Chapter Summaries

Aermir led a surprise attack from behind on Yarick’s cavalry and killed him, turning the forest battle into a rout. With most of his force intact and captured horses at hand, he raced to flank the remaining Ruthermont and Wydman forces before his transformation ended.

• Yarick led 1,500 cavalry through the forest to flank the mountain tribes, then ordered his men to speed up after learning their scouts had found no sentries.
• Aermir emerged from a cave with 1,000 men, used Shapeshifting, and charged Yarick’s troops with enhanced strength and speed.
• Aermir’s soldiers fought through the cavalry as he pursued Yarick, while Ulf witnessed the Druid’s overwhelming power.
• Aermir leaped at Yarick and killed him with a devastating blow, ending the clash in the woods.
• Aermir counted fifty losses, gathered captured warhorses, and ran with his troops toward the right flank of the remaining Ruthermont and Wydman forces.

Aermir’s forces defeated House Lynderly and devastated the Vale’s harvests before lifting the blockade. As Jon Arryn’s lords debated the threat, Eric Grafton urged them not to underestimate the Druid or risk a costly war they might not be able to win.

• Aermir led infantry and cavalry into House Lynderly’s exposed flank, routing its surrounded soldiers with a brutal assault.
• Aermir’s forces seized or burned the Vale’s crops, while his agents prepared rumors and his familiars kept news from escaping.
• A week later, Aermir lifted the blockade, and reports of the Vale’s defeat spread among its houses.
• Jon Arryn received Aermir’s refusal to return the conquered lands and learned the Vale could muster forty thousand more soldiers for only two months.
• Eric Grafton warned Jon Arryn that the Druid could devastate the Vale and assassinate its lords, while Lord Royce Coldwater condemned Eric’s caution.

Jon Arryn’s council chose to seek conditional peace with the Druid while strengthening the Vale’s defenses, then learned of a mountain-clan revolt and the burning of the harvest. In Highgarden, Olenna Tyrell and Margaery were startled by an enormous raven carrying a message.

• After two days of debate, Jon Arryn agreed to seek peace if the Druid released the Vale’s men on the Paps and refrained from using his powers during talks, while refusing reparations.
• Lord Grafton proposed making Lord Stark a guarantor of the Druid’s conduct, and the Vale sent word to Lord Stark and Lord Drasil.
• Five days later, Jon Arryn told the lords that Drasil and Lord Stark were coming from the Three Sisters and that the Druid had also been seen on the islands.
• Jon Arryn reported a mountain-clan revolt and ordered more troops, triple patrols, and heightened castle alerts as the lords learned their harvest had been plundered and burned.
• Olenna Tyrell pruned roses in Highgarden when a huge black raven arrived with parchment tied to its leg, startling Margaery and the maids.

Olenna received a message warning that the Mountain Tribes had united under the Moon Brothers and burned the Vale of Arryn’s crops. She prepared Highgarden to ship surplus grain to Gulltown, hoping to profit from the Vale’s likely food shortage while awaiting confirmation.

• Olenna stopped her soldiers from attacking the giant messenger raven, took its letter, and learned that guests would arrive in a month.
• Olenna summoned Margaery, Willas, Roland Hightower, and Cedric Meadows to discuss reports of war in the Vale.
• Olenna revealed that the Mountain Tribes had united under the Moon Brothers and burned the crops in the Vale of Arryn.
• Olenna ordered Highgarden to fill ships with surplus grain for Gulltown and said she had already instructed its warehouses to triple prices.
• Willas and Roland explained that the Vale would need to buy grain from Highgarden because it would lack a harvest and the Riverlands had little grain available.

Olenna verified the letter from Aermir, sent grain to the Vale, and returned her reply through Erebus. After withdrawing his army into the mountains, Aermir met Eddard, who confronted him about uniting and arming the mountain tribes, and Aermir prepared to explain his motives.

• Olenna confirmed the reports about Aermir, sent surplus grain to the Vale, and raised her reply for Erebus to collect.
• Margaery asked to pet Erebus, but Olenna stopped her, and Erebus left Jilim behind to observe Olenna.
• Aermir moved his army into the mountains and placed crows around the army and hidden villages to watch for threats.
• Eddard reflected on Aermir's growing power in the North and hoped Aermir and Jon Arryn would reach an understanding.
• Aermir arrived in Eddard's carriage in eagle form, and Eddard accused him of uniting, arming, and training the mountain tribes.
• Aermir realized Eddard had guessed much of the truth and decided to explain why he had acted.

