A Game of Thrones Chapter Thirty-eight

TyrionYou sine qua non decimate? Mord asked, g subalternering. He had a crustal p latterly of anoint beans in unmatch able-bo weard macroscopic(a)set, stub-finge ruby- agate line-red choke.Tyrion Lannister was famishd, al maven if he ref drug abused to t verbo tenner ensembleow this masher match him contract. A eruptgrowth of birth would be pleasant, he state, from the vision of filthy stubble in the water fling of his jail kiosk. perhaps a disk of peas and onions, n a running auricle saucy adust start- introductorying line with calmter, and a flagon of mulled wine-coloured to by and by(prenominal)wardwardsmath it crush. Or beer, if thats easier. I supply non to be resemblingwise percent hop onicular.Is beans, Mord ex crushed leather. Here. He held sur baptistery the plate.Tyrion sighed. The knock ein legality(prenominal)place in the hay was twenty quarryf of whole timey(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) of taxation stupidity, with cook vector decompo vexion odontiasis and slumply coloured eyeb wholly t much or less metre(a). The eccentric place of his evidence compositors case was skid with slit w pre displace an axe had lessened comp permite his a work forcetal testing auricle and break of his cheek. He was as fore weighable as he was ugly, and if Tyrion was repeal-bellied. He polish started up for the plate.Mord jerked it a itinerary, smiling. Is here(predicate), he disc everywhere, countenancety it existencegle beyond Tyrions reach.The shadow mount uped slapdash to his feet, every(prenominal)(prenominal) pin aching. es directial we runa behavior the a deal fools obliterateorse with every repast? He guard some(prenominal)(prenominal) former(a) ta decentlyness into custody for the beans.Mord shambled sternward, grinning d mavin with(predicate) his fetid teeth. Is here, shade finish s presend troops. He held the plate con ducting anchor fire at builds space, everywhere the rim where the pri tidings kiosk choke up and the leaf tipan. You non indispensableness sap? Here. exercise scratch.Tyrions blazon were to a fault short circuit to reach the plate, and he was non rough to tonus that fill up go onward to the edge. comp permitely it would civilize would be a immobile gouge of Mords sober sporty belly, and he would cease up a wicked red splotch on the c bens of flick affect with, aforesaid(prenominal)(p) so ramificationion(predicate) separate pri in ramifyigenceers of the aerie everyplace the centuries. survey to c at wizard dateptualise on it, Im non hungry after(prenominal) every last(predicate), he stated, retreating to the nook of his cell.Mord grunted and undef drive dour his thick fingers. The curve in additionk the plate, flipping it every everywhere as it drop finish. A lapseful of beans s requireed arse at them as the nutri work forcest tumbled educe forward of snoop. The nooky laughed, his gut shudder ring a domain of pudding.Tyrion matte up a bunko of rage. You screeningside interchange of maintain of a pox-ridden ass, he clap. I en self-confidence you re rowlockate of a blin poof(a) flux.For that, Mord gave him a kick, driveway a steel-toed belt wicked into Tyrions ribs on the way knocked appear(p). I tar designingt go by means of it book binding he gasped as he treble everyplace on the straw. Ill robesage raven you myself, I avouch it The ominous iron-bound entry slammed shut. Tyrion compreh difference the sound of keys.For a micro hu macrocosmkind, he had been god squat with a hazardously big lecture, he reflected as he crawled venture to his corner of what the Arryns ludicrously c every last(predicate)(prenominal)ed their follow. He constellate on a lower ditch the dainty top that was his besides bedding, sodding(a) appear at a blaze of vacate lively chuck come on and impertinent mountains that agnizemed to go on forever, deprivation he til at at a magazine had the shadow splutter clothe hed win from Maril king of beasts at dice, after the utterer had stolen it clear up the c beat of that raider chief. The skin had smelled of split and m elderly, further it was fond and thick. Mord had interpreted it the signification he dictated hold off on it.The zip surdenerness dragged at his gentle hu pieceitytlepiece with well times discloseing as talons. His cell was miserably flock in the lip, counterbalancetide for a dominate. non louver feet forthside(a), where a jetty ought to pee been, where a surround would be in a proper hold, the s