Goldenheart is a type of tree found on Jhala and Omboru in the Summer Isles.[1] Its wood is fabled to make the best bows,[2][3] with the exception of dragonbone.[1] Archers on swan ships wield goldenheart bows.[1]
History
The dragonlords of the Valyrian Freehold often traded for goldenheart from the Summer Isles.[1] The princes of the islands have forbidden export of the wood since the Slavers' Wars.[1]
According to Mushroom, Sandoq the Shadow played a stringed instrument of goldenheart and ebony for Larra Rogare.[4]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
During the Hand's tourney, Ser Jaime Lannister uses a lance made from the golden wood of the Summer Isles.[5]
A Storm of Swords
The Summer Islander Jalabhar Xho gifts King Joffrey I Baratheon with a golden wood great bow for his royal wedding.[6]
A Feast for Crows
Alleras uses arrows of golden wood with his goldenheart longbow.[2] Kojja Mo wields a double-curved goldenheart bow on the Cinnamon Wind.[7]
A Dance with Dragons
Led by Black Balaq, the fifty Summer Islanders of the Golden Company use goldenheart bows.[3]
Quotes
Alleras unstrung his longbow and eased it into its leather case. The bow was carved from goldenheart, a rare and fabled wood from the Summer Isles.[2]
—thoughts of Pate
A third of Balaq's men used crossbows, another third the double-curved horn-and-sinew bows of the east. Better than these were the big yew longbows borne by the archers of Westerosi blood, and best of all were the great bows of goldenheart treasured by Black Balaq himself and his fifty Summer Islanders. Only a dragonbone bow could outrange one made of goldenheart.[3]
—thoughts of Jon Connington
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.