Part 5 (2/2)

Near the keep, she ran headlong into Ser Lothor Brune and almost knocked him off his feet. aHarry the Heir? Harry the a.r.s.e, I say. Heas just some upjumped squire.a Alayne was so grateful that she hugged him. aThank you. Have you seen my father, ser?a aDown in the vaults, a Ser Lothar said, ainspecting Lord Nestoras granaries with Lord Grafton and Lord Belmore.a The vaults were large and dark and filthy. Alayne lit a taper and clutched her skirt as she made the descent. Near the bottom, she heard Lord Graftonas booming voice, and followed.aThe merchants are clamoring to buy, and the lords are clamoring to sell,a the Gulltowner was saying when she found them. Though not a tall man, Grafton was wide, with thick arms and shoulders. His hair was a dirty blond mop. aHow am I to stop that, my lord?a aPost guardsmen on the docks. If need be, seize the s.h.i.+ps. How does not matter, so long as no food leaves the Vale. a aThese prices, though,a protested fat Lord Belmore,a these prices are more than fair.a aYou say more than fair, my lord. I say less than we would wish. Wait. If need be, buy the food yourself and keep it stored. Winter is coming. Prices must go higher.a aPerhaps,a said Belmore, doubtfully.

aBronze Yohn will not wait, a Grafton complained. aHe need not s.h.i.+p through Gulltown, he has his own ports. Whilst we are h.o.a.rding our harvest, Royce and the other Lords Declarant will turn theirs into silver, you may be sure of that.a aLet us hope so,a said Petyr. aWhen their granaries are empty, they will need every sc.r.a.p of that silver to buy sustenance from us. And now if you will excuse me, my lord, it would seem my daughter has need of me.a aLady Alayne,a Lord Grafton said. aYou look bright-eyed this morning.a aYou are kind to say so, my lord. Father, I am sorry to disturb you, but I thought you would want to know that the Waynwoods have arrived.a aAnd is Ser Harrold with them?a Horrible Ser Harrold. a He is.a Lord Belmore laughed. aI never thought Royce would let him come. Is he blind, or merely stupid?a aHe is honorable. Sometimes it amounts to the same thing. If he denied the lad the chance to prove himself, it could create a rift between them, so why not let him tilt? The boy is nowise skilled enough to win a place amongst the Winged Knights.a aI suppose not,a said Belmore, grudgingly. Lord Grafton kissed Alayne on the hand, and the two lords went off, leaving her alone with her lord father.

aCome,a Petyr said, awalk with me.a He took her by the arm and led her deeper into the vaults, past an empty dungeon. aAnd how was your first meeting with Harry the Heir?a aHeas horrible.a aThe world is full of horrors, sweet. By now you ought to know that. Youave seen enough of them.a aYes,a she said, abut why must he be so cruel? He called me your b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Right in the yard, in front of everyone.a aSo far as he knows, thatas who you are. This betrothal was never his idea, and Bronze Yohn has no doubt warned him against my wiles. You are my daughter. He does not trust you, and he believes that youare beneath him.a aWell, Iam not. He may think heas some great knight, but Ser Lothor says heas just some upjumped squire.a Petyr put his arm around her. aSo he is, but he is Robertas heir as well. Bringing Harry here was the first step in our plan, but now we need to keep him, and only you can do that. He has a weakness for a pretty face, and whose face is prettier than yours? Charm him. Entrance him. Bewitch him.a aI donat know how,a she said miserably.

aOh, I think you do,a said Littlefinger, with one of those smiles that did not reach his eyes. aYou will be the most beautiful woman in the hall tonight, as lovely as your lady mother at your age. I cannot seat you on the dais, but youall have a place of honor above the salt and underneath a wall sconce. The fire will be s.h.i.+ning in your hair, so everyone will see how fair of face you are. Keep a good long spoon on hand to beat the squires off, sweetling. You will not want green boys underfoot when the knights come round to beg you for your favor.a aWho would ask to wear a b.a.s.t.a.r.das favor?a aHarry, if he has the wits the G.o.ds gave a goosea but do not give it to him. Choose some other gallant, and favor him instead. You do not want to seem too eager.a aNo,a Alayne said.

aLady Waynwood will insist that Harry dance with you, I can promise you that much. That will be your chance. Smile at the boy. Touch him when you speak. Tease him, to pique his pride. If he seems to be responding, tell him that you are feeling faint, and ask him to take you outside for a breath of fresh air. No knight could refuse such a request from a fair maiden.a aYes,a she said, abut he thinks that Iam a b.a.s.t.a.r.d.a aA beautiful b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and the Lord Protectoras daughter.a Petyr drew her close and kissed her on both cheeks. aThe night belongs to you, sweetling, Remember that, always.a aIall try, father,a she said.

The feast proved to be everything her father promised.

Sixty-four dishes were served, in honor of the sixty-four compet.i.tors who had come so far to contest for silver wings before their lord. From the rivers and the lakes came pike and trout and salmon, from the seas crabs and cod and herring. Ducks there were, and capons, peac.o.c.ks in their plumage and swans in almond milk. Suckling pigs were served up crackling with apples in their mouths, and three huge aurochs were roasted whole above firepits in the castle yard, since they were too big to get through the kitchen doors. Loaves of hot bread filled the trestle tables in Lord Nestoras hall, and ma.s.sive wheels of cheese were brought up from the vaults. The b.u.t.ter was fresh-churned, and there were leeks and carrots, roasted onions, beets, turnips, parsnips. And best of all, Lord Nestoras cooks prepared a splendid subtlety, a lemon cake in the shape of the Giantas Lance, twelve feet tall and adorned with an Eyrie made of sugar.

