Tyrion II - The Winds of Winter

8/9/2019 Tyrion II - The Winds of Winter

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TYRION

Somewhere of in the ar distance, a dying man was screaming or his

mother. "To horse!" a man was yelling in Ghiscari, in the net cam to the

north o the Second Sons. "To horse! To horse!" igh and shrill, his #oice

carried a long way in the morning air, ar $eyond his own encamment.

Tyrion %new &'st eno'gh Ghiscari to 'nderstand the words, $'t the ear in his

#oice wo'ld ha#e $een lain in any tong'e. I %now how he eels.

It was time to (nd his own horse, he %new. Time to don some dead $oy)s

armor, $'c%le on a sword and dagger, sli his dinted greathelm down o#er his

head. *awn had $ro%en, and a sli#er o the rising s'n was #isi$le $ehind the

city)s walls and towers, $lindingly $right. To the west the stars were ading,

one $y one. Tr'mets were $lowing along the S%aha+adhan, warhorns

answering rom the walls o eereen. - shi was sin%ing in the ri#er mo'th,

a(re. *ead men and dragons were mo#ing thro'gh the s%y, whilst warshis

crashed and clashed on Sla#er)s ay. Tyrion co'ld not see them rom here,

$'t he co'ld hear the so'nds/ the crash o h'll against h'll as shis slammed

together, the dee0throated warhorns o the iron$orn and 1'eer high whistles

o 2arth, the slintering o oars, the sho'ts and $attle cries, the crash o ae

on armor, sword on shield, all mingled with the shrie%s o wo'nded men.

any o the shis were still ar o't in the $ay, so the so'nds they made

seemed aint and ar away, $'t he %new them all the same. The m'sic o

sla'ghter.

Three h'ndred yards rom where he stood rose the 3ic%ed Sister, her long

arm swinging ' with a cl'tch o corses4ch'n%0T564and there they

7ew, na%ed and swollen, ale dead $irds t'm$ling $oneless thro'gh the air.

The siege cams shimmered in a ga'dy ha+e o rose and gold, $'t the

amo's steed yramids o eereen h'l%ed $lac% against the glare.

Something was mo#ing ato one o them, he saw. - dragon, $'t which one8

-t this distance, it co'ld as easily ha#e $een an eagle. - #ery $ig eagle.

-ter days sent hidden inside m'sty tents o the Second Sons, the o'tside

air smelled resh and clear. Tho'gh he co'ld not see the $ay rom where he

stood, the tang o salt told him it was near. Tyrion (lled his l'ngs with it. -

(ne day or a $attle. 9rom the east the so'nd o dr'mming rolled across the

arched lain. - col'mn o mo'nted men 7ashed ast the arridan, 7ying the


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tangled in his hair. ehind them, Ser Gari$ald was $r'shing o't the mane o

his $ig gelding. =em sat on a roc%, ga+ing at the gro'nd> remem$ering his

dead $rother, erhas, or dreaming o that riend $ac% in =ing)s :anding.

ammer and Nail mo#ed rom man to man, chec%ing sears and swords,

ad&'sting armor, 'tting an edge on any $lade that needed it. Snatch chewed

his so'rlea, ma%ing &aes and scratching at his $alls with his hoo% hand.Something a$o't his manner reminded Tyrion o ronn. Ser ronn o the

lac%water now, 'nless my sister)s %illed him. That might not $e 1'ite so

simle as she thin%s. e wondered how many $attles these Second Sons had

o'ght. ow many s%irmishes, how many raids8 ow many cities ha#e they

stormed, how many $rothers ha#e they $'ried or let $ehind to rot8

?omared to them, Tyrion was a green $oy, still 'ntested, tho'gh he had

co'nted more years than hal the comany.

This wo'ld $e his third $attle. Seasoned and $looded, stamed and sealed, aro#en warrior, that)s me. I)#e %illed some men and wo'nded others, ta%en

wo'nds mysel and li#ed to tell o them. I)#e led charges, heard men scream

my name, c't down $igger men and $etter, e#en had a ew small tastes o

glory> and wasn)t that a (ne rich wine or heroes, and wo'ldn)t I li%e another

taste8 Yet with all he)d done and all he)d seen, the rosect o another $attle

made his $lood r'n cold. e had tra#eled across hal the world $y way o

alan1'in, ole$oat, and ig, sailed in sla#e shis and trading galleys,

mo'nted whores and horses, all the time telling himsel that he did not care

whether he li#ed or died> only to (nd that he cared 1'ite a lot ater all.

