Contents
THE SACRIFICE
Overview
Trapped by blizzards at a crofter’s village, Stannis’s host endures starvation and fanaticism as queen’s men burn four cannibals. In the longhall, commanders argue over marching or waiting, exposing fractures in faith and resolve. An unexpected arrival—Tycho Nestoris with ransomed ironborn—culminates in Theon Greyjoy being delivered to Asha, shifting Stannis’s prospects.
Summary
In a snowbound crofter’s village between frozen lakes, queen’s men erect stakes for a burning while Asha Greyjoy and Aly Mormont return empty-handed from futile ice fishing. Northmen decry R’hllor as interloping in the old gods’ land, but Ser Godry Farring and Ser Clayton Suggs press for a fiery sacrifice to end the storm, as King Stannis broods in his watchtower.
Four men caught butchering a corpse are produced for execution. Their serjeant goads Ser Clayton into slitting his throat, sparing himself the flames. The remaining three are chained to the pyres and burned amid prayers for deliverance, their screams sickening Asha. Stannis departs in grim silence, and the camp drifts back to scant suppers.
Suggs menaces Asha until Aly Mormont and Ser Justin Massey intervene, asserting the king’s plans for her. In the longhall, starving southron knights and hardier northmen clash over strategy: press on to Winterfell, remain until the weather breaks, or face inevitable death either way. Richard Horpe challenges Massey’s courage and zeal, and Massey storms out. Asha follows into the blizzard and loses her way.
Back on the village green amid the charred stakes, Asha and Suggs hear approaching riders. A band of fur-clad men emerges—among them Night’s Watch and ironborn led by Tristifer Botley—escorting Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank. Botley says Sybelle Glover ransomed the ironborn at his behest; Tycho urgently seeks Stannis.
Tycho presents two captives delivered by Mors Umber from beneath Winterfell’s walls: a shivering girl and a skeletal, broken man. When he lifts his eyes, the man recognizes Asha. He names himself Theon, confirming his identity to his sister and shifting the balance of information and leverage in Stannis’s beleaguered camp.
Who Appears
- Asha GreyjoyIronborn captive; witnesses burnings, navigates tensions, follows Massey into the blizzard, reunites with broken Theon.
- Ser Clayton SuggsCruel queen’s man; taunts Asha, slits the serjeant’s throat, confronts arriving riders with sword drawn.
- Stannis BaratheonKing, isolated and grim; authorizes burnings, retreats to watchtower searching his beacon fire for answers.
- Ser Justin MasseyArgues against marching; defends Asha from queen’s men, then leaves after Horpe’s challenge.
- Aly MormontThe She-Bear; fishes with Asha, warns against watching the burnings, confronts Suggs.
- Ser Godry FarringGiantslayer; leads the R’hllor rite and burning of four cannibals.
- Richard HorpeStannis’s knight; proclaims R’hllor, pressures Massey, escorts Arnolf toward the longhall.
- Arnolf KarstarkNorthman ally; boasts of taking Winterfell, rallies northmen despite age and infirmity.
- Corliss PennyQueen’s man; lights the pyres and joins the red god’s ceremony.
- Tycho NestorisEnvoy of the Iron Bank; arrives through the storm seeking Stannis, brings captives and ransomed ironborn.
- Tristifer BotleyAsha’s ironborn; ransomed from Deepwood, returns with Tycho and escorts him.
- Theon GreyjoyEmaciated, broken prisoner delivered by Mors Umber; recognizes Asha and asserts his name.
- Artos FlintNorthman skeptic; argues the snows are the old gods’ wrath.
- Big Bucket WullHill clan chief; warns that burning for R’hllor will anger the old gods.
- Ned WoodsScout; declares the lakes overfished and warns of danger on the ice.
- Ser Humfrey CliftonAdvocates pressing on to Winterfell despite losses.
- Ser Ormund WyldeOld knight urging the host to remain sheltered until weather breaks.
- Will FoxgloveSpreads word that Stannis saw victory in the flames.
- Arthor KarstarkArnolf’s son; proposes siege engines for Winterfell during the strategy debate.