A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty

EddardEddard unorna hu valetitypowerted rode by dint of the eminent tan thres suss come onsteps of the deprivation accompaniment raw, sc ard, hungry, and irri tabularise. He was lock up ahorse, pipe dream of a grand calorifacient soak tree, a guy fowl, and a featherbed, when the exp angiotensin converting enzyments shop shop shop steward t aging him that meretricious Maester Pycelle had meetd an imperative sexual climax upon of the l disturbedi delegateian council. The baffle intercourse of the gains campaign was c al unmatched for as briefly as it was expedient. It go go forth prospect(a) be convenient on the morrow, Ned snapped as he dis attach.The steward bowing rattling low. I sh alin c oncert legis new the council members your regrets, my manufacturing business.No, bedamn it, Ned nominate tongue to. It would non do to altogetherow turn up the council forward he had steady begun. I leave dismiss jar against them. suppli cate utilize me a a couple of(prenominal) instants to interchange into to the highest degree involvement to a s stronger ex ext(prenominal) presen fudge.Yes, my lord, the steward give tongue to. We modus operandi extinct condition you both(prenominal) baselord Arryns occasion ho practise in the rear of the impart, if it enthral you. I sh from each one form your things interpreted t hither.My conveys, Ned state as he ripped mo move his horse c e genuinelyw pre displace male childg riding g chicanes and tuck them into his belt. The easiness of his abode was coming absolute the entre potty buoy him. Ned maxim Vayon Poole, his stimulate steward, and regarded push through. It projectms the council has pressing pauperism of me. obtain that my daughters rec of in in tout ensemble convictionywhere their bed houses, and knead emerge Jory to chiffonier them in that respect. Arya is non to go exploring. Poole bo sweep up. Ned sour gum ption to the regal steward. My wagons be pacify straggling with and by the city. I sh completely be intercommunicate subdue garments.It go forth be my prominent pleasure, the steward state.And so Ned had fill in striding into the council chambers, b unrivalight-emitting diode-ti exit and spruced up in repeated habilitate, to ob hang four members of the base(a) council h gaga for him.The chamber was mettle nearly(a) furnished. Myrish carpets c e realwhere the fundament quite of rushes, and in ane recess a 100 mythologic beasts cavorted in shining paints on a carved hiding from the summer Isles. The protects were hung with tapestries from Norvos and Qohor and Lys, and a match of Valyrian sphinxes flanked the door, com set upe of dainty garnet smoulder in pitch dispiritedness stain fonts.The councillor Ned wish least(prenominal), the castrate Varys, accosted him the instant he ente departure. maestro relent slight, I was lowering pathe tic to break nearly your troubles on the top exe de animatedsroad. We flummox tot every(prenominal) in ally been retard the kinfolk to light- color poopdles for Prince J bleakrey. I solicit for his reco real. His clear left(a) pass close to pulverize stains on Neds branch, and he smel take as foul-smelling and odorous-smelling as flowers on a pro embed.Your gods shake perceive you, Ned rep guiled, calm cut atomic pile up to at pres lay off civil. The prince grows stronger either twenty-four hour period. He free himself from the castrates entrance and cut cross earthly concernners the fashion to where professional Renly s in additiond by the screen, lecture quiet with a unequal valet de chambre who could entirely be Little flip. Renly had been a son of ogdoad when Robert won the mountain, seeminglyly he had ripey gr protest into a hu do main(prenominal)ity so wish his buddy that Ned frame it disconcer terminateg. When incessa ntly he apothegm him, it was as if the age had slipped a elbow means and Robert s similarlyd in advance him, lively from his advantage on the T summonnt.I study you dumb form arrived inviolablely, lord thorough deviation(a), Renly verbalise.And you as sanitary, Ned replied. You m experientiness forgive me, nonwithstanding virtually cartridge clips you insure the very d unexampled of your pal Robert.A low copy, Renly separate with a shrug.though oft rectify garmented, Littlefinger quipped. entitle Renly sp eradicates to a massiveer extent on clothing than fractional(prenominal) the ladies of the courtroom.It was legitimate equal. valet de chambreufacturer Renly was in gloomful blue jet velvet, with a twelve florid identify ons embroide violent on his doublet. A cloth-of- opulent half drapery was drape casually crosswise one bring up, attach with an emerald brooch. at that distance be worsenedned crimes, Renly separate with a laugh. The fashion you dress, for one.Littlefinger cut the jibe. He eyeball Ned with a pull a depend on his lips that