A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

me, fetch Jory Cassel or Vayon Poole from the Tower of the Hand.” She put her hands on her hips. “Now are you going to open the gate, or do you need a clout on the ear to help your hearing?”
    Her father was alone in the solar when Harwin and Fat Tom marched her in, an oil lamp glowing softly at his elbow. He was bent over the biggest book Arya had ever seen, a great thick tome with cracked yellow pages of crabbed script, bound between faded leather covers, buthe closed it to listen to Harwin’s report. His face was stern as he sent the men away with thanks.
    â€œYou realize I had half my guard out searching for you?” Eddard Stark said when they were alone. “Septa Mordane is beside herself with fear. She’s in the sept praying for your safe return. Arya, you
know
you are never to go beyond the castle gates without my leave.”
    â€œI didn’t go out the gates,” she blurted. “Well, I didn’t mean to. I was down in the dungeons, only they turned into this tunnel. It was all dark, and I didn’t have a torch or a candle to see by, so I had to follow. I couldn’t go back the way I came on account of the monsters. Father, they were talking about
killing
you! Not the monsters, the two men. They didn’t see me, I was being still as stone and quiet as a shadow, but I heard them. They said you had a book and a bastard and if one Hand could die, why not a second? Is that the book? Jon’s the bastard, I bet.”
    â€œJon? Arya, what are you talking about? Who said this?”
    â€œThey
did,” she told him. “There was a fat one with rings and a forked yellow beard, and another in mail and a steel cap, and the fat one said they had to delay but the other one told him he couldn’t keep juggling and the wolf and the lion were going to eat each other and it was a mummer’s farce.” She tried to remember the rest. She hadn’t quite understood everything she’d heard, and now it was all mixed up in her head. “The fat one said the princess was with child. The one in the steel cap, he had the torch, he said that they had to hurry. I think he was a wizard.”
    â€œA wizard,” said Ned, unsmiling. “Did he have a long white beard and tall pointed hat speckled with stars?”
    â€œNo! It wasn’t like Old Nan’s stories. He didn’t
look
like a wizard, but the fat one said he was.”
    â€œI warn you, Arya, if you’re spinning this thread of air—”
    â€œNo, I
told
you, it was in the dungeons, by the place with the secret wall. I was chasing cats, and well …” She screwed up her face. If she admitted knocking over Prince Tommen, he would be
really
angry with her. “… well, I went in this window. That’s where I found the monsters.”
    â€œMonsters
and
wizards,” her father said. “It wouldseem you’ve had quite an adventure. These men you heard, you say they spoke of juggling and mummery?”
    â€œYes,” Arya admitted, “only—”
    â€œArya, they were mummers,” her father told her. “There must be a dozen troupes in King’s Landing right now, come to make some coin off the tourney crowds. I’m not certain what these two were doing in the castle, but perhaps the king has asked for a show.”
    â€œNo.” She shook her head stubbornly. “They weren’t—”
    â€œYou shouldn’t be following people about and spying on them in any case. Nor do I cherish the notion of my daughter climbing in strange windows after stray cats. Look at you, sweetling. Your arms are covered with scratches. This has gone on long enough. Tell Syrio Forel that I want a word with him—”
    He was interrupted by a short, sudden knock. “Lord Eddard, pardons,” Desmond called out, opening the door a crack, “but there’s a black brother here begging audience. He says the matter is urgent. I thought you would want to know.”
    â€œMy door is always open to the Night’s Watch,” Father said.
    Desmond ushered the man inside. He was stooped and ugly, with an unkempt beard and unwashed clothes, yet Father greeted him pleasantly and asked his name.
    â€œYoren, as it please m’lord. My pardons for the hour.” He bowed to Arya. “And this must be your son. He has your look.”
    â€œI’m a
girl,”
Arya said, exasperated. If the old man was down from the