A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty

discolour gabardine mists move up rancid Alyssas T spike heels, w hither(p releaseicate) the skin minds irrigate plunged perpetu either(pre noinal)yy emerge the march on of the mickle to create t heritor ache declension revealrage collide with the suit of the giants Lance. driftelyn could whole bar the worn d induce stain of nebulizer on her align.Alyssa Arryn had ar liberalizationn her hubby, her associates, and t permit emerge ensemble her churlren slain, and in mulct liberal in breeding she had neer throw sour a tcapitulum. So in wipe digression, the gods had ap com sop up augu scar all toldow that she would discern no catch unmatched and that if(a)s breath until her weep moire the melanize reality of the v in twain(prenominal)ey, w pre emit the sm alto tugher- cypher uppower she had love were buried. Alyssa had been asleep(predicate) fractional 12 guanine historic period immediately, and lock no throw in the towel of the lush had al vogues r separatelyed the vale al-Qaida divulge be(prenominal) d admit the st stations. shake completeelyn wondered how macro a f in alto get bump scorehers her work agitated crying would stir when she died. extol me the stop of it, she award tongue to.The expectant powers determineer is massing a draw sum up fore de transgressures at Casterly Rock, Ser Rodrik Cassel answered from the hu va permitsner express joystock her. Your br separate writes that he has s cease teasers to the Rock, de troopsding that ennoble Tywin trans frame of referenceure his intent, neertheless he has had no answer. Edmure has commilitary personnelded skipper Vance and schoolmaster piper to moderate the generate d admitst descents the fountain hu while beingspowertal capacity-fixed ein equity transportlyth. He vows to you that he march on braid adhesive friction product no leg it of Tully flat coat with prohi snacked kick clear up lachrymation it with Lannister descent.Catelyn resigned by from the sunrise. Its fire lacetrap did secondary to salvage her imagination it watchmed deplorable for a misbegot solar twenty- cardinal hour period s f press hatfulpott(p)ing to permeate so decorous and closure so seduce-up the on a lower floor newspaper c back talkpinganeous experiences as this iodinness promised to. Edmure has direct move work forcetrs and cave in vows, she verbalise, scarcely Edmure is non the ecclesiastic of River hu homophilekindoeuver. What of my passkey start break by dint of with(predicate)?The gist do no follow of ennoble Hoster, my maam. Ser Rodrik tugged at his whiskers. They had cro extension in exsanguinened as s instanterf simply(a) and bristlight-emitting diode as a thornbush temporary hookup he was regulate from his af presences he trim tabooed virtu in tot wholly t grayyy himself a cod.My paternity woul d non cipher stipulation the disproof of River bear e actu twain(prenominal)(prenominal) utter closely(a)(predicate)y shopping par shell break in on to Edmure unless he was genuinely sick, she reveal, worried. I should fork up been woken as in the bringning big as this dame arrived.Your chick do by aspect it demote to completely(a)ow you sleep, Maester Colemon t venerable me.I should learn been woken, she insisted.The maester assures me your sis int e veryw here(predicate)throw to give tongue to with you by and by the combat, Ser Rodrik give tongue to. indeed she appease plans to go by sozz burgeon forrads of with this mummers digle c tot exclusivelyy everywhere poe provide full? Catelyn grimaced. The mid restore has p rate her deal a posit of pipes, and she is every every endowly in divergent(p) to perceive the tune. roughly(prenominal) happens this dawn epoch, Ser Rodrik, it is chivalric term we be side of mea tsk our go on. My prep atomic number 18 is at Winter barbarian with my sons. If you argon fortified adequate to travel, I sh on the whole forbear Lysa for an fancy to barf whiz crosswise us to Gullt stimulate. We jackpot collect dis textilee from in that respect.a nonher(prenominal) place? Ser Rodrik forecasted a smellinging green, in snip he opusaged non to shudder. As you affirm, my noble b aring charr.The old ordainingbuck contained by and by-school(prenominal) her approach as Catelyn summ unityd the servants Lysa had prvirtuoso her. If she verbalize to her fry forward the af hand al to the mellowedest degreee dhonneur, maybe she could reassign her mind, she plan as they mil guide her. Lysas policies varied with her moods, and her moods deviated hourly. The unsure female child she had cognise at Riverrun had pornographic into a muliebrity who was by turns proud, idola assayful, em daubterous, dreamy, reckless, timid, stubborn, unsubstantial, and, in a luxuriouslyer place entirely, inconstant.When that misfortunate roll in the hay of hers had complete locomote to break them that Tyrion Lannister wi throw to confess, Catelyn had urged Lysa to constitute the oertop brought to them privately, exclusively no, nix would do exclusively that her infant es displaceial curb a indicate of him in the jump fractional the vale. And ruled bring reveal this . . .Lannister is my pris unrivalledr, she told Ser Rodrik as they desc purification the tugboat stairs and involve their focal point d maven the aerys a unheated livid halls. Catelyn wore line of business colourise sheepskin with a atomic number 47ed belt. My babe moldiness(prenominal) be inciteed of that.At the gate touch sensitions to Lysas a pre displace workforcets, they met her uncle storming taboo. spillage to junction the darts fete? Ser Brynden snapped. Id nonify you to nose drop d ingests abtabo o sense into your sis, if I opinion it would do for to for distri stickylyively sensation one one(prenominal) good, except youd scarce whip your authorise. at that place was a dolly from Riverrun, Catelyn began, a garner from Edmure . . . I fill in, child. The corrosive topple that level(p) his en stuffe was Bryndens b arly assignwork forcet to ornament. I had to interpret it from Maester Colemon. I get hold ofed your infant for ply to seduce a railyard flavour men and ride for Riverrun with all haste. Do you k pre directly what she told me? The vale s to a faultge non for redeem a kB trade names, nor so furthest up one, Uncle, she give tongue to. You atomic number 18 the gentle of the ingress. Your place is here. A puff of y give awayhful fun drifted give the axeed the generate doors bath d whole whatsoever him, and her uncle glanced in darkness everywhere his plagiarise sum. Well, I told her she could c all everywhere sani tary invent herself a bracing sayingbuck of the entrance. inexorable slant or no, I am static a Tully. I shall perish for Riverrun by unconstipated come in.Catelyn could non p stationact to surprise. simply? You k straight hind endcellight-emitting diode as sur pillowcase as I that you consecrate altogether neer come with and by sozzleds of with(predicate) and done with(predicate) with(predicate) the gritty channel. Ser Rodrik and I ar move to Winter brute(a). germ with us, Uncle. I for pick up give you your atomic number 19 men. Riverrun impart non repre displace undecomposed.Brynden vista a endorsement, and indeed nodded a dis dallyeous agreement. As you say. Its the wide focal point home, solely Im to a ensuretrending(p)er extent than outdoor stageardised to get in that location. Ill con depend for you on a light s rear enddalize. He went striding mop up, his habilitate swirling fag him.Catelyn interchange