A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-six

TyrionChella young lady of Cheyk of the Black Ears had gone ahead to sc step up, and it was she who brought clog discourse of the array at the cross tracks. By their fires I c every them twenty gm intemperate, she express. Their banners atomic number 18 red, with a well-disposed lion.Your yield? Bronn asked.Or my brother Jaime, Tyrion announce. We shall receipt currently enough. He surveyed his ragged band of brigands near three hundred rock-and-roll Crows, Moon Brothers, Black Ears, and burned-over Men, and those just the seed of the army he hoped to grow. Gunthor word of honor of Gurn was raising the other clans pull subject now. He wondered what his ennoble be precipitate would confuse of them in their skins and bits of stolen brand name. If truth be told, he did non know what to make of them himself. Was he their com partder or their captive? Most of the time, it seemed to be a little of some(prenominal). It might be best if I rode reduce alone, he sugges ted.Best for Tyrion boy of Tywin, said Ulf, who spoke for the Moon Brothers.Shagga glowered, a vexationsome sight to see. Shagga son of Dolf ilks this non. Shagga lead go with the boyman, and if the boyman lies, Shagga will helicopter eat up his manhoodand menstruate it to the goats, yes, Tyrion said wearily. Shagga, I go by you my news show as a Lannister, I will return.Why should we trust your word? Chella was a small hard woman, flat as a boy, and no fool. Lowland lords acquire lied to the clans before.You wound me, Chella, Tyrion said. Here I approximation we had be make out such(prenominal) friends. But as you will. You shall ride with me, and Shagga and Conn for the c argonen Crows, Ulf for the Moon Brothers, and Timett son of Timett for the Burned Men. The clansmen exchanged wary looks as he named them. The rest shall wait here until I send for you. Try non to kill and maim each other while Im gone.He puke his heels to his horse and trotted a agency, giving t hem no select nonwithstanding to follow or be left behind. Either was fine with him, so ache as they did not sit d admit to talk for a day and a night. That was the trouble with the clans they had an absurd notion that every mans voice should be comprehend in council, so they argued about everything, end slightly. Even their women were allowed to speak. Small wonder that it had been hundreds of old era since they last threatened the Vale with anything beyond an occasional raid. Tyrion meant to change that.Brorm rode with him. laughingstock themafter a quick bit of grumblingthe five clansmen followed on their down the stairssize garrons, scrawny things that looked like ponies and scramb conduct up rock circumvents like goats.The gem Crows rode to bushelher, and Chella and Ulf stayed close as well, as the Moon Brothers and Black Ears had strong bonds between them. Timett son of Timett rode alone. Every clan in the Mountains of the Moon feared the Burned Men, who mortified t heir flesh with fire to prove their courage and (the others said) roasted babies at their feasts. And even the other Burned Men feared Timett, who had put out his own left eye with a white-hot knife when he reached the age of manhood. Tyrion ga at that mooringd that it was more customary for a boy to burn off a nipple, a finger, or (if he was rattling brave, or truly unhinged) an ear. Timetts fellow Burned Men were so awed by his choice of an eye that they promptly named him a red draw, which seemed to be some bearing of a war chief.I wonder what their king burned off, Tyrion said to Bronn when he heard the tale. Gr inning, the sellsword had tugged at his crotch . . . solely even Bronn unplowed a respectful tongue around Timett. If a man was mad enough to put out his own eye, he was unlikely to be gentle to his enemies.Distant watchers peered down from towers of unmortared stone as the caller descended with the foothills, and once Tyrion saw a raven take wing. Where the high road twisted between two rocky outcrops, they came to the first strong point. A low earthen wall four feet high closed off the road, and a dozen crossbowmen manned the heights. Tyrion halted his followers out of range and rode to the wall alone. Who commands here? he shouted up.The captain was quick to appear, and even fast to give them an escort when he recognized his lords son. They trotted past contraband palm and burned bagfasts, down to the riverlands and the Green Fork of the Trident. Tyrion saw no bodies, but the air was full of ravens and carrion crows there had been fighting here, and recently.Half a union from the crossroads, a barricade of sharpened wager had been erected, manned by pikemen and archers. can buoy the line, the camp spread out to the far distance. Thin fingers of smoke come up from hundreds of cookfires, mailed men sat under trees and honed their blades, and familiar banners fluttered from staffs thrust into the drab ground.A party of mounted horsem en rode forward to challenge them as they approached the stakes. The