Varys hurried through the secret passages of the Red Keep. Before long, a small figure appeared before him, one of his Little Birds.
"My lord," the small figure whispered. "Littlefinger just sent someone out of the city with a letter. We don't know who it's for yet, but one of our people is following him."
Varys nodded, and the boy soon vanished into the shadows. Varys continued on, his face expressionless, his mind working rapidly.
Who would Littlefinger send a letter to at a time like this? Tywin? Renly? Stannis? Or the Targaryens?
He did not pursue the thought, for as soon as he emerged from the passage, he saw someone at the end of the corridor. Petyr Baelish stood there with his customary smile.
"Lord Varys." Littlefinger spotted him as well and came forward to meet him. "What a coincidence. I was just about to look for you."
"Lord Petyr, what can I do for you?" Varys smiled, his voice soft.
"Just a little conversation," Littlefinger said. "After all, things will soon change in King's Landing. Old acquaintances like us ought to see more of each other."
Varys looked at him, his eyes unfathomable.
"Indeed," he said. "We ought to."
"Lord Varys, what do you make of the current situation?" Littlefinger asked, a smile on his face.
"What do I make of it?" Varys repeated slowly, as though weighing the words, though an unreadable look flickered in his eyes. "What could I possibly make of it, Lord Petyr? I'm only a eunuch. A eunuch only wants to stay alive."
"Oh, come now." Littlefinger chuckled softly. Rather than respond to that, he changed his approach. "You know more than anyone, and you're clever enough to see the situation more clearly than the rest of us. Tell me, do you really