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Tywin’s late wife, so
twice related. An old man and a bit of a dullard, but he has a son, Ser Daven,
who is more formidable.”
    â€œThen let us hope it is the father and not the son who takes this army into
the field.”
    â€œWe have some time yet before we must face them. This lot will be sellswords,
freeriders, and green boys from the stews of Lannisport. Ser Stafford must see
that they are armed and drilled before he dare risk
battle . . . and make no mistake, Lord Tywin is not the
Kingslayer. He will not rush in heedless. He will wait patiently for Ser
Stafford to march before he stirs from behind the walls of Harrenhal.”
    â€œUnless . . .” said Catelyn.
    â€œYes?” Ser Brynden prompted.
    â€œUnless he
must
leave Harrenhal,” she said, “to face some other
threat.”
    Her uncle looked at her thoughtfully. “Lord Renly.”
    â€œ
King
Renly.” If she would ask help from the man, she would need to
grant him the style he had claimed for himself.
    â€œPerhaps.” The Blackfish smiled a dangerous smile. “He’ll want something,
though.”
    â€œHe’ll want what kings always want,” she said. “Homage.”

TYRION
    J anos Slynt was a butcher’s son, and he laughed like a man chopping meat.
“More wine?” Tyrion asked him.
    â€œI should not object,” Lord Janos said, holding out his cup. He was built
like a keg, and had a similar capacity. “I should not object at all. That’s a
fine red. From the Arbor?”
    â€œDornish.” Tyrion gestured, and his serving man poured. But for the
servants, he and Lord Janos were alone in the Small Hall, at a small candlelit
table surrounded by darkness. “Quite the find. Dornish wines are not often so
rich.”
    â€œRich,” said the big frog-faced man, taking a healthy gulp. He was not a man
for sipping, Janos Slynt. Tyrion had made note of that at once. “Yes, rich,
that’s the very word I was searching for, the
very
word. You have a
gift for words, Lord Tyrion, if I might say so. And you tell a droll tale.
Droll, yes.”
    â€œI’m pleased you think so . . . but I’m not a lord, as you
are. A simple
Tyrion
will suffice for me, Lord
Janos.”
    â€œAs you wish.” He took another swallow, dribbling wine on the front of his
black satin doublet. He was wearing a cloth-of-gold half cape fastened with a
miniature spear, its point enameled in dark red. And he was well and truly
drunk.
    Tyrion covered his mouth and belched politely. Unlike Lord Janos he had gone
easy on the wine, but he was very full. The

first thing he had done after taking up residence in the Tower of the Hand was
inquire after the finest cook in the city and take her into his service. This
evening they had supped on oxtail soup, summer greens tossed with pecans,
grapes, red fennel, and crumbled cheese, hot crab pie, spiced squash,
and quails drowned in butter. Each dish had come with its own wine. Lord Janos
allowed that he had never eaten half so well. “No doubt
that will change when
you take your seat in Harrenhal,” Tyrion said.
    â€œFor a certainty. Perhaps I should ask this cook of yours to enter my service,
what do you say?”
    â€œWars have been fought over less,” he said, and they both had a good long
laugh. “You’re a bold man to take Harrenhal for your seat. Such a grim place,
and
huge . . .
costly to maintain. And some say
cursed as well.”
    â€œShould I fear a pile of stone?” He hooted at the notion. “A bold man, you
said. You must be bold, to rise. As I have. To Harrenhal, yes! And why not? You
know. You are a bold man too, I sense. Small, mayhap, but
bold.
”
    â€œYou are too kind. More wine?”
    â€œNo. No, truly, I . . . oh, gods be damned,
yes.
Why
not? A bold man drinks his fill!”
    â€œTruly.” Tyrion filled Lord Slynt’s cup to the brim. “I have been glancing
over the names you put forward to take your place as Commander of the City
Watch.”
    â€œGood men. Fine men. Any of the six will do, but I’d choose Allar Deem. My
right arm. Good good man. Loyal. Pick

him and you won’t be sorry. If he pleases the king.”
    â€œTo be sure.” Tyrion took a small sip of his own wine. “I had been
considering Ser Jacelyn Bywater. He’s been captain on the Mud Gate for