For me, Alayne thought, as they wheeled it out. Sweetrobin loved lemon cakes too, but only after she told him that they were her favorites. The cake had required every lemon in the Vale, but Petyr had promised that he would send to Dorne for more.

There were gifts as well, splendid gifts. Each of the compet.i.tors received a cloak of cloth-of-silver and a lapis brooch in the shape of a pair of falconas wings. Fine steel daggers were given to the brothers, fathers, and friends who had come to watch them tilt. For their mothers, sisters, and ladies fair there were bolts of silk and Myrish lace.

aLord Nestor has an open hand,a Alayne heard Ser Edmund Breakstone say. aAn open hand and a little finger,a Lady Waynwood replied, with a nod toward Petyr Baelish. Breakstone was not slow to take her meaning. The true source of this largesse was not Lord Nestor, but the Lord Protector.

When the last course had been served and cleared, the tables were lifted from their trestles to clear the floor for dancing, and musicians were brought in.

aAre there no singers?a asked Ben Coldwater.

aThe little lord cannot abide them,a Ser Lymond Lynderly replied. aNot since Marillion.a aAha that was the man who murdered Lady Lysa, yes?a Alayne spoke up. aHis singing pleased her greatly, and she showed him too much favor, perhaps. When she wed my father he went mad and pushed her out the Moon Door. Lord Robert has hated singing ever since. He is still fond of music, though.a aAs am I,a Coldwater said. Rising, he offered Alayne his hand. aWould you honor me with this dance, my lady?a aYouare very kind,a she said, as he led her to the floor.

He was her first partner of the evening, but far from the last. Just as Petyr had promised, the young knights flocked around her, vying for her favor. After Ben came Andrew Tollett, handsome Ser Byron, red-nosed Ser Morgarth, and Ser Shadrich the Mad Mouse. Then Ser Albar Royce, Myrandaas stout dull brother and Lord Nestoras heir. She danced with all three Sunderlands, none of whom had webs between their fingers, though she could not vouch for their toes. Uther Shett appeared to pay her slimy compliments as he trod upon her feet, but Ser Targon the Halfwild proved to be the soul of courtesy. After that Ser Roland Waynwood swept her up and made her laugh with mocking comments about half the other knights in the hall. His uncle Wallace took a turn as well and tried to do the same, but the words would not come. Alayne finally took pity on him and began to chatter happily, to spare him the embarra.s.sment. When the dance was done she excused herself, and went back to her place to have a drink of wine.

And there he stood, Harry the Heir himself; tall, handsome, scowling. aLady Alayne. May I partner you in this dance?a She considered for a moment. aNo. I donat think so.a Color rose to his cheeks. aI was unforgiveably rude to you in the yard. You must forgive me.a aMust?a She tossed her hair, took a sip of wine, made him wait. aHow can you forgive someone who is unforgiveably rude? Will you explain that to me, ser?a Ser Harrold looked confused. aPlease. One dance.a Charm him. Entrance him. Bewitch him. aIf you insist.a He nodded, offered his arm, led her out onto the floor. As they waited for the music to resume, Alayne glanced at the dais, where Lord Robert sat staring at them. Please, she prayed, donat let him start to twitch and shake. Not here. Not now. Maester Coleman would have made certain that he drank a strong dose of sweetmilk before the feast, but even so.

Then the musicians took up a tune, and she was dancing.

Say something, she urged herself. You will never make Ser Harry love you if you donat have the courage to talk him. Should she tell him what a good dancer he was? No, heas probably heard that a dozen times tonight. Besides, Petyr said that I should not seem eager. Instead she said, aI have heard that you are about to be a father.a It was not something most girls would say to their almost-betrothed, but she wanted to see if Ser Harrold would lie.

aFor the second time. My daughter Alys is two years old.a Your b.a.s.t.a.r.d daughter Alys, Alayne thought, but what she said was, aThat one had a different mother, though.a aYes. Cissy was a pretty thing when I tumbled her, but childbirth left her as fat as a cow, so Lady Anya arranged for her to marry one of her men-at-arms. It is different with Saffron.a aSaffron?a Alayne tried not to laugh. aTruly?a Ser Harrold had the grace to blush. aHer father says she is more precious to him than gold. Heas rich, the richest man in Gulltown. A fortune in spices.a aWhat will you name the babe?a she asked. aCinnamon if sheas a girl? Cloves if heas a boy?a That almost made him stumble. aMy lady j.a.pes.a aOh, no.a Petyr will howl when I tell him what I said.

aSaffron is very beautiful, Iall have you know. Tall and slim, with big brown eyes and hair like honey.a Alayne raised her head. aMore beautiful than me?a Ser Harrold studied her face. aYou are comely enough, I grant you. When Lady Anya first told me of this match, I was afraid that you might look like your father.a aLittle pointy beard and all?a Alayne laughed.

aI never meanta a aI hope you joust better than you talk.a For a moment he looked shocked. But as the song was ending, he burst into a laugh. aNo one told me you were clever.a He has good teeth, she thought, straight and white. And when he smiles, he has the nicest dimples. She ran one finger down his cheek. aShould we ever wed, youall have to send Saffron back to her father. Iall be all the spice youall want.a He grinned. aI will hold you to that promise, my lady. Until that day, may I wear your favor in the tourney?a aYou may not. It is promised toa another.a She was not sure who as yet, but she knew she would find someone.

Table of Contents.

THEON.

ARIANNE.

BARRISTAN.

TYRION.

MERCY.

ALAYNE.

end.

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