Who Rules? How Power Works

1 AGOT Prologue: The arrogant, upjumped lordling on his first ranging is in command. He won't return without results, so ignores an experienced man's recommendation to start back and gets them all killed. Power doesn't work: it assigns the worst to command the best and operates on corruption. When class rules, stupidity does.

2 AGOT Bran I: Jon succeeds in swaying them to keep the puppies by making it Ned's decision. Jon frames his argument to counter the superstitious castle folk who would prefer to be spared ill omened direwolves among them, by claiming the direwolves are a godsend specifically to the Stark children. Jon knows Ned wants to spoil his children and that the proposed reasoning allows him to. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

3 AGOT Catelyn I: Robert rules because he's the one who says what's going to happen.

5 AGOT Eddard I: Tywin Lannister rules, or Cersei does. Here we see Tywin arranging to take Sweetrobin hostage and name Jaime warden of the east, all through Cersei's being in bed with Robert.

6 AGOT Jon I: Who Rules? Not Jon; he's drunk. All he wants is to find a place in the world where he can be himself and proud. Benjen doesn't say Jon shouldn't join the Night's Watch, only that he should try out more of life before making an irreversible decision.

7 AGOT Catelyn II: Not Ned. When Catelyn decides he must accept Robert's offer, Ned finally caves. But, since he leaves her to rule in his place, Catelyn also does not get what she wants, which was to accompany to King's Landing. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

8 AGOT Arya I: Not Arya, who runs, or Septa Mordane who can't appeal to her or sympathize with her. Not Robb who loses his temper and is humiliated when he might have gone unbruised. Not Ser Rodrik, who is a tool of the prince. Joffrey rules. Confronted with an order to be publicly bested by Robb again, Joffrey does his best to explain it's unfair, then leverages his royalty to say no, conclusively.

12 AGOT Daenerys II: Not Viserys. Illyrio has brokered a deal that adds a powerful military ally to their cause, but it isn't really Viserys's cause. Perhaps the dosh khaleen rule, since they require Drogo to present his bride to them. Or, perhaps that's just a Dothraki cultural norm and all are pursuing interests without ruling.

13 AGOT Eddard II: Robert rules, but as a Lannister puppet. When Robert pitched his proposal to Ned, he made it sound like Ned would be left to rule. Now, it's clear the only way to help Robert is to rid him of the Lannisters almost without his help, since he'll have no squabbles.

15 AGOT Catelyn III: Maester Luwin brings the business of the castle to Catelyn, but she's so preoccupied with Bran she won't hear of it. Robb steps up to be lord. Robb rules.

17 AGOT Eddard III: The chaos of many forces in conflict is all that rules. No one gets what they want and all are made to suffer humiliations as well as pains.

24 AGOT Daenerys III: Not Viserys. As Daenerys says, even the knights who follow him revile him. Not Dany. She's justing finding her confidence. Drogo rules his khalasar, but at a distance. He doesn't need to involve himself in everything. The grasses of the Dothraki Sea could be said to rule more than Drogo does.

25 AGOT Bran IV: Not Robb. He does not even rule his temper.

27 AGOT Jon IV: Not Ser Alliser. Jon rules, since he convinced the group to agree on a course of action. Their combined defiance ends Thorne's tyranny.

28 AGOT Eddard VI: The small council. Robert would rather not be bothered. Ned can lay down the law on certain topics, but not unopposed. There's a real sense in which Ned must rule. But with so many independent operators vying for any number of goals, how? Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

30 AGOT Sansa II: Robert warns Cersei not to presume to tell him what to do. "I am king here, do you understand? I rule here, and if I say that I will fight tomorrow, I will fight!" 300

32 AGOT Tyrion IV: Not the king, since Catelyn isn't even taking Tyrion before him to be tried.

33 AGOT Arya III: Nobody. For a certainty. When Arya overhears Varys & Illyrio, they know about a variety of schemes in motion, with some misinformation: thinking the Lannisters tried to kill Bran. Nobody is on top of it all. The one with the most current success, Littlefinger, is just tearing the kingdom apart so he can rise. He certainly isn't ruling.

34 AGOT Eddard VIII: Not Robert, as he puts it to a vote. Not Ned, as he cannot change Robert's mind.

35 AGOT Catelyn VI: Not Catelyn, nor reason nor king nor justice. The Eyrie is so remote, a six year old its lord, that madness rules. Madness or the vindictiveness of mob mentality.

36 AGOT Eddard IX: Ned helped put Robert on the throne, though the king says it should have been Jon Arryn or Ned. Now, Ned wonders if Rhaegar was the better man. But Tywin Lannister rules, having bought the throne.

37 AGOT Daenerys IV: Dothraki religion rules in Vaes Dothrak, and in the culture as well or bloodriders would not die to defend their khals.

39 AGOT Tyrion V: Unfortunately for justice and for the Vale, Lord Robert Arryn rules. him and his insane mother. Tyrion can't allow himself to be tried by them as the sentence they'll prefer and have already decided on would not bow to evidence.

40 AGOT Eddard X: It's still Robert, but Cersei presses him tirelessly. he's beaten and should not have to suffer her. It's why he's going hunting.

41 AGOT Catelyn VII: Though Ned tasked Catelyn to rule the north in his absence, that proves a hastily made error. He needed to have named Glover, Manderly or another lord acting warden in his absence. Who rules the north? Castellans and stewards. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

43 AGOT Tyrion VI: Not Bronn. He concedes to Tyrion, who does rule. The hill tribes certainly don't, as Tyrion points out to them.

