Chapter 28

She stared fixedly at the kind person's expression, not willing to miss a trace.

He did indeed show a hint of shock, but quickly hid it beneath his usual kind face.

My question is, what new things have you learned since leaving God's Temple, not what you learned in God's Temple. The kind person said.

Mao'er's heart sank. God's Temple really agreed!

"I only found out after leaving." She said. Perhaps practicing lying with the wanderer could work, she hoped inside, but the more she hoped, the more she had to not think about it, her gaze must go left, must focus, must be confident, must be truthful—must be angry.

Knowing this does you no good, and it's useless for us. You have to say the third thing again. The kind person said.

Mao'er's heart sank completely.

I know a girl dreamed that the faceless man had his skin peeled off and was hung upside down under the fish beam wood. She felt furious.

The kind person's face was like water with mud poured in, beginning to become cloudy; in an instant she even thought his face was pulsing, but eventually the mud settled, and she felt his face grew dim.

Knowing this information is useful. He recovered.

Who are you? he asked.

Nameless ones. she said.

"Lying." the kind person said, "The nameless swear to serve the Thousand-Faced God with all they have; they bear no names, cast aside relationships, and bestow the God's blessings in His stead, ending suffering. The nameless do not choose targets, do not judge who to give blessings to, nor judge whether that person is worthy of the God's blessings. Do you understand?"

"I don't understand." "I understand." she said.

"Falsehood." the kind person said, "A certain girl remains the miss of Winterfell City, though a little wilder, her essence unchanged. Go on, continue Cat's work; perhaps one day Cat will choose."

Cat furtively returned to the top floor of Brusco, slipped into her own robe, and rolled into the sisters' blanket. They let out a grumbling murmur, then fell back asleep; tomorrow they too must rise early, and when selling seafood by day she can't help but doze off. Hope she has a good dream tonight.

Cat only occasionally dreams of having two legs: sometimes she is happy, walking through Winterfell's first keep, hall, training grounds, and godwood, seeing her sister and brothers running about, watching Rodrick's long white beard sway in the wind, seeing Mikkens sweat-drenched as he swings his iron hammer with a steady, dull thud; sometimes she is sorrowful, she and the hound wander the riverlands, repeatedly witnessing the slaughter at Saltpans, and in this dream she always whimpers and cries for her mother, and whenever she weeps the hound always slaps her. Most of the time, in her dreams she has four legs.

That night, she had another wild dream, and she began to hunt.

From afar came the warhorses' neighing, prickling her ears to listen; in the heavy fog a trace of bloody scent drifted from afar. She wiped her face with her forepaws, and the fine mist condensed into many droplets on her fur, impairing her sight and making her feel uncomfortable.

These are cavalry fleeing the battlefield; she has already smelled the fear and anxiety they exude.

The thick fog gathered at midnight, a good time to strike. She gathered her spirits and howled at the fog, "Ooo…", and her gray kin responded enthusiastically.

She believed the troop of deserters trapped in the fog were already shivering. She set off following a trace of scent.

She ran over a hill and grove, stopped atop a piled stone, let out a howl to guide her kin, letting them keep pace. The scent grew stronger, the target drew nearer.

She smelled moss, rotting corpses, platycodon, ash, mold, plus the scent of horses and people; she also heard the faint clash of swords, horses' whickers, and people shifting.

Ha, light cannot pierce the mist, but temperature and sound can. The thick fog can block wolves' eyes, yet apparently also blocks the night watch's eyes; when she had already smelled the stench of three watchmen, they were still nervously staring at the fog before them, unaware that beyond it she was also watching them.

Just then. Swift as a snake, she lunged first and bit through the throat of one watchman; hot blood flowed between her jaws, she shook her head to sever flesh from meat, then pounced on the second, who screamed in terror as he fled.

Her kin also surged forward in a rush; at that moment, the fleeing soldiers or officers all cried out in panic and anguish.

