Tyrion, flanked by Bronn and Timett, is being denied access to the small council chamber by Ser Mandon. Tyrion finally blusters his way through. Cersei is meeting with Varys, Petyr, Pycelle, and Janos. Tyrion presents a letter from Lord Tywin naming Tyrion Hand of the King until such time as Tywin can assume the role himself. Cersei is angry and claims the appointment is invalid, but Tyrion points out there is little she can do about it. He asks the council members to give him some time alone with Cersei. On his way out Lord Petyr asks Tyrion if he needs quarters prepared, and Tyrion says he will stay in the Tower of the Hand. Petyr is surprised, given what happened to Jon and Eddard, the last two Hands, and Tyrion tells him that the Hand before them died in the sack of King's Landing,¹ the Hand before him was burned alive,² and the two before him died as penniless exiles.³ Lord Tywin was the last Hand to leave with his life and property intact.

When the others leave, Cersei rounds on him furiously. She threatens to name the letter a forgery and throw Tyrion in the dungeon, but Tyrion tells her that he can get Jaime back. Tyrion asks her about recent events. Joffrey had been told to pardon Eddard, but took it upon himself to give the mob a show. Lord Janos was promised Harrenhal by Petyr in return for siding with the Lannisters. Ser Barristan was dismissed because Joffrey wanted to blame someone for Robert's death, and Varys suggested Barristan.⁴ Tyrion asks her what the smallfolk will think if they see the legendary Barristan riding with another king, and she admits that was something she did not consider. Tyrion says this is why she needs help. She reluctantly agrees, but only if he shares all his plans with her. He agrees, though he has no intention of doing any such thing. Tyrion then asks her who murdered Lord Jon, and Cersei says she does not know.⁵ She does reveal that she helped Robert to his hunting accident by having Lancel keep him well supplied with wine three times as potent as Robert was used to. Tyrion takes his leave.

Timett has wandered off, and Tyrion orders Bronn to arrange quarters for the clansmen. Tyrion leaves the Red Keep with an escort of Lannister house guards under the command of the captain of the queen's guard, Vylarr. On the way out, he orders the heads of the Stark household taken down from the walls. The streets of King's Landing have grown restless. No food is getting into the city because of the war in the Riverlands and Highgarden's declaration for Renly has closed the roads to the south and west. Cersei has tripled the size of the city watch, put thousands of craftsmen to work strengthening the city's defenses, and ordered the Alchemists' Guild to produce ten thousand jars of wildfire. Lord Petyr is providing the coin to pay for all this by levying a tax on all those who would enter the city. Tyrion returns to his inn, where Shae, Chella, and a large number of Black Ears are waiting for him. He is surprised to discover that Varys is there as well. He leaves shortly, but not before he makes it clear that Tyrion will not be able to hide anything from him. Tyrion takes Shae upstairs and has sex with her. He dare not bring her to the Red Keep because his father forbade it, but he plans to find a house for her in the city. After they have made love, Shae asks what he plans to do in King's Landing, and he answers that he will do justice.