Chapter 27 Chapter 26 Ned

"Lord Arryn's death hits us hard, my lord," said Grand Master Pycelle. "Of course I will be happy to tell you about his passing. Sit down, please. Would you like some refreshment? How about a few dates?" I still have some good persimmons here. Although I can’t drink alcohol at my age, I can help you get a glass of iced milk with honey added. It’s just right for you on a hot day.” It was hot indeed, and Ned's silk tunic clung to his chest.The air is stuffy and humid, covering the city like a wet wool blanket.The poor fled their suffocating dwellings for a seat by the river, where there was only a slight breeze, and the river was choked up. "Thank you then," said Ned, sitting down.

Pycelle picked up a small delicate silver bell with his thumb and forefinger, and shook it lightly twice.A thin waitress hurried in. "My good boy, please help the prime minister and me each get a glass of iced milk and add more honey." After the girl went to get the drink, the national teacher crossed his fingers and put his hand on his stomach. "The common people say that the last year of summer is the hottest year. Of course, this is just a folk saying, but sometimes it really makes people have this illusion, don't you think? I envy you when the weather is like this The northerners also have Xia Xue." The gemstone necklace hanging around the old man's neck made a soft sound as he moved his body. "Leaving aside, King Meka's summer at that time was hotter than it is now, and the duration was about the same. Some fools thought that the never-ending 'Eternal Summer' had already arrived, and there were such people even in the Academy City. What? The weather suddenly changed in the seventh year, followed by a short autumn, followed by a horrible and long winter. But it is undeniable that it was really hot at that time. The old town was full of heat, and the heat was overwhelming. Man, it turns around a bit at night. We used to walk in the gardens by the river, arguing about various religious points. My lord, I still remember the smell of those nights - perfume, sweat, melons and fruits Ripe to burst, peaches and pomegranates, belladonna and moonflowers. I was young, and I was making my necklace, and I didn't care about the heat, not like now, I can't stand it." Pycelle lowered his eyelids, Looked like he was about to fall asleep. "Lord Ed, I'm really sorry, you didn't come to listen to me rambling about a long-forgotten summer, when even your father was not born. Please forgive my old man's wordiness. Thinking about this thing, Just like a sword, it will rust after a long time. Ah, here comes our milk." The waitress put a tray between them, and Pycelle smiled at her. "What a good boy." He picked up a cup, took a sip or two, and nodded. "Thank you, go down."

After the girl left, Pycelle looked at Ned with his pale and moist eyes, "Where did we go? Oh, you asked about Lord Arryn..." "Yes." Ned sipped the milk politely. It was cold and refreshing, but too sweet for him. "To be honest, the former Prime Minister was often disturbed before." Pychel said, "I have worked with him for so many years, is there any sign that I can't see it? I think this is due to the heavy responsibility he has silently borne for a long time His broad shoulders are almost crushed by state affairs and other worries. Especially his son is weak, and his wife is very worried about this, and she hardly dares to let him out of sight. Such pressure makes the body strong and strong It's hard to bear the load, not to mention that Lord Jon is not young. It would not be surprising if he was exhausted physically and mentally. At least I thought so at the time. Now I dare not make a judgment." He said Shaking his head thoughtfully.

"What's wrong with him?" The national teacher spread out his hands, making a helpless and sad gesture. "One day he came to me and asked for a book. His body was as strong as usual, and he was speechless, but I could see what was worrying in his heart. The next morning, his whole body was in pain, and he couldn't even get out of bed. Maester Komon thinks that he just has a cold in his stomach. The weather is hot these days, and the Prime Minister often adds ice cubes to the wine, which may affect digestion. However, Lord Jon's condition continued to deteriorate, so I went out in person, but the gods didn't agree. Ken grant me the strength to save him."

