Varamyr Sixskins, a warg, is killed and consumed by the Others north of the Wall.

Tyrion Lannister arrives at the Pentosi home of Illyrio Mopatis after fleeing Westeros and killing his father.

Daenerys Targaryen rules Meereen while the Sons of the Harpy secretly murder her soldiers and freed people daily.

Jon Snow publicly executes Night's Watch officer Janos Slynt for refusing a direct order from his lord commander.

Jon Snow sends Maester Aemon and Mance Rayder's infant son south from the Wall to protect them from Melisandre.

Tyrion Lannister deduces that Young Griff, his new traveling companion, is actually the believed-dead Aegon Targaryen.

A grieving father brings the burned bones of his young daughter to Daenerys's court, claiming Drogon killed her.

Bran Stark reaches the cave of the greenseer beyond the Wall and is told he will never walk again.

Daenerys Targaryen announces her betrothal to Hizdahr zo Loraq after he agrees to keep Meereen peaceful for ninety days.

Young Griff claims his identity as Aegon Targaryen and persuades the Golden Company to abandon Essos and sail to Westeros.

Daenerys Targaryen and Hizdahr zo Loraq are formally married, making him her king in Meereen.

Daenerys escapes would-be assassins at the fighting pits by leaping onto Drogon's back and flying away from Meereen.

Quentyn Martell attempts to claim Daenerys's two chained dragons using his Targaryen blood and is burned to death by one of them.

The brothers of the Night's Watch ambush Jon Snow and stab him repeatedly, apparently killing him.

Varys assassinates Kevan Lannister and Grandmaester Pycelle in King's Landing, declaring his support for Aegon Targaryen's claim to the throne.

The story opens with the Others killing a warg beyond the Wall, signaling a growing threat that shapes nearly every major decision in the novel. Tyrion Lannister flees to Essos after killing his father, while Daenerys Targaryen struggles to hold Meereen against nobles, assassins, and a dragon that cannot be controlled. Jon Snow fights to keep the Night's Watch neutral while secretly maneuvering wildlings and allies against the encroaching undead. Daenerys's marriage to Hizdahr, the arrival of rival suitors, and her dramatic flight on Drogon mark the collapse of her Essos ambitions and the beginning of a return to her Targaryen roots. Back in Westeros, Jon Snow is killed by his own brothers in a mutiny, and the Golden Company lands to press the claim of a boy calling himself Aegon Targaryen. The epilogue closes the loop with Varys assassinating Kevan Lannister and declaring his true allegiance, leaving the Iron Throne more contested than ever.

The war for Westeros and the battle for Meereen's survival.

Jon Snow writes a formal letter of neutrality to King's Landing while privately planning to support Stannis against the Others.

Davos Seaworth arrives in Sisterton and convinces a skeptical local lord to release him so he can reach White Harbor.

Stannis Baratheon burns a man disguised as Mance Rayder and demands that wildlings kneel and accept the god R'hllor.

Stone men attack the pole boat Shy Maid on the Rhoyne River, and Tyrion Lannister falls overboard into diseased waters.

Theon Greyjoy, broken by torture and known only as Reek, convinces the dying garrison at Moat Cailin to surrender.

Roose Bolton arrives at Winterfell with Jeyne Poole disguised as Arya Stark, intending to wed her to Ramsay Bolton.

Jorah Mormont recognizes Tyrion Lannister in Volantis and kidnaps him, hoping to use Tyrion to regain Daenerys's favor.

Stannis's forces attack Deepwood Motte and capture Asha Greyjoy after she loses a brutal fight against a Northman.

Lord Manderly reveals his apparent execution of Davos was a ruse and asks Davos to find Rickon Stark on the island of Skagos.

Melisandre removes a magical glamor from Mance Rayder, revealing he is alive, and sends him to Winterfell disguised as a bard.

Daenerys shuts the gates of Meereen against Astapori refugees dying of the bloody flux to preserve her city's resources.