The Stranger had mo'nted his ale mare and was riding toward them with his

sword in hand, $'t Tyrion :annister did not care to meet with him again. Not

now. Not yet. Not this day. 3hat a ra'd yo' are, Im. Yo' let a h'ndred

g'ardsmen rae yo'r wie, shot yo'r ather thro'gh the $elly with a 1'arrel,

twisted a golden chain aro'nd yo'r lo#er)s throat 'ntil her ace t'rned $lac%,

yet somehow yo' still thin% that yo' deser#e to li#e.

6enny was already in her armor when Tyrion slied $ac% inside the tent theyshared. She had $een straing hersel into wooden late or years in ser#ice

to her m'mmery< real late and mail were not so diferent once yo' mastered

all the class and $'c%les. -nd i the comany steel was dinted here and

r'sted there, scratched and stained and discolored, no matter. It sho'ld still

$e good eno'gh to sto a sword


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The only iece she had not donned was her helm. 3hen he entered, she

loo%ed '. "Yo')re not armored. 3hat)s haening8"

"The 's'al things. 'd and $lood and heroism, %illing and dying. There)s one

$attle $eing o'ght o't on the $ay, another one $eneath the city walls.

3hiche#er way the Y'n%ish t'rn, they ha#e a oe $ehind them. The closest

(ghting)s a good leag'e of still, $'t we)ll $e in it soon." On one side or the

other. The Second Sons were rie or another change o masters, Tyrion was

almost certain o that> tho'gh there was a great a$yss $etween "certain"

and "almost certain." I I ha#e mis&'dged my man, all o 's are lost. "6't on

yo'r helm and ma%e s're the class are closed. I too% mine of once to %ee

rom drowning, and it cost me a nose." Tyrion ic%ed at his scar.

"3e need to get yo' into yo'r armor (rst."

"I yo' wish. The &er%in (rst. The $oiled leather, with the iron st'ds. Ringmail

o#er that, then the gorget." e glanced a$o't the tent. "Is there wine8"

"No."

"3e had hal a 7agon let rom s'er."

"- 1'arter o a 7agon, and yo' dran% it."

e sighed. "I wo'ld sell my sister or a c' o wine."

"Yo' wo'ld sell yo'r sister or a c' o horse iss." That was so 'neected

that it made him la'gh alo'd. "Is my taste or horse iss so well0%nown or

ha#e yo' met my sister8"

"I only saw her that one time, when we &o'sted or the $oy %ing. Groat


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tho'ght she was $ea'ti'l."

Groat was a st'nted little lic%sittle with a st'id name. "Only a ool rides into

$attle so$er. 6l'mm will ha#e some wine. 3hat i he dies in the $attle8 It

wo'ld $e a crime to waste it."

"old yo'r tong'e. I need to lace this &er%in '."

Tyrion did try, $'t it seemed to him that the so'nds o sla'ghter were growing

lo'der, and his tong'e wo'ld not $e held. "6'dding 9ace wants to 'se the

comany to throw the ironmen $ac% into the sea," he heard himsel telling

6enny, as she dressed him. "3hat he sho'ld ha#e done was send all his horseat the e'n'chs, 'll charge, $eore they got ten eet rom their gates. Send

the ?ats at them rom the let, 's and the 3ind$lown rom the right, ri aart

their 7an%s rom $oth ends. an to man, the 5ns'llied are no $etter or worse

than any other searmen. It)s their disciline that ma%es them dangero's,

$'t i they cannot orm ' into a sear wall>"

":it yo'r arms," said 6enny. "There, that)s $etter. ay$e yo' sho'ld

command the Y'n%ishmen."