"I heard that you sent Master Ke Meng away at that time." The Grand Maester nodded slowly and solemnly, like a slowly flowing glacier. "Yes, I'm afraid Lady Lysa will never forgive me. Maybe I did something wrong, but I thought it was the best choice at the time. I regard Master Cormont as my own son, and I have no doubts about his abilities. Absolutely confident, but he is too young, and young people are often unable to understand how weak the elderly are. He made Lord Ayrin drink the bowel cleanser and pepper liquid, intending to vomit the toxin, fearing that it would hurt the the duke."

"What did Lord Ayrin tell you when he was dying?" Pycelle frowned. "During the final stages of his high fever, the Prime Minister chanted the name 'Robert' many times. I'm not sure whether he called his son or His Majesty the King. Lady Lysa won't allow the child to enter." Ward, for fear that he might be infected. His Majesty the King has been here, and sat by the bedside for a long time, talking to Lord Jon about the good old days, hoping to lift his spirits. His respect for the former Prime Minister is very obvious .” "Nothing else? No last words?"

"Seeing that the Prime Minister had no hope of recovery, I gave him milk of poppy, so that he would not suffer any more. Before he closed his eyes, he said a word of blessing for his beloved son to his wife and His Majesty the King. He said 'the caste is strong Fortitude'. In the end, his words were so slurred that it was difficult to discern their meaning. Although he died the next morning, Lord Jon had calmed down after that and did not speak again." Ned took another sip of the milk, trying to bear the cloying sweetness. "Then, in your opinion, is there anything strange about Lord Jon Arryn's death?"

"Is there something wrong?" The master's voice was as soft as a whisper, "No, I don't think so. Death is sad, Lord Eddard, but in another way, it is the most natural thing. Jon Lord Arryn has now laid down all his burdens, and lies buried underground." "The disease that took his life," Ed said. "Have you seen it before? In other patients?" "I have been Master of the Seven Kingdoms nearly forty years," answered Pycelle, "in the service of our good King Robert, and Aerys Targaryen before him, and Jaehaerys II, Aerys' father. , and even worked for a few months under Jaehaerys' father, Aegon the 'Lucky' V. I have seen too many diseases, my lord, and let me tell you: each disease is different, but They all have something in common. Lord Jon's death was no more bizarre than the others."

"His wife doesn't think so." The national teacher nodded. "I remembered, his widow is the lady's sister. If you don't think I'm an old man who speaks recklessly, let me say this, even the strongest and most self-controlled people are often easily affected by grief, let alone Lysa Madam is not that kind of person. Since she had a miscarriage last time, she has been paranoid and always thought that someone was going to make her an enemy. The death of the Prime Minister must have broken her heart." "So you're sure Jon Arryn died of a sudden illness?"

"Yes." Pycelle answered gravely, "if not disease, my good lord, what is it?" "Poison," Ned suggested quietly. Pycelle's sleepy eyes widened suddenly, and the master shifted restlessly in his seat. "This thought is really chilling. We are not in the Free Cities, only there, this kind of thing is commonplace. Although the Master Isamore reminded us that each of us has the seeds of murder in our hearts, even so, poisoning It's still too embarrassing." He was silent for a while, his eyes thoughtful. "My lord, I don't think the possibility you have raised exists. Anyone who hires a field scholar can see common symptoms of poisoning, but Lord Arryn does not have any similar signs. What's more, everyone loves the Prime Minister, How could any beast dare to poison such a noble and good man?"

