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Aboard the Cinnamon Wind, Sam and Gilly mourn the loss of Maester Aemon. The old man succumbed as the ship neared Dorne. Their tears bring them into each other’s arms and Sam’s vows are history. Simon and Mackelly sprinkle rose petals in the bathtub and try to light a scented candle.

Chapter Review:
Samwell Tarly eulogizes Maester Aemon to the crew of the Cinnamon Wind. The Summer Islanders honor their elderly and their funeral rites involve drinking and love-making. The news of the dragons that Xhondo provided put a spring in Aemon’s step, but it couldn’t last and as the ship made its way around Dorne, he succumbed after a period of sporadically lucid dream and prophecy. Part of which was a realization that the Prince Who Was Promised is in fact Daenerys.

Drunk on rum, Sam and Gilly make love in the women’s section of the boat. Sam has fleeting regrets about his vows, but they’re swept away by his feelings for Gilly. The next day the regrets are in ascendancy, and he avoids Gilly all day.

Sam has paid for passage with the books intended for the Citadel, and with his labor. But the captain assures him that the Citadel shan’t miss out - he’ll sell them the books and make a healthy profit from them. He uses the excuse of work to avoid Gilly but eventually he’s taken aside by the captain’s daughter Kojja who tells him to go to Gilly or swim.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Samwell Tarly - brother of the Night’s Watch, friend to John Snow. Slayer of Others.
Gilly - Daughter of Craster. Beloved of Samwell.
Maester Aemon - 102 year-old maester of the Night’s Watch.
Xhondo Dhuro - mate on the Cinnamon Wind. From the Summer Isles.
Quhuru Mo - captain of the Cinnamon Wind.
Kojja Mo - Daughter of the captain.
Narrow Sea - Separating Westeros from Essos.

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Arya murders Dareon for deserting the Night’s Watch. It appears that the Many-Faced God doesn’t agree, as she is struck blind. Mackelly and Simon grope for answers.

Chapter Review:
We learn of Arya’ Stark's (aka Cat of the Canals) day-to-day life as a seafood seller on the docks of Braavos. It’s a vibrant atmosphere that she relishes. She learns languages, skills, and information like a sponge.

She visits a regular customer, the brothel run by Merry. There she sees Dareon singing. He’s dressed more like a peacock than a crow. She does not like the man. She leaves the brothel at the same time as him and they walk together for a while. When she returns to Brusco’s ,in addition to the day’s takings, she has a nice pair of boots.

She visits the House of Black and White, as she does at every new moon, and learns some poison-lore from the Waif. She confesses to the Kindly Man that Arya Stark killed Dareon, nervous as to his reaction. He offers her warmed milk, which sounds benign. However, the next morning she has been struck blind.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark.
Kindly Man - Priest of the Many-Faced God.
Waif - Priestess of the Many-Faced God.
Brusco - Seafood merchant.
Merry - Kindly brothel owner.
Dareon - Night’s Watch runaway and singer.
Braavos - A free city in Essos.
Many-Faced God - A god worshiped in Essos that embodies all gods.

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Jaime arrives at Riverrun hopeful of ending the siege without breaking his oath to Catelyn (not to take up arms against the Tullys). He gets some home-truths from his aunt Genna. Simon and Mackelly weigh up the impact.

Chapter Review:
Jaime Lannister arrives at Riverrun and meets with his cousin Daven Lannister, the new Warden of the West. They have a good rapport. The younger man is modest about his new-found honors, and thinks that his father’s cousin Kevan should have been made Warden of the West. Jaime doesn’t disagree. Devan has had it with the Freys. Their cruelty and belligerence are doing nothing to help end this siege.

Jaime is concerned that so few Riverlands houses are represented. They may have bent the knee but their hearts are clearly not in it. He intends to parley with Brynden Blackfish Tully, who holds Riverrun but first meets with his Aunt Genna and her husband Emmon Frey, to whom Riverrun is promised.

Emmon whines about the damage to his new castle. Genna catches up on family news before concluding they should have been given Darry instead. She explains her loyalty to her big brother Tywin, and while expressing her fondness for Jaime, confesses that Tyrion was the child most like his father. But when she told Tywin that, it was met by half a year of silence.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Biological father of King Tommen.
Daven Lannister - Son of Stafford Lannister. New Warden of the West.
Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Jaime, sidelined from power by Cersei.
Genna Lannister - Sister to Tywin, aunt to Jaime.
Emmon Frey - Husband to Genna. New lord of Riverrun - if and when it falls.
Brynden Blackfish Tully - Uncle to Edmure Tully. De facto Lord of Riverrun.
Edmure Tully - Stripped of his lordship of Riverrun, captive of the Freys.
Ryman Frey - Heir to the Twins. Abuser of Edmure.
Riverrun - Former capital of the Riverlands. Seat of House Tully. Gifted to the Freys by the crown. Under siege.

