Chapter Summaries

After Robert left King's Landing, Arthas confronted Kevan over the Lannister knights and negotiated to bring them under his personal command. He welcomed the knights into the city and prepared to test the Faith of the Seven, while Tyrion remained with Robert in the North.

• Robert departed for Winterfell with Joffrey and other Lannisters, leaving Arthas with near-total authority in King's Landing.
• Kevan arrived with Lannister knights, but Arthas refused to let them enter and accused him of trying to seize the city.
• Kevan accepted Arthas as House Lannister's heir, and Arthas demanded that the Gold Cloaks swear loyalty to him alone.
• Kevan said the knights would have to choose to follow Arthas themselves, and Arthas agreed to win them over.
• Arthas said Tyrion had gone north with Robert to avoid the Faith of the Seven's demands for repayment.
• Arthas ordered Lancel to open the gates for the Lannister knights and said he would take them to the Great Sept of Baelor.

Arthas led Lannister knights to the Great Sept of Baelor, intent on testing whether the Seven were real and exposing the High Septon’s secrets. He threatened the High Septon and demanded that one of the Seven appear, or he would take the man’s soul.

• Arthas wondered whether burning the Great Sept of Baelor would bring divine punishment, while Lancel asked why they had kidnapped a bound old commoner.
• Arthas warned Lancel not to question his orders and told him to address him by his title in public.
• Arthas arrived at the Great Sept of Baelor with over a hundred Lannister knights and greeted the High Septon.
• Arthas claimed the knights wanted to pay their respects, then ordered them to wander through the sept despite the High Septon’s objections.
• Arthas confronted the High Septon about what he was hiding and named the Seven before demanding that one appear or he would claim the High Septon’s soul.

Arthas exposed the High Septon’s abuse of two septas and let Lancel kill him, then presented the High Sparrow as the Faith’s new leader. Lancel swore loyalty to Arthas, who left the archsepton no room to object.

• Arthas tested the Seven by raising Frostmourne in the Great Sept, then claimed a dream had revealed the place’s corruption.
• Lancel returned with two abused septas, whose testimony exposed the High Septon’s crimes.
• The High Septon tried to justify his abuse as the Seven’s will, and Lancel killed him in anger.
• Arthas reassured Lancel that the crowd’s cheers showed he had helped the people of King’s Landing, and Lancel swore lifelong loyalty to him.
• Arthas brought in the High Sparrow and introduced him as the Faith’s new High Septon before the red-robed archsepton.

Arthas captured the High Sparrow and exposed his hunger for power, then threatened him into serving as High Septon. On the road to Winterfell, Jaime and Tyrion discussed Arthas’s talent and Jaime’s lack of interest in inheriting Casterly Rock.

• The High Sparrow recalled how he used his faith and charity to gather power among the poor before Arthas’s golden-cloaked men seized him.
• Arthas confronted the High Sparrow, revealed that he saw through his ambition, and warned that he would claim his soul if he strayed from helping the vulnerable.
• After Arthas left a crystal crown on his head, the High Sparrow smashed it and walked barefoot from the sept.
• On the journey to Winterfell, Tyrion teased Jaime about Cersei avoiding him after Arthas visited her.
• Jaime told Tyrion he did not care about inheriting Casterly Rock and predicted Arthas would bring the Lannisters new glory.

Jaina Targaryen returned to Braavos to seek a loan from the Iron Bank to build a fleet for Daenerys, but Syrio Forel warned her that the bank would not lend to her. When the Sealord ordered Syrio to drive Jaina out, Syrio refused and resigned as First Sword of Braavos.

• Jaina arrived at Braavos and told Syrio Forel she had come to seek a loan from the Iron Bank to fund a fleet for Daenerys.
• Syrio warned Jaina that the Iron Bank would not lend to her, then advised her to obey Braavos's laws and wished her success.
• Syrio reported to Ferrego Antaryon that Jaina seemed harmless, but Ferrego ordered Valentine to make her disappear from Braavos.
• Syrio refused to serve Ferrego's order, removed his First Sword badge, and said Braavos would be drowned by a mad ruler.

