of discussion of the moment and people are throwing mud in the delightful elven fashion.’
Tyrion laughed. ‘You are probably right. I may be taking this too seriously.’
‘Frankly I am surprised that you think about these things at all, brother. If it’s not to do with war or battle, you are usually not interested.’
Tyrion inclined his head in the direction of Liselle and Melissa and the small faction of extremely lovely young elf maids around them. ‘I am starting to realise there are all sorts of battlefields and all sorts of ways to compete for glory.’
‘Are you sure it’s glory you are interested in?’
‘The span of my interests is wider than you believe.’
‘I should add girls to war and battle, should I?’
‘Girls were always included. I am starting to think about politics.’
‘The reason why wars are fought – according to one of our more ancient philosophers.’
‘So you have taken to reading other things than histories of battles and legends of heroes.
‘No. Korhien told me that.’
‘Perhaps you should emulate your mentor and start reading more widely.’
‘Lady Malene told him that. Or so he said.’
‘At least he listened.’
Tyrion did not tell him he suspected Korhien was lying about that. The White Lion read much more widely than he wanted anyone to know. It suited him to be seen as the bluff and not-too-intelligent soldier but he was actually something more.
It was not surprising when he considered it. Korhien was a companion and a bodyguard to the Phoenix King. He went on diplomatic missions for him. He acted as a go-between between Finubar and the great houses and the princes. Of course, he was more than a simple soldier.
Tyrion could also see the advantage he gained by having people underestimate him. It was not too difficult to understand the advantages Korhien gained from the role he played. Perhaps he should consider doing the same.
‘You are thinking too hard about something again,’ said Teclis. ‘There is a nasty smell of burning wood.’
‘You know me too well, brother,’ Tyrion said. ‘Now if you excuse me I must return to the ladies.’
‘They look as if they are getting lonely without you.’
‘I will see what I can do to change that,’ Tyrion said. He walked back over to Lady Liselle smiling pleasantly, the very picture of a simple, true-hearted, lusty young elf with only one thing on his mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Tyrion walked back into the lion’s den. He smiled amiably at anyone who looked at him, giving no indication that he felt embarrassed or flustered by the gossip circulating about his parents, his brother or himself. There was no reason to. He had no quarrel with any of those present, unless they chose to make one. In that case, he would not back away from a fight.
The Lady Melissa glanced at him and smiled again. Larien stared rudely. It seemed like a deliberate attempt at intimidation. Tyrion shrugged and walked over.
‘I trust running to your crippled brother and your frosty aunt has put your mind at rest,’ said Larien. His face was a little flushed although whether with wine or anger or something else Tyrion could not tell.
‘About what?’
‘About your dubious parentage.’
There was a moment of silence. This was not the sort of thing said in polite elf circles. Even those nearby were quiet now, waiting to hear Tyrion’s response.
‘There is nothing dubious about my parentage,’ said Tyrion calmly.
‘I am sorry, perhaps I should have said your dubious parents,’ said Larien.
Definitely drunk, Tyrion decided. The goblet in his hand was empty, and Tyrion could recall seeing it refilled more than once.
‘Hush,’ said Lady Melissa. ‘This is not the time or place for this. You are a guest of House Emeraldsea.’
She shot Tyrion what looked like an apologetic look, but he could not miss the glitter in her eyes and the faint twist of her lips. She was enjoying this.
‘Yes, hush, Larien,’ said one of her friends. ‘You are embarrassing yourself.’
Nothing could have been better calculated to goad Larien than pointing this out, Tyrion thought. Perhaps that was the intention.
‘I am not the one who should be embarrassed. I am not the one who was conceived at some Slaaneshi orgy.’
‘Nobody here was,’ said Tyrion.
Larien gave a cruel laugh that was all the more shocking because of the note of pity in it. ‘You really don’t know, do you?’
‘Larien,’ said Lady Melissa. The warning in her voice was obvious. Larien paid it no more attention than a drunken dockman would pay an ant.