Chapter Summaries

Titus traveled with Davos Seaworth and his sons aboard the Black Beth toward the Gods Eye, then went ashore at Whitegrove. At a tavern, he encountered a handsome young Robert Baratheon, who casually knocked down a Peake soldier.

• Davos agreed to Titus's arrangements, and they planned to meet at the River Gate at first light.
• Davos brought Titus and his party aboard the Black Beth, introducing his sons Dale and Allard as the ship departed King's Landing.
• Oswin explained the route along the Blackwater Rush to the Gods Eye and recounted the duel between Daemon and Aemond Targaryen above the lake.
• After several days on the river, the Black Beth reached Whitegrove, and Titus went ashore with Bowen, Oswin, and several guards.
• At the White Thorn Garden tavern, Titus saw a young man flirting with a serving girl, and a Peake soldier accidentally collided with him.
• The young man, Robert Baratheon, casually knocked the Peake soldier to the floor and apologized with a smile.

Titus stopped a tavern confrontation between Robert Baratheon and his soldiers by arranging an arm-wrestling match, which ended with the table breaking and the men making peace. Robert bought the tavern a round and introduced himself and Eddard Stark, then asked Titus’s group who they were.

• Titus halted the brewing fight and proposed that Robert and Oswin settle their dispute with arm wrestling.
• Robert and Oswin struggled evenly until Oswin’s sideways twist helped bring down the table, after which they laughed and praised each other’s strength.
• Titus compensated the bartender for the broken table, and Eddard announced that the round was on Robert Baratheon of Storm’s End.
• Robert spoke with the soldier he had knocked down and toasted him, putting the earlier conflict behind them.
• Robert introduced himself and his good brother Eddard Stark, said they were staying at the Eyrie, and asked Titus’s group about themselves.

Titus, Robert, Eddard, and Oswin shared drinks and stories at a tavern, where Titus entertained Robert and Eddard with tales of sellswords and Essos. As the evening wore on, Robert, Eddard, and Titus swore blood brotherhood, leaving their chance encounter as a bond between them.

• Titus introduced himself and Oswin to Robert and Eddard, then joked that their secret mission was to win the Harrenhal tourney for Starpike.
• Titus told Robert and Eddard stories about sellsword companies, including the Rose Company and Wolf Pack Company, and Robert said he wanted to visit Essos.
• Titus described the gladiatorial arenas of Slaver's Bay, and Robert led the group in a toast to the champion gladiator.
• Robert, Eddard, and Titus grew lively as they drank and swore blood brotherhood.

Titus and his companions discussed Robert and Eddard’s trip to High Heart before Robert showed off his heavy iron hammers. Titus goaded Oswin into lifting one, and Oswin impressed everyone by raising it with ease but struggled when Robert challenged him to take the other.

• Robert and Eddard told Titus about finding a ring of thirty-one weirwood stumps at High Heart, though Eddard dismissed the trip as uneventful.
• Titus discovered Robert’s spiked iron hammers at the inn, and Robert swung them effortlessly to show his strength.
• Titus told Robert that Oswin had claimed he could have beaten him at arm-wrestling if he had eaten first.
• Titus praised Oswin as a legendary Ironborn strongman and challenged him to lift Robert’s hammer.
• Oswin lifted one hammer with one hand and rested it on his shoulder, but sweat appeared as Robert challenged him to lift the second, prompting everyone to laugh.

Titus, Robert, and Eddard traveled toward Harrenhal, growing closer as they rode, hunted, and shared stories. They ended the day camping beside a stream near the Gods Eye, their friendship deepening over food and wine.

• Titus woke at the inn in Whitegrove and decided to travel overland toward Harrenhal with Robert and Eddard.
• The five travelers left Whitegrove, raced their horses, and grew more familiar, with Titus beginning to call Eddard “Ned.”
• Eddard told Titus about the North and his family’s plans to strengthen ties with southern houses through wards and betrothals.
• Robert led a hunt that produced only a few rabbits, and the three young men failed to catch anything during their afternoon archery competition.
• Titus, Robert, and Eddard roasted rabbit beside a stream near the Gods Eye and shared wine and laughter beneath the stars.

