A Game of Thrones Chapter Thirty-five

EddardHe found Littlefinger in the brothels crude room, chatting amiably with a tall, elegant woman who wore a feathe deprivation garb everyw present skin as black as ink. By the hearth, Heward and a buxom wench were playing at forfeits. From the look of it, hed disconnected his crash, his cloak, his institutionalise shirt, and his right boot so far, while the fille had been forced to un scarceton her shift to the waist. Jory Cassel stood beside a pelting arrive-streaked window with a wry pull a exhibit on his face, watching Heward turn over tiles and enjoying the view.Ned paused at the foot of the stair and pulled on his g hunchs. Its time we took our leave. My business here is done.Heward lurched to his feet, hurriedly gathering up his things. As you will, my lord, Jory said. Ill help Wyl bring round the knights. He strode to the door.Littlefinger took his time saying his farewells. He kissed the black womans hand, whispered some joke that made her laugh aloud, and saun tered over to Ned. Your business, he said lightly, or Roberts? They say the Hand dreams the kings dreams, speaks with the kings voice, and rules with the kings blade. Does that as well as retrieve you fuck with the kings entitle Baelish, Ned interrupted, you presume too very much. I am non ungrateful for your help. It might buzz off taken us years to chance upon this brothel without you. That does not mean I intend to endure your mockery. And I am no longer the Kings Hand.The direwolf must be a setaceous beast, said Littlefinger with a sharp twist of his mouth.A warm rain was pelting floor from a starless black sky as they walked to the stables. Ned drew up the hood of his cloak. Jory brought out his horse. Young Wyl came right behind(predicate) him, leading Littlefingers maria with one hand while the other fumbled with his belt and the lacings of his trousers. A barefoot whore leaned out of the stable door, giggling at him. willing we be going second to the castle now, m y lord? Jory asked. Ned nodded and swung into the saddle. Littlefinger mounted up beside him. Jory and the others followed.Chataya runs a choice establishment, Littlefinger said as they rode. Ive half a attend to buy it. Brothels are a much sounder investment than ships, Ive found. Whores rarely sink, and when they are boarded by pirates, why, the pirates pay good coin similar everyone else. overlord Petyr chuckled at his own wit.Ned let him prattle on. After a time, he quieted and they rode in silence. The streets of Kings Landing were dark and deserted. The rain had driven everyone under their roofs. It call tweak use up on Neds head, warm as blood and relentless as sometime(a) guilts. Fat drops of water ran down his face.Robert will never forbear to one bed, Lyanna had told him at Winterfell, on the night long ago when their fix had promised her hand to the unripe Lord of Storms End. I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale. Ned had held the babe in his ar ms he could scarcely deny her, nor would he lie to his sister, moreover he had assured her that what Robert did forward their betrothal was of no matter, that he was a good man and true who would love her with all his heart. Lyanna had only smiled. roll in the hay is sweet, dearest Ned, simply it cannot change a mans nature.The girl had been so young Ned had not dared to ask her age. No doubt shed been a virgin the remedy brothels could always find a virgin, if the purse was fat enough. She had light red pilus and a powdering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, and when she slipped free a dummy to put her nipple to the babe, he saw that her bosom was freckled as well. I named her Barra, she said as the child nursed. She looks so like him, does she not, milord? She has his nose, and his hair . . . She does. Eddard desolate had touched the babys fine, dark hair. It flowed with his fingers like black silk. Roberts firstborn had had the same fine hair, he calculateed t o recall.Tell him that when you see him, milord, as it . . . as it please you. Tell him how beautiful she is.I will, Ned had promised her. That was his curse. Robert would swear undying love and forget them before evenfall, further Ned Stark kept his vows. He judgement of the promises hed made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price hed paid to keep them.And give tongue to him Ive not been with no one else. I swear it, milord, by the old gods and new. Chataya said I could have half a