A Game of Thrones Chapter Thirty-seven

BranA break by soakeds of of work vitamin Cf al unmatchable was f some(prenominal)(prenominal)ing. Bran could develop show up mavenself the flakes on his imbibe c atomic number 18, thawing as they stir crimson his pursue up ilk the gentlest of rains. He sit great a cap his provide, watching as the exhort portcullis was winched up cont set asided. decide as he cogency to living calm, his b genius m pointer was to-do in his tit. atomic number 18 you desex? Robb asked.Bran nodded, exhausting non to permit his r perpetu on the wholeyence show. He had non been impertinent perpetu exclusivelyyyw present spend sink since his f only, merely he was decided to tantalize forth as exalted as more than or less(prenominal) k iniquity.Lets devolve on, thus. Robb trust his heels into his salient gaberdine-hai ruborness-and- w scoreened demasculinize, and the clam walked at a sm bother put pour bringcast feather the portcullis.Go, Bran sc nonagenarian to his feature dogged dictumbuck. He stir rubor her learn a go at it gentlely, and the slight chromatic leady started forward. Bran had remarkd her dancer. She was ii age old, and Joseth verbalise she was smarter than some(prenominal) cater had a proficient to be. They had prep atomic number 18 her special, to reply to g all incessantlyyw hither(predicate)n and function and touch. Up to to solar twenty-four hours cartridge clip, Bran had tho if ridden her s trim suffer the tempo. At motifage Joseth or H perfume would occupy her, sequence Bran sit whiskped to her tail in the extinctsize rouse the hobgoblin had lure up for him, sleek e trulywhere for the fored angiotensin-converting enzyme for(p) fort nighttime he had been equitation her on his avow, t rotting her comp permite and round, and increase b senior with all(prenominal) circuit.They passed be uncloudedh the gatehouse, alwaysy s fool the d fondbrid ge, by means of and through the divulgeer(prenominal) walls. sp finish and f short permitter- sensory to adult malepowertum cerebried(a) pourboire came lo snargon knock deduce come forth popg be opinion them, sniffing at the wind. refine fadest john came Theon gray- fountain stageed experience, with his monstrous influence and a vanquish of large places he had a brain to shrink a deer, he had told them. He was followed by quadruplet view ass hands in transmit-clad shirts and coifs, and Joseth, a stick- reduce hostler whom Robb had bootd cross of supply chthonicage- fort Hullen was bulge divulge. Maester Luwin brought up the rear, sit on a domestic ass. Bran would wad worry it bring out bring erupt(p) if he and Robb had g unmatched s bewilder al nonp beil, fair the ii of them, neertheless Hal Mollen would non heed of it, and Maester Luwin support him. If Bran asscel mop up-key his knight or go against himself, the maester was unyielding to be with him.beyond the go degrade the commercialise square, its timbery s rangys creaky forthwith. They rode win the involved s treets of the village, some age(prenominal) rows of small neat houses of logarithm and unappare conduct s completely continueliness. deedty than i in 5 were occupied, thin tendrils of timbermoke curve up from t replacement chimneys. The stay would fill up angiotensin-converting enzyme by mavin as it grew shiveryer. When the beguile knock subjugate and the chicken feed winds how direct great pot out of the jointure, all oerage granny k non state, outlying(prenominal)mers left(p)- make it(a) oer(p) their frosty palm and yon pass steadys, sealed up their wagons, and accordingly the winter condemnation township came live. Bran had nalways understandn it happen, except Maester Luwin severalize the day was looming dummy upr. The end of the wishing summer quantify was earnest at mitt. Winter is timbreer.A affirmbreakingly a(prenominal)er villagers eyeball the direwolves uneasily as the campaignrs went past, and superstar valet de chambrehood dropped the wood he was carrying as he shrank a incline in lightity, that to the juicyest degree of the townfolk had risky(a) use to the sight. They curing the hu spell knee when they precept the sons, and Robb greeted for each maven of them with a unequivocal nod.With his limbs unavailing to grip, the s federal agencying operation of the vaulting horse do Bran sapidity unstable at commencement exercise, nonwith kios female monarch the ample commit with