Recap / A Dance with Dragons

A recap of A Dance with Dragons, a book of 73 chapters and 959 pages, the fifth volume in the fantasy epic by George R. R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire.

Though ASoIaF has always engaged in Three Lines, Some Waiting, the previous novel, A Feast for Crows, took it to a new level by focusing the entire novel on just one of those lines. Since the series uses a strict third-person limited narration scheme, a good portion of the Ensemble Cast simply did not appear "on screen" in that novel. Those characters, and their two plotlines, were left to this book, which forms Simultaneous Arcs with Feast. However, this book also continues on past it, picking up a few narrators along the way. This moment will be marked for convenience.

Prologue — Varamyr Sixskins

A man uses a wolf as a Bond Creature. He returns to himself — Varamyr Sixskins, a wildling once part of Mance Rayder's host — which he does not enjoy doing, as his human body was stabbed during the fruitless defense against Stannis's forces, and it is dying, despite the attempts of his (human) companion Thistle to sew up the wound. Varamyr reflects on his past: he learned the craft of skinchanging from a mentor, Haggon, including the cardinal rule that a skinchanger will lose themselves entirely if they stay skinchanged for too long, but rejected Haggon's silly little rules and eventually killed the man. With nothing to lose, he attempts to take over Thistle and claim her body for his own, but she struggles and manages to resist him. She flees, and Varamyr is forced to use the largest of his three wolves, One Eye, as his new host. One Eye's pack finds Thistle's frozen body, which re-animates with eyes that glow blue.

Tyrion I

As a ship takes him across the narrow sea, Tyrion stews in his guilt over his patricide, betrayal of House Lannister, and the loss of Tysha, the only woman who ever truly loved him. He wonders if he's being taken to Dorne, to work with his niece Myrcella, but finds himself in Pentos, under the care of Magister Illyrio Mopatis, a rich man whom Tyrion internally nicknames "the cheesemonger". Tyrion is suspicious of the magister's hospitality and turns away a courtesan who has been assigned to provide him Sex for Solace; he does find a clutch of poisonous mushrooms on the manse grounds, which he saves for use as a Cyanide Pill.

At dinner, Illyrio is a gracious host, though Tyrion regards the mushroom dish with trepidation — wondering if it might not be better to just get it over with. (Illyrio chows down on them when Tyrion hesitates.) The two discuss Tyrion's options: as a born Number Two, Tyrion needs to figure out which player of the game of thrones he wants to support. Illyrio tells him that neither Stannis, now at the Wall, nor Myrcella in Dorne, is a good decision; Westeros needs someone more abroad to save them. Say, a dragon with three heads.

Daenerys I

Queen Daenerys Targaryen of Meereen looks over the body of one of her Unsullied, Stalwart Shield. (He was at a brothel, where he paid a prostitute to simply hold him all night.) Meereen's La Résistance, styling themselves the "Sons of the Harpy," have killed her freedmen before, but it is the first time they have slain one of her soldiers; and Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of Daenerys's Kingsguard, promises her it will not be the last. She also meets with the two Meereenese members of her court. Reznak mo Reznak is her seneschal and represents the sentiments of pre-conquest Meereen; he likes to wear heavy colognes, to the distaste of some. Skahaz mo Kandaq, who has taken an Important Haircut to show he has moved away from the Ghiscari way of doing things (which typically involves an Improbable Hairstyle), now leads a group of "shavepates" who are Daenerys's most loyal Meereenese followers, and therefore sworn enemies of the Harpy's Sons. This probably biases Dany in his favor. Unfortunately, Shakaz is on the "Good is Not Nice" side of things: sure that the Sons of the Harpy are backed by Meereenese nobility, he advises Daenerys take one member from each such house and out them to death to send a warning. (Reznak can only protest that the Sons are probably baseborn.) Daenerys simply orders the bounty increased.

Daenerys takes joy in watching her dragons fly and act independently, but wonders if she has been training them properly or spent enough time with them.

Daenerys then holds court. She receives an envoy from the new king of Astapor, Cleon, who seized power after she left. The envoy has offered Cleon's hand in marriage to Daenerys several times, but now additionally suggests an alliance against Yunkai, which Daenerys did not conquer, merely settling for the freeing of the slaves there. Of course, the Yunkai'i merely took new ones the instant she left; so, for that matter, has Cleon. Daenerys declines the envoy's offer. Another is Hizdahr zo Loraq, a well-spoken Meereenese noble, who wants to reopen Meereen's renowned Gladiator Games. Daenerys declines this as well, having no interest in Blood Sport, but does privately consider Hizdahr for other reasons: Reznak has suggested she take a Meereenese husband in Altar Diplomacy.

The final petitioners are farmers who claim that her dragons have eaten their livestock. Daenerys orders those farmers repaid, but that isn't enough for one man, who empties a sack of charred bones on the floor.

No. Dany shivered. No, no, oh no.
“Are you deaf, fool?” Reznak mo Reznak demanded of the man. “Did you not hear my pronouncement? See my factors on the morrow, and you shall be paid for your sheep.”
“Reznak,” Ser Barristan said quietly, “hold your tongue and open your eyes. Those are no sheep bones.”
No, Dany thought, those are the bones of a child.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg45 (hardcover)

Jon I

Ghost is hunting somewhere south of the Wall, aware somehow of the existence of Summer, Nymeria and Shaggydog. But Jon must leave him when Mormont's raven lands on him, waking him from his dreams. He wonders if some part of Bran and Rickon, whom he has been told are dead, lives on in their wolves.

Lord Commander Jon Snow, 998th leader of the Night's Watch, has been summoned by King Stannis. As he crosses the yard, he stops to mentor the new recruits, but must also turn down a challenge from the boastful Ser Godry Farring. Farring styles himself "the Giantslayer" because he killed one during the rout of Mance Rayder's forces. (The giant was running away.) Farring, now seeking to augment his reputation further, challenges Jon to a duel. Jon, a Martial Pacifist, declines, and ignores Farring's accusations of cowardice.

Stannis is all afret over his inability to forge alliances with the northern houses; his latest rejection is from 10-year-old Lyanna Mormont, who replies that "Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is STARK." Only the Karstarks have taken Stannis's offer, and largely out of political necessity. Jon advises Stannis to give them time. Stannis then asks if Jon will reconsider becoming legitimized — prideful though he is, he knows Lord Jon Stark of Winterfell, Lord of the North, would command much more respect than Stannis himself does — and Jon refuses, citing his responsibilities to the Watch. He refuses Stannis's previously-offered request (demand) of the un-garrisoned castles along the Wall, which Stannis wants to gift to his vassals; in Jon's opinion, this will sour the North's opinion of Stannis even further.

Stannis and Melisandre discuss the wildlings in general. Melisandre wants to burn Mance Rayder, and later his infant son, since they both have "king's blood," to work some great magic, and Jon isn't sure how to dissuade them (or prove that Mance isn't actually a king). Stannis is convinced that Mance, at least, must be put to death as a deserter from the Night's Watch, but Jon points out that the wildlings follow Mance because he is a Magnetic Hero and for no other reason; no one else can or will command their allegiance. He also tries to make it clear that, if Stannis has Mance executed, his son will not become king. (Melisandre and Stannis cannot grasp this.)

Currently, Gilly is acting as wet nurse for Mance's son. Casually, Jon mentions that he plans to send her away, and Stannis has no reaction except to approve when Jon mentions that her son is the product of incest with her father.

Stannis, tired of Jon's Brutal Honesty, kicks him out. Melisandre goes with him, commenting that Stannis is growing fond of Jon; Jon agrees, noting that the king only threatened him with death twice. Jon asks if the visions she sees in the flames are ever wrong; she says they are not, but admits that, as a mere human, she can misinterpret them. He suggests she leave, as it's Grim Up North, but Melisandre insists that they will need her on the Wall soon. She offers to tell him who his enemies are, but he insists he already knows.

“Then you know nothing, Jon Snow,” she whispered.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.59 (hardcover)

Bran I

Bran, Jojen, Meera, Summer and Hodor are north of the Wall, being escorted by the enigmatic Coldhands, in search of the "three-eyed raven." They do not know whether they can trust Coldhands, who keeps much of his nature to himself, but they know he saved Sam and Gilly from wights.

Bran enters Summer as he dreams, and discovers a small pack of wolves attempting to dine on the corpses of some Night's Watch mooks. Summer faces off against the leader, a large wolf with one eye, and Bran sees in its eye that the wolf is a warg, like he is.^note It's Varamyr. Or, at least, what's left of him. That said, Summer wins the allegiance of the pack, adding to Bran's protection.

Bran awakens: Coldhands has returned with a pig and lit a fire so everyone can eat. (Coldhands himself does not eat, drink or sleep, and they have never seen his breath mist in the cold.) When asked about his cold, black hands, Coldhands admits that blood runs to the extremities and congeals when a man dies. Bran remembers that Coldhands could not pass beneath the Wall, which is ensorceled against the Others and their ilk. Still, Coldhands is offering to lead them to the three-eyed raven, whom he calls "the last greenseer," and Bran has no other way to get there, so they press on.

Tyrion II

Tyrion and Magister Illyrio ride in a litter which is taking them to the River Rhoyne. Tyrion is to meet with a man named "Griff," who will take Tyrion to Volantis (the oldest of the Nine Free Cities), which is where Illyrio believes Daenerys will head to next.^note The "Nine Free Cities" are not "free" because slavery is illegal there; only Braavos, which was founded by escaped Valyrian slaves, has outlawed it. No, it's because all of them, again with the exception of Braavos, were Valyrian colonies which purchased a certain amount of autonomy from the motherland. Tyrion is skeptical of Illyrio's interest in a Succession Crisis he has no stake in, but Illyrio admits that he and Varys go way back, being Best Friends and business partner in their youth (Varys would steal things from other thieves, and Illyrio would return the merchandise to its rightful owners for a fee) (Varys also perfected his skills as The Spymaster during this time, which is why Aerys II sought him out). Illyrio has even convinced the Golden Company, a group of Private Military Contractors renowned for Honor Before Reason, to break their current contract and work with Daenerys instead. Tyrion finds this hard to credit: the Golden Company was founded by Westerosi exile Ser Aegor Rivers, called "Bittersteel," one of Aegon IV's many "Great Bastards," and as such have spent most of their existence fighting House Targaryen.^note On his deathbed, Aegon IV legitimized all his male bastards, putting them in the line of succession behind his trueborn son Daeron II. This led to the eldest of them, Daemon Waters, taking a Meaningful Rename as Daemon Blackfyre, and launching the first of five "Blackfyre Rebellions" over the course of seventy years and four generations of his house. Bittersteel himself led the third and fourth attempts with the might of the Golden Company behind him, and his successor Maelys the Monstrous, the last Blackfyre, used them in the fifth, which is instead called The War of the Ninepenny Kings because nine sellsword companies agreed to invade together. It ended when Maelys met the sword of the then-22(ish) Ser Barristan Selmy. There's a reason Aegon IV is known as Aegon the Unworthy. Illyrio explains that Daenerys offers these Westerosi exiles the one thing they've always wanted: a way home.

The Merchant's Man

When last we left Princess Arianne Martell, some 12 chapters before and, uh, several months after now, we learned that Quentyn Martell, her younger brother, had been sent to Essos to try and make contact with Daenerys. Well, here he is: Quentyn is already in Volantis, posing as a wineseller's servant, with Ser Gerris Drinkwater posing as the wineseller in question and Ser Archibald Yronwood as a fellow servant. While sailing across the narrow sea, they were attacked by corsairs and have already lost the other half of their party, especially their maester. Quentyn is anxious to reach Meereen ASAP and present his suit to Daenerys, but no one is willing to sail there with the war going on. Case in point: the only smuggler captain willing to sail there demands triple the normal price — each. Quentyn declines, knowing the captain will simply toss them overboard at the first opportunity. Instead, he and his party sign up with the Windblown, a group of sellswords who have been hired to fight Meereen on behalf of Yunkai.

Jon II

The Chains of Commanding are real, Jon finds, as he tries to convince Gilly to abandon her own child and take Mance's with her. He is only able to make her agree by threatening to end her boy's life if Mance's boy dies. A little later, Sam arrives, but we'll elide that as it's simply "Sam I" from A Feast for Crows but from Jon's POV; TL;DR, Sam's going to the Citadel to train even though he doesn't want to; he's taking Maester Aemon, Gilly, and "her son"; etc. Jon isn't happy with himself for breaking Gilly's heart or sending his best friend away, but he remembers Maester Aemon's words:

You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg103 (hardcover)

Jon's next order of business is to start re-garrisoning two of the many empty castles along the Wall. (In addition to wanting them for his own purposes, this was one of the things Stannis threatened to have Jon put to death about.) He speaks to Bedwyck the Giant, the shortest man in the Watch, who will have the command at Icemark. His brand-new garrison, and that of the castle Greyguard, will leave the following morning. Bedwyck is concerned when he learns that Greyguard will be led by Janos Slynt, suggesting (in the candid way of a soldier who respects his leader) that he is a poor choice. Jon privately agrees, but also feels he'd much rather see Slynt separated from his co-conspirator Alliser Thorne; additionally, the fact that Slynt, the son of a butcher, rose to (honorary) nobility as commander of the gold cloaks speaks well of his ability.

That said, when Jon asks that Slynt come to him for orders, Slynt takes half the morning before obeying, and then rejects the orders outright, apparently believing that Jon's status as a "traitor's bastard" outweighs things like the, y'know, chain of command in a military organization. Jon gives him the night to re-think his stance, but come breakfast, Slynt is settling in to chow down, clearly of no intent to leave. Jon asks him one last time, and Slynt tells to stick his orders up his arse. (No, that's a direct quotation.) So Jon has him taken to the Wall to... (Be imprisoned? Be forced into the leadership position? No, neither will solve the problem. ...Nothing will solve the problem.) ...be hanged. Thorne, who could have stepped in, chooses not to, and Slynt is dragged away, screaming that Jon wouldn't dare hang him. Jon decides he's right, and has someone fetch a headman's block, and Longclaw. Finally, when it's too late, Slynt begs for mercy, but the decision has been made. As the man who helped behead Lord Eddard Stark is himself beheaded by Stark's son, Jon sees that Stannis has been watching the whole time. The king gives him a nod of approval.

Tyrion III

At dawn, Tyrion is turned over to the care of Ser Rolly Duckfield and Haldon Halfmaester, both of whom serve Griff. They explain their unusual epithets: Haldon studied at the Citadel but did not graduate; when Rolly was knighted by Griff, he needed a surname, and they were standing in a field and there were ducks. Tyrion, meanwhile, introduces himself as "Hugor Hill," the name of the (possibly-mythical) first king of the Andals. (Haldon asks if this makes Tyrion a demigod or a bastard, and Tyrion repeats, "All dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes.") They convey Tyrion, and several chests of goods, to a pole boat, the Shy Maid, where the rest of the traveling party awaits.

