A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

the lion for the rose?
If so, he will regret it.
“Who else?”
    â€œThe Summer Islander in his feathered cloak. How could I have forgotten him, with his skin as black as ink? Others come to pay court to her cousins. Elinor is promised to the Ambrose boy, but loves to flirt, and Megga has a new suitor every fortnight. Once she kissed a potboy in the kitchen. I have heard talk of her marrying Lady Bulwer’s brother, but if Megga were to choose for herself, she would sooner have Mark Mullendore, I am certain.”
    Cersei laughed. “The butterfly knight who lost his arm on the Blackwater? What good is half a man?”
    â€œMegga thinks him sweet. She has asked Lady Margaery to help her find a monkey for him.”
    â€œA monkey.” The queen did not know what to say to that.
Sparrows and monkeys. Truly, the realm is going mad.
“What of our brave Ser Loras? How often does he call upon his sister?”
    â€œMore than any of the others.” When Taena frowned, a tiny crease appeared between her dark eyes. “Every morn and every night he visits, unless duty interferes. Her brother is devoted to her, they share everything with . . . oh . . .” For a moment, the Myrish woman looked almost shocked. Then a smile spread across her face. “I have had a most
wicked
thought, Your Grace.”
    â€œBest keep it to yourself. The hill is thick with sparrows, and we all know how sparrows abhor wickedness.”
    â€œI have heard they abhor soap and water too, Your Grace.”
    â€œPerhaps too much prayer robs a man of his sense of smell. I shall be sure to ask His High Holiness.”
    The draperies swayed back and forth in a wash of crimson silk. “Orton told me that the High Septon has no name,” Lady Taena said. “Can that be true? In Myr we all have names.”
    â€œOh, he had a name
once.
They all do.” The queen waved a hand dismissively. “Even septons born of noble blood go only by their given names once they have taken their vows. When one of them is elevated to
High
Septon, he puts aside that name as well. The Faith will tell you he no longer has any need of a man’s name, for he has become the avatar of the gods.”
    â€œHow do you distinguish one High Septon from another?”
    â€œWith difficulty. One has to say, ‘the fat one,’ or ‘the one before the fat one,’ or ‘the old one who died in his sleep.’ You can always winkle out their birth names if you like, but they take umbrage if you use them. It reminds them that they were born ordinary men, and they do not like that.”
    â€œMy lord husband tells me this new one was born with filth beneath his fingernails.”
    â€œSo I suspect. As a rule the Most Devout elevate one of their own, but there have been exceptions.” Grand Maester Pycelle had informed her of the history, at tedious length. “During the reign of King Baelor the Blessed a simple stonemason was chosen as High Septon. He worked stone so beautifully that Baelor decided he was the Smith reborn in mortal flesh. The man could neither read nor write, nor recall the words of the simplest of prayers.” Some still claimed that Baelor’s Hand had the man poisoned to spare the realm embarrassment. “After that one died, an eight-year-old boy was elevated, once more at King Baelor’s urging. The boy worked miracles, His Grace declared, though even his little healing hands could not save Baelor during his final fast.”
    Lady Merryweather gave a laugh. “Eight years old? Perhaps my son could be High Septon. He is almost seven.”
    â€œDoes he pray a lot?” the queen asked.
    â€œHe prefers to play with swords.”
    â€œA real boy, then. Can he name all seven gods?”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œI shall have to take him under consideration.” Cersei did not doubt that there were any number of boys who would do more honor to the crystal crown than the wretch on whom the Most Devout had chosen to bestow it.
This is what comes of letting fools and cowards rule themselves. Next time, I will choose their master for them.
And the next time might not be long in coming, if the new High Septon continued to annoy her. Baelor’s Hand had little to teach Cersei Lannister where such matters were concerned.
    â€œClear the way!”
Ser Osmund Kettleblack was shouting.
“Make way for the Queen’s Grace!”
    The litter began to slow, which