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Jon tours the quickly dwindling food stores of the Night’s Watch and then is summoned by King Stannis. The king offers Jon a surprising gift, then adds to the shock by revealing his risky plan to win the north. Jon redirects him to a new plan that is safer and has huge upsides. Mackelly and Simon fear that Stannis is not earning their loyalty.

Chapter Review:
Jon Snow joins Bowen Marsh to inspect winter food stores held beneath Castle Black. Despite past generosity from lords and a long summer, feeding Stannis’ army and wildlings has depleted supplies. Marsh proposes winter rations early. Jon agrees, knowing it’ll cause unrest.

Jon later meets Stannis, Melisandre, and others in the king's solar. Stannis gifts Jon a controlled Rattleshirt as a soldier. Discussion turns to Mors Umber's terms for support. Stannis hesitates, but Jon urges acceptance, warning that rejecting Mors' terms would turn the North against him. Stannis reveals plans to take the Dreadfort, but Jon argues the Boltons will return too soon and crush Stannis’ force. Pressed to arm wildlings, Jon reluctantly offers basic gear, wary of violating the Night’s Watch vows. Privately, Stannis tempts Jon again with legitimization and Winterfell. Jon refuses but proposes recruiting Northern mountain clans instead. If successful, Stannis could retake Deepwood Motte and build support. Stannis likes the plan—but Jon’s left with more mouths to feed.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch.
Stannis Baratheon - Surviving brother of dead King Robert Baratheon, claims the Iron Throne because Cersei’s children are not Robert’s.
Melisandre - The Red Woman of Ashaii. Priestess of R’Hellor, the Lord of Light.
Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward of Castle Black.
Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.
Rattleshirt - Wildling leader who is despised by the Night’s Watch.
Mors Umber - Co-castellan of Last Hearth, with his brother Hother.

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Daenerys gets an offer she cannot refuse from Xaro XHoan Daxos. But she refuses and adds one more enemy to her list. Simon and Mackelly lose count.

Chapter Review:
Daenerys Targaryen is feasting Xaro Xhoan Daxos’ dancers. He’s here to plead with Daenerys for her hand in marriage and to take the 13 ships he’s brought with him and to go back to Westeros.

He makes a case for reinstating slavery, which she will not hear. She refuses his proposal, but she’ll have her people inspect the ships the next day.

She refuses to help Astapor in its war with Yunkai - which gets her spat on by the envoy Lord Ghael. The ships are sound and she accepts that part of the offer. But she won’t leave Meereen, Xaro’s obsequiousness vanishes. He threatens and insults her. She allows him to leave but the next day a bloody glove is sent to her - Qarth declares war.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros.
Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess.
Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Daenerys' Lord Commander of her Queensguard.
Strong Belwas - Eunuch former slave, sent by Illyrio Mopatis to keep Dany safe.
Xaro Xhoan Daxos - Wealthy Qartheen merchant.
Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal of Meereen.
Skahaz mo Kandaq "Shavepate"- Ghiscari noble of Meereen. Convert to Dany’s cause. Despised by the Sons of the Harpy.
Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, wants the fighting pits reopened.
Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows.
Second Sons - A sellsword company in Essos.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.

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Davos reaches White Harbor. The intel he’s able to pick up does not bode very well for his King Stannis. He wonders if he should have fled with Salladhor. Mackelly and Simon give him a pep talk.

Chapter Review:
Davos Seaworth arrives in White Harbor aboard the Merry Midwife. He’s disguised as a common sailor. He notes signs of increased defense and military buildup. This could be good news, but then he sees the Lionstar at the dock, flying Tommen’s colors.

Inside the city, he sees many refugees who’ve fled down the White Knife to avoid Ramsay Bolton’s tyranny. An apple seller tells him that the young men who arrive are being drafted into Lord Manderly’s army. In a seedy winesink, Davos listens for gossip. It’s mostly old news but he learns that Wyman Manderly’s son is held by the Lannisters. Davos knows that he should have gone south with Salladhor Saan. Even Davos would sell out his king to save his son.

