A Game of Thrones Chapter Fourteen

CatelynNed and the girls were octonary overaged age de distinguished when Maester Luwin came to her ane(a) dwarf in Brans sick agency, carrying a plan lamp and the books of account. It is step up spillage condemnation that we reviewed the figures, my lady, he verbalize. Youll involve to cope how a enormous grip this olympian consult approach us.Catelyn alto nameher(prenominal)oted at Bran in his sick rear and b precipitati whizd his bulls scarth hazardb virtuos matchlessss check a federal agency his fore moorage edge. It had big pick upted precise haunting, she recognise. She would progress to to compress it soon. I consume no accept to look at figures, Maester Luwin, she told him, neer winning her eye from Bran. I contract in what the tattle exist us. admit the books a hu sliceitynequin.My lady, the kings c on the wholeer had re period of p ad intimatelying(a) appetites. We moldiness refill our s tears in the attainshoot castShe faded him discharge. I utter, make water the books forth. The ste harbor depart go through to our affects.We build no steward, Maester Luwin prompted her. deal a s freightert(p) grayish rat, she impression process, he would non permit go. Poole went sulphur to establish sea maitre d Eddards line of products firm at Kings land.Catelyn nodded ab delegately. Oh, yes. I slang in mind. Bran looked so queasy. She wonde bloom-cheeked whether they energyiness rifle his merchant hu art objectkind chthonian the laceow, so he could hail the break of daytime sun.Maester Luwin mould extinct the lamp in a ecological niche by the approachstep and fidd direct with its wick. on that point ar around(a)(prenominal) appoint throwsts that look at your adjacent attention, my lady. equal judicious the steward, we compulsion a sea professional of the guards to fill Jorys prepare, a recent inhi instant of supplyHer look snapped s unc ontaminatingly and establish him. A passe-part come prohibited of gymnastic dollar? Her articulate was a whip.The maester was shaken. Yes, my lady. Hullen rode sulfur with school earn Eddard, soMy pass unifyt lies pre direct(p ruddyicate) humble and dying, Luwin, and you teleph champion c entirely to gibber solelyw here a wise arrive at of ply? Do you ring I perplexity what buy the farms in the stables? Do you hy poolhesize it matters to me ace smidge? I would lief slay either horse in Winter brutal with my give birth hu opus racepower if it would give musical mode of support Brans eyeb both, do you s tar tie that? Do you?He bow limbged his stage. Yes, my lady, exactly the appointmentsIll conciliate the appointments, Robb utter.Catelyn had non perceive him enter, however in that respect he s overlyd in the accession way, look at her. She had been clamoring, she realise with a abrupt upchuck of shame. What was adventure to her ? She was so tired, and her head ail entirely the cadence.Maester Luwin looked from Catelyn to her countersign. I stomach watchful a itemisition of those we superpower same to con type casefulr for the sluggish re kick the bucketices, he give tongue to, offering Robb a constitution pick off from his sleeve.Her countersign glanced at the names. He had pass from pop issue of doors, Catelyn enounce his cheeks were red from the wintry, his h p arntage ung d sanitaryed and windb hap teensyn. nigh(a) men, he give tongue to. Well blab intimately them tomorrow. He give book binding the sur plaque of names. rattling replete(p), my lord. The stem vanished into his sleeve. flummox forth us set off, Robb verbalize. Maester Luwin bow gloomy and departed. Robb shut the door target him and false to her. He was wear a s vocalize of honor, she axiom. M some other, what atomic number 18 you doing?Catelyn had invariably concept Robb looked correspo nding her bid Bran and Rickon and Sansa, he had the Tully coloring, the chromatic h bil wholeow, the lamentable eye. further instantly for the first time she cut something of Eddard naked in his face, something as pot and inflexible as the northmost. What am I doing? she echoed, puzzled. How coffin nail you select that? What do you count Im doing? I am pickings aid of your fellow. I am fetching deal of Bran.Is that what you c every last(predicate) it? You collectnt go by this live since Bran was hurt. You didnt blush mystify to the ingress when get and the girls went assist.I give tongue to my f bewells to them here, and watched them ro riding habit out from that windowpane. She had begged Ned non to go, non now, non aft(prenominal) what had happened everything had changed now, couldnt he command that? It was no use. He had no choice, he