Chapter Summaries

During the siege of Seaguard, Suleiman ordered his army to pay Riverlands villagers for food and negotiated with Rosso Frey over House Frey’s support. After Rosso offered supplies, disputed lands, and troops, Suleiman accepted a visit to the Twins after the war, then ordered Bryn to build a siege tower taller than Seaguard’s walls.

• Suleiman ordered foraging parties to pay Riverlands residents for food and threatened to hang anyone who seized their property.
• Rosso Frey offered House Frey’s supplies in exchange for Suleiman considering a marriage proposal and visiting the Twins with Bana after the war.
• Rosso gave Suleiman a parchment granting him land disputed with House Enford and promised at least three thousand Frey soldiers for the assault on Seaguard.
• Suleiman thanked House Frey on behalf of the Riverlands and agreed to visit the Twins after Seaguard was retaken and the region was at peace.
• Suleiman showed Bryn a siege-tower design and ordered him to build it taller than Seaguard’s walls so archers and crossbowmen could attack the Ironborn defenders.

Suleiman used the siege tower as a visible distraction while Rosso Brune’s soldiers dug a tunnel beneath Seaguard. When the Riverlanders attacked with four towers and crossbows, they steadily wiped out the Ironborn archers, leaving Seaguard’s defenders too frightened to show themselves.

• Rosso Brune silenced the knights’ complaints and got them back to digging the tunnel beneath Seaguard.
• Suleiman explained to Patrick Morrison that the towering siege engines were bait while the tunnel was the real objective.
• Sawane Botley urged Seaguard’s leaders to hold out until Robert Baratheon or Eddard Stark could arrive with reinforcements.
• An Ironborn warrior warned the leaders that the Riverlanders were advancing with siege towers, and Harras Harlaw and the others rushed to respond.
• The four siege towers halted beyond the walls, and Riverlands crossbowmen began firing volleys at the Ironborn archers.
• After days of sustained fire, the Riverlanders silenced the Ironborn archers and drove the remaining defenders into hiding behind Seaguard’s walls.

Suleiman rejected Baelor Blacktyde’s plea for mercy, ordered Seaguard taken, and destroyed the Ironborn resistance. Afterward, he gave House Mallister five thousand Gold Dragons and allowed them to bury Lord Jason and bring their young lord home.

• Baelor Blacktyde negotiated with Suleiman, offering to return Seaguard, but Suleiman refused to spare the Ironborn and ordered the city taken with no survivors.
• Riverlander forces assaulted Seaguard’s walls while Rosso Brune led soldiers through a hidden passage and opened the city gate from within.
• The Riverlanders captured Seaguard after fighting spread through the city, and Suleiman ordered the surviving Ironborn and their dead nailed to wooden frames along the shore.
• Suleiman gave House Mallister five thousand Gold Dragons for reconstruction and told its knights they could bury Lord Jason and bring their young lord home.

Suleiman and Eddard Stark clashed over Suleiman’s execution and public display of Ironborn prisoners, then visited Jason Mallister’s tomb with Patrick Mallister. The chapter ended with Eddard reflecting on the Stark family crypt while Suleiman privately anticipated the family’s grim future.

• Patrick Mallister watched Suleiman hit a target at one hundred and fifty paces despite having only just learned archery.
• A messenger reported that Eddard Stark and nearly seven thousand Northern soldiers were approaching Seaguard, and Suleiman told House Mallister to handle the welcome.
• Eddard Stark entered Seaguard, questioned Suleiman about the Ironborn nailed to crosses, and argued that their deaths should end their punishment.
• Suleiman defended the display as justice and as comfort for people grieving the Ironborn’s victims, leaving Eddard without an answer.
• Eddard Stark prayed at Jason Mallister’s tomb and comforted Patrick Mallister, then spoke about returning to the Winterfell crypt after death.
• Suleiman privately reflected that Eddard Stark and his son would be separated and that the Stark ancestors in the crypt would soon rise.

