Difference between revisions of "The Mystery Knight"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
m (add nav)
(38 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{about|the 2010 novella|the type of tournament contestant|mystery knight}}
 
{{infobox Book |  
 
{{infobox Book |  
 
| name        = The Mystery Knight
 
| name        = The Mystery Knight
Line 9: Line 10:
 
| genre        = [[w:Fantasy|Fantasy]]
 
| genre        = [[w:Fantasy|Fantasy]]
 
| publisher    = Tor Books
 
| publisher    = Tor Books
| release_date = March 16, 2010
+
| release_date = March 16, 2010 (novella)<br>August 8, 2017 (graphic novel)
| media_type  = novella in '''Warriors''' anthology edited by [[George R. R. Martin]] and Gardner Dozois
+
| media_type  = novella in ''Warriors'' anthology edited by [[George R. R. Martin]] and Gardner Dozois
 
| pages        =   
 
| pages        =   
| isbn        = ISBN 978-0765-32048-3
+
| isbn        = ISBN 978-0765-32048-3 (''Warriors'')<br>ISBN 978-0-7653-6026-7 (''Warriors 1'')
| preceded_by  = [[The Sworn Sword]]
+
| preceded_by  = ''[[The Sworn Sword]]''
| followed_by  =  
+
| followed_by  = As yet unpublished novella, tentatively named ''[[The She-Wolves of Winterfell]]''<ref>[http://grrm.livejournal.com/225206.html George R.R. Martin's ''Not A Blog'', Jul. 2nd, 2011, "Stuff and Nonsense"]</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
'''The Mystery Knight''' is a novella published in 2010 as part of the '''Warriors''' anthology, edited by [[George R. R. Martin]] and Gardner Dozois. It is the third in the series of "Dunk and Egg" stories. Previous stories are [[The Hedge Knight]] and [[The Sworn Sword]].
+
 
 +
'''''The Mystery Knight''''' is a novella published in 2010 as part of the ''Warriors'' anthology, edited by [[George R. R. Martin]] and [[:w:Gardner Dozois|Gardner Dozois]]. It is the third in the series of "[[Dunk and Egg]]" stories. Previous stories are ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' and ''[[The Sworn Sword]]''. It is also available in pages 251-394 of ''Warriors 1''.
 +
 
 +
A compilation of the three initial "Dunk and Egg" stories, including ''The Mystery Knight'', was expected to be published in 2014,<ref>http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/1974/ The Citadel FAQ, 2.1.9 - Will There Be Any More Dung and Egg Stories?</ref><ref>[http://grrm.livejournal.com/310198.html?thread=17182646#t17182646 George R.R. Martin's ''Not A Blog'', Jan. 22nd, 2013, "A Dangerous Delivery", GRRM Comment from Jan. 23rd]</ref> but was finally published as ''[[A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms]]'' in 2015. The graphic novel edition, ''The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel'', was released in August 2017.
  
 
==Plot==
 
==Plot==
 +
{{Main|The Mystery Knight-Summary}}
  
The story begins with [[Dunk]] and [[Aegon V|Egg]] leaving [[Stoney Sept]]. They are moving north to try and take up service with Lord [[Beron Stark]] who has sent a call for men to help fend off [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] raids on the northern coast. On the way they encounter a [[Faith of the Seven#septon|septon]] who was beheaded for preaching treason; Dunk remembers that Lord [[Bloodraven]] has spies everywhere.  On route Egg and Dunk encounter a lord's train led by Lord [[Gormon Peake]] of [[Starpike]], whose arms are three black castles on a field of orange.  Also in the party are a lord named [[Alyn Cockshaw]] and a well dressed and richly garbed man who claims to be a hedge knight named Ser [[Daemon II Blackfyre|John the Fiddler]]. Dunk is challenged and insulted by Peake and Cockshaw but the Fiddler treats him courteously. Before they ride off, Ser John invites Dunk to attend the wedding of Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]]. There is to be a joust to celebrate the wedding of Butterwell to a [[House Frey|Frey of the Crossing]], the victor's prize is to be a dragon egg.
+
It is the year {{date|212}}, and Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] and his squire, [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]], are traveling through the [[riverlands]]. They are on their way to the [[north]] to take up service with Lord [[Beron Stark]], who has sent a call for men to help fend off [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] raids on the northern coast. On their way, they encounter a lord's train led by Lord [[Gormon Peake]] of [[Starpike]]. Additional members of the party are Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]] and a well-dressed and richly-garbed man who introduces himself as Ser [[Daemon II Blackfyre|John the Fiddler]], a [[hedge knight]]. Although Duncan is insulted by Peake and Cockshaw, the Fiddler treats him courteously and invites Duncan to join them at the wedding of Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] to a daughter of [[House Frey]] at [[Whitewalls]]. Seeing Peake's coat of arms, Duncan realizes he was the lord who during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]] had slain [[Roger of Pennytree|Roger]], the former squire of Duncan's old master, Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]]. Claiming to Egg that they need to pass Whitewalls in order to reach the [[kingsroad]] anyway, Duncan decides to attend the feast.  
  