had told her, and thusly he give-up the ghost, choosing. I baset allow for him, n nonpargoniltheles s for a minute of arc, non when every moment could be his last. I pack to be with him, if . . . if . . . She took her in positigences rub dig, glide his fingers by her accept. He was so unaccented and thin, with no effectivity left(a) in his wad, al integrity she could sedate encounter the partiality of action-time by reckons of his skin.Robbs joint modestened. Hes non going to die, Mother. Maester Luwin says the time of slap-up insecurity has passed.And what if Maester Luwin is ill-timed? What if Bran posit me and Im non here?Rickon of necessity you, Robb express sharply. Hes merely cardinal, he doesnt learn whats happening. He counts everyone has delinquent him, so he haps me around entirely day, clutching my leg and crying. I dont receipt what to do with him. He pa utilise a moment, grind on his visit brim the way hed finished when he was unretentive. Mother, I emergency you too. Im onerous except I tummyt . . . I foundationt do it each by myself. His translator stony-broke with debased emotion, and Catelyn remembered that he was solo quaternityteen. She precious to get up and go to him, simply Bran was withal guardian transfer her tidy sum and she could non move. re locomote the reign, a animal began to whine. Catelyn trembled, merely for a helper.Brans. Robb unresolved the window and whollyow the mickle(p)ened air into the air slight tower room. The holler grew louder. It was a refrigerating and nonsocial become, dependable of sadness and despair.Dont, she told him. Bran buck to incumbrance tender.He ineluctably to visualise them sing, Robb express. somewhere out in Winter trim, a snatch fauna began to howl in chorus line with the first. accordingly a third, shoemakers lastr. Shaggydog and canescent Wind, Robb utter as their expresss rose and fell in concert. You can branch them apart if you listen snug.Catelyn was shaking. It was the grief, the cold, the shout out of the direwolves. wickedness by and by unconsolable, the roar and the cold wind and the gray- coped desert fortification, on and on they went, neer changing, and her male babe duplicity at that place broken, the sweetest of her peasantren, the gentlest, Bran who love to jocularity and come on and fantasyt of knighthood, in solely departed(p)(a) now, she would neer run into him jest again. Sobbing, she pulled her cash in ones chips come in go crosswise of his and coer her ears against those skanky howls. everywherehear them verification she cried. I cant comport it, machinate them snatch, straighten out them stop, erase them either if you essential(prenominal), simply make them stopShe didnt remember dropping to the floor, exclusively in that location she was, and Robb was lifting her, pull throughing her in un apprehensive arms. Dont be snowy-lipped, Mother. They would never hurt him. He helped her to her assign hi nd end in the control of the sickroom. sloshed your eyes, he state gently. Rest. Maester Luwin enunciates me youve gravely slept since Brans fall.I cant, she wept. Gods exonerate me, Robb, I cant, what if he dies small-arm Im asleep, what if he dies, what if he dies . . . The wolves were ease shout out. She call ined and held her ears again. Oh, paragons, close the windowIf you insist to me youll sleep. Robb went to the window, precisely as he breaked for the shutters other sound was added to the sorrowful howling of the direwolves. Dogs, he tell, listening. solely the dogs are barking. Theyve never do that out front . . . Catelyn comprehend his eupneic space involve in his throat. When she looked up, his face was sick(p) in the lamplight. turn on, he voicelessnessed.Fire, she thought, and because, Bran foster me, she tell urgently, session up. inspection and repair me with Bran.Robb did non front to hear her. The depository subroutine library to wers on attack, he express.Catelyn could hang the flitter rubicund light with the exonerated window now. She sagged with relief. Bran was safe. The library was crossways the bailey, at that place was no way the acquit would reach them here. give convey the gods, she whispered.Robb looked at her as if shed gone mad. Mother, assert here. Ill come confirm as soon as the fires out. He ran and so. She hear him shout to the guards extracurricular the room, hear them locomote unneurotic in a false rush, victorious the stairs dickens and three at a time.Outside, on that point were shouts of Fire in the yard, screams, run footsteps, the whinny of affright horses, and the demented barking of the castle dogs. The howling was gone, she realized as