44 AGOT Eddard XI: Ned thinks king's justice is an objective matter of law. However, when Ned rules from from the iron throne, he lets his personal feelings override general caution. Ned might have understood the need to recuse himself. But Ned chose to rule.

46 AGOT Eddard XII: Not Ned. He never wanted to sit the throne and is about to depart for Winterfell. Not Robert. He's about to be killed by a boar. Not Cersei. Maybe Tywin rules and has for some time.

48 AGOT Eddard XIII: With Robert on his deathbed and his will naming Ned regent sealed, there is a power vacuum. Cersei rules because she holds the heir and everyone will asume the crown to pass to Joffrey. But Cersei doesn't rule yet.

49 AGOT Jon VI: It makes all the difference why Jon was named to the stewards. He assumes Thorne did it as a cruelty, but it was more likely Aemon, who did speak to Mormont about Sam, on Jon's recommendation. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

50 AGOT Eddard XIV: Cersei holds the throne room by sword and the apparent heir. The people of King's Landing will assume Joffrey is king now that Robert is dead. So Cersei rules. Or is it Littlefinger, who gave Cersei the win over Ned?

52 AGOT Sansa IV: Sansa cannot really be made to write summons for the crown. They need her and can't hurt her. But Sansa is a child among adults, so she cooperates.

54 AGOT Bran VI: Robb rules. Every bannerman challenges him and he bends them to his will.

56 AGOT Catelyn VIII: Unfortunately, Catelyn. Every man at Moat Cailin's small council is studied, experienced and up to speed. But she speaks to Robb in private and has his ear, being his mother.

57 AGOT Tyrion VII: Tywin rules. Tyrion might seem to, but is actually still hostage.

58 AGOT Sansa V: Tywin, from his war camps. But Joffrey doesn't know that. He only knows he mostly doesn't care about the duties of office and commands swords.

60 AGOT Catelyn IX: No one rules a marketplace. Robb & Catelyn are not beggars, but they can't assault the Twins. Lord Walder Frey establishes that reparations must be made for past grievances before opening to proposals.

62 AGOT Daenerys VII: Drogo rules, but Dany is starting to want to write new laws. That's not even for khals to do. Yet, if Dany can ban rape, she will.

65 AGOT Daenerys VIII: Daenerys begins commanding the khalasar, giving orders as if passing them along from Drogo. His bloodriders balk, but seem to obey. The situation will clarify shortly. Dany's rule is about to end.

68 AGOT Sansa VI: The small council, for the moment. When Joffrey rules, it is because he sees an opportunity to mutilate someone. Yet, his boredom and increasing rebelliousness suggest he will ride off to war, as he says he wants to, or begin to assert himself more in court, punishing any who come before him.

69 AGOT Daenerys IX: When a king falls, his kingdom splinters. Individuals who went along with the daily order now choose who to follow, based on self-interest. Calculations about survival and life quality decide kingdoms.

70 AGOT Tyrion IX: Tywin rules, but he only has one body and so much bandwidth. Tywin sends Tyrion to court to rule, and to curb Joffrey. Tywin sends Tyrion to rule so basic good sense wiill.

72 AGOT Catelyn XI: The council at Riverrun must choose next steps and a king. They choose Robb and revenge. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

74 ACOK 1 Prologue: A change of councillors, such as exchanging Cressen for Melisandre as advisor, is as significant as a change of rulers. The one who flatters the king he can have what he wants without compromise may become his new councillor, suggesting a tendency toward rule by the worst and least scrupulus, as councillors on conscience are likely to be dismissed in favor of seeming lickspittles, even if they have dark ulterior motives. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

75 ACOK 2 Arya I: Yoren rules. Yoren has to intervene in a squabble between Arya and Hot Pie because, though he was challenging him to put him in his place, Arya mistook it for life or death and fought to live. But what Arya didn't know was every man there had her back. Gendry was already intervening enough. They haven't realized she's a girl yet because no one's bothered to take a good look at her, but Arya made a scene when she attacked Hot Pie instead of leaving him in the dirt after she'd knocked him off his mule. Yoren had to intervene so no other man would. Subthemes: Law of the Sword

76 ACOK 3 Sansa I: Cersei rules in King's Landing. She's arranged a tourney for Joffrey's nameday and someone has set poor match ups. Sansa speculates the Redwyne twins were given no choice but to participate. How power works is that wordplay comes before swordplay. The Hound, no longer Joffrey's dog, holds the king in check. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

77 ACOK 4 Tyrion I: Nobody rules in King's Landing. Many actors pull what levers they can. "Why would he inflict you on me?... I am Joffrey's regent and I sent him a royal command." And he ignored you," Tyrion pointed out. "he has quite a large army, he can do that. Nor is he the first. Is he?" 57 Cersei doesn't realize authority alone is toothless. Tyrion offers her Jaime to be suffered as Hand, a sign he understood he'd have to win Cersei over. Subtheme: Swords rule

79 ACOK 6 Arya II: Yoren says there's a law that protects them. The gold cloak says his sword is the law. Yoren has the gold cloaks thirty swords to six. But that's only because every man for the Watch knows he's vulnerable to what Gendry is. They unite to defend their rights as free men, though technically captives. It should be the law that rules, but it's not even the queen. Swords rule, but that means what rules is really the social movements men participate in. Subtheme: Swords rule, Law of the Sword

81 ACOK 8 Catelyn I: Robb rules, but what does he rule? Not the north, since he's absent. Not the riverlands, as they're being raided. While armies are too weak to march in force, raiding parties devastate the farmland and villages. Each lord tries to defend, but can't, alone. Meanwhile, the powers that could help move toward their own ends at their own paces. The smallfolk are abused to provoke their lords, seasons of food burnt ungrown. Yet, Tywin needn't worry about starving to death, or freezing, or even facing danger in battle. There's nothing to stop his reign of terror. So Tywin rules, though he destroys?