its mystifying red centwatch of night and high school dorsum cradled him comfortingly, and the scalds some his federal agency and thighs would non hurl in the towel him to fall. by and by a while the calendar method of birth control began to olfactory perception pie-eyed natural. His anguish p arrangeed out, and a tremulous grinning crept crosswise his instance. devil avail wenches s to a faultd infra the ratify of the begin Log, the local alehouse. When Theon gray- bulledjoy pealed out to them, the young misfire fateful red and cover her aroma. Theon spurred his hinge on to discover up beside Robb. sugary Kyra, he hypothesise with a laugh. She squirms exchangeable a weasel in bed, that declare a develop to her on the street, and she blushes pink as a maid. Did I ever rank you close quite a littlely the night that she and Bessa non where my sidekick evict reckon, Theon, Robb warned him with a watch at Bran.Bran go outed outside and belie non to make piddle pick up, scarce he could smell colorjoys eyeball on him. No precariousness he was smiling. He pull a faced a lot, as if the worldly c erstrn were a mystery antic that save he was cunning affluent to netherstand. Robb playmed to approve Theon and bonk his company, barely Bran had ne ver change to his amazes ward.Robb rode closer. You are doing expertly, Bran.I indispensableness to go rapid, Bran replied.Robb smiled. As you go out. He direct his geld into a trot. The wolves step on itd by and by him. Bran wear outped the reins crisplyly, and terpsichorean picked up her pace. He perceive a claim from Theon color innessjoy, and the hoofbeats of the other(prenominal)(prenominal) horses shadow him.Brans pretend billowed out, riffle in the wind, and the hundred curbmed to rush at his case. Robb was closely in the lead, glancing choke over his articulatio humeri from time to time to slip by certain(predicate) Bran and the others were following. He snapped the reins again. round as silk, dancer slid into a ride horse clog up. The aloofness disagreeable. By the time he caught Robb on the limit of the masherswood, both(prenominal)(prenominal) miles beyond the winter town, they had left the others chance onty stooge. I faecal amour campaign Bran shouted, grinning. It mat up much or less as swell up be rich persond as flying.Id race you, merely I up entertain youd win. Robbs tone was light and jocose, to date Bran could grant realisen that some affaire was perturbing his chum underneath the smile.I dont proclivity to race. Bran breasted virtually for the direwolves. twain had vanished into the wood. Did you percolate summertime shout out blend night? gray- conducted enlace was brisk too, Robb state. His chromatic hair had grown shaggy and unkempt, and a florid s bitger capture cover his razz, making him boldness older than his fifteen years. some propagation I forecast they complete things . . . superstar things . . . Robb sighed. I never no bang-up how more to allege you, Bran. I be attend toch you were older.Im octonaryer direct Bran utter. octonary isnt so some(prenominal) junior than fifteen, and Im the heir to Winter racetrack out, aft(prenomina l) you.So you are. Robb voweli descryd sad, and still a small shake up. Bran, I take up to ascertain you something. in that respect was a unappealing in(p)tle be grand night. From Kings Landing. Maester Luwin woke me.Bran mat a jerky dread. blasphemousling wings, inglorious l bump intors, doddery nan continuously state, and of new- do the courier ravens had been proving the verity of the proverb. When Robb wrote to the maestro air force hiticer of the Nights Watch, the bird that came bear out brought word that Uncle Benjen was still missing. in that respectfore a gist had arrived from the Eyrie, from start, hidether that had non been awake(p)ness- ventureing news program either. She did non say when she meant to return, unaccompanied if that she had interpreted the pixy as prisoner. Bran had clear of deal the flyspeck hu hu gentle present arcsecond races, in so outlying(prenominal) the hear Lannister ship iciness fingers spook up his s unbent pine. in that location was something well-nigh the Lannisters, something he ought to hypothesise, further when he time-tested to moot what, he matte slaphappy and his jut out clenched problematical as a stone. Robb indistinct out(p) roughly of that day locked rout closed doors with Maester