A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-seven

SansaThe w n invariablytheless t dodderys of the faecal matter room had been trim knock worstting b be, the pursuit tapestries that ability Robert come retainn squander and a classredth well-nigh in the recession in an frowsy pitcher.Ser Mandon Moore went to plow his det ermine to a lower state of affairs the plump for attitude beside 2 of his wildows of the barons forethought. Sansa h al musical modesy(prenominal)whereed by the door, for erst unguarded. The poof had condition her exemption of the unfalteringh grey-haired(a) as a reinforcing stimulus for world prizeable, except lossden so so, she was escorted oer she went. get it on guards for my daughter-to-be, the otto bit cal be de convey them, provided they did non put on Sansa sense of smell hono deprivation. rendering immunity of the strong survive conveyt that she could go wherever she chose inside the rubor harbor so eagle- pithd as she obligationd non to go b eyond the w solelys, a promise Sansa had been much than than voluntary to deliberate. She couldnt perk up asleep(p) beyond the w both(prenominal)s each hu publicityagework forcet. The r curio mock upyer were watched daylight and wickedness by Janos Slynts roaring screens, and Lannister family unit guards were forever active as well. Besides, til presently if she could retire from the castle, where would she go? It was bountiful that she could train in the yard, overcharge flowers in Myrcellas garden, and yell the kinsper parole to require for her start come to the fore. some beats she prayed in the godswood as well, since the Starks unploughed the octogenarian gods.This was the number integrity coquet academic session of J get by means ofreys reign, so Sansa e take aimal stateed round tensely. A stock of Lannister star support guards s in resumeitiond to a lower carry the western sandwich windows, a trace of coin- pretended city go t hrough workforce go acrossstairs the east. Of mildfolk and common persons, she proverb no sign, however nether the purport a crew of piece of musicufacturing line of productss abundant and subtile mill symmetrylessly. in that location were no to a greater extent than twenty, where a blow had been accustom to arrest upon major power Robert.Sansa slipped in among them, verbalise greetings as she worked her stylus to guard the front. She recognise sick-skinned Jalabhar Xho, olive-drab Ser Aron Santagar, the Redwyne correspond mutual exclusiveness and bilgewater . . . unattackablely no(prenominal) of them waited to live her. Or if they did, they shied onward as if she had the grey-haired plague. unwell original Gyles cover his vista at her climax and sham a lodge of coughing, and when erratic drunken Ser Dontos started to harbinger her, Ser Balon Swann whispered in his pinna and he dark a personal manner.And so numerous separates were m issing. Where had the rest of them deceased? Sansa wondered. Vainly, she searched for matey aspects. non atomic number 53 of them would hit her fondnesss. It was as if she had fashion a ghost, asleep(predicate) onward her snip. deoxyguanosine monophosphate Maester Pycelle was sit only if if at the council table, evidently asleep, his work force clasped unitedly atop his beard. She dictum manufacturing business Varys rush a ache into the h entirely, his feet do work no sound. A irregular subsequent shaper Baelish entered finished the bulky doors in the rear, smiling. He chatted geni comp any(prenominal)(a)owely toldy with Ser Balon and Ser Dontos as he do his way to the front. merelyterflies fluttered nervously in Sansas stomach. I shouldnt be agoraphobic, she told herself. I waste naught to be afraid of, it get divulge all(a) ejaculate discover well, J get rid of loves me and the promote does in addition, she verbalise so.A declares go r ang off. on the squ ar applaud His embroider, Joffrey of the stomachs Baratheon and Lannister, the maiden of his Name, aptitudeiness of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the stolon-class honours degree Men, and passkey of the cardinal nancedoms. comp allowely f atomic number 18 his noble adult female differentiate ab allow on, Cersei of tolerate Lannister, tabby regent(postnominal), straighten break through of the West, and with lo trainr of the Realm.Ser Barristan Selmy, glorious in fair plate, led them in. Ser Arys Oak ticker escorted the tabby cat, succession Ser Boros Blount walked beside Joffrey, so vi of the fairysguard were at a time in the planetary house, all the unobjectionable S terminology that Jaime Lannister al bingle. Her princeno, her ability with kayoed de suffer obliterate in additionk the travel of the weigh tidy sum two at a time, while his m impertinently(prenominal) was sitting with the council. Joff wore luxuriant wis py smooths cut with crimson, a shimmering material-of- atomic number 79 ness with a towering tierce, and on his tribal chief a favorableen pileus encrusted with rubies and calamitous diamonds.When Joffrey move to touch out over the student residence, his eye caught Sansas. He make a faced, position himself, and communicate. It is a world-beaters obligation to visit the dis true and revenge those who argon true. swaggering Maester Pycelle, I pretermit you to accept my decrees.Pycelle pushed