A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

there. The Warden of the West. He has no need of me. Lancel does.”
    â€œAs you say, uncle.” Jaime’s head was pounding to the same beat as the drum.
Dead, dead, dead.
“You would do well to keep your knights around you.”
    His uncle gave him a cool stare. “Is that a threat, ser?”
    A threat?
The suggestion took him aback. “A caution. I only meant . . . Sandor is dangerous.”
    â€œI was hanging outlaws and robber knights when you were still shitting in your swaddling clothes. I am not like to go off and face Clegane and Dondarrion by myself, if that is what you fear, ser. Not every Lannister is a fool for glory.”
    Why, nuncle, I believe you are talking about me.
“Addam Marbrand could deal with these outlaws just as well as you. So could Brax, Banefort, Plumm, any of these others. But none would make a good King’s Hand.”
    â€œYour sister knows my terms. They have not changed. Tell her that, the next time you are in her bedchamber.” Ser Kevan put his heels into his courser and galloped ahead, putting an abrupt end to their conversation.
    Jaime let him go, his missing sword hand twitching. He had hoped against hope that Cersei had somehow misunderstood, but plainly that was wrong.
He knows about the two of us. About Tommen and Myrcella. And Cersei knows he knows.
Ser Kevan was a Lannister of Casterly Rock. He could not believe that she would ever do him harm, but . . .
I was wrong about Tyrion, why not about Cersei?
When sons were killing fathers, what was there to stop a niece from ordering an uncle slain?
An inconvenient uncle, who knows too much.
Though perhaps Cersei was hoping that the Hound might do her work for her. If Sandor Clegane cut down Ser Kevan, she would not need to bloody her own hands.
And he will, if they should meet.
Kevan Lannister had once been a stout man with a sword, but he was no longer young, and the Hound . . .
    The column had caught up to him. As his cousin rode past, flanked by his two septons, Jaime called out to him. “Lancel. Coz. I wanted to congratulate you upon your marriage. I only regret that my duties do not permit me to attend.”
    â€œHis Grace must be protected.”
    â€œAnd will be. Still, I hate to miss your bedding. It is your first marriage and her second, I understand. I’m sure my lady will be pleased to show you what goes where.”
    The bawdy remark drew a laugh from several nearby lords and a disapproving look from Lancel’s septons. His cousin squirmed uncomfortably in the saddle. “I know enough to do my duty as a husband, ser.”
    â€œThat’s just the thing a bride wants on her wedding night,” said Jaime. “A husband who knows how to do his
duty.
”
    A flush crept up Lancel’s cheeks. “I pray for you, cousin. And for Her Grace the queen. May the Crone lead her to her wisdom and the Warrior defend her.”
    â€œWhy would Cersei need the Warrior? She has me.” Jaime turned his horse about, his white cloak snapping in the wind.
The Imp was lying. Cersei would sooner have Robert’s corpse between her legs than a pious fool like Lancel. Tyrion, you evil bastard, you should have lied about someone more likely.
He galloped past his lord father’s funeral wayn toward the city in the distance.
    The streets of King’s Landing seemed almost deserted as Jaime Lannister made his way back to the Red Keep atop Aegon’s High Hill. The soldiers who had crowded the city’s gambling dens and pot shops were largely gone now. Garlan the Gallant had taken half the Tyrell strength back to Highgarden, and his lady mother and grandmother had gone with him. The other half had marched south with Mace Tyrell and Mathis Rowan to invest Storm’s End.
    As for the Lannister host, two thousand seasoned veterans remained encamped outside the city walls, awaiting the arrival of Paxter Redwyne’s fleet to carry them across Blackwater Bay to Dragonstone. Lord Stannis appeared to have left only a small garrison behind him when he sailed north, so two thousand men would be more than sufficient, Cersei had judged.
    The rest of the westermen had gone back to their wives and children, to rebuild their homes, plant their fields, and bring in one last harvest. Cersei had taken Tommen round their camps before they marched, to let them cheer their little king. She had never looked more beautiful than she did that day, with a smile on her lips and the