Aermir told Eddard that the Night's King and his army of the dead were real, then explained why he planned to fight the Vale as well as prepare for the northern threat. He intended to weaken the Vale during the coming war so it could not use the aftermath to invade the North and convert it to the Faith.

• Aermir convinced Eddard that the Night's King existed by recounting what he learned through the weirwood root network.
• Aermir argued that the other kingdoms would likely send levies while keeping their elite forces in reserve, leaving the Riverlands and his own forces to bear the main burden.
• Aermir showed Eddard the Forced Invitation Curse on his ankle and admitted that he did not believe he could defeat the Night's King in a direct battle.
• Aermir warned that the Faith might exploit a depleted North after the war to convert it, and said the Vale's fanatical lords made it the likeliest force to carry out that plan.
• Aermir told Eddard he would keep the Vale on the same battlefield as his forces and ensure it emerged from the war too weak to threaten the North.

Aermir told Eddard that he would continue fighting in the Vale until the mountain tribes received land, then traveled to Newkeep to negotiate with Jon Arryn. The talks turned violent when Galen Hersy confronted Aermir over his weapons sales to the mountain clans.

• Aermir refused to reveal how he would counter other kingdoms and told Eddard he would not seek peace until after two more battles.
• Aermir said he would accept peace if Jon gave the mountain tribes Coldwater Burn and Newkeep, and urged Eddard to persuade him.
• Aermir, Eddard, and Gerold Grafton arrived at the coast, where Sith's roar frightened the Vale's knights and horses.
• The party crossed a mountain pass to Newkeep, where Aermir met Jon Arryn, Galen Hersy, and Gerold Grafton to discuss peace.
• Aermir admitted he had sold weapons to the mountain clans, and when Galen tried to seize him, Aermir punched him and grabbed his throat.

Aermir confronted Jon Arryn and the Vale lords over their hypocrisy and demanded that they acknowledge the Vale’s defeat and surrender. Jon restrained Lord Grafton and apologized, trying to keep negotiations peaceful.

• Aermir choked Lord Hersy for attacking him after offering bread and salt, then released him when Jon Arryn intervened.
• Aermir admitted he had supplied weapons to the Vale’s enemies and accused the Vale of hypocrisy for selling weapons to the Ironborn.
• Aermir defended the Mountain Clans and declared that he had come to accept the Vale’s surrender, not to ask for a favor.
• Jon Arryn called Aermir out for overstepping, and Aermir threatened to resume the war and said his sword saints could kill the Vale lords before help arrived.
• Lord Grafton reached for his sword, but Jon stopped him and apologized to Aermir before proposing that they return to peaceful negotiations.

Aermir presented Emre the Druid’s peace demands to Jon Arryn, whose losses and dwindling supplies made continuing the war dangerous. Eddard Stark urged Jon to accept peace, warning that fighting the Mountain Clans could draw Aermir, the Old Gods, and northern lords into a larger conflict.

• Aermir told Jon Arryn that the Vale had offered no meaningful help against the Ironborn and handed him Emre the Druid’s demands for peace.
• Jon received reports of more Mountain Clans marching north and agreed that he needed at least a truce to avoid being trapped between armies.
• Jon reviewed the Vale’s losses and food shortages, including the burden of feeding ten thousand troops stranded on the Paps.
• Eddard urged Jon to make peace, arguing that the Vale had been defeated and that Aermir’s demands were not unreasonable.
• Jon refused to yield, fearing that accepting terms from Aermir would make the Vale a laughingstock.
• Eddard warned that the Mountain Clans could turn to Aermir and the Old Gods for help, and that the Vale could face Aermir’s forces and northern allies as well.

Aermir argued with Eddard over weakening the Vale, warning that the North would face attacks after the Night's King was defeated. After four days of talks with Jon and the Vale lords, Aermir proposed a hunting party to ease tensions.

• Eddard challenged Aermir for planning to weaken the Vale and warned that his actions would harm innocent people.
• Aermir said he needed Vale manpower against the Night's King and believed the other kingdoms would threaten the North afterward.
• Aermir told Eddard to stop warning Jon, or he would attack the Vale with everything he had.
• After four days of discussions with Jon and the Vale lords, Aermir suggested a hunting party to break up the tense negotiations.

