A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

“It is always moving, always changing . . . like a book whose letters dance and shift even as you try to read them. It takes years of training to see the shapes beyond the flames, and more years still to learn to tell the shapes of what will be from what may be or what was. Even then it comes hard,
hard
. You do not understand that, you men of the sunset lands.” Davos asked her then how it was that Ser Axell had learned the trick of it so quickly, but to that she only smiled enigmatically and said, “Any cat may stare into a fire and see red mice at play.”
    He had not lied to his king’s men, about that or any of it. “The red woman may see what we intend,” he warned them.
    â€œWe should start by killing her, then,” urged Lewys the Fishwife. “I know a place where we could waylay her, four of us with sharp swords . . .”
    â€œYou’d doom us all,” said Davos. “Maester Cressen tried to kill her, and she knew at once. From her flames, I’d guess. It seems to me that she is very quick to sense any threat to her own person, but surely she cannot see
everything
. If we ignore her, perhaps we might escape her notice.”
    â€œThere is no honor in hiding and sneaking,” objected Ser Triston of Tally Hill, who had been a Sunglass man before Lord Guncer went to Melisandre’s fires.
    â€œIs it so honorable to burn?” Davos asked him. “You saw Lord Sunglass die. Is that what you want? I don’t need men of honor now. I need
smugglers
. Are you with me, or no?”
    They were. Gods be good, they were.
    Maester Pylos was leading Edric Storm through his sums when Davos pushed open the door. Ser Andrew was close behind him; the others had been left to guard the steps and cellar door. The maester broke off. “That will be enough for now, Edric.”
    The boy was puzzled by the intrusion. “Lord Davos, Ser Andrew. We were doing sums.”
    Ser Andrew smiled. “I hated sums when I was your age, coz.”
    â€œI don’t mind them so much. I like history best, though. It’s full of tales.”
    â€œEdric,” said Maester Pylos, “run and get your cloak now. You’re to go with Lord Davos.”
    â€œI am?” Edric got to his feet. “Where are we going?” His mouth set stubbornly. “I won’t go pray to the Lord of Light. I am a Warrior’s man, like my father.”
    â€œWe know,” Davos said. “Come, lad, we must not dawdle.”
    Edric donned a thick hooded cloak of undyed wool. Maester Pylos helped him fasten it, and pulled the hood up to shadow his face. “Are you coming with us, Maester?” the boy asked.
    â€œNo.” Pylos touched the chain of many metals he wore about his neck. “My place is here on Dragonstone. Go with Lord Davos now, and do as he says. He is the King’s Hand, remember. What did I tell you about the King’s Hand?”
    â€œThe Hand speaks with the king’s voice.”
    The young maester smiled. “That’s so. Go now.”
    Davos had been uncertain of Pylos. Perhaps he resented him for taking old Cressen’s place. But now he could only admire the man’s courage.
This could mean his life as well
.
    Outside the maester’s chambers, Ser Gerald Gower waited by the steps. Edric Storm looked at him curiously. As they made their descent he asked, “Where are we going, Lord Davos?”
    â€œTo the water. A ship awaits you.”
    The boy stopped suddenly. “A ship?”
    â€œOne of Salladhor Saan’s. Salla is a good friend of mine.”
    â€œI shall go with you, Cousin,” Ser Andrew assured him. “There’s nothing to be frightened of.”
    â€œI am not
frightened
,” Edric said indignantly. “Only . . . is Shireen coming too?”
    â€œNo,” said Davos. “The princess must remain here with her father and mother.”
    â€œI have to see her then,” Edric explained. “To say my farewells. Otherwise she’ll be sad.”
    Not so sad as if she sees you burn
. “There is no time,” Davos said. “I will tell the princess that you were thinking of her. And you can write her, when you get to where you’re going.”
    The boy frowned. “Are you sure I must go? Why would my uncle send me from Dragonstone? Did I displease him? I never meant to.” He got that stubborn look again. “I want to see my uncle. I want to see King