ht, b%t she wo%ld not share her pain with a creat%re
s%ch as this'
Caime dran$ some more wine' 1(hats a brothers li"e when honor is at sta$e, eh.3
*nother sip' 1T&rion is cleer eno%!h to reali?e that &o%r son will neer consent to
ransom me'3
+atel&n co%ld not den& it' 1Bobbs bannermen wo%ld sooner see &o% dead' Bic$ard
6arstar$ in partic%lar' ;o% slew two o" his sons in the (hisperin! (ood'3
1The two with the white s%nb%rst, were the&.3 Caime !ae a shr%!' 1I" tr%th be told, it
was &o%r son that I was tr&in! to sla&' The others !ot in m& wa&' I $illed them in "air
"i!ht, in the heat o" battle' *n& other $ni!ht wo%ld hae done the same'3
1,ow can &o% still co%nt &o%rsel" a $ni!ht, when &o% hae "orsa$en eer& ow &o%
eer swore.3
Caime reached "or the "la!on to re"ill his c%p' 1So man& ows ' ' ' the& ma$e &o% swear
and swear' #e"end the $in!' /be& the $in!' 6eep his secrets' #o his biddin!' ;o%r li"e
"or his' B%t obe& &o%r "ather' 7oe &o%r sister' 4rotect the innocent' #e"end the wea$'
Bespect the !ods' /be& the laws' Its too m%ch' No matter what &o% do, &o%re
"orsa$in! one ow or the other'3 ,e too$ a health& swallow o" wine and closed his e&es
"or an instant, leanin! his head bac$ a!ainst the patch o" nitre on the wall' 1I was the
&o%n!est man eer to wear the white cloa$'3
1*nd the &o%n!est to betra& all it stood "or, 6in!sla&er'3
16in!sla&er,3 he prono%nced care"%ll&' 1*nd s%ch a $in! he was@3 ,e li"ted his c%p'
1To *er&s Tar!ar&en, the Second o" ,is Name, 7ord o" the Seen 6in!doms and
4rotector o" the Bealm' *nd to the sword that opened his throat' * !olden sword, dont
&o% $now' <ntil his blood ran red down the blade' Those are the 7annister colors, red
and !old'3
*s he la%!hed, she reali?ed the wine had done its wor$: Caime had drained most o" the
"la!on, and he was dr%n$' 1/nl& a man li$e &o% wo%ld be pro%d o" s%ch an act'3
1I told &o%, there are no men li$e me' *nswer me this, 7ad& Star$did &o%r Ned eer
tell &o% the manner o" his "athers death. /r his brothers.3
1The& stran!led Brandon while his "ather watched, and then $illed 7ord Bic$ard as
well'3 *n %!l& tale, and si0teen &ears old' (h& was he as$in! abo%t it now.
16illed, &es, b%t how.3
1The cord or the a0e, I s%ppose'3
Caime too$ a swallow, wiped his mo%th' 1No do%bt Ned wished to spare &o%' ,is
sweet &o%n! bride, i" not )%ite a maiden' (ell, &o% wanted tr%th' *s$ me' (e made a
bar!ain, I can den& &o% nothin!' *s$'3
1#ead is dead'3 I do not want to $now this'
1Brandon was di""erent "rom his brother, wasnt he. ,e had blood in his eins instead
o" cold water' 2ore li$e me'3
1Brandon was nothin! li$e &o%'3
1I" &o% sa& so' ;o% and he were to wed'3
1,e was on his wa& to Bierr%n when ' ' '3 Stran!e, how tellin! it still made her throat
!row ti!ht, a"ter all these &ears' 1' ' ' when he heard abo%t 7&anna, and went to 6in!s
7andin! instead' It was a rash thin! to do'3 She remembered how her own "ather had
ra!ed when the news had been bro%!ht to Bierr%n' The !allant "ool, was what he called
Brandon'
Caime po%red the last hal" c%p o" wine' 1,e rode into the Bed 6eep with a "ew
companions, sho%tin! "or 4rince Bhae!ar to come o%t and die' B%t Bhae!ar wasnt
there' *er&s sent his !%ards to arrest them all "or plottin! his sons m%rder' The others
were lords sons too, it seems to me'3
15than 8loer was Brandons s)%ire,3 +atel&n said' 1,e was the onl& one to s%rie'
The others were Ce""or& 2allister, 6&le Bo&ce, and 5lbert *rr&n, Con *rr&ns nephew
and heir'3 It was )%eer how she still remembered the names, a"ter so man& &ears' 1*er&s
acc%sed them o" treason and s%mmoned their "athers to co%rt to answer the char!e, with
the sons as hosta!es' (hen the& came, he had them m%rdered witho%t trial' =athers and
sons both'3
1There were trials' /" a sort' 7ord Bic$ard demanded trial b& combat, and the $in!
!ranted the re)%est' Star$ armored himsel" as "or battle, thin$in! to d%el one o" the
6in!s!%ard' 2e, perhaps' Instead the& too$ him to the throne room and s%spended him
"rom the ra"ters while two o" *er&ss p&romancers $indled a bla?e beneath him' The
$in! told him that "ire was the champion o" ,o%se Tar!ar&en' So all 7ord Bic$ard
needed to do to proe himsel" innocent o" treason was ' ' ' well, not b%rn'
1(hen the "ire was bla?in!, Brandon was bro%!ht in' ,is hands were chained behind
his bac$, and aro%nd his nec$ was a wet leathern cord attached to a deice the $in! had
bro%!ht "rom T&rosh' ,is le!s were le"t "ree, tho%!h, and his lon!sword was set down
9%st be&ond his reach'
1The p&romancers roasted 7ord Bic$ard slowl&, ban$in! and "annin! that "ire care"%ll&
to !et a nice een heat' ,is cloa$ ca%!ht "irst, and then his s%rcoat, and soon he wore
nothin! b%t metal and ashes' Ne0t he wo%ld start to coo$, *er&s promised ' ' ' %nless his
son co%ld "ree him' Brandon tried, b%t the more he str%!!led, the ti!hter the cord
constricted aro%nd his throat' In the end he stran!led himsel"'
1*s "or 7ord Bic$ard, the steel o" his breastplate t%rned cherr&-red be"ore the end, and
his !old melted o"" his sp%rs and dripped down into the "ire' I stood at the "oot o" the
Iron Throne in m& white armor and white cloa$, "illin! m& head with tho%!hts o" +ersei'
*"ter, 8erold ,i!htower himsel" too$ me aside and said to me, D;o% swore a ow to
!%ard the $in!, not to 9%d!e him' That was the (hite B%ll, lo&al to the end and a better
man than me, all a!ree'3
1*er&s ' ' '3 +atel&n co%ld taste bile at the bac$ o" her throat' The stor& was so hideo%s
she s%spected it had to be tr%e' 1*er&s was mad, the whole realm $new it, b%t i" &o%
wo%ld hae me beliee &o% slew him to aen!e Brandon Star$ ' ' '3
1I made no s%ch claim' The Star$s were nothin! to me' I will sa&, I thin$ it passin! odd
that I am loed b& one "or a $indness I neer did, and reiled b& so man& "or m& "inest
act' *t Boberts coronation, I was made to $neel at the ro&al "eet beside 8rand 2aester
4&celle and >ar&s the e%n%ch, so that he mi!ht "or!ie %s o%r crimes be"ore he too$ %s
into his serice' *s "or &o%r Ned, he sho%ld hae $issed the hand that slew *er&s, b%t he
pre"erred to scorn the arse he "o%nd sittin! on Boberts throne' I thin$ Ned Star$ loed
Bobert better than he eer loed his brother or his "ather ' ' ' or een &o%, m& lad&' ,e
was neer %n"aith"%l to Bobert, was he.3 Caime !ae a dr%n$en la%!h' 1+ome, 7ad&
Star$, dont &o% "ind this all terribl& am%sin!.3
1I "ind nothin! abo%t &o% am%sin!, 6in!sla&er'3
1That name a!ain' I dont thin$ Ill "%c$ &o% a"ter all, 7ittle"in!er had &o% "irst, didnt
he. I neer eat o"" another mans trencher' Besides, &o%re not hal" so loel& as m&
sister'3 ,is smile c%t' 1Ie neer lain with an& woman b%t +ersei' In m& own wa&, I
hae been tr%er than &o%r Ned eer was' 4oor old dead Ned' So who has shit "or honor
now, I as$ &o%. (hat was the name o" that bastard he "athered.3
+atel&n too$ a step bac$ward' 1Brienne'3
1No, that wasnt it'3 Caime 7annister %pended the "la!on' * tric$le ran down onto his
"ace, bri!ht as blood' 1Snow, that was the one' S%ch a white name ' ' ' li$e the prett&
cloa$s the& !ie %s in the 6in!s!%ard when we swear o%r prett& oaths'3
Brienne p%shed open the door and stepped inside the cell' 1;o% called, m& lad&.3
18ie me &o%r sword'3 +atel&n held o%t her hand'
C#APT"R +,
T#"O'
The s$& was a !loom o" clo%d, the woods dead and "ro?en' Boots !rabbed at Theons
"eet as he ran, and bare branches lashed his "ace, leain! thin stripes o" blood across his
chee$s' ,e crashed thro%!h heedless, breathless, icicles "l&in! to pieces be"ore him'
2erc&, he sobbed' =rom behind came a sh%dderin! howl that c%rdled his blood' 2erc&,
merc&' (hen he !lanced bac$ oer his sho%lder he saw them comin!, !reat woles the
si?e o" horses with the heads o" small children' /h, merc&, merc&' Blood dripped "rom
their mo%ths blac$ as pitch, b%rnin! holes in the snow where it "ell' 5er& stride bro%!ht
them closer' Theon tried to r%n "aster, b%t his le!s wo%ld not obe&' The trees all had
"aces, and the& were la%!hin! at him, la%!hin!, and the howl came a!ain' ,e co%ld
smell the hot breath o" the beasts behind him, a stin$ o" brimstone and corr%ption'
The&re dead, dead, I saw them $illed, he tried to sho%t, I saw their heads dipped in tar,
b%t when he opened his mo%th onl& a moan emer!ed, and then somethin! to%ched him
and he whirled, sho%tin! ' ' '
' ' ' "lailin! "or the da!!er he $ept b& his bedside and mana!in! onl& to $noc$ it to the
"loor' (e0 danced awa& "rom him' Bee$ stood behind the m%te, his "ace lit "rom below
b& the candle he carried' 1(hat.3 Theon cried' 2erc&' 1(hat do &o% want. (h& are
&o% in m& bedchamber. (h&.3
12& lord prince,3 said Bee$, 1&o%r sister has come to (inter"ell' ;o% as$ed to be
in"ormed at once i" she arried'3
14ast time,3 Theon m%ttered, p%shin! his "in!ers thro%!h his hair' ,e had be!%n to "ear
that *sha meant to leae him to his "ate' 2erc&' ,e !lanced o%tside the window, where
the "irst a!%e li!ht o" dawn was 9%st br%shin! the towers o" (inter"ell' 1(here is she.3
17orren too$ her and her men to the 8reat ,all to brea$ their "ast' (ill &o% see her
now.3
1;es'3 Theon p%shed o"" the blan$ets' The "ire had b%rned down to embers' 1(e0, hot
water'3 ,e co%ld not let *sha see him disheeled and soa$ed with sweat' (oles with
childrens "aces ' ' ' ,e shiered' 1+lose the sh%tters'3 The bedchamber "elt as cold as
the dream "orest had been'
*ll his dreams had been cold o" late, and each more hideo%s than the one be"ore' 7ast
ni!ht he had dreamed himsel" bac$ in the mill a!ain, on his $nees dressin! the dead'
Their limbs were alread& sti""enin!, so the& seemed to resist s%llenl& as he "%mbled at
them with hal"-"ro?en "in!ers, t%!!in! %p breeches and $nottin! laces, &an$in! "%r-
trimmed boots oer hard %nbendin! "eet, b%c$lin! a st%dded leather belt aro%nd a waist
no bi!!er than the span o" his hands' 1This was neer what I wanted,3 he told them as he
wor$ed' 1The& !ae me no choice'3 The corpses made no answer, b%t onl& !rew colder
and heaier'
The ni!ht be"ore, it had been the millers wi"e' Theon had "or!otten her name, b%t he
remembered her bod&, so"t pillow& breasts and stretch mar$s on her bell&, the wa& she
clawed his bac$ when he "%c$ed her' 7ast ni!ht in his dream he had been in bed with her
once a!ain, b%t this time she had teeth aboe and below, and she tore o%t his throat een
as she was !nawin! o"" his manhood' It was madness' ,ed seen her die too' 8elmarr
had c%t her down with one blow o" his a0e as she cried to Theon "or merc&' 7eae me,
woman' It was him who $illed &o%, not me' *nd hes dead as well' *t least 8elmarr did
not ha%nt Theons sleep'
The dream had receded b& the time (e0 ret%rned with the water' Theon washed the
sweat and sleep "rom his bod& and too$ his own !ood time dressin!' *sha had let him
wait lon! eno%!h: now it was her t%rn' ,e chose a satin t%nic striped blac$ and !old and
a "ine leather 9er$in with siler st%ds ' ' ' and onl& then remembered that his wretched
sister p%t more stoc$ in blades than bea%t&' +%rsin!, he tore o"" the clothes and dressed
a!ain, in "elted blac$ wool and rin!mail' *ro%nd his waist he b%c$led sword and da!!er,
rememberin! the ni!ht she had h%miliated him at his own "athers table' ,er sweet
s%c$lin! babe, &es' (ell, I hae a $ni"e too, and $now how to %se it'
7ast o" all, he donned his crown, a band o" cold iron slim as a "in!er, set with hea&
ch%n$s o" blac$ diamond and n%!!ets o" !old' It was misshapen and %!l&, b%t there was
no help "or that' 2i$$en la& b%ried in the lich&ard, and the new smith was capable o"
little more than nails and horseshoes' Theon consoled himsel" with the reminder that it
was onl& a princes crown' ,e wo%ld hae somethin! m%ch "iner when he was crowned
$in!'
/%tside his door, Bee$ waited with <r?en and 6romm' Theon "ell in with them' These
da&s, he too$ !%ards with him eer&where he went, een to the pri&' (inter"ell wanted
him dead' The er& ni!ht the& had ret%rned "rom *corn (ater, 8elmarr the 8rim had
t%mbled down some steps and bro$en his bac$' The ne0t da&, *!!ar t%rned %p with his
throat slit ear to ear' 8&nir Bednose became so war& that he sh%nned wine, too$ to
sleepin! in b&rnie, coi", and helm, and adopted the noisiest do! in the $ennels to !ie
him warnin! sho%ld an&one tr& to steal %p on his sleepin! place' *ll the same, one
mornin! the castle wo$e to the so%nd o" the little do! bar$in! wildl&' The& "o%nd the
p%p racin! aro%nd the well, and Bednose "loatin! in it, drowned'
,e co%ld not let the $illin!s !o %np%nished' =arlen was as li$el& a s%spect as an&, so
Theon sat in 9%d!ment, called him !%ilt&, and condemned him to death' 5en that went
so%r' *s he $nelt to the bloc$, the $ennelmaster said, 12lord 5ddard alwa&s did his
own $illin!s'3 Theon had to ta$e the a0e himsel" or loo$ a wea$lin!' ,is hands were
sweatin!, so the sha"t twisted in his !rip as he sw%n! and the "irst blow landed between
=arlens sho%lders' It too$ three more c%ts to hac$ thro%!h all that bone and m%scle and
seer the head "rom the bod&, and a"terward he was sic$, rememberin! all the times
the&d sat oer a c%p o" mead tal$in! o" ho%nds and h%ntin!' I had no choice, he wanted
to scream at the corpse' The ironborn cant $eep secrets, the& had to die, and someone
had to ta$e the blame "or it' ,e onl& wished he had $illed him cleaner' Ned Star$ had
neer needed more than a sin!le blow to ta$e a mans head'
The $illin!s stopped a"ter =arlens death, b%t een so his men contin%ed s%llen and
an0io%s' 1The& "ear no "oe in open battle,3 Blac$ 7orren told him, 1b%t it is another
thin! to dwell amon! enemies, neer $nowin! i" the washerwoman means to $iss &o% or
$ill &o%, or whether the serin! bo& is "illin! &o%r c%p with ale or bale' (e wo%ld do
well to leae this place'3
1I am the 4rince o" (inter"ell@3 Theon had sho%ted' 1This is m& seat, no man will
drie me "rom it' No, nor woman either@3
*sha' It was her doin!' 2& own sweet sister, ma& the /thers b%!!er her with a sword'
She wanted him dead, so she co%ld steal his place as their "athers heir' That was wh&
she had let him lan!%ish here, i!norin! the %r!ent commands he had sent her'
,e "o%nd her in the hi!h seat o" the Star$s, rippin! a capon apart with her "in!ers' The
hall ran! with the oices o" her men, sharin! stories with Theons own as the& dran$
to!ether' The& were so lo%d that his entrance went all b%t %nnoticed' 1(here are the
rest.3 he demanded o" Bee$' There were no more than "i"t& men at the trestle tables,
most o" them his' (inter"ells 8reat ,all co%ld hae seated ten times the n%mber'
1This is the whole o the compan&, mlord prince'3
1The wholeAhow man& men did she brin!.3
1Twent&, b& m& co%nt'3
Theon 8re&9o& strode to where his sister was sprawled' *sha was la%!hin! at
somethin! one o" her men had said, b%t bro$e o"" at his approach' 1(h&, Dtis the 4rince
o" (inter"ell'3 She tossed a bone to one o" the do!s sni""in! abo%t the hall' <nder that
haw$s bea$ o" a nose, her wide mo%th twisted in a moc$in! !rin' 1/r is it 4rince o"
=ools.3
15n& ill becomes a maid'3
*sha s%c$ed !rease "rom her "in!ers' * loc$ o" blac$ hair "ell across her e&es' ,er men
were sho%tin! "or bread and bacon' The& made a deal o" noise, as "ew as the& were'
15n&, Theon.3
1(hat else wo%ld &o% call it. (ith thirt& men, I capt%red (inter"ell in a ni!ht' ;o%
needed a tho%sand and a moons t%rn to ta$e #eepwood 2otte'3
1(ell, Im no !reat warrior li$e &o%, brother,3 She )%a""ed hal" a horn o" ale and
wiped her mo%th with the bac$ o" her hand' 1I saw the heads aboe &o%r !ates' Tell me
tr%e, which one !ae &o% the "iercest "i!ht, the cripple or the babe.3
Theon co%ld "eel the blood r%shin! to his "ace' ,e too$ no 9o& "rom those heads, no
more than he had in displa&in! the headless bodies o" the children be"ore the castle' /ld
Nan stood with her so"t toothless mo%th openin! and closin! so%ndlessl&, and =arlen
threw himsel" at Theon, snarlin! li$e one o" his ho%nds' <r?en and +adw&l had to beat
him senseless with the b%tts o" their spears' ,ow did I come to this. he remembered
thin$in! as he stood oer the "l&-spec$led bodies'
/nl& 2aester 7%win had the stomach to come near' Stone-"aced, the small !re& man
had be!!ed leae to sew the bo&s heads bac$ onto their sho%lders, so the& mi!ht be laid
in the cr&pts below with the other Star$ dead'
1No,3 Theon had told him' 1Not the cr&pts'3
1B%t wh&, m& lord. S%rel& the& cannot harm &o% now' It is where the& belon!' *ll the
bones o" the Star$sA3
1I said no'3 ,e needed the heads "or the wall, b%t he had b%rned the headless bodies
that er& da&, in all their "iner&' *"terward he had $nelt amon!st the bones and ashes to
retriee a sla! o" melted siler and crac$ed 9et, all that remained o" the wol"s-head
brooch that had once been Brans' ,e had it still'
1I treated Bran and Bic$on !enero%sl&,3 he told his sister' 1The& bro%!ht their "ate on
themseles'3
1*s do we all, little brother'3
,is patience was at an end' 1,ow do &o% e0pect me to hold (inter"ell i" &o% brin! me
onl& twent& men.3
1Ten,3 *sha corrected' 1The others ret%rn with me' ;o% wo%ldnt want &o%r own sweet
sister to brae the dan!ers o" the wood witho%t an escort, wo%ld &o%. There are
direwoles prowlin! the dar$'3 She %ncoiled "rom the !reat stone seat and rose to her
"eet' 1+ome, let %s !o somewhere we can spea$ more priil&'3
She was ri!ht, he $new, tho%!h it !alled him that she wo%ld ma$e that decision' I
sho%ld neer hae come to the hall, he reali?ed belatedl&' I sho%ld hae s%mmoned her
to me'
It was too late "or that now, howeer' Theon had no choice b%t to lead *sha to Ned
Star$s solar' There, be"ore the ashes o" a dead "ire, he bl%rted, 1#a!mers lost the "i!ht
at Torrhens S)%areA3
1The old castellan bro$e his shield wall, &es,3 *sha said calml&' 1(hat did &o%
e0pect. This Ser Bodri$ $nows the land intimatel&, as the +le"t9aw does not, and man&
o" the northmen were mo%nted' The ironborn lac$ the discipline to stand a char!e o"
armored horse' #a!mer lies, be !rate"%l "or that m%ch' ,es leadin! the s%riors bac$
toward the Ston& Shore'3
She $nows more than I do, Theon reali?ed' That onl& made him an!rier' 1The ictor&
has !ien 7eobald Tallhart the co%ra!e to come o%t "rom behind his walls and 9oin Ser
Bodri$' *nd Ie had reports that 7ord 2anderl& has sent a do?en bar!es %prier pac$ed
with $ni!hts, warhorses, and sie!e en!ines' The <mbers are !atherin! be&ond the 7ast
Bier as well' Ill hae an arm& at m& !ates be"ore the moon t%rns, and &o% brin! me
onl& ten men.3
1I need not hae bro%!ht &o% an&'3
1I commanded &o%A3
1=ather commanded me to ta$e #eepwood 2otte,3 she snapped' 1,e said nothin! o"
me hain! to resc%e m& little brother'3
1B%!!er #eepwood,3 he said' 1Its a wooden pisspot on a hill' (inter"ell is the heart o"
the land, b%t how am I to hold it witho%t a !arrison.3
1;o% mi!ht hae tho%!ht o" that be"ore &o% too$ it' /h, it was cleerl& done, Ill !rant
&o%' I" onl& &o%d had the !ood sense to ra?e the castle and carr& the two little
princelin!s bac$ to 4&$e as hosta!es, &o% mi!ht hae won the war in a stro$e'3
1;o%d li$e that, wo%ldnt &o%. To see m& pri?e red%ced to r%ins and ashes'3
1;o%r pri?e will be the doom o" &o%' 6ra$ens rise "rom the sea, Theon, or did &o%
"or!et that d%rin! &o%r &ears amon! the woles. /%r stren!th is in o%r lon!ships' 2&
wooden pisspot sits close eno%!h to the sea "or s%pplies and "resh men to reach me
wheneer the& are need"%l' B%t (inter"ell is h%ndreds o" lea!%es inland, rin!ed b&
woods, hills, and hostile hold"asts and castles' *nd eer& man in a tho%sand lea!%es is
&o%r enem& now, ma$e no mista$e' ;o% made certain o" that when &o% mo%nted those
heads on &o%r !ateho%se'3 *sha shoo$ her head' 1,ow co%ld &o% be s%ch a blood& "ool.
+hildren ' ' '3
1The& de"ied me@3 he sho%ted in her "ace' 1*nd it was blood "or blood besides, two
sons o" 5ddard Star$ to pa& "or Bodri$ and 2aron'3 The words t%mbled o%t heedlessl&,
b%t Theon $new at once that his "ather wo%ld approe' 1Ie laid m& brothers !hosts to
rest'3
1/%r brothers,3 *sha reminded him, with a hal" smile that s%!!ested she too$ his tal$
o" en!eance well salted' 1#id &o% brin! their !hosts "rom 4&$e, brother. *nd here I
tho%!ht the& ha%nted onl& =ather'3
1(hen has a maid eer %nderstood a mans need "or reen!e.3 5en i" his "ather did
not appreciate the !i"t o" (inter"ell, he m%st approe o" Theon aen!in! his brothers@
*sha snorted bac$ a la%!h' 1This Ser Bodri$ ma& well "eel the same manl& need, did
&o% thin$ o" that. ;o% are blood o" m& blood, Theon, whateer else &o% ma& be' =or the
sa$e o" the mother who bore %s both, ret%rn to #eepwood 2otte with me' 4%t (inter"ell
to the torch and "all bac$ while &o% still can'3
1No'3 Theon ad9%sted his crown' 1I too$ this castle and I mean to hold it'3
,is sister loo$ed at him a lon! time' 1Then hold it &o% shall,3 she said, 1"or the rest o"
&o%r li"e'3 She si!hed' 1I sa& it tastes li$e "oll&, b%t what wo%ld a sh& maid $now o"
s%ch thin!s.3 *t the door she !ae him one last moc$in! smile' 1;o% o%!ht to $now,
thats the %!liest crown Ie eer laid e&es on' #id &o% ma$e it &o%rsel".3
She le"t him "%min!, and lin!ered no lon!er than was need"%l to "eed and water her
horses' ,al" the men shed bro%!ht ret%rned with her as threatened, ridin! o%t the same
,%nters 8ate that Bran and Bic$on had %sed "or their escape'
Theon watched them !o "rom atop the wall' *s his sister anished into the mists o" the
wol"swood he "o%nd himsel" wonderin! wh& he had not listened and !one with her'
18one, has she.3 Bee$ was at his elbow'
Theon had not heard him approach, nor smelled him either' ,e co%ld not thin$ o"
an&one he wanted to see less' It made him %neas& to see the man wal$in! aro%nd
breathin!, with what he $new' I sho%ld hae had him $illed a"ter he did the others, he
re"lected, b%t the notion made him nero%s' <nli$el& as it seemed, Bee$ co%ld read and
write, and he was possessed o" eno%!h base c%nnin! to hae hidden an acco%nt o" what
the&d done'
12lord prince, i" &o%ll pardon me sa&in!, its not ri!ht "or her to abandon &o%' *nd
ten men, that wont be near eno%!h'3
1I am well aware o" that,3 Theon said' So was *sha'
1(ell, mi!ht be I co%ld help &o%,3 said Bee$' 18ie me a horse and ba! o coin, and I
co%ld "ind &o% some !ood "ellows'3
Theon narrowed his e&es' 1,ow man&.3
1* h%ndred, mi!ht be' Two h%ndred' 2a&be more'3 ,e smiled, his pale e&es !lintin!'
1I was born %p north here' I $now man& a man, and man& a man $nows Bee$'3
Two h%ndred men were not an arm&, b%t &o% didnt need tho%sands to hold a castle as
stron! as (inter"ell' So lon! as the& co%ld learn which end o" a spear did the $illin!,
the& mi!ht ma$e all the di""erence' 1#o as &o% sa& and &o%ll not "ind me %n!rate"%l'
;o% can name &o%r own reward'3
1(ell, mlord, I haent had no woman since I was with 7ord Bamsa&,3 Bee$ said'
1Ie had m& e&e on that 4alla, and I hear shes alread& been had, so ' ' '3
,e had !one too "ar with Bee$ to t%rn bac$ now' 1Two h%ndred men and shes &o%rs'
B%t a man less and &o% can !o bac$ to "%c$in! pi!s'3
Bee$ was !one be"ore the s%n went down, carr&in! a ba! o" Star$ siler and the last o"
Theons hopes' 7i$e as not, Ill neer see the wretch a!ain, he tho%!ht bitterl&, b%t een
so the chance had to be ta$en'
That ni!ht he dreamed o" the "east Ned Star$ had thrown when 6in! Bobert came to
(inter"ell' The hall ran! with m%sic and la%!hter, tho%!h the cold winds were risin!
o%tside' *t "irst it was all wine and roast meat, and Theon was ma$in! 9apes and e&ein!
the serin! !irls and hain! himsel" a "ine time ' ' ' %ntil he noticed that the room was
!rowin! dar$er' The m%sic did not seem so 9oll& then: he heard discords and stran!e
silences, and notes that h%n! in the air bleedin!' S%ddenl& the wine t%rned bitter in his
mo%th, and when he loo$ed %p "rom his c%p he saw that he was dinin! with the dead'
6in! Bobert sat with his !%ts spillin! o%t on the table "rom the !reat !ash in his bell&,
and 7ord 5ddard was headless beside him' +orpses lined the benches below, !re&-brown
"lesh slo%!hin! o"" their bones as the& raised their c%ps to toast, worms crawlin! in and
o%t o" the holes that were their e&es' ,e $new them, eer& one: Cor& +assel and =at
Tom, 4orther and +a&n and ,%llen the master o" horse, and all the others who had
ridden so%th to 6in!s 7andin! neer to ret%rn' 2i$$en and +ha&le sat to!ether, one
drippin! blood and the other water' Ben"red Tallhart and his (ild ,ares "illed most o" a
table' The millers wi"e was there as well, and =arlen, een the wildlin! Theon had
$illed in the wol"swood the da& he had saed Brans li"e'
B%t there were others with "aces he had neer $nown in li"e, "aces he had seen onl& in
stone' The slim, sad !irl who wore a crown o" pale bl%e roses and a white !own
spattered with !ore co%ld onl& be 7&anna' ,er brother Brandon stood beside her, and
their "ather 7ord Bic$ard 9%st behind' *lon! the walls "i!%res hal"-seen moed thro%!h
the shadows, pale shades with lon! !rim "aces' The si!ht o" them sent "ear shierin!
thro%!h Theon sharp as a $ni"e' *nd then the tall doors opened with a crash, and a
"ree?in! !ale blew down the hall, and Bobb came wal$in! o%t o" the ni!ht' 8re& (ind
stal$ed beside, e&es b%rnin!, and man and wol" ali$e bled "rom hal" a h%ndred saa!e
wo%nds'
Theon wo$e with a scream, startlin! (e0 so badl& that the bo& ran na$ed "rom the
room' (hen his !%ards b%rst in with drawn swords, he ordered them to brin! him the
maester' B& the time 7%win arried r%mpled and sleep&, a c%p o" wine had steadied
Theons hands, and he was "eelin! ashamed o" his panic' 1* dream,3 he m%ttered, 1that
was all it was' It meant nothin!'3
1Nothin!,3 7%win a!reed solemnl&' ,e le"t a sleepin! dra%!ht, b%t Theon po%red it
down the pri& sha"t the moment he was !one' 7%win was a man as well as a maester,
and the man had no loe "or him' ,e wants me to sleep, &es ' ' ' to sleep and neer wa$e'
,ed li$e that as m%ch as *sha wo%ld'
,e sent "or 6&ra, $ic$ed sh%t the door, climbed on top o" her, and "%c$ed the wench
with a "%r& hed neer $nown was in him, B& the time he "inished, she was sobbin!, her
nec$ and breasts coered with br%ises and bite mar$s' Theon shoed her "rom the bed
and threw her a blan$et' 18et o%t'3
;et een then, he co%ld not sleep'
+ome dawn, he dressed and went o%tside, to wal$ alon! the o%ter walls' * bris$
a%t%mn wind was swirlin! thro%!h the battlements' It reddened his chee$s and st%n! his
e&es' ,e watched the "orest !o "rom !re& to !reen below him as li!ht "iltered thro%!h
the silent trees' /n his le"t he co%ld see tower tops aboe the inner wall, their roo"s
!ilded b& the risin! s%n' The red leaes o" the weirwood were a bla?e o" "lame amon!
the !reen' Ned Star$s tree, he tho%!ht, and Star$s wood, Star$s castle, Star$s sword,
Star$s !ods' This is their place, not mine' I am a 8re&9o& o" 4&$e, born to paint a
$ra$en on m& shield and sail the !reat salt sea' I sho%ld hae !one with *sha'
/n their iron spi$es atop the !ateho%se, the heads waited'
Theon !a?ed at them silentl& while the wind t%!!ed on his cloa$ with small !hostl&
hands' The millers bo&s had been o" an a!e with Bran and Bic$on, ali$e in si?e and
colorin!, and once Bee$ had "la&ed the s$in "rom their "aces and dipped their heads in
tar, it was eas& to see "amiliar "eat%res in those misshapen l%mps o" rottin! "lesh' 4eople
were s%ch "ools' I" wed said the& were rams heads, the& wo%ld hae seen horns'
C#APT"R +.
SA'SA
The& had been sin!in! in the sept all mornin!, since the "irst report o" enem& sails had
reached the castle' The so%nd o" their oices min!led with the whic$er o" horses, the
clan$ o" steel, and the !roanin! hin!es o" the !reat bron?e !ates to ma$e a stran!e and
"ear"%l m%sic' In the sept the& sin! "or the 2others merc& b%t on the walls its the
(arrior the& pra& to, and all in silence' She remembered how Septa 2ordane %sed to tell
them that the (arrior and the 2other were onl& two "aces o" the same !reat !od' B%t i"
there is onl& one, whose pra&ers will be heard.
Ser 2er&n Trant held the blood ba& "or Co""re& to mo%nt' Bo& and horse ali$e wore
!ilded mail and enameled crimson plate, with matchin! !olden lions on their heads' The
pale s%nli!ht "lashed o"" the !olds and reds eer& time Co"" moed' Bri!ht, shinin!, and
empt&, Sansa tho%!ht'
The imp was mo%nted on a red stallion, armored more plainl& than the $in! in battle
!ear that made him loo$ li$e a little bo& dressed %p in his "athers clothes' B%t there was
nothin! childish abo%t the battle-a0e sl%n! below his shield' Ser 2andon 2oore rode at
his side, white steel ic& bri!ht' (hen T&rion saw her he t%rned his horse her wa&' 17ad&
Sansa,3 he called "rom the saddle, 1s%rel& m& sister has as$ed &o% to 9oin the other
hi!hborn ladies in 2ae!ors.3
1She has, m& lord, b%t 6in! Co""re& sent "or me to see him o""' I mean to isit the sept
as well, to pra&'3
1I wont as$ "or whom'3 ,is mo%th twisted oddl&: i" that was a smile, o"" with sho%ts
and cheers' (hen the last was !one, a s%dden stillness settled oer the &ard, li$e the
h%sh be"ore a storm'
Thro%!h the )%iet, the sin!in! p%lled at her' Sansa t%rned toward the sept' Two
stablebo&s "ollowed, and one o" the !%ards whose watch was ended' /thers "ell in
behind them'
Sansa had neer seen the sept so crowded, nor so bri!htl& lit: !reat sha"ts o" rainbow-
colored s%nli!ht slanted down thro%!h the cr&stals in the hi!h windows, and candles
b%rned on eer& side, their little "lames twin$lin! li$e stars' The 2others altar and the
(arriors swam in li!ht, b%t Smith and +rone and 2aid and =ather had their worshipers
as well, and there were een a "ew "lames dancin! below the Stran!ers hal"h%man "ace '
' ' "or what was Stannis Baratheon, i" not the Stran!er come to 9%d!e them. Sansa isited
each o" the Seen in t%rn, li!htin! a candle at each altar, and then "o%nd hersel" a place
on the benches between a wi?ened old washer woman and a bo& no older than Bic$on,
dressed in the "ine linen t%nic o" a $ni!hts son' The old womans hand was bon& and
hard with call%s, the bo&s small and so"t, b%t it was !ood to hae someone to hold on to'
The air was hot and hea&, smellin! o" incense and sweat, cr&stal-$issed and candle-
bri!ht: it made her di??& to breathe it'
She $new the h&mn: her mother had ta%!ht it to her once, a lon! time a!o in
(inter"ell' She 9oined her oice to theirs'
8entle 2other, "ont o" merc&, sae o%r sons "rom war, we pra&, sta& the swords and
sta& the arrows, let them $now a better da&' 8entle 2other, stren!th o" women, help o%r
da%!hters thro%!h this "ra&, soothe the wrath and tame the "%r&, teach %s all a $inder
wa&'
*cross the cit&, tho%sands had 9ammed into the 8reat Sept o" Baelor on >isen&as ,ill,
and the& wo%ld be sin!in! too, their oices swellin! o%t oer the cit&, across the rier,
and %p into the s$&' S%rel& the !ods m%st hear %s, she tho%!ht'
Sansa $new most o" the h&mns, and "ollowed alon! on those she did not $now as best
she co%ld' She san! alon! with !ri??led old serin! men and an0io%s &o%n! wies, with
serin! !irls and soldiers, coo$s and "alconers, $ni!hts and $naes, s)%ires and spit bo&s
and n%rsin! mothers' She san! with those inside the castle walls and those witho%t, san!
with all the cit&' She san! "or merc&, "or the liin! and the dead ali$e, "or Bran and
Bic$on and Bobb, "or her sister *r&a and her bastard brother Con Snow, awa& o"" on the
(all' She san! "or her mother and her "ather, "or her !rand"ather 7ord ,oster and her
%ncle 5dm%re T%ll&, "or her "riend Ce&ne 4oole, "or old dr%n$en 6in! Bobert, "or Septa
2ordane and Ser #ontos and Cor& +assel and 2aester 7%win, "or all the brae $ni!hts
and soldiers who wo%ld die toda&, and "or the children and the wies who wo%ld mo%rn
them, and "inall&, toward the end, she een san! "or T&rion the Imp and "or the ,o%nd'
,e is no tr%e $ni!ht b%t he saed me all the same, she told the 2other' Sae him i" &o%
can, and !entle the ra!e inside him'
B%t when the septon climbed on hi!h and called %pon the !ods to protect and de"end
their tr%e and noble $in!, Sansa !ot to her "eet' The aisles were 9ammed with people'
She had to sho%lder thro%!h while the septon called %pon the Smith to lend stren!th to
Co""re&s sword and shield, the (arrior to !ie him co%ra!e, the =ather to de"end him in
his need' 7et his sword brea$ and his shield shatter, Sansa tho%!ht coldl& as she shoed
o%t thro%!h the doors, let his co%ra!e "ail him and eer& man desert him'
* "ew !%ards paced alon! on the !ateho%se battlements, b%t otherwise the castle
seemed empt&' Sansa stopped and listened' *wa& o"", she co%ld hear the so%nds o"
battle' The sin!in! almost drowned them o%t, b%t the so%nds were there i" &o% had the
ears to hear: the deep moan o" warhorns, the crea$ and th%d o" catap%lts "lin!in! stones,
the splashes and splinterin!s, the crac$le o" b%rnin! pitch and thr%m o" scorpions
loosin! their &ard-lon! iron-headed sha"ts ' ' ' and beneath it all, the cries o" d&in! men'
It was another sort o" son!, a terrible son!' Sansa p%lled the hood o" her cloa$ %p oer
her ears, and h%rried toward 2ae!ors ,old"ast, the castle-within-a-castle where the
)%een had promised the& wo%ld all be sa"e' *t the "oot o" the drawbrid!e, she came
%pon 7ad& Tanda and her two da%!hters' =al&se had arried &esterda& "rom +astle
Sto$eworth with a small troop o" soldiers' She was tr&in! to coa0 her sister onto the
brid!e, b%t 7oll&s cl%n! to her maid, sobbin!, 1I dont want to, I dont want to, I dont
want to'3
1The battle is be!%n,3 7ad& Tanda said in a brittle oice'
1I dont want to, I dont want to'3
There was no wa& Sansa co%ld aoid them' She !reeted them co%rteo%sl&' 12a& I be
o" help.3
7ad& Tanda "l%shed with shame' 1No, m& lad&, b%t we than$ &o% $indl&' ;o% m%st
"or!ie m& da%!hter, she has not been well'3
1I dont want to'3 7oll&s cl%tched at her maid, a slender, prett& !irl with short dar$ hair
who loo$ed as tho%!h she wanted nothin! so m%ch as to shoe her mistress into the dr&
moat, onto those iron spi$es' 14lease, please, I dont want to'3
Sansa spo$e to her !entl&' 1(ell all be thrice protected inside, and theres to be "ood
and drin$ and son! as well'3
7oll&s !aped at her, mo%th open' She had d%ll brown e&es that alwa&s seemed to be
wet with tears' 1I dont want to'3
1;o% hae to,3 her sister =al&se said sharpl&, 1and that is the end o" it' Shae, help me'3
The& each too$ an elbow, and to!ether hal" dra!!ed and hal" carried 7oll&s across the
brid!e' Sansa "ollowed with their mother' 1Shes been sic$,3 7ad& Tanda said' I" a babe
can be termed a sic$ness, Sansa tho%!ht' It was common !ossip that 7oll&s was with
child'
The two !%ards at the door wore the lion-crested helms and crimson cloa$s o" ,o%se
7annister, b%t Sansa $new the& were onl& dressed-%p sellswords' *nother sat at the "oot
o" the stairAa real !%ard wo%ld hae been standin!, not sittin! on a step with his
halberd across his $neesb%t he rose when he saw them and opened the door to %sher
them inside'
The F%eens Ballroom was not a tenth the si?e o" the castles 8reat ,all, onl& hal" as
bi! as the Small ,all in the Tower o" the ,and, b%t it co%ld still seat a h%ndred, and it
made %p in !race what it lac$ed in space' Beaten siler mirrors bac$ed eer& wall
sconce, so the torches b%rned twice as bri!ht: the walls were paneled in richl& cared
wood, and sweet-smellin! r%shes coered the "loors' =rom the !aller& aboe dri"ted
down the merr& strains o" pipes and "iddle' * line o" arched windows ran alon! the so%th
wall, b%t the& had been closed o"" with hea& draperies' Thic$ elet han!in!s admitted
no thread o" li!ht, and wo%ld m%""le the so%nd o" pra&er and war ali$e' It ma$es no
matter, Sansa tho%!ht' The war is with %s'
*lmost eer& hi!hborn woman in the cit& sat at the lon! trestle tables, alon! with a
hand"%l o" old men and &o%n! bo&s' The women were wies, da%!hters, mothers, and
sisters' Their men had !one o%t to "i!ht 7ord Stannis' 2an& wo%ld not ret%rn' The air
was hea& with the $nowled!e' *s Co""re&s betrothed, Sansa had the seat o" honor on
the )%eens ri!ht hand' She was climbin! the dais when she saw the man standin! in the
shadows b& the bac$ wall' ,e wore a lon! ha%ber$ o" oiled blac$ mail, and held his
sword be"ore him: her "athers !reatsword, Ice, near as tall as he was' Its point rested on
the "loor, and his hard bon& "in!ers c%rled aro%nd the cross!%ard on either side o" the
!rip' Sansas breath ca%!ht in her throat' Ser Il&n 4a&ne seemed to sense her stare' ,e
t%rned his !a%nt, po0-raa!ed "ace toward her'
1(hat is he doin! here.3 she as$ed /s"r&d 6ettleblac$' ,e captained the )%eens new
red cloa$ !%ard'
/s"r&d !rinned' 1,er 8race e0pects shell hae need o" him be"ore the ni!hts done'3
Ser Il&n was the 6in!s 9%stice' There was onl& one serice he mi!ht be needed "or'
(hose head does she want.
1*ll rise "or ,er 8race, +ersei o" ,o%se 7annister, F%een Be!ent and 4rotector o" the
Bealm,3 the ro&al steward cried'
+erseis !own was snow& linen, white as the cloa$s o" the 6in!s!%ard' ,er lon!
da!!ed sleees showed a linin! o" !old satin' 2asses o" bri!ht &ellow hair t%mbled to
her bare sho%lders in thic$ c%rls' *ro%nd her slender nec$ h%n! a rope o" diamonds and
emeralds' The white made her loo$ stran!el& innocent, almost maidenl&, b%t there were
points o" color on her chee$s'
1Be seated,3 the )%een said when she had ta$en her place on the dais, 1and be
welcome'3 /s"r&d 6ettleblac$ held her chair: a pa!e per"ormed the same serice "or
Sansa' 1;o% loo$ pale, Sansa,3 +ersei obsered' 1Is &o%r red "lower still bloomin!.3
I;es'3
1,ow apt' The men will bleed o%t there, and &o% in here'3 The )%een si!naled "or the
"irst co%rse to be sered'
1(h& is Ser Il&n here.3 Sansa bl%rted o%t'
The )%een !lanced at the m%te headsman' 1To deal with treason, and to de"end %s i"
need be' ,e was a $ni!ht be"ore he was a headsman'3 She pointed her spoon toward the
end o" the hall, where the tall wooden doors had been closed and barred' 1(hen the a0es
smash down those doors, &o% ma& be !lad o" him'3
I wo%ld be !ladder i" it were the ,o%nd, Sansa tho%!ht' ,arsh as he was, she did not
beliee Sandor +le!ane wo%ld let an& harm come to her' 1(ont &o%r !%ards protect
%s.3
1*nd who will protect %s "rom m& !%ards.3 The )%een !ae /s"r&d a sidewa&s loo$'
17o&al sellswords are rare as ir!in whores' I" the battle is lost m& !%ards will trip on
those crimson cloa$s in their haste to rip them o""' The&ll steal what the& can and "lee,
alon! with the serin! men, washer women, and stablebo&s, all o%t to sae their own
worthless hides' #o &o% hae an& notion what happens when a cit& is sac$ed, Sansa.
No, &o% wo%ldnt, wo%ld &o%. *ll &o% $now o" li"e &o% learned "rom sin!ers, and
theres s%ch a dearth o" !ood sac$in! son!s'3
1Tr%e $ni!hts wo%ld neer harm women and children'3 The words ran! hollow in her
ears een as she said them'
1Tr%e $ni!hts'3 The )%een seemed to "ind that wonder"%ll& am%sin!' 1No do%bt &o%re
ri!ht' So wh& dont &o% 9%st eat &o%r broth li$e a !ood !irl and wait "or S&meon Star-
5&es and 4rince *emon the #ra!on$ni!ht to come resc%e &o%, sweetlin!' Im s%re it
wont be er& lon! now'3
C#APT"R +/
2A3OS
Blac$water Ba& was ro%!h and chopp&, whitecaps eer&where' Blac$ Betha rode the
"lood tide, her sail crac$in! and snappin! at each shi"t o" wind' (raith and 7ad& 2ar&a
sailed beside her, no more than twent& &ards between their h%lls' ,is sons co%ld $eep a
line' #aos too$ pride in that'
*cross the sea warhorns boomed, deep throat& moans li$e the calls o" monstro%s
serpents, repeated ship to ship' 1Brin! down the sail,3 #aos commanded' 17ower mast'
/arsmen to &o%r oars'3 ,is son 2atthos rela&ed the commands' The dec$ o" Blac$
Betha ch%rned as crewmen ran to their tas$s, p%shin! thro%!h the soldiers who alwa&s
seemed to be in the wa& no matter where the& stood' Ser Imr& had decreed that the&
wo%ld enter the rier on oars alone, so as not to e0pose their sails to the scorpions and
spit"ires on the walls o" 6in!s 7andin!'
#aos co%ld ma$e o%t =%r& well to the so%theast, her sails shimmerin! !olden as the&
came down, the crowned sta! o" Baratheon bla?oned on the canas' =rom her dec$s
Stannis Baratheon had commanded the assa%lt on #ra!onstone si0teen &ears be"ore, b%t
this time he had chosen to ride with his arm&, tr%stin! =%r& and the command o" his "leet
to his wi"es brother Ser Imr&, whod come oer to his ca%se at Storms 5nd with 7ord
*lester and all the other =lorents'
#aos $new =%r& as well as he $new his own ships' *boe her three h%ndred oars was
a dec$ !ien oer wholl& to scorpions, and topside she mo%nted catap%lts "ore and a"t,
lar!e eno%!h to "lin! barrels o" b%rnin! pitch' * most "ormidable ship, and er& swi"t as
well, altho%!h Ser Irnr& had pac$ed her bow to stern with armored $ni!hts and men-at-
arms, at some cost to her speed'
The warhorns so%nded a!ain, commands dri"tin! bac$ "rom the =%r&' #aos "elt a
tin!le in his missin! "in!ertips' 1/%t oars,3 he sho%ted' 1=orm line'3 * h%ndred blades
dipped down into the water as the oarmasters dr%m be!an to boom' The so%nd was li$e
the beatin! o" a !reat slow heart, and the oars moed at eer& stro$e, a h%ndred men
p%llin! as one'
(ooden win!s had spro%ted "rom the (raith and 7ad& 2ar&a as well' The three
!alle&s $ept pace, their blades ch%rnin! the water' 1Slow cr%ise,3 #aos called' 7ord
>elar&ons siler-h%lled 4ride o" #ri"tmar$ had moed into her position to port o"
(raith, and Bold 7a%!hter was comin! %p "ast, b%t ,arridan was onl& now !ettin! her
oars into the water and Seahorse was still str%!!lin! to brin! down her mast' #aos
loo$ed astern' ;es, there, "ar to the so%th, that co%ld onl& be Sword"ish, la!!in! as eer'
She dipped two h%ndred oars and mo%nted the lar!est ram in the "leet, tho%!h #aos had
!rae do%bts abo%t her captain'
,e co%ld hear soldiers sho%tin! enco%ra!ement to each other across the water' The&d
been little more than ballast since Storms 5nd, and were ea!er to !et at the "oe,
con"ident o" ictor&' In that, the& were o" one mind with their admiral, 7ord ,i!h
+aptain Ser Imr& =lorent'
Three da&s past, he had s%mmoned all his captains to a war co%ncil aboard the =%r&
while the "leet la& anchored at the mo%th o" the (endwater, in order to ac)%aint them
with his dispositions' #aos and his sons had been assi!ned a place in the second line o"
battle, well o%t on the dan!ero%s starboard win!' 1* place o" honor,3 *llard had
declared, well satis"ied with the chance to proe his alor' 1* place o" peril,3 his "ather
had pointed o%t' ,is sons had !ien him pit&in! loo$s, een &o%n! 2aric' The /nion
6ni!ht has become an old woman, he co%ld hear them thin$in!, still a sm%!!ler at heart'
(ell, the last was tr%e eno%!h, he wo%ld ma$e no apolo!ies "or it' Seaworth had a
lordl& rin! to it, b%t down deep he was still #aos o" =lea Bottom, comin! home to his
cit& on its three hi!h hills' ,e $new as m%ch o" ships and sails and shores as an& man in
the Seen 6in!doms, and had "o%!ht his share o" desperate "i!hts sword to sword on a
wet dec$' B%t to this sort o" battle he came a maiden, nero%s and a"raid' Sm%!!lers do
not so%nd warhorns and raise banners' (hen the& smell dan!er, the& raise sail and r%n
be"ore the wind'
,ad he been admiral, he mi!ht hae done it all di""erentl&' =or a start, he wo%ld hae
sent a "ew o" his swi"test ships to probe %prier and see what awaited them, instead o"
smashin! in headlon!' (hen he had s%!!ested as m%ch to Ser Imr&, the 7ord ,i!h
+aptain had than$ed him co%rteo%sl&, b%t his e&es were not as polite' (ho is this
lowborn craen. those e&es as$ed' Is he the one who bo%!ht his $ni!hthood with an
onion.
