A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

“Tell them King Joffrey shares their fears and will do
all he can for them.”
    â€œThey want bread, not promises.”
    â€œIf I give them bread today, on the morrow I’ll have twice as many at the
gates. Who else?”
    â€œA black brother down from the Wall. The steward says he brought some rotted
hand in a jar.”
    Tyrion smiled wanly. “I’m surprised no one ate it. I suppose I ought to see
him. It’s not Yoren, perchance?”
    â€œNo. Some knight. Thorne.”
    â€œSer
Alliser
Thorne?” Of all the black brothers he’d met on the
Wall, Tyrion Lannister had liked Ser Alliser Thorne the least. A bitter,
mean-spirited man with too great a sense of his own worth. “Come to think on
it, I don’t believe I care to see Ser Alliser just now. Find him a snug cell
where no one has changed the rushes in a year, and let his hand rot a little
more.”
    Bronn snorted laughter and went his way, while Tyrion struggled up the
serpentine steps. As he limped across the outer

yard, he heard the portcullis rattling up. His sister and a large party were
waiting by the main gate.
    Mounted on her white palfrey, Cersei towered high above him, a goddess in
green. “Brother,” she called out, not warmly. The queen had not been pleased
by the way he’d dealt with Janos Slynt.
    â€œYour Grace.” Tyrion bowed politely. “You look lovely this morning.” Her
crown was gold, her cloak ermine. Her retinue sat their mounts behind her: Ser
Boros Blount of the Kingsguard, wearing white scale and his favorite scowl; Ser
Balon Swann, bow slung from his silver-inlay saddle; Lord Gyles Rosby, his
wheezing cough worse than ever; Hallyne the Pyromancer of the Alchemists’
Guild; and the queen’s newest favorite, their cousin Ser Lancel Lannister, her
late husband’s squire upjumped to knight at his widow’s insistence. Vylarr and
twenty guardsmen rode escort. “Where are you bound this day, sister?” Tyrion
asked.
    â€œI’m making a round of the gates to inspect the new scorpions and spitfires. I
would not have it thought that all of us are as indifferent to the city’s
defense as you seem to be.” Cersei fixed him with those clear green eyes of
hers, beautiful even in their contempt. “I am informed that Renly Baratheon
has marched from Highgarden. He is making his way up the roseroad, with all his
strength behind him.”
    â€œVarys gave me the same report.”
    â€œHe could be here by the full moon.”
    â€œNot at his present leisurely pace,” Tyrion assured her. “He feasts every
night in a different castle, and holds court at

every crossroads he passes.”
    â€œAnd every day, more men rally to his banners. His host is now said to be a
hundred thousand strong.”
    â€œThat seems rather high.”
    â€œHe has the power of Storm’s End and Highgarden behind him, you little fool,”
Cersei snapped down at him. “All the Tyrell bannermen but for the Redwynes,
and you have me to thank for that. So long as I hold those poxy twins of his,
Lord Paxter will squat on the Arbor and count himself fortunate to be out of
it.”
    â€œA pity you let the Knight of Flowers slip through your pretty fingers. Still,
Renly has other concerns besides us. Our father at Harrenhal, Robb Stark at
Riverrun . . . were I he, I would do much as he is doing. Make
my progress, flaunt my power for the realm to see, watch, wait. Let my rivals
contend while I bide my own sweet time. If Stark defeats us, the south will
fall into Renly’s hands like a windfall from the gods, and he’ll not have lost
a man. And if it goes the other way, he can descend on us while we are
weakened.”
    Cersei was not appeased. “I want you to make Father bring his army to King’s
Landing.”
    Where it will serve no purpose but to make you feel safe.
“When have
I ever been able to
make
Father do anything?”
    She ignored the question. “And when do you plan to free Jaime? He’s worth a
hundred of you.”
    Tyrion grinned crookedly. “Don’t tell Lady Stark, I beg you. We don’t have a
hundred of me to trade.”
    â€œFather must have been mad to send you. You’re worse than useless.” The
queen jerked on her reins and wheeled her palfrey around. She rode out the gate
at a brisk trot, ermine cloak streaming behind her.