Author: George R. R. Martin
Published Year: 2005
Type: Fantasy
As the book title says, this book shows how the kings, queens, lords, ladies, and common men have a feast with crows to share the corpse of post-war Westeros.
Armen, an acolyte, introduced to students of the Citadel of Oldtown what they must do before they don their maester’s chains — they must stand a vigil in a vault with nothing but three glass candles and no other light permitted.
The glass candle is meant to represent truth and learning, rare and beautiful and fragile things. It is made in the shape of a candle to remind us that a maester must cast light wherever he serves, and it is sharp to remind us that knowledge can be dangerous. Wise men may grow arrogant in their wisdom, but a maester must always remain humble. The glass candle reminds us of that as well. Even after he has said his vow and donned his chain and gone forth to serve, a maester will think back on the darkness of his vigil and remember how nothing that he did could make the candle burn... for even with knowledge, some things are not possible. —— Prologue
After the war of Stark & Tully versus Lannister, the riverlands were in ruin. Brienne of Tarth met some hedge knights and a septon whose name is Meribald on her way to search for Sansa Stark.
Lady Brienne is not wrong. In times like these, the traveler must beware of broken men, and fear them… but he should pity them as well. —— Chapter 25
Where the river meets the bay, the currents and the tides wrestle one against the other, and many strange and wonderous things are pushed toward us, to wash up on our shores. Driftwood is the least of it. We have found silver cups and iron pots, sacks of wool and bolts of silk, rusted helms and shining swords ... aye, and rubies. Not all the river's gifts are pleasant. The good brothers collect the dead as well. Our gravedigger knows no rest. Rivermen, westermen, northmen, all wash up here. Knights and knaves alike. We bury them side by side, Stark and Lannister, Blackwood and Bracken, Frey and Darry. That is the duty the river asks of us in return for all its gifts, and we do it as best we can. —— Chapter 31
After a fight against Rorge and Biter, Brienne was seriously wounded and then captured by Brotherhood Without Banners (which was led by Lady Stoneheart after Beric Dondarrion’s death).
We were king’s men when we began, but king’s men must have a king, and we have none. We were brothers too, but now our brotherhood is broken. I do not know who we are, if truth be told, nor where we might be going. I only know the road is dark. The fires have not shown me what lies at its end. —— Chapter 42: Thoros of Myr replied to Brienne’s question “who are you?”.
My lady, I do not doubt that kindness and mercy and forgiveness can still be found somewhere in these Seven Kingdoms, but do not look for them here. This is a cave, not a temple. When men must live like rats in the dark beneath the earth, they soon run out of pity, as they do of milk and honey. —— Chapter 42: Thoros of Myr replied to Brienne who requested a pity for Podrick Payne.
When Brienne of Tarth travelled to Duskendale for seeking Sansa Stark, she met a large group of poor fellows. Among these men, a septon (perhaps High Sparrow) described his group’s identity (sparrows) to Brienne and other hedge knights.
The sparrow is the humblest and most common of birds, as we are the humblest and most common of men. These are the bones of holy men, murdered for their faith. They served the Seven even unto death. Some starved, some were tortured. Septs have been despoiled, maidens and mothers raped by godless men and demon worshipers. Even silent sisters have been molested. Our Mother Above cries out in her anguish. It is time for all anointed knights to forsake their worldly masters and defend our Holy Faith. Come with us to the city, if you love the Seven. —— Chapter 4
Jon Snow sent Maester Aemon with Samwell Tarly and Gilly to Oldtown by ship. The black brothers need help to fight against the unknown enemies beyond the Wall. Unfortunately, the sea voyage on the Blackbird is too hard for the old man…
The septons sing of sweet surcease, of laying fown our burdens and voyaging to a far sweet land where we may laugh and love and feast until the end of days … but what if there is no land of light and honey, only cold and dark and pain beyond the wall called death? —— Chapter 26: Maester Aemon predicted that he might not see Oldtown again in his lifetime.
He was a good man. No. He was a great man. A maester of the Citadel, chained and sworn, and Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch, ever faithful. When he was born they named him for a hero who died too young, but though he lived a long long time, his own life was no less heroic. No man was wiser, or gentler, or kinder. At the Wall, a dozen lords commander came and went during his years of service, but he was always there to counsel them. He counseled kings as well. He could have been a king himself, but when they offered him the crown he told them they should give it to his younger brother. How many men would do that? He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out. He was Aemon Targaryen. And now his watch is ended. —— Chapter 35: Sam said prayers for the passing of Maester Aemon.