Chapter 145: Something Moved Beneath Ice

The Hand’s Tower possessed a dining hall large enough to seat more than a hundred people at once.

Perhaps during the peak of the Hand of the King’s authority the place would have overflowed with guests and retainers, but now...

The hall was so empty that two direwolves could wander through it lazily without bumping into anyone.

The people brought south from the North gathered along one long table for supper.

More than twenty guardsmen, over thirty maids and septas accompanying the Stark girls, and Lannor among them.

At present he sat between Arya and Jory Cassel, while across from him sat Sansa Stark with lowered head and reddened cheeks.

By the time Eddard returned from the Small Council meeting, a golden badge shaped like an outstretched hand already hung upon his chest.

His expression was grim.

Whatever had happened in that council chamber had clearly struck him like a mace to the forehead.

Yet when he reached the table, the stern-faced Lord of Winterfell still forced a small smile onto his features for the sake of his daughters and followers.

“The affairs of the realm are far more tangled than the simple matters of Winterfell. They’ve left my head aching already. But at this table, I think we should leave those troubles aside for tonight. Eat well, all of you.”

Lannor could more or less imagine what kind of quiet exclusion and smiling hostility awaited a man suddenly dropped into high office.

Nothing about that could be helped.

Eddard took the seat of honor.

“My lord, there is something I’d like your assistance with.”

Once the meal had begun, Lannor spoke across Arya toward him.

“Would you be willing to provide me with a pass allowing free movement through the Red Keep? As you know, I’m searching for unusual Flora and Fauna Materials. If I remain inside the castle all day, I’ll never be able to explore the ports and markets of King’s Landing.”