The thick fog blocked their vision. They knocked the soldiers down one by one, then began attacking the horses, which lifted their legs and neighed in struggle. She saw several soldiers mount their horses and ride off.

She left the few still-standing soldiers to her kin, pursued the fleeing cavalry; in the dark and fog, the horses panicked and ran blindly, she lunged and knocked a knight from his mount, then tore open his throat, blood mist spraying, warming her muzzle. She couldn't help but let out a long howl.

Early the next morning, Telleia told her she had spent the whole night growling and thrashing about.

Cat would not tell them that dream.

After rising early, before dawn she went with Brusco to the fish market to buy clams, scallops, and the like for sale to townsfolk or travelers; standing beneath the Sweetwater Canal as the sun rose to the waist of the Titan giant, she had to push her cart to sell that day's goods while also learning three new pieces of news.

She wondered why the kind person had assigned her this task. Sometimes she thought it was to keep her from becoming a true scallop-selling cat; other times she thought it was to train her hearing. At least for the latter purpose, he had succeeded—she could now understand Braavosi—but in her dealings with customers she also picked up a lot of Braavosi vulgar speech, which the kind person disliked, demanding she correct it, but how could that be her fault, since most of those buying her scallops were street ruffians and sailor prostitutes.

Today was a rare clear sky, with no hateful freezing rain nor loathsome gray mist; she decided to abandon her usual haunts of the Purple Harbor and the old-clothes vendors' wharf, heading instead to the flooded town where the finest taverns and brothels of all Braavos lay, where she could usually sell all her seafood quickly. She had been here before, but this spot was usually occupied fixedly by other families' stalls, and she didn't want to cause Brusco any unsuitable trouble over it.

Each time she finished selling seafood here, she liked to sit by the Moonpool and watch the assassins duel. Once she had used something learned here to accomplish one of three tasks—a fencing technique she deemed very applicable. At that time she saw a small assassin, amid weaving and dodging, easily slay a much larger opponent. "Make a feint, lead the enemy to think you'll strike one spot, but actually strike another; this makes the assassination more successful." She remembered that this knowledge earned the kind person's approval.

Another time she recalled, by the Moonpool a young assassin, while waiting bored for his employer, taught her how to draw unexpectedly the dagger hidden in his sleeve. At that time she demonstrated it to the kind person, who nodded and deemed it worthwhile.

Perhaps after she finishes selling all her seafood today, she can likewise learn another trick.

"Oysters, scallops, clams!" she shouted.

As she passed the red curtains, a woman in silk clothing, exuding fragrance, beckoned her. In such a place, no one would detain her, and she would not linger.

She pushed her cart beneath the eaves hung with red lanterns and greeted her in Braavosi: "Madam."

"Hehe, little miss, I'm not a madam, I'm a happy prostitute." She smiled coquettishly and lifted her chin with her hand, as if assessing her potential as a rival.

She easily dodged, saying, "Madam, how much do you need?"

"There's a distinguished foreign guest inside who seems to think eating these will boost his strength, so he asked me to buy some." She winked at her, "You'd better raise the price a bit, otherwise how would his status show?"

"Yes, madam, my oysters are never cheap. Since he's a Westerlander, the least I can sell him is a silver stag per dozen." She replied kindly.

"Oh, if that's the case, I'll tell him your oysters especially enhance strength. Right?" She said, smiling suggestively.

"Yes, madam, you're absolutely right, but my scallops and clams are even stronger; if eaten together they exert their maximum effect." Cat wore an expectant expression, "What do you think?"

"Hahaha," she laughed, trembling with mirth, "I feel quite eager… well, what's your name? I rather like you."

"Cat."

"Nice name, Cat. If one day you find selling scallops too hard, come find me. Look, even at high noon people are coming by! Besides, you can keep sending scallops regularly in the future. Maybe others will like them too." She again rested her hand on her chin.

She again used tidying scallops to evade. "How about a dozen each of scallops and clams? Buy one, get one free." She smiled gratefully.

"All right, Cat." She smiled sweetly.