Dunk takes a dislike to Gormon Peake; Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree|Arlan]] to whom Dunk was squired claimed his previous squire [[Roger of Pennytree]] was slain by Gormon in the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]]. Egg tells Dunk that Peake's arms of three castles on an orange field is because the [[House Peake|Peake]] family used to own three castles, but two were forfeited to the Crown when Peake sided with [[House Blackfyre]].
+
Duncan and Egg are prevented from sleeping in the stable of the [[old inn by the lakeshore]]. While camping along the shore, Duncan meets and befriends Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], Ser [[Kyle|Kyle the Cat of Misty Moor]], and Ser [[Glendon Flowers|Glendon Ball]], three other hedge knights traveling to the wedding. From them, he learns that there is to be a [[tourney|joust]] to celebrate the wedding, and that the victor's prize is to be a [[dragon egg]]. The ferryman [[Ned (ferryman)|Ned]] ferries travelers across the lake.
  
Dunk decides to go to the wedding. During the journey Dunk befriends three fellow hedge knights, Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], Ser [[Kyle|Kyle the Cat of Misty Moor]] and a young hedge knight named Ser [[Glendon Flowers|Glendon Ball]] who claims he is the bastard son of the famous knight [[Quentyn Ball|Quentyn "Fireball" Ball]], a renowned warrior who fought for [[Daemon Blackfyre]].
+
While at Whitewalls, Egg becomes suspicious about the fact that most of the attendees are men whose families fought for [[Daemon I Blackfyre]] during the rebellion sixteen years past. However, he later overhears, Lord Peake speaking with another man. Peake speaks of a [[dragon]] hatching from an egg, as the "prince" had dreamed would happen, while his companion wonders whether the boy is his father's son. Later that evening, Duncan steps out onto the roof of Whitewalls, where he is approached by the Fiddler, who claims that he had recognized Duncan on the road because he had once dreamed of him. He states that in his dreams, Duncan wore the all-white armor of the [[Kingsguard]]. The Fiddler claims his dreams always come true, informing Duncan that his dreams had predicted the deaths of his brothers. He also tells Duncan that he has dreamed of a dragon hatching at Whitewalls.
  
The wedding is set at [[Whitewalls]] and Lord Frey arrives with his four year old heir ([[Lord Walder Frey|Walder Frey]]) and his fifteen year old daughter, who weds Lord Butterwell. Egg tells Duncan that Lord Butterwell took no part in the [[Blackfyre Rebellion]], but one of his sons fought for the Red Dragon and one for the Black.  In that way his house was guaranteed to be on the winning side, but both his sons died on the Redgrass field. Egg becomes increasingly suspicious at the wedding and points out to Duncan that many of the banners and sigils he sees are of men who fought for the Black Dragon. Dunk tells Egg that Redgrass was over a decade ago, and the past is the past. At the wedding a troupe of dwarfs entertain the guests. During the bedding Dunk is drafted by John the Fiddler to carry the bride to the bedchamber. Dunk does so and later when he goes for a breath of air, John the Fiddler talks to him saying that he recognized Dunk on the road. Dunk appeared to him in a dream in which Duncan wore the all white armor of the [[Kingsguard]]. The Fiddler says his dreams always come true, as he dreamt his brothers dead once and also a dragon hatching from an egg at Whitewalls.  
+
Duncan enters the [[wedding tourney at Whitewalls]] as a [[mystery knight]], but loses his first tilt to Ser [[Uthor Underleaf]]. In quick succession, he learns that Underleaf had been paid to kill Duncan during the joust and that Lord Peake had offered Ser Glendon Ball a place in his garrison in exchange for losing to the Fiddler. While searching for Egg, Duncan speaks with the Fiddler, and reveals that he has realized that "John" is not the Fiddler's real name. Lord Gormon confirms to Duncan that they conspire a [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion|second rebellion]] in the name of [[House Blackfyre]]. During the next joust, Peake reveals to the crowd that the dragon's egg has been stolen, and Ser Glendon Ball is blamed and arrested. When Duncan moves to interfere, Lord Alyn Cockshaw lures Duncan away by claiming to know where Egg can be found. However, he brings Duncan to a deserted courtyard and attempts to kill him. Duncan manages to kill Cockshaw instead, but is wounded in the process. Ser Maynard Plumm suddenly comes to Duncan's rescue, and reveals that Egg can be found with Lord Butterwell in the castle's sept.
  