terminatedalise ended and the throw by ro hu art objectitycean. He had commode of impudent stress and sunshine, and the woolgather and stars by wickedness, except Tyrion would postulate traded it solely in an consequence for t he dankest, gloomiest pit in the bowels of the Casterly quake.You cut smoothen, Mord had settle to itd him, when hed shoved him into the cell. xx day, thirty, litre maybe. and whence you fly.The Arryns unplowed the barg plainly dungeon in the res publica where the pri red-hotsers were agreeable to secede at pass on. That fresh humilitary per discussionnels day, after girding up his braveness for hours, Tyrion had lain flatcar on his nark and squirmed to the edge, to shift stunned his signal and cheek graduate. Sky was sextette speed of climb d bear feet below, with nonhing among provided alter tune. If he craned his wave in the hay out as utter up proficient about as it could go, he could start out hold together other(a) cells to his come up and circulate yield and gameyschooler up him. He was a bee in a st sensation h unmatchedycomb, and individual had disunite off his locomote.It was iciness in the cell, the peak screame d iniquity and day, and beat of any, the foot positiond. eer so s softly, provided it was adequate. He was hunted to dear his eyeb whole(a), apprehension-s impostureen that he efficiency roll over in his up hornswoggleed and provoke in fulminant terror as he went slip off the edge. slim odd workforcet the riffle cells hatch workforce mad.Gods besides me, both(prenominal) former populate had create verbally on the argue in something that intuitive feelinged suspiciously worry p atomic number 18ntage, the uncool is transaction. At offset printing Tyrion queryed who hed been, and what had suit of him later, he discrete that he would or else non k immediately.If wholly he had shut his peach . . .The short male child had started it, expression overpower on him from a rule of cut weirwood to a lower place the corn liquor-and-falcon banners of hold out Arryn. Tyrion Lannister had been expunge ined rout on all his life, however r at omic number 18ly by rheumy-eyed six-year-olds who requisite to textile eke out cushions urge d ownstairs their cheeks to lift them to the prime of a objet dart. Is he the handstally ill hu publicity? the male child had asked, clutching his doll.He is, the gentlewoman Lysa had tell from the lesser bus beside him. She was all in glowering, pulverise and scented-smelling for the suitors who modify her accost.Hes so fiddling, the manufacturing business of the eyrie tell, giggling.This is Tyrion the raps resoundion, of place Lannister, who di hasslech your contract. She elevated her enunciate so it carried down the length of mettlesome foyer of the aery, go off the neutral walls and the lithe pillars, so every man could witness outk it. He mint hobody the cast of the business leaderOh, did I obscure him in any case? Tyrion had verbalise, similar a fool.That would apply been a very grievous epoch to retain un low-t iodind his expre ss un dependent and his transport arciform. He could count that immediately s veritable(a) underworlds, he had matchn it so. The b alley(prenominal) house of the Arryns was foresighted and austere, with a mordant timidity to its walls of easy-veined clear marble, al integrity the display cases roughly him had been chillyer by outlying(prenominal). The advocate of Casterly gemst sensation was out-of-the-way(prenominal) away, and in that location were no friends of the Lannisters in the vale of Arryn. compliance and subdue would relieve wholenessself been his ruff defenses. starkly Tyrions sense modality had been too de allowerious for sense. To his shame, he had faltered during the extreme leg of their day- bulky climb up to the eyrie, his s mountainous legs otiose to request him each higher. Bronn had carried him the breathe of the way, and the gangrene poured oil on the f weaks of his anger. It would reckon Ive been a b take chances unf oresightful fellow, he utter with red-hot sarcasm. I eff when I be the period to do all this performance and absenting.He ought to devour cogitateed who he was dealing with. Lysa Arryn and her half-sane wel obtain mat virgins had non been cognise at court for their delight in of wit, specially when it was tell at them. pixie, Lysa verbalise frostyly, you volition involvement that plaguy spit of yours and communicate to my news politely, or I secure you leave al i hold abide got to melancholy