There's Captain Yandry and his wife Ysilla; a young woman, who turns out to be a septa named Lemore; a youth of about sixteen, "Young Griff," with dyed blue hair in honor of his Tyroshi mother; and Griff himself, also blue of hair but with red roots. Tyrion instantly knows him to be a man to reckon with. Griff reads the letter Illyrio sent which explains Tyrion's true identity and purpose — most sellswords are illiterate. Griff is also an anointed knight — only one such can dub another knight, as he did to Ser Rolly Duckfield. He interrogates Tyrion, showing himself not only to be smart enough to listen to the counsel of others, but smart enough to form his own opinions. Tyrion, of course, promises to be a loyal Targaryen, but his Sherlock Scanner is cranked up to maximum, and he asks a probing question:

"What if we should find the queen and discover that this talk of dragons was just some sailor's drunken fancy? This wide world is full of such mad tales. Grumkins and snarks, ghosts and ghouls, mermaids, rock goblins, winged horses, winged pigs... winged lions."
Griff stared at him, frowning. “I have given you fair warning, Lannister. Guard your tongue or lose it. Kingdoms are at hazard here. Our lives, our names, our honor. This is no game we’re playing for your amusement.”
Of course it is, thought Tyrion. The game of thrones. “As you say, Captain,” he murmured, bowing once again.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.122 (hardcover)

Davos I

In his first chapter, Jon noted that Stannis has been sending in-person emissaries, not just letters, to certain houses. His loyal Hand of the King, Ser Davos Seaworth, is one of them. Salladhor Saan has been trying to convey him to White Harbor, the major port of the North, but his fleet has been savaged by winter storms, until eventually Saan — who is, at the end of the day, Only in It for the Money — gave up and tossed Davos on the Sisters before pulling a Screw This, I'm Outta Here Before The Whole Rest Of My Fleet Gets Wrecked Too. Now Davos has washed up at the keep of Lord Godric Borrell of Sweetsister, still trying to get to White Harbor.

Lord Borrell informs him of current events: Lysa Arryn, to whom House Borrell owes fealty, is dead; so is Tywin Lannister; and the Freys have reached White Harbor, where Lord Wyman Manderly has come back into the king's peace and declared for Tommen. Since Davos was attempting to prevent exactly that, he's a bit daunted, but still presses Lord Godric for passage through his lands. In answer, Godric gives a bit of an Info Dump: History Repeats. Back before the War of the Usurper started, Lord Eddard Stark was standing where Davos was, and Godric's father where Godric himself is. Apparently Ned convinced a fisherman to sail him across. The fisherman died during the passage, but his daughter took up his sword, for which her reward was a night of passion and a bastard — kid named "Jon Snow," which she chose in honor of Jon Arryn.^note Though the newness of this possibility makes it pale in comparison to the more-established and canonical-to-the-show R+L=J, there are also logistical reasons for it not being true. One: how did Jon get to Ned after this? Catelyn reported, in her second chapter ever, that when Ned finally returned to Winterfell from the war, Jon was already with him. While Godric Borrell's story in no way precludes the fisherman's daughter from hunting down Ned later, or Ned making a pit stop to say thanks, it also does not include this information, which would be a fairly significant part of the tale. ("Illegitimate child deserted by his rich father! You won't believe what happened next!") Second, we've always had the impression that Ned named Jon himself, an impression GRRM has reinforced in (now-publicized) private correspondence. And third, we know Ned doesn't like lying, so when he claims he fathered Jon after his marriage to Catelyn, we tend to believe him. This story has Jon instead conceived before. Besides, why would Ned lie about this? Why would Ned choose to, falsely, claim to be a married man who couldn't control his urges, when he could truthfully claim to be an unmarried man who didn't need to control his urges? Ned may have been stupid, but he wasn't stupid. In any case, the elder Lord Borrell had to approve of all this one way or another, especially since some elements of his court were suggesting he instead send King Aerys Ned's head as a show of fealty.

"My father sent him on his way with his head still on his shoulders. ‘If you lose,’ he told Lord Eddard, ‘you were never here.’ ”
“No more than I was,” said Davos Seaworth.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.133 (hardcover)

Jon III

Melisandre has arranged for Mance Rayder to be burned, despite Jon's protests to the contrary. Mance loses all dignity at the end, renouncing his kingship and complaining about witchcraft, but Jon still orders his men to hit Mance with an arrow, a more fitting end for a man of the Night's Watch. Melisandre also burns the Horn of Joramun in the same pyre, saving the Wall from that threat. That said, the whole thing has been an elaborate PR stunt put on to impress the wildlings taken captive back when Stannis first arrived: Melisandre declares there to be only one true god, R'hllor, and that Stannis is his emissary, Azor Ahai reborn, the only one who can stop the Others. (Stannis draws Lightbringer, which obligingly shines with almost blinding brilliance.) While some of the wildlings choose to cross back out of the gate that leads Beyond the Wall, most of them swear fealty to Stannis.

Bowen Marsh, the chief steward, asks Jon if he thinks the "Enemy Mine" situation will be enough to guarantee the wildlings' fealty, and opines that they should seal the gate again and simply let the wildlings "guard" the north side. He also criticizes the public perception that, by sheltering Stannis, Jon has committed the True Neutral Night's Watch to a player of the game of thrones.

Jon tries to go to the mess hall to eat with his friends, but he almost immediately has to chastise Pyp for making fun of Melisandre, and he realizes that his rank precludes friendship. He instead eats with Clydas, Maester Aemon's assistant, and they discuss a passage Maester Aemon left for Jon, about how Lightbringer, Sword of Heroes, should produce both light and heat; Stannis's blade only does one such. In the chambers that used to be Donal Noye's, which he has taken for his own, he answers two letters from Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke, both asking for more men: he sends Halder and Toad to the Shadow Tower and Pyp and Grenn to Eastwatch-By-The-Sea. Alone in his cold chambers, even more friendless than before, he feels The Chains of Commanding tighten around him.

Daenerys II

The Sons of the Harpy have staged an even more brazen attack, resulting in the deaths of nine Unsullied; their only suspect is the owner of a wine shop where two of them were poisoned. Daenerys orders the creation of police force composed of shavepates and freedmen, keeping the Unsullied to the walls; however, her faith in her freed slaves is somewhat shaken when she learns that three of them were found wearing Harpy's Sons masks.

As Daenerys bathes, she is visited by Quaithe of the Shadow, who has another cryptic prophecy:

"Hear me, Daenerys Targaryen. The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun’s son and the mummer’s dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal."
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg152-153 (hardcover)

Daenerys can barely make heads or tails of it, putting her roughly on par with people who are coming in from the show, as, with exactly one exception, everything on this list was Adapted Out. Observant readers, however, might be better informed.

• The glass candles are at the Citadel; Sam learned about them in the very last chapter of Feast. We still don't know what they are, but we do know they're lit.
• Don't worry about the pale mare for now. This reference is foreshadowing, and this document will call attention to it when it comes to pass.
• The kraken, on the other hand, has been established. Remember how King Euron Greyjoy ordered Victarion to come east and seek out Daenerys? The Greyjoy sigil is a golden kraken on a field of black.
• The dark flame is another future development: Moqorro. This name means nothing until you're reading the story a second time, but is blazingly obvious in hindsight.
• Do we know anyone who wants to meet Daenerys whose sigil is a lion? A gold lion on a crimson field? A lion of Lannister, say, played by Peter Dinklage?
• Speaking of which, a griffin is the front half of a bird and the back half of a cat — you know, a winged lion, something Tyrion has made reference to already. That said, it'll be several more chapters before the relevance of the symbology becomes clear.
• The sun's son is also a gimme. House Martell's sigil is a rising sun with spears crossed over it; Quentyn Martell is a son of House Martell.
• The mummer's dragon is the big one. Back in the second book, Daenerys described a "mummer's dragon" as a cloth dragon on poles, but that's not what Quaithe is talking about: she's referring to a character we've also already met. But that's all we'll say for now, because the appellation puts really interesting dimensions on said character.
• The Undying refers to the other swath of prophecy Daenerys got blasted with when she traveled through the House of the Undying; see the Recap for A Clash of Kings for more details. (Daenerys specifically references the three fires, the three mounts and the three treasons.)
• The perfumed seneschal is the only thing that seems to make instant sense: Daenerys has a seneschal, Reznak mo Reznak, who has already been established as wearing heavy perfumes. Indeed, the next time she sees him — later that same page — Dany gives Reznak the side-eye, wondering if she ought to trust him as much as she does. Ironically, this is also the only bit of the prophecy that does not have a confidently-resolved meaning: there turns out to be more than one stinky steward out there.

At court, Daenerys once again turns down a petition from Hizdahr zo Loraq to open the fighting pits, though he brings a much better set of arguments this time: some of the gladiators themselves, who advocate not only that their right to freedom includes a right to spend that life if they desire, but point out that they have no other marketable skills. She then asks Ser Barristan Selmy to explain How We Got Here — his offstage adventures between his (forced) resignation at the end of the first book and his next appearance at the end of the second. Barristan explains that he could not serve Joffrey, and should not have served Robert, whom Barristan describes as "a good knight but a bad king." He decided his only path was to go back to House Targaryen. He went into hiding for a time, and was present at the Great Sept of Baelor when Eddard Stark was beheaded. Dany opines that Ned, who betrayed his oath to King Aerys, deserved it, but Barristan protests that Ned was overall a good man; he points out that only Ned defended Daenerys's life to Robert when the king learned that she (Dany) was pregnant, even resigning the Handship rather than countenance the murder of a pregnant teenager. But Dany sees "the Usurper's dogs" as all the same, sees them equally responsible.

She then, overcome by guilt, goes to see the horrors for which she is equally responsible: within a deep pit, forty feet down, Viserion and Rhaegal have been chained because she cannot control them. Drogon is not there; they could not catch him, and he still flies free, working his (very hungry) will on the countryside. And he might not stay alone for long; the other two may soon grow so large that they can no longer be restrained.

Mother of dragons, Daenerys thought. Mother of monsters. What have I unleashed upon the world? A queen I am, but my throne is made of burned bones, and it rests on quicksand. Without dragons, how could she hope to hold Meereen, much less win back Westeros? I am the blood of the dragon, she thought. If they are monsters, so am I.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg163 (hardcover)

Reek I

The creature known as Reek is woken from slumber in the dungeon by Big Walder and Little Walder, boys of House Frey less than 10 years old. Reek still cowers from them. He has suffered much since we last saw him. He tried to escape once, with the help of a girl named Kyra, but the whole thing turned out to be a trap set by his captors, and he has since lost several fingers and toes to his torturers' "ministrations." All he knows is that if he screws up, "Lord Ramsay" will hurt him.

The two Walders bring Reek before Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton, lately legitimized (by degree of King Tommen) as Ramsay Bolton. Ramsay is attended by Arnolf Karstark and Hother Umber, the latter of whom recognizes Reek as "Stark's ward. Smiling, always smiling." He may be Reek now, but once he was named Theon Greyjoy. Ramsay announces good news: his father is bringing him Arya Stark, whom Ramsay will marry so as to become Lord of Winterfell. He wants Reek by his side through all this. Reek, abused both physically and mentally, celebrates this kindness from his master — especially since it will include a bath.

Bran II

It's been a hard crossing; Coldhands' elk died, and Coldhands butchered it, but even that food has run out. Bran's party have arrived at the cave where the Three-Eyed Raven lives, but before it is a no-man's-land, and Coldhands senses an ambush. Sure enough, wights burst out of the snow and begin to swarm them, despite the best efforts of Meera, Summer, and Bran-Wearing-Hodor to stop them. But then something leaps out and sets the wights on fire. Bran awakens in the cave, facing honest-to-goodness children of the forest — the first ones seen in hundreds of years. They bring Bran to an old man, almost skeletal, sitting on — part of — a throne of living weirwood. He identifies himself as the three-eyed crow, a man who was once a crow, among other things — and the last greenseer, who has been watching Bran with "a thousand eyes, and one" for all of his life. Bran asks if the man can fix his legs, and the man says that he cannot. "You will never walk again, Bran. But you will fly."

Tyrion IV

"Hugor Hill" has been banned from drinking wine. The captain, Yandry, pulls the boat over every night so they can sleep, and every morning Septa Lemore bathes nude in the river. Tyrion enjoys watching. Others might have as well: Tyrion notes stretch marks on her body which indicate pregnancy, atypical for a religion in which ministers take a Vow of Celibacy. Tyrion also works at the assignment Griff gave him: writing down all he remembers of dragonlore. Later, Young Griff, who has violet eyes, spars with Duck, winning handily; Tyrion then joins Haldon as he tutors Young Griff, and then plays cyvasse with the man. Tyrion loses badly, claiming that this is Haldon's fault for teaching him the rules of the game badly. As such, Tyrion asks Haldon to bet on the next game, wagering "secrets" as the prize. Haldon is, of course, confident in his victory: "The day you defeat me at cyvasse will be the day turtles crawl out of my arse." Three hours later, Tyrion emerges to void his bladder; when asked Haldon's whereabouts, he claims the man has taken to his bed in discomfort from the turtles.

Tyrion does not disclose what secrets he asked for in exchange for his victory, but as the Shy Maid heads down the river, they briefly glimpse a giant turtle larger than the boat itself, which Yandry describes as the semi-mythical "Old Man of the River," and Tyrion reflects internally that "Gods and wonders always appear, to attend the birth of kings."

Davos II

Davos is dismayed to see the Lionstar, a warship bearing King Tommen's standard, moored at White Harbor amongst a large number of other warships. He learns that the Freys have brought the bones of Ser Wendel Manderly — one of the Young Wolf's bodyguard, slain at the Red Wedding — as a gesture of good faith, in addition to offers to wed Lord Wyman's granddaughters to various Freys. The port is also abuzz with rumors of a silver-haired princess with dragons that tried to book passage to Westeros. All in all, Davos realizes that his mission is almost certainly doomed to failure, but still feels honor-bound to try. He marches up to the castle gate and requests an audience with Lord Wyman.

Daenerys III

Daenerys, holding court, receives a visit from Xaro Xhoan Daxos (whose characterization in the novels is quite different from that of the show). He inquires politely about her safety, and proposes that Qarth is ready to resume trade with Meereen — in slaves. Privily, he tries to convince her that slavery is Necessarily Evil, and also gifts her with thirteen galleys, which she may use as an exit strategy: it has become clear that nobody wants to trade with Meereen for anything but human lives, and she may find use for an escape vector. Daenerys accepts the ships, though she has Ser Barristan and Admiral Groleo inspect them from top to bottom first. The only good news is that Daario Naharis has succeeded in negotiating an alliance with the Lhazareen. The Dothraki call them the "lamb men" for their meekness, but Dany prefers a sheepish friend to none at all.

The next day, the Astapori envoy is aflutter: King Cleon is besieged by Yunkai, who are supported by a number of sellsword companies. Daenerys refuses, and the envoy spits on her, which arouses a strongly protective reaction from her entire court. She then assembles her council to hear from Adm. Groleo. He reports that the ships are sound, but are not large enough to carry everyone who wants to go with Daenerys. To be sure, the Dothraki don't want to take ship, but the overland passage would be via "the demon road," which The Shavepate claims would be suicide. Daenerys realizes she cannot leave, and thus decides not to.

When Xaro Xhoan Daxos hears this, his only response is to send a bloodstained glove: a formal declaration of war.