But he’s on a mission, so he climbs up to the palace. From this vantage he sees 23 new warships hiding behind a new jetty wall. Hope stirs once more - Lord Manderly has been busy.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Davos Seaworth - Hand of the King to King Stannis Baratheon.
Stannis Baratheon - King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.
White Harbor - Only city in the North and its chief port.
White Knife - Major river in the North that empties into the Bite at White Harbor.

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Tyrion gets to know his new traveling companions, and, by dint of his cyvasse skills, some secrets about their mission. Mackelly and Simon consider their opening gambit.

Chapter Review:
Tyrion Lannister wakes early on the Shy Maid. He watches with undisguised interest as Septa Lemore bathes in the river. She shows signs of having given birth at some prior point, but remains an attractive woman. Ysilla makes breakfast and keeps all at bay, with the exception of Young Griff whom she plies with more than he needs.

Duck spars with Young Griff, Haldon teaches him languages, geography, geometry, and history. It seems that Tyrion will contribute to this expansive education: he’s been tasked with writing down all he can recall about raising and breeding dragons.
Haldon offers Tyrion a game of cyvasse while Young Griff studies further with Septa Lemore. Haldon has beaten Tyrion every previous game, so he eagerly accepts Tyrion’s wager that the loser must share some secrets. Tyrion hustles to victory and when a giant turtle, known as the Old Man of the River, bellows close by, Tyrion thinks that wonders often herald the arrival of kings.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister whom he recently murdered. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King.
Griff - Red-haired sellsword in service to Ilyrio Mopatis.
Young Griff - Griff’s son. Cared about by many.
Haldon Half-Maester - One of Griff’s men.
Ser Rolly “Duck” Duckworth - Westerosi knight, who serves Griff.
Septa Lemore - Septa who trains Young Griff in spiritual matters.
Yandry and Ysilla - Owners of the Shy Maid. Orphans of the Greenblood.
Ny Sar - City in Essos. Former home of Princess Nymeria before she led her people to Westeros.
Rhoyne River - Rreatest river in Essos. Flows south to Volantis.

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Bran Stark survives a run-in with wights and meets Children of the Forest and the three-eyed crow. Simon and Mackelly admire the plumage.

Chapter Review:
Bran Stark and his companions have reached the foot of a hill that contains their final destination. A warded cave halfway the side of the mountain. But Coldhands and other sensitives know that they are under attack from the undead. The entire group is exhausted and hungry. Meera is supporting Jojen, almost as much as Hodor is Bran.

Sixty yards from the opening Hodor's leg is grabbed from below them. Wights emerge from beneath the snow. As wights surround them, Summer kills as many as he can, but Bran sees that it will be hopeless. In desperation, Bran takes control of Hodor and the combination of castle-forged steel, 7ft of bemuscled automaton, and Bran’s laser-focus on staying alive alleviates the immediate danger.

But the day is only won because a Child of the Forest intervenes to set the wights aflame. She gets the group into the cave, apart from Coldhands who cannot enter. Within Bran meets the three-eyed crow. He’s been watching and waiting for Bran. He cannot give Bran back his ability to walk, but Bran will be able to fly.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Brandon Stark - Prince (now king?) of Winterfell. Paralyzed when pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister.
Hodor - Enormous but simple-minded helper of Bran.
Meera Reed - Daughter of Howland Reed.
Jojen Reed - Son of Howland Reed. Has green dreams that invariably come true.
Summer - Bran’s direwolf.
Coldhands - Seemingly reanimated brother of the Night’s Watch.
Children of the Forest - Humanoid original inhabitants of Westeros.
Greenseer - Leader of the Children of the Forest. Known to have magical abilities.

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Theon Greyjoy has been tortured and abused into being Ramsay Bolton’s latest Reek. He’s going to be a part of Ramsay’s plans to gain Winterfell by facilitating and witnessing Ramsay’s wedding to Arya Stark. Simon and Mackelly are busy that day.

Chapter Review:
Reek has caught a rat and is eating it raw when the Walders Frey come to his dungeon. He’s been summoned to attend his master Ramsay Bolton. Theon could overpower the two children, but he’s tried escaping previously and it ended up with his fingers and toes being flayed.