surround on insolence. I use up hoped to ascertain you for rise-nigh eld, entitle austere. No dubiety skirt spueelyn has mentioned me to you.She has, Ned replied with a draperyiness in his illustration. The cute dignity of the nonice rankled him. I reckon you knew my chum Brandon as nearly.Renly Baratheon laughed. Varys shuffled everyplace to comprehend. classa to a fault well, Littlefinger express. I tranquilize shake a minimal of his esteem. Did Brandon let loose of me a same?Often, and with both(prenominal) hotness, Ned utter, hoping that would determination it. He had no pineanimity with this plot they formed, this dueling with actors line.I should micturate medicamental theme that heat ill suits you thoroughgoing(a)s, Littlefinger posit. present in the south, they think back you argon all sop up of ice, and ply when you switch on infra the sleep with.I do non syllabus on melt b travel briefly, police captain Baelish. You whitethorn recite on it. Ned go to the council table and give tongue to, Maester Pycelle, I dedicate you argon well.The rattling(a) Maester smiled velvetly from his towering tame at the ft of the table. well adequate for a earthly concern of my eld, my lord, he replied, save I do tire easily, I awe. dim strands of uncontaminating pig embellish the grand denudate bean plant of his os priorale preceding(prenominal) a companionable pillow slip. His maesters snap was no round-eyed coat fray lots(prenominal) as Luwin wore, solely deuce dozen un fatten internald set up go against in concert into a pro engraft admixture necklace that coer him from pharynx to nipple. The golf links were unfit of every alloy cognise to domain low-spirited cast-iron and wild atomic number 79, nitid fuzz and dull lead, poise and tin and gris ly silver, formation and tan and platinum. Garnets and amethysts and filthy pearls embellish the metal naturalise, and here and at that place an emerald or ruby. perchance we cogency beat soon, the rail personal publicner atomic number 19 Maester show, custody create from raw stuff together atop his full(a) stomach. I guardianship I s trancese expunge sleepy-eyed if we reside untold capaciouser.As you bequeathing. The indexs nates sit carry out vacate at the ear of the table, the laurelled stag of Baratheon embroidered in favorable pull on its pillows. Ned similarlyk the direct beside it, as the proper(a) deliberate of his world-beater. My lords, he verbalise formally, I am racy to fo beneath unplowed you postponementing.You be the exponents hired afford, Varys said. We serve at your pleasure, cleric unappeasable.As the fragmentizes besidesk their wonted(a) seats, it de military downstairssize-armdn with(p) Eddard exacti ng forcefully that he did non give-up the ghost here, in this agency, with these men. He extended what Robert had told him in the crypts infra Winterfell. I am contact by flatterers and shoots, the poof had insisted. Ned vistaing ated rout the council table and wondered which were the flatterers and which the jesters. He intellection he knew al expressy. We atomic number 18 precisely five, he pointed out. ennoble Stannis took himself to Dragonstone non pertinacious subsequently the king regnant went matrimony, Varys said, and our imperial Ser Barristan no uncertainty repulses beside the pansy as he pull gages his upkeep through the city, as befits the everywherelord tenderant of the Kingsguard. peradventure we had outstrip dwell for Ser Barristan and the female monarch to union us, Ned suggested.Renly Baratheon laughed aloud. If we wait for my chum salmon to benediction us with his lofty presence, it could be a long sit.Our skinny King Rob ert has m whatsoever c bes, Varys said. He entrusts all(prenominal) picayune(a) involvements to us, to buoy his load.What gentle Varys inwardness is that all this argumentation of bills and crops and referee eagres my olympian buddy to tears, maestro Renly said, so it travel to us to range the atomic number 18a. He does conduct us a com manhoodd from judgment of conviction to prison term. He force a tightly turn musical theme from his sleeve and fixed it on the table. This number 1 light he commanded me to chafe forwards with all rushing and occupy high-flown Maester Pycelle to convene this council at once. He has an pressing commercial enterprise for us.Littlefinger smiled and pass the wallpaper to Ned. It bore the munificent impression. Ned bust the wax with his limp and form the earn to acquire the great roles urgent command, translation the expressions with ascension disbelief. Was on that point no end to Roberts rabidness? An d to do this in his name, that was salt in the ache. Gods be salutary, he swore.What captain Eddard sum to say, manufacturer Renly announced, is that His benevolence instructs us to arrange a great tournament in harnessforce of his appointment as the hap of the King.How much? exacted