The Sworn Sword

The woman will soon find that the chequy lion still has claws!""

Two, Dunk thought glumly, and I am one of them.

Ser Eustace's lands supported three small villages, none more than a handful of hovels, sheepfolds, and pigs. The largest boasted a thatched one-room sept with crude pictures of the Seven scratched upon the walls in charcoal. Mudge, a stoop-backed old swineherd who'd once been to Oldtown, led devotions there every seventh day. Twice a year a real septon came through to forgive sins in the Mother's name.

The smallfolk were glad of the forgiveness, but hated the septon's visits all the same, since they were required to feed him.

They seemed no more pleased by the sight of Dunk and Egg. Dunk was known in the villages, if only as Ser Eustace's new knight, but not so much as a cup of water was offered him. Most of the men were in the fields, so it was largely women and children who crept out of the hovels at their coming, along with a few grandfathers too infirm for work. Egg bore the Osgrey banner, the chequy lion green and gold, rampant upon its field of white.

""We come from Standfast with Ser Eustace's summons"", Dunk told the villagers. ""Every able-bodied man between the ages of fifteen and fifty is commanded to assemble at the tower on the morrow"".

""Is it war?"" asked one thin woman, with two children hiding behind her skirts and a babe sucking at her breast. ""Is the black dragon come again?""

""There are no dragons in this, black or red"", Dunk told her. ""This is between the chequy lion and the spiders.

The Red Widow has taken your water"".

The woman nodded, though she looked askance when Egg took off his hat to fan his face. ""That boy got no hair. He sick?""

""It's shaved "", said Egg. He put the hat back on, turned Maester's head, and rode off slowly."

"The boy is in a prickly mood today. He had hardly said a word since they set out. Dunk gave Thunder a touch of the spur and soon caught the mule. ""Are you angry that I did not take your part against Ser Bennis yesterday?"" he asked his sullen squire, as they made for the next village.

""I like the man no more than you, but he is a knight. You should speak to him with courtesy"".

""I'm your squire, not his"", the boy said. ""He's dirty and mean-mouthed, and he pinches me"".

If he had an inkling who you were, he'd piss himself before he laid a finger on you. ""He used to pinch me, too"". Dunk had forgotten that, till Egg's words brought it back.