The Sworn Sword

They rode past the carcass of a red deer, and later on what might have been a badger. Nothing lived, except the flies. Flies could live through anything, it seemed.

"The Field of Fire must have looked like this", Ser Eustace said. "It was there our woes began, two hundred years ago. The last of the green kings perished on that field, with the finest flowers of the Reach around him. My father said the dragonfire burned so hot that their swords melted in their hands. Afterward the blades were gathered up, and went to make the Iron Throne. Highgarden passed from kings to stewards, and the Osgreys dwindled and diminished, until the Marshalls of the Northmarch were no more than landed knights bound in fealty to the Rowans".

Dunk had nothing to say to that, so they rode in silence for a time, till Ser Eustace coughed, and said, "Ser Duncan, do you remember the story that I told you?"

"I might, ser", said Dunk. "Which one?"

"The Little Lion".

"I remember. He was the youngest of five sons".

"Good". He coughed again. "When he slew Lancel La

"Aye", Dunk said reluctantly. Could I kill a woman? For once Dunk wished he were as thick as that castle wall. It must not come to that. I must not let it come to that.

A few green trees still stood where the west way crossed the Chequy Water. Their trunks were charred and blackened on one side. Just beyond, the water glimmered darkly. Blue and green, Dunk thought, but all the gold is gone. The smoke had veiled the sun.

Ser Eustace halted when he reached the water's edge. "I took a holy vow. I will not cross that stream. Not so long as the land beyond is hers ". The old knight wore mail and plate beneath his yellowed surcoat. His sword was on his hip.

"What if she never comes, ser?" Egg asked.

With fire and sword, Dunk thought. "She'll come".

She did, and within the hour. They heard her horses first, and then the faint metallic sound of clinking armor, growing louder. The drifting smoke made it hard to tell how far off they were, until her ba

Only then did Lady Roha

More knights came after, half a dozen of them, attended by as many esquires. A column of mounted crossbowmen brought up the rear, and fa

The Red Widow walked her mare to the edge of the water. "Ser Eustace, Ser Duncan", she called across the stream, "we saw your fire burning in the night".

"Saw it?" Ser Eustace shouted back. "Aye, you saw it… after you made it".

"That is a vile accusation".

"For a vile act".

"I was asleep in my bed last night, with my ladies all around me. The shouts from the walls awoke me, as they did almost everyone. Old men climbed up steep tower steps to look, and babes at the breast saw the red light and wept in fear. And that is all I know of your fire, ser".

"It was your fire, woman", insisted Ser Eustace. "My wood is gone. Gone, I say!"

Septon Sefton cleared his throat. "Ser Eustace", he boomed, "there are fires in the kingswood too, and even in the rainwood. The drought has turned all our woods to kindling".

Lady Roha

"Might have?" Ser Eustace shouted. "It was my woods that burned, and you that burned them. Most like you cast some witch's spell to drive the wind, just as you used your dark arts to slay your husbands and your brothers!"

Lady Roha

"That you shall not do", Ser Eustace declared in ringing tones. "That you shall never do". His mustache twitched. "Come no farther. This side of the stream is mine, and you are not wanted here. You shall have no hospitality from me. No bread and salt, not even shade and water. You come as an intruder. I forbid you to set foot on Osgrey land".

Lady Roha

Dunk had heard enough. "If you cross the stream without leave, you are breaking the king's peace".

Septon Sefton urged his horse forward a step. "The king will neither know nor care", he called. "We are all the Mother's children, ser. For her sake, stand aside".

Dunk frowned. "I don't know much of gods, septon… but aren't we the Warrior's children, too?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you try to cross, I'll stop you".

Ser Lucas the Longinch laughed. "Here's a hedge knight who yearns to be a hedgehog, my lady", he said to the Red Widow. "Say the word, and we'll put a dozen quarrels in him. At this distance they will punch through that armor like it was made of spit".

"No. Not yet, ser". Lady Roha

"Well", said Dunk, "I'll tell you. But only you".

"As you wish". She pressed her heels into her horse and rode her out into the stream. When the water reached the mare's belly, she halted, waiting. "Here I am. Come closer, ser. I promise not to sew you in a sack".

Ser Eustace grasped Dunk by the arm before he could respond. "Go to her", the old knight said, "but remember the Little Lion".

"As you say, m'lord". Dunk walked Thunder down into the water. He drew up beside her and said, "M'lady".

"Ser Duncan". She reached up and laid two fingers on his swollen lip. "Did I do this, ser?"

"No one else has slapped my face of late, m'lady".

"That was bad of me. A breach of hospitality. The good septon has been scolding me". She gazed across the water at Ser Eustace. "I scarce remember Addam any longer. It was more than half my life ago. I remember that I loved him, though. I have not loved any of the others".

"His father put him in the blackberries, with his brothers", Dunk said. "He was fond of blackberries".

"I remember. He used to pick them for me, and we'd eat them in a bowl of cream".

"The king pardoned the old man for Daemon", said Dunk. "It is past time you pardoned him for Addam".