"I've heard that poison is a woman's weapon." Pycelle twirled his beard thoughtfully. "There is such a saying. Including women, cowards... and eunuchs." He cleared his throat and spit thick phlegm on the straw mat.Above them, a crow screamed strangely in its nest. "Do you know that Earl Varys was originally a slave of Reese? My lord, you must not trust spiders." Ned didn't need to remind him, Varys had a knack for making his skin crawl. "I will remember, master. Thank you for your assistance, I'm afraid I have taken up too much of your time." He stood up. Grand Master Pycelle slowly pushed back his chair, and escorted Ned to the door. "I hope this little effort of mine can reassure you. If there is anything else I can help with, feel free to ask." "One more thing," Ned said to him, "I'm curious about that book that Jon borrowed from you the day before his illness. Could you read it?" "I'm afraid you will find it very boring," Pycelle said. "It's a big tome written by Master Merion, and it's all about the genealogy of the major families." "It's okay, I just want to see." The old man opened the door. "As you wish, I seem to put it here. Anyway, as soon as I find the book, I will send someone to your room immediately." "You are very thoughtful," Ned told him.Then, he said as if suddenly thinking of something, "I beg your pardon, but I have one last question. You just said that the king was at Lord Arryn's bedside when he died. Uh, I wonder if the queen was there?" "Oh, not there," said Pycelle. "At that time, she was taking the princess and prince, and accompanied her father, to Casterly Rock. Earlier, Lord Tywin brought a large team to the capital to participate in Prince Joffrey's name-day tourney. The Great Assembly, no doubt intended to see his son Jaime win the championship, but unfortunately he did not. It fell to me to inform Her Majesty of Lord Arryn's death. I never sent a bird with such a heavy heart in all my life .” "Black wings, bring black news," Ned murmured.This is a proverb that Old Nan taught him when he was a child. "That's what the folk say," Grand Master Pycelle agreed, "but we know it's not true. Didn't Maester Luwin's bird bring good news for your lord Bran to everyone in the town?" ?” "Grand Maester, you are right." "Gods be merciful," Pycelle nodded. "Master Ed, please come to me if you need anything, I am always at your service." Yes, Ned thought as the door closed, but whose orders? On the way back to his room, he saw his daughter Arya standing on one foot on the spiral staircase of the Prime Minister's Tower, waving her hands to keep her balance.The rough stone floor chafed her feet.Ned stopped to look at her. "Arya, what are you doing?" "Syrio says water dancers can stand on one toe for hours." She waved her hands in the air desperately to keep her balance. Ned couldn't help laughing. "Which toe?" he teased. "Any one will do." Arya exasperated at the question.She hopped from right foot to left, rocking tremblingly back and forth before finally regaining her balance. "You have to stand here?" he asked. "It's high and steep, and it's no fun to fall down." "Syrio says a water dancer never falls." She dropped her feet and stood on two legs. "Dad, is Bran coming to live with us now?" "I'm afraid it'll be a while, sweetie," he told her. "He'll have to recover first." Arya bit her lip. "What will Bran do when he grows up?" "Arya, he's had years to find out. For now, we just need to know he's going to live." Eddard Stark took and led the daughters to the godswood of the castle.It was an acre-wide forest of elms and cypresses and black cottonwoods, overlooking the river.There the heart tree was a great oak with smokeberry vines on its ancient branches, and they knelt before it and thanked the gods, as they did at home on the weirwood bottom.By the time the moon rose, Sansa had fallen asleep, and Arya had lasted a few hours longer, before finally curling up on the grass and falling asleep under Ned's cloak.During the long night, he prayed silently alone.In the early morning of the next day, the sky suddenly appeared, and the dark red flowers of dragon's breath surrounded the two lying daughters. "I dreamed of Bran," Sansa whispered to him, "and saw him smile." "He'll be a knight," Arya said now, "a knight of the Kingsguard. Will he still be a knight?" "No." Ned felt that lying was useless. "One day he may rise to high office and become a king's servant. He may build castles like Brandon the Builder, he may sail across the Sunset Sea, or convert to your mother's faith and become High Septon. "But he can no longer run with his wolf, he thought bitterly, the sorrow is beyond words, nor can he sleep with a woman and hold his own child. Arya tilted her head. "Then can I be the king's important minister, build a castle, and be the archbishop?" "You," Ned said, kissing her brow lightly. "You'll