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Cersei makes the only play she can. She wisely confesses to most of her crimes, that have already been verified by other witnesses anyway, but denies the big ones. For those questions, trial by combat will determine her guilt. Uncle Kevan reports wholesale changes in the Small Council. Mackelly and Simon weigh her chances.

Chapter Review:
Queen Cersei Lannister hates her jailors, three dour septas. But they break her down and she is ready to confess. She’s brought before the High Septon. She admits to her infidelities, but denies the big ones: incest, treason, reicide, and deicide, all of which Osney Kettleblack implicated her in, under torture. The incest one is awkward for the High Septon. It is Stannis Baratheon's accusation and he has fallen in with a false god. He puts his faith in trial by combat to determine her guilt or innocence.

She is finally allowed a visitor; her uncle Kevan Lannister. He’s angry with her corruption of his son Lancel. And brings only bad news: Jaime has not returned, he was last seen cavorting the Riverlands with a woman believed to be Brienne of Tarth. The Tyrells and Tarlys have come to town to defend Queen Margaery, against whom the High Septon admits the case is weak. Kevan has assembled a whole new Small Council filled with nobody who cares for Cersei.

Worst of all is the news that Myrcella has been wounded in Dorne. Cersei blames Tyrion. She asks Kevan to work with Qyburn to get the right man into the Kingsguard to defend her honor.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen.
The High Septon - Leader of the faith. Known as the High Sparrow for his piety and commitment to poverty.
Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, new Hand of the King.
Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven.
Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei.
Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei.
Osney Kettleblack - Ally of Cersei, tortured into betraying her.

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Jon negotiates terms with Tormund, introduces Val to Queen Selyse, and not for the first time tries to convince his underlings of the true meaning of their vows and the sanity of his plans. Simon and Mackelly try to shake the feeling that it is Groundhog day, again.

Chapter Review:
Lord Commander Jon Snow and Tormund Giantsbane discuss terms for Tormund’s band of roughly four thousand free folk to pass through the Wall at Castle Black. After much arguing and threats of violence, Tormund finally agrees. His band won’t be happy with the concessions, including forfeiture or any valuables and 100 boys at wards of the Night’s Watch. They will meet again in three days to begin the process of transitioning south of the Wall.

Jon rides with Val back to Castle Black. She wants to continue helping with the relocation of the free folk. Jon takes her to meet Queen Selyse Baratheon. Selyse is happy Jon secured the deal with the wildlings, but becomes angry when she learns there was no mention of bending the knee or taking R’hllor as their god. Val says if they are made to kneel the free folk will rise, blades in hand.

Outside the tower, Val comments on Princess Shireen’s greyscale. She calls it grey death and says the girl is already dead. She wants her nephew Little Monster away from the girl. A shocked Jon says he’ll try. Val says he’d better succeed. He owes her.

Jon meets a group of Night’s Watch leaders and two wildling chiefs atop the Wall. Jon explains the situation with the wildlings relocating. The men push back on every detail of Jon’s plan. How will we feed them? What about the Weeper? How will you keep them at the Wall? Will you train the wards in combat? Jon’s answers are unsatisfactory, and Marsh says Jon is committing treason. Jon gives his brothers their assignments and can’t help but think of Melisandre’s warning of daggers in the dark.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Queen Selyse Baratheon - Queen to King Stannis.
Val - Sister to Mance Rayder’s wife Dalla.
Tormund Giantsbane - Leader of a large group of free folk.
Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward at Castle Black.
Othell Yarwyck - First Builder at Castle Black.
Clydas - Acting maester at Castle Black.
Torghen Flint - Le

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Daenerys attends the reopening of the fighting pits. It’s pretty much as she expected until Drogon arrives and whisks her away. Simon and Mackelly try not to get carried away.

Chapter Review:
Daenerys Targaryen dons a tokar for the reopening of the fighting pits. Barristan Selmy reports that he freed Meris of the Windblown who assured him that she and the rest of the Westerosi deserters were in fact emissaries from the Tattered Prince who was ready to switch sides. All he wanted was the city of Pentos. Dany laughs at the price.

They head to the reopened fighting pits where Dany witnesses horrors a-plenty, two dwarves joust for her entertainment, and Strong Belwas gets sick on the honeyed locusts that Hizdar had suggested Dany sample.

Dany’s ready to leave when a boar dines on the innards of Barsena Blackhair. A shadow passes over the pit as Drogon arrives and feasts of boar and Barsena. Pandemonium descends as pit-men try to kill Drogon. Dany drops to the fighting floor and stares down her eldest. She finds a whip and wins the battle of wills. She climbs aboard and Drogon takes flight.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros.
Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Lord Commander of the Dany’s Queensguard.
Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys.
Quentyn Martell - Son of Prince Doran Martell. In Essos to offer his hand in marriage to Daenerys.
Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.

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