the  lord  smiled.  remaining  silent  for  a  moment  or  so  as  she  turned.  it  wasn’t  often  that  he  allowed  himself  to  smile.  then  again,  he  never  had  much  of  a  reason  to.  ‘ honesty  will  get  you  killed  or  betrayed.  I  wait  for  that  day  to  knock  on  my  door. ’  the  gods  knew  he  deserved  it.  Thomas  Shelby  wasn’t  afraid  of  death.  when  his  time  came,  NO  FIGHT  WOULD  BE  GIVEN.  ‘ storming  the  castle  would  end  this  war,  between  the  living  at  least.  one  less  threat  to  worry  over. ’ 

 in  a  few  strides  he  was  beside  her,  slowing  his  pace  to  match  hers.  ‘ none. ’  his  answer  may  offend,  but  it  was  the  truth.  ‘ never  saw  much  of  an  appeal  with  dragons  or  direwolves.  I  prefer  HORSES.  loyal  creatures,  reliable  if  you  can  bond  with  ‘em.  my  Ada  on the  other  hand  finds  dragons  to  be  more  interestin’  than  anythin’.  she’d  likely  cry  with  joy  if  she  saw  one  like  this. ’

 part  of  him  wished  his  sister  had  joined  him.  what  he  wouldn’t  give  to  even  have  one  of  their  many  arguments  with  her  again.  ‘ I  think  you’d  like  her  better  than  me.  always  had  a  way  with  people,  women  especially. ’