Jon IV

Lord Commander Snow learns that the Wall does not currently have enough stores to feed everyone — the Watch, the wildlings, the Baratheons — through the winter. Jon orders rationing, despite the unquestionable decline this will cause in his approval rating. He then goes to join Stannis at council, who is accompanied by Melisandre and, of all people, Rattleshirt. Rattleshirt taunts Jon, brandishing a bracelet with a shining red ruby, but Melisandre swears he is bound to her "blood and soul" so long as he wears it, and that she has ordered Rattleshirt to serve Jon. Jon is skeptical but keeps his silence.

Stannis then asks Jon for more help on northern politics; Jon tries to walk the line of giving him useful intel whilst still maintaining his Night's-Watch policy of remaining neutral. Stannis is planning an op to take the Dreadfort, which is currently commanded by the Bastard of Bolton, while Roose Bolton is occupied at Moat Cailin. Jon sees the folly of that plan immediately: Stannis will have to cross Umber lands, and Mors Umber will take him unawares. The solution there is that Mors has offered fealty, and Jon urges Stannis to take it even if Stannis prefer's Hother Umber's word; but Ramsay will still have sentries positioned at the edge of his fief, and crows and signal fires outpace an army any day. And, finally, they will still have to take the Dreadfort before Moat Cailin falls, which it will quickly as Roose Bolton is attacking it from its weak side. Stannis's cronies call Jon a coward, but Stannis dismisses them all, leaving himself only Melisandre and Jon to form an inner council.

Stannis once again asks if Jon will accept legitimacy; Jon once again declines. Stannis insists on the attack, as he must do something to show the North he is still in the game; but he does not have the men, and he cannot take the wildlings without turning the North against him unanimously. So, instead, Jon asks for the wildlings — in exchange for informing Stannis of the petty lords of the mountains, who have not seen a king in generations, who are practically drooling for one to serve. This also lets Stannis emerge near Deepwood Motte: if he can overthrow the ironborn there, he shows the North that he has their best interests in mind. Stannis likes the plan. Jon is a little less satisfied, as Melisandre, acknowledging Jon's warnings that her religion will not be well-received by these mountain lords, decides to stay at the Wall; plus, he suddenly has a thousand more mouths to feed, when he already can't fill the ones that already serve him.

Tyrion V

The Shy Maid is beset with fog just as it enters the Sorrows, a region of the Rhoyne inhabited by "stone men" afflicted with greyscale. Griff is concerned at the safety of the passage, and orders Young Griff below. The kid complains about being sent to safety when the dwarf gets to stay on deck, but Tyrion points out that the kid is "everything": "Lose you and this whole enterprise is undone". Young Griff is confused, realizing Tyrion knows his identity, and Tyrion reveals that he does: the blue hair draws attention from his purple eyes, but no random swordsman's get needs a defrocked septa and an unlicensed maester and a private sword tutor, giving him a comprehensive but completely private education. Young Griff, Tyrion announces, is no random kid: he's Aegon Targaryen — Rhaegar's son, the Mad King's grandson, Dany's nephew — smuggled away somehow from King's Landing by Varys or his agents. He reveals this by admitting his own identity as Tyrion Lannister, who slew both his mother Joanna and his father Tywin, if at slightly different times in his life. And as for Griff? "Who better to raise Prince Rhaegar's infant son than Prince Rhaegar's dear friend Jon Connington, once Lord of Griffin's Roost and Hand of the King?"

And that's how we've already met the griffin and the mummer's dragon. But they may not be who anyone was expecting.

But all of this is tossed aside as stone men attack the ship. Most of the full-size men of Ser Jon Connington's party are armed with torches, the best way to dissuade the stone men, but Tyrion is not, and he's the closest to the stone man who sneaks by them. He tackles the fellow, successfully tossing him overboard, but being pulled over himself.

Davos III

Davos has been held in a large, well-furnished stateroom for 18 days, but finally he is brought before Lord Wyman Manderly to plead King Stannis's case.

The first thing he sees is Freys, the ones who brought Wendel's remains. They've also been filling Lord Wyman's head with lies: the Red Wedding was not a breach of Sacred Hospitality because Robb Stark transformed into a wolf, which is completely normal; and so did all his followers, because "wargs birth other wargs with a bite, it is well-known," and apparently the Young Wolf made it a habit of nibbling on his vassals, which is also completely normal. Thus died Wendel and a number of Freys. The slander goes on, and while Lord Wyman doesn't appear to believe it, he doesn't stop it either.

One of Lord Wyman's granddaughters, named Wylla, vocally expresses her support for Davos and Stannis. She's the only one.

With the votes tallied, Lord Wyman orders that the Onion Knight be executed and has Davos dragged off to prison. Hey, remember how in "Cersei V" of last book she received word that Davos's head now decorated the walls of the New Castle of White Harbor?...

Reek II

Reek rides south from Ramsay's camp into Moat Cailin, trying not to remember the last time he, a completely different man, rode this exact same path alongside Robb Stark. He is here to offer Ramsay's terms of surrender to the Ironborn. When challenged by a sentry, he lies that he is Theon Greyjoy. Inside, "Theon" takes command and explains that Ramsay will allow the ironborn to surrender and grant them safe passage home. One of the men insists that they follow Victarion's orders and hold to the bitter end, but that already hasn't been working; the crannogmen have been attacking with Damage Over Time poisons, and attrition is taking its toll. Besides, "Theon" points out, Euron is king now, not Victarion, and Victarion is never coming back for these poor sods. (Besides, someone throws an axe at the ironborn fellow to shut him up.) The remaining fifty-eight ironborn surrender, and "Theon Greyjoy" leads them north out of the moat.

Ramsay kisses Reek and offers him a reward for his leal service: either good strong wine, or the chance to head to the Iron Islands with the others. Reek, who senses the trap, chooses the strong wine. So he gets drunk overnight, awakening the next morning to see the fifty-eight ironborn impaled on stakes along the road.

Three days later, Roose Bolton arrives from the south, alongside Hosteen and Aenys Frey, whom a kid named Theon once served alongside. They are the lucky ones; four of five who went south with Robb Stark never returned, at least not alive.

Roose Bolton introduces two women: one is Walda Frey, his wife, called "Fat Walda."^note The story, which Lord Bolton told Jaime and Brienne back in the third book, was that the Late Lord Walder offered Roose his bride's weight in gold as a dowry. Roose chose accordingly. The other is "Arya Stark"... Whom Reek instantly recognizes: it's Sansa's best friend who hasn't been seen since the first book, the daughter of Ned's steward. It's Jeyne Poole.

Jon V

Now that (with the exception of the Red Woman) Stannis's entire force has decamped, Castle Black is quiet, with the exception of the training yard. Against the wishes of Bowen Marsh, Jon goes with a caravan that is bringing food to some wildlings that have taken refuge at Mole's Town. He sees faces carved into the trees and realizes that, though these wildlings may have become Holy R'hllors when they bent the knee to Stannis, they still keep the old ways. The wildlings in question are unimpressed by the food — it is, Jon admits, paltry — and complain that the crows on the Wall eat better. Jon responds by pointing out that the crows on the Wall are protecting everyone's asses from the Others. He also drops broad hints that, should any of the wildlings be willing to ally with the Watch — not necessarily to swear vows, but at least to take orders and fight shoulder-to-shoulder — they too could eat as well. When the caravan heads north again, 63 new recruits follow it.

Tyrion VI

After Tyrion tackled the last stone man overboard, Jon Connington himself dove in after him, and Aegon forbade them from tossing Tyrion back again when it became clear how close to death the Imp was. Since then they've been dousing him in vinegar, the only thing they can do to keep the greyscale off him; but now Tyrion's finally awake, and he can take on some of the maintenance. Haldon makes him test himself for infection by poking the tips of his fingers and toes; Tyrion passes, but Haldon says he'll have to keep checking for the rest of his life. He explains that they have reached Selhorys; most of the crew is ashore, but Young Griff is being kept close, as Dothraki are nearby and the river filled with Volantene warships. To distract the boy, Tyrion offers a game of cyvasse.

As they play, the two probe for information. Aegon asks Tyrion about his father, but Tyrion has little he can say; he only met Rhaegar a couple of times before he died, and was only ten that day to boot. Meanwhile, Aegon explains his own provenance: the child in his mother's arms, the one who met a wall head-first via the tender ministrations of Ser Gregor Clegane, was a baseborn babe Varys purchased. Aegon, meanwhile, was smuggled out after the Sack; Varys took him to Illyrio Mopatis, who began to arrange for the boy's future. Tyrion jokes that this will make for a good story for Westerosi singers to dramatize, assuming Daenerys consents to take Aegon as her consort at all.

This is where the holes in Aegon's education, thorough though it has been, start to show: it clearly has not occurred to him that Aunt Dany might refuse him. Tyrion points out that she is a proud, canny, successful ruler — "Aegon The Conqueror with teats" — and may not take kindly to the arrival of someone who expects the Heir Club for Men (Aegon's claim does supersede hers) to trump her, you know, actual accomplishments. When Aegon blithely claims that Lord Connington will solve these problems, Tyrion gives him some advice:

"Trust no one, my prince. Not your chainless maester, not your false father, not the gallant Duck or the lovely Lemore nor these other fine friends who grew you up from a bean. Above all, trust not the cheesemonger, nor the Spider, nor this little dragon queen you mean to marry. All this mistrust will sour your stomach and keep you awake at night, ’tis true, but better that than the long sleep that does not end."
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.281 (hardcover)

Tyrion also suggests Aegon do what Daenerys finally figured out to do in Season 7 of the show (and, presumably, will do in A Dream of Spring, the final book in the series): get his ass to Westeros and take advantage of the War of Five Kings. (Tyrion does recommend Dorne instead of Dragonstone.) The realm is in chaos, the riverlands (one of the realm's two major agricultural centers, the other being the Reach) is naught but ashes, Stannis has a 0% Approval Rating (remember, even Stannis doesn't want Stannis to be king; he's doing it Because Destiny Says So, or rather Melisandre Says Destiny Says So), King Tommen is a weak boy, and every potential regent of Tommen's has problems of their own: Jaime will avoid it; Kevan won't take it and won't get it offered to him until it's too late; Mace Tyrell can't take it without having to win another war, this time against the Lannisters; and Cersei, Tyrion predicts, will allow her paranoia and impatience to undo everything Tywin Lannister ever accomplished. (If you read Feast, you know how right he is.) True, Aegon won't have Aunt Dany's dragons, but all he has to do is win a few victories and let his name be spread. Not only will this give Westeros a new side to root for in the game of thrones, it will force Daenerys to approach him as an equal — if that; Tyrion is certain that, if Daenerys hears her nephew is fighting bravely for his birthright, she will drop everything to help him; for, in Tyrion's analysis, she is, above all else, "a rescuer."

Finally, to underline the whole Properly Paranoid thing, Tyrion wins the game by taking advantage of bad advice he deliberately gave Aegon. The prince does a classic Flipping the Table and makes Tyrion clean up the mess. The burst of violence makes Tyrion think that the mummer's dragon might be a Targaryen after all.^note Or is he? Obviously, Aegon might be a Targaryen whose provenance was secured by Varys — a Targaryen belonging to the Master of Disguise, a mummer's dragon. But throughout the series, a "mummer's [noun]" is consistently used to describe something that is counterfeit and worthless. And there's a reason Young Griff's most popular Fan Nickname, "fAegon," is a portmanteau of "Fake" and "Aegon".

Connington and the others return with the intel that Volantis may join the war against Meereen; Haldon and Tyrion are dispatched to learn more. Afterwards, Tyrion begs leave to find a brothel, where he gets laid and — more importantly — falling-down drunk. He attracts the attention of a Westerosi knight with a bear on his surcoat, and that knight takes him prisoner, with the intention to deliver him "to the queen."

Daenerys IV

Galazza Galare, the Green Grace (high priestess of the Ghiscari temple in Meereen), continues to urge Daenerys into Altar Diplomacy. She suggests Hizdahr zo Loraq as a suitor, and the fellow obligingly comes to visit when called. The chemistry is palpably absent, but Hizdahr does claim he can bring the Sons of the Harpy to heel. Daenerys tasks him with keeping them pacified for ninety days; if he does, she will consider his suit.

Ser Barristan, of course, does not like the idea, and once again encourages Dany to make for Westeros; but that's not why he came: he came to inform her that Daario Naharis has arrived. Daenerys, Overcome with Desire, sends for him at once. He brings much news of the state of the world, particularly the fact that Astapor has fallen into complete chaos: King Cleon was killed by a rival who named himself Cleon the Second, who in turn was murdered, and then that guy's murderer, "King Cutthroat," began a Civil War with his own concubine, "Queen Whore". It's all a mess. Meanwhile, Daario makes a crude pass at Dany, claiming he could do in nine days what she gave Hizdahr ninety to accomplish; but the methods he describes are barbaric and extreme. She gives Selmy orders that the Stormcrows are to be sent out again immediately to guard the Khyzai Pass. She regrets the decision immediately.

The Lost Lord

The Shy Maid is docked at Volon Therys, and Lord Jon Connington takes his ward to meet the Golden Company.

Visiting camp is like returning home for Jon; he joined the Company after his own defeat at the Stoney Sept during the Battle of the Bells (see "Arya V", Book 3, for details) and served in it for years. Connington was later dismissed on charges of embezzlement; this was not true, but Varys's plan required Connington to be kicked out in disgrace. Jon's friend, Simon Toyne, was Captain-General during Jon's tenure, but the command has since passed to "Homeless" Harry Strickland, an excellent negotiator but too cautious by half when it comes to battle, at least in Jon's opinion. Jon spends a few moments in bitter regret that he could not be there for his best friend, Rhaegar Targaryen; his narration implies his feelings towards Rhaegar were more than merely friendly.

Lord Jon introduces Prince Aegon, the Sixth of his Name, to the assembled leadership, and the Golden Company begin to debate what to do. They've all been playing Xanatos Speed Chess, adapting to Viserys's death, Illyrio's and Varys's changing plans surrounding that death, Daenerys's inexplicable decision to turn to Meereen, Daenerys's even-more inexplicable decision to stay in Meereen instead of march out to somewhere the Golden Company could actually reach her. Now there's no way for them to sail to her, and the overland route involves "the demon road," which all agree would be suicide. They can't do what they've been hired to, and frankly are fed up with trying.

Then Aegon speaks up — or, rather, Tyrion through Aegon. The plan the kid proposes is exactly what the Imp suggested. Only Strickland objects, but even he can tell where the wind is blowing, and soon Prince Aegon Targaryen has his first army. The captains take him on a tour of the camp, while Connington retires to his tent, impressed by the kid's gumption: it's not a prudent course, but Connington is tired of caution. Nor, frankly, does he have time for it:

The nail on his middle finger had turned as black as jet, he saw, and the grey had crept up almost to the first knuckle. The tip of his ring finger had begun to darken too, and when he touched it with the point of his dagger, he felt nothing.
Death, he knew, but slow. I still have time. A year. Two years. Five. Some stone men live for ten. Time enough to cross the sea, to see Griffin’s Roost again. To end the Usurper’s line for good and all, and put Rhaegar’s son upon the Iron Throne.
Then Lord Jon Connington could die content.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.319 (hardcover)

The Windblown

Quentyn is now going by the name "Frog," Gerris by "Drink" and Archibald "Greenguts," the better to hide their true identities from the other Windblown.

