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〃And how long will this one remain an innocent？〃 Robert's mouth grew hard。 〃This child will soon enough spread her legs and start breeding more dragonspawn to plague me。〃
〃Nonetheless；〃 Ned said； 〃the murder of children 。 。 。 it would be vile 。 。 。 unspeakable 。 。 。〃
〃Unspeakable？〃 the king roared。 〃What Aerys did to your brother Brandon was unspeakable。 The way your lord father died； that was unspeakable。 And Rhaegar 。 。 。 how many times do you think he raped your sister？ How many hundreds of times？〃 His voice had grown so loud that his horse whinnied nervously beneath him。 The king jerked the reins hard； quieting the animal； and pointed an angry finger at Ned。 〃I will kill every Targaryen I can get my hands on； until they are as dead as their dragons； and then I will piss on their graves。〃
Ned knew better than to defy him when the wrath was on him。 If the years had not quenched Robert's thirst for revenge； no words of his would help。 〃You can't get your hands on this one； can you？〃 he said quietly。
The king's mouth twisted in a bitter grimace。 〃No； gods be cursed。 Some pox…ridden Pentoshi cheesemonger had her brother and her walled up on his estate with pointy…hatted eunuchs all around them； and now he's handed them over to the Dothraki。 I should have had them both killed years ago； when it was easy to get at them； but Jon was as bad as you。 More fool I； I listened to him。〃
〃Jon Arryn was a wise man and a good Hand。〃
Robert snorted。 The anger was leaving him as suddenly as it had e。 〃This Khal Drogo is said to have a hundred thousand men in his horde。 What would Jon say to that？〃
〃He would say that even a million Dothraki are no threat to the realm； so long as they remain on the other side of the narrow sea；〃 Ned replied calmly。 〃The barbarians have no ships。 They hate and fear the open sea。〃
The king shifted unfortably in his saddle。 〃Perhaps。 There are ships to be had in the Free Cities； though。 I tell you； Ned； I do not like this marriage。 There are still those in the Seven Kingdoms who call me Usurper。 Do you forget how many houses fought for Targaryen in the war？ They bide their time for now； but give them half a chance； they will murder me in my bed； and my sons with me。 If the beggar king crosses with a Dothraki horde at his back； the traitors will join him。〃
〃He will not cross；〃 Ned promised。 〃And if by some mischance he does； we will throw him back into the sea。 Once you choose a new Warden of the East…〃
The king groaned。 〃For the last time； I will not name the Arryn boy Warden。 I know the boy is your nephew； but with Targaryens climbing in bed with Dothraki； I would be mad to rest one quarter of the realm on the shoulders of a sickly child。〃
Ned was ready for that。 〃Yet we still must have a Warden of the East。 If Robert Arryn will not do； name one of your brothers。 Stannis proved himself at the siege of Storm's End； surely。〃
He let the name hang there for a moment。 The king frowned and said nothing。 He looked unfortable。
〃That is；〃 Ned finished quietly； watching； 〃unless you have already promised the honor to another。〃
For a moment Robert had the grace to look startled。 Just as quickly； the look became annoyance。 〃What if I have？〃
〃It's Jaime Lannister； is it not？〃
Robert kicked his horse back into motion and started down the ridge toward the barrows。 Ned kept pace with him。 The king rode on； eyes straight ahead。 〃Yes；〃 he said at last。 A single hard word to end the matter。
〃Kingslayer；〃 Ned said。 The rumors were true； then。 He rode on dangerous ground now； he knew。 〃An able and courageous man； no doubt；〃 he said carefully； 〃but his father is Warden of the West； Robert。 In time Ser Jaime will succeed to that honor。 No one man should hold both East and West。〃 He left unsaid his real concern； that the appointment would put half the armies of the realm into the hands of Lannisters。
〃I will fight that battle when the enemy appears on the field；〃 the king said stubbornly。 〃At the moment； Lord Tywin looms eternal as Casterly Rock； so I doubt that Jaime will be succeeding anytime soon。 Don't vex me about this； Ned； the stone has been set。〃
〃Your Grace； may I speak frankly？〃
〃I seem unable to stop you；〃 Robert grumbled。 They rode through tall brown grasses。
〃Can you trust Jaime Lannister？〃
〃He is my wife's twin； a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard； his life and fortune and honor all bound to mine。〃
〃As they were bound to Aerys Targaryen's；〃 Ned pointed out。
〃Why should I mistrust him？ He has done everything I have ever asked of him。 His sword helped win the throne I sit on。〃
His sword helped taint the throne you sit on； Ned thought； but he did not permit the words to pass his lips。 〃He swore a vow to protect his king's life with his own。 Then he opened that king's throat with a sword。〃
〃Seven hells； someone had to kill Aerys！〃 Robert said； reining his mount to a sudden halt beside an ancient barrow。 〃If Jaime hadn't done it； it would have been left for you or me。〃
〃We were not Sworn Brothers of the Kingsguard；〃 Ned said。 The time had e for Robert to hear the whole truth； he decided then and there。 〃Do you remember the Trident； Your Grace？〃
〃I won my crown there。 How should I forget it？〃
〃You took a wound from Rhaegar；〃 Ned reminded him。 〃So when the Targaryen host broke and ran； you gave the pursuit into my hands。 The remnants of Rhaegar's army fled back to King's Landing。 We followed。 Aerys was in the Red Keep with several thousand loyalists。 I expected to find the gates closed to us。〃
Robert gave an impatient shake of his head。 〃Instead you found that our men had already taken the city。 What of it？〃
〃Not our men；〃 Ned said patiently。 〃Lannister men。 The lion of Lannister flew over the ramparts； not the crowned stag。 And they had taken the city by treachery。〃
The war had raged for close to a year。 Lords great and small had flocked to Robert's banners； others had remained loyal to Targaryen。 The mighty Lannisters of Casterly Rock； the Wardens of the West； had remained aloof from the struggle； ignoring calls to arms from both rebels and royalists。 Aerys Targaryen must have thought that his gods had answered his prayers when Lord Tywin Lannister appeared before the gates of King's Landing with an army twelve thousand strong； professing loyalty。 So the mad king had ordered his last mad act。 He had opened his city to the lions at the gate。
〃Treachery was a coin the Targaryens knew well；〃 Robert said。 The anger was building in him again。 〃Lannister paid them back in kind。 It was no less than they deserved。 I shall not trouble my sleep over it。〃
〃You were not there；〃 Ned said； bitterness in his voice。 Troubled sleep was no stranger to him。 He had lived his lies for fourteen years； yet they still haunted him at night。 〃There was no honor in that conquest。〃
〃The Others take your honor！〃 Robert swore。 〃What did any Targaryen ever know of honor？ Go down into your crypt and ask Lyanna about the dragon's honor！〃
〃You avenged Lyanna at the Trident；〃 Ned said； halting beside the king。 Promise me； Ned； she had whispered。
〃That did not bring her back。〃 Robert looked away； off into the grey distance。 〃The gods be damned。 It was a holl