Eddard Stark asked Suleiman to protect his wife and children as they traveled to Riverrun, but a fight between Riverlanders and Northmen interrupted them. Suleiman turned Jon Umber’s mockery into a three-match contest, where the Riverlanders won two bouts and restored their honor.

• Eddard Stark praised Suleiman’s service and asked him to keep his family safe on their journey to Riverrun, and Suleiman agreed.
• A guard reported that Jon Umber and his men had beaten Rosso Brune and two of Suleiman’s mounted retainers after mocking the Riverlanders.
• Suleiman challenged Jon Umber to another contest and arranged the matchups so Ryan faced Greatjon, Rosso Brune faced the stronger guard, and Jonos faced the weaker guard.
• Ryan held out against Greatjon before being defeated, while Rosso Brune and Jonos won their bouts to give the Riverlanders a two-to-one victory.
• Suleiman told the assembled soldiers that the Riverlanders won through wisdom, and Eddard Stark watched him thoughtfully and nodded.

Suleiman left Seaguard to secure House Deddings’ position in the Riverlands and bring young Lord Dain to Harrenhal. He pressured Dain’s mother, Lady Roslin, into accepting his plans and left with Dain, who questioned whether Suleiman was using his family.

• Suleiman left Ser Old Lopin with two thousand soldiers to escort Lady Stark and her children safely to Riverrun, then set out for Deddings Castle and Harrenhal.
• Suleiman returned Lord Balon’s bloodied sword to Lady Roslin and urged her to send Dain to Harrenhal to claim the king’s rewards as the new Lord Deddings.
• Suleiman persuaded Lady Roslin to sign over House Pyle’s lands to the knights who had fought for House Deddings, arguing their loyalty would protect Dain better than the estates would.
• Dain arrived, took up his father’s sword, and agreed to travel with Suleiman to Harrenhal despite his mother’s grief.
• On the journey, Dain asked Suleiman whether he was using House Deddings, and Suleiman described their relationship as an exchange that protected both of them.

Suleiman returned to his lands, where he learned that his people had survived Ironborn raids and a refugee crisis, then dismissed his battered soldiers despite their desire to keep fighting for him. He left Patrick Mallister and Dain Deddings with a new view of his rule and made the knights of House Deddings landed knights.

• The beggar Bana reported that Roslyn and Lushen had defeated Ironborn raiders but were wounded, while Hubbard had rationed food for thousands of refugees and the treasury faced a looming shortage.
• Suleiman revealed that he had seized the Ironborn's plunder but spent most of it on soldiers, allied houses, and compensation, leaving forty thousand Gold Dragons for Evelyn to manage.
• Olivier told Suleiman that Evelyn had handled an officer's assault on a tenant's woman by arranging their marriage, and Suleiman approved her decision.
• Suleiman ordered his surviving soldiers to return home, but they begged to remain; he insisted they obey, and the people along the road bowed as his army departed.
• At camp, Suleiman announced that Dain Deddings had divided House Pyle's lands among his knights, making them landed knights of House Deddings.

Suleiman gave Dain Deddings’ knights the land they had been promised, then discussed the nature of rulers with Dain and Patrick Mallister. Summoned by King Robert to Harrenhal, Suleiman arrived and learned from Raymun Darry that some nobles at the royal camp disliked him.

• Suleiman redirected the knights’ gratitude to Dain Deddings, who received their renewed loyalty after Suleiman granted them land.
• Patrick Mallister questioned Suleiman about his violence, and Suleiman discussed how rulers’ decisions affected the people with Patrick and Dain.
• Ser Mandon Moore delivered King Robert’s command for Suleiman to travel to Harrenhal, and Suleiman set out with two hundred knights.
• At Harrenhal, Suleiman visited Raymun Darry, who told him Robert had welcomed Lord Lymond Lychester and enjoyed his company.
• Raymun Darry warned Suleiman that nobles from several regions disliked him and urged him to be careful.

