A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

open the door . . . and came face-to-face with a tall,
lantern-jawed man in black breastplate and gold cloak. Strapped to the stump of
his right wrist was an iron hand. “Janos,” he said, deep-set eyes glinting
under a prominent brow ridge and a shock of salt-and-pepper hair. Six gold
cloaks moved quietly into the Small Hall behind him as Janos Slynt backed
away.
    â€œLord Slynt,” Tyrion called out, “I believe you know Ser Jacelyn Bywater,
our new Commander of the City Watch.”
    â€œWe have a litter waiting for you, my lord,” Ser Jacelyn told Slynt. “The
docks are dark and distant, and the streets are not safe by night.
Men.”
    As the gold cloaks ushered out their onetime commander,

Tyrion called Ser Jacelyn to his side and handed him a roll of parchment.
“It’s a long voyage, and Lord Slynt will want for company. See that these six
join him on the
Summer’s Dream.
”
    Bywater glanced over the names and smiled. “As you will.”
    â€œThere’s one,” Tyrion said quietly. “Deem. Tell the captain it would not be
taken amiss if that one should happen to be swept overboard before they reach
Eastwatch.”
    â€œI’m told those northern waters are very stormy, my lord.” Ser Jacelyn bowed
and took his leave, his cloak rippling behind him. He trod on Slynt’s
cloth-of-gold cape on his way.
    Tyrion sat alone, sipping at what remained of the fine sweet Dornish wine.
Servants came and went, clearing the dishes from the table. He told them to
leave the wine. When they were done, Varys came gliding into the hall, wearing
flowing lavender robes that matched his smell. “Oh, sweetly done, my good
lord.”
    â€œThen why do I have this bitter taste in my mouth?” He pressed his fingers
into his temples. “I told them to throw Allar Deem into the sea. I am sorely
tempted to do the same with you.”
    â€œYou might be disappointed by the result,” Varys replied. “The storms come
and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep
on paddling. Might I trouble you for a taste of the wine that Lord Slynt
enjoyed so much?”
    Tyrion waved at the flagon, frowning.
    Varys filled a cup. “Ah. Sweet as summer.” He took another sip. “I hear the
grapes singing on my tongue.”
    â€œI wondered what that noise was. Tell the grapes to keep

still, my head is about to split. It was my sister. That was what the
oh-so-loyal Lord Janos refused to say.
Cersei
sent the gold cloaks to
that brothel.”
    Varys tittered nervously. So he had known all along.
    â€œYou left that part out,” Tyrion said accusingly.
    â€œYour own sweet sister,” Varys said, so grief-stricken he looked close to
tears. “It is a hard thing to tell a man, my lord. I was fearful how you might
take it. Can you forgive me?”
    â€œNo,” Tyrion snapped. “Damn you. Damn
her.
” He could not touch
Cersei, he knew. Not yet, not even if he’d wanted to, and he was far from
certain that he did. Yet it rankled, to sit here and make a mummer’s show of
justice by punishing the sorry likes of Janos Slynt and Allar Deem, while his
sister continued on her savage course. “In future, you will tell me what you
know, Lord Varys.
All
of what you know.”
    The eunuch’s smile was sly. “That might take rather a long time, my good lord.
I know quite a lot.”
    â€œNot enough to save this child, it would seem.”
    â€œAlas, no. There was another bastard, a boy, older. I took steps to see him
removed from harm’s way . . . but I confess, I never dreamed
the babe would be at risk. A baseborn girl, less than a year old, with a whore
for a mother. What threat could she pose?”
    â€œShe was Robert’s,” Tyrion said bitterly. “That was enough for Cersei, it
would seem.”
    â€œYes. It is grievous sad. I must blame myself for the poor sweet babe and her
mother, who was so young and loved the king.”
    â€œDid she?” Tyrion had never seen the dead girl’s face, but in his mind
she was Shae and Tysha both. “Can a whore truly love anyone, I wonder? No,
don’t answer. Some things I would rather not know.” He had settled Shae in a
sprawling stone-and-timber manse, with its own well and stable and garden; he
had given her servants to see to her wants, a white bird