"Arya!"
Jon Snow's heart lurched when he saw his sister crying incessantly. He ignored his injuries, his lips pressed tightly, his arm trembling, and with all his strength, he got out of bed.
His injured leg trembled uncontrollably, and Jon gasped in pain.
Monton Wei Shui had intended to help him, but on second thought, he immediately walked over and directly picked up the little girl standing at the door, placing her in front of Jon.
Then, Mondon looked at Jon, scratched his head again, and left the room without a word, closing the door behind him.
"Brother, Bran fell from the watchtower, boohoo!"
Thump.
How could that be? Bran was so agile; he had climbed almost every climbable place in Winterfell and never once slipped!
Could it be… Jon shook his head inwardly. No one in Winterfell would harm a Stark.
So, was it really an accident?
Tears had unknowingly appeared on Jon's cheeks. He forced himself to calm down: "Arya, tell me, how is Bran now?"
Arya's small shoulders hurt from Jon's grip, but she didn't cry out in pain. Her eyes brimming with tears, she said: "Father and them said… he hasn't woken up… I overheard it… I came to find you…"
Jon hugged his sister tightly and comforted her: "Arya, Lady Catelyn will definitely take good care of Bran. Trust me, Bran will be fine!"
...
...
The atmosphere in the Hand's chambers was heavy. Duke Eddard's stern and tense face masked his sorrow.
Glynn's eyes shifted slightly, glancing at Varys beside him, and he asked with concern: "Duke Ned, do you need some rest?"
Varys echoed: "Hand Eddard, I believe they will be quiet for a while. You can deal with it tomorrow."
Duke Eddard merely shook his head slightly, not speaking.
Glynn and Varys exchanged a look, then remained silent, standing quietly to the side.
After a long while, Duke Eddard exhaled softly.
He spoke: "My apologies for keeping you waiting."
As Duke Eddard's words fell, Varys immediately stepped forward and respectfully said: "Prime Minister, Varys is always at your service."
Duke Eddard nodded slightly and said: "Is Garlan Tyrell's arm truly beyond healing?"
Varys's tone carried regret: "Yes, Hand Eddard."
He continued: "In this tourney, the Duke of Highgarden's sorrow cannot be consoled by anyone. It is truly heartbreaking."
Duke Eddard had just received the news of his second son, Bran, falling from the high tower and losing consciousness. He and Duke Mace could be said to be feeling the same pain.
Duke Eddard furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "Where is Renly?"
"Most people are in the Sept. Duke Renly is also there."
Duke Eddard: "…"
The Mountain was killed, and Duke Mace's second son lost an arm… Duke Eddard felt a bit irritated. Duke Renly, as the Master of Laws, did not await the King's judgment and instead privately colluded with the Golden Rose to kill Duke Tywin's sworn man in the street… which exacerbated the conflict.
Adding to that, Duke Tywin's second son was injured… Damn it!
Duke Eddard's gaze sharpened: "Varys, can we confirm that Tyrion Lannister's incident was an accident?"
Varys clasped his hands together, shook his head slightly, and sighed: "With hundreds of people present, anyone could be the culprit, or it could truly be an accident. It's very difficult for us to prove."
Glynn spoke: "Duke Ned, once Tyrion wakes up, it will be easier for us to confirm. If it wasn't an accident, perhaps he will know who the culprit is."
"Hmm, then let's wait for him to wake up…"
Duke Eddard looked at Varys and continued: "Thank you, Varys. You can go back now. If there is… no, I won't let these fellows continue to cause trouble."
Varys bowed in farewell. As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back.
He apologized: "Hand Eddard, it was my dereliction of duty. I forgot something important."
Duke Eddard looked at Varys.
"Petyr is, after all, the Master of Coin. Now that he is imprisoned in the Black Cells, some people in the Red Keep are uneasy. I am concerned that malicious rumors will spread if this drags on."
Duke Eddard frowned and said: "…Can't they just be quiet for a few days?"
Varys said helplessly: "My suggestion is to deal with it as quickly as possible. There are still many Vale Nobles in the Red Keep. After Prime Minister Jon's death, most of the people from the Vale sided with Littlefinger. It's normal for them to have various conjectures… But if it drags on, the truth might turn into slander."