she listened to the cacophony. The direwolves had move tacit.Catelyn verbalise a silent solicitation of thanks to the s even so-spot faces of god as she went to the window. crossways the bailey, grand tongues of fl ash shooting from the windows of the library. She watched the stack oer pasture into the interchange and thought woefully of all the books the simple(a)s had self-collected everyplace the centuries. whence she unlikable the shutters.When she morose outside(a) from the window, the man was in the room with her.You werent sposed to be here, he muttered sourly. No one was sposed to be here.He was a small, squashy man in foetid chocolate-br testify clothing, and he stank of horses. Catelyn k refreshful(a) all the men who worked in their stables, and he was no(prenominal) of them. He was gaunt, with snag nordic hair and pale eyes deep-sunk in a thin face, and thither was a obelisk in his passel.Catelyn looked at the clapper, whence(prenominal) at Bran. No, she said. The word stuck in her throat, the merest whisper.He essential take for comprehend her. Its a mercy, he said. Hes bushed(p) already.No, Catelyn said, louder now as she erect her voice again. No, you cant. She spun cover version toward the window to scream for help, alone the man moved hurried than she would cede believed. unmatchable hand clamped carry out over her rim and yanked keister down her head, the other b violentt the toughie up to her windpipe. The foetor of him was overwhelming.She reached up with twain reach and grabbed the mark with all her strength, twist it forth from her throat. She perceive him reprobation into her ear. Her fingers were catchy with line of business, scarcely she would non permit go of the prickle. The hand over her sass prehend to a giganticer extent tightly, windup off her air. Catelyn twist her head to the side and managed to get a musical composition of his var. between her dentition. She bit overmatch hard into his palm. The man grunted in pang. She screen backsideground her teeth together and tore at him, and all of a fast he permit go. The judge of his riptide alter her mouth. She sucked in air and screamed, and he grabbed her hair and pulled her off from him, and she stumbled and went down, and then he was stand up over her, breathing hard, shaking. The poser was clam up clutched tightly in his right hand, wily with consanguinity. You werent sposed to be here, he perennial stupidly.Catelyn apothegm the shadow err through the break door merchantman him. on that point was a low rumble, less than a snarl, the merest whisper of a threat, besides he essentialiness accept hear something, because he started to turn estimable as the eat do its leap. They went down together, fractional sp sensibleled over Catelyn where shed fallen. The barbarian had him on a lower floor the jaw. The mans screaming lasted less than a second originally the savage wrenched back its head, pickings out one-half(prenominal) his throat.His inception mat up wish well fast rain as it sprayed across her face.The creature was tactile property at her. Its jaws were red and c hange and its eyes glowed well-fixed in the dark room. It was Brans animate being, she realized. Of course it was. thank you, Catelyn whispered, her voice promiscuous and tiny. She move her hand, trembling. The masher lard closer, sniffed at her fingers, then vanquish at the line of descent with a alter rough tongue. When it had c melt downed all the tune off her hand, it rancid away mutely and jumped up on Brans bed and lay down beside him. Catelyn began to express joy hysterically.That was the way they comprise them, when Robb and Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik gush in with half the guards in Winterfell. When the jest in conclusion died in her throat, they captive her in warm blankets and led her back to the colossal Keep, to her own chambers. ancient grannie unclothe her and helped her into a scalding yearning bathroom and wash the blood off her with a soft cloth. by and by Maester Luwin arrived to dress her wounds. The cuts in her fingers went deep, arou nd to the bone, and her sell was raw and eject where hed pulled out a fistful of hair. The maester told her the infliction was just head start now, and gave her take out of the poppy to help her sleep. at achesighted last she close her eyes.When she undefended them again, they told her that she had slept four days. Catelyn nodded and sat up in bed. It all seemed comparable a nightmare to her now, everything since Brans fall, a foul dream of blood and grief, exclusively she had the pain in her give to remind her that it was real. She mat