He still sees me as a boy, Jon thought, a green boy, to be cowed by angry words. He could only hope that a nights sleep would bring Lord Janos to his senses.
The next morning proved that hope was vain.
Jon found Slynt breaking his fast in the common room. Ser Alliser Thorne was with him, and several of their cronies. They were laughing about something when Jon came down the steps with Iron Emmett and Dolorous Edd, and behind them Mully, Horse, Red Jack Crabb, Rusty Flowers, and Owen the Oaf. Three-Finger Hobb was ladling out porridge from his kettle. Queens men, kings men, and black brothers sat at their separate tables, some bent over bowls of porridge, others filling their bellies with fried bread and bacon. Jon saw Pyp and Grenn at one table, Bowen Marsh at another. The air smelled of smoke and grease, and the clatter of knives and spoons echoed off the vaulted ceiling.
All the voices died at once.
Lord Janos, Jon said, I will give you one last chance. Put down that spoon and get to the stables. I have had your horse saddled and bridled. It is a long, hard road to Greyguard.
Then you had best be on your way, boy. Slynt laughed, dribbling porridge down his chest. Greyguards a good place for the likes of you, Im thinking. Well away from decent godly folk. The mark of the beast is on you, bastard.
You are refusing to obey my order?
You can stick your order up your bastards arse, said Slynt, his jowls quivering.
Alliser Thorne smiled a thin smile, his black eyes fixed on Jon. At another table, Godry the Giantslayer began to laugh.
As you will. Jon nodded to Iron Emmett. Please take Lord Janos to the Wall
and confine him to an ice cell, he might have said. A day or ten cramped up inside the ice would leave him shivering and feverish and begging for release, Jon did not doubt. And the moment he is out, he and Thorne will begin to plot again.
and tie him to his horse, he might have said. If Slynt did not wish to go to Greyguard as its commander, he could go as its cook. It will only be a matter of time until he deserts, then. And how many others will he take with him?
and hang him, Jon finished.
Janos Slynts face went as white as milk. The spoon slipped from his fingers. Edd and Emmett crossed the room, their footsteps ringing on the stone floor. Bowen Marshs mouth opened and closed though no words came out. Ser Alliser Thorne reached for his sword hilt. Go on, Jon thought. Longclaw was slung across his back. Show your steel. Give me cause to do the same.
Half the men in the hall were on their feet. Southron knights and men-at-arms, loyal to King Stannis or the red woman or both, and Sworn Brothers of the Nights Watch. Some had chosen Jon to be their lord commander. Others had cast their stones for Bowen Marsh, Ser Denys Mallister, Cotter Pykeand some for Janos Slynt. Hundreds of them, as I recall. Jon wondered how many of those men were in the cellar right now. For a moment the world balanced on a swords edge.
Alliser Thorne took his hand from his sword and stepped aside to let Edd Tollett pass.
Dolorous Edd took hold of Slynt by one arm, Iron Emmett by the other. Together they hauled him from the bench. No, Lord Janos protested, flecks of porridge spraying from his lips. No, unhand me. Hes just a boy, a bastard. His father was a traitor. The mark of the beast is on him, that wolf of hisLet go of me! You will rue the day you laid hands on Janos Slynt. I have friends in Kings Landing. I warn you He was still protesting as they half-marched, half-dragged him up the steps.
Jon followed them outside. Behind him, the cellar emptied. At the cage, Slynt wrenched loose for a moment and tried to make a fight of it, but Iron Emmett caught him by the throat and slammed him back against the iron bars until he desisted. By then all of Castle Black had come outside to watch. Even Val was at her window, her long golden braid across one shoulder. Stannis stood on the steps of the Kings Tower, surrounded by his knights.
If the boy thinks that he can frighten me, he is mistaken, they heard Lord Janos said. He would not dare to hang me. Janos Slynt has friends, important friends, youll seeThe wind whipped away the rest of his words.
This is wrong, Jon thought. Stop.
Emmett turned back, frowning. My lord?
I will not hang him, said Jon. Bring him here.
Oh, Seven save us, he heard Bowen Marsh cry out.
The smile that Lord Janos Slynt smiled then had all the sweetness of rancid butter. Until Jon said, Edd, fetch me a block, and unsheathed Longclaw.
