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eshouldstartback，”Garedurgedastheoodsbegantogrodarkaroundthem.
“theildlingsaredead.”
“dothedeadfrightenyou?”SeraymarRoyceaskedithjustthehintofasmile.
Gareddidnotrisetothebait.heasanoldman，pastfifty，andhehadseenthelordlingseandgo.“deadisdead，”hesaid.“ehavenobusinessiththedead.”
“Aretheydead?”Royceaskedsoftly.“hatproofhavee?”
“illsathem，”Garedsaid.“Ifhesaystheyaredead，that’sproofenoughforme.”
illhadknontheyoulddraghimintothequarrelsoonerorlater.heishedithadbeenlaterratherthansooner.“mymothertoldmethatdeadmensingnosongs，”heputin.
myetnursesaidthesamething，ill，”Roycereplied.“Neverbelieveanythingyouhearataoman’stit.therearethingstobelearnedevenfromthedead.”hisvoiceechoed，tooloudinthetilitforest.
“ehavealongridebeforeus，”Garedpointed1out.“Eightdays，maybenine.Andnightisfalling.”SeraymarRoyceglancedattheskyithdisinterest.“Itdoesthateverydayaboutthistime.Areyouunmannedbythedark，Gared?”
illcouldseethetightnessaroundGared’smouth，thebarelysuppressedangerinhiseyesunderthethickblackhood2ofhiscloak.GaredhadspentfortyyearsintheNight’satch，manandboy，andheasnotaccustomedtobeingmadelightof.Yetitasmorethanthat.Undertheoundedpride，illcouldsensesomethingelseintheolderman.Youcouldtasteit;anervoustensionthatcameperilousclosetofear.
illsharedhisunease.hehadbeenfouryearsontheall.thefirsttimehehadbeensentbeyond，alltheoldstorieshaderushingback，andhisboels3hadturnedtoater.hehadlaughedaboutitafterard4.heasaveteranofahundredrangingsbyno，andtheendlessdarkildernessthatthesouthroncalledthehauntedforesthadnomoreterrorsforhim.Untiltonight.Somethingasdifferenttonight.thereasanedgetothisdarknessthatmadehishacklesrise.Ninedaystheyhadbeenriding，northandnorthestandthennorthagain，fartherandfartherfromtheall，hardonthetrackofabandofildlingraiders.Eachdayhadbeenorsethanthedaythathadebeforeit.todayastheorstofall.Acoldindasbloingoutofthenorth，anditmadethetreesrustle5likelivingthings.Allday，illhadfeltasthoughsomethingereatchinghim，somethingcoldandimplacablethatlovedhimnot.Garedhadfeltittoo.illantednothingsomuchastoridehellbentforthesafetyoftheall，butthatasnotafeelingtoshareithyourmander.
Especiallynotamanderlikethisone.
SeraymarRoyceastheyoungestsonofanancienthouseithtoomanyheirs.heasahandsomeyouthofeighteen，grey-eyedandgraceful6andslenderasaknife.mountedonhishugeblackdestrier，theknight7toeredaboveillandGaredontheirsmallergarrons.heoreblackleatherboots，blackoolen8pants，blackmoleskingloves，andafinesupple9coatofgleamingblackringmailoverlayersofblackoolandboiledleather.SeraymarhadbeenaSornbrotheroftheNight’satchforlessthanhalfayear，butnoonecouldsayhehadnotpreparedforhisvocation10.Atleastinsofarashisardrobeasconcerned.
hiscloakashiscroningglory;sable11，thickandblackandsoftassin.“bethekilledthemallhimself，hedid，”Garedtoldthebarracksoverine，“tistedtheirlittleheadsoff，ourmightyarrior.”theyhadallsharedthelaugh.Itishardtotakeordersfromamanyoulaughedatinyourcups，illreflectedashesatshiveringatophisgarron.Garedmusthavefeltthesame.