Duke Eddard considered it for a moment and said: "Varys, you are the Master of Whisperers. You can explain it to them directly…"
As he spoke, Duke Eddard closed his eyes in pain.
After a pause, he said wearily: "Let's wait a moment."
Varys hesitated: "Hand Eddard, are you worried it will affect…"
Duke Eddard waved his hand, interrupting Varys's words. He certainly knew what Varys was about to say, but it wasn't about covering up anything like that.
Lysa Tully's crime was unforgivable, and he dared not leave Jon's only bloodline with that madwoman. Therefore, Lysa Tully had to leave Eyrie and face trial in King's Landing.
Duke Eddard said in a deep voice: "Varys, I will first contact the Vale Nobles loyal to Jon in the name of the Hand, and explain the truth directly to them. I need them to ensure the safety of little Robert."
Varys suddenly understood: "Hand Eddard, I understand. I will keep the secret well."
After discussing some more details, Varys left the Hand's chambers.
...
Glynn picked up the wine jug and poured a glass for Duke Eddard.
"Duke Ned, I didn't expect so many things to happen recently."
"They all happened at once…"
Duke Eddard took the wine glass, leaned his broad back against the chair, placed his large feet on the table, and cursed under his breath: "Damn it!"
Glynn smiled, poured himself a glass of wine, and took a sip.
"Duke Ned, Tyrion's injury is no small matter. You should be more familiar with the Lannister style, or rather, Duke Tywin's style, than I am."
Duke Ned frowned for a moment and said: "Glynn, who do you think he will retaliate against?"
Glynn spread his hands: "Although Duke Renly was also present at the time, I think their target for revenge is Highgarden. The Mountain was a Lannister hound, and the hound who caused trouble is dead, but Duke Tywin's son almost lost his life. This reason is already sufficient."
He added: "Duke Ned, forgive my frankness, but sometimes it's difficult to reason with the Lannisters."
...
...
After Glynn left, Duke Eddard took out the boring "Genealogy and History of the Principal Noble Houses of the Seven Kingdoms" again, flipping through it casually.
Although the result was difficult to accept, the truth of Jon's death had finally been investigated. But… he felt that this book contained another secret unrelated to Jon's death but not to be ignored… Why did Jon, despite his illness, personally investigate Robert's bastards?
He felt as if he had grasped something, but it quickly dissipated… Duke Eddard closed the book: "What a boring book."
Duke Eddard felt that he couldn't let himself be idle for now. He was very worried about his child's injury and wished he could fly back to Winterfell immediately.
Duke Eddard glanced at the troublesome book again, then stood up.
A Direwolf was not suited to sighing indoors. The locations of Robert's bastards had been ascertained, and he planned to visit them personally, just like Jon had.
If he still found nothing after this, Duke Eddard was prepared to abandon further investigation, as it might simply be his own overthinking.
Duke Eddard, accompanied by Jory and his guards, left the Red Keep directly.
...
Steel Street, Tobho Mott's smithy.
Duke Eddard, led by Tobho Mott, immediately recognized the young man named Gendry as Robert's bastard, because Gendry looked too much like a young Robert.
Tobho Mott introduced: "Lad, this is Duke Stark, the King's new Hand of the King."
Gendry greeted him somewhat shyly.
Duke Eddard patted Gendry's strong arm with his large hand and said: "Good lad, I just came to ask you a few questions."
Gendry brushed aside a newly fallen strand of black hair and nodded.
"Gendry, what did you and Lord Arryn talk about when he came to see you?"
After speaking, Duke Eddard casually found a place to sit down and then said: "Lad, you sit too."
After Gendry sat down, he said: "My Lord, Lord Arryn just asked some questions."
Duke Eddard glanced at Gendry's dark, ink-black hair, dampened with sweat, and said: "Do you remember what was said?"
Gendry thought for a moment and said: "He asked if I was doing well, how my master treated me, if I liked this job, and also about my mother… asking who she was and what she looked like."
