A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

gift.”
    â€œA gift?”
    â€œA gift of news. Dragonmother, Stormborn, I tell you true, Robert Baratheon is
dead.”
    Outside her walls, dusk was settling over Qarth, but a sun had risen in Dany’s
heart. “Dead?” she repeated. In her lap, black Drogon
hissed,
and
pale smoke rose before her face like a veil. “You are certain? The Usurper is
dead?”
    â€œSo it is said in Oldtown, and Dorne, and Lys, and all the other ports where
we have called.”
    He sent me poisoned wine, yet I live and he is gone.
“What was the
manner of his death?” On her shoulder, pale Viserion flapped wings the color
of cream, stirring the air.
    â€œTorn by a monstrous boar whilst hunting in his kingswood, or so I heard in
Oldtown. Others say his queen betrayed him, or his brother, or Lord Stark who
was his Hand. Yet all the tales

agree in this: King Robert is dead and in his grave.”
    Dany had never looked upon the Usurper’s face, yet seldom a day had passed when
she had not thought of him. His great shadow had lain across her since the hour
of her birth, when she came forth amidst blood and storm into a world where she
no longer had a place. And now this ebony stranger had lifted that
shadow.
    â€œThe boy sits the Iron Throne now,” Ser Jorah said.
    â€œKing Joffrey reigns,” Quhuru Mo agreed, “but the Lannisters rule. Robert’s
brothers have fled King’s Landing. The talk is, they mean to claim the crown.
And the Hand has fallen, Lord Stark who was King Robert’s friend. He has been
seized for treason.”
    â€œNed Stark a traitor?” Ser Jorah snorted. “Not bloody likely. The Long
Summer will come again before that one would besmirch his precious
honor.”
    â€œWhat honor could he have?” Dany said. “He was a traitor to his true king,
as were these Lannisters.” It pleased her to hear that the Usurper’s dogs were
fighting amongst themselves, though she was unsurprised. The same thing
happened when her Drogo died, and his great
khalasar
tore itself to
pieces. “My brother is dead as well, Viserys who was the true king,” she told
the Summer Islander. “Khal Drogo my lord husband killed him with a crown of
molten gold.” Would her brother have been any wiser, had he known that the
vengeance he had prayed for was so close at hand?
    â€œThen I grieve for you, Dragonmother, and for bleeding Westeros, bereft of its
rightful king.”
    Beneath Dany’s gentle fingers, green Rhaegal stared at the

stranger with eyes of molten gold. When his mouth opened, his teeth gleamed
like black needles. “When does your ship return to Westeros,
Captain?”
    â€œNot for a year or more, I fear. From here the
Cinnamon Wind
sails
east, to make the trader’s circle round the Jade Sea.”
    â€œI see,” said Dany, disappointed. “I wish you fair winds and good trading,
then. You have brought me a precious gift.”
    â€œI have been amply repaid, great queen.”
    She puzzled at that. “How so?”
    His eyes gleamed. “I have seen dragons.”
    Dany laughed. “And will see more of them one day, I hope. Come to me in King’s
Landing when I am on my father’s throne, and you shall have a great
reward.”
    The Summer Islander promised he would do so, and kissed her lightly on the
fingers as he took his leave. Jhiqui showed him out, while Ser Jorah Mormont
remained.
    â€œKhaleesi,”
the knight said when they were alone, “I should not
speak so freely of your plans, if I were you. This man will spread the tale
wherever he goes now.”
    â€œLet him,” she said. “Let the whole world know my purpose. The Usurper is
dead, what does it matter?”
    â€œNot every sailor’s tale is true,” Ser Jorah cautioned, “and even if Robert
be truly dead, his son rules in his place. This changes nothing,
truly.”
    â€œThis changes
everything.
” Dany rose abruptly. Screeching, her
dragons uncoiled and spread their wings. Drogon flapped and

clawed up to the lintel over the archway. The others skittered across the
floor, wingtips scrabbling on the marble. “Before, the Seven Kingdoms were
like my Drogo’s
khalasar,
a hundred thousand made as one by his
strength. Now they fly to pieces, even as the
khalasar
did after my
khal
lay dead.”
    â€œThe high lords have always fought. Tell me