By the time a suitable chopping block was found, Lord Janos had retreated into the winch cage, but Iron Emmett went in after him and dragged him out. No, Slynt cried, as Emmett half-shoved and half-pulled him across the yard. Unhand meyou cannotwhen Tywin Lannister hears of this, you will all rue
Emmett kicked his legs out from under him. Dolorous Edd planted a foot on his back to keep him on his knees as Emmett shoved the block beneath his head. This will go easier if you stay still, Jon Snow promised him. Move to avoid the cut, and you will still die, but your dying will be uglier. Stretch out your neck, my lord. The pale morning sunlight ran up and down his blade as Jon clasped the hilt of the bastard sword with both hands and raised it high. If you have any last words, now is the time to speak them, he said, expecting one last curse.
Janos Slynt twisted his neck around to stare up at him. Please, my lord. Mercy. IllIll go, I will, I
No, thought Jon. You closed that door. Longclaw descended.
Can I have his boots? asked Owen the Oaf, as Janos Slynts head went rolling across the muddy ground. Theyre almost new, those boots. Lined with fur.
Jon glanced back at Stannis. For an instant their eyes met. Then the king nodded and went back inside his tower.
TYRION
He woke alone, and found the litter halted.
A pile of crushed cushions remained to show where Illyrio had sprawled. The dwarfs throat felt dry and raspy. He had dreamedwhat had he dreamed? He did not remember.
Outside, voices were speaking in a tongue he did not know. Tyrion swung his legs through the curtains and hopped to the ground, to find Magister Illyrio standing by the horses with two riders looming over him. Both wore shirts of worn leather beneath cloaks of dark brown wool, but their swords were sheathed and the fat man did not look to be in danger.
I need a piss, the dwarf announced. He waddled off the road, undid his breeches, and relieved himself into a tangle of thorns. It took quite a long time.
He pisses well, at least, a voice observed.
Tyrion flicked the last drops off and tucked himself away. Pissing is the least of my talents. You ought to see me shit. He turned to Magister Illyrio. Are these two known to you, magister? They look like outlaws. Should I find my axe?
Your axe? exclaimed the larger of the riders, a brawny man with a shaggy beard and a shock of orange hair. Did you hear that, Haldon? The little man wants to fight with us!
His companion was older, clean-shaved, with a lined ascetic face. His hair had been pulled back and tied in a knot behind his head. Small men oft feel a need to prove their courage with unseemly boasts, he declared. I doubt if he could kill a duck.
Tyrion shrugged. Fetch the duck.
If you insist. The rider glanced at his companion.
The brawny man unsheathed a bastard sword. Im Duck, you mouthy little pisspot.
Oh, gods be good. I had a smaller duck in mind.
The big man roared with laughter. Did you hear, Haldon? He wants a smaller Duck!
I should gladly settle for a quieter one. The man called Haldon studied Tyrion with cool grey eyes before turning back to Illyrio. You have some chests for us?
And mules to carry them.
Mules are too slow. We have pack horses, well shift the chests to them. Duck, attend to that.
Why is it always Duck who attends to things? The big man slipped his sword back in its sheath. What do you attend to, Haldon? Who is the knight here, you or me? Yet he stomped off toward the baggage mules all the same.
How fares our lad? asked Illyrio as the chests were being secured. Tyrion counted six, oaken chests with iron hasps. Duck shifted them easily enough, hoisting them on one shoulder.
He is as tall as Griff now. Three days ago he knocked Duck into a horse trough.
I wasnt knocked. I fell in just to make him laugh.
Your ploy was a success, said Haldon. I laughed myself.
There is a gift for the boy in one of the chests. Some candied ginger. He was always fond of it. Illyrio sounded oddly sad. I thought I might continue on to Ghoyan Drohe with you. A farewell feast before you start downriver
We have no time for feasts, my lord, said Haldon. Griff means to strike downriver the instant we are back. News has been coming upriver, none of it good. Dothraki have been seen north of Dagger Lake, outriders from old Mothos khalasar, and Khal Zekko is not far behind him, moving through the Forest of Qohor.