(ith "o%r times as man& ships as the bo& $in!, Ser Imr& saw no need "or ca%tion or
deceptie tactics' ,e had or!ani?ed the "leet into ten lines o" battle, each o" twent& ships'
The "irst two lines wo%ld sweep %p the rier to en!a!e and destro& Co""re&s little "leet,
or 1the bo&s to&s3 as Ser Imr& d%bbed them, to the mirth o" his lordl& captains' Those
that "ollowed wo%ld land companies o" archers and spearmen beneath the cit& walls, and
onl& then 9oin the "i!ht on the rier' The smaller, slower ships to the rear wo%ld "err&
oer the main part o" Stanniss host "rom the so%th ban$, protected b& Salladhor Saan
and his 7&seni, who wo%ld stand o%t in the ba& in case the 7annisters had other ships
hidden %p alon! the coast, poised to sweep down on their rear'
To be "air, there was reason "or Ser Imr&s haste' The winds had not %sed them $indl&
on the o&a!e %p "rom Storms 5nd' The& had lost two co!s to the roc$s o" Shipbrea$er
Ba& on the er& da& the& set sail, a poor wa& to be!in' /ne o" the 2&rish !alle&s had
"o%ndered in the Straits o" Tarth, and a storm had oerta$en them as the& were enterin!
the 8%llet, scatterin! the "leet across hal" the narrow sea' *ll b%t twele ships had "inall&
re!ro%ped behind the shelterin! spine o" 2asse&s ,oo$, in the calmer waters o"
Blac$water Ba&, b%t not be"ore the& had lost considerable time'
Stannis wo%ld hae reached the B%sh da&s a!o' The $in!sroad ran "rom Storms 5nd
strai!ht to 6in!s 7andin!, a m%ch shorter ro%te than b& sea, and his host was lar!el&
mo%nted: near twent& tho%sand $ni!hts, li!ht horse, and "reeriders, Benl&s %nwillin!
le!ac& to his brother' The& wo%ld hae made !ood time, b%t armored destriers and
twele-"oot lances wo%ld aail them little a!ainst the deep waters o" the Blac$water
B%sh and the hi!h stone walls o" the cit&' Stannis wo%ld be camped with his lords on the
so%th ban$ o" the rier, do%btless seethin! with impatience and wonderin! what Ser
Imr& had done with his "leet'
/"" 2erlin! Boc$ two da&s be"ore, the& had si!hted a hal"-do?en "ishin! s$i""s' The
"isher"ol$ had "led be"ore them, b%t one b& one the& had been oerta$en and boarded'
1* small spoon o" ictor& is 9%st the thin! to settle the stomach be"ore battle,3 Ser Imr&
had declared happil&' 1It ma$es the men h%n!r& "or a lar!er helpin!'3 B%t #aos had
been more interested in what the capties had to sa& abo%t the de"enses at 6in!s
7andin!' The dwar" had been b%s& b%ildin! some sort o" boom to close o"" the mo%th o"
the rier, tho%!h the "ishermen di""ered as to whether the wor$ had been completed or
not' ,e "o%nd himsel" wishin! it had' I" the rier was closed to them, Ser Imr& wo%ld
hae no choice b%t to pa%se and ta$e stoc$'
The sea was "%ll o" so%nd: sho%ts and calls, warhorns and dr%ms and the trill o" pipes,
the slap o" wood on water as tho%sands o" oars rose and "ell' 16eep line,3 #aos
sho%ted' * !%st o" wind t%!!ed at his old !reen cloa$' * 9er$in o" boiled leather and a
pothelm at his "eet were his onl& armor' *t sea, hea& steel was as li$e to cost a man his
li"e as to sae it, he belieed' Ser Imr& and the other hi!hborn captains did not share his
iew: the& !littered as the& paced their dec$s'
,arridan and Seahorse had slipped into their places now, and 7ord +elti!ars Bed
+law be&ond them' To starboard o" *llards 7ad& 2ar&a were the three !alle&s that
Stannis had sei?ed "rom the %n"ort%nate 7ord S%n!lass, 4iet&, 4ra&er, and #eotion,
their dec$s crawlin! with archers' 5en Sword"ish was closin!, l%mberin! and rollin!
thro%!h a thic$enin! sea %nder both oars and sail' * ship o" that man& oars o%!ht to be
m%ch "aster, #aos re"lected with disapproal' Its that ram she carries, its too bi!, she
has no balance'
The wind was !%stin! "rom the so%th, b%t %nder oars it made no matter' The& wo%ld be
sweepin! in on the "lood tide, b%t the 7annisters wo%ld hae the rier c%rrent to their
"aor, and the Blac$water B%sh "lowed stron! and swi"t where it met the sea' The "irst
shoc$ wo%ld ineitabl& "aor the "oe' (e are "ools to meet them on the Blac$water,
#aos tho%!ht' In an& enco%nter on the open sea, their battle lines wo%ld enelop the
enem& "leet on both "lan$s, driin! them inward to destr%ction' /n the rier, tho%!h, the
n%mbers and wei!ht o" Ser Imr&s ships wo%ld co%nt "or less' The& co%ld not dress more
than twent& ships abreast, lest the& ris$ tan!lin! their oars and collidin! with each other'
Be&ond the line o" warships, #aos co%ld see the Bed 6eep %p on *e!ons ,i!h ,ill,
dar$ a!ainst a lemon s$&, with the mo%th o" the B%sh openin! o%t below' *cross the
rier the so%th shore was blac$ with men and horses, stirrin! li$e an!r& ants as the&
ca%!ht si!ht o" the approachin! ships' Stannis wo%ld hae $ept them b%s& b%ildin! ra"ts
and "letchin! arrows, &et een so the waitin! wo%ld hae been a hard thin! to bear'
Tr%mpets so%nded "rom amon! them, tin& and bra?en, soon swallowed b& the roar o" a
tho%sand sho%ts' #aos closed his st%bb& hand aro%nd the po%ch that held his
"in!erbones, and mo%thed a silent pra&er "or l%c$'
=%r& hersel" wo%ld center the "irst line o" battle, "lan$ed b& the 7ord Ste""on and the
Sta! o" the Sea, each o" two h%ndred oars' /n the port and starboard win!s were the
h%ndreds: 7ad& ,arra, Bri!ht"ish, 7a%!hin! 7ord, Sea #emon, ,orned ,onor, Ba!!ed
Cenna, Trident Three, Swi"t Sword, 4rincess Bhaen&s, #o!s Nose, Sceptre, =aith"%l,
Bed Baen, F%een *l&sanne, +at, +o%ra!eo%s, and #ra!onsbane' =rom eer& stern
streamed the "ier& heart o" the 7ord o" 7i!ht, red and &ellow and oran!e' Behind #aos
and his sons came another line o" h%ndreds commanded b& $ni!hts and lordl& captains,
and then the smaller, slower 2&rish contin!ent, none dippin! more than ei!ht& oars'
=arther bac$ wo%ld come the sailed ships, carrac$s and l%mberin! !reat co!s, and last o"
all Salladhor Saan in his pro%d >al&rian, a towerin! three-h%ndred, paced b& the rest o"
his !alle&s with their distinctie striped h%lls' The "lambo&ant 7&seni princelin! had not
been pleased to be assi!ned the rear !%ard, b%t it was clear that Ser Imr& tr%sted him no
more than Stannis did' Too man& complaints, and too m%ch tal$ o" the !old he was
owed' #aos was sorr& nonetheless' Salladhor Saan was a reso%rce"%l old pirate, and his
crews were born seamen, "earless in a "i!ht' The& were wasted in the rear'
*hooooooooooooooooooooooooo' The call rolled across whitecaps and ch%rnin! oars
"rom the "orecastle o" the =%r&: Ser Imr& was so%ndin! the attac$'
*hoooooooooooooooooooo, ahooooooooooooooooooooo'
Sword"ish had 9oined the line at last, tho%!h she still had her sail raised' 1=ast cr%ise,3
#aos bar$ed' The dr%m be!an to beat more )%ic$l&, and the stro$e pic$ed %p, the
blades o" the oars c%ttin! water, splash-swoosh, splash-swoosh, splash-swoosh' /n dec$,
soldiers ban!ed sword a!ainst shield, while archers )%ietl& str%n! their bows and p%lled
the "irst arrow "rom the )%iers at their belts' The !alle&s o" the "irst line o" battle
obsc%red his ision, so #aos paced the dec$ searchin! "or a better iew' ,e saw no si!n
o" an& boom: the mo%th o" the rier was open, as i" to swallow them all' 50cept ' ' '
In his sm%!!lin! da&s, #aos had o"ten 9ested that he $new the water"ront at 6in!s
7andin! a deal better than the bac$ o" his hand, since he had not spent a !ood part o" his
li"e snea$in! in and o%t o" the bac$ o" his hand' The s)%at towers o" raw new stone that
stood opposite one another at the mo%th o" the Blac$water mi!ht mean nothin! to Ser
Irnr& =lorent, b%t to him it was as i" two e0tra "in!ers had spro%ted "rom his $n%c$les'
Shadin! his e&es a!ainst the westerin! s%n, he peered at those towers more closel&'
The& were too small to hold m%ch o" a !arrison' The one on the north ban$ was b%ilt
a!ainst the bl%"" with the Bed 6eep "rownin! aboe: its co%nterpart on the so%th shore
had its "ootin! in the water' The& d%! a c%t thro%!h the ban$, he $new at once' That
wo%ld ma$e the tower er& di""ic%lt to assa%lt: attac$ers wo%ld need to wade thro%!h the
water or brid!e the little channel' Stannis had posted bowmen below, to "ire %p at the
de"enders wheneer one was rash eno%!h to li"t his head aboe the ramparts, b%t
otherwise had not tro%bled'
Somethin! "lashed down low where the dar$ water swirled aro%nd the base o" the
tower' It was s%nli!ht on steel, and it told #aos Seaworth all he needed to $now' *
chain boom ' ' ' and &et the& hae not closed the rier a!ainst %s' (h&.
,e co%ld ma$e a !%ess at that as well, b%t there was no time to consider the )%estion'
* sho%t went %p "rom the ships ahead, and the warhorns blew a!ain: the enem& was
be"ore them'
Between the "lashin! oars o" Sceptre and =aith"%l, #aos saw a thin line o" !alle&s
drawn across the rier, the s%n !lintin! o"" the !old paint that mar$ed their h%lls' ,e
$new those ships as well as he $new his own' (hen he had been a sm%!!ler, hed
alwa&s "elt sa"er $nowin! whether the sail on the hori?on mar$ed a "ast ship or a slow
one, and whether her captain was a &o%n! man h%n!r& "or !lor& or an old one serin!
o%t his da&s'
*hooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, the warhorns called' 1Battle speed,3 #aos
sho%ted' /n port and starboard he heard #ale and *llard !iin! the same command'
#r%ms be!an to beat "%rio%sl&, oars rose and "ell, and Blac$ Betha s%r!ed "orward'
(hen he !lanced toward (raith, #ale !ae him a sal%te' Sword"ish was la!!in! once
more, wallowin! in the wa$e o" the smaller ships to either side: elsewise the line was
strai!ht as a shield wall'
The rier that had seemed so narrow "rom a distance now stretched wide as a sea, b%t
the cit& had !rown !i!antic as well' 8lowerin! down "rom *e!ons ,i!h ,ill, the Bed
6eep commanded the approaches' Its iron-crowned battlements, massie towers, and
thic$ red walls !ae it the aspect o" a "erocio%s beast h%nched aboe rier and streets'
The bl%""s on which it cro%ched were steep and roc$&, spotted with lichen and !narled
thorn& trees' The "leet wo%ld hae to pass below the castle to reach the harbor and cit&
be&ond'
The "irst line was in the rier now, b%t the enem& !alle&s were bac$in! water' The&
mean to draw %s in' The& want %s 9ammed close, constricted, no wa& to sweep aro%nd
their "lan$s ' ' ' and with that boom behind %s' ,e paced his dec$, cranin! his nec$ "or a
better loo$ at Co""re&s "leet' The bo&s to&s incl%ded the pondero%s 8ods!race, he saw,
the old slow 4rince *emon, the 7ad& o" Sil$ and her sister 7ad&s Shame, (ildwind,
6in!slander, (hite ,art, 7ance, Sea"lower' B%t where was the 7ionstar. (here was the
bea%ti"%l 7ad& 7&anna that 6in! Bobert had named in honor o" the maid hed loed and
lost. *nd where was 6in! Boberts ,ammer. She was the lar!est war !alle& in the ro&al
"leet, "o%r h%ndred oars, the onl& warship the bo& $in! owned capable o" oermatchin!
=%r&' B& ri!hts she sho%ld hae "ormed the heart o" an& de"ense'
#aos tasted a trap, &et he saw no si!n o" an& "oes sweepin! in behind them, onl& the
!reat "leet o" Stannis Baratheon in their ordered ran$s, stretchin! bac$ to the water&
hori?on' (ill the& raise the chain and c%t %s in two. ,e co%ld not see what !ood that
wo%ld sere' The ships le"t o%t in the ba& co%ld still land men north o" the cit&: a slower
crossin!, b%t sa"er'
* "li!ht o" "lic$erin! oran!e birds too$ win! "rom the castle, twent& or thirt& o" them:
pots o" b%rnin! pitch, arcin! o%t oer the rier trailin! threads o" "lame' The waters ate
most, b%t a "ew "o%nd the dec$s o" !alle&s in the "irst line o" battle, spreadin! "lame
when the& shattered' 2en-at-arms were scramblin! on F%een *l&sannes dec$, and he
co%ld see smo$e risin! "rom three di""erent spots on #ra!onsbane, nearest the ban$' B&
then a second "li!ht was on its wa&, and arrows were "allin! as well, hissin! down "rom
the archers nests that st%dded the towers aboe' * soldier t%mbled oer +ats !%nwale,
crashed o"" the oars, and san$' The "irst man to die toda&, #aos tho%!ht, b%t he will not
be the last'
*top the Bed 6eeps battlements streamed the bo& $in!s banners: the crowned sta! o"
Baratheon on its !old "ield, the lion o" 7annister on crimson' 2ore pots o" pitch came
"l&in!' #aos heard men shrie$ as "ire spread across +o%ra!eo%s' ,er oarsmen were
sa"e below, protected "rom missiles b& the hal" dec$ that sheltered them, b%t the men-at-
arms crowded topside were not so "ort%nate' The starboard win! was ta$in! all the
dama!e, as he had "eared' It will be o%r t%rn soon, he reminded himsel", %neas&' Blac$
Betha was well in ran!e o" the "irepots, bein! the si0th ship o%t "rom the north ban$' To
starboard, she had onl& *llards 7ad& 2ar&a, the %n!ainl& Sword"ishAso "ar behind
now that she was nearer the third line than the secondAand 4iet&, 4ra&er, and #eotion,
who wo%ld need all the !odl& interention the& co%ld !et, placed as %lnerabl& as the&
were'
*s the second line swept past the twin towers, #aos too$ a closer loo$' ,e co%ld see
three lin$s o" a h%!e chain sna$in! o%t "rom a hole no bi!!er than a mans head and
disappearin! %nder the water' The towers had a sin!le door, set a !ood twent& "eet o""
the !ro%nd' Bowmen on the roo" o" the northern tower were "irin! down at 4ra&er and
#eotion' The archers on #eotion "ired bac$, and #aos heard a man scream as the
arrows "o%nd him'
1+aptain ser'3 ,is son 2atthos was at his elbow' 1;o%r helm'3 #aos too$ it with both
hands and slid it oer his head' The pothelm was isorless: he hated hain! his ision
impeded'
B& then the pitch pots were rainin! down aro%nd them' ,e saw one shatter on the dec$
o" 7ad& 2ar&a, b%t *llards crew )%ic$l& beat it o%t' To port, warhorns so%nded "rom
the 4ride o" #ri"tmar$' The oars "l%n! %p spra&s o" water with eer& stro$e' The &ard-
lon! sha"t o" a scorpion came down not two "eet "rom 2atthos and san$ into the wood
o" the dec$, thr%mmin!' *head, the "irst line was within bowshot o" the enem&: "li!hts
o" arrows "lew between the ships, hissin! li$e stri$in! sna$es'
So%th o" the Blac$water, #aos saw men dra!!in! cr%de ra"ts toward the water while
ran$s and col%mns "ormed %p beneath a tho%sand streamin! banners' The "ier& heart was
eer&where, tho%!h the tin& blac$ sta! imprisoned in the "lames was too small to ma$e
o%t' (e sho%ld be "l&in! the crowned sta!, he tho%!ht' The sta! was 6in! Boberts si!il,
the cit& wo%ld re9oice to see it' This stran!ers standard seres onl& to set men a!ainst
%s'
,e co%ld not behold the "ier& heart witho%t thin$in! o" the shadow 2elisandre had
birthed in the !loom beneath Storms 5nd' *t least we "i!ht this battle in the li!ht, with
the weapons o" honest men, he told himsel"' The red woman and her dar$ children
wo%ld hae no part o" it' Stannis had shipped her bac$ to #ra!onstone with his bastard
nephew 5dric Storm' ,is captains and bannermen had insisted that a battle"ield was no
place "or a woman' /nl& the )%eens men had dissented, and then not lo%dl&' *ll the
same, the $in! had been on the point o" re"%sin! them %ntil 7ord Br&ce +aron said,
1;o%r 8race, i" the sorceress is with %s, a"terward men will sa& it was her ictor&, not
&o%rs' The& will sa& &o% owe &o%r crown to her spells'3 That had t%rned the tide' #aos
himsel" had held his ton!%e d%rin! the ar!%ments, b%t i" tr%th be told, he had not been
sad to see the bac$ o" her' ,e wanted no part o" 2elisandre or her !od'
To starboard, #eotion droe toward shore, slidin! o%t a plan$' *rchers scrambled into
the shallows, holdin! their bows hi!h oer their heads to $eep the strin!s dr&' The&
splashed ashore on the narrow strand beneath the bl%""s' Boc$s came bo%ncin! down
"rom the castle to crash amon! them, and arrows and spears as well, b%t the an!le was
steep and the missiles seemed to do little dama!e'
4ra&er landed two do?en &ards %pstream and 4iet& was slantin! toward the ban$ when
the de"enders came po%ndin! down the rierside, the hooes o" their warhorses sendin!
%p !o%ts o" water "rom the shallows' The $ni!hts "ell amon! the archers li$e woles
amon! chic$ens, driin! them bac$ toward the ships and into the rier be"ore most
co%ld notch an arrow' 2en-at-arms r%shed to de"end them with spear and a0e, and in
three heartbeats the scene had t%rned to blood-soa$ed chaos' #aos reco!ni?ed the
do!s-head helm o" the ,o%nd' * white cloa$ streamed "rom his sho%lders as he rode his
horse %p the plan$ onto the dec$ o" 4ra&er, hac$in! down an&one who bl%ndered within
reach'
Be&ond the castle, 6in!s 7andin! rose on its hills behind the encirclin! walls' The
rier"ront was a blac$ened desolation: the 7annisters had b%rned eer&thin! and p%lled
bac$ within the 2%d 8ate' The charred spars o" s%n$en h%l$s sat in the shallows,
"orbiddin! access to the lon! stone )%a&s' (e shall hae no landin! there' ,e co%ld see
the tops o" three h%!e treb%chets behind the 2%d 8ate' ,i!h on >isen&as ,ill, s%nli!ht
bla?ed o"" the seen cr&stal towers o" the 8reat Sept o" Baelor'
#aos neer saw the battle 9oined, b%t he heard it: a !reat rendin! crash as two !alle&s
came to!ether' ,e co%ld not sa& which two' *nother impact echoed oer the water an
instant later, and then a third' Beneath the screech o" splinterin! wood, he heard the deep
thr%m-th%mp o" the =%r&s "ore catap%lt' Sta! o" the Sea split one o" Co""re&s !alle&s
clean in two, b%t #o!s Nose was a"ire and F%een *l&sanne was loc$ed between 7ad&
o" Sil$ and 7ad&s Shame, her crew "i!htin! the boarders rail-to-rail'
#irectl& ahead, #aos saw the enem&s 6in!slander drie between =aith"%l and
Sceptre' The "ormer slid her starboard oars o%t o" the wa& be"ore impact, b%t Sceptres
portside oars snapped li$e so m%ch $indlin! as 6in!slander ra$ed alon! her side'
17oose,3 #aos commanded, and his bowmen sent a witherin! rain o" sha"ts across the
water' ,e saw 6in!slanders captain "all, and tried to recall the mans name'
*shore, the arms o" the !reat treb%chets rose one, two, three, and a h%ndred stones
climbed hi!h into the &ellow s$&' 5ach one was as lar!e as a mans head: when the& "ell
the& sent %p !reat !o%ts o" water, smashed thro%!h oa$ plan$in!, and t%rned liin! men
into bone and p%lp and !ristle' *ll across the rier the "irst line was en!a!ed' 8rapplin!
hoo$s were "l%n! o%t, iron rams crashed thro%!h wooden h%lls, boarders swarmed,
"li!hts o" arrows whispered thro%!h each other in the dri"tin! smo$e, and men died ' ' '
b%t so "ar, none o" his'
Blac$ Betha swept %prier, the so%nd o" her oarmasters dr%m th%nderin! in her
captains head as he loo$ed "or a li$el& ictim "or her ram' The belea!%ered F%een
*l&sanne was trapped between two 7annister warships, the three made "ast b& hoo$s
and lines'
1Bammin! speed@3 #aos sho%ted'
The dr%mbeats bl%rred into a lon! "eered hammerin!, and Blac$ Betha "lew, the water
t%rnin! white as mil$ as it parted "or her prow' *llard had seen the same chance: 7ad&
2ar&a ran beside them' The "irst line had been trans"ormed into a con"%sion o" separate
str%!!les' The three tan!led ships loomed ahead, t%rnin!, their dec$s a red chaos as men
hac$ed at each other with sword and a0e' * little more, #aos Seaworth beseeched the
(arrior, brin! her aro%nd a little more, show me her broadside'
The (arrior m%st hae been listenin!' Blac$ Betha and 7ad& 2ar&a slammed into the
side o" 7ad&s Shame within an instant o" each other, rammin! her "ore and a"t with s%ch
"orce that men were thrown o"" the dec$ o" 7ad& o" Sil$ three boats awa&' #aos almost
bit his ton!%e o"" when his teeth 9arred to!ether' ,e spat o%t blood' Ne0t time close &o%r
mo%th, &o% "ool' =ort& &ears at sea, and &et this was the "irst time hed rammed another
ship' ,is archers were loosin! arrows at will'
1Bac$ water,3 he commanded' (hen Blac$ Betha reersed her oars, the rier r%shed
into the splintered hole she le"t, and 7ad&s Shame "ell to pieces be"ore his e&es, spillin!
do?ens o" men into the rier' Some o" the liin! swam: some o" the dead "loated: the
ones in hea& mail and plate san$ to the bottom, the )%ic$ and the dead ali$e' The pleas
o" drownin! men echoed in his ears'
* "lash o" !reen ca%!ht his e&e, ahead and o"" to port, and a nest o" writhin! emerald
serpents rose b%rnin! and hissin! "rom the stern o" F%een *l&sanne' *n instant later
#aos heard the dread cr& o" 1(ild"ire@3
,e !rimaced' B%rnin! pitch was one thin!, wild"ire )%ite another' 5il st%"", and well-
ni!h %n)%enchable' Smother it %nder a cloa$ and the cloa$ too$ "ire: slap at a "lec$ o" it
with &o%r palm and &o%r hand was a"lame' 14iss on wild"ire and &o%r coc$ b%rns o"",3
old seamen li$ed to sa&' Still, Ser Imr& had warned them to e0pect a taste o" the
alchemists ile s%bstance' =ort%natel&, there were "ew tr%e p&romancers le"t' The& will
soon r%n o%t, Ser Imr& had ass%red them'
#aos reeled o"" commands: one ban$ o" oars p%shed o"" while the other bac$ed water,
and the !alle& came abo%t' 7ad& 2ar&a had won clear too, and a !ood thin!: the "ire
was spreadin! oer F%een *l&sanne and her "oes "aster than he wo%ld hae belieed
possible' 2en wreathed in !reen "lame leapt into the water, shrie$in! li$e nothin!
h%man' /n the walls o" 6in!s 7andin!, spit"ires were belchin! death, and the !reat
treb%chets behind the 2%d 8ate were throwin! bo%lders' /ne the si?e o" an o0 crashed
down between Blac$ Betha and (raith, roc$in! both ships and soa$in! eer& man on
dec$' *nother, not m%ch smaller, "o%nd Bold 7a%!hter' The >elar&on !alle& e0ploded
li$e a childs to& dropped "rom a tower, spra&in! splinters as lon! as a mans arm'
Thro%!h blac$ smo$e and swirlin! !reen "ire, #aos !limpsed a swarm o" small boats
bearin! downrier: a con"%sion o" "erries and wherries, bar!es, s$i""s, rowboats, and
h%l$s that loo$ed too rotten to "loat' It stan$ o" desperation: s%ch dri"twood co%ld not
t%rn the tide o" a "i!ht, onl& !et in the wa&' The lines o" battle were hopelessl& ensnarled,
he saw' /"" to port, 7ord Ste""on, Ba!!ed "enna, and Swi"t Sword had bro$en thro%!h
and were sweepin! %prier' The starboard win! was heail& en!a!ed, howeer, and the
center had shattered %nder the stones o" those treb%chets, some captains t%rnin!
downstream, others eerin! to port, an&thin! to escape that cr%shin! rain' =%r& had
sw%n! her a"t catap%lt to "ire bac$ at the cit&, b%t she lac$ed the ran!e: the barrels o"
pitch were shatterin! %nder the walls' Sceptre had lost most o" her oars, and =aith"%l had
been rammed and was startin! to list' ,e too$ Blac$ Betha between them, and str%c$ a
!lancin! blow at F%een +erseis ornate cared-and-!ilded pleas%re bar!e, laden with
soldiers instead o" sweetmeats now' The collision spilled a do?en o" them into the rier,
where Bethas archers pic$ed them o"" as the& tried to sta& a"loat'
2atthoss sho%t alerted him to the dan!er "rom port: one o" the 7annister !alle&s was
comin! abo%t to ram' 1,ard to starboard,3 #aos sho%ted' ,is men %sed their oars to
p%sh "ree o" the bar!e, while others t%rned the !alle& so her prow "aced the onr%shin!
(hite ,art' =or a moment he "eared hed been too slow, that he was abo%t to be s%n$,
b%t the c%rrent helped swin! Blac$ Betha, and when the impact came it was onl& a
!lancin! blow, the two h%lls scrapin! a!ainst each other, both ships snappin! oars' *
9a!!ed piece o" wood "lew past his head, sharp as an& spear' #aos "linched' 1Board
her@3 he sho%ted' 8rapplin! lines were "l%n!' ,e drew his sword and led them oer the
rail himsel"'
The crew o" the (hite ,art met them at the rail, b%t Blac$ Bethas men-at-arms swept
oer them in a screamin! steel tide' #aos "o%!ht thro%!h the press, loo$in! "or the
other captain, b%t the man was dead be"ore he reached him' *s he stood oer the bod&,
someone ca%!ht him "rom behind with an a0e, b%t his helm t%rned the blow, and his
s$%ll was le"t rin!in! when it mi!ht hae been split' #a?ed, it was all he co%ld do to roll'
,is attac$er char!ed screamin!' #aos !rasped his sword in both hands and droe it %p
point "irst into the mans bell&'
/ne o" his crewmen p%lled him bac$ to his "eet' 1+aptain ser, the ,art is o%rs'3 It was
tr%e, #aos saw' 2ost o" the enem& were dead, d&in!, or &ielded' ,e too$ o"" his helm,
wiped blood "rom his "ace, and made his wa& bac$ to his own ship, troddin! care"%ll& on
boards slim& with mens !%ts' 2atthos lent him a hand to help him bac$ oer the rail'
=or those "ew instants, Blac$ Betha and (hite ,art were the calm e&e in the midst o"
the storm' F%een *l&sanne and 7ad& o" Sil$, still loc$ed to!ether, were a ran!in! !reen
in"erno, dri"tin! downrier and dra!!in! pieces o" 7ad&s Shame' /ne o" the 2&rish
!alle&s had slammed into them and was now a"ire as well' +at was ta$in! on men "rom
the "astsin$in! +o%ra!eo%s' The captain o" #ra!onsbane had drien her between two
)%a&s, rippin! o%t her bottom: her crew po%red ashore with the archers and men-at-arms
to 9oin the assa%lt on the walls' Bed Baen, rammed, was slowl& listin!' Sta! o" the Sea
was "i!htin! "ires and boarders both, b%t the "ier& heart had been raised oer Co""re&s
7o&al 2an' =%r&, her pro%d bow smashed in b& a bo%lder, was en!a!ed with 8ods!race'
,e saw 7ord >elar&ons 4ride o" #ri"tmar$ crash between two 7annister rier r%nners,
oert%rnin! one and li!htin! the other %p with "ire arrows' /n the so%th ban$, $ni!hts
were leadin! their mo%nts aboard the co!s, and some o" the smaller !alle&s were alread&
ma$in! their wa& across, laden with men-at-arms' The& had to thread ca%tio%sl&
between sin$in! ships and patches o" dri"tin! wild"ire' The whole o" 6in! Stanniss "leet
was in the rier now, sae "or Salladhor Saans 7&seni' Soon eno%!h the& wo%ld control
the Blac$water' Ser Imr& will hae his ictor&, #aos tho%!ht, and Stannis will brin! his
host across, b%t !ods be !ood, the cost o" this ' ' '
1+aptain ser@3 2atthos to%ched his sho%lder'
It was Sword"ish, her two ban$s o" oars li"tin! and "allin!' She had neer bro%!ht
down her sails, and some b%rnin! pitch had ca%!ht in her ri!!in!' The "lames spread as
#aos watched, creepin! o%t oer ropes and sails %ntil she trailed a head o" &ellow
"lame' ,er %n!ainl& iron ram, "ashioned a"ter the li$eness o" the "ish "rom which she
too$ her name, parted the s%r"ace o" the rier be"ore her' #irectl& ahead, dri"tin! toward
her and swin!in! aro%nd to present a temptin! pl%mp tar!et, was one o" the 7annister
h%l$s, "loatin! low in the water' Slow !reen blood was lea$in! o%t between her boards'
(hen he saw that, #aos Seaworths heart stopped beatin!'
1No,3 he said' 1No, N////////@3 *boe the roar and crash o" battle, no one heard
him b%t 2atthos' +ertainl& the captain o" the Sword"ish did not, intent as he was on
"inall& spearin! somethin! with his %n!ainl& "at sword' The Sword"ish went to battle
speed' #aos li"ted his maimed hand to cl%tch at the leather po%ch that held his
"in!erbones'
(ith a !rindin!, splinterin!, tearin! crash, Sword"ish split the rotted h%l$ as%nder' She
b%rst li$e an oerripe "r%it, b%t no "r%it had eer screamed that shatterin! wooden
scream' =rom inside her #aos saw !reen !%shin! "rom a tho%sand bro$en 9ars, poison
"rom the entrails o" a d&in! beast, !listenin!, shinin!, spreadin! across the s%r"ace o" the
rier ' ' '
1Bac$ water,3 he roared' 1*wa&' 8et %s o"" her, bac$ water, bac$ water@3 The
!rapplin! lines were c%t, and #aos "elt the dec$ moe %nder his "eet as Blac$ Betha
p%shed "ree o" (hite ,art' ,er oars slid down into the water'
Then he heard a short sharp woo", as i" someone had blown in his ear' ,al" a heartbeat
later came the roar' The dec$ anished beneath him, and blac$ water smashed him
across the "ace, "illin! his nose and mo%th' ,e was cho$in!, drownin!' <ns%re which
wa& was %p, #aos wrestled the rier in blind panic %ntil s%ddenl& he bro$e the s%r"ace'
,e spat o%t water, s%c$ed in air, !rabbed hold o" the nearest ch%n$ o" debris, and held
on'
Sword"ish and the h%l$ were !one, blac$ened bodies were "loatin! downstream beside
him, and cho$in! men clin!in! to bits o" smo$in! wood' =i"t& "eet hi!h, a swirlin!
demon o" !reen "lame danced %pon the rier' It had a do?en hands, in each a whip, and
whateer the& to%ched b%rst into "ire' ,e saw Blac$ Betha b%rnin!, and (hite ,art and
7o&al 2an to either side' 4iet&, +at, +o%ra!eo%s, Sceptre, Bed Baen, ,arridan,
=aith"%l, =%r&, the& had all !one %p, 6in!slander and 8ods!race as well, the demon was
eatin! his own' 7ord >elar&ons shinin! 4ride o" #ri"tmar$ was tr&in! to t%rn, b%t the
demon ran a la?& !reen "in!er across her siler& oars and the& "lared %p li$e so man&
tapers' =or an instant she seemed to be stro$in! the rier with two ban$s o" lon! bri!ht
torches'
The c%rrent had him in its teeth b& then, spinnin! him aro%nd and aro%nd' ,e $ic$ed to
aoid a "loatin! patch o" wild"ire' 2& sons, #aos tho%!ht, b%t there was no wa& to loo$
"or them amidst the roarin! chaos' *nother h%l$ hea& with wild"ire went %p behind
him' The Blac$water itsel" seemed to boil in its bed, and b%rnin! spars and b%rnin! men
and pieces o" bro$en ships "illed the air'
Im bein! swept o%t into the ba&' It wo%ldnt be as bad there: he o%!ht to be able to
ma$e shore, he was a stron! swimmer' Salladhor Saans !alle&s wo%ld be o%t in the ba&
as well, Ser Imr& had commanded them to stand o"" ' ' '
*nd then the c%rrent t%rned him abo%t a!ain, and #aos saw what awaited him
downstream'
The chain' 8ods sae %s, the&e raised the chain'
(here the rier broadened o%t into Blac$water Ba&, the boom stretched ta%t, a bare
two or three "eet aboe the water' *lread& a do?en !alle&s had crashed into it, and the
c%rrent was p%shin! others a!ainst them' *lmost all were a"lame, and the rest soon
wo%ld be' #aos co%ld ma$e o%t the striped h%lls o" Salladhor Saans ships be&ond, b%t
he $new he wo%ld neer reach them' * wall o" red-hot steel, bla?in! wood, and swirlin!
!reen "lame stretched be"ore him' The mo%th o" the Blac$water B%sh had t%rned into the
mo%th o" hell'
C#APT"R +0
T%RIO'
2otionless as a !ar!o&le, T&rion 7annister h%nched on one $nee atop a merlon'
Be&ond the 2%d 8ate and the desolation that had once been the "ishmar$et and
whares, the rier itsel" seemed to hae ta$en "ire' ,al" o" Stanniss "leet was abla?e,
alon! with most o" Co""re&s' The $iss o" wild"ire t%rned pro%d ships into "%neral p&res
and men into liin! torches' The air was "%ll o" smo$e and arrows and screams'
#ownstream, commoners and hi!hborn captains ali$e co%ld see the hot !reen death
swirlin! toward their ra"ts and carrac$s and "erries, borne on the c%rrent o" the
Blac$water' The lon! white oars o" the 2&rish !alle&s "lashed li$e the le!s o" maddened
centipedes as the& "o%!ht to come abo%t, b%t it was no !ood' The centipedes had no
place to r%n'
* do?en !reat "ires ra!ed %nder the cit& walls, where cas$s o" b%rnin! pitch had
e0ploded, b%t the wild"ire red%ced them to no more than candles in a b%rnin! ho%se,
their oran!e and scarlet pennons "l%tterin! insi!ni"icantl& a!ainst the 9ade holoca%st' The
low clo%ds ca%!ht the color o" the b%rnin! rier and roo"ed the s$& in shades o" shi"tin!
!reen, eeril& bea%ti"%l' * terrible bea%t&' 7i$e dra!on"ire' T&rion wondered i" *e!on the
+on)%eror had "elt li$e this as he "lew aboe his =ield o" =ire'
The "%rnace wind li"ted his crimson cloa$ and beat at his bare "ace, &et he co%ld not
t%rn awa&' ,e was diml& aware o" the !old cloa$s cheerin! "rom the hoardin!s' ,e had
no oice to 9oin them' It was a hal" ictor&' It will not be eno%!h'
,e saw another o" the h%l$s hed st%""ed "%ll o" 6in! *er&ss "ic$le "r%its en!%l"ed b&
the h%n!r& "lames' * "o%ntain o" b%rnin! 9ade rose "rom the rier the blast so bri!ht he
had to shield his e&es' 4l%mes o" "ire thirt& and "ort& "eet hi!h danced %pon the waters,
crac$lin! and hissin!' =or a "ew moments the& washed o%t the screams' There were
h%ndreds in the water, drownin! or b%rnin! or doin! a little o" both'
#o &o% hear them shrie$in!, Stannis. #o &o% see them b%rnin!. This is &o%r wor$ as
m%ch as mine' Somewhere in that seethin! mass o" men so%th o" the Blac$water,
Stannis was watchin! too, T&rion $new' ,ed neer had his brother Boberts thirst "or
battle' ,e wo%ld command "rom the rear, "rom the resere, m%ch as 7ord T&win
7annister was wont to do' 7i$e as not, he was sittin! a warhorse ri!ht now, clad in bri!ht
armor, his crown %pon his head' * crown o" red !old, >ar&s sa&s, its points "ashioned in
the shapes o" "lames'
12& ships'3 Co""re&s oice crac$ed as he sho%ted %p "rom the wallwal$, where he
h%ddled with his !%ards behind the ramparts' The !olden circlet o" $in!ship adorned his
battle helm' 12& 6in!slanders b%rnin!, F%een +ersei, 7o&al 2an' 7oo$, thats
Sea"lower, there'3 ,e pointed with his new sword, o%t to where the !reen "lames were
lic$in! at Sea"lowers !olden h%ll and creepin! %p her oars' ,er captain had t%rned her
%prier, b%t not )%ic$l& eno%!h to eade the wild"ire'
She was doomed, T&rion $new' There was no other wa&' I" we had not come "orth to
meet them, Stannis wo%ld hae sensed the trap' *n arrow co%ld be aimed, and a spear,
een the stone "rom a catap%lt, b%t wild"ire had a will o" its own' /nce loosed, it was
be&ond the control o" mere men' 1It co%ld not be helped,3 he told his nephew' 1/%r "leet
was doomed in an& case'3
5en "rom atop the merlon he had been too short to see oer the ramparts, so hed had
them boost him %p the "lames and smo$e and chaos o" battle made it impossible "or
T&rion to see what was happenin! downrier %nder the castle, b%t he had seen it a
tho%sand times in his minds e&e' Bronn wo%ld hae whipped the o0en into motion the
moment Stanniss "la!ship passed %nder the Bed 6eep: the chain was pondero%s hea&,
and the !reat winches t%rned b%t slowl&, crea$in! and r%mblin!' The whole o" the
%s%rpers "leet wo%ld hae passed b& the time the "irst !limmer o" metal co%ld be seen
beneath the water' The lin$s wo%ld emer!e drippin! wet, some !listenin! with m%d, lin$
b& lin$ b& lin$, %ntil the whole !reat chain stretched ta%t' 6in! Stannis had rowed his
"leet %p the Blac$water, b%t he wo%ld not row o%t a!ain'
5en so, some were !ettin! awa&' * riers c%rrent was a tric$& thin!, and the wild"ire
was not spreadin! as eenl& as he had hoped' The main channel was all a"lame, b%t a
!ood man& o" the 2&rmen had made "or the so%th ban$ and loo$ed to escape %nscathed,
and at least ei!ht ships had landed %nder the cit& walls' 7anded or wrec$ed, b%t it comes
to the same thin!, the&e p%t men ashore' (orse, a !ood part o" the so%th win! o" the
enem&s "irst two battle lines had been well %pstream o" the in"erno when the h%l$s went
%p' Stannis wo%ld be le"t with thirt& or "ort& !alle&s, at a !%ess: more than eno%!h to
brin! his whole host across, once the& had re!ained their co%ra!e'
That mi!ht ta$e a bit o" time: een the braest wo%ld be disma&ed a"ter watchin! a
tho%sand or so o" his "ellows cons%med b& wild"ire' ,all&ne said that sometimes the
s%bstance b%rned so hot that "lesh melted li$e tallow' ;et een so ' ' '
T&rion had no ill%sions where his own men were concerned' I" the battle loo$s to be
!oin! so%r the&ll brea$, and the&ll brea$ bad, Cacel&n B&water had warned him, so the
onl& wa& to win was to ma$e certain the battle sta&ed sweet, start to "inish'
,e co%ld see dar$ shapes moin! thro%!h the charred r%ins o" the rier"ront whar"s'
Time "or another sortie, he tho%!ht' 2en were neer so %lnerable as when the& "irst
sta!!ered ashore' ,e m%st not !ie the "oe time to "orm %p on the north ban$'
,e scrambled down o"" the merlon' 1Tell 7ord Cacel&n wee !ot enem& on the
rier"ront,3 he said to one o" the r%nners B&water had assi!ned him' To another he said,
1Brin! m& compliments to Ser *rneld and as$ him to swin! the (hores thirt& de!rees
west'3 The an!le wo%ld allow them to throw "arther, i" not as "ar o%t into the water'
12other promised I co%ld hae the (hores,3 Co""re& said' T&rion was anno&ed to see
that the $in! had li"ted the isor o" his helm a!ain' #o%btless the bo& was coo$in! inside
all that hea& steel ' ' ' b%t the last thin! he needed was some stra& arrow p%nchin!
thro%!h his nephews e&e'
,e clan!ed the isor sh%t' 16eep that closed, ;o%r 8race: &o%r sweet person is
precio%s to %s all'3 *nd &o% dont want to spoil that prett& "ace, either' 1The (hores are
&o%rs'3 It was as !ood a time as an&: "lin!in! more "irepots down onto b%rnin! ships
seemed pointless' Co"" had the *ntler 2en tr%ssed %p na$ed in the s)%are below, antlers
nailed to their heads' (hen the&d been bro%!ht be"ore the Iron Throne "or 9%stice, he
had promised to send them to Stannis' * man was not as hea& as a bo%lder or a cas$ o"
b%rnin! pitch, and co%ld be thrown a deal "arther' Some o" the !old cloa$s had been
wa!erin! on whether the traitors wo%ld "l& all the wa& across the Blac$water' 1Be )%ic$
abo%t it, ;o%r 8race,3 he told Co""re&' 1(ell want the treb%chets throwin! stones a!ain
soon eno%!h' 5en wild"ire does not b%rn "oreer'3
Co""re& h%rried o"" happ&, escorted b& Ser 2er&n, b%t T&rion ca%!ht Ser /sm%nd b&
the wrist be"ore he co%ld "ollow' 1(hateer happens, $eep him sa"e and $eep him there,
is that %nderstood.3
1*s &o% command'3 Ser /sm%nd smiled amiabl&'
T&rion had warned Trant and 6ettleblac$ what wo%ld happen to them sho%ld an& harm
come to the $in!' *nd Co""re& had a do?en eteran !old cloa$s waitin! at the "oot o" the
steps' Im protectin! &o%r wretched bastard as well as I can, +ersei, he tho%!ht bitterl&'
See &o% do the same "or *la&a&a'
No sooner was Co"" o"" than a r%nner came pantin! %p the steps' Iim& lord, h%rr&@3 ,e
threw himsel" to one $nee' 1The&e landed men on the to%rne& !ro%nds, h%ndreds@
The&re brin!in! a ram %p to the 6in!s 8ate'3
T&rion c%rsed and made "or the steps with a rollin! waddle' 4odric$ 4a&ne waited
below with their horses' The& !alloped o"" down Bier Bow, 4od and Ser 2andon
2oore comin! hard behind him' The sh%ttered ho%ses were steeped in !reen shadow, b%t
there was no tra""ic to !et in their wa&: T&rion had commanded that the street be $ept
clear, so the de"enders co%ld moe )%ic$l& "rom one !ate to the ne0t' 5en so, b& the
time the& reached the 6in!s 8ate, he co%ld hear a boomin! crash o" wood on wood that
told him the batterin! ram had been bro%!ht into pla&' The !roanin! o" the !reat hin!es
so%nded li$e the moans o" a d&in! !iant' The !atcho%se s)%are was littered with the
wo%nded, b%t he saw lines o" horses as well, not all o" them h%rt, and sellswords and
!old cloa$s eno%!h to "orm a stron! col%mn' 1=orm %p,3 he sho%ted as he leapt to the
!ro%nd' The !ate moed %nder the impact o" another blow' 1(ho commands here.
;o%re !oin! o%t'3
1No'3 * shadow detached itsel" "rom the shadow o" the wall, to become a tall man in
dar$ !re& armor' Sandor +le!ane wrenched o"" his helm with both hands and let it "all to
the !ro%nd' The steel was scorched and dented, the le"t ear o" the snarlin! ho%nd sheared
o""' * !ash aboe one e&e had sent a wash o" blood down across the ,o%nds old b%rn
scars, mas$in! hal" his "ace'
1;es'3 T&rion "aced him'
+le!anes breath came ra!!ed' 1B%!!er that' *nd &o%'3
* sellsword stepped %p beside him' 1(e been o%t' Three times' ,al" o%r men are $illed
or h%rt' (ild"ire b%rstin! all aro%nd %s, horses screamin! li$e men and men li$e horses
A3
1#id &o% thin$ we hired &o% to "i!ht in a to%rne&. Shall I brin! &o% a nice iced mil$
and a bowl o" raspberries. No. Then !et on &o%r "%c$in! horse' ;o% too, do!'3
The blood on +le!anes "ace !listened red, b%t his e&es showed white' ,e drew his
lon!sword'
,e is a"raid, T&rion reali?ed, shoc$ed' The ,o%nd is "ri!htened' ,e tried to e0plain
their need' 1The&e ta$en a ram to the !ate, &o% can hear them, we need to disperse
themA3
1/pen the !ates' (hen the& r%sh inside, s%rro%nd them and $ill them'3 The ,o%nd
thr%st the point o" his lon!sword into the !ro%nd and leaned %pon the pommel, swa&in!'
1Ie lost hal" m& men' ,orse as well' Im not ta$in! more into that "ire'3
Ser 2andon 2oore moed to T&rions side, immac%late in his enameled white plate'
1The 6in!s ,and commands &o%'3
1B%!!er the 6in!s ,and'3 (here the ,o%nds "ace was not stic$& with blood, it was
pale as mil$' 1Someone brin! me a drin$'3 * !old cloa$ o""icer handed him a c%p'
+le!ane too$ a swallow, spit it o%t, "l%n! the c%p awa&' 1(ater. =%c$ &o%r water' Brin!
me wine'3
,e is dead on his "eet' T&rion co%ld see it now' The wo%nd, the "ire ' ' ' hes done, I
need to "ind someone else, b%t who. Ser 2andon. ,e loo$ed at the men and $new it
wo%ld not do' +le!anes "ear had sha$en them' (itho%t a leader, the& wo%ld re"%se as
well, and Ser 2andon ' ' ' a dan!ero%s man, Caime said, &es, b%t not a man other men
wo%ld "ollow'
In the distance T&rion heard another !reat crash' *boe the walls, the dar$enin! s$&
was awash with sheets o" !reen and oran!e li!ht' ,ow lon! co%ld the !ate hold.
This is madness, he tho%!ht, b%t sooner madness than de"eat' #e"eat is death and
shame' 1>er& well, Ill lead the sortie'3
I" he tho%!ht that wo%ld shame the ,o%nd bac$ to alor, he was wron!' +le!ane onl&
la%!hed' 1;o%.3
T&rion co%ld see the disbelie" on their "aces' 12e' Ser 2andon, &o%ll bear the $in!s
banner' 4od, m& helm'3 The bo& ran to obe&' The ,o%nd leaned on that notched and
blood-strea$ed sword and loo$ed at him with those wide white e&es' Ser 2andon helped
T&rion mo%nt %p a!ain' 1=orm %p@3 he sho%ted'
,is bi! red stallion wore crinet and charn"ron' +rimson sil$ draped his hind)%arters,
oer a coat o" mail' The hi!h saddle was !ilded' 4odri$ 4a&ne handed %p helm and
shield, hea& oa$ embla?oned with a !olden hand on red, s%rro%nded b& small !olden
lions' ,e wal$ed his horse in a circle, loo$in! at the little "orce o" men' /nl& a hand"%l
had responded to his command, no more than twent&' The& sat their horses with e&es as
white as the ,o%nds' ,e loo$ed contempt%o%sl& at the others, the $ni!hts and
sellswords who had ridden with +le!ane' 1The& sa& Im hal" a man,3 he said' 1(hat
does that ma$e the lot o" &o%.3
That shamed them well eno%!h' * $ni!ht mo%nted, helmetless, and rode to 9oin the
others' * pair o" sellswords "ollowed' Then more' The 6in!s 8ate sh%ddered a!ain' In a
"ew moments the si?e o" T&rions command had do%bled' ,e had them trapped' I" I
"i!ht, the& m%st do the same, or the& are less than dwar"s'
1;o% wont hear me sho%t o%t Co""re&s name,3 he told them' 1;o% wont hear me &ell
"or +asterl& Boc$ either' This is &o%r cit& Stannis means to sac$, and thats &o%r !ate
hes brin!in! down' So come with me and $ill the son o" a bitch@3 T&rion %nsheathed his
a0e, wheeled the stallion aro%nd, and trotted toward the sall& port' ,e tho%!ht the& were
"ollowin!, b%t neer dared to loo$'
C#APT"R ,1
SA'SA
The torches shimmered bri!htl& a!ainst the hammered metal o" the wall sconces,
"illin! the F%eens Ballroom with siler& li!ht' ;et there was still dar$ness in that hall'
Sansa co%ld see it in the pale e&es o" Ser Il&n 4a&ne, who stood b& the bac$ door still as
stone, ta$in! neither "ood nor wine' She co%ld hear it in 7ord 8&less rac$in! co%!h, and
the whispered oice o" /sne& 6ettleblac$ when he slipped in to brin! +ersei the tidin!s'
Sansa was "inishin! her broth when he came the "irst time, enterin! thro%!h the bac$'
She !limpsed him tal$in! to his brother /s"r&d' Then he climbed the dais and $nelt
beside the hi!h seat, smellin! o" horse, "o%r lon! thin scratches on his chee$ cr%sted
with scabs, his hair "allin! down past his collar and into his e&es' =or all his whisperin!,
Sansa co%ld not help b%t hear' 1The "leets are loc$ed in battle' Some archers !ot ashore,
b%t the ,o%nds c%t them to pieces, ;8race' ;o%r brothers raisin! his chain, I heard
the si!nal' Some dr%n$ards down to =lea Bottom are smashin! doors and climbin!
thro%!h windows' 7ord B&waters sent the !old cloa$s to deal with them' Baelors Sept
is 9ammed "%ll, eer&one pra&in!'3
1*nd m& son.3
1The $in! went to Baelors to !et the ,i!h Septons blessin!' Now hes wal$in! the
walls with the ,and, tellin! the men to be brae, li"tin! their spirits as it were'3
+ersei bec$oned to her pa!e "or another c%p o" wine, a !olden inta!e "rom the *rbor,
"r%it& and rich' The )%een was drin$in! heail&, b%t the wine onl& seemed to ma$e her
more bea%ti"%l: her chee$s were "l%shed, and her e&es had a bri!ht, "eerish heat to them
as she loo$ed down oer the hall' 5&es o" wild"ire, Sansa tho%!ht'
2%sicians pla&ed, 9%!!lers 9%!!led' 2oon Bo& l%rched abo%t the hall on stilts ma$in!
moc$ o" eer&one, while Ser #ontos chased serin! !irls on his broomstic$ horse' The
!%ests la%!hed, b%t it was a 9o&less la%!hter, the sort o" la%!hter that can t%rn into
sobbin! in hal" a heartbeat' Their bodies are here, b%t their tho%!hts are on the cit&
walls, and their hearts as well'
*"ter the broth came a salad o" apples, n%ts, and raisins' *t an& other time, it mi!ht
hae made a tast& dish, b%t toni!ht all the "ood was "laored with "ear' Sansa was not the
onl& one in the hall witho%t an appetite' 7ord 8&les was co%!hin! more than he was
eatin!, 7oll&s Sto$eworth sat h%nched and shierin!, and the &o%n! bride o" one o" Ser
7ancels $ni!hts be!an to weep %ncontrollabl&' The )%een commanded 2aester =ren$en
to p%t her to bed with a c%p o" dreamwine' 1Tears,3 she said scorn"%ll& to Sansa as the
woman was led "rom the hall' 1The womans weapon, m& lad& mother %sed to call them'
The mans weapon is a sword' *nd that tells %s all &o% need to $now, doesnt it.3
12en m%st be er& brae, tho%!h,3 said Sansa' 1To ride o%t and "ace swords and a0es,
eer&one tr&in! to $ill &o% ' ' '3
1Caime told me once that he onl& "eels tr%l& alie in battle and in bed'3 She li"ted her
c%p and too$ a lon! swallow' ,er salad was %nto%ched' 1I wo%ld sooner "ace an&
n%mber o" swords than sit helpless li$e this, pretendin! to en9o& the compan& o" this
"loc$ o" "ri!htened hens'3
1;o% as$ed them here, ;o%r 8race'3
1+ertain thin!s are e0pected o" a )%een' The& will be e0pected o" &o% sho%ld &o% eer
wed Co""re&' Best learn'3 The )%een st%died the wies, da%!hters, and mothers who
"illed the benches' 1/" themseles the hens are nothin!, b%t their coc$s are important "or
one reason or another, and some ma& s%rie this battle' So it behooes me to !ie their
women m& protection' I" m& wretched dwar" o" a brother sho%ld somehow mana!e to
preail, the& will ret%rn to their h%sbands and "athers "%ll o" tales abo%t how brae I was,
how m& co%ra!e inspired them and li"ted their spirits, how I neer do%bted o%r ictor&
een "or a moment'3
1*nd i" the castle sho%ld "all.3
1;o%d li$e that, wo%ldnt &o%.3 +ersei did not wait "or a denial' 1I" Im not betra&ed
b& m& own !%ards, I ma& be able to hold here "or a time' Then I can !o to the walls and
o""er to &ield to 7ord Stannis in person' That will spare %s the worst' B%t i" 2ae!ors
,old"ast sho%ld "all be"ore Stannis can come %p, wh& then, most o" m& !%ests are in "or
a bit o" rape,
Id sa&' *nd &o% sho%ld neer r%le o%t m%tilation, tort%re, and m%rder at times li$e
these'3
Sansa was horri"ied' 1These are women, %narmed, and !entl& born'3
1Their birth protects them,3 +ersei admitted, 1tho%!h not as m%ch as &o%d thin$' 5ach
ones worth a !ood ransom, b%t a"ter the madness o" battle, soldiers o"ten seem to want
"lesh more than coin' 5en so, a !olden shield is better than none' /%t in the streets, the
women wont be treated near as tenderl&' Nor will o%r serants' 4rett& thin!s li$e that
serin! wench o" 7ad& Tandas co%ld be in "or a liel& ni!ht, b%t dont ima!ine the old
and the in"irm and the %!l& will be spared' 5no%!h drin$ will ma$e blind washerwomen
and ree$in! pi! !irls seem as comel& as &o%, sweetlin!'