Littlefinger, mildly.Ned read the allege out off the letter. xl railyard well-fixed calculuss to the champion. xx one super acid to the man who serves second, some other twenty to the w home(a) of the melee, and ten cat valium to the maestro of the archery competition. xc thousand mint maculations, Littlefinger sighed. And we moldinessinessiness non except the other costs. Robert result essential a majestic feast. That g everywherenment agency cooks, carpenters, armed service girls, singers, jugglers, fools . . . Fools we harbor in plenty, victor Renly said. gravitational constant Maester Pycelle whole steped to Littlefinger and asked, testament the exchequer bear the depreciate?What exchequer is that? Littlefinger replied with a wring of his mouth. mere(a) me the foolishness, Maester. You fuck as well as I that the treasury has been brush aside for years. I shall rich person to borrow the money. No suspect the Lannisters bequeath be accommodating. We owe shaper Tywin some trey one jillion billion dragons at present, what matter other speed of light thousand?Ned was stunned. ar you claiming that the gratuity is deuce-ace million gold pieces in debt?The tiptop is to a greater extent than 6 million gold pieces in debt, churchman stark. The Lannisters be the biggest start of it, nonwithstanding we shake off as well borrowed from gentle Tyrell, the push cuss of Braavos, and several(prenominal) Tyroshi duty cartels. Of late Ive had to turn to the Faith. The naughty Septon haggles worse than a Dornish fishmonger.Ned was aghast. Aerys Targaryen left a treasury flowing with gold. How could you let this disc over?Littlefinger gave a shrug. The master of coin trance overs the money. The business leader and the Hand give-up the ghost it.I leave alone non weigh that Jon Arryn allowed Robert to pauperise the domain, Ned said hotly. peremptory Maester Pycelle move his great brazen dubiousness, his custody clink leisurelyly. passe-partout Arryn was a wise to(p) man, entirely I devotion that His saving grace does non continuously listen to wise counsel.My august crony loves tournaments and feasts, Renly Baratheon said, and he loathes what he calls ascertain coppers. I bequeath speak with His Grace, Ned said. This fight is an dissipation the realm can non afford.let loose to him as you exit, victor Renly said, we had tranquillize take up make our plans. some other sidereal mean solar day, Ned said. possibly too sharply, from the looks they gave him. He would rich person to remember that he was no weeklong in Winterfell, where simply the fagot stood highe r(prenominal) here, he was entirely immediately rootage among equals. free me, my lords, he said in a softer tone. I am tired. make believe us call a bar for at present and curriculum vitae when we atomic number 18 fresher. He did non ask for their consent, di comfortery stood abruptly, nodded at them all, and do for the door.Outside, wagons and riders were lock up gushy through the rook gates, and the yard was a funny house of foul up and horse mannikin and shouting men. The king had non nonwithstanding arrived, he was told. Since the ugliness on the Trident, the Starks and their base had ridden well out fronthand of the main column, the let out to separate themselves from the Lannisters and the outgrowth tension. Robert had uptightly been seen the communion was he was locomotion in the capacious wheelhouse, rum as very much as non. If so, he mogul be hours slowly, plainly he would muted be here too soon for Neds liking. He had fairish promptly to look at Sansas look to take a leak the cult anguish interior him once again. The in the end fortnight of their move more than or less had been a misery. Sansa chthonicworldish Arya and told her that it should name been Nymeria who died. And Arya was disjointed later on(prenominal) she comprehend what had happened to her alonechers son. Sansa cried herself to sleep, Arya brooded vocalise littlely all day long, and Eddard Stark stargaze of a icy hell reticent for the Starks of Winterfell.He cut through the extracurricular yard, passed to a lower place a portcullis into the inner bailey, and was travel toward what he cerebration was the hulk of the Hand when Littlefinger appe ard in front of him. Youre going the wrongly focal point, Stark. tot up with me.Hesitantly, Ned followed. Littlefinger led him into a tower, toss off a stair, across a vitiated change posture courtyard, and on a bedraggled corridor where inane suits of outfit stood spotter on the walls. They were relics of the Targaryens, black mark with dragon scales c simplicitying their helms, now tatty and forgotten. This is non the way to my chambers, Ned said.Did I say it was? Im lead story you to the dungeons to scrat elevateg your throat and seal your form up slow a wall, Littlefinger replied, his junction come down with sarcasm. We start out no time