Chapter Summaries

Ian learned that Pentos’s factional conflict had escalated into a deadly tournament between Prince Hazan and Governor Tytellus, scheduled for the same day Khal Drogo was expected to arrive. As Pentos prepared for the Dothraki and expanded its City Watch, Ian discovered that the Black Falcon Mercenary Group had secretly taken work in the city.

• Hazrul told Ian that Suda Tytellus had threatened to kill Prince Hazan after Deliph Hauket broke her betrothal to Suda and announced her wedding to Hazan.
• With Governor Tytellus’s approval, Suda challenged Hazan to a seven-on-seven tournament to the death, and Hazan accepted with the match set for a month later.
• Ian asked Hazrul to investigate notable newcomers in Pentos, while Illyrio refused to take Ian to banquets because Viserys might resent Ian appearing as Illyrio’s subordinate.
• Rumors about Khal Drogo’s enormous khalasar spread through Pentos, and the Magisters’ Council voted to recruit mercenaries and temporarily double the City Watch.
• The council assigned the new mercenaries to three commanders, including Prince Hazan and Governor Tytellus, while Ian discovered that the Black Falcon Mercenary Group had joined the City Watch for private work.

Varys sent Jorah Mormont to Pentos with a letter for Illyrio, outlining plans to protect the Targaryen siblings and objecting to a proposal involving Ian Rivers. In Pentos, Ian found a dossier on Gini Temay that suggested another player from his country had appeared, though the man had vanished.

• Varys sealed a letter for Illyrio, explaining that Jorah Mormont would serve as their eyes and that Robert should send no further assassins for a time.
• Varys gave Jorah the letter and warned him that nothing could happen to the Targaryen siblings; Jorah reminded Varys of their agreement and left.
• Hazrul gave Ian files on 106 recent arrivals in Pentos whose influence had risen quickly, and Ian asked him about recent events in the city.
• Hazrul described how Pentos had expanded its City Watch, while Ian considered how vulnerable the surrounding countryside would be to a Dothraki raid.
• Ian found a file on Gini Temay, a Lorathian merchant whose suspicious rise and disappearance pointed to him being a player from Ian's country.

Ian learned that Khal Drogo had arrived in Pentos ahead of his khalasar and was invited to swear allegiance at a banquet. He questioned Hazrul about Gini Temay, whose bizarre confession at the Red Temple made Ian suspect another player faction was involved, and began tracing the man’s past in Pentos.

• Khal Drogo arrived in Pentos with three hundred guard riders, and Illyrio’s steward told Ian to prepare to swear allegiance at Drogo’s upcoming banquet.
• Hazrul visited Ian with new leads on Gini Temay, whose last known appearance had been at the Red Temple on the day Suda Tytellus swore to kill Prince Hazan.
• Hazrul said Gini Temay always wore a black robe and had told a Red Temple priestess that he should never have touched a basketball.
• Ian suspected another player faction might be hunting Gini Temay and asked Hazrul to find out whether anyone else had questioned the priests about him.
• Hazrul said Gini Temay’s name first appeared on a bounty notice at Joma Inn nearly three months earlier, and Ian asked where the inn was.

Ian questioned Big Mouse Hazrul about Gini Temay’s movements in Pentos, learning how Temay built a mercenary group before it was destroyed and he disappeared. After Temay resurfaced at the Red Temple, Ian suspected there was more to his return and asked Hazrul about the group that had defeated him.

• Hazrul told Ian that Joma Inn had become Pentos’s main mercenary gathering place and that Temay had posted a job there under his name.
• Hazrul explained that Temay canceled the job a week later, met the swordsman Mann Xarl, and later led a masked group under different names.
• Hazrul said Temay’s group made money at the harbor, grew during the anti-slavery campaign, and once sent a Sellsword Knight to seek an audience with Lord Illyrio.
• Hazrul recounted that Governor Tytellus’s counterattack led Temay’s enemies to destroy his group in late October, after which Temay vanished until appearing at the Red Temple.
• Ian questioned how Temay could have returned and exposed himself again, then asked Hazrul to identify the group that had driven Temay’s people into a corner.

Ian learned that Ser Andor Poole, his potential enemy, had joined Suda Tytellus’s personal guard, making it dangerous to act against him while Illyrio remained neutral. He resolved to have Bronn’s group investigate Andor and sent a letter by raven, while Gini Temay’s fate remained uncertain.