Ramsay Bolton and Jeyne Poole, falsely presented as Arya Stark, are married at the godswood of Winterfell.

Jon Snow secures a large loan from the Iron Bank of Braavos to buy ships and rescue stranded wildlings at Hardhome.

Theon Greyjoy and Jeyne Poole flee Winterfell together as Bolton allies and Frey men turn violently on each other.

Barristan Selmy arrests Hizdahr zo Loraq, and someone frees the two chained dragons into the streets of Meereen.

While the headline battles rage, a parallel set of significant events shapes the world from the shadows. Davos Seaworth travels in disguise across hostile territory on a diplomatic mission for Stannis, Theon Greyjoy is used as a tool to deliver Moat Cailin before Roose Bolton arrives with a false Arya Stark. Jorah Mormont makes a desperate gamble by kidnapping Tyrion Lannister in Volantis, and Asha Greyjoy is captured after a brutal fight at Deepwood Motte. The Manderly conspiracy is revealed, Mance Rayder is secretly sent to Winterfell, and Daenerys makes hard choices about refugees and her marriage before the fragile peace collapses entirely. The section ends with Barristan Selmy taking drastic action against Hizdahr and the two remaining dragons breaking free into Meereen's streets, leaving the city in chaos.

Hidden schemes, desperate journeys, and the machinery of survival.

Tyrion Lannister travels with Illyrio Mopatis and learns that the legendary Golden Company backs a secret Targaryen claimant to the throne.

Jon Connington correctly identifies Tyrion Lannister despite his alias and forces him to stop drinking to sharpen his wits.

Davos Seaworth arrives in White Harbor and hears a sailor claim that Daenerys Targaryen once sought passage toward Westeros.

Daenerys Targaryen refuses a noble offer of thirteen ships to leave Meereen, choosing her duty to the people she freed.

Tyrion Lannister convinces Young Griff during a game of cyvasse that conquering Westeros first will make Daenerys see him as an equal.

Penny attacks Tyrion Lannister in Volantis, blaming him for the death of her brother, who was killed in his place.

Melisandre tells Jon Snow that when she looks for Azor Ahai in her fires, all she sees around him is death and snow.

Bran Stark learns from the greenseer that weirwood trees hold the memories and spirits of the children of the forest.

Doran Martell reveals to his family that Cersei Lannister's invitation to King's Landing is a trap intended to kill Prince Trystane.

Alys Karstark arrives at Castle Black and warns Jon Snow that the Karstarks plan to betray Stannis during the march on Winterfell.

Arya Stark uses a cat's eyesight during her evaluation to strike the kindly man unseen, earning her place as a Faceless Men acolyte.

Theon Greyjoy realizes the bard performing at Winterfell is actually Mance Rayder, King-Beyond-the-Wall, in disguise.

Barristan Selmy learns from Shavepate that the poisoned locusts at the fighting pits were Hizdahr's attempt to kill Daenerys.

Jon Connington retakes his ancestral home Griffin's Roost while concealing from his companions that greyscale is spreading across his body.

Barristan Selmy forms a ruling council in leaderless Meereen as Yunkai begins launching plague-infected corpses over the city walls.

Beneath the main battles, a series of quieter revelations determines the fate of nearly every major character. Tyrion pieces together the scope of the conspiracy around him, Daenerys is confronted with the limits of her mercy, and Jon must grapple with prophecy and treachery from within his own order. Arya earns her place among the Faceless Men through discipline and cunning, while Theon Greyjoy slowly reclaims an identity Ramsay Bolton tried to destroy. Key political secrets are uncovered, from Doran Martell's exposure of a Lannister trap to Barristan Selmy's discovery that Hizdahr tried to poison Daenerys. The pool closes with Jon Connington staking everything on a bold invasion and Barristan left to hold a leaderless Meereen together as Yunkai launches plague corpses over its walls.