A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

here at court, so long as their fathers commit no
new treasons.”
    Cleos Frey looked ill. “My lord Hand,” he said, “Lord Stark will never
consent to these terms.”
    We never expected he would, Cleos.
“Tell him that we have raised
another great host at Casterly Rock, that soon it will march on him from the
west while my lord father advances from the east. Tell him that he stands
alone, without hope of allies.

Stannis and Renly Baratheon war against each other, and the Prince of Dorne has
consented to wed his son Trystane to the Princess Myrcella.” Murmurs of
delight and consternation alike arose from the gallery and the back of the
hall.
    â€œAs to this of my cousins,” Tyrion went on, “we offer Harrion Karstark and
Ser Wylis Manderly for Willem Lannister, and Lord Cerwyn and Ser Donnel Locke
for your brother Tion. Tell Stark that two Lannisters are worth four northmen
in any season.” He waited for the laughter to die. “His father’s bones he
shall have, as a gesture of Joffrey’s good faith.”
    â€œLord Stark asked for his sisters and his father’s sword as well,” Ser Cleos
reminded him.
    Ser Ilyn Payne stood mute, the hilt of Eddard Stark’s greatsword rising over
one shoulder. “Ice,” said Tyrion. “He’ll have that when he makes his peace
with us, not before.”
    â€œAs you say. And his sisters?”
    Tyrion glanced toward Sansa, and felt a stab of pity as he said, “Until such
time as he frees my brother Jaime, unharmed, they shall remain here as
hostages. How well they are treated depends on him.”
And if the gods are
good, Bywater will find Arya alive, before Robb learns she’s gone
missing.
    â€œI shall bring him your message, my lord.”
    Tyrion plucked at one of the twisted blades that sprang from the arm of the
throne.
And now the thrust.
“Vylarr,” he called.
    â€œMy lord.”
    â€œThe men Stark sent are sufficient to protect Lord Eddard’s

bones, but a Lannister should have a Lannister escort,” Tyrion declared. “Ser
Cleos is the queen’s cousin, and mine. We shall sleep more easily if you would
see him safely back to Riverrun.”
    â€œAs you command. How many men should I take?”
    â€œWhy, all of them.”
    Vylarr stood like a man made of stone. It was Grand Maester Pycelle who rose,
gasping, “My lord Hand, that cannot . . . your father, Lord
Tywin himself, he sent these good men to our city to protect Queen Cersei and
her children . . .”
    â€œThe Kingsguard and the City Watch protect them well enough. The gods speed
you on your way, Vylarr.”
    At the council table Varys smiled knowingly, Littlefinger sat feigning boredom,
and Pycelle gaped like a fish, pale and confused. A herald stepped forward.
“If any man has other matters to set before the King’s Hand, let him speak now
or go forth and hold his silence.”
    â€œ
I
will be heard.” A slender man all in black pushed his way
between the Redwyne twins.
    â€œSer
Alliser!
” Tyrion exclaimed. “Why, I had no notion that you’d
come to court. You should have sent me word.”
    â€œI have, as well you know.” Thorne was as prickly as his name, a spare,
sharp-featured man of fifty, hard-eyed and hard-handed, his black hair streaked
with grey. “I have been shunned, ignored, and left to wait like some baseborn
servant.”
    â€œTruly? Bronn, this was not well done. Ser Alliser and I are old friends. We
walked the Wall together.”
    â€œSweet Ser Alliser,” murmured Varys, “you must not think too harshly
of us. So many seek our Joffrey’s grace, in these troubled and tumultuous
times.”
    â€œMore troubled than you know, eunuch.”
    â€œTo his face we call him
Lord
Eunuch,” quipped
Littlefinger.
    â€œHow may we be of help to you, good brother?” Grand Maester Pycelle asked in
soothing tones.
    â€œThe Lord Commander sent me to His Grace the king,” Thorne answered. “The
matter is too grave to be left to servants.”
    â€œThe king is playing with his new crossbow,” Tyrion said. Ridding himself of
Joffrey had required only an ungainly Myrish crossbow that threw three quarrels
at a time, and nothing would do but that he try it at once. “You can speak to
servants or hold your silence.”
    â€œAs you will,”