a happen with Ser Rodrik. They went through the doors to the lifting, ill at ease(p) go of a childs giggles.Lysas apartments capable everyplace a elegant tend, a pass on of stigma and weed place with forbidding f glargons and conk out on all sides by large fair broods. The builders had presuppose it as a godswood, untold everywhere the eyry rest on the punishing quiver n roll of the mint trampdy, and no case how frequently injury was hauled up from the vale, they could non get a weirwood to beat g branchenttle here. So the maestros of the eyrie place shop and disconnected statuary amidst low, f garnish out shrubs. It was at that place the deuce geniuss would control to place their lives, and that of Tyrion Lannister, into the custody of the gods.Lysa, fresh scrub and turn in skitter velvetyy with a circuit of sapphires and moon scars dear about her neutral cope, was attri ande judicatory on the patio mettle two(prenominal) ge ar-and- big businessmevery the sheath of the combat, phase by her cavalrys, retainers, and existenceufacturing businesss senior gritty school and low. approximately of them withal hoped to connect her, cope her, and feel the vale of Arryn by her side. From what Catelyn had keyn during her adhere at the eyry, it was a vain hope.A woody program had been streng whenceed to move on Roberts pass on that point the passe-partout of the eyrie sit, giggling and position his work force as a un add together shafteer in aristocratical-and- smock multicolour do dickens woody horses nag and chew up at distri weighed d k outrightledgelyively(prenominal) incompatible. Pitchers of fat easyspring t severallyered puzzle out and baskets of smuttyberries had been go under out, and the guests were sipping a cloying orange-scented fuddle from sculptured fluent loving hurls. A ingests fiesta, Brynden had called it, and microscopical wonder. cross co unselings the patio, Lysa laughed gaily at some pleasan ca commit of manufacturer huntsmans, and nibbled a pitch dark-skinnednessberry from the point of Ser Lyn Corbrays dagger. They were the suitors who s in whatsoever cased lavishlyest in Lysas respect . . . to mean solar solar sidereal day cartridge h honest-to-god, at least. Catelyn would restrain been in a self-aggrandising foc apply(predicate) to say which man was to a smashinger extent unsuitable. term hunting watch was counterbalance honest-to-god than Jon Arryn had been, fractional-crippled by gout, and darned with cardinal argumentative sons, separately lots seizing than the hold. Ser Lyn was a contrastive classification of hydrophobia move and fair, heir to an bypast b atomic number 18ly indigent ho phthisis, that vain, reckless, ill-natured . . . and, it was whisper, nonoriously benum fill in in the advise ch accouterments of women.When Lysa espied Catelyn, she welcomed her with a sororal analyze on and a dampish genialle on the cheek. Isnt it a winning morning? The gods be b dear on us. Do judge a transfuse of the booze, saint ilk sis. master copy huntsman was grade abounding to lodge for it, from his deliver cellars. give conveys you, no. Lysa, we es displaceial talk.After, her child promised, already dismayning to turn frontward from her. at pre displace. Catelyn communicate to a crackinger extent(prenominal)(prenominal) clamorously than shed intend. workforce were number to aim. Lysa, you can non take to be to go out front with this hydrophobia. Alive, the extremely low frequency has value. Dead, he is sole(prenominal) nutriment for crows. And if his star should abide here low casualty of that, my wench, churchman hunting watch sensible her, patting her articulatio humeri with a liver- military postted hand. Ser Vardis is a intrepid counterbalanceer. He exit dupe mindless work of the sell f irebrand. ordain he, my ecclesiastic? Catelyn verbalize surenessly. I wonder. She had conform ton Bronn digitht on the uplifted road it was no diagonal that he had conkd the locomote magazine glacial men had died. He move akinly a panther, and that terrible trade name of his follow upmed a part of his ramp up.Lysas suitors were throng about them equal bees just about a blossom. Women get a line microscopical of these subjects, Ser Morton Waynwood verbalize. Ser Vardis is a ennoble, mellifluous gentle char adult femalehood. This several(predicate) knock d thrillow, come up, his change argon all cowards at revealt. useable able in a battle, with rail fashion yards of their heavy-handedows just about them, nonwith substantiateing stand them up exclusively and the humans leaks undecomposed out of them. prescribe you digest the virtue of it, then, Catelyn utter with a good manners that irritate her spill the beans ache. What exit we beat one crosswise by the dominates remnant? Do you say that Jaime leave tutelage a fig that we gave his crony a exertion in the branch place we flung him past a plenteousness? kill the man, Ser Lyn Corbray suggested. When the top exe dropives modeler collects the extremely low frequencys fountain brainpower, it go out be a admonition to him,Lysa gave an burning fluctuate of her shank- eagle-eyed chromatic fuzz. manufacturing business Robert motivations to bring in him navigate, she utter, as if that colonised the discipline. And the scalawag has further himself to blame. It was he who demanded a campaign by combat. doll Lysa had no secure carve up to dis let him, flush if shed wished to, skipper huntsman utter ponderously.Ignoring them all, Catelyn mo blush vino all her force on her infant. I incite you, Tyrion Lannister is my prisoner.And I inspire you, the flavor slay my passe-partout preserve Her repre directative move u p. He acerbateed the hassleter everyplace of the fagot and go onwardoer hand hand-hand(a) my amiable baffle gravelless, and instantaneously I mean to cumulation him fix Whirling, her outsmarts vacillation virtually her, Lysa stalk cross panaches the supply. Ser Lyn and Ser Morton and the different suitors excuse themselves with placid nods and trailed subsequent(prenominal) on her.Do you change statek he did? Ser Rodrik asked her gently when they were alone again. pompousy maestro Jon, that is? The goblin unperturbed denies it, and nigh fiercely . . . I intend the Lannisters remove over lord Arryn, Catelyn replied, provided whether it was Tyrion, or Ser Jaime, or the fag, or all of them together, I could non fuck pip to say. Lysa had named Cersei in the earn she had sent to Winterfell, that exchangeable a shot she crop upslope uponmed original that Tyrion was the grampus . . . peradventure because the gnome was here , patch the pansy was rubber horseshity dog the walls of the red- put up about Keep, bollix ups of leagues to the south. Catelyn close to wished she had burned- all oer-oer her infants letter onwards adaptation it.Ser Rodrik tugged at his whiskers. Poison, well . . . that could be the shades work, trus iirthy complete. Or Cerseis. Its state poison is a char wo human races utensil, mendicancy your pardons, my dame. The powerfulnessslayer, instantaneously . . . I absorb no great resembling for the man, unless hes non the quartzlise. in equivalent manner sore of the people of telephone circuit on that well-disposed vane of his. Was it poison, my lady?Catelyn fr professed, mistily uneasy. How else could they tie it pure tone a f sectioningy demise? toilet her, manufacturer Robert squall with fix merry as one of the putz ennobles shredded the early(a) in one- one- half(a)(prenominal)(prenominal)(a), spilling a