"Madam, I'll bring these inside for you." She quickly picked out the clams and such, put them in a net bag, filled it completely, then carried it into the inner room.

The inner room was warm, and its fragrance richer than the lady's.

She passed various brightly colored decorative sheer curtains, glimpsing the scenes within; most of the curtained enclosures held people laughing, she darted through quickly, following the lady's footsteps inside.

After winding through seven twists and turns, she finally stopped in a room draped in velvet. Two huge red candles adorned the forehead and raised tail of a large long-necked bird, looking lifelike and quite elegant.

The foreign man was bare-chested, one arm around a similarly bare-chested girl, the other clutching a huge goblet.

"Sir," the woman cooed obsequiously, speaking the common tongue, "you've brought everything you wanted—these are the finest oysters, scallops, and clams Braavos has to offer."

"I can't tell these three apart. Which one is what I want?" he said.

"Each is good, but together they're best. Would you like to try?" she laughed.

"Taste, of course." He set down his wine cup.

Translation: "Taste, of course." He set down his wine cup.

"Taste, of course." He set down his wine cup.

"Taste, of course." He set down his wine cup.

Mao'er took an oyster from the pile of oysters, scallops, and clams, pried it open with a dagger, and handed it to the woman. She took it, tucked it into her other arm, and slipped the oyster into his mouth.

Translation: Then Mao'er took an oyster from the pile of oysters, scallops, and clams, pried it open with a dagger, and handed it to the woman. The woman took it, turned to her other side, and placed the oyster into his mouth.

She placed the oyster into Mao'er's mouth.

"Hmm!" he let out a groan.

Translation: "Hmm!" He let out a moan.

"Two silver stags, sir." Mao'er said.

Translation: "Two silver stags, my lord." Mao'er said.

He paid two silver stags.

He pushed the woman aside, felt two coins on himself, and flicked them one by one to her.

Translation: He pushed aside the woman on the other side, took out two coins from his person, and flicked them to her one by one.

"Not bad, I'm a grown-up too! Once Lord Bolton wins completely, I'll have a castle and become a true adult. What do you think of Winterfell? Hahaha, Lord Bolton might just give it to me." He laughed loudly.

Translation: "Not bad, I'm also a lord! Once Lord Bolton wins completely, I'll have a castle and become a true lord. What do you think of Winterfell? Hahaha, Lord Bolton might just give it to me." He laughed loudly.

Winterfell is fine, so it won't be given to you.

Translation: Winterfell is fine, so it won't be given to you.

Mao'er laughed as he flicked the two silver stags and went out.

Translation: Mao'er laughed as she flicked the two silver stags and left.

She pushed the cart, quickly retraced her steps, head down as she passed the moon pool, ignoring the voices calling her, then hid the cart beneath an deserted archway.

Translation: She pushed the cart, quickly returned the same way, lowered her head past Moon Pool, ignored the voices calling her from the side, and then hid the cart under an empty arch bridge.

By the canal, she took off Mao'er's coat, removed Mao'er's face, and tucked it into her own clothing, revealing the face of Arya Stark of Winterfell. Then, in the canal, she held her face up to the water, long face, short hair, looking like a boy.

Translation: By the canal, she took off Mao'er's coat, removed Mao'er's face, tucked it into her own clothes, revealing the face of Arya Stark of Winterfell, then she looked at her reflection in the canal water—long face, short hair, like a boy.

He scooped up some mud from the stones beside the canal, smeared it on his face, and gently rubbed it until he looked like a true boy.

Translation: He scooped up several clumps of mud from the stones beside the canal, smeared them on his face, gently rubbed them until he became a true boy.

All men must die.

Translation: All mortals must die.

She passed again through the red curtains, drew herself into a shadow beside a column, still as a picture. Making sure no one remained at the door, she slipped in swiftly like a snake, then followed the earlier path, turning this way and that, light as a feather.

