Eddard

           Thestrawonthefloorstankofurine.Therewasnowindow,nobed,notevenaslopbucket.Herememberedwallsofpaleredstonefestoonedwithpatchesofnitre,agreydoorofsplinteredwood,fourinchesthickandstuddedwithiron.Hehadseenthem,briefly,aquickglimpseastheyshovedhiminside.Oncethedoorhadslammedshut,hehadseennomore.Thedarkwasabsolute.Hehadaswellbeenblind.

           Ordead.Buriedwithhisking."Ah,Robert,"hemurmuredashisgropinghandtouchedacoldstonewall,hislegthrobbingwitheverymotion.HerememberedthejestthekinghadsharedinthecryptsofWinterfell,astheKingsofWinterlookedonwithcoldstoneeyes.Thekingeats,Roberthadsaid,andtheHandtakestheshit.Howhehadlaughed.Yethehadgottenitwrong.Thekingdies,NedStarkthought,andtheHandisburied.

           ThedungeonwasundertheRedKeep,deeperthanhedaredimagine.HerememberedtheoldstoriesaboutMaegortheCruel,whomurderedallthemasonswholaboredonhiscastle,sotheymightneverrevealitssecrets.

           Hedamnedthemall:Littlefinger,JanosSlyntandhisgoldcloaks,thequeen,theKingslayer,PycelleandVarysandSerBarristan,evenLordRenly,Robert’sownblood,whohadrunwhenhewasneededmost.Yetintheendheblamedhimself."Fool,"hecriedtothedarkness,"thrice-damnedblindfool."

           CerseiLannister’sfaceseemedtofloatbeforehiminthedarkness.Herhairwasfullofsunlight,buttherewasmockeryinhersmile."Whenyouplaythegameofthrones,youwinoryoudie,"shewhispered.