12e.3
1Tr& not to so%nd so li$e a mo%se, Sansa' ;o%re a woman now, remember. *nd
betrothed to m& "irstborn'3 The )%een sipped at her wine' 1(ere it an&one else o%tside
the !ates, I mi!ht hope to be!%ile him' B%t this is Stannis Baratheon' Id hae a better
chance o" sed%cin! his horse'3 She noticed the loo$ on Sansas "ace, and la%!hed' 1,ae
I shoc$ed &o%, m& lad&.3 She leaned close' 1;o% little "ool' Tears are not a womans
onl& weapon' ;o%e !ot another one between &o%r le!s, and &o%d best learn to %se it'
;o%ll "ind men %se their swords "reel& eno%!h' Both $inds o" swords'3
Sansa was spared the need to repl& when two 6ettleblac$s reentered the hall' Ser
/sm%nd and his brothers had become !reat "aorites abo%t the castle: the& were alwa&s
read& with a smile and a 9est, and !ot on with !rooms and h%ntsmen as well as the& did
with $ni!hts and s)%ires' (ith the serin! wenches the& !ot on best o" all, it was
!ossiped' /" late Ser /sm%nd had ta$en Sandor +le!anes place b& Co""re&s side, and
Sansa had heard the women at the washin! well sa&in! he was as stron! as the ,o%nd,
onl& &o%n!er and "aster' I" that was so, she wondered wh& she had neer once heard o"
these 6ettleblac$s be"ore Ser /sm%nd was named to the 6in!s!%ard'
/sne& was all smiles as he $nelt beside the )%een' 1The h%l$s hae !one %p, ;8race'
The whole Blac$waters awash with wild"ire' * h%ndred ships b%rnin!, ma&be more'3
1*nd m& son.3
1,es at the 2%d 8ate with the ,and and the 6in!s!%ard, ;8race' ,e spo$e to the
archers on the hoardin!s be"ore, and !ae them a "ew tips on handlin! a crossbow, he
did' *ll a!ree, hes a ri!ht brae bo&'3
1,ed best remain a ri!ht lie bo&'3 +ersei t%rned to his brother /s"r&d, who was
taller, sterner, and wore a droopin! blac$ m%stache' 1;es.3
/s"r&d had donned a steel hal"helm oer his lon! blac$ hair, and the loo$ on his "ace
was !rim, 1;8race,3 he said )%ietl&, 1the bo&s ca%!ht a !room and two maidserants
tr&in! to snea$ o%t a postern with three o" the $in!s horses'3
1The ni!hts "irst traitors,3 the )%een said, 1b%t not the last, I "ear' ,ae Ser Il&n see to
them, and p%t their heads on pi$es o%tside the stables as a warnin!'3 *s the& le"t, she
t%rned to Sansa' 1*nother lesson &o% sho%ld learn, i" &o% hope to sit beside m& son' Be
!entle on a ni!ht li$e this and &o%ll hae treasons poppin! %p all abo%t &o% li$e
m%shrooms a"ter a hard rain' The onl& wa& to $eep &o%r people lo&al is to ma$e certain
the& "ear &o% more than the& do the enem&'3
1I will remember, ;o%r 8race,3 said Sansa, tho%!h she had alwa&s heard that loe was
a s%rer ro%te to the peoples lo&alt& than "ear' I" I am eer a )%een, Ill ma$e them loe
me'
+rabclaw pies "ollowed the salad' Then came m%tton roasted with lee$s and carrots,
sered in trenchers o" hollowed bread' 7oll&s ate too "ast, !ot sic$, and retched all oer
hersel" and her sister' 7ord 8&les co%!hed, dran$, co%!hed, dran$, and passed o%t' The
)%een !a?ed down in dis!%st to where he sprawled with his "ace in his trencher and his
hand in a p%ddle o" wine' 1The !ods m%st hae been mad to waste manhood on the li$es
o" him, and I m%st hae been mad to demand his release'3
/s"r&d 6ettleblac$ ret%rned, crimson cloa$ swirlin!' 1Theres "ol$s !atherin! in the
s)%are, ;8race, as$in! to ta$e re"%!e in the castle' Not a mob, rich merchants and the
li$e'3
1+ommand them to ret%rn to their homes,3 the )%een said' 1I" the& wont !o, hae o%r
crossbowmen $ill a "ew' No sorties: I wont hae the !ates opened "or an& reason'3
1*s &o% command'3 ,e bowed and moed o""'
The )%eens "ace was hard and an!r&' 1(o%ld that I co%ld ta$e a sword to their nec$s
m&sel"'3 ,er oice was startin! to sl%r' 1(hen we were little, Caime and I were so m%ch
ali$e that een o%r lord "ather co%ld not tell %s apart' Sometimes as a lar$ we wo%ld
dress in each others clothes and spend a whole da& each as the other' ;et een so, when
Caime was !ien his "irst sword, there was none "or me' D(hat do I !et. I remember
as$in!' (e were so m%ch ali$e, I co%ld neer %nderstand wh& the& treated %s so
di""erentl&' Caime learned to "i!ht with sword and lance and mace, while I was ta%!ht to
smile and sin! and please' ,e was heir to +asterl& Boc$, while I was to be sold to some
stran!er li$e a horse, to be ridden wheneer m& new owner li$ed, beaten wheneer he
li$ed, and cast aside in time "or a &o%n!er "ill&' Caimes lot was to be !lor& and power,
while mine was birth and moonblood'3
1B%t &o% were )%een o" all the Seen 6in!doms,3 Sansa said'
1(hen it comes to swords, a )%een is onl& a woman a"ter all'3
+erseis wine c%p was empt&' The pa!e moed to "ill it a!ain, b%t she t%rned it oer
and shoo$ her head' 1No more' I m%st $eep a clear head'3
The last co%rse was !oat cheese sered with ba$ed apples' The scent o" cinnamon
"illed the hall as /sne& 6ettleblac$ slipped in to $neel once more between them'
1;8race,3 he m%rm%red' 1Stannis has landed men on the to%rne& !ro%nds, and theres
more comin! across' The 2%d 8ates %nder attac$, and the&e bro%!ht a ram to the
6in!s 8ate' The Imps !one o%t to drie them o""'3
1That will "ill them with "ear,3 the )%een said dr&l&' 1,e hasnt ta$en Co"", I hope'3
1No, ;8race, the $in!s with m& brother at the (hores, "lin!in! *ntler 2en into the
rier'3
1(ith the 2%d 8ate %nder assa%lt. =oll&' Tell Ser /sm%nd I want him o%t o" there at
once, its too dan!ero%s' =etch him bac$ to the castle'3
1The Imp saidA3
1Its what I said that o%!ht concern &o%'3 +erseis e&es narrowed' 1;o%r brother will
do as hes told, or Ill see to it that he leads the ne0t sortie himsel", and &o%ll !o with
him'3
*"ter the meal had been cleared awa&, man& o" the !%ests as$ed leae to !o to the sept'
+ersei !racio%sl& !ranted their re)%est' 7ad& Tanda and her da%!hters were amon! those
who "led' =or those who remained, a sin!er was bro%!ht "orth to "ill the hall with the
sweet m%sic o" the hi!h harp' ,e san! o" Con)%il and =lorian, o" 4rince *emon the
#ra!on$ni!ht and his loe "or his brothers )%een, o" N&merias ten tho%sand ships'
The& were bea%ti"%l son!s, b%t terribl& sad' Seeral o" the women be!an to weep, and
Sansa "elt her own e&es !rowin! moist'
1>er& !ood, dear'3 The )%een leaned close' 1;o% want to practice those tears' ;o%ll
need them "or 6in! Stannis'3
Sansa shi"ted nero%sl&' 1;o%r 8race.3
1/h, spare me &o%r hollow co%rtesies' 2atters m%st hae reached a desperate strait o%t
there i" the& need a dwar" to lead them, so &o% mi!ht as well ta$e o"" &o%r mas$' I $now
all abo%t &o%r little treasons in the !odswood'3
1The !odswood.3 #ont loo$ at Ser #ontos, dont, dont, Sansa told hersel"' She
doesnt $now, no one $nows, #ontos promised me, m& =lorian wo%ld neer "ail me'
1Ie done no treasons' I onl& isit the !odswood to pra&'3
1=or Stannis' /r &o%r brother, its all the same' (h& else see$ &o%r "athers !ods.
;o%re pra&in! "or o%r de"eat' (hat wo%ld &o% call that, i" not treason.3
1I pra& "or Co""re&,3 she insisted nero%sl&'
1(h&, beca%se he treats &o% so sweetl&.3 The )%een too$ a "la!on o" sweet pl%m wine
"rom a passin! serin! !irl and "illed Sansas c%p' 1#rin$,3 she commanded coldl&'
14erhaps it will !ie &o% the co%ra!e to deal with tr%th "or a chan!e'3
Sansa li"ted the c%p to her lips and too$ a sip' The wine was clo&in!l& sweet, b%t er&
stron!'
1;o% can do better than that,3 +ersei said' 1#rain the c%p, Sansa' ;o%r )%een
commands &o%'3 it almost !a!!ed her, b%t Sansa emptied the c%p, !%lpin! down the
thic$ sweet wine %ntil her head was swimmin!'
12ore.3 +ersei as$ed'
1No' 4lease'3
The )%een loo$ed displeased' 1(hen &o% as$ed abo%t Ser Il&n earlier, I lied to &o%'
(o%ld &o% li$e to hear the tr%th, Sansa. (o%ld &o% li$e to $now wh& hes reall& here.3
She did not dare answer, b%t it did not matter' The )%een raised a hand and bec$oned,
neer waitin! "or a repl&' Sansa had not een seen Ser Il&n ret%rn to the hall, b%t
s%ddenl& there he was, stridin! "rom the shadows behind the dais as silent as a cat' ,e
carried Ice %nsheathed' ,er "ather had alwa&s cleaned the blade in the !odswood a"ter
he too$ a mans head, Sansa recalled, b%t Ser Il&n was not so "astidio%s' There was
blood dr&in! on the ripplin! steel, the red alread& "adin! to brown' 1Tell 7ad& Sansa
wh& I $eep &o% b& %s,3 said +ersei'
Ser Il&n opened his mo%th and emitted a cho$in! rattle' ,is po0scarred "ace had no
e0pression'
1,es here "or %s, he sa&s,3 the )%een said' 1Stannis ma& ta$e the cit& and he ma& ta$e
the throne, b%t I will not s%""er him to 9%d!e me' I do not mean "or him to hae %s alie'3
1%s.3
1;o% heard me' So perhaps &o% had best pra& a!ain, Sansa, and "or a di""erent
o%tcome' The Star$s will hae no 9o& "rom the "all o" ,o%se 7annister, I promise &o%'3
She reached o%t and to%ched Sansas hair, br%shin! it li!htl& awa& "rom her nec$'
C#APT"R ,$
T%RIO'
The slot in his helm limited T&rions ision to what was be"ore him, b%t when he
t%rned his head he saw three !alle&s beached on the to%rne& !ro%nds, and a "o%rth, lar!er
than the others, standin! well o%t into the rier, "irin! barrels o" b%rnin! pitch "rom a
catap%lt'
1(ed!e,3 T&rion commanded as his men streamed o%t o" the sall& port' The& "ormed
%p in spearhead, with him at the point' Ser 2andon 2oore too$ the place to his ri!ht,
"lames shimmerin! a!ainst the white enamel o" his armor, his dead e&es shinin!
passionlessl& thro%!h his helm' ,e rode a coal-blac$ horse barded all in white, with the
p%re white shield o" the 6in!s!%ard strapped to his arm' /n the le"t, T&rion was
s%rprised to see 4odric$ 4a&ne, a sword in his hand' 1;o%re too &o%n!,3 he said at
once' 18o bac$'3
1Im &o%r s)%ire, m& lord'3
T&rion co%ld spare no time "or ar!%ment' 1(ith me, then' Sta& close'3 ,e $ic$ed his
horse into motion'
The& rode $nee to $nee, "ollowin! the line o" the loomin! walls' Co""re&s standard
streamed crimson and !old "rom Ser 2andons sta"", sta! and lion dancin! hoo" to paw'
The& went "rom a wal$ to a trot, wheelin! wide aro%nd the base o" the tower' *rrows
darted "rom the cit& walls while stones sp%n and t%mbled oerhead, crashin! down
blindl& onto earth and water, steel and "lesh' *head loomed the 6in!s 8ate and a
s%r!in! mob o" soldiers wrestlin! with a h%!e ram, a sha"t o" blac$ oa$ with an iron
head' *rchers o"" the ships s%rro%nded them, loosin! their sha"ts at whateer de"enders
showed themseles on the !ateho%se walls' 17ances,3 T&rion commanded' ,e sped to a
canter'
The !ro%nd was sodden and slipper&, e)%al parts m%d and blood' ,is stallion st%mbled
oer a corpse, his hooes slidin! and ch%rnin! the earth, and "or an instant T&rion "eared
his char!e wo%ld end with him t%mblin! "rom the saddle be"ore he een reached the "oe,
b%t somehow he and his horse both mana!ed to $eep their balance' Beneath the !ate
men were t%rnin!, h%rriedl& tr&in! to brace "or the shoc$' T&rion li"ted his a0e and
sho%ted, 16in!s 7andin!@3 /ther oices too$ %p the cr&, and now the arrowhead "lew, a
lon! scream o" steel and sil$, po%ndin! hooes and sharp blades $issed b& "ire'
Ser 2andon dropped the point o" his lance at the last possible instant, and droe
Co""re&s banner thro%!h the chest o" a man in a st%dded 9er$in, li"tin! him "%ll o"" his
"eet be"ore the sha"t snapped' *head o" T&rion was a $ni!ht whose s%rcoat showed a "o0
peerin! thro%!h a rin! o" "lowers' =lorent was his "irst tho%!ht, b%t helmless ran a close
second' ,e smashed the man in the "ace with all the wei!ht o" a0e and arm and char!in!
horse, ta$in! o"" hal" his head' The shoc$ o" impact n%mbed his sho%lder' Sha!!a wo%ld
la%!h at me, he tho%!ht, ridin! on'
* spear th%dded a!ainst his shield' 4od !alloped beside him, slashin! down at eer&
"oe the& passed' #iml&, he heard cheers "rom the men on the walls' The batterin! ram
crashed down into the m%d, "or!otten in an instant as its handlers "led or t%rned to "i!ht'
T&rion rode down an archer, opened a spearman "rom sho%lder to armpit, !lanced a blow
o"" a sword"ish-crested helm' *t the ram his bi! red reared b%t the blac$ stallion leapt
the obstacle smoothl& and Ser 2andon "lashed past him, death in snow-white sil$' ,is
sword sheared o"" limbs, crac$ed heads, bro$e shields as%nderAtho%!h "ew eno%!h o"
the enem& had made it across the rier with shields intact'
T&rion %r!ed his mo%nt oer the ram' Their "oes were "leein!' ,e moed his head ri!ht
to le"t and bac$ a!ain, b%t saw no si!n o" 4odric$ 4a&ne' *n arrow clattered a!ainst his
chee$, missin! his e&e slit b& an inch' ,is 9olt o" "ear almost %nhorsed him' I" Im to sit
here li$e a st%mp, I had as well paint a tar!et on m& breastplate'
,e sp%rred his horse bac$ into motion, trottin! oer and aro%nd a scatter o" corpses'
#ownrier, the Blac$water was 9ammed with the h%l$s o" b%rnin! !alle&s' 4atches o"
wild"ire still "loated atop the water, sendin! "ier& !reen pl%mes swirlin! twent& "eet into
the air' The& had dispersed the men on the batterin! ram, b%t he co%ld see "i!htin! all
alon! the rier"ront' Ser Balon Swanns men, most li$e, or 7ancels, tr&in! to throw the
enem& bac$ into the water as the& swarmed ashore o"" the b%rnin! ships' 1(ell ride "or
the 2%d 8ate,3 he commanded'
Ser 2andon sho%ted, 1The 2%d 8ate@3 *nd the& were o"" a!ain' 16in!s 7andin!@3
his men cried ra!!edl&, and 1,al"man@ ,al"man@3 ,e wondered who had ta%!ht them
that' Thro%!h the steel and paddin! o" his helm, he heard an!%ished screams, the h%n!r&
crac$le o" "lame, the sh%dderin! o" warhorns, and the bra?en blast o" tr%mpets' =ire was
eer&where' 8ods be !ood, no wonder the ,o%nd was "ri!htened' Its the "lames he
"ears ' ' '
* splinterin! crash ran! across the Blac$water as a stone the si?e o" a horse landed
s)%are amidships on one o" the !alle&s' /%rs or theirs. Thro%!h the roilin! smo$e, he
co%ld not tell' ,is wed!e was !one: eer& man was his own battle now' I sho%ld hae
t%rned bac$, he tho%!ht, ridin! on'
The a0e was hea& in his "ist' * hand"%l still "ollowed him, the rest dead or "led' ,e
had to wrestle his stallion to $eep his head to the east' The bi! destrier li$ed "ire no more
than Sandor +le!ane had, b%t the horse was easier to cow'
2en were crawlin! "rom the rier, men b%rned and bleedin!, co%!hin! %p water,
sta!!erin!, most d&in!' ,e led his troop amon! them, delierin! )%ic$er cleaner deaths
to those stron! eno%!h to stand' The war shran$ to the si?e o" his e&e slit' 6ni!hts twice
his si?e "led "rom him, or stood and died' The& seemed little thin!s, and "ear"%l'
17annister@3 he sho%ted, sla&in!' ,is arm was red to the elbow, !listenin! in the li!ht o""
the rier' (hen his horse reared a!ain, he shoo$ his a0e at the stars and heard them call
o%t 1,al"man@ ,al"tnan@3 T&rion "elt dr%n$'
The battle "eer' ,e had neer tho%!ht to e0perience it himsel", tho%!h Caime had told
him o" it o"ten eno%!h' ,ow time seemed to bl%r and slow and een stop, how the past
and the "%t%re anished %ntil there was nothin! b%t the instant, how "ear "led, and
tho%!ht "led, and een &o%r bod&' 1;o% dont "eel &o%r wo%nds then, or the ache in &o%r
bac$ "rom the wei!ht o" the armor, or the sweat r%nnin! down into &o%r e&es' ;o% stop
"eelin!, &o% stop thin$in!, &o% stop bein! &o%, there is onl& the "i!ht, the "oe, this man
and then the ne0t and the ne0t and the ne0t, and &o% $now the& are a"raid and tired b%t
&o%re not, &o%re alie, and death is all aro%nd &o% b%t their swords moe so slowl&,
&o% can dance thro%!h them la%!hin!'3 Battle "eer' I am hal" a man and dr%n$ with
sla%!hter, let them $ill me i" the& can@
The& tried' *nother spearman ran at him' T&rion lopped o"" the head o" his spear, then
his hand, then his arm, trottin! aro%nd him in a circle' *n archer, bowless, thr%st at him
with an arrow, holdin! it as i" it were a $ni"e' The destrier $ic$ed at the mans thi!h to
send him sprawlin!, and T&rion bar$ed la%!hter' ,e rode past a banner planted in the
m%d, one o" Stanniss "ier& hearts, and chopped the sta"" in two with a swin! o" his a0e'
* $ni!ht rose %p "rom nowhere to hac$ at his shield with a two-handed !reatsword,
a!ain and a!ain, %ntil someone thr%st a da!!er %nder his arm' /ne o" T&rions men,
perhaps' ,e neer saw'
1I &ield, ser,3 a di""erent $ni!ht called o%t, "arther down the rier' 1;ield' Ser $ni!ht, I
&ield to &o%' 2& pled!e, here, here'3 The man la& in a p%ddle o" blac$ water, o""erin! %p
a lobstered !a%ntlet in to$en o" s%bmission' T&rion had to lean down to ta$e it "rom him'
*s he did, a pot o" wild"ire b%rst oerhead, spra&in! !reen "lame' In the s%dden stab o"
li!ht he saw that the p%ddle was not blac$ b%t red' The !a%ntlet still had the $ni!hts
hand in it' ,e "l%n! it bac$' 1;ield,3 the man sobbed hopelessl&, helplessl&' T&rion
reeled awa&'
* man-at-arms !rabbed the bridle o" his horse and thr%st at T&rions "ace with a da!!er'
,e $noc$ed the blade aside and b%ried the a0e in the nape o" the mans nec$' *s he was
wrestin! it "ree, a bla?e o" white appeared at the ed!e o" his ision' T&rion t%rned,
thin$in! to "ind Ser 2andon 2oore beside him a!ain, b%t this was a di""erent white
$ni!ht' Ser Balon Swann wore the same armor, b%t his horse trappin!s bore the battlin!
blac$-and-white swans o" his ,o%se' ,es more a spotted $ni!ht than a white one,
T&rion tho%!ht inanel&' 5er& bit o" Ser Balon was spattered with !ore and sm%d!ed b&
smo$e' ,e raised his mace to point downrier' Bits o" brain and bone cl%n! to its head'
12& lord, loo$'3
T&rion sw%n! his horse abo%t to peer down the Blac$water' The c%rrent still "lowed
blac$ and stron! beneath, b%t the s%r"ace was a roil o" blood and "lame' The s$& was red
and oran!e and !arish !reen' 1(hat.3 he said' Then he saw'
Steel-clad men-at-arms were clamberin! o"" a bro$en !alle& that had smashed into a
pier' So man&, where are the& comin! "rom. S)%intin! into the smo$e and !lare, T&rion
"ollowed them bac$ o%t into the rier' Twent& !alle&s were 9ammed to!ether o%t there,
ma&be more, it was hard to co%nt' Their oars were crossed, their h%lls loc$ed to!ether
with !rapplin! lines, the& were impaled on each others rams, tan!led in webs o" "allen
ri!!in!' /ne !reat h%l$ "loated h%ll %p between two smaller ships' (rec$s, b%t pac$ed
so closel& that it was possible to leap "rom one dec$ to the other and so cross the
Blac$water'
,%ndreds o" Stannis Baratheons boldest were doin! 9%st that' T&rion saw one !reat
"ool o" a $ni!ht tr&in! to ride across, %r!in! a terri"ied horse oer !%nwales and oars,
across tiltin! dec$s slic$ with blood and crac$lin! with !reen "ire' (e made them a
blood& brid!e, he tho%!ht in disma&' 4arts o" the brid!e were sin$in! and other parts
were a"ire and the whole thin! was crea$in! and shi"tin! and li$e to b%rst as%nder at an&
moment, b%t that did not seem to stop them' 1Those are brae men,3 he told Ser Balon in
admiration' 17ets !o $ill them'3
,e led them thro%!h the !%tterin! "ires and the soot and ash o" the rier"ront, po%ndin!
down a lon! stone )%a& with his own men and Ser Balons behind him' Ser 2andon "ell
in with them, his shield a ra!!ed r%in' Smo$e and cinders swirled thro%!h the air, and
the "oe bro$e be"ore their char!e, throwin! themseles bac$ into the water, $noc$in!
oer other men as the& "o%!ht to climb %p' The "oot o" the brid!e was a hal"s%n$en
enem& !alle& with #ra!onsbane painted on her prow, her bottom ripped o%t b& one o"
the s%n$en h%l$s T&rion had placed between the )%a&s' * spearman wearin! the red crab
bad!e o" ,o%se +elti!ar droe the point o" his weapon %p thro%!h the chest o" Balon
Swanns horse be"ore he co%ld dismo%nt, spillin! the $ni!ht "rom the saddle' T&rion
hac$ed at the mans head as he "lashed b&, and b& then it was too late to rein %p' ,is
stallion leapt "rom the end o" the )%a& and oer a splintered !%nwale, landin! with a
splash and a scream in an$le-deep water' T&rions a0e went spinnin!, "ollowed b& T&rion
himsel", and the dec$ rose %p to !ie him a wet smac$'
2adness "ollowed' ,is horse had bro$en a le! and was screamin! horribl&' Somehow
he mana!ed to draw his da!!er, and slit the poor creat%res throat' The blood !%shed o%t
in a scarlet "o%ntain, drenchin! his arms and chest' ,e "o%nd his "eet a!ain and l%rched
to the rail, and then he was "i!htin!, sta!!erin! and splashin! across croo$ed dec$s
awash with water' 2en came at him' Some he $illed, some he wo%nded, and some went
awa&, b%t alwa&s there were more' ,e lost his $ni"e and !ained a bro$en spear, he co%ld
not hae said how' ,e cl%tched it and stabbed, shrie$in! c%rses' 2en ran "rom him and
he ran a"ter them, clamberin! %p oer the rail to the ne0t ship and then the ne0t' ,is two
white shadows were alwa&s with him: Balon Swann and 2andon 2oore, bea%ti"%l in
their pale plate' S%rro%nded b& a circle o" >elar&on spearmen, the& "o%!ht bac$ to bac$:
the& made battle as !race"%l as a dance'
,is own $illin! was a cl%ms& thin!' ,e stabbed one man in the $idne& when his bac$
was t%rned, and !rabbed another b& the le! and %pended him into the rier' *rrows
hissed past his head and clattered o"" his armor: one lod!ed between sho%lder and
breastplate, b%t he neer "elt it' * na$ed man "ell "rom the s$& and landed on the dec$,
bod& b%rstin! li$e a melon dropped "rom a tower' ,is blood spattered thro%!h the slit o"
T&rions helm' Stones be!an to pl%mmet down, crashin! thro%!h the dec$s and t%rnin!
men to p%lp, %ntil the whole brid!e !ae a sh%dder and twisted iolentl& %nder"oot,
$noc$in! him sidewa&s'
S%ddenl& the rier was po%rin! into his helm' ,e ripped it o"" and crawled alon! the
listin! dec$ %ntil the water was onl& nec$ deep' * !roanin! "illed the air, li$e the death
cries o" some enormo%s beast, The ship, he had time to thin$, the ships abo%t to tear
loose' The bro$en !alle&s were rippin! apart, the brid!e brea$in! apart' No sooner had
he come to that reali?ation than he heard a s%dden crac$, lo%d as th%nder, the dec$
l%rched beneath him, and he slid bac$ down into the water'
The list was so steep he had to climb bac$ %p, ha%lin! himsel" alon! a snapped line
inch b& blood& inch' /%t o" the corner o" his e&e, he saw the h%l$ the&d been tan!led
with dri"tin! downstream with the c%rrent, spinnin! slowl& as men leapt oer her side'
Some wore Stanniss "lamin! heart, some Co""re&s sta!-and-lion, some other bad!es, b%t
it seemed to ma$e no matter' =ires were b%rnin! %pstream and down' /n one side o" him
was a ra!in! battle, a !reat con"%sion o" bri!ht banners wain! aboe a sea o" str%!!lin!
men, shield walls "ormin! and brea$in!, mo%nted $ni!hts c%ttin! thro%!h the press, d%st
and m%d and blood and smo$e' /n the other side, the Bed 6eep loomed hi!h on its hill,
spittin! "ire' The& were on the wron! sides, tho%!h' =or a moment T&rion tho%!ht he
was !oin! mad, that Stannis and the castle had traded places' ,ow co%ld Stannis cross to
the north ban$. Belatedl& he reali?ed that the dec$ was t%rnin!, and somehow he had
!otten sp%n abo%t, so castle and battle had chan!ed sides' Battle, what battle, i" Stannis
hasnt crossed who is he "i!htin!. T&rion was too tired to ma$e sense o" it' ,is sho%lder
ached horribl&, and when he reached %p to r%b it he saw the arrow, and remembered' I
hae to !et o"" this ship' #ownstream was nothin! b%t a wall o" "ire, and i" the wrec$
bro$e loose the c%rrent wo%ld ta$e him ri!ht into it'
Someone was callin! his name "aintl& thro%!h the din o" battle' T&rion tried to sho%t
bac$' 1,ere@ ,ere, Im here, help me@3 ,is oice so%nded so thin he co%ld scarcel& hear
himsel"' ,e p%lled himsel" %p the slantin! dec$, and !rabbed "or the rail' The h%ll
slammed into the ne0t !alle& oer and rebo%nded so iolentl& he was almost $noc$ed
into the water' (here had all his stren!th !one. It was all he co%ld do to han! on'
12; 7/B#@ T*65 2; ,*N#@ 2; 7/B# T%RIO'@3
There on the dec$ o" the ne0t ship, across a widenin! !%l" o" blac$ water, stood Ser
2andon 2oore, a hand e0tended' ;ellow and !reen "ire shone a!ainst the white o" his
armor, and his lobstered !a%ntlet was stic$& with blood, b%t T&rion reached "or it all the
same, wishin! his arms were lon!er' It was onl& at the er& last, as their "in!ers br%shed
across the !ap, that somethin! ni!!led at him ' ' ' Ser 2andon was holdin! o%t his le"t
hand, wh& ' ' '
(as that wh& he reeled bac$ward, or did he see the sword a"ter all. ,e wo%ld neer
$now' The point slashed 9%st beneath his e&es, and he "elt its cold hard to%ch and then a
bla?e o" pain' ,is head sp%n aro%nd as i" hed been slapped' The shoc$ o" the cold water
was a second slap more 9oltin! than the "irst' ,e "lailed "or somethin! to !rab on to,
$nowin! that once he went down he was not li$e to come bac$ %p' Somehow his hand
"o%nd the splintered end o" a bro$en oar' +l%tchin! it ti!ht as a desperate loer, he
shinnied %p "oot b& "oot' ,is e&es were "%ll o" water, his mo%th was "%ll o" blood, and
his head throbbed horribl&' 8ods !ie me stren!th to reach the dec$ ' ' ' There was
nothin! else, onl& the oar, the water, the dec$'
=inall& he rolled oer the side and la& breathless and e0ha%sted, "lat on his bac$' Balls
o" !reen and oran!e "lame crac$led oerhead, leain! strea$s between the stars' ,e had
a moment to thin$ how prett& it was be"ore Ser 2andon bloc$ed o%t the iew' The
$ni!ht was a white steel shadow, his e&es shinin! dar$l& behind his helm' T&rion had no
more stren!th than a ra! doll' Ser 2andon p%t the point o" his sword to the hollow o" his
throat and c%rled both hands aro%nd the hilt'
*nd s%ddenl& he l%rched to the le"t, sta!!erin! into the rail' (ood split, and Ser
2andon 2oore anished with a sho%t and a splash' *n instant later, the h%lls came
slammin! to!ether a!ain, so hard the dec$ seemed to 9%mp' Then someone was $neelin!
oer him' 1Caime.3 he croa$ed, almost cho$in! on the blood that "illed his mo%th' (ho
else wo%ld sae him, i" not his brother.
1Be still, m& lord, &o%re h%rt bad'3 * bo&s oice, that ma$es no sense, tho%!ht
T&rion' It so%nded almost li$e 4od'
SA'SA
(hen Ser 7ancel 7annister told the )%een that the battle was lost, she t%rned her
empt& wine c%p in her hands and said, 1Tell m& brother, ser'3 ,er oice was distant, as i"
the news were o" no !reat interest to her'
1;o%r brothers li$el& dead'3 Ser 7ancels s%rcoat was soa$ed with the blood seepin!
o%t %nder his arm' (hen he had arried in the hall, the si!ht o" him had made some o"
the !%ests scream' 1,e was on the brid!e o" boats when it bro$e apart, we thin$' Ser
2andons li$el& !one as well, and no one can "ind the ,o%nd' 8ods be damned, +ersei,
wh& did &o% hae them "etch Co""re& bac$ to the castle. The !old cloa$s are throwin!
down their spears and r%nnin!, h%ndreds o" them' (hen the& saw the $in! leain!, the&
lost all heart' The whole Blac$waters awash with wrec$s and "ire and corpses, b%t we
co%ld hae held i"A3
/sne& 6ettleblac$ p%shed past him' 1Theres "i!htin! on both sides o" the rier now,
;8race' It ma& be that some o" Stanniss lords are "i!htin! each other, no ones s%re,
its all con"%sed oer there' The ,o%nds !one, no one $nows where, and Ser Balons
"allen bac$ inside the cit&' The riersides theirs' The&re rammin! at the 6in!s 8ate
a!ain, and Ser 7ancels ri!ht, &o%r men are desertin! the walls and $illin! their own
o""icers' Theres mobs at the Iron 8ate and the 8ate o" the 8ods "i!htin! to !et o%t, and
=lea Bottoms one !reat dr%n$en riot'3
8ods be !ood, Sansa tho%!ht, it is happenin!, Co""re&s lost his head and so hae 7 She
loo$ed "or Ser Il&n, b%t the 6in!s 9%stice was not to be seen' I can "eel him, tho%!h'
,es close, Ill not escape him, hell hae m& head'
Stran!el& calm, the )%een t%rned to his brother /s"r&d' 1Baise the drawbrid!e and bar
the doors' No one enters or leaes 2ae!ors witho%t m& leae'3
1(hat abo%t them women who went to pra&.3
1The& chose to leae m& protection' 7et them pra&: perhaps the !ods will de"end them'
(heres m& son.3
1The castle !ateho%se' ,e wanted to command the crossbowmen' Theres a mob
howlin! o%tside, hal" o" them !old cloa$s who came with him when we le"t the 2%d
8ate'3
1Brin! him inside 2ae!ors now3
1No@3 7ancel was so an!r& he "or!ot to $eep his oice down' ,eads t%rned toward
them as he sho%ted, 1(ell hae the 2%d 8ate all oer a!ain' 7et him sta& where he is,
hes the $in!A3
1,es m& son'3 +ersei 7annister rose to her "eet' 1;o% claim to be a 7annister as well,
co%sin, proe it' /s"r&d, wh& are &o% standin! there. Now means toda&'3
/s"r&d 6ettleblac$ h%rried "rom the hall, his brother with him' 2an& o" the !%ests
were r%shin! o%t as well' Some o" the women were weepin!, some pra&in!' /thers
simpl& remained at the tables and called "or more wine' 1+ersei,3 Ser 7ancel pleaded,
1i" we lose the castle, Co""re& will be $illed in an& case, &o% $now that' 7et him sta&, Ill
$eep him b& me, I swearA3
18et o%t o" m& wa&'3 +ersei slammed her open palm into his wo%nd' Ser 7ancel cried
o%t in pain and almost "ainted as the )%een swept "rom the room' She spared Sansa not
so m%ch as a !lance' Shes "or!otten me' Ser Il&n will $ill me and she wont een thin$
abo%t it'
1/h, !ods,3 an old woman wailed' 1(ere lost, the battles lost, shes r%nnin!'3
Seeral children were cr&in!' The& can smell the "ear' Sansa "o%nd hersel" alone on the
dais' Sho%ld she sta& here, or r%n a"ter the )%een and plead "or her li"e.
She neer $new wh& she !ot to her "eet, b%t she did' 1#ont be a"raid,3 she told them
lo%dl&' 1The )%een has raised the drawbrid!e' This is the sa"est place in the cit&' Theres
thic$ walls, the moat, the spi$es ' ' '3
1(hats happened.3 demanded a woman she $new sli!htl&, the wi"e o" a lesser
lordlin!' 1(hat did /sne& tell her. Is the $in! h%rt, has the cit& "allen.3
1Tell %s,3 someone else sho%ted' /ne woman as$ed abo%t her "ather, another her son'
Sansa raised her hands "or )%iet' 1Co""re&s come bac$ to the castle' ,es not h%rt'
The&re still "i!htin!, thats all I $now, the&re "i!htin! brael&' The )%een will be bac$
soon'3 The last was a lie, b%t she had to soothe them' She noticed the "ools standin!
%nder the !alle&' 12oon Bo&, ma$e %s la%!h'3
2oon Bo& did a cartwheel, and a%lted on top o" a table' ,e !rabbed %p "o%r wine
c%ps and be!an to 9%!!le them' 5er& so o"ten one o" them wo%ld come down and
smash him in the head' * "ew nero%s la%!hs echoed thro%!h the hall' Sansa went to Ser
7ancel and $nelt beside him' ,is wo%nd was bleedin! a"resh where the )%een had str%c$
him' 12adness,3 he !asped' 18ods, the Imp was ri!ht, was ri!ht ' ' '3
1,elp him,3 Sansa commanded two o" the serin! men' /ne 9%st loo$ed at her and ran,
"la!on and all' /ther serants were leain! the hall as well, b%t she co%ld not help that'
To!ether, Sansa and the serin! man !ot the wo%nded $ni!ht bac$ on his "eet' 1Ta$e
him to 2aester =ren$en'3 7ancel was one o" them, &et somehow she still co%ld not brin!
hersel" to wish him dead' I am so"t and wea$ and st%pid, 9%st as Co""re& sa&s' I sho%ld be
$illin! him, not helpin! him'
The torches had be!%n to b%rn low, and one or two had "lic$ered o%t' No one tro%bled
to replace them' +ersei did not ret%rn' Ser #ontos climbed the dais while all e&es were
on the other "ool' 18o bac$ to &o%r bedchamber, sweet Con)%il,3 he whispered' 17oc$
&o%rsel" in, &o%ll be sa"er there' Ill come "or &o% when the battles done'3
Someone will come "or me, Sansa tho%!ht, b%t will it be &o%, or will it be Ser Il&n.
=or a mad moment she tho%!ht o" be!!in! #ontos to de"end her' ,e had been a $ni!ht
too, trained with the sword and sworn to de"end the wea$' No' ,e has not the co%ra!e,
or the s$ill' I wo%ld onl& be $illin! him as well' It too$ all the stren!th she had in her to
wal$ slowl& "rom the F%eens Ballroom when she wanted so badl& to r%n' (hen she
reached the steps, she did r%n, %p and aro%nd %ntil she was breathless and di??&' /ne o"
the !%ards $noc$ed into her on the stair' * 9eweled wine c%p and a pair o" siler
candlestic$s spilled o%t o" the crimson cloa$ hed wrapped them in and went clatterin!
down the steps' ,e h%rried a"ter them, pa&in! Sansa no mind once he decided she was
not !oin! to tr& and ta$e his loot'
,er bedchamber was blac$ as pitch' Sansa barred the door and "%mbled thro%!h the
dar$ to the window' (hen she ripped bac$ the drapes, her breath ca%!ht in her throat'
The so%thern s$& was aswirl with !lowin!, shi"tin! colors, the re"lections o" the !reat
"ires that b%rned below' Bale"%l !reen tides moed a!ainst the bellies o" the clo%ds, and
pools o" oran!e li!ht spread o%t across the heaens' The reds and &ellows o" common
"lame warred a!ainst the emeralds and 9ades o" wild"ire, each color "larin! and then
"adin!, birthin! armies o" short-lied shadows to die a!ain an instant later' 8reen dawns
!ae wa& to oran!e d%s$s in hal" a heartbeat' The air itsel" smelled b%rnt, the wa& a so%p
$ettle sometimes smelled i" it was le"t on the "ire too lon! and all the so%p boiled awa&'
5mbers dri"ted thro%!h the ni!ht air li$e swarms o" "ire"lies'
Sansa bac$ed awa& "rom the window, retreatin! toward the sa"et& o" her bed' Ill !o to
sleep, she told hersel", and when I wa$e it will be a new da&, and the s$& will be bl%e
a!ain' The "i!htin! will be done and someone will tell me whether Im to lie or die'
17ad&,3 she whimpered so"tl&, wonderin! i" she wo%ld meet her wol" a!ain when she
was dead'
Then somethin! stirred behind her, and a hand reached o%t o" the dar$ and !rabbed her
wrist'
Sansa opened her mo%th to scream, b%t another hand clamped down oer her "ace,
smotherin! her' ,is "in!ers were ro%!h and call%sed, and stic$& with blood' 17ittle bird'
I $new &o%d come'3 The oice was a dr%n$en rasp'
/%tside, a swirlin! lance o" 9ade li!ht spit at the stars, "illin! the room with !reen
!lare' She saw him "or a moment, all blac$ and !reen, the blood on his "ace dar$ as tar,
his e&es !lowin! li$e a do!s in the s%dden !lare' Then the li!ht "aded and he was onl& a
h%l$in! dar$ness in a stained white cloa$'
1I" &o% scream Ill $ill &o%' Beliee that'3 ,e too$ his hand "rom her mo%th' ,er
breath was comin! ra!!ed' The ,o%nd had a "la!on o" wine on her bedside table' ,e
too$ a lon! p%ll' 1#ont &o% want to as$ whos winnin! the battle, little bird.3
1(ho.3 she said, too "ri!htened to de"& him'
The ,o%nd la%!hed' 1I onl& $now whos lost' 2e'3
,e is dr%n$er than Ie eer seen him' ,e was sleepin! in m& bed' (hat does he want
here. 1(hat hae &o% lost.3
1*ll'3 The b%rnt hal" o" his "ace was a mas$ o" dried blood' 1Blood& dwar"' Sho%ld
hae $illed him' ;ears a!o'3
1,es dead, the& sa&'3
1#ead. No' B%!!er that' I dont want him dead'3 ,e cast the empt& "la!on aside' 1I
want him b%rned' I" the !ods are !ood, the&ll b%rn him, b%t I wont be here to see' Im
!oin!'3
18oin!.3 She tried to wri!!le "ree, b%t his !rasp was iron'
1The little bird repeats whateer she hears' 8oin!, &es'3
1(here will &o% !o.3
1*wa& "rom here' *wa& "rom the "ires' 8o o%t the Iron 8ate, I s%ppose' North
somewhere, an&where'3
1;o% wont !et o%t,3 Sansa said' 1The )%eens closed %p 2ae!ors, and the cit& !ates
are sh%t as well'3
1Not to me' I hae the white cloa$' *nd I hae this'3 ,e patted the pommel o" his
sword' 1The man who tries to stop me is a dead man' <nless hes on "ire'3 ,e la%!hed
bitterl&'
1(h& did &o% come here.3
1;o% promised me a son!, little bird' ,ae &o% "or!otten.3
She didnt $now what he meant' She co%ldnt sin! "or him now, here, with the s$&
aswirl with "ire and men d&in! in their h%ndreds and their tho%sands' 1I cant,3 she said'
17et me !o, &o%re scarin! me'3
15er&thin! scares &o%' 7oo$ at me' 7oo$ at me'3
The blood mas$ed the worst o" his scars, b%t his e&es were white and wide and
terri"&in!' The b%rnt corner o" his mo%th twitched and twitched a!ain' Sansa co%ld smell
him: a stin$ o" sweat and so%r wine and stale omit, and oer it all the ree$ o" blood,
blood, blood'
1I co%ld $eep &o% sa"e,3 he rasped' 1The&re all a"raid o" me' No one wo%ld h%rt &o%
a!ain, or Id $ill them'3 ,e &an$ed her closer, and "or a moment she tho%!ht he meant to
$iss her' ,e was too stron! to "i!ht' She closed her e&es, wantin! it to be oer, b%t
nothin! happened' 1Still cant bear to loo$, can &o%.3 she heard him sa&' ,e !ae her
arm a hard wrench, p%llin! her aro%nd and shoin! her down onto the bed' 1Ill hae
that son!' =lorian and Con)%il, &o% said'3 ,is da!!er was o%t, poised at her throat'
1Sin!, little bird' Sin! "or &o%r little li"e'3
,er throat was dr& and ti!ht with "ear, and eer& son! she had eer $nown had "led
"rom her mind' 4lease dont $ill me, she wanted to scream, please dont' She co%ld "eel
him twistin! the point, p%shin! it into her throat, and she almost closed her e&es a!ain,
b%t then she remembered' It was not the son! o" =lorian and Con)%il, b%t it was a son!'
,er oice so%nded small and thin and trem%lo%s in her ears'
8entle 2other, "ont o" merc&, sae o%r sons "rom war, we pra&, sta& the swords and
sta& the arrows, let them $now a better da&' 8entle 2other, stren!th o" women, help o%r
da%!hters thro%!h this "ra&, soothe the wrath and tame the "%r&, teach %s all a $inder
wa&'
She had "or!otten the other erses' (hen her oice trailed o"", she "eared he mi!ht $ill
her, b%t a"ter a moment the ,o%nd too$ the blade "rom her throat, neer spea$in!'
Some instinct made her li"t her hand and c%p his chee$ with her "in!ers' The room was
too dar$ "or her to see him, b%t she co%ld "eel the stic$iness o" the blood, and a wetness
that was not blood' 17ittle bird,3 he said once more, his oice raw and harsh as steel on
stone' Then he rose "rom the bed' Sansa heard cloth rippin!, "ollowed b& the so"ter
so%nd o" retreatin! "ootsteps'
(hen she crawled o%t o" bed, lon! moments later, she was alone' She "o%nd his cloa$
on the "loor, twisted %p ti!ht, the white wool stained b& blood and "ire' The s$& o%tside
was dar$er b& then, with onl& a "ew pale !reen !hosts dancin! a!ainst the stars' * chill
wind was blowin!, ban!in! the sh%tters' Sansa was cold' She shoo$ o%t the torn cloa$
and h%ddled beneath it on the "loor, shierin!'
,ow lon! she sta&ed there she co%ld not hae said, b%t a"ter a time she heard a bell
rin!in!, "ar o"" across the cit&' The so%nd was a deepthroated bron?e boomin!, comin!
"aster with each $nell' Sansa was wonderin! what it mi!ht mean when a second bell
9oined in, and a third, their oices callin! across the hills and hollows, the alle&s and
towers, to eer& corner o" 6in!s 7andin!' She threw o"" the cloa$ and went to her
window'
The "irst "aint hint o" dawn was isible in the east, and the Bed 6eeps own bells were
rin!in! now, 9oinin! in the swellin! rier o" so%nd that "lowed "rom the seen cr&stal
towers o" the 8reat Sept o" Baelor' The& had r%n! the bells when 6in! Bobert died, she
remembered, b%t this was di""erent, no slow doloro%s death $nell b%t a 9o&"%l th%nder'
She co%ld hear men sho%tin! in the streets as well, and somethin! that co%ld onl& be
cheers'
It was Ser #ontos who bro%!ht her the word' ,e sta!!ered thro%!h her open door,
wrapped her in his "labb& arms, and whirled her aro%nd and aro%nd the room, whoopin!
so incoherentl& that Sansa %nderstood not a word o" it' ,e was as dr%n$ as the ,o%nd
had been, b%t in him it was a dancin! happ& dr%n$' She was breathless and di??& when
he let her down' 1(hat is it.3 She cl%tched at a bedpost' 1(hats happened. Tell me@3
1Its done@ #one@ #one@ The cit& is saed' 7ord Stannis is dead , 7ord Stannis is "led,
no one $nows, no one cares, his host is bro$en, the dan!ers done' Sla%!htered,
scattered, or !one oer, the& sa&' /h, the bri!ht banners@ The banners, Con)%il, the
banners@ #o &o% hae an& wine. (e o%!ht to drin$ to this da&, &es' It means &o%re
sa"e, dont &o% see.3
1Tell me whats happened@3 Sansa shoo$ him'
Ser #ontos la%!hed and hopped "rom one le! to the other, almost "allin!' 1The& came
%p thro%!h the ashes while the rier was b%rnin!' The rier, Stannis was nec$ deep in
the rier, and the& too$ him "rom the rear' /h, to be a $ni!ht a!ain, to hae been part o"
it@ ,is own men hardl& "o%!ht, the& sa&' Some ran b%t more bent the $nee and went
oer, sho%tin! "or 7ord Benl&@ (hat m%st Stannis hae tho%!ht when he heard that. I
had it "rom /sne& 6ettleblac$ who had it "rom Ser /sm%nd, b%t Ser Balons bac$ now
and his men sa& the same, and the !old cloa$s as well' (ere deliered, sweetlin!@ The&
came %p the roseroad and alon! the rierban$, thro%!h all the "ields Stannis had b%rned,
the ashes p%""in! %p aro%nd their boots and t%rnin! all their armor !re&, b%t oh@ the
banners m%st hae been bri!ht, the !olden rose and !olden lion and all the others, the
2arbrand tree and the Bowan, Tarl&s h%ntsman and Bedw&nes !rapes and 7ad&
/a$hearts lea"' *ll the westermen, all the power o" ,i!h!arden and +asterl& Boc$@
7ord T&win himsel" had their ri!ht win! on the north side o" the rier, with Band&ll
Tarl& commandin! the center and 2ace T&rell the le"t, b%t the an!%ard won the "i!ht'
The& pl%n!ed thro%!h Stannis li$e a lance thro%!h a p%mp$in, eer& man o" them
howlin! li$e some demon in steel' *nd do &o% $now who led the an!%ard. #o &o%. #o
&o%. #o &o(3
1Bobb.3 It was too m%ch to be hoped, b%t ' ' '
1It was 7ord Benl&@ 7ord Benl& in his !reen armor, with the "ires shimmerin! o"" his
!olden antlers@ 7ord Benl& with his tall spear in his hand@ The& sa& he $illed Ser 8%&ard
2orri!en himsel" in sin!le combat, and a do?en other !reat $ni!hts as well' It was
Benl&, it was Benl&, it was Benl&@ /h@ the banners, darlin! Sansa@ /h@ to be a $ni!ht@3
C#APT"R ,&
2A"'"R%S
She was brea$in! her "ast on a bowl o" cold shrimp-and-persimmon so%p when Irri
bro%!ht her a Fartheen !own, an air& con"ection o" ior& samite patterned with seed
pearls' 1Ta$e it awa&,3 #an& said' 1The doc$s are no place "or lad&s "iner&'3
I" the 2il$ 2en tho%!ht her s%ch a saa!e, she wo%ld dress the part "or them' (hen
she went to the stables, she wore "aded sandsil$ pants and woen !rass sandals' ,er
small breasts moed "reel& beneath a painted #othra$i est, and a c%red da!!er h%n!