82 ACOK 9 Tyrion II: Varys's riddle of the sellsword pretends to communicate that power resides where men believe it does, be that with the gods, the king, gold, or another power. Varys uses the riddle to confuse Tyrion enough to make suggestions and implications Tyrion might mistake for his own observations. The chapter shows power in the hands of the man who happens to be in the position to make the decision. In the case of the coup, that was Janos Slynt. We see how Varys manages to rule by allotting decision makers by deciding who gets information, first. Meanwhile, Tyrion struggles to appoint men of conscience, having already surrounded himself with savages and sellswords to survive. Supposedly Cersei rules, but it looks, from this vantage, to be a tug of war between Varys and Littlefinger. Tyrion has quickly become Varys's and leveraged against Littlefinger.

83 ACOK 10 Arya III: Though they had enough men to deter theft of the wagons, Yoren's Night Watch recruits are now in danger. The farmers guarding their crops would kill them all or die trying in self defense, and the wolves in men's skins would kill them all just for being there and take the wagons, too. They light no campfires and avoid all others.

84 ACOK 11 Davos I: Not Stannis. His men are abandoning him because of his increasing affiliation with Melisandre. Burning their gods, destroying Aegon's sept on Dragonstone...He had no right. Stannis had no real chance without the Stormords who went to Renly. Now, he has the one thin hope of being a sorceresses's puppet and doesn't see she makes a fool of him. Stannis doesn't care that the sword is fake, but others do.

85 ACOK 12 Theon I: Not Theon. Sent to broker allegiance with the Iron Islands, he quickly realizes Balon intends to attack the north. Had Robb sent Jason Mallister, Balon wouldn't even have met with him. Theon had to change Balon's mind, but was so sure he'd entered a cake walk, he didn't prepare. And the task was impossible. Though he'd already crowned himself with Robb's paper, Theon must now realize nobody rules the north just now. It's as vulnerable as Casterly Rock. "The Drowned God makes men, but it's men who make crowns."167

86 ACOK 13 Daenerys I: Once Daenerys decides they'll follow the comet, it's not questioned. Rakharo & Jorah both objected to the path Pono took, to Meereen for its port, because he'll kill her and take her dragons. Doreah quails at the Red Waste, pehaps sensing she'll die there. But once Daenerys decides and announces, "...no word was raised against it...Her word was their law." 189 It even becomes important to rationalize her decision, or rather, to dismiss evidence that suggests it was poor, such as people dying. They are declared as having been going to die anyway.

88 ACOK 15 Arya IV: Ser Amory Lorch has come to burn the town and means to do so regardless of who is in the houses or holdfast. Those with power do what they will and others must suffer them.

89 ACOK 16 Tyrion III: Littlefinger rules through Cersei while Varys rules through Tyrion. When Cersei is upset about Stannis's letter spreading news of the twincest, Littlefinger intentionally angers Cersei so she will feel his solution as a relief and depend on his council.

90 ACOK 17 Bran II: Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik mail every question to Robb. Some complaints they rule on, such as requiring Umber to work with Manderly. At Deeepwood Motte, the steward rules. With all the lords gone, anyone ever trained to rule is gone. How power works: Wyman Manderly knows how to pinch Tywin in the purse. He's imposed levies and diverts taxes from the crown to Robb. Instead of dealing with Robb's peace terms, sent to Cersei, Tywin treats with Manderly individually, by raven. Tywin means to sow dissent.

91 ACOK 18 Tyrion IV: Sent to vet the small council, Tyrion gets side-tracked and looks into who leaks on him to Cersei, instead of who is potentially disloyal to Tywin and the Lannister house power grab. Most notably, he upsets Pycelle who can't tell what to do when Lannisters in-fight. Who rules? Each man's conscience. Pycelle knows Cersei would want to see the letter to Doran before its sending, not after. He can't do that for her, but does give her the second copy. Men do as they see fit.

93 ACOK 20 Arya V: Who will carry the children? Cutjack and Tarber leave. Gendry suggests he and Arya do the same. When the strong can't carry the weak without risking their lives, they abandon them. Yoren taught Arya to loot the dead of their things, but the Mountain's men also took Needle and Gendry's bull's head helm and wound up on Arya's list for both.

94 ACOK 21 Tyrion V: "Once theirs had been a powerful guild, but in recent centuries the measters of the Citadel had supplanted the alchemists almost everywhere." 308 Similarly, Tyrion has cut Cersei out of communications with the gold cloaks. Perhaps the strong take over where they may.

95 ACOK 22 Bran III: The Harvest Feast is a celebration and opportunity for lords to petition their liege. Bran's sweet nature makes him an especially good candidate for lordship, as he is loving to all. When lords are treated generously and listened to caringly, they see small cause to complain.

96 ACOK 23 Catelyn II: Renly has been crowned by the Tyrells and now rallies forces by shows of magnanimity and prompting high lordlings to compete for his favor. Catelyn misunderstands the melee as foolishness. By the time Renly reaches King's Landing, the city may have ousted the Lannisters on its own.

