Chapter Summaries

Vito Corleone defeated Lyn Corbray in the arena, showing him that his predictable swordplay and reliance on Lady Forlorn had made his pride a weakness. After taking the Valyrian steel sword, Corleone invited Lyn to seek him out at the House of Order when he was ready to learn.

• Lyn Corbray challenged Vito Corleone and attacked with Lady Forlorn, but Corleone dodged each strike by a narrow margin.
• Corleone explained that Lyn repeated familiar attack patterns and relied too heavily on his Valyrian steel sword.
• Corleone disarmed Lyn with an ordinary steel sword, sending Lady Forlorn into the sand and winning the duel.
• Lyn fell to his knees as the arena crowd cheered for Corleone.
• Corleone took Lady Forlorn and told Lyn to find him at the House of Order when he was ready to learn.

The Hound desperately searched for the booklet he had kicked away, and Corleone lent him Lady Forlorn before helping him find it. In the VIP seats, Tywin confronted Cersei over her reaction to his failed plan and ordered her to study how Corleone commanded loyalty.

• The Hound searched the ransacked preparation room for the missing booklet, but told Corleone he was looking for nothing when Corleone found him rummaging in a rat hole.
• Corleone lent the Hound Lady Forlorn and pointed him toward the booklet trapped beneath the overturned bench; the Hound found it with a note reminding him to return it.
• Tywin watched the crowd cheer Corleone after his decisive victory over Lyn Corbray and resolved to defeat him by another means.
• Cersei mocked Tywin’s failed plan, and Tywin asked why he had never considered her fit to inherit Casterly Rock.
• Tywin called Cersei foolish and rebuked her for choices that had harmed House Lannister, including the war that followed Joffrey’s execution of Eddard Stark.
• Tywin ordered Cersei to speak less and observe how Corleone had won allegiance and gained control, telling her that he was more of a Lannister than she was.

The Hound fought his brother, the Mountain, in the Ring of Order, using Lady Forlorn and a booklet of weaknesses to break the Mountain’s sword and wound him. The Mountain regained the upper hand and carried the helpless Hound toward a brazier, repeating the childhood horror that had scarred him.

• Rorge introduced the Mountain and the Hound as the opposing fighters, and the crowd chanted for the brothers’ battle.
• The Hound attacked with Lady Forlorn, repeatedly striking the Mountain’s greatsword until it broke.
• The Hound used the weaknesses in Corleone’s booklet to stab the Mountain in the ribs, flank, and armpit.
• The Mountain dodged the Hound’s thrust at his throat, seized him, and called him weak before knocking him out with a blow.
• The Mountain carried the unconscious Hound to a brazier, and the Hound awoke as the flames brought back the memory of his childhood burning.

The Hound remembered how his father forced him to forgive Gregor after Gregor burned his face, then how his father died during a hunt and Gregor seemed to mock his death. Trapped above a brazier by The Mountain, The Hound overcame his fear of fire, killed his brother, and accepted that he no longer cared about being cursed as a kinslayer.

• After Gregor burned Sandor, old Baron Clegane ordered him to keep quiet, forgive his brother, and remember that the gods cursed kinslayers.
• Old Clegane died after a brown bear attacked during a hunt, and Sandor suspected Gregor was involved when he saw him smiling beside his father's body.
• The Mountain held The Hound over a brazier, bringing back the memory of his childhood burning.
• The Hound split the brazier with Lady Forlorn, caught a burning coal, and crushed it against The Mountain's face, blinding him.
• The Hound leaped onto The Mountain's shoulders and drove Lady Forlorn through his helmet, killing him.
• Lying on The Mountain's corpse, The Hound rejected the gods and their curses before closing his eyes.

Arianne Martell rushed to confront Doran after hearing that Oberyn had been gravely wounded in King's Landing, but Doran sent her away. He then reaffirmed to Earl Anders Yronwood that Quentyn would inherit the throne of Dorne.

• Arianne hurried to the Water Gardens and demanded that Areo Hotah let her see Doran, but Hotah refused.
• Arys Oakheart challenged Hotah when he blocked Arianne, and Hotah raised his axe as the two prepared to fight.
• Doran emerged from the hall, ordered Hotah to lower his axe, and reprimanded Arys for neglecting his duty to protect Myrcella.
• Arianne tried to tell Doran that Oberyn had been attacked and blamed House Yronwood, but Doran ordered her back to her room.
• Doran sent Arys after Arianne, then told Earl Anders Yronwood that Quentyn would inherit his throne.