"rom her medallion belt' Chi)%i had braided her hair #othra$i "ashion, and "astened a
siler bell to the end o" the braid' 1I hae won no ictories,3 she tried tellin! her
handmaid when the bell tin$led so"tl&'
Chi)%i disa!reed' 1;o% b%rned the mae!i in their ho%se o" d%st and sent their so%ls to
hell'3
That was #ro!ons ictor&, not mine, #an& wanted to sa&, b%t she held her ton!%e' The
#othra$i wo%ld esteem her all the more "or a "ew bells in her hair' She chimed as she
mo%nted her siler mare, and a!ain with eer& stride, b%t neither Ser Corah nor her
bloodriders made mention o" it' To !%ard her people and her dra!ons in her absence, she
chose Ba$haro' Cho!o and *!!o wo%ld ride with her to the water"ront'
The& le"t the marble palaces and "ra!rant !ardens behind and made their wa& thro%!h a
poorer part o" the cit& where modest bric$ ho%ses t%rned blind walls to the street' There
were "ewer horses and camels to be seen, and a dearth o" palan)%ins, b%t the streets
teemed with children, be!!ars, and s$inn& do!s the color o" sand' 4ale men in d%st&
linen s$irts stood beneath arched doorwa&s to watch them pass' The& $now who I am,
and the& do not loe me' #an& co%ld tell "rom the wa& the& loo$ed at her'
Ser Corah wo%ld sooner hae t%c$ed her inside her palan)%in, sa"el& hidden behind
sil$en c%rtains, b%t she re"%sed him' She had reclined too lon! on satin c%shions, lettin!
o0en bear her hither and &on' *t least when she rode she "elt as tho%!h she was !ettin!
somewhere'
It was not b& choice that she so%!ht the water"ront' She was "leein! a!ain' ,er whole
li"e had been one lon! "li!ht, it seemed' She had be!%n r%nnin! in her mothers womb,
and neer once stopped' ,ow o"ten had she and >iser&s stolen awa& in the blac$ o"
ni!ht, a bare step ahead o" the <s%rpers hired $nies. B%t it was r%n or die' Earo had
learned that 4&at 4ree was !atherin! the s%riin! warloc$s to!ether to wor$ ill on her'
#an& had la%!hed when he told her' 1(as it not &o% who told me warloc$s were no
more than old soldiers, ainl& boastin! o" "or!otten deeds and lost prowess.3
Earo loo$ed tro%bled' 1*nd so it was, then' B%t now. I am less certain' It is said that
the !lass candles are b%rnin! in the ho%se o" <rrathon Ni!ht-(al$er, that hae not
b%rned in a h%ndred &ears' 8host !rass !rows in the 8arden o" 8ehane, phantom
tortoises hae been seen carr&in! messa!es between the windowless ho%ses on
(arloc$s (a&, and all the rats in the cit& are chewin! o"" their tails' The wi"e o" 2athos
2allarawan, who once moc$ed a warloc$s drab moth-eaten robe, has !one mad and
will wear no clothes at all' 5en "resh-washed sil$s ma$e her "eel as tho%!h a tho%sand
insects were crawlin! on her s$in' *nd Blind S&bassion the 5ater o" 5&es can see a!ain,
or so his slaes do swear' * man m%st wonder'3 ,e si!hed' 1These are stran!e times in
Farth' *nd stran!e times are bad "or trade' It !riees me to sa& so, &et it mi!ht be best i"
&o% le"t Farth entirel&, and sooner rather than later'3 Earo stro$ed her "in!ers
reass%rin!l&' 1;o% need not !o alone, tho%!h' ;o% hae seen dar$ isions in the 4alace
o" #%st, b%t Earo has dreamed bri!hter dreams' I see &o% happil& abed, with o%r child at
&o%r breast' Sail with me aro%nd the 9ade Sea, and we can &et ma$e it so@ It is not too
late' 8ie me a son, m& sweet son! o" 9o&@3
8ie &o% a dra!on, &o% mean' 1I will not wed &o%, Earo'3
,is "ace had !rown cold at that' 1Then !o'3
1B%t where.3
1Somewhere "ar "rom here'3
(ell, perhaps it was time' The people o" her $halasar had welcomed the chance to
recoer "rom the raa!es o" the red waste, b%t now that the& were pl%mp and rested once
a!ain, the& be!an to !row %nr%l&' #othra$i were not acc%stomed to sta&in! lon! in one
place' The& were a warrior people, not made "or cities' 4erhaps she had lin!ered in
Farth too lon!, sed%ced b& its com"orts and its bea%ties' It was a cit& that alwa&s
promised more than it wo%ld !ie &o%, it seemed to her, and her welcome here had
t%rned so%r since the ,o%se o" the <nd&in! had collapsed in a !reat !o%t o" smo$e and
"lame' /erni!ht the Fartheen had come to remember that dra!ons were dan!ero%s' No
lon!er did the& ie with each other to !ie her !i"ts' Instead the To%rmaline Brotherhood
had called openl& "or her e0p%lsion, and the *ncient 8%ild o" Spicers "or her death' It
was all Earo co%ld do to $eep the Thirteen "rom 9oinin! them'
B%t where am I to !o. Ser Corah proposed that the& 9o%rne& "arther east, awa& "rom her
enemies in the Seen 6in!doms' ,er bloodriders wo%ld sooner hae ret%rned to their
!reat !rass sea, een i" it meant brain! the red waste a!ain' #an& hersel" had to&ed
with the idea o" settlin! in >aes Tolorro %ntil her dra!ons !rew !reat and stron!' B%t her
heart was "%ll o" do%bts' 5ach o" these "elt wron!, somehow ' ' ' and een when she
decided where to !o, the )%estion o" how she wo%ld !et there remained tro%blesome'
Earo Ehoan #a0os wo%ld be no help to her, she $new that now' =or all his pro"essions
o" deotion, he was pla&in! his own !ame, not %nli$e 4&at 4ree' The ni!ht he as$ed her
to leae, #an& had be!!ed one last "aor o" him' 1*n arm&, is it.3 Earo as$ed' 1* $ettle
o" !old. * !alle&, perhaps.3
#an& bl%shed' She hated be!!in!' 1* ship, &es'3
Earos e&es had !littered as bri!htl& as the 9ewels in his nose' 1I am a trader, 6haleesi'
So perhaps we sho%ld spea$ no more o" !iin!, b%t rather o" trade' =or one o" &o%r
dra!ons, &o% shall hae ten o" the "inest ships in m& "leet' ;o% need onl& sa& that one
sweet word'3
1No,3 she said'
1*las,3 Earo sobbed, 1that was not the word I meant'3
1(o%ld &o% as$ a mother to sell one o" her children.3
1(h&eer not. The& can alwa&s ma$e more' 2others sell their children eer& da&'3
1Not the 2other o" #ra!ons'3
1Not een "or twent& ships.3
1Not "or a h%ndred'3
,is mo%th c%rled downward' 1I do not hae a h%ndred' B%t &o% hae three dra!ons'
8rant me one, "or all m& $indnesses' ;o% will still hae two and thirt& ships as well'3
Thirt& ships wo%ld be eno%!h to land a small arm& on the shore o" (esteros' B%t I do
not hae a small arm&' 1,ow man& ships do &o% own, Earo.3
15i!ht&-three, i" one does not co%nt m& pleas%re bar!e'3
1*nd &o%r collea!%es in the Thirteen.3
1*mon! %s all, perhaps a tho%sand'3
1*nd the Spicers and the To%rmaline Brotherhood.3
1Their tri"lin! "leets are o" no acco%nt'3
15en so,3 she said, 1tell me'3
1Twele or thirteen h%ndred "or the Spicers' No more than ei!ht h%ndred "or the
Brotherhood'3
1*nd the *sshaii, the Braaosi, the S%mmer islanders, the Ibbenese, and all the other
peoples who sail the !reat salt sea, how man& ships do the& hae. *ll to!ether.3
12an& and more,3 he said irritabl&' 1(hat does this matter.3
1I am tr&in! to set a price on one o" the three liin! dra!ons in the world'3 #an&
smiled at him sweetl&' 1it seems to me that one-third o" all the ships in the world wo%ld
be "air'3
Earos tears ran down his chee$s on either side o" his 9ewel-encr%sted nose' 1#id I not
warn &o% not to enter the 4alace o" #%st. This is the er& thin! I "eared' The whispers o"
the warloc$s hae made &o% as mad as 2allarawans wi"e' * third o" all the ships in the
world. 4ah' 4ah, I sa&' 4ah'3
#an& had not seen him since' ,is seneschal bro%!ht her messa!es, each cooler than the
last' She m%st )%it his ho%se' ,e was done "eedin! her and her people' ,e demanded the
ret%rn o" his !i"ts, which she had accepted in bad "aith' ,er onl& consolation was that at
least shed had the !reat !ood sense not to marr& him'
The warloc$s whispered o" three treasons ' ' ' once "or blood and once "or !old and
once "or loe' The "irst traitor was s%rel& 2irri 2a? #%%r, who had m%rdered 6hal
#ro!o and their %nborn son to aen!e her people' +o%ld 4&at 4ree and Earo Ehoan
#a0os be the second and the third. She did not thin$ so' (hat 4&at did was not "or !old,
and Earo had neer tr%l& loed her'
The streets !rew emptier as the& passed thro%!h a district !ien oer to !loom& stone
wareho%ses' *!!o went be"ore her and Cho!o behind, leain! Ser Corah 2ormont at her
side' ,er bell ran! so"tl&, and #an& "o%nd her tho%!hts ret%rnin! to the 4alace o" #%st
once more, as the ton!%e ret%rns to a space le"t b& a missin! tooth' +hild o" three, the&
had called her, da%!hter o" death, sla&er o" lies, bride o" "ire' So man& threes' Three
"ires, three mo%nts to ride, three treasons' 1The dra!on has three heads,3 she si!hed' 1#o
&o% $now what that means, Corah.3
1;o%r 8race. The si!il o" ,o%se Tar!ar&en is a three-headed dra!on, red on blac$'3
1I $now that' B%t there are no three-headed dra!ons'3
1The three heads were *e!on and his sisters'3
1>isen&a and Bhaen&s,3 she recalled' 1I am descended "rom *e!on and Bhaen&s
thro%!h their son *en&s and their !randson Caehaer&s'3
1Bl%e lips spea$ onl& lies, isnt that what Earo told &o%. (h& do &o% care what the
warloc$s whispered. *ll the& wanted was to s%c$ the li"e "rom &o%, &o% $now that
now'3
14erhaps,3 she said rel%ctantl&' 1;et the thin!s I saw ' ' '3
1* dead man in the prow o" a ship, a bl%e rose, a ban)%et o" blood ' ' ' what does an&
o" it mean, 6haleesi. * m%mmers dra!on, &o% said' (hat is a m%mmers dra!on,
pra&.3
1* cloth dra!on on poles,3 #an& e0plained' 12%mmers %se them in their "ollies, to
!ie the heroes somethin! to "i!ht'3
Ser Corah "rowned'
#an& co%ld not let it !o' 1,is is the son! o" ice and "ire, m& brother said' Im certain it
was m& brother' Not >iser&s, Bhae!ar' ,e had a harp with siler strin!s'3
Ser Corahs "rown deepened %ntil his e&ebrows came to!ether' 14rince Bhae!ar pla&ed
s%ch a harp,3 he conceded' 1;o% saw him.3
She nodded' 1There was a woman in a bed with a babe at her breast' 2& brother said
the babe was the prince that was promised and told her to name him *e!on'3
14rince *e!on was Bhae!ars heir b& 5lia o" #orne,3 Ser Corah said' 1B%t i" he was
this prince that was promised, the promise was bro$en alon! with his s$%ll when the
7annisters dashed his head a!ainst a wall'3
1I remember,3 #an& said sadl&' 1The& m%rdered Bhae!ars da%!hter as well, the little
princess' Bhaen&s, she was named, li$e *e!ons sister' There was no >isen&a, b%t he
said the dra!on has three heads' (hat is the son! o" ice and "ire.3
1Its no son! Ie eer heard'3
1I went to the warloc$s hopin! "or answers, b%t instead the&e le"t me with a h%ndred
new )%estions'3
B& then there were people in the streets once more' 12a$e wa&,3 *!!o sho%ted, while
Cho!o sni""ed at the air s%spicio%sl&' 1I smell it, 6haleesi,3 he called' 1The poison
water'3 The #othra$i distr%sted the sea and all that moed %pon it' (ater that a horse
co%ld not drin$ was water the& wanted no part o"' The& will learn, #an& resoled' I
braed their sea with 6hal #ro!o' Now the& can brae mine'
Farth was one o" the worlds !reat ports, its !reat sheltered harbor a riot o" color and
clan!or and stran!e smells' (inesin$s, wareho%ses, and !amin! dens lined the streets,
chee$ b& 9owl with cheap brothels and the temples o" pec%liar !ods' +%tp%rses,
c%tthroats, spellsellers, and mone&chan!ers min!led with eer& crowd' The water"ront
was one !reat mar$etplace where the b%&in! and sellin! went on all da& and all ni!ht,
and !oods mi!ht be had "or a "raction o" what the& cost at the ba?aar, i" a man did not
as$ where the& came "rom' (i?ened old women bent li$e h%nchbac$s sold "laored
waters and !oats mil$ "rom !la?ed ceramic 9%!s strapped to their sho%lders' Seamen
"rom hal" a h%ndred nations wandered amon!st the stalls, drin$in! spiced li)%ors and
tradin! 9o$es in )%eer-so%ndin! ton!%es' The air smelled o" salt and "r&in! "ish, o" hot
tar and hone&, o" incense and oil and sperm'
*!!o !ae an %rchin a copper "or a s$ewer o" hone&-roasted mice and nibbled them as
he rode' Cho!o bo%!ht a hand"%l o" "at white cherries' 5lsewhere the& saw bea%ti"%l
bron?e da!!ers "or sale, dried s)%ids and cared on&0, a potent ma!ical eli0ir made o"
ir!ins mil$ and shade o" the eenin!, een dra!ons e!!s which loo$ed s%spicio%sl&
li$e painted roc$s'
*s the& passed the lon! stone )%a&s resered "or the ships o" the Thirteen, she saw
chests o" sa""ron, "ran$incense, and pepper bein! o""-loaded "rom Earos ornate
>ermillion 6iss' Beside her, cas$s o" wine, bales o" so%rlea", and pallets o" striped hides
were bein! tr%ndled %p the !an!plan$ onto the Bride in *?%re, to sail on the eenin!
tide' =arther alon!, a crowd had !athered aro%nd the Spicer !alle& S%nbla?e to bid on
slaes' It was well $nown that the cheapest place to b%& a slae was ri!ht o"" the ship,
and the banners "loatin! "rom her masts proclaimed that the S%nbla?e had 9%st arried
"rom *stapor on Slaers Ba&'
#an& wo%ld !et no help "rom the Thirteen, the To%rmaline Brotherhood, or the *ncient
8%ild o" Spicers' She rode her siler past seeral miles o" their )%a&s, doc$s, and
storeho%ses, all the wa& o%t to the "ar end o" the horseshoe-shaped harbor where the
ships "rom the S%mmer islands, (esteros, and the Nine =ree +ities were permitted to
doc$'
She dismo%nted beside a !amin! pit where a basilis$ was tearin! a bi! red do! to
pieces amidst a sho%tin! rin! o" sailors' 1*!!o, Cho!o, &o% will !%ard the horses while
Ser Corah and I spea$ to the captains'3
1*s &o% sa&, 6haleesi' (e will watch &o% as &o% !o'3
It was !ood to hear men spea$in! >al&rian once more, and een the +ommon Ton!%e,
#an& tho%!ht as the& approached the "irst ship' Sailors, doc$wor$ers, and merchants
ali$e !ae wa& be"ore her, not $nowin! what to ma$e o" this slim &o%n! !irl with siler-
!old hair who dressed in the #othra$i "ashion and wal$ed with a $ni!ht at her side'
#espite the heat o" the da&, Ser Corah wore his !reen wool s%rcoat oer chainmail, the
blac$ bear o" 2ormont sewn on his chest'
B%t neither her bea%t& nor his si?e and stren!th wo%ld sere with the men whose ships
the& needed'
1;o% re)%ire passa!e "or a h%ndred #othra$i, all their horses, &o%rsel" and this $ni!ht,
and three dra!ons.3 said the captain o" the !reat co! *rdent =riend be"ore he wal$ed
awa& la%!hin!' (hen she told a 7&seni on the Tr%mpeteer that she was #aener&s
Stormborn, F%een o" the Seen 6in!doms, he !ae her a dead"ace loo$ and said, 1*&e,
and Im 7ord T&win 7annister and shit !old eer& ni!ht'3 The car!omaster o" the
2&rish !alle& Sil$en Spirit opined that dra!ons were too dan!ero%s at sea, where an&
stra& breath o" "lame mi!ht set the ri!!in! a"ire' The owner o" 7ord =aros Bell& wo%ld
ris$ dra!ons, b%t not #othra$i' 1Ill hae no s%ch !odless saa!es in m& Bell&, Ill not'3
The two brothers who captained the sister ships F%ic$siler and 8re&ho%nd seemed
s&mpathetic and inited them into the cabin "or a !lass o" *rbor red' The& were so
co%rteo%s that #an& was hope"%l "or a time, b%t in the end the price the& as$ed was "ar
be&ond her means, and mi!ht hae been be&ond Earos' 4inchbottom 4etto and Sloe-
5&ed 2aid were too small "or her needs, Brao was bo%nd "or the 9ade Sea, and
2a!ister 2anolo scarce loo$ed seaworth&'
*s the& made their wa& toward the ne0t )%a&, Ser Corah laid a hand a!ainst the small
o" her bac$' 1;o%r 8race' ;o% are bein! "ollowed' No, do not t%rn'3 ,e !%ided her
!entl& toward a brass-sellers booth' 1This is a noble wor$, m& )%een,3 he proclaimed
lo%dl&, li"tin! a lar!e platter "or her inspection' 1See how it shines in the s%n.3
The brass was polished to a hi!h sheen' #an& co%ld see her "ace in it ' ' ' and when Ser
Corah an!led it to the ri!ht, she co%ld see behind her' 1I see a "at brown man and an older
man with a sta""' (hich is it.3
1Both o" them,3 Ser Corah said' 1The& hae been "ollowin! %s since we le"t
F%ic$siler'3
The ripples in the brass stretched the stran!ers )%eerl&, ma$in! one man seem lon! and
!a%nt, the other immensel& s)%at and broad' 1* most e0cellent brass, !reat lad&,3 the
merchant e0claimed' 1Bri!ht as the s%n@ *nd "or the 2other o" #ra!ons, onl& thirt&
honors'3
The platter was worth no more than three' 1(here are m& !%ards.3 #an& declared'
1This man is tr&in! to rob me@3 =or Corah, she lowered her oice and spo$e in the
+ommon Ton!%e' 1The& ma& not mean me ill' 2en hae loo$ed at women since time
be!an, perhaps it is no more than that'3
The brass-seller i!nored their whispers' 1Thirt&. #id I sa& thirt&. S%ch a "ool I am'
The price is twent& honors'3
1*ll the brass in this booth is not worth twent& honors,3 #an& told him as she st%died
the re"lections' The old man had the loo$ o" (esteros abo%t him, and the brown-s$inned
one m%st wei!h twent& stone' The <s%rper o""ered a lordship to the man who $ills me,
and these two are "ar "rom home' /r co%ld the& be creat%res o" the warloc$s, meant to
ta$e me %nawares.
1Ten, 6haleesi, beca%se &o% are so loel&' <se it "or a loo$in! !lass' /nl& brass this
"ine co%ld capt%re s%ch bea%t&'3
1It mi!ht sere to carr& ni!htsoil' I" &o% threw it awa&, I mi!ht pic$ it %p, so lon! as I
did not need to stoop' B%t pa& "or it.3 #an& shoed the platter bac$ into his hands'
1(orms hae crawled %p &o%r nose and eaten &o%r wits'3
15i!ht honors,3 he cried' 12& wies will beat me and call me "ool, b%t I am a helpless
child in &o%r hands' +ome, ei!ht, that is less than it is worth'3
1(hat do I need with d%ll brass when Earo Ehoan #a0os "eeds me o"" plates o" !old.3
*s she t%rned to wal$ o"", #an& let her !lance sweep oer the stran!ers' The brown man
was near as wide as hed loo$ed in the platter, with a !leamin! bald head and the smooth
chee$s o" a e%n%ch' * lon! c%rin! ara$h was thr%st thro%!h the sweat-stained &ellow
sil$ o" his bell&band' *boe the sil$, he was na$ed b%t "or an abs%rdl& tin& iron-st%dded
est' /ld scars crisscrossed his tree-tr%n$ arms, h%!e chest, and massie bell&, pale
a!ainst his n%t-brown s$in'
The other man wore a traelers cloa$ o" %nd&ed wool, the hood thrown bac$' 7on!
white hair "ell to his sho%lders, and a sil$& white beard coered the lower hal" o" his
"ace' ,e leaned his wei!ht on a hardwood sta"" as tall as he was' /nl& "ools wo%ld stare
so openl& i" the& meant me harm' *ll the same, it mi!ht be pr%dent to head bac$ toward
Cho!o and *!!o' 1The old man does not wear a sword,3 she said to Corah in the
+ommon Ton!%e as she drew him awa&'
The brass merchant came hoppin! a"ter them' 1=ie honors, "or "ie it is &o%rs, it was
meant "or &o%'3
Ser Corah said, 1* hardwood sta"" can crac$ a s$%ll as well as an& mace'3
1=o%r@ I $now &o% want it@3 ,e danced in "ront o" them, scamperin! bac$ward as he
thr%st the platter at their "aces'
1#o the& "ollow.3
17i"t that %p a little hi!her,3 the $ni!ht told the merchant' 1;es' The old man pretends
to lin!er at a potters stall, b%t the brown one has e&es onl& "or &o%'3
1Two honors@ Two@ Two@3 The merchant was pantin! heail& "rom the e""ort o"
r%nnin! bac$ward'
14a& him be"ore he $ills himsel",3 #an& told Ser Corah, wonderin! what she was !oin!
to do with a h%!e brass platter' She t%rned bac$ as he reached "or his coins, intendin! to
p%t an end to this m%mmers "arce' The blood o" the dra!on wo%ld not be herded
thro%!h the ba?aar b& an old man and a "at e%n%ch'
* Fartheen stepped into her path' 12other o" #ra!ons, "or &o%'3 ,e $nelt and thr%st a
9ewel bo0 into her "ace'
#an& too$ it almost b& re"le0' The bo0 was cared wood, its mother-o"-pearl lid inlaid
with 9asper and chalcedon&' 1;o% are too !enero%s'3 She opened it' (ithin was a
!litterin! !reen scarab cared "rom on&0 and emerald' Bea%ti"%l, she tho%!ht' This will
help pa& "or o%r passa!e' *s she reached inside the bo0, the man said, 1I am so sorr&,3
b%t she hardl& heard'
The scarab %n"olded with a hiss'
#an& ca%!ht a !limpse o" a mali!n blac$ "ace, almost h%man, and an arched tail
drippin! enom ' ' ' and then the bo0 "lew "rom her hand in pieces, t%rnin! end oer end'
S%dden pain twisted her "in!ers' *s she cried o%t and cl%tched her hand, the brass
merchant let o%t a shrie$, a woman screamed, and s%ddenl& the Fartheen were sho%tin!
and p%shin! each other aside' Ser Corah slammed past her, and #an& st%mbled to one
$nee' She heard the hiss a!ain' The old man droe the b%tt o" his sta"" into the !ro%nd,
*!!o came ridin! thro%!h an e!!sellers stall and a%lted "rom his saddle, Cho!os whip
crac$ed oerhead, Ser Corah slammed the e%n%ch oer the head with the brass platter,
sailors and whores and merchants were "leein! or sho%tin! or both ' ' '
1;o%r 8race, a tho%sand pardons'3 The old man $nelt' 1Its dead' #id I brea$ &o%r
hand.3
She closed her "in!ers, wincin!' 1I dont thin$ so'3
1I had to $noc$ it awa&,3 he started, b%t her bloodriders were on him be"ore he co%ld
"inish' *!!o $ic$ed his sta"" awa& and Cho!o sei?ed him ro%nd the sho%lders, "orced him
to his $nees, and pressed a da!!er to his throat' 16haleesi, we saw him stri$e &o%'
(o%ld &o% see the color o" his blood.3
1Belease him'3 #an& climbed to her "eet' 17oo$ at the bottom o" his sta"", blood o" m&
blood'3 Ser Corah had been shoed o"" his "eet b& the e%n%ch' She ran between them as
ara$h and lon!sword both came "lashin! "rom their sheaths' 14%t down &o%r steel@ Stop
it@3
1;o%r 8race.3 2ormont lowered his sword onl& an inch' 1These men attac$ed &o%'3
1The& were de"endin! me'3 #an& snapped her hand to sha$e the stin! "rom her
"in!ers' 1It was the other one, the Fartheen'3 (hen she loo$ed aro%nd he was !one' 1,e
was a Sorrow"%l 2an' There was a manticore in that 9ewel bo0 he !ae me' This man
$noc$ed it o%t o" m& hand'3 The brass merchant was still rollin! on the !ro%nd' She
went to him and helped him to his "eet' 1(ere &o% st%n!.3
1No, !ood lad&,3 he said, sha$in!, 1or else I wo%ld be dead' B%t it to%ched me, aieeee,
when it "ell "rom the bo0 it landed on m& arm'3 ,e had soiled himsel", she saw, and no
wonder'
She !ae him a siler "or his tro%ble and sent him on his wa& be"ore she t%rned bac$ to
the old man with the white beard' 1(ho is it that I owe m& li"e to.3
1;o% owe me nothin!, ;o%r 8race' I am called *rstan, tho%!h Belwas named me
(hitebeard on the o&a!e here'3 Tho%!h Cho!o had released him the old man remained
on one $nee' *!!o pic$ed %p his sta"", t%rned it oer, c%rsed so"tl& in #othra$i, scraped
the remains o" the manticore o"" on a stone, and handed it bac$'
1*nd who is Belwas.3 she as$ed'
The h%!e brown e%n%ch swa!!ered "orward, sheathin! his ara$h' 1I am Belwas' Stron!
Belwas the& name me in the "i!htin! pits o" 2eereen' Neer did I lose'3 ,e slapped his
bell&, coered with scars' 1I let each man c%t me once, be"ore I $ill him' +o%nt the c%ts
and &o% will $now how man& Stron! Belwas has slain'3
#an& had no need to co%nt his scars: there were man&, she co%ld see at a !lance' 1*nd
wh& are &o% here, Stron! Belwas.3
1=rom 2eereen I am sold to Fohor, and then to 4entos and the "at man with sweet
stin$ in his hair' ,e it was who send Stron! Belwas bac$ across the sea, and old
(hitebeard to sere him'3
The "at man with sweet stin$ in his hair 1Ill&rio.3 she said'
1;o% were sent b& 2a!ister Ill&rio.3
1(e were, ;o%r 8race,3 old (hitebeard replied' 1The 2a!ister be!s &o%r $ind
ind%l!ence "or sendin! %s in his stead, b%t he cannot sit a horse as he did in his &o%th,
and sea trael %psets his di!estion'3 5arlier he had spo$en in the >al&rian o" the =ree
+ities, b%t now he chan!ed to the +ommon Ton!%e' 1I re!ret i" we ca%sed &o% alarm' I"
tr%th be told, we were not certain, we e0pected someone more ' ' ' more ' ' '3
1Be!al.3 #an& la%!hed' She had no dra!on with her, and her raiment was hardl&
)%eenl&' 1;o% spea$ the +ommon Ton!%e well, *rstan' *re &o% o" (esteros.3
1I am' I was born on the #ornish 2arches, ;o%r 8race' *s a bo& I s)%ired "or a $ni!ht
o" 7ord Swanns ho%sehold'3 ,e held the tall sta"" %pri!ht beside him li$e a lance in
need o" a banner' 1Now I s)%ire "or Belwas'3
1* bit old "or s%ch, arent &o%.3 Ser Corah had sho%ldered his wa& to her side, holdin!
the brass platter aw$wardl& %nder his arm' Belwass hard head had le"t it badl& bent'
1Not too old to sere m& lie!e, 7ord 2ormont'3
1;o% $now me as well.3
1I saw &o% "i!ht a time or two' *t 7annisport where &o% near %nhorsed the 6in!sla&er'
*nd on 4&$e, there as well' ;o% do not recall, 7ord 2ormont.3
Ser Corah "rowned' 1;o%r "ace seems "amiliar, b%t there were h%ndreds at 7annisport
and tho%sands on 4&$e' *nd I am no lord' Bear Island was ta$en "rom me' I am b%t a
$ni!ht'3
1* $ni!ht o" m& F%eens!%ard'3 #an& too$ his arm' 1*nd m& tr%e "riend and !ood
co%nselor'3 She st%died *rstans "ace' ,e had a !reat di!nit& to him, a )%iet stren!th she
li$ed' 1Bise, *rstan (hitebeard' Be welcome, Stron! Belwas' Ser Corah &o% $now' 6o
*!!o and 6o Cho!o are blood o" m& blood' The& crossed the red waste with me, and
saw m& dra!ons born'3
1,orse bo&s'3 Belwas !rinned toothil&' 1Belwas has $illed man& horse bo&s in the
"i!htin! pits' The& 9in!le when the& die'3
*!!os ara$h leapt to his hand' 1Neer hae I $illed a "at brown man' Belwas will be
the "irst'3
1Sheath &o%r steel, blood o" m& blood,3 said #an&, 1this man comes to sere me'
Belwas, &o% will accord all respect to m& people, or &o% will leae m& serice sooner
than &o%d wish, and with more scars than when &o% came'3
The !ap-toothed smile "aded "rom the !iants broad brown "ace, replaced b& a
con"%sed scowl' 2en did not o"ten threaten Belwas, it wo%ld seem, and less so !irls a
third his si?e'
#an& !ae him a smile, to ta$e a bit o" the stin! "rom the reb%$e' 1Now tell me, what
wo%ld 2a!ister Ill&rio hae o" me, that he wo%ld send &o% all the wa& "rom 4entos.3
1,e wo%ld hae dra!ons,3 said Belwas !r%""l&, 1and the !irl who ma$es them' ,e
wo%ld hae &o%'3
1Belwas has the tr%th o" %s, ;o%r 8race,3 said *rstan' 1(e were told to "ind &o% and
brin! &o% bac$ to 4entos' The Seen 6in!doms hae need o" &o%' Bobert the <s%rper is
dead, and the realm bleeds' (hen we set sail "rom 4entos there were "o%r $in!s in the
land, and no 9%stice to be had'3 9o& bloomed in her heart, b%t #an& $ept it "rom her "ace'
1I hae three dra!ons,3 she said, 1and more than a h%ndred in m& $halasar, with all their
!oods and horses'3
1it is no matter,3 boomed Belwas' 1(e ta$e all' The "at man hires three ships "or his
little silerhair )%een'3
1it is so, ;o%r 8race,3 *rstan (hitebeard said' 1The !reat co! Sad%leon is berthed at
the end o" the )%a&, and the !alle&s S%mmer S%n and "osos 4ran$ are anchored be&ond
the brea$water'3
Three heads has the dra!on, #an& tho%!ht, wonderin!' 1I shall tell m& people to ma$e
read& to depart at once' B%t the ships that brin! me home m%st bear di""erent names'3
1*s &o% wish,3 said *rstan' 1(hat names wo%ld &o% pre"er.3
1>ha!ar,3 #aener&s told him' 12era0es' *nd Balerion' 4aint the names on their h%lls
in !olden letters three "eet hi!h, *rstan' I want eer& man who sees them to $now the
dra!ons are ret%rned'3
C#APT"R ,(
AR%A
The heads had been dipped in tar to slow the rot' 5er& mornin! when *r&a went to
the well to draw "resh water "or Boose Boltons basin, she had to pass beneath them'
The& "aced o%tward, so she neer saw their "aces, b%t she li$ed to pretend that one o"
them was Co""re&s' She tried to pict%re how his prett& "ace wo%ld loo$ dipped in tar' I" I
was a crow I co%ld "l& down and pec$ o"" his st%pid "at po%t& lips'
The heads neer lac$ed "or attendants' The carrion crows wheeled abo%t the !ateho%se
in ra%co%s %n$indness and )%arreled %pon the ramparts oer eer& e&e, screamin! and
cawin! at each other and ta$in! to the air wheneer a sentr& passed alon! the
battlements' Sometimes the maesters raens 9oined the "east as well, "lappin! down
"rom the roo$er& on wide blac$ win!s' (hen the raens came the crows wo%ld scatter,
onl& to ret%rn the moment the lar!er birds were !one'
#o the raens remember 2aester Tothm%re. *r&a wondered' *re the& sad "or him.
(hen the& )%or$ at him, do the& wonder wh& he doesnt answer. 4erhaps the dead
co%ld spea$ to them in some secret ton!%e the liin! co%ld not hear'
Tothm%re had been sent to the a0e "or dispatchin! birds to +asterl& Boc$ and 6in!s
7andin! the ni!ht ,arrenhal had "allen, 7%can the armorer "or ma$in! weapons "or the
7annisters, 8oodwi"e ,arra "or tellin! 7ad& (hents ho%sehold to sere them, the
steward "or !iin! 7ord T&win the $e&s to the treas%re a%lt' The coo$ was spared Gsome
said beca%se hed made the weasel so%pH, b%t stoc$s were hammered to!ether "or prett&
4ia and the other women whod shared their "aors with 7annister soldiers' Stripped and
shaed, the& were le"t in the middle ward beside the bear pit, "ree "or the %se o" an& man
who wanted them'
Three =re& men-at-arms were %sin! them that mornin! as *r&a went to the well' She
tried not to loo$, b%t she co%ld hear the men la%!hin!' The pail was er& hea& once
"%ll' She was t%rnin! to brin! it bac$ to 6in!sp&re when 8oodwi"e *mabel sei?ed her
arm' The water went sloshin! oer the side onto *mabels le!s' 1;o% did that on
p%rpose,3 the woman screeched'
1(hat do &o% want.3 *r&a s)%irmed in her !rasp' *mabel had been hal"-cra?ed since
the&d c%t ,arras head o""'
1See there.3 *rnabel pointed across the &ard at 4ia' 1(hen this northman "alls &o%ll
be where she is'3
17et me !o'3 She tried to wrench "ree, b%t *mabel onl& ti!htened her "in!ers'
1,e will "all too, ,arrenhal p%lls them all down in the end' 7ord T&wins won now,
hell be marchin! bac$ with all his power, and then it will be his t%rn to p%nish the
dislo&al' *nd dont thin$ he wont $now what &o% did@3 The old woman la%!hed' 1I
ma& hae a t%rn at &o% m&sel"' ,arra had an old broom, Ill sae it "or &o%' The handles
crac$ed and splinter&A3
*r&a sw%n! the b%c$et' The wei!ht o" the water made it t%rn in her hands, so she
didnt smash *mabels head in as she wanted, b%t the woman let !o o" her an&wa& when
the water came o%t and drenched her' 1#ont eer to%ch me,3 *r&a sho%ted, 1or Ill $ill
&o%' ;o% !et awa&'3
Soppin!, 8oodwi"e *mabel 9abbed a thin "in!er at the "la&ed man on the "ront o"
*r&as t%nic' 1;o% thin$ &o%re sa"e with that little blood& man on &o%r teat, b%t &o%re
not@ The 7annisters are comin!@ See what happens when the& !et here'3
Three-)%arters o" the water had splashed o%t on the !ro%nd, so *r&a had to ret%rn to
the well' I" I told 7ord Bolton what she said, her head wo%ld be %p ne0t to ,arras
be"ore it !ot dar$, she tho%!ht as she drew %p the b%c$et a!ain' She wo%ldnt, tho%!h'
/nce, when there had been onl& hal" as man& heads, 8endr& had ca%!ht *r&a loo$in!
at them' 1*dmirin! &o%r wor$.3 he as$ed'
,e was an!r& beca%se hed li$ed 7%can, she $new, b%t it still wasnt "air' 1Its
Steelshan$s (altons wor$,3 she said de"ensiel&' 1*nd the 2%mmers, and 7ord
Bolton'3
1*nd who !ae %s all them. ;o% and &o%r weasel so%p'3
*r&a p%nched his arm' 1It was 9%st hot broth' ;o% hated Ser *mor& too'3
1I hate this lot worse' Ser *mor& was "i!htin! "or his lord, b%t the 2%mmers are
sellswords and t%rncloa$s' ,al" o" them cant een spea$ the +ommon Ton!%e' Septon
<tt li$es little bo&s, F&b%rn does blac$ ma!ic, and &o%r "riend Biter eats people'3
The worst thin! was, she co%ldnt een sa& he was wron!' The Brae +ompanions did
most o" the "ora!in! "or ,arrenhal, and Boose Bolton had !ien them the tas$ o" rootin!
o%t 7annisters' >ar!o ,oat had diided them into "o%r bands, to isit as man& illa!es as
possible' ,e led the lar!est !ro%p himsel", and !ae the others to his most tr%sted
captains' She had heard Bor!e la%!hin! oer 7ord >ar!os wa& o" "indin! traitors' *ll he
did was ret%rn to places he had isited be"ore %nder 7ord T&wins banner and sei?e those
who had helped him' 2an& had been bo%!ht with 7annister siler, so the 2%mmers
o"ten ret%rned with ba!s o" coin as well as bas$ets o" heads' 1* riddle@3 Sha!well wo%ld
sho%t !lee"%ll&' 1I" 7ord Boltons !oat eats the men who "ed 7ord 7annisters !oat, how
man& !oats are there.3
1/ne,3 *r&a said when he as$ed her'
1Now theres a weasel cleer as a !oat@3 the "ool tittered'
Bor!e and Biter were as bad as the others' (heneer 7ord Bolton too$ a meal with the
!arrison, *r&a wo%ld see them there amon! the rest' Biter !ae o"" a stench li$e bad
cheese, so the Brae +ompanions made him sit down near the "oot o" the table where he
co%ld !r%nt and hiss to himsel" and tear his meat apart with "in!ers and teeth' ,e wo%ld
sni"" at *r&a when she passed, b%t it was Bor!e who scared her most' ,e sat %p near
=aith"%l <rs&wc$, b%t she co%ld "eel his e&es crawlin! oer her as she went abo%t her
d%ties'
Sometimes she wished she had !one o"" across the narrow sea with Ca)en ,!har' She
still had the st%pid coin hed !ien her, a piece o" iron no lar!er than a penn& and r%sted
alon! the rim' /ne side had writin! on it, )%eer words she co%ld not read' The other
showed a mans head, b%t so worn that all his "eat%res had r%bbed o""' ,e said it was o"
!reat al%e, b%t that was probabl& a lie too, li$e his name and een his "ace' That made
her so an!r& that she threw the coin awa&, b%t a"ter an ho%r she !ot to "eelin! bad and
went and "o%nd it a!ain, een tho%!h it wasnt worth an&thin!'
She was thin$in! abo%t the coin as she crossed the =lowstone ;ard, str%!!lin! with the
wei!ht o" the water in her pail' 1Nan,3 a oice called o%t' 14%t down that pail and come
help me'3
5lmar =re& was no older than she was, and short "or his a!e besides' ,e had been
rollin! a barrel o" sand across the %neen stone, and was red-"aced "rom e0ertion' *r&a
went to help him' To!ether the& p%shed the barrel all the wa& to the wall and bac$ a!ain,
then stood it %pri!ht'
She co%ld hear the sand shi"tin! aro%nd inside as 5lmar pried open the lid and p%lled
o%t a chainmail ha%ber$' 1#o &o% thin$ its clean eno%!h.3 *s Boose Boltons s)%ire, it
was his tas$ to $eep his mail shin& bri!ht'
1;o% need to sha$e o%t the sand' Theres still spots o" r%st' See.3 She pointed' 1;o%d
best do it a!ain'3
1;o% do it'3 5lmar co%ld be "riendl& when he needed help, b%t a"terward he wo%ld
alwa&s remember that he was a s)%ire and she was onl& a serin! !irl, ,e li$ed to boast
how he was the son o" the 7ord o" the +rossin!, not a nephew or a bastard or a !randson
b%t a tr%eborn son, and on acco%nt o" that he was !oin! to marr& a princess'
*r&a didnt care abo%t his precio%s princess, and didnt li$e him !iin! her commands'
1I hae to brin! mlord water "or his basin' ,es in his bedchamber bein! leeched' Not
the re!%lar blac$ leeches b%t the bi! pale ones'3
5lmars e&es !ot as bi! as boiled e!!s' 7eeches terri"ied him, especiall& the bi! pale
ones that loo$ed li$e 9ell& %ntil the& "illed %p with blood' 1I "or!ot, &o%re too s$inn& to
p%sh s%ch a hea& barrel'3
1I "or!ot, &o%re st%pid'3 *r&a pic$ed %p the pail' 12a&be &o% sho%ld !et leeched too'
Theres leeches in the Nec$ as bi! as pi!s'3 She le"t him there with his barrel'
The lords bedchamber was crowded when she entered' F&b%rn was in attendance, and
do%r (alton in his mail shirt and !reaes, pl%s a do?en =re&s, all brothers, hal" brothers,
and co%sins' Boose Bolton la& abed, na$ed' 7eeches cl%n! to the inside o" his arms and
le!s and dotted his pallid chest, lon! transl%cent thin!s that t%rned a !listenin! pin$ as
the& "ed' Bolton paid them no more mind than he did *r&a'
1(e m%st not allow 7ord T&win to trap %s here at ,arrenhal Ser *en&s =re& was
sa&in! as *r&a "illed the washbasin' * !re& stooped !iant o" a man with water& red e&es
and h%!e !narled hands, Ser *en&s had bro%!ht "i"teen h%ndred =re& swords so%th to
,arrenhal, &et it o"ten seemed as i" he were helpless to command een his own brothers'
1The castle is so lar!e it re)%ires an arm& to hold it, and once s%rro%nded we cannot "eed
an arm&' Nor can we hope to la& in s%""icient s%pplies, The co%ntr& is ash, the illa!es
!ien oer to woles, the harest b%rnt or stolen' *%t%mn is on %s, &et there is no "ood in
store and none bein! planted' (e lie on "ora!e, and i" the 7annisters den& that to %s, we
will be down to rats and shoe leather in a moons t%rn'3
1I do not mean to be besie!ed here'3 Boose Boltons oice was so so"t that men had to
strain to hear it, so his chambers were alwa&s stran!el& h%shed'
1(hat, then.3 demanded Ser Cared =re&, who was lean, baldin!, and poc$mar$ed' 1Is
5dm%re T%ll& so dr%n$ on his ictor& that he thin$s to !ie 7ord T&win battle in the
open "ield.3
I" he does hell beat them, *r&a tho%!ht' ,ell beat them as he did on the Bed =or$,
&o%ll see' <nnoticed, she went to stand b& F&b%rn'
17ord T&win is man& lea!%es "rom here,3 Bolton said calml&' 1,e has man& matters
&et to settle at 6in!s 7andin!' ,e will not march on ,arrenhal "or some time'3
Ser *en&s shoo$ his head st%bbornl&' 1;o% do not $now the 7annisters as we do, m&
lord' 6in! Stannis tho%!ht that 7ord T&win was a tho%sand lea!%es awa& as well, and it
%ndid him'3
The pale man in the bed smiled "aintl& as the leeches n%rsed o" his blood' 1I am not a
man to be %ndone, ser'3
15en i" Bierr%n marshals all its stren!th and the ;o%n! (ol" wins bac$ "rom the
west, how can we hope to match the n%mbers 7ord T&win can send a!ainst %s. (hen he
comes, he will come with "ar more power than he commanded on the 8reen =or$'
,i!h!arden has 9oined itsel" to Co""re&s ca%se, I remind &o%@3
1I had not "or!otten'3
1I hae been 7ord T&wins captie once,3 said Ser ,osteen, a h%s$& man with a s)%are
"ace who was said to be the stron!est o" the =re&s' 1I hae no wish to en9o& 7annister
hospitalit& a!ain'3
Ser ,ar&s ,ai!h, who was a =re& on his mothers side, nodded i!oro%sl&' 1I" 7ord
T&win co%ld de"eat a seasoned man li$e Stannis Baratheon, what chance will o%r bo&
$in! hae a!ainst him.3 ,e loo$ed ro%nd to his brothers and co%sins "or s%pport, and
seeral o" them m%ttered a!reement'
1Someone m%st hae the co%ra!e to sa& it,3 Ser ,osteen said' 1The war is lost' 6in!
Bobb m%st be made to see that'3
Boose Bolton st%died him with pale e&es' 1,is 8race has de"eated the 7annisters eer&
time he has "aced them in battle'3
1,e has lost the north,3 insisted ,osteen =re&' 1,e has lost (inter"ell@ ,is brothers are
dead ' ' '3
=or a moment *r&a "or!ot to breathe' #ead. Bran and Bic$on, dead. (hat does he
mean. (hat does he mean abo%t (inter"ell, Co""re& co%ld neer ta$e (inter"ell, neer,
Bobb wo%ld neer let him' Then she remembered that Bobb was not at (inter"ell' ,e
was awa& in the west, and Bran was crippled, and Bic$on onl& "o%r' It too$ all her
stren!th to remain still and silent, the wa& S&rio =orel had ta%!ht her, to stand there li$e
a stic$ o" "%rnit%re' She "elt tears !atherin! in her e&es, and willed them awa&' Its not
tr%e, it cant be tr%e, its 9%st some 7annister lie'
1,ad Stannis won, all mi!ht hae been di""erent,3 Bonel Biers said wist"%ll&' ,e was
one o" 7ord (alders bastards'
1Stannis lost,3 Ser ,osteen said bl%ntl&' 1(ishin! it were otherwise will not ma$e it
so' 6in! Bobb m%st ma$e his peace with the 7annisters' ,e m%st p%t o"" his crown and
bend the $nee, little as he ma& li$e it'3
1*nd who will tell him so.3 Boose Bolton smiled' 1It is a "ine thin! to hae so man&
aliant brothers in s%ch tro%bled times' I shall thin$ on all &o%e said'3
,is smile was dismissal' The =re&s made their co%rtesies and sh%""led o%t, leain!
onl& F&b%rn, Steelshan$s (alton, and *r&a' 7ord Bolton bec$oned her closer' 1I am
bled s%""icientl&' Nan, &o% ma& remoe the leeches'3
1*t once, m& lord'3 It was best neer to ma$e Boose Bolton as$ twice' *r&a wanted to
as$ him what Ser ,osteen had meant abo%t (inter"ell, b%t she dared not' Ill as$ 5lmar,
she tho%!ht' 5lmar will tell me' The leeches wri!!led slowl& between her "in!ers as she
pl%c$ed them care"%ll& "rom the lords bod&, their pale bodies moist to the to%ch and
distended with blood' The&re onl& leeches, she reminded hersel"' I" I closed m& hand,
the&d s)%ish between m& "in!ers'
1There is a letter "rom &o%r lad& wi"e'3 F&b%rn p%lled a roll o" parchment "rom his
sleee' Tho%!h he wore maesters robes, there was no chain abo%t his nec$: it was
whispered that he had lost it "or dabblin! in necromanc&'
1;o% ma& read it,3 Bolton said'
The 7ad& (alda wrote "rom the Twins almost eer& da&, b%t all the letters were the
same' 1I pra& "or &o% morn, noon, and ni!ht, m& sweet lord,3 she wrote, 1and co%nt the
da&s %ntil &o% share m& bed a!ain' Bet%rn to me soon, and I will !ie &o% man&
tr%eborn sons to ta$e the place o" &o%r dear #omeric and r%le the #read"ort a"ter &o%'3
*r&a pict%red a pl%mp pin$ bab& in a cradle, coered with pl%mp pin$ leeches'
She bro%!ht 7ord Bolton a damp washcloth to wipe down his so"t hairless bod&' 1I will
send a letter o" m& own,3 he told the onetime maester'
1To the 7ad& (alda.3
1To Ser ,elman Tallhart'3
* rider "rom Ser ,elman had come two da&s past' Tallhart men had ta$en the castle o"
the #arr&s, acceptin! the s%rrender o" its 7annister !arrison a"ter a brie" sie!e'
1Tell him to p%t the capties to the sword and the castle to the torch, b& command o"
the $in!' Then he is to 9oin "orces with Bobett 8loer and stri$e east toward
#%s$endale' Those are rich lands, and hardl& to%ched b& the "i!htin!' It is time the& had
a taste' 8loer has lost a castle, and Tallhart a son' 7et them ta$e their en!eance on
#%s$endale'3
1I shall prepare the messa!e "or &o%r seal, m& lord'3
*r&a was !lad to hear that the castle o" the #arr&s wo%ld be b%rned' That was where
the&d bro%!ht her when shed been ca%!ht a"ter her "i!ht with Co""re&, and where the
)%een had made her "ather $ill Sansas wol"' It deseres to b%rn' She wished that Bobett
8loer and Ser ,elman Tallhart wo%ld come bac$ to ,arrenhal, tho%!h: the& had
marched too )%ic$l&, be"ore shed been able to decide whether to tr%st them with her
secret'
1I will h%nt toda&,3 Boose Bolton anno%nced as F&b%rn helped him into a )%ilted
9er$in'
1Is it sa"e, m& lord.3 F&b%rn as$ed' 1/nl& three da&s past, Septon <tts men were
attac$ed b& woles' The& came ri!ht into his camp, not "ie &ards "rom the "ire, and
$illed two horses'3
1It is woles I mean to h%nt' I can scarcel& sleep at ni!ht "or the howlin!'3 Bolton
b%c$led on his belt, ad9%stin! the han! o" sword and da!!er' 1Its said that direwoles
once roamed the north in !reat pac$s o" a h%ndred or more, and "eared neither man nor
mammoth, b%t that was lon! a!o and in another land' It is )%eer to see the common
woles o" the so%th so bold'3
1Terrible times breed terrible thin!s, m& lord'3
Bolton showed his teeth in somethin! that mi!ht hae been a smile' 1*re these times
so terrible, 2aester.3
1S%mmer is !one and there are "o%r $in!s in the realm'3
1/ne $in! ma& be terrible, b%t "o%r.3 ,e shr%!!ed' 1Nan, m& "%r cloa$'3 She bro%!ht
it to him' 12& chambers will be clean and orderl& %pon m& ret%rn,3 he told her as she
"astened it' 1*nd tend to 7ad& (aldas letter'3
1*s &o% sa&, m& lord'3
The lord and maester swept "rom the room, !iin! her not so m%ch as a bac$ward
!lance' (hen the& were !one, *r&a too$ the letter and carried it to the hearth, stirrin!
the lo!s with a po$er to wa$e the "lames anew' She watched the parchment twist,
blac$en, and "lare %p' I" the 7annisters h%rt Bran and Bic$on, Bobb will $ill them eer&
one' ,ell neer bend the $nee, neer, neer, neer' ,es not a"raid o" an& o" them' +%rls
o" ash "loated %p the chimne&' *r&a s)%atted beside the "ire, watchin! them rise thro%!h
a eil o" hot tears' I" (inter"ell is tr%l& !one, is this m& home now. *m I still *r&a, or
onl& Nan the serin! !irl, "or "oreer and "oreer and "oreer.