buck who led them wore silver armor inlaid with amethysts and a striped purple-and-silver cloak. His resistance bore a unicorn sigil, and a spiral horn two feet extensive jutted up from the brow of his horsehead helm. Tyrion reined up to greet him. Ser Flement.Ser Flement Brax lifted his visor. Tyrion, he said in astonishment. My lord, we all feared you dead, or . . . He looked at the clansmen uncertainly. These . . . companions of yours . . . comprehend friends and loyal retainers, Tyrion said. Where will I find my lord induce?He has taken the inn at the crossroads for his quarters.Tyrion laughed. The inn at the crossroads Perhaps the gods were just after all. I will see him at once.As you say, my lord. Ser Flement wheeled his horse about and shouted commands. Three rows of stakes were pulled from the ground to make a hole in the line. Tyrion led his party through. maestro Tywins camp spread over leagues. Ch ellas estimate of twenty thousand men could not be far wrong. The rough-cut men camped out in the open, but the knights had thrown up tents, and some of the high lords had erected pavilions as large as houses. Tyrion spied the red ox of the Presters, churchman Crakehalls brindled boar, the yearning tree of Marbrand, the badger of Lydden. Knights called out to him as he cantered past, and men-at-arms gaped at the clansmen in open astonishment.Shagga was gaping back beyond a certainty, he had neer seen so many men, horses, and weapons in all his days. The rest of the mountain brigands did a better job of guarding their faces, but Tyrion had no doubts that they were full as a lot in awe. Better and better. The more impressed they were with the power of the Lannisters, the easier they would be to command.The inn and its st fitteds were much as he remembered, though little more than tumbled stones and blackened foundations remained where the rest of the village had stood. A gibbet had been erected in the yard, and the body that swung there was covered with ravens. At Tyrions approach they took to the air, squawking and flapping their black wings. He dismounted and glanced up at what remained of the corpse. The birds had eaten her lips and eyeball and most of her cheeks, baring her stained red teething in a hideous smile. A room, a meal, and a flagon of wine, that was all I asked, he reminded her with a sigh of reproach.Boys emerged hesitantly from the st qualifieds to see to their horses. Shagga did not want to give his up. The lad wont steal your mare, Tyrion as convinced(predicate)d him. He only(prenominal) wants to give her some oats and water and brush out her coat. Shaggas coat could accept used a good brushing too, but it would gift been less than tactful to mention it. You have my word, the horse will not be harmed.Glaring, Shagga let go his grip on the reins. This is the horse of Shagga son of Dolf, he roared at the stableboy.If he doesnt give h er back, chop off his manhood and feed it to the goats, Tyrion promised. Provided you can find some.A partner off of house guards in ruddy cloaks and lion-crested helms stood under the inns sign, on either side of the door. Tyrion recognized their captain. My father?In the common room, mlord.My men will want meat and mead, Tyrion told him. See that they get it. He entered the inn, and there was Father.Tywin Lannister, master copy of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, was in his middle fifties, until now hard as a man of twenty. Even seated, he was tall, with long legs, broad shoulders, a flat stomach. His thin arms were corded with muscle. When his once-thick golden tomentum had begun to recede, he had commanded his barber to shave his head Lord Tywin did not believe in half measures. He razored his lip and chin as well, but kept his side-whiskers, two great thickets of wiry golden hair that covered most of his cheeks from ear to jaw. His eyes were a pale green, specked wit h gold. A fool more foolish than most had once jested that even Lord Tywins shit was flecked with gold. Some said the man was tranquillize alive, deep in the bowels of Casterly Rock.Ser Kevan Lannister, his fathers only surviving brother, was sharing a flagon of ale with Lord Tywin when Tyrion entered the common room. His uncle was portly and balding, with a close-cropped yellow beard that followed the line of his bulky jaw. Ser Kevan saw him first. Tyrion, he said in surprise.Uncle, Tyrion said, bowing. And my lord father. What a amusement to find you here.Lord Tywin did not stir from his prexy, but he did give his dwarf son a long, searching look. I see that the rumors of your demise were unfounded.Sorry to disappoint you, Father, Tyrion said. No need to leap up and shove me, I wouldnt want you to strain yourself. He crossed the room to their table, precipitously conscious of the way his stunted legs made him waddle with every step. Whenever his fathers eyes were on him, he became uncomfortably aware of all his deformities and shortcomings. Kind of you to go to war for me, he said as he climbed into a hold and helped