House of Metal 26
The Chamber of the Hand had been abandoned when Tywin moved into the Red Keep. He had not seen that coming, having expected and looked forward to the chance to throw his most reviled Son from the chambers and maybe move him into the cellars.
Alas, the chance was lost to him, but he did not care enough to let it dishearten him. Instead he looked into where his son had actually been staying, and that inquiry had finally introduced him to Ultron.
He stared at the metal man across from him at his desk. He frowned as he leaned into his steepled hands, staring at the red eyes and the smirk that adorned the golem's face. Finally, after a few minutes he asks, "Why are you protecting the Stark girls?"
"I made a deal with their father," Ultron replies easily.
"And would you be willing to deal with me, instead?" Tywin asks, trying to think of a way to worm his way into Ultron's good graces. He had heard all of the stories before he had called for this meeting, including the rumor that the golem was responsible for the death of the Mountain.
"Possibly," Ultron rolls his head, ending with it tilted to the right and slightly forward as he raises two eyebrows and asks, "What would you be willing to offer me?"
"As Hand I can grant you anything."
"A dangerous proposition, you realize."
Tywin glared at the dark smirk creeping its way across Ultron's mouth, newly formed as the man realized how desperate the Hand was to ensure that he was loyal to the crown, or at least not directly against it. He scowls and declares, "Name your price."
Ultron leans forward and notes, "But we haven't even talked about what you wish to buy!"
"Your protection of the Stark girls," Tywin tells him flatly.
Ultron tilts his head to the side and asks, "And I can declare any price for that?"
"Yes," Tywin grinds out
Ultron nods then stands, "I will keep my price to myself until I have need of it. The Starks are your problem now."
Tywin finally gives his attempt at a grin and nods, "Very well. You may go."
Ultron stands, and for a second Tywin thinks that the metal man would say something, but the golem just turns and leaves the chamber. Nodding at his success, Tywin grabs a blank sheet of paper and begins drafting a new marriage proposal from house Baratheon to house Stark between prince Tommen and Lady Arya Stark.
He is halfway done with his new declaration when the door to his chamber is opened unannounced, and his grandson barges into the room, "Grandfather! What is the meaning of this!"
Tywin barely spares the little king a look before demanding, "Explain."
"You let Sansa and her bitch sister escape!" Joffrey all but screams at him.
Tywin looks up sharply, his eyes narrowing, and asks, "What?"
"They crawled out while you were entering the city! Find them!" Joffrey demands, and then he storms out, leaving Tywin feeling like a damn fool.
Neither had noticed the number 9 carved into the front of his desk.