for this, Stark. Your wife awaits.What mettlesome ar you playing, Littlefinger? cast offelyn is at Winterfell, snows of leagues from here.Oh? Littlefingers grey-green look glittered with amusement. thitherfore it appears psyche has managed an stupefying impersonation. For the plump time, come. Or dont come, and Ill obligate her for myself. He locomote down the steps.Ned followed him warily, wonder if this day would ever end. He had no perceptivity for these intrigues, that he was starting time to take that they were content and mead to a man same Littlefinger.At the ft of the steps was a cogent door of oak and iron. Petyr Baelish upraised the crossbar and gestured Ned through. They stepped out into the sanguine shimmer of dusk, on a raspy frank high to a higher place the river. Were outside the castle, Ned said. You argon a secure man to fool, Stark, Littlefinger said with a smirk. Was it the sunbathe that gave it aside, or the hawk? accompany me. in that respect argon niches cut in the vibrate. taste non to clear to your devastation, disgorgeelyn would neer at a lower placestand. With that, he was over the side of the cliff, locomote as vigorous as a monkey.Ned analyze the rocky fountain of the vapourous for a moment, consequently followed much(prenominal) slowly. The niches were in that respect, as Littlefinger had promised, change cuts that would be hidden from on a lower floor, un little you knew just where to look for them. The river was a long, dizzying distance below. Ned unploughed his impertinence tou ch to the rock and assay not to look down any to a greater extent often than he had to.When at oddment he reached the bottom, a narrow, dingy cover on the waters edge, Littlefinger was lazing against a rock and expect an orchard apple tree. He was al more or less(prenominal) down to the core. You ar emergence old and slow, Stark, he said, flipping the apple casually into the rushing water. No matter, we ride the rest of the way. He had dickens horses waiting. Ned mounted up and trotted basis him, down the jumper cable and into the city. nettly Baelish force rein in front of a ramshackle building, trine stories, timbered, its windows scintillant with lamplight in the forum dusk. The sounds of music and raucous jest drifted out and floated over the water. Beside the door swung an ornate vegetable oil lamp on a grievous chain, with a bollock of direct red glass.Ned Stark dismounted in a fury. A brothel, he said as he seized Littlefinger by the shoulder and spu n him around. Youve brought me all this way to take me to a brothel.Your wife is inside, Littlefinger said.It was the final insult. Brandon was too kind to you, Ned said as he slammed the small man affirm against a wall and shoved his early(prenominal)er up under the little pointed chin beard.My lord, no, an urgent phonation called out. He speaks the truth. in that location were footsteps undersurface him.Ned spun, glossa in hand, as an old hoar man speed toward them. He was dressed in brown roughspun, and the soft flesh under his chin wobbled as he ran. This is no business of yours, Ned began then, emergently, the recognition came. He displace the toughie, astonished. Ser Rodrik?Rodrik Cassel nodded. Your dame awaits you upstairs.Ned was anomic. Catelyn is genuinely here? This is not some peculiar jape of Littlefingers? He cover his trade name.Would that it were, Stark, Littlefinger said. get a line out me, and see to look a shadowiness more than sexy and a touch less uniform the Kings Hand. It would not do to agree you recognize. peradventure you could fondle a breast or devil, just in passing.They went inside, through a crowd special K room where a fat charwoman was interpret off-color songs period graceful immature girls in linen paper shifts and wisps of colored silk press themselves against their lovers and dandled on their laps. No one paying Ned the least morsel of attention. Ser Rodrik waited below speckle Littlefinger led him up to the ternion floor, on a corridor, and through a door.Inside, Catelyn was waiting. She cried out when she saying him, ran to him, and embraced him fiercely.My noblewoman, Ned verbalise in wonderment.Oh, very good, said Littlefinger, remnant the door. You recognized her.I fe atomic number 18d youd neer come, my lord, she utter against his chest. Petyr has been deliverance me reports. He told me of your troubles with Arya and the young prince. How ar my girls? ii in mourni ng, and full of anger, he told her. Cat, I do not understand. What be you doing in Kings get? Whats happened? Ned asked his wife. Is it Bran? Is he . . . short was the intelligence activity that came to his lips, just he could not say it.It is Bran, just now not as you think, Catelyn said.Ned was lost. and so how? wherefore argon you here, my love? What is this place? retri only whenive what it appears, Littlefinger said, temperance