himself to a cup of his fathers ale.By my lights, it was you who started this, Lord Tywin replied. Your brother Jaime would never have meekly submitted to capture at the hands of a woman.Thats one way we differ, Jaime and I. Hes taller as well, you may have noticed.His father ignored the sally. The honor of our foretoken was at stake. I had no choice but to ride. No man sheds Lannister blood with impunity.Hear Me Roar, Tyrion said, grinning. The Lannister words. Truth be told, none of my blood was genuinely shed, although it was a close thing once or twice. Morrec and Jyck were killed.I specify you will be wanting some new men.Dont trouble yourself, Father, Ive acquired a few of my own. He tried a swallow of the ale. It was brown and yeasty, so thick you could almost chew it. Very fine, in truth. A lenience his father had hanged the innkeep. How is your war going?His uncle answered. Well enough, for the nonce. Ser Edmure had scattered small forces of men along his borders to stop our raiding, and your lord father and I were able to destroy most of them piecemeal before they could regroup.Your brother has been covering himself with glory, his father said. He smashed the Lords Vance and Piper at the Golden Tooth, and met the massed power of the Tullys under the walls of Riverrun. The lords of the Trident have been put to rout. Ser Edmure Tully was taken captive, with many of his knights and bannermen. Lord Blackwood led a few survivors back to Riverrun, where Jaime has them under siege. The rest fled to their own strongholds.Your father and I have been marching on each in turn, Ser Kevan said. With Lord Blackwood gone, Raventree fell at once, and Lady Whent yielded Harrenhal for want of men to hold in it. Ser Gregor burnt out the Pipers and the Brackens . . . Leaving you unopposed? Tyrion said.Not wholly, Ser Kevan said. The Mallisters still hold Seagard and Walder Frey is marshaling his levies at the Twins.No matter, Lord Tywin said. Frey only takes the field when the scent of mastery is in the air, and all he smells now is ruin. And Jason Mallister lacks the strength to fight alone. erst Jaime takes Riverrun, they will both be quick enough to bend the knee joint. Unless the Starks and the Arryns come forth to oppose us, this war is good as won.I would not fret overmuch about the Arryns if I were you, Tyrion said. The Starks are other matter. Lord Eddardis our emceeage, his father said. He will lead no armies while he rots in a dungeon under the Red Keep.No, Ser Kevan agreed, but his son has called the banners and sits at Moat Cailin with a strong host around him.No sword is strong until its been tempered, Lord Tywin declared. The Stark boy is a child. No doubt he likes the sound of warhorns well enough, and the sight of his banners fluttering in the wind, but in the end it comes d own to butchers work. I doubt he has the stomach for it.Things had gotten interesting while hed been onward, Tyrion reflected. And what is our fearless monarch doing whilst all this butchers work is be done? he wondered. How has my lovely and persuasive sister gotten Robert to agree to the duress of his dear friend Ned?Robert Baratheon is dead, his father told him. Your nephew reigns in Kings Landing.That did take Tyrion aback. My sister, you mean. He took another gulp of ale. The realm would be a much different place with Cersei ruling in place of her husband.If you have a mind to make yourself of use, I will give you a command, his father said. Marq Piper and Karyl Vance are loose in our rear, raiding our lands across the Red Fork.Tyrion made a tsking sound. The gall of them, fighting back. Ordinarily Id be glad to punish such rudeness, Father, but the truth is, I have pressing business elsewhere.Do you? Lord Tywin did not seem awed. We also have a pair of Ned Starks afterthoug hts making a nuisance of themselves by harassing my foraging parties. Beric Dondarrion, some youthful lordling with delusions of valor. He has that fat jape of a priest with him, the one who likes to tack together his sword on fire. Do you think you might be able to deal with them as you scamper off? Without making too much a botch of it?Tyrion wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smiled. Father, it warms my heart to think that you might entrust me with . . . what, twenty men? Fifty? Are you sure you can spare so many? Well, no matter. If I should come across Thoros and Lord Beric, I shall spank them both. He climbed down from his chair and waddled to the sideboard, where a wheel of veined white cheese sat border by fruit. First, though, I have some promises of my own to keep, he said as he sliced off a wedge. I shall require three thousand helms and as many hauberks, plus swords, pikes, steel spearheads, maces, battleaxes, gauntlets, gorgets, greaves, breastplates, wago ns to course all thisThe door behind him opened with a crash, so violently that Tyrion almost dropped his cheese. Ser Kevan leapt up swearing as the captain of the guard went fleeting across the room to smash against the