Suleiman presented Red Rain to Robert Baratheon and earned the king’s favor, despite Jaime Lannister’s open hostility. Robert announced a tourney at Harrenhal and named Suleiman as his guest of honor, while Suleiman suspected Lymond Lychester might be made to cover its cost.

• Raymun Darry warned Suleiman that septons and lords condemned his slaughter of Ironborn nobles, but Suleiman said controversy meant he had stirred his age.
• Mandon Moore summoned Suleiman to Robert Baratheon, who mocked his appearance before Suleiman won him over with flattery.
• Jaime Lannister drew his sword as Suleiman presented Red Rain, but Barristan Selmy stopped him, and Robert accepted the gift and rebuked Jaime.
• Robert asked Suleiman what reward he wanted, then announced a Harrenhal tourney with a fifty-thousand-gold-dragon prize and a place for Suleiman beside him.
• When Jaime stressed that a Lannister always paid his debts, Suleiman looked toward Lymond Lychester, who feared Suleiman intended to make him fund the tourney.

Suleiman explained to Lymond Lychester that House Lychester would organize Robert Baratheon's Tourney to gain power and influence, then received Jaime Lannister, who accused him of violating Guest Right. Suleiman exposed Jaime's guilt over failing to protect Elia Martell and her children, leaving him shaken and silenced.

• Suleiman told Lymond Lychester that they would organize the Tourney rather than pay for it, and urged him to use the gathering to secure influence for House Lychester.
• Suleiman inspected his camp's defenses as Maron Greyjoy bragged that Robert Baratheon had promised him leadership of House Greyjoy after his father's execution.
• Walter Whent confronted Jaime Lannister in the Riverlands camp, but Jaime dismissed his anger and went to meet Suleiman.
• Jaime accused Suleiman of violating Guest Right, and Suleiman called him Kingslayer and questioned what Rhaegar Targaryen had said before riding to the Trident.
• Suleiman reminded Jaime that he had failed to protect Elia Martell and her children, then called him vermin, leaving Jaime bowed and speechless.

Suleiman confronted Jaime Lannister with his failure to protect Elia Martell and her children, then turned his attention to Bronn’s disappearance and Robert Baratheon’s estrangement from Eddard Stark. After Robert agreed to nothing aloud, Barristan Selmy urged Suleiman to travel to Riverrun and seek Eddard.

• Suleiman challenged Jaime Lannister’s excuses about the sack of King’s Landing, and Bryn escorted Jaime out of the tent after he sheathed his sword.
• Suleiman ordered Bryn and Rosso Brune to find Bronn, then learned that Bronn had vanished after arriving at Harrenhal.
• Mandon Moore told Suleiman that Robert Baratheon had noticed Jaime’s dazed state and summoned Suleiman to join the king’s hunt.
• During the hunt, Suleiman told Robert that he wanted to celebrate victory with Eddard Stark, and offered to travel to Riverrun to persuade Eddard to come south.
• Barristan Selmy advised Suleiman to go to Riverrun and warned him that Eddard valued honor above his life.

Suleiman traveled to Riverrun to ask Eddard Stark to attend Robert Baratheon’s tourney at Harrenhal, where Robert hoped to see his old friend. Eddard refused to attend, but promised he would stand beside Robert in battle, while Suleiman chose to wait before returning.

• At a hunt, Robert Baratheon drank with Maron Greyjoy and asked Suleiman to bring Eddard Stark to the tourney, saying he missed him.
• Suleiman rode to Riverrun with a hundred knights and saw the devastation left by the Ironborn.
• Suleiman told Eddard that Robert wanted him at Harrenhal, but Eddard refused because the Riverlands remained in mourning and the war was not over.
• Suleiman urged Eddard to meet Robert after the tourney preparations, prompting Eddard to reflect on their friendship.
• Eddard told Suleiman to assure Robert they would always be friends and that he would stand beside him in battle, not at a wine cup.
• When Rosso Brune asked whether they should leave, Suleiman decided they would wait a little longer.