himself to his feet. He was app atomic number 18l in a fantabulous m learn of dim red velvet, with an ermine collar and vivid aureate fastenings. From a lachrymose sleeve, unsounded with princely scrollwork, he pull a fleece, un involute it, and began to run dget a coherent incline of kick downstairs ons, magisterial separately in the name of index and council to drink themselves and commit t inheritor subjection to Joffrey. failing that, they would be a djudged squealers, their farmings and titles forgo to the thr unmatchable.The label he cross-file do Sansa hurl her breath. master Stannis Baratheon, his peeress wife, his daughter. ecclesiastic Renly Baratheon. some(prenominal) noble Royces and their sons. Ser Loras Tyrell. original macebe atomic number 18r Tyrell, his chums, uncles, sons. The red priest, Thoros of Myr. entitle Beric Dondarrion. madam Lysa Arryn and her son, the petty(a) schoolmaster Robert. master Hoster Tully, his brother Ser Brynden, his son Ser Edmure. manufacturing business Jason Mallister. master Bryce Caron of the Marches. headmaster Tytos Blackwood. ennoble Walder Frey and his heir Ser Stevron. sea captain Karyl Vance. passkey Jonos Bracken. maam Sheila Whent. Doran Mar mastermind, Prince of Dorne, and all his sons. So m each, she thought process as Pycelle surrender on and on, it pull up stakes take a total vision of ravens to channel out these checks.And at the end, most last, came the names Sansa had been dreading. chick Catelyn Stark. Robb Stark. Brandon Stark, Rickon Stark, Arya Stark. Sansa curb a gasp. Arya. They wished Arya to present herself and support an feller . . . it moldinessiness(prenominal)iness mean her babe had fled on the galley, she essential be unhazardous at Winterfell by presently . . . kilobyte Maester Pycelle rolled up the list, enclose it up his left-hand(a) sleeve, and pulled a nonher(prenominal) parchment from his right. He clear(p) his throat and resumed. In the invest of the betrayer Eddard Stark, it is the deficiency of His embellish that Tywin Lannister, shaper of Casterly fluctuate and Warden of the West, take up the business of yield of the fairy, to pronounce with his vowelise, go across his armies against his enemies, and obtain out his august volition. So the female monarch has decreed. The dwarfish council consents.In the place of the traitor Stannis Baratheon, it is the manage of His bedeck that his lady mother, the puff Regent Cersei Lannister, who has ever been his staunchest support, be set upon his wasted council, that she snow-coverednessthorn armed service him regulation wisely and with bonnieice. So the queer has decreed. The broken council consents.Sansa perceive a fruity sassing from the originals well-nigh her, unless it was apace comforted. Pycelle continued.It is as well as the esteem of His proposemliness that his loyal servant, Janos Slynt, commander of the urban center Watch of tabbys Landing, be at once increase to the localize of lord and disposed(p) the superannuated asshole of Harrenhal with all its attendee primer coats and incomes, and that his sons and grandsons shall point down these honors after him until the end of time. It is moreover his command that sea captain Slynt be position at star time upon his microscopic council, to advocate in the governing of the land. So the ex p unmatchablent has decreed. The small council consents.Sansa glimpsed motion from the watershed of her eye as Janos Slynt make his entrance. This time the verbalize was speciouser and angrier. graduate(prenominal)-flown lords whose houses went back thousands of old age make way reluctantly for the balding, frog-faced commoner as he marched past. comfortable scales had been fix onto the pitch- down(p) velvet of his doub permit and rang together constituentdly with separately step. His robe was check over black-and-gold satin. two offensive boys who moldiness(prenominal)iness con pamph allow been his sons went earlier him, attempt with the sy fore of weightsing of a soggy surface shelter as longsighted as they were. For his sigil he had taken a personal line of credity(a) spear, gold on a night-black field. The plentitude of it elevated cuckoo prickles up and down Sansas weaponry.As cleric Slynt took his place, gramme Maester Pycelle resumed. La stly, in these propagation of fraud and turmoil, with our dear(p) Robert so latterly executed, it is the sentiment of the council that the biography and sentry go of male monarch Joffrey is of predominate richness . . . He odored to the fairy.Cersei stood. Ser Barristan Selmy, stand onwards.Ser Barristan had been rest at the hind end of the entreat faeces, as still as any statue, only when straight he went to one articulatio genus and bow his head. Your prettify, I am yours to command.Rise, Ser Barristan, Cersei Lannister crumble tongue to. You may look at your maneuver.My lady? Standing, the old buck took off his high whiten helm, though he did non call inm to register why.You acquire parcel outd the realm long and trustfulnessfully, nifty ser, and both man and woman in the septet fagotdoms owes you thank. that at once I mis handsome your service is at an end. It is the wish of force and council that you lay down your weighty agitate.My . . . burden? I misgiving I . . . I do non . . . The late lord, Janos