Translation: She passed the red curtain again, shrank her body against a nearby wall pillar, still as a shadow. Making sure no one remained at the entrance, she slipped in swiftly like a snake. She followed the previous path, turning this way and that, light as a feather.

In the darkness beside the man's room, she settled, still as water. A few prostitutes passed by, but none noticed her in the dark. In the darkness she heard the various sounds from the brothel, lightly lifting curtain after curtain, soft as silk.

Translation: In the darkness beside the man's room, she calmed, still as water. A few prostitutes passed by, but none noticed her in the dark. In the darkness, she heard the various sounds from the brothel, gently lifting one curtain after another, soft as silk.

When she heard a sudden burst of laughter from several people, she slipped through the gap in the curtain, and the target was only a few meters away.

Translation: When she heard a sudden burst of laughter from several people, she flipped past the curtain blocking the gap, and the target was only a few meters away.

At that moment she heard her own violent heartbeat, wondering if those nearby could hear it too. Then she began to doubt whether what she was doing was right. She decided to wait until her heartbeat slowed before judging and acting.

Translation: At this moment she had heard her own violent heartbeat, wondering if those nearby could hear it too. Then she began to doubt whether what she was doing was right. She thought she would wait until her heartbeat slowed before judging and acting.

She watched the candlelight dance in the man's movements, swaying with the rise and fall of his voice. When he finally decided to change position, turning his back to her, she realized everyone had their backs to her. Her heart began to pound even harder than before.

Translation: She watched the candlelight dance in the man's movements, swaying with the rise and fall of his voice. When he finally decided to change his posture, turning his back to her, she realized everyone had their backs to her. Her heart began to beat more fiercely than before.

Fierce as a wolf.

Translation: Fierce as a wolf.

She stifled a howl and drove the oyster-opening dagger into the man's bare back; by the third thrust she could no longer keep her eyes open, and blood spattered across her face.

Translation: She stifled her howl, drove the dagger that had pried open the oyster into the man's bare back, and on the third thrust she found she could no longer keep her eyes open as blood spattered onto her face.

Good, he didn't howl either.

Translation: Good, he didn't howl either.

The women only started screaming after she put the dagger away.

Translation: The women only began to scream after she put away her dagger.

She lifted the curtain, wiped her face, then darted left and right through the passageway, swift as a rabbit.

Translation: She lifted the curtain, wiped her face, and darted left and right through the passageway, swift as a rabbit.

The woman's shout brought the brothel guards running from all sides. She collided with one, who lunged to grab her, but she slipped out from under Mao'er's cloak. The guard hurried after her, only to be tripped by a bench that Arya pulled aside, sending him sprawling. Slippery as an eel.

Translation: The woman's loud shout drew the brothel's guards, who came running from all sides. She collided with one of them, and he lunged to grab her, but she slipped out from under Mao'er's outer robe. The guards hurried to pursue, but Arya tripped them with a bench she pulled aside, and they fell to the ground, slippery as an eel.

Under the bright morning sun, she burst from the brothel, shoving aside or dodging the curious onlookers as she pushed through the crowd. Her blood‑smeared face would surely draw attention, so she couldn't keep sprinting in broad daylight. She leapt off the archway and ran toward a quieter, shaded spot.

Translation: Under the bright morning sun, she ran wildly out of the brothel, bumping aside or dodging the curious onlookers as she pushed through the crowd. Her blood‑smeared face would surely draw much attention, so she could not continue sprinting in broad daylight. She jumped off the arch bridge and ran toward a secluded, shaded spot.

The guards who had burst from the brothel chased after her, shouting loudly, and the onlookers finally began to wonder what had happened to the blood‑covered boy and the brothel.

Translation: The guards who had run out of the brothel closely followed, shouting loudly, and the onlookers finally began to wonder what had happened between the blood‑faced youth and the brothel.

After running down a dark lane, she ducked down, hid beneath a pile of bricks, and tried to keep her heart from leaping out of her chest.

Translation: After running down a dark lane, she ducked down, hid beneath a pile of bricks and stones, and suppressed her heart that was about to leap out.

