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The cadaverous sellsword in the ragged leather cloak reined up a moment； then fell in beside him。 〃What would you have of me； ser？ And mind your tongue； or I'll chastise you again。〃
〃Gold；〃 said Jaime。 〃You do like gold？〃
Urswyck studied him through reddened eyes。 〃It has its uses； I do confess。〃
Jaime gave Urswyck a knowing smile。 〃All the gold in Casterly Rock。 Why let the goat enjoy it？ Why not take us to King's Landing； and collect my ransom for yourself ？ Hers as well； if you like。 Tarth is called the Sapphire Isle； a maiden told me once。〃 The wench squirmed at that； but said nothing。
〃Do you take me for a tumcloak？〃
〃Certainly。 What else？〃
For half a heartbeat Urswyck considered the proposition。 〃King's Landing is a long way； and your father is there。 Lord Tywin may resent us for selling Harrenhal to Lord Bolton。〃
He's cleverer than he looks。 Jaime had been been looking forward to hanging the wretch while his pockets bulged with gold。 〃Leave me to deal with my father。 I'll get you a royal pardon for any crimes you have mitted。 I'll get you a knighthood。〃
〃Ser Urswyck；〃 the man said； savoring the sound。 〃How proud my dear wife would be to hear it。 If only I hadn't killed her。〃 He sighed。 〃And what of brave Lord Vargo？〃
〃Shall I sing you a verse of 'The Rains of Castamere'？ The goat won't be quite so brave when my father gets hold of him。〃
〃And how will he do that？ Are your father's arms so long that they can reach over the walls of Harrenhal and pluck us out？〃
〃If need be。〃 King Harren's monstrous folly had fallen before； and it could fall again。 〃Are you such a fool as to think the goat can outfight the lion？〃
Urswyck leaned over and slapped him lazily across the face。 The sheer casual insolence of it was worse than the blow itself。 He does not fear me； Jaime realized； with a chill。 〃I have heard enough； Kingslayer。 I would have to be a great fool indeed to believe the promises of an oathbreaker like you。〃 He kicked his horse and galloped smartly ahead。
Aerys； Jaime thought resentfully。 It always turns on Aerys。 He swayed with the motion of his horse； wishing for a sword。 Two swords would be even better。 One for the wench and one for me。 We'd die； but we'd take half of them down to hell with us。 〃Why did you tell him Tarth was the Sapphire Isle？〃 Brienne whispered when Urswyck was out of earshot。 〃He's like to think my father's rich in gemstones 。 。 。〃
〃You best pray he does。〃
〃Is every word you say a lie； Kingslayer？ Tarth is called the Sapphire Isle for the blue of its waters。〃
〃Shout it a little louder； wench； I don't think Urswyck heard you。 The sooner they know how little you're worth in ransom； the sooner the rapes begin。 Every man here will mount you； but what do you care？ just close your eyes； open your legs； and pretend they're all Lord Renly。〃
Mercifully； that shut her mouth for a time。
The day was almost done by the time they found Vargo Hoat； sacking a small sept with another dozen of his Brave panions。 The leaded windows had been smashed； the carved wooden gods dragged out into the sunlight。 The fattest Dothraki Jaime had ever seen was sitting on the Mother's chest when they rode up； prying out her chalcedony eyes with the point of his knife。 Nearby； a skinny balding septon hung upside down from the limb of a spreading chestnut tree。 Three of the Brave panions were using his corpse for an archery butt。 One of them must have been good； the dead man had arrows through both of his eyes。
When the sellswords spied Urswyck and the captives； a cry went up in half a dozen tongues。 The goat was seated by a cookflre eating a half…cooked bird off a skewer； grease and blood running down his fingers into his long stringy beard。 He wiped his hands on his tunic and rose。 〃Kingthlayer；〃 he slobbered。 〃You are my captifth。〃
〃My lord； I am Brienne of Tarth；〃 the wench called out。 〃Lady Catelyn Stark manded me to deliver Ser Jaime to his brother at King's Landing。〃
The goat gave her a disinterested glance。 〃Thilence her。〃
〃Hear me；〃 Brienne entreated as Rorge cut the ropes that bound her to Jaime； 〃in the name of the King in the North； the king you serve； please； listen…〃
Rorge dragged her off the horse and began to kick her。 〃See that you don't break any bones；〃 Urswyck called out to him。 〃The horse…faced bitch is worth her weight in sapphires。〃
The Dornishman Timeon and a foul…smelling Ibbenese pulled Jaime down from the saddle and shoved him roughly toward the cookfire。 It would not have been hard for him to have grasped one of their sword hilts as they manhandled him； but there were too many； and he was still in fetters。 He might cut down one or two； but in the end he would die for it。 Jaime was not ready to die just yet； and certainly not for the likes of Brienne of Tarth。
〃Thith ith a thweet day；〃 Vargo Hoat said。 Around his neck hung a chain of linked coins； coins of every shape and size； cast and hammered； bearing the likenesses of kings； wizards； gods and demons； and all manner of fanciful beasts。
Coins from every land where he has fought； Jaime remembered。 Greed was the key to this man。 If he was turned once； he can be turned again。 〃Lord Vargo； you were foolish to leave my father's service； but it is not too late to make amends。 He will pay well for me； you know it。〃
〃Oh yeth；〃 said Vargo Hoat。 〃Half the gold in Cathterly Rock； I thall have。 But firth I mutht thend him a methage。〃 He said something in his slithery goatish tongue。
Urswyck shoved him in the back； and a jester in green and pink motley kicked his legs out from under him。 When he hit the ground one of the archers grabbed the chain between Jaime's wrists and used it to yank his arms out in front of him。 The fat Dothraki put aside his knife to unsheathe a huge curved arakh； the wickedly sharp scythe…sword the horselords loved。
They mean to scare me。 The fool hopped on Jaime's back； giggling； as the Dothraki swaggered toward him。 The goat wants me to piss my breeches and beg his mercy； but he'll never have that pleasure。 He was a Lannister of Casterly Rock； Lord mander of the Kingsguard； no sellsword would make him scream。
Sunlight ran silver along the edge of the arakh as it came shivering down； almost too fast to see。 And Jaime screamed。
CHAPTER 22
ARYA
The small square keep was half a ruin； and so too the great grey knight who lived there。 He was so old he did not understand their questions。 No matter what was said to him； he would only smile and mutter； 〃I held the bridge against Ser Maynard。 Red hair and a black temper； he had； but he could not move me。 Six wounds I took before I killed him。 Six！〃
The maester who cared for him was a young man； thankfully。 After the old knight had drifted to sleep in his chair； he took them aside and said； 〃I fear you seek a ghost。 We had a bird； ages ago； half a year at least。 The Lannisters caught Lord Beric near the Gods Eye。 He was hanged。〃
〃Aye； hanged he was； but Thoros cut him down before he died。〃 Lem's broken nose was not so red or swollen as it had been； but it was healing crooked； giving his face a lopsided look。 〃His lordship's a hard man to kill； he is。〃
〃And a hard man to find； it would seem；〃