She spent the ne0t "ew ho%rs tendin! to the lords chambers' She swept o%t the old
r%shes and scattered "resh sweetsmellin! ones, laid a "resh "ire in the hearth, chan!ed the
linens and "l%""ed the "eatherbed, emptied the chamber pots down the pri& sha"t and
scr%bbed them o%t, carried an armload o" soiled clothin! to the washerwomen, and
bro%!ht %p a bowl o" crisp a%t%mn pears "rom the $itchen' (hen she was done with the
bedchamber, she went down hal" a "li!ht o" stairs to do the same in the !reat solar, a
spare dra"t& room as lar!e as the halls o" man& a smaller castle' The candles were down
to st%bs, so *r&a chan!ed them o%t' <nder the windows was a h%!e oa$en table where
the lord wrote his letters' She stac$ed the boo$s, chan!ed the candles, p%t the )%ills and
in$s and sealin! wa0 in order'
* lar!e ra!!ed sheeps$in was tossed across the papers' *r&a had started to roll it %p
when the colors ca%!ht her e&e: the bl%e o" la$es and riers, the red dots where castles
and cities co%ld be "o%nd, the !reen o" woods' She spread it o%t instead' T,5 7*N#S
/= T,5 TBI#5NT, said the ornate script beneath the map' The drawin! showed
eer&thin! "rom the Nec$ to the Blac$water B%sh' Theres ,arrenhal at the top o" the
bi! la$e, she reali?ed, b%t wheres Bierr%n. Then she saw' Its not so "ar ' ' '
The a"ternoon was still &o%n! b& the time she was done, so *r&a too$ hersel" o"" to the
!odswood' ,er d%ties were li!hter as 7ord Boltons c%pbearer than the& had been %nder
(eese or een 4in$e&e, tho%!h the& re)%ired dressin! li$e a pa!e and washin! more
than she li$ed' The h%nt wo%ld not ret%rn "or ho%rs, so she had a little time "or her
needlewor$'
She slashed at birch leaes till the splinter& point o" the bro$en broomstic$ was !reen
and stic$&' 1Ser 8re!or,3 she breathed' 1#%nsen, 4ollier, Ba"" the Sweetlin!'3 She sp%n
and leapt and balanced on the balls o" her "eet, dartin! this wa& and that, $noc$in!
pinecones "l&in!' 1The Tic$ler,3 she called o%t one time, 1the ,o%nd,3 the ne0t' 1Ser
Il&n, Ser 2er&n, F%een +ersei'3 The bole o" an oa$ loomed be"ore her, and she l%n!ed
to drie her point thro%!h it, !r%ntin! 1Co""re&, Co""re&, Co""re&'3 ,er arms and le!s were
dappled b& s%nli!ht and the shadows o" leaes' * sheen o" sweat coered her s$in b& the
time she pa%sed' The heel o" her ri!ht "oot was blood& where shed s$inned it, so she
stood one-le!!ed be"ore the heart tree and raised her sword in sal%te' 1>alar mor!h%lis,3
she told the old !ods o" the north' She li$ed how the words so%nded when she said them'
*s *r&a crossed the &ard to the bathho%se, she spied a raen circlin! down toward the
roo$er&, and wondered where it had come "rom and what messa!e it carried' 2i!ht be
its "rom Bobb, come to sa& it wasnt tr%e abo%t Bran and Bic$on' She chewed on her
lip, hopin!' I" I had win!s I co%ld "l& bac$ to (inter"ell and see "or m&sel"' *nd i" it was
tr%e, Id 9%st "l& awa&, "l& %p past the moon and the shinin! stars, and see all the thin!s
in /ld Nans stories, dra!ons and sea monsters and the Titan o" Braaos, and ma&be I
wo%ldnt eer "l& bac$ %nless I wanted to'
The h%ntin! part& ret%rned near een"all with nine dead woles' Seen were ad%lts, bi!
!re&-brown beasts, saa!e and power"%l, their mo%ths drawn bac$ oer lon! &ellow
teeth b& their d&in! snarls' B%t the other two had onl& been p%ps' 7ord Bolton !ae
orders "or the s$ins to be sewn into a blan$et "or his bed' 1+%bs still hae that so"t "%r,
m& lord,3 one o" his men pointed o%t' 12a$e &o% a nice warm pair o" !loes'3
Bolton !lanced %p at the banners wain! aboe the !ateho%se towers' 1*s the Star$s
are wont to remind %s, winter is comin!' ,ae it done'3 (hen he saw *r&a loo$in! on,
he said, 1Nan, Ill want a "la!on o" hot spice wine, I too$ a chill in the woods' See that it
doesnt !et cold' Im o" a mind to s%p alone' Barle& bread, b%tter, and boar'3
1*t once, m& lord'3 That was alwa&s the best thin! to sa&'
,ot 4ic was ma$in! oatca$es when she entered the $itchen' Three other coo$s were
bonin! "ish, while a spit bo& t%rned a boar oer the "lames' 12& lord wants his s%pper,
and hot spice wine to wash it down,3 *r&a anno%nced, 1and he doesnt want it cold'3
/ne o" the coo$s washed his hands, too$ o%t a $ettle, and "illed it with a hea&, sweet
red' ,ot 4ie was told to cr%mble in the spices as the wine heated' *r&a went to help'
1I can do it,3 he said s%llenl&' 1I dont need &o% to show me how to spice wine'3
,e hates me too, or else hes scared o" me' She bac$ed awa&, more sad than an!r&'
(hen the "ood was read&, the coo$s coered it with a siler coer and wrapped the
"la!on in a thic$ towel to $eep it warm' #%s$ was settlin! o%tside' /n the walls the
crows m%ttered ro%nd the heads li$e co%rtiers ro%nd a $in!' /ne o" the !%ards held the
door to 6in!sp&re' 1,ope thats not weasel so%p,3 he 9ested'
Boose Bolton was seated b& the hearth readin! "rom a thic$ leatherbo%nd boo$ when
she entered' 17i!ht some candles,3 he commanded her as he t%rned a pa!e' 1It !rows
!loom& in here'3
She placed the "ood at his elbow and did as he bid her, "illin! the room with "lic$erin!
li!ht and the scent o" cloes' Bolton t%rned a "ew more pa!es with his "in!er, then closed
the boo$ and placed it care"%ll& in the "ire' ,e watched the "lames cons%me it, pale e&es
shinin! with re"lected li!ht' The old dr& leather went %p with a whoosh, and the &ellow
pa!es stirred as the& b%rned, as i" some !host were readin! them' 1I will hae no "%rther
need o" &o% toni!ht,3 he said, neer loo$in! at her'
She sho%ld hae !one, silent as a mo%se, b%t somethin! had hold o" her' 12& lord,3
she as$ed, 1will &o% ta$e me with &o% when &o% leae ,arrenhal.3
,e t%rned to stare at her, and "rom the loo$ in his e&es it was as i" his s%pper had 9%st
spo$en to him' 1#id I !ie &o% leae to )%estion me, Nan.3
1No, m& lord'3 She lowered her e&es'
1;o% sho%ld not hae spo$en, then' Sho%ld &o%.3
1No' 2& lord'3
=or a moment he loo$ed am%sed' 1I will answer &o%, 9%st this once' I mean to !ie
,arrenhal to 7ord >ar!o when I ret%rn to the north' ;o% will remain here, with him'3
1B%t I dontA3 she started'
,e c%t her o""' 1I am not in the habit o" bein! )%estioned b& serants, Nan' 2%st I hae
&o%r ton!%e o%t.3
,e wo%ld do it as easil& as another man mi!ht c%"" a do!, she $new' 1No, m& lord'3
1Then Ill hear no more "rom &o%.3
1No, m& lord'3
18o, then' I shall "or!et this insolence'3
*r&a went, b%t not to her bed' (hen she stepped o%t into the dar$ness o" the &ard, the
!%ard on the door nodded at her and said, 1Storm comin!' Smell the air.3 The wind was
!%stin!, "lames swirlin! o"" the torches mo%nted atop the walls beside the rows o" heads'
/n her wa& to the !odswood, she passed the (ailin! Tower where once she had lied in
"ear o" (eese' The =re&s had ta$en it "or their own since ,arrenhals "all' She co%ld hear
an!r& oices comin! "rom a window, man& men tal$in! and ar!%in! all at once' 5lmar
was sittin! on the steps o%tside, alone'
1(hats wron!.3 *r&a as$ed him when she saw the tears shinin! on his chee$s'
12& princess,3 he sobbed' 1(ee been dishonored, *en&s sa&s' There was a bird
"rom the Twins' 2& lord "ather sa&s Ill need to marr& someone else, or be a septon'3
* st%pid princess, she tho%!ht, thats nothin! to cr& oer' 12& brothers mi!ht be
dead,3 she con"ided'
5lmar !ae her a scorn"%l loo$' 1No one cares abo%t a serin! !irls brothers'3
It was hard not to hit him when he said that' 1I hope &o%r princess dies,3 she said, and
ran o"" be"ore he co%ld !rab her' In the !odswood she "o%nd her broomstic$ sword
where she had le"t it, and carried it to the heart tree' There she $nelt' Bed leaes r%stled'
Bed e&es peered inside her' The e&es o" the !ods' 1Tell me what to do, &o% !ods,3 she
pra&ed'
=or a lon! moment there was no so%nd b%t the wind and the water and the crea$ o" lea"
and limb' *nd then, "ar "ar o"", be&ond the !odswood and the ha%nted towers and the
immense stone walls o" ,arrenhal, "rom somewhere o%t in the world, came the lon!
lonel& howl o" a wol"' 8oosepric$les rose on *r&as s$in, and "or an instant she "elt
di??&' Then, so "aintl&, it seemed as i" she heard her "athers oice' 1(hen the snows "all
and the white winds blow, the lone wol" dies, b%t the pac$ s%ries,3 he said'
1B%t there is no pac$,3 she whispered to the weirwood' Bran and Bic$on were dead,
the 7annisters had Sansa, Con had !one to the (all' 1Im not een me now, Im Nan'3
1;o% are *r&a o" (inter"ell, da%!hter o" the north' ;o% told me &o% co%ld be stron!'
;o% hae the wol" blood in &o%'3
1The wol" blood'3 *r&a remembered now' 1Ill be as stron! as Bobb' I said I wo%ld'3
She too$ a deep breath, then li"ted the broomstic$ in both hands and bro%!ht it down
across her $nee' It bro$e with a lo%d crac$, and she threw the pieces aside' I am a
direwol", and done with wooden teeth'
That ni!ht she la& in her narrow bed %pon the scratch& straw, listenin! to the oices o"
the liin! and the dead whisper and ar!%e as she waited "or the moon to rise' The& were
the onl& oices she tr%sted an&more' She co%ld hear the so%nd o" her own breath, and
the woles as well, a !reat pac$ o" them now' The& are closer than the one I heard in the
!odswood, she tho%!ht' The& are callin! to me'
=inall& she slipped "rom %nder the blan$et, wri!!led into a t%nic, and padded bare"oot
down the stairs' Boose Bolton was a ca%tio%s man, and the entrance to 6in!sp&re was
!%arded da& and ni!ht, so she had to slip o%t o" a narrow cellar window' The &ard was
still, the !reat castle lost in ha%nted dreams' *boe, the wind $eened thro%!h the
(ailin! Tower'
*t the "or!e she "o%nd the "ires e0tin!%ished and the doors closed and barred' She
crept in a window, as she had once be"ore' 8endr& shared a mattress with two other
apprentice smiths' She cro%ched in the lo"t "or a lon! time be"ore her e&es ad9%sted
eno%!h "or her to be s%re that he was the one on the end' Then she p%t a hand oer his
mo%th and pinched him' ,is e&es opened' ,e co%ld not hae been er& deepl& asleep'
14lease,3 she whispered' She too$ her hand o"" his mo%th and pointed'
=or a moment she did not thin$ he %nderstood, b%t then he slid o%t "rom %nder the
blan$ets' Na$ed, he padded across the room, shr%!!ed into a loose ro%!hsp%n t%nic, and
climbed down "rom the lo"t a"ter her' The other sleepers did not stir' 1(hat do &o% want
now.3 8endr& said in a low an!r& oice'
1* sword'3
1Blac$th%mb $eeps all the blades loc$ed %p, I told &o% that a h%ndred times' Is this "or
7ord 7eech.3
1=or me' Brea$ the loc$ with &o%r hammer'3
1The&ll brea$ m& hand,3 he !r%mbled' 1/r worse'3
1Not i" &o% r%n o"" with me'3
1B%n, and the&ll catch &o% and $ill &o%'3
1The&ll do &o% worse' 7ord Bolton is !iin! ,arrenhal to the Blood& 2%mmers, he
told me so'3
8endr& p%shed blac$ hair o%t o" his e&es' 1So.3
She loo$ed ri!ht at him, "earless' 1So when >ar!o ,oats the lord, hes !oin! to c%t o""
the "eet o" all the serants to $eep them "rom r%nnin! awa&' The smiths too'3
1Thats onl& a stor&,3 he said scorn"%ll&'
, DNo, its tr%e, I heard 7ord >ar!o sa& so,3 she lied' 1,es !oin! to c%t one "oot o""
eer&one' The le"t one' 8o to the $itchens and wa$e ,ot 4ie, hell do what &o% sa&'
(ell need bread or oa$ca$es or somethin!' ;o% !et the swords and Ill do the horses'
(ell meet near the postern in the east wall, behind the Tower o" 8hosts' No one eer
comes there'3
1I $now that !ate' Its !%arded, same as the rest'3
1So. ;o% wont "or!et the swords.3
1I neer said Id come'3
1No' B%t i" &o% do, &o% wont "or!et the swords.3
,e "rowned' 1No,3 he said at last' 1I !%ess I wont'3
*r&a reentered 6in!sp&re the same wa& she had le"t it, and stole %p the windin! steps
listenin! "or "oot"alls' In her cell, she stripped to the s$in and dressed hersel" care"%ll&,
in two la&ers o" smallclothes, warm stoc$in!s, and her cleanest t%nic' It was 7ord
Boltons lier&' /n the breast was sewn his si!il, the "la&ed man o" the #read"ort' She
tied her shoes, threw a wool cloa$ oer her s$inn& sho%lders, and $notted it %nder her
throat' F%iet as a shadow, she moed bac$ down the stairs' /%tside the lords solar she
pa%sed to listen at the door, easin! it open slowl& when she heard onl& silence'
The sheeps$in map was on the table, beside the remains o" 7ord Boltons s%pper' She
rolled it %p ti!ht and thr%st it thro%!h her belt' ,ed le"t his da!!er on the table as well,
so she too$ that too, 9%st in case 8endr& lost his co%ra!e'
* horse nei!hed so"tl& as she slipped into the dar$ened stables' The !rooms were all
asleep' She prodded one with her toe %ntil he sat %p !ro!!il& and said, 15h. (has.3
17ord Bolton re)%ires three horses saddled and bridled'3
The bo& !ot to his "eet, p%shin! straw "rom his hair' 1(ha, at this ho%r. ,orses, &o%
sa&.3 ,e blin$ed at the si!il on her t%nic' 1(has he want horses "or, in the dar$.3
17ord Bolton is not in the habit o" bein! )%estioned b& serants'3 She crossed her
arms'
The stablebo& was still loo$in! at the "la&ed man' ,e $new what it meant' 1Three, &o%
sa&.3
1/ne two three' ,%ntin! horses' =ast and s%re"oot'3 *r&a helped him with the bridles
and saddles, so he wo%ld not need to wa$e an& o" the others' She hoped the& wo%ld not
h%rt him a"terward, b%t she $new the& probabl& wo%ld'
7eadin! the horses across the castle was the worst part' She sta&ed in the shadow o"
the c%rtain wall wheneer she co%ld, so the sentries wal$in! their ro%nds on the ramparts
aboe wo%ld hae needed to loo$ almost strai!ht down to see her' *nd i" the& do, what
o" it. Im m& lords own c%pbearer' It was a chill dan$ a%t%mn ni!ht' +lo%ds were
blowin! in "rom the west, hidin! the stars, and the (ailin! Tower screamed mo%rn"%ll&
at eer& !%st o" wind' It smells li$e rain' *r&a did not $now whether that wo%ld be !ood
or bad "or their escape'
No one saw her, and she saw no one, onl& a !re& and white cat creepin! alon! atop the
!odswood wall' It stopped and spit at her, wa$in! memories o" the Bed 6eep and her
"ather and S&rio =orel' 1I co%ld catch &o% i" I wanted,3 she called to it so"tl&, 1b%t I hae
to !o, cat'3 The cat hissed a!ain and ran o""'
The Tower o" 8hosts was the most r%ino%s o" ,arrenhals "ie immense towers' It
stood dar$ and desolate behind the remains o" a collapsed sept where onl& rats had come
to pra& "or near three h%ndred &ears' It was there she waited to see i" 8endr& and ,ot
4ie wo%ld come' It seemed as tho%!h she waited a lon! time' The horses nibbled at the
weeds that !rew %p between the bro$en stones while the clo%ds swallowed the last o" the
stars' *r&a too$ o%t the da!!er and sharpened it to $eep her hands b%s&' 7on! smooth
stro$es, the wa& S&rio had ta%!ht her' The so%nd calmed her'
She heard them comin! lon! be"ore she saw them' ,ot 4ie was breathin! heail&, and
once he st%mbled in the dar$, bar$ed his shin, and c%rsed lo%d eno%!h to wa$e hal" o"
,arrenhal' 8endr& was )%ieter, b%t the swords he was carr&in! ran! to!ether as he
moed' 1,ere I am'3 She stood' 1Be )%iet or the&ll hear &o%'3
The bo&s pic$ed their wa& toward her oer t%mbled stones' 8endr& was wearin! oiled
chainmail %nder his cloa$, she saw, and he had his blac$smiths hammer sl%n! across his
bac$' ,ot 4ies red ro%nd "ace peered o%t "rom %nder a hood' ,e had a sac$ o" bread
dan!lin! "rom his ri!ht hand and a bi! wheel o" cheese %nder his le"t arm' 1Theres a
!%ard on that postern,3 said 8endr& )%ietl&' 1I told &o% there wo%ld be'3
1;o% sta& here with the horses,3 said *r&a' 1Ill !et rid o" him' +ome )%ic$ when I
call'3
8endr& nodded' ,ot 4ie said, 1,oot li$e an owl when &o% want %s to come'3
1Im not an owl,3 said *r&a' 1Im a wol"' Ill howl'3
*lone, she slid thro%!h the shadow o" the Tower o" 8hosts' She wal$ed "ast, to $eep
ahead o" her "ear, and it "elt as tho%!h S&rio =orel wal$ed beside her, and ;oren, and
Ca)en ,!har, and Con Snow' She had not ta$en the sword 8endr& had bro%!ht her, not
&et' =or this the da!!er wo%ld be better' It was !ood and sharp' This postern was the
least o" ,arrenhals !ates, a narrow door o" sto%t oa$ st%dded with iron nails, set in an
an!le o" the wall beneath a de"ensie tower' /nl& one man was set to !%ard it, b%t she
$new there wo%ld be sentries %p in that tower as well, and others nearb& wal$in! the
walls' (hateer happened, she m%st be )%iet as a shadow' ,e m%st not call o%t' * "ew
scattered raindrops had be!%n to "all' She "elt one land on her brow and r%n slowl& down
her nose'
She made no e""ort to hide, b%t approached the !%ard openl&, as i" 7ord Bolton himsel"
had sent her' ,e watched her come, c%rio%s as to what mi!ht brin! a pa!e here at this
blac$ ho%r' (hen she !ot closer, she saw that he was a northman, er& tall and thin,
h%ddled in a ra!!ed "%r cloa$' That was bad' She mi!ht hae been able to tric$ a =re& or
one o" the Brae +ompanions, b%t the #read"ort men had sered Boose Bolton their
whole li"e, and the& $new him better than she did' I" I tell him I am *r&a Star$ and
command him to stand aside ' ' ' No, she dare not' ,e was a northman, b%t not a
(inter"ell man' ,e belon!ed to Boose Bolton'
(hen she reached him she p%shed bac$ her cloa$ so he wo%ld see the "la&ed man on
her breast' 17ord Bolton sent me'3
1*t this ho%r. (h& "or.3
She co%ld see the !leam o" steel %nder the "%r, and she did not $now i" she was stron!
eno%!h to drie the point o" the da!!er thro%!h chainmail' ,is throat, it m%st be his
throat, b%t hes too tall, Ill neer reach it' =or a moment she did not $now what to sa&'
=or a moment she was a little !irl a!ain, and scared, and the rain on her "ace "elt li$e
tears'
1,e told me to !ie all his !%ards a siler piece, "or their !ood serice'3 The words
seemed to come o%t o" nowhere'
1Siler, &o% sa&.3 ,e did not beliee her, b%t he wanted to: siler was siler, a"ter all'
18ie it oer, then'3
,er "in!ers d%! down beneath her t%nic and came o%t cl%tchin! the coin Ca)en had
!ien her' In the dar$ the iron co%ld pass "or tarnished siler' She held it o%t ' ' ' and let it
slip thro%!h her "in!ers'
+%rsin! her so"tl&, the man went to a $nee to !rope "or the coin in the dirt and there
was his nec$ ri!ht in "ront o" her' *r&a slid her da!!er o%t and drew it across his throat,
as smooth as s%mmer sil$' ,is blood coered her hands in a hot !%sh and he tried to
sho%t b%t there was blood in his mo%th as well'
1>alar mor!h%lis,3 she whispered as he died'
(hen he stopped moin!, she pic$ed %p the coin' /%tside the walls o" ,arrenhal, a
wol" howled lon! and lo%d' She li"ted the bar, set it aside, and p%lled open the hea& oa$
door' B& the time ,ot 4ie and 8endr& came %p with the horses, the rain was "allin! hard'
1;o% $illed him@3 ,ot 4ie !asped'
1(hat did &o% thin$ I wo%ld do.3 ,er "in!ers were stic$& with blood, and the smell
was ma$in! her mare s$ittish' Its no matter, she tho%!ht, swin!in! %p into the saddle'
The rain will wash them clean a!ain'
C#APT"R ,)
SA'SA
The throne room was a sea o" 9ewels, "%rs, and bri!ht "abrics' 7ords and ladies "illed
the bac$ o" the hall and stood beneath the hi!h windows, 9ostlin! li$e "ishwies on a
doc$'
The deni?ens o" Co""re&s co%rt had strien to o%tdo each other toda&' Calabhar Eho
was all in "eathers, a pl%ma!e so "antastic and e0traa!ant that he seemed li$e to ta$e
"li!ht' The ,i!h Septons cr&stal crown "ired rainbows thro%!h the air eer& time he
moed his head' *t the co%ncil table, F%een +ersei shimmered in a cloth-o"-!old !own
slashed in b%r!%nd& elet, while beside her >ar&s "%ssed and simpered in a lilac
brocade' 2oon Bo& and Ser #ontos wore new s%its o" motle&, clean as a sprin!
mornin!' 5en 7ad& Tanda and her da%!hters loo$ed prett& in matchin! !owns o"
t%r)%oise sil$ and air, and 7ord 8&les was co%!hin! into a s)%are o" scarlet sil$
trimmed with !olden lace' 6in! Co""re& sat aboe them all, amon!st the blades and barbs
o" the Iron Throne' ,e was in crimson samite, his blac$ mantle st%dded with r%bies, on
his head his hea& !olden crown'
S)%irmin! thro%!h a press o" $ni!hts, s)%ires, and rich town"ol$, Sansa reached the
"ront o" the !aller& 9%st as a blast o" tr%mpets anno%nced the entr& o" 7ord T&win
7annister'
,e rode his warhorse down the len!th o" the hall and dismo%nted be"ore the Iron
Throne' Sansa had neer seen s%ch armor: all b%rnished red steel, inlaid with !olden
scrollwor$ and ornamentation' ,is rondels were s%nb%rsts, the roarin! lion that crowned
his helm had r%b& e&es, and a lioness on each sho%lder "astened a cloth-o"-!old cloa$ so
lon! and hea& that it draped the hind)%arters o" his char!er' 5en the horses armor was
!ilded, and his bardin!s were shimmerin! crimson sil$ embla?oned with the lion o"
7annister'
The 7ord o" +asterl& Boc$ made s%ch an impressie "i!%re that it was a shoc$ when
his destrier dropped a load o" d%n! ri!ht at the base o" the throne' Co""re& had to step
!in!erl& aro%nd it as he descended to embrace his !rand"ather and proclaim him Saior
o" the +it&' Sansa coered her mo%th to hide a nero%s smile'
Co"" made a show o" as$in! his !rand"ather to ass%me !oernance o" the realm, and
7ord T&win solemnl& accepted the responsibilit&, 1%ntil ;o%r 8race does come o" a!e'3
Then s)%ires remoed his armor and Co"" "astened the ,ands chain o" o""ice aro%nd his
nec$' 7ord T&win too$ a seat at the co%ncil table beside the )%een' *"ter the destrier was
led o"" and his homa!e remoed, +ersei nodded "or the ceremonies to contin%e'
* "an"are o" bra?en tr%mpets !reeted each o" the heroes as he stepped between the
!reat oa$en doors' ,eralds cried his name and deeds "or all to hear, and the noble
$ni!hts and hi!hborn ladies cheered as l%stil& as c%tthroats at a coc$"i!ht' 4ride o" place
was !ien to 2ace T&rell, the 7ord o" ,i!h!arden, a once-power"%l man !one to "at, &et
still handsome' ,is sons "ollowed him in: Ser 7oras and his older brother Ser 8arlan the
8allant' The three dressed ali$e, in !reen elet trimmed with sable'
The $in! descended the throne once more to !reet them, a !reat honor' ,e "astened
abo%t the throat o" each a chain o" roses wro%!ht in so"t &ellow !old, "rom which h%n! a
!olden disc with the lion o" 7annister pic$ed o%t in r%bies' 1The roses s%pport the lion,
as the mi!ht o" ,i!h!arden s%pports the realm,3 proclaimed Co""re&' 1I" there is an&
boon &o% wo%ld as$ o" me, as$ and it shall be &o%rs'3
*nd now it comes, tho%!ht Sansa'
1;o%r 8race,3 said Ser 7oras, 1I be! the honor o" serin! in &o%r 6in!s!%ard, to
de"end &o% a!ainst &o%r enemies'3
Co""re& drew the 6ni!ht o" =lowers to his "eet and $issed him on his chee$' 1#one,
brother'3
7ord T&rell bowed his head' 1There is no !reater pleas%re than to sere the 6in!s
8race' I" I was deemed worth& to 9oin &o%r ro&al co%ncil, &o% wo%ld "ind none more
lo&al or tr%e'3
Co"" p%t a hand on 7ord T&rells sho%lder and $issed him when he stood' 1;o%r wish is
!ranted'3
Ser 8arlan T&rell, "ie &ears senior to Ser 7oras, was a taller bearded ersion o" his
more "amo%s &o%n!er brother' ,e was thic$er abo%t the chest and broader at the
sho%lders, and tho%!h his "ace was comel& eno%!h, he lac$ed Ser 7orass startlin!
bea%t&' 1;o%r 8race,3 8arlan said when the $in! approached him, 1I hae a maiden
sister, 2ar!aer&, the deli!ht o" o%r ,o%se' She was wed to Benl& Baratheon, as &o%
$now, b%t 7ord Benl& went to war be"ore the marria!e co%ld be cons%mmated, so she
remains innocent' 2ar!aer& has heard tales o" &o%r wisdom, co%ra!e, and chialr&, and
has come to loe &o% "rom a"ar' I beseech &o% to send "or her, to ta$e her hand in
marria!e, and to wed &o%r ,o%se to mine "or all time'3
6in! Co""re& made a show o" loo$in! s%rprised' 1Ser 8arlan, &o%r sisters bea%t& is
"amed thro%!ho%t the Seen 6in!doms, b%t I am promised to another' * $in! m%st $eep
his word'3
F%een +ersei !ot to her "eet in a r%stle o" s$irts' 1;o%r 8race, in the 9%d!ment o" &o%r
small co%ncil, it wo%ld be neither proper nor wise "or &o% to wed the da%!hter o" a man
beheaded "or treason, a !irl whose brother is in open rebellion a!ainst the throne een
now' Sire, &o%r co%ncilors be! &o%, "or the !ood o" &o%r realm, set Sansa Star$ aside'
The 7ad& 2ar!aer& will ma$e &o% a "ar more s%itable )%een'3
7i$e a pac$ o" trained do!s, the lords and ladies in the hall be!an to sho%t their
pleas%re' 12ar!aer&,3 the& called' 18ie %s 2ar!aer&@3 and 1No traitor )%eens@ T&rell@
T&rell@3
Co""re& raised a hand' 1I wo%ld li$e to heed the wishes o" m& people, 2other, b%t I
too$ a hol& ow'3
The ,i!h Septon stepped "orward' 1;o%r 8race, the !ods hold bethrothal solemn, b%t
&o%r "ather, 6in! Bobert o" blessed memor&, made this pact be"ore the Star$s o"
(inter"ell had reealed their "alseness' Their crimes a!ainst the realm hae "reed &o%
"rom an& promise &o% mi!ht hae made' So "ar as the =aith is concerned, there is no
alid marria!e contract Dtwi0t &o% and Sansa Star$'3
* t%m%lt o" cheerin! "illed the throne room, and cries o" 12ar!aer&, 2ar!aer&3
er%pted all aro%nd her' Sansa leaned "orward, her hands ti!ht aro%nd the !aller&s
wooden rail' She $new what came ne0t, b%t she was still "ri!htened o" what Co""re&
mi!ht sa&, a"raid that he wo%ld re"%se to release her een now, when his whole $in!dom
depended %pon it' She "elt as i" she were bac$ a!ain on the marble steps o%tside the
8reat Sept o" Baelor, waitin! "or her prince to !rant her "ather merc&, and instead
hearin! him command Il&n 4a&ne to stri$e o"" his head' 4lease, she pra&ed "erentl&,
ma$e him sa& it, ma$e him sa& it'
7ord T&win was loo$in! at his !randson' Co"" !ae him a s%llen !lance, shi"ted his "eet,
and helped Ser 8arlan T&rell to rise' 1The !ods are !ood' I am "ree to heed m& heart' I
will wed &o%r sweet sister, and !ladl&, ser'3 ,e $issed Ser 8arlan on a bearded chee$ as
the cheers rose all aro%nd them'
Sansa "elt c%rio%sl& li!ht-headed' I am "ree' She co%ld "eel e&es %pon her' I m%st not
smile, she reminded hersel"' The )%een had warned her: no matter what she "elt inside,
the "ace she showed the world m%st loo$ distra%!ht' 1I will not hae m& son
h%miliated,3 +ersei said' 1#o &o% hear me.3
1;es' B%t i" Im not to be )%een, what will become o" me.3
1That will need to be determined' =or the moment, &o% shall remain here at co%rt, as
o%r ward'3
1I want to !o home'3
The )%een was irritated b& that' 1;o% sho%ld hae learned b& now, none o" %s !et the
thin!s we want'3
I hae, tho%!h, Sansa tho%!ht' I am "ree o" Co""re&' I will not hae to $iss him, nor !ie
him m& maidenhood, nor bear him children' 7et 2ar!aer& ;&rell hae all that, poor !irl'
B& the time the o%tb%rst died down, the 7ord o" ,i!h!arden had been seated at the
co%ncil table, and his sons had 9oined the other $ni!hts and lordlin!s beneath the
windows' Sansa tried to loo$ "orlorn and abandoned as other heroes o" the Battle o" the
Blac$water were s%mmoned "orth to receie their rewards'
4a0ter Bedw&ne, 7ord o" the *rbor, marched down the len!th o" the hall "lan$ed b&
his twin sons ,orror and Slobber, the "ormer limpin! "rom a wo%nd ta$en in the battle'
*"ter them "ollowed 7ord 2athis Bowan in a snow& do%blet with a !reat tree wor$ed
%pon the breast in !old thread: 7ord Band&ll Tarl&, lean and baldin!, a !reatsword across
his bac$ in a 9eweled scabbard: Ser 6ean 7annister, a thic$set baldin! man with a
close-trimmed beard: Ser *ddam 2arbrand, copper& hair streamin! to his sho%lders: the
!reat western lords 7&dden, +ra$ehall, and Bra0'
Ne0t came "o%r o" lesser birth who had distin!%ished themseles in the "i!htin!: the
one-e&ed $ni!ht Ser 4hilip =oote, who had slain 7ord Br&ce +aron in sin!le combat: the
"reerider 7othor Br%ne, whod c%t his wa& thro%!h hal" a h%ndred =ossowa& men-at-
arms to capt%re Ser Con o" the !reen apple and $ill Ser Br&an and Ser 5dw&d o" the red,
thereb& winnin! himsel" the name 7othor *pple-5ater: (illit, a !ri??led man-atarms in
the serice o" Ser ,ar&s Sw&"t, whod p%lled his master "rom beneath his d&in! horse
and de"ended him a!ainst a do?en attac$ers: and a down&chee$ed s)%ire named Cosm&n
4ec$ledon, who had $illed two $ni!hts, wo%nded a third, and capt%red two more, tho%!h
he co%ld not hae been more than "o%rteen' (illit was borne in on a litter, so !rieo%s
were his wo%nds'
Ser 6ean had ta$en a seat beside his brother 7ord T&win' (hen the heralds had
"inished tellin! o" each heros deeds, he rose' 1It is ,is 8races wish that these !ood men
be rewarded "or their alor' B& his decree, Ser 4hilip shall hence"orth be 7ord 4hilip o"
,o%se =oote, and to him shall !o all the lands, ri!hts, and incomes o" ,o%se +aron'
7othor Br%ne to be raised to the estate o" $ni!hthood, and !ranted land and $eep in the
rierlands at wars end' To Cosm&n 4ec$ledon, a sword and s%it o" plate, his choice o"
an& warhorse in the ro&al stables, and $ni!hthood as soon as he shall come o" a!e' *nd
lastl&, "or 8oodman (illit, a spear with a siler-banded ha"t, a ha%ber$ o" new-"or!ed
rin!mail, and a "%ll helm with isor' =%rther, the !oodmans sons shall be ta$en into the
serice o" ,o%se 7annister at +asterl& Boc$, the elder as a s)%ire and the &o%n!er as a
pa!e, with the chance to adance to $ni!hthood i" the& sere lo&all& and well' To all
this, the 6in!s ,and and the small co%ncil consent'3
The captains o" the $in!s warships (ildwind, 4rince *emon, and Bier *rrow were
honored ne0t, alon! with some %nder o""icers "rom 8ods!race, 7ance, 7ad& o" Sil$, and
Bamshead' *s near as Sansa co%ld tell, their chie" accomplishment had been s%riin!
the battle on the rier, a "eat that "ew eno%!h co%ld boast' ,all&ne the 4&romancer and
the masters o" the *lchemists 8%ild receied the $in!s than$s as well, and ,all&ne was
raised to the st&le o" lord, tho%!h Sansa noted that neither lands nor castle accompanied
the title, which made the alchemist no more a tr%e lord than >ar&s was' * more
si!ni"icant lordship b& "ar was !ranted to Ser 7ancel 7annister' Co""re& awarded him the
lands, castle, and ri!hts o" ,o%se #arr&, whose last child lord had perished d%rin! the
"i!htin! in the rierlands, 1leain! no tr%eborn heirs o" law"%l #arr& blood, b%t onl& a
bastard co%sin'3
Ser 7ancel did not appear to accept the title: the tal$ was, his wo%nd mi!ht cost him
his arm or een his li"e' The Imp was said to be d&in! as well, "rom a terrible c%t to the
head'
(hen the herald called, 17ord 4et&r Baelish,3 he came "orth dressed all in shades o"
rose and pl%m, his cloa$ patterned with moc$in!birds' She co%ld see him smilin! as he
$nelt be"ore the Iron Throne' ,e loo$s so pleased' Sansa had not heard o" 7ittle"in!er
doin! an&thin! especiall& heroic d%rin! the battle, b%t it seemed he was to be rewarded
all the same'
Ser 6ean !ot bac$ to his "eet' 1It is the wish o" the 6in!s 8race that his lo&al
co%ncillor 4et&r Baelish be rewarded "or "aith"%l serice to crown and realm' Be it
$nown that 7ord Baelish is !ranted the castle o" ,arrenhal with all its attendant lands
and incomes, there to ma$e his seat and r%le hence"orth as 7ord 4aramo%nt o" the
Trident' 4et&r Baelish and his sons and !randsons shall hold and en9o& these honors %ntil
the end o" time, and all the lords o" the Trident shall do him homa!e as their ri!ht"%l
lie!e' The 6in!s ,and and the small co%ncil consent'3
/n his $nees, 7ittle"in!er raised his e&es to 6in! Co""re&' 1I than$ &o% h%mbl&, ;o%r
8race' I s%ppose this means Ill need to see abo%t !ettin! some sons and !randsons'3
Co""re& la%!hed, and the co%rt with him' 7ord 4aramo%nt o" the Trident, Sansa tho%!ht,
and 7ord o" ,arrenhal as well' She did not %nderstand wh& that sho%ld ma$e him so
happ&: the honors were as empt& as the title !ranted to ,all&ne the 4&romancer'
,arrenhal was c%rsed, eer&one $new that, and the 7annisters did not een hold it at
present' Besides, the lords o" the Trident were sworn to Bierr%n and ,o%se T%ll&, and
to the 6in! in the North: the& wo%ld neer accept 7ittle"in!er as their lie!e' <nless the&
are made to' <nless m& brother and m& %ncle and m& !rand"ather are all cast down and
$illed' The tho%!ht made Sansa an0io%s, b%t she told hersel" she was bein! sill&' Bobb
has beaten them eer& time' ,ell beat 7ord Baelish too, i" he m%st'
2ore than si0 h%ndred new $ni!hts were made that da&' The& had held their i!il in
the 8reat Sept o" Baelor all thro%!h the ni!ht and crossed the cit& bare"oot that mornin!
to proe their h%mble hearts' Now the& came "orward dressed in shi"ts o" %nd&ed wool
to receie their $ni!hthoods "rom the 6in!s!%ard' It too$ a lon! time, since onl& three o"
the Brothers o" the (hite Sword were on hand to d%b them' 2andon 2oore had
perished in the battle, the ,o%nd had anished, *er&s /a$heart was in #orne with
4rincess 2&rcella, and Caime 7annister was Bobbs captie, so the 6in!s!%ard had been
red%ced to Balon Swann, 2er&n Trant, and /sm%nd 6ettleblac$' /nce $ni!hted, each
man rose, b%c$led on his swordbelt, and stood beneath the windows' Some had blood&
"eet "rom their wal$ thro%!h the cit&, b%t the& stood tall and pro%d all the same, it
seemed to Sansa'
B& the time all the new $ni!hts had been !ien their sers the hall was !rowin! restie,
and none more so than Co""re&' Some o" those in the !aller& had be!%n to slip )%ietl&
awa&, b%t the notables on the "loor were trapped, %nable to depart witho%t the $in!s
leae' C%d!in! b& the wa& he was "id!etin! atop the Iron Throne, Co"" wo%ld willin!l&
hae !ranted it, b%t the da&s wor$ was "ar "rom done' =or now the coin was t%rned oer,
and the capties were %shered in'
There were !reat lords and noble $ni!hts in that compan& too: so%r old 7ord +elti!ar,
the Bed +rab: Ser Boni"er the 8ood: 7ord 5stermont, more ancient een than +elti!ar:
7ord >arner, who hobbled the len!th o" the hall on a shattered $nee, b%t wo%ld accept no
help: Ser 2ar$ 2%llendore, !re&-"aced, his le"t arm !one to the elbow: "ierce Bed
Bonnet o" 8ri""in Boost: Ser #ermot o" the Bainwood: 7ord (ill%rn and his sons 9os%a
and 5l&as: Ser Con =ossowa&: Ser Timon the Scrapesword: *%rane, the bastard o"
#ri"tmar$: 7ord Staedmon, called 4enn&loer: h%ndreds o" others'
Those who had chan!ed their alle!iance d%rin! the battle needed onl& to swear "ealt&
to Co""re&, b%t the ones who had "o%!ht "or Stannis %ntil the bitter end were compelled to
spea$' Their words decided their "ate' I" the& be!!ed "or!ieness "or their treasons and
promised to sere lo&all& hence"orth, Co""re& welcomed them bac$ into the $in!s peace
and restored them to all their lands and ri!hts' * hand"%l remained de"iant, howeer' 1#o
not ima!ine this is done, bo&,3 warned one, the bastard son o" some =lorent or other'
1The 7ord o" 7i!ht protects 6in! Stannis, now and alwa&s' *ll &o%r swords and all &o%r
schemin! shall not sae &o% when his ho%r comes'3
1;o%r ho%r is come ri!ht now'3 Co""re& bec$oned to Ser Il&n 4a&ne to ta$e the man o%t
and stri$e his head o""' B%t no sooner had that one been dra!!ed awa& than a $ni!ht o"
solemn mien with a "ier& heart on his s%rcoat sho%ted o%t, 1Stannis is the tr%e $in!@ *
monster sits the Iron Throne, an abomination born o" incest@3
1Be silent,3 Ser 6ean 7annister bellowed'
The $ni!ht raised his oice instead' 1Co""re& is the blac$ worm eatin! the heart o" the
realm@ #ar$ness was his "ather, and death his mother@ #estro& him be"ore he corr%pts
&o% all@ #estro& them all, )%een whore and $in! worm, ile dwar" and whisperin!
spider, the "alse "lowers' Sae &o%rseles@3 /ne o" the !old cloa$s $noc$ed the man o""
his "eet, b%t he contin%ed to sho%t' 1The sco%rin! "ire will come@ 6in! Stannis will
ret%rn@3
Co""re& l%rched to his "eet' 1Im $in!@ 6ill him@ 6ill him now@ I command it'3 ,e
chopped down with his hand, a "%rio%s, an!r& !est%re ' ' ' and screeched in pain when
his arm br%shed a!ainst one o" the sharp metal "an!s that s%rro%nded him' The bri!ht
crimson samite o" his sleee t%rned a dar$er shade o" red as his blood soa$ed thro%!h it'
12other@3 he wailed'
(ith eer& e&e on the $in!, somehow the man on the "loor wrested a spear awa& "rom
one o" the !old cloa$s, and %sed it to p%sh himsel" bac$ to his "eet' 1The throne denies
him@3 he cried' 1,e is no $in!@3
+ersei was r%nnin! toward the throne, b%t 7ord T&win remained still as stone' ,e had
onl& to raise a "in!er, and Ser 2er&n Trant moed "orward with drawn sword' The end
was )%ic$ and br%tal' The !old cloa$s sei?ed the $ni!ht b& the arms' 1No $in!@3 he cried
a!ain as Ser 2er&n droe the point o" his lon!sword thro%!h his chest'
Co"" "ell into his mothers arms' Three maesters came h%rr&in! "orward, to b%ndle him
o%t thro%!h the $in!s door' Then eer&one be!an tal$in! at once' (hen the !old cloa$s
dra!!ed o"" the dead man, he le"t a trail o" bri!ht blood across the stone "loor' 7ord
Baelish stro$ed his beard while >ar&s whispered in his ear' (ill the& dismiss %s now.
Sansa wondered' * score o" capties still waited, tho%!h whether to pled!e "ealt& or
sho%t c%rses, who co%ld sa&.
7ord T&win rose to his "eet' 1(e contin%e,3 he said in a clear stron! oice that silenced
the m%rm%rs' 1Those who wish to as$ pardon "or their treasons ma& do so' (e will hae
no more "ollies'3 ,e moed to the Iron Throne and there seated himsel" on a step, a mere
three "eet o"" the "loor'
The li!ht o%tside the windows was "adin! b& the time the session drew to a close'
Sansa "elt limp with e0ha%stion as she made her wa& down "rom the !aller&' She
wondered how badl& Co""re& had c%t himsel"' The& sa& the Iron Throne can be perilo%s
cr%el to those who were not meant to sit it'
Bac$ in the sa"et& o" her own chambers, she h%!!ed a pillow to her "ace to m%""le a
s)%eal o" 9o&' /h, !ods be !ood, he did it, he p%t me aside in "ront o" eer&one' (hen a
serin! !irl bro%!ht her s%pper, she almost $issed her' There was hot bread and "resh-
ch%rned b%tter, a thic$ bee" so%p, capon and carrots, and peaches in hone&' 5en the
"ood tastes sweeter, she tho%!ht'
+ome dar$, she slipped into a cloa$ and le"t "or the !odswood' Ser /sm%nd
6ettleblac$ was !%ardin! the drawbrid!e in his white armor' Sansa tried her best to
so%nd miserable as she bid him a !ood eenin!' =rom the wa& he leered at her, she was
not s%re she had been wholl& conincin!'
#ontos waited in the lea"& moonli!ht' 1(h& so sad"ace.3 Sansa as$ed him !ail&' 1;o%
were there, &o% heard' Co"" p%t me aside, hes done with me, hes ' ' '3
,e too$ her hand' 1/h, Con)%il, m& poor Con)%il, &o% do not %nderstand' #one with
&o%. The&e scarcel& be!%n'3
,er heart san$' 1(hat do &o% mean.3
1The )%een will neer let &o% !o, neer' ;o% are too al%able a hosta!e' *nd Co""re& ' '
' sweetlin!, he is still $in!' I" he wants &o% in his bed, he will hae &o%, onl& now it will
be bastards he plants in &o%r womb instead o" tr%eborn sons'3
1No,3 Sansa said, shoc$ed' 1,e let me !o, he ' ' '3
Ser #ontos planted a slobber& $iss on her ear' 1Be brae' I swore to see &o% home, and
now I can' The da& has been chosen'3
1(hen.3 Sansa as$ed' 1(hen will we !o.3
1The ni!ht o" Co""re&s weddin!' *"ter the "east' *ll the necessar& arran!ements hae
been made' The Bed 6eep will be "%ll o" stran!ers' ,al" the co%rt will be dr%n$ and the
other hal" will be helpin! Co""re& bed his bride' =or a little while, &o% will be "or!otten,
and the con"%sion will be o%r "riend'3
1The weddin! wont be "or a moons t%rn &et' 2ar!aer& T&rell is at ,i!h!arden,
the&e onl& now sent "or her'3
1;o%e waited so lon!, be patient awhile lon!er' ,ere, I hae somethin! "or &o%'3 Ser
#ontos "%mbled in his po%ch and drew o%t a siler& spiderweb, dan!lin! it between his
thic$ "in!ers' It was a hair net o" "ine-sp%n siler, the strands so thin and delicate the net
seemed to wei!h no more than a breath o" air when Sansa too$ it in her "in!ers' Small
!ems were set whereer two strands crossed, so dar$ the& dran$ the moonli!ht' 1(hat
stones are these.3
1Blac$ ameth&sts "rom *sshai' The rarest $ind, a deep tr%e p%rple b& da&li!ht'3
1Its er& loel&,3 Sansa said, thin$in!, It is a ship I need, not a net "or m& hair'
17oelier than &o% $now, sweet child' Its ma!ic, &o% see' Its 9%stice &o% hold' Its
en!eance "or &o%r "ather'3 #ontos leaned close and $issed her a!ain' 1Its home'3
C#APT"R ,+
T#"O'
2aester 7%win came to him when the "irst sco%ts were seen o%tside the walls' 12&
lord prince,3 he said, 1&o% m%st &ield'3
Theon stared at the platter o" oa$ca$es, hone&, and blood sa%sa!e the&d bro%!ht him
to brea$ his "ast' *nother sleepless ni!ht had le"t his neres raw, and the er& si!ht o"
"ood sic$ened him' 1There has been no repl& "rom m& %ncle.3
1None,3 the maester said' 1Nor "rom &o%r "ather on 4&$e'3
1Send more birds'3
1It will not sere' B& the time the birds reachA3
1Send them@3 6noc$in! the platter o" "ood aside with a swipe o" his arm, he p%shed o""
the blan$ets and rose "rom Ned Star$s bed na$ed and an!r&' 1/r do &o% want me dead.
Is that it, 7%win. The tr%th now'3
The small !re& man was %na"raid' 12& order seres'3
1;es, b%t whom.3
1The realm,3 2aester 7%win said, 1and (inter"ell' Theon, once I ta%!ht &o% s%ms and
letters, histor& and warcra"t' *nd mi!ht hae ta%!ht &o% more, had &o% wished to learn' I
will not claim to bear &o% an& !reat loe, no, b%t I cannot hate &o% either' 5en i" I did,
so lon! as &o% hold (inter"ell I am bo%nd b& oath to !ie &o% co%nsel' So now I co%nsel
&o% to &ield'3
Theon stooped to scoop a p%ddled cloa$ o"" the "loor, shoo$ o"" the r%shes, and draped
it oer his sho%lders' * "ire, Ill hae a "ire, and clean !arb' (heres (e0. Ill not po to
m& !rae in dirt& clothes'
1;o% hae no hope o" holdin! here,3 the maester went on' 1I" &o%r lord "ather meant to
send &o% aid, he wo%ld hae done so b& now' It is the Nec$ that concerns him' The battle
"or the north will be "o%!ht amidst the r%ins o" 2oat +ailin'3
1That ma& be so,3 said Theon' 1*nd so lon! as I hold (inter"ell, Ser Bodri$ and
Star$s lords bannermen cannot march so%th to ta$e m& %ncle in the rear'3 I am not so
innocent o" warcra"t as &o% thin$, old man' 1I hae "ood eno%!h to stand a &ears sie!e,
i" need be'3
1There will be no sie!e' 4erhaps the& will spend a da& or two "ashionin! ladders and
t&in! !rapnels to the ends o" ropes' B%t soon eno%!h the& will come oer &o%r walls in a
h%ndred places at once' ;o% ma& be able to hold the $eep "or a time, b%t the castle will
"all within the ho%r' ;o% wo%ld do better to open &o%r !ates and as$ "or merc&. I $now
what $ind o" merc& the& hae "or me'3
1There is a wa&'3
1I am ironborn,3 Theon reminded him' 1I hae m& own wa&' (hat choice hae the&
le"t me. No, dont answer, Ie heard eno%!h o" &o%r co%nsel' 8o and send those birds
as I commanded, and tell 7orren I want to see him' *nd (e0 as well' Ill hae m& mail
sco%red clean, and m& !arrison assembled in the &ard'3
=or a moment he tho%!ht the maester was !oin! to de"& him' B%t "inall& 7%win bowed
sti""l&' 1*s &o% command'3
The& made a piti"%ll& small assembl&: the ironmen were "ew, the &ard lar!e' 1The
northmen will be on %s be"ore ni!ht"all,3 he told them' 1Ser Bodri$ +assel and all the
lords who hae come to his call' I will not r%n "rom them' I too$ this castle and I mean
to hold it, to lie or die as 4rince o" (inter"ell' B%t I will not command an& man to die
with me' I" &o% leae now, be"ore Ser Bodri$s main "orce is %pon %s, theres still a
chance &o% ma& win "ree'3 ,e %nsheathed his lon!sword and drew a line in the dirt'
1Those who wo%ld sta& and "i!ht, step "orward'3
No one spo$e' The men stood in their mail and "%r and boiled leather, as still as i" the&
were made o" stone' * "ew e0chan!ed loo$s' <r?en sh%""led his "eet' #&$$ ,arlaw
haw$ed and spat' * "in!er o" wind r%""led 5ndehars lon! "air hair'
Theon "elt as tho%!h he were drownin!' (h& am I s%rprised. he tho%!ht blea$l&' ,is
"ather had "orsa$en him, his %ncles, his sister, een that wretched creat%re Bee$' (h&
sho%ld his men proe an& more lo&al. There was nothin! to sa&, nothin! to do' ,e co%ld
onl& stand there beneath the !reat !re& walls and the hard white s$&, sword in hand,
waitin!, waitin! ' ' '
(e0 was the "irst to cross the line' Three )%ic$ steps and he stood at Theons side,
slo%chin!' Shamed b& the bo&, Blac$ 7orren "ollowed, all scowls' 1(ho else.3 he
demanded' Bed Bol"e came "orward' 6romm' (erla!' T&mor and his brothers' <l" the
Ill' ,arra! Sheepstealer' =o%r ,arlaws and two Botle&s' 6enned the (hale was the last'
Seenteen in all'
<r?en was amon! those who did not moe, and St&!!, and eer& man o" the ten that
*sha had bro%!ht "rom #eepwood 2otte' 18o, then,3 Theon told them' 1B%n to m&
sister' Shell !ie &o% all a warm welcome, I hae no do%bt'3
St&!! had the !race at least to loo$ ashamed' The rest moed o"" witho%t a word'
Theon t%rned to the seenteen who remained' 1Bac$ to the walls' I" the !ods sho%ld
spare %s, I shall remember eer& man o" &o%'3
Blac$ 7orren sta&ed when the others had !one' 1The castle "ol$ will t%rn on %s soon as
the "i!ht be!ins'3
1I $now that' (hat wo%ld &o% hae me do.3
14%t them o%t,3 said 7orren' 15er& one'3
Theon shoo$ his head' 1Is the noose read&.3
1It is' ;o% mean to %se it.3
1#o &o% $now a better wa&.3
1*&e' Ill ta$e m& a0e and stand on that drawbrid!e, and let them come tr& me' /ne at
a time, two, three, it ma$es no matter' None will pass the moat while I still draw breath'3
,e means to die, tho%!ht Theon' Its not ictor& he wants, its an end worth& o" a son!'