After the Iron Bank refused Jaina Targaryen’s loan request, she defeated Braavos’s First Sword, Qyro Valentine, and was warned to leave before the Faceless Men pursued her. Elsewhere, she joined the Sealord’s fleet under the name Daelin Proudmoore, eager to return to the sea.

• The Iron Bank rejected Jaina’s request for a loan to buy ships and offered her only a personal, interest-free loan of 1,000 Gold Dragons.
• Qyro Valentine confronted Jaina and demanded that she leave Braavos, but she blocked his attack and broke his rapier.
• Valentine warned Jaina that the ruler would pursue her and might send the servants of the Many-Faced God after her.
• Syrio revealed that he had followed Valentine, declined Jaina’s offer to serve her, and advised her to leave Braavos.
• At the arsenal, Jaina presented herself as a young man named Daelin Proudmoore and joined the Sealord’s fleet.

Arthas persuaded Renly that executing the former High Septon and appointing the High Sparrow had been necessary to protect the people of King’s Landing. He then faced ten resistant Lannister knights in a mounted challenge, with Barristan watching as the contest began.

• Arthas told Renly that the former High Septon had abused two Sisters and stolen money from the poor, winning Renly’s support for the execution and the appointment of the High Sparrow.
• Renly promised to report to Robert and claimed responsibility for the City Watch operation as Master of Laws.
• Arthas told Renly that the Lannister knights refused to swear allegiance and announced he would fight all ten of them alone.
• Daven Lannister dismissed the Kingsguard’s abilities and questioned whether Arthas could really defeat ten knights.
• Barristan the Bold watched as Arthas rode into the grounds on Invincible, raised Frostmourne, and challenged the Lannister knights.

Arthas challenged Daven Lannister and nine Lannister knights to prove his strength and win their allegiance. After defeating the knights and leaving Daven gravely wounded but alive, Arthas ordered Lancel to bring Daven to him once he recovered.

• Barristan told Renly that Arthas became a fearsome warrior on the battlefield, then left, convinced the contest’s outcome was settled.
• Daven demanded that Arthas defeat the Lannister knights in a direct fight, and Arthas accepted the challenge.
• Arthas charged through the ten knights twice, unhorsing eight while using the flat of Frostmourne and avoiding Daven.
• Arthas warned Daven that their next clash would mean death, but Daven led the last two knights in another charge and was pierced through the chest.
• Arthas carried Daven to Lancel, ordered him to get a maester, and told him to bring Daven back once he awoke so Arthas could receive the Lannisters’ allegiance.

Arthas dined with Margaery Tyrell, who warned him that the new High Septon was hungry for power and dangerous. Arthas revealed a chilling glimpse of his supernatural nature, then ended the dinner when Lancel reported that Daven had awakened and wanted to see him.

• Margaery visited Arthas for their third dinner together and tried to discover his ambitions and intentions.
• Margaery told Arthas she distrusted the High Sparrow, describing him as a power-hungry madman who might turn against the person wielding him.
• Arthas said he welcomed the High Sparrow’s madness because it gave him fallen souls to harvest.
• Arthas briefly radiated a supernatural chill that frightened Margaery before returning to his usual warm manner.
• Lancel told Arthas that Daven had awakened and urgently wanted to see him, so Arthas excused himself and Margaery left, eager for another meeting.

Arthas offered Daven Lannister immense power in exchange for his soul, and Daven accepted, becoming the first Death Knight. Daven left for the North, beyond the Wall, while Lancel watched in shock.

• Arthas dismissed Lancel and asked Daven whether he wanted power like his own, revealing that the price was Daven's soul.
• Daven was frightened by Arthas's transformed appearance but chose to offer his soul and name Arthas his one true god.
• Arthas had Daven take hold of Frostmourne, sealed the pact, and raised him as a Death Knight bound to obey every command.
• Daven emerged with white hair and renewed strength, leaving Lancel stunned by his changed presence.
• Daven headed toward the North, beyond the Wall.

