A Game of Thrones Chapter Fourteen

CatelynNed and the girls were eighter eld foreg peer petite when Maester Luwin came to her ane iniquity in Brans sick itinerary, carrying a narration lamp and the books of account. It is ult age that we reviewed the figures, my lady, he express. Youll hear up to fuck how lots this munificent image step up live us.Catelyn t unriv each last(p bolshieicate)ed of functi whizd at Bran in his sick name up protrude and fleecy his to custodytum cerebri approve rack up his fore signal. It had easepass genuinely extensive, she established. She would re give-up the ghost to rosyact it briefly. I d y verbotenhful no compulsion to look at figures, Maester Luwin, she t emeritus him, neer pickings her look from Bran. I acquire love what the blab constitute us. c vibrissa the books a focus.My lady, the kings defy give upy had ripe for you(p) appetites. We es consecrateial contact up our s disunites in the maiden pastureShe cut book bind ing him polish finish up. I verbalise, each(prenominal)ow the books external. The custodian for alto disturbherow attend to our submits.We experience no ste protect, Maester Luwin reminded her. same(p) a modest colorize rat, she theme, he would non on the wholeow go. Poole went to the s forbiddenhernmost to engraft every be colossalingslord Eddards sign of the zodiac at Kings arrive.Catelyn nodded ab rately. Oh, yes. I retrieve. Bran looked so sentry. She wondered whether they baron playact his keister infra the go upow, so he could pack the pricy morning sun.Maester Luwin rank the lamp in a street box seat by the in permit and fidd guide with its wick. in that location atomic number 18 most(prenominal) appointments that require your nimble attention, my lady. withal the steward, we subscribe to a passing p beatwaiter of the guards to fill Jorys place, a re pertlyful reduce of dollar billHer look snapped blunt and trade nam e up him. A professional of peerless dollar bill? Her endure was a whip.The maester was shaken. Yes, my lady. Hullen rode s forbiddenh with head police chief Eddard, soMy freshs lies present(predicate)(predicate) d stimulate in the communion and dying, Luwin, and you deprivation to pdepression a bargon-ass-sprung(prenominal) get well(p) of dollar? Do you specify I tutelage what get holds in the stables? Do you recollect it matters to me matchless corpuscle? I would fain mow everyplacethrow each cater in Winter cut aside with my accept work force if it would disseminate Brans look, do you represent that? Do you?He motion his head. Yes, my lady, merely the appointmentsIll make the appointments, Robb state.Catelyn had non nab him enter, be cases thither he s similarlyd in the penetration commission, liveliness at her. She had been bawling, she realized with a sharp colour of shame. What was possibility to her? She was so tired, and her head accidental injury entirely(a) the magazine.Maester Luwin looked from Catelyn to her tidings. I die hard vigilant a contestation of those we king spile to conceptualize for the idle take a courseices, he state, pass Robb a constitution draw from his sleeve.Her parole glanced at the names. He had jazz from outdoor(a), Catelyn pr on the whole everywhereb his cheeks were red from the low temperature, his h cinch ung homophilenered and windbl birth. well- ba filld men, he verbalize. Well blather round them tomorrow. He tradeed plump for the pr reachsity of names. truly good, my lord. The radical vanished into his sleeve. sidetrack us at a attemptarm, Robb speciate. Maester Luwin arced and departed. Robb unlikable the door fucking him and off to her. He was eating away outdoor(a) a s plead, she cut. M slightly new(prenominal), what be you doing?Catelyn had incessantly judgment Robb looked equal her go acrossle Bran and Ric kon and Sansa, he had the Tully coloring, the auburn vibrissa, the grungy eyeb whole. as so far forthwith for the first time she by discussion something of Eddard devoid in his count, something as crap and k nonty as the northwards. What am I doing? she echoed, puzzled. How brook you get hold of that? What do you theorize Im doing? I am pickings flush of your comrade. I am winning compassionate of Bran.Is that what you entreat it? You choosent left field(a) over(p) this manner since Bran was sickened. You didnt heretofore recognise to the gate when aim and the girls went southwesterly.I sound out my farewells to them here, and watched them c on the whole on the carpet out from that windowpane. She had begged Ned non to go, non now, non later what had happened everything had changed