The fat man made a rude noise. Zekko visits Qohor every three or four years. The Qohorik give him a sack of gold and he turns east again. As for Motho, his men are near as old as he is, and there are fewer every year. The threat is
Khal Pono, Haldon finished. Motho and Zekko flee from him, if the tales are true. The last reports had Pono near the headwaters of the Selhoru with a khalasar of thirty thousand. Griff does not want to risk being caught up in the crossing if Pono should decide to risk the Rhoyne. Haldon glanced at Tyrion. Does your dwarf ride as well as he pisses?
He rides, Tyrion broke in, before the lord of cheese could answer for him, though he rides best with a special saddle and a horse that he knows well. He talks as well.
So he does. I am Haldon, the healer in our little band of brothers. Some call me Halfmaester. My companion is Ser Duck.
Ser Rolly, said the big man. Rolly Duckfield. Any knight can make a knight, and Griff made me. And you, dwarf?
Illyrio spoke up quickly. Yollo, he is called.
Yollo? Yollo sounds like something you might name a monkey. Worse, it was a Pentoshi name, and any fool could see that Tyrion was no Pentoshi. In Pentos I am Yollo, he said quickly, to make what amends he could, but my mother named me Hugor Hill.
Are you a little king or a little bastard? asked Haldon.
Tyrion realized he would do well to be careful around Haldon Halfmaester. Every dwarf is a bastard in his fathers eyes.
No doubt. Well, Hugor Hill, answer me this. How did Serwyn of the Mirror Shield slay the dragon Urrax?
He approached behind his shield. Urrax saw only his own reflection until Serwyn had plunged his spear through his eye.
Haldon was unimpressed. Even Duck knows that tale. Can you tell me the name of the knight who tried the same ploy with Vhagar during the Dance of the Dragons?
Tyrion grinned. Ser Byron Swann. He was roasted for his troubleonly the dragon was Syrax, not Vhagar.
I fear that youre mistaken. In The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling, Maester Munkun writes
that it was Vhagar. Grand Maester Munkun errs. Ser Byrons squire saw his master die, and wrote his daughter of the manner of it. His account says it was Syrax, Rhaenyras she-dragon, which makes more sense than Munkens version. Swann was the son of a marcher lord, and Storms End was for Aegon. Vhagar was ridden by Prince Aemond, Aegons brother. Why should Swann want to slay her?
Haldon pursed his lips. Try not to tumble off the horse. If you do, best waddle back to Pentos. Our shy maid will not wait for man nor dwarf.
Shy maids are my favorite sort. Aside from wanton ones. Tell me, where do whores go?
Do I look like a man who frequents whores?
Duck laughed derisively. He dont dare. Lemore would make him pray for pardon, the lad would want to come along, and Griff might cut his cock off and stuff it down his throat.
Well, said Tyrion, a maester does not need a cock.
Haldons only half a maester, though.
You seem to find the dwarf amusing, Duck, said Haldon. He can ride with you. He wheeled his mount about.
It took another few moments for Duck to finish securing Illyrios chests to the three pack horses. By that time Haldon had vanished. Duck seemed unconcerned. He swung into the saddle, grabbed Tyrion by the collar, and hoisted the little man up in front of him. Hold tight to the pommel and youll do fine. The mares got a nice sweet gait, and the dragon roads smooth as a maidens arse. Gathering the reins in his right hand and the leads in his left, Ser Rolly set off at a brisk trot.
Good fortune, Illyrio called after them. Tell the boy I am sorry that I will not be with him for his wedding. I will rejoin you in Westeros. That I swear, by my sweet Serras hands.
The last that Tyrion Lannister saw of Illyrio Mopatis, the magister was standing by his litter in his brocade robes, his massive shoulders slumped. As his figure dwindled in their dust, the lord of cheese looked almost small.
Duck caught up with Haldon Halfmaester a quarter mile on. Thereafter the riders continued side by side. Tyrion clung to the high pommel with his short legs splayed out awkwardly, knowing he could look forward to blisters, cramps, and saddle sores.
I wonder what the pirates of Dagger Lake will make of our dwarf? Haldon said as they rode on.
Dwarf stew? suggested Duck.
Urho the Unwashed is the worst of them, Haldon confided. His stench alone is enough to kill a man.
Tyrion shrugged. Fortunately, I have no nose.
Haldon gave him a thin smile. If we should encounter the Lady Korra on Hags Teeth, you may soon be lacking other parts as well. Korra the Cruel, they call her. Her ship is crewed by beautiful young maids who geld every male they capture.