The Sworn Sword

And he is angry, Dunk sensed, even before the man said, ""Hedge knights are beggars with blades at best, outlaws at worst. Begone with you. We want none of your sort here"".

Dunk's face darkened. ""Ser Eustace Osgrey sent me from Standfast to treat with the lady of the castle"".

""Osgrey?"" The septon glanced at the Longinch. ""Osgrey of the chequy lion? I thought House Osgrey was extinguished"".

""Near enough as makes no matter. The old man is the last of them. We let him keep a crumbling towerhouse a few leagues east"".

""Seven save us"". The septon dabbed sweat from his brow with his sleeve. ""A brigand, is he? And a big one. Ser, repent your evil ways, and the Mother will have mercy"". The septon's pious plea was undercut when he farted.

""I am not a brigand"", Dunk told the two of them, with all the dignity that he could muster.

The Longinch was unmoved by the denial. ""Do not presume upon my patience, ser… if you are a ser . Run back to your chicken tower and tell Ser Eustace to deliver up Ser Bennis Brownstench. If he spares us the trouble of winkling him out of Standfast, her ladyship may be more inclined to clemency"".

""I will speak with her ladyship about Ser Bennis and the trouble at the dam, and about the stealing of our water, too"".

""Stealing?"" said Ser Lucas. ""Say that to our lady, and you'll be swimming in a sack before the sun has set. Are you quite certain that you wish to see her?""

The only thing that Dunk was certain of was that he wanted to drive his fist through Lucas Inchfield's crooked yellow teeth. ""I've told you what I want"".

""Oh, let him speak with her"", the septon urged. ""What harm could it do? Ser Duncan has had a long ride beneath this beastly sun, let the fellow have his say"".

Ser Lucas studied Dunk again. ""Our septon is a godly man. Come. I will thank you to be brief"". He strode across the yard, and Dunk was forced to hurry after him.

The doors of the castle sept had opened, and worshipers were streaming down the steps.