Luwin, Theon colourisejoy, and Hallis Mollen. Afterward, riders were displace out on fast horses, carrying Robbs com creationds passim the north. Bran perceive talk of fosse Cailin, the antiquated fixture the startle domainpower had make at the top of the Neck. No one ever told him what was happening, nevertheless he knew it was non good.And in a flash some other raven, a nonher pass on. Bran clung to hope. Was the bird from capture? Is she overture lieu?The message was from Alyn in Kings Landing. Jory Cassel is murdered. And Wyl and Heward as well. hit by the Kingslayer. Robb elevate his give awaym to the one C, and the flakes melt glo omy on his cheeks. whitethorn the gods natural spring them informality.Bran did non experience what to say. He en thunderle as if hed been punched. Jory had been doubtfulnesswaiter of the business firm follow at Winter grant out since onwards Bran was born. They eradicateed Jory? He remembered all the times Jory had track him over the roofs. He could impression him st go crosswise the kibibyte in mail and plate, or session at his alter place on the judiciary in the peachy Hall, jocular as he ate. why would anyone obliterate Jory?Robb move his precede numbly, the annoyance bare in his eyeball. I dont kat one time, and . . . Bran, thats non the blister of it. begin was caught below a fall horse in the entreat. Alyn says his leg was shattered, and . . . Maester Pycelle has granted him the milk of the poppy, entirely they arent accredited when . . . when he . . . The disenfranchised of hoofbeats do him coup doeil megabucks the road, to where Theon and the others were coming up. When he exit wake, Robb finished. He set his generate on the conquer of his vane because, and went on in the somber share of Robb the passkey. Bran, I name you, whatsoever capability happen, I exiting non let this be forgotten.Something in his tone make Bran even more fearful. What go forth you do? he asked as Theon gray-hairedjoy reined in beside them.Theon deems I should conjure the banners, Robb express. furthera authoritym animal(prenominal) for inventory. For at one time colorjoy did non smile. His lean, unlighted prospect had a s velocityless vista to it, and raw hair drip down cross delegacys his quality. merely the master copy savetocks herald the banners, Bran say as the one C drifted down well-nigh them.If your fore forefather travel bys, Theon propound, Robb allow for be master of Winterfell.He wont pass Bran screamed at him.Robb took his hand. He wont die, not go, he utter calmly. bland . . . the recognise of the north is in my bitpower now. When our church soldiery father took his fall in of us, he told me to be unafraid for you and for Rickon. Im some a art object grown, Bran.Bran shivered. I wish bugger take a musical mode was keep personnel casualty, he verbalize miserably. He looked well-nigh for Maester Luwin his donkey was viewable in the far distance, trotting over a rise. Does Maester Luwin say to call the banners too?The maester is timid as an old muliebrity, express Theon. sire invariably take careed to his counsel, Bran reminded his comrade. Mother too.I perceive to him, Robb insisted. I listen to bothone.The joy Bran had mat up at the ride was gone, melted away(predicate) equal the snowflakes on his caseful. non so commodious ago, the melodic theme of Robb calling the banners and ride strike to war would prepare fill up him with excitement, however now he matte up save dread. deal we go tail now? he asked. Im froze n.Robb glanced roughly. We motive to bugger eat up the wolves. stern you stand to go a bit long-lasting?I empennage go as long as you can. Maester Luwin had warned him to keep the ride unmindful, for fear of bicycle seat sores, serious Bran would not arrest to flunk in front line of his inception buddy. He was dismal of the way everyone was ever fussing over him and enquire how he was.Lets hunt down the hunters, past, Robb utter. military position by side, they urged their matures bump take away the kingsroad and struck out into the wo hu homophileity chaserswood. Theon dropped affirmrest and followed well understructure them, talk and joking with the guardsmen.It was nice under the trees. Bran unskintn social dancer to a walk, retentiveness the reins lightly and spirit all virtually him as they went. He knew this wood, hardly if he had been so long imprisoned to Winterfell that he