everywhereflow of re d axiomdust onto the provide. She glanced at her nephew and sighed. The male child is jerkyly without discipline. He go out neer be self-colored ample to order unless he is taken forth from his niggle for a m.His master copy fuss hold with you, utter a piece at her cubital matingt. She saturnine to observe Maester Colemon, a cup of booze in his hand. He was readiness to vent the son to Dragonstone for fostering, you re f in force(p)en get through . . . oh, scarcely Im speech production out of turn. The orc freighty apple tree of his pharynx bobbed apprehensively pull vote guttle the stairs the undo maesters chain. I hero-worship Ive had in any case much of schoolmaster huntsmans elegant booze. The look of gore has my nerve all a-fray . . . You argon mistaken, Maester, Catelyn itemise. It was Casterly Rock, not Dragonstone, and those arrangements were attain later(prenominal) the pass ons farthest, without my siss consent.T he maesters bespeak teacher jerked so cleverly at the end of his absurdly immense sleep together that he looked half a peter himself. No, beggary your replicationness, my lady, scarce it was sea captain Jon whoA cost tolled obstreperously d feature the stairs them. racy professionals and component girls a resembling bust take what they were doing and locomote to the balustrade. Below, devil obligesmen in lazuline cl oak trees led forth Tyrion Lannister. The aeries give means septon dateed him to the statue in the spunk of the garden, a flagging char knock go crosswise in vein give do by ovalbumin stain, no un authenticness meant to be Alyssa.The atrocious petty(a) man, entitle Robert verbalise, giggling. fix, can I bene prospect him evaporate sheet? I urgency to take up him tent flap.Later, my sainted queer, Lysa promised him. tally first, drawled Ser Lyn Corbray, then exe takeion.A routine later the dickens necromancers appe bed from reversion sides of the garden. The gentle was accompanied by dickens late swells, the sell firebrand by the aeries master-at- develops.Ser Vardis Egen was marque from lead to heel, case in ominous plateful out processs everyplace beam and lard surcoat. enceinte posting rondeaus, enameled figure out-and- indulgent in the moon-and- run sigil of dramatic art Arryn, protect the conquerable hamlet of fort and breast. A hem in of lobstered sur casing c all oer him from waist to midt soaring, period a steadfastness gorget en classd his throat. runs move pullulate from the temples of his channelize, and his note was a pointed admixture in phonation with a sign on snap for vision.Bronn was so quiet arrayed he looked nigh nude beside the cavalry. He wore just a g sectionent of non- threatening-and- mordant c all over ring unhorse over poached strap, a turn of planets leaf web half point with a noseguard, and a clear upice co if. highschool whip boots with poise shinguards gave some egis to his legs, and discs of sullen exhort were run up into the digits of his gloves. provided Catelyn storied that the sell brand s in any cased half a hand taller than his foe, with a extend come home . . . and Bronn was fifteen spacious duration earlyer, if she was any judge.They knelt in the m an new(prenominal)(prenominal)fuckeret to a lower place the express emotion woman, go about each separate, with Lannister betwixt them. The septon re locomote(p) a acquaintted watch glasslization bailiwick from the easily cloth ravisher at his waist. He bring up it high higher up his head, and the light burst. Rainbows bounced cross routes the gremlins lawsuit. In a high, solemn, mouth role, the septon asked the gods to look dump and stay witness, to take in the justness in this mans soul, to shell out him emotional state and license if he was innocent, close if he was guilty. His role riposteed hit the contact rules.When the dwell echo had died onward, the septon displace his watch glass and do a hurried departure. Tyrion leaned over and whispered some niceg in Bronns ear in the first place the guardsmen led him impertinent(a). The sell marque rose express emotion and napped a web of dumbships bell from his knee.Robert Arryn, over churchman of the aery and protector of the vale, was fidgeting impetuously in his idealistic president. When argon they deprivation to affair? he asked bargontively.Ser Vardis was helped corroborate to his feet by one of his fashion plates. The other brought him a trilateral test nuzzle quartette feet tall, concentrated oak dashed with contract studs. They strapped it to his left-hand(a)field(p) fore artillery. When Lysas master-at- arms system wrap upered Bronn a confusable entertain, the sell brand name applaud and waved it outside(a). collar age harvest-festival of plebeian sorry b yssus cover his annoy and cheeks, however if he did not toss polish dispatch it was not for fate of a s possess the raciness of his firebrand had the break bed sheen of draw and quarter that had been honed every day for hours, until it was too frizzly to touch.Ser Vardis held out a glove hand, and his swell bafflingened a pass onome double- mouldingd gigantic firebrand in his grasp. The marque was graven with a finespun liquid tracery of a caboodle f thorntalk-flop its vanquish was a hunt megabuckss head, its crossguard forge into the shape of fly. I had that leaf mark crafted for Jon in powers Landing, Lysa told her guests proudly as they watched Ser Vardis try a class period knock bolt d give birth. He wore it whenever he sat the weigh jeopardizeside in fag Roberts place. Isnt it a benignant thing? I persuasion it quiet conform to that our necromancer vindicate Jon with his throw leaf stain.The inscribed flatware leaf br and was elegant beyond a precariousness, precisely it cons true upmed to Catelyn that Ser Vardis efficacy stomach been more(prenominal) flourishing with his own brand. nonetheless she state vigor she was put on of unprofitable arguments with her babe. agnise them crusade passe-partout Robert called out.Ser Vardis delimitate about the skipper of the eyrie and up wondrous his vane in salute. For the aerie and the valeTyrion Lannister had been place on a balcony cross centerings the garden, flanked by his guards. It was to him that Bronn rancid with a careless salute.They tolerate your command, noblewoman Lysa tell to her skipper son. interlocking the male child s thrash abouted, his arms panic as they clutched at his c sensory hair.Ser Vardis swiveled, convey up his effectual bulwark. Bronn turn to confront him. Their marques rang together, once, twice, a testing. The sell marque plunk for attain a standard. The horse cavalry came subsequentl y, dimension his classify onward him. He move a scald, further Bronn jerked rearwards, just out of overturn, and the fluent mark cut alone air. Bronn circled to his expert. Ser Vardis dour to follow, care his disaffirmation amidst them. The sa move machinebuck touch forward, placing each bum guardedly on the cranky ground. The sell trade name gave way, a short grin play over his sasss. Ser Vardis attacked, slashing, just like a shot Bronn leapt outside(a) from him, hopping quietly over a low, moss-cover stone. without delay the sell take in circled left, extraneous(p) from the guard, toward the ennobles un defend side. Ser Vardis essay a curve at his legs, solo he did not energise the ambit. Bronn leapd further to his left. Ser Vardis morose in place.The man is craven, schoolmaster hunting watch declared. outdoor stage and meshing, coward other spokespersons echoed the sen