The Windblown, along with Yunkai's standing forces and additional sellsword companies, besieged Astapor. Given the slight case of Disaster Dominoes Daario Naharis described to Daenerys a couple chapters ago, it's perhaps not surprising that Astapor has fallen; they fielded their (equivalents of the) Unsullied, but they are poor facsimilies of the Super Soldiers who can stand against Dothraki screamers — they must be, as the Windblown were able to defeat them. The Windblown are now to return to Yunkai for resupply before marching on Meereen, with additional orders to drive Astapori survivors away from Yunkai itself: it's believed that many of them carry the bloody flux (known today as dysentery), and Yunkai does not want that disease within its walls.

Quentyn's team plan to abandon the Windblown and make their way to Daenerys, but are unsure how to make that play. As it happens, luck is on their side: as they march, they are called into a meeting by the Tattered Prince, the leader of the Windblown, alongside twenty or so other Westerosi exiles. The Tattered Prince has decided to play both sides. This group of Windblown are ordered to go find Daenerys and offer her the company's services; their status as her countrymen should increase her sympathy. Quentyn is dismayed they can no longer make plans in a language no one around them speaks, but Gerris is simply pleased at this stroke of fortune.

The Wayward Bride

We learn the reason Asha Greyjoy only narrated one chapter of A Feast For Crows: the rest of them are here. She fled to Deepwood Motte after losing the kingsmoot, so, at a rough estimate, we are about halfway through that book as well. Over in Braavos, a girl has begun training to be a Faceless Man; in the Vale, Alayne Stone's natural father Petyr Baelish is hosting the Lords Declarant; somewhere in Dorne, Princess Myrcella has recently lost an ear; and King Tommen has begun trying to pass legislation that will outlaw beets — to great acclaim from his constituency: his queen, Margaery Tyrell; and his three kittens, Ser Pounce, Lady Whiskers, and Boots.

Asha receives a form letter from Ramsay Bolton indicating that Moat Cailin has fallen and he (Ramsay) is to marry Arya Stark; it also includes a bit of leather which Ramsay claims is "a piece of prince." Asha now knows that Theon is still alive — though she thinks captivity by the Bastard of Bolton a Fate Worse than Death. She has learned that Euron married her in absentia to Erik Anvilbreaker (hence the chapter title), so she cannot return home any time soon. She expects the Boltons to come for her soon. Of the thirty longships (and crews) that came with her, all but four have abandoned her, and she realizes her remaining men have given up hope of anything but a glorious Last Stand. So, for that matter, has Asha herself.

Asha retreats to Lord Glover's chambers; Qarl the Maid follows her. He presses his sexual interest on her; she resists; he won't take No for an answer... But it's not Rape as Drama, it's kinky roleplay, and the two fall into bed willingly. They have been lovers for nigh on five years now (which would explain Qarl's epithet), but cannot marry as he is too baseborn.

In the night, an alarum is raised, and the ironborn catch five men. A single survivor claims that they were trying to rescue Lady Sybelle Glover (who has been held captive here since the original ironborn incursion in the second book)... but Asha's application of Torture for Fun and Information reveals that they were sent to open the gates ahead of an attack.

Asha immediately pulls her people out of the motte and falls back to the longships. Of course, it's the middle of the night, hampering any sort of silent escape; she bunkers them down and waits until morning. Alas, by then they've caught up with her. She and Qarl are fighting as Back-to-Back Badasses but she eventually loses track of him and is cornered by a giant northman, who hits her with a blow her helmet only barely manages to soften. Just as he raises his axe to bury it in her face, a trumpet blows, and she sees banners of a burning heart and a stag with fiery antlers.

Tyrion VII

The knight takes Tyrion to Volantis, where he sells his horse and uses some of the proceeds to have iron manacles made for his prisoner; he tells Tyrion this will mark him as a slave, and that no one will listen to him now. The knight then takes a room at an inn for the evening. Tyrion has put together the bear on the surcoat and the man's familiarity with human trafficking and figured out his captor's name: Ser Jorah Mormont of Bear Island. Tyrion knows that he is one of Varys's spies, and points out that he too is in league with the spider and the cheesemonger, so they ought to be allies and Tyrion need not be chained, hint hint; but Jorah claims he has different priorities now. Tyrion then asks why Jorah doesn't just lop off his head, since all Cersei wants of him is his head; but Jorah claims he has different priorities now.

Down at breakfast the next morning, Tyrion sees another dwarf who seems to recognize him, but has no idea who he (the other dwarf) is. They overhear rumors that the Golden Company has a new captain who has hired them to win back his lands, and Tyrion is astonished that Aegon took the bait.

At the waterfront, Jorah heads to the docks to talk to an old woman who helps run them, a businesswoman and former bedslave. Jorah asks her how he can most easily get t Meereen, and Tyrion realizes the queen he serves is (still) Daenerys. However, while they are negotiating, Tyrion is attacked by the dwarf from earlier. As Tyrion scrambles and Jorah (effortlessly) ends the fight, Tyrion realizes the dwarf is a girl. She identifies herself as Penny and claims Tyrion is the reason her brother is dead. Tyrion, with a start, recognizes her: she's one of the two dwarfs from Joffrey's wedding, who did the slapstick joust to make fun of Tyrion. The other performer, she explains, was her brother — who is now shorter by a head because of the bounty hunters Cersei sent after Tyrion; Penny herself only escaped because said bounty hunters noticed she had too many tits to be a man.

In the end, the old lady refers Jorah and Tyrion to the Selaesori Qhoran, a trading cog bound for Qarth. She has reason to believe this is a good idea: the local lead red priest (red bishop?) is sending a red priest to Daenerys, a fellow named Moqorro, and he too has booked passage on this vessel, so at least the two Westerosi will have an escort the locals respect. She gives Tyrion a message for Daenerys from the slaves of old Volantis: "Tell her we are waiting. Tell her to come soon."

Jon VI

Jon has sent out three trios of rangers beyond the Wall, as he's been getting urgent messages from all (four) other castles saying that there's wildling movement out there. It's the first ranging of any sort that has been attempted since the one led by the Old Bear. One of those nine is Ser Alliser Thorne, who is convinced Jon is sending him out to die, and promises that, as a wight, he will come for Jon. Jon would much rather him return alive.

Since all the castles are begging for more men, and sent Strongly Worded Letters when he sent wildlings as reinforcements, Jon visits the yard and asks Iron Emmet, the current master-at-arms, to fight the three strongest recruits. They don't win, but they handle themselves well. Then Rattleshirt arrives and suggests they duel man-to-man. Jon is surprised by the man's speed and stamina, and loses, but remembers old wisdom from Ser Rodrik Cassel about how it's preferable to lose to the man who's stronger and faster in practice instead of battle, and congratulates Rattleshirt on his prowess.

A raven has arrived with a message from Ramsay Bolton: the same form letter Asha received in her chapter. When asked how old his sister is, Jon replies that he has no sister, just brothers. This is all show, of course; Arya has always been Jon's favorite (and vice versa), and he reminisces for a moment on having given her Needle.

He sees a woman on the ramparts: Ygritte?? No, it's just Melisandre. She claims to have seen Arya in her fires, and claims he will soon see a northern princess riding into Castle Black on a dying horse. She also says that three of the rangers will return dead and eyeless. When that day comes, Melisandre says, she will offer her hand; Jon, should he wish to save his sister, will need only take it.

Davos IV

Davos starts his final chapter in the book (no seriously) in a comfortable and well-appointed cell; he cannot truly complain, especially since he's condemned to death. That said, he is surprised when Robett Glover arrives to bring him to an audience, and even more surprised when the audience is with Lord Wyman Manderly. Davos can hear feasting and merriment from a nearby room; Manderly explains they are celebrating the return of his son Wylis, who has indeed been released. He offers Davos food and drink and apologizes for the imprisonment. It's all been an act: Wyman played along with the Freys to get his son back, even going so far as to execute the Onion Knight and mount his head and hands on the walls of New Castle — or, rather, those of a lookalike criminal. Davos has had his Death Faked For Him; and, as the party demonstrates, Lord Wyman's gambit was successful. Davos, though still not sure what he's in for, offers his sincere congratulations.

Wyman then takes a moment to vent his fury at the Freys, who are backstabbing, murdering shits. Davos promises that Stannis will help bring Wyman justice, but Wyman refuses, saying that the North already has a king. That confuses Davos, since — last anybody heard — the entire Stark family has come to ruin. Wyman explains that this isn't true.

He then brings out Wex, Theon's mute squire.

Lord Manderly is now a military power in the North; he has more heavy cavalry than any lord north of the Neck, and a powerful fleet at anchor in White Harbor. All this, he tells Davos, can be pledged to Stannis, but only if Davos completes a Fetch Quest first. Robett Glover explains that Wex escaped the carnage at Winterfell; he hid in the godswood, and thus witnessed the final chapter of the second book — when Bran, Rickon, Hodor, Jojen, Meera and Osha finally emerged from the crypts and began to make their escape. Wex isn't stupid, and when Bran et al announced their intention to head north beyond the Wall and find the three-eyed raven, he didn't follow; he instead tailed Osha and Rickon, and learned their destination. Davos is to retrieve six-year-old Rickon Stark, the King in the North.

Davos asks where they are, and when Wex uses a dagger to mark the spot, Davos suddenly begins to wonder if he can return to prison. "In the Den even prisoners ate porridge in the morning. But there were other places in this world where men were known to break their fast on human flesh."

Daenerys V

Dany's new habit is to count the enemy ships in the harbor every morning. Today there are twenty-five. There is nothing she can do about it: Admiral Groleo has no fleet (his three ships were dismantled during Dany's campaign through Slaver's Bay) and the thirteen ships she got from Xaro are not available to her; she is constantly making use of her sellsword companies for various scouting and garrison duties; she has only the Unsullied, the Dothraki, the "Brazen Beasts" police force Skahaz formed (whose first priority are the Sons of the Harpy), and zero dragons: the Unsullied are scared to even feed Rhaegal and Viserion now, such is their savagery, and Drogon is so AFK he hasn't even appeared in this book yet.

It's been 26 days since Hizdahr promised to quiet the Sons of the Harpy, and 26 days without a murder. Dany has, of course, had him followed, but they gathered no viable intel on him. Skahaz the Shavepate is convinced that Hizdahr is not just a member of the Sons of the Harpy, but their ringleader, but he has no proof.

Dany receives word from the Temple of the Graces that a rider from Astapor has arrived, riding a pale mare, bearing news of the city's fall. He then died from what seemed to be an arrow wound but, Galazza Galare believes, was actually the bloody flux. Eight days later, Brown Ben Plumm arrives with more details about the city's destruction. The refugees are, almost unanimously, contemptuous that Dany, the rescuer, did not come to rescue them, but she knows she would merely have traded Astapor for Meereen had she done so. She also learned that many such refugees are coming to Meereen for shelter... and bringing dysentery with them. Ben and Reznak urge her to bar them from entering the city; and even Dany, the rescuer, accepts she must Shoot the Dog this way, instructing the Astapori to make camp outside Meereen's walls. She also sends the Second Sons back out there in the hopes of making more allies; when Brown Ben suggests he equip her with gold and other forms of wealth in pursuit of this endeavor, she agrees without thought.

Reznak mo Reznak urges her to send for Hizdahr, but Dany remembers that Quaithe reminded her of both the pale mare and the perfumed seneschal. Nonetheless, when Dany asks Ser Barristan for advice, it comes down to the fact that Dany's hold on Meereen is not secure. And to fix that, she needs Hizdahr zo Loraq.

Melisandre

The red woman once told Jon that it is possible for her to misinterpret what she sees in her fires. "Many a priest and priestess before her had been brought down by false visions, by seeing what they wished to see instead of what the Lord of Light had sent." She sees towers by the sea crumbling under a dark tide, skulls rising out of the ocean turning to mist, great winged beasts in the sky. She sees death around Jon and dangers and enemies surrounding him. She looks for the girl on the fleeing horse again as she knows Jon will want to know more, but cannot find anything. She is annoyed that she can't find Stannis either: "I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R’hllor shows me only Snow."

She calls for Devan Seaworth, whom she has kept at her side because she doesn't want Davos to lose any more sons. She asks him to bring her Rattleshirt. When he arrives, he is not wearing his namesake bone armor, complaining the clacking was driving him mad. Melisandre rebukes him, reminding him that the glamor is woven into those bones, and that if anyone sees through it, they will kill Whoever-it-actually-is. Whoever-it-actually-is is unconcerned. She tries to convince him to go rescue Arya Stark, to gain Jon's trust, but Whoever-it-actually-is remains skeptical.

A blown horn announces the rangers' return. Melisandre goes down to the gate, where Lord Commander Snow and others are puzzling over the heads of three rangers, planted on spears stuck into the ground. Jon asks for her advice (to her satisfaction), and they repair to her chambers to speak privily. There, Jon is furious to find "Rattleshirt," but Melisandre calms him by removing the glamor and revealing his true identity: Mance Rayder. (She burned the real Rattleshirt in his place.) She tells Jon that Mance owes him a life debt, and plans to resolve it by rescuing Arya.

Reek III

At Barrowton, Ramsay is throwing a feast when Roose Bolton walks in. He and Ramsay (and Reek, who is chained to the wall) discuss recent events: Wyman Manderly has ridden from White Harbor, but the Freys who were with him grew impatient with his slower pace, and rode on ahead; since then they have disappeared. Roose criticizes his son for his lack of self-control, drawing attention to himself with his games. The Boltons have powerful allies in the Freys and the Lannisters, but their position as Great House of the North is threatened by simple expedient of the fact that every Northern house hates their guts (with the sole exception of House Dustin, which doesn't help because Ramsay hates Barbrey Dustin). When Ramsay discusses his role in the Sack of Winterfell, Roose chides him for even speaking of it in public: if word ever got out, the North would turn on Ramsay in an instant. Finally, Roose mentions that Stannis has marched from the Wall, but did not head to the trap at the Dreadfort that the Karstarks baited. They don't know where Stannis actually is, but it's of no matter: Ramsay's wedding to "Arya Stark" will take place at Winterfell, not Barrowton, and when Stannis hears and tries to besiege that castle, Arnold Karstark will take them in the rear.

Roose takes Reek away to Lady Dustin. He tries to get him to bathe first, but Reek is terrified of the idea. Roose promises Theon that he bears him no ill will; Theon's impetuous and disastrous occupation of Winterfell set the stage for House Bolton's ascension, after all. Lady Barbrey mistakes Reek for an old man, but Roose introduces him as Theon Turncloak, Theon Greyjoy, heir to the Iron Islands.

Reek could hear no more. “Please, m’lord, m’lady, there’s been some mistake.” He fell to his knees, trembling like a leaf in a winter storm, tears streaming down his ravaged cheeks. “I’m not him, I’m not the turncloak, he died at Winterfell. My name is Reek.” He had to remember his name. “It rhymes with freak.”
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.433 (hardcover)

Tyrion VIII

After seven days, Penny the dwarf finally emerges from her cabin on the Selaesori Qhoran. Tyrion is on deck watching the red priest Moqorro light his fires and pray for the dawn. Tyrion asks Moqorro what he sees in the fires, and Moqorro replies that he sees dragons, both true and false, all surrounding Tyrion himself. Tyrion is largely critical of the entire ship, making fun of everything — even its name: A Qhoran is a magister, perhaps a Hand of the King — a Number Two, in short — while selaesori is an adjective for something imbued with a pleasant aroma. While Tyrion accepts the validity of Fragrant Magister as a translation, he prefers the alliteration of "Stinky Steward."