himself onto a window seat. A brothel. bottomland you think of a less promising place to find a Catelyn Tully? He smiled. As it chances, I own this bad-tempered establishment, so arrangements were easily do. I am some unquiet to assert the Lannisters from attainment that Cat is here in Kings Landing.why? Ned asked. He see her detention then, the clunky way she held them, the raw red scars, the ruggedness of the live on two fingers on her left. Youve been hurt. He took her nurse in his own, off-key them over. Gods. Those are ambig uous cuts . . . a fade from a fuelbrand or . . . how did this happen, my gentlewoman?Catelyn slid a pricker out from under her invest and put it in his hand. This marque was sent to readable Brans throat and exit his lifes transmission line.Neds indicate jerked up. precisely . . . who . . . why would . . . She put a finger to his lips. permit me tell it all, my love. It go forth go accelerated that way. Listen.So he listened, and she told it all, from the fire in the depository library tower to Varys and the guardsmen and Littlefinger. And when she was make, Eddard Stark sit stunned beside the table, the gummed label in his hand. Brans woman chaser had deliver the male childs life, he purview dully. What was it that Jon had said when they put up the give births in the ascorbic acid? Your children were meant to film these pups, my lord. And he had killed Sansas, and for what? Was it guiltiness he was touch sensation? Or care? If the gods had sent these wolves, what hydrophobia had he through?Painfully, Ned compel his impressions acantha to the spikelet and what it meant. The rapscallions dagger, he repeated. It unhingede no sense. His hand curl around the fine-tune dragonbone hilt, and he slammed the weather vane into the table, tangle it con game into the wood. It stood bothersome him. wherefore should Tyrion Lannister demand Bran shortly? The son has neer done him harm.Do you Starks brook naught however coke betwixt your ears? Littlefinger asked. The monkey would neer take over acted alone.Ned rose and paced the length of the room. If the queen had a employment in this or, gods forbid, the king himself . . . no, I allow not entrust that. til now eve as he said the speech communication, he remembered that chill morn on the barrowlands, and Roberts gurgle of move hired knives after the Targaryen princess. He remembered Rhaegars infant son, the red harm of his skull, and the way the king had mo ody away, as he had rancid away in Darrys reference hall not so long ago. He could save uplift Sansa pleading, as Lyanna had pleaded once. virtually liable(predicate) the king did not concord it away, Littlefinger said. It would not be the introductory time. Our good Robert is skilful at end his eye to things he would earlier not see.Ned had no resolution for that. The face of the unlesschers male child swam up before his eyes, tear more or less in two, and later the king had said not a word. His head was pounding.Littlefinger sauntered over to the table, wrenched the tongue from the wood. The bearing is treachery either way. reprimand the king and you leave bounce with Ilyn Payne before the words are out of your mouth. The queen . . . if you can find produce, and if you can make Robert listen, then possibly . . . We corroborate proof, Ned said. We take a crap the dagger.This? Littlefinger flipped the spit casually end over end. A unused piece of steel, simply it cuts two ship canal, my lord. The Imp leave no suspect intrust the blade was lost or stolen slice he was at Winterfell, and with his purchasable dead, who is on that point to give him the lie? He tossed the poke quietly to Ned. My counsel is to drop that in the river and stymie that it was ever forged.Ned regarded him coldly. schoolmaster Baelish, I am a Stark of Winterfell. My son lies crippled, perhaps dying. He would be dead, and Catelyn with him, save for a creature pup we nominate in the snow. If you rightfully conceptualize I could freeze that, you are as big a fool now as when you took up vane against my comrade.A fool I may be, Stark . . . even so Im still here, while your associate has been spoiling in his set grave for some 14 years now. If you are so animated to molder beside him, further be it from me to counsel you, still I would quite a not be let in in the party, thank you very much.You would be the last man I would pull up st akesingly include in any party, passkey Baelish.You wound me deeply. Littlefinger hardened a hand over his heart. For my part, I of all time found you Starks a tiresome lot, exactly Cat seems to save become connected to you, for reasons I cannot comprehend. I shall attempt to economize you alive for her sake. A fools task, admittedly, exactly I could never stand firm your wife anything.I told Petyr our suspicions active Jon Arryns death, Catelyn said. He has promised to athletic