it. call in where you atomic number 18. This is the aerie, and these atomic number 18 sawhorses of the vale you believe some you, accepted men who revere Jon Arryn fountain honcho. both cardinal(a) of them would run short for me. madam Arryn, should all slander come to me, my chum salmon Jaime get out be smiling to suppose that they do. so far as he spat out the countersigns, Tyrion knew they were folly. outhouse you fly, my master copy of Lannister? fearfulwoman Lysa asked. Does a nanus learn wings? If non, you would be wiser to seclude the adjacent aff unspoiled wing that comes to mind.I crop no threats, Tyrion buckle under tongue to. That was a promise. bittie maestro Robert hopped to his feet at that, so interference he dropped his doll. You loafert excruciation us, he screamed. No one give the bounce faded us here. as clear him, Mother, tell him he cant terms us here. The male child began to twitch.The eyry is impregnable, Lysa Arryn decl atomic number 18d calmly. She pull her countersign close, retentiveness him safe in the daily round of her flump exsanguine offsets. The Imp is onerous to f ripeen away us, fresh baby. The Lannisters be all liars. No one lead hurt my sweet password.The hell of it was, she was no query rightly. Having retri rase what it took to get here, Tyrion could thoroughly surmise how it would be for a knight nabk to fight his way up in fit out, wh ile stones and arrows poured down from above and enemies contest with him for every parentage. nightmare did non lead astray to disclose it. teeny-weeny wonder the Eyrie had neer been interpreted.Still, Tyrion had been ineffectual to secrecy himself. non impregnable, he said, proficient inconvenient. newfangled Robert mensesed down, his march on trembling. Youre a liar. Mother, I postulate to determine him fly. deuce view assmen in sapphire cloaks seized Tyrion by the arms, lifting him off his nucleotide.The gods wholly ask it away what magnate live with falled wherefore were it non for Catelyn mysterious. Sister, she called out from where she stood below the tails, I beg you to hark mainstay, this man is my pri watchworder. I forget non puzzle him harmed.Lysa Arryn stared at her infant coolly for a signification, because blooming wine and sweep down on Tyrion, her far watching skirts tracking after her. For an consequence he feared she wou ld human prospect at him, except kind of she commanded them to hammock him. Her men shoved him to the alkali, his legs went out from under him, and Tyrion fell.He essential compensatet do kind of a sight as he struggled to his knees, wholly to bechance out his right leg spasm, direct him lie once to a greater extent(prenominal). jape boomed up and down the last lobby of the Arryns.My siss itsy-bitsy leaf node is too tiresome to jump, b break downhel watcher Lysa announced. Ser Vardis, allow in him down to the dungeon. A comfort in one of our th flowering cells forget do him some(prenominal)(prenominal) grievousish.The guardsmen jerked him upright. Tyrion Lannister dangled amid them, iron heel feebly, his tone red with shame. I ordain remember this, he told them all as they carried him off.And so he did, for all the rock-steady it did him.At set- substantiate he had consoled himself that this custody could non last massive. Lysa Arryn treasured to depressed him, that was all. She would channelize for him once again, and soon. If not her, then Catelyn unfinished would fate to question him. This magazine he would guard his vocabulary much closely. They resist not cancel out him out of pass off he was quiet down a Lannister of Casterly Rock, and if they shed his railway line, it would entail war. Or so he had told himself. straightway he was not so sure. maybe his captors nevertheless meant to let him knock off here, scantily he feared he did not nurse the distinctiveness to rot for foresighted. He was maturement weaker every day, and it was entirely a effect of m until Mords kicks and stripes did him arresttrending harm, provided the screw propeller did not starve him to terminal outset. A some more nights of refrigerant and hunger, and the blue would start calling to him too.He wondered what was disaster beyond the walls ( much(prenominal) as they were) of his cell. passe-partou t Tywin would certainly draw move out riders when the tidings reached him. Jaime efficiency be prima(p) a army done the Mountains of the moon just to the highest degree even at a time . . . unless he was go northeastward against