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Jon watches as more than three thousand Free Folk pass through the Wall. He also receives desperate news from Hardhome where Cotter Pyke’s mission is going very badly. Simon and Mackelly celebrate the good news and worry about the bad.

Chapter Review:
Lord Commander Jon Snow rides out to meet with Tormund north of the Wall. The wildling waves his people forward. They come in a great procession that takes the whole day to get through the Wall. More than three thousand in total.

While they watch, the two men talk. Tormund says that the horn that was burned was not the Horn of Joramun - when the Free Folk sought it, they came up empty-handed. Tormund’s own son, Dryn, is one of the hostages that Jon demanded. Jon makes Dryn his page.

When the last are through, Jon returns to Castle Black to dark words from Cotter Pyke. He is stranded at Hardhome. The wildlings won’t board the Essosi ships believing that they are slavers. Plus, there are dead things in the water and the woods. He needs help.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Tormund Giantsbane - Leader of a large group of free folk.
Cotter Pyke - Night’s Watch Commander at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. On a mission to rescue Free Folk from HardHome.
Dryn - Tormund’s youngest son. Now a page to Jon.
Hardhome - Once the closest thing to a town north of the Wall. Now home to thousands of Free Folk refugees.

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Tyrion, Penny, and Jorah hitch a ride on the pale mare to start a new life. Mackelly and Simon look to a brighter future.

Chapter Review:
Tyrion Lannister, Penny, and Sweets tend to their master Yezzan zo Qaggaz, who is sick with the bloody flux. Some survive but the slaver was in such poor health anyway that Tyrion has no doubt that he’ll die. A healer is called for, who says the only help is clean water from the well.

Nurse died the previous day. He too could not survive the flux despite Tyrion’s special mushroom broth. A Lannister always pays his debts. Tyrion asks Yezzan’s slave soldiers to get water, but they don’t take orders from fellow slaves. So Tyrion, Penny, and Jorah – barely recognizable due to the relentless beatings he’s receiving – take buckets to the well.

But on the way back they detour via the Second Sons encampment. Tyrion assures Penny that Crunch and Pretty will be looked after by Sweets. Tyrion tries to convince Brown Ben Plum to keep them safe. He seduces him with promises of the riches that await any man who aligns himself with Tyrion. Just ask Bronn or Shagga.

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.
Penny - Dwarf who performed at Joffrey’s wedding. Her brother Oppo was murdered.
Yezzan zo Qaggaz - Noble of Yunkai. Slave owner with a penchant for the fantastic and grotesque.
Nurse - Yezzan’s lieutenant who manages his slaves.
Sweets - Hermaphrodite slave of Yezzan.
Brown Ben Plum - Westerosi sellsword who claims Targaryen blood, but has betrayed Daenerys.
Mushrooms - Tyrion had been carrying poisonous mushrooms in his shoes since Pentos.
Meereen - Major city on Slaver’s Bay.

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Victarion Greyjoy meets Moqorro. The priest of R’hllor proves his value by curing Victarion’s wounded hand. Onwards to Meereen and Daenerys - to claim her as his bride. Simon and Mackelly wonder if he and Daenerys might be ill-suited.

Chapter Review:
Victarion Greyjoy is awaiting the rest of his storm-ravaged Iron Fleet on the Isle of Cedars. The fleet has dwindled from 93 down to 54, but that new number includes captured cogs and fishing boats that hardly cover for the other losses.

He is ahead of a large fleet (300-500 ships) coming from Volantis to destroy Daenerys Targaryen, and knows he must leave soon if he is to claim her. His mission was to bring her back for his brother Euron, but he plans to claim her as his own bride.

One ship brings a prisoner to Victarion - Moqorro the priest of R’Hllor. Greyjoy is tempted to sacrifice him to the Drowned God, but the man has knowledge that he shouldn’t. Sequestered Moqorro heals Victarion’s injured hand, and so it is Maester Kerwin who becomes the sacrifice.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Victarion Greyjoy - Younger brother of Euron Greyjoy, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet.
Euron Greyjoy - Lord of the Iron Islands.
Maester Kerwin - Maester of the Citadel. Captured by the Ironborn and brought east with Victarion.
Daenerys Targaryen - Queen of Meereen, wanted as bride by Euron Greyjoy to allow him to claim the Iron Throne.
Moqorro - Red priest of R’hllor. Recently shipwrecked from the Selaesori Qhoran.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.
Isle of Cedars - island at the mouth of Slaver’s Bay.