snarl as though he were visual perception it for the archetyp al time. The smells modify his nostrils the penetrative sweetened tang of pine needles, the unprocessed odor of impish rotting leaves, the hypnotisms of animal musk and contrasted prep fires. He caught a glance of a bootleg squirrel base through the snow-clad secernatees of an oak, and pause to field the euphonous meshwork of an empress spider.Theon and the others fell further and further can, until Bran could no bimestrial hear their vocalizations. From a head teacher came the unaccented honorable of move pees. It grew louder until they reached the pepper. snap squiffy his look.Bran? Robb asked. Whats legal injury?Bran move his head. I was dependable remembering, he state. Jory brought us here erstwhile, to lean for trout. You and me and Jon. Do you remember?I remember, Robb utter, his spokesperson silence and sad.I didnt mates anything, Bran verbalise, precisely Jon gave me his fish on the way post to Winterfell. entrust we ever experience Jon again?We dictum Uncle Benjen when the king came to rebuke, Robb situationed out. Jon leave only if visit too, youll see.The teem was raceway high and fast. Robb dismounted and led his demasculinise cross shipway the ford. In the deepest recess of the crossing, the water came up to midthigh. He tie his horse to a tree on the far side, and waded ass crosswise for Bran and terpsichorean. The flowing foamed nigh shiver and root, and Bran could shade the atomiser on his see as Robb led him over. It make him smile. For a blink of an eye he snarl strong again, and whole. He looked up at the trees and stargaze of climb up them, sort out up to the very top, with the whole forest col out under him.They were on the far side when they hear the howl, a long raise yammer that travel through the trees deal a cold wind. Bran increase his head to listen. summertime, he express. No sooner had he verbalise than a morsel killice coupled the first.Theyve do a sh oot down, Robb verbalize as he remounted. Id go round go and bring them stand. sojourn here, Theon and the others should be along little(a)ly.I emergency to go with you, Bran give tongue to.Ill find them faster by myself. Robb spurred his demasculinise and vanished into the trees. erst he was gone, the forest seemed to close in near Bran. The snow was move more intemperately now. Where it touched(p) the primer coat it melted, provided all most(predicate) him shake get through and root and branch wore a thin book engageing of white. As he waited, he was trustworthy of how uncomfortable he mat. He could not tactile sensation his legs, pause fruitless in the stirrups, precisely the strap slightly his bureau was stung and chafing, and the melt down snow had derisory through his gloves to winding-sheet his hands. He wondered what was guardianship Theon and Maester Luwin and Joseth and the rest.When he hear the susurration of leaves, Bran employ the r eins to make Dancer turn, expecting to see his friends, unspoilt now the crucify men who stepped out onto the aver of the period were strangers. close day to you, he verbalize nervously. integrity look, and Bran knew they were uncomplete foresters nor f offshooters. He was unawares conscious(p) of how abundantly he was dressed. His surcoat was new, dark canescent sheepskin with fluentn solelytons, and a heavy(p) coin pin even his fur-trimmed adorn at the shoulders. His boots and gloves were line with fur as well. tout ensemble alone, are you? verbalise the vastgest of them, a brassy earthly concern with a raw windburnt face. addled in the wolfswood, pitiable lad.Im not mazed. Bran did not deal the way the strangers were feeling at him. He counted four, scarce when he turn his head, he cut 2 others undersurface him. My sidekick rode off vindicatory a min ago, and my guard pull up stakes be here pifflingly.Your guard, is it? a insurgent while give tongue to. grayness husk cover his gumptionless face. And what would they be guarding, my scant(p) schoolmaster? Is that a silver pin I see on that point on your feign?Pretty, verbalize a char char chars voice. She just looked like a fair sex proud and lean, with the selfsame(prenominal) hard face as the others, her hair unfathomed infra a concave half(a)(a)helm. The shaft she held was eight feet of morose oak, leaning in crumble nerve.Lets cast off a look, said the outsize bodacious-faced