year, for the baby, and for hoping hed come back. So youll class him Im waiting, wont you? I dont want no jewels or nothing, just him. He was always good to me, truly.Good to you, Ned fancy hollowly. I will tell him, child, and I promise you, Barra shall not go wanting.She had smiled then, a smile so tremulous and sweet that it cut off the heart out of him. Riding by dint of the rainy night, Ned saw Jon Snows face in front of him, so like a younger version of his own. If the gods frowned so on bas tards, he thought dully, why did they fill men with such lusts? Lord Baelish, what do you spang of Roberts bastards?Well, he has more than you, for a start.How many?Littlefinger shrugged. Rivulets of moisture twisted down the back of his cloak. Does it matter? If you bed enough women, some will give you presents, and His Grace has never been shy on that count. I know hes admit that boy at Storms End, the one he fa in that locationd the night Lord Stannis wed. He could hardly do otherwise. The mother was a Florent, niece to the Lady Selyse, one of her bedmaids. Renly says that Robert carried the girl upstairs during the feast, and broke in the wedding bed while Stannis and his bride were sedate dancing. Lord Stannis seemed to think that was a blot on the honor of his wifes House, so when the boy was born, he shipped him off to Renly. He gave Ned a sideways glance. Ive also heard whispers that Robert got a pair of twins on a armed service wench at Casterly Rock, three years ago whe n he went watt for Lord Tywins tourney. Cersei had the babes killed, and sold the mother to a passing slaver. Too much an affront to Lannister pride, that close to home.Ned Stark grimaced. Ugly tales like that were told of every considerable lord in the realm. He could believe it of Cersei Lannister readily enough . . . but would the king stand by and let it happen? The Robert he had cognise would not have, but the Robert he had known had never been so right at shutting his eyes to things he did not wish to see. wherefore would Jon Arryn take a sudden interest in the kings baseborn children?The short(p) man gave a sodden shrug. He was the Kings Hand. Doubtless Robert asked him to see that they were provided for. Ned was steamed through to the bone, and his soul had grown cold. It had to be more than that, or why kill him?Littlefinger shook the rain from his hair and laughed. Now I see. Lord Arryn learned that His Grace had filled the bellies of some whores and fishwives, and for that he had to be silenced. petty wonder. Allow a man like that to live, and next hes like to blurt out out that the sun rises in the east.There was no answer Ned Stark could give to that but a frown. For the first time in years, he found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen. He wondered if Rhaegar had frequented brothels somehow he thought not.The rain was falling harder now, stinging the eyes and drumming against the ground. Rivers of black water were rill down the hill when Jory called out, My lord, his voice hoarse with alarm. And in an eye blink, the street was skilful of soldiers.Ned glimpsed ringmail over leather, gauntlets and greaves, steel helms with golden king of beastss on the crests. Their cloaks clung to their backs, sodden with rain. He had no time to count, but there were ten at least, a bloodline of them, on foot, blocking the street, with longswords and iron-tipped spears. Behind he heard Wyl cry, and when he glowering his horse, there were more in ba ck of them, cutting off their retreat. Jorys sword came singing from its scabbard. Make way or dieThe wolves are howling, their leader said. Ned could see rain running down his face. Such a splendid pack, though.Littlefinger walked his horse forward, step by careful step. What is the meaning of this? This is the Hand of the King.He was the Hand of the King. The mud muffled the hooves of the blood bay stallion. The line split before him. On a golden breastplate, the lion of Lannister roared its defiance. Now, if truth be told, Im not sure what he is.Lannister, this is madness, Littlefinger said. Let us pass. We are expect back at the castle. What do you think youre doing?He knows what hes doing, Ned said calmly.Jaime Lannister smiled. rather true. Im looking for my brother. You remember my brother, dont you, Lord Stark? He was with us at Winterfell. Fair-haired, mismatched eyes, sharp of tongue. A short man.I remember him well, Ned replied.It would seem he has met some trouble on the road. My lord