chapter 180 part 2
A slight smile appeared on Varys's plump face. "Queen Regent Cersei places great trust in Lord Cleber. She feels more at ease with the Gold Cloaks in his hands."
Tyrion picked up the wine bottle. To pour for Varys, his small frame had to practically lie flat on the table.
As he poured, he asked, "Lord Varys, do you have a way?"
Varys shook his head slightly, the smile on his face deepening. "Lord Tyrion, do you think the Queen Regent controls King's Landing with the 6,000 swords of the Gold Cloaks?"
Supporting himself with one hand and holding the bottle with the other, Tyrion strained to sit back in his chair.
*Gurgle, gurgle.* He lowered his gaze and poured wine into his own cup.
Tyrion put down the bottle and paused his thoughts. He said with a grin, "Lord Varys, you have a different view?"
Varys picked up his cup and took a small sip. "Besides the 6,000 Gold Cloaks, King's Landing also has 2,000 of Lord Cleber's Blue Cloaks."
He paused, then sighed with admiration, "The she-lion possesses extraordinary courage. It is truly admirable."
Tyrion was actually panicking inside, but he appeared full of confidence on the surface. He grinned. "It seems I've been mistaken about the direction to solve this matter."
Varys's voice seemed tinged with concern. "Lord Cleber has a knight's compassion, but his most praiseworthy quality is his loyalty. As things stand, you are now the enviable Hand of the King. Therefore, I wish to advise you to act with caution. You are, after all, the Queen Regent's brother. I believe she will not make things too difficult for you."
Tyrion shrugged. He had also considered just going through the motions as Hand, but his hands were itching... To prove his ability to his father? To become the dwarf hero who saves the kingdom? To make everyone who mocked him shut their mouths? There were many reasons.
Tyrion mocked himself inwardly. Perhaps he just wanted a taste of holding power.
Tyrion swirled the wine in his cup, his demeanor growing serious. "Lord Varys, thank you for the reminder. A Lannister always pays his debts."
Varys shook his head slightly. "In truth, I did nothing, nor would I dare to do much. I simply hope that a rare good man can have a slightly better time."
With that, he sighed softly.
Varys rose from his stool. "Lord Hand, I shall take my leave first."
After leaving his chair, Varys rubbed his powdered hands together. "Lord Tyrion, before I go, may I offer you a riddle?"
Without waiting for Tyrion's reply, he began: "Three great men sit in a room: a king, a septon, and a rich man. Between them stands a common sellsword of humble birth and ordinary skill. Each of the great men bids him kill the other two. The king says, 'I am your rightful king, I command you to kill them.' The septon says, 'I demand you kill them in the name of the gods above.' The rich man says, 'Kill them, and all my gold and jewels will be yours.' Tell me... who lives, and who dies?"
Having spoken, Varys gave a slight nod and, in his soft slippers, hastily departed the tavern.
Tyrion leaned back in his chair and took a sip of wine.
The riddle was easy to guess... The man with the sword kills whomever he wishes. Any of the great men might die, but the man with the sword will not.
Tyrion stared at the wine in his cup... Varys's goodwill had come suddenly, yet subtly, like a silent drizzle.
What was Varys planning?
Was Varys trying to tell him they could be on the same side?
Tyrion felt that Varys was by no means as timid and fearful as he appeared... He had served the Mad King and Robert, and now he was still serving the new king as an important member of the court, perfectly fine... The eunuch was no simple man.
None of that mattered. He was weak and isolated now, and he urgently needed to win over some people to his side.
Tyrion took a sip of wine... He was not yet in a position to be picky. Right now, it was only a matter of whether they were worth winning over, or if they could be won over at all.
...
Bang, bang, bang!
The sudden noise not only interrupted Tyrion's thoughts but also startled him.
Was that the sound of a window closing?! Tyrion grabbed the back of his chair with one hand and stood up on the seat.
The candlelight flickered, and the tavern grew somewhat dim. Only then did Tyrion realize he was alone.
Tyrion didn't hesitate for a second. His guards were just outside; he had to rejoin them as quickly as possible.
*Thud, thud, thud, thud...* As footsteps approached, a tall, straight figure gradually came into focus in Tyrion's line of sight.
Tyrion's eyes widened slightly. "Glyn?"
Tyrion sat back down on his stool. The person sitting across from him, who moments ago had been Varys, had now become Glyn.
Glyn spread his hands. "Lord Hand Tyrion, does it not seem as though Varys deliberately lured you here?"
Tyrion's expression was grave. "What about my squire and my guards?"
Glyn slowly raised a hand and made a throat-slitting gesture.
Tyrion's gaze sharpened. He stared at Glyn. The man's expression was unchanged. The two locked eyes, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
After a moment of silence, Tyrion narrowed his eyes and said, word by word, "Glyn, has Cersei slept with you?"
The tense atmosphere was instantly broken. Glyn threw his head back and laughed.
Tyrion grinned. "If you don't mind, tell me every detail, one by one."
Glyn rubbed his ink-black hair and said helplessly, "No wonder the Queen Regent always wishes she could hang your head on the city walls."
Tyrion first let out a hearty laugh, then said seriously, "Glyn, my apologies. My mouth sometimes likes to run ahead of my brain... Hmm, especially in front of my dear sister."
Glyn's long fingers tapped lightly on the table. "Tyrion, in the name of the Queen Regent, I'm here to ask you a few things."
Tyrion said with a grin, "Heh, I haven't done anything to let my sister down. Her little brother is so obedient and well-behaved. She is definitely a lucky sister."
Glyn prompted, "The Mountain's head."
Tyrion's smile froze. He thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "You figured it out?"
Glyn nodded lightly.
Tyrion scratched his hair, complaining, "Glyn, I hate how smart you are."
His hand paused. He asked again, "How much did you figure out?"
Glyn's eyes crinkled with a smile. "The marriage alliance."
There was a hopeful tone in Tyrion's voice. "Cersei doesn't know, does she?"
Glyn shrugged. "In the name of the Queen Regent, I am amicably interrogating you."
Tyrion leaned back weakly in his chair. He held his forehead and said, "I can explain... My dearest sister... I did it for..."
Tyrion suddenly sat bolt upright. He gripped the table with both hands and demanded, "What else did you say to my beautiful, charming, gentle, and kind sister Cersei?"
(end of chapter)