Suleiman learned that Catelyn Tully had brought Jon Snow to Riverrun and offered the lonely boy a place as his knight. Jon explained that he planned to join the Night's Watch and defended the North's strength, prompting Suleiman to challenge him with a startling claim.

• Eddard Stark worried over Suleiman's camp outside Riverrun and tried to comfort Robin Leger about Edmure.
• Ser Old Lopin reported that he had escorted Catelyn Tully, Robb Stark, and Jon Snow safely to Riverrun, then shared rumors about Jon's mother.
• Suleiman considered the danger of Robert Baratheon learning Jon's true parentage and went to meet the boy in the northern camp.
• Jon told Suleiman that Catelyn did not want him in Winterfell and that he intended to join the Night's Watch rather than marry or have children.
• Suleiman offered Jon the chance to become his knight, and Jon called him the Black Cat of the Riverlands while praising the North.
• Suleiman asked Jon whether any Northerners had ever died before, leaving the boy stunned.

Stannis Baratheon’s fleet defeated an Ironborn ambush off Fair Isle, while Suleiman spoke with Jon Snow and was summoned by Eddard Stark. In Riverrun, Suleiman proposed ways to permanently weaken the Ironborn, ending with a blunt call to kill them all.

• Stannis Baratheon condemned Suleiman for executing Ironborn captives, then led the allied fleet against an Ironborn attack and drove the surviving longships into retreat.
• Suleiman encouraged Jon Snow to hone his abilities, said he liked the name the northerners had given him, and left the camp with Bryn and Rosso Brune.
• Rodrik Cassel summoned Suleiman to Riverrun at Eddard Stark’s request, and Eddard demanded to know why he had sought out Jon.
• Eddard told the northern lords that Stannis’s victory had cleared the way to invade the Iron Islands and called for the Ironborn to be weakened.
• Suleiman proposed relocating the Ironborn and resettling the islands, but Eddard rejected the plan over the bloodshed it would cause.
• Suleiman declared that the answer taught by eight thousand years of history was to kill them all, leaving Eddard and the northern lords stunned.

Stannis Baratheon ordered Davos Seaworth to urge Robert to leave Harrenhal and complain to the Hand about his conduct, while condemning the expenses of the tourney and his own lack of recognition. He also demanded that Suleiman be punished for executing Ironborn noble prisoners, leaving Davos to deliver letters Stannis knew would anger the king.

• Stannis ordered Davos to write Robert, urging him to hurry to Pyke and crush Balon Greyjoy.
• Stannis told Davos to inform the Hand of the King about Robert’s behavior at Harrenhal and complained that the tourney wasted money while his fleet and soldiers needed supplies.
• Stannis recalled his sacrifices during the rebellion, resenting Robert for giving Storm’s End to Renly and crediting Eddard Stark for relieving him.
• Stannis ordered Davos to tell Robert that the delays and tourney were draining the royal treasury and leaving the fleet short of ships and provisions.
• Stannis demanded Suleiman be punished for executing Ironborn noble prisoners, arguing that his victory did not excuse violating the law.

Suleiman proposed driving the Ironborn from their islands by contaminating their freshwater, and Roose Bolton endorsed the plan before Eddard Stark stopped them. After dismissing the other lords, Eddard challenged Suleiman on war and killing, and Suleiman defended destroying the Ironborn to prevent future retaliation.

• Suleiman proposed contaminating the Iron Islands’ freshwater sources to force the Ironborn to abandon their home.
• Roose Bolton agreed that the plan could destroy the Ironborn without the North having to fight them directly.
• Eddard Stark condemned the proposal as extermination and refused to pursue victory through poison or schemes.
• Eddard Stark dismissed the Northern lords but asked Suleiman to stay and questioned what he believed about war and killing.
• Suleiman argued that war required doing whatever it took to win and that destroying the Ironborn could end future cycles of revenge.

Suleiman spoke with Eddard Stark about mercy and hatred, concealing that his own hostility toward the Ironborn came from political calculation. After leaving Riverrun, he learned that Stannis Baratheon had called for him to be tried and punished, but Robert Baratheon dismissed the proposal and kept the Harrenhal tourney on schedule.

