There were knights and squires, a dozen children, several old men, three septas in white robes and hoods… and one soft, fleshy lady of high birth, garbed in a gown of dark blue damask trimmed with Myrish lace, so long its hems were trailing in the dirt. Dunk judged her to be forty. Beneath a spun-silver net her auburn hair was piled high, but the reddest thing about her was her face.
""My lady"", Ser Lucas said, when they stood before her and her septas, ""this hedge knight claims to bring a message from Ser Eustace Osgrey.
Will you hear it?"""
"""If you wish it, Ser Lucas"". She peered at Dunk so hard that he could not help but recall Egg's talk of sorcery. I don't think this one bathes in blood to keep her beauty. The Widow was stout and square, with an oddly pointed head that her hair could not quite conceal. Her nose was too big, and her mouth too small. She did have two eyes, he was relieved to see, but all thought of gallantry had abandoned Dunk by then. ""Ser Eustace bid me talk with you concerning the recent trouble at your dam"".
She blinked. ""The… dam, you say?""
A crowd was gathering about them. Dunk could feel unfriendly eyes upon him. ""The stream"", he said, ""the Chequy Water. Your ladyship built a dam across it.. "".
""Oh, I am quite sure I haven't"", she replied. ""Why, I have been at my devotions all morning, ser"".
Dunk heard Ser Lucas chuckle. ""I did not mean to say that your ladyship built the dam herself, only that… without that water, all our crops will die… the smallfolk have beans and barley in the fields, and melons.
. "".
""Truly? I am very fond of melons"". Her small mouth made a happy bow. ""What sort of melons are they?""
Dunk glanced uneasily at the ring of faces, and felt his own face growing hot. Something is amiss here. The Longinch is playing me for a fool. ""M'lady, could we continue our discussion in some… more private place?""
""A silver says the great oaf means to bed her! "" someone japed, and a roar of laughter went up all around him.
The lady cringed away, half in terror, and raised both hands to shield her face. One of the septas moved quickly to her side and put a protective arm around her shoulders.
""And what is all this merriment?"" The voice cut through the laughter, cool and firm. ""Will no one share the jape? Ser knight, why are you troubling my good-sister?""
It was the girl he had seen earlier at the archery butts.
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