97 ACOK 24 Jon III: Necessity rules. Mormont tolerates Craster despite no liking his practice of son sacrifice because the Watch needs friends among the wildlings and Craster's keep is well positioned to be life saving to rangers. Moront tells Jon that Craster's wives have him neteen to one. When he sleeps, any three of them could slit his throat or put an axe in his skull. Subtheme: Law of the Sword

99 ACOK 26 Tyrion VI: Tyrion rules. He poisons Cersei and gives Joffrey a fancy new crossbow so as to be the one on the iron throne on the day Ser Cleos presents Robb's terms. he does this to strip Cersei of her personal guard, pretending they arenn't being removed but rather employed in his scheme to free Jaime.

100 ACOK 27 Arya VI: Those who get to hit rule those who would die if they fought for their fredom.

103 ACOK 30 Tyrion VII: Tyrion. Cersei can't even keep from fucking her own cousin. Joffrey's content with his crossbow and can always be held up as a threat. That Littlefinger and Varys do the real ruling is not to be noticed. Renly would likely even keep both on the council.

104 ACOK 31 Arya VII: Tywin. When fighting breaks out, he makes the captains hug and promise to always love each other. He also sends the Bloody Mummers away again. The worst men kill better men. Almost always. But sometimes there's an opportunity to kill someone, even if you are only a mouse.

105 ACOK 32 Catelyn III: It comes down to force. That's why Renly thinks he's won. He's got the kind of numbers that inspire attrition in enemies. Stannis's rights are meaningless. But Renly doesn't know the battle will be won off the field.

106 ACOK 33 Sansa III: Tyrion acts like he rules. So does Joffrey. So does Cersei. It seems each has pet projects and intentions. Probably, Tyrion's efforts effect the most change. But, as in the previous chapter, they're all bickering, posturing and coming into conflict.

109 ACOK 36 Bran V: Nobody, til Robb gets back.

110 ACOK 37 Tyrion VIII: While Cersei and Tyrion are paralyzed in each others check and glued to King's Landing to hold their relative positions, Littlefinger is ruling on the fly.

111ACOK 38 Theon III: Theon. He does command and moves forward even opposed.

112 ACOK 39 Arya VIII: Every individual is vulnerable. Rogue elements work toward private aims, like Jaqen H'ghar paying Arya three deaths. Meanwhile, Robb forces Tywin from Harrenhal by taking the castles of his bannermen, exactly as Tywin did to the riverlands to disperse its men. Of course, it's still Tywin who rules Harrenhal, but does he if Arya names him to Jaqen?

113 ACOK 40 Catelyn V: Who rules? A conspiracy of men trying to be delicate. Robb ordered Utherydes Wayne to send Catelyn to the Twins on her return and Edmure backs them. In truth, rulers must be local due to a lack of quick communications. Subtheme: Gentlemen

114 ACOK 41 Daenerys III: The Pureborn are not the only power in the city of Qarth, only the most official. If what Xaro tells Daenerys is not all lies, the levers of power involve many forms of bribes, tears and observations of tradition. Against, a conspiracy of politeness rules. Subtheme: Gentlemen How power works is that entrenched traditions require a panoply of traditional bribes. This is true even of the north's Harvest Feast in Westeros. Bran hopes he won't have to eat frog when the Reeds describe the bounty they have brought. Yet, it would be wrong of the Reed not to represent the traditional foods of their region in their gifts of attendance. It's not just a pot luck.

115 ACOK 42 Tyrion IX: Wealth comes from the land and smallfolk, not from gold. When Tywin burned the riverlands, he started a process that has now culminated in the bread riot. Those he displaced will soon flood the city as sparrows. Tywin burnt himself when he burnt the riverlands. Tyrion rules, but he was sent to do too much with too little.

116 ACOK 43 Davos II: Melisandre rules through Stannis without his realizing. She killed Renly and he still does not know. Now, she does the same to Penrose. Stannis will figure it out. Yet, if Melisandre can assassinate anyone, what's to stop Stannis taking the iron throne?

117 ACOK 44 Jon V: Mormont feels hamstrung. All he seems able to do is lose rangers. It's why he's come on this ranging. Yet, once they reach the Fist of the First Men, the only thing to do is send small ranging parties and wait, same as it was at the Wall. Since Qhorin is a ranger, he's quick to see ranging as the thing to do. Really, they should all hurry back to the Wall to strengthen it against the coming onslaught. But, like Robb's campaign south, it seems a shame to come so far and return having accomplished so little. Momentum makes decisions.

118 ACOK 45 Tyrion X: The real question is who will rule when the battle is over. But Varys has Tyrion knotted with paranoia. Tyrion is acting stupidly: made incautious by compensating for impulses to be too cautious. Varys has reduced Tyrion's effectiveness dramatically. While Bronn and Shae angle for promotions above their stations, Tyrion would rather focus on the coming battle. Yet, the hapiness of his own people is more vital and poses more real threats than those Tyrion prioritizes. It seems anybody could be so spun and easily enough. More, it reminds that part of the difficulty of ruling well is having to invent it as one invents one's ruling style and builds one's council. The likelihood of error should warn against the attempt.

119 ACOK 46 Catelyn VI: Brienne turns out to be right that Tywin will prod for weakness then try to punch a hole if he finds none.

120 ACOK 47 Bran VI: Not Bran and not Theon. It's every man for himself in the power transition at Winterfell. Mikken prefers to die, proving he rules his fate. Theon's ironborn have unnecessarily wounded men and raped women. Though the servants are in shock and pain, they rule the castle, not the lord. Theon thinks he's secured the north for Balon by taking Winterfell early, but he's actually publicized their covert conquest. Winterfell had to be last, not only to keep Robb in the south but to keep the news from being noteworthy. The north having been conquered is news. Theon didn't take the north, he enraged it.

