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〃Almost everyone。 Save you and I； of course。〃 He smiled。 〃e to the godswood tonight if you want to go home。〃
〃The note 。 。 。 it was you？〃
；'It had to be the godswood。 No other place in the Red Keep is safe from the eunuch's little birds 。 。 。 or little rats； as I call them。 There are trees in the godswood instead of walls。 Sky above instead of ceiling。 Roots and dirt and rock in place of floor。 The rats have no place to scurry。 Rats need to hide； lest men skewer them with swords。〃 Lord Petyr took her arm。 〃Let me show you to your cabin。 You have had a long and trying day； I know。 You must be weary。〃
Already the little boat was no more than a swirl of smoke and fire behind them； almost lost in the immensity of the dawn sea。 There was no going back； her only road was forward。 〃Very weary；〃 she admitted。
As he led her below； he said； 〃Tell me of the feast。 The queen took such pains。 The singers； the jugglers； the dancing bear 。 。 。 did your little lord husband enjoy my jousting dwarfs？〃
〃Yours？〃
〃I had to send to Braavos for them and hide them away in a brothel until the wedding。 The expense was exceeded only by the bother。 It is surprisingly difficult to hide a dwarf； and Joffrey 。 。 。 you can lead a king to water； but with Joff one had to splash it about before he realized he could drink it。 When I told him about my little surprise； His Grace said； 'Why would I want some ugly dwarfs at my feast？ I hate dwarfs。' I had to take him by the shoulder and whisper； 'Not as much as your uncle will。'〃
The deck rocked beneath her feet； and Sansa felt as if the world itself had grown unsteady。 〃They think Tyrion poisoned Joffrey。 Ser Dontos said they seized him。〃
Littlefinger smiled。 〃Widowhood will bee you； Sansa。〃
The thought made her tummy flutter。 She might never need to share a bed with Tyrion again。 That was what she'd wanted 。 。 。 wasn't it？
The cabin was low and cramped； but a featherbed had been laid upon the narrow sleeping shelf to make it more fortable； and thick furs piled atop it。 〃It will be snug； I know； but you shouldn't be too unfortable。〃 Littlefinger pointed out a cedar chest under the porthole。 〃You'll find fresh garb within。 Dresses； smallclothes； warm stockings； a cloak。 Wool and linen only； I fear。 Unworthy of a maid so beautiful； but they'll serve to keep you dry and clean until we can find you something finer。〃
He had this all prepared for me。 〃My lord； I 。 。 。 I do not understand 。 。 。 Joffrey gave you Harrenhal； made you Lord Paramount of the Trident 。 。 。 why 。 。 。〃
〃Why should I wish him dead？〃 Littlefinger shrugged。 〃I had no motive。 Besides； I am a thousand leagues away in the Vale。 Always keep your foes confused。 If they are never certain who you are or what you want； they cannot know what you are like to do next。 Sometimes the best way to baffle them is to make moves that have no purpose； or even seem to work against you。 Remember that； Sansa； when you e to play the game。〃
〃What 。 。 。 what game？〃
〃The only game。 The game of thrones。〃 He brushed back a strand of her hair。 〃You are old enough to know that your mother and I were more than friends。 There was a time when Cat was all I wanted in this world。 I dared to dream of the life we might make and the children she would give me 。 。 。 but she was a daughter of Riverrun； and Hoster Tully。 Family； Duty； Honor； Sansa。 Family； Duty； Honor meant I could never have her hand。 But she gave me something finer； a gift a woman can give but once。 How could I turn my back upon her daughter？ In a better world； you might have been mine； not Eddard Stark's。 My loyal loving daughter 。 。 。 Put Joffrey from your mind； sweetling。 Dontos； Tyrion； all of them。 They will never trouble you again。 You are safe now； that's all that matters。 You are safe with me； and sailing home。〃
CHAPTER 62
JAIME
The king is dead； they told him； never knowing that Joffrey was his son as well as his sovereign。
〃The Imp opened his throat with a dagger；〃 a costermonger declared at the roadside inn where they spent the night。 〃He drank his blood from a big gold chalice。〃 The man did not recognize the bearded one…handed knight with the big bat on his shield； no more than any of them； so he said things he might otherwise have swallowed； had he known who was listening。
〃It was poison did the deed；〃 the innkeep insisted。 〃The boy's face turned black as a plum。〃
〃May the Father judge him justly；〃 murmured a septon。
〃The dwarf's wife did the murder with him；〃 swore an archer in Lord Rowan's livery。 〃Afterward； she vanished from the hall in a puff of brimstone； and a ghostly direwolf was seen prowling the Red Keep； blood dripping from his jaws。〃
Jaime sat silent through it all； letting the words wash over him； a horn of ale forgotten in his one good hand。 Joffrey。 My blood。 My firstborn。 My son。 He tried to bring the boy's face to mind； but his features kept turning into Cersei's。 She will be in mourning； her hair in disarray and her eyes red from crying； her mouth trembling as she tries to speak。 She will cry again when she sees me； though she'll fight the tears。 His sister seldom wept but when she was with him。 She could not stand for others to think her weak。 Only to her twin did she show her wounds。 She will look to me for fort and revenge。
They rode hard the next day； at Jaime's insistence。 His son was dead； and his sister needed him。
When he saw the city before him； its watchtowers dark against the gathering dusk； Jaime Lannister cantered up to Steelshanks Walton； behind Nage with the peace banner。
〃What's that awful stink？〃 the northman plained。
Death； thought Jaime； but he said； 〃Smoke； sweat； and shit。 King's Landing； in short。 If you have a good nose you can smell the treachery too。 You've never smelled a city before？〃
〃I smelled White Harbor。 It never stank like this。〃
〃White Harbor is to King's Landing as my brother Tyrion is to Ser Gregor Clegane。〃
Nage led them up a low hill； the seven…tailed peace banner lifting and turning in the wind； the polished seven…pointed star shining bright upon its staff。 He would see Cersei soon； and Tyrion； and their father。 Could my brother truly have killed the boy？ Jaime found that hard to believe。
He was curiously calm。 Men were supposed to go mad with grief when their children died； he knew。 They were supposed to tear their hair out by the roots； to curse the gods and swear red vengeance。 So why was it that he felt so little？ The boy lived and died believing Robert Baratheon his sire。
Jaime had seen him born； that was true； though more for Cersei than the child。 But he had never held him。 〃How would it look？〃 his sister warned him when the women finally left them。 〃Bad enough Joff looks like you without you mooning over him。〃 Jaime yielded with hardly a fight。 The boy had been a squalling pink thing who demanded too much of Cersei's time； Cersei's love； and Cersei's breasts。 Robert was wele to him。
And now he's dead。 He pictured Joff lying still and cold with a face black from poison； and still felt nothing。 Perhaps he was the monster they claimed。 if the Father Above came down to offer him back his son or his hand； Jaime knew which he would choose。 He had a se