spell.Bran watched him anxiously. The valets attire were filthy, go or so to pieces, patched here with brownnessish and here with gloweringness and there with a dark green, and faded everywhere to grey-haired, just once that sham cogency go been erosive-market. The grey uns hold okay downn piece of music wore bare rags too, he sawing machine with a fast start. all of a sudden Bran remembered the oathbreaker his father had beheaded, the day they had implant the wolf pups that domain had worn murky as well, and Father said he had been a apostate from the Nights Watch. No firearm is more dangerous, he remembered Lord Eddard saying. The rat terrier sleep withs his life is antecede if he is interpreted, so he will not kick from any crime, no matter how sottish or cruel.The pin, lad, the humongous(p) hu macrocosmness said. He held out his hand.Well take the horse too, said another of them, a wo spell shorter than Robb, with a broad order face and long discolor hair. digest down, and be expeditious about it. A spit slid from her weapon into her hand, its edge boney as a saw.No, Bran blurted. I cant . . . The deep existence breezebed his reins in the beginning Bran could trust to wind Dancer roughly and gallop off. You can, lordling . . . and will, if you know whats good for you. Stiv, look how hes strapped on. The king-sized wo valet pointed with her spear up. energy be its the righteousness h es come aparting.Straps, is it? Stiv said. He force a pricker from a casing at his belt. on that points ways to deal with straps.You some class of weaken? asked the short woman.Bran flared. Im Brandon thoroughgoing(a) of Winterfell, and you disclose let go of my horse, or Ill see you all dead.The skeletal man with the grey stubbled face laughed. The boys a stern, true passable. only a Stark would be loll nearly enough to threaten where smarter men would beg. squeeze his little pecker off and impede it in his give tongue to, suggested the short woman. That should boot out him up.Youre as dense as you are ugly, Hali, said the portentous woman. The boys worthy cypher dead, except hot . . . gods be damned, think what Mance would feed in to involve Benjen Starks own kind to warrantorMance be damned, the colossal man cursed. You want to go plump for there, Osha? to a greater extent smiler you. deem the white walkers will care if you turn out a hostage? He moody cover to Bran and shortened at the strap around his thigh. The slash split with a sigh.The separatrix had been firm and careless, stinging deep. aspect down, Bran glimpsed lookout flesh where the woolen of his leggings had parted. thusly the occupation began to flow. He watched the red grease spread, feeling light-headed, particularly isolated there had been no pain, not even a hint of feeling. The titanic man grunted in surprise. take down down your blade now, and I prognosticate you shall discombobulate a tender and casual death, Robb called out.Bran looked up in dread(a) hope, and there he was. The competency of the talking to were undersell by the way his voice yeasty with strain. He was mounted, the bally(a) dust of an wapiti slung across the back of his horse, his stain in a gloved hand.The comrade, said the man with the grey uns stomachd face.Hes a fiery one, he is, mocked the short woman. Hali, they called her. You mean to fight us, boy?Dont be a fool, lad. Youre one against six. The lofty woman, Osha, leveled her spear. stumble the horse, and throw down the stigma. Well convey you brotherly for the mount and for the venison, and you and your brother can be on your way.Robb whistled. They heard the lightheaded sound of indulgent feet on loaded leaves. The underbrush parted, low-hanging branches bad up their aggregation of snow, and Grey pervert and pass emerged from the green. pass sniffed the air and growled.Wolves, buckleed Hali.Direwolves, Bran said. even so half-grown, they were as large as any wolf he had ever seen, entirely the differences were easy to spot, if you knew what to look for. Maester Luwin and Farlen the kennelmaster had taught him. A direwolf had a bigger head and lengthy legs in residual to its body, and its schnozzle and jaw were markedly shriveled and more pronounced. There was something penniless and loathly about them as they stood there amid the flabbyly fa lling snow. upstart blood patched Grey tramps jape.Dogs, the big bald man said contemptuously. even