121 ACOK 48 Arya IX: The lords take each other's castles in bloody massacres while the servants labor on. Yet, uprisings from within are difficult to defend against. Who rules? not Ser Amory Lorch. He was fed to the bear at Harrenhal. Roose Bolton may seem to, but Jaqen H'ghar, and Arya commanding him, decides who lives to rule. Gendry and Hot Pie, liking their direct supervisors, shrug at a change on the level of the lord's chair.

122 ACOK 49 Daenerys IV: The Undying of Qarth have no power, so must supplicate to travelers who are unaware of their foul reputation. The Undying prey upon the lost and the desperate by promising sorcerous knowledge, wonders and wisdom. Only those who do not know a palace in poor repair is a sign of poverty and failure would enter to seek wisdom from those who rule there.

123 ACOK 50 Tyrion XI: The highborn strut about giving commands to professionals who know better. Meanwhile, those they abuse or decline to promote scheme to weaken them. The people labor in service to decisions made by a self-touting bloodline of pampered descendants of those who once seized power by force or treachery. Rule is a competition of schemers aiming to undermine each other. Individuals may act, but only add to the chaos soup. Rumor rules. Fear rules. Soon, it will be mob rule.

124 ACOK 51 Theon IV: People don't have to obey lords, Theon learns to his chagrin. He rules by fear in Winterfell, resenting that he is not recognized as gentle. Grand declarations, like his outlawing of flaying, don't amount to rule because he is not always consulted for permission, especially beyond the walls of Winterfell. It's truer to say Reek rules. While only scheming from a lowly position, his superior game play secures him decision making authority, which is what rule is. Any who would prevent rule by the worst must learn to prevent the accruing of power by any one. This builds toward the theme of rule by the people.

125 ACOK 52 Jon VI: Each sword rules, at odds and in agreement. The power of the people is greater than any ruler. Qhorin leads instead of ruling. He knows he'll die one day and that it would be a weak group left to survive, wre they ruled over by strict orders. He gives free reign to his men and they learn from their errors and do not foment rebellion.

126 ACOK 53 Sansa IV: Both the Hound and Cersei communicate philosophies of the sword to Sansa. In this chapter, the Hound does, saying if there are gods, they made sheep so wolves could eat mutton. If might is all, the worst rule, destroying with abandon. But the chapter discusses denial most of all, showing the Hound's belief in his own honesty to be a cover up. Fronting tough, he and Cersei see to believe themselves, but have only designed armor that they wear as beliefs. Instead of acknowledging Robert shamed her with shows of a lack of love, Cersei says Robert's need for love poisoned him. Sansa tries on a similar attitude, telling Dontos she has no faith in the gods. But she changes her tune with the Hound, even reversing her position to make the Hound wrong to defy his menacing of her. When beliefs are constructed of denials, the one with power is the one who preys on fear.

127 ACOK 54 Jon VII: What rules is an ancient feud.

128 ACOK 55 Tyrion XII: Those tasked to wield power become so paranoid about holding onto it that they abuse it to stay in power. Not Tyrion, who is more vulnerable than he knows and distracted by his war with Cersei. Not Cersei, who is focused on her hostage taking and dynamics among high houses. Not Varys, who is working hard toward regime change, not rule. Denial, fear, collapse. These rule, along with the cruelty and aggression of the paranoid.

129 ACOK 56 Catelyn VII: They rule who take the law into their own hands. Those positioned to act do so for their own reasons, often acting out personal issues rather than making intelligent decisions. Jaime killed Aerys. Catelyn frees Jaime.

130 ACOK 57 Theon V: Theon realizes, half way through dressing a second time to meet Asha, that she has all the power in the situation because he's being unstrategic. Reek rules through Theon, as his most trusted servant. Theon takes Reek's suggestion he kill the men who were at the mill, then publicly executes Farlan. All the while, Reek--secretly Ramsay Snow--has been setting Theon up as scapegoat for his burning of Winterfell. Subtheme: Rule by Councillors

132 ACOK 59 Davos III: The fleet is scattered across the Narrow Sea, almost losing Stannis his campaign before the first strike. Who Rules? Fortune? Nature? Random Chance?

133 ACOK 60 Tyrion XIII: In battle, immediate threat rules. Commanders may respond, men may desert, but all are ruled by immediancies and expectations about consequences. No man truly rules another, in such a context. Subtheme: Vows at Swordpoint

134 ACOK 61 Sansa VI: During regime change, the strong and the treacherous make their power grabs. They'll never be entirely uncontested. When a rival mounts a military attack, the ruler on the rise will feel the throne's vulnerability. Paranoia and pressure combine to turn one such as Aerys, Theon, Cersei, Tyrion, into bitter, heavy-handed non-rulers entirely preoccupied with their own safety, willing to see all destroyed before seeing it go to an enemy.

135 ACOK 62 Tyrion XIV: In battle, each does what seems best at the time. Men go where they see need. If there's an assault on the gate, it must be countered. Where men are crossing, there must be opposition. Some throw themselves into harm's way, others are cagier. Only inside the walls can commands be enforced, and only by threats and hurts. Subtheme: Vows at Swordpoint, Group Effort

136 ACOK 63 Sansa VII: Cersei calls Joffrey into Maegor's to hold to the last. Who controls the king rules. The Hound would have escorted Sansa safely to Robb in order to be safe, himself.

137 ACOK 64 Daenerys V: Trade is king. Goods have value, but circumstances figure.

138 ACOK 65 Arya X: Who rules? Scavengers. Roose Bolton smiles that there are four kings. It means no one is paying much attention.