Pike returned to the Iron Islands aboard Old Shark’s merchant ship, but One-Eyed Jamie and his men seized the vessel and captured Windsor. Pike confronted Jamie and offered to trade for his harpoon, naming the price as their heads.

• Pike asked Old Shark how soon they would reach Pyke as the ship entered Iron Islands waters.
• One-Eyed Jamie and his Ironborn seized the merchant ship, captured Windsor, and attacked Old Shark after he objected to Jamie taking her.
• Jamie threatened Windsor and demanded money from Old Shark, while the Ironborn laughed and watched.
• Pike came onto the deck despite Old Shark’s warnings and approached Jamie.
• Jamie demanded five thousand Gold Dragons, but Pike said he wanted the harpoon and would pay by cutting off their heads.

Pike killed the Ironborn who had attacked his ship and revealed that the Iron Islands were his homeland before looking back on how he had pledged his soul to Arthas after Jeyne’s death. In King's Landing, Arthas launched a citywide purge and ordered Janos to show him the Gold Dragons he had extorted.

• Pike passed through One-Eyed Jamie’s attack, killed him, and took his harpoon.
• Pike slaughtered the remaining Ironborn, then told Old Shark that he was from Pyke and that his name was Pike.
• Arthas remembered Pike begging to follow him after Jeyne killed herself, and Pike agreeing to give up his soul for strength.
• Lancel reported that six thousand Gold Cloaks were assembled, and Arthas deployed them in one hundred squads for Operation Hundred-Day Purge.
• Arthas kept twenty Lannister knights with him and ordered Janos to lead the way so he could inspect the Gold Dragons Janos had extorted.

Arthas began a sweeping purge of King's Landing, confronting corrupt former Commander Janos Slynt and sending Gold Cloaks to crack down on crime. Loryn Lannister imposed new rules on the beast-fighting arena and invited Gendry to join the City Watch.

• Arthas confronted Janos Slynt with reports from more than thirteen hundred Gold Cloaks and ordered him to lead them to his mansion and its wealth.
• Gold Cloaks spread across King's Landing, arresting people involved in robbery, theft, and human trafficking.
• Loryn Lannister rejected Eno Or's attempted bribe and demanded that the arena hand over seventy percent of its monthly earnings while banning illegal activities.
• Loryn found Gendry resting after he killed a direwolf in the arena and asked him to join the City Watch.

Gerold Lannister enforced Arthas’s rules on the Street of Silk, executing a brothel manager and demanding money toward Baelish’s debt. As Varys fretted over Arthas’s growing influence, Renly and Barristan backed the crackdown; meanwhile, Arthas brought the terrified Janos to his lavish mansion.

• Gerold told the Street of Silk’s managers to pay Tyrion seventy percent of their profits and keep their businesses legal.
• Gerold had a manager executed for keeping underage girls and demanded five hundred thousand Gold Dragons by morning.
• Varys warned Barristan that Arthas might take control of King’s Landing, but Barristan defended the reforms and Renly voiced his approval.
• Arthas escorted Janos to the former commander’s lavish mansion and told him he would understand why once they went inside.

Arthas uncovered Janos Slynt’s hoard and sentenced him in King Robert’s name, but spared his life in exchange for public service and exile to the Night’s Watch. In Flea Bottom, Janos was forced to clean the streets as the people celebrated Arthas.

• Arthas led the Gold Cloaks through Janos’s lavish mansion and discovered a room filled with Gold Dragons.
• Janos admitted the money was mostly King Robert’s, but Arthas rejected his claim and sentenced him to death for corruption and slandering the king.
• Janos yielded and accepted Arthas’s terms: he would clean Flea Bottom’s streets for a week, then travel north to join the Night’s Watch.
• Lancel announced Janos’s crimes to the people of Flea Bottom as Janos shoveled excrement from the streets.
• The commoners pelted Janos with refuse and cheered for Arthas, whose name drowned out their cries for Robert.

Brynden Tully brought a huge loan from the Vale to King's Landing, only to learn that Baelish had left and the Street of Silk now belonged to Tyrion Lannister. After defeating Gendry in a sparring match, Arthas learned that Brynden was asking for Baelish and began considering how to spend the money.