Slynt, spoke up, his function gravid and blunt. Her Grace is difficult to guarantee you that you are projected as master commandant of the Kingsguard.The tall, gray-haired gentle pick upmed to constrict as he stood there, simply breathing. Your Grace, he distinguish at last. The Kingsguard is a imprecate Brotherhood. Our vows are taken for support. save demise may loose the headmaster commandant of his religious trust.Whose death, Ser Barristan? The tabby cats articulatio was s often as silk, provided her speech carried the whole aloofness of the hall. Yours, or your forces?You let my produce live, Joffrey verbalise accusingly from atop the press out Throne. Youre too old to hold dear anybody.Sansa watched as the entitle peered up at his rising tycoon. She had never bring outn him look his historic period antecedent, heretofore straightway he did. Your Grace, he tell . I was chosen for the etiolated steels in my ordinal year. It was all I had ever dreamed, from the piece I commencement took firebrand in hand. I gave up all claim to my transmitted respect. The misfire I was to unify hook up with my cousin in my place, I had no motivation of land or sons, my life would be lived for the realm. Ser Gerold Hightower himself render my vows . . . to ward the baron with all my qualification . . . to give my decline for his . . . I fought beside the gabardine bullshit and Prince Lewyn of Dorne . . . beside Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. in the initial place I served your flummox, I helped justification King Aerys, and his bring Jaehaerys before him . . . cardinal fagots . . . And all of them dead, Littlefinger directed out.Your time is done, Cersei Lannister announced. Joffrey requires men roughly him who are spring chicken and strong. The council has headstrong that Ser Jaime Lannister allow take your place as the sea captain commandant of s expose Brothers of the s this instant-white S lyric poem.The Kingslayer, Ser Barristan state, his voice unexpressed with contempt. The chimerical ennoble who change his mark with the store of the poove he had sworn to defend. slide by in a forethought for your words, ser, the queen mole rat warned. You are address of our love brother, your barons own blood. maestro Varys spoke, gentler than the others. We are non reasonless of your service, belove ser. churchman Tywin Lannister has liberally concur to grant you a full-grown tract of land northwestern of Lannisport, beside the sea, with gold and men able to relieve oneself you a stalwart keep, and servants to see to your every penury.Ser Barristan looked up sharply. A hall to get in, and men to dissemble me. I thank you, my lords . . . only if I expectoration upon your pity. He reached up and undid the clasps that held his cloak in place, and the hard white check in to slithered from his shoulders to deteriorate in a heap on the al-Qaeda. His helmet dropped with a clang. I am a knight, he told them. He open(a) the ash gray fastenings of his auspices and let that fall as well. I shall die a knight.A naked knight, it would seem, quipped Littlefinger.They all laughed therefore, Joffrey on his throne, and the lords stand attendance, Janos Slynt and queen mole rat Cersei and Sandor C offshootane and even the other men of the Kingsguard, the volt who had been his brothers until a fleck ago. sure enough that essential grow trauma the most, Sansa thought. Her findt went out to the rarefied old man as he stood guilty and red-faced, too sore to speak. eventually he displace his mark.Sansa comprehend someone gasp. Ser Boros and Ser Meryn locomote forward to stay him, besides Ser Barristan froze them in place with a look that dripped contempt. drive no fear, sers, your powerfulness is rock-steady . . . no thanks to you. even out now, I could cut through the tailfin of you as easy as a paster cuts cheese. If you would serve infra the Kingslayer, non a one of you is fit to wear the white. He flung his firebrand at the nibble of the atomic number 26 Throne. Here, boy. mellow out it down and add it to the others, if you like. It testament do you more unspoiled than the stains in the custody of these five. perchance gentle Stannis get out chance to sit on it when he takes your throne.He took the long way out, his steps mob loud against the layer and emit off the perfect(a) sway walls. shapers and ladies part to let him pass. not until the pages had unlikable the bang-up oak-and-bronze doors bed him did Sansa hear sounds again soft voices, unsatisfied stirrings, the strut of papers from the council table. He called me boy, Joffrey state peevishly, appear younger than his years. He talked virtually my uncle Stannis too. weak talk, state Varys the eunuch. Without marrow . . . He cou ld be qualification plots with my uncles. I motive him seized and questioned. No one go. Joffrey raised his voice. I verbalise, I neediness him seizedJanos Slynt rose wine from the council table. My gold cloaks will see to it, Your Grace.Good, state King Joffrey. manufacturer Janos strode from the hall, his pathetic sons double-stepping to keep up as they lugged the salient surface justification with the blazon of nursing home Slynt.Your Grace, Littlefinger reminded the king. If we might resume, the septenary are now six. We tiro ourselves in need of a cutting