A Game of Thrones Chapter Thirty-five

EddardHe found Littlefinger in the bathhouses common room, chatting amiably with a tall, elegant woman who wore a feathered gown over skin as black as ink. By the hearth, Heward and a buxom wench were playing at forfeits. From the look of it, hed lost his belt, his cloak, his mail shirt, and his right boot so far, part the girl had been forced to unbutton her shift to the waist. Jory Cassel stood beside a rain-streaked window with a wry grinning on his face, watching Heward turn over tiles and enjoying the view.Ned paused at the base of operations of the stair and pulled on his gloves. Its time we took our leave. My business here is d whizz.Heward lurched to his feet, hurriedly gathering up his things. As you will, my lord, Jory said. Ill help Wyl bring round the long horses. He strode to the door.Littlefinger took his time state his farewells. He kissed the black womans hand, whispered some joke that made her laugh aloud, and sauntered over to Ned. Your business, he said fain theartedly, or Roberts? They say the throw dreams the kings dreams, speaks with the kings voice, and rules with the kings sword. Does that also opine you fuck with the kingsmanufacturing business Baelish, Ned interrupted, you presume too much. I am not ungrateful for your help. It might have taken us years to find this brothel with forbidden you. That does not mean I intend to endure your mockery. And I am no longer the Kings Hand.The direwolf must be a prickly beast, said Littlefinger with a sharp twist of his mouth.A warm rain was pelting down from a starless black sky as they walked to the stables. Ned drew up the ceiling of his cloak. Jory brought out his horse. Young Wyl came right behind him, leading Littlefingers mare with champion 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.Will we be going butt to the castle now, my lord? Jory asked. Ned nodded and swung into the saddle. Li ttlefinger mounted up beside him. Jory and the others followed.Chataya runs a choice establishment, Littlefinger said as they rode. Ive one-half a mind to buy it. Brothels are a much sounder investment than ships, Ive found. Whores seldom sink, and when they are boarded by pirates, why, the pirates pay good coin corresponding everyone else. Lord 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 amount down on Neds head, warm as blood and relentless as old guilts. Fat drops of water ran down his face.Robert will never keep to one bed, Lyanna had told him at Winterfell, on the night long ago when their expoundher had promised her hand to the young Lord of Storms End. I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale. Ned had held the babe in his arms he could scarcely deny her, nor would he lie to his sister, but he had a scertain(p)d her that what Robert did onward 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. Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but 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 better brothels could always find a virgin, if the purse was fat enough. She had light red hair and a powdering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, and when she slipped free a breast to name 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 Stark had touched the babys fine, dark hair. It flowed done his fingers like black silk. Roberts first had had the same fine hair, he conceivemed to recall.Tell him that when you see him, milord, as it . . . as it please you. Tell him how beautifu l she is.I will, Ned had promised her. That was his curse. Robert would swear undying love and impede them before evenfall, but Ned Stark kept his vows. He thought of the promises hed made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price hed paid to keep them.And tell 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 tell him Im waiting, wont you? I dont emergency no jewels or nothing, just him. He was always good to me, truly.Good to you, Ned thought 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 the heart out of him. Riding through the rainy night, Ned saw Jon Snows face in motility of him, so like a younger version of his own. If the gods frowned so on bastards, he thought dully, why did they fill men with such lusts? Lord Baelish, what do you know of Roberts bastards?Wel l, 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 acknowledged that boy at Storms End, the one he fathered the night Lord Stannis wed. He could scantily 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 still dancing. Lord Stannis seemed to speculate 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 oppose of twins on a serving wench at Casterly Rock, three years ago when he went west for Lord Tywins tourney. Cersei had the babes use uped, and sold the mother to a passing slaver. Too much a n affront to Lannister pride, that close to home.Ned Stark grimaced. Ugly tales like that were told of every great lord in the realm. He could believe it of Cersei Lannister quickly enough . . . but would the king stand by and let it happen? The Robert he had known would not have, but the Robert he had known had never been so practiced at shutting his eyes to things he did not wish to see. Why would Jon Arryn take a sudden interest in the kings baseborn children?The picayune man gave a soupy shrug. He was the Kings Hand. Doubtless Robert asked him to see that they were provided for. Ned was soaked 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. Small wonder. Allow a man like that to live, and next hes like to blurt out that the sun rises in the eas t.There was no dissolve 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 drum against the ground. Rivers of black water were running down the hill when Jory called out, My lord, his voice hoarse with alarm. And in an instant, the street was full of soldiers.Ned glimpsed ringmail over leather, gauntlets and greaves, steel helms with golden lions 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 line of them, on foot, blocking the street, with longswords and iron-tipped slams. Behind he heard Wyl cry, and when he turned his horse, there were more in back of them, cutting off their retreat. Jorys sword came singing from its scabbard. Make way or dieThe wolves are howling, their attracter said. Ned could see rain runnin g down his face. Such a small 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 parted 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 expected back at the castle. What do you think youre doing?He knows what hes doing, Ned said calmly.Jaime Lannister smiled. Quite 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 quite 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 comm and, to answer for his crimes, Ned Stark said.Littlefinger groaned in dismay. My lordsSer Jaime ripped his longsword from its sheath 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 haste 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 shut behind him. Littlefinger put his heels to his mare and vanished just about a corner.Neds men had drawn their swords, but they were three against twenty. Eyes watched from nearby windows and doors, but no one was about to intervene. His party was mounted, the Lannisters on foot execute 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 warn ed the Kingslayer, and Catelyn will most certainly slay Tyrion.Jaime Lannister poked at Neds agency with the gilded sword that had sipped the blood of the last 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 life on a womans honor. Jaime slid the golden sword into its sheath. So I suppose 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 sid es. 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 uneasy 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 move of impact made him grit his teeth. 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 came 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 alone 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 the trip back to the castle was a blur of agony, and Ned lost consciousness more than once. He remembered seeing the Red Keep looming ahead of him in the first grey light of dawn. The rain had darkened the pale pink ston e 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 grave someone to heat the wine to boiling and fetch him clean silk, and that was the last he knew.