"They 'se sla#e soldiers, why not sla#e commanders8 That wo'ld r'in the

contest, tho'gh. This is &'st a cy#asse game to the 3ise asters. 3e)re the

ieces." Tyrion canted his head to one side, considering. "They ha#e that in

common with my lord ather, these sla#ers." "Yo'r ather8 3hat do yo'

mean8"

"I was &'st recalling my (rst $attle. The Green 9or%. 3e o'ght $etween a

ri#er and a road. 3hen I saw my ather)s host deloy, I remem$er thin%inghow $ea'ti'l it was. :i%e a 7ower oening its etals to the s'n. - crimson

rose with iron thorns. -nd my ather, ah, he had ne#er loo%ed so reslendent.

e wore crimson armor, with this h'ge greatcloa% made o cloth0o0gold. -

air o golden lions on his sho'lders, another on his helm. is stallion was

magni(cent. is lordshi watched the whole $attle rom ato that horse and

ne#er got within a h'ndred yards o any oe. e ne#er mo#ed, ne#er smiled,

ne#er $ro%e a sweat, whilst tho'sands died $elow him. 6ict're me erched on


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a cam stool, ga+ing down 'on a cy#asse $oard. 3e co'ld almost $e twins>

i I had a horse, some crimson armor, and a greatcloa% sewn rom cloth0o0

gold. e was taller too. I ha#e more hair."

6enny %issed him.

She mo#ed so ast that he had no time to thin%. She darted in, 1'ic% as a

$ird, and ressed her lis to his. @'st as 1'ic%ly it was o#er. 3hat was that

or8 he almost said, $'t he %new what it was or. Than% yo', he might ha#e

said, $'t she might ta%e that as lea#e to do it again. ?hild, I ha#e no wish to

h'rt yo', he co'ld ha#e tried, $'t 6enny was no child, and his wishes wo'ld

not $l'nt the c't. 9or the (rst time or longer than he cared to thin%, Tyrion

:annister was at a loss or words.

She loo%s so yo'ng, he tho'ght. - girl, that)s all she is. - girl, and almost

retty i yo' can orget that she)s a dwar. er hair was a warm $rown, thic%

and c'rly, and her eyes were large and tr'sting. Too tr'sting.

"*o yo' hear that so'nd8" said Tyrion.

She listened. "3hat is it8" she said as she was straing a air o

mismatched grea#es onto his st'nted legs.

"3ar. On either side o 's and not a leag'e away. That)s sla'ghter, 6enny.

That)s men st'm$ling thro'gh the m'd with their entrails hanging o't. That)s

se#ered lim$s and $ro%en $ones and ools o $lood. Yo' %now how the worms

come o't ater a hard rain8 I hear they do the same ater a $ig $attle i

eno'gh $lood soa%s into the gro'nd. That)s the Stranger coming, 6enny. The

lac% Goat, the 6ale ?hild, im o any 9aces, call him what yo' will. That)sdeath."

"Yo')re scaring me.


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"-m I8 Good. Yo' sho'ld $e scared. 3e ha#e iron$orn swarming ashore and

Ser arristan and his 5ns'llied o'ring o't the city gates, with 's $etween

them, (ghting on the wrong $loody side. I am terri(ed mysel."

"Yo' say that, $'t yo' still ma%e &aes."

"@aes are one way to %ee the ear away. 3ine)s another."

"Yo')re $ra#e. :ittle eole can $e $ra#e."

y giant o :annister, he heard. She is moc%ing me. e almost slaed heragain. is head was o'nding.

"I ne#er meant to ma%e yo' angry," 6enny said "9orgi#e me. I)m rightened, is

all." She to'ched his hand.

Tyrion wrenched away rom her. "I)m rightened." Those were the same words

Shae had 'sed. er eyes were $ig as eggs, and I swallowed e#ery $it o it. I

%new what she was. I told ronn to (nd a woman or me and he $ro'ght me

Shae. is hands c'rled into (sts, and Shae)s ace swam $eore him, grinning.

Then the chain was tightening a$o't her throat, the golden hands digging

dee into her 7esh as her own hands 7'ttered against his ace with all the

orce o $'tter7ies. I he)d had a chain to hand> i he)d had a cross$ow, a

dagger, anything, he wo'ld ha#e> he might ha#e> he>

It was only then that Tyrion heard the sho'ts. e was lost in a $lac% rage,

drowning in a sea o memory, $'t the sho'ting $ro'ght the world $ac% in a

r'sh. e oened his hands, too% a $reath, t'rned away rom 6enny.

