The Sworn Sword

A column of mounted crossbowmen brought up the rear, and fanned out to either side of the road when they reached the Chequy Water and saw Dunk waiting on the other side. There were three-and-thirty fighting men all told, excluding the septon, the maester, and the Widow herself. One of the knights caught Dunk's eye; a squat bald keg of a man in mail and leather, with an angry face and an ugly goiter on his neck.

The Red Widow walked her mare to the edge of the water. ""Ser Eustace, Ser Duncan"", she called across the stream, ""we saw your fire burning in the night"".

""Saw it?"" Ser Eustace shouted back. ""Aye, you saw it… after you made it"".

""That is a vile accusation"".

""For a vile act"".

""I was asleep in my bed last night, with my ladies all around me. The shouts from the walls awoke me, as they did almost everyone. Old men climbed up steep tower steps to look, and babes at the breast saw the red light and wept in fear. And that is all I know of your fire, ser"".

""It was your fire, woman"", insisted Ser Eustace. ""My wood is gone. Gone, I say!""

Septon Sefton cleared his throat. ""Ser Eustace"", he boomed, ""there are fires in the kingswood too, and even in the rainwood. The drought has turned all our woods to kindling"".

Lady Rohanne raised an arm and pointed. ""Look at my fields, Osgrey. How dry they are. I would have been a fool to set a fire. Had the wind changed direction, the flames might well have leapt the stream, and burned out half my crops"".

""Might have?"" Ser Eustace shouted. ""It was my woods that burned, and you that burned them. Most like you cast some witch's spell to drive the wind, just as you used your dark arts to slay your husbands and your brothers!""

Lady Rohanne's face grew harder. Dunk had seen that look at Coldmoat, just before she slapped him. ""Prattle"", she told the old man. ""I will waste no more words on you, ser. Produce Bennis of the Brown Shield, or we will come and take him"".

"""That you shall not do"", Ser Eustace declared in ringing tones. ""That you shall never do"". His mustache twitched. ""Come no farther. This side of the stream is mine, and you are not wanted here. You shall have no hospitality from me. No bread and salt, not even shade and water. You come as an intruder. I forbid you to set foot on Osgrey land"".

Lady Rohanne drew her braid over her shoulder. ""Ser Lucas"", was all she said.