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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.
He might not be the greatest fighter in the realm, but size and strength could make up for many lacks. Not for a lack of wits, though. He was no good with words, and worse with women. This giant Lucas Longinch did not daunt him half so much as the prospect of facing the Red Widow. ""I'm going to talk to the Red Widow, that's all"".
""What will you tell her, ser?""
""That she has to take the dam down"". You must take down your dam, m'lady, or else… ""Ask her to take down the dam, I mean"". Please give back our chequy water .
The water soon begun to steam and bubble. ""Help me lug this to the tub"", Dunk told the boy. Together they lifted the kettle from the hearth and crossed the cellar to the big wooden tub. ""I don't know how to talk with highborn ladies"", he confessed as they were pouring. ""We both might have been killed in Dorne, on account of what I said to Lady Vaith"".
""Lady Vaith was mad"", Egg reminded him, ""but you could have been more gallant. Ladies like it when you're gallant. If you were to rescue the Red Widow the way you rescued that puppet girl from Aerion.. "".
""Aerion's in Lys, and the Widow's not in want of rescuing"". He did not want to talk of Tanselle. Tanselle Too-Tall was her name, but she was not too tall for me.
""Well"", the boy said, ""some knights sing gallant songs to their ladies, or play them tunes upon a lute"".
""I have no lute"". Dunk looked morose. ""And that night I drank too much in the Planky Town, you told me I sang like an ox in a mud wallow"".
""I had forgotten, ser"".
""How could you forget?""
""You told me to forget, ser"", said Egg, all innocence. ""You told me I'd get a clout in the ear the next time I mentioned it"".
""There will be no singing"". Even if he had the voice for it, the only song Dunk knew all the way through was ""The Bear and the Maiden Fair"".
Egg drew water to fill it for the third time, then clambered back onto the well. ""You'd best not take any food or drink at Coldmoat, ser. The Red Widow poisoned all her husbands"".
""I'm not like to marry her. She's a highborn lady, and I'm Dunk of Flea Bottom, remember?"" He frowned.
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