A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

it.”
    â€œI will take that as high praise.”
    â€œWhat are you, Varys?” Tyrion found he truly wanted to know. “A spider, they
say.”
    â€œSpies and informers are seldom loved, my lord. I am but a loyal servant
of the realm.”
    â€œAnd a eunuch. Let us not forget that.”
    â€œI seldom do.”
    â€œPeople have called me a halfman too, yet I think the gods have been kinder to
me. I am small, my legs are twisted, and women do not look upon me with any
great yearning . . . yet I’m still a man. Shae is not the first
to grace my bed, and one day I may take a wife and sire a son. If the gods are
good, he’ll look like his uncle and think like his father. You have no such
hope to sustain you. Dwarfs are a jape of the gods . . . but
men make eunuchs. Who cut you, Varys? When and why? Who
are
you,
truly?”
    The eunuch’s smile never flickered, but his eyes glittered with something that
was not laughter. “You are kind to ask, my lord, but my tale is long and sad,
and we have treasons to discuss.” He drew a parchment from the sleeve of his
robe. “The master of the King’s Galley
White Hart
plots to slip
anchor three days hence to offer his sword and ship to Lord
Stannis.”
    Tyrion sighed. “I suppose we must make some sort of bloody lesson out of the
man?”
    â€œSer Jacelyn could arrange for him to vanish, but a trial before the king
would help assure the continued loyalty of the other captains.”
    And keep my royal nephew occupied as well.
“As you say. Put him down
for a dose of Joffrey’s justice.”
    Varys made a mark on the parchment. “Ser Horas and Ser

Hobber Redwyne have bribed a guard to let them out a postern gate, the night
after next. Arrangements have been made for them to sail on the Pentoshi galley
Moonrunner,
disguised as oarsmen.”
    â€œCan we
keep
them on those oars for a few years, see how they fancy
it?” He smiled. “No, my sister would be distraught to lose such treasured
guests. Inform Ser Jacelyn. Seize the man they bribed and explain what an honor
it is to serve as a brother of the Night’s Watch. And have men posted around
the
Moonrunner,
in case the Redwynes find a second guard short of
coin.”
    â€œAs you will.” Another mark on the parchment. “Your man Timett slew a
wineseller’s son this evening, at a gambling den on the Street of Silver. He
accused him of cheating at tiles.”
    â€œWas it true?”
    â€œOh, beyond a doubt.”
    â€œThen the honest men of the city owe Timett a debt of gratitude. I shall see
that he has the king’s thanks.”
    The eunuch gave a nervous giggle and made another mark. “We also have a sudden
plague of holy men. The comet has brought forth all manner of queer priests,
preachers, and prophets, it would seem. They beg in the winesinks and pot-shops
and foretell doom and destruction to anyone who stops to listen.”
    Tyrion shrugged. “We are close on the three hundredth year since Aegon’s
Landing, I suppose it is only to be expected. Let them rant.”
    â€œThey are spreading fear, my lord.”
    â€œI thought that was your job.”
    Varys covered his mouth with his hand. “You are very cruel to say so.
One last matter. Lady Tanda gave a small supper last night. I have the menu and
the guest list for your inspection. When the wine was poured, Lord Gyles rose
to lift a cup to the king, and Ser Balon Swann was heard to remark,
‘We’ll need three cups for that.’
Many laughed . . .”
    Tyrion raised a hand. “Enough. Ser Balon made a jest. I am not interested in
treasonous table talk, Lord Varys.”
    â€œYou are as wise as you are gentle, my lord.” The parchment vanished up the
eunuch’s sleeve. “We both have much to do. I shall leave you.”
    When the eunuch had departed, Tyrion sat for a long time watching the candle
and wondering how his sister would take the news of Janos Slynt’s dismissal.
Not happily, if he was any judge, but beyond sending an angry protest to Lord
Tywin in Harrenhal, he did not see what Cersei could hope to do about it.
Tyrion had the City Watch now, plus a hundred-and-a-half fierce
clansmen and a growing force of sellswords recruited by Bronn. He would seem
well protected.
    Doubtless Eddard Stark thought the same.
    The Red Keep was dark and still