| Arya II | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Storm of Swords chapter | ||||||
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| POV | Arya | |||||
| Place | Old Pate's cottage - Inn of the Kneeling Man | |||||
| Page | 142 UK HC (Other versions) | |||||
| Chapter chronology (All) | ||||||
|
Arya I ↑ | ||||||
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↓ Arya III | ||||||
Arya, Gendry, and Hot Pie are caught by the brotherhood without banners and taken to the Inn of the Kneeling Man.
Synopsis
Arya is gathering vegetables from Old Pate's garden by the Trident when she hears singing come from up the river road, so she warns Gendry and Hot Pie. They try to hide, but one of their horses gives them away. Arya is discovered by three men: Tom of Sevenstreams, Lem, and Anguy. When the strangers ask Arya to put away her sword, Gendry and Hot Pie emerge to support her. Hot Pie identifies himself, but Arya and Gendry call themselves Squab and the Bull, respectively. Arya denies being a servant of House Bolton, despite the sigil on her doublet. The men say they are king's men who serve the late King Robert, but Arya thinks they look like outlaws. Tom asks them to come with them to a nearby inn. After Anguy shows how skilled he is with the bow, a hesitating Arya realizes that they stand no chance and she agrees.
As they travel to the inn, Tom asks if the youths any song to which Arya responds that singing is dangerous. Lem explains that these are their woods, and they would know if enemies are nearby. Hot Pie joins Tom in singing "The Bear and the Maiden Fair". Anguy brings down a duck by a brook.
At the Inn of the Kneeling Man,[1] Gendry remains in the stable to watch their horses although Tom assures them that they are safe. Arya and Hot Pie enter the inn with the three men, and the innkeep Sharna has her spouse, Husband, hang the duck while a serving boy brings ale and bread. The atmosphere is friendly, and the men talk with Sharna and Husband about the food and the last visitors of the inn (Jaime Lannister, Brienne Tarth, and Cleos Frey).[2] While Sharna was away helping Fern birth her babe at Lambswold, Husband sold the guests horses and gave them directions. Tom and his friends were waiting for those travelers to get the horses back but they did not see them.
Tom gives Arya a paper acknowledging a future payment of three dragons after the war for their horses. Arya protests and wonders how they will be able to reach Riverrun. Suddenly Gendry runs in to warn them that there are a dozen soldiers coming down the river road.
The people in the inn are not worried but Arya is afraid that it will be Ser Gregor Clegane's men. She slams a tankard in Lem's face and tries to escape but to no avail. The ragged men outside come in and among them, Arya recognizes Harwin, who was her father Eddard's man at Winterfell. Harwin eventually recognizes her and proclaims her real name to the surprise of all.
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References and Notes
- ↑ The name is not given but the sign is mentioned: a kneeling king.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
- A Read of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords, Part 7; summary and analyses of the chapter by Leigh Butler.
- Re-read: Arya II, Hot Pie undercover-agent. Summary and analyses of the chapter in the course of a 10th reread by Slynt.