The Sworn Sword

Still, a swifter mount would serve you well. A big courser, with some Dornish sand steed for endurance"". She pointed to the stall across from Thunder's. ""A horse like her"".

She was a blood bay with a bright eye and a long fiery mane. Lady Rohanne took a carrot from her sleeves and stroked her head as she took it. ""The carrot, not the fingers"", she told the horse, before she turned again to Dunk. ""I call her Flame, but you may name her as you please. Call her Amends, if you like"".

For a moment he was speechless. He leaned on the crutch and looked at the blood bay with new eyes. She was magnificent. A better mount than any the old man had ever owned. You had only to look at those long, clean limbs to see how swift she'd be.

""I bred her for beauty, and for speed"".

He turned back to Thunder. ""I cannot take her"".

""Why not?""

""She is too good a horse for me. Just look at her"".

A flush crept up Rohanne's face. She clutched her braid, twisting it between her fingers. ""I had to marry, you know that. My father's will… oh, don't be such a fool"".

""What else should I be? I'm thick as a castle wall and bastard born as well"".

""Take the horse. I refuse to let you go without something to remember me by"".

""I will remember you, m'lady. Have no fear of that"".

""Take her!"""

"Dunk grabbed her braid and pulled her face to his. It was awkward with the crutch and the difference in their heights. He almost fell before he got his lips on hers. He kissed her hard. One of her hands went around his neck, and one around his back. He learned more about kissing in a moment than he had ever known from watching. But when they finally broke apart, he drew his dagger. ""I know what I want to remember you by, m'lady"".

Egg was waiting for him at the gatehouse, mounted on a handsome new sorrel palfrey and holding Maester's lead. When Dunk trotted up to them on Thunder, the boy looked surprised. ""She said she wanted to give you a new horse, ser"".

""Even highborn ladies don't get all they want"", Dunk said, as they rode out across the drawbridge. ""It wasn't a horse I wanted"". The moat was so high it was threatening to overflow its banks. ""I took something else to remember her by instead. A lock of that red hair"". He reached under his cloak, brought out the braid, and smiled.

In the iron cage at the crossroads, the corpses still embraced. They looked lonely, forlorn. Even the flies had abandoned them, and the crows as well. Only some scraps of skin and hair remained upon the dead men's bones.

Dunk halted, frowning. His ankle was hurting from the ride, but it made no matter. Pain was as much a part of knighthood as were swords and shields. ""Which way is south?"" he asked Egg. It was hard to know, when the world was all rain and mud and the sky was gray as a granite wall.

""That's south, ser"". Egg pointed. ""That's north"".

""Summerhall is south. Your father"".

""The Wall is north"".

Dunk looked at him. ""That's a long way to ride"".

""I have a new horse, ser"".

""So you do"". Dunk had to smile. ""And why would you want to see the Wall?""

""Well"", said Egg. ""I hear it's tall""."