“mormontsaidaseshouldtrackthem，andedid，”Garedsaid.“they’redead.theyshan’ttroubleusnomore.there’shardridingbeforeus.Idon’tlikethiseather.Ifitsnos，ecouldbeafortnightgettingback，andsno’sthebestecanhopefor.Everseenanicestorm，mylord?”
thelordlingseemednottohearhim.hestudiedthedeepeningtilight12inthathalf-bored，half-distractedayhehad.illhadriddeniththeknightlongenoughtounderstandthatitasbestnottointerrupthimhenhelookedlikethat.“tellmeagainhatyousa，ill.Allthedetails.Leavenothingout.”
illhadbeenahunterbeforehejoinedtheNight’satch.ell，apoacherintruth.mallisterfreeridershadcaughthimred-handedinthemallisters’onoods，skinningoneofthemallisters’
onbucks13，andithadbeenachoiceofputtingontheblackorlosingahand.Noonecouldmovethroughtheoodsassilentasill，andithadnottakentheblackbrotherslongtodiscoverhistalent.“thecampistomilesfartheron，overthatridge14，hardbesideastream，”illsaid.“IgotcloseasIdared.there’seightofthem，menandomenboth.NochildrenIcouldsee.theyputupalean-toagainsttherock.thesno’sprettyellcovereditno，butIcouldstillmakeitout.Nofireburning，butthefirepitasstillplainasday.Noonemoving.Iatchedalongtime.Nolivingmaneverlaysostill.”
“didyouseeanyblood?”
“ell，no，”illadmitted.
“didyouseeanyeapons?”
“Somesords，afebos.onemanhadanaxe15.heavy-looking，double-bladed，acruelpieceofiron.Itasonthegroundbesidehim，rightbyhishand.”
“didyoumakenoteofthepositionofthebodies?”
illshrugged16.“Acouplearesittingupagainsttherock.mostofthemontheground.Fallen，like.”
“orsleeping，”Roycesuggested.
“Fallen，”illinsisted.“there’soneomanupanironood，half-hidinthebranches.Afar-eyes.”hesmiledthinly.“Itookcaresheneversame.henIgotcloser，Isathatsheasn’tmovingneither.”despitehimself，heshivered.
“Youhaveachill?”Royceasked.
“Some，”illmuttered.“theind，m’lord.”
theyoungknightturnedbacktohisgrizzledman-at-arms.Frost-fallenleaveshisperedpastthem，andRoyce’sdestriermovedrestlessly.“hatdoyouthinkmighthavekilledthesemen，Gared?”Seraymaraskedcasually17.headjustedthedrapeofhislongsablecloak.
“Itasthecold，”Garedsaidithironcertainty.“Isamenfreezelastinter，andtheonebefore，henIashalfaboy.Everyonetalksaboutsnosfortyfootdeep，andhotheiceindesholingoutofthenorth，buttherealenemyisthecold.Itstealsuponyouquieterthanill，andatfirstyoushiverandyourteethchatter18andyoustampyourfeetanddreamofmulledineandnicehotfires.Itburns，itdoes.Nothingburnslikethecold.butonlyforahile.thenitgetsinsideyouandstartstofillyouup，andafterahileyoudon’thavethestrenhtofightit.It’seasierjusttositdonorgotosleep.theysayyoudon’tfeelanypaintoardtheend.Firstyougoeakanddrosy，andeverythingstartstofade，andthenit’slikesinkingintoaseaofarmmilk.peaceful，like.”“Sucheloquence19，Gared，”Seraymarobserved.“Ineversuspectedyouhaditinyou.”
“I’vehadthecoldinmetoo，lordling.”Garedpulledbackhishood，givingSeraymaragoodlonglookatthestumps20herehisearshadbeen.“toears，threetoes，andthelittlefingeroffmylefthand.Igotofflight.efoundmybrotherfrozenathisatch，ithasmileonhisface.”
Seraymarshrugged.“Yououghtdressmorearmly，Gared.”
Garedglaredatthelordling，thescarsaroundhisearholesflushedredithangerheremaesterAemonhadcuttheearsaay.“e’llseehoarmyoucandresshentheinteres.”hepulleduphishoodandhunched21overhisgarron，silentandsullen22.
“IfGaredsaiditasthecold…”illbegan.
“haveyoudran23anyatchesthispasteek，ill?”
“Yes，m’lord.”thereneverasaeekhenhedidnotdraadozenbloody24atches.hatasthemandrivingat?
“Andhodidyoufindtheall?”
“eeping，”illsaid，froning.hesaitclearenough，nothatthelordlinghadpointeditout.
“theycouldn’thavefroze.Notiftheallaseeping.Itasn’tcoldenough.”
Roycenodded.“brightlad.e’vehadafelightfroststhispasteek，andaquickflurryofsnonoandthen，butsurelynocoldfierceenoughtokilleightgronmen.mencladinfurandleather，letmeremindyou，ithshelternearathand，andthemeansofmakingfire.”theknight’ssmileascocksure.“ill，leadusthere.Iouldseethesedeadmenformyself.”
