A Song of Ice and Fire, #3
A Storm of Swords
by George R. R. Martin
Contents
CHAPTER 12: TYRION
Overview
Tyrion confronts Varys, learning Pycelle and Ser Boros are restored and that the Kettleblacks spy for Cersei. Despite recognizing the danger, Tyrion arranges a secret tryst with Shae and fails to send her away, promising safety instead. Afterward, he discreetly tasks Bronn to find the singer Symon Silver Tongue.
Summary
Tyrion surprises Varys in the eunuch’s sparse chambers, needling him about his disappearance after the Blackwater and probing court shifts. Varys confirms Grand Maester Pycelle’s restoration and Ser Boros Blount’s return to the Kingsguard, moves driven by Tywin and Citadel politics, and hints at their usefulness to House Lannister over Tyrell influence.
On spies, Varys reveals the Kettleblacks report to Cersei and that many eyes watch Tyrion; Varys himself serves Tywin. Tyrion floats the possibility of buying the Kettleblacks, but Varys notes Cersei’s promises and flirtations bind them. The talk of Ser Mandon yields nothing linking him to Cersei.
Tyrion asks Varys to bring Shae. Unable to use Maegor’s secret door to reach Tyrion’s rooms, they arrange to meet in Varys’s own chambers. That night, after Tyrion conspicuously passes Ser Balon Swann and Ser Loras Tyrell, Shae arrives and the pair make love. Tyrion tries to end the affair for her safety but yields to desire and her pleas, promising to keep her safe instead.
Shae presses to attend Joffrey’s wedding and chatters about Symon Silver Tongue’s tales of feast entertainments, alarming Tyrion. After she departs via Varys’s hidden bed-stair, Tyrion returns to his rooms, wakes Podrick, and summons Bronn.
Bronn arrives late from Chataya’s. Rather than order a killing, Tyrion instructs him to find the singer Symon Silver Tongue before others do, aiming to contain the risk Shae’s connections pose while Tyrion remains under heavy surveillance by Cersei’s agents.
Who Appears
- Tyrion LannisterSeeks Varys’s help, learns of restored allies and spies, secretly reunites with Shae, fails to send her away, tasks Bronn to find Symon.
- VarysConfirms Pycelle and Boros’s restoration; reveals Kettleblacks spy for Cersei; facilitates Tyrion’s covert meeting with Shae.
- ShaeMeets Tyrion in Varys’s chambers; presses to attend the royal wedding; extracts a promise of safety despite grave risk.
- BronnSummoned late by Tyrion and ordered to find the singer Symon Silver Tongue discreetly.
- Ser Loras TyrellEncountered on duty; spars verbally with Tyrion about joining the Kingsguard and lost love.
- Ser Balon SwannOn guard at the door when Tyrion passes on his way to Varys’s chambers.
- Symon Silver TongueSinger linked to Shae via Lollys; his gossip about the wedding alarms Tyrion, who orders Bronn to find him.
- Grand Maester PycelleRestored to the small council through Tywin’s intervention; a sign of Lannister consolidation.
- Ser Boros BlountReinstated to the Kingsguard; emblematic of tradition and Lannister control despite past cowardice.
- Podrick PayneTyrion’s squire; awakens to fetch Bronn in the middle of the night.