Pages 235-293
Jaime:
Continuing on their journey to Kings Landing, Brienne, Jaime, and Cleros run into some trouble in what appears to be a deserted town. An archer sends arrows their way killing Cleros and injuring Brienne…not that she shows any sign of pain. Jaime takes Cleros’s sword and begins a half-assed swordfight with Brienne. Both hold their own for a long while, but Jaime quickly tires. Eventually, they are pretty much wrestling in the stream. Brienne is winning when they hear laughter from the shore.
The Brave Companions or some such nonsense – those randy bandits now serving under Roose Bolton and declared for House Stark – take them hostage back to Vargo (I think that’s his name). Brienne has lots of raping to look forward to and Jaime will see pain. Jaime determinedly tries to convince the men to take him to his father in return for gold unharmed. He also helps Brienne by saying her homeland has many riches as well. This promises to keep them alive, but Brienne is dragged off to endure gods know what and Jaime ends the chapter with a scream. I can only assume the ‘message’ Vargo wants to send Tywin is a severed portion of the Kingslayer’s body.
Another interesting chapter tidbit – Jaime wants to marry Cersei and even considers marrying Joff to his sister, Myrcella. Um…yuck for the thousandth time.
Arya:
Not much happens here. The group of travelers are still searching for Ser Beric and visit many people. One of them includes a woman who lives in the trees – literally. They eventually wind up at Lady Smallwood’s small castle and are treated quite kindly. Lady Smallwood bathes Arya and makes her don a dress again. Gendry laughs at her, but then they wrestle outside and Arya rips her dress and dirties it all up. She’s still a little wild one.
What I took away from this chapter was a sense of safety for Arya. I can finally believe no one among this group means her any harm – just want to use her for ransom. They could have sold her off or killed her a thousand times over again. I’m glad she’s okay.
Not a lot happening, but a fun scene I hope they add to the show.
Danaerys:
Dany has convinced her ship to take her to Ghis where she meets with the head slaver of the Unsullied army. I’m guessing he’s the head, not really sure. He’s disgusting, though. He tells Dany about the Unsullied and insults her a great deal in a tongue he believes she doesn’t understand while the interpreter says nicer things. Dany hears all and is pretty much appalled at how the Unsullied have been trained. They kill babes and pups to prove loyalty! Oh my. She leaves the slaver with a bad taste in her mouth.
Back on ship, she slaps Jorah. She’s still reeling from his kiss. She thinks it was terrible behavior, but it awoken her desire for sex again and makes her miss Drogo. There’s even a masturbation flashback in which her handmaid, Irri, helps her out. The boys will love that scene. Dany knows she must hire an army despite how much she despises these people.
Her dragons hate being trapped beneath the deck. Not much else to say. Dany’s story is really boring me these days. I miss Drogo almost as much as her.
Bran:
Bran, Hodor, Jojen, and Meera are still traveling through the wilds towards the Wall. They spend the night in a cave with a man who warms them the Wall isn’t such a great place since word reached about the attack beyond the Wall. Everyone is tired, hungry, and bored. Bran misses his old life and the people in it. Meera tells a story about a would-be knight who beat all the odds to seek revenge. I’m sure I was supposed to learn something here, but not sure what. Honestly, a boring chapter. Nothing happens and the plot was not furthered. Do we really need to check in with Bran to learn nothing? I guess we can take away the fact that none of the rural Northern men are bothering them. They seem like a nice, civil, slightly wild bunch.
Davos:
Davos is locked in the dungeon, but he’s warm and has been nursed back to health. Melisandre comes to visit him, assuring him that no one betrayed him – she just saw his intentions to kill her in the fire. They have a long, rather boring discussion about fire, light, and the one god. Blah, blah, blah.
Next, the Florent who was serving as Stannis’s Hand is brought down to the dungeon to join Davos as a traitor. Apparently, he was secretly trying to broker a deal with Tywin to marry Stannis’ daughter to Tommen Lannister, make Stannis Lord of Dragonstone and Storms End – as long as Stannis would stop the king nonsense and pledge fealty to Joff. They didn’t like that so well. As Davos explained, Stannis is no quitter and wouldn’t marry his daughter off to a product of incest. The Florent sobbed.
I hate Melisandre and wish she would die in her fire.
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