[ Odd, perhaps, how readily Alayne comes to the Imp's defense, but in truth he had been merciful in his way, having never taken from her his husbandly right. ] Though there was no love between myself and King Joffrey, nor between he and his uncle, once Hand, I swear to you we conspired no such thing.

Many a foul deed did transpire 'tween the walls of the Red Keep during my captivity there, but the capital is a nest of vipers. There is no knowing from whence the poison came that tainted his wedding chalice. [ A mockingbird's song, a rose's thorn. Yes, there are whispers, but she does not share them. ] But whatever the fang, its venom fell true, and hard and sudden upon the king. One moment he laughed his cruel laugh and the next—

[ She explains no further. ]

I will confess I longed for it, that I prayed to Old Gods and the new. For with Joffrey's death I thought I would be given leave to go home and that I would have no use to anyone anymore. [ Alayne looks away, unhappily. ] A foolish thought perhaps. A silly girl's hope. But not treason, not murder.