Chapter Summaries

Lynn exposed Margaery's plan to back Renly Baratheon and warned that Stannis's claim made war inevitable. He refused to support a southern claimant, instead proposing a trade partnership with House Tyrell and hinting that Margaery might join him in the North.

• Margaery probed Lynn's ambitions and proposed that he support Renly's bid for the Iron Throne.
• Lynn revealed he knew Renly's relationship with Loras and House Tyrell's plan to make Margaery queen.
• Lynn warned that Stannis's lawful claim and military strength would make Renly's path to the throne a war against both Stannis and the Lannisters.
• Margaery offered Lynn titles or even an independent northern kingdom, but he said he would let the southern claimants exhaust one another.
• Lynn proposed backing House Tyrell's canned food business in exchange for Highgarden's grain and craftsmen, then suggested a more intimate partnership with Margaery in the North.

Lynn offered Margaery a future for House Tyrell in exchange for her support, and she tested his influence by asking him to secure the vacant Master of Coin position. He proposed Sansa Stark for the post, winning Margaery’s approval, and she left after giving him a kiss as a promise of more if he succeeded.

• Lynn promised to let House Tyrell’s rose flourish in the North, while Margaery said she needed proof of his power in King’s Landing.
• Margaery proposed the vacant Master of Coin position as a test of Lynn’s sincerity and ability to shape the court.
• Lynn chose Sansa Stark as his candidate, reasoning that her family ties and underestimated reputation made her an ideal figurehead.
• Margaery recognized the plan’s advantages, expressed respect for Lynn, and agreed to await the news.
• Margaery kissed Lynn’s cheek as a deposit and promised more after he won the duel, secured Sansa’s appointment, and developed canned food.

Lynn told Sansa that her betrothal to Joffrey could be ended because his marriage to Myrcella would already bind the North to the royal family. He then urged Sansa to seek a greater role in King's Landing: Petyr Baelish's soon-to-be-vacant position as Master of Coin.

• Sansa visited Lynn after hearing about the Iron Throne Room and congratulated him on his upcoming marriage to Myrcella.
• Sansa asked whether Lynn's marriage to Myrcella made her betrothal to Joffrey less important, and Lynn confirmed that it did.
• Lynn advised Sansa to have Ned petition Robert to dissolve her betrothal after Petyr's guilt was established and the king was in high spirits.
• Lynn told Sansa he had prepared a greater stage for her and explained that the Master of Coin held real power by directing the kingdom's money.
• Lynn urged Sansa to take Petyr Baelish's soon-to-be-vacant seat as Master of Coin.

Lynn persuaded Sansa to accept the role of Master of Coin by presenting her Stark identity and his backing as sources of power, then took Joffrey into King's Landing’s underworld to draw him under his influence. The chapter left Joffrey beginning to explore Lynn’s brothel as Lynn prepared to teach him his first lesson.

• Lynn convinced Sansa that her name and his support could make her a powerful Master of Coin, and Sansa knelt before him in acceptance.
• Lynn watched Joffrey train while Sandor Clegane prepared silently for his duel, scheduled for seven days later.
• Lynn told Joffrey that a king should experience his subjects’ lives and invited him to explore King's Landing at night.
• Lynn led Joffrey through Flea Bottom to his luxurious brothel on the Street of Silk, claiming Joffrey as his younger brother.
• Lynn welcomed Joffrey into the brothel as he began to show curiosity about its pleasures.

Lynn brought Joffrey to his pleasure house, where Liana showered the prince with worship and made him feel powerful and admired. The next morning, Joffrey became eager to see her again, while Lynn used her other guests to make him want to book future visits.

• Lynn took Joffrey to his pleasure house and told Rose to find a suitable girl for his high-born friend.
• Rose brought Joffrey and Lynn to a private suite, where Liana entered and recognized Joffrey as the prince she had seen at the tournament.
• Liana praised Joffrey's strength and royal destiny, bathed him, and listened as he boasted about his supposed heroic deeds.
• Joffrey woke refreshed beside Liana and left the room convinced that she belonged to him.
• Joffrey asked Lynn when he could return, and Lynn told him he would need to book Liana in advance because she had other guests.

