Chapter Summaries

Davion defeated Jaime in the joust, provoking Cersei’s fury while leaving Davion frustrated that Jaime had departed before they could discuss a ransom. As Davion prepared for the next semifinal, Barristan questioned why he had refused knighthood.

• Cersei panicked when Jaime was struck down, while Robert mocked him and Tywin watched for signs of injury.
• Jaime got to his feet with an injured left arm, cursed Davion, and left the tournament grounds; Cersei quietly ordered a maid to carry out instructions and glared at Davion.
• Davion lamented that Jaime had left without discussing a ransom, then rode to the rest area and received ale from Gendry.
• Barristan congratulated Davion and asked why he had refused Loras’s offer to knight him.
• Davion said he had no interest in knighthood, and Barristan asked why he disdained its honors and recognition.

Davion rejected Barristan Selmy’s offer to knight him and challenged the honor of a Kingsguard member who had served three kings. As the Mountain and Barristan entered the arena for their duel, Davion rested confidently while Gendry watched in excitement.

• Davion argued that knighthood had become meaningless because knights such as the Mountain and Jaime Lannister committed atrocities and broke their oaths.
• Barristan offered to knight Davion, citing his past bond with Davion’s uncle Oswell Whent, but Davion declined and dismissed him.
• After Barristan left, Gendry praised his heroic reputation, and Davion questioned how serving three kings could fit the Kingsguard’s oath of lifelong loyalty.
• Davion pointed out that Barristan had sworn allegiance to Aerys but was still alive and serving Robert, leaving Gendry questioning his admiration for knights.
• The Mountain, Gregor Clegane, and Barristan rode into the arena for their duel while Davion rested, confident he could defeat either finalist, and Gendry watched eagerly.

Davion Whent was declared the jousting champion after the Mountain and Barristan both fell, and he received twenty-five thousand gold dragons. He crowned Princess Myrcella queen of love and beauty, then rode to Chataya's brothel with Tyrion and Gendry planning to follow.

• Barristan unhorsed the Mountain, but the Mountain's exhausted warhorse collapsed beneath him, and Tywin stopped him from attacking Sandor Clegane.
• Robert declared Davion Whent the jousting champion and awarded him twenty-five thousand gold dragons.
• Davion crowned Princess Myrcella instead of Cersei, leaving Cersei furious but unable to object openly.
• Davion lifted all the prize sacks with one hand, loaded them onto his horse, and rode away from the tourney grounds.
• Davion told Tyrion and Gendry to meet him at Chataya's brothel, and Tyrion decided to follow with Gendry.

Davion confronted Janos Slynt at Shataya’s brothel and struck him after Janos threatened Shataya and insulted him. The confrontation was interrupted when Tyrion arrived with Mary, Alayaya, and Janna, leaving Janos facing Davion and his companions.

• Davion arrived at Shataya’s brothel and heard Janos Slynt demand Mary and threaten to raise the brothel’s taxes and fees.
• Janos insulted Davion, who slapped him hard enough to knock out more than a dozen teeth.
• Shataya warned Davion that Janos was the Deputy Commander of the Gold Cloaks, but Davion kicked Janos several more times.
• Janos regained his senses, threatened Davion, and reached for his sword.
• Tyrion arrived with Mary, Alayaya, and Janna, drawing Davion’s attention away from Janos.

Tyrion Lannister forced Janos Slynt to leave Shataya’s brothel after Davion defeated him, then celebrated with Davion. Later, seven Lannister guards arrived and ordered Davion to get dressed and go with them.

• Janos threatened Davion until Tyrion recognized him and revealed that Davion was the Hand’s Tourney champion and his friend.
• Tyrion intimidated Janos into leaving the brothel and warned him not to return.
• Davion thanked Tyrion and offered to pay for the night’s drinks, while joking that he would demand a trial by combat if accused.
• Later, seven Lannister guards entered Davion’s private room despite Shataya’s pleas and ordered him to come with them.

Davion fought off the guards sent to fetch him, then agreed to go with them after learning Queen Cersei had summoned him. He entered Cersei’s bedchamber alone, where she was waiting for him.

• Davion punched the lead guard through his armor and knocked the other guards down when they threatened to force him to leave.
• The surviving guards explained that Queen Cersei had sent them to invite Davion, and he agreed to go after getting dressed.
• Davion told Shataya to find Tyrion if he had not returned by midnight, then left with the guards carrying his sword.
• The guards led Davion through the Red Keep to Maegor’s Holdfast and escorted him to Cersei’s apartments.
• Cersei ordered Davion to enter her apartments alone, and a maid led him to the queen’s bedchamber.

Davion Whent was summoned to Cersei’s bedchamber after injuring her guards, but her private meeting took an unexpectedly intimate turn. Cersei invited him behind the curtain, and he saw her reclining on the bed.

