A Feast for Crows-Chapter 17

Cersei IV
A Feast for Crows chapter
POV	Cersei Lannister
Place	King's Landing
Page	238 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Cersei III ↑
Jaime II  ← Cersei IV →  The Iron Captain
↓ Cersei V

Synopsis

After yet another group presents her with a dwarf's head that is not Tyrion's, Cersei walks together with Qyburn to meet the small council. The new Master of Whisperers indicates that he has prepared the "skull" in an ebony box for delivery to Prince Doran, but no mention is made that it belongs to Gregor Clegane.

Pycelle is near apoplectic upon hearing that Qyburn has been raised to Lord and has replaced Varys on the council, and Cersei makes it clear how unfit she considers the old Grand Maester. Cersei has finalised her appointments, placing men she considers to be meek and loyal and giving them the titles used in the Free Cities, thinking that she will have no "masters" with her in the small Council. She now has a council consisting of:

• Orton Merryweather as judiciar (master of laws)
• Aurane Waters as grand admiral (master of ships)
• Her uncle Kevan's father-in-law Ser Harys Swyft as "her" Hand. This last appointment she considers as a shield against any threat that Ser Kevan may present.

The council first discusses the unrest in Sunspear and Prince Doran's letter that he imprisoned the Sand Snakes. Cersei notes that they are sending Balon Swann to Dorne with Gregor Clegane's head as has been promised, but she does not mention that Balon will have another task as well.

We also learn that Tyrion's High Septon has died in his "sleep", and the council brings up the continuing influx of "sparrows" into King's Landing, stirring up the populace with their preaching of "doom and demon worship". But Cersei cares not, nor does she care who becomes High Septon, provided he "pronounce(s) an anathema upon the Imp."

The next topic is a letter by the Lords Declarant in the Vale of Arryn, but the Queen Regent decides not to intervene directly on Littlefinger's behalf, but only send a letter warning these Lords that no harm must come to Lord Petyr.

When the subject of rebuilding the fleet comes up, Cersei is adamant against making any pact with the ironborn, stating, "Their turn will come, once we have dealt with Stannis." Aurane Waters will get his fleet of dromonds however, and Cersei will find the coin by deferring the crown's debt to the Faith of the Seven and to the Iron Bank of Braavos until the end of the war. Pycelle warns her against this route, cautioning that it would be foolish to make an enemy of the Iron Bank, but the decision is made regardless.

The council also discusses the prudence of making someone pay for the Red Wedding so as to appease all the "sparrows"; and in the mean time offering whomever succeeds the sure-to-die-soon Lord Walder Frey a chance to rid himself of unwanted brothers, half-brothers and nephews.

On the topic of the North, the council indicates that Stannis may soon be confronted by Roose Bolton's army, once his bastard son hits Moat Cailin from the north, allowing the Lord of the Dreadfort passage through the Neck. Cersei mentions that Wyman Manderly has taken Davos Seaworth captive, after the latter was sent by Stannis to treat with him. Lord Manderly seeks the favor of the Iron Throne, and the queen will recommend that he can achieve that favor if he beheads Stannis's Hand. When Sansa is mentioned, Cersei shocks the council into silence with a violent tirade about how she plans to deal with the girl once she is found. In the uneasy silence that follows, Cersei also remarks that Lord Bolton possesses Arya Stark and that her marriage to his bastard should appease the north, keeping to herself the fact that "Arya Stark" is really a "steward's whelp" provided by Littlefinger.

Next they debate the fact that the Night's Watch might be joining its might to Stannis, especially now that Jon Snow is their Lord Commander. The council decides to warn the Watch that the crown will stop sending men to the Wall, but Qyburn suggests that they do send 100 men. Cersei picks up on Qyburn's reason for suggesting ostensibly an act of goodwill, and interrupts him to indicate that the men sent will really be assassins ordered to remove Eddard Stark's bastard.

Back in her apartments, Cersei learns from Taena that Dorcas fancies Osney Kettleblack, and also hints that she herself likes dangerous, scarred men. Cersei tries to learn the name of Taena's old flame, but the Myrish woman is evasive.

When Osney arrives, Cersei butters him up with an offer to join the Kingsguard and a chance to bed her again, provided he accomplishes a couple of tasks. First, Cersei wants him to seduce, and hopefully bed, Queen Margaery; this will enable Cersei to execute her lawfully. Second, she plans to send him to the Wall as "punishment" for his treason with Margaery, but in reality he will lead a group of men to assassinate Jon Snow. She assures him that the men would not be required to serve in the Watch after they complete their task, and promises him a lordship, should he accomplish both missions.