Dunk decides to enter the first match of the joust as a mystery knight known as the Gallows Knight (due to a new shield that once belonged to a knight of [[House Trant]] that Dunk had to buy as his old shield was damaged in his duel with [[Lucas Inchfield|Lucas Longinch]]) in case anyone heard of a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall from [[Ashford]], but Dunk is defeated in his first tilt by Ser [[Uthor Underleaf]] known as the the Snail Knight due to his sigil. Underleaf's lance hits Duncan upon the helm, knocking him out and nearly killing him. Dunk recovers later and goes to give the Underleaf his armor and horse as forfeit. Since Dunk can't ransom it back he is in a glum mood.  Dunk talks to Underleaf and Underleaf informs Dunk that someone bribed him to try and kill Dunk in the final tilt, Underleaf states that if they paid more he might have completed the task, but tells Dunk he has an enemy. Before the jousting continues word spreads through the castle that the dragon egg is missing and the blame is placed on Ser Glendon Ball, who is imprisoned by Peake.
+
In the sept, Duncan finds Egg and discovers that the boy had informed Lords Butterwell and Frey of his true identity, claiming that Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]] was already aware of the plot and on his way to Whitewalls with an army. Lord Ambrose's son-in-law, [[Tommard Heddle]], shows up and attempts to take Egg hostage, but Duncan kills him. He sends Egg to accompany the fleeing Lord Ambrose, while he himself confronts the Fiddler by calling him by his true name: [[Daemon II Blackfyre]]. Duncan accuses Gormon Peake of falsely charging Ser Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. In turn, Daemon insists that Ball is allowed to prove his innocence and fight him in a [[trial by combat]]. Despite his grave injuries from torture, Ser Glendon easily defeats Daemon. As soon as the combat is over, those present at Whitewalls are alerted to the fact that the castle is surrounded by a large army, led by the [[Hand of the King|King's Hand]], Lord [[Brynden Rivers]]. Daemon goes forth alone to confront them and is arrested, while most of the present lords and knights surrender without a fight, or flee the scene.
  
Dunk notices that Egg is missing and sets out to find his squire. Whilst searching he is almost killed by Alyn Cockshaw who tells Dunk he bribed Underleaf to kill Dunk because he was jealous of John the Fiddler's obsession with Dunk and that dream  Dunk manages to defeat him by throwing him down a well, though he takes a wound in return from Cockshaw's knife. Maynard Plumm comes to Duncan's aid , and it is discovered that Plumm is one of Bloodraven's many spies, and that John the Fiddler's real name is Daemon, after his father Daemon Blackfyre. Plumm tells Dunk "he would be surprised how many Lords want their king to be brave and stupid".  
+
Afterwards, Duncan meets Brynden Rivers inside his pavilion. Lord Rivers strips Lord Butterwell of most of his wealth, and decrees Whitewalls is forfeit to the throne and to be torn down. Once they are alone, Lord Rivers informs Duncan and Egg that the dragon Daemon had seen hatch in his dreams was Egg. At Egg's request, Rivers gives Duncan the gold to ransom his armor back. He allows them to continue their travels. Before they leave, Duncan inquires after the fate of Daemon, while Egg asks what became of the dragon's egg. Although Rivers confirms nothing, his answer makes Duncan realize who had most likely stolen it.
  
