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Under a scorching summer sun, Egg dismounted to inspect the scene. His loyal maester Maester had some respite from the weight of two hefty wine casks on his back as he carelessly plowed through devilgrass along the roadside. Dunk, perched atop Thunder, identified them: "Rapers and murderers." The air hung heavy with the grim reality of their discovery, setting a tone of foreboding that would echo throughout the story's unfolding mysteries.
Ser Bennis and Ser Arlan had been among a party of knights hired by a Dornish merchant to see him safe from Lannisport to the Prince's Pass. Dunk had been no older than Egg, though taller. He would pinch me under the arm so hard he'd leave a bruise. His fingers felt like iron pincers, but I never told Ser Arlan. One of the other knights had vanished near Stoney Sept, and it was bruited about that Bennis had gutted him in a quarrel. ""If he pinches you again, tell me and I'll end it. Till then, it does not cost you much to tend his horse"".
""Someone has to"", Egg agreed. ""Bennis never brushes him. He never cleans his stall. He hasn't even named him!""
""Some knights never name their horses"", Dunk told him. ""That way, when they die in battle, the grief is not so hard to bear. There are always more horses to be had, but it's hard to lose a faithful friend"". Or so the old man said, but he never took his own counsel. He named every horse he ever owned. So had Dunk. ""We'll see how many men turn up at the tower… but whether it's five or fifty, you'll need to do for them as well"".
Egg looked indignant. ""I have to serve smallfolk ?""
""Not serve. Help. We need to turn them into fighters"". If the Widow gives us time enough. ""If the gods are good, a few will have done some soldiering before, but most will be green as summer grass, more used to holding hoes than spears. Even so, a day may come when our lives depend on them. How old were you when you first took up a sword?""
""I was little, ser.
""Common boys fight with wooden swords, too, only theirs are sticks and broken branches. Egg, these men may seem fools to you. They won't know the proper names for bits of armor, or the arms of the great Houses, or which king it was who abolished the lord's right to the first night… but treat them with respect all the same. You are a squire born of noble blood, but you are still a boy. Most of them will be men grown. A man has his pride, no matter how lowborn he may be.
The boy considered for a moment. ""I could teach them the arms of the great Houses, and how Queen Alysanne convinced King Jaehaerys to abolish the first night. And they could teach me which weeds are best for making poisons, and whether those green berries are safe to eat"".
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