A Clash of Kings-Chapter 40

Daenerys III
A Clash of Kings chapter
POV	Daenerys Targaryen
Place	Qarth
Page	420 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Daenerys II ↑
Catelyn V  ← Daenerys III →  Tyrion IX
↓ Daenerys IV

Synopsis

Daenerys relates to Xaro Xhoan Daxos how the Pureborn have denied her, despite all the customary bribes and traditional proceedings she followed. Daenerys's hope of obtaining ships and men from the Pureborn was in vain, and now she has to move on. The Pureborn are interested only in her dragons, not in her cause. Daenerys recalls all of the gifts she had been given by supplicants and admirers; she had sold all of the treasures with the exception of the Tourmaline Brotherhood's gift, a crown in the shape of a three-headed dragon. The funds from the sold gifts were then wasted on the Pureborn.

Daenerys again beseeches Xaro for ships, but the merchant prince tells her he has no warships. He asks her again to marry him, and she again refuses. Daenerys considers going to the warlocks for aid, and again Xaro warns her not to.

As they move through the marketplace, Daenerys witnesses a firemage make a ladder of fire and climb it into the sky, as cutpurses move through the astonished crowd. Xaro declares the feat a fine trick, but Quaithe appears and tells them it was no trick. The shadowbinder tells Daenerys that half a year ago, the man could scarcely make even a small fire appear, but his power has grown now, and all because of Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons. Quaithe warns, "You must leave this city soon…or you will never be permitted to leave it at all." Daenerys realizes that Quaithe wants her to go to Asshai, and when she asks why, the shadowbinder tells her it is there she will find truth. Her bloodriders warn her not to trust the Asshai'i shadowbinder, however, and Xaro concurs.

Later, Ser Jorah Mormont tells Daenerys she will find no help in Qarth. He explains why Xaro wants to marry her: During a Qartheen wedding ceremony, the bride and groom each ask one thing from each other that the other cannot refuse. Jorah is convinced that Xaro plans to obtain one of Daenerys's dragons in this way. He tells her she should go east, but not to Asshai. When Daenerys suggests returning west to Illyrio, Jorah warns her that the magister cares only for himself and would provide no help. Daenerys believes he will give her the ships and soldiers to retake Westeros, but Jorah states, "Nothing knits a broken realm together so quick as an invading army on its soil."

Jorah reminds Daenerys that a man was sent to kill her when Robert I Baratheon heard that she was pregnant, and he fears what might happen when word spreads of her dragons. Daenerys wonders why the red comet led her to Qarth if not to obtain ships and an army, and Jorah implores her to go to Pyat Pree for help.

Character list

Appearing: Aggo Xaro Xhoan Daxos Drogon Jhiqui Jhogo Jorah Mormont Quaithe Rakharo Rhaegal Daenerys Targaryen Viserion

Mentioned: Robert I Baratheon Wendello Qar Deeth Drogo Egon Emeros Mathos Mallarawan Illyrio Mopatis Pyat Pree Paxter Redwyne Aerys II Targaryen Rhaella Targaryen Viserys Targaryen

Mentions

Events:	Houses: House Targaryen
Places: Asshai Faros Free Cities Lys Pentos Illyrio's manse Jade Sea Qarth Hall of a Thousand Thrones Temple of Memory Straits of Qarth Summer Sea Vaes Tolorro Valyria Westeros Arbor Yi Ti	Terms: Ancient Guild of Spicers Civic Guard Common Tongue Cutpurse Dothraki Dragon Dragonglass Firemage Iron Throne Jogos Nhai Keeper of the Long List Khaleesi Magister Milk Men Opener of the Door Palanquin Pureborn (Enthroned) Qartheen gown Red comet Sellsword Shadowbinder Sorrowful Men Stone Cow of Faros Thirteen Tourmaline Brotherhood Warlocks Wildfire Zorse

References and Notes

• The synopsis was copied from AOL member vbkorik27 previously at [1].
• Summary and analyses of the chapter in the course of a 10th reread.
• Review and summary by Leigh Butler.