Titus and his companions rode along the Gods Eye toward Harrenhal, while Titus considered the castle’s history and supposed curse. They arrived at Harrenhal, the seat of House Whent and the venue for the tournament.

• Titus confirmed that the Inn at the Crossroads was run by Martha Haigh, then raced horses with Eddard and Robert along the Gods Eye.
• Eddard told Titus that Robert had fathered a two-year-old bastard daughter named Mya with a maid at the Eyrie.
• As the party neared Harrenhal, Titus considered visiting the Isle of Faces and thought about the Skinchangers who might guard it.
• Oswin sang the song Titus had taught the party, while Titus reflected on the history of House Hoare and Harrenhal’s rumored curse.
• Titus and his four companions reached Harrenhal, the seat of House Whent and the tournament venue.

Titus arrived at Harrenhal for the gathering and met its host, Walter Whent, whose courtesy was formal rather than warm. Afterward, Titus inspected the comfortable private quarters Wenda had prepared for him.

• Titus reached Harrenhal with Robert and Ned, then found House Peake's camp and greeted Parker.
• Titus sent Oswin to meet Davos aboard the Black Beth and coordinate future messages with Wenda's gyrfalcon.
• Parker led Titus through Harrenhal to Kingspyre Tower, where he met Walter Whent and exchanged routine pleasantries.
• Titus left Walter's reception and inspected the spacious quarters Wenda had arranged for him.

As Harrenhal filled with visitors for the tournament, Titus studied the booming trade and gambling, then risked his last gold dragons on a wager. King Aerys II and Crown Prince Rhaegar arrived, followed by regional representatives, leaving nearly all the great figures of the Seven Kingdoms gathered at Harrenhal.

• Titus explored Harrenhal’s markets and gambling dens, observed how merchants profited from the tournament crowds, and exchanged silver stags for a favorable fortune.
• Titus planned to turn Westerosi tournaments into regular commercial events and gambled his last gold dragons using his foreknowledge.
• King Aerys II arrived at Harrenhal with his retinue and six Kingsguard after Harlan Grandison died.
• Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen arrived soon after Aerys, while the great lords stayed away except for Robert.
• Representatives arrived from across the kingdom, including Brynden Tully, Kevan Lannister, Gulian Swann, Brandon Stark, and Oberyn Martell.

Titus met with Lorance Roxton, who sought House Peake’s help against Whitegrove, before attending the opening ceremony at Harrenhal. The royal procession arrived, and Crown Prince Rhaegar emerged from the king’s wheelhouse.

• Titus kept his distance from Oberyn Martell, then reviewed information about the tournament’s contestants at his grand house.
• Lorance Roxton asked Titus to cooperate against Whitegrove, which had been encroaching on House Roxton’s lands.
• Titus observed the tournament grounds and crowds gathering outside Harrenhal for the opening ceremony.
• The king’s procession arrived, and the herald announced Aerys II Targaryen to the assembled nobles and commoners.
• Crown Prince Rhaegar stepped out of the wheelhouse, and Titus saw him in person for the first time.

At the Harrenhal tourney, King Aerys struggled through a speech before Crown Prince Rhaegar took over and the king announced Jaime Lannister’s appointment to the Kingsguard. The opening ceremony ended, and preparations for the great banquet began in Harrenhal’s Hall of a Hundred Hearths.

• King Aerys arrived at the viewing stand in a disheveled state and stammered through his address to the tourney.
• Crown Prince Rhaegar stepped forward and finished the speech, prompting the crowd to cheer.
• Master of Coin Earl Qarlton Chelsted reminded Aerys of Jaime Lannister’s request, and Aerys ordered Jaime to appear.
• Aerys named Jaime Lannister to the Kingsguard, where Ser Gerold Hightower gave him a white cloak as the other knights welcomed him.
• The opening ceremony ended at sunset, and candles were lit in Harrenhal’s Hall of a Hundred Hearths for the banquet.

