The trail is narrow, the wood is dim, The panther clings to the arching limb; And the lion's whelps are abroad at play, And I shall not join in the chase to-day.
Robb resisted stubbornly. Ser Rodrik's red bitch whelped again last week, he said. " It was a small litter, only two live pups. She'll have milk enough. "
His father tossed the antler to the side and cleansed his hands in the snow. I'm surprised she lived long enough to whelp, he said. His voice broke the spell.
" Is that the tale, now" ? Sandor Clegane laughed again. " As it happens, that's just what I meant to do with it. Feed a bunch of ugly peasants and their poxy whelps" .
" And a traitor, " the queen said, balking. " The Arbor would have declared for Renly with all the rest, except that Redwyne knew full well his whelps would suffer for it" .
" Do you blame me, my lord? Such a prize is not easily won. A nubile girl, I hear, and not hard to look upon. Good hips, good breasts, well made for whelping children" .
" Her and that squalling whelp of hers. I don't know which of them is noisier. The only time he ever stops crying is when she shoves a nipple in his mouth, and then she starts to sob" .