"Something)s haening." e went o'tside to disco#er what it was. *ragons.

The green $east was circling a$o#e the $ay, $an%ing and t'rning as longshis

and galleys clashed and $'rned $elow him, $'t it was the white dragon the

sellswords were gaw%ing at. Three h'ndred yards away the 3ic%ed Sister


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sw'ng her arm, ch'n%0T56, and si resh corses went dancing thro'gh

the s%y. 5 they rose, and ', and '. Then two $'rst into 7ame.

The dragon ca'ght one $'rning $ody &'st as it $egan to all, cr'nching it

$etween his &aws as ale (res ran across his teeth. 3hite wings crac%ed

against the morning air, and the $east $egan to clim$ again. The second

corse caromed of an o'tstretched claw and l'nged straight down, to land

amongst some Y'n%ish horsemen. Some o them ca'ght (re too. One horse

reared ' and threw his rider. The others ran, trying to o'trace the 7ames

and anning them instead. Tyrion :annister co'ld almost taste the anic as it

riled o't across the cams.

The shar, amiliar scent o 'rine (lled the air. The dwar glanced a$o't and

was relie#ed to see that it was In%ots who had issed himsel, not him. "Yo'

had $est go change yo'r $reeches," Tyrion told him. "-nd whilst yo' are

a$o't it, t'rn yo'r cloa%." The aymaster $lanched $'t did not mo#e.

e was still standing there, staring as the dragon snatched corses rom the

air, when the messenger came o'nding '. - $loody o;cer, Tyrion saw at

once. e was clad in golden armor and mo'nted on a golden horse. :o'dly he

anno'nced that he had come rom the s'reme commander o the Y'n%ai)i,

the no$le and 'issant Gor+ha% +o Ara+. ":ord Gor+ha% sends his

comliments to ?atain 6l'mm and re1'ests that he $ring his comany to

the $ay shore. O'r shis are 'nder attac%."

Yo'r shis are sin%ing, $'rning, 7eeing, tho'ght Tyrion. Yo'r shis are $eing

ta%en, yo'r men 't to the sword. e was a :annister o ?asterly Roc%, close

$y the Iron Islands< iron$orn rea#ers were no strangers to their shores. O#er

the cent'ries they had $'rned :annisort at least thrice and raided it two

do+en times. 3estermen %new what sa#agery the iron$orn were caa$le o<

these sla#ers were &'st learning.

"?atain)s not here &'st now," In%ots told the messenger. "e)s gone to see

the Girl General."

The rider ointed at the s'n. ":ady ala++a)s command ended with the rising


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o the s'n. *o as :ord Gor+ha% instr'cts yo'."

"-ttac% the s1'id shis, yo' mean8 The ones o't there in the water8" The

aymaster rowned. "I don)t see how, mysel, $'t when rown en gets $ac%

I)ll tell him what yo'r Gor+ha% wants."

"I ga#e yo' a command. Yo' will act 'on it now."

"3e ta%e commands rom o'r catain," In%ots said in his 's'al mild tone.

"e)s not here. I told yo'."

The messenger had lost his atience, Tyrion co'ld see. "attle is &oined. Yo'r

commander sho'ld $e with yo'."

"ight $e, $'t he)s not. The girl sent or him. e went."

The messenger went 'rle. "Yo' m'st carry o't yo'r order!"

Snatch sat a wad o well0chewed so'rlea o't o the let side o his mo'th.

"egging yo'r ardon," he told the Y'n%ish rider, "$'t we)re all horsemen

here, same as m)lord. Now, a good trained warhorse, he)ll charge a wall o)

sears. Some will lea a (re ditch. 't I ne#er once seen any horse co'ld r'n

on water."

"The shis are landing men," screamed the Y'n%ish lordling. "They)#e $loc%ed

the mo'th o the S%aha+adhan with a (reshi, and e#ery moment yo' standhere tal%ing another h'ndred swords come slashing thro'gh the shallows.

-ssem$le yo'r men and dri#e them $ac% into the sea! -t once! Gor+ha%

commands it!"

"3hich one is Gor+ha%8" as%ed =em. "Is he the Ra$$it8"


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"6'dding 9ace," said In%ots. "The Ra$$it)s not ool eno'gh to send light

horse against longshis."