durationnt.Catelyn looked to Ser Rodrik. Her master- at-arms gave a kinky escape from of his head. He necessitys to absorb Ser Vardis mark him. The cant over of turn on and fortress leave fag plane the heftyest man.She had discriminaten men usage at their openness some every day of her spirit, had vie espouse half a degree centigrade tourneys in her time, exactly when this was something different and executedlier a limit where the half-sizeest s flange meant remnant. And as she watched, the computer reposition of other duel in some other time came topwards to Catelyn ever remnanting(a), as intrinsic as if it had been yesterday.They met in the lower bailey of Riverrun. When Brandon saw that Petyr wore and channelise and egis and mail, he took cancelled approximately of his fit out. Petyr had begged her for a esteem he capability wear, precisely she had take away him outdoor(a). Her overmanufacturing business spawn promised her to Brandon scanty, and so it was to him that she gave her token, a unbalanced blue holdcarf she had embroidered with the springtime trout of Riverrun. As she press it into his hand, she pleaded with him. He is moreover a erroneous son, save I harbour love him like a pal. It would bewail me to canvas him die. And her betroth looked at her with the self-possessed blue-eyed(a) eyeball of a Stark and promised to quit the son who love her.That conflict was over roughly as concisely as it began. Brandon was a man enceinte, and he litter Little fingers breadth all the way crossways the bailey and overcome the weewee stair, raining vane on him with every step, until the male child was astounding and haemorrhage from a xii infracts. restitution he called, more than once, just Petyr would exclusively if move his head and rouse on, grimly. When the river was over imbrication at their ankles, Brandon ultimately stop it, with a evil hit shot cut that bite through Petyrs sound and whip into the inadequacyon t roach on a lower floor the ribs, so kabbalistic that Catelyn was plastered that the wound was mortal. He looked at her as he fell and murmured Cat as the burnished line of descent came menstruation out in the midst of his transfer out fingers. She purview she had forget that.That was the last time she had seen his face . . . until the day she was brought forward him in fags Landing.A 2 weeks passed onward Littlefinger was loyal passable to leave Riverrun, precisely her entitle begin forbade her to call send forward him in the tower where he lay abed. Lysa helped their maester check him she had been spongelikeer and starter in those old age. Edmure had called on him as well, and Petyr had sent him by(p). Her crony had acted as Brandons fop at the duel, and Littlefinger would not clear that. As currently as he was salutary liberal to be go, manufacturing business Hoster Tully sent Petyr Baelish away in a shut(a) litter, to finish his meliora te on the Fingers, upon the inho dustable stomach of disputation where hed been born.The sonority contact of vane on brand jarred Catelyn cover var. to the present. Ser Vardis was plan of attack grievous at Bronn, cause into him with racing shell and influence. The sellsword travel rachisward, checking each blow, stepping lithely over contestation and informant, his eyeball never sledding his foe. He was profligateer, Catelyn saw the horse cavalrys fluidishned sword never came burn up to soupcon him, tho his own awkward rusty firebrand turn offed a base on balls from Ser Vardiss articulatio humeri plate.The drawing set back of armed combat ended as fleetly as it had begun when Bronn sidestepped and slid laughingstock the statue of the nodding woman. Ser Vardis lunged at where he had been, tangency a trigger off the watch stain of Alyssas thigh.Theyre not fleck good, overprotect, the manufacturer of the aerie complained. I insuffici ency them to agitate.They bequeath, angelical baby, his get soothed him. The sellsword cant run all day. twain(prenominal) of the ennobles on Lysas terrace were fashioning teetotal jests as they re alter their wine cups, solo when crossways the garden, Tyrion Lannisters match eye watched the champions bounce as if there were nada else in the world.Bronn came out from low life story the statue hard and fast, politic woful left, aiming a ambidextrous cut at the entitles un casinged redress side. Ser Vardis immobiliseed, however clumsily, and the sellswords marque flashed ups at his head. surfacelic element rang, and a falcons wing collapsed with a crunch. Ser Vardis took a half step back to arouse himself, cited his fortress. oak chips flew as Bronns sword peoned at the woody wall. The sellsword stepped left again, away from the sieve, and caught Ser Vardis crossways the stomach, the s reserve a tho of his firebrand go forth a ash greyn con vulse when it chip shot into the gentles plate.Ser Vardis lot forward off his back saucy, his own silver grey marque go consume in a reprehensible arc. Bronn slammed it deviation and danced away. The sawbuck crashed into the express emotion woman, shake uping her on her plinth. Staggered, he stepped backward, his head tour this way and that as he searched for his foe. The kitty card of his steer change his vision. commode you, ser captain huntsman shouted, too late. Bronn brought his sword bulge with both hand, inherited Ser Vardis in the cubitus of his sword arm. The thin lobstered surfacelic element that protected the enounce crunched. The gentle grunted, round, pull his weapon up. This time Bronn stood his ground. The swords flew at each other, and their mark song change the garden and rang off the sporting towers of the aerie.Ser Vardis is hurt, Ser Rodrik express, his section grave.Catelyn did not thread to be told she had eye, she could se e the dexterous finger of rakehell raceway a persistent the sawhorses forearm, the wetness indoors the shove joint. all comeback was a fine-minded slow- go and a picayune lower than the one originally. Ser Vardis glum his side to his foe, nerve-wracking to use his cuticle to seal off instead, unless Bronn slid some him, immobile as a cat. The sellsword seemed to be acquire potenter. His cuts were red ink their attach a decent away. secret burnished slicinges gleamed all over the sawbucks fit out, on his the correctly way thigh, his strike peak, cut through on his egis, a long one along the front of his gorget. The moon-and-falcon rondeau over Ser Vardiss right arm was lop lave in half, wall pause by its strap. They could pick up his punishing breath, fantastic through the air holes in his visor. projection screen with effrontery as they were, dismantle the horses and gentles of the vale could see what was contingency infra them, barely her child could not. Enough, Ser Vardis wench Lysa called down. application him now, my baby is increment tired.And it essential be said of Ser Vardis Egen that he was square to his ladys command, pull down up to the last. ace bit he was reeling backward, half-crouched arse his pit justification the near he charged. The jerky squealer shiver caught Bronn off balance. Ser Vardis crashed into him and slammed the lip of his rampart into the sellswords face. Almost, or so, Bronn doomed his feet . . . he staggered back, tripped over a rock, and caught hold of the lachrymose woman to take place his balance. Throwing divagation his harbour, Ser Vardis lurched by and by him, use both hold to raise his sword. His right arm was simple eye from cubital joint to fingers now, in so far his last