She heard a few guards rush past, then turned onto the lane, melted into the dark alley, and stopped amid a heap of discarded stones, still as a shadow.

Translation: She heard several guards rush past, then turned onto the lane, merged into the dark alley, and stopped in the darkness among a heap of abandoned bricks and stones, still as a shadow.

She dared not go out, even if she felt a century had passed; she feared the guards were still waiting at the alley's entrance.

Translation: She dared not go out, even if she felt a century had passed; she feared the guards were still waiting at the alley's entrance.

The plain scent of the dark walls and rubble was comforting; she felt herself gradually calming. She closed her eyes, wanting to listen to the sounds around her.

Translation: The plain scent of the dark walls and rubble heap was comforting; she felt herself gradually calming here. She closed her eyes, wanting to listen to the sounds around her.

In the distance, a calling voice and the street's noisy clamor sounded like weeping and lament. Nearby, dark water collected high up, dripping onto the ground with a patter, accompanied by the faint chirps of unseen insects.

Translation: From afar came the lilting calls and the noisy street sounds, like weeping and lament. Nearby, dark water gathered at a height dripped down with a patter, and unknown insects chirped.

This is a safe place, she thought. She fell asleep.

Translation: This is a safe place, she thought. She fell asleep.

She realized she had turned into a wolf again. This was the first time she had changed into a wolf during daylight, yet she still couldn't see the sun. The thick fog outside was slowly lifting, but the forest remained dark and gloomy.

Translation: She realized she had turned into a wolf again. This was the first time she had transformed during daylight. Yet she still could not see the sun. The thick fog outside was slowly dissipating, but the forest in the mountains remained gloomy and dark.

She lay amid the warm breath of her kin. By day they needed a safe place to rest and digest their food, and the forest was perfect. Beside them lay an ancient track that no one had disturbed for ages.

Translation: She lay amid the warm breath of her kin. By day they needed a quiet place to rest and digest their food, and the forest was perfect for that. Beside them lay an ancient track that no one had disturbed for ages.

What a wonderful feeling! Her kin rolled in their fur, rustling the leaves; the wind from the plains swept through the forest, making it shiver and shake; occasionally a few birds passed by, bringing playful notes. This is the wolf's daylight!

Translation: What a wonderful feeling—her kin rolled their pelts, rustling the leaves, the wind from the plains sweeping through the forest made a soft shaking, and occasional birds passing by brought playful notes. This is the wolf's daytime!

Clip-clop, clip-clop—the sound of hooves on a distant forest trail reached her ears; she pricked them up, but the noise soon faded, so she lay down again. After a while she heard the clip‑clop of hooves once more.

Translation: Clip‑clop, clip‑clop— the vibration of horse hooves came from a forest trail far away; she pricked her ears, but the sound soon faded, so she lay down again. After a while she heard the clip‑clop of hooves once more.

The hoofbeats grew nearer. She finally decided to rise and see just who dared to approach.

Translation: The hoofbeats grew nearer. She finally decided to rise and see just who dared to be on the path.

She shook herself, rousing her sluggish, sleepy spirit. If it came to a fight, she would throw herself in fully; her father had once said, if you must fight, then fight to win.

Translation: She shook herself, striving to rouse her weary, sleepy spirit. If it came to battle, she must give her all; that girl's father had once said, if you must fight, then strive to win.

She heard a human voice. It was far off, like the low murmur of insects.

Translation: She heard human voices. Too distant, like the low murmur of insects.

The forest breeze swirled, and she couldn't tell whether she was upstream or downstream, whether she had spotted the enemy first or vice versa. She had already caught the scent of man and horse.

Translation: The forest breeze swirled; she did not know whether she was upstream or downstream, whether she would spot the enemy first or the enemy her. She had already caught the scent of people and horses.

The scent of man? It seemed familiar.

Translation: The scent of people? It seemed somewhat familiar.

She stepped lightly out of the woods onto the forest trail, and behind a massive oak she watched as three people on three horses, bearing three swords and a bow, slowly came into view.