father is preferably vexed. You would not perchance have any notion of who might have wished my brother ill, would you?Your brother has been taken at my command, to answer for his crimes, Ned Stark said.Littlefinger groaned in dismay. My lordsSer Jaime ripped his longsword from its s catch fireh and urged his stallion forward. Show me your steel, Lord Eddard. Ill butcher you like Aerys if I must, but Id sooner you died with a blade in your hand. He gave Littlefinger a cool, contemptuous glance. Lord Baelish, Id leave here in some hurriedness if I did not care to get bloodstains on my costly clothing.Littlefinger did not need to be urged. I will bring the City Watch, he promised Ned. The Lannister line parted to let him through, and closed behind him. Littlefinger put his heels to his mare and vanished around a corner.Neds men had drawn their swords, but they were three against twenty. look watched from nearby windows and doors, but no one was about to intervene . His party was mounted, the Lannisters on foot save for Jaime himself. A charge might win them free, but it seemed to Eddard Stark that they had a surer, safer tactic. Kill me, he warned the Kingslayer, and Catelyn will most surely slay Tyrion.Jaime Lannister poked at Neds chest with the gilded sword that had sipped the blood of the break down of the Dragonkings. Would she? The noble Catelyn Tully of Riverrun murder a hostage? I think . . . not. He sighed. But I am not willing to chance my brothers brio on a womans honor. Jaime slid the golden sword into its sheath. So I consider Ill let you run back to Robert to tell him how I frightened you. I wonder if hell care. Jaime pushed his wet hair back with his fingers and wheeled his horse around. When he was beyond the line of swordsmen, he glanced back at his captain. Tregar, see that no harm comes to Lord Stark.As you say, mlord.Still . . . we wouldnt want him to leave here entirely unchastened, sothrough the night and the rain, he glimpsed the white of Jaimes smilekill his men.No Ned Stark screamed, clawing for his sword. Jaime was already cantering off down the street as he heard Wyl shout. Men closed from both(prenominal) sides. Ned rode one down, cutting at phantoms in red cloaks who gave way before him. Jory Cassel put his heels into his mount and charged. A steel-shod hoof caught a Lannister guardsman in the face with a sickening crunch. A second man reeled away and for an instant Jory was free. Wyl cursed as they pulled him off his dying horse, swords slashing in the rain. Ned galloped to him, bringing his longsword down on Tregars helm. The jolt of impact made him grit his dentition. Tregar stumbled to his knees, his lion crest sheared in half, blood running down his face. Heward was hacking at the hands that had seized his bridle when a spear caught him in the belly. Suddenly Jory was back among them, a red rain flying from his sword. No Ned shouted. Jory, away Neds horse slipped under him and c ame crashing down in the mud. There was a moment of blinding pain and the taste of blood in his mouth.He saw them cut the legs from Jorys mount and drag him to the earth, swords rising and failing as they closed in around him. When Neds horse lurched back to its feet, he tried to rise, only to fall again, choking on his scream. He could see the splintered bone poking through his calf. It was the last thing he saw for a time. The rain came down and down and down.When he opened his eyes again, Lord Eddard Stark was completely with his dead. His horse moved closer, caught the rank scent of blood, and galloped away. Ned began to drag himself through the mud, gritting his teeth at the agony in his leg. It seemed to take years. Faces watched from candlelit windows, and people began to emerge from alleys and doors, but no one moved to help.Littlefinger and the City Watch found him there in the street, cradling Jory Cassels body in his arms.Somewhere the gold cloaks found a litter, but th e trip back to the castle was a blur of agony, and Ned lost consciousness more than once. He remembered seeing the Red Keep looming in advance of him in the first grey light of dawn. The rain had darkened the spotter pink stone of the massive walls to the color of blood.Then Grand Maester Pycelle was looming over him, holding a cup, whispering, Drink, my lord. Here. The milk of the poppy, for your pain. He remembered swallowing, and Pycelle was telling someone to heat the wine to boiling and fetch him clean silk, and that was the last he knew.