In the hall of the Dreadfort two northern lords attend Ramsay who claims that Reek was a gift from his father when Ramsay was a child. But the lords recognize Theon Greyjoy.

Ramsay tells Theon that they’re going to clean him up and that they ride to war so that Ramsay can marry Arya Stark. Reek is thrilled to be of service.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Reek - Broken shell of Theon Greyjoy.
Ramsay Bolton - Newly legitimized son of Roose Bolton. Nasty piece of work.
Arnolf Karstark - Castellan of Karhold.
Hother Umber - Co-castellan of Last Hearth.
Arya Stark - Youngest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Princess of Winterfell.
Jeyne Poole - Daughter of the former steward of Winterfell Vayon Poole. Captured by the Lannisters and now being paraded as Arya Stark.
The Dreadfort - Seat of House Bolton. Lives up to its name.

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Daenerys comforts Missandei, whose brother has been murdered by the Sons of the Harpy. She gets spoilers from Quaithe and visits her chained dragons. Another bad day in Meereen. Mackelly and Simon consider free-range dragon rearing.

Chapter Review:
Daenerys Targaryen is again roused with news of loyal men being murdered by the Sons of the Harpy. Missandei’s unsullied brother is amongst the victims. Dany decides the time has come to bring her unsullied back within the confines of the great pyramid, and to leave the policing of the city to freedmen. She’ll tax the masters to pay their wages and take hostages to ensure there is no recurrence.

She comforts Missandei who pledges herself to her queen. While the child sleeps, Daenerys bathes and is visited by Quaithe who tells her to trust nobody: The kraken and the dark flame, the lion and the griffin, the mummer’s dragon, the sun’s son, and the performed seneschal.

In the morning, Hizdahr zo Loraq again argues for the fighting pits to be reopened, bringing freed slaves who made their name and living there as witnesses. Daenerys is more swayed than previously. After a discussion with Ser Barristan, she visits Rhaegel and Viserion who are chained up for Drogon’s crimes. She feels awful.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros.
Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess.
Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing.
Missandei - Former child slave, now handmaid and interpreter to Daenerys.
Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal of Meereen.
Skahaz mo Kandaq - "The Shavepate" - Ghiscari noble of Meereen. Convert to Dany’s cause. Despised by the Sons of the Harpy.
Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, wants the fighting pits reopened.
Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows.
Quaithe - Shadowbinder from Asshai.
Second Sons - Sellsword company in Essos.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.

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Jon watches as Mance Rayder and the Horn of Joramun are consigned to the flames. Stannis displays Lightbringer and the free folk are invited to come through the Wall, to bend the knee, and to get a bowl of onion soup. Mackelly and Simon fear that Stannis is not earning their loyalty.

Chapter Review:
Jon Snow watches as Mance Rayder is dragged to his death. The former Brother of the Night’s Watch and King Beyond the Wall is a broken man desperately pleading for his life and disavowing his kingship. He’s put in a cage above a pit of kindling. Melisandre brings forth the Horn of Joramun, which if blown would have brought down the Wall and let the enemy in. She burns it in the pit, and the flames reach up to Mance.

Acting on Jon’s orders, several of his men loose shafts to put their former brother out of his misery. As the smell of burning flesh fills the courtyard, Stannis unsheathes Lightbringer, brighter than ever, and the gate through the Wall is opened. The Free Folk are allowed through - the promise of soup and safety from the terrors of winter convince most. But some resist.

Stannis has them burn weirwood branches to show their conversion from the Old Gods to R'Hllor and to take the knee before him. All this was against Jon’s advice. But Stannis is more interested in loyalty than love.

Later, Jon discusses with Clydas the passage that Aemon left for Jon, which describes Lightbringer’s heat. Stannis' sword is cold. Is straight arrow Stannis resorting to subterfuge?

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch.
Stannis Baratheon - Surviving brother of dead King Robert Baratheon, claims the Iron Throne because Cersei’s children are not Robert’s.
Melisandre - Red Woman of Ashaii. Priestess of R’Hellor, the Lord of Light.
Maester Aemon - Elderly, blind maester of the Night’s Watch.
Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.
Ser Alliser Thorne - Senior member of the Night’s Watch.
Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall, a former brother of the Night’s Watch.

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