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Jon welcomes Queen Selyse and her entourage. He then hammers out the details of a loan with the Iron Bank. Later he's notified that a girl has arrived at the castle. Simon and Mackelly suggest they keep the giant out of the liquor cabinet.

Chapter Review:
Lord Commander Jon Snow greets Queen Selyse Baratheon. She and her entourage have stopped at Castle Black on their way to the Nightfort. Before escorting her and Princess Shireen to the King’s Tower, Jon warns the queen about the state of the Nightfort. The queen is undeterred. On the way to their quarters, the group meets Wun Wun, the giant currently living at Castle Black. He bends the knee to the southern royalty, but his laugh frightens the party and steel is drawn.

Tycho Nestoris, an emissary of the Iron Bank, is part of the queen’s party. As the Lannisters are refusing to make the crown's payments, Tycho will offer the bank’s backing, if Stannis agrees to shoulder the debt. Jon and Tycho come to terms on a loan from the bank that will allow the Night’s Watch to buy food to survive the winter. Jon also negotiates the use of Tycho’s three ships, to add to the rescue party to bring the wildlings at Hardhome south of the Wall.

Later on, Jon is told that a girl has been found and is resting in maester Aemon’s chambers. Jon is hopeful he’ll be reunited with his sister Arya. However, the girl is too old. She turns out to be Alys Karstark. She’s seeking protection from Jon from her uncles, who plan to marry her off, create an heir, then remove her from the picture. She informs Jon that her great uncle Arnolf only aligned himself with Stannis so that he could then betray the king when Stannis sieges Winterfell.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Queen Selyse Baratheon - Queen to King Stannis.
Princess Shireen Baratheon - Daughter of Stannis and Selyse. Heir to Stannis’ throne.
Wun Wun - Giant currently living at Castle Black.
Tycho Nestoris - Emissary of the Iron Bank of Braavos.
Alys Karstark - Daughter of deceased Rickard Karstark. Heir to her brother Harrion, the lord of Karhold.
Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.

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Daenerys openly flaunts her relationship with Daario, tells Quentyn Martell that he has come to late, and despite all kinds of misgivings, goes ahead and marries Hizdahr zo Loraq. Simon and Mackelly throw some confetti, half-heartedly.

Chapter Review:
Daenerys Targaryen spends her last nights as a single woman in the arms of Daario Naharis. Her looming nuptials strain their relationship. The Yunkaii continue to mass beyond her gates. She knows deep down that this will never be her city.

She holds court and gets a coded lecture from the Green Grace about her infidelities. Then Daario presents the Westerosi he captured and convinced to come over to her cause. The last 3 are the contingent from Dorne and present her with the contract drawn up by Oberyn Martell and William Darry for Viserys to marry Princess Arianne. She correctly infers that Quentyn hopes that he and she can fulfill the spirit of the contract. She welcomes him, but reaffirms that it is too late.

The next day she marries Hizadhr Zo Loraq in a long ceremony. She kind of hoped that Daario would rescue her from it.

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.
Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows.
Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, betrothed to Daenerys. Betrothed to Daenerys.
Quentyn Martell - Son of Prince Doran Martell. In Essos to offer his hand in marriage to Daenerys.
Barristan Selmy - Lord Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard. Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing.
Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal of Meereen
Skahaz mo Kandaq - AKA The Shavepate. Ghiscari noble of Meereen. Convert to Dany’s cause. Despised by the Sons of the Harpy.
Galazza Galare - The Green Grace, the high priestess of the Temple of the Graces in Meereen.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.

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Areo Hotah watches as the skull of the Mountain is presented to Prince Doran Martell. Finally peace between Dorne and the Iron Throne, predicted no one, ever. Mackelly and Simon roll out the barbed wire and start digging the trenches.

Chapter Review:
In the Old Palace of Sunspear, Areo Hotah watches as Maester Caleotte delivers an ebony chest to Prince Doran Martell. Inside is the skull of Gregor Clegane, which Obara Sand places on a marble pedestal. Doran declares that “the Mountain rides no more.” Ser Balon Swann, there on behalf of Queen Cersei, is made uneasy by the spicy food, the politics, and Princess Arianne’s careful attention.

Cersei’s letter requests that Myrcella visit King’s Landing, with Trystane to accompany her and Doran to take Oberyn’s seat on the small council. Doran suggests they travel by ship, and Balon’s reluctance to travel by sea does not go unnoticed.

