Editing Vargo Hoat (section)

===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[File:Christine Griffin VargoH.jpg|thumb|350px|Vargo Hoat, by C. Griffin © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The [[Mountain's men]] and the [[Brave Companions]] forage and raid near [[Harrenhal]] and the [[Gods Eye]]. Vargo's sellswords are said to have slain Lord [[Beric Dondarrion]], although he has since been reported as alive.{{Ref|ACOK|30}}

There is tension between the [[House Lannister|Lannister]] forces and Vargo's men, leading to occasional violence. One incident starts with an archer from Lord [[Lewys Lydden]]'s men taunting some Brave Companions over their failure to capture the [[brotherhood without banners]] and their leader, Beric, and leads to the death of Ser [[Harys Swyft]]'s squire. After Tywin has the archer and two Brave Companions hanged, Vargo and Harys complete their reconciliation with a kiss.{{Ref|ACOK|30}}

When Tywin marches his troops out of Harrenhal to pursue [[Robb Stark]], who has invaded the [[westerlands]], he leaves Ser [[Amory Lorch]] behind as castellan of the castle. However, Amory and Vargo hate each other and Vargo soon decides to turn cloak. He leads the Brave Companions to Lord [[Roose Bolton]]'s camp, where Vargo and Roose reach a deal: the Brave Companions arrange for Harrenhal to fall into the hands of the [[northmen]], in exchange for which Vargo is promised the title of [[Lord of Harrenhal]] once Roose and his men leave the castle.{{Ref|ACOK|47}}{{Ref|ASOS|37}}

As a result of the agreement, together with some plunder that includes a huge caged bear, Vargo brings a group of northmen to Harrenhal, led by [[Robett Glover]] and Ser [[Aenys Frey]]. He claims they are captives the Brave Companions took when they repelled an attempt by Lord Bolton's forces to cross the [[Trident]]. As part of the feint, the northerners are chained, in ragged clothes and many fake injuries. Despite his displeasure with Vargo's assumed big catch, Amory falls for the trick and orders that the captives be brought to a dungeon, ignoring a protest by Robett that they had been promised honorable treatment by Vargo.{{Ref|ACOK|47}}

Before the Brave Companions can keep their side of the bargain of releasing the prisoners so that they can overpower the small force left to defend Harrenhal, [[Arya Stark]], not realizing what is going on, organizes a successful liberation of the captives with the assistance of [[Jaqen H'ghar]], [[Biter]], and [[Rorge]]. The northmen and the Brave Companions, now joined by Biter and Rorge, then [[fall of Harrenhal|bring the castle under their control]] and the following evening Roose arrives to take his seat at Harrenhal. Vargo and Lord Bolton watch on as the Brave Companions parade a naked Amory through the yard and throw him into the bear pit.{{Ref|ACOK|47}}

The Brave Companions keep foraging for Lord Bolton with the additional assignment of rooting out Lannister forces they come across. Vargo splits up his group in four parties, the largest led by him, the others by his most trusted captains, so that they can visit as many villages as possible. In order to identify traitors, Vargo seizes people who had helped him while he was employed by Lord Tywin and confiscates the money they had received for their prior assistance. The Brave Companions often return to Harrenhal with bags full of silver.{{Ref|ACOK|64}}

Arya, serving incognito as the cupbearer Nan to Roose Bolton, finds out that he is going to eventually hand Harrenhal to Vargo and that she will stay behind when Roose leaves the castle. Arya flees from Harrenhal, taking [[Hot Pie]] and [[Gendry]] along.{{Ref|ACOK|38}}{{Ref|ACOK|64}}