The Sworn Sword

"Give me Be

"Be

She sighed. "I would as lief not have to kill you".

"I would as lief not die".

"Then give me Be

"It won't, though", Dunk said. "There's still the dam to deal with, and the fire. Will you give us the men who set it?"

"There were lantern bugs in that wood", she said. "It may be they set the fire off, with their little lanterns".

"No more teasing now, m'lady", Dunk warned her. "This is no time for it. Tear down the dam, and let Ser Eustace have the water to make up for the wood. That's fair, is it not?"

"It might be, if I had burned the wood. Which I did not. I was at Coldmoat, safe abed". She looked down at the water. "What is there to prevent us from riding right across the stream? Have you scattered caltrops amongst the rocks? Hidden archers in the ashes? Tell me what you think is going to stop us".

"Me". He pulled one gauntlet off. "In Flea Bottom I was always bigger and stronger than the other boys, so I used to beat them bloody and steal from them. The old man taught me not to do that. It was wrong, he said, and besides, sometimes little boys have great big brothers. Here, have a look at this". Dunk twisted the ring off his finger and held it out to her. She had to let loose of her braid to take it.

"Gold?" she said, when she felt the weight of it. "What is this, ser?" She turned it over in her hand. "A signet. Gold and onyx". Her green eyes narrowed as she studied the seal. "Where did you find this, ser?"

"In a boot. Wrapped in rags and stuffed up in the toe".

Lady Roha

"Well", said Dunk, "that would mean I'd have to fight".

"And die".

"Most like", he said, "and then Egg would go back where he comes from, and tell what happened here".

"Not if he died as well".

"I don't think you'd kill a boy of ten", he said, hoping he was right. "Not this boy of ten, you wouldn't. You've got three-and-thirty men there, like you said. Men talk. That fat one there especially. No matter how deep you dug the graves, the tale would out. And then, well… might be a spotted spider's bite can kill a lion, but a dragon is a different sort of beast".

"I would sooner be the dragon's friend". She tried the ring on her finger. It was too big even for her thumb. "Dragon or no, I must have Be

"No".

"You are seven feet of stubborn".

"Less an inch".

She gave him back the ring. "I ca

"I might". Better than you know. "I remember once some little lord in the stormlands took Ser Arlan into service, to help him fight some other little lord. When I asked the old man what they were fighting over, he said, ‘Nothing, lad. It's just some pissing contest.' "

Lady Roha

Dunk put the ring back on his finger, and drew his dagger.

The widow's eyes went wide at the sight of naked steel. "What are you doing?" she said. "Have you lost your wits ? There are a dozen crossbows trained on you".

"You wanted blood for blood". He laid the dagger against his cheek. "They told you wrong. It wasn't Be

"You are quite mad". The smoke had filled her eyes with tears. "If you were better born, I'd marry you".

"Aye, m'lady. And if pigs had wings and scales and breathed flame, they'd be as good as dragons". Dunk slid the knife back in its sheath. His face had begun to throb. The blood ran down his cheek and dripped onto his gorget. The smell made Thunder snort, and paw the water. "Give me the men who burned the wood".

"No one burned the wood", she said, "but if some man of mine had done so, it must have been to please me. How could I give such a man to you?" She glanced back at her escort. "It would be best if Ser Eustace were just to withdraw his accusation".

"Those pigs will be breathing fire first, m'lady".

"In that case, I must assert my i

The stream would be their battleground.

Septon Sefton waddled out and said a prayer, beseeching the Father Above to look down on these two men and judge them justly, asking the Warrior to lend his strength to the man whose cause was just and true, begging the Mother's mercy for the liar, that he might be forgiven for his sins. When the praying was over and done with, he turned to Ser Eustace Osgrey one last time. "Ser", he said, "I beg you once again, withdraw your accusation".

"I will not", the old man said, his mustache trembling.

The fat septon turned to Lady Roha

"My champion will prove my i

"Trial by battle is not the only way", said the septon, waist-deep in the water. "Let us go to Goldengrove, I implore you both, and place the matter before Lord Rowan for his judgment".

"Never", said Ser Eustace. The Red Widow shook her head.

Ser Lucas Inchfield looked at Lady Roha

"My lord father never knew you as I do", she gave back.

Dunk went to one knee beside Egg, and put the signet back in the boy's hand; four three-headed dragons, two and two, the arms of Maekar, Prince of Summerhall. "Back in the boot", he said, "but if it happens that I die, go to the nearest of your father's friends and have him take you back to Summerhall. Don't try to cross the whole Reach on your own. See you don't forget, or my ghost will come and clout you in the ear".

"Yes, ser", said Egg, "but I'd sooner you didn't die".

"It's too hot to die". Dunk do