The Hedge Knight

George R. R. Martin's The Hedge Knight takes place a century before the events of A Song of Ice and Fire. Dunk, a young squire, picks up the sword and shield of his dead master and decides to begin a career as a knight. Calling himself Ser Duncan, he heads for a tournament where entering the lists could give his new identity public weight.

The tournament also exposes how little Dunk understands about the world he hopes to join. He needs a sponsor before he can compete, and his efforts among knights and nobles quickly produce both friends and enemies. Dunk is a capable fighter with a strong sense of honor, but skill and good intentions do not automatically persuade others that he is entitled to the name and standing of a true knight.

That uncertainty gives the story its central danger. Dunk must act according to the ideals he associates with knighthood even though his own status remains open to doubt. Each choice can affect people around him, turning a personal attempt to advance into a test with grave consequences. The Hedge Knight follows the distance between wearing a knight's arms and earning recognition through conduct, courage, and responsibility.