Sweet Talk (End)

Gryn smiled faintly and said gently, "There's no need to thank me in particular. I only hope that Prince Doran, you, and your sisters can all deeply appreciate this goodwill of mine."

Arianne's gaze lightly swept over Gryn's lower body. A faint smile curled her lips as she said in a slightly husky, seductive voice, "I wouldn't mind experiencing the duke's goodwill for them first... properly."

Gryn reached out and caught the hand Arianne was about to use to climb down, sighing helplessly. "There's something else I need to tell you. As the heir to Sunspear, it may be something you should take even more seriously."

Arianne's alluring eyes stared straight at Gryn for a moment. She lightly bit her lower lip and said softly, "All right. I'll listen carefully."

Gryn: "..."

The two separated. Gryn handed Arianne the wineskin she had sampled from, while he slowly walked to the window, leaned against its frame, and deftly untied another wineskin from his waist.

He tipped back his head and took a swig, paused briefly, then said slowly, "Tomorrow morning, Houses Crabb, Lannister, and Tyrell will gather for King Tommen's first Small Council meeting since his formal coronation."

"Sounds important?" As she spoke, Arianne swayed her incomparably graceful figure toward a chaise lounge.

After settling lightly onto it, she continued, "Then who will take over as Hand of the King?"

Gryn looked outside through the hazy glass, took a sip of Summer Wine, and said, "I thought it would be Duke Tywin's younger brother, Kevan Lannister."

"Apparently, he won't be taking his brother's place."

Arianne casually set the wineskin in her hand on an exquisite little table beside the chaise lounge, then picked up a silver decanter and poured the scarlet wine into her cup with a splashing sound.

After a