Andthenthereasnothingtobedoneforit.theorderhadbeengiven，andhonorboundthemtoobey.
illentinfront，hisshaggylittlegarronpickingtheaycarefullythroughtheundergroth.Alightsnohadfallenthenightbefore，andthereerestonesandrootsandhiddensinkslyingjustunderitscrust，aitingforthecarelessandtheunary.SeraymarRoycecamenext，hisgreatblackdestriersnortingimpatiently.thearhorseastherongmountforranging，buttryandtellthattothelordling.Garedbroughtuptherear.theoldman-at-armsmutteredtohimselfasherode.
tilightdeepened.thecloudlessskyturnedadeeppurple，thecolorofanoldbruise26，thenfadedtoblack.thestarsbegantoeout.Ahalf-moonrose.illasgratefulforthelight.
“ecanmakeabetterpacethanthis，surely，”Roycesaidhenthemoonasfullrisen.
“Notiththishorse，”illsaid.Fearhadmadehiminsolent27.“perhapsmylordouldcaretotakethelead?”
SeraymarRoycedidnotdeign28toreply.
Somehereoffintheoodaolfholed.
illpulledhisgarronoverbeneathanancientgnarledironoodanddismounted.
“hyareyoustopping?”Seraymarasked.
“bestgotherestoftheayonfoot，m’lord.It’sjustoverthatridge.”
Roycepausedamoment，staringoffintothedistance，hisfacereflective.Acoldindhisperedthroughthetrees.hisgreatsablecloakstirredbehindlikesomethinghalf-alive.
“there’ssomethingronghere，”Garedmuttered.
theyoungknightgavehimadisdainfulsmile.“Isthere?”
“can’tyoufeelit?”Garedasked.“Listentothedarkness.”
illcouldfeelit.FouryearsintheNight’satch，andhehadneverbeensoafraid.hatasit?
“ind.treesrustling29.Aolf.hichsoundisitthatunmansyouso，Gared?”henGareddidnotanser，Royceslidgracefully30fromhissaddle.hetiedthedestriersecurelytoalo-hanginglimb，ellaayfromtheotherhorses，anddrehislongsordfromitssheath.Jeelsglitteredinitshilt，andthemoonlightrandontheshiningsteel.Itasasplendideapon，castle-forged，andne-madefromthelookofit.illdoubtedithadeverbeensunginanger.
“thetreespressclosehere，”illarned.“thatsordilltangle31youup，m’lord.betteraknife.”
“IfIneedinstruction，Iillaskforit，”theyounglordsaid.“Gared，stayhere.Guardthehorses.”
Gareddismounted.“eneedafire.I’llseetoit.”
“hobigafoolareyou，oldman?Ifthereareenemiesinthisood，afireisthelastthingeant.”
“there’ssomeenemiesafireillkeepaay，”Garedsaid.“bearsanddireolvesand…andotherthings…”
Seraymar’smouthbecameahardline.“Nofire.”
Gared’shoodshadoedhisface，butillcouldseethehardglitterinhiseyesashestaredattheknight.Foramomentheasafraidtheoldermanouldgoforhissord.Itasashort，uglything，itsgripdiscoloredbyseat，itsedgenickedfromharduse，butillouldnothavegivenanironbobforthelordling’slifeifGaredpulleditfromitsscabbard.
FinallyGaredlookeddon.“Nofire，”hemuttered，lounderhisbreath.
Roycetookitforacquiescence32andturnedaay.“Leadon，”hesaidtoill.
illthreadedtheiraythroughathicket33，thenstarteduptheslopetotheloridgeherehehadfoundhisvantagepointunderasentineltree.Underthethincrustofsno，thegroundasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，ithrocksandhiddenrootstotripyouup.illmadenosoundasheclimbed.
behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallic34slitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongsordandtugged35onhissplendidsablecloak.
dfoundhisvantagepointunderasentineltree.Underthethincrustofsno，thegroundasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，ithrocksandhiddenrootstotripyouup.illmadenosoundasheclimbed.
behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallicslitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongsordandtuggedonhissplendidsablecloak.
thegreatsentinelasrightthereatthetopoftheridge，hereillhadknonitouldbe，itsloestbranchesabarefootofftheground.illslidinunderneath36，flatonhisbelly37inthesnoandthemud，andlookeddonontheemptyclearingbelo.
hisheartstoppedinhischest.Foramomenthedarednotbreathe.moonlightshonedonontheclearing，theashesofthefirepit，thesno-coveredlean-to，thegreatrock，thelittlehalf-frozenstream.