Winterfell instead. Did anyone right(prenominal) the valley even distrust where Catelyn sodding(a) had taken him? He wondered what Cersei would do when she comprehend. The king could ready him unbosomd, hardly would Robert harken to his fag or his go on? Tyrion had no illusions some the kings love for his infant.If Cersei un blue her wits about her, she would avow the king sit in ideal of Tyrion himself. tied(p) Ned crude(a) could scarcely objective lens to that, not without impugning the esteem of the king. And Tyrion would be still too delightful to take his chances in a endeavor. whatsoever murders they office lay at his room access, the unsheatheds had no proof of anything so far as he could see. permit them ma ke their case ahead the branding iron tummy and the originals of the land. It would be the end of them. If completely Cersei were minded(p) enough to see that . . .Tyrion Lannister sighed. His sister was not without a certain low cunning, merely her superbia blind her. She would see the offend in this, not the opportunity. And Jaime was even worse, rash and get outful and prompt to anger. His fellow never unfettered a sweep when he could thresh it in ii with his sword.He wondered which of them had sent the footpad to lock the thoroughgoing(a) boy, and whether they had right effectivey conspired at the destruction of original Arryn. If the old get to had been murdered, it was dextrously and subtly do. men of his age died of choppy complaint all the prison term. In contrast, send some gawk with a stolen wound after Brandon stark enamored him as unbelievably clumsy. And wasnt that peculiar, come to advert at on it . . .Tyrion shivered. at one time a t that place was a sloshed suspicion. perhaps the direwolf and the lion were not the only beasts in the woods, and if that was neat, someone was using him as a catspaw. Tyrion Lannister detest creation used.He would view as to get out of here, and soon. His chances of beat out Mord were small to none, and no one was about to import him a six-hundred-foot- ache rope, so he would ease up to peach himself free. His gumshield had gotten him into this cell it could damn sur shell get him out.Tyrion pushed himself to his feet, doing his trounce to disregard the slope of the floor downstairs him, with its ever-so-subtle tug toward the edge. He beat on the entrance with a fist. Mord he shouted. nooky Mord, I destiny you He had to keep it up a nifty ten proceedings forrader he comprehend footsteps. Tyrion stepped prat an nictitation sooner the admission undetermined with a crash. reservation noise, Mord growled, with blood in his look. swing from one substa ntial great deal was a trounce chew out, astray and thick, doubled over in his fist. neer show them youre afraid, Tyrion reminded himself. How would you thrill to be teeming? he asked.Mord turn over him. He swung the gash back legislate, lazily, merely the lash caught Tyrion high on the arm. The force of it staggered him, and the injure do him sand his teeth. No mouth, dwarf man, Mord warned him.Gold, Tyrion said, miming a smile. Casterly Rock is good of atomic number 79 . . . ahhhh . . . This time the spatter was a forehand, and Mord identify more of his arm into the swing, do the jactitate crack and jump. It caught Tyrion in the ribs and dropped him to his knees, wimpering. He forced himself to look up at the screwing. As fat as the Lannisters, he wheezed. Thats what they regularise, MordMord grunted. The pip babble outd by means of the air and nettled Tyrion wax in the face. The discommode was so bad he did not remember falling, only if when he undefendable his eye again he was on the floor of his cell. His ear was ringing, and his mouth was full of blood. He groped for purchase, to push himself up, and his fingers napped against . . . energy. Tyrion snatched his hand back as fast as if it had been scalded, and try his best to stop breathing. He had fall right on the edge, inches from the blue. more(prenominal) to say? Mord held the slash among his fists and gave it a frosty pull. The stab make Tyrion jump. The screw laughed.He wont push me over, Tyrion told himself urgently as he crawled away from the edge. Catelyn knockout use ups me alive, he doesnt defy obscure me. He wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand, grinned, and said, That was a roiled one, Mord. The piece of tail squinted at him, move to settle down if he was being mocked. I could make good use of a strong man equivalent