Tyrion surprises Varys by being in the eunuchs chambers when he arrives. He asks Varys if it is true that Grand Maester Pycelle had been restored to the small council, and Varys says that he has. Tyrion is annoyed until Varys tells him that Tywin only did it after the Conclave met to choose his replacement. After the Conclave satisfied itself that ability counted more than birth by discussing Maester Turquin the cordwainer's son and Maester Erreck the hedge knight's bastard, they were prepared to elect Maester Gormon, a Tyrell, to the position. It was all part of a power play because the maester's insist that only the Conclave may make or unmake a Grand Maester. Tyrion retorts that Maegor executed three of them, and Varys adds that Aegon II fed Grand Maester Gerardys to a dragon. Varys says that Ser Boros has been reinstated to the Kingsguard as well. Varys wonders if Tyrion is there about Ser Mandon, because he knows Bronn has been asking around about him.  Bronn has been unable to find out much about him other than that Lord Jon Arryn brought him from the Vale for Robert to name to the Kingsguard.  Tyrion tells Varys he wants to arrange a meeting with Shae to speak to her one last time before sending her away. He feels he is being watched, and Varys confirms it. All three Kettleblacks report on him to Cersei, and she is even tempting Ser Osmund with sexual hints. Petyr has agents in all the brothels and will report on Tyrion if he goes near one. As for Tywin, he has Varys spying for him. He tells Varys to arrange the meeting in Tyrion's chambers, but Varys informs him that there are no passages in Maegor's Holdfast save for a single escape path that does not connect with any other tunnels. Tyrion tells him to bring Shae to his own room instead then at moonrise. He reads for awhile and then has Podrick help him bathe before returning to Varys's chambers. He passes Ser Balon and Ser Loras on the way, who are guarding either end of the gate to Maegor's Holdfast. He stops to ask Loras why he joined the Kingsguard at just seventeen. Loras answers that Prince Aemon the Dragonknight joined the order at seventeen, but Tyrion presses him further. Loras adds that a third son need not wed to continue the line, and Tyrion asks of love. He answers that when the sun has set, no candle can replace it.¹ When he arrives, Varys greets him dressed as a lady, and Shae waits by the bed wearing nothing. They have sex, and then Tyrion tries to send her away. Instead, she asks to attend the wedding feast. Symon, who has now been hired by Lady Tanda to sing for Lollys, has told her that there will be a dancing bear, wines from the Arbor, seventy-seven courses, and a pie filled with doves. Tyrion refuses to let her go, but does grant her leave to stay with him against his better judgment. Tyrion looks for the passages that must exist in the room, and Shae tells her that one is under the bed. It is extremely heavy, but there is a counterweight. Tyrion takes his leave and wakes Podrick to fetch Bronn. When the sellsword arrives, Tyrion orders him to find Symon before someone else does.