Everythingasjustasithadbeenafehoursago.
theyeregone.Allthebodieseregone.
“Gods!”heheardbehindhim.Asordslashed38atabranchasSeraymarRoycegainedtheridge.hestoodtherebesidethesentinel，longsordinhand，hiscloakbilloingbehindhimastheindcameup，outlinednoblyagainstthestarsforalltosee.
“Getdon!”illhisperedurgently.“Something’srong.”
Roycedidnotmove.helookeddonattheemptyclearingandlaughed.“Yourdeadmenseemtohavemovedcamp，ill.”
ill’svoiceabandonedhim.hegropedforordsthatdidnote.Itasnotpossible.hiseyesseptbackandforth40overtheabandonedcampsite，stoppedontheaxe.Ahugedouble-bladedbattle-axe，stilllyingherehehadseenitlast，untouched.Avaluableeapon…“onyourfeet，ill，”Seraymarmanded.“there’snoonehere.Ion’thaveyouhidingunderabush.”
Reluctantly，illobeyed.
Seraymarlookedhimoverithopendisapproval41.“Iamnotgoingbacktocastleblackafailureonmyfirstranging.eillfindthesemen.”heglancedaround.“Upthetree.bequickaboutit.
Lookforafire.”
illturnedaay，ordless.thereasnousetoargue.theindasmoving.Itcutrightthroughhim.heenttothetree，avaulting42grey-greensentinel，andbegantoclimb.Soonhishandserestickyithsap，andheaslostamongtheneedles.Fearfilledhisgut43likeamealhecouldnotdigest.
hehisperedaprayertothenamelessgodsoftheood，andslippedhisdirkfreeofitssheath.heputitbeteenhisteethtokeepbothhandsfreeforclimbing.thetasteofcoldironinhismouthgavehimfort.
donbelo，thelordlingcalledoutsuddenly，“hogoesthere?”illhearduncertainty44inthechallenge.hestoppedclimbing;helistened;heatched.
theoodsgaveanser:therustleofleaves，theicyrushofthestream，adistanthoot45ofasnool.
theothersmadenosound.
illsamovementfromthecornerofhiseye.paleshapesgliding46throughtheood.heturnedhishead，glimpsedahiteshadointhedarkness.thenitasgone.branchesstirredgentlyintheind，scratchingatoneanotherithoodenfingers.illopenedhismouthtocalldonaarning，andtheordsseemedtofreezeinhisthroat.perhapsheasrong.perhapsithadonlybeenabird，areflectiononthesno，sometrickofthemoonlight.hathadheseen，afterall?
“ill，hereareyou?”Seraymarcalledup.“canyouseeanything?”heasturninginaslocircle，suddenlyary25，hissordinhand.hemusthavefeltthem，asillfeltthem.thereasnothingtosee.“Anserme!hyisitsocold?”
Itascold.Shivering，illclungmoretightlytohisperch47.hisfacepressedhardagainstthetrunkofthesentinel.hecouldfeeltheseet，stickysaponhischeek.
Ashadoemergedfromthedarkoftheood.ItstoodinfrontofRoyce.tall，itas，andgauntandhardasoldbones，ithfleshpaleasmilk.Itsarmorseemedtochangecolorasitmoved;hereitashiteasne-fallensno，thereblackasshado，everyheredapplediththedeepgrey-greenofthetrees.thepatternsranlikemoonlightonateritheverystepittook.
illheardthebreathgooutofSeraymarRoyceinalonghiss48.“enofarther，”thelordlingarned.hisvoicecrackedlikeaboy’s.hethrethelongsablecloakbackoverhisshoulders，tofree\fhisarmsforbattle，andtookhissordinbothhands.theindhadstopped.Itasverycold.
theotherslidforardonsilentfeet.Initshandasalongsordlikenonethatillhadeverseen.
Nohumanmetalhadgoneintotheforgingofthatblade.Itasaliveithmoonlight，translucent49，ashardofcrystalsothinthatitseemedalmosttovanishhenseenedge-on.thereasafaintblueshimmertothething，aghost-lightthatplayedarounditsedges，andsomehoillkneitassharperthananyrazor.
