A Clash of Kings-Chapter 20

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Tyrion V
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Tyrion
Place King's Landing
Page 225 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Tyrion IV
Arya V  ← Tyrion V →  Bran III

Tyrion VI

Tyrion Lannister visits the Guildhall of the Alchemists about the preparation of the Wildfire, and then meets with Ser Cleos Frey about Robb Stark’s terms for peace. He is returning to the Red Keep when he passes a crowd listening to a prophet corruption, talking about incest, and the even the High Septon forgetting the gods. When he returns to his chamber he finds Cersie waiting for him to rant about sending her daughter Myrcella to Dorne. Now Tyrion knows the informer.

Synopsis

Tyrion had been warned to dress warmly, which he did, and it is cold in the vaults under the Guildhall of the Alchemists. In the once powerful guild only a few pretended to work on transmuting metals, and the maesters had supplanted the achemists almost everywhere. The Pyromancer Hallyne hands Tyrion one of the rough-surfaced (so it does not slip out of a man’s grap) hand-sized clay pots that hold the murky green Wildfire. Tyrion is told that it is thick because of the cold, that it will burn until there is no more (water will not quench it), and it will seep into cloth, wood, leather and steel; Tyrion remembers the sword of Throso of Myr would burn for an hour, but the sword had to be replaced afterwards. When Tyrion asks about it seeping into the clay pots and is told that it does, that there are pots form King Aerys I Targaryen are stored in the lower vaults, which have been filled with water because the pots are so rip; they should have destroyed, but there are so few masters remaining that the task would be daunting. These pots could be used, but would be much more dangerous because they have a greater tendency to self-ignite. When Tyrion asks the count it is 7,840 jars which includes 4,000 from King Aerys day, Hallyne states that Wisdom Munciter confirmed that they should be able to produce the 10,000 promised the queen; Tyrion does not know exactly how the Wildfire is made, but does know it is a lengthy, dangerous and time consuming process and assumed 10,000 was a bit of a boast. He was not sure he should be happy or terrified, and expresses his concern with undue haste. He is assured that the substance is only being handled by trained acolytes in specially designed stone cells. Tyrion asks if they have ample jars and is assured they do, so he tells them he wants a few thousand empty jars, and to have then sent to the captains of each gate. Tyrion asks to be escorted back to his litter.

Hallyne tells Tyrion that it was a great honor and it has not been since the time of Aerys I that a Hand has come to them; Aerys I took great interest in their work. Tyrion tells them that Joffrey will be interested too, thinking to himself that he wants to keep Joffrey away. Hallyne then states that he has spoken to his sister Cersei about the king visiting and that they would have a great feast. Tyrion states that the king dies not think feasts are appropriate while the people starve. So Hallyne proposes just a small demonstration of their powers to distract the king from his cares.

Finally they reach a gallery of iron torches where columns of green fire dance around black metal columns 20 feet tall, the flames shimmering off the black marble of the walls and floor. Tyrion knows that they were only lit that morning in his honor the cost of wildfire being what it was. He emergest onto the Street of the Sisters at the foot of Visenya's hill where Timett and an escort of Burned Men, which Tyrion thought appropriate, wait with his litter—Joffrey had recently gained more hatred by having arrows fired at a crowd gathered at the gates of the Red Keep. Bronn is also there with messages: Ironhand urgently requires him at Gate of the Gods and Cersei has demanded him at Maegor's Holdfast—his stripling cousin Lancel Lannister delivered the message. Tyrion states he will see Ironhand wants, and then attend to his sister.

