A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

Mormont’s own steward and squire. He was chosen for that duty because the Lord Commander saw much promise in him. As do I.”
    â€œPromise?” said Slynt. “Well, promise may turn false. Qhorin Halfhand’s blood is on his hands. Mormont trusted him, you say, but what of that? I know what it is to be betrayed by men you trusted. Oh, yes. And I know the ways of wolves as well.” He pointed at Jon’s face. “Your father died a traitor.”
    â€œMy father was murdered.” Jon was past caring what they did to him, but he would not suffer any more lies about his father.
    Slynt purpled. “Murder? You insolent pup. King Robert was not even cold when Lord Eddard moved against his son.” He rose to his feet; a shorter man than Mormont, but thick about the chest and arms, with a gut to match. A small gold spear tipped with red enamel pinned his cloak at the shoulder. “Your father died by the sword, but he was highborn, a King’s Hand. For you, a noose will serve. Ser Alliser, take this turncloak to an ice cell.”
    â€œMy lord is wise.” Ser Alliser seized Jon by the arm.
    Jon yanked away and grabbed the knight by the throat with such ferocity that he lifted him off the floor. He would have throttled him if the Eastwatch men had not pulled him off. Thorne staggered back, rubbing the marks Jon’s fingers had left on his neck. “You see for yourselves, brothers. The boy is a wildling.”

TYRION
    W hen dawn broke, he found he could not face the thought of food.
By evenfall I may stand condemned
. His belly was acid with bile, and his nose itched. Tyrion scratched at it with the point of his knife.
One last witness to endure, then my turn
. But what to do? Deny everything? Accuse Sansa and Ser Dontos? Confess, in the hope of spending the rest of his days on the Wall? Let the dice fly and pray the Red Viper could defeat Ser Gregor Clegane?
    Tyrion stabbed listlessly at a greasy grey sausage, wishing it were his sister.
It is bloody cold on the Wall, but at least I would be shut of Cersei
. He did not think he would make much of a ranger, but the Night’s Watch needed clever men as well as strong ones. Lord Commander Mormont had said as much, when Tyrion had visited Castle Black.
There are those inconvenient vows, though
. It would mean the end of his marriage and whatever claim he might ever have made for Casterly Rock, but he did not seem destined to enjoy either in any case. And he seemed to recall that there was a brothel in a nearby village.
    It was not a life he’d ever dreamed of, but it was life. And all he had to do to earn it was trust in his father, stand up on his little stunted legs, and say, “Yes, I did it, I confess.” That was the part that tied his bowels in knots. He almost wished he
had
done it, since it seemed he must suffer for it anyway.
    â€œMy lord?” said Podrick Payne. “They’re here, my lord. Ser Addam. And the gold cloaks. They wait without.”
    â€œPod, tell me true . . . do you think I did it?”
    The boy hesitated. When he tried to speak, all he managed to produce was a weak sputter.
    I am doomed
. Tyrion sighed. “No need to answer. You’ve been a good squire to me. Better than I deserved. Whatever happens, I thank you for your leal service.”
    Ser Addam Marbrand waited at the door with six gold cloaks. He had nothing to say this morning, it seemed.
Another good man who thinks me a kinslayer
. Tyrion summoned all the dignity he could find and waddled down the steps. He could feel them all watching him as he crossed the yard; the guards on the walls, the grooms by the stables, the scullions and washerwomen and serving girls. Inside the throne room, knights and lordlings moved aside to let them through, and whispered to their ladies.
    No sooner had Tyrion taken his place before the judges than another group of gold cloaks led in Shae.
    A cold hand tightened round his heart.
Varys betrayed her
, he thought. Then he remembered.
No. I betrayed her myself. I should have left her with Lollys. Of course they’d question Sansa’s maids, I’d do the same
. Tyrion rubbed at the slick scar where his nose had been, wondering why Cersei had bothered.
Shae knows nothing that can hurt me
.
    â€œThey plotted it together,” she said, this girl he’d loved. “The Imp and Lady Sansa plotted it after the Young Wolf died. Sansa wanted revenge for her brother and Tyrion