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rowling until one of the Lyseni impaled her on a lance and galloped to the front of the column。 〃I am bearing Kingslayer's banner；〃 he shouted； shaking the dead dog above Jaime's head。
The walls of Harrenhal were so thick that passing beneath them was like passing through a stone tunnel。 Vargo Hoat had sent two of his Dothraki ahead to inform Lord Bolton of their ing； so the outer ward was full of the curious。 They gave way as Jaime staggered past； the rope around his waist jerking and pulling at him whenever he slowed。 〃I give you the Kingthlayer；〃 Vargo Hoat proclaimed in that thick slobbery voice of his。 A spear jabbed at the small of Jaime's back； sending him sprawling。
Instinct made him put out his hands to stop his fall。 When his stump smashed against the ground the pain was blinding； yet somehow he managed to fight his way back to one knee。 Before him； a flight of broad stone steps led up to the entrance of one of Harrenhal's colossal round towers。 Five knights and a northman stood looking down on him； the one paleeyed in wool and fur； the five fierce in mail and plate； with the twin towers sigil on their surcoats。 〃A fury of Freys；〃 Jaime declared。 〃Ser Danwell； Ser Aenys； Ser Hosteen。〃 He knew Lord Walder's sons by sight； his aunt had married one； after all。 〃You have my condolences。〃
〃For what； ser？〃 Ser Danwell Frey asked。
〃Your brother's son； Ser Cleos；〃 said Jaime。 〃He was with us until outlaws filled him full of arrows。 Urswyck and this lot took his goods and left him for the wolves。〃
〃My lords！〃 Brienne wrenched herself free and pushed forward。 〃I saw your banners。 Hear me for your oath！〃
〃Who speaks？〃 demanded Ser Aenys Frey。
〃Lannither'th wet nurth。〃
〃I am Brienne of Tarth； daughter to Lord Selwyn the Evenstar； and sworn to House Stark even as you are。〃
Ser Aenys spit at her feet。 〃That's for your oaths。 We trusted the word of Robb Stark； and he repaid our faith with betrayal。〃
Now this is interesting。 Jaime twisted to see how Brienne might take the accusation； but the wench was as singleminded as a mule with a bit between his teeth。 〃I know of no betrayal。〃 She chafed at the ropes around her wrists。 〃Lady Catelyn manded me to deliver Larmister to his brother at King's Landing…〃
〃She was trying to drown him when we found them；〃 said Urswyck the Faithful。
She reddened。 〃In anger I forgot myself； but I would never have killed him。 if he dies the Lannisters will put my lady's daughters to the sword。〃
Ser Aenys was unmoved。 〃Why should that trouble us？〃
〃Ransom him back to Riverrun；〃 urged Ser Danwell。
〃Casterly Rock has more gold；〃 one brother objected。
〃Kill him！〃 said another。 〃His head for Ned Stark's！〃
Shagwell the Fool somersaulted to the foot of the steps in his grey and pink motley and began to sing。 〃There once was a lion who danced with a bear； oh my； oh my 。 。 。〃
〃Thilenth； fool。〃 Vargo Hoat cuffed the man。 〃The Kingthlayer ith not for the bear。 He ith mine。〃
〃He is no one's should he die。〃 Roose Bolton spoke so softly that men quieted to hear him。 〃And pray recall； my lord； you are not master of Harrenhal till I march north。〃
Fever made Jaime as fearless as he was lightheaded。 〃Can this be the Lord of the Dreadfort？ When last I heard； my father had sent you scampering off with your tail betwixt your legs。 When did you stop running my lord？〃
Bolton's silence was a hundred times more threatening than Vargo Hoat's slobbering malevolence。 Pale as morning mist； his eyes concealed more than they told。 Jaime misliked those eyes。 They reminded him of the day at King's Landing when Ned Stark had found him seated on the Iron Throne。 The Lord of the Dreadfort finally pursed his lips and said； 〃You have lost a hand。〃
〃No；〃 said Jaime； 〃I have it here； hanging round my neck。〃
Roose Bolton reached down； snapped the cord； and flung the hand at Hoat。 〃Take this away。 The sight of it offends me。〃
〃I will thend it to hith lord father。 I will tell him he muth pay one hundred thouthand dragonth； or we thall return the Kingthlayer to him pieth by pieth。 And when we hath hith gold； we thall deliver Ther Jaime to Karthark； and collect a maiden too！〃 A roar of laughter went up from the Brave panions。
〃A fine plan；〃 said Roose Bolton； the same way he might say； 〃A fine wine；〃 to a dinner panion； 〃though Lord Karstark will not be giving you his daughter。 King Robb has shortened him by a head； for treason and murder。 As to Lord Tywin； he remains at King's Landing； and there he will stay till the new year； when his grandson takes for bride a daughter of Highgarden。〃
〃Winterfell；〃 said Brienne。 〃You mean Winterfell。 King Joffrey is betrothed to Sansa Stark。〃
〃No longer。 The Battle of the Blackwater changed all。 The rose and the lion joined there； to shatter Stannis Baratheon's host and burn his fleet to ashes。〃
I warned you； Urswyck； Jaime thought； and you； goat。 When you bet against the lions； you lose more than your purse。 〃Is there word of my sister？〃 he asked。
〃She is well。 As is your 。 。 。 nephew。〃 Bolton paused before he said nephew； a pause that said I know。 〃Your brother also lives； though he took a wound in the battle。〃 He beckoned to a dour northman in a studded brigantine。 〃Escort Ser Jaime to Qybum。 And unbind this woman's hands。〃 As the rope between Brienne's wrists was slashed in two； he said； 〃Pray forgive us； my lady。 In such troubled times it is hard to know friend from foe。〃
Brienne rubbed inside her wrist where the hemp had scraped her skin bloody。 〃My lord； these men tried to rape me。〃
〃Did they？〃 Lord Bolton turned his pale eyes on Vargo Hoat。 〃I am displeased。 By that； and this of Ser Jaime's hand。〃
There were five northmen and as many Freys in the yard for every Brave panion。 The goat might not be as clever as some； but he could count that high at least。 He held his tongue。
〃They took my sword；〃 Brienne said； 〃my armor 。 。 。〃
〃You shall have no need of armor here； my lady；〃 Lord Bolton told her。 〃In Harrenhal； you are under my protection。 Amabel； find suitable rooms for the Lady Brienne。 Walton； you will see to Ser Jaime at once。〃 He did not wait for an answer； but turned and climbed the steps； his fur…trimmed cloak swirling behind。 Jaime had only enough time to exchange a quick look with Brienne before they were marched away； separately。
In the maester's chambers beneath the rookery； a grey…haired； fatherly man named Qybum sucked in his breath when he cut away the linen from the stump of Jaime's hand。
〃That bad？ Will I die？〃
Qybum pushed at the wound with a finger； and wrinkled his nose at the gush of pus。 〃No。 Though in a few more days 。 。 。〃 He sliced away Jaime's sleeve。 〃The corruption has spread。 See how tender the flesh is？ I must cut it all away。 The safest course would be to take the arm off。〃
〃Then you'll die；〃 Jaime promised。 〃Clean the stump and sew it up。 I'll take my chances。〃
Qybum frowned。 〃I can leave you the upper arm； make the cut at your elbow； but 。 。 。〃
〃Take any part of my arm； and you'd best chop off the other one as well； or I'll strangle you with it afterward。〃
Qybum looked in his eyes。 Whatever he saw there gave him pause。 〃Very well。 I will cut away the rotten fle