LITMIR.BIZ

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you noticed?”

      “Two battles do not make a war,” Ser Addam insisted. “We are far from lost. I should welcome the chance to try my own steel against this Stark boy.”

      “Perhaps they would consent to a truce, and allow us to trade our prisoners for theirs,” offered Lord Lefford.

      “Unless they trade three-for-one, we still come out light on those scales,” Tyrion said acidly. “And what are we to offer for my brother? Lord Eddard’s rotting head?”

      “I had heard that Queen Cersei has the Hand’s daughters,” Lefford said hopefully. “If we give the lad his sisters back …”

      Ser Addam snorted disdainfully. “He would have to be an utter ass to trade Jaime Lannister’s life for two girls.”

      “Then we must ransom Ser Jaime, whatever it costs,” Lord Lefford said.

      Tyrion rolled his eyes. “If the Starks feel the need for gold, they can melt down Jaime’s armor.”

      “If we ask for a truce, they will think us weak,” Ser Addam argued. “We should march on them at once.”

      “Surely our friends at court could be prevailed upon to join us with fresh troops,” said Ser Harys. “And someone might return to Casterly Rock to raise a new host.”

      Lord Tywin Lannister rose to his feet. “They have my son,” he said once more, in a voice that cut through the babble like a sword through suet. “Leave me. All of you.”

      Ever the soul of obedience, Tyrion rose to depart with the rest, but his father gave him a look. “Not you, Tyrion. Remain. And you as well, Kevan. The rest of you, out.”

      Tyrion eased himself back onto the bench, startled into speechlessness. Ser Kevan crossed the room to the wine casks. “Uncle,” Tyrion called, “if you would be so kind—”

      “Here.” His father offered him his cup, the wine untouched.

      Now, Tyrion truly was nonplussed. He drank.

      Lord Tywin seated himself. “You have the right of it about Stark. Alive, we might have used Lord Eddard to forge a peace with Winterfell and Riverrun, a peace that would have given us the time we need to deal with Robert’s brothers. Dead …” His hand curled into a fist. “Madness. Rank madness.”

      “Joff’s only a boy,” Tyrion pointed out. “At his age, I committed a few follies of my own.”

      His father gave him a sharp look. “I suppose we ought to be grateful that he has not yet married a whore.”

      Tyrion sipped at his wine, wondering how Lord Tywin would look if he flung the cup in his face.

      “Our position is worse than you know,” his father went on. “It would seem we have a new king.”

      Ser Kevan looked poleaxed. “A new—who? What have they done to Joffrey?”

      The faintest flicker of distaste played across Lord Tywin’s thin lips. “Nothing … yet. My grandson still sits the Iron Throne, but the eunuch has heard whispers from the south. Renly Baratheon wed Margaery Tyrell at Highgarden this fortnight past, and now he has claimed the crown. The bride’s father and brothers have bent the knee and sworn him their swords.”

      “Those are grave tidings.” When Ser Kevan frowned, the furrows in his brow grew deep as canyons.

      “My daughter commands us to ride for King’s Landing at once, to defend the Red Keep against King Renly and the Knight of Flowers.” His mouth tightened. “Commands us, mind you. In the name of the king and council.”

      “How is King Joffrey taking the news?” Tyrion asked with a certain black amusement.

      “Cersei has not seen fit to tell him yet,” Lord Tywin said. “She fears he might insist on marching against Renly himself.”

      “With what army?” Tyrion asked. “You don’t plan to give him this one, I hope?”

      “He talks of leading the City Watch,” Lord Tywin said.

      “If he takes the Watch, he’ll leave the city undefended,” Ser Kevan said. “And with Lord Stannis on Dragonstone …”

      “Yes.” Lord Tywin looked down at his son. “I had thought you were the one made for motley, Tyrion, but it would appear that I was wrong.”

      “Why, Father,” said Tyrion, “that almost sounds like praise.” He leaned forward intently. “What of Stannis? He’s the elder, not Renly. How does he feel about his brother’s claim?”

      His father frowned. “I have felt from the beginning that Stannis was a greater danger than all the others combined. Yet he does nothing. Oh, Varys hears his whispers. Stannis is building ships, Stannis is hiring sellswords, Stannis is bringing a shadowbinder from Asshai. What does it mean? Is any of it true?” He gave an irritated shrug. “Kevan, bring us the map.”

      Ser Kevan did as he was bid. Lord Tywin unrolled the leather, smoothing it flat. “Jaime has left us in a bad way. Roose Bolton and the remnants of his host are north of us. Our enemies hold the Twins and Moat Cailin. Robb Stark sits to the west, so we cannot retreat to Lannisport and the Rock unless we choose to give battle. Jaime is taken, and his army for all purposes has ceased to exist. Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarrion continue to plague our foraging parties. To our east we have the Arryns, Stannis Baratheon sits on Dragonstone, and in the south Highgarden and Storm’s End are calling their banners.”

      Tyrion smiled crookedly. “Take heart, Father. At least Rhaegar Targaryen is still dead.”

      “I had hoped you might have more to offer us than japes, Tyrion,” Lord Tywin Lannister said.

      Ser Kevan frowned over the map, forehead creasing. “Robb Stark will have Edmure Tully and the lords of the Trident with him now. Their combined power may exceed our own. And with Roose Bolton behind us … Tywin, if we remain here, I fear we might be caught between three armies.”

      “I have no intention of remaining here. We must finish our business with young Lord Stark before Renly Baratheon can march from Highgarden. Bolton does not concern me. He is a wary man, and we made him warier on the Green Fork. He will be slow to give pursuit. So … on the morrow, we make for Harrenhal. Kevan, I want Ser Addam’s outriders to screen our movements. Give him as many men as he requires, and send them out in groups of four. I will have no vanishings.”

      “As you say, my lord, but … why Harrenhal? That is a grim, unlucky place. Some call it cursed.”

      “Let them,” Lord Tywin said. “Unleash Ser Gregor and send him before us with his reavers. Send forth Vargo Hoat and his freeriders as well, and Ser Amory Lorch. Each is to have three hundred horse. Tell them I want to see the riverlands afire from the Gods Eye to the Red Fork.”

      “They will burn, my lord,” Ser Kevan said, rising. “I shall give the commands.” He bowed and made for the door.

      When they were alone, Lord Tywin glanced at Tyrion. “Your savages might relish a bit of raping. Tell them they may ride with Vargo Hoat and plunder as they like—goods, stock, women, they may take what they want and burn the rest.”

      “Telling Shagga and Timett how to pillage is like telling a rooster how to crow,” Tyrion commented, “but I should prefer to keep them with me.” Uncouth and unruly they might be, yet the wildlings were his, and he trusted them more than any of his father’s men. He was not about to hand them over.

      “Then you had best learn to control them. I will not have the city plundered.”

      “The city?” Tyrion was lost. “What city would that be?”

      “King’s Landing. I am sending you to court.”

      It was the last thing Tyrion Lannister would ever have anticipated. He reached for his wine, and considered for a moment as he sipped. “And what am I to do there?”

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