After a brief pause, Tyrion grinned at Harys. "The king and queen have not granted you that authority."
Ser Harys paused as well, then opened his mouth. "I am doing this to protect Casterly Rock."
Tyrion shrugged. "I hope you received secret orders from the king."
With that, he stretched and complained as if casually, "The kind-hearted Imp has wasted his feelings again—"
Seeing Tyrion preparing to leave, Ser Harys gripped the iron bars with both hands, his panicked tone returning. "Dwar—Tyrion, you cannot leave. Let me out first, let me out!"
His short, shuffling legs halted, but Tyrion turned toward Sandor, his voice full of confusion. "Did that knight agree to my terms? Er, did I fail to hear it?"
Sandor set down his raised foot and considered briefly. "He intends to live and die with Casterly Rock."
"Oh?"
Tyrion snapped his fingers. "The Old Lion truly deserves to be called the Lion King. Even now, there are still people willing to be buried with him. Sigh, the singers will surely spread House Swyft's—hmm—honor throughout the Seven Kingdoms."
"Slander! Slander! Slander!"
Ser Harys's sagging, fat face flushed bright red. "Despicable! You despicable dwarf! You shameless dwarf!"
Tyrion smiled as he watched Harys stamp about for a while, then the smile abruptly vanished from his face. "Ser Swyft, the closed gates of Casterly Rock are proof."
He took a step toward the iron bars, revealing a cruel-looking smile. "Gryn the First is tolerant and generous, but he never forgives betrayal. You should know well the fates of the lion, eagle, and stag."
Taking another step, Tyrion appeared once more before the bars, his black and green eyes fixed on the trembling Harys within.
He sighed as if unable to bear it. "This may be the last time we meet. When