Tyrion meets with Lancel in the sept, who informs him that Cersei is having Lord Gyles take Tommen to Rosby in disguise to keep him away from the mob and Tyrion. After the meeting, Tyrion gives Bronn a letter for Ser Jacelyn telling him to take fifty men to scout the roseroad. It is a cover; he tells Bronn the real orders, which are to lie in wait for Lord Gyles's party, seize Tommen, and take him on to Rosby so he will be safe and in Tyrion's control. Tyrion rides with Bronn part of the way to go to Chataya's. The streets are empty due to a new extended curfew, for which the punishment for violation is death. While the curfew has helped keep the mobs in check and cut down on murders, the people hate Tyrion for it. He becomes impatient on the way, and decides to go directly to Shae's manor. When he arrives, he hears singing. When he gets inside, the singer introduces himself as Symon Silver Tongue. He recognizes Tyrion, and Tyrion threatens him so he will not reveal Shae. Tyrion goes upstairs with Shae and says she may keep the singer, but he must be kept under close watch. Tyrion has sex and goes outside. [key=855][/key]

Varys, dressed as a filthy beggar, comes to see Tyrion. Shae is able to recognize him, which shocks both the eunuch and Tyrion. Varys reports to Tyrion that Cortnay Penrose is dead and Storm's End now belongs to Stannis. Tyrion tells Varys he will go back to the castle with him. He tells Shae that he wants to move her there too, disguised as a pot scullion, but Shae does not like that idea one bit. Tyrion is fearful of her safety and does his best to convince her, even telling her about his previous marriage to Tysha. She finally gives her consent. On the way back to the castle, Tyrion tells Varys about his kitchen plan, but Varys thinks there would be too many questions and suggests an alternative. Lollys's servant has been filching her jewels; if Varys told Lady Tanda, that would make an opening for Shae. Tyrion approves, though he wonders how Varys will get her to the Tower of the Hand in secret. Varys reveals that there is a secret access to Tyrion's chambers. The conversation returns to Ser Cortnay. It is reported that he threw himself off the tower, but Varys does not think that makes any sense. He tells Tyrion he believes it was magic.¹ Tyrion scoffs at the idea, and Varys tells Tyrion about his childhood.

Varys was an orphan boy with a traveling folly that performed in all the free cities and in King's Landing and Oldtown. One time when the troupe was in Myr, a man made an offer for Varys that the master of the folly could not refuse. The man cut off Varys private parts and used them as part of a spell. Varys, drugged and in pain, was certain he heard the voice of a powerful entity summoned by the conjuration. He has hated magic and those who practice it ever since. Afterwards, he was thrown out on the street and became a thief, eventually one of the best in Myr. Varys warns that Lord Tywin may be trapped between enemies. Oakheart and Rowan forces have been spotted north of the Mander, while Randyll Tarly has taken Renly's stores at Bitterbridge and put many to the sword, mostly Florents. Lord Caswell has locked himself in his castle. Tyrion relishes the irony that he is the only one standing between Stannis and chaos.
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