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Barristan Selmy takes stock after the departure of Daenerys on Drogon. As Hizdahr cements his power, the old knight is forced into plots that he hoped he’d left behind. Simon and Mackelly egg him on.

Chapter Review:
With Queen Daenerys Targaryen still missing, Ser Barristan Selmy is informed by the seneschal Reznak mo Reznak that King Hizdahr zo Loraq no longer needs him by the new king’s side. Selmy is fine with that. He’s short of friends right now, with Daario and company still hostages of the Yunkai’i, but Missandei tells him that a masked Brazen Beast approached her to say that the Shavepate (Skahaz mo Kandaq) wants to meet with Selmy. He doesn’t trust these masked men, but he agrees to the meeting.

Barristan is convinced that Dany lives. She was riding Drogon like the Targaryens of old. But also like the dragons of old, the body count can get out of control. More than 200 burned to death at the fighting pit. He reminisces about his early life and bemoans that he is now engaging in the plots and schemes he hoped he’d left behind in King’s Landing.

He meets with Skahaz who wants rebellion. The Volantenes are coming to re-enslave everyone. The peace treaty is a sham. Worst of all, it was Hizdar’s confectioner who poisoned the locusts that had incapacitated Belwas, but the target was the queen. Selmy wants proof and if he gets it, he’ll help Skahaz with his plans.

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.
Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Lord Commander of the Dany’s Queensguard.
Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys.
Missandei - Translator and handmaid to Daenerys.
Skahaz mo Kandaq (aka The Shavepate) - Ghiscari noble, loyal to Daenerys and opposed to Hizdahr.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.

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Cersei makes the only play she can. She wisely confesses to most of her crimes, that have already been verified by other witnesses anyway, but denies the big ones. For those questions, trial by combat will determine her guilt. Uncle Kevan reports wholesale changes in the Small Council. Mackelly and Simon weigh her chances.

Chapter Review:
Queen Cersei Lannister hates her jailors, three dour septas. But they break her down and she is ready to confess. She’s brought before the High Septon. She admits to her infidelities, but denies the big ones: incest, treason, reicide, and deicide, all of which Osney Kettleblack implicated her in, under torture. The incest one is awkward for the High Septon. It is Stannis Baratheon's accusation and he has fallen in with a false god. He puts his faith in trial by combat to determine her guilt or innocence.

She is finally allowed a visitor; her uncle Kevan Lannister. He’s angry with her corruption of his son Lancel. And brings only bad news: Jaime has not returned, he was last seen cavorting the Riverlands with a woman believed to be Brienne of Tarth. The Tyrells and Tarlys have come to town to defend Queen Margaery, against whom the High Septon admits the case is weak. Kevan has assembled a whole new Small Council filled with nobody who cares for Cersei.

Worst of all is the news that Myrcella has been wounded in Dorne. Cersei blames Tyrion. She asks Kevan to work with Qyburn to get the right man into the Kingsguard to defend her honor.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen.
The High Septon - Leader of the faith. Known as the High Sparrow for his piety and commitment to poverty.
Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, new Hand of the King.
Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven.
Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei.
Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei.
Osney Kettleblack - Ally of Cersei, tortured into betraying her.

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Jon negotiates terms with Tormund, introduces Val to Queen Selyse, and not for the first time tries to convince his underlings of the true meaning of their vows and the sanity of his plans. Simon and Mackelly try to shake the feeling that it is Groundhog day, again.

Chapter Review:
Lord Commander Jon Snow and Tormund Giantsbane discuss terms for Tormund’s band of roughly four thousand free folk to pass through the Wall at Castle Black. After much arguing and threats of violence, Tormund finally agrees. His band won’t be happy with the concessions, including forfeiture or any valuables and 100 boys at wards of the Night’s Watch. They will meet again in three days to begin the process of transitioning south of the Wall.