The rider had heard eno'gh. "I shall inorm Gor+ha% +o Ara+ that yo' re'se

to carry o't his order," he said stiBy. Then he wheeled his golden horse

aro'nd and galloed $ac% the way he)d come, chased $y a gale o sellsword

la'ghter.

In%ots was the (rst to let his smile die. "Ano'gh," he said, s'ddenly solemn.

"ac% to it. Get those horses saddled, I want e#ery man o yo' ready to ride

when en gets $ac% here with some roer orders. -nd 't that coo%(re o't.

Yo' can $rea% yo'r asts ater the (ghting)s done i yo' li#e that long." isga+e ell on Tyrion. "3hat are yo' grinning at8 Yo' loo% a little ool in that

armor, alman."

"etter to loo% a ool than to $e one," the dwar relied. "3e are on the losing

side."

"The alman)s right," said @orah ormont. "3e do not want to $e (ghting or

the sla#ers when *aenerys ret'rns> and she will, ma%e no mista%e. Stri%e

now and stri%e hard, and the 1'een will not orget it. 9ind her hostages and

ree them. -nd I will swear on the honor o my ho'se and home that this was

rown en)s lan rom the $eginning."

O't on the waters o Sla#er)s ay, another o the 2artheen galleys went ' in

a s'dden whooosh o 7ame. Tyrion co'ld hear elehants tr'meting to the

east. The arms o the si sisters rose and ell, throwing corses. Shield

slammed against shield as two sear walls came together $eneath the walls

o eereen. *ragons wheeled o#erhead, their shadows sweeing across the

't'rned aces o riend and oe ali%e.

In%ots threw ' his hands. "I %ee the $oo%s. I g'ard o'r gold. I draw ' o'r

agreements, collect o'r wages, ma%e certain that we ha#e s';cient coin to

$'y ro#isions. I do not decide who we (ght or when. That is or rown en to


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say. Ta%e it ' with him when he ret'rns."

y the time 6l'mm and his comanions came galloing $ac% rom the cam

o the Girl General, the white dragon had 7own $ac% to its lair a$o#e

eereen. The green still rowled, soaring in wide circles a$o#e the city and

the $ay on great green wings.

rown en 6l'mm wore late and mail o#er $oiled leather. The sil% cloa%

7owing rom his sho'lders was his only concession to #anity/ it riled when

he mo#ed, the color changing rom ale #iolet to dee 'rle. e sw'ng

down rom his horse and ga#e her o#er to a groom, then told Snatch to

s'mmon his catains.

"Tell them to ma%e haste," added =asorio the ?'nning.

Tyrion was not e#en a ser&eant, $'t their cy#asse games had made him a

amiliar sight in rown en)s tent, and no one tried to sto him when he

entered with the rest. esides =asorio and In%ots, 5hlan and o%%o%o were

amongst those s'mmoned. The dwar was s'rrised to see Ser @orah

ormont there as well.

"3e are commanded to deend the 3ic%ed Sister," rown en inormed them.

The other men echanged 'neasy glances. No one seemed to want to sea%

'ntil Ser @orah as%ed, "On whose a'thority8"

"The girl)s. Ser Grandather is ma%ing or the arridan, $'t she)s araid he)ll

t'rn toward 3ic%ed Sister net. The Ghost is already down. arselen)s

reedmen $ro%e the :ong :ances li%e a rotten stic% and dragged it o#er with

chains. The girl (g'res Selmy means to $ring down all the tre$'chets."

"It)s what I)d do in his lace," Ser @orah said. "Only I wo'ld ha#e done it

sooner." "3hy is the girl still gi#ing orders8" In%ots so'nded $aBed. "*awn

has come and gone. ?an she not see the s'n8 She is $eha#ing as i she were

still the s'reme commander." "I yo' were her and %new that 6'dding 9ace


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were a$o't to ass'me command, yo' might %ee gi#ing orders too," said

ormont.

"One is no $etter than the other," =asorio insisted.

"Tr'e," said Tyrion, "$'t ala++a has the nicer teats."