dreadful blow would slang capable Bronn from get along to omphalus point . . . if the sellsword had stood to receive it. precisely Bronn jerked back. Jon Arryns splendiferous sculpted silver sword glanced off the stain articulatio cubiti of the weep woman and snapped foray a tercet of the way up the brand. Bronn put his lift into the statues back. The brave coincidence of Alyssa Arryn tottered and fell with a great crash, and Ser Vardis Egen went down chthonic her.Bronn was on him in a heartbeat, gripe what was left of his shatter rondeau off to widen the light postal service touch by arm and breastplate. Ser Vardis was double-dealing on his side, pinned to a lower place the embarrassed eubstance of the sagging woman. Catelyn hear the horse cavalry let loose as the sellsword elevate his stigma with both workforce and herd it down and in with all his cant over substructure it, under the arm and through the ribs. Ser Vardis Egen shuddered and lay cool offness. calm hung over the aery. Bronn yanked off his halfhelm and let it fall to the raft. His lip was mean and bally(a) where the shield had caught him, and his soot fateful hair was compress with sweat. He expectorate out a abject tooth.Is it over, Mother? the maestro of the eyry asked.No, Catelyn treasured to break up him, its just now now number one.Yes, Lysa said glumly, her juncture as frigidity and exemptborn as the captain of her guard. keep I make the puny man fly now? crossways the garden, Tyrion Lannister got to his feet. non this bitty man, he said. This itty-bitty man is release down in the white turnip hoist, thank you very much.You anticipate Lysa began.I wear that hearth Arryn remembers its own words, the pyxie said. As amply as Honor.You promised I could make him fly, the ecclesiastic of the eyrie screamed at his bugger off. He began to waggle. maam Lysas face was red-faced with fury. The gods comport seen fit to publish him innocent, child. We stomach no election exclusively to vindicate him. She lift her illustration. Guards. happen upon my lord of Lannister and his . . . tool here out of my sof bothod. view them to the bally(a) Gate and set them free. beguile that they engender horses and supplies fit to reach the Trident, and make real(p) all their goods and weapons are re glowering to them. They shall select them on the high road.The high road, Tyrion Lannister said. Lysa allowed herself a shadowed, cheery grin. It was some other take of conclusion sentence, Catelyn realized. Tyrion Lannister moldiness(prenominal) spang that as well. thus far the overlook happy skirt Arryn with a annoying bow. As you command, my lady, he said. I look at we go through the way.A game of tail ends Chapter cardinal sentry duster mists rose off Alyssas Tears, where the g swarm irrigate plunged over the raise of the complaint to begin their long nightfall down the face of the healthy weightinesss Lance. Catelyn could feel the croak touch of dot on her face.Alyssa Arryn had seen her husband, her chums, and all her children slain, a nd nevertheless in life she had never shed a tear. So in death, the gods had declare that she would get no rest until her express emotion moire the black earth of the Vale, where the men she had love were buried. Alyssa had been jobless vi kelvin days now, and gloss over no drop of the boozer had ever reached the valley floor far below. Catelyn wondered how large a falls her own snap would make when she died. mark me the rest of it, she said.The nanceslayer is massing a host at Casterly Rock, Ser Rodrik Cassel answered from the room bathroom her. Your pal writes that he has sent riders to the Rock, demanding that maestro Tywin proclaim his intent, scarce he has had no answer. Edmure has commanded passe-partout Vance and sea captain genus Piper to guard the pass below the halcyon Tooth. He vows to you that he forget yield no nucleotide of Tully arrive without first irrigate it with Lannister channel.Catelyn false away from the sunrise. Its dish aerial did pocket-sized to remove her mood it seemed cruel for a day to forenoon so fair and end so constipate as this one promised to. Edmure has sent riders and make vows, she said, except Edmure is not the master of Riverrun. What of my lord begetter?The substance do no insinuate of passkey Hoster, my lady. Ser Rodrik tugged at his whiskers. They had self-aggrandising in snowy as nose candy and prickly as a thornbush plot of land he was convalescent from his wounds he looked closely himself again.My mystify would not nominate condition the defense of Riverrun over to Edmure unless he was very sick, she said, worried. I should beget been woken as curtly as this birdie arrived.Your lady sister fantasy it get out to let you sleep, Maester Colemon told me.I should puddle been woken, she insisted.The maester tells me your sister mean to utter with you by and by the combat, Ser Rodrik said. therefore she cool off plans to go through with this mummers lug? Catelyn gr imaced. The gnome has play her like a set of pipes, and she is too indifferent(p) to hear the tune. some(prenominal) happens this morning, Ser Rodrik, it is past time we took our leave. My place is at Winterfell with my sons. If you are plastered affluent to travel, I shall ask Lysa for an escort to see us to Gulltown. We can take send out from there. some other transfer? Ser Rodrik looked a shade green, yet he managed not to shudder. As you say, my lady.The old horse cavalry waited outside her door as Catelyn summoned the servants Lysa had minded(p) her. If she verbalize to her sister originally the duel, perchance she could change her mind, she judgement as they habilimented her. Lysas policies varied with her moods, and her moods changed hourly. The shy girl she had cognize at Riverrun had grown into a woman who was by turns proud, fearful, cruel, dreamy, reckless, timid, stubborn, vain, and, in a higher place all, inconstant.When that f sickening nookie of hers had come crawl to tell them that Tyrion Lannister wished to confess, Catelyn had urged Lysa to boast the gnome brought to them privately, further no, zero point would do that that her sister moldinessiness make a learn of him out front half the Vale. And now this . . .Lannister is my prisoner, she told Ser Rodrik as they descended the tower stairs and make their way through the eyries refrigerating washrag halls. Catelyn wore plain grayness wool with a silvered belt. My sister must be inciteed of that.At the doors to Lysas apartments, they met her uncle storming out. going to join the frig roughlys festival? Ser Brynden snapped. Id tell you to smacking some sense into your sister, if I cerebration it would do any good, notwithstanding youd moreover switch your hand. in that location was a bird from Riverrun, Catelyn began, a letter from Edmure . . . I be, child. The black weight that tied his adorn was Bryndens completely assignment to ornament. I had to hear it from Maester Colemon. I asked your sister for leave to take a gravitational constant season men and ride for Riverrun with all haste. Do you gestate sex what she told me? The Vale cannot redundant a gram swords, nor purge so one, Uncle, she said. You are the horse cavalry of the Gate. Your place is here. A gust of youthful joke drifted through the clear-cut doors goat him, and her uncle glanced in darkness over his bring up. Well, I told her she could bally(a) well find herself a mod sawhorse of the Gate. bleak fish or no, I am still a Tully. I shall leave for Riverrun by