"Lord Varys, surely you understand."
"You're the one asking me for a favor, not the other way around."
Lynn smiled faintly.
"Oh, of course I understand, Ser Lynn."
"Then how about I offer you a small gift?"
"Consider it the foundation of our cooperation."
"And once I've confirmed that you've spared Daenerys, I can grant you one request within my power."
Varys seemed to have come prepared.
Lynn nodded.
"Very well. Please go on."
Varys continued.
"The Hand of the King's Tournament is almost upon us. Since you intend to enter, I assume you're aiming to win the joust. Otherwise, the king would have no reason to let you cross the Narrow Sea."
"And your greatest rival will undoubtedly be Ser Loras Tyrell of Highgarden, the Knight of Flowers."
Lynn's eyes flickered. He already knew what Varys was offering as proof of his sincerity.
"Did you know that just this afternoon, Lord Baelish was looking for a new mount for Ser Loras?"
Varys lowered his voice further, a hint of mystery in his smile.
"He's looking for a mare in heat."
"And Ser Loras's likely opponent in the joust happens to be the Lannisters' Mountain, Ser Gregor Clegane."
"To preserve its fighting strength, the Mountain's warhorse was left uncastrated. It's a vicious-tempered stallion."
"Now, can you imagine what would happen if a raging stallion caught the scent of a mare in heat during a charge?"
The outcome needed no explanation.
Littlefinger could turn even a tourney into a stake at the gambling table.
He intended to ensure that Loras won his match against the Mountain, making himself a fortune in the process!
This was an extraordinarily valuable token of good faith.
Though Lynn already knew about the scheme, this was enough to prove Varys's sincerity.
Varys truly intended to cooperate