Joffrey became obsessed with Liana and returned with Lynn to watch her through a hidden one-way window, where he saw a mercenary threaten her. Lynn stopped Joffrey from attacking and convinced him to use his wealth and authority to buy Liana, leaving Joffrey demanding that Rose be fetched so he could take Liana to the Red Keep.

• At breakfast, Joffrey recalled his night with Liana, grew jealous at the thought of her other customers, and left to find Lynn.
• Joffrey insisted on seeing Liana again, and Lynn arranged for him to watch her from a concealed room without being discovered.
• A mercenary entered Liana's suite, demanded money, and began tearing at her gown when she could not pay.
• Joffrey drew his sword to attack the mercenary, but Lynn restrained him and urged him to use money and royal power instead.
• Joffrey ordered Lynn to fetch Rose so he could buy Liana and take her to the Red Keep, while Lynn anticipated that Liana would teach Joffrey a lesson.

Lynn helped Joffrey buy Liana’s freedom and invent a noble identity for her, then encouraged him to publicly humiliate Sansa. Robert struck Joffrey and declared that his betrothal to Sansa would end.

• Lynn gave Rose a treasury draft for ten thousand Gold Dragons, and Rose released Liana from her arrangement with Joffrey.
• Joffrey carried Liana to the Red Keep, and Lynn arranged papers identifying her as Liana Waters, the bastard daughter of a fallen knight from the Reach.
• Joffrey brought Liana into Robert’s feast and insulted Sansa before the gathered nobles, while Sansa secretly rejoiced that their performance was over.
• Robert slapped Joffrey, ordered Liana taken to the Black Cells, and announced that Joffrey’s betrothal to Sansa would not continue.

Robert dissolved Joffrey and Sansa’s betrothal, confined Joffrey, and ordered Liana kept from marrying the prince, then demanded Lynn marry Myrcella. After manipulating Joffrey into becoming devoted to Liana, Lynn met with her in private, where she revealed she wanted something other than gold.

• Robert ended Joffrey and Sansa’s betrothal, punished Joffrey, and ordered Liana made a maid who could never become the prince’s queen.
• Robert ordered Lynn to marry Myrcella within a fortnight and promised Ned compensation for Sansa.
• Liana comforted Joffrey in his chambers, and he vowed to protect her and openly cherish her despite the king’s order.
• Lynn and Sansa discussed the events in the Tower of the Hand while Liana arrived and reported that her mission was complete.
• Lynn offered Liana payment in Gold Dragons, but she refused and said she wanted something else.

Liana asked Lynn to teach her how to protect herself and gain influence, while Sansa thanked him for helping her escape her betrothal to Joffrey. Arya interrupted Sansa and Lynn, accused her sister of falling for him, and left Sansa in tears as Lynn faced Arya’s questions.

• Liana asked Lynn for a chance to learn and control her own fate, and he made her his student, tasking her with guiding Joffrey for his benefit.
• Sansa came to thank Lynn for helping her end her betrothal, and he reminded her that becoming Master of Coin was her path to freedom.
• As Sansa leaned toward Lynn, Arya burst into the study with Needle and accused her sister of visiting him for improper reasons.
• Arya bluntly asked Sansa whether she liked Lynn, and Sansa denied it before fleeing the study in tears.
• Arya asked Lynn whether Sansa really liked him, leaving him exasperated by the Stark sisters.

Lynn calmed Arya after she confronted Sansa, and Sansa explained the political burdens behind Lynn’s choices, leading the sisters to reconcile and decide to support him. Seven days later, the trial by combat began, with Gregor Clegane charging at Sandor Clegane as the chapter ended.

• Lynn took Arya’s Needle and sent her to speak with Sansa, who was crying in her room.
• Sansa explained to Arya that Lynn’s marriage to Myrcella was a political necessity and urged her to support him rather than let jealousy burden him.
• Arya apologized sincerely to Sansa, and the sisters agreed to quietly support Lynn and watch Liana.
• King’s Landing gathered to watch the trial by combat between Gregor Clegane and Sandor Clegane, with Petyr Baelish’s fate at stake.
• After the High Septon declared the duel begun, Gregor roared and charged at Sandor with his greatsword.