• Hazrul told Ian that Ser Andor Poole had joined Suda Tytellus’s guard and was recruiting fighters in the Lower City, then warned Ian not to harm him.
• Ian assured Hazrul that he would not endanger Illyrio’s interests and said his hostility toward Andor was tied to a secret concerning Ser Darren.
• Hazrul reported that Gini Temay’s body had never been identified after the dockside attack, leaving Ian unsure whether the man seen at the Red Temple was Temay or someone impersonating him.
• After Hazrul left, Ian weighed the risk of acting against Andor and decided Bronn’s group could at least investigate him.
• Ian wrote a letter and used Skinchanging to take over a raven’s consciousness.

Ian learned that the player Ser Andor Poole was serving as an examiner at White Sand arena and flew there to assess him, but Andor did not fight. While watching the arena, Ian overheard Suda Tytellus and the Ambassador of Oranto discussing the Sea Lord’s agreement to let two Water Dancers represent them in battle against a threat to the Iron Bank’s interests.

• Bronn reported to Dorian that Ser Andor Poole was recruiting champion warriors at White Sand arena and was known for refined swordsmanship and cruel fighting tactics.
• Ian learned that Andor was one of Suda Tytellus’s three examiners and decided to watch him fight before planning his next move.
• Ian flew to White Sand arena, identified the sword-wielding examiner as Andor, and watched the preliminary matches, but none of the examiners entered the ring.
• Ian heard Suda Tytellus speak with the Ambassador of Oranto and learned that the Sea Lord had agreed to let two Water Dancers represent them in battle.
• The Ambassador explained that the Sea Lord opposed Marian and the Keyholders gaining power in Pentos because it could strengthen his rivals in the Iron Bank.

Ian Raven overheard that the Pentos tournament was tied to the coming Braavos Sea Lord election and learned that two Water Dancers had secretly switched to Suda Tytellus's side. He planned to use Yada Mol to gain Ambassador of Oranto's support for Prince Hazan without openly defying Illyrio, then briefed Darren and Yada on their cover story.

• Suda Tytellus and another young noble discussed Sea Lord Ferego Antarion's declining health, Tormo Freyga's ambitions, and the rival factions supporting Suda and Prince Hazan.
• Ian Raven overheard that Suda's faction had persuaded the Sea Lord to turn two Water Dancers against Hazan, and recognized that the revelation could give him leverage with Hazan and Ambassador of Oranto.
• Ian decided to bring Yada Mol to Khal Drogo's banquet so Oranto might recruit him to fight for Hazan, while Ian could claim he had acted out of respect for Illyrio.
• Ian returned to Illyrio's residence and told Ser Darren Grafson and Yada Mol to claim that Yada was Darren's loyal personal guard, whom Darren had once saved in Braavos.

At Khal Drogo’s feast, Viserys learned that Ian Rivers of House Darry had come to support his claim, while Daenerys feared being married to Drogo and endured Viserys’s anger. Ian approached Viserys and interrupted his intimidation of Daenerys, but Viserys challenged him for not declaring loyalty.

• Illyrio introduced Viserys, Daenerys, and the gathered guests, including Ian Rivers, whose House Darry had been destroyed by the usurper.
• Viserys became excited at the prospect of loyal followers, then vowed revenge on the rebels and House Lannister.
• Illyrio pointed out Khal Drogo, and Viserys told Daenerys that Drogo had never been defeated and that she would be his queen.
• Daenerys pleaded with Viserys that she did not want to marry Drogo, and Viserys angrily demanded to know what home she expected to return to.
• Ian offered Viserys the blessings and respects of House Darry, prompting Viserys to release Daenerys and ask Ian why he had not mentioned loyalty.

Ian Rivers swore fealty to Viserys, presenting House Darry as a family devoted to the Targaryen cause, and Viserys accepted him as Earl Ian Dary. Viserys felt genuine devotion for the first time, but Illyrio soon brought Khal Drogo forward, leaving Darren Grafton and Jorah Mormont waiting to swear their oaths.

• Ian recounted House Darry’s sacrifices for the Targaryens and knelt before Viserys to offer his loyalty.
• When Viserys questioned Ian’s bastard status, Ian explained that only a royal decree could grant him his father’s surname, and Viserys declared himself the rightful king.
• Ian swore fealty, and Viserys accepted him and named him Earl Ian Dary.
• The onlookers applauded, and Viserys felt the devotion Ian had offered him.
• Darren Grafton and Jorah Mormont prepared to swear fealty, but Illyrio led Khal Drogo to Viserys, who dismissed Ian and urged Dany to greet Drogo confidently.

Ian watched Jorah Mormont pass and reflected on Jorah’s history before meeting Yada Mol, who was approached by Braavos’s ambassador and Prince Hazan Moharis. Hazan invited Yada to dinner the next day, threatening Ian’s plan to secure an agreement before Illyrio could intervene.

