A Clash of Kings

Theon lands in the Storm Islands at Pyke, the island of his birth, on a trading ship. The ports are filled with the ships of Greyjoy bannermen. Before disembarking, Theon has sex with the captain’s daughter. She urges Theon to take her with him out of fear of her father, but Theon refuses.

No one from Theon’s family is present to welcome him home. His uncle, Aeron “Damphair,” a priest of the local religion devoted to the Drowned God, arrives late and blesses Theon with seawater to mark his return. Theon wonders why his father, Balon, has summoned the Greyjoy longships, but Aeron tells him to wait for Balon’s explanation.

Theon reunites with Balon, who chastises him for the state of his dress. Despite Theon’s appeals, Balon is unwilling to hear any message Robb has for him. He is insulted when Theon refers to Robb as his “brother” and recalls that both of his own biological brothers were killed by Eddard and King Robert’s soldiers during the Greyjoy Rebellion. Theon defends his plan to conquer the Lannister stronghold of Casterly Rock, which he hopes to claim for himself after Robb’s ascension to the Iron Throne as the king of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Balon rejects the alliance, taking offense to the idea of Robb granting him sovereignty over the Iron Islands. He insinuates that he has other plans.

On Essos, the continent across the sea from Westeros, Daenerys Targaryen leads her meager khalasar (horsemen community) out of the Dothraki Sea to follow the red comet, believing it was sent by the gods. Her protector, Ser Jorah Mormont, fears that other khals (horse lords) may try to destroy their khalasar. Daenerys reminds him of the protection of her dragon hatchlings.

Many members of the khalasar die during the journey. Daenerys focuses on her dragons’ survival, feeding them dead horse meat when she can no longer nurse them. She names the dragons Rhaegal, Viserion, and Drogon. The khalasar reaches a ruined city, where they camp for the night.

That night, Jorah tells Daenerys about his second wife Lynesse, who came from the noble Hightower family. After marrying Jorah, Lynesse was disappointed by the coldness of his home on Bear Island. Jorah bankrupted himself trying to keep her happy and turned to crime to rebuild his wealth.

When he learned that Eddard Stark was coming to sanction him, Jorah and Lynesse fled to Essos. Jorah became a mercenary, but Lynesse became a wealthy man’s concubine. Before he leaves, Jorah mentions that Daenerys and Lynesse resemble one another. This prompts Daenerys to realize that Jorah loves her. She cannot reciprocate as her heart still belongs to her late husband, Khal Drogo.

Daenerys sends three riders out to seek new refuge. The third rider returns with three strangers from the city of Qarth: a merchant prince named Xaro Xhoan Daxos, a warlock named Pyat Pree, and a masked woman named Quaithe of the Shadow. They want to see the dragons.

The search party stops at a wildling village named Whitetree. It is the fourth village they’ve encountered that has been mysteriously abandoned, despite showing no signs of an attack. Jeor chooses to keep moving.

Yoren leads the caravan to a nearby town where they can get boats to sail to Harrentown on their journey to the Wall. He suggests taking shelter in the stronghold of Harrenhal, held by Lady Whent. Arya believes she can finally reveal her true identity to Whent.

The town is abandoned and has no boats to spare. The caravan camps in the town keep, and that night, men arrive to raze the town. Yoren tries to convince the men that the caravan is headed for the Wall, but the men believe that it is loyal to Beric Dondarrion, an outlaw lord who has formed a Riverland resistance against the Lannisters.

The men’s leader identifies himself as Ser Amory Lorch, a Lannister knight. The two groups battle, and when Yoren senses that defeat is certain, he urges Arya to escape through a trapdoor under the barn. Arya and Gendry gather the boys, including an injured Lommy, and the rescued girl to escape the keep. Just as the fire reaches the barn, Arya decides to free the three prisoners from the wagon.

The small council reviews copies of Stannis’s letter. Cersei is furious about his accusations, but Tyrion suggests that the people will grow bored of the rumor, allowing it to sink into obscurity. Littlefinger adds that they can spread a rumor of their own, implying that Shireen is the product of an affair between Selyse and Patchface. This satisfies Cersei.

Tyrion goes to a meeting with the smiths of the city and asks them to mass-produce chains, which he claims are a gift for Joffrey. He urges the smiths to prioritize it over the weapons and armor that Cersei has commissioned, promising to protect them from her wrath.

He proceeds to a brothel, where he seeks out a sex worker named Alayaya. She leads him to a hidden tunnel where Varys is waiting. Varys brings Tyrion to a stable so that he can ride in secret to the manse where Shae is staying. Tyrion suspects that someone on the small council betrayed Cersei and Jaime’s relationship to Stannis. Varys suggests that the truth is obvious to those who seek it out but allows Tyrion to believe it could have been Littlefinger.