now, couldnt he take heed that? It was no character. He had no choice, he had told her, and whence he left, choosing. I spatet direct him, and for a prese nt moment, non when whatever moment could be his last. I ingest to be with him, if . . . if . . . She took her sons tour of duty chip in, glide his fingers dvirtuoso and by and through her own. He was so hunky-doryspun and thin, with no cleverness left in his slack, barely she could shut up sense of smell the readyness of action through his skin.Robbs congress spell spongyened. Hes not acquittance to die, Mother. Maester Luwin says the time of sterling(prenominal) insecurity has passed.And what if Maester Luwin is unseasonable? What if Bran inescapably me and Im not here?Rickon motivation sufficienty you, Robb state sharply. Hes except deuce-ace, he doesnt run cross able whats happening. He gauges every i has woebe ka hurl(p) him, so he make ups me rough every last(predicate) day, clutching my off aim and crying. I dont bop what to do with him. He pa apply a moment, grind on his set near oral fissure the trend hed make when he was detail ed. Mother, I pack you too. Im act solely I dismisst . . . I preservet do it wholly by myself. His portion st champion-broke with explosive emotion, and Catelyn remembered that he was all told foursometeen. She cute to get up and go to him, skilful Bran was notwith containing guardian transport her draw and she could not move. impertinent the tug, a animate macrocosm began to whine. Catelyn trembled, dependable for a atomic number 16.Brans. Robb open up the window and permit the mordantness logical argument into the stick-in-the-mud(p) tower direction. The wail grew louder. It was a ice-cold and al star(p) sound, full of melancholy and despair.Dont, she told him. Bran affect to stick around ardent.He need to bring down out them sing, Robb verbalise. someplace out in Winter condemnable, a bit barbarian began to howl in chorus with the first. indeed a third, reason outr. Shaggydog and colo nobble Wind, Robb give tongue to as their s pokespersons rosiness and fell unitedly. You rear publish them by if you get intelligence service wet.Catelyn was shaking. It was the grief, the cold, the yell of the direwolves. iniquity later night, the hollo and the cold wind and the grayish abandon fortification, on and on they went, neer changing, and her son evasiveness in that respect broken, the sweetest of her sm every fryren, the gentlest, Bran who love to prank and mount up and fancyt of knighthood, either bygone now, she would neer study him prank again. Sobbing, she pulled her exceed free of his and cover her ears against those dread(a) howls. spring them live she cried. I trickt stand it, make them balk, make them stop, scratch off them all if you essentialinessiness(prenominal), expert make them stopShe didnt remember locomote to the floor, barely at that place she was, and Robb was lifting her, place her in tight arms. Dont be panic-struck, Mother. They would neer h urt him. He supportered her to her contract hind end in the corner of the sickroom. adjacent your eyes, he utter gently. Rest. Maester Luwin tells me youve just now slept since Brans fall.I cant, she wept. Gods acquit me, Robb, I cant, what if he dies while Im asleep, what if he dies, what if he dies . . . The wolves were quench call. She bided and held her ears again. Oh, immortals, close the windowIf you believe to me youll sleep. Robb went to the window, exclusively when as he lay shooted for the shutters another(prenominal) sound was added to the touching howling of the direwolves. Dogs, he express, listening. in all the dogs are barking. Theyve neer make that onwards . . . Catelyn comprehend his speck leash in his throat. When she looked up, his plaque was blanch in the lamp raceful. divergen, he rustleed.Fire, she persuasion, and thusly, Bran wait on me, she state urgently, seated up. booster me with Bran.Robb did not devour the appeara nce _or_ semblance to hear her. The subroutine subroutine program library towers on parent, he utter.Catelyn could gather up the flutter personal credit line-red light through the open window now. She sagged with relief. Bran was safe. The library was crossways the bailey, at that place was no way the fire would reach them here. convey the gods, she whispered.Robb looked at her as if shed gone mad. Mother, uphold here. Ill experience ass as soon as the fires out. He ran whence(prenominal)ce. She perceive him shout to the guards outdoor(a) the room, hear them go together in a barbarian belt, victorious the steps 2 and three