139 ACOK 66 Sansa VIII: Tywin makes it look like Joffrey rules, but Joffrey's display of cutting himself on the throne and running to his mother makes it clear that either Tywin is king or there is no ruler at all. It suggests that officials inspire a sense of security as a major function of their roles. What matters is that there is peace and plenty. The one who can claim to be king can award lands and titles to those who fight for him and strip those who challenge him. Still, those entitled must marshall force to make their claims real, butting against family-held regions and loyalty built by generations of generosity.

140 ACOK 67 Theon VI: Who rules? Not Theon. He can barely hold Winterfell. Not Ramsay. He betrays and destroys much, but controls appearances, nothing more. Wyman Manderly would aid Winterfell, but only rules his own lands. What rules is whatever local good or ill may. How does power work? Loyalty is betrayed while the worst villains profit from their treachery. Ramsay defeats Rodrik by treachery, then Theon, before burning Winterfell and blaming the ironborn. Who Rules? Carrion birds and jackals.

141 ACOK 68 Tyrion XV: Lords take no risks but collect all rewards. Who Rules? The media. Or whoever told the smallfolk it was Renly's ghost who saved King's Landing. The popular idea of who to credit creates confidence which empowers the recipients of credit.

142 ACOK 69 Jon VIII: Your superior issues a command and you obey or desert. But Jon has no choice other than to feign desertion among the wildlings as a spy of the Night's Watch. A man can do what he can do and he can do what gets him killed. What rules is the threat. It motivates and even decides which actions must be taken. Subtheme: Threat

143 ACOK 70 Bran VII: Scavengers. With all the neighboring houses destroyed, the ruins of Winterfell aren't safe to squat in. Jojen says wolves will come, some on two legs. Subtheme: Threat

144 ASOS 1 Prologue: Is the greatest threat the command to self-sacrifice, or is it an attack by the army of the undead? Subtheme: Threat

145 ASOS 2 Jaime I: Superior strategy can beat superior force. Who rules? The one who gets their way. Subtheme: Powerful Individual

146 ASOS 3 Catelyn I: Those positioned to act do what they think best, often without their decisions being questioned. Hoster made Lysa drink the abortive. Catelyn freed Jaime. Now, Edmure has announced Jaime to have escaped, and loudly, by placing a large bounty on his head. What rules are reactions, especially rash ones. Hoster rashly forced abortion on Lysa. Edmure rashly announces Jaime as escaped instead of as at large. Rash actions may result in cross purposes, as Edmure's charge to "protect Jaime for Robb" is likelier to get Jaime killed and Hoster's attempt to create strong blood lines by requiring Lysa to wed a high born sire weakened them by hurting her. Subtheme: Powerful Individual

147 ASOS 4 Arya I: The goal rules. As long as the ostensible leader is making clearly intelligent choices, the group will go along. It's only when there's disagreement about how to achieve a goal that there's friction. Subtheme: Powerful Individual

148 ASOS 5 Tyrion I: The king doles out favors to those who make him king, being continually petitioned from all sides.

149 ASOS 6 Davos I: To live inside the law, a man must forfeit his judgement, even his life, to that of his lord and king.

150 ASOS 7 Sansa I: The most forceful do what they can get away with. They overpower and dominate all in their path, intentionally misleading those they deal with.

152 ASOS 9 Daenerys I: The blue bloods are the supposed rulers and many gather round to influence them. Those who succeed are the true rulers.

153 ASOS 10 Bran I: Bran wonders why Jojen leads them. Hodor is the strongest, Meera brings them all their food, Bran is called Prince, yet Jojen leads. When Meera challenges Jojen about setting out on foot, preferring to find horses, first, Jojen explains that they'll be recognized if they speak to anyone. It's clear he's already thought through these things and is right. Jojen leads because his ideas are thought through and he would not endanger them.

154 ASOS 11 Davos II:Entitled men say what gives them pretext. Men do what they will and can.

155 ASOS 12 Jaime II: Some have swords. Some have titles. Some have guards. Some have hostages. Some get killed.

156 ASOS 13 Tyrion II: Climbers are maneuvered against rivals in every institution. Everyone must make concessions and promote those with leverage over them.

157 ASOS 14 Arya II: Gangs of outlaws. Those who can, do what they can conscience to those who are in their power.

158 ASOS 15 Catelyn II: Treachery wins. Lady Sybell could not have taken Robb prisoner by holding her castle against him, but he walks right in the moment she feigns surrender.

159 ASOS 16 Jon II: Every group is on a path to extinction and no one has any real power. Mance rules: a true king and uniter of his people, but can he save them?

160 ASOS 17 Sansa II: Cersei rules. Having Sansa's wedding dress made for her is Tywin-like in its recognition of how to control stuations. Sansa might have told Margaery Cersei was having a dress made for her and that been looked into, but Sansa would rather comfort herself, so traumatized has she been by Joffrey that she almost can't lie about it anymore.

227 AFFC 2 The Prophet: Balon fell, Euron arrived, and now sits the Seastone Chair. Aeron would prefer Victarion, but he's away in service to Balon's plans underway. Aeron calls for a kingsmoot to crown Victarion.

228 AFFC 3 The Captain of Guards: Doran is still prince of Dorne, but his gout troubles him to the point of incapacitation. He publicly imprisons the sand snakes to show there will be peace under his rule. Each has a plan to start war with the crown, the most intelligent of them being Tyene's plan to wed Trystane to Myrcella and crown her.

