Chapter Summaries

Ser Archibald Yronwood offered Lady Ynys Yronwood in marriage to Liu Qian in exchange for House Yronwood’s loyalty, and Liu Qian agreed to marry her before marching west. After the Yronwood party left, a guard announced that Melisandre of Asshai’s Red God Temple had come to see him.

• Ser Archibald Yronwood offered Ynys Yronwood’s hand and House Yronwood’s allegiance to Liu Qian, promising that their children could inherit Yronwood.
• Archibald explained that Cletus Yronwood had been captured in Sunspear after becoming entangled in Arianne Martell’s plot to abduct Jon Snow.
• Liu Qian ordered Archibald to warn Lord Anders and take Garris Drinkwater into custody as a suspected spy.
• Liu Qian agreed to marry Ynys before marching west, and Archibald, William Wells, Ynys, and her maids left the hall.
• A guard announced that Melisandre, a servant of R'hllor from the Red God Temple in Asshai, wished to see Liu Qian.

Liu Qian imprisoned Melisandre after she declared him Azor Ahai reborn, then reviewed the approaching armies and the turmoil in King's Landing. He ordered Mezzo to use infiltrators in the Alchemists' Guild to manipulate Cersei and undermine the Lannisters, leaving the means unstated.

• Melisandre came before Liu Qian and identified him as the prince of prophecy, but he revealed he knew her past and rejected her claims before ordering guards to take her to the dungeon.
• Mezzo reported that Renly's army was marching toward King's Landing, Stannis was rebuilding his forces on Dragonstone, and Morox's fleet was patrolling the Bloodstone Island line.
• Mezzo told Liu Qian that Robert's bastards had mostly been killed or secured, Gendry was missing, and Eddard Stark's trial was set for the next day despite Tyrion's attempt to reach King's Landing.
• Liu Qian told Mezzo to use their agents in the Alchemists' Guild to approach Cersei with suggestions and exploit the coming conflict between her and Tyrion.

Cersei warned Joffrey to spare Eddard Stark and send him to the Wall so he could be exchanged for Jaime, but Littlefinger provoked Joffrey into seeing mercy as weakness. The chapter left Joffrey furious and reconsidering what he would do at the trial.

• Cersei told Joffrey that Tywin needed Eddard alive to exchange for Jaime and instructed him to send Eddard to the Wall.
• Littlefinger arrived with royal fleet repair documents after Cersei left Joffrey alone.
• Littlefinger reminded Joffrey that he had known Eddard and questioned whether the king would show mercy or strength.
• Littlefinger warned that sparing Eddard could make Joffrey appear weak and afraid of the northerners.
• Joffrey erupted in anger, insisting that Eddard deserved to die, and Littlefinger withdrew after planting doubt about the planned mercy.

Joffrey condemned Eddard Stark to death despite Tyrion’s last-minute attempt to stop the execution, then personally beheaded him. Tyrion struck Joffrey in the face on the execution platform.

• Joffrey accused Eddard of treason and murder, then sentenced him to immediate execution.
• Tyrion rode into the square and ordered Ilyn Payne to spare Eddard, citing the king’s and Lord Tywin’s commands.
• Joffrey rejected Tyrion’s intervention, seized Ice, and hacked Eddard to death as Sansa collapsed.
• Tyrion rushed onto the platform and slapped Joffrey across the face.

Tyrion took control after Joffrey executed Eddard Stark, then confronted Cersei over the disaster and began arranging supplies and protection for the Lannisters. He left the council having ordered Littlefinger to buy grain from the Easterner and secured Cersei’s reluctant consent to send Myrcella to Dorne.

• Tyrion struck Joffrey and used Tywin’s sealed order to make the Gold Cloaks escort the king back to the palace.
• Tyrion accused Cersei of letting Joffrey ruin House Lannister’s reputation and revealed that Tywin had considered sacrificing Jaime.
• Tyrion learned Arya had disappeared and said Sansa was now their only remaining bargaining chip with Robb Stark.
• Tyrion warned that the grain shortage could trigger revolt and persuaded Cersei to send Myrcella to Dorne.
• Tyrion ordered Littlefinger to buy grain from the Easterner in the Three Daughters, despite Cersei’s objection over Stafford’s death.

At Conqueror's Holdfast, Liu Qian watched his dragons with the women around him before learning that Corlien and Morio had returned from Skagos with seven living unicorns. He ordered Qyburn to protect and breed them for a future unicorn legion, and a few days later an unprecedented spectacle began at Crown Town's harbor.