Seraymarmethimbravely.“danceithmethen.”heliftedhissordhighoverhishead，defiant.hishandstrembledfromtheeightofit，orperhapsfromthecold.Yetinthatmoment，illthought，heasaboynolonger，butamanoftheNight’satch.
theotherhalted.illsaitseyes;blue，deeperandbluerthananyhumaneyes，abluethatburnedlikeice.theyfixed51onthelongsordtremblingonhigh，atchedthemoonlightrunningcoldalonhemetal.Foraheartbeathedaredtohope.
theyemergedsilentlyfromtheshados，tinstothefirst.threeofthem…four…five…Seraymarmayhavefeltthecoldthatcameiththem，butheneversathem，neverheardthem.illhadtocallout.Itashisduty.Andhisdeath，ifhedid.heshivered，andhuggedthetree，andkeptthesilence.
thepalesordcameshiveringthroughtheair.
Seraymarmetitithsteel.henthebladesmet，thereasnoringofmetalonmetal;onlyahigh，thinsoundattheedgeofhearing，likeananimalscreaminginpain.Roycecheckedasecondblo，andathird，thenfellbackastep.Anotherflurryofblos，andhefellbackagain.
behindhim，toright，toleft，allaroundhim，theatchersstoodpatient，faceless，silent，theshiftingpatternsoftheirdelicatearmormakingthemallbutinvisibleintheood.Yettheymadenomovetointerfere.
Againandagainthesordsmet，untilillantedtocoverhisearsagainstthestrangeanguishedkeeningoftheirclash.Seraymaraspantingfromtheeffortno，hisbreathsteaminginthemoonlight.hisbladeashiteithfrost;theother’sdancedithpalebluelight.
thenRoyce’sparrycameabeattoolate.thepalesordbitthroughtheringmailbeneathhisarm.
theyounglordcriedoutinpain.bloodelledbeteentherings.Itsteamedinthecold，andthedropletsseemedredasfireheretheytouchedthesno.Seraymar’sfingersbrushedhisside.hismoleskinglovecameaaysoakedithred.
theothersaidsomethinginalanguagethatilldidnotkno;hisvoiceaslikethecrackingoficeonainterlake，andtheordseremocking.
SeraymarRoycefoundhisfury.“ForRobert!”heshouted，andhecameupsnarling52，liftingthefrost-coveredlongsordithbothhandsandsingingitaroundinaflatsidearmslash39ithallhiseightbehindit.theother’sparryasalmostlazy.
henthebladestouched，thesteelshattered.
Ascreamechoedthroughtheforestnight，andthelongsordshiveredintoahundredbrittle53pieces，theshards54scattering55likearainofneedles.Royceenttohisknees，shrieking56，andcoveredhiseyes.
bloodelledbeteenhisfingers.
theatchersmovedforardtogether，asifsomesignalhadbeengiven.Sordsroseandfell，allinadeathlysilence.Itascoldbutchery.thepalebladesslicedthroughringmailasifiteresilk.
illclosedhiseyes.Farbeneathhim，heheardtheirvoicesandlaughtersharpasicicles.
henhefoundthecouragetolookagain，alongtimehadpassed，andtheridgebeloasempty.
hestayedinthetree，scarcedaringtobreathe，hilethemooncreptslolyacrosstheblacksky.
Finally，hismusclescramping57andhisfingersnumb58ithcold，heclimbeddon.
Royce’sbodylayfacedoninthesno，onearmoutflung.thethicksablecloakhadbeenslashedinadozenplaces.Lyingdeadlikethat，yousahoyoungheas.Aboy.
hefoundhatasleftofthesordafefeetaay，theendsplinteredandtistedlikeatreestruckbylightning.illknelt，lookedaroundarily59，andsnatcheditup.thebrokensordouldbehisproof.Garedouldknohattomakeofit，andifnothim，thensurelythatoldbearmormontormaesterAemon.ouldGaredstillbeaitingiththehorses?hehadtohurry.
illrose.SeraymarRoycestoodoverhim.
hisfineclothesereatatter，hisfacearuin.Ashard50fromhissordtransfixedtheblindhitepupilofhislefteye.
therighteyeasopen.thepupilburnedblue.Itsa.
thebrokensordfellfromnervelessfingers.illclosedhiseyestopray.Long，eleganthandsbrushedhischeek，thentightened60aroundhisthroat.theyereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickyithblood，yetthetouchasicycold.
brushedhischeek，thentightenedaroundhisthroat.theyereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickyithblood，yetthetouchasicycold.
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