After the feast, Doran gathers Obara, Nymeria, Tyene, Arianne, Ellaria, and Hotah in his solar. Ellaria breaks at the Sand Snakes’ refusal to accept the end of the blood feud with the Lannisters, rejecting the endless cycle of vengeance. When she leaves, the Sand Snakes demand war, but Doran forces them to swear obedience before revealing that Cersei’s invitation is a trap meant to kill Trystane on the road. Instead of violating guest right by killing Swann, Doran assigns each Sand Snake a role: Obara will lead Swann to hunt Darkstar, Nymeria will escort Myrcella to court and take the small council seat, and Tyene will infiltrate the Sept of Baelor. Arianne will remain in Sunspear as his heir. As plans move forward, Dorne prepares to strike back its own way.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Areo Hotah - Captain in Prince Doran Martell’s service.
Prince Doran Martell - Infirmed ruler of Dorne.
Princess Arianne Martell - Princess of Dorne. Heir to her father Prince Doran.
Balon Swann - Knight of the Kingsguard. Sent to Dorne with the skull of the Mountain.
Princess Myrcella Baratheon - Oldest living child of Cersei and Jaime Lannister.
Gerold Dayne - Known as Darkstar. Knight of High Hermitage.
The Sand Snakes - Bastard daughters of Oberyn Martell, Doran’s younger brother.
Sunspear - Seat of House Martell.

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Asha Greyjoy bent the knee to King Stannis. She’s been rewarded with shackles but is also treated as the king’s prize in his army’s ill-fated march on Winterfell. Simon and Mackelly hope she’s packed her thermals.

Chapter Review:
Stannis Baratheon's army winds out of Deepwood Motte. Among the baggage rolls Asha Greyjoy, fettered and guarded by Alysane “She-Bear” Mormont. Asha is Stannis’s living trophy for the lords of the north. The king plans to march 100 leagues through the forest in 15 days to Winterfell. A feat many of his followers claim his brother Robert would have done in 10 days. But this king is not his brother.

Asha watches Stannis’s grim procession with a broken ankle and a sharper mind. She recalls kneeling before him to save the last nine of her men and finds no mercy in the king, only duty. The southrons doubted the march but the northmen insisted.

Snow begins on the fourth day and never stops. Wagons vanish through ice, men freeze or simply sit down to die. The queen’s men call for a sacrifice to please their red god. “Pray harder,” Stannis tells them. Each night brings a smaller campfire and a growing list of losses. By day 20, Asha’s cart horse dies. Her shackles come off, but she must walk. The food’s gone, the grain’s gone, and hope is dwindling. Only the northmen seem unaffected by "autumn's kiss."

At last they find a crofter’s village. An opportunity to fish the frozen lake and huddle in the storm. Come morning, there are no trumpets, no warhorns, only white silence. Stannis’s army is snowbound, starving, and still a hundred miles from Winterfell.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Asha Greyjoy - princess of the Iron Islands.
Stannis Baratheon - Claimant to the Iron Throne, as Cersei's children aren't Robert's.
Justin Massey - Knight of the Crownlands.
Dagmar Cleftjaw - Ironborn Captain, currently holding Torren’s Square.
Deepwood Motte - Fortified town in the north-west of the North. Seat of House Glover.

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Theon has the freedom of Winterfell while Ramsay is distracted by Arya. He gets wooed by Abel’s women and learns the source of Barbrey Dustin’s animus towards the Starks. Simon and Mackelly try to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Chapter Review:
Theon Greyjoy roams Winterfell considering whether he might escape. But since The Iron Islands are death to him, and Winterfell is the only home he’s ever known, where would he go? Intel arrives that the snow storm that blights the castle has impacted Stannis even more - his march has ground to a halt.

Rowan, one of Abel’s women, asks Theon to describe how he took Winterfell, so that he might be immortalized in song. He refuses to share. Her kindness reeks of a Ramsay trap. Sour Alyn has been telling people that Ramsay keeps Arya chained naked to the bed. Theon knows this not to be true as he acts as her maid. She is bruised and frequently in tears however.

Barbrey Dustin thinks those tears are more dangerous than Stannis’ swords. The north fear the Boltons but love the Starks. A sentiment that she doesn’t share. She confides in Theon why she hates the Starks and why she’s looking out for Ned’s bones headed north. They won’t make it to the crypts of Winterfell, she’ll feed them to her dogs.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Reek - Broken shell of Theon Greyjoy.
Ramsay Bolton - Newly legitimized son of Roose Bolton. Nasty piece of work.
Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North.
Arya Stark - Youngest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Princess of Winterfell.
Jeyne Poole - Married to Ramsay Bolton masquerading as Arya Stark.
Barbrey Dustin - Lady of House Dustin.
Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.

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Tyrion and company are all but sunk by a fearsome storm after being becalmed for weeks. Be careful what you wish for. They’re rescued by, what even the nose-less can tell is a slave-ship. Mackelly and Simon move things from the frying pan into the fire.