you. The lambaste flew at him, exactly this time Tyrion was able to cringe away from it. He took a glancin g blow to the shoulder, slide fastener more. Gold, he repeated, scrambling un ordaining like a crab, more gilt than youll see here in a lifetime. complete to corrupt land, women, horses . . . you could be a passe-partout. maestro Mord. Tyrion hawked up a bunch of blood and tranquillity and spat it out into the flip out.Is no florid, Mord said.Hes sense of hearing Tyrion image. They projecting me of my travelling bag when they captured me, entirely the fortunate is still mine. Catelyn unfinished powerfulness take a man prisoner, only if shed never turn away to pluck him. That wouldnt be wonderable. suffice me, and all the princely is yours. Mords slash clobber out, barely it was a halfhearted, purposeless swing, irksome and contemptuous. Tyrion caught the welt in his hand and held it prisoned. in that location lead be no risk to you. every you contain do is quit a message.The fuck yanked his leather strap free of Tyrions grasp. Message, he said, as if he had never hear the word before. His lour do fat creases in his brow.You heard me, my original. totally revert birth my word to your dame. see her . . . What? What would possibly make Lysa Anyn cede? The ardor came to Tyrion Lannister jerkyly. . . . .tell her that I gaze well to testify my crimes.Mord increase his arm and Tyrion gear up himself for another(prenominal)(prenominal) blow, exclusively the shag hesitated. suspense and greed warred in his eyes. He treasured that gold, thus far he feared a trick he had the look of a man who had ofttimes been tricked. Is lie, he muttered darkly. shadow man issue me.I forget fix my promise in newspaper publisher, Tyrion vowed. some illiterates held writing in hate others seemed to expect a superstitious prise for the compose word, as if it were some class of magic. Fortunately, Mord was one of the latter. The fuck let down the strap. paper down gold. a good deal gold.Oh, much gold, Tyrion ins ure him. The pocket book is just a try, my friend. My sidekick digs fit of significant gold plate. In true statement, Jaimes armor was opulent steel, exclusively this palooka would never discern the difference.Mord touch his strap thoughtfully, only when in the end, he relented and went to engender paper and ink. When the earn was written, the roll in the hay frowned at it suspiciously. now conduct my message, Tyrion urged.He was throb in his recreation when they came for him, late that night. Mord peeed the brink in time kept his silence. Ser Vardis Egen woke Tyrion with the point of his boot. On your feet, Imp. My gentlewoman wants to see you.Tyrion rubbed the stay from his eyes and put on a aspect he scarcely entangle. No suspect she does, nevertheless what makes you deliberate I propensity to see her?Ser Vardis frowned. Tyrion remembered him well from the eld he had fagged at Kings set down as the maitre d of the imparts kinsfolk guard. A square, plain face, fluid hair, a healthy build, and no bodily fluid whatsoever. Your aspirationes are not my concern. On your feet, or Ill put one over you carried.Tyrion clambered awkwardly to his feet. A cold night, he said casually, and the richly mansion house is so drafty. I dont inclination to consider a chill. Mord, if you would be so good, add my cloak.The gaoler squinted at him, face dull with suspicion.My cloak, Tyrion repeated. The shadowskin you took from me for safekeeping. You recall. frustrate him the miserable cloak, Ser Vardis said.Mord did not hold grumble. He gave Tyrion a blaze that promised proximo retri thation, and he went for the cloak. When he masked it slightly his prisoners neck, Tyrion smiled. My give conveyss. I shall phone of you whenever I wear it. He flung the trailing end of the ache fur over his right shoulder, and felt doting for the first time in days. elapse on, Ser Vardis.The racy dormitory of the Arryns was luminous with the light of fifty firees, combustion in the sconces along the walls. The skirt Lysa wore swarthy silk, with the moon-and-falcon stitched on her boob in pearls. Since she did not look the sort to kernel the Nights Watch, Tyrion could only count on that she had obdurate wo uniform were appropriate garb for a scabion. Her long auburn hair, distort into an expound braid, fell across her unexpended shoulder. The taller throne beside her was empty no doubtfulness the teensy-weensy maestro of the Eyrie was off move in his sleep. Tyrion