Varys: “Power is a curious thing, my lord. Are you fond of riddles?”
Tyrion: “Why? Am I about to hear one?”
V: “Three great men sit in a room, a king, a priest and a rich man. Between them stands a common sellsword. Each great man bids the sellsword kill the other two. Who lives? Who dies?”
T: “Depends on the sellsword”
V: “Does it? He’s not the crown, no gold, no favor with the gods”
T: “He’s got the sword, the power of live and death”
V: “But if the swordsman’s who rule, why do we pretend kings hold all the power? When Ned Stark lost his head, who was truly responsible: Joffrey, the executioner, or something else?”
T: “I have decided I don’t like riddles”
V: “Power resides where men believe it resides, it’s a trick, a shadow on the wall, and a very small man can cast a very large shadow”