A Clash of Kings-Chapter 17

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Tyrion IV
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Tyrion
Place King's Landing
Page 192 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Tyrion III
Bran II  ← Tyrion IV →  Sansa II

Tyrion V

Tyrion meets with Grand Maester Pycelle, Littlefinger, and Varys, and gives each a secret plan. To Pycelle gives a message to be sent to Prince Doran Martell in strictest confidence. To Littlefinger he gives a plan for a proposal to wed Myrcella to Robert Arryn along with giving Lysa the true killer of Jon Arryn. To Varys he gives the proposal of sending Tommen Baratheon to the Pince of Dorne along with the killers of his sister Elia.

Synopsis

Tyrion is having breakfast with Grand Maester Pycelle. Tyrion to send the serving girl away, and hands him two sealed letters to send by his swiftest bird to Prince Doran Martell’s eyes only. He continues by stating that he is to send them now, breakfast will wait, but Renly Baratheon is leading his host up the Roseroad, while no one knows when Stannis Baratheon will sail from Dragonstone. The maester ponderously moves to do Tyrion’s bidding. As he moves, Tyrion notes that his chain consists of a dozen maester chains intertwined with gemstones. Almost all the links are precious metals and few are baser metals. Tyrion has plenty of time to finish several items of his breakfast before he sees the ravens fling. He then inspects the maester’s well-organized potions. Among them he spies a small dusty bottle on a high shelf and takes it. He is back at the table and is eating another egg when the maester returns. Pycelle asks about the message, and Tyrion tells him it is best to keep it secret, and when Pycelle brings up the Small Council, Tyrion states that the council is there to advise the King, who is 13 years old. When asked about the queen, Tyrion states she has great weight upon her shoulders. Pycelle and Tyrion then exchange out all sorts of compliments about her, and Pycelle finally agree that it is best not to add to her burdens. Tyrion then tells Pycelle that he wants to know as soon as a response is received, and he is the only one to know. As he is descibing Cersei as frail, Tyrion thinks about what Eddard Stark would think of calling her frail.

Tyrion waddles to the baily where he finds Bronn. Tyrion notes to Bronn that he paid no attention to a couple of pretty serving girls, instead he is watching the men at arms practice. He replies that there are a hundred whorehouses in the city, and his vigilance could save Tyrion’s life. Bronn points out how the best of those practicing repeats the same series of strokes, which would make it easy for Bronn to beat. Then Bronn informs Tyron that Lady Tanda Stokeworth’s page had arrived with an invitation to dinner; she thinks Tyrion would be the perfect consort for her soft dimwitted daughter Lollys Stokeworth and was plying him with food. Tyrion tells Bronn to send his regrets. There was also a moneylender from Braavos wanting repayment of loans; Tyrion tells Bronn to send him to Littlefinger who will figure out how to put him off. A lord from the Trident wants recompense for the destruction done—he had walked the whole way; Tyrion figures it was done by Ser Gregor Clegane, Ser Amory Lorch, or the Qohorik. He tells Bronn that he will make time for him tomorrow and to give him good quarters, a meal and new boot courtesy of Joffrey. There are the merchants about the shortages of food (most of the food coming into King's Landing goes to the castle or garrison); they want protection since they are being blamed by mobs for the food shortages. Tyrion tells Bronn to provide the Gold Cloaks that can be spared. Then Bronn tells Tyrion that there were Gold Cloaks in a crowd wanting to speak to the king; Tyrion thinks they are fools since Joffrey would send them off with whips and spears. Bronn reports that Ser Alliser Thorne of the Night's Watch had arrived with a rotten hand; Tyrion remembers meeting him, and liking him the least of anyone at The Wall. Tyrion states he does not want to meet with the man and to find him a dirty cell.

Tyrion immediately leaves to join his sister with a large party including Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard, Ser Balon Swann, the wheezing Lord Gyles Rosby, Hallyne of the Alchemists’ Guild, their cousin and Cersei’s new favorite Ser Lancel Lannister, and Vylarr and twenty guardsmen; Cersei is pleasant but had not liked what Tyrion had done to [Janos Slynt]]. Cersei informs him that she is review the defences in light of Renly marching from Highgarden. Cersei states he could be there by the full moon, and Tyrion responds that he is going slowly because he has a feast at a different castle every night. When Tyrion seems little concerned about the men rallying to Renly, Cersie calls him a little fool since Renly has the power of Storm's End and Highgarden behind him. Tyrion’s response is that it was ashame she let the Knight of Flowers slip away, and that Renly has other concerns including Robb Stark at Riverrun and Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal, and that Tyrion would do the same, flaunt his power; if either Robb defeats Tywin the south will fall into his hands. If Tywin defeats Robb, Renly can fall on the weakened Lannister host. Cersei nest demands that Tyrion bring Tywin’s host to King’s Landing, and Tyrion states that neither one of them has ever made Tywin do anything. Ignoring this answer she asks what he is doing about Jaime Lannister; Jaime is worth 100 of Tyrion. Tyrion implores Cersei not to tell Catelyn since they do not have 100 of him to trade. Flustered with Tyrion, and stating he is worse than useless, Cersei leaves.