• Davion noticed Cersei had sent the maids and guards away, then entered her bedchamber alone.
• Cersei accused Davion of injuring her guards, and he defended himself by saying they had burst into his room and provoked him.
• Cersei recalled reports that Davion’s nights at Shataya’s brothel left the whores paying him, and her curiosity about him grew.
• Cersei invited Davion to come closer so she could see him clearly, and he parted the curtain.
• Davion saw Cersei lying on silk bedding with her golden hair still damp from a recent bath.

Queen Cersei tried to assert control over Earl Davion by ordering him to undress and kneel, but his teasing defiance unsettled her. The encounter turned intimate when Davion licked wine from her chest and Cersei drew him close.

• Cersei ordered Davion to pour her wine, then demanded that he remove his clothes so she could inspect his strength.
• Davion undressed and let Cersei touch his abdomen, causing her to spill wine on her nightgown.
• Cersei ordered Davion to kneel, but he refused and joked that he only knelt in bed.
• Cersei asked Davion to pour her another glass, and he suggested the wine on her chest was enough for him.
• Davion bent over and licked the wine from Cersei's chest, and she wrapped her hands around his head.

Tyrion Lannister discovered that Davion was inside Cersei’s bedchamber, but left without interrupting them. After their all-night struggle, Cersei fell asleep in Davion’s arms and woke the following evening with her resentment renewed.

• Tyrion hurried to the Red Keep after Shataya told him that the Lannister Guards had taken Davion.
• Two guards stopped Tyrion outside Cersei’s bedchamber, and their reactions confirmed his suspicion that Davion was inside with the queen.
• Tyrion left a message for Davion and muttered that the young man had dared get involved with Cersei.
• Davion repeatedly overpowered Cersei through the night, and she finally fell asleep in his arms around noon.
• Cersei woke after eight in the evening, remembered Davion’s treatment, and climbed on top of him with a cold, resentful expression.

Davion restrained Cersei after she tried to strike him, then spent the morning with her while her maids prepared their bath and dinner. With the Hand's Tourney ending the next day and his return to Harrenhal approaching, Davion dismissed the maids to be alone with Cersei.

• Cersei woke and tried to slap Davion, but he caught both her wrists and held her against him.
• Cersei's maids entered with hot water and dinner, then withdrew when Cersei signaled them to leave.
• Davion carried Cersei to the bathtub, where they drank wine and the maids washed them.
• Cersei tried to pinch Davion underwater, but his intimidating look made her turn away.
• Davion stood up and dismissed the maids, intending to spend his last chance with Cersei before returning to Harrenhal.

Davion left Cersei's bedchamber after accepting her payment and giving her a coin marked with his thumbprint, then returned to Shataya's brothel to prepare for the melee. At the tournament grounds, Tyrion warned him that Robert would kill him if he discovered Davion had been with Cersei.

• Cersei dismissed her handmaidens, and she and Davion spent another night together.
• Cersei offered Davion a purse of Gold Dragons as payment, and Davion picked up the coins and fused two into a single marked coin for her to keep.
• Davion left the Red Keep before Jaime arrived to fetch Cersei and returned to Shataya's brothel.
• Davion reassured Shataya and the girls, rested, then took his armor and weapons and brought Gendry to the tournament grounds.
• Tyrion joined Davion at the melee grounds and warned him that Robert would have him killed if he learned about Cersei.

Davion assured Tyrion that he would win the melee, then wagered that he would eliminate more contestants than anyone else. After Robert ordered the melee to begin, the contestants scattered across the arena and watched one another warily.

• Davion joked about his affair with Cersei and thanked Tyrion for searching the Red Keep for him.
• Tyrion warned Davion that Barristan, the Mountain, and Jaime would be dangerous opponents in the melee.
• Davion bet Tyrion that he would eliminate more contestants than anyone else, wagering two thousand Gold Dragons against a few favors.
• Robert and Cersei arrived at the Tournament Grounds, and Cersei glared at Davion when she noticed his knowing smile.
• Robert ordered the melee to begin, and the contestants scattered toward the barriers.

The melee began with Jaime Lannister and Barristan Selmy fighting off a crowd, while the Mountain set his sights on Davion. Davion chose to meet the Mountain’s charging downward strike head-on, and the chapter ended as the greatsword crashed toward him.

• Jaime Lannister and Barristan Selmy fought the men who had surrounded them, while the other contestants began clashing across the field.
• The Mountain left his encirclement and walked toward Davion, clearing a path as the frightened contestants moved aside.
• Loras Tyrell tried to enlist Sandor Clegane as an ally, but Sandor charged away and insisted he was no knight.
• Cersei spotted Davion and felt relieved to see him safe, then panicked when she saw the Mountain approaching him.
• Davion taunted the Mountain and prepared to block his attack with his oak shield, relying on his Dragon Tail skill for protection.
• The Mountain charged and brought his two-handed sword down toward Davion’s head.

Davion turned the Mountain’s seemingly decisive attack into a stunning victory, knocking him down with a powerful uppercut. After Lannister guards carried the wounded Mountain from the arena, Davion looked for more opponents to gain experience.

