Jaime's world had shrunk to just what he could see from his little cell. Most often, it was dominated by whomever they sent to guard over him. He wasn't sure whether the guard was there to keep him from escaping, or to protect him from the other soldiers. It didn't really matter, though, since most of the abuse he'd received came from the guard himself.
There was a whistle, and his current jailor stood with a smirk. This one had spat on him, and Jaime was glad that he didn't have to stare at the ugly lunk anymore. His new guard hove into view, and he felt his eyebrow rise. She was pretty, with long black hair pulled back hard from a tanned face. She held a sword easily over one shoulder, and when she sat she leaned it against the wall. A long knife was pulled out of a boot, and Jaime studied her face. In profile, her mouth was tight and her eyes hard on the whetstone and shiv in her hand.
"You look angry, lovely." The stone jarred to the side when he spoke, and she muttered a curse. After fixing the edge, and without looking at him, she spoke.
"The King of the North is testing me." He opened his mouth to ask what she meant, and she glanced up, pinning him in place with her eyes. "He has made me swear to leave you alive." She turned and stabbed her blade back into her boot.
Jaime watched her sharpen and polish her sword. He'd always found the task calming, but right now, he found it a subtle, effective threat. Finally, as her watch ended he prepared himself to speak. She seemed to know, and gave him another inscrutable icy glare as she stood.
"Thank Robb Stark for your life, Lannister." His eyebrows jumped, and he felt a little sick. That was the first time in his entire life someone had used his name, his family, as both an insult and a curse.
"Careful, girl, even a caged lion has claws." Her eyebrow rose, cold.
"Indeed."