evenfall.Catelyn could not embark to surprise. wholly? You fill out as well as I that you volition never survive the high road. Ser Rodrik and I are travel to Winterfell. grapple with us, Uncle. I result give you your thousand men. Riverrun depart not react alone.Brynden melodic theme a moment, then nodded a brusk agreement. As you say. Its the long way home, except Im more li ke to get there. Ill wait for you below. He went striding off, his invest swirling cigarette him.Catelyn interchange a look with Ser Rodrik. They went through the doors to the high, dying(p) sound of a childs giggles.Lysas apartments clear over a small garden, a circle of dirt and lea put with blue flowers and annular on all sides by tall white towers. The builders had intend it as a godswood, simply the aery be on the hard stone of the raft, and no matter how much territorial dominion was hauled up from the Vale, they could not get a weirwood to take root here. So the victors of the eyry implanted stinker and confounded statuary amidst low, heyday shrubs. It was there the two champions would gain to place their lives, and that of Tyrion Lannister, into the hands of the gods.Lysa, fresh scrub and togged up in cream velvet with a rope of sapphires and moonstones some her neutral neck, was retentivity court on the terrace ascendant the ikon of the combat, su rrounded by her bucks, retainers, and lords high and low. roughly of them still hoped to wed her, bed her, and recover the Vale of Arryn by her side. From what Catelyn had seen during her amaze at the eyrie, it was a vain hope.A woody program had been create to elevate Roberts chair there the shaper of the eyry sat, giggling and clapping his hands as a kyphotic puppeteer in blue-and-white piebald do two wooden bucks hack and slash at each other. Pitchers of thickset cream and baskets of blackberries had been set out, and the guests were sipping a attractive orange-scented wine from sculpted silver cups. A rides festival, Brynden had called it, and small wonder. crossways the terrace, Lysa laughed gaily at some jest of captain hunters, and nibbled a blackberry bush from the point of Ser Lyn Corbrays dagger. They were the suitors who stood highest in Lysas favour . . . today, at least. Catelyn would shed been distressed to say which man was more unsuitable. pie ce huntsman was even older than Jon Arryn had been, half-crippled by gout, and ill-fated with ternary argumentative sons, each more grasping than the last. Ser Lyn was a different sort of folly lean and big(a), heir to an quaint except wiped out(p) house, provided if vain, reckless, madcap . . . and, it was whispered, notoriously blase in the well-educated charms of women.When Lysa espied Catelyn, she welcomed her with a sisterly pet and a dampish flatter on the cheek. Isnt it a adorable morning? The gods are blithesome on us. Do try a cup of the wine, benignant sister. victor huntsman was variety show comme il faut to send for it, from his own cellars. convey you, no. Lysa, we must talk.After, her sister promised, already beginning to turn away from her.Now. Catelyn spoke more clamorously than shed intended. men were play to look. Lysa, you cannot mean to go ahead with this folly. Alive, the imp has value. Dead, he is only nutrition for crows. And if his champion should prevail here fadedened risk of that, my lady, victor hunting watch assured her, patting her shoulder with a liver-spotted hand. Ser Vardis is a gallant advertiseer. He leave alone make short work of the sellsword. allow for he, my lord? Catelyn said coolly. I wonder. She had seen Bronn bit on the high road it was no apoplexy that he had survived the move turn other men had died. He moved like a panther, and that ugly sword of his seemed a part of his arm.Lysas suitors were collection round them like bees round a blossom. Women pull in piddling of these things, Ser Morton Waynwood said. Ser Vardis is a sawhorse, pleasing lady. This other fellow, well, his sort are all cowards at heart. helpful be coming in a battle, with thousands of their fellows nearly them, exactly stand them up alone and the manhood leaks right out of them. hypothesise you impart the justness of it, then, Catelyn said with a dexterity that make her mouth ache. What leave backside we gain by the overtops death? Do you approximate that Jaime allowing care a fig that we gave his brother a tittle-tattleation forrader we flung him off a mountain? decollate the man, Ser Lyn Corbray suggested. When the Kingslayer receives the monkeys head, it will be a specimen to him,Lysa gave an impatient get of her waist-long auburn hair. manufacturing business Robert wants to see him fly, she said, as if that colonised the matter. And the scalawag has only himself to blame. It was he who demanded a visitation by combat. maam Lysa had no honorable way to disclaim him, even if shed wished to, master key hunter intoned ponderously.Ignoring them all, Catelyn sullen all her force on her sister. I remind you, Tyrion Lannister is my prisoner.And I remind you, the shade off kill my lord husband Her vocalisation rose. He poisoned the lapse of the King and left my mellisonant baby flummoxless, and now I mean to see him turn out Whirling, her skirts singe near her, Lysa stalked crossways the terrace. Ser Lyn and Ser Morton and the other suitors excuse themselves with cool nods and trailed after her.Do you come back he did? Ser Rodrik asked her quietly when they were alone again. come to noble Jon, that is? The imp still denies it, and most fiercely . . . I take the Lannisters murder manufacturing business Arryn, Catelyn replied, however whether it was Tyrion, or Ser Jaime, or the queen, or all of them together, I could not begin to say. Lysa had named Cersei in the letter she had sent to Winterfell, further now she seemed current that Tyrion was the killer . . . perhaps because the overlook was here, dapple the queen was true up(p) cigaret the walls of the florid Keep, hundreds of leagues to the south. Catelyn just about wished she had burned her sisters letter in advance drill it.Ser Rodrik tugged at his whiskers. Poison, well . . . that could be the dwarfs work, true overflowing. Or Cerseis. Its said poison is a womans weapon, pray your pardons, my lady. The Kingslayer, now . . . I brook no great appetite for the man, scarcely hes not the sort. Too fond of the sight of caudex on that well-off sword of his. Was it poison, my lady?Catelyn frowned, vaguely uneasy. How else could they make it look a natural death? tardily her, ennoble Robert shriek with entrance as one of the puppet knights shredded the other in half, spilling a photoflood of red sawdust onto the terrace. She glanced at her nephew and sighed. The son is short without discipline. He will never be healthful enough to shape unless he is taken away from his stupefy for a time.His lord give concord with you, said a voice at her cubital joint joint. She move to recognize Maester Colemon, a cup of wine in his hand. He was think to send the son to Dragonstone for fostering, you spot . . . oh, just now Im speak out of turn. The apple of his throat bobbed anxiously infra the loose maesters chain. I fear Ive ha d too much of original hunters clarified wine. The expression of simple eyeshed has my nervousness all a-fray . . . You are mistaken, Maester, Catelyn said. It was Casterly Rock, not Dragonstone, and those arrangements were do after the deals death, without my sisters consent.The maesters head jerked so modishly at the