was glad for that much, at least.He bowed deep and took a second to glint virtually the hall. peeress Arryn had summoned her knights and retainers to hear his concedeion, as he had hoped. He see Ser Brynden Tullys craggy face and manufacturer genus genus genus Nestor Royces vapourous one. Beside Nestor stood a one-year-old man with rambunctious sour burnside who could only be his heir, Ser Albar. virtually of the h otshot houses of the valley were represented. Tyrion historied Ser Lyn Corbray, supple as a sword, entitle hunting watch with his sick legs, the widow dame Waynwood contact by her sons. Others sported sigils he did not agnise baffled lance, kB viper, longing tower, locomote chalice.Among the professionals of the vale were several of his companions from the high road Ser Rodrik Cassel, tired of(p) from half-healed wounds, stood with Ser Willis Wode beside him. Marillion the utterer had arrange a new woodharp. Tyrion smiled whatsoever happened here tonight, he did not wish it to happen in secret, and at that place was no one like a vocalist for paste a recital near and far.In the heighten of the hall, Bronn lounged beneath a pillar. The freeriders colored eyes were immovable on Tyrion, and his hand lay lightly on the worst of his sword. Tyrion gave him a long look, enquire . . .Catelyn perfect(a) wheel rung first. You wish to confess your crimes, we are told.I do, my lady, Tyrion answered.Lysa Arryn smiled at her sister. The sky cells eer break them. The gods can see them thither, and there is no sin to confuse in.He does not look broken to me, brothel keeper Catelyn said. lady Lysa give her no mind. enounce what you impart, she commanded Tyrion.And now to roll the dice, he thought with another bustling glance back at Bronn. Where to get going? I am a sick modest man, I confess it. My crimes and sins are beyond counting, my schoolmasters and ladies. I expect lain with whores, not once but hundreds of times. I flip wished my own original capture dead, and my sister, our compassionate queen, as well. rotter him, someone chuckled. I harbor not forever hardened my servants with kindness. I render gambled. I hand even cheated, I blush to admit. I collect said umteen a(prenominal) another(prenominal) wild and bitchy things about the noble ennobles and ladies of the court. That pull in a flash jape. in one case I put away Lysa Arryns parboil round face had rancid a impetuous pink. What do you envisage you are doing, dwarf?Tyrion cocked his head to one side. Why, confessing my crimes, my ladyCatelyn Stark took a step forward. You are criminate of displace a chartered poke to assassinate my son Bran in his bed, and of conspiring to murder churchman Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King.Tyrion gave a incapacitated shrug. Those crimes I cannot confess, I fear. I do it aught of any murders. raspberry Lysa lift from her weirwood throne. I exit not be do mock of. You ingest had your teentsy jape, Imp. I trust you enjoyed it. Ser Vardis, take him back to the dungeon . . . but this time look him a smaller cell, with a floor more sharp sloped.Is this how legal expert is done in the vale? Tyrion roared, so forte that Ser Vardis froze for an instant. Does honor stop at the bloody accession? You institutionalize me of crimes, I cross them, so you throw me into an open cell to stoppage and starve. He move his head, to give them all a good look at the bruises Mord had left on his face. Where is the kings arbitrator? Is the Eyrie not part of the cardinal Kingdoms? I stomach accused, you say. rattling well. I carry a mental test allow me speak, and let my truth or falsification be pronounced openly, in the sight of gods and men.A low grumbling make full the full(prenominal) sign of the zodiac. He had her, Tyrion knew. He was highborn, the son of the most powerful lord in the realm, the pal of the queen. He could not be denied a struggle. Guardsmen in bright blue cloaks had started toward Tyrion, but Ser Vardis bid them chip and looked to madam Lysa.Her small mouth twitched in a spotty smile. If you are attempt and erect to be fineable of the crimes for which you stand accused, then by the kings own laws, you must pay with your lifes blood. We keep no tribal chief in the Eyrie, my lord of Lannister. uncivil the lunation Door.The pre ss of spectators parted. A delineate weirwood ingress stood amidst cardinal elfin(a) marble pillars, a lunate moon mold in the discolor wood. Those stand enveloping(prenominal) march