A Clash of Kings ÔÇö Daenerys II

Qarth receives the Mother of Dragons: Xaro's hospitality with strings, Pyat Pree's blue lips, and the shadow-woman Quaithe's riddled warning.

The chapter retold

DaenerysÔÇÖs khalasar, reduced to a starving remnant, finally reaches Qarth, and the greatest city that ever was receives the Mother of Dragons with the elaborate, self-interested hospitality of people who have heard about the dragons and want a closer look. Xaro Xhoan Daxos, merchant prince, offers his palace and his patronage with strings that Daenerys can feel even through the silk. Pyat Pree, a warlock with lips stained permanently blue, extends a stranger invitation from the House of the Undying.

Threaded through the welcome is Quaithe, a shadowbinder in a red lacquer mask who speaks only in riddles and warnings ÔÇö the trumpets of dawn are silent, and the boy is dead ÔÇö that Daenerys canÔÇÖt parse but wonÔÇÖt forget. The chapter is QarthÔÇÖs overture: gorgeous, cordial, and thick with people who each want something specific and unstated from the three dragons currently the most valuable creatures in the world.

This movement: Kings in Every Corner

• Stannis besieges Storm's End; the brothers parley with a peach between them and part as dead men.
• Catelyn watches a shadow with Stannis's face open Renly's throat inside his own pavilion.
• Tyrion trades princess Myrcella's hand to Dorne and ships Cersei's spies to the black cells.
• At Winterfell, Bran dreams with wolf's teeth; the Reeds of Greywater come to teach him what it means.