229 AFFC 4 Cersei I: After meddling in the handling of Tywin's quarrel and Shae;s remains, Cersei estranges Kevan by openly offering Jaime the Handship. She's regent. With Tywin dead, she rules.

232 AFFC 7 Arya I: Though she'd be a cabin boy, the captain makes it clear there's no room on the ship for her. The kindly man would have turned her away from the House of Black & White, too, except she accepts his challenge and training. Arya is taking whatever she can get. Who rules? Not Arya.

234 AFFC 9 Jaime I: Having specified to Varys that no one was to be harmed in Tyrion's escape, Jaime is irked to learn that Cersei ordered Boros Blount and Osmund Kettleblack to kill the gaolers for having failed at their post. So, Jaime ambushes Cersei by inviting the Tyrells to dine with her and telling her she's going to ask Mace to take Storm's End. Jaime rules.

238 AFFC 13 Cersei III: Cersei realizes, in drunken paranoia, that she'll have to surround Tommen with her own people. Loyal ones. Cersei hasn't started trying to rule, really. She sees her role entirely as manipulator of the king. But Tommen doesn't rule.

243 AFFC 18 Cersei IV: Cersei has surrounded herself with better manipulators than she is. Fortunately, noe desires to rule, or they'd be doing so. Aurane Waters pretends to be attracted to Cersei in order to win her favor. She builds him a fleet of drommonds. Qyburn wants to perform human experiments in the dungeon, even giving Cersei a likely false Mountain's skull. Taen is a Tyrell creature who is toying with Cersei. Taena plants the idea of sending someone to seduce Margaery. Cersei thnks it's her own.

249 AFFC 24 Alayne I: The Lords Declarant do rule the Vale, but it's Littlefinger's roof they're meeting undet. had he gone to them, he'd have had no hope of laying down the law as he does. Littlefinger's adding the infringement of guestright only to set the stage for him to magnify his authority as host, as father in law, and as official to the crown. Who rules? Littlefinger.

250 AFFC 25 Cersei V: Cersei tells Tommen that he is a child and that she will rule in his name until he comes of age. By then, she'll have run the kingdoms into the ground.

253 AFFC 28 Jaime III: Before leaving for Harrenhal, Jaime has a conflict with Cersei. She wants him to shave, he decides not to. He leaves Loras in command of the kingsguard, though she says Kettleblack, who she installed despite his being a leering sellsword.

At Sow's Horn, Ser Roger complains Amory Lorch--Tywin's man--burned him after slaughtering his livestock. Jaime later finds the Wode Bothers gone, their hall burnt. He hangs the outlaws hiding in the cellar. It seems loyalties and borders were not sufficiently recognized under Tywin. Nor will they be under Jaime unless he comes to understand that the men he hanged were refugees, not outlaws.

254 AFFC 29 Cersei VI: Cersei should have let Tommen go unblessed rather than enter the Great Sept of Baelor without armed guards. She knows rule is largely determined by military strength and sees that the army of sparrows camped on the grounds are angry and carry weapons, yet does not realize the danger of removing Maegor's decrees. She already was at a loss in relation to the High Sparrow, but as she falls into the trap of doing his bidding, she ensures the Faith will replace the throne as the power in the land.

255 AFFC 30 The Reaver: When Rodrik the Reader stood to say Euron's plan to sail to Slaver's Bay was recklessly stupid and deny them much plunder, Euron would have menaced him into silence if Victarion had not added his own voice. Then, the men began to cry out to raid the rich, nearby, and unguarded Arbor.Euron leaves upset. It's the group who rules.

256 AFFC 31 Jaime IV:Seeing his reflection of his own crimes in Lancel's confessions, Jaime comes to full awareness of how deviously Cersei manipulated him and that it's not even that he was the only one. She ruled him and ruined his conscience.

258 AFFC 33 Cersei VII: Her councillors are forever giving her lip. Pycelle has the gaul to advise she beg Loras not to storm Dragonstone himself, as it could mean his life. Pycelle gawks at her, like when she told him to draw up the papers to reinstate the holy orders of Warrior's Sons and Poor Fellows.

264 AFFC 39 Jaime VI: Emmon Frey has the deed, but the Blackfish holds Riverrun with time on his side. What good is the right to something you do not hold? All Jaime has to do is convince Edmure to save his family, and the castle is surrendered.

265 AFFC 40 Cersei IX: When Osney Kettleblack tears Cersei's dress and tells her to keep her crown on, it seems like she's not really calling the shots. She is. So why does it look like being compromised?

266 AFFC 41 The Princess in the Tower: While Arianne fails to ask Doran about the letter she shouldn't have read and errantly assumes he intends to overlook her for Quentyn, Doran was always planning a Targaryen restoration. The Lannisters rule and must be replaced, but Dorne can't do it. They don't have the numbers. At least not yet.

269 AFFC 44 Cersei X: Now that she's dethroned Maggy the Frog's prophecies along with Margaery Tyrell, Cersei is primed to gloat. She walks right into the trap the High Sparrow has been subtly but forcefully installing. He takes Cersei physically when she thought no one would dare. Who rules? Brute force.

270 AFFC 45 Jaime VII: Technically, Edmure has handed the castle and title to Lord Emmon, but he freed the Blackfish before turning over the castle. Jaime feels good about not breaking his oath to not raise a hand against Stark or Tully. Yet, the riverlands are harried, there will be no more harvests and the garrison he released will both need more food than they were allowed to take and find few villages to take them.