The Hound recovered from his wounds after killing the Mountain, and Corleone offered him a share in the Fighting Arena in exchange for overseeing security and training hunting hounds. With Tywin’s pardon freeing him from being a fugitive, the Hound accepted the work and learned that Corleone had become the king’s Master of Coin.

• The Hound woke to find Corleone joking that his injuries had made him a girl, then discovered his burned hand was badly wounded but expected to heal without a scar.
• Corleone offered the Hound fifteen thousand Gold Dragons either as immediate payment or as an investment that would provide dividends in exchange for protecting his Flea Bottom territory.
• The Hound worried that his status as a wanted man would make it dangerous to work for Corleone, but Corleone told him Tywin had pardoned him.
• The Hound agreed to become head of security and train hunting hounds to help find missing women and children, insisting he receive his full share of the profits.
• Corleone told the Hound to address him as Lord Corleone in public because he was now the king’s Master of Coin, then left as the Hound peacefully stroked the black cat.

Corleone arrived at his first Small Council meeting as Master of Coin and challenged Tywin's attempt to place him in the lowest seat. After Varys urged him to sit and outlined several urgent matters, Corleone stayed standing and told the council to hurry because he needed to get home for breakfast.

• Corleone warned Ser Tybert Hetherspoon that the Tower of the Hand's security was inadequate and urged the Small Council to meet in the Throne Room instead.
• Corleone entered the Small Council chamber, where Tywin Lannister welcomed him and offered him the lowest seat at the table.
• Kevan Lannister explained that Mace Tyrell had returned to the Reach to suppress the rebellion, while Varys reported on Stannis's fleet, Prince Doran's concerns, and Daenerys Targaryen's conquests.
• Corleone refused to sit in the seat Tywin had offered and boasted about his busy businesses and lost profits.
• Corleone told the Small Council to state its business quickly because he was in a hurry to return home for breakfast.

Corleone confronted Tywin and the Small Council over being treated as though his time did not matter, then agreed to handle the Iron Bank’s demand for repayment. Leaving the meeting, he calculated how the Crown’s debts might be managed and found Osney Kettleblack flirting with Queen Margaery, who teased him by offering to set him up with her grandmother.

• Kevan rebuked Corleone for neglecting his duties, and Corleone tried to leave the Small Council meeting.
• Tywin stopped Corleone and explained that the Iron Bank demanded repayment of the Crown’s loans; Corleone agreed to meet its envoy at the House of Order.
• Corleone insisted that future Small Council meetings be held in the throne room, then left while Tywin warned Varys not to criticize him without taking on the debt himself.
• Corleone reasoned that Petyr Baelish had likely pocketed part of the Iron Bank’s loan and decided that he would still honor his promise to settle it.
• Corleone encountered Osney Kettleblack flattering Margaery, and Margaery teased Osney by offering to introduce him to her widowed grandmother.

Margaery drew Corleone into a confrontation with Osney Kettleblack, who boasted of fighting at the Battle of the Blackwater Rush. Corleone exposed Osney’s false claims and frightened him into fleeing, leaving Margaery free of his attentions.

• Margaery teased Osney about his interest in Olenna, then called Corleone over as he tried to leave the garden.
• Osney bragged to Corleone about his supposed battlefield exploits and mocked his lack of real war experience.
• Corleone revealed that Osney and Osfryd were absent from the Blackwater battle records while he arranged bonuses for those who had truly fought.
• Corleone confronted Osney about the three scars on his face, explaining that a prostitute had scratched him after he refused to pay and tried to force himself on her.
• Corleone warned Osney that people could disappear in King's Landing, and Osney panicked and fled the garden.

Corleone saw through Margaery’s attempt to use him against Osney and warned her that Cersei was likely plotting to damage her reputation. Margaery left the garden arm in arm with Corleone, while Cersei ordered them followed so she could gather evidence against them.