• Liu Qian spent time by the stream as Blooddance, Silverfall, and Duskwraith played in the water, while Ynys Yronwood and Chai Yi reflected on their hopes and Lynesse enjoyed her pregnancy.
• A Dragon Spirit Guardian delivered a letter, and Liu Qian returned to Conqueror's Holdfast after learning Corlien and Morio had come back with unicorns.
• Corlien and Morio told Liu Qian they had captured seven living unicorns on Skagos, and he went with Qyburn and Mezzo to see them in the stables.
• Liu Qian ordered Qyburn to focus on the unicorns' care, domestication, and breeding so he could raise a unicorn legion.
• A few days later, an unprecedented spectacle took place at Crown Town's harbor.

Rowan brought one thousand Unsullied and three hundred thousand Yidi refugees to Liu Qian, who promised them land and a new life in his kingdom. After news arrived that Joffrey had executed Eddard Stark, Liu Qian began preparing a gift for the Lannisters.

• Rowan arrived with the Unsullied and three hundred thousand Yidi refugees, then reported that Boshong was ravaging Yidi amid the chaos of competing warlords.
• Liu Qian welcomed the refugees, offered uncultivated land to commoners of Yidi blood, and invited skilled workers to settle in Crown Town.
• Liu Qian promised the refugees rations, seed grain, three years without taxes, and a generous childbirth subsidy, prompting them to hail him as the Son of Heaven.
• Jelena, Janice, Chai Yi, Ynys, and Lynesse watched the refugees celebrate, and Chai Yi's hesitation appeared to lessen.
• Mezzo reported that Joffrey had executed Eddard Stark before the Great Sept of Baelor despite Tyrion's attempt to stop it.
• Liu Qian told Mezzo to prepare a great gift for the Lannisters in addition to the pyromancers.

Tyrion discovered that a rumor claiming Cersei and Jaime were children of Aerys had swept through King's Landing, threatening House Lannister and Joffrey's legitimacy. Joffrey's brutal purge silenced public discussion, but resentment continued to build across the city.

• Tyrion and Bronn planned to recruit starving commoners into the City Watch by offering them food.
• Podrick told Tyrion that King's Landing was circulating rumors that Cersei and Jaime were Aerys's children and that Joffrey had Targaryen blood.
• Cersei accused Tyrion of spreading the rumors, while Varys admitted his Little Birds could not identify their source.
• Tyrion ordered Bronn to arrest people discussing the rumor, but Joffrey sent Sandor Clegane to purge alleged slanderers, and soldiers killed unarmed commoners near the Mud Gate.
• For days, Gold Cloaks hunted suspected rumormongers, filling the Black Cells and working the gallows as fear drove the rumors underground and resentment grew.

Cersei sent Myrcella to Dorne, then rode with Tyrion through a starving King's Landing, where Joffrey's threats turned a riot into a disaster. Bronn recovered Cersei from an alley alive but gravely brutalized, leaving Tyrion horrified.

• Cersei said goodbye to Myrcella as the girl departed for Dorne with Ser Alliser, while Littlefinger sailed on Tyrion's grain-buying mission.
• A hungry crowd surrounded Cersei and Tyrion's litters on Hook Street, and Joffrey's orders to kill the rioters prompted Gold Cloaks to attack them.
• The crowd overwhelmed the escort and chased the party toward the Mud Gate as Tyrion rebuked Joffrey and Cersei blamed Tyrion for the riot.
• A group of rioters seized Cersei's litter and carried her into a dead-end alley, so Tyrion ordered Bronn to pursue them.
• Bronn returned with Cersei alive but severely injured and traumatized, and she lost consciousness after calling Tyrion a monster.

Liu Qian prepared to use Jorah Mormont as a pawn in his campaign against the North, forcing him to garrison the tower on Skagos by threatening Lynesse. Petyr Baelish arrived as an envoy from the Seven Kingdoms, leaving Liu Qian to receive him at Conqueror's Holdfast.

• Corlien and Morio reported that they had built a tower on Skagos, and Liu Qian ordered more slaves and supplies sent to fortify it and capture unicorns.
• Liu Qian visited Jorah Mormont in the dungeon and told him Lynesse was living happily with his gold.
• Liu Qian ordered Jorah to go to Skagos with two hundred men and serve at the tower, threatening Lynesse if he refused.
• Jorah submitted to Liu Qian's demand so he might protect Lynesse.
• Mezzo informed Liu Qian that Petyr Baelish had arrived as an envoy from the Seven Kingdoms, and Liu Qian received him in the king's hall.