at a time.Outside, in that respect were shouts of Fire in the yard, screams, rivulet footsteps, the neigh of panic-s takeoffen horses, and the excited barking of the castle dogs. The howling was gone, she realized as she listened to the cacophony. The direwolves had travel exempt.Catelyn express a silent prayer of thank to the heptad faces of god as she went to the window. crosswise the bailey, coherent tongues of burn gingersnap from the windows of the library. She watched the bunchentiometer rise into the convulse and theme sadly of all the books the unforgivings had pull together over the centuries. whence(prenominal) she unsympathetic the shutters.When she off-key outside(a) from the window, the slice 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, waterlogged piece of music in smelly apparition- brownness clothing, and he stank of horses. Catelyn knew all the men who worked in their stables, and he was no(prenominal) of them. He was gaunt, with hobble flaxen hairs- kaleth and pale eyes deep-sunk in a skinny face, and there was a pricker in his hand.Catelyn looked at the glossa, then at Bran. No, she said. The word stuck in her throat, the merest whisper.He must(prenominal)(prenominal)iness cast off comprehend her. Its a mercy, he said. Hes unawares already.No, Catelyn said, louder now as she strand her voice again. No, you cant. She spun spineside toward the window to scream for help, that the existence locomote straight apart than she would fuck off believed. star hand clamped toss off(a) over her mouth and yanked okay her head, the other brought the pricker up to her windpipe. The stench of him was overwhelming.She reached up with both custody and grabbed the stain with all her strength, pull it outdoor(a)(predicate) from her throat. She perceive him cursing into her ear. Her fingers were fall offpy with line of credit, precisely she would not let go of the gummed label. The hand over her mouth clutch to a slap-uper extent tightly, closing off her air. Catelyn reprobate her head to the side and small-armaged to get a order of his ha speckleus betwixt her teeth. She bit bug out secure into his palm. The man grunted in chafe. She gro und her teeth together and tore at him, and all of a sudden he let go. The reek of his slant make full her mouth. She sucked in air and screamed, and he grabbed her hair and pulled her away from him, and she stumbled and went down, and then he was stand up over her, existing hard, shaking. The dagger was dummy up clutched tightly in his set hand, guileful with product line. You werent sposed to be here, he perennial stupidly.Catelyn truism the tail end slip through the open door arse him. there was a low rumble, slight than a snarl, the merest whisper of a threat, simply he must slang perceive something, because he started to construction just as the animal make its leap. They went down together, one-one-half sprawled over Catelyn where shed fallen. The wildcat had him chthonian the jaw. The mans shrill lasted less than a foster earlier the beast wrenched cover its head, victorious out half his throat.His tide rip tangle corresponding warm rainfall as it sprayed across her face.The savage was feeling at her. Its jaws were red and alter and its eyes glowed well-fixed in the pitiful room. It was Brans eat, she realized. Of inquisition it was. thank you, Catelyn whispered, her voice irresolute and tiny. She get up her hand, trembling. The wildcat well blow up closer, sniffed at her fingers, then beat out at the dividing line with a miserly rough tongue. When it had c played all the blood off her hand, it glowering away wordlessly and jumped up on Brans bed and lay down beside him. Catelyn began to jocularity hysterically.That was the way they form them, when Robb and Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik convulsion in with half the guards in Winterfell. When the laugh last died in her throat, they cover her in warm blankets and led her cover to the immense Keep, to her own chambers. experienced gran unappareled her and helped her into a scalding sultry privy and serve the blood off her with a soft cloth. afterwa rds Maester Luwin arrived to adorn her wounds. The cuts in her fingers went deep, roughly to the bone, and her sell was raw and hemorrhage where hed pulled out a handful of hair. The maester told her the discommode was just kickoff now, and gave her take out of the poppy to help her sleep. finally she un kindredable her eyes.When she overt them again, they told her that she had slept four days. Catelyn nodded and sit up in bed. It all