Jon rides with Val back to Castle Black. She wants to continue helping with the relocation of the free folk. Jon takes her to meet Queen Selyse Baratheon. Selyse is happy Jon secured the deal with the wildlings, but becomes angry when she learns there was no mention of bending the knee or taking R’hllor as their god. Val says if they are made to kneel the free folk will rise, blades in hand.

Outside the tower, Val comments on Princess Shireen’s greyscale. She calls it grey death and says the girl is already dead. She wants her nephew Little Monster away from the girl. A shocked Jon says he’ll try. Val says he’d better succeed. He owes her.

Jon meets a group of Night’s Watch leaders and two wildling chiefs atop the Wall. Jon explains the situation with the wildlings relocating. The men push back on every detail of Jon’s plan. How will we feed them? What about the Weeper? How will you keep them at the Wall? Will you train the wards in combat? Jon’s answers are unsatisfactory, and Marsh says Jon is committing treason. Jon gives his brothers their assignments and can’t help but think of Melisandre’s warning of daggers in the dark.

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.
Val - Sister to Mance Rayder’s wife Dalla.
Tormund Giantsbane - Leader of a large group of free folk.
Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward at Castle Black.
Othell Yarwyck - First Builder at Castle Black.
Clydas - Acting maester at Castle Black.
Torghen Flint - Le

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Daenerys attends the reopening of the fighting pits. It’s pretty much as she expected until Drogon arrives and whisks her away. Simon and Mackelly try not to get carried away.

Chapter Review:
Daenerys Targaryen dons a tokar for the reopening of the fighting pits. Barristan Selmy reports that he freed Meris of the Windblown who assured him that she and the rest of the Westerosi deserters were in fact emissaries from the Tattered Prince who was ready to switch sides. All he wanted was the city of Pentos. Dany laughs at the price.

They head to the reopened fighting pits where Dany witnesses horrors a-plenty, two dwarves joust for her entertainment, and Strong Belwas gets sick on the honeyed locusts that Hizdar had suggested Dany sample.

Dany’s ready to leave when a boar dines on the innards of Barsena Blackhair. A shadow passes over the pit as Drogon arrives and feasts of boar and Barsena. Pandemonium descends as pit-men try to kill Drogon. Dany drops to the fighting floor and stares down her eldest. She finds a whip and wins the battle of wills. She climbs aboard and Drogon takes flight.

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.
Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Lord Commander of the Dany’s Queensguard.
Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys.
Quentyn Martell - Son of Prince Doran Martell. In Essos to offer his hand in marriage to Daenerys.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.

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Theon watches as a child's body is laid before Lord Roose instigating in-fighting in the castle. Roose calls for battle preparations against Stannis. Theon is called into duty to smuggle Arya out of Winterfell. All goes well, until it doesn’t. Mackelly and Simon hope for a soft landing.

Chapter Review:
Theon Greyjoy sits at the back of the Great Hall of Winterfell, alongside the bard Abel and some of his women. Ser Hosteen Frey bursts through the doors with Little Walder’s dead body in his arms and lays him below the dais. A bloody Big Walder and several knights accompany Hosteen. Big Walder says Little Walder went looking for a man who owed him coin from dicing, and it was the Manderlys who taught him the game. Fighting breaks out between the Freys and Manderlys, leaving Lord Wyman Manderly bleeding and several men dead.

Lord Roose announces that they will ride out against Stannis, and the Freys and Manderlys will lead the charge. Abel’s women say that now is the time to enact their plan. Theon meets the women in the godswood. They’re all dressed as servants. After filling buckets of hot water, they gain entrance to Lady Arya’s room. Theon coaxes Jeyne, who almost reveals she’s not Arya, into cooperating. She trades clothing with a washerwoman, who remains behind to keep the numbers accurate, and they walk Jeyne out of the keep.

Several of the women go off to find Abel and two go with Theon and Jeyne. When the women kill two guards, Jeyne lets out a scream, which brings more guards. One woman stays behind to hold them off, the other takes Theon and Jeyne up the stairs of the outer wall, only to realize she doesn’t have the rope to repel down. When she is killed by a crossbow bolt and Theon and Jeyne are surrounded, Theon grabs Jeyne and they jump off the wall.

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.
Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.
Abel - Bard in Winterfell. Possibly Mance Rayder.

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