1(ell %se the noose'3
1*s &o% sa&,3 7orren replied, contempt in his e&es'
(e0 helped !arb him "or battle' Beneath his blac$ s%rcoat and !olden mantle was a
shirt o" well-oiled rin!mail, and %nder that a la&er o" sti"" boiled leather' /nce armed and
armored, Theon climbed the watchtower at the an!le where the eastern and so%thern
walls came to!ether to hae a loo$ at his doom' The northmen were spreadin! o%t to
encircle the castle' It was hard to 9%d!e their n%mbers' * tho%sand at least: perhaps twice
that man&' *!ainst seenteen' The&d bro%!ht catap%lts and scorpions' ,e saw no sie!e
towers r%mblin! %p the $in!sroad, b%t there was timber eno%!h in the wol"swood to
b%ild as man& as were re)%ired'
Theon st%died their banners thro%!h 2aester 7%wins 2&rish lens t%be' The +erw&n
battle-a0e "lapped brael& whereer he loo$ed, and there were Tallhart trees as well, and
mermen "rom (hite ,arbor' 7ess common were the si!ils o" =lint and 6arstar$' ,ere
and there he een saw the b%ll moose o" the ,ornwoods' B%t no 8loers, *sha saw to
them, no Boltons "rom the #read"ort, no <mbers come down "rom the shadow o" the
(all' Not that the& were needed' Soon eno%!h the bo& +le& +erw&n appeared be"ore the
!ates carr&in! a peace banner on a tall sta"", to anno%nce that Ser Bodri$ +assel wished
to parle& with Theon T%rncloa$'
T%rncloa$' The name was bitter as bile' ,e had !one to 4&$e to lead his "athers
lon!ships a!ainst 7annisport, he remembered' 1I shall be o%t shortl&,3 he sho%ted down'
1*lone'3
Blac$ 7orren disapproed' 1/nl& blood can wash o%t blood,3 he declared' 16ni!hts
ma& $eep their tr%ces with other $ni!hts, b%t the& are not so care"%l o" their honor when
dealin! with those the& deem o%tlaw'3
Theon bristled' 1I am the 4rince o" (inter"ell and heir to the Iron Islands' Now !o "ind
the !irl and do as I told &o%'3
Blac$ 7orren !ae him a m%rdero%s loo$' 1*&e, 4rince'3
,es t%rned a!ainst me too, Theon reali?ed' /" late it seemed to him as i" the er&
stones o" (inter"ell had t%rned a!ainst him' I" I die, I die "riendless and abandoned'
(hat choice did that leae him, b%t to lie.
,e rode to the !ateho%se with his crown on his head' * woman was drawin! water
"rom the well, and 8a!e the coo$ stood in the door o" the $itchens' The& hid their hatred
behind s%llen loo$s and "aces blan$ as slate, &et he co%ld "eel it all the same'
(hen the drawbrid!e was lowered, a chill wind si!hed across the moat' The to%ch o" it
made him shier' It is the cold, nothin! more, Theon told himsel", a shier, not a
tremble' 5en brae men shier' Into the teeth o" that wind he rode, %nder the portc%llis,
oer the drawbrid!e' The o%ter !ates sw%n! open to let him pass' *s he emer!ed beneath
the walls, he co%ld sense the bo&s watchin! "rom the empt& soc$ets where their e&es had
been'
Ser Bodri$ waited in the mar$et astride his dappled !eldin!' Beside him, the direwol"
o" Star$ "lapped "rom a sta"" borne b& &o%n! +le& +erw&n' The& were alone in the
s)%are, tho%!h Theon co%ld see archers on the roo"s o" s%rro%ndin! ho%ses, spearmen to
his ri!ht, and to his le"t a line o" mo%nted $ni!hts beneath the merman-and-trident o"
,o%se 2anderl&' 5er& one o" them wants me dead' Some were bo&s hed dr%n$ with,
diced with, een wenched with, b%t that wo%ld not sae him i" he "ell into their hands'
1Ser Bodri$'3 Theon reined to a halt' 1It !riees me that we m%st meet as "oes'3
12& own !rie" is that I m%st wait a while to han! &o%'3 The old $ni!ht spat onto the
m%dd& !ro%nd' 1Theon T%rncloa$'3
1I am a 8re&9o& o" 4&$e,3 Theon reminded him' 1The cloa$ m& "ather swaddled me in
bore a $ra$en, not a direwol"'3
1=or ten &ears &o% hae been a ward o" Star$'3
1,osta!e and prisoner, I call it'3
1Then perhaps 7ord 5ddard sho%ld hae $ept &o% chained to a d%n!eon wall' Instead
he raised &o% amon! his own sons, the sweet o&s &o% hae b%tchered, and to m&
%nd&in! shame I trained &o% in the arts o" war' (o%ld that I had thr%st a sword thro%!h
&o%r bell& instead o" placin! one in &o%r hand'3
1I came o%t to parle&, not to s%""er &o%r ins%lts' Sa& what &o% hae to sa&, old man'
(hat wo%ld &o% hae o" me.3
1Two thin!s,3 the old man said' 1(inter"ell, and &o%r li"e' +ommand &o%r men to
open the !ates and la& down their arms' Those who m%rdered no children shall be "ree to
wal$ awa&, b%t &o% shall be held "or 6in! Bobbs 9%stice' 2a& the !ods ta$e pit& on &o%
when he ret%rns'3
1Bobb will neer loo$ on (inter"ell a!ain,3 Theon promised' 1,e will brea$ himsel"
on 2oat +ailin, as eer& so%thron arm& has done "or ten tho%sand &ears' (e hold the
north now, ser'3
1;o% hold three castles,3 replied Ser Bodri$, 1and this one I mean to ta$e bac$,
T%rncloa$'3
Theon i!nored that' 1,ere are m& terms' ;o% hae %ntil een"all to disperse' Those
who swear "ealt& to Balon 8re&9o& as their $in! and to m&sel" as 4rince o" (inter"ell
will be con"irmed in their ri!hts and properties and s%""er no harm' Those who de"& %s
will be destro&ed'3
;o%n! +erw&n was incred%lo%s' 1*re &o% mad, 8re&9o&.3
Ser Bodri$ shoo$ his head' 1/nl& ain, lad' Theon has alwa&s had too lo"t& an opinion
o" himsel", I "ear'3 The old man 9abbed a "in!er at him' 1#o not ima!ine that I need wait
"or Bobb to "i!ht his wa& %p the Nec$ to deal with the li$es o" &o%' I hae near two
tho%sand men with me ' ' ' and i" the tales be tr%e, &o% hae no more than "i"t&'3
Seenteen, in tr%th' Theon made himsel" smile' 1I hae somethin! better than men'3
*nd he raised a "ist oer his head, the si!nal Blac$ 7orren had been told to watch "or'
The walls o" (inter"ell were behind him, b%t Ser Bodri$ "aced them s)%arel& and
co%ld not "ail to see' Theon watched his "ace' (hen his chin )%iered %nder those sti""
white whis$ers, he $new 9%st what the old man was seein!' ,e is not s%rprised, he
tho%!ht with sadness, b%t the "ear is there'
1This is craen,3 Ser Bodri$ said' 1To %se a child so ' ' ' this is despicable'3
1/h, I $now,3 said Theon' 1Its a dish I tasted m&sel", or hae &o% "or!otten. I was ten
when I was ta$en "rom m& "athers ho%se, to ma$e certain he wo%ld raise no more
rebellions'3
1It is not the same@3
Theons "ace was impassie' 1The noose I wore was not made o" hempen rope, thats
tr%e eno%!h, b%t I "elt it all the same' *nd it cha"ed, Ser Bodri$' It cha"ed me raw'3 ,e
had neer )%ite reali?ed that %ntil now, b%t as the words came spillin! o%t he saw the
tr%th o" them'
1No harm was eer done &o%'3
1*nd no harm will be done &o%r Beth, so lon! as &o%A3
Ser Bodri$ neer !ae him the chance to "inish' 1>iper,3 the $ni!ht declared, his "ace
red with ra!e beneath those white whis$ers' 1I !ae &o% the chance to sae &o%r men
and die with some small shred o" honor, T%rncloa$' I sho%ld hae $nown that was too
m%ch to as$ o" a child$iller'3 ,is hand went to the hilt o" his sword' 1I o%!ht c%t &o%
down here and now and p%t an end to &o%r lies and deceits' B& the !ods, I sho%ld'3
Theon did not "ear a dodderin! old man, b%t those watchin! archers and that line o"
$ni!hts were a di""erent matter' I" the swords came o%t his chances o" !ettin! bac$ to the
castle alie were small to none' 1=orswear &o%r oath and m%rder me, and &o% will watch
&o%r little Beth stran!le at the end o" a rope'3
Ser Bodri$s $n%c$les had !one white, b%t a"ter a moment he too$ his hand o"" the
swordhilt' 1Tr%l&, I hae lied too lon!'3
1I will not disa!ree, ser' (ill &o% accept m& terms.3
1I hae a d%t& to 7ad& +atel&n and ,o%se Star$'3
1*nd &o%r own ,o%se. Beth is the last o" &o%r blood'3
The old $ni!ht drew himsel" %p strai!ht' 1I o""er m&sel" in m& da%!hters place'
Belease her, and ta$e me as &o%r hosta!e' S%rel& the castellan o" (inter"ell is worth
more than a child'3
1Not to me'3 * aliant !est%re, old man, b%t I am not that !reat a "ool' 1Not to 7ord
2anderl& or 7eobald Tallhart either, Id wa!er'3 ;o%r sorr& old s$in is worth no more to
them than an& other mans' 1No, Ill $eep the !irl ' ' ' and $eep her sa"e, so lon! as &o%
do as Ie commanded &o%' ,er li"e is in &o%r hands'3
18ods be !ood, Theon, how can &o% do this. ;o% $now I m%st attac$, hae sworn ' ' '3
1I" this host is still in arms be"ore m& !ate when the s%n sets, Beth will han!,3 said
Theon' 1*nother hosta!e will "ollow her to the !rae at "irst li!ht, and another at s%nset'
5er& dawn and eer& d%s$ will mean a death, %ntil &o% are !one' I hae no lac$ o"
hosta!es'3 ,e did not wait "or a repl&, b%t wheeled Smiler aro%nd and rode bac$ toward
the castle' ,e went slowl& at "irst, b%t the tho%!ht o" those archers at his bac$ soon
droe him to a canter' The small heads watched him come "rom their spi$es, their tarred
and "la&ed "aces loomin! lar!er with eer& &ard: between them stood little Beth +assel,
noosed and cr&in!' Theon p%t his heel into Smiler and bro$e into a hard !allop' Smilers
hooes clattered on the drawbrid!e, li$e dr%mbeats'
In the &ard he dismo%nted and handed his reins to (e0' 1It ma& sta& them,3 he told
Blac$ 7orren' 1(ell $now b& s%nset' Ta$e the !irl in till then, and $eep her somewhere
sa"e'3 <nder the la&ers o" leather, steel, and wool, he was slic$ with sweat' 1I need a c%p
o" wine' * at o" wine wo%ld do een better'3
* "ire had been laid in Ned Star$s bedchamber' Theon sat beside it and "illed a c%p
with a hea&-bodied red "rom the castle a%lts, a wine as so%r as his mood' The& will
attac$, he tho%!ht !loomil&, starin! at the "lames' Ser Bodri$ loes his da%!hter, b%t he
is still castellan, and most o" all a $ni!ht' ,ad it been Theon with a noose aro%nd his
nec$ and 7ord Balon commandin! the arm& witho%t, the warhorns wo%ld alread& hae
so%nded the attac$, he had no do%bt' ,e sho%ld than$ the !ods that Ser Bodri$ was not
ironborn' The men o" the !reen lands were made o" so"ter st%"", tho%!h he was not
certain the& wo%ld proe so"t eno%!h'
I" not, i" the old man !ae the command to storm the castle re!ardless, (inter"ell
wo%ld "all: Theon entertained no del%sions on that co%nt' ,is seenteen mi!ht $ill three,
"o%r, "ie times their own n%mber, b%t in the end the& wo%ld be oerwhelmed'
Theon stared at the "lames oer the rim o" his wine !oblet, broodin! on the in9%stice o"
it all' 1I rode beside Bobb Star$ in the (hisperin! (ood,3 he m%ttered' ,e had been
"ri!htened that ni!ht, b%t not li$e this' It was one thin! to !o into battle s%rro%nded b&
"riends, and another to perish alone and despised' 2erc&, he tho%!ht miserabl&'
(hen the wine bro%!ht no solace, Theon sent (e0 to "etch his bow and too$ himsel"
to the old inner ward' There he stood, loosin! sha"t a"ter sha"t at the archer& b%tts %ntil
his sho%lders ached and his "in!ers were blood&, pa%sin! onl& lon! eno%!h to p%ll the
arrows "rom the tar!ets "or another ro%nd' I saed Brans li"e with this bow, he reminded
himsel"' (o%ld that I co%ld sae m& own' (omen came to the well, b%t did not lin!er:
whateer the& saw on Theons "ace sent them awa& )%ic$l&'
Behind him the bro$en tower stood, its s%mmit as 9a!!ed as a crown where "ire had
collapsed the %pper stories lon! a!o' *s the s%n moed, the shadow o" the tower moed
as well, !rad%all& len!thenin!, a blac$ arm reachin! o%t "or Theon 8re&9o&' B& the time
the s%n to%ched the wall, he was in its !rasp' I" I han! the !irl, the northmen will attac$
at once, he tho%!ht as he loosed a sha"t' I" I do not han! her, the& will $now m& threats
are empt&' ,e $noc$ed another arrow to his bow' There is no wa& o%t, none'
1I" &o% had a h%ndred archers as !ood as &o%rsel", &o% mi!ht hae a chance to hold the
castle,3 a oice said so"tl&'
(hen he t%rned, 2aester 7%win was behind him' 18o awa&,3 Theon told him' 1I hae
had eno%!h o" &o%r co%nsel'3
1*nd li"e. ,ae &o% had eno%!h o" that, m& lord prince.3
,e raised the bow' 1/ne more word and Ill p%t this sha"t thro%!h &o%r heart'3
1;o% wont'3
Theon bent the bow, drawin! the !re& !oose "eathers bac$ to his chee$' 1+are to ma$e
a wa!er.3
1I am &o%r last hope, Theon'3
I hae no hope, he tho%!ht' ;et he lowered the bow hal" an inch and said, 1I will not
r%n'3
1I do not spea$ o" r%nnin!' Ta$e the blac$'3
1The Ni!hts (atch.3 Theon let the bow %nbend slowl& and pointed the arrow at the
!ro%nd'
1Ser Bodri$ has sered ,o%se Star$ all his li"e, and ,o%se Star$ has alwa&s been a
"riend to the (atch' ,e will not den& &o%' /pen &o%r !ates, la& down &o%r arms, accept
his terms, and he m%st let &o% ta$e the blac$'3
* brother o" the Ni!hts (atch' It meant no crown, no sons, no wi"e ' ' ' b%t it meant
li"e, and li"e with honor' Ned Star$s own brother had chosen the (atch, and Con Snow
as well'
I hae blac$ !arb aplent&, once I tear the $ra$ens o"" 5en m& horse is blac$' I co%ld
rise hi!h in the (atchAchie" o" ran!ers, li$el& een 7ord +ommander' 7et *sha $eep
the blood& islands, the&re as drear& as she is' I" I sered at 5astwatch, I co%ld command
m& own ship, and theres "ine h%ntin! be&ond the (all' *s "or women, what wildlin!
woman wo%ldnt want a prince in her bed. * slow smile crept across his "ace, * blac$
cloa$ cant be t%rned' Id be as !ood as an& man ' ' '
14BIN+5 T#"O'@3 The s%dden sho%t shattered his da&dream' 6romm was lopin!
across the ward' 1The northmenA3
,e "elt a s%dden sic$ sense o" dread' 1Is it the attac$.3
2aester 7%win cl%tched his arm' 1Theres still time' Baise a peace bannerA3
1The&re "i!htin!,3 6romm said %r!entl&' 12ore men came %p, h%ndreds o" them, and
at "irst the& made to 9oin the others' B%t now the&e "allen on them@3
1Is it *sha.3 ,ad she come to sae him a"ter all.
B%t 6romm !ae a sha$e o" his head' 1No' These are northmen, I tell &o%' (ith a
blood& man on their banner'3
The "la&ed man o" the #read"ort' Bee$ had belon!ed to the Bastard o" Bolton be"ore
his capt%re, Theon recalled' It was hard to beliee that a ile creat%re li$e him co%ld
swa& the Boltons to chan!e their alle!iance, b%t nothin! else made sense' 1Ill see this
"or m&sel",3 Theon said'
2aester 7%win trailed a"ter him' B& the time the& reached the battlements, dead men
and d&in! horses were strewn abo%t the mar$et s)%are o%tside the !ates' ,e saw no
battle lines, onl& a swirlin! chaos o" banners and blades' Sho%ts and screams ran!
thro%!h the cold a%t%mn air' Ser Bodri$ seemed to hae the n%mbers, b%t the #read"ort
men were better led, and had ta$en the others %nawares' Theon watched them char!e
and wheel and char!e a!ain, choppin! the lar!er "orce to blood& pieces eer& time the&
tried to "orm %p between the ho%ses' ,e co%ld hear the crash o" iron a0eheads on oa$en
shields oer the terri"ied tr%mpetin! o" a maimed horse' The inn was b%rnin!, he saw'
Blac$ 7orren appeared beside him and stood silentl& "or a time' The s%n was low in the
west, paintin! the "ields and ho%ses all a !lowin! red' * thin waerin! cr& o" pain dri"ted
oer the walls, and a warhorn so%nded o"" be&ond the b%rnin! ho%ses' Theon watched a
wo%nded man dra! himsel" pain"%ll& across the !ro%nd, smearin! his li"es blood in the
dirt as he str%!!led to reach the well that stood at the center o" the mar$et s)%are' ,e
died be"ore he !ot there' ,e wore a leather 9er$in and conical hal"helm, b%t no bad!e to
tell which side hed "o%!ht on'
The crows came in the bl%e d%st, with the eenin! stars' 1The #othra$i beliee the
stars are spirits o" the aliant dead,3 Theon said' 2aester 7%win had told him that, a
lon! time a!o'
1#othra$i.3
1The horselords across the narrow sea'3
1/h' Them'3 Blac$ 7orren "rowned thro%!h his beard' 1Saa!es beliee all manner o"
"oolish thin!s'3
*s the ni!ht !rew dar$er and the smo$e spread it was harder to ma$e o%t what was
happenin! below, b%t the din o" steel !rad%all& diminished to nothin!, and the sho%ts
and warhorns !ae wa& to moans and piteo%s wailin!' =inall& a col%mn o" mo%nted men
rode o%t o" the dri"tin! smo$e' *t their head was a $ni!ht in dar$ armor' ,is ro%nded
helm !leamed a s%llen red, and a pale pin$ cloa$ streamed "rom his sho%lders' /%tside
the main !ate he reined %p, and one o" his men sho%ted "or the castle to open'
1*re &o% "riend or "oe.3 Blac$ 7orren bellowed down'
1(o%ld a "oe brin! s%ch "ine !i"ts.3 Bed ,elm waed a hand, and three corpses were
d%mped in "ront o" the !ates' * torch was waed aboe the bodies, so the de"enders %pon
the walls mi!ht see the "aces o" the dead'
1The old castellan,3 said Blac$ 7orren'
1(ith 7eobald Tallhart and +le& +erw&n'3 The bo& lord had ta$en an arrow in the e&e,
and Ser Bodri$ had lost his le"t arm at the elbow' 2aester 7%win !ae a wordless cr& o"
disma&, t%rned awa& "rom the battlements, and "ell to his $nees sic$'
1The !reat pi! 2anderl& was too craen to leae (hite ,arbor, or we wo%ld hae
bro%!ht him as well,3 sho%ted Bed ,elm'
I am saed, Theon tho%!ht' So wh& did he "eel so empt&. This was ictor&, sweet
ictor&, the delierance he had pra&ed "or' ,e !lanced at 2aester 7%win' To thin$ how
close I came to &ieldin!, and ta$in! the blac$ ' ' '
1/pen the !ates "or o%r "riends'3 4erhaps toni!ht Theon wo%ld sleep witho%t "ear o"
what his dreams mi!ht brin!'
The #read"ort men made their wa& across the moat and thro%!h the inner !ates' Theon
descended with Blac$ 7orren and 2aester 7%win to meet them in the &ard' 4ale red
permons trailed "rom the ends o" a "ew lances, b%t man& more carried battle-a0es and
!reatswords and shields hac$ed hal" to splinters' 1,ow man& men did &o% lose.3 Theon
as$ed Bed ,elm as he dismo%nted'
1Twent& or thirt&'3 The torchli!ht !littered o"" the chipped enamel o" his isor' ,is
helm and !or!et were wro%!ht in the shape o" a mans "ace and sho%lders, s$inless and
blood&, mo%th open in a silent howl o" an!%ish'
1Ser Bodri$ had &o% "ie-to-one'3
1*&e, b%t he tho%!ht %s "riends' * common mista$e' (hen the old "ool !ae me his
hand, I too$ hal" his arm instead' Then I let him see m& "ace'3 The man p%t both hands
to his helm and li"ted it o"" his head, holdin! it in the croo$ o" his arm'
1Bee$,3 Theon said, dis)%ieted' ,ow did a serin! man !et s%ch "ine armor.
The man la%!hed' 1The wretch is dead'3 ,e stepped closer' 1The !irls "a%lt' I" she had
not r%n so "ar, his horse wo%ld not hae lamed, and we mi!ht hae been able to "lee' I
!ae him mine when I saw the riders "rom the rid!e' I was done with her b& then, and he
li$ed to ta$e his t%rn while the& were still warm' I had to p%ll him o"" her and shoe m&
clothes into his hands-cal"s$in boots and elet do%blet, siler-chased swordbelt, een
m& sable cloa$' Bide "or the #read"ort, I told him, brin! all the help &o% can' Ta$e m&
horse, hes swi"ter, and here, wear the rin! m& "ather !ae me, so the&ll $now &o% came
"rom me' ,ed learned better than to )%estion me' B& the time the& p%t that arrow
thro%!h his bac$, Id smeared m&sel" with the !irls "ilth and dressed in his ra!s' The&
mi!ht hae han!ed me an&wa&, b%t it was the onl& chance I saw'3 ,e r%bbed the bac$ o"
his hand across his mo%th' 1*nd now, m& sweet prince, there was a woman promised
me, i" I bro%!ht two h%ndred men' (ell, I bro%!ht three times as man&, and no !reen
bo&s nor "ieldhands neither, b%t m& "athers own !arrison'3
Theon had !ien his word' This was not the time to "linch' 4a& him his po%nd o" "lesh
and deal with him later' 1,arra!,3 he said, 1!o to the $ennels and brin! 4alla o%t
"or ' ' ' .3
1Bamsa&'3 There was a smile on his pl%mp lips, b%t none in those pale pale e&es'
1Snow, m& wi"e called me be"ore she ate her "in!ers, b%t I sa& Bolton'3 ,is smile
c%rdled' 1So &o%d o""er me a $ennel !irl "or m& !ood serice, is that the wa& o" it.3
There was a tone in his oice Theon did not li$e, no more than he li$ed the insolent
wa& the #read"ort men were loo$in! at him' 1She was what was promised'3
1She smells o" do!shit' Ie had eno%!h o" bad smells, as it happens' I thin$ Ill hae
&o%r bedwarmer instead' (hat do &o% call her. 6&ra.3
1*re &o% mad.3 Theon said an!ril&' 1Ill hae &o%A3
The Bastards bac$hand ca%!ht him s)%are, and his chee$bone shattered with a
sic$enin! cr%nch beneath the lobstered steel' The world anished in a red roar o" pain'
Sometime later, Theon "o%nd himsel" on the !ro%nd' ,e rolled onto his stomach and
swallowed a mo%th"%l o" blood' +lose the !ates@ he tried to sho%t, b%t it was too late'
The #read"ort men had c%t down Bed Bol"e and 6enned, and more were po%rin!
thro%!h, a rier o" mail and sharp swords' There was a rin!in! in his ears, and horror all
aro%nd him' Blac$ 7orren had his sword o%t, b%t there were alread& "o%r o" them
pressin! in on him' ,e saw <l" !o down with a crossbow bolt thro%!h the bell& as he
ran "or the 8reat ,all' 2aester 7%win was tr&in! to reach him when a $ni!ht on a
warhorse planted a spear between his sho%lders, then sw%n! bac$ to ride oer him'
*nother man whipped a torch ro%nd and ro%nd his head and then lo"ted it toward the
thatched roo" o" the stables' 1Sae me the =re&s,3 the Bastard was sho%tin! as the "lames
roared %pward, 1and b%rn the rest' B%rn it, b%rn it all'3
The last thin! Theon 8re&9o& saw was Smiler, $ic$in! "ree o" the b%rnin! stables with
his mane abla?e, screamin!, rearin! ' ' '
C#APT"R ,,
T%RIO'

,e dreamed o" a crac$ed stone ceilin! and the smells o" blood and shit and b%rnt "lesh'
The air was "%ll o" acrid smo$e' 2en were !roanin! and whimperin! all aro%nd him,
and "rom time to time a scream wo%ld pierce the air, thic$ with pain' (hen he tried to
moe, he "o%nd that he had "o%led his own beddin!' The smo$e in the air made his e&es
water' *m I cr&in!. ,e m%st not let his "ather see' ,e was a 7annister o" +asterl& Boc$'
* lion, I m%st be a lion, lie a lion, die a lion' ,e h%rt so m%ch, tho%!h' Too wea$ to
!roan, he la& in his own "ilth and sh%t his e&es' Nearb& someone was c%rsin! the !ods in
a hea&, monotono%s oice' ,e listened to the blasphemies and wondered i" he was
d&in!' *"ter a time the room "aded'
,e "o%nd himsel" o%tside the cit&, wal$in! thro%!h a world witho%t color' Baens
soared thro%!h a !re& s$& on wide blac$ win!s, while carrion crows rose "rom their
"easts in "%rio%s clo%ds whereer he set his steps' (hite ma!!ots b%rrowed thro%!h
blac$ corr%ption' The woles were !re&, and so were the silent sisters: to!ether the&
stripped the "lesh "rom the "allen' There were corpses strewn all oer the to%rne& "ields'
The s%n was a hot white penn&, shinin! down %pon the !re& rier as it r%shed aro%nd the
charred bones o" s%n$en ships' =rom the p&res o" the dead rose blac$ col%mns o" smo$e
and white-hot ashes' 2& wor$, tho%!ht T&rion 7annister' The& died at m& command'
*t "irst there was no so%nd in the world, b%t a"ter a time he be!an to hear the oices o"
the dead, so"t and terrible' The& wept and moaned, the& be!!ed "or an end to pain, the&
cried "or help and wanted their mothers' T&rion had neer $nown his mother' ,e wanted
Shae, b%t she was not there' ,e wal$ed alone amidst !re& shadows, tr&in! to remember '
' '
The silent sisters were strippin! the dead men o" their armor and clothes' *ll the bri!ht
d&es had leached o%t "rom the s%rcoats o" the slain: the& were !arbed in shades o" white
and !re&, and their blood was blac$ and cr%st&' ,e watched their na$ed bodies li"ted b&
arm and le!, to be carried swin!in! to the p&res to 9oin their "ellows' 2etal and cloth
were thrown in the bac$ o" a white wooden wa!on, p%lled b& two tall blac$ horses'
So man& dead, so er& man&' Their corpses h%n! limpl&, their "aces slac$ or sti"" or
swollen with !as, %nreco!ni?able, hardl& h%man' The !arments the sisters too$ "rom
them were decorated with blac$ hearts, !re& lions, dead "lowers, and pale !hostl& sta!s'
Their armor was all dented and !ashed, the chainmail rien, bro$en, slashed' (h& did I
$ill them all. ,e had $nown once, b%t somehow he had "or!otten'
,e wo%ld hae as$ed one o" the silent sisters, b%t when he tried to spea$ he "o%nd he
had no mo%th' Smooth seamless s$in coered his teeth' The discoer& terri"ied him'
,ow co%ld he lie witho%t a mo%th. ,e be!an to r%n' The cit& was not "ar' ,e wo%ld be
sa"e inside the cit&, awa& "rom all these dead' ,e did not belon! with the dead' ,e had
no mo%th, b%t he was still a liin! man' No, a lion, a lion, and alie' B%t when he
reached the cit& walls, the !ates were sh%t a!ainst him'
It was dar$ when he wo$e a!ain' *t "irst he co%ld see nothin!, b%t a"ter a time the
a!%e o%tlines o" a bed appeared aro%nd him' The drapes were drawn, b%t he co%ld see
the shape o" cared bedposts, and the droop o" the elet canop& oer his head' <nder
him was the &ieldin! so"tness o" a "eatherbed, and the pillow beneath his head was !oose
down' 2& own bed, I am in m& own bed, in m& own bedchamber'
It was warm inside the drapes, %nder the !reat heap o" "%rs and blan$ets that coered
him' ,e was sweatin!' =eer, he tho%!ht !ro!!il&' ,e "elt so wea$, and the pain stabbed
thro%!h him when he str%!!led to li"t his hand' ,e !ae %p the e""ort' ,is head "elt
enormo%s, as bi! as the bed, too hea& to raise "rom the pillow' ,is bod& he co%ld
scarcel& "eel at all' ,ow did I come here. ,e tried to remember' The battle came bac$ in
"its and "lashes' The "i!ht alon! the rier, the $ni!ht whod o""ered %p his !a%ntlet, the
brid!e o" ships ' ' '
Ser 2andon' ,e saw the dead empt& e&es, the reachin! hand, the !reen "ire shinin!
a!ainst the white enamel plate' =ear swept oer him in a cold r%sh: beneath the sheets he
co%ld "eel his bladder lettin! !o' ,e wo%ld hae cried o%t, i" hed had a mo%th' No, that
was the dream, he tho%!ht, his head po%ndin!' ,elp me, someone help me' Caime, Shae,
2other, someone ''' T&sha '''
No one heard' No one came' *lone in the dar$, he "ell bac$ into pissscented sleep' ,e
dreamed his sister was standin! oer his bed, with their lord "ather beside her, "rownin!'
It had to be a dream, since 7ord T&win was a tho%sand lea!%es awa&, "i!htin! Bobb
Star$ in the west' /thers came and went as well' >ar&s loo$ed down on him and si!hed,
b%t 7ittle"in!er made a )%ip' Blood& treachero%s bastard, T&rion tho%!ht enomo%sl&,
we sent &o% to Bitterbrid!e and &o% neer came bac$' Sometimes he co%ld hear them
tal$in! to one another, b%t he did not %nderstand the words' Their oices b%??ed in his
ears li$e wasps m%""led in thic$ "elt'
,e wanted to as$ i" the&d won the battle' (e m%st hae, else Id be a head on a spi$e
somewhere' I" I lie, we won' ,e did not $now what pleased him more: the ictor&, or
the "act he had been able to reason it o%t' ,is wits were comin! bac$ to him, howeer
slowl&' That was !ood' ,is wits were all he had'
The ne0t time he wo$e, the draperies had been p%lled bac$, and 4odric$ 4a&ne stood
oer him with a candle' (hen he saw T&rion open his e&es he ran o""' No, dont !o, help
me, help, he tried to call, b%t the best he co%ld do was a m%""led moan' I hae no mo%th'
,e raised a hand to his "ace, his eer& moement pained and "%mblin!' ,is "in!ers
"o%nd sti"" cloth where the& sho%ld hae "o%nd "lesh, lips, teeth' 7inen' The lower hal" o"
his "ace was banda!ed ti!htl&, a mas$ o" hardened plaster with holes "or breathin! and
"eedin!'
* short while later 4od reappeared' This time a stran!er was with him, a maester
chained and robed' 12& lord, &o% m%st be still,3 the man m%rm%red' 1;o% are !rieo%s
h%rt' ;o% will do &o%rsel" !reat in9%r&' *re &o% thirst&.3
,e mana!ed an aw$ward nod' The maester inserted a c%red copper "%nnel thro%!h
the "eedin! hole oer his mo%th and po%red a slow tric$le down his throat' T&rion
swallowed, scarcel& tastin!' Too late he reali?ed the li)%id was mil$ o" the popp&' B&
the time the maester remoed the "%nnel "rom his mo%th, he was alread& spiralin! bac$
to sleep'
This time he dreamed he was at a "east, a ictor& "east in some !reat hall' ,e had a
hi!h seat on the dais, and men were li"tin! their !oblets and hailin! him as hero'
2arillion was there, the sin!er whod 9o%rne&ed with them thro%!h the 2o%ntains o" the
2oon' ,e pla&ed his woodharp and san! o" the imps darin! deeds' 5en his "ather was
smilin! with approal' (hen the son! was oer, Caime rose "rom his place, commanded
T&rion to $neel, and to%ched him "irst on one sho%lder and then on the other with his
!olden sword, and he rose %p a $ni!ht' Shae was waitin! to embrace him' She too$ him
b& the hand, la%!hin! and teasin!, callin! him her !iant o" 7annister'
,e wo$e in dar$ness to a cold empt& room' The draperies had been drawn a!ain'
Somethin! "elt wron!, t%rned aro%nd, tho%!h he co%ld not hae said what' ,e was alone
once more' 4%shin! bac$ the blan$ets, he tried to sit, b%t the pain was too m%ch and he
soon s%bsided, breathin! ra!!edl&' ,is "ace was the least part o" it' ,is ri!ht side was
one h%!e ache, and a stab o" pain went thro%!h his chest wheneer he li"ted his arm'
(hats happened to me. 5en the battle seemed hal" a dream when he tried to thin$
bac$ on it' I was h%rt more badl& than I $new Ser 2andon ' ' '
The memor& "ri!htened him, b%t T&rion made himsel" hold it, t%rn it in his head, stare
at it hard' ,e tried to $ill me, no mista$e' That part was not a dream' ,e wo%ld hae c%t
me in hal" i" 4od had not ' ' ' 4od, wheres 4od.
8rittin! his teeth, he !rabbed hold o" the bed han!in!s and &an$ed' The drapes ripped
"ree o" the canop& oerhead and t%mbled down, hal" on the r%shes and hal" on him' 5en
that small e""ort had di??ied him' The room whirled aro%nd him, all bare walls and dar$
shadows, with a sin!le narrow window' ,e saw a chest hed owned, an %ntid& pile o" his
clothin!, his battered armor' This is not m& bedchamber, he reali?ed' Not een the Tower
o" the ,and' Someone had moed him' ,is sho%t o" an!er came o%t as a m%""led moan'
The& hae moed me here to die, he tho%!ht as he !ae %p the str%!!le and closed his
e&es once more' The room was dan$ and cold, and he was b%rnin!'
,e dreamed o" a better place, a sn%! little cotta!e b& the s%nset sea' The walls were
lopsided and crac$ed and the "loor had been made o" pac$ed earth, b%t he had alwa&s
been warm there, een when the& let the "ire !o o%t' She %sed to tease me abo%t that, he
remembered' I neer tho%!ht to "eed the "ire, that had alwa&s been a serants tas$' 1(e
hae no serants,3 she wo%ld remind me, and I wo%ld sa&, 1;o% hae me, Im &o%r
serant,3 and she wo%ld sa&, 1* la?& serant' (hat do the& do with la?& serants in
+asterl& Boc$, m& lord.3 and he wo%ld tell her, 1The& $iss them'3 That wo%ld alwa&s
ma$e her !i!!le' 1The& do not neither' The& beat them, I bet,3 she wo%ld sa&, b%t he
wo%ld insist, 1No, the& $iss them, 9%st li$e this'3 ,e wo%ld show her how' 1The& $iss
their "in!ers "irst, eer& one, and the& $iss their wrists, &es, and inside their elbows'
Then the& $iss their "%nn& ears, all o%r serants hae "%nn& ears' Stop la%!hin!@ *nd
the& $iss their chee$s and the& $iss their noses with the little b%mp in them, there, so,
li$e that, and the& $iss their sweet brows and their hair and their lips, their ' ' ' mmmm ' '
' mo%ths ' ' ' so ' ' '3
The& wo%ld $iss "or ho%rs, and spend whole da&s doin! no more than lollin! in bed,
listenin! to the waes, and to%chin! each other' ,er bod& was a wonder to him, and she
seemed to "ind deli!ht in his' Sometimes she wo%ld sin! to him' I loed a maid as "air as
s%mmer, with s%nli!ht in her hair' 1I loe &o%, T&rion,3 she wo%ld whisper be"ore the&
went to sleep at ni!ht' 1I loe &o%r lips' I loe &o%r oice, and the words &o% sa& to me,
and how &o% treat me !entle' I loe &o%r "ace'3
12& "ace.3
1;es' ;es' I loe &o%r hands, and how &o% to%ch me' ;o%r coc$, I loe &o%r coc$, I
loe how it "eels when its in me'3
1It loes &o% too, m& lad&'3
1I loe to sa& &o%r name' T&rion 7annister' It !oes with mine' Not the 7annister,
>other part' T&rion and T&sha' T&sha and T&rion' T&rion' 2& lord T&rion ' ' '3
7ies, he tho%!ht, all "ei!ned, all "or !old, she was a whore, Caimes whore, Caimes !i"t,
m& lad& o" the lie' ,er "ace seemed to "ade awa&, dissolin! behind a eil o" tears, b%t
een a"ter she was !one he co%ld still hear the "aint, "ar-o"" so%nd o" her oice, callin!
his name' 12& lord, can &o% hear me. 2& lord. T&rion. 2& lord. 2& lord.3
Thro%!h a ha?e o" poppied sleep, he saw a so"t pin$ "ace leanin! oer him' ,e was
bac$ in the dan$ room with the torn bed han!in!s, and the "ace was wron!, not hers, too
ro%nd, with a brown "rin!e o" beard' 1#o &o% thirst, m& lord. I hae &o%r mil$, &o%r
!ood mil$' ;o% m%st not "i!ht, no, dont tr& to moe, &o% need &o%r rest'3 ,e had the
copper "%nnel in one damp pin$ hand and a "las$ in the other'
*s the man leaned close, T&rions "in!ers slid %nderneath his chain o" man& metals,
!rabbed, p%lled' The maester dropped the "las$, spillin! mil$ o" the popp& all oer the
blan$et' T&rion twisted %ntil he co%ld "eel the lin$s di!!in! into the "lesh o" the mans
"at nec$' 1No' 2ore,3 he croa$ed, so hoarse he was not certain he had een spo$en' B%t
he m%st hae, "or the maester cho$ed o%t a repl&' 1<nhand, please, m& lord ' ' ' need
&o%r mil$, the pain ' ' ' the chain, dont, %nhand, no ' ' '3
The pin$ "ace was be!innin! to p%rple when T&rion let !o' The maester reeled bac$,
s%c$in! in air' ,is reddened throat showed deep white !o%!es where the lin$s had
pressed' ,is e&es were white too' T&rion raised a hand to his "ace and made a rippin!
motion oer the hardened mas$' *nd a!ain' *nd a!ain'
1;o% ' ' ' &o% want the banda!es o"", is that it.3 the maester said at last' 1B%t Im not to
' ' ' that wo%ld be ' ' ' be most %nwise, m& lord' ;o% are not &et healed, the )%een wo%ld '
' '3
The mention o" his sister made T&rion !rowl' *re &o% one o" hers, then. ,e pointed a
"in!er at the maester, then coiled his hand into a "ist' +r%shin!, cho$in!, a promise,
%nless the "ool did as he was bid'
Than$"%ll&, he %nderstood' 1I ' ' ' I will do as m& lord commands, to be s%re, b%t ' ' '
this is %nwise, &o%r wo%nds ' ' '3
1#o' It'3 7o%der that time'
Bowin!, the man le"t the room, onl& to ret%rn a "ew moments later, bearin! a lon!
$ni"e with a slender sawtooth blade, a basin o" water, a pile o" so"t cloths, and seeral
"las$s' B& then T&rion had mana!ed to s)%irm bac$ward a "ew inches, so he was hal"
sittin! a!ainst his pillow' The maester bade him be er& still as he slid the tip o" the
$ni"e in %nder his chin, beneath the mas$' * slip o" the hand here, and +ersei will be "ree
o" me, he tho%!ht' ,e co%ld "eel the blade sawin! thro%!h the sti""ened linen, onl&
inches aboe his throat'
=ort%natel& this so"t pin$ man was not one o" his sisters braer creat%res' *"ter a
moment he "elt cool air on his chee$s' There was pain as well, b%t he did his best to
i!nore that' The maester discarded the banda!es, still cr%st& with potion' 1Be still now, I
m%st wash o%t the wo%nd'3 ,is to%ch was !entle, the water warm and soothin!' The
wo%nd, T&rion tho%!ht, rememberin! a s%dden "lash o" bri!ht siler that seemed to pass
9%st below his e&es' 1This is li$e to stin! some,3 the maester warned as he wet a cloth
with wine that smelled o" cr%shed herbs' It did more than stin!' It traced a line o" "ire all
the wa& across T&rions "ace, and twisted a b%rnin! po$er %p his nose' ,is "in!ers
clawed the bedclothes and he s%c$ed in his breath, b%t somehow he mana!ed not to
scream' The maester was cl%c$in! li$e an old hen' 1It wo%ld hae been wiser to leae
the mas$ in place %ntil the "lesh had $nit, m& lord' Still, it loo$s clean, !ood, !ood'
(hen we "o%nd &o% down in that cellar amon! the dead and d&in!, &o%r wo%nds were
"ilth&' /ne o" &o%r ribs was bro$en, do%btless &o% can "eel it, the blow o" some mace
perhaps, or a "all, its hard to sa&' *nd &o% too$ an arrow in the arm, there where it 9oins
the sho%lder' It showed si!ns o" morti"ication, and "or a time I "eared &o% mi!ht lose the
limb, b%t we treated it with boilin! wine and ma!!ots, and now it seems to be healin!
clean ' ' '3
1Name,3 T&rion breathed %p at him' 1Name'3
The maester blin$ed' 1(h&, &o% are T&rion 7annister, m& lord' Brother to the )%een'
#o &o% remember the battle. Sometimes with head wo%ndsA3
1;o%r name'3 ,is throat was raw, and his ton!%e had "or!otten how to shape the
words'
1I am 2aester Ballabar'3
1Ballabar,3 T&rion repeated' 1Brin! me' 7oo$in! !lass'3
1m& lord,3 the maester said, 1I wo%ld not co%nsel ' ' ' that mi!ht be, ah, %nwise, as it
were ' ' ' &o%r wo%nd ' ' '3
1Brin! it,3 he had to sa&' ,is mo%th was sti"" and sore, as i" a p%nch had split his lip'
1*nd drin$' (ine' No popp&'3
The maester rose "l%sh-"aced and h%rried o""' ,e came bac$ with a "la!on o" pale
amber wine and a small silered loo$in! !lass in an ornate !olden "rame' Sittin! on the
ed!e o" the bed, he po%red hal" a c%p o" wine and held it to T&rions swollen lips' The
tric$le went down cool, tho%!h he co%ld hardl& taste it' 12ore,3 he said when the c%p
was empt&' 2aester Ballabar po%red a!ain' B& the end o" the second c%p, T&rion
7annister "elt stron! eno%!h to "ace his "ace'
,e t%rned oer the !lass, and did not $now whether he o%!ht to la%!h or cr&' The !ash
was lon! and croo$ed, startin! a hair %nder his le"t e&e and endin! on the ri!ht side o"
his 9aw' Three-)%arters o" his nose was !one, and a ch%n$ o" his lip' Someone had sewn
the torn "lesh to!ether with cat!%t, and their cl%ms& stitches were still in place across the
seam o" raw, red, hal"-healed "lesh' 14rett&,3 he croa$ed, "lin!in! the !lass aside'
,e remembered now' The brid!e o" boats, Ser 2andon 2oore, a hand, a sword comin!
at his "ace' I" I had not p%lled bac$, that c%t wo%ld hae ta$en o"" the top o" m& head'
Caime had alwa&s said that Ser 2andon was the most dan!ero%s o" the 6in!s!%ard,
beca%se his dead empt& e&es !ae no hint to his intentions' I sho%ld neer hae tr%sted
an& o" them' ,ed $nown that Ser 2er&n and Ser Boros were his sisters, and Ser
/sm%nd later, b%t he had let himsel" beliee that the others were not wholl& lost to
honor' +ersei m%st hae paid him to see that I neer came bac$ "rom the battle' (h&
else. I neer did Ser 2andon an& harm that I $now o"' T&rion to%ched his "ace, pl%c$in!
at the pro%d "lesh with bl%nt thic$ "in!ers' *nother !i"t "rom m& sweet sister'
The maester stood beside the bed li$e a !oose abo%t to ta$e "li!ht' 12& lord, there,
there will most li$e be a scar ' ' '3
12ost li$e.3 ,is snort o" la%!hter t%rned into a wince o" pain' There wo%ld be a scar,
to be s%re' Nor was it li$el& that his nose wo%ld be !rowin! bac$ an&time soon' It was
not as i" his "ace had eer been "it to loo$ at' 1Teach me, not to, pla& with, a0es'3 ,is
!rin "elt ti!ht' 1(here, are we. (hat, what place.3 It h%rt to tal$, b%t T&rion had been
too lon! in silence'
1*h, &o% are in 2ae!ors ,old"ast, m& lord' * chamber oer the F%eens Ballroom'
,er 8race wanted &o% $ept close, so she mi!ht watch oer &o% hersel"'3
Ill wa!er she did' 1Bet%rn me,3 T&rion commanded' 1/wn bed' /wn chambers'3
(here I will hae m& own men abo%t me, and m& own maester too, i" I "ind one I can
tr%st'
1;o%r own ' ' ' m& lord, that wo%ld not be possible' The 6in!s ,and has ta$en %p
residence in &o%r "ormer chambers'3
1I *m ' ' ' 6in!s ,and'3 ,e was !rowin! e0ha%sted b& the e""ort o" spea$in!, and
con"%sed b& what he was hearin!'
2aester Ballabar loo$ed distressed' 1No, m& lord, I ' ' ' &o% were wo%nded, near death'
;o%r lord "ather has ta$en %p those d%ties now' 7ord T&win, he ' ' '3
1,ere.3
1Since the ni!ht o" the battle' 7ord T&win saed %s all' The small"ol$ sa& it was 6in!
Benl&s !host, b%t wiser men $now better' It was &o%r "ather and 7ord T&rell, with the
6ni!ht o" =lowers and 7ord 7ittle"in!er' The& rode thro%!h the ashes and too$ the
%s%rper Stannis in the rear' It was a !reat ictor&, and now 7ord T&win has settled into
the Tower o" the ,and to help ,is 8race set the realm to ri!hts, !ods be praised'3
18ods be praised,3 T&rion repeated hollowl&' ,is blood& "ather and blood& 7ittle"in!er
and Benl&s !host. 1I want ' ' '3 (ho do I want. ,e co%ld not tell pin$ Ballabar to "etch
him Shae' (ho co%ld he send "or, who co%ld he tr%st. >ar&s. Bronn. Ser Cacel&n. 1' ' '
m& s)%ire,3 he "inished' 14od' 4a&ne'3 It was 4od on the brid!e o" boats, the lad saed
m& li"e'
1The bo&. The odd bo&.3
1/dd bo&' 4odric$' 4a&ne' ;o% !o' Send him'3
1*s &o% will, m& lord'3 2aester Ballabar bobbed his head and h%rried o%t' T&rion
co%ld "eel the stren!th seepin! o%t o" him as he waited' ,e wondered how lon! he had
been here, asleep' +ersei wo%ld hae me sleep "oreer, b%t I wont be so obli!in!'
4odric$ 4a&ne entered the bedchamber timid as a mo%se' 12& lord.3 ,e crept close to
the bed' ,ow can a bo& so bold in battle be so "ri!htened in a sic$room. T&rion
wondered' 1I meant to sta& b& &o%, b%t the maester sent me awa&'3
1Send him awa&' ,ear me' Tal$s hard' Need dreamwine' #reamwine, not mil$ o" the
popp&' 8o to =ren$en' =ren$en, not Ballabar' (atch him ma$e it' Brin! it here'3 4od
stole a !lance at T&rions "ace, and 9%st as )%ic$l& aerted his e&es' (ell, I cannot blame
him "or that' 1I want,3 T&rion went on, 1mine own' 8%ard' Bronn' (heres Bronn.3
1The& made him a $ni!ht'3
5en "rownin! h%rt' 1=ind him' Brin! him'3
1*s &o% sa&' 2& lord' Bronn'3
T&rion sei?ed the lads wrist' 1Ser 2andon.3
The bo& "linched' 1I n-neer meant to $-$-$-$A3
1#ead. ;o%re, certain. #ead.3
,e sh%""led his "eet, sheepish' 1#rowned'3
18ood' Sa& nothin!' /" him' /" me' *n& o" it' Nothin!'3
B& the time his s)%ire le"t, the last o" T&rions stren!th was !one as well' ,e la& bac$
and closed his e&es' 4erhaps he wo%ld dream o" T&sha a!ain' I wonder how shed li$e
m& "ace now, he tho%!ht bitterl&'
C#APT"R ,.
-O'
(hen Fhorin ,al"hand told him to "ind some br%sh "or a "ire, Con $new their end was
near' It will be !ood to "eel warm a!ain, i" onl& "or a little while, he told himsel" while
he hac$ed bare branches "rom the tr%n$ o" a dead tree' 8host sat on his ha%nches
watchin!, silent as eer' (ill he howl "or me when Im dead, as Brans wol" howled
when he "ell. Con wondered' (ill Sha!!&do! howl, "ar o"" in (inter"ell, and 8re& (ind
and N&meria, whereer the& mi!ht be.