Petyr Baelish visited Liu Qian to buy grain for the Seven Kingdoms and secretly offered to serve him in exchange for power and land. After Baelish sailed away with a grain shipment, Liu Qian learned that his fleet had captured Princess Myrcella Baratheon and brought her to Conqueror's Holdfast.

• Littlefinger admired Conqueror's Holdfast and asked Liu Qian to sell the Seven Kingdoms a large quantity of grain at a premium.
• Liu Qian agreed to the sale and hosted Littlefinger at a feast with his officials, captains, and merchants.
• Littlefinger offered to become Liu Qian's agent in Westeros in return for becoming a powerful lord, and Liu Qian accepted the partnership.
• Littlefinger departed with a shipload of grain, while Mezzo told Liu Qian they had mixed sand into the shipment and spread rumors about an attack on the royal family.
• A messenger reported that Moluo Xu's patrol had captured Kingsguard knight Arys Oakheart and was bringing Princess Myrcella Baratheon to Conqueror's Holdfast.

After learning that Winterfell had fallen to the Ironborn and Bran was presumed dead, Robb faced Catelyn’s anger and the North’s isolation. He sent Ser Wendel Manderly to seek aid from the Eastern King, while northern lords questioned Robb’s decisions and Roose Bolton read a secret letter bearing a Lannister seal.

• Catelyn told Robb that Theon Greyjoy had seized Winterfell and Bran was believed killed, then blamed Robb for allowing Theon to return and for marching south.
• Robb swore vengeance on Theon and the Greyjoys, but Catelyn warned him that the North had no allies and faced enemies on every side.
• Robb decided to seek aid from the Eastern King, and Catelyn agreed to send Ser Wendel Manderly across the Narrow Sea with White Harbor’s fleet available to him.
• Harrion Tallhart, Galbart Glover, and Robin Flint discussed Robb’s past decisions and their lack of alternatives as the Ironborn attacked their northern lands.
• Roose Bolton read a secret letter sealed with a Lannister lion and then blew out the candle.

Tywin reacted to rumors questioning Cersei and Jaime’s parentage, then planned to exploit rumors and divisions in Renly’s and Robb Stark’s armies. He left Kevan to send secret letters aimed at weakening both rival forces.

• Tywin ordered Kevan to tell Cersei to execute those spreading gossip about the royal family and the Lannisters.
• Tywin blamed Cersei and Joffrey for Eddard Stark’s execution, then privately wondered whether Tyrion had spread the rumors about Cersei and Jaime.
• Tywin gave Kevan reports of rumors about Renly’s lack of an heir and his marriage to Margaery, and ordered secret letters to lords in the Stormlands and the Reach.
• Tywin told Kevan that Robb Stark had ignored Catelyn Tully’s order to detain Jon Snow and that Theon Greyjoy’s return had enabled the Ironborn attack on Winterfell.
• Tywin ordered Kevan to contact northern nobles whose lands were threatened by the Ironborn and encourage divisions among Robb’s bannermen.

At Bitterbridge, nobles in Renly's camp discussed rumors that Renly might be unable to father an heir and weighed a secret offer from the Westerlands to betray him. They agreed to wait until Tumbleton to judge the queen’s prospects and the war’s progress, leaving Renly’s support uncertain.

• Earl Orton Merryweather gathered Stormlands and Reach nobles, and Ser Parmen Crane raised concerns that Renly had no known bastards and might be unable to produce an heir.
• Lady Tanya Merryweather said she had witnessed Renly and Queen Margaery consummate their marriage, but Parmen argued that this did not prove Renly could father children.
• The nobles discussed the succession risks, including Stannis’s claim and Gendry’s legitimized Baratheon status.
• Earl Orton revealed a secret letter from the Westerlands offering rewards to nobles who turned against Renly and helped Tywin Lannister’s army.
• Ser Parmen urged the nobles to wait for news about Margaery and the campaign, and they agreed to reconsider their choices at Tumbleton.

Cersei ordered Hallyne to produce wildfire so she could burn King's Landing, but Tyrion interrupted and persuaded the alchemist to serve him in defending the city. Tyrion took charge of the wildfire and headed to inspect the walls as Renly's rebels threatened the capital.

