A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

task.”
    â€œI once told Ned Stark that when you find yourself naked with an ugly woman,
the only thing to do is close your eyes and get on with it.” Littlefinger
steepled his fingers and gazed into Tyrion’s mismatched eyes. “Give me a
fortnight to conclude my affairs and arrange for a ship to carry me to
Gulltown.”
    â€œThat will do nicely.”
    His guest rose. “This has been quite the pleasant morning, Lannister. And
profitable . . . for both of us, I trust.” He bowed, his cape
a swirl of yellow as he strode out the door.
    Two,
thought Tyrion.
    He went up to his bedchamber to await Varys, who would soon

be making an appearance. Evenfall, he guessed. Perhaps as late as moonrise,
though he hoped not. He hoped to visit Shae tonight. He was pleasantly
surprised when Galt of the Stone Crows informed him not an hour later that the
powdered man was at his door. “You are a cruel man, to make the Grand Maester
squirm so,” the eunuch scolded. “The man cannot abide a secret.”
    â€œIs that a crow I hear, calling the raven black? Or would you sooner not hear
what I’ve proposed to Doran Martell?”
    Varys giggled. “Perhaps my little birds have told me.”
    â€œHave they, indeed?” He wanted to hear this. “Go on.”
    â€œThe Dornishmen thus far have held aloof from these wars. Doran Martell has
called his banners, but no more. His hatred for House Lannister is well known,
and it is commonly thought he will join Lord Renly. You wish to dissuade
him.”
    â€œAll this is obvious,” said Tyrion.
    â€œThe only puzzle is what you might have offered for his allegiance. The prince
is a sentimental man, and he still mourns his sister Elia and her sweet
babe.”
    â€œMy father once told me that a lord never lets sentiment get in the way of
ambition . . . and it happens we have an empty seat on the
small council, now that Lord Janos has taken the black.”
    â€œA council seat is not to be despised,” Varys admitted, “yet will it be
enough to make a proud man forget his sister’s murder?”
    â€œWhy forget?” Tyrion smiled. “I’ve promised to deliver his sister’s killers,
alive or dead, as he prefers.
After
the war is done, to be
sure.”
    Varys gave him a shrewd look. “My little birds tell me that Princess
Elia cried a . . . certain name . . . when they
came for her.”
    â€œIs a secret still a secret if everyone knows it?” In Casterly Rock, it was
common knowledge that Gregor Clegane had killed Elia and her babe. They said he
had raped the princess with her son’s blood and brains still on his
hands.
    â€œ
This
secret is your lord father’s sworn man.”
    â€œMy father would be the first to tell you that fifty thousand Dornishmen are
worth one rabid dog.”
    Varys stroked a powdered cheek. “And if Prince Doran demands the blood of the
lord who gave the command as well as the knight who did the
deed . . .”
    â€œRobert Baratheon led the rebellion. All commands came from him, in the
end.”
    â€œRobert was not at King’s Landing.”
    â€œNeither was Doran Martell.”
    â€œSo. Blood for his pride, a chair for his ambition. Gold and land, that goes
without saying. A sweet offer . . . yet sweets can be poisoned.
If I were the prince, something more would I require before I should reach for
this honeycomb. Some token of good faith, some sure safeguard against
betrayal.” Varys smiled his slimiest smile. “Which one will you give him, I
wonder?”
    Tyrion sighed. “You know, don’t you?”
    â€œSince you put it that way—yes. Tommen. You could scarcely offer
Myrcella to Doran Martell and Lysa Arryn both.”
    â€œRemind me never to play these guessing games with you

again. You cheat.”
    â€œPrince Tommen is a good boy.”
    â€œIf I pry him away from Cersei and Joffrey while he’s still young, he may even
grow to be a good man.”
    â€œAnd a good king?”
    â€œJoffrey is king.”
    â€œAnd Tommen is heir, should anything ill befall His Grace. Tommen, whose
nature is so sweet, and notably . . . tractable.”
    â€œYou have a suspicious mind, Varys.”
    â€œI shall take that as a tribute, my lord. In any case, Prince Doran will
hardly be insensible of the great honor you do him.