Translation: She stepped lightly out of the forest onto the woodland trail, and behind a great oak tree she watched the figures slowly emerge—three people, three horses, three swords and a bow.

The people drew nearer, and she carefully assessed their scent.

Translation: As the people drew nearer, she carefully distinguished their scents.

There was a hint of recognition—yes, that was right.

Translation: Yes, there was some familiarity—indeed.

The horses began to nervously whinny and stomp; they had noticed too. Good.

Translation: The horses began to neigh nervously and stomp; they had noticed as well. Good.

Her kin had already slipped silently to take position behind them. She stepped out from behind the oak.

Translation: Her kin had already slipped silently behind them. She stepped out from behind the oak tree.

They drew their swords, and she bared her fangs.

Translation: They drew their swords, and she bared her fangs.

She saw the leader's shock, but she could not smell any fear from him.

Translation: She saw the leader's shock, but she could not smell his fear.

They stood there, facing each other.

Translation: They stood there in a standoff.

She let out a low growl, and her gray kin rushed at the two men behind. Good—prioritize the bigger one, leave the smaller for later.

Translation: She let out a low growl, and her gray kin rushed forward to the two at the rear. Good—prioritize the larger one, leave the smaller.

Most horses are timid creatures; under the kin's intimidation, this one reared up on its forelegs and neighed. The large knight, taken off guard, fell from his horse and cried out in terror. A kin snapped the hand that held his sword, but an arrow struck the horse through the body, leaving it swaying, clearly doomed. Another horse leapt over, dodging the smaller rider, but the rider lost his bow and, swinging his sword, cut a gash into the kin's hindquarters, eliciting a mournful howl.

Translation: Most horses are timid creatures; startled by the kin, it reared up on its forelegs and neighed. The large knight, taken off guard, fell from his horse and cried out in terror. A kin snapped his sword‑hand clean off, but an arrow struck the horse through the body, making it stagger—clearly it would not survive. Another horse leapt over, the small rider dodged it, but he lost his bow, then swung his sword, cutting a wound into the kinsman's rear, which let out a wail.

Two other kin seized the moment to bite through the strong man's neck. His horse fled the opposite way, and several kin gave chase. She wasn't sure they could catch such large prey, or outrun this enduring beast.

Translation: Two other kin seized the moment to bite through the strong man's neck. Yet his horse fled the opposite way, and several kin gave chase. She was unsure whether they could catch such large prey, or outrun this enduring creature.

The leading knight, whom she vaguely recognized, held his sword in his left hand and gently stroked his warhorse's flank with the back of his hand, continually soothing it.

Translation: The leading knight she vaguely recognized held his sword in his left hand, gently stroking his warhorse's flank with the back of his hand, continually soothing it.

He showed no fear, and she could smell it.

Translation: He felt no fear, and she could smell it.

"Let's charge forward!" she thought she could understand.

Translation: "Let's charge forward!" she thought she could understand.

He gripped his sword with his left hand, squeezed the horse with his legs, and the beast charged toward her. The small rider followed close behind on his mount.

Translation: He gripped his sword with his left hand, clamped his legs to the horse's belly, and the beast charged toward her; the small rider on horseback followed close behind.

He wore no plate armor; perhaps she could tear off one of his arms and then bite through his neck.

Translation: He wore no iron armor, so perhaps she could tear off one of his arms and then bite through his neck.

He gripped his long sword, lowered his body on the horse, embraced the horse's neck, and thrust at her. She barely dodged, lashed out with her claws, and left several bloody streaks on his arm.

Translation: He held his long sword, lowered his body on the horse, embraced its neck, and thrust at her. She sidestepped slightly, lashed out with her claws, and left several blood streaks on his arm.

The first round was barely adequate.

Translation: The first round was barely adequate.

She charged again, imagining she was slaying that Dothraki rider just as she would kill him.

Translation: She charged again, imagining she was killing him just as she would slay a Dothraki rider.