Tyrion slowly tries to befriend Penny. That's not her real name — she and her brother picked the stage names "Penny" and "Groat," the smallest of the coins, which doesn't sit right with Tyrion — but she won't tell him her real one. He starts by apologizing for what happened to her brother Oppo; the two dwarf performers are victims of the whole thing, and Tyrion cannot help but empathize. That said, since Penny and Groat were told they were being hired to cause friction between Joffrey and Tyrion, all the better to frame Tyrion for Joffrey's murder, Penny still holds Tyrion responsible, which Tyrion is a little less willing to accept. After a time, though, she accepts the truth of his words, and Tyrion's wit begins to make her laugh some more and act like the young woman she is. (Tyrion is about 30, Penny 20.)

That night, Tyrion cannot sleep. It transpires that the Qhoran is passing near Old Valyria, or as near to the Smoking Sea as she will pass on this journey. (Here we finally get an explanation that the Doom of Valyria was that every hill and mountain in the whole realm turned into a volcano at once. Why this happened, no one knows.) Moqorro has commanded the captain to take the most direct route, cutting much closer to Valyria than anyone would like, as he means to outrace all the others who also seek Daenerys.

"Have you seen these others in your fires?" [Tyrion] asked, warily.
"Only their shadows," Moqorro said. "One most of all. A tall and twisted thing with one black eye and ten long arms, sailing on a sea of blood.”
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.447 (hardcover)

Bran III

Bran, not to be outdone by the Onion Knight, starts his last chapter of the book (no, seriously) by observing that he's been here for months. They tell him that the last greenseer was once a lord called "Brynden."^note There have been a lot of cryptic clues about this guy: he was once a crow all in black, he has a thousand eyes and one, and his name is Brynden. Put all that together and you finally get his full identity: Ser Brynden Rivers, the Bloodraven. Born in 175 AC, he was another of the so-called Great Bastards of Aegon IV. He remained a Targaryen loyalist during the Blackfyre Rebellions, during which he lost an eye, which he refused to cover up with an eyepatch. He served as Hand of the King to both Aerys I and Maekar I, gaining a reputation as an excellent spymaster; the most popular song about him is entitled "A Thousand Eyes, and One." Following Maekar's death, he called for the Great Council in King's Landing that resulted in Aegon V, called "the Unlikely," getting the throne. However, the Bloodraven also used this as a trap: Aenys Blackfyre, one of Daemon's sons, wanted to engage in the Great Council peacefully and advocate for House Blackfyre. Lord Brynden admitted him, and then had him seized and executed as a traitor — without trial — to set an example to the other Blackfyres. As such, Egg's first official act upon coronation was to order his uncle imprisoned for murder and violating Sacred Hospitality. Bloodraven's defense was, "I Did What I Had to Do for the good of the realm." Egg offered him the chance to take the black, and he did, actually joining the convoy that escorted Egg's older brother Maester Aemon to the Wall so that he could take the black. At the Wall, Brynden Rivers added yet another title to his long resume: Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, to which he was elected in 239 AC. However, he disappeared on a ranging in 252, and presumably, transitioned from there to his final position: three-eyed crow.

After two months of teaching Bran to warg into crows, Brynden added a new element to the lessons. He had the children of the forest feed Bran a paste of weirwood seeds, and from there taught Bran to skinchange into the trees as well. Bran has become a "greenseer," able to see anything any of the trees has ever seen. Bran will sometimes try to communicate with people he's seeing through the trees, via the trees, which allows him to remain present in the remainder of the story to very limited extents. In the meanwhile, he's digging through the weirwoods of Westeros; and since some of them are truly ancient, they've seen a lot. Just the heart tree in Winterfell has observed the following:

• A young Ned Stark praying with a bowed head, "…let them^note Robb and Jon grow up close as brothers, with only love between them, and let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive."
• A girl and a younger boy^note Believed to by Lyanna and Benjen Stark play fighting with branches.
• A pregnant woman coming out of the black pool praying for a son to avenge her.
• A slender girl on her toes kissing a knight as tall as Hodor^note Believed to be "Dunk," as Lord Commander Duncan the Tall was known in his youth. The fourth Tale of Dunk and Egg prequel novella has yet to be published, but its title will be The She-Wolves of Winterfell.
• A pale, dark-eyed youth cutting three branches from the weirwood and shaping them into arrows;
• Other lords of Winterfell: tall, hard, stern men in fur and chain mail;
• A bearded man forcing a captive down on his knees, and a white-haired woman killing the captive with a bronze sickle.

Jon VII

Author George R. R. Martin is on record as saying that a big reason for the Schedule Slip of A Dance with Dragons was the logistical difficulties in getting all his characters where they needed to be. As a result, some of them have just been spinning their wheels this book. Today it's Jon's turn: Taking advantage of a short lapse in a snowstorm, he leads six new recruits beyond the Wall to swear their vows at a heart tree, much as he and Sam did. Two of them are former wildlings, so when the crows encounter a small clutch of wildling refugees, they are able to conduct diplomacy and convince the wildlings to shelter with them instead.

Jon is garrisonning more castles. All the wildling women are going to be at one castle — the men of the Watch dislike their presence, and three crows have already had to be locked in the ice cells — with Iron Emmett, Castle Black's current master-at-arms, to lead that garrison, and Dolorous Edd his chief steward.

Jon receives a letter from Stannis, informing him that the Baratheons have taken Deepwood Motte, and about Arya's pending wedding to Ramsay. Stannis, true to prediction, decides he will intercede if he can. Jon wonders how Mance, who already left on a rescue mission in the company of six spearwives, is faring.

Daenerys VI

Dany steps out to see the camp of the Astapori refugees, many of whom are sick and some of whom have already died. As the blood of the dragon, she believes herself immune to disease — she cannot remember ever experiencing an illness — but her attendants are not so lucky, and while she manages to shame them into helping feed the hungry, tend to the sick and burn the dead, many ask leave to purify themselves afterwards.

Back inside the city, Daenerys is beset by Galazza Galare and Reznak mo Reznak, who badger her about wedding preparations. She is infuriated to learn that Ghiscari custom requires her to wash his feet during the ceremony, and prior to it submit to a naked examination of her womanly parts by his female relatives. If she does not, she is warned, the wedding will not be perceived as legitimate. Reznak also makes another plea to reopen the fighting pits, but Daenerys retorts that this can be King-Consort Hizdahr's first official act; for herself, she will have no part of it.

Fortunately, when Hizdahr hears about the various Ghiscari indignities, he dismisses them as "foolish old traditions." He has learned that Yunkai is willing to cease hostilities, but to do so they demand an indemnity in gold and her permission to resume slaving. Before she can think of a reply, Ser Barristan tells her that the Stormcrows have arrived. Dany makes her excuses with Hizdahr and sends for Daario.

Daario is injured, though he claims most of the blood is from an enemy. He tells her that he has picked up a few refugees from the Windblown (IE Quentyn et al, though nobody knows their identities or purpose at this time), but that Brown Ben Plumm took his Second Sons over to the Yunkai'i — and all that gold with him. Dany wonders if this is the second betrayal she must suffer or the third (she knows Jorah was the first). Fearing the consequences if he is merely the second, she orders Astapor's gates closed, no one in or out. She then takes Daario up to her chambers, sends her handmaidens home, and begins to tend to his wounds, thankful that Daario had not turned out to be the one who betrayed her for love.

"You boasted that you’d had a hundred women.”
“A hundred?” Daario chuckled through his purple beard. “I lied, sweet queen. It was a thousand. But never once a dragon.”
She raised her lips to his. “What are you waiting for?”
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.483 (hardcover)

The Prince of Winterfell

Jeyne Poole — or, rather, "Arya Stark" — is preparing for her wedding to Ramsay Bolton, primarily out of fear. Theon, who back in Book 2 styled himself "The Prince of Winterfell," reminds her to keep on her mask as Arya Stark the whole time, lest Ramsay notice, and punish her. Theon will be walking her down the aisle — they are basically the only two members left of Lord Eddard Stark's household as it existed on the first page of the first book — but in addition to that he feels a curious kinship with her: both of them forced to play roles to the satisfaction of the Bastard of Bolton. (Theon knows that, last he was aware, Bran and Rickon were alive, but of course he has no ability to reveal this without instantly endangering his own life.)

While Winterfell is gripped by a cold frost, not to mention the looming threat of Stannis's host, the wedding is a lively-enough affair. A bard, Abel, has arrived with six women to provide merriment, and Ramsay Bolton, legitimized son of Lord Roose, marries Arya Stark in the godswood. Theon is caught in reminiscence of a happier time, and thinks he hears the leaves of the godswood whisper the name "Theon." The wedding feast is also well-attended, with Lord Wyman Manderly having sprung for a banquet: he proudly unveils the food he's brought, and takes the largest slice of the meat pie for himself. Lady Barbrey Dustin points out to Theon how Roose Bolton is Manderly as an impromptu poison tester, not eating anything until Lord Too Fat To Sit A Horse has tasted it first.

The feast ends when a messenger informs Lord Bolton that Stannis's host has indeed left Deepwood Motte. He summons his councilors for strategy. Meanwhile, Ramsay decides to bed his new bride. He invites Theon to accompany him, and then makes him cut off "Arya"'s wedding gown with a knife. Arya is, of course, not Ready for Lovemaking, rather paralyzed with fear... So Reek calls Theon over and bids him prepare her with his tongue.

Meanwhile, back in the south...

The Watcher

Areo Hotah watches as Ser Balon Swann presents Prince Doran Martell with a huge skull, which he claims to be that of Gregor Clegane. In Arianne's final chapter of A Feast for Crows, the sixth-to-last chapter of the book, Prince Doran explained that Ser Balon had reached the border of Dorne and would inevitably arrive in Sunspear, despite the Dornish bannermen's valiant attempts to stall him; he apparently has done so, and this chapter marks the moment when A Dance with Dragons unambiguously outpaces Feast and ravels the Three Lines, Some Waiting back together. It should be pointed out that we're barely halfway through Dance.

Prince Doran is not the only one present, of course; Princess Arianne, Oberyn's widow Ellaria Sand, and the three main Sand Snakes — Nymeria, Obara and Tyene — are also here to witness this culmination. Prince Doran announces that, with Ser Gregor Clegane's death, justice has been served, and orders a toast to King Tommen. Hotah takes note of those who do not drink. (It's a fair few.)

As the welcome feast progresses, Hotah watches Princess Arianne try to flirt with Ser Balon Swann — with markedly less success than she did with poor Arys Oakheart. He notes that he himself (Hotah) would likewise find Swann a markedly more dangerous opponent than Ser Arys. Ser Balon says nothing, but he undoubtedly finds it odd that neither Arys nor Princess Myrcella is here to greet him; that said, he seems to be on-edge for reasons beyond even that, and Hotah does not know what they are. Ser Balon has also brought a letter from Queen Cersei, inviting Doran to King's Landing to take his seat on the small council, and for Trystane and Myrcella to come as well. Doran likes the idea, but suggests they ought to take ship instead, which Ser Balon protests with surprising emphasis.

After the feast, Prince Doran assembles Arianne and the various Sands (and Hotah) as his council. The Sand Snakes are not satisfied with Gregor Clegane's death in vengeance for long-dead Princess Elia; they now want someone's head for Oberyn as well. Here Ellaria puts her foot down, protesting the Cycle of Revenge, and makes a dramatic exit when her daughters will not heed her.

Arianne explains that Princess Myrcella has agreed to a cover-up: she will tell Ser Balon that Gerold "Darkstar" Dayne cut off her ear (which is true) and killed Ser Arys (which is... less true). The Sand Snakes protest that Myrcella will admit the truth at some point, and suggest simply murdering Ser Balon Swann as well. Here Oberyn too cuts them off, pointing out that they need to act with more subtlety, as he and Oberyn ever did when they worked together. He forces them to swear fealty to Doran on their father's grave (which they do, if grudgingly) before he cuts them in on the next secret: his spies at King's Landing have finally found out what Cersei sent Swann here to do all those chapters ago, the secret mission she embedded in this whole errand of justice. It's why Swann was so surprised at Doran's intent to travel by sea: He (Swann) has arranged an ambush along the kingsroad, where a bunch of thugs will burst out, shout "Halfman! Halfman!" a bunch of times to frame Tyrion Lannister, and then kill Trystane. Even the Sand Snakes are shocked at the audacity, but Doran wastes no time: he gives them orders.

• Myrcella will ask Ser Balon Swann to put an end to the Darkstar, and Obara is to be the knight's guide in this endeavor.
• Nym will accompany Myrcella, but not Trystane, back to King's Landing, and take the small-council seat.
• Tyene is to infiltrate the newly-reformed Faith Militant and give Dorne an ear on the new High Sparrow.
• Arianne is to be held in reserve: Doran has heard rumors of a massive fleet at Lys carrying elephants, which he believes is cover for Daenerys shipping her dragons here to Westeros. Arianne asks if her brother will be amongst that fleet; Doran must admit he has no idea. But whoever it is, Arianne will meet them.

Jon VIII

Jon sends Val beyond the Wall as an emissary to Tormund Giantsbane, who leads one of the two major remaining factions of wildlings, hoping to get some traction with him. (The other, the Weeping Man, is the source of the three eyeless heads from Melisandre's chapter.)

Jon retires to his chambers for dinner, but is almost instantly barged in on by much of the high command of the Watch: Septon Cellador, First Steward Bowen Marsh and First Builder Othell Yarwyck wish words. Basically, they don't like how Jon is running the Night's Watch. They don't like that he's keeping two corpses in the ice cells, fearful they will rise as wights, and are even more horrified when Jon admits he's waiting for that: as far as Jon is concerned, the Watch doesn't know enough about these undead zombies, and need to rectify that gap. Marsh is upset that Leathers, a wildling-turned-crow, will be taking over as Castle Black's master-at-arms, and Yarwyck that Satin, a former (male) prostitute, will be taking over for Edd as Jon's manservant; their comments easily imply various prejudices, and Jon angrily points out that both men empirically have the skills needed for the position even if their provenance is unconventional. Finally, he brings up Hardhome: a breakaway group of wildlings under the witch Mother Mole are headed there, hoping for salvation, and he (Jon) thinks the Watch should save them. Marsh is disdainful, thinking they should be left to their fate. Jon is furious that they are putting racism above the big picture:

“Are you so blind, or is it that you do not wish to see? What do you think will happen when all these enemies are dead?” ... “Let me tell you what will happen,” Jon said. “The dead will rise again, in their hundreds and their thousands. They will rise as wights, with black hands and pale blue eyes, and they will come for us.”
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pgs.522-523 (hardcover)

Tyrion IX

Aboard the Selaesori Qhoran, Tyrion, despite his protests to the contrary last chapter, is learning to take Oppo's place opposite Penny in the jousting-dwarf act. The ship has become becalmed, and attempts to tower her out with rowboats have been unsuccessful. The calm is broken by a deadly-looking storm. Moqorro had promised that, according to his fires, the Qhoran would not reach Qarth, but everyone had assumed that it would make for Meereen instead. No: the storm lashes the cog, smashing the main mast; Moqorro and others are swept overboard; the captain is killed; and Penny, in a panic, kisses Tyrion. He lets it happen though he does not return the sentiment, eventually lying that he must remain true to his wife.

