Arnolf Karstak woke again screaming. Nightmares. They had been getting worse and worse, ever since he found out about the cannibal cook. It was always the same a blade, blood and a man's scream. Arnolf had spoken to a maester and had been given dream wine but it did not work.

He heard a knocking at the door, it was a page. He spoke with a quavering voice "M'lord, it's the barber, he's been arrested" Arnolf sighed "I'll be down to see the constable in a minute." Arnolf dressed in his finery, most of Karhold knew he was a dedicated follower of fashion and always tried to look his best. Soft breeches, fine leather boots and his tunic was made of lambswool.

He walked through the castle, passed the lichyard and passed the smithy, into the western tower. It had been used a prison tower for nigh on 200 years and the further you went up the tower the more important the person had. Arnolf climbed the spiral staircase and went into the constables office. The constable was young, one of his son's sworn men. He had fresh black hair and his eyes were a deep brown. He looked rugged and battle-worn but the only fight he had seen was a skirmish with some wildlings 10 years ago. The boy began to speak "Well m'lord, I'm guessing your here about the barber? We found two bodies in his room, they were... his children" Arnolf began to mutter "His children, are you sure?" The constable nodded and said "He confessed to everything after a visit to our interrogation room." Arnolf said "Very well, I shall speak to him and then if he must die, he shall die.

Arnolf turned around and walked down the stairs, most of the cells were empty. The cannibal cook had been sent to the Wall two weeks ago and the village elders cell had been cleaned the day after Arnolf killed him. He found the barber on the 3rd level, in one of the smaller cells. He was curled up a pile of rags and straw, his bucket was overfilling was shit and the barber was crying. Arnolf coughed and the man ran at the bars, crying "Please, Please m'lord. They were sick, it were for the best. I slit their throats when they were sleeping, they didn't feel no pain m'lord. You know me, Gage. I'm Gage. I cut your hair two weeks ago. Please."

Arnolf looked at the man and began to speak slowly "I understand. It was a gift of mercy. I am no stranger to it lad. I've seen many a battle in my time and know all about how it's best to kill a dying man quickly than let him suffer. I have given the gift 3 times in my life. One was a man at arms with an arrow in his gut, the other two were my father and my brother." Gage's jaw swung open. "What, m'lord you're like me, we're both kinslayers." Arnolf punched the man "No, you would do not to speak of this, it was years ago. I was 25 and my lord father had seen 70 name days. The man was past his prime and one day he broke his hip. The maester said if he lived, he would not walk again. A cripple is no lord boy. I killed my father for House Karstark, I killed by brother because he plotted to bring Karhold over to the Black Dragon in the Blackfyre rebellion. All I did was for House Karstark. But what you did, a barber's son is nobody. You did not help anyone but yourself. You know my maester cares for all of Karhold's ill. For this crime I sentence you to death. You will die the way your sons died. With a knife wound to the neck."

Arnolf had said it. In 42 years he had never told anyone his secret. He grabbed the barber and took him out into the courtyard. The bailey was a song of blunted steel kissing blunted steel. Tormund was fending off the attacks of 4 different men of various skill. He saw Arnolf and boomed out "The Lord is in the Bailey, put up your blades." The men all dropped to their knees bar Tormund who began to laugh "Well, If I knew I could make men drop to their knees with a simple rule, I would of pushed to be King of the Free Folk. Who's this chicken shit?" Arnolf chuckled "The barber, I've got to execute him, so pass me a knife. Good and sharp"

Arnolf took a blade and then pushed the barber to his knees. He grabbed the barber's long black hair and exposed the neck. He took his knife and dragged it across the throat. The blood covered the floor and the barber slumped down. Arnolf saw the man and thought of the blood he had spilled. His father, his brother, countless wildlings and outlaws, the cook, the elder and now the barber. It was too many for one old man.

Arnolf held the knife and said "People of Karhold. I too am guilty, I killed my father and my brother. But everything I did, I did it for you. They would have brought down the scorn of the dragon on us, and left us weak and open to attack." Arnolf grabbed the knife and plunged it deep into his neck, he saw the world go black and heard the voice of his father "Son, come to me. I forgive you my boy. Let us be together at last."

Arnolf Karstark, Lord of Karhold had died, and found peace.