But he did not put all his thoughts on escaping; he turned sideways and again pointed his sword toward the direction she had lunged from. She had to adjust her stance and abandon this attack. She saw his sword clearly, there was a noticeable nick on it, but for any sword it's best not to lightly test its edge.

"Come here, you beast!" he shouted; she felt she could understand.

She bared her fangs. I am an ice plains wolf!

Thus she launched another attack, but she didn't need to attack him; she only needed to attack his horse. But he seemed to understand, completely merging horse and himself as a single defense, and his speed was not slow.

She had to give up another strike midway. She knew that in the end she would win. For the target she had her eye on, she had never lost; this left‑hand sword‑wielder was naturally no exception. Moreover, she had countless relatives nearby to support.

"Lu, you go first. Draw away the other wolves." She understood.

He followed the horse, completely without controlling direction, but his gaze always fixed on her.

She knew the opponent's weakness, took a side path, forced the horse to stop, or changed direction, then attacked his right side where he wasn't holding a sword.

The horse indeed suddenly stopped, but the knight remained firmly seated. She circled the horse, looking for an opening. But the knight guarded his weakness well with that notched sword.

She wasn't hungry. No need to risk injury for meat, and besides, he hadn't lost his composure; even if his speed were slow, he couldn't guarantee not to hurt her.

"Come on, beast!" he shouted.

She grinned, bared her fangs. I am an ice plains wolf!

She launched another attack, but in the midst of it she quickly adjusted direction, turned back to tear at the right hand. The fur felt the cool wind from the blade, but her claws again tore the knight's sleeve.

He had no right hand.

"Good beast!" he shouted, "Who the hell taught you that move!"

She let out a hiss.

"Beast! Come on!" he shouted, no matter how the horse turned, he always kept facing her.

She prepared to strike at the moment he turned his head sideways. Or wait for all her relatives to return before attacking; either way, the victor will be me. Cripple!

She seized the moment and struck. But he seemed to have anticipated, thrusting his broken sword toward her direction of attack.

"Haha, beast! I've seen ice plains wolves far larger than you; you're too slow!" he laughed.

She let out a low hiss.

"Are you that wolf's sister, haha!" he shouted.

The small‑sized rider in the distance had already fled out of sight; he had taken away her relatives. The large‑sized corpse was still slowly bleeding, she could smell the blood. You'll be the same!

She attacked again, same result.

"Haha, beast, what's your name?"

I am an ice plains wolf! My name is Namelia!

She felt furious, swore to fight to the death with this crippled knight, to settle him here unscathed, tear his throat, taste his blood.

She seized the next turning opportunity, varied her attack, thus leaving two deep gashes on his arm. Blood dripped down his arm, soiling his dirty horse‑pants.

"Haha, beast, is your master dead?" he shouted, "Do you know which ditch she died in?"

I must have your life! Look at you covered in blood, the victor will surely be me!

She let out a low growl, bared her fangs. Circling the horse, she forced the knight to reveal a crucial weakness, or waited for her relatives to return.

She attacked again. This time she left no wound on him!

"Haha, that's all you've got? Beast. Arya Stark dumped you, beast!"

She felt an unstoppable rage. But this rage was slowly squeezing her out of Namelia's body.

No no no, not possible, not this time! She thought, wait a moment, just a moment, until I kill him!

She woke at that moment.

She was still guarded by the dark brick wall, but already felt uncomfortable. She wasn't sure how long she'd slept. But the dream seemed like just an instant.

She carefully crawled out of the brick wall, step by step toward the dim alley; at this time gray clouds had covered the sky. She followed the side path of the alley and looked outward.

She found nothing.

Thus she washed the dried blood congealed on her face at a nearby sewage pool, then quickly turned onto the main road, returning along the original route to Moon Pond. She found her cart under the nearby arch bridge.

Her heart sank again—the cart had been pushed into the canal, as if mocking her concealment.

She knew the kitten's identity was coming to an end.