Now the Qhoran is calmed again. For nineteen days she barely stays afloat, while supplies dwindle. Finally someone glimpses a sail on the horizon, and Tyrion is so excited he kisses Penny again. But even though Ser Jorah can't read the name on the ship's bow, he doesn't need to: he can tell, just from the smell, it's a slave ship.

The Turncloak

A winters snowstorm has engulfed Winterfell, which (the Boltons and Freys cheer) will undoubtedly cause some problems for Stannis, who is trapped out in this weather while they shelter in the warm walls. "Arya" is confined to quarters and spends most of her days crying. Abel the bard entertains the men by singing the bawdy "The Dornishman's Wife," only changing the lyrics to 'the Northman's wife.' Rowan, one of the women who came with him, praises Theon for his clever conquest of Winterfell and questions how he did it; Theon, fearing a trap by Ramsay, leaves the conversation.

Theon wanders the grounds and eventually arrives at the heart tree, where he prays for — what? Strength? A spine? He's not sure what will help him. He thinks he hears someone crying, and leaves; there are ghosts in Winterfell, he believes, and he himself is one of them.

Theon encounters Lady Barbrey Dustin. She wants to visit the crypts, and asks for help from the squires playing in the yard to dig it out. As she waits, she counsels Theon to try and get Ramsay to treat Arya better: the North loves the Starks, and Arya's tears will only weaken House Bolton's position.

Down in the crypts, Theon asks Lady Barbrey why she hates the Starks. It is, she says, the same reason as Theon: they both wanted to be one. Young Barbrey Ryswell had a different shot at it, of course: apparently she and Brandon Stark were lovers. (He even had her maidenhead.) But Lord Rickard preferred Altar Diplomacy with another Great House, specifically House Tully, than simply pleasing a vassal. So Brandon got promised to that Catelyn Tully. Lord Ryswell then aimed Barbrey at Eddard, but then Prince Rhaegar happened; Brandon got dead, Ned got Cat, and Barbrey had to settle for Lord Willam Dustin... And he got dead at the Tower of Joy! In revenge, Lady Barbrey reveals, she managed to detain Ned's bones (last seen in the second book) when they passed through the Neck, and instead of letting them come here to Winterfell, she plans to feed them to her dogs. She swears Theon to secrecy, and Theon, Shell-Shocked Veteran that he is, agrees.

The King's Prize

Asha Greyjoy rides in chains with Stannis Baratheon's baggage train as they make for Winterfell. As did her father before her, she made the decision to bend the knee now and rise again, stronger and harder, later. She hopes she does a better job of the second part than he did.

She is guarded by Lady Alysane Mormont, whom she internally nicknames "the She-Bear," and Ser Justin Massey, one of the queen's men. There was intense debate between these two parties when Stannis declared his intention to march; the southron knights wanted to winter at Deepwood Motte, but the northerners would not brook any delay in marching to save the daughter of their beloved Ned Stark's. Stannis estimates the 100-league march will take 15 days.

When 15 days have passed, they've only gone half that distance, and the snows are only getting worse, the southron knights begin to talk about making a burnt sacrifice to the Lord of Light. By the 32nd day, they are out of food and fights within the ranks are becoming commonplace. They find an abandoned village and seek to fish, but Asha sees that Stannis has become gaunt and hollow from the depredations of the march. They are now locked in the village by snow, unable to retreat, unable to progress.

Daenerys VII

Dany wakes up beside Daario, wishing they could run away together, but knowing Daario will never offer it; he loves the floppy ears, not the woman wearing them. Instead, he suggests she hold court, as some of his Westerosi defectors, particularly a guy named Frog, have something to present her.

At court, she is distinctly unimpressed with the three Dornishmen, "Greenguts," "Drink" and "Frog." However, they allude to being knights, and, with Ser Barristan's blessing, she grants them a private audience. Once the five are alone, Ser Archibald Yronwood and Ser Gerris Drinkwater give their real names, while Frog presents Dany with a scroll, recounting the secret marriage pact between Viserys Targaryen and Arianne Martell, signed by Ser Willem Darry and an Oberyn Martell. Dany mentions that if Viserys had known of this, he would've gone straight to Dorne the moment he was of age, and Frog explains that this is the reason for the secrecy; Viserys still needed an army first. He finally introduces himself: Prince Quentyn Martell, here to stand in Arianne's place, as Daenerys, he hopes, will stand in Viserys's.

Daenerys fails to hold back a giggle over the thought of this Frog turning into a prince, though she must admit she finds him "neither enchanted nor enchanting." (As her wild infatuation with Daario shows, Dany ascribes to the "All Girls Want Bad Boys" school of hormones, and Quentyn in no way qualifies as a bad boy.) Besides, she is promised to Hizdahr zo Loraq, and that is the whole of it. Afterwards Ser Barristan comments about the Dornish sigil — the crossed spears and rising sun and all that — and she recognizes Quentyn as the "sun's son" Quaithe warned her about.

After one last night of sex with Daario, Daenerys rises to be wed. Quentyn makes one last plea, but Daenerys turns him down politely, thanking him for his efforts and support, but pointing out that she needs peace here, now, in Meereen, before she can even think of getting back to Westeros, and Quentyn will not help her with that. As they travel across the city, she asks Ser Barristan about her parents' love lives. Barristan claims that, as a girl, Rhaella Targaryen was smitten with a young knight who named her his queen of love and beauty; afterwards, it is claimed, he became pious.^note It's Ser Bonifer Hasty, whom — Simultaneous Arcs being what they are — Jaime left to garrison Harrenhal not too many chapters ago. He leads a cadre of knights called the Holy Hundred. Meanwhile, Barristan blushes to admit, young Aerys had a thing for his Best Friend Tywin's blonde cousin Joanna. Apparently, when the two married, Aerys got drunker than necessary, and was more handsy than is appropriate, even during a bedding ceremony.^note Let us now discuss some of the "Secret Targaryen" theories we alluded to back when Dany visited the House of the Undying and heard Rhaegar say, "There must be one more... The dragon has three heads." Jon being a Secret Targaryen, and the second head, is basically canon; but who is the third? One of the most common such theories is that it's Tyrion. Throughout his childhood he has shown a strong interest in dragons; his hair is described as a motley mixture of both black and "so blond it seemed white;" he has mismatched eyes, a trait shared with only one other character in the franchise, who is also a Targaryen; his mother, the aforementioned Joanna, suffered a Death by Childbirth, which also happened to Daenerys and her nephew Jon Snow; it would add an extra layer to Tywin's dislike of Tyrion; and Tywin's own last words were, "You are no son of mine." The hole in this theory is that there has never been any indication that any Targaryen was actually interested in Joanna... until this very chapter. And yes, Tyrion isn't a dragon-rider in the TV show... But there are a lot of things that aren't in the series, such as Arianne and Quentyn Martell, Willas and Garlan Tyrell, Jeyne Poole, Lady Stoneheart, Griff and Young Griff, and the prince that was promised, who is alluded to repeatedly but never identified.

They arrive at the temple. There is a significant turnout, despite the fact that the bloody flux has started to make inroads on the city, and — in a reversal — Hizdahr washes her feet. Daenerys hopes this bodes well.

Jon IX

Queen Selyse has arrived with Princess Shireen, Patchface and a small court, on their way to the Nightfort, which Jon ceded to Stannis as payment for helping drive off the wildlings. Since then, it was discovered that the castle, the oldest and largest on the Wall, would take quite a long time to make habitable again, which is why the queen has not moved in until now. Jon details First Builder Othell Yarwyck to go with her.

She is accompanied by Tycho Nestoris, a representative of the Iron Bank of Braavos. He is here to reach Stannis. He explains that the Iron Throne has ceased all loan payments, which gets a Jaw Drop from Jon. The Iron Bank is the largest bank in the world, but are absolute Determinators about getting their interest payments. No matter what they have to do, they will — for instance, if the only way to get their money back from the King Tommen is to bankroll Stannis, who has the best shot right now of divorcing Cersei's shapely cheeks from the Iron Throne, then that's what they're gonna do, and Tycho Nestoris is here to do it.Jon is astounded at the imprudence of the Lannisters believing that Bullying a Dragon is a good idea.^note In "Cersei V," when Cersei first proposes doing this, Grand Maester Pycelle points out how unwise it is — not that this stops the Queen Regent. "Unless Stannis is lying dead beneath the walls of Winterfell, he may have just won the Iron Throne."

Of course, getting Mr. Nestoris to Stannis will be a little bit tricky. Jon offers guides, provisions, horses, etc... for a price: he wants Tycho's ships — just for the time Tycho himself does not need them; he'll get them back again — and then a loan so that the Night's Watch can feed itself through the winter. Jon knows he's signed the Night's Watch up for the exact same trouble Cersei is facing now, but he also knows that repayment will be a #firstworldproblem in the sense that the Night's Watch will have succeeded at still being alive, which is a good problem to have. In the meanwhile, the Night's Watch's fleet has just embiggened to eleven ships, which Jon means to use on an errand of mercy to Hardhome.

Jon is awoken by news that a northern princess has arrived on a dying horse. Jon goes to her, all excitement over seeing his sister again... But it's not Arya. It's also not Jeyne Poole. It takes Jon a moment to place her, as it's been a decade since they last saw each other: Alys Karstark, only daughter of the late Lord Rickard Karstark. She is fleeing her family: with her father dead and her brothers slain (by the Kingslayer at the Whispering Wood, way back in the first book) or captured, her uncle Arnolf (Rickard's younger brother) has betrothed her to his son Cregan, after which they plan to do away with her and keep Karhold for themselves. She confirms that Arnolf is the Double Agent Roose Bolton told Reek about, and explains that Stannis is not going to be able to help her: only Jon can.

The Blind Girl

In The House of Black and White at Braavos, a girl — the one formerly known as Arya Stark — is learning to use her other senses, not just sight. She reminisces over killing Dareon, back when she was known as "Cat of the Canals." The kindly man told her that the faceless men are the instruments of the god of death, but not death itself; her blindness was punishment for arrogating the right of judge and jury unto herself, instead of merely serving as executioner. Whilst out begging, she learns that two Lysene pirate ships were pushed off-course by a storm and ended up at Hardhome. The wildlings there were excited to board and Screw This, I'm Outta Here, and the pirates were happy to have new victims of human trafficking; but one was pushed off-course again and ended up here in Braavos, where slavery is outlawed, and the ship and contents seized.

In addition to warging back into Nymeria on a regular basis, a girl has also learned to skinchange into a cat, and via the cat's eyes has learned more about what's going on around her. She uses this information to impress the kindly man. The next morning, she can see again.

A Ghost in Winterfell

Men at Winterfell are being found dead. That's not unusual in and of itself, given that the castle is mired in snow, but all the bodies are being found in suspicious circumstances that imply murder.

Roose Bolton's uneasy northern / Frey alliance are stuck in the castle, sure Stannis is coming but having literally no other information on the subject. The deaths aren't helping; squabbles begin in the Great Hall. This escalates when one of Ramsay's Bastard Boys, "Yellow Dick," is found dead, with his namesake phallus stuffed into his mouth so violently that three teeth were knocked out. Soon the northmen are criticizing the Freys for their role in the Red Wedding, the Freys firing back about the northmen's cavalier attitude towards how many of them (Freys) are disappearing, and Theon sees something that's never been seen before in Roose Bolton's eyes: a hint of fear.

The sound of a warhorn and a drum brings everyone scurrying to the walls. Theon retreats to the godswood to pray, thinking he sees Bran's face in one of the trees. He is accosted by three of Abel's washerwomen. He is certain they are behind the murders, and are here to kill him too; they promise that he can die as himself, if he wants them to kill him... But first, they insist, he is to speak to Abel.

Tyrion X

Tyrion and Penny are being sold into slavery outside Yunkai as a matched set. They are bought by Yezzan zo Qaggaz, despite fierce bidding from an old Westerosi man with leathery brown skin, whom Tyrion presumes knows about the bounty on his head. It takes some doing to convince Yezzan that Ser Jorah Mormont, put to auction after them, is part of their act. Mormont resisted fiercely, including killing three slavers when the Selaesori Qhoran was taken... up until the moment he heard that his silver queen had wed Hizdahr zo Loraq. Then he went over the Despair Event Horizon, leaving Tyrion to keep their odd little band together.

At Yezzan's pavilion, Tyrion and Penny are forced to do their jousting performance, to Tyrion's humiliation. He also cleans up at cyvasse, earning some money for his master. Lastly, he learns that the Westerosi man who bid on him was Brown Ben Plumm. Yezzan announces that the two will do their jousting act in the Great Pit of Daznak before a massive audience.

Jaime

In the riverlands, Jaime arrives at Raventree Hall, ancestral seat of House Blackwood, currently under The Siege by The Rival Lord Jonos Bracken. (As Feuding Families go, Bracken v. Blackwood is almost as storied, and almost as old, as Tyrell v. Martell.) It's a slow one, having degenerated into a waiting game as most sieges do, but it will end inevitably, as no one is coming to help Lord Tytos Blackwood.

Jaime visits Lord Jonos first, catching him with his pants down with a camp follower. Bracken warns him that Blackwoods cannot be trusted, and advises Jaime take a hostage for safety; he recommends Bethany Blackwood, the only daughter, as her father dotes on her. He also demands the lands Lord Tywin promised him for subduing Raventree Hall. Since Bracken has only partially done that, Jaime partially cedes him the rewards. Bracken claims he will keep faith with the Lannisters much as he did with the Starks; a good dozen of his men died at the Red Wedding, but he bent the knee as he saw no point in fighting for a lost cause. Jaime praises his prudence, though privately he thinks that Lord Blackwood has more honor.

Jaime then goes in to parley with Lord Tytos. Inside he sees the massive weirwood tree which the castle is named after: black and leafless, poisoned by the Brackens a thousand years ago. Lord Tytos agrees to a confession, fealty, pardon and fees. When it comes to hostages, Jaime asks for Bethany as requested; but, because her father dotes on her, he offers his second-eldest son Hoster instead, as the boy is bookish and may actually thrive at King's Landing. Blackwood warns him that Brackens cannot be trusted, and advises Jaime take a hostage for safety; as such, on his way out, Jaime tells Lord Bracken to send a daughter to King's Landing to be one of Queen Cersei's attendants.

As Jaime, Hoster and Jaime's train travel onward, hoping to lure out Brynden Blackfish or the lightning lord, Jaime asks Hoster to fill him in on the feud. He asks why it's never ended, and Hoster says it has; it's just also started back up again, every time.

They stop at a village named Pennytree, centered around an ancient oak with pennies nailed to it. There, Jaime is found by Brienne of Tarth. He is concerned at her facial wound (a bite), but Brienne has other concerns. She claims she has found "the Stark girl" (she means Sansa, though neither of them use names in public), but needs Jaime's help. "I can take you to her, ser… but you will need to come alone. Elsewise, the Hound will kill her.”