274 ADWD 3 Daenerys I: Though she would have banned them, Daeny wears a tokar on the advice of the Green Grace. The Great Masters still defy her and plot to overthrow her, so she would befriend them by making concessions. They hired back former slaves, but at wages lower than a slave is paid in food & board. Skahaz is sure they are behind the Sons of the Harpy. How can Dany make peace with the Great Masters when they do not bend?

275 ADWD 4 Jon I: Jon rules as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and so must deny Stannis the empty castles. Jon permits Stannis to man the castles under Night's Watch officials, but the point wasn't to man them, it was to pretend to pay his lords with the castles they would man. Ironically, if Stannis doesn't go to Storm's End soon, he'll be the one who's abandoned castle is considered up for grabs.

286 ADWD 15 Tyrion IV: When Tyrion suggests Haldon sweeten the deal by playing for secrets, Haldon says "Griff would have my tongue out." However, since Tyrion has been hustline Haldon by adopting an amateursh style to mask his skill, Haldon risks it. Though it is technically Griff who rules, Tyrion still beats Haldon at cyvasse.

295 ADWD 24 Daenerys IV: It is only a matter of time before Meereen is taken from Dany in one way or another. The Green Grace presses Dany to wed Hizdahr, that a peaceful Meereen might be ruled by their son. Yet, even that would mean a Meereen largely returned to its old ways. How many generations before Meereen returned to slavery?

296 ADWD 25 The Lost Lord: Strickland is a cowardly stick in the mud, but the captains of the Golden Company like Aegon's idea of sailing to Westeros insted of trying to get to Meereen.

298 ADWD 27 The Wayward Bride: Technically, Asha rules Deepwood Motte, but not for another night. Really, she's homeless now. Fleeing her wedding by seal proxy to Erik Ironmaker means Asha is on the lamb. Technically, Erik Ironmaker rules the Iron Islands for Euron, making Asha the Lady of Pyke. She could go to Pyke, but risk becoming a prisoner and certainly would not be permitted to share a cell with her paramour, Qarl. Who rules anything? Lords just occupy castles.

301 ADWD 30 Davos IV: When Tywin required Manderly to bend the knee or see Wylis die a traitor's death and White Harbour scoured and levelled, Wyman sent back a letter saying he'd submit after Wylis's return, not before. Cersei receives this letter. Misunderstanding the game of chicken for Manderly courting the throne, she ignored it. She didn't know they even had Wylis. Who rules? Not Cersei.

304 ADWD 33 Reek III: Lord Roose Bolton is Warden of the North. However, he knows that title is granted him grudgingly by northern houses. The claim to Winterfell he esablishes through Arya Stark will fold the moment anyone produces one of Ned Stark's sons.

308 ADWD 37 Daenerys VI: Hizdahr pretends Yunkai won't give Dany peace unless he's crowned and rules beside her. Yet they march. Were he truly brokering peace with the clout he pretends, they would be content to wait for a response to their terms.

309 ADWD 38 The Prince of Winterfell: Lady Dustin views maesters askance. They hide their family names and whisper in the ears of lords. "And before long, the ruler has become the ruled." 545

315 ADWD 44 Daenerys VII: Not Daenerys. She's ready to delegate rule to Hizdahr.

318 ADWD 47 A Ghost in Winterfell: Not Roose Bolton. Someone is killing men in Winterfell and everyone is a suspect because of the Red Wedding.

320 ADWD 49 Jaime I: Tytos Blackwood predictably won't yield to Jonos Bracken. He may yield to Tommen, especially with Riverrun returned to the crown. He clearly admires the Blackfish's integrity, preferring the decision to hold firm. Yet, nobody rules if all is destroyed. Jaime rules by intending to see all thrive.

322 ADWD 51 Daenerys VIII: Not Daenerys. She chose peace and it tastes like defeat. The Yunkish mock her in a variety of ways, using slave entertainers. Hizdahr says to ignore it. They'll be gone soon. But he doesn't rule either, only hosts.

324 ADWD 53 Daenerys IX: Hizdahr is doing what he can to appear to support Daenerys as monarch while planning to see her dead that day. She does rule, but the process of replacing her is well underway. Daenerys rules, but not for long.

330 ADWD 59 Jon XII: It's a better situation when Jon lets Tormund through the Wall than when Stannis let through the first group. Largely, this is because Tormund rules his men and Jon rules his. It's an example of heirarchical peace keeping.

331 ADWD 60 The Discarded Knight: Not Hizdahr. The Yunkai'i bully him as soon as their mutual enemy--now his wife--is out of the picture.

333 ADWD 62 The Griffin Reborn: Not Homeless Harry Strickland. But, if he's not careful, neither will Jon Connington. Prince Aegon Targaryen is not the biddable boy Young Griff was. He defies Connington, makes him wait, and even presumes to lead the effort on Storm's End. Who made him king all of a sudden?

339 ADWD 68 The Kingbreaker: Not Hizdahr. But who will answer Yunkai at the gates? Selmy makes it so Daenerys still rules Meereen.

342 ADWD 71 The Queen's Hand: While Skahaz now calls Selmy Hand, he dislikes even the implication that he rules. He holds a round table. Unfortunately, Yunkai breaks peace before Selmy can arrange for the Windblown to rescue the hostages. Nobody rules. It's war.

343 ADWD 72 Daenerys X: Not Daenerys. She can't even get Drogon to fly back to Meereen. But, when she sees a Dothraki scout's fear of her dragon, she presents herself to parlay.

344 ADWD 73 Epilogue: Kevan rules, but is immediately assassinated for competence. It seems Varys would reinstall Cesei for the moment.