He arrives at the gate to be told that Cleos Frey arrived under a peace banner with a letter containing peace terms from Robb Stark. When Tyrion meets Ser Cleos he notes that he looks very gaunt, and is told that the river lords are burning their own crops to try to starve the Lannisters and the Lannister foragers are torching every village and putting smallfolk to the sword. They were attacked twice by scavengers, losing 3 with 6 wounded. Ser Cleos states he wants to speak to Cersei as commanded, and Tyrion tells him she is occupied. Tyrion asks what Robb is doing and is told sitting idle at Riverrun—Cleos thinks he fears facing Tywin Lannister—and his strength grows less everyday as the river lords disperse to defend their own lands. Tryion notes that this is as his father plans, and then states the terms will not do. Cleos asks if they will at least exchange the Stark girls for Tion Frey and Willem Frey. Tyrion states no, nand that he will consult with the queen and Small Council on exchange of captives. He tells Tyrion that Lady Catelyn wants peace and her daughter, but Robb will not yield easily.

He joins Ironhand watching several hundred new recruits drilling in the field; there is no shortage of recruits for the City Watch of King's Landing who want food and a bed. Tells him that he will keep Ser Cleos, and will see to the needs of his escort, but they will not enter the city to see the conditions. He then tells Ironhand that he will be getting pots from the Alchemists, to fill them with green paint and to drill the men with them. Eliminate and men with green paint on them and then train with lamp oil, working on lighting the jars.

Back in his litter he thinks that Robb Stark has given him a golden chance—let him wait at Riverrun dreaming of peace; Tyrion would send Ser Cleos with his own terms while his cousin Ser Stafford Lannister trains his troops in Casterly Rock, and then smash Robb between Ser Stafford and Tywin’s hosts. It was Stannis Baratheion and Renly Baratheon that concerned him.

There is a crowd listening to a prophet when the litter passes through Cobbler's Square. The prophet is talking about corruption as the Red Comet is directly behind the prophet over the castle of [[[Aegon's high hill]]. The prophet calls the comet the “Father’s scourge.” He proclaims:

We have become swollen, bloated, foul. Brother couples with sister in the bed of kings, and the fruit of their incest capers in his palace to the piping of a twisted little monkey demon. Highborn ladies fornicate with fools and give birth to monsters! Even the High Septon has forgotten the gods! He bathes in scented waters and grows fat on lark and lamprey while his people starve! Pride comes before prayer, maggots rule our castles, and gold is all... but no more! The Rotten Summer is at an end, and the Whoremonger King is brought low! When the boar did open him, a great stench rose to heaven and a thousand snakes slid forth from his belly, hissing and biting!” He jabbed his bony finger back at comet and castle. “There comes the Harbinger! Cleanse yourselves, the gods cry out, lest ye be cleansed! Bathe in the wine of righteousness, or you shall be bathed in fire! Fire!

There are shouts of “Fire!” but shouts of derision almost drown those shouts out, which Tyrion takes solace from. He thinks that he prophet has a point about the High Septon. The Burned men clear a path through the crowd. Tyrion reaches the Red Keep without further incident.

In his Solar, Cersei is waiting for him. She demands to know why he did not repond to her summons and he demands to know who let her into his tower; she tells him that this is her son’s royal castle. Tyrion then states he was about to come to her. She questions this. Cersei then calls him a disgusting worm sending her daughter Myrcella to Dorne. Tyrion tells Cersei that Myrcella will be safer in Dorne, even though House Martell has no cause to love the Lannisters, as pointed out by Cersei. Tyrion tells Cersei that Myrcella is ninea and Trystane Martell eleven, and Renly has taken House Martell’s allegiance for granted and the house has warred against Storm's End and Highgarden for a thousand years. Tyrion states Doran Martell is honorable and Myrcella will be a guest, treated better than Sansa Stark has been treated, while Cersei claims she will be a hostage. Cersei states he offered too much, and Tyrion tells her he could not have offered less. When Cersei continues with it being too much, Tyrion angrily asks if Cersei would offer the hole between her legs. For this he gets a slap, to which he tells her that is that last time she will strike him. She then tells him that father’s paper will keep him no safer than the paper Eddard Stark had kept him. Tyrion controls his temper and asks Cersei how safe Myrcella will be in King’s Landing when it fell; Myrcella’s head would be mounted next to Cersei’s. Cersei begins to cry, which stuns Tyrion.

References and Notes