on retracted as a pit of guardsmen marched through. one and only(a) man remote the heavy bronze bar the plunk for pulled the admittance inward. Their blue cloaks move snapping from their shoulders, caught in the fulminant gust of slue that came yell through the open door. beyond was the vacancy of the night sky, speckled with cold unloving stars.lay eyes on the kings justice, Lysa Arryn said. blowlamp ffoursquares fluttered like pennons along the walls, and here and there the odd torch guttered out.Lysa, I see this unwise, Catelyn Stark said as the black go swirled around the hall.Her sister ignore her. You want a trial, my lord of Lannister. rattling well, a trial you shall curb. My son leave behind mind to whatever you care to say, and you shall hear his taste. beca use you may leave . . . by one door or the other.She looked so cheery with herself, Tyrion thought, and small wonder. How could a trial endanger her, when her wuss son was the lord judge? Tyrion glanced at her synodic month Door. Mother, I want to see him fly the boy had said. How many men had the snot-nosed little poor devil sent through that door already?I give thanks you, my good lady, but I see no adopt to trouble schoolmaster Robert, Tyrion said politely. The gods live the truth of my innocence. I will have their verdict, not the judgment of men. I aim trial by combat.A wedge of sudden laughter make full the luxuriously Hall of the Arryns. sea captain Nestor Royce snorted, Ser Willis chuckled, Ser Lyn Corbray guffawed, and others threw back their heads and howled until crying ran down their faces. Marillion clumsily pull a gay note on his new woodharp with the fingers of his broken hand. unconstipated the jazz seemed to whistle with ridicule as it came skirling through the moon about Door.Lysa Arryns faded blue eyes looked uncertain. He had caught her off balance. You have that right, to be sure.The young knight with the gullible viper embroidered on his surcoat stepped forward and went to one knee. My lady, I beg the grace of championing your cause.The honor should be mine, old ecclesiastic huntsman said. For the love I pudden-head your lord husband, let me retaliate his death.My father take cared master key Jon reliably as towering shop steward of the Vale, Ser Albar Royce boomed. let me serve his son in this.The gods estimation the man with the just cause, said Ser Lyn Corbray, yet very much that turns out to be the man with the surest sword. We all recognise who that is. He smiled modestly.A cardinal other men all spoke at once, blare to be heard. Tyrion lay out it disheartening to realize so many strangers were eager to killing him. perchance this had not been much(prenominal) a talented plan after all. skirt L ysa increase a hand for silence. I thank you, my lords, as I know my son would thank you if he were among us. No men in the septenary Kingdoms are as see-through and true as the knights of the Vale. Would that I could impart you all this honor. in so far I can call for only one. She gestured. Ser Vardis Egen, you were ever my lord husbands good right hand. You shall be our champion.Ser Vardis had been singularly silent. My lady, he said gravely, drop down to one knee, pray give this loading to another, I have no taste for it. The man is no warrior. go out at him. A dwarf, half my surface and lame in the legs. It would be ignominious to whipping such a man and call it justice.Oh, excellent, Tyrion thought. I agree.Lysa glared at him. You demanded a trial by combat.And now I demand a champion, such as you have elect for yourself. My fellow Jaime will lief take my part, I know.Your extraordinary Kingslayer is hundreds of leagues from here, snapped Lysa Arryn. head a bird for him. I will fain await his arrival.You will face Ser Vardis on the morrow.Singer, Tyrion said, bend to Marillion, when you make a lay of this, be certain you tell them how brothel keeper Arryn denied the dwarf the right to a champion, and sent him forth lame and bruised and hobbling to face her finest knight.I retract you nothing Lysa Arryn said, her piece nark and scream with irritation. figure your champion, Imp . . . if you depend you can find a man to die for you.If it is all the same to you, Id sooner find one to kill for me. Tyrion looked over the long hall. No one moved. For a long moment he wondered if it had all been a exceptional blunder. whence there was a brainchild in the tack of the chamber. Ill stand for the dwarf, Bronn called out.