A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle
brow to her hand. âLady Catelyn,â he said, âyou are fair as ever, a welcome sight in troubled times.â The Glovers followed, Galbart and Robett, and Greatjon Umber, and the rest, one by one. Theon Greyjoy was the last. âI had not looked to see you here, my lady,â he said as he knelt.
âI had not thought to be here,â Catelyn said, âuntil I came ashore at White Harbor, and Lord Wyman told methat Robb had called the banners. You know his son, Ser Wendel,â Wendel Manderly stepped forward and bowed as low as his girth would allow. âAnd my uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, who has left my sisterâs service for mine.â
âThe Blackfish,â Robb said. âThank you for joining us, ser. We need men of your courage. And you, Ser Wendel, I am glad to have you here. Is Ser Rodrik with you as well, Mother? Iâve missed him.â
âSer Rodrik is on his way north from White Harbor. I have named him castellan and commanded him to hold Winterfell till our return. Maester Luwin is a wise counsellor, but unskilled in the arts of war.â
âHave no fear on that count, Lady Stark,â the Greatjon told her in his bass rumble. âWinterfell is safe. Weâll shove our swords up Tywin Lannisterâs bunghole soon enough, begging your pardons, and then itâs on to the Red Keep to free Ned.â
âMy lady, a question, as it please you.â Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort, had a small voice, yet when he spoke larger men quieted to listen. His eyes were curiously pale, almost without color, and his look disturbing. âIt is said that you hold Lord Tywinâs dwarf son as captive. Have you brought him to us? I vow, we should make good use of such a hostage.â
âI did hold Tyrion Lannister, but no longer,â Catelyn was forced to admit. A chorus of consternation greeted the news. âI was no more pleased than you, my lords. The gods saw fit to free him, with some help from my fool of a sister.â She ought not to be so open in her contempt, she knew, but her parting from the Eyrie had not been pleasant. She had offered to take Lord Robert with her, to foster him at Winterfell for a few years. The company of other boys would do him good, she had dared to suggest. Lysaâs rage had been frightening to behold. âSister or no,â she had replied, âif you try to steal my son, you will leave by the Moon Door.â After that there was no more to be said.
The lords were anxious to question her further, but Catelyn raised a hand. âNo doubt we will have time for all this later, but my journey has fatigued me. I would speak with my son alone. I know you will forgive me, my lords.â She gave them no choice; led by the ever-obliging Lord Hornwood, the bannermen bowed and took theirleave. âAnd you, Theon,â she added when Greyjoy lingered. He smiled and left them.
There was ale and cheese on the table. Catelyn filled a horn, sat, sipped, and studied her son. He seemed taller than when sheâd left, and the wisps of beard did make him look older. âEdmure was sixteen when he grew his first whiskers.â
âI will be sixteen soon enough,â Robb said.
âAnd you are fifteen now. Fifteen, and leading a host to battle. Can you understand why I might fear, Robb?â
His look grew stubborn. âThere was no one else.â
âNo one?â she said. âPray, who were those men I saw here a moment ago? Roose Bolton, Rickard Karstark, Galbart and Robett Glover, the Greatjon, Helman Tallhart â¦Â you might have given the command to
any
of them. Gods be good, you might even have sent Theon, though he would not be my choice.â
âThey are not Starks,â he said.
âThey are
men
, Robb, seasoned in battle. You were fighting with wooden swords less than a year past.â
She saw anger in his eyes at that, but it was gone as quick as it came, and suddenly he was a boy again. âI know,â he said, abashed. âAre you â¦Â are you sending me back to Winterfell?â
Catelyn sighed. âI should. You ought never have left. Yet I dare not, not now. You have come too far. Someday these lords will look to you as their liege. If I pack you off now, like a child being sent to bed without his supper, they will remember, and laugh about it in their cups. The day will come when you need them to respect you, even fear you a little. Laughter is
Weitere Kostenlose Bücher