Bent-backed man

Bent-backed man
Allegiance	House Roote
Culture	Rivermen
Book	A Storm of Swords (appears)

The bent-backed man is a ferryman, and an inhabitant of Lord Harroway's Town in the riverlands.

Appearance and Character

He is a grizzled grey-haired man with a hunchback. He lives with his kin in a roundtower along the Trident. He manages "Old King Andahar's two-headed water horse," a flat-bottomed boat with a dozen oars and a pair of carved wooden horse heads mounted fore and aft. The ferryboat also has a sod-roofed wooden house on its deck.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

When Sandor Clegane and the disguised Arya Stark arrive in Lord Harroway's Town, Sandor demands passage across the flooded Trident. The bent-backed man offers to ferry him, his horse, and "the boy" in exchange for three golden dragons— an extremely high cost, as the ferryboat itself would normally be worth that much. Sandor, displeased with the fee, threatens the man, who agrees to be paid after the crossing. During the difficult voyage, the bent-backed man controls the rudder. Once across, the ferryman demands to be paid six dragons, and Sandor pays him with the written promise of payment he received from Lord Beric Dondarrion. The ferryman and his crew are angered, but can do little but curse and throw stones as Sandor gallops away.

The ferryman later encounters members of the brotherhood without banners who are seeking Sandor and Arya.

Quotes

Ferryman: "Six dragons. Three for the passage, and three for the man I lost."

Sandor Clegane: "There. Take ten."
Ferryman: "Ten? What's this, now?"
Sandor Clegane: "A dead man's note, good for nine thousand dragons or nearabouts. Ten of it is yours. I'll be back for the rest one day, so see you don’t go spending it."
Ferryman: "Writing. What good's writing? You promised gold. Knight's honor, you said."

Sandor Clegane: "Knights have no bloody honor. Time you learned that, old man."