Jon X

Melisandre, in her capacity as priestess, is conducting the wedding between Alys Karstark and Sigorn, Magnar of Thenn. It's not a very well-populated wedding, but both Alys and Sigorn have been warned of the potential Culture Clash and have expressed readiness to adapt. Cregan Karstark, meanwhile, did indeed follow, and Jon has had him locked up in the ice cells. Jon is trying to convince him to take the black, since if Cregan instead waits for Stannis to get back, Stannis will undoubtedly have him put to death. (Jon has sent a raven to Stannis informing him of Arnolf Karstark's treachery, but there's no guarantee it will reach him.)

During the feast, Jon receives a raven that Cotter Pyke, despite delays, has finally managed to get the fleet moving towards Hardhome. Meanwhile, Ser Axell Florent has been making noises about finding the wildling girl Val, as he plans to marry The Chief's Daughter. Jon has been delaying him as best he can... and is thankful when two blasts of the horn means that wildlings are approaching, and Val has succeeded at the mission he charged her with.

Daenerys VIII

The huge feast to celebrate the peace with Yunkai seems like a slap in the face to Dany. True, she got what she wanted — a united Meereen, a cessation to (at least some of) the hostilities — but to get that, she had to give up everything else: the fighting pits re-open on the morrow, Dany is in a passionless marriage, and Yunkai has re-established slavery, even opening a slave market within sight of Meereen's walls. She is also a little grumpy that amongst the people Yunkai have brought to the celebration is Brown Ben Plumm. The man congratulates her on her wedding, but does not apologize for switching sides, merely pointing out that money means nothing to the dead. (Daenerys cannot fault him, though she also does not trust him anymore.) Not present are Daario, who has gone over to the Yunkish as a hostage, and Skahaz the Shavepate, whom Hizdahr immediately dismissed and replaced with a relative.

Before the feast is even over, Daenerys is making plans. She has Pretty Meris, the platoon leader of the Windblown defectives, released, so as to begin negotiations. He then asks that Quentyn be brought to the pit, where he meets Viserion and Rhaegal. (Viserion has melted his chains, and they are slowly burning their way out of the cave.) Quentyn shakily asks if she plans to ride one of them; though he claims to have Targaryen blood in his veins (through the very first Princess Daenerys), but clearly there isn't enough of it. Dany suggests he should return to Dorne, and, whether bravely or foolishly, he resolves to stay here instead.

Daenerys returns to her royal quarters, where Hizdahr claims his husbandly rights. Daenerys chooses to Lie Back and Think of England, but afterwards cannot sleep, feeling more alone than ever before.

Theon

Theon — in the first chapter titled with his actual name — is eating breakfast with Abel^note In case you haven't noticed, this is Mance Rayder's pseudonym for this adventure and his six women. The mood in the hall is awful, and Theon is infected by it, whispering to Abel that trying to escape would be a terrible idea.

Hosteen Frey barges into the great hall and announces that Little Walder has been found dead. Theon now knows that the unexplained murders have been Abel & Co sowing chaos, but the washerwomen respond that this is no work of theirs. Hosteen implicates White Harbor men, whom Little Walder had been dicing with. Lord Wyman claims to have no idea.

"I confess that I know little of this poor boy. Lord Ramsay's squire, was he not? How old was the lad?"
"Nine, on his last nameday."
"So young," said Wyman Manderly. "Though mayhaps this was a blessing. Had he lived, he would have grown up to be a Frey."
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.676 (hardcover)

The resulting brawl results in two dead Freys and six from White Harbor, and Lord Wyman alive though slashed across the throat. Lord Roose Bolton suggests that, if the men are so eager to see blood, they should try to take Stannis's; the man has been found encamped not three days hence. Hosteen Frey replies that, once they have seen Stannis's blood, they will come for Lord Wyman's.

As the hall suddenly mobilizes, so too do Abel's washerwomen. Their plan is to dress Jeyne in Squirrel's clothes (the real Squirrel will, like her namesake, hightail it down the castle wall). The only major obstacle is Jeyne herself: fearful of a trap laid by Ramsay, she promises she'll be good, that she's been trained, that no one needs to cut off her feet. (The washerwomen truly grasp what a monster Ramsay Bolton is.) Other than that, the plan goes off without a hitch; the guards don't even notice, half the contingent take Theon and Jeyne to the wall while others double back for Abel, and the two spearwives make short work of the guards. But when she sees the blood, Jeyne screams, and that alerts security. They make for the outer wall, and Frenya stays behind to Hold the Line at the drawbridge. Rowan, Theon and Jeyne make the wall, but Holly realizes, to her frustration, that Frenya had the rope. Then she's struck by arrows and killed. Theon realizes he and Jeyne have no other choice: he seizes her by the waist, and jumps.

Daenerys IX

As Daenerys bathes in preparation for the reopening of the Gladiator Games at the Great Pit of Gaznak, she receives word that Pretty Meris has made contact with the leader of the Windblown, the Tattered Prince. He is available for hire, but only if Daenerys gives him Pentos. Since Dany has no interest in double-crossing Magister Illyrio, this option is out.

At the fighting pits, Dany declines a bowl of fried spicy locusts, her stomach feeling wobbly; Strong Belwas wolfs them down instead. There are plenty of gladiators lined up to fight, interspersed with diversions like two dwarfs jousting on a pig and a dog. (Their shields have been painted with Westerosi sigils, one House Baratheon and House Lannister, which she knows is a reference meant for her.) Hizdahr, laughing, prepares to give the signal to loose the lions on the unsuspecting dwarfs, but Daenerys protests, pointing out that they did not sign up for this; she forbids him from having them slaughtered. Hizdahr relents, but not kindly.

There is great disappointment when one of the gladiators loses to a boar, which rips her open and begins to eat her entrails. Dany feels sick, and apparently the locusts aren't sitting well with Strong Belwas, for he calls for milk. But all is forgotten as a huge furor erupts: a giant dragon, black and crimson, swoops down and flash-sears the boar. It's Drogon. (He settles down to dine on first the boar and then the gladiator.)

As the entire audience pulls a Screw This, I'm Outta Here stampede, Hizdahr commands his men to kill the dragon, and they attack with flung spears. Of course, a little sliver of metal isn't going to hurt a dragon that's a hundred feet long. Drogon lays about him with claws and tail, slaying anyone who gets close. As Strong Belwas starts vomiting, Dany jumps down into the arena, seizing a whip and screaming Drogon's name. He does not fear her, and Dany understands that, if she flees, he will kill her. So she stands her ground, lashing the dragon with her whip, until all at once he surrenders and lies down before her. She jumps on his back and yanks the spear out, already half-melted from the dragon's heat; before she can dismount, Drogon gathers and leaps, and suddenly Daenerys Targaryen is a Dragon Rider in fact as well as name.

The lash was still in her hand. She flicked it against Drogon’s neck and cried, “Higher!” Her other hand clutched at his scales, her fingers scrabbling for purchase. Drogon’s wide black wings beat the air. Dany could feel the heat of him between her thighs. Her heart felt as if it were about to burst. Yes, she thought, yes, now, now, do it, do it, take me, take me, FLY!
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.699 (hardcover)

Jon XI

Jon has finished negotiating with Tormund Giantsbane. His 4,000 wildlings will be allowed south of the Wall, though the mammoths will have to go the long way. Queen Selyse is pleased to hear of four thousand more Holy R'llhors... and somewhat less impressed when Jon reveals that these terms were not included in his negotiations. Val came with Jon, and she is terrified by the sight of Shireen, who has a contained case of greyscale; of course, Val, who comes from beyond the Wall, does not know that greyscale can be contained, and calls for Shireen's expulsion for the safety of all.

It's just as hard a sell when Jon calls his C-suite to talk to him at the top of the Wall. Bowen Marsh straight-up accuses him of treason for arranging peace with wildlings, and of forsaking his oaths.

“I know what I swore.” Jon said the words. “I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. Were those the same words you said when you took your vows?”
“They were. As the lord commander knows.”
“Are you certain that I have not forgotten some? The ones about the king and his laws, and how we must defend every foot of his land and cling to each ruined castle? How does that part go?” Jon waited for an answer. None came. “I am the shield that guards the realms of men. Those are the words. So tell me, my lord— what are these wildlings, if not men?”
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.715 (hardcover)

They don't like it, and Jon knows he has trouble looming in the future.

Cersei I

Cersei has lost track of the days since she was imprisoned in the Great Sept of Baelor. Resisting has done her no good — Jaime has not come — and eventually she decides she must confess. She begs to be brought before the High Septon, and (remembering that they are already on record with their indiscretions) confesses to sleeping with Lancel Lannister and the Kettleblacks. This still leaves the other crimes which the High Sparrow plans to charge her with, but she handles those in order: Cersei denies cheating on Robert or planning to kill him, and since Stannis is the person who drew attention to the twincest in the first place, it's easy for Cersei to claim he just made them all up to strengthen his own claim on the Iron Throne. Since the Faith of the Seven are eager to condemn Stannis as a heretic, they go with it. That said, the High Sparrow still insists that Cersei stand trial; he is unsure if he can trust Cersei's confession, so he must let the gods decide.

Cersei is next visited by Uncle Kevan, who has indeed stepped up as Lord Regent. Tommen is well, safe with his kittens, but she is appalled and infuriated by the news (relayed by Ser Balon Swann) of Myrcella's injury; she is sure it must have been Tyrion's doing. She asks why Queen Margaery has been released, and Kevan replies simply that Randyll Tarly had the army, which Kevan himself does not; besides, the case against the Tyrell girls was weak. Kevan warns her that the High Sparrow means to make her do a "walk of shame" to the Red Keep. He also tells her that the High Septon plans to charge her with "high treason, incest, regicide, and deicide." She must either face a standard courtroom trial or a Trial by Combat, during which she can only be championed by a knight of the Kingsguard. Cersei, having heard that Arys Oakheart is dead and there's a spot in the Kingsguard open, has him reach out to Qyburn.

The Queensguard

The situation in Meereen is grim. Queen Daenerys Targaryen has vanished; everyone is searching for her body, but none have found it. Strong Belwas is still gravely ill from the locusts he ate, the plague — which people are starting to call the "pale mare," after the Astapori horse that delivered it — is beginning to make inroads on the city, and Jhogo, Daario Naharis, Admiral Groleo, and the Number Two of the Unsullied all remain with the Yunkai'i as hostages.

Ser Barristan Selmy feels that he has failed Daenerys, much as he did her father and brother and even Robert. He has been left in command of the Meereenese army, but Hizdahr is systematically removing Dany's freedmen and replacing them with his own; the only ones are the ones whom he cannot replace because those organizations will not follow anyone else, such as Barristan himself and Grey Worm of the Unsullied.

Barristan meets with Skahaz mo Kandaq, who has been hiding out as a member of the Brazen Beasts. He claims to have found the person responsible for poisoning the locusts; this man claims he was compelled to do so by the Sons of the Harpy, led by Hizdahr. The peace was all a sham: the Volantenes are sending a fleet, and Hizdahr, the Yunkai’i, the Sons of the Harpy, and Reznak will let them into the city to re-enslave everyone Dany set free. Skahaz is of the opinion that they must break the Yunkai’i before the Volantenes arrive, and for this they will need the Unsullied. He wants Barristan to speak to Grey Worm. Barristan is conflicted; he is a praetorian guard, and giving orders like this feels awfully like being a king instead. (Barristan has reason to be skeptical: he will replace his queen as the viewpoint narrator inside Meereen for the remainder of the book.) Still, if they do indeed find proof that Hizdahr has been conspiring against Daenerys, Barristan will want to bring him to justice. He agrees to bring Grey Worm in on the conspiracy.

The Iron Suitor

When last we saw Victarion Greyjoy, about 60% of the way through Feast, King Euron Crow's Eye had ordered him (Victarion) to lead the Iron Fleet to Slaver's Bay and there present Euron's suit to Daenerys Targaryen, the silver queen. Well, his fleet — or at least the half of it that made it this far — is now anchored near the Isle of Cedars. Victarion also promised himself that he would marry Daenerys instead, as revenge on Euron for past misdeeds. (Apparently he has not heard about the wedding.) Victarion learned that the strong Volantene fleet is on their way to Meereen, too.

In his last fight before leaving Westeros, Victarion's shield hand was injured, and the wound is festering. Maester Kerwin has had little success treating it. One of his ships, the Grief, happened to pick up the red priest Moqorro, who was last seen in "Tyrion IX" being swept overboard. Moqorro claims to have seen in the flames that Victarion would die unless the priest helped him. Moqorro succeeds in healing him, though it takes many fell rites.

Come sunset, as the sea turned black as ink and the swollen sun tinted the sky a deep and bloody red, Victarion came back on deck. He was naked from the waist up, his left arm blood to the elbow. As his crew gathered, whispering and trading glances, he raised a charred and blackened hand. Wisps of dark smoke rose from his fingers as he pointed at the maester. “That one. Cut his throat and throw him in the sea, and the winds will favor us all the way to Meereen.” Moqorro had seen that in his fires. He had seen the wench wed too, but what of it? She would not be the first woman Victarion Greyjoy had made a widow.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.752-3 (hardcover)

Tyrion XI

Yezzan zo Qaggaz, Tyrion's owner, is dying of the pale mare. The Yunkish camp is being swept by dysentery, but despite this there are attempts at fortification — as he, Penny and Ser Jorah Mormont travel to a well for clean water, they see various defenses being built in the hopes they will dissuade the big black dragon should it return. (Tyrion knows they mostly won't succeed.) He reflects on the moment where he almost revealed himself to Daenerys Targaryen, only to be dissuaded by the fear that Ser Barristan Selmy would prejudice her against him. He also notes that the existence of unpoisoned wells shows that Daenerys is "still an innocent" at The Siege.

The slaves in line for the well are discussing the dragon queen's flight on the back of her big black dragon, and whether she is alive. (Tyrion holds to the "Never Found the Body" tradition.) As they head back, he claims to know a shortcut; Penny trusts him, despite everything, and he finds himself marveling at her idealism. She reminds him of Sansa a little. However, she freaks out once she realizes Tyrion is taking them to the camp of the Second Sons. He's recognized as the dwarf Plumm was trying to buy, and granted an audience. Tyrion reveals that he knows quite a bit of House Plumm's lineage, even correctly hypothesizing that Ben's Targaryen blood led to affinity with her dragons. Tyrion convinces Brown Ben to let them join the Second Sons against a promise of a Westerosi lordship.

Jon XII

Jon watches as three thousand wildlings, under the command of Tormund Giantsbane, file beneath the Wall. This is one of those other chapters where nothing much happens.

Later, Jon gets a letter from Cotter Pyke. His fleet has made it to Hardhome, but has lost half his fleet, and Mother Mole is acting suspicious, calling them "slavers." (Go back to Arya's chapter for an explanation.) He also reports dead things moving in the forest and the water.

The Discarded Knight

Ser Barristan Selmy watches King Hizdahr zo Loraq hold court. Almost everyone here either wants redress for the riot at the Great Pit of Daznak, or wants to know if Daenerys('s body) has been found. Obviously, Hizdahr has only so much success answering the latter. The most impactful petitioners, though, are three Great Masters from Yunkai, who fling down a severed head: Admiral Groleo, one of the hostages Meereen sent in good faith. They claim this was in redress for the death of their commander-in-chief during the riot. They also refuse to send back the other three hostages until both remaining dragons are destroyed. Perhaps they do things differently in Westeros, but Ser Barristan is surprised at how peacefully Hizdahr accepts these demands: Robert, Aerys the Mad, even the comparatively sickly Jaehaerys II would've had these men put to death for uttering such brazen threats.