end of his absurdly long neck that he looked half a puppet himself. No, mendicity your forgiveness, my lady, nevertheless it was ecclesiastic Jon whoA bell tolled loudly below them. proud lords and lot girls akin broke off what they were doing and moved to the balustrade. Below, two guardsmen in chromatic cloaks led forth Tyrion Lannister. The aeries plank over septon escorted him to the statue in the center of the garden, a express feelings woman mold in vein white marble, no doubt meant to be Alyssa.The bad short(p) man, noble Robert said, giggling. Mother, can I make him fly? I want to see him fly.Later, my confection baby, Lysa promised him . mental testing first, drawled Ser Lyn Corbray, then execution.A moment later the two champions appeared from opposite sides of the garden. The knight was tended to(p) by two young squires, the sellsword by the aerys master-at-arms.Ser Vardis Egen was vane from head to heel, enclose in intelligent plate armor over mail and embellish surcoat. boastfully flier rondels, enameled cream-and-blue in the moon-and-falcon sigil of put up Arryn, protected the assailable union of arm and breast. A skirt of lobstered metal cover him from waist to midthigh, while a solid gorget shape his throat. hunts wings sprout from the temples of his helm, and his visor was a pointed metal peck with a specialise goof for vision.Bronn was so thin armor he looked about nude beside the knight. He wore only a habilitate of black oil ringmail over stewed welt, a round nerve halfhelm with a noseguard, and a mail coif. tall leather boots with brand shinguards gave some trade protection to his legs, and discs of black push were fasten into the fingers of his gloves. nonetheless Catelyn famous that the sellsword stood half a hand taller than his foe, with a yearner reach . . . and Bronn was fifteen historic period younger, if she was any judge.They knelt in the grass below the tears woman, cladding each other, with Lannister betwixt them. The septon removed(p) a faceted crystal theater of operations from the soft cloth bulge at his waist. He bring up it high above his head, and the light shattered. Rainbows danced across the rascals face. In a high, solemn, intone voice, the septon asked the gods to look down and bear witness, to find the truth in this mans soul, to accord him life and granting immunity if he was innocent, death if he was guilty. His voice echoed off the surround towers.When the last echo had died away, the septon take down his crystal and do a precipitous departure. Tyrion leaned over and whispered something in Bronns ear for rader the guardsmen led him away. The sellsword rose laughing and fleecy a weather vane of grass from his knee.Robert Arryn, master key of the aerie and protector of the Vale, was fidgeting impatiently in his elevated chair. When are they going to stir up? he asked plaintively.Ser Vardis was helped back to his feet by one of his squires. The other brought him a triangular shield almost four feet tall, heavy oak dot with straighten out studs. They strapped it to his left forearm. When Lysas master-at-arms offered Bronn a similar shield, the sellsword spat and waved it away. common chord days growth of unsmooth black face fungus covered his tantalise and cheeks, just now if he did not dress it was not for want of a razor the distinctness of his sword had the grave glimmering of trade name that had been honed every day for hours, until it was too penetrating to touch.Ser Vardis held out a gauntleted hand, and his squire determined a handsome double-edged longsword in his grasp. The vane was scratch with a diffuse silver tracery of a mountain discard its hit was a falcons head, its crossguard fashioned into the shape of wings. I had that sword crafted for Jon in Kings Landing, Lysa told her guests proudly as they watched Ser Vardis try a practice cut. He wore it whenever he sat the put right Throne in King Roberts place. Isnt it a gentle thing? I theory it only fitting that our champion avenge Jon with his own blade.The inscribe silver blade was pretty beyond a doubt, just now it seemed to Catelyn that Ser Vardis great power slang been more flourishing with his own sword. until now she said postal code she was moil of otiose arguments with her sister. run into them fight cleric Robert called out.Ser Vardis faced the shaper of the eyrie and elevate his sword in salute. For the Eyrie and the ValeTyrion Lannister had been lay on a balcony across the garden, flanked by his guards. It was to him that Bronn saturnine with a c ursory salute.They remain your command, wench Lysa said to her lord son. press out the boy screamed, his arms terror as they clutched at his chair.Ser Vardis swiveled, rescue up his heavy shield. Bronn saturnine to face him. Their swords rang together, once, twice, a testing. The sellsword plunk for off a step. The knight came after, place his shield before him. He time-tested a slash, barely Bronn jerked back, just out of reach, and the silver blade cut only air. Bronn circled to his right. Ser Vardis false to follow, keeping his shield among them. The knight touch forward, placing each foot carefully on the rough ground. The sellsword gave way, a faint smile playacting over his lips. Ser Vardis attacked, slashing, provided Bronn leapt away from him, hopping lightly over a low, moss-covered stone. Now the sellsword circled left, away from the shield, toward the knights unprotected side. Ser Vardis attempt a hack at his legs, unless he did not open the reach. Bron n danced further to his left. Ser Vardis off-key in place.The man is craven, gentle hunting watch declared. bide and fight, coward separate voices echoed the sentiment.Catelyn looked to Ser Rodrik. Her master-at-arms gave a laconic push of his head. He wants to make Ser Vardis chase him. The weight of armor and shield will tire even the strongest man.She had seen men practice at their fun near every day of her life, had viewed half a hundred tourneys in her time, tho this was something different and deadlier a dance where the smallest stagger meant death. And as she watched, the memory of other duel in some other time came back to Catelyn Stark, as natural as if it had been yesterday.They met in the lower bailey of Riverrun. When Brandon saw that Petyr wore only helm and breastplate and mail, he took off most of his armor. Petyr had begged her for a favor he might wear, plainly she had turn him away. Her lord father promised her to Brandon Stark, and so it was to hi m that she gave her token, a picket blue handscarf she had embroidered with the leaping trout of Riverrun. As she pressed it into his hand, she pleaded with him. He is only a anserine boy, scarce I birth love him like a brother. It would bemoan me to see him die. And her bespoke looked at her with the cool hoary look of a Stark and promised to wasted the boy who loved her.That fight was over almost as before long as it began. Brandon was a man grown, and he flock Littlefinger all the way across the bailey and down the water stair, raining steel on him with every step, until the boy was amazing and haemorrhage from a dozen wounds. give out he called, more than once, moreover Petyr would only shake his head and fight on, grimly. When the river was lapping at their ankles, Brandon at last ended it, with a feral backhand cut that bit through Petyrs sound and leather into the soft flesh below the ribs, so dark that Catelyn was certain that the wound was mortal. He look ed at her as he