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osed to do with him？
He knew the man only by reputation； to be sure 。 。 。 but the reputation was fearsome。 When he was no more than sixteen； Prince Oberyn had been found abed with the paramour of old Lord Yronwood； a huge man of fierce repute and short temper。 A duel ensued； though in view of the prince's youth and high birth； it was only to first blood。 Both men took cuts； and honor was satisfied。 Yet Prince Oberyn soon recovered； while Lord Yronwood's wounds festered and killed him。 Afterward men whispered that Oberyn had fought with a poisoned sword； and ever thereafter friends and foes alike called him the Red Viper。
That was many years ago； to be sure。 The boy of sixteen was a man past forty now； and his legend had grown a deal darker。 He had traveled in the Free Cities； leaming the poisoner's trade and perhaps arts darker still； if rumors could be believed。 He had studied at the Citadel； going so far as to forge six links of a maester's chain before he grew bored。 He had soldiered in the Disputed Lands across the narrow sea； riding with the Second Sons for a time before forming his own pany。 His tourneys； his battles； his duels； his horses； his carnality 。 。 。 it was said that he bedded men and women both； and had begotten bastard girls all over Dome。 The sand snakes； men called his daughters。 So far as Tyrion had heard； Prince Oberyn had never fathered a son。
And of course； he had crippled the heir to Highgarden。
There is no man in the Seven Kingdoms who will be less wele at a 7）7rell wedding； thought Tyrion。 To send Prince Oberyn to King's Landing while the city still hosted Lord Mace Tyrell； two of his sons； and thousands of their men…at…arms was a provocation as dangerous as Prince Oberyn himself。 A wrong word； an ill…timed jest； a look； that's all it will take； and our noble allies will be at one another's throats。
〃We have met before；〃 the Domish prince said lightly to Tyrion as they rode side by side along the kingsroad； past ashen fields and the skeletons of trees。 〃I would not expect you to remember； though。 You were even smaller than you are now。〃
There was a mocking edge to his voice that Tyrion misliked； but he was not about to let the Dornishman provoke him。 〃When was this； my lord？〃 he asked in tones of polite interest。
〃Oh； many and many a year ago； when my mother ruled in Dome and your lord father was Hand to a different king。〃
Not so different as you might think； reflected Tyrion。
〃It was when I visited Casterly Rock with my mother； her consort； and my sister Elia。 I was； oh； fourteen； fifteen； thereabouts； Elia a year older。 Your brother and sister were eight or nine； as I recall； and you had just been born。〃
A queer time to e visiting。 His mother had died giving him birth； so the Martells would have found the Rock deep in mouming。 His father especially。 Lord Tywin seldom spoke of his wife； but Tyrion had heard his uncles talk of the love between them。 In those days； his father had been Aerys's Hand； and many people said that Lord Tywin Lannister ruled the Seven Kingdoms； but Lady Joanna ruled Lord Tywin。 〃He was not the same man after she died； imp；〃 his Uncle Gery told him once。 〃The best part of him died with her。〃 Gerion had been the youngest of Lord Tytos Lannister's four sons； and the uncle Tyrion liked best。
But he was gone now； lost beyond the seas； and Tyrion himself had put Lady Joanna in her grave。 〃Did you find Casterly Rock to your liking； my lord？〃
〃Scarcely。 Your father ignored us the whole time we were there； after manding Ser Kevan to see to our entertainment。 The cell they gave me had a featherbed to sleep in and Myrish carpets on the floor； but it was dark and windowless； much like a dungeon when you e down to it； as I told Elia at the time。 Your skies were too grey； your wines too sweet； your women too chaste； your food too bland 。 。 。 and you yourself were the greatest disappointment of all。〃
〃I had just been born。 What did you expect of me？〃
〃Enormity；〃 the black…haired prince replied。 〃You were small； but far…famed。 We were in Oldtown at your birth； and all the city talked of was the monster that had been born to the King's Hand； and what such an omen might foretell for the realm。〃
〃Famine； plague； and war； no doubt。〃 Tyrion gave a sour smile。 〃It's always famine； plague； and war。 Oh； and winter； and the long night that never ends。〃
〃All that；〃 said Prince Oberyn； 〃and your father's fall as well。 Lord Tywin had made himself greater than King Aerys； I heard one begging brother preach； but only a god is meant to stand above a king。 You were his curse； a punishment sent by the gods to teach him that he was no better than any other man。〃
〃I try； but he refuses to learn。〃 Tyrion gave a sigh。 〃But do go on； I pray you。 I love a good tale。〃
〃And well you might； since you were said to have one； a stiff curly tail like a swine's。 Your head was monstrous huge； we heard； half again the size of your body； and you had been born with thick black hair and a beard besides； an evil eye； and lion's claws。 Your teeth were so long you could not close your mouth； and between your legs were a girl's privates as well as a boy's。〃
〃Life would be much simpler if men could fuck themselves； don't you agree？ And I can think of a few times when claws and teeth might have proved useful。 Even so； I begin to see the nature of your plaint。〃
Brorm gave out with a chuckle； but Oberyn only smiled。 〃We might never have seen you at all but for your sweet sister。 You were never seen at table or hall； though sometimes at night we could hear a baby howling down in the depths of the Rock。 You did have a monstrous great voice； I must grant you that。 You would wail for hours； and nothing would quiet you but a woman's teat。〃
〃Still true； as it happens。〃
This time Prince Oberyn did laugh。 〃A taste we share。 Lord Gargalen once told me he hoped to die with a sword in his hand； to which I replied that I would sooner go with a breast in mine。〃
Tyrion had to grin。 〃You were speaking of my sister？〃
〃Cersei promised Elia to show you to us。 The day before we were to sail； whilst my mother and your father were closeted together； she and Jaime took us down to your nursery。 Your wet nurse tried to send us off； but your sister was having none of that。 'He's mine/ she said； 'and you're just a milk cow； you can't tell me what to do。 Be quiet or I'll have my father cut your tongue out。 A cow doesn't need a tongue； only udders。〃'
〃Her Grace learned charm at an early age；〃 said Tyrion； amused by the notion of his sister claiming him as hers。 She's never been in any rush to claim me since； the gods know。
〃Cersei even undid your swaddling clothes to give us a better look；〃 the Dornish prince continued。 〃You did have one evil eye； and some black fuzz on your scalp。 Perhaps your head was larger than most 。 。 。 but there was no tail； no beard； neither teeth nor claws； and nothing between your legs but a tiny pink cock。 After all the wonderful whispers； Lord Tywin's Doom turned out to be just a hideous red infant with stunted legs。 Elia even made the noise that young girls make at the sight of infants； I'm sure you've heard it。 The same noise they make over cute kittens and p