• Jorah Mormont greeted Ian teasingly and walked on, while Ian recalled Jorah’s disastrous marriage to Lynesse Hightower and his later turn toward Daenerys.
• Oranto Lannister approached Yada Mol and introduced himself as Braavos’s ambassador to Pentos.
• Oranto introduced Prince Hazan Moharis and his fiancée, Deliph Hauket, and explained Hazan’s connection to an Iron Bank Keyholder.
• Yada asked Hazan what he wanted, and Hazan invited him to dinner at his residence the next day.
• Ian realized the delay could give Illyrio time to interfere with his plan to finalize an agreement and defeat Andar Pyle.

Ian planned to use the proxy-warrior contest to weaken Suda’s side, kill Andar Pyle, and win Hazan and Oranto as allies. Darren Grafton approached Hazan and Ambassador of Oranto, but their negotiations had only begun when Yada revealed that Darren was his master.

• Ian planned to poison two Water Dancers who would defect to Suda’s side and had sent Bronn to compete as one of Suda’s proxy warriors.
• Ian considered using Bronn, Yada Mol, Keith, and Jorah Mormont to secure Hazan’s victory and kill Andar Pyle, while weighing the risk of casualties.
• Ian signaled Daron to proceed with the plan to reach an agreement with Ambassador of Oranto and obtain Illyrio’s consent.
• Darren Grafton approached Hazan and Ambassador of Oranto, correctly guessing that they wanted Yada to fight for Hazan.
• Yada told Hazan that Darren was his master because Darren had saved his life, and that he had sworn loyalty to him.

Ian and Daron used a staged dispute over Yada to hint to Prince Hazan and Ambassador of Oranto that Viserys should decide the matter, while Ian appeared to remain loyal to Illyrio. After Daron and Jorah swore allegiance to Viserys, Dany asked Ian about his loyalty and his connection to William Dare.

• Daron told Hazan that Yada served him and that Viserys would decide whether Yada fought for Hazan, while Ian cited Illyrio’s warning against involvement in Pentoshi factional strife.
• Daron insisted that he obeyed Viserys, and Ian declared that his loyalty belonged to Viserys if the king’s wishes conflicted with Illyrio’s.
• Ambassador of Oranto assured Ian that Illyrio would not object, while Ian wondered whether his understanding of the factional conflict was wrong.
• Daron and Jorah stepped forward to swear loyalty to Viserys as Ian watched.
• Dany asked whether Ian was her knight and William Dare’s relative, and Ian reassured her that he was loyal to both her and Viserys.

At Khal Drogo’s banquet, Cilia, a Red Priestess, revealed that she had seen Ian in the flames and invited him to the Red Temple, but he chose to investigate her from a distance. Viserys received respect and a promised gift from Oranto Lannister and Prince Hazan, who then asked for his help concerning Daron’s Water Dancer.

• Cilia offered Ian Pentos Amber Wine, recognized the magic about him, and invited him to visit the Red Temple within three days to learn what she had seen in the flames.
• Ian decided not to risk visiting the Red Temple and told himself to have Big Mouse investigate Cilia.
• After Daron and the other man completed their oaths, Oranto Lannister and Prince Hazan approached Viserys and congratulated him.
• Hazan offered Viserys a generous gift and asked for his help with the Water Dancer Daron had presented.

Hazan persuaded Viserys to let Yada fight for his team in the tournament, with Darren assigned to assess the team and help secure victory. Ian reflected that the banquet had advanced his plans to intervene in the tournament and draw out the players he suspected.

• Hazan recounted his troubles to Viserys and asked him to send Yada to fight in the tournament.
• Hazan provoked Viserys into agreeing by suggesting that Illyrio might oppose their friendship, and Viserys promised that Yada would fight for him.
• Darren urged Viserys to consider the tournament's stakes, then offered to work with Yada to assess Hazan's team and ensure its victory.
• Viserys ordered Darren to accompany Yada to Hazan's place the next day, and Hazan returned to his companion.
• Ian privately noted that Darren's intervention had made him appear to be a player, helping Ian bait their opponents and complete his banquet plans.

Ian calmed Viserys’s fears that Khal Drogo would reject Daenerys and encouraged him to believe Westeros awaited his return. The chapter ended with Ian naming supposed supporters of Viserys, while privately knowing that no one was truly waiting for him.

• Viserys drunkenly worried that Drogo had not taken Daenerys away, and Ian reassured him that Drogo remained determined to marry her.
• Daenerys silently thanked Ian for protecting her from Viserys’s anger.
• Ian told Viserys that Daenerys would bring him Dothraki warriors and urged him to focus on reclaiming the Iron Throne.
• Viserys eagerly asked Ian to name his loyal supporters in Westeros.
• Ian privately thought that no one supported Viserys, then named House Martell, Ser Myles, and Lord William Muton as potential allies.