Dunk finds Egg in the [[Faith of the Seven#sept|sept]] with the cowering Lord Butterwell, who on discovering Egg's true identity is terrified for his life. Egg told Ambrose (falsely) that he and Dunk were spies sent to investigate the tournament and that his father Prince [[Maekar I|Maekar]] is on the way with an army. Lord Ambrose's good son (step-son) Black [[Tommard Heddle|Tom Heddle]] shows up and tries to harm Egg but is slain by Dunk. Dunk tells Egg to flee with Ambrose. To buy time for Egg's escape Dunk confronts Daemon II Blackfyre, accusing Gormon Peake of falsely charging Ball with the theft of the dragon egg. 
+
==Editions==
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:Mystery Knight.jpg|''The Mystery Knight'' was originally published in ''Warriors'', ISBN 978-0765-32048-3
 +
File:Cover warriors 1.jpg|''The Mystery Knight'' is also available in ''Warriors 1'', ISBN 978-0-7653-6026-7, an inexpensive mass market paperback
 +
</gallery>
  
Daemon is enraged by the implication and allows Ball to prove his innocence in trial by combat. Ser Glendon soundly defeats Daemon and knocks him into the mud causing some of the spectators to mockingly call Daemon ''"the Brown Dragon"''.  By this time a large army under the King's Hand [[Brynden  Rivers]] encircles Whitewalls and Daemon is captured as most of the present Lords and knights surrender without a fight. Dunk meets Bloodraven inside his pavilion outside of which the head of Gormon Peake along with Black Tom Heddle are displayed on spears. Egg is there as well and demands that Bloodraven reward Ser Glendon Ball, Dunk and all the other hedge knights. Bloodraven notes that Egg is much more fierce and confident now and that he was the dragon Daemon saw in his dream being born at Whitewalls. Lord Butterwall cowers in Bloodraven's presence and is allowed to keep a tenth of his wealth. Whitewalls, however, will be forfeit to the Iron Throne and torn down.  Bloodraven,at Egg's request, gives Dunk the gold to ransom his armor back. Dunk then asks Bloodraven what became of the dragon egg. Bloodraven tells Dunk it was taken by an agent of his who crawled up the privy shaft of the castle to take the egg from its guarded chamber, and is now safe. Dunk remarks that a man wouldn't have fit in those shafts. Bloodraven replies a child would have. Or a dwarf, Dunk thinks as he remembers the performing dwarfs at the wedding.
+
==References==
 +
{{References|1|refs=}}
 +
*[http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/12702-asoiaf-bibliography-where-you-can-find-all-of-those-dunk-egg-stories/ Westeros forums: ''ASOIAF Bibliography: Where You Can Find All Of Those Dunk & Egg Stories'']
  
==References and Notes==
+
{{GRRM works|state = uncollapsed}}
{{EnWP|Tales of Dunk and Egg|small=yes}}
+
{{ASOIAF|state=collapsed}}
  
 +
<!-- Categories -->
 +
[[Category:Books|Mystery Knight, The]]
  
{{GRRM works}}
+
<!-- language interwikis -->
[[fr:The Mystery Knight]]
+
[[es:El Caballero Misterioso]]
 +
[[fr:L'Œuf de Dragon]]
 +
[[pt:O Cavaleiro dos Sete Reinos - O Cavaleiro Misterioso]]
 
[[ru:Таинственный Рыцарь]]
 
[[ru:Таинственный Рыцарь]]
[[Category: Books]]
 

Revision as of 17:24, 18 November 2021

The Mystery Knight
Mystery Knight.jpg
Author George R. R. Martin
Country United States
Language English
Series A Song of Ice and Fire
Genre(s) Fantasy
Publisher Tor Books
Released March 16, 2010 (novella)
August 8, 2017 (graphic novel)
Media Type novella in Warriors anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
ISBN ISBN 978-0765-32048-3 (Warriors)
ISBN 978-0-7653-6026-7 (Warriors 1)
Preceded by The Sworn Sword
Followed by As yet unpublished novella, tentatively named The She-Wolves of Winterfell[1]

The Mystery Knight is a novella published in 2010 as part of the Warriors anthology, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. It is the third in the series of "Dunk and Egg" stories. Previous stories are The Hedge Knight and The Sworn Sword. It is also available in pages 251-394 of Warriors 1.

A compilation of the three initial "Dunk and Egg" stories, including The Mystery Knight, was expected to be published in 2014,[2][3] but was finally published as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2015. The graphic novel edition, The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel, was released in August 2017.

