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〃I once had the great good fortune to see the Citadel's copy of Lives of Four Kings；〃 Prince Oberyn was telling her lord husband。 〃The illuminations were wondrous to behold； but Kaeth was too kind by half to King Viserys。〃
Tyrion gave him a sharp look。 〃Too kind？ He scants Viserys shamefully； in my view。 It should have been Lives of Five Kings。〃
The prince laughed。 〃Viserys hardly reigned a fortnight。〃
〃He reigned more than a year；〃 said Tyrion。
Oberyn gave a shrug。 〃A year or a fortnight； what does it matter？ He poisoned his own nephew to gain the throne and then did nothing once he had it。〃
〃Baelor starved himself to death； fasting；〃 said Tyrion。 〃His uncle served him loyally as Hand； as he had served the Young Dragon before him。 Viserys might only have reigned a year； but he ruled for fifteen； while Daeron warred and Baelor prayed。〃 He made a sour face。 〃And if he did remove his nephew； can you blame him？ Someone had to save the realm from Baelor's follies。〃
Sansa was shocked。 〃But Baelor the Blessed was a great king。 He walked the Boneway barefoot to make peace with Dorne； and rescued the Dragonknight from a snakepit。 The vipers refused to strike him because he was so pure and holy。〃
Prince Oberyn smiled。 〃If you were a viper； my lady； would you want to bite a bloodless stick like Baelor the Blessed？ I'd sooner save my fangs for someone juicier 。 。 。〃
〃My prince is playing with you； Lady Sansa；〃 said the woman Ellaria Sand。 〃The septons and singers like to say that the snakes did not bite Baelor； but the truth is very different。 He was bitten half a hundred times； and should have died from it。〃
〃If he had； Viserys would have reigned a dozen years；〃 said Tyrion； Iiand the Seven Kingdoms might have been better served。 Some believe Baelor was deranged by all that venom。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Prince Oberyn； 〃but I've seen no snakes in this Red Keep of yours。 So how do you account for Joffrey？〃
〃I prefer not to。〃 Tyrion inclined his head stiffly。 〃If you will excuse us。 Our litter awaits。〃 The dwarf helped Sansa up inside and clambered awkwardly after her。 〃Close the curtains； my lady； if you'd be so good。〃
〃Must we； my lord？ 〃 Sansa did not want to be shut behind the curtains。 〃The day is so lovely。〃
〃The good people of King's Landing are like to throw dung at the litter if they see me inside it。 Do us both a kindness； my lady。 Close the curtains。〃
She did as he bid her。 They sat for a time； as the air grew warm and stuffy around them。 〃I was sorry about your book； my lord；〃 she made herself say。
〃It was Joffrey's book。 He might have learned a thing or two if he'd read it。〃 He sounded distracted。 〃I should have known better。 I should have seen 。 。 。 a good many things。〃
〃Perhaps the dagger will please him more。〃
When the dwarf grimaced； his scar tightened and twisted。 〃The boy's earned himself a dagger； wouldn't you say？〃 Thankfully Tyrion did not wait for her reply。 〃Joff quarreled with your brother Robb at Winterfell。 Tell me； was there ill feeling between Bran and His Grace as well？〃
〃Bran？〃 The question confused her。 〃Before he fell； you mean？〃 She had to try and think back。 It was all so long ago。 〃Bran was a sweet boy。 Everyone loved him。 He and Tornmen fought with wooden swords； I remember； but just for play。〃
Tyrion lapsed back into moody silence。 Sansa heard the distant clank of chains from outside； the portcullis was being drawn up。 A moment later there was a shout； and their litter swayed into motion。 Deprived of the passing scenery； she chose to stare at her folded hands； unfortably aware of her husand's mismatched eyes。 Why is he looking at me that way？
〃You loved your brothers； much as I love Jaime。〃
Is this some Lannister trap to make me speak treason？ 〃My brothers were traitors； and they've gone to traitors' graves。 It is treason to love a traitor。〃
Her little husband snorted。 〃Robb rose in arms against his rightful king。 By law； that made him a traitor。 The others died too young to know what treason was。〃 He rubbed his nose。 〃Sansa； do you know what happened to Bran at Winterfell？〃
〃Bran fell。 He was always climbing things； and finally he fell。 We always feared he would。 And Theon Greyjoy killed him； but that was later。〃
〃Theon Grey…joy。〃 Tyrion sighed。 〃Your lady mother once accused me 。 。 。 well； I will not burden you with the ugly details。 She accused me falsely。 I never harmed your brother Bran。 And I mean no harm to you。〃
What does he want me to say？ 〃That is good to know； my lord。〃 He wanted something from her； but Sansa did not know what it was。 He looks like a starving child； but I have no food to give him。 Why won't he leave me be？