King Aerys II ordered Jaime Lannister to leave Harrenhal for King's Landing before he could compete in the tourney, while Titus and Robert welcomed the Stark siblings at the feast. Robert immediately focused his attention on Lyanna, leaving Titus startled by his behavior.

• King Aerys II summoned Jaime Lannister and ordered him to depart for King's Landing to guard Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys.
• Jaime pleaded to compete in the tourney, but Aerys refused Ser Gerold Hightower's offer to take his place.
• Jaime left Harrenhal alone that night, disappointed and confused.
• Titus socialized with Stormlands nobles at the feast while Robert introduced him to several guests.
• Brandon, Eddard, Lyanna, and Benjen Stark arrived at the Hall of a Hundred Hearths.
• Robert greeted the Starks and openly showered Lyanna with attention, astonishing Titus.

At Harrenhal, the Stark siblings joined Robert Baratheon and Titus at the feast, where Lyanna’s intervention for Howland Reed and Robert’s courtship drew attention. Rhaegar’s mournful song moved Lyanna to tears, leaving Robert still captivated by her.

• Lyanna mocked Robert’s romantic reputation, and Eddard explained that she had just fought squires who were bullying Howland Reed.
• Brandon complained about the king’s absence as the Stark siblings joined Robert, Titus, and northern vassals at their table.
• Titus befriended Howland, asked about the Neck’s Lizard-lions, and arranged for Howland to send him a hatchling after the tournament.
• Rhaegar played a beautiful, sad song with singing in High Valyrian, and Lyanna watched him with tears in her eyes.
• Benjen teased Lyanna for crying, so she splashed wine in his face while Robert laughed beside her.

At the Harrenhal feast, Lady Ashara Dayne’s beauty captivated the hall, and Eddard Stark and Barristan Selmy both tried to invite her to dance. Titus Peake claimed the first dance, while Eddard finally danced with Ashara afterward and stumbled over his romantic compliment.

• Rhaegar left the feast after learning that Jaime Lannister had departed, while Eddard noticed that Rhaegar’s indigo eyes resembled Titus Peake’s.
• Elia Martell arrived with Oberyn Martell and her friend Ashara Dayne, whose striking appearance drew the attention of the hall and left Eddard entranced.
• Eddard and Barristan Selmy both tried to claim Ashara’s first dance, but Titus took her hand and danced with her instead.
• After Titus finished dancing with Ashara, Eddard was paired with her and stiffly praised her beauty, but she failed to hear what he said.

Titus slipped away from the dance floor and overheard Oberyn Martell and Tremond Gargalen discussing tournaments and House Fowler. He returned to find Robert winning a drinking contest against Rickard Lonmouth, while Eddard had danced with Ashara’s maid, Wylla.

• Titus praised Barristan’s dancing to avoid Eddard’s questions, then withdrew to the colonnade.
• Titus overheard Oberyn Martell and Tremond Gargalen talk about the Old Falcon, House Fowler, and future tournaments.
• Titus recognized Oberyn as the Red Viper and quietly left without listening further to the men’s conversation.
• Titus found Robert defeating Rickard Lonmouth in a drinking contest while the gathered nobles laughed.
• Robert told Titus that Eddard had danced with Ashara’s maid, Wylla, and Titus joked that he might be better at other kinds of dancing.

At Harrenhal, Titus, Robert, and Eddard discussed the tournament before the guests retired for the night. The next morning, Titus watched the jousting preparations as the rules were announced and the first knights entered the field.

• Titus told Robert about the Ironborn Finger Dance, a dangerous axe-throwing game, and Robert showed interest in trying it.
• Eddard backed Arthur Dayne to win the joust, while Robert favored Barristan Selmy and Titus jokingly argued that he should be considered a favorite too.
• Titus saw Ashara off, then helped the drunken Robert and Eddard return to their lodgings as they eagerly discussed the tournament.
• The next morning, Titus arrived at the tournament grounds and noticed that his custom lance tips, shaped like clenched fists, had been made by Tob's smithy.
• A red-robed judge announced the jousting rules, and the first knights entered the field to begin the competition.