Chapter Review:
Tyrion Lannister, Penny, and Jorah Mormont are still aboard the Selaesori Qhoran AKA “the Stinky Steward.” It’s been becalmed for nearly two weeks and the sailors are beginning to question if Tyrion and Penny are actually lucky. They are also eyeing Pretty Pig with hungry looks.

To distract and amuse them, Tyrion agrees to joust with Penny. He’s kind of hopeless, but she points out that that is rather the point. Afterward, he goads Mormont about his plans for Tyrion and Daenerys until the knight knocks Tyrion’s tooth out. A pyrrhic victory right there.

Finally a wind picks up, but it portends an almighty storm and Moqorro admits that the ship was never going to reach Qarth, not because it was going to redirect to Meereen, but because this storm was going to destroy it. The storm is immense and the ships is ruined. It comes through still afloat but with no mast, no Moqorro, flooded lower sections, and no hope of survival. But a ship is spotted headed their way. Unfortunately, as it nears Mormont is able to guess from the stench that it is a slave ship.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister whom he murdered. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King.
Ser Jorah Mormont - Twice-disgraced knight of the Seven Kingdoms. In love with Daenerys Targaryen.
Benerro - High priest of R’hllor in Volantis.
Moqorro - Priest of R’hllor.
Penny - Dwarf who performed at Joffrey’s wedding. Her brother Oppo was murdered.
Selaesori Qhoran - Trading cog. The ugliest ship Tyrion has ever seen. Her name means “fragrant steward.”

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Jon sends Val to Tormund Giantsbane with terms. In a shocking turn of events, Jon’s advisers disagree with the plan. Simon and Mackelly would like to remind Jon, well his advisers actually, of what befell Janos Slynt, and why.

Chapter Review:
Lord Commander Jon Snow escorts Val through the Wall. She’s headed north to find Tormund Giantsbane and offer him safe passage through the Wall if he’ll follow the expected rules - don’t kill everyone and help defend the Wall. She’s confident that she’ll find him, but less sure of how he’ll receive the message. She wants Jon to look after the baby, whom she’s dubbed Monster, as she’s certain that Melisandre has seen through the baby-swap deceit.

Back at the Wall, Jon’s breakfast is disturbed by Bowen Marsh, Othell Yarwick, and Septon Cellador. They don’t like to complain about everything, but the men are grumbling. They don’t want Leathers as the new Master-at-Arms, nor Satin as Jon’s steward. Jon doesn’t care. They don’t like Val’s mission. Jon doesn’t care. They don’t think more Wildlings should be admitted. Jon doesn’t care.

They worry about Jon’s (as yet unspoken) plans for Hardhome, a haunted town north of the Wall where it is rumored that the refugee free folk are amassing. Again Jon has to remind them that anyone who dies north of the Wall is going to come back to haunt them. They just don’t get it.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Val - Sister-in-law to Mance Rayder. Wrongly perceived as a princess by Stannis.
Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward of the Night’s Watch and oft-times critic of Jon Snow’s decisions.
Othell Yarwick - First Builder of the Night’s Watch.
Septon Cellador - Septon of Castle Black.
Iron Emmet - Ranger of the Night’s Watch and Master at Arms of Castle Black.
Dolorous Edd - Brother of the Night’s Watch and friend and steward to Jon Snow.
Ghost - Jon’s direwolf.
Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.

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Jeyne Poole marries Ramsay Bolton at Winterfell. Theon gives her away, Wyman Manderly supplies the victuals, Abel serenades the newlyweds, and Barbrey Dustin steals Simon’s best material. Simon and Mackelly reminisce about the good old days.

Chapter Review:
Theon Greyjoy encourages Jeyne Poole to never drop her facade, she must be Arya Stark. He escorts her to the godswood where Ramsay Bolton and the gathered northern lords await. The ceremony takes only a few moments despite a last second unspoken entreaty by Jeyne, to which Theon hardens his heart. Theon hears his name from the heart tree, and hurries out of there.

The wedding feast features three enormous pies supplied by Wyman Manderly. Roose Bolton watches to see that the lord of White Harbor takes a bite before he partakes. Lady Barbrey Dustin confides her suspicions to Theon: Wyman is a craven who hates his new friends, Roose Bolton has aspirations to be King in the North, and that maesters aren’t to be trusted.

Ramsay forces Theon to take part in the rape of Jeyne. Her future looks awfully bleak.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Reek - Broken shell of Theon Greyjoy.
Ramsay Bolton - Newly legitimized son of Roose Bolton. Nasty piece of work.
Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North.
Arya Stark - Youngest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Princess of Winterfell.
Jeyne Poole - Married to Ramsay Bolton masquerading as Arya Stark.
Barbrey Dustin - Lady of House Dustin.
Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.

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