The Baratheon bull

Chapter four: News of the Stark girls

The next morning, Gendry left the ale house and Flea Bottom behind and trekked along the King's Road. This walk felt so familiar. It the same route that he had taken to join the Nights watch, thought that never happened. The Kings road was bustling with life but almost everyone was heading south. Gendry was going against the flow of the people an this made for some interesting looks from the people on the road. As if there was something that he didn't know. There were many things he didn't know.

All was going well and he was making good time on the road until he saw the Lions. Well the Lannister banner men that is. They try to be Lions. Lannister bannermen are the loudest and for some reason the proudest of the bannermen in Westeros. Anyway Gendry saw them and decided to hide in the overgrowth on the left side of the King's road. To his relief, they galloped past. They were probably on a mission for the stinking shit that sat on the throne. Higher taxes, killing people or even just a cruel joke on the people of Westeros, just to scare them. He did notice that the were carrying a man on one of the horses who was tied and blindfolded. Who ever he was, he wasn't going home.

By nightfall, he had reached an inn, thanks to a farmer heading to Highgarden who gave Gendry a lift on his cart. It was a decent sized inn with a large metal sign that read "inn at the crossroads" where had he heard that name before. Then he remembered; Hot pie had decided to work here. Gendry walked inside and asked one of the wenches if she knew a boy by the name of Hot pie. She nodded with a flirtatious grin on her face and took Gendry to the kitchen to be reunited with Hot pie. He hadn't changed much, perhaps he had gained a bit of weight.

"Hot pie!" Gendry shouted. Hot pie looked up from the stove. "Gendry!" he exclaimed surprised "long time! Let me see if I can end my day early and we can get a drink and talk. I have a lot of news!" Gendry ask the innkeeper, an old fat woman with red cheeks and blonde hair and she grinned and nodded. She seemed drunk. Hot pie brought over to jugs of ale and sat down with Gendry. They updated each other on their lifes and exploits. They joked and reminisced. Then the interesting information started. Hot pie started "A monster of a lady and a squire came to the inn a about a year ago asking for Arya. I knew Ari was a girl. I knew it. But a lady of House Stark. Never would have guessed. Anyway I bet that you are looking for Ari and the lady how was looking for her said she would be going to the Vale. I have heard report that she is headed to Braavos." "Of course.." Gendry thought aloud "Jaquen, she wants to train like Jaquen it makes sense that... Hang on." Gendry stopped, "how do you know this?" Hot pie wasn't smart so how did he know all of this. "I listen to people's conversations and report to the brotherhood." Gendry was surprised. Slowly, the place got busier. "I must go back to the kitchen soon but this is what you need to know. Sansa Stark was last in the Vale of Arryn, Arya is in Braavos. That much I know." "Thanks" said Gendry "Can I say here tonight?" Hot pie replied "yeah go on then, you and bunk in my place." Hot pie took him upstairs to a room. He set out a mat and Gendry lay down. "Thanks Hot pie" Hot pie said "I will see you on your way in the morning. Good night". Gendry feel asleep, dreaming of a better world.