Ser Barristan sees that Prince Quentyn and his two companions are still lingering nearby. His thoughts alight on the poisoned locusts, and he wonders if they weren't meant for Hizdahr. Quentyn, however, disavows any knowledge of the subject. Barristan sees that Hizdahr has noticed the three, and suggests Quentyn leave quickly — without packing.

The Spurned Suitor

Well, Quentyn's up to something, and it's not leaving. He's had his men re-establish contact with the Tattered Prince, and they meet in a quiet corner of Meereen. As he and his friends walk there, Gerris and Archibald remark on the possibility (now that Ser Barristan has planted it in their heads) of assassinating Hizdahr, making room for Quentyn; but Quentyn tells them that they have lost sight of their objective. They are not here for Daenerys, they are here for Daenerys's dragons... And, since he has more than a drop of Targaryen blood himself, Quentyn believes he can tame Viserion or Rhaegal. And, once Quentyn promises him Pentos, the Tattered Prince is in.

The Griffin Reborn

The Golden Company have made landfall in the stormlands at Westeros, and liberated several small castles, including Jon's own fief of Griffin's Roost. The whole operation cost only four men. Looking out at the view of his ancestral seat, Jon provides an Info Dump on his own Back Story: promoted in favor of the ineffectual Lord Orton Merrywether, Jon became Hand of the King. Taking over from the Tyrells after the Battle of Ashford, he pursued Lord Robert Baratheon to the Stoney Sept, where he tried everything he could to get the townsfolk to give Robert up. Alas, they were stalling until Lord Eddard Stark and Lord Hoster Tully could bring their own armies up. Jon fought a fierce delaying action, killing Jon Arryn's heir Denys and wounding Lord Hoster, but was himself nearly killed by Robert and forced to retreat. Thereafter Jon was stripped of his position and titles and forced into exile. Jon had always proclaimed that he had done everything humanly possible to win the Battle of the Bells... until Myles Toyne pointed out that what Tywin Lannister would have done was simply burn the town to the ground, and offered pardons to Stark and Tully when they arrived if they would simply turn around and call it a day. Though Jon is just as comfortable not being a mass murderer, he knows that his indecision led directly to Rhaegar's death, and promises himself not to fail Aegon similarly.

Four days later, Prince Aegon himself arrives at Westeros. He has named Ser Rolly Duckfield as the first of his Kingsguard, despite Jon's suggestion that he keep the roster open. (Likewise, Haldon Halfmaester has suggested that both Jon and Aegon offer their hands in Altar Diplomacy to create alliances, but Jon insists that Aegon remain unwed against the possibility of Daenerys becoming interested. He doesn't mention that his own hand has gone stiff from greyscale.) Jon informs the young prince that they have hatched a plan to take Storm's End, ten days hence. Aegon approves it, with one alteration: he wants to be the Frontline General.

The Sacrifice

Stannis's army is still mired at that little village three days away from Winterfell, and has been for nineteen days. Food is scarce, and some of the men have turned to cannibalism. The Holy R'hllors in Stannis's force arrange for them (the cannibals) to be burnt as sacrifices, hoping to dispel the snows.

However, rescue comes in the most unlikely form: a small party led by Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank of Braavos. He has with him several ironborn, whom he paid a ransom to House Glover to, and two people that Crowfood Umber found under the walls of Winterfell: a young woman with a nose black with frostbite, and an old, smelly man. Asha doesn't recognize him until he speaks. It's Theon.

Victarion

Under the guidance of Moqorro, Victarion's fleet is sailing towards Slaver's Bay and capturing lots of ships, swelling its ranks with a mongrel patchwork of Essosi vessels. Victarion's men fear Moqorro, whom they call "black flame" — you know, the guy Quaithe warned Daenerys about — because they can't pronounce his name, but his guidance is helping Victarion immensely, and Victarion feels the power of two gods behind him now.

Victarion allows Moqorro to investigate the horn Euron's dude blew (and killed himself with) during the kingsmoot. Moqorro reads the Valyrian inscription and claims that, if he wants the dragons to answer to him without blowing it himself and contracting a fatal case of death, he will need to claim the horn. "With blood."

The Ugly Little Girl

Over in Braavos, the girl formerly known as Arya Stark has been assigned her first hit. Her target is an old man who sells insurance for captains, merchants, ship owners, and so forth. Apparently he has not actually been paying out his claims.

To accomplish the task, Arya is allowed her first face. The kindly man and the waif take her into the cellars of the House of Black and White. The walls are covered in masks — the faces of those who have died within the temple grounds. Arya is given the face of an ugly little girl who was abused to the point of disfigurement; her blood is used to bond the face to her, and Arya is warned that she will have nightmares about the face's previous life.

Arya isn't allowed to kill anyone besides the insurance broker, but the insurance broker is always flanked by two guards. So she sneaks a poisoned coin into the purse of someone who is about to pay the insurance broker. She is given her original face, and the robes of an acolyte, and an apprenticeship with Izembaro to begin the next day.

Cersei II

Cersei is being forced to walk naked from the Great Sept to the Red Keep, a "walk of atonement" for her crimes which is the only way for her to return to the castle. The streets are lined with angry, jeering people; they are not allowed to harm her, but they can fling rotting vegetables and curses. She sees faces in the crowd: Her father, Ned Stark, Tyrion, and finally Maggy the Frog, taunting her with the prophecy: "Queen you shall be, until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold most dear." Despite trying to keep herself in high spirits, her pride breaks and she runs the last hundred feet.

She's intercepted by Ser Kevan, as well as an eight-foot-tall knight in Kingsguard whites. She sees that her uncle has followed her instructions, and Qyburn introduces her to the latest member of the Kingsguard, "Ser Robert Strong."

Tyrion XII

Tyrion is awash in paperwork, signing contracts that codify his promises to reward many members of the Second Sons in gold. He then takes himself, Penny and Ser Jorah to the armory to gird themselves for the coming battle: the Yunkish are committing to an attack on Meereen. Ser Jorah opines that the Yunkish will lose, and the Second Sons had better turn their cloaks again. Tyrion promises he'll handle the situation.

The Kingbreaker

Ser Barristan Selmy, despite his dislike of plotting, is now neck-deep in a conspiracy to remove Hizdahr from power and replace him with a council that will rule in Daenerys's stead. Skahaz has gone full Conspiracy Theorist, believing that the death of Groleo was a pretext to allow Hizdahr to kill the two remaining dragons. They also debate trying to get back the three remaining hostages — Daario Naharis, Hero the Unsullied, and Jhogo the bloodrider — but decide it's too dangerous. Besides, both Barristan and the Shavepate feel it would better in the long run if Daario were to die, for Love Ruins the Realm:

Daenerys Targaryen loved her captain, but that was the girl in her, not the queen. Prince Rhaegar loved his Lady Lyanna and thousands died for it. Daemon Blackfyre loved the first Daenerys, and rose in rebellion when denied her. Bittersteel and Bloodraven both loved Shiera Seastar and the Seven Kingdoms bled. The Prince of Dragonflies loved Jenny of Oldstones so much he cast aside a crown, and Westeros paid the bride price in corpses. All three of the sons of the fifth Aegon had wed for love in defiance of their father's wishes. And because that unlikely monarch had followed his heart when he chose his queen, he allowed his sons to have their way, making bitter enemies when he might have made fast friends. Treason and turmoil followed, as night follows day, ending at Summerhall in sorcery, fire and grief.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.875 (hardcover)

That night, Barristan visits Hizdahr in full armor and questions him on whether he leads the Sons of the Harpy. Hizdahr calls his bodyguard, Khrazz, a pit fighter, but Barristan is fairly confident that a knight of the Kingsguard, who must be alert at all times, is more than a match for a celebrity who fights for adulation, and he is right; besides, Khrazz — like the Dothraki in the TV show before him — has no experience fighting someone in full armor. Hizdahr is begging for his life when a cupbearer interrupts to tell the king that Reznak has sent for him: The dragons have gotten loose.

The Dragontamer

It's the dead of night, and Quentyn has moved forward with his plans to steal Viserion and Rhaegal. They have to fight their way past four of the Brazen Beasts, and then see that both dragons are free of their chains and are preparing to make for the door. Quentyn grabs a whip and tries to subdue them, but then Gerris tells him to look behind him.

Quentyn turned and threw his left arm across his face to shield his eyes from the furnace wind. Rhaegal, he reminded himself, the green one is Rhaegal.
When he raised his whip, he saw that the lash was burning. His hand as well. All of him, all of him was burning.
Oh, he thought. Then he began to scream.
—George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, pg.898 (hardcover)

Jon XIII

In his letter, Cotter Pyke asked Jon to send help — by land, as the seas are too rough. Jon has resolved to do so, and to lead the mission personally, with Tormund as his Number Two. However, they are derailed when they receive a letter, known in fandom as the pink letter, addressed to Jon directly.

Your false king is dead, bastard. He and all his host were smashed in seven days of battle. I have his magic sword. Tell his red whore.
Your false king's friends are dead. Their heads upon the walls of Winterfell. Come see them, bastard. Your false king lied, and so did you. You told the world you burned the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Instead you sent him to Winterfell to steal my bride from me.
I will have my bride back. If you want Mance Rayder back, come and get him. I have him in a cage for all the north to see, proof of your lies. The cage is cold, but I have made him a warm cloak from the skins of the six whores who came with him to Winterfell.
I want my bride back. I want the false king's queen. I want his daughter and his red witch. I want this wildling princess. I want his little prince, the wildling babe. And I want my Reek. Send them to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you or your black crows. Keep them from me, and I will cut out your bastard's heart and eat it.
Ramsay Bolton,
Trueborn Lord of Winterfell.

Jon changes the plan. Tormund will lead the relief efforts at Hardhome. He, meanwhile, heads to the Shield Hall, where the population of Castle Black — five wildlings for every crow — are currently dining. Here, he reads the letter. The Night's Watch, he claims, are True Neutral, and he will not force his brothers to forswear their vows; as such; he will ride to Winterfell alone. ...Unless anyone wants to come with him? The wildlings erupt, and Jon has his army.

As he heads off to inform Queen Selyse, he hears a commotion in the yard, and finds Wun Wun the giant having slain Ser Patrek. As he tries to wade in to re-establish order, the Sworn Brotherhood of the Night's Watch turn on him, stabbing him over and over, each one saying, "For the Watch." Jon's exact fate — aside from having been stabbed at least four times — is Left Hanging.

The Queen's Hand

Rain has helped put out the fires started by Rhaegal and Viserion's rampage, and also driven the dragons off — they like rain as little as men do. Quentyn Martell took three days to die; Ser Barristan had him put in Daenerys's bed. The dragons have made lairs atop the tallest pyramids, and at present the fighting pits are filled with livestock whence the dragons are feeding; so far, no humans have been eaten. That said, an angry mob has demanded Hizdahr's release; and the Sons of the Harpy have returned with a vengeance, killing 29 the last night alone.

As a member of the ruling council, a job Ser Barristan never wanted but doesn't trust anyone else to do, Barristan recommends his next course of action: open battle. Their targets are the slavers; the sellsword companies will not fight if there's no one to pay them.

Afterwards, Ser Barristan visits Gerris Drinkwater and Archibald Yronwood. Gerris blames Daenerys for Quentyn's death, but Barristan isn't here to point fingers: he offers to provide them a ship back to Dorne and Quentyn's bones, in exchange for the support of the Windblown, who are to help rescue the three hostages.

As he emerges, Barristan learns that the Yunkish have rejected his terms, as he expected they would. That said, they have also begun to siege the city — not with rocks, but with corpses.

Daenerys X

Dany is trying to walk back to Meereen. Drogon brought her out to the Dothraki sea, but she could not make him bring her back.

There's not a lot of food here, and she drinks water from a trickle and eats some berries. These result in fever dreams, shivering, diarrhea. Her dreams all revolve around the idea that she has forgotten who she is. When she comes to herself, she is menstruating — the first time she has done so in forever, quite possibly the first time since the birth of her son Rhaego. It seems like a heavier flow than she has ever remembered.^note It should be pointed out that Daenerys's fertility, or lack thereof, is a subject of prophecy. When she asked Mirri Maz Duur if Khal Drogo would ever return to what he was, back in the first book, the maegi replied, "When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before." Obviously, none of this seems likely... And yet, as of this chapter, all of it has happened. The sun's son, who just died: his sun rose in Westeros and set in Essos. The Dothraki sea is undergoing a drought; the Meereenese pyramids dissolved like leaves before the might of Viserion and Rhaegal's dragonfire. And this kind of heavy flow is characteristic of miscarriage.

Finally, she sees a lone Dothraki scout. He does not see her, but he does see Drogon. She jumps on his back as he catches and devours a horse, with Dany partaking of the feast as well. "That was how Khal Jhaqo found her, when half a hundred mounted warriors emerged from the drifting smoke."

Epilogue

Lord Regent Kevan Lannister is interviewing Lord Red Ronnet of Griffin's Roost, who claims to be loyal to the crown and has had no business with this "Jon Connington" person who has taken his castle, nor with the Golden Company. He begs a chance to prove his valor in battle, but Mace Tyrell, Hand of the King, shuts him down. Kevan, like Cersei before him, is beginning to grow tired of Lord Tyrell, but, unlike Cersei, he knows he can't do anything about it; the Tyrell armies are here, the Lannister army still in the riverlands.

Mace Tyrell wants to move in open battle against Connington, but Kevan disagrees: with Stannis in the north and the ironborn raiding to the west, now is a not a good time to open a new theater of war. Besides, Connington is likely to be even more canny than he was when he was Hand of the King. The small council then turn to the prospect of simply buying off the Golden Company. Alas, Master of Coin Harys Swyft reports that Cersei's financial mismanagement have left the crown nearly empty on funds.

Talk turns to Cersei's coming trial-by-battle. No one feels comfortable around Ser Robert Strong: Ser Meryn Trant says he's never seen the man eat or drink, and Boros Blount says he never uses the bathroom. That said, Mace can't dispute the results without disputing the legitimacy of his daughter's queenship, and they leave it there.

Kevan goes to Cersei's chambers, where he has a polite and pleasant dinner with his niece and grand-nephew. She humbly requests that Taena Merrywether be allowed to wait on her, and asks if Kevan has heard anything of her brothers. Kevan informs her that he has had the Kettleblacks imprisoned for fornicating with a queen, to either confess and take the black or face Ser Robert Strong in trial-by-combat.

A messenger asks Kevan to come to Grand Master Pycelle's chambers. There, a white raven has arrived from the Citadel, meaning only one thing: winter has come. He also sees Pycelle, already dead. Before he can react, he is struck in the chest by a crossbow bolt. He suspects Tyrion, but the murderer is Varys. An Apologetic Attacker, he praises Kevan as a good man in service to a bad cause, doing a good job — too good a job, unfortunately — of knitting up the Seven Kingdoms right when Prince Aegon needs them distracted. He explains that Aegon is the best king there can be — one groomed to rule from the start, one exposed to the hardships of peasantry, and one who sees it as his duty to put the people first. He then summons his children, his "little birds," to finish Kevan off, content that Westeros will be just that more unstable in his absence...