"Arya!"
Jon·Snow couldn't help but panic when he saw his sister who couldn't stop crying. He ignored his injuries, pursed his lips tightly, and used all his strength to get out of bed with his arms trembling.
The injured leg trembled involuntarily, and Jon gasped in pain.
Mutton·Waters wanted to help, but then he thought about it and immediately went over to pick up the little girl standing at the door and put her in front of Jon.
Then, Mutton glanced at Jon, scratched his head again, left the room without saying hello, and closed the door.
"Brother, Bran fell down from Broken Tower, woo!"
Ding.
How is it possible? Bran is so flexible. He has climbed almost all the places Winterfell can climb without ever failing!
Could it be...Jon shook his head secretly, no one in Winterfell would hurt House Stark people.
So, was it really an accident?
There were tears on Jon's cheeks at some point. He forced himself to calm down. "Arya, tell me, how is Bran now?"
Arya's small shoulder was scratched by Jon, but she didn't cry out in pain. She burst into tears. "Father, they said... they haven't woken up... I overheard... I'm here to find you..."
Jon hugged his sister tightly and comforted, "Arya, Lady Catelyn will definitely take good care of Bran. Believe me, Bran will be fine!"
The atmosphere inside Hand's Study was heavy, and Lord Eddard's serious and tense face concealed a sad expression.
Gryn's eyes moved slightly, glanced at Varys beside him, and asked with concern, "Duke Ned, do you need to take a rest?"
Varys also echoed, "Eddard Hand of the King, I believe they will be calm for the time being. You can deal with it tomorrow."
Lord Eddard just shook his head slightly and did not speak.
Gryn and Varys looked at each other, stopped making any sound, and stood quietly aside.
After a while, Lord Eddard breathed out lightly.
He said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
After Lord Eddard finished speaking, Varys immediately took a step forward and said respectfully, "Lord Hand, Varys is always at your disposal."
Lord Eddard tapped his chin lightly and said, "Garlan·Tyrell's arm is definitely not cured well?"
Varys's tone was regretful. "Yes, Eddard Hand of the King."
He added, "No one can comfort Tournament, Lord of Highgarden's sorrow this time. It's really heartbreaking."
Lord Eddard also just learned the news that his second son Bran fell from a high tower and fell into coma. It can be said that he and Lord Mace feel the same way.
Lord Eddard frowned and thought for a while, then suddenly said, "Where is Renly?"
"Most people are at Sept, and Lord Renly is there too."
Lord Eddard:"..."
After killing the Mountain, Lord Mace's second son also lost an arm...Lord Eddard felt a little irritable, as Master of Laws's Lord Renly did not wait for the king's trial, but secretly joined forces with Golden Rose to kill Lord Tywin's vassals in the street... which aggravated the conflict.
In addition, Lord Tywin's second son was injured... damn it!
Lord Eddard's eyes became sharp. "Can Varys, Tyrion·Lannister's incident be confirmed to be an accident?"
Varys held hands together, shook his head slightly, and sighed, "There are hundreds of people present. They may be the murderers, or it may be an accident. It is difficult for us to prove it."
Gryn said, "Duke Ned, after Tyrion wakes up, it will be easier for us to confirm. If it is not an accident, maybe he can know who the murderer is."
"Well, let's wait until he wakes up..."
Lord Eddard looked at Varys, and then said, "Thank you, Varys, you go back first. If there is... something wrong, I won't let these guys continue to cause trouble."
Varys nodded and said goodbye. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back.
He apologized. "Eddard Hand of the King, it was my dereliction of duty. I forgot an important thing."
Lord Eddard looked at Varys.
"Petyr is the imperial minister after all, and now he is imprisoned in Black Cells. Some people in Red Keep are panicking. I'm worried that malicious rumors will appear over time."
Lord 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 many Vale nobles in Red Keep. After the death of Hand Jon Arryn, most of the Vale people have taken refuge in Littlefinger. It is normal for them to have various speculations... But if time goes by, the truth may turn into slander."
Lord Eddard thought about it and said, "Varys, you are Master of Whisperers, it's up to you to explain to them directly..."