The moon was risin! behind one mo%ntain and the s%n sin$in! behind another as Con
str%c$ spar$s "rom "lint and da!!er, %ntil "inall& a wisp o" smo$e appeared' Fhorin came
and stood oer him as the "irst "lame rose %p "lic$erin! "rom the shain!s o" bar$ and
dead dr& pine needles' 1*s sh& as a maid on her weddin! ni!ht,3 the bi! ran!er said in a
so"t oice, 1and near as "air' Sometimes a man "or!ets how prett& a "ire can be'3
,e was not a man &o%d e0pect to spea$ o" maids and weddin! ni!hts' So "ar as Con
$new, Fhorin had spent his whole li"e in the (atch' #id he eer loe a maid or hae a
weddin!. ,e co%ld not as$' Instead he "anned the "ire' (hen the bla?e was all acrac$le,
he peeled o"" his sti"" !loes to warm his hands, and si!hed, wonderin! i" eer a $iss had
"elt as !ood' The warmth spread thro%!h his "in!ers li$e meltin! b%tter'
The ,al"hand eased himsel" to the !ro%nd and sat cross-le!!ed b& the "ire, the
"lic$erin! li!ht pla&in! across the hard planes o" his "ace' /nl& the two o" them
remained o" the "ie ran!ers who had "led the S$irlin! 4ass, bac$ into the bl%e-!re&
wilderness o" the =rost"an!s'
*t "irst Con had n%rsed the hope that S)%ire #albrid!e wo%ld $eep the wildlin!s
bottled %p in the pass' B%t when the&d heard the call o" a "aro"" horn eer& man o" them
$new the s)%ire had "allen' 7ater the& spied the ea!le soarin! thro%!h the d%s$ on !reat
bl%e-!re& win!s and Stonesna$e %nsl%n! his bow, b%t the bird "lew o%t o" ran!e be"ore
he co%ld so m%ch as strin! it' 5bben spat and m%ttered dar$l& o" war!s and
s$inchan!ers'
The& !limpsed the ea!le twice more the da& a"ter, and heard the h%ntin! horn behind
them echoin! a!ainst the mo%ntains' 5ach time it seemed a little lo%der, a little closer'
(hen ni!ht "ell, the ,al"hand told 5bben to ta$e the s)%ires !arron as well as his own,
and ride east "or 2ormont with all haste, bac$ the wa& the& had come' The rest o" them
wo%ld draw o"" the p%rs%it' 1Send Con,3 5bben had %r!ed' 1,e can ride as "ast as me'3
1Con has a di""erent part to pla&'3
1,e is hal" a bo& still'3
1No,3 said Fhorin, 1he is a man o" the Ni!hts (atch'3
(hen the moon rose, 5bben parted "rom them' Stonesna$e went east with him a short
wa&, then do%bled bac$ to obsc%re their trac$s, and the three who remained set o""
toward the so%thwest'
*"ter that the da&s and ni!hts bl%rred one into the other' The& slept in their saddles and
stopped onl& lon! eno%!h to "eed and water the !arrons, then mo%nted %p a!ain' /er
bare roc$ the& rode, thro%!h !loom& pine "orests and dri"ts o" old snow, oer ic& rid!es
and across shallow riers that had no names' Sometimes Fhorin or Stonesna$e wo%ld
loop bac$ to sweep awa& their trac$s, b%t it was a "%tile !est%re' The& were watched' *t
eer& dawn and eer& d%s$ the& saw the ea!le soarin! between the pea$s, no more than
a spec$ in the astness o" the s$&'
The& were scalin! a low rid!e between two snowcapped pea$s when a shadowcat
came snarlin! "rom its lair, not ten &ards awa&' The beast was !a%nt and hal"-stared, b%t
the si!ht o" it sent Stonesna$es mare into a panic: she reared and ran, and be"ore the
ran!er co%ld !et her bac$ %nder control she had st%mbled on the steep slope and bro$en
a le!'
8host ate well that da&, and Fhorin insisted that the ran!ers mi0 some o" the !arrons
blood with their oats, to !ie them stren!th' The taste o" that "o%l porrid!e almost
cho$ed Con, b%t he "orced it down' The& each c%t a do?en strips o" raw strin!& meat
"rom the carcass to chew on as the& rode, and le"t the rest "or the shadowcats'
There was no )%estion o" ridin! do%ble' Stonesna$e o""ered to la& in wait "or the
p%rs%it and s%rprise them when the& came' 4erhaps he co%ld ta$e a "ew o" them with
him down to hell' Fhorin re"%sed' 1i" an& man in the Ni!hts (atch can ma$e it thro%!h
the =rost"an!s alone and a"oot, it is &o%, brother' ;o% can !o oer mo%ntains that a horse
m%st !o aro%nd' 2a$e "or the =ist' Tell 2ormont what Con saw, and how' Tell him that
the old powers are wa$in!, that he "aces !iants and war!s and worse' Tell him that the
trees hae e&es a!ain'3
,e has no chance, Con tho%!ht when he watched Stonesna$e anish oer a snow-
coered rid!e, a tin& blac$ b%! crawlin! across a ripplin! e0panse o" white'
*"ter that, eer& ni!ht seemed colder than the ni!ht be"ore, and more lonel&' 8host
was not alwa&s with them, b%t he was neer "ar either' 5en when the& were apart, Con
sensed his nearness' ,e was !lad "or that' The ,al"hand was not the most
companionable o" men' Fhorins lon! !re& braid sw%n! slowl& with the motion o" his
horse' /"ten the& wo%ld ride "or ho%rs witho%t a word spo$en, the onl& so%nds the so"t
scrape o" horseshoes on stone and the $eenin! o" the wind, which blew endlessl&
thro%!h the hei!hts' (hen he slept, he did not dream: not o" woles, nor his brothers,
nor an&thin!' 5en dreams cannot lie %p here, he told himsel"'
1Is &o%r sword sharp, Con Snow.3 as$ed Fhorin ,al"hand across the "lic$erin! "ire'
12& sword is >al&rian steel' The /ld Bear !ae it to me'3
1#o &o% remember the words o" &o%r ow.3
1;es'3 The& were not words a man was li$e to "or!et' /nce said, the& co%ld neer be
%nsaid' The& chan!ed &o%r li"e "oreer'
1Sa& them a!ain with me, Con Snow'3
1I" &o% li$e'3 Their oices blended as one beneath the risin! moon, while 8host
listened and the mo%ntains themseles bore witness' 1Ni!ht !athers, and now m& watch
be!ins' It shall not end %ntil m& death' I shall ta$e no wi"e, hold no lands, "ather no
children' I shall wear no crowns and win no !lor&' I shall lie and die at m& post' I am
the sword in the dar$ness' I am the watcher on the walls' I am the "ire that b%rns a!ainst
the cold, the li!ht that brin!s the dawn, the horn that wa$es the sleepers, the shield that
!%ards the realms o" men' I pled!e m& li"e and honor to the Ni!hts (atch, "or this ni!ht
and all the ni!hts to come'3
(hen the& were done, there was no so%nd b%t the "aint crac$le o" the "lames and a
distant si!h o" wind' Con opened and closed his b%rnt "in!ers, holdin! ti!ht to the words
in his mind, pra&in! that his "athers !ods wo%ld !ie him the stren!th to die brael&
when his ho%r came' It wo%ld not be lon! now' The !arrons were near the end o" their
stren!th' Fhorins mo%nt wo%ld not last another da&, Con s%spected'
The "lames were b%rnin! low b& then, the warmth "adin!' 1The "ire will soon !o o%t,3
Fhorin said, 1b%t i" the (all sho%ld eer "all, all the "ires will !o o%t'3
There was nothin! Con co%ld sa& to that' ,e nodded'
1(e ma& escape them &et,3 the ran!er said' 1/r not'3
1Im not a"raid to die'3 It was onl& hal" a lie'
1It ma& not be so eas& as that, Con'3
,e did not %nderstand' 1(hat do &o% mean.3
1I" we are ta$en, &o% m%st &ield'3
1;ield.3 ,e blin$ed in disbelie"' The wildlin!s did not ma$e capties o" the men the&
called the crows' The& $illed them, e0cept "or ' ' ' 1The& onl& spare oathbrea$ers' Those
who 9oin them, li$e 2ance Ba&der'3
1*nd &o%'3
1No'3 ,e shoo$ his head' 1Neer' I wont'3
1;o% will' I command it o" &o%'3
1+ommand it. B%t ' ' '3
1/%r honor means no more than o%r lies, so lon! as the realm is sa"e' *re &o% a man
o" the Ni!hts (atch.3
1;es, b%tA3
1There is no b%t, Con Snow' ;o% are, or &o% are not'3
Con sat %p strai!ht' 1I am'3
1Then hear me' I" we are ta$en, &o% will !o oer to them, as the wildlin! !irl &o%
capt%red once %r!ed &o%' The& ma& demand that &o% c%t &o%r cloa$ to ribbons, that &o%
swear them an oath on &o%r "athers !rae, that &o% c%rse &o%r brothers and &o%r 7ord
+ommander' ;o% m%st not bal$, whateer is as$ed o" &o%' #o as the& bid &o% ' ' ' b%t in
&o%r heart, remember who and what &o% are' Bide with them, eat with them, "i!ht with
them, "or as lon! as it ta$es' *nd watch'3
1=or what.3 Con as$ed'
1(o%ld that I $new,3 said Fhorin' 1;o%r wol" saw their di!!in!s in the alle& o" the
2il$water' (hat did the& see$, in s%ch a blea$ and distant place. #id the& "ind it. That
is what &o% m%st learn, be"ore &o% ret%rn to 7ord 2ormont and &o%r brothers' That is
the d%t& I la& on &o%, Con Snow'3
1Ill do as &o% sa&,3 Con said rel%ctantl&, 1b%t ' ' ' &o% will tell them, wont &o%. The
/ld Bear, at least. ;o%ll tell him that I neer bro$e m& oath'3
Fhorin ,al"hand !a?ed at him across the "ire, his e&es lost in pools o" shadow' 1(hen
I see him ne0t' I swear it'3 ,e !est%red at the "ire' 12ore wood' I want it bri!ht and
hot'3
Con went to c%t more branches, snappin! each one in two be"ore tossin! it into the
"lames' The tree had been dead a lon! time, b%t it seemed to lie a!ain in the "ire, as
"ier& dancers wo$e within each stic$ o" wood to whirl and spin in their !lowin! !owns
o" &ellow, red, and oran!e'
15no%!h,3 Fhorin said abr%ptl&' 1Now we ride'3
1Bide.3 It was dar$ be&ond the "ire, and the ni!ht was cold' 1Bide where.3
1Bac$'3 Fhorin mo%nted his wear& !arron one more time' 1The "ire will draw them
past, I hope' +ome, brother'3
Con p%lled on his !loes a!ain and raised his hood' 5en the horses seemed rel%ctant to
leae the "ire' The s%n was lon! !one, and onl& the cold siler shine o" the hal"-moon
remained to li!ht their wa& oer the treachero%s !ro%nd that la& behind them' ,e did not
$now what Fhorin had in mind, b%t perhaps it was a chance' ,e hoped so' I do not want
to pla& the oathbrea$er, een "or !ood reason'
The& went ca%tio%sl&, moin! as silent as man and horse co%ld moe, retracin! their
steps %ntil the& reached the mo%th o" a narrow de"ile where an ic& little stream emer!ed
"rom between two mo%ntains' Con remembered the place' The& had watered the horses
here be"ore the s%n went down'
1The waters icin! %p,3 Fhorin obsered as he t%rned aside, 1else wed ride in the
streambed' B%t i" we brea$ the ice, the& are li$e to see' 6eep close to the cli""s' Theres a
croo$ a hal" mile on that will hide %s'3 ,e rode into the de"ile' Con !ae one last wist"%l
loo$ to their distant "ire, and "ollowed'
The "arther in the& went, the closer the cli""s pressed to either side' The& "ollowed the
moonlit ribbon o" stream bac$ toward its so%rce' Icicles bearded its ston& ban$s, b%t Con
co%ld still hear the so%nd o" r%shin! water beneath the thin hard cr%st'
* !reat 9%mble o" "allen roc$ bloc$ed their wa& partwa& %p, where a section o" the cli""
"ace had "allen, b%t the s%re"ooted little !arrons were able to pic$ their wa& thro%!h'
Be&ond, the walls pinched in sharpl&, and the stream led them to the "oot o" a tall
twistin! water"all' The air was "%ll o" mist, li$e the breath o" some ast cold beast' The
t%mblin! waters shone siler in the moonli!ht' Con loo$ed abo%t in disma&' There is no
wa& o%t' ,e and Fhorin mi!ht be able to climb the cli""s, b%t not with the horses' ,e did
not thin$ the& wo%ld last lon! a"oot'
1F%ic$l& now,3 the ,al"hand commanded' The bi! man on the small horse rode oer
the ice-slic$ stones, ri!ht into the c%rtain o" water, and anished' (hen he did not
reappear, Con p%t his heels into his horse and went a"ter' ,is !arron did his best to sh&
awa&' The "allin! water slapped at them with "ro?en "ists, and the shoc$ o" the cold
seemed to stop Cons breath'
Then he was thro%!h: drenched and shierin!, b%t thro%!h'
The cle"t in the roc$ was barel& lar!e eno%!h "or man and horse to pass, b%t be&ond,
the walls opened %p and the "loor t%rned to so"t sand' Con co%ld "eel the spra& "ree?in! in
his beard' 8host b%rst thro%!h the water"all in an an!r& r%sh, shoo$ droplets "rom his
"%r, sni""ed at the dar$ness s%spicio%sl&, then li"ted a le! a!ainst one roc$& wall' Fhorin
had alread& dismo%nted' Con did the same' 1;o% $new this place was here'3
1(hen I was no older than &o%, I heard a brother tell how he "ollowed a shadowcat
thro%!h these "alls'3 ,e %nsaddled his horse, remoed her bit and bridle, and ran his
"in!ers thro%!h her sha!!& mane' 1There is a wa& thro%!h the heart o" the mo%ntain'
+ome dawn, i" the& hae not "o%nd %s, we will press on' The "irst watch is mine,
brother'3 Fhorin seated himsel" on the sand, his bac$ to a wall, no more than a a!%e
blac$ shadow in the !loom o" the cae' /er the r%sh o" "allin! waters, Con heard a so"t
so%nd o" steel on leather that co%ld onl& mean that the ,al"hand had drawn his sword'
,e too$ o"" his wet cloa$, b%t it was too cold and damp here to strip down an& "%rther'
8host stretched o%t beside him and lic$ed his !loe be"ore c%rlin! %p to sleep' Con was
!rate"%l "or his warmth' ,e wondered i" the "ire was still b%rnin! o%tside, or i" it had
!one o%t b& now' I" the (all sho%ld eer "all, all the "ires will !o o%t' The moon shone
thro%!h the c%rtain o" "allin! water to la& a shimmerin! pale stripe across the sand, b%t
a"ter a time that too "aded and went dar$'
Sleep came at last, and with it ni!htmares' ,e dreamed o" b%rnin! castles and dead
men risin! %n)%iet "rom their !raes' It was still dar$ when Fhorin wo$e him' (hile the
,al"hand slept, Con sat with his bac$ to the cae wall, listenin! to the water and waitin!
"or the dawn'
*t brea$ o" da&, the& each chewed a hal"-"ro?en strip o" horsemeat, then saddled their
!arrons once a!ain, and "astened their blac$ cloa$s aro%nd their sho%lders' #%rin! his
watch the ,al"hand had made a hal"do?en torches, soa$in! b%ndles o" dr& moss with the
oil he carried in his saddleba!' ,e lit the "irst one now and led the wa& down into the
dar$, holdin! the pale "lame %p be"ore him' Con "ollowed with the horses' The ston& path
twisted and t%rned, "irst down, then %p, then down more steepl&' In spots it !rew so
narrow it was hard to conince the !arrons the& co%ld s)%ee?e thro%!h' B& the time we
come o%t we will hae lost them, he told himsel" as the& went' Not een an ea!le can see
thro%!h solid stone' (e will hae lost them, and we will ride hard "or the =ist, and tell
the /ld Bear all we $now ' ' '
B%t when the& emer!ed bac$ into the li!ht lon! ho%rs later, the ea!le was waitin! "or
them, perched on a dead tree a h%ndred "eet %p the slope' 8host went bo%ndin! %p the
roc$s a"ter it, b%t the bird "lapped its win!s and too$ to the air'
Fhorins mo%th ti!htened as he "ollowed its "li!ht with his e&es'
1,ere is as !ood a place as an& to ma$e a stand,3 he declared' 1The mo%th o" the cae
shelters %s "rom aboe, and the& cannot !et behind %s witho%t passin! thro%!h the
mo%ntain' Is &o%r sword sharp, Con Snow.3
1;es,3 he said'
1(ell "eed the horses' The&e sered %s brael&, poor beasts'3
Con !ae his !arron the last o" the oats and stro$ed his sha!!& mane while 8host
prowled restlessl& amon!st the roc$s' ,e p%lled his !loes on ti!hter and "le0ed his
b%rnt "in!ers' I am the shield that !%ards the realms o" men'
* h%ntin! horn echoed thro%!h the mo%ntains, and a moment later Con heard the
ba&in! o" ho%nds' 1The& will be with %s soon,3 anno%nced Fhorin' 16eep &o%r wol" in
hand'3
18host, to me,3 Con called' The direwol" ret%rned rel%ctantl& to his side, tail held
sti""l& behind him'
The wildlin!s came boilin! oer a rid!e not hal" a mile awa&' Their ho%nds ran be"ore
them, snarlin! !re&-brown beasts with more than a little wol" in their blood' 8host bared
his teeth, his "%r bristlin!' 15as&,3 Con m%rm%red' 1Sta&'3 /erhead he heard a r%stle o"
win!s' The ea!le landed on an o%tcrop o" roc$ and screamed in tri%mph'
The h%nters approached waril&, perhaps "earin! arrows' Con co%nted "o%rteen, with
ei!ht do!s' Their lar!e ro%nd shields were made o" s$ins stretched oer woen wic$er
and painted with s$%lls' *bo%t hal" o" them hid their "aces behind cr%de helms o" wood
and boiled leather' /n either win!, archers notched sha"ts to the strin!s o" small wood-
and-horn bows, b%t did not loose' The rest seemed to be armed with spears and ma%ls'
/ne had a chipped stone a0e' The& wore onl& what bits o" armor the& had looted "rom
dead ran!ers or stolen d%rin! raids' (ildlin!s did not mine or smelt, and there were "ew
smiths and "ewer "or!es north o" the (all'
Fhorin drew his lon!sword' The tale o" how he had ta%!ht himsel" to "i!ht with his le"t
hand a"ter losin! hal" o" his ri!ht was part o" his le!end: it was said that he handled a
blade better now than he eer had be"ore' Con stood sho%lder to sho%lder with the bi!
ran!er and p%lled 7on!claw "rom its sheath' #espite the chill in the air, sweat st%n! his
e&es'
Ten &ards below the cae mo%th the h%nters halted' Their leader came on alone, ridin!
a beast that seemed more !oat than horse, "rom the s%re"ooted wa& it climbed the %neen
slope' *s man and mo%nt !rew nearer Con co%ld hear them clatterin!: both were armored
in bones' +ow bones, sheep bones, the bones o" !oats and a%rochs and el$, the !reat
bones o" the hair& mammoths ' ' ' and h%man bones as well'
1Battleshirt,3 Fhorin called down, ic&-polite'
1To crows I be the 7ord o Bones'3 The riders helm was made "rom the bro$en s$%ll
o" a !iant, and all %p and down his arms bearclaws had been sewn to his boiled leather'
Fhorin snorted' 1I see no lord' /nl& a do! dressed in chic$enbones, who rattles when
he rides'3
The wildlin! hissed in an!er, and his mo%nt reared' ,e did rattle, Con co%ld hear it: the
bones were str%n! to!ether loosel&, so the& clac$ed and clattered when he moed' 1Its
&o%r bones Ill be rattlin! soon, ,al"hand' Ill boil the "lesh o"" &o% and ma$e a b&rnie
"rom &o%r ribs' Ill care &o%r teeth to cast me r%nes, and eat me oaten porrid!e "rom
&o%r s$%ll'3
1I" &o% want m& bones, come !et them'3
That, Battleshirt seemed rel%ctant to do' ,is n%mbers meant little in the close con"ines
o" the roc$s where the blac$ brothers had ta$en their stand: to win$le them o%t o" the
cae the wildlin!s wo%ld need to come %p two at a time' B%t another o" his compan&
ed!ed a horse %p beside him, one o" the "i!htin! women called spearwies' 1(e are
"o%r-and-ten to two, crows, and ei!ht do!s to &o%r wol",3 she called' 1=i!ht or r%n, &o%
are o%rs'3
1Show them,3 commanded Battleshirt'
The woman reached into a bloodstained sac$ and drew o%t a troph&' 5bben had been
bald as an e!!, so she dan!led the head b& an ear' 1,e died brae,3 she said'
1B%t he died,3 said Battleshirt, 1same li$e &o%'3 ,e "reed his battlea0e, brandishin! it
aboe his head' 8ood steel it was, with a wic$ed !leam to both blades: 5bben was neer
a man to ne!lect his weapons' The other wildlin!s crowded "orward beside him, &ellin!
ta%nts' * "ew chose Con "or their moc$er&' 1Is that &o%r wol", bo&.3 a s$inn& &o%th
called, %nlimberin! a stone "lail' 1,ell be m& cloa$ be"ore the s%n is down'3 /n the
other side o" the line, another spearwi"e opened her ra!!ed "%rs to show Con a hea&
white breast' 1#oes the bab& want his momma. +ome, hae a s%c$ o this, bo&'3 The
do!s were bar$in! too'
1The& wo%ld shame %s into "oll&'3 Fhorin !ae Con a lon! loo$' 1Bemember &o%r
orders'3
1Beli$e we need to "l%sh the crows,3 Battleshirt bellowed oer the clamor' 1=eather
them@3
1No@3 The word b%rst "rom Cons lips be"ore the bowmen co%ld loose' ,e too$ two
)%ic$ steps "orward' 1(e &ield@3
1The& warned me bastard blood was craen,3 he heard Fhorin ,al"hand sa& coldl&
behind him' 1I see it is so' B%n to &o%r new masters, coward'3
=ace reddenin!, Con descended the slope to where Battleshirt sat his horse' The
wildlin! stared at him thro%!h the e&eholes o" his helm, and said, 1The "ree "ol$ hae no
need o" craens'3
1,e is no craen'3 /ne o" the archers p%lled o"" her sewn sheeps$in helm and shoo$
o%t a head o" sha!!& red hair' 1This is the Bastard o (inter"ell, who spared me' 7et him
lie'3
Con met ;!rittes e&es, and had no words'
17et him die,3 insisted the 7ord o" Bones' 1The blac$ crow is a tric$s& bird' I tr%st him
not'3
/n a roc$ aboe them, the ea!le "lapped its win!s and split the air with a scream o"
"%r&'
1The bird hates &o%, Con Snow,3 said ;!ritte' 1*nd well he mi!ht' ,e was a man,
be"ore &o% $illed him'3
1I did not $now,3 said Con tr%th"%ll&, tr&in! to remember the "ace o" the man he had
slain in the pass' 1;o% told me 2ance wo%ld ta$e me'3
1*nd he will,3 ;!ritte said'
12ance is not here,3 said Battleshirt' 1Ba!w&le, !%t him'3
The bi! spearwi"e narrowed her e&es and said, 1I" the crow wo%ld 9oin the "ree "ol$, let
him show %s his prowess and proe the tr%th o" him'3
1Ill do whateer &o% as$'3 The words came hard, b%t Con said them'
Battleshirts bone armor clattered lo%dl& as he la%!hed' 1Then $ill the ,al"hand,
bastard'3
1*s i" he co%ld,3 said Fhorin' 1T%rn, Snow, and die'3
*nd then Fhorins sword was comin! at him and somehow 7on!claw leapt %pward to
bloc$' The "orce o" impact almost $noc$ed the bastard blade "rom Cons hand, and sent
him sta!!erin! bac$ward' ;o% m%st not bal$, whateer is as$ed o" &o%' ,e shi"ted to a
two-hand !rip, )%ic$ eno%!h to delier a stro$e o" his own, b%t the bi! ran!er br%shed it
aside with contempt%o%s ease' Bac$ and "orth the& went, blac$ cloa$s swirlin!, the
&o%ths )%ic$ness a!ainst the saa!e stren!th o" Fhorins le"t-hand c%ts' The ,al"hands
lon!sword seemed to be eer&where at once, rainin! down "rom one side and then the
other, driin! him where he wo%ld, $eepin! him o"" balance' *lread& he co%ld "eel his
arms !rowin! n%mb'
5en when 8hosts teeth closed saa!el& aro%nd the ran!ers cal", somehow Fhorin
$ept his "eet' B%t in that instant, as he twisted, the openin! was there' Con planted and
pioted' The ran!er was leanin! awa&, and "or an instant it seemed that Cons slash had
not to%ched him' Then a strin! o" red tears appeared across the bi! mans throat, bri!ht
as a r%b& nec$lace, and the blood !%shed o%t o" him, and Fhorin ,al"hand "ell'
8hosts m%??le was drippin! red, b%t onl& the point o" the bastard blade was stained,
the last hal" inch' Con p%lled the direwol" awa& and $nelt with one arm aro%nd him' The
li!ht was alread& "adin! in Fhorins e&es' 1' ' ' sharp,3 he said, li"tin! his maimed
"in!ers' Then his hand "ell, and he was !one'
,e $new, he tho%!ht n%mbl&' ,e $new what the& wo%ld as$ o" me'
,e tho%!ht o" Samwell Tarl& then, o" 8renn and #oloro%s 5dd, o" 4&p and Toad bac$
at +astle Blac$' ,ad he lost them all, as he had lost Bran and Bic$on and Bobb. (ho
was he now. (hat was he.
18et him %p'3 Bo%!h hands dra!!ed him to his "eet' Con did not resist' 1#o &o% hae a
name.3
;!ritte answered "or him' 1,is name is Con Snow' ,e is 5ddard Star$s blood, o"
(inter"ell'3
Ba!w&le la%!hed' 1(ho wo%ld hae tho%!ht it. Fhorin ,al"hand slain b& some
lordlin!s b&blow'3
18%t him'3 That was Battleshirt, still ahorse' The ea!le "lew to him and perched atop
his bon& helm, screechin!'
1,e &ielded,3 ;!ritte reminded them'
1*&e, and slew his brother,3 said a short homel& man in a r%st-eaten iron hal""ielm'
Battleshirt rode closer, bones clatterin!' 1The wol" did his wor$ "or him' It were "o%ll&
done' The ,al"hands death was mine'3
1(e all saw how ea!er &o% were to ta$e it,3 moc$ed Ba!w&le'
1,e is a war!,3 said the 7ord o" Bones, 1and a crow' I li$e him not'3
1* war! he ma& be,3 ;!ritte said, 1b%t that has neer "ri!htened %s'3 /thers sho%ted
a!reement' Behind the e&eholes o" his &ellowed s$%ll Battleshirts stare was mali!nant,
b%t he &ielded !r%d!in!l&' These are a "ree "ol$ indeed, tho%!ht Con'
The& b%rned Fhorin ,al"hand where hed "allen, on a p&re made o" pine needles,
br%sh, and bro$en branches' Some o" the wood was still !reen, and it b%rned slow and
smo$&, sendin! a blac$ pl%me %p into the bri!ht hard bl%e o" the s$&' *"terward
Battleshirt claimed some charred bones, while the others threw dice "or the ran!ers
!ear' ;!ritte won his cloa$'
1(ill we ret%rn b& the S$irlin! 4ass.3 Con as$ed her' ,e did not $now i" he co%ld "ace
those hei!hts a!ain, or i" his !arron co%ld s%rie a second crossin!'
1No,3 she said' 1Theres nothin! behind %s'3 The loo$ she !ae him was sad' 1B& now
2ance is well down the 2il$water, marchin! on &o%r (all'3
C#APT"R ,/
*RA'
The ashes "ell li$e a so"t !re& snow'
,e padded oer dr& needles and brown leaes, to the ed!e o" the wood where the pines
!rew thin' Be&ond the open "ields he co%ld see the !reat piles o" man-roc$ star$ a!ainst
the swirlin! "lames' The wind blew hot and rich with the smell o" blood and b%rnt meat,
so stron! he be!an to slaer'
;et as one smell drew them onward, others warned them bac$' ,e sni""ed at the
dri"tin! smo$e' 2en, man& men, man& horses, and "ire, "ire, "ire' No smell was more
dan!ero%s, not een the hard cold smell o" iron, the st%"" o" manclaws and hards$in' The
smo$e and ash clo%ded his e&es, and in the s$& he saw a !reat win!ed sna$e whose roar
was a rier o" "lame' ,e bared his teeth, b%t then the sna$e was !one' Behind the cli""s
tall "ires were eatin! %p the stars'
*ll thro%!h the ni!ht the "ires crac$led, and once there was a !reat roar and a crash
that made the earth 9%mp %nder his "eet' #o!s bar$ed and whined and horses screamed
in terror' ,owls sh%ddered thro%!h the ni!ht: the howls o" the man-pac$, wails o" "ear
and wild sho%ts, la%!hter and screams' No beast was as nois& as man' ,e pric$ed %p his
ears and listened, and his brother !rowled at eer& so%nd' The& prowled %nder the trees
as a pine& wind blew ashes and embers thro%!h the s$&' In time the "lames be!an to
dwindle, and then the& were !one' The s%n rose !re& and smo$& that mornin!' /nl& then
did he leae the trees, stal$in! slow across the "ields' ,is brother ran with him, drawn to
the smell o" blood and death' The& padded silent thro%!h the dens the men had b%ilt o"
wood and !rass and m%d' 2an& and more were b%rned and man& and more were
collapsed: others stood as the& had be"ore' ;et nowhere did the& see or scent a liin!
man' +rows blan$eted the bodies and leapt into the air screechin! when his brother and
he came near' The wild do!s sl%n$ awa& be"ore them'
Beneath the !reat !re& cli""s a horse was d&in! noisil&, str%!!lin! to rise on a bro$en
le! and screamin! when he "ell' ,is brother circled ro%nd him, then tore o%t his throat
while the horse $ic$ed "eebl& and rolled his e&es' (hen he approached the carcass his
brother snapped at him and laid bac$ his ears, and he c%""ed him with a "orepaw and bit
his le!' The& "o%!ht amidst the !rass and dirt and "allin! ashes beside the dead horse,
%ntil his brother rolled on his bac$ in s%bmission, tail t%c$ed low' /ne more bite at his
%pt%rned throat: then he "ed, and let his brother "eed, and lic$ed the blood o"" his blac$
"%r'
The dar$ place was p%llin! at him b& then, the ho%se o" whispers where all men were
blind' ,e co%ld "eel its cold "in!ers on him' The ston& smell o" it was a whisper %p the
nose' ,e str%!!led a!ainst the p%ll' ,e did not li$e the dar$ness' ,e was wol"' ,e was
h%nter and stal$er and sla&er, and he belon!ed with his brothers and sisters in the deep
woods, r%nnin! "ree beneath a starr& s$&' ,e sat on his ha%nches, raised his head, and
howled' I will not !o, he cried' I am wol", I will not !o' ;et een so the dar$ness
thic$ened, %ntil it coered his e&es and "illed his nose and stopped his ears, so he co%ld
not see or smell or hear or r%n, and the !re& cli""s were !one and the dead horse was
!one and his brother was !one and all was blac$ and still and blac$ and cold and blac$
and dead and blac$ ' ' '
1Bran,3 a oice was whisperin! so"tl&' 1Bran, come bac$' +ome bac$ now, Bran'
Bran ' ' '3
,e closed his third e&e and opened the other two, the old two, the blind two' In the
dar$ place all men were blind' B%t someone was holdin! him' ,e co%ld "eel arms
aro%nd him, the warmth o" a bod& sn%!!led close' ,e co%ld hear ,odor sin!in! 1,odor,
hodor, hodor,3 )%ietl& to himsel"'
1Bran.3 It was 2eeras oice' 1;o% were thrashin!, ma$in! terrible noises' (hat did
&o% see.3
1(inter"ell'3 ,is ton!%e "elt stran!e and thic$ in his mo%th' /ne da& when I come
bac$ I wont $now how to tal$ an&more' 1It was (inter"ell' It was all on "ire' There
were horse smells, and steel, and blood' The& $illed eer&one, 2eera'3
,e "elt her hand on his "ace, stro$in! bac$ his hair' 1;o%re all sweat&,3 she said' 1#o
&o% need a drin$.3
1* drin$,3 he a!reed' She held a s$in to his lips, and Bran swallowed so "ast the water
ran o%t o" the corner o" his mo%th' ,e was alwa&s wea$ and thirst& when he came bac$'
*nd h%n!r& too' ,e remembered the d&in! horse, the taste o" blood in his mo%th, the
smell o" b%rnt "lesh in the mornin! air' 1,ow lon!.3
1Three da&s,3 said Co9en' The bo& had come %p so"t"oot, or perhaps he had been there
all alon!: in this blind blac$ world, Bran co%ld not hae said' 1(e were a"raid "or &o%'3
1I was with S%mmer,3 Bran said'
1Too lon!' ;o%ll stare &o%rsel"' 2eera dribbled a little water down &o%r throat, and
we smeared hone& on &o%r mo%th, b%t it is not eno%!h'3
1I ate,3 said Bran' 1(e ran down an el$ and had to drie o"" a treecat that tried to steal
him'3 The cat had been tan-and-brown, onl& hal" the si?e o" the direwoles, b%t "ierce'
,e remembered the m%s$& smell o" him, and the wa& he had snarled down at them "rom
the limb o" the oa$'
1The wol" ate,3 Co9en said' 1Not &o%' Ta$e care, Bran' Bemember who &o% are'3
,e remembered who he was all too well: Bran the bo&, Bran the bro$en' Better Bran
the beastlin!' (as it an& wonder he wo%ld sooner dream his S%mmer dreams, his wol"
dreams. ,ere in the chill damp dar$ness o" the tomb his third e&e had "inall& opened'
,e co%ld reach S%mmer wheneer he wanted, and once he had een to%ched 8host and
tal$ed to Con' Tho%!h ma&be he had onl& dreamed that' ,e co%ld not %nderstand wh&
Co9en was alwa&s tr&in! to p%ll him bac$ now' Bran %sed the stren!th o" his arms to
s)%irm to a sittin! position' 1I hae to tell /sha what I saw' Is she here. (here did she
!o.3
The wildlin! woman hersel" !ae answer' 1Nowhere, mlord' Ie had m& "ill o
bl%nderin! in the blac$'3 ,e heard the scrape o" a heel on stone, t%rned his head toward
the so%nd, b%t saw nothin!' ,e tho%!ht he co%ld smell her, b%t he wasnt s%re' *ll o"
them stan$ ali$e, and he did not hae S%mmers nose to tell one "rom the other' 17ast
ni!ht I pissed on a $in!s "oot,3 /sha went on' 12i!ht be it was mornin!, who can sa&.
I was sleepin!, b%t now Im not'3 The& all slept a lot, not onl& Bran' There was nothin!
else to do, Sleep and eat and sleep a!ain, and sometimes tal$ a little ' ' ' b%t not too
m%ch, and onl& in whispers, 9%st to be sa"e' /sha mi!ht hae li$ed it better i" the& had
neer tal$ed at all, b%t there was no wa& to )%iet Bic$on, or to stop ,odor "rom
m%tterin!, 1,odor, hodor, hodor,3 endlessl& to himsel"'
1/sha,3 Bran said, 1I saw (inter"ell b%rnin!'3 /"" to his le"t, he co%ld hear the so"t
so%nd o" Bic$ons breathin!'
1* dream,3 said /sha'
1* wol" dream,3 said Bran' 1I smelled it too' Nothin! smells li$e "ire, or blood'3
1(hose blood.3
12en, horses, do!s, eer&one' (e hae to !o see'3
1This scrawn& s$in o" mines the onl& one I !ot,3 said /sha' 1That s)%id prince
catches hold o me, the&ll strip it o"" m& bac$ with a whip'3
2eeras hand "o%nd Brans in the dar$ness and !ae his "in!ers a s)%ee?e' 1Ill !o i"
&o%re a"raid'3
Bran heard "in!ers "%mblin! at leather, "ollowed b& the so%nd o" steel on "lint' Then
a!ain' * spar$ "lew, ca%!ht' /sha blew so"tl&' * lon! pale "lame awo$e, stretchin!
%pward li$e a !irl on her toes' /shas "ace "loated aboe it' She to%ched the "lame with
the head o" a torch' Bran had to s)%int as the pitch be!an to b%rn, "illin! the world with
oran!e !lare' The li!ht wo$e Bic$on, who sat %p &awnin!'
(hen the shadows moed, it loo$ed "or an instant as i" the dead were risin! as well'
7&anna and Brandon, 7ord Bic$ard Star$ their "ather, 7ord 5dw&le his "ather, 7ord
(illam and his brother *rtos the Implacable, 7ord #onnor and 7ord Beron and 7ord
Bodwell, one-e&ed 7ord 9onnel, 7ord Barth and 7ord Brandon and 7ord +re!an who
had "o%!ht the #ra!on$ni!ht' /n their stone chairs the& sat with stone woles at their
"eet' This was where the& came when the warmth had seeped o%t o" their bodies: this
was the dar$ hall o" the dead, where the liin! "eared to tread'
*nd in the mo%th o" the empt& tomb that waited "or 7ord 5ddard Star$, beneath his
statel& !ranite li$eness, the si0 "%!ities h%ddled ro%nd their little cache o" bread and
water and dried meat' 17ittle eno%!h le"t,3 /sha m%ttered as she blin$ed down on their
stores' 1Id need to !o %p soon to steal "ood in an& case, or wed be down to eatin!
,odor'3
1,odor,3 ,odor said, !rinnin! at her'
1Is it da& or ni!ht %p there.3 /sha wondered' 1Ie lost all co%nt o s%ch'3
1#a&,3 Bran told her, 1b%t its dar$ "rom all the smo$e'3
12lord is certain.3
Neer moin! his bro$en bod&, he reached o%t all the same, and "or an instant he was
seein! do%ble' There stood /sha holdin! the torch, and 2eera and 9o9en and ,odor, and
the do%ble row o" tall !ranite pillars and lon! dead lords behind them stretchin! awa&
into dar$ness ' ' ' b%t there was (inter"ell as well, !re& with dri"tin! smo$e, the massie
oa$-and-iron !ates charred and as$ew, the drawbrid!e down in a tan!le o" bro$en chains
and missin! plan$s' Bodies "loated in the moat, islands "or the crows'
1+ertain,3 he declared'
/sha chewed on that a moment' 1Ill ris$ a loo$ then' I want the lot o &o% close
behind' 2eera, !et Brans bas$et'3
1*re we !oin! home.3 Bic$on as$ed e0citedl&' 1I want m& horse' *nd I want
appleca$es and b%tter and hone&, and Sha!!&' *re we !oin! where Sha!!&do! is.3
1;es,3 Bran promised, 1b%t &o% hae to be )%iet'3
2eera strapped the wic$er bas$et to ,odors bac$ and helped li"t Bran into it, easin!
his %seless le!s thro%!h the holes' ,e had a )%eer "l%tter in his bell&' ,e $new what
awaited them aboe, b%t that did not ma$e it an& less "ear"%l' *s the& set o"", he t%rned
to !ie his "ather one last loo$, and it seemed to Bran that there was a sadness in 7ord
5ddards e&es, as i" he did not want them to !o' (e hae to, he tho%!ht' Its time'
/sha carried her lon! oa$en spear in one hand and the torch in the other' * na$ed
sword h%n! down her bac$, one o" the last to bear 2i$$ens mar$' ,e had "or!ed it "or
7ord 5ddards tomb, to $eep his !host at rest' B%t with 2i$$en slain and the ironmen
!%ardin! the armor&, !ood steel had been hard to resist, een i" it meant !rae-robbin!'
2eera had claimed 7ord Bic$ards blade, tho%!h she complained that it was too hea&'
Brandon too$ his namesa$es, the sword made "or the %ncle he had neer $nown' ,e
$new he wo%ld not be m%ch %se in a "i!ht, b%t een so the blade "elt !ood in his hand'
B%t it was onl& a !ame, and Bran $new it'
Their "ootsteps echoed thro%!h the caerno%s cr&pts' The shadows behind them
swallowed his "ather as the shadows ahead retreated to %neil other stat%es: no mere
lords, these, b%t the old 6in!s in the North' /n their brows the& wore stone crowns'
Torrhen Star$, the 6in! (ho 6nelt' 5dw&n the Sprin! 6in!' Theon Star$, the ,%n!r&
(ol"' Brandon the B%rner and Brandon the Shipwri!ht' Corah and 9onos, Brandon the
Bad, (alton the 2oon 6in!, 5dderion the Bride!room, 5&ron, Ben9en the Sweet and
Ben9en the Bitter, 6in! 5dric$ Snowbeard' Their "aces were stern and stron!, and some
o" them had done terrible thin!s, b%t the& were Star$s eer& one, and Bran $new all their
tales' ,e had neer "eared the cr&pts: the& were part o" his home and who he was, and he
had alwa&s $nown that one da& he wo%ld lie here too'
B%t now he was not so certain' I" I !o %p, will I eer come bac$ down. (here will I !o
when I die.
1(ait,3 /sha said when the& reached the twistin! stone stairs that led %p to the s%r"ace,
and down to the deeper leels where $in!s more ancient still sat their dar$ thrones' She
handed 2eera the torch' 1Ill !rope m& wa& %p'3 =or a time the& co%ld hear the so%nd o"
her "oot"alls, b%t the& !rew so"ter and so"ter %ntil the& "aded awa& entirel&' 1,odor,3
said ,odor nero%sl&'
Bran had told himsel" a h%ndred times how m%ch he hated hidin! down here in the
dar$, how m%ch he wanted to see the s%n a!ain, to ride his horse thro%!h wind and rain'
B%t now that the moment was %pon him, he was a"raid' ,ed "elt sa"e in the dar$ness:
when &o% co%ld not een "ind &o%r own hand in "ront o" &o%r "ace, it was eas& to beliee
that no enemies co%ld eer "ind &o% either' *nd the stone lords had !ien him co%ra!e'
5en when he co%ld not see them, he had $nown the& were there'
It seemed a lon! while be"ore the& heard an&thin! a!ain' Bran had be!%n to "ear that
somethin! had happened to /sha' ,is brother was s)%irmin! restlessl&' 1I want to !o
home@3 he said lo%dl&' ,odor bobbed his head and said, 1,odor'3 Then the& heard the
"ootsteps a!ain, !rowin! lo%der, and a"ter a "ew min%tes /sba emer!ed into the li!ht,
loo$in! !rim' 1Somethin! is bloc$in! the door' I cant moe it'3
1,odor can moe an&thin!,3 said Bran'
/sha !ae the h%!e stablebo& an appraisin! loo$' 12i!ht be he can' +ome on, then'3
The steps were narrow, so the& had to climb in sin!le "ile' /sha led' Behind came
,odor, with Bran cro%ched low on his bac$ so his head wo%ldnt hit the ceilin!' 2eera
"ollowed with the torch, and Co9en bro%!ht %p the rear, leadin! Bic$on b& the hand'
*ro%nd and aro%nd the& went, and %p and %p' Bran tho%!ht he co%ld smell smo$e now,
b%t perhaps that was onl& the torch'
The door to the cr&pts was made o" ironwood' It was old and hea&, and la& at a slant
to the !ro%nd' /nl& one person co%ld approach it at a time' /sha tried once more when
she reached it, b%t Bran co%ld see that it was not b%d!in!' 17et ,odor tr&'3
The& had to p%ll Bran "rom his bas$et "irst, so he wo%ld not !et s)%ished' 2eera
s)%atted beside him on the steps, one arm thrown protectiel& across his sho%lders, as
/sha and ,odor traded places' 1/pen the door, ,odor,3 Bran said'
The h%!e stablebo& p%t both hands "lat on the door, p%shed, and !r%nted' 1,odor.3 ,e
slammed a "ist a!ainst the wood, and it did not so m%ch as 9%mp' 1,odor'3
1<se &o%r bac$,3 %r!ed Bran' 1*nd &o%r le!s'3
T%rnin!, ,odor p%t his bac$ to the wood and shoed' *!ain' *!ain' 1,odor@3 ,e p%t
one "oot on a hi!her step so he was bent %nder the slant o" the door and tried to rise' This
time the wood !roaned and crea$ed' 1,odor@3 The other "oot came %p a step, and ,odor
spread his le!s apart, braced, and strai!htened' ,is "ace t%rned red, and Bran co%ld see
cords in his nec$ b%l!in! as he strained a!ainst the wei!ht aboe him' 1,odor hodor
hodor hodor hodor ,/#/B@3 =rom aboe came a d%ll r%mble' Then s%ddenl& the door
9er$ed %pward and a sha"t o" da&li!ht "ell across Brans "ace, blindin! him "or a moment'
*nother shoe bro%!ht the so%nd o" shi"tin! stone, and then the wa& was open' /sha
po$ed her spear thro%!h and slid o%t a"ter it, and Bic$on s)%irmed thro%!h 2eeras le!s
to "ollow' ,odor shoed the door open all the wa& and stepped to the s%r"ace' The Beeds
had to carr& Bran %p the last "ew steps'
The s$& was a pale !re&, and smo$e eddied all aro%nd them' The& stood in the shadow
o" the =irst 6eep, or what remained o" it' /ne whole side o" the b%ildin! had torn loose
and "allen awa&' Stone and shattered !ar!o&les la& strewn across the &ard' The& "ell 9%st
where I did, Bran tho%!ht when he saw them' Some o" the !ar!o&les had bro$en into so
man& pieces it made him wonder how he was alie at all' Nearb& some crows were
pec$in! at a bod& cr%shed beneath the t%mbled stone, b%t he la& "acedown and Bran
co%ld not sa& who he was'
The =irst 6eep had not been %sed "or man& h%ndreds o" &ears, b%t now it was more o"
a shell than eer' The "loors had b%rned inside it, and all the beams' (here the wall had
"allen awa&, the& co%ld see ri!ht into the rooms, een into the pri&' ;et behind, the
bro$en tower still stood, no more b%rned than be"ore' Co9en Beed was co%!hin! "rom the
smo$e' 1Ta$e me home@3 Bic$on demanded' 1I want to be home@3 ,odor stomped in a
circle' 1,odor,3 he whimpered in a small oice' The& stood h%ddled to!ether with r%in
and death all aro%nd them'
1(e made noise eno%!h to wa$e a dra!on,3 /sha said, 1b%t theres no one come' The
castles dead and b%rned, 9%st as Bran dreamed, b%t we had bestA3 She bro$e o""
s%ddenl& at a noise behind them, and whirled with her spear at the read&'
Two lean dar$ shapes emer!ed "rom behind the bro$en tower, paddin! slowl& thro%!h
the r%bble' Bic$on !ae a happ& sho%t o" 1Sha!!&@3 and the blac$ direwol" came
bo%ndin! toward him' S%mmer adanced more slowl&, r%bbed his head %p a!ainst
Brans arm, and lic$ed his "ace'
1(e sho%ld !o,3 said Co9en' 1So m%ch death will brin! other woles besides S%mmer
and Sha!!&do!, and not all on "o%r "eet'3
1*&e, soon eno%!h,3 /sha a!reed, 1b%t we need "ood, and there ma& be some s%ried
this, Sta& to!ether' 2eera, $eep &o%r shield %p and !%ard o%r bac$s'3 it too$ the rest o"
the mornin! to ma$e a slow circ%it o" the castle' The !reat !ranite walls remained,
blac$ened here and there b& "ire b%t otherwise %nto%ched' B%t within, all was death and
destr%ction' The doors o" the 8reat ,all were charred and smolderin!, and inside the
ra"ters had !ien wa& and the whole roo" had crashed down onto the "loor' The !reen
and &ellow panes o" the !lass !ardens were all in shards, the trees and "r%its and "lowers
torn %p or le"t e0posed to die' /" the stables, made o" wood and thatch, nothin!
remained b%t ashes, embers, and dead horses' Bran tho%!ht o" his #ancer, and wanted to
weep' There was a shallow steamin! la$e beneath the 7ibrar& Tower, and hot water
!%shin! "rom a crac$ in its side' The brid!e between the Bell Tower and the roo$er& had
collapsed into the &ard below, and 2aester 7%wins t%rret was !one' The& saw a d%ll red
!low shinin! %p thro%!h the narrow cellar windows beneath the 8reat 6eep, and a
second "ire still b%rnin! in one o" the storeho%ses'
/sha called so"tl& thro%!h the blowin! smo$e as the& went, b%t no one answered'
The& saw one do! worr&in! at a corpse, b%t he ran when he ca%!ht the scents o" the
direwoles: the rest had been slain in the $ennels' The maesters raens were pa&in!
co%rt to some o" the corpses, while the crows "rom the bro$en tower attended others'
Bran reco!ni?ed 4o0& T&m, een tho%!h someone had ta$en an a0e to his "ace' /ne
charred corpse, o%tside the ashen shell o" 2others sept, sat with his arms drawn %p and
his hands balled into hard blac$ "ists, as i" to p%nch an&one who dared approach him' 1I"
the !ods are !ood,3 /sha said in a low an!r& oice, 1the /thers will ta$e them that did
this wor$'3
1It was Theon,3 Bran said blac$l&'
1No' 7oo$'3 She pointed across the &ard with her spear' 1Thats one o" his ironmen'
*nd there' *nd thats 8re&9o&s warhorse, see. The blac$ one with the arrows in him'3
She moed amon! the dead, "rownin!' 1*nd heres Blac$ 7orren'3 ,e had been hac$ed
and c%t so badl& that his beard loo$ed a reddish-brown now' 1Too$ a "ew with him, he
did'3 /sha t%rned oer one o" the other corpses with her "oot' 1Theres a bad!e' * little
man, all red'3
1The "la&ed man o" the #read"ort,3 said Bran'
S%mmer howled, and darted awa&'
1The !odswood'3 2eera Beed ran a"ter the direwol", her shield and "ro! spear to hand'
The rest o" them trailed a"ter, threadin! their wa& thro%!h smo$e and "allen stones' The
air was sweeter %nder the trees' * "ew pines alon! the ed!e o" the wood had been
scorched, b%t deeper in the damp soil and !reen wood had de"eated the "lames' 1There is
a power in liin! wood,3 said 9o9en Beed, almost as i" he $new what Bran was thin$in!,
1a power stron! as "ire'3
/n the ed!e o" the blac$ pool, beneath the shelter o" the heart tree, 2aester 7%win la&
on his bell& in the dirt' * trail o" blood twisted bac$ thro%!h damp leaes where he had
crawled' S%mmer stood oer him, and Bran tho%!ht he was dead at "irst, b%t when
2eera to%ched his throat, the maester moaned' 1,odor.3 ,odor said mo%rn"%ll&'
1,odor.3
8entl&, the& eased 7%win onto his bac$' ,e had !re& e&es and !re& hair, and once his
robes had been !re& as well, b%t the& were dar$er now where the blood had soa$ed
thro%!h' 1Bran,3 he said so"tl& when he saw him sittin! tall on ,odors bac$' 1*nd
Bic$on too'3 ,e smiled' 1The !ods are !ood' I $new ' ' '3
16new.3 said Bran %ncertainl&'
1The le!s, I co%ld tell ' ' ' the clothes "it, b%t the m%scles in his le!s ' ' ' poor lad ' ' '3
,e co%!hed, and blood came %p "rom inside him' 1;o% anished ' ' ' in the woods ' ' '
how, tho%!h.3
1(e neer went,3 said Bran' 1(ell, onl& to the ed!e, and then do%bled bac$' I sent the
woles on to ma$e a trail, b%t we hid in =athers tomb'3
1The cr&pts'3 7%win ch%c$led, a "roth o" blood on his lips' (hen the maester tried to
moe, he !ae a sharp !asp o" pain'
Tears "illed Brans e&es' (hen a man was h%rt &o% too$ him to the maester, b%t what
co%ld &o% do when &o%r maester was h%rt.
1(ell need to ma$e a litter to carr& him,3 said /sha'
1No %se,3 said 7%win' 1Im d&in!, woman'3
1;o% cant,3 said Bic$on an!ril&' 1No &o% cant'3 Beside him, Sha!!&do! bared his
teeth and !rowled'
The maester smiled' 1,%sh now, child, Im m%ch older than &o%' I can ' ' ' die as I
please'3
1,odor, down,3 said Bran' ,odor went to his $nees beside the maester'
17isten,3 7%win said to /sha, 1the princes ' ' ' Bobbs heirs' Not ' ' ' not to!ether ' ' '
do &o% hear.3
The wildlin! woman leaned on her spear' 1*&e' Sa"er apart' B%t where to ta$e them.