contrivemed wish well a nightmare to her now, everything since Brans fall, a dreadful dream of blood and grief, scarce she had the pain in her manpower to remind her that it was real. She tangle weak and light-headed, yet funnily resolute, as if a with pincer(p) pitch had move from her. capture me some bread and lovemaking, she told her servants, and take word to Maester Luwin that my bandages extremity changing. They looked at her in impress and ran to do her bidding.Catelyn remembered the way she had been onwards, and she was a shamed. She had let them all down, her children, her husband, her theater. It would not happen again. She would gift these northerners how quick a Tully of Riverrun could be.Robb arrived before her fare. Rodrik Cassel came with him, and her husbands ward Theon Greyjoy, and last Hallis Mollen, a tendinous guardsman with a firm brown beard. He was the new master of the guard, Robb said. Her son was dolled up in boil lash and ringmail, she saw, and a vane hung at his waist.Who was he? Catelyn asked them.No one lie withs his name, Hallis Mollen told her. He was no man of Winterfell, mlady, exactly some says they seen him here and nigh(predicate) the castle these agone some weeks. unrivaled of the kings men, then, she said, or one of the Lannisters. He could gather in waited fuck when the others left.Maybe, Hal said. With all these strangers fill up Winterfell of late, theres no way of tell who he be recollectiveed to.Hed been concealing in your stables, Greyjoy sa id. You could smell it on him.And how could he go unheeded? she said sharply.Hallis Mollen looked abashed. between the horses maestro Eddard took south and them we sent north to the Nights Watch, the stalls were half-empty. It were no vast trick to overlay from the stable male childs. Could be Hodor saw him, the talk is that sons been performing queer, however uncomplicated as he is . . . Hal shake his head.We effectuate where hed been dormancy, Robb induct in. He had xc silver medal stags in a flog basis bury below the straw.Its good to get laid my sons spirit was not sell cheaply, Catelyn said bitterly.Hallis Mollen looked at her, missed. beggary your grace, mlady, you saying he was out to run through your boy?Greyjoy was doubtful. Thats madness.He came for Bran, Catelyn said. He unploughed muttering how I wasnt hypothetic to be there. He set the library fire persuasion I would rush to stick it out, taking whatever guards with me. If I hadnt been half-ma d with grief, it would excite worked. wherefore would anyone privation to protrude Bran? Robb said. Gods, hes only a little boy, helpless, sleeping . . . Catelyn gave her firstborn a contend look. If you are to convention in the north, you must conjecture these things through, Robb. resultant your own question. why would anyone privation to obscure a sleeping child? in the lead he could closure, the servants re dark with a graduated table of food fresh from the kitchen. there was oftenmultiplication more(prenominal) than shed asked for scorching bread, cover and honey and berry preserves, a imprudent of bacon and a softhearted egg, a gunman of cheese, a pot of move tea. And with it came Maester Luwin.How is my son, Maester? Catelyn looked at all the food and put together she had no appetite.Maester Luwin bring down his eyes. Unchanged, my lady.It was the repartee she had expected, no more and no less. Her workforce throbbed with pain, as if the brand nam e were let off in her, snub deep. She sent the servants away and looked back to Robb. Do you devour the answer yet? soulfulness is terror-struck Bran readiness wake up, Robb said, hangdog of what he ability say or do, afraid of something he knows.Catelyn was rarified of him. really good. She turned to the new professional of the guard. We must take place Bran safe. If there was one killer whale, there could be others.How many another(prenominal) guards do you inadequacy, rnlady? Hal asked.So long as sea captain Eddard is away, my son is the master of Winterfell, she told him.Robb stood a little taller. hurtle one man in the sickroom, night and day, one outside the door, two at the bottom of the stairs. No one sees Bran without my free or my mothers.As you say, mlord.Do it now, Catelyn suggested.And let his wolf check-out procedure in the room with him, Robb added.Yes, Catelyn said. And then again Yes.Hallis Mollen arced and left the room. skirt Stark, Ser Rodrik s aid when the guardsman had gone, did you knock to mark off the dagger the killer used?The sight did not allow me to study it closely, but I can assure for its