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“Robert must be told,” Ned said. “If what you say is true, if even a part of it is true, the king must hear it for himself.” “And what proof shall we lay before him? My words against theirs? My little birds against the queen and the Kingslayer, against his brothers and his council, against the Wardens of East and West, against all the might of Casterly Rock? Pray, send for Ser Ilyn directly, it will save us all some time. I know where that road ends.” “Yet if what you say is true, they will only bide their time and make another attempt.” “Indeed they will,” said Varys, “and sooner rather than later, I do fear. You are making them most anxious, Lord Eddard. But my little birds will be listening, and together we may be able to forestall them, you and I.” He rose and pulled up his cowl so his face was hidden once more. “Thank you for the wine. We will speak again. When you see me next at council, be certain to treat me with your accustomed contempt. You should not find it difficult.” He was at the door when Ned called, “Varys.” The eunuch turned back. “How did Jon Arryn die?” “I wondered when you would get around to that.” “Tell me.” “The tears of Lys
We should start back," Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them. "The
wildlings are dead."
"Do the dead frighten you?" Ser Waymar Royce asked with just the hint of a smile.
Gared did not rise to the bait. He was an old man, past fifty, and he had seen the
lordlings come and go. "Dead is dead," he said. "We have no business with the dead."
"Are they dead?" Royce asked softly. "What proof have we?"
"Will saw them," Gared said. "If he says they are dead, that's proof enough for me."
Will had known they would drag him into the quarrel sooner or later. He wished it had
been later rather than sooner. "My mother told me that dead men sing no songs," he put
in.
"My wet nurse said the same thing, Will," Royce replied. "Never believe anything you
hear at a woman's tit. There are things to be learned even from the dead." His voice
echoed, too loud in the twilit forest.
