A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

Tommen’s parentage. Cersei dared not fan the fires by insisting that he drape his bride in Lannister crimson, so she yielded as gracefully as she could. But the sight of all that gold and onyx still filled her with resentment.
The more we give these Tyrells, the more they demand of us.
    When all the vows were spoken, the king and his new queen stepped outside the sept to accept congratulations. “Westeros has two queens now, and the young one is as beautiful as the old one,” boomed Lyle Crakehall, an oaf of a knight who oft reminded Cersei of her late and unlamented husband. She could have slapped him. Gyles Rosby made to kiss her hand, and only succeeded in coughing on her fingers. Lord Redwyne kissed her on one cheek and Mace Tyrell on both. Grand Maester Pycelle told Cersei that she had not lost a son, but rather gained a daughter. At least she was spared Lady Tanda’s tearful embraces. None of the Stokeworth women had appeared, and for that much the queen was grateful.
    Amongst the last was Kevan Lannister. “I understand you mean to leave us for another wedding,” the queen said to him.
    â€œHardstone has cleared the broken men from Darry castle,” he replied. “Lancel’s bride awaits us there.”
    â€œWill your lady wife be joining you for the nuptials?”
    â€œThe riverlands are still too dangerous. Vargo Hoat’s scum remain abroad, and Beric Dondarrion has been hanging Freys. Is it true that Sandor Clegane has joined him?”
    How does he know that?
“Some say. Reports are confused.” The bird had come last night, from a septry on an island hard by the mouth of the Trident. The nearby town of Saltpans had been savagely raided by a band of outlaws, and some of the survivors claimed a roaring brute in a hound’s head helm was amongst the raiders. Supposedly he’d killed a dozen men and raped a girl of twelve. “No doubt Lancel will be eager to hunt down Clegane and Lord Beric both, to restore the king’s peace to the riverlands.”
    Ser Kevan stared into her eyes for a moment. “My son is not the man to deal with Sandor Clegane.”
    We agree on that much, at least.
“His father might be.”
    Her uncle’s mouth grew hard. “If my service is not required at the Rock . . .”
    Your service was required here.
Cersei had named her cousin Damion Lannister her castellan for the Rock, and another cousin, Ser Daven Lannister, the Warden of the West.
Insolence has its price, Uncle.
“Bring us Sandor’s head, and I know His Grace will be most grateful. Joff may have liked the man, but Tommen was always afraid of him . . . with good reason, it would seem.”
    â€œWhen a dog goes bad, the fault lies with his master,” Ser Kevan said. Then he turned and walked away.
    Jaime escorted her to the Small Hall, where the feast was being readied. “I blame you for all this,” she whispered as they walked. “
Let them wed,
you said. Margaery should be mourning Joffrey, not marrying his brother. She should be as sick with grief as I am. I do not believe she is a maid. Renly had a cock, didn’t he? He was Robert’s brother, he
surely
had a cock. If that disgusting old crone thinks that I will allow my son to—”
    â€œYou will be rid of Lady Olenna soon enough,” Jaime broke in quietly. “She’s returning to Highgarden on the morrow.”
    â€œSo she says.” Cersei did not trust any Tyrell promise.
    â€œShe’s leaving,” he insisted. “Mace is taking half the Tyrell strength to Storm’s End, and the other half will be going back to the Reach with Ser Garlan to make good his claim on Brightwater. A few more days, and the only roses left in King’s Landing will be Margaery and her ladies and a few guardsmen.”
    â€œAnd Ser Loras. Or have you forgotten your
Sworn Brother?
”
    â€œSer Loras is a knight of the Kingsguard.”
    â€œSer Loras is so Tyrell he pisses rosewater. He should never have been given a white cloak.”
    â€œHe would not have been my choice, I’ll grant you. No one troubled to consult me. Loras will do well enough, I think. Once a man puts on that cloak, it changes him.”
    â€œIt certainly changed
you,
and not for the better.”
    â€œI love you too, sweet sister.” He held the door for her, and walked her to the high table and her seat beside the king. Margaery was on the other side of