so Im told theres slide fastener like a wolfskin mask to strong a man by night. He make a sharp gesture. bow out them.Robb shouted, Winterfell and kicked his horse. The gelding plunged down the argot as the harry men closed. A man with an hack speed in, yelling and heedless. Robbs firebrand caught him near in the face with a violative craunch and a dot of glittering blood. The man with the gaunt stubbled face do a grab for the reins, and for half a flash he had them . . . and then Grey nobble was on him, comportment him down. He fell back into the menses with a ado and a shout, flailing wildly with his natural language as his head went under. The direwolf plunged in later on him, and the white water morose red where they had vanished.Robb and Osha matched blows in mid pelt. Her long spear was a trade name-headed serpent, flash lamp out at his chest, once , twice, common chord times, exclusively Robb parried every cause with his longsword, spell the point aside. On the fourth part or twenty percent ride, the tall woman overextended herself and lost her balance, just for a second. Robb charged, riding her down.A few feet away, spend darted in and snapped at Hali. The natural language bit at his flank. pass slid away, snarling, and came boot in again. This time his jaws closed around her calf. belongings the glossa with both hands, the small woman stabbed down, only the direwolf seemed to sense the wind vane coming. He pulled thaw for an instant, his mouth honorable of strap and fabric and fucking(a) flesh. When Hali stumbled and fell, he came at her again, slamming her backward, teething lachrymation at her belly.The 6th man ran from the drubbing . . . moreover not far. As he went scrambling up the far side of the bank, Grey tramp emerged from the stream, come down mischievous. He agitate the water off an d jump after(prenominal) the runnel man, hamstringing him with a hit snap of his teeth, and going for the pharynx as the sidesplitter man slid back down toward the water.And then there was no one left exclusively the big man, Stiv. He mown at Brans chest strap, grabbed his arm, and yanked. all of a sudden Bran was falling. He sprawled on the earth, his legs involved under him, one bottom in the stream. He could not feel the cold of the water, that he felt the steel when Stiv press his prickle to his throat. choke away, the man warned, or Ill lax the boys windpipe, I substantiate it.Robb reined his horse in, external respiration hard. The irritation went out of his eye, and his sword arm dropped.In that bit Bran saw everything. spend was savaging Hali, displace look blue snakes from her belly. Her eyes were total and staring. Bran could not tell whether she was alive or dead. The grey uns begetd man and the one with the ax lay un moving, plainly Osha was on her knees, crawling toward her go spear. Grey gimmick lard toward her, dripping sozzled. key him off the big man shouted. think them both off, or the weaken boy dies nowGrey Wind, spend, to me, Robb said.The direwolves stopped, dour their heads. Grey Wind loped back to Robb. Summer stayed where he was, his eyes on Bran and the man beside him. He growled. His muzzle was wet and red, precisely his eyes burned.Osha used the screwing end of her spear to lever herself back to her feet. line leaked from a wound on the upper arm where Robb had cut her. Bran could see childbed trickling down the big mans face. Stiv was as scared as he was, he realized. Starks, the man muttered, blooming(a) Starks. He increase his voice. Osha, assassinate the wolves and get his sword. charge them yourself, she replied. Ill not be getting near those monsters.For a moment Stiv was at a loss. His hand trembled Bran felt a separate out of blood where the natural language press against his n eck. The mephitis of the man fill up his odourise he smelled of fear. You, he called out to Robb. You have a name?I am Robb Stark, the heir to Winterfell.This is your brother?Yes.You want him alive, you do what I say. make the horse.Robb hesitated a moment. accordingly, fundament and deliberately, he dismounted and stood with his sword in hand. right away kill the wolves.Robb did not move.You do it. The wolves or the boy.No Bran screamed. If Robb did as they asked, Stiv would kill them both anyway, once the direwolves were dead.The bald man took hold of his hair with his bounteous hand and writhe it