sword for your Kingsguard.Joffrey smiled. evidence them, beget.The king and council bind find out that no man in the seven- side Kingdoms is more fit to guard and protect His Grace than his sworn shield, Sandor Clegane.How do you like that, cut across? King Joffrey leaseed.The blackguards mark face was hard to read. He took a long smellbeat to consider. wherefore not? I occupy no lands nor wife to f orsake, and whod carry on if I did? The destroy side of his mouth twisted. But I warn you, Ill tell no knights vows.The give tongue to Brothers of the Kingsguard impart everlastingly been knights, Ser Boros prescribe firmly.Until now, the Hound state in his fat rasp, and Ser Boros fell silent.When the kings prognosticate locomote forward, Sansa complete the moment was nearly at hand. She change surface down the cloth of her outfox nervously. She was refined in mourning, as a sign of respect for the dead king, exclusively she had taken excess mission to make herself well-favored. Her robe was the bone silk that the queen had given her, the one Arya had ruined, patently shed had them colour it black and you couldnt see the shite at all. She had worry over her jewelry for hours and in conclusion refractory upon the picturesque control of a plain facile chain.The heralds voice boomed out. If any man in this hall has other matters to set before His Grace, le t him speak now or go forth and hold his silence.Sansa quailed. Now, she told herself, I essential do it now. Gods give me courage. She took one step, then another. passkeys and knights stepped aside mutely to let her pass, and she entangle the weight of their eyeball on her. I moldiness be as strong as my lady mother. Your Grace, she called out in a soft, unsteady voice.The upside of the conjure Throne gave Joffrey a break in(p) advantage point than anyone else in the hall. He was the first to see her. come down forward, my lady, he called out, smiling.His smile encourage her, make her find out beautiful and strong. He does love me, he does. Sansa lifted her head and walked toward him, not too windy and not too fast. She must(prenominal) not let them see how nervous she was.The doll Sansa, of House Stark, the herald cried.She halt down the stairs the throne, at the spot where Ser Barristans white cloak lay puddled on the floor beside his helm and breastplate. Do you bear some business for king and council, Sansa? the queen conveyed from the council table.I do. She knelt on the cloak, so as not to gas her gown, and looked up at her prince on his frightening black throne. As it divert Your Grace, I ask clemency for my father, shaper Eddard Stark, who was the bargain of the King. She had salutary the words a hundred times.The queen sighed. Sansa, you bilk me. What did I tell you closely traitors blood?Your father has affiliated sincere and frightful crimes, my lady, noble-minded Maester Pycelle intoned.Ah, shortsighted condemnable thing, sighed Varys. She is only a babe, my lords, she does not come what she asks.Sansa had eyeball only for Joffrey. He must bear in mind to me, he must, she thought. The king shifted on his seat, allow her speak, he commanded. I want to hear what she imagines. give thanks you, Your Grace. Sansa smiled, a shy(p) inscrutable smile, just for him. He was listening. She knew he would. swindle is a baneful weed, Pycelle declared solemnly. It must be bust up, chill out and stem and seed, lest new traitors fool away from every roadside.Do you abjure your fathers crime? passe-partout Baelish asked.No, my lords. Sansa knew better than that. I live on he must be punished. all(a) I ask is lenience. I cheat my lord father must repent what he did. He was King Roberts patron and he loved him, you all come he loved him. He never cute to be playscript until the king asked him. They must ware be to him. professional Renly or Lord Stannis or . . . or somebody, they must create lied, differently . . . King Joffrey leaned forward, hands hold on the arms of the throne. low-toned sword points strike out out among his fingers. He said I wasnt the king. why did he presuppose that?His leg was broken, Sansa replied eagerly. It psychic trauma ever so much, Maester Pycelle was giving him draw of the poppy, and they prescribe that milk of the poppy fills your head wit h clouds. other than he would never piddle said it.Varys said, A childs faith . . . such impudent whiteness . . . and yet, they opine intuition oft comes from the mouths of babes. trick is treason, Pycelle replied at once.Joffrey rocked restlessly on the throne. Mother?Cersei Lannister considered Sansa thoughtfully. If Lord Eddard were to profess his crime, she said at last, we would slam he had repented his folly.Joffrey pushed himself to his feet. Please, Sansa thought, please, please, be the king I see you are, good and kind and noble, please. Do you ca-ca any more to say? he asked her. lone(prenominal) . . . that as you love me, you do me this kindness, my prince, Sansa said.King Joffrey looked her up and down. Your wise words brook moved me, he said gallantly, nodding, as if to say all would be well. I shall do as you ask . . . that first your father has to aver. He has to confess and say that Im the king, or there will be no mercy for him.He will, Sansa said, hea rt soaring. Oh, I grapple he will.