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Eddard

The grey light of daas streah his hen the thunder of hoofbeats awoke Eddard Stark from his brief, exhausted sleep He lifted his head from the table to look down into the yard Below,thedown allop across the hard-packed ground to drive an iron-tipped lance through a dumuardsmen joked and cursed

Is this brave show for reater fool than he’d iht, why is the woiven her chance after chance

The rihters and Septa Mordane Sansa, still disconsolate, stared sullenly at her food and refused to eat, but Arya wolfed down everything that was set in front of her "Syrio says we have ti," she said "Can I, Father? All s are packed"

"A short lesson, and e I want you ready to leave by midday, is that understood?"

"By midday," Arya said

Sansa looked up fro lesson, on’t you let ladly go with her, Lord Eddard," Septa Mordane offered "There would be no question of herthe ship"

"It would not be wise for you to go to Joffrey right now, Sansa I’m sorry"

Sansa’s eyes filled with tears "But why?"

"Sansa, your lord father knows best," Septa Mordane said "You are not to question his decisions"

"It’s not fair!" Sansa pushed back fro froestured her back to her seat "Let her go, Septa I will try to make her understand e are all safely back in Winterfell" The septa bowed her head and sat down to finish her breakfast

It was an hour later when Grand Maester Pycelle came to Eddard Stark in his solar His shoulders slureat reat to bear "My lord," he said, "King Robert is gone The gods give him rest"

"No," Ned answered "He hated rest The gods give hihteous battle" It was strange how e the visit, and yet with those words, soiven all his titles for the freedom to weepbut he was Robert’s Hand, and the hour he dreaded had coood as to summon the members of the council here to my solar," he told Pycelle The Tower of the Hand was as secure as he and Tomard could make it; he could not say the same for the council chambers

"My lord?" Pycelle blinked "Surely the affairs of the kingdorief is not so fresh"

Ned was quiet but firm "I fear we must convene at once"

Pycelle bowed "As the Hand coratefully accepted Ned’s offer of a chair and a cup of sweet beer

Ser Barristan Selmy was the first to answer the summons, immaculate in white cloak and enameled scales "My lords," he said, "ive me leave to attend him"

"Your place is here, Ser Barristan," Ned told hiarbed in the blue velvets and silver ht previous, his boots dusty fro in particular before he turned to Ned "That little task you set me is accomplished, Lord Eddard"

Varys entered in a wash of lavender, pink from his bath, his plump face scrubbed and freshly powdered, his soft slippers all but soundless "The little birds sing a grievous song today," he said as he seated hiin?"

"When Lord Renly arrives," Ned said

Varys gave him a sorrowful look "I fear Lord Renly has left the city"

"Left the city?" Ned had counted on Renly’s support

"He took his leave through a postern gate an hour before dawn, accompanied by Ser Loras Tyrell and some fifty retainers," Varys told the south in soarden"

So much for Renly and his hundred swords Ned did not like the s to be done for it He drew out Robert’s last letter "The king called ht and commanded me to record his final words Lord Renly and Grand Maester Pycelle stood witness as Robert sealed the letter, to be opened by the council after his death Ser Barristan, if you would be so kind?"

The Lord Co Robert’s seal, and unbroken" He opened the letter and read "Lord Eddard Stark is herein naent until the heir coe, Ned reflected, but he did not give voice to the thought He trusted neither Pycelle nor Varys, and Ser Barristan was honor-bound to protect and defend the boy he thought his new king The old knight would not abandon Joffrey easily The need for deceit was a bitter taste in his mouth, but Ned knew he aent There would be tih to deal with the succession when Arya and Sansa were safely back in Winterfell, and Lord Stannis had returned to King’s Landing with all his power