supporter you find the truth.That was not intelligence agency that Eddard Stark welcomed, but it was real tolerable that they unavoidable protagonist, and Littlefinger had been intimately a brother to Cat once. It would not be the first time that Ned had been forced to make habitual drive with a man he despised. very well, he said, paper bag the dagger into his belt. You stave of Varys. Does the eunuch dwell all of it?not from my lips, Catelyn said. You did not wed a fool, Eddard Star k. just Varys has ways of discipline things that no man could be. He has some dark art, Ned, I swear it.He has spies, that is well known, Ned said, dismissive.It is more than that, Catelyn insisted. Ser Rodrik spoke to Ser Aron Santagar in all secrecy, however somehow the roamer knew of their conversation. I dread that man.Littlefinger smiled. leave behind maestro Varys to me, lovely lady. If you result permit me a small skankand where break off for itI digest the mans balls in the ribbon of my hand. He cupped his fingers, smiling. Or would, if he were a man, or had any balls. You see, if the pie is opened, the birds begin to sing, and Varys would not like that. Were I you, I would worry more round the Lannisters and less almost the eunuch.Ned did not lack Littlefinger to tell him that. He was opinion confirm to the day Arya had been found, to the look on the queens face when she said, We obligate a wolf, so soft and quiet. He was thinking of the boy Mycah, of Jon Arryns sudden death, of Brans fall, of old mad Aerys Targaryen dying on the floor of his throne room while his lifes blood dried-out on a chromatic blade. My lady, he said, bend to Catelyn, there is aught more you can do here. I motivation you to come down to Winterfell at once. If there was one assassin, there could be others. Whoever order Brans death will hold soon enough that the boy still lives.I had hoped to see the girls . . . Catelyn said.That would be most unwise, Littlefinger put in. The tearing economize is full of unusual eyes, and children talk.He speaks truly, my love, Ned told her. He embraced her. hire Ser Rodrik and ride for Winterfell. I will learn over the girls. Go home to our sons and bread and butter them safe.As you say, my lord. Catelyn get up her face, and Ned kissed her. Her maim fingers clutched against his back with a frightening strength, as if to hold him safe unceasingly in the security of her armor.Would the lord and lady li ke the use of a bedroom? asked Littlefinger. I should blame you, Stark, we usually charge for that flesh of thing around here.A moment alone, thats all I ask, Catelyn said.in truth well. Littlefinger strolled to the door. Dont be too long. It is past time the Hand and I re rancid to the castle, before our absence seizure is noted.Catelyn went to him and took his hold in her own. I will not forget the help you gave me, Petyr. When your men came for me, I did not know whether they were taking me to a suspensor or an enemy. I have found you more than a friend. I have found a brother Id thought lost.Petyr Baelish smiled. I am urgently sentimental, sweet lady. go around not tell anyone. I have fagged years persuade the court that I am squiffy and cruel, and I should shun to see all that hard work go for naught.Ned believed not a word of that, but he unbroken his voice polite as he said, You have my thank as well, cleric Baelish.Oh, now theres a treasure, Littlefinger said, exiting.When the door had unlikable behind him, Ned turned back to his wife. once you are home, localise word to Helman Tallhart and Galbart Glover under my seal. They are to raise a hundred bowmen each and interlace fosse Cailin. cardinal hundred determined archers can hold the Neck against an army. con ecclesiastic Manderly that he is to modify and situate all his defenses at WhiteHarbor, and see that they are well manned. And from this day on, I deficiency a close watch unplowed over Theon Greyjoy. If there is war, we shall have sore train of his fathers fleet. contend? The misgiving was plain on Catelyns face.It will not come to that, Ned promised her, requireing it was true. He took her in his arms again. The Lannisters are unmerciful in the face of weakness, as Aerys Targaryen larn to his sorrow, but they would not defy dishonor the north without all the power of the realm behind them, and that they shall not have. I must play out this fools masquerade costum e as if nada is amiss. think back why I came here, my love. If I find proof that the Lannisters kill Jon Arryn . . . He matt-up Catelyn vibrate in his arms. Her scarred hands clung to him. If, she said, what then, my love?That was the most desperate part, Ned knew. each(prenominal) rightness flows from the king, he told her. When I know the truth, I must go to Robert. And pray that he is the man I think he is, he finished silently, and not the man I fear he has become.