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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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Davos is marooned on Sweetsister, Salladhor Saan has lost patience with his unpaid service to Stannis. The local lord is sorely tempted to sell his guest to Queen Cersei. But tradition dictates that he aids a rebel. Mackelly and Simon assume Davos will be OK, at least until he gets to White Harbor.

Chapter Review:
Davos Seaworth is brought before Lord Godric Borrell. The onion knight has rowed to Sweetsister after being abandoned by Salladhor Saan. The Lyseni pirate has given up following orders after half his ships were lost to storms on the journey south from Eastwatch. That is the final straw after Stannis has shown no sign of rewarding anyone for their service. Instead he intends to sail to the Stepstones for some more profitable piracy.

Lord Godric ponders selling Davos to Cersei - who is in charge again after the death of Tywin, which is news to Davos. Godric won’t allow a bird to be sent to Castle Black - he won’t take sides in the Game of Thrones.

But he does recall his father aiding Ned Stark in a similar fashion at the start of Robert’s Rebellion. Ned got away, leaving a fisherman’s daughter pregnant - she called the child Jon. Davos can go to White Harbor but the Manderlys have thrown their lot in with the Freys. And if Stannis loses, Davos was never here.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Davos Seaworth - Hand of the King to King Stannis Baratheon.
Lord Godric Borrell - Lord of Sweetsister.
Stannis Baratheon - King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Ned Stark - Deceased patriarch of House Stark.
Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.
Sweetsister - One of the Three Sisters, islands in the Bite between the Vale and the North.

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Tyrion meets Griff and young Griff. He has suspicions about who Griff might be, but Griff is plenty suspicious of Tyrion in return. Mackelly and Simon ponder the possibilities. 

Chapter Review

Tyrion is passed from Illyrio to Haldon the Half-Maester and Ser Rolly “Duck” Duckworth, along with letters, chests, and candy for young Griff. As they depart Tyrion sees Mopatis looking forlorn. Duck provides his life story, including being dubbed by Griff watched by Ducks, confirming his nickname. 

When they reach the Little Rhoyne at the ruined city of Ghoyan Drohe, they rendezvous with the riverboat, the Shy Maid. They are welcomed by Young Griff who dyes his hair blue in the Tyroshi fashion - after his mother - but Tyrion thinks that it won’t fly in Westeros.
 
Griff the elder is far from pleased to welcome Tyrion. A letter from Mopatis explains what is going on, but doesn’t change his mood. He thinks Danaerys would be well advised to reject a kin and kingslayer from her service. But Tyrion catches him in several lies and suspects who Griff might truly be.

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.
Illyrio Mopatis - Magister of Pentos. Former guardian of Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. Friend of Lord Varys.
Griff - red-haired sellsword in service to Illyrio 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. 
Ghoyan Drohe - City in Essos destroyed by dragons centuries ago.
Rhoyne River - greatest river in Essos. Flows south to Volantis. 

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Jon sends Aemon, Gilly, Sam, and the wrong baby away from the Wall. He appoints Night’s Watch brothers to rebuild and command castles along the Wall. Janos Slynt refuses and Jon levies a stiff punishment in response. Stannis approves. Simon and Mackelly admire Jon’s transformation - from boy to man.

Chapter Review:
Jon has met with Maester Aemon, who provided the same advice he once gave to his brother Egg: Kill the boy so that the man may be born. Time to grow up. Jon puts this into practice when he meets with Gilly and explains what she must do to save Dalla’s baby - give up her own. She agrees under considerable duress.

Next, he meets with Sam who must go to Oldtown and become a maester. Sam is flustered, a Tarly cannot wear a chain of servitude, and he cannot learn to heal because he’s scared of blood. Jon reminds him that he’s a brother of the Night's Watch, and while he cannot order him to be brave, he can order him to hide his fears. He will go and he’ll earn his chain.

