A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

will never give her that choice.”
    â€œYour father,” said Prince Oberyn, “may not live forever.”
    Something about the way he said it made the hairs on the back of Tyrion’s neck bristle. Suddenly he was mindful of Elia again, and all that Oberyn had said as they crossed the field of ashes.
He wants the head that spoke the words, not just the hand that swung the sword
. “It is not wise to speak such treasons in the Red Keep, my prince. The little birds are listening.”
    â€œLet them. Is it treason to say a man is mortal?
Valar morghulis
was how they said it in Valyria of old.
All men must die
. And the Doom came and proved it true.” The Dornishman went to the window to gaze out into the night. “It is being said that you have no witnesses for us.”
    â€œI was hoping one look at this sweet face of mine would be enough to persuade you all of my innocence.”
    â€œYou are mistaken, my lord. The Fat Flower of Highgarden is quite convinced of your guilt, and determined to see you die. His precious Margaery was drinking from that chalice too, as he has reminded us half a hundred times.”
    â€œAnd you?” said Tyrion.
    â€œMen are seldom as they appear. You look so very guilty that I am convinced of your innocence. Still, you will likely be condemned. Justice is in short supply this side of the mountains. There has been none for Elia, Aegon, or Rhaenys. Why should there be any for you? Perhaps Joffrey’s real killer was eaten by a bear. That seems to happen quite often in King’s Landing. Oh, wait, the bear was at Harrenhal, now I remember.”
    â€œIs that the game we are playing?” Tyrion rubbed at his scarred nose. He had nothing to lose by telling Oberyn the truth. “There
was
a bear at Harrenhal, and it did kill Ser Amory Lorch.”
    â€œHow sad for him,” said the Red Viper. “And for you. Do all noseless men lie so badly, I wonder?”
    â€œI am not lying. Ser Amory dragged Princess Rhaenys out from under her father’s bed and stabbed her to death. He had some men-at-arms with him, but I do not know their names.” He leaned forward. “It was Ser Gregor Clegane who smashed Prince Aegon’s head against a wall and raped your sister Elia with his blood and brains still on his hands.”
    â€œWhat is this, now? Truth, from a Lannister?” Oberyn smiled coldly. “Your father gave the commands, yes?”
    â€œNo.” He spoke the lie without hesitation, and never stopped to ask himself why he should.
    The Dornishman raised one thin black eyebrow. “Such a dutiful son. And such a very feeble lie. It was Lord Tywin who presented my sister’s children to King Robert all wrapped up in crimson Lannister cloaks.”
    â€œPerhaps you ought to have this discussion with my father. He was there. I was at the Rock, and still so young that I thought the thing between my legs was only good for pissing.”
    â€œYes, but you are here now, and in some difficulty, I would say. Your innocence may be as plain as the scar on your face, but it will not save you. No more than your father will.” The Dornish prince smiled. “But I might.”
    â€œYou?” Tyrion studied him. “You are one judge in three. How could you save me?”
    â€œNot as your judge. As your champion.”

JAIME
    A white book sat on a white table in a white room.
    The room was round, its walls of whitewashed stone hung with white woolen tapestries. It formed the first floor of White Sword Tower, a slender structure of four stories built into an angle of the castle wall overlooking the bay. The undercroft held arms and armor, the second and third floors the small spare sleeping cells of the six brothers of the Kingsguard.
    One of those cells had been his for eighteen years, but this morning he had moved his things to the topmost floor, which was given over entirely to the Lord Commander’s apartments. Those rooms were spare as well, though spacious; and they were above the outer walls, which meant he would have a view of the sea.
I will like that
, he thought.
The view, and all the rest
.
    As pale as the room, Jaime sat by the book in his Kingsguard whites, waiting for his Sworn Brothers. A longsword hung from his hip.
From the wrong hip
. Before he had always worn his sword on his left, and drawn it across his body when he unsheathed. He had shifted it to his right hip this morning, so as to be able