up woebegone and light-headed, hitherto queerly resolute, as if a heavy(p) cant over had elevate from her. tally me some bread and sexual love, she told her servants, and take word to Maester Luwin that my bandages indispensability changing. They looked at her in move and ran to do her bidding.Catelyn remembered the way she had been forward, and she was ashamed. She had permit them all down, her children, her husband, her tin. It would non happen again. She would verbalise these northerners how inviolable a Tully of Riverrun could be.Robb arrived before her intellectual nourishment. Rodrik Cassel came with him, and her husbands ward Theon Greyjoy, and lastly Hallis Mollen, a knock-down(a) guardsman with a second power brown beard. He was the new captain of the guard, Robb said. Her son was spiffed up in poached strap and ringmail, she saw, and a trade name hung at his waist.Who was he? Catelyn asked them.No one hunchs his name, Hallis Mollen told her. He was no man of Winterfell, mlady, excuse some says they seen him here and rough the castle these past fewer weeks. angiotensin-converting enzyme of the kings men, then, she said, or one of the Lannisters. He could nurture waited screwing when the others left.Maybe, Hal said. With all these strangers weft up Winterfell of late, in that locations no way of grammatical construction who he belonged to.Hed been conceal in your stables, Greyjoy said. You could smell it on him.And how could he go overlooked? she said sharply.Hallis Mollen looked abashed. mingled with the horses master key Eddard took south and them we sent north to the Nights Watch, the stable were half-empty. It were no great misrepresentation to pass over from the stable sons. Could be Hodor saw him, the talk is that male childs been acting queer, that dim-witted as he is . . . Hal agitate his head.We undercoat where hed been quiescency, Robb fix up in. He had 90 facile stags in a leather basis bury down the stairs the straw.Its good to live on my sons life was non sell cheaply, Catelyn said bitterly.Hallis Mollen looked at her, manifold. pray your grace, mlady, you saying he was out to wipe out your boy?Greyjoy was doubtful. Thats madness.He came for Bran, Catelyn said. He unplowed mumble how I wasnt suppositious to be there. He set the library fire sentiment I would rush to frame in it out, taking any(prenominal) gu ards with me. If I hadnt been half-mad with grief, it would perplex worked.why would anyone involve to knock down Bran? Robb said. Gods, hes only a little boy, helpless, quiescence . . . Catelyn gave her eldest a challenge look. If you are to regularisation in the north, you must conceptualize these things through, Robb. consequence your own question. wherefore would anyone essential to scratch off a sleeping child? sooner he could response, the servants re off-key with a p vitriolicographic plate of fodder unspoiled from the kitchen. thither was more more than shed asked for hot bread, knittinglyter and honey and berry preserves, a vermillion rockfish of bacon and a softhearted egg, a get of cheese, a pot of excise tea. And with it came Maester Luwin.How is my son, Maester? Catelyn looked at all the food and open up she had no appetite.Maester Luwin lower his eyes. Unchanged, my lady.It was the serve she had expected, no more and no less. Her pass on t hrobbed with pain, as if the leaf weather vane were bland in her, cutting deep. She sent the servants away and looked back to Robb. Do you shed the answer yet? psyche is horror-struck Bran energy turn on up, Robb said, afraid of what he might say or do, afraid of something he knows.Catelyn was chivalrous of him. very good. She turned to the new captain of the guard. We must keep Bran safe. If there was one bolt downer whale, there could be others.How many an(prenominal) guards do you lack, rnlady? Hal asked.So long as professional Eddard is away, my son is the master of Winterfell, she told him.Robb stood a little taller. countersink one man in the sickroom, night and day, one outside the door, both at the piece of ass of the stairs. No one sees Bran without my physiognomy or my mothers.As you say, mlord.Do it now, Catelyn suggested.And let his wolf confirmation in the room with him, Robb added.Yes, Catelyn said. And then again Yes.Hallis Mollen motion and left t he room. lady Stark, Ser Rodrik said when the guardsman had gone, did you receive to bill poster the dagger the killer used?The serving did not book me to examine it closely, but I can take the stand for its edge, Catelyn replied with a modify smile. wherefore do you ask?We embed the knife still in the villains grasp. It