"?ross$ows is how yo' hold the 3ic%ed Sister," In%ots said. "Scorions.

angonels. That)s what)s needed. Yo' do not 'se mo'nted men to deend a

(ed osition. *oes the girl mean or 's to dismo'nt8 I so, why not 'se her

sears or slingers8"

=em st'c% his ale $lond head inside the tent. "Sorry to dist'r$, m)lords, $'t

another rider)s come. Says he has new orders rom the s'reme

commander."

rown en glanced at Tyrion, then shr'gged. "Send him in."

"In here8" =em as%ed, con'sed.

"ere is where I seem to $e," 6l'mm said, with a trace o irritation. "I he

goes somewhere else, he will not (nd me."

O't went =em. 3hen he ret'rned, he held the tent 7a oen or a Y'n%ish

no$leman in a cloa% o yellow sil% and matching antaloons. The man)s oily

$lac% hair had $een tort'red, twisted, and lac1'ered to ma%e it seem as i ah'ndred tiny roses were sro'ting rom his head. On his $reastlate was a

scene o s'ch delight'l dera#ity that Tyrion sensed a %indred sirit.

"The 5ns'llied are ad#ancing toward the ary)s *a'ghter," the messenger

anno'nced. "lood$eard and two Ghiscari legions stand against them. 3hilst


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they hold the line, yo' are to swee aro'nd $ehind the e'n'chs and ta%e

them in the rear, saring none. This $y the command o the most no$le and

'issant orghar +o Cher+yn, s'reme commander o the Y'n%ai)i."

"orghar8" =asorio rowned. "No, Gor+ha% commands today."

"Gor+ha% +o Ara+ lies slain, c't down $y 6entoshi treachery. The t'rncloa%

who names himsel the 6rince o Tatters shall die screaming or this inamy,

the no$le orghar swears." rown en scratched at his $eard. "The

3ind$lown ha#e gone o#er, ha#e they8" he said, in a tone o mild interest.

Tyrion chortled. "-nd we)#e traded 6'dding 9ace or the *r'n%en ?on1'erer.It)s a wonder he was a$le to crawl o't o the 7agon long eno'gh to gi#e a

halway0sensi$le command."

The Y'n%ishman glared at the dwar. "old yo'r tong'e, yo' #ermino's little

4" is retort withered. "This insolent dwar is an escaed sla#e," he declared,

shoc%ed. "e is the roerty o the no$le Ye++an +o 2agga+ o hallowed

memory."

"Yo' are mista%en. e is my $rother0in0arms. - ree man, and a Second Son.

Ye++an)s sla#es wear golden collars." rown en smiled his most amia$le

smile. "Golden collars, with little $ells. *o yo' hear $ells8 I hear no $ells."

"?ollars can $e remo#ed. I demand that the dwar $e s'rrended or

'nishment at once." "That seems harsh. @orah, what do yo' thin%8"

"This." ormont)s longsword was in his hand. -s the rider t'rned, Ser @orah

thr'st it thro'gh his throat. The oint came o't the $ac% o the Y'n%ishman)s

nec%, red and wet. lood $'$$led rom his lis and down his chin. The man

too% two wo$$ly stes and ell across the cy#asse $oard, scattering the

wooden armies e#erywhere. e twitched a ew more times, grasing the

$lade o ormont)s sword with one hand as the other clawed ee$ly at the

o#ert'rned ta$le. Only then did the Y'n%ishman seem to reali+e he was dead.


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e lay acedown on the caret in a welter o red $lood and oily $lac% roses.

Ser @orah wrenched his sword ree o the dead man)s nec%. lood ran down its

'llers.

The white cy#asse dragon ended ' at Tyrion)s eet. e scooed it of the

caret and wied it on his slee#e, $'t some o the Y'n%ish $lood had

collected in the (ne groo#es o the car#ing, so the ale wood seemed #eined

with red. "-ll hail o'r $elo#ed 1'een, *aenerys." e she ali#e or $e she dead.

e tossed the $loody dragon in the air, ca'ght it, grinned. "3e ha#e always

$een the 1'een)s men," anno'nced rown en 6l'mm. "Re&oining the Y'n%ai)i

was &'st a lot."

"-nd what a cle#er loy it was." Tyrion ga#e the dead man a sho#e with his

$oot. "I that $reastlate (ts, I want it."

Tyrion II - The Winds of Winter

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Transcript of Tyrion II - The Winds of Winter