Chapter Seventeen - Cersei 4 - A Feast for Crows | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

Cersei meets with her new handpicked Small Council who blithely make momentous decisions with huge ramifications. Simon and Mackelly watch on in despair.

Chapter Review:
Queen Cersei is, not for the first time, disappointed to find the severed head of the wrong dwarf presented to her. She offers no punishment to the murderers for fear of deterring those hunting Tyrion. She and Qyburn head to the Small Council. He has prepared the skull to be sent to Dorne to satisfy the Martell’s grievance against the now, presumably dead, Gregor Clegane.

The Small Council is at full complement - with men Cersei has personally elevated not because of obvious talents for their positions, but due to perceived loyalty. It doesn’t make for a very thoughtful meeting. They decide to stay out of the trouble in the Vale, but demand that no harm befall Petyr Baelish. That they’ll ignore the flock of Sparrows that continues to descend on King’s Landing. That they have no idea who the next High Septon will be. That the grumblings from the masses about the crimes of the Red Wedding are best dealt with by waiting for Lord Frey to die and hoping that his successor will give up a few rivals as scapegoats. That to pay for a new royal fleet the crown will default on its loan payments to both the Faith and the Iron Bank of Braavos. That Lord Manderly should execute Ser Davos who came to ask for White Harbor’s support for Stannis’ claim. That news of dragons in Essos can be safely ignored. And that Jon Snow has betrayed the neutrality of the Night’s Watch by siding with Stannis.

Cersei arranges a complex plan involving Osney Kettleblack seducing Queen Margaery, being caught in the act, sent to the Wall by King Tommen, murdering Jon Snow, being pardoned, and then becoming Cersei's concubine for his service. A tall order, but if he pulls it off, then a Lannister always pays their debts. She tells Taena to let Margaery know that the handsome Osney is smitten with her, but discreetly.  

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Cersei Lannister - Mother to King Tommen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
King Tommen Baratheon - Child king of the Seven Kingdoms.
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Biological father of Tommen.