Game of Thrones : Winter Lord

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"My lord, what about this invitation?" Duran asked breathlessly. He and José had been sparring with Cole, and both were exhausted.

Cole wiped the sweat from his face while examining the invitation's contents.

Few people had visited him during his days in King's Landing, and Cole had no time to call upon the nobles and ladies of the castle.

"House Tyrell has invited us to a banquet."

Their last visitor had been the Rose of Highgarden herself, the future Queen of King's Landing—Margaery Tyrell—who had come to thank him personally. To be honest, Cole was confused by this unexpected expression of gratitude.

Now Cole would be their guest.

"Go and prepare yourselves," he said to the two knights, for they couldn't attend a banquet in their current state.

Knowing that Lord Mace Tyrell remained in the dungeons of Dragonstone, Cole had some suspicions about this invitation.

Ser Garlan came to the yard to greet them personally. He smiled politely, "My grandmother is eagerly looking forward to your visit, Jon."

"Lady Olenna Redwyne?"

"She has wanted to meet you—the knight who defeated her two grandsons and her son." Grandmother had been using this matter to distract him lately.

"I'm honored to be remembered by the Queen of Thorns," Cole said with a light laugh.

Duran donned formal attire, while José put on a layer of armor.

"We're attending a banquet, not entering a tournament," Duran whispered in José's ear.

José looked at him in confusion, then replied, "I am Lord Jon's guard and sword."

He walked calmly to Jon's side.

This made Duran hesitate, and he only approached when Cole called for him.

"Good, everyone is here. We can depart," Garlan nodded.

They walked from the courtyard gate and happened upon a group of Dornishmen.

"I heard more than three hundred people came from Dorne." The courtyards and tents surrounding Cole were filled with the banners of Dornish lords.

Garlan was better informed than he. "Led by Prince Oberyn, House Dayne, House Blackmont, House Manwoody, House Qorgyle. Nearly all the Dornish nobles are represented."

Of course, they were merely representatives of each house.

The Tyrells resided in a long, slate-roofed fortress behind the Royal Sept, and Garlan led them up a spiral staircase.

Two knights wearing breastplates carved with roses, gilded helmets, and green cloaks threaded with gold saw Garlan and made way, pushing open the great wooden doors. The guards were twins, identical in height.

Several people sat by the fireplace, though most were ladies.

A woman rose from her seat and approached. She embraced and kissed Garlan, then asked, "Garlan, won't you introduce this knight to me?"

"Cole," Cole nodded slightly and introduced himself. "It's an honor to meet you, my beautiful lady."

A smile appeared on her face. "Leonette Fossoway. I am Garlan's wife."

"Ser Snow." A young woman in a green dress adorned with floral embroidery and lace came forward to greet him.

Cole returned Lady Margaery's greeting.

"Brother, grandmother has been waiting for some time. If you wish to introduce our Lord Snow to every lady, there's no rush," she said.

Indeed, as soon as Cole entered the room, all the women had composed themselves as proper ladies. Their lively banter had transformed into gentle whispers.

The men who had been drinking merrily ceased their revelry, their curious eyes turning toward the newcomer.

"Grandmother's patience is limited. Please follow me, ser."

At the head of the long table, Cole met the Queen of Thorns—a white-haired old woman, short and thin, wearing a dark green gown.

"Ser, allow me to introduce my grandmother, Lady Olenna."

She fixed Cole with a sharp gaze. "Are you Cole?"

"Yes, my lady. It's an honor to meet you." Cole bowed respectfully.

"A handsome face. No wonder my granddaughter speaks of you so often," the Queen of Thorns said in a teasing tone.

"Ser Cole is my savior, Grandmother," Margaery insisted.

Lady Olenna studied her granddaughter. "I'm beginning to think I shouldn't allow you to marry Joffrey."

The Queen of Thorns turned back to Jon. "My foolish son was defeated by such a hero—I consider it an honor for him. I wonder how our puffed-up fish of a lord is faring these days?"

"Lord Mace is accompanying His Grace Stannis on Dragonstone. I imagine they're getting along splendidly."

"I know your king, child," Lady Olenna's tone grew melancholy. "This brother of King Robert is a formidable man, but he's too harsh with himself and his men. The sharper the thorn, the more easily it breaks. I'm grateful he didn't mount my son's foolish head on a spear."

"The laws of the realm weren't created by His Grace. If everyone ignored the law, the Seven Kingdoms would descend into chaos. He merely did what was necessary," Cole replied.

"Is that so? Then why did Stannis rebel against his nephew—I mean, the little monster king?" the Queen of Thorns asked.

"Only silver and dark hair have sat upon the Iron Throne. I've never heard of a blond, my lady," Cole answered with a smile.

"Silver hair?" Lady Olenna fixed him with a penetrating stare, then changed the subject. "I care little for who sits on that uncomfortable chair. My idiot son wants my precious granddaughter to be queen."

"I'm just an old mother, ser. Whoever wrote the laws must have a heart of stone. What price should we pay to bring a foolish son back to his mother's side?"

Cole considered his response carefully. In truth, he couldn't make such a decision.

"In Slaver's Bay across the Narrow Sea, the slave masters determine the price of slaves. Among the Faceless Men of Braavos, the Many-Faced God determines the price of a human life, my lady," Cole answered.

The Queen of Thorns nodded, then said to the young rose standing nearby, "Margaery, entertain our guests properly. Your father is in another's hands. If our lord marquis is willing to speak favorably to the king, perhaps our puffed-up fish can return to Highgarden."

"With pleasure, Grandmother."

Until the banquet's end, Cole and the Queen of Thorns did not speak again.

He had thought he would only deal with roses today, but when Cole returned to his courtyard, another unexpected visitor arrived.

He welcomed the Dornish guests inside—Prince Oberyn Martell, whom he had encountered once before.