Contents
REEK — Chapter 21
Overview
Ramsay sends Reek to win Moat Cailin without an assault. Reek impersonates Balon’s son, kills the dying commander, and—after Dagon Codd is slain—persuades the starving garrison to yield.
Ramsay breaks faith and displays their corpses. Roose Bolton arrives with Freys, his new wife Walda, and a false Arya Stark—actually Jeyne Poole—betrothed to Ramsay.
Summary
Ramsay equips Reek with horse, cloak, and a peace banner, ordering him to deliver Moat Cailin or suffer. Terrified but trapped, Reek rides to the ruins under ironborn watch, reminding himself to be Reek while posing as Balon Greyjoy’s surviving son.
Admitted under fire, Reek finds the gate guard dispirited and Commander Ralf Kenning dying of poisoned wounds and rot. Reek executes Kenning, then confronts a drunken, starving hall. He offers Ramsay’s safe conduct; Dagon Codd defies him until one-armed Adrack Humble kills Codd, breaking resistance. The ironborn agree to surrender for mercy and safe passage.
Reek leads out the weakened garrison, disarming them on the bog road. Ramsay greets them with promises of food and care, while praising Reek and reducing him to a collared “dog.” That night, Reek drinks himself insensible amid screams in the dark.
At dawn, Ramsay’s treachery is revealed: the flayed man flies over Moat Cailin, and the surrendered ironborn are impaled as grisly warnings. Three days later, Roose Bolton’s host—Freys and depleted northmen—passes through. Ramsay bristles at a decoy in Roose’s armor before Roose emerges, calm and chilling.
Roose presents his new Frey bride, Walda, and a supposed Arya Stark for Ramsay’s wedding. Reek recognizes the girl as Jeyne Poole, Sansa’s friend, confirming the Boltons’ deception to secure Winterfell through a false Stark bride.
Who Appears
- Reek (Theon Greyjoy)Ordered to secure Moat Cailin; impersonates Balon’s son, kills Ralf Kenning, negotiates surrender, and endures Ramsay’s degradation.
- Ramsay BoltonSends Reek to seize Moat Cailin; promises mercy, then flays and displays surrendered ironborn; collars Reek as a ‘dog’.
- Adrack HumbleOne-armed ironborn who kills Dagon Codd and backs surrender to survive and return home.
- Dagon CoddDefiant ironborn who rejects surrender; slain by Adrack Humble’s thrown axe.
- Ralf KenningDying ironborn commander, rotting from poisoned wound; executed by Reek to clear command.
- Roose BoltonArrives with Freys and baggage; cold, controlled; presents wife Walda and a false Arya to cement Bolton rule.
- Walda Bolton (Fat Walda)Roose’s new Frey bride, publicly introduced upon arrival through Moat Cailin.
- Jeyne Poole (posing as Arya Stark)Presented as Arya to wed Ramsay; Reek recognizes her true identity, exposing the ruse.
- Damon Dance-for-MeRamsay’s man who sends Reek off under threat; later helps receive captives.
- SkinnerRamsay’s henchman; tasked with taking wounded to maesters, part of Ramsay’s brutal retinue.
- Sour AlynRamsay’s follower present to receive the surrendered ironborn.
- Ben BonesProvides Reek’s collar and scraps, formalizing his degradation to a ‘dog’.
- Hosteen FreyLeads Frey vanguard through Moat Cailin; brutal, seasoned soldier.
- Aenys FreyLeads Frey vanguard with Hosteen; older and more calculating.