• Brynden Tully arrived in King's Landing with one and a half million Gold Dragons and learned that Baelish had left and Tyrion Lannister owned the Street of Silk businesses.
• Gendry beat Lorien in a sparring match, then challenged Arthas at the Gold Cloaks' training grounds.
• Arthas caught Gendry's hammer strike with one hand and sent the hammer flying with a two-handed blow, leaving Gendry stunned.
• Lancel told Arthas that Brynden Tully had arrived from the Vale asking for Baelish, and Arthas asked how they should spend their excess money.

Arthas tricked Brynden Tully into paying Baelish’s debts by pretending the Lannisters were bankrupt and burdened by the Crown’s finances. After Brynden left, Arthas used necromantic mind control to secure the Vale’s 1.5 million Gold Dragons for his plans in King’s Landing.

• Brynden arrived in King’s Landing seeking Petyr Baelish and learned that Baelish had resigned and disappeared.
• Arthas claimed Baelish had left the Lannisters with millions in debt, drained the Street of Silk’s profits, and saddled Tyrion with the losses.
• Arthas said he might resign and described his plans to help the poor as ruined by Baelish and Janos Slynt.
• Brynden offered 1.5 million Gold Dragons from the Vale to cover Baelish’s debts and urged Arthas not to abandon his ideals.
• After Brynden left, Arthas revealed that he had used necromantic mind control and ordered Lancel to unload the money quickly.
• Arthas resolved to use the Gold Dragons to fund his plans and maintain the Gold Cloaks under his command.

Daven, a Death Knight serving the Lich King, reached Last Hearth and questioned a Night's Watchman about White Walkers. After learning that Gared had reported seeing them beyond the Wall, Daven left, calling himself an enemy of the White Walkers.

• Daven arrived at a tavern in Last Hearth, paid Seth with a Gold Dragon, and ate several plates of meat.
• Smalljon Umber challenged Daven and was stunned when Daven effortlessly pinned his hand to the table.
• Daven confronted Raggy Stone East and forced him to recount how Gared, Will, and Ser Waymar had gone beyond the Wall, and how Gared had reported encountering White Walkers.
• Smalljon questioned Raggy and accepted his oath that the story was true.
• Daven headed out into the snow and told Smalljon he was an enemy of the White Walkers.

Catelyn searched for Bran before Robert’s party arrived at Winterfell, while Robert received alarming news about Arthas’s purge and growing influence in King’s Landing. Robert ordered Renly to restrain Arthas and turned to Ned for help as the royal procession approached Winterfell.

• Catelyn found Bran atop Winterfell’s wall, and he climbed down after spotting the king’s banners on the Kingsroad.
• Cersei called Jaime to her carriage and hinted that he should find a secluded place in Winterfell to serve her.
• Arys Oakheart gave Robert a note from Varys describing Arthas’s execution of the High Septon, appointment of a replacement, and Hundred Days Purge in King’s Landing.
• Robert crushed the note and ordered Arys to tell Renly and Barristan to keep Arthas in check, granting Renly authority to dismiss him as Commander of the City Watch.
• As the procession reached Winterfell, Robert feared the Lannisters had gained control of King’s Landing and resolved to enlist Ned’s help.

Syrio Forel arrived in King's Landing and found the Gold Cloaks enforcing Arthas’s new rules, while Arthas persuaded Renly to support his purge despite Robert’s order to stop it. The chapter ended with Lancel reporting that a Braavosi swordsman had beaten Gendry and was demanding to challenge Arthas.

• Syrio Forel offered a bribe to Gold Cloak Jero, who refused it and ordered Syrio to register his sword with the City Watch.
• Renly told Arthas that Robert had appointed him acting Hand, ordered the purge halted, and demanded Arthas rescind his judgment against Janos.
• Arthas defended his reforms by appealing to Renly’s concern for the people, and Renly agreed to work with him despite Robert’s orders.
• Arthas reflected that he intended to secure control of the Gold Cloaks and make himself difficult for Robert to dismiss.
• Lancel reported that a Braavosi swordsman was demanding a challenge and had already beaten Gendry.