A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

have named yourselves the Six Old Women.” He slid the dark sword back into its scabbard and left them, shouldering Brune aside as if he were not there. Alayne listened to his footsteps recede.
    Anya Waynwood and Horton Redfort exchanged a look. Hunter drained his wine cup and held it out to be refilled. “Lord Baelish,” Ser Symond said, “you must forgive us that display.”
    â€œMust I?” Littlefinger’s voice had grown cold. “You brought him here, my lords.”
    Bronze Yohn said, “It was never our intent—”
    â€œ
You brought him here.
I would be well within my rights to call my guards and have all of you arrested.”
    Hunter lurched to his feet so wildly that he almost knocked the flagon out of Alayne’s hands. “You gave us safe conduct!”
    â€œYes. Be grateful that I have more honor than some.” Petyr sounded as angry as she had ever heard him. “I have read your
declaration
and heard your demands. Now hear mine. Remove your armies from this mountain. Go home and leave my son in peace. Misrule there has been, I will not deny it, but that was Lysa’s work, not mine. Grant me but a year, and with Lord Nestor’s help I promise that none of you shall have any cause for grievance.”
    â€œSo you say,” said Belmore. “Yet how shall we trust you?”
    â€œYou dare call
me
untrustworthy? It was not me who bared steel at a parley. You write of defending Lord Robert even as you deny him food. That must end. I am no warrior, but I
will
fight you if you do not lift this siege. There are other lords besides you in the Vale, and King’s Landing will send men as well. If it is war you want, say so now and the Vale will bleed.”
    Alayne could see the doubt blooming in the eyes of the Lords Declarant. “A year is not so long a time,” Lord Redfort said uncertainly. “Mayhaps . . . if you gave assurances . . .”
    â€œNone of us wants war,” acknowledged Lady Waynwood. “Autumn wanes, and we must gird ourselves for winter.”
    Belmore cleared his throat. “At the end of this year . . .”
    â€œ. . . if I have not set the Vale to rights, I shall willingly step down as Lord Protector,” Petyr promised them.
    â€œI call that more than fair,” Lord Nestor Royce put in.
    â€œThere must be no reprisals,” insisted Templeton. “No talk of treason or rebellion. You must swear to that as well.”
    â€œGladly,” said Petyr. “It is friends I want, not foes. I shall pardon all of you, in writing if you wish. Even Lyn Corbray. His brother is a good man, there is no need to bring down shame upon a noble House.”
    Lady Waynwood turned to her fellow Lords Declarant. “My lords, perhaps we might confer?”
    â€œThere is no need. It is plain that he has won.” Bronze Yohn’s grey eyes considered Petyr Baelish. “I like it not, but it would seem you have your year. Best use it well, my lord. Not all of us are fooled.” He opened the door so forcefully that he all but wrenched it off its hinges.
    Later there was a feast of sorts, though Petyr was forced to make apologies for the humble fare. Robert was trotted out in a doublet of cream and blue, and played the little lord quite graciously. Bronze Yohn was not there to see; he had already departed from the Eyrie to begin the long descent, as had Ser Lyn Corbray before him. The other lords remained with them till morn.
    He bewitched them,
Alayne thought as she lay abed that night listening to the wind howl outside her windows. She could not have said where the suspicion came from, but once it crossed her mind it would not let her sleep. She tossed and turned, worrying at it like a dog at some old bone. Finally, she rose and dressed herself, leaving Gretchel to her dreams.
    Petyr was still awake, scratching out a letter. “Alayne,” he said. “My sweet. What brings you here so late?”
    â€œI had to know. What will happen in a year?”
    He put down his quill. “Redfort and Waynwood are old. One or both of them may die. Gilwood Hunter will be murdered by his brothers. Most likely by young Harlan, who arranged Lord Eon’s death. In for a penny, in for a stag, I always say. Belmore is corrupt and can be bought. Templeton I shall befriend. Bronze Yohn Royce will continue to be hostile, I fear, but so long as he stands alone he is not so much a threat.”
    â€œAnd