A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

much.” Cersei refused to think about the dead whore in his bed. “I know they are together now.”
    â€œSo I pray.” Ser Kevan studied her face for a long moment before he replied. “You ask much of me, Cersei.”
    â€œNo more than my father did.”
    â€œI am tired.” Her uncle reached for his wine cup and took a swallow. “I have a wife I have not seen in two years, a dead son to mourn, another son about to marry and assume a lordship. Castle Darry must be made strong again, its lands protected, its burned fields plowed and planted anew. Lancel needs my help.”
    â€œAs does Tommen.” Cersei had not expected Kevan to require coaxing.
He never played coy with Father.
“The realm needs you.”
    â€œThe realm. Aye. And House Lannister.” He sipped his wine again. “Very well. I will remain and serve His Grace . . .”
    â€œVery good,” she started to say, but Ser Kevan raised his voice and bulled right over her.
    â€œ. . . so long as you name me regent as well as Hand and take yourself back to Casterly Rock.”
    For half a heartbeat Cersei could only stare at him. “
I
am the regent,” she reminded him.
    â€œYou were. Tywin did not intend that you continue in that role. He told me of his plans to send you back to the Rock and find a new husband for you.”
    Cersei could feel her anger rising. “He spoke of such, yes. And I told him it was not my wish to wed again.”
    Her uncle was unmoved. “If you are resolved against another marriage, I will not force it on you. As to the other, though . . . you are the Lady of Casterly Rock now. Your place is there.”
    How dare you?
she wanted to scream. Instead, she said, “I am also the Queen Regent. My place is with my son.”
    â€œYour father thought not.”
    â€œMy father is dead.”
    â€œTo my grief, and the woe of all the realm. Open your eyes and look about you, Cersei. The kingdom is in ruins. Tywin might have been able to set matters aright, but . . .”
    â€œ
I
shall set matters aright!” Cersei softened her tone. “With your help, Uncle. If you will serve me as faithfully as you served my father—”
    â€œYou are not your father. And Tywin always regarded Jaime as his rightful heir.”
    â€œ
Jaime
. . . Jaime has taken vows. Jaime never thinks, he laughs at everything and everyone and says whatever comes into his head. Jaime is a handsome fool.”
    â€œAnd yet he was your first choice to be the King’s Hand. What does that make you, Cersei?”
    â€œI told you, I was sick with grief, I did not think—”
    â€œNo,” Ser Kevan agreed. “Which is why you should return to Casterly Rock and leave the king with those who do.”
    â€œThe king is my son!”
Cersei rose to her feet.
    â€œAye,” her uncle said, “and from what I saw of Joffrey, you are as unfit a mother as you are a ruler.”
    She threw the contents of her wine cup full in his face.
    Ser Kevan rose with a ponderous dignity. “Your Grace.” Wine trickled down his cheeks and dripped from his close-cropped beard. “With your leave, might I withdraw?”
    â€œBy what right do you presume to give
me
terms? You are no more than one of my father’s household knights.”
    â€œI hold no lands, that is true. But I have certain incomes, and chests of coin set aside. My own father forgot none of his children when he died, and Tywin knew how to reward good service. I feed two hundred knights and can double that number if need be. There are freeriders who will follow my banner, and I have the gold to hire sellswords. You would be wise not to take me lightly, Your Grace . . . and wiser still not to make of me a foe.”
    â€œAre you
threatening
me?”
    â€œI am counseling you. If you will not yield the regency to me, name me your castellan for Casterly Rock and make either Mathis Rowan or Randyll Tarly the Hand of the King.”
    Tyrell bannermen, both of them.
The suggestion left her speechless.
Is he bought?
she wondered.
Has he taken Tyrell gold to betray House Lannister?
    â€œMathis Rowan is sensible, prudent, well liked,” her uncle went on, oblivious. “Randyll Tarly is the finest soldier in the realm. A poor Hand for peacetime, but with Tywin dead there’s no better man to finish this war. Lord Tyrell cannot take offense if you choose one of his own bannermen as Hand.