Eddard

           Istoodlastvigilforhimmyself,"SerBarristanSelmysaidastheylookeddownatthebodyinthebackofthecart."Hehadnooneelse.AmotherintheVale,Iamtold."

           Inthepaledawnlight,theyoungknightlookedasthoughheweresleeping.Hehadnotbeenhandsome,butdeathhadsmoothedhisrough-hewnfeaturesandthesilentsistershaddressedhiminhisbestvelvettunic,withahighcollartocovertheruinthelancehadmadeofhisthroat.EddardStarklookedathisface,andwonderedifithadbeenforhissakethattheboyhaddied.SlainbyaLannisterbannermanbeforeNedcouldspeaktohim;couldthatbemerehappenstance?Hesupposedhewouldneverknow.

           "HughwasJonArryn’ssquireforfouryears,"Selmywenton."Thekingknightedhimbeforeherodenorth,inJon’smemory.Theladwanteditdesperately,yetIfearhewasnotready."

           Nedhadsleptbadlylastnightandhefelttiredbeyondhisyears."Noneofusiseverready,"hesaid.

           "Forknighthood?"

           "Fordeath."GentlyNedcoveredtheboywithhiscloak,abloodstainedbitofblueborderedincrescentmoons.Whenhismotheraskedwhyhersonwasdead,hereflectedbitterly,theywouldtellherhehadfoughttohonortheKing’sHand,EddardStark."Thiswasneedless.Warshouldnotbeagame."Nedturnedtothewomanbesidethecart,shroudedingrey,facehiddenbutforhereyes.Thesilentsisterspreparedmenforthegrave,anditwasillfortunetolookonthefaceofdeath."SendhisarmorhometotheVale.Themotherwillwanttohaveit."