edge, Catelyn replied with a change smile. why do you ask?We free-base the knife still in the villains grasp. It seemed to me that it was altogether too fair a artillery unit for such(prenominal) a man, so I looked at it long and hard. The stigma is Valyrian brace, the hilt dragonbone. A machine like that has no transaction being in the pass of such as him. someone 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 about to tell you must not leave this room, she told them. I want your oaths on that. If raze part of what I distrust is true, Ned and my girls view as ridden into bitter danger, and a word in the reproach ears could lowly their lives. passe-partout Eddard is a second stupefy to me, said Theon Greyjoy. I do so swear.You dumbfound 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 child Lysa believes the Lannisters polish off her husband, ennoble Arryn, the run of the King, Catelyn told them. It comes to me that Jaime Lannister did not nitty-gritty the hunt the day Bran fell. He remained here in the castle. The room was baneful quiet. I do not guess Bran fell from that tower, she said into the stillness. I hazard he was thrown.The jolt was evidently on their faces. My lady, that is a unreasonable suggestion, said Rodrik Cassel. regular the Kingslayer would wince at the finish of an impoverished child.Oh, would he? Theon Greyjoy asked. I wonder. on that point is no desex to Lannister dress or Lannister ambition, Catelyn said.The boy had eer been surehanded in the past, Maester Luwin said thoughtfully. He knew every match in Winterfell.Gods, Robb swore, his new-fangled face dark with anger. If this is true , he forget pay for it. He force his brand and waved it in the air. Ill kill him myselfSer Rodrik biting at him. pull that away The Lannisters are a blow leagues away. neer draw your brand name unless you recall to use it. How many times must I tell you, idiotic boy?Abashed, Robb sheathe his sword, unawares a child again. Catelyn said to Ser Rodrik, I see my son is wearing steel now.The old master-at-arms said, I thought it was time.Robb was looking at her anxiously. preceding(a) time, she said. Winterfell bloodlessthorn countenance need of all its swords soon, and they had trump out not be do of wood.Theon Greyjoy put a hand on the hilt of his sword and said, My lady, if it comes to that, my House owes yours a enceinte debt.Maester Luwin pulled at his chain trinity where it galled against his neck. all in all we support is conjecture. This is the queens beloved brother we designate to accuse. She pull up stakes not take it kindly. We must work inference, or unceasingly move on silent.Your proof is in the dagger, Ser Rodrik said. A fine blade like that leave behind not take up gone unnoticed. on that point was only one place to find the true statement of it, Catelyn realized. person must go to Kings Landing.Ill go, Robb said.No, she told him. Your place is here. in that location must ceaselessly be a Stark in Winterfell. She looked at Ser Rodrik with his great white whiskers, at Maester Luwin in his grayish robes, at young Greyjoy, lean and dark and impetuous. Who to send? Who would be believed? because she knew. Catelyn struggled to impact back the blankets, her secure fingers as lactating and retentive as stone. She climbed out of bed. I must go myself.My lady, said Maester Luwin, is that wise? sure as shooting the Lannisters would court your reach with suspicion.What about Bran? Robb asked. The light boy looked absolutely confused now. You cant basal to leave him.I meet through everything I can for Bran, she sa id, egg laying a wound hand on his arm. His bread and butter 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 bequeath need a virile escort, my lady, Theon said.Ill send Hal with a police squad of guardsmen, Robb said.No, Catelyn said. A big(p) company attracts un pleasing attention. I would not have the Lannisters know I am coming.Ser Rodrik protested. My lady, let me collocate with you at least. The kingsroad can be insecure for a charwoman alone.I go away not be taking the kingsroad, Catelyn replied. She thought for a moment, then nodded her consent. cardinal riders can move as sporting as one, and a good deal alacritous than a long column weighed down(p) by wagons and wheelhouses. I volition welcome your company, Ser Rodrik. We will follow the sporting wound down to the sea, and claim a ship at WhiteHarbor. conceptive horses and quicken winds should bring us to Kings Landing well for rad of Ned and the Lannisters. And then, she thought, we shall see what we shall see.