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Cersei learns of the attack on the Reach by the Iron Born and feels unmotivated to react. She gets a gift from Ser Loras, which leaves Cersei with a golden win-win opportunity. She has an unexpected drop-in by Falyse, whose husband has been killed by Bronn and also confessed Cersei’s plot. Qyburn is given instructions that Falyse should never see the light of day again. Finally, she tries to take Taena roughly, as Robert once did with Cersei, but she can’t get into it. Simon and Mackelly shudder at Falyse’s fate.

Chapter Review:
Queen Cersei Lannister sits in the shadow of the Iron Throne, as Queen Margaery Tyrell implores Cersei to take immediate action against the Iron Born, who have taken the Shield Islands. Cersei thinks it’s a plot by Stannis Baratheon to distract the Tyrell force from their siege at Storm’s End. She suggests the Tyrells deal with their own issue with what resources they have available. When Dragonstone falls, the Redwyne fleet can then sail home and defend the Reach. Ser Loras Tyrell offers to lead an assault on Dragonstone, to expedite a resolution. Cersei can’t believe her good luck. No matter the outcome of this assault, Cersei stands to come out a winner.

Falyse Stokeworth comes back to King’s Landing with bad news. Instead of stealthily assassinating Bronn, her husband challenged him to a joust. It went badly, and Ser Balman confessed to Cersei’s part in the plot before Bronn dispatched him. Cersei dispatches her failed conspirator to Qyburn.

Cersei shares a bed with Taena Merryweather and forces herself upon her new friend. When the younger woman submits, Cersei loses interest and sends her away.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Cersei Lannister - Mother to King Tommen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
King Tommen Baratheon - Child king of the Seven Kingdoms.
Taena Merryweather - Social-climbing Myrish friend of Queen Cersei.
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Biological father of Tommen.
Margaery Tyrell - Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Only daughter of Mace and Alerie Tyrell.
Loras Tyrell - Knight of Flowers. Brother to Margaery and brother of the Kingsguard.
Qyburn - Creepy as all hell fallen maester, now Master of Whisperers in King’s Landing.
Falyse Stokeworth - Daughter of Lady Tanda Stokeworth and widow

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Brienne learns that she’s been on the scent of the wrong Stark girl, and gets definitive intel on the Hound… or does she? Mackelly and Simon consider the probabilities.

Chapter Review:
Brienne of Tarth, Podrick Payne, Ser Hyle, and Septon Meribald reach Quiet Isle, an island in the mouth of the Trident that houses a penitential septry. They see a fearsome looking horse named Driftwood in the stables and a huge novice digging a grave. The future occupant had the misfortune to be in Saltpans when the purported Hound’s raid took place.

The Elder Brother of the Isle welcomes them and asks that septon Meribald hear confessions before he leaves. He tells them news from Saltpans. How the citizenry were left to their fate when Ser Quincy Cox barred the doors to his keep. Furthermore he has information for Brienne.

He met the dying Sandor Clegane by the roadside and, while he could not give him the mercy he sought, he held the Hound as he died. He buried him and left his helmet to mark his grave. Obviously someone picked it up and wore it in Saltpans. He knows that Clegane was traveling with Arya, not Sansa, and she was alive when the Hound was left for dead. Driftwood is Clegane’s horse Stranger.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Brienne of Tarth - Charged with rescuing Sansa Stark.
Podrick Payne - Former squire to Tyrion Lannister, now traveling with Brienne.
Ser Hyle Hunt - Captain in service to House Tarly. Former tormentor of Brienne.
Septon Meribald - Itinerant Septon of the Riverlands.
Sansa Stark - Eldest surviving Stark child. Currently in the Eyrie with Petyr Baelish.
Sandor "The Hound" Clegane - Fallen Kingsguard. Former travel companion of Arya Stark.
Stranger/Driftwood - Warhorse of Sandor Clegane. Equally bad tempered.

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Jaime tarries in Darry to confront his cousin Lancel. He finds a man lost to his faith, a faith that has taken up arms with relish. Mackelly and Simon consider converting.

Chapter Review:
Jaime Lannister finds Darry being rebuilt but still scarred by recent wars. His uncle Kevan has left, having quarreled with Lancel after the wedding of Lancel to Amerei Frey - heir to Darry.

Jaime encourages his squire Peck to make a move with the freed girl Pia - between whom a romance has bloomed. Jaime advises the young lad to seek her permission and to treat her kindly. At dinner Amerei Frey-Darry-Lannister beseeches Jaime to stay and protect Darry from the wolves and brigands that plague the region. Jaime demurs, but others are willing to help.

