A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

on his left.
    And suddenly the madness was behind and they were clattering across the cobbled
square that fronted on the castle barbican. A line of spearmen held the gates.
Ser Jacelyn was wheeling his lances around for another charge. The spears
parted to let the king’s party pass under the portcullis. Pale red walls loomed
up about them, reassuringly high and aswarm with crossbowmen.
    Tyrion did not recall dismounting. Ser Mandon was helping the shaken king off
his horse when Cersei, Tommen, and Lancel rode through the gates with Ser Meryn
and Ser Boros close behind. Boros had blood smeared along his blade, while
Meryn’s white cloak had been torn from his back. Ser Balon Swann rode in
helmetless, his mount lathered and bleeding at the mouth. Horas Redwyne brought
in Lady Tanda, half-crazed with fear for her daughter Lollys, who had been
knocked from the saddle and left behind. Lord Gyles, more grey of face than
ever, stammered out a tale of seeing the High Septon spilled from his litter,
screeching prayers as the crowd swept over him. Jalabhar Xho said he thought
he’d seen Ser Preston Greenfield of the Kingsguard riding back toward the High
Septon’s overturned litter, but he was not certain.
    Tyrion was dimly aware of a maester asking if he was injured. He pushed his way
across the yard to where his nephew

stood, his dung-encrusted crown askew. “Traitors,” Joffrey was babbling
excitedly, “I’ll have all their heads, I’ll—”
    The dwarf slapped his flushed face so hard the crown flew from Joffrey’s head.
Then he shoved him with both hands and knocked him sprawling. “You blind
bloody
fool.
”
    â€œThey were traitors,” Joffrey squealed from the ground. “They called me
names and attacked me!”
    â€œYou set your dog on them!
What did you imagine they would do, bend
the knee meekly while the Hound lopped off some limbs? You spoiled witless
little
boy,
you’ve killed Clegane and gods know how many more, and
yet
you
come through unscratched.
Damn you!
” And he kicked
him. It felt so good he might have done more, but Ser Mandon Moore pulled him
off as Joffrey howled, and then Bronn was there to take him in hand. Cersei
knelt over her son, while Ser Balon Swann restrained Ser Lancel. Tyrion
wrenched free of Bronn’s grip. “How many are still out there?” he shouted to
no one and everyone.
    â€œMy daughter,” cried Lady Tanda. “Please, someone must go back for
Lollys . . .”
    â€œSer Preston is not returned,” Ser Boros Blount reported, “nor Aron
Santagar.”
    â€œNor Wet Nurse,” said Ser Horas Redwyne. That was the mocking name the other
squires had hung on young Tyrek Lannister.
    Tyrion glanced round the yard. “Where’s the Stark girl?”
    For a moment no one answered. Finally Joffrey said, “She was riding by me. I
don’t know where she went.”
    Tyrion pressed blunt fingers into his throbbing temples. If Sansa Stark
had come to harm, Jaime was as good as dead. “Ser Mandon, you were her
shield.”
    Ser Mandon Moore remained untroubled. “When they mobbed the Hound, I thought
first of the king.”
    â€œAnd rightly so,” Cersei put in. “Boros, Meryn, go back and find the
girl.”
    â€œAnd my daughter,” Lady Tanda sobbed. “Please,
sers . . .”
    Ser Boros did not look pleased at the prospect of leaving the safety of the
castle. “Your Grace,” he told the queen, “the sight of our white cloaks
might enrage the mob.”
    Tyrion had stomached all he cared to. “The Others take your fucking cloaks!
Take them off
if you’re afraid to wear them, you bloody
oaf . . . but
find me Sansa Stark
or I swear, I’ll
have Shagga split that ugly head of yours in two to see if there’s anything
inside but black pudding.”
    Ser Boros went purple with rage. “You would call
me
ugly,
you?
” He started to raise the bloody sword still clutched in his
mailed fist. Bronn shoved Tyrion unceremoniously behind him.
    â€œStop it!”
Cersei snapped. “Boros, you’ll do as you’re bid, or
we’ll find someone else to wear that cloak. Your
oath—”
    â€œThere she is!” Joffrey shouted, pointing.
    Sandor Clegane cantered briskly through the gates astride Sansa’s chestnut
courser. The girl was seated