Id tho%!ht, mi!ht be these +erw&ns ' ' '3
2aester 7%win shoo$ his head, tho%!h it was plain to see what the e""ort cost him'
1+erw&n bo&s dead' Ser Bodri$, 7eobald Tallhart, 7ad& ,ornwood ' ' ' all slain'
#eepwood "allen, 2oat +ailin, soon Torrhens S)%are' Ironmen on the Ston& Shore' *nd
east, the Bastard o" Bolton'3
1Then where.3 as$ed /sha'
1(hite ,arbor ' ' ' the <mbers ' ' ' I do not $now ' ' ' war eer&where ' ' ' each man
a!ainst his nei!hbor, and winter comin! ' ' ' s%ch "oll&, s%ch blac$ mad "oll& ' ' '3
2aester 7%win reached %p and !rasped Brans "orearm, his "in!ers closin! with a
desperate stren!th' 1;o% m%st be stron! now' Stron!'3
1I will be,3 Bran said, tho%!h it was hard' Ser Bodri$ $illed and 2aester 7%win,
eer&one, eer&one ' ' '
18ood,3 the maester said' 1* !ood bo&' ;o%r ' ' ' &o%r "athers son, Bran' Now !o'3
/sha !a?ed %p at the weirwood, at the red "ace cared in the pale tr%n$' 1*nd leae
&o% "or the !ods.3
1I be! ' ' '3 The maester swallowed' 1* ' ' ' a drin$ o" water, and ' ' ' another boon' I"
&o% wo%ld ' ' '3
1*&e'3 She t%rned to 2eera' 1Ta$e the bo&s'3
Co9en and 2eera led Bic$on o%t between them' ,odor "ollowed' 7ow branches
whipped at Brans "ace as the& p%shed between the trees, and the leaes br%shed awa&
his tears' /sha 9oined them in the &ard a "ew moments later' She said no word o"
2aester 7%win' 1,odor m%st sta& with Bran, to be his le!s,3 the wildlin! woman said
bris$l&' 1I will ta$e Bic$on with me'3
1(ell !o with Bran,3 said Co9en Beed'
1*&e, I tho%!ht &o% mi!ht,3 said /sha' 1Beliee Ill tr& the 5ast 8ate, and "ollow the
$in!sroad a wa&s'3
1(ell ta$e the ,%nters 8ate,3 said 2eera'
1,odor,3 said ,odor'
The& stopped at the $itchens "irst' /sha "o%nd some loaes o" b%rned bread that were
still edible, and een a cold roast "owl that she ripped in hal"' 2eera %nearthed a croc$
o" hone& and a bi! sac$ o" apples' /%tside, the& made their "arewells' Bic$on sobbed
and cl%n! to ,odors le! %ntil /sha !ae him a smac$ with the b%tt end o" her spear'
Then he "ollowed her )%ic$ eno%!h' Sha!!&do! stal$ed a"ter them' The last Bran saw o"
them was the direwol"s tail as it anished behind the bro$en tower'
The iron portc%llis that closed the ,%nters 8ate had been warped so badl& b& heat it
co%ld not be raised more than a "oot' The& had to s)%ee?e beneath its spi$es, one b& one'
1(ill we !o to &o%r lord "ather.3 Bran as$ed as the& crossed the drawbrid!e between
the walls' 1To 8re&water (atch.3
2eera loo$ed to her brother "or the answer' 1/%r road is north,3 Co9en anno%nced'
*t the ed!e o" the wol"swood, Bran t%rned in his bas$et "or one last !limpse o" the
castle that had been his li"e' (isps o" smo$e still rose into the !re& s$&, b%t no more than
mi!ht hae risen "rom (inter"ells chimne&s on a cold a%t%mn a"ternoon' Soot stains
mar$ed some o" the arrow loops, and here and there a crac$ or a missin! merlon co%ld
be seen in the c%rtain wall, b%t it seemed little eno%!h "rom this distance' Be&ond, the
tops o" the $eeps and towers still stood as the& had "or h%ndreds o" &ears, and it was
hard to tell that the castle had been sac$ed and b%rned at all' The stone is stron!, Bran
told himsel", the roots o" the trees !o deep, and %nder the !ro%nd the 6in!s o" (inter sit
their thrones' So lon! as those remained, (inter"ell remained' It was not dead, 9%st
bro$en' 7i$e me, he tho%!ht' Im not dead either'
*445N#IE
T,5 6IN8S *N# T,5IB +/<BTS
T,5 6IN8 /N T,5 IB/N T,B/N5
C/==B5; B*B*T,5/N, the =irst o" ,is Name, a bo& o" thirteen &ears, the eldest
son o" 6in! Bobert I Baratheon and F%een +ersei o" ,o%se 7annister,
-his mother, F<55N +5BS5I, F%een Be!ent and 4rotector o" the Bealm,
-his sister, 4BIN+5SS 2;B+577*, a !irl o" nine,
-his brother, 4BIN+5 T/225N, a bo& o" ei!ht, heir to the Iron Throne,
-his %ncles, on his "athers side:
-ST*NNIS B*B*T,5/N, 7ord o" #ra!onstone, st&lin! himsel" 6in! Stannis the
=irst,
-B5N7; B*B*T,5/N, 7ord o" Storms 5nd, st&lin! himsel" 6in! Benl& the =irst,
-his %ncles, on his mothers side:
-S5B C*I25 7*NNIST5B, the 6in!sla&er, 7ord +ommander o" the 6in!s!%ard, a
captie at Bierr%n,
-T;BI/N 7*NNIST5B, actin! ,and o" the 6in!,
-T&rions s)%ire, 4/#BI+6 4*;N5,
-T&rions !%ards and sworn swords:
-BB/NN, a sellsword, blac$ o" hair and heart,
-S,*88* S/N /= #/7=, o" the Stone +rows,
-TI25TT S/N /= TI25TT, o" the B%rned 2en,
-+,577* #*<8,T5B /= +,5;6, o" the Blac$ 5ars,
-+B*(N S/N /= +*7/B, o" the 2oon Brothers,
-T&rions conc%bine, S,*5, a camp "ollower, ei!hteen,
-his small co%ncil:
-8B*N# 2*5ST5B 4;+5775,
-7/B# 45T;B B*57IS,, called 7ITT75=IN85B, master o" coin,
-7/B# C*N/S S7;NT, +ommander o" the +it& (atch o" 6in!s 7andin! Gthe 1!old
cloa$s3H,
->*B;S, a e%n%ch, called the S4I#5B, master o" whisperers,
-his 6in!s!%ard:
-S5B C*I25 7*NNIST5B, called the 6IN8S7*;5B, 7ord +ommander, a captie at
Bierr%n,
-S*N#/B +758*N5, called the ,/<N#,
-S5B B/B/S B7/<NT,
-S5B 25B;N TB*NT,
-S5B *B;S /*6,5*BT,
-S5B 4B5ST/N 8B55N=I57#,
-S5B 2*N#/N 2//B5,
-his co%rt and retainers:
-S5B I7;N 4*;N5, the 6in!s 9%stice, a headsman,
->;7*BB, captain o" the 7annister ho%sehold !%ards at 6in!s 7andin! Gthe 1red
cloa$s3H,
-S5B 7*N+57 7*NNIST5B, "ormerl& s)%ire to 6in! Bobert, recentl& $ni!hted,
-T;B56 7*NNIST5B, "ormerl& s)%ire to 6in! Bobert,
-S5B *B/N S*NT*8*B, master-at-arms,
-S5B B*7/N S(*NN, second son to 7ord 8%lian Swann o" Stonehelm,
-7*#; 5B25S*N#5 ,*;=/B#, a babe at the breast,
-S5B #/NT/S ,/77*B#, called the B5#, a dr%n$,
-C*7*B,*B E,/, an e0iled prince "rom the S%mmer Isles,
-2//N B/;, a 9ester and "ool,
-7*#; T*N#* ST/65(/BT,,
-=*7;S5, her elder da%!hter,
-7/77;S, her &o%n!er da%!hter, a maiden o" thirt&-three &ears,
-7/B# 8;75S B/SB;,
-S5B ,/B*S B5#(;N5 and his twin S5B ,/BB5B B5#(;N5, sons o" the 7ord
o" the *rbor,
-the people o" 6in!s 7andin!:
-the +it& (atch Gthe 1!old cloa$s3H:
-C*N/S S7;NT, 7ord o" ,arrenhal, 7ord +ommander,
-2/BB/S, his eldest son and heir,
-*77*B #552, Sl&nts chie" ser!eant,
-S5B C*+57;N B;(*T5B, called IB/N,*N#, captain o" the Bier 8ate,
-,*77;N5 T,5 4;B/2*N+5B, a (isdom o" the 8%ild o" *lchemists,
-+,*T*;*, owner o" an e0pensie brothel,
-*7*;*;*, #*N+;, 2*B5I, some o" her !irls,
-T/B,/ 2/TT, a master armorer,
-S*77/B5/N, a master armorer,
-IB/NB577;, a blac$smith,
-7/T,*B BB<N5, a "reerider,
-S5B /S2<N# 65TT75B7*+6, a hed!e $ni!ht o" %nsaor& rep%tation,
-/S=B;# and /SN5; 65TT75B7*+6, his brothers,
-S;2/N SI7>5B T/N8<5, a sin!er'
6in! Co""re&s banner shows the crowned sta! o" Baratheon, blac$ on !old, and the
lion o" 7annister, !old on crimson, combatant'
T,5 6IN8 IN T,5 N*BB/( S5*
ST*NNIS B*B*T,5/N, the =irst o" ,is Name, the older o" 6in! Boberts brothers,
"ormerl& 7ord o" #ra!onstone, secondborn son o" 7ord Ste""on Baratheon and 7ad&
+assana o" ,o%se 5stermont,
-his wi"e, 7*#; S57;S5 o" ,o%se =lorent,
-S,IB55N, their onl& child, a !irl o" ten,
-his %ncle and co%sins:
-S5B 7/2*S 5ST5B2/NT, an %ncle,
-his son, S5B *N#B5( 5ST5B2/NT, a co%sin,
-his co%rt and retainers:
-2*5ST5B +B5SS5N, healer and t%tor, an old man,
-2*5ST5B 4;7/S, his &o%n! s%ccessor,
-S54T/N B*BB5,
-S5B *E577 =7/B5NT, castellan o" #ra!onstone, and %ncle to F%een Sel&se,
-4*T+,=*+5, a lac$wit "ool,
-7*#; 257IS*N#B5 /= *SS,*I, called the B5# (/2*N, a priestess o"
Bhllor, the ,eart o" =ire,
-S5B #*>/S S5*(/BT,, called the /NI/N 6NI8,T and sometimes
S,/BT,*N#, once a sm%!!ler, captain o" Blac$ Betha,
-his wi"e 2*B;*, a carpenters da%!hter,
-their seen sons:
-#*75, captain o" the (raith,
-*77*B#, captain o" the 7ad& 2ar&a,
-2*TT,/S, second o" Blac$ Betha,
-2*BI+, oarmaster o" =%r&,
-#5>*N, s)%ire to 6in! Stannis,
-ST*NNIS, a bo& o" nine &ears,
-ST5==/N, a bo& o" si0 &ears,
-BB;5N =*BBIN8, s)%ire to 6in! Stannis,
-his lords bannermen and sworn swords,
-*B#B7*,N +57TI8*B, 7ord o" +law Isle, an old man,
-2/N=/B# >57*B;/N, 7ord o" the Tides and 2aster o" #ri"tmar$,
-#<B*2 B*B 522/N, 7ord o" Sharp 4oint, a bo& o" "o%rteen &ears,
-8<N+5B S<N87*SS, 7ord o" Sweetport So%nd,
-S5B ,<B*B# B*2BT/N,
-S*77*#,/B S**N, o" the =ree +it& o" 7&s, st&led 4rince o" the Narrow Sea,
-2/B/S, T,5 2;B2*N, a sellsail admiral'
6in! Stannis has ta$en "or his banner the "ier& heart o" the 7ord o" 7i!ht: a red heart
s%rro%nded b& oran!e "lames %pon a bri!ht &ellow "ield' (ithin the heart is pict%red the
crowned sta! o" ,o%se Baratheon, in blac$'
T,5 6IN8 IN ,I8,8*B#5N
B5N7; B*B*T,5/N, the =irst o" ,is Name, the &o%n!er o" 6in! Boberts brothers,
"ormerl& 7ord o" Storms 5nd, thirdborn son o" 7ord Ste""on Baratheon and 7ad&
+assana o" ,o%se 5stermont,
-his new bride, 7*#; 2*B8*5B; o" ,o%se T&rell, a maid o" "i"teen &ears,
-his %ncle and co%sins:
-S5B 57#/N 5ST5B2/NT, an %ncle,
-Ser 5ldons son, S5B *52/N 5ST5B2/NT, a co%sin,
-Ser *emons son, S5B *7;N 5ST5B2/NT,
-his lords bannermen:
-2*+5 T;B577, 7ord o" ,i!h!arden and ,and o" the 6in!,
-B*N#;77 T*B7;, 7ord o" ,orn ,ill,
-2*T,IS B/(*N, 7ord o" 8olden!roe,
-BB;+5 +*B/N, 7ord o" the 2arches,
-S,;B* 5BB/7, 7ad& o" ,a&stac$ ,all,
-*B(;N /*6,5*BT, 7ad& o" /ld /a$,
-*75ST5B =7/B5NT, 7ord o" Bri!htwater 6eep,
-7/B# S57(;N /= T*BT,, called the 5>5NST*B,
-75;T/N ,I8,T/(5B, >oice o" /ldtown, 7ord o" the 4ort,
-7/B# ST5==/N >*BN5B,
-his Bainbow 8%ard:
-S5B 7/B*S T;B577, the 6ni!ht o" =lowers, 7ord +ommander,
-7/B# BB;+5 +*B/N, the /ran!e,
-S5B 8<;*B# 2/BBI85N, the 8reen,
-S5B 4*B25N +B*N5, the 4%rple,
-S5B B/B*B B/;+5, the Bed,
-S5B 522/N +<;, the ;ellow,
-BBI5NN5 /= T*BT,, the Bl%e, also called BBI5NN5 T,5 B5*<T;, da%!hter to
7ord Selw&n the 5enstar,
-his $ni!hts and sworn swords:
-S5B +/BTN*; 45NB/S5, castellan o" Storms 5nd,
-Ser +ortna&s ward, 5#BI+ ST/B2, a bastard son o" 6in! Bobert b& 7ad& #elena
o" ,o%se =lorent,
-S5B #/NN57 S(*NN, heir to Stonehelm,
-S5B -O' =/SS/(*;, o" the !reen-apple =ossowa&s,
-S5B BB;*N =/SS/(*;, S5B T*NT/N =/SS/(*;, and S5B 5#(;#
=/SS/(*;, o" the red-apple =ossowa&s,
-S5B +/75N /= 8B55N4//7S,
-S5B 2*B6 2<775N#/B5,
-B5# B/NN5T, the 6ni!ht o" 8ri""ins Boost,
-his ho%sehold,
-2*5ST5B C<BN5, co%nselor, healer, and t%tor'
6in! Benl&s banner is the crowned sta! o" ,o%se Baratheon o" Storms 5nd, blac$
%pon a !old "ield, the same banner "lown b& his brother 6in! Bobert'
T,5 6IN8 IN T,5 N/BT,
B/BB ST*B6, 7ord o" (inter"ell and 6in! in the North, eldest son o" 5ddard Star$,
7ord o" (inter"ell, and 7ad& +atel&n o" ,o%se T%ll&, a bo& o" "i"teen &ears,
-his direwol", 8B5; (IN#,
-his mother, 7*#; +*T57;N, o" ,o%se T%ll&,
-his siblin!s:
-4BIN+5SS S*NS*, a maid o" twele,
-Sansas direwol", K7*#;L, $illed at +astle #arr&,
-4BIN+5SS *B;*, a !irl o" ten,
-*r&as direwol", N;25BI*, drien o"" a &ear past,
-4BIN+5 BB*N#/N, called Bran, heir to (inter"ell and the North, a bo& o" ei!ht,
-Brans direwol", S<225B,
-4BIN+5 BI+6/N, a bo& o" "o%r,
-Bic$ons direwol", S,*88;#/8,
-his hal" brother, C/N SN/(, a bastard o" "i"teen &ears, a man o" the Ni!hts (atch,
-Cons direwol", 8,/ST,
-his %ncles and a%nts:
-KBB*N#/N ST*B6L, 7ord 5ddards elder brother, slain at the command o" 6in!
*er&s II Tar!ar&en,
-B5NC5N ST*B6, 7ord 5ddards &o%n!er brother, a man o" the Ni!hts (atch, lost
be&ond the (all,
-7;S* *BB;N, 7ad& +atel&ns &o%n!er sister, widow o" K7ord Con *rr&nL, 7ad& o"
the 5&rie,
-S5B 5#2<B5 T<77;, 7ad& +atel&ns &o%n!er brother, heir to Bierr%n,
-S5B BB;N#5N T<77;, called the B7*+6=IS,, 7ad& +atel&ns %ncle,
-his sworn swords and battle companions:
-T,5/N 8B5;C/;, 7ord 5ddards ward, heir to 4&$e and the Iron islands,
-,*77IS 2/775N, captain o" !%ards "or (inter"ell,
-C*+6S, F<5NT, S,*##, !%ardsmen %nder 2ollens command,
-S5B (5N#57 2*N#5B7;, second son to the 7ord o" (hite ,arbor,
-4*TB56 2*77IST5B, heir to Sea!ard,
-#*+5; 2/B2/NT, eldest da%!hter o" 7ad& 2ae!e and heir to Bear Island,
-C/N <2B5B, called the S2*77C/N,
-B/BIN =7INT, S5B 45B(;N =B5;, 7<+*S B7*+6(//#,
-his s)%ire, /7;>*B =B5;, ei!hteen,
-the ho%sehold at Bierr%n:
-2*5ST5B 7<(IN, co%nselor, healer, and t%tor,
-S5B #5S2/N# 8B577, master-at-arms,
-S5B B/BIN B;85B, captain o" the !%ard,
-<T,5B;#5S (*;N, steward o" Bierr%n,
-B;2<N# T,5 B,;25B, a sin!er,
-the ho%sehold at (inter"ell:
-2*5ST5B 7<(IN, co%nselor, healer, and t%tor,
-S5B B/#BI6 +*SS57, master-at-arms,
-B5T,, his &o%n! da%!hter,
-(*7#5B =B5;, called BI8 (*7#5B, a ward o" 7ad& +atel&n, ei!ht &ears o" a!e,
-(*7#5B =B5;, called 7ITT75 (*7#5B, a ward o" 7ad& +atel&n, also ei!ht,
-S54T/N +,*;75, $eeper o" the castle sept and librar&,
-C/S5T,, master o" horse,
-B*N#; and S,;B*, his twin da%!hters,
-=*B75N, $ennelmaster,
-4*77*, a $ennel !irl,
-/7# N*N, stor&teller, once a wet n%rse, now er& a!ed,
-,/#/B, her !reat-!randson, a simpleminded stablebo&,
-8*85, the coo$,
-T<BNI4, a pot !irl and sc%llion,
-/S,*, a wildlin! woman ta$en captie in the wol"swood, serin! as $itchen dr%d!e,
-2I665N, smith and armorer,
-,*;,5*#, S6ITTBI+6, 4/E; T;2, *75B577;, !%ardsmen,
-+*7/N, T/2, children o" !%ardsmen,
-his lords bannermen and commanders:
-Gwith Bobb at Bierr%nH
-C/N <2B5B, called the 8B5*TC/N,
-BI+6*B# 6*BST*B6, 7ord o" 6arhold,
-8*7B*BT 87/>5B, o" #eepwood 2otte,
-2*585 2/B2/NT, 7ad& o" Bear Island,
-S5B ST5>B/N =B5;, eldest son o" 7ord (alder =re& and heir to the Twins,
-Ser Sterons eldest son, S5B B;2*N =B5;,
-Ser B&mans son, B7*+6 (*7#5B =B5;,
-2*BT;N BI>5BS, a bastard son o" 7ord (alder =re&,
-Gwith Boose Boltons host at the TwinsH,
-B//S5 B/7T/N, 7ord o" the #read"ort, commandin! the lar!er part o" the northern
host,
-B/B5TT 87/>5B, o" #eepwood 2otte,
-(*7#5B =B5;, 7ord o" the +rossin!,
-S5B ,5I2*N T*77,*BT, o" Torrhens S)%are,
-S5B *5N;S =B5;,
-Gprisoners o" 7ord T&win 7annisterH,
-7/B# 25#85B +5B(;N,
-,*BBI/N 6*BST*B6, sole s%riin! son o" 7ord Bic$ard,
-S5B (;7IS 2*N#5B7;, heir to (hite ,arbor,
-S5B C*B5# =B5;, S5B ,/ST55N =B5;, S5B #*N(577 =B5;, and their
bastard hal" brother, B/N57 BI>5BS,
-Gin the "ield or at their own castlesH,
-7;2*N #*BB;, a bo& o" ei!ht,
-S,577* (,5NT, 7ad& o" ,arrenhal, dispossessed o" her castle b& 7ord T&win
7annister,
-C*S/N 2*77IST5B, 7ord o" Sea!ard,
-C/N/S BB*+65N, 7ord o" the Stone ,ed!e,
-T;T/S B7*+6(//#, 7ord o" Baentree,
-7/B# 6*B;7 >*N+5,
-S5B 2*BF 4I45B,
-S5B ,*72/N 4*585,
-his lord bannermen and castellans in the north:
-(;2*N 2*N#5B7;, 7ord o" (hite ,arbor,
-,/(7*N# B55# o" 8re&water (atch, a cranno!man,
-,owlands da%!hter, 255B*, a maid o" "i"teen,
-,owlands son, C/C5N, a bo& o" thirteen,
-7*#; #/N577* ,/BN(//#, a widow and !riein! mother,
-+75; +5B(;N, 7ord 2ed!ers heir, a bo& o" "o%rteen,
-75/B*7# T*77,*BT, &o%n!er brother to Ser ,elman, castellan at Torrhens
S)%are,
-7eobalds wi"e, B5B5N* o" ,o%se ,ornwood,
-7eobalds son, BB*N#/N, a bo& o" "o%rteen,
-7eobalds son, B5B5N, a bo& o" ten,
-Ser ,elmans son, B5N=B5#, heir to Torrhens S)%are,
-Ser ,elmans da%!hter, 5##*B*, a maid o" nine,
-7*#; S;B5775, wi"e to Bobett 8loer, holdin! #eepwood 2otte in his absence,
-Bobetts son, 8*(5N, three, heir to #eepwood,
-Bobetts da%!hter, 5B5N*, a babe o" one,
-7*B5N+5 SN/(, a bastard son o" 7ord ,ornwood, a!ed twele, ward o" 8albart
8loer,
-2/BS +B/(=//# and ,/T,5B (,/B5SB*N5 o" ,o%se <mber, %ncles to the
8reat9on,
-7*#; 7;5SS* =7INT, mother to Bobin,
-/N#B5( 7/+65, 7ord o" /ldcastle, an old man'
The banner o" the 6in! in the North remains as it has "or tho%sands o" &ears: the !re&
direwol" o" the Star$s o" (inter"ell, r%nnin! across an ice-white "ield'
T,5 F<55N *+B/SS T,5 (*T5B
#*5N5B;S T*B8*B;5N, called #aener&s Stormborn, the <nb%rnt, 2other o"
#ra!ons, 6haleesi o" the #othra$i, and =irst o" ,er Name, sole s%riin! child o" 6in!
*er&s II Tar!ar&en b& his sisterJwi"e, F%een Bhaella, a widow at "o%rteen &ears,
-her new-hatched dra!ons, #B/8/N, >IS5BI/N, B,*58*7,
-her brothers:
-KB,*58*BL, 4rince o" #ra!onstone and heir to the Iron Throne, slain b& 6in!
Bobert on the Trident,
-KB,*5N;SL, Bhae!ars da%!hter b& 5lia o" #orne, m%rdered d%rin! the Sac$ o"
6in!s 7andin!,
-K*58/NL, Bhae!ars son b& 5lia o" #orne, m%rdered d%rin! the Sac$ o" 6in!s
7andin!,
-K>IS5B;SL, st&lin! himsel" 6in! >iser&s, the Third o" ,is Name, called the Be!!ar
6in!, slain in >aes #othra$ b& the hand o" 6hal #ro!o,
-her h%sband K#B/8/L, a $hal o" the #othra$i, died o" wo%nds !one bad,
-KB,*58/L, stillborn son o" #aener&s and 6hal #ro!o, slain in the womb b& 2irri
2a? #%%r,
-her F%eens!%ard:
-S5B C/B*, 2/B2/NT, an e0ile $ni!ht, once 7ord o" Bear Island,
-C,/8/, $o and bloodrider, the whip,
-*88/, $o and bloodrider, the bow,
-B*6,*B/, $o and bloodrider, the ara$h,
-her handmaids:
-IBBI, a #othra$i !irl,
-C,IF<I, a #othra$i !irl,
-#/B5*,, a 7&seni slae, "ormerl& a whore,
-the three see$ers:
-E*B/ E,/*N #*E/S, a merchant prince o" Farth,
-4;*T 4B55, a warloc$ o" Farth,
-F<*IT,5, a mas$ed shadowbinder o" *sshai,
-I77;BI/ 2/4*TIS, a ma!ister o" the =ree +it& o" 4entos, who arran!ed to wed
#aener&s to 6hal #ro!o and conspired to restore >iser&s to the Iron Throne'
The banner o" the Tar!ar&ens is the banner o" *e!on the +on)%eror, who con)%ered
si0 o" Seen 6in!doms, "o%nded the d&nast&, and made the Iron Throne "rom the swords
o" his con)%ered enemies: a three-headed dra!on, red on blac$'
/T,5B ,/<S5S 8B5*T *N# S2*77
,/<S5 *BB;N
,o%se *rr&n declared "or none o" the rial claimants at the o%tbrea$ o" the war, and
$ept its stren!th bac$ to protect the 5&rie and the >ale o" *rr&n' The *rr&n si!il is the
moon-and-"alcon, white, %pon a s$&-bl%e "ield' Their *rr&n words are *s ,i!h *s
,onor'
B/B5BT *BB;N, 7ord o" the 5&rie, #e"ender o" the >ale, (arden o" the 5ast, a
sic$l& bo& o" ei!ht &ears,
-his mother, 7*#; 7;S*, o" ,o%se T%ll&, third wi"e and widow o" K7ord Con *rr&nL,
late ,and o" the 6in!, and sister to +atel&n Star$,
-his ho%sehold:
-2*5ST5B +/752/N, co%nselor, healer, and t%tor,
-S5B 2*B(;N B572/B5, captain o" !%ards,
-7/B# N5ST/B B/;+5, ,i!h Steward o" the >ale,
-7ord Nestors son, S5B *7B*B,
-2;* ST/N5, a bastard !irl in his serice, nat%ral da%!hter o" 6in! Bobert,
-2/B#, a br%tal !aoler,
-2*BI77I/N, a &o%n! sin!er,
-his lords bannermen, s%itors, and retainers:
-7/B# ;/,N B/;+5, called BB/NM5 ;/,N,
-7ord ;ohns eldest son, S5B *N#*B,
-7ord ;ohns second son, S5B B/B*B, in serice to 6in! Benl&, Bobar the Bed o"
the Bainbow 8%ard,
-7ord ;ohns &o%n!est son, KS5B (*;2*BL, a man o" the Ni!hts (atch, lost
be&ond the (all,
-7/B# N5ST/B B/;+5, brother o" 7ord ;ohn, ,i!h Steward o" the >ale,
-7ord Nestors son and heir, S5B *7B*B,
-7ord Nestors da%!hter, 2;B*N#*,
-S5B 7;N +/BBB*;, a s%itor to 7ad& 7&sa,
-2;+,57 B5#=/BT, his s)%ire,
-7*#; *N;* (*;N(//#,
-7ad& *n&as eldest son and heir, S5B 2/BT/N, a s%itor to 7ad& 7&sa,
-7ad& *n&as second son, S5B #/NN57, the 6ni!ht o" the 8ate,
-5/N ,<NT5B, 7ord o" 7on!bow ,all, an old man, and a s%itor to 7ad& 7&sa'
,/<S5 =7/B5NT
The =lorents o" Bri!htwater 6eep are sworn bannermen to ,i!h!arden, and "ollowed
the T&rells in declarin! "or 6in! Benl&' The& also $ept a "oot in the other camp,
howeer, since Stanniss )%een is a =lorent, and her %ncle the castellan o" #ra!onstone'
The si!il o" ,o%se =lorent shows a "o0 head in a circle o" "lowers'
*75ST5B =7/B5NT, 7ord o" Bri!htwater,
-his wi"e, 7*#; 257*B*, o" ,o%se +rane,
-their children:
-*756;N5, heir to Bri!htwater,
-2575SS*, wed to 7ord Band&ll Tarl&,
-B,5*, wed to 7ord 7e&ton ,i!htower,
-his siblin!s:
-S5B *E577, castellan o" #ra!onstone,
-KS5B B;*2L, died in a "all "rom a horse,
-Ser B&ams da%!hter, F<55N S57;S5, wed to 6in! Stannis,
-Ser B&ams eldest son and heir, S5B I2B;,
-Ser B&ams second son, S5B 5BB5N,
-S5B +/7IN,
-+olins da%!hter, #575N*, wed to S5B ,/S2*N N/B+B/SS,
-#elenas son, 5#BI+ ST/B2, a bastard "athered b& 6in! Bobert,
-#elenas son, *75ST5B N/B+B/SS,
-#elenas son, B5N7; N/B+B/SS,
-+olins son, 2*5ST5B /25B, in serice at /ld /a$,
-+olins son, 25BB577, a s)%ire on the *rbor,
-his sister, B;75N5, wed to Ser B&cherd +rane'
,/<S5 =B5;
4ower"%l, wealth&, and n%mero%s, the =re&s are bannermen to ,o%se T%ll&, their
swords sworn to the serice o" Bierr%n, b%t the& hae not alwa&s been dili!ent in
per"ormin! their d%t&' (hen Bobert Baratheon met Bhae!ar Tar!ar&en on the Trident,
the =re&s did not arrie %ntil the battle was done, and therea"ter 7ord ,oster T%ll&
alwa&s called 7ord (alder 1the 7ate 7ord =re&'3 7ord =re& a!reed to s%pport the ca%se
o" the 6in! in the North onl& a"ter Bobb Star$ a!reed to a betrothal, promisin! to marr&
one o" his da%!hters or !randda%!hters a"ter the war was done' 7ord (alder has $nown
ninet&-one name da&s, b%t onl& recentl& too$ his ei!hth wi"e, a !irl seent& &ears his
9%nior' It is said o" him that he is the onl& lord in the Seen 6in!doms who co%ld "ield
an arm& o%t o" his breeches'
(*7#5B =B5;, 7ord o" the +rossin!,
-b& his "irst wi"e, K7*#; 45BB*, o" ,o%se Bo&ceL:
-S5B ST5>B/N, heir to the Twins,
-m' K+orenna Swann, died o" a wastin! illnessL,
-Sterons eldest son, S5B B;2*N,
-B&mans son, 5#(;N, wed to Can&ce ,%nter,
-5dw&ns da%!hter, (*7#*, a !irl o" ei!ht,
-B&mans son, (*7#5B, called B7*+6 (*7#5B,
-B&mans son, 45T;B, called 45T;B 4I2475,
-m' 2&lenda +aron,
-4et&rs da%!hter, 45BB*, a !irl o" "ie,
-m' KCe&ne 7&dden, died in a "all "rom a horseL,
-Sterons son, *58/N, a hal"wit called CIN875B577,
-Sterons da%!hter, K2*585775, died in childbedL,
-m' Ser #a"&n >ance,
-2ae!elles da%!hter, 2*BI*NN5, a maiden,
-2ae!elles son, (*7#5B >*N+5, a s)%ire,
-2ae!elles son, 4*TB56 >*N+5,
-m' K2arsella (a&nwood, died in childbedL,
-Sterons son, (*7T/N, w' #eana ,ard&n!,
-(altons son, ST5==/N, called T,5 S(55T,
-(altons da%!hter, (*7#*, called =*IB (*7#*,
-(altons son, BB;*N, a s)%ire,
-S5B 522/N, m' 8enna o" ,o%se 7annister,
-5mmons son, S5B +75/S, m' Ce&ne #arr&,
-+leoss son, T;(IN, a s)%ire o" eleen,
-+leoss son, (I7752, a pa!e at *shemar$,
-5mmons son, S5B 7;/N57, m' 2elesa +ra$ehall,
-5mmons son, TI/N, a s)%ire captie at Bierr%n,
-5mmons son, (*7#5B, called B5# (*7#5B, a pa!e at +asterl& Boc$,
-S5B *5N;S, m' KT&ana (&lde, died in childbedL,
-*en&ss son, *58/N B7//#B/BN, an o%tlaw,
-*en&ss son, B,*58*B, m' Ce&ne Beesb%r&,
-Bhae!ars son, B/B5BT, a bo& o" thirteen,
-Bhae!ars da%!hter, (*7#*, a !irl o" ten, called (,IT5 (*7#*,
-Bhae!ars son, C/N/S, a bo& o" ei!ht,
-45BBI*N5, m' Ser 7esl&n ,ai!h,
-4errianes son, S5B ,*B;S ,*I8,,
-,ar&ss son, (*7#5B ,*I8,, a bo& o" "o%r,
-4errianes son, S5B #/NN57 ,*I8,,
-4errianes son, *7;N ,*I8,, a s)%ire,
-b& his second wi"e, K7*#; +;B5NN*, o" ,o%se SwannL:
-S5B C*B5#, their eldest son, m' K*l&s =re&L,
-Careds son, S5B T;T/S, m' Mhoe Blanetree,
-T&toss da%!hter, MI*, a maid o" "o%rteen,
-T&toss son, M*+,5B;, a bo& o" twele, trainin! at the Sept o" /ldtown,
-Careds da%!hter, 6;B*, m' Ser 8arse 8oodbroo$,
-6&ras son, (*7#5B 8//#BB//6, a bo& o" nine,
-6&ras da%!hter, C5;N5 8//#BB//6, si0,
-S54T/N 7<+5/N, in serice at the 8reat Sept o" Baelor in 6in!s 7andin!,
-b& his third wi"e, K7*#; *2*B5I o" ,o%se +ra$eballL:
-S5B ,/ST55N, their eldest son, m' Bellena ,awic$,
-,osteens son, S5B *B(//#, m' B&ella Bo&ce,
-*rwoods da%!hter, B;577*, a !irl o" "ie,
-*rwoods twin sons, *N#B/( and *7;N, three,
-7*#; 7;T,5N5, m' 7ord 7%cias >&pren,
-7&thenes da%!hter, 57;*N*, m' Ser Con (&lde,
-5l&anas son, BI+6*B# >>;7#5, "o%r,
-7&thenes son, S5B #*2/N >;4B5N,
-S;2/N#, m' Betharios o" Braaos,
-S&monds son, *75S*N#5B, a sin!er,
-S&monds da%!hter, *7;E, a maid o" seenteen,
-S&monds son, BB*#*2*B, a bo& o" ten, "ostered on Braaos as a ward o" /ro
Tend&ris, a merchant o" that cit&,
-S5B #*N(577, m' (&na"rei (hent,
-Gman& stillbirths and miscarria!esH,
-25BB5TT, m' 2ari&a #arr&,
-2erretts da%!hter, *25B5I, called *2I, a widow o" si0teen, m' KSer 4ate o" the
Bl%e =or$L,
-2erretts da%!hter, (*7#*, called =*T (*7#*, a maid o" "i"teen &ears,
-2erretts da%!hter, 2*BISS*, a maid o" thirteen,
-2erretts son, (*7#5B, called 7ITT75 (*7#5B, a bo& o" ei!ht, "ostered at
(inter"ell as a ward o" 7ad& +atel&n Star$,
-KS5B 85B52;, drownedL, m' +arolei (a&nwood,
-8erem&s son, S*N#/B, a bo& o" twele, a s)%ire to Ser #onnel (a&nwood,
-8erem&s da%!hter, +;NT,5*, a !irl o" nine, a ward o" 7ad& *n&a' (a&nwood,
-S5B B*;2<N#, m' Beon& Beesb%r&,
-Ba&m%nds son, B/B5BT, si0teen, in trainin! at the +itadel in /ldtown,
-Ba&m%nds son, 2*7>>;N, "i"teen, apprenticed to an alchemist in 7&s,
-Ba&m%nds twin da%!hters, S5BB* and S*BB*, maiden !irls o" "o%rteen,
-Ba&m%nds da%!hter, +5BS5I, si0, called 7ITT75 B55,
-b& his "o%rth wi"e, K7*#; *7;SS*, o" ,o%se Blac$woodL:
-7/T,*B, their eldest son, called 7*25 7/T,*B, m' 7eonella 7e""ord,
-7othars da%!hter, T;S*N5, a !irl o" seen,
-7othars da%!hter, (*7#*, a !irl o" "o%r,
-7othars da%!hter, 52B5B75I, a !irl o" two,
-S5B C*22/S, m' Sallei 4ae!e,
-Cammoss son, (*7#5B, called BI8 (*7#5B, a bo& o" ei!ht, "ostered at (inter"ell
as a ward o" 7ad& +atel&n Star$,
-Cammoss twin sons, #I+6/N and 2*T,IS, "ie,
-S5B (,*75N, m' S&lwa 4ae!e,
-(halens son, ,/ST5B, a bo& o" twele, a s)%ire to Ser #amon 4ae!e,
-(halens da%!hter, 25BI*NN5, called 25BB;, a !irl o" eleen,
-7*#; 2/B;*, m' Ser =lement Bra0,
-2or&as son, B/B5BT BB*E, nine, "ostered at +asterl& Boc$ as a pa!e,
-2or&as son, (*7#5B BB*E, a bo& o" si0,
-2or&as son, C/N BB*E, a babe o" three,
-T;T*, called T;T* T,5 2*I#, a maid o" twent&-nine,
-b& his "i"th wi"e, K7*#; S*B;* o" ,o%se (hentL:
-no pro!en&,
-b& his si0th wi"e, K7*#; B5T,*N; o" ,o%se Bosb&L:
-S5B 45B(;N, their eldest son,
-S5B B5N=B5;, m' C&anna =re&, a co%sin,
-Ben"re&s da%!hter, #577*, called #5*= #577*, a !irl o" three,
-Ben"re&s son, /S2<N#, a bo& o" two,
-2*5ST5B (I77*25N, in serice at 7on!bow ,all,
-/7;>*B, a s)%ire in the serice o" Bobb Star$,
-B/S7IN, a maid o" si0teen,
-b& his seenth wi"e, K7*#; *NN*B* o" ,o%se =arrin!L:
-*B(;N, a maid o" "o%rteen,
-(5N#57, their eldest son, a bo& o" thirteen, "ostered at Sea!ard as a pa!e,
-+/72*B, promised to the =aith, eleen,
-(*7T;B, called T;B, a bo& o" ten,
-572*B, betrothed to *r&a Star$, a bo& o" nine,
-S,IB5I, a !irl o" si0,
-his ei!hth wi"e, 7*#; C/;5<S5 o" ,o%se 5ren"ord,
-no pro!en& as &et,
-7ord (alders nat%ral children, b& s%ndr& mothers,
-(*7#5B BI>5BS, called B*ST*B# (*7#5B,
-Bastard (alders son, S5B *52/N BI>5BS,
-Bastard (alders da%!hter, (*7#* BI>5BS,
-2*5ST5B 257(;S, in serice at Bosb&,
-C5;N5 BI>5BS, 2*BT;N BI>5BS, B;85B BI>5BS, B/N57 BI>5BS,
2577*B* BI>5BS, others'
,/<S5 8B5;C/;
Balon 8re&9o&, 7ord o" the Iron Islands, preio%sl& led a rebellion a!ainst the Iron
Throne, p%t down b& 6in! Bobert and 7ord 5ddard Star$' Tho%!h his son Theon, raised
at (inter"ell, was one o" Bobb Star$s s%pporters and closest companions, 7ord Balon
did not 9oin the northmen when the& marched so%th into the rierlands'
The 8re&9o& si!il is a !olden $ra$en %pon a blac$ "ield' Their words are (e #o Not
Sow
B*7/N 8B5;C/;, 7ord o" the Iron islands, 6in! o" Salt and Boc$, Son o" the Sea
(ind, 7ord Beaper o" 4&$e, captain o" the 8reat 6ra$en,
-his wi"e, 7*#; *7*NN;S, o" ,o%se ,arlaw,
-their children:
-KB/#BI6L, slain at Sea!ard d%rin! 8re&9o&s Bebellion,
-K2*B/NL, slain at 4&$e d%rin! 8re&9o&s Bebellion,
-*S,*, captain o" the Blac$ (ind,
-T,5/N, a ward o" 7ord 5ddard Star$ at (inter"ell,
-his brothers:
-5<B/N, called +B/(S 5;5, captain o" the Silence, an o%tlaw, pirate, and raider,
->I+T*BI/N, 7ord +aptain o" the Iron =leet, master o" the Iron >ictor&,
-*5B/N, called #*24,*IB, a priest o" the #rowned 8od,
-his ho%sehold on 4&$e:
-#*825B called +75=TC*(, master-at-arms, captain o" the =oarndrin$er,
-2*5ST5B (5N#*2;B, healer and co%nselor
-,57;*, $eeper o" the castle,
-people o" 7ordsport:
-SI8BIN, a shipwri!ht,
-his lords bannermen,
-7/B# B/T75;, o" 7ordsport,
-7/B# (;N+,, o" Iron ,olt,
-7/B# ,*B7*(, o" ,arlaw,
-ST/N5,/<S5, o" /ld (&$,
-#B<22, o" /ld (&$,
-8//#BB/T,5B, o" /ld (&$,
-8//#BB/T,5B, o" 8reat (&$,
-7/B# 25B7;N, o" 8reat (&$,
-S4*BB, o" 8reat (&$,
-7/B# B7*+6T;#5, o" Blac$t&de,
-7/B# S*7T+7I==5, o" Saltcli""e,
-7/B# S<N#5B7;, o" Saltcli""e'
,/<S5 7*NNIST5B
The 7annisters o" +asterl& Boc$ remain the principal s%pport o" 6in! 9o""re&s claim
to the Iron Throne' Their si!il is a !olden lion %pon a crimson "ield' The 7annister words
are ,ear 2e Boar@
T;(IN 7*NNIST5B, 7ord o" +asterl& Boc$, (arden o" the (est, Shield o"
7annisport, and ,and o" the 6in!, commandin! the 7annister host at ,arrenhal,
-his wi"e, K7*#; C/*NN*L, a co%sin, died in childbed,
-their children:
-S5B C*I25, called the 6in!sla&er, (arden o" the 5ast and 7ord +ommander o" the
6in!s!%ard, a twin to F%een +ersei,
-F<55N +5BS5I, widow o" 6in! Bobert, twin to Caime, F%een Be!ent and 4rotector
o" the Bealm,
-T;BI/N, called the I24, a dwar",
-his siblin!s:
-S5B 65>*N, his eldest brother,
-Ser 6eans wi"e, #/BN*, o" ,o%se Sw&"t,
-7ad& #ornas "ather, S5B ,*B;S Sw;=T,
-their children:
-S5B 7*N+57, "ormerl& a s)%ire to 6in! Bobert, $ni!hted a"ter his death,
-(I7752, twin to 2art&n, a s)%ire, ta$en captie at the (hisperin! (ood,
-2*BT;N, twin to (illem, a s)%ire,
-C*N5I, a !irl o" two,
-85NN*, his sister, wed to Ser 5mmon =re&,
-8ennas son, S5B +75/S =B5;, ta$en captie at the (hisperin! (ood,
-8ennas son, TI/N =B5;, a s)%ire, ta$en captie at the (hisperin! (ood,
-KS5B T;85TTL, his second brother, died o" a po0,
-T&!etts widow, #*B75SS*, o" ,o%se 2arbrand,
-T&!etts son, T;B56, s)%ire to the $in!,
-K85BI/NL, his &o%n!est brother, lost at sea,
-8erions bastard da%!hter, C/;, eleen,
-his co%sin, S5B ST*==/B# 7*NNIST5B, brother to the late 7ad& Coanna,
-Ser Sta""ords da%!hters, +5B5NN* and 2;BI5775,
-Ser Sta""ords son, S5B #*>5N,
-his lord bannermen, captains, and commanders:
-S5B *##*2 2*BBB*N#, heir to *shemar$, commander o" 7ord T&wins
o%triders and sco%ts,
-S5B 8B58/B +758*N5, the 2o%ntain That Bides,
-4/77I>5B, +,IS(;+6, B*== T,5 S(55T7IN8, #<NS5N, and T,5
TI+675B, soldiers in his serice,
-7/B# 75/ 75==/B#,
-S5B *2/B; 7/B+,, a captain o" "ora!ers,
-75(;S 7;##5N, 7ord o" the #eep #en,
-8*(5N (5ST5B7IN8, 7ord o" the +ra!, ta$en captie in the (hisperin! (ood
and held at Sea!ard,
-S5B B/B5BT BB*E, and his brother,
-S5B =7525NT BB*E,
-S5B =/B75; 4B5ST5B, o" the 8olden Tooth,
->*B8/ ,/*T, o" the =ree +it& o" Fohor, captain o" the sellsword compan& called
the Brae +ompanions,
-2*5ST5B +B5;75N, his co%nselor'
,/<S5 2*BT577
#orne was the last o" the Seen 6in!doms to swear "ealt& to the Iron Throne' Blood,
c%stom, and histor& all set the #ornishmen apart "rom the other $in!doms' (hen the
war o" s%ccession bro$e o%t, the 4rince o" #orne $ept his silence and too$ no part'
The 2artell banner is a red s%n pierced b& a !olden spear' Their words are <nbowed,
<nbent, <nbro$en'
#/B*N N;25B/S 2*BT577, 7ord o" S%nspear, 4rince o" #orne,
-his wi"e, 2577*BI/, o" the =ree +it& o" Noros,
-their children:
-4BIN+5SS *BI*NN5, their eldest da%!hter, heir to S%nspear,
-4BIN+5 F<5NT;N, their eldest son,
-4BIN+5 TB;ST*N5, their &o%n!er son,
-his siblin!s:
-his sister, K4BIN+5SS 57I*L, wed to 4rince Bhae!ar Tar!ar&en, slain d%rin! the
Sac$ o" 6in!s 7andin!,
-5lias da%!hter, K4BIN+5SS B,*5N;SL, a &o%n! !irl m%rdered d%rin! the Sac$ o"
6in!s 7andin!,
-5lias son, K4BIN+5 *58/NL, a babe, m%rdered d%rin! the Sac$ o" 6in!s 7andin!,
-his brother, 4BIN+5 /B5B;N, the Bed >iper,
-his ho%sehold:
-*B5/ ,/T*,, a Noroshi sellsword, captain o" !%ards,
-2*5ST5B +*75/TT5, co%nselor, healer, and t%tor,
-his lords bannermen:
-5#BI+ #*;N5, 7ord o" Star"all'
The principal ho%ses sworn to S%nspear incl%de Corda&ne, Santa!ar, *ll&rion, Toland,
;ronwood, (&l, =owler, and #a&ne'
,/<S5 T;B577
7ord T&rell o" ,i!h!arden declared his s%pport "or 6in! Benl& a"ter Benl&s marria!e
to his da%!hter 2ar!aer&, and bro%!ht most o" his principal bannermen to Benl&s ca%se'
The T&rell si!il is a !olden rose on a !rass-!reen "ield' Their words are 8rowin! Stron!'
2*+5 T;B577, 7ord o" ,i!h!arden, (arden o" the So%th, #e"ender o" the 2arches,
,i!h 2arshal o" the Beach, and ,and o" the 6in!,
-his wi"e, 7*#; *75BI5, o" ,o%se ,i!htower o" /ldtown,
-their children:
-(I77*S, their eldest son, heir to ,i!h!arden,
-S5B 8*B7*N, called the 8*77*NT, their second son,
-S5B 7/B*S, the 6ni!ht o" =lowers, their &o%n!est son, 7ord +ommander o" the
Bainbow 8%ard,
-2*B8*5B;, their da%!hter, a maid o" "i"teen &ears, recentl& wed to Benl&
Baratheon,
-his widowed mother, 7*#; /75NN* o" ,o%se Bedw&ne, called the F<55N /=
T,/BNS,
-his sisters:
-2IN*, wed to 4a0ter Bedw&ne, 7ord o" the *rbor,
-their children:
-S5B ,/B*S B5#(;N5, twin to ,obber, moc$ed as ,/BB/B,
-S5B ,/BB5B B5#(;N5, twin to ,oras, moc$ed as S7/BB5B,
-#5S25B* B5#(;N5, a maid o" si0teen,
-C*NN*, wed to Ser Con =ossowa&,
-his %ncles:
-8*BT,, called the 8B/SS, 7ord Seneschal o" ,i!h!arden,
-8arths bastard sons, 8*BS5 and 8*BB5TT =7/(5BS,
-S5B 2/B;N, 7ord +ommander o" the +it& (atch o" /ldtown,
-2*5ST5B 8/B2/N, a scholar o" the +itadel,
-his ho%sehold:
-2*5ST5B 7/2;S, co%nselor, healer, and t%tor,
-I8/N >;B(57, captain o" the !%ard,
-S5B >/BTI25B +B*N5, master-at-arms,
-B<TT5BB<24S, "ool and 9ester, h%!el& "at'
T,5 25N /= T,5 NI8,TS (*T+,
The Ni!hts (atch protects the realm, and is sworn to ta$e no part in ciil wars and
contests "or the throne' Traditionall&, in times o" rebellion, the& do honor to all $in!s and
obe& none'
*t +astle Blac$
C5/B 2/B2/NT, 7ord +ommander o" the Ni!hts (atch, called the /7# B5*B,
-his steward and s)%ire, C/N SN/(, the bastard o" (inter"ell, called 7/B# SN/(,
-Cons white direwol", 8,/ST,
-2*5ST5B *52/N GT*B8*B;5NH, co%nselor and healer,
-S*2(577 T*B7; and +7;#*S, his stewards,
-B5NC5N ST*B6, =irst Ban!er, lost be&ond the (all,
-T,/B5N S2*77(//#, a senior ran!er,
-C*B25N B<+6(577, a senior ran!er,
-S5B /TT;N (;T,5BS, S5B *7*#*75 (;N+,, 8B5NN, 4;4*B,
2*TT,*B, 57B/N, 7*B6 called the SIST5B2*N, ran!ers,
-/T,577 ;*B(;+6, =irst B%ilder,
-,*7#5B, *7B5TT, b%ilders,
-B/(5N 2*BS,, 7ord Steward
-+,5TT, steward and do! handler,
-5##IS/N T/775TT, called #/7/B/<S 5##, a do%r s)%ire,
-S54T/N +577*#*B, a dr%n$en deo%t,
-S5B 5N#B5( T*BT,, master-at-arms,
-brothers o" +astle Blac$:
-#/N*7 N/;5, armorer and smith, one-armed,
-T,B55-=IN85B ,/BB, coo$,
-C5B5N, B*ST, +<85N, recr%its still in trainin!,
-+/N(;, 8<5B5N, 1wanderin! crows,3 recr%iters who collect orphan bo&s and
criminals "or the (all,
-;/B5N, the senior o" the 1wanderin! crows,3
-4B*5#, +<TC*+6, (/T,, B5;S5N, F;75, recr%its bo%nd "or the (all,
-6/SS, 85BB5N, #/BB5B, 6<BM, BIT5B, B/B85, C*F5N ,I8,*B, criminals
bo%nd "or the (all,
-7/22; 8B55N,*N#S, 85N#B;, T*BB5B, ,/T 4I5, *BB;, orphan bo&s
bo%nd "or the (all'
*t 5astwatch-b&-the-Sea
+/TT5B 4;65, +ommander, 5astwatch,
-S5B *77IS5B T,/BN5, master-at-arms,
-brothers o" 5astwatch:
-#*B5/N, steward and sin!er'
*t the Shadow Tower
S5B #5N;S 2*77IST5B, +ommander, Shadow Tower,
-F,/BIN called ,*7=,*N#, a senior ran!er,
-#*7BBI#85, an elderl& s)%ire and senior ran!er,
-5BB5N, ST/N5SN*65, ran!ers'