Jaime finds Lancel in the sept where he doesn’t eat, but does sleep. Lancel confesses all his crimes, including the fact that he already confessed those crimes to the former High Septon. His new plan is to set aside Amerei and to return to King’s Landing as a member of the Faith Militant. Jaime cannot understand why anyone would give up all Lancel has, but Lancel points out that Jaime did.

Jaime spars with Ilyn Payne and unburdens his own crimes to the mute. He slept with Cersei over King Robert’s drunken body, right here in this castle. The executioner just laughs.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Biological father of King Tommen.
Cersei Lannister - Mother to King Tommen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
Addam Marbrand - Commander of the Gold Cloaks. Friend of Jaime’s.
Ilyn Payne - King’s Justice who lost his tongue, so is unable to read, write, or speak.
Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Jaime, father of Lancel.
Lancel Lannister - Son of Kevn, new husband of Amerei Frey. Former lover of Cersei.
Amerei Frey - Daughter of Mariya Darry-Frey. New wife to Lancel and Lady of Darry.
Mariya Darry-Frey - Former Lady of Darry.
Castle Darry - Not on the way from Harrenhal to Riverrun.

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Victarion Greyjoy fights through his opponents and his misgivings about his brother King Euron. He’s dispatched to Essos to bring back a fiancé (for Euron) and three dragons, but Victarion has other ideas. Mackelly and Simon ponder who would win The Bachelor: Iron Islands.

Chapter Review:
Victarion Greyjoy gets back to what he does best: following orders and taking names. The Iron Fleet decimates the reduced naval capacity of the Reach to claim the Shield Islands, which have long protected the mouth of the Mander River.
The victors feast in the hall of the vanquished, humiliating and abusing prisoners. The scene is festive (if you are an Iron Islander, to anybody else it’s pretty grim), with plunder and revelry for all. But there are some cracks in the facade of unity. Euron wants to sell the captives into slavery against the tradition of thralldom. He awards lordships of the four Shield Islands to redoubtable allies, who just happen to be mainstays of Euron’s principle opponents.

Euron wants the entire fleet to head to Essos to bring back the most beautiful woman in the world to be his fiancé, and to use the dragon horn to command her dragons. Wiser heads convince him to send only a portion - so he sends Victarion and his Iron Fleet. The younger brother accedes, but decides that he would quite like to be affianced to the most beautiful woman in the world.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Victarion Greyjoy - Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. Brother to Euron.
Euron “Crow’s Eye” Greyjoy - New king of the Iron Islands, elder brother to Aeron.
Asha Greyjoy - Daughter of Balon. Fierce fighter and reaver. Well respected. In hiding since Euron’s elevation.
Aeron “Damphair” Greyjoy - Youngest brother of King Balon Greyjoy. Priest of the Drowned God.
Shield Islands - Cluster of four small islands at the mouth of the Mander.
Mander - Great river that flows from east to west through the Reach.

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Cersei gets an update on Margaery court, while being waylaid by sparrows. She negotiates a deal with the new High Septon. He’ll bless Tommen and erase the crown’s debt to the Faith for a law allowing the re-emergence of the Faith Militant. Finally, she makes a veiled threat to Margaery. Mackelly and Simon bow their heads in prayer that she knows what she’s doing.

Chapter Review:
Queen Cersei Lannister rides to the Great Sept of Baelor with Taena Maryweather. Taena fills Cersei in on the men in Margaery's court. The list is filled with most of the young, handsome knights in King’s Landing. Therefore, the addition of Grand Maester Pycelle stands out. The going is slow. The litter is blocked by sparrows clogging the streets. Ultimately, Cersei walks the remainder of the way. Upon seeing a pile of bones of slain faithful, Cersei promises to seek revenge. However, the sparrows want only protection for the living.

Inside the sept, Cersei is shocked to see septons on hands and knees scrubbing. When she meets the High Septon, she says he should have met her in his finest robes and a crystal crown, not wet and dirty. He explains that they’ve sold their crowns and fine robes. Cersei asks to speak in private. They kneel at the feet of the Crone. Cersei wants the sparrows gone from King’s Landing and a blessing from the High Septon for King Tommen. The High Septon wants better protection from the king for the faithful throughout the realm. Cersei suggests they protect themselves, but a law prohibits the faith from taking up arms. She offers to abolish the law for a blessing for the king and forgiveness on the crown’s debt to the faith. The High Septon agrees.

On the ride back to the Red Keep, Cersei’s festive mood is killed by the sight of Queen Margaery and her court. The two queens exchange pleasantries and barbs. When Cersei sees Margaery and Loras together, it reminds her of Jaime and herself. An idea takes root and laughter bursts forth. Margaery wants to share in the jest, and Cersei promises her that she will.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Cersei Lannister - Mother to King Tommen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
King Tommen Baratheon - Child king of the Seven Kingdoms.
High Septon - The highest ranking member of the Faith of the Seven.
Taena Merryweather - Socia

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