As he said that, Lord Eddard closed his eyes in pain.
After a pause, he said tiredly, "Let's wait a moment."
Varys hesitated and said, "Eddard Hand of the King, you are worried that it will affect..."
Lord Eddard waved his hand to interrupt Varys's words. Of course he understood what Varys was going to say next, but it was not to hide his ugliness.
Lysa·Tully's crime is unforgivable, and he dare not leave Jon's only bloodline with that crazy woman, so Lysa·Tully must leave Eyrie and face trial in King's Landing.
Lord Eddard said in a deep voice, "Varys, in the name of Hand of the King, I will first contact the Vale nobles who are loyal to Jon and tell them the truth directly. I need them to ensure the safety of Little Robert."
Varys suddenly realized. "Eddard Hand of the King, I understand, I will protect the secret."
After chatting in some more details, Varys left Hand's Study.
Gryn picked up the jug and poured a glass of wine for Lord Eddard.
"Ned Duke, I didn't expect that so many things have happened recently."
"Everyone has arrived together..."
Lord Eddard took the wine glass, leaned his broad back on the back of the chair, put his big feet on the table, and cursed in a low voice, "God damn it!"
Gryn smiled, poured himself a glass of wine, and took a sip.
"Duke Ned, Tyrion's injury is not a small matter. You should know Lannister's style better than I do, or rather Lord Tywin's style."
Ned Duke frowned for a while and said, "Gryn, who do you think he will take revenge on?"
Gryn spread his arms. "Although Lord Renly was also present at the time, I think their target of revenge was Highgarden. The Mountain is Lannister's hunting dog. The hunting dog that caused the trouble is dead, but Lord Tywin's son almost died. This reason is enough."
He added, "Duke Ned, please forgive me, sometimes it is difficult to reason with Lannister."
After Gryn left, Lord Eddard took out the boring book "Seven Kingdoms Genealogy and History of the Main Nobles' Family" and flipped through it casually.
Although the results were unacceptable, the truth about Jon's death was finally investigated, but... he felt that this book contained another secret that had nothing to do with Jon's death, but could not be ignored... Why did Jon drag his body to investigate Robert's illegitimate child in person?
He felt like he had caught something, but it quickly disappeared...Lord Eddard closed the book. "What a boring book."
Lord Eddard felt that he could not take any time off for the time being. He was very worried about his child's injury and wanted to fly back to Winterfell immediately.
Lord Eddard glanced at the book that bothered him again, and then stood up.
Direwolf is not suitable to sigh in the house. Robert has found out the location of the illegitimate children. He plans to walk around in person like Jon.
If nothing can be found in this way, Lord Eddard is ready to give up further pursuit, because it may be just his own overthinking.
Lord Eddard took Jory and the guards and left Red Keep directly.
Street of Steel, Tob Mott's the Smith shop.
After Lord Eddard met the young man named Gendry under the guidance of Tob Mott, he immediately recognized him as the illegitimate son of Robert, because Gendry looked too similar to the young Robert.
Tob Mott introduced, "Child, this is Lord Stark, the king's new Hand of the King."
Gendry greeted me a little shyly.
Lord Eddard's big hand patted Gendry's strong arm and said, "Good boy, I'm just here to ask you a few questions."
Gendry pushed aside a bunch of newly hung black hair and nodded.
"Gendry, Arryn When the Duke came to see you, what did you say?"
After saying that, Lord Eddard found a random place and sat down, then said, "My child, you should sit down too."
After Gendry sat down, he said, "Sir, Lord Arryn just asked some questions."
Lord Eddard glanced at Gendry's dark hair that was wet with sweat and said, "Do you still remember what you said?"
Gendry thought for a while and said, "Ask me how I am doing, how the master treats me, do I like this job, and about my mother... ask me who she is, what she looks like, etc."
Lord Eddard slightly tapped his chin and said, "He asked about your mother? How did you answer?"
Gendry shrugged. "She died when I was young. I only remember her hair was yellow, she would sometimes sing to me, and she worked in the pub."