Later that night, Cersei asks Lady Taena to remark to Margaery that she has a secret admirer, but not to let out Ser Osney's name unless the girl probes.

Character List

Appearing: Boros Blount Dorcas Dwarf brother (dead) Osney Kettleblack Osmund Kettleblack Cersei Lannister Orton Merryweather Taena Merryweather Pycelle Qyburn Gyles Rosby Harys Swyft Jocelyn Swyft Meryn Trant Aurane Waters

Mentioned: Alayaya Jon Arryn Robert Arryn Joffrey Baratheon Renly Baratheon Robert I Baratheon Stannis Baratheon Tommen Baratheon Benedar Belmore Roose Bolton Bethany Bracken Gregor Clegane Walder Frey Balon Greyjoy Theon Greyjoy Melara Hetherspoon High Septon Gilwood Hunter Osfryd Kettleblack Daven Lannister Jaime Lannister Kevan Lannister Tywin Lannister Maggy the Frog Wylis Manderly Wylla Manderly Wyman Manderly Wynafryd Manderly Doran Martell Oberyn Martell Midnight Myrish captain Ollidar Jeyne Poole ("Arya Stark") Vayon Poole Raynard Horton Redfort Paxter Redwyne Hobber Redwyne Horas Redwyne Yohn Royce Davos Seaworth Janos Slynt Jon Snow Ramsay Snow Arya Stark Catelyn Stark Eddard Stark Sansa Stark Mya Stone Balon Swann Dorna Swyft Aegon IV Targaryen Baelor I Targaryen Naerys Targaryen Symond Templeton Torbert Terrence Toyne Alla Tyrell Elinor Tyrell Garth Tyrell Mace Tyrell Margaery Tyrell Megga Tyrell Varys Anya Waynwood

Mentions

Events: War of the Five Kings Battle of the Blackwater Red Wedding Siege of Dragonstone Siege of Moat Cailin Siege of Riverrun Siege of Storm's End (300)

Houses: House Arryn House Baelish House Baratheon House Belmore House Blount House Bolton House Bracken House Clegane House Frey House Greyjoy House Hunter House Kettleblack House Lannister House Martell House Merryweather House Poole House Redfort House Redwyne House Rosby House Royce House Ryswell House Seaworth House Slynt House Stark House Swann House Swyft House Targaryen House Templeton House Toyne House Trant House Tully House Tyrell House Umber House Velaryon House Waynwood

Places: Essos Free Cities Braavos Myr Volantis Narrow sea Westeros Crownlands Blackwater Bay Blackwater Rush Dragonstone Driftmark King's Landing Great Sept of Baelor Red Keep Black cells Visenya's Hill Dorne Sunspear Iron Islands North Moat Cailin White Harbor Winterfell Reach Arbor Highgarden Oldtown Citadel Riverlands Harrenhal Riverrun Stormlands Storm's End Straits of Tarth Vale of Arryn Eyrie Gulltown Ninestars Runestone Wall Castle Black Westerlands Lannisport

Terms: Bannerman Bastard Bee Beet Beetle Bronze Castle Cat Chicken City Watch of King's Landing Crown Currency Demon Dog Dornishmen Dragon Dreams and prophecies Dwarf Ebony Eunuch Faith of the Seven Free folk Gold Golden Company Grand admiral Grumkin Hand of the King Headsman Horse Iron Bank of Braavos Ironborn Justiciar King Kingsguard Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Knight Knight of Ninestars True knight Lackwit Lapis lazuli Lord Lord of the Arbor Lord of Casterly Rock Lord of the Crossing Lord of the Dreadfort Lord of the Eyrie Lord of Highgarden Lady of Ironoaks Castle Lord of Longbow Hall Lord of Rosby Lord of Strongsong Lord Protector Lord Protector of the Eyrie and the Vale of Arryn Lord treasurer Maester Grand Maester Maiden Manticore Master of coin Marriage Master of laws Master of whisperers Most Devout Mouse Mummer Night's Watch Lord Commander of the Night's Watch Northmen Pig Poacher Poison Pot shop Prince Prostitution R'hllor Raven Redwyne fleet Regent Rose Royal fleet Sand Snakes Seal Seastone Chair Sept Septon High Septon The Seven Father Stranger Ships Silent sisters Silk Silver Small council Smuggler Snarks Sparrows Spy Squid Steward Sun Tongue mutilation Treason Ward Warden Warden of the West Wine Arbor gold Dornish red Hippocras Winesink Wolf

References

• The synopsis was copied from Aol member vbkorik27 previously at [1]

External links

• A Read of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows, Part 12. Analyses and summary of the chapter by Leigh Butler.