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Tyrion

Soreat stoneover the castle like a flag of

Tyrion Lannister looked up fro and warht out of his here and now and left hi naked before the pack

When the direwolf howled again, Tyrion shut the heavy leatherbound cover on the book he was reading, a hundred-year-old discourse on the changing of the seasons by a long-dead maester He covered a yaith the back of his hand His reading laht leaked through the high s He had been at it all night, but that was nothing new Tyrion Lannister was not s were stiff and sore as he eased down off the bench He ed some life back into the softly, his head pillowed on an open book in front of hilanced at the title A life of the Grand Maester Aethel , confused, the crystal of his order swinging wildly on its silver chain "I’m off to break entle with the Valyrian scrolls, the parchines of War is quite rare, and yours is the only coaped at him, still half-asleep Patiently, Tyrion repeated his instructions, then clapped the septon on the shoulder and left hiful of the cold an his laborious descent of the steep stone steps that corkscrewed around the exterior of the library tower It was slow going; the steps were cut high and narrohile his legs were short and twisted The rising sun had not yet cleared the walls of Winterfell, but the ane’s rasping voice drifted up to hi I wish he would be quicker about it"

Tyrion glanced down and saw the Hound standing with young Joffrey as squires swarmed around them "At least he dies quietly," the prince replied "It’s the wolf that ht"

Clegane cast a long shadow across the hard-packed earth as his squire lowered the black helm over his head "I could silence the creature, if it please you," he said through his open visor His boy placed a longsword in his hand He tested the weight of it, slicing at the cold or of steel on steel

The notion see!" he exclaimed "Winterfell is so infested olves, the Starks would never miss one"

Tyrion hopped off the last step onto the yard "I beg to differ, nephew," he said "The Starks can count past six Unlike sorace at least to blush

"A voice fro this way and that "Spirits of the air!"

The prince laughed, as he always laughed when his bodyguard did this mummer’s farce Tyrion was used to it "Down here"

The tall round, and pretended to notice him "The little lord Tyrion," he said "My pardons I did not see you standing there"

"I am in no mood for your insolence today" Tyrion turned to his nephew "Joffrey, it is past time you called on Lord Eddard and his lady, to offer them your comfort"

Joffrey looked as petulant as only a boy prince can look "What good will my comfort do them?"

"None," Tyrion said "Yet it is expected of you Your absence has been noted"

"The Stark boy is nothing toof women"

Tyrion Lannister reached up and slapped his nephew hard across the face The boy’s cheek began to redden

"One word," Tyrion said, "and I will hit you again"

"I’ to tell Mother!" Joffrey exclaiain Now both cheeks flamed

"You tell your et yourself to Lord and Lady Stark, and you fall to your knees in front of them, and you tell them how very sorry you are, and that you are at their service if there is the slightest thing you can do for them or theirs in this desperate hour, and that all your prayers go with them Do you understand? Do you?"

The boy looked as though he was going to cry Instead, hefro his cheek Tyrion watched him run

A shadow fell across his face He turned to find Clegane loo overhead like a cliff His soot-dark armor seemed to blot out the sun He had lowered the visor on his hel black hound, fearsoreat iane’s hideously burned face

"The prince will remember that, little lord," the Hound warned hih into a hollow rumble

"I pray he does," Tyrion Lannister replied "If he forgets, be a good dog and relanced around the courtyard "Do you knohere Ifast with the queen"

"Ah," Tyrion said He gave Sandor Clegane a perfunctory nod and walked away as briskly as his stunted legs would carry hiht to try the Hound today The man did have a temper

A cold, cheerlessroom of the Guest House Jai in low, hushed voices

"Is Robert still abed?" Tyrion asked as he seated himself, uninvited, at the table

His sister peered at him with the same expression of faint distaste she had worn since the day he was born "The king has not slept at all," she told him "He is with Lord Eddard He has taken their sorrow deeply to heart"

"He has a large heart, our Robert," Jaime said with a lazy smile There was very little that Jaime took seriously Tyrion knew that about his brother, and forgave it During all the terrible long years of his childhood, only Jaime had ever shown him the smallest measure of affection or respect, and for that Tyrion illing to forgive hi

A servant approached "Bread," Tyrion told hiood dark beer to wash them down Oh, and some bacon Burn it until it turns black" The s Twins,Both had chosen a deep green that matched their eyes Their blond curls were all a fashionable tuers and throats