156 ASOS 13 Tyrion II 26 Til Death

Tyrion searches Varys's chambers, discovering them to be a front. He presses Varys to arrange a final meeting with Shae so he can explain he's sending her away for her protection. But Shae hopes to attend the wedding feast as his lady. Tyrion fails to break up with Shae, so orders Bronn to bring him Symon Silver Tongue.

After Tyrion has searched Varys's empty chambers fruitlessly for secret doors and important papers, it's obvious Varys only uses the chamber as a front and that Tyrion has dangerously underestimated the man he presumes to confront. Not realizing this, Tyrion, acidly asks if Cersei was behind Pycelle's reinstatement. Varys again demonstrates himself to be operating on a savvier level than Tyrion by explaining the involvement of the Conclave and how he thwarted their attempt to punish having their authority challenged by sending a Tyrell replacement. Tyrion instructs Varys to bring him Shae. Varys agrees but has instructed Shae to cover Tyrion's eyes to hide his egress. Though Tyrion thinks his intention is to end things with Shae for her own safety, he winds up drawn back in and making promises to her instead of informing her of his plan to remove her from the castle.

Chapter ends with Tyrion asking Bronn to bring Symon Silver Tongue to him. Tyrion's motive seems to be that Symon has filled Shae's head with the desire to attend the royal wedding dressed in her finery. Tyrion takes out his frustration with being unable to protect Shae on Symon Silver Tongue.

What is Tyrion's motive in calling for Symon Silvertongue?

Upjumping

Shae thinks she can pass as a lady at the wedding feast. implication: Shae is too lowborn to ever be a lady

Tyrion doesn't like Bronn bedding Alayaya; Varys instructs Shae not to use the bed.

Tywin Has a Point

Where Tywin's views on upjumping and practices of ending houses and hanging whores have seemed unnecessarily extreme, new explanatory perspective comes in the form of a variety of cases presented simultaneously. Tywin's prohibition of whores now seems related to the dangers of mistress keeping.

Slynt's sons are angry at Tyrion for casting their father down. To promote a man is to take on his entire line in perpetuity. It would have been fairest for Tyrion to require Littlefinger to undo the promotion, placing the blame where it belonged.

Boros Blount stood aside instead of dying to defend Tommen because not bound to the honor of a high house.

Service Is For Life

Both Tyrion and Cersei released men from service who were reinstated. Tyrion thinks Cersei defied his dismissal of Pycelle, but it was the Conclave.

Love and Celibacy

Loras's vow of celibacy suggests he was Renly's lover. Loras has chosen to be celibate while Tyrion is having it forced upon him.

Varys is the Opposite of How He Seems

When we're introduced to Varys in AGOT, he handles the catspaw blade so skillessly as to cut himself, suggesting he has no familiarity with knives. Varys wears flowing robes in effeminate colors, perfumes and soft slippers. He professes to hate sorcerers.

Varys tells Tyrion he abandoned him after the Blackwater because his delicate disposition was so upset by Tyrion's wound. “He gave an exaggerated shudder.”

Though he disguises his true ability and disposition, Varys also hints at it bluntly, even crudely through his slimy smile, giggles and exaggerated upsets.

That Varys is openly Tywin's suggests that he spends his time serving those in power, not friends. While this was always obvious, Tyrion is now out of power and

Politics involve more parties than Tyrion had considered.

Mnemonic Devices

“Til Death”

1. Offices that serve for life: maesters, the kingsguard etc
   

2. Anyone blackmailed. Tyrion has failed to dismiss Shae, but were he to succeed, she'd likely require continuous pay for her upkeep.
   

3. Many forms of service involve life long bonds though they may not seem to. Varys can no longer be dismissed because his knowledge of the secret passages in the Red Keep means he can live in the walls. Anyone who takes on a servant ought to intend it to be a lifelong post and to keep relations warm, since servants wield unseen power over their employers.

“Performance in Office”

1. Varys's costumes
   

2. Shae's sexual service of Tyrion is a performance she expects will promote her.
   

3. Assessment of performance is a matter of judgement. Tyrion dismissed Grand Maester Pycelle for informing on his activities as Hand to Cersei, who was regent. Pycelle only performed a duty of office, despite it requiring him to defy Tyrion's command his superior not be informed. Cersei dismissed Ser Boris Blount for not dying to defend Tommen, so for poor performance.
   

Constructions

Sets up for Tyrion to kill Symon Silver Tongue after the singer tries to blackmail him.

Adds to themes that describe Jaime's situation in the kingsguard:

The Conclave's Tyrell replacement for Pycelle reminds that even institutions who swear off allegiance to family, like the Citadel and Night's Watch, recognize that those ties remain and are perceived to matter.

Tyrion's questioning Loras as to why join the kingsguard so young suggests that seventeen year olds think youthfully and make decisions from such thinking.

Sets up story of Tytos's disgrace

References

Varys's ambush of Tyrion at the Broken Anvil in ACOK Tyrion I