• Eddard Stark recalled the atrocities of Robert’s Rebellion and urged Suleiman to let mercy overcome anger.
• Suleiman thanked Eddard, then warned that a good man living among the wicked would be destroyed before leaving Riverrun.
• Rosso Bryn told Suleiman that Patrick Morrison had arrived from Harrenhal, where Patrick reported Stannis Baratheon’s demand that Suleiman be tried and punished for his treatment of Ironborn prisoners.
• Suleiman asked how Robert Baratheon had responded, and Patrick said Robert dismissed Stannis’s demand but chose to hold the tourney as planned rather than sail to the Iron Islands immediately.
• Suleiman reflected that Robert protected his allies while Eddard and Stannis enforced their principles more strictly.

At Hoster Tully’s funeral, Suleiman refused Jonos Bracken’s demand for a share of the Ironborn’s spoils, and Ned Stark defended the army’s right to keep its war gains. Jonos threatened to appeal to the king, but Suleiman challenged him to trial by combat and promised no survivors.

• Eddard Stark led seven mourners, including Suleiman and Rosso Frey, in sending Hoster Tully’s funeral boat down the Red Fork and setting it alight.
• Jonos Bracken demanded that Suleiman return five thousand Gold Dragons taken by the Ironborn from House Bracken’s lands.
• Suleiman said he had distributed the gold to the army and contrasted House Bracken’s absence from the coalition with the battlefield service of Houses Blackwood and Mallister.
• Eddard Stark invoked the law that warriors kept the spoils they took, but Jonos insisted the matter belonged to Lord Edmure and threatened to seek the king’s judgment at Harrenhal.
• Suleiman told Jonos to prepare his armor and sword, then challenged him to trial by combat and declared there would be no survivors.

Suleiman explained why he gave most of the Gold Dragons to common soldiers and farmers, then assessed Jon Arryn’s plan to place Edmure Tully under Brynden Tully’s regency. He ordered Lymond Lychester to return to Harrenhal and revealed his ambition to rule the Seven Kingdoms.

• Suleiman defended giving two hundred thousand Gold Dragons to low-born people, arguing that their gratitude would win stronger loyalty than payments to lords.
• Lymond Lychester reported that Jon Arryn planned to make Brynden Tully Edmure Tully’s regent and secretly meet Robert Baratheon before the Riverlands lords’ gathering.
• Suleiman recognized that Walter Hean had passed the information to manipulate Lymond, but judged Jon Arryn’s plans to be genuine and intended to bind House Tully to House Arryn.
• Suleiman told Lymond to return to Harrenhal, rely on Robert Baratheon’s support, and resist Jon Arryn’s accusations without backing down.
• Suleiman said he would kill Brynden Tully if necessary and declared that anyone opposing him, including the great houses and lords of Westeros, would receive no mercy.
• Lymond asked Suleiman what he truly sought, and Suleiman declared his goal of ruling the Seven Kingdoms and bringing down the kings.

Suleiman told Lymond Lychester he intended to unite Westeros by winning support and finishing Aegon Targaryen’s unfinished work, while Lymond began to believe him. At a feast hosted by Eddard Stark, Robin Leger attacked Lymond, and Bryn’s intervention turned the attempted assassination into a standoff with Edmure Tully held hostage.

• Suleiman explained to Lymond Lychester why he believed the great lords of Westeros could be overcome and said he would finish Aegon Targaryen’s unfinished work.
• Lymond Lychester attended Eddard Stark’s feast at Riverrun despite Suleiman’s warning, accompanied by Bryn and Riverlands guards.
• Robin Leger attacked Lymond with a dagger, but Bryn caught the blade and kicked Robin away when he tried to strike again with a table knife.
• Lymond seized Edmure Tully and accused Eddard Stark of betraying him, while Robin surrendered and Greatjon Umber subdued him.
• Bryn took Edmure hostage and warned the Northerners that anyone who approached would spill blood.