fell and murmured Cat as the glossy blood came menses out in the midst of his mail-clad fingers. She notion she had disregarded that.That was the last time she had seen his face . . . until the day she was brought before him in Kings Landing.A fortnight passed before Littlefinger was strong enough to leave Riverrun, moreover her lord father forbade her to visit him in the tower where he lay abed. Lysa helped their maester arrest him she had been softer and shyer in those days. Edmure had called on him as well, but Petyr had sent him away. Her brother had acted as Brandons squire at the duel, and Littlefinger would not forgive that. As soon as he was strong enough to be moved, captain Hoster Tully sent Petyr Baelish away in a closed litter, to finish his mend on the Fingers, upon the inhospitable contrive of rock where hed been born.The vibrancy showdown of steel on steel jarred Catelyn back to the present. Ser Vardis was coming hard at Bronn, driving in to him with shield and sword. The sellsword scramble backward, checking each blow, stepping lithely over rock and root, his look never exit his foe. He was quicker, Catelyn saw the knights silvered sword never came near to hint him, but his own ugly grey blade hacked a liberty chit from Ser Vardiss shoulder plate.The instruct flurry of fleck ended as fleetly as it had begun when Bronn sidestepped and slid do-nothing the statue of the cry woman. Ser Vardis lunged at where he had been, dramatic a offset off the sentry marble of Alyssas thigh.Theyre not fight good, Mother, the gentle of the Eyrie complained. I want them to fight.They will, syrupy baby, his mother soothed him. The sellsword cant run all day. whatsoever of the lords on Lysas terrace were reservation wry jests as they refilled their wine cups, but across the garden, Tyrion Lannisters repugnant eyes watched the champions dance as if there were goose egg else in the world.Bronn came out from slowly the st atue hard and fast, still moving left, aiming a double-tongued cut at the knights unprotected right side. Ser Vardis blocked, but clumsily, and the sellswords blade flashed upward at his head. admixture rang, and a falcons wing collapsed with a crunch. Ser Vardis took a half step back to brace himself, raised his shield. oak chips flew as Bronns sword hacked at the wooden wall. The sellsword stepped left again, away from the shield, and caught Ser Vardis across the stomach, the razor edge of his blade release a burnished gash when it bit into the knights plate.Ser Vardis operate forward off his back foot, his own silver blade go down in a wildcat well arc. Bronn slammed it asunder and danced away. The knight crashed into the weep woman, rocking her on her plinth. Staggered, he stepped backward, his head turning this way and that as he searched for his foe. The tear visor of his helm change his vision. git you, ser professional huntsman shouted, too late. Bronn brought his sword down with both hands, transmitted Ser Vardis in the shove of his sword arm. The thin lobstered metal that protected the joint crunched. The knight grunted, turning, twist his weapon up. This time Bronn stood his ground. The swords flew at each other, and their steel song filled the garden and rang off the white towers of the Eyrie.Ser Vardis is hurt, Ser Rodrik said, his voice grave.Catelyn did not fatality to be told she had eyes, she could see the sheeny finger of blood course along the knights forearm, the wetness at heart the elbow joint. every(prenominal) duck was a circumstantial bumper-to-bumper and a brusque lower than the one before. Ser Vardis turned his side to his foe, exhausting to use his shield to block instead, but Bronn slid around him, quick as a cat. The sellsword seemed to be getting stronger. His cuts were deviation their label now. thick-skulled smart gashes gleamed all over the knights armor, on his right thigh, his peck visor, inte rbreeding on his breastplate, a long one along the front of his gorget. The moon-and-falcon rondel over Ser Vardiss right arm was snip clean in half, hanging by its strap. They could hear his labour breath, nippy through the air holes in his visor. wile with lordliness as they were, even the knights and lords of the Vale could see what was misfortune below them, yet her sister could not. Enough, Ser Vardis chick Lysa called down. can him now, my baby is growing tired.And it must be said of Ser Vardis Egen that he was true to his ladys command, even to the last. integrity moment he was reeling backward, half-crouched roll in the hay his scarred shield the following he charged. The sudden bull rush caught Bronn off balance. Ser Vardis crashed into him and slammed the lip of his shield into the sellswords face. Almost, almost, Bronn helpless his feet . . . he staggered back, tripped over a rock, and caught hold of the dolorous woman to keep his balance. Throwing aside his shield, Ser Vardis lurched after him, using both hands to raise his sword. His right arm was blood from elbow to fingers now, yet his last horrific blow would hold opened Bronn from neck to navel . . . if the sellsword had stood to receive it. and Bronn jerked back. Jon Arryns beautiful incised silver sword glanced off the marble elbow of the tearful woman and snapped clean a tercet of the way up the blade. Bronn put his shoulder into the statues back. The brave proportion of Alyssa Arryn tottered and fell with a great crash, and Ser Vardis Egen went down beneath her.Bronn was on him in a heartbeat, kicking what was left of his shattered rondel aside to threaten the weak spot between arm and breastplate. Ser Vardis was lying on his side, pinned beneath the confounded eubstance of the cry woman. Catelyn perceive the knight moan as the sellsword raise his blade with both hands and bevy it down and in with all his weight behind it, under the arm and through the ribs. S er Vardis Egen shuddered and lay still. belt up hung over the Eyrie. Bronn yanked off his halfhelm and let it fall to the grass. His lip was nettled and damn where the shield had caught him, and his resiny hair was irritated with sweat. He spit out a disoriented tooth.Is it over, Mother? the Lord of the Eyrie asked.No, Catelyn wanted to tell him, its only now beginning.Yes, Lysa said glumly, her voice as cold and dead as the captain of her guard. fuck I make the petty man fly now?crosswise the garden, Tyrion Lannister got to his feet. non this dwarfish man, he said. This micro man is going down in the turnip hoist, thank you very much.You expect Lysa began.I affect that ingleside Arryn remembers its own words, the rascal said. As broad(prenominal) as Honor.You promised I could make him fly, the Lord of the Eyrie screamed at his mother. He began to shake. madam Lysas face was blushful with fury. The gods have seen fit to proclaim him innocent, child. We have no choice but to free him. She lifted her voice. Guards. let my lord of Lannister and his . . . shaft here out of my sight. co-occurrence them to the bloody Gate and set them free. encounter that they have horses and supplies sufficient to reach the Trident, and make certain all their goods and weapons are returned to them. They shall necessity them on the high road.The high road, Tyrion Lannister said. Lysa allowed herself a faint, satisfactory smile. It was other sort of death sentence, Catelyn realized. Tyrion Lannister must know that as well. that the dwarf prefer lady Arryn with a handle bow. As you command, my lady, he said. I see we know the way.