• After Osney left, Margaery apologized to Corleone, who recognized she had used him to rebuke Osney but chose to help her.
• Corleone told Margaery to use her authority as Queen instead of relying on charm, and warned that someone in the royal household wanted her reputation damaged.
• Corleone hinted that Cersei was behind the scheme, and Margaery angrily realized the Queen Mother was plotting against her.
• Margaery ordered Corleone to accompany her on a visit to Flea Bottom and walked out of the garden with her arm linked through his.
• Cersei watched them leave and ordered an attendant to follow them and report where they went, what they did, and what they said.

Corleone showed Margaery how Flea Bottom had become clean and orderly, and she praised his work. In Laundry Alley, Margaery watched Sansa defend the wages she had withheld from Laila, while the argument with a Dornish woman remained unresolved.

• Corleone walked through Flea Bottom with Margaery, where residents greeted him warmly and a child gave him flowers.
• Margaery praised Corleone for transforming Flea Bottom, and he compared the district to a polished shoe.
• Margaery and Corleone reached Laundry Alley, where Laila accused Sansa Stark of unfairly withholding her pay.
• Sansa cited her records showing Laila had left early or missed work, and explained that other washerwomen had taken over her unfinished tasks.
• Sansa told Laila that her sick son was no excuse for failing to tell anyone or thank the women who helped, and said she had divided Laila's pay for five missed workdays among them.

Sansa resolved a dispute with Laila by compensating her from her own wages, then learned Laila had lied about her son being sick. Tyene challenged Corleone over the accusation before being dragged away, and Corleone learned an Iron Bank envoy had arrived early and ordered Rorge to investigate the Dornish women.

• Sansa helped Laila up, admitted her own oversight, and gave her silver stags while reminding her to follow the House of Order’s rules.
• Corleone told Sansa that Laila’s son was healthy and that Laila had been leaving work early to gamble and repay her debts.
• Tyene demanded proof from Corleone and defended Laila, but a younger girl dragged her away during their secret operation.
• Rorge told Corleone that an arrogant man claiming to represent the Iron Bank was waiting at the House of Order to collect a large debt.
• Corleone excused himself from Margaery and ordered Rorge to find out where the two Dornish women were staying, whom they knew, and why they had come to King’s Landing.

Master of Coin Corleone confronted Iron Bank steward Naho Dimittis over the Iron Throne’s overdue loan and exposed a discrepancy in its accounts. Corleone proposed borrowing another five hundred thousand Gold Dragons, and Naho left to consider the deal while unseen watchers followed him.

• Corleone kept Naho waiting, then learned that Naho had come to collect the Iron Throne’s debt of one million five hundred thousand Gold Dragons.
• Corleone showed Naho records indicating the Iron Throne had received only one million Gold Dragons and questioned where the missing five hundred thousand had gone.
• Corleone offered to help Naho by arranging a new five-hundred-thousand-Gold-Dragon loan to pay interest on the old debt, and Naho left without accepting or rejecting the proposal.
• Rorge offered to have Naho taught a lesson, but Corleone refused because Naho was still useful and negotiations could continue.
• Naho headed to the Street of Silk in an angry mood while several unseen watchers followed him.

The Sand Snakes followed Naho Dimittis after spotting him leave the House of Order, hoping he could reveal where Oberyn Martell was being held. They ambushed him on the road and carried him away, leaving his servant dead.

• Tyene, Obara, Nymeria, and Sarella watched Naho leave the House of Order and decided to capture him for information about Oberyn.
• Obara agreed to Tyene and Nymeria's plan, and the sisters followed Naho's carriage toward the Street of Silk.
• Nymeria pretended to have a sprained ankle, drawing Naho and his servant out of the carriage.
• Tyene killed Naho's servant with a dagger and knocked Naho unconscious while Nymeria held him.
• Tyene put Naho in his carriage, Obara disposed of the servant's body, and Sarella led the two carriages away.

The Sand Snakes tortured Naho Dimittis while trying to learn where their father, Prince Oberyn Martell, was being held, but their confusion and violence yielded no useful information. Just as they decided to storm the House of Order, Vito Corleone arrived, and Nymeria killed Naho after mistaking him for Corleone’s man.

• Obara, Tyene, and Nymeria beat Naho before realizing they had not asked him any questions.
• Obara asked Naho where Prince Oberyn Martell was, and Naho said he had seen Oberyn taken away by the House of Order but did not know where he was held.
• Obara decided the Sand Snakes would force their way into the House of Order to rescue their father.
• As Nymeria prepared to kill him, Naho insisted he was an Iron Bank officer who had only witnessed Oberyn’s abduction.
• Vito Corleone entered the warehouse, and Nymeria stabbed Naho in the throat, believing his plea proved he was Corleone’s man.

