Treacherous // Podrick Payne

16. Storm Queen

The Joker and The Queen // Daemon // Harwin out now!

'Can you read?' Tywin questioned Arya.

'My Lord?' Arya questioned.

""Do you not have schools here?" Storm asked. "Five she looks about your speed." Arya glared back at them. "She has angry eyes like you." Storm went on.

"Storm..." Tywin sighed.

"Give me something to do!" Storm begged. "I'm on overdrive here."

'Can you read? This letter detailing our infantry movements was meant for Lord Damon of House Marbrand. It was sent to Lord Marlyn of House Dormand.' Tywin told her and arya stepped away, embarrassed and worried that she got caught snooping

'My apologies, My Lord. I must have ...' Arya began

'Girl, fetch me the "History of the Greater and the Lesser Houses." It's the one on the ...' Tywin began but Arya grabbed it. 'My cupbearer can read better than you. To whom does House Dormand owe allegiance?'

'My Lord, I ...'

'To the Starks of Winterfell!' Tywin shouted at his council. 'Who have 20,000 men and my son! I judged you might be good for something more than brutalizing peasants. I see I overestimated you. If you ever put my son's life at risk again, I'll..." Tywin sighed. 'Leave us.' Tywin demanded and waited for his council to clear out. 'Put the book away, girl.' Arya nodded taking the book, Tywin watched her 'Maybe you should devise our next battle plan while you're about it.' A knock at the door drew his attention.

'Lord Petyr Baelish.' Was announced.

'Hmmm.' Tywin said thinking that through before nodding 'Give us the room. Clear all this.' Tywin gestured at the table for Arya to clear. "You stay Storm." She sighed sitting back down.

' Lord Tywin.... My lady."

"Hello," Storm answered. "Can I go?" storm said getting up. Tywin grabbed her arm pulling her back to her seat.

'Baelish. Wine?'

'Thank you.' Petyr answered sitting down

'What news from the capital?'

'I travelled here directly from Renly Baratheon's camp.'

'Ah, the late king Renly. Rather a short reign.' Tywin mused. 'murdered by a woman, I hear.'

'So they say.' Petyr agreed

'There has been talk of other forces at work, dark forces.' Tywin remarked.

'Men love to blame demons when their grand plans unravel. It is my belief that a moment of chaos affords opportunities lost soon after.'

'You say that as if you were the first man alive to think it.' Tywin retorted smugly.

'Yes, a crisis is an opportunity.'

'What other brilliant insights have you brought me today?' Tywin said needing him to get to the point.

'After the Lannisters and the Starks, the Tyrells command the largest host. Their lands are the most fertile in the Seven Kingdoms, feeding horses and soldiers.' Petyr reminded him.

'Yes, yes, yes.' Tywin said bored, he knew all this.

'The Tyrells have not yet declared for any of the surviving kings. Loras wants revenge. He blames Stannis for Renly's death. And Margaery ... Wants to be queen.'

"I want to be queen. Queen storm, storm queen. OH!" Storms jaw dropped as she looked to Five. "Storm Queen."

"Has a nice ring to it." Five agreed pouring himself another glass of wine. Petyr stared over at them perplexed.