Tyrion rubbed at his scarred； scabby nose yet again； an ugly habit that drew the eye to his ugly face。 〃You have never asked me how Robb died； or your lady mother。〃
〃I 。 。 。 would sooner not know。 It would give me bad dreams。〃
〃Then I will say no more。〃
〃That 。 。 。 that's kind of you。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Tyrion。 〃I am the very soul of kindness。 And I know about bad dreams。〃
CHAPTER 60
TYRION
The new crown that his father had given the Faith stood twice as tall as the one the mob had smashed； a glory of crystal and spun gold。 Rainbow light flashed and shimmered every time the High Septon moved his head； but Tyrion had to wonder how the man could bear the weight。 And even he had to concede that Joffrey and Margaery made a regal couple； as they stood side…by…side between the towering gilded statues of the Father and the Mother。
The bride was lovely in ivory silk and Myrish lace； her skirts decorated with floral patterns picked out in seed pearls。 As Renly's widow； she might have worn the Baratheon colors； gold and black； yet she came to them a Tyrell； in a maiden's cloak made of a hundred cloth…of…gold roses sewn to green velvet。 He wondered if she really was a maiden。 Not that Joffrey is like to know the difference。
The king looked near as splendid as his bride； in his doublet of dusky rose； beneath a cloak of deep crimson velvet blazoned with his stag and lion。 The crown rested easily on his curls； gold on gold。 I saved that bloody crown for him。 Tyrion shifted his weight unfortably from one foot to the other。 He could not stand still。 Too much wine。 He should have thought to relieve himself before they set out from the Red Keep。 The sleepless night he'd spent with Shae was making itself felt too； but most of all he wanted to strangle his bloody royal nephew。
I am no stranger to Valyrian steel； the boy had boasted。 The septons were always going on about how the Father Above judges us all。 If the Father would be so good as to topple over and crush loff like a dung beetle； I might even believe it。
He ought to have seen it long ago。 Jaime would never send another man to do his killing； and Cersei was too cunning to use a knife that could be traced back to her； but Joff； arrogant vicious stupid little wretch that he was 。 。 。
He remembered a cold morning when he'd climbed down the steep exterior steps from Winterfell's library to find Prince Joffrey jesting with the Hound about killing wolves。 Send a dog to kill a wolf； he said。 Even Joffrey was not so foolish as to mand Sandor Clegane to slay a son of Eddard Stark； however； the Hound would have gone to Cersei。 Instead the boy found his catspaw among the unsavory lot of freeriders； merchants； and camp followers who'd attached themselves to the king's party as they made their way north。 Some poxy lackwit willing to risk his life for a prince's favor and a little coin。 Tyrion wondered whose idea it had been to wait until Robert left Winterfell before opening Bran's throat。 loffs； most like。 No doubt he thought it was the height of cunning。
The prince's own dagger had a jeweled pommel and inlaid goldwork on the blade； Tyrion seemed to recall。 At least Joff had not been stupid enough to use that。 Instead he went poking among his father's weapons。 Robert Baratheon was a man of careless generosity； and would have given his son any dagger he wanted 。 。 。 but Tyrion guessed that the boy had just taken it。 Robert had e to Winterfell。 with a long tail of knights and retainers； a huge wheelhouse； and a baggage train。 No doubt some diligent servant had made certain that the king's weapons went with him； in case he should desire any of them。
The blade Joff chose was nice and plain。 No goldwork； no jewels in the hilt； no silver inlay on the blade。 King Robert never wore it； had likely forgotten he owned it。 Yet the Valyrian steel was deadly sharp 。 。 。 sharp enough to slice through skin； flesh； and muscle in one quick stroke。 I am no stranger to Valyrian steel。 But he had been； hadn't he？ Else he would never have been so foolish as to pick Littlefinger's knife。
The why of it still eluded him。 Simple cruelty； perhaps？ His nephew had that in abundance。 It was all Tyrion could do not to retch up all the wine he'd drunk； piss in his breeches； or both。 He squirmed unfortably。 He ought to have held his tongue at breakfast。 The boy knows I know now My big mouth will be the death of me； I swear it。
The seven vows were made； the seven blessings invoked； and the seven promises exchanged。 When the wedding song had been sung and the challenge h