"I- I didn't mean it."

"Mean it? The man's dead! You just killed the lordling."

The innkeeper gulped and shook his head fiercely "I want no part of this. You… you take him to a maester or a barber, tell 'em tell 'em it was a fall see?"

The thick ermine cloak hid the body of the boy but it was his head the whole room was entranced by, dregs of wine ran down the noble's hair to pool in the wine from the broken jug, the blood from the broken skull.

The woman took a step backwards, clutching her ruined tunic to her chest and taking off without even a scream. All at once, men across the inn came to their senses and figures began slipping out through the door. All save the killer, the keeper and the watcher.

"You'll hang that's for certain." The watcher chuckled "You as well, Keep. It was under your roof this man died."

"Please, I- no please."

"Don't beg me. Beg the Mother, for when his father gets you. Or his mother, women always had a wickedness I could never get."

"He was forcing-" clutching a broken handle, the killer gasped.
"Yes, I saw your noble act. Except when done to one nobly born. If I were you I'd run. There's nothing more to be done for you. Here." He fished in his purse and tossed him a silver.

"Should help you on the run. As for you my innkeeper friend… well I don't think you have much of an option."

"I had no part in this."

"As you've said no doubt. Over and over. No lord will hear you though. I should know. But like me you have one option. Exile."

"We'll never outrun the horses."

"But we can outrun their justice." He gestured to his black cloak. The innkeep swallowed bitterly.

"Once they don't find the killer, they'll skin you for certain. I don't intend to stay here a moment longer. Word will reach the holdfasts very soon. Knights will reach here even sooner. Can you scream, Keep?"

"You want me to join the Night's Wa…. I'm no killer! I didn't kill no one!"

"And until the moment your neck breaks you'll be saying that I promise you. There's noble blood on your clothes, best trade it for a new garb. A black garb."


The two men were well over the hill when they saw torchlights drawing towards the inn.

"I almost forgot. You're not a brother of the night's watch yet. I can't protect you from them."

"What?" The former innkeeper froze.

" Yes quite. Unless you say the words here and now, I'd be betraying the King's Justice. Should we head back?

"Now look here!"

"Night gathers and now my watch begins."

The innkeeper glared at him for an instant before a distant bark broke through night and he slumped in the saddle of the borrowed horse.

"Night gathers and now my watch begins…"

"It shall not end until my death".