After Podrick left, Tyrion took a deep breath, suppressing his annoyance at Cersei's summons. He had a feeling this meeting would not be easy.
After all, this was Cersei Lannister, his beautiful, venomous sister. If she wanted to see him now, it was probably about Joffrey again-or she had changed her mind and wanted to interfere with his actions in King's Landing.
He straightened his robes and made his way deeper into the Red Keep toward Cersei's chambers, his strides short.
Candles flickered in Cersei's bedchamber. She stood by the window, looking toward distant Blackwater Bay.
She wore only a thin nightgown. From behind, she looked lonely, her long golden hair spilling over her shoulders and gleaming softly in the candlelight.
When Tyrion pushed open the door and entered, she did not turn around.
"Jaime has gone," she said, her voice strangely calm.
"I know." Of course Tyrion knew. Before leaving, Jaime had made a point of visiting him and asking him to take good care of Cersei.
Still, the scene before him piqued his curiosity. After all, he had just seen their cousin Lancel hurrying away on his way here.
Now, seeing Cersei's appearance and catching the faint, musky scent lingering in the air, he understood what had happened.
Lancel was young and handsome, bore a strong resemblance to Jaime, and had always obeyed Cersei's every word. It made sense that she would have him fill the emptiness Jaime left behind.
After all, Cersei never hid her desires, especially where power and flesh were concerned. But Jaime had been gone for less than a day. Wasn't she a little too hungry?
"He went to the Riverlands." Cersei finally turned slowly toward him, her Lannister-green eyes slightly reddened.
But Tyrion had no attention to spare for that. His mismatched eyes