Plot

It is the year 212 AC, and Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, are traveling through the riverlands. They are on their way to the north to take up service with Lord Beron Stark, who has sent a call for men to help fend off Greyjoy raids on the northern coast. On their way, they encounter a lord's train led by Lord Gormon Peake of Starpike. Additional members of the party are Lord Alyn Cockshaw and a well-dressed and richly-garbed man who introduces himself as Ser John the Fiddler, a hedge knight. Although Duncan is insulted by Peake and Cockshaw, the Fiddler treats him courteously and invites Duncan to join them at the wedding of Lord Ambrose Butterwell to a daughter of House Frey at Whitewalls. Seeing Peake's coat of arms, Duncan realizes he was the lord who during the First Blackfyre Rebellion had slain Roger, the former squire of Duncan's old master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Claiming to Egg that they need to pass Whitewalls in order to reach the kingsroad anyway, Duncan decides to attend the feast.

Duncan and Egg are prevented from sleeping in the stable of the old inn by the lakeshore. While camping along the shore, Duncan meets and befriends Ser Maynard Plumm, Ser Kyle the Cat of Misty Moor, and Ser Glendon Ball, three other hedge knights traveling to the wedding. From them, he learns that there is to be a joust to celebrate the wedding, and that the victor's prize is to be a dragon egg. The ferryman Ned ferries travelers across the lake.

While at Whitewalls, Egg becomes suspicious about the fact that most of the attendees are men whose families fought for Daemon I Blackfyre during the rebellion sixteen years past. However, he later overhears, Lord Peake speaking with another man. Peake speaks of a dragon hatching from an egg, as the "prince" had dreamed would happen, while his companion wonders whether the boy is his father's son. Later that evening, Duncan steps out onto the roof of Whitewalls, where he is approached by the Fiddler, who claims that he had recognized Duncan on the road because he had once dreamed of him. He states that in his dreams, Duncan wore the all-white armor of the Kingsguard. The Fiddler claims his dreams always come true, informing Duncan that his dreams had predicted the deaths of his brothers. He also tells Duncan that he has dreamed of a dragon hatching at Whitewalls.

Duncan enters the wedding tourney at Whitewalls as a mystery knight, but loses his first tilt to Ser Uthor Underleaf. In quick succession, he learns that Underleaf had been paid to kill Duncan during the joust and that Lord Peake had offered Ser Glendon Ball a place in his garrison in exchange for losing to the Fiddler. While searching for Egg, Duncan speaks with the Fiddler, and reveals that he has realized that "John" is not the Fiddler's real name. Lord Gormon confirms to Duncan that they conspire a second rebellion in the name of House Blackfyre. During the next joust, Peake reveals to the crowd that the dragon's egg has been stolen, and Ser Glendon Ball is blamed and arrested. When Duncan moves to interfere, Lord Alyn Cockshaw lures Duncan away by claiming to know where Egg can be found. However, he brings Duncan to a deserted courtyard and attempts to kill him. Duncan manages to kill Cockshaw instead, but is wounded in the process. Ser Maynard Plumm suddenly comes to Duncan's rescue, and reveals that Egg can be found with Lord Butterwell in the castle's sept.

In the sept, Duncan finds Egg and discovers that the boy had informed Lords Butterwell and Frey of his true identity, claiming that Prince Maekar was already aware of the plot and on his way to Whitewalls with an army. Lord Ambrose's son-in-law, Tommard Heddle, shows up and attempts to take Egg hostage, but Duncan kills him. He sends Egg to accompany the fleeing Lord Ambrose, while he himself confronts the Fiddler by calling him by his true name: Daemon II Blackfyre. Duncan accuses Gormon Peake of falsely charging Ser Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. In turn, Daemon insists that Ball is allowed to prove his innocence and fight him in a trial by combat. Despite his grave injuries from torture, Ser Glendon easily defeats Daemon. As soon as the combat is over, those present at Whitewalls are alerted to the fact that the castle is surrounded by a large army, led by the King's Hand, Lord Brynden Rivers. Daemon goes forth alone to confront them and is arrested, while most of the present lords and knights surrender without a fight, or flee the scene.

Afterwards, Duncan meets Brynden Rivers inside his pavilion. Lord Rivers strips Lord Butterwell of most of his wealth, and decrees Whitewalls is forfeit to the throne and to be torn down. Once they are alone, Lord Rivers informs Duncan and Egg that the dragon Daemon had seen hatch in his dreams was Egg. At Egg's request, Rivers gives Duncan the gold to ransom his armor back. He allows them to continue their travels. Before they leave, Duncan inquires after the fate of Daemon, while Egg asks what became of the dragon's egg. Although Rivers confirms nothing, his answer makes Duncan realize who had most likely stolen it.

Editions

References