Punishment

Sandor Clegane glanced at Gryn, who stood outside the door. After a pause, he stretched out his long legs and stepped aside.

Gryn strode past The Hound and into the solemn Kingsguard council chamber. He casually swept his gaze over those standing beside the table and said, "Ser Jaime, please forgive my presumptuous interruption."

Jaime glanced at the dozen or so Blue Cloaks clustered around Gryn and frowned. His instincts rang like an alarm in his mind, warning him... that something unpleasant was very likely to happen today.

His snow-white cloak flaring behind him, Jaime left the council table and approached Gryn with a straight-backed stance. "My lord, if you required my service, perhaps you could have sent someone to summon me rather than arriving so suddenly."

"Today is a special circumstance."

Gryn tilted his head slightly, shifting his gaze toward the other Kingsguard behind Jaime. "By tradition, the Kingsguard swear to keep the king's and royal family's secrets. Can they truly do so?"

Jaime knitted his brow and answered on behalf of his Kingsguard brothers, "Of course."

Gryn nodded. "In that case... could you ask them to forget that I came here today, and have them leave this place? All except the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and... Ser Osmund Kettleblack."

Jaime looked back. Though Osmund appeared as nonchalant as ever, he could not conceal the panic on his face.

After a pause, Jaime turned back, his tone grave. "Gryn, this is the White Sword Tower. You should know perfectly well what it represents."

"I know what I am doing, Ser."

Jaime stared at Gryn for a moment, then turned his head. "Gentlemen, today's meeting is over. Please continue fulfilling your duty to protect the king."

At their commander's words, the Kingsguard began to leave. At Gryn's gesture, the