Tyrion thinks how he fears Stannis twice as much as Renly who has never lead men in war. Also the spies were ominously silent, and Varys reports from Myr of Mercenary captains taking service with Dragonstone, and Lysene war galleys had been seen offshore. If Stannis and Renly attack together there would no chance for either him or Joffrey.

[Podrick Payne]] meets him at the door to his solar. The boy shyly tells him that Littlefinger is inside. Inside Littlefinger is watching Joffrey kill hares with a crossbow that are being released by a gamesman and tells Tyrion to look and that the hares are winning. After Littlefinger makes a comment about hares overrunning the castle and them eating hare for every meal, Tyrion offers Littlefinger refreshment and dismisses Pod when Littlefinger declines stating ”Drink with the dwarf, it’s said, and you wake up walking the Wall. Black brings out my unhealthy pallor.” Littlefinger makes a positive comment about Tyrion’s clothing and then mentions the Valyrian Steel dagger with the dragonbone hilt, saying it’s handsome but a trifle plain. He then asks if it is Tyrion’s who says no; Tyrion if infuriated because he knows Littlefinger knows, and Littlefinger thinks Tyrion cannot touch him. Tyrion thinks how everyone thinks Jaime is armored in gold (his armor is acutally gilded steel), but it is Littlefinger that is; 10 years ago Jon Arryn had given him a minor position in customs, and he had tripled the revenue. Within 3 years he was in court and master of coin and revenues were 10 times as great—still the debts had grown vast, but Littlefinger was a master juggler, and borrowed so that he could put the gold to work. Now it was his men in many important positions like Keepers of the Keys, the King’s Counter, the King’s Scales, Harbormasters… They were men of middling birth but very much more capable them the high born they replaced.

Tyrion then asks LIttlefinger about his being fostered in Riverrun and his closeness to the Tully children. Littlefinger now claims to have both girl’s maidenhead, which Tyrion is sure is a lie, but a smooth lie. Tyrion then then tells that Lord Hoster Tully’s daughters do not love him and would not listen to any proposal from him, but from Littlefinger… Littlefinger states that Lysa is the more tractable, and has problems like the Mountain clans being more aggressive and better armed; Tyrion knows he is responsible. Tyrion states that if he gives her Jon Arryn’s true killer she might be more friendly, and he could help with the clansmen, but he want Lysa to declare for Joffrey and make war on the Tullys and Starks. To seal the bargain he would make Robert Arryn Warden of the East and seal the deal with Myrcella as ward and future wife of Robert. Littlefinger asks what Cersei thinks of the idea, and quickly figures out the Tyrion is not telling her, and then asks what he gets out of the deal and Tyrion tells him Harrenhal, one of the richest plums in the Seven Kingdoms, and the river lords will owe him fealty. Littlefinger is suspicious, especially considering what happened to Janos Slynt. Tyrion responds that he did not need Janos, but needs him to deliver Lysa. Littlefinger tells Tyrion he will probably have to wed Lysa and to give him a fortnight to clear up affairs and arrange a ship to leave for Gulltown. Littlefinger then leaves saying it had been a pleasant and profitable morning.

Next Tyrion heads to his bedchamber to await Varys. An hour later Galt announces the arrival of a powdered man, which was much sooner than Tyrion expected. Varys tells Tyrion that he was cruel to make Pycelle abide with a secret. Tyrion refuses to tell Varys what the message was about, but knows that he has some plan to gain his allegence. Varys tells how Prince Doran hates the Lannisters and that he still morns his sister Elia. Tyron states that he will deliver his sister’s after the war is done killers (Gregor Clegane killed her, her baby, and raped her). Varys guesses that Tyrion will give Tommen Baratheon to the Prince of Dorne since he cannot give Myrcelle to both him and Lysa. He then continues that Tommen is a good boy, and Tyron adds that if he pries him away from Joffery and Cercei he may become a good man. Varys adds a good king as a question, Tyrion replies that Joffrey is king—but Tommen is currently his heir. Varys complements Tyrions statecraft but wonders about Cersei’s reaction. Tyrion replies that what Cersei does not know will not hurt her. As Varys giggles, Tyrion thinks three.

References and Notes