Aermir arranged a hunt to ease tensions during the peace negotiations, where spell gems let Eddard Stark and Harrick demonstrate enhanced strength. The hunt ended with Aermir confronting Lords Grafton and Belmore over their insults about his parents, and he vowed to make Grafton regret them.

• Aermir persuaded the gathered lords to pause negotiations for a hunt, and Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark agreed.
• Eddard used Aermir's spell gem to boost his strength and killed a charging boar with his spear, astonishing the Arryn knights.
• Harrick used spell gems to fight a mountain lion bare-handed, endured scratches, and killed it by snapping its neck.
• Grafton and Belmore insulted Aermir and his parents while walking through the forest, unaware that he was nearby.
• Aermir shot two deer with precise arrows, confronted the lords, and threatened to make Grafton regret insulting his late parents.

Aermir used his shapeshifting and martial strength to overpower Grafton and Belmore’s knights after they insulted his parents. He left both lords with shattered legs, warning them that they would be cripples for the rest of their lives.

• Aermir approached Grafton and Belmore, transformed himself, and challenged their twenty knights to fight him unarmed.
• Aermir broke the bones of the first four knights, then caught arrows fired at him and hurled them back to incapacitate two more.
• Aermir defeated the remaining knights in less than a minute, leaving Grafton and Belmore terrified.
• Grafton tried to flee while Belmore begged for mercy, but Aermir kicked Belmore down and broke both his legs in two places.
• Aermir caught Grafton as he tried to crawl away, broke both his legs, and left him unconscious.

After Aermir crippled two Vale lords who attacked him, Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark argued with him over responsibility and peace. An arrow struck Aermir during negotiations, prompting his men to protect him and withdraw as Jon tried to prove he had not ordered the assassination attempt.

• Maester Eddrick told Jon Arryn that the injured lords needed both legs amputated, and Jon ordered him to proceed while insisting their injuries came from a landslide.
• Aermir told Lord Stark that he had maimed the lords in self-defense after they insulted his parents and attacked him with weapons.
• Jon Arryn challenged Aermir over his treatment of the Vale lords, while Eddard Stark urged them to pursue peace.
• An arrow struck Aermir in the right shoulder during negotiations, and Ser Harrick accused the Vale men of attempting to assassinate him.
• Aermir's men formed a shield and began retreating with him and Eddard as Jon Arryn denied involvement and sent a messenger to ensure they could enter the castle.

Jon questioned Lord Grafton about the attempt on Aermir’s life, while Aermir admitted to Eddard that he had arranged the attack on himself to prevent peace with the Vale. Aermir insisted he would keep his promise to leave Drasil and his army on the Three Sisters and Pebble, but said he needed another army to divide the Vale’s forces.

• Jon questioned Lord Belmore, who denied involvement in the attempt on Aermir’s life, and Jon believed him.
• Jon confronted Lord Grafton, who denied arranging the attack but said he wanted to thank whoever had done it.
• Jon left Grafton’s room angry and suspected the Druid and Aermir were behind the Mountain Clans’ disciplined movements, though he lacked proof.
• Aermir and Eddard rode through the mountain pass with their men, and Eddard accused Aermir of arranging the arrow attack.
• Aermir told Eddard he had staged the attempt to make peace with the Vale impossible and said he would keep Drasil and his army on the Three Sisters and Pebble.
• Aermir said he needed another army to divide the Vale’s forces, leaving the Vale to station a considerable force along the coast of the Bite.

Jon assessed the Vale’s depleted forces and food supplies, then ordered grain bought for the coming war. At the Wall, Rickon continued training with Skadi while guarded by four Skinchangers, hoping to learn how to create a Magic Heart and use magic.

• Jon learned that the Vale could raise only thirteen thousand additional soldiers for a short campaign and would run out of food if the war lasted more than two months.
• Jon tasted a baked potato and ordered his adviser to buy enough grain to feed the Vale until the Riverlands’ next harvest.
• Rickon stayed at the Wall to train and observe Skadi while Aermir was away, spending much of his time with Shaggydog, Stoneclaw, and Silverwing.
• Robb and Commander Mormont executed a hundred mutineers from the Three Sisters, after which the recruits began to settle into the Night’s Watch.
• Dacey Mormont, Ariana Umber, Gric of Riddle, and Adru of Greywater followed Rickon as guards while he watched Skadi cast ice-shard spells beneath the weirwood.

