Matt reed Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 So, in the epilogue we get to meet who I assume is a few of Varys' "little birds" in the form of "white faced children with dark eyes". How does Varys control these children? Is it some sort of magic, as their description sounds almost unnatural. They are able to spy of a number of influential people and seem to have no problem with killing as we see them with "daggers" in their hands before Kevan Lannister. So if it isn't some magic then what can Varys be offering them to do such things for him and where/ how have they been trained? Also are there any other children in the books who you suspect to be spy's for Varys? Sorry if this has been discussed before, I'm kinda new here 😀. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eisfee Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I am not an expert on this and hardly remember the passage you refer to. However, I am quite certain that he would not control them with magic since he states, I think, several times that he is strongly opposed to magic. The reason for his aversion against magic is the fact that his manhood has been sacrificed for some magical purpose. Also, I think, he connects magic with chaos because it is hardly controllable. So using magic does not correlate with his aim to reestablish order in Westeros. Sorry that I do not offer direct quotes. I do not have access to my books :crying: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt reed Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 Of course, I forgot about his hatred towards magic... They must have had some sort of spy training as I don't recall any of them ever being caught despite some of them being only 9 or 10 years old. Seems unlikely to be Varys training them, what with all his time being spent on scheming. Maybe he has someone in charge of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomk121 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 In game of thones when arya is in the dungeons and sees varys and illyro talking varys specifically asks for more birds and illiyro makes comments about how y finding them so young is hard to do so to me it seems illyro is in charge of aquiring the kids but who actually trains them is anyones guess. Sorry for no quotes at this time but i just finished a reread of GoT so its fresh in my mind. I am also fairly certain comments are made about how the childrens tongues are pulled out so they cant talk and thats why they must know their letters to send notes and relay messagrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jak Scaletongue Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Of course, I forgot about his hatred towards magic... They must have had some sort of spy training as I don't recall any of them ever being caught despite some of them being only 9 or 10 years old. Seems unlikely to be Varys training them, what with all his time being spent on scheming. Maybe he has someone in charge of them? When Arya overhears Varys and Illyrio in the tunnels, it sounds like Illyrio finds and trains them, then sends them to Varys. But maybe Illyrio only finds them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buried Treasure Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Slavers Bay probably trained the birds. Missendei was a small child that the slavers had taught to read, write and speak Westerosi so she might have been destined to become a little bird before Dany arrived in Astapor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philpenn Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I think they're just street kids, and the promise of food and shelter is enough to get them to do Varys's bidding. Between all the secret tunnels, and appearing to just be kids would account for their never getting caught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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