Ian received an unexpected appointment as Viserys's Hand of the King, then comforted Daenerys as she confided her fear of marrying Drogo. He dismissed the idea of preventing the marriage for now, but the possibility continued to trouble him as he went to rest.

• Viserys promised Ian rewards, appointed him Hand of the King, and passed out in his arms.
• Ian learned that Illyrio already understood what had happened at the banquet and agreed to discuss it over breakfast.
• Daenerys told Ian she feared Drogo and her coming marriage, and Ian reassured her that Drogo would protect her.
• After Daenerys left, Ian considered finding dragon eggs and avoiding her marriage to Drogo, but rejected the risk.

Ian reviewed his system rewards, improved his swordsmanship, and explored the Tier 3 Points Mall. He found a rare item that could help him gain the Greenseer talent, but learned he still needed to spend 100 Points or an equivalent item in the Tier 2 Mall to unlock the store.

• Ian reviewed his rewards and status, earning points and skill rewards for becoming Hand of the King and receiving a B-Class highlight rating.
• Ian spent four Skill Points to raise Swordsmanship to Mastery and learned that the Skill Upgrade Scroll could not be used on NPCs.
• Ian examined the Tier 3 Mall and found rare Valyrian steel equipment, enchanted armor, and an option to choose an S-Class NPC.
• Ian spotted Ironwood Seed Paste that could awaken the Greenseer talent and tried to purchase it.
• Ian learned that unlocking the Tier 3 Mall required spending 100 Points or paying an equivalent item worth 100 Points in the Tier 2 Mall.

Ian bought a Valyrian Steel rapier for Yada Mol and Ironwood Seed Paste, which increased his willpower and unlocked Greenseer Basics. He used an optional task to test whether Red Priestess Cilia threatened him, then studied the results for clues about how the system rated task difficulty.

• Ian unlocked the Tier 3 Mall and bought a Valyrian Steel rapier for Yada Mol and Ironwood Seed Paste for himself.
• Ian ate the Ironwood Seed Paste, raising his willpower to 19 and gaining Greenseer Basics.
• Ian asked Roar to test whether Red Priestess Cilia had a conspiracy against him.
• The system immediately completed Ian’s task and rated it Easy, confirming that Cilia posed no threat to him.
• Ian compared his completed tasks and suspected their difficulty ratings depended on the status of whoever issued them.

Ian investigated how an issuer’s status affected task difficulty ratings and decided to use Prince Hazan as a test subject. At breakfast, Illyrio taught Ian about Pentos’s politics and revealed that he backed Uther Antalun, a Braavosi fleet commander, in the Sea Lord election, then asked Ian how Uther should overcome his rivals.

• Ian concluded that a task issuer’s low status could reduce a task’s assessed difficulty and decided he needed a higher-status issuer for further testing.
• Ian warned Illyrio that Viserys had agreed to let Daron’s Water Dancer fight for Hazan under the Targaryen name, but Illyrio said he had anticipated Hazan’s intentions.
• Illyrio explained that he refused to ally with Hazan because Hazan’s uncle, Tormo Freyga, opposed Uther Antalun, Illyrio’s candidate for Sea Lord.
• Illyrio revealed that Uther commanded part of the Purple Ship Fleet, though he currently ranked third among the likely election candidates.
• Illyrio asked Ian how Uther should handle his two stronger rivals, and Ian suggested that Uther ally with the second-place candidate against Tormo.

Illyrio explained to Ian why he had stayed out of Hazan’s duel and revealed how Hazan’s feelings for Deliph had made him act irrationally. Illyrio then asked Ian what he truly thought of Viserys, leaving Ian to decide whether to reveal his real opinion and earn a place in Illyrio’s inner plans.

• Illyrio told Ian that stopping Hazan’s duel could make him seem responsible for Hazan’s death to Mariam Freyga, and explained that the Valantis Party was too weak to threaten him.
• Illyrio revealed that Hazan accepted Suda Tytellus’s challenge because Deliph’s influence made him hot-tempered and irrational.
• Ian realized that his own risky idea from the previous night might have come from the same kind of poor judgment Illyrio described.
• Illyrio asked Ian for his impression of Viserys, and Ian called him Aegon the Conqueror reborn to avoid judging the king openly.
• Illyrio then asked Ian what he truly thought of Viserys, and Ian suspected his answer could determine whether Illyrio trusted him with his deeper plans.