Guests visit Winterfell to celebrate the harvest feast. As the eldest Stark present, Bran is expected to host them. This exacerbates his disappointment at not being able to participate in knightly tilts. Master-at-arms Ser Rodrik Cassel reminds him that the guests will ask Bran for favors that will affect their support in the war.

As expected, the guests push forward their economic and wartime concerns. One of the guests, the widow Lady Hornwood, warns Bran that Ramsay Snow, the son of Lord Roose Bolton outside of marriage, has been granted command of an army. Ramsay keeps a cruel servant named Reek, with whom he hunts people.

Bran excuses himself to visit Summer, his direwolf, in the godswood. He is surprised to find his captured wildling servant, Osha, swimming in a nearby pool. Following an incident where the Freys teased Bran and Hodor, Osha respects Bran for defending Hodor.

The next day, Bran’s advisors continue discussing the matter of Lady Hornwood’s lands, concerned that the northern houses may fight to claim her lands when she dies. One of the last guests to arrive mentions the fast-spreading rumor that Joffrey is the incestuous son of Jaime, causing Bran to experience a quiet panic attack. That night, he dreams of the fall that caused his paraplegia and sees that a “golden man” had dropped him from a tower.

Tyrion meets with Grand Maester Pycelle, a small council member, to send an urgent letter to Doran Martell, Prince of the southern city of Dorne. Pycelle tries to learn the content of the letter, but Tyrion refuses to tell him.

Tyrion meets with Littlefinger next. He is cautious around Littlefinger, a man of common birth who swiftly ascended to the small council. Littlefinger now controls every part of the throne’s revenue system. Tyrion explains that he needs help with convincing Lysa Arryn, Catelyn Stark’s sister and Lady Regent of the Vale, to swear fealty to the Lannisters. Littlefinger grew up with Lysa and Cately, and Tyrion thinks he can help.

Tyrion offers to betroth Lysa’s son Robert to Princess Myrcella, and for his help, Littlefinger is promised lordship of Harrenhal, giving him power over the Riverlands where he grew up. Littlefinger is cautious of Tyrion’s plan but ultimately agrees when Tyrion reminds him it is the only way to prevent Renly from taking the throne.

Tyrion meets Varys last. He reveals the content of his letter to Doran Martell: for Dorne’s allegiance, Tyrion has offered him a seat on the small council and the arrest of Gregor Clegane, the killer of Doran’s sister, Elia. To cement the deal, Tyrion offers to send Prince Tommen to Dorne.

Sansa receives a note promising to liberate her. It asks her to come to the godswood, and though she wonders whether the note is a trap set by Joffrey, she decides to take her chances.

The note’s sender turns out to be Ser Dontos Hollard, the knight Sansa vouched for at Joffrey’s tourney. He was so inspired by Sansa’s gesture that he wanted to restore his honor as a knight. He promises to hire a ship to bring her out of the city when the time is right. He asks her to come to the godswood as often as she can, and she is moved with affection for Dontos.

On the way back to her bedchamber, Sansa encounters Sandor Clegane, the Hound, Joffrey’s personal bodyguard. Sansa claims that she was in the godswood praying for Joffrey’s safety, but Sandor doesn’t believe her. He intimidates Sansa before escorting her back to her bedchamber. She asks him why he allows people to demean him by calling him “dog.” Sandor cites his fondness for the loyalty of dogs, the sigil of his house. He demands a song from Sansa, calling her a “little bird,” and indicates that he knows when she is lying.

With no sign of Yoren, Arya and the boys continue following the road north. Arya spots another village but cannot tell if it is occupied. Hot Pie suggests surrendering to the people in the village. Their increasing hunger makes them desperate to look for food, and Gendry and Arya decide to scout the village at nightfall.

As they travel, Gendry communicates his suspicion that Lommy will die of his injuries from the battle with Lorch. He also suggests leaving behind the little girl they rescued, whom they have named Weasel, but Arya refuses this. Gendry reveals that he knows Arya is a girl. She reveals her true name, Arya Stark, and Gendry teases her about being a lady.

Gendry and Arya split up as they approach the village. Arya finds corpses that have been mutilated by Lannister soldiers, and Gendry is captured by a group of guards. Arya returns to the others and urges them to help her free Gendry. Hot Pie spoils the plan by surrendering to the guards. Arya tries to fight, but they quickly disarm her. The leader of the guards picks Arya up and reveals himself to be Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. They also catch Lommy, but Weasel escapes. Gregor assumes the boys are sworn to Beric Dondarrion. One of Gregor’s men kills Lommy.