Sandor Clegane used his knowledge of Gregor’s fighting style to wound him after being nearly overwhelmed in their duel. Gregor charged him bare-handed, leaving the brothers poised for the true fight to the death.

• Gregor overwhelmed Sandor with his opening blows, shattering his shield and knocking him down as the crowd cheered.
• As Gregor approached, Sandor refused to beg for mercy and baited him into a powerful strike.
• Sandor dodged the blow and stabbed Gregor through the gap behind his left knee, forcing him to kneel.
• Petyr Baelish lost his composure at Gregor’s injury, while Lynn watched with satisfaction.
• Gregor abandoned his greatsword and charged Sandor bare-handed as Sandor prepared to fight on.

Sandor overcame his fear of fire with Lynn’s help and fought the Mountain in a brutal duel that left both brothers gravely wounded. As Sandor tried to deliver the final blow, Gregor seized his wrist and throat, threatening to take him down too.

• The Mountain hurled a blazing brazier at Sandor, triggering the childhood terror of the fire in which Gregor had burned his face.
• Lynn used his Skinchanger ability to reach Sandor’s mind and urge him to face the flames and turn his hatred into resolve.
• Sandor stepped into the fire, heated his sword in the burning charcoal, and charged Gregor, burning and wounding his arm.
• Sandor took a blow that shattered his shoulder while twisting the glowing sword in Gregor’s flesh, and the brothers continued their fight with one usable arm each.
• Gregor collapsed from his wounds, and Sandor raised his sword to strike through the helmet’s eye slit.
• Gregor suddenly seized Sandor’s sword wrist and throat, declaring that they would die together.

Lynn secretly protected Sandor Clegane, enabling him to kill Gregor Clegane in the duel. Lynn then had Gregor’s corpse destroyed to prevent Qyburn from reviving it, while Petyr Baelish was arrested after losing his wager and fainting from terror.

• As Gregor tried to crush Sandor’s neck, Lynn used an unseen cold power to make Sandor’s neck impossible to break.
• Sandor struck Gregor’s injured arm, freed himself, and drove him into the blazing brazier, killing him.
• The High Septon declared Sandor the victor, and the arena erupted as the court reacted to Gregor’s death.
• Lynn ordered the Gold Cloaks to hack Gregor’s corpse apart, preventing anyone from turning it into an undead creature.
• Lynn confronted Petyr Baelish, and guards approached to arrest him; Petyr fainted in terror.

At Lynn’s manipulation, Robert rejected Lysa Arryn’s demand to release Petyr Baelish and flew into a drunken, poisoned rage. He slaughtered Petyr in public and ordered Ser Morton Waynwood to carry his head to the Eyrie as his answer to Lysa.

• Robert ordered Petyr Baelish imprisoned and announced that he would execute him publicly in three days.
• Ser Morton Waynwood arrived with Lysa Tully’s order to release Petyr, and Lynn magnified the envoy’s arrogance.
• Morton threatened Robert with the Vale’s thirty-five thousand warriors, and Robert declared that he would give Lysa war.
• Robert seized a Kingsguard’s sword and hacked Petyr to death while Ned Stark tried to stop him.
• Robert ordered Ser Morton to take Petyr’s head to the Eyrie and tell Lysa Arryn that it was his answer.

After Robert accused Ned and Catelyn of conspiring with Lysa Arryn, he demanded that Catelyn come to King's Landing and kneel to prove House Stark's loyalty. Ned submitted to the humiliation to prevent war, while Robert left without reconciling with him.

• Robert suspected Catelyn and House Stark of aiding Lysa Arryn's threatened rebellion and demanded that Ned prove their loyalty.
• Robert ordered Catelyn to travel to King's Landing and kneel before him, humiliating House Stark and the North.
• Ned restrained his anger and knelt, promising to summon Catelyn and affirming the North's loyalty.
• Robert dismissed Ned and strode back to the Red Keep without helping him up.
• Arya watched her father's trembling back and clenched her fists.

