I en konversation med Tyrion i säsong 2, säger Varys "Makt bor där män tror att det är bosatt."
Följande är ett transkript av deras konversation från säsong 2 Episod 3 ( Vad är döden kan aldrig dö ). Det följer ganska nära en liknande konversation i böckerna ( A Clash of Kings )
Varys: Power is a curious thing my lord. Are you fond of riddles?
Tyrion: Why? Am I about to hear one?
Varys: Three great men sit in a room, a king, a priest and a rich man. Between them stands a common sell-sword. Each great man bids the sell-sword kill the other two. Who lives, who dies?
Tyrion: Depends on the sell-sword.
Varys: Does it? He has neither crown nor gold nor favour with the gods.
Tyrion: He has a sword, the power of life and death.
Varys: But if it's swordsmen 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?
Tyrion: I've decided I don't like riddles.
Varys: 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.