• Davion blocked the Mountain’s greatsword with his shield, sending it flying into a sellsword and killing him.
• The Mountain attacked Davion with his fists, but Davion blocked a punch and broke his longsword against the Mountain’s flank.
• Davion dodged the Mountain’s next blow and struck his greathelm with a rising uppercut, knocking him to the ground.
• Lannister guards arrived, lifted the unconscious Mountain, and hurried him out of the arena.
• Davion recovered his shield and the Mountain’s greatsword, then focused on several knights wearing House Goodbrook surcoats as potential opponents.

Davion used the Mountain’s greatsword to kill two knights of House Darry and a knight of House Goodbrook, blaming the houses for taking land from Harrenhal. He charged toward the last two knights of House Lychester, who recognized him and tried to hide in the crowded fight around the Hound and Loras Tyrell.

• Davion approached two House Darry knights and killed one with a downward strike that split him in two.
• Davion killed the second Darry knight with a sweeping blow and announced that his score had reached 280 points.
• Davion charged across the arena and killed a House Goodbrook knight with the flat of his greatsword, raising his score to 290 points.
• Several contestants yielded, but Davion ignored them and headed for the last two House Lychester knights.
• The Lychester knights recognized Davion by his bat-emblazoned shield and tried to force their way into the fight around the Hound and Loras Tyrell to escape him.

Davion killed several men, gained enough experience to reach level 3, and upgraded his Dragon Blood skill after defeating the Mountain. He told Sandor that the Mountain was badly wounded, then accepted Loras’s challenge to fight for a ransom.

• Davion cut down six men, including a knight of House Lychester, and stomped the knight to death, reaching level 3.
• Davion upgraded Dragon Blood and felt a new power of dragon breath, along with a faint mental connection to an object in another dimension.
• Davion told Sandor that he had defeated and badly wounded Gregor Clegane, and Sandor left the contest relieved and newly resolved to take revenge on his brother.
• Loras praised Davion and challenged him to a bout, offering Gold Dragons as the ransom.
• Davion warned Loras not to damage his discarded helmet, then raised his greatsword and accepted the challenge.

Davion defeated Loras Tyrell in the arena and demanded a higher ransom, then challenged Jaime and Barristan after they asked to fight him. As the two Kingsguard argued over who would face him first, Davion invited them to attack together and launched himself at them.

• Davion advanced behind his shield and defeated Loras by striking his shoulder, then demanded a ransom twenty percent higher than before.
• Loras promised to pay Davion’s ransom after the tournament, and attendants helped him from the arena.
• Jaime and Barristan approached Davion, and Jaime said he wanted to avenge his loss in their previous joust.
• Davion demanded a thousand gold dragons from each Kingsguard and showed contempt toward Barristan.
• Jaime and Barristan argued over who would fight Davion first, so Davion challenged them both and rushed at them.

Davion fought Jaime and Barristan at the tournament, overpowering both but taking a deep wound to his thigh when Jaime caught him from behind. The bout continued with Davion injured, while Tyrion urged him to yield and Cersei watched anxiously.

• Tyrion and Cersei expected Jaime to defeat Davion as the fight began.
• Davion’s sweeping greatsword drove Barristan back, and his shield charge forced Jaime to stagger away.
• Barristan joined Jaime against Davion and tried to strike the unarmored back of his thigh, but Davion kicked him to the ground.
• Jaime circled behind Davion and cut the back of his left thigh while Davion was dealing with Barristan.
• Davion rolled clear of Jaime and stood with a deep wound in his leg as Tyrion urged him to yield and Cersei watched tensely.

Davion used his rapid healing and strength to overpower Jaime in the arena, then chose to strike him with the flat of his sword rather than kill him and provoke Tywin. Jaime passed out, and Cersei defied Tywin to go check on her brother.

• Jaime mocked Davion’s injured leg and tried to circle behind him, but Davion anticipated the attack and taunted him about the Mad King.
• Jaime charged in anger, but Davion rushed forward and launched him into the air with a shield strike.
• Davion rushed to finish Jaime with his greatsword, then changed the blade’s angle and knocked Jaime away with its flat to avoid killing him.
• Jaime landed hard and passed out, while Robert angrily berated Davion for sparing him.
• Tywin sent men to check on Jaime, but Cersei ignored Tywin’s order to stay with Robert and went down to see her brother.

Davion stopped short of killing Barristan when the king’s guards intervened, then routed the remaining contestants and was acclaimed champion of the Hand’s Tourney. Cersei left impressed by his strength, while Davion watched her go and wondered whether they would meet again.

• Davion ignored Robert’s order until the Kingsguard arrived, then spared the unconscious Barristan.
• Cersei entered the field with Lannister guards and passed Davion without acknowledging him.
• Davion chased the remaining contestants until they surrendered and the crowd hailed him as champion.
• Tywin learned Jaime was seriously wounded but out of danger as Lannister guards carried him from the field.
• Cersei admired Davion’s victory before masking her feelings and leaving, while Davion watched her go.