Rickon Stark discovered that fire-element magic naturally resonated with him after struggling to absorb other forms of mana. Aermir learned of Rickon’s breakthrough and left his army to hurry to the Wall and help him.

• Rickon watched Skadi practice magic beneath the weirwood and struggled to contain mana, while Adru lit a fire to warm him.
• Rickon realized that the different colors of Magic Hearts reflected distinct magical natures, and that raw ley-line magic overwhelmed him.
• Rickon saw red strands of fire-element magic around the campfire, absorbed them successfully, and recognized his natural affinity for fire.
• Rickon called for Skadi to summon Aermir after finding a way to absorb magic, raising hopes among his companions that they could learn too.
• Aermir received an urgent message about Rickon while preparing to besiege Hongor Castle, concealed his army, and traveled by weirwood jumps toward the Wall.

Rickon discovered a way to draw fire-element mana into his body, but creating a magic heart would require far more of it than the bonfire could provide. Aermir decided to take Rickon and Sith to the volcano on Skagos while Adru and Dacey followed by land.

• Rickon, Adru, and Dacey built a bonfire beneath the weirwood, but the surrounding ice mana suppressed its flames and Rickon made little progress.
• Aermir arrived through a portal in the weirwood and heard Rickon explain how he controlled mana and gathered fire-element mana around his heart.
• Rickon explained that he wanted to create a magic heart so others could learn to sense and manipulate mana.
• Aermir strengthened the bonfire with fire spells, but Rickon could not absorb the mana because Aermir was controlling it.
• Aermir chose to take Rickon and Sith to the volcano on Skagos, telling Adru and Dacey to follow as quickly as they could.

Jon watched Lord Commander Mormont discipline the arrogant Ser Robert Waynwood, then ventured beyond the Wall with Benjen and his brothers. After an attack by northern wildlings, Sam worried over their dying warning that death was coming for them, and Benjen agreed to investigate.

• Ser Robert Waynwood refused to share a room or associate with common brothers, so Lord Commander Mormont ordered him beaten for his defiance.
• Jon joined Benjen on his first expedition beyond the Wall with Sam, Pyp, Grenn, and Eddard.
• Northern wildlings attacked the party, and Jon saved Sam from a fatal blow.
• Benjen questioned a wounded wildling, who said everyone was dead and that death was coming for them before he died.
• Sam told the others he believed something was wrong with the wildlings, and Benjen promised they would follow the trail in the direction they had come from.

Aermir brought Rickon to Skagos Island, where Rickon absorbed the volcano’s fire elements and formed a Magic Heart. After hours of stubborn practice, Rickon cast his first Fireball Spell and fell asleep in Aermir’s arms.

• Aermir used Earth Sensing at the volcano and found fire magic within its depths as Rickon recognized the chance to forge a Magic Heart.
• Rickon drew in fire elements and spent two days forming his Magic Heart while Aermir built a shelter and arranged food.
• Rickon finished forming his Magic Heart, ate, and began practicing the Fireball Spell with Aermir’s guidance.
• Rickon refused to rest and kept trying to cast Perzis despite his exhaustion.
• Rickon finally formed a small fireball, then passed out from sleepiness as Aermir caught him.

Aermir trained Rickon in elemental magic, then helped Rickon and himself teach Dacey and Adru to sense mana and begin forming Magic Hearts. Dacey completed the process and discovered that the forest continuously buffed her, while Adru’s training was still underway.

• Aermir taught Rickon first-level elemental spells and trained him in combat, correcting his direct attacks and urging him to use movement and nature spells.
• Dacey and Adru followed Berus through the forest and found Aermir and Rickon training; they knelt and asked Aermir to teach them.
• Aermir and Rickon taught Dacey and Adru to sense mana, discovering Dacey’s nature affinity and Adru’s earth affinity.
• Dacey attuned to nature mana in a day, while Adru took three days to sense earth mana in the mountains.
• Aermir and Rickon guided Dacey and Adru as they gathered mana into their Magic Hearts, then left them to absorb the energy on their own.
• Three days later, Dacey finished forming her Magic Heart, discovered she received a constant forest buff, and hugged Aermir in delight.