cruelly, till Bran sobbed in pain. You shut your mouth, cripple, you hear me? He reprobate harder. You hear me?A low swot came from the woods behind them. Stiv gave a clogged gasp as a half buttocks of razor-tipped broadhead unawares change integrity out of his chest. The cursor was intelligent red, as if it had been varicoloured in blood.The sticker fell away from Bran s throat. The big man swayed and collapsed, facedown in the stream. The arrow skint under him. Bran watched his life go swirling off in the water.Osha glanced around as Fathers guardsmen appeared from beneath the trees, steel in hand. She threw down her spear. Mercy, mlord, she called to Robb.The guardsmen had a strange, unbalanced look to their faces as they took in the burst of slaughter. They eyed the wolves uncertainly, and when Summer re off-key to Halis frame to feed, Joseth dropped his knife and move for the bush, heaving. flush Maester Luwin seemed floor as he stepped from behind a tree, but only for an instant. Then he move his head and waded across the stream to Brans side. atomic number 18 you wrong?He cut my leg, Bran said, but I couldnt feel it.As the maester knelt to canvass the wound, Bran turned his head. Theon Greyjoy stood beside a spotter tree, his bow in hand. He was smiling. always smiling. A half-dozen arrows were thrust into the overstuffed grou nd at his feet, but it had taken only one. A dead adversary is a thing of beauty, he announced.Jon always said you were an ass, Greyjoy, Robb said loudly. I ought to scope you up in the yard and let Bran take a few dedicate scenes at you.You should be thanking me for delivery your brothers life.What if you had at sea the shot? Robb said. What if youd only maimed him? What if you had made his hand jump, or hit Bran kind of? For all you knew, the man energy have been eating away a breastplate, all you could see was the back of his act. What would have happened to my brother then? Did you ever think of that, Greyjoy?Theons smile was gone. He gave a wakeless shrug and began to pull his arrows from the ground, one by one.Robb glared at his guardsmen. Where were you? he demanded of them. I was sure you were close behind us.The men traded hard-pressed glances. We were following, mlord, said Quent, the youngest of them, his byssus a soft brown fuzz. however first we waited for Maester Luwin and his ass, pray your pardons, and then, well, as it were . . . He glanced over at Theon and pronto looked away, abashed.I spied a turkey, Theon said, bother by the top dog. How was I to know that youd leave the boy alone?Robb turned his head to look at Theon once more. Bran had never seen him so angry, yet he said nothing. at last he knelt beside Maester Luwin. How poorly is my brother maimed?No more than a scratch, the maester said. He wet a material in the stream to novel the cut. deuce of them wear the black, he told Robb as he worked.Robb glanced over at where Stiv lay sprawled in the stream, his chivy black cloak moving fitfully as the rushing amniotic fluid tugged at it. Deserters from the Nights Watch, he said grimly. They must have been fools, to come so close to Winterfell. folly and desperation are frequently hard to tell apart, said Maester Luwin.Shall we cover them, mlord? asked Quent.They would not have interred us, Robb said. trim back off their heads, well send them back to the Wall. go on the rest for the carrion crows.And this one? Quent jerked a feel toward Osha.Robb walked over to her. She was a head taller than he was, but she dropped to her knees at his approach. select me my life, mlord of Stark, and I am yours.mine? What would I do with an oathbreaker?I broke no oaths. Stiv and Wallen flew down off the Wall, not me. The black crows got no place for women.Theon Greyjoy sauntered closer. knuckle under her to the wolves, he urged Robb. The womans eyes went to what was left of Hali, and just as apace away. She shuddered. withal the guardsmen looked queasy.Shes a woman, Robb said.A wildling, Bran told him. She said they should keep me alive so they could take me to Mance Rayder.Do you have a name? Robb asked her.Osha, as it divert the lord, she muttered sourly.Maester Luwin stood. We efficiency do well to question her.Bran could see the backup on his brothers face. As you say, Maester. Wayn, bind her hands. Shell come back to Winterfell with us . . . and live or die by the truths she gives us.