Corleone’s men defeated the Sand Snakes after they killed Naho Dimittis and tried to capture Corleone, but he learned they had mistaken Naho for his subordinate and believed Corleone had imprisoned their father, Oberyn Martell. He ordered the Sand Snakes taken back to the House of Order and commanded Rorge to dispose of Naho’s attendants and guards before dawn.

• Corleone entered the warehouse, found Naho Dimittis dead, and ordered his men to seize the four Sand Snakes.
• The Hound and Yego fought Obara and Tyene, and the Hound knocked both women down before Corleone stopped him from killing them.
• Nymeria tried to ambush Corleone, but he caught her with a scalpel at her throat.
• Rorge confirmed Naho was dead, and Corleone confronted the Sand Snakes about killing his business partner.
• Obara revealed that she and her sisters had come to rescue their father, Oberyn Martell, whom they believed Corleone had captured.
• Corleone explained that he had treated Oberyn after an attack and that Naho had been an Iron Bank steward; he ordered the Sand Snakes taken away and Naho’s companions killed before dawn.

The Sand Snakes tried to escape the House of Order, but Sansa led them to Corleone, where they reunited with the recovering Oberyn Martell. Oberyn identified Garin as one of his attackers, and Garin revealed that Princess Arianne was behind the assault.

• Obara urged the imprisoned Sand Snakes to break out, and the sisters argued over how to escape.
• Sansa tricked Tyene into freeing the Sand Snakes and bringing them to Corleone's office.
• Obara lunged at Sansa, but Oberyn stopped her and revealed that Ellaria was dead.
• Oberyn told his daughters that the attack had to be avenged and identified Garin as one of the assassins.
• At Corleone's order, Garin confessed that Princess Arianne was responsible.

Garin revealed that he and others had tried to assassinate Oberyn and frame House Yronwood to protect Arianne’s claim to Dorne, though Arianne herself knew nothing of the plot. Oberyn pressed him for the full truth as Tyene struggled with her feelings and her fear that Arianne was involved.

• Tyene kicked Garin after he said the assassination had something to do with Arianne, and Obara restrained her.
• Oberyn ordered Garin to recount everything clearly, while Corleone realized Oberyn might kill him to keep Arianne’s name from being tied to the plot.
• Garin said the conspirators acted for Arianne but that she knew nothing about their plan.
• Garin explained that Doran’s decision to foster Quentyn with House Yronwood had made Arianne’s supporters fear for her place in the succession.
• Garin admitted that they planned to assassinate Oberyn, plant a Yronwood sigil, and provoke a conflict that would undermine Quentyn’s position.

Oberyn learned that Garin and the others had plotted the attack without Arianne’s knowledge, and ordered Garin to report the truth to Doran and seek warrants for Daemon Sand and Andrey Dalt. The chapter ended when Nymeria revealed that she had killed Anders Yronwood.

• Garin told Oberyn that Andrey Dalt had persuaded Daemon Sand to join the plot by promising that Arianne would marry him.
• Oberyn learned that Ellaria had died because of Andrey’s lie and ordered Garin to tell Doran everything and seek warrants for Daemon Sand and Andrey Dalt.
• Oberyn ordered Nymeria to go to Yronwood and reassure Anders Yronwood that House Martell wanted no conflict.
• Nymeria told Oberyn that she had encountered Anders outside the Water Gardens while leaving Sunspear and had killed him.

Tywin Lannister met with Vito Corleone, who reported that Iron Bank envoy Naho Dimittis had been killed and described how he had concealed the death from Braavos. Corleone then said he had caught Naho’s murderer, leaving Tywin waiting to learn what happened next.

• Tywin worried over Corleone’s power and expected him to report trouble negotiating the Iron Throne’s debt to the Iron Bank.
• Corleone told Tywin that Naho Dimittis had been abducted and died during Corleone’s rescue attempt.
• Tywin ordered Corleone to conceal Naho’s death and eliminate his companions, but Corleone revealed that his men had already covered their tracks and recruited an assistant to forge Naho’s letters.
• Corleone said he had no immediate plan for the debt beyond delaying the Iron Bank, then announced that he had caught Naho’s murderer.