• Cersei ordered Hallyne to make as much wildfire as possible and declared she would use it to burn the people of King's Landing.
• Tyrion barged into Cersei's bedchamber and challenged her plan, warning that wildfire could destroy the city.
• Tyrion persuaded Hallyne to use wildfire as a weapon to defend King's Landing and promised the Alchemists' Guild greater resources and status.
• Hallyne knelt and pledged to serve Tyrion, who told Cersei he was responsible for the city's defense.
• Tyrion ordered Hallyne to accompany him to inspect the walls of King's Landing.

Tyrion discovered that the grain Petyr Baelish had bought for King's Landing was actually sand and confronted him over the deception. Littlefinger denied colluding with the Easterner, but Tyrion left him responsible for finding a solution to the looming famine.

• Tyrion and Bronn inspected the grain warehouse and found that the sacks contained sand instead of wheat.
• Tyrion had Bronn cut open more sacks, confirmed they were all filled with sand, and left to confront Baelish.
• Tyrion dumped sand across Baelish's desk and accused him of negligence or collusion in the failed grain purchase.
• Baelish denied conspiring with the Easterner and claimed he had been tricked.
• Tyrion warned Baelish to find a solution quickly because King's Landing faced famine and possible riots.

Chai Yi confessed her feelings to Liu Qian and spent the night with him. The next night Ynys joined Chai Yi in visiting Liu Qian, and the castle’s nights grew noisy over the following half month.

• Chai Yi dressed in black lace, visited Liu Qian, and confessed that she wanted to be closer to him than as a sword in his service.
• Liu Qian promised to take Chai Yi to Kakosa after settling matters in the west, and the two spent the night together.
• At breakfast, Myrcella asked about strange cries from Liu Qian’s room, while Lynesse covered for Chai Yi’s absence.
• Ynys and Chai Yi arrived together at Liu Qian’s bedchamber, and he invited them inside.
• Over the next half month, the castle’s maids whispered about the nightly cries, while Myrcella kept mistaking them for noisy night owls.

Liu Qian agreed to send Robb Stark twenty thousand supposed Unsullied, who were actually Dothraki Horsemen, to aid the North. He demanded Sansa Stark as the price for their service, and sent Chai Yi with Ser Wendel to negotiate with Robb as the army sailed for Westeros.

• Ser Wendel asked Liu Qian for military aid on Robb Stark's behalf, and Liu Qian promised twenty thousand Unsullied.
• Liu Qian showed Wendel that the force was actually a khalasar of Dothraki Horsemen wearing Unsullied uniforms, and Wendel reluctantly accepted them as reinforcements.
• Liu Qian demanded Sansa Stark as the price for the warriors, and Wendel agreed to relay the demand to Robb.
• Liu Qian ordered Chai Yi to accompany Wendel to Westeros and negotiate with Robb.
• The Dothraki boarded the prepared ships and set sail for Westeros.

Robb Stark accepted Liu Qian’s terms and pledged Sansa in marriage in exchange for twenty thousand Horsemen. He ordered the warriors into the Westerlands to attack Tywin’s lands, leaving his bannermen divided and Catelyn despairing.

• The northern nobles condemned Wendel Manderly for bringing twenty thousand Dothraki Horsemen and opposed trading Sansa for their service.
• Catelyn urged Robb to reject the marriage pledge, while Greatjon Umber loudly refused to accept the Horsemen or the Easterner’s terms.
• Chai Yi advised Robb to send the Horsemen into the undefended Westerlands to burn and plunder Lannister lands while Tywin’s main force fought in the Riverlands.
• Robb accepted Liu Qian’s terms and pledged Sansa Stark to him in marriage, agreeing to announce the match to the Seven Kingdoms.
• Robb summoned his commanders and ordered the Horsemen to prepare to attack the Westerlands and ravage the Lannisters’ lands.

Renly besieged King's Landing without attacking, while Tyrion searched for the source of leaked intelligence and nobles around Renly considered switching sides. Olenna urged Margaery to conceive a child by another man, and Margaery reluctantly agreed to wait until King's Landing fell before discussing it further.

• Renly chose to starve King's Landing and sent Randyll Tarly and Loras Tyrell west with twenty thousand troops to block Tywin's reinforcements.
• Tyrion questioned Varys, Petyr Baelish, and Grand Maester Pycelle about the leaks but could not identify the source.
• Earl Orton, Ser Parmen Crane, and other nobles discussed Tywin's offer and leaned toward writing to Casterly Rock because Renly had no heir.
• Olenna told Margaery that she must become pregnant, even if she had to borrow another man's seed, to quiet rumors undermining Renly's cause.
• Margaery submitted to Olenna's demand but asked to wait until King's Landing fell before deciding what to do.