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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.
Do you want to kiss your wives again? Do you want to hold your children? Go home! Have you all gone deaf?""
They hadn't. A mad scramble ensued amongst the chickens. Big Rob trod on a hen as he made his dash, and Pate came within half a foot of disemboweling Will Bean when his own spear tripped him up, but off they went, running. The Melons went one way, the Beans another, the Barleycorns a third. Ser Eustace was shouting down at them from above, but no one paid him any mind. They are deaf to him at least, Dunk thought.
By the time the old knight emerged from his tower and came scrambling down the steps, only Dunk and Egg and Bennis remained among the chickens. ""Come back"", Ser Eustace shouted at his fast-fleeing host. ""You do not have my leave to go. You do not have my leave!""
""No use, m'lord"", said Bennis. ""They're gone"".
Ser Eustace rounded on Dunk, his mustache quivering with rage. ""You had no right to send them away. No right! I told them not to go, I forbade it. I forbade you to dismiss them"".
""We never heard you, my lord"". Egg took off his hat to fan away the smoke. ""The chickens were cackling too loud"".
The old man sank down onto Standfast's lowest step. ""What did that woman offer you to deliver me to her?"" he asked Dunk in a bleak voice. ""How much gold did she give you to betray me, to send my lads away and leave me here alone?""
""You're not alone, m'lord"". Dunk sheathed his sword. ""I slept beneath your roof, and ate your eggs this morning.
""One sword"". The old knight got slowly to his feet. ""What can one sword hope to do against that woman?""
""Try and keep her off your land, to start with"". Dunk wished he were as certain as he sounded.
The old knight's mustache trembled every time he took a breath. ""Yes"", he said at last. ""Better to go boldly than hide behind stone walls. Better to die a lion than a rabbit.
Egg was looking up at Dunk. ""I never knew you had a tail, ser"", the boy said.
""Do you want a clout in the ear?""
""No, ser. Do you want your armor?""
""That"", Dunk said, ""and one thing more"".
There was talk of Ser Bennis coming with them, but in the end Ser Eustace commanded him to stay and hold the tower.
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