Lord Eddard reached out and touched Gendry's head and said, "Good boy, I'm sorry to disturb you... just go to work."
After saying that, he rubbed Gendry's thick black hair with his hands.
That feeling came again.
After Gendry left, Lord Eddard turned to Tuobu, who had been quiet all this time.
"You know exactly who this kid is."
"Sir, I'm just an old the Smith, I don't know anything I shouldn't know."
Lord Eddard repeated patiently, "You know very well who this child is."
Old the Smith's eyes were as stubborn as steel. "This kid is my apprentice!"
The corner of Lord Eddard's mouth curled up slightly. He nodded and said, "If one day Gendry doesn't want to continue blacksmithing and wants to actually get a sword to play with, ask him to come to me. Until then... thank you for taking care of him."
Shataya's Brothel.
The girl was so young that Lord Eddard didn't even dare to ask her how old she was... She had light red hair and a few freckles on both sides of her nose.
When he saw the girl, she was breastfeeding her baby.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "What's her name?"
The girl said timidly, "Sir, I will name her Bella."
After saying that, she smiled and said, "Sir, Bella looks really similar to him, doesn't it? She has his nose and his hair..."
Lord Eddard nodded slightly. "It is indeed very similar."
After saying that, he reached out and gently touched the baby's soft dark hair, and the black silk slipped through his fingers...Eddard vaguely remembered that Robert's first child at Vale also had the same slender black hair.
The girl's eyes were filled with pleading: ""Sir, when you see him, if you are happy... please tell him how beautiful our Bella is."
"I will.", Lord Eddard agreed to the girl's request.
Lord Eddard's answer ignited the girl's hope.
She raised her head and looked at Lord Eddard, who had a serious face, and her voice was trembling. "Please tell him that I have never been with anyone else. Sir, I swear in the name of the Gods. Shataya said that I can raise him for half a year, take care of the child, and see if he will come back. So please tell him that I am waiting for him, okay? I don't want gold, silver, and jewelry, I just want his person. He has always been very good to me, and what I say is true."
Good for you... Damn it Robert!
Lord Eddard promised again, "My child, I will tell him. I promise you, Bella will never have to worry about food and clothing."
After Lord Eddard's words fell, the girl smiled cautiously, but it was very sweet, which made his heart feel like a knife... Damn it Robert!
Tower of the Hand.
"Go on."
Syrio·Forel threw a wooden sword towards Arya, whose eyes were red and swollen.
Seeing Arya easily grab the sword handle, he grinned and said, "Sad girl."
Arya wiped the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand and said feebly, "Syrio, I'm not in the mood to practice sword practice today."
"Up!"
Syrio shouted and swung at Arya's head. Arya quickly raised his sword to block, and with a click, the two wooden swords intersected.
"Then you have to practice even more, next!" Syrio's wooden sword roared out.
Arya's sword also rushed towards it, and there was another click. Her whole hand was numb with pain, and she gritted her teeth without making a sound.
"You don't get sad when you practice swordplay, girl."
Arya is angry, and she wants to teach Syrio a lesson, using the wooden sword in her hand!
"The momentum is very good... I'm going to attack!"
After the words fell, Syrio moved forward step by step. Each time he swung his sword, he got faster and faster, while Arya kept retreating, making blocking more and more difficult.
"Left, left, up, left, right, left, down, left!"
The clicking sound echoed through the house.
"Ouch!"
Syrio's wooden sword hit Arya's chest. She was in unbearable pain and couldn't help but scream in pain.
Syrio put away his sword and stepped back, saying, "You are already dead."
Arya was so angry that Syrio shouted in a completely different direction than the direction of the attack, catching her off guard.
She said angrily, "You are lying. You clearly said the left side, but in the end you hit the right side."
Syrio put the wooden sword on his waist elegantly. "That's it, you will be a dead girl from now on."
Arya made a face. "But you lied!"
Syrio grinned. "Dead girl, my mouth is deceiving, but my eyes and hands tell the truth. It's just that you turn a blind eye. Water Dancer must be able to see through."