hearth. As he tumbled down into the stale ashes, his lion helm askew, Shagga snapped the mans sword in two over a knee thick as a tree trunk, threw down the pieces, and lumbered into the common room. He was preceded by his stench, riper than the cheese and overpowering in the closed space. wee redcape, he snarled, when neighboring you bare steel on Shagga son of Dolf, I will chop off your manhood and roast it in the fire.What, no goats? Tyrion said, taking a bite of cheese.The other clansmen followed Shagga into the common room, Bronn with them. The sellsword gave Tyrion a remorseful shrug.Who might you be? Lord Tywin asked, cool as snow.They followed me home, Father, Tyrion explained. May I keep them? They dont eat much.No one was smiling. By what right do yo u savages intrude on our councils? demanded Ser Kevan.Savages, lowlander? Conn might have been handsome if you water-washed him. We are free men, and free men by rights sit on all war councils.Which one is the lion lord? Chella asked.They are both old men, announced Timett son of Timett, who had yet to see his twentieth year.Ser Kevans hand went to his sword hilt, but his brother placed two fingers on his wrist joint and held him fast. Lord Tywin seemed unperturbed. Tyrion, have you forgotten your courtesies? Kindly acquaint us with our . . . prestigious guests.Tyrion licked his fingers. With pleasure, he said. The fair maid is Chella daughter of Cheyk of the Black Ears.Im no maid, Chella protested. My sons have taken fifty ears among them.May they take fifty more. Tyrion waddled away from her. This is Conn son of Coratt. Shagga son of Dolf is the one who looks like Casterly Rock with hair. They are Stone Crows. Here is Ulf son of Umar of the Moon Brothers, and here Timett son of Timett, a red hand of the Burned Men. And this is Bronn, a sellsword of no particular allegiance. He has already changed sides twice in the short time Ive known him, you and he ought to get on famously, Father. To Bronn and the clansmen he said, May I present my lord father, Tywin son of Tytos of House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, Shield of Lannisport, and once and future mitt of the King.Lord Tywin rose, dignified and correct. Even in the west, we know the prowess of the warrior clans of the Mountains of the Moon. What brings you down from your strongholds, my lords?Horses, said Shagga.A promise of silk and steel, said Timett son of Timett.Tyrion was about to tell his lord father how he proposed to reduce the Vale of Arryn to a heater wasteland, but he was never given the chance. The door banged open again. The courier gave Tyrions clansmen a quick, queer look as he dropped to one knee before Lord Tywin. My lord, he said, Ser Addam bid me tell you that th e Stark host is moving down the causeway.Lord Tywin Lannister did not smile. Lord Tywin never smiled, but Tyrion had learned to read his fathers pleasure all the same, and it was there on his face. So the wolfling is leaving his den to play among the lions, he said in a voice of quiet satisfaction. Splendid. Return to Ser Addam and tell him to fall back. He is not to engage the northerners until we arrive, but I want him to harass their flanks and draw them far south.It will be as you command. The rider took his leave.We are well fit(p) here, Ser Kevan pointed out. Close to the ford and ringed by pits and spikes. If they are coming south, I say let them come, and break themselves against us.The boy may hang back or lose his courage when he sees our numbers, Lord Tywin replied. The sooner the Starks are broken, the sooner I shall be free to deal with Stannis Baratheon. Tell the drummers to rally assembly, and send word to Jaime that I am marching against Robb Stark.As you will, Se r Kevan said.Tyrion watched with a grim fascination as his lord father turned next to the half-wild clansmen. It is said that the men of the mountain clans are warriors without fear.It is said truly, Conn of the Stone Crows answered.And the women, Chella added.Ride with me against my enemies, and you shall have all my son promised you, and more, Lord Tywin told them.Would you pay us with our own coin? Ulf son of Umar said. Why should we need the fathers promise, when we have the sons?I said nothing of need, Lord Tywin replied. My words were courtesy, nothing more. You need not join us. The men of the winterlands are made of iron and ice, and even my boldest knights fear to face them.Oh, deftly done, Tyrion thought, smiling crookedly.The Burned Men fear nothing. Timett son of Timett will ride with the lions.Wherever the Burned Men go, the Stone Crows have been there first, Conn declared hotly. We ride as well.Shagga son of Dolf will chop off their manhoods and feed them to the crows. We will ride with you, lion lord, Chella daughter of Cheyk agreed, but only if your halfman son goes with us. He has bought his breath with promises. Until we hold the steel he has pledged us, his life is ours.Lord Tywin turned his gold-flecked eyes on his son.Joy, Tyrion said with a resigned smile.