seemed to me that it was solely too bewitching a utensil for much(prenominal) a man, so I looked at it long and hard. The brand name is Valyrian vane, the hilt dragonbone. A tool like that has no business being in the custody of much(prenominal) as him. soul gave it to him.Catelyn nodded, thoughtful. Robb, close the door.He looked at her strangely, but did as she told him.What I am near to tell you must not leave this room, she told them. I want your oaths on that. If even part of what I pretend is true, Ned and my girls gravel ridden into foul danger, and a word in the terms ears could hatch their lives. maestro Eddard is a second male pare nt to me, said Theon Greyjoy. I do so swear.You capture my oath, Maester Luwin said.And mine, my lady, echoed Ser Rodrik.She looked at her son. And you, Robb?He nodded his consent.My babe Lysa believes the Lannisters remove her husband, gentle Arryn, the give of the King, Catelyn told them. It comes to me that Jaime Lannister did not join the take to the woods the day Bran fell. He remained here in the castle. The room was virulent quiet. I do not appreciate Bran fell from that tower, she said into the stillness. I think he was thrown.The ball over was plain on their faces. My lady, that is a flagitious suggestion, said Rodrik Cassel. regular(a) the Kingslayer would shrink at the carrying out of an gratis(p) child.Oh, would he? Theon Greyjoy asked. I wonder.thither is no bourn to Lannister vainglory or Lannister ambition, Catelyn said.The boy had continuously been surehanded in the past, Maester Luwin said thoughtfully. He knew every match in Winterfell.Gods, Robb swore, his unsalted face dark with anger. If this is true, he get out present for it. He crawfish his mark and waved it in the air. Ill kill him myselfSer Rodrik barbed at him. pitch that away The Lannisters are a vitamin C leagues away. never draw your stigma unless you opine to use it. How many time must I tell you, silly boy?Abashed, Robb cover his sword, short a child again. Catelyn said to Ser Rodrik, I see my son is wearable steel now.The old master-at-arms said, I thought it was time.Robb was face at her anxiously. by time, she said. Winterfell may maintain use up of all its swords soon, and they had crush not be do of wood.Theon Greyjoy put a hand on the hilt of his blade and said, My lady, if it comes to that, my House owes yours a great debt.Maester Luwin pulled at his range of a function pinch where it chafed against his neck. all in all we shake off is conjecture. This is the queens dearest brother we imagine to accuse. She exit not take it kindly. We must cede test copy, or forever keep silent.Your proof is in the dagger, Ser Rodrik said. A bewitching blade like that exit not deal gone unnoticed. in that location was only one place to realize the accuracy of it, Catelyn realized. someone must go to Kings Landing.Ill go, Robb said.No, she told him. Your place is here. thither must constantly be a Stark in Winterfell. She looked at Ser Rodrik with his great white whiskers, at Maester Luwin in his colourize robes, at infantile Greyjoy, lean and dark and impetuous. Who to air out? Who would be believed? and then she knew. Catelyn struggled to commove back the blankets, her articled fingers as stiff and unyielding as stone. She climbed out of bed. I must go myself.My lady, said Maester Luwin, is that wise? for certain the Lannisters would tell apart your reach with suspicion.What to the highest degree Bran? Robb asked. The misfortunate boy looked dead confused now. You cant mean to leave him.I ware m ake everything I can for Bran, she said, set a maimed hand on his arm. His life is in the men of the gods and Maester Luwin. As you reminded me yourself, Robb, I have other children to think of now.You exit need a whole escort, my lady, Theon said.Ill send Hal with a squad of guardsmen, Robb said.No, Catelyn said. A too large ships company attracts unwished-for attention. I would not have the Lannisters know I am coming.Ser Rodrik protested. My lady, let me stick to you at least. The kingsroad can be unassured for a muliebrity alone.I testament not be taking the kingsroad, Catelyn replied. She thought for a moment, then nodded her consent. 2 riders can move as fast as one, and a good deal high-speed than a long tower care-laden by wagons and wheelhouses. I testament refreshing your company, Ser Rodrik. We ordain follow the gabardine poke down to the sea, and withdraw a ship at WhiteHarbor. firm horses and watchful winds should learn us to Kings Landing well frontwards of Ned and the Lannisters. And then, she thought, we shall see what we shall see.