A Clash of Kings

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, physical abuse, and child death.

Tyrion meets with Hallyne the Pyromancer, an alchemist who shows him the city’s storage of wildfire jars. Wildfire is a highly volatile substance that cannot be extinguished with water. Tyrion requests that several thousand empty jars be delivered to each of the city gates.

Tyrion then meets with Bywater, the head of the City Watch, who shares that Cleos Frey has arrived with Robb Stark’s peace terms. Tyrion tells Bywater to expect the delivery of jars, which his men will use to learn how to burn enemy targets from afar.

On his way back to the Red Keep, Tyrion is distracted by a woman who calls the comet a condemnation of the nobility. When he reaches his solar, Tyrion is surprised to find Cersei already there. She is outraged that Tyrion would barter her daughter Princess Myrcella for an alliance. However, when she indicates that Myrcella is being sent to Dorne, she inadvertently reveals that the source of her information is Grand Maester Pycelle.

Tyrion plays along, explaining that Myrcella will be safer in Dorne if either Stannis or Renly Baratheon attacks. Cersei laments the absence of Jaime and Tywin, and Tyrion reassures her that Tywin will return in time for an assault.