A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

pray?”
    â€œThe queen gave me the strongwine! Your own father Lord Tywin, when I was
named the king’s squire, he told me to obey her in everything.”
    â€œDid he tell you to fuck her too?”
Look at him. Not quite so tall, his
features not so fine, and his hair is sand instead of spun gold, yet
still . . . even a poor copy of Jaime is sweeter than an empty
bed, I suppose.
“No, I thought not.”
    â€œI never meant . . . I only did as I was bid,
I . . .”
    â€œ. . . hated every instant of it, is that what you would have me
believe? A high place at court, knighthood, my sister’s legs opening for you at
night, oh, yes, it must have been terrible for you.” Tyrion pushed himself to
his feet. “Wait here. His Grace will want to hear this.”
    The defiance went from Lancel all at once. The young knight fell to his knees a
frightened boy. “Mercy, my lord, I beg you.”
    â€œSave it for Joffrey. He likes a good beg.”
    â€œMy lord, it was your sister’s bidding, the queen, as you said, but His
Grace . . . he’d never understand . . .”
    â€œWould you have me keep the truth from the king?”
    â€œFor my father’s sake! I’ll leave the city, it will be as

if it never happened! I swear, I will end it . . .”
    It was hard not to laugh. “I think not.”
    Now the lad looked lost. “My lord?”
    â€œYou heard me. My father told you to obey my sister? Very well, obey her. Stay
close to her side, keep her trust, pleasure her as often as she requires it. No
one need ever know . . . so long as you keep faith with me. I
want to know what Cersei is doing. Where she goes, who she sees, what they talk
of, what plans she is hatching. All. And you will be the one to tell me, won’t
you?”
    â€œYes, my lord.” Lancel spoke without a moment’s hesitation. Tyrion liked
that. “I will. I swear it. As you command.”
    â€œRise.” Tyrion filled the second cup and pressed it on him. “Drink to our
understanding. I promise, there are no boars in the castle that I know of.”
Lancel lifted the cup and drank, albeit stiffly. “Smile, cousin. My sister is
a beautiful woman, and it’s all for the good of the realm. You could do well
out of this. Knighthood is nothing. If you’re clever, you’ll have a lordship
from me before you’re done.” Tyrion swirled the wine in his cup. “We want
Cersei to have every faith in you. Go back and tell her I beg her forgiveness.
Tell her that you frightened me, that I want no conflict between us, that
henceforth I shall do nothing without her consent.”
    â€œBut . . . her demands . . .”
    â€œOh, I’ll give her Pycelle.”
    â€œYou will?” Lancel seemed astonished.
    Tyrion smiled. “I’ll release him on the morrow. I could

swear that I hadn’t harmed a hair on his head, but it wouldn’t be strictly
true. In any case, he’s well enough, though I won’t vouch for his vigor. The
black cells are not a healthy place for a man his age. Cersei can keep him as a
pet or send him to the Wall, I don’t care which, but I won’t have him on the
council.”
    â€œAnd Ser Jacelyn?”
    â€œTell my sister you believe you can win him away from me, given time. That
ought to content her for a while.”
    â€œAs you say.” Lancel finished his wine.
    â€œOne last thing. With King Robert dead, it would be most embarrassing should
his grieving widow suddenly grow great with child.”
    â€œMy lord, I . . . we . . . the queen has
commanded me not to . . .” His ears had turned Lannister crimson.
“I spill my seed on her belly, my lord.”
    â€œA lovely belly, I have no doubt. Moisten it as often as you
wish . . . but see that your dew falls nowhere else. I want no
more nephews, is that clear?”
    Ser Lancel made a stiff bow and took his leave.
    Tyrion allowed himself a moment to feel sorry for the boy.
Another fool,
and a weakling as well, but he does not deserve what Cersei and I are doing to
him.
It was a kindness that his uncle Kevan had two other sons; this one
was unlikely to live out the year. Cersei would have him killed out of hand if
she learned he was betraying her, and if by some grace of the gods she did not,
Lancel