A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

running after her brother, and the dwarf picked her up by the
waist and spun her in a circle, squealing.
    When he lowered her back to the ground, the little man kissed her lightly on
the brow and came waddling across the yard toward Joffrey. Two of his men
followed close behind him; a black-haired

black-eyed sellsword who moved like a stalking cat, and a gaunt youth with an
empty socket where one eye should have been. Tommen and Myrcella trailed after
them.
    The dwarf went to one knee before the king. “Your Grace.”
    â€œYou,” Joffrey said.
    â€œMe,” the Imp agreed, “although a more courteous greeting might be in order,
for an uncle and an elder.”
    â€œThey said you were dead,” the Hound said.
    The little man gave the big one a look. One of his eyes was green, one was
black, and both were cool. “I was speaking to the king, not to his
cur.”
    â€œ
I’m
glad you’re not dead,” said Princess Myrcella.
    â€œWe share that view, sweet child.” Tyrion turned to Sansa. “My lady, I am
sorry for your losses. Truly, the gods are cruel.”
    Sansa could not think of a word to say to him. How could he be sorry for her
losses? Was he mocking her? It wasn’t the gods who’d been cruel, it was
Joffrey.
    â€œI am sorry for your loss as well, Joffrey,” the dwarf said.
    â€œWhat loss?”
    â€œYour royal father? A large fierce man with a black beard; you’ll recall him
if you try. He was king before you.”
    â€œOh,
him.
Yes, it was very sad, a boar killed him.”
    â€œIs that what ‘they’ say, Your Grace?”
    Joffrey frowned. Sansa felt that she ought to say something. What was it that
Septa Mordane used to tell her?
A lady’s armor is courtesy,
that was
it. She donned her armor and

said, “I’m sorry my lady mother took you captive, my lord.”
    â€œA great many people are sorry for that,” Tyrion replied, “and before I am
done, some may be a deal
sorrier . . . yet I thank you for the
sentiment. Joffrey, where might I find your mother?”
    â€œShe’s with my council,” the king answered. “Your brother Jaime keeps losing
battles.” He gave Sansa an angry look, as if it were
her
fault.
“He’s been taken by the Starks and we’ve lost Riverrun and now her stupid
brother is calling himself a king.”
    The dwarf smiled crookedly. “All sorts of people are calling themselves kings
these days.”
    Joff did not know what to make of that, though he looked suspicious and out of
sorts. “Yes. Well. I am pleased you’re not dead, Uncle. Did you bring me a
gift for my name day?”
    â€œI did. My wits.”
    â€œI’d sooner have Robb Stark’s head,” Joff said with a sly glance at Sansa.
“Tommen, Myrcella, come.”
    Sandor Clegane lingered behind a moment. “I’d guard that tongue of yours,
little man,” he warned, before he strode off after his liege.
    Sansa was left with the dwarf and his monsters. She tried to think of what else
she might say. “You hurt your arm,” she managed at last.
    â€œOne of your northmen hit me with a morningstar during the battle on the Green
Fork. I escaped him by falling off my horse.” His grin turned into something
softer as he studied her face. “Is it grief for your lord father that makes
you so sad?”
    â€œMy father was a traitor,” Sansa said at once. “And my brother and
lady mother are traitors as well.” That reflex she had learned quickly. “I am
loyal to my beloved Joffrey.”
    â€œNo doubt. As loyal as a deer surrounded by wolves.”
    â€œLions,” she whispered, without thinking. She glanced about nervously, but
there was no one close enough to hear.
    Lannister reached out and took her hand, and gave it a squeeze. “I am only a
little lion, child, and I vow, I shall not savage you.” Bowing, he said, “But
now you must excuse me. I have urgent business with queen and
council.”
    Sansa watched him walk off, his body swaying heavily from side to side with
every step, like something from a grotesquerie.
He speaks more gently than
Joffrey,
she thought,
but the queen spoke to me gently too. He’s
still a Lannister, her brother and Joff’s uncle, and no friend.
Once she
had loved Prince Joffrey with all her heart, and admired and trusted his