The Mystery Knight Read Online Free PDF Page A

as
well?” Ser Maynard asked.
     
    Kyle the Cat had the grace to
laugh. “That sword was good steel, I assure you. I should be glad to ply it once
again in the service of the centaur. Ser Duncan, even if you do not choose to
tilt, do join us for the wedding feast. There will be singers and musicians,
jugglers and tumblers, and a troupe of comic dwarfs.”
     
    Dunk frowned. “Egg and I have a
long journey before us. We’re headed north to Winterfell. Lord Beron Stark is
gathering swords to drive the krakens from his shores for good.”
     
    “Too cold up there for me,” said
Ser Maynard. “If you want to kill krakens, go west. The Lannisters are building
ships to strike back at the iron-men on their home islands. That’s how you put
an end to Dagon Greyjoy. Fighting him on land is fruitless, he just slips back
to sea. You have to beat him on the water.”
     
    That had the ring of truth, but
the prospect of fighting ironmen at sea was not one that Dunk relished. He’d
had a taste of that on the White Lady, sailing from Dorne to Oldtown,
when he’d donned his armor to help the crew repel some raiders. The battle had
been desperate and bloody, and once he’d almost fallen in the water. That would
have been the end of him.
     
    “The throne should take a lesson
from Stark and Lannister,” declared Ser Kyle the Cat. “At least they fight.
What do the Targaryens do? King Aerys hides amongst his books, Prince Rhaegel
prances naked through the Red Keep’s halls, and Prince Maekar broods at
Summerhall.”
     
    Egg was prodding at the fire with
a stick, to send sparks floating up into the night. Dunk was pleased to see him
ignoring the mention of his father’s name. Perhaps he’s finally learned to
hold that tongue of his.
     
    “Myself, I blame Bloodraven,” Ser
Kyle went on. “He is the King’s Hand, yet he does nothing, whilst the krakens
spread flame and terror up and down the sunset sea.”
     
    Ser Maynard gave a shrug. “His
eye is fixed on Tyrosh, where Bittersteel sits in exile, plotting with the sons
of Daemon Blackfyre. So he keeps the king’s ships close at hand, lest they
attempt to cross.”
     
    “Aye, that may well be,” Ser Kyle
said, “but many would welcome the return of Bittersteel. Bloodraven is the root
of all our woes, the white worm gnawing at the heart of the realm.”
     
    Dunk frowned, remembering the
hunchbacked septon at Stoney Sept. “Words like that can cost a man his head.
Some might say you’re talking treason.”
     
    “How can the truth be treason?”
asked Kyle the Cat. “In King Daeron’s day, a man did not have to fear to speak
his mind, but now?” He made a rude noise. “Bloodraven put King Aerys on the
Iron Throne, but for how long? Aerys is weak, and when he dies, it will be
bloody war between Lord Rivers and Prince Maekar for the crown, the Hand
against the heir.”
     
    “You have forgotten Prince
Rhaegel, my friend,” Ser Maynard objected, in a mild tone. “He comes next in
line to Aerys, not Maekar, and his children after him.”
     
    “Rhaegel is feeble-minded. Why, I
bear him no ill will, but the man is good as dead, and those twins of his as
well, though whether they will die of Maekar’s mace or Bloodraven’s spells ...”
     
    Seven save us, Dunk thought as Egg spoke up
shrill and loud. “Prince Maekar is Prince Rhaegel’s brother. He loves
him well. He’d never do harm to him or his.”
     
    “Be quiet, boy,” Dunk growled at
him. “These knights want none of your opinions.”
     
    “I can talk if I want.”
     
    “No,” said Dunk. “You can’t.” That mouth of yours will get you killed someday. And me as well, most like. “That salt beefs soaked long enough, I think. A strip for all our friends, and
be quick about it.”
     
    Egg flushed, and for half a
heartbeat, Dunk feared the boy might talk back. Instead he settled for a sullen
look, seething as only a boy of eleven years can seethe. “Aye, ser,” he said,
fishing in the bottom