"Swords are sometimes the only weapon that doesn't seem to get the job done correctly," Jaime murmurs with a distant look, but then he shakes his head and grins. "I've heard crossbows can work out just as well, should the need arise. Varric might be the smartest one you've captured on this journey."

And then he snorts. The idea of anyone chasing off him is absolutely ridiculous. Unpleasant, annoying, a bastard, these are things he might be. But even one-handed, there is no man like Jaime Lannister.

Or Rivers. Whoever he is.

"Are you sure you're speaking of me and not a few others you call your friends?"