After Robert’s public humiliation of Ned and the Starks, Ned admitted that his old friend had become a threat and resolved to protect his family with Lynn’s help. They planned to send Sansa and Arya away by sea and invent a small rebellion in the North to keep Catelyn from coming to King’s Landing.

• Ser Morton Waynwood received Petyr Baelish’s severed head as Robert’s message to Lysa Arryn and fled King’s Landing in fear.
• Ned carried the fainted Sansa away with Arya after the public spectacle and later drank with Lynn in the Tower of the Hand.
• Ned told Lynn he had knelt to protect his family, not to honor Robert or preserve peace, and declared that he would put his duties as husband and father first.
• Ned asked Lynn to help send Sansa and Arya back to Winterfell by ship, and Lynn agreed to arrange their safe passage.
• Ned proposed fabricating a small rebellion in the North to give Catelyn a reason to stay there, and Lynn offered men to stage it.

After surviving his duel with Gregor, Sandor Clegane pledged his life to Lynn, who told him he could fight for his honor. Joffrey enjoyed Liana’s flattery as Lynn entered his room.

• Sandor, recovering from his wounds, concluded that Lynn had saved him during the duel and went to find him.
• Sandor knelt before Lynn and pledged his life to him in gratitude for his revenge and rescue.
• Lynn accepted Sandor’s allegiance, called him a warrior, and told him to rest and fight for his honor.
• Joffrey recounted the duel to Liana and boasted that Sandor’s bravery came from serving him.
• Lynn entered Joffrey’s room.

Lynn engineered Joffrey's dismissal of Sandor, freeing the Hound to serve him, then explained Baelish's downfall to Sansa and offered her a chance to return to Winterfell. Sansa chose to stay in King's Landing and continue working with Lynn.

• Liana feigned terror of Sandor, prompting Joffrey to dismiss him and order him out of King's Landing.
• Sandor accepted his dismissal, left the Red Keep, and resolved to pledge his loyalty to Lynn.
• Lynn praised Liana's performance and sent her to keep Joffrey devoted to her and hostile toward Sansa.
• Lynn reassured Sansa that Baelish had fallen because of his mistakes and explained that he intended to make her his ally and Master of Coin.
• Lynn offered to send Sansa and her family back to Winterfell if she feared the dangers ahead.
• Sansa rejected the offer to leave, took Lynn's hand, and declared that she would stay.

Lynn persuaded Sansa to stay in King's Landing and urged her to turn her fear into strength, then manipulated Robert into appointing her Master of Coin. Robert accepted the plan because he saw Sansa as a hostage who could keep Ned Stark in check.

• Sansa told Lynn she would stay in King's Landing, and Lynn told her to remember her fear and humiliation as future weapons.
• Sansa leaned toward Lynn, but he stopped her and said she would earn a reward only after she learned to control the Master of Coin's seal and face the king's executioner without flinching.
• Lynn went to the Throne Room and told Robert that trouble in the North would delay Catelyn's journey to King's Landing.
• Lynn recommended Sansa as the new Master of Coin, portraying her as a loyal, inexperienced candidate whose seal Robert could control.
• Lynn convinced Robert that Sansa's appointment would make her a hostage and give him leverage over Ned Stark.
• Robert eagerly accepted the proposal and praised Lynn as his most loyal subject.

Sansa told Ned she would remain in King's Landing and learn to gain power with Lynn rather than leave him. Ned accepted her choice and resolved to support Lynn for his daughters’ sake, but Jaime arrived with an urgent summons to a Small Council meeting.

• Ned planned to send Sansa and Arya back to Winterfell, but Sansa refused and declared that she did not want to leave Lynn.
• Sansa explained that Lynn had taught her to make herself valuable and gain power, and she wanted to become Ned’s armor rather than his weakness.
• Ned agreed that Sansa could stay, warning her that she would be responsible for her choices in King's Landing.
• After Sansa left, Ned suspected Lynn sought the Iron Throne, decided to stake everything on him for his daughters, and burned his letter asking Catelyn to come to King's Landing.
• Jaime Lannister delivered Robert's summons for an immediate Small Council meeting, leaving Ned worried about what would happen next.