marry some king, manage his castle, and your sons will be knights, princes, or lords, and perhaps archbishops." Arya's expression changed. "No," she said, "Sansa does that." She lifted her right foot off the ground and continued balancing on one foot.Ned sighed and left her. Entering the room, he took off his sweat-soaked silk jacket, scooped up cold water from the basin beside the bed and poured it over his head.While he was wiping his face, Alyn came in and said, "My lord, Lord Baelish is out to see you." "Invite him into my study," Ned said, reaching for his thinnest linen drysuit. "I'll be right there." When Ned stepped into the study, he found Littlefinger sitting by the window, watching the Kingsguard practice their swords in the square below. "If only old Selmy's head was as sharp as his sword," he said wistfully, "that would be a lot more fun in meetings." "Sir Barristan's bravery and integrity are as good as anyone in King's Landing." After getting along these days, Ned held high respect for this respected, gray-haired captain of the Kingsguard. "He's as dead as he is," Littlefinger added, "but I'm sure he'll still be strong in the tourney. Last year he shot the Hound off the horse, and it's been six months since he won the championship last year." But four years." Eddard Stark had no interest in who would win the tournament. "Master Petyr, may I ask what is the purpose of your visit this time, or are you just here to enjoy the view from my window?" Littlefinger smiled: "I promised Kate to help you investigate, and I will do what I say." Ned was taken by surprise.Regardless of whether the other party promised or not, he did not intend to trust Lord Petyr Baelish, his cunning and cunning made him very unaccustomed. "What did you find out?" "What I found was people, not things." Littlefinger corrected him. "Actually, four people. Have you ever thought about checking out the Prime Minister's servants?" Ned frowned and said, "If only I could. Madam Arryn brought her whole family back to the Eyrie." Lysa did not help at all in this regard, and everyone close to her husband followed suit. She fled: Jon's maester, steward, captain of the guard, and his knights and servants. "No, most of them," said Littlefinger, "not all. A few stayed. A distended kitchen girl married Lord Renly's groom in haste, a horse Tong joined the capital guard team, a waiter was fired for stealing, and Lord Ayrin's attendants remained." "His squire?" Ned was overjoyed. A squire was always aware of his master's movements. "Ser Hugh of the Vale," said Littlefinger, "the boy was knighted by the king after Lord Arryn died." "I'll get him right away," Ned said. "There are others." Littlefinger shrank and said, "My lord, please go to the window quietly." "do what?" "Come here, my lord, I will show you." Ned frowned and went to the window.Petyr Baelish gestured nonchalantly. "Over there, across the square, at the gate of the armory, do you see a boy squatting on the stairs sharpening a knife?" "What's up with him?" "He's Varys' eyeliner. 'Octospider' is very interested in your every move." He moved by the window. "Now look at the city wall, the farthest to the west, above the stables, do you see the guard leaning against the wall?" Ned saw it. "Is this person also the eunuch's lackey?" "No, this fellow belongs to the queen. Please note that his gaze falls on the gate of this tower, and it is clear who enters and who exits. The two of them are far from all, and many of them are unknown to me. The Red Castle It's full of eyeliner. Otherwise why would I hide Kate in a whorehouse?" Eddard Stark was impatient with such ingenuity. "Damn it," he cursed.The man on the wall did look like he was watching him.Ned suddenly felt uncomfortable, even if he moved away from the window. "Is everyone in this damn city someone else's eyeliner?" "That's not true," said Littlefinger.He started snapping his fingers. "Well, let me figure it out, they've got to watch me, you, the king... but the king tells the queen too much, and I'm not sure about you." He stood up. "Do you have anyone under your command whom you can trust completely and completely?" "Yes." Ned replied. "If that's the case, then I would like to sell you a beautiful palace built in Valyria that I can't put it down." Littlefinger smiled mockingly, "The wise answer is: No, my lord, but since you said Forget it. You'll have to send your model men down to find Sir Hugh and the others, because your own movements will be noticeable, but not even Varys the 'Octospider' can keep an eye on you all the time. Everyone." He made his way to the door. "Lord Petyr," Ned called to him, "I... appreciate your help. Perhaps I shouldn't mistrust you." Littlefinger twirled his beard lightly: "Lord Ed, you are really slow to learn. Not trusting me is the wisest thing you have ever done since you jumped off your horse."