The air in the Council Chamber was as icy as a winter Beyond the Wall.
Pycelle lay slumped on the floor, tears streaming down his aged face.
His trembling hand picked up a broken silver link, the proof of his mastery of healing.
Now both the link and his dignity lay shattered.
Joffrey stood before him, his chest heaving, his face flushed with the pleasure of revenge.
He felt he was the only true master of this room.
Just then, a voice charged with anger and alarm broke through the uncanny scene.
"Joffrey! Stop!"
Cersei Lannister strode inside.
She had heard the commotion and could no longer sit still.
Her sumptuous gown dragged over the metal links scattered across the floor with a grating scrape.
"What are you doing? Do you realize what you're doing?!"
Cersei rushed to Joffrey's side and seized his arm, her green eyes filled with disbelief.
"He's the Grand Maester! Tearing apart his chain is a declaration of war against the entire Citadel!"
"War?"
Joffrey shook off her hand with a sneer.
"I'm the king! I'll declare war on whoever I please!"
"He's nothing but an old dog I keep, and now he dares bite his master!"
"Joffrey!"
Cersei raised her voice.
She glanced at Pycelle, lying on the floor like a dead dog, then lowered her voice until only mother and son could hear.
"Don't forget whose man he is!"
"Do you know how many Gold Dragons your grandfather spends every year to keep him obedient?"
"He's the Lannisters' most important pair of eyes in King's Landing!"
"If you ruin him, who's going to watch that spider Varys for us?"
Urgency filled Cersei's voice.
Pycelle was an agent Tywin had planted in the very heart of the Red Keep.
He knew too many secrets and