The Sworn Sword

Dunk gave his mount his heels and splashed down into the stream. Egg followed on the mule. The water rose as high as Thunder's belly before it began to fall again. They emerged dripping on the Widow's side. Ahead, the ditch ran straight as a spear, shining green and golden in the sun.

When they spied the towers of Coldmoat several hours later, Dunk stopped to change to his good Dornish tunic and loosen his longsword in its scabbard. He did not want the blade sticking should he need to pull it free. Egg gave his dagger's hilt a shake as well, his face solemn beneath his floppy hat.

They rode on side by side, Dunk on the big destrier, the boy upon his mule, the Osgrey banner flapping listlessly from its staff.

Coldmoat came as somewhat of a disappointment, after all that Ser Eustace had said of it. Compared to Storm's End or Highgarden and other lordly seats that Dunk had seen, it was a modest castle… but it was a castle, not a fortified watchtower. Its crenellated outer walls stood thirty feet high, with towers at each corner, each one half again the size of Standfast.

From every turret and spire the black banners of Webber hung heavy, each emblazoned with a spotted spider upon a silvery web.

""Ser?"" Egg said. ""The water. Look where it goes"".

The ditch ended under Coldmoat's eastern walls, spilling down into the moat from which the castle took its name. The gurgle of the falling water made Dunk grind his teeth. She will not have my chequy water. ""Come"", he said to Egg.

Over the arch of the main gate a row of spider banners drooped in the still air, above the older sigil carved deep into the stone.

Centuries of wind and weather had worn it down, but the shape of it was still distinct: a rampant lion made of checkered squares. The gates beneath were open. As they clattered across the drawbridge, Dunk made note of how low the moat had fallen. Six feet at least, he judged.

Two spearman barred their way at the portcullis. One had a big black beard and one did not.

The beard demanded to know their purpose here. ""My lord of Osgrey sent me to treat with Lady Webber"", Dunk told him. ""I am called Ser Duncan, the Tall"".

""Well, I knew you wasn't Bennis"", said the beardless guard. ""We would have smelled him coming"". He had a missing tooth and a spotted spider badge sewn above his heart.

The beard was squinting suspiciously at Dunk. ""No one sees her ladyship unless the Longinch gives his leave. You come with me.