A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

Qyburn . . . gods be good, Cersei, he rode with
Vargo Hoat.
The Citadel
stripped him of his chain!
”
    â€œThe grey sheep. Qyburn has made himself most useful to me. And he is loyal, which is more than I can say of mine own kin.”
    The crows will feast upon us all if you go on this way, sweet sister.
“Cersei, listen to yourself. You are seeing dwarfs in every shadow and making foes of friends. Uncle Kevan is not your enemy.
I
am not your enemy.”
    Her face twisted in fury. “I begged you for your help. I went down on my knees to you, and
you refused me!
”
    â€œMy vows . . .”
    â€œ. . . did not stop you slaying Aerys. Words are wind. You could have had me, but you chose a cloak instead. Get out.”
    â€œSister . . .”
    â€œ
Get out,
I said. I am sick of looking at that ugly stump of yours.
Get out!
” To speed him on his way, she heaved her wine cup at his head. She missed, but Jaime took the hint.
    Evenfall found him sitting alone in the common room of White Sword Tower, with a cup of Dornish red and the White Book. He was turning pages with the stump of his sword hand when the Knight of Flowers entered, removed his cloak and swordbelt and hung them on a wall peg next to Jaime’s.
    â€œI saw you in the yard today,” said Jaime. “You rode well.”
    â€œBetter than
well,
surely.” Ser Loras poured himself a cup of wine, and took a seat across the half-moon table.
    â€œA more modest man might have answered ‘My lord is too kind,’ or ‘I had a good mount.’”
    â€œThe horse was adequate, and my lord is as kind as I am modest.” Loras waved at the book. “Lord Renly always said that books were for maesters.”
    â€œThis one is for us. The history of every man who has ever worn a white cloak is written here.”
    â€œI have glanced at it. The shields are pretty. I prefer books with more illuminations. Lord Renly owned a few with drawings that would turn a septon blind.”
    Jaime had to smile. “There’s none of that here, ser, but the histories will open your eyes. You would do well to know about the lives of those who went before.”
    â€œI do. Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, Ser Ryam Redwyne, the Greatheart, Barristan the Bold . . .”
    â€œ. . . Gwayne Corbray, Alyn Connington, the Demon of Darry, aye. You will have heard of Lucamore Strong as well.”
    â€œSer Lucamore the Lusty?” Ser Loras seemed amused. “Three wives and thirty children, was it? They cut his cock off. Shall I sing the song for you, my lord?”
    â€œAnd Ser Terrence Toyne?”
    â€œBedded the king’s mistress and died screaming. The lesson is, men who wear white breeches need to keep them tightly laced.”
    â€œGyles Greycloak? Orivel the Open-Handed?”
    â€œGyles was a traitor, Orivel a coward. Men who shamed the white cloak. What is my lord suggesting?”
    â€œLittle and less. Don’t take offense where none was meant, ser. How about Long Tom Costayne?”
    Ser Loras shook his head.
    â€œHe was a Kingsguard knight for sixty years.”
    â€œWhen was that? I’ve never—”
    â€œSer Donnel of Duskendale, then?”
    â€œI may have heard the name, but—”
    â€œAddison Hill? The White Owl, Michael Mertyns? Jeffory Norcross? They called him Neveryield. Red Robert Flowers? What can you tell me of them?”
    â€œFlowers is a bastard name. So is Hill.”
    â€œYet both men rose to command the Kingsguard. Their tales are in the book. Rolland Darklyn is in here too. The youngest man ever to serve in the Kingsguard, until me. He was given his cloak on a battlefield and died within an hour of donning it.”
    â€œHe can’t have been very good.”
    â€œGood enough. He died, but his king lived. A lot of brave men have worn the white cloak. Most have been forgotten.”
    â€œMost deserve to be forgotten. The heroes will always be remembered. The best.”
    â€œThe best and the worst.”
So one of us is like to live in song.
“And a few who were a bit of both. Like him.” He tapped the page he had been reading.
    â€œWho?” Ser Loras craned his head around to see. “Ten black pellets on a scarlet field. I do not know those arms.”
    â€œThey belonged to Criston Cole, who served the first Viserys and the second Aegon.” Jaime closed the White Book. “They called him