Duke Eddard nodded slightly and said: "He asked about your mother? How did you answer?"
Gendry shrugged: "She died when I was little. I only remember her hair was yellow, and she sometimes sang to me. She worked in a tavern."
Duke Eddard reached out and stroked Gendry's head, saying: "Good lad, I'm sorry to disturb you… Go back to your work."
With that, he rubbed Gendry's thick, dark hair.
That feeling came again.
After Gendry left, Duke Eddard turned to Tobho, who had been quiet the whole time.
"You know very well who this child is."
"My Lord, I am just an old blacksmith. I don't know what I shouldn't know."
Duke Eddard patiently repeated: "You know very well who this child is."
The old blacksmith's gaze was as stubborn as steel: "This child is my apprentice!"
Duke Eddard's lips curved slightly. He nodded and said: "If one day Gendry doesn't want to keep smithing and wants to actually play with a sword, tell him to come find me. Until then… thank you for taking care of him."
...
Shataya Brothel.
The girl was too young; Duke Eddard didn't even dare to ask her age… She had light red hair and a few freckles on either side of her nose.
When he saw the girl, she was breastfeeding a baby.
After a moment of silence, he spoke: "What is her name?"
The girl said timidly: "My Lord, I named her Barra."
After speaking, she smiled and added: "My Lord, Barra looks so much like him, doesn't she? She has his nose, and his hair…"
Duke Eddard nodded slightly: "Indeed, very much alike."
With that, he reached out and gently stroked the baby's soft, dark hair. Black strands slipped through his fingers… Ned vaguely remembered that Robert's first child in the Vale also had the same fine black hair.
The girl's eyes held a plea: "My Lord, when you see him, if you are pleased… please tell him how beautiful our Barra is."
"I will," Duke Eddard promised the girl.
Duke Eddard's promise ignited hope in the girl.
She lifted her head to look at the stern-faced Duke Eddard, her voice trembling slightly: "Please tell him I haven't been with anyone else. My Lord, I swear by the Gods. Sathaya said I could rest for half a year, take care of the child, and see if he would come back. So please tell him I'm waiting for him, alright? I don't want gold or jewels, I just want him. He has always been good to me, I'm telling the truth."
Good to you… Damn Robert!
Duke Eddard assured her again: "Child, I will tell him. I promise you, Barra will never want for food or clothing."
As Duke Eddard's words fell, the girl smiled cautiously, yet so sweetly, making his heart ache… Damn Robert!
...
...
Prime Minister's Tower.
"Catch."
Syrio Forel threw a wooden sword towards Arya, whose eyes were red and swollen.
Seeing Arya easily catch the hilt, he grinned and said: "Sad girl."
Arya wiped the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand and said weakly: "Syrio, I'm not in the mood to practice sword today."
"Attack!"
Syrio shouted, swinging towards Arya's head. Arya quickly raised her sword to block, and with a clang, the two wooden swords met.
"Then you must practice even more, down!" Syrio's wooden sword immediately whistled out.
Arya's sword also met it swiftly, and with another clang, her whole hand tingled with pain. She gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound.
"You won't be sad when you're practicing sword, girl."
Arya was angry. She wanted to teach Syrio a lesson, with this wooden sword in her hand!
"Good momentum… I'm attacking!"
As his words fell, Syrio advanced step by step, each swing of his sword growing faster. Arya continuously retreated, finding it increasingly difficult to block.
"Left, left, up, left, right, left, down, left!"
Clanging sounds echoed throughout the room.
"Ouch!"
Syrio's wooden sword struck Arya squarely in the chest. The pain was unbearable, and she couldn't help but cry out.
Syrio retracted his sword and stepped back, saying: "You are dead."
Arya was furious. Syrio's shouted directions were completely different from his attack directions, catching her off guard.
She said angrily: "You lied! You clearly said left, but you hit right."
Syrio elegantly tucked the wooden sword into his waist: "That's how it is. From now on, you are a dead girl."
Arya made a face: "But you lied!"
Syrio grinned: "Dead girl, my mouth lies, but my eyes and hands speak the truth. You just failed to see it. A Water Dancer must be perceptive."