A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

from the
sea.”
    â€œI left my horse at the inn. Come.” They walked down the strand together, and
when Theon took her arm, she did not pull away. He liked the way she walked;
there was a boldness to it, part saunter and part sway, that suggested she
would be just as bold beneath the blankets.
    Lordsport was as crowded as he’d ever seen it, swarming with the crews of the
longships that lined the pebbled shore and rode at anchor well out past the
breakwater. Ironmen did not bend their knees often nor easily, but Theon noted
that oarsmen and townfolk alike grew quiet as they passed, and acknowledged him
with respectful bows of the head.
They have finally learned who I am,
he thought.
And past time too.
    Lord Goodbrother of Great Wyk had come in the night before with his main
strength, near forty longships. His men were everywhere, conspicuous in their
striped goat’s hair sashes. It was said about the inn that Otter Gimpknee’s
whores were being

fucked bowlegged by beardless boys in sashes. The boys were welcome to them so
far as Theon was concerned. A poxier den of slatterns he hoped he’d never see.
His present companion was more to his taste. That she was wed to his father’s
shipwright and pregnant to boot only made her more intriguing.
    â€œHas my lord prince begun choosing his crew?” Esgred asked as they made their
way toward the stable. “Ho, Bluetooth,” she shouted to a passing seafarer, a
tall man in bearskin vest and raven-winged helm. “How fares your
bride?”
    â€œFat with child, and talking of twins.”
    â€œSo soon?” Esgred smiled that wicked smile. “You got your oar in the water
quickly.”
    â€œAye, and stroked and stroked and
stroked,
” roared the
man.
    â€œA big man,” Theon observed. “Bluetooth, was it? Should I choose him for my
Sea Bitch
?”
    â€œOnly if you mean to insult him. Bluetooth has a sweet ship of his
own.”
    â€œI have been too long away to know one man from another,” Theon admitted.
He’d looked for a few of the friends he’d played with as a boy, but they were
gone, dead, or grown into strangers. “My uncle Victarion has loaned me his own
steersman.”
    â€œRymolf Stormdrunk? A good man, so long as he’s sober.” She saw more faces
she knew, and called out to a passing trio, “Uller, Qarl. Where’s your
brother, Skyte?”
    â€œThe Drowned God needed a strong oarsman, I fear,” replied the stocky man
with the white streak in his beard.
    â€œWhat he means is, Eldiss drank too much wine and his fat belly burst,”
said the pink-cheeked youth beside him.
    â€œWhat’s dead may never die,” Esgred said.
    â€œWhat’s dead may never die.”
    Theon muttered the words with them. “You seem well known,” he said to the
woman when the men had passed on.
    â€œEvery man loves the shipwright’s wife. He had better, lest he wants his ship
to sink. If you need men to pull your oars, you could do worse than those
three.”
    â€œLordsport has no lack of strong arms.” Theon had given the matter no little
thought. It was fighters he wanted, and men who would be loyal to
him,
not to his lord father or his uncles. He was playing the part of
a dutiful young prince for the moment, while he waited for Lord Balon to reveal
the fullness of his plans. If it turned out that he did not like those plans or
his part in them, however, well . . .
    â€œStrength is not enough. A longship’s oars must move as one if you would have
her best speed. Choose men who have rowed together before, if you’re
wise.”
    â€œSage counsel. Perhaps you’d help me choose them.”
Let her believe I
want her wisdom, women fancy that.
    â€œI may. If you treat me kindly.”
    â€œHow else?”
    Theon quickened his stride as they neared the
Myraham,
rocking high
and empty by the quay. Her captain had tried to sail a fortnight past, but Lord
Balon would not permit it. None of the

merchantmen that called at Lordsport had been allowed to depart again; his
father wanted no word of the hosting to reach the mainland before he was ready
to strike.
    â€œMilord,” a plaintive voice called down from the forecastle of the
merchanter. The captain’s daughter leaned over the rail, gazing after him. Her
father had forbidden her to come ashore, but whenever Theon came