Lastly, Jon commissions Bedwyck to refit and take command of the abandoned way-castle at Icemark. He’ll command 30 men. Bedwyck’s a seasoned ranger and Jon knows he’ll prove more than capable. He gives Janos Slynt the same opportunity at Greyguard. Slynt refuses. Jon gives him a chance to back down but the oaf won’t listen. When Jon calls for his seizure and execution Slynt’s friends melt away. Jon decapitates Slynt before the approving eyes of King Stannis.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander 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 and recently returned from King’s Landing.
Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Formerly commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing and briefly Lord of Harrenhal.
Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall, and former brother of the Night’s Watch.
Bedwyck (Giant)

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Quentyn Martell is thwarted in his efforts to get from Volantis to Meereen to woo his future wife Daenerys Targaryen. Simon and Mackelly consider opening our first branch of our Essosi travel agency.

Chapter Review:
Quentyn Martell tries to find passage from Volantis to Slaver’s Bay. But despite the abundance of ships, nobody wants to take him. The autumn brings storms to the southern seas, and with the Dragon Queen upending the normal order of things, there’s little prospect for trade with any of the cities in Slaver’s Bay.

He and his friend Gerris Drinkwater return to their lodgings, taking in the sites of Volantis. It’s the largest of the free cities, sitting at the mouth of the mighty Rhoyne river. They consider their options: go home - Quentyn couldn’t stand to return a failure, risk a journey with an untrustworthy captain, or go by land - the option favored by their final companion Archibald Yronwood. However, the length of the journey by land and the hazardous reputation of the road gives them pause.
Outside their inn they’re propositioned by recruiters for the Windblown - sellswords headed to Yunkai to fight Astapor. But this gives Gerris an idea…

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Quentyn Martell - Eldest son, and second child of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne.
Gerris Drinkwater - Quentyn’s companion.
Archibald Yronwood - The Big Man - final member of the trio.
Volantis - City on the south coast of Essos at the mouth of the Rhoyne.
Rhoyne - Great river of Essos.
Triarch - Three rulers of Volantis, elected by landowners. Only those with the blood of Old Valyria can stand.

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Tyrion and Illyrio Mopatis are trapped in a closed palanquin, hidden from the world, with just each other’s voices for company. Mackelly and Simon try to imagine what that must be like.

Chapter Review:
Tyrion Lannister and Illyrio Mopatis leave Pentos in a closed palanquin. Nobody can know of Tyrion’s presence or destination. He thinks that between the sailors and Mopatis’ servants the word is already out. But his host is confident of their discretion. Tyrion is doubtful. 

Tyrion tries to unearth Mopatis’ true motivations in helping Daenerys Targaryen regain the Iron Throne. The Pentosi claims that he just wants to help the young girl he fell in love with, that he was promised a Westerosi lordship and the role of Master of Coin. None of that convinces Tyrion. 

They’re headed east toward the Rhoyne, where Tyrion will go south by river to Volantis. There Mopatis expects he’ll rendezvous with Daenerys and her growing army. Tyrion will be accompanied by a sell-sword named Griff - who (again) Mopatis places an amazing amount of faith in.

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.
Illyrio Mopatis - Magister of Pentos. Former guardian of Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. Friend of Lord Varys.
Lord Varys - Former Master of Whisperers in King’s Landing, freed Tyrion from captivity at Jaime’s instructions.
Pentos - One of the free cities of Essos.

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Bran and company are north of the Wall. Things are bleak but Coldhands protects them from those who would do them harm, and brings back some meat to roast. Simon and Jenny throw up in the back of their throats.

Chapter Review:
Bran Stark rides on Hodor’s shoulders, Meera and an increasingly frail Jojen ride on Coldhands elk. Coldhands keeps his face obscured, but there’s no hiding the coldness of the hands, nor the fact that his breath doesn’t frost before him like the others. As Summer, Bran also notices that their guide smells dead. The former brother of the Night’s Watch has ravens who report that they’re being followed.

He leaves the party to deal with the pursuit while the remainder seek an abandoned village in which to rest. Bran wargs into Summer and finds wolves fighting over dead humans. This is Varmyr’s little pack, who quickly bend the knee to Summer and allow him the lion’s share of the meat. Bran comes back into himself.

Coldhands has dealt with the danger, and has slaughtered a pig for them to eat. As they eat they ask the man questions. He explains his appearance is to do with him being dead. He also explains that they seek the Three-Eyed Crow: “A friend, dreamer, wizard. The last Greenseer.”

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.
Old Nan - Ancient storyteller at Winterfell.

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