Titus prepared for the joust, watched House Whent’s brothers lose their places in the lists, and observed Aerys’s erratic decline. He then faced Ser Denys Arryn, whose herald delivered an extravagant introduction as the two knights prepared to compete.

• Titus discussed his tournament plans with Parker and Bowen while Wenda prepared to watch from his seat.
• The Whent brothers were defeated in succession, and the eldest Whent brother fell to Earl Yohn Royce.
• Aerys laughed, fell silent, and wept as the jousting continued, revealing his growing frailty to the crowd.
• Titus took the field against Ser Denys Arryn, the newly appointed steward of the Gates of the Moon and second in line to inherit from the Duke of the Eyrie.
• Denys’s black-haired squire introduced him with an extravagant account of his supposed victories, stirring Titus’s fighting spirit.

Titus defeated Ser Denys Arryn and won two more hard-fought jousting rounds with help from Parker and Bowen. After learning that his newly commissioned Berserker Armor had arrived, Titus prepared for his final match of the day against Jon Connington.

• A young announcer introduced Ser Denys Arryn with an extravagant speech, rousing the crowd and Titus before their joust.
• Titus and Ser Denys struck each other's shields in the first pass, shattering their lances, but neither fell.
• On the second pass, Titus knocked Ser Denys from his horse and won the match.
• With Parker and Bowen supporting him, Titus won two more rounds and then left the field to rest.
• Wenda told Titus that his Berserker Armor had arrived, and he examined the imposing black suit before asking Parker and Bowen to help him put it on.
• An attendant informed Titus that Jon Connington had qualified as his final opponent of the day.

Jon Connington faced Titus Peake in the tournament joust after Titus won Ashara Dayne’s favor, turning the match into a contest for her affection. After their first pass, Titus and Bowen assessed Jon’s impatience and prepared to exploit it.

• Jon Connington prepared to joust against the undefeated Titus Peake, who arrived in striking black armor.
• Titus asked Ashara Dayne for her favor, and she gave him her starburst necklace before he rode back to the lists.
• Titus kissed Ashara’s pendant and fastened the necklace to his saddle as onlookers, including Eddard Stark, watched.
• Jon shouted “Long live the griffin!” and charged Titus for the first pass, with both knights striking each other’s armor and shattering their lances.
• Titus praised Jon’s powerful strike, then agreed with Bowen that Jon was rushing for a quick victory and could be exploited.

Titus defeated Jon Connington in the joust and was hailed as the Black Earl. He then met Ashara Dayne in Harrenhal’s Godswood, confessed his feelings, and kissed her.

• Titus struck Jon Connington during their second pass, scoring a hit while Jon’s lance only scraped Titus’s shield.
• Titus unhorsed Jon on the third pass, leaving him clutching an injured arm as the crowd chanted for the Black Earl.
• Titus retrieved Ashara’s Star Pendant and rode away in triumph.
• Ashara waited alone for Titus beneath the Heart Tree in Harrenhal’s Godswood.
• Titus told Ashara he wanted to share his future victories with her, and they kissed.

At the Tourney of Harrenhal, Titus hired Rosso Brune to challenge Prince Rhaegar and study his fighting style. Robert told Titus that a mystery knight called the Knight of the Laughing Tree had defeated three knights, and King Aerys II suspected the knight was Ser Jaime Lannister.

• Titus caught Rosso Brune snooping among his people and learned Rosso's upcoming opponents were Eustace Brune and Prince Rhaegar.
• Titus paid Rosso to defeat Eustace Brune and push Prince Rhaegar hard enough to reveal his combat skills and endurance.
• Robert told Titus that a mystery knight had appeared at the tourney the previous day wearing a white shield marked with a red smiling face.
• The Knight of the Laughing Tree defeated knights from Houses